[ACCESS GRANTED.]
PROCESSING...
PROCESSING...
INITIALIZING...
[INITIALIZATION AND ARCHIVE RETRIEVAL COMPLETE.]
FORMOS CAMPAIGN RECORD 05: RECRUITMENT DRIVE
[BEGINNING PLAYBACK]
Wild Space
12:00 PM
[ERROR] / [ERROR] / 878 ABY
"Hull breach near the cargo bay doors, the bombers are pulling back but more ships are approaching!" The ship rocked again as another shot from the frigate pursuing them impacted the starboard side, nearly tearing another breach through the lightly armored hull. Never before had the crew of the Uncompliant, a cargo hauler for hire that specialized in transporting live cargo, been attacked in such a manner. The odd skirmish here or there sure, but they always had escort ships to help fend off their attackers.
Their escorts, a pair of corvettes, as well as their own fighter squadron lay far behind them now though. All in burning wrecks from the ambush that had been sprung upon them shortly after receiving their newest haul of slaves from the local Black Market station.
"Well what the feth are they sending at us now?!" The captain of the Uncompliant had sobered up almost immediately after the conflict began a few minutes ago, although the alcohol coursing through his blood did give him a nasty headache due to the stress of the situation. "It looks like...shuttles? Boarding shuttles captain, on a course for the breach!" Now that caught the attention of everyone on the bridge. "They're trying to board us? Damnit! They're trying to steal our cargo, get every able man with a blaster to hold that damn breach until the hyperdrive comes back online!" "Captain, there's a-"
The ship was rocked again as another shot hit them, this time coming from the front rather than behind them. The mercenaries turned to gaze out the viewport, some of them muttering curses or prayers under their breaths as they saw what lay beyond. Three corvettes had appeared from the asteroids in front of the cargo ship, their weapons primed and shuttles already flying out of their hangars.
"Oh feth me."
"These are all low-quality goods you know." The Rodian drawled before taking a long drag from the spice pipe sitting on the table next to her, her gaze and the hidden gaze of her new client focused on the showroom floor below them. Pirates, gangsters, criminals of all sorts that had gone against the rules of the station were now duking it out in the arena for the entertainment of the other inhabitants. The criminal underworld was brutal, slavery was all too common a punishment for those that found themselves on the wrong side of a crime lord's ire. "If you can wait a few days I can have some proper workers and soldiers transported here for you to browse through."
Finally the masked man turned to look back at the arena's overseer and idly fished the lightsaber from his sleeve as he turned to face her with his arms crossed behind his back. "That won't be necessary. You've already shown me everything I wish to see, shall we discuss payment?" He glanced at the two guards standing at attention by the door to the VIP lounge that he stood in, heavily armed and armored but ultimately not in any way that would prevent him from doing his business. They were hardly wearing anything that could be considered lightsaber resistant after all.
The Rodian perked up at the mention of payment and sat up from her reclined position on her luxurious couch. "Of course! Now how many slaves would you like to purchase?" Alisteri chuckled at the question and looked down at the Rodian overseer, the dim light reflecting her confused expression in his visor. "All of them."
Snap-Hiss.
The pirate heaved himself forward, a deep slash across his stomach leaving a trail of blood across the floor as he struggled to pull himself towards the blaster of a fallen comrade. The frightened prisoners watching their captor's last bid for survival from their cell only a few feet away clung to one another for support and reassurance. Before his fingers could touch the barrel of the blaster though, an armored boot slammed down on his hand and made him cry out in pain.
He looked up and his eyes widened for the final time as a blade swiftly fell and decapitated him in one downward slash. The adults of the prisoners shielded the children and younger slaves from the gruesome sight, some even moving to stand between the cowering group and the door as their captor's attacker moved towards it. "Worry not, my brothers and sisters in bindings." The mask that the warrior wore slightly distorted his voice but did not betray the genuine tone it carried.
The warrior held a datapad, one pulled from another of the pirates, to the door's lock and opened it with a simple press. The cell door slid open for what must have been the first time in nearly a week and the prisoners, whether they be bravely facing the man or turning away in an attempt to hide from whatever fate awaited them, all held their breaths as he stepped inside. "Today we bring you great news and a great teaching to accompany it. Today we bring a single word." The Squire gestured his arms wide to direct attention to the two other Squires that had just finished slaying the last of the pirates in the room.
"Today we bring to you, Wonosa."
The slave shielded her eyes as the shuttle's ramp lowered to reveal a setting sun, the other enslaved passengers squinting away from what was the first real light they had seen in weeks. The mines were hardly the most illuminated of places after all. When her vision adjusted she looked out to the landing pad beyond the ramp, where three figures awaited them. A woman clad in a formal dress, flanked by two soldiers, stood there with a smile on her face.
"Welcome friends, please come out and let us get better acquainted." She beckoned the slaves forward from the shuttle but none of them moved at first, sharing confused and suspicious looks amongst themselves. After a moment of hesitation the slave nearest to the ramp stepped onto it and slowly made her way down towards the three, still squinting from the light of the setting sun.
The woman's smile widened and she came to meet the slave halfway, her hands moving to gently grasp ahold of the slave's shoulders as she looked her over. "You poor girl, you look like you haven't slept in days! Come, we have soft beds and hot meals waiting for you." The slave didn't know whether or not to believe the strange woman, the other slaves having started to hesitantly exit the shuttle after her at the promise of food. "Follow me, my kindred." Salneva wrapped her arm around the slave's shoulders in a comforting manner, leading her and the rest of them away from the landing pad and into the settlement that awaited them.
Formos, Formos Dresuoti
6:00 PM
[ERROR] / [ERROR] / 878 ABY
[ENDING RECORD PLAYBACK]
Note: I wrote this to illustrate what I sort of laid out and summarized in my newest LFG, do feel free to hit me up if this better explanation and examples caught your attention for some threading ideas!
