<@173438628058497024> <@704912204356517918> <@235095022263992320>
The Dark Jedi Brotherhood’s secret movement of an ancient Sith artifact has begun on the planet of Arx. The Iron Legion and elements of the Inquisitorious have deployed across the planet and in particular around the capital city of Eos. Clan Vizsla has been hired by the Dark Council to conduct reconnaissance and overwatch as the artifact passes from hand to hand between Brotherhood couriers. Grand Master Declan Roark, Master Dracaryis, Mandalorian Valhavoc, and new comer Kodo Obrim have taken up positions on rooftops overlooking the main thoroughfare winding through Eos City.
.
Grand Master Declan Roark scanned the busy streets of Eos City as the setting sun of Arx Primus began to dip below the horizon. His advanced military heads up display provided him with data on the position of his team, his existing ammo count, and overlays of the city streets. Roark tapped the side of his helmet and activated his personnel anti-radar system just in case anyone decided to bring in over head star fighter support in an attempt to steal the prized artifact moving below. He glanced over at his team as each member had taken up their assigned positions. Their internal radio communications remained on Iron Legion channels in an event to keep track of how things on the ground were going.
Roark triggere his internal commuication and switched over to the team’s frequency. “Widowmaker 3, Widowmaker 4, Widowmaker 1, this is Widowmaker 2. If anything is going to happen it is going to be at one of the upcoming hand offs. Stay switched on.” Roark eyed his Mandalorian Speeder pre-staged on the rooftop. If something went down he would have to maneuver from the rooftop to the ground in rapid time. Valhavoc and Dracaryis’s speeders remained staged at their positions with each man ready to launch towards trouble if needed.
Dracaryis tapped his commlink. “Widowmaker 2, Widowmaker 4. Acknowledged. I have visual on handoff site Delta.”
Drac crouched next to his speeder, his visual scanner fixed on the planned handoff point near a public terminal in a busy marketplace.
“Hey Val,” Drac transmitted through the team’s internal comm channel, “send me the holo again. This place is packed and I don’t want to miss the handoff.”
Valhavoc enhanced his visual on the artifact and the devaronian carrying it, “I’ll do one better Widowmaker 4, this is the torch bearer real time.” He activated a shared link and the image appeared in the corner of his comrades heads up displays.
Slowly the image zoomed in through a crowd of humanoids, while some shuffled aimlessly through the crowded streets it immediately became clear when the bearer of the artifact came into view.
Standing only 1.7 meters tall the individual carrying the artifact would have been rather unremarkable alone in the crowded streets. Of course if the distinctly tailored robes didn’t give him away, the massive Sith Torch artifact he held aloft in front of him definitely called attention to the man. The devaronian male had a light green skin tone and shaved head. The light green flame from the torch cast odd shadows in the nearby area at times they almost seemed to dance, out of step with the beings casting them. Val wondered if the light from the torch was giving the illusion of the devaronian having green skin, perhaps he may be a bit more pale. That could be an important detail if the torch bearer turned traitor on them and needed to be brought back in for “questioning” later.
A small retinue of six Iron Legion soldiers accompanied the procession. Enough to discourage an amateur from making any attempts at the artifact, but any professionals would find the odds entirely in their favor. Of course, that was why this envoy from Clan Vizsla was dispatched.
Around the Iron Legion and bearer all of the shuffling of the pedestrians stopped, some stepped to the side as they made room for the individual to pass while continuing on their way. A few stopped and gawked. Others wept, either in fear or in awe. Val decided it didn’t really matter.
The crowded streets gave ample space for would be assailants to lurk. Val carefully scanned the area close to the torch bearer, trying to disregard the awkward shadows cast from the artifact.
“Widowmaker 2 this is Widowmaker 3, how does the hand off point look?”
Declan Roark tapped into Valhavoc’s live video of the torch bearer and watched as the Devaronian carried the artifact towards its final destination. Roark silently cursed as he thought this might be the single most idiotic way to transfer any type of high value item in the history of the universe. “Widowmaker 3, this is 2, it looks like….”
Roark stopped as the live feed showed two….no three “death stick addicts” approach the torch bearer. A second, larger herd of the addicts staggered and stumbled towards the security detail. The original three, now began to paw at the torch bearer.
Roark silently cursed. This might the the most overkill response in the history of the galaxy. “let’s go,” Roarked commanded as he and his fellow Vizsla member’s lept on their speeders and moved towards the Torch bearer’s location. With the ease and precision of a well oiled machine, the four overwatch security members dropped off the speeders and arrived at the torch bearer’s location. Roark drew his weapons as his compatriots did the same……
As Valhavoc’s feet hit the ground he glanced over to the torch bearer’s escort, none of them had begun engaging the oncoming horde of death stick addicts. As the mandalorian took aim at the nearest junkie with his DX-2 Disruptor Pistol he shouted over to the guards, “Either engage that trash and protect the artifact…”
A blast flared from his disruptor pistol and disintegrated the upper right torso of an addict. The man fell to the ground, briefly howling in pain and then passing out. Without a doubt he’d be dead in seconds.
“… or I’ll make sure that you end up like him when we’re finished.”
Val turned slightly and aimed with his vambrace’s wrist blaster, a single shot rang out striking a gungan death stick addict in the center of the chest. The creature flailed wildly, its arms and ears a blur of motion. The aquatic alien shouted unintelligible screeches before falling to the ground motionless.
“Thermal out!”
Dracaryis heaved a thermal detonator at the remaining Death Stick addicts sending one flying, the other dazed. He then charged forward, Westar-35 blazing. His blasts hit the dazed addict square in the face, killing him instantly.
He reeled on the security detail, aiming his pistol and holding a second grenade.
“We are more than willing to do your job for you if you can’t. Just say the word and I’ll relieve you of your miserable lives.”
The guards stepped off immediately as Valhavoc and Dracaryis encouraged them to do their jobs more efficiently. Declan Roark and Kodo remained in the background. Roark demonstrating the proper use of the ZX Miniature Flame Projector on the corpses of the death stick addicts. Kodo took in the lesson and tapped notes into his data pad.
The Devaronian torch bearer moved with his escorts and continued on to accomplish his mission. He spared a glance back at the team that responded with overwhelming carnage and shook his head. He was glad they were on his side.