Private You've got a license for that?

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Sakadi peered through the macrobinoculars at the massive metal construct that stuck out of the cliff, before passing the unwieldy thing on to the others. "That's it." She conveyed mentally. "Czerka Arm's shipments must be coming from there." She was pleased that their three-hour hike hadn't been a waste of time. Up until just now, she had been doubting her intel. She had had good reasons to suspect Czerka Arms of an illegal mining operation in the Sumitra Sector, but no proof. With the Duchess her approval, Sakadi had tried investigating it by the books. Yet every step of the way, the Baron responsible for these territories had intervened. That was the issue with Thustra's feudal system. The Duchess, who was barely of age, hadn't yet been able to consolidate her power. As it stood, she lacked the authority to make the barons and counts submit to her requests. So she had done the most sensible thing she could think of. Call for reinforcements.

"They won't take kindly to visitors." Sakadi glanced at the persons accompanying her. She had been unfamiliar with most of them and besides now knowing their names and ranks, she hadn't learnt much more on their hike. They were Jedi though, which meant that she could trust them to do the impossible. "It might be best if we try to sneak inside." Her long ears twitched in contemplation. "I need to know their numbers, resources, and what they are mining." She feared what consequences the corporation's presence would have. She had heard the stories of Czerka Arms forced labourers. It was modern slavery that not even their descendants could escape from. Then there were the stories of them relocating oceans. Levelling mountains, if that meant easier access to the minerals they were looking for. "And if turns out that they don't have a permit-" she smirked "we've been given permission to tear the whole place down."

Dreidi Xeraic Starlin Rand Ran Serys

 

[Starlin Rand]

Starlin was doing stretches, warming up before the big moment. It felt good to participate in a mission like this, going after bad guys with no hand-wringing over the morality of it all. Just some good old fashioned Jedi heroism.

He glanced at the other members of his team, all of them women aside from him. A white-haired witch, a Mirialan who resembled Amani, and of course Sakadi, who was back after a long absence. So long that the now forty year old Starlin could remember crushing on her during his Padawan training at the Silver Rest.

"They won't take kindly to visitors. It might be best if we try to sneak inside. I need to know their numbers, resources, and what they are mining. And if turns out that they don't have a permit--we've been given permission to tear the whole place down."

"What are the odds that they do have a permit?" Probably a dumb question, but he'd like an estimate on how this was likely to go.

"I have a spell that will hide us from view," he said, grinning. "Unless you've all got that covered."

Dreidi Xeraic Ran Serys Sakadi Marathi Sinvala​

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Equipment: Lightsaber, Nightsister Energy Bow
Companion: Grisial
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Tag: Sakadi Marathi Sinvala | Starlin Rand | Ran Serys

The group was a selection of Jedi that she had not encountered before today. The mission was going to tricky, corporations as large as Czerka Arms was never going to be easy to infiltrate yet alone take down. Listening to Sakadi who was leading the mission, her mind thought on the possibilities that the corporation did not have permits, and what would be the best way to infiltrate. She heard the sole male mention that he had a spell that could turn them invisible and looked at him curiously.

A Jedi with spells? That was curious. Especially since he was not a Witch of Dathomir as far as she knew.

"I can also cast invisibility upon us all. Issues I see is that a company as big as Czerka Arms is going to have technology to detect invisibility and disguises. Too many corporate spies for them not be cautious." Dreidi pointed out, "might need find a way to avoid detection from tech as well as people."

"Permits might not be what they have but legal loopholes are basically an artform for these types." Dreidi mentioned since she had worked with others in fighting corporations, they often used loopholes to avoid suffering any consequences and that would make it difficult for them to make any impact. At least in Dreidi's mind.

 

[Ran Serys]

Sakadi peered through the macrobinoculars at the massive metal construct that stuck out of the cliff, before passing the unwieldy thing on to the others. "That's it." She conveyed mentally. "Czerka Arm's shipments must be coming from there."

As fast as Ran was given the binoculars was as fast as she made her assessment of the facility. It was a Czerka Operation in a remote location. That was enough to set off alarm bells for her. It was obvious they had something to hide. The presence of over two dozen heavily armed guards patrolling the exterior did little to deny that idea. Some maintained positions on the roof, some at the base of the facility, the entrance, loading zones, and exits. There were several patrols that happened like clockwork. All standard security procedures when it came to a facility like this, but Ran's instincts told her the facility was anything but standard. She probed with the force trying her best to get a glimpse of the future but she was no seer. The truth was always obfuscated to her until she experienced it.

"It might be best if we try to sneak inside."

"I think you've got the right idea, Master Sinvala," Ran agreed, addressing Sakadi formally. "And I believe I've found our point of entry." She passed the binoculars back and pointed out a series of drainage pipes. They were relatively unguarded save for the presence of two probe droids. Ran was familiar with their model and knew their scanners were easily confused.

"Sorcery or not, I think that may be the best point of entry if we want to avoid detection." Ran made the Jedi aware of her preferred course of action but the burden of choice was on Sakadi. The Sephi Jedi Master had asked for their assistance and Ran was there to assist.

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala Starlin Rand Dreidi Xeraic​

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Sakadi took a sideways glance at Starlin with a hint of amusement. She folded her hands behind her back and let the wind softly tug at her robe as she thought up an answer. Fortunately, forshe was not known for having good humor, one of the other two Knights responded before she could. Dreidi or so Sakadi recalled. The other - called Ran, if she remembered correctly - turned the conversation back to the subject at hand with an astute observation.

It took her a moment to zoom in properly on the drainage pipes with the macrobinoculars that had been passed back to her. "Excellent find Ran." She hadn't yet acknowledged the helpful suggestion of the invisibility spell, but now they'd found an entrance she felt secure enough to give the go ahead. "I'm afraid I'm quite unfamiliar with spells," That wasn't entirely true - she'd clashed with Dathomirians before. Dismantled their spellwork like a hot knife through butter. "will technology be able to detect us like Dreidi-" Oh how she hoped she'd remembered her name correctly "-mentioned?" Sakadi gently tugged her earlobe quiet contemplation. "Regardless, I think it is a good idea. Work together on the spell if you can." She wondered if that would make it stronger. Even if it didn't, it was a good to practice cooperation.

"We can't risk detection by their scanners, so we'll have to scale the part of the cliffside that leads up to the drainage pipes." Sakadi reached for her belt. "I hope you all brought grappling spike launchers" She knew those weren't a standard part of the Jedi toolkit anymore. Everyone had a personalized utility belt nowadays. "Else it is going to be a tough climb." Sakadi turned to Ran again. "Mind taking the lead? It was your find after all." She'd felt like it was no longer her place to teach Jedi since the Silvers, and yet here she was to test and coach her peers. Really, what had happened to her self-discipline? "I'll be right behind you."

Ran Serys Starlin Rand Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Starlin Rand]

"I can also cast invisibility upon us all. Issues I see is that a company as big as Czerka Arms is going to have technology to detect invisibility and disguises. Too many corporate spies for them not be cautious. Might need find a way to avoid detection from tech as well as people."

"Will technology be able to detect us like Dreidi mentioned?"

"I can include a broad feth you to technology in the spell," Starlin said. The spells he had been taught by his master weren't like Dathomirian magic. Or maybe they were; he didn't know where Syd had learned them from. He just knew that they worked.

"Sorcery or not, I think that may be the best point of entry if we want to avoid detection."

"Oh boy, are those sewage pipes?" Starlin's grin faltered at the thought of crawling around in there. At least they made Ran the leader; as a reward for suggesting it, she would have to go first. Sakadi fleshed out the rest of their plan, which now included grapple launchers. He had one of those on his utility belt, though he usually just flew around these days.

"Right, the spell." He rubbed his hands together and cleared his throat before reciting the spell: "'So that this problem I might rectify; Ashla, hide us from the Outer Eye.'" The group collectively disappeared from view before he added, "'In the land of the blind, the mechanical eye is king; Ashla, see that these scanners aren't looking.'" Not his best rhyme, but then he did pull it out of his ass on the spot.

"Ladies first."

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala Ran Serys Dreidi Xeraic​

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Equipment: Lightsaber, Nightsister Energy Bow
Companion: Grisial
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Tag: Sakadi Marathi Sinvala | Starlin Rand | Ran Serys

It was an unusual feeling to have a voice inside her head that wasn't Grisial's or her own but she listened to what the Jedi Master had to say and noted the entry point that they would be heading towards. The sewer pipe was a solid plan, she could make sure that they did not reek afterwards. It would be unpleasant to stink of sewage for days after the mission. The need for grappling hooks was not necessary for Dreidi, she was used to teleporting anywhere that she could not reach on foot. And sometimes teleporting when she could just for fun.

Listening to the spellcasting from Starlin, she tilted her head, it was curious. The need for rhyming and Dreidi was curious where history of this form of spellcasting came from. Why was there a need to rhyme? It was perhaps something to ask about at a later date, for now she would have to focus on the mission. As they marched to the entry point, she began muttering a short chant, as Dreidi ensured that they could not be detected by any senses, covering the bases of being heard and smelt. As long as they didn't bump into the guards, they should be fine.

After she did that, Dreidi then poofed in green flames and teleported into the sewer pipe, standing at the entrance of it and extending a hand to those that might need it when they reached the pipe entrance.

 

[Ran Serys]

"Mind taking the lead? It was your find after all."

Ran accepted the task and led the cadre of Jedi up the cliff face. As they walked Ran stared at Starlin and then at Dreidi. Sorcery was a sensitive subject for her. She was plagued by memories of the Sith Sorcerer that made her what she was, or at least what she had been. Their spells unnerved her, if only for a moment. She quickly shook off the feelings toward her past and focused on the present, because while the Jedi used their sorcery it felt dramatically different from the dark sided witchery she'd seen so long ago.

"Oh boy, are those sewage pipes?"

"I know you are eager to sift through all Czerka's shite, but I was thinking we could avoid the sewage lines today." Ran teased and joked with Starlin, Dreidi, and to a lesser extent Sakadi. "The pipe on the northern end appears to be a filtration line. Clean air going in. Likely opening into a treatment station. Usually one of the least guarded areas of a facility like this." She explained. "Least guarded, but most likely to be automated." She corrected her statement. "Droids and their scanners will still be a concern. Keep your sorcery handy." Ran advised.

Ran was the third one into the pipe behind Starlin and Dreidi. Starlin flew, and Dreidi teleported. They had exceptional talents, not many force users had proven capable of such feats as easily. Ran was impressed as she climbed up her grappling hook alongside Sakadi. "This is quite the group of Jedi you've gathered here, Master Sinvala." Ran spoke over the winds traveling across the cliff face. "A sorcerer, a witch, a mutant commando, and a telepath investigate a dangerous and corrupt organization." She observed, mostly to herself, thinking it sounded like an episode from a modern holodrama, or the beginning of a bad joke. "I hope it'll be enough." She said seriously. Ran wanted to help the people of Thustra just as much as Sakadi did.

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala Starlin Rand Dreidi Xeraic​