Spicy Problems

[Lex Kyrst]

Ever since the war had been declared, Lex had been in Hutt space. She had been deployed for some time now and she knew she wouldn’t be going home anytime soon. Lex had gotten to know Hutt space quite well and had more than a few close calls. The nature of war was such that she had to be thankful for each new day she got alive. She saw many comrades die and fall all around her, and she had to keep pressing the charge to ensure the Hutt threat could be pushed back.

She was joined on this particular mission by Talos Barrenfist, a man that she had worked with in the past when Chandrilla came under attack. Their mission was to destroy a prominent spice lab that served as a huge source of income for the high ranking Lorda in hutt space. There was no clear way to infiltrate the facility and the two operatives were reduced to using the sewer system to find their way in.

Lex was thankful for her helmet as she trudged through the unmentionable gunk she stepped through. She did her best not to look down, walking through a dark tunnel that would eventually pop them up into the lab directly. This way they would minimize the amount of opposition they faced. Lex turned back to glance at Talos, “Doing all right?” She spoke through her comms as her boot sank into sewage.

She brought explosives with her for their objective of destroying the building, and she was fully armed and combat ready. Lex hoped to avoid engaging in combat, but she was always prepared just in case. They had only a few meters to go before they could pop up into the lab.


@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Several rotations ago Talos been busy drilling his platoon back on Chandrilla. Next thing the spaceborn knew he was given a secret assignment with a fellow soldier to sabotage a major spice lab right in the heart of Hutts’ space. Not that there any complains it was about time he had a chance to hit the slugs where it hurts right in their own backyard. Of course Tlaos was following Lex Kyrst’s lead on this operation, since she possessed more experience in Hutt Space than him snd had seniority with it came their shared rank.

The former raider remembered the Chandrilla attack like it was yesterday. Cartel thugs killing and looting throughout the captial city before being put down. While Talos wasn’t a native son of the Republic, but had been adopted by its military as his new clan and since they’re family, their people are his as well. The Cartel deserved everything that’s coming to them and more as far as he was concerned.

Those thoughts reinforced his focus on the current mission, following Lex through the underground muck. Griping rifle in both hands the heavyily bearded man stayed quiet until hearing his comrade asked through the comms if he was alright. Barrenfist smirked and quietly answered. “I’m fine all things considered. Like they all say shit happens.”

Briefly amused at his own joke, Talos continued to keep pace behind Lex. They were nearing their objective.

@Sreeya

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex quirked an eyebrow at his pun, shaking her head though she had a hard time stopping the grin, “I hope you’re this cheery when your helmet comes off and you realize how you smell right now,” She muttered as they arrived the end of their path. She glanced up, spotting where they needed to go. A quick glance at the schematic on her datapad told her this was the correct point of entry. Lex looked back at Talos, “Do you have a grapple line? If not, use mine.”

Without another word, she tossed the line up and hooked it on the lip of the pipe system that connected to the underside of the spice lab. Lex hoisted herself up and pulled herself over the lip and into a pipe system. She would help Talos up if he didn’t have a way to get up. Lex looked at the schematics again, the pipe system complex and large. She was on all fours and crawling through it, barely fitting as she made her way forward.

After a while she came across where they needed to go on and it was a panel along the pipe wall. Lex listened carefully to see if anyone else was on the other side before she got out a small set of tools to take off the panel. After a few moments, it was off and they were inside a bathroom in the building. Lex stepped out, not bothering to look down at the muck she dragged in as she stepped onto the tiled floors.

“Okay, the corridor directly outside of here should be empty. These restrooms are out of order for a few years now. I say we cut to this area,” She pointed to a central location within the building called the atrium, “And plant our explosives here as covertly as we can. That’s the only way to ensure maximum damage. Do you have any suggestions?”

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

When asked if he had a grapple line Talos nodded yes. The spaceborn did more or less the same thing with the lid. Climbing up by the rope, the Deculatian couldn’t help but think about the time he and his elder brother race up a mountain’s side. Soon enough they were getting inside the pipe system through the lid he proceeded to crawl with Lex still in the lead. Feeling a bit uncomfortable considering the fact the piple was a tight fit a new amsuing thought occurred to him.

Hakkon would be laughing his ass out right now if he saw me now and say. What are you doing crawling like a worm Talos? I believed you a better man than that.

However, his mood darkened reminded with heavy guilt of how things ended between him and Hakkon. Mercifully the other lieutenant found the panel for them to exit out from. It wasn’t long before they found themselves in an abandoned bathroom. Once standing on two again, Barrenfist listened carefully to Kyrst’s last minute briefing.

“Sounds good to me. Though we will need to stay alert and check the corners while advancing there. If the worst comes to past, we’ve have to improvise.”

He said through the comms. Subsequently, Talos drew his rifle out from his shoulders and remarked. “Let’s go wreck their pet project.”

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex nodded in response, quietly stepping out into the corridor. She had her rifle out as well, and she slowly peeked around the corner. From here, she couldn’t spot anyone, and she kept sneaking forth. She was uninterrupted as she walked forth, the long corridor ending into a fork. She quickly peeked down at her datapad to note they needed to go left. Lex peeked over the corner again and saw some Hutt guards walking across the hall.

“This just got a whole lot tougher..” She muttered quietly so Talos could hear. Lex began to wonder if they shouldn’t have made an effort to dress as Hutts to better blend in. While she didn’t wear uniform, they were certainly not dressed as guards. Nevertheless, it was too late now and they would need to complete the mission.

After the guards were out of view, Lex started walking again, slowly making her way into the next corridor without incident. They were only two hallways away from getting into the atrium. After they planted the charges, they would also need to find a way out safely. Lex noticed that there was a room they needed to go through, but it had a terminal that read access cards.

“Shit,” Lex muttered, “We need to knock someone out and take their badge.”

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Barrenfist made sure to stay close to his fellow soldier, exiting from the abandoned restroom. Griping the gun, the bearded lieutenant made sure to an careful eye on their rear in case someone approached from there. Last thing I want is get frakked in the ass here.
Thinking so Talos subsequently stopped as Lex did at, peeking at one of the corners. He can hear some voices some distance and what Lex said next confirmed there were guards present here.

Once the patrol were out of the way Talos followed after Lex cautiously until they came about the room with a terminal. Even the bloody Hutts use those things. He sighed, knowing Kyrst was right, they needed a badge. Just then Talos heard those same voices from before coming this way. “Get ready, I’ll handle this.”

Talos whispered, drawing his Elduröxi out with one hand and keeping the rifle in the other. Stacking at the corner Talos waited until the footsteps of the two guards became louder as well the words they spoke. “I’m telling ya Varen this gig sucks. Well it’s better than the frontlines. I didn’t sign up with the cartel to fight some war.”

The speaker chuckled. “Man don’t let the bosses hear you say that. Remember what happened to Cen when she got caught mouthing off behind their back?”

Varen was about to reply back as he and his comrade were turning the corner when Talos attacked. Throwing his axe it struck Varen in the chest and he died immediately dropping to the floor. The guard next to him was too shocked by what happened that Barrenfist took advantage of it. Slamming the butt of rifle into the front of the hostile’s neck, the guard staggered back before Talos pulled him in the corner and broke his neck in the next second. Searching the two corpses, Talos took back the axe and tossed a newly found badge toward Lex to catch.

While Lex would get to work wjtb the card there would be a closet next to the wall and he placed the bodies in there and closed the door. Soon enough he rejoined his partner while still maintaining one eye in the back.

@Sreeya

 

[Díleas Nimbus]

Díleas was not a fighter by any means. Sure, she had been taught to fight and knew the technicalities of such things, but she wasn't a fighteron an instinctual level. She was highly technical, reliant of choreographed moves and pre-learned techniqies, she wasn't flexible enough to stand up to any properly trained opponent. Like hell if her bosses cared though, they just looked at her and thought oh she fighter, put her on guard duty. She gazed around at the small checkpoint, hastily built and looking ready to fall apart at a mere blow into the air. This was not the kind of place any guard would want to be, and she wasn't even a proper guard. Still, here she was, fully armored and armed, standing by a locked door with orders to shoot anyone coming through that didn't surrender immediately or look like hutts. Still, it could have been so much worse.

She gave a glance to her partner, the sole source of levity in this job, and gave a small thankful nod to the Force above that she had some backup, if not for the job then, at least, for boredom. A noise drew her attention back to the door, a soft beep signalling the keycards having been used. She immediately moved to the nearest cover point and held her stun blaster at the ready, waiting for whoever may come through.

@Nyxova

 

[Surai Kyaata]

Not every job was glamorous. There wasn't always an excuse to shoot someone. They were paying you either way.

A sharp metallic clang followed the left talon strike glove piercing the carapace of a Hutt-sized bug on the wall. Surai drew her arm back with the pinned, uh, beetle. "Can I shoot the next person that walks through the door?" The Devaronian flicked her arm off to the side several times until the skeletal carcass quietly skittered into the dark for something to eat. "Just a little? A knee-cap? They'd live. A little physical therapy and they'd be fine."

Oh, yes, Surai was being paid. Paid to sit or stand at this 'checkpoint' for a spice lab. Because places like this were full of excitement. Kind of like the headquarters of a clandestine organization. Visitors came in all the time, and there was much shooting to be had. Or it was boring as a Hutt-enslaved Twi'lek's forced dancing.

Why couldn't she be an enforcer for a Hutt or some other really ugly creature that somehow wormed its way into power? They got to have fun daily.

Ever thought if those guys got bored killing street trash though? Made a girl think.

The girl -- alright, woman -- Surai found herself with in this great protection detail was nice though. Cute. Kind of girl Surai could throw into bed. Not that this job provided much opportunity to do so. People paying them got all riled up when they found their hirelings grinding away on the job. Oh, Surai should probably find out if Dileas swung that way. Details. Anyway, the woman didn't come off as a killer, but she wasn't a hopeless wreck either.

Before Surai could try to strike up a personal conversation, however, the sound of a beep drew their attention. Her right hand rested atop the blaster at her side. Looked like they'd have company soon. Had to be prepared to give them a red-hot welcome if things turned sour. On that note the unusually horned Devaronian woman took up position behind a barricade as well waiting on what was probably just another patrol.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Kyp Durant]

It was obvious to Kyp that Lex had a thing for him. And who could blame her, he was the the best looking Ardennian this side of the Deep Core. That and everyone knew four hands were more fun than two, it was just too much for her to resit. That was why the lass had brought him along, after work was done she would need company to enjoy Nar Shaddaa.

But for now it was work time, and Kyp was once more the aerial support, or atleast what qualified as aerial support on such missions. Having trailed Lex and Talos from a distance to make sure they were not followed, he had ultimately entered the building once he was sure the coast was clear and that none of the Republic operatives had picked up a trail. But once in, instead of following the path used by his companions, he had noticed a small grate that wasn't properly secured and had slipped into the air vents that ran along the upper walls of the halls. The entrance and the vents themselves were too too small to accommodate either of his companions, but he was small, nimble, and flexible enoughg to navigate through them just fine.

So he had moved quietly and quickly through the vents to catch up with his slower and more cautious colleagues. "Why is it we never do this alone luv?" His voice would come soft but clear over the comms inside Lex and Talos's ears, though it would be obvious to both that the words were meant for Lex. "You know you want more Kyp in your life."

Not waiting for the quip that would come from Lex, he was used to her banter by now, Kyp continued in the vents and rounded the corner that lay straight ahead for the two Republic Lieutenants. He had been looking forward to a quick in and out mission, the sooner they got done here the more time he got for drinks later. But what he spotted through the grills of the vents threw off those plans.

"Look sharp my beauties, two marks up ahead." With that he would draw his carbine and one of his blasters, and waited for Lex and Talos to make their move. Whatever they did, he would support them as best as he could.

@Sreeya @Minuteman75

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex caught the badge, nodding to Talos and quickly moving towards the next door they needed to go through. That was when Kyp came in through the comms and she cursed under her breath. He was on the line with both her and Talos, and the two of them were warned. She had her pistol out already, reminding herself to snap at Kyp for his embarrassing commentary while he was on a shared line.

When she opened the door, she tossed in a smoke grenade, working to instantly kill the line of sight for the people waiting inside. Lex dropped to the ground and rolled away to the side before anyone could properly aim and fire, “Attack from above!” She yelled at Kyp. She rolled till she came up to hide behind a terminal, hiding out of sight from the two in the room. Lex couldn’t spot anyone immediately, but she would wait for them to make a move first, fully prepared to engage. Her back was against a wall so she gazed out at the room ahead of herself, able to see movements or any incoming projectiles.

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Just when they were about enter Talos and Lex received the call from Kyp. The Decaluian had to resist the urge to chuckle when the caller flirted with Lex. It appears to be someone the other lieutenant knew. That slight grin turned into a neutral expression when Kyp let them know of the two hostiles inside the next room. Note to self buy the cheeky bastard a drink or two if we make it through this mission.

Holding his blaster rifle Talos waited next to Lex on the right hand side when she opened the door and threw the smoke grenade. While the man made cloud filled the room Barrenfist followed his comrade’s example but went to opposite side instead. He stopped at an L shaped metal desk, taking cover behind it in a kneeling position away from view. He listened for movement with the finger on the trigger.

 

[Díleas Nimbus]

Diléas had already leveled her blaster at the door and taken up a position behind one of the two waist high durasteel barriers provided to them for cover, so when the doors began to part, she only needed to register the fact that she wasn't dressed like a guard, and carried a rifle, before she let off two shots toward the door. Whether or not they hit was up in the air due to the sudden smoke grenade hurtling through the air, but if the woman had been any less than instantaneous in moving away from the door, chances were she was gonna get hit.

Considering the smoke quickly began to obscure the room, Diléas figured blind firing would be pretty wasteful, so she took a brief second to evaluate her options. At least one soldier, smoke in the room, her and Sura were...were...

What the hell was that smell?

Diléas sniffed the air, a putrid stench coming from somewhere around them. She really shouldn't have let herself get distracted like that, but something told her that she should probably follow this instinct. After all, the smell came hot on the heels of whoever was attacking. Obviously the nose wasn't a precision tracker, but she was hopeful that it woud be accurate enough. She unclipped a Frag from her belt and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply and following the scent until it was at it's strongest from her position, which was most likely the general direction of it's origin. Her eyes snapped back open and she quickly tossed a frag in that general direction, hoping she would actually hit something.
"Surai, the nose knows," She said softly, tapping her nose.

She was gonna die...ugh

@Nyxova

 

[Surai Kyaata]

The Devaronian's eyes narrowed as the smoke begin billowing into the confines. Blaster ready she found the silence that followed frustrating. Why the hell hadn't these people come in shooting? A good fire fight would be fun. Especially since Surai and Dileas had the better cover. But no, these salty karks wanted their enemies to do the shooting.

Her left hand settled on a canister of her own as the long blade slid back from having stabbed an insect earlier. Seemed the other woman had the same idea, but in a different direction. Something about scent. Fair enough; but Surai had a different scent, and a dying need to have their new friends come out and play. Or, you know, die.

Pin out, Surai gave a count before gently lobbing the fragmentation grenade toward the right corner of the room -- or the left of someone brazenly throwing themselves through the door. The Ankh pistol was held ready to fire if anyone decided to show themselves. Sadly they wouldn't see the sharp tooth grin waiting for them while Surai stayed under cover. Just move around a bit, she thought, and give me a target to shoot.

@Sreeya @Minuteman75 @TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Kyp Durant]

Kyp loved to joke about the advantages of having four arms, mostly related to amorous activities, but the simple fact of the matter was that it was the truth. Case in point being how he could use two hands to open up a grate in the vents in front of him, while still holding weapons in the other pair and fire off without letting go of the grate.

And that was exactly what he did. The moment Lex tossed in the smoke grenade Kyp pulled a blaster and his carbine in two in his upper arms as he used the lower pair to drop the grate just enough to give himself room to slip the weapons through and aim. While the human female sniffed and what seemed like meditated, Kyp pressed the trigger of the carbine and began shooting for whatever of her torso he could spot from his position, letting loose at least half a dozen shots, atleast a few landing before she even had the opportunity to toss her grenade.

His blaster was similarly aimed at the Devaronian, and once he had taken aim at the human and begun shooting, he took aim at her and began firing. Again, six shots, aimed for the visible part of her torso. The timing of events would line up so that his shots would be hitting her around the time she was pulling the pin on her grenade, but definitely before she was able to toss. Both women had waited to toss the grenades they had wanted to toss at the Republic soldiers, and Kyp had used that time to pepper them full of blaster fire. His vantage high above them would give him the visibility he needed to spot them behind their cover, and he had pressed that advantage.

@Sreeya @Minuteman75 @TheBrokenMadMan @Nyxova

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Talos heard the sound of grenade’s pins being pulled. Oh kark me. He thought, before Kyp started shooting. If Dileas was somehow still able to throw her grenade in spite of what’s happening, the metal sphere would land next to Talos. He in return would grab the small bomb since it wasn’t cooked when thrown and toss it back toward the enemy, exploding midair but out range from Kyp.

Should Dileas be prevented from throwing her grenade in time Barrenfist would answer with his own. Pulling the grenade pin he cooked it for two seconds then hurled without exposing himself minus the upper left hand toward Dileas’ general direction. Even if it fails to kill or wound the hostiles they would be still be pinned Dow even further, leaving room for Lex and Kyp to take full advantage of.

@Sreeya @TheBrokenMadMan @Nyxova @Wit

 

[Surai Kyaata]

The blaster fire rained down on Surai's position. The carbon scorching pings and their heat caused the Devaronian to curse as she crouched down against the cover. Karking salt fiends somehow had someone up above. Getting her head anywhere close to the top could get her head blown off.

Time to clear the air. With a grenade eager for a place to be, Surai gave it a gentle roll across the ground toward the enemy's cover in the smoke. Not quite the most graceful lob from her off-hand, but circumstances karking sucked right then. The two sides might end up exchanging explosive 'suggestions.'

Grenade away Surai then lifted her pistol around the side of the barricade and aimed for the vent where the peppering of blaster fire had come from. Only one shot got off in all the excitement; the concussive force of the suppressing explosive would prevent the Devaronian from poking around even the side of the barricade for long. These people were really beginning to piss her off. Made a girl grin.

@Sreeya @TheBrokenMadMan @Wit @Minuteman75

 

[Kyp Durant]

Kyp smiled with satisfaction as the human target took his bolts square on and fell lifeless to the floor. One down, one to go. The other one, the Devaronion, did manage to duck back under cover and denied Kyp the satisfaction of taking them both out in one fell stroke. That would have surely won him some favor with Lex. That just made him pissed with the Devaronion. Why didn't she just die, didn't she realize she was being a pain?

He continued firing at the Devaronian's position, keeping her pinned where she was so that she couldn't jump out and try to attack Lex or Talos, but he also waited for an opportunity to take her out. He fired a total of four more shots, spaced out a few seconds apart, mostly to keep her from peeping out. But if she were to show more than just an arm he would be ready to pepper the visible part full of holes. As for the single blast she shot at him, a nearly blind shot taken from behind cover needed a Jedi's luck to hit him, with only his arms visible through the open grate, and the shot slammed into the vents a little away from his position, some sparks briefly obstructing his line of sight the only inconvenience they caused him.

@Sreeya @Minuteman75 @TheBrokenMadMan @Nyxova

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Talos saw the blasterfire coming from above by Kyp, making him smile. However, before Talos could join he heard something rolling close by. Karking hell! He subsequently called out to Lex in warning while rolling back. “Enemy grenade!”

Soon after the grenade went off, sending shrapnel flying in various directions. Some of the hot metal torn at his right shoulder just as he hit the floor. Gritting teeth in sheer agony, Barrenfist noticed the smoke was fading away. Drawing back to his original cover, the lieutenant lifted his rifle up and fired a three round burst at the opposite direction, before ducking back down. It was more or less meant to keep the enemy pinned down for his squad mates.

@Sreeya @Nyxova @Wit

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex knew she couldn’t stay in one position too long. Grenades were being thrown and blasterfire was erupting all around. She activated her repulsorboots and jetted away from the grenade that came her way, the explosion erupting behind her. Lex knew where it came from, and she honed in on the Devaronian’s position. As she moved, she cooked a frag grenade, lobbing it over to where the woman was. As Kyp focused fire on her to keep her in place, and with a grenade coming, it would be impossible for her to avoid injury or be knocked out of the fight.

 

[Surai Kyaata]

So today I got into a nade fight, ma. I know you hate nades, but at least they weren't out of tubes. You really hate those. Actually, you kind of hate nades equally. You're an equal opportunity anti-nade gal. So, there I was...

Surai tsked, thinking it was about time to leave the spice heads to their crap when a little round dot drifted overhead like a deadly butterfly. Side or top, the Devaronian was trying to watch for someone trying a fast one, and look what the sewer rats dragged in.

There wasn't even time to shout or curse as she threw herself toward the other barricade where Dileas had been taking cover. No one survived a face-to-face with a frag grenade. Better to take her chance with a bit of shrapnel, some concussive force, and an untimely visited with a wall than a mouth full of scrap.

The tall, red figure lay crumpled on the ground with shrapnel peppering her backside. Would have hurt like bathing in a Hutt's slime if she were in fighting shape. They could keep the spice. Spicing karks.

@Sreeya @Minuteman75 @TheBrokenMadMan @Wit