Author's Headnote: Miss me? Anyways... April's over and now it's May! Which means I have this for you!
The Ruby of Cerberus: Illium: Blood Pack Exchange
Haedvin Jaular vas Cordavire:
Health: Healthy
Training: Melee Combat, Handguns, and Stealth
Equipment: M-2 Striker, Omni-Blade, Gas Grenades, Smoke Grenades
Credits: 3,450
Party Relations:
- Yang Xiao Long: Immature and her skills clash with Haedvin's. Also, is more likely to be either debt trapped or captured into slavery here on Illium than the rest of her friends. However, Illium is no place for children.
End of Character Status Report
Party Update:
- Party In: Haedvin Jaular vas Cordavire
- Party Out: Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna
- Leader Change: Haedvin Jaular vas Cordavire is now the Party Leader
Talsae, Illium, Illium Docks, 12/17/2174 (Gregorian), 11:00, Landing Bay 43
Ah, Illium. The far by most corrupt and self-destructive of the Asari Republics. Unlike most Asari colonies, the Illium republic doesn't follow a method of governance similar to what the humans call: 'social-democracy'. Instead, it's something more of a corporatocracy. As in: most, if not all government seats have seats in the various private corporations that dominate the asari market. This oligopolist hellhole of a planet has most of it's market owned by a select few companies. So... if this is the one exception to the Asari Republics, how so? And why hasn't this been corrected?
Well, from what Haedvin knows, Illium wasn't always a sprawling ecumenopolis. It was once filled with incredibly dangerous wildlife to make normal colonization impossible, so the colonial government had hired private contractors to develop the planet. They've managd to drive out the wildlife and started to urbanize from there. Those private contractors eventually became the corporate oligopoly known as the Asari Corporate Interests.
And given the autonomous functions of the Republics, there's no guidelines to how Illium is supposed to set up their government. Though, there are arguments on the republic status of Illium, whether or not it's in the Asari Republics. Some sources say that it is, whilst others say it's an unofficial, private colony in the terminus systems. Either way, the status of Illium and its nearby systems being in either Asari space or private space is a whole can of worms in terms of politics. Because the republics themselves can't even make up their mind on Illium being official Asari territory or not.
Either way, majority of the population is obviously... Asari, with Vorcha being the second largest population... most of said population is used in slave labor. Much like other members of his kind, quarians. Ya... quarians on their pilgrimage who travel to illium end up getting trapped on a ever trapping debt and forced to go under slave labor. Though, officially it's indentured servitude, but that's basically another form of slavery.
But enough about the history of the planet. They've just left the ship and is ready to head out to Illium, specifically to the local Blue Suns outpost. Despite that almost all of the private contracts go to Eclipse, the Blue Suns and the Bloodpack have bases here. They're mercenaries, not violent criminal gangs. Although, at this point they could may as well be both.
No less, the two of them had landed, with Haedvin taking the lead as he knows the place, and Yang... wearing her hair in a bun. She was also wearing the jumpsuit from yesterday, which was washed in the sink with haste... Not sure why she'd just cut it short. They were then greeted by some guards. And they were eclipse mercenaries... this is just wonderful. And not surprising, given that most private companies actually hire mercenaries for security. Even the law enforcement is privatized here. Also unsurprisingly, the eclipse mercenaries here are almost entirely asari. And as mentioned the guards were asari, and ones dumb enough to not wear any helmets.
"Hey, I've seen that you landed with an eclipse vessel... care to explain?" one of the mercenaries asked.
"And why exactly would eclipse be interested in a fifty-year-old ship?" Haedvin retorted.
"Because we like to keep track of our stuff."
"Even if that stuff was acquired illegitimately?"
"And was then, counter-stolen... illegitimately? Honestly, last we checked, that ship was parked in the citadel."
"C-Sec was looking for a cat." Yang commented.
"Sneaky little things, aren't they? Too bad the ammonia they produce is worthless." the eclipse mercenary added.
"Why do you need ammonia, anyway?"
"It's a good cleaning supply for floors. Just don't mix it with bleach, the combination managed to kill some recruits."
"So... we're good to go?"
"Nope! Not until the ship is returned to us!"
"Let me put in this way you bosh'tet. This is my ship, and we're going through." Haedvin yelled.
"Nope. Not unless you want Illium authorities to use article 98 on your quarian hide." The merc retorted.
"Uhhh?" Yang uttered, confused.
"Anyone who threatens a security officer, whether law enforcement or not gets put into slavery!"
"Okay... how about we pay you...?" Yang asked.
"Bribing an officer!? That's actually legal."
"Oh, really?"
"NO! Now excuse me while I go get the-" The eclipse guards said, before she was shot in the head, killed before she could finish her sentence.
Haedvin, then killed the other one by shooting them in the head.
"Oh my god!" Yang screamed!
"Be quiet! Now help me with the bodies!" Haedvin said, picking up one of the dead asari bodies, and throwing them off the platform rail.
"That's going to cause some damage."
"Yes, but I much prefer we don't get caught committing murder on Illium."
"Why is that?"
"Best case scenario, me, you, and the rest of the crew is going to be wearing slave collars. Worst case scenario, execution."
"Don't they have prisons or something?"
"And why would they put their potential free labor locked up? Illium isn't like the rest of the Asari republics."
"Okay then, good to know Illium is an outlier."
As Yang said that, he threw the other corpse down to the surface.
"As far as we're concerned, we've just committed forty crimes in Illium." Haedvin retorted.
"Oh my god! This is not how I pictured my life would turn!" Yang said, sounding worried.
"And I much don't care right now. And why are we here, anyway?"
"Ruby wanted to know what the Blood Pack have that the Blue Suns want."
"I see... which means we're going to find where the exchange is held, get a briefcase, and exchange it with the Blood Pack mercs, and then run out of the place."
"Basically."
"That sounds way easier than done."
Regardless, he shot down any security cameras he found near the ship as he went through the planet, finding the Blue Suns hideout.
Talsae, Illium, Military-Industrial-District, 12/17/2174 (Gregorian), 11:40, Weapon Factories
The first place to look for any mercenary outposts is near the production of weapons. I.E. Illiums Military-Industrial complex district. An entire part of the city-planet dedicated towards Producing wares for the Asari military. Ranging from weapons to armor to biotic amplifiers. Even military vehicles are produced here. It's really not much important on the stuff.
The Blue Suns would likely have their base nearby here. Or at the very least a patrol here, being that the Blue Suns do get hired by the factories to guard their weapons. The hard part is finding a pair of guards that have a uniform that fits Yang's body size, or Haedvin's for that matter... since Quarians hardly get recruited into mercenary groups, so the demand for quarian armor is very low.
Alternatively, it is Yang who needs the disguise, not Haedvin, he's more skilled in being unseen, not toward disguised infiltration. Which is what's happening right now, being that he and Yang are trying to avoid the eyes of the private law right now until they get to the bloodpack meeting point.
They were sneaking around for a few hours and then they saw a group of soldiers. Private soldiers. Specifically of the Blue Suns flavor. One of them was female, which is good enough for Haedvin, as he was well above them, by climbing the buildings. Staying high can be a surprisingly good way to be unseen. Since most patrols would look around at the same level or below. He threw a gas bomb below them and watch as they pass out as the bomb detonates. He then drops down and takes the female guard. Yang doesn't seem too happy.
"Do you have any other better ideas to get a disguise?" Haedvin asked.
"We could just sign up." Yang retorted.
"Yes, but they don't exactly handle deserters well."
"Okay, fair point. But still, this feels wrong."
"How about you strip her instead?"
"WHA!?"
"We only need to over-armor. So, she can stay fine in her under armor, though if the armor feels tough, just deal with it until we get back on the ship."
"Still..."
"Would you prefer if I give you armor from the male mercs?"
"Okay, okay, fine."
The female guard was reluctantly stripped down to her under-armor jumpsuit. In which Yang hastefully equips the armor. Besides the white and yellow cerberus jumpsuit, she basically passes as a Blue Suns mercenary. Now they just need to find their hideout and get a pin-on for their hiding point.
Well that is...
"Report, damnit!" a voice spoke from the helmet...
"Uhh... Hello?" Yang responded.
"Did your voice change? No matter, we need a status report!"
"Some guys were knocked out, so we're going to need some transport back to HQ."
"That explains why I had to call YOU and not your higher-ups. For once you didn't screw up, I might have actually had to get rid of you. No matter, we're sending a van over."
Haedvin waited until the call is done.
Yang then murmurs a bit and then presses on her helmet.
"I'm done, now I just have to wait and pose as a recruit." Yang recapped.
Haedvin sighs. "You know the likelihood of finding the meeting point and convincing the higher ups to go there is quite slim, especially since the Blue Suns would have likely found out about their outpost on Feros by now." he stated.
"Eh, if all else fails, I can just charge on in and take them all..."
"Isn't that how you got in this position in the first place."
Yang remained silent.
Time has passed, when a hovering van arrived, catching Yang off-guard. Two soldiers came down and carried the unconscious soldiers to the van.
"I'd expect the van to arrive on the ground..." Yang commented.
"It's Illium, dumbass! You can't get anywhere through conventional wheels, you need hovercrafts." The guard commented.
"Okaaaay then..." Yang said, boarding the hovercraft.
As Yang was boarding, Haedvin proceeds to sneak in as well, keeping out of sight.
Talsae, Illium, Blue Suns Outpost, 12/17/2174 (Gregorian), 12:06, Entrance
The hovercraft van had arrived at a humble-looking outpost. They likely couldn't get anything bigger because the eclipse mercenaries dominate the local cluster. So, they simply just do some minor jobs here and there. This includes guard duty.
Haedvin watches as Yang enters the facility. He waits before incapacitating the soldiers. And proceeds to exit the van.
Like mentioned, a two-floored sub-building in the arcology. Very humble. Humble... or inconspicuous? Either way, they only need to learn the location of the exchange and meet them there. Yang will likely handle that. If she gets found out, Haedvin will be there to reluctantly help her, and then finally escape. The sooner they're off this planet, the better.
So, he ends up sneaking on the entrance. And then waits there for a couple of hours. He hears two guards talking.
"Hey, that new girl seems different all of a sudden." one of the guards stated.
"Eh, don't worry about it, she's just new." the other guard stated.
"But she does seem to look different. For one, that's not a Blue Suns jumpsuit."
"Why are you being so cautious? No one is dumb enough to infiltrate a Blue Suns outpost."
"But there are people capable of wiping them out."
"Oh ya, the Feros outpost, they sent in an emergency call and then went silent. When we sent a team to investigate, woo there was a mess."
"At least they didn't take the cache needed for the exchange today."
"Ya, the boss won't like it if we don't get that thing."
"What is it that we're risking a meeting turned shoot-out for?"
"Hell, if I know."
Now he needs to wait for Yang to get the location... he just has to observe the situation until it changes. But one thing is for sure, he is surprised he managed to make it this far without resorting to fighting.
Character Change: Haedvin Jaular vas Cordavire - Yang Xiao Long
Talsae, Illium, Blue Suns Outpost, December 17, 2174, 12:11, Interior
Yang is still dressed as a member of the Blue Suns
Yang expected the inside to look better... but it's just as humble looking as the exterior. Guess this is just a temporary headquarters or something. Haedvin did mention the Blue Suns and Blood Pack aren't as active around this cluster. She's quite disappointed in this, from all the things Yang has heard from the company. No less, she needs to get herself posted towards the meeting.
She looks around and sees a select number of soldiers moving in an organized position. It was a group of five. So, she stopped them to ask them something.
"Hey... ya... I haven't been paying attention to what's going on... so... what are ya doing?" Yang asked.
"We're off to meet with the blood pack." the soldier responded.
"Can I come?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's an assignment not for recruits. I suggest you go back to guarding the old factories."
"Come on, I'll do anything!"
"Let me think about- NO!"
"Well... why not?"
"Because you're a recruit, and you're going to mess this up. Now get lost before I shoot ya in the head!"
"Is that allowed? Shooting recruits?"
The merc then pointed the gun at the recruit. "Yes, very much allowed." The merc threatened.
"Alright fiiine." Yang said, pretending to leave them alone.
Instead of heading on toward her business, she decided to follow them. Well, her business here is getting that mysterious object from the bloodpack in the first place so she really is minding her own business, it just happens to conflict with their business.
But no less, Yang's lucky to have them hop up at their door. Metaphorically, of course. She's not at home, obviously so it's a figure of expression. Still, she's lucky that she found the guys she was looking for quite quick. Wonder what they'll be using as a fake? Is the Blood Pack also going to be using a fake? Who even is the blood pack, anyway? She's only met Eclipse and Blue Suns, and their impression on Yang isn't a positive one. And chances are the Blood Pack won't be so different from that.
No less, she has a meeting to pursue.
Character Change: Yang Xiao Long - Haedvin Jaular vas Cordavire
Talsae, Illium, Industrial District, 12/17/2174 (Gregorian), 14:06, Open Ground
Open ground... where the only cover is the two ships meeting, undeveloped arcology. Of course, this would be a meeting ground for two mercenary companies operating in Eclipse dominated work. So, they can't do it somewhere more notably public. Being that this land is private property, after all.
Haedvin snuck on the ship as soon as he saw Yang following them. Guess she was more inept to the sneaking business than he perceived. Which is quite impressive. Yet again, she likely learned her mistakes from charging in onward, from what he heard about her.
He remains out of sight and observes the meeting in place. Being that the blood pack is ran by Vorcha and Krogan, they aren't the type to swap in for a dupe, but rather gun them all down and keep it type. Either way, a shoot out is inevitable. The briefcase on the blue suns side is apparently full of newspapers... from the early twenty first century... that stuff belongs in a museum, not in a briefcase. And the one on the Blood Pack side is carried by a Krogan, who has it on a death grip. Whatever is in there is likely something the Blood Pack don't want to lose.
Either way, Yang's going to need to get out of the way... as he's going to employ some smoke grenades and take them all down one-by-one. The last thing needed right now is a war between mercenaries. Besides, the contents of the Blood Pack briefcase is worth the effort. And then they'll be getting off Illium for a while. Because chances are, Haedvin and Yang would no longer be welcome faces after a while...
Haedvin snuck towards a viable throwing spot for a smoke grenade. In which he then waits for the exchange...
It's coming along...
The two of them are now moving towards each other. They begin to slowdown as they meet... and finally, they're ready for the exchange... which means it's time to throw the grenade. He throws a smoke grenade. The smoke grenade detonates, and the area is now concealed in smoke. Haedvin activates his infared visor and approaches the scenes. He's learned many martial art techniques, ranging from human to asari and salarian. Though, he's no expert on either of them. But he's minorly adept in each of them, only knowing a handful of skills from each. More so focused on precise single strikes than on strength or rapid strikes. His physical body, being quarian means that his physical body isn't actually built for close-up combat. Being that's been weakened by centuries of vessel-based isolation that's killing the species.
And he starts with the ones near the briefcase, attacking the vital point from the Krogan and human exchanging in the first place, and then knocking them out. From the sounds of it... Yang is here and is dealing with the Blue Suns, which leaves Haedvin with the Vorcha and Krogan. Haedvin grasps at the opportunity and begins to attack the krogan from behind knocking them out. The Vorcha, confused started to open fire and attack each other. However, the last thing needed is casualties, so he needed to knock them all out. Knocking out a vorcha is easier than knocking out a Krogan, so it wasn't very time consuming.
When the smoke cleared up, all that's left seen is Yang and Haedvin standing in which they proceed to carry out both briefcases and steal the blood pack hovercraft on their way back to the ship.
Talsae, Illium, Blood Pack Hovercraft, 12/17/2174 (Gregorian), 14:17, Industrial District
The Blood Pack hovercraft is described as a van-like vehicle, with armored scraps around it and a blood pack emblem on it. In most places, this ship would be intimidating... but here, it would be putting a target on one's back. However, this is preferable to the Blue Suns craft because the latter has tracking on their vehicles, and not the former. However, this thing will not fit in the cordavire, so it cannot be kept. Besides, Haedvin can't keep it anyway. The design of this ship was for brief transport of mercenaries between small locations.
Given that they've acquired both briefcases... the blood pack contents would be in one of them. However, it does seem that either way, an interception would have been inevitable... as another blue suns vehicle precedes to follow after them. Haedvin would have figured that this was inevitable. It seems that they believe that they're the blood pack grunts that ended up shooting down their squad. No less, being a driver of a corvette model ship, he knows many evasion maneuvers that can come in handy in conflicts such as these.
Haedvin was constantly evading gunfire and towers as he was being gunned down toward a narrower part of the urban sprawl. He's trying to circle around to find the landing pad in which he came from, tracking back to find where he came from. He has a good sense of direction; other wise he wouldn't have been able to be a pilot in the first place. Given quarians past with artificial intelligence, they're quite paranoid of anything automated, that means everything had to be dealt with manually. It's not impressive by quarian standards, his skills. But they get the job done.
He then feigned a turn, which caused his pursuers to lose track of him. With that, he can finally escape this planet.
The ship quickly docked near by the Cordavire, in which the two of them grabbed both briefcases and sprinted out of the hovercraft and back to the ship.
Talsae, Illium, Illium Docks, 12/17/2174 (Gregorian), 14:44, Landing Bay 43
They were running as fast as they could. Angering multiple authorities on a mostly corporate planet is basically painting a target on one's back. No less, they're at running distance towards the cordavire, and they'll soon be approaching their way towards it.
"We're almost there!" Yang yelled.
"Quiet down, do you want them to find us?" Haedvin retorted.
And just when they were about to get to the ship...
Suddenly, they were intercepted by the Blue Suns crafts, which then dropped down an array of soldiers, along with five YMIR Mechs. It appears that they've finally met their end. With a bunch of guns pointed at them from various angles. It has come to the conclusion that even if they fight back, there's no chance that Haedvin would walk out alive. That is until... the YMIR mechs seem to jolt and started to attack the Blue Suns mercs for some reason. This causes the Blue Suns mercs to then concentrate on the mechs, allowing them to escape to the ship.
Though, the question is... why did the mechs suddenly turn on the mercs? As much as he wants to find out, he doesn't want to waste an opportunity for an escape. This operation has had many strokes of luck today. Not sure why.
Character Change: Haedvin Jaular vas Cordavire - Yang Xiao Long
The Cordavire, December 17, 2174, 14:50, Bridge
Yang is still dressed as a member of the Blue Suns
Back at the bridge Haedvin went straight to the cockpit and got the ship out of the ground. In which then the ship was launched, it was quite sudden too. Well, given that the events happened so suddenly, now she's gotten all the briefcases. By all, she means two... she may as well go to the mess hall. Getting the big reveal is something all of team RWBY should see.
The Cordavire, December 17, 2174, 15:12, Mess Hall
Yang is still dressed as a member of the Blue Suns
Team RWBY gathered around one of the tables at the mess hall. They were all sitting on the same side of the table, save for Yang... who was facing towards the briefcases...
"So... why did you call us here?" Weiss asked.
"Isn't it obvious? It's about the briefcases." Blake stated.
"Ya... now I get to see what the Blood Pack has in store." Yang said, opening the first briefcase.
It's... full of newspapers. She has no idea what any of it says, being that it's written in a language she's not familiar with. Therefore, this must have been the Blue Suns briefcase. In which the rest of the team looks with a dull gaze.
"Ohh..." Yang uttered, chuckling awkwardly. "Wrong case."
"Why did you bring both?" Ruby asked.
"Because they both looked alike, and I don't want to end up getting the wrong one."
"Fair point."
"Now..." Yang said, opening the case. Inside... the contents contain a crystal. It was a dull black. The faint glow makes it seem similar to a dust crystal. however, she knows that dust crystals are a shade of purple, not black. This means it's not a dust crystal, raddther something else.
Weiss then picks up the crystal without warning, which then starts to glow blue. Apon registering that the crystal changed color, Weiss dropped out of reflex and let out a short scream, in which Ruby caught it by reflex, now it glows a silver color. Ruby then gives off a confused look apon observing the crystal change color. What kind of crystal changes color on touch? a Mood gem, perhaps? Can't think of anything else.
"Is this... a mood gem?" Blake asked.
"Could be a mood Gem... I don't know what other kind of crystal would change color on touch..."
"Can't believe I risked my life for a mood gem..." Yang retorted.
"What color is silver supposed to mean?" Ruby asked.
"I don't know!"
"What kind of mood gem turns silver on touch? Give it to me." Blake stated.
Ruby hands the crystal to Blake, the crystal glows purple. "Hmmm... It seems to react to us... but why would a crystal like this be doing here in the first place?" Blake stated.
"Do you think it has something to do with our aura?" Yang asked.
"If that's the case, then this crystal shouldn't be here. Because aura isn't a thing in this dimension." Weiss retorted. "Well, aura isn't native to this dimension, we still have ours. And it doesn't look like dust, and I have a feeling damaging it would be a bad idea."
"Let's keep it around, it's best if we don't let Cerberus know this thing exists." Ruby suggested.
"Well, we don't even know what it is, not to mention what it does, no less."
"Well... it does react to us, that's for sure... Is there aa holomessage there, or something?" Ruby asked.
Yang checked the briefcase... "Nope, nothing."
"Well, damn. I suppose Blake will keep the mystery crystal with her."
"Why me?" Blake asked.
"It's either you or Weiss." Yang retorted.
"Ooookay... I'll just keep it with me then. But, if something bad happens to me, it's your fault!"
"Well... can you feel something when you touch it?" Yang asked.
"Well, I think it's reacting to my aura, but I can't tell what it's doing..." Blake stated.
A beep was heard from Ruby.
"Hold on, I got a notification from Miranda. Seems a mission had come up." Ruby stated.
"Well, count me out on this one. I'm gonna relax for the rest of the day." Yang stated.
After that... Yang had gotten up and proceded to head to the crew quarters, she's not going to do anything for the rest of the day. Still... she's curious to what color the crystal would be if she were to touch it herself.
Author's Footnote: Did ya miss me? Ya... I ended up on a couple apathy blocks and writer's blocks whilst writing this chapter. Guess it's my fault when I decided to use an OC for these things. But I assure you, the rest of team RWBY gets action next chapter. And as for the strange Crystal, I'm gonna say... it's quite similar to the girls as in... not from the Milky Way... what is the crystal? Well, I'll explain in a future chapter. But for now... I've been trying to write this during April, while I had an apathy block... ya... there's a reason to why I don't post on aprils. I feel apathetic during that time.