Guard Duty

[Tristyn]

12,400km over Ilum
Planetary time - 02:20

Tamara sat in the pilot seat of a Jedi star yacht in orbit over Ilum. It was guard duty, and it sucked. She could've been at home with her parents or with her secret boyfriend. But no! Recent attacks caused by pirates attempting to steal kyber crystals from unexpecting younglings meant that the planet had to be monitored constantly. Not by Republic security forces or anything, but by Jedi. It's not like Jedi have a galaxy to peace-keep. Every padawan or knight was given a chance to sit guard for 12 hours and monitor the area. Ilum was a nice place and all, but space is boring to look at. Tamara hated it! Thankfully some padawans were supposed to be relieving her in a few minutes. How come she didn't get a buddy to talk two? These two girls are gonna site guard duty next. At least they could talk to each other! Guard duty sucks!

The young padawan checked the scopes again to see if any new contacts were coming in. What she found was a small ship coming out of hyperspace. The relief effort. Once they docked, she herself would take her own ship and leave this boring corner of the galaxy.

@Leira Rys @Rae Anne Jarrus​

 

[Queen]

Leira Rys had guard duty, which didn't excite her very much. She was pretty much dreading doing it, due to the fact that Leira was easily bored, and staring at space didn't sound like something she'd like to do. She tried to protest to her elders, saying she could go on some other mission, that was maybe a bit less boring, but in the end Leira's request was turned down. It really pissed her off. She could be going on another drug-bust, like her first mission she went on a few days ago, or finding old Jedi relics. But, no. Not today.

The fact that she was going with someone else made it a bit better. Leira was charismatic, and it was easy for her to make people think she was a total sweetheart, and make friends with them. But, lately, she'd been dropping that, and sticking to her true bitchy attitude. Leira still didn't tell the truth about herself, and still made it sound like she was a total badass on the streets of Coruscant. Even though she still lied, she had managed to drop the 'sweetheart victim' facade for a 'badass bitch' coverup.

This whole thing was just because she hated who she truly was. Leira wasn't educated, because her father refused her education, she was lonely, she was sad, and felt like she had something to prove. Deep down, she thought she was stupid and that she wasn't worthy of good things. That didn't stop her from trying to get them, though. Her whole personality was a coverup.

So, Leira tried to decide how she was going to deal with meeting a new person. How was she gonna act this time? Was she even going to talk? Maybe it'd be a better idea to shut up and just watch. The girl she was going with was named Emma, and she knew nothing about her.

But here she was, in a ship with this girl, flying out to relieve some other young padawan of the job.

@Rae Anne Jarrus

 

[Rae Anne Jarrus]

Guard duty. Again. Emma couldn't believe that they had told her to go on this mission. Master James had told her to just deal with it for now because missions from before that she had been on almost costed her life. And with Emma being Emma, she tried many ways to try to talk herself out of it, but no matter what she did, the masters refused. Apparently she wasn't seeing eye to eye with them on how important the mission was. The thing was, what was important? Emma's important or their important? She guessed hers, so she brought both lightsabers and blasters with her if any action happened ever in the black space.

At least she was with another girl named Leira. They were heading over to the main ship to swap her out for their turn to keep watch. The only thing she knew about Leira, was that she was the same age and also from Coruscant. Other than that, she had no idea of the girl's personality. They would either get along, or possibly not get along..

As they docked with the other ship, Emma only wondered, we're better off down there than we are up here.

 

[Tristyn]

Tamara heard the first ship docking and slowly got up from her seat and stretched. It had been a long day and she just wanted to get home and relax. She walked over to one of the docking ports and opened the hatch to greet the rather tall looking 14 year old. Tamara didn't even know she was younger than her.

"I hope you have fun and enjoy the view"

But instead of leaving right away, Tamara would wait for the other to dock and maybe have a quick chat before she departed for Republic space once again. It seemed kind of silly to put so many patrol ships around the planet, full of Jedi, to protect such an isolated planet. Plus there were many more on the surface. The most recent pirate attack only happened once before, and that was a couple of years ago. Once again pirates are harassing people and causing everyone to panic and waste manpower to essentially blockade a planet like this. This was likely to go on for a few months before the council decides the planet is safe again.

"I saved you and your friend some snacks. I wasn't really that hungry"

 

[Queen]

"Snacks? Ayyyye, what kind." Well, so much for not saying anything. Leira wasn't going to shut up when there was food around, and she hadn't had anything to eat prior to this. So, she was pretty excited about the fact she had snacks. That was.. about the only part Leira was excited about.

Leira also thought it was pretty lame that the Jedi were guarding such a lonely planet, but there wasn't anything they could do about it. She didn't especially feel like dealing with pirates, but it might be a bit more entertaining than just sitting there. Would kinda suck if they died, though.

 

[Cailst]

The kyber crystals must flow! Or at least that's what Mugizu heard from this underworld guy. Julius was his name, or was it Ben, Mugizu had forgotten. Regardless, somebody somewhere wanted these crystals and it was up to Mugizu and his brave fighting crew to wrest it from the maniacal Jedi sect.

Getting up in front of his crew aboard the Paguroidea, Mugizu began his speech.

"Good pirates of this ship, we have been tasked with an important mission and will be handsomely rewarded for it! This mission involves a fight against our most ancient of foes, the Jedi. The child stealing sect of murderous monks uses kyber crystals to power their weapons of mass destruction, their lightsabers. At this moment, some of their weakest members are defending it. While some of you may feel uncomfortable killing child soldiers, keep the greater good in mind! Stopping this abomination will stop their child theft! I myself lost a daughter to them! No more! I've also lost a father, and an uncle to them! No more! I even lost my own ear to them! No more!

They steal our children! They attempt to exterminate a rival sect for mere philosophical reasons! They kill our parents, friends, and brothers! No more! The line is drawn here!

When we leave this planet, their cult will be on the ash heap of history! Justice will be served! For great justice!!!!"

The crowd hooted and hollered as they embarked on their epic quest. Their morale was soaring amid the joy of immanent victory, they would do what no other group had done in all of history. Beat the Jedi.

"Good pirates! To your battle stations!"

The pirates each moved to their turrets. When the Paguroidea approached the Jedi ship, an instant volley would be able to rattle the ship. The marines readied themselves. Now all was needed was the jump. The pilot plotted a few coordinates based on the usual position of the Jedi ship and beamed them into hyperspace. When they emerged again in real space, they would be ready to blast the ship and possibly board.

 

[Rae Anne Jarrus]

Once the ship docked, Emma and Leira were waiting for the door to open. A few seconds later it did, and both of them would see Tamara. She had seemed surprised to see Emma. Probably due to her height. Emma was tall for her age. She always guessed that it probably came from her parents. She gave a small sarcastic giggle when Tamara told them to enjoy the view. "Enjoy? Ehh.. I'd rather be down on the surface recovering the crystals myself, rather than sitting in a ship with no action." she responded with a smirk on her face.

Emma had just wished that the Jedi were a touch more hands on. They wouldn't notice if the three of them had gone down to the planet themselves right? She had honestly thought about it and considered it, but was kinda forced to carry out with the plan. Besides they were already here. It would have been better to just have everyone prepared on the surface for the attack so they had a plan if there ever as again.

She smiled to Tamara as she said that she had left some snacks for them both. "Well, thank you. That's appreciated. We didn't really get a chance to eat before we left, and I didn't even think of bringing some of my own for us." she said.

It was only for a few seconds before Emma started to sense that something wasn't right. She knew it wasn't Tamara or Leira, so what was it? All of a sudden, the ship rocked violently, and Emma fell to the wall, dropping her bag when she did so. She looked between the other two padawans, before running to the front of the ship, to see an enemy ship closing in and firing at them. Wonderful. Running back to where she was, Emma picked her bag up and looked at the two again. "Enemy ships are closing in. If you are leaving, I would be careful, because shots are everywhere. If you have some time and wanna see some action, then you're free to stay with us for a while." she suggested quickly, before heading back to the front of the ship when another shot rocked the ship once more. "What the kriff!" she muttered under her breath.

 

[Queen]

"Oh, hell no." Leira said, putting a hand on her lightsaber, and going to the control panel of the ship. "This thing's got weapons or blasters of some sort, right? If so, we can hold 'em off and shoot back at them. Is there any way we could call for help from the older Jedi? If so, we should do that, like, now." Leira wasn't too intent on having her lightsaber stolen by a bunch of lowly pirates. Maybe if enough Jedi came, they could just scare them off, and wouldn't have to kill them. She wasn't too intent on killing. Leira was a bitch. But she knew human life was important. She cared about other people's lives. Her last mission kind of upset her, even though she did what she had to do.

"How many of them do you think there are?"

 

[Tristyn]

Tamara ran over, sat back down in the pilot's seat and began to frantically press buttons on the dashboard. She didn't look like she was panicking, but rather she knew what she was doing.

"I don't know - but a ship that size.....I would say like 30. Plus I don't think our little lasers will do any good. I'm going to raise the shields"

"Shields rais-"

"-Distress beacon activat-"

"-Transmission sen-"

"Starboard thruster unresponsive"

The ship's computer struggled to finish sentences as Tamara activated all the subsystems and attempted to hail the surface and call for help. Even though the pirates managed to destroy one of the two thrusters used to move the ship, deflector shields were raised at max and they should be fine for a few minutes or so before it failed.

"We sure as hell can't get anywhere with only one engine working, let's see if we can try something else..." Tamara would say with a smirk.

She pushed a throttle forward and the one remaining engine started and pushed the Jedi yacht forward. They were slow, but the enemy corvette was closing the distance quickly. The shields should by them time to get in close and board them.

"I suggest you girls get ready!" She shouted, getting up from her seat and looking out the viewport at the incoming pirate ship

 

[Rae Anne Jarrus]

"Call the older Jedi? They sent us on this mission for a reason!" she exclaimed. Emma watched as Tamara took the controls and started sending the ship towards the pirate ship. "What do you need me to do before we get there?" she asked. There was no way Emma had come all this way and then not be able to do something.

All Emma was doing right now, as standing and waiting for Tamara to answer her. Those pirates had something coming for them. The three of them may have been small, but they were mighty and were hopefully never giving up.

 

[Cailst]

"ENGAGE!!!" Mugizu yelled as the ship popped out of hyperspace.

An eruption of fire and death sprang forth from the battle stations of the Paguroidea. A pure and holy fire that would cleanse the pain and suffering within. In mere seconds, one thruster was down. Unfortunately, their shields came on line and it would take more time and energy to bring them down.

"Continue firing on their thrusters! When the shield goes down we want it gone!"

Watching the Jedi ship move towards the Paguroidea, Mugizu was nervous. As well trained as his marines were, he didn't want to risk them against Jedi. He'd lost too many good, honest, and faithful men and women that way. Learning the hard way, though not the hardest way, he knew to steer clear of Jedi in melee when possible.

"Jorik," he called to the pilot, "Don't let them dock no matter what!"

"Right on,"

Mugizu stared out the window at the oncoming Jedi ship. Then he pulled out a picture of his daughter at age two.

"I'm going to find you some day, we're going to be together again, and you're going to be free from that Jedi brainwashing of the last 12 years, if it's the last thing I do," He quietly said to himself as he steeled for battle.

 

[Queen]

Leira sighed. "So, we need a plan, and we need it now." She tapped her fingers one the surface in front of her, and thought. Leira was a smart kid, it wouldn't be long until she figured out some sort of solution.

"We should fly down to the planet. Or get down there, somehow. We hide, and while they're looking for us, and they're off guard, we get as many as we can. All these guys want to do is kill us. We might have to do that first. Be prepared. You guys have any idea?" Leira was slowly accepting that the Jedi, while heroes, weren't all good people. They had to kill sometimes. Leira knew sometimes you had to be bad to stay alive. "You don't have to be a good person to be a hero. Right now, we're trying to protect the Jedi's resources. And better yet, our own lives." She knew they'd probably be reluctant to kill. She knew it was bad. But hey, Leira wanted to live. More importantly, she wanted the other two Jedi to live. She was extremely loyal to the Jedi. This is what she had to do to help.

 

[Tristyn]

"We are going to board that ship. The shields will hold just enough for us to get over there and dock"

Tamara said. It was undoubtedly a very bold plan, but she was quite optimistic. A yacht like this wasn't meant for forced boarding and the pirates weren't going to let them just latch onto them. They were going to have to do it themselves.

"We are going to have to pull the ship and have it connect with the docking tube. Someone should stand by the hatch and get ready to lock when I say so. Whoever's left will help me use the Force and bring the pirate ship closer"

The approaching ship was about 100 meters away and closing fast. They would have a narrow window to do this or they would over shoot and miss their opportunity.

 

[Rae Anne Jarrus]

"Alright."

Emma said when Tamra suggested that they were going to board their ship. She loved the idea of it and a smile somewhat came to her face. She waited by Tamra, still watching as the pirate ship was closing the gap between both of them. Hopefully they'd be able to get their timing right for their plan. If they didn't what was a second plan?

"Hey, if we aren't able to get the timing right, we do have a second plan right?"

She asked. Emma was always concerned about safety even though she loved getting into trouble. When Tamara said that they'd have to connect up with their ship, she tried thinking of which job would be more fun. Helping pull the ship in? Well, she was strong in the force, but she had a feeling that the pirates would be wanting to come aboard almost immediately. She could take them out, but what fun would it be for the others? She decided that she would stay with Tamara.

"Ok, Leira, you head to the hatch, I'll stay here with Tamara to help pull the other ship in. Sound good?"

 

[Cailst]

"Something's wrong, the ship is moving on its own!" Jorik yelled to Mugizu.

Mugizu dropped his photo and pressed his hands to his face, from his jaw to his epicanthic folds. The Jedi he was facing did know how to use the force to affect the ship. Hopefully, they wouldn't know enough to damage it too badly.

"It's that force blood magic! Apply what thrust you can to stay away from their ship but keep steady so our boys can accurately aim at the shield."

He wasn't sure if it would work. In case it did come to melee range fighting, he looked through his cabin and found his captain's hat. It would let the boys know he would fight with them.

Opening another drawer, he placed the photo of his daughter into it. It sat beside other memorabilia of her life as he knew it. A birth certificate, other pictures with him, his wife and her, baby shoes, and some lost and found posters.

 

[Queen]

Leira nodded, running in to the hatch. She almost wished she was handling this shit alone. Right now, it looked like they were screwed. Leira didn't want them to die, even though she kind of hated most everyone around her. If Leira understood nothing else, she understood the importance of life. Even though, on her last mission she learned sometimes the Jedi had to take multiple lives to save their own. Jedi had a price on their heads.

"Here goes nothing." She said, readying herself for the other girls to do their job.

 

[Tristyn]

Tamara closed her eyes and reached out with her arms at the incoming ship and began to slowly pull it in faster, and with the help of Emma, they moved the ship so it would run along the broadside of the yacht. Tamara had to very carefully since the exact position of both airlocks and guided the enemy ship in.

Once it was time, Tamara opened her eyes and quickly yelled out to Leira,"Do it now!" If Leira did it right, the ship would shake for a moment as it locked onto the pirate vessel. Tamara ran over to the pilot's seat again and turned off the engine and raised the shields to 100%, whilst picking up a comlink and attaching it to her wrist, in case the Jedi on the surface below tried to contact her. She then ran towards Leira and ignited one of her sabers, as she wanted to make the first move by boarding them first.

The padawan wasted no time and ran through the boarding tube. She took a moment to sense where the pirates were on the ship, before cutting a hole through the door and entering.

 

[Queen]

Leira, with her little experience operating these things, pulled it as quickly as she could up to the dock. She was successful, and she knew it when she felt the ship shake. She was relieved she hadn't screwed that up, because that could be either life or death, and she didn't really want to die. It locked on to the pirate's ship.

Leira left the ship in the position it was in, while grabbing her own lightsaber, igniting it, and running after Tamara to fight a few of the pirates.

 

[Rae Anne Jarrus]

Emma had helped Tamara pull the ship to theirs. It was kinda hard, but she was happy that they were helping each other. Once it was docked, Emma grabbed her sabers, igniting their blue and green blades as she then followed Tamara onto the ship.

 

[Cailst]

The engines sputtered and screamed as they thrusted the other way. And yet, the ship was entangled by the wispy threads of the force. Every inch brought them closer to an inevitable boarding action. One that terrified Mugizu who put up a strong face for the sake of his men.

"We're so close, do what you can to shake the vessel, most of our shots are gone." He mentioned as he solemnly walked to the main room where the boarding would take place.

"In a few moments, the fight we've been waiting for will unfold. It's a little sooner than I wanted and we shall face some fierce foes. But we shall fight them. For some of you, this will be your first time. And for some of you, this will be your last time. But we shall uphold our oaths nonetheless.

Whatever comes through that door, whether it be Jedi, Wampa, or even the force itself, we shall stand our ground! We fight today, we fight to the death, we never surrender!

Do you hear me?"

"Yaaaah" Replied the marines.

"Do you hear me?"

"Yaaaaaahaaaaaaaa,"

Turning around, Mugizue saw a blue saber creating a hole in the door.

"Then fire!!!!!!!!!!!"

A wave of blaster fire erupted from the marines headed towards the emerging hole in the door.