Chapter 7: Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy
Draikor and Vette eased out of hyperspace with the rest of the convoy. Their Fury now soaring towards that planet ahead.
"Darvannis." Draikor said while gazing at the world before them. From orbit, they could see the desert world. Sand and rocky mountains covering most of the surface with two colossal seas near the southern end.
Surrounding the planet was an immense blockade. Two orbital space stations served as centers for a fleet of eleven Resurgent class Star Destroyers backed up by dozens of cruisers, dreadnoughts, and support corvettes.
Many of the support vessels were spread out among dozens of smaller checkpoint stations where flights of TIE interceptors guided merchant freighters to and out of the system.
Draikor and Vette were almost taken back by not only the sheer number of merchant vessels passing through but the number of Imperial ships present.
"That's a lot of ships for this dustball. Have you seen this many ships outside of Dromund Kass for a world like this? " Vette trying to count all of the warships.
Draikor shook his head. Normally Imperial planets might be guarded by a squadron lead by a heavy cruiser. Or perhaps a task force with one or two Resurgent class dreadnoughts at the lead. More important worlds might have two or even three task forces guarding them.
However, with the ship's under admiral Burrok returning to the blockade, Draikor realized that all of Seventh Fleet was present. Standard fleets were generally posted at various stations like Vaiken Spacedock at strategic locations. It was rare to see a standard fleet guard a single planet unless it was of utmost importance.
A hologram of Admiral Burrok appeared before the two after the projector went off.
"Welcome to Darvannis, your clearance has already been approved so you may land whenever you're ready. Admiral Narcella's reward will be given once you land. We thank you again for the part you played our fight against the Smuggler's Alliance. I'm certain Governor Challus would appreciate your help on the surface."
Draikor eased further back into his chair.
"My master requires my attention in other matters." The Chiss carefully nodded.
"Understood, however, your piloting skills are quite impressive sir. We may have need of you again if you ever find the time." The admiral vanished with Draikor's frustration rising. Vette saw his fists balling up and the rage boil into his temples.
"You weren't really that bad, I mean experience is key to-" Draikor's expression silenced Vette.
"Let's go." Draikor entering in the landing coordinates for the planet into the autopilot. The two joined TC around the larger holo-terminal.
"Give me a moment master, there we are."
The hologram of Darth Baras appeared before the Sith and his companions.
"Master I've arrived at Darvannis." Baras slowly nodding.
"Good, your first target awaits you below, Commander Jun Sato of the Republic Navy's Special Operation Forces."
Draikor's eyes became fixed on Baras's even closer upon hearing this.
"Tell me more about him."
"Sato is the commander of Black Squadron. Over the years he has provided me with invaluable information on the Republic Navy's Special Operations Forces. To the Republic, he's nothing short of a hero thanks to my brilliance. I will admit that Sato's loss will be a great blow, but it must be done." Despite Baras's words, Draikor felt no empathy in his master's voice.
"Where will I find him?"
"One of my officers is currently stationed on Darvannis. Lieutenant-Commander Malavai Quinn. He will provide you with all the support required. Report back when Sato is dead."
The hologram vanished, leaving Draikor and Vette to contemplate their task.
"That's certainly a lot to go on." Vette said while shaking her head.
"This Quinn will likely have more details. He better have them." Draikor's tone making Vette smirk a little in amusement thinking about him terrifying an Imperial officer.
Draikor and Vette returned to the cockpit where they saw the plant's surface become clearer. The vast deserts occasionally weaved with patches of lakes and palm trees. A number of small settlements were built near these sources of water.
Deeper in the desert they could also see colossal mining facilities built into the rock formations or open desert. The convoys moving from the mines had unusually large escorts around them, on their way back to the larger cities.
Their destination was a great city built near the edge of the southwestern sea. The architecture of the city seemed to resemble that of Kaas city. Similarly, the city seemed fortified with large walls, autocannons, and shield generators.
Draikor set the ship down inside the spaceport's nearest available hanger.
"Alright, let's go." Vette followed Draikor out of the ship where they saw a naval ensign waiting for them with a datapad in hand and a few droids.
"Apprentice Draikor, welcome to Darvannis. On behalf of Admiral Narcella, we have your reward. Twenty-thousand Imperial credits, as well as an upgrade to your ship's shields."
Draikor slowly nodded before turning to TC.
"Oversee the installation."
"Of course master, I exist to serve."
Draikor and Vette made their way out of the hanger. The two passing by hundreds of merchants and freighter crewmen as they did. Upon reaching the streets, Draikor found himself nearly swept up by the swarms of merchants traversing the streets.
Draikor was surprised by the number of non-humans among the merchants. However, unlike Malgus's flagship, the aliens were limited to merchants, crewman, and slaves. Any Imperials walking the street were human. Save a few Chiss agents and True Sith overseers among the many Sith inquisitors patrolling alongside the stormtroopers and navy troopers.
The stormtroopers' armor was colored in a desert pattern of camouflage with some wearing green wrappings around their necks and backs.
Vette tried not to dwell on the slaves she passed. The twi'lek noticing the many alien merchants paying little mind to the alien servants. Each seemed focused on their work or pleasure.
Despite the militarized nature of the city, the streets were also brightened by cantinas, theaters, and pleasure clubs. Many of the merchants and off duty Imperials losing themselves in the dazzling distractions.
Draikor could sense the greed and overeagerness around the merchants. Large cargo haulers carried vast sums of exotic goods. Others brought immense hauls of glittering gold. The sheer quantity of the lustrous metal nearly making Vette lose herself upon watching the bars get unloaded from one of the mining transports.
"Let's go."
Draikor was begging to understand why an entire Fleet was stationed in orbit. Eventually, they reached the Imperial Headquarters. The naval troopers coming to attention upon seeing Draikor approach.
"Sir, may we help you?"
Draikor nodded at the Lieutenant.
"I must see Lieutenant-Commander Quinn."
"Of course sir, right this way." The lieutenant led them through the headquarters building past many intelligence officers and naval troopers. Many of the Imperials glanced at Vette upon passing by her. However, she noticed most seemed less off-put by her presence than on Kaas.
Finally, they reached an office guarded by two navy troopers. Both came to attention upon seeing Draikor pass them. Vette smirking at the men while passing.
"At ease." The imperials scowling at her in frustration.
Inside the office was a pair of Imperials. One was a naval officer in a well-maintained uniform. His skin was fair, his eyes a deep blue, and his hair a deep black. The hair was very well groomed with a light shadow around his chin.
The second Imperial was a bit older. His skin more worn and his hair graying. The man's stomach came out in a portly manner. However, his uniform and personal appearance were even more maintained than the standing officer.
The office mirrored the man's appearance. A well-ironed imperial banner rested on the wall behind him. A stack of gold bars rested on the desk in a perfectly aligned fashion beside two data pads. The walls and desk to clean they brightened up the room with the light reflecting off them.
"Two of the convoys arrived unhindered, but the third lost two carts to the insurgents." The older imperial clasped his hands while exhaling.
"A marked improvement at the very least."
"Commander Quinn." The black haired man now noticed Draikor and immediately snapped to attention.
"Apprentice Draikor sir! Darth Baras informed me you'd arrive soon. Lieutenant-Commander Malavai Quinn at your service." The man spoke in an incredibly efficient and disciplined manner.
"Ahhh welcome." The older man now standing up with an elated expression.
"Governor Challus at your service sir. Darth Baras has already honored me with Commander Quinn and his delightfully effective service. Now he sends his own apprentice to aid in our endeavors."
Draikor could sense the excitement inside Challus, however, Quinn felt harder to get a read on. The officer's emotions kept in tight check.
"I need a rundown of the situation here."
"Of course. Are you aware of the importance of Darvannis, sir?" Draikor glanced down at the neat pile of gold bars on Challus's desk.
"I knew it's become quite a lucrative planet for us. Though I wasn't aware of just how lucrative." Challus slowly nodded with an all too satisfied expression. Vette looking all to irked by his demeanor.
"That's putting it lightly. This planet was once the home of the Smuggler's Alliance. The parasites used it's strategic location between multiple hyperspace lanes to hinder our supply and merchant fleets during the last war." Challus sat back down and clasped his hands together.
"However, after taking the planet we saw it's potential as a source of income. Every merchant vessel that passes through here provides us with additional tax and tariff revenue. The newly opened up hyperspace lanes and their ease have attracted so many. Proper governance and security have turned this dustball into a goldmine."
Draikor almost smirked.
"Figuratively and literally." Challus nearly broke out into laughter.
"Indeed, those wretched smugglers never knew that they had entire mountains of gold and platinum hidden under their noses." The all too crisp and high-end voice of Challus nearly made Vette walk out of the room.
"Governor Challus has done a remarkable job here. His administration is responsible for the wealth accumulated here. The wealth from Darvannis alone has funded the creation of Seventh and Ninth Fleets. " Quinn remarked with a slight nod.
Challus's earlier gravitas was replaced by fierce aggression. Draikor almost impressed by the level of hatred he could sense inside the governor.
"Yes, unfortunately, the Republic and their wretched criminal allies have only resentment and jealousy for our prosperity. They encouraged those smuggler scum to leech off of our wealth and frighten the merchants away! I suppose we should have expected as much from a government founded by terrorists and radical rebels."
Challus's fiery expression seemed eased upon seeing another alien enter the office. The Alien was a green-skinned twi'lek man. The slave didn't have a shock collar on much to Vette's pleasant surprise. However, she did notice the man was very clean and his clothes all too revealing.
The twi'lek carried a tray of wine glasses and offered one to Challus. Draikor could sense no trace of Challus's earlier rage whilst he gazed at the twi'lek and took the first glass.
"Thank you very much Turron." Challus stroking the twi'lek's skin with a different tone in his voice.
Draikor noticed Vette's nearly horrified expression with an amused smirk.
"My lord." The twi'lek offered Draikor a cup only to be turned away.
Challus now saw Vette's passive-aggressive expression. Her fingers nearly tapping the holsters on her waist.
"Is she your slave?"
Vette crossed her arms while Draikor merely gazed back with steel in his face. Quinn watching this very closely.
"No, she's my fire support." Vette now giving an appreciative gaze back at Draikor.
Challus slowly nodded.
"My apologies then. Here, have this." Vette nearly jumped when Challus tossed her one of the hand-sized gold bars on his desk. Her mouth opened but words didn't come out.
"I insist, a man can only have so much money before he becomes obsessed with it. There are far more important things." Challus looking back at his twi'lek servant.
"Thanks." Vette eagerly putting the gold in her bag.
"Governor, now that Draikor has been informed of the situation here I would like to speak to him on military matters." Quinn's disciplined gaze met with a slow nod from Challus.
"Yes, may you find good fortune here."
Draikor left the office with Quinn. Vette sighing a bit realizing they'd be working with this officer. Quinn led them to a planning room with two other intelligence officers. One locking the door behind them as they entered.
"Forgive the secrecy, sir. But Darth Baras gave us strict instructions on talking about his spies. No one can know about them, not even others within the Empire." Draikor nodded, though not in agreement. The true Sith trying to hide his frustration, particularly knowing why Baras might hide such information from other Imperials.
"Let's skip any further pleasantries commander."
"Lieutenant-Commander sir." Draikor nearly glared at Quinn who kept his military bearing.
"I'm not at that rank yet sir."
"Oh boy." Vette rubbing her temples. Draikor, on the other hand, was almost impressed by the man's courage and stalwart bearing.
"But you're right, we have work to do." Quinn led Draikor to a projected map of the surrounding areas.
"Commander Sato has provided us with invaluable information on our enemies movements. Unfortunately, to maintain his cover he's been unable to provide us with his current location or make direct contact with us. Fortunately his last data-drop has given us the means to find him." Draikor's eyes gazed upon a few enhanced images of supply convoys.
"Sato's Intel has confirmed that the Smuggler's alliance plans on attacking these convoys." Draikor carefully stroked his chin.
"Attacking three at once? Quite bold of them." Quinn shook his head.
"Not bold sir. Simply one of their tactics. They attack two with smaller forces as a distraction while a third and larger force attacks the last convoy to pillage supplies. Thus far countering them has proven difficult as we have no idea which attack is the main force."
Draikor slowly smiled with rising eagerness.
"Until now." He noticed a similarly eager, but more professional smile emerge on Quinn's face followed by a nod.
"Sato has also informed us a fire-team from Black Squadron is supporting them." Draikor's excitement turned to astonishment.
"Republic forces directly attacking us. They are getting bold….I like it." His excitement returning in force. Quinn slowly projected another image of a rocky canyon.
"Using Sato's intel as well as other collected intelligence I've managed to estimate one of the Alliance's strongholds is somewhere in the Belvok pass. It's unlikely Commander Sato is there, but I believe one of his Lieutenants is. If we could seize this officer's com-link we could trace the signal to Sato's main base."
Draikor slowly nodded.
"So we wait for them to attack this convoy and then follow them back to their base." Quinn nodded with Draikor soon following suit.
"A sound plan Lieutenant-Commander. Leave this to us."
"All due respect sir, I won't just be leaving it to you." Draikor turned back to Quinn with interest.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I shall be joining you in this endeavor." Quinn's response surprised the apprentice. Though in a good way.
"Uh yeah, it might be better if you stay here. Give us moral support over the com channel." Vette nearly pleaded to Draikor.
"I always ensure my missions are completed. If I'm not present and something goes wrong, I would only have myself to blame." Draikor slowly approached the commander and stared fiercely into his eyes. Quinn maintaining his stance and bearing despite Draikor's presence.
"Let's hope you don't become a liability."
Over an hour later, Draikor and Vette waited inside a supply train's cargo haulers. The train soared over the sand dunes below. The train consisted of seven cargo cars connected by energy cables to the main engine hauler.
Vette looked out the windows at four Imperial speeder bikes flew alongside the train. A few engineers worked on the cars outer walkways with two dozen security droids.
Vette tried to relax and adjust the sights on her pistols. She glanced over at Draikor who held his arms out while channeling his hatred. The fury rising on his face in preparation for battle might have frightened Vette before, but now it did little to bother her.
Across from them Vette also noticed Quinn beside a team of Navy troopers. The Lieutenant-Commander was now adorned in the dark-gray and black armor of Imperial Marines. Like Vette, Quinn prepared the sight on his blaster pistol.
The cold and efficient demeanor of Quinn was more than off-putting to her. Vette's expression remaining all too suspicious.
"Sir! We've heard from the other convoys, the Alliance has begun their attack."
Quinn nodded.
"Ready yourselves." Draikor opened his eyes and drew his lightsaber, Vette snatching her pistols from their holsters. The four speeder bikes pulled back just out of range. Draikor and the others prepared themselves.
Draikor allowing his anticipation for the battle to fuel his lust for the upcoming battle. However, his concentration was nearly broken by the car rocking after an explosion.
Vette looked back outside and saw a force of speeders swarming around the train. The engineers dashed inside the cars as fast as they could while the security droids blasted at the incoming smugglers.
Those aboard the speeders returned fire with blasters and thermal detonators. Many of the security droids were dismantled by the Smuggler's attack as well as a few engineers. Finally, the attackers began to set down on the train.
Draikor tightened the grip on his lightsaber upon hearing the footsteps get closer.
"Ok, we're clear blow the couplings and let's get the hell out of here." One of the smuggler's said from the other side of the door.
Draikor opened the door to see two aliens preparing to plant explosives around the cars connecting couplings. The smugglers were barely able to react upon seeing Draikor as a wave of force energy blew them over the edge and through the power couplings.
A nearby trandoshan smuggler saw this and furiously opened up on the true Sith. Draikor's lightsaber easily caught the incoming blaster bolts and cleared the way for him to slice the lizard man in two.
Two aqualish smugglers came from the side walkway, one with a single blaster in hand while the other had dual pistols while crouching behind a deployable cover.
The two aliens brought forth everything they had against Draikor. Sprays of blaster bolts, charged blasts, and thermal detonators bore down on the true Sith. Draikor felt his rage and excitement flare. His lightsaber managed to keep most of the blaster bolts at bay while his offhand directed any explosive away.
However, a few stray bolts raked the sides of his arms and legs. His armor managing to absorb most of the physical damage. The pain still seeped inside his nerves. The agony only fueling his passion.
With their attention forced on Draikor, Vette somersaulted beside Draikor with her guns raised. In two precise shots, the aliens dropped to the alway floor.
Across the train, Draikor and Vette could hear the rest of their Navy troopers emerge from cars to engage the attacking Smugglers. As another speeder swooped in to drop off more Smugglers, Draikor's gathered rage was released.
He thrust his hand at the speeder and sent it tumbling into a rock formation. Four weequay smugglers emerged from where the speeder had hovered. Two barely able to draw their weapons before Draikor's blade found a new home burning through their flesh.
The second pair nearly jumped away to avoid the Sith warrior's blade but found no safe haven from Vette's spray of blaster bolts.
When Draikor rose up fully he spotted several more alien smugglers get gunned down by four Navy troopers emerging from the car. One of the troopers waved to Draikor and Vette.
"Sir the car is clea-" Vette nearly yelped upon seeing a blaster bolt tip through the man's head.
The other three quickly turned to the direction of the fire but were brought down just as quickly. The intensity across Draikor's expression only growing in ferocity upon seeing his men gunned down.
"Look!" Vette pointing above the car where Draikor saw their new enemy. Three men and two women soared on jetpacks. They wore dark-tan combat uniforms with lighter tan armor over their chests and shoulders. Their faces were covered by breathing masks and black goggles with rectangular helmets over their heads.
The lead navy spec-ops trooper drew two pistols with his squamates following his example.
All five soared around Draikor and Vette. Spreading their fire from as many directions as possible. Draikor attempted to keep each blaster bolt back, but the magnitude and scale of the fire made it all too difficult to focus on any of the operators specifically.
Vette did her best to evade the fire but was mostly forced to keep behind Draikor and his lightsaber. Draikor felt as if he might crack his teeth in annoyance. He attempted to knock them off balance with blows of force energy, but their jetpacks allowed them to recover almost immediately.
More of the blaster bolts began to find their mark. One hitting his shoulder while the other hit just above his waist. But even his own pain did not match what would come. Vette now cried out in agony as a blaster bolt burned into her thigh.
"Ahhhh!" Draikor reached out with hatred across his expression.
One of the operators now yelped feeling the bones in his hands break apart along with the blaster in his hands. In another swift motion, Draikor nearly embedded the pantoran into the side of the car. A gruesome cracking noise following the impact.
Without wasting a moment, Draikor charged through the air, coming down into the leader with his lightsaber. The human man convulsed upon feeling the burning sensation of the lightsaber through his abdomen.
Before Draikor could get back to Vette, another operator slammed herself into Draikor as hard as she could. The twi'lek woman attempted to pistol whip Draikor only to find a starfighter crash of a punch from Draikor. The blow nearly lifted the woman off the ground and sent her pistol over the side.
Despite this, the operator came right back with an agile kick. Unfortunately for her, Draikor caught the blow with ease and struck down with his second fist. The twi'lek crying like a dying beast upon feeling her femur break.
Meanwhile, Vette nearly crawled into cover against the barrage of fire coming from the remaining operators. The twi'lek woman breathed heavily and struggled to put any pressure on her leg. Vette's breathing increased rapidly with the anxiety of everything around her.
She raised her pistols towards her front and side in anticipation. However, a pair of precise blasts struck one of the operators in his chest and forehead. The last operator furiously turned with Vette to Commander Quinn who carefully moved towards them with his blaster raised.
When the operator unleashed her barrage of fire, Quinn dove across the deck and simultaneously hurled a flash-bang. The small device shattered the operator's senses long enough for Quinn to put a blaster bolt through her neck.
Vette finally slowed her breathing. She nearly closed her eyes while sitting back against the wall of the car.
"Hold still." Quinn said kneeling down beside the twi'lek before injecting her leg with a syringe of bacta.
"Ahhhh." The young twi'lek feeling the pain in her leg slowly fade away.
"Back on your feet now." Vette rolled her eyes before seeing Draikor return. Draikor had admiration across his face with a slight nod.
"Not bad Quinn."
"I do my best sir." The Imperial speeder bikes returned with a storm of fire. Two of the Smuggler speeders were caught up in this storm and brought down in heaps of fire.
"Sir look!" Quinn pointing to the remaining Smuggler speeders trying to escape. The naval officer tossed Draikor a tracking beacon. With the force as a guide, Draikor ensured the beacon found its mark on the bottom of the nearest speeder.
The Sith apprentice slowly lowered his arm seeing the craft vanish while Quinn slowly walked up beside him.
"Now we merely wait."
Twenty minutes later, Draikor stood around a hologram projector with Quinn and Vette. Despite the injection of bacta, her leg still felt a bit tender. The young twi'lek occasionally rubbing where she had been hit.
Draikor and Quinn saw the beacon light up a portion of the rock formations on the map.
"Yes, this does match the vicinity of their attack origins." Draikor tightened the grip on his lightsaber with a longing face.
"Prepare an attack force."
"Already done sir, we must move quickly to ensure they cannot evacuate." Quinn zoomed in on the location of the camp. It showed the facility built into one of the mountains.
"Destroying the camp is only a secondary objective, securing the Republic com-link is paramount. Therefore I suggest you allow the primary attack to be carried out by my men and me." Draikor saw Quinn point to a landing pad coming out of the mountain.
"This is the camp's main entrance and avenue of escape. If we draw their attention here, you and a smaller team could infiltrate through this service entrance and easily find our primary target."
Draikor shook his head.
"I will spearhead the attack. I'm no assassin, I'm a warrior." An excited grin emerging across his face while Vette almost playfully shook her head.
"Sir, with all due respect. I have carefully organized this attack after I learned you were coming. I've run the numbers and simulations. The mission has a far higher chance of success if it were carried out in this manner." Draikor's fierce expression attempted to bore through Quinn's composure.
However, the commander remained firm. Draikor disappointingly impressed by this. With a heavy sigh, Draikor slowly nodded.
"Very well. We'll do it your way." Vette was stunned at Draikor's response. In fact, she was almost frightened by it.
"Sir, there's one more thing you should know." Quinine's expression remained disciplined, but his tone echoed with concern. This earned a renewed ferocity in Draikor's gaze.
"Yes?"
"Two days ago one of our agents who happened to be Sato's new handler, Tarrik was captured in an ambush. The attackers originated from this vicinity, thus I believe he's being held here." Draikor stroked the tendrils on his face.
"He knows Sato's secret. He must be rescued then?"
"We must do whatever is necessary to ensure he cannot reveal Sato's secret." Draikor's fierce expression turning to near admiration upon hearing the cold and ruthlessness in Quinn's voice.
"Wow, subtle." Vette chuckled. Her comment finally breaking Quinn's discipline in the form of an irritated look.
"I'll keep that in mind." Within twenty minutes, Draikor and Vette rode inside an imperial speeder just outside of the Belvok pass. Behind them were a pair of navy troopers loading their weapons with energy cells.
Vette saw the focused expression across Draikor's face with slight concern.
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"I was a bit surprised is all, that you just agreed with this uptight commander's plan. I thought you'd insist to do it your way." Draikor sighed.
"I'd very much like to, but Quinn's plan has a reason for it. I have to remember my purpose here. I can seek glory another day for the good of the Empire. I'm not my master." Draikor's response was a pleasant surprise for Vette.
Draikor noticed her motion towards the navy troopers behind them with a smirk. The two men saw Draikor's crushing stare and trembled.
"We heard nothing sir." Draikor looked back at the pass while Vette laughed to herself.
Draikor's senses lit up. The true Sith sensing fear and aggression in the rock formation followed by a large explosion.
Two TIE interceptors strafed the landing pad followed by plasma rockets from a trio of Imperial gunships.
The gunships were seventeen meters long and slightly trapezoidal in shape in a deep gray color. They had open sides with a hollowed center covered by a pair of slightly bent wings.
With the landing pad suppressed, Draikor and Vette could see Quinn emerge from a gunship with a squad of stormtroopers beside him. The rest of the gunships deployed squads of navy troopers and a pair of heavy assault droids.
Draikor stared longingly at the battle. The fierce exchange of blaster fire and rocket explosions nearly making him rethink the plan.
With a very reluctant expression, Draikor guided the speeder towards the hidden service entrance. With careful maneuvers, Draikor parked the speeder near a rusty platform.
"Come on then. We have work to do." Draikor nearly jumping out and slashed the door open with his lightsaber activating.
Vette followed close behind with the navy troopers. To say the halls of the camp were in lackluster condition would have been an understatement. The floors and metal panels on the wall rusted with a foul stench coming from their unwashed surfaces.
More than once Vette and the troopers nearly slipped on the gunk forming on the panels.
"Damn smugglers have no discipline." One of the troopers remarked.
Not a moment later, Draikor stopped them with his hand coming out to the side. He gazed around intensely at the space ahead of them, leaving his companions confused.
"I can sense you there smuggler scum. You cannot hide from a Sith." Draikor thrust his hand forward and revealed two human Smugglers directly in front of them. A man and a woman with now broken stealth field generators landed hard on the dirty floor.
Despite this, they managed to draw their weapons and bring them down on Draikor.
The Sith apprentice's lightsaber kept the bolts back, allowing Vette and the troopers to put the smugglers down with their own blaster bolts. Draikor carefully kept his lightsaber up as Vette came beside him.
"Sneaky, sense any more?" Draikor slowly shook his head before motioning them forward. As the four traversed the camp, they soon discovered Quinn's main attack was working well. They encountered practically no resistance aside from two or there more Smugglers. However, the aliens were taken completely by surprise and easily killed.
The rest of the rooms were filled with looted Imperial cargo containers, rusty droids, and old military rations.
"Where are you?" Draikor muttered in his search for the Republic officer.
They eventually came across a makeshift detention room with three empty cages. Draikor's frustration only grew upon seeing Tarrik was also missing. The bars on the cages began to bend with Draikor's rage exerted upon them.
The two navy troopers backed up in fright, but Vette carefully placed her hand on his shoulder with a comforting expression.
"We'll find them, don't worry." Draikor's frustration slowly began to subside, but then nearly vanished when he noticed an old terminal in the corner.
"Vette hack into that terminal." The twi'lek approached the rusted screen and began typing.
"Hold on, let me work my magic, and got it I'm in." A more enthusiastic smile returned to Draikor's face.
"Can you find anything about a Republic officer or Tarrik?"
"Hmm, nothing in particular about them. It looks like this terminal was used by this place's original builders, not the Smugglers." Draikor held his chin, refusing to give up just yet. That's when another idea came into his mind.
"Quinn is attacking the main hanger. Vette, does that terminal show any other hangers in this place?"
Vette's eyes lit up.
"I've got something." Within minutes, the four entered another hanger near the lower sections of the camp. Inside the hanger was a single quadjumper class transport with its ramp lowered.
They noticed a droid in the corner opening the hanger doors slowly as to not draw attention from the Imperials outside.
Draikor's smile returned full force upon his approach towards the ship. After walking up the ramp, he spotted another Republic naval spec-ops member. This man had an officer's insignia with cybernetic implants across his left temple.
Directly in front of him was a scrawny looking man in a ruffled Imperial uniform. Crippling fear ran through the small man's face while he languished in a cage.
"Looks like your interrogation will have to be on the road Imp." The Republic officer's voice amplified with a metallic undertone.
"I won't tell you anything." Tarrik's trembling statue doing little to convince his captor.
"I have ways of making you talk."
"You, you can't torture me. It violates your Republic's laws!"
The officer smiled.
"Spec-ops are given certain, privileges, particularly on battlefields like this one. Far away from government oversight." Tarrik's trembling nearly lead to him passing out.
"Ok, ok I'll tell you everything. I'm the handler for a spy in your ranks."
"How pathetic." Draikor's voice brought the officer to him at the ship's entrance.
"A Sith! No no!" Tarrik trying to back up only for the bars to keep him in place.
The officer rose up and faced Draikor with no fear across his face. Draikor similarly sensed almost nothing from this man. He had cleared been trained well to hide his emotions from Sith.
"Sith, here to take back your man. I don't think so, that Jedi's gonna have a field day with him when she arrives."
Vette and the navy troopers raised their weapons only to be met with a horrific smile from the officer. Draikor's eyes widened upon seeing two cloaked special operators reveal themselves. The man and woman clearly having the same training as the officer as Draikor hadn't sensed either of them.
The two gunned down the navy troopers beside Vette and nearly struck her. Luckily Draikor's lightsaber managed to shield his companion.
The officer hurled a small grenade near the ship entrance. Draikor held his hands out to keep the explosion back. Unfortunately, the force of the explosion still carried Draikor and Vette out of the ship.
"So long blood skin!" The officer laughed while his ship began to lift up.
Draikor's eyes now erupted in a fiery rage. He held his hands out towards the quadjumper's engines. The ship now shaking while Draikor struggled to hold it in place. The strain growing ever more evident with his almost trembling body.
"Get him!" The two operators came to the doorway and attempted to open up on Draikor. Instead, they were met by a surge of blaster fire from Vette. Her bolts forcing both operators away from the door.
Draikor's grunts turned to roars when he brought his fingers together. The quadjumper's engineers caved in on themselves and sent the ship straight down.
One of the operators stumbled out of the ship and became easy prey for Vette's pistols. The second rolled out and aimed carefully on the twi'lek. Vette narrowly avoided the fire. She began using her practiced close quarters gunfighting skills to fire while moving. The operator attempted the same, but Vette's fire found its mark first. Two bolts crashing into the man's unprotected stomach.
While this happened, Draikor charged inside the ship. The officer snatched another grenade only to see it fly away with his severed arm. His horrified screams cut short by another swift blow by Draikor's lightsaber.
With the officer dead, Draikor finally exhaled in satisfaction. He rummaged through the officer's corpse was delighted to find the com-link undamaged. With the emitter in his passion, Draikor now turned his attention to Tarrik who continued to tremble in his cage.
"Ok, so I sort of messed up. But it doesn't matter, cause you're here now right?" A pessimistic smile on his face.
Draikor stared intensely at the little man. Vette now coming in beside him.
"You broke so easily. What if you were captured again? What if a rival of Baras took you?"
"No! I wouldn't break, I swear!" Draikor turned to Vette. The young woman shook her head.
"I've seen his type before. Put any pressure on him and he'll crack like an egg."
"Don't listen to that alien trash! I'm solid I swear!"
Draikor's expression remained unmoved.
"I can't take that chance." With a swift stroke of his lightsaber, Tarrik was silenced.
The two made their way to the main hanger where they saw the aftermath of the battle. Plasma and laser burn marks littered the hanger with burning debris.
Over two dozen smugglers filled the hanger with five on their knees surrounded by navy troopers.
Quinn stood with his stormtroopers near a landed gunship. His conversation with the soldiers cut short upon seeing Draikor approach.
"Sir, there you are. The camp is secured, and your objectives?"
"Tarrik's secret's died with him and the Republic officer" Draikor proudly presenting the com-link.
"Yes! Outstanding sir! You're everything Darth Baras claimed you were." Quinn's face nearly lightning up as he took the communicator.
"However, we do have another problem. A Jedi is on her way here." Quinn's excitement turned to cold discipline.
"I see. We must act quickly then."
Author's note
And thus we meet Quinn,
Someone asked why I chose Darvannis over Balmorra, personally, I preferred Balmorra with the Republic's side, as an Imperial I found it mostly boring. Darvannis in this story is loosely inspired by Egypt in the Roman Empire, and how it essentially bankrolled Rome for centuries after they took it over.
as for further pokemon stories, unlikely unless Sword and Shield makes a serious comeback after Sun and Moon
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest or ask(VIA PM)