"Eleven, this is Two.  I'm giving my commlink to one of our 'friends' callsign Doc.  He and Seven will coordinate with you."

"Noted.  Please be advised the attacks on the spaceport have lapsed.  Security forces seem optimistic but I suspect the gangs are simply massing for a larger attack."

"Two, also be advised: I am sending the team Five's current location in the Understreets, as reported by his M4 droid."

Each member of the Talons who has a datapad or similar device (except, obviously, for Sheila, Arin and Mika) gets a map 'ping' with Arin's approximate location.

"Eleven? Doc here on behalf of Two. We will bug out in five. Any new intel on your lost companions?" Dohr hadn't of course received the data sent by Cor and didn't know they already had more information available about the location of the lost trio. "The insurgents have so far ignored our truck, but looking at the other vehicles coming in, that may not be the case as we move out. We have also pretty much ran out of medical gear and resupplying will probably not be possible right now. But unless your colleagues are able to move fast on their own, I consider the truck our best option to get them to safety. Flying in an unarmed transport is not an option right now."

"Hello, Doc.  A pleasure to meet you.  I concur that a ground-level vehicle would be best - while it means weaving around debris it also presents the lowest threat to locals.  Reports on the holovid channels suggest that the majority of vehicular battles are occurring in the air, not on the ground."  After a moment she adds, "I cannot guarantee your safety when you approach the spaceport.  It is difficult keeping clear what is going on outside.  The gangs have backed off for the moment but they may perceive a vehicle attempting to get into the spaceport as a threat.  Or at least an opportunity.  Even if they let you pass the security teams may suspect a trap and turn you away regardless."

"Seven here - some brasshole just made it clear that if we aint out of here fast he's going to come back and shoot Two.  And probably me as well - so move fast.  We're out of here in about four and a half minutes."

There was a pause.  Those who knew Devon well enough could almost hear the mental cogs spinning.
"Eleven... for the moment we are going to go scout out Fives location - has there been any more contact with any of our missing people?  Also, can you work on finding out if security WILL let us in to the spaceport?  If they wont, we need to work out alternatives.  Will they let you - or ships - out?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:03, Mon 10 Feb 2014.

"Why yes, Seven, I shall just pop out and have a nice chat with the security forces whilst they are anticipating attack from a group of gang members with heavy weapons, shall I?  If I do not lock up before I get halfway across the hangar which, I assure you, I almost certainly would."  Cor's voice is as pleasant as ever.  "My suggestions are to attempt chasing off the gangs if you have the weaponry to engage them or try to bluff your way through.  As for the situation with the ships, from what I can gather over the speaker system the security forces do not wish to let people take off because there is heavy weaponry outside but it sounds as if people are threatening to riot if their ships are not released.  As for the others, Arin has reported his location, which I have sent on.  No word from our missing  members."

Damned. Sorry. Forgot to post the comms traffic in here as well.

---

"Acknowledged, Eleven. During my stay on Det Akari I have had numerous dealings with many if not all of the gangs. They know me and respect my status in their… society. In normal situations they would not touch me or those with me, but this of course is quite far from being a normal situation. As for us getting to the spaceport, I would not worry overly much about the security as long as we can get past the gangers. Naturally we will need to approach their defense line very carefully and preferably without the vehicle, but if we manage to talk ourselves past the insurgents then I believe we will be fine. Perhaps if we could try to pass our truck as an emergency vehicle, we might have a chance to get through more easily."

Dohr took breath and considered the second option, which in his mind was not very wise given the equipment and manpower they had at hand. "If we had enough firepower to force the attackers to take cover for long enough for us to slip through, then attacking the gangs might be an option. But right now, I do not see any way of pulling it off without proper weapons. And I agree with seven. Our chances of getting through the security would increase significantly should you let them know we are coming."

After another pause, Dohr called Cor again making sure the others heard him as well. "I am sure you are all well aware of what happens if the insurgents take over the spaceport… or when they will. Getting off the planet on your shuttle would probably be very, very difficult, if not impossible. And all hell will break loose once the gangers get their hands on the ships. But I agree on what you said. The lapse in the attacks seems to indicate the leaders of the gangs are planning a more massive strike to punch a hole in the Sec's defense. That will give us some time to save your friends. But how long exactly, that would be very hard to estimate."

Cor listens quietly to Dohr's messages, thinking the matter over thoroughly.  "If you still have your identification with you, Doc, I suggest that you find some gangers prior to escort you to their blockade and request a short window to get into the spaceport under the proviso that you will not assist the security forces in maintaining functional troops against the gangs, that you are present purely to assist civilians.  I shall try to contact the security forces by comms and convince them that you need to be let in.  Have one of our team give the hangar's serial number to confirm your identifications with me if they require it.

"Do not, I repeat, do not attempt to sneak into the spaceport from some other angle.  If the gangs do not perceive that as a threat action then the security forces almost certainly will.  Showing your identification to the security forces should help get you through.  Be aware you may need to surrender your weapons to the security forces or the gangs to ensure your passive intent."

"Solid thinking, Eleven. I will try to make a couple calls to get in touch with my contacts within the gangs. Perhaps we can get them to pass the word to the group attacking the port beforehand. As for telling the gangs I will not help the security forces... That probably would not be a good idea. The whole reputation of the crazy Kel Dorian is based on the fact that I am neutral and will help anyone in need, no matter which side she stands on. Some of the gangs have tried to persuade or even force me to work on their side, only to quickly realize the drawbacks of such an arrangement. Sometimes it has taken a little convincing, but in the end we all have come to an agreement on the issue."

Dohr thought about it for a second or two. "In fact, there is a threat in me suddenly saying I am only on their side, that they will consider 'The Doc' a turncoat; that I may now bow to the one who has the biggest guns or most money. The gangers have learned to trust my word and I do not take lying lightly. But it was a good suggestion and I will keep it in mind in case I otherwise fail to convince them to let us pass. You have a quick mind, Eleven. I like it."

About to cut the call for now, Dohr thought of something. "Eleven, how is the general status at the spaceport? I have a couple of very… let us say personal items of great importance stowed away at the customs lockers. Would you consider it possible for me or someone else… even you?... to pick them up without a great deal of additional trouble?"

"Thank you for your compliments, Doc.  I believe, though, that you have misunderstood me: I suggested telling you explain you intend only to help civilians who are injured.  That would be considerably more neutral than if you were assisting just anyone who needed it - because once you are in the spaceport the only non-civilian casualties nearby would be security forces."

There is a pause and some tapping.  "Either way it was merely a suggestion.  What you tell the gangs, or even whether you simply eliminate all opposition, is secondary to your securing passage into the spaceport with as many team members as possible."

More tapping.  "There is no mention of damage to the spaceport from the inside.  You will likely be able to pick up your belongings on the way to the ship.  I am unable to leave the ship at present and I doubt a droid going through a secure locker would be taken particularly well."

"Eleven, I believe you said you're in contact with Five.  Is he aware of the trouble at the spaceport.  We really need him and Ten to regroup with us as soon as possible.  Can you advise them?"

"I have not given them a report on that matter yet, no, as they have their own objective and cannot both seek for CC9 and Three and regroup at the spaceport simultaneously."  Cor sounds thoughtful.  "I can send another M4 to their last known coordinates but otherwise cannot currently contact them until they send one of their droids out of the non-contact zone."

She can be heard softly talking to someone nearby.  "M4-3, go to these coordinates.  Maintain contact and advise on the spaceport attack as you go but do not linger there.  Report to Talon Three and commence alpha-five protocols or, is Three is not present, find CC9 and commence beta-nine protocols.  Ten and Five have gamma-level authority until CC9 or Three are found.  Provide the report I have uploaded to your memory once you have initiated one or more of those command protocols."  There are a few answering beeps.

"M4-3 sent to their last known location," Cor confirms.  "It will provide a full report."

Since Heigren put his comm on 'speaker' I'm adding all recent comments to the comm thread.

"For my part," Cor says, "I would rather like it if the spaceport were not taken.  I doubt very much if the lifestyle of a ganger's plaything would suit my complexion.  However unless you are about to be chased out of St Denao airspace I advise no course of action until M4-3 reports back."

"Will do.  We're a lot closer to the spaceport then five was when we lost comms so we can wait a short while."

"M4-3 advises that CC9 has been found and repaired, while Three has been taken to an unidentified medical facility by an ambulance before Ten and Five could get there.  She is critically injured and will be at a very major medical installation.  Furthermore Five is dissatisfied that you went to the hospital and intends to order you to search it for Three, then bring her back in a heavier speeder.  His plan for the spaceport appears to be 'hoping' it stays out of the hands of the gangs long enough for us to get off-world."

She pauses and a few taps can be heard.  "CC9 will contest that as soon as he hears the ship is in danger.  Both his tactical programming and his loyalty programming will compel him to place the spaceport as a higher priority, particularly as there is no way of telling how long it would take to find Three."

More taps.  "I am sending M4-3 to St Denao's to ask permission to locate Three under her registered ID.  There is less chance of them turning away a hovering messenger drone who can float above their heads, out of their way, so if they allow it acess we can leave it searching the wards for Three.  Not an ideal solution but one most likely to be accepted by the hospital staff and it means we do not have to choose one objective at the complete expense of the other."

"Good plan Eleven.  I was going to go back in with a datapad picture and a comm code to leave at the main desk but your droid will work better.  Do you have other messenger droids to send to other hospitals in the area?  There's no telling where Three might end up."

"None that are prepped and ready, no.  My PKs are bringing in more of the crates but it will take time to unpack them, security code them and program them.  Still, if the hospital staff are unwilling to give M4-3 access to search it will be a moot point in any case."

"Well if they wont let an unobtrusive droid search the hospitals then we have no chance.  Besides such a search would take hours, even days.  We can't afford the time but a droid can.  We can even leave the droid behind and arrange it to have Holonet access when it finds Three.  Assuming the Holonet is active by then."

"Eleven.  You have access to droids.  Any chance of getting an aerial view of the situation?  I appreciate it's high risk but we need to assess the enemy strength.  Or can you gain any kind of data from the security feeds or satellite surveillance?"

"Hammer.  The three hovering droids that I have prepared are already engaged.  Two should come back into communication soon.  I have an R2 unit attempting to link into the security system as we speak but caution is needed.  The security team will not take kindly to visiting aliens hacking into their cameras while the spaceport is under attack.

A decision is needed.  If Three has medical care then she is no longer a priority.  Your priority is the spaceport, and I do not say that purely because I happen to be sitting in the ship.  Do you believe you can safely recon the gangs around the spaceport to assess their strengths?  In your swoops, perhaps?"

"Understood Eleven.  Hammer agrees on course of action.  Without droids, swoops offer the best option for aerial recon.  But I'm not in command here."

Mika starts as the carrier wave static on her comlink switches over to an understandable voice, that of 11.  Pulling out her comlink, she clicks on the secure channel.  "This is 10.  5 and I, and CC(, are no long in communication black-out.  As best as we can determine, 3 was medivac'd out.  We're in the vicinity of the hotel.  What's the plan?"

Sure, she's probably rehashed some of the stuff that the others already knew, but a rehash wouldn't hurt anything while not sharing some important tidbit could mean quite a bit.

"Welcome back Ten.  Situation is the spaceport is under siege and we need a plan to get to Eleven.  We're currently at St Denao's Hospital though we've outstayed our welcome here.  Hammer has suggested we perform a recon of the spaceport with our swoops.  Has Five got any fresh instructions?"