"Thankyou for your words," says Cohlen. "But the people have spoken. I'll be a fair leader for the cell, one who puts all our goals ahead, not just the military ones. We meet back here in an hour to determine who'll be going where. Dismissed," the Rebels begin filing out, but she catches you as you're leaving. "A word?"

Nodding at the vote, Geoff looks back at Doctor Cohlen when she asks for them. "What's going on, Doctor Cohlen?"

"I wanted to get a hold of you for a moment, to tell you what I'm thinking. I want Issan to go in the front with Omek and a small team - if one of you wants to join him that's fine - but the rest of you will go in with Braxus and his scouts from below. Hopefully you can get around behind Zavvel and force him to surrender when he realises it's over - and if you can't you can take him out easily. But I wanted to tell you what my plan is. I'm going to take the parts of the cell that can't fight - because they're too injured, or too valuable to lose - and lead them out into the hills. If we can make it the Spinebacks we should be able to survive and keep the cell going in a new hiding place," the Mirialan looks tired, already weighed down by the responsibility, but she smiles at you. "You're the only ones I'm telling this. You're the only ones I trust with the true extent of the plan. If any of the others get captured they might give us away, but I trust you. You've shown your dedication to our cell and it's success; now you can ensure it."

Hearing this, Geoff glances at the others then back at Doctor, letting a smirk cross his face. "That isn't going to be a real secret, leaving the city and such. And considering we, more or less, volunteered for the mission, you 'ordering' us to do the same thing is a bit redundant."

Nodding to Issan and then Rax, Geoff shrugs. "Issan volunteered to help Omek out. I asked from the team to protect him and 'Hotdog' volunteered. That leaves Toco, Oro, CT, and myself for Breach Team. As for Lieutenant Braxus and his scouts, you're probably going to need him more than us. If he sends a team or two with us, that would be great, but otherwise you're going to want his tactical skill expertise. Unless you don't trust him."

Looking at the others, Geoff rotates his neck before crossing his arms. "What do you think?"

"I do trust him; that's why I'm sending him with you. Yes he's our best fighter, but that's why I want him there with you," she pauses. "Unless you think he'd be too great a loss?"

"Sounds good. The Captain has to answer, but the cell needs to live on."

Toco starts tuning his fore grip on his rifle for close quarters work.

Tilting towards Toco, Geoff shrugs. "Lieutenant Braxus is the most senior tactical officer that we trust. To lose him would be a tragedy. Plus, if we are successful, we can delay leaving the city."

Glancing at the others and gauging their opinions, Geoff looks back at Doctor Cohlen. "Or, ma'am, would you like a compromise?"

Cautiously, Cohlen gestures for you to continue. "Go on."

"Have Lieutenant Braxus be reserve/reinforcements as well as the commo link. His job is to maintain command and control of the tactical teams, and will be on hand to handle any escaping forces loyal to Zavvel. That way, we won't have to worry about dealing with anyone escaping. I would recommend he sticks with The Brick, with Tookur driving. In addition, he can also keep an eye out for Imperials. He can let us know if they come and either escape or distract them."

Turning to the others, Geoff gauges their impression before looking back. "That way, should the odds be against us, he can escape and link back up with you. Succeed, and he can reinforce and provide an assessment of the base."

As Geoff finishes, he lets out a sigh. "Truthfully, though, I doubt we'll be able to stay. We have had too much movement in the last seventy two hours from the location. A firefight can easily make life hell for everyone and that'll be a beacon that will draw the Imperials. What do you think, ma'am?"

"A fair appraisal. You're already a better tactician than half the cell. One alteration though: you'll be going in through the sewers beneath the base, and I'd position him down there so that he can respond rapidly to whatever happens, be it to reinforce you or cover your retreat."

Smiling, Geoff looks at the others to gauge their impressions. "Comes with dealing with field ops for the RRM. I hate sewers, but we'll deal with it if we must. Is that the quickest and safest way in? What is the path from the sewer to the Command Center?"

"There's a hatch going from the sewer to a surface tunnel that runs under the office compartments we've been using as a control centre. The combat team will be inserted that way, the diplomacy team will come in the front way. Any further questions?"

Nodding, Geoff takes out his data pad and types in the diagram. "'Service tunnel runs underneath the office'. How do we move from there? Sounds simple, but I want to be sure we at least know the lay out first."

"You've been there before. The main admin area is the command centre, with other rooms spanning off from it. You'd come up in a maintenance room, just down the corridor from the command centre. Most likely Zavvel will be out in the main zone when the diplomats get there, so you'll come up behind him as you suggested."

"Well, I knew there was some benefit to volunteering to go in the front. Have fun getting smelly in the sewers guys," Rax says cheerfully.

Smirking at Rax's comment, Geoff looks at him. "True, but if crap hits the fan, you're going to be in ground zero. Sure you don't want to have a carbine or rifle instead of a pistol?"

Turning back to Doctor Cohlen, Geoff nods at her. "Honestly, that's it for now. We'll probably want to cover the infiltration op with Lieutenant Braxus as well as go over any gear his teams will have. Did anyone get any extra stun grenades and stimpacks before leaving the base?"

"Well, if you have a spare carbine I'll take it, but this little thing punches way above her weight," Rax replies, patting the "Quicktrigger" pistol holstered at his hip.

"It might be for the best if our negotiators weren't heavily armed," Cohlen explains. "And besides we've got very few spare weapons. I'm sorry but you'll have to wait for now."

Letting a smile cross his face, Geoff looks at Doctor Cohlen. "Oh, I wasn't asking about grenades for the negotiators. Heck, they should be 'reasonably armed', not dual wielding quad cannons. I just want to have breach team be armed with non-lethals. But that's cool."

"So, anyone else have any questions," Geoff asks as he looks at the rest of the team. "Otherwise, we should meet up with our prospective groups and get to know them."

"No questions..." Issan finally chirped up after staying the back of the group, a few holocomms hooked up to his datapad. By the time his response warranted people to look at him, he was disconnecting the holocomms and passing them around. "The copies, as requested. I did already have a couple backups in CT's memory banks and my media suite, but you had a point about redundancy."

He gave two to Doctor Cohlen. "We may not be able to spread this on the planetary holonet should things go south, but once you set up in the mountains, that would be a good thing to show High Command."

"You make a good point. We'll make great use of this with your help. Even if no other of our efforts is successful, for this you have my gratitude."

"Sheesh, you people can really talk a lot. Are we going to do this or not? I'm ready to deal with this traitor now," Rax says impatiently.

Issan shoots Rax a bit of a stink eye. "Oh yes, by all means, lets throw ourselves into the Gundark's den with our blasters half-charged..." The Twi'lek then rolls his eyes as he pockets his datapad. "Your nickname seems all the more fitting."

"Pff. Better than waiting for the Gundark to die of old age," Rax mutters, walking away.

Thus an hour later you find yourselves in the main room of the building agreeing on the final details of the mission. Issan, Omek, Rax and the others will go in the front; the rest of you with Braxus, the scouts and the other armed volunteers will go in through the back of the base in the hope of trapping Zavvel; while the third group under Cohlen will strike out towards the hills just in case something goes wrong. Everything arranged, the groups thus strike out. The negotiators board a speeder to head back to the base and take position. The infiltrators strike out ostensibly away from the base, heading towards the water treatment plant from which they can easily reach their entry point. The evacuees lastly head northwards in ones and twos to their assembly point, a farm on the edge of the city. Everything is in motion now. The stage is set, the players take their places, the curtain rises on the unfolding drama.

__________

With the other groups in position, the negotiators leave their speeder in the shadowed loading bay nearby and stride purposefully and openly down the street towards the warehouse where they know the reckoning will occur. They enter through the main entrance, along one of the short walls and away from the motor pool on the right-hand wall as they enter. They enter a dark building, shadows dancing everywhere. Then the lights blink on, bright spotlights and glaring arc strips far above that illuminate everything, including Zavvel and his men stood squarely in front of you. All armed. All waiting.

"Well, well, well," he grins predatorily. "What brings you home so late?"