Sirens blaring, Clone troopers rushing to their battle stations within their Venator ship, unaware of the current situation, are they being attacked? Have they already been boarded by separatist forces?
They stood by key points of potential entrances to the ship, muttering on comms, requesting appraisal of the situation, the need for orders, all they have is static, is someone jamming the comms? When did the separatist have a long-range jammer? They were not supposed to be in this sector within republic space.
On the bridge the officers were trying their best to stable the ship which is currently diverting itself towards the planet nearby.
"Hit the reverse thrusters!" A clone officer ordered, watching one of crew pulling the lever far backwards.
"We are at full thrust sir!" The clone shouted in return "Any more we will be overloading the engine core!"
"We be crashing into that planet if we don't" The commander berated "Did you manage to send a distress signal?" diverting his attention to the comms specialist.
"Only manage to send it short range sir" The specialist replied as he tried frantically to cut through the static "Our comms and signal is jammed for long range transmissions!"
The Commander of the ship diverted his attention to the planet in front, as they slowly edged towards its atmosphere, grunting with displeasure.
"Call for code one, we will have to abandon ship" The commander grunted seeing one hitting the button for evacuation "We will have to save as many troops as we can"
The sirens blared even louder as the call for evacuation alerted troops to head to the escape pods, to their horror the pull on their ship became increasingly quicker, have they reached the atmosphere already? Impossible!?
"Sir, the pull is getting stronger our engines can't hold!" The clone cried as the sound of explosions erupted from the engine core, the pull becoming increasingly quicker with the loss of the engines.
"Brace for Impact" the commander cried as the velocity of Venator quickened as they suddenly hit atmosphere "Try and slow our decent"
Upon ordered, long metal extended from the ship, hoping to slow it's decent as they plummet to the planet surface, parts of the ship breaking from the pressure, the landing was extremely rough as it set off a few explosions from stored fuel in the hangers, clones rushing to put out the fire.
The commander gasped for breath as the impact sent a few flying into their console, looking to the screen and to the crew around him.
"Status report" The commander spoke through heavy breaths, feeling blood drip from his head, a minor wound, a possible concussion, but the status of the crew and ship is far more important than his life.
"CT – 22345 is dead sir, we a few injured but not life threatening" One clone called, as he was helped up by a more armoured clone as they rush to their aid, the commander was thankful he had clone guards on duty during this farce of a suppose routine patrol mission.
"I see, are our intercoms operational?" The commander hoped, if they work, they could give orders to the troops within the ship and call for medical help.
"Still jammed sir, trying to push through the static, the distress beacon has stopped signalling, may have been damaged on impact" the clone reported as if it was routinely done, they know how to give a report straight to the point, and give information when it is crucial.
"See if you can push through the static officer" The commander nodded before heading to the main computer, checking if the files are safe, their routine patrol was a side mission, their top priority is to get the data back to Coruscant, this information needs to get to the chancellor, dialling onto the holopad, The commander gave a huge sigh of relief as the information is intact, perhaps they can salvage this, The commander started downloading the data onto the pad.
"SIR!" The comm specialist called out "I manage to cut through the static it doesn't sound good sir"
The commander shot his head to the specialist, puzzled and the feeling of dread rushing through him, rushing to the head comms as he listened to the chaos within it.
"Call for reinforcements in sector two" hearing a clone calling on the comms on the other end "I repeat we have a breach… Intru…. Not…. Grievou…." The line going dead as the static emerged once more, the commander ran through the frequency, hoping to get some contact from the troops within the ship.
The commander looked to the door entering the bridge, if he could decipher what was said, they have an intruder, a possible separatist cell stationed on the planet they are stranded on no doubt Grievous by the sounds of it, but what doesn't make sense is how they have the ability to do both a communication jam and have a tractor beam operating at the same time pulling them onto the planet surface, it would take a considerable amount of power and such power emissions would come onto their scans like a big massive blip, that was the first red flag that something wasn't right, there was no blip.
The second red flag is that they have the technology to not only block outer transmissions but also inter transmission, blocking all types of communications, thankfully they didn't block their short range distress signal, but the third red flag the planet they are stranded on, has toxic gas on the surface, uninhabitable and the gas would disrupt separatist droids easily, this was the reason he chose this route back to Coruscant, less surprises and they could deal with pirates easily, no this was planned and no doubt the toxic gas is flowing into broken parts of ship, they plan to kill them all leaving no evidence behind.
"Get your rebreathers on, the gas may have already entered the ship" the commander ordered as he brought a mask to his face, as clean air rush to his lungs.
Suddenly the door slid open as the commander and clones watch as green gas emerged, standing at the door a man, his face hidden from the mask covering his face, at the ready the weapons are trained onto the intruder.
The Intruder wore standard clothes, dark black trousers, his top also black but his sleeves seemed singed and cut as if he touched a live wire, but sporting silver lining as if light metal plates covering his shoulders, as if prepared for quick combat.
The intruder turned his head, looking at each clone before giving an amused grunt, before igniting a red lightsaber.
The commander hissed, Dooku's assassin's it must be "Open fire!" as their blasters erupted as they were easily deflected from the intruders finesse, few deflected back to the armoured clone as he quickly fell, the intruder moved forward as he deflect with on hand, using his alternate hand to lift two crew members then flinging them out the broken windows, falling to their deaths.
The commander fired his blaster pistol as the intruder walked forward effortlessly, drawing in the force to side step and deflect, cutting those who foolishly within reach, using the force to break the necks of those that are not. This Sith is thorough, not wasting time with slow painful deaths but quick and efficient.
The commander gasped as he felt the hot sting of the sabre plunged into his chest, feeling the life leaving him, falling dead with the data clutched to his chest.
The intruder glancing around inspecting his handiwork, before holstering his lightsaber, looking down to the holopad near the commander's chest, another amused grunt emerged yet again, the idiot just did his job for him, ripping it from the dead man's grasp.
Hearing a beep onto his comms connecting to his ear, simply tapping the button on his wrist, his fingerless gloves a bit burnt, he may need to get lightening proof gloves, they were his favourite.
A female voice erupted on his end, a bit professionally but a hint of concern "StarDust to StarKiller, come in"
"StarKiller, here, still breathing and still alive" StarKiller replied through his mask as he scanned through the data, checking if it was the one, satisfied, holding onto it in his own grasp, maybe he should have planned to have some container for him to store it instead of waving it about just like the idiot before him, who is dead… Why does he care, he got the pad and still alive.
"Well, get your ass moving, apparently we be having a Republic Venator answering the short-range distress call" StarDust called over, as on cue, StarKiller proceed to exit the bridge, amused.
"Wait? Does this mean that your jamming needs some more work? I thought we would have some time to collect some fuel cells, also I did see a real nice fighter on the way in as well" StarKiller, sarcastically spoke, feeling a dangerous ire on the other end.
"Get your buddy and get out before I consider on leaving your stupid ass here, did you at least get what we came here for?"
"Already have it, Idiot already did the job during the little panic attack they had, StarKiller out" switching to another comm channel, hearing abrupt coughing on the other end "Having fun are we?"
A coarse voice echoed through with a few coughing fits "Does this mean the fun is over?" the voice sounding quite disappointed "I hope they have my good side on the camera feed, this exercise has been most helpful, I believe StarDust made sure I was the spotlight of the show and you the invisible nobody"
StarKiller grunted again in amusement "Knowing StarDust I remain a nobody, I hope you charged in with that form?"
"Oh yes indeed, I have always wanted to try this form out, exploring it's movement and it's abilities was most entertaining, but is it necessary to have this unneeded coughing?" the voice inquired, not being too pleased to add that bit of acting.
"If you want the Republic believe it's Grievous, who came up the genius plan to take out a cruiser and go through a rampage then yes, besides our ship will be coming in quick, we be having another cruiser incoming" StarKiller ordered, before hearing a snicker on the other end.
"And she Boasted of creating the best jamming technology in the galaxy, how did that beacon signal get through, I wonder?"
"Does it matter? You had an easy job dispatching the clones from the crash and gas, which reminds me double time before the gas affects your holo and throw the republic onto our scent" finding the exit he created to see a dark ship hovering over, the beautiful ship.
"Do not think that meagre gas can disrupt my superior technology, we have after all charged in from the gas itself, the filters will need cleaning and upgrading" Grievous droned, before heading to their ship's direction which is coming over the gassy horizon.
The phantom, hovers almost so elegantly if it wasn't for a grievous hopping onto the extended ramps, almost falling off as it lost its footing, StarKiller shook his head before force leaping onto the ramp as well, hearing the ramp close behind him, removing the mask from his face, proceed to the cockpit, Grievous walking down the left, it's hulking form squeezing through the hallway.
"You can go back to your normal form now Proxy" StarKiller called out, hearing the change stutter as proxy changed into his original form.
The Cockpit, with many controls from left to right, at the pilot seat, a young woman, her hair raven black, tied up into a bun, her eyes dark brown glanced to him then back to the controls, as she flipped the switch as they left atmosphere, hitting another switch, as the ship's engine gave a slow steady hum, as they watched a republic cruiser along with another cruiser came out of hyperspace as they slowly approach the toxic planet.
"You think the cloaking device is working?" StarKiller joked, seeing an irritated glare from his pilot.
"If it wasn't, we would either be hailed or we would have fighters on us like that time at Argos Ro, which reminds me, you owe me hundred credits for getting us out of it" StarDust spat, as she flew past between the cruisers, StarKiller chuckled and feeling a bit antsy to being so close to the hunters.
"If I had been in the pilot seat, I would have gotten us out of that jam in a parsec" StarKiller stated, seeing a vein emerging onto her temple, her glare getting more irritated.
"It was your flying that gotten us into that mess, who does a strafing run on a separatist Lucherak bridge for shits and giggles" StarDust shot again "You may be good in a dogfight but you wouldn't even know which buttons to press to outrun separatist fighters and cruisers, it is simply point and shoot with you"
"What, you had fun as well remember and you got a kick ass upgrade to the weapon systems from that contract" StarKiller smirked, seeing her temper flare then relax, before punching in coordinates.
Leaning back, putting his feet up as he pulled out the data pad to read the contents, as they feel the thrust of hyperspace envelops the engine, roaring to life, hyperspace is cool and all, but if you punch in the wrong coordinates it would be a very short trip, StarKiller learned that the hard way, if it wasn't for StarDust quick reaction, they would have been inside an imploding star, not that he would admit it was his fault that he had one digit wrong.
"Is that the data?" StarDust asked, as she flipped a few switches and turning off the cloaking, wanting to conserve power usage.
"It appears so, their commander was very keen on not letting it go" StarKiller murmured as he scrolled through "Stupid common stuff like supply routes, future battle plans, some Skywanker, why would our employer want this useless data any ways and why have it on the main system to begin with"
"Well, for starters, even though a data pad is small, it has additional memory for big files, no doubt amongst those useless data the real top secret stuff is hidden amongst them, it is a simple but effective trick like hiding in plain sight" StarDust going into her technical knowledge "Data pad is safer or on a ship data, hidden and effective, and the way that Venator was going on its route, we are lucky it came to that planet, how our employer manage to know it's patrol route, I'm not going to ask any questions"
"As it should be, we do the job and no questions asked, besides we being paid big for this, fifty thousand credits" StarKiller smirked before frowning "Hold up, there's an encrypted file hidden amongst all the useless crap, some stupid language I don't understand or even care to, you want to get your brain warmed up before figuring out how our jamming manage to mess up?"
StarDust narrowed her eyes before snatching the pad out of his hands, looking at the file, her brow furrowed "This isn't republic decryption, nor is it separatist, wait…. By the force, this is Ancient Sith language"
StarKiller blinked "Wait? How did you know that?"
StarDust rolled her eyes "If you listen you might learn something today, instead of duelling Proxy or beat yourself off to Alien vids"
StarKiller spluttered as he caught his breath "I have no idea what you're talking about"
StarDust eyes twinkled for amount as a smug grin formed on her lips "Of course you don't, I bet your researching on Torgruta and Twiilek anatomy and learning how to overcome their predatory instincts"
StarKiller scowled for a moment "Can you decrypt it or not?" spitting back, seeing how StarDust is taking this moment with amusement and satisfaction, before returning to the pad.
"It is not widely known, more like a dead language to be honest, only a rare few can read this, no doubt it has a special encryption to even gain access to this file, oh the wonders it would be to learn such a lost language" Sighing as she placed the pad into the compartment in her cockpit, stretching her arms as she pop a kink in her neck.
"So, no you can't decrypt it?" StarKiller summarised, obviously so seeing the frustrated sigh coming from StarDust.
"We got some time to kill, want to duel?"
"Still sour that I kicked your ass last time?" StarKiller smirked, satisfied to see her becoming disgruntled.
"Maybe, this time no force lightening, you're getting too dependent on that little trick, one day a force wielder would use it against you" StarDust warned, nice to see her Twin, sighed in agreement, both heading to the duelling room.
Red meets Yellow as the twins clashed, as they dance and circle around each other, StarKiller slide aiming for his sisters leg, one she anticipated, being forced on the defensive, kicking her brother to the face, the growl emerged to her satisfaction as he leapt high, switching his form as his reverse grip enable his lightsaber to spin as he cartwheeled to her left as fast as possible, dodging underneath her swing as he pressed on, it wasn't long that the pressure on StarDust was obvious as her parries slowed before being swept on the ground with the red blade inches from her face.
"DO THY CONCEDE!?" StarKiller grinned triumphantly his offhand gripped to show his might as the simple nod came before him "Your Soresu is getting better Marisa, but not good enough"
Marisa laughed at the insult but shrugged it off "Well it is hard to adapt to someone mixing Shien and Ataru in the mix, I was actually expecting Juyo, Galen, you are really learning to become unpredictable"
A smile brought to Galen's lips "Well you always said I am becoming more dependent on the form, as dangerous it can be combined with my lightning, I'm just practising how quickly I can switch form"
"Doing good so far, as I said you caught me by surprise, but it was a fair fought duel, unless you was cheating by using the force to speed yourself up" Marisa asked suspiciously, eyeing Galen's reaction.
"Nope, no force speed, I would be breathing out of my ass with my muscles over exerted" Galen smile with glee, he was tempted but to beat her fairly was worth the kick to the jaw.
"Well I had my fun, we should be coming out of hyperspace any moment, so I head to the cockpit" Marisa shrugged, stretching her arms behind her back as she walked through sliding door.
Galen walked close behind until stopping, the force warning him, as Marisa walked through a blue blade struck down narrowly hitting Galen, forcing him back.
A young man walked through, his hair short with a Jedi padawan braid overlapping his shoulder, his features soft but the scowl evident, wearing the unconventional Jedi robe, the mix of black and dark brown, the Jedi leapt forward bringing Galen into another fight this time for his life.
"Of all the people" Galen muttered as he parried a forceful blow, before force pushing the Jedi back, denting the side of the room as the Jedi landed on its knees before rushing forward.
"HEY! Watch the ship" Marisa laughed as she watched from the doorway, amused at the sudden duel.
Galen growled as he reversed his grip swiping at the Jedi, deflected, the cocky grin formed, oh now he is pissed.
Lightning trickled amongst his arms as he combined it to his sabre, the shock backed the opponent away, not to eager to get close to his electrifying presence, with the hesitation Galen called upon the force to speed up to him, impaling the jedi through the chest.
The jedi gasped before morphing back into a blue skeletal droid, it's huge lamp like yellow eyes, glaring cheerfully as it clunked backwards as the lightsabres cut off, a hole in the chest still burning from where it has been penetrated..
"Most excellent duel, able to avoid decapitation at the mere second, this has been most useful for my data collection in killing you" Proxy glee's.
"Why did you use the old module of that padawan guy, what's his name Skywanker" Galen questioned puzzled at the choice.
"Excellent question, I would assume a more aggressive approach would be tactically used on an exhausted and weakened opponent, I must have underestimated your physical stamina and mental duress, although I may need an upgrade to combat lightning since it makes my system go into overdrive" proxy hummed as the date wired through his system "I will update your current status, how extraordinary that you easily beaten one of the skilled jedi, the Chosen one of all people"
Galen and Marisa glanced to each other then back to Proxy, looks like they need to go to Coruscant any ways since the employer is there to drop off the data.
"Get yourself repaired Proxy" Marisa chuckled turning to Galen, who is slightly breathing heavily "Hey it was your idea to begin with, besides it has been a while since we updated Proxy's battle data and modules, not a bad idea giving him an insulated upgrade"
"NO!" Galen suddenly blurted "It is my only fail-safe against him, but yeah he isn't becoming a challenge, nice ambush, I will give him that"
Marisa laughed again, amusement etched onto her face at his sudden outburst "Ok tough guy, I think about not giving him the insulation upgrade, on one condition, we hold onto the data for a while, I really want to get my head over the Sith language Decryption"
Galen groaned as they walked out the duelling room, walking past a maintenance room filled with lightsabres and Proxy initiating self-repairs, Proxy little play room, they always joke about, they help Proxy make the lightsabres due to Proxy's lack of force, even Marisa joked of finding a force upgrade to Galen's dismay.
"Your curiosity is going to be your downfall sister" Galen warned as they entered the cockpit, Marisa on the pilot chair "you know the rules do the job and get the funds transferred as soon as, no messing about"
"So says the guy refusing to let go of the explosive blaster back to that pirate employer" Marisa pointed out.
"Have you seen the damage it can do" Galen exaggerated "One shot and it blew up an entire room full of droids"
"Honaka was really pleased that you didn't keep the damn thing, twenty thousand credits it got us, would possibly cost us more if you actually kept it, we wouldn't be having the Phantom in one piece with your trigger gung ho attitude" Marisa spoke rolling her eyes sarcastically, she does not enjoy dealing with pirates but at the time Galen had created a bounty on his head which forced them to take the job.
Still they much to Marisa's anguish they would have to turn in the data before the end of the next star cycle, which means they would be meeting whoever they need to meet, which reminds her.
Note to self: Strap Galen's mouth shut when visiting high profiled employers.