Private Expedition Rannon

[Vendra Vane]

Vendra took the comlink from Sable and gave an understanding nod, then she moved back towards the landing pad, where--while eyeballing--appeared to be safe... in theory... based nothing more on hunches and the mercenary's own judgment. She of course encouraged with a gesture for Sable to do the same, all but one transport had departed and made their way into the clouds above.

At the open door, one of her officers pleaded with no small measure of anxiety in their voice for them to get aboard. To do this in orbit, or at the very least with thrusters pointed towards the dirt and moving rapidly away. Vendra grinned and looked back at the complex before she brought the comlink near her lips.

"Alpha one, Alpha Two. Target excavation site 3A for a tactical strike. One each should do, oh uh... and try not to hit the landing pad." She clicked the receiver off and slowly took a few steps back, but didn't get into the dropship just yet.

Moments later, the two fighter-bombers flew low and on course for their bombing run.

Vendra sat on the edge of the dropship's open door and patted the space beside her. "I assume you didn't just miraculously appear on Rannon, is your vessel nearby?" She asked with a note of curiosity. "I mean, the Late Apologies can take you somewhere if you need a ride." She was referring to the Lancer-class frigate in orbit.

She looked up to try and spot the dot of a vessel as it traveled in low orbit above them, but her eyes instead caught the two blue flashes as her bombers dropped payload and rumbled as they passed just overhead. A brilliant flash of light was followed seconds later by the roar of the explosion, and a surprisingly gentle shockwave given the fact they just watched the ruins cave inward on itself.

Rubble and debris went flying in every direction, some small pieces landed near the dropship, a chunk clunked harmlessly off the hull, and a few large pieces landed around but unfortunately not on top of Drex who barely crawled much distance from where he had been shot.

"Well, well, he's a survivor... Not so useless after all." Vendra teased.

Sable Varro

 

[Sable Varro]

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Expedition Rannon

Tags: Vendra Vane

Equipment Loadout:

• Primary Weapon(s): SD-L1 Long Blaster
• Secondary Weapon(s): HG-88 Big Iron, VB-113 "Tidefall" Class Vibroblade,
• Specialized Gear: Wrist Mounted Weapons (Hekler'Kok WMMW-01), DS-102 "Aegis" Personal Energy Shield,
• Armor & Attire: Personal Armor

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Sable took the seat beside Vendra with a graceful drop, one boot landing lightly on the deck as she leaned her forearms against her knees, gazing out at the smoking ruin in the distance. The twin flashes reflected in her eyes, but she didn't flinch at the detonation—just let the rumble wash over her, cool and silent, like watching a storm from the safety of a high tower.

"I'm not sure if that makes him resilient or just too stubborn to die properly," She replied dryly, glancing toward Drex's twitching figure among the settling dust. "Either way, I'm not hauling him aboard."

Her tone was matter-of-fact, calm, but the faintest ghost of a smirk crept across her face.

At Vendra's offer, she let a breath slip out—half sigh, half thoughtful pause. "No ship, took an escape pod." She admitted, glancing sidelong at the Dark Jedi. "At least not one I'd trust to fly through a light breeze without snapping in two. The Late Apologies might be the most reliable thing I've seen all cycle."

She tilted her head toward the horizon. "If it's offering passage, I won't turn it down. Not in the mood to hike off-world."

A beat passed, then she added in a quieter voice, almost reflective, "Rannon was never meant to be more than a stopover. I get restless and go on long trips. Being honest I can’t remember the last time I slept."

Another pause. "But I get the feeling it's the kind of place that tries to sink its teeth into people."

She turned her head, just slightly, toward Vendra. "You staying long?"

 

[Vendra Vane]

The Dark Jedi was quite content to leave him stranded. If he found his way off the rock, then so be it, if he died that was just as well. "I'd like to imagine his lucky streak will continue," she said tongue-in-cheek with no remorse for his abandonment or likely death.

The thought of Sable arriving by escape pod raised more questions than it answered, but still, that felt like a conversation for another time. Then for her to call her starship 'reliable' elicited a soft chuckle from Vendra. "It gets from place to place just fine," she said without revealing much.

No, it was a fine ship, but an old one at that. After many repairs and improvisations, it had a character all of its own. A very good vessel to carry a small mercenary company around the Outer Rim and just enough defenses to ward off pirates. She nodded in agreement at Sable's comments on Rannon. "It certainly tried to sink its way into me," she remarked with a few flashes of memory. The mummified team, the monster, the ghost... And Drex who somehow found his way at the top of her disdain for Rannon.

"I aim to get as far from this system as possible. We'll likely make for Lok next then decide from there. I have an old friend who's a reliable source of information on that dusty little rock." She explained before slinking further into the dropship.

As soon as she and Sable were fully aboard, a soldier closed the outer door and Vendra slammed her fist against the cockpit wall. A moment later the vessel blasted off for rendezvous with the Late Apologies, where their adventures would certainly continue.

Sable Varro

 

[Sable Varro]

​

Expedition Rannon

Tags: Vendra Vane

Equipment Loadout:

• Primary Weapon(s): SD-L1 Long Blaster
• Secondary Weapon(s): HG-88 Big Iron, VB-113 "Tidefall" Class Vibroblade,
• Specialized Gear: Wrist Mounted Weapons (Hekler'Kok WMMW-01), DS-102 "Aegis" Personal Energy Shield,
• Armor & Attire: Personal Armor

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Sable eased back into the seat as the door sealed shut, the thrum of the engines rising beneath her boots like a heartbeat coming back to life. She didn't look back at Drex, not even a parting glance. Whatever fate the man earned, he could keep it.

"Lok," She repeated, the name rolling off her tongue like something half-remembered and half-dreaded. "Dusty's a generous way to put it."

There was no complaint in her voice, though—if anything, there was a faint note of amusement, even anticipation. "Still, better dust than rot."

She let her eyes drift upward, toward where the frigate waited among the stars. Her thoughts briefly flickered through the possibilities ahead—new ports, fresh jobs, and whatever strange shade of kinship this unlikely alliance with Vendra might become. The fact that it hadn't yet unraveled into bloodshed was, frankly, a bit of a surprise.

"Far from Rannon sounds just fine," She said after a beat, then added wryly, "Just try not to drop me into another cursed hole in the ground and we'll get along."

Sable rested her head back against the wall of the dropship, arms crossed, expression cool and unreadable—but the edge of a smirk curled at the corner of her lips.

"I have a feeling this partnership's going to be dangerous."

She meant it in every way that mattered—and maybe, just maybe, she liked the sound of that.