Open The Haradan

[Levik Karn]

[OOC: Thread is based on Raxus Breakout. All free to join as help or opposition]

THE HARADAN​

"Most of the escapees were Ex-Sith, those who had chosen to fight the new Imperial Doctrine but failed. The rest were the worst of the worst, scum and filth who should have seen the end of the blaster instead of being housed by Imperial tax money. Fighting these kinds of people in close quarters was going to be bloody without the right tools and Wodan and his Knights were the only people in the Imperium which had the tools to deal with this."

Although it had seemed a lifetime ago by now, there had been a pre-Empire Sith Warlord who had gone by Darth Asminys. His invasions hadn't all gone to plan, him proving to be more versed in personal combat than in planning out long campaigns to combat the more civilized and better-defended planets. When it came to harassing the shipping lanes, however, Darth Asminys possessed a pirate fleet that did not have its equal at the time. They were all trained in the Ossein way of the Jazaq Yassa. They were all trained by Ben Noy, known better as the Captain of the Haradan.

Ben of the Haradan, known by his imperial file as 'Ben Haradan' for convenience's sake had been captured during the failed assault on Ossus. He had reportedly been swayed by the Jedi Grandmaster to betray the Sith and had subsequently been imprisoned in Raxus after the surprise invasion of Ossus later that same year. For years he had wasted away in that prison, until recently...

While the prison break itself had been orchestrated primarily by Sith loyalists, some of Haradan's former crew had come in to rescue Ben from his cell. "Just a pirate" meant he wasn't a priority to send the destruction-hungry Imperial Knights after.. so, as usual, hunting down pirates befell to the Imperial Peacekeepers..

AGAMARIAN MOUNTAINS - 0900LT

Lieutenant Karn slurped in the warm contents of his rations pack as he watched the blip on his personav remain steady just to the north. "Alright, seems we found their hideout-" a few satisfied grunts from his subordinates later and Levik swallowed down another mouthful of rations. "As long as we keep them from the skies," because no one wanted to deal with the nomadic Ossein in a dogfight. These people were highly skilled and highly crazy. "-we have a shot to get this traitor-" he means Ben Haradan, "-in alive."

JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE PEACEKEEPERS - 0900LT

The weequay's eyes betrayed his worry as he looked at the frail and extremely malnourished image of his once esteemed captain. "Ben, we can't just go to the Kowakian Devil's last known location." the Ossein Fleet was sure to keep them safe, just as their Jedi allies most likely would. "The Haradan needs repairs. Raxus Defense Cannons got it bad."

The old and frail captain -Noy in their own language- shook his head as violently as his weakened body could bear. "These aren't Sector Rangers, Mon. We're not safe planetside on any planet." The hoarsily given warning send a chill through the spines of the present Ossein. Something about their captain being scared, hopelessly so, was strange and new to them. They had rescued the right man, right? Had the Empire tortured out his very spirit?

 

[Levik Karn]

AGAMARIAN MOUNTAINS - 0910LT

The binoculars gave Lieutenant Karn a good look of the YZ-775 Medium Transport that the pirates had tried to hide from orbital view. It was matched the description of the Haradan almost to the smallest detail, something he would at some point have to give the intelligence division of the Imperial Security Bureau their due credit for. "Get four men," he told the sergeant kneeling next to him, "and get the anti-air missile ready just in case." It was a rather large and cumbersome launcher, but one missile fired from it would render a medium transport like that useless and make it highly likely to crash in an Agamarian field a few clicks away from their location. Lieutenant Karn couldn't afford the pirates escaping. Not if he wanted to become a Commander at some point.

Lifting the binoculars from his eyes, Levik rose from his kneeling position and motioned for his most senior officer to ready the men. "Blaster to stun. Maybe they can tell us who is responsible for the security breach at the Raxus prison."

JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE PEACEKEEPERS - 0910LT

Ben's teeth hurt and seemed to wobble in his mouth as he suck on the liquid ration pack his quartermaster had just handed him. Life in an imperial high-security prison had been utter torture and for some reason they had kept him alive. No doubt to use him against the Jedi Order at some point, or perhaps to make an example of him to other Lieutenants aiming to betray the Empire.

"I still think we should get the kriff out of here," he repeated, but the weequay would hear none of it. He was looking at a datapad showing the progress of the repairs to the Haradan and felt comfortable their short delay wouldn't end up hurting them, or take so much time that the Imperials would be able to catch up in their -doubtful- pursuit. "Relax, Ben. Those Imperials are busy chasing down Sith nowadays. They won't bother with the Ossein."

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera had enlisted the help of the Ossein Fleets to send aid to ruined worlds, and in that process, she had learned of one they called 'Ben Noy.' Perhaps Hera should have learned of this one from another source, but that was not the case. It was the Ossein, no one else, who spoke to Hera of their lost captain. It was for that reason the Jedi found herself here on this world searching for Ben Noy.

The prison breakout was naught but a well-timed coincidence.

This was an imperial world, and Hera was aware of the implications of a Jedi showing up here on this planet in particular. Despite her boldness and wild personality, Hera was not entirely a fool. Her face was covered by layers upon layers of cloth and bandages, her hands and fingers as well, as if she were but a poor traveling leper. Her long hair, red dye removed, was closely braided and tucked away beneath her cloaks. Her green armor, caked in mud and covered well by traveling robes and clothes, could not even be distinguished unless someone was very close to her. Finally, her lightsabers were concealed in little cases strapped to her back beneath her clothes. In her hands, she held a E-11 Blaster Rifle to complete her wandering look.

She knew exactly where to head due to her connections with local mercenaries and pirate groups. It was then, at 0910LT, Hera approached the hidden place where a YZ-775 transport had been hidden. Her approach had been hidden by her own skills and concealment through the Force, but stepping out now into the light, she would announce her presence by speaking.

"Please, everything is, in madness. May I accompany you?" Her voice was soft as she plead with the men she could see through her blackened goggles, the Weequay and the emaciated Human. She had a thought that this human might be her Ben Noy, but the torture and cruelty of the Imperials had left him in a state where she could not immediately tell.

@Eccles

 

[Levik Karn]

Moments after Hera had suddenly appeared nearby, multiple men and women of various species -the Ossein didn't really see species- approached her with rifles and pistols drawn. The weequay, too, pulled out his pistol in a surprised and less-than-efficient way. "Who are you!?" he gasped, "How did you find us!?"

The silence was cut by the low chuckle coming from behind the weequay, "hehehe," Ben Haradan's voice was weak, but his typical madness in the face of danger, which had always inspired his men, hadn't seemed to be one of the things the torture sessions had managed to remove. "One is always welcome among the Ossein," the old human gestured towards a nearby crate on which the mysterious arrival could take a seat and explain herself. "But, Ben.. she-" the weequay protested but was quickly waved off, "Cheap rifle, green armor. Doesn't scream Imperial to me."

"But if she is, then-" again the protests were disregarded and by now the crew of the Haradan were lowering their blasters, "-if she is, then she won't be alone and it's too late anyway." The old pirate captain raised the ration packed to his mouth and sucked the warm wet contents into his mouth as he waited for the newcomer to introduce herself and her intentions.

Meanwhile Lieutenant Karn and his squad of Imperial Peacekeepers had begun their slow descent. They did their best to stay low and out of view from the pirate's hiding place. Levik was sure that the green armored woman that had just walked up to their position was the outer guard returning to the ship for imminent departure. That had forced them to move on the pirates right away and up their timetable, so to speak.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera did not speak as the Weequay pulled his weapon. While the persona of the sick traveler would not have reacted either, Hera was personally in no danger. Then, of course, the weak-looking man spoke up in her defense. As the weak man's justification for Hera not to be an enemy came forth, the Weequay let slip his name, 'Ben.'

'So this is Ben Noy, it must be,' Hera thought, then, her attention and focus immediately shifted off toward a nearby mountain just to the north of their location. Danger, her mind screamed, Imperials, logic dictated. They did not have much time. Reaching out with a bandage-wrapped hand, she grasped Ben's shoulder gently and whispered, "They are coming. Time to go. Let us flee." Then, stepping away from Ben, Hera pointed her blaster off toward the mountainside.

Without warning, she began firing in the direction of Lieutenant Karn. While it was unlikely for any of her shots to hit, Hera was not the greatest of markswomen, she wanted the Imperials to know that someone knew of their presence. If nothing else, it would light a fire under their asses to move faster or hunker down and try to take potshots at the vessel.

At this distance, they were safe from all but the most dedicated of sharpshooters, and if the Imperials decided to move closer then Hera would become their biggest problem very fast. Hopefully, her newfound friends would take the hint and get their ship ready. As Hera said, it was time to go.

@Eccles

 

[Levik Karn]

Suddenly blasterfire came from the pirate's hideout. It was too erratic and the direction of the shots were too far apart for aimed shots, so for a second Lieutenant Karn signalled his men to keep going. It wasn't until more shots came from the hideout, from different parts of the opening and clearly well-aimed at that, that the Imperials were forced to seek cover among the rocks. "How for Kriff's sake!" Levik groaned as he placed his rifle on a rather large rock to steady his own aim. At this distance the Imperials were the better shot by far. They were better trained and had far better equipment than any pirate crew out there. Unfortunately this wasn't a standoff. Levik knew that the pirates only took potshots to delay them and buy time for the Haradan's departure.

Meanwhile the old pirate turned in the direction Hera shot at and gave a short signal that prompted the others to join in her efforts. One after the other, the pirates confirmed to see and recognize the armor of the Imperial peacekeepers. Ben's heart sank, but he seemed grateful to the stranger. "Who are you?" he asked Hera, who had yet to introduce herself despite more than likely just saving him and his crew.. well, she had given them an opportunity to get away in time. Which was invaluable. He shot a sharp look at the weequay and nodded towards the ship, "Get the Haradan ready, quickly," at the last word his exhaustion became apparent again.

Lieutenant Karn anticipated for the ship's departure and opened his commline with the unit above, "Ready the launcher. The ship's departure might be imminent." If he couldn't bring in the pirate alive, he would make sure he'd be dead just the same.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera slung her rifle over her shoulder as the pirates overtook firing at the Imperials. Wordlessly, she began ushering Ben toward the Haradan with nothing more than a grin across her few visible features. Patting him on the back as she practically shoved him aboard his own vessel, she remarked, "A friend, one whose Order doesn't forget those who do right by them. Now go, survive! I'll make sure you make it out of the atmosphere."

Then, without another word, Hera flipped Ben a salute and ran toward the pirates firing at the Imperials. She took a position behind a rock where she had a reasonably clear view of the Imperials when she peaked out at them and a very clear view of the vessel. Hera knew they had to have something up their sleeves to prevent the vessel from getting very far, the Imperials wouldn't chase the ship then not have a way to shoot it down.

With this in mind, she gathered the Force to herself. She would not let them shoot down the Haradan, she would see to it that Ben was able to get out of here. A deep calm overtook her mind as the energies coalesced inside of her, Joy and Rage pushed aside for that deep, terrifying, emptiness from which she drew her true strength. Ben would escape this world.

No matter what.

@Eccles

 

[Levik Karn]

The old pirate seemed to understand instantly and his brow softened, "Tell the old gal," he grinned as he said it, remembering that the much younger-looking Grandmaster was actually much older than him, "Thanks." his word lingered, its meaning not only meant in earnest but radiated a warmth not usually found in former pirates indentured to Sith warlords like Asminys and Caelestis. He was redeemed long ago, by the Grandmaster herself, and now the Force has send a Jedi to rescue him in his time of need. No, not rescue him, but his ship and its foolishly impulsive crew that had tried to save him from that Raxus prison only to walk to their doom against Imperial Peacekeepers.

The weequay helped Ben up the ramp and the pirates quickly all boarded while the engines were already warming up and readying for take off.

Meanwhile Commander Karn waited for the potshots to become less frequent and then signalled for his men to continue their advance, "On them! Now!" He ran from cover to finish the final descent and get a clear flat route towards the hiding place of the starship. "Fire at will!" he fired his rifle towards the ship's cockpit, but even now its shielding was active and he watched in frustration how the bolts of plasma disappated on contact. There was no other choice, the shipkiller was necessary..

As the ship took off and gained altitude, it came in range and view of the missile launcher on top of the ridge. "Commander Karn, we have it in view. On your order."

Levik stopped running and turned to follow the ship's ascend with his eyes. He didn't like it that it had to come to this, but orders were orders and these men were pirates. "Lieutenant. You're green to fire."

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera grinned as Ben spoke to her. Hera grinned as he made his way up the ramp and into his vessel. Hera grinned as the Haradan slowly began warming up and taking off the ground. Hera grinned as the blaster fire rained about her like a sporadic ocean spray. And Hera grinned as the anti-air missile fired from the Imperial position. There was no joy behind those eyes, but that terrifying smile remained all the same.

The missile would not travel far before being snatched out of the air by invisible hands. To the untrained eye, it would appear as if the missile had a major malfunction and exploded far, far too early. But the trained eye would be able to clearly recognize the distinct traces of the Force in what had happened. In the split second before the missile exploded, it had stopped mid-air, then imploded on itself as though it had been crushed.

Hera, putting back on her blackened goggles and retreating away, laughed quietly to herself. The Imperials would not have enough time to sight and fire a second missile before the Haradan cleared the atmosphere. Even if they did, Hera was not out of range of stopping another. Perhaps for a weaker force user, such a feat would be difficult, if not impossible. But Hera Albion was no weak Force user, she was a Jedi Councilor.

Cloaking herself in the energies of the Force, erasing her presence, she disappeared once again into the rocks.

@Eccles

 

[Levik Karn]

There was a moment of disbelief when Levik watched the rocket halt in the air and then prematuraly detonate. He barely registered the chatter on the comms, but when he did it had been the fourth time his men had requested for orders, "Commander?" and the Haradan was just breaking the clouds and disappearing from view. How had the pirates managed to escape him? Why did that rocket misfire in such a strange way?

"Check the surroundings," he heard himself reply, "All units, Investigate and get me their intended destination." but he knew it was a futile order and so did the others. Ben Haradan had escaped their grasp, on an Imperial world after already succesfully escaping the best-guarded prison in the Empire. Who was this Ossein that he could manage all that and why were his men so fiercely loyal to him?

Kriff. They wouldn't find anything to continue their investigation and track the Ossein ship. They wouldn't find Hera, either. All of it was a mission failed and a smudge on Levik's already tarnished record.

/end thread
@Black Noise