K finally seemed to come to her senses and grabbed some gear before joining the others. Dohr nodded to her and simply replied: "Good. Take the rear of Hammer's group." The Major then turned towards the battle droid and others. "Hammer is right. We do not have the time to build bombs right now. But your reasoning is good. The windows present a clear threat to our approach. That is why we will split the M4's. One will stay with B2-CC9 and scout the perimeter. Whomever controls it, give its command to B2, unless already done. The second M4 will move ahead to the building. It will first scan those barred windows and then check both of the entrances for any signs of life. In the meanwhile we will move in using the debris as cover. Spread out to make smaller targets… Unless M4's information says otherwise, we will head for the vehicle entrance as the main door would be the more obvious entry point. It should give us the needed seconds to get inside before contact."

Dohr waits for a moment for any objections before moving on. "B2, as the rest of us get within blaster range of the building, use the sniper rifle to give us cover unless preoccupied by something more urgent. Priority target is the windows. Two, Seven, earlier on Eleven said we have the use of your group's full skillset once together. With Five down, which of you is best suited for breaking through the locking system of the building?"

After a response the Kel Dorian spoke on the comms: "Eleven. We are now starting our approach. Any news on the blueprint of the place?" He then checked his pistol was ready and nodded to Fiarr. "We are indeed. Let's move out. 10 meters between the groups and try to spread out evenly as much as the cover allows it.""

Receiving their orders, the two groups begin moving in while M4-5 flies ahead and approaches the upper windows.

The Talons have covered about 20 metres, moving from cover to cover, when two shots ring out from ahead.  One narrowly misses M4-5 while the other strikes the ground less then a metre in front of Dohr who was in point position for his team.

The Talons dive to cover and the M4 goes evasive.  No further shots ring out.


OOC: Unless Dohr commandeered someone's comm he'll no longer have access to the Talon's comm net.  Heigren's comm wouldn't be on open comm anymore else the enemy can hear all your plans!  Either way, Cor answered Dohr's question in the comm thread.  Also CC9's weapon is a blaster rifle, not a sniper rifle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:14, Sun 09 Mar 2014.

CC9's voice comes over the comms.  "Single shooter.  Upper level, right window.  Firing pattern suggests warning shots.  Shall I terminate hostile?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:09, Sun 09 Mar 2014.

"Affirmative. Weapons free." Dohr called from behind a wreck of a air-taxi. It had been too close. The shooters were good. Too good even, to hit so close at nearly 400 meters. A thought hit him immediately: Maybe there are still ACE troops alive inside…" Members of gangs usually weren't trained in the use of rifles, but Dohr knew better than to call it impossible. And yet…"CC9, cancel that for now. Everyone else, hold your position."

Dohr took a deep breath and hoped his gut feeling was right. If it wasn't, their assault might just have gotten a bit more difficult due to the pause. "Eleven, Doc here. Could you try contacting the ACE station were at? It just occurred to me the police officers may still hold the place. In that case an assault would be suicidal. There are more than a few dead gangers lying around to prove it. I have falsely taken it for granted that the insurgents have raided the place, even when that may not be the case."

"Negative Doc.  Communications are still down or being jammed all over the city.  Only higher-band military frequencies like ours are getting through.  Unless you gave an ACE trooper one of our commlinks I can't contact them."

"Yeah," called Devon from behind a lump of rubble. "The gangers aint been firing warning shots so far - that guy aimed to miss."

Devon risked a peek out of cover, but the shooter was too distant for him to see.  the fact that the shooter could see them however, was a foregone conclusion.

"Ok, so we cant comm them and we cant yell at them.  I think someone needs to go over there and talk to them."  Devon started hunting around on the ground.

"Anyone got any white cloth?  Hopefully they aint so twitchy that they'll kill someone with a white flag out of hand...  if we can find something, I'll risk standing up.  If they dont shoot, then maybe we can send a delegation over there to do some talking.  For now, everyone hold your fire - if we start shooting they DEFINITLY wont be interested in a chat."

Devon was under no illusions about the Doc or Heigren being better at fast talking than him - and that made them more valuable than him right now.  Plus Dohr was their only medic... and Devon still wasnt really comfortable with ordering other people into danger.

Devon managed to find a piece of cloth that used to be white but was now some hybrid colour of blood-red, soot, smoke and scorch marks.  Still it was the best they had.  Securing it to a short length of pipe.

Devon carefully raised the makeshift flag and waited.  No shot.  Cautiously, the shipjacker stood upright and waited.  Still no shot.  Either the shooters were waiting for a better shot or they were respecting the truce flag.

"I guess that means I'm up.  Hope they not just on a caf break."

Heigren stood up, his hands up in the air.  He had no weapon to conceal, a good thing since both his tan designer slacks and floral print green silk shirt were both skin tight.  The front of his shirt had several buttons open at the top.  Even in a warzone, he was determined to look good.

He slowly walked over and stood beside Devon, hands still out to the sides.  "So what do you want me to do?"

"Hey, look at that - we're not dead yet."  muttered Devon, eyes fixed on the station with the air of one staring down a firing squad.

"Well, our options now are either we leave... we assault the place... or you an' me go over there and talk to them - find out who's in there, how many and how friendly they're feeling.  If they're not and they're too well dug-in for us to take them, then maybe we can at least get safe passage as we pass by."

Devon glanced round briefly at the others still sheltering in cover.
"Obviously, no-one fires whilst we're doing this.  I'll stay in touch via comms as much as possible.  Me and Vyn are going to use my bike to ride over there.  If anyone can talk them down, its gonna be our playboy here.  If anyone has a better idea, nows the time to say."

OOC: Assuming no-one speaks up:

Still holding his flag, Devon moved carefully to his bike and mounted up, then beckoned Heigren to join him.  Once they were both mounted, Devon handed the flag back to Heigren so he had both hands free for the controls.

He planned to keep their speed low, and hopefully none threatening - they had several hundred meters to cover and the boke would be faster than walking.

Dohr slipped his pistol into the hidden holster under his robe. He then opened his backpack, pulled out a white, triangular bandage cloth and slowly stood up holding it in his free hand well away from his body while leaning on his cane with the other. Keeping his eyes on the police station, the doctor spoke with a calm, less commanding voice. "While I have nothing against the two of you heading out there alone, I would offer myself and my negotiation experience at your disposal. As I believe neither of you has military or law enforcement training, I might be able to help you speak... their language, if you will. And though I have only lived on Det Akari for a little over 18 months, there is a possibility I may have gained a certain degree of reputation even amongst the ACE... And they would not shoot a limping, old gentleman without hearing him out first, now would they?"

"Limping old gentlemen?  No offense Doc, if you can sell yourself to them as some old harmless decrepit then I've got some beachfront property on Tatooine to sell them!"

"Besides," Heigren added with a wink.  "I've been here less than a week and I've developed something of a reputation of my own."

Mika, hunkering down in cover, listens and watches and keeps her head down.  She does keep an eye on those going forward with the flag, making sure to keep her own blaster holstered.  She'd like to send the droid ahead with them, but fears it might draw unfriendly attention.

"No."  Devon told Dohr - trying to sound as firm as he could.
"First - you're our only medic and I want you back here safe in case someone needs a hole plugging.  Second - you do have a reputation around here, yes.  And as I recall that rep is as a street doc who works with the gangs - I hardly think that will endear you with the local law right now."

Devon looked round at the other Talons.  "So its going to be just me and Vyn at first.  We'll see what the lay of the land is and stay in touch."

Starting the bikes engine, Devon began steering it carefully though the rubble toward the station, keeping his speed low enough that hopefully this wouldnt look like an attack run.

Rian was wrong about his reputation, but there was no point in arguing about it now. There was no way he could know all about Dohr's role in the slums called Claws.  The doctor had always been totally neutral and hadn't worked with gangs specifically. He helped any and all in need of medical treatment. Or had helped. His clinic and former life on Akari was history now. But during the year and a half of his stay he had always been on good terms with the ACE. And there had even been two occasions when a uniformed law enforcement officer bleeding on his operation table too.

He could see the human's point about him being the only medic of the group and that was the only reason he accepted the negative response. Unnecessary danger to his health would only endanger them all. "Fair enough. Good luck.", he said with another one of his nods and offered the white cloth to Devon.

Devon and Heigren begin moving slowly towards the building, Heigren still clutching the makeshift truce flag.  Devon has to maneuver around various obstacles, but keeps it as smooth as he can, avoiding sharp maneuvers which might startle the shooter.

The pair have closed to within nearly 50m of the building when a voice bellows "STOP!"

Devon brakes reflexively, causing Heigren to gasp as he slams into the shipjacker.

The voice comes again, this time they recognise that it is amplified through use of a PA, megaphone or similar device.  The voice is speaking heavily-accented basic.  It sounds like it's female but the amplifier distorts the voice enough it's hard to be sure.

"You are violating Det Akari Law Enforcement's orders of curfew and trespassing!"


OOC:  Anyone further back can make a Listen check DC12 to hear the message.  Otherwise it's distorted with distance.

Devon & Heigren, you are a little over 50m from the building.  You can't see the speaker.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:28, Wed 12 Mar 2014.

_{"Someone is telling us to stop - they're using a loud hailer.  No-one visible."} muttered Devon into his commlink as he shut down the bikes engine, then slowly and carefully climbed off - keeping his hands visible all the time.  He motioned for Heigren to dismount as well.

Looking up at the building, Devon confirmed again that he couldnt see any defenders and began to suspect that there couldn't be many people left alive inside.  Maybe he was right, but Devon wasnt willing to bet his and Heigrens life on that hunch.
_{"Here we go - feel free to take over any time.  We need to get inside.  They let us get this close and haven't fired again, so I'm betting they're willing to talk - provided we're friendly.  They may have casualties and we have a medic with us - we can use that to bargain if we need to."} he muttered to the Zeltron then raised his voice to yell back.


"Hold your fire - We are not with the gangs!" Devon shouted.  "Can we approach and talk?"
Sweat trickled down Devons neck as he wondered how many shooters were aimed at him right now, and whether all the shouting would attract unwanted attention.

"We can hear you from there, do not approach! What is your business here?"

"Gotcha." Devon murmured to Heigren.  "Two guys with a white flag who are following instructions and we're STILL too scary to let in? I'm betting there isn't many of them still able to fight in there.  Look at this place - they got hit hard.  Bound to be wounded in there.  If they still had any kind of numbers you and I would be staring down a damn riot squad right now."

Devon glanced at Heigren, waiting for him to work his talkative magic.

Heigren considers Devon's words.  Then he mumbles into his comm.  "Possibly.  She's confident, but it's a practiced confidence, someone used to being in charge.  Imperial officers used to reek of it.  Whoever she is, she's used to being in charge of a situation, officer probably."

He steps away from Devon and takes a few steps forward.  "Ma'am, I'm Corporal Vyn Teckla, 2nd Recon Division, Det Akari Special Forces Group.  Our team was on shore leave when this trouble started.  Our base is too far away so we headed for the nearest security station.  We've already fought through one ambush to get here.  Our CO and XO are missing, one of our officers died in the ambush.  I suggest we work together here Ma'am."

A lie mixed with the truth, that was always the secret.  The story was mostly true with embellishment thrown in.  They were a special operations group, He had no idea where Mark and Zyra were and Arin was dead.  Truth within lies.  The Zeltron ensured he put the right tone in his voice.  Respect for a suspected officer, mixed with a degree of authority and contempt for those who weren't in special forces.  He'd even borrowed a little of Kyvarr's deference to officers.  He allowed himself a degree of smug satisfaction, he'd outdone himself today.


Bluff: 35 - yeah baby yeah!
This message was last edited by the player at 00:18, Thu 13 Mar 2014.

Fiarr supressed a snort.  Who was this Zeltron?  Hell she almost believed his story and she knew it was a lie.

She moved closer to Dohr.  "In case this ruse doesn't work, perhaps we can try a more covert solution.  Either I could find an elevated point, take the rifle and pick of our enemies.  Either that or I could attempt a covert insertion while you distract the guards.  Working silently is my specialty, be it from a distance, up close or getting where I'm not wanted.  Might work more smoothly then a direct assault which is what I'm sure my Cathar friend will recommend."

"Alright, corporal. Approach the door alone. I will send someone to let you, and only you, in."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:12, Thu 13 Mar 2014.

Heigren looked at Devon expectantly.  "Whaddya think boss?"

Dohr listened to Fiarr's suggestions and then shook his head slowly enough not to be registered by the ACE sniper looking at them from the window of the police station. "In case you are suggesting we attack the police station, then that is a negative. The law enforcement is neither our enemy nor our target. We are only looking for more equipment to help us get through the insurgents. Unless Mr. Teckla is able to sweet-talk the officer in charge to give or sell us what we need, we will have to take our chances with what he have."

The doctor turned to face the Bothan. "Then again, if you are referring to the ganger barricades at the spaceport, then I would be inclined to support a covert method. However I believe our new friends would be reluctant to agree on a stealthy approach as they fear their colleague on the transport is running out of time."

The Kel Dor's brain seemed to register one word with a little delay... "Ruse? Your hearing appears to be far sharper than mine as I am not able to make out what is being said between our Zeltron friend and the female officer. But I can guess his approach is as audacious as his party was. And they have not shot him yet, so he must be doing well." The doctor was smiling behind his mask and it was probably audible in his voice as well. "He is good.... Very good indeed."

Dohr risked a private thought while observing the situation at the building ahead. He was very impressed by the mercenary group so far. They felt like professionals and likable personalities as well. He would enjoy working with them very much should the rest of the team prove to be the same. And the two women, Kyvarr and Fiarr, so very unlike himself, but yet he knew they would get along just great. Now they just needed to make it off planet alive.

"Infiltrating by stealth doesn't have to mean any deaths.  I might be able to sneak past them.  If not, my blaster has a stun setting.  Not saying we need to do any of this, just wanted you to know my skill set.  I should also mention I have advanced demolition training and my marksmanship was rated sniper level by the Bothan Military Defence Force.  An officer needs all the information available to make an informed decision don't they?"


OOC:  Just figured it might help to know what Fiarr can do.  Her skills are not as 'obvious' as Kyvarr's!  The Cather is very loud, Fiarr is very subtle.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:51, Thu 13 Mar 2014.

Devon looked at Heigren in frank admiration.
"Keep talking like that and I think we'll be able to persuade the gangers to down-arms and pay for all the repair work and after that you can run for president."

The shipjacker glanced up at the station then looked back to Heigren
"More seriously:  go in there and talk to them.  Maybe you get some kit off them, maybe you can persuade them to actively help us with the spaceport assault.  Try and persuade them to let the rest of us in.  Keep your comms open the entire time - we'll be listening.  If you hit trouble and want extraction use the word 'toast' in a sentence and we'll come for you.  Don't say it unless you MEAN it, OK?"

He clapped the Zeltron on a shoulder. "good luck in there, and remember:  'toast'"

Watching Heigren head toward the door, shielding his eyes and squinting to get as good a view of the door as he possibly could.  He was very aware that in a few moments he might have to breach that door in a big hurry.  He activated his Talon comm.
"Seven here:  Vyn is going in to negotiate - he'll have his comms set to transmit at all times.  If he uses the word 'Toast' in a sentence for any reason, we storm the place and rescue him.  Hammer, CC9: you'll be leading the team if that happens - have an assault plan ready."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:16, Thu 13 Mar 2014.