The transport shuddered as it decelerated out of hyperspace. Havock glanced up briefly from her datapad to look out on of the small viewports at the now visible stars. It had been a long couple of weeks. RAIDERS were back on the trail of the Nymins Watchers, after being called back to base after they let the Viceroy get himself kidnapped. That might have been a failure, but like Jeg said the more important thing was to find out who had ordered the kidnapping and now they had a chance to actually do that.

“How many more of these blasted jumps do we have to make?” Njall leaned against the chair between Havock and the aisle. He looked bored, and she could understand. They had been making these short jumps and course adjustments to catch up with the Watchers who were already in transit to whoever they were delivering the Viceroy to.

She smirked. “This should be the last one Njall, just try to relax. And read that data file, I would prefer that we all be ready when the time comes.”

He nodded as he walked away and fell back into his chair next to Beta a few aisles up. Before they departed from Tadath, she and Beta had debated about who was going to drive the transport. She had already planned to bring a pilot along, so they wouldn't have to. Beta was still sulking about that she was sure.

She scratched her head and went back to studying herself. She still hadn't worked out exactly how they were going to get on board a transport which would presumably be in mid-flight. They knew from their intel gathered on Qiilura that the Watchers were traveling in an E-9 Explorer Transport, and this particular E-9 would have a distinctive symbol on the side of it.

There was absolutely no way for her or anyone else to know Viceroy Ay'Tim's condition at this point, or even if he was still alive. Still the ship should hold the information they needed about whoever had ordered the kidnapping in the first place. She hoped.

The engines engaged and she could see the stars blur for hopefully the last time this trip. The Mu2i Transport accelerated and they were in hyperspace once more. Havock looked over at the gungan who was snoring loudly across the aisle from her. She shook her head, and she returned to her data.

An arm fell across her lap causing Havock to raise her eyebrow but not look up from her datapad, it wasn't like she didn't know who it belonged to. “You don't really expect me to believe you're still asleep do you?”

“Aww, you're no fun.” Jaenna turned in the chair and rubbed her face. “Are we there yet?”

She smiled. Frankly, Havock probably should be the one taking the nap. None of them had had much rest lately, something she hoped to rectify after they returned from this mission. She turned her head to see green eyes staring back at her. “Soon. That was the last jump. Then, we get there and I still don't know what in the hell we are going to do.”

“You'll figure it out, maybe Aeos or Decembrist could come up with something...creative.” Jaenna smirked.

Havock laughed softly. “Yea, creative or suicidal. We need to figure out a way to not destroy the watcher's transport, board it and, heh, what...negotiate with the terrorist? But yea just the disabling part, I can figure a way to destroy it, which does nobody any good. If we could disable it, maybe Beta could fix it if we needed it to still be flyable.” She sighed. “Go ahead and get everyone ready, in about 30 minutes lets brief them. I'll make sure we have a solid plan by then.”

Their squad was shrinking lately. Joamer left, Karash needed to take care of some personal business and took leave, it just seemed like nothing was going right of late. The whole situation was stressing Havock out to no end, and the lack of sleep was not helping either. All she could hope for was for everyone to survive the mission and maybe  a few things to go as planned for a change.

OOC:

Okay RAIDERS, remember these guys? We never got to meet them but we are about to. We will be moving pretty fast at this point so get in your posts, right now we are traveling towards the Watcher's transport and we will be boarding the vessel. No they are probably not going to ask us to stay for dinner, plan on them being QUITE hostile. We do not know the condition of the Viceroy or if he is still alive, you will find that out once the Watcher's vessel is secure. Have fun, and as usual any questions let me know.

The entire squad was assembled in the airlock, justly nervous about the trip to the outside. Aeos and Havock had aided the pilots of RAIDERS’ shuttle in projecting the path of the Watchers so as to intercept them in between Hyperspace jumps. Like Aeos, Vasili understood the reason for multiple jumps thanks to Navy training. If you don’t want people to follow you, if you want to hide your trail, you stop your jump and change directions. It was the space-flight equivalent of backtracking or walking in a circle to throw pursuers off.

And thanks to inside information combined with savvy physics-ing, Havock now knew where to toss her squad into the vacuum of nothingness outside. Oblivion awaited the RAIDERS.

This maneuver, however, was not out of norm for the squad. Historically this was the shit that was asked of them. There was a reason why spacesuits were so readily available upon the transport.

The spacesuits themselves were black and minimalist. They were bulky, but in terms of spacesuits they were light and agile – complete with self-propulsion units, Comm equipment, and an hour’s worth of oxygen. The boots, conveniently enough, were magnetic to enable easy attachment to ships. The visor provided light filtering as well, enabling the user to view the black of space clearer and not blind themselves if they were to look at a star. Of course all this wasn’t absolutely necessary. If all went well, the Squad wouldn’t be outside for more than three minutes.

“This is a pretty badass plan, ladies,” Vee remarked through a cig as he checked the torso of his suit for holes. He scanned the airlock at his comrades suiting up, blowing smoke through his nose, snorting, as he watched Grahim trying to fold up his floppy ears to fit the helmet on. The whole situation was playing out like a holovid – like pirates plotting to hijack cargo. Ironic, considering the name associated with the Squad.

Apparently a little stressed at the danger of the stunt, Havock, wrung out, clipping her boots on, started issuing commands. “Beta, Njall, would you please help our Gungan friend out? And Grahim, when you get your ears into that helmet, double check the loadout and make sure we all have the right gear.”

He did so, being the Weapons specialist, pulling out the M66-SDs from the crate that would carry them across to the Watchers’ ship and checking to make sure the silencers were all screwed on and the energy cells were full. The rest of the Squad was clipping their helmets on as the Lance Corporal triple checked his work.




“Alright, pilots, we’re good to go. Open the airlock,” Sgt. Caldwell Comm’d to the cockpit. Grahim and Decembrist looked to the backs of the five other Stormtroopers, the two each holding a handle of the crate that held the loadout. “Hold position until we give the go,” the ASL followed up. The pilot confirmed as the airlock doors released pressure, the stereotypical hissing of air escaping around them signaling that the only thing that kept oblivion from taking their fragile bodies was a couple layers of spacesuit.

As soon as the doors revealed space, Decembrist emerged from Vasili. He took a big drag from the smoke inside his helmet and started humming the Navy March. “Geez, Vee. You do remember your track record for space, right?” Aeos joked.

She was right, it hadn’t been a successful flight record for him. “Oh I surely do, love,” he retorted, “I also remember carrying you from your crash site.” Then again, neither had it been for her. She scoffed and the doors opened fully.

“Alright RAIDERS, on me,” their SL announced. She tapped the joystick on her wrist and the subtle propulsion engines on her suit pushed her forward out of the ship. It took considerable courage to be the first one out, courage that Vasili noticed. One by one, the rest took off. Njall was eager to get out there, laughing almost insanely as the warrior instincts kicked in. Beta lifted off, followed by Aeos, making their way in loose formation to their Leader. Decembrist looked over to Grahim, nodding his head, and the two lifted off with the weapons crate. Starfruit was the last out, making sure the weapons made it safely.

The group stopped fifty meters from the ship, floating stagnantly in dead-space. “Ok boys, hit stealth mode and stay in communication range,” Caldwell once again issued to the pilots. The ship closed up the airlock and shot off away from the group until the darkness of space made it invisible. Seven different breathes echoed over the Comm, the only sound they would hear.

“Did anyone else just get an intense feeling of ominous doom?” Vasili spoke up as he looked around and saw nothing.

“Stay cool, Rustam,” Sgt. Katash ordered.

“The ship can come get us if we miss the Watchers,” Aeos added, sounding a little exasperated at the situation.

Decembrist picked up on this, “I’ll hold you as soon as we’re out of these suits, Ae. Don’t worry.”

“AAAAARGH DEC!” was all she could manage before an explosion of light appeared a ways off. The whole squad stared in awe as the Watchers’ ship dropped out of hyperspace and floated towards them.

“This is it people!” Havock announced. “Get your boots ready, we’ve got ONE shot.”

They all maneuvered into position, adjusting themselves as the ship drew closer. There was no way the pilots would be able to pick out seven small objects wearing black, floating in the middle of space. All the RAIDERS had to do was time themselves so their boots landed on the hull, then it would be a quick walk to the cargo bay door – which, according to their leaders, would be opened from the inside.

Flawless, their landing. All seven of the troopers attached to the hull as it slipped through space. “Come on, let’s get to the cargo bay before they enter hyperspace again.” It took effort walking across the ship, fighting the magnetic pull from their boots.

“Whatsa… happens when wesa… don’t makes it to the doorsa?” Grahim struggled to say as he picked his feet up, moving in tandem with Decembrist.

“Imagine how it would feel to be sucked through a straw and you’ve got the basic idea,” Njall answered apparently un-phased by the struggle.

“Shit… shit…” A Rustam-smoothie was all Decem could think of now. It would taste amazing, but really it wasn’t the outcome he preferred.

“It’s just up here!” Aeos called back from the front – she knew where she was going, having read the schematics. What a God-send the light pouring out of the cargo bay was. The Squad climbed over the lip of the entrance and planted itself inside. Everyone, even Havock who took that first step into the abyss, was relieved to be inside a ship again.

“Look sharp,” she said, exasperated. “As soon as the pressure to the airlock is restored, strip yourselves and grab a gun. Don’t shoot anything yet, but don’t trust anyone who approaches us. I’ll let you know if it’s our insider.”

The pressure indeed was restored, as indicated by a green light near the airlock entrance. All at once, the squad unclipped the gloves, boots, helmet and torso of their suits. The plastic clanked as it hit the floor, revealing the Shadowsuits the entire squad was wearing. Grahim quickly popped open the weapons crate and everyone grabbed their Silenced SMGs.

“Don’t forget your headgear!” Starfruit whispered, already wearing hers. The “headgear” she referred to was a simple headband outfitted with an eyepatch that had a heads-up display, similar to the visors on Stormtrooper helmets. They all adorned them, covering their right eyes with a green lens. Decem peered around through this new toy, which highlighted the other members of the squad as “FRIENDLY” as his gaze passed over. Grahim pulled out some concussion grenades, while Aeos and Njall pulled out some demo-charges they stowed.

Havock was running through the plan when the airlock door sighed open. The entire squad spun around and aimed their guns at the interloper. Seven little red dots fluttered on the chest of a woman with her mouth gaped open.

Bright, or rather Jackie, entered the bridge bearing the confidence granted her by years of surviving more than she should have. A confidence that she had never really had a problem portraying to anybody. However, armed with the knowledge that there was a VE squad on this ship and that they were relying on her to provide them with what they needed to get the job done gave Bright an adrenaline boost that helped to burn off the fatigue of the last few months.

Of course fatigue and total emotional upheaval had always been a part of Bright's life. It was also the main reason why she had resigned from the VE in the first place. She had been on a headlong barreling roll towards burn out from which no one was ever known to come back from. So she did the only think she could think of, she ran. Not something she was proud of, but it was something she had come to terms with. If coming to terms with, meant doing everything and anything possible to cause trouble for the NR in the Mid Rim territories.

It was a surprise when she had been approached with the chance to help the RAIDERS. She wasn't sure at first that it would be the best thing for her, but having lived on the outside for so long and constantly dodging detection by NR forces and bounty hunters, all Bright wanted was to bring back the feeling of worth back into her life. This was a way to do it.

Of course Bright had never imagined that she would ever see friendly faces again. So seeing Aeos and Vasili again was as much a shock to her as it was for them. And having them on board had in a way helped her to see what she had missed about....what was that word? Home? A smile threatened to erupt on her features before Bright brought the urge under control.

"Jackie, where's your head at?" One of the pilots asked as hyperspace was locked in again. "Don't tell me someone like you gets homesick?"

Bright stared at the woman for a moment before sighing and blinking. She brought her hand to the back of her neck and rubbed tense muscles. "Hell, Dhalis, you've had us jumping all over known creation and back again. Is it so hard to believe that I could actually have feelings?" Bright cocked her head and smiled tiredly. It wasn't really an act, she was just playing off of real feelings that she'd been pushing away for a long time.

"Not so hard, I was just beginning to wonder when it would show." The pilot turned back to her duties and left Bright to gather her thoughts in peace.

Having gathered herself, Bright set about her next task. A simple glance around the bridge said that the technician was not there. Knowing were to look, Bright left the bridge quietly and slunk through the shadows to the Tech's quarters. Turns out he was already out his door and on his way to the bridge when Bright caught up to him. "Oh hey, Jackie, heard you found some mice in the cargo hold." He said with a nervous smile.

"Yeah, I did," Bright replied putting a hand on his shoulder and steering him, gently but firmly, in the direction of the cargo decks where she had left the RAIDERS. "I thought you said that you'd found a way of getting rid of those little pests, Techie?" She asked.

"I-I-I did, I thought." He said with a noticeable stutter.

"Well lucky you we get to see what the trouble is with your traps." Bright said as they entered the hold. In a way she almost felt sorry for the poor guy, almost.

"O-o-oh kay w-where did y-y-you see them?" He asked as they the hold. He turned only to find a couple of guns pointed in his direction.

"Huge mice, huh?" Bright said tightening her hold on the man's shoulder.

“Dammit Natisha!” Lianne stomped into the cockpit to find her first mate and Dhalis just about ready to make another jump to lightspeed. Her hand flew to her pistol as the pilot bots on either side of her twisted at her entrance. “I swear one of these days I'm going to shoot those creepy things you bought.”

Natisha didn't look up, she continued to input the jump data into the nav computer. “You're just mad I didn't spend the money on that rifle you wanted. Now that was robbery at the price that vermin was charging.”

Dhalis laughed next to the other female pilot. The leader rolled her eyes and leaned her elbows on the pilots chair. The truth was piloting was far down on her list of skills, not that she was going to ever admit to that fact.  “That gun was gorgeous, these...things, are ugly not to mention useless with you too around.” She sighed. “What was the commotion about a few minutes ago, I was napping.”

“Oh that was nothing. Jackie found more mice in the cargo bay, she sent the moron down there to sort it out.” Dhalis waved her arm which was caught by Natisha and placed back on the controls, that was one woman who hated to be distracted while she worked. She loved this ship, even named it The Andreadis after something from her childhood. Leanne never understood how pilots could become so attached to things like ships, but again this was just one of those things she was destined to not ever completely understand.

Leanne stretched, her hands grazing the top of the cockpit. “I'm sure Jackie can handle that then, I'm going to check in on the others.” She sneered at the pilot bots as she turned and walked towards the crew area of the ship.

---~---~---~---

Decembrist cringed as he approached Havock wearing the techie's jumpsuit. She was half-standing and half-leaning on the ladder at the entrance to the crawl-tunnels the rest of the RAIDERS were exploring.

Aeos, Grahim, and Beta had gone starboard and were heading for the cockpit to assess the situation there. While Jaenna and Njall handled the port side of the vessel, gathering information on the main crew area. With Decembrist now in a position to cover the tech areas, the ship was basically covered by the squad.  It wasn't the first time RAIDERS had been reduced to using tunnels to make their way through a transport, and Havock was familiar with maintenance tunnels from her time as a vehicle crewman. Hopefully that meant that they would be able to pull off this crazy plan without any problems.

“This outfit is cramping my style.” He clipped on the utility belt while pulling and yanking on the stiff material.

“That's probably because it was made for a girl tech, now keep your voice down.” The look of horror on Decembrist face as he realized she was probably right was priceless. “Bright went back to the crew area so she's not missed. Head that way.” She pointed to the entrance to the cargo area. “She will nod you in the right direction, then just look busy for gods sakes. I'm going to try to catch up with Jaenna and Njall on the port side.”

He nodded and put a small device in his ear. “And I'll be able to hear you on this thing?” It must have had some feedback he grabbed his ear just has it got set into the ear canal.

She sighed. “Yes, and they shouldn't be able to detect it. If you tap it you can comm us, but don't do that unless you are clear, and I mean triple check you're not being watched Vee.”

“I have done this before, ma'am.”

Havock rubbed her temple. “Just do your best not to get shot.”

“Aww, I knew you cared about me.” He leaned closer with his hand on the ladder she was leaning against.

She raised her eyebrow. “Not really, but the paperwork I would have to do would drive me insane.” Sounds of movement made them both glance towards the entrance. “Get moving Vee.” She yanked the cigarette he was about to light out of his mouth.

“Hey!” She stuffed it back in the pack and jammed it in his breast-pocket.

“No smoking, now get to work.”

---~---~---~---

“So he still hasn't woken up then? What the hell did you give him Tane?” Leanne peered into the makeshift cell that held their prisoner. Ay'Tim Reynoldo was a stout man, whose clothes alone could feed a family for a month. She detested people like him, that flaunted their wealth in such a way. In this case, all that did was make her current job easier. 

Tane was sitting with her feet propped up next to the cage like structure in the supply room, she had been enjoying the holomag she was reading and it annoyed her to no end to be stuck with baby-sitting duty in the first place. “Look Lea, I gave him the same dose we gave the last one. How the hell am I supposed to know how long he will be out? Frankly, I prefer him quiet.”

Leanne sighed and leaned against the cage. “Just keep an eye on him, I've got a bad feeling all of a sudden.”

“Must be something you ate, cause he's about as exciting as watching paint dry on a pod racer.” Tane lifted the mag and kept reading.

Leanne scratched her brown hair and moved back into the crew area, catching a glimpse of that techie heading for the engine room. “Hey you.” She moved in fast and he collapsed against the wall and tried to avoid eye-contact with her. Something about him seemed different, but she had never really paid attention to him anyway, Natisha had brought his stench on board when she claimed she couldn't find a woman to do the job. “Did you finally take care of that mouse problem?” He nodded solemnly, still keeping his head down, such timid creatures.

“I know one thing for sure. I'm never letting Dhalis talk me into transporting food cubes for the Hutts again, first the smell now this never ending mouse issue.” She looked at the tech with disgust and took a step back. “What are you still standing there for? Go on get to work.” He didn't wait even a moment, his body spun and he practically ran towards the engine room.

As soon as Aeos had disappeared through the opening to the service tunnels, she took lead with Beta tagging behind her on her heels. The poor trooper has lately seemed a bit off-colour  and was even more silent and reserved than usual.

“Scared Beta?” She looked back towards him, focusing her one uncovered eye on his face. The younger trooper shook his had and motioned for her to continue her way. For a few minutes they continued in silence till Aeos heard the familiar high toned squeaks of Grahim who had finally caught up with them.

“The others haves splits with Jae, yousa needs to go the front she said to mesa,” he squeaked at her agan.

Aeos cringed and nodded her head. His accent could sometimes get on her nerves.  And not too the mention the fact that volume control was quite difficult for the gungan at times though he wasn’t doing too badly right now.  Maybe he had finally taken her up on that speech therapy she once suggested to him mockingly.

“Gah!” she hissed softly and scolding her softly for not paying any attention to the small tunnel in which they were crawling. One of her hands had landed in a oil puddle a few meter back and it was with this same hand she had tried to wipe the hair small drops of perspiration out of her face, effectively smudging it black and oily.  She sighed and motioned for the two troopers behind her to continue. It was with difficulty at times that they climbed through the ship’s inner-workings bending their bodies and shrinking it to fit holes and ledges. Clearly anything technician working on this ship had to have a small build to complete his work successfully.

“We should be there in a bit,  these tunnels are crossing across the living quarters, the- oh crap!’

Coincidentally, earlier that day, Dhalis had called in the technician to fix the cooling vents which were installed in the roof. The technician completing his task, failing to screw supported grate which held the ‘door’ to these tunnels intact securely, with the consequence that Aeos fell right through as soon as her whole body weight had crawled onto it. She could only pray that Grahim and Beta would get away from the grid they were crawling in as fast as possible should Natisha decide to investigate it.

She scrambled to her feet, eyes wide and intense.

“Havock is gonna kill me” she muttered to herself softly. The woman opposite her launched at her, vibro-blade held offensively and swiped at Aeos’ face. The smaller girl dodged the swipe lithely and stepped back into the wall. With herself pinned to the mall, her opponent smirked and closed in. Aeos’ eyes narrowed while her instincts made the calculations to get out of this predicament. With only one option, Aeos lowered herself and pushed her one leg into the wall before pushing it off, barreling at the woman in a well-aimed tackle to the stomach. Her opponent had not predicted such stupidity from Aeos and was caught off guard and out of breath. While she had not completely recovered physically from the tackle by Aeos, her mind was already planning five steps away, and with a gasp Aeos fell to the floor when Dhalis plunged her dagger into Aeos’ upper thigh.

At that moment, the door burst open as Aeos was about to strike back Dhalish with her own withdrawn dagger, but with a accurate shot from Jackie’s pistol, Aeos could only lean back against the wall, numbed from the feeling that was spreading from the flesh wound in her leg.  Aeos tried blinking out the spots of her eyes, and she tried fighting the vast amounts of detached focuses which was seeping into her mind. She felt as if she was floating. She stared numbly at the needle Dhalish discarded into the bin next to the door, but she found her face forcefully redirected by Natisha. The latter stared at her coldly and Aeos felt a hard blow to her head.

“Tech must have snuck her aboard,” she heard someone mutter. Aeos tried to keep control over her motor functions but her legs gave way limply and she slid to the floor.  She closed her eyes and shook her head, forcing herself to remain awake. She opened them again. This time she was in the other side of the room! Aeos grunted in surprised.  How did she get over here? Did she really fall unconscious just now? And for how long? Had they been talking?  Aeos moaned while trying to fight the after-effects of the drug pushing up through her throat.

“Why not kill her?”

“She’ll fetch a good price”    she heard someone reply.  What was her name? Jackie…yes Jackie. Jackie wouldn’t hurt her. Aeos’ head spun as she tried to recall any information about her current situation, but it was with a shock that Aeos found herself at blank.

Guilt filled Brightstar's mind. She could only remember one time in her life that she had ever intentionally harmed a comrade and friend. She was just glad though that this time she did not have to kill the second. As Leanne and Tane left, Bright turned to watch Aeos.

Her friend sat on the floor, propped up with her back to the durasteel wall. Bright could see the confusion in the woman's face and the lack of recognition when their eyes met. Was Tane's dose too much? Did Aeos even remember what had happened? Bright's eyes furrowed in thought. She had to find a way to keep Aeos and the rest of the squad safe. It may not have been her duty to before, but she was making it her duty now.

Heaving a sigh, Bright made to turn and check on the other prisoner when a strong arm wrapped itself around her neck.

"You shouldn't have done that." The voice sent chills up Brightstar's spine even as air was being cut off from her lungs. That was Decembrist's voice but it was a tone that Bright had never before heard the man use before.

Fighting for breath, Bright managed to choke out, "Vee, stop!" Her world darkening with each fight for breath.

The hold on her loosened and recycled air filled Bright's lungs. She felt her head jerked back and just as suddenly she was free. She spun around and met Vasili's eyes, except they were not the eyes she remembered him having. Startled by this, Bright stumbled back still greedily gasping for air.

"Bright..." Decembrist stumbled over his words. "You look like one of them." And Bright realized that was as much of an apology as she was ever going to get from him.

"Kriefing Hell, Rustum." The scarred women said massaging her neck. "I'll kill you later. For now watch her, I don't know what she remembers, if anything." Bright said indicating the blond woman now staring in their direction with wide eyes.

"Where are you going?" Decembrist asked taking hold of Bright's arm as she made her way around him heading for the entry.

Bright locked her eyes on his. It still unnerved her to see that they were still different then she last remembered, but she held his gaze defiantly. "I'm going to go see what I can do about evening the odds in favor of our friends." She said prying her arm out of the bigger man's grasp.

--------------------

The cockpit was shadowed, not a happy environment for Natisha to work with at all. Every time she heard something she jumped and she could swear that things were moving in the shadows. Maybe Jackie was right, she was just too paranoid. Looking over the controls, Natisha growled. What was wrong with her ship? And where the hell was Dhalis?

"How does it look?" Jackie asked from directly behind her. Natisha jumped and instinctively lashed out with a back hand.

"Damn it, Jackie." The pilot breathed. "It doesn't look good. I don't even know where the hell we are, the loss of power dropped us out of lightspeed and the hyperdrive is out." Natisha threw her hands in the air.

"I'm sorry my friend." Jackie said softly.

Something about the way she said it made Natisha turn and look at the violet eyed woman. It took Natisha a moment before she figured out that everyone had been wrong about the technician all along. "You."

Jackie's eyes held hers. And then the other woman nodded. That was all that Natisha needed to launch her out of her chair. She had been betrayed, and the betrayer would die.

OOC:

Not a good post, but something to keep us going  I hope,

She shook her head and tried recalling the face in front of her, connecting it to a name.
The man gave her a soft-slap through the face while the other hand gripped her own tightly, his eyes slightly wild with perspiration rolling down his temples and dripping from the scruffy and unkempt hair.
“Aeos, baby, its me Rustam,”

She grasped in vain at the flicker of familiarity in her mind, but she lost it within moments again.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you at a hospital, and the people will take care of you,” he continued babbling, ignoring the flickering lights and tremor lurches of the ship. He steadied her with one hand, while he searched her for any new scrape which made have appeared while he blinked.

“Decem, I need you to land this thing,”

Furious dark eyes glared up to meet with Havock’s strong stare.
“You have Beta,”
The Squad-Leader who wouldn’t be caught off guard twice by this darker presence which emitted from Decembrist deepened her frown.

“You’re a fly-boy, more that Beta can say for himself, this is an order. Now do it, and Bright could use some help sorting out at the front, I need to locate my missing men. Aeos will be fine here, “

The trooper stole a reluctant glance at his seated partner who only glanced at them stupidly blinking. He sighed and pulled his fingers through his hair. He gave her a squeeze on the shoulder, and got up to leave through the door. Havock shook her head and sighed.
“Now, Aeos, could you not do something stupid while I check on the rest of the squad?”
The girl grinned and nodded. Havock sighed again in resignation before leaving again through the door to attend to the viceroy and Jae.

She kept to herself and her silence, occasionally risking a shut-eye and other times racking her mind for some form of memory. 
A few minutes later an angry yell sounded through the ship. Beta…
Havock stormed into the room again, she faced screwed up in concentration.
“Looks like Beta found another Watcher,” she muttered to Aeos while she dashed around, trying to access the room light, her medpack might be needed soon…

Demented and Karash sat outside Platoon Sergeant Tanus Solvona's office patiently, yet still eager to be on their way towards a new assignment. Alex Spickler had never been on a mission as a foot soldier for me and could barely sit still. Karash threw a quick look but refrained from saying anything.

Demented had been in 'command' positions within a Naval squadron before and knew how to handle pesky looks such as that. He simply ignored it and waited until the two were in the Platoon Commander's office.

"Gentlemen, you will be pleased to know that we have the location of your squad. You two are being dispatched immediately to rendezvous with them and assist them for the duration of their mission. Any questions before I send you on your way?" Tanus informed them.

"Just one sir, do we need to supply our own transportation?" Alex asked sharply.

"Yes, do you have a transport capable of hyperspace?" The Commander responded. Spickler gave a quick affirmative before Tanus handed him the coordinates of his new squad. "Good luck, you're gonna need it." Tanus said as he glanced at Karash. The pair gave a sharp salute then left the room. Their bags were already packed and waiting outside the Commander's office, so Demented showed Karash the way to his Modified Mindabaal Custom Yacht.

"Here she is," Demented said. It was his pride. The trooper had spent a lot of wrench time getting the ship just to his specifications.

"Hopefully it works better than it looks," Karash said sarcastically. This, again, aggravated Demented. But no worries, Demented thought, I have a surprise.

*****

It took a good half hour of prep time for Demented to get the ship thoroughly inspected and ready for departure. He started the engines and pulled the ship off the ground flawlessly. Accelerating, Demented punched in the coordinates and told Karash to prepare for Hyperspace.

"Your seatbelt is in the first room to the right, bud." Demented advised. He heard the door shut, and a moment later, Karash began yelling.

The restrainment straps must be working properly, Demented told himself as he flipped autopilot on. The door opened as Alex passed the room, he just gave a smirk towards Karash and kept walking.

Karash yelled a simple, "Hey! Lemme outta here!" for forty-five minutes before Alex came back and let him out.

"Now, no more sarcastic remarks," The Private First Class said. Karash gave a simple glare and walked out to the main, 'living' room of the yacht. Alex flipped on a holo of the current mission and they began taking notes to be more prepared for their upcoming mission.

OOC:

Edited, hope it's more like Karash

Bright could hear everything. Her eye's however refused to open. Never before had she ever had to fight so hard to stay alive. Well, with the exception of facing off against a Noghri. The thought sent an invisible shudder through her mind. That was one experience she did not want to repeat.

Hearing the exchange between Decembrist and another pilot, Bright took the moment to gather herself. Thirty minutes. Thirty minutes to find and get rid of Leanne and Tane. The battered woman heaved a heavy sigh, that ended in a cough. Although Bright was sure there were no busted ribs, she was absolutely certain that they were badly bruised.

"Where's Sergeant Katash?" She asked as she sat forward holding her aching ribs.

Vasili just stared at her. Though he appeared to be calm, Bright was sure he was fighting with some sort of urge to kill her just now, so she waited. "Cargo Hold." He said without looking at her.

Bright nodded and dialed the inter-ship comm system channel for the cargo hold. She was taking a risk that Leanne or Tane would hear her but she had to put the rest of the crew on alert. Waiting for someone down there to answer the comm channel was nerve wracking for the former sergeant.

"Rustum you had best have a good reason for calling me down here on this ship's systems." Bright smiled as she looked over at Vasili who looked almost properly abashed.

"Yes, Ma'am I do." Bright said formally and all business now. "I have to warn you that there are still two Watchers on this ship somewhere."

"Tell me something I don't know, Brightstar." Havock replied.

Bright rolled her eyes at the use of her full call-sign. "We have thirty minutes in which to rid the ship of both threats. Vee and I have the cockpit secured. But if you need any assistance I'll be more than happy to oblige."

"No, remain with Decembrist. We'll be fine down here. Havock out." Bright sat back and stared out the view-screen for a moment.

"I need a change of clothes." She muttered to herself. "And what I wouldn't give for my Flyhighs about now." She wasn't sure when she'd started talking to herself like she was, but she was sure that thinking out loud like that had helped to keep her sane during lonely times on this ship. Always she had been thinking of what she'd thrown away and what she craved to have back.

OOC:

Sorry so short folks, 2:30 A.M. here and I can't sleep so, hopefully it makes more sense to you than it did to me.

Havock dropped to her knee as they were about to pass a partially open doorway. There was yelling, it sounded like the remaining two Watchers.

“You are insane, Tane. You let these two dick heads convince you that 'I' caused this mess?” Leanne pointed at her chest then picked up another random item and threw it at the other woman.

“The slimy one, it knows our names, Lea. Would you like to explain THAT?” She kept her pistol trained on the leader as she moved around the small island in the center of the room full of more projectiles for Leanne to use.

Someone groaned, it sounded like Beta. Unfortunately for him, Leanne was right next to the poor PFC when he started to come around. Leanne laughed as she tossed Beta like a rag doll through the doorway, just barely missing Jaenna. Havock put her hand on the other woman's shoulder to stop her from running directly into the room and tackling one of the women. “We need to help Grahim. I think you and Njall can go around, come in the room from behind them.”

“What the hell do you mean, 'help Grahim'. Wait, you are not going in there alone, Hav.” She glanced behind her ASL. Aeos was watching the cargo hold, until they could get her some better medical help she needed to stay put. Decembrist and Brightstar had the cockpit secured. Which left Njall, Jaenna and Havock investigating the remaining Watchers.

“The leader and someone named Tane is in that room, right there. We out number the two of them. I think we stand the best chance if I distract them while you guys go around.” Havock could see through the broken door the dark haired leader was cursing and throwing items around the room that looked like a kitchen unit, while the other one, Tane, continued to point her blaster at the woman.

Havock motioned to Njall to come up next to her, Jaenna's eyes were still glued to her but she had to ignore the green orbs for now. “She's distracted, on my mark head to that hatch and come in the back entrance to the kitchen. Be ready for a fight as soon as I give the signal.”

“You got it, Hav.” A rather large crash prompted Havock to nod and Njall took off towards the door on the far side of the room, he knelt down and waited for Jaenna. 

“Okay Jae, you ready?” When she turned to look at the woman she cared about way more than she should have, she knew immediately that she was about to get yelled at. “We don't have time for this, Jaenna.”

She inched closer and angrily whispered. “That crazy pistol waving bitch right there is not going to ask you who you are. And the other one just threw Beta like he was nothing through a door, dammit Hav-”

Her hand on the other girls shoulder seemed to silence her rant for the time being. The hands falling on both of their shoulders should have caused them to turn around, but it didn't. They were locked in a stubborn contest and the winner was yet to be determined. “I can cover you from here, will that solve the problem ladies?”

Havock's eye twitched but she still didn't turn away. “You sure you're up to it Ae?”

“Yes.”

Jaenna made an exasperated sound before releasing her clenched jaw to mutter. “Fine.” Once the coast was clear she ran up next to Njall and the two of them went through the hatch to double around.

Havock stood up and walked through the broken door just as Leanne was about to slam a pan into Grahim's face, for what looked like not the first time. Tane still had the pistol raised and pointed at her leader. Between angry and jumpy she wasn't sure which was more likely to get her killed at this point.

“I wouldn't do that. If I were you.” Havock leaned against a refrigerator unit near the entrance and directly across from the back exit to the room, where Jaenna and Njall should be entering.

“Who the Hell!!” Tane's target quickly changed to Havock and Leanne dropped the pan slowly and took several slow steps in the same direction.

“You ladies having fun with your fishy friend there?” Havock pointed at Grahim, and nonchalantly placed her hands in her pockets. At the moment she was just stalling, so it was better to act as though she never saw Grahim in her life, when actually she was looking him over for any obvious injuries. It was becoming clear RAIDERS would need a whole medical frigate after dealing with these Watchers.

“She asked you a question. Who the Hell are you and why are you on MY ship?” Leanne's hand brushed against her blaster rifle which was clinging to her hip.

“Ship?” She looked around in mock confusion. “I thought this was a space station. Heh, me and my poor sense of direction.”

“Can I shoot her now, Lea?” The leader looked actually a bit confused and came up to stand next to the other woman then seemed to inspect Havock.

“Haha.”

Now that pissed them both off. “What exactly do you find funny, intruder?”

“She needs your permission to shoot me, thats amusing. What, can't decide when you want to fire your gun all by yourself, little one?” That did it, Tane stepped forward growling curses more than speaking them. She raised the pistol right to Havock's temple and dug the barrel in. She looked at Tane and smirked calmly, which only infuriated the woman more.

Just as she was about to pull the trigger her body jerked and she blinked looking deep into the blue eyes watching her calmly. Her arms went limp seconds before her legs gave out and she fell to the floor from the fatal shot to her upper back. Once she fell Havock locked eyes with Jaenna and winked, then took off running at the leader who was standing there in shock at what had just happened.

The woman reached for her blaster but it was too late. Havock ran into her full tilt knocking the air out of Leanne's lungs. That didn't last too long though, she was better at hand-to-hand combat than Havock had given her credit for. She quickly shifted her weight and started to punch Havock in the stomach repeatedly.

Coughing she rolled away from the angry leader, giving her enough time to now get her blaster rifle out. Havock kicked up knocking the weapon up sending a bolt into the ceiling, then quickly rolled to her knees and up to her feet before Leanne could recover.

“Seriously, who are you people?” Havock didn't answer, she nailed Leanne in the jaw with a right hook sending the woman staggering back. “You're on my ship, how in the hell did you all get on my ship.” She wasn't even fighting back, she knew she was beaten. Havock hit her with her left fist causing her to spit some blood.

Leanne just smirked and reached behind her. Havock drew her weapons then her eyes went wide when she saw it wasn't a blaster of any kind the beaten woman was grabbing. “Run!” She shouted behind her. Njall grabbed Grahim and ran through the door. Jaenna couldn't see it right away and lagged a bit. Havock grabbed her and they fell through the door just has the explosive Leanne had in her hand went off, destroying most of the room.

She stayed there for a few moments thinking about everything that had just happened. At least the room had been central and away from primary systems. As long as they didn't need to eat, its destruction shouldn't effect anything.

“Hav?” She blinked and lifted her head. “Comfy?”

Havock rolled her eyes and smirked. “You okay?” Jaenna nodded as she was finally released when the  squad leader rolled to her feet and stood. She glanced over to Aeos who didn't look any worse than she did before.

Havock walked over to where Njall was kneeling between Grahim and Beta. The gungan had a concussion and a few bumps and bruises beyond that but he would be alright. Beta on the other hand had a broken leg, and definitely a few broken ribs, but he was awake.

There was a noise which caused all the conscious troopers to look towards the cockpit. Decembrist came into the room. “Some help has arrived, the men are on their way over. And apparently they have medical supplies.”

“Good we need it.”

OOC:

okay so Demented and Karash you can come over to the Watcher's vessel now. Beta will be heading back in Demented's ship and we will be staying. We still need to find out who paid for the Watcher's to kidnap the Viceroy. The rendezvous is closer than we think and these guys are going to find us, so we will need to impersonate the Watcher's to stay alive at first, but also to get that information. If the Viceroy wakes up he is not going to be happy about his situation. I'll get you more info on the actual people who we we will be dealing with tomorrow. Sorry I had to stop where I did, but I'm literally falling asleep and anyways its your guys turn to have some fun

Karash and Demented entered the ship which held the RAIDERS, on first impression the ship seemed to be normal. However on closer inspection it was clear that there had been one hell of a fight, this did not surprise Karash however Demented looked a bit taken aback but nevertheless the troopers continued to make their way through the ship trying to find any sign of life.

“What do you think happened here?” Demented asked, seemingly forgetting the previous problems between the two.

‘Oh I can talk now without getting tied up... Remember keep calm.’ Karash paused before answering the trooper, “Considering the RAIDERS are here... well just about anything can have happened.”

The two troopers continued to walk in silence trying to find somebody, even Karash was starting to become unnerved at the fact there was no one here.

“Don’t move!” a booming female voice cried out.

Both Karash and Demented froze on the spot but Karash knew that voice and he answered quickly because he knew that patience would not last long. “Havock, I expected a better welcome than that.” Karash spoke with a smirk on his face.

For just a moment there seemed to sense of relief and happiness of Havock’s face that was quickly replaced by the more stern expression which she had previously. “Karash they didn’t tell us it was you, who is that?” Havock spoke in reference to Demented.

“Private First Class Demented transferred from the Navy and placed into RAIDERS, ma’am.” The trooper spoke with an embedded sense of respect.

“Navy you say, well then they could use you in the cockpit. Get up there trooper, I will fully brief you later.” Havock spoke with a reciprocal tone of military proficiency.

Karash shot the trooper a scornful look as he trotted off towards his destination, but his attentions quickly turned to Havock and now Jaenna. “So what the hell has happened here?”

“You seriously do not want to know but we sure could use your help now. Most of the squad is injured in some way and Hav is too busy to deal with it all on her own.” Jaenna spoke before the SL could.

“I am actually quite surprised you all managed to stay alive.” Karash was actually grinning as he spoke ‘more open’ he thought to himself. “Hav I am surprised to see you are relatively unscathed.”

“That is quite enough from you trooper.” Havock said jovially. “But seriously how are you Karash?”

“No time for any of that now, there is work to be done.” Karash said, in his slightly more serious and usual tone.

Karash simply nodded and let the SL and ASL get back to their business, he was sure they had a lot to do or at least it looked like they did. He did not really know where he was going or who it was that was hurt or even if it was peoples that he was familiar with. However he continued to walk through the ship, for what could have only been a few minutes, thinking to himself; ‘Why did I come back to this business? It will not help me in the slightest, who the hell is that?’
“Come on then who are you and what’s wrong?” Karash spoke readying himself for an attack.

“Karash? Is that you?” The clear voice of Aeos spoke out.

“Yes it is but there is no time to speak as you people seem intent on getting yourself killed without me.” Karash stated sarcastically.

“Nothing serious just a leg wound and head injury.” She spoke slowly but nonetheless Karash felt it necessary to inspect further.

Karash looked at the stab wound and checked her head and every now and then let out a little sigh. “She hasn’t done that right...humph... oh dear...” Karash continued to mumble until his comm. device buzzed.

It was a message from Havock stating that Jae was trying to get the long range communications devices back up and running and that she wanted Karash to come up and check the Viceroy. As he walked back through the corridors of the ship, towards the Viceroy, Karash’s initial concerns seemed to evaporate and once again he was happy to be with the RAIDERS.

OOC:

If there is anything wrong with it, let me know.

He’s name his Karash.
“Karash? Is that you?”  she asked. Slow. Unsure.

“Yes it is but-“
He continued on and one, and she heard herself vaguely responding to his questions. She knew his name! His face.

Havock entered into the room, Aeos stole a glance at her Squad-Leader and sighed. She still failed to recognize her. Karash muttered again at her and left to check up on the next patient.

She sat still as he had ordered through his mumbles, and tried to keep her leg as still as possible. About two hours had passed since he had gone and Aeos groaned in boredom, pushing her head to the wall behind her. Currently she was applying pressure to the wrap on her leg, keeping it there while waiting for Karash to return. She remembered his face. Even if she failed to recall her own name, the memory of remember this slightly sarcastic introverted individual gave her a form of hope.  The lanky latter reappeared at the door. Aeos smiled softly, he didn’t even know she was suffering a memory breakdown. The Squad-Doctor took a seat next to her again, mumbling again while he took her hand away from the wound on her leg to inspect the bleeding.

Slap.

Karash stared wildly at Aeos who was now heaving in rage.  His left cheek bore a red imprint of her hand. His one hand gingerly touched the slapped side of his face. His eyes flashed.

“Aeos-”

“You don’t touch me again,”

The woman stood up abruptly, and limped out of the room leaving a bewildered Karash behind.  Blind with fury Aeos stomped down the corridor. She couldn’t believe the nerve of some people.  They don’t even know each other, and he’s has the nerve to be feeling her legs.

Smack.

“Aeos!”  Something or someone called out underneath her. Flustered Aeos untangled herself from Brightstar. Once the two ladies had assembled themselves back into composure, Brightstar inspected Aeos.

“Karash took a look at your leg yet?” she inquired.
Aeos glanced at her confused.

“Blond-dish guy, not very talkative,”

Aeos blushed, realizing suddenly about whom Brightstar might possibly be talking.
“Err,”  she started.

“I’ll take you to him, you really ought to take care of yourself,” Brightstar clucked in mirth. Despite the front, and despite her lack of memory, Aeos caught the absence of humor in her friend’s eyes.

Suddenly the ship jolted. Brightstar lost her grip on Aeos along with her balance, and the two woman tumbled once again to the ground.  A shadow leapt over their floored bodies.

“Jae!” Brightstar called out, pulling herself upright.

“Either our viceroy’s friend are early, or Decembrist really screwed this ship over, I’m on my way to him to find out,”  Jae called over her shoulder at Brightstar. 

The woman heaved her shoulders again, definitely feeling the frustration of this mission looming over her. She glanced down at Aeos who sat with her head between her knees, groaning.

“Geesh, Brightstar, what in seven hells are you doing here? And what happened? I just remember pulling on a spacesuit,”

Brightstar sighed again and pulled Aeos to her feet.

“You haven’t missed a lot; let’s get you to Karash,”
“Karash is here?” Aeos asked excitedly, grinning through the one big wince she had displayed on her face.  It was always good to see returning faces to the squad.

‘Well that must be the fabled Viceroy’, Karash thought to himself as he stood across the room from the unconscious man.
“Hav, its Karash. The Viceroy is finally coming around. You didn't do this to him right?” He was actually being serious rather than sarcastic.

Karash walked over to the man and crouched down, Karash just sat and watched the man for a moment; he wanted to make sure he didn’t get a slap from this particular patient.

"Karash, where is Aeos?" Havock’s voice rang out once again.

‘Hardly relevant in the circumstances, but what do you expect?’ Karash thought just before he spoke, “I bandaged her hand, and had her to lie down on a bunk in the crew quarters. Something tells me she didn't stay put though, that kind of behaviour would be typical for this squad.”

"Okay, someone will be there in a second." The voice of the squad leader rang for the final time.

By this point the Viceroy appeared to be trying to sit up and Karash decided that it would be best to back off slightly; people could be unpredictable even when they weren’t sky high on painkillers. The Viceroy eventually did manage to sit up and slowly opened his eyes, the man looked like he had been in a comma for the past decade.

“Wha...” The Viceroy swayed heavily and had to steady himself.

“Nothing to worry about just let me take a look.” Karash marched up to clearly unnerved man and began to prod and poke him, just give him a quick check over. “Everything is fine; just let someone know if you start to feel unwell.” With that final remark Karash stepped out of the room and back into the corridor.

He just stood there for a few minutes hoping that this person Hav was sending down did not bring him the message that yet another person needed some medical help. Then the ever loud thumps of, clearly a mans, footsteps began to make their way towards Karash, growing louder every time.
“Decembrist do you think it wise from them to have chosen you for this task, considering your performance today.” Karash spoke with as much sarcasm as he could.

Decembrist just glared at Karash and asked “Is he alright.”

“He is fine as far as I can tell, just try to be gentle. Any problems let me know.” Karash tried to walk away before his fellow trooper could speak.

“Hav wants you to go and check on Grahim.” Decembrist seemed to sense that Karash was trying to get away because he smirked as he spoke those words.

‘Why did I become a medic, why not a Vehicle Crewman. Just drive around a bit, nice and easy.’ Karash stormed off towards were he assumed Grahim was, this part of the ship looked as damaged as the rest of it but never the less it seemed to be ok, considering what had happened on her.

“Alright then what is wrong with you?” Karash spoke as professionally as he could.

“Karash Isa heard yousa was back!” The Gungan seemed quite happy to see Karash.

“Really I hadn’t noticed.” Karash grinned sarcastically and carried on speaking, “So what is wrong then.”

“Mesa got bopped on the head with thesa pot and maybe a fewsa bruises on the body, but mesa is fine.” Grahim was ever optimistic.

Karash still felt the need to just make sure that the Gungan was alright so he walked up to him and gave him the once over, “Slight concussion maybe but apart from that just a few bruises.” 

“What shall mesa do?” Karash could tell that Grahim was anxious to do something to help.

“Just wait here for now, I am sure Havock will find something for you to do soon.” Karash smiled as he turned and left the room.

‘Please can this squad stay alive long enough for me to have a quick break.’ This was Karash’s final thought before he began to walk aimlessly once more.

OOC:

Really awful. Have fun.

We have ourselves a politician!

Probly should cut his silver-tongue out before he can use it.

“No,” Decem muttered, shaking his head at the two friends inhabiting it, “Not yet.”

The Viceroy of Qiilura looked up with a frown, his eyes revealing the confused, contemplative thought process going on behind them. “Son, you need help?” he asked, no doubt trying to stall or sweet talk his way out of whatever Vasili was there to do. With a shaky hand the interrogator pulled the cigarettes from inside the breast of his Shadowsuit – no response. “Please, smoke gives me a headache,” Reynaldo requested eloquently, reaching up to his head realizing that the sedatives he was given already were doing a number on his head.

Vasili dropped his eyes down to the floor as he slid a crate over to face the slouched, bound prisoner. The Viceroy leaned forward, trying to pick up on what the other man was mumbling. It was a melody… some sort of music. It was soft, sad, and long; nothing like modern music, at least nothing like modern music on Qiilura. The old man would’ve never gotten it: jazz. It wasn’t for his crowd. Jazz was associated with lust, unruliness, and being ‘cool,’ something that politicians were incapable of experiencing. 

And it stopped short, interrupted by smoke. Vee picked his head and eyes up, shooting the smoke out into Reynaldo’s face. Now he looked Ay’Tim straight into the eye, his wide-spread, leaning-forward posture exuding a sort of insanity that made the prisoner uncomfortable. It was now that the Viceroy noticed the staining blood on the black of Vee’s Shadowsuit.

“You need medical attention, Son,” the man again tried to stall.

“The next thing that comes out of your mouth better be useful, Old Man,” Decem said coolly.

“I have nothing to help you with. I know nothing!” exclaimed the man, emphatic and convincing.

Obviously a lie, brother. The deep voice came back. You see how he ruffled his belt as he said that? The voice was right. A lifetime of gambling left Vee with the attuned sense of lie-detecting. Don’t let him play you, bud’. Vee sucked on his cigarette.

“Tell me why anyone would want to kidnap you, man.”

“I’m the Viceroy of a planet!” the old timer exasperated. “What could anyone possibly NOT accomplish with me unable to run things?”

Good point the high voice spoke up. Use your head, idiot!

“What’s goin’ on in the Senate?”

“Excuse me?”

“You speak Basic, old timer? I said: What. Is. Going on. In the Senate?” Vee’s voice started to escalate, though the relaxed contortion of his face would indicate no such thing. “Dig?”

“I believe the current issue at hand is… funding for domestic industrial cultivation.”

“The players?”

“Pardon?”

“Who are the big names? Who wants what? Who doesn’t like you? Gimme somethin’ or I’ll take somethin’.” At this point Vee pulled out the Dhalis’ vibroblade and laid it on the crate between his spread legs. “I don’t have a lot of time.”

“Well, uh, I was taken the first day of deliberation… but, annually the biggest voices are Andr and Lectione.”

“And that means?”

“The Representatives from the Judson Corporation and the Finance Committee.”

Alarms started going off, triggered by a frenzy of thoughts from the three consciousnesses. “Judson Corporation? A private company has a seat on the Planetary Senate?” A red flag. Supergiant companies were usually up to bad business. “This Andr guy… he been doing anything suspicious lately?”

The Viceroy looked solemnly past Vee’s mad eyes. “Well?!”

“I can’t say anything. My duty is to the people of Qiilura-“ he was cut off by Vee jumping up and grabbing his throat, then, as Reynaldo gasped for air, his tongue.

“Your duty is to tell me who the hell is behind all this, old man!” with the vibroblade pointing down onto the exposed muscle. “I will cut your goddamn, politician tongue off !”

“Ouri Andr is deir represendadive!” Reynaldo said, panicking and restricted. Vasili let go, but kept the knife in his face. “He approached me weeks ago, blackmailing me for control of my Gem Mines. I don’t know what they’re up to!”

Ay’Tim grimaced. He was struggling telling this. “I accepted initially… but I had to back out! What would the people think if the Reynaldo Mines were signed over to Judson?!”

Friggin’ politicians. Don’t they know shit? Big bad Man comes and blackmails them and they back out of it for public appearance.

Decem was disgusted by this point. He flicked his burnt-out cigarette to the side of the storage closet and unzipped the torso of his suit. Reynaldo stared, disgusted at how the blood from the stab wound made Decem’s sickly abdomen look.

“Son… you really do need medical attention.”

“I am SO sick of how you talk, man. Am I your son? AM I YOUR SON?!” Unreasonably angry, Vee pulled out one of the standard combat engineer explosives Aeos had brought on board. Dhalis had stripped her of them when she was caught, and so did Vee strip Dhalis. Once again he proied open the mouth of Reynaldo, this time shoving the explosive inside. From inside his Shadowsuit he pulled the roll of duct tape that he had used to hang Dhalis and used it over Ay’tim’s mouth and around his head.

“You see this toy, old man?” Decem asked rhetorically, holding the detonator in his hand. “Shut the hell up for a while.”

Judson Corp. Vasili shut the storage room door behind him.

“Dhails and Natisha, they were the pilots, so all the jumps I have no clue what that was about.” Havock raised her eyebrow. “Sorry, yes I know they were avoiding detection, but the why is what I don't know.”

She narrowed her eyes and the red-head in front of her. A few of the others had worked with Brightstar before, but she had left the VE, that made Havock weary to trust her completely. For all she knew, this woman could be planning to turn the squad over to the same people for some extra credits.

“You have to know at least who hired you.”

“No Havock, I really don't. Leanne didn't like to share business. She gave us orders thats it. Now there are things I overheard sure, but they have nothing to do with this job. I swear, okay?” She was starting to get agitated with the SL, which wasn't a good sign.

“Okay Bright, fine, you know nothing, that's fine. Jaenna already hacked into the computer and knows that some company hired you guys, Judson or something. That's not what I care about. What I care about, is what your intentions are now.” Havock crossed her arms and sat down across from the other Sergeant.

Brightstar seemed to study the other woman for a long time. At first she was taken aback and ready to come back at her fighting, but then her expression changed. As if she realized that she would be thinking the same thing if the roles were reversed. “I'm with you, I have no plans to betray a VE squad.”

She leaned forward, dropping her voice to a whisper, brining up all those nightmares she had of smelly men threating her as a child. “Good, if you do, just make sure you know that it would be a suicide mission. No matter who survived, if anyone, you would die. Do I make myself clear?” Bright nodded but didn't look phased in the least. “Right. We still have some time, but we need to get out of here.”

“I agree.”

----------------------------------------------------

The alarm klaxons rang and echoed through the bandaged vessel. Havock ran through the halls to get up to the cockpit. Early, its early, why is a proximity alarm going off.

“What the hell is that?” Njall nearly jumped on the roof as she came barging in. He started to frantically utter sounds and look around at the control panel. “Move.”

“I got it.” Brightstar came in the cockpit and grabbed him by the arm then pushed the private back farther in the cramped room so that she could get into the co-pilot's chair. “Oh thats not good.”

“What?” Everyone in the room echoed.

“Its them, they are early.” She spun around slowly in the chair, the alarms forgotten. “They want to board with a small party and get the Viceroy.”

“Shit.” Havock didn't even notice Jaenna walk in and stand next to her.

She blinked and leaned on the pilots chair. “Can we fly this bucket of bolts?”

Brightstart flinched slightly at the snipe of what was now her ship. “The comms are good, and primary systems are all online, except the hyperdrive.”

“Except the hyperdrive?” She looked at the controls and sure enough the repairs were done but the  hyperdrive was still rebooting, it would be twenty minutes or so before the navcomputer linked up again. Havock rubbed her eyes in frustration, they did not have time for this. “We can't get away from them, so we need to stall them. Ideas?”

“Um, Hav.” Karash pushed his way into the cockpit. “I could tell them that the Viceroy can't be moved in his condition, allergic reaction to the drugs, perhaps.”

“You can't tell them anything, they think we are the Watchers, and you are a man.” Karash scoffed and huffed at that. Havock would have laughed or at least smiled at the senior medic's reaction but there was no time for that.

Jaenna was lost in thought, her voice barely a whisper when she finally spoke into the silence. “But we could.” The comm cracked again asking for clearance to dock, and the klaxons kept beeping. “Hav, we could pretend to be the Watchers, just to stall them.”

They would insist upon docking, that was unavoidable. But they may be able to convince them that the Viceroy was in frail health and needed to stay put, even for an hour, just until they backed off and since the hyperdrive were finished, as soon as they were clear they could get away. It could work, maybe.

“Karash, Vee, Njall, Dem, go find Grahim and hide. Bright tell them we have a problem but they can come over if they like, Jae you come with me.” They walked out into the crew area as the men scattered into their hiding places. Aeos was leaning against the wall rubbing her head, she still looked so confused. “Ae, the bad guys are coming. Why don't you stay in the cockpit and monitor comm traffic, okay?”

She nodded glancing oddly at Jaenna as she passed them both and headed into the cockpit. “She still doesn't recognize me. This whole thing is just a mess Hav.”

Havock made sure her weapons were prepped and ready. “It'll be fine Jae. Just relax and act like you hate all men.”

Karash came out of the storage room walking briskly past the two women. “The Viceroy is ready. I knocked him back out, like that was good for him, after seeing what Decemrist did. I locked the cage, as well, now I'm going to go cower somewhere.” He continued to mutter something as he walked into the engineering area.

“Five minutes, Havock.” Bright came walking up to the two of them. “These aren't the guys we usually deal with, so they won't know names or anything like that.”

“Stick with aliases for now, you are set Bright. Jae and I can be Leanne and Natisha I guess.” Havock rubbed her neck. Brightstar wondered over towards the cargo hold where the people from the Judson corp would be arriving.

“Hey.” She looked up to find Jaenna standing in front of her looking concerned. “Are you okay?”

Scratching her head she took her hair out of the pony tail to fall loose. “You know what, I am kinda tired. What do you say we just ditch these guys and take a vacation?”

“Okay, yeah, you're fine.” They both smirked. A loud click came from the cargo area in the back of the ship.

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“Hav, they're here.” She watched as, less than a minute later, five men filed in the room, Brightstar followed them with her hand on her blaster.

Havock had been around scummy men in her past, she was adopted by a man who led a gang. Before that though many of her younger years had been spent being kept as a prisoner by the Black Sun gang. She couldn't remember everything that happened, but her nightmares had always given her more than enough material to pretend to act like one of those bastards.

A man with dark hair and a goatee stepped forward. “Decided to keep us waiting, the boss doesn't like that.”

Havock crossed her arms and walked right up to the man. “What makes you think I give a damn?” She knew what they wanted and the faster she could get them off the ship the better. “Look, meatbag, your weak little Viceroy, had some issues with the medication we gave him to shut up. Apparently if he's moved he'll die. And from what I've been told that is not the condition your boss wanted him in. Trust me if it was we would have had a much more pleasant trip.”

“I want to see him.” He sneered they were still standing nose to nose.

“I want you off my ship, until he is ready to be moved. But I suppose since you asked so nicely I might just give you the full freak show tour on your way out.” She bumped his shoulder as she walked past him to lead them into the storage room that contained the once again sleeping Viceroy. “See, we got him. Once he wakes up he's all yours.”

“Fine, once he is on our ship you can have the rest of your payment then.”

Havock stared daggers at him then turned and led the group into the cargo hold and watched as they left the ship.

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“That's not going to keep them for long.” Bright came up next to her.

“It doesn't have to, now lets see if we can get the damn navcomputer linked back to the hyperdrive and get the hell out of here before we have to come up with something else.”