Private Unconventional Means

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Warfare was something that had spanned centuries. The most primitive of beings conducted war agaisnt other tribes...the most advanced spread their war spanning multiple galaxies, vying for each planets allegiance that their side was the just and good.

30 years of war stardust had seen, 30 years of charging straight into the fire of auto guns and blaster fire, clashing against the enemy warriors with her blasters and sabers

Even now, this was still a reality to stardust, the drums of war had rang for her each time she tried to turn away from it each time...another banner...another cause to fight for.

However one has always been persistent, one enemy she had always and always clashed agaisnt. The Sith empire, a cancer that spread across the galaxy like a sweeping uncontrolled plague, it had always been the enemy ever since her younger days. Conventional means had held it back and even pushed but it was always with great loss of life, so the queen of zeltros had a idea, a way to wage this war in unconventional means

A call went out on the holo, calling for smugglers, a job offer of great risk and reward

Who would answer this call star wondered...

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

Jahzra opened one bloodshot eye, peering out from beneath a tangled pile of bed covers in the dark of her stateroom. Something woke her up out of a dead sleep. Pushing her purple-black hair out of her face she shoved aside an empty bottle to look at the chrono. A soft 'bling' came from her com. Groaning, she pulled it off the nightstand and brought up the display. There was a message, marked urgent. She opened it up, to find a face greeting her she hadn't seen in years - Scardon Orsan.

That made her sit up, quite literally. She ignored her immodesty for a moment, then pulled some covers back over her to keep her warm. "Play message," she murmured quietly.

"Hey kiddo," Scar began. "Look uhh, I know you haven't worked for me in a while but something's come up. I hear you're back in the game. So I thought you'd want to hear this. Someone put out a call on Zeltros for any and all smugglers. Standing job offer with rewards or incentives. The exact wording was 'with considerations.' It smelled like a trap. I looked into it. It looks like it's from pretty high up and legit. So... I thought you could use the money and the work. And if I'm right, maybe it's for something good. Maybe it isn't. Come to Zeltros. Come home. Check it out. At least visit your family. I know they miss you fiercely." he paused for a moment, looking pained then continued. "Just... don't wait too long. And I'm sorry about Cale. I didn't have anything to do with it, but... I'm still sorry. He was a good guy." He sighed, letting the silence hang for a moment. "Take care, kiddo. Hope to see you soon."

Jahzra frowned, then played the message again. And again. She sat for a while, considering, then muttered, "This isn't my kriffing problem." Shutting the com off, she rolled back over and went to sleep. Or tried to. Toss. Turn. Roll. ...Shift... Sithspit.

The look on Scar's face spoke far more than simple words. She did need to come home. And the thought of home sent a pang of homesickness through her. Once more she explored the gaping hole in her spirit where Cale had been. The ragged wounds were scarred over now. Maybe she could go back. Maybe she could bare the memories now? And what was this job?

Many questions floated through her but eventually, she messaged Scar back to send her all the info she had. Days later, her modified Baudo-class star yacht speared into the sky over Zeltros, it's hull glinting in the light as she guided it down through the atmosphere and toward the capital.

Setting down at one of the landing pads she reached out to her next contact, informing them of her arrival. With that, she simply asked where and when to meet via text.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

It was about several days after her call went out, many came, many left with a job, some were turned away from the job by stardust herself. Looking out among the city she watched each departing and arriving ship with a busy mind. Letting a breath out her attention was turned towards her nearby holopad and used the force to being it to her hands

Looking it over it was another smuggler answering her call, they'd just arrive and was wondering where to meet. Sending the location stardust moved away to a meeting room to get ready...the location would be her palace
Jahzra Rocvard

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae

---

The message came back almost immediately. The meeting was to be at the queen's palace. Her eyes almost bugged out of her head. High up? That's a fact, she thought. That required some special preparations. First, a shower. Getting cleaned up, she took the time to dress more appropriately. Dar replaced the dress she'd lost, and it was a nice one, but this was a job, not going out for a nice dinner date.

She pulled on her nerf jacket, a pair of dark blue trousers with polished black boots, then a nice pearl-colored top that hugged her nicely without being too showy. But this was Zeltros. She could have likely gotten away with showing up in shorts and a bikini top. That didn't matter. she was a professional. She opted to take her holdout pistol, leaving her heavier weapon behind. Along with it went her vibroshiv, which was more habit and like a piece of clothing than any real intent as a weapon. Last she pulled her hair up into a neat ponytail and applied a little cosmetics, just enough to be appropriate and enhance her looks without being too in anyone's face.

Trouncing off the Horizon, she flagged down an aircab and headed for the palace. Half an hour later, they touched down nearby and she opted to make her way to the entrance on foot where the guards stopped her and began to check her ident.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

The meeting room was quickly being situated. With the help of a few maidens stardust got it cleaned up and got some wine and snacks placed on th table for the coming guest. Minutes later stardust received a message from the gate guards saying they had a visitor for her. After getting the name star checked it in the holopad and nodded to herself as she gave the ok to let her in.

Stardust took a seat at the front seat, she was dressed in a nice blue dress, had a little sparkles that highlighted her body but was in a sense modest. On her was her two sabers resting on each hip, showing she was indeed armed

Now...she waited

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

The gate guards waved her through after confiscating her own weapons. But she expected that. One of them escorted her through the main entryway and to a set of lifts that took them high up into the building and then showed her to the meeting room. She flashed him a smile and thanked him before turning her attention to the door itself. It opened at her approach and she found herself in a well-appointed room with seating enough for a few people, but there was only one there. A tall, powerfully built twi'lek woman with emerald-green skin. Her heart nearly stopped as she laid eyes on the queen herself.

She began to stammer an apology, "I-I'm sorry I must be in the wrong room, Your Majesty." The words came in a rush as she cast her gaze about. While the queen herself was something of a figurehead, she still had resources and a measure of real power. Not to mention a military record.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

The door opened, stardust stood when it did and offered a sweet smile as she moved from her chair towards the woman with calculated steps. Her size was apparent as she grew closer, enough star stopped so she didnt have to look down so far

no this is not the wrong room Ms. Rocvard, though I can understand why you would really think such a thing given my ah advertisement

She motioned to the table

why dont we take a seat, I've wine and snacks for us to enjoy while we discuss business

The chair for her would pull put, without stardust even using her hand, a little party trick she did sometimes

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

She regarded the giant of a woman warily, feeling her pulse rate jump a notch. "This isn't my usual set of circumstances. I was expecting maybe one of your council at the most, not you," she said. She felt her face flush as she spoke, but tried to ignore it, despite the tingle that started from there and rushed across her skin. It was an unconscious release of pheromones, which she struggled to get control over. In this case it was a defense mechanism. "Not that I... have a problem with that." A little bit of confusion washed across her face as her mind worked to catch up, which for her was thinking at least a couple moves ahead. Now that her understanding of the level she was playing at, and where she was, new possibilities spun out in front of her, though she sitll couldn't see over the time horizon yet.

Star drew her along in her wake, headed for the seating area. Then with a gesture one of the chairs slid into a new position. her sharp eyes didn't' see any repulsor equipment attached. Of course, it could be hidden, but with the way it happened, she knew it wasn't. At the same time she felt almost a tug within her core about it. There was something about the would-be monarch that resonated in a way she didn't expect, even for a non-Zeltron. All she picked at the moment from the empathic part of her only registered control and maybe a little bit of amusement at this morsel of a smuggler.

She took one of the proffered chairs, and crossed one shapely thigh over the other. She forced herself not to fidget with her oval-shaped nails, and instead waited to be addressed. This was the queen's show after all, and she was completely out of her element. Well, not completely. She'd had other dangerous and powerful employers. The queen was different though. Her family was right here in easy reach, among other things.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

this is not their business, rather this is...my business, something personal but at the same time part of something larger

Moving to her seat she pulled it out and took a seat, tapping a few buttons she brought up the map of the galaxy, the swirling mass of stars crossed with boundary marks of the different empires and factions that dotted the galaxy. Two would stand out clearly labeled, the silver jedi order and the Sith empire. Stardust grew serious yet relaxed as she motioned to them

the jedi and Sith, two been at war for ages good lord almost eons it would seem. However they've been beaten back and have disappeared several times...except now they dont seem to want to go...I'm sure you've heard some of the stuff they've done. They've terrorized and enslaved hundreds, committed genocide for their own uses in the dark arts...

Standing stardust moved the map with a wave of the hand ans showed some routes, shipping lanes that spread between the two territories. Then they changed to some well known smuggling lanes

I've heard your pretty good, among the best even. The...sith have quite the hold on their dominion, getting in normally is well impossibl. That's where you come in, their many there that need help, they need supplies, medicine, guns, theres people ready to defect important people trapped

She walked over to her, placing a 500000 chit down before her

consider this a upfront payment before hand, I want to hire you to help me out, this is off the books jedi dont know about it...this is personal for me

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

Jahzra's eyes practically bugged out of her head at the credits. It wasn't the most money she'd ever heard of. But it was the biggest offer anyone had made her. It was a hundred times what she made on her last job. And it was easily enough to buy another two or three copies of her current ship. Only Scar had thrown around that kind of money, but she suspected sometimes it was mean to impress. This ... was just a matter of fact. It was disposable income.

"So you want me to make runs into and out of Sith space, under the table," she said, rephrasing it just to make sure she understood what Star was asking of her, at least on the surface. There had to be something greater going on, some other game. But she sensed no deception in this. Only that she was resolute. "Well, that's certainly enough to look at hiring a crew." And for a job like this, she'd need one. But a small one. One or two people she could trust with her life. Right now that was a damn short list. "And if I say no?"

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

exactly, something that will come directly from me

Moving back to her seat she sat down, hands cupped together as she looked down the girl with a smile, she knew she had this in the bag, this one here would be perfect for her plan. Sitting up she smirked at her last words as she replied

nothing, you can leave with that chit, go on your way and not a word to anyone would be said. No one would know of this meeting and no one would think of it again...but the Sith empire will continue its tyranny...and I will still be searching for a smuggler

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

This isn't my kriffing problem, rolled through her head again. And it wasn't. But at the same time, she refused to haul slaves, unless they were escaping. She avoided the worst of things. She had a code. And that code was against creating misery and suffering for others. If she ignored it, wasn't she condoning it by default?

She chewed her lower lip, considering it. "If I were to say yea, I am going to need a few new ID packages. Hopefully, you've got a first-rate slicer that can do that for me. And hopefully a good cover." She continued turning the matter over. "Do you know what the entertainment situation is like in Sith space," she asked, as an idea came to her.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

I can get that with no issue at all, shouldn't be too hard given my contacts I have in the system...that and favors people owe me

The question came to stardust, rubbing her chin she sat back as she racked her brain for a few details

likely slave driven, no doubt somewhat like zeltros here though more lucrative...oh...I think I see your idea

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

The smuggler raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking," she asked. "Because I'm of a mind to just go as myself. Getting back on the racing circuit. I don't know how much research you've done but before I turned smuggler I was a pretty successful racer here on Zeltros and some other places. Re-entering the racing scene might allow me to travel, and would be likely for me to have a fast ship. People might not look too close. But someone smart might think that I would make a good smuggler. And they'd be right. But I have compartments on my ship that have diffuser plates. And I can dig up a racing speeder or something and make it look legit. That's one option anyway." She bounced her foot lightly, chewing her lower lip in thought, turning to the task of solving problems before they ever cropped up. Before she'd officially even said yes. Was she going to accept it? Who knew? Maybe she was just pulling a risk assessment. Considering how she might make it work. Maybe she already had on some level

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

She went to answer, then paused mid sentence and went quiet as she listened instead to jah and nodded her head...she was quite the racer and would be a nore surefire way to get her around the place.

actually that works a lot better then what I had in mind, no doubt there'd be a good amount of tracing going on, provides income for the people and no doubt about it is a way to seek out skilled pilots...so its perfect

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

Jahzra nodded. “I thought you might approve. It’ll look better if I can figure out a ‘team’ and maybe a ‘sponsor,’” she said. “And if I actually make some winnings that just helps the operational budget. And legitimizes the cover. It could be fun.” She tapped her chin in thought.

”Do you have any specific uh, freelance deliveries, you need made immediately, or … is this preliminary,” she asked the monarch thoughtfully.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

I'll get you a team, like I said I've contacts and people that owe me favors, so getting that shouldn't be hard. Now as for a sponsor...well that should be easy as well, I can have my daughter sponsor you...actually no I dont want my name tied in...we can figure that out

Sitting back she relaxed and smiled as she shook her head

no, this was merely a preliminary review....so...do you accept this job?

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

Apprehension rolled off the pink-skinned woman. She wanted to say yes. It was a lot of money. And it would stick a thorn in the side of the Sith empire. Normally getting caught smuggling was a fine and maybe jail time, depending on what it was. But screwing around with the Sith risked death. Or worse. But the very fact that they did exactly this created a small spark of righteous anger.

They were oppressors. Conquerers. Controllers. As she thought about it, the inner flame grew until it began to warm her body, her skin. The image of her family, her loved ones, living under their iron thumb, all laughter and joy replaced with misery, heartache, and sorrow made her throat tighten. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she shifted around. "They're going to kill or crush us all eventually if we don't do something now. Restraint is not in their vocabulary. They are all fire, rage, and unbridled avarice. Pure malice. And though they terrify me, I refuse to live in terror. I refuse to let them grind those I love to dust. Or the world I come from. I refuse to live on my knees, or let my loved ones live that way either," she said, suddenly vehement.

The conviction in it surprised her. She'd spent most of her life drifting from one thrill to another, or running from one problem to another. Never taking a stand. In some ways, she could have been looked at like a coward. But credits weren't as important as saving her skin. But this was something she realized she believed right to her bones. It was worth fighting for. It was worth dying to preserve. Dying to protect her family, and her people. Her loved ones.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

A proud smile came upon stardust face, raising her head high as she eyed the woman then nodded her way and held her hand out

then I'll assume that's a yes...I know this has risk even I cant tell...all i can say is thank you jahzra. You'll have my full support and backing through your entire job, and at any time you want to pull out just give the word and I'll come on a smashing

 

[Jahzra Rocvard]

Tag: Stardust Solus Skirae​

---

The Zeltron thought it over for a few more moments. This felt like jumping off a cliff into dark waters where she couldn’t see the bottom. But there were sharp, pointy rocks down there and waiting. And that was if the impact of the water didn’t break every bone in her body.

So far, she’d been drifting from job to job, place to place. She took some regular contract work here and there. But ever since her husband … got himself splattered all over the inside of the Horizon’s gunwale, breath had become nothing more than a clock, ticking away her life. She wasn’t truly living, and she knew it. No matter how much she tried to pretend.

This would either kill her, or it might just save her. She looked to Star and nodded. “I’ll do it,” she said, even as her stomach knotted up. Anxiety and apprehension rolled off of her like a fog, but perhaps a bright though very tiny spark of hope. And a layer of determination. She’d make the biggest dent she could before they killed her. But it certainly felt like suicide or a potential one.