Credits and Hostages

[MoreThanSane]

"We broadcast live from just outside the Galactic City Xaneth Bank where it seems a group of armed and highly dangerous criminals have successfully entered the building and taken hostage all its occupants. Three police officers have already been killed and several more are wounded and being rushed to medical facilities. The police have surrounded the building and are reportedly covering all exits, but have failed to make any progress in their negotiations with the criminals. They ha--"

Lieutenant Aelianus Atratinus glanced at Major Errt Lumm as the holoscreen deactivated, the remote in his hand. The Major turned, his weathered face tired, wrinkles standing out in the room's harsh lighting.

"Twelve men, automatics, explosives, body armor--the whole kriffing shebang, Lieutenant. You can say no to this one. God knows I would."

Aelianus looked at Lumm blankly, stretching out comfortably in his chair. His submachine gun and pistol were both holstered tightly against his side and hidden underneath his thick wool coat. His hat lay on the table in front of him, as did his identification and several other items he'd removed from his pockets to make himself more comfortable.

"Why," Aelianus asked, "would I decline the first interesting assignment I've been offered in weeks?"

The Major shrugged and tossed the remote onto the table. "You SpecOps-types," he shook his head. "Anyway, you'll be paired with a Jedi. He's supposed to be good. You'll go in, take care of things, and get out. People are clamoring for the money to be priority one, but Command put me in charge of this mission. That money means nothing, you got it? Nothing, soldier. You keep those people safe and put those motherkriffing robbers in the ground."

Aelianus sniffed. "A Jedi, you sa--" he broke off as the room's only door swung open.

 

[Gaja]

It wasn't long since he got back from Tython, not more then a couple of days. And just as he was about to go on and complaim how things were becoming dull some twelve banthas went ahead and decided to rob a bank. Off course with him being a Jedi, a Knight no less Guhoo would never approve of such a thing, but he did in a way welcome the task of helping those poor souls trapped inside.

Since this was a matter that required quick actions as apparently people were dying in this situation the Knight was asked to work together with a Alliance Special Ops soldier in handing this, since the police obviously couldn't. Arriving at the location he was given Guhoo wasted no time in seeking out this individual, though he had yet to find out his identity. Fate sometimes worked in mysterious ways as both of them would soon find out.

Wearing his combat gear, where a dominant material was armorweave Guhoo adjusted his black bandanna as he reached the door, his shoulder length blond hair held in place by it as he swung the door open. His bright blue eyes focused on the Major and Lieutenant inside. "Good day gentlemen. Jedi Knight Guhoo Armstrong checking it."

Walking inside Guhoo made the assumption that the dark haired man sitting in the chair would be the person working with him on solving this mess. "nice to meet you." He seemed a bit older then Guhoo was, but Guhoo didn't make any comments until this mission briefing was over with. Then they'd have a chance, hopefully, to talk. Looking at the elder gentleman, that was the Major Guhoo addressed him as he leaned in, his weapons concealed by his custom made, beige, armorweave trench coat. When you had lightsabers and blaster bolts flying past you on a daily basis you kind of had to be prepared for things.

 

[MoreThanSane]

Aelianus scowled at the newcomer as he entered. The resemblance would have been immediately noticed even if he'd been an ordinary man; nose, eyes, jaw, facial structure. Aelianus Atratinus, however, was not a normal man. Walk, skin color, vocal pitch and inflection and accent and the other dozens of minutiae were immediately recognized and associated with the only other Armstrong he'd ever known.

He watched in slight amazement as the man introduced himself, confirming what Aelianus had already known. Guhoo Armstrong, Juno Armstrong's twin. His fiancé's only sibling.

"Good timing, Knight Armstrong," said Major Lumm. "I've just brought the Lieutenant here up to speed. I'm sure he can fill you in on any details needed. As it is, gentlemen, there's an armored assault speeder waiting for you just outside. Five minutes to the bank, our comms will be linked the entire time. Don't worry about coordinating with the police. You get the job done and I'll handle everything else." He came around the table, slapped Aelianus on the shoulder, grasped Guhoo's hand, then exited.

Aelianus filled his pockets with the items he'd placed on the table and stood. He was anxious and hadn't the faintest idea why. He looked at Guhoo and held out a hand, locking gazes, ignoring the tightness in the pit of his stomach.

"Aelianus Atratinus, SpecOps," he said. "I'll be marrying your sister."

 

[Gaja]

Nodding to the words of the Major it wasn't long before Aelianus and Guhoo were left to their own devices and the Jedi saw his partner get ready by grabbing his gear, Guhoo obviously not doing so since he was ready. Still though what happened next surprised the Jedi a little bit as he saw the tall and muscular man stand up and extend a hand in greeting, introducing himself as the man who Juno would marry. Locking eyes with him the blue eyed Jedi extended his hand also for a firm and manly handshake as he too stood up to properly greet the soldier. "Nice to finally meet you Lee. Guhoo Armstrong."

Good thing this guy had a nickname, because in Guhoo's honest opinion he sure as hell had a tricky name. Imagine if that was the difference between life and death, calling out Aelianus or just simply Lee. Also Guhoo didn't like saying -anus even if it was part of the name. So Lee would do just fine unless the soldier himself preferred something else as Guhoo would no doubt find out soon enough. There wasn't much time to chat really given the reason for the two of them coming together so gesturing towards the armored speeder Guhoo cracked a small grin.

"We should get going. We can talk on the way." Looking at the slightly taller man Guhoo was the first one to exit the room as he looked in the direction of the bank, then towards the armored speeder. They did have five minutes... So as he made his way towards the armored vehicle the Jedi stated. "Nice job on getting her the crystal as a present by the way. Good move there..."

It wouldn't be long before the Jedi found himself sitting in the armored vehicle with the Lieutenant sitting across from him... This would be an interesting experience indeed, though maybe they ought to talk some strategy instead of becoming family, right?

 

[MoreThanSane]

"Get us moving, officer." Aelianus sat down in the seat across from Guhoo, watching the other man, fascinated by the play of muscles across his face. So like Juno, yet so different. He ached as he thought of his future wife, but immediately thrust the feelings away. This was his life now, and they couldn't always be together.

Aelianus nodded when Guhoo mentioned the crystal he'd given Juno as a gift. "I didn't realize it was a lightsaber crystal when I obtained it. Happy coincidence, I suppose." The speeder's armored sidedoors slammed shut as it rose from the duracrete and shot off through Galactic City's morning traffic.

"I've been looking forward to our meeting, though I didn't expect it to come about under these circumstances." He shrugged, buttoning his coat and recalling the bank schematics he'd memorized. "Despite all that I want to ask you, though, we have to complete this mission. The quicker the better." He pulled a datapad from his pocket and held it out to Guhoo. "The police want us to try the backdoor. That's suicide. This is a low building, meaning the roof is easily-accessible and covered by police snipers located inside adjacent structures. We'll make a low pass, hop out, and make for the stairs."

He sat back. "After that the plan is simple: win. The trick will be keeping the hostages alive. I don't suppose you'll be able to keep them from blowing the place with one of those Force powers?"

 

[Gaja]

While the armored speeder moved towards their destination the two men had a couple of minutes until they got there. How they would use them was totally up to them, but luckily both Lee and Guhoo were more focused on the mission at hand then Juno, although there was little doubt that she would come up as a topic in the future. And while Juno bathed in the suns of Tatooine her twin brother could only smile at how lucky his sister was in getting such an awesome present.

"I've been looking forward to it as well, but as you said didn't quite expect it to happen like that. Funny how things sometimes work out..." The topic quickly moved from the pleasantries to business as Lee pulled out a datapad with the schematics of the building, and all Guhoo did was nod really. This guy was a professional, and he liked that. No stupid strategies or anything like that, though if the bank robbers really had a bomb then there was one thing that Guhoo had in store for them.

"I agree, the roof is our best bet. As far as the preventing the place from blowing up I have several powers that could come in handy. One would be creating a 'shield' around a certain area and protecting everyone inside it, though range and number of people who can fit inside is limited, and the more I stretch it out the weaker it becomes. If there is a device or switch of sorts with which the robbers might activate the bomb I have a few powers how to prevent that too. But I cannot disable the bomb itself. Sorry..." Shrugging his shoulders in a 'I'm sorry.' manner Guhoo brought up another point that he was curious about.

"Also I've overheard that there are twelve men inside, do we separate in taking them out or do we stay together at all times? And also do we have a possible location on the bomb and the hostages? Looking at the layout of the bank I'd assume they're all kept in the main lobby?" They would need to figure out what the plan here was, if they didn't wish to further endanger any lives with their gamble they would need to devise some sort of plan before they were actually inside. One plan that Guhoo figured made sense was that Lee would go for the hostages and Guhoo for the alleged bomb, stay in touch all the time via comm and take out the robbers along the way. Guhoo'd prefer to stay undetected for as long as possible but he knew that that particular wish would not come true this time around.