First Stike (Semi-Open)

[Sovereign]

OOC: This thread is only open for 4 other Hutts or Mandalorians.

The open desert lay before me. It stretched endlessly over the horizon like a static ocean. Night had fallen, and the dunes glittered with a pale silver radiance under the moonlight. I gazed straight ahead across the vast emptiness of the desert, watching attentively the movement of shadows in the moon's passage. Mos Eisley was some five miles away, far enough considering the perilous terrain of the desert rock and the savages that were in the area. The city could barely be seen from this distance. I sat down and leaned against the rock beside me. The rendez-vous point had been specifically chosen by me. Meeting in the city was too risky, especially with those Jedi knights accompanying us. I held nothing but contempt for their kind. Prudish, peace-like and self-serving, they were the very opposite of what Sector 13 stood for. Our organizations had been created specifically because of the inaction of their Order. Unlike them, we were willing to do what was necessary.

The moon had reached its zenith. They would arrive any minute now.

 

[Agent 1]

I do not exist, and that’s why I’m here.

The Supreme Chancellor ordered us to strike at a shipyard. Tough. We may be bold, but we’re not stupid. A Hutt shipyard would be one of the most fortified sites in the galaxy. Why would we attack there? No, we may answer to the Supreme Chancellor, but we’ll also do what we think is best. There’s no punishment he can give us. He can’t tear down the sector, and he knows that all too well.

No, we’ll go after a spaceport, the life blood of this gods-forsaken hellhole. I’ll never understand why anyone, even the Hutts, would want to build any sort of community on Tatooine, even if it is a small one. The Hutts need this spaceport, and we’re here to kill it. Say goodbye to your precious spice and supply shipments, you filthy disgusting slug bastards.

This mission will be hard, but that’s why we have the Jedi here. I prefer not working with them; it becomes difficult to conduct covert operations and pretend we do not exist when other people become involved in missions, especially when those people are Jedi. We don’t need those do-gooders going around ruining our undercover methods based on principle. If they did, I wouldn’t hesitate to blow a hole through all of their heads. I kill whoever is a threat to the stability of the Republic.

Supplies for this mission are limited, but understandably so. I have my trusted blaster rifle, state of the art, and a cortosis-weaved sword, damn near indestructible. Someone needs a medal for discovering that stuff. Works like a charm. Hasn’t failed me yet. It better not now. Then I have three grenades, and the five explosive charges I was given. My director, here at the rendezvous point which I just arrived at, also has some that should make a nice fireworks show. Maybe the savage sand people will see it and take it as a sign to kick the holy hell out of these slime ball Hutts. One can only dream.

This is my first mission of the Hutt War, and now it’s time for me to begin. I’ve been on missions since the Hutt War began, but this is my first against the Hutts themselves. It’s time to show these Hutts exactly why Alcor Bac chose me to be the first agent.

I do not exist, and that’s why I’m here.

 

[Sovereign]

I stood up as my accomplice arrived. Like all of the other agents of Sector 13, his identity was unknown to me. The only thing that betrayed him and even hinted at his allegiance to the Sector was his demeanor. He did not look like ordinary men. No, there was an air about him that spelt "murderer" in bold letters. Naturally, I was no different than him. In over twenty years of serving the agency, I had killed perhaps hundreds of men. All in the most complete indifference. "2 minutes." I uttered as I starred over the horizon. "We're leaving in 2 minutes if they don't show up."

 

[Agent 1]

There he is, the Director of Sector 13, perhaps chosen to lead the agency before I was even chosen to be its first operative. He only comes on the most important of missions, which is strange considering this does not seem to be that important of a mission. It will hinder Hutt resources on Tatooine, and it will likely drop Hutt morale, but will it change the outcome of a war? Not a chance, especially not with the Jedi around.

“We never should have brought them here,” I said through an electronic voice synthesizer, clad from head to toe in my silver-plated, nearly impenetrable armor. It had served me well on countless missions, and I doubt it will be any different this time. It takes more than a sword and one blaster shot to get through this thing. That helps me more often than not. “These Jedi will just slow us down. We don’t have time to wait for them to deliberate and seek ‘guidance’ from a pretend energy field.”

 

[Sovereign]

"Fools." I muttered. "The whole lot of them. If it weren't for us, their Temple would have been sacked long ago." Under normal circumstance, I would have never hinted at our allegiance to the Sector. Us was a term rarely used by agents. Only in the most secluded location would a member even utter the word. However, this area was safe. Miles away from the nearest lifeform, we were free to speak candidly with one another. And suddenly it struck me. As I examined his battle armor his impressive armament, I realized that this individual was Agent 1. One of our most distinguished members. He had joined the Sector during its earliest days and was its founding member. "Have you brought the material? Show me."

 

[Agent 1]

Pulling the bag off my bag, I open the main compartment to show him the five explosive charges within it, along with a remote controller. They’re relatively small, not weighing all that much, but they can be a huge annoyance when trying to fight with them. I would drop them, but that sort of defeats the purpose of bringing them if the enemy can just pick them up and run.

“Ignore the tampons,” I said as I handed him the bag, and even despite the voice synthesizer anyone within earshot could hear how laced my comment was with sarcasm. The director likely wouldn’t tolerate it, but that’s just me.

 

[Sovereign]

I looked over the contents of the bag and in an instant I knew that these were the explosives I asked. They were state of the art, the latest design in Republican weaponry. Two or perhaps even one of them was enough to level the entire structure, but five was simply overkill. Destroying the spaceport was only a secondary objective. I wanted to send a clear message to the Hutt clans; that the Republic was not afraid of falling to their level and they too could show the same disregard for collateral damage. In time, they would learn to fear Sector 13. They might never know of its existence, but its deeds would certainly not go unnoticed. "Very amusing." I said and my faced remained cold and expressionless. Humor was not something I indulged in. After all, we were not only murderers, but ghosts. We did not exist and were not human by any standards. We were merely instruments of the will of the Chancellor, the long arm of the Republic Military. Such display of human emotions was most unusual for an agent. However, Agent 1 had never been like the others and did not often play by our rules. Such attitude was expected from him.

 

[Agent 1]

I contained a chuckle. I may once and awhile make remarks that are out-of-character for a Sector 13 operative, but I know the limits. The Director wasn’t amused, so I will stop. Simple as that. I just need to liven things up once awhile, even if he does frown upon it. Not my problem anyway.

“So they have about another minute at this point,” I said, and I have no real desire to see them show up in that one minute, despite how useful a Force user could be.

 

[Lavi]

He didn't like the heat, even though this is a night-time operation, but it's not going to sway his opinion about going on this mission. Haar, sitting upon a packed eopie, looked about underneath the hood of his robes. The grandmaster informed him and the Jedi accompanying him that they were to rendezvous with Republic agents somewhere in this general area. No details about who these agents are left the council member to hazard a guess as to their identity, though he kept such thoughts to himself.

Through the Force, and through his own eyes, he noticed two figures in the distance; most likely the agents that they were looking for. Gesturing to the others, Haar urged his eopie towards them.

Once he was in earshot, Haar chanced communication with them. "Excuse me, where is the nearest spaceport? I need to go to Ossus on important business."

If they were truly agents, they would pick up the hints: spaceport was the object of the mission and Ossus being the former headquarters of the Order.

 

[Will]

Huang Karasu materialised from thin air, his force cloak dissipating into the shadows. It was good to be out again. He surveyed the three with a cold gaze. He wore his black trousers and vest, a black jacket Over the top. He zipped it up, covering his tatoos that turned his skin almost as black as ink. ''As do i, we are fellow travellers, are we not, Hercule?'' Huang turned to the Jedi then the presumed agents. This was the location. He looked them over. He could feel their contempt. No matter. Weakness bred hatred for those stronger. He would tolerate them.

They would think the council member a do-gooder.

A ghost of a smile flitted across his emotionless, pierced face as he thought that they would be surprised. He had been picked for a reason.

 

[Agent 1]

Beneath my armor, my eyebrow is cocking up as far as it can. An eopie? Bundles of supplies on top of it? Clearly the first is a Jedi, as is the one that seemed to appear out of nowhere. I'm not going to enjoy working with them, not one bit. They just need to cover me, no matter what.

"Drop the code words," I demand. I'm not really in the mood for their coy phrases and attempts at acting like agents. It's not exactly quantum mechanics figuring out who they are. "Anyone walking up to two shadowy men in the middle of the desert is either an idiot or a Jedi. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on that one."

 

[Will]

Huang betrayed no emotion. ''Very well. We wait for one more, i believe. The Grandmaster kept this all very secret.'' He was adressing mainly the agent in the armour. That is what he had been told they were... republic agents. Must be some sort of black-ops operation. No matter. He would be required to 'forget' them after.

 

[Sovereign]

"Enough." I exclaimed as I walked in the direction of our new guests. There was no reason for hostility. Yes they were Jedi, and while I loathed the very sight of them, alienating the pair completely was unsafe. I had five extremely powerful explosives at my side and I had no intention of setting them up all by myself. I needed their full cooperation in this matter. "We are the Republic Strike Team. Since you are both late, and since I carry the explosives, I will be in charge of this operation from now on. Any questions?

 

[Lavi]

He flinched slightly at Huang's... unusual appearance. Very... unsubtle, Huang.

Haar allowed himself a slight chuckle at the armored one who rudely addressed them, though he offered no further words to explain himself. Huang pointed out that there was a third Jedi coming, making it pointless to elaborate on that any further.

After the second spoke, speaking of explosives and leadership, he said nothing, though not enjoying the prospect of being ordered around by a Republic agent at all. Since when did the Order answer to the whims of the Supreme Chancellor?

 

[Will]

Huang made a bowing gesture. ''As you wish.'' Men with explosives and delusions of grandeur. Never a good mix. He fixed the director in his gaze. ''What forces are we expecting? Mercs, bounty hunters? Taung?'' Huang said the last word with relish. He had not faced many of the Hutt Empire's elusive elite. They provided a welcome challenge.

 

[Sovereign]

I laughed at their recalcitrance. What were these Jedi thinking? That we would simply march into the city in complete disarray? No, this operation needed to be planned out, and above all, it needed leadership. I doubted that they had even participated in any military operation beforehand, which was rare for a Jedi these days. I explained the plan; "We will travel to the city as a group and we will stay as a group. This city is nothing but a wretched hive of scum and villainy. If we are discovered, the whole city might turn against us. The keyword here is stealth. If we stay hidden, then we have nothing to worry about. The spaceport is always crowded, even at night. If we move slow enough, I should be able to set up the charges without being noticed." I turned around towards my accomplice. "And you, cover that armor. We mustn't attract any attention. Now, have I been clear?"

 

[Will]

''Crystal.'' Huang nodded. He turned to Harr, a grin flitting across his face as he faded into the shadows. All the stealth technology and tricks these agents had paled in comparison to the power of the force. He would do this mission. For the order. For the Republic. Not for these jumped up soldiers.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Rain walked quickly through the desert in the general direction of where he had been told, and as he drew closer he went in the direction of four lifeforms, two with a much stronger presence than the other. As he walked, he checked to make sure his lightsaber was concealed. He was relieved to see his black cloak covered the shiny metallic surface.

Rain identified the two Jedi Councilmen at once, and knew the other two must be the Republic's agents. "Excuse my lateness, gentlemen. I was forced to postpone my leave until the coast was clear." He felt slightly embarassed to be the last to arrive, and also to be the least-experienced one in the group.

 

[Agent 1]

Now the director is starting to irritate me. He may give me my orders, but I do not tolerate demands. I am the first. There is a reason for that. Besides, this isn’t my type of mission anymore. I tend to use stealth in regards to slipping around corners and hiding as I slowly inch my way towards my objective. Blending in is not my forte.

“I’ll need something to cover it with, sir,” I start to say, although I’m making a point not to sound rude to my superior as I do not want the Jedi to think there is any sort of dysfunction in the agency, “or else there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m not one to walk into a city and hope to blend in. Never been my type of mission.”

 

[Will]

Huang rematerialised. ''Take my jacket. Unzip the lower inside. It should drop to form a floor length robe. You can pull a hood out of the collar'' He threw the Jacket to the agent, Showing off his tattood chest and upper arms, with lengths of skin staples running up his arm, all the piercings in the same black metal. ''Don't worry about the...unconventional...appearence, agents. I can hide myself.'' He disappeared back into the shadows.