Ask Spice to Life

[Aden Archer]

In a starport in a backwater world in the Outer Rim. Aden would be overlooking from on high, at a distance, behind cover what appears to be a Syndicate class corvette with a a group of Pykes armed with weapons forming a perimeter as various other aliens are carrying steel crates up a loading ramp into the ship. Presumably slave labor.

"Well, there it is" he would say to his partner Covax, vanguard of the Crymorah Syndicate. "That must be the goods." spice that is. Aden feels conflicted taking on this job. On one hand this job pays well, and he is working with a past partner in Covax. It's been a long time, Aden heard that Covax raided the Kowak shipyards while Aden and his squad were battling Zann Consortium defenders while attempting to bomb the place. After the fact Aden realized more people than who he thought had it out for the crime group on. Small galaxy. But Aden's main hesitation came into play since in the distant past his first job was a very bloody affair that involved spice. But this should be fine.

"Looks like they are almost finished." Aden said as there aren't many more crates outside. Once they are done, the ship could depart at any moment. Aden has his weapons and gear on him. "Ready when you are" he said to his old partner/friend.

@Taz

 

[Covax]

Covax was looking down at the same syndicate ship, across the landing pad from Aden's location. Watching as the freelance pilot narrated the scene.

The syndicate vanguard watched the team of armed Pykes as they watched their slave labor force load the last of the creates. The corvette was capable of over 700 tons of cargo, if even half of that load was spice it was worth a small fortune. A fortune that Covax could not pass up.

"Just as expected." Covax answered over their secure comms. The vanguard had not worked with the pilot in some time, not since the attack on the Consortium's facility. Like any good boss, Covax understood the strengths of those he hired and worked with. Aden was a pilot, one of the best the vanguard had ever met. He was not one to get his hands dirty. OR in this case, bloody.

That's where Covax did the heavy lifting.

"Let's move." He finally said simply. Then towering human then moved to his perch. The jet boots of his armor augmenting his jump down to the pad. Just behind another stack of creates. He then quickly closed the distance. Moving between creates and loading speeders. Closing the distance with each move from cover to cover.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Aden Archer]

Aden would move out too on command, from cover to cover as well, trailing behind as Covax was literally moving leaps and bounds. The objective insight, the corvette. Aden doesn't remember the exact cargo capacity on the corvette, but it's around the size of a heavy freighter, so it would indeed be able to carry lots of spice. As a capital ship, it also has impressive weapons on it, having an array of weapons including turbo lasers. It would benefit Covax very well on all counts to take the ship into his hands.

Once they are in position behind the base of a crane, it would only be about fifteen meters of open ground with the corvette ahead. Aden would look around and behind him to make sure there is no one actively watching him. Looking back at the Pykes again, there is only two of them plus the slaves. The Pykes were still overseeing the slaves and they looked to be wrapping up. Soon the slaves would go aboard the ships one last time, then the guards would be heading like wise. With their backs turned "Now is our chance" Aden gripped the blaster pistol he had holstered, ready to quick draw. If the two start firing, no doubt the Pykes would be on alert but they have a limited time window to get on the ship and Aden was ready to make sure it wasn't missed.

@Taz

 

[Covax]

Even though Covax had helped to pick this target because it was a weak point for the Pykes supply chain. This was light even for them. Likely a testament to the shape of the Pykes after their mutt leader vanished. Not that Covax could toss to many stones at the moment.

Ah well, their loss. Covax managed to leap frog around cover until he closed the distance. Archer was not to far behind. Fortunately for the criminal vanguard, these thugs were not elite guards. The towering human manged to slip in behind the two guards as they moved up the ramp. He was going to shoot them in the back, but his rifle charge malfunctioned.

"Well Shit," He said to himself.

Before the two thugs could react, Covax took the rifle by the barrel and swung it like a vibro-bat. Clubbing the first Pyke in the area of his collar bone. The size and power of the bigger human sent the pyke to the ground. Covax turned to swing on the and got rushed.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Aden Archer]

Covax went in and... something happened. Something was supposed to come out of that blaster wasn't it? But before Covax would be under threat while rushing the Vanguard, the last pyke would find itself with a blaster bolt at an angle in it's mid section, courtesy of one Aden Archer. The Pyke would have one big scorchmark in it's ribs and would kneel down and collapse.

"Nice batting skills" Aden jested in a light hearted manner. But Aden turned his attention once more to the ramp, the ship ramp was starting to withdraw and the door closes. "Quickly" Aden would then jump as the ramp is retracting and manage to get into the ship. Covax would have just enough time to do so as well. Aden would jump forward and land in the ship's interior. In the grimey, rust-like colored interior, he would spot four Pykes who were alerted and already in the vicinity, two on the left and right sides each that were alerted and come holding rifles. There are crates that are still on the ground randomly.

The crates didn't afford much cover from all attackers, he was pretty exposed to the right side, but thinking quickly, Aden would grab a concussion grenade, activate it and throw it to where the Pykes on the right side were as they were about to fire accurate shots. The two Pykes would quickly dive, but not quick enough as they would be totally stunned once the explosion goes off. That just leaves the two pykes on the left side to deal with, at least before the others recover.

@Taz

 

[Covax]

Covax was quick for his size, but not quick. Fortunately for the crime boss, Archer was a good shot. The bold finding it's mark in the Pyke just in time. As the alien collapsed, the pilot would start to make his way up the ramp.

"Yeah, all galaxy back in high school." Covax returned the jest, "And look at you, here I thought that holster was just for show." Giving the merc pilot a nod.

Sudden the ship would hum, and the ramp started withdraw. Giving both men mere fleeting seconds. Covax quickly tapped a button on his wrist. Allowing his boots to fire a short burst, sending him backward and into the ship. Archer using just his legs and managing to find cover just as the ramp closed.

Taking shit cover behind a stack of spice creates. The human was suddenly very glad he had a sealed helmet on, as bolts started to fly. Having the same idea as his associate, the vanguard armed and tossed his own stun grenade. However, unlike their friends, the two on the left would duck and cover in time. Then popup like from their same shit cover and start spraying bolt's in Covax's direction.

Several bolts hit the create just before the towering human, and Covax would arm his buckler and place it before his chest. Just in time to take a rifle shot there. Knocking his on his ass and fortunately out of the line of fire for a moment. "That hurt", he thought but did not say aloud. These guys were supposed to be little more than a goon squad, and so far they were making the vanguard look the part.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Aden Archer]

The banter is fun. Aden would nod back at the Vanguard. Now things are heating up as they are now inside the ship and facing off against the Pykes. A couple are down and there are just a couple more do deal with. They need to be dealt with quicky before more show up and/or the other two recover.

But apparently not,, as these Pykes were giving even Covax some trouble. Aden is normally content to play it safe, but they didn't have a whole lot of time to play around with. When there was a break in the Pykes fire, Aden, with his carbine would attempt to aim where the Pykes are after Covax own grenade attempt and try to blow them all up with his carbine's grenade launcher attachment,, but one of the Pykes got off an unlucky shot that caught his right forearm, that isn't protected by armor. "Shit!" he said as laid down back behind cover, and dropped his carbine. Feeling searing burns and upon opening his eyes again he'd see his arm is a mangled bloody mess of flesh. It was very painful and the burns will linger.

Turns out that hardened criminals are not really slouches in gunplay... Aden would attempt to power through the pain, gritting his teeth as he does so. His right arm might be useless, but he still has his left hand and a pistol.

"Fuck..." Aden muttered under his breath. Hopefully there is some bacta somewhere on this ship...

@Taz

 

[Covax]

The Crymorah Vanguard was done playing games. Haven taken a hit himself. He was irritated. However seeing his hired pilot take a hit, especially one that could make it difficult to complete the job. Well Covax was just done at that point.

Putting anger before careful planning. The former merc armed and then tossed one of his thermal detonators. The grenade made it just hind where Covax and Aden were taking cover before landing at the feet of the remaining Pykes. Then exploded. Vaporizing the Pykes and nearly a third of the spice shipment.

The blast wave could also cause the rest of the creates, Covax, and possibly Aden to be cast around the cargo hold. But they were alive."Fuck, Aden you alive?" The crime boss called out, standing to look at the carnage and find the merc pilot. "Aden...?"

@The Good Doctor

 

[Aden Archer]

Aden thought this could actually be the end. Wouldn't be the best way to go out, but over something he had a bad feeling towards but went on ahead anyways. He wasn't bleeding out or anything, but still heavily wounded with their team not in a good spot. An explosion went off and then the blaster shooting stopped.

"I'm alive" Aden slowly responded with. He would raise up, and he would see all the enemies disappeared along with a whole bunch of cargo. Vaporized by a thermal detonator. Looks like the ship will be returning a little lighter. This better not mean that Aden's payment for the job will be lighter as well. But suffice it to say, next time Aden will be sure to decline jobs that involve ships and spice.

Clutching his injured arm, he would rise to his two feet as quick as he can. They have to move onwards before more Pykes catch them. Now moving towards their destination, along the bulkheads, there would be a medkit hanging on. "Just a moment" Aden would then open the medkit and find bacta patches. Aden would apply a patch to his injured arm. At first it would sting to even touch the mess, but shorty after the bacta would soothe the wound and begin healing it as well as cleaning up a lot of the blood and finally relieving him from the pain.

Now that is done, Aden would look towards the Vanguard. "The bridge is up ahead not too much further away. Once we take it, we will have control of the ship and it will be all yours"

Aden did notice that there wasn't a whole lot of crew on the the ship. Not that Aden would be complaining about having less people to deal with.


@Taz

 

[Covax]

Covax helped the man to his feet as they both looked around to asses the damage. The Pykes were gone, some spice missing but still enough for a profit. Covax would of course make sure his Aden's payment was paid off the top before any profits were taken. He was of course a professional. That, and he liked Aden. He was a hell of a pilot.

"Ok, slight miss calculation on my part. Next time bring a team." He said. Trying to assure them both. But that was also part of the rub. He didn't have a team. Crimson Dawn was doing a hell of a job recruiting anyone and everyone worth a damn. If the Vanguard wanted manpower, he was going to have to use droids for the time being. Thankfully there were no better droids on the market then Blackwell's.

Covax was going to have to go see Newton soon.

They paused then as Aden spotted medkit on the wall. Feeling a bit at fault, Covax assisted the man in repairing his arm. Helping to apply the patched before rapping the arm in gauze and a few strips of tape. The vanguard took point then, as they made their way to the bridge.

The pilot was already starting to prep the ship for takeoff. Seeing the two mercs approach, the Pyke gasped and lunged for a carbine in a gun rack between the two pilot seat. Handy, but not quick enough for the more experienced human. Covax pulled the hand cannon and drilled the alien twice before he could should the rifle.

"Get this thing in the air. I'll get the weapons online." He ordered.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Aden Archer]

Aden nodded as the Vanguard helped him. Covax isn't like the typical criminal boss. Aden would have expected to get berated and a big chewing out. But that didn't happen. Instead he helped the spacer out with his wound "Thank you" he said fully appreciated.

The way to the bridge wasn't guarded and they had a straight shot towards it. After the Vanguard killed the Pyke in the pilots seat, Aden nodded with his direction. "On it" It's his time to shine now. Aden would start with grabbing the Pyke in his seat and discards the corpse in it like it was trash.

Now Aden was in the pilots seat. The pyke was previously completing the usual checks before take off. So there wasn't much to be done. After flipping a few switches, pushing a few buttons the ships would come alive with it's engine running. "Almost ready..." now with the pull of a lever after the engines finished warming up, the ship would lift off and then would start flying into the sky. Aden would now turn towards Covax "Preparing the hyperdrive. Would would you like to go?" he would ask.

Aden would then look through the view ports, they are about to clear the settlement's air space, no sign of trouble yet but it's was a good idea for Covax to get weapons online. There was still some traffic coming from in and out of the spaceport in eye-sight.

@Taz

 

[Covax]

Berating the pilot would not have gotten him the ship any quicker. Besides that, Covax's aim also had not been the best. In any case, it was time to go. With Aden patched up and in the chair, Covax got the weapons online. The rogue pilot asked where they were going.

Covax had to think. He needed the ship in Corp Sec space, but couldn't take it there with the spice still onboard. "Coruscant, lowest levels". The Crymorah boss knew he could offload the spice to the lower five gangs.

As the capital ship lifted off and headed for space, Covax activated all the weapons on the ship. Laying down a field of fire towards the space port as well as any other near by ships. Forcing any ship in the area to clear the space. The former merc didn't really care about other smugglers or freight haulers. He wanted this ship and he was done toying around.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Aden Archer]

Aden would set the course but, going straight to Courscant? Hmmmm. After putting more inputs into the dash Aden would then reply. "I'm setting the course" he said in affirmative. The spacer had to admit, Covax would open fire towards the space port? If anything that might get the space port authorities to go after them, but then again, they are so close to jumping to lightspeed it shouldn't matter. But just in case Aden would push the lever for the ship to go at maximum sublight speed. Admittedly, the corvette is decently fast.

Now the coast is clear, Aden would then grip the other lever. "Jumping to hyperspace in three... two... one." And pulling the lever, streaks of blue would then appear in the viewport and they would jump to lighspeed. Aden would then take on his helmet and then breathe a sigh of relief. Another job done and completed ...

But wait, a blaster bolt streaked across and nearly hit the dash. Aden instinctive got out of his seat and drew a blaster pistol to his left hand hand as he saw five Pykes pouring through the doors. "They don't look very happy" Aden snarked while the Pykes were talking in their alien language he couldn't understand but it was clear they were angry indeed. Aden would then return fire with three blaster shots from his pistol as the Pykes would attempt to spread out and over take the ship-hijackers.

@Taz

 

[Covax]

It wasn't a perfect plan. Fuck, it wasn't even a good plan. But it worked out. Covax finally had a flag ship for his new enterprise. Add to that the spice, at no cost to him. It was all coming together, finally.

Aden quickly confirmed Covax's instruction, while the former merc took another look at the ship's sensors. True blasting the place wouldn't make him any friend but this wasn't the kind of port where he expected much of any kind of real law enforcement. But still, he checked. Scans were good, and so as they left atmosphere Covax powered down the weapon systems.

Soon the stars would turn to white spears of light, causing Covax to sigh. Pleased with himself and a job well done.

Then a blaster both wizzed by, followed by a few expletives in an alien tongue the fledgling crime boss didn't know or care for. Pykes. There were several in number, at least five, maybe more. However the doorway to the bridge couldn't quite fit two men shoulder to shoulder, even these little fuckers.

The Vanguard rolled out of his chair, pulling a stun gas grenade from a pouch at the same time. Arming it with the press of a button as he rolled to a knee. Tossing it just above and behind the heads of the first two standing in the doorway, as they fired tired to decided who got to step in first.

Covax then pulled his pistol and started to fire, spraying and praying. Though at this close it was hard to miss. The old peacemaker's heavy bolts would burn through the first two aliens. Turning them into a fleshy colander. By then the gas was starting to fill the compartment behind them.

"Aden, closed the hatches, seal them off."

@The Good Doctor

 

[Aden Archer]

These Pykes are really a big pain.... Even taking as much cover as he can, blaster shots seem to be closer to hitting their mark, but with Covax hitting the pykes and the shots supressing the rest, they were kept in check. The gas started filling the area, and Aden nodded in affirmative and then got back in the pilots seat to find where the buttons were, he would quickly scan and then find it, he would hit the correct button, metal doors would seal the helm behind them, and he would put up another door that would seal the corridor from the opposite end where the Pykes came from. With that the Pykes would be effectively trapped between the bulkheads with no way out. The Pykes remaining alive would scuumb to the gas grenade's effects.

With no weapons fire going on, just the ambient sounds of the void, the vanguard and the pilot would be able to hear thud sounds coming from behind the door, the sounds of bodies dropping against metallic floors.

Aden would turn and face the viewport, the relaxing view of space, this time breathing an actual sigh of relief. "Well, that's that." He would sigh one more time.

As the ship proceeds through lightspeed, Aden would curiously inspect that is inside a glove compartment out of idle curiosity. "Oh" he said. Two bottles of Corellian ale.

With the ship now set through hyperpspace, he would grab the bottles and then offer Covax. "Found these. Corellian, want one" After how painful as well as annoying this job was, Aden definitely going to have some. Not a whole lot too since he still has to fly the ship once they get out of lightspeed. But they can celebrate a job well done now.

@Taz

 

[Covax]

Covax did his best to cover the doors with what remained of his ammo count. Still the Pykes tired to fire a bolt here and there. But soon the gas started to do it's job. Then, finally. The doors suddenly slid shut, closing off what Covax and likely Aden were hoping were the last of the cat fish faced thugs.

Covax took a breath and sat back against the console. Checking the charge count on the old hand cannon. "Ha, fuck me I still have ten left." His tone such that it was hard to tell if he was amused or about to shit himself. Then came the sounds of loud thuds on metal floors. "Yes, yes it is." Covax also sighed.

The depleted crime boss then looked to Aden as he might a kind of moaning noise. Raising an eye brown. "What'd you find." Ask just as the rogue pilot turned to reveal his prize. "Oooh!" He reached out, taking the bottle offered and clinking it with Aden's. "To another job well done." He said, then took a pull from the bottle, "Mmm, hey. Bet you can get a bounty bonus off those those guy when we get to Coruscant."

In the meantime, Covax would finish his bottle and climb back into the co-pilots chair. They had a couple of hours in lightspeed and both men could use the rest. Soon he would need the funds from the spice to move on to the next part of the plan. Tenloss Interstellar.

//End Thread.

@The Good Doctor