Private A Ghost Ship Returned

[Lirka Ka]

The cycles had been long and many. Lirka's "crusade" into Wild Space to feed the Kainite hunger for slaves has taken her deeper to the galactic rim than ever anticipated, and eventually the boundless greed had sent her too far. And she had been cut off, lost to the great tides of the aether as ion storms ravaged great swathes of the Galaxy and the communicators on her mighty Dungeon Ship had been destroyed.

And with that, the Slavemaster General of the Kainite could only be assumed lost to her grim and evil work. A punishment for her transgressions against the freedom of sentient life, some might say. But instead, now cut off from all the niceties of Imperial power she redoubled her efforts as a marauding crusader, stealing resources and manpower from all the many worlds she encountered with her warriors. Slowly withered away, bit by bit, attrition grinding away at the foul slave ship as they worked tirelessly to acquire the necessary components to send out a signal.

And after all this time, they finally had gotten what was needed. Across Imperial channels, a message played on repeat.

"Kainite vessel, Shackles of Ambition, requesting immediate assistance. Systems low, fuel reserves depleted."

Coordinates being sent out alongside it, tracing to deep, empty, space. A rather unfortunate place to become stranded, and a perfect place to become a ghost ship…

Trayze Tesar

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard

BLUFOR - Allies Unknown

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

One should be careful about who one calls to rescue, for Trayze Tesar, Fleet Captain Under Marque for the Sith-Imperial Banking Clan would come to save you. Not that he was incompetent, per se, but he didn't like Kainites on a good day - and he certainly didn't like traffickers. And yet, that was the great paradox of Trayze, to serve in the Kainites employ, despite reviling their ideology, and even now - rescuing their assets.

It's just a job... the Kiffar reminded himself, over and over, as the fleet of four Munificence-class frigates lurched out of Hyperspace. "Attention Kainite vessel Shackles of Ambition, this is Trayze Tesar, Fleet-Captain Under Marque of the Sith-Imperial Banking Clan, responding to your distress signal." He announced over the comms. "How copy?"

With the formality out of the way, Trayze decided to turn his mind's eye to the ship, or what was left of it, to determine how many people were alive... and how many required medical attention. Even though he hated peering into trafficking dens.

 

[Lirka Ka]

To say the Shackles of Ambition was worse-for-wear, would have been understatement. As the mighty dark brick of a vessel sat lingering in space, her engines dead. It’s many battle scars became evident, great swatches of its hull torn away by enemy fire or the chaotic dangers of space travel it looked as through the thing might as well have just been a wreck already. But yet, the faintest of blinking lights gave proof to the beast still being alive.

Aboard, Lirka sat upon her command throne: now adorned with trophies from dozen of distant and wild planet. A pathetic assortment of the remaining crew working tirelessly at their stations trying to keep this vessel. As the hail reached their shoddily crafted comm system, the name Trayze Tesar sparked a brief, but distant, familiarity in her. A recognizable name was a good thing after so long departed. Barking an order to an underling, the vessel warbled out a response.

“This is Slavemaster General of the Kainite Lirka Ka reporting. My vessel is adrift, we are dead in the ether and our remaining holds are filled with what plunder and laborers we are capable of carrying. Requesting docking to begin the offloading process.”

The voice that came through the comms was possessed of a thick alien accent, a far cry from the mechanical distortion Lirka so often used to mask her voice.

Leaning back in her throne, all she could do now was wait for a response and see if in her absence the relations between Sith had remained as foul as they were upon her departure. The patience to see if she would be met with an affirmative, or be meet with a hail of firepower to turn her

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard

BLUFOR - Allies Unknown

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

There was a pregnant pause, before Trayze answered. "Acknowledged, Shackles, the Conciliator will be arriving first to dock."

It was extremely risky, having Trayze's personal flagship bear the brunt of whatever rebellion would inevitably occur when the slaves sensed a chance to escape. This duty was a grim one, commanding his droids to "set blasters for stun", before turning back to the strange commander.

"How 'bout you start from the beginning, General Ka." the Kiffar continued, taking notes for the inevitable report that the High Command would want. "What has transpired fer yer vessel, point of origin, intended destination... what my droids should expect once we get onboard."

 

[Lirka Ka]

As the pause lingered, Lirka contemplated her options if she really were to be fired upon. Though her contemplations were cut short as the words of Trayze Tesar returned to her ears.

She stayed silent for a time, there was always the consideration of just how much of her missions Carnifex would have wished unveiled. But the so-called-Sithari was not here, and when matters of life or death were involved. Self interest always came first for the Once-Sephi.

“The point of origin for all vessels such as mine is the Kainite world-ship. For you see, for one so vital to the works of my Master I am given no destination. The Kainite hunger for laborers to feed their grand endeavors, and I humbly provided prisoners of conflict to keep the hunger satisfied.”

Prisoners of conflict. The almost idiotic technicality made Lirka smirk to herself, anything to cover for the less-than-secret slaving endeavors of the Kainites.

“Now, rather unfortunately the depths of Wild Space are a harsh place. And my vessel was damaged, unable to send communications back to the Empire and leaving us hopelessly stranded to continue our crusade against the UnSithly-masses. Left with no choice, I was forced to plunder and pillage worlds to find what we required to repair our vessels, of course taking what my Lord requires where I was able. Now of course, defense forces, nebulas, asteroid fields, monsters, pirates, so on and so forth have marred this once mighty vessel.”

She paused again, trying to contemplate just what sort of damages plagued this wreck for their boarders to consider.

“Ahhhh, what to expect aboard. About 60% of the ship is currently operating without gravity, about 40 without life support systems. Our lower most cargo bay is missing, there is a rather unfortunate mynock infestation that has contributed to many of our current woes. Approximately 70% of prisoner storage has unfortunately been rendered unusable or been forced to be retooled for material storage. Oh, and of course how could I forget. I am in possession of a dozen of my original Sith-Imperial warriors, the rest I have unfortunately had to replace with conscripted locals and pirates: feel free to dispose of them at your leisure, Marque.”

As callous as ever it seemed.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard

BLUFOR - Allies Unknown

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

The information was relayed to the central command computer, and then to the two Tactical Droids, and from there, the rest of the command structure.

It would be so easy... a dark part of Trayze crooned. If General Ka was not to return... be a greater honor than she deserves. But those thoughts would have to be shaken aside, and duty his main focus. "We'll need access ta' yer onboard schematics - see if we can't make an exfil point." He explained. "Best case scenario, we fix as much as we can an' tow ya back. Worse case scenario..." The general goes down with their ship.

The Conciliator began to approach the Shackles, and the various droid platoons prepared for their duties...

 

[Lirka Ka]

"I shall see what this old husk can muster, Marque."

Barking orders to her remaining crew members, the Shackles jury-rigged communications systems did what they could to slowly send what schematics remained of their mighty dungeon ship. Doing what best they could to note the various sub-sections of the ship deemed uninhabitable for one reason or another.

"Let it be known, with our plunder of both meat and metal I'm sure there is plenty to barter my safe travel back to the Empire should this ship unfortunately be well beyond capability to repair..."

And of course, there would never be an absence long enough to shake one as foul as Lirka Ka of her backstabbing, weaselly, tendencies. All that mattered was herself and her ambitions after all, to hell with the rest of the lot she dragged out to the middle of nowhere or those forced to come along for her journey.

Trayze Tesar

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard

BLUFOR - Allies Unknown

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

Vileness. That was all that Trayze could taste in his very being as the Conciliator glided to her inevitable boarding of the Shackles. All the stimuli, the bark of command and the stream of activity that accompanied an exfiltration could not quell the vileness that sat stagnant in his heart of hearts.

To Gen. Ka, despite being a mere Fleet Captain, and an Acolyte, Trayze conducted his exfiltration with practiced poise - the droids under his command well oiled and well used to emergency ship-to-ship evacuation - but as Trayze arose from his command throne to address his personal cadre, he felt nothing but dread. After having his personal commlink connected to what remained of the Shackles' crumbling communications array, Trayze once more addressed the General.

"I will be arriving on scene, and we shall remain until the last of the cargo is exfiltrated." he explained. "What's our casualties looking like?" The response would no doubt be dismissive, if any were given, but Trayze intended that the least of the so-called "peons" be treated like emperors - this "Ka" fellow can sleep in the port-a-john for all he cared!

 

[Lirka Ka]

Vile might as well have been Lirka’s middle age. Like a wine aged to rot, the years had done nothing but make her even more cruel. Once Trayze Tesar gave news that he would be arriving aboard, she leaned back in her seat. A wide grin across her wicked face, feeling awfully chuffed with herself to, at least in her mind, help bring him aboard his hive of wickedness.

“I eagerly await your arrival, my dearest savior.”

She strummed her finger against her chin, causalities. Quite the number to think…

“My, I’m sure it is quite the number. But it has been a long time…”

She seemed to be taking her sweet time thinking about it. Of course, not like she’d give the many many reasons some died. Or those who died by her hands.

“450 Kainite warriors, 800 various Auxiliary conscripts. 2,000 Prisoners of Conflict. Truly a tragic casualty of crusading.”

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard

BLUFOR - Allies Unknown

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

Trayze gave a sharp inhale. Absurdly large casualties. Absurdly large causalities that were no doubt intentional. It was a Bogan-damned miracle that the Kainate got anything done. "...And those who survived?" the Kiffar asked, almost hesitantly, as he strode his way to the final umbilical boarding tubes - where he would join his droids in entering the Shackles to begin evacuation.

 

[Lirka Ka]

Rising from her throne, making the summons for her remaining Sith Imperial warriors so that Trayze Tesar could be gifted a properly professional Kainite greeting, with the unfortunate accompaniment of Lirka herself: with her power-suit out of energy, the thing had become close to a heavily armored brick more than a true combat enhancement and as such Lirka had adorn herself in her new makeshift armor: a patchwork of remolded trooper armor, pelts, with an adornment of all sorts of precious trinkets and jewelry from dozens of worlds plundered to feed the insatiable hunger of the Kainate. With skin now finally exposed to the elements after so long locked away in a metal suit, deeply pale with the distinct pink-purple hue giving away her Sephi origins, a deep and exaggerated musculature that would never be achieved naturally, and a face that may have been beautiful if you squinted: but was simply too symmetrical to be real, every feature sharp and angular. Asking about the survivors brought some level of befuddlement to her now-so-rarely-unmasked face. The priorities of some people were simply so odd.

"Truly, the greatest of us and deserving of the highest praises of course. But, we are all beleaguered, we were not gifted with enough supplies for this oh-so-greatly extended endeavor."

Even in her boundless wickedness, Lirka did have some real respect for those who still stood by her side: she respected the strong more than any, after all. Eventually Lirka and her entourage of troopers reached where their guests would be arriving. Standing at attention with Lirka at their head, the freakish woman looking closer to a backwater warlord than a proper Sith-Imperial of some "renown".

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard

BLUFOR - Allies Unknown

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

With a gentle thud, the Conciliator finally made umbilical. With the steamed pressurization of the artificial airs mixing, Trayze regarded the tall, elven figure in patchwork armor and her "welcoming party" for precisely one head nod.

And walked right past her.

"General Ka, you and your crew are welcome aboard the private accommodations of the Conciliator." Trayze stated, turning on heel to gently shepherd her and hers to the umbilical. "You will be given priority, as well as much of the material goods, and you will be taken the fastest route back to friendly space. My droids will tend to your needs."

This was spoken in a tone somewhere between a command and an invitation, erring more on the former. He did not want the crew to inflict further abuses on what remained of the injured, and the Force-Dead would just get in his way. The Intercessor and the Middleman would join the boarding action, and they had been bolsters with facilities to help those injured - acting as emergency ambulances more than dedicated medical facilities.

"We shall remain in contact, and you will assist me in retrieving as much as we can from the Shackles, understood?"

 

[Lirka Ka]

As Trayze Tesar walked so briskly past her, Lirka couldn’t help but let the smallest of sneers come across her face for a moment. The nerve, after she had whipped this sorry lot into shape to keep up appearances. The youth simply had no respect for decorum.

As he spoke the sweetness of proper accommodations on something that wasn’t a floating junkyard, Lirka for but a moment felt the temptation. But it disappeared quickly, comfort was a luxury the Dark didn’t truly allow: but she’d take pity upon her mortal crew and release them from their greatly-prolonged duties.

Perhaps, his attempts to command ignited the ever defiant spirit that lived within Lirka. Though, in truth it was because she didn’t entirely trust her supposed-savior yet.

“I shall have the remainder of the Sith-Imperial crew depart for your vessel, Marque. But, I must insist on joining you for the remainder of this extraction.”

With how the Sith operated, for all she knew the crew would be gunned down after they entered. Certainly, that is how she would have dealt with stranded rivals.

“My assistance shall be far more useful in person, our great Lord Carnifex takes the security on these vessels most seriously: and unsupervised access would leave him most displeased…as well as accounting for perhaps the more specialized removal of some of the more pertinent items aboard.”

If she meant living beings or trinkets, the Galaxy could never guess. And of course, Lirka simply didn’t want this still stranger-of-a-Sith potentially stumbling into her private studies unaccompanied and taking a snoop around at what she had been really been up to in this foul ship.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard
1.2: Play nice with the Slave-Catcher (Optional)

BLUFOR - Lirka Ka (Very reluctantly)

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

Trayze hated when absolute bastards did their homework - and was worried still that even after all this time, the "General" would refuse exfiltration. Say what you will about the Butcher King, he knew how to instill loyalty in his lackeys.

"Very well, General Ka." The Kiffar conceded, "What would you suggest to be our greatest priority in extraction?"

While Trayze personally couldn't sneak out of the strange, Force-Dead woman's visage, perhaps he can use it to his advantage. If the Force-Deadness worked both ways, and she could not truly sense his motives, then... then perhaps his droids could help subtly enact a more humanitarian mission, should the General want to grab whatever prizes she deemed "pertinent" and scuttle the rest.

 

[Lirka Ka]

If there was one thing Lirka was best at, it was doing her homework whenever the capability presented itself. And here? With all she knew about the Sith? Her saviors were no better than another brand of plunderer if they deemed it so. But such was the way of the Empire, she already had plenty of excuses in her head if her Lord was displeased with their performance.

“I am glad we could see eye to eye, follow me.”

Turning on her heels, Lirka began to make her way into the deep labyrinths of this vessel.

“We shall go to my study, my Second-Skin remains there: unfortunately unpowered. If you may provide but the slightest amount of energy I may turn it operational again…unless of course, you’d like to carry it.”

That Powersuit was everything to Lirka, it was just as she said: her second skin. And in terms of precious materials, it sat higher than much of the plundered loot in the Shackles. And of course, all the other dark little secrets she had hid away in this vessel. There was plenty to be saved, and even more that would need to be destroyed to hide them away from whatever other prying eyes existed.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard
2: Assist General Ka (Optional)

BLUFOR - Lirka Ka (Reluctantly)

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

Trayze briefly raised his eyebrow. From what General Ka spoke of her own power-suit, for someone to handle it would either meant that it was a test, or more likely, a trap.

"...I would be honored." came his response. "But hopefully it will not come to that."

Now here was a dance, between two diametrically different Sith - a tale as old as time, for where there was Sith, there were the best arguments against individualism. As they went deeper into the depths of the Shackles, Trayze reached out with the Force to not only sense what lay within... but to provide succor?

How naive.

 

[Lirka Ka]

Lirka’s face was as much a blank slate in the flesh as it was beneath her helmet. There was no need to reveal the truth of the matter, it was a tinge of desperation: a chance to be free of this wretched nakedness outside of her suit.

“Indeed, it hopefully will not.”

The thought of such…savages…handling her masterwork was all but enough to make Lirka shudder. But they didn’t need to know her less-than-stellar opinions of them, not till they were back in Sith-Imperial space at least. As Trayze Tesar reached out, he would be met with the all but overwhelming misery of a dungeon ship. Life existed in this place, but it was a shackled, beaten down, life. Wayward souls stolen from their homes to feed the Kainite warmachine. An evil place.

And soon, they reached a place even more foul: in its own way at least. With a few clicks on a terminal a blast door slid open, unveiling the converted observatory that had been turned into her studies. A swath of astrological equipment pointed towards the endless void of space, among a plethora of weapons, cargo containers, and what looked to be piles of chewed bones picked clean of all their meat and gristle. Evil hung in the air of this place, who knew what dark deeds had been performed within it. Once the pair was inside, Lirka stopped.

“And now, we are alone.”

There was something that may have counted as anticipation hidden in that thick Sephi accent.

“There are no more eyes prying upon your actions, so tell me Marque. Have you come to strike me down? Kill a foul Kainite in their moment of weakness?”

It seemed each of them were expecting a trap, ironic.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard
2: Assist General Ka (Optional)

BLUFOR - Lirka Ka (Reluctantly)

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

Darkness swirled within the throat of Trayze. Ka goaded him, intentionally or not, and even now there was such an easy chance to-

There was a deep inhale, and an exhale, as if he was a parent about to discipline a petulant toddler. "Marq's my mate down at the pub." he began, a bitter sarcasm that largely entertained its speaker. "You will refer to me as Captain Tesar, and I shall refer you as "ma'am" or "General Ka"." The Kiffar gaze was defiant, and goaded the General in kind. He was tired, and the Slave-Catcher could practically inundate herself in it - tired of these Bogan-damned Kainites. He wanted to kill one, he really did... but more than that he wanted to do better, and do more.

Even if it was pearls scattered before mynocks.

"Now, unless you're going to propose something deeply unprofessional in yer presumed personal quarters, Ah have a ship ta' rescue." he exhaled, an irreverence born from idealism fueled by spite more than hope, and an idealism that permitted no tolerance for Kainite backstabbing. "Now, Ah'll turn 'round, you get yer "second skin on", an' Ah'd like ya ta' help me salvage this ship."

With that, he about-faced to the wall, allowing the General some semblance of privacy.
Or the perfect back to stab.

 

[Lirka Ka]

A smug look had began to form on Lirka’s face, she was relishing his annoyance. But such was her way, always pricking and prodding at whoever she was allowed to. For better or worse. In response to his scolding, Lirka gave him an extravagant and over exaggerated bow. Sculpted musculature flexing and bulging in the act. She was a wretch vat-grown creature for sure.

“My dearest apologies, Captain Tesar. I shall be sure to give Marq my regards if I am ever to find him.”

Lirka spoke many languages, chief among them: sarcasm. A relic of the quippy Underworld trash she had been in another life.

Though his second jest was met with a grimace of disgust, another over exaggerated gesture from her statuesque form.

“Unfortunately, Captain Tesar. You’re not my type.”

She was even surprised by the joke, such feelings were utterly foreign to her now: removed in her many rebirths. Distractions that would keep her from her mission. But, Lirka would never miss a chance to jest given the opportunity.

“Besides, I’m old enough to be your mother’s-mother’s-mother. You have odd tastes.”

There was nothing funnier to Lirka than herself. As Trayze Tesar turned, she shrugged. Letting armor and gems clank to the floor as she discarded her haphazard creation and adorned her undersuit once again. Stepping before her beloved second-skin.

“It is unfortunately unpowered, you will have to give me a moment. I will need only the slightest douse of energy to reactivate the locomotive systems. Afterwards we can deal with the rest of this place, and hopefully see this glorious vessel returned to my Lord.”

Various clicks, clanks, and clacks followed as Lirka was forced to take the suit down piece by piece and attach it to their connectors. Dragging out binding-claws into her flesh and secure blades in place. But, it was all but routine to her now, and soon Lirka stood almost a head taller than before. Helmet adorned, and in a far more normal appearance of dark mechanical plate.

“A charge, if you would be ever so kind Captain Tesar?”

She gestured to some sort of port open on her back armor plate.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - SOS, Save Our Slaves
Immediate Goals -
1: Investigate the Shackles of Ambition
1.1: Rescue any and all slaves aboard
2: Assist General Ka (Optional)

BLUFOR - Lirka Ka (Reluctantly)

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka

---

Bitterness. Dryness. It hung in the air as the bodies flexed and fretted this tiresome performance of ritual - this transactional affair that the Kiffar had all hopes to resolve quickly.

Yet another strange twist of fate was revealed - an act of charity that would be simple for most Sith. In insinuation, he would utilize Force Lightning to recharge her grim armor to its fullest potential. Whether this was intentional from the vat born creature, or a cruel test from Bogan, the one Sith that loathed digging deep into the hatred required to electrocute the air was across from the one who innocently asked for this small favor.

If it were a Sith Trayze respected, it would be tragic, bitter, and thematic. Now, it felt like a well-worn farce.

Yet he obliged, calling forth his Aura, coiling the energy as it seared forward into the port with a brief push. Not as consistent a stream of energy - between the unwillingness of the caster and the strange Force-dead being that required his aid.

For Trayze was indeed a man of strange tastes, and his tastes would rather him help the downtrodden slaves than animate this... thing before him.

Press a little further came the cooing of oblivion No one will see, no one will know. Everyone would thank you. ...shut up.
After a few strikes more than what General Ka would have wanted, rising only if she incensed him further, she may sense the delicious interplay between duty and conviction, and the darker emotions masked by self-righteousness.