Another journey

[Corran Vellar]

The Black Star and her partner ship, Solar Nebula were fully loaded and ready for their journey. The crews had given the green light and the two heavy freighters left the docking ports of Kuat shipyards. The two vessels made their way to the edge of the gravity well before they slowed and sent out the check-in signal to all escorts and partner shippers.

Ryder strode onto the bridge of the Black Star holding a datapad in hand. His grey eyes continuing to skim its contents till he arrived at his chair. “Outpost Alpha-832, and here I thought I might be done with Mr. Carbine.” He chuckled to himself before looking up from the pad. “Status report.”

“Freighters are fully loaded and ready for the trip, sir.” One of the comms officers reported. “Waiting for our escorts to catch up.”

[Desade Pho]

The black void of space, sprinkled with the white dust that were the stars, wavered just a bit, before the small vessel decloaked, revealing a bulbous body, with three points jutting forward. A TIE Phantom. Moving a bit closer to the command vessel for this trip.

"Black Star vessel, this is Black One, we'll be ensuring your safe travel for this leg of your journey," came a clipped voice that could only belong to a droid. "We'll be operating on radio silence until we are required to take action, Black One out," and the tri-tipped ship faded once more into the ether. While the pilot, a young woman dressed as a Storm Commando, drew closer to the ship, intent on connecting mag-locks, and sticking to the surface of the ship.

Inside the woman stared out at the void, preparing for the second hand Hyperspace trip. A small, wicked smirk playing across her grey lips.

[Lady Kota]

Brutus was there finishing up loading the cargo, this was another first for him loading cargo. He was adjusting to the Inquisitor and her training, he still had a long way to go to be anywhere near her level. Once the last if the cargo was loaded he got in, he joined the line of other ships waiting to go. He was getting better at shipping, he still felt useless when they were raided, hopefully it won't happen this time.

Kota sat in her ship waiting for Brutus to finish up. He needed to learn to be quick with these runs or he was going to be toast. She saw him finish loading and finally pull up to the rest of the ships. They now simply waited for the signal to move. She hoped that there was no issues, she needed to recover some funds after a side business deal. Besides her supplies had been stock piled again, do it was time to clean up.


Assets

Yt-2400 (whatever ru it holds)
Lady Kota

Yt-2400
Pilot droid
Brutus (npc)

[Ben Kenobi]

Kuat, a ringed world and shining example of Imperial industry. Quite so in fact that the very ring orbiting Kuat consisted of manmade drydocks, repair yards and manufacturing centers dedicated to the world’s shipping industry. Kuat Drive Yards was without a doubt the largest ship manufacturer and shipping corporation in the Galaxy, and they were fastly dedicated to their Imperial stewards. A relationship that had remained strong for many cycles and that shall remain for many to come.

“KDY Control, this is Bulk Freighter Alpha-01; our manifest is accounted for and fully secured.”

“Acknowledged Alpha-01, you are green on the board and next in line. Have a safe trip.”

“Appreciated Control, 01 out.” The short exchange was executed and Nathan Steele pulled the freighter out of the massive cavern-like hangar of the shipyard and out into the designated holding pattern. It would be a tedious five minutes until the BFF-1 Bulk Freighter was finally permitted to maneuver out of the flight pattern and on to its assigned control group. Nathan, an Imperial Navy fighter pilot from Avenger Squadron, tended to entertain these overtime gigs with enthusiasm despite trolling in a freighter that could hardly break any speed considered ‘fast.’ Regardless, he was an excellent pilot and whenever the Grand Admiral called on him for these things, he never turned them down.

Aside the Alpha-01 drifted a sleek and menacing TIE Defender, behind the joystick and in the seats five-point harness sat the Grand Admiral himself. His helmet was polished and clean, bearing the stout form of the Imperial Navy upon the brow. His gloves creaked from under use, his joints cried at the desire to put this superiority and multi-role fighter through her paces… discipline and unerring duty kept this wild tiger in check.

“Alpha-01 this is Grey Wolf 6-Actual; I have your six. We’ll be linking up with the Black Star on this run so coordinate with their formation and let’s get this mission underway.”

Not that Argus could see him, it didn’t stop Nathan from sitting up a bit straighter when the Grand Admiral reported his call-sign as the escort. “Understood Wolf 6.” He reached forward and opened the channel to Black Star Systems reps. “Black Star, this is Imperial Freighter Alpha-01. We’ve been assigned to piggyback with your convoy for the first leg. I’m transmitting our manifest over now for confirmation. Our escort, Grey Wolf 6 will also be joining. We’re awaiting navicomputer buoy data now.”


OOC:

Shipping
BFF-1 Bulk Freighter Alpha-01
NPC Pilot Nathan Steele
RX-24 Pilot Droids (x3)
298 RU

Escort
TIE Defender
PC Pilot Argus Kraiov

[Rhoden Carbine]

The YT-2000 freighter Firehawk and a Starwing dropped out of hyperspace and adjusted their course to go alongside the other ships in the convoy. Rhoden had requested further supplies to facilitate the expansion of Outpost Alpha-832--not to mention the various requests made by the research teams as well. He'd made one stop en route to the convoy to pick up a few last pieces of valuable equipment.

"Firehawk and Starwing escort in position." Rhoden said through the comm channel. Fortunately this convoy would be of little concern for him, even if would-be raiders found out about it they might not be interested in the supplies present to steal--not least because many such items were easily traced. Further there was the somewhat more stringent defensive measures in place regarding the Outpost and the valuable goods to be transported.

"Let's hope for a smooth ride." Jorvan's voice came over the internal comm system, "Yeah, more time to take Rhoden for all his money." Haly said, pointing her thumb back towards the deck of cards laying on a table. Rhoden scowled.


OOC:

YT-2000 Firehawk, Shipping
XG-1 Starwing, Escorting

[Corran Vellar]

Every vessel checked in that was on the schedule, including a phantom that wasn’t. Ryder made note of the unexpected vessel currently latched onto the hull of his own and wondered just how long it had been watching. With a deep breath he dropped into his command chair before looking to the comms officer. The officer gave him a nod before opening the channel to all members of the convoy.

“Black Star to all vessels, hyperspace coordinates are being transfer now,” Ryder spoke as he gave a signal to his pilot to prepare for the jump.

No more then a minute passed before all shippers and escorts were in formation. A moment later they all vanished into the swirling maelstrom of hyperspace. He hoped this trip would be quiet, once they were out of the galactic ring and on their way to Mr. Carbine’s prized outpost they’d have little backup.

[Desade Pho]

The pilot of the TIE Phantom sat in abject silence, befitting the name she so often went by these days. She stared out the viewscreen at the silver waver that shimmered before the black void, letting her know that they were still cloaked, for now. She kept her fingers on the firing studs of her control yoke, ready, just in case something happened. She hoped it would. She wanted a little fun.

Caught in the Hyperspace vortex of the Black Star, she watched as the silver screen that made everything seem to shine, glow brighter, as a tunnel of white opened up before them, with only darkness at the end of the tunnel. Much like her own journey, surrounded by cold, unfeeling light, with the promise of warm, charming darkness at the end. She longed to reach the end of the tunnel.

[Lady Kota]

Brutus careful put in the coordinates making sure to double check that they were correct. He didn't want to make such a mistake as to go to the wrong place or jump into space debree. He pushed the button after to follow in the jump after everyone else. He sat back a little, he was slowly becoming more experienced in space traveling.

Kota watched them jump soon after receiving the coordinates. She would follow suit once Brutus had jumped. He was getting better at this point and knew what they could expect. It was good to see him get some comfort though he knew this. When she jumped she was used to being there.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden maneuvered into position and input the coordinates for the jump as they came through. "At least we won't have to go far to get home once this run's complete." he said, "It'll still be too far." Haly said, "Careful, talk like that I'll think we need to schedule some extra training over your downtime."

Rhoden yawned and turned around as the swirls of hyperspace consumed the view through the cockpit. "Come on, time for me to avenge myself." he said, Haly snorted. "Fat chance." Jorvan walked through the door, "I'm cleaning you two out." he said. The cards were dealt and the game began, "I would encourage you to slaughter them, sir, but that would be far beyond my acceptable optimism range." Stalker said, Haly snorted and Jorvan smiled, "Oh, shut up." the droid walked off, "How rude, poison your food I will..." Rhoden cursed to himself.

[Ben Kenobi]

Argus watched in silence as the BFF-1 Bulk Freighter Alpha-01 sped up to a high rate of speed and then wink out of existence into the field of hyperspace.

His own TIE Defender was steadied on the navicomputer coordinates that Black Star had transmitted and once he’d double checked them, personally, he gave the system once over and finally he primed the activation sequence of the fighter’s hyperdrive. Calmly he sat back in his chair and breathed easy, this would be a lengthy jump and it would carry them far from typically known space. They had to adhere to specific hyper jump points in order to extend their route to 832. The ever shifting stars and the movement of worlds made long distance travel such as this, unpredictable.

Unafraid of the consequences of a fatal jump into the core of a star or the mouth of a singularity, Argus leapt into hyperspace in pursuit of Alpha-01. Their destination, just outside of the Galactic Ring. Twinkling stars flashed brightly on the blackened backdrop and elongated into long lines of shimmering light until the entire cockpit was blazing a bright scene. Afterward the white view burst into a churning blue tunnel which had no end.

Locked in hyperspace, the TIE Defender continued onwards…