Train 28 - Rebellion Express [Archive]

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Kyran O'Hurn

Jan 21st, 2011, 12:28:28 PM

It had been about two months since his release from Dorn Force and promotion to Master Gunnery Sargent. To Kyran though, it felt longer than that. It had been a whirlwind of a first month, convincing the brass that a unit like his was not only needed but a valuable asset to them. Eventually they had come around, though most of the higher ups were still not too happy with the arms-length nature of Kyran’s new four man team. But as Kyran had explained it to them… Sometimes it was better for the chain of command not to know what has to be done to get the desired results. He knew from his past experiences that a general’s favourite term was ‘plausible deniability’. He didn’t know exactly what factor it was that finally convinced them to allow him to put together his team, code named ‘Wolfpack’, nor did he really care.

Once he had permission to form his team, it had been another week for him to go through the personnel files of all the Pathfinders and pick out the NCO’s that he wanted. It was a shame to pull senor and accomplished NCO’s from the front line units, but he needed the best, and besides he wanted three, not thirty, the forces wouldn’t be hurt too much from their departure.

With his team selected they headed out into the galaxy to start hunting. The set up was simple. Command had given them a slightly modified YT-1930 with two pilots who belonged to the special operations command and who now reported directly to Kyran. On board the freighter the interior had been filled with what looked like regular cargo containers. While some of the containers were filled with generic cargo that would pass inspection, several of the containers were marked ‘hazardous material’. The markings were nothing more than to keep the typical inspector from opening them, as there was actually no cargo in those containers at all. Instead the containers were outfitted for specific reasons to assist with their mission. One was a communications suite, another a weapons locker, another a makeshift medical suite and a couple others that had other less specific roles that could be used when needed.

Their mission was a simple one. To operate 95% off the grid from the regular military structure and go after the targets that were in the grey area between what Intel would handle themselves and what the military at large would deal with.

They had already been out on one such mission. Removing a low level but annoying pirate who had been raiding transports carrying supplies that would have eventually made their way into the rebellions hands. It had taken a couple of weeks to track him down, but after asking the right people, the right questions, in the right way, they had found their target and removed him, along with several of his associates who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They had been on their way to start their next assignment when new orders had come in. They were to divert to Delle on the Perlemian Trade Route. The message said that they were temporarily assigned to another branch of the rebellion and that they were to their contact at the Delle spaceport. To Kyran it had not been hard to read between the lines and guess that they were going to be assigned to a rebel intelligence operation.

And so that’s how he had come from two months ago being a part of Dorn Force, to now sitting on a crate outside of the YT-1930 waiting for their contact to show up before the spaceports inspectors got bored and wanted to do a random sweep of their ship.

Looking down at his watch one more time Ky signed before rubbing his face with his hands, he hated waiting.

Tavish Laird

Jan 21st, 2011, 09:17:53 PM

Tavish stood on O'Hurn's left, slouching his tall frame against a rounded column built into the spaceport wall.

Fingers to his lips, the Petty Officer First class and hand-picked member of the newly formed 'Wolfpack" used the faithful ruse of biting his fingernails and looking bored to veil what he was actually doing - scouring the scene before him with a practiced and calculating eye. With a background in procurement of involuntarily disclosed information (or Interrogation, for the plebs), Laird had a gift for seeing things others often didn't and an eye for detail could often reveal motives and intentions not yet obvious.

A busy spaceport was a challenge - so many individuals coming and going, so many noisy distractions to steal attention and clutter what was relevant - but Tavish was up to it. He scanned the area methodically, quickly filtering what he saw and either noting or discarding those details according to their level of threat or non-importance.

One wouldn't know it to look at him, but Laird was an excited man. This assignment to the Wolfpack was a dream realised. He couldn't believe his luck when he had been
approached about it, but O'Hurn had assured him that luck had nothing to do with it. There was work to be done and he, along with a few others, were the right men to do it. He would get plenty of chance to prove it. Damn, that had been a good day.

O'Hurn checked his watch again.

"Not here yet" Tavish murmured over his knuckles while keeping up the charade of nervous eye-darting that partnered so well with a nail biter. It made Laird look sketchy and a bit of a creep, but that worked too as few would feel inclined to casually approach him in conversation which might result in missed reconnaissance. Laird added dryly, only hinting at humor, "If I know Intel spooks, they'll be just moments too late."

Estelle Russard

Jan 22nd, 2011, 03:51:14 PM

Dressed in a brown leather bomber jacket and dark cargo pants, a canvas duffle slung over her shoulder, Russard made her way through Delle Spaceport as comfortably as any frequent traveller might. Moving with an easy progress, yet with a slight unfamiliarity of the surroundings themselves, she worked her way through the crowd to the assigned connect, her unhurried but purposeful gait bringing her to her desired point: the YT-1930 and her loitering crew, two o'clock and fifty feet to her right.

Estelle recognised O'Hurn, his dossier photograph doing him justice, but he had not seen her yet. Perched atop a crate and working hard to stifle his impatience, Russard hoped that was a good sign, assuming him eager to get their mission underway. She was eager too, her own reasons probably as far removed from O'Hurn's as any could be. For Estelle, this trip was personal and the timing was practically providential according to The Black Man, who had said as much when ordering her to divert temporarily from the Toxicity Operation and be Intel's liason with the newly formed Wolfpack on this current mssion. Her partners, Kazaar and Mili, knew it too - things had been getting tense, but they had the good grace (and better sense) than to say so. Russard collected her straying thoughts and strode in the direction of O'Hurn. The man beside him straightened at her approach and she caught both men's eyes, for only the breifest moment, flicker recognition of her as their contact.

"You all set?" she asked, forstalling any introductions til a later time - say, when they were safely under way and out of earshot of any curious listeners. "You got the tariff papers in order?" Being detained by Port Tax Officials would not be an impressive way to start and her tone implied as much.

Kyran O'Hurn

Jan 26th, 2011, 01:21:41 PM

Ky gave her the once over. Hard to tell if someone had what they needed to make it out of a tough situation thirty seconds into the first time that you meet them, but something about the woman standing in front of him, told him that she could hold her own.

"Everything is already taken care of. We have permission to leave any time. We were just waiting on you."

Ky stood and stretched his arms out slightly before nodding toward the loading ramp for the ship. Once they had all made their way to the top he slammed his fist against the large button to raise the ramp before walking over to the comm system and messaging the flight deck.

"We're done. Get us off this rock."

Even before he had finished saying it he could feel the engines start to rumble.

Leading Laird and the woman to the wardroom/briefing room room he motioned to the chairs around the table.

" I don't know what they told you about us, but we're not exactly big on formal military protocol, so I won't waste your time with rank. I'm Kyran O'Hurn, leader of the Wolfpack. This is Tavish Laird. You'll meet the other two at some point."

He stopped and didn't wait long for her to interject her name into the introduction, mostly because he didn't think that she was actually going to give him her real name but some cover, and that he wasn't too interested in.

"Before we get down to what the actual mission is, do you have a destination that I can give our pilots?"

Estelle Russard

Jan 28th, 2011, 10:09:50 PM

Russard allowed the duffle to slide off her shoulder and land in a heap on the floor while lowering herself, in much the same manner, into a chair.

"We're to go to <a href=http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Loronar> Loronar </a> in the Colonies" she replied without preamble and speaking to O'Hurn.
"In particular, to a<a href=http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Loronar_Corporation> Loronar Corporation</a> Manufacturing site - 'Ronar Developments'. You can call me Ophelia" she offered, breaking her aloofness, if only slightly. "It's code but that doesn't really matter does it? Ronar is not the target, but we must go there first." She paused, allowing Kyran to give their destination to their pilot.

"Your team.." she then asked, casting a dry glance in Laird's direction, "How good are they?"

Tavish Laird

Jan 29th, 2011, 06:26:48 PM

Pretty Damn, Laird wanted to say, not liking her attitude much. Who was this skirt anyway?

He probably wouldn't have taken offence if it had been a male addressing them - a guy expected a bit of piss from the G-suits, but just just look at this little girl, krasst. Just the right pressure below her trachea there, and Laird could put lights out, night-night to miss frelling, O-fracking-phelia. No problem.

Sitting reversed on his chair with his arms folded over its back, chin shot forward, Tavish openly regarded the newcomer and allowed a small measure of hostility to weight his eyes, but otherwise, remained silent. The question was not his to answer. O'Hurn'll sort her out.

Kyran O'Hurn

Jan 30th, 2011, 03:55:54 PM

As he walked over to the comm panel to let the flight deck where they were going he wasn't sure if he was happy or apprehensive about their target. He was getting his wish of taking the fight right to the Empire, but a 5 person team going to Loronar was akin to one putting their head in the dragon's mouth. He made sure to tell the flight deck that they hadn't determined the insertion technique and to not come into the system too close to the planet.

Taking a seat at the head of the rectangular table Ky returned his attention to "Ophelia" and her question.

"My team and I are the best at what we do. All of us are NCO Pathfinders, though with different specialties that allow us to be a balanced team. We can get into those during the planning. There are only two things that we are all good at, jumping out of perfectly good spacecraft and killing bucketheads."

He paused for a moment.

"But you already know that of course. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here for you to ask that question to. So with that taken care of, maybe we should get down to business. Person, place or thing?"

He wasn't starting a game of 20 questions, it truly mattered what they were after, in how they would approach accomplishing their mission. Though, given the location, Kyran already had a pretty strong idea of how they would be starting the mission.

Estelle Russard

Feb 1st, 2011, 09:54:44 PM

O'Hurn tuned his reply nicely, free of intimidation or overt defensiveness. A confident man, with a confident team. Well, that was good news.

"We are to strike a train - or part of a train, to be more specific" Russard answered. "It is a transport of droid soldiers, protoypes of modified xenograft technology which was begun in the days of Palpatines rising and only recently successfully realised into a squad of functioning super-soldiers. They are a new type of weapon that has been developed by Loronar, a form of hybrid if you will. The initial technology was stolen from the Nemoidians sometime during the Clone Wars. There is to be a presentation of these weapons at one of the Empire Naval Academy's, it doesn't matter which one - the soldiers are never to arrive."

Russard paused to give weight to her last statement before continuing. "The train, Ollimar Run 28, is a rapidpass hovertrain - rapid being an understatement and the only way to sabotage it and destroy its cargo is to hit it between point A: Ronar Shipyards and Point B: its destination at Loronar Central Sky Port. While its in transit, in other words"

Laird made a disparaging noise.

"Precisely" Estelle managed with a half-smile. "Which brings us to why we need to go to Ronar Developments first," she sat a little straighter in her seat, "From there we will obtain the tools necessary for us to catch the number 28 train" Looking at Kyran, she stated more than asked, "You can guess why..?"

She would explain if necessary, but somehow, she was confident O'Hurn would have a good idea. If any of the things she'd read of him were true, he would outline the first stage of their mission, more or less, as it was to play out.

Tavish Laird

Feb 1st, 2011, 10:04:28 PM

"There are only two things that we are all good at, jumping out of perfectly good spacecraft and killing bucketheads"

O'Hurn got that right. Jumping out of ships Tavish did as his duty, killing bucketheads he did for the sheer joy of it. Although, what this Intel chick was talkin' about seemed a bit tricker than the usual rattle n'roll Laird was used to.

Still, they were gonna blow up a train, and didnt that sound like fun.

He didn't quite see the point in the field trip to Ronar was for, so he decided to just shut up and appear thoughtful instead of just plain slow.

Kyran O'Hurn

Feb 12th, 2011, 06:24:40 PM

Kyran noticed the slightly questioning look in Tavish's eye in relation to the Ronar component, but it made a bit of sense to Kyran. At least in the sense that he knew what Ronar was best known for, but he hadn't figured that it would would be a part of the overall plans.

"Jet packs..."

The inflection in his voice was half statement, half question.

"I take it by this, that you want to hit the train while it's underway rather then trying to get on board at the originating end and making something happen while it's on route?"

He paused for a moment to think about the Ronar aspect of things.

"Don't suppose you brought a layout of the Ronar complex with you?"

Estelle Russard

Feb 19th, 2011, 06:22:35 PM

Russard forwent congratulating O'Hurn on his educated guess and gave him the item he requested instead, reaching into her back pocket and leaning slightly forward, she handed him a data disk.

"Jet packs, rocket belts and the like" she confirmed, "Ronar is this Sector's premium manufacturer of such items. They are covetously sought after, and rightly so - I have seen them in action, powerful little units." Russard neglected to say where she'd seen them - her father's R&D wharehouse not having any place in discussion here. Russard Industries had once bid for the rocket pack technology but the development contract had, regrettably, gone to Ronar Developments. She quipped to Laird, "They fly like you've got a Reek strapped to your back and are about as easy to control"

O'Hurn initiated the data disk and a 3 dimensional image of the Ronar premises sprang from its center.

"Security there is good, but not infallible. We will have no problem getting in" Estelle declared. Kyran and Tavish studied the holoimage - the grounds were bordered on three sides by forrested terrain with the fourth girded by a river. There were electric fences, guard towers (which likely meant guard dogs as well) and both men recognized a radar-imaging conn tower, which translated to eyes everywhere. Both men surmised that Ophelia may be a woman given to a certain degree of understatement now and then.

"The tricky part" she added, "will be de-coupling the moving rail cars pre-detonation. We are to have no civillian casualties"

Tavish Laird

Feb 19th, 2011, 06:36:42 PM

"Collateral Damage" Laird said coldly, "It's the way of the Empire isn't it? The Alliance would be better to worry less about not-so-innocent bystanders and more about their field operatives who risk life and limb for the cause"

His words were bitter and indicitive of a mind-set that prevailed despite a life of discipline and prestige from serving within the Pathfinders' ranks.

Tavish felt O'Hurn's eyes on him and dropped his own wilful glare.

"You got any kind of a plan for getting us in, Opheeelia?" Laird asked, his effort at contrition not quite being successful.

Kyran O'Hurn

Feb 21st, 2011, 11:57:38 AM

"Civillians?" Kyran swore under his breath. Of course there would be civillians, why wouldn't there be civillians, wouldn't want to make a job too easy.

Putting that out of his mind for the moment one problem at a time he told himself. Leaning back in his chair Kyran crossed his arms over his chest and focused on the 3D layout in front of him.

A vertical approach made the most sense. And with the towers it would have to be at night. It appeared the towers were set up with the usual corporate oversight of having all of their spotlights focused outwardly. So that only left one issue...

"Gaurd optics?"

His mind continued to work. The dogs were a problem. Taking them out was a possibility, but not easy, which meant again they would have to think vertically.

Slowly a plan began to form in his mind.

Estelle Russard

Feb 25th, 2011, 08:21:50 PM

"Where the guard optics are concerned, I suggest a diversion scenario - get Security to focus on one threat with the left hand, while taking the jetpacks with our right."

Estelle offered no plan on how to do this, nor on how to get into the grounds in the first place, despite Laird's question. It was evident that she expected Kyran and his team to come up with something.

"Our attack on the transport will come hard on the heels of breaching Ronar. We cant allow them any time to recover or alert Train 28 of a possible attack. We hope they will not be quick to see the threat, but must assume that they will."

What was the adage? Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

The diversion will have to be big. And time consuming.

"We will have very little time to aquaint ourselves with the equipment." she continued crisply and reached over, pressing the edge of the datadisk with her index finger so that it changed the image from the Ronar schematic to one of their jetpack prototypes. The design and capability details was listed in point order along with it. "You will need to familiarize yourselves with these now as there will be no time later"

Tavish Laird

Feb 25th, 2011, 08:44:53 PM

"Peice of cake"

Laird was carefully making note of the propulsion/weight ratio's of the packs, imagining how one would compensate for windspeed or drag depending on the external variables of weather and flight altitude - and, personal body weight. So not exactly a peice of cake..

"The navigation and manuevering are all done from the hand grips?"

"Thats correct" Russard said.

Tavish looked to O'Hurn. "They'll likely be extremely sensitive and, I bet, a sweetheart to coax along." Laird smiled wryly, "We coulda used these in Morawi.."
Laird used a private reference that Russard would be deliberately excluded from and he was somehow pleased by that.

"I can mix up something that will draw the dogs together and put lights-out for them for a while" he offered, wishing to avoid hurting the animals. People, he had no problem hurting at all.

Kyran O'Hurn

Mar 7th, 2011, 03:16:14 PM

"Okay the dogs are yours." Kyran looked at the plans again and watched as the image slowly spun around over the hologram generator.

"Do you have a map of the area?" His question was of course directed at Ophelia, to which she nodded the affirmative before reaching forward and pressing a button on the datapad allowing the scene to expand from a close up of the Loronar facility to an expanded view of the area immediately surrounding the area.

Studying it carefully Ky tried to pick out exactly what he was looking for. And then he saw it and a slight smirk pulled at the edges of his lips. Reaching behind him he activated the comm unit to the rest of the ship.

"Callum, can you come to the wardroom, need you to look at something."

While he waited for the other member of their team he studied the map again, only to be interrupted a few minutes later by the entrance of the third member of The Wolfpack.

"Ophelia, this is Sargent Callum Finlay. Aside from jumping out of spacecraft and killing bucketheads, he's pretty handy with explosives and other articles of destruction and sabotage."

He waited until Callum nodded his greeting to Ophelia before motioning him over to the display. Kyran knew that the lanky NCO generally let his work do the talking for him, and so was not surprised by the lack of verbal greeting.

"Cal, we're infiltrating a facility here," he pointed out the Loronar facility. "We need a diversion to keep the guards attention focused outwardly. I'm thinking we use this building here," Kyran pointed to another building about 2 blocks directly in front of the main gate, "to draw their attention. Maybe even draw some of them away from our target to help out. You think you could turn this into a bonfire and make it look like an accident?"

The quiet member of the team studied the plans for a few moments before finally speaking.

"Should be simple enough to do, a few crossed wires in the right spots and some sort of common accelerant 'accidentally' left open by the workers and you have yourself an industrial accident."

"Good. How long would you need?"

"A day, maybe 2. Need to scout it and find out what accelerant wouldn't stand out, purchase the supplies, the usual. It'll take me a couple hours after the workers go home to set it up right."

"Okay I'll get you a day, and we'll be dropping sometime in the early morning so that's another half a day for you to get things ready on site."

Cal nodded before looking at the layout one last time and then heading back to whatever he had been doing before Kyran had called him.

Kyran for his part returned his attention back to Ophelia.

"I can't risk having us land drop off Cal, take off again and then return for the drop and pick up afte the mission. We're going to need to arrange some alternative transportation for him to get on planet. Any suggestions on where to find some transportation that might not ask too many questions?"

Estelle Russard

Mar 25th, 2011, 01:28:43 PM

Estelle followed the dialogue between O'hurn and Finlay and was satisfied that their approach was solid.

"There'll be no problem getting Finlay a vehicle" she said as the Sargent made his exit. "Loronar's Jade Moon (she brought up the image with another touch of the disk) - has a number of backwater outposts dotted on it where a ship can be purchased for anyone who has a tidy amount of credits and a minimal amount of questions."

She stood, "So, that puts Laird and Finlay on the ground and once they're done, they will rendevous back to wait for us here (she pointed to a location grid on the Jade Moon). "You and I will steal the jetpacks and then assault the target. I will set the charge while you have the task of separating the coupling link of the car from the rest of the train. Once set, your man will pick us up in this craft and we will meet up with the others at the grid co-ordinates."

Russard looked from Kyran to Tavish, her expression cool, yet unexpectedly transparent, "Is there anything I've missed?"

Tavish Laird

Mar 25th, 2011, 02:33:35 PM

"The 'tidy amount of credits' pops to mind" Laird quipped.

He expected the Alliance to foot the bill, because damned if they all had any creds just lying around the place to use. Be nice if just once they could do a job that brought them some sort of monetary profit in amongst all the laser-and blasterfire dodging. He'd occasionally thought of bringing that up, but O'hurn didn't really strike him as appreciating such a dirty little thought as that. Tavish would have to know him a little better than their shared past few jobs afforded before broaching the idea.

"I assume you'll be supplying that. Our Spec Force pay aint too great" he added dryly.

Kyran O'Hurn

Apr 27th, 2011, 05:40:15 PM

Kyran shook his head.

"Credits won't be a problem."

Laird, nor the rest of the crew, knew that the Wolfpack had been set up with a nice little off the books stipend for just such situations. Where the credits were coming from Kyran didn't ask, which was fine with him as whoever was holding the pursestrings didn't ask where the money went either. None of the team knew about it, only because they hadn't had to use it until now.

Kyran turned away from the others for a moment to call up to the bridge and tell them to head for the Jade Moon once they entered the Loranor system before turning back to the pair at the table.

"Okay we'll call Laird and Finlay the advance team, for this mission designated Wolf 1 and 2.

Ophelia and I will be the infiltration team, designated Hawk 1 and 2."

Again he paused and let the mission replay through his head.

"I think I'm good from my end. Just two questions for you. One... Any equipment that we wouldn't have that you need to pick up on the Jade Moon?"

He guessed that it was unlikely given the store of weapons and equipment hidden in the cargo containers on board the ship.

"More importantly though... You ever jump from a ship before? Either stratospheric or atmospheric?"

Ky resisted the urge to tell Laird to stow it as he could already see the mischevious grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. The ability to jump from a aircraft or spacecraft was not one shared by many, and most Pathfinders enjoyed revelling in the discomfort that most people felt when they found out they were about to jump for the first time.

Estelle Russard

May 4th, 2011, 01:27:30 PM

"Stratospheric - No" Estelle gave her frank response. "I expect you to teach me."

She was terrified of doing the jump, but that was neither here nor there. It was a necessary aspect of the plan and fear had no place in it.

Russard didn't dein to look at Tavish, she could already guess what he was thinking. She'd met men like him before - judging before knowing. Instead, she pressed a direct look at O'Hurn and went on.

"We have all we need aboard ship as far as hardware goes, I hear you're all well-equipped"

"We are" confirmed Laird, a little too solemnly.

"I hope you realise the seriousness of this mission" she rounded on Tavish, hating herself for sounding school-marmish and for allowing him to needle her. She was probably just tired, after all that had happened with her partners, with Cristobal. She could give herself that small grace, couldn't she?

She took a slow breath.
"If there are no more questions, I'd like to freshen up and get something to eat."

Tavish Laird

May 13th, 2011, 08:53:18 PM

Another female SpecOp without a sense of humor. Who knew?

"You wanna be holdin' on a little less tight when the time comes to ship-jump, Ophelia" Laird warned, lifting himself up out of his chair.

"I can show her to the crew quarters, if you like" he dutifully offered Kyran, but doing little to mask his lack of enthusiasm.

Kyran O'Hurn

May 14th, 2011, 08:41:52 PM

Kyran ignored Tavish's comments and nodded knowing that Ophelia would respond in kind if she so chose.

"Yes we're done here for the moment. I'm going to run through this once more and then get some rack time. We'll be at the Jade Moon in about 12 hours. We'll meet together for a final run through in 10."

He looked at Ophelia. "That work for you?"

Estelle Russard

May 22nd, 2011, 06:11:43 PM

It worked for her, certainly.

Ten hours was more than enough time to grab some food, some rest and make a standard progress report to <a href="http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/member.php?u=3747"> Othniel </a> and stilll allow some familiarization time with the jet packs. The last being the least desirable and the most necessary of the tasks on her list.

And that was where O'Hurn later found her, strapped into an unwieldy simulation apparatas and struggling to navigate herself - first up then down then levelling out and turning in what, she considered, was too generously labelled the simulation 'theatre '. Like flying a kite in a tubolift.

Russard landed heavily, both feet hitting the deck simultaneously with a jarring thud that reverbated up her spine, making her grimace.

"Any pointers would be appreciated, O'Hurn" she gritted out between compressed teeth. "Taking off is the easy part, Ive learned so far"

Kyran O'Hurn

Jun 4th, 2011, 04:17:18 PM

Kyran had gotten about 8 hours of sleep which in itself was a miracle. He never really slept well before a mission. He just couldn't turn off his mind off, instead he typically ran over the details again and again with his eyes closed until exhaustion finally overcame him.

He'd had the same idea has Ophelia in regards to getting some time in the simulator. It was a while since the last time he had used a pack, and while no two jet packs were ever the same, but the basics typically carried over, and so while the simulator that they had wasn't the exact match to the one they'd be flying, it would do to get some of the rust off.

He walked over to where she was using the sim and watched her last attempt before she landed hard and asked him for some pointers.

"It takes practice more then anything. Biggest key is to not over fly it. You have to use finess and finer movements. You might be going one way and feel like you need to steer back hard, but that will just send you flying out the other way. Use small control inputs. You can always add more inputs if you need to."

He paused not wanting to give her so much information that it would cause her to start over thinking every move.

Estelle Russard

Jun 25th, 2011, 02:18:24 PM

Russard 'ahh'ed her acknowledgement of Kyran's instruction and set herself to try again, keeping his advice in mind.

Her thoughts were set ahead on making adjustments to her steering technique, rather than on the current act of lifting herself into the air and a little unfocused pressure in her hands shot her upward in an alarming fashion.

O'hurn jumped back in surprise, his hand raised instinctively outward to arrest Estelle's ascent, but stopped short of grabbing hold on her ankle.

After a moment's unweildy aerobatics in which the Rebel Agent sailed first one direction overhead, and then back in the other, semi-spinning as she went, Estelle eventually brought herself under control. She glanced down to see O'Hurn's face tilted upward following her progress, his expression unreadable, yet she couldn't say she saw anything encouraging in his look. Even when Tavish, who'd just arrived, stepped up beside him to watch the display and had muttered something Russard couldn't hear, she saw no change in O'Hurn's gaze.

She took a few more turns, traversing back and forth and managing much better to make the slight adjustments that altered angle and, a few moments later, her decent. Landing almost in a whisper, her boots lightly touched onto the sim-room floor. Her success brought a smile to her eyes.

"I think that went much better, dont you?"

Tavish Laird

Jun 25th, 2011, 02:31:12 PM

As Russard maneuvered about overhead, Laird leaned to O'Hurn and with no hint of amusement in his voice, murmured, "She's gonna get us killed"

The rebel landed well enough Tavish noted, but wondered just how she would perform under the stress of a tactical operation, with the speed and unpredictability of real-life elements buffeting her about and assaulting her physically and mentally. He predicted not very well.

He held his tongue, though. Let O'Hurn spell it out for her, he was better at that sort of thing. Laird would just kick her ass out of here if it was up to him.

Kyran O'Hurn

Jul 30th, 2011, 08:34:30 PM

Kyran ignored Tavish. He knew that they were both well aware that it was on them to make sure that the Rebel Intel officer did not in fact get killed. Well as much as things were in their control.

"Better. Sure you'll have it with a few more practice flights."

Or so he hoped. Quietly he wondered to himself on whether they had any equipment on board that might be jury rigged to slave one jet pack to another. Though that carried with it it's own inherent risk.

No it was better that she fly her own jet pack and hope that the flight from the facility to the train would be without incident.

"Good afternoon lady and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking." Ky rolled his eyes at their pilots attempt at comedy. "We're about an hour from dropping out of hyperspace and making our way to the Jade Moon. I suggest you start making sure everything is buttoned up in case someone wants to take a look around."

Kyran walked over to a comm panel and acknowledged that he had heard the pilot, before returning to Ophelia and Tavish, and addressing Ophelia first.

"You can keep practicing, but we need to make sure that rig get's put back in the box before we land. Tavish, make sure you and Cal have all the gear you need and then make sure all of the containers are secured. I'll get you a credit chip that you can use once we land."

With that he turned and headed for the communications suite, which was located in one of the cargo containers in the cargo bay, and was also the only place on the ship with an encrypted data terminal that he could use to download the funds Tavish was going to need.

Estelle Russard

Aug 3rd, 2011, 08:56:19 PM

Jade Moon, Primary Terminus

"Not much to look at, is it?" Estelle remarked over Finlay's shoulder as he nosed their ship into docking bay "H17." The Port was industrial and utilitarian, always had been stemming from its days as a construction facility for the Galactic Empire. Framed by sagging durasteel girders and rusting loading platforms did nothing to inspire.

She looked back over at Kyran, a glance meant to reassure him, "We'll have no problem finding a ship. Further out though, not here close to port where scoundrels sell tin cans to the desperate and naive looking for a quick skip out."

Russard hoped she sounded confident and unconcerned. The Port was in poorer shape than even she'd been led to believe. She could only trust that her information had been legit. It would not be a good start to the mission if O'Hurn and his men lost faith in her before she'd even stepped off the ship.

"Garlan's Ravine.....we can get a ship there"

Tavish Laird

Aug 3rd, 2011, 09:13:11 PM

Laird straightened, satisfied from peering through the glass at terminal, that - yep, this was a crapheap.

He folded his arms tightly across his chest and looked at O'Hurn, speaking to Ophelia but looking pointedly at Kyran. "You sure about that?"

Kyran O'Hurn

Aug 3rd, 2011, 11:47:58 PM

Nothing came easy on these missions it seemed. He hoped that this one might actually repay them with something easier later on. Though he doubted it.

"We'll go to Garlan's. Can't be any worse then what we might find at this piece of crap."

He looked at Tavish. He could tell by the way that he was looking at him that he wanted to say something about Intel not having very much intel, but didn't want to hear it.

"We might be on a time-line, but I'm not willing to put a couple members of my team at risk. Not unless you want to fly whatever clunker we might find here into space?"

Estelle Russard

Aug 4th, 2011, 09:04:34 PM

Russard allowed her actions to be her reply as she released the de-barking ramp and picked up her small rucksack. No one would be flying any clunkers, any place. Not on her watch - tempting as Laird might make it.

"We can hop a hover-cab to Garlan's" she said slinging the pack over one shoulder. "Better bring guns, they're a twitchy lot, I hear"

Kyran O'Hurn

Aug 9th, 2011, 08:35:59 PM

Kyran nodded to her comment about weapons. He already had his DC-15s side arm blaster in its holster on his right thigh, but the comment made him wonder if he should bring anything heavier. Unfortunately the downside to that was more attention, but where they were going, it probably wouldn't be too out of place either.

On the other hand Tavish and Finlay would have their full equipment load-outs which likely included carbines, though that was up to them, and he hadn't asked. Either way Kyran decided that his DC-15s would be enough for him.

Turning to Tavish and Finlay he watched as they collected the last of their equipment.

"Make sure you take everything you need. You won't be coming back to the ship after we secure your ride."

Both men nodded, and Kyran turned to follow Ophelia down the ramp. His guard was up almost immediately, if they were going to attract any sort of attention, it was going to start now.

Tavish Laird

Aug 9th, 2011, 09:08:39 PM

Laird slung his own backback over his shoulder and scooped up a large duffle. Finlay mirrored the action and the two of them followed O'Hurn down the ramp.

As they exited the ship as a group, one could have thought a claxon had sounded by the amount of turned heads and craned necks that swung immediately their way. Curious eyes traced their progress as they made their way the length of the terminus towards the outside doors.

Tavish bristled as he felt familiar cold fingers of apprehension tingle down his spine.

"They never seen a good lookin' man before?" he drawled, standing to one side allowing his team mates to step out of the hangar and onto the street ahead of him.

Finlay made to whistle, but a hover cab adroitly pulled up infront of them, saving him the trouble.

"I mean, that was weird, right?" he asked as one by one they all got into the cab.

Estelle Russard

Aug 9th, 2011, 09:36:22 PM

"Garlan's Ravine" Russard instructed the driver before offering an explanation to her awaiting Wolfpack companions.

"Its not how good-looking you all are, its the fact that you are all able-bodied. The Jade Moon is known, in some circles, as a good place to indenture a laborer or two. Pilots are a particularly lucrative score here if one can get them. Suppliers can get top credit for them."

"Indenture? You mean slaves?" Tavish looked astonished. Or insulted. Estelle couldn't decide which.

"Yes, many men have just vanished off the grid after having landed here. We should keep our guard up."

"Our guard up...?" Laird was getting worked up, Estelle could see.

"There's no need to panick"

She turned to Kyran, as Laird developed a thick vein in the middle of his forehead.

"We'll be in and out of here before any sort of press-gang can trouble us" Estelle continued, "We are well armed. There's no need for alarm. Garlan's want to sell ships - it would reflect badly on them for future business if they play us falsely. We wont have a problem."

She spoke more confidently than she felt, but Estelle had learned that it was usually the way of things in most missions. Danger came in many forms and from varied sources. The pitfalls here on this moon were just a variation of the odds they fought against every day being a part of any Special Forces operation.

Kyran O'Hurn

Sep 15th, 2011, 09:17:46 AM

Kyran nodded. He didn't have anything to go off of but what she said, so while she could be saying what she was saying to convince herself that there was nothing to worry about as much as them, or there truly was nothing to worry about.

Either way, if there was something to worry about, he was sure that they had brought enough firepower between the 4 of them that the could handle anything that might come up. Though he did find that he was looking at the back of the driver's head with a bit more scrutiny and was keeping track a little more closely to where they were going for any turns that didn't quite make sense. Well as much as he could without knowing where they were going.

"Anything else we should know about before we get there?" He asked of Ophelia. "Either way, I'd like to get in and out as fast as possible. The longer we're on this rock the more chance that we are going to draw some unwanted attention that might get back to the surface."

Estelle Russard

Sep 24th, 2011, 03:36:27 PM

"The sale will be a quick affair. We'll make sure of that by not quibbling over price"

Estelle saw by his nod that Kyran appeared to have no problem with that.

"Having said that, never take the first craft offered. It's a well-known fact that Garlan's like to push their rubbish first and will get away with it if the buyer is a rube" she flicked an unnecessary look to Tavish.

The cab turned into a ramshackle works yard that sprawled four city blocks worth of littered ship frames and spare parts across its expanse.

"The space-worthy ships are in the back lot" Russard said, exitting the cab, "Let me do all the talking"

Tavish Laird

Sep 24th, 2011, 04:21:34 PM

Laird followed the small knot of his companions with an alert stride, sweeping their surroundings constantly with his eyes and the business end of his carbine. A skeevier place, he'd be hard pressed to recall. Every stack of twisted, rusted durasteel plating was a potential ambush point and Laird felt his neck muscles tighten in wariness. "We're like frelling skeets on parade, here" he groused, not liking this set up at all.

If he was honest, he was still feeling churlish about the whole possible press-gang scenario. Did anyone else feel a tad objectified, he wondered? Damn slavers - wouldn't that be about the most ignoble way to end a man's career. He imagined himself in a degrading neck collar and skimpy loin cloth, for some reason, and really felt the urge to blast something.

"Im not seeing any ships" he called to the backs of his friends heads.

As it turned out, he spoke too soon. The group took a sharp left and a yard full of spacecraft opened up, astonishing in the sheer amount of ships it harboured.

In front of this stunning array, playing sabacc at a battered round table, were two human males, a Chiss and a Trandoshan. To one side and slouching against a hydro-platform was a Gran and another human male, each lighting up a cigarra and arguing about the virtues of Zeltrons vs Twi'leks. Sitting on a stack of metal crates overseeing it all was a skinny red-head with tattoos running the length of her arms. She looked up as the four rebels approached. "That right there is far enough" she warned.

To a man, with the exception of the redhead, the Garlan's crew drew blasters from belts, coats or laps depending on where they were standing or sitting, and brandished them towards the newcomers.

Behind him, Tavish heard the unmistakeable hums of a blasters powering up. He was pretty sure, by the number of clicks and ooommms, and the shuffling of feet that there was a grand total of eight, maybe nine, weapons trained on them altogether.

Laird did a quick mental calculation and knew that he and O'Hurn were probably good for them all, but could not guarrentee a casualty-free outcome - especially if he used Ophelia, who brought them strolling into this mess, as a body-sheild like he'd like to..

Kyran O'Hurn

Oct 6th, 2011, 09:05:21 AM

Kyran saw and heard the same things as Tavish. He had figured nine, and factored in at least one more to make sure. There were at least the 4 who had been sitting in front of them when they walked in, and he had spotted movement off to his right that accounted for another. That left at least another 4 behind or to his left, and very likely another providing high cover, at least there should be another guy in high cover.

Holding his hands out to his side away from his side arm Kyran signalled both to his colleagues as well as the men in the shipyard that they were not an immediate threat.

"Is this how you great all your perspective clients?"

Kyran turned his head just slightly, not wanting to show that he was turning around to spot all of the men with weapons on them, but it was enough to spot another man standing off to the group's left. That left two, maybe three behind them, and another that had to be assumed to be elevated.

Very slowly and subtlety Kyran began moving his hands and fingers in a very deliberate pattern. The movements were so small that it would look just like normal unconscious movements to most, but for Tavish and Callum who were behind him it was a series of instructions on what to do if things went sideways. He indicated that Tavish was to take the guy to the right and then spin around to cover the rear right quadrant, Callum would do the same to the left. Kyran would take the four that they knew were in front of them.

He had no idea if Ophelia was brushed up on her Spec Ops hand signals, so he had to assume that she wasn't and did not include any assigned targets for her. If she could read his hands and knew what everyone else was doing then anyone she shot was just a bonus. Though hopefully that wouldn't be necessary. With the orders given he returned his attention to the men in front of him.

"All we want to do is buy a ship, and we're willing to pay what your asking for a decent ship."

He knew that he had basically just opened himself up to getting ripped off by the ship traders, but he'd rather pay an extra 10 or 20 percent if it avoided a gun fight.