Ask Mustafar The Event Horizon

[Lissa Blackhand]

The Black Sun Base​

The Tulrus Mountains ​

Mustafar​

07:22 Hours Local Time​

​

Mustafar...this place felt wrong.

Regardless of what the planet may have gone through in recent decades, be it healing or terraforming or some other kriff, everyone knew this place was cursed in some way or another. If it wasn't, it had to have been made that way for someone like boogeyman Vader to make their home here, not to mention the Sith as they were now, not to to also mention the streams of lava that stretched so far and wide that they could be seen from orbit - that wasn't natural in any way, to the void with scientists saying otherwise. What they said, though, Lissa could feel; even as they approached the planet it was almost like she could feel it, pulling her in, whispering to her in some strange, primal tongue she could neither hear nor see, but it's meaning was understood all too well - this is your home...

It wasn't though, she was a Nar Shadda kid at heart - this wasteland was just another job. Someone had tried to take a shot at Preef Callo and, miraculously, they weren't already six feet under, so the legendary gunslinger spared no expense in making sure that problem could be solved quickly and efficiently. Lissa was all too happy to take the job when she saw it, it wasn't every day you got to do something for a living legend. Now here she was, keeping an eye out for the Black Sun's defensive measure to start up. They've been lucky so far, the gunships approached at low altitude to avoid triggering any anti-air defenses (though the Tulrus Mountains came dangerously close to adding some metallic zing to their stony exteriors) but it was only a matter of time before someone heard them, saw them, or picked them up on short-range sensors.

"How're you doing down there?" She asked her partner, looking down at the gunner nestled snugly besides her. "I'm sorry, I know this isn't even the first date yet but I can't help but get close." She said with a chuckle, looking back at the droids. "Least we'll have plenty of shields"

Spoiler: Droid Loadout

12 YD Security Droids, each equipped with:
- 1 E-11 Blaster Rifle

 

[Vyr Zenos]

You take a shot at the wrong person and you pay the price. Vyr respected Black Sun for showing the ambition to try and take down Preef Callo of all people, but they failed to see it through. They must have anticipated what the consequences would be. Callo was the last person someone would want gunning for them, even in his older age.

This was the type of job Vyr had been waiting for. The chance to work for a big name. He’d carried out a few jobs. Earned his stripes, so to speak. But he wanted to step into the big leagues. This was his chance.

The gunships swooped over the charred surface of the volcanic world. Nice of Black Sun to have chosen such a wonderful place to set up their base. He glanced over at his partner for this mission, looking at her through the visor of his helmet. He didn’t know anything about her. The fact she was willing to take on a dangerous mission like this was a good sign about what sort of a person she was.

“A-OK,” he replied, giving the okay sign with one hand.

“Play your cards right and maybe we can go on a proper date. If we survive this,” he stated, his helmet concealing a wry smile.

“That’s probably all those tin cans are good for,” he remarked in reference to the droids. His armour would give him some protection, but the droids needed to deliver. He would have preferred better quality droids, but you work with the tools you’re given. He was calm about the situation. No nerves of any sort. To be the best, you’ve got to earn it.

@Panda Hermit 98

 

[Lissa Blackhand]

Lissa couldn't suppress the smile on her face as he traded back to her - it was nice when your partner worked with you in more ways than just the job aspect. It normally told her they knew what they were doing too, it spoke to a certain amount of quiet confidence that they felt like they could joke on the job. She just hoped that her feelings on that weren't about to be proven wrong, this planet made her uncomfortable enough, she didn't want to add 'being fatally wrong' to the top of the discontent pile.

The base began to come into view, a small mass of shadow expanding bit by bit until it became an imposing, if not awe-inspiring, fortress. Just from her pilot's seat, Lissa could make out blaster turrets, several guard posts, and more than a few missile banks. There was just one thing off about the whole place...the guards were all gone. While she was comparatively new to the bounty hunting profession, even Lissa knew that wasn't something that was supposed to happen.
"Are you seeing this too?" She asked, looking down at her partner to grab his reaction before returning to her control panel, leveling the ship out and dropping the droids.

After the droids had cleared the landing pad, Lissa landed the ship and scurried out of the cockpit as if it were about to explode, scrambling down to solid ground with her blaster rifle in hand and her jaw gaping in confusion. "Wha...where the frack is everyone!?"

@DMCK
[/SIZE]

 

[Vyr Zenos]

At least she could joke around. Too many bounty hunters and mercenaries seemed to have had a complete sense of humour bypass. Keeping his eyes fixed through the turret window, the Black Sun headquarters eventually came into view. A vast fortress, which seemed to block out the horizon. Not the most discreet base I’ve ever seen.

With the more restricted view from the gun turret’s window, it was harder to make out specific details until they got closer. The defensive measures were what he anticipated. Missile banks, turrets and guard posts.

Wait a minute. He used the zoom function on his helmet to take a closer look. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. There are no guards.

“Yeah, I see it,” he replied to Lissa. He wasn’t sure he believed it, but he definitely saw it.

The droids secured the platform without any difficulty. Not like they’re facing any opposition anyway. The ship then swiftly landed. Vyr jumped from the cockpit. He pulled his blasters from their holsters. Standing up, he glanced around. There didn’t seem to be any reasonable explanation for it. Black Sun were on home turf. They didn’t need to ambush a small strike force. Even with a change in guard duty, they would never leave the exterior of the fortress without a few spotters.

“Maybe they all went for lunch,” he quipped. “So, should we knock on the front door?”

@Panda Hermit 98

 

[Lissa Blackhand]

Lissa was incredulous, how in the kark do you just leave your literal home base so woefully undefended? Actually, correction, it was defended, there were blaster turrets and anti-air defenses, but none of them were being operated! Was Mr Callo sure these were the punks that tried to kill him because she wasn't seeing it.
"Maybe, or maybe they're watching the Teras Kasi tournament?" She suggested, shrugging nonchalantly. "I've got a bet down on the winner, 500 on Chon'r M'ge'gor."[/color]

They moved toward the doors leading inside, the security droids following their lead. Sure enough, the front door slid wide open, not even locked, and beyond it was some kind of entrance room with a counter, a terminal, seats etc. It kind of felt more like a Doctor's office than a criminal hideout, though thinking on it, it made some sense. Best to track the comings and goings and run a tight ship...just a shame about the perimeter being completely unguarded. "Maybe we need to make an appointment for a shootout," She said with a smirk, gesturing to the terminal.

Something finally draw her attention though, down the corridor. It sounded like voices, a whole lot of them too. She took out one of her flash grenades, ready to flick and throw at a moment's notice as she signaled for Vyr to move opposite the door for a breach. She pressed herself against the wall beside the door and let out a steadying breath, blaster in hand. Rushing through the door, she took stock of where the enemy was and...and...they were actually sitting around a holonet feed...eating and watching the Taras Kasi tournament...

"I...I was joking though..."

 

[Vyr Zenos]

“I was always more into Corellian boxing,” Vyr replied. He noticed the surprise on Lissa’s face, regarding the lack of guards. The complete absence of opposition was almost an insult.

When they entered the facility they stepped into what looked like a waiting room at a clinic. “I’m wondering if we’ve even got the right address,” he quipped in response to Lissa’s remark. Hearing the voices, he followed Lissa down the corridor. Moving to the other side of the door, he was ready to breach. Maybe someone has beaten us to the job. It’s not like Black Sun were short of enemies.

He charged into the room behind Lissa, prepared to open fire. You’ve got to be kidding me. They were watching the Teräs Käsi tournament.

“This is ridiculous,” he whispered to Lissa. Fortunately, the guards were so engrossed in what they were watching, they hadn’t noticed the two of them rush into the room. Vyr tapped on Lissa’s shoulder, gesturing towards the door, and slowly crept back out.

If she followed him back out of the room, he would wait until they were at a safe distance before speaking again. “I don’t know how you feel, but this has been a bit easier than I thought it would be,” he said, the sarcasm in his voice clear.

(OOC: 16/20 dice roll for whether guards notice Lissa and Vyr.)

@Panda Hermit 98

 

[Lissa Blackhand]

She was all too happy to follow Vyr back out into the hall and shut the door again, it wasn't like any of those idiots would notice. She couldn't help but scrunch her lips and nod along to his tactical assessment, folding her arms.
"This isn't easy, this is insulting, it's an absolute piss take," She grumbled, tapping her foot impatiently. Thei guards lack of preparedness also brought an annoying thought into Lissa's mind - was the council even kriffing there? Surely if they were, the council would be protected, wouldn't they?

Either way, they'd need to move deeper in if they were to find out, so Lissa simply gestured toward the other door for Vyr to take point...completely forgetting about the droids. No matter what could be said for droids, it was agreed that they didn't understand subtlety or stealth unless they were programmed with it, which these droids were not. It should have come to no surprise then, when the security droids proceeded to MARCH THEIR CLANGING METAL FEET THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR TO CATCH UP WITH THEM, SCREECHING 'READY FOR FURTHER ORDERS'! It didn't matter if you could sleep through a natural disaster, they had to have heard that.

Sure enough, there was a slight ruckus as the sounds of voices ceased and footsteps started approaching the door. Lissa could only sigh in defeat as the door swung open and the Black Sun merc managed to let out a surprised yelp before her blaster opened his head over the wall. "I hate droids sometimes..."

Spoiler: dice roll

Stealth check for the droids: 2

@DMCK

 

[Vyr Zenos]

“Tell me about it,” he said, letting out a slight laugh. So far, this had been as easy as his early jobs bringing in people who skipped bail.

He moved to the door, ready to take the lead, in response to her gesture.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

He turned to look at the droids invading the hallway. There goes the element of surprise.

“Shame they don’t have a silent setting,” he muttered to himself.

When Lissa took out the first guard, waiting behind the door, Vyr sprang into action. Quickly stepping past her, he unleashed a volley of shots with his two blasters. The shots tore through four guards before they could muster a response. Might as well go loud.

Moving into the room, he narrowly avoided a blaster bolt aimed at his head. Spotting a guard sprinting to what looked like an alarm button, he shot them down before they could respond and then destroyed the alarm panel itself with a second shot. Their work wasn’t done, as the remaining guards had moved into cover.

(OOC: 10/20 for level of resistance faced.)

@Panda Hermit 98

 

[Iviinyc Eldar]

Iviinyc Eldar, otherwise known as Strill, was late to the party. The Twi'lek Mandalorian made up for her tardiness by living up to her namesake and was quick to arrive. Along for the ride in her new starfighter was a syndicate enforcer by the name of Vako. The Toydarian had been picked up from somewhere else on Mustafar and needed a quick transfer to the fortress of Falleen nobles.

The starfighter was not alone. Several other transports carrying pirate "friends" were flying towards the ultimate destination. They had dozens of hardy warriors ready to cut down any Falleen guards they came across. Their additional numbers and paired ferocity would spell disaster for the green skinned defenders.

Thankfully the perimeter defenses of the Falleen fortress were not manned. The battle had started with some friendly operatives already successfully infiltrating the fortified structure with ten HMP gunships stationed outside. The droid gunships guarded the surrounding area and began destroying any Black Sun forces that tried to make their way out to the missile pods or blaster turrets. The war machines' weapons were able to stop any defenders before they could get to their delayed defenses and save Strill from having to deal with them.

"Sorry for not having a more comfortable seat for you." She apologized to Vako. The one passenger compartment was usually reserved for the bounty hunter's prisoners. "Setting us down." She announced as she brought the starfighter in for a landing. The other pirate transports did likewise and found spots to unload their bloodthirsty cargo. The sounds of combat echoed out from deeper inside the structure, telling them all where to go.

"Let's go!" Strill hollered to herself just as much as Vako and those she was leading. She grabbed her blaster carbine and hoofed it as quickly as possible to the entrance. Many other booted feet followed her, carrying the various killers into the confines of the fortress.

Inside a dozen YD security droids were in various states of disrepair. Some were still standing while others were in pieces on the ground. There was a Mandalorian already inside and the other operative engaged in a firefight. But the tide of the battle quickly changed as more than enough seasoned pirates stormed in. The Falleen guards did not stand a chance. However, these were not the nobles they were looking for. "Keep moving. We need to find the council!" She barked orders, going so far as to shove a pirate taking his time poking at a dead Falleen rather than continue deeper into the fortress. "No Falleen lives to see tomorrow."

@Morse

Spoiler: Dice

Rolled for pirate friends to join Iviinyc/Strill
91/100

 

[Vako Yizok]

Things going according to plan was never part of the plan. Things on the rim were seldom organized beyond massing a group on a target and providing enough of a pounding in order to see results. And if things did not work out, either the pounding would continue or be deemed not worth it. That was the just the way of things. They weren't governments, and they could hardly be considered war lords. They were tribes and warriors banging shields and spears together like animals fighting over prey.

Though not going to plan was not unusual, the part that had not gone to plan did not work for Vako. Taking the money, great. Stopping production, easy. But when those in charge were not dead? That was how reprisals happened.

Revenge was always going to be sought by someone, but it was easier to deal with goons or children of warlords looking to make a name... then it was giving others the impression that the warlord scheduled for death was invincible.

Vako had spent a life running. Running into blaster bolts. Running out of prison. Running at Jedi. Running from Empires. He was not about to allow the Black Sun, a Syndicate he had worked for many times in the past, get back at him. You either finished a job, or you had to hide for years. He learned that when he betrayed a Hutt, and he wasn't letting that mistake happen a second time.

He let his goons make it off with the treasure from the vaults, and had the most disloyal of them joining him shortly. He wanted to make sure there was a proper reinforcement (or at least a get away vehicle) so he had an LAAT making its way to him. It would arrive in time, but that was not going to be immediately when he needed it.

"I don't care about the vekking seat, Mando" Vako retorted. He was a Toydarian and didn't need much room. "I just care about the landing. Make it a good one." "He demanded looking out the window.

When they did hit the ground there was evidence of struggle, but not much. That was odd as he anticipated more security. That could go either way. Either the initial attack killed everyone (including the attackers) or the Black Sun had been on hard times and were hoping the isolated location would shield them from them from such strikes. Whatever the case Vako was ready.

Blaster rifle in hand a murderous will, Vako looked around.

"We could go up, or we could go down." Vako said gauging the facility. "They're hiding somewhere in here, depends on if they wanted a view or a bomb shelter." Vako noted. "And my guess on the basement."

@Darasuum