"Dammit  Harris, will you stop waving that in my face" The captain shouted, lashing out at it and desperately swerving around traffic with his free palm.

"But there's a pattern, I'm telling you!" Harris argued back, trying to thrust the pile of documents back in his face.

"Harris!"

This time he took the hint and settled back in his seat. Glancing back at the other six men sat in the van, it was easy to tell they were pretending to of not heard them. Each was fiddling with either the locks on their weapons or the padding around their bodies. They were professionals, they never needed to double check - Everything was always done flawlessly the first time.

Until those damn pirates showed up. The mere sound of their names made his blood boil. They'd hit five banks in the last two weeks, and each time they'd left the scene before the squad had gotten anywhere close. Even when forensics got in and analysed the place, they never found anything. Never a single fingerprint, never a discarded piece of clothing, nothing. There was never even any victims. They struck in the middle of the day, each place was flooded with suits from the financial sector. It made no sense why no one had been hurt, and even less sense that no one could recall a face. And then there was the man that claimed one of the thieves had even stopped to ask for a lighter! They were mocking them, Harris was sure of it. This next bank would be their graves, he swore it.

The vehicle suddenly took a hard right which catapulted Harris into the left side door with a swear.

"I did tell you to sit tight" The captain smiled back, pointing over the dashboard to the huge traffic in front of him. "You should of been prepared for this, it happens like...everytime"

"Go to hell Greg"

"Hey, you know the rules, no using my name on missions"

Mumbling another curse, Harris grabbed his rifle from its hanging above the door frame and jumped over the back seats to position himself next to the rear doors. He nodded to the men crouched at either side of him before looking back through the front windscreen. Greg was carefully weaving the van through the vehicles in front of him, the occupants of each staring into the van with a mix of fascination and fear. If it was a normal police patrol car, they would of made very little room - People around this area had lost respect for the police long ago. But Greg and Harris' team, they were different. Rapid response, Rapid Heavy Response. Renowned for their ruthlessness, the public had learnt long ago to stay out of their way. It didn't stop them staring though.

Once the van finally jolted to a halt, Harris led the team out of the back and up the long stairs to the front of the bank. There were roughly twenty people coming either up or down, but all dropped to the ground immediately upon Harris' cry of "Get to the ground!".

It hit him that something was wrong almost immediately. Their other targets had some sort of severe exterior damage, normally either the doors were missing or the windows were blown out. This one however had nothing. It was glass fronted however, the only entrance being by a revolving glass door pitched slightly off to the right. He put it down to that before reaching for his belt. He gave one nod to the man on his left before unpinning the smoke grenade and shouting the go word. The man pushed the revolving door at the same time as the grenade left Harris' palm, working in unison so as the grenade dropped to the ground dead in the centre of the complex. Each member hid against the wall either side while the grenade did its job, slowly filling the bank with smoke until very little was visible. They were about to make their move when Greg arrived, pushing Harris to the side and smiling once again.

"My lead, remember"

"Just get on with it" Harris snarled.

They filtered through the doors in pairs, each aiming for a different corner of the building and yelling obscenties and orders at equal pitch. No shots had been fired, they assumed they'd won.

"What on earth is the meaning of this!" A frail womans voice suddenly shouted from behind the desk, still coughing from the smoke. "You've scared away all of my customers!"

"Excuse me?" Greg blinked "We had reports of a robbery in progr...."

"Does this look like a robbery to you!" The woman shouted back, now visibly boiling.

Greg got back up form his crouching position and moved over to the woman, offering is hand in condolence.
"We apologise profusely, there must of been some mistake in our intel..."

"Who the hell is going to pay for all this lost business!" She shouted back, slapping his hand away.

Greg's head exploded before he had time to answer, along with two panes of the glass doors.

"Dammit! I only meant to take his ear piece out" A man snarled, several blocks away from the bank.

"You're getting sloppy" A woman replied, sat next to him dangling her legs carelessy over the edge. "You're supposed to make me taking your job difficult"

"Go to hell whore" The man replied, flicking a finger towards her while he packed away the rifle.

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

Kanderin Draken stood in front of the Wraiths,  pausing momentarily as they analysed the screen behind him.

"The planet Tessa" He explained. "It's only really attracted our attention recently, is been decidedly NR biased for some time. Recently though they've had some debates between their own government and the republics, which has allowed them to become closer to neutral. This gives us an in, and they've tossed us a fast ball"

He clicked to move on the presentation again. This screen showed a glass cubicle, within which sat necklaces, gold staffs, statues and many other pieces of jewellery.

"This...is Tessa's pride and joy. They hold a ridiculous amount of value to them, both physically and emotionally. Every year they are taken on a pilgrimage from their capital city of Ander, to the financial district of Gand. There they are weighed, valued and locked away in their vaults for another six months."

At this point he removed a controller from his pocket and clicked the button to shut the screen off and pack it anyway. He then leant over his stand more casually and addressed the Wraiths directly.

"Normally the local police force provide sufficient security for the shipment, but recently a local pirate group have given them a heck of a lot of hassle. Four or five banks have gone down in the last five weeks, and each time they managed to elude their special forces."

He sighed.

"Two days ago, the group were called to the scene of another bank robbery. It was a bluff, the group had gotten cocky enough to start messing with them and used the opportunity to assasinate their leader. It's for this reason Tessa has requested support from the Empire. It should be a pretty routine job. We catch a lift with one of our fleets which is heading that way, hop off at Tessa, escort the pilgrimage all the way before catching the same fleet back home. But be prepared for anything, you all know far too well how rapidly this situations turn around. We meet up down in the hanger at 0900 hours tomorrow. Any questions?"

Most of the Wraiths shook their heads, but the one girl in front raised her hand gingerly.

"Oh right, of course!" Kand smiled. "Everyone, this is our newest recruit, Private Warbird. Treat her gently"

OOC:

Sorry for the length.

Anival looked at the new recruit with an experience eye, she seemed out of place with the rest of the squad.

“Welcome to wraith.” was all Anival said to her before walking out of the briefing room, he marched past Jori, and gave him a quick nod of acknowledgement.  When Anival had reached his room, he looked around, everything was were it should be, everything except a white armored glove, Anival walked towards his bed, and looked around, sitting down he sighed to himself.

Anival set his gear in a small pile, ready when he was. Staring at the mechanized hand, Anival stood. 
Anival took out the glove that was in a clear encasement, and donned it, it fit his hand perfectly, on the glove, three words were inscribed.

Death Is Escapable.

Anival took of the glove and walked out of his bunk. Walking into Jori’s room, Anival held his breath. He hadn’t known the trooper long, but he hadn’t thought he would have been messy.

“Ahem.”

Jori turned around a small hint of red crawling into his cheeks.

“Yes?” asked Jori eyeing Anival’s hand.

“Wanted to see if you needed help with anything.”

“No.”

“Then with everything?”

Jori laughed.

“Take a seat.”

“I am afraid of doing just that.” Smiled Anival.

“Need any help tiding the place up?”

“Not really, just about to do that actually, but thanks for the help anyways.”

Anival frowned and nodded. He then made his way back to his bunk.

Anival looked at his arm, small whirring sounds came from small gears and parts that Anival couldn’t identify.

“Anival.”

Anival looked up to see who had called his name, it was RK. Anival feigned a salute.

“Congrats RK, you deserve it, you know.”

RK looked away, Anival chuckled, and stood. Putting an arm around RK he smiled, maybe I should treat you to some drinks, on me. Come on, lets go get Jori and see if he is done cleaning that thing he calls a room.”

RK sighed out loud to himself as he headed towards anival’s quarters. He had just gotten the news that he had waited for since he had joined the Vast Empire, yet, he couldn’t get this uneasy feeling out of his stomach. maybe it's just nerves, or maybe over excited…. Whatever it was he didn’t know, now though he had a mission.

It seemed like hours since he had begun his walk from Kands office, but it was finally over once he reached the doors of Anival’s quarters. He took a deep breath, and took on more drudging step before opening the door. I sure hope he’s not changing.

“Anival.”

Instantly, anival’s form snapped upright and into a very poor excuse for a salute; RK just let his head drop and shook it slowly a couple times. hmmm, I don’t know if I’m going to get used to this. After all, RK had worked with these people most of his life, now he was their boss, at least in some respects. Just the thought of them saluting him was just, weird.

“Congrats RK, you deserved it.”  Anivals voice carried much weight with it, which hit RK like a keldabe kiss. How had anival known? Did Kand send everyone a message, or had they known all along? The thoughts swirled inside RK’s head as Anival put his arm around him. “Maybe I should treat you to some drinks, on me. Come on, let’s go get Jori and see if he is done cleaning that thing he calls a room.”

RK let a smile spread across his lips. “Good idea, that gives me time to put him on cleaning duty, the lazy Di’kut.”  RK paused to gather his thoughts then spoke, “By the way, how did you know?”
Anival just grinned and headed towards the door. “I’m a wraith, we can find anything out that we want to.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have asked.”  RK said as he walked out into the hallway.

Once the door was locked behind them they both headed out and walked towards Jori’s quarters. It didn’t seem to take as long as RK had thought, partly because he didn’t feel like the world was on his shoulders anymore. Still the thoughts lingered in his mind.
“Hey, Jori, you in there?”  Anival called, but no one replied.

“I bet you he got lost, he’s probably buried in there somewhere or the rancor got him. Har dto say in those conditions.” RK said.

“Should we try and save him, chief?” anival paused for dramtic effect, "that is if he's still alive."

“ I don’t know, the code says never leave a man behind, dead or alive, but I don’t think he qualifies…”

“I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you, Sir.” Jori’s voice startled both RK and Anival, both of them jumping. RK reached for his side arm as he did.

“Jori, your alive!!!” Anival instantly went into sarcastic mode, wrapping his arms around Jori in a hug.

Jori laughed a little bit, and then pried anival off his body.  “Good to know I’m loved.”

“Now let’s not get carried away here.” RK interrupted.

“So, I’m assuming you were looking for me?”

“Yea, were going to get some celebratory drinks, wanna join us?” Anival asked, his tone back to normal.

“Sure why not, just let me grab some things, you guys go on ahead, I’ll catch up in a little bit.”

“Don’t be too late.”

0650 hours

RK jolted awake, his mind felt like it had collapsed on itself. He was struggling to remember where he was at, and what he had done in the past few hours; though at the moment, his mind couldn’t process why it all mattered.  He rubbed his eyes vigorously and started to let them adjust, but unfortunately they weren’t co-operating.

“Hey, you alright?” It was a female voice, one he recognized, but couldn’t put a name to at the moment.

RK groaned as he lifted himself up the surface, that he now had recognized as a bar table. He began to process some thoughts, but was having a difficult time in doing so. Yet, somehow he was able to speak. “Yea, don’t know… what happened.”

The female laughed a little bit and then spoke. “You had a little too much last night, you fell asleep here.”

That explains why I’m so sore. He was finally piecing together the puzzle, sadly though, his senses were slowly catching up with his thoughts.Dang it, Wraiths the mission, what time is it?
Instantly, he began to rush himself, furiously getting up and beginning to walk, even if his vision was not fully there, he still had enough to get him to where he was going, even if it meant running into walls.

“RK? Where are you going in a hurry?” The voice called again, this time it sounded distant.

how does she know my name?  He couldn’t think straight, at the moment there was only one thing on his mind. “I have stuff to take care of, by the way do I know you?”

The female voice laughed again, “I hope so, and either that or you don’t take good care of your troopers, its warbird.”

That woke RK up a bit, startling him a little, but he was able to recollect himself; luckily, through all this wasting of time his vision was starting to return. Duh, the new recruit, “Oh, right, I’m guessing this means I didn’t miss our flight.” He paused and rubbed his forehead, hoping it would help with the headache that had suddenly dropped in, “Yea, well, thanks for getting me up.. I think, but I have work I gotta get done, so I will see you whenever we lift off.” With that RK turned around and began to sprint towards his quarters.

He opened the door to his room and stepped inside; the smell of floor cleaner met his nostrils, he hadn’t realized the cleaning droid had been on duty, but still it was good to know his room wasn’t a mess. He slowly made his way over to the bed and sat down, he needed to take a few moments to gather himself, then he would get to work preparing for the mission.

It seemed like he hadn’t been home for even a day before they were sending them back out into the field. Guess that’s the life of a trooper. He sighed one more time before standing up and heading towards his closet to begin his packing. As soon as he opened the door a whole pile of ammo and handguns poured out onto the floor. Ugh, I need to sell some stuff. He bent down to pick up some of the guns, and in the process he came across his CR-2 pistol. He loaded a clip into it and went to stuff it into his pocket before a loud knocking sound came from his door, which accidently  mad him send  a shot into the floor from being startled.Crap, now I’m going to have to pay for that.

“Hello?” the voice called, it was male this time.

“Yes?” RK replied, as he went to open the door. A man about RK’s height stood in his doorway.

“Is this the ASL of wraiths quarters?” 

what’s with all the questions? RK just sighed to himself.“Yes, it is.”

“Ah, good.  I’m Private Kas, I was told to find you or the SL, but seeing as he seems to be missing I came this way.”

Kand, missing?  What a surprise. “Yea, he seems to do that from time to time.” RK sighed then extended his hand, “I’m Senior Sergeant RK, the ASL, as you probably already know; Nice to meet you.” The man took RK’s hand and shook it. Suddenly, RK got this strange feeling, that he knew this guy, yet that was impossible; he’s never met him before.

“Likewise, I was told you are close to departing for a mission?” Kas smiled and pointed to his bag which was sitting in front of RK’s door.

“That would be true, we are departing at 0900 hours, I see your already packed.” The thought hit him, he didn’t have much time to get ready now.

“Yep, figured it’d be a waste unpacking; since we’re leaving soon.”  The man grinned, almost as if he thought he was smart.

“That’s smarts. Well anyway, good to meet you, I will introduce you to the rest of the squad as soon as I’m done packing. So for now just walk around, get familiar with your surroundings, and meet us in the hangar at 0900, hopefully the SL will be there. You might want to check he might be in his office now, who knows. “ RK smiled, and walked back towards the mess that layed in front of his closet

“Nice meeting you too, sir.” Kas turned and walked out the door, it shut behind him with a hiss.

Before he got back to work, he checked the time, only to be slightly shocked; it read 0737 hours. Now I gotta move.

Elektra went over to sit with Anival, Jori and RK, after she saw Anival motioning her over.

"Wow, Anival and RK look even cuter up close! I'll look at Jori so that they don't realise I am looking at them, tha would be embarassing for two guys at the same time."

Anival says, “Sorry for the short welcome earlier, let’s start over, I am Anival, RK the ASL, you probably met, and Jori, he is a free spirit that one.”

“Thanks for the welcome” She says to them.

She notices some sort of mechanical device on Anival's hand, and can't help asking, “So what happened to you hand?” Elektra asked, point at the device.

“Well, Jori saved my life, he kept my head from getting cut.” Surprised, Elektra looked at Jori, “Really?” she asked, she put her head on her hand and looked at Jori, but also looked at the other two out of the corner of her eye.

Anival got up and said, “Well I am off, I don’t normally drink this much, and we need to be up in the morning.”

He leaned in between Elektra and Jori, and said, “Behave you two.”

RK burst out laughing and fell off of the chair and onto the floor. Worried, Elektra goes over to RK and finds that he is unconscious. She pulls him up onto the chair, and says,

"I didn't know you all were such drinkers." Laughing she turns around to see that Jori had dissappeared.

She sat back down and watched RK, falling asleep. When she had woken up again, she noticed that he was still there, she grabbed her glas of water and flinged some drops at him, and he woke up instantly. “Hey, you alright?” She asked.

RK looked in her general direction and said, "Yeah, don't know what happened."

Elektra giggled and says, “You had a little too much last night, you fell asleep here.”

She saw him stand up and try to go to the exit. She watched him for a second, trying not to laugh, then says, "RK? Where are you going in a hurry?” 

He turns back towards her and says, "“I have stuff to take care of, by the way do I know you?” She couldn't help laughing at that, but she also felt hurt that he didn't remember her already.

“I hope so, and either that or you don’t take good care of your troopers, its Warbird.” He says, “Oh, right, I’m guessing this means I didn’t miss our flight.” He rubbed his forehead,  “Yea, well, thanks for getting me up.. I think, but I have work I gotta get done, so I will see you whenever we lift off.”

He leaves the area, and Elektra sighs. She goes back to her room and lays on the bed, exhausted.

"If I go to sleep now I may miss the flight, but, I am so tired." She falls asleep.

0800 hours

RK let the last laugh escape his lips before taking a seat on the cargo sitting next to the shuttle they were going to leave on; that is if Kanderin ever decided to show up. Still, the little time RK had to relax was welcome; after all he has more weighed on his shoulders lately. Though this was the path he had chosen, and he was going to have to accept that as it was. Well, whatever my jate’kara has in mind, I hope it’s good.

RK let his thoughts go, and decided to do something constructive.  He unstrapped his bag from his back and set it on the ground. He unzipped the polyester bag and let the contents reveal themselves. He searched around through all the junk and armor to find his Datapad and DC-17, he pulled them both out and set them on the crate beside him.

“Hey, RK?” Jori’s voice filled RK’s mind and surrounding, but he still blocked it out.

“Hang on, gotta do something first.” RK waved a hand towards the direction he thought Jori was standing, though he was off by a few inches; it didn’t faze him, he went back to the task he had set before him.

He grabbed his datapad and pulled the chip out of it, then inserted it into his DC, his hands moving like a finally tuned machine. He then pressed a button on the side of the DC and then set it down. After making sure his datapad was safely turned off he turned his attention back to Jori, who now had anival next to him.

“Now what were you going to ask?” Rk’s lip curled into a slight grin.

“Last mission, you spoke some Mando’a, think you’d give us a crash course like you said?” Jori asked, his face giving away his curiousity.

“Wait, you speak Mando’a?” a female voice interrupted the conversation, it was Elektra. She must have just arrived, since she sounded like she was panting.

RK just smiled fully, then laughed, “Sure, I’m pretty bored right now, sides I hate speaking it and nobody knowing what I say.”
“Isn’t that the point of you speaking it?”Anival said, his eyebrows crimped in a confusing fashion.

“Kind of, but mostly it’s a habit. Still, what do you want to know?”

“Di’kut, what the hell does that mean, you say it all the time.”

“Idiot, waste of space; literally though it means,  ‘one who can’t put on his pants.' Another word for idiot, that’s not as harsh, is or’dinii” RK paused to let them think it over.

“That’s interesting, if that’s the case then what would you use as a compliment?”  Elektra asked.

“Well, Vod, which means brother is a good one, it also stands for sister. Burc’ya is friend, if you don't want to get personal, course in Mandalorian culture, anyone can be your brother or sister.”

RK noticed that jori wasn’t paying attention, but instead he was staring off into space, so he decided to make an example out of him, he looked up at Elektra and Anival and whispered to them: “Kaysh mirsh solus, is another insult, literally translated mean; ‘his brain cell is lonely.”

All three of them laughed, Jori on the other hand just stood there and had a angered look on his face. RK decided that was the perfect time to end his crash course, until he had more time.

“It’s all n good fun, Vod.” RK said, as he stood up and patted RK on the back. By this time Kas had joined their little group.

“What are you guys.. wait, do I want to know?” Kas said, his voice a little lenient

Jori laughed this time, “No just missing a crash course in alien language.”

“Ah, too bad.”

“Don’t worry; I have much more to teach.” RK smiled and then turned around to go back to checking on his DC. It’s going to be a long time before we ever get off this place, might as well make the best of it.