Author Topic: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam  (Read 29938 times)

Offline Empier4552

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Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« on: October 12, 2009, 09:29:07 PM »
For Life Or Until Fault
A Protectorates Story

Cast

V-07 "Vekis" - Imperial Soverign Protector - Squad Leader
V-9 "Connor" - Royal Guard - Demolitions
V-02 "Tannor" - Royal Guard - Sniper
V-08 "Skit" - Royal Guard - Medic
Joiya Orray "KillJoy" - Captain Imperial Navy

Notes - Posts will not be in a chronological order. Each heading will explain where in time it is. Eventually I might put them into a proper order. Credit to Syren for the idea of a place holder post and cast information etc. Lots of ideas and information have been taken from the Republic Commando novels as well as various other Star Wars books. Canon information will be kept as is when at all possible, used primarily for back story to give more depth and rounding to the adventures of the characters.

While this story has several characters it is centered on Vekis my primary character to give him a history. It will be connected to the storyline I am doing with Erasmar but all events here take place prior.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2009, 07:46:26 PM by Empier4552 »

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2009, 09:31:30 PM »
Misc. Information

Miscellaneous information such as acronyms, information on equipment/events (along with links if Canon and possible) will be posted here for those interested.

10/19/2009
Modified Posts 4 and 5 to fix date typo. 3.5 BBY was changed to 3.5 ABY
« Last Edit: October 19, 2009, 01:40:38 AM by Empier4552 »

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2009, 10:59:40 PM »
Battle of Hoth
3 ABY - Assault on Rebel Base

    "4..3..2..1" Connor's count down co-incided with a sudden loud blast of the secondary shield generators.

    The explosion's sound wave rippled through the air roaring out in all directions as a fireball raised upwards, the heat quickly melting the ice and snow in the immediate vicinity. The ground shook beneath all four of the men who were curled up tightly in a make shift trench a dozen odd yards out from the explosion side.

   "Emperor's mercy, you could've taken out the entire base with that!" snarled Tannor though behind their identical face masks it was invisible. Despite that, Tannor was sure Connor would be able to visualize his facial expression.

   "Bitch later. Time to move!" Vekis yelled within the helmet comm. Already moving he didn't need to look back to know his men were following loosely dispersed.

   "This is E Squad to command, moving to primary objective beta side."

   The four men had been together for fourteen years. The time was astounding when one thought of it, but then that was why they were still together and so unique. An off-shoot of the Nulls produced on Kamino, termed Void-class. Out of a batch of one hundred and ninety two only 25% still remained, twelve squads of an original forty-eight. The attrition rate had been staggering. By graduation 50% had already perished through what had been termed the 'trials'. A brutal training ceremony where the men had been forced to fight their closest comrades in a show of loyalty to Palpatine. While the pool of Royal Guards included a variety of men there was a small percentage that consisted of Void-class Clones. Unsurprisingly at least to themselves, they tended to consistently out perform the non Clones in virtually every area of skill. A combination of enhanced training and brotherhood ensured they were a step above the majority of even the most elite warriors in the Empire.

   "Negative E Squad, Lord Vader has commanded that he shall personally lead the breach of the objective. You are ordered to stan-" the voice back came stern and authoritative, filled with the arrogance of knowing they had the backing of Vader.

   "Negative Command. Per orders we are moving forward.." Vekis blinked rapidly inside his helmet using the facial control within the helmet along with several taps to a wriststrapped datapad to transmit the appropriate orders and authorization codes.

   "Uh. Orders..confirmed...Proceed.." the voice coming now seemed much meeker and more confused clearly taken aback.

   It wasn't the first time but it was extremely rare that there were squads running about that were not under Vader's personal leash when he was present. In this case, though Palpatine had given Vader control he'd also sent a private series of orders to Vekis's team whom had much more specific objectives. Vader be damned, Vekis thought the man a renegade much the way Alpha clones had regarded the Nulls years prior. He'd been in service to the Emperor long enough to know that every man had their faults and Vader was prime among them. Far from being the skilled and feared warrior most regarded, Vekis thought of him as little as he did the average Stormtrooper. Of course he'd never make those sentiments known outside his squad and even then such things were mentioned rarely. Let Vader have his fun with the base, the man's decisions were insane and irrational. The troopers had better things to do.

  The trek to the Primary Objective known to the rebels as "Echo Base" from interceptions of coded messages took only minutes, with Vekis and his team ruthlessly gunning down a dozen odd Rebels. The team moved in perfect unison, each man watching a designated area giving them a three hundred and sixty degree perimieter of protection. Arriving at the large blast proof doors, Vekis slung his DLT-19, onto his back, pulling the FC-1 Flechette launcher and bringing it to bear upon the door. Connor moved to line a portion of the door with thermal detonator taping, DC-17 hand-blaster in one hand. Tannor and Skit both had their DLT-19s trained away, watching the rear as Connor worked diligently.

   "Okay. prepare for entry.."

   Seveal moments later another heavy blast rocked the base though it was masked by even heavier blasts from advancing AT-ATs and bombs being dropped by TIE Bombers. As smoke billowed from the gaping hole in the blast door, Vekis took aim quickly with the flechette launcher and pulled the trigger quickly sending several flechette canisters in. Barely a second later a variety of screams could be heard from inside some short lived with others continuing on. A mixture of groans from the dying and pained screams of the living but shredded rebels could be heard. While most men would've felt goosebumps and raised hair, Vekis and his team made no pause in moving in and continuing to let loose. Tannor moved to take point with Vekis following. Skit was several paces behind with Connor taking up the back, holstering his DC-17 hand blaster in favor of the modified E-11.

  It seemed like hours but in reality it had only been a total of ten minutes navigating the mazes of the base and clearing room by room when Imperial Command announced the official breach of the base.

  "Amateurs. If it were up to Vader we'd give the Rebels a days head start before attacking them.." Connor muttered into their internal circuit as he snapped his blaster up and pulled the trigger several times, quickly dropping several rebel troopers who tried to ambush their rear.

  "Careful Connor, Vader might hear and send his 501st after you.." Skit teased. The entire squad would've chuckled if they weren't already engaged. The 501st considered one of the few Clone only groups left were still eons apart in skill and ability compared to them. They were thought of as Vader's dogs considering he commanded them so closely and had taken them as his personal guard so to speak.

   "Shit!" Vekis cursed out loud as they turned another passage and had to duck from the over-zealous snow-troopers.

   "You kriffing shag! Watch your fire! Who taught you to fire before confirming?" Tannor yelled, pushing himself up from the floor quickly.

   The Snow-trooper's mask hid his bewildered look. The four men looked like stormtroopers but then they didn't. Their armor looked almost ancient and yet bristling new. Vekis couldn't blame the man for that. His squad's armor was bulkier than the normal armor making them look more menacing. Reminisicent of the old Katarn Commando armor, the helmet had an obvious T shape to it, with enhanced shoulder pads along with buldging knee and elbow pads. The four looked many times more menacing than the average Stormtrooper, the T shaped visor in their helmets illuminated in a dark tinge of red. The read out on the snow troopers hud identified them only as Squad E Commandos. None had a rank, but each had "RG" next to their identity codes causing the man to quickly straighten up.

  "My apologies uh sir! Lord Vader has told us to shoot on sight on anyone not with us. No prisoners. Any live targets have escaped...'

  Vekis didn't have to look to his squadmates to know the feeling they all shared. That meant they'd failed too. Vader had been sent on the same mission as them, but Palpatine had instructed that Vekis and his men to intercept Organa and her compatriots as well, doubting Vader's focus for reasons he'd kept private. Clearly they'd failed in that. Still, Vader would be the one given the most yelling about that along with the Imperial Navy who'd sent the whole plan to hell by revealing themselves much too early. The lack of surprise had also put Vekis and his team in unwarranted danger, what had meant to be a stealth mission had turned into a mass infantry slog.

  "Wonderful. And what is the status of the rest of this sorry mess?" Vekis pressed the Snowtrooper as Skit moved around the man, along with Tannor into the hanger that was being guarded.

   "We're continuing to clear out the base. From where you've approached, assuming you secured the areas behind you then we can mark the entire east side of the base secured on the top level. Fighting is continuing in the West hangers and on all lower levels. We've sealed off the rebels below and are pushing downwards."

  "Excellent.." Vekis's attention seemed drawn away a moment as Tannor came over their private circuit.

  "Boss you're going to want to see this...I think we might want to slag that trooper..." Tannor sounded almost in awe.

  Vekis moved past the Snowtrooper without a word and into the hanger while motioning for Connor to hang back with the snow trooper. What was inside the hardened hanger made even Vekis pause. Well what was this?

  "Connor, check if that Snowtrooper's checked in. If not...dispose of him and notify Imperial Command we've secured the Eastern sector and are holding it down.."

  The benefit of the bases staggering layout and size allowed for Vekis to make a calculated move. One more snow-trooper lost wouldn't be missed considering the mess of things. What was in front of them was too valuable to leave to Vader's hands. No, this prize was for Vekis and his men. A new tool to further Palpatines cause, something he was sure Palpatine would be pleased with. A single blaster shot was heard outside and in moments Connor had dragged in the now limp body of the snowtrooper.

  "Got a plan boss?" Connor asked as he walked back towards the hangers entry way, tapping several control buttons on the wall to seal the hanger and them in it.

  "Boys, this is the Rogue Shadow, don't you remember her from Nar Shadda? This is something we can't pass up...Vader had lost it and we found it...Lets board up. Our targets have gone, at least we can salvage this for Palpatine. Notify Imperial Command we are departing and re-configure the transponder. Don't take off until we confirm Vader is inside the base, I don't want him to catch sight of this ship or we might be in for one serious scrap with him.."

   Vekis and his team wouldn't be leaving empty handed. No longer would they rely on the Imperial Navy and its assets. If Vekis had heard right from the stories this ship would be all they'd need going forward...

TBC...



 

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2009, 07:45:52 PM »
Kuat
3.5 ABY - Classified Star Dock onboard the Eclipse
Captain Orray Joiya bit her tongue as she continued to hear the crude and blatantly sexist conversation being conducted by the children as she called them in her head. It had been three months so far with them. While she'd grown used to them and could throw in her own quips every now and then, she was a woman who believed there was a time for fun and a time for work. Right now it was time for the latter and no one seemed to be giving a shit.

            "All of you pipe the hell down damn it! Let me remind you that while this might be your little toy, I'm the Captain of the ship. Just because V-07 isn't here doesn't mean you have free reign." she yelled out exasperated as she spun around in the pilots chair.

          All three men instantly went silent with hardened looks, their eyes settling upon Orray in unison. Most people would've been intimidated and shrunk to a quarter of their size from such looks, but not Orray. At first she'd been plenty intimidated and had seen up close what they were capable of. Now though, while they sometimes made her squeamish, she didn't care. She knew they might bark loud but they only bit as their master commanded. Finally,

          "At it again Killjoy? You really ought to calm down you know. This is exactly why wome-"

          "Finish that sentence and you'll lose the one appendage that declares you male." Orray hissed softly, those dark almond eyes narrowed at the trio, who all seemed to suddenly shrink themselves.

          It was all still comical to Orray. The four men and her got along well enough except for when she was running diagnostics and doing real work on the ship while they were not busy. That was when problems came up though it was rare. The squad had been the most efficient and ruthless she'd seen ever. Every mission went off pristine and even when issues came up, the four men handled it so cooly that she doubted they would ever screw up short of their commander being killed. Speaking of where was he? The change in them in private and off duty was remarkable. Except for V-07 the rest tended to be almost child-like in their squabbles and reactions to Orray having had little contact it seemed with the outside world.

          "Relax Killjoy, you're an exception that proves the rule that's all..." Skit piped in as he leaned back in the navigators chair. 

          "I don't care. You know my rules."

            "And you know mine..."

          The three men and Orray all turned their heads to look at Vekis who was standing at the entry way to the cockpit.

          "All of you get to the briefing room and begin prepping for an external boarding..My apologies for any incidents, Captain. "

          Orray give a curt nod to the man as his three subordinates moved quickly out of the cockpit, a sense of seriousness thickening the atmosphere inside the ship all of a sudden. With a soft sigh, Orray leaned back in her chair frowning slightly at the man she still only knew as V-07. After three months not one of them had uttered a name to her. They'd all been polite enough about it and found no problem in using her name and even nicknaming her, but the minute she'd pressed on names or even pasts they'd gone tightlipped. Plenty of crewmen on the Eclipse had also wondered, but Orray had given them nothing to work with mainly because she had nothing. All anyone knew was they were special forces. Orray knew slightly more than that though, they were Palpatine's Royal Guard. Every now and then they'd quietly slip out of the Rogue Shadow and patrol the Eclipse in their crimson red uniforms. Other times they'd merely wander about as regular Stormtroopers or in their commando armor. Orray decided they simply enjoyed keeping people on their toes. No one had seen them without their helmets save Orray, but if someone did catch glimpse of their faces, it was probably a bad thing any way.

          "Any orders for me then...Commander?" Another issue. Orray didn't know how in the hel l to address them. V-07 could be called the commander but the rest? Guard? Royal Guard? None had volunteered an idea. It seemed they were completely separate from the chain of command. When they bore their Stormtrooper uniforms it was slightly easier but they were able to come up with identity codes on a whim as they felt best.

          "Launch and cloak. We're running an interdiction mission...I'll brief the men. Be ready to de-pressurize and open the cargo doors. Scan for any freighters leaving the Kuat's  atmosphere, those are the only ones we're interested in, Captain, hopefully you'll get a heads up."

          Orray gave a crisp nod before spinning  around once more in the chair to face the cockpit. Vekis turned and marched out, a soft hiss of air following behind him as the cockpit door sealed shut. Entering into the briefing room. Inside Connor, Tannor and Skit were all checking each others equipment. Zero-G was never a fun thing but at least with their suits they could manuver. Using their Black Commando armor they simply had attached jetbacks with manuvering thrusters on their backs. Once their helmets were on and the armor sealed they had twenty minutes of good oxygen before any issues might arise. It was much more daring than the typical Zero-G trooper but than their training was that much more intense.

          Moving straight to the circular projector in the middle of the briefing room, Vekis motioned for everyone's attention as the doorway hissed shut, the overhead lights dimming. On the  holo-projector several faces were shown, one Bothan along with two humans though one looked distinctly Kuati and regal in their gaze.

          "These are our targets. Imperial Intelligence tells us that they are apart of the Bothan Spy Network. Apparently word of the Eclipse has begun to get around. The dimensions and construction are making clear that it isn't merely some Star Destroyer. We have two challenges. One is to intercept the freighter, one among many. The second is to do this without anyone knowing. ISB and ImpInt can simply assume they disappeared. If we cannot  nail these slime dog stoopas before word gets out we could easily be facing a Rebel attack or sabotage mission here against us and worse word will be out to all about the Emperor's newest ship."

          Tannor frowned as he surveyed the information on his HUD that corressponded to what was on the holo projector. "Sir, Kuat has an insane amount of traffic, how in the hell are we going to do this?"

          "If this is timed right. He will be informing us.." Vekis pointed towards the Kuati in the pictures. "Imperial Intelligence claims to have turned him into a double agent.."

          "Good old LimpInt. Doesn't explain how the feck we're going to board. Shields are still a problem."

          "Kuati Defense Forces will be instructing all ships to keep their shields lowered in system for random scans. It's been stressed anyoen raising shields in system will be thought of as a combatant. Additionally, with all the mining thats been occuring, travel in and out of system is slow with queues being formed planetside. We'll isolate the vessel and use our stealth.."

          "I still don't like it sir. Zero G? We need to be launched at velocity greater and then manuver in...Besides, we don't have the tools to breach hulls in a quick way.."

          "Heh, don't worry about that Tan, you just mind your fire. I'll blow us a nice neat hole and we'll be in before they realize whats happened." Connor gave a thumbs up as he leaned back in his seat.

            "Correct. Killjoy will get us in close enough thats her job to worry about. We worry once we latch to the hull. Remember, the ship must move on course. We don't want to let them send out any sort of message, and to try and figure out its destination...That's why once we're in we'll have to try and wait until hyperspace to take the ship..."

          Now the three orders sat up straight. It sounded near impossible. Board in Kuat space, and not let themselves be known until after hyperspace? All of them had the same questions in mind. What would happen when they arrived? What if they were met with resistance on entry? Vekis's face said it all. He knew the questions and the answer was written on his face. They'd deal with it.

          "Commander, we're departing the Eclipse. Cloaking is engaged. I've been notified to expect updated intel in thirty." Orraya's voice crackled over the ships PA system.

          None of the men said anything to that. Instead they did what they were trained to. All four moved out of the briefing room and into the cargo bay. Killing time they went over their gear again and helped their commander suit up. After they began reviewing what ships were already moving on and off planet, trying to figure out what ship type was likely and began to review the schematics on likely candidates. Anything work was good work at this point. The most distressing part was the fact they'd be left literally on their own, but then they were trained to be thrown to the wolves defenseless.

 

TBC

 

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2009, 06:53:09 PM »
Kuat
3.5 ABY - Onboard the Rogue Shadow

One hour had passed since the initial briefing. Whatever the hold up, all four men were not in the happiest of spirits. Over a four dozen possible matches had left the system. So far their contact hadn't given any sort of signal. All four men were ready to go in jet black Commando armor, their jetpacks already mounted on their backs. Connor sat patiently checking and re-checking his demolitions. It was definitely out of the ordinary for him, who had ever attempted to blow open a hole on a hull while the ship was still moving? It would be interesting. Tannor was busy re-calibrating his optics, not that he thought he'd need them in a ship but one never knew. Vekis as always was sitting patiently, his hlemet already on and sealed. Secluded from his brothers he had his eyes closed, dreaming of a time after service though he doubted it'd ever come. He knew nothing but service to Palpatine. Skit earning his nickname from when he was shifting himself back and forth, a datapad in a hand as he went over the mission once more.

"Hey boss, what if we end up in a Rebel fleet? I mean, we don't know where they are going. To top it off, do we even think this insane plan is going to work? What if they back track to Kuat for repairs or to check out the damage?" Skit's questions were always outloud, the man never ceased to amaze them at his inquistiveness.

"Hey hey, my demolitions will work fine. Besides, to turn back to Kuat would be insane if they really are rebels. They chanced it once coming here, why turn back? Besides if the data they have is important enough why risk a little hull damage?"

"Yeah, relax yourself Skit, too much time after briefings and you always over think things. Besides, if we hit a rebel fleet all the better. Four of us and hundreds of them? No contest." Tannor grinned as he aimed his modified E-11 at a wall, peering through a scope.

"I suppose. Any ideas on when this ship is coming?" Skit turned to Vekis now, unsure if he was asleep or not.

The answer came moments later as Orray's voice was heard booming over the intercom. "Target confirmed, it is a Ghtroc 720 Class freighter. It's moving through lane E-7 for hyperspace. Estimated departure time is 20 minutes. We're about 10 minutes out."

Vekis's eyes opened behind the helmet, blinking several times to adjust for the sudden influx of light. The three other men had already slipped on their helmets and the noise began to raise in the cargo bay as they all began to sit up and gather their gear.

"Alright. 720..." Vekis used a combination of eye movements and finger taps on his wrist-strapped datapad to bring up known schematics.

Speaking through the helmets comm, Vekis communiated to the group, including Orray "Not too bad. Bring us up on top of the port cargo hold. We'll slip in there and get to it."

"Bad news guys, looks like theres a YV-929 shadowing it. It might see you out there...a small chance but a chance. It's slightly starboard and above. I'll bring you in on the port side but underneath..."

Several grumbles could be heard through the comms as all four of them looked at each other. No one had said anything about escorts. What were they supposed to do once they exited hyperspace? None of them had any time to think about it. The cargo bays lights began to flash red indicating the compartment was being depressurized. All four men engaged their vaccum seals and grabbed onto the hand rails near the ramp as it opened. Cloaking worked wonders, but not if a cargo door was open. For that reason once it had opened just enough for a body to squeeze through all four dove through nearly immediately. Vekis sent a bursted transmission to acknowledge their departure. Hopefully the rebel ship didn't notice anything amiss. Connor and Skit both had extra bags tethered to them while Tannor and Vekis had strapped on several more weapons and utility belts containing energy clips.

"Move it Connor. I don't want that escort ship to decide to fly loops and catch sight of us."

All four men had manuvered their jet-packs to get them closer to the bottom of the port cargo point. All except Tannor landed gently, with Tannor silently slamming into the hull as his magnetic boots yanked him about unexpectedly. Thank the Emperor space was silent Vekis thought, his eyes glancing up to the corner of his HUD. They still had about fifteen minutes of oxygen.

Connor worked quickly and expertly laying down the thermal tape in a rectangular fashion before pausing and beginning to re-arrange the tape some. At first none of them knew what he was doing but it made sense quickly. A clean explosion would look more suspicious if that escort came around to look at any damage. A jagged circular shape was cast instead.

Rather than communicate and waste breath, Connor simply held up a hand with five digits and began to pull one finger down at a time. All four men moved back some from the blast point. After the Connor's thumb closed over his raised fist a silent explosion suddenly occured. A brief ball of fire quickly smothered itself out as oxygen was yanked from inside the ship. Skit almost lost his head as he scrambled forward, a loose container erupting out into space from the hole.

"Move Move Move" Vekis hissed into the comm as the four of them scrambled fighting the vaccum being made. Their jetpacks helped in that respect giving them an extra boost through the hole they'd made.

Inside each man grabbed on to something secure to hold as gravity left the hold. Glancing at his HUD once more, Vekis noted their oxygen. 11 minutes. Cutting it close this time. Each man gave each other a hand sign, three fingers raised with their index and thumb fingers making an O to signal they are still fine. They could feel the ship slowing though, never a good sign.

Vekis was silently debating their next move. Hyperspace wouldn't hurt them, he was sure the ship would stay together. He'd seen ships with more damage than this hit hyperspace hard. If they blew the bulkhead door though, they might very well decompress the entire ship. Would Skit be able to seal the hole he'd made in time though? It was already down to nine minutes. All four could glimpse the escort ship passing under the ship through the open wound. The escort ship had come to a standstill now under that hole. Feck. Can't plug it if they are looking at it. Nine minutes...

Vekis pointed to Connor and made several gestures to which he nodded and moved along with Tannor to the bulkhead door preparing his explosives once more. Skit and Vekis both stayed where they were near the hole watching patiently. If that ship didn't move in the next minute or two they wouldn't have time to seal that hole. Suddenly Skit flashed his helmets lights towards Vekis to get his attention, then pointing behind him.

Turning about Vekis looked towards the center of the cargohold to see what had captured Skits notice. What he saw wasn't good.

"Emperor's Mercy. Can't we catch any break?" Vekis cursed several times as he looked at the large reactor strapped down. Another explosion inside the ship wasn't something he wanted with that inside. Tannor and Connor seemed to agree. While Connor worked the demolitions, Tannor began to undo the console. Still eight minutes wasn't a lot of time to splice a door.

TBC
« Last Edit: October 19, 2009, 01:39:50 AM by Empier4552 »

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2009, 01:29:37 AM »
Hyperspace
3.5 ABY - Unknown Ghtroc Class 720 Frieghter
Time was not their ally it seemed. Oxygen was running low for all four of the men in their pressure sealed suits. The option to blow the sealed bulkhead was still there but much riskier once they'd found themselves trapped with a reactor core. The transport had just entered hyperspace giving them seven minutes to work with. Skit was busily working to finish patching up the hole from the inside that they'd created. Connor and Tannor remained near the door, ready to blow it if need be. With only several minutes to go Skit had barely gotten half the hole welded. To conserve energy, Vekis had simply sat down and taken slow shallow breaths from his suit. He suspected everyone else was doing the same.

The seconds seemed like minutes and minutes like hours. At the two minute mark, Vekis glanced over at Skit who seemed to be getting disoriented. Feck. All the effort on that weld must've made him use his oxygen up faster...Pushing off from the cargo bin he was resting at, Vekis floated over towards Skit andi n one smooth move pushed the man up and away while grabbing the welding rod. There wasn't too much to go, even if they ran out of oxygen each man could hold their breath for a few minutes. Skit though seemed to be at that point already. Moving quickly, Vekis continued to finish off the plate Skit had been working on. Circling around the perimiter of the steel slowly, he melded the piece to the hull. With just a little under a minute to spare he glimpsed the movementi n his hud. The external sensors were picking up oxygen levels. Still low, but coming up. Lifesupport had kicked in. Vekis none the less stayed at work. They couldn't risk the seal rupturing.

Skit opened his eyes as his internal speakers made a beeping noise. Looking up at his HUD he also noticed the oxygen coming back. Not enough for them all but shit he needed it. Quickly raising his hand he pressed a notch on the side of his helmet, breaking the seal with the suit and opening up some vents. Gasping and coughing, he tried to suck in what oxygen he could as the levels slowly rose. The one thing he didn't realize was he was still floating about. With sudden abruptness he found himself flying through the air landing a half dozen feet below on the steel.

"Slag! Thanks commander! Could've tethered me down" Skit mumbled into the helmets com as he slowly pushed up with a grunt.

"Be grateful I saved us at all. That was close." Vekis said softly.

What many didn't know, and led to such absurdly high attrition rates in the Void Clones was one of Palpatines rules. If one died they were all decommissioned. A euphemism for death. It was part of the bonding program set up for them. They'd embrace each other and be forced to rely on one another literally to live. If any one died, they were all set for slaughter. Only forty-eight Voids still lived and within a year it was estimated two more squads would be decommissioned. At the present rate it was estimated that in the next six years all would be dead. One would think being a Royal Guard was a cushy job but it wasn't. Despite the ideas, they weren't merely Palpatine's protectors. They were his guardians through out the universe. To ensure his survival meant more than being physically near. It meant taking out threats that the usual protocols couldn't handle, going on virtual suicide missions to ensure their Emperor's continuity.

None of the men had much time to enjoy their new found oxygen though. Tannor and Connor scrambled to the sides as the door abruptly opened from the outside. Apparently someone had decided to investigate just what was going on in the cargo bay. Tannor, closest to the console tapped a button for the lights ensuring darkness as the person stepped in.

Using their night vision, the men could immediately see who or rather what it was. A large Duros, taller than any of them by several inches. Connor and Tannor moved immediately. Tannor's fingers traced over the console and tapped the doors button to seal it once more. Connor moved simultaneously to sweep behind the Duros and grab the create around its neck, pressing his forearm and bicep into the creates neck squeezing the blood flow off. As Connor and the Duros struggled, Tannor quickly came around delivering a hard fist to the gut of the creature. The air knocked out along with the combined surprise made the creatures efforts virtually useless. Within seconds it was passing out and Connor let it drop to the ground.

"Scum. Now I need to get my armor cleaned.." Connor would've spit if it wasn't for his helmet as he looked down at the creature. Even with the helmet on one could practically feel his hatred towards the creature.

"Enough of that. Secure him and lets move. Skit get out an R-1 and send it through the halls. Connor, Tannor you take the back area of the ship and secure the emergency escape pods. Skit and I will secure the bridge.After that we'll sweep the rest of the ship. Connor, Skit lets get out the equipment. Remember, live captures. Move before someone comes looking for this rebel scum"

"Copy that..." Connor and Skit had both converged to the right of the door, unloading the bags as Tannor kept guard with his E-11.

Moving quickly, Skit tossed Vekis a Force Pike, Connor grabbing one for himself. In practice there was rarely times a force pike was useful but on a compact ship with close quarters and a need for live prisoners it proved useful. All the men also took Stun Batons, attaching them to their hips. Tannor kept his E-11, set to stun though switchable to kill if need be. Skit did the same, pausing a moment to pull uot the R-1 and send it out.

"Tannor, Connor move out first, secure the two escape pods lock them down. Then move up the staboard side. We'll hit the Bridge and move down the port."

Several clicks were received back. No man was in a talking mood as their minds moved into a different sort of mode, mentally they were detached from every day niceties, focused upon their objectives. Connor and Tannor moved out first. Several tense minutes later a click of acknowledgment was sent to Vekis. One escape pod down. Skit and he both quickly moved out of the darkened storage bay, leaving the incapacitated Duros unconscious on the floor.

Vekis lead the way, wielding the Force pike, Skit following behind and to the side. All the way to the bridge they were un-hindered. Both moved to take positions on either side of the door. Skit paused a moment gesturing with his hands down to his belt, a stun grenade attached. Vekis only shook his head back. The explosion might do too much damage in the bridge as would the blaster if it hit the controls. Instead Vekis motioned to Skit's baton, and he didn't need to be a Jedi to know Skit wasn't happy with that.

Raising three fingers, Vekis pulled one at a time down. As the third came, closing into his hand in a fist he pumped it rapidly. Skit moved, a hand reaching for the controls and hitting the door key. Vekis was the first turning in, and almost running into an equally stunned human. Headbutting the man violently, a spray of blood landed across the face plate of Vekis as he pushed the now howling man to the side. As Vekis pushed in and past, Skit was behind him, bringing the prongs of the stun baton into the neck of the man in a violent jab before pulling back and slamming it against into the mans gut sending him down with a scream of pain. The only other man on the bridge, the Bothan turned startled as Vekis rushed him. The Bothan was quick, Vekis gave him that. Stabbing quickly at the shoulder of the Bothan, Vekis missed the first time, the Bothan yanking to the left. Vekis kept with him, pulling his blade to the left and yanking it back towards his own body. As it retracted towards him, the edge of the blade caught the Bothan, sending him convulsing to the floor as the shock of the stun ripped through his body, the blaster in the creatures hand clanking against the steel.

The entire process had lasted seconds, but Vekis mentally noted how close the Bothan had come to pulling that blaster. Unacceptable, he'd need to brush up on his hand combat. Glancing back at Skit who was watching the door, Vekis took a moment to survey the bridge before kneeling beside each of their prisoners and securing them.

"Bridge Secure. Skit you stay here. Tannor, Connor, sweep from the front, aft."

Stepping out of the bridge, Vekis waited a moment for the door to close. Skit would've locked it down on habit until the all clear was given. The sweeps through the port side were uneventful. Several crew-quarters seemed occupied but were empty. As Vekis finished his sweep Connor and Tannor radioed.

"Sir...Starboard Cargo Bay...You'll want to see this.."

***
At the Starboard Cargo Bay, Tannor gazed around at the dozen occupants, feeling slight discomfort. He wasn't used to seeing so many civilians in this context. One family it looked like along with six other humans. All looked a bit ragged and tired, clearly fearful.

Using the benefit of their internal comms, Tannor spoke privately to Connor, the civilians oblivious. "This was a rebel ship, why does it look like they are refugees?"

"Who cares? They're on a rebel ship...Ergo they are Rebels. Why is irrelevant.."

"I suppose so, but children? They hardly seem like rebels.."

Connor snorted audibly, the passengers glancing at him a moment as he spoke silently into the com. "We were children and look at us now. You let them go long enough and they'll bite you in the ass.."

Despite the fact the ship had been secured, Tannor spun taking aim at the doorway as it opened with a woosh, lowering his weapon quickly as he caught sight of Vekis.

"Sir...Civilians.."

Vekis marched past Tannor and gazed cooly at the dozen passengers. Using his external speakers, Vekis spoke in a monotone near robotic purpose "Names and purpose..."

"Ghen Tal. Engineer. We are all passengers hired to help with the reactor.."

Vekis glanced at the man for a moment and spoke using his external speakers once more, though the command was directed to his men. "Kill them all."

TBC
« Last Edit: October 19, 2009, 01:39:58 AM by Empier4552 »

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2010, 12:21:22 AM »
Hyperspace
3.5 ABY - Unknown Ghtroc Class 720 Frieghter

The frightened civilians all took a momentary pause in shock, several staring in disbelief as others began to scurry back.

"But..We're not re-"

The mans voice was cut with a bloody gurgling as a blaster bolt pierced through his throat, screams quickly filling the hold. Connor's second shot was just moments after, trained on a helpless child. Vekis was right there next to him, his DC-17 blaster firing off rapidly. Within less than a minute all the occupants of the hold had been neutralized, blood spraying across various walls.

Tannor stood slightly behind Connor and Vekis, his attention quickly turning back towards the door as the slaughter ended. Vekis hadn't missed the mans hesitation. Turning some, the helmet masked his harsh stare at Tannor who looked away, fixated upon the door.

"You're shots came delayed. Connor and I had pumped out several by your first shot...Why the delay?"

Tannor responded swiftly with the ingrained confidence they all possessed. "No sir. Stun setting had to be switched. Takes a moment."

Vekis stayed staring a moment. Neither could see the others face, no give aways there. Still, Vekis had known the man their entire lives. The tone said it all. It was something Vekis would need to watch but nothing worth bringing up. Vekis's own silence and subtle shifts in body language told Tannor all he needed to know. The man was being put on notice. The very thing that made Voids so remarkably efficient was also their quiet weakness that the military either had ignored or not realized. Each one was an efficient killing machine no doubt, but when it came to each other within their own pod, it was a sibling bond. None of the four would ever turn in the other unless it was for the Emperor's life. At the same time there was also the knowledge that turning one in meant all were dead.

Self-preservation was a powerful tool for most, in the Voids case it wasn't self preservation that drove their loyalty to one another but the idea of group preservation. No one person wished to be responsible for the death of their three comrades.

The eery silence of the cargo hold was suddenly broken as the internal PA system went off.

"Exiting Hyperspace now...Sir, the YV-929 is comming us."


"Double check the ship, meet at the bridge.."

When Vekis arrived at the bridge, he quickly understood why Skit was uneasy. In front of them loomed an MC-40 Cruiser. What in the hell were the Rebels thinking? A reactor core? Vekis stared a moment his mind working in overdrive piecing it all together. Stepping over towards a console, Vekis began typing rapidly accessing ship logs and the database. There wasn't enough time to slice into the data though.

Connor and Tannor both emerged from the doorway into the bridge, a soft whoosh once more occurring. Skit kept focused on the ship in front of them that had now begun hailing.

"Occult, come in. Confirm your status.."

Skit glanced over to Vekis once more waiting for orders. The other two men both had picked up on what Vekis was doing and moved to begin aiding him. Each produced data pads and had begun to quickly begin processing the ship information into them. Slicing could happen later, but the information was key. They had to know how the Bothan's had gained their information.

Turning from his own data console, Vekis took stock of the ship their front view port. Motioning a nod to Skit he spoke to him over their private circuit. "Signal engine trouble. Tell them we need their engineers and ask them to give a mission update..."

"Roger that. We're experiencing some major engine trouble. Looks like we took a beating launching into hyperspace. Could we dock for some aid? Another engineer and spare parts would be needed...."


"Copy that Occult. Be mindful we haven't much time until rendezvous.. Lets get this hunk fixed up.."

Skit shook his head. Great more rebels. Vekis moved silently now, tapping Connor and motioning for Skit to follow. Tannor could hold down the bridge and prep them for a docking. The three of them had a trap to lay. Four to ten men at most on the YV-929. From the crew numbers on board the Ghtroc freighter he was betting a mere four. A turkey shoot. Vekis had already formed a plan in his head as to how they were getting out of here. LimpInt didn't know about the 929, why not add a new ship to their fleet?

TBC..

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2011, 07:45:05 PM »
OOC - I'm merging my former posts with Erasamer to this as its a continuation really.

 
Endor - Minutes after Palpatine's Death
"Wh-" Vekis dropped to his knees gasping in shock as bolts flew just millimeters away from his head. A sudden feeling of emptiness had suddenly overtaken him sending an indescribable feeling of pain. It wasn't just him though, nearly a dozen men around him similarly dressed in stormtrooper armor had felt the same pain. Others continued to fight, but the organization and determination seemed to be evaporating away.

"Commander! The Rebels have breached our lines!"

Jerking his head up, Vekis looked up and around noting the sudden collapse of Imperial lines. Moments before they had been pressing in on the Ewoks and Rebels, now Stormtroopers were falling back clumsily, only his dozen men seemed to be holding steady, fighting the pain and emptiness that had just wretched their stomachs.

"Regroup at point Charlie, something is very wrong. We're returning to the Death Star!"

"Commander our orders are to assist the ground tro-"

"I don't give a damn about our orders from the ground. Our duty is elsewhere. We will return to the Death Star im-"

"SIR! ITS DESTROYED! The Death Star..Its..Its GONE!" Connor's voice cracked near the end as he continued to fire into the trees, falling back with his comrades.

Destroyed? Vekis glanced up into the sky seeking out the orbital station in vain. It can't be...this can't be...

"Someone see where the Emperor is!" Vekis yelled into his helmet, knowing too well the truth.

The empty feeling he had was from the fact the Emperor wasn't anywhere any longer. He was dead. It was pure muscle memory and reflex that kept the twelve going now. Firing methodically they were all angry dispite the emptiness and were dropping as many rebels and furries as they could.

"Sir...We're getting orders for immediate evacuations..."

Vekis frowned beneath his helmet. Despite the explosions and chaos around him, inside his mind things were eerily quiet. As he walked backwards, continuing to fire his blaster he was finally brought back into reality as a rebel jumped at him from a bush. Taking quick aim, Vekis pulled the trigger only to see..nothing. It was already out of ammunition. Throwing the rifle he went for his sidearm. From the time it took the rebel to be within arms reach, Vekis had been able to pull the sidearm and raise it point blank to the mans face before pulling the trigger. An explosion of red seemed to occur splattering across his arm and chest plates. Shaking his head slightly Vekis grunted, that was close.

"Right. You heard Connor. Everyone back to the shuttle. I'll stay behind and meet you. If I'm not there in five after you arrive go without me.." Reaching down, Vekis grabbed up his DLT-19 rifle before turning away from the fight, a grimace hidden by the helmet.

There were only clicks of acknowledgment as the men picked up their pace pulling further into the jungle. What had happened? A hundred questions went trough Vekis's mind, but right now none of those mattered. As the groups formation staggered out they began to pick up the pace disengaging the rebels and moving past fallen Stormtroopers and Rebels alike.

"Sir we're 5 minutes out from the shuttle. Where are you?"

"I'm
a half mile from your position. Give me a few minutes and I'll be there, just setting some surprises for the Rebels...Bloody scum."

Vekis snarled inside his helmet as he paused a moment to drop his rucksack. Pulling out several HX2 Mines he began to pause every several yards putting them down with proximity fuses. It'd cause severe casualties and slow the rebels down. A grin couldn't be helped as the helmets sound amps picked up the screams of injured rebels preceded by a blast. In several minutes he'd be able to meet his team and get off this cursed rock he thought. His sprint though came to a sudden halt as he heard the familiar E-11 blasters mixed in with DLT-19s..What the hell? There were no enemies in that area, that was their landing zone.

"Sir its an ambush! Don't come, I repeat don't come to the landing zone, Stormtroopers are at-"

Vekis didn't need to hear the rest to put it together. Why though? Things were growing more and more confused. His team was being ambushed by stormtroopers? Rebels closing in? Gritting his teeth, Vekis turned to a tree and slammed his fist into the trunk of it wth a primal scream of frustration. Nothign was going as it was meant to. Their one and only commander Palpatine was dead, the Empire it seemed wanted him dead without reason. Wait...Those bastards...Now it made sense. An ironic chuckle was let out as Vekis realized what was occuring. How...Palpatine.

Vekis's team had been dispatched to the ground as a formality to ensure things went smoothly. No one had dreamed of such a disaster. A quick mop up operation and back to their regular station. Whoever had been left in charge seemed to know Vekis's team weren't the normal Stormtroopers.

"YOU IMPERIAL FILTH!"

Vekis blinked, his mind once more wretched violently from his thoughts as he felt a heavy weight on his back. Dropping to the ground, Vekis grunted reaching for the vibroblade on his belt. Within several moments he'd managed to twist himself about and stab the man several times in the side and neck leading to more blood spattering onto his armor. Quickly jumping up, Vekis's hand was once more moving for his sidearm until he realized he had been surrounded by a dozen rebels. Even he'd have a hard time with that.

"GO FOR IT! Please I beg of you just try it you stormtrooper trash!"  the female commander of the rebel was clearly shaken by the display she'd just seen, her blaster pistol raised to Vekis, tears flowing down her face.

Vekis turned his helmet from side to side. Ah, several of the men and women were bleeding, pieces of sharpnel in them. This must have been the team that had been chasing them. In the time he'd taken to stop and assess the situation they'd caught up with him. Lucky for him they weren't Imperials...They would ever have stopped and demanded a surrender. Continuing to snicker softly, if only to provoke the group more, Vekis dropped the vibro-blade. Reaching to the center of his utility belt he pressed at the clasp allowing it to drop to the ground leaving him unarmed.

"Let's negotiate..." The words came out smoothly enough, but inside Vekis was holding back a bitter urge to vomit.

Reaching for his helmet, he pulled it off carefully not wanting to give any Rebel fool an excuse to shoot though he doubted any would be able to hit him given the way half their arms were shaking. Why were they so scared? Ah, it made sense the more he thought. Most of these people were barely adults and laughable soldiers. Ragtag rebels at best and here he was, a man who'd just gutted a friend of theres and had armor covered in blood and guts. Compared to them he must've looked ages older. Mid to late thirties with several faded battle scars over his face and hardened eyes that betrayed not even a hint of emotion or sympathy.

"Mando Malo, TK-4193. 501st Legion. Now take me to your commanding officer so we can discuss terms of surrender." The tone of arrogance would've been astounding to most that smug look on Vekis's face contiuing to taunt his captors.

This was why Palpatine was their commander. Who ever was in charge was a fool. Sacrificing over a dozen Royal Guards. All his men were competent enough to keep with their covers and endure captivity. A dozen Royal Guards, in rebel hands would've been a huge infiltration move for the Empire, but now it was just him. With time passing, Vekis was just feeling the realization of how alone he was. The Rebels had murdered his Emperor...The Empire had murdered his compatriots. Both sides had taken from him and both would suffer at some point or the other. His face held that stubborn arrogant look but inside was a pain that no one could ever comprehend. Let the Rebels think he was just a highly trained Stormtrooper. His weaponry already gave away he wasn't the normal stormtrooper, but why let them know who he really was and better yet what he really knew?

TBC - Erasmar


Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2011, 07:45:36 PM »
OOC - Erasmar's post

Endor -- High Orbit
Minutes after Palpatine's Death

The Denunciator was a Mark-II Imperial Star Destroyer, and in the last few minutes it had become the Galactic Empire's most advanced artifice of war in the Endor system. A wave of dismay and fear had pummeled the crew, and moments later they watched with horror as the Executor, the flagship of the Imperial Navy, careened into the Death Star and detonated in a flash of fire. They had been stunned to witness such a catastrophe, to hear the horrific final communications emanating from the titanic ship as it was lost.

Captain Kiernist had staggered against the command rail as the ship reeled from a blow to the hull. A lieutenant shouted the ship's vitals to him from across the bridge; protocol was breaking. Kiernist, an aging Caridan, had felt a surge of panic threatening to overpower him.

Then, a flash from the viewport, followed by a glare of white. Everyone on the bridge covered their eyes or twisted away. Briefly, there had been only silence. Kiernist blinked to clear his eyes. The cacophony of the bridge had calmed to the gentle toning and tapping of instrument panels. But then chaos had returned with a blaring of alarms, and Kiernist called for a status update as he turned to look out at the battle before them.

=============

"It's gone," gasped the lieutenant, forgetting the appropriate 'sir' in his remark.

Captain Hanic'dov chose not to bother with an admonishment; there were more pressing matters. With the Executor destroyed, the fleet would be scattered if the chain of command were not reëstablished immediately. His ship -- the Retaliator -- was not next in line, but it did command the battlegroup that formed the fleet's right flank.

He grabbed the lieutenant's arm and jolted him away from the viewport. "Contact the Chimaera, with all due haste."

"Right away!"

The lieutenant was gone before Hanic'dov could think to reprimand him for this second breach of etiquette. He couldn't fault the young man -- barely thirty, by the looks of him -- for his efficiency even in the face of such a disaster as the lost of a star dreadnought. Hanic'dov could only hope that the equally efficient crew of the Chimaera was still alive and well, for their ship was now in command of the Imperial fleet at Endor.

He glanced at his second lieutenant, who was stationed at the Imperial Command console. The other man caught his gaze and briefly shook his head before turning his attention back to the screen.

Hanic'dov cursed quietly as he turned back to the battle. No word from either Admiral Harrsk or Prittick. The Chimaera would take the lead, as it was now the best ship in the fleet, but surely either of the admirals would have orders to issue? Nearly ten minutes had now passed since the Executor was lost. Where was Imperial Command?

The young lieutenant rushed back to his side. "Sir, sir!"

Hanic'dov spun and glared at the man, who quickly saluted not once but twice. "Word from the--"

"Sir, word from the Chimaera, sir. We're to vacate the system--"

"What?" Hanic'dov shouted. All other voices on the bridge went silent.

The lieutenant trembled. "Th-the orders -- our orders are, sir, to vacate the Endor system and regroup at focus point five."

"Who's in charge of the Chimaera? Has Admiral Harrsk taken command?"

"Sir, no, sir," said the lieutenant, saluting again in his frenzy. "Captain Pellaeon is in command. The orders come from him, sir."

The bridge maintained its silence, watching Captain Hanic'dov as he turned his back and looked out at the debris field of the Death Star and Executor and the battle that still raged around it. A rebel frigate listed to its starboard and decapitated the bridge tower from a destroyer, perhaps the Indictor, he could not be sure. The destruction and carnage was a silent display of physics and volatility, a scene that a younger, victorious Hanic'dov would have called majestic in its elegance. Now it was only destruction and carnage.

"Relay the orders," he said at last. "Confirm with the Chimaera, then relay the orders to our battlegroup. The rebels have the day."

=============

Captain Kiernist could not believe his ears. But there was much occurring now that he had trouble accepting, from the loss of the Indictor just moments ago to the utter annihilation of the Death Star minutes before that. All those resources, all those good men -- wasted. The vanity of a deranged sorcerer.

His lieutenant approached him quietly. The bridge had regained some of its composure, though many now assumed their were facing their deaths as well. The Denunciator still held its place at the end of the line, the right flank of their battlegroup, but the rebel fleet would close on them soon enough. It seemed their gunners were no longer as effective, their TIE pilots no longer as precise.

"What is it?" he said flatly.

"New orders from the Retaliator, sir." The lieutenant's voice was low. "Captain Pellaeon of the Chimaera has ordered us to fall back to focus point five immediately, sir."

Kiernist briefly hung his head as he leaned against the bridge railing. "Confirm with the Retaliator and then put it through." The younger man left him. "So, Gilead," he said aloud, "you have taken this moment as your own. I wonder where Admiral Harrsk is, or Prittick. We will see how long you have your chair aboard the Chimaera."

"Captain."

He turned. It was Commander Harm, attaché from Imperial Intelligence. "Yes, Harm," Kiernist said without masking his disdain.

"Intelligence has separate orders for you, captain."

"My orders come from--"

"From Director Isard herself." Harm smiled coolly and handed him an encrypted datapad. "I need access to your communications suite," he said as Kiernist read the orders. "I trust there will be no further issue?"

Kiernist didn't quite understand the orders, but he did understand the seal of the Director of Intelligence. He also understood the seal from Imperial High Command that was strangely supporting it.

"Fine, make it quick. We're falling back, and I'll need those systems."

"It will take but a moment. Sir." Harm spun on his heels and crossed to the back of the bridge with all the crispness of a man who's life had been dedicated to cold precision.

~
« Last Edit: May 01, 2011, 07:48:41 PM by Empier4552 »

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2011, 07:46:03 PM »
OOC - Erasmar's post

Endor -- The Forest Moon
Three hours after Palpatine's Death

Commander Tevin Neahlin lowered his blaster rifle in front of him and placed one of his feet atop a log, exhaling with satisfaction as he surveyed what appeared to be an entire platoon of stormtroopers marching his way -- unarmed, hands clasped behind their helmets, and escorted by ten camouflaged Rebel commandos. A few of the faceless helmets turned toward him as they passed, and Neahlin smiled just noticeably, allowing himself a brief display pride before a defeated enemy.

"Commander!" Sergeant Ortrass jogged to his side.

"Ortrass." Neahlin was pleased to see the seasoned sergeant alive and apparently unharmed.

"We think that's the last of them, sir. Gold squadron's dispatched a couple Y's to make some aerial scans for any pockets that might be hiding out, but we're pretty confident."

"All right, good work, sergeant."

Ortrass scratched at the stubble covered his gaunt jaw. He was inspecting Neahlin's shoulder. "You OK, commander?"

"What?" he glanced down and brushed at the thick crimson stain on his fatigues. "Oh, not me. Ewok, I think."

"Poor, fuzzy little bastards,"
Ortrass said.

"Yeah." Neahlin squinted past the sergeant. A speeder bike was approaching down the main trail.

Ortrass chuckled. "Tough buggers, though. I saw a pair of them drag down this buckethead, tear off his helmet, and just start beatin' the guy with their little paws. Funniest thing I ever saw. Well, until one of them finally got a rock."

The speeder bike halted a few feet away from them. The courier didn't bother dismounting. "Commander Neahlin?"

"Yeah. What is it?"

"General Solo wants you back at the main bunker. Prisoner interrogation."

Ortrass grinned. "Your speciality, commander."

Neahlin frowned and slung his rifle over his shoulder. "Yeah."

Ortrass looked back at the courier. "So, do we get a ride back to--" he began, but the courier zipped away. "To Hoth with you, greenhorn!" he shouted.

"All right, sergeant," said Neahlin. "Let's get walking."

=============

They watched the prisoner as he sat in the makeshift interrogation chamber, which was actually a cubicle walled by empty munition crates and monitored by a blue astromech droid. Two commandos stood outside the entrance to the cubicle, which was sealed by a kinetic shield that shimmered blue in the fading afternoon light.

"He's just sitting there," said Durl, a twenty-year-old Corellian. He peered at the display recorded by the R2 unit.

"Of course he is," Plen Thum bubbled with impatience. The Sullustan felt it was beneath him to be assigned such an inexperienced assistant. "He's just a stormtrooper."

"Then why does General Solo want him interrogated separate from the others? Bucketheads don't know anything."

"The general believes this stormtrooper might be of some value. He's claiming to have some information that might be of use to us, but I don't believe him. He's simply bargaining. Doesn't want to eat the usual prisoner fare."

They looked at him some more. He was scarred, looked to be in his mid- to late-thirties. Wiry but solid build. Hard but empty eyes.

"I'm going in," announced Plen Thum.

"But General Solo specifically said to wait for Commander--"

"I don't care," said Plen Thum. "What does it matter? He's a stormtrooper. Even if he does have something for us, it won't be hard to detract it from him."

"Extract it?"

Plen Thum narrowed his eyes. "Watch the monitor."

He waddled his way to the guards and the kinetic shield, then entered the cubicle. "So--" he began, but was cut off.

~


(TBC - Emp)

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2011, 07:46:29 PM »
Endor - Rebel Garrison

Looking around, Vekis noted the laughable 'prison' he was in. Looking up, Vekis noted the Sullustan approaching. Was the fool really coming in alone? A half grin flashed for just a moment across those wary features. The creature was moving so casually as if nothing was amiss. It was all Vekis could do not to leap up and snap the creatures head off as the shield temporarily lowered.

As the Sullustan began to speak, Vekis immediately cut him off. "So, you are the rebel assigned to attend me? Pathetic."

Vekis sat up right in the chair, hands on his knees as he locked eyes with the creature. Disgusting.

Plen Thum recoiled a moment clearly appauled by the Stormtroopers assertion. Those eyes narrowed more. First incompetant assistants and now arrogant prisoners. "I believe you are the prisoner scum I am assigned to guard."

"Really? You're doing a terrible job coming in here. What makes you think I won't snap your head off?" Vekis observed, noting the creature had chosen to enter in alone, always a no-no.

The Sullustan scoffed feigning bravery "You don't have a chance. Clearly we are the superior force."

"Odds are stacked I'd be able to drop you before the blue shield can even be lowered for the guards...And they won't be able to do a thing. By the time they get in I'll be sitting right back where I am.." Vekis's tone was clearly taunting, pressing to draw a reaction from the Sullustan.

"ENOUGH!" The Sullustan roared clearly agitated. He wasn't about to let some low level bucket head get the better of him.

"You claimed to have information worth while. I suggest you share it now before you are put infront of a firing squad for crimes a-"

Vekis had to laugh out loud now. The creature epitomized exactly why Palpatine was so right about Humans being the superior race. Foolish to the end it seemed. The Sullustan seemed to be growing more confused and agitated, clearly used to people cowering to him. Too bad.

"Firing squad? Crimes? How silly, I thought you were the Rebel Alliance claiming justice and freedom. Clearly you're not so high and mighty if you plan to simply throw me in front of a firing squad. Besides, you as you said were assigned to guard me. You have neither the intelligence nor worthiness of speaking to me. Get me your commander before I do him a favor and leave him with one fool less.."

Neahlin, unknown to Vekis or his subordinate had arrived in time to watch from the astromech's display. He was all too aware of Plen Thum's penchant for letting his anger get the better of him. Unfortunately while the Sullustan was a brave and capable fighter, Neahlin was able to see already the disparity between the two in skill, especially from what he'd been told and seen from the holocams present in the skirmishes.

Inside the cubicle, Plen Thum had began to advance on Vekis. Vekis though was ready for the Sullustan, waiting patiently for that lunge. Unfortunately it never came. Just as it seemed the Sullustan had done himself in, the blue shields flickered before disappearing, a new man at the door - Neahlin stepping in and making his presence known with a brief cough, the two commandos coming in behind him.

Plen Thum spun around to his commander, his back to Vekis. Oh why not?. The thought in his mind was for a micro second. The moment the Sullustan had turned his back, Vekis was up and moving reaching quickly for the blade tucked into the Sullustans back side. In a singular smooth motion, Vekis had the knife out and around pressing it against the Sullustans neck, his free hand grabbing under the creatures chin and yanking his head up.

"Never turn your back on me..." Vekis spat out, the disgust for the creature clear.

Tossing the knife to the ground as the two commandos moved to raise their weapons, Vekis let go of the creature and stepped back slowly sitting back down in the seat, hands back on his knees as he sat up right staring now at the new man.

"I take it you're here to discuss my terms of release..."

TBC - Erasmar

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2011, 07:47:08 PM »
OOC - Erasmar's Post

Endor -- Rebel Garrison

"I take it you're here to discuss the terms of my release."

Neahlin glanced at the knife as the commandos flanking him warily kept their rifles trained on the prisoner. Plen Thum, who had staggered to the side of the cubicle, was massaging his throat and alternating between stammering and hissing at the prisoner and Neahlin both.

"Commander!" he said, finally gathering himself. "This prisoner just assaulted an Alliance officer. I demand that he--"

"You're dismissed," Neahlin said, his eyes flicking to the Sullustan and back to the prisoner.

"I protest, commander!"

"Then do so to someone else." He looked hard at Plen Thum. "Get out."

The Sullustan huffed and looked at the prisoner and then back to Neahlin. When Neahlin gestured to one of the guards, he threw up his arms and waddled for the exit, muttering in Sullustan.

The guards remained in the cubicle. Neahlin inspected the prisoner for the first time. Mando Malo. TK-4193. 501st Legion. He repeated this information to the prisoner.

"My release," Malo responded, evenly but with bite. "Terms of."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," said Neahlin. He looked for any wounds on the soldier. Minimal. "Can we get you something? Rations, water?"

Malo smirked. "What do you think."

“Right.” Neahlin crossed his arms and looked up at the darkening sky. Many of the stars above were moving as the Alliance fleet was reforming and assessing damage. “What do you have for us?”

“What do you have for me?” Malo spoke in a low, calm, but forceful voice. Not like the other stormtroopers, Neahlin noted. When he did not get a response, Malo continued with slightly more edge to his voice but nonetheless the same rigid posture. “If you think I’m just going to talk without any sort of guarantee for my safety, you Rebels really are imbeciles. I doubt you’ll get any sort of real victory out of this battle. The Rebel Alliance--”

“Destroyed your Death Star, and with it Lord Vader and your Emperor,” said Neahlin. He noticed a curious twitch when mentioning the Emperor, but he let it pass for the moment, unable to ascertain its significance. “We have routed your navy and captured or destroyed the Empire greatest stormtrooper legion. I would say we have achieved a real victory.”

Malo nodded slightly, grudgingly acknowledging a point made by somehow who, as it appeared, was yet another warrior, not just a mere soldier.

“Still, your underlying point is correct,” Neahlin said. “The Empire faces a setback, but it is still a setback nonetheless and not a crushing defeat. I fear this war will endure for some time to come.”

“The Force willing,” said Malo. “What do you have for me?”

“I have an indefinite prison sentence at a location that will never be properly disclosed to civilian authorities,”
said Neahlin. “Let’s start with that and see how far up we can work.”

Malo laughed harshly. “I thought the Alliance was about freedom.”

“Idealism is for the masses,” said Neahlin. “Unfortunately. I would prefer to be wrong, but Alliance High Command,” at that phrase Malo chuckled, “Alliance High Command believes some exceptions must be made.”

“An exception for me?” His tone was one of taunting.

“You are not just a stormtrooper.”

Malo did not shift. His eyes held Neahlin’s gaze.

“Special forces, perhaps? A black-ops detachment, some sort of special mission system the army has established?” Neahlin uncrossed his arms to flex them, realizing he must have been clenching his muscles in the tension. He crossed them again. “I doubt you’ll tell me. It doesn’t matter. I know you’re not an average trooper, and so will High Command.”

“And so…”

“And so, we begin to trade. You give information, I make concessions. We have also begun a full background check on you based on DNA and facial features. If my suspicions are correct, I doubt we’ll find much of anything. But perhaps you’ll match with Imperials suspected of certain crimes, certain missions you may have been on. Then the stakes will get much higher for you. Now, what do you know?”

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2011, 07:47:22 PM »
Vekis had to hand it to this one, clearly the man wasn't as foolish as the previous one. Another added bonus was the man was a human, always a plus.

"As I said. Mando Malo, TK-4193. 501st Legion.."

Vekis knew the man was bluffing on his last count. They might beleive he was Black Ops and they might be some what right but even they couldn't convict him of crimes without evidence. In a sense he was lucky to be a Royal Guard. Being so close to the Emperor he'd never been dispatched on some of the more gruesome missions, in a sense leaving him with a clean record. That didn't mean he had never gotten his hands dirty but his face was not one that would've been recognized. It might be clear he wasn't the average stormtrooper, Vekis was a terrible actor, but they couldn't prove otherwise.

Still, despite his predicament Vekis stared blankly at a wall behind the man for a few minutes in silence. The Emperor was dead, that much he knew...even felt. Where were his loyalties now? He still loved the Empire, and its ideals. Of course, he knew already from his time expunging the corrupt forces how quickly people inside the high command would tarnish Palpatine's true vision. The Empire of the day before and the one current were completely different without the Emperor and Vader.

Chuckling softly Vekis knew one piece that would help them and the universe as a whole. Palpatine had a whole array of plans and weapons in the works. Others unfortunately knew of those plans and Vekis doubted their ability to wield such weapons and power effectively.

Relaxing slightly in his chair, Vekis's arms crossed one over the other a wry little smile creeping over him.

"You rebels think you've won? All you've done is throw the universe back several decades. The Empire had brought order and security. No more fighting or turmoil except for your bands of resistance fighting a clearly superior ideology..."

Neahlin didn't seem too convinced or to care about Vekis's ideas but that was fine with Vekis, he was simply trying to provide a framework for his revelation.

"Palpatine had many ways to ensure submission and cooperation. The key was he controlled it all. Now with him dead the High Command will be running around like hungry dogs who'll eventually turn and bite at each other as resources become scarce. You think the Executor was intimidating? or the Death Star? There's a new vessel ten times the size of an Imperial Star Destroyer under construction and its almost done. I'll bet my entire savings that it will be seized in a matter of weeks if not days by someone. With that in the wrong hands, you'll have a whole new problem. I can get you to its location and help destroy it.."

Vekis stretched out his arms a bit as he relaxed his body some. "And rest assured there are many other secrets I know. Go and verify the information I'm sure some of your sources have heard whispers of the ship. The Imperial designation is the Eclipse-class. I want a full pardon and compensation in return for help in getting aboard and destroying it.."

TBC -Erasamar

Offline Empier4552

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Re: Ad Vitam Aut Culpam
« Reply #13 on: May 01, 2011, 07:47:34 PM »
OOC - Erasmar's Post

Neahlin felt sorry for the stormtrooper -- or whatever he was. He was twisted, it was clear. Trained to fall back on specters of fear, phantom menaces that had served as the buttresses for the Empire's ideology.

But his claims needed to be followed up on. If he didn't check with intelligence and it turned out this Malo was correct, Neahlin would probably be stranded here to command whatever minute garrison would be left behind. Not to mention a reduction to his pay grade, if he ever even received any pay. Right now he considered himself fortunate enough to get enough food, good exercise, and chance to see the stars, or so the brochure had read.

"I'll be back," he said at last, leaving the interrogation cubicle.

Sergeant Ortrass was waiting for him outside. "What's he saying, commander?"

"Is General Solo still around?" he asked, making his way across the meager base -- no more than a few prefab shelters and piles of supply crates scattered for a hundred yards -- toward the communications suite.

"Negative, sir," said Ortrass. "He's been called up into orbit. Something Skywalker found. A distress signal from somewhere."

"A distress signal?" Neahlin walked into the suite, Ortrass behind him. "From where?"

"Don't know the details, sir, wasn't privy."

"Who's the ranking officer right now?"

Ortrass rubbed his bearded chin. "I believe you are, sir."

Neahlin sighed. The wonders of ragtag freedom-fighting military. "Thank you for informing me."

"My pleasure, sir."

"Yeah." He sat at one of the booths and began a connection with the Home One in orbit. "Sergeant, I'll need some privacy on this one."

"Sir." The sergeant ducked back out into the darkening forest evening.

=============

Ten minutes after leaving the prisoner, Neahlin returned. This time, as the prisoner could see behind him, there were many more guards. "You're coming with me, Malo."

"Oh yeah?" the prisoner said. "And where are we going?"

"Orbit. This decisions over my head, but apparently you've said some of the right things. Let's go."