"They can't just of disapearred!" Vaughn slammed his hands down violently on the banister of the balcony, causing a loud clang to echo about the now empty ballroom. His hands stinging from the brutal treatment, he caught his breath, carefully brining his fury back under control. Turning fierce dark eyes to the shocked guard next to him, he spoke softly, "Keep looking."

"Y-yes, yes sir." The guard threw a salute, then span to move back to the relative safety of his comrades.

"Vaugh!" Gilles charged up the staircase, his face bright red, and his fury openly evident, "I'm ruined! My reputation is in shatters!"

Unflinching in the face of the man's screams, Vaughn gave the tycoon a brief once over, "Are you hurt?"

"Hurt!" Gilles sputtered, clenching one large meaty hand as though to through a punch, "Why I ought to..."

"Take Mr Gilles to his room, " Vaughn interrupted smoothly, addressing the two bulky guards to his left, "Secure the floor and await further instructions."

Both guards nodded, grabbing the now thrashing Gilles by an arm each and dragging him back towards the staircase. Ignoring the man's continuing screams of outrage, Vaughn strode swiftly over to where his head of security was conferring softly with a Cepany police officer. He turned as the Major approached, his expression already reflecting further grim news.

"We have nothing on them sir. Visual id matches nothing on file, and the name's have turned up bogus."

Clamping his jaw shut, Vaughn flicked his gaze to the officer, "The pursuit?"

Aware of the Major's building anger, the officer simply shook his head.

With a soft growl, Vaughn span about, moving quickly down the stairs towards the room in which he had placed the captured intruder, the Kuati woman. If they couldn't find her friends...perhaps she could be persuaded to part with their location...

"Sir!" A young guard ran up abruptly, blocking his path, "She's gone!"

"Who?"

"Ms Gilles sir," the guard repsonded, swiping at her sweat streaked face, "We can't find her anywhere. We've checked the entire mansion and the grounds."

Vaughn's blood ran cold.

Pushing the young guard aside, he stormed forward into the coverted prison room, his eyes scanning the dark interior for a sign of the Kuati...only to see the unconscious forms of the three guards he had placed on duty. Letting out a string of foul curses, he span about, charging back into the corridor.

They had Delinda. And he had nothing.

"Search the entire house!" He snapped at the closest contigent of guards, all of whom were now peering curiously into the dark room behind him. "Now! She can't have got far!"

They scattered, hands sliding to unclip the blasters on their thighs.

Alight with rage, Vaughn brought a small comlink up from his pocket, one which would place him in direct contact with the planet's local defense forces.

This had just become personal...


-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
SL/GSG Kami/1SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [CoR] [IG] [GCA] [BC]
TRN/KAD Kami/Training 1-3/VEDJ/VE
-=Surrender to your darkest dreams, and you'll live as you've never lived before...=-
+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +

Kami moved calmly through one of the dim corridors of the third floor of the mansion, stopping every few minutes to examine the content of the rooms about her. Her head was pounding, testament to the beating Vaughn had given her with his rifle, whilst her wrists were raw from where she had slipped free of her bindings. Her fingers were still marked red from when she had touched the wound above her forehead, which was still freely bleeding. The guards had done little to alleviate her discomfort...so she had made sure that the favour was returned when she had awoken.

Voices sounded in the distance, announcing the approach of another patrol of guards. Glancing upwards, Kami jumped, latching onto one of the expensive timber beams of the roof. Flipping herself about, she lay face down on the beam, teeth gritted against the pain provoked by the sudden movement. The voices sounded again, before suddenly the guards were moving beneath her, unaware that their target waited silently above them. Letting them pass, Kami slowly dropped back down, then moved into the room to her right.

It was an office, its interior littered with expensive looking artifacts resting on gleaming crystal pedastals. Letting one hand trail along the fine wood of an ancient bookcase to her right, Kami moved to the large desk at the back of the room, a huge curved window with garden views sitting at its back.

Dropping into the leather chair behind the desk, she gazed wide eyed at the screen before her, which clearly displayed Gilles name in the small pop up box demanding a password to access further files. Shaking her head slighty in disbelief, then cursing a second later as her head burned briefly in response, Kami quickly typed Delinda's name into the black box and hit the enter key. Greeted by a flashing rejection, she closed her eyes, trying to think amidst the fog caused by her blood loss.

Seconds past...before her green eyes flashed open, her slim fingers flying over the keyboard once again. The console hesistated, contemplating the newest entry, then hummed, the screen dissolving to reveal a series of hidden files. Her mouth dry with excitement...Kami accessed the first of the files, her eyes widening further as she took in the contents.

"How is he?"

She froze at the sound of the Major's voice, distinguishable even from a distance.

"Well..too be quite honest sir, he's furious." Another voice answered, "Any luck with Ms Gilles sir?"

"No..." The response was a growl, "But we will have her within 24 hours."

Briefly overtaken with relief at the news that some of her squad had obviously survived and carried out the mission, Kami slid from the chair and moved to the window, unlatching one of its glass panes.

The information from the console stored carefully within her mind, she slipped lithely out, latching onto the delicate pipeline winding down the side of the mansion... to descend into the darkness below.

-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
SL/GSG Kami/1SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [CoR] [IG] [GCA] [BC]
TRN/KAD Kami/Training 1-3/VEDJ/VE
-=Surrender to your darkest dreams, and you'll live as you've never lived before...=-
+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +

The somber demeanor of the remaining Horsies had not diminished in the slightest as they exited the air car. Angel was still in a state of shock over what he had been forced to do. His face was an emotionless impasse, and his usual bright amber eyes had were dimmed to a few shades above the dead black of Phoenix's. Guilt and self doubt waged a heavy war in his mind, threatening to tear down the walls of his resolution.

He had done the right thing.

She would have done the same.

After landing and instruction JR, he walked slowly away from the air car. The dark, rusted walls of their headquarters did very little to lighten his mood, their somber decay from years of neglect simply adding to the remorseful gait in his walk.

Long ago he had sworn to protect her. Yet despite his resolve, despite his training; he had failed again.

First at Bestine, falling prey to the power of the Dark Side when he should have been there for her. Then again in the Citadel, when his fight against Phoenix almost got her killed. And now he had just delivered her into enemy hands...given up without a fight.

But it wasn't just her he had failed. It was Evi...Garren...Sinister. Eviscares had been an Iron Horse vet, and a good friend. Garren and Sinister two bright eyed recruits fresh from the Academy. Now dead. If he got out of this alive it would be three letters he would have to write to three families...telling them their sons would not be coming home.

Somehow his wandering lead him back to the officer's quarters where he and Kami had laughed as they prepared for the long night. With a silent sob, he sat on the edge of his bunk, burying his face in his hands.

What the hell happened in there...Our plan was flawless...I just don't understand.... This chain of self loathing and pity repeated itself over and over, threatening to tear Angel's fragile control over his external emotions apart.

"Look Angel." A familiar voice said from the hall. "We need to talk."

JR strode into the room unceremoniously and Angel slowly raised his head. "What is it?"

"I've found Logan," JR replied. A shocked look appeared on Angel's face as he continued, "At least I know he visited the Gille's manor under the name Logan Dar'ran."

"Are you sure?" Angel asked looking thoroughly at JR

"Positive, the description couldn't be anyone else." JR again replied.

"Good work." The ASL said. Rising from the bed he patted JR on the shoulder. "Go get some rest. We need to figure out our next step in the morning."

JR nodded, acknowledging that his long time squad-mate was dealing with issues no one could help with. "There is one more thing..." JR said hesitently. "Commander Saunders just arrived and is on his way in."

"Crap. Thanks JR. Now go tell the others to rest as well." Angel said, shaking his head. Their supervisor would be furious at the debacle at the mansion, even more-so about leaving Kami behind which, if identified, would implicate him in the kidnapping. Quickly changing out of his party clothes, Angel donned a simple black jumpsuit, only getting it halfway zipped before there was another knock and his door opened.

Saunders entered the room and took in the clothes strewn about, and Angel's visibly depressed state. Two young men entered behind him, duffel bags in hand.

"What the hell happened up there?" Saunders demanded.

"Our mission was successful, that's the important thing sir." Angel said, straightening himself into military posture. "Beyond that...I wish I knew."

"This is a hell of a mess. You know if word comes down it was your squad involved an angry planet will pick up arms and revolt...And not even you vaunted shocktroopers could hold back the shitstorm that would ensew." The Naval Commander spat the last few words out, anger building rapidly.

"Sir, we will contain the situation. We have a possible lead on Logan, and we have Delinda. We will take care of retrieving the...bodies..." Angel choked on the word, still not being able to sense Kami's presence since her blackout. "and cleaning up any possible means of exposure"

"That's what I like to hear. I have some more bodies fresh in from Cepany to add to your squad. Top of the class they were." Pointing to the first man, a bit taller than Angel with similar build...and a definite Corellian swaqgger, he said. "This is Juilius Kelly, but he goes by Bones. And this is Peebs Kornaski. They were brought up to speed with the mission status upon their arrival, and now I'm turning them over to you."

"Thank you sir, and welcome  you two. Head down the hall and find a man named Gavyn. He's our Fire Team Captain and will show you to your bunks."

"Pleasure to be here sir." Bones replied. Both saluted Angel and Saunders, then turned with academy precision and went off in search of Gavyn.

Saunders made his way after them, stopping in the doorway to say in a low voice. "Make sure you get this cleaned up. I want results."
 
-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
[LoR] [RoM] [BC] [CDS] [WM] [GRoM] [IH] {BoA}
------------------------
Sith Guardian
CM/SG Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/Eagle 1-1/Sith/Dark Jedi Order/Vast Empire [VP:1]
------------------------

The streets of Cepany were quiet, the clean, intricately designed curbs flickering in the soft glow of the lightposts above them. Unlike most other planets, the streets were free of the rabble of homeless, beggars and cutthroats, leaving the pathways safe for residents to tread at night.

Whislt she might have enjoyed the scenary and peacefulness on any other night, Kami stumbled quickly down the dark streets and alleyways, her bright green eyes constantly darting about the shadows. Still in her once beautiful, now tattered dress, most of which was stained with blood, she stuck out painfully amongst the manicured gardens and the plainly dressed citizens who wandered the streets. She had already drawn more than a few eyes, and was now wishing desperately for a dirty alleyway and some criminals to hide amongst.

Ducking down another side path, she paused momentarily to catch her breath, hearing the sound of sirens in he distance. Her hands were stinging painfully from where she had been forced to throw herself in a thorny bush moments before as a armoured vehicle had passed, its lights swivelling about in her direction. She had only just managed to avoid being seen...though since her heart beat had increased two fold with the realization that Vaughn had brought the local military into the fray.

"Are you alright?"

A young man was suddenly before her, his face creased in worry, "My god! You're bleeding! What happened? Where you attacked?"

Stumbling to her feet, Kami threw out a hand to stop the man stepping forward to support her, "I'm fine...really...I fell...and hit my head."

The mans eyebrows arched, "That's one hell of a fall."

The sirens sounded again, closer now, and Kami started, her gaze darting to the closest alleyway. The young man studied her, his dark eyes alight with understanding, "They're after you." He said softly, "Aren't they?"

Kami started to respond, yet abruptly felt the ground beneath her give way. With a soft cry she collapsed, the white hot pain of her head drowning out the world about her. Feeling the soft brush of grass of her face, she groaned, aware in some part of her mind that she had to get up and keep moving. But she was so tired...and in so much pain...

Her eyes threatened to roll up into the back of her head as the sirens sounded again, seemingly echoing in from above her. Not feeling the gentle hands which clasped about her waist to pull her to her feet, Kami groaned softly again, her mind drifting once more into darkness...
 
-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
SL/GSG Kami/1SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [CoR] [IG] [GCA] [BC]
TRN/KAD Kami/Training 1-3/VEDJ/VE
-=Surrender to your darkest dreams, and you'll live as you've never lived before...=-
+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +

Iron Horse had deposited Delinda in the oldest, darkest, dustiest and foulest room in the ancient barracks they called home. The flood was covered with a thick layer of dust, mold, and grime, giving an almost ethereal appearance to it. Cobwebs splayed themselves over the cieling and corners of the room, all seeming to link to the sole glow panel dangling from its cord in the ceiling.

It flat out disgusted Delinda Gilles.

She had given up shouting hours ago as her cries had gone unanswered even by her captors. Her voice, ringing from the duracrete walls, had succeeded only in giving her a monstrous headache. She tried to clear her mind, to focus on what she could do to get out of the situation, but the feeling of helplessnees quickly consumed her.

For the first time that night, tears formed in her eyes.

Before the first could fall however, the door to her "cell" slowly creeked open to reveal the grim face of the young and dashing Caleb Dramas. He stood in the doorway, eyes downcast, with an almost sad expression on his face.

Delinda blushed slightly, remembering how distracted she had been by him and his gorgeous wife...remembering how stupid she had been. Her parched, dry throat choked back any words she tried to form, so she sat there, bound to a chair, staring in the eyes of her captor.

Another figure appered behind Caleb, his platinum blonde hair shimmering slightly in the dim light. Caleb moved aside, letting the other man drag a small table into the room, followed by a second chair. The table was placed in front of delinda, and Caleb moved his chair to sit opposite of her. The platinum haired man came back into the room with a glass of water and plate of food, setting them on the table in front of Caleb's chair.

"Leave us." Angel said to JR.

The young sergeant simply nodded and retreated from the room, closing the rusted door behind him.

Angel stood, staring at the woman Iron Horse had sacrificed so much to capture...whom he had sacrificed so much to capture. Reaching into the Force, Angel used the little skill in mind manipulation he had to try and plug himself into her head...only to find much she was much stronger-minded than he would ever have given her credit for.

He noted with a quick smile, how Delinda wilted and shifted uncomfortably under her relentless stare.

Guess it's time for plan B.

Reaching behind his back, Angel produced a long, slender knife, and began walking slowly across the room towards his captive.

"You know... I could almost end your career right here...just a couple swipes to the face and you wont be able to land another two-bit soapie part." To puncuate his point, he gave her a decidedly evil grin, flipping the blade around in his hand.

He stopped directly behind Delinda, and brought the knife around to stop right in front of her face. Relishing in the fear that suddenly radiated from her, Angel slowly moved the knife away and cut the bonds hlding her wrists together behind the chair.

"But I'm not a butcher." He said, returning to his spot across the table from her. "And if you cooperate, no harm will come to you." Angel sat in the chair, leaning back with his hands over his head, watchign as Delinda rubbed her wrists, then pulled her tussled hair back to where it belonged.

"Now, you've been here for 6 hours. We're going to play a game. It's called 'I ask you a question, you tell me what you know, I give you something.' Lie to me, refuse to answer a question, or play dumb, and I come back in another 6 hours and we'll start again."

Angel slid the glass of water just out of Delinda's reach, "We'll start with something simple like...have you ever heard of a man named "Logan."

...

Two hours later, Delinda told him everything she knew. In the end, she had a fresh pair of clothes, a clean room with shower, and a full meal. He posted Jakireth and Gavyn, who had just woken from sleep, outside her door with orders to not go in under any circumstance. In all his days with Slishu, Sala and Dicer, Angel knew how dangerous a woman like that could be in such a situation.

In the end he had to silently thank his former mentors, as they taught him the cardinal rule of interrogation. "Violence breeds hatred and a shut down hostage. Kindness makes an open mind and open mouth."

As it turned out, Delinda had not known as much as he hoped she would. She knew her father was involved with the rebellion, and that Vaughn was as well. Personally, she cared little for politics, but followed the lead of her fiancee and father. She had never heard of the Logan Iron Horse was looking for and knew nothing about the leaders of the rebellion...just that her father was one of the money sources driving it.

"It's time to make our move with her." Angel said to JR. The two had been sitting silently in the communications center of the barracks, each dealing with the last few hours in their own way. "Get that holo-recorder ready, its time to make our demands."
 
-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
[LoR] [RoM] [BC] [CDS] [WM] [GRoM] [IH] {BoA}
------------------------
Sith Guardian
CM/SG Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/Eagle 1-1/Sith/Dark Jedi Order/Vast Empire [VP:1]
------------------------

Peebs, and Bones took up the post outside Mrs. Gilles door for the long night of babysitting.  "What is going on exactly?" Peebs asks.  Bones puts his fingers to his lips to shush Peebs, "I am not sure, and I don't know how much she can hear through that door, so we should talk quietly." 

They moved across the hall to the table sitting there with a Sabacc deck sitting there.  As they both sit down, Peebs asks Bones if he plays, and points to the deck.  "Not really, I have been around a few high stakes games, but don't really care for the game."  "What exactly did you do before you came here, I mean by your rank, you are as new as me, but you look a bit older then the average new recruit, no offence." Peebs said.  Bones just kind of stared at the deck for a moment and sighed.  "Well Peebs, I am from the Corellian sector, one of the twin planets actually, and I was in Law Enforcement, I don't really want to go to far into what I did there, at least until I feel a bit more comfortable with you and the rest of the team."  "I take it you miss it a bit."  "Yea a little, it was all I knew, my Grandfather, and father were both in the outfit, and likewise killed in the line of duty, I just needed a change, and to get out of the sector."  Said Bones. 

"I don't get the impression that we are to welcome here."  Said Peebs.  "What, on planet or with Iron Horse?"  Said Bones "Both actually, but even more so from IH." Peebs responded.  "Well we are here to replace at least two of their friends, so I can see their point of view.  I think they will warm up after we prove our selves to them." said Bones "I guess you are right." Was all Peebs could muster.  The two sat in silence and stared at the door. 
 
-----------------------
Speed, Surprise, and Violence of action.

"You don't have to ask me twice..." Jakireth muttered with a slightly cynical expression.

His demeanor had surely changed within the last few minutes, and seeing your squad leader alive can always brighten things, especially after thinking the worst. Not to mention, a demolitions plan was just proposed...

Jakireth Cadrimos was suddenly wide awake.

It was apparent that the only soldier in the room without the fresh thoughts of rippling explosions on their mind was that of Angel, his emotional complex rather laden with rage. Jakireth still wasn't fully briefed on the events that had taken place with the man named 'Logan', but whatever had occured, it surely hadn't helped things. His ASL didn't have the longest fuse in the Vast Empire, but it did take quite a bit to make him that angry.

"Well then..." Angel said, breathing out. It almost seemed as if it was done so to extinguish the fire that had recently set him off, "Kams, you might want to clean up a bit...you look...errm, just go clean up. The rest of us will go about planning our new excursion. When Gavyn comes back we'll have some needed materials, and we can set off from there."

Kami stood up after he had finished, smirking in Angel's direction. JR still hadn't spoken for a while, his eyes cast into another subject.

Jak turned towards him, addressing the mystery that had him occupied. "What's on your mind?"

The Sergeant stared back, answering slowly:

"When we go on to destroy this factory...who else would they suspect to eliminate it? Nearly everyone on Cepany is weary of the VE's existance on their planet, and Saunders is surely going to be hounded for it. We're going to have to go about this cautiously."

Angel nodded, shrugging his shoulders. "There's always a risk, we came into this knowing that. In fact, our mission even more so. We'll just make sure we leave nothing behind." He grinned widely.

"I'm sure we can doctor up something around the barracks to do just that. If not, Gavyn is going to be shopping a bit longer." Jakireth stated with a tilt of his head.

"Wait," He asked, "We shouldn't just knock the thing off...why not pull a little recon? The building is probably housing some goodies, and I'm sure we can find some information that can piece things together."
 
-----------------------
The"Stallion"Horsie
Iron Horse Squad
Army of the Vast Empire
------------------------
TRP/LCPL Jakireth/1SQD/1PLT/1CMP/1RGT/1BAT/Tadath/VEA[LoR]
Rep/Reporter Jakireth/NewsRep: 2/News Division/VET/VE

"Embrace the past so you may better the future, for living means nothing if you have no goal to achieve." Jakireth

Gavyn returned to the base for a second time, after being sent out again for more supplies. "How
did I get stuck with this stupid job any ways?" Gavyn mumbled angrily after dropping the new
supplies off with the rest. After checking on the two new recruits, he set off to the bathroom.

Once inside he looked at his reflection in the mirror. Two bloodshot eyes stared back at him,
caused from lack of sleep, as well as deep blue bags underneath. Wetting a cloth, he quickly
scrubbed his face, and tried to comb back his tangled mess of hair. Finally giving up trying to
make himself more presentable, he shrugged and left the bathroom. I'm not here to impress
anybody any ways.

The thought of a good nap wormed its way into his head, but he quickly forgot about it and made
his way to the briefing room, where the rest of the squad was. Gavyn opened the door quietly,
hearing the voice of someone unfamiliar. Inside, Angel sat in front of a holo of Mr. Gilles who
had just finished talking. Jak sat behind some equipment, with Kami and JR beside him. Gavyn
walked up next to them and Jak whispered jokingly, "You didn't forget to toilet paper did you?"

Kami slapped his arm with a grin and put a finger to her lips. "Well, I thank you for your
cooperation Mr. Gilles. I assure you that you daughter shall be returned, unharmed, as soon as
we receive the money. Until then, Goodbye." Angel motioned for Jak to cut the connection, then
stood up and stretched.

"Well, let's go blow something up then, shall we?" Angel said with his evil grin.

((OOC: Decided to make a post before i went on leave, partially out of boredom, and to take my mind of things, and cuz i felt bad for not posting in awhile. Sorry about the format i was a bit rushed.))
 
-----------------------
"A painless lesson, is one without any meaning. One who does not sacrifice anything, cannot achieive anything."

"Do. Or do not, There is no try."

Corporal Gavyn Kanu
Fire Team Captian
Iron Horse Squad
FTC/CPL Gavyn/1SQD/1PLT/COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [EW 2nd Class]

The wind whipped violently around Angel, catching his cloak and wrapping it around his body. The section of the old abandoned starport in which he stood offered little in the way of protection from the growing storm. To his left he could hear the teeth chattering of Delinda as she sat, tied around an onld water pipe jutting from the broken and cracked concrete.

"He's late" Angel said into the comm hidden on the inside of his jacket. "be ready for some sort of trick."

Jakireth, who was hidden amongst a refuse pile at the north end of the area clicked once on his comlink in affirmation. Gavyn did likewise from his post inside the Horsies getaway vehicle.  Angel had taken only those two with him, leaving Kami to get more rest after her ordeal and JR to keep watch over the new kids.

Another gust of wind howled through the spaceport, rattling what remained of the old broken windows, and almost ripping several rusted doors off their hinges. As the fury of the wind died down, the engine of a single airspeeder could be heard approaching. The whine of the repulsor lifts died just outside the far wall of the building. A gentle slam of the speeder door was heard as its tenant made his way towards the drop point.

"He's here."

Samuel Gilles, still clad in his clothes from the party the night before, dragging a large black duffel bag behind him. His hair was even more unkempt, and the five o'clock shadow he had during their conversation had grown out even more. He looked very little like the billionare tycoon on th e landing platform just days earlier.

He was out of his element, scared, and unsure of what to do.

Angel loved it.

"Hold it right there." Angel said aloud, raising his voice to be heard over the storm. "Take out the blaster tucked behind you, and the holdout strapped to your ankle."

Gilles visibly winced, then reluctanly complied with Angel's wishes. The two weapons clattered across the duracrete as he tossed them aside.

"Good. Is the money all there?"

"Yes" Gilles, replied, his voice cracking slightly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his daughter, and a small cry escaped his throat. "Delinda! Are you alright my dear?!" Unable to reply because of the gag in her mouth she could only mumble responses that no intelligent being could decipher.

"She is unharmed, as per our agreement." Angel said cooly. "Take ten steps forward, drop the bag, and take ten steps back."

"Not until you release her!" Gilles cried.

"Mr. Gilles, you aren't in a place to demand anything. Now I've kept my word up until this point. Do as I say and I won't have to break it now." Using the Force, Angel let a small bit of authority and power enter his voice, making the once pompous tycoon crumble.

This time Gilles did as he was told.

"Now...I want  you to tell me all about this rebellion of yours." Angel said, walking slowly over to untie Delinda from the water pipe. From tucked in his waist, Angel produced a small vibroblade. "For every lie you tell me ,or for everthing you withold, she loses a finger. If she runs out of fingers I'll move on to the toes. After that...well...for both of your sakes let's hope it doesnt get that far."

The sheer look of horror was a bigger give away than the wave of fear Angel picked up in the Force. He was putty in the Iron Horse ASLs hands.

"They don't tell me much...honestly!" Gilles stammered, flustered at the thought of the horrors we would be forced to witness. "All I do is write the checks. Major Johnson tells me vaugely where the money goes and that's it! I swear it!"

"Who do you answer to?" Angel snapped angrily, drawing the vibroblade ever closer to Delinda's now trembling hands.

"Major Johnson and his brother Logan are the only ones I talk to! They are my liasons into the rebellion."

"What's in this for you?"

Hesitating slightly, Gilles finally slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Profit....if Cepany becomes independent, I  was promised a vast majority of the benefits of any endeavors arising from it. I'm a business man..."

"So for your own greed you would sacrifice Cepany's sons and daughters in open war with the Vast Empire? You disgust me." Angel spat on the ground, Dark Side boiling within in. Once again it called for blood, for revenge. Taking a deep breath, Angel managed to quell the rising storm in the Force, and regain his composure.

"Where is Johnson's brother Logan?"

"...I don't know where he is...he left the mansion shortly after arriving and talking to Vaughn. He seemed agitated, especially after Vaughn gave him surevilance pictures of you and your wife...if thats what she even is..."

A small flicker of fear ran through Angel this time. If Logan recognized us...it could set the entire planet off...

"The last check...who did it go to?"

"Logan...made me write to the aid of some minor Moff on..."

Suddenly a flare of anger and malice shot off like a cannon in the Force. Angel's head snapped around just in time to see the muzzle flash of a rifle. Without even time to react, the round pierced Gilles between the eyes, splattering the back of his head on the duracrete below.

"SITHSPIT!" Reaching out with the Force, Angel pushed his sphere of influence out around him, trying to get a sense of the assailants. Speaking into the comm he shouted "We're at code black, evac now! Position has been compromised. Angel heaved Delinda, who was now kicking and screaming again, over his shoulder. His outstretched senses gave him a split second warning before a second shot pierced the duracrete where he was just standing.

The presence of the man shooting seemed very familiar as Angel finally locked onto his location...Vaughn... In order to keep the secrets of the rebellion safe, the Major had just executed his cash cow. Tapping into the Dark Side again, Angel this time allowed it to fill up withing him. He doubled his speed under the load of Delinda, not even breaking stride as he scooped up the ransom money and bolted for the door.

He ran in random patterns, throwing in pauses and sutter steps to break Vaughn's aim. Two steps from the door he felt something burn into his shoulder. Ignorng the pain, he kicked the door down and sprinted towards the awaiting car.

Jakireth came out behind him, laying down a stream of cover fire as he finally discerned the shooter's location. The door to the speeder flew open, Gavyn hurrying Angel inside. It was then Angel noticed Delinda had stopped struggling...and then it hit him. He tossed the ransom bag into the back, then laid her on the seat. A single blaster burn was marked on her back...center mass.

Jakireth flew up behind Angel, diving into the back of the car. "LETS MOVE!" He yelled, scanning the area through the sights of his E-11/H rifle.

"She's dead..." Angel said somberly. She had been a relative innocent in all of this...and betrothed to the man that killed her. Once again, the Johnson family had proven that their betrayals would know no boundaries...

Angel would make sure they paid for each and every one...
 
-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
[LoR] [RoM] [BC] [CDS] [WM] [GRoM] [IH] {BoA}
------------------------
Sith Guardian
CM/SG Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/Eagle 1-1/Sith/Dark Jedi Order/Vast Empire [VP:1]
------------------------

"He...he killed her..." Jakireth said softly, his eyes darting from Angel to the now calm face of Delinda Gilles.

His squad leader simply bowed his head in response, keeping his sight declined as his thoughts raced. Gavyn had his hands locked securely about the edge of the steering device of the vehicle, his grip tightening after the message reached his eyes.

The driver shook his head from the seat, his gaze still scanning the area in front of him.

"Vaughn murdered his own fiancee..." Gavyn stated, almost as a question. The Corporal had witnessed the bolt fly towards the squirming actress as the door was blown open, noticing the angered Major spin around and tear down the expanse that was the aging starport.

The raging trooper situated in the back reloaded his weapon with ridged movements, a symbol of his obvious frustration; the depleted blaster cartridge being sent violently against the window.

"That makes the body count a five...in a matter of hours!" He yelled, trying desperately to control the fury of emotion mixing torrentially inside of him.

Angel leaned back in his seat, his expression blank.

"We can't control who engages death, Jak... It's not our place..."

Jakireth refused the comment, unable to surpress his feelings.

"Three of those were our men! Another was completely innocent!"

Sergeant Nimiichi didn't continue, merely arranging his cloak as a cocoon about him.


"Jak, get down!" Gavyn screeched from the front compartment, his head snapping to where he could see the disturbance from the vehicle's rear view.

The hovercar strayed quickly to the right, avoiding a volley of repeating blaster bolts.

You have got to be fuc... The Lance Corporal thought, moving his position as Angel removed a pistol and began laying down blind fire towards the recently emerging vehicle. The first round of his weapon blowing straight through the protective glass of the car's back panel.

Switching on the powered scope of his E-11, the soldier rose from his previous location on his stomach to a knee, raising the sight to his eye.

"Congrats," Jakireth said angrily, the targeting array now focused on the attacker who manned the stationary weapon, "You're my first bitch..."

The round erupted from its barrel, running straight through the gaping hole that was now opening their method of transportation to the elements. The storm replied with a thunder, bright energy columns flying from the sky as the bolt matched the enemie's skull. The two other occupants of the rival car revealed smaller portable weapons; simply handguns from what he could tell through the slight blurriness of magnification. As their partner fell towards the bottom of the cabin, they released a potentially damaging barrage.

"Target the energy coils!" Gavyn said as he commanded their car to jolt upwards.

Jakireth changed his direction towards the front of the vehicle, holding the trigger down fully and remaining unmoved by the recoil of his shaking rifle. Noticing the distinctly apparent burn that was growing on their hood, he lifted his arm and prepared to pick off the next assailant.

Firing his last round onto the designated spot, Angel tossed his head back, obviously confirming the drop in danger. As Jakireth was about to tempt the trigger once more, the opposite hovervan imploded, sending its now flaming pair rocketing towards Cepany's surface.

"Gods," Gavyn exclaimed with a sigh whilst closing the aft opening with the emergency shields, "They don't pay us nearly enough for this crap."

 
-----------------------
The"Stallion"Horsie
Iron Horse Squad
Army of the Vast Empire
------------------------
TRP/LCPL Jakireth/1SQD/1PLT/1CMP/1RGT/1BAT/Tadath/VEA[LoR]
Rep/Reporter Jakireth/NewsRep: 2/News Division/VET/VE

"Kams?"

Kami jolted, abruptly aware that she had fallen asleep on top of the pile of paperwork littering her desk. Pulling a wayward report from her cheek, she glanced up to see a decisively irritated Jak.  Coming fully awake, she regarded the Lance Corporal silently before speaking,

"What happened?"

'Delinda's dead." He said bitterly, "Gilles too. The Major ambushed the ransom meeting and took down both of them."

Swallowing her shock, Kami immediately glanced behind Jak, seeing no one, "The others?"

"Fine. We're all fine." Jak ran a hand through scruffled hair, "Just...sick of having everything fall apart."

Coming to her feet, Kami shook off the last vestiges of her sleepiness, "This mission is so twisted we're having to improvise along the way." Her voice softened as she reached out and briefly clasped the young man's shoulder 'We're doing ok Jak. We're slowly hurting them."

He nodded, his resolve visibly sharpening, before snapping into a stiff form of attention,

"Orders?"

"Get Angel and Gav," Kami said, scooping up the pile of papers and the discarded data pad from the desk, "Meet me in the briefing room in five."

*        *        *        *        *        *

"This, is Renoir Military Supplies."

The projector screen flickered momentarily, before displaying a large, squat looking building surrounded on all sides by wicked looking steel piked fences.

"They employ over 300 employees, 100 of which make up security detail. These men are placed in key surveillance points within the sites, or, within the small barracks near the back of the compound."

Kami paused, regarding the small group of men before her, "Most are civilian soldiers. Though as of late, I believe Major Vaughn has taken it upon himself to infiltrate a few highly trained members of his military into key positions to oversee the running and protection of the factory."

"Why is this place so important to them?" Gav inquired, both feet propped up on the chair in front of him, "Don't they have any more military production facilities?"

"Yes. Though none as advanced as Renoir," Kami answered, moving onto the next slide, which displayed a series of white clad scientists within a sealed room, "Renoir specializes in chemical and biological warfare. It employs some fifty of the greatest minds of Cepany, all of which are acting towards discovering more efficient ways of downing an army than employing brute force. Though...additionally, they are not lacking in that particular area in their production line either."

The slide changed again, displaying a row of armoured vehicles, "Renoir has recently switched from weapon production to vehicle production. Local government is so far unaware of this change, or kept well in check by bribes, so as a result, VE command has yet to be informed. Saunders only recently discovered this information, and has agreed to keep it in check so we have to chance to inflict more damage than a politically driven inspection ever would."

"You want to blow it up?" Jak asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes."

Kami gestured to the shadowy figure in the corner of the room,

"Corporal?"

A trooper stood forward, dressed completely in camouflage gear. His head and face were clean shaven, revealing a man of middle years, while his dark eyes carefully took in the crowd before him.

"This is Corporal Vael, one of Saunder's explosive experts. He's been trained extensively in espionage, and worked briefly in the compound."

"Now whilst we already have an explosive expert," Kami flashed a brief smile at Angel, "Vael here is well versed with the equipment Saunder's has provided us, and as such will be training us up over the next 24 hours in how to successfully deploy the weapons we've been given. He will also be accompanying us on the mission itself, as he has a number of access codes that should get us in without hassle."

"It is an honor to work with the squad," Vael said grimly, declining his head in Kami's direction.

Turning back to her three man squad, Kami switched of the projector, plunging the room into darkness, "Let's get learning."

 
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Iron Horse Squad
SL/GSG Kami/1SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [CoR] [IG] [GCA] [BC]
TRN/KAD Kami/Training 1-3/VEDJ/VE
-=Surrender to your darkest dreams, and you'll live as you've never lived before...=-
+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +