As soon as they reached their destination, Kyvarr hopped out of the truck.  She'd heard about the fallen man but this was no time for people to mourn.  She didn't know who was in charge so she shouted orders until someone spoke up.

"Come on people.  We need to secure this area and find what we can.  Be careful nobody has barricaded themselves inside.

For a moment Kyvarr might have thought that perhaps the gangers had chased them:  the high pitched scream a swoop engine made at near top speed.  Then the bike flashed overhead and banked, decelerating and coming in to land next to the truck - it was Devon.

Devon hopped off the bike and looked around.
"from one pile of crap to another..." he muttered as he handed the blaster rifle to Kyvarr.  "Found this.  Figured we could use it.  How about a couple of the bikers stay airborne as spotters - make sure nothing else goes wrong."

Mika pulls e swoop up short and powers it down.  She tries to hop off the bike, but ends up falling to the ground.  While there are tears in her eyes, her face looks blank and she's clearly dazed.  She pulls herself to her feet, stumbles against a wall and uses it to help her get to her feet.  She seems out of it, but the only sign of damage is the scorching on her clothes and the seared hair.

Five is hit. No chute…. Dohr let out a deep sigh, but didn't slow the truck down. The ambush had been a partial success to the gangers then and a great loss to them. Of course he hadn't really even had a chance to meet the human and didn't feel grief due to his death on a personal level, but he still felt like one of the good guys had been lost. Their numbers had been small to begin with and the impact of having one pair of hands less would be substantial. Just as the rest of the convoy reached the remainders of what had once been an Akari City Enforcement station, a thought hit the doctor.

He raised the Flash's comlink to his mouth: "Doc here. I take it this channel of yours is encrypted?" Without waiting for a response he carried on: "Five's comms unit. It may compromise the security of our communication. Do you have a secondary encryption key available in order for us to keep on using a secure   line? I am afraid recovering the body of your teammate along with his comlink is not possible at the moment."

Dohr parked the speeder truck as close to the station as he was able, but with its front facing the road in case they'd need to leave the place in a hurry. "…And we have arrived at the police station or what is left of it." Ending the call, the Kel Dor got out of the vehicle and limped next to Kyvarr. "Agreed. It does not look too promising, but perhaps the insurgents were in too much of a hurry to loot the place properly." The doctor turned had a look around to see whether the corpses still had weapons beside them or if those had been taken by the gang members. He also made a mental note of possible defensive fighting positions.

As Devon's speeder arrived at the scene screaming, Dohr reflexively drew his pistol from within his robes, but quickly relaxed as he recognized Rian. Apparently he'd dealt with the ambusher as the human handed a nasty looking modded rifle over to the Cathar. Dohr pointed at the weapon with a finger. "That probably will not be of as much use as your… build-in weapons inside the building. I can stay outside and keep an eye out for any incoming hostiles." He opened the hand as if to say: 'Please give me the rifle'. The doctor then remembered Kyvarr's broken leg. "Unless of course you would prefer the guard duty yourself?

22:36, Today: Dohr Veen rolled 12 using 1d20+1. Spot roll.

"If I am provided a weapon," CC9 states, "I would be well-suited to guard duty.  I am less agile in enclosed spaces.  The M4 droids would act well as additional surveillance and defence if need be."

Kyvarr hands the rifle to Fiarr.  "Give me your pistol and take this.  I know you're a good shot with one of these.  You cover our approach."

She then walked over to the battle droid.  "Droid, I assume you're standard programming has been upgraded.  State your designation and parameters."

A small voice in the back of her mind told Kyvarr she wasn't in command here but the sergeant in her told her to act.  If whoever was in command spoke up she would comply with any officer.

Fiarr accepted the weapon and began checking it over.  Knowing Kyvarr she had an assault planned already.

"Am I on sniper duty or do you want me coming in with you?"

Devon slumped against the side of the truck and pinched the bridge of his nose.
_{"Great, now I'm in charge..."} he muttered very quietly.  Then he took a deep breath and hurried over to Fiarr and Dohr.

"To be honest, I would rather have you inside with us." he told the Bothan.  "I've heard how good you are at sneaking about."  He grinned and nodded his head in Mika's direction - referring to Fiarrs' successful pickpocket attempt.  Lowering his voice a little so that Mika wouldnt hear, Devon spoke earnestly to Dohr.
"Doc - get her moving.  She's my friend and I dont like to see her like this, but... we dont have time right now.  Get her functional."


Devon raised his voice slightly so everyone could hear him.
"We dont want to hang about here, just in case someone less friendly than us comes along.  So lets arm the Doombot" he pointed to the captured rifle and CC9 "and leave him and the M4s to stand watch whilst we head inside and search.  We're looking for anything that can help us - specifically stuff that will help us reach the ship and defend it once we get there."

The shipjacker turned his attention specifically to CC9.  "Make sure we got transport to come back to, and get the M4s scout our perimeter - check over the bodies for useful loot, but mainly I dont want anyone sneaking up on us, OK?"

Raising his voice to address the group again, Devon started scrambling over the rubble that surrounded the station.  "Now, lets get moving - I wanna be out of here in five minutes tops."

With his back turned, Devon swallowed nervously and hoped none of the others had picked up on how uncomfortable he was being in charge.  But mainly he hoped like hell they would actually follow him...
This message was last edited by the player at 11:10, Tue 04 Mar 2014.

Mika looks down the street in the direction that Arin's swoop exploded and her eyes are moist.  She steps away from the wall, but quickly looses her balance and stumbles against her swoop.  She looks about owlishly, her eyes a bit unfocused.

The droid watches Kyvarr in silence for just long enough to make it clear that he doesn't have to answer her if he chooses not to.  "My designation is B2-CC9.  I am a non-standard upgraded Baktoid Combat Automata B2-series super battle droid, colloquially called 'SBD'.  I have heuristic processor capabilities, am capable of independent decision-making and am not slaved to a remote processor.  My programming and capabilities are directly implied by my make and model designation.  In addition I am programmed for battle tactics, demolitions, armour crafting, piloting light craft and repair.  I do not clean dishes, cook meals or walk pets."  He turns to face the Cathar, looking down at her.  He looms, but it's probably more of a design feature than anything intentional.  "My mission parameters are... flexible."

Dohr stood by and watched the exchange between the battle droid, Kyvarr and Fiarr in silence. He had been ignored completely by the Cathar warrior, but he let it pass with an invisible shrug. He didn't take it personally. Giving the rifle to the Bothan was an obvious choice as Kyvarr knew her and her abilities beforehand. He… He was just a limping doctor in a robe, not necessarily the most dangerous- or capable-looking character.

Dohr was about to say he'd be fine heading inside too when Rian joined in. Seven made the general mistake of thinking a doctor of something a doctor of everything. It was a quite common one and Dohr had grown used to it during his years. But even if it wasn't quite as precarious a situation to ask a doctor of medicine to fiddle with someone's mind as it would be to ask a psychiatrist to perform an organ operation, it still might be a path to lifelong trauma. Fortunately for Rian and Mika, Dohr was not a total stranger to treating mental injuries. The Kel Dorian smiled behind his mask, but didn't know whether the human recognized the expression behind it or not.

"You do understand I am no shrink, right? I can of course have a word with her. But as you said, we are a bit tight on schedule right now. So there really is no time for soothing words or pats on the head and I cannot give you any guarantees she will get over losing a friend any time soon." Dohr looked Rian in the eye and gave him a nod before heading towards Kimy and her speeder.

On his first encounter with the young girl, K, Dohr had had no clue she was part of the mercenary group. But even after the short time he'd had checking out her condition after the crash, he was sure the human was not a soldier. Nevertheless, this was not the time and place for having a longer talk about life and death with her. He was going to have use a heavy-handed, or mean as some seemed to think, approach. He didn't really like it and she certainly would not, but he hadn't done his masters in psychiatry. He'd learned to treat shell shock the hard way.

The doctor limped to Mika and despite of what he had said before, laid his four-fingered hand on her shoulder. "His bravery probably saved the rest of us. Your friend is gone, but you do not have to let him go or forget him. There will be plenty of time for remembrance later on.  But right now… right now we need to act." The hand squeezed hard enough for her to register it, but not too hard to hurt her. "I know it is tough, but you need to wipe your eyes and swallow your tears. Your team needs you now. So choose. Either make them proud or let them down."

The doctor felt really bad about the last words he had said as he walked away from the young woman. He hoped he had time after all the mess on Akari to apologize and explain. But right now he didn't need her to love or like him. He needed her to snap out of and start working.

---

OOC: I'm not sure which rolls to use to show Dohr's skills in such a situation. So here's a couple. :)

20:47, Today: Dohr Veen rolled 26 using 1d20+10. Profession: Medic.
21:02, Today: Dohr Veen rolled 24 using 1d20+11. Diplomacy.
This message was added to by the player at 19:26, Tue 04 Mar 2014.

Mika looks at Dohr, obviously not following what he was saying very well.  "Didn't know him well, seemed a good guy though."  She seems rather disoriented and only marginally responsive.

"Sir."  Kyvarr responded to Devon's instructions.  She quickly reallocated the weapons - rifle to CC9, pistol to Fiarr.

She then turned to Dohr and Mika.  "Can she fight Doc?  If not, stick her in the speeder out of the way.  I need you ready to go in with us in thirty seconds."

She then turned to the Duros.  "You lack a weapon, take mine."  She pulled a DC-18 heavy blaster she hadn't revealed before now.  "Take care of it, I'll want it back."

Giving her blaster away now left her unarmed but to date nobody had expressed a proficiency for hand to hand combat.

She walked over to Seven and saluted.  "Sir.  Team is ready.  B2-CC9 is remaining on guard, Ten is no use to us.  I have Five troops, including myself ready for action.  All are armed but me."

"Your orders sir?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Wed 05 Mar 2014.

Flash accepted the heavy pistol with a grateful nod.  "Nice weapon.  Illegal on this planet of course, but nice.  Glad someone thought to give me a weapon."  The last comment was thrown in Devon's direction.  He wasn't upset, he knew Devon had to be very uncomfortable, but he couldn't pass up a chance to rub it in.

"Uh Rian, I should point out I have no weapon and while I've seen a few firefights I'm no soldiers.  If you need a diplomat or a negotiator, I'm your guy.  Else unless the building is full of nubile nymphomaniacs I'll be more hindrance then help."

Dohr smiled behind his breathing apparatus at Kyvarr's order. According to what he had heard earlier, the mercenary group didn't have a proper chain of command in place, but the Cathar seemed to be very much accustomed to one. As was he. Or had been a very, very long time ago. Since then Dohr Veen had crisscrossed the galaxy working with and for various more or less unorganized groups. Naturally he had no idea of the effectiveness of this particular band of heroes, but in his experience even a low organizational structure helped soldiers work more effectively. Now… Now there was a third person within the last 30 minutes or so giving him orders. Dohr dismissed the thought with a shrug. Although he probably outranked them all in military hierarchy (though it made no sense comparing armies of different species), he had no trouble accepting orders from a person who clearly was in charge - soldier or not.

So instead of questioning the order, Dohr simply nodded to Kyvarr and turned to face Mr. Teckla. "Vyn, perhaps you could give me a hand with K here? I am sure you know her much better than I do and might have more success in bringing her back to reality from whatever bubble she happens to be in right now." The Doc cast a look at Mika and shook his head. "Looks like we are going to share the guard shift with B2-CC9."

Limping back to Mika, Dohr decided to give her the drill sergeant treatment first. He gently took put his hands on both sides of her head and turned her until their eyes met. "Ok soldier, snap out of it! If you want to live, we need you moving. NOW!"

---

OOC: If Mika still doesn't respond and if Heigren can't get her moving either, Dohr will lift her (hopefully with Heigren's help) into the back of the truck.

Heigren shrugged.  "Well I could have sex with her in the back of the speeder.  That's the best anti-depressant I know of but she's liable to cut off parts of my anatomy.  Besides, Kyvarr said you and I are going in.  Grab your blaster doc.  CC9 gets to play nurse it seems."

Devons responed to Flash by simply giving his friend the Finger.
As he lead his little group of troops (as Kyvarr insisted on calling them) toward the station he outlined his plan.

"Ok, first off - if Vyns guess about whats in there is right... then we are STAYING."  It seemed even with the stress of the situation and someone channelling a drill sergeant breathing down his neck, Devon just couldnt stay 100% serious.


"We sweep through fast, scouting the place.  Don't grab anything at first, just locate stuff.  Carrying loot around will slow us down...  once we've done a sweep and know whats there then we grab the best stuff on our way back out.  Call it in if you find any survivors.  No-one wanders off alone - everyone needs to always have at least one other person in sight all the time - we stay in touch via comms... speaking of comms - "

Devon activated his Talon commlink.
"Hey Eleven, I know this is a long shot, but are you able to get us a floor plan for this place?  Save us wasting time searching through all the jockstraps in the laundry room."

Mika doesn't make the connection that Cor was talking to her via the comlink or that Heigren is suggesting sexually assaulting her (perhaps jokingly), but she does note Dohr's more direct approach.  Looking at him with her eyes wide, only partially recognizing, responds with a meek, "Moving where?"

To Mika: "Inside the truck. Hurry up now!" Dohr nearly pushed the girl in and slammed the doors shut behind her before turning to the "Doombot. "I am sure you will do so without a need to remind you, but while you are taking charge of the guard duties, make sure she is safe."

Then the Kel Dorian hurried back to the others just in time to hear Devon's plan. Immediately he shook his head and voiced his concern. "Negative. We have no intel of the building. We do not know if the hostiles have set up an OP or even some kind of a base camp in there. They may also have mined the place. Unlikely, but possible. We are already too few to spread out and take the place by storm. We cannot risk losing any more of our number. Therefore, we will check the building out room by room, floor by floor. It will take a bit longer, but cuts down the risks a lot. We will divide the group into two - one for each side of a hallway. Left side:  Fiarr, Kyvarr, Rian. Right side: Forim, myself and Heigren. Fiarr and Forim take points of your groups. "

Dohr kept a pause letting his words sink in. It was clear the officer inside him had taken over, pushing the formerly more diplomatic doctor into the background. "But your proposal was good, Rian. We will make sure the building is clear of hostiles before salvaging any usable gear. Make mental notes of anything interesting on the way. After we have gone through the whole place, we can come back quickly and pick up anything we need. As we move in, the M4's go first to give us information on the entrances. They will act as our scouts as well as decoys. And be sure to call out clear rooms or any the number and location of possible hostiles. Any questions?"

Devon listened to Dohrs ideas - it was possible some of the relief he felt at getting advice showed on his face.  And Cor had suggested he take advice from the others.

"Good point - we do it your way.  Except I want to leave the M4s out here with CC9 to give us more eyes out on the perimeter.  I dont want CC9 trying to establish a perimeter AND baby-sit our vehicles - " he didnt add 'and Mika' but the implication was clear "with just his own eyes to rely on.  I'd love to have them in there with us, but I think we need them out here more."
Peering past Dohr, Devon looked at CC9.

"What do you think?" he asked the towering droid.

The battle droid gazed at Devon with no expression, except his usual battle droid expression.  "I compute that our odds of success in rescuing the mistress derease with each minute we delay."

"The best use of the M4's would be to load them with any grenade or explosive device we can make and have them fire them through the windows.  Tactical probability suggests any defenders are located there."

"I like how you think." Kyvarr replies to CC9's suggestion.  "Problem is I'm not sure we have any grenades and we don't have time to jury-rig any.  Sure would have helped with the doors too."

Mika turns towards the truck, blinking a bit.  As she steps on the threshold, she shakes her head and doesn't feel anything rattling.  She looks back at Dohr and her eyes seem more in focus, like she's actually seeing the doctor now.

"I...  I think I'm good coming along."  Turning towards her swoop, her footing more steady, she pops the cargo panel on the swoop to release the droid and gather her belongings.  "C'mon, before we get left behind."  Her step is still a bit unsteady, but improving with each step.

Fiarr moved to stand with Devon in the left flank team.  Her blaster was still holstered but easily drawn at a moment's notice.  She looked at Rian then Dohr.  Since she wasn't sure which one was in charge, she asked both.

"Are we doing this?"