[D8MA] DE_Dust (Assault Team)

[Nekoinu]

Down the corridor, Garrick Lorne finished the last of his contingent by heaving the man into the ceiling and letting him crash to the floor. He then picked up two of them and made his way back to the group. "They have been dealt with. Even without alarms, they are surely to notice a missing patrol." The Jedi Master turned back and ran to stuff away more of the Hutt Security personnel.

[Arali Zian]

The world goes dark for a moment, until a sharp pain in her arm, and...

It's over. Arali turns down Niall's offer for the moment, instead adjusting into a seated position, assessing and tending the worst of her wounds in the span of a breath, then rises to her feet on her own. "Thank you, Niall." She recovers her lightsaber and gets ready to move.

((Force Heal: 1eF 1 Light Side

I've taken 10 wounds and 8 strain now.))

[HX-S4]

HX-S4 would twirl a bit in its grand happiness of the battle, turning to face Layne, clearly unconcerned with the state of the other participants. "Do you still believe HX is a toy?"

[Layne Hoshin]

Despite being blasted full on in the face by both the killbot and the sergeant, Layne remained standing and looking like she just didn't give a fuck. She did, however, pull out a stimpack and stabbed herself in the leg with it.

Then the droid addressed her, and she looked at it with mild confusion due to the fact this was weird behavior for a droid.

"What, you want to be praised for shooting a bunch of target dummies?" she asked after a moment.



((15 damage after soaking both attacks, stimpack for -5 down to 10. Subject to change if earlier scenes go bad))

[Arali Zian]

The bickering between Layne and HX disrupts Arali's concentration on her healing trance.

"HX-S4; you are a valued and highly effective member of this team, and we thank you for your part. Layne; please stop taunting HX-S4."

She doesn't find the situation odd at all. Quite natural, in fact, even if others tend not to acknowledge emergent sapience of unwiped droids. It makes the practice of wiping them in the first place quite repellent.

((Force: 1eF 1 Dark Side
, fail at force heal.))

[Layne Hoshin]

"It's just a droid," she said, turning away from the soulless death-toy.

[Niall Organa]

"HX, would you go retrieve our vehicle and bring it in here, please? As quietly as you can." Niall said.

He glanced at Layne. For a moment, it looked as though he might say something, his eyes concerned, but then he just gave her an approving nod.

"Well..." Niall shrugged. "At least we get to do our waiting around in an open area, instead of crammed into the truck."

[HX-S4]

"Vroomvroom." HX would spin about, before quickly moving towards the truck, finding itself in the main seat as it whirled a tool arm out to jack into the port and start the thing up. It didn't seem phased by Layne's taunts or Arali's praise, instead whirling notes of basic as it moved the truck closer, somewhat rhythmically.

[Nekoinu]

The assault group surely saw that the ship was getting ready for takeoff. But they had their own problems to manage. Instead of the truck arriving to retrieve the cargo, two armored carriers, identical in model to the one seen earlier, and a personal speeder sped up to the hangar bay. An agent hopped out of her ride and announced, "This is an official Republic SIS investigation. Do not interfere! Step away from the freighter with your hands up or we will open fire!"

Master Lorne looked to Captain Organa. "It appears his hands were tied after all."

---

Flipping another Republic Destiny.

[Niall Organa]

"Hell." Niall muttered.

He raised his voice, calling back. "This is an official joint operation between the Republic Military and the Jedi Order. You're going to need to show enough credentials to overrule a captain, and a commander slash Jedi master. Whose authority are you claiming to have?"

[Nekoinu]

The agent placed her blaster pistol on her speeder and approached the Republic Captain with her datapad in hand. "Check it for yourself." She glanced over at the Sith and then back to Niall. "Is this a joint Sith operation too?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall didn't bother to respond as he read the agent's datapad. At least, not at first.

"Look, agent, tell me straight. What's going on here. We're on a mercy mission, and it shouldn't be of any interest to SIS. What warrants sending this many troops to stop us from saving children?"

(will charm if necessary)

[Nekoinu]

The datapad listed that their orders were to observe and log the proceedings of the freighter. Reports were to be made on Czerka's operation. To ensure this, they had been told to prevent interference from other personnel. The source of these orders were blotted out for the time being.

"Saving children? I suppose that makes sense for the cargo. The manifests listed them as 'biological specimens.' Kriffing Czerka." The agent gave the signal to lower their rifles for the time being. "But tell me this, Captain: how is this not interfering with our investigation?"

[Niall Organa]

"It is. But it doesn't matter." Niall said.

He handed the orders back. "One way or another, those children are leaving. That freighter is scheduled to depart today. And we've already interfered as much as we possibly can, with one exception. We haven't saved the children yet."

"So one way or another, your investigation is over. The question is, does it end with twenty-two biological specimens being sent to Czerka laboratories? Or does it end with twenty-two children being saved by the forces of the Republic. You get to write the ending, agent. I trust you'll make it a good one."

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

No, seriously, you move. Charm on agent, -2eS, flipping destiny: 3eP+1eA+2eC+1eD 2 failures, 4 advantage, 1 Triumph

[Nekoinu]

The woman looked him over and sighed. "Captain Organa, Jedi Commander Lorne. Please step away from the freighter." She opened up her commlink to signal one of her partners. "Shut down the hangar and impound the freighter. I want a full sweep to be performed. But first, let us escort the non-SIS personnel out of the area."

It appeared that she did not send any of her contingent to address the team aboard the freighter itself. "We will not be impounding the Sith. However, we will need to bring you in for questioning."

"That would not be wise," Garrick interceded, "Captain Organa here is needed for the peace negotiations. My former padawan has been injured in the assault and requires proper medical care." A pause. "I will make a better captive. It will appease the Hutts that the sole assailant on their personnel has been apprehended by Republic authorities."

"Fine. But they still must vacate the premises." She shook her head. "What a kriffing mess."

[Niall Organa]

With a sigh, Niall moved to comply with the orders. It looked like it would be in the hands of the stealth team now. He sent them a quick message on his comms once he was away from the SIS team to let them know.

[Layne Hoshin]

Impound the sith? that was just bad phrasing

Layne had not come out with her hands up as instructed. Instead she had looked at the interlopers with a total lack of concern. She listened to them talk back and forth, and then once they'd said all there was to say, she simply stood there.

"You have no authority over me."

[Nekoinu]

"Authority? No. You're not a Republic asset. But I think you don't have options. We won't fire the first shot but if you think you can survive two APCs then be my guest. And if you don't comply here, we will allow Czerka and the Hutts to know everything about your involvement here today. They will tear apart your ship and make sure you don't ever get to leave here. "

She glared at Niall. "This is why you don't involve the fucking Sith in your 'Republic military' operation. Bring another Jedi."

[Layne Hoshin]

"I've survived worse," she said, and something about the way she said it might inspire some actual fear in some of the soldiers.

But she didn't press the issue. There was no point in risking a fight she was in no condition to win.