Ask Dromund Kaas A Deal's a Deal

[Kaldar]

Per my OP template, thread is death enabled​

Kaldar set his ship, the Shadow, down on the planet of Dromuund Kaas. It was strange to be back here, as it had been many years since he'd actually returned to the traditionally Sith planet. The fact that he was back here and doing a favor for a member of Tempest's Sith Order was even stranger.

The galaxy was an ever-twisting web of alliances and betrayals, and this was just one more rung on that ladder. Would assisting Azar come back to bite him someday? Maybe. It was hard to say, but it wasn't something he was doing out of the goodness of his heart. He was here because it was business. As far as he was concerned, Sith setting up their own fiefdoms and rivalries was what had made the Sith Order strong to begin with.

He made his way from the Shadow to his designated meeting spot where he was supposed to rendezvous with Azar's apprentice, apparently. They would then head from there on to meet with Kaldar's Nagai team who had already made their way separately onto planet in preparation for the targeted and strategic destabilization of the government.

The meeting place was nice enough with a balcony overlooking a park below. His lightsaber was hidden away below his jacket, and he arrived only a few moments after they were supposed to meet.

 

[Freyja]

While Freyja appreciated the opportunities Azar's errand runs offered, this time she had left with a little grumble. Why? Because Dromund Kaas sucked on her eyes. She wasn't thrilled to get back there, yet she was at least excited to meet this 'associate', knowing that new people always brought in new experiences, learning opportunities and intel...

As she wasn't entirely sure about what she'd be tasked with, she had her axes, bow, lightsaber and her poison laced dagger with her while she was dressed casually. She wore dark clothes, but didn't show up in acolyte robes - she was assuming whatever they were about to do required a certain amount of discretion, so she wasn't going to take any chances.

Freyja arrived on time, a little earlier than their agreed meeting time and immediately moved to the rendezvous point, hence when K?...Oh right, Kevin was his name - she now remembered - approached, she was already leaning against the railing, watching the park below as a slight breeze ruffled through her ashen hair.

He fit the description rather fine, yet she waited for him to actually stop across from her before she offered a polite, respectful incline of her head. "Hey, I'm Freyja", she introduced herself with a subtle smirk on her lips. She knew he wasn't on the Academy and she didn't have him on GalaxyGram, but apart from that, she knew little about him.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kevin was about as nondescript a name as Kaldar could want for an alias, but it did bring to his mind the fact that he should probably pick a Sith name at some point. He wondered if Raze would ever give him the Darth title or if he was simply expected to claim it when he felt ready. Either way, his musings of prestige and power were cut short by a woman approaching him who pretty much matched the description that Azar ahd given him.

Kaldar looked at the woman as she arrived, and she was... not really what he expected. He wasn't sure if she thought she was hiding all of these weapons, but... it was very hard to hide a bow and two hand axes even if the other weapons could be.

Yeah, I'm not sure if you're trying to be subtle, but the hand axes kind of give you away, he said, wiggling his finger in a circle pointed at her to indicate "this whole thing."

Are we ditching those or stashing them or... I don't know, do you have a bag to put them in or something? he asked, not wanting to get stopped and frisked or questioned on the way to their meeting.

@LadyRen

 

[Freyja]

So Kevin was a very perceptive person it seemed. "I have a bag and can ditch the bow", she couldn't suppress the eye-roll - did he take her for an idiot? She was not one to walk around with an attitude, but she was someone in her late teen years still, so he had it coming to some extent.

"I wasn't sure what we were about to do, but I can change right now", her ship wasn't far away and he had now made it fairly clear that some more subtleties were needed. "What exactly are we doing?", she curiously asked halfway about to turn and quickly get back to her ship again, before she glanced up at him again.

"You don't look like a Kevin", she just blurted out a moment later, not fully sure whether it wasn't just a cover name, but she found it funny nonetheless. She'd wait for him to answer first before she'd intend to quickly move back to her ship. "And how do you know my Master?".

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kevin just kept giving her a vaguely blank stare as she explained followed by an Okay.

No, if you need to change we'll change at the RV point. At that point you can pull out whatever kind of weapons you want, he said with a shrug. He just didn't want to get stopped before the time for shooting started.

Alright, let's go, he said, flicking his head to the side and heading down the trail and out of the city proper into a place that was one part jungle and one part planetary park or something.

He supposed she hadn't been briefed by Azar, but that was neither surprising nor distressing. He could fill her in on the way, and with any luck, she'd fight well. He had to imagine that Azar had picked someone competent for an apprentice.

A man has many names, he said, deciding that the best way to answer that was question was to quote Throne Games. Of course, if she was unfamiliar with the quote it would make him look like even more of a tool, but that would also make it all the more hilarious. It was basically a win-win in Kaldar's mind. The fact that it also wasn't wrong was all the better.

Rather than answer her question about how he knew Azar - because she sure had a lot of questions - he decided to loop back around to her question about what they were doing.

There's multiple teams positioned around the planet to knock out key leadership in order to pave the way for a hostile takeover. We're assisting one of those teams. Specifically, the team whose job is most important, he explained. The Nagai special forces that had come to the planet were more than capable of executing most jobs, but this one was even above their paygrade alone. It required the Sith touch.

 

[Freyja]

Ugh. Kevin was a tad annoying already. "Fine", she conceded, this time turning her head away before she rolled her eyes. What was Azar doing with him? And why was he best fit for this Dromund Kaas endeavor? There was surely something about him she didn't know just yet, but she held back her curiosity for the moment as they had to go, it seemed.

Of course she knew Throne Games, she was a huge fan after all, but in that moment, his mysterious vagueness pissed her off more than she showed. "But a man teaches a girl, too", she thus replied rather instantly, throwing him an almost expectant glance while a smirk tugged at her lips, turning this around a little.

"I'm fine with calling you Kevin, even if it's a stup-. It doesn't matter. But look, maybe you could at least fill me in on what I can expect of you. What are you good at and how can I support you best?", she thus kept on asking, her voice rather calm though. He surely earned himself some sympathy points through the quote...but apart from that, he didn't seem that easy.

He finally revealed the plan and she nodded along. Fighting she could do well, with or without the force. With the prior, she was still practicing, but she was confident her partner had some experience there. "Spicy...yet what is our role? Do we just fight our way through or is discretion important?". Sith involvement was always interesting...yet it required some finesse, too. She wasn't sure he was even a Sith, but she had to know whether they'd be on the front lines or rather striking from the shadows.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Perhaps, he said, his tone somewhat mimicking the breathy nature of the man from Throne Games. But a girl didn't learn until the time was right, he added. Of course, this was also Azar's apprentice, and Kaldar had no intention of teaching her anything any time soon. He wasn't here to step on his... were they friends? Sith Friends maybe? Anyway, he had no intention of stepping on Azar's toes.

Boy, she had a lot of questions. Some of them were valid, and some he decided were just to fill the silence that she would otherwise find uncomfortable.

I do whatever I need to, he said, not willing to give her - for good reason among Sith - a full run down of all of his strengths and weaknesses. That wasn't the kind of thing you shared with a new acquaintance.

Our operation will be a mixture of stealth and combat, he said, though it remained to be seen whether it would be more stealth or combat. Although the plan had been reviewed by Kaldar, much of the actual planning and recon had been performed by the Nagai. They had proven to be exceptionally useful.

One of the teams is going to make a distracting assault on the Oligarchical Complex and we're going to lead another team in the side entrance and kill or capture the members of the Oligarchy, he said. It was simple on paper, although it would likely be far more difficult. That was why it required a pair of Sith to make sure that everything went according to plan. A single Sith was a force-multiplier, which had been seen time and again. It was also why the Imperials had kept the Imperial Knights around after the expulsion.

He continued winding through the park until he eventually came to something like a clubhouse out in the middle of the park. Except in this case, it had been rented out by the assault team and was filled with Nagai operators in various states of tactical gear.

For his own part, he moved over and began changing into his armor, which would certainly not blend in, but it would intimidate. He didn't care about blending at this point.

@LadyRen

 

[Freyja]

Touché. Unfortunately for her, he knew his references, too. She also knew that her primary goal was to get this here done for Azar, but this didn't mean she couldn't make the most out of it and not only gain some information about this Kevin or pick up a new thing or two.

His answer about his skills drew a sigh from her, as he was even more vague than the average Sith it seemed. Judging from his appearance, he wasn't a melee hand-to-hand combatant, but he also didn't strike her as a sorcerer, so she figured she'd have to wait and see. Patience wasn't her strength, yet she knew she had no other choice here.

She nodded at his answer about their approach, once again not appreciating the uncertainty of this all, but it was good that she knew she had to stay prepared for whatever this mission asked of them. "Okay. You still haven't told me how you know Azar though...", she tried again, this time her face remained rather expressionless though.

If he wasn't going to share it, she'd try later again. Perhaps, he'd have to warm up first. For now they had to focus on the mission anyway. The park they crossed was quite pretty, yet they reached some kind of an ancient building sooh and Kevin immediately began changing while they grouped with a bunch of Nagai.

If they were the side-entrance assailants, she figured a long ranged weapon would come in handy still, so she kept the bow. Kevin was soon in super edgy Sith armor that made her raise a brow in subtle amusement, given that subtleties in terms of appereance were now off the table, but she chose a different tactic in this.

She figured if she didn't show up in robes, she could stay on the stealth path and keep the Force as her perfectly concealed weapon until she'd have to use it. Her poisoned dagger stayed concealed as well, knowing it was something that could prove very useful if she truly had to rely on it, but with bow and axes, she was already well prepared and could fight her way through complex by their side.

She knew there was a reason why Azar had sent her here and even if she didn't know a lot about her companion, she knew she had to trust him at least to some extent. She inhaled slowly before she focused her mind and waited for their group to wrap up their procedures of getting ready, before a hint of nervousity washed over her. This time it wasn't Azar who was physically close and mentally with her, but he was sectors away. Still, letting him down had never been an option. "What kind of resistance are we expecting? Animate guards or droids, too?".

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar finished slipping the last bits of his armor into place and clipped his lightsaber visibly to his belt. With literal Sith runes etched into the helmet, it wasn't like he was going for subtlety anymore, and at this point intimidation, concealment, and the added functionality of his armor were more important than being able to blend in. Although he didn't say it aloud, he hoped that some of the people would either simply give way or even join their cause at the sight of a Sith. This was one of the planets that had remained at least somewhat loyal to the Sith. Sith history ran through its veins.

Mostly guards but some droids as well. Some of the Imperial battle droids stayed here in after the Empire pulled out, though a limited number, he explained.

Specifically, the honor guard aren't to be trifled with, he said, motioning across the room to the various people gathered as they prepared their own gear.

We'll have backing from an eight man assault team and another twenty four men will be performing the distracting assault, he said. It was likely to still be thick fighting, but he was confident in himself, at least.

Let's load up! he called out across the room to the rest of the troops, making a circular motion over his head to underline the words.

Are you a combat specialist? he asked. Frankly, he had no idea of her skills, but he assumed if she was Sith she was at least competent with a weapon. A safe assumption as well because of how many of them she carried.

Kaldar started heading for the door as the soldiers began loading up in vehicles from a large, freight truck all the way down to smaller, nondescript speeders.

We'll be in this one, he said, heading to one of the van-like speeders parked out front while others climbed into a similar van.

Once we get there, everything's already going to have hit the fan, so we'll need to move quickly, he warned.

@LadyRen

 

[Freyja]

Freyja just blinked at Kevin in his full edgy armor, wondering whether that was how he normally ran around. Oh Boi. Maybe someone needed fashion advice? Either way, the tone was now much clearer and she was all aboard. Still, she knew that fights often went her way if her adversaries underestimated her, so her fit was just fine and not screaming "I'm a Sith, beware!".

Freyja didn't like the news about the droids, frankly speaking, simply because she had no experience with handling them and wasn't versed in dealing with them at all, but she figured the Nagai could probably deal with them. As for the guards, she was ready. "Got it", she nodded, and studied the group of assailants for a moment.

He rounded them all up a moment later and Freyja took her place next to him. "I can handle myself alright", she met his gaze, knowing damn well that he had met her with vagueness as well and that her weapons gave away just as much anyway. She followed close behind and soon took a seat to him after they had climbed into the speeder.

He was still avoiding her questions about Azar, so her eyes were slightly narrowed for a moment as she glanced out of the little viewport. Her heartbeat was already picking up its pace. She readied her bow as he mentioned that place was already on fire and locked eyes with him again after. "Is the killing or the capturing our priority?", she still wanted him to clarify, before she added "is it essential to keep anyone alive? Especially the Oligarchs, if we'll run into them?". Their transport was moving quickly, and so soon, it seemed like the distance to the complex was already covered.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Good, Kaldar replied without missing a beat, his tone somewhat enigmatic. Whether he believed her or not about her skill wasn't entirely clear, and he left it that way on purpose.

We better run into them, they're the entire objective, he said with a snicker. Them not escaping is the priority. Neutralize them and we'll just make a deal with their successors, he said. It was ruthless and the most practical way to execute an operation like this.

There's three oligarchs: two men and a woman. They'll be the ones that are very well guarded, I imagine, he said, pulling up pictures of them and showing them to her so that she knew what they looked like as well.

He tilted his head to the side as he listened to the comm chatter coming in.

Team one made contact. The other teams are going, he said. Although they were hitting the most important target, other teams were deployed across the planet to strike other high value operations.

Thirty seconds, he said, reaching down and taking the lightsaber off of his belt. It was one of the few situations that Kaldar saw that a lightsaber should be drawn: as the pinnacle of an entire operation's worth of set up.

They reached the delivery door checkpoint and Kaldar heard the ear-splitting crack of a blaster shot to silence the up front guard. He threw the back doors open and began moving with speed, knowing that time was going to be the deciding factor here. They needed to be quick while surprise was still on their side.

@LadyRen

 

[Freyja]

"Good". No mercy then. She knew what they were getting into, which was good. While she tried to suppress that subtle nervousness, for a moment, she wished Azar was here. He always knew what to say to keep her focuses and push her further...yet this, it seemed, she had to do alone.

But she could fight...and what they were doing was in his name, so she felt ready. She felt the dark side flowing through her and it reassured her. She had her weapons, but she also had the Force. She studied the picture intently, assuming if they'd try to flee the complex at some point, they'd at least be hooded or whatever. She'd recognize them regardless.

The Nagai seemed just as ready and so as their transport came to a halt, she immediately sped after Kevin, energy bow readied and the first load of scorching plasma ready. Before they'd make it inside, a guard raising his blaster rifle aimed for one of the Nagai that jumped out first and Freyja's arrow instantly burned its way through his exposed throat.

As the guards were fighting on different fronts, she was hoping that the chaos and diversion would meant they'd meet less resistance, especially of the honor guard he had mentioned, but for now they could at least enter the complex through the delivery entry while death and agony already lingered in the air.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar's saber burst to life in his hand and as one arrow launched through the air to cut down a guard, Kaldar closed in on the other external guard, the Force flowing out of his hand and slamming the man into the wall as his saber came around to carve the man in two from under the sternum to the other shoulder.

His saber flourished and swept across the control panel for the door, springing it open as they pressed inward.

Much of the security force was concentrated on the front of the building where the "main assault" was happening, but it was just a diversion. The true danger was them, and the guards weren't ready for it. If they moved quickly enough to kill everyone, they might even be able to avoid the alarm rising at all.

To that end, Kaldar pressed on quickly, hurrying down the halls and, frankly, killing anyone he saw. From the crying secretary to the cowering analyst. Each and every one of them was a potential person to call out security, and Kaldar wasn't taking any risks. If he thought he could have gotten away with just bombing the entire place, he would have done it, but he needed confirmation that the Oligarchs were dead.

They pressed on and eventually came to a blast door leading down to the bunker in question. He plunged his lightsaber into the door, watching it slowly melt away as others approached.

Keep me covered, another squad's coming! he shouted back to Freyja and the Nagai as another ten armor-clad QRF troopers rounded the corner and opened fire.

@LadyRen

 

[Freyja]

It was madness. Freyja followed the man inside and was immediately followed by their assault team. Their were more guards on their way, yet much more dispersed than she had assumed, which meant that the main assault was drawing the majority of the attention.

She did not only see, but feel the panic flashing through the guards' mind. They had assumed the brute force was at the main entrance, while the actual terrors just came through the delivery entrance. A guard that got way too close to her made her drop the bow and pull out one of her axes instead that soon made contact with his unprotected skull - there were various forms and
stages of armor around, so she constantly had to adept, yet they made progress fast and soon stopped in front of a heavy blast door.

Well, so much for her potentially still keeping it subtle. She unclipped her lightsaber from her belt and it sprung into life just in time to deflect the first light blaster bolt. She took her position in front of Kevin and did as he bid. The Nagai were quick to fight back while the force and her lightsaber kept both Sith safe, adrenaline was rushing thrower veins as her companion finally melted the rest of their entrance.

She was dearly hoping the Oligarchs were inside, but as wild panic and terror radiated from behind the door, she could at least tell someone was in there. "We're good. Let's move in". The hole he had cut allowed for them to squeeze through and she was sure some Nagai would follow while the rest would keep fighting off the rest of the incoming attackers. Fearing that whoever was inside had a backup escape plan, she rather wanted to cut them off before they'd even get the chance to do so, but he trusted his judgment on this.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar could feel the heat radiating off of the melting metal of the door, and he assumed that once it melted away there were going to be the elite honor guard inside for them to deal with.

It's just going to be us going in. The squad'll hold out here. Expect stiff resistance inside, he said.

He focused anger and rage through his palm, understanding that this very door was one of the things standing between him and his goals. Each obstacle he faced had to be pounded into oblivion and forced to bend to his will. Only then, when he was strong enough to make the galaxy whatever he wanted it to be, could he finally achieve transcendence.

These truths poured into the Force around him, twisting and corrupting it before he expelled it all from his palm, slamming into the melting durasteel door and sending shard flying across the room inside.

He was quick on its heels, his armor protecting him from the final bits of molten metal dripping around the hole he had just created.

Even as he moved, he noted two things. The first was that apart from four men in red armor at the other end of the room, the room was empty. The second thing was the open door at the other side.

So there was a backup tunnel to get out. It meant they had to be quick with the quartet of guards, although Kaldar could already see that a piece of molten metal had embedded itself in the belly of one of the men and nearly taken him out entirely.

Kaldar fell upon the next, sending a flurry of blows, but... to be honest, the guy was pretty impressive. He was putting up quite a fight more than Kaldar would have expected. He was fast and it showed that he had probably been trained to fight Sith.

@LadyRen

 

[Freyja]

Kriff. Fantastic. Not that she didn't trust in her own abilities or his - quite the contrary, he had proven he was quite a capable fighter - yet, it added more pressure. The Oligarchs would be well guarded, there was no doubt in that, yet, they had to push through.

"Copy that". Oh why did she go for that kind of a language now? Must have been the nervousity. Her heart was pounding in her chest, yet she tried her best to stay focused as she followed him through. As her lightsaber was already ignited, she kept it that way as they proceeded, fearing he was right about what to expect in there.

Yet, as her gaze followed his to the second door, her eyes widened. Fuck. So there was a twist in this and the Oligarchs were probably on their way out already. Not having fought such well trained enemies before, she was perhaps slightly intimidated, but this didn't keep her from staying focused on that fierce determination with in.

As they had melee weapons with them and Kevin already charged onwards, Freyja knew they had to act quickly to shake them off, so before they could engage her by closing the distance between them, she focused on the Force that flowed right through her and channeled the dark side to manipulate the force around the guards through Cryokinesis

It was something she knew how to do, yet she also knew it would deplete her quite a bit. Still, before either of them could engage, the other two would find their visors frozen and their views thus quite obstructed. As she started running, her head spun a little, but her crimson red lightsaber was still burning in her hands as she intended to strike the one who was still busy with Kevin down.

The other two were left with the decision of either removing their helmets quickly and becoming more vulnerable, or rubbing the layer of ice crystals off, which would cost more than a few precious seconds and would hopefully give them a little opening.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Freyja leapt in to bring down the same man that Kaldar fought, and the man didn't last long after that. The extra second or two that was bought by the other soldiers being out of commission was all they needed, and the first soldier fell followed by the wounded one.

That left two more for each of them, and Kaldar wasted no time in launching himself at one while he was still half-removed of his helmet and cleaved downward. Only one left, and together they would make short work of him.

We need to move! he shouted back to Freyja and darting down the escape tunnel.

They needed to catch up and cut down their enemy before it was too late. He wasn't interested in having his whole plan turned on its head. Not this time.

He tore off down the hallway and... well a couple of Sith athletes could move faster than the oligarchs who were all 50+ and not exactly in their athletic prime anymore.

The group came into view ahead, and for better or worse, the quarters were very tight. Only about 3 people across, which would make things... actually, probably better for the Sith.

@LadyRen

 

[Freyja]

Through the slight mental haze, she struck the first one down before in unison, they slayed the last standing honor guard after Kevin had put an impressive move on the second. Blinking, she marveled at the move for a brief moment, not having seen such a masterful use of a lightsaber for quite some time, but he was right.

They had to move. And so Freyja did. A wave of confidence and pride washed over her as she sprinted after him, soon hunting down the group they were looking for which meant the real fun was about to begin. She felt powerful, knowing that there was no way the Oligarchs would get away now and that the plan had worked.

Dipping deeper into the dark side of the Force, Freyja let the darkness flow right through her as she fed on their fear. She saw it in their eyes, but she even felt it more clearly. They knew this would end here and now. As she thought their successors might potentially appreciate doing the fun part, with what stamina reserved she had left, she targetted the first and intended to dull their senses so that they'd drop down unconscious, leaving Kevin to decide whether he'd want to slaughter the rest or not.

Regardless, she was certain he'd get the job done before she'd adress him again. "This tunnel probably leads us back out...should we drag them with us?". Whether for prove or whatever, she was certain their bodies might still have some use.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

You should temper your use of the Force, he warned. She seemed to rely heavily on it in combat, and while it may work out now... it may not turn out so well against more potent enemies. Putting to sleep multiple enemies was no small feat.

Of course, she was free to take or ignore his advice, it made little difference to him. What did matter to him was that the oligarchs were as good as dead.

In quick order, Kaldar chopped, sliced, and hacked his way through what was left of them, and the oligarchs were dead.

Uh... no, he said, looking down at the pieces of oligarch. We're going to have to fight our way out, he added, and that was going to be impossible with three dead bodies.

Granted, the Nagai were still keeping some of the paths out open, so with any luck the fight on the way out wouldn't be too bad.

He started moving back down the hall and toward their exit point.

Their still holding the exit. Front assault team has taken some casualties but were largely successful. Evacing soon, he told her, based on the reports he was receiving over his comlink.

@LadyRen

 

[Freyja]

"I-". For a moment, a hint of anger flared up inside her. Freyja had always replied on her weapons. She was currently leading to incorporate the Force in meaningful ways, so him warning her not to overdo it, made her question whether she had already wanted to much. Internally, she was pouting, externally, she looked away, her gaze shifted onto their escape route in order not to let him notice she wasn't too happy.

"Thanks for the advice", she mubled, trying her best to keep her voice neutral before she pulled out her phone and took photos of the lifeless bodies just in case anyone demanded proof before checking this place again. "Then let's head out before shit breaks loose". She didn't doubt possible reinforcements were on their way, so she wanted to get the kriff out of here.

"Lead the way, I'll cover you from behind", she suggested, however if he'd prefer if the other way around, she wouldn't object. One way or another though, her lightsaber would stay ignited and in her right hand, heeding his advice. Regardless who went first, they'd be met with some blaster fire they'd have to redirect, which, however, wasn't a big deal with a lightsaber.

Once they'd move a little further onwards though, a loud alarm would start blaring though, making Freyja's eyes widen. "I...think they're locking this place down!". No good news at all. They'd either have to move quickly, or wait this out a little and find yet another way out...Freyja definitely picked up her pace, at least until they'd run in yet another squad of hostile guards.

@Phoenix