Piracy is the Best Policy

[Necris]

Piracy is the Best Policy
Seinar Technologies is a corporation based on Lianna. It is constantly shipping vehicles, weapons, starships and just about anything else its workers and can manufacture off world to be sold to the highest bidder. Soon enough some of your Sith compatriots will be landing on the planet and entering negotiations with the corporation, letting them know in no uncertain terms what their new business arrangement will look like. Before they do that, a Seinar Technologies freighter packed full of weaponry will be departing the planet. When it comes to negotiations with fiercely independent organisations, piracy is always the best policy.​

---XX---
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Lianna the city world turned slowly like a cog in the indomitable machine of industry that spread across its surface countless factories and workshops working tirelessly to meet the demands of Seinar's many customers, freighters arrived and departed in constant steam of stellar traffic it was easy for a freighter to slip through the volume of starships unnoticed and even easier for it to sit in high orbit watching waiting, biding its time , carefully picking it target.

The Sith Brotherhood needed supplies, they needed a secured supplier of arms and equipment if they were ever to regain what they had lost, that was why they were here, in the first instance they were to secure what they needed through piracy that notion excited him, the daring of it the boldness, it brought a thin smile to his lips as he sat watching the ships come and go, the lenses of his helm allowed him to pick out the details and ship identities without need of their own ships sensors, he looked over shipping manifests that had been supplied by their spies planetside tallying up shipments to the ships bearing them.

But the shipment they were after was only the first part of their mission, a party of Sith Lords were on route to Lianna to negotiate a new trade agreement, one that would be beneficial to the new order rising from the ashes of the old.

He leant forward in the chair he had been occupying his eyes narrowing as his lenses focussed on a ship sliding from the high dock.

"Looks like our fish is leaving the shoal."

He pointed at a bulk loader tapping the name on manifest "The Persistence " as it slowly turned weaving it's way through the other ships sitting in high dock making it's way beyond the boundaries of the world to continue on it's way to it's destination.

"That's our prize the shipment is destined for the Republic weapons and armour that will no doubt be turned against us in the future."

He turned to his companion.

"Unless we of course take it for ourselves."

 

[Dalrel Anater'Zin]

Like a large, metallic beast waiting for its prey, the massive cargo hauler remained in orbit of the industrious would. The metaphor was indeed true, most of the holding clamps used to store the massive cargo posts have been replaced to make room for grappling hooks. Enough to hold the current, fake cargo pots in place for a simple jump, though not as stable as the original equipment. Of course, unlike tractor beams, these heavy grappling cannons could not penetrate shields of another vessel efficiently and would therefore be best applied for the last step of the darring maneuver. With the hooks sunken deep into its hull and the Sith's ship pulling its prey away from the safety of the hyperspace jump, they would have nowhere to flee. The ship otherwise had no meaningful weaponry of its own, rather the real danger to its prey was storred safely within the two massive storrage containers that would soon have to make room for the prey of this beast to be held within its fangs.

Dalrel stood silently on the bridge and watched the world beneath him. Lianna was a colossus of industrial power, littered with factories, shipyards and warehouses of its primary exporteur. Seinar Technology, the heart, soul and muscles of the world. It fed itself of the working power of its homeworld and sold the result anywhere within the galaxy. The aim of their mission was clear, both the specific and the unspecific. The first of those two just started the process of departing from the docking bay, where it was filled to the brim with military goods for the republic. From armor over spare parts for their machines to weapons. The second goal, which was even more important, was fear. The fear to not only use their workers on the ships, but also profits. The message therefore should be clear, so the envoy can deliver it to even the simplest of minds.

His gaze, which could not be seen beneath the bleak metallic mask with a clearly visible breath filter, wandered of the planet towards his companion, who had the hologram of the ship's manifest righ in front of him. He barely carred for the goods it transported, but they will be a nice addition to those of the Sith Brotherhood anyways. Of course, the other vessel, the Persistence was also both well-armed and had considerable shields for a freighter. Nothing less was expected. It was the boldness of the act that would be necessary for this purpose. Dalrel's eyes narrowed behind the obscurring visor of his mask, as he noticed another detail. Two sleek sector defense fighters flew close to the slow freighter and albeit not equiped with hyperdrives, they would surely be able to assist the cargo ship until it reached safe distance for its hyperspace jump. Something the Sith should not be allowed to happen, if Sienar should receive the message.

"We cannot let these weapons be turned against us than, can't we?", Dalrel chuckled beneath his mask, which resonated off the filters in weird, distorted sounds. The crew of the "Hollow Claw" was nothing but a bare minimum for this freighter. In addition to the two members of the SBZ, there were just the pilot and his co-pilot, two gunners and four Sith troopers to maintain security aboard the ship, should they decide to take prisoners. "They will soon see the benefit of working with us, rather than in our opposition. As if there would ever be something that can resist us for long.", Dalrel turned towards the helmet pilot of the bulky freighter. "Pilot a rendevouz course with the "Persistence", I do not want it to get outside of the gravitiy well of the planet, so everyone can see happens to those that oppose the Sith." Dalrel sat down in the commando post, next to Ceska, his eyes fixed outward of the front screen, as the "Hollow Claw" accelerated. "Unless of course you want the hunt to be yours, brother?"

 

[Necris]

"No brother the pleasure of the hunt is yours."

He turned his helmed head to look at the Falleen before he turned back to the view before them, the addition of the fighter escort wasn't something they'd expected but wasn't an obsitcle they couldn't over come, he placed the manifest to one side as the "Hallow Claw" turned into its interception course.

"Pilot, put our course directly in front of them stop them using their hyperdrive."

He pushed himself to his feet as the pilot acknowledged the order.

"I'm going to the cargo containers the ion mines we brought were only intended for one target but with some engineering the cores can be destabilised to give a wider field, and possible take out those fighters as well, when we deployed you'll need to accelerate to maximum speed to avoid the blast, but we need to be close so they can't avoid it."

The original plan had been to close with the transporter and fly so close past them that when they dropped the half dozen mines they had "The Persistance" would not have been able to avoid, only one had to hit the freighter to disable it leaving another five drifting in space, but these fighters were nimble enough to avoid the mines and if they followed their original plan there was a possibility of the fighters taking out the mines before the disabled the transport.

He left the cockpit sliding one his knives from its sheath as he walked through the ship he turned it easily in his hand as he strolled down the main companionway passed the rather spartan bunk space he passed looking at the troopers they'd brought along.

"Get ready to storm the freighter they have a crew of ten but should only have light weapons, don't kill them unless you have too we want as many alive as possible when we send our message."

He made to leave then paused.

"Oh and be ready for no gravity on their side."

He quickly made his way through the rest of the ship into the cargo container on the aft side, it was empty save for the six ion mines each one was thirty inches across and pulsed with a steady heart beat of cold blue light, using the knife he pried open a panel on each mine then carefully he disabled the core containment of each one before stepping back the steady pulses on the bombs had become more irratic and random.

"Dalrel the mines are ready for your mark, but don't delay too long they are no longer stable."

His last act was to attach a remote detonator to one of the mines so he could trigger them if they looks like they might miss, if one went off now they'd all go off.

"I'll stay in the cargo hold and hop across once the mines have detonated."

He'd have liked to have his rifle with him but he didn't need it the pair of knives and the pistol would do.

 

[Dalrel Anater'Zin]

Dalrel’s lips curled into a sinister smile behind his mask, as Ceska left him with the command of the Hollow Claw. A slight rumble went through the transporter as the powerful engines started to pursue the Persistence away from the planet to the edge of the gravity well. Despite the advantage of the ship’s ship in speed and surprise, it would be a tight one and it had to be in order to not rouse suspicion to their intention until it would be to late to react. Slowly the large freighter made its way through the busy orbit of Lianna trying to put themselves in front of its prey to defer it from the quickest way out of the system. The route is fairly trafficked, so they should have their fair time to approach, before they got close enough. Like it would be common for transports of military goods in the Rim worlds, other vessels steered away from the course of the ship.

In the meantime, the warrior had risen from his current position to explain his idea to get rid of the planetary defense fighters that might hassle the Sith. Using the Ion Mines to disrupt the systems of the fighters, if not outright taking them out of the picture should work well. Otherwise the gunners of the Hollow Claw should hopefully proof their worth at taking out what remains. ”Very well, brother. I am sure that our pilot will make sure to react in time to the mines being deployed. Unless he wants to be left floating helplessly without our atmospheric systems to provide him with oxygen to breath”, while he talked, he has shifted his gaze from his brother of the Sacred Band to the Sith pilot in front of him, before he turned his gaze back to Ceska, “I am not sure that the fighters will be that close at the time to be caught within the radius of the mines. Though, the threat of their explosion should make sure that they keep a sufficient distance for us to strike. Please let me know, once your preparation is complete.”

He watched the young warrior take his leave from the cockpit, playing around with one of his knifes on his way out. To Dalrel, Ceska has already been one of the more enthusiastic, zealous fighters, a desirable trait for any warrior that is to be used at the frontline of combat. Also, he seemed capable enough the made it past the bulk of the masses of those that share his attitude and survive to the point of becoming a member of the SBZ. Of course, he had read the dossier. It was standard practice for the Falleen to do so. The younger man’s career from thief over murder to what he was today was indeed impressive. He will be of good use in the coming time of war against the Republic and the Jedi. He might fall, as might everyone - including even Dalrel, he admitted – but better to die for a glorious cause such as this war than a mere criminal in some prison.

His gaze turned back to the front screen, just as they approached the large Seinar freighter. They should come within the range, where the crew of the freighter signals approaching vessels to stop, as it would be common place for any military transport, within mere minutes. Dalrel had started tapping his cybernetic fingers, covered by the thick platting of his armor on the counter next to the manifest of the Persistence, which Ceska had left at the command post of the ship. The heavy thumb of his hand echoed unsettlingly through the relatively small cockpit, while he focused on their prey. The Comm station showed an incoming call, which identified as captain of the Persistence. The Falleen doctor opened a channel for voice-only communications and immediately the expected message blurred over the speakers by the voice of a grizzly, annoyed old human. “This is Captain Bawlick of the Seinar Technologies’ Persistance. According to orbital regulations act of Lianna, we ask you to change your course and stay at safe distance to our vessel.” It obviously was not the first time the captain had to repeat the sentence since his undocking from Lianna’s busy high port.
The captain is such an insolent fool, he did not even bother to look up the entry of the approaching vessel, nor ask for them to identify themselves. Dalrel opened the channel for his reply: ”Captain of the Persistence, thank you for your warning. We will adjust our course immediately.” The pilot looked over his shoulder at the member of the Sacred Band, who just shook his head in negation of his own statement. At the same time, the doctor cut the connection with the other vessel. He sat up in his seat, his glove still rhythmically ticking on the metal counter of the station. ”Accelerate and bring us in front of the Persistence, pilot. I do not want their worries to be lost for nothing.” Just as he had given orders to accelerate, the voice of his brother sounded over the Intercom, to let him know that the mines were ready. ”Everything is going according to plan, though I was afraid, you might be a little late, Ceska. You do not happen to get old, would you?”, he taunted the other through the intercom, while ignoring the signal from the Comm station informing him, that the captain of their prey wanted to talk to him again.

It took seconds for the Hollow Claw to set itself in front of the other ship, albeit they were not at perfect positon, because they had to pass the vessel sideways in order to unload the mines in the way of the transport. ”Your chance for glory, pilot. Set out the mines, now!”, the brother commanded. The pilot of their vessel was no as quick to react as the elite warriors had hoped. Indeed he opened the cargo holds filled with the large ion mines, which now gave off a dangerously erratic blinking of blue light, but he did not open booth holds at the same time. Instead of laying a thick field of mines, it was more a belt. It was still likely the first few mines would hit the freighter, which should be sufficient to disable it. The open containers now faced the freighter, seconds away, as its weapons system powered up to fight the obvious threat. It was easy to see the red alarm beacons appearing within all windows of the transport, they might even have send a distress call to the planetary defense forces that will arrive shortly. On the other hand, their prey was now nearly within grasping distance for the Sith of the Hollow Claw. Dalrel’s fist gripped the chair as he lifted himself from the position, while the vessel was still on full speed to avoid the explosion of the mines. He did not wait for the mines to hit their mark, instead he commanded the pilots: ”Raise the shields and turn the Claw, it is time for capture.” By then, the Persistence would have its laser cannons aimed at the other freighter.

 

[Necris]

He watches as the cargo holds doors slid open his arm wrapped around a strap securing him as the air rushed from the hold pulling the mines out into space, his armour automatically sealed itself against the sudden absence of atmosphere and a indication on his lense started to flash counting down the air left in his suit, with the compact jet pack he wore it was about ten minutes, taking a slow stead breath he watched as the mines turned slowly in space drifting towards the targets, he lost sight as their own ship turned and felt the hum of the shields coming to full power.

Releasing his hold on the strap he drifted to the threshold of the cargo hold looking he watched as "The persistence" started to turn sharply trying to evade the mines forcing one of the fighters to turn under the belly of the freighter, the other peeled away in the opposite direction, they wouldn't get a better chance than now so he activated the detonator even though they were a little close they might lose some secondary systems but it wouldn't cripple them not like the freight and at least one of fighters.

Triggering the detonator he witnessed the coronas of the ion pulses overlapping washing over the surface of the frieghter and the fighter shorting out their systems the nearest corona washed over the tail of their own ship causing the engines to shudder as redundancies shorted but the main systems held his own helmets lenses cut out for a second but then recovered.

"We got two the third is turning round coming for an attack run, time for the gunners to earn their pay."

He checked his jet pack then pushed himself from the cargo hold firing the pack he flew across the void towards the crippled fighter landing on its hull he looked through the canopy at the pilot as he struggled to fit a basic life support onto his face, he slid a knife free and reversed it in his grip he started to press it down onto the thick glass as the pilot gazed on a horrified expression on his face as the vibroblade started to crack the surface, he begged and pleaded as the cracks grew bigger.

Ceska looked at the man's panicked eyes as he drew back his left hand slamming it down onto the pommel of the knife the canopy exploded inwards then as the pressure changed blasting the shards of glass back over him pinging off his armoured helmet and chest, the pilot struggled against the void clawing at his throat for a few seconds as vacuum consumed him, his body went limp arms floating helplessly inches from the life support respirator that would have save his life.

Twisting he watched as the grapples fired latching onto the military frieghter pulling it closer to the waiting umbilical of the "Hallow Claw."

The cannons of the "Hallow Claw" opened up chasing the fight driving it away as it came in for an attack run.

"See you on board boys."

 

[Dalrel Anater'Zin]

The electrical, blue waves of the detonating ion mines washed over the military freighter. Small sparks of energy could be seen lashing out like tongues on the shields and systems of the Persistance. Shortly after, their shields shortened out, closely followed by their sensors and weapons systems, which became immediately apparant as the warning in the cockpit of the modified pirate hauler ceased. They were no longer being targeted by the other ships's weapons. The waves continued onward for a bit, stretching their fingers for the next vessel thst had come to help the freighter. The pilot of the sleek, anti-piracy fighter could not act quick enough, so ge dived right into the ion explosion. His ship grew dark as the systems on board could not handle the overload. It contiuned drifting forwards slower than before, obviously because the pilot had attempted to stop.

Than the ion energy hits the Hollow Claw, fizzled over the aft of the freighter across its hull. Warning signals appeared everywhere on cockpit as the shields tried to adjust and minor systems failed. The sensor screens filled with static. Dalrel took a step behind the pilot, as he tried to stay in control of the vessel, despite the engines failing him. "I dislike to repeat myself", he hissed threatingly over the sound of the alarm signals that echoed through the cockpit, "turn the ship towards the Persistence, now!" Of course, the bulky freighter was already turning around to face its prey. Dalrel stood back up again, as the sensors turned back up again, only to reveal one of the fighters surviving the explosion and aiming for their ship.

A few laser bolts from the darring pilot hit their weakened shields. While normally nothing but a nuissance, the blasts almost pierced through to the hull, promting another alarm to appear in the cockpit. Dalrel had enough of this incompetency. Well, thruthfully speaking he wanted to proceed in taking over the other ship, rather than having to deal with crew of the Hollow Claw. "Gunners, take out the remaining fighter and any other that might come to disturb us. You", he said, turning back to the pilots again, "will bring the ship in position for its purpose, before I arrive at the cargo holds. I do not wish to return, to do your job. That would make you very dispensable now, wouldn't it?" He turned away from both the pilots, as they worked on the consoles of the ship with seemingly new vigor. The Falleen used the time to walk out of the cockpit, the echo of his heavy boots on the deck mash with the warning sounds. He walks through the same corridor as Ceska did before, the soldiers still standing at the ready, despite one of him, who muss have stood near to the exploded console, showing severe burn marks.

Dalrel recognized the effort of the wounded soldier, but he did not care for his live sufficiently to take him out of the line of duty, as he directed his order towards them: "It is time that we will take our prey in, soldiers. They can no longer flee from us. Gather your weapons and meet me at the docking clamps within one minute. Their cargo will find new use in the hands of our armies." With that said, the soldiers picked up the weapon in time for another salve of laser fire to hit the side of the Hollow Claw as it turned towards the drifting Persistence. Shortly afterwards, the archetypical screetch of the light, repeating laser turrets of the transporter returning fire could be heard, which were common to these freighters to deter smaller pirate vessels from approaching. The pilot of the fighter was obviously quite talented, by the time the fire from the laser cannons could be heard. A waste to let him die, but such a distraction could not be tolerated.

Not even a minute later, Dalrel reached the place, where once the cargo holds had been tightly securred by the docking clamps, but what was now the closed door to open space. His armor already adjusted itself to the pressure of space, as he turned to his helmet comm to reach the pilot: "I hope, we have attained position. Activate the tractor beams on the Persistence." For a few moments the comm was silent and the pilot did not reply. Obviously the Sacred Band had to look for a more professional pilot for their next assignment, should it require such talents again in the near future. Shortly after, the hum of the tractor beams nearby could be heard as they powered up to extend like invisible coils around the military freighter. "Good", Dalrel continued, by this time, he was sure, Ceska was already closing in on the other vessel with his jetpack, "Now, fire the hooks and use the tracktor beams and the hooks to pull them within boarding distance."

 

[Necris]

It seemed like an age drifting in space holding onto the broken frame of the dead fighters canopy his only company the frost covered corpse beside him and his steady rhythmic breathing as he regulated his breaths to preserve his air, while he waited for the agonizing time to seep by as the two ships closed he watched the other fighter as it made pass after pass against "The Hallow Claw" scars were starting to show on the hull where the fighter had punched through the shields and it had come dangerously close to hitting a vital part of the ship.

The pilot was skilled he had to admit he knew how to handle the craft but he was no combat pilot, his aim wasn't anywhere near good enough to be a real threat to their ship, and only a lucky hit would cause any problems but he could bob and weave nicely, the pilots were probably unused to being engaged in combat this close to the world but would need their agility to move between the shoal of ships drifting in and around the docks. He watched as the fighter twisted executing a barrel turn that took him away from the light cannons of "The Hallow Claw." he frown as the cannons moved to track him noting how slow the traversed, drawing his pistol he took aim, while still too far away to do anything of use or even pose a risk to the fighter he could at least distract the pilot.

As he turned coming for another pass he opened fire with several shots, the fighter jerked away from his shots the pilot clearly surprised by the trajectory of the new shots and struggled to compensate, he wondered if the pilot was aware of where they'd come from but he didn't need to worry as the cannons of "The Hallow Claw" hit the underside causing enough damage that the fighters engines cut out leaving the sleek little craft drifting in space, two more shots hammered into the think sending one of its wing structures spiraling off into the void while the last shot set a fire burning across the hull as the fuel and oxygen ignited, he activated the comms link in his helmet.

"That's enough, he's dead don't waste your time trying to hit him again just be on the look out for more, he's bound to have got a signal out."

He turned his attention back to the Freighters as they finally came close enough for the umbilical to move forward and start the connection cycle, pushing off from the dead fighter he ignited his jet pack covering the distance rapidly he caught hold of the umbilical as it moved into it's final position folding himself inside he engaged his maglocks in his boots locking himself onto the inner surface as the ships finally connected with a hiss of pressure.

He turned looking back as the rest of the party joined him, he looked at Dalrel as his brother moved to join him.

"We need to talk about our pilot, he's bloody slow."

He gestured to one of the Sith Troopers then towards the airlock of "The Persistence."

"You, open it."

 

[Dalrel Anater'Zin]

The Sith troopers have gathered within the halls of small area next to the airlock. One by one they appeared through the ship's corridor, clad in their armor that was meant to withstand the vacuum of space, albeit only for a short time. Each of the had a blaster carabine with him, more fitting weapons for the tight area that spaceships tend to be. The emblem of the Sith Brotherhood however, was missing on the black plates of the armor. First, because Dalrel considered a thing to be attained through ones action and display of faith in the Brotherhood, and second, because neither the Sacred Band nor the other Sith would not have any dead floating bodies in the space of Lianna with their creed. In the end, these soldiers were... expendable.

Dalrel himself did not bother with appearing recognizable. His bronze and silver armor covered him from head to toe, only leaving room for his two round, red-tinted visors that were currently scanning the console for their approach on the other ship. Like the troopers, he had a blaster carabine at his belt, but he did not bother to draw it yet. There would be sufficient time for that later. Without saying a word, he turned on his magboots. Fortunately, the Sith troopers were bright enough to follow suit, before Dalrel opened the airlock on the console. The Persistence was barely 2 meters away, being pulled closer by the heavy cables and the energy of the tractor beams. Sufficient space for someone to pass through, an opportunity that Ceska obvioisly saw, as he slipped in throigh the airlock.

Dalrel turned towards his fellow brother, his hand lightly resting on the hilt of the other weapon on his belt, a cortois-covered vibroblade. Next to it lined up two grenates, but obviously nothing as damaging as a thermaldetonator. They needed the cargo of the other ship in good condition after all. "I was thinking likewise, brother", was all Dalrel had time to respond, before the Hollow Claw docked with the military freighter. The doctors reflexes were quick enough to place his fist against the inner hull of the airlock, before the ships connected with a sound that could be more felt than heard in airless containment of the boarding party, stopping the motion of the Sith's vessel suddenly. He used the moment to activated the docking clamps anew, they former cargo holds drifting in the air where their sip had turned around.

The clamps gripped the vessel in their metallic hold tightly, before the magnetic lock was enabled. The good doctor was all to happy to leave the opening of the other vessels airlock to one of the Sith troopers with the prepared cutting laser. Shortly, as the door was about opened by the darring soldier, the flaring lights of flying blaster bolts pierced the air and the unfortunate trooper. From the size of the hole in the soldier's armor it must have been a stationary blaster turret. Which means that either, the Persistence had been retrofitted with anti-boarding weapons or the pilot has failed again and given the security team sufficient time to reach the cargo hold full of military-grade arms and set one up themselves. Dalrel watched as more blaster fire streamed through the slightly opened door and hit the back of the corridor, being absorbed by the thick internal hull as mostly harmless.

Dalrel's hand went for his belt to pick one of the small cylinders that contained an explosive core surrounded by sharp, ionized fragments. The fragments would be carried well through most personal armor deep into the flesh of the person beneath, but leave anything more heavily armored with almost no damage. Unless such grenade hits a completely unarmored person or you have serious bad luck, the shrapnel rarely does any fatal damage. The really unpleasant thing was the sudden shock afterwards, that would follow, a really unpleasant design. "To bad it might still destroy the turret with the electronic charge. We might have found use for it later", Dalred whispered into his helmet comm, as he threw it through the airlock into the other ship on ground level, sufficient to roll into the room and turn everyone and everything around it into an hedgehog.

 

[Necris]

He nodded and stepped in after the grange detonated levelling his pistol he made sure to out a round into each of the three crew men to make sure they were dead, then scanned over the blaster cannons to was ruined, it sparked as he stepped past it checking the corridor, he glanced back at the Sith Troopers

"Change of plan, if you see any resistance kill them but make sure you get the cargo transferred across to out ship as a priority."

He looked to his brother.

"Do you want the bridge or the engines?"

 

[Dalrel Anater'Zin]

The impact of the grenade could be felt even on the other ship, as the heavy splinters were burried in the surrounding walls, a few even flying through the airlock into the already dead trooper. Aside from bodies hitting the floor, the other side remained silent, but sound did just not spread that well without much air. Dalrel's eyes followed Ceska as he pushed himself through the airlock's doors that were sloghtly ajar. Shortly after the precise shots followed, to calculated for any resistance. It seems that the mercenary had changed his plans of keeping the crew of the Persistance alive. They had no time to worry about such a detail anyways.

The remaining Sith troopers pushed the door further open, so they could later use it to transfer the cargo of the other ship or any prisoners. Dalrel used the opportunity to readjust his equipment, taking the blaster carabine into his left hand. After he was done and the troopers have opened the door further, he ordered them to follow through, before he stepped over the muilated corpse of the for er Sith trooper himself. He was dead, therefore, he had no purpose in the mission anymore and there was no reason to stop the mission simply because of a single soldier that died.

Once he emerged on the other side, Dalrel also saw the sparking remains of the gunpoint, as well as the dead bodies of the three security officers. Their body was covered with the heavy needles, but the mlst obvious reason of their death was the missing piece of their helmet in the area of their faces. A result of their insolence, their idea that they could resist the Sith. Ceska announced his change of plans to the troopers, while Dalrel's eyes scanned the perimeter. Surely the crew of the Persistence would try to keep them from reaching either the bridge or the backwards area of the ship, which contained the engines and the cargo rooms.

They were at a position that is not only defensible against outside threads, but also to those that might be so bold as to try boarding the pirate vessel. Dalrel pointed his blaster at two of the Sith troopers, than towards the airlock: "You two, will stay here and remain watchful of any of the Persistance's crew that might try to flee towards our vessel. I hope you know what to do with them, should you see any, right?" Both soldiers nod and salute, before they hurry to take up defensive position. "Now, I will go for the bridge", Dalrel's metallic voice sounded over the comm, "you should take the last trooper with you to secure the cargo bay, once you pass them on your way to the engines. Once both are secured, we could start with the transfer."

As usual, Dalrel left little room for discussion, even though his orders seemed more like questions or suggestions. He held the blaster carabine close and at the ready as he passed throught the next corridor. As planned the explosion of the ion mines had left the transport with no chance to close the doors that seperated the corridors, though they would have difficulties reaching those areas that would be closed anyways, like the bridge or engines. He passed another corridor, one that would lead to the crew quarters of the vessel. The door was closed and locked, so he passed by, further to the bridge. He activated the infrared overlay on his helmet, showing the heat signatures within the rapidly cooling atmosphere of the Persistence. He placed his right hand on another contained on his belt and activated the device. A low explosion could be heard as the lid opened and smoke streamed out of the container, slowly filling the surrounding area.

 

[Necris]

He looked at the trooper

"You start transferring the cargo I'll deal with the rest of the ship."

He scooped up a weapon from one of the downed crew checking over it quickly he headed in the opposite direction of Dalrel his foot steps slow methodical as he tapped out a pace the steady rhythm word unnerve anyone hiding, these people weren't soldiers they were couriers paid to transport goods not fight battles, the fact the band had been sent was more to prove a point than anything else, the troopers could have handled this just as easily as two of them and the ones they had with them were little more than glorified labour with guns.

He stopped at a junction his head tilting he could hear the unsteady breathing of at least two just round the corner a smile crossed his lips.

"Give up or die,"

He waited then stepped round the corner he'd been right there were two of them, young men cowering they hand their hands up pistols pointed upwards.

"Let them go and stand up take me to the engines now!"

The men complied letting go of the pistols they floated in the air as they rend heading off towards the engines, Ceska collected them as he passed, he noted the men had engaged maglocks of their own at least they weren't stupid, one of them turned to look at his over his shoulder.

"You won't get away, you know that don't you?"

"I wouldn't be so sure of that, we're far enough out that your fighters will take time to reach us, plus we have you to keep them at bay should they get here ahead of schedule."

He gestured with his stolen blaster for the man to continue.

"You just became our insurance, it would have been better if you'd let yourselves be killed."

He followed as the men led him towards the engines.

"But don't think that because we need you protects you, we only need one of you alive and there is still the captain and the pilots."

 

[Dalrel Anater'Zin]

The smoke filled the corridor, the thin particles hanging motionless in the air, once they were catapulted out of their cylinder. Of course, they would not spread like they do in open space, but rather remain in their place, just moved in reaction to the motions of other bodies disturbing their area. On the other hand, they will not be dragged down by gravity or drawn out the vents, until the atmosphere system has returned online, either. It would serve as a warning either way. The particles bumped against each other as they continued to stream out the carnister. It was designed to cover an area with smoke for quite some time, mostly to serve as some kind of analog signal for landing craft, so it would continue to spread for some more time.

Meanwhile, Dalrel had continued his way through the large transport towards the cockpit, scanning the corridors as he passed by. It was easier than it should have been, there was no further resistance as he passed by on his way to the pilot. He looked up the plans of the ship on his HUD, waiting around a corner. He would arrive at the cockpit with just a few more steps. To easy. He picked the cannister of his belt and held it in his hand for a moment. He clicked on the button that would make the container flash in a repeating, red light, so the position could be located more easily. With a quick toss, he threw it around the next corner, where it bounced of the wall to roll further into the crew's meeting room, that was separating the rest of the ship from the cockpit. It was a considerable large room, allowing for most of the crew to 'get together' here, with a sizeable table in the middle.

Shortly after the blinking, smoking device had entered into the hallways, the first man let loose a few bolts from his blaster pistol. He was obviosuly nervous, jumping on the slightest sound. A few more bolts followed the first, bouncing of the main corridor's walls, some of them close to Dalrel. They were no soldiers, just barely trained and paid employees that should do their best to keep ordinary pirates away. The bravest of them most likely would be dead at the airlock, the rest of them acted according to the security manual. They would man strongpoints and important locations like these and try to survive until help arrives. "Grenate!", yelled someone, before the smoking container came flying back through the corridor, as a few panic movements could be heard, while they jumped to safety. The Falleen doctor shook his head, as the container roled past him down the corridor.

"I would suggest, that you stand down and throw your weapons away, so we can solve this situation peacefully. If you would rather, I forcefully remove them from your necrotic fingers afterwards, that you would be your decision to make", the metallic, distorted voice of the supposedly pirate echoed through the corridor, but mostly into the open frequencies of the crew's comlinks. Some mumbling could be heard, one could almost hear the hasty exchange of gestures, as they discussed their next step. A voice answered through the comm, a voice Dalrel recognized: "We will not just roll over and hand you our cargo, pirate scum. You better stop this now and turn yourself in, before you get killed." Dalrel smirked behind his mask. "Captain! I am happy to hear that you have survived so far, albeit not that much. Tell me, is that really worth dying for. I mean yes, it must be an easy job for you, not far from retirement, a bit of action before it ends. Though what about your crew, do you really thing that the security will be here before your oxygen runs out? I would not be to sure about that", Dalrel taunted the captain, lifting his blaster carabine in the meantime to be prepared to shot anyone that might turn around the corner next to him, "you would really let your crew die, so you can get a bit of a kick, being the heroic leader, right? I heard that not even the Sith do that to their own." The following pause was again accompanied by more whispering and motions.

 

[Necris]

He sat looking over the engines, they were basically simple, easy to maintain and repair, and just as easy to cripple, it had taken a few well places blaster shots to render the engines drivers completely inoperable.

"Dalrel the engines are dead, the cargo is being unloaded, the crew contained, I'm growing bored of this chicken hunt."

He turned from the engines stalking back into the ship it would take a another hour or so he checked the unloading of the cargo and then headed to one of the weapons ports he peered out at the planet.

"We have company in bound looks like the fighter got off a mayday."

He watched as a dozen fighters wove between the bulk loads and cargo ships as they slid between them bearing down upon their location.

"Better see if we can't delay them."

 

[Necris]

he arrived on the bridge in a flurry of activity stalking across the deck he scooped up the communicator growling into the mic.

"Listen up I know you can hear me, we have taken the ship, he have the crew call off your fighters or the crew will be killed."

He looked round at the crew then back too the communicator.

"We wanted to do this with as few deaths as possible but if you continue you will force our hands."

He triggered a beacon fitted into his wrist sending the signal to the fighters lying in wait just beyond a hyperspace jump, the plan had been for them to swoop in take the cargo and meet up with them for an escort back to Sith space but they were also there as back up should things have gotten out of hand.

He looked out from the bridge watching as the fighters didn't change course, turned to face the crew he drew one of his blades.

"Sorry, looks like Seinar don't value your lives."

 

[RedneckLoves]

Bonnie perked up the moment a red light and high pitched beeping sounded in the cockpit of her Ziost Hunter starfighter. She had been leaning back in the seat and in all honesty was about to fall asleep from sheer boredom. The handful of starfighters had been sitting at the edge of the atmosphere since before the initial attack had even begun. Sitting around and waiting was definitely not one of her strong suits.

Now it seemed that she'd get herself a piece of the action, though, since the backup beacon was going off. Bonnie straightened in her seat and a grin widened across her face as she worked the controls in front of her. She sped to the side of the two big ships that were engaged together already and spotted the troupe of starfighters that were headed directly for it.

With a whoop of enjoyment, Bonnie first engaged her shield, expecting enemy fire, and then let fly several shots at the leading two fighters. Her shots were grouped in such a way that both would have to dodge away from each other and in front of the rest of the formation's fighters. Hopefully that would allow her to then continue her attack without having to go on the defensive.

@Ecclessey

 

[Necris]

He he allowed himself a smile as he watched the Hunter swoop in their weapons were better their armour better, perhaps not as noble but over all the Zoist Hunter was a warship not a defense runner, his eyes turned away from the the scene back to the crew stalking across the bridge he crouched down before their captives.

"You know they just wanted to come in and blast you apart, take what we could salvage from bursting you open like a ripe fruit."

He used his knife to gesture out of the windows at the fighters as they banked round.

"We thought it would be more beneficial to board and take what we needed, we thought we could use you to send a clear message to your employers that said you work for the Sith Empire now and no-one else. We even have people on the ground reinforcing that message right now, seems a shame that there are elements of your security forces that still think they have a choice in the matter, it's no matter really they'll be made an example of."

He twisted the blade so that its point angled towards the remaining crew members.

"And I'm afraid so will you too, now I'm going to give you the choice one of you can live, we need you to take word of what happens to those trying to break away from our agreement to travel through to the oth captains and crews, so you get to pick, pick which one of your gets to be our messenger."

Leaning back on his laurels he presented them with and open handed gesture

"You have sixty seconds to decide."

 

[Eccles]

Bonnie hit the first mark quite on its nose and it exploded in front of his fellows. Unfortunately the other target managed to evade and the wing of starfights remained more or less in tact as they dispersed in pairs. Bonnie had gotten the better of them in the first stage, but now they had her on their radars as well.

Two NX-3 Starfighters answered Bonnie's challenge while the remaining nine continued their way. Due to the explosion and presence of hostile starfighters, freighter traffic was panicking and set full throttled courses to either the planet itself or to prepare for hyperspeed. The chaos that ensued made bulkfreighters crash into each other's partical shields where collissions between smaller vessels fared much worse. For Bonnie this meant that all kinds of crap, ranging from titanium hull-fragments to goods to dead sentient crewmembers would need to be evaded in her upcoming dogfight.

She immediately lost visual on one of the NX-3 fighters as he flew underneath and behind a bulk freighter. She was unable to track him with her radar as the chaos that unfolded around her had made it useless. The other one was clearly taunting her as he flew directly towards her in a continued barrel-roll. @RedneckLoves

 

[RedneckLoves]

Bonnie cursed as the civilian traffic in the area started getting out of control. You'd think people would have enough sense to act... well sensibly when battle broke out! Instead they were crashing into each other left and right, killing people and damaging vessels all over the damn place. Great.

At the instant of her first hit, she wasn't in the immediate area of the chaos and there hadn't quite yet been any major collisions. She was able to clearly see that two of the remaining fighters were headed her way, while the rest continued toward the frieghters. One came straight on in a cocky barrel roll, but she quickly lost sight of the other. At this point, the civilian traffic had gotten out of control and Bonnie was forced to execute a stall turn to the side, in order to dodge a fast falling hunk of someone's ship.

As soon as she was lined up with the enemy fighter again, she let loose a stream of laser bolts at the cocky pilot. That would show him to taunt an Echani. She turned her fighter around and went back the way she had come, slowing somewhat in order to search for the other fighter that she knew was around here somewhere.

@Ecclessey

 

[Necris]

Blood drifted through the cockpit in large globs of perfect crimson spheres, they crew hadn't decided so he's been forced to pick, slashing throats and guts spilled the cockpit had become a carnal house of diced meat, only two remained they cowered in a corner as he stood looking at them, the only reason they were alive was he'd been distracted by a report from the troopers they'd brought with them, he stood listening to the report both of his blades hanging loosely in his hands, they were just moving the last of the cargo over now, but the transporter was taking hits from the enemy.


"Understood, just get it across and prepare to jump to hyperspace."


One of the globs of blood popped loudly, more so than it should of done it seemed on the breastplate of his armour snapping his attention back to the cockpit he looked down at it a frown forming on his face, so far he's managed to keep clean of the gore slowly filling the space, letting out a sigh his helmeted head turned to the remaining two, the navigator a female Rodian her eyes wider than normal with fear and the first officer, the humanoid was one of the pink skinned one, usually bright but the colour had drained from it making his handsome face quite ugly in a sickened way. The ship rumbled as shots struck either them or the Sith Transport time was not on his side now.


He turned his back upon them and strode from the cockpit, sliding his blades back into their sheaths he let a communicator float from his hands.


"Lets see what's more important, your lives or your cargo."


And with that he was off moving down the corridors using his jet jack to speed his way to the umbilical and the waiting transport, joining the troopers he noted his companion brother was already on board.


"Well?"


"Everything is on board, we cleaned them out."


"Good, blow the cord lets get out of here, Pilot move out of the system and then make the jump."


He pulled off his helmet as the airlock closed behind them.


"Get to the guns, I'm going to check on what we just nicked?"


He set off towards the cargo bays.


--


The Transport moved away from the stricken ship its guns opened fire at the fighters more as a distraction than any real threat they would let the Hunter seek her prey, powering up to full thrust the transport started to head out of the system, the pilot bringing the shields to full power as they went, once they were a safe distance from the wreak they'd jump to hyperspace and from there they'd be heading back into Sith Space with their ill gotten gains.