Intervention | FO Dominion of Zaadja & Gannaria

[Ara Zambrano]

Target: Gannaria System, Zaadja & Gannaria​

”The first order of a government is to preserve the public order and safety.”​

The eyes of the First Order war machine has turned away from the threat of the Galactic Alliance, for the time being a tenuous ceasefire having fallen over this side of the galaxy. Instead, it looks to the expanses of the Unknown Regions, a lawless area of space dominated by a wealth of natural phenomena, the labyrinthian region left mostly unexplored by those who feared its secrets. Yet, there were those who had found home in the expanses, from the ancient Galactic Empire under the rule of Emperor Palpatine to the Jedi who had found refuge in the watery world of Ahch-To.


The Supreme Leader is keen to claim the region for his own, the technologies left behind a temptation ever the great First Order cannot resist.The snow-capped mountains of Zaadja hide just such a trove, a former base of the Confederacy of Independent Systems destroyed and left to wither away beneath the frigid tundra. Left untouched for centuries, the hive factory offers a rare glimpse into the technology that once dominated the galaxy, and could once again offer the First Order an advantage over their enemies. Often it is the past that can lead us into the future.


As many of the past galactic powers have found a home in the Unknown regions, so too have the derelicts and scoundrels of the cosmos. A prime supplier of a unique brand of Spice, this sector as far too long plagued the outskirts of the First Order territory with supplies of the highly illegal substance. The illustrious drug trade pays dearly for the Gannarian Narcotic, far more potent than its generic predecessor, the FOSB having taken note of a high volume of this particular strain of spice now being circulated in the underground drug rings.


This cannot stand. Order will prevail, and with it, the Unknown Regions will come to heel under the eye of the Supreme Leader, Sieger Ren.

1.The Spice of Life: Famous for its spice trade, the Gannaria system has created its own variant known as Gannarian narco-spice or “sniff” on the streets. This variant has begun to filter into FO space, infiltrating the underground drug rings that are constantly being broken up by First Order Personnel. The FOSB has tracked one particularly affluent supplier to its home planet of Gannaria. A select group of key First Order operatives have been tasked with infiltrating and busting up this Spice Den. remove the threats involved. Arrest is prefered but force may be used as necessary.


2.Where There’s a Hutt, There’s a way: Smugglers, including the famous Han Solo, have often found themselves passing through the Gannaria system, usually under the orders of the Hutt Cartel. A majority of these convoys are carrying Spice and other illegal elements into First Order space. The Supreme Leader has commanded that these smugglers are to be stopped, a segment of the First Order Navy dispatched to intercept these shipments.


3.Hive Mind: Technology is a powerful thing and the CIS have it in droves. For centuries the Hive Factory Fortress of Zaadja destroyed in 21 BBY has lied dormant, buried under snow and debris, a ghost of times past. New schematics have been discovered pointing to the potential of a hidden labyrinth far beneath the crumbled factory, a treasure trove of technology ripe for the taking for the glory of Sieger Ren. First Order Personnel have establish an opening into one of the many underground tunnels, excavation and recovery is the name of the game, but who knows what ancient droid technology is alive in the depths, protecting its abandoned home.


4.BYOO

 

[Robogeber]

Objective II: Operation Hunter Killer
Allies: The First Order Sixth Fleet | Battlegroup Imperator
Enemies: Smugglers


One needn't look too far on Dosuun and other Outer Rim planets to see what spice did to a planets youth. To watch them rot away and waste their lives and existence in servitude of addiction was one which cut very close to home to many of the First Order's citizens. Be they brothers and sisters, or fathers and mothers. The insidious exploitation and exportation of spice was one which consistently proved to be a point of contention. The war on spice was always one which needed to be fought. A front which demanded an unrelenting attentiveness to combat. And that was why Fleet Admiral Rausgeber was here today. While spice imported from the ORC had largely dried up, supplies from smaller cartels and the Core worlds had not. And now, it was time of the First Order to take on a source, and dismantle the rings which now plagued their youth.

The bridge was a hive of military activity. Technicians and officers alike remained at their posts, aboard the command deck, walking around, and ensuring the FIV Imperator, the crown of the Sixth Fleet remained online, and available for its current mission. Approaching the Imperator himself, a young man, attired in a greatcoat, approached. He stopped, several meters behind, and stood to attention, arms neatly behind his back. "Interdiction station Talon's gravity wells are online grand admiral," Captain Bannon Croft reported, "The Repulse and Minotaur are still online," He continued. "Nothing will be able to pass through without our blockade."

Grand Admiral, Carlyle Rausgeber turned to face the younger man as he made his report, and appraised him. "Very well then," Rausgeber continued, "But we must remain vigilant," He ordered, "If the FOSB is correct, we should be seeing the first shipment arrive momentarily," Rausgeber coolly informed him, "And given, these are smugglers, I want us on high alert. All hands at battle stations."

Bannon's gentle features twist into a quizzical gance, "Sir, with all due respect, these are smugglers. Spice pushers at best." The captain replied, "Surely you do not anticipate any real resistance from them. They are not prepared, nor equipped for us." Croft continued, "With surprise on our side-" The droid turned now, fully, and approached the Captain. His ghost like figure, passing him by. Bannon, recoiled the repulsorlift jets gently blasting him with the ice cold air.

"It is not resistance we are searching for, it is ingenuity." Carlyle drawled, smoothly. "Smugglers are not dangerous, they are inventive, and if they believe they can find some way past us, they will." The droid seemed to study the rear of the command deck, before turning his head, "They are rats. People who pray off of others misery, but that is not where the comparisons end," He offered with a condescending smirk.

"When pushed, a rat will do whatever is neccessary for its own survival, and that is what a smuggler will do." He finished. "When they find out we have their means of monetary gain within our grasp, they will be inventive. Be smart." Rausgeber finished coldly, "But we, we will be smarter." He then performed another turn, returning to his position, watching as corvettes and frigates moved into their appropriate positions. "Have the Haunt, perform search patterns with TIE fighters, ensure that its advanced sensors ping every and anything to come past us."

Croft bowed his head slightly, "As you wish, Grand Admiral."

 

[Samka Derith]

Objective 3 - Hive mind
Allies: The First Order
Enemies: Unidentified

The drills finally broke through. The overbearing sound of machinery stopped as the workers cheered. This was another step towards leaving this planet and most of them didn't want to stay on this frozen world any longer than necessary.

Samka Derith could relate.

The Overlord of the Knights of Ren stood wrapped tightly in a large winter jacket, her young face mostly hidden behind a large fluffy hood. This was a desolate world made of little but mountains and snow. The First Order had not picked up a single settlement or sign of sentient life in its exploration of the system, even Hoth had more to it than this. All that they could detect were the signs of what had once been pockets of Mandalorians and a facility belonging to the CIS during the Clone War.

Mandalorians hadn't produced much of worth since the ancient days but the CIS had held a few worthwhile tricks up their sleeves. The catacombs beneath the droid factory were allegedly unexplored. The Force called for her to reach the treasures beneath. She didn't know much of what was there, only that she wanted it.

Her father's interest in the Confederacy of Independent Systems hung over her. A man slightly obsessed with a collection of artefacts of a distant regime centuries in the past. At the very least, he had imprinted on her a sense that the scientists and engineers of the CIS had made grand strides in warfare. To fight the Republic's Jedi Order without a Force sect equivalent of their own on even terms was impressive.

"Excellent work," Samka's small figure brushed passed the excavation foreman and trotted through the snow towards the gap in the cave walls, leading down into the Geonosian labyrinth. "Let us go see what we've unleashed, hm?"

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Objective- 3 Hive Mind
Allies: [member="Samka Derith"], First Order
Enemies: Unknown

The world of Zaadja Kyrel had known little about. Other than the fact a factory dating back to the Clone Wars was buried underneath the land for centuries, as well as being connected to a series of tunnels the Geonosians of the factory had made. Kyrel knew a great deal of the Clone Wars due to his obsession with Darth Vader. He had known of the vast capabilities both the Old Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems shared. Due to that academic interest and what could possibly have been below he had accompanied [member="Samka Derith"]. The Overlord of the Knights of Ren, and a being he had the largest respect for within the Order.

He was wearing his armor, mixed in with robes the thermal systems of the body suit that his armor provided, cold was not an issue for him. Unlike the Overlord who was dressed in a leather coat with a hood, he could almost laugh as he heard the chattering of her teeth, but had remained only following her through the complex of where the workers had gone about. Just like her, he was eager for what was underneath the complex.

He walked with her slowly, remaining expressionless as possible. But couldn't help but break the silence, and so spoke through the metallic processor of his mask. "Decitus what could possibly await us within this ruin?"

 

[Konstantin Makarev]

Post: II
Objective III: The Hive Mind
Allies: [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"]

The sound of shuttles and vessels deploying was drowned out by the thunderous thud of the two AT-M6 hitting the snow. "Easy!" A sharp voice barked, "Easy on my girls!" It snapped at the transport vessels, before they lifted off. As the walkers, slowly lumbered towards the cave entrance, stormtroopers stormed into the excavation site, attired in their winter gear, mustered on by officers attired in their dark coats and caps. "Come on!" The voice barked, "Keep going, keep going!" it screamed into the winter wastes, "We're on a clock here gents!"

The voice then stopped, from where the Ren were standing they could see the source. "Hobbs, get me a bloody cigar!" A tall, beefy man, who wore a neat, immaculate uniform. A smaller, aide approached, and handed the man, a roll of brown paper, billowing a plume of toxic smoke. "Perfect lad." The man complimented, giving the smaller man a pat on the head, before continuing forwards, "Make sure the perimeters secure!" He then gave a mighty pat on the back, nearly knocking the smaller man over.

The man then approached the two Ren, arms open, "Ah! Special bloody forces!" He bellowed out with a warm smile, before taking a drag, "So you're the lot I'm here to look at this place with." The man barked, before extending his arm, "Kark me, you're both a lot smaller than what I was expecting," The man conceded, he did stand taller than both at a healthy six foot five. "Specially you," He gestured at Samka, "You look like you've just popped out your Mum's stomach." He allowed himself a chuckle as he slid the cigar into his mouth, and he inhaled.
The officer allowed himself a beat of silence before taking another long drag, "But where are my manners? Colonel Konstantin Makarev." The officer introduced himself, "Eighteenth Armoured Corps, seventh battalion." He then gestured to the two walkers behind him, as if he were at a party, introducing someone. "I'm running security for this op." He asserted, "Any questions?"

 

[Shattered_Mirror]

In comparison to their last operation, the assignment that had dragged Omega Squad to Gannaria was relatively peaceful. There were no renegade Chiss starfighters for them to pursue, nor were there any hostile starships for them to board. It was something that could almost be considered a cakewalk, in the grand scheme of things. The First Order had taken its attention off the crumbling Galactic Alliance and began to reorient themselves back towards their expansionist roots, something that was far overdue. While their efforts had gone unnoticed over the last few years, Kael was thankful that his superiors had finally taken his missions seriously and deployed his team onto the frontlines of the lawless frontier. There were far too many souls in this sector of space, and as many of them had found themselves dipping their fingers into the criminal underworld - well - suffice to say, that wasn’t something the Security Bureau could allow.

Thus, they had requested the talents of his Commandos to assist them in a sting operation, one that would ideally bring down the fledgling enterprise that saw dozens of Imperial citizens suffering from a new narcotic that was called ‘Sniff.’

While the Bureau had their own resources to spare and expend at their leisure, it was always a nice feeling to be wanted by more than just your superiors in the SpecWar branch. Hell, the thought alone had fed Kael ego to bursting, and caused him to boastfully proclaim that Omega Squad would eventually be absorbed by the enigmatic Bureau, and bestowed the finest equipment that credits and lofty connections could buy. While that was an unlikely scenario that such a transfer could ever take place, it was an entertaining train of thought. Maybe one day when they had outlived their usefulness to their commanders. Maybe then they’d seek employment within the Bureau and live out the rest of their days as Spooks, before retiring with beachfront properties and dusky women serving them fruity beverages.

While it was enjoyable to delve into their fantasies every now and then, the Operators of Omega Squad silently coughed as they refocused on the task at hand. They were ordered to wait in the shadows, with their rifles primed, as they waited for their handler’s contact to arrive. Once he had arrived and made the trade with their target, they’d move in and make the arrest. However, as things were expected to go south, as no Kingpin ever went down quietly, their priorities were to target any active or possible hostiles in the area. In order to achieve this objective, Kael had deployed the entirety of his team at various hotspots, that would allow them to cover a vast swathe of territory. One of his members had taken station in a nearby building and was armed with a Nightstinger, so that every shot she had made wouldn’t expose her position. The other two were placed in critical junctures around the facility, where they could materialize from the shadows and eliminate any hostile mark’s that would appear on the level above the trade-off.

That left Kael with his boots on the ground.

And while he didn’t like it, the Commando found himself in an advantageous position to react swiftly to any events that might occur. If he was lucky, he might even be able to subdue this supposed Kingpin and claim the credit for single-handedly stopping the spread of ‘Sniff’ at its source. While that wasn’t true, like the dream of his distant retirement, it would be something nice to think about whilst he bided his time, waiting for the operation to commence.

 

[Samka Derith]

Objective 3 - Hive Mind
Allies: [member="Kyrel Ren"], [member="Konstantin Makarev"]

She turned her head to smile back at the Ren following her lead as she came to a halt in front of him. "Ah Kyrel, can you not feel it?" Samka bent her knees, placing a gloved hand on the floor. It brushed snow aside until it reached frozen rock. "Just through here, below us. The oh so faint cry of something calling out to us." Her lashes fluttered for a moment, the young girl lost in a bizarre ecstasy of the Dark Side. Then she stood to her feet, returning to a jolly atmosphere despite the biting cold. "The Separatists of the Clone War had some attunement with the Dark Side of Force, I have a good feeling that there may be something left behind we could use," she explained rather chirpily.

"Ah special bloody forces!"

Hm, Samka took an immediate dislike to the commanding officer's boisterous attitude. Officers of the First Order were supposed to be taught respect. This man seemed to have no inkling of the concept. The swipe at her height, intentional or not, would not go unnoticed.

"At least you have the self-awareness to question where your own manners are, Colonel," Samka responded cooly. She'd taken his hand for a quick shake, by default he was worthy of a modicum of respect by being a man in First Order uniform, but her gaze was more frigid than the ice around them. So too was the aura around her, like a haze of fear and a cold utterly unlike the natural temperature around them. It was something deeper, something which brought a more primal eerie sense to any who felt it and she would make sure Colonel Makarev felt it.

"How far does it go? Has any aspect of the catacombs been explored or mapped yet?" She quizzed the officer, turning her gaze away from him to look upon the open hole.

 

[Zef Halo]

SPICE DEN
GANNARIA

Zef disliked spice, he wasn't made for it. Alcohol was his thing. What spice was made for was money. Lots of it and when the darn Order kept moving for new territories, the prices of smuggling the Gannarian sniff went rocket high. The damn planet was suddenly full of smugglers and the prices were dropping once more leaving Zef with a whiskey full of glass on the dirty bar of the Spice Den. He'd rarely seen so much addicts in one place, it was a complete mess and with the news of Order fleet up in space, not many were happy.

Recently, he'd been running into these fethin' imperials quite a lot. Prices go up, good for business but dealing with deranged imperialists wasn't ever a pleasant thing.

"Betting a thousand I could run through that blockade, no problemo." Someone muttered.

"Double it up, schutta. Two thousand I could make that run, no tractor beam locks."

"Four thousand I could pass inspection. No questions asked."

And on and on and on.

Ugh.

He took a drag from his cigar turning his head to the side only to see...

Double Ugh.

[member="Zyrias Pax"].

 

[The Major]

Post 1, Surveying -rapid movement​

Allies: Security Bureau and its constituents​

Enemies: Scum and degenerates​

The mission was sound, straightforward, but lacking the panache or bombast that would go further than solving one simple problem of the First Order. What business did their government have with protecting half baked scum from their wanton addictions? None. If not for the juicy, subversive objective hand crafted by the twisty Major herself, she would have ensured that not a single cent of Operations was diverted into this nonsense. But, there was a creamy, rich core of opportunity to exploit.

The chemists who prepare “Sniff.”

It was simple: using her talents she would single handedly infiltrate and secure one of the rumored kingpin’s scientists. The target would be seized, made docile, and snuck out. She didn’t want to risk getting the prospective asset shot in a raid or have the chemist chunked apart over months by the rabid dogs of interrogations. It was possible they could ruin this engineer of wonders beyond further use thanks to their zeal.

After using some Forcecraft in the form of illusions to get her above and near the structure, she leapt from a tower. From high above she floated down, assisted by a pink parasol designed to carry her weight in a glide downwards. Eventually her (quite frankly over designed) boots hit the deck of a balcony, and soon the sweet melodies of tyrannical mischief would guide her as though lifted by the very hands of fate to her special target.

 

[Boram Predor]

Objective 1 - The Spice of Life
Allies: [member="The Major"]

Kaila had hardly been out on here own when she was helping to keep Zakuul running, now she was forced to crawl through some dirty streets in the middle of gods knows where hoping that the stench of the streets wouldn't rub off on her. Kailari was used to smugglers, sometimes having to use them to obtain certain items through her father's isolation of Zakuul, but did they have to be this dirty?

She could hardly stop herself from gagging as she made her way to the otherside of the located spice den, her orders simply to catch and arrest any of those that managed to evade the initial raid on the place. So she marched her way through the old murky streets in miserable weather, clutching her Atsak close to her chest as she carefully eyed the locals.

The Princess' Aegis didn't make her fit in quite either, but most of the locals were too inebriated or simply thought the girl was rich.

Which was true of course.

But still, she made her way around, taking a seat as she had reached the back of the place before looking up at the miserable sky. She didn't want to be here, but Theran was putting in good work with relations to the First Order so now Kay had to do the same herself. Even if it meant she had to go to the worse ends of the galaxy.

She let out a loud sigh, mind thinking of home before something took her eye. Some type of ship or something standing out against the miserable sky, her gaze happening by chance. The Zakuulan squinted to make it out, was it a type of ship or droi-

"Is that a karking umbrella?"

 

[Kirie]

Objective: 3
Post: 1
Enemies(?): [member="Kyrel Ren"], [member="Samka Derith"], [member="Konstantin Makarev"]

A few months earlier, and exciting opportunity had come to the bustling world of Centares. New research that had been picked up by the Centaran Exploration Society, headed by the charismatic Kit Caraway, indicated an as-yet undiscovered network of tunnels beneath a ruined and abandoned factory of the ancient Confederacy. The news went public quickly, and in order to get in first the Exploration Society rapidly assembled a team, and gained temporary travel permits to go through First Order space.

Kirie, having recently returned from long diplomatic talks, was restless. She longed to go out and see the rest of the Galaxy, and this archeological expedition seemed the perfect opportunity for an escape. Without much further thought she'd signed up to the crew, and boarded the battered Gozanti cruiser that would take them into the heart of First Order territory, and back out the other side. Despite a few routine stops by law enforcement, they made good time, the shuttle landing on the desolate surface of Zaadja.

The shuttle had touched down in a valley between two towering mountains, passing on its approach what appeared to be a collection of machinery not far away, and the small crew of five people had wasted little time in donning their layers of warm clothes and gathering tools such as rope, picks, and torches.

Now, Kirie wandered the halls, having found a hole that lead into the tunnels and rappelled down with the assistance of the other explorers, leaving the freighter sitting alone on the ice. The deaf girl shivered as the beam of her torch lanced into the blackness. Something wasn't right about this place.

 

[Konstantin Makarev]

Allies: [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"]
Enemies: [member="Kirie Ito"]
Objective III: Hive Mind

The colonel immediately felt a modicum of ice, cleave its way down his back, and he recoiled a little. His boisterousness gave way to a momentary flare of anger. He continued to study the Ren, with his cigar, firmly in place. He listened to her and nodded a little at her question. Affirming that there in fact had been a search. "Aye, a recon force was dispatched into the caves, and managed to find themselves an entry point to the main manufacturing portion of the factory, however, it appears an automated security presence is still active within the foundry itself."

"Recon force received heavy casualties and was forced to ultimately retreat from the caves." Makarev elaborated. "Intel retrieved was sparse. But we have a map to the caves, access shows there is relatively easy. But the enemy contingent is far stronger than we initially thought." Makarev continued, "Our main fear is containment," The colonel elaborated, as he puffed on his cigar. "We fear if we're not surgical enough in the destruction of enemy security, or disabling it, we will face an automated force, with armoured and mechanised capability, breaching and possibly attempting to reoccupy the surrounding area."

"Or worse, gaining self awareness, and managing to reactivate the facility, and be able to reinforce itself."

 

[The Major]

Post 2, Obj 1: Metal Gear Solid Style​

Allies: Security Bureau and its constituents
Enemies: Inept guards and failed barbers, most likely​

​

​

Nobody could have seen that infiltration. Right? So flawlessly timed and expertly executed —it was the stuff of clockwork precision culminating from hours of surveillance of other specialized agents acting on behalf of the greatest pseudo-civilian agency on this side of the galaxy. Her grace, unmatched and unmarred by the wandering eyes of today’s enemy. Warm feelings of touching an aspect of perfection kept her limber, and enabled the Major to make quick work of the locked door that lead into the den of iniquity.

Searching with the assistance of absurd, cutting edge heartbeat sensors built into her dataglasses allowed her to slip into the bowels of the beast, bypassing tooth-gapped mercenaries and the cozy, disease riddled achievements hired from an in-house brothel. While finding the exact the lab needed wasn't so simple, the Major made quick work of the task by following the concentration of guards deeper in. Of course, the scum had picked the deepest pit within the building to conduct their malpractice.

No matter. Nothing would stand in the way of the Security Bureau —nay, her.

Gaining access to the labs using security cards that were forged with a some slicer magic, the Major marched in triumphantly, not being so careful to conceal herself since the operator figured her target would be some sniveling coward who would be easy to subdue. No neutralizations were required up to this point. No reason to assume that would change now. But if it did, her various tools of the craft should help make a spirited discussion of the matter.

 

[Luther Lewis]

Location: Gannaria - Spice Den.
Objective One: The Spice of Life
Allies: [member="Zef Halo"]
Enemies: [member="The Major"], [member="Kailari Selanno"], [member="Kael Garick"]

Zai had a history of stupid decisions but this one had to be the most colossally idiotic one by far. He'd been involved in criminal activities before, sure. He'd even run in a cartel on Nar Shaddaa. But never had he ever messed with the spice trade. The highly addictive substance was the cornerstone of any organized crime, which meant that there was always other competition looking to eliminate one another. The worst job to have would be one of the grunts, which was the exact position Zai was in. The role had a high turn-over rate as members were arrested, overdosed or were killed in a skirmish.

If that wasn't bad enough, the fething First Order had put a blockade around the planet. The mere fact of that put a deep chill deep into Zai's bones. He and the First Order didn't exactly...mesh. After stealing from the First Order, some bigwig named Emilia Ravel had placed a bounty on his head. He'd done worse to the FO since, but that one costly mistake had eventually led him to a life of crime. He'd managed to avoid them so far, but it was typical of his bad luck that they'd corner him here of all the planets in the galaxy.

- - - - -​

The workstation floor was in near darkness, which would be an occupational hazard in any other workplace. Dim red lights were used to prevent the Spice from activating accidently. Fortunately for Zai, he wasn't working on the machines, which he considered the most dangerous job on the floor. Unfortunately for him however, he had the second most dangerous the job. Keeping the machines running. Cheap and illegal labour called for cheap and illegal machines. Each day Zai risked death at the hands of electrocution or his supervisor, if he couldn't fix a machine. They usually broke down as a newbie (they were all newbies, as they weren't trained) cut off a digit or a hand on the sharp spice and left the machine to jam up while they were off screaming.

Today was going smoothly, which was rare. There were no machine breakdowns, no accidents. The chemists, locked up in the basement, hadn't offered any complaints or caused any explosions. Even the grizzled mercenaries seemed slightly less on edge. Sweating from hauling the wreck of a broken machine, Zai paused, relaxing for a moment. Smiling for the first time in a while; he basked in the fact that, for once in a long while, he might have a good day.

 

[Zyrias Pax]

​

Location: Gannaria - Spice Den.​

Objective One: The Spice of Life​

Allies: [member="Zef Halo"] [member="Zai Avery"]​

Enemies: [member="The Major"] [member="Kailari Selanno"] [member="Kael Garick"]​

Post: 1​

Somewhere between Canto Bight and First Order space, the Imperial Transport on which Zyrias traveled with [member="Doran Ren"] stopped for minor repairs. The planet was Mindabaal, and despite the promise to the teenager that she was a valuable asset to the order, she felt as though she was being mislead and decided to jump ship - literally. With a few credits in her pocket, she told her small crew that she was going to have a walk-around, and Zyrias wandered until she came to Mindabaal Custom Yachts. Spying a pleasure yacht with a similar design as the Jericho’s Pride, she noted it was just about to take off. The criminal sliced into the cargo hold and stowed away, not quite sure of her destination.

Twenty-four hours later, she awoke, hungry as feth and scrambled out of the cargo hold, slinking off to the nearest city. As she bought a caf and a cheese-stuffed bread-puff from a street vendor she asked him: “What planet am I on?” A quizzical look met her from the human vendor. “Um, Gannaria?”

Great, First Order space. Exactly what I was trying to avoid.

Still, Gannarian narco-spice fetched a jookley amount of credits. The only way to identify a potential supply to either sniff or traffic was to head to the source itself. After some backalley conversations, Zyrias headed towards The Spice Den. That name… hiding in plain sight? Yeah, that sometimes worked. Entering the low-lit, smoky cantina, once the teenager wafted away the mist from a nearby hookah, she spied someone familiar, hunched over the bar, practically making love to his whiskey.

“You’re supposed to drink it, not have sex with it,” she quipped, sliding in beside him. And while her hair was different - not black and straight, but dark and tightly cornrowed the braids falling down either side of her shoulders, her unmistakable round eyes and black freckles would be difficult to miss. Especially since the two had worked side by side together.

“This ain’t no palace, Daddy.”

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Allies: [member="Konstantin Makarev"] [member="Samka Derith"]
Enemies: [member="Kirie Ito"]
Objective: 3 Hive Mind

As they walked to the opening of what would be the catacombs that were below. Decitus child like demeanor had not persisted if anything else all Kyrel could see through the visor of his mask was a half-insane girl who had been filled with the dark side. He did feel something, but he had never thought that the Confederacy had been around long enough to have the dark side leave its mark. He had replied to her in a skeptical tone. "I thought from the records that the Confederacy, Sidious's plaything never left a lasting effect on the dark side. But you Decitus cannot be wrong there is something here. Calling out for the Force."

Then before they could press forward to the hole that led to the catacombs, all he could hear was the arrogant and cocky voice of an Imperial Officer. Kyrel had never much-liked officers, there were very few he respected like Admiral Rausgeber, but others he had found to be weak and unknowing of the Force. To have the gall the to even treat the Overlord with disrespect by her height, he had taken a slight pleasure at the thought of Decitus making an example out of him, he had just stood calmly, giving him a nod of respect as they talked of the recon force that was sent, Kyrel couldn't help but grow excited at the thought of cutting down battle droids.

As they were continuing with what lied below. Kyrel felt a tremor in the Force, feeling the call of the dark side, but also something else. He reached out a little more feeling the presence of a Jedi, he almost gasped. A Jedi this far into First Order space was unheard of. In fact, it was rare with how guarded the territories are. He spoke aloud revealing the presence he had felt. "I feel something else.. We are not alone, someone else is down there."

 

[Zef Halo]

"Don't. Call me. That,kid." The grumpy old man shook his head briefly before taking a sip from his whiskey.

Was he surprised she was here? A bit. The slicer did look like a fethin' junkie when they first met robbing that mad rich palace of the Hapan Queen. That was crazy. At one point Zef thought the guards were reading their minds, always being one step ahead of them two but that's why being unorthodox goes a long way. You survive the job and get the gooood money. Perhaps the weird as feth hair she was sporting was the result of cycles of high quality spice she could afford after the big hit on Hapes.

Perhaps.

"This ain't no palace so I ain't much surprised you found yourself in this chithole. Good dresses can't hide a spice blasting addict." He referred to her elegant dress during the Hapes 'mission'. Zef's tone wasn't judgemental but more of an old man being grumpy and moaning about everything all the time. "I wanna say you're here for the sniff, but I ain't sure if you're testing or robbing it or both."

"In either case, kid, you're stuck as me till that blockade chills a bit - we're all sharing this wretched spice den of scum and villainy." Zef stated as he reached for the cigarette pack that typically for him was on the rolled sleeve of his dirty white t-shirt. Lighting up a cigarette, he added. "Don't dare take them fool's offers for a blockade run, ain't gonn' happen."

"But heck, y'all kids these days livin' fast 'n' dyin' young." He shrugged as he took a drag from the tobacco roll.

Not that it was any different back in his day but an old man's got to moan.

[member="Zyrias Pax"]​

​

[member="The Major"] [member="Zai Avery"] [member="Kailari Selanno"] [member="Kael Garick"]​

 

[Zyrias Pax]

​

​

Location: Gannaria - Spice Den.​

Objective One: The Spice of Life
Allies: [member="Zef Halo"] [member="Zai Avery"]
Enemies: [member="The Major"] [member="Kailari Selanno"] [member="Kael Garick"]
Post: 2


“Don’t you ever let loose and have some fun, Zef?” Yeah, she remembered his name. Surprisingly since she could barely remember who she may have slept with the night before, but somehow her actual partners… well you never knew when you might need them to bail you out. Like Detective Reese, she thought, recalling the Coruscant cop who’d tracked her to Canto Bight and handed her his card in case she "ever wanted to turn herself in." Nobody did that so she'd translated his gesture to mean he was offering to help her in some way. Maybe reduce her sentence if she did get arrested on Coruscant.

Until she knew otherwise Zyrias had basically painted Zef as friend and not a foe. Sitting on the barstool beside him, she crossed her tattooed legs, combat boots on her feet, laces untied. The teenager lit a cigarra and deeply inhaled.

“Oddly enough I’d been… I don’t know if captured was the right word, but recruited by a couple of First Order operatives. Halfway through the trip I got skittish, jumped ship. Stowed away on a ridiculously expensive yacht and ended up here.”

Her hazel eyes grew blank when he spoke about blockade runs, but then she figured he meant spice smuggling. “Eh wouldn’t make a difference cuz I don’t have my own ride. And I ain’t a mother karking spice addict okay?”

Another inhale, and she turned her head to exhale towards the bar, the small beads in her brains clicking with the movement. “Look, I like a bit of sniff now and then, but I’d prefer to buy it low and maybe go back to Mindabaal to make a little profit. Lots of rich dudes building yachts there.” Sighing and stubbing out the cigarra irritably, ordering a shot of whiskey for herself, she asked, “How long you think we have to stay here. You know, until things get a little less restrictive? And what do you plan to do with yourself until then?”

 

[The Major]

​

Post 3, Obj 1: Spice of Life​

Allies: Security Bureau and its constituents​

Enemies: Drug peddlers and bar flies, possibly​

Empty.​

​

“?”​

There was nobody in the lab. The Major, perturbed by the lack of security in the room, made two rounds about its circumference looking for the target. Not a life adorned its various seats or desk. She even made sure to check under one of the workstations, expecting there to be a chemist or at least an adjutant snorting some of the product in secret. But no, nothing. Not even rats or roaches. Instead the room was in disarray, as though whoever occupying it had run off in a huff. Double checking the sensors proved that none of the closet guards were visibly alerted to her presence. Nobody was suddenly moving closer or converging in tandem like a swarm.

Had her team of agents dropped the ball on the estimated time of the target’s movements?

Impossible. Her thoughts almost immediately drifted to a more dark interpretation -paranoid as the Fallanassi tended to be these days: maybe the team had set her up.

If she found evidence of such… oh, it would be vigorous set of days for those direct subordinates of the Operations mandate. A chill took the back of her neck, and she instinctively pulled the odd, triangular feathered hat lower upon her forehead, as though there was anticipation of cold combat on the way.

For now, there was nothing else to do but to mitigate the damages of time wasted. The Major investigated the room and took as many samples as her pockets would allow. Various instruments and workstations were present, and so these would be next targets of her exploits.

 

[Samka Derith]

Objective: 3
Location: CIS Catacombs
Allies: [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Konstantin Makarev"]
Enemies?: [member="Kirie Ito"]

The group had entered the tunnels now. Herself, Kyrel, the Colonel and a handful of Snowtroopers.It was still cold enough that she had to consciously stop herself from shivering beneath her jacket but at least they were away from the biting wind.

She let out a deep sigh, seeing her breath condense in front of her. "You took heavy casualties?" She questioned the Colonel. "That seems bizarre. The Confederacy's droid army was built to overwhelm with sheer numbers of poor quality troops. Any surviving droids should have gone totally insane without a memory wipe by now, they needed one every standard month or so, lest they devolve into inane babbling. More so than usual. There's more to this."

The young Ren had taken point position, leading the group towards whatever it was she felt. It was much less powerful than a Nexus, this was nothing like Dagobah, there were no whispers in her mind calling for release. There was just an inkling and the Force subtly pushing her to follow it. While she was focused on choosing the direction they would follow, Kyrel spoke of something else.

"Hm?" She pulled herself out of her immersion on the trail for a moment. Just enough to focus on the wider area and broader signature on the Force. The man was right, there was a very faint dash of something else here too, a presence far lighter yet not powerful enough to be picked up right away. "Hm. Nothing to be concerned about for the time being. Let them waltz around in the dark and we'll deal with the problems as they appear."

A slight crackle cut through the air as the group rounded a corner. In the middle of the room was the body of a lone B1 Battle Droid, sparkling on the floor from a recent plasma wound.

"We must be getting close, I do hope we're all ready." Samka stood over the droid wreckage, inspecting it from above. "It must have broken off from its friends. Shot in the back too, so it might not have been attacking anyone." The young Ren spun on her heels back to face the Imperial Officer. "Tell me, Colonal Makarev, are there troops of the Order's unaccounted for who might still be alive down here? Who killed this droid?"