SPACE – BALMORRA
Pierce threw the switch and cut the sub-light engines, dropping the Wraith out of hyperspace. The swirling blue-white vanished, replaced by the stars as they returned as fixed points in space before them. They were well off from the planet, though close enough Balmorra was visible as a small sphere before them. Even from long range, Pierce could see the massive fleet, the crowning jewel being the Vaiken. Its sheer size made it stand out amongst the other ships that had gathered in orbit.
"Scourge, get to work." Pierce stated into the ship's internal comm system.
Pierce knew they had a small window before the fleet outer vanguard would be on them. It was standard Imperial procedure. Mako had fashioned a data spike to get them into the Imperial system. Once inside, they had to upload a new transponder identity to hide their true identity. Added to that they also had to find the codes that would allow them to pass into the fleet and get to the Vaiken. If it didn't work, Pierce knew they likely would not make it out. There were too many ships, and too much firepower.
"We've got scout craft on an intercept course." Jaesa commented, as golden eyes flicked over the screens.
"Scourge?" Pierce inquired nervously.
"Spike is in, updating information." The former sith advised.
Behind Pierce, Vette gripped the back of his chair. The twi'lek shifted her weight between feet nervously rocking in one spot. Violet eyes watched the small bright dots as they streaked towards them. There were three of them she noted, the scout ships closing in swiftly. Pierce glanced over his shoulder at the twi'lek and gave her a soft reassuring smile.
"You're making me nervous, Vette." Pierce said and the twi'lek gave a small little laugh.
"If this doesn't work…" She said, but left the thought spoken unfinished.
"It'll work." Pierce replied. "It should work."
"It better work." Vette added and shook her head, eyes still locked on the approaching ships.
"They're almost on us." Jaesa called out. "They're almost in range to read the transponder signal."
"Scourge?" Pierce inquired again.
"One moment."
"We don't have a moment, Scourge." Pierce growled in response. "Are we good or not?"
"Transponder updated." The jedi remarked before adding, "I've got the codes. We're good."
All three of them on the flight deck exhaled the breaths they had been holding. The comm system crackled to life as the scout ships got within range a moment later. Pierce shook his head, knowing how close that had been. One second later and their whole rescue plan would have been over before it had even begun. Glancing to Jaesa, Pierce indicated for her to open the channel with the ships so he could respond. Without thought, Pierce crossed his fingers for luck.
"Identity and destination?" The lead ship demanded as the fighters swung past and circled back. Lining themselves up to be able to attack if need be, Pierce noted.
"The Reaper, destination the Vaiken." Pierce said back. "On orders from Darth Lachris."
There was a silence in response and for a moment Pierce expected the Wraith to shudder under weapons fire. Instead the three scout ships passed right over top of the vessel and headed back towards the Imperial fleet. Pierce grinned at both Jaesa and Vette before pushing the engines a bit higher and following after the ships. The trooper made a note to give Mako a kiss when they got back. If you get back, Pierce reminded himself, knowing there was a lot that could still go wrong with this whole rescue.
"Transmitting flight co-ordinates. Do not deviate from your assigned flight plan."
"Copy that." Pierce answered back, then turned off the general comm and hit the button for the ship's internal system. "Lock and load, ladies and gentlemen. The mission is a go."
"Time to go get our Killjoy back." Vette chimed in before almost skipping away to get ready.
The Wraith slipped through the fleet just another Imperial ship among many. Pierce had not seen such a fleet since the Empire had launched their assault on Taris. It had been while stationed there he had met Necrolis and wound up as part of his crew. In all his service, Pierce could not remember when he had snuck into his own fleet. Hell I'm actually fighting my own side, he thought with a touch of remorse for the fact. The Vaiken loomed ahead of them and Pierce followed the course laid out, crossing over the massive bow of the ship before coming about in a long slow turn to line up the open and waiting docking bay. Pierce whistled as he watched as the massive ship passed under them before approaching its side. It bristled with weapon placements, it was clearly designed to awe as well as strike fear into any fleet. This was an apex predator of starships.
The Wraith slipped past the energy shield that kept the bay pressurized, then touched down with the hiss of retro thrusters settling gently to the deck. Jaesa and Pierce unbuckled themselves, then headed to join the others, leaving the engines on and warm. They had already decided the two Republic troopers, Kamthar and Alric, would remain with Scourge to hold the docking bay and ship. They would make a formidable force to overcome allowing a measure of comfort knowing they would have a ship to even come back to once the alarms began to sound.
Aela Darkstar paced nervously, and yet eagerly at the same time. The sith's grey eyes glanced over the others as they stood waiting. Pierce checked his assault cannon before catching her gaze, nodding to the sith. Seeing they were as ready as they could be, Aela hit the button, the door cycling open. They filed out of the ship, Aela leading the group out into the Vaiken. Jaesa, Asha and Kyl'thanis followed on her heels before Pierce, Vette, and Torian followed. The sith and jedi moved as a group, lightsabers flaring to life even as they rushed the few troopers that were about the docking bay. Cries of alarm rose from the docking bay crews who all scrambled to find cover and get away.
Jaesa's golden double bladed saber swung in an arc slicing down a pair of officers who had been near the ship. Aela's purple-black lightsabers were tossed forward catching a pair of troopers in the chest, even as she leapt to their location and pulled the weapons from their lifeless bodies. Blaster shots streamed by her, a red blur that whizzed past her head making her glance over her shoulder. She turned and let loose a force scream, slamming the attacking trooper off his feet. The trooper never had a chance to rise as Vette let loose a barrage of dark orange blaster fire that strafed over the downed man and kept him down.
Asha Lightstar let her hand rise, calling the force to her and lifting a trooper off his feet, hurling him back into the bay wall to crumple down. Kyl'thanis slashed his way through two more guards then turned to look about, seeing no further threats. There were, however a half dozen docking bay crew, as well as a couple more in the docking bay control center. The jedi grimaced as he watched the mandalorian, Torian cut through a group of the docking bay crew. Pierce had raced up the ramp to the control room and opened fire from the doorway, the explosive rounds flashing against the glass as he ensured no alarm was sounded.
"We did not need to kill the grounds crew." Kyl'thanis muttered in distaste.
"Better them than us." Pierce shot back as he made his way back to the group, reaching up to open the comm channel. "Keep the ship ready, and release the battle droids."
Scourge gave an affirmative nod even as his hands danced over the controls inside the Wraith, the large ramp descending and doors opening. The jedi brought Blizz's creations online, watching the indicators light up marking the twenty droids they had brought along as added support. The droids marched into the bay in five rows of four, the group of rescuers falling in behind them as they exited the bay into the corridor of the ship itself. So far so good, Pierce thought, not having expected to even get this far if he was honest with himself.
They ran into resistance almost immediately beyond the hanger bay. A mixture of officers and troopers on guard duty traded blaster fire down the corridor, forcing them to the sides. There was no way to stop the opposition from getting to the alarm, sounding it before they could be dealt with. Swearing under her breath, Aela checked the small mini map on her gree bracer display, getting her bearings. The corridor had numerous branches that were quickly filling with Imperials now that klaxons were blaring all through the Vaiken. She knew they did not have long to get to the detention area.
"I've got a heading. We've got to hurry."
"Go!" Pierce growled. " Vette, Asha, and Jaesa with her. The rest, we hold this corridor!"
Aela lead the small group off down the adjoining corridor, sprinting along the dimly lit dark grey metal hallways of the Vaiken. Behind her Jaesa and Asha stayed together, with Vette and her blasters bringing up the rear. Kyl'thanis followed them for a moment then stopped, guarding their way back with four battle droids. So long as he held the corridor, and Pierce was able to hold his, they had a direct route back to the hanger and the ship. If either of them fell, it was going to make an escape almost impossible.
"Hang on Quinn, we're coming." Aela muttered.
Pyrannus grinned as the light beige eyes watched the internal security camera feeds. It was as she had expected. She had enticed them into rescuing the man. Darth Marr would be well pleased. She had to admit the appearance of the battle droids had been a surprise, and an unwanted obstacle. They were certainly an ingenious and creative group. They were worthy enough of her master's attention, and she was quickly seeing why. Glancing over her shoulder, the cathar watched the cadre of Imperial special forces shift and wait for her orders.
"It is time sergeant. Head to the detention level and engage the enemy."
The sith lingered watching as the troopers filed out to join the battle. Reaching over the controller, Pyrannus tapped the comm open, having well in advance set up the link with her master. It was time to update him, though the screaming klaxon sounding throughout the ship was a pretty decent indicator of where things stood.
"My lord, our guests have arrived. I have rolled out the welcoming committee."
"Very good, Pyrannus." Darth Marr's filtered voice came back in response. "See that all goes according to plan. There is no room for error here."
Pyrannus looked to the control officer and nodded. Everything was going as she wanted and had predicted. The beige eyes watched the controller hit the comm system and send the message she wanted to those awaiting their orders. Soon, she would have them right where she wanted.
Aela Darkstar pulled up as they reached a junction of cross-corridors, seeing the doors to the detention center straight ahead, flanked on either side by automated defence cannons. Peering about the corner the sith drew her head back quickly as blaster shots streamed through the cross corridor, a few spattering over the wall just before the corner. Aela glanced back at the others and Vette winked at the woman, moving forward and crouching down. Vette settled herself in a crouch and closed her eyes and grinned. Steadying her breath, she raised both blasters up and glanced at the other women.
"I got this." Vette said, glancing to Jaesa who nodded back. "We'll handle this, you two go get Quinn."
Vette spun on one foot, crouched low to the ground. As she swung her blasters came to life, sweeping fire down the corridor forcing the Imperials to duck. One of them the twi'lek caught flat footed and dropped as three shots took him in the chest. Jaesa Willsaam moved at the same time, rushing around and past Vette, driving down the corridor hugging the right side and driving into the midst of the four men still standing. The bright yellow lightsaber swung in smooth fluid arcs as it carved into them.
"There will be blood for blood!" The sith hissed as she exacted revenge on the group.
The moment the two had engaged the group, Asha leapt forward going right even as Aela moved the same beside her going left. Both of them sliced lightsabers through the automated defences in a flashing brilliance of purple and blue. The jedi grinned and nodded to Aela, knowing they were almost halfway to their goal. We need to hurry, Asha thought. Standing aside, Aela cycled the door open. Blaster fire tore through the open doorway, and both women waited until there was a break in fire before moving into the detention center proper.
Aela lead the charge, catching renewed blaster fire on the blade of her saber. Hardened and determined grey eyes noted the quartet of guards in the room. Aela unleashed a force scream that sent one off his feet, throwing both sabers at another letting the weapon slice through him. Catching the blades, the sith reached out and force choked the one getting back to his feet, lifting him off the ground until his form went limp. Asha raced in behind, force shoving the remaining guard off his feet before leaping forward and spearing her saber down through the man's chest. While she would have preferred not to kill, Asha knew the time for finesse and mercy was past. They were running out of time and the longer they took, the more likely they would fail. As much as it bothered her, she also knew the Imperials would not hesitate to take her life, or any of those with her. To succeed here and now, she had to play by their rules this time.
Asha moved to the control hub, looking down through the list of prisoners trying to locate the cell Quinn was in. There was no making heads or tails of the displays. The moment Asha went and tapped on one cell that was shown, the system locked down and shut her out. Swearing the jedi shook her head to the other woman. There was nothing more she could do, the computers were locked out.
"We do it the hard way then." Aela said, then raced into the long corridor of cells and bellowing, "Quinn! Where are you?"
Pierce let loose another volley of fire down the corridor, shooting overhead of the remaining battle droids. More Imperial troopers were pushing into the corridor, crates shoved forward to give them cover. He had already lost three of the battle droids, two more appeared about to be destroyed. Down to three remaining droids, Pierce knew it was going to be hard to hold their position for much longer. Beside him, Torian had taken up two of the fallen droids blasters, shooting back and trying to fend off the opposition.
"Aela, this is Pierce. Hurry it up, we can't hold here much longer."
"Working on it." Aela's voice answered back, sounding strained and frustrated.
"Work faster." Torian muttered and Pierce laughed at the young mandalorian's comment, glad he had not said such over the comm.
"What's the matter kid?" Pierce asked him. "Not enjoying yourself?"
"Quite the opposite!" Torian grinned back and shrugged to the trooper. "I'd still like to get out of here in one piece though!"
"What do you think?" Aela asked, looking at the various doors in the corridor.
Her shouts had yielded no results, not that she expected such. They would have been sound proof. It did not sit well with those stationed here when you had to listen to the screams of the damned all shift long. Each cell would have dampeners built in, and with the number of doors in the corridor, she was not looking forward to going into each one. There was not enough time, and not knowing who they would find on the other side made that a dangerous prospect.
Asha studied the corridor, blue eyes sliding over one door after another. Finally the jedi just shrugged and pointed at the one door that looked larger than the rest. Go big or go home, Asha thought. Aela hit the door controls with a hand and then frowned as the light flashed red and the door remained sealed. The unexpected door lock left her wondering if they were right in their choice, or if something far worse than what they could think of lay on the other side.
"Locked." She hissed.
"Well we've got the keys." Asha commented back, even as she jammed her lightsaber into the door up high and aiming right for the seam where they two panels met.
Aela grinned as she quickly followed suit, jamming one of her own blades low and slowly drawing the weapon up, melting through the door and lock bar. In moments the door clunked and hissed as it parted to give them entry. Moving inside, Asha reached out with the force to shove the lone interrogation officer across the room. Aela raced in right on her heels, concern and anger on her face as she took in Malavai Quinn. Strapped to the interrogation table, he was naked, wounds decorating the entirety of his body. Aela rushed up beside him, brushing her fingertips down over the swollen side of his face bringing a low pained moan from him.
"Quinn, we're here. We've got you." Aela said softly.
Malavai Quinn tried to focus his gaze, finding he was unable to open his right eye at all. At first he thought he had imagined the sound of Aela's voice, but feeling the touch and then seeing her, he immediately became upset. What was she doing? Had he not said it was a trap? Quinn noticed the jedi with Aela and could not believe for a second Necrolis had allowed them to come.
"What… what are you doing here?" Quinn asked, still not sure he believed Aela was right there.
"Saving your ass." Aela answered back, turning off the energy shackles and catching the man before he fell.
The groan from the interrogator brought all of their attention to his rising form. Asha made to move but did not make it in time, nor did Aela. Malavai Quinn threw himself into the man, anger and pain fuelling him and giving him a strength that went beyond his pain. Driving the man back to the ground, Quinn rained fists into the man's head, pounding blow after blow down into him. He barely heard the yell for him to stop, even as he kept punching. He could not see, could not hear, the world for him turned into a hazy red anger. Aela swore, even as she moved and wrapped arms about Quinn and yanked him back off the prone form of the interrogator. She caught a glimpse of the face, a bloodied pulp that was barely recognizable.
Asha moved over to the interrogator, crouching down and checking for a pulse at the neck though she did not expect to find one. She found none, and had to do her best not to look at the bloody mess the man's face now was. Shaking her head to Aela, the jedi could only rise and move over to them where Quinn was calming down, going almost limp in Aela's grasp.
"We have to move, and quickly." Asha commented.
"Quinn, can you manage?" Aela asked as she turned her intent gaze back to the man.
"I think so." Quinn managed to croak out, but as he tried to take a step, he immediately began to fall. Aela grabbing him about the waist kept him upright. "Apparently not, my lord."
"He's in bad shape." Asha noted with a frown. "You help him, I will cover us."
Aela nodded, supporting Quinn and keeping the man upright. Asha moved quickly ahead of them, Aela half dragging Quinn along behind, the man literally dead weight in her arms. Quinn tried to walk, to move his legs and feet but try as he might his co-ordination would not come to him. He was so wracked with pain all he could feel was a numbing that he could not force away. The sith grunted as she supported the man, reaching up to tab her comm.
"Pierce we've got him, we're coming."
Vette watched as Jaesa carved her way through the first group of Imperial troopers. They had a moment to catch their breaths before they had to hold their position against a second wave of Imperials that had arrived. The twi'lek wiped an armoured forearm across her brow but then smiled as she heard Aela's words over the comm channel. They had Quinn. The twi'lek moved over to the doorway, watching as Asha came through. Holstering one blaster, Vette darted across to aid Aela in holding up the battered form of Malavai Quinn.
"Well you've looked better." Vette chided the man, watching as he groaned trying to grin at her words.
"I'm sure you being nice is a passing phase, I'll just enjoy it for now." Quinn shot back.
Jaesa raced back to the group to join them, giving Quinn a critical look over and frowning. They had done their work well on the man, she could see. It impressed her that he was even conscious given the injuries she could see. The fact she knew he had not been broken despite the torture he had endured made her think more highly of him. He had turned out to be one tough son of a bitch, she thought.
"We've got trouble." Asha yelled, blue eyes spotting the mass of Imperials coming into the corridor.
"Like I always say, just more nerfs for the slaughter."Jaesa growled, flicking the yellow bladed lightsaber back on.
It was then they saw the figure in the back, the blue glow of a lightsaber. Vette swore even as Jaesa grinned. It was Pyrannus they realized, recognizing the cathar sith from the holo recording they had endured watching. Quinn's tormentor stood behind the dozen soldiers, watching them as they did her. Vette struggled to hold Quinn and aim her lone blaster, Aela muttering a curse as she grabbed the hilt of a single lightsaber, unwilling to let Quinn go. Asha instinctively moved in front of the three of them, blocking them, lightsaber out to ward off any shots that were bound to come at them. Jaesa did not stay with the group, turning to march slowly back down the hall at the opposing force.
"I've got this." Jaesa snarled over her shoulder as she moved towards the Imperials.
"No!" Aela growled, handing Quinn fully over to Vette and igniting her lightsabers. "That bitch is mine."
"No." Quinn croaked out. "We need to move. It's a trap."
"Get him out of here." Jaesa snapped before sprinting at the troopers, her hand rising and lightning flashing from her fingertips into their ranks.
Aela growled in frustration but she knew Quinn was right. Jaesa's impatience had bought them time to one side of Quinn again, she and Vette moved together carrying the man and hurrying away from the fight. Asha lingered, frowning and knowing she needed to go in order to support Aela and Vette, but she did not like leaving anyone behind, even if it was a sith. Jaesa had guts, Asha noted, even if she seemed almost certifiably crazy.
"Jaesa withdraw, we need to go!" Asha called out, knowing the likelihood of that happening was slim.
Jaesa cut down two troopers with her saber, lightning channelled from her hand and through her blade shooting off to stun and shock the others closest to her, the charge jumping and arcing between bodies. Blaster fire danced in wild shots all about her, a few grazing against her armoured robes, or ripping through fabric, but none connected solidly. She heard Asha's cry, but refused to pull back even as she saw Pyrannus striding forward. I want that bitch, she thought, eager to get at the woman who had done such damage to Malavai Quinn. It was personal, and there was no turning back from the moment.
"Go!" Jaesa yelled without looking back.
Pyrannus stood and watched the young sith as she charged recklessly into the special forces unit. The cathar studied her intently, how she fought and moved. This was an opponent she had yet to meet and face, though if it was Jaesa Willsaam as she believed, her reputation preceded her. She was the apprentice to Necrolis, the Emperor's Wrath. She was a worthy foe, even if she was not Necrolis Darkstar himself. When Jaesa had sliced her way into their ranks, and Pyrannus had seen enough, she moved forward herself. Getting the troopers out of her way proved easy enough. The cathar's lightsaber sliced through them dropping them to the deck. They could always get more troops, after all. She wanted the sith for herself.
The cathar grinned as she met the other sith face to face, meeting amidst the corpses of the Imperials laying all about the corridor. Jaesa struck out swiftly, the initial strike meeting and caught on Pyrannus' blade. Jaesa quickly spun the double bladed lightsaber, bottom blade swinging upwards, and Pyrannus leapt back out of reach of the strike. Jaesa shoved her hand forward, lightning leaping off her fingertips, which Pyrannus caught on the blade of her lightsaber. The cathar continued to grin at the woman even as the lightning danced along the weapons blade, flying off to mark along the walls. Jaesa Willsaam was fury and rage, but it was not focused at all, Pyrannus noted. It made her powerful, but also sloppy and that gave the cathar sith all the advantage she needed.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation." Pyrannus purred the words out at the sith, intentionally goading and infuriating her foe.
"You are going to die." Jaesa snarled, lashing out with quick strikes that were blocked and parried each time, Pyrannus backing up a step at a time giving up ground and moving herself back and clear of the corpses.
"I think not." The cathar said and laughed, knowing that despite her apparent strength, the woman was no match for her.
Pierce could hear nothing more than the roar of the assault cannon as he blasted down the corridor, pounding on the makeshift fortified position of the Imperials. Torian had shoved the now inoperable battle droids into a mound and was using it as cover. As effective as they were at bottling up the corridor, Pierce knew there were just too many arrayed against them. They were inching their stacked crate barriers towards them little by little. It was only a matter of time before a lucky shot clipped one of them or worse.
"We've got to pull out. Where are you?" Pierce demanded into the comm between rounds of fire.
"Almost to the ship. Jaesa's gone rogue." Aela replied.
Pierce swore, knowing the whole point was to rescue Quinn and not get caught or lose anyone. Letting loose with another volley, Pierce ducked down beside Torian a moment to hide. The mandalorian looked at the trooper and motioned back towards the hanger bay, and Pierce nodded. They had to go, there was no helping such.
"Jaesa, get your ass back to the ship."
"Can't" Came the answer back, short and to the point.
"I'm going for her. Get to the ship." Kyl'thanis came over the comm channel, the jedi having seen Aela, Vette, and Asha move past him on the run. They were moving quickly despite dragging Quinn along between two of them. He was the closest and most logical choice to go assist the sith and to have a chance to get back to the ship.
Kyl'thanis backed up to the cross corridor then slid sideways into it, deflecting blaster bolts from the remaining Imperials he had been holding at bay to keep them out of the main route the others had taken. Moving to the other side of the entry, the jedi then raced down the corridor away from the cross corridor. He knew he had little time in which to act. He had to reach the sith, and then hopefully manage to get to an escape pod. Getting back to the ship was going to be impossible once the others pulled back, he knew. The plan was rather vague, but on the fly it was the best he could come up with.
Asha cast a glance over her shoulder as they fled to the ship, hearing Kyl'thanis' words and seeing him head back to where they had come from. She swore under her breath, pulling up and stopping as Vette and Aela dragged Quinn past her. She glanced between the jedi and the others, torn over what to do. Standing there, she saw Pierce and Torian race past the end of the corridor towards the hanger, the Imperial trooper waving at her as they passed by.
"Move! Move! We have to go now!"
Gritting her teeth, Asha turned and sprinted towards the hanger, falling in with the two men back to the ship. There was nothing she could do. Kyl'thanis had made his choice and all she could do was hope he would make it out of there. She knew he likely had a plan, such as it was. If he could reach the sith, the two of them would have a chance at least, assuming the sith was still alive. She had been going up against Pyrannus, and that was one sith that made Asha's skin crawl. There was simply nothing but a sense of evil emanating from the force wielding cathar.
Racing up the ramp, Pierce waited a moment. He and Asha exchanged a quick glance as the jedi came aboard. Looking back into the bay before hitting the door controls, Pierce frowned feeling a sense of loss hit him. Kyl'thanis had gone after Jaesa, but in truth he had a sinking feeling both would be lost to them. The thought of Jaesa dying, which he knew would happen as she would not be taken prisoner, was like a lightsaber right to his gut. Retracting the ramp and sealing the ship, Pierce jammed his finger into the intercom button, even as he felt the ship shudder as it lifted off.
"We're in, get us out of here."
Vette jammed the controls forward, the Wraith lunging ahead as she fed the engines full power. The twi'lek looked left and then right, noting the blast doors were sliding closed on the hanger bay. They were trying to seal them in. Vette grit her teeth and jammed harder, urging more power and thrust out of the engines as the ship hurtled towards the shrinking opening. It was going to be close, she realized. If she stopped pushing the ship forward they would be captured and likely killed. If she didn't have enough clearance she likely was going to kill them hitting the closing doors. Damned if I do, damned if I don't, the twi'lek thought.
"Here goes nothing." Vette quipped.
"Oh shit!" Alric growled from the co-pilot chair, grabbing onto the console in front of him.
"Hold onto your furballs!" Vette cracked even as she closed her eyes as the ship reached the threshold, then when she heard Alric's whoop of joy the twi'lek opened one eye to stare at the blackness of space and the ships all around them.
"Bloody hell, we made it!" Alric cracked.
"Not yet furball!" Vette answered back, hitting the internal comm. "Guys get on the guns, we have incoming!"