Operation: H

[Ben Kenobi]

***Mid Rim, Deadspace - Q-8***
***Coalition Group Skywalker***
***Nebula-class Star Cruiser Skywalker***

A map of sector scale with several overlays spun quietly above the holotable. Upon the lines was a display of Kashyyyk itself along with the hyperlanes in and out of the system along with the neighboring Imperial held Lantilles and the predominant sight of the Prelemian Trade Route that was essentially the all important hyperlane of the entire Imperial - Alliance war. He who controlled the Prelemian controlled the pace of momentum and therefore the direction of the conflict. As such, there wasn’t much that went on without notice by Alliance Intelligence concerning the Trade Route. Even civilian affairs were monitored to some extent as the never ending battle between Imperial and Alliance spies used civilian clothing and equipment for any noticeable advantage.

The Jedi Coalition held a strict policy of keeping out of the military affairs of the Galactic Alliance as to not get caught up in the heat of battle where Jedi naturally do not belong. Save for certain instances where Jedi ought to and should be included, such engagements were not everyday situations and often it amounted to the Jedi Knight being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As such the Jedi did not generally field a large organized force of military assets. It did, of course, for any large flotilla in space demanded the rigorous structure of military organization to prevent falling into chaos, and also in the event where it was necessary to defend itself from raiders, Sith or Imperial interlopers. Or in the case where humanitarian relief was necessary and assets of the Alliance were either not in the area or unavailable due to the ongoing conflict with the Empire. This was generally the case for the mission statement of the Alliance Navy and the Jedi Coalition did not always coincide and where the Jedi would make effort to relieve a population in need, the Alliance Navy tended to ignore these ‘less important’ situations in preference to patrol their territorial borders; and for good reason.

Yet these ‘less important’ situations still endured and the Jedi could not stand idle and allow their existence. Thus the standing force of Coalition Group Skywalker was maintained. This was to be one such situation…

Jedi Master Kushiban stood before the rotating holograph as Antarian Ranger Captain Jann slashed and stabbed at it with a shining stainless steel pointer. The pair had been in concert, along with several high ranking officials from Alliance Intelligence, for some weeks after Jedi Master Ben Kenobi had enlisted the assistance of the Blue Star Pirates and Master Buggie. Preparation H had been a success and now the Operation H had been given the green light. To be executed with swift measure was the command given by the Jedi High Council and Grand Master Naomi Kilsar.

Kushiban finally nodded and moved to the communications panel, keying it upon arrival. “Give the signal. We’re ready to commence the operation.”

As the briefing had been done several times over and several days ago, all that needed to be done was to gather the coinciding assets. It had taken many days to assemble such a mobile force, yet it had been done with a smooth effort all in all. Now, finally, the assembled forces of the operation were prepared to see to it that their spearhead would deliver unto a people that needed the relief that they were offering. With hope, the Blue Star Pirates would come through on their promises too and the Jedi wouldn’t be caught with their necks out.

With the Skywalker at the head, the flotilla engaged their engines and began settling into a loose formation as their began to cruise towards the hyperbuoy where the Fleet would make the jump into hyperspace and see to it that the enemies of liberty and freedom would be brought to justice.

OOC:

Coalition Group Skywalker
Nebula-class Star Cruiser Skywalker
MC80b Medium Cruiser Home One
MC30c Frigate Brilliance
EF76 Nebulon B Escort Frigate Absolution
CC-7700 Interdictor Frigate Bothawuii
Corellian CR90 Corvette x4
Hammerhead Cruiser x6
Consular Cruiser x7

[Master Buggie]

***Mid Rim, Deadspace - Q-7***
***Dora Fleet***
***Keldabe-class Battleship The Accord***
"Where we at on time?" Liszt growled to the Marauder Commander, Barhg Raskh.

The massive Houk checked the built-in chrono on his black boarding armor and grunted, "Couple more minutes yet, Admiral."

Liszt hated this. Waiting, he could handle; he had proven himself patient enough to wait for a few big scores in the past. The anticipation of an upcoming battle, especially one where his fleet's element of surprise hinged on a Verpine that had done nothing but disappoint him up to this point, made him uncharacteristically restless. The Nautolan admiral had caught himself rocking on his heels several times already.

"Rest of the fleet ready?" Liszt asked his nearby communications officer, the second time he had asked in a span of fifteen minutes.

The officer confirmed that the fleet had reported in as ready to make the jump to lightspeed on Admiral Liszt's mark. The Jewel of Roon, a Discril-class attack cruiser, had reported a leak in one of its tri-laser cannon's cooling systems, but that wouldn't stop the ship from making the jump. The crew had been ordered to patch the leak and continue on as planned. If the leak could not be repaired, the vessel was simply to shoot from two of its tri-laser cannons as necessary.

Admiral Liszt caught himself tapping his foot and, at that point, had enough of the waiting, "To hell with it, let's get going! On my mark... Mark!"

The assembled components of Dora Fleet launched into hyperspace, their destination locked in at the rendezvous point with the Galactic Alliance.

---

***Mid Rim, Q-8***
***Sith Infiltrator Midnight Hour***
Buggie drifted slowly through space, unseen to all those that surrounded him. From the aft section of his ship, an analogue blinker trailed on a simple black cable. At the end of this cable, a red blinker pulsated, communicating in short and long flashes, each manually input by a clicker held in Buggie's palm. He had been sent adrift several days ago from his drop point along the Perlemian Trade Route, along with the other vessels that trailed him, all equally invisible to the naked eye. He couldn't see them on the sensor readings-- in fact, he couldn't see anything on the sensor readings, so he had to assume that the trailing vessels were all behind him, exactly where they should be.

In the event that anyone had been watching his small group of vessels emerge from hyperspace, he and the others had been placed within a tight formation of heavy cargo freighters that had been loaded with ionite in an effort to blur any long-range sensor readings that might have been focused upon the hyperspace waypoint at that point in time. The target system had its own natural obstacles to overcome when it came to long-range sensors, but maintaining the integrity of this mission was considered top priority. Buggie's Sith Infiltrator, stolen from the one-time Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vesper, wouldn't last long if the enemy knew he was coming, much less the vessels that trailed behind him, as their strength lay in the element of surprise, not in overt assault.

The culmination of this multi-day journey was upon Buggie; there was no more guidance for him to provide to the trailing starships. They had reached the point of no return, and now the time was upon them to disburse into the enemy system at minimal operating power and prepare for the heavy-hitters to arrive.

[Rane DeCola]

***Mid Rim, Deadspace - Q-7***
***Dora Fleet***
***CR-90 Corvette - The Wayward***

The Wayward drifted slowly along with the rest of Dora Fleet in the blackness of deep space. While normally assigned to Aurek Fleet, the scale and mission taskings of Operation H had called for some additional speed and The Wayward had been called up to fill that role.

“Have we received coordinates yet from Dora Fleet Command?”

“Not yet sir,” Treda responded back to the Captain raspy request for an update on the current state of the mission.

The Captain shook his head at the situation. Had Aurek Fleet been tasked with the mission, he was certain that information may have been more forthcoming. Regardless, The Wayward had made all of the necessary modifications for its specific mission tasking and were ready to do their part. The Captain expected no less of his ship or its crew.

“Alert me when we receive word. In the meantime, I’ll be in my quarters.”

“Aye sir,” the Bothan first mate responded as the Captain left the bridge.
-----
Rane checked over his boarding armor making sure all of the components were intact and the suit was functioning properly. Everything appeared to be in order. Rane appreciated that the White Blades took their business seriously and that the Marauder team he had been assigned to had the same high expectations when it came to getting the job done.

For this mission, the team of Marauders that Rane was a part of would be assigned the call sign “Dagger”. Rane’s individual identification would be “Dagger Six”. The general order that had come down to the teams on board The Wayward had been such that the ship’s specific role would be fluid, but to be prepared for a variety of assignments from boardings to spearheading a ground assault to recovery operations. Rane’s team leader had insisted that his team be ready for any possibility, so Rane was by no means alone in the cargo bay that doubled as the team’s gear locker.

“You squared away DeCola?” Rane’s Quarren team leader, Bevek, asked sternly.

“Aye sir.”

“Better be. As the new guy, myself and the others will be looking for you to do your share. I hope that’s understood.”

“Aye sir, I’ll do my part,” Rane responded sharply. Joining the crew of The Wayward hadn’t been an easy task. Recently, The Wayward’s role had been a quiet one. Most of Rane’s interactions with the team had been in training scenarios and the few operations that The Wayward had been a part of hadn’t really allowed Rane to prove himself as part of the team, despite the fact that he had passed initiation into the crew.

As he finished prepping his gear, the ship’s intercom came to life and announced the vessel’s imminent jump to hyperspace. Wherever they were headed, Rane was sure that there would be a fight.
-----
“Standby to make the jump to hyperspace. Wait for the Admiral’s mark.”

The Captain appeared on the bridge as the officer at the helm of the corvette acknowledged the first mate’s notice to make ready.

“Sir, we’ve received the coordinates. The hyperspace route has been put in the navicomp, and we’re waiting now on the Admiral’s orders to advance.”

“Thank you Treda,” the Captain said as he took his seat on the bridge. As he did so, communications came over from the Fleet and The Wayward made the jump to hyperspace.

[Ben Kenobi]

Jedi Master Kushiban stood before the massive viewport of the bridge of the Skywalker with his eyes closed in silent meditation and his hands folded gently before him as he mused upon the mission to come and the question of reliability concerning the Blue Star Pirates. Surely he trusted the vaunted credibility of Master Buggie whom this operation was based upon, though pirates would always be pirates regardless of where their moral compass lay. Aside from his obvious grievances of the chosen compatriots for today, he was consolidated in mind and body. As sure as an anchored ship in harbor during a gentle tide.

Even as the timer continued to tick downwards as to when the rendezvous should be made, he made no move of concern nor did he continually check the chrono. Neither did he glance even once towards the decreasing distance between the Skywalker Group and the designated jump point where their scheduled jump would take place and the staple symbolism of the point of no return for once they made the jump there would be no going back.

The overall climate of the bridge had not been one of chaos but of serene disposition. A calm was set over the crew that one would have never suspected they’d been set onto a footing of martial standing. Meanwhile within the hangar the scene was similar though by far more active as entire squadrons were being staged into four ship flight groups one behind the other facing the exit of the hangar doors. Pilots were settled into their cockpits with minor adjustments being conducted by the deck hands and mechanics. First out for this mission would be the Incom T-65XJ X-wings of White Knight Squadron followed closely by a squadron of Actis-class Eta-2 Light Interceptors.

A large number of Corellian YT 2000s were also in line, loaded down with strike teams of Jedi Knights and Antarian Rangers who would be the ground focused forces for this operation. Among these YT 2000s sat one marked with blue accents and recent carbon scoring. It was the Talon, personal starship of Jedi Master Ben Kenobi. Within his ship, besides himself was a handpicked strike team of Rangers and Jedi Knight Asori Spero.

Over and again they checked weapons and armor to ensure that everything was in order and prepared for the inevitable fighting to come for they were sure that their foes would not oblige unwelcomed guests too kindly. Ben sat in his seat in the galley, he didn’t often wear armor but for this instance he did equip himself with a proper set. He anticipated the fighting to be fierce. For now however there was only one thing to do… wait.

As the flotilla cruised ever onwards to the beacon, time also forged onwards…

[Kubu Midwan]

A few Padawans had been brought along to learn, she was one of the Padawans. She understood war, there was always war between clans, however she didn't quite understand why she was brought to this war. Kubu was still trying to understand how the Galaxy worked, who fought who, and why. It was all a complex matter, which was more complex by not understanding the languages being spoken.

Kubu stood away from the group of Padawans, she watched the stars instead. Her droid was not far from her as it was required for any and all translations. It was still very annoying, but she couldn't help it. She was trying to learn, trying to understand, but throwing her into war when she didn't understand and no one understood her. It just simply didn't make any sense to her.

They were starting a brief on what was to happen with the elders or masters present. "Dary j'us noret kia zenoti kam buti ilsia zodis?" The droid asked quietly. (Do you want to know what is being said?) "Mazet ra zhol ai orus kia nuyak gilma ax hani Nu dary nenx minti zhol ragale." She said quietly. (Unless it's important to my task or purpose I don't think it necessary.) Kubu continued to look at the stars.

[Master Buggie]

***Mid Rim, Rendezvous Point: Victory***
***Dora Fleet***
***Keldabe-class Battleship The Accord***
The Blue Star Pirate fleet burst from lightspeed at the agreed-upon coordinates. The bridge, already busy, grew measurably louder as ships began to report in. It was uncommon for a hyperdrive anomaly to occur, sending a ship lightyears off of the intended coordinates, but some things never grew out of fashion. All captains coming up through the ranks learned early enough to feel a degree of pleasure at reciting their command's name for the fleet to hear, and those of Dora Fleet were never an exception.

"Weren't there suppos'd be another fleet here?" Liszt murmured to the nearest officer before the Nautolan admiral continued to rip apart the overly-upbeat name of the rendezvous point, which was something he had carried on about throughout the lightspeed journey, "Mayhaps they went te Triumph, rather'n Victory."

Admiral Liszt stared out the bridge's viewport, looking beyond the dorsal side of The Accord into the blackness of space, the nearest star shining yellow and noticeably brighter than the others that served as the backdrop. The Nautolan let a slow, whistling breath through his silver teeth.

As if on instinct, Liszt declared, "Betcha they're coming n-"

"Admiral! Several ships emerging from hyperspace!" the officer manning the bridge's sensor terminals announced.

Looking to his left and right, Liszt grinned and looked for an acknowledgement of his prediction. Finding that all hands were occupied and that no one had even bothered to look up and give him a nod of approval, Liszt let out a loud sigh and turned his attention to the incoming fleet. To his immense satisfaction, the incoming vessels were not triangular, which was always a relief. He'd experienced that particular scare in the past more than he cared to admit.

"Admiral Liszt of the Blue Star Pirates t'all vessels entering this sector; stand to and prepare te be boarded!" Liszt roared over the comm, "Ah wait now, that's fer later, my 'pologies. What the hell took yas so long!"

---

***Mid Rim, Q-8***
***Sith Infiltrator Midnight Hour***
At this point, Buggie was gliding through space on no power; life support was even deactivated, as he opted to instead wear a spaceworthy suit for the duration of his journey. Momentum would carry him onward toward his target from this point, though navigating a densely populated system was more of a trick than he anticipated on no power. His hands were idle at the controls, but his multifaceted eyes scanned the cockpit viewport to make sure that he was cognizant of his surroundings at all times. He hadn't come all this way to get a stabilizer torn off by an unseen passerby, after all.

[Rane DeCola]

***Mid Rim, Rendezvous Point: Victory***
***Dora Fleet***
***CR-90 Corvette - The Wayward***

Rane felt The Wayward shutter slightly as the corvette dropped out of hyperspace along with the rest of Dora Fleet. The jump hadn’t been a long one, but Rane felt like it had lasted for an eternity. The crew aboard The Wayward had been put on a heightened state of battle readiness and the crew was anxious to see some action.

“What do you think Rane?”

“About what exactly?” Rane responded to his human fire team member Jek.

“About the op? You know, do you think we’ll get to be a part of a boarding action or something?”

“Not sure. There was a lot of fire power out there at the rendezvous point. Doesn’t seem like a snatch and grab type of mission. We’re part of an assault fleet or blocking force of sort.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Just got a feeling ya know.” Rane replied. In all actuality, Rane had more than a feeling. During his time in the Alliance, Rane has been assigned to battle groups like this. The buildup of anxiety and excitement accompanied this operation the same as it had so many others in the past. Before he could dwell any more on the question from Jek, Bevek his team leader entered the ready room.

“DeCola. On your feet. You’re with me.”

“Aye sir.”

As quickly as he had entered, the Quarren exited the room and Rane hastily hurried after him. Once out in the passage way, Bevek turned to address Rane.

“Alright Rane, word is that you might have some inside knowledge that will be useful for this mission. The Captain thinks that it might be prudent to have you on the bridge. You’re the new guy, and you haven’t been tested yet in my book, but I’m not one to question the Captain’s orders. Strip out of your gear and get your ass up to the bridge, double time. Let me tell you something DeCola, if you screw something up, I’ll personally put you out the airlock myself.”

Rane wasn’t one to disrespect authority either, despite the fact that he was less than appreciative of his team leader’s encouragement.

“I won’t let you down.”

“You better not.”

“Aye sir.”

With that, Bevek turned and started to head back toward the team’s ready room.

“You heard me, right DeCola? ASS UP TO THE BRIDGE. NOW!”

[Ben Kenobi]

Jedi Master Kushiban raised an eyebrow at the sudden demand to prepare to be boarded. For the slightest of moments he supposed that the Blue Star Pirates were conducting a raid on the Jedi Fleet, surely there were precious valuables which the Jedi had possession of that would fetch a mighty price on any underworld black market from here to Brentaal… though as he unfolded his hands from his cloak the pirate commander revealed he’d misspoke. ‘How close do they see us as treasure to be plundered. I will speak of this to the Council when this is over.’ he thought to himself as he approached the communications station.

“This is Master of the Fleet, Kushiban.” He felt it odd to apologize that they were late when the situation had been crossed the other way, though the pirate was keeping him out of his comfort zone, thus he kept his tongue and ignored the barking question. “Admiral Liszt, I welcome you to our flotilla. We’re transmitting our navicomputer data to you now, please form up to our starboard flank, we’ll be entering hyperspace in but a few moments to remain on schedule.”

At his command the elements of the Coalition Group Skywalker plied forward at flank speed towards the jump point. Pillars of bright blue upon their afts, the flotilla of Jedi vessels surged forward. While most of the Coalition’s starfighters were housed within their capital ships to conserve fuel, one squadron however was pulling immediate security for the group, the Emerald Knights. For this mission they’d been issued a full complement of T-65XJ X-wings and they flew them as expertly as they’d have flown any other craft. Though in their formation one of their Flight Groups was but a trio rather than a quintet, clearly the Mantis Knight hadn’t been replaced and his position within their formation was vacant.

Unknowing if Master Buggie was even aboard the pirate vessels or not, the Emerald Knights of Buggie’s old Flight Group tipped their port wings towards them in salute though no other gesture or comms call was made as Buggie’s absence was sorely felt within the Coalition and such a touching conversation wasn’t appropriate at this time; on the eve hours of a battle.

Folding their S-foils, the X-wings of the Emerald Knights awaited the counting seconds. Soon, all around them the mark was given and leading off with the Skywalker, the starships of the Jedi Coalition leapt into hyperspace, this was the final leg of their journey and once they arrived they would be doing so upon their objective location. Along with the flotilla, the Emerald Knights also made the jump onward, and with the Lightside of the Force fully within their minds…

[Kubu Midwan]

When they jumped the stars blurred from view leaving nothing but streaks. Kubu sighed. 'Now what.' She thought. She turned to the rest of the padawans they were in full conversations with each other. That was until a master addressed them. "Listen up padawans, you need to be mindful of your surroundings. We are heading into a war zone. Follow the Masters with care, do what you can and no more. Do not risk life unnecessarily." They said.

" Klazje xok kursanta, j'us adata kia buti qutze iv tu'iea suptimas. Mes buti zmogus je'as zo karza gatbura. Stebe tave Meistras su qutza, dary kam j'us gal ir nie vel. Dary nenx pelmi natura ruruzunun." The Droid translated for her. Kubu understood, but she still didn't get how she was going to be able to function in this. Her concern was the fact that she required translation. This would be a problem in combat.

[Ashara Rys]

Mid Rim, Q-8
Sith Infiltrator Midnight Hour

Ashara couldn't help but marvel at how far she had come over the past few weeks.

It was only so long ago that she had been a slave-hostage at the mercy of the Red Key Raiders, for almost a decade. There she had endured pain, suffering, beatings, what-have-you... but she had survived. Not only that, she was now one of the newest additions to the ranks of the Blue Star Pirates, arguably the greatest thorn in the RKR's side.

Needless to say, fortune favours the forbearing.

At first, she had wanted to flee. She had endured ten years of imprisonment, trauma, and constant threat of death. She couldn't be blamed if she wanted to get the quacking duck away from it all. But in this Galaxy spanning billions of lightyears in width, she was aware that she knew no life other than that of a scoundrel. She was the daughter of a Human smuggler and his Togruta slave woman. What was she supposed to do for the rest of her life, become a diplomat in the Alliance?

So yes, her lack of a chance at a more civilised future had been a key factor in why she had chosen to tag along with Master Buggie and his ragtag band of misfits. That, and she had somehow ended up actually befriending these... brainless dolts.

One of whom was currently piloting a Sith Infiltrator, dead on power, through the dark void of interstellar space.

Apparently, the Blue Star Pirates had decided to [classified] [classified] [classified] [classified] with the [classified] [classified] while making sure no one [classified] [classified] [classified]. The moment Ashara had heard this, she had almost torn off her lekku in excitement. The BSP did things like this?! [Classified] [classified] with the kriffing [classified]?!?!?

Well, quacking quadducks of Naboo!

... Those had been her fangirlish thoughts. Before Master Buggie, her 'Captain', apparently, had told her how exactly he planned to accomplish [classified] [classified].

"Buggers, s'cuse me for sayin' this for the fifteenth time but, are ye outta yer kriffin' mind?!" she yelled at him from by the cockpit door, dressed in a similar spaceworthy suit to his, enshrouded in the darkness of the power-dead Sith Infiltrator. Having released her pent up emotions in that outburst, she heaved in a few deep breaths before plopping down lazily in one of the six seats by the back wall of cockpit, behind the Verpine Jedi, legs raised up and sprawled across the adjacent seat. She pulled out one of her two Westar-34s, which had been one of Buggie's gifts to her, and kept twisting it around in her hand, staring at it, running her fingers along it and memorising its curves.

Her primitive carnivorous Togruta instincts were screeching at her. Quite simply, she had a bad feeling about this.

"If ye wanted me tae die so badly, ye could've just let the RKR blow me up, ye ken. Though, in hindsight, I guess this is a slightly more romantic way tae die. If only ye had man parts..."