Populate Smoke and Mirrors | The Tion Necessity | ISB & SCAR

[Denniston Thrast II]

4th Post

SMOKE AND MIRRORS - THE TION NECESSITY
OBJECTIVE ONE

REIVER_ONE

Lord-Captain of 1st Scouts Company,"Raider Company"

Tags: Natalie Scott Hunter Stark Rika Hiro Sylus (Γ059)

THE FAR-TRAVELLED HIGHLANDER: A LITTLE JAUNT ON NEW-ALDERAAN - PART 4

Westquarter, Sana Anya,
New-Alderaan (Spring of 877 ABY)

'Who even let you two out of the pig sty,'​

Laughing politely at the sudden nature of the previously-silent Atrisian's outburst, and also at the confusion of which Galidraani caste she was confusing his own with, Thrast calmed himself enough to respond,'Not much in the way of pigsties in Carannia.... Also, please remember - this is the Imperial eastern frontier. Anything happens near Serenno or Galidraan for that matter, you should know you're gonna find a few of our lot operating nearby.', before he focused once more on the developing situation around them. There was no doubt trouble brewing by then, and in the moment Denniston drew a pistol from his jacket and slid it across the table towards Natalie, it seemed that their discussions were about to meet a rather confrontational interruption by some nasty-looking local Sana Anya brutes, putting their little parley on hold for as long as the risk-factors remained in play.

'A jurisdictional nightmare either way, but be warned - the Highland Brotherhood will be seen elsewhere as the wars progress.'

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

█████ - 'H A Z H A R'
IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU
TASK FORCE ZETA
██, ████████ Blvd, Sana Arya, New Alderaan
TAGS: Hunter Stark , Rika Hiro , Denniston Thrast II , Natalie Scott ,@██████​

"Who even let you two out of the pig sty,"

While Sylus would not have put it that way, the agent certainly sympathised with the intent. Galidraanis were bad news (and yes, that included the current triumvirate in Sylus' mind), and he had no idea why ISB thought to put these paramilitary types with the three of them.

'A jurisdictional nightmare either way, but be warned - the Highland Brotherhood will be seen elsewhere as the wars progress.'

Before Sylus could turn the tension down a notch, the man slid a gun to the woman, eyeing the tough looking fellows subtly gathering their table.

"We might be rumbled," he muttered, one hand sliding into his jacket while the other lifted his drink to his lips.

"One for the road."

 

[Sera Rosh]

V O R N S K R
THE EMPIRE
SANA ARYA | NEW ALDERAAN
TAG: Denniston Thrast II | Hunter Stark | Rika Hiro | Sylus (Γ059)

BLACK TAR AND NICOTINE

'Alright then, sociable approach for this one.... Lets move.'

The Vornskr let out a snort. Sociable was as far from the demolition expert as it could come. Why, Barran? Why did it have to be the dolt of a Thrast?

But she walked with him despite prejudices and accepted the seat he pulled out for her. Not that the spooks helped matters at all. Denny was quick with his replies while the Vornskr's steel gaze became colder and colder with each exchange. If anyone was blowing anyone's cover, it was the damn spooks that were escalating.

"Who even let you two out of the pig sty,"

If this woman wasn't Imperial, she would have had her head removed already.

But things took a turn, trouble brewing around them as more eyes turned on them. Damn spooks and their jitters causing a scene.

Thrast, with his usual flair for dramatics, silently slid her a pistol that she casually removed from view and onto her lap as she took another sip of her drink. It wasn't her usual go-to weapon, but it'd do.

'A jurisdictional nightmare either way, but be warned - the Highland Brotherhood will be seen elsewhere as the wars progress.'

"Perhaps noo's a good time to be elsewhere s'well, aye?" she muttered towards Thrast as she removed her glass from her lips and set it on the table. It seemed the spook across from her had the same idea, as his hand inched into his jacket as well.

"One for the road."

"Aye. A hot road it'll be too." she agreed.

 

[Margo Liaeris]

STALKER

Objective: Operation Red Stamp
Location: Cophrigin Mountains - Commandeered Patrol Craft
Tags: Hal Vaiken | Lily Stevens | Gavyn Berand

All that Margo could do was shake her head at the other three in the transport. Margo liked the dynamic when Vaiken was on the ground, at least within the first few minutes of her exposure thus far. At least it provided another target for Reaper’s endearing personality.

"Rook can be your six. My rifle needs zeroing on a rearview mirror."

“Noted.” Margo replied as she glanced over at Gavyn and gave him a cheeky wink. “Just try not to watch my six too closely and we’ll get along just fine.” Her tone was a touch playful without crossing too far into the realm of innuendo. ‘Or maybe I am...’ she thought to herself.

In truth, she hadn’t had much time for romance in her early adulthood, aside from the occasional dalliance with a few squadmates during special forces training. She wasn’t necessarily expecting to do so here, but her demeanor conveyed the impression she wasn’t entirely opposed to it either.

That said, there was a time and place for that, and this was neither. ”Any last words before Reaper finds her scope, Sarge?”

 

[Cromwell]

C R O M W E L L
IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU
TASK FORCE ZETA
Rika Hiro Sylus (Γ059) Denniston Thrast II Natalie Scott

Objectives:

• Meet with contact at Sana Arya
• Survive and escape Sana Arya

The tension between the ISB agents and the Highlanders grew thick as the humidity permeated the air of Sana Arya. Rika, in typical fashion, was no stranger to expressing her feelings on the matter, and Natalie, also in typical fashion as he could recall from the Galidraani Troubles, still bore a shorter fuse which was running fast out of length. Denniston was all that maintained Natalie's dynamite from exploding, remaining cool-headed on a table where everyone's trigger fingers had begun to itch. Sylus, too, helped in tuning down the tensions rising between all Imperial subjects.

"Perhaps noo's a good time to be elsewhere s'well, aye?"

"We still have a contact to meet, Scott." Hunter sourly replied, eyes narrowing at the Highlander woman. But all signs around them were showing that Flamingo was not only a no-show but something far worse was brewing--

They could all hear it. They've all served long enough on the edge between life and death to do so. Despite the cacophony of music, chatter, and laughter, the clicks of a gun's safety released.

"DOOOOWN!!" Hunter roared as he flipped the whole table over as cover for the Imperials. His voice drowned under the sudden hail of blaster fire from all sides.

They were in the den of wolves.​

 

[Gavyn Berand]

SERGEANT GAVYN BERAND
IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
501st LEGION, SCAR SQUADRON
OPERATION: RED STAMP
COPHRIGIN​

Location: Stolen vehicle, Cophrigin
Tags: Hal Vaiken | Lily Stevens | Margo Liaeris

The way Reaper smiled at him made the young man simultaneously amused and ever-so-slightly unnerved. He knew she wasn't going to do anything to them, but she was a woman with a deadly skillset and a very... strong personality. That kind of smile just didn't quite match what he knew of her. Instead all he did was shake his head and laugh as he went back to working on the rifle.

When Stalker spoke Gavyn arched a brow as he looked up from the rifle he'd been working on. That sort of comment was unexpected, if not entirely unwelcome. He'd had a few relationships and flings back home before he joined up with the Empire, but things had been different the last few years since he'd become a stormtrooper. Training, then Noris, then special forces selection, then SCAR—his service to the Empire had been full of conflict and sacrifice, but it had left little time to even consider personal matters like that, let alone pursue them.

Still, it was pretty harmless. Nothing to get too worked up about.

Satisfied that the rifle was about as good as it was going to get, Gavyn placed it on his lap and leaned back in his seat. "Hey, no promises," he said with a smile and wink of his own. "Battlefield's a chaotic place. Never know what might happen if I don't."

Oh yeah, nailed it.

 

[Don Belkora]

DON BELKORA
COMPNOR
CHIEF OF THE CORE OPERATIONS

​

Elsewhere outside the musky claustrophobic confines of the drinker's paradise at Sana Arya, Don watched the proceedings via an adjacent building which hastily saw conversion into an observation and listening post for any and all activities in the area. He watched it all with a cigarette in one hand, and a sense of bemusement in the other as the Galidraani's met with the agents. However, that awkward tension soon turned violent as one of his staff turned from their listening station and urgently put down their headphones in a panic to Belkora.

"Sir there's a situation with the unit at Sana Arya, multiple hostiles armed and dangerous attacking our operatives."

"How many?"

"Unclear sir but potentially as many as a dozen or more."

Belkora shrugged and took a long drag of his lit cigarette as he stood to and stretched, chuckling and shaking his head in amusement at the situation.

"See what happens, Starks grown as is Hiro and that freak Sylus let them handle the situation; not about to nanny the little moustachioed Galidraani; we'll go in if it gets unmanageable."

Rika Hiro Hunter Stark Sylus (Γ059) Denniston Thrast II Natalie Scott ​

 

[Rika Hiro]

Rika Hiro|Imperial Security Bureau|Tion OP
Tags:// Sylus (Γ059) Denniston Thrast II Hunter Stark Don Belkora Natalie Scott

"DOOOOWN!!"- Hunter Stark

Almost as if on instinct, Rika followed those words and threw herself behind the makeshift cover of the table, silently cursing that she'd ever worn heels and a dress that night as she exchanged blaster fire with the enemies around them. She shot Hunter a look of annoyance before resigning herself to the situation, she scouted all possible exits and options, but with so many shooters surrounding them and civilians mixed in between. It seemed to Rika that the agents would quite literally have to fight their way out, regardless of civilian or enemy casualties.

"I'LL FLANK," Rika cried out over the noise, scurrying over to another table and pulling a poor unfortunate soul's body that was slumped on it off before kicking it over for cover. She pulled her left high heel off, throwing it at a shooter to buy space and time as she tried to reload. But the shooter drew in close, pointing his gun over the table to look where the Atrisian had gone. But Rika was lying in wait, lunging and grabbing the man by the collar and pulling him over the table before using the pointed end of the heel and smashing it deep in the mans eye socket as he let out a high pitched scream.​

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

█████ - 'H A Z H A R'
IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU
TASK FORCE ZETA
██, ████████ Blvd, Sana Arya, New Alderaan
TAGS: Hunter Stark , Rika Hiro , Denniston Thrast II , Natalie Scott ,@██████​

"DOOOOWN!!"

Sylus drew his blaster pistol in one motion and fired off several blasts before diving into cover beside Stark.

"I think our contact's not coming!" Sylus yelled over the din of screams and gunfire.

"I'LL FLANK," Rika cried out over the noise, scurrying over to another table and pulling a poor unfortunate soul's body that was slumped on it off before kicking it over for cover.

While the attackers aimed for Rika, Sylus popped up from cover to gun down another shooter. Someone from behind the bar was unloading with a scattergun, its pellets pounding into the table.

"We have to scatter," Sylus said, before he dived in the opposite direction of Rika. He rolled and found himself behind a toppled table just beside a pillar. Scrambling to take cover behind the pillar, the agen checked his gun. He stopped when he heard the heavy steps of someone charging around the far side of the pillar.

The agent turned and punched through the corner of the pillar, his hand grabbing the man by his collar in a shower of debris. The shocked assailant could only stare wide-eyed as Sylus put a disruptor round through his chest, making an extremely bloody mess. His enhancements allowed his fist to take the beating, but he could still feel the pain growing.

Sylus used what was left of the body as portable cover as he rushed the counter, sliding onto it and barreling through the man behind it. With the weight of one and a half men on him, the man behind the bar fell back, his head smashing into the bottles lining the back of his wall. Sylus let loose with his fists as he fell on the man, pummeling him until he stopped struggling.

Picking up the dead man's scattergun, Sylus poked his head and weapon above the counter and let loose into the assailants from the flank.

 

[Hal Vaiken]

S A R G E
501st LEGION
IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
SCAR SQUADRON
Margo Liaeris Gavyn Berand Lily Stevens

Objectives:

• Infiltrate the military research facility
• Insertion and data retrieval
• To be revealed :handrub:

Sarge silently chuckled at his troopers' exchange before his face turned to stone. The time for jest was over.

"Eyes up, Lair up ahead." he jerked his head at the large facility carved into the face of the mountain. The control tower at its center loomed high above into the passing clouds of late autumn. "Once inside, keep your spacing and minimize shots after the blackout. Reaper, be ready to hook into their systems when we get to security. We need their eyes and ears."

The veteran eased on the gas pedal lightly as another curve through a tunnel finally left them on the straight to the installation. :: Witness, we are at the clubhouse. We've secured a vehicle and are moving to Lair. ::

:: Copy, Actual. Lair is quiet. You are go for insertion and data retrieval. ::

:: Copy all. ::

He casually raised a hand to greet a passing vehicle -- most likely the next patrol going out. Keeping up the disguise was paramount. Lest any of the SCAR troopers wanted to feel the heat of the dozen laser canons placed across the facility, ominously scouring the area.

"Entering Lair." the vehicle slowed down to a halt inside its entry checkpoint and SCAR calmly disembarked, leaving the vehicle for the next squad on patrol duty. Soldiers roamed around the area, others stood guard, while their chatter was muffled by the occasional order of a senior. Sarge subtly examined their surroundings. There was no leakage from above and no soldiers idling about with cards in their hands -- the place was tightly maintained and security was far beyond the usual standard. ISB got it right. This time.

The sergeant led SCAR to the right where a pneumatic door was slowly beginning to shut, a red siren loudly beeping above it signaling its closure. :: Fifteen seconds. :: Witness' words echoed through their comms as they reached the screening area.

:: Ready your NVGs. ::

The area turned pitch black and the security detail erupted in confusion, unable. The googles whirred softly to life and SCAR's vision returned.

:: Clean house. ::

Blaster rifles were aimed and the stormtroopers lit up the bewildered soldiers, leaving their dead eyes wide open in stupor.

:: Go. :: they moved as one. Beyond the full-body scanners, the area was elevated by a stairs reaching into the security checkpoints' headquarters. :: Reaper, get that bug in place. Stalker, Rook -- sweep the area for any stragglers and keep moving up ahead. :: ​

 

[Kelinna Tryn]

R E A P E R
THE EMPIRE
RESEARCH FACILITY | COPHRIGIN
TAG: Hal Vaiken | Gavyn Berand | Margo Liaeris
GEAR: Itchy stolen armour | Sniper rifle | Pistol | Rifle | Vibroblade | Vibroknife | Grenade loadout

SO FAR FROM YOUR WEAPON​

Lily just snorted as she looked back down at her rifle.

The brief chatter between Stalker and Rook was inconsequential, albeit amusing because of its child-like desperation. Though the Lorrdian had to admit that, though she gave them a hard time, they were good souls.

Not that she would admit it aloud.

"Eyes up, Lair up ahead. Once inside, keep your spacing and minimize shots after the blackout. Reaper, be ready to hook into their systems when we get to security. We need their eyes and ears."

"Yeahp." she said as she looked up from her rifle. It had been a while since she had to slice in anywhere. Much less strain on the ocular nerves than lining up a shot.

They got through the check easily enough and got out, seeming like they belonged before they headed inside.

:: Fifteen seconds. ::

:: Ready your NVGs. ::

Lily casually slipped on the googles just before everything went dark. The moment they could see, Sarge's order rang clear. SCAR's bolts flew through the air as they moved as one, dark mounds and the silence of the dead in their wake as the security spire loomed.

There was a time when their lifeless eyes would have meant at least something to the sharpshooter, but it had long passed along with a lot of water in the ocean. Now there was only a hollow void where emotion once was.

:: Reaper, get that bug in place. Stalker, Rook -- sweep the area for any stragglers and keep moving up ahead. ::

The Reaper tapped her comrades' shoulders as she moved toward a panel, trusting the team to do what needs to be done. It took a mere heartbeat before she discovered the main cable hooking into the mainframe. Pulling the specter from her belt, she then sliced cleanly into the cable. Jumping back to the panel, her fingers flew over the buttons as her eyes darted back and forth behind the goggles.
"Gothca." she whispered. <We're inside the walls, ladies.>

Now for the filtering of information.

 

[Denniston Thrast II]

5th Post

SMOKE AND MIRRORS - THE TION NECESSITY
OBJECTIVE ONE

REIVER_ONE

Lord-Captain of 1st Scouts Company,"Raider Company"

Tags: Natalie Scott Hunter Stark Rika Hiro Sylus (Γ059) Don Belkora

THE FAR-TRAVELLED HIGHLANDER: A LITTLE JAUNT ON NEW-ALDERAAN - PART 5

Westquarter, Sana Anya,
New-Alderaan (Spring of 877 ABY)

'We have to scatter.'​

With table flipped, flanking manoeuvres commenced, and return-fire given, there was no doubt the firefight was well and truly underway. But the suggestion from Sylus still didn't quite sit right with Thrast, there were other options after all, and places to where they all could escape together, with one in particular serving better use in particular. The Jaminerans who smuggled them in were still available, and with multiple hideouts the Imperials could have made good use of, but Denny still knew that intel could be yielded from their encounter, and nothing was ever completely fruitless in the convenient comfort of a fully-operational blacksite.

'Partly fine, but only if you can augment that plan to meet at our blacksite instead. Only thing getting in the way of that is, well - would you want to wander off alone after this caper? I don't quite see it here of all places, lad. No offence.... Much better for us if birds of a feather flock together, especially this time. Up to the Calavaran either way.'

Throwing the tipped over ashtray towards the fracas in the distance, Denniston opened fire and caused the heavy-glass ornament to explode on impact, sending all sizes of glass shards in all directions, further-intensifying the crowded chaos of the bar itself as his shots eventually started adding to the pressure of the other Imperials' suppressing fire. They needed to make use of the chaos either way, but in the decision to fight through them or to beat a fighting retreat, the choice would need to be made quick, a choice that was still Stark's alone to make. Quite the hectic situation, though the sudden recall of the fights for the streets of Calavar and Preston alike had the Highlander remember that this too was nothing out of the ordinary for one who had cut his teeth in the Free-State.

The vocational home of revolution, government and rulership overthrows and dogged fighting for the streets of his hometown. This was nothing new for Stark, nor was it for Thrast or Scott for that matter, and all it took was an unprompted refresher from a sketchy contact on New-Alderaan to get them all back into the swing of it.

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

█████ - 'H A Z H A R'
IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU
TASK FORCE ZETA
██, ████████ Blvd, Sana Arya, New Alderaan
TAGS: Hunter Stark , Rika Hiro , Denniston Thrast II , Natalie Scott ,@██████​

'Partly fine, but only if you can augment that plan to meet at our blacksite instead. Only thing getting in the way of that is, well - would you want to wander off alone after this caper? I don't quite see it here of all places, lad. No offence.... Much better for us if birds of a feather flock together, especially this time. Up to the Calavaran either way.'

Sylus called into his communicator in between bouts of return fire:

"Of course, I meant scatter as in, don't crowd around the same piece of cover."

That said, he appreciated Thrast's succinct summary and analysis of their situation. Importantly, Thrast's comment made sure the others knew the next course of action was not to tunnel-vision on the fight, trying to outgun the attackers, but to leave the danger zone ASAP.

"What's our means of egress? Any rear exist on our side of the floor?"

 

[Cromwell]

C R O M W E L L
IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU
TASK FORCE ZETA
Rika Hiro Sylus (Γ059) Denniston Thrast II Natalie Scott Don Belkora

Objectives:

• Meet with contact at Sana Arya
• Survive and escape Sana Arya

"It's bloody Calavar all over again!!" he yelled out over the cacophony of blaster fire. Thrast and Scott would vividly recall the notorious Ambush at Calavar where they had barely made it out alive. The Captain of the Raiders seemed rather unfazed compared to Stark but it was to be expected. Highlanders were quirky like that -- their blood may boil for a fight but find them in a pickle like this, they seemed all but unperturbed. Perhaps they saw all this as just another cold, rainy night on Galidraan III.

The bolts finally bit through the table and leaped behind another makeshift cover, falling right next to a militant whose eye was a moment later pierced by Rika's... heel. His eyes trailed her blood-splattered leg, all the way till they met hers. It would've been a much different, pleasant experience if this had been Coruscant. Alas. Hunter crawled back up to a crouch and pulled Rika down beneath cover once more. "Sylus' right -- we have to get the bloody hell out of here, fast. That bastard -- Angel -- he's somewhere here, isn't he?! Get him to get us a transport out of Sana Anya and to the blacksite. Thrast knows where it is!" he had clearly referred to the notorious 'Little Angel Belkora', agent of the ISB. "Got it?!" he released her arm and shifted to bark at the other Highlander. "Scott!! Use those pretty Goidel eyes of yours to find an exit out of this fething mess, will you?!"

Blaster fire erupted from their rear as the whole city had seemingly risen up against the Imperial agents and advanced towards the cantina.​

 

[Rika Hiro]

Rika Hiro|Imperial Security Bureau|Tion OP
Tags:// Sylus (Γ059) Denniston Thrast II Hunter Stark Don Belkora Natalie Scott

"That bastard -- Angel -- he's somewhere here, isn't he?! Get him to get us a transport out of Sana Anya and to the black site. Thrast knows where it is!"- Hunter Stark

Hunter's sudden appearance and grabbing of her arm made her jump, and she turned almost instinctively to shoot, only stopping in wide-eyed panic as she realised it was just him. Rika could barely make out what he was saying above the cacophony of violence and blaster fire, nodding when hearing the words little angel and bastard. Of course, it could only mean one person in particular.

"I got you."

She smiled almost out of relief that he was here beside her, she pulled up her datapad and hastily typed a combination that would send an alert ping to where the little angel was watching this all take place.

"Come on you old fuck."​

 

[Don Belkora]

DON BELKORA
COMPNOR
CHIEF OF THE CORE OPERATIONS

​

...Ping!

"There it is."

Just on time as planned. Old Hunter boy was way out of his depth per usual. Or rather, they'd walked into a more substantial bee hive than anticipated; luckily for Hunter, Rika and Sylus, despite their greenness, were good killers and could be reliable when called for work.

He couldn't help but smile, watching the whole charade via the hacked cam feed of the bar; Rika's killing of the man with her shoe was well played and almost theatrical in its execution. Reminded old Don of the melees back in Coruscant's stinking criminal underworld where every little thing and object was a tool at your own disposal.

"Suit up boys; we're gonna have half the bloody town on our heads soon, destroy all the equipment in here; we gotta rescue the poor sods in that bar."

Natalie Scott Denniston Thrast II Rika Hiro Hunter Stark Sylus (Γ059)

 

[Margo Liaeris]

STALKER

Objective: Operation Red Stamp
Location: Cophrigin Mountains - Tionese Facility Entry Point
Tags: Hal Vaiken | Lily Stevens | Gavyn Berand

The mood grew altogether somber at a moment’s notice, with Sarge’s demeanor shifting as the facility came into view. She placed the cap which went with the procured uniform she was wearing atop her head, and prepared herself.

The transport came to a halt inside the wire, with Margo and company filtering out of the transport and proceeding through the yard surrounding them. Margo shouldered her rifle and marched along behind Sarge as he led them to the screening area of the facility. No sooner had they walked in did the order go out to adorn their NVGs.

Margo wasted little time, as she produced her ocular goggles from a pouch and strapped them underneath her cap. Then, the fateful order was given:

:: Clean house. ::

SCAR moved in concert, shots ringing out in the dense darkness and impacting into their respective targets. Margo’s newfound slugthrower ripped through the throat of one particular security officer, who despite the anti-ballistic vest he wore crumpled like a wet blanket to the ground.

:: Reaper, get that bug in place. Stalker, Rook -- sweep the area for any stragglers and keep moving up ahead. ::

Margo held the muzzle of her rifle at the ready, scanning the fallen corpses lining the body scanner atrium. All three security officers were dead - whether it was a collapsed trachea, drilled forehead, or punctured chest cavity.

One shot, one kill.

Margo noticed the one with the throat wound writhe in pain, inaudibly gasping for air as his mouth filled with crimson blood. She stood over him, and without hesitation put another bullet into his head. She checked over the target with the chest wound, doing the same before moving along.

As Reaper set about placing the bug, Margo set about identifying the rooms which branched off from the atrium. A corridor with double doors sat opposite them, clearly leading deeper into the facility. Smaller offices were spotted at 3 and 9 o’clock, with the doors shut firmly. Margo glanced over at Rook, and gave him a hand signal to take the room at 9 while she made her way to the office at 3.

She paused outside for a moment as she waited for Rook to get into position, then tested the access switch.

It was locked.

Without further delay, she reared back and slammed into the door with her right leg. Given her genetically altered size and strength, the door caved in almost instantly, hanging by a singular hinge as it swung violently inward.

Her entry was timed almost perfectly as the lone occupant of the room had slid a fresh power cell into a blaster pistol clutched into their right hand. Just as he leveled the weapon to try and fill Margo full of plasma, the SCAR trooper was a hair too quick as her barrel unleashed a trio of shots.

The soldier keeled back and fell head over heels over the desk behind him, crashing into a heap atop the chair and a pile of ornaments which fell with him. His finger pulled the trigger, causing a single blaster bolt to fire and singe Stalker’s shoulder as it whizzed past and impacted harmless into the opposing wall.

Margo secured the remainder of the room before proceeding to his fallen form, searching his corpse for anything of value. Based on the stitching on his uniform, Margo would guess he was, at the very least, an administrative officer meant to check security clearances behind the scenes whilst the now deceased security agents did the more ‘dangerous’ work.

 

[Gavyn Berand]

SERGEANT GAVYN BERAND
IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
501st LEGION, SCAR SQUADRON
OPERATION: RED STAMP
COPHRIGIN​

Location: Research facility, Cophrigin
Tags: Hal Vaiken | Lily Stevens | Margo Liaeris

Things got much quieter and more serious when Sarge spoke. Gavyn didn't say anything as SCAR approached the facility, instead simply following along as the squad filed out of the stolen transport. He fitted the NVGs over his eyes just before it went dark, then went to work with the rest. The darkness was lit up with muzzle flashes and plasma bolts as the stormtroopers tore through facility security. It wasn't even a fight; it was a slaughter.

:: Reaper, get that bug in place. Stalker, Rook -- sweep the area for any stragglers and keep moving up ahead. ::

<"Got it."> Gavyn fell in behind Stalker as the pair moved forward to secure the area. He swept the area with his rifle as he moved, keeping an eye out for survivors, but Margo made quick work of the only ones that still seemed to be alive.

He nodded to Margo, moving to the door at 9 o'clock and preparing to breach and clear in sync with his squadmate. When Gavyn tried the access switch, the door slid open smoothly, and the stormtrooper raised his rifle and swept into the small side office. Inside he found two men. One was directly in front of him across the room, while the other was closer and to one side. The look of surprise on their faces indicated to Gavyn that neither seemed to expect the armed intruder to simply open the door and walk in. The door was supposed to be locked, he supposed.

The man across the room reached to grab the blaster pistol laying on the desk in front of him, while the closer one unsheathed a knife from his belt and charged the SCAR trooper. Gavyn immediately fired a double-tap into the chest of the far man on whom his rifle was already trained. He fell backward as the shots impacted and slumped against the far wall. The second man was already charging, knife raised above his head. He was close, way too close to turn and fire without getting stabbed in the process. In normal stormtrooper armor that may not have been quite as dangerous, but Gavyn was not in his normal armor.

Gavyn stepped to the side and kicked out with his leg at the attacker. His boot connected hard with the man's gut, doubling him over briefly and forcing him back a foot or two. It was just enough space for him to fire off a few rounds at point-blank range, dropping the man to the ground at his feet. He put one more shot in the soldier's head, finishing him off, then went around the desk to check on the first man he'd shot. He was still there, slumped against the wall, chest heaving as he took short, ragged breaths. Gavyn placed one more round in his head as well, then keyed the comms as he began to go through the pockets of the dead men.

<"Room clear.">

 

[Denniston Thrast II]

6th Post

SMOKE AND MIRRORS - THE TION NECESSITY
OBJECTIVE ONE

REIVER_ONE

Lord-Captain of 1st Scouts Company,"Raider Company"

Tags: Natalie Scott Hunter Stark Rika Hiro Sylus (Γ059) Don Belkora

THE FAR-TRAVELLED HIGHLANDER: A LITTLE JAUNT ON NEW-ALDERAAN - PART 6

Westquarter, Sana Anya,
New-Alderaan (Spring of 877 ABY)

'That bastard -- Angel -- he's somewhere here, isn't he?! Get him to get us a transport out of Sana Anya and to the black site. Thrast knows where it is!'​

Chuckling in amiable tones on his way to properly protect Hunter's right flank, Denny couldn't help but find his compatriot's,"Mild case of Headless-Chicken Syndrome", quite funny under the circumstances; as not only did this seem a little out of the ordinary for a Galidraani with ample experience in urban operations, overt and covert alike, but the very nature of it seemed unnecessary in consideration of the resources they all had on hand for the entirety of this operation. Such smaller firefights like these were usually nothing of real concern for men like Stark and Thrast, and the training alone had them at a constant advantage over lesser entities like those on New-Alderaan, elements who were completely outmatched in every aspect by those who were acclimated and trained to overthrow powers of every sort.

In complete contrast to those who were desperately firing on the Imperials in the hopes at least one of them would die in the process, in absolute dominance over foes who never realised that they never stood a chance to begin with, punishers of hubris and delusion alike.

'I got you.'​

Despite this, Thrast could no longer put off the fact the firefight had gotten more intense by then, but in a concentrated burst of covering fire, one of the ambushers had been making for the door that Denny had blocked off with the chair he was sitting on before. Giving him more than enough reason to believe that they were making a last play of desperation, and clearly hoping the would-be escape artist could slip off to bring reinforcements, the Highlander decided on the spot that nothing of the sort would transpire on his watch, jumping up from his little blind spot to grab the jacket-collar of the runner and deliver a brutal headbutt - and with enough force it could be heard between bursts of the back-and-forth blaster fire.

'Come on you old fuck.'​

Raining down with vicious elbows on the intended captive as soon his legs had buckled out from under him, and only stopping when the Highlander knew the runner was well and truly unconscious.

'This one's coming back with us! We're also fortunate the Blacksite isn't too far away, so this next part should be quiet enough for comfort.... Hoping this,"Angel", brings along quick transports though, would be ideal for the sort of route we're running after this.'

 

[Hal Vaiken]

S A R G E
501st LEGION
IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
SCAR SQUADRON
Lily Stevens

Objectives:

• Infiltrate the military research facility
• Insertion and data retrieval
• To be revealed :handrub:

As Stalker and Rook headed out to sweep the nearby vicinity of any remaining enemies, Hal's gaze fell on Reaper's form. He didn't need to see her eyes to know how distant she seemed from the carnage they unleashed upon the Tionese soldiers. Even when ice ran through her veins as she settled the head of a victim a mile way on her scope, there still remained a hint of pity, or even regret, beneath the veil of professionalism and duty.

The last vestiges of such virtuous emotions seemed to have evaporated. Distingerated with the plasma vapors flowing from the barrel that had ended her father's life.

He laid a hand on her shoulder from behind, slightly tilting his head. "You good?" ​