CC9, stomping into the room wearing full combat-ready armour and bearing a blaster rifle, stares briefly at the food and unsurprisingly declines to eat any.  Instead he stands by a wall.  He's not really designed for sitting down at tables.

"Reporting for briefing, Commander," he grates flatly.

Cor enters closely behind CC9 wearing work clothes and her customary sunglasses.  She gives an awkward half-wave, half-salute sort of gesture and seats herself with an oversized cup of steamy caf (the thing is almost three times the size of a normal cup and bears a cartoon picture of a nexu cub looking grumpy about the large pink bow on its head).

She doesn't move for the caf pots on the side tables (she already has caf) and she doesn't reach for pastries or food, hot or otherwise.  She just sits down and waits.

Heigran entered the briefing area and made straight for the food and drink.  He examined it for a few moments, mumbled something then walked out again.

Grayrhynn walks in, and looking at the rest of the group, he walks over to a wall, and leans against it, his arms crossed. His Droid follows.

Arin walked in to the room with a datapad under his arm and set himself down next to Cor. He gave her a quiet whisper  and then placed his datapad on to the table.

"Eight, this is an official briefing.  If you wish to participate you will sit at the table.  I assure you the chairs are up to wookie tolerances.  CC9, I appreciate you may not be capable of sitting, but could you also join us at the table?"

Mark turned back to his conversation with Zyra.

Ambling in, Devon (quite predictably) headed straight for the munchies before plopping down in the chair next to Cor, whom he greeted with a nod.

The wookie sat at the table without a word, lowering into a chair gingerly.

CC9 steps forward.  Not next to Cor, as she seems to be surrounded by manflesh, but level with the table.  "Of course, Commander," he states.

Cor doesn't seem to mind being surrounded by manflesh.  Though she doesn't draw attention to it either.  That would be...  You know.  Assertive.  She nods briefly to both Devon and Arin, offering them a small smile as she does so.  Her hands curl around her oversized caf cup as if she's enjoying the warmth.

Her datapad pings rather musically and she pulls it out, frowns at something on it and taps a few times.  Then she dims the screen ('locking' it like an iPad) and puts it in front of her.

Heigren walked back into the briefing room carrying an unmarked bottle that looked suspiciously like whiskey.  He took a seat away from the senior officers and poured himself a glass.

Rann, Flash and Sheila all showed up shortly before briefing commencement and helped themselves to food and drink before finding places at the table.

When the chrono read 2000, Mark looked to Cor.  "Ms Lambar, please have one of the B1 droids remind Mr Nallis and Ms Trake that there is a breifing on that they are already late for."


He then flicked on the holoprojector and brought up a sector map, the same one he had used a few days ago for the original briefing.

"Our timetable has moved up.  A convoy is heading out tomorrow, heading for the military staging area in Sector D-71.  Capturing this convoy not only helps our course, it hurts the Imperials."

"Now our basic plan is not changed.  I have recieved no submissions requesting alteration so unless this briefing highlights anything, this will be the final plan."

He pointed to the map.  An area of the map, a path approximately 500km in radius appeared.  "I esitmate the convoy will travel somewhere in this path.  Without a detailed flight plan we can narrow it no more."

"Now the Nightshrike will travel along this path at quarter speed, giving the convoy plenty of opportunity to catch us and overtake.  Mr Allen and I will be in fighters attached to the hull.  They will be completely powered down, receiving all life support and communications through the tether line.  Between this and the Nightshrike's own shields, only a detailed close-range scan would expose us."

"Mr Branden and Ms Masters will be flying in close formation with the Nightshrike.  They will run with passive sensors only and as close to the ship as possible.  That way they will either be missed by most civilian sensors or mistaken for a single escort ship."

"Once the convoy is sighted by the Nightshrike, the ship will adjust it's course so the convoy will fly close to us.  We will maintain the deception as long as possible but the TIE's superior sensors will eventually detect all the ships.  At that point, the Nightshrike will turn and aim straight for the freighters.  The jamming suite will also be activated.  Mr Allen and I will detach and will swing to port and hook back in to attack, whilst Mr Branden's pair will do the same to starboard.  We will use a modification of a technique know as a Tallon Weave.  Ms Lambar gave me the idea from something she said during a planning session with Mr Branden.  In a Tallon Weave, ships weave in and out of each other, causing any enemies who pursue them to become vulnerable to fire from the other team.  To further support the cause, the two flight pairs will conduct this weave directly in front of the Nightshrike, forcing TIE's not only to face fire from the ships, but from the Nightshrike as well."

"Once the TIE's are finished or reduced in threat, the Nightshrike will focus on disabling freighters.  Mr Branden, your wing pair will also assist in this if all fighters are defeated.  Meanwhile, Mr Allen and I will fly escort for our transport."

"The transport will have been following in the wake of the convoy.  It is not uncommon for civilian ships to stay close to military ships, especially in areas that have seen pirate activity.  Once the action starts, BB2-CC9 and his team will choose the right time to attempt to board and capture.  Remember the more ships we capture, the better.  Anything not captured will be destroyed.  The transport will have twelve civilian crew who can operate the freighters.  The boarding team's sole goal needs to be securing the ships."

"As each ship is secured, the Nightshrike will transmit co-ordinates for departure.  The freighters will make for safety at best possible speed, the fighters and Nightshrike providing cover.  If things go bad, Mr Branden's wing pair will attempt to flee with the fighters.  Mr Allen and I will need to reattach to the Nightshrike as our ships lack hyperdrive."

"The fighters shall be known as Raider Wing.  We shall use our Talon Numbers as part of our callsign.  So I am Raider 1, Mr Allen Raider 2, Mr Branden Raider 5, and  so on.  Mr Branden and Ms Masters shall be armed with two concussion missiles each, use them wisely.  The last missile shall be on my ship.  Mr Allen will no doubt still rack up the highest kill score, even with this handicap."

"Now Ms Jax and B2-CC9 will give their breifings please.  Then we will have questions."

"Challenge accepted," The Duros nods, putting his caf down and crossing his arms as he waits for the droid to start doing whatever it is droids do when they're not being shot by him.

Zyra looks to CC9.  "Shall I go first?"

"Well there's not much to add.  I will pilot and act as commander.  Mika has the co-pilot seat, Cor has the Communications room.  Between you two you'll have to organise all ship operations including the jamming.  Rann, you'll have the ion cannon.  Cor, would it be possible to program a couple of your droids to man the other guns?  I think we can find better use for Heigran then a gun."

"Our goal is simple.  Get the ship as close to the convoy as we can undetected.  Then we need to jam communications and disable all ships.  Then we cover the escape, providing the astrogation calculations for all ships."


She gestures to CC9.  "Your turn!"

Mika comes stepping into the briefing, perhaps one minute past the time specified.  She slumps nto a chair, muttering something about bloody shoddy chrono's.  But she quickly settles down and pays attention to Sheppards and then Zyra's briefings.

Cor nods to Sheppard and speaks into her commlink but presumably the B1 doesn't find Mika.

She remains attentive and aware, silencing her datapad when it pings at her again.

CC9 nods once to Zyra and then speaks.

"Speed is essential when we take the freighters.  To this end we will split into two teams and strike two at the once, as per previous discussions.  The transport we have available will be specifically designed to attach to these freighters for maintenance so we have the ideal tool.  Strike Team Alpha will consist of myself, Devon Kismet and a B1 shield droid.  Strike Team Bravo will consist of Exilim Nallis, Grayrhynn and a B1 shield droid.  The freighters we will be striking will be given designations Targets 1 to 4, assigned from foremost to rearmost.

"All organic team members will wear basic flight suits in addition to armour in case the environment is vented, accidentally or otherwise.  Once the command is given the transport will attach to Target 1.  It will remain attached until the airlock is secured so we cannot afford an extended firefight.  Heavy blasters, gas grenades and stun grenades will be utilised throughout the fight.

"As per simulation heaviest resistance is expected at the airlock.  Once the stormtroopers there are downed or driven back Strike Team Alpha will proceed to secure the freighter with four civilian crew members.  These crew members are not to be exposed to hostilities if it can be helped as they are too valuable a resource to lose.  The transport will meanwhile proceed to Target 2 and repeat the boarding procedure with Strike Team Bravo commanded by Exilim Nallis.  If circumstances allow Strike Team Alpha will secure Target 3 and Strike Team Bravo will secure Target 4.

"Very heavy use of psychological tactics will be partial key to forcing the Imperial Navy crew to surrender.  The faster they give up their ship the faster we can have it under our control.  To that end I will require the assistance of Talon members who can craft armour to create metal masks out of scrap for each organic boarding member, including the civilian crews.  I will speak privately with armour-crafting volunteers after the briefing to specify what I want.

"The bulk of the Imperial Navy must be spared if possible.  A broadcast to the freighter's speakers will be made specifying that if surrender is not offered every single living creature aboard the freighter will be slaughtered.  This is a psychological tactic meant to break morale; I want them alive.  They will be secured, loaded into an escape pod and jettisoned toward the nearest civilised settlement.  If the crews on a targeted freighter know that surrender means survival they will be considerably more likely to offer it once their stormtrooper escort is dead.  It will also help if they are alive to spread word of us as a pirate band."

One metal hand gestures to Zyra.  "We will be relying upon the Nightshrike for situational data.  If the command comes to withdraw then we withdraw immediately.  It is not expected that we will have the luxury of securing all four freighters.  As a result each secured freighter will receive four of the twelve civilian crew we are assigned, not three; if we manage to secure the fourth vessel Strike Team Bravo will pilot it themselves.  Grayrhynn has the ability to fly transports; Exilim Nallis and their shield droid will assist as they can."

Then he takes a slight step backward to indicate he has finished speaking.

"Now we've heard the team leader plans does anyone have any ideas or comments to add?"

Grayrhynn nods throughout the plan, recognizing the tactics involved. He growls in his language, where the Droid translates. "A bold plan. The use of masks may intimidate, but if these are stormtroopers, that may not help. plus, i feel a mask for myself may not be needed...a angry wookie can be very intimidating"

<ooc: just to let you know guys, my pc at home has died (power supply), but i can access with my ipad....just a little slower typing moves out, etc)

"It is not the stormtroopers we are attempting to intimidate.  We have blasters for them."  CC9 inclines his head toward Grayrhynn slightly.  "You will be wearing a flight suit as we will but a mask may indeed not be needed for you as the enemy will not anticipate your relative passive nature.  However if time permits a mask shall be made for you."

"I have a question," Cor says softly, though loud enough to be heard.  "Do we have any idea why the convoy is heading out early?  Moving four transports with Imperial escort must take considerable planning.  Have they received some word that they might be targeted specifically, perhaps?"

"I really like the idea of the civilians wearing masks.  It will further help to hide their identities.  These are people with families.  We must ensure their anonymity is protected, even in death."

She turned to Cor  "I was wondering Cor, do you have spare droid heads?  I must say I always found B2-CC9 to be very fearsome looking.  That was before I found out he's just a big cuddly bantha cub in an armoured shell.  I'm sure putting the teams in B2 masks would have the desired effect."

"As to the change in schedule, it's simply a matter of intelligence.  One of my sources reported the convoy to me.  It is a different convoy then the one we planned to hit.  It's risky to change convoys, but this one has the added benefit of denying a sector group fuel.  It may only hamper them for a few days but we can do a lot with a few days."

"Oh, I see.  That is... considerably less alarming.  I do not have any spare droid heads," Cor says as she pulls her datapad towards her, "but I have been keeping an eye on dBay for the last few days looking for spare parts - it is a sort of online auction house specifically for droid enthusiasts.  We may get lucky and find someone locally who will be willing to part with them before tomorrow."

Unlocking the datapad she starts quickly tapping.

CC9 declines to comment on Zyra's analogy.