Ask Death Machines

[Thel Xeros]

Toprawa

Thel had been given a lead about a heist carried out against the Balmorran Arms company. Usually, such things proved to be of little interest. This, however, was more promising. Supposedly, a group of pirates had managed to steal some droids from one of Balmorran’s storage facilities. Specifically, eight SD-9 droids. Apparently, the pirates had taken the droids to an old, abandoned imperial base on Toprawa, that they used as a hideout. They were rumoured to be kept aboard a Brayl class freighter, ready to be transported to an underworld buyer. It was worth investigating.

It wouldn’t be easy to steal the droids, if they were there. By all accounts, the pirate crew was a fairly large one.

He would again utilise the help of his Xexto syndicate allies. The strange six-limbed aliens were loyal to him and had proven themselves useful. However, he realised that their loyalty was born out of fear, more than anything else. They may have been grateful to him for helping rid them of the Pykes, but fear kept them in line.

The nature of the mission meant he had sought out and obtained Darth Tempest’s approval. The droids and the freighter would be useful assets for the faction, if they could be captured.

He instructed the Xextos to drop him off, along with Param. They would be accompanied by a strike team made up of ten of the Troiken natives. The ones who dropped them off would remain above the planet, ready to extract if necessary.

The group made their way through the forest, towards the supposed pirate base. “Stop. Pass me the binoculars.” A Xexto passed him a set of binoculars. He observed the base in the distance, before handing them back. He was dressed in the robes he usually wore. “If there are pirates there, I imagine we will soon encounter patrols in the forest. Be vigilant.” He turned to Param. “You will take point, Param. Now, go.”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param had no idea where the hell they were. Master Thel was very sparing with details, but she supposed that was part of his fatherly charm. She didn't need to know where they were, or why, as long as she followed his orders. In this case, she was happy to. Pirates, whether these ones participated in in the trade or not was irrelevant, had a deep rooted affinity for slavery. If Master Thel was able to get something out of a few pirates meeting their end, Param was happy to oblige.

Her black hooded robes and trousers were a stark contrast to what she normally wore around Troiken. She'd lost count of how many times Master Thel had told her to put clothes on. She never listened to his requests about that though. If he'd just take over maintaining the tiny garden she'd planted for him, she'd be able to be half naked in her own home instead.

Nodding, Param's silver eyes flicked from her Master to the base in the distance. She tossed her hood back, shaking her silver hair out. She was going to need all her senses for this. Pirates were a crafty bunch; an ambush was very likely. She kept a hand near the lightsaber hilt clipped to her belt. At a moment's notice, it could be called into her hand and ignited. A red and silver BD unit hopped up onto the back of her left shoulder. It had small vines draped over it, no doubt trying to camouflage itself a little bit better.

Param started forward at a relatively brisk pace, but not one that the strike team would falter from. "Keep your sensors up, Vee," she said quietly. Vee chirped and whirred, trying to stay as quiet as possible. It hadn't taken Param long at all to learn how to speak binary. Sleek had given her quite the gift in Vee, the little guy was the perfect companion for her. "When the shooting starts, you stay low."

She made her way into a valley, and then up the next mountain without much issue, or even a sign of pirates. The base was near, a mere two-hundred meters away. If they were going to be ambushed, it was going to be in this final stretch, or at the base itself. It didn't matter, Param's senses were on high alert. Her eyes darted from shadow to shadow, ears ready to pick up any rustling in the forest, and the Force reaching out for any sign of intent. She was ready, and marched forward.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel followed his apprentice through the forest. She had her new droid with her. He didn’t mind it. If she was going to spend his money, it may as well be on something useful. He appreciated the capabilities of that particular type of droid unit. She had also made the effort to learn how to communicate with it properly as well.

The forest was quiet, except for the distant sounds of the wildlife. The base loomed ever closer in the distance.

He stopped. His senses were alert and he suddenly felt uneasy. He raised his hand, a gesture to the Xextos to stop. Stop. A telepathic message also sent to Param.

Without warning, a shot blazed through the forest, aimed straight at Param’s head. It was a sniper shot.

To the group’s left, at closer range, two pirates emerged and opened fire with their blaster rifles. They were followed by another couple of pirates to the group’s right, who also opened fire.

Thel ignited his saber, ready to deal with the problem.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param stopped the moment she heard her master's voice in her head. Vee gave a low, quiet woo. "I don't like it ei-" There it was; intent. Her reflexes kicked in immediately, silver eyes catching the flash and the bolt coming at her. There'd be no time to ignite her lightsaber. In a rare moment of being able to prove that a training request had been needed, Param raised her left hand just as the bolt was about impact, calling the Force into her palm, and deflected the sniper bolt into the sky.

Her body spun with the moment, her lightsaber called to her right hand and ignited. As she came around to face the emerging pirates, she realized that the sniper still had a bead on her. Letting the xextos and her master deal with the emerging pirates, Param turned toward where the sniper shot came from.

She reached her hand out, the Force extending beyond it until it wrapped around the source of the murderous intent. Param yanked her hand back. A distant scream could be heard over the blaster fire, a scream that grew closer and closer until a pirate fell from the air in front of Param. The man was as good as dead already, but Param cut her crimson blade through the man anyway to end him.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel noticed his apprentice deflect the sniper shot with her hand. Well executed, but risky.

“Deal with the ones to our left,” he called out to the members of the strike force. Deflecting two shots aimed at his torso, using his saber, he quickly advanced towards the pirates to the right of their position.

Deflecting a blaster bolt back at one of the pirates, in the blink of an eye the bolt had punched a hole through the pirate’s chest. Their lifeless body collapsed to the ground. Batting away shots from the remaining pirate, he reached out and sent a stream of lightning at them. They collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain, as the lightning engulfed them. Striding towards them, he allowed the lightning to cease just before he impaled them through the chest with his saber.

Moving back towards the rest of the group, he could see that the Xextos had dealt with the other two pirates and that Param had eliminated the sniper. “They’ll be converging on our position now. Let’s continue to move quickly. Param, you will take point again.”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param disengaged her saber as the sounds of the firefight died off. Vee made a series of excited beeps and chirps. She looked at the little red and silver droid, giving him a warm smile and a gentle pat on his head. "Thanks buddy," she said quietly. That had been a pretty decent sized group that had ambushed them. She began to wonder just how many pirates they were facing. The number wouldn't matter anyway, Param knew; not to Master Thel anyway.

Turning to her master she nodded at his orders, keeping her deactivated saber in her right hand this time. She could sense the growing malicious intent coming near, like a wave of... well... pirates. Some gathered before converging, others simply converged. Param had only made it one hundred steps or so before she stopped, silver eyes scanning the trees and surroundings. There was a hill to their right, and no one was on it, while a whole lot of pirates were running at them. It was just the Force and their intent telling her that, it was the sounds of their shouting through the trees.

She pointed up to the hill, glancing at Master Thel, then turning a stern gaze to the first Xexto. "Get everyone set up on the crest of the hill," she ordered. The Xextos hesitated a moment, unsure of if he should check with his actual boss first. When Param's expression showed no signs of wavering, and looked as if she wouldn't say it twice, he nodded and communicated the ad-hoc plan down the line. Param followed them as they moved up the hill, finding an overturned stump to take cover behind herself while the others found downed logs, tree trunks, and natural dips in the ground to take cover and set up their own hasty ambush.

Vee chirped and whistled in a low, hushed tone. Param nodded. "We'll be okay. Keep your sensors up though." Vee chirped again with a nod, sinking back into the cover of her shoulder. She wondered if Master Thel would join her behind the overturned stump, or if he'd find his own cover, or if he'd even be impressed that out of all the fun and gardening she had been doing she still found time to study a set of books he had given her; one of them just so happened to be battlefield tactics.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel could sense hostile forces closing in on them. He was unphased. He expected further resistance.

Unexpectedly, Param directed the Xextos to move to a position atop a hill. He had expected to take a direct route straight through the pirates, but he could see the logic in what she wanted to do. The Xextos looked to him, but he didn’t intervene. Realising they should listen to Param, they began to move into position.

He chose to join his apprentice and moved into cover behind the same stump. The pirates could be heard near the bottom of the hill. He could hear them moving closer. Not wanting to lose the element of surprise, he signalled to attack.

A burst of fire erupted in the direction of the pirates. He leapt out from behind the stump, ignited his saber and began to deflect back return fire from the pirates.

“Param, advance on them.” At that moment, he spotted a pirate emerge from the trees with what looked like a rocket launcher. As they fired the rocket, he reached out and, using the force, guided it away from the Xextos’ position. The rocket crashed down near the feet of the pirate who fired it, the resulting explosion shaking the ground and killing the pirate instantaneously.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param ignited her lightsaber, leaping up and over the stump. She landed in front of the Xextos, twirling her blade in front of her, creating a deadly crimson flower that deflected incoming blaster bolts back at the pirates. When she had effectively gotten most of their attention, she moved with a burst of speed down the hill, a monochrome blur trailing crimson light.

The pirates weren't prepared. Much like Bandomeer, she carved a path through her foes, one by one. There were was no mercy found for these particular pirates. When they fell wounded, her blade would strike again in quick swipes to end them. The last few however, had caught on to her ploy. They continued to advance up the hill toward the Xextos and her master. Two of them turning their blasters on her Master.

Throwing her saber wouldn't get there in time, and neither would running. She needed something near instant to stop the two. Master Thel was busy redirecting a rocket back at it's launcher. Param raised her hand, the Force surging through her. She willed it to spark, ignite, anything. Her fingertips arced lightning, carried in the Force, into the two pirates. They screamed and writhed for just enough time to allow Master Thel to focus on them.

Vee lept off Param's shoulder, landing in the best flying kick the little droid could muster against a pirate that had moved up behind Param. She cut the Force lightning and spun, Vee kicking off the pirate and returning to her shoulder just as her crimson blade sliced through his arms and torso. He fell in pieces, and the sounds of battle ceased.

"Thanks," she said, giving a warm smile to Vee. He chirped and beeped in a happy response. Param gave him a little head rub as she returned to her Master. She already knew what his orders would be, and so as she rejoined the Xextos she took point by default, disengaging her lightsaber but keeping it in her hand still. They'd be coming on the base very soon.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

As he redirected the rocket, he caught sight of the two pirates taking aim at him. Before he could respond, a surge of lightning shot from Param’s fingers. It stunned the two pirates, and they were left helpless on the ground. Impressive. Once the rocket had been redirected, he turned to the two pirates. There were two others with them as well, who were quickly shot down by members of his strike force. He unleashed a surge of lightning which electrocuted the two pirates until they lay lifeless on the grass.

They had dealt with the pirates, without too much difficulty, so far. Param seemed to know what he would say to her next, as she quickly took the lead again for the rest of the trek through the forest.

Even though they weren’t far from the base, the pirates were on to them now. “You did well Param,” he said to her. Perhaps a somewhat unexpected comment, from the perspective of his apprentice, given that he didn’t always offer up praise. “It appears…” Before he could finish his sentence, he heard a sound. His senses were again alerted. “Wait.” Above the trees, four speeders could be seen swooping down towards the top of the treeline. They unleashed a wave of cannon fire, before pulling up again just before they reached the trees. The cannon shots exploded around them. A Xexto was caught in an explosion, their body being sent flying towards Param’s feet. It reached out to her, before slumping to the ground. “Move, quickly!” No doubt they would circle around quickly, for another attack.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param barely had time to register what her Master had said. Did he give her praise? Now!? She'd have been stunned if the speeders hadn't shown up and started raking the group with laser fire. It was always something with pirates. Fail once and they kept sending people out into a dense forest to fail again. This time however, they were able to score a kill.

Her silver eyes stared down at the Xexto that was hit. It was Therrin, her friend through out her training under Master Thel. He was reaching out for her, eyes pleading to save him. She knew it was too late. He knew it was too late. If she had been quicker maybe she could have shielded him, deflected the incoming lasers back at the speeders or something. She was expecting rage and hatred to build in her, but all that began seeping out of the corners of her eyes was sadness.

The call to move came, like a distant echo to her, but it was Master Thel's voice and she must obey. She turned, fighting the tears back and sprinted through the forest. She ignited her lightsaber, hoping Master Thel would understand what she was doing as she sprinted by the group and left them in her dust. The speeders would follow the crimson light, and she would take them to a clearing where their height advantage was moot.

One was already waiting for her, hovering just above the ground and laser cannons trained on her as she broke through the tree line. The poor bastard behind the guns never stood a chance as Param reached out with her left hand and the Force, throwing the pirate downward through the speeder, which then landed on top of him. Limbs mangled and being crushed by a speeder, the pirate would be doomed to die an agonizingly slow death.

The next came in a pair, blasting away with their cannons. Param deflected any that came near her, but it was hard to judge where the speeders would be due to their speed. It ended up not mattering, as they made a strafing pass at her just above ground level. Using the Force, she leapt up between them as they passed, a wide, crimson circle being all one could see of her blade before she landed. The two speeders split in half and came crashing down to the ground. The pilots, now hand-less, fell with them. One was impaled on a piece of his speeder. The other landed in the soft grass.

That one of course, Param grabbed with the Force, and flung at the last incoming speeder. He splattered across the front of it, but caused the speeder dip and hit the ground, flinging the pirate piloting it toward Param. By the time Master Thel and the Xextos would break the treeline, they would find Param's hand firmly around the pirate's neck, his limbs twisted and gnarled, slowly choking the life out of him. They wouldn't see the tears that had fought their way back into her eyes though.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel was too distracted to pay any attention to Param’s emotional state. Not that he paid much attention to it anyway. He moved swiftly through the forest, cannon fire raining down around him. Param, quickly moved to draw away the attackers. He could see the logic in what she was trying to do, but it was risky taking on four speeders on her own. As the speeders moved to pursue Param, he gave chase.

He needn’t have worried. When he emerged from the trees, he saw the wreckage from the downed speeders and the bodies of the pilots. Param stood, a pirate in her hands, choking the life out of them. He allowed her to finish them off. “Good work, Param. We’re not far from the base now. Let’s try avoiding any more engagements before we reach it.”

Fortunately, the rest of the journey towards the base was more straightforward. Avoiding patrols, they eventually reached a hill overlooking the path towards the base. Crouching down, he moved over to a small waist high rock and peered down at the path. A tank, accompanied by a group of ten pirates, stood watch near the gate. “This might be slightly more difficult than I thought.” He sat back against the rock, thinking for a few seconds. “You and I will attack the tank and the guards. The strike force can provide cover from up here. I want you to go for the tank’s hatch, enter the tank and deal with the crew.” He went back to the Xextos to explain the plan and they prepared themselves for the ambush. “We’ll go on your mark Param,” he told his apprentice.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param nodded with her Master's plan. It was straight forward, simple, and would definitely work. She was the only one in the party that would be able to reach the tank in a relatively short time. She had gotten her revenge for Therrin. There was still pain, but it would pass. Loss was apart of combat. She knew that. Thel had taught her that. Vee whirred and beeped excitedly, but Param ignored it.

"Go," she said flatly. She would disappear in a blur, sprinting down the hill and into the open. It took a moment for the pirates and tank to figure out that Param was an enemy before they started firing at her. Param was on the tank, only having to deflect a couple of blaster bolts. Using her lightsaber, she cut a circle in the top of the tank. The circle of metal came down upon the gunner and command the tank, followed by Param, cutting through both in an instant. The driver and assistant gunner tried to get into a position to combat her within the tank, but Param beheaded them both with a couple of quick slashes.

She popped up out of the top of the tank, lightsaber first, of course, to check on the progress of her compatriots.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel leapt down and, just as he landed, he sent out a shockwave through the force. The strength from the attack sent pirates hurtling to the ground. Blaster fire from the Xextos rained down on the helpless enemies. Rising to his feet, he effortlessly deflected blaster bolts straight back at the few pirates who managed to muster some resistance. In barely any time at all, the pirates had been defeated.

As the strike force moved to join him and Param, he approached the large metal gate. It was cut into the hillside. He was sometimes underestimated by other Sith, which he preferred. It worked in his favour. However, he did enjoy occasionally displaying the power he had developed over time. Reaching out with both arms, he focused on the gate. The metal groaned and buckled as the gate was torn out of place until it collapsed. The gate landed right in front of where he stood. He took a few seconds to compose himself from the slight exertion. A tunnel awaited them, the ceiling lined with lights. The pirates had either dug the tunnel themselves or just repurposed an old mining tunnel. Travelling through the tunnel system would hopefully take them closer to the base’s entrance. He gestured for the Xextos to enter.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param hopped out of the tank, taking her place just slightly behind Master Thel as he tore the large gate down. It was impressive, the power on display. Most people would have feared it, but it was rather normal for Param to see him do things with ease that would take her forever to accomplish. She was almost convinced that he always had her up front for these excursions into battlefields so that he could conserve energy to do stuff like that.

This time however, he didn't tell her to take the lead. She kept up with him, staying at his side, but wouldn't press forward like she had in the forest. They in acquisition territory now. Master Thel wouldn't be too happy if she burst into a room and ended everything inside including the droids they were looking for. It was a safer bet to let him lead this one.

To her surprise though, nothing happened through the tunnel, and the entrance to the base stood before them. Param's lightsaber was still ignited and ready, casting crimson hues on the dark tunnel and door. She was ready for whatever was on the other side.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

He was glad that they hadn’t faced any resistance through the tunnels. It made things a bit easier.

Approaching the entrance, he gestured for a Xexto to plant breach charges. “Get ready next to me, Param. I want us to cover the Xextos when we enter.”

The explosion from the charge was followed by a hail of blaster fire from pirates inside. Thel deflected shots away, with the Xextos slowly advancing behind him and Param. Unfortunately, a shot did get through. A Xexto collapsed to the floor, a blaster hole through their chest. A sudden irritation stirred inside of him. He wouldn’t be defied by mere pirates.

Switching off his saber and clipping it back onto his belt, he dodged three blaster shots in quick succession. Thrusting out both arms towards the pirates, he unleashed a surge of lightning. It was what was described as a force storm. A wave of lightning engulfed the pirates, frying them. When he ceased the attack, he took a few seconds to catch his breath and compose himself due to the exertion. The bodies of dead pirates lay before them. He looked over the bodies, eerily calm considering the furious attack he had just inflicted on the defenders.

“You can take point again, Param.”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

The smell of burnt flesh and fried Rodian hung the air, Param only able to ignore it by moving beyond it and forward. They were in the base now. Any pirates left would be stragglers from the defenses that had retreated, or pirates that worked administrative duties. Neither would get any mercy today.

Every pirate that came out from a hallway or door, Param cut down in an instant, Vee doing quick scans of the rooms and halls beyond them as they fell. They were searching for droids, after all, and Vee's sensor suite would be able to pick up the droids they were looking for faster than anyone's naked eyes would. Granted, the droids were massive, and would be hard to miss.

Eventually, Vee let out a string of excited beeps and whistles. Param stopped, turning toward the large door. Her eyes shifted to Master Thel. "His sensors are picking up large objects behind this door, Master," she said flatly. Vee hopped off her shoulder and ran to a panel next to the door, kicking it open and plugging himself into it. As he sliced, he called out with beeps and boops. "Blueprints say it's a garage." Vee retracted himself and hopped back up onto Param's shoulder, settling in. It would be up to Master Thel if they breached or kept going.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel followed as Param carved a path through the pirates. Eventually they found themselves at a large door. He watched as the droid got to work.

“So what is it saying Param,” he asked, in reference to the droid. “It’s worth a look,” he said, when he was given an indication of what the room was. Reaching out with both hands, he focused on the door and then tore it open. The door crashed to the ground. He allowed Param to enter first, followed by the Xextos and then him. The room was more of a hangar than a garage. It was huge and, most importantly, it contained what he was looking for. The Brayl class freighter. It was just a matter of determining if the droids were on board.

There were a few pirates who began to open fire as they retreated, but they were quickly pursued by Param and the Xextos. As he stepped up the ramp and into the ship, a few pirates attempted to offer some resistance. He effortlessly deflected the blaster fire aimed at him and cut through the defenders as he worked his way to the bridge. The bridge doors opened to reveal it as empty. After some tinkering with the console, he was able to bring up the cargo manifest. His eyes widened slightly. It listed the eight SD-9 droids. “Param, we need the hangar doors open. You and your droid get to work.” He gave orders for the strike force to get onboard. They would be needed to pilot the large freighter. He sent a couple off to the cargo bay, to confirm that the droids were there.

The pirates weren’t done yet. Some more entered the hangar, intent on stopping them.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

"Master," Param said confirmed his order. Her blade was stuck through one of the pirates that had been retreating. It looked more like a fleeing when they had turned to see Param chasing after them. "Vee, get on the doors." Vee hopped off her shoulder and ran over to the hangar controls console. One by one the little BD-unit plugged himself into a port, downloaded useful information for later, and checked to see if the controls for the door were in that particular panel.

Param, for her part, confronted the pirates that had entered the hangar. Her crimson blade flashed and spun, a crimson flower forming in front of her from the streaks of light. Every bolt that would have hit her, was deflected harmlessly away or directly back at the shooter. Her relentless approach caused them to start stepping backwards as they fired away to no avail.

The first one she reached dropped like a sack of potatoes when her blade arced through his chest. The second turned to run a little too late, and found himself impaled to the hilt on her blade. She could have just pulled it out cleanly, but instead decided to rip it to the side , slicing a chunk of his torso clean off. The other fell one by one, the last one dropping his weapon in surrender. His hope of mercy would fall on deaf ears, and his pleas would become bubbling gurgles as she sliced through his face, just shallow enough that the skull was showing, but he would have to die slowly.

The hangar doors began to rumble open. "Vee!" Param called as another group of pirates rushed into the hangar. One saw the carnage and immediately went back to get more. It was time to leave. Vee ran his cute little legs off toward the ship and up the ramp. Param was not far behind him, taking her time to get between him and the pirates and deflect blaster bolts until the ramp could be safely closed.

@DMCK

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel moved to the ramp to draw some of the attention away from Param. He batted away blaster fire, acting as a distraction, as Param’s droid worked on the door. Param’s attacks on the pirates were precise but brutal. She had come a long way during her training with him. He was glad that she had picked up some of his precision. However, she was never quite going to have his restraint.

There was a loud creaking sound as the hangar door slowly began to open. He continued to deflect shots back at the pirates, as Param and her droid retreated to the ship. “Come on Param!” He stepped into the ship as his apprentice and her droid made it back. The ramp closed behind them. He had received confirmation that the droids he wanted were in the cargo hold. “Let’s go,” he called out over his comlink. The Xexto strike force were responsible for piloting the ship. As he entered the cockpit along with Param, the ship was beginning to lift off. The pirates’ blasters pelted the ship, but the hull was too thick for their blasters to have any effect.

The ship moved towards the hangar door and gradually exited the hangar. “Full speed as soon as we are clear.” The freighter cleared the hangar and then slowly began to climb towards the upper atmosphere. “Begin plotting the coordinates for the hyperspace jump.”

The pirates were in pursuit and their ships were faster than the freighter. “Make sure those rear deflector shields are up. Contact our allies orbiting the planet. Tell them to prepare to go into hyperspace.” They were lucky they had a head start over those in pursuit. The ship shook when it took hits from the pirates’ ships. The enemy was gaining. “Launch the escape pods. They might act as a distraction.” Fortunately, they did. The escape pods falling back in the direction of the pirates’ ships caused them to scramble to evade. It bought them more time, as the freighter went beyond the planet’s atmosphere and eventually entered outer space.

The coordinates had been prepared. “Let’s go.” Before the pirates could catch up, the freighter jumped to hyperspace, along with the ship carrying the other Xextos. It had been close, but they had made their escape with the freighter and the eight SD-9 droid units. The mission had been done with Tempest’s approval and surely she would be pleased that they had obtained the assets.

@TheDudeMike