Ask Pirates, Pikes and Spice

On The Galactica:

Time had passed since Brondar's last contract on Tatooine, and he had joined the ranks of the "Apex Military Contractors," a sophisticated name for a mercenary outfit that suited his desire for freedom and flexibility in choosing his assignments. One particular job caught his eye on the black market, and it involved going after a notorious pirate captain named Gard Prok. The details of the assignment were intriguing, and it all revolved around the planet Aduba.

Aduba, located in the far reaches of the Outer Rim, was known as a haven for criminals and outlaws. According to the information available, the Pyke Syndicate's transport had fallen victim to a raid immediately after leaving Aduba's atmosphere. The culprits were identified as Captain Gard Prok and his notorious crew. The vessel they used was a black Class VI Bulk Freighter, distinguishable by a distinct yellow eye emblem.

The raid had been swift and brutal. Captain Prok's crew forced the Pyke transport to dock with their ship, and they wasted no time in boarding. They looted all the valuable spice cargo on board and left the Pykes with a clear ultimatum: depart immediately or face the consequences. Fearing further provocation, the Pykes had no choice but to jump into hyperspace, returning to their homeworld empty-handed.

Brondar saw this mission as an opportunity to take down a formidable pirate captain and retrieve the stolen goods, and he couldn't resist accepting the contract.



Since Brondar wanted support and guidance for his upcoming mission to track down Captain Gard Prok, he reached out to higher-ranking members of the Apex Military Contractors for assistance. His call was answered by none other than the legendary contractor known as "Aden Archer," renowned for his exceptional piloting skills. Brondar was excited about the prospect of working with such an experienced partner, and they agreed to meet in a local bar to discuss their approach.

Galactica had no shortage of bars catering to the diverse population stationed there, and they settled on "Detonators Origin," a well-regarded cantina located in the central ring. The establishment offered both private booths and open seating areas, but Brondar preferred the privacy of a booth. Accompanied by Hopper, he made his way to the bar, and the droid beeped excitedly, inquiring about their destination. Brondar replied, "A bar, Hopper, to meet our partner for the job."

Upon arriving at the bar, Brondar passed through security, still clad in his full body armor and with his blaster pistol at the ready. He rarely went anywhere without his armor, except perhaps the shower. A servant droid guided him to a private booth and asked, "What would you like to drink?" Brondar simply ordered a beer.

With the golden brew in hand, Brondar took a sip and let out a satisfied "ahhh" as he swallowed. Turning to Hopper, he asked, "Can you show me a hologram of the planet and the most important information?" Hopper beeped happily in response and displayed the latest information about the planet and what was known about their mission.

Now, Brondar patiently awaited the arrival of Aden Archer, ready to discuss their strategy for taking on Captain Gard Prok.

The space-born Apex Senior Contractor seemed like he was very busy lately. That's a good thing. Aden likes being busy. Joining up with Apex was the best decision he made in a long time. The Apex Pilot slash Senior Contractor has been enjoying and thriving in his role as a Senior Contractor. He gets to be a leader-figure in the organization as well as participating hands-on as well.

Aden would read details of the upcoming mission. The one with Captain Gard Prok. The Senior Contractor had already made a plan that he is sure would be a good one. In addition to the info on Prok, he also made sure to check out his partner's Apex profile, who is a recent addition to the ever-growing mercenary outfit.

Aside from a blaster pistol on his person, Aden wore only a casual outfit along with a sage green bomber jacket. He would arrive and sit down in the private booth in the seat opposite of his dwarf partner. He saw the hologram of planet Aduba and some other information.

"Brondar Steelaxe is it? Pleasure to meet you." he would extend his hand for the smaller person.

@JoeWing

Brondar shifted his attention from the hologram to Aden and greeted him with a hint of humor. "Ahh, another long-legger HAHA, just kidding. Nice to meet you. I've heard about you and your... accomplishments," he remarked with a grin. "It seems like I have caught a dream job, kicking some pirate's ass... I don't know if you are familiar with my background, but I can assure you that, in the military I served, we were kicking pirate's asses as daily business."

Taking a hearty sip from his beer, Brondar leaned in with enthusiasm. "Ahh, good. Now tell me, do you already have a plan on how you would like to approach this?"

The dwarf's excitement for the job was palpable, and he eagerly awaited Aden's response.

Aden would then respond with the plan. "Alright, so we know that the target operates in the Aduba system. We don't know where exactly to look and we could end up spending a really long time trying hunt him down if we aren't lucky." Space is big. A man-hunt would take days, weeks, months...

"I have an idea though. My idea, is that instead of us looking for him, we get him to come to us." that was the idea. "I can source a cargo freighter, get it's transponder codes falsified to appear as if it to appear as if it were a legitimate hauler carrying valuable cargo . We could also send out a localized distress signal to ensure he takes the bait." he nodded his head.

"Once they board us, they will attempt to seize the cargo, they will believe they got easy pickings. That's when we ambush them, and the target will be vulnerable. We kill the raiders, kill the target, and then we make off with his head." That was the plan. Aden has a very good understanding of how pirates work, and this fits the target's method of operation. Everything sounds good, except for the part about taking the target's head. Gross. But that's what the contractor wanted, so that's what they will get. One decaying, rotting head.

What did his dwarfish partner think of it.

@JoeWing

Brondar nodded as he listened to Aden's plan. A manhunt would indeed be time-consuming, and the idea of setting a trap appealed to his sense of adventure."Hmm... a damsel in distress sorta thing... Well, count me in!" Brondar declared, downing the rest of his beer.Without wasting any time, he stood up and announced his intention to gather additional equipment.
"Let me grab some additional equipment, and I'll meet you at the hangar. Send me your location once you are there," he said before making his way out.

Brondar knew that using detonators was too risky, considering the potential for pressure loss if the ship's hull were damaged during the mission."Okay, Hopper, can you show me the way to the nearest weapons store? We need to go shopping," Brondar requested from his loyal droid companion, who eagerly beeped and indicated the route.
"Alright, let's make a quick stop at the apartment first, and then we'll head to the store...," he added.

After retrieving all his necessary equipment, Brondar followed Hopper to "Blaster's Paradise," the nearby weapons store.

Inside the store, he was greeted by an overly friendly human seller, dressed in black and white, with blonde hair and green eyes. The seller's excessive chit-chat surprised Brondar, but he managed to maintain his composure. "I would need 4 concussion grenades and 2 breaching charges...," he replied tersely. The seller, with a hint of sarcasm, remarked on his choice of grenades.

Brondar sighed heavily, recognizing the seller's annoying attitude. "I would also need 2 smoke grenades," he added, preemptively bracing for more remarks. The seller, as expected, made a snide comment about his size.

"Just tell me how much," Brondar said, growing increasingly irritated by the seller's behavior. After paying, he couldn't resist giving the obnoxious seller a piece of his mind.

"You know, for a successful salesperson like you, it should be obvious how to behave yourself," Brondar retorted. "But looking around this establishment and looking at you, I can easily tell that you're a spoiled mama's boy."

The other customers laughed at Brondar's response as he left the store, leaving behind a speechless salesman...

Brondar soon arrived at the hangar's arranged meeting point, where the ship was being prepared for their mission. He handed Aden one smoke grenade and two concussion grenades.
"There you go, brought us some toys," he remarked with a smirk. "Are we ready to go?" Brondar inquired, checking his equipment and expressing his readiness to start the mission.

Aden was at the meeting point, outfited with his armor and arsenal that he uses for bounty hunting. Although Aden is much more known for his piloting skill, does have a lot of experience on the ground and with a blaster rifle as well. In the hangar was a Wayfarer-class Medium Freighter.

It was not just any freighter, it was the Carryall. Aden is friends with the captain of it. The captain understands the mission here, and for a few favors, he will go along with it. "Yes, we will head out now" The Carryall has a bunch of junk cargo on it, to make it appear as if it was carrying hefty load. It also has a hangar bay with a Bounty Hunter's Guild Starfighter. That way, just in case the pirates attempt to make an escape, Aden would be able to pursue the vessel and try to disable it with ion cannons

---

The Carryall is almost within orbital distance of Aduba-3, taking a route that has lesser traffic in the system. Aden would be gazing through a viewport in the freighter. The Captain is handling the piloting, and leaving the when and where of the operations to the Apex Contractors.

"We all ready?" he said on the comlink. The Captain would give an affirmative. If Brondar says he is ready "Captain, power to only essential systems." and next. "Brondar, send out the distress signal."

With that, Aden would put his helmet on. Things are piling into place

@JoeWing

Brondar found himself impressed by Aden's meticulous preparations. It was evident that Aden was not only intelligent but also a highly respectable individual. Brondar acknowledged the wisdom of bringing a starfighter, which could be instrumental in pursuing the pirates if necessary. The choice of their ship was also well thought out, striking a balance between utility, an enticing target, and storage space. These factors would surely convince the unknown pirates that their vessel was ripe for the taking.

Upon meeting the new Captain, Brondar didn't hesitate to welcome him aboard the mission. He saw the additional hands as a valuable asset. "Yep, I'm ready," Brondar replied with enthusiasm as Aden instructed him to start the distress signal. The trap was set, and the team was primed for action.

Brondar efficiently readied his equipment, adjusted his combat helmet, and gave his weapons a final check. "Let's find out what these scum are made of," he remarked to Aden, clearly eager for the impending confrontation.

It didn't take long for a ship to approach—a black Class IV bulk freighter adorned with a yellow eye emblem. "It's them," Brondar confirmed moments before they were caught in the enemy's tractor beam, compelling them to dock. He made his way to the docking ring, ready to confront their adversaries. "I'll detonate a concussion grenade once they've passed halfway through the docking tube. Then we need to move swiftly," he explained to Aden. Though the path within the docking tube wasn't excessively long, Brondar didn't want to risk encountering a closing blast door.

As they prepared for the encounter, the ship's internal sound system relayed the Captain's confirmation that the pirates would board. Brondar turned to Aden with a grin, conveying a sense of readiness and anticipation.

The ship shuddered slightly upon docking, and soon the docking tube from the enemy vessel began to retract. Both blast doors gradually swung open, revealing the unknown threat.

Provocative taunts came from one of the pirate scoundrels. "Ha... see, they are dead or passed out... nothing to worry about..." they boasted. Another pirate, sporting punkish attire and armed with a blaster rifle, advanced down the tube.

Brondar calmly activated a concussion grenade and skillfully tossed it down the pathway.

BOOM. The mission was underway.

Aden waited until his partner threw the grenade and sprung into action when the time is right. After the pirate goons were heavily dazed and concussed by the concussion grenade. Aden wouldn't waste any time before making sure they are down for the count with a shot from his lightning rifle, which would shock them before leaving them unconscious on the ground. "Nice throw" Aden said.

The privates came in a Class VI bulk freighter. It's designed to carry lots of cargo, stolen in the case of the pirates. But it isn't designed to carry a bunch of passengers. Aden suspects that right there they took out a majority of their crew already. "They didn't see it coming." The arrogant never do. Of course, he hightailed it to the other end of the docking tube and would give a push to his dwarf friend to help him move a bit faster with him.

Now they would be onboard the pirates ship. "Lets get to the bridge" he said.

During the last stretch to the bridge, there would be three YD Security droids guarding the bulkhead door to the bridge. The bulkhead door was locked, but the droids would need to be dealt with regardless.

The Senior Contractor would snap off shot of his lightning gun at one of the droids and then following up with another for a double tap. One droid would drop to the ground sparking and hissing, before taking cover around a corner to a corridor to the starboard side.

@JoeWing

Brondar nodded and grinned at Aden (though it was impossible to see due to his helmet), thoroughly impressed by how easily Aden dispatched the pirates. After the stun grenade went off, Aden wasted no time in taking down their opponents. "They never saw it coming," Brondar remarked, acknowledging the truth in Aden's words. By the time Brondar was ready to shoot, the pirates were already incapacitated. "Nice work," he simply stated, impressed by Aden's shooting skills.

"Sounds good to me," Brondar responded to Aden's suggestion to head for the bridge. He followed Aden, appreciating his effectiveness and speed – qualities that aligned perfectly with the training they had received. As Aden blasted the two droids, Brondar quickly and precisely took out the remaining unhurt droid with his blaster rifle, finishing it off with two headshots. He then swiftly dispatched the other droid with a shot to the neck. "Well look at you, you're quite the operator," he remarked to Aden, chuckling.

"Let's advance and finish him off," Brondar said as he stepped over the pile of once-functioning metal. "Hold cover... placing charge," he instructed Aden as he carefully set up a breaching charge around the handle and lock, taking only 30 seconds to do so. "Okay, your turn... set your charge at the hinges... I'll cover you," he said.

"The honor is yours," Brondar added, handing Aden the detonation remote, while he himself readied a stun grenade for when the door fell into the bridge.

"You're pretty good too" he returned praise to the smaller contractor. For Aden's part, he was a former soldier and sharpened his shooting skills doing bounty hunting. His best work still is his starfighter piloting still.

Now they are at the remaining obstacle that is seperating Team Apex from the target. The sealed bulkhead door. While Brondar was placing breaching charges, Aden was keeping overwatch with his trusty lightning rifle readied. Aden would then place his breaching charges on the door. The spacer can't say he is the best at this sort of work, but he has a good idea of what he is doing. On the hinges.

and he given Aden the honors of pushing the detonator. "Too kind" he replied while smirking. "Ready? Three, two, one..." he would then push the button on the detonator. After that, the door would be blown off in a display of fireworks. Aden was sure to be at a safe distance too.

Once the door was blown off, they could see what was on the other side. Two more blaster rifle toting pirates, and then the target Gard Prok. They were all spread out and in cover. They were readied. As soon as the door was blown down, they fired lots blaster shots in the direction of the Apex crew. Luckily, Aden wasn't standing in the middle of the hallway as the door was being blown down, but the volume of blaster fire is astounding.

"Remind me, do they want the target dead or alive." Aden asked his parnter. He might use his lethal arsenal to make this quick and less dangerous, for him at least.

@JoeWing

"Watch me," Brondar replied to Aden's query about the target's status. He hurled another stun grenade into the room, silencing the blaster fire, before swiftly entering and dispatching the captain with two shots to the chest and one to the head. The man crumpled to the floor, the sound reverberating within the confines of the ship, prompting the others to surrender. Disinterested in their surrender, Brondar delivered fatal shots to each of them.

"I'll take care of the head. Perhaps you should check the ship for a self-destruct mechanism?" he suggested, swiftly completing the task. With the head secured in an airtight bag to prevent any odor, they departed the ship just before it detonated in hyperspace.

Returning to the Pykes, Brondar dumped the head onto the table before the leaders. "Transfer the funds," he demanded, departing as soon as the transaction was confirmed.

"Well, well, well, that was a successful job, wouldn't you agree?" he remarked to Aden as they left the Pyke's Palace. "We should consider collaborating more often in the future."