People Are Strange

[Invidia]

Ilum

Riding in the back of the Saving Grace, the woman finished packing her goody bag and made sure that its contents were slaved properly to a comlink. Placing the comlink in her pocket, she checked her gear one last time. It wasn't like her to be nervous, but this little mission that she'd set for herself was rather important to her. It would be the highlight of her career as a harbinger of fun and excitement (until she outdid herself the next time). Four FWG-5's lined her torso holsters, the Pow strapped to her back with clip-lock shoulder straps in its compressed configuration with a couple spare shots strapped to it, six thermal detonators around her waist with ammunition for the pistols, a sonic pistol strapped to her left thigh, a lightsaber to her left hip, and a particle beam rifle (with the collapsible stock folded) draped over her chest. All in all, she was exceedingly well armed, but her backer could afford it all. The only thing she had to do now was to put on her disguise.

Within seconds, the woman's lithe figure transformed into a old Ithorian. The species natural hump was replaced in part by the Pow with large growths protruding to round out the sides of the weapon. The "Ithorian" then donned what appeared to be basic Jedi garments followed by a long brown Jedi robe. The "Jedi" then clipped a lightsaber to "his" belt and sat down. The robes combined with some selective fat placement ensured that the veritable armory beneath were hidden. The "Jedi" then practiced breathing and sounding like an Ithorian. It wasn't the weirdest disguise she'd donned at least. A few days of practicing basic Ithorian speech patterns had helped. For once, the crazed woman was taking something seriously.

Being content to ride quietly now, she waited for her compatriots to pilot the ship to Drop Point #1. She was slightly annoyed that they hadn't used her name for it, Drop Point KickTheirTeethIn, but she supposed that they couldn't be distracted by such wizard stuff during the mission.


@Black Noise @Phœnix

 

[Raydo]

The Jedi had begun regular patrol of the skies above the Temple shortly following the bombing of the Republic Capital, and Sith assassination of the leader of the Border Alliance. Alex had found himself pulling patrol duty that morning, which was usually a pretty boring assignment and had been for most of the day. He had been trained on the Antarian Starfighter after he had joined the Jedi Army, but this was his first possible conflict.

"Patrol Bravo, This is Flight Command - Stand by for Orders." the voice came across the secured comms channel. "The Peacemaker has picked up a freighter with unknown transponder codes moving quickly towards the planet's surface.Intercept them and escort them back to Orbit. Sending Coordinates now and we will continue to track them. If you are meant with non compliance you are to use lethal force. Do you copy, Patrol Bravo?" the voice questioned.

"Uhh..Patrol Bravo copies." Alex said as R8 received the coordinates. He pointed his fighter towards the coordinates and throttled up his speed.

 

[Oreus]

Two centuries as a Jedi Knight had not led to fame, fortune, or a comfortable post. Kwanli still had to do the dirty work, which he liked. Ilum was a bastion of the Jedi mindset; it was harsh, yet peaceful. The quiet ice world challenged the norm of daily life and pushed them to be humble yet powerful. A soft sigh-like roar emitted from the Wookiee Jedi as he allowed gravity to swing him around the planet slowly for a time. Until a report came in from the squad leader.

"Patrol Alpha, This is Flight Command - Stand by for Orders." the voice came across the secured comms channel. "The Peacemaker has picked up a freighter with unknown transponder codes moving quickly towards the planet's surface. Intercept them and escort them to Orbit. Sending Coordinates now and we will continue to track them. If you are met with non-compliance you are to use lethal force. Do you copy, Patrol Alpha?" the voice questioned.

Something was actually happening way out here? Who would have any gain to come to Ilum if they were not a Jedi? Unless.. Kwanli could remember the past well and had fought enough battles to know when one was on the horizon. He had joined the battle under the new Jedi Lord for a reason. The past could not be allowed to return again. Sith were best kept dead and outside of memory. It was a harsh thought for a Jedi, but 200 years had been enough loss for Kwanli. It was possible he was overreacting to the situation and call to move, but he didn't want to be under-prepared. Weapons were primed, missile tubes armed, and systems optimum. The engines roared as the old Jedi moved his ship into position as indicated.

An Alabaster Escort Freighter came into view as he approached, and he heard reports that other patrols were joining him. Whoever this was didn't stand a chance in that hunk of junk against three Antarian fighters. He responded to flight command with a dull roar indicating he had arrived and was ready to fight if needed. First thing first he would allow one of his basic-speaking friends hail the ship before they open fired. Though if the freighter took any action or sped away he would not hesitate to react accordingly.

 

[Elijah Brockway]

"Do you copy, Patrol Alpha?"

RRRRaaaaaaaaargh.

Sihkar raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. He didn't know they had a Wookiee Jedi out on patrol. While he was on Ilum, he had needed to find some way to keep busy, especially now that he was rather well-known among the Jedi as a General in Bau Zo's army. As such, he was in the temple's flight control center, part of the small area within the temple complex from where the entirety of the temple's defence forces (meaning, whichever Jedi were on duty for temple defence at that time) were led. It was a fitting place to be for a general.

As it was, there was an unknown ship that was coming close to the planet. Ilum being a system that was only moderately well known for its Jedi temple, all incoming and outgoing traffic was monitored rather closely. Any ship that didn't have recognized transponder codes and didn't hail the temple's flight control as soon as it was within range to transmit anything would quickly find itself under the escort of a number of armed fighters belonging to the Jedi. Just as with what was happening here.

"I do hope there's nothing untoward happening here," he muttered to himself, though as with many Jedi in Bau Zo's army, he had his misgivings about an unknown ship showing up unannounced out of nowhere in the same system as a major Jedi temple. Nothing about that looked or sounded good. "And if there is, we better be hoping it doesn't touch down, eh?"

 

[Arcangel]

Cold. Ilum was cold. Jedi Knight Karshk’Ashkar hated the cold. For this reason, the Trandoshan Jedi was overjoyed whenever he picked up patrol duty. Soaring above the icy planet in the comfy and warm, if a bit cramped for his large frame, cockpit of an Antarian Starfighter. As an added bonus the flight suit he wore was even warmer, designed to keep a pilot toasty hot, or at least somewhat warm, in the void of space. The warmth was worth the slight discomfort, and besides, nothing exciting ever happened on Ilum.

"Patrol Charlie, This is Flight Command - Stand by for Orders." the voice came across the secured comms channel. "The Peacemaker has picked up a freighter with unknown transponder codes moving quickly towards the planet's surface. Intercept them and escort them to Orbit. Sending Coordinates now and we will continue to track them. If you are met with non-compliance you are to use lethal force. Do you copy, Patrol Charlie?" the voice questioned.

Twitching in annoyance at the sudden interuption of his contemplations on warmth, the irritation quickly passing when he realized he might actually see some action that day, Karshk eagerly responded.

“Patrol Charlie copiesss Peasssemaker, moving to intersssept.”

Throttling the engines to head to the coordinates, Karshk checked all systems. Weapons primed, missiles armed and loaded, systems optimum and shields activated. Coming up behind the Alabaster Escort Freighter, Karshk formed up loosely with the other patrol ship that had assumed position behind the Freighter. Nudging his fighter craft slightly down, as to be behind and under the Corellian freighter, Karshk began the process of locking on to the ships belly as he hailed the ship.

“Unidentified freighter, ssstate your identity and businesssss. Do not attempt to alter courssse. Failure to comply will resssult in the ussse of lethal forssse.”

Finishing off his warning, Karshk grinned as the targeting computer beeped to confirm a target lock. Flicking the safety off of the bright red missile launch button, he let his thumb hover over it as he waited for a response from the freighter. If the ship failed to comply with the directions he had given, the occupants would find themselves scattered all over deep space, not even making it to Ilum’s orbit.

 

[Black Noise]

One of the things Ari-Ani loved about being the Director of Security at Czerka was the lack of her being a public figure. The R&D Director went to meetings, Voren made speeches over the holonet, and Ari, well, she stood in the corner and shouted at people. When you were shouting obscenities at armed Czerka mercenary personnel, people tended to look the other way and pretend you weren't there. As was well known, if you had the balls to yell at a grizzled, cutthroat 'veterans' of wars you shouldn't know about, then you made damn sure that you were the scariest mother kriffer in the room.

Ari-Ani was used to being the scariest mother kriffer in the room, so dressing up as a meek Jedi Padawan now was certainly outside of her comfort zone. Standing behind the 'aged Ithorian,' Ari-Ani fidgeted in her light brown padawan robes, finding it hard to stay comfortable with all her weapons and grenades expertly hidden beneath the robes, fiddling with the 'padawan braid' that draped down in her long mess of jet black hair as she remarked, "Master, this is just like 'Temple' back on Ruusan, isn't it?"

Ah, the 'Temple' on Ruusan, back when Ari-Ani first met Invidia. Ari hadn't always worked with Czerka, she served most of her life after the Sith as a mercenary. She had Invidia had been hired, along with fifteen other Mercenaries and Kage Warriors, to 'investigate' a tomb on Ruusan. After thoroughly 'investigating' Invidia had decided that the tomb could never been seen again and enlisted Ari-Ani's help in destroying the entire thing, as well as eliminating all other mercenaries. They alibied each other out to their boss and got paid the excess from their teammate's 'tragic accidents.'

It was horrible, and very profitable, Ari loved it. Now, when Invidia requested a bit of extra help, Ari saw it both as an opportunity to assist Czerka as well as have fun with an old friend. Naturally, she jumped at her chance. As she stood next to her friend, she noticed the communications console beeping once, and decided to touch it. The system lit up, and she spoke over the broadcaster, replying to hails.

"Uh, is this thing on? This is the first time I've heard it beep and someone is threatening me, what the kriff guys! Has anyone even been trying to contact us? Whoever the hissy boy is, this is the first time we've heard any voices. What's going on?"

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo sat behind the sticks of the freighter and pulled back on the lever to his right, once more turning the stars of the galaxy at large from streaks of white back into the pinpricks of white against the black background of the galaxy. Ahead was Ilum. It was very... white. And barren looking. Somehow, everywhere he went for the Sith seemed to follow the same general theme. It was barren. Never the tropics. Was there no tactical positions in the tropics?

He brought the ship in at a very shallow angle, pulling up on the controls as he approached "Landing Zone One." They had come in on the opposite side of the planet from their landing zone and so his angle toward the planet was much smaller than normal as he prepared to slingshot his way around the planet. He'd made no attempt to be stealthy as they had no intention of confrontation. They were just peaceful surveyors, here for a mining expedition. Well, that charade wasn't to last.

Any hope that they had of making to the planet without confrontation melted away as a smaller ship appeared on his scanners. Screw this crap, I'm out. He immediately set the nav computer to work on coordinates out. He didn't want a fight. Just wanted some crystals.... ain't happening. The official hail came a moment later and he knew that this wasn't going to work. As his "spirited" compatriot berated the fighter pilot - and partially understandably so, though it was no shock that this was the response - his eyes flitted over to the computer to his right.

Nope, not happening. I am not going to get in a dogfight today.

Coordinates set.

Thanks, Vicky. With his extremely shallow approach, the nose of the ship was already almost pointed over the horizon of the planet and a slight nudge made it so. With a pull of the handle - and without letting his partner finish her raging sentence - he pulled back on the lever and the stars once again shot back into streaks.