Welcome to the Party

[Vollen Shai]

Theme
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The Republic's Nakatomi Station floated as a gateway from the mid-rim to the colonies, a place to refuel and unwind when freighters and traders needed a stopgap on the long flight in from deep space, ships loaded with exotic wares, peoples, travelers, and all manner of other things.

It was fittingly then, such a reason Master Vollen Shai found himself here on such a fateful day. Travelling the hyperlanes back to the deep core, there was only so long that anyone, even a Jedi, could keep cooped up inside a starfighter. The station itself should have been teeming with people, and though still plenty walked its halls the war it seemed had scared many away to be sure. Understandably, of course, the thought of civilians getting caught up in that fight filled him with dread, and yet he knew that there would be no way around it, certainly not when the Cartel was in action.

Fittingly then, as such thoughts swam through his mind as he strode the shopping concourse, he would find himself an altogether unwitting participant in just such a show of Cartel cruelty,

"Nakatomi Station" boomed a voice from the shipboard comm system "This is the leader of the Black Heart. This station..." the voice was suddenly interrupted by the bark of a blaster firing close by, and the screams of civilians as they scattered "... is ours, let's say... compulsorily acquired for the Cartel's war efforts. Don't try and fight back. Don't be a hero, or you'll die one. We appreciate your cooperation in this. But otherwise, welcome to the party" the man finished as the comm system abruptly cut out, another bark of blaster fire coming from round the corner of Vollen's position. Looking around for any sign of allies or enemies, he could only hope he wasn't going to be alone in trying to free this station.


@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

A refueling station wasn’t the most glamorous location sport to relax and blow off some steam. Nevertheless, it was far better than having no place to unwind at all. That had Talos’ intend, find a decent enough bar to enjoy himself for a little bit before going back to duty. The lieutenant was strolling by himself in off dutyuniform at the mall intersection when unexpected announcement came through the speakers. Soon it was followed by blasterfire and cries by bystanders who panicked.

Bantha balls, these whoresons had to pick this station to take over while I’m on shore leave. The marine thought in bitter complain. Taking refuge at a pillar, Talos drew his service pistol before spotting Vollen next to a corner. Suspicious, Barrenfist stayed as he edged behind the man. Close enough he aimed and whispered a question.

“Friend or for?”

@Nightfall096

 

[Vollen Shai]

As the man approached him, Vollen whipped his head back, hand by his side ready to draw his lightsaber or blaster as needed. But as the mans voice came, he could tell that this wasn’t one of the men who had taken the station,

“Friend, friend. Though one who wasn’t exactly expecting to be in the middle of something like this” he said in a whisper, keeping a hand on his weapon as he did so,

“Vollen Shai, of the Jedi Order. And no friend to the guys round there” Vollen said, gesturing round the corner. He offered his newfound ally a hand. A rather informal time for such a meeting but one he was thankful for nonetheless. Good to have an ally now, as his quiet leg stretch became something much, much more,

“Though I don’t imagine either of us are just going to let this happen, right?” Vollen proposed as a blaster shot punctuated the end of his sentence, an agonised cry shortly after. The men were getting closer, and they weren’t exactly taking prisoners it seemed. With a nod to his new friend, he readied himself to jump them. Through the force he could feel they were outnumbered, 4:1. Not insurmountable odds, but not ones he liked either,

“Ready for this?” He said finally, before igniting his energy shield and drawing his blaster, set to stun as it always was. Emerging from the cover of the corner like a wisp of shadow, he drew the force to him, throwing out a wave of energy that tore up the floor beneath the black clad terrorists, sweeping them off their feet. While a couple managed return fire they spattered harmlessly off his energy shield, before the rest could even come to the ground he fired off a trio of shots, smacking into the men and knocking them out cold before their heads hit the ground. The others wouldn’t exactly on their feet either, not after they’d been whipped into the air. Hopefully Talks could get in a few good shots of his own. With these ones out of the way they’d buy themselves some breathing room to make a plan.

Though probably plenty of attention as well, if his gut told him anything.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

It’s becoming a common theme in Talos life in the present day, meeting and teaming up with Jedi. Of corse he did not expect to be doing it here on this occasion during what was suppose to be his shore leave. Not one to turn away a willing ally with powers Talos nodded at Vollen, briefly introducing himself. “Lieutenant Talos Barrenfist of the Grand Army. Indeed didn’t expect any of this happening but war is a fickle bitch.”

He heard the shot and cry that followed. Their enemy wasn’t playing around and neither should they. Upon asked if ready he simply nodded with a determined expression, saying. “Let’s smoke those karkers.” Talos moved out of cover behind Vollen and his energy shield.

It proved useful blocking the invaders’ murderous fire while the Jedi Master unleashed a wave that literally threw most of the eight mercenaries up in the air. Taking advantage of the provided targets Barrenfist unloaded blaster bolts into as many of them as he could, succeeding in the process. Reloading, he then asked.

“Alright monk got a plan? Personally I recommend we search for the enemy’s command center here and take out their head and cut their communication as well.”

 

[Vollen Shai]

With this first group of attackers down in moments, he and his unexpected ally had a moment to speak. And good thing too, for in the scenario they' been suddenly thrown into by fate, they'd need to communicate if they wanted to get out of here,

"No, no I agree with you Lieutenant. We get comms down, we isolate these guys. As soon as that happens, this place can be taken back" Vollen breathed deep to watch as his partener reloaded his rifle. If it felt justified about thinking about the fact that the man always carried his gun, but coming from a man with a laser sword at his belt at all time it wasn't really worth it,

"If we time it right, they'll be dazed and confused enough to make this work nicely for us, hopefully take it back in one. Though it might mean splitting up" Vollen added now to the mans suggestion. A pair of attacks would split the attacking forces, and hopefully see this place freed before long,

"I can take the comms if you like? If i've any luck there won't be too many more on this level" he looked back at the soldier "though somehow I doubt it" he offered with a wink. While he had matured a little in his years now, especially with his time on the Council following the events of Jedha and all that followed, somewhere inside was still the slightly cheekier man he'd been as a young Master, here again it came, though just a little,

"Here. It won't hurt, it'll let us communicate" Vollen extended an arm to the man, and offered to him a channeling of the force, which if the man wanted would meld their minds, allowing them to communicate and coordinate, even as they split up. With that Vollen would break off, and find his way through the twisting corridors of the station to the lower levels, and the communications centre. Seemingly there weren't too many of the Cartel on the way there, perhaps off looting, or harassing the travelers in the stations more populated areas. Sadly that only served to keep Vollen on edge, as he approached the automatic doors to the comm station.

And good thing too.

With four guys manning the tech and readily armed, this wasn't going to be as easy as he'd hoped.


@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

“Very well, I’ll make my way to the central station to take care of their boss.” Talos said in acknowledgement. Before he could move on Vollen offered to meld their brains for communication. Personally the lieutenant did not like the idea of someone poking around his mind. If it wasn’t for the fact they were not in the middle of a hostile takeover Talos would’ve given a definite no.

Yet he did not had spare commlink right now and time was of the essential. So reluctantly Talos agreed to the arrangement, taking the extended arm muttering. “As long as it’s temporarily.” Feeling a bit funny from the exchange Talos proceeded to loot one of the dead mercenaries for a more ranged weapon and some ammunition. Now armed with a Thunderbuss Pulse Wave Rifle Barrenfist made his way toward the upper levels.

It was fortunate that his CO made him memorize where the central station was before taking leave time. Along the way he recruited help, two off duty marines, an ex cop, and a rookie guard. Thanks to the latter’s knowledge of the station, they used the large ventilation system to reach the destination while avoiding patrols by the mercs and or being detected. From a elevated view Talos was able to identify seven hostiles, including the commander occupying the room. He updated Vollen with the information.

Are you in position monk? He subsequently asked via link.

 

[Vollen Shai]

"Ready lieutenant" Vollen whispered in thought as he began to try moving into the comm centre, hoping to take the guards out one by one.

Not his day, apparently. He knew he wasn't a shadow for a reason.

His first steps were quieter than the grave, and then they weren't. Beneath his feet the metal creaked and screeched through the room, an echoing noise that caused the whole group to spin their heads straight in his direction. And, funnily enough, they weren't exactly happen to see some intruder on their dirty work and, with a cry going up from the presumable leader, opened fire in an instant.

The force though guided his movements, and he'd seen enough battles now to throw up his energy shield in an instant, most of their fire colliding with the glowing slice of energy and fizzling out. Though it seemed he couldn't avoid all, one screeching past first and searing into his shoulder. Though it stung like kriff he was in no place to tend to it. Instead, he pushed forward, sweeping up a pair with the force and throwing them back against the wall, knocking them out cold, while to a third he smacked with his shielded arm, charged with the force that gave it a whole lot of extra stopping power.

With the three down, only the leader was left. Vollen spun with his stun blaster and aimed it at the man,

"I'd cooperate, turn off those comms would you?"

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Receiving Vollen’s mental answer Talos and his newly made team made their way to the storage room behind the command center. Opening up a panel he and the others came down quietly as possible inside a place with filing cabinets. Finding the door he gestured for group to stack on both sides of the wall to the door. Once it was followed at the silent count of three Talos pressed the button and the door slid open before tossing a concussion grenade into the host of surprised mercenaries. Many of them cried as the bright light went off.

Hanging back to avoid the effects of his own grenade Talos rushed into the center, blasting a merc in the chest with two shots. The others followed suit with their own weapons, killing and wounding four out of seven enemies within seconds. Yet the leader was able to avoid of the concussion blast with two more of his men hiding behind a overturned table. They returned fire, killing the guard and wounding one of the marines. The firefight had begun!

 

[Vollen Shai]

The man before him trembled for a second, seeing those near him whipped down in a flurry before he could even react hardly put him at ease. Vollen lowered the pistol shortly after seeing the man stop,

"I don't plan on hurting you, nor your friends, but I'd certainly like it if you could jam your allies comms" the man looked Vollen in the eye one more time. Though the Jedi Councillor offered a friendly face, the man clearly had no intention of disagreeing, and while failing to even stumble out even a few words, he did manage to fall over to the control panel, swapping down levels and shutting off the comm system for his allies. They'd have no cohesion to act now, the stations security could get to work isloating and taking them down. The ones before him?

Well, Vollen disarmed the man before him, and bound him in the comm room, leaving the Jedi free to concentrate. And concentrate he would. His role done and his mind free, he began to meditate, falling into a deep, force fueled trance, reaching out to the allied soldiers aboard. They wouldn't notice it, not feel a thing different, but they would be moving faster, more coordinated than they ever had before, swept up in part of Vollen's Battle Meditation, acting not as teams but as a complete whole, and with none the wiser as to why.

His eyes closed, his mind all around the station, a smile still managed to crack on Vollens face. They could win this day.

@Minuteman75

Spoiler: OOC

And with the battle meditation you'll get +25% to further combat rolls :)

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

“Stay down!”

Talos shouted to his makeshift team that cover behind the large panel. Opposite at the fallen table, the mercenary commander screamed into his commlink. “I need reinforcements at this position now!” There was no answer, causing the man growl with frustration and he sprang about to shoot again with his pistol but Talos was waiting for him.

Aiming down the sights, he pulled the trigger of the pulse rifle and blast caught the target at the upper chest, killing the head mercenary instantly.

Seeing their leader dropped to floor, the two remaining thugs raised their hands, saying. “We give up, don’t shoot.” The firing stopped and Talos and his allies went and disarmed them. Barrenfist send to a mental word back to Vollen. Command center secured. Are you still alive monk?

 

[Vollen Shai]

He felt so much.

So connected to the station, the galaxy even, in this time. Battle Meditation was a skill to which he had practiced for many years, and indeed had used few times before this, never at such a scale. To feel those alongside him, to sense their actions, guide them, be them, all of them, was enlightening, as if he had fallen into the force more completely than ever before. He could feel the station being retaken, the crisis being averted, and at the very edge of thought the sound of Talos, calling out to him over their connection, breaking through his trance

"Still alive, Lieutenant, as is most of the station. I'll leave you now to stay and take any such glory for the win today. I think it's about time I was away anyhow" Vollen sent back, easing out of his trance, and beginning the move back to his ship,

"Look after yourself Talos. May the Force be with you" he said finally, breaking the connection between them and climbing aboard his ship. None but the Lieutenant would be any the wiser to his actions that day. Just as it should be. For now though, he had a journey back to Tython to make, and about time too.

/EndThread

@Minuteman75