3:10 to Port Pixelito

[Ben Kenobi]

OOC: Thread is invite only please.




***Mid Rim***
***Dustig Sector - N-16***
***Malastare***

The Corellian YT 2000 Freighter Talon touched down at the freight yard, her engines already spooling down as the ramp gave a good thump into the ground. Jedi Master Ben Kenobi and Padawan Apprentice Aliclair Austjor made their exits to the reception of a welcoming face, Captain Mauro of the Galactic Alliance Militaries’ Supply and Logistic Corps. The man was dressed in a clean uniform which belied the ruckus all around; the entire freight yard was bustling with activity and Galactic Alliance Soldiers were thick in this area, every one of them on patrol or preparing standing guard or simply maintaining weapons and equipment. All this while on the other hand the freight yard crews were racing to make last minute preparations for this next transfer of freight.

Two weeks ago the Antarian Rangers had discovered a Clone Wars Era warhead. It was unexploded ordinance recently unearthed. The warhead was a superweapon used to combat the droid armies of the Separatists. The bomb’s potency was incredible and had the capability to unleash a powerful electromagnetic pulse shock wave that was capable of disabling or destroying anything electronic within its expansive blast radius.

Needless to say the bomb’s recovery was a miracle that a criminal organization or worse an enemy faction had not discovered it first. The Galactic Alliance immediately sent troops in to secure the area and the bomb with the intent on sending the bomb to a safe location for proper disposal. In accordance with the import of this operation the Alliance requested the assistance of the Jedi Coalition to ensure that the device arrived safely to its destination.

The Captain briefed the Jedi Master and his Padawan that there was already a CR90 Corellian Corvette awaiting their arrival to take on the explosive and get it out of here. All that they needed to do was accompany it from the Freight Yard all the way to Port Pixelito Star Port which was near the capital city of Malastare.

Unfortunately the two locations were vastly separated by a desert that easily spanned several thousand kilometers in distance. Ben wasn’t very pleased at this information but he was then relieved shortly after when Captian Mauro informed him that their cargo would be ferried via the 20-T Railcrawler Conveyex Transport to their destination. The freight train was due to leave soon. Now it was time for Aliclair and Ben to settle their affairs here and be off to catch the train.

If they had any luck about them then this mission was going to be nice and smooth… and nice and quiet…

[Aliclair Austjor]

Pre-mission jittered coursed Aliclair's body as the made their way out to the Post her Master had mentioned. She didn't have questions, thus far, having had completed a lesson on getting more in tuned with her Force abilities. Where she couldn't lift, and throw things, she had a particular sense that seemed to have stuck with her. She followed alongside Ben's side with the most undine loyalty as they stepped off the ship with her hands behind her back. She kept a monotoned face, raising an eyebrow every now and again, and even looking around at the workers. Like a sense, her Sixth always seemed to be second nature and working even when she's relaxing. But while they were here, and not under the protection of Walls and Ships, she needed any sort of help needed. As her Master spoke with the Captain, she didn't shift posture or attitude; after all, it was Ben who was the looks and who spoke the most and not her, unless needed. As to not say she was emotionless, but with her personals, she found it rather strange to have a smile plastered on her face 24/7. She began to wonder whenever the time came for her to become a Knight, would she have to fake a smile? Aliclair blinked out the thoughts before turning her attention as her Master began to speak once again, and the mention of catching a train was implemented. Wait, what was happening?? She looked toward the Warhead that was being transported, and recognized it as one used in the Clone Wars. She knitted her eyebrows, as tech like this always seemed to have a bounty on its head. "We should proceed with the upmost of caution, Master.. tech like this draws in all sorts of beings within the Universe. All of them against us." She said as she looked up at the bigger male than back at the Warhead. It lingered with aura she couldn't pinpoint, as if she felt she had to constantly watch her back...

When it was time to board the train, Aliclair couldn't shake off the feeling the Warhead brought, plus the distance they had to travel to deliver said Warhead. A desert... a nest of Evil. She sat within the booth they were assigned with her legs crossed and her gaze out the window. "Let's pray to whatever Higher Being is out there that we won't have to worry about Mercs or Pirates." she said toward her Master Ben.

[Jacobi Wylcott]

The Specter angled its nose down into the atmosphere of Malastare. The Sith Infiltrator was still cloaked from the long journey and carried only three passengers - Darth Tormentous, his Apprentice Kita Ikari and the pilot droid which ferried them both.

They had learned of the Antarian Ranger’s efforts here on Malastare through a series of well dug in spies and loose lipped individuals and as a result the Dark Lord had set up a raid with a few payoffs. A team of pirates would strike at the train which was ferrying the bomb as a distraction while Tormentous and Kita moved in and secured the bomb properly where the Infiltrator would seize it and extract it. It was a simple plan and one that would prove promising.

If the Sith could get their hands on such a device and replicate its technology then there was no telling what kind of operations they could execute in the future and the untold damage they could inflict on not only the Galactic Alliance but also the other ill-informed enemies of the Order.

The Dark Lord stood in the cargo hold of the Sith Infiltrator along with Kita, his sword in hand. They were both watching a holo of the train that was still in the station. They needed to wait until the train was out over the desert before they struck - where it would be vulnerable and more susceptible to attack. “Do you understand everything that you must do, Acolyte? Our window to strike is a small one and we must be ruthless in deed and action alike. We must show no mercy - for none will be given.”

[Kita_Ikari]

It had been awhile since she went on a solo mission with Lord Tormentous. Both had been busy with their own tasks and training to even consider leaving the citadel for anything else. It felt good to finally get back out on the field with her master. She had brought her electrostaff and vibrolance with her this time around. With her vibroblade gone due to Jacobi breaking it, she had to opt to using the lance instead. However, she didn't mind. It suited her. She was naturally skilled with this sort of weapon.

Quietly, she took to mind the plan Tormentous had ready. This task didn't seem to difficult.

“Do you understand everything that you must do, Acolyte? Our window to strike is a small one and we must be ruthless in deed and action alike. We must show no mercy - for none will be given.”

She looked up at him and nodded, a small smile on her lips formed, blue eyes flashing with excitement. "Yes Master. I understand." Kita was willing to give her all for her master. And over the weeks she found it becoming easier to fight her enemies with almost little to no remorse. Or at least it seemed. A part of her did indeed feel a bit bad...but she reminded herself it was for Jacobi's sake. And that knowledge alone made doing Tormentous tasks a little easier to bare. The young sith apprentice would do anything to stay by Jacobi's side. Which is why she decided to stay under the Dark Lord's hand. Not that she had much choice anyway. She would have been hunted down and killed if she tried to leave anyhow. But no. She did want to stay with the sith due to her undying loyalty. A trait she always had to those who earned it.

Also, a part of her did love the rush of battle with a opponent. She saw it as a challenge that she couldn't walk away from. She was determined to improve herself and rise above all else who came before her within the sith. And with hard work and determination, she would remain that way to fight any oncoming competition who dared for her rank.

Drawing her lance in hand, she watched the holo silently as the people pushed their way on the train. Each one unknowingly walking towards their own demise if they so much as got in their way...

[Ben Kenobi]

As the Captain escorted the two Jedi towards the awaiting train cars the Master heard his Apprentice and nodded. “You are right, of course. These old devices would bring in an unfathomable price on the black market and they also have a way of getting the word out to just the right people that want them… there is corruption everywhere and unfortunately we do not have the time to root it out unless it rears its head in front of us. Be mindful, Aliclair. I sense this mission holds more to it than it seems.”

Once it was time to board the train they did so. They were given the train car just in front of the car that the bomb was being ferried on. Their car was a comfortable passenger car with a nice enough booth in it in which they were given a moment to relax and go over the manifest of the rest of the train as well as the personnel files of all the Alliance Military that were assigned to this freight train’s security. Being that the Alliance wanted this mission executed with utmost security the people involved were limited to a skeleton crew. Only one squad of ten Alliance Soliders had been assigned to this operation and they would be patrolling the entire train; front to back in pairs which meant they would be scattered around unfortunately but it also meant they would be able to cover more ground.

Behind their passenger car was a large flatbed car; open to the elements. It was loaded down with three massive identical crates with the same exact markings. Only one of these large crates carried the real bomb while the other two were decoys. It was a simple ruse but hopefully it was one that would buy the defenders of the train time to respond should an attack take place.

Ben was going through the manifest of the train when Aliclair spoke and while he never took his eyes off of the lists he nodded in agreement, “I’ve had my run-ins with pirates and mercs. Neither of which I would enjoy to repeat.” The train was moving now and heading directly for the wastes which would be a long journey through barren terrain where little to no backup could be called for; just as Padawan Austjor had claimed warning of this was prime territory for a raid…

[Aliclair Austjor]

(short post outbound x-x)

Aliclair glanced one last time at the Warhead located at their rear before looking back out the window with trained eyes. She didn't like the idea of transporting it this way, but this would probably be the safest way to avoid casualties and risk loosing something needed by the Alliance. She listened as her Master acknowledged her words, and informed her on the past altercations with the mercs and pirates. She found them despicable beings. Granted, it was hard living within any society normally... but to steal from others was a big no-no in her book. She stayed quiet for the most part until the desert part hit, where her nerves grew.

Aliclair sat more up to be on her guard, hoping that her Sixth sense would prevail and not just be for show and giggles....

[Jacobi Wylcott]

The Specter dropped like a stone through the skies once the bullet train of the Alliance traveled into the heated reaches of the wastes. It was time to strike - and strike they would. Darth Tormentous his the release on the cargo ramp and it descended downwards to expose both he and Kita Ikari to the blasted elements of Malastare’s environment. It was like a hot blow dryer hitting them right in the face while the wind tore at their clothes. Tormentous’ cape blew hard in the wind but his hood remained in place. He could see the train now.

He didn’t need to tell Kita that she only had one shot to land on the train car and if she missed then she’d die a horrible and probably not instantaneous death as her bones were ground to gravelly dust on impact of the hard surface down below. He also didn’t feel the need to state the obvious and tell her not to take chances and jump when he did - she couldn’t likely control her descent with the Dark Side like he was capable of.

And fall he did.

With his sword in hand he stepped from the train while still well above the train itself. The fall alone even landing perfectly would break a man’s legs if not kill him outright. The Dark One never hesitated and he plummeted down to the high speed train and landed with both feet onto one of the lead cars. He went down to one knee to help cushion the massive fall but soon he stood right back up as if he’d taken a step off the staircase - he was some distance ahead of the flatbed carrying the bomb. Kita had been briefed that the Dark Lord was heading to the fore of the train to disrupt the engine - it would make for securing the bomb easier in the long run. Meanwhile Kita would make the effort to secure the bomb itself.

[Kita_Ikari]

As the ramp opened, her bright blue gaze looked down at the train below. It was coming quick, and the young Sith apprentice wasn't so sure making this jump was a good idea. She had jumped from a ship once. And she had been properly equipped for it with heavy armor due to it being a battle on Vorpa'ya. Plus she had a parachute. This time however, she did not have heavy armor or force power like her master to slow her decent or break her fall less painfully. She had to make due with what she already knew and preplan her landing...quick.

Her long blonde hair whipped in the wind as the sun shone down on her silver semi revealing metallic outfit. It was a advantage for her due to the warm weather, and it allowed her to use her natural agile and swift abilities to the full.

She glanced at her Master, watching as he jumped out the ship as the train approached at high speed, and managing to land safely. "Figures." She mumbled. Both Tormentous and Jacobi had more experience in this then she did. And it showed without question.

She awaited patiently until it came close, just cars away from some crates she noticed that were approaching. It was risky waiting until the last second, but hopping from car to car would end up making people wonder what was going on above the rooftops and caused attention. Plus it would have taken her longer fighting against the winds current as she went the opposite direction of where the locomotive was going. So to her, this was the best option.

Jumping, her landing obviously came alot harder then her masters, although the drop wasn't as bad as she had anticipated. Kita managed to land on her feet in almost fully crouched positon, rolling forward as she once learned back on vorpa'ya to break her fall and avoiding injury as she covered her head in the roll itself before landing back on her feet in almost the same position. Her leg was extended out a bit as she stopped, hand gripped tightly on her vibrolance.

She carefully stood up and observed what exactly she was up against to get to the bomb and secure it that her master had tasked her with. There was no doubt in Kita's mind that it was guarded somehow and she was prepared for battle if anything came to it. With that in mind she advanced forward towards the flatbeds that held the crates, activating her weapon in hand as she tried to figure out which one held the bomb.

[Ben Kenobi]

For the last twenty or thirty minutes the train had accelerated to top speed and was now well into the wasteland of Malastare proper. Ben and Aliclair had been given a rare moment in which they could just sit and do a little of nothing. A nice break to their day in day out training and hard scheduled regimens. They took the time to just sit and chew on the weather, to bond… it was pleasant. Though it was not meant to last. In midsentence Ben stopped his words cold and his eyes narrowed, he sensed a great and looming shadow growing and in its rapid pace it descended upon them as a blanket.

He stood up, “Aliclair, we have company.” A quick assessment needed to be taken and so Ben marched to the nearest terminal. “Captain,” he called out after activating the communicator, “please check in.”

After a few moments the Captain responded, “All clear Master Kenobi. Sentries have nothing to report.”

“Remain vigilant. I’m going to head to the engine and make sure we stay on course.” He turned to his Padawan and gave her a confident smile. “Stay with the bomb, keep it safe and if anything happens just call me on the comm-link.” He had complete confidence in Aliclair’s ability even if she was brand new to this sort of thing. This was the way that she earned her stripes and became salty in a sense. It was time to break the green off of her and he had every belief that she would do everything in her power to keep the mission from failing and the people around her safe.

Though if she found herself in trouble he would make sure that she did not have to stand alone…

[Aliclair Austjor]

Aliclair sat in her chair and her head lifted when they reached the desert. A wave of uncertainty washed over her as her senses heightened what seemed to be automatically. She knitted her eyebrows then looked up, her eyes flashing a crimson before going back to hazel gray. She quickly nodded toward her Master Kenobi before grasping her vibrolance and heading out to the flatbed car.

Opening the door, her eyes shifted crimson once more as her senses told her to be on guard as she sprinted full speed toward the bombs, aware of danger but not its location.

When she finally reached the bombs, she opened the cart door and stood on the flatbed with the precious cargo on it. Aliclair gave a small sigh of relief then she stiffened.

Look behind you

Swiftly, she glanced back to hear footsteps quickly and readied her lance in hand with a secure grasp.