(A few hours after the fight)

Chief Antyan opened Darius' room door with the master key card he acquired at the desk.  He was followed by to men with their weapons trained on Darius' seemingly sleeping body.  His body remained in the same, freaky position the other's had discovered to be odd.

"A little much, don't you think?" Darius answered.  The morning sun was trying to break his window blinds.

"Stand up with your hands in the air, scum," Antyan replied.

"Ok, what the hell is go--"

"Shut up, I'll do the talking!"  Darius complied, and rose, his hands clearly above his head.  He was greeted by two stun blast from the accompanying officers.

(later at the police headquarter's interogation room)

Darius, DJ, RM, and LJ sat in a dark, damp room.  One ceiling light hung, revealing only a fraction of the room.  They all wore stun cuffs.  The interogators had successfully broken another of Darius' ribs.

"I don't know about any of your damned locals or their rebelious fronts."  Darius caughed up blood as Antyon laid into in some more.  Being the protective man he was, BM, LJ, and DJ were so far, untouched.  Darius had offered himself to save their necks.

"I'm going to ask you one more time, who sent you?" Antyon probed even more.

"If you ask me one more time, you'll regret it," Darius viciously growled.  Once again, coughing from his now three broken ribs.

"You are not in the position to make threats, sir."  Antyon reached for a remote on the grey, lifeless table.  He pushed the button, high amounts of voltage coursed through Darius' body from the stun cuffs.  He spasmed and the knocking the chair he was tied to over.  Antyon's finger lifted and Darius coughed uncontrollably.  There were now four ribs broken.

A slender, attractive woman walked in from the door.  Light spilled into the rest of the room only to reveal duracrete everything. 

Antyon's faced turned from sadistic to completely baffled and apologetic.  "Sirs, I must instantly apologize.  I didn't know."

What Antyon held in his hand, was the profiles of his victims.  Two of them read Imperial pilots, the other two read citizens not native to the planet.

Darius only grew angrier.  He made a glance at DJ.  A face of shame and guilt was upon his face.  He was blaming himself for everything.  Darius was going to talk, but could only cough up more blood.

Two officers entered the room.  They started releasing RM and LJ as medical personnel walked into the room to attend to Darius' broken ribs.  They took off his binders and set him upright from his position on the floor.  Next, they prodded at what they thought was the injured ribs.  One unfortunate doctor found them and received a right hook in the jaw.

"I got it you filthy bastards," grumbled Darius.  Two of them were dislocated from the fight with RM.  He popped them back place as if it wasn't the first time.  He winced in pain and coughed intensely.  The other two were clearly broken from Antyon's handy work.

"Sir," one of the doctors said, "if you don't let us help you, you may puncture a lung."

"Don't be idiots and poke me then," Darius snarled back.  His anger only grew more.  The doctors approached cautiously this time.  They were now scared.

Darius caught a glance of DJ as he stopped at the door.  "I'll wait for you in the lobby," he said and walked out.

Antyon approached him, "if there's anything I can do for you sir, to make your stay more pleasurable, please tell me."

Darius winced as the doctors cautiously set his ribs, gave him a shot for pain, and rapped his chest in bacta saturated gause.  He questioned Antyon's gracious gesture, "anything?"

"Why most certainly sir," he replied.  His actions showing more than his words as he became curious.

"Thank you," Darius said in a sadistic tone.  His palm flew out almost faster than the eye could see.  Antyon's nose almost shattered and blood poured out of his nostrils.  He bent down, trying to slow the blood.  Darius' foot came level to his forehead and gently came into contact.  With a half-effort push, he launched Antyon over the table.

He remained sprawled on the floor as the medical team helped yet a third victim.  "Consider it repaid," Darius exclaimed as he walked out of the room.

(in the lobbly of the headquarters)

Darius approached the DJ and his family.  He was now wearing a medical robe because, when they detained him, he was just in his boxers.

RM stared at him, pondering what had just happened.  His massive hand reached out to take Darius'.  "No hard feelings, eh?"

Darius took it with gratitude but did not smile, "no hard feelings."

LJ spoke to Darius for the first time, "you realize, when we were in your room, it was only meant as a joke."

"Hopefully, you learned that I don't take jokes lightly," Darius answered.  "DJ explained everything after the police had left earlier."  He looked at RM, "I'm sorry about the nose man, I hope it heals alright."

RM laughed with a deep, humorous voice, "I'm sorry for pulling the knife on you.  That's a mistake I won't make again."

Darius broke out a smile, "let me buy you guys a drink, I'll explain why I don't take jokes lightly."

The four walked out of the lobby and into the busy morning streets.
 
-----------------------
Feed a womp rat a food ration, he'll want an energy stim. Give him an energy stim, and he'll rip your throat out.

----------------------
FM/CRW Darius Pursius/Nazgul 3-2/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=)

After breakfast, Art and Taylsha made their way down to the pool to relax and enjoy the warm morning.  A couple hours later, they had showered and were browsing the shops in a need by tourist stand.  Art had replenished his funds from a near-by bank, he didn't like to pay electronically if he didn't have to.  If at all possible, he tried to conceal his movements and habits.  It seemed instinctive to him even though he couldn't think of any real need to do so.

The tourist area was crammed full of bustling tourists and street vendors trying to sell everything from quaint trinckets to custom made jewellery and literally everything in between.  Eventually, they managed to work their way through to the food vendors who sold a variety of local cuisine.  After buying little bits from several vendors, both came to the conclusion that the food on the planet was quite good.  After finishing their meal and after Taylsha had settled on a couple more items, they two made their way back to the resort as the sun began its mid-afternoon descent.  An evening under the stars at the beach might be in order.  Art thought to himself on the walk back.

(OOC: Sorry it is short, ran out of ideas at the moment)
 
-----------------------
FM/ESN Corran "Arturus" Hargraves/Nazgul 2/Phoenix Wing/M-SSD Atrus/VE/VEN/(=A=)(=SA=)(=*MA*=)(=JCPA=)(=SCPA=)[MC:1](x2)[SV][BRC][LSM][LoC]


"The way of war is a way of deception. When able, feign inability; when deploying troops, appear not to be. When near, appear far; when far, appear near. Lure with bait; strike with chaos. If the enemy is full, be prepared. If strong, avoid him. If he is angry, disconcert him. If he is weak, stir him to pride. If he is relaxed, harry him; if his men are harmonious, split them. Attack where he is unprepared; appear where you are unexpected. This is victory in warfare; it cannot be divulged in advance. Victory belongs to the side that scores most in the temple calculations before battle. Most spells victory; least spells defeat; none, surer defeat. I see it in this way, and the outcome is apparent." -- Sun Tzu

Jaden hopped of his Swoop bike, and parked it close to a tree in the area, locking it up carefully so that it wouldn't be stolen by someone.  Just as he was getting further into the forest, his com rumbled in his pocket.

"Yes," Jaden said, greeting the person on the other end

"Jade, I just met up with someone on the island who has some information for us.  Aparently, there is a small Imperial outpost here on Varonat in the eastern part of the jungle," said Shazam.

"Well, I was wondering about that, because I have seen speeder bikes scouting the area all day, and I hoped that they were imps, or else I wouldn't be talking to you right now," said Jaden.

"Well, get your happy ass back here to the resort.  We are going to group up and have a meeting, something very important could be happening," said Shazam.

"Alright," said Jaden, going on a quick trot back to his swoop bike and hopping on.

Within another hour he had arrived back at the resort area, and parked the swood bike in the hanger area of the resort.  He had rented the swoop bike until he left, so he could keep it in the personal quarters hanger.

Sweat ran down Jaden's body as he made his way to the floor where his room was, and the rest of the Nazguls rooms were.  Jen stepped out of her room to see Jaden's dirt filled body walking down the hall.

"What happened to ya Jaden," asked Jen

"I was out in the forest exploring, and Shazam called me back here for some reason," said Jaden.

"Oh, I heard about that too.  He said that he had some very important information for you, and I guess just for you," said Jen

"Oh, something he needs only me for, what could his be?" said Jaden, resting his hand on his chin with a grin across his face.
 
-----------------------
Jaden Khaar
Vast Empire
Nazgul Squadron

"No good deed goes unpunished" -Murphy

FL/SCRW Jaden/Nazgul 9/Phoenix Wing/mSSD AtrusVEN/VE (=A=) [VC:B]

"Well, I want you to go back out in the forest and search around some more.  Because I got a bad felling about this, we are going to get everything packed up, and get armed and ready for anything.  If anyone weird comes into the town area, we'll call you and let you know," said Shazam

"I'm on my way right now," said Jaden, lighting up one of his cigars, and reloading a new blaster pack into his E-11 blaster rifle, and making sure his pistols were working correctly.

The sun gleamed down on the crome bike as Jaden hopen on and started the repulsor lifts and the engine.  After getting everything running on the swoop, Jaden took another puff of his cigar, and shot straight forward, heading for the forest that he had been searching in not too many hours before.

****

The plants and trees were swinging around as sunshine pierced through the canopy at the top of the forest.  Animals were calling to eachother all around the forest.  It was the mating season on Varonat.  Varonat was largely known for its beautiful scenery, and its elegant creatures.  Some of the tourists that came to the planet were people studying the thousands of species of wildlife on the planet.  There were so many creatures on the planet that scientists didn't even know about, and would probably never discover all of them.

Jaden kept the swoop bike at a steady pace as he crused through the forest, looking for anything out of the ordinary.  The leaves of the trees brushed across his face and arms as he easily manuevered around the area.  Just as he came to a large fork in the road, he saw a large stone encampment not too far off in the distance.

After surveying the area a little more, Jaden made his way to the large temple.  Creatures scattered out of the area, giving out cries of excitement and scurry back to their homes.  The sky turned to a dark orange very quickly as the sun set in.  It was a beautiful site as the sun shone onto the stone temple.

Jaden parked his bike once again after entering all of the map he had discovered so far.  To his estimates, he was pretty deep into the jungle, almost in the heart of the area, about 8 klicks in.

"Hey Shazam, I have come upon some sort of encampment out here," said Jaden

"Well, be cautious about what you, just explore the area some more and see what you can find," said Shazam

"Alrighty, here comes the data of the map I have been creating, just so you know where I am," said Jaden, pushing a few buttons on his datapad, transfering the information over to Shazam.

The entrance to the stone structure wasn't fortified in any shape or form.  Jaden walked up the stairs, and looked into the structure.  It was very dark, so he turned the flashlight on his rifle on, and started his way into the temple.

There was an area to the right, and the same to the left.  But to the front was a much larger door, with some sort of cuniform.  Jaden couldn't make it out; it was in some sort of tribal writings.  There was no where to go except to the areas to the left and right.

Jaden backtracked and came into one of the large areas to the left.  A few mesh baskets were spralled around the area, and rations were scattered around.  It looked as if someone,  or something had been living in the area.

There was an ancient panel not to far into the area, and it looked as if it was still active.  Jaden walked up to the panel, and looked at the wide array of buttons.  The same cuniform was spralled across the area around the panel.  Jaden was dumbfounded as he pressed a few buttons.  The panel let out a soft whirr, as if it was trying to compute something, and then started talking in a low voice; a language that Jaden couldn't figure out.  It wasn't Twi-lek basic, or anything else he knew of.  Jaden left the panel alone, hoping that he didn't screw something up.

After checking out the other area, he found the same things, and another panel.  They were nothing that he knew of, and nothing of interest.  He decided that he would leave and make his way back to the resort, it was getting very dark outside.

After exiting the temple, Jaden made his way back to the swoop bike.  A few minutes later, he came upon disaster; the swoop bike had been totalled.  It was still smoking, and the engine was fried.  Jaden ran his hands through his hair in disappointment.  There was no way he could make it back to the resort by the end of the night.  He would have to make camp for himself.

"Shazam," Jaden said with a sigh, "Someone beat the shit out of my swoop bike"

"Huh?" Shazam said, confused

"Yea, someone totalled it, literally," said Jaden.  "I'm going to have to make camp out here, and start back in the morning"

"Well, keep on lookout, and get yourself in some shelter.  Someone could be out there, but I don't know who," said Shazam

"Tell everyone I'm alright.  We don't want anyone panicing about something like this, and make sure that no one but US knows about it," said Jaden.

"Alright, take care," said Shazam

"I'll try," said Jaden
 
-----------------------
Jaden Khaar
Vast Empire
Nazgul Squadron

"No good deed goes unpunished" -Murphy

FL/SCRW Jaden/Nazgul 9/Phoenix Wing/mSSD AtrusVEN/VE (=A=) [VC:B]

(Earlier, before Jaden's exploration)

The four men walked out the door.  The stench of alcohol was present on their breath.  DJ bid farewell to his brothers, making sure they didn't have a vehical to drive themselves.  DJ and Darius had learned a lot about each others histories.  Although, Darius had left one important, life changing experience out, and DJ found it.

"So what ever happened to your father and Jex?" he probed.  Darius, wearing his white doctors robe, turned almost as white.  Absolutely no expression on his face.  The one glass of Corellian ale that he slowly digested was not bothering his perception at all.

"Dude, come on, I wanna know," DJ continued to ask.  "If we're gonna be real good buds, you're gonna have to tell me."

Darius held his silence.  He obviously wasn't going to take that as a good excuse to break this barrier he shared with absolutely no one.

"Ok, did he beat you after your Imperial encounter, disown for being an Imperial."

"This is something not even the Imperials could torture out of me," Darius finally replied.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the dewbacks here, you, were tortured by the Imperials?  Why are you here?"

"Nothing that you'd understand.  I'll see you at the hotel."  Darius began to jog.  They were only about a kilometer from the resort.  DJ didn't bother to follow.  He decided that it was like talking to a duracrete when it came to the talking of the present conditions of his father.  He even questioned if Darius had a mother.

(back at the resort)

Darius stepped out of the refresher.  He was glad to be back in the silence and solitude of his room. 

He quickly dressed and put his old combat pants on and with a loose shirt and a vest.  Arming himself with the usual, he put on his cloak.  It was hot out, but it still concealed weapons.

Pacing over to his window, he looked out and saw the crowded beach.  Children splashed each other.  Young lovers frolicked in the sand.  Older couples lay next to each other, holding hands as their children played.  He became amused to see teenagers struggle to fight Varonat's high tide waves on their hydroboards.

Darius decided to check out an arms customer warehouse he had come across in advertisements.  He thought it was kinda peculiar to be selling weapons on a vacation planet, but what the hell, it was gonna entertain him.

He was going to ask Jaden if he wanted to join him, but clerk at the desk had told him that Jaden had taken a rented swoop exploring.

It was noon now.  The sun was high and the streets were busy.  Darius decided to rent a swoop himself.  It had been a while since he had felt the wind push against his face and his cape flap behind him in the wind.  Plus, it would make his journey to the warehouse much faster. 

Upon arrival of the warehouse, he was right about the tourist attraction: none.  He casually walked through the automatic door.  Automated turrets trained on him.  Not a flinch from Darius.  He recognized that they were programed to detect foreign weapons.  A old, hunched over Tin Tin Dwarf approached him.  He spoke excellent basic.  "Glad to see a well armed man roaming these streets," he croaked.  "What can I do for you."

"Just looking, thank you," Darius replied.  The turrets deactivated, recognizing him as a customer.

"Well, when you find something you like, let me know, will ya?" the short creature croaked.

"Sure."  He browsed the walls.  He noticed that what he saw now, was multiplied by the hundreds in the back room.  This was just the showcase.  He grabbed an item scanner and began scanning.  Nothing in the guns department, just some military grade survival gear he needed and a few raw explosives.  He now had an activity for the night.

The dwarf approached one of him, "you should of said something, you get a discount from the local governments office."

"What?  What are you talking about?" questioned Darius.  A puzzled look on his face.

"You're here about the problem, right?"  He looked around, making sure there was no one around to hear their conversation.

"Look, I don't know what your talking about old fellow."  Darius snapped back at the little creature.

Finishing up the list with some remotes and an assortment of missiles for his wrist launcher, he went to the counter and the little creature went in the back of the store to retrieve his items.

He came back with a droid.  Being as small as he was, he couldn't carry any of the equipment.  He rang up the bill and handed it to Darius.  The discount was there.  He was practically stealing the stuff.  He didn't complain though and paid the bill.  The droid gently place the explosives on the counter and place everything else next to it.  This had been too easy and too weird.  Nobody should be able to buy this kind of equipment and not even get ID'd.  In fact, nobody should be able to buy this equipment.  Darius just walked out of the store, carrying his explosives and equipment.  The ride back was going to be greatly slower.

As Darius took off, the dwarf made a remark to himself, "he'll do fine."

(back at the resort, after Art and Taylsha's discovery)

Darius place his explosive in the private safe the room provided.  Right now, he needed to find somebody to talk to.  He was going to the pool, but caught Shazam instead. 

"Hey, where is everybody?" questioned Darius.

"Oh, they're here and there, sight seeing, shopping, exploring."  Shazam replied.

"Where's Jaden?  I thought we'd talk about CorSec over a game of sabacc or somthing."

"He exploring."

"In the jungle still?  Is he alright?  Near those ruins or what?"  Darius grew concerned. 

"Oh yeah, he's fine."  Shazam waved him off with his hand.  Darius didn't buy it.

"Where in the jungle is he at, this place is starting to get kind of suspicious.  I can't find anybody and I just bought some explosives cheaper than it takes to make them."

"Where in the hell did you find an explosives dealer Darius!"  Shazam exclaimed. 

"Weapons warehouse, 131st street, why?"

"This is a damn vacation, not training camp."  Shazam was starting to raise his voice.

"Where's Jaden?" Darius was also raising his voice.

"Stranded, he'll be fine."

"Yeah, right."  Darius turned and entered his room.  Shazam tried to follow but couldn't.  There were five new locks on the door.

Five minutes later, Darius came back out,  bristling with weapons.  Shazam was leaning against the wall, waiting.  "Damn it Darius, you can't keep playing the hero!"

"Stop me."

"I'll get you demoted or kicked out for this, Darius.  I'm ordering you to stop!"

Darius turned and started walking backwards, "we're on vacation.  You have no authority."

"I'll show you what authority I have on you!"  He began to run at Darius, but he was gone.  Shazam ran back to the room to call the authorities.

Darius was outside and on his bike in less than a minute from leaving his room.  He could spare no time, the sun was setting.  He dawned his helmet from his old, long lost combat armor from his mercenary days.  It had several different visions, and a visual feed on his E-11.

Darius knew exactly what to do.  Since Jaden had an artificial limb, it was going to give off a strange reading unlike other electrical equipment.  This was how he would search.

The map appeared in the corner of his helmet vizor.  He swept above the trees, looking for the electrical signal of Jaden's arm.

(several hours later)

It was totally dark.  Darius flew to the heat signature of a camp fire.  Upon arrival, Jaden sat there, not daring to go to sleep.  Something was wrong.  He had his E-11 close, ready to fire on the slightest threat.

Darius quickly landed, and received a lecture on why he had to stop being the hero.

Darius was very alert, there was definitely something wrong.  "Get on the bike, we need to get out of here," he ordered. 

"Wait, I need to show you something, maybe you could understand what that panel was saying," Jaden said.

Darius caught movement out of the corner of his eye, so did Jaden.  They both had their weapons drawn.  "We need to get out of here now." said Darius more forcefully.  "We're surrounded by someone, or something."

"I agree," Jaden said.  He was getting nervous.  So was Darius. 

The fire was quickly dying.  What held back what ever it was that was watching them, was beginning to fail.

Darkness, and absolute silence.

"LET'S GO!!!" screamed Darius.  He began firing in random places, shooting as he ran.  He hopped on the bike, nearly knocking it on its side.

The vertical repulsors squeeled as it flew straight up.  Jaden had to grab on to Darius to stay on as it blasted forward. 

A scream filled the ominous silent jungle.  Not else was to be heard, only the echoes of the scream.  Nothing was as it appeared anymore.  Not even in nature.

Nothing was right.  There was more than meets the eye.

(well, it sounds like the marryment is over)
 
-----------------------
Feed a womp rat a food ration, he'll want an energy stim. Give him an energy stim, and he'll rip your throat out.

----------------------
FM/CRW Darius Pursius/Nazgul 3-2/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=)

Shazam hadn't told Jaden he'd gone scurrying back to his informant Mathis for more 'information'.  Well, story really...

Apparently, back in the early days of the empire, they just kind of shot people out into random territories, capturing everything in sight, and if there were any 'problems', Vader was there to assist.  However, just after Mathis had made a bet with JMac he'd reach the top before him, the Empire cut a deal with a group that wanted to run a safari on the planet Varonat. 

Now, there were about three hundred troops dropped off on the planet to map the area, then create an outpost on the most secure area then begin to look for reasonable resourcing options.  Mathis was a pretty good guy then, had a wife and one son that he was hoping to get back to in three months time. 

However, the empire completely one-hundred percent turned its back on the planet, ignoring any mention of it to keep themselves out of trouble for illegal safari work.  That meant leaving the people behind.  As Shazam's half-drunk and saddened friend continued, he began to realize what had happened.  They were abandoned, forced to look for resources and create thier own civilization. 

Must not have worked out that way though, because everyone split up to survive on thier own, and Mathis said he found his way into the camp of these 'Safari' managers.  They were low down creeps and the fact that they could go in and out of the planet always seemed heart-renchingly easy...  So he didn't like the place, and he beleived that to this day, those men remained in the forest and in the cities, waiting for thier chance to claim a palace that never was... 

A good story teller.  What haunted him though was the way he said,"Never trust people...  Especially people who promise you things..."

Alright, time to call a meeting...

(Keep it goin guys, this is lookin to be good...)
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

(Good set up Jack)

Jadens grip tightened as the swoop bike picked up speed.  Darius was really ramming on the throttle trying to make sure that they made it out of the forest alive.  Jaden could see the resort very long off, they would arrive within the next half hour.

Darius could really handle the swoop bike controls like a master, and looked like he was experienced in doing so.  He had no hesitation to make any move that was needed, but yet he wasn't tense as he rode.  Just let things flow.

The edge of the forest could be seen now as Jaden looked out over Darius's shoulder, making sure everthing was alright.  It was early morning, just at daybreak.  Jaden's favorite time of the day.

Everything seemed a little strange as Jaden and Darius rode into the city area.  Maybe thats because it was daybreak, or for another reason.  After parking the speeder bike, Darius and Jaden made their way back to the resort, and packed up all of their things, and then headed to Shazam's room.

The door opened swiftly as Shazam pulled the handle, letting his two squadron mates in.  Sitting in the back was Exira, dressed, and drinking some kind of morning beverage.  Jen was sitting at the same table, talking to her about something.  Taylsha and Art were sitting in the corner with their hands locked, and seemed to be waiting for something.  The same went for Jack and Alexia, they were sitting in chairs, hands locked, right beside eachother.  Everyone was calmer then they had been before.

"You two, sit, now," said Shazam, walking back over to the desk that he had set up, along with a few other devices scattered around, his datapad, and a small computer hooked up to a headset.

"Yes sir," the two men said promptly, sitting down in the chairs backwars, so that the back of the chair was between their legs.

"Darius, I should have your ass kicked out of this Navy for doing what you did, or have you reprimanded....." said Shazam

"But-" Darius was cut off.

"But, you did a pretty brave thing, going out there and saving Jaden's hide," said Shazam, calming down a little bit more from the frustration that was upon him, "And Jaden, you are lucky that Darius did what he did, or you would probably still be out there, I don't know, Alive or Dead." Shazam said, sitting down.

"Thanks sir?" Jaden said, confused, "What is the plan here?" asked Jaden

"Well, as most of you know, the people of this planet are being hunted.  Based on some of the information I have gathered from a friend here on the planet who was once friends with JMAC, Mathis.  He told me that about 10 years ago, he and about 300 of his men were shot off here on Varonat to set up a small military base.  After a while, the Imperials totally cut off everything from the planet, and forgot that Mathis and his troops were still there."

"Mathis and his men practically went ballistic, and split up into groups.  There was no more teamwork involved, it was survival for yourself.  Mathis stayed with the few men that were still loyal to him, and they tried to scrounge up as much things as they could.  Well, Mathis and his men went out one day, and discovered the Safari people.  They labeled them scapegoats for all that had happened to them,  because the Safari people could actually get off the island and what not.  The two of the groups got into a fued, but eventually split off from one another to make their own civilizations on the planet.  To this day, Mathis says he blames them for everything, and that we should trust no one.  The safari people that are out there came here to hunt animals, but I have a different belief from what Mathis has informed me of.  They are not hunting the tourists on this planet, and the town folk," said Shazam, pacing around some more.

"We are going to get stocked on all supplies, and take everything we don't need to carry back over to the Gozanti-"

"Why don't we just get the hell out of here," said DJ

"Because...well....the safari people have control of the planet, and it is on lockdown.  Believe me, if we could get out of here in the Gozanti in one piece, I would do it, but she isn't as good as she use to be, and can't make that kind of run without the shit getting blown out of us, and all of us dying." said Shazam

"Oh," said Jaden, in dissapointment, "So are we going to just go out and attack them, or what"

"Well, my idea is we get with Mathis and whatever men he has left, get everything together, and just wait.  We will get stationed on top of buildings around the area, and get some small posts set up.  The hunters will surely attack the tourists, but we will be on the defensive.  If any of you can go out and convince some of the tourists to help our cause, please do so.  Tell them we have the weapons, all we need is them to fight for us." said Shazam

"Darius and I will go scout the area for a while," said Jaden, walking back towards the door, followed by Darius.

"Fine, just keep in contact," said Shazam.

"Will do," said Darius as they exited the room.

*****

Jaden and Darius walked around the city with their black robes on, and their weapons concealed.  They didn't want any of the tourists getting the wrong idea at first, so that they would be able to convince some of them to join the cause.

The people in the area were actually out of their homes now, but they were scurrying around; it looked like they were getting last minute supplies.  Maybe some of them did actually have an idea of what was going on at the time; or maybe something like this has happened to them before.

Jaden walked briskly up to a large stone block in the middle of the town squre, and stepped up onto it.

"What are ya doin," asked Darius

"Getting their attention," replied Jaden, holding his arms out to the sides, and taking a deep breath.

"Attention citizens of Varonat, We would like your help," said Jaden, booming his voice out

A few people stopped and turned their attention to Jaden, eyes locked onto his.

"Good, now, most of you know that something is going to happen, something bad," said Jaden

"You must not have been here for long," said a women on the side of the shop to the left.  "They do it every 3 months"

"Do what," said Jaden, in confusion

"Hunt," she said, with a discouraged look on her face

"Well, that we didn't know, but now we know that we can stop it,"

"We've never even tried to do something like that before.  We usually send a few villagers out that actually want to sacrifice themselves for the rest of our lives and family.  We really don't want to get on the bad side of those people," she said

"Well, we are going to do something about it, and if there is anyone in the city who would like to fight for the cause, please step forward," said Jaden

A large man, about 5-11, muscular, stepped up.  He looked like he was a drunk living off of the streets, and had nothing better to do.

"I've got some military experience," he said, slurring his words.

"I bet you do," said Jaden, looking over at Darius with a grin

"No, really, I was a seargent in the Imperial Army about 10 years ago," he said, trying to pay attention.

"Oh, really," said Jaden, "Can you handle a blaster very well"

"I was a heavy weapons specialist, I think I can handle a blaster," he said.

"Well, once we get a few more people, we'll get ya sobered up and ready for action," said Darius

"Alright," he said, stumbling over to the stone block beside Darius

About 10 more people volunteered, and followed Jaden and Darius back to the resort.  After a few of them were suited up with the things that the squadron had brought along, everyone huddled around the small table that Shazam had sprawled out across it, with a pencil in his ear, and a drink in the other.

"Well, we have a few people rallied up now don't we," said Shazam with a small smile on his face, "Now that all of you are suited up and ready, we need to get to work.  You two," Shazam said, pointing at two middle aged men who were armed with blaster rifles and 1 grenade each.  "You are going to be patrolling the area around the city, concealed as if you were homeless," he said.

The two men easily agreed.  "Jaden and Darius, you will be placed on the top of the resort with sniper rifles, and will be our eyes out there," said Shazam, "Jen and Jack, Alexia, DJ,  you will be looking around in the markets and such, waiting for something to happen" said Shazam.

"Art and Taylsha, you will be with Exira and I as we go meet up with Mathis and his few men over at the east side of the city.  Once we have his speeder loaded, and all of us are armed, we will jump the city when the hunters attack, after Jaden and or Darius sends the signal over," said Shazam

"Any questions?" he asked

"Nope," everyone replied, and were sent out to their posts.

*****

After reaching the top of the resort, Jaden and Darius crawled over to the corners on each side of the top of the building, their cloaks floating in the small breeze that was upon them.  Jaden pulled out his sniper rifle, just as Darius was adjusting his scope.  Jaden made sure his headset was working, along with Darius.

"Everyone here me," said Jaden.

"Yep, we can here ya," said a few voices.

"The Eagles Eye is in position, waiting for further instructions," said Jaden, taking careful aim with his scope across the horizon and down across the edge of the forest.

"Everyone is in place now, good, all we have to do is wait," said Shazam.

"Good luck," said Darius

 
-----------------------
Jaden Khaar
Vast Empire
Nazgul Squadron

"No good deed goes unpunished" -Murphy

FL/SCRW Jaden/Nazgul 9/Phoenix Wing/mSSD AtrusVEN/VE (=A=) [VC:B]

Shazam tapped the pencil he'd removed from his ear onto the desk repeatedly, a kind of nerve racking tension had begun.  Could Mathis truly be that blind?  So sure of what he thought he didn't get it?

Poor guy...  Shazam wouldn't tell him if he didn't have to.  It only occured to him after he heard the Empire didn't even bother to get thier own people.  Mathis' friends were dead, because they were hunted...  They were dead because they'd been dropped off on purpose, to be hunted...  Mathis and his group were the only ones left probably, maybe a few others stranded in the jungles...  He figured that they'd been to forgotten, that the Empire didn't care for their people.  Well, he was absolutely correct, but Shazam supposed he didn't realize the rest.  And it made the pilot wonder...  Would the VE turn on them?  Would they sell them off for a small fee for the chance at a greater opportunity?  It sickened him...

These guys were goin down...  Shazam managed to understand two very important things in the time that he observed story after story, watched numerous people make haste to thier homes in an attempt to save thier own lives...  Those two facts were-A: You were always being hunted, reguardless of whether you were trying to hunt them or vice versa...  and B: These guys always want to play a game...  They want to hunt.  So they'll have to hunt, it won't be wide open shoot what you can gaming...  No, they're ganna hide and camaflage and make as much of time as they can out here, and then they'll come back and do it again.  Shazam would not be hunted, and he wouldn't let his friends become anything like it...

Yes, they were going down...
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

Darius lost count at 157.  These guys were serious, and the only way to get rid of a serious opponent it to get serious.  For Darius, that was weapons wise.

"Jaden, you'll still got a solid count going?" Darius asked.

"I'm lost, we underestimated by just a tad I think."

"I'll be back, I left some weapons down next to the swoop."  Darius was on top of a water tower.  It was maybe the tallest building in the small tourist city.  There was no safe way to get up or down, so Darius just jumped.

The climbing rope slid through his gloved hands.  He descended slowly, using a solid grip to control his fall. 

When he reached the ground, the big drunken man was standing next to the swoop.  He was not longer drunk, but not fully awake. 

The man spoke, "your leader guy sent me to you.  He said you had explosives."

"He was right, but before we start, let me help your awareness a tad."  Darius pulled a small, single-use saringe out of a pouch on his belt.  He jammed it into the man's neck.  "This is a military grade energy stim.  It gives you the equivalent of 10 hours of sleep and 3 full meals."  He grinned, "feel good don't you?"

The fatigue literally melted away from the man.  "Now, that's what I'm talking about!  What do ya got for me."

"Do you know how to make IED's?"

"It's been a while, but I think if I had the right tools, I could do it."

"I'll be back."  Darius grabbed on to the climbing mechanism on the rope.  He grabbed the explosives, a rope, and the rest of the equipment.  With a squeeze of the trigger, he shot up to the top of the water tower.

"'ay, what about me?"  In a reply to the man's question, a rope dropped in front of his face.  Darius descended once again, attached the climbing mechanism, and shot right back up.  Not a word said.

The man popped up while Darius prepared his explosives for the making.  The man introduced himself, "they call me Lil John, but don't let the name confuse you.  I'm very big in real life."

Darius thought to himself, maybe the stim was too much.  "Darius, let's make some explosives."

The man got to work, and knew what he was doing.  In an hour later, he had 5 different bombs, all very useful: anti-personnel, anti-armor, timed mines, proximity mines, and remote mines.

"Jaden, what do we got?" Darius asked.

"Well by the looks of it, they've fanned out.  The east side is crawling with them.  I haven't seen any confirmed shots yet, but..."  He made a wide scan with the scope.

"Shit, they're firing on civillians!  This isn't just a hunt anymore, they trying to take the whole planet!"  Jaden shouted into his com.

"Shazam, you read this?" Darius said.

"Yeah, we're getting close the area.  You can commence firing, but make it inconspicuous.  Try to pick off individuals in alleys and streets.  Don't let them know they're on to us.  Shazam out."

It had begun.

(Let's do this thing.)
 
-----------------------
Feed a womp rat a food ration, he'll want an energy stim. Give him an energy stim, and he'll rip your throat out.

----------------------
FM/CRW Darius Pursius/Nazgul 3-2/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=)

Shazam was extemely surprised that Exira wanted to be a part of this, and even more surprised at the fact she thought she'd be going into battle.  Shazam thought not.

"How many people do you have?" Shazam queried, setting down a repeating blaster pistol, a dull thud rang out in the market area.  It was kind of weird being in the middle of a normally busy place, but all the sudden desolote while screams and shotgun blast could be heard roaring in the background. 

"I've managed to get about seventy-three men together.  Must say I was happy to see so many of my old men turn up."  Mathis had cleaned up quite well and was now exposing his short white hair and a now well shaven beard.  Also, it was now apparent he had an accent, a very deep and excellent, by Shazam's standards, accent.

"Well then, how should we do this...?"  Art broke the silence.

"Now...  CWO Shazam, I will need to you to cover this main avenue..." Mathis clicked a well concealed holo device, displaying a map of the city's main entrance.  "You will place yourselves within the market, this is to keep you from being targeted by thier real hunters..."  He glanced over at Exira who was mildy confused by his last reference.  "Real hunters...  The ones who like to make it difficult, the ones who find a resting spot and perch..." she still wasn't getting it.

"Snipers." Shazam ended the guessing game abruptly and Mathis looked at him as if to say,"She'd have gotten it eventually..."

"Right, well, my men have scattered themselves around the first five blocks or so, leading up into that center aisle that makes its way into the mid-section of the city...  I'd like to take them by surprise and deal out as many death certificates as possible...  In the first ten seconds."  Shazam almost dropped his jaw.  He was a little nervous about this whole deal, and telling his commanding officer he'd lost a man in battle during a vacation...  He'd be in some trouble, not to mention a few weeks of serious self-disapproval. 

"Is there something amiss sirs?" Mathis pulled his eyes upward from his crouched stance he'd moved to some time during his briefing.  Shazam and Art glanced at eachother with unease. 

"Its just the whole allowing our pilots to be easilly shot at..." Art began but Mathis waved it off stubbornly saying something about 'old army standards' then ended with-

"Your men will be completely out of the way, it'll come down to how well your people can play hide and seek.  If we can take the sadistic ones who made way into the city out real quick like...  Then we'll just have to worry about the guys taking pot shots from about a mile out..."  Again, Shazam almost lost his composure...

"YES, a mile chief.  I suppose you don't get that in the Navy, but I'm sure you guys do something up there..." the whole division thing was coming out again.  Shazam have to get this guy in a regular TIE and see if he complained... 

"So whats' the objective?' Taylsha wondered, she had been silent the entire way through and Mathis suddenly took notice. 

"Uh...  Well, I think we're just going to take out who we can by pushing them out of the city and see if we can't take them out with some home made cannons or something.  'Fraid we're kind of low on heavy turbolasers and masive explosive devices..."  The old army man chuckled, and Shazam grinned as an idea boasted to the others in his mind.

"I think I can get you some heavy turbolasers..." Mathis stopped laughing and his eyes were serious.  "Yea...  I can help you on that, just lemme know when you need 'em and you'll recieve some heavy cannon fire.  But I don't know what I'll be able to do about the snipers..."  Everyone decided that was good enough by a unanimous nod and began to take thier places.

"Cheif, where you want us?"  Shazam stopped in his track and turned to face Art and his fience. 

"Hmm...  Taylsha, I think you should join Jaden and Darius on the water tower, you'll be safer there as well as be able to spot possible threats.  I believe your a tactical coordinator or some crap like that, right?"  She nodded curtly and Shazam continued on with," you can organize our attacks...  And  Art, you can scurry on along with Mathis and myself.  I think we're heading up to that middle section of the tourist shops..."  They were standing in the middle of several lean-to style shops and beginning to breath a little heavier in the excitement.  "Alright, are we good, we're good?  Good..."  Shazam clapped his hands and they were off...

Taylsha would stay with them until they reached Darius and Jaden, then Art would break off with Shazam...  Right.

"By the way, this isn't a required exercise for you Nazguls out there...  And I don't think its sanctioned for vacation status, so if anyone wants to back out now..."  From his belt, the CWO had taken out his comlink and decided it the best time to notify the members of his squadron.

"No one?"  Shazam waited on the line for a few more seconds and then-" Right, les do this..."

(Excellent job guys...  Keep it goin...)

 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

"Lock en' load boys..." Mathis had his head up against the side of the metallic building, a surplus store selling sky diving equipment.  Despite the mention of arment, Shazam heard no quick switching or precise setting sounds.  Hmm...

All the way down the street, hunters began to fan out.  Inside the various shops and shiny eye catching windows, Nazgul squadron and its companions waited.

Crunch...  Crunch...  The safariest had shot out several windows and forced several street lamps to come crashing to the ground, enjoying every chance they got to destroy something.  Of course, it was now making thier position incredibly obvious, but Shazam couldn't argue.

The pilot gripped his repeating pistol and tried to breath as quietly as possible, but it just made his breathing louder and more nervous.  Man he hated that.  Was that why he didn't join the army?

"Zefa squad, prepare to engage..." whispered the army officer.  Everything was so still, and Exira, who Shazam had forgotten was with them, and was also completely un-armed, stood by Shazam.

Shazam glanced to his left and saw his vacation fling, then turned back to Mathis, but then there was a double take.  OH CRAP...  The pilot put up his hand in an attempt to signal 'don't move'... 

"Attack." The bolts began to fly...
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

(My POV)

"Yes i like the neckalce sir" trying over and over again to make the man listen to him but it doesn't seem to work. "i think he is deaf DJ". Jen wispered over the commlink".

"And i have been trying to get his attention for over ten miniutes, this plan better work i don't like to hide and wait for the enemy to come to me".

"They are coming out of the forest now" Jaden said over the comm.

"Roger" DJ replied.

"attack"

"attack oh not good, get down". pulling the old man down with him just as the bomb went off. "please don't let anything fall on the table".

His ears still ringing from the balst DJ could not hear what Jaden just said. Pulling up the man and lifting the table back up.

the man over joyed with being alvie gave DJ  the Neckalce i was lookin at and said with a smile "give that one to your lady friend over there" pointing over to Jen. "sir she is not my girlfriend she is just a friend". But realizing he couldn't hear him he just gave up.

"my sign language isn't that good but it is worth a try." getting the man's attention he told him to find a safe place to hide. The man under stood and ran off. "thank god no more civillians.

Getting back to the mission at hand he wondered how many more must die before i can have a peaceful vacation. "I mean come on i cant even go a week without being shot at".
 
-----------------------
We ride together we stay together Nazgul

----------------------
FM/CRW DJ234/Nazgul 8/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=*A*=)

Shazam gritted his teeth as he flung to the ground in the hopes he wouldn't be scourged by a sudden explosion to his direct left.  It caught him totally by surprised and left him gasping for breath; he had just been thinking how he would make them fear the thought of attacking such a cool place like the resort or any other shop around. 

Art and Taylsha had ran to the other side of the street in the hopes of creating a slightly more bottleneck effect as Mathis attempted to close them in.  A duel plan that would hopefully result in an utter defeat plea. 

Shazam rolled for a second, his eyes going everywhere and a strange lightness lifted his mind.  Oh crap, blacking out, the pilot thought as he sat up, everything glowing then turning a darker version of itself; Shazam hadn't noticed, but the explosion, or as he thought it was, did not 'ring' in his ears, in fact, it was dead silent afterwords. 

The retina in the back of the Chiefs' eye was only opaque for a few seconds though, and they suddenly cleared to reveal a large, burly man with a pistol held steadilly in the center of young Exira's forehead. 

The both of them were talking but Shazam could not hear, and every other person around him seemed to be listening so intently, not even the slightest conviction to move a muscle.  Whirring, howling noises were starting. 

"AH, ehah," the pilot was up into the chest of Madison.  How did he know that though?  The name...  Yes, Mathias had told me of the exploits commonly reminiscent of 'Madison'.  Surely the two had known eachother well in thier five intro days to Varonat, but they had grown to become natural enemies in the dog-eats-dog world that they were soon enveloped in. 

"Oh, suv..." Hunzer the mad was taken full and thrown into the contempory furnishings that were now ripped to shreads on the walls opposite a detonated shop entrance. 

Shazam's allied army friend Mathis, had just burst around the corner and brought the attention back to the center fight, leaving Madison and the CWO to duke it out.  Hunzer retalliated immedietly, clutching the slack in his enemies t-shirt, twisting for grip and suddenly tossing him across his center attack zone.  A detailed and extremely perfect master of his own military training.  This type of excellent but profuse training led to a certain strain in his mental need for physical abuse, which some would blame for the horendous torture he dealt to many innocent people. 

SC Shazam found his center of gravity and moved his legs to spring upwards, Madison behind him swinging his legs to get enough momentum going so that he would be immedietly on the high ground.  The pilot turned to the soldier who in turn looked him straight in the eyes, but didn't wait.  The moment seemed to be last for a few hours, but was also over so quickly one couldn't have beleived it had happened in that fasion at all.  Blaster fire erupted behind the two men judo chopping eachother back and forth within the attraction store.

As the pilot had rolled into a jump, he grabbed a shattered peice of glass, looking for any weapon really, but also attempting to think ahead.  Madison dropped as he initiated a false upper-torso attack involving cupped hands.  He turned so that his body, if met with that of Shazam's, was a perfect t-juntion, and let his leg move outwards then cut inwards behind the knee of his opponet.  In turn, the pilot dropped, but was quick enough to grab hold of the arch nemesis to Mathias.  The shattered, glimmering and almost holy appearence to the glass was suddenly terrifying as it ripped through the skin of Hunzer. 

"AHOHA...!" he exclaimed, he was trying to find anywhere to force his paine an avenue.  The interier of the store they had burst into had only been sparsely looted, leaving small figures about the room in a careless mess.  The army man adapted to his horrible, wrything pain and swept upwards, bending an unbeleivable gab to reach Shazam.  He should have split in half. 

"They're movin back," Mathis shouted over the com.  Well crap, this is the time to go and I'm fighting this bozo. 

The Nazgul SC was pushed into the hard ground and was now trying to block the outward punching of the grappling major before him.  He was rusty, thought Shazam.  He sent an arm to the left and his trusty power fist into the center at the same time in the hopes of 'intercepting fist'.  This worked quite well and Madison was stunned with a stinging sensation in the lower left hand corner of his face, forcing him to fall backwards awkwardly. 

"I'm getting out of here and getting your turbo-lasers Mathias, just promise me you guys will have them outside the fence in ten minutes," and Shazam was off before Madison could pull him back into the fight.  So they brought they're ring leader into the battle with them.  Mathis would find this very interesting considering he only breifly explained his deep and passionate hatred for the man.  He was the main reason everyone went thier seperate ways and began to destroy eachother, even turning to the side of the safari people in an attempt to live off of what he had.  Claimed he knew the land, and he did.  Now someone was dying today, and it wouldn't be the good guys...

(Com'on, les get posting, I think we're almost done, and feel free to include something from out there...)
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

Shazam was still confused about what had happened before he found his way to the star viper.  Exira had to keep resetting herself because of the loose fitting clothing she thought was applicable to a 'mission.'  Yes, but she was also swishin that semi-long, well cut dark hair that gave Shazam butterflies. 

"Holy crap..." Shazam said upon viewing the unconcious Jaden, the sniper rifle he'd been holding was now splintering from the sky and coming down towards the fallen comrade.  DJ stepped out from no where and caught the spiking instrument of doom from the air just before it reached his friend.  The group all stared at DJ who stepped back and continued to stare down at the body until he realized they were looking at him.  "What?" 

"Nothing..."  Darius said, absolutely stunned.

"Right, well I think we should get him back to the Gozanti, see if we can save his legs...  Alexia...  Exira...  You two take him to the ship and try to fix him up.  Or maybe pick up some medical supplies on the way?"

The two young ladies looked at eachother nervously, thinking about trying to take care of something as nasty as this...  They nodded reluctantly and began to jog over to a small motorized cart... 

"I suppose I'll return to Page...  See if I can't help them clean up..." Shazam was finishing when-

"This is Mathis, we're falling back, Hunzer pulled some kind of a manuver on a garrison of our troops, and by the looks of it, we lost a lot...  We should never have chased them into the forest..."  Shazam's army friend was coming down on himself. 

"Hey, its alright man, we'll finish this up for ya...  I'll see what booby traps I can take out from the sky, most of them should be in the first couple hundred feet.  Wonder where they put that outpost..."  Shazam walked away without a goodbye and went right to his parked Viper atop a small, completely devestated building, but stable.  Art would gather...
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

Jack was about to go nuts. Well, at least he thought he was. Jack managed to surpass a laugh. "Awww, come on," Jack complained. "The first person she sleeps with is Jaden. Darn it!"

DJ laughed, and soon Shazam joined in. Then, having a ton of fun, Jack laughed hysterically. He was going to wake up the three of them and punch Jaden. But Jack wouldn't do that. Jack spoke again.

"And to think I once thought that Jaden was a female. That is, before I saw him..." Jack laughed some more.

He bent down to wake Alexia up. She was confy, that Jack could tell. "What the hell, I'll let it go. She might as well sleep with someone else before I-"

Suddenly, Alexia woke up and rubbed her eyes. "Before you do what? What is it? Tell me!"

"I'll tell you later," Jack said. "Come on, let's get moving. We've got a lot of things to do now, unless you like sleeping with someone else before you sleep with me."

Again, everyone laughed. Alexia got up and slowly walked over to Jack. She kissed him. "Come on, you lovestruck flyboy. Let's get a move on."

"Yes, ma'am," Jack teased as she walked by.
 
-----------------------
Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

------------------------------------------------------------
Petty Officer 1st Class Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/PO1 Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [VC:B]
------------------------------------------------------------
Magistrate Jack Nebulax, Planetary Governor of Rallos, Imperial Directorate (http://www.directorate.net/)
PG/MAG Jack Nebulax/Rallos/Cantrell/Diadem
------------------------------------------------------------
Admiral Jack "Zax" Nebulax, Commander of Wing I (Nemesis Wing) of the Auroran Defense Fleet (ADF)