Mission to New Ithor

[Flying Dutchman]

New Ithor. A planet of pure beauty. Adopted home to the ancient Ithorians, fierce environmentalists. The surface was full of life, both plants and animal, and was believed to be sacred by the Ithorians. The indigenous Ithorians themselves, lived among huge floating cities and carefully monitored any intruders to their surface. They were believed by many to be peacefully gardeners, zoologists, and philosophers, and they avoided conflict as much as possible.

​

Most unfortunate for them, however, New Ithor was under a vile occupation of the Empire. Ever since the violent bombing that occurred in the war with the Republic, Ithor has been left scarred by the chaos, and many ecosystems have been irreparably damaged. Therefore, Ithor was abandoned, and the Jedi and Republic relocated the survivors to New Ithor. The planet almost nearly mimicked Ithor in many ways, and the floating cities of the Ithorians were no less than their original.

What made it worse, was the fact that the Imperial occupation left the Ithorians with little ability to adapt to their new home-world, as their lush wildlife was being violently distrupted by Sith sorcerers, for their own evil intentions. There had, however, began to sound a small voice of outcry. A small band of smugglers, bent on aiding the ailing Ithorians, had begun to resist the Imperial meddling.

It was for these people, that Doghus Dei, former Senator of Balmorra and an exile, had come to New Ithor. The Jedi Council, moved by Doghus' own motivations, had agreed to allow a meeting with these resistance fighters, so as to move their efforts to align with the Jedi. Doghus had not come alone. The Council was protective of the Senator, and as such, Doghus had agreed to allow a bodyguard to assist him. A young Knight, by the name of Kaylara Dornelles, had agreed to escort the Senator to New Ithor, and to protect him if things went wrong. And while Doghus had meant to come to New Ithor in his own ship, the Council advised him to keep a low profile. To that end, a captain by the name of Ray Foster, had allowed his ship to transport Doghus and Kaylara to New Ithor.

And so now, Doghus and Kaylara had taken their seats on Ray's personal ship, The Black Lynx. As it descended to the floating cities above New Ithor, Doghus looked outside to the many skyscrapers of New Ithor's cities. As Doghus had understood it, the Ithorians were very careful about any visitors to their planet, and as such, the ship was already being monitored a great deal. Despite that, Ray was able to land the ship in particularly empty part of the city. The ship landed down on a small landing pad at the side of a high building. As Doghus saw Ray parking, he commented: "Nice flying. Seems this is our stop." As Doghus departed, he waited for Kaylara to proceed first, hoping that no 'uninvited guests' were at the landing pad.

(OOC: Tagging @Kaylara Dornelles & @Ulysses for replies. Also sorry guys, there's been a relocating to New Ithor, 'cause Sith.)

 

[Kaylara Dornelles]

Kaylara Dornelles wasn't always terribly fond of politics and that usually extended to her interactions with those who were involved in such a field, naturally including senators. However, with the fall of the Republic the galaxy had been pushed further into to disarray and disorder and many looked towards the more steady leadership of the Jedi to advise, protect and support them. To say that Kara felt conflicted about this new role that the Jedi were taking on was an understatement. Yes, the Jedi were guardians of peace and all that was good throughout the galaxy, but could that role really extend to shepherding thousands of planets through a time of strife and tribulation? Everything felt out of balance, and it made Kara terribly uneasy.


These thoughts weighed heavily in her mind as she stood motionless in the cockpit of the Black Lynx with her two traveling companions, former Senator Doghus Dei and the owner of the aforementioned ship, a smuggler named Ray Foster. She knew that the council had assigned her this mission with her track record of success on previous similar 'infiltration' type missions, yet as Kara ran over the details and various outcomes in her mind, she found it hard to imagine everything not going sideways. New Ithor had a strong Imperial presence, and while the resistance smugglers, who they were there to support, had made some progress in delivering supplies and just being a general nuisance, they were vastly outmanned and outgunned. The hard truth that Kara was learning during her time as a Knight of the Order was that, the Jedi, unfortunately didn't always make things better. Hopefully their assistance on New Ithor would prove to be successful.


New Ithor slowly came into view as the ship exited hyperspace, its blues and greens looking very serene from their elevated view. "If only the planet side situation reflected its beauty from space" the Jedi thought quietly to herself. She had never been to the original Ithor and would probably never make it considering its current state after the war. However, she had heard that New Ithor reflect quite similarly to the old world. As the ship entered the atmosphere and made its way closer to the ground Kara couldn't help but stare at the Ithorian architecture and ingenuity in their city planning.


The Black Lynx landed towards the outskirts of the capital city where it seemed to be less populated and not as much under heavy imperial control. The Jedi adjusted her tunic, as she heard Senator Dei compliment Foster on his flying. Kara had chosen to forgo the traditional Jedi robes for this particular mission, knowing how out of place it would be while trying to remain somewhat undercover. Instead, she wore a simple brown tunic, with coordinating cargo-type pants, sturdy boots and a light jacket. Putting her light blonde hair up into its usual braided position she understood the Senators request and was the first to disembark the ship. Not feeling any imminent danger around, nor seeing anyone else on the platform, she turned back to the ship calling up, "I don't see anything, looks like we're good to go."

 

[RED-1]

The Droid has been on many missions but not quite like this one. RED was sent from a Senator friend. The droid was to help watch over Doghus and aide the young jedi. Now polished serviced and ready RED-2 was ready for the job, it was programmed for many jobs but mostly rescue and medical. In this mission it could preform many jobs. His programming allowed the droid to see danger in a different way. RED's scanner could pick up things that some pepole could not. It could translate and record conversations and if things go bad help Doghus to safety and preform any medical help they needed. Besides no one pays any attention to a droid.

The ship landed it shook slightly as it came into contact with the ground. The large droid came to life it look over to the suit cases of Doghus and the Jedi's bag. The droid pick them up and started out of the cargo bay and down a corridor. It looked around seeing Doghus RED walking behind Doghus on the rap. It scanned the area nothing seem out of place. A quick medical scan of Doghus showed nothing ether a bit uneasy but that was to be expected. RED looked over the Jedi was well medically and noticed she was calm. RED had got base line scans earlier of both of them as well as DNA retinal scans to be used for identification and other medical information before the trip. The Droid said nothing just watched Doghus and the Jedi as they want on there way fallowing there lead and awaited orders.

 

[Ulysses]

Ray was becoming more confident making runs into imperial space as he had made quite a number now. This was the first, though, where he was coming in with an empty cargo.

The ship was cramped in other ways, however: three passengers brought the total up to 7 (including droids). Dolly, Ray's helmswoman, had found space in one of the usually full hold rooms to roll a mat out and catch some shut eye and so Ray took over the Lynx's controls for the final hour.

He hadn't done planet fall himself in many years and the experience made him feel nostalgic... Nostalgic for easier times before the empire, when all he had to worry about were credits... before he got his own ship and he didn't even have to worry about them...

His reverie was interrupted by the senator's voice, flattering him on what was by his standards a rusty landing. He was glad Dolly wasn't there to see - though she probably felt it if she was awake. The fact that the senator was sat in his navigation chair irked him. Typical politician; just sitting where he wants; no respect for the spacers' ways; typical landie...

The Jedi was also in the cockpit, but at least she had the decency to stand. Not that she had a choice but, in Ray's mind it made all the difference.

Ray had never been so close to a Jedi before and 5 years ago he would have given everything he'd got to keep them off his ship but here he was today with a full Jedi Knight in his cockpit no less. As the planet had come into view and they slowly descended, Ray had noticed something about her that he hadn't seen on the journey. She seemed fascinated with the planets surface in a way that was at odds with her general indifference on the trip so far. He wasn't sure if all Jedi had this noble demeanour, or if it was special to her. She was too focused on the planet ahead of them to notice Ray catching surreptitious glances over his shoulder at his enthralling guest.

Once landed they went through to the central area and Ray let down the boarding ramp. He let the others go first and grabbed a blaster pistol from the rack on his way out, shoving it down the back of his waist band, under his jacket.

The rest of the crew stayed on board. First, the away party was already quite large and so more likely to draw attention. Second, in empire space, having more hands to secure the ship would be helpful.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

Doghus looked to the droid RED-2 and then to Ray, as Kaylara surveyed the area. When she said it was all clear, Doghus nodded, and descended down the ramp. "Very well then," He said, "Let us see what New Ithor looks like". The smell of Ithor's cities was the first sensation to come to Doghus' senses, and after that, the fumes of the space ship. As he made it down, Kaylara watched him, and Doghus proceeded to the exit. Ray and RED-2 were in close pursuit, while Kaylara walked beside him in protection.

As they entered the city streets, more smells and sights came to Doghus. Although the smugglers operated on a rather deserted part of the city, Imperial presence was sensible even here. The smuggler leader, Doghus was informed, was an Twi'Lek by the name of Boc Andula. Despite the smuggler's wide variety of species, the Twi'Lek had not learned to speak Basic, instead giving orders in his original Twi'Leki. And although it had been some time that Doghus had been in conversation with people from Ryloth, his basic understanding, he'd hope, was enough to make his acquaintance.

As they walked through the streets, it appeared that more than one Ithorian were down on their luck. The once beautiful boulevards, adorned with a plenitude of flora from their home world, were now scrapped and replaced by row upon row of Imperial banners and monoliths. Doghus saw an evident distaste in Kaylara, and he understood that the sight of Sith architecture would discomfort any Jedi. Ray, on the other, seemed calm, albeit a bit annoyed with Doghus' apparent arrogance. Doghus decided to assuage their fears, and spoke: "I am lucky, certainly, to have with me not one, but three protectors to accompany me to this dangerous place." Doghus smiled softly, as they began approaching their destination.

The resistance, so it appeared, had taken no easy target to hide their operations. As Doghus and his bodyguards walked further, they approached a massive storehouse-like building. On the outside, it seemed to be nothing else but a large storage of ship parts and scrap metals. When the group entered, a single men came towards them. The man was heavily armed, and as he saw the group, he pointed his main arms towards him. " Hold it right there. This a restricted area." The man said. Doghus had anticipated such a welcome, and therefore, he had already thought of a response. " We are not Imperials. We are here on business concerning the Jedi. Now lower your weapons." While the man twitched at the name of the Jedi, he did not loosen up on his target. Therefore, before the situation would escalate, Doghus continued. " I have an appointment with your leader, Boc Andula. If you will not lead us to him, we will leave. But not before you answer us." The man, now somewhat puzzled at the notice of his bosses name, lowered his gun, but he still remained vigilant. " If you have come here for Andula, you will follow closely. But attempt nothing funny, we will notice. This way."

The man led the group deeper inside the storehouse. It appeared that the front was entirely meant as a smoke screen. The actual base was guarded from outside with a heavy purpose doors, and two gunners at both sides. The man, who apparently was named Twan, led them to the door, where he was stopped by a guard. As the two exchanged greetings, the guard nodded, and the door opened. Twan waved for them to go inside.

Inside the base, there was little that resembled a real organised corps. Storage made up most of the interior, flanked by both sides with common rooms filled with bunk beds. At the centre, there was a small holographic table, around which some high ranked smugglers stood. Twan stopped at one end of the room, and spoke to the head of the table. "Boc, there's some people who wish to speak to you." At the other end, there stood one single man. As his name was spoken, he looked up, and then gazed his eyes upon Doghus and his companions. He nodded, and walked away from the table. As he walked closer to the mysterious visitors, Doghus noticed something was off. And as he looked closely to Andula, there it was. The Twi'Lek leader was missing, strangely enough, one Lekku on the right side of his face. As the older Twi'Lek approached, he spoke, in his own native tongue. "I had expected a single man to meet me today. But that he was to be accompanied by two other humanoids and a droid, I was not told." Doghus looked to the Twi'Lek, trying his best to make sense of the rather crude Ryl language. He hoped RED-2 was of some us as an interpretor, knowing that the droid had a least some high amount of languages it knew.

Doghus smiled at the Twi'Lek man, hoping his understanding of their language was adequate enough, and said: " I am here on business concerning my own, if you do not mind. These are my companions, they are paramount to my safety, captain, and as such, I must include their presence." Doghus looked once again at RED-2, hoping the droid could translate if the man could or would not understand.

(@RED-1)

 

[RED-1]

The droid took Doghus ques when he looked back at the droid. RED-2 slowly stepped up just behind the Jedi “Master Doghus, can I translate for you?” ask the droid. Looking back at the man Doghus was talking to. “Sir, I can translate in over ten thousand forms of communications and languages” speaking in the native languages the man was using the droids voice was warm and inviting. “Can I help Sir?” ask the droid.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

As the droid RED-2 answered Doghus subtle hints, he came up to the two men, and asked if he could offer assistance. Doghus looked at the droid, and waved his hand. "By all means, RED-2, proceed." The droid seemed to understand, and therefore, he translated Doghus' message. The Twi'Lek looked puzzled as the droid now spoke in his native tongue, but he nodded in understanding. "RED, please tell the man that we are not here to make any trouble, and that we are on business concerning their cause. Perhaps it is safe not to mention our allegiance, but tell him we're not with the Empire." He looked at Kaylara again as he spoke the last sentence, hoping that for now at least, their Jedi companion remained a secret.

Doghus looked on as the droid translated again, and he was fairly certain that while the Twi'Lek made some sense of the Basic language, the translation was more then welcome.

(OOC: @RED-1, I'm giving you the honour of writing down the Twi'Lek's answer, since your the translator. If @Kaylara Dornelles or @Ulysses wants to reply next, go ahead.)

 

[RED-1]

The Twi'Lek still looked unsure. RED-2 look back at Doghus as the Twi'Lek spoke, saying “He ask who are you with? He know we are not with the Sith or Empire but I don't know if he believes you.” The Twi'Lek relaxed some but his tone distrusting but keeps talking. RED-2 keeps translating. “Why would you be interested in helping them?” Twi'Lek looked the droid over then back at Doghus.


OCC: I hope I did a good job I remember translators in the military and this is how it went most of the time.

 

[Kaylara Dornelles]

Kara followed the others through the city as they made their way from the landing site to the location of where the resistance smugglers met. She found it a terrible shame to see such a pleasant and welcoming planet be ruined by the Empire and the Sith; their oppressive and monolithic brutal architecture permeating throughout. The Jedi could feel the struggle between the light and the dark on the planet, which also added to her difficulty in feeling the nearby surroundings for danger.

The small group turned a few more corners and ventured down an alleyway before stopping in front of a general nondescript storage building. The Senator had no issues in getting them past the guard outside, and Kara remarked that, like most politicians, Doghus was probably a very skilled orator. Not entirely sure what to expect based on the conflicting reports she had read beforehand about the state of the resistance smugglers, the Jedi was nonetheless slightly disheartened to see such a ragtag team in the room around her. However, she had made do with much less before and was still cautiously optimistic.

Boc Andula, a Twi'lek, was the leader of the group, and surprisingly didn't have a very strong grasp of basic. Kara's own Twi'lek language skills were rudimentary at best, leaving her quite thankful that RED-2 was there to assist in translations. Leaving all the talking to Doghus, the Jedi remained quiet with her arms folded, ready to offer her input or opinion when called upon.

 

[Ulysses]

As they walked through the base, Al-Ric turned his attention to their surroundings: first there was the warehouse, cluttered with scrap metal and ship parts. No-one was working at any of the benches. There was an overhead gantry in the half of the room opposite the door, no doubt originally a loading platform for large delivery vehicles - there were ladders at each side and on the left an open lift about a meter square. The only doors in the warehouse, other than the one they had come through was underneath the gantry, dead ahead, and into a kind of control room, transparasteel fronted, top right. As their host turned his weapon on them, two figures appeared silently but efficiently from the control room, levelling rifles at the party.

He knew he was there for logistics and the Jedi was in charge of security, but this kind of paranoia came naturally to Ray. This thought reignited his fascination with the Jedi accompanying them. As he was stood at the back of the group, he saw the way that her braided hair emphasised the nobility of her neck and her posture portrayed confidence.

As they were ushered through, the greasy workshop gave way to the cold sanitised paleness of a room that had never seen natural light and whose only ventilation was via a circulation unit. On each side there were doorways to three bunk rooms. Ray estimated three bunks per room, so 36 at most called this place home.

He maintained his position to the rear, watching the other smugglers as much as paying attention to negotiations.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

Doghus looked at the droid as he struggled to keep up with the rapid talks between Doghus and Boc. Doghus nodded as the droid finished, and the Twi'Lek fell silent, then he spoke: "Very well. We are here on orders of the Jedi Council, and the Grand Master himself. We wish to sponsor your efforts in disrupting the Imperial presence on this serene planet, but to do so, we must come to agreement between ourselves." Doghus looked at the droid as he translated once more, and when he was done, Doghus added: " I am a representative of the Jedi's will, but let us not forget that the Order is represented here themselves. Milady?" He looked at Kaylara as he spoke, seeing that she was still a source of calmness.

Unbeknownst to them, a secret agent from the Empire was near their location. The agent had been close to the smuggler's outpost by the day, but he only now learning of its precise lookout. The presence of a foreign emissary, however trifling they were, was news to the Imperial army. And in any way, a potential discovery of resistance against their rule. As he looked closer at the warehouse, he became more and more certain that this was the place the smugglers were hiding. With a sudden click, he contacted Imperial Command.

(OOC: @RED-1, feel free to add more, like expressions and tone, to the translations. Also @Kaylara Dornelles, I suppose you're up next.)

 

[Kaylara Dornelles]

Kara nodded slightly as she listened to Doghus's explanation and the ensuing translation from the droid. She cringed slightly at being called 'milady' but didn't let it reflect on her outward persona. Being called or addressed with a title that reflected nobility often rubbed Kara the wrong way, feeling that it made her or the Jedi seem above others. However, she let it slide for the moment as she figured that Doghus's manner of speaking was most likely always this formal. Unfolding her arms, she began "The Senator is correct, the Jedi are prepared to offer whatever support we can. However, I'm not sure how much can be afforded at this point in time."

Her voice was soft and cool but had a commanding vein to it which usually caused people to listen to what she had to say. Kara continued, "Our resources are spread thin across this sector." She approached the holographic map in the center of the room and gestured to a few nearby systems in order to assist the Twi'lek in understanding her. "Probably munitions and other sorts of weaponry," was her final comment before stopping and looking around suddenly, as if she could hear something everyone else couldn't.

The Jedi looked toward the closed door at the front of the room, her brow furrowing somewhat as she walked back to the Senators side. "I feel that our location might be compromised" Kara added after sensing the slight disturbance. "The Empire may know we're here."

 

[RED-1]

RED-2 stared to translate as the young Jedi talked, translating her every word. The Twi'Lek almost seemed surprised as the Jedi talked. “He knows of your operations in this sector” said RED-2 looks at the holographic map then at the Jedi “He ask, Master Jedi what type of weapons and how many” then the droid turned to the Twi'Lek suddenly, then said “O really, she is” RED-2 turned back to the Jedi “He would like to know what type of heavy weapons you can get” the Droid translated. RED-2 tone changed as it translated the last part of what she said. Then the Twi'Lek eyes widened his face expression changed to concern. Turn to the others in the room and gave out a few commands suddenly blasters started to appear in there hands and started moving around the room. RED-2 looks at the Jedi “The two Twi'Leks at the door we came though are still there what do we do?.”

 

[Deviant]

omputers hum. Soldiers whisper. Holograms flicker. The Imperial Headquarters over New Ithor drones in life, relentless in pursuit for security of the Empire. However, with skirmishing pirates and a thriving resistance movement taking root on the planet, the garrison has lagged behind— and it wouldn’t be long until the Jedi Order would come to finish them off. It is why Alexei Petrov had winded down to the troubled world, his gear primed and army at the ready. Because if the regiment here couldn’t handle a small band of rebels, then he would have to handle them himself.

"Morons," he whispers, arms crossed. "What's so hard about finding a some second-rate gang of—"

"General Petrov." One of the cadets peer from their controls. "A field agent has reported suspicious activity in Sector B. An abandoned warehouse, sir."

"Finally. Send in a tactical airstrike. Small-scale. I won't be bothered to send in Imperial forces for this silly posse."

"The agent notes there is a foreign emissary there. Jedi, perhaps." The cadet brings up the operative's report onto a hologram before the General.

Alexei pauses for a moment. "Well, what are we waiting for? Mobilize my personal battalion. Now!"

In a matter of minutes, soldiers of the notorious "Spectre" division— Alexei's finest —slip from noiseless aerial transports, voices restrained to a remote comm frequency and weapons wrapped under their fingertips. A dozen men ahead and a dozen behind, Alexei moves like a wraith in the night, his own pulse rifle, alongside six clips, in place. "I want the Jedi, if only one, alive for questioning. Kill everything else that moves. Also, be wary of—"

An explosion rocks the building's foundation. Fire and smoke devours two Imperials at the front of the battalion. Shots soon follow.

"Two enemy guards seven meters up and around the corner! Hope they like shrapnel," an indistinct soldier says over the comm, before another blast jolts the warehouse. "Enemies dispatched. But there are barricaded doors ahead. Should we advance, sir?"

"Of course."​

 

[Ulysses]

"These guys run a slick operation: there's nothing we could do to help them that they couldn't do better." This was more justification for inaction than truth. "The real problem is how we get out of this rat-trap..."

As he spoke the ground quaked. This was not what he had signed up for...

 

[RED-1]

The droid moved next to Doghus standing behind him now. It knelled down placing its pack on the round it took elastic bands with hooks on them and attached the bags to its pack. Standing it placed the Pack on its back leaving its hands and arms free. RED-2 look to Doghus “Master we need to get you to safety. I agree with Master Foster we need to leave this area and get away from the main door.” RED-2 said. Turning to the The Twi'Lek he talked for a moment then the The Twi'Lek pointed. “He says there is a way out”

 

[Flying Dutchman]

As Kaylara made her remark, Doghus was surprised. Imperial troopers, in this part of town? But Doghus well knew that if they'd come, and he was certain they would, then the smugglers had little choice but to fight them and find another save-house. As the smugglers walked around the place, Doghus looked to his bodyguards, certain that Kaylara at least had some advantage in fighting them off. That was, unless a Sith Lord was involved. Doghus looked outside to the guards that RED-2 mentioned, but said: "They will manage, for now." He looked at Ray as he spoke, and nodded, until suddenly he was surprised by a deafening blast.

The building shook to its core, as two smuggler detonated the mines in place outside the warehouse. He looked at RED-2, whom mentioned an escape route. But Doghus was steadfast. He would not run from a fight again. He shook his head firmly, a said without any doubt: "No! We must stand and fight. I will no longer let the Empire destroy everything we build. To long have I stood idly by while they bring ruin to the galaxy. These people, the Ithorians, need our help, and we'll give them our support. Plus, with you at my side, madam Kaylara, nothing will go wrong." He looked firmly into the eyes of his three companions, and then to Boc once more. "Tell him, that we will stand with him, even if it takes our lives."

Doghus looked once again to the outside. And while he wasn't of much use to the smuggler, even he picked up a blaster, and walked to the door. He signalled the others to follow. "We will hold this position, and only when we're pushed back, shall we run to the Lynx. Who's with me?"

(@Deviant)

 

[Kaylara Dornelles]

Kara looked around as the building shook from a nearby explosion. Depending on the amount of soldiers that the Empire was about to overwhelm them with, it could be only a matter of minutes before they had no chance of escape or survival. Doghus's small speech was admirable and morally correct, but the thought was in the back of Kara's mind that if they didn't or couldn't escape, they wouldn't be any use to the Ithorians dead. "I agree" she commented, "but at the first sign of immediate danger closing in, we'll have to attempt an escape. There is a lot more work to be done."

The Jedi held her hands apart with the fingers slightly open and, what appeared to be decorative pieces of metal on the sleeves of her jacket slowly lifted off and floated in front of her. A small blue crystal emerged from a necklace under the Jedi's shirt and took its place in the center of the floating metal pieces. The tube snapped together and rested gently in Kara's hand.

She looked around at the others and gave a slight nod, signaling her readiness.

 

[RED-1]

RED-2 moved next to Doghus saying "well Master Doghus I would ask not to stand to close to the door don't they normally blow them up?" The droid turned his head and appeared to look the walls. "Down here the walls are are thick I am having problems detecting movement and personnel." RED-2 looked at the door "I could weld the door closed.”

 

[Deviant]

lexei Petrov follows the handful of soldiers rounding the corner, and into a short, slender hall leading into the set of barricaded doors. His heart races. Thoughts, tactics and theories flash through his mind. Behind those doors could lay a hundred enemy sentries, armed to the teeth and prepared to die for another self-righteous cause. Or, worse: multiple Jedi Knights, minds sharp and lightsabers at the ready. And if he knows one thing, is that an animal is most dangerous when cornered, so cocking his rifle and readying a sonic detonator, the General anticipates the worst.

One of the Imperial privates plants an explosive onto the door. “Charge is in place,” they say, moving back alongside the rest of the squad. “Detonating in ten, nine…”

Alexei sighs. Helmet locked in, his eyes strain through the tinted visor, and ears pound beside his wired frequency modulator. “Five, four…”

For a moment, he wonders of Anya, his only lover. By now she would be venturing through the dark recesses of space abroad her personal cruiser, looking as sharp as always in her sleek Imperial uniform while peering into some holographic map, planning for the coming war. “Two, one… fire in the hole!”

More fire, more smoke. The set of doors instantly fly off its hinges and into the room. Plasma and laserfire rains, pours, thunders. Behind a dozen men, Alexei moves ahead, weapon set to tear some scum apart.