The Curtain Rises

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"] [member="Aspen Laval"]

After all the little group sessions that the Administrator, his aide, and security chief had, Derrick hardly felt bad when Sergeant Bor motioned for him to move aside for a talk. "Oh, my apologies sir! It appears something requires my attention for a moment. You wouldn't mind holding on for just a minute would you?" Beaming his best smile at their host, the Rendili man stepped back to take a comm unit from Bor as the NCO offered it to him. Making sure that he was outside the administrator's hearing range, a bit further than most people would take since Derrick was rather aware of the fact others said he was overly loud, the Captain hummed as he answered. "What is it Lieutenant, news from the squad? Or did something come up?" In all honesty Veltraa wished that he had a constant awareness for how Praetorian Squad was doing and where they were. He just hoped distracting the suspect and their security chief with the tour was good enough.

"A little of both sir. We can confirm they are within the asteroid base now, but you won't like the other news. It could be nothing, but it appears as if there is a Mercenary Transport heading toward the facility. From our reports it looks like a group the company hires as occasional security. It shouldn't be anything unless Praetorian Squad is discovered. I figured I would make you aware so that you're careful in case things do get messy." Unable to stop a nervous chuckle, Derrick grinned and started to head back to the impatient looking CEO as he handed the comm unit back. "RIght then, so we just have to be extra wary then. No problem at all, the ladies can handle the mission just fine, I think."

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

An off duty worker whistled to himself as he mozyied down the hallway of the somewhat empty facility, or maybe everyone was just out for a late lunch, stopping at a corner, taking a death stick out of his pocket, lighting the small narcotic substance, taking a small draw, enjoying the sensation. The mines were hard work, and dosing up on this small item provided escape, soon though the man would be having all the escape he needed, as a hand came down in a chopping like fashion against his neck, the blow knocking the man out cold.

"Step two of knocking out people, make it look believable, when they check his body they will not the death stick and the facts his taken a few draw, concluding that he passed out by its narcotic effect". She moved and positioned the body so that it appeared as if the man had fallen down via natural means, 'death sticks, why do people smoke these, whats wrong with a good old cigar... bah people have not taste anymore'. Finishing up her work the squad slowly made their way to the more upper areas, getting closer to the information terminals where their prize lay.

"Okay girls, here is where things get tricky, you have permission to use lethal force if necessary, but try to stay to just knocking them out, as for proceeding further, we need to split back up into small two groups, me and medic will go for the terminals, each of you need to act on look out in case anyone comes and subdue them as necessary, everything goes according to plan and we back track to the vents, turn them on and ride the steam out of this place, you all got that"?

[member="Derrick Veltraa"]

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"]

It didn't take too long for the Mercenary's transport to make its approach and landfall into the asteroid base's hangar. The Rendili Captain was honestly a little wary of the fact they happened to be in said hangar bay when they did. "That doesn't look like a typical cargo hauler there." Grinning as he glanced to the mining administrator, Derrick watched as the occupants of the mercenary craft departed the vessel and began to mill around a mechanic crew who rushed to fuel the ship. The CEO seemed to smile oily at the slight unease his guests showed. "Ah, no need for concern. These fine fellows work for a security firm we contract out to for escorting our freighters and providing additional hands for our security division. There's not exactly a proper military force keeping pirating at bay outside wealthy enough planet's own defense forces. If you wish to review their authenticity we can stop by the security offices for you to peruse their paperwork?"

If it was meant to be a show of force to try and cut the tour short by telling him that he was unwelcome, Veltraa didn't take the hint. It did worry him though that a larger and perhaps more dangerous security detail was present now in the event Praetorian Squad was discovered. Taking up as much of the Security Chief and the Administrator's time as possible and keeping all eyes on him and Bor was the best he could the Captain supposed. "That sounds like a fine idea. Maybe if they're all clear they'll find themselves with a hefty recommendation for other trading organizations."

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Chetika and the others had finally made their way to the sever room, but there was a small itch in her back that just made her feel a little worried, unfortunately they were unable to contact HQ, being in radio silence and all, so she just had to go with gut feeling. Why was she having this sudden pang of everything going to go to hell? First of all it had been way to easy, there where to few guards and workers around, true most were probably on break but having no one around just seemed to coincidental, unless they where going to get outside help to take the on break and leave members.[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] "You two, keep the download running, three of you come with me, I have a bad feeling something is going to happen and I'd rather we have a clear escape route then get bogged down for some unknown reason". She had no idea what was coming or when it was coming, she just knew it was, the best they could do war prepare for a gun fight of some sort of get a quick escape route sorted out.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt][member="Derrick Veltraa"][/SIZE]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Aspen was quite the quiet person, she hardly spoke but when it was go time she would spare no one, she moved swiftly and with deadly precision as she knocked people out and then began the download and would work hard to keep it going

[member="Chekīta Kaie"]
[member="Derrick Veltraa"]

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"] [member="Aspen Laval"]

As he and his escort followed the facility's administrator, Derrick did his best to keep up the small talk regarding business policies and operation effectiveness for the mining activities going on throughout the asteroid base. A fine grasp of economics and mining methods were not the Rendili man's forte, which left the defense force officer chuckling to himself most of the journey around. "The parameters for our quotas our very specific actually Captain Veltraa. You'll find we more than meet our annual goals without passing our budget for any cycle. In fact we overshoot our financial targets nearly every quarter. In fact we may do even better if the Coalition actively puts together some form of military force to patrol the spacelanes for pirates and raiders. Although I can't say I mind it much either, less government taxation for transportation costs certainly help staying within budget, not to mention I find our security and. . . additional mercenary contracts, to be sufficient to ensure none of our cargo is disturbed. If anything you're visit is more disruptive than reassuring. Where were we though? Ah yes, checking the records on our security detail right? I suppose they wouldn't mind being cleared and getting a recommendation for future contracts once you approve of their presence."

At least whenever the CEO's disdain and frustration with his visitors showed it was easier to understand. It made Derrick feel much more genuine when he smiled and laughed more heartily. Being a nuisance was his job for the mission after all. "Ah well disruptive or not you can't be mad if the end result is that you won't have to worry as much about security costs right?"

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

Double Post

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

With [member="Aspen Laval"] getting the down load done and the rest of the squad strategically spread out to keep all, but now there was a problem, one ear piece ringing to life as a new report came in, "What's going one down there"? "Movement towards the main frame room commander, we think the tour is going to cover costs and all, do we abort"?

Crap of all things why now? "No, we stay, time for some good ol fashion steal, silence and misdirection, we will lure then around try and stall them every now and then, perhaps place a few of the dosed out workers in their way, might get a little talk about narcotic on the station being borough up". "Roger that, you want us to wing it"? "very, now hop to it men".

[member="Derrick Veltraa"]

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"] [member="Aspen Laval"]


Following the Administrator through the asteroid base's corridors after they finally left the hangar, Derrick had believed the CEO was going to lead their little tour group to his own offices to share their documents on the matter of the mercenaries. However, the further on they went the more the Rendili man felt they weren't going the right way if the maps he had reviewed ahead of time were accurate. Curious where they were going the Captain almost slipped and gave away that he knew the layout before Sergeant Bor nudged him from the side. "Ah! Right right, Administrator I forgot to ask where you would be leading us to review the matter from before. You said something about security offices, but this feels deeper into the asteroid than you'd expect that sort of thing."

A wry expression was the response Derrick was given for his question, which only made the Rendili man chuckle at how silly it seemed knowing how suspect the CEO was. "Originally yes, but my aide made a good point that more of the files would be kept in the server room with the databank center. Now where were you again on the subject of manifes-" Turning the corner, the group was indeed getting closer to the server room. However, it was quite clear they were to be delayed as the administrator cut himself off mid sentence and glowered at a body laying in the middle of the corridor. The security chief for the asteroid mine would slide to the prone figure's side while Derrick nodded to his own detail to assume defensive postures for the sake of appearances. "He's still breathing, just out cold. . .some people skip out to . . .take a break, but never in a place like this. First time anyone's knocked themselves out either. . ."

Ah, the security chief for the criminal mining executive was smarter than his job position implied. Derrick smiled nervously as he watched the man think things through and looked to the CEO. "Should we take them to a medbay and try to revive them for answers? Maybe there was a scuffle between your employees."

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

Voices, distant but very much there, it seemed to be someone with a rather posh accent an... [member="Derrick Veltraa"]? why was he here? Did the tour go to the server room, 'ahg, this is trouble, alright have to act, and fast'. "You two with me, we need to try and find a way to stall them and see whats up, that body won't keep them distracted for long". With a reassuring nod from the other two Chetika started to make her way towards the sounds, keeping and ear out for conversation between the CEo and Derrick.

"He's still breathing, just out cold. . .some people skip out to . . .take a break, but never in a place like this. First time anyone's knocked themselves out either. . ."

'Crap they found the body, now wh-'

"Should we take them to a medbay and try to revive them for answers? Maybe there was a scuffle between your employees."

'..... we can use that', Chekita quickly turned to the other members following her, "Turn on your voice modulator, if the com closer start talking about beating up that guy for taking you death stick, if they get close do a runner, anything to by time, but by forces sake don't get caught". The two nodded before Chektia slipped bad down the hallway to the sever room, wanting to get this data retrieval done as soon as possible.

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"] [member="Aspen Laval"]

"Yeah. . . why don't you help the administrator's aide take this man to the med bay. I want to just. . .secure the scene."

At the security chief's remark her way, the CEO's aide moved to begin picking up the unconscious worker. Motioning to Sergeant Bor, Veltraa prompted his detail to help the woman in lifting the man while the mining base's administrator chuckled all too pleasantly. "What an unfortunate muck up on our part. It's far too unseemly for guests to see an internal dispute, I hope this doesn't bode too poorly for your report on us." Laughing because he knew that no internal conflict could make the CEO's case any worse if he was guilty of his crimes, Derrick had to stop himself from clapping the man on the back as he turned to follow them to the med bay. "We came to check on your quality of security with the influx of raiders, I'm not here to judge your hiring quality. . . I mean I suppose I am but only for security personnel!"

As they walked off though, the security head shifted to the wall and pulled out a comlink as he spoke in a hushed voice. "I'm not buying anything going on here. Get some mercenary teams down here now. No one takes stims by the server room and especially not Janus. Send a few teams down to the med bay while you're at it. We'll take care of this all quietly. I'll think of what to do about their ship and the rest of that crew in the meantime. . . ."

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

Chekita did not like what was going on, she had a sneaking feeling the security team was catching on right about now, of the roles where revered she'd have ordered a full sweep of the entire facility, lock the exits and shut down the hanger bays, 'Certainly cutting things very fiiine today'. Rounding the corner she re-entered the sever room, skidding to a halt along the way, "Status report, were burning time people", one of the technician hacking the severs gave the Mando a 'hold on figure', "waiiiiiiiit, jussssssssst a seeecond aaaaaaaaaand done"!

With the very long sentence out of the way the hacker pulled out the data disk from the server hub, tossing it to Kaie, "All right and ready to skedaddle", "You read my mine, keep low and stay out of sight but keep your guard up, I think we may be expecting company". The rest of the squad gave a slight nod, each starting to slowly exit the room, making sure to cover their tracks along the way, even if they where caught, the squad would leave no evidence of their FWC affiliation, and if necessary no survivors.

[member="Derrick Veltraa"]

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"] [member="Aspen Laval"]

Helping the mining administrator's aide set the unconscious worker onto a medical bed, Derrick's security detail straightened to move back into place as a group of the mining company's mercenary hires entered and leveled their blaster rifles at them. "Oh. . . .is there something I should be aware of administrator?" Waving his hand to keep Sergeant Bor and his unit from reacting, the Rendili Captain grinned broadly at the CEO while the aide nervously looked around caught behind the group by the medical bed near the line of fire. "Ah, I simply got tired of this game. Your clearly here snooping, you haven't really put up a great front of inspecting our security measures after all, a full tour wouldn't do much for you that a scan of the schematics and a list of our measure wouldn't do better. yet here you are in person, dragging me all around and suddenly one of my workers is found someplace they wouldn't normally be, unconscious and you try to play it off on joints? Heh, you're not an inventive man or one aware of what miners in low stress environments use for recreation. I do confess maybe it is coincidence, but someone is inside my facility and I will deal with them as I see fit. I called these fine men back as insurance, but it seems my head of security saw the need to put them to action. Now let's have ourselves a nice conversation about what you might be looking for here?"

-----

"Alright sweep the corridors here and get a team to watch the server room. . . I want this place searched for any intruders." Barking orders at the mercenaries as they arrived, the security chief grunted as the soldiers for hire dispersed, a group of four heading toward the databanks where all the company information was kept while the rest split up into pairs to scour the halls.

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

Chekita gave a sigh, the mission was a blow, well sort of, they had the package, but the reported presence of an enemy security team seemed to indicate they had been found out, or at the least the miners had gotten wind that there was an intruder of sorts. "Orders commander"? came over the comline from the forwards most observers, the entire squad now grouped up, spread out for cover all entrances to their current location.

"Well they are not proper employees of this place, mercenaries only, we can take mercenaries out no problem", she cocked her silenced pistol, making her way to the front of the group, "You have permission to engage, fire at will, shoot to kill you know the drill, just keep it silent". This was where the fun began, but she would have to hold back somewhat, unlike a escort mission they would be hunting, not the other way around, it was their forces that needed to get the jump, not the other way around.

Rounding the corner Patroiean squad spotted their first target, a duo of mercs, combing the hallways for any signs of the intruders, "ahh here kitty kitty kitty". Two small thuds would be heard as the mercs dropped to the floor, not gun shot rigging out, not blaster fire, just two dead guns for hire, each with a small hole in there heads,"lets move, keep low and keep deadly".

[member="Derrick Veltraa"]

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"] [member="Aspen Laval"]

The Rendili man was simply laughing at the Administrator's words. To be fair to the CEO he wasn't wrong in the slightest about the intentions of the Coalition unit's inspection, but on the other land there was no real evidence to prove it. "That's a lot of paranoia you got there Mr. Administrator. I mean there's no real proof to pin us with intruders if there are any, but I'll admit I really don't know much about miners and their practices let alone whether your company's employees fit the norm. In fact I'm quite often told I'm not really the clever sort, Ha! Bor there frequently complains about my ideas being too straightforward. Still, you're jumping the gun pretty far to have your security aim their blasters at Coalition representatives. Why do you think we're here snooping? Is there a reason the Coalition should be or something?" Still the sort of person unable not to laugh even when a blaster was directed toward him, Derrick grinned and laughed to the nerves of everyone around him. "I mean if anything I guess an intrusion would warrant an investigation, even shooting wouldn't erase that it'd just add a crime for sure."

It was clear to everyone the administrator appeared annoyed at his words and how the coalition captain seemed to not be taken the situation seriously. "Don't lie to me, this is all too suspicious to line up all at once. There's nothing to find anyway, you're all just planning to ruin me and frame my facilities for crimes that are falsified!"

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

It was messy, but she liked messy, unfortunately things had to be kept under wraps for reasons very openly known, the squad silently making there way through the hallways, downing anyone who go to close for comfort, Chekita doing her trade mark 5 times tap to make sure everyone was dead. ONE thing played on her mind though, how was [member="Derrick Veltraa"] going to get out of this? If the mercs where searching that meant the jig was up, well on there end, but even if it was not the longer she and the rest stayed the more danger he would be in, "Doubt time it peps we have to get out and send the information back to HQ"

It was to risky to send the files by holo net, so it was a break for the exit, mando style, "you guys, charge for the exit, we will take down anyone who follows you". Without a word the men sprinted forwards, getting the attention of some garuds, who turned their blasters on the FWC members, only to get a flying kicks to the head by herself and another squad mate. "Been wanting to do that for a while, don't stop now though we have momentum".

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"] [member="Aspen Laval"]

Derrick just kept laughing, something that put Bor's nerves on edge since it was abundantly obvious that the CEO was only growing more insecure and frustrated with the Rendili man's lack of a filter. On the other hand at least, the mercenary security appeared to be relaxing as they watched the coalition captain take matters with a complete lack of seriousness. "Stop laughing this instant! You are . . .you're under the barrel of my men's blaster rifles! If you don't stop I'll-" At that Derrick just shook his head and laughed with an even deeper boom than before, drowning out the administrator's voice as he became more and more unnerved. Frustrated? No, Veltraa could tell the CEO was losing his cool, composure cracking, and couldn't muster the nerve to talk him down.

"I highly doubt these fine men want to be complicit in a crime because you're paranoia and lack of composure in a threat situation got the better of you. . . .if there really is an intruder these fine men of yours are wasting their time here while your 'intruders' get away with whatever they're doing. I would offer my help as that was the reason we came here, to ensure your security, however, I suppose I am holding a bit of a grudge. I wish you well in handling your affairs Mr. Administrator." Grinning broadly as if nothing was awry, Derrick stepped forward, brushing the CEO aside and waving for Bor and the others to follow. After a moment when the mercenaries held their fire, they followed after their Captain, with the secretary following, perhaps none too pleased her employer had been ok with her being caught in a crossfire if things had gotten out of hand. The facility's owner himself seemed too lost to do much, his teeth grit, very clearly angered by the mistreatment, frustrated and afraid of what the intruders were doing in his asteroid base, and unnerved that his threats had had no effect. The mercenaries themselves stood down, having their orders to be there from the security chief, but none to keen to commit a crime they otherwise wouldn't be complicit in, especially with the administrator in a state where no orders were being given.

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

Finally the squad member reached the point which they used for entry, so far everything going smoothly, well aside from all the dead people, but it would take a while for the mercenary troops to find their dead comrades. By then Chekita and her little friends would be out and on their way back to the FWC ship, an ever closing goal as she ushered her soldiers one by one into into the vents, the clammier of feet against steel filling the small room. "Come on peeps, time is a wasting and I want to get home in time for a drink", a small laugh came from the members as the last one made his way into the vent, Chekita being the last one out, placing a small flash bang trip mine down, just in case. In a few minutes the crew was re-entering their small cloaked ships, everyone giving thumbs up at a job well done, now they just had to make sure [member="Derrick Veltraa"] got out alive, "this mission is not over yet people, mr boss is still in the shitter, gotta get em out too".

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"] [member="Aspen Laval"]

"Ah, don't want to stick around with your boss here anymore? Don't blame you maam, that was pretty stressful back there. Still, could've been right. Just ask Bor, he'll tell you seven different ways we could have died back there." Laughing as he attempted to ease the nerves of the Administrator's secretary, Derrick's efforts had the opposite effect as the aide grew pale at his remarks. Only made worse as Sergeant Bor commented on the matter as well. "Actually sir I can think of a dozen ways that hot mess would have ended in our deaths, but as you clearly didn't notice the topic is only making our guest more apprehensive." Undeterred, the Rendili man laughed at his own error and motioned to assuage the woman's nervousness. "Everything will be alright, we're leaving now since we're unwelcome. You ARE welcome though to join us if you feel unsatisfied with your employment."

The quiet woman's nod was all the group needed to slightly pick up their pace toward their ship while Derrick commed ahead. "Do prepare for immediate launch, I don't think we'll have permission if we wait any longer. We'll be bringing a guest with us so have a spare room prepared, we're getting out here."

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

Chekita flicked her hair back a little as she disembarked from the stealth fighter, the black coloured helmet resting below her arms as the Mandaloiran woman stepped out, falling a short ways onto hanger bay floor, giving a small fist pump in the process. "Well boys and girls looks like a mission accomplish, command, would I be able to get a status update on [member="Derrick Veltraa"] location and current heading"? "The captain is currently heading to the mining facilities hanger bay and should be departing soon, though I would be at the ready to scramble fighters if they send people after him". "10-4 apricot, will also be getting that data drive to you soon, all ready to be taken apart and have all its little secrets exposed". Glacing to the side the man carrying the data file went off, heading to the main bridge, the rest milled around the fighters, waiting to see if anything else bad would happen this day.