Prelude to Conquest - Part One [Julian]

[Mara]

(((Per mission board/plot discussion thread…)))


[…from The Liberated]

Laden with her gear and armor, Ambria Arcane quickly but accurately jogged through the corridors of the base, heading for the hangar areas in the back that serviced the army personnel stationed there. Besides being eager for a return to action, the dark-skinned woman also knew there was a short timetable for this new mission. She realized the new Mandalore hadn’t been messing around with what she had passionately spoken about at the previous leader’s memorial a few days prior. There would be no time to bask in the glory of the victory at Ordo; they would continue to strike fast and furiously at the Republic to regain what was rightfully theirs.

The special ops lieutenant had been back on Concord Dawn only for a couple of days when she had received the information for the new assignment. She had just returned to her quarters after a light run to feel out her newly repaired prosthetic leg and try to de-stress and clear her head. Ambria had wanted to make sure everything was working properly as it had before sustaining damage during an ill-fated crash on Maridun—she had learned the planet’s name later—that made her miss participating in the battle of Ordo. And the quiet time in the woods outside the base had been the best way to achieve both.

Her datapad had signaled a new message just as she had slipped into a hot bath—the second step in returning her mind and body to its calm and determined readiness and erasing the tragedies of the past weeks. Reaching over for the device, she had read through the missing briefing while soaking her muscles. It was truly that: short and to the point. She had been selected to go to Gargon and take over a listening post in the mountains of the planet held by the Republic. Ambria felt it was a good match, with her skills and prior experience on-planet, and was excited to get involved in something after a bit of a layoff. However, the catch was that the team was leaving that afternoon.

If it hadn’t been for her leg, she would have leaped out of the water. Even so, her practiced movements and balance allowed her to swiftly depart the comfort of the tub. Within minutes Ambria had been dressed and packing up the things she would need for the execution of the mission. Not wanting to carry her armor as well as everything else, she had snapped the amber-colored beskar pieces on over a black body suit. Next followed her two pistols into their holsters. After double-checking her medical supply bag and shouldering it, she had grabbed one of her sniper cases and headed out the door with the knowledge that it was clean and ready to go.

Normally, part of her would have preferred a more formal briefing in one of the conference rooms of the base, something more akin to what she was used to in her decade-plus of military service. There she would have been able to ask questions and receive more details about the mission itself and how best to perform to reach the goal. And she could have met the others involved face-to-face and evaluate them, their strengths and weaknesses. Ambria was a very organized type of person and liked to know what she was heading into and to be able to account for all possible outcomes.

However, she could also see the advantage of this new Mandalore’s protocols; such timing left fewer chance of their strategy being discovered. A surprise attack was the appropriate way to go, especially if the Republic was still reeling from the loss of Gargon. Plus, the game plan seemed straightforward enough, and she was certain in being able to sort out any issues in the hangar or in the journey over. She would just have to live with whomever else was chosen and not discredit her superiors' decisions.

Reaching the hangar, she slowed and looked around for the ship they would be using. A civilian yacht had been procured for them, given a new name and transponder codes, as well as a new paint job to round out the disguise. Since they were heading into heavy Republic space, it would be the perfect cover. Ambria quickly spied the silver and blue craft being prepped towards the open exit of the cavernous space. Workers were hovering around, stowing supplies and fueling. But she didn't see any other soldiers; with a knowing smile hidden behind her helmet that she was the first to arrive, she walked in the direction of the shiny luxury vehicle, her brain already whirring with ideas.

[Julian]

When the messenger first handed her a small container and told her not to look at the contents until the team was en route, Jorra D'Resh found herself puzzled. She also found herself staring down the droid that had delivered it as though a bomb was about to go off, and said droid would no doubt have preferred that she didn't start dismantling it like only a Mandalorian could.

For a tense thirty seconds, Jorra had to seriously consider the efficiency of a scatter-gun blast to the chassis over a high-powered bolt to the head when it came to neutralizing droids.

But, fortunately for the droid --and a split second before Jorra came to the conclusion that using both of those methods simultaneously would yield the best results-- the datapad in her back pocket chirped with the message that was supposed to precede the delivery.

Jorra sat on her desk, told the droid to come in and close the door, leveled a pistol at its head with her right hand, and read from her datapad with the left.

LTC Jorra D'Resh, report to Hangar 6 NLT 1700 GST. Rendezvous with Lt. Ambria Arcane [basic dossier attached] and board designated vessel [codes and specifications attached]. Objective is the appropriation of Republic-owned listening post located on the eponymous planet of the Gargon system. Mission-critical details will be delivered via datacard.

Jorra narrowed her eyes at the droid, but lowered her weapon and took the package. Sure enough, a flimsy little chip sat inside, and with that she finally sent away the traumatized machine. 

Roughly an hour later, Jorra was striding into the bay clad in her gilt beskar'gam and the somewhat unorthodox-looking brown underlay on which it was mounted. Her short, red cape was fastened on at her pauldrons, and the matching golden helmet with red striping was tucked under her arm. It played fairly well with her pale skin, golden eyes, and silver-streaked brown hair, but nothing ever seemed to go with her numerous piercings and strange taste in tattoos.

The footlocker that contained what small amount of extra gear she thought might matter on the trip was set down --her helmet resting on top of it-- to allow for a quick check of her four sidearms; heavy blasters in the hip holsters, and light blasters at the back of her belt. Before beginning the search for her teammate, Jorra stood at the mouth of the hangar to briefly admire the silver yacht that was docked within. The transponder codes downloaded on her stowed datapad had already been forgotten, but she hadn't let The Peculiar Performer slip away quite yet.

Jorra locked her knee and hooked her thumbs into her gun belt, and to all of those bustling around, it probably looked like she was just enjoying the view. But in truth, she had gone into herself, and was enjoying a few nostalgic moments of her days as a bounty hunter; jetting around the galaxy in a fine ship, taking jobs and work on a moment's notice, never knowing what to expect. That feeling of freedom was the second-most thing she missed about those days, and it was the thing that tugged at her heart above all else which kept her from thinking of that period as good.

As her thoughts turned to that, she snapped back to reality. Dwelling would accomplish nothing, and there was a tight schedule to adhere to. Snatching up her helmet and letting it loosely hang by the eye-piece, and shouldering her footlocker, Jorra fully entered the hangar.

After a brief scan of the hanger, Jorra made an educated guess that the only other armored Mandalorian was probably the one she was looking for. Contorting her lips and tongue as she walked towards the other warrior, Jorra whistled loudly and sharply for Ambria's attention.

[Mara]

(((So sorry for the delay…)))


After arriving at the silver-and-blue yacht and discovering its name as the Peculiar Performer, among other things, Ambria had got right down to business. There was no time to waste; the timing of this mission was critical to its success. She had stepped aboard and taken a brief self-guided tour of the interior of the ship, acquainting herself with the placement of various things. Then she had gone ahead and stowed her gear inside the small cargo bay but kept on her amber-colored armor and helmet, wanting to present herself professionally to her mission partner when he or she arrived.

Satisfied that she was ready for departure, more or less, she headed back through and out of the ship, preparing to wait on the hangar floor for the other soldiers to arrive. With her emerald eyes surveying the area and seeing she was still the only one there, she took a few steps away from the hustle and bustle near the ship. Ever since receiving the information for this mission, ideas had been forming in her mind. Ambria had infiltrated Gargon before; she and another Mandalorian had been tasked with training up a cell of hidden ‘rebels.’ Though they were based nowhere near the listening post, she was sure someone there would still be able to deliver some helpful intel.

Keying her helmet’s comlink to the proper frequency, a secure and encrypted channel, she sent the process in motion. A few moments went by as Ambria waited for the decryption process, and then she heard the familiar gravelly voice on the other side. She tilted her head to the side to listen.

“Lieutenant, it’s been a long time.” Warm and not at all surprised. Even considering that she was the only one with that number, his was not a frequency she called often.

“Yes, I know, Gher. I would apologize, but you know how it is.” She paused, a smile crossing her dark skin behind her helmet, knowing the Duros would appreciate the joke. “This isn’t a social call, though.”

“I assumed so,” interrupted Gher Delzog, the Duros leader of the Mandalorian cell on Gargon. In less than a year they had gone from ragtag hopefuls to full-fledged guerrilla fighters, with Ambria’s help. “What is it you need? We will try to do everything we can. We’re all part of the same cause.”

“Yes, we are. Gher, I’m actually coming to Gargon soon, for another mission.” Ambria went on to quickly explain the task ahead, exposing only the facts necessary to give him a general idea of what was happening and what she required of him. “If you could tell me anything about the climate in that area, I’d appreciate it.”

There was a moment or two of silence while the Duros leader excused himself to gather some things and compose his thoughts. Into which a piercing whistle shattered it. Ambria’s HUD brought up an image of an armor-clad Mandalorian striding towards her from behind. Within mere seconds, she cut the connection to Gher with a quick apology and a promise to call back. At almost the same time, she spun to face the incoming soldier, whom she assumed was to be her partner on this mission, and snapped off a brisk salute upon recognizing the higher rank insignia on the golden armor covering the paler-skinned woman. “Sir. Lieutenant Ambria Arcane.”