Against the Wind

[Desade Pho]

The woman smirked, then bowed her head slightly, gripping, the long shaft of metal and decorative bone hidden beneath her cloak. As the man played his part, she shot backwards and out of the seat, to avoid getting any on her, showing a fluidity of motion and grace. She stood alongside her droid, and let him go. She thought for a long moment, then nodded toward Rhoden.

"Come along, Tranquil, we have a riot to incite," she purred, stalking from the bar a good five minutes after their current benefactor had left. The droid seemingly vanished the moment he had walked from the building, four spider-like appendages extending from his shoulder blades, giving him the ability to scamper up a nearby wall and into the shadows. She was a cool, calculated woman when she absolutely needed to be.

"Ionatha Magniea was one of the few honest businessmen was of no detriment to the Black Sun or the Hutt Council, recently someone has managed to get some information on Mr. Magniea, at least that's the prevailing theory, that has brought him to heel, in a rather hostile takeover," she explained to Rhoden, "That said, my assumption is that someone doesn't have any info on a man of his stature, but rather, a hostage of some sort, if that's the case, we may be able to perform on two fronts, we'll start the riot as asked, but as this new person is causing problems for the Hutts, and the Empire promised their protection, we will also need to rescue this hostage, and perhaps paint the walls with the usurper's entrails," she added.

"Do try to stay close, Commander," she purred, before vanishing into an alley. Darkness clung to her like a secondary cloak, making her harder to track here. Lights winking out at her approach, it wasn't long before they arrived into the underground. Her eyes scanned the crowd, before falling on a group of people leaning against a wall near a darkened doorway. She smiled and approached the trio there.

"Gentleman! Cireno sends his adulations!" she offered, reaching to pull a cred-stick from her belt, offering it to them, the leader stepped forward, one hand on his weapon before he looked at the amount on the stick, his brows lancing up into his hairline.

"What does the boss want?" the man asked. She looked back at the crowds moving through the cramped tunnels and streets, and smiled...

"Chaos-" she told them, explaining what they wanted.

Their current employer wanted a riot. He'd get one. The three men would move to waylay a passing man, one just punching the other in the face. His friends came to rush over, and in so doing, the friends of the three men came to rush over... wonderful thing about gangs on planets with mob influence. They often couldn't operate without the mobs' blessings. Soon the entire square was embroiled in fighting, and the dark, cloaked figure of Desade Pho, secret weapon, and Infiltrator for the Empire, ducked back and out of the way of the main fighting. She tapped her com after she was away.

"Alright Commander, we should make our way to Magniea next, see what we can do to assist him as well," she purred, making her way for the offices.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden followed Desade and his senses sharpened. The Other One thought him incapable of staying focused, of performing duties. In some regards the impotent voice was right, he would never bore himself with tedious desk-work as his position demanded, that he would happily leave to the Other One--but he would take the fun for himself.

He walked through the shadows, no, he became the shadows. He listened with half an ear to Desade's report--his mind, broken though some might call it, retained information it took in with perfect accuracy. With the part of his mind not paying attention to his surroundings or the information flow he silently played a children's tune in his head, he couldn't remember where he'd heard it.

Dot floated above at rooftop level, as silent and unseen as Rhoden himself was. Both watched as Desade incited a lovely fight. Desade called him shortly thereafter and he smiled, "Of course, dearest Silence." he felt elation flood into his system as he anticipated combat soon--if he was disappointed on that front there were always other jobs to be done.

[Master Buggie]

((OOC: What species is your character? I had to use some vague wording to bridge the gap there, hopefully my post is palatable.))

The way Imperials carried themselves, back straight, chest out, shoulders back, was easy to pinpoint for those that had run afoul of their Empire more than once. The ones who couldn't spot Imperials often didn't survive their first encounter, either that, or they were still locked away in some faraway labor camp. A plainclothed figure watched as two cloaked Imperials, one of whom wore armor beneath his overgarment, strode into the seedy establishment.

"Tch," the figure murmured at the thought of the sentient who had issued the ad hitching his wagon to the Empire.

Just before he turned to leave, though, the very sentient he had been tracking stormed out of the establishment and, strangely, assumed his normal gait moments later. Though the figure watching him had initially assumed that the meeting had not gone well, it soon dawned on him that for some reason, the mustachioed sentient had decided it necessary to give the impression that his meeting had not proceeded satisfactorily. Regardless, the figure watching him from the shadows realized the need to sell himself into the moustachioed sentient's service, since the Imperial agents had not been eliminated from contention.

The figure trailed him and, once they had proceeded far enough away from the establishment, a hand touched the shoulder of the moustachioed sentient and coolly suggested with a flash of canines similar to those of his own, "A dangerous game, being indebted to the Empire. Allow me to present an offer on behalf of my people..."

[Baurzhan Magjan]

((Baurzahn is a Klatooinian sub-species I made up. Biologically Klatooinian in every way, bulky with muscle. Instead of appearing hairless, he's got a bit less of an underbite, body fur like a bulldog, hair on his head, and facial hair and eyebrows like an Irish Terrier))

With a start at the other's touch, Baurzahn threw himself sideways to dodge a coming attack. It was an automatic reaction, just as the hand drawing his blaster was. The weapon cleared only halfway before the other began speaking, and Baurzahn allowed himself to face the speaker. Though he re-covered his weapon, his hand never quite left its grip. The follower's words were too clever by half, which was the exact reason Baurzahn had been heading for a train going the opposite direction he needed. That did not, however, mean the same words weren't of interest.

"Indebted, nothing," snorted Baurzahn, shaking his jowls, "They're simply trying to play me for a pawn to their own ends. Necessity demanded I at least made sure their headlong charge ran over something useful to me. You already knew that though, I'll bet. So, clever one, who are your people, and what are they offering?"

[Neive Undant]

Neive walked the streets of the city as well, his mind racing as he watched the conversation of the two. Neive had come here with a minor purpose, not to only watch passersby, whom Neive, but also to recruit.
Insurgency was a problem for the empire around these parts, and for the Alliance, most problems for the empire helped out. There were some exceptions, Neive knew all too well, but for the most part, it lied in the GA's favor. So, as Neive listened in on the talk of the bug, Neive could only wait to see what would happen, and keep his head down under the black hood and robe he wore, concealing both his identity and the ranger armor he wore underneath.

[Desade Pho]

Security was at an all time high once they reached the building. With gang wars and rioting in the street, people were vying to get in. But the fact that there were so many people at the doors, made access for a person who rarely used a door when entering a target location, so much easier. The first windows that she could access weren't on the ground floor, however. And any adjacent building was too far away, but that was still fine by her. Belfor soon appeared beside the pair as they skirted around the chaos of the streets to not be caught up in it. Belfor would first carry Desade up the length of the building and deposit her through the now cut hole he made in the window. Then returned to grab Rhoden as well. Soon they were both inside.

She walked with the grace of a felinean predator as she stalked through the room. Two guards happened to wander in, discussing the issues downstairs, pausing to stare at the three standing there. The shadows wavered suddenly, as they went for their weapons, and Belfor leaped forward. The shadows consuming the guards and the droid... (Darkness) the lights merely winking out and plunging them into dark. She smiled wickedly as she felt the men become lost in the shadows, lost to Belfor's blades.

She spun about, then began to make her way for the stairs.

"I do hope you're in shape enough to keep up with me, Commander," she purred, then took off at a run up the stairs. It was at the top floor when she realized security was even worse. There were crowds upon crowds of security here, guarding one person, no doubt. With a sigh, she let her hood fall back, revealing more of her ashy grey face, above her red lips was a slender nose, and above that, two, near glowing, yellow eyes. She swept her cloak open further, revealing the blood red armor she wore underneath, and the long metal shaft covered in ornate bones.

"Get me into the office," she said simply, Belfor leaping onto the nearest man, the four spider-like appendages stabbing and slashing, while his more normal arms wielded a rifle, cutting down anyone who ran. Desade however, strode forward, and activated the device in her hands. Angry red energy exploding from both ends, caused many of the guards to stop and stare at the weapon. The blades of the lightsaber staff were crimson, and vibrated as if it was as unstable as its wielder. "Hello boys," she purred.

That's when the riot started inside the building, as people started screaming and running for their lives. One day, she'd learn to feed on that fear, right now, she just enjoyed the chaos.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Dot floated up alongside the droid carrying Rhoden, jabbering away quietly in droid speak to the other. Rhoden noted with mild interest the droid appeared to be encased in human skin, an unusual decoration but a memorable one. Rhoden was through the window with Dot and Desade's droid and two guards were dispatched. He smirked at the notion that he would not be capable of keeping up with the woman and remained behind her, Dot zooming happily alongside them.

Rhoden watched with envy and admiration as the droid opened a passageway and Desade activated her crimson blades. He smiled and pulled his own blade as the chaos ensued. In his left hand he held his usual vibroblade, in his right a wicked curved blade. "Dot: Kill" he said merrily. He leapt forward as Dot lunged, screeching in an admittedly terrifying manner. The droid latched onto a man and there was a scream as he was shredded, pieces and blood falling. Dot detached himself and floated up, firing into the others.

Rhoden stepped deftly around a desperate lunge and brought his curved blade arcing across the assailants throat and through his gut, continuing the fluid dance-like motion through to another guard, and another. He completed the move and hurled the vibroblade in his left hand into a more distant foe. He smiled and laughed--cackled would be more accurate--as the fools died around him. His patience had payed off.

[Master Buggie]

The dog-faced Klatooinian bared his teeth in amusement. Who did he work for, and what did they want? That was the question of the minute, for certain. His foot was in the door, and he had been allowed a moment with his genetic cousin to pitch his plan, which, of course, had been well-rehearsed.

"Come," the Klatooinian beckoned, as he stepped toward a more upscale bar, which, despite the door indicating that it was closed, opened to the leather-skinned humanoid, "I'll only take a moment of your time, but we should do it privately."

The bar itself was empty, save for a Human barman who was occupied cleaning a glass. The establishment had been selected for its small floorspace and because it was empty at this hour. In all it was secure, and the barman had been previously paid off for this few moments of quiet conversation. The Human nodded to the Klatooinian, set the glass down, and headed to the back.

"To be brief, I ultimately work at the pleasure of the Blue Star Pirates, and we've taken an interest in your cause. The sentient you know as Aurore is playing delicate game. What happened in your boardroom was too bold and too public. What we, Mister Magjan, are prepared to do is different from what the Hutts or the Crymorah will suggest. Make no mistake, they are moving in on Magniea Trade just as quickly as we are. The only difference is, we're putting our considerable weight behind you," the Klatooinian explained, resisting the urge to point a finger at Magjan, since he seemed to react poorly to his first physical engagement.

Instead, he gestured outside the bar, "This is a civilized world, Magniea is a civilized business, and our organization has the capability to engage Aurore in the arena that she herself has selected. She will have already destroyed any footage or voice recording of the 'incident' in the boardroom, but we will all the same release rumors of internal strife among the board, supported by what we can prove. This will cause the stock in Magniea to tank. Our organization possesses the capital and the means to gobble up stock as soon as shareholders begin to dump their holdings and establish a majority in the company, or at least enough that we can oust Aurore by other means."

The Klatooinian's silence signaled to his genetic cousin that it was his turn to speak.

[Baurzhan Magjan]

This, certainly, was no cheap trick. Perhaps an expensive one, or no trick at all. Educating a Klatooinian to speak like a galactic was no easy task; Baurzhan should know. He frowned as the other spoke, and his expression only deepened with the speech. His 'cousin' was forcing him to face a reality he didn't want to acknowledge. Oh, he knew it was there well enough but the mission was the one at hand. Doing something about the aftermath was inevitable, especially with the Imperials getting involved. Baurzhan had heard brief snippets and tales of these Blue Star pirates from the spacers who came down from the north to work the (slightly) safer trade lines near the Republic capital. They abhorred slavery and what they defined as 'unnecessary deaths' were a bit closer to the mark of those who didn't prey on others for a living. If he had to pick a side in this shadow war, and it seemed inevitable, he might as well pick one that didn't have a horrible reputation.

He cleared his throat with a grunt that shook his bushy eyebrows and drooping whiskers and spoke begrudgingly, "I think I have no choice but to take your offer. I'm sure your employer only enabled you with so much power, so we'll have to sort out the specifics later. At the moment, there are two flaws with your plan. One, which possibly escaped your notice, is the hostages she took. Then there's the new Imperial angle; the Empire has its own purpose for being here and it's not to anyone's benefit I gather. Especially since they sent two assassins. This time tomorrow, all we players could be dead."

"That will have to hold, for the moment," Baurzhan continued, a touch of a growl entering his voice. "We've got a few hours to liberate some hostages. I know where they are and I have a plan, but it's short a couple reliable, discreet gun hands. If your pirates can provide, we have a deal. Such as it is."

[Neive Undant]

Neive only stood outside and awaited the conclusion of the two's conversation. Neive saw the Klatoonian's attire, wondering... he was no imperial or sith, so could he be a pirate? Neive knew he wasn't to interfere with pirate business, and honestly didn't want to... but anything that struck against the imperials, including this man who has done such on several occasions, drew his attention.