SithLore

Buggie patiently waited aboard the Outland 02 for the loader droids to complete their tasks. This particular haul would be conducted on behalf of the Blue Star Pirates and the cargo... well, that was a matter that Buggie felt uneasy about. The criminal organization had stores of loot, treasures, supplies, pilfered goods, and any other form of matériel to move at any given moment. The Blue Star Pirates had a logistical nightmare on its hands at all times; goods were exhausted, goods were acquired. Only some were acquired with documentation such as invoices, packing slips, or proof of purchase. Few of the larger items had asset tags. Somehow, the operational division in charge of logistics made it happen and the quartermasters distributed accordingly. All Buggie knew was that he was shipping goods; the specifics of what types of goods those were remained unknown to him. He was certain that someone knew, but if they did, they weren't willing to share it with him or his co-pilot, ex-Stormtrooper Gary Storm. His instructions were simple; get the goods from point of origin to point of delivery, and do it in a timely fashion.

As was standard procedure, all of the equipment would be taken directly to a Besh-class cleaning facility, where it would undergo a final inspection before being taken to a heavily-secured Aleph-class facility. The twin Action V transports currently rested on what Buggie considered to be a less than stable landing pad at a backwater facility on Iliabath, located within the Mortex sector. As the loader droids began to herd themselves back into the transports, Storm buzzed in, "Cargo is loaded. A lot of different shapes and sizes on this haul. Took us a while to strap it all down."

"Copy. I'll begin the startup sequence," Buggie replied, as he began the process on Outland 02 and remotely triggered Outland 01 to begin doing the same, "Let's hope that whatever it is we're hauling doesn't cause us trouble if things get dicey."
---
Transport Vessels:
Action V Outland 01 - 320 RU
Action V Outland 02 - 320 RU

Escort Vessels:
TBD

Pilots:
Action V Outland 01 - x4 RX-24 Pilot Droids
Action V Outland 02 - x4 RX-24 Pilot Droids; Master Buggie

"Gotta go, gotta go, come on," Jak ordered his gang through the gunfire. "Time constraints, people!"

Blaster beams streaked through the open air of the Mimban warehouse he and his entourage were content to leave. Flanked by Red Eyes and Van Cleef, the three pirates run-and-gunned their way into their YT-2000 freighter while Mums and Stretch helmed their smaller Skipray Blastboat. They too were on their way out of the fight.

On his breakneck voyage through the space lanes -- indiscriminately purchasing intergalactic cannabis for the soft opening of his wellness center on Coruscant -- the Bexel Gang had come out ahead more often than not. This was not one of those times, however. Mimban had proven to be... mixed in its messages re: the procurement of their soil-rich plants. Vendors had expressed interest on the outset while coded messages had warned of aggressive expansion of the noninterventionist variety by way of the natives. Hedging their bets, Jak and co. found themselves very nearly besieged by a Mimbanese gang intent on stealing their shipment. Were it not for the efforts of the Horn Sisters working the turrets of the Nice Jacket, they would have been outgunned and perhaps burning smudges on the dirt-smudged floor.

"This is the last time I'm ever coming here," Jak hollered up the ramp, nearly taking a bolt to the hamstring on his way up. "Their product is moof-grass."

"Don't we have to be at a rendezvous with Buggie, like, yesterday?" Van Cleef replied, changing the subject.

"Uh, you doing anything to get us there?" He asked as he barged into the cockpit doorway, edging her off his captain's chair.

"Actually, I was..." She huffed and took a seat in the firstmate chair. "Coordinates are set, you're welcome."

"Engines ready, Bex!" Came Red Eyes through the comms.

With a roar of the thrusters, both ships blazed out of the roof-less warehouse; the explosion of said rear thrusters sparking a fire in the mass of cannabis they had no time to procure and setting off a chain reaction that set ablaze most of the gang's sought-after product.

==

Escorting

YT-2000
Pilot Droid

Skipray Blastboat
Pilot Droid

Fortunes arrived in many forms. As of late, the steady decrease of Imperial-Sith hostilities had proven to be one such blessing. With both parties guaranteeing secure passage along the Hydian Way, Captain Vassyl and his task force had been freed up to crack down on pirate elements scattered across the larger scope of the galaxy. Today, the net had been cast along the ever-valued Permelian Trade Route, and Doren was determined not to leave empty handed. Listening posts were manned, and countless deep-space probes had been circulating the less occupied hyperspace markers stretching from Bonadan to Centares. The surveillance was hardly airtight, but any reconnaissance was preferably to the more extreme alternative.

Furthermore, to Vassyl's surprise, his contacts within the Sith Empire had informed him of a non-descript 'offering' in regards to this recent patrol op. When it came to the enigmatic Sith Peerage, Doren scarcely knew what to expect; nonetheless, be it aid or information, the Captain wasn't about to turn down a free consultation. Thus he sat and waited in anticipation of a coded communiqué, or some sign of activity from one of his many lures. Fishing was, after all, grounded in patience, and prudence was much desired when it came to the elusive privateer. Vassyl shrugged his shoulders as the hourly report came in from Vaynai. All quiet on the Northern Front. He supposed that, if smugglers and their ilk were lurking about, they certainly wouldn't make it easy. Such was the frustration and thrill of the chase.

OOC:
Raiding:

XM-1 Missile Boat Proudclad - Doren Vassyl
TIE Avenger - RX-24 Pilot Droid
Flight Simulator in use

Alliances often made strange partnerships, but the state the Sith were in they could not afford more enemies, the Empire afterall had followers of the Dark Side, not Sith but both followed the Dark. He had been spending several hours in his flight simulator. One of the many skills he tried to keep razor sharp. He had been preparing for a possible raid, this was one of those joint activities that would benefit both the Empire and the Sith. Warvanus was not against this, despite the fact that they harbored traitors such as Kroxota and another Sith he had met just once. Kroxota’s betrayal was more keen to the Sith Warrior, where in another life, another reality he might have been apprenticed to the Brute warrior. The Dark Side had other plans, and he was where he needed to be.

His thoughts were distracted by the chime in the simulator that the run was complete. Warvanus rose and told one of his men to prepare his ship. He had the co-ordinates of the meeting point of the Imperial strike team. He would meet up with them and see where the Dark Side takes him.

A short time later he had his droid KL-PK1 loaded into the starfighter, he would act as co-pilot and gunner, he had made sure he had been programmed to be efficent in both. He had his lightsaber clipped to his belt a small blade sheathed on his other side. The ship was ready and Warvanus climbed aboard. Shortly after pre-flight checks were made, the Starfighter was airborne leaving Karza, Sojourn’s primary and with the co-ordinates punched in the starfighter jumped into hyperspace.

It was a relatively short jump, the ship came out of hyperspace to a small group of ships, he recognized a TIE fighter among them, and knew he was at the right place. He was not sure who he was going to meet up, would it be someone he was not familiar with? Or maybe that Imperial he had teamed up with before and later fought. He was not sure but this was Sith business and a excercise to strengthen Imperial & Sith ties, this put his own agenda to the back burner.

He opened a secure channel to the Imperial team “Imperial Commander, this is Leviathan, Lord Warvanus piloting” he paused trying to think of his next words. “I understand we have a mission together” his tone was neutral but if anyone in the Imperial team was attuned to the Force they would sense no deceit , but a spirit of cooperation. If successfull this would benefit both.


OOC:

Raiding
R-41 Starchaser “Leviathan” piloted by Warvanus
Protocol Droid Co-Pilot, Gunner KL-PK1

Equip:
Flight Simulator
Lightsaber
Vibro Shiv

Vassyl lost all ability to speak in light of the brash announcement. At best, the Captain had anticipated the Sith might send a servant or two, but not someone so clearly outlined within their faith. This was a warrior of status, not unlike what the enigmatic individual figure known as Blood had been prior to his rise through the ranks. Slowly overcoming his initial shock, Doren began to size up the acolyte's starship. The R-41 was a sturdy, reliable heavy-fighter, and while it might hold much comparison to Imperial technology, it would be more than a match for the likes of pirate rabble. Further still, as the vessel did not blatantly make obvious its owner, the Force sensitive nature of the pilot would remain a lethal secret.

Even if the criminal bands reached some insight on this fact, the speed and coordination of the strike team would quickly outpace any advantage that information could provide. Yes, this was quite the welcome addition. [Leviathan, we've been expecting you], Vassyl began, dancing a fine line between a brief and friendly tone, [Welcome to Strike Team Forn: please hold formation, I will alert you to any developments our scanners locate]. The Captain assumed that, if his newfound ally had any intelligence to offer, he would do so at his leisure. If not, the now-slightly larger strike force would continue to lie in wait, until such a time that some unlucky stumbled into the path of the many surveillance nodes. Despite the sudden excitement, the mood had begun to sink back into a starless neutrality.

He held his position as the Imperial Commander greeted him over the comm, he really did not have anymore intel then what the Imperials already had. He would be sending that over momentarily. He keyed the comm and replied

“Thank you” his tone was polite and cordial, these were allies and not under his command. If it had been troops under his command it might have been different. “Holding position, also I am sending via secure line the intel I have on this shipment, its not much and It’s probably nothing different than what you already have” With that he sent the transmission to the Imperial Commander, which according to Id on the ship was a Captain Vassyl.

He called to his back to his droid “Karl, hows it looking back there”

The droid checked his instruments “Looks good Master” he replied in that proper-prissyish tone.

He checked his instruments and held his position, waiting for the plan, the go ahead. As he waited he drew on the Force preparing him for what was to come if anything. If anything came of it he hoped it would be strengthened ties with the Imperials of course if they were successful his Master would be pleased, not to mention it scratched the itch that the lust for battle often gave him and these pirates seemed as good of a target as any.

A Tie-Defender and an ATR-6 traveled through hyperspace towards the rendezvous point Captain Vassyl had set up. Ryder sat in the command chair of the ATR watching as the blue maw spun around his two vessels. He had high hopes for today, to much time in the office had given him the itch to take down some pirates.

“Dropping out of hyperspace in 3...2...1” one of the pilot’s counted down as he pulled back the lever.

The two vessels dropped from hyperspace right behind the Sith. Ryder’s hand raised, about to order the ion cannons to fire but he held his tongue. He hated the cease fire between the Empire and the Sith and he hadn’t been made aware this was a joint operation, probably purposefully.

“Hail Captain Vassyl,” Ryder ordered.

The comms blinked green showing the connection had been made. “Captain Vassyl, this is Ryder of Black Star Systems,” he spoke with authority but had an undertone of disappointment that the Captain would easily pick up on. “We are here at your discretion, I hope today proves to be fruitful.”

Raid:
ATR-6 assault transport
Tie-Defender

[Pleasure to have you with us Mister Ryder], Doren addressed his colleague over the comm, [Hopefully the tracking nodes will sniff something out for us]. Vassyl paused for a moment, and glanced over at the imposing frame of TIE Defender looming off the Proudclad's starboard side. The Black Star CEO wasn't kidding around, his hardware made that abundantly clear. Certainly though, he must have been somewhat off-put by the R-41's presence, and the notion of the Imperial-Sith anti-pirate collusion. Indeed, such a phrase would have passed as a joke a cycle back. And yet, here they were, united, begrudgingly, against common foes. War did indeed make for strange bedfellows. Hopefully, in this instance, the economic threat of piracy was enough to maintain the ties that bound.

Slowly drawn back to reality, Vassyl continued to look over the documents his unexpected ally had summarily beamed over. Some of the data appeared to be solid radar samples from decidedly older scanners, while some marks and denotations suggested a sort of precognitive estimation of where the rogues might be lurking. The average humdrum officer might not of thought much of Sith superstition, but Doren knew their faith to be far more precise than other would care to admit. Yes, he had experienced such magicks firsthand, and knew not to disregard such abilities lightly. Leaning back in his seat, the Captain let loose a winded sigh as his eyes flitted about the various cockpit consoles. With a heap of data entries and dollop of clairvoyance, perhaps fortune might yet smile on his cause.

The R-41 had non descript markings as it was his personal craft. It was also loaded with fake ids but this time he used no deception. The presence of another Imperial ship made no difference to the Sith Lord. The more the merrier he thought as the more ships the higher their chances at being successful in this raid.

He gave a once over on his instruments and everything was in order, his stores were full. Fuel was fine. His droid performing its’ task, which was co-piloting.

Warvanus kept on a non-threatening, non-aggressive course, the hum of the engines whining strong. He should have brought the Dawn Patrol with him. They were a Special Forces unit under his command. They specialized in ground ops not in space battles. But the time window was short and his was the only ready and available craft. This is what they had and this is what they would work with. This would be sufficient

“Karl” he started “keep the channel open for any comm chatter from our Imperial friends or otherwise, I want to be ready at a quarter moment’s notice”

The droid made a sound that sounded like a sigh and irritation but said nothing.

He really needed to get that droid’s personality chip fixed. He was too mouthy and cheeky for his own good. Right now it was a matter that had little import. If worse came to worse he could shut him down. He turned his attention back to the operation at hand. He peered into the Force for guidance, it was silent.

He hated moments like this right before an operation it was too quiet for his liking. Patience was a virture not one the Sith Lord had in abundance in situations like this but here and now he represented the Sith he had to swallow his impatience. If this was successful he surmised it would only strengthen the relations between the Sith and the Empire.

The Tie-D and ATR took up position on Doren’s flank, they’d follow his lead once any situation arised. Ryder himself sat uncomfortably in his command chair, waiting while one had an itchy trigger finger wasn’t usually optimal. The current situation made it worse because Ryder didn’t like the Empires current bedfellow.

“Sending over information on smuggler paths my agents have been keeping tabs on,” Ryder replied back. “Hopefully with our recourses combines our net will catch something useful.”

Ryder tried to lean back and get comfortable but his grey eyes continued to watch the non-Imperial vessels off their starboard side. He couldn’t help but wonder if he knew who was behind the duraglass cockpit. For a moment he thought about lowering his Force mask to see but in the end he decided against it. Time to trust in Doren’s judgement and hope he doesn’t lead them a folly.