Starpath: Scoundrels of the Interstellar Highway - Thread 2
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János nodded as Neasha spoke, before responding.
"Yeah, especially considering the whole leaking info thing regarding Chemosh and co. that I was thinking of doing. It would probably be better for me to resign when considering that and my search for the truth about myself," he stated.
Neasha tapped her foot. "You know, I worry sometimes that I underestimate the enemies arrayed against us... It feels like after we've humiliated the Collective a few too many times, that nobody can touch us. If you're going to sound the alarm about the zealots and their faction... it'd be best if you could go someplace they can't find you. I'm not sure our vessel would be safe for you, considering how easily they found us once." Neasha sighed as they caught up to the other company leaders on the factory floor. "You've been loyal to us, more so than Yanim probably ever gave you credit for. Now I'm going to have to look hard for a good replacement," she added jokingly, shaking her head. It was clear that she didn't really want János to go, but it was the best decision for everyone involved.
The cargo doors were unlocked and opened, and the group strolled out onto the landing pad. A shuttle bus pulled off the road nearby and knelt on its hydraulics, clearly awaiting the group. But for a moment, they lingered there and said their goodbyes, since János would need to find his own way from here on. Constantine was humble, Nir was disinterested, Neasha had already spoken, and Mattheus was awkward but kind. Arkadam shook János' hand. "Good luck," he said, "and find us again someday."
János smiled softly at everyone, before responding to Arkadam. "I'm sure we'll cross paths someday again. Despite the galaxy's size, it is a small world..." he said, having shook Arkadam's hand. He waved the group off, as they departed onto the shuttle bus.
As it left, he stood there for a moment, as he took everything in. Once he's done with everything, he would effectively be his own man once more. Turning back towards the Aurikha, he looked back on the past months he's been with the company.
Walking through the cargo bay, he remembered the good times he's had with everyone ever so briefly before reflecting on all the times he's done things for the worst - especially with Frosty. Even his intentions with revealing the Children of God were to make sure they were defeated, he was still doing this to redeem himself in the eyes of a dead man.
He stopped by his office one last time, to check up on the intranet and on the news. He had compiled everything he had gathered, and additionally re-organized everything else to be super neat, so that no one had to go through the torture he did. Connecting himself to his computer to obtain the files, he discovered that Pakihi's opening was going through without any issues, no delays like last time. After uploading the files, he departed for his quarters.
He began packing what few personal belongings he had - the equipment he used to analyze himself, his gun stash of his Tripistolia pacem and MAWS, etc, etc. He sighed heavily as he finished. And just like that, he left his quarters. He passed through the halls, like a ghost attempting to find its way to the great beyond.
He was out on the landing pad once more, lingering for another moment, before saluting the Aurikha, making his final goodbye. It was time to leave Roki-Khon, find out his truth and then release another to the masses.
It was a quiet and stormy evening in downtown Terranos. Despite the weather as well as the increased military presence due to terrorist attacks the city was as vibrant as ever. People swarmed the nightclub district, hoping to gain entry into one of the more exclusive Upyri clubs. Parked neatly in the alley between a liquor store and a hardware shop was an SISP patrol car with dimly-lit red lights shining down on its two occuppants. Officer Kelly took a sip from his coffee while officer Garret went over the Most Wanted-list on the onboard computer.
Kelly placed his mug in the cupholder and sighed. "Anything interesting?" Garret shook his head. "Nope, same drunks and gangsters as usual. Recent sightings measure from thirty days and up." Outside the car a couple of teenagers tried to persuade a man into buying them alcohol. The man laughed and nodded towards the police cruiser before entering the store. Kelly smiled and waved at the teenagers who waved back before dispersing.
"Sounds like it's going to be a calm evening then." Said Kelly. Garret grunted and was about to close down the computer screen when the radio came to life. [i]"Dispatch to all units in the South Terranos Precinct, be advised: confirmed ten-thirtyone on Loyalty Road. I repeat, we have a crime in progress on Loyalty Road."[/i]
Kelly turned to Garret. "That's four blocks from us." Garret nodded and grabbed the radio. "Dispatch this is X-Ray One Seven, ten-four on the ten-thirtyone. Send us the adress, out." As the adress came in on the computer the car came to life. Kelly revved the engine and started the sirens before bursting out from the alley and onto the street.
Sedans, luxury cars, taxis and limousines all pulled over to the side as the police cruiser raced through the street. Garret pulled up the computer screen infront of him and went over the details. "Alright so the caller spotted four men in dark clothes breaking and entering an office building in the area. As far as I can see from here it's all small-time comp-" Garret suddenly became quiet. Kelly glanced over from the wheel. "What's the problem?"
Garret pulled down the screen. "One of the companies is listed as a subsidiary to the SDF. Weapons research." Kelly stared at him. "Call for backup." Garret nodded and grabbed the radio. "Dispatch this is X-Ray One Seven, we're gonna need a ten-seventyeight on our position. Possible experimental weapons stolen, over."
[i]"Ten-four X-Ray One Seven. Deploying additional units now."[/i] As Kelly and Garret raced to the scene additional sirens came to life as two more police cruisers were deployed to Loyalty Road. In the air one of the SISPs helicopters also made its way towards the office building.
"There it is!" Said Kelly as the cruiser pulled up on Loyalty Road. One of the office buildings, the largest of them all which was surrounded by other offices and several apartments, appeared to have had its entrance blown wide open. Sitting on the road outside was a van with armor plates bolted to its exterior. Ontop of it was a remote-controlled weapon station.
"Is that a fucking machinegun?" Muttered Garret just before the LMG opened fire. The first three shots knocked out the front left tire while the second salvo lodged itself into the armored windshield. Kelly pulled the breaks. "Out! Out! Out!" The two officers grabbed their guns, popped open their doors and crouched all the way to the rear of their car. Garret popped open the trunk and grabbed an assault rifle while Kelly set his sights on the shotgun.
Garret pulled up his radio. "Dispatch! X-Ray One Seven taking heavy weapons from vehicle-mounted weapon! Requesting heavy response unit!" Before the Dispatch could respond another salvo lodged itself into the vehicle, causing engine cooler to leak out onto the road.
On the other side of the van the other two police cruisers pulled up and the officers quickly got out and opened fire with their automag pistols. The kinetic rounds did little to the van other than dent its armor. Meanwhile the RCWS turned around to engage the four other officers. Kelly got up and tried to locate the camera or exposed wiring. He spotted several red wires leading into the back of an armored camera. "You see those wires?" He asked Garret who had already gone prone with his assault rifle. "I see them."
Two shots followed by another two struck the RCWS from the rear with one managing to strike just the right wiring. With no ability to see the gun ceased fire. Moaning could be heard from the other police cruisers as one of the officers clutched to his vest. "Triple nine! Triple nine! Officer down! Call an ambulance!" Yelled his partner while one of the officers rushed in with radio and medkit in hand.
Kelly and Garret moved one with a third officer covering them. They were about to enter the building...
Amelia notices Amy and Alex, assuming they come to say their goodbyes. Before Amelia opens her mouth to say anything, she is interrupted by Amy and a warm hug.
[quote]"I'm gonna miss having you around this place." She said before continuing "The clone boys give you any trouble, you just give me a call, you hear?"[/quote]
Amelia hugs tightly and nods her head. Although Amelia doubts she'll have any problems, it's nice to have someone else other than Porter to catch her when she falls when or if the time comes. She liked Amy a lot, as she was the one who comforted her when she would get a bit emotional, even if the problems she faced seemed trivial or melodramatic. Alex was alright in her books as well, although she thinks they rarely had chances to talk much.
[quote]"She's a grown woman who can take care of herself, sis. C'mon give her some breathing room." Amy gave her brother an annoyed look before moving on to give Porter his hug goodbye.[/quote]
Porter tries his hardest not to crush Amy with his big meaty arms. He pats her on the back gently.
[quote]Alex was less touchy feely, but he handed Amelia a small refrigerated box "Sushi, for the trip and some for after. Don't know what they will give you. Hope you like."[/quote]
Amelia's eyes brighten up as she notices some special cuisine from the lands of the far east on Terra. She bows towards Alex, trying to be funny. "I love it," she exclaims as she hugs him dearly as well.
The four exchange goodbyes until they notice Taylor and Valkyrie walking towards them.
[quote]As soon as the pair were through, it was time for Taylor to say hers. She stepped up and gave Amelia a gentle hug. "Gonna miss you. Be safe, alright?" said Taylor, before releasing her.[/quote]
"Always, cap," she playfully salutes.
[quote]As for Porter, she stepped over and shook his hand. "You be safe, too. And take good care of her."[/quote]
Porter blows some air out of his old nose, "Always," and gave a firm handshake, knowing Taylor could take it.
[quote]Valkyrie stepped up, and simply decided to pat Amelia on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself. Don't let some fucker push you around." she said simply, before cutting a glance to Porter. [/quote]
Although Valkyrie was a huge potty mouth, Amelia liked her upfront attitude. Plus she was an alright gamer, so all's good. "I'll be fine."
[quote]She didn't give much of a shit about him, so she stepped back away from the pair as Taylor finished talking to Porter.[/quote]
Porter knew before hand Valkyrie wasn't going to say much, if at all. He nodded before she turned away, as if to say he acknowledges her in some way.
When they're all done, Porter walks towards the Boome guys, ready to depart. Amelia looks back at her crew.
Porter sees this as another stepping stone towards the doors to... well, not heaven, but something that isn't as dramatic as death. He waves like the emotionless husk he is.
Amelia, on the other hand, gets quite emotional in her head. It's been a long journey since the very beginning, and although Amelia wasn't working hard all the time, she at least had lots of fun along the way. Many friends she made, and many friends she lost. She'll look back on this journey as one to remember for her entire life. She tries her hardest to hold in her tears, but she doesn't care about her appearance anymore. They aren't tears of sadness, but tears of knowing a great adventure finally coming to an end. Although only four crew members said their goodbyes, she's sure the rest will remember her.
Near them a ship had just landed on the spaceport. Seth and his brothers could recognize it all too well. The Hunter's mark belonged to his mentor during his tenure as commander on Boome. She was an older ship, but reliable. Maybe she could serve in place of the Fang until it get salvaged or replaced. But before he could board it, he had one last thing to do.
"I'll take care of her, don't worry." Seth said to Taylor "I'll so much as lose the other eye before I let anything happen to her." He tried to reassure them. He could tell that she meant a lot to some of the crew. "Sol already payed you, but I haven't yet. I wired some extra cash to your accounts. Don't spend it all in one place, now. And should you need a place to crash and take your breath, Boome will serve that need. I hope we'll see each other around under better circumstances, captain." He gave one final salute to the Muramasa's captain.
Taylor returned the salute. "Yeah, hopefully." It sucked to see Amelia and Porter go, but they had places to go and people to see. Just like the crew. She waved goodbye to the group, then turned to the others. "Well...time to go, guys. Got some things to do before we meet back up with the bosses." she said, before motioning them to head back to the ship. Valk didn't hesitate, twirling around on one foot and following Taylor back up into the Muramasa II.
As soon as everyone was back aboard and settled, the Muramasa II lifted off from the planet and accended into orbit. "Alright...now where is this Eternal Order group..." said Taylor, as she looked over a few charts and maps on her holotablet. Valkyrie would but in, stepping up next to Taylor in the captain's seat. "I hope you're ready for one hell of a jump, because both the Order and Jag's old pirate group are out in the Renegade Quadrant." she said, a smile adorning her face.
Taylor glanced up. "...Are you serious?" "As fucking space cancer." replied Valk. She offered her own holotablet for Taylor to look at, which she did. Deep inside the Renegade Quadrant was a space station by the name of Duzakh. And both of the groups Jag wished for her to talk to were on it. "There." said Valk. Taylor sighed, and pushed the tablet back to Valk. "Eve. Set a course for Duzakh, out in the Renegade Quadrant. Maximum warp."
"I'm inclined to warn you that the Renegade Quadrant is rather hostile, Captain." said Eve, but did as ordered. "Yeah, I know. We're doing this for Jag, then getting the hell out of there." stated Taylor, glancing up to Valk. Valk hadn't stopped smiling.
[I]2385, Athens, Hoplite patrol shuttle, 200 meters above the cities skylines.[/I]
"Dispatch, we're nearing the location now. Suspect 11-37 is suspected to within the area delta-66. Our ETA is about 3-5 minutes, over."
"Affirmative, Officer Sauer. Apprehend person of interest. Record, inquire, transfer."
"Understood, Dispatch. Sauer out." The officer then placed his left hand on the side of his helmet, flicking off radio set along with popping open the helmet's visor.
Sauer looked to be an average Upyri male within his mid-20s, the only exception being that of his eyes. Which seemed have been replaced with that of mechanical equivalents.
The officer glanced over the seemingly endless sea of ivory towers that had covered skies as the shuttle flew past them. His right hand now reaching down into the shuttle's glove compartment for some quick relief as the shuttle's autopilot took the small craft throughout familiar neon urban craw that Sauer's synthetic eyes have seen a dozen times before.
The Hoplite officer had found what he as looking after a moment or two of his hand drifting about within the small and cluttered compartment. His hand now holding a half-empty pack of Hades-banded cigarettes, a mid-quality band popular in Elysium that was a blend of traditional Terran tobacco and heavily diluted red ice. They served as a cheap, easy release for Sauer and millions of others within Elysium's working class.
Sauer then open the shuttle's side widow sightly with a flick of switch on the dashboard before then reaching into the left most pouch on his belt for his trusty lighter while he lifts up his cigarette pack with his right hand.
"Sir," Sauer's AEU interrupted in its robotic, feminine voice. Pulling Sauer eyes off from his lighter. "You know I that strongly recommend against the inhalation of tobacco as it proven to be highly injurious to your body's health."
Sauer gave the machine a dead stare towards its head-mounted optical visor, its words clearly fell on deaf ears.
"This again," Sauer answered in cynical tone while turning his face back to the lighter, pulling out a cigarette out from the stained paper pack with his right hand. "I thought they got you all fixed up after last time, but I guess you being a broken record about this is something that's never going to change."
The enforcement droid then crossed its arms, "And I see that you're still stubborn as ever about your self-destructive habit of readily consuming poison, Sauer." The droid said in a condescending tone towards Sauer with its optical visor staring him down as he put away his cigarette pack back onto his belt.
"Well, it is my own damn body. The combine owns enough of me already so why does it matter that I let them replace my lungs a few decades later?." Sauer replied before he lit his cigarette, it's faint red glow barely shining in the shuttle's dimly lit cabin.
"Because it's my core programming, my very existence is based on your survival, Officer Sauer. So I find the concept of actively trying to damage your body to be quite problematic." The droid persisted in its rhetoric as it watched Sauer let out a breath of smoke out of the shuttle's open side window.
"Don't worry about me, Kat, I've survived far worse, far worse," Sauer replied, shaking the ash off of his cigarette into an ashtray mounted into the center console.
"Another one of your bad habits, Sauer. Again, I I'm model Kappa-785/Tau, Autonomous Enforcement Unit, not a member of the Terran feline species." The droid said, it's tone growling slightly more tired and annoyed towards Sauer.
"it's just a name, tin can. We all have them, and because you were built doesn't mean you can't have one." Sauer said as he stared at the droid's visor while he shook off some more ash off of his cigarette.
"Sauer...I'm just trying to remind you that you are creating an emotional attachment to an object of Hoplite's property...It's a violation of the code, Sir." The droid said a sense of hesitance had crept into its normally cold voice.
"Whatever Kat." Sauer said dismissively towards the droid, his eyes turning to the monolithic Aegeus tower, their destination.
Within a minute or so, Sauer's shuttle had arrived at the scene atop of an emergency landing pad, connected to the Aegeus. It was spiraling far into the neon-lit sky above, this massive feat of architecture and design was covered in a myriad of bright neon colors, standing tall even among the various other skyscrapers that formed the dense urban crawl that makes up the near entirety of Athens's landscape.
Soon, once the shuttle had landed. Both Sauer and Kat swiftly disembarked from its cabin onto the landing pad. Sauer discarded his cigarette with a quick flick of the wrist down into the endless cityscape beneath them as he lowered his helmet's visor back down.
"Greetings officers." A protocol droid said in a welcoming voice as they quickly moved to address the approaching officers, its constriction closely resembling that of a human female in a fancy service uniform. Though it's visible joints and the seams along its pear white skin was a dead giveaway to its mechanical nature.
"Greeting citizen, we are here on standard patrol, nothing to fear." Sauer stated to the droid, his hand raised up towards it as they stood along the catwalk leading to the tower's central chamber.
"Understood officer," The droid said enthusiastically to him, gleefully putting its hands behind its back while it gave a large smile towards Sauer as he walked past the small droid. "Have a wonderful time at the annual celebration, Sir!"
Sauer suddenly turned to Kat with a confused expression under his glass mask while the door to the main hall begun to open, asking in a low, puzzled tone.
"Celebration?"
[video=youtube;JqiGYpvxt7A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqiGYpvxt7A[/video]
Sauer was momentary deafen as the large tower entrance had finished opening as loud music rung throughout the halls, the officer was taken back for the sheer amount of people flooding the gigantic hallway. This mass of people appeared to continue forever into the main chamber of the tower.
Elysian citizens of every size and color decked the halls, each of them mingling in a highly ecstatic matter. Many them seemingly under the effects of various substances both legal and otherwise.
"This is just great." Sauer bitterly muttered under his breath, the assortment of bright lights and the smell of narcotics and sex gave Sauer a minor headache as the pair stood at the entrance.
"I severely doubt that Sauer, for I had calculated that this chaotic gathering will prove to be quite the obstacle for our search." Kat replied to Saucer comment in a serious tone.
Sauer simply turned to stare at the droid for a moment before continuing.
"Alright Kat, here's the plan. You log into the tower's security cameras and get the drones out from the shuttle. Link them to my visor after you get them set up, I'll go up ahead and just look for the suspect in the crowd. I might just get lucky." Saucer said to Kat, letting out a long sign shortly after. Saucer then tap the side of the helmet, activating his visor's HUD with the suspect's face on the side of vision.
"Affirmative. Be careful Sir" Kat then quickly walked out back to the shuttle while Sauer began to walk into the dense assortment of people. There was little conformity among the rabid party-goers, some in stained high-class business suits while others wore simple causal clothes. Many of the finer looking men and woman we're scantily clad in tight-fitting fabric or leather, some not even wearing much at all. And while many of them seem to be either Human or at least Upyri on the outside, a multitude of others were numbers of other exotic species such as Vanapods, Zosskins and Trilothians engaging in the festiveness alongside with countless synthetics of all shapes and sizes. All enjoying the Elysian nightlife.
The many crammed hallway soon began to clear enough for Sauer as the citizens saw the Hoplite clad officer made his way past the crowd towards the central chamber. A few of the younger and more intoxicated Elysian citizens started to eagerly cheer on the officer, their words too slurred to be understood as they flailed their arms about aimless. Spraying the alcohol from their half-empty bottles onto the Sauer's suit.
"Fucking yuppies." Sauer muttered to himself as wiped off the watered-down liquor from off his visor.
Sauer simply pressed onward into the colossal chamber that seemed to comprised most of the inner tower, each floor was its own nightclub with each having its own bar, dance floor, and lounge. The floors circled around a gigantic auditorium in the middle of the building with an equally large hologram of a nude human woman dancing.
The whole scene put a sick sense of vice into Sauer that reminded criminal underworld that he was raised in back home, the very thing he sought to escape from so many years ago. And though this a much, much cleaner den and with much less illegal contraband in plain sight. However, the open display of hedonism did set off Sauer's fairly traditional sensibilities.
Nevertheless, Sauer shrugged off such distractions and made his way towards the end of the floor overlooking the countless floors below, resting his hand on the railing as his visor scanned dozens of potential suspects before his helmet comm system clicked.
"Sir, I've patched into the Aegeus's security system, over." Kat reported, "The on-site officers have made over 31 arrests within the last 6 hours but none of the individual we are looking for."
"Anything from the drones or camera feed, over?" Sauer asked as he fixated his eyes on a couple holding one another while leaning on railing 3 floors down for a moment.
"Negative, the two active drones are currently clearing floors 20 and 50, they will scanning each floor. On-site assets are been activated and 3 additional Hoplite units are being deployed to our location, their ETA should be 10 minutes, over." Kat reported while the droid shorted though visual feed from the cameras.
"Then I guess we're going to be here awhile." Sauer said over the comms as he peaked his head out to look the floors above.
"Indeed, Sir. I'll be arriving at your location after I'm finishing activating the rest of the aerial drones, 785 out." Kat's communication ended with a sudden radio chirp.
"Well, at least this guy ain't so important that those SID spooks are not here, breathing down my neck." Sauer said to himself before walking away from the railing and doing a quick scan around the outer lounge.
While doing his routine, Sauer found nothing out of the ordinary for a place like this. Though, the number of individuals sporting extensive body augmentation caught Sauer off guard at times. He thought back towards his service back in Attica, things were more normal there, a lot quieter as well.
Except for the giant Araneae, things shouldn't have more than six legs.
Still, it was hard for Sauer to comprehend that this is a regular weekend night for this place. That this could exist in such large numbers, that this 'Celebration' was just a excuse like every other. That a tower like this was the norm on this world. Hell, this planet is the stable of the high life in Elysium.
Neverthess, after finishing his search there, Sauer decided to proceed towards the floor's inner lounge, Sauer saw the usual suspects laying about the place. Either passed out, loosely cuddling, or too high to lift their finger in their recliners and wide open booths. Around dozen businessmen we're in a middle of chit chat and a few couples could be seen to enjoying one another in the back seats, Sauer's eyes remained steady ahead towards the bar top. A feeling began to hit his gut as he walked past the cigarette and cigar smoke fogging up the bar.
The officer's pace slowed down from his normal hasten step as Sauer began to carefully creep upwards to the bar, his dominant hand hovering over his hostler while his visor's passively scanned the various bystanders at the corner of his vision. Flickering back and forth as entered and exited his visor's sight.
"Kat, report." Sauer said quietly over his helmet's comm system, "Nothing so far, Sir. My ETA is 7-10 minutes from your current location, over."
"Forget the drones, I need you-"Sauer's eyes popped open as the ever so familiar digital alarm rung out in his helmet, his visor flashing up onto the man at the rightmost side of the counter, the one that they were searching for. Now staring dead at him as he was getting up from the bar.
The suspect seemed to be a man of slightly above average height and stood with a slight hunch to his back, his body was slender and his face was completely concealed under an dark, archaic looking gas mask.
"Sir?...Sir, please respond." Kat repeated to no avail, the two men stood still completely as they both locked their eyes onto each-other. Standing only a few meters away from one another.
"Sauer."
The spit-moment abruptly came to an end as the suspect suddenly dashed to the right straight out of the bar towards the dance floor with Sauer quickly sprinting after him.
The masked suspect ran straight into the dense crowd of dancers on the dance-floor, covered in a blinding array of the bright neon lights, constantly flashing in and out as the frantic music only grew louder and louder with each beat. Sauer gave chase, making sure to not lose sight of the suspect while entered the crowd after him.
The suspect was able to be always one step ahead of Sauer, constantly dodging in and out of the crowd as Sauer push on towards him. Slowly cutting the distance each time the suspect was in sight.
Soon, the beat started to ease up and Sauer heard the faint calling of Kat, as she tried to reach him over the comms, Sauer lost track of the suspect after he seemly disappeared after the last light strobe.
But before Sauer could answer, he felt a sudden punch to the back of his helmet. Breaking its electronics as the music suddenly roared, Sauer hastily turned to the face the attacker. Though his momentary distorted state was all that was needed for the attacker get the upper hand and put Sauer into a stranglehold. Sauer then felt a needle being stabbed into his back though one of his armor's joints.
Sauer quickly felt his body and senses become sluggish as the effects of the toxin entered the bloodstream.
"Don't worry, it won't kill you." The attacker said to Sauer, his muffled voice sounding rather young for someone of his stature.
Sauer could only gasp for air as he felt the attacker released him from his grip, the injured officer could only barely stand as the attacker soon walked around to face him, meeting eye to eye once more, his arms at his side. He then leaned in towards Sauer.
"Because while I might be a criminal, I'm not a killer." The attacker said to the office, Sauer's vision soon begin to fade to black as he sees the suspect walk away, disappearing into crowd one last time...
[I]2385, Vaker-Slaug Contested Space, Duzakh Sation[/I]
A gigantically sized space station hovering the large dead world of Losson IV, acting as a large mark of over their kill. it's structure was that of typical Vaker origin, a myriad of odd and brutal looking creation like most of Vaker technology with countless pirate vessels of all sizes moving in and out. It is one of the few places some could call 'neutral' in this lawless quadrant of space.
[quote=Intergalactica]
Breaking news: Our contacts within the joint UGC Peacekeeper and Collective Black Fleet force currently stationed on Rigel have informed us that Jag Perditus, a criminal sought by over 20 individual interstellar governments, has been killed following action near the UGC fleet repair facility at Vostokrebh.
The base, operated under the Community's general security agreement against the sanghvi threat, was attacked by outlaws earlier this month by the Terika-Belladonna Company, headed by the equally-notorious "Bloody Fox," Yanim Terika, who was killed during the attack. Kanad Collective authorities were quick to announce the infamous outlaw's death, but details are still emerging about other participants in the lethal raid.
It is now known that Jag Perditus, a terrorist whose past traces a deadly crime spree from the Renegade Quadrant all the way to the doorstep of the Collective, including charges of grand theft, trafficking, and serial murder, was present at the attack and has been confirmed killed by lawful authorities. The Black Fleet, primarily responsible for ending both collaborators' reigns of terror, has reported minimal casualties while claiming major damage inflicted upon the enemy criminal elements.
More details about the operation will be released within the coming weeks and will be reported to you by INTERGALACTICA. Hopefully, the continued success of galactic law inforcement will give us all reason to sleep a little easier, going forward.
Next up within the next solar hour, UGC Victory by 2386? UGC Commodores Victor, Lu and Synthzuckohr will be speaking with us personally on the UGC's war effort within the border front later in the hour.
Also, Roderick Gaus, CEO of the GRIZZ security, A Humanity first movement member? These reports will shock you after the break.
[/quote]
"Preposterous!" A loud, raspy voice proclaimed, shouting at the communication array making a great deal of his wide open den. Filled to the brim with half-broken down armaments and exo-suits of various designs, their parts and bits haphazardly scattered about the large room.
The large Kercan, now far more machine than man, pulled his eyes from his work towards his communication array. Throwing a heavy tool into to shut it off as two individual had quietly opened the door.
"Venerable Soft-Carbon," One said, "First Officer Thaur." The another proclaimed humbly. Both figures, cloaked in a orate cloth, decorated in the spoils of their trade and spoke their sentences in perfect unison.
"What do...You, Sirens wish?" Thaur said, rising himself up with his crane to face the two Sanghvi figures.
"We've come," "To inform you." "That we have made the final..."Arrangements for your",..". Our former Captain." One said with the other picking on after.
"You of all...You Can't tell me that..." Thaur shouted at the pair, his voice with filled both angry and worry.
"No." "Their words are most hollow and void." "But the words of the Void are Clear." "And they are same." Both ending in saying the same last words in unison.
"I...I'll ready myself." Thaur's voice now somber with sadness, for the old Kercan had loss his last old comrade.
"Thank you, Thaur." The twins both said in a somber tone towards him before leaving him be.
It took a while to arrive at Duzakh Station. Several hours in fact. More than enough time for Valkyrie to finish constructing a generic cybernetic arm to use till she could build a better one. It was simple, really. Pale white and plastic. But it worked. Attaching it was the hard part, but with the help of some videos and research, she managed to successfully do it.
She stood on the bridge with Taylor, flexing the new arm and making sure it worked as it should, as Eve guided the ship into port. Various pirate vessels floated about or sat in dock as well. Taylor stood from her seat as soon as the ship came to a halt. "Lets go get Jag's body ready for transport." she said, glancing to Valk before stepping by her. Valk simply nodded, and followed quietly behind.
They wouldn't bring it off the ship to begin with, simply leaving it waiting in the Muramasa II's hangar until it was needed. Taylor and Valk, however, would disembark from the ship and head into the station itself. Valkyrie herself had been here a total of once, while she was still with the Hellions. Back then, it was a simple parts run. Now it was something much different. They walked past a few other pirates and mercs, looking about. "Well, where's this Eternal Order group supposed to be?" asked Taylor, as she stopped and looked over to Valkyrie. Valkyrie shrugged.
Duzakh was a spiraling labyrinth of scum and villainy, the 2nd northern entry deck that came the largest docking area of the station was being guarded by two [url=https://www.awn.com/sites/default/files/styles/original/public/image/attached/2534-desowitz03grievousdrawing.jpg?itok=OI0iOy05]Vaker Guards[/url], heavily augmented beyond all recognition like all members of the Vaker species. These cybernetic horrors are one of most notoriously known in the Renegade quadrant for their planetary raids with stories of their brutality reaching far into human space with their favored method of execution being live flaying.
While many dismiss these as simple tales to frighten children, it would seem that the Vaker does exist as a large majority of the pirates seem also be Vaker, their optical eyes often glancing at Valkyrie and Taylor as Humans we're very uncommon in this deep part of the Renegade quadrant. The mercenaries that we're not Vaker made sure hasten their step, not waiting to stay here for too long.
One of the Vaker Guards begun to walked towards Valkyrie and Taylor, shouting words that sounded no different than a small animal being violently murdered by a wood-chipper. Soon it's deep, raspy voice begin to speak rough common. "Human...Two, Why Come here?" it asked them two as it stare down towards them, it's metal plating covered in a dozen old, ritualistic marking.
Valkyrie and Taylor looked to each other, then up at the two Vaker. "We're looking for the Eternal Order and someone named Gorgon Tuar. A friend of ours died recently, and requested that his body be brought here." said Taylor. Valkyrie was instead studying the Vaker's extensive augmentations. Crude, but effective.
[QUOTE]"We're looking for the Eternal Order and someone named Gorgon Tuar. A friend of ours died recently, and requested that his body be brought here."[/QUOTE]
The Vaker Guard stared at Taylor at it, it's bright red eyes flashing when it heard the name Gorgon Tuar.
"What of this...Friend, what was it? Why is it important to the arch engineer?" The Vaker Guard baked at Taylor, the other Vaker started to walked towards the them.
[QUOTE]"What of this...Friend, what was it? Why is it important to the arch engineer?" The Vaker Guard baked at Taylor, the other Vaker started to walked towards them.[/QUOTE]
Valkyrie spoke up. "Our friend's name is Jag Perditus." she said, looking up to the Vaker Guard's face. "Jag specifically requested that we give something of his to Taur. The importance of it is up to him. Jag didn't tell us why. The dead don't elaborate too fucking well."
[QUOTE]"Our friend's name is Jag Perditus. Jag specifically requested that we give something of his to Taur. The importance of it is up to him. Jag didn't tell us why. The dead don't elaborate too fucking well."[/QUOTE]
The Vaker let out a shrieking laugh at the Valkyrie's mention of Jag. The other Vaker had arrived and spoke something in their raspy, piercing tongue to one another for a moment before the first Guard turn it's glaze back unto the pair.
"Permission to see the Arch Engineer...Allowed, follow me Humans." The Vaker said as it motion with his left claw to Valkyrie and Taylor to follow him.
Taylor and Valkyrie followed as asked, both wondering why the Vaker had laughed at Jag's name. Really didn't expect that reaction. As they walked, Taylor shot a message back to the crew aboard the Muramasa II to sit tight. And keep their eyes peeled should someone decide to stroll aboard and try to rob them.
The Vaker Guard led both Taylor and Valkyrie down a long steel corridor with the occasional pirate or desperado passed the pair, not anyone of them Human. Vakers, [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/half-life/images/b/b0/Alien_Combine_Soldier.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20091013224037&path-prefix=en]Slaug[/url] or Kaxans with a lone exception of a few Chagurkhai. Some of these unsavory figures we're carrying long, bronze chains that were tied around the necks of slaves.
The second Vaker was trailing behind them, the first one in front of them rose his claw up to the stop the group as they reached a large blast door with large, bold lettering over it witch appears to be in the Vaker's native language.
"Humans..I recommend that you...Stay close, for the....Slaug and their...Ditty merchants lie ahead." The first Vaker said, it's tone was a tab more bitter than usual.
"Yesss...The Slaug are..Dishonest filth that will try to...Acquire?..You, if one does watch carefully enough." The second guard added, glancing over at the passing Slaug.
Valkyrie grinned. She had done similar things while she was in the Hellions. Slavery payed well, and you did everything you could to keep a good supply of slaves coming. Though her methods usually involved bets or simply beating down the one you wished to enslave. She gripped her plasma sword on her belt. She wouldn't be a slave for anyone today.
Taylor simply unlatched her holster on her thigh. They might not try to take her, considering her rather large muscular stature, but still. Its pirate territory. "Understood." said Taylor.
((I know the events of the Rook's Wharf stuff would've ended already due to the timeskip, but I want to continue it. Hope you don't mind.))
The first thing Hanai could sense as she came to her senses was the smell. The dank smell of decay in the air. Next came the feeling of humidity. Opening her eyes to see, she was greeted by the sight of Nergal's twisted, contorted face nearly pressing against her own. His eyes were bloodshot, crossed with yellow veins. His mouth was foaming and seeping coagulated chunks of red dust mixed with his drool. All of this made even worse by Hanai still feeling the effects of the dust herself, her hallucinations making Nergal appear even more terrifying. Terrifying enough that she screamed and would've jumped out of her seat had she not been chained to it, as she just found out. "I hope you don't mind me turning on the radio. Just to make this more entertaining..." the words slithered out of his mouth.
[B]*CLICK.*[/B]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDNSLAvD-qI[/media]
Nergal waved a half-empty bag of red dust in her face. "This... This is good stuff. Good stuff you have here, my dear." He stroked Hanai's cheek, making her shiver. A gnarled smile formed on his face. "I remember... when you first came to our planet. When you intruded upon our home with the rest of your... your [I]PIRATE SCUM![/I]... When I had my hands on you, I was going to use you as an offering. But, you ran away. You left me with nothing. You left me [B][I]WAITING[/I][/B]..." The smile turned into a scowl. "Do you know just how much of an [I][B]INSULT THAT IS!?[/B][/I]" Nergal kicked Hanai's seat, sending her flying back against the wall. "I-I never thought I'd see you again! But now... you are here... Now.. I can see you... I can touch you..." he said while seizing Hanai's face. Music kept filling the air as Nergal takes off his vest, tossing it to the side. "When I heard we were going to take you back, I was the first to volunteer. The first, to take you back, my prize..." He moves his arms to the music as he twists and turns to a table lined with various needles. Nergal grabs the longest one he could find and makes his way towards Hanai. "Now... about that other eye..."
No way was Hanai going to just sit here while this mad man tortures her. With all the strength she could gather, she rocked the seat back and forth. Nergal noticied this and charged at her with both hands stretched forward. Just as he got close enough to stab her with the needle, Hanai did something not even she expected. The cybernetic limbs she were given finally powered up, and she stretched her arms and legs enough that the chains immediately broke, the surprise of which stopped Nergal in his tracks. Before he could move an inch further, Hanai leaped out of her chair, delivering a kick square in Nergal's chest which sent him crashing through a wall. By the time he managed to get up, she was already out the door, sprinting as far away from Nergal as she could. There was no way he was going to let her get away a second time. He took another bag of red dust and smeared it all over his face as he began chasing down Hanai.
The room Hanai ran into was a cylinder, with walkways ringing the interior of the room at multiple levels, all connected by ladder. Figuring it was some sort of silo, she stepped up to the railing and tried to gauge the scale. It was dimly lit, with only a number of lamps mounted along the guardrails to provide her a reference point, but it was no use. Peering over the edge gave her no indication of how high or low she was, as the distant ground below was beyond sight in pitch darkness. The same could be said about the ceiling. Nergal entered behind her, slamming the door shut with a terrifying, bellowing scream that tore her attention away from the abyss in front of her. The moment she laid eyes on him, he leaped at her, tearing her off the ladder and throwing her onto the ground. She struggled to force him off as he laid on top of her, trying to stab her in the forehead. The two continued struggling, not noticing the ceiling beginning to glow a reddish orange. Gradually, it glowed brighter and brighter until a pillar of scorching hot fire blasted from the ceiling, reaching all the way to the bottom of the silo. Immediately, Nergal came up with an idea and tossed the needle aside. Hanai tried pushing him away with all her strength, but even as Nergal’s muscles began to rip and tear under the strain, he shoved her against the rail and tried shoving her in head first. The flames scorch the eyeless side of her face as Nergal pushes her head into it further and further. The further her face got pushed in, the more the air started to smell like cooked meat. But rather fortunately for Hanai, the flames stopped just as quickly as they appeared. Displeased, Nergal raised his fists and tried slamming them into her face, only for her to block every punch. The same energizing feeling she felt in her legs earlier, she now began feeling it in her arms. Even under the influence of heavy narcotics, Nergal really felt it when he was launched right into the wall. As he staggered, Hanai jumped back on her feet and leapt towards him, determined to finally kill him. She swung her fists wildly at the disoriented Nergal, though he seemingly evaded them as he fell back clutching his chest. Hanai then noticed something off with her hands. A yellow liquid drips off razor sharp blades protruding from her fingertips, released during her struggle. Nergal had been sliced open, and was bleeding profusely from his cuts. She slashed wildly towards him, slicing ever deeper into his body, but Nergal was determined that he wasn't going to go down so easily. In one last fit of strength, he charged forward, both arms outstretched towards Hanai and hands open wide as he tackled her to the ground. The both of them wrestled eachother and were hanging off the railing now, and the ceiling started glowing orange once more. Nergal's arms started to tear and break as she struggled to free herself, but she noticed something glowing in his chest, something shining deep within the cuts. It was his heart, quite visible and pulsating rapidly. She started reaching for it until she saw fire shoot out of the ceiling once more. Without even thinking, she wrapped her hand over Nergal's wrist, and twisted it until it snapped. With her newly freed arm, she drove her razor-tipped hand deep into his chest, squeezing his heart as hard as she could. Nergal screamed and coughed up blood as his heart was compacted into mush. He started feeling numb all over, his body going limp. Hanai shoved him over the edge and rolled to safety as the fire shot past her.
She didn't even hear him hit the bottom before he was vaporized by the flames. No more would she have to deal with him.
All that's happened in the past few days was way too much for her to take in. First, the horror on Karbala as she witnessed her friends brutally murdered, then the mutilation at the hands of the TSC, and now the madmen on Karbala are hunting her down and determined to bring her back so they can finally sacrifice her. Not to mention she almost got tortured to death again by one of them. The pain she felt on the side of her face grew more intense now that she wasn't busy trying to save herself, and the fatigue from the fight started settling in. She climbed upward towards the exit, finding herself in a maintenance bay with ships of all sizes being serviced. Some workers on break nearby stopped bantering among themselves as they saw her shamble forward. They looked at eachother until she collapsed right there.
It all went black after that.
After the large doors opened up to reveal a massive, hanger size slaver den. Countless people of all races we're at full display with nothing covering them but chains that wrapped around their bare bodies, strung up like meat dangling from the ceiling. A Abhorrent sight that seemly continued forever with the Slaug merchants in ornate robes standing at the foreground, speaking a slow and slurred tongue at the gathered masses.
This was the prized enterprise that the diminutive Slaug we're known for, their holdings built upon the broken backs of millions. Their ability to break an man down to nothing but a unthinking tool in days was well known throughout the Renegade quadrant.
The Vaker guards glanced at this display and make hushed remarks in their native tongue as they passed them and headed towards an large service elevator.
Taylor and Valk stayed close, gazing around the room at the countless enslaved dangling from the roof. Valk herself hadn't really done anything in this sort of manner. Quite dangerous if one were to fall. A dead or broken slave isn't very useful. And at least she allowed them to wear some form of clothing. Even if it was just a cloth sack. She raised an eyebrow at one slave that appeared to be pregnant, but continued on.
Taylor, on the other hand, was quite disgusted with the show. But she kept her mouth shut and stayed close to the Vaker.
The Two Vaker suddenly stopped at the elevator's entrance with the first one taking the left side and other one standing at the right side. The pair place one of their clawed fingers the side of it's mask, audio transmissions be faintly heard coming from their comm units.
The closest one looked down at Taylor. "Our watch of you two...ends here. One of...Perditus's kin." It said down Taylor and Valkyrie.
And within a few short moments, the elevator's opened to reveal a large, bulky individual. Towering over both Taylor and Valkyire with the Vaker. The massive hunchback creature walked closer to both of them with a crane in hand as it slowly lumbering closer to Taylor, finally standing about a meter away as it stare her down.
"Captain Taylor of Muramasa I presume?" The large man said in a raspy, deep tone to Taylor.
Taylor nodded. "Yes, I'm Captain Taylor Caine. This is Valkyrie." said Taylor, motioning to Valk, whom simply studied the bulky being before them. Nice cane. "I'm guessing you're Gorgon Tuar?" continued Taylor, after a moment.
[QUOTE]"I'm guessing you're Gorgon Tuar?"[/QUOTE]
"Indeed I I'm." Tuar answered, his face was pale and grizzled but the old Kercan managed to pull off of a smile as he raised his metal hand towards Taylor. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person Captain Taylor."
[QUOTE]"It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Captain Taylor."[/QUOTE]
Taylor offered her own hand to shake. "Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Tuar." she said, while Valkyrie simply slipped her hands in her pockets.
[QUOTE]"Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Tuar."[/QUOTE]
"Likewise," Taur said to Taylor while he shook her hand. Glancing at the two Vaker guards, Tuar then lean inwards to Taylor. "I Suggest we continue elsewhere, Miss. Taylor." Taur softly said before returning to his previous posture, giving a quick nod towards the elevator.
"Right." said Taylor with a nod. She stepped into the elevator, Valkyrie following behind with her hands still stuck in her pockets. Anywhere was better than here, being loomed over by two Vaker Guards in a den full of slaves and slavers.
Taur step over let the two step in and closed the elevator's door with a few tabs of the elevator's old console, the elevator started ascending upwards, slowly ramping up in speed while the elevator remain relatively stable.
"So..." Taur said, looking over the pair with both hands lying on his crane, standing as straight that his old, burden body will let him.
"How did my Captain, Jag Perditus, meet his end?" Taur asked bluntly to Taylor and Valkyrie.
[QUOTE]"How did my Captain, Jag Perditus, meet his end?" Taur asked bluntly to Taylor and Valkyrie.[/QUOTE]
"He died shortly after fighting a 'copy' of Yanim Terika. He was already injured prior to fighting her during an operation on Rigel, and the brawl with her just made it worse." explained Taylor. She then explained everything leading up to that point, Valkyrie simply resting against the wall nearby as Taylor talked. After a few minutes, she finished. "He told me to bring his body to the Eternal Order, and his implant to you."
[QUOTE]"He told me to bring his body to the Eternal Order, and his implant to you."[/QUOTE]
Taur merely nodded as he listen to what Taylor's explanation of his Captain's last fight.
"Stubborn fool..." Taur said under his breath after Taylor had finished. His eyes filled with sparrow as stared down at the floor for a moment. His normally cold demeanor turn to one of despair as he closed his eyes in pain, taking a full moment before returning his glaze towards Taylor.
"Thank you. It is great to know that he went out fighting for something he truly believed in...Still, I only regret not being at his side during his last moments." Taur said to Taylor.
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Starpath: Scoundrels of the Interstellar Highway - Thread 2
