Driftin'

[Kaane]

Spoiler: Thread Rules

This meant to be an exciting little story thread for any parties that want to get involved. Expect some cinematic style action/PvP and hopefully some story development as we actually get on board the ship. Please don't come in if you're just looking to shoot everything that moves.

Neutral Space
Sector G-12

​

Nak was busy aboard his new knight guardian/chaperone/teacher/whatever-else-the-Council-called-him's temporary ship, loaned to him by another knight seeing as his starfighter probably couldn't fit the two comfortably in one cockpit. However, he was more or less busy not being busy, quietly surfing through the Holonet in a comfy seat on the bridge. Apparently there was an Imperial heavy freighter signalling for distress near Jedi Space, and the threat was deemed minimal enough for the pair to investigate. Of course intel was scant; what the freighter was carrying a stark mystery at this point, but such mysteries were what Nak lived for. It could be just a boring armory or supply ship. Or it could, worst-case scenario, be a trap. But he always preferred to think of the coolest possible outcome: holocrons, Jedi artifacts needing recovery, all that kind of stuff.

He turned to his companion, currently sitting in the pilot's seat, and gave him a warm smile. "So what're you thinking, man? Could be some serious kriff in there, huh?"

 

[Sscorpiun]

Zaren sighed quietly. Too quietly for the young Jedi he'd been given babysitting duty of to hear. Although the Mandalorian was fairly sure the Initiate knew exactly how reluctant he was to mentor a young student. Zaren had always been a man to get things done himself, without reliance on the assistance - or hinderance - of others. The Jedi also wasn't too pleased about having to borrow a ship from one of his peers; he preferred his smaller, more resourceful starfighter.

Nevertheless, Zaren was not one to disobey direct orders, and therefore he mustered the will to tolerate having company. He could have had a worse partner, he thought to himself. All the teenage Jedi did was sit around and surf the holonet, or listen to music. Zaren was well aware of his laziness, but did not mind, as the quiet environment made his life easier.

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the boy turn towards him, and proceed to inquire about the contents of the freighter. "Remember, child, we are not here for the cargo of that ship. Unless it holds importance to the Council, we are to ignore it and instead focus on the nature of the distress signal," Zaren frowned slightly, "and where the crew that transmitted it are now."

 

[RED-1]

Kal Nar had been on patrol for about 2 hours. The vastness of space was starting to get to him. All the stars he could see though his canopy of his star fighter. The N-51 Nova-class Starfighter was his favorite out of the fighters he has had to pilot. It has been more than five years now that the Jedi temple was destroyed. What dose remain holds on to what is left of there way of life.

“Hardball, let the Patrol Cruiser knew we are almost done and nothing to report.” the droid respond with some happy beeps and whistles. “Thanks” he said to the droid. Kal Nar was about to turn for home when his droid Hardball alerted him to a incoming signal it was a distress signal. “Hardball, let the Patrol Cruiser know we will be late and plot a course for that signal.” after a short silence the droid replied with some beeps “Let go to light speed.” The ship jumped to light speed as the stars streaked by. With in minuits the star fighter was at its destination. “hardball, send the information of are location and this ship information."

Kal Nar could feel something was not right. He stayed back a bit and scanned the ship but that also was not going well. The information was gargled he came closer to the unknown ship and waited for a reaction.

 

[Kaane]

The distress signal would soon be coming up on both vessels as they drew near to it. There would seem to be no message sent with it, oddly enough, just a single dead tone beeping out through the vacuum of space. The enormity of the heavy freighter would also be apparent, in comparison to the size of their own ships; it was obviously made to haul some serious cargo.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, man," Nak said, pouting as his smile turned to a half-playful, half-serious grimace. "I'm an I-ni-ti-ate. Means I can take on Sith, I'm not a child!"

He sighed, feeling as if there were very few people in the Order that would ever take him seriously. This was something he dealt with his entire life; people looking down on him was pretty much the norm when it came to being a Padawan in the Order. Seemed like it was the same with being an Initiate, and somehow, he'd knew he'd have to deal with this kind of Kriff from the Council and his colleagues when he became a Knight. But it was also something he'd grown somewhat accustomed to, and thus kept his mouth shut beyond that.

Not that he wasn't done talking or anything, heavens no.

"And why can't we take stuff? I mean it's gonna be literally useless out here anyway, it's not like we're stealing...it's the Imperials we're talking about here, misguided folks. They could stand to reallocate some of their wealth, you know what i'm sayin'?"

 

[Sscorpiun]

Zaren sighed again, not holding back this time. The young initiate was strong-spirited, and the Mandalorian respected him for what he had been told by Nak's tutors of his adept healing abilities. However, Zaren's solo nature still caused him to hold onto his doubts about bringing the boy along. Deep down, he didn't want the young Jedi to get harmed, and feared that the mission might turn out more dangerous than expected, although he would not admit this of course.

"Kid, in my eyes you're a child until I see proof of your skill. I'm a practical guy, and I believe in what I see." Zaren turned to the slightly overexcited initiate with a disapproving look. Before he had a chance to scold the boy further, Zaren caught sight of the blip that had appeared on his close proximity radar. He looked up and beheld the huge abandoned freighter looming in the distance. There were no signs of life or comms transmissions.

"Looks like we're going to have to take a closer look and search the ship internally." His expression hardened into a cold, stern stare as he mentally assessed the ship. "Perhaps you'll have the opportunity to prove your worth after all," He turned and his expression lightened, "that's if we even meet any resistance. As for the cargo, I'll permit you to retrieve items as long as they don't jeopardise our mission, and of course, items of importance hold priority."

Zaren guided the ship in closer to the freighter when suddenly another signal appeared on his radar. Another small ship. The readings indicated a Jedi. "It seems we are not the only ones to heed the call."

 

[RED-1]

The other fighter appeared on his scanners as a series of beeps and whistles came from his droid Hardball "I see them Hardball", he turned the his fighter upwards in to a high arc then rolled over and brought it down on the opposite side of the heavy freighter. Kal Nar keyed the communication and said "Claw 6, to unidentified Fighterrr, I am rrresssponding to a distressss call, identify yourrr ssself." He pulled on his controls turning his fighter in a sweeping right arc ready to react if he has to.

OCC: the S's, R's are slurred with his type of speech.

 

[Kaane]

Nak remained rigid in his desire to show this guy how much he could really be worth. If he believed in what he saw, then he was gonna see one hell of a lot.

"Yeah, well this 'kid' is gonna blow your mind. It's not my fault the Council's a little too slow to realize that I'm Knight material," he said as he turned back to idly looking through the Holonet, coming across a news report of a vast amount of biohazardous material being stolen from one of Bakura's medical waste dumps that had just broken the headlines. It was apparently worthless; dangerous to its handlers, certainly, but worthless. Even though it seemed not worthless enough to have 20 megatons of it straight up taken. There were a few comments here and there by Bakuran officials about how dangerous and kriff it all was, but he paid it little mind. There was a giant ship that needed investigating here.

When the Knight chaperoning him said they'd go aboard AND that he could take stuff, he almost jumped for joy in his seat. "Alright, so, if there's like a Sith holocron in there, how are we gonna destroy it, I mean are they lightsaber resistant or something, because if I were a Sith I'd think like 'nah, gotta be stronger'n that cause I know some cool, badass Jedi with green tentacles is gonna pick it up and kill it' and make it like that...actually, have you ever even seen one before, cause I haven't-"

His ramblings were cut short as another voice came over the freighter's communicator. Before Zaren could even reach for it, Nak was already scrambling to the ship's microphone and talking into it in return, smiling coyly every so often in the Knight's direction: "Claw 6, this is Jedi Master Healer Nak Ammati and his steadfast Padawan Zaren Viszla on board the Knight Avenger speaking, how can we help you this fine day?"

 

[Sscorpiun]

Zaren chuckled at Nak's notion of already being Knight material. Who knew, perhaps he was as good or even better than his superiors had described him. He hoped so, because there was a strange sense of danger emanating from the huge ship ahead, and Zaren didn't trust it.

He absent mindedly responded that he had only seen and read about Sith holocrons in the Jedi archives, and knew enough to understand their power and the hazard they could present.
"If we find a Sith holocron, child, we will return it to the council and have them do with it as they see fit."

Suddenly his ship detected an encrypted incoming transmission from the other unidentified ship in the area. Just as he was about to reach for the comms, Nak lunged forward at the opportunity and replied to the message, calling Zaren his Padawan and giving him cheeky looks. Zaren snatched the microphone away from Nak, giving him an irritated scowl, and responded apologetically to the transmission.
"My apologies, Claw 6. I am Zaren Vizsla, Jedi Knight. The boy you had the pleasure of speaking to a moment ago is my assigned young initiate. We too are here to heed a distress call. Your signal indicates you are also a Jedi?"

Slightly wary of the newcomer, despite the data on his ship identifying him as a Jedi, Zaren turned his ship towards the other and readied the primary laser cannons.

 

[RED-1]

Kal nar turned his fighter for a final approach of the other fighter. Hardball let out a couple of happy beeps. "Rrreally Harrrdball Jedi Fighterrr, well then." he said as he turned right changing his approach and turned back towards the heavy freighter the green trimmed fighter flew past the back end of the heavy freighter. the reply he Kal Nar was waiting for. "My apologies, Claw 6. I am Zaren Vizsla, Jedi Knight." He smiled showing some of his teeth. "Zarrren Vizsssla, thisss isss Jedi knight Kal Narrr on patrrrol when i got thisss distrrresss beacon." There was moment of silence. "You werrre herrre firrrst you have lead on thisss. coming in on your wing." Kal Nars fighter turned and flew from under the heavy freighter flying past Zaren Vizsla taking a position on his right side.

 

[Kaane]

The ship would seem to be giving off all signs that it's working correctly, docking bay systems among them; it either hasn't been drifting through space for very long, or survivors are still maintaining it. Painted on the side of the vessel is a name, in Basic: INS Victor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Nak simply pouted again as he was shoved to the side, continuously egging Zaren on to get on the ship already. He had no idea he was more focused on preparing to blow the fighter out of the sky in self-defense. The Nautolan, meanwhile, was happy to take Kal Nar's word that he was in fact a Jedi.

Nak yelled, so his voice would still be picked up by the microphone: "Sweet fighter man! Your accent's kickin' too. Zaren? Zaren! I wanna be on that guy's ship instead!"

He of course wasn't really that petulant; but if he was going to get called child the entire time, he'd be happy to show Zaren exactly how a child acted.

 

[Sscorpiun]

Zaren acknowledged Kal Nar's response with a sigh of relief, and diverted power away from the weapons systems. He was secretly glad another Jedi would be aiding them on this mission; he had a bad feeling about it. The ship was oddly still entirely functional, but if there were any crew still aboard, they were making no effort to communicate.

"How odd..." He muttered, as Kal's ship swooped in beside his, "the ship seems fully operational. That should mean life support and airlock systems are online. It would seem safe to dock..."
He turned to the young Jedi who was rambling on about Kal's ship still.
"Nak, I am prepared to treat you as a Knight on the condition you quit with the meaningless and distracting chatter. Am I clear?"
He shot a condescending look at the initiate, before focusing on his ships controls and speaking again into the microphone.
"Claw 6, I'm going in. Entering the primary docking bay. I advise you watch our backs until we are safely inside, then follow suit."

Wasting no time, Zaren turned the ship and accelerated towards the freighter, slowing down to enter through the ships airlock shields and finally landing inside. It was time to investigate.

 

[RED-1]

"On your 6, on over watch" replied Kal Nar. cutting the fighters thrust to half he watch Zaren turn his fighter and disappear into the large freighter. kal Nar took one more look at the freighter slowly flying past it. nothing new he thought to him self. Pulling the fighter in to a loop to get it lined up with the primary docking bay the fighter enter through the ships airlock shields as he came to a stop "HardBall, keep back and watch the ships make sure nothing happens to them and call me if there is trouble." The ship landed and the engines shout down the canopy opened . Kal Nar jump out landing next to the others in a crouched fighting position. "Jedi Zaren, Jedi Kal Nar at your serves." He says in a Cat like hiss.

 

[Kaane]

The ship's hangar was positively massive, befitting a freighter of its class, with enough room to fit both the Jedi's ships and somewhat more in the loading bay, Immediately adjacent It was utterly filled with large, rectangular boxes stacked on top of each other in a somewhat organized fashion, though it seemed some stacks were lopsided and others even hazardous; it was like the whole thing was done in an immense hurry. Despite how modern the shipping containers were, some of them were leaking what appeared to be some sort of viscous, clear fluid on the floor, all of it foul-smelling. In fact, it almost seemed like the entire hangar had the faint smell of decaying batteries and rotting meat melded imperceptibly into one stomach-turning miasma of scent.

Beyond the obvious smells and sights, the humming of machinery was still prevalent throughout the area. All was in working order it seemed, beyond the crates. Though there were pathways between the towering spires of containers reaching towards the hangar ceiling, there were 4 levels of railed balconies encircling the scene, each with access to a loading elevator and multiple doors that led to the engineering deck, the bridge/cockpit, the captain's quarters, storage for equipment, and other destinations among them.

However among that hum, low creaks and groans could be heard. Just barely. Imperceptibly almost, but still there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nak was somewhat dismayed as he exited the freighter; just nothing but bloody boxes. Not to mention all of them smelling like shit. Did they just stumble on some kind of food shipment gone wrong or something?

Being the master of stealth, the first thing he did was to yell out a resounding "HELLO!", the sound echoing through the hangar. If they were here to find survivors, they might as well get that part out of the way.

Of course, before Zaren could say anything in edgewise, Nak made a shushing sound. "I'm a knight, remember?" he said with a smile, knowing he had this guy exactly where he wanted to. If this guy really was Mando, he couldn't break a promise. Or could he...he had no idea, Mandalorians mystified him to the core, including their code. He always just assumed it meant they ate gruel for breakfast and hit each other with sticks all day.

But he'd also be sure to bow to the Cathar Jedi. "And Knight Nak Ammati at yours, man."

 

[RED-1]

as he stands to his full height. A Kid looking around and yells "Hello!" then says "I'm a knight, remember?" cutting off his master be for he could say a thing. Kal Nar growls then looking at Jedi Zaren saying "keep your, young initiate under control before he gets us killed!" he said hissing. the large Cathar took some steps way turning the Jedi looked around the room. the young initiate says bowing "And Knight Nak Ammati at yours, man."He says as he growls showing some of his teeth"Man? young initiate, you will address me as Claw 6 or Jedi Kal Nar or Jedi Knight Kal Nar, if you wish to make it as a Jedi!". He walks deeper in to the bay Kal nar shakes his head showing some of his teeth"smells of death in here." He sneezes "I have been in wars and it dose not smell like this." Kal Nar stops "Jedi Zaren, some thing is not right and I think we are to late for the crew."

 

[Sscorpiun]

Zaren chuckled heartily as Kal hissed scathingly as the young Jedi. He shook his head in amusement and took a few more paces into the hangar. Perhaps they should have assigned Nak to Claw 6's duties, he mused.
"Now maybe you appreciate my lenience with you, Knight Nak Ammati"
Before the initiate had time to retort, Zaren strode over to Kal Nar's side.
"I agree there is a rather foul stench in here, and not one of simply rotting supplies. I don't like it. Reminds me of when I used to find decaying animals in the caves on Mandalore as a child..."

Sensing something out of place, Zaren removed his lightsaber from his belt. The Mandalorian was a warrior, trained to spite fear, yet he was deeply unsettled.
"I've got a bad feeling about this..."

A faint sound echoed in the distance, further into the ship. Could just be an active droid, or a crate toppling over, he reasoned. Still he tensed slightly.

 

[Kaane]

Over time, the group would realize, the sounds were becoming louder and moving closer. The clank of something metallic hitting the ground reached their ears,, seemingly coming from one of the artificially-made corridors in front of their position. As far as the trio could sense, there was some form of life aboard yet. Some rather close to them. Though it was, at the same time, dwindling fast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nak was finally put into place by Kal Nar reminding him that he was still in fact the least experienced and currently most immature member of the search party. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to be as cool as his accent or call-sign were.

"Alright, alright, sorry Claw 6. You've made your point...but cmon, how else are we going to find whoever's left here...if they aren't dead from the stench already."

Zaren then got some sort of word in edgewise but left the Initiate alone to his thoughts . Which were that this ship and its claustrophobic loading bay was starting to get a little spooky, and that his chaperone may or may not actually be somewhat slightly cooler than a cat-person.

While they were busy discussing the situation, however, Nak knew it was time for some form of action; if they were going to find these survivors, talking about it wasn't going to do much but make them die faster. Therefore, with a fair bit of acrobatics, the Nautolan wall-kicked up one of the narrow walkways between the containers, seeking to reach the top of the stack to get a better vantage point. Stepping lithely across each chasm he came across as he leapt from stack to stack, he'd notice something strange at the bottom of one of the metal ravines.

"Hey, guys!" he called out. "You really need to come look at this!"

 

[RED-1]

looking up at the boy in a cat like hiss Kar Nar says to Zaren "if this is a trap he would of spring it," He points to a spot at the top of some big stack containers. "I am going there for a look" then gives a half smile " the young initiate dose have guts." Kal Nar leaps in to the air his clothing flapping as he leaps off of other containers until he got to the top landing in a crouched position. A loud growl could be heard "damm..."

 

[Sscorpiun]

Zaren heard Nak call out about something, but decided Kal could handle it just fine. The Mandalorian wanted to do some independent investigation. He paced around the landing bay area, searching for any clues as to the reason for the ships predicament. He reluctantly accepted the idea that taking a look inside one of the foul smelling cargo boxes might reveal some answers. Zaren approached a box and lifted the lid. He instantly let it drop and stepped back. The stench was overwhelming.
"What is that?"

He'd gotten a glimpse of what looked like rotting organic material inside the crate, suspended in some sort of clear fluid. The Jedi suspected that scientific experiments were somehow involved. However, Zaren didn't know how that could be related to the stranded ship. Deciding to venture a bit deeper into the cargo holds, Zaren entered a long dark corridor, and ignited his lightsaber so he could see. He found a nearby control panel and attempted to reboot the power. The lights flickered on, but simultaneously the blast door behind him slammed shut. He was cut off.

 

[christhebetrayer]

Kann stood on the bridge of his War Leviathan staring into hyperspace from the viewport contemplating his mission while various crew and officers went around him. why send him after a single freighter? what was on it that was so damn important? why was it near the unknown regions? these were questions that ran through his mind. his thoughts were interrupted when an officer approached him "sir, we'll be arriving in the system in a few moments where the distress signal originated from, what are your orders?"
Kann shakes his head to refocus himself "Good. I want the task force's shields up and initiate a full system scan immediately upon arrival, I want to know what we're walking into before we make any move. Last thing, prepare the Marines for boarding actions" he replies without turning to the officer still staring into hyperspace
"Understood Admiral" nodded the office as he went back to his duties.

a few moments the later the ship drops at of hyperspace, arriving behind his ship two other War Leviathans drop out and assume a formation around Kann's ship. in front of them lay the freighter the INS Victor. "sir the scans indicate we are the only ships in the system besides the victor"
"Alright, give me the comms and broadcast on all frequencies I want to know if anybody is still alive on that ship" an officer nods towards kann indicate the comms are on "This Admiral Kann Beroya of the 21st Imperial Naval task force, anyone aboard the INS Victor, please make contact and gives us your sitrep or will be forced to board. You have two minutes to comply" the comms go silent and few minutes pass without a response "are the Marines ready?"
"yes, sir."
"start boarding procedures, have the other two ships hold position around the INS Victor. I'll be going aboard with marines, you have the ship" he says walking past officer who follows him to the turbo lift. the doors close before the officer could respond. this whole thing was an enigma to him but he was determined to find the truth that lay in the ship.

 

[Kaane]

Zaren would find himself in a rather short hallway lit up with blaring, white, artificial light. The noises audible from the outside seemed to not successfully find their way in...a momentary relief, perhaps, for a Mandalorian already on edge.

However, he wouldn't have much time to stand around exploring, as he heard a loud beep and a crunch of static coming from behind one of the doors on the ship. Thankfully unlike the door that closed behind him, it wasn't protected by any password, and he could easily walk into it if he so desired.

Words would be making their way through the speaker, which seemed to be in working order as the comm system connected to the correct channel to respond to the hail it was receiving. "This is Admiral Kann Beroya of the 21st Imperial Naval task force, anyone aboard the INS Victor, please make contact and give us your sitrep or we will be forced to board. You have two minutes to comply."

Then silence.

Until a pair of cold, withered hands wrapped themselves tight around the Jedi's neck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Holy hell..."

At the bottom of the artificial gorge in clear view was what appeared to be a dead body, surrounded in fluid. But upon closer inspection, both Nak and Kal would be able to see its fingers twitch.

"He's alive, we've gotta do something man!" said Nak, before leaping down to the mucky floor below, using the Force to shakily slow his fall in his haste, sticking the landing on two feet. Unfortunately, the smell only seemed to worsen here, and the inch-deep layer of gross, viscous slime was no laughing matter for a Nautolan who hated anything icky. But there was a man in need, and his needs came way before Nak's.

"It's gonna be ok, we'll get you out of here safely man..." he said, muttering soothing bedside phrases as he checked this man's pulse, the garb of which appeared to be that of an Imperial naval officer: specifically a Lieutenant, if Nak knew more about Sith military structure. However, when he checked his pulse, he noticed something odd.

He was already dead. But still his fingers twitched.

"What..."

A loud scream emanated from the ravine as the Initiate's arm was gripped tight.

Meanwhile up above, Kal could hear all manner of clattering behind his position. Turning around, he'd find two arms peeking out over the crate he was standing on. And another pair. And another after that.

Something was coming after him. Fast.