One more for the road

[Professor Mors]

“I would prefer to avoid any heated situations, Solemn”, Sa’ato chatted over the detachment’s commline, “Some of us have samples to go through later today”. Indeed, the Neti was severely hedging his bet that whatever hapless merchant fleet the Sith strike force came across would have the good sense to dump their cargo. The professor had several hundred years of experience behind the wheel, but combat flying, so far as he was concerned, was better left to AI. It was hardly an activity he looked forward to, and one that he hoped would pass him by on this particular occasion.

The academic had recently planted several glassplants on Ziost that he’d acquired in the Pantoran system a week prior. He was unsure whether they could properly adapt to a near, but not identical arctic environment, and was not keen to see his prizes wither away without good reason. Nonetheless, the retired teacher’s Pursuer had sallied forth at his superior’s call, and he was hardly in a place to deny orders. So it was that warheads had been sealed, weapons heated, and a fresh load of coaxium hooked into the engine with a modified injector standing by for that extra kick.

The very thought of that rush of speed almost made the Neti nauseous- not that he was capable of vomiting. So much the worse. “Mudhorn is standing by-”, Sa’ato murmured sadly over the comm, “Beginning second scanning pass now”.

OOC:

Raiding:
Pursuer-Class Enforcement Ship - Sa'ato Mors
RX-24 Piloting Droid

[Jacobi Wylcott]

Darth Tormentous scowled at the screen and switched it off thus delegating the task of negotiations with pirates to the lesser minions within his fold. Within the sphere of power in which he cruised the targeting data of the enemy vessels began to plot and transmit out to the rest of the raiding fleet. There would be no question here that at the end of the day the Galactic Alliance would suffer yet one more failure among a long list of failures.

The Acolyte flying the Sith Infiltrator took over the conversation with the pirate representative nodded without taking his own eyes off the screens in front of him. “It is not heavily guarded,” Disagreed the Acolyte “It was projected to have twice the defending ships and one capital. As it stands the convoy is relatively lightly guarded. Though for your continued cooperation we will include an additional 2.5% of the income we receive.”

OOC: Raiding

Sith Infiltrator - RX-24 Pilot
Sith Meditation Sphere - Darth Tormentous

[Kita_Ikari]

Silvanius had only done this once before. It had been over a year since she helped her Master attempt at stealing cargo of any kind. And she had Mercy with her at that time flying the ship. But there was no more Mercy backing her. Now she had to learn to go solo...and it stunk. Silvanius didn't care for being alone all that much. Especially when flying. The whole experience by herself was boring when she felt no one was around to share the moment with her. Glancing at the droid as it kept up with the others siths ships and following the coordinates given, she laid back in the passenger seat for now looking out the window at the ships slowly glided through space.

Picking up the comm, she let herself be known she was nearby and preparing for battle. "This is Silvanius, flying the YT-2000. Standing by and ready whenever you are master." Setting the comm down, Silvanius knew what she was best at. As the Pilot would fly, she would help cover her masters and the other siths backsides during this raid. "At least I know how to shoot." She muttered irritability.

OOC

Raider
YT-2000- Silvanius
RX-24 Pilot Droid

[Slade Xandir]

Slade paused his meditation within the newly acquired sphere, relatively relieved that it made it so much easier to focus his powers. Why hadn't he considered these ships, before? It worked wonders on his focus. Maybe because it looked weird.

He huffed at the static that rolled through his earpiece, the translation coming through from Valkyr's end as she cleared up the feedback. The Cathar Warborg was aboard his unnamed Infiltrator with another droid aboard it, working in some tandem of harmony that mechanical things knew through numbers and digits. They remained within the raiding party, idly minding orders and silent.
Tormentous knew his Hunter was never far from him.



-------Raiding-------
Sith Med. Sphere:
Slade Xandir

Infiltrator:
RX Droid
-------------------------

[Darth Fett]

The wayward former Dark Lord of the Sith thumbed several switches in a steady, controlled sequence, his sleek gloves belying his scarred and calloused digits.

Axl casually stretched his back muscles, the neck of the pilot seat meeting him with equal pressure. He inhaled deeply as the fumes wafted from the freshly tanned rancor leather of the new upholstery and danced within his weathered sinuses.

His Sith Infiltrator Deimos, freshly painted a sleek and uniform obsidian, lingered on the other side of the shipping convoy from the bulk of the raiding party, silently observing the stage from the wings in anticipation of a rising curtain. He drank it all in, the potential for chaos a rich delectable bouquet paired exquisitely with the lingering olfactory remnants of the creature he had flayed alive to dress his furniture.

Outside, his matching obsidian Firespray Melinoë lingered also, just out of reach. It maintained its radio silence, but Axl had full confidence in the ship's efficiency. While his RX-24 was behind the controls, Reana stood ready, behind the droid. Her haunting jade eyes assessed every ship in her purview, calculating the odds and probable maneuvers ranked most prudent to anticipate.

Axl reached out toward his fellow Sith, in particular their leader.

"Tormentous," he spoke directly to him without engaging the comm system, "ready on your mark."
His voice was clear as if he were in the cockpit beside his successor, the current and rightful Dark Lord.
His cadence was steady and intentional, that of a veteran who had seen conflict for as log and as often as he had drawn breath.


[OOC:
1. Sith Infiltrator:
Darth Fett piloting

2. Firespray:
RX Droid piloting]

[Kroxata Akhoi]

The Sith radar's would detect another ship entering the open space joining alongside the raiding party, bursting from hyperspace to meet the other raiders it did not operate its communications, any attempt made to contact the pilot or their cargo was met by a blaring static. The vessel itself was that of a Sith Infiltrator however very heavily modified and aesthetically customised to such a degree that it was barely recognisable as one, the sharp edged plated hull was etched with various markings that were sharp and jagged that glided down the narrow nose all the way to the rear engines, the writings would be foreign to most say for a select few that have dealt with one of their kind in the past, they were Dathomirian markings...

The Infiltrator quickly dived from its original entry point swirling and screeching its engines as he passes Slade's Infiltrator keeping steady for just long enough for the Sith to notice its existence from the cockpit, a dark familiar aura of the Dark Side being felt between the two ships, with an infernal hatred erupting from within the Force yet the pilot still makes no contact with his allies, either side of Slade's Infiltrator two Sith Starfighters rise on either side baring similar markings as the unknown identities' ship before rearing away in one large spinning motion acting as a small escort to Tormentous' Infiltrator flying close by in an almost guard dog like manner, the two Starfighters joining ensue creating a small wedge formation as they make their descent towards the convoy.

OOC: Raiding

Sith Infiltrator - RX-24
Sith Starfighter - RX-24
Sith Starfighter - RX-24

[Master Buggie]

((OOC: Convoy intercepted. The shipper must choose whether to conduct a space battle, force a boarding action, or dump their cargo and flee.))

[Master Buggie]

((OOC: Zasabi has indicated his preference for a boarding action. All participants, at some point, please list the equipment that you will be bringing into battle. This battle will be conducted as a ground battle, as opposed to a space battle.))

[Master Buggie]

((OOC: To clarify, you don't all have to board the same transport to fight one another. For example, if Sa'ato wants to board Ani's transport to fight him, but Tormentous ends up boarding Zasabi's transport, that's okay. I will acknowledge that within the eventual battle post. With respect to the system, this will be one large generation, as I believe that is the spirit in which the Spacelanes rules were originally written, and because I am not in favor of several individual generations from the same Spacelanes thread.))

[Zasabi Ray]

Zasabi blinked at the chorus of hails calling in. He knew that Red Comet industries was soon to shift over to CSA control due to him beginning the process of selling his controlling stakes in the company, but he hadn't quite expected this fire sale to be happening.

"Uh....We've got a few more ships than usual," he commented aloud, looking through the readouts helpfully provided to him by his many piloting droids. "Doesn't this seem a little...obvious? I think we may have too many ships to make this a quiet run."

The piloting droids, predictably, didn't respond. Maybe it was the complexity of their tasks that drew their attention. Maybe it was their complete disinterest in their captain's anxieties.

"Quartermaster? Do you have my personal gear aboard?"

A quick burst of static followed. Tension mounted for a moment before the heavily modulated tones of a 3P0 droid broke the silence. "Apologies, captain. We have received your anti-boarding gear in storage. The ship's defensive complement has also been received and awaits orders to engage."

Zasabi let out a breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding. Pulling loose the collar of his rich silken shirt, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the acceleration couch. "Good. Make sure it's all unpacked and ready for deployment."

"Hyperspace in 3..."

Opening his eyes wide, he looked around in a brief panic. He had completely lost track of time!

"Uh, everyone, here's to a safe journey!"

It was time. Their first jump was both the quickest and the most dangerous. But he had done this route hundreds of times. There was no way that today, of all days, would be when someone would actually raid them.

The screen turned a vicious swirl of blue and white as the merchant fleet entered hyperspace. Less than a score of minutes later they exited into a part of space best known for not being well known at all. Well, except for today apparently.

"Contacts detected," announced the unconcerned tones of the scanning droid. "Multiple unknown contacts within engagement range."

The only other noise that could be heard was Zasabi's hand slapping against his forehead. Once, twice, three times a frustrated gentleman.

"Why....why, why, why?!" Rising to his feet, the Shadow began unbuttoning his shirt. Wearing armor over this would be seriously detrimental to the quality of the garment. "Ok, announce to the rest of the fleet to prepare for boarding, follow standard procedures- shields to full, all that. Security on deck!"

Alarms began to blare, despite the fact that he was the only organic aboard. Red lights cast a desperate gleam across the corridors around him, his steady pace turning into a sprint. The faster he was prepared, the better chance they'd have.

OOC-

Equipment
Camo Suit
Riot Shield
Cortosis Blastsword
Corellian Spark Grenade
LE-6 Multi Function Droid