Ask Corellia Hyperlanes 11

[Lissa Blackhand]

The Purple Rose
Corellia
Early Afternoon
Outfit​

The Cigarra helped to calm Lissa' nerves as she settled into her chair, a slow sigh releasing a plume of smoke. She made it a point to keep smoking to a minimum, but right now she needed it. It had been about a week since the job on Telos IV but she still found herself looking over her shoulder, half expecting to see Czerka bag-men with blasters in hand. Still, at least she was free to worry about reprisal, Vance hadn't been so lucky, captured and holed up Force knows where. For all she knew, her partner for the job was dead...but she had to try and get them out if they weren't.

Call it naivete or delusional hope, because Vance probably wouldn't do the same for her, but Lissa still held herself to a certain professional standard. They were assigned together, intended to watch each other's backs, and even though the mission ended in failure, she intended to honor that, come hell or high water. If nothing else, Vance would owe them a favor after all this, and it kept her mind off of the other notable event on that mission that will not be named - she should probably see a therapist about that.

She looked up as the proximity alarm by the boarding ramp flashed red, showing someone looking to get aboard. She had scrounged all of her savings and a little more before sending an invitation out to 3 of her fellow mercs, but she made it clear there was more potential rewards beyond a 25,000 credit payday. Alfie had done a job with her, and he seemed more than a little interested in bringing her onboard for his little private venture. Acklay had been a client, but she knew full well about her hatred for the Hutts through rumors and gossip, and given the Hutts had indirectly taken responsibility for the failed espionage, she might be able to work with that. the third merc was an unknown to her, but they came recommended. All 3 stood to gain and she was hopeful they wouldn't just rat her out to Czerka immediately, but there was no guarantee, so her Blaster was firmly in her black hand and leveled at the boarding ramp as she hit the release switch.

@Charles @lizziie

 

[Acklay]

There were three reasons Acklay was on board with this prison break: One, she was getting paid for it, however little it was to her. Two, she'd been offered favors to make up for the low price. Favors meant a lot in the criminal underworld, and she was willing to take Lissa's word for it. Three, she'd been contacted recently by a very wealthy man who needed not just her, but Yvon's help as well. A fourth and fifth would eventually motivate her even further.

The slicer was the first to arrive and stood with her arms crossed casually as Lissa lowered the ramp to her ship. She had a pistol on her hip, a crossbody bag slung across her shoulder filled with slicing supplies, a comlink... the whole deal. Same tech-y and utilitarian baggy clothes as usual, and the same half-faced mask she liked to use to cover her lower face.

"Lissa," she acknowledged, nodding to the woman as she started up the ramp and joined the violet-haired woman up in her ship. "Who else is coming?" She hadn't been given that information and she wanted to know who she'd be working with. For now though, the woman stood off to the side and waited for everyone to arrive. She would be expecting a serious debriefing.

@Charles @FreelanceGarbageMan @Panda Hermit 98

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

With the sun beating down overhead, Kotru tucked his sunglasses up over one of his horns as he entered the shaded interior of Coronet's Starport. He was following up on a job-offer handed to him, the Zabrak's previous experience as law enforcement being a major factor in his recruitment.

He tucked the hood back as he walked, the dark blue overcoat concealing much of his form and trailing slightly with his hasty gait. The thigh-length of his cover had kept much of his own standard equipment hidden, but the bulky weight against Kotru's hips had revealed the thin outline of a blaster on each side. His undershirt and pants held a similar dark shade, contrasting against the pale skin of its wearer.

The steady clunk of boots joined the ramp not too long after Acklay's words, the Zabrak joining the others with a raised hand.

"Me, provided I didn't walk in on anythin'." Kotru would greet, the raised palm tilting into a single-fingered point with his index.

"Lissa, right? Here for the job."

@Charles @lizziie @Panda Hermit 98

 

[Alfie Shepherd]

"What else am I earning besides a handful of credits?" Alfie said as he approached the rallied group garbed in his combat gear. A prison break was not something you just did because you had nothing better to do. After readjusting his gas mask, Alfie looked over the two others that would be participating in this ordeal of theirs- or Lissa's mainly. Alfie didn't know the people they were trying to break out, so hopefully it was worth not bringing Jorge for this mission.

"You still owe me an answer," The Scoundrel jeered to Lissa in his bored tone. "And considering my favors, I hope you give me a good one." Not only had he given her credits, a safe place to stay while traveling, and a potentially higher position amongst the Pahneke Baha Gang (should she join), but Alfie had also given her his trust and respect. Though it wasn't material, it was worth far more than the services of The Drunken Herd.

"Forgive my impertinence, I am Alfred Shepherd." He would finally introduce himself to the newer pair. Should any of these two prove to be as lucrative in skillset as Lissa Blackhand was, they might be offered a place among the Gang on Kuat as well. Being in a generous mood seldom happened with Alfred, so hopefully no one thought to waste this opportunity.

@lizziie @Panda Hermit 98 @FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Lissa Blackhand]

Lissa couldn't suppress a relieved sigh as a familiar purple-garbed figure walked up the ramp, the half mask clearly identifying Acklay.
"Acklay," She said, holstering her blaster. "Sorry, can't be too careful right now." Given the reputation Czerka had when it came to security and her own limited, albeit intense, experience, she figured they wouldn't send people in through the front door, but you never knew what went through the minds of Corp-Sec forces. She noted all the gear Acklay had brought, good, a slicer would probably be the most useful asset this mission would need if they were to find what planet Vance had been stationed on, preferably without the flop that led to the mission being necessary in the first place.

She was about to answer her follow-up about partners when another voice chimed in, a zabrak silhouette walking up the boarding ramp too. Funny, she'd never heard of a Zabrak with hair before, but the description seemed to match: zabrak, blond hair, blue overcoat etc. Now they had their inside perspective, though admittedly Lissa was a little uncomfortable bringing someone she didn't know into the job. She could somewhat rely on Acklay not to sell her out, maybe even Shepard, but this person was an unknown to her.

Speaking of Alfie, he seemed to come in just after looking like he did during their last job, but with a mask this time too. If he hadn't spoke the second he came into view, she very well might've shot him there and then because he certainly looked like a Czerka bag-man. Looking over her motley crew, she glanced at Acklay, gesturing toward them. "There's your answer," She said with a smile before turning to Alfie. "You'll get a slicer in your favor, and a potential new source of information that I think would greatly benefit your enterprise, but I'll elaborate more in a moment."

"Thank you for coming everyone, I know you all have your own reasons and that I have made promises beyond credits, but I am still grateful for the faith you have in me to take this job for seemingly so little pay." She rolled back in her chair and activated her holonet screen, bringing up a headline - CZERKA CORP ACCUSES COMPETITOR OF SABOTAGE. "I imagine you heard the news either in passing or reading over it, well one of the saboteurs in question is our target, their name is Vance, though as I understand it, that was probably an alias. Currently, their whereabouts are unknown, but it was Czerka that arrested her so they're likely to be one of their labor camps in the Corporate Sector. This job will be divided into two parts: Search and Rescue. Thankfully for us, the first part may be handed to us on a platter." She changed the image and brought up a human woman. "Xiran Mao, Czerka Corp Executive, lives on Empress Teta in a high-rise surrounded by a small contingent of guards and security droids" She looked at Alfie. "She's wanted dead by the contractor, but there's nothing saying when it needs to happen. Your enterprise needs resources and information, she is a walking, talking kyber mine of it." She turned to Acklay. "As an exec, she'll have high level clearance to the Czerka database, including the Labour Camps and any prisoner lists they contain, I need you to slice her system and find where Vance is, and if you feel confident, maybe you can try emptying her bank account." She turned to Kotru. "You are former law, you'll have an insight into common practise and protocol, so if things go awry, you can help us anticipate and adapt."

She looked around them. "Any questions? Comments? Criticisms? I'm a rookie at planning jobs so I imagine there's a few gripes."

@Charles @lizziie @FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

"Mine too." Kotru nodded as the woman spoke up, his own gesture loosening into an idle hand in his pocket as he stopped just to the side of the duo. His back sat itself against a wall, leaning into the Durasteel hull as blue eyes flicked to his right to see the other newcomer joining them. The introduction was returned with a nod and a raised palm, resting it across his waist after. "Kotru. Good to have ya', Alfred."

The Zabrak listened with an attentive gaze as the projector flickered to life and rendered the latest news. He had heard it on his way to the starport, a blonde eyebrow tilting upward as she continued to speak. He hadn't gone after Czerka before, having always preferred groups and companies without the resources to stomp him into the ground.

But after his most recent strike that had somehow made it onto the news, he just might be feeling a little more confident.

"Mhm. Officer for the Elrood Security Corps. The parent company was about as big, so it shouldn't be too different." The Zabrak spoke up with a nod, following it up with a few questions of his own. "You mentioned that she lives up in some ritzy high-rise. How exactly are we gonna get her out? Most protection squads are usually from six to eight guards. If she's as important as you're makin' her out to be, that'll be at least four additional combat droids as reinforcement. You got the heat to match?"

@Panda Hermit 98 @Charles @lizziie

 

[Alfie Shepherd]

"Hm," Alfie acknowledge Kotru with little more than an inquisitive glare. Studying every little detail came naturally to the Hybrid, but he gave such a damned headache- hence, the smoking and alcohol addiction. The Zabrak seemed relaxed- complacent almost -about the situation at hand. Was this boy aware that they would all be breaking into a prison? Alfie wasn't sure he wanted to work with someone so entitled.

"I can use her information. I'd like her to be my hostage, if possible. We might be able to make more credits off of her that way." Kidnapping was a little underhanded for the Scoundrel, but he was also never opposed to bigger opportunities. "We don't need heat," Alfie spoke to Kotru without looking at him. "If we aren't the culprits. Staging an attack could work to our advantage. I'm known throughout the Core Worlds as the owner of a prestigious saloon on Kuat. If possible, I could try and offer to expand my enterprise to Empress Teta and Miss Mao's workers. Kotru can act as my bodyguard as I believe Jorge is too recognizable within the Underworld. Jorge can arrange an attack to separate her forces meanwhile Kotru and I would be right beside her. I'm not familiar with all of your work, Acklay, but I know what you are capable of."

His gaze shifted to the other woman he addressed. The slicer had caught Alfie's attention, but he found that it may be close to impossible to tie her into the Pahneke Baha. Regardless, she would make an excellent ally to have for any future endeavors such as this. The blank and void stare he gave Acklay was finished with a respectful nod of his head. "I'm sure you'll do what you do best, should it come to it. But," His stare returned to Lissa. "This is only assuming we kidnap her and kill her later."

@lizziie @Panda Hermit 98 @FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Lissa Blackhand]

Lissa eyed each partner up as they put forward their two credits of advice. What began as an idea began to take a more concrete shape, the beginnings of a plan. If she was separated from her people with Alfie and Kotru beside her, they could handle things with her and her system in one fell swoop. That, of course, left the question of what she was to do in this plan, but that could be ironed out as they went.

Alfie wasn't so sure though. Lissa caught the implication of his words, remembering the Weequay on Dantooine where he quizzed her about her hesitance to kill. She had an excuse that time, the bounty wanted him alive, but he still saw it as a weakness, or she thought he did anyway. Teddy sprung to mind again, but this time, she quickly put him out of her thoughts and remembered just who they were discussing, what her company did to people, both as standard and as punishment, to it's workers and it's enemies. She locked eyes with Alfie, barely a shift in her expression, save for her features softening as she made her decision.
"All I want is the location of where they're keeping Vance, which we can do when we're there. Beyond that, you can do whatever the hell you want with her, just so long as our names don't leave her lips." She said firmly, leaning back in her chair.

"So Alfie and Kotru meet the exec for business while Jorge prepares an offensive to distract her guard detail. When she's vulnerable, you grab her and slice her network, then extract. Where should I be during this? On the ground with Jorge? I imagine your ship will be waiting for you when you grab her Alfie."

@FreelanceGarbageMan @Charles

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

"Yeah, that's fair. Jumpin' in would be reckless."

Pushing aside his addiction to adrenaline had proven itself a difficult task to the Zabrak, the unsubtle comment from the older Human quick to catch his train of thought and put that idea down. A thoughtful hand raises to scratch at Kotru's chin, an index finger running along the faint texture of his tattooed skin. "If we can get close without raisin' any suspicion, that takes care of that problem right quick. And once Jorge sets off the others, we can 'bring her to safety' while her folk keep the other guards busy. Bit'a sweet talk from a businessman with somewhere to lay low, and she'll come runnin'."

Kotru's arms find themselves folded upon the table as he spoke, as if tasting how the plan rolled off his tongue.

"And as long as we get what we need, the gal is all yours." He would reply before twisting his head across the table to Lissa. "Chances are that the window's gonna be tight once their folk get wise to Xiran not being around. Standard procedure is to have visual confirmation of the client every ten minutes, we'll need an out quick. Speeder would be best, straight down from the high-rise and into traffic. Teta's got plenty of it, could give us enough time to get her aboard a ship parked nearby. How's your drivin'?"

@Charles @Panda Hermit 98