The Mines of Jabiim [Ash Worlds Trilogy]

[Dmitri]

Full image credit goes to GrahamTG on Deviantart.com

The Mines of Jabiim

The unthinkable happened. The crowning governmental jewel of the Sith Brotherhood, the Moff Council, had been decimated. Betrayed by one of their own, Malak Arphas. Few Moffs remained, many thanking absence from the ill-fated. The emperor was mortally wounded, though Darth Andredd had heard reports he would survive. However, the Sith had no intention of letting Arphas match that fate. A death sentence had been decreed on Arphas.

Boz Pity and several other worlds south of the Saleucami Protectorate, forming the Boz Pity Protectorate, temporarily under the command of Moff Andredd. The Ash Worlds, primarily Handooine, have resisted assimilation so far. However, trade between Anzat and Saleucami has become increasingly taxing, due to foreign aid by the Republic and reportedly Jedi. In order to solve the problem once and for all, Moff Malak Arpha was tasked with subjugating Handooine. Over the course of a month, Moff Arpha had transferred much of his powerbase to Handooine, solidifying control of the planet, delaying in annexing it to the empire. With Malak Arpha's betrayal, it has become apparent Malak had no intention of bringing Handooine under the empire's reign. Seeking revenge for the death of the Grand Moff and most of the Moff Council, the empire has chosen to hunt Malak and his powerbase with extreme prejudice. However, intelligence gathered by SIN indicates Malak Arpha fled to Handooine after the bombing of the Moff Council. In order to target Handooine without spooking Malak, the empire is unable to swarm Handooine directly with overwhelming force. As such, acting Grand Moff Andredd has a plan to weave a way to the heart of Malak Arpha's powerbase.

With the assistance of Moff Vrist, Grand Moff Andredd seeks to strike Handooine from Altratonne. However, if the planet manages to send out a warning, the operation is at risk of failure. Luckily, the planet is plagued by solar flares that interfere with communications. Taskeed has a radar system that includes monitoring Altratonne's solar flares. Its data could be used by the Sith to calculate when the next solar flare will occur. However, that same radar system makes striking Taskeed tricky. Instead, Grand Moff Andredd plans to send a small strike team to a nearby outpost that's linked to the Taskeed complex. The world's name is Jabiim.

Jabiim is a barren world rich in metals, site to a former mining complex owned by the Sith Directorate. After the Directorate's fall the mine was taken over by Czerka Corporation. Darth Andredd has returned his sights to Jabiim, and is interested in more than one mine: he wants them all, in the name of the Sith Empire. Most of the mines are ripe for the taking, poorly guarded. However, one of the central mines is controlled by Malak Arpha's mercenaries, led by "Happy" Drassk. Andredd and Vrist dare not send a large taskforce for fear of tipping off Drassk and the mercenaries on Handooine. As such, a smaller strike team has been sent. Their Icarus shuttle was flying low, hoping to infiltrate the mine before the enemy realized they were even there.

A small hologram haunted the cockpit. The cockpit held the pilot along with the two Sith heading the Jabiim operation: Lady Cailleach and Caduceus. The holographic form of Grand Moff Andredd inspected both of the Sith. Both had much to prove. Caduceus was an operative the Sin Lord had never worked with before and there was little on his record. Today would be a chance to carve a reputation. Lady Cailleach was all to familiar though. Her presence was not to seek prestige, but repair her reputation. She had suffered a humiliating defeat during the Battle of Dirha to the Republic. Such failure almost cost her her life, had Lord Jissard gotten his way. Instead, she had one last chance to prove she wasn't a weak link in the Sith Order.

Grand Moff spoke, "Your objective is Mine 1227. It's the main resistance on the planet, controlled by Arphas' mercenaries. The other mines can easily be taken once we have Mine 1227. The mercenaries on Jabiim are led by a man named "Happy" Drassk. A Transdoshan. Once with the Exchange as a Boss. Don't underestimate him. The Republic and Accord failed to apprehend him for a reason, and why Malak Arphas hired him. Do not let them send a warning to Taskeed. This operation must not leak. Prisoners are not necessary, but the communications hub must be captured intact." His face glanced at Lady Cailleach. "Repeated failure will not be tolerated." As cerulean form vanished, Mine 1227 came into view. The mines had little for scanners, so there were multiple avenues Cailleach and Caduceus could use, from blowing one of the doors or sneaking through the ventilation system, among other routes.​

@Swamp Witch @Intratec (I will NPC)​

 

[Intratec]

The accommodations had been delightful. If there was one thing this new 'Empire' understood it was comfort. The Star Courier had proved to be plush, yet modest and stately. A Protocol Droid had seen to his whims, avoiding his traveling companion not out of fear, but more out of a sense of distaste. The woman, nay, the creature he had been partnered with wore the guise of a human, but had all the feral tendencies of a rabid she-wolf. Well, at least from what he had seen. Still, there was room to be courteous, they were working together. Better to be on the right foot than naught and die due to squabbling.

As the small holographic likeness of the Grand Moff spoke, Caduceus pulled forth a silvered metal case from some interior pocket of the suit jacket (Which had been lined with Armorweave) he wore. Opening with a little snick of metal on metal, he pulled forth a vaporizer. One of three. The vape-pen went between his lips, the delicate hum of power releasing fragrant smoke. Hints of honey, apple, and floral notes. Nothing as grotesque as standard tobacco. Listening, Caduceus had his eyes closed, silently sucking upon the vape-pen, drawing the mildly addictive substance into his lungs.

Mine One-Thousand Two-Hundred Twenty-Seven. According to the tiny, tiny man floating dourly in the air it was the main hub of resistance. The mercenaries being ran by a Trandoshan was a pleasant twist. Enough for him to tap the pen lightly as if it were truly lit. No prisoners, and no distress calls. Well. That would make for an entertaining diversion. More to do, nothing so simple as smashing and grabbing and killing. This would require finesse. Pulling in one more lungful of the smoke he replaced the pen, and let it bellow out into rings of blue-gray smoke. Satisfied, the overly tall Inquisitor clapped his hands together, rubbing them enthusiastically.

"Well!" he exclaimed brightly, "It seems like this will be a bundle of fun won't it?" Caduceus asked no one in particular.

​

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia Therases Morr bathed in the Darkside. She sat cross legged in one of the meditation chambers in the Star Courier. She breathed the sweet aura of the Darkness. The trip to Jabiim had been largely uneventful. The crew consisted of a pilot, droids, and two Sith she rarely spoke to. She had never been a social butterfly. It simply felt good to be back in the galaxy, serving the Empire. She had desperately missed service to the Priesthood. Her time as a captive of Venator had nearly broken her will. The crushing disappointment of failing Lord Cain had ruined her. Alexia had survived because of Ashlyn. The Force bond had kept her from giving in. It was Ashlyn who encouraged her to venture out of Imperial space, to avenge the dead Moff’s. She feared she would not be strong enough, she feared she had returned too soon. There was only one way to find out.

The Priestess stood. She was wearing her full rune carved armor. Her Lightsaber hung at her hip as she walked towards the cockpit. Alexia did not want to be late. Grand Moffs were notoriously cranky. Thankfully, she arrived just as the small holo wavered to life. She listened carefully to the instructions. It would be unwise to make a mistake because of carelessness. She would not fail this time. The message ended and she stared at her ‘partners.’ The man seemed competent enough. The woman was little more than a savage. That one could watch their back, she would not take a chance fighting with a mad woman. She smiled at Caduceus.

“Oh, so much fun.” She ran a gauntleted hand through her hair. “We should get started.” She waited for the suave Sith to lead the way. She would give no hint of her waning confidence. She fought to keep from raising a hand to her wounded back.

@Intratec @Dmitri

 

[Intratec]

With a sigh of effort Caduceus climbed to his feet, towering over both women. That was the blessing of being tall after all. Canting his head a little from left to right, vertebrae popping as a murmur of pleasure left his lips. Turning to the woman who spoke, he had to stare down at her. Well! She seemed to be going for the obvious. Down'n dirty, dressed for battle. Whereas he had maintained the aesthetically pleasing and deceiving appearance of a well dressed businessman. His suit had been lined with Armorweave underneath the layer of silk in shirt, dress slacks, and the single-breasted dress jacket he wore.

His lightsaber was nowhere to be seen, but both parts rested comfortable within either pocket of his slacks. Slim enough to not be too telling but within easy reach if needed.

The smile of the dainty woman was a bright spot on an otherwise sour day. Which was nice.

Gesturing for the armor-clad witch to go first, as ladies should, he'd follow behind only to stop short and look to the third member of the group. "Ah, yes, you. Hm. Sit? Stay? Kill anyone that tries to board other than us? Yes, that would be lovely." he said almost absently with a roll of a hand as he turned to leave. He plied a cheeky little smile at Alexia then.

"At the very least my company for this endeavor will be splendid. Now then, "his smile turning wolfish, "We've scum to kill. With the only caveat being they cannot get off a distress signal. Suggestions on how to accomplish this task?"

@Dmitri @Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia had no desire to wade into battle with the she-wolf. The mission would go smoother with two relativity sane Sith. She wasn’t overjoyed the savage would be watching their back, but what trouble could the woman really cause? She was far less likely to make a mess of things confined to the ship. If the wolf’s services were needed then there were much deeper problems. Alexia could feel the ship descending. The nature of the mines would give them an opportunity to get inside without being noticed. The danger would be remaining hidden once inside. She turned to face her companion.

“Kill quickly and quietly.” There was perilously little other option. “It’s not glamorous but the ventilation system is likely largely unguarded. The map of the station make it look like the system is large enough for us to move through. It can get us inside.”

Once the Sith were inside they would need every bit of their skill and luck to get through the mines without setting off the alarm. She felt the ship shudder as it settled on landing struts. She walked towards the back of the vessel, not waiting for her partner’s response. Ladies first. She strode down the landing ramp and breathed in deeply of the Darkside. The sweet sensation of the Force rushed through her. Alexia turned to regard the tall Sith. He would either agree to her plan or offer a better one. She fully believed in the competition between Sith, but this was no place for foolishness. They had to work together and at their very best. Anything else would result in utter failure.

@Intratec @Dmitri

 

[Intratec]

The ventilation system? Intriguing, and definitely not glamorous. That was provided it was in serviceable condition perish the thought of his being unable to fit. It was worth a try all the same. Standing as he was, Caduceus seemed to be pondering alternatives. Simply walking up to the front door and knocking was simply out of the question. Not only that it would raise suspicions. Neither of them were exactly dressed as locals. A slight tilt of the head was all the response she would receive before he finally ordained to speak after an accompanying sigh.

"Well then. Mucking through ventilation ducts it is." his suit, his poor, expensive, tailored suit. Perhaps he really should have worn something more overt. But the armor he had left was the sole remaining tie to an erstwhile memory of another time. "We should stop standing around and get to it then! They won't kill themselves. "

​

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia didn’t waste any time as Caduceus agreed to her plan. The faster they moved, the less likely they were to get caught. She knew roughly where the ventilation system opened on the surface. The map of the mining base had been crude but hopefully correct. She breathed deeply of the Darkside as she moved. Her mind was thrown wide searching for danger. She would not be caught unaware again. Her eyes swept left to right as her boots crunched into the ground. The silver hilt of her Lightsaber swung at her hip. Alexia quickly made her way to the surprisingly large ventilation shaft. She hadn’t expected to encounter any resistance, that would come once they were inside the base. She guessed the mine needed a robust ventilation system to properly oxygenate the base.

Her Lightsaber popped into her hand and activated with the recognizable snap-hiss. She deftly cut the grate off the ventilation shaft and lifted the grate with the Force, gently setting it on the ground. The Darkside filled her legs and she jumped down into the system. She used the Force to cushion her fall. Her landing was soft as she met the ‘floor.’ She expected Caduceus would follow her shortly. This was where things got difficult. She hadn’t had time to memorize the layout of the ventilation system.

Alexia had a general idea of which direction they should head but then things got hazy. She took a deep breath and reached for the Darkness, she would need some help along the way. She couldn’t quite stand up in the shaft but it wasn’t too uncomfortable. It would not be as easy for Caduceus. She started to crouch walk her way down the shaft, careful to not make too much noise. They had to reach the right point in the system to cut down and into the base.

@Intratec

 

[Intratec]

Caduceus had simply stood there, watching the Priestess work. The flash of her lightsaber, the glowing, molten points of metal from the ventilation grille, all done deftly, quietly. There was something to be admired there. As Alexia hopped into the duct, he waited a few moments to let her gain some ground. It gave him a precious few seconds to admire his attire, and to mourn its eventual loss. The sacrifices one made for the 'greater good' he supposed. Waiting at an end, the taller Inquisitor made a belated comment of 'Bloody Hell', and jumped down into the shaft.

Unbeknownst to Alexia's assumption, it really wasn't easy. Mostly his shoulders scraped at the sides as he slid, the oncoming ground causing him to 'crouch' midair with the gentlest of pushes of the Force to quieten his landing. But then the true test made itself known. If the woman had issue standing tall in this damnable ventilation shaft, Caduceus had to positively bend forward into a tight crouch to make any headway. Oh, he was sure if the circumstances were different, he'd be a laughing stock. Even as the soft leather soles of his shoes made little noise as he scooted along, the Sith was positively chagrined by this twisted turn of events. But, he kept pace, however difficult with Alexia.

​

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia moved slowly through the ventilation system. The small confines made walking quietly annoyingly difficult. She took small steps to ensure she didn’t make any noticeable noise. She took a quick peek over her shoulder to check on her taller companion. She fought off a small smile. Caduceus looked absolutely ridiculously as he contorted to move through the system. The Sith’s height was an unfortunate disadvantage in this small space. Alexia was impressed he could move through the system at all. Hopefully, they’d be out of the system sooner rather than later. Her back was begging to ache, she could only imagine how Caduceus felt.

She reached out in the Force as they turned a corner. She thought they were close. Her mind was flung wide as she searched. She could sense living beings up ahead. They were lax, unconcerned, and lounging. She sensed nothing in the Force that indicated their presence had been detected. The guards were unaware. Alexia kept moving forward slowly, this was where they needed to get out. She was pretty sure if they went much further they would encounter the inner workings of the ventilation system. That would end badly for the Sith incursion. She slowed her steps as they approached what she sensed in the Force.

There were four bodies below them. She couldn’t kill them all at once, it would take a collaborative effort. They needed to dispatch this first group quickly and quietly. Once they were out of the ventilation system their work would be much more difficult. She took a deep breath and breathed deeply of the Darkside. She slashed a quick circle in the thin metal of the ventilation shaft. She dropped strait down in the center of the 4 guards. Surprise filled the Force. Alexia lashed out with her Lightsaber, lopping a head from neck. She quickly spun and shoved her blade through the next guard’s throat. Hopefully, Caduceus was right behind her to end the other two.

@Intratec

 

[Intratec]

As Alexia slowed, it gave Caduceus pause, something was down there. Unlike the smaller Witch, he had not needed to use the Force to sense a presence. His hearing, heightened as it was allowed him to hear the brief mutterings of a guttering conversation. As she cut away at the duct, slipping down in the middle of all four, the taller Inquisitor followed suit. As he fell, a hand had been outstretched, one of his lightsabers leapt from a pocket and into his hand. The distinct hissing keen of its ignition evident as it quite literally sprung to life into the chest of one of the two remaining guards. The other, now alerted made to turn but found his head and chin within Caduceus' grasp. Before he could fire off a shot, a soft crackling of vertebrae and cartilage was telling of a neck being snapped like a twig.

Sighing softly, he extinguished the blade only to squat amidst the carnage. He patted down pockets, flicked through vests and finally found what he was looking for. A communicator. Waving it up at the Priestess, he did not need to speak to convey why. It was for listening in on the enemy.

​

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

The Sith had quickly dispatched the first four mercenaries they had encountered. Alexia couldn’t keep the smile off her face. It felt good to be back fighting, clawing, and scratching for survival. This was what life was meant to be, serving the Darkside. Serving the Empire. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She did not want to make a mistake from getting overexcited. Caduceus had the good sense to snatch one of the dead men’s commlinks. The hunters could more easily track their prey’s movements. As if on que, the commlink crackled to life.

“Oye, we need more bodies on the western side. Boss says something funky showed up on the scans in the ventilation shaft, wants to make sure we don’t have rats again.”

Alexia shrugged. Maybe going through the ventilation shaft hadn’t been the best idea. If the mercenaries came to them it would just make killing them easier. She knew they had come out close to the communications hub. If she had to guess, the ‘Boss” was likely in the same room. She had no desire to fight ‘Happy’ but the sooner he was dead, the sooner they would be off this rock. The mission could not be completed until the Trandosian was dead at their feat. The Priestess took off in the direction of the communications hub. There would likely be a mercenary or two between them and lovely Happy.

@Intratec

 

[Intratec]

With no protests on his nabbing a comm-link, Caduceus rose to his feet also carrying a corpse. He moved with ease despite the dead weight. Looking around, the Inquisitor found a trash receptacle. With a small huff of effort, he tossed the body into the maw of the receptacle. It was at that point that someone on the other end of the comm-link spoke. Looking up to Alexia, he then looked down at the device. Seems as if their route had aroused some action. It wasn't at their location thankfully. But all the same, having the communicator would come in handy.

""You're kriffin' kiddin' me. Again?" he groused in a gruff voice. Caduceus had shed his normally cultured, smooth Imperial accent for something more becoming of their situation. "We're on our way just after we check the shaft at our guard point. Likely some of those skroggin' rats up here, or the kriffing fans acting up again." thumbing the voice input off ensuring what he said next would not be transmitted, he then spoke. "Well, seems these degenerates think we're rats." Caduceus stated brightly as he continued disposing of the corpses, the decapitated head and the weapons. Quick and clean.

The Sith then moved toward the Priestess and nodded to either hall. "We'll be needing to pick a direction. I assume you've gleaned some of the layout in that lovely mind of yours? I would rather we finish this quickly and leave. The place is a veritable assault on the senses. Especially the smell."

​

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia smiled at Caduceus as he expertly donned a rough and tumble accent. Quick thinking. As her partner disposed of the bodies, she tried to remember which way they should go. The layout of the base wasn’t especially complicated but it was hard to keep it all strait. She was worried they had gotten turned around in the ventilation shaft. Alexia reached out in the Force, searching for any kind of hints. Nothing. They would need just a smidge of good old fashioned luck. She offered a prayer to the Darkside.

“The communications hub should be a few turns down this hall.” She indicated to their left. “It’s close. Thankfully.” She hadn’t noticed the smell until Caduceus had something. The stale air hung heavy around them. The base did have a certain unpleasant aroma. Yes, they needed to get the hell out of this mine. The sooner the better. She jogged off towards the communications hub, keeping her senses alert. She did not want to turn a corner to find blasters waiting for them. Alexia kept an ear out for the commlink coming to life. She went to round the next corner and the Darkside screamed warning in her head. She reached out in the Force. She felt a cluster of lives pulsing up ahead. She guessed it was around half a dozen life forms. Based on their location this would be the communication hub, this would be where Happy waited for them. She halted and turned to Caduceus. She kept her voice low, careful to no arise any suspicion. He motioned with her hand.

“This is it.” She breathed deeply of the Darkness and prepared to put an end this is foul smelling mission.
@Intratec