Ask Mercenary Or No Mercy

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC

In the Outer Rim Territories, there drifted a lone corvette, one that intended to remain that way for as long as possible. The Lonely Cub was its name, no matter as to its meaning, for it meant a whole lot more to two souls who had come to board it that day.

They came in a simple shuttle, new recruits; two members of the Pyke Syndicate posing as freelance mercenaries eager for work without much care as to the means or morals. Their hosts would care no less. They were the Lonely Cubs; a merc group namesaked from their ship, no doubt, or vice versa, but who cares?

Cul Laaster sure did not give ten druks north of Dantooine. Neither did his partner, he was sure, as their lonely shuttle drifted toward the corvette. They were sure to be met with guards and, if they weren’t, had come to the wrong ship.

That ship, that corvette, that Lonely Cub, was to be theirs for the taking, as were the mercenaries who claimed it. To do that, the idea was to show them how Pykes did business, got things done, and here were two unafraid of getting their hands dirty. Do a job or two or three, whatever it took, then claim what was theirs.

These mercenaries, they would be shown strength, and that strength would convince them to join the Pyke Syndicate. If not? Well, no matter. They would die and those Pykes would take their ship. The Pykes would roar, and the cubs would hear them roar, and just might live to carry it.


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

It was about time. The strong would consume the weak, as it always was and always would be. In Tysjor’s view, there were only two types of beings in the galaxy— the hunters and the hunted. The Pyke Syndicate had been the latter for far too long. It was only recently that they’d decided to go on the offensive; finally, the Pykes were the hunters. And in this case, the Lonely Cub was to be their prey. The plan was to board the ship as hired mercenaries, then come out as its captains.

Once the pair made their way through the docking bay and into the corvette, they were greeted by a pair of guards, a human and a weequay. Not that he cared. If anything, they were nothing more than possible assets for the syndicate. Should they refuse the generous offer, disposing of them would be a trivial matter. He kept his gaze level as the two guards waved them in.

“Welcome to the Lonely Cub,” began the human. He had a smirk on his face that caused Tysjor to make himself a mental note that this would be the man he would kill first once they took control of the ship. “You two are the new guys, eh? I was expecting… more. Heh.” The weequay chuckled, shouldering his blaster. The Pyke didn’t say a word in response, only putting his hand near his blaster, and the human gave the pair a look.

“We’ll show you to your stations and get you oriented—”

“Where is your captain?”

“I’m sorry?”

“We have business to discuss with whoever is in charge. Now take us to him.” The human exchanged a glance with the weequay, his expression beginning to sour.

“Look, new guy. Don’t act like you own the place. This is our ship and we hired you. Don’t forget that.” Tysjor gave a sideways look at his partner, half-amused. These mercs would soon find out just who they were dealing with.

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC

Cul met the look of his counterpart from behind his helm whose slits for eyes revealed a purple hue. He read Tysjor’s mind. One way or the other, these fools who called themselves the Lonely Cubs would fall, either into the grave of space or into the pride of the Pykes. They could only be so fortunate.

Their ship was the real prize; a corvette could not go overlooked, even though the entire galaxy would overlook a pair of Pykes claiming it for their Syndicate from some lowlife mercenaries.

“Very well then,” Cul gave a courteous nod of respect. He may have been the less blunt between the two Pykes but both would prove their best. “Lead on.”

The guards said nothing else, complying with compliance, and led the way. The Pykes were given a tour of the ship, shown their quarters, the armory, the lounge, told what rooms they could enter freely and which ones were off limits on penalty of being spaced, if they were lucky. The bridge was last.

“Here we are,” the tour guide paused before that bridge whose door was shut. “You want to meet the captain?” he turned to Tysjor. “Time to meet her.” The door gave way and the Pykes stepped inside.


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

For now, Tysjor was content with letting Cul handle the talking. As much as he wanted to come in guns-ablazing and take the vessel by force, he knew that a ship without a crew to fly it was as good as no ship at all— even if it was a corvette.

Fortunately, the guards didn’t say anything to tempt him into drawing his blaster. Going along with the process, they were soon given a tour of the corvette. As the various locations were introduced, Tysjor found himself admiring the design. With plenty of space inside it and functional weaponry, it was just what the syndicate needed. It would make an excellent addition to their growing arsenal.

At the very end of the tour, the Pykes and their guide stood outside the bridge. He gave the guide a nod once he spoke.

The door slid open, revealing a group of mercs with a young twi-lek woman who looked strikingly out of place. For a brief moment he wondered if they were in the right place, or if he was looking at the right person, but the manner in which the young woman carried herself made it clear that she was the one in charge.

“This is your captain?” Tysjor couldn’t keep the contempt out of his voice as he exchanged a glance with Cul. Taking over this ship would be easier than he thought.

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Unlike his counterpart, Cul did not share in Tysjor’s incredulity. Twi’lek, Weequay, Human—leadership is proven far beyond the constraints of species. As the fellow Pyke looked his way, Cul glanced back in place of shrugging.

“You like that tongue?” Spoke a guard who stepped in front of that Twi’lek, staring into Tysjor, not just at him. The Quarren was big. “Speak ill of my captain again, new blood, and I’ll bleed you dry.”

Typical, Cul thought in silence, standing with arms at sides; almost looking like a cadet were he not already a crown prince in the making. A brute but, well, that is what we need.

They did, these two Pykes and the Pyke Syndicate overall. They needed this ship, yes, also a crew; the soldiers as much as the ship. Cul Laaster’s plan was not simply to build an army, for where there was one Pyke there would be more, but to build muscle and flex that muscle; flex those mercenaries for the dirty work while the Pykes washed their hands in the fountains of triumph.

“Step aside, Wex,” the Twi’lek said casually, smiling as she approached, arms crossed. “I am Jade.” She shrugged, recognizing the irony in that name given the pink hue of her skin. “I’m the Captain of the Lonely Cub, in turn the Lonely Cubs, my merry band of mercenaries.”

She looked between both Pykes, and Cul got a feeling that she had dealt with their kind more than once. “Of which, why the kark do you want to join us? And why shouldn’t I just let Wex here rip you apart for thinking I’d let you?”


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

“Not if I gut you first.” Tysjor took a step toward the Quarren, his hand dropping down to the hilt of his vibroknife. He was prepared to defend himself as the guard stepped forward in turn and clenched his hands into fists, but just then, the twi-lek came forward and ordered him to step aside. And, though he didn’t look happy about it, the Quarren obeyed. That was good. Compliance, submission was what they needed. Practically having grown up on Kessel, it was what he was used to seeing anyway.

He leveled his gaze with the captain’s as she asked them the question.

“Because, captain, we’ve come with an offer. And also because Wex, along with you, will be bleeding out on the floor if you so much as try to order him to do it.” Tysjor glared at the Quarren. Hearing the last part, a couple of the men paused what they were doing at their stations and looked over at their captain and then at the Pykes. Jade didn’t move a muscle, only cocking her head as the room fell silent.

“And what does this offer entail?”

“You work for us, and we let you live. And because we are generous, we will provide payment for you and your crew in return for your loyalty and service to the Pyke Syndicate.” He lowered his hands to his side, waiting for the woman’s response. He might have been jumping the gun a little bit, but he wasn’t going to spend any more of his time with negotiations and these dunderheads who didn’t know who was really in charge.

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

There was some silence that ensued following Tysjor’s offer, such as it was. Cul looked from him to the mercenaries, the captain; the captain looked from the mercenaries to the Pykes; the mercenaries looked from their captain to the Pykes. Everyone was waiting for…something.

The silence broke. The Captain was clapping. “Well, well, well…” -Clap-clap-clap- “Well spoken, Pyke of Pyke Syndicate, except…” Dramatically, Jade spread her hands as though reaching for who and what was not there, looking as perplexed as an unpaid prostitute. “...Where is your Pyke Syndicate, again?”

Cul could respect that. Ever unlike his partner, he stood still and silent; a statue with an iron mask and two violet eyes. Violence was in them, make no mistake, but his simply was not as loud as Tysjor’s or Wex’s, for that matter. The loud ones never last.

“Oh, well, um, I know they’re not on Kessel, that much I know,” Jade went on, playing her power, and there was no doubting it. She had a crew of mercenaries, surely paid, but not necessarily disloyal for that matter. That Quarren seemed quite close. “I know, Mr. Pyke, that there are only two of you in front of all of me.”

“That is true,” Cul finally spoke up, all but cutting the Captain off. She cocked a brow, no less attentive. “Though, by what right does the cub judge the lion?” He looked left, looked right. “You call yourself Lonely Cubs, but is that not what you are? Lions? Are you not the pride of the stars? Do you not pave your way across them? The Pykes did, once upon a time, and make no mistake…”

It was Cul’s turn to take a step forward, just in front of Tysjor, hoping to keep him back. No one needed to die today. “...We will again. With or without you, but the former is more promising. This is your ship, Captain Jade, your crew…but it can be ours too. Let us prove it to you.”


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

The Twi-lek dared to insult the Pykes? At this point she was simply asking for a blaster bolt through the neck, but even Tysjor had to admit that she was right, to a degree. The syndicate was nowhere near as powerful as it used to be. But that would soon change, he thought. The steely determination was back. And it would start with the Lonely Cub.

Cul took it from there, stepping in front of Tysjor as he spoke. He would have shoved his partner aside and told him to mind his own business, but he decided to let it slide for now. They shared the same goal after all, and deep down he knew that his former approach wasn’t going to work. Who knew, with Cul being the brains of this whole operation, he might even learn a thing or two. As much as he hated to admit it, sometimes words worked better than fists, and this appeared to be one of those cases.

“Prove it? How?” he hissed into Cul’s ear as he finished. A couple of the mercenaries were nodding, murmuring amongst themselves, and even the captain seemed to be deliberating on what she’d just heard. “You don’t expect us to actually help them?”

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Cul said nothing toward Tysjor’s concerns, merely tilting his head in response, though hoped it would suffice in place of words this time. He had this covered and, if he didn’t, then two Pykes would be covering each other while filling the bridge with bolts.

“We do get around,” Jade broke the silence. “Enough for the likes of you to have heard of us and sought us out.”

She was right; Cul, at least, had done his homework. The Lonely Cubs were no galactic mercenary force but, as was often overlooked, the galaxy was a big place. These mercs were known well enough, if localized. That will soon change.

“Of which, I did wonder why two Pykes would be so picky as to pick us...or perhaps 'desperate' is more proper.” She looked Tysjor’s way as though tempting him, though it was clear to Cul she was more properly just testing him. Don't be an idiot, Tysjor. “Well, you’re in luck,” she smiled. “We just so happen to be looking for new horizons.”

“Then it is settled,” Cul nodded. "We shall have unity." This is going more smoothly than I anticipated.

“Not so fast.” Or not. “You mentioned proof. I’ll need it. Look, I don’t care how mighty your Syndicate might have been. It isn’t now. If you want it to be, you’ll have to get your hands dirty, starting with us. Do a job, pull your weight, prove your worth, and we’ll talk business.” Captain Jade’s slender fingers wrapped around each other. “That’s how I do mine. I had heard that’s how Pykes do theirs...by fighting.”

She was right. Cul and Tysjor were no Hutts, they were Pykes, they fought in the front lines when needed, they didn’t suck on slime from a litter. “Very well.” Would his counterpart comply?


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

Cul didn’t respond, and Tysjor crossed his arms. A few moments later, Jade broke the silence and looked pointedly at him. Desperate? He was about to challenge her again when he realized that it was best not to say anything, and that a reaction was probably what she was looking for. He would not give her that satisfaction, so he met her gaze and stared right back.

Jade made an offer, and Cul agreed to it. That didn’t leave him much of a choice, but if it was for the good of the syndicate… Tysjor gave the woman a nod. This corvette would be theirs, and he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to get it. It was, like the captain said, how the Pykes operated.

“Where are we headed?”

Jade waved a hand, and an astromech wheeled over, projecting a holomap of a planet once it came to a stop.

“Bandomeer. We’re going to take out this mining colony,” she said, pointing to a blinking red dot towards the middle of the map. “I won’t go too far in the weeds here, but long story short, the ones who hired us want them wiped out. No survivors. You in?” She tilted her head at Cul and Tysjor, the latter of which gave her a curt nod in return.

“No survivors,” he confirmed, glancing at his partner to see how he would respond.

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Tysjor kept himself simple, his words just so, and that much had earned him the continued respect of his accomplice, such as it was.

Captain Jade was a lowlife mercenary, scum in every respect, but she knew the current status of the Pyke Syndicate about as well as its own members did: there wasn’t much of one.

This corvette would be theirs, both Pykes knew, one way or the other. And the crew too. If not the latter, so be it; if need be, they would park planetside and do this job and head back to the Lonely Cub as the only two lions aboard, with the hides of their cubs skinned and draped over Bandomeer to rot with the miners. One way or the other, we will take what is ours. This is our promise.

“Wipe them out,” Cul confirmed after his partner. Already, the cogs in his calculated mind were turning, wondering what angles Jade was playing, wondering who hired her company, what else was down on Bandomeer, if she was playing her employer, her two new recruits or, hell, her whole crew. No matter. We are playing you too.

A calculating mind could be its own enemy so Cul moved on. It was time for everyone to. He looked around the bridge that would soon be his, soon be the Syndicate's, and the muscle within it, including that dumb Quarren. “Shall we begin?”

That made Jade smile, though Cul did not. “Ready your breakfast and eat hearty,” the Captain of the Lonely Cub announced. “For, tonight, we dine in hell…as do those colonists.” With that, she gave the Pykes her back, and Cul gave his back to them, heading to his quarters to prepare.


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

We are not working for them. This is only the first step to taking what is ours, Tysjor reminded himself as he and Cul headed back to their quarters to prepare. Not that he needed to— he was always ready to do what was necessary. As the door slid open to reveal their bunks, the Pyke stepped inside and turned to his partner.

“You think she’s using us?” he asked Cul as the door closed behind the pair. The room was otherwise dark, but it didn’t bother Tysjor. However, the feeling that Jade was double-crossing them somehow, did. What if she was as eager to get rid of them as he was with her? He didn’t know about Cul, but the woman seemed like she’d gone over that whole spiel before.

“If I were her, I wouldn’t take that sitting down,” he confessed, drawing his blaster to inspect it. If he’d been in her position, he probably would have had the men kill the two Pykes where they stood had someone spoken to him that way. Perhaps that was the reason why he wasn’t a captain. If he wanted to rise in the ranks, he’d have to learn how to handle those types of situations… without resorting to his blaster. Cul seemed to have the know-how for it, and though Tysjor wouldn’t admit it out loud, he still had a lot to learn when it came to matters like those.

For now though, he would watch and wait to see what would happen.

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC

Some might have thought Cul to be brooding in darkness but this was how the Pyke prepared. He sat on the edge of his bed, gaze to the wall, staring at nothing as much as everything. Steel…cold, hard steel.

Tysjor’s tongue broke his partner’s silence. Typical. His question was no less, as was the answer. Did his fellow Pyke not know the truth of this universe? Did he not know that everyone was out to get theirs, including Cul, including the Pyke Syndicate? By all rights, why ought Captain Jade of the Lonely Cub be any different? By what right does the cub judge the lion?

Cool, calculating, smart and steady, Cul Laaster was and had to be, but he did not overlook slights or insults. Whether the Lonely Cubs survived what was coming or not, or only their vessel did, they would rue the day they spat on more than one name. This won’t be the first or last cleanup job for them. I’ll have them scrubbing toilets—in so many ways.

Once upon a time, none would dare to piss on the name of ‘Pyke’. Once upon a time, that truth extended to House Laaster. It will again.

“People like Jade are smart enough to pick their battles,” Cul spoke to his peer, though did not tear his gaze from that wall. “She is used to it. What she is not used to is two Pykes like us boarding her ship, speaking of promise, the kind that hers cannot deny.”

Jade had mentioned new horizons, and she seemed to Cul the type to be set in her ways while ambitious enough to strive beyond them. The galaxy was crying out, roaring even, and opportunists like Jade sought to make the most of it.

“It isn’t about whether she is using us, Tysjor, though she is. We are using her. That is the way it works. Everyone uses each other, for to each other we are all little more than that blaster in your hand.” Finally, he turned to his contemporary, searched his eyes.

“What matters is who holds it, who wields it, who possesses that power in their palm.” His own lifted, curled fingers. “We will entertain these Lonely Cubs just long enough for their lair to become ours. We will listen to them, suffer them, and then, in due time, they will suffer us. Like this galaxy, Tysjor Maspat, we will open our mouths and they will hear us roar.” Hear me roar…Laaster.


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

That much was true. Beings all across the galaxy were just as cold and hard as the steel of the blaster in his hand. Not that it was a bad thing. He’d long given up the silly notion that there was an overarching, never-ending war between good and evil, light and dark. Only idealists, those who refused to see the reality of the galaxy worked, would hope or fight for one or the other to win. No, there was only business. Spice, the colonists, the corvette. No one could claim moral superiority, for the only way to get up the social ladder was to climb on the backs of others. Jade’s would be just one rung.

Cul spoke true, and Tysjor nodded at the words of the other Pyke. “We will roar, and they will cower and submit like the cubs they are,” he agreed, curling his own fingers to form a fist. Perhaps he was far too used to the spice mines of Kessel, where the slaves had already been conditioned to following orders without question. He would see these mercs as he’d seen the slaves who had newly arrived and whose spirits had not been broken, as a challenge. Captain Jade would be on her knees when the Pykes got their way.

It was all becoming clear now, and Tysjor put his blaster away. It was a habit of his for him to think while holding his weapon, a literal manifestation of him having always thought with his blaster when under pressure. However, on days like these, the Pyke recognized the benefit of having brains over brawn. Something he would have to learn to do if he wanted to play a part in bringing back the Pykes, and soon.

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC

Bandomeer, a planet in the Outer Rim, in the way of the Hydian Way but otherwise out of the way, was no place to be that day.

More particularly, that night. It was a whole world unto itself, populated predominantly by Meerians, until the myriad sentients had since seen fit to repopulate and exploit it, rolling down its rolling plains beneath the wheels of industry.

The planet had been strip-mined for its rich resources, all kinds of minerals, and not much had changed. Across the deserts paved by nature were those made by man and more, and hovering over the ocean just then was a vessel whose crew had come to claim even more.

The Lonely Cub descended upon Bandomeer beside a mountain range, specifically on a small settlement that called itself a mining colony. Lasers soared from cannons, bombarding paltry watchtowers and any soul still inside.

The corvette made a single sweep before touching down in the field just outside, lined up another shot, blew the gates apart in place of knocking. The ramp lowered and the marauders marched down for the massacre.

Keeping pace with his partner and the Lonely Cubs, Cul had a pistol holstered at his hip and a rifle in his hands, though he let the sharpshooters among the raiders take out the defenders. His place was at the rear.

“Don’t be shy, Pykes!” Captain Jade beckoned as she hastened forth. “To the front line! Show me what you’ve got!”

Very well, Cul complied, not enthusiastically but neither reluctantly. He jogged in between the fools in his way, dropped to a knee, eyed the scope and squeezed. A colonist fell from a wall. Easy shot. Tsyjor was surely a better one as both Pykes and the Lonely Cubs stormed through the breach. No mercy.


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

Tysjor wasted no time in marching down the ramp as it lowered, one of his pistols in his hand. The mercenaries followed close behind him, their weapons cocked and ready. Captain Jade wanted the Pykes in the front lines? Fine. This would be her last time ordering them around, and might as well let her enjoy it when she could. Soon enough, the roles would be reversed.

With an excellent shot, Cul took down a colonist running along the wall surrounding the outside of the settlement. Likely one of the guards trying to sound the alarm, as if that were necessary. The streets near the entrance were already empty for the most part, though Tysjor could still hear the shouting coming from afar. No matter. Wherever they were hiding, whatever resistance they were planning, the Pykes and their mercenaries would hunt them down.

Tysjor stepped over the rubble of the gate, making his way over to the first house he could see as the mercenaries moved in on the others. Kicking the door down, it at first glance appeared to be empty. However, the unfinished meal that was still warm and hastily knocked-over chairs proved otherwise. Then his gaze flitted over to one of the cabinets when it rattled. A muffled sob came afterwards. The Pyke had found his prey.

He shot the cabinet door so that it swung open, revealing a human boy who looked to be no more than twelve. The boy had curled himself into a ball, refusing to look in the direction of where the bolt had come from. He didn’t have a chance to either, because in less than a few seconds after the first shot, a blaster bolt had already made its way through his head. Tysjor stood and listened for a moment, making sure he didn’t hear anything else before going back outside to find his next house. The mercenaries were making quick work of things— many of the buildings were completely engulfed in flames. Probably a better choice if they wanted to get the job done fast, and Tysjor was satisfied to see that they knew it. Efficiency was what they were looking for.

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC

Through the gate, into the settlement; the former had been reduced to fire in a moment, the latter would not last much longer. Having breached, Cul let his partner do his thing, the mercenaries around him no less, and paved his own path through the onslaught.

Resistance was pathetic, expectedly so for an out of the way mining colony like this one. So defenseless. Why the significance? Who hired these mercs to wipe them out, and why? He would learn of that soon enough, from the mercenaries or the miners or someone else.

A bolt flew his way just then, sailing over the shoulder as the Pyke gained entry into a building. It was no house, that was useless, and the shooter was no marksman. Cul did not return the favor but one of those Lonely Cubs surely would as he found a greater purpose.

The building he had stumbled upon was a communications center. Perfect. His own shot was no less as it pierced the skull of a clerk hiding behind the desk. Cul had reached over, planted blaster’s muzzle to her skull, squeezed. Moving on.

He wanted that relay, wanted it to relay to him every letter of every word, every digit of every number, as to the communications logs of this mining colony. So the Pyke negotiated his way through the building, opened a door, heard someone call from behind.

“Upstairs!” barked an Ishi Tib merc. Fine. Cul let his accomplice lead the way, having already eyed what was up there, though he kept his lips closed amid his helm. The Ishi Tib barked again, incoherently, as a short line of defenders riddled him with bolts. Good.

Cul banked on his enemies being distracted, shoved the mercenary’s corpse aside and tossed a grenade. Anyone left alive was promptly executed. The Pyke moved along. One door opened, unarmed workers shot down like frightened kittens, onto the next room, rinse and repeat. Move along.


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

No survivors. A couple of colonists made a break for the fallen gate, and Tysjor shot them once each, picking them off from the front. He didn’t look to see if they moved again. If they were still alive, they wouldn’t be for much longer.

The Pyke paid no attention to the sound of flames crackling and the distant echoes of blaster fire around him. Instead, he was focused on a woman who had just run out of a building nearby. There was nothing remarkable about her except for the object clutched tightly in her hand— a datarod. She looked behind her, then to her side, as if someone was chasing after her, though given the circumstances Tysjor could see why. The interesting thing was the look of determination on her face, accompanied with the fear. And just as she made a dash to get behind the next building, Tysjor shot a bolt that flew right through her knee, bringing her crashing to the ground.

He came to a stop, towering over the woman as he yanked the datarod out of her hand. Perhaps it would have some valuable information in it.

“It’s- what you came for,” she gasped, as if confirming his thoughts. Tysjor looked at the object in his hand, wrapping his fingers around it. Interesting. “Take- take it. Just spare our lives. Please. There is no need for this.” With a shaky hand, the woman pointed at the burning houses.

The Pyke lowered his hand with the datarod, then looked down at her. Her eyes were pleading, hopeful. That was too bad. “But there is.” No survivors. A blast, and the woman was silent. Tysjor pocketed the datarod and moved on. When they were finished with the job, he would show it to Cul. It might be useful.

@Die Shize

 

[Cul Laaster]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

At last, Cul found what he was looking for. The communications center held a mainframe rife with data logs, and now the dead. The Pyke pushed a body out of a chair after having served her purpose by unlocking a computer. Typing away, he came across a curious entry. What have we here?

We hit the motherload. We did. The colonists down here. Not the corporation up there. Ortigo wants to strong-arm us out of here, take over operations directly, but we’re not going to budge. What are they going to do, murder us?

Good question. Cul found another entry, this one from someone else, though the log showed that the communication had come from offworld.

Keep your discovery under wraps. No other party needs to know. Too much at stake. Don’t worry about Ortigo. They’re small game compared to Blackwell. The latter can surely make use of your treasure trove and make sure you stay in the game.

Cul felt quite clued in now as what was going on here and why these mercenaries had come to town. The whole op reeked of corporate competition, in one way or the other. These miners aren’t just caught in the middle of it. They are the center of it.

There was a groan just then, a wounded plea from within the room. The Pyke picked up his pistol from atop the computer and headed for the door, plugging a bolt in a skull to silence the voice within it.

Back outside the building, he discovered fires blazing from buildings more, listened to the screams of the dying, the laughter of a few mercenaries as they claimed treasure of their own from corpses more, and he paid none of that any mind.

In the distance, Cul spotted Captain Jade taking cover behind a makeshift barrier, heard her through his earpiece. “All right, everyone, we’re about to wrap things up. Come to my position. We’re closing in on the colony’s headquarters. Time to end this.”


@Sicadorito

 

[Tysjor Maspat]

Tysjor shoved the body of a fallen mercenary out of his way as he made his way over to where the others were gathering near Jade. One final push into the headquarters and they would get what they came for. Perhaps even more if Cul found something else, or if the datarod in his pocket meant anything more than a last-ditch attempt to save the settlement.

Jade blasted the controls to the door before turning around to a pair of mercs standing next to Tysjor.

“Anak, Laska, you and the Pykes stay here to make sure no one escapes. Rest of you, come with me.” With a wave of her hand, she entered the building with her mercenaries behind her. As Tysjor heard the blaster shots inside, he thought about how strange it was that she didn’t ask for him and Cul to go in with her. Was it that she didn’t trust them? Or was she hiding something? Or he had simply been standing in her line of sight.

Still, it was a chance for him to regroup with Cul. Anak and Laska didn’t seem to be paying any attention to them, instead focusing on watching the doorway as Jade had asked. Yet another reason why their idea of taking that corvette was looking even more attractive— these mercs knew how to get things done.

Just as he was about to comment on the fact to Cul, he spotted a man in robes rushing toward the entrance, trying to make it outside. Before he could make it to the door though, a bolt had flown through his chest. Then a couple more as the mercs realized what had happened and put in a few of their own. Tysjor took the chance to turn to his partner.

“I found something that might be of use to us. Once we get the ship, I’ll show it to you.” It would be soon too. The blaster fire from inside the building had ceased, and some of the mercs were already starting to march out. Jade would soon follow, and all Tysjor could think when he saw her was, tread carefully, captain.

@Die Shize