Not for the first time, Sergeant Den Luks awakens in the brig. Being a Duros serving in the Stormtrooper Corps is not always easy, and he sometimes still finds himself defending the privilege. Nevertheless, the commando has distinguished himself as a valuable asset to his unit.

"Your luck's run out, Sergeant. Shipping you out to some suicide squad in the Outer Rim. Briefing in ten. Here."

Den recognizes the woman in the crisp white uniform from a recent assignment. Agent Ostell.. Intelligence, maybe, or ISB? She hands him a set of dress blacks, and turns to give him privacy to change.

Den gets dressed with a sour look on his face. That guy deserved what he got, why was he the one in the cell? Eh, that's bureaucracy for you. It didn't change the fact that he had to continue his service to the empire, or the fact that he would continue to serve loyally. Den had quickly learnt to take the good with the bad after he joined the academy, but that wasn't to say you couldn't beat the bad with a bar stool every now and then. Looking down at the cap that finished off the uniform, Den would shake his head, stuffing it into his belt. It wouldn't fit him anyway.

"So, what's the new assignment boss?" he would grunt, glancing around the cell block. He couldn't see any of the regular squaddies he worked with, what was this? "Gotta say, the whole suicide squad thing, that doesn't fill me with total confidence".

Briar Ostell, turned back around, noticed the lack of a cap, close enough... she thought to herself. "Ship in the Outer Rim, you'll be joining an Advanced Recon unit there." Briar said coolly in response to the question. "But, first we must report to the Executive Building." Briar began walking out of the cell block, glancing back over her shoulder to make sure she was being followed. Rather odd for us to have to go to the executive building, I wonder who we're going to meet there.

Den would let out a whistle as he follows a few steps back. "Exec huh? Must be real important huh. They don't usually let grunts in there, I think they hate cleaning up the mud we track in". As he follows a little further in silence the duros would speak up again. "So what about my squad? What's happening to them? You know I've been with them since the academy".

Briar paused for half a second at a door before opening it. "As far as I know they're keeping their current assignment." Briar was already halfway through the door by the time she finished her sentence. "If you want, it may be possible for you to leave them a message either before we ship out, or after we arrive in the Outer Rim."

"I'd appreciate that. It'd leave a bad taste to go without saying something to them at least" Den would respond as he tries to straighten out his jacket. "I'd rather be taking them with me on whatever this is, but I suppose the higher ups know what they're doing".

"Yes, I'm sure they do." Briar replied before drifting into silence, thinking about the assignment and what the trip to the Executive Building would mean for it.

"Not to worry, Sergeant. It has been decided that your squad will be deploying with this newly-formed task force. You are in attendance at this briefing because you will be piloting the shuttle."

The older man, also in a white uniform, beckons them into the office.

"Please. Have a seat. The others should be with us shortly."

The sparse furnishings are more richly appointed than they are used to, but still utilitarian in nature.

"Huh, not to bad I suppose" the duros would reason as he follows behind the officer. "You do know that I haven't got any real piloting experience, right boss? I know being a duros seems to make people think I'm a good pilot, but I'm still a little rusty". It was true, although Den had put in for piloting training recently, he was yet to actually finish the programme. He know that admission into some of the more elite imperial units required both expertise in combat and piloting.

Colonel Yularen! This must be more important that I thought Briar thought to herself as she took a seat. "Thank you, Sir." Briar paused for a moment to take in the room before continuing "Colonel, can you tell us who else is coming?" Briar asked curios to learn more about the assignment.

" Let's see... As a joint task force, we should have a Naval officer joining us, and I understand Armored Cav is sending us someone, as well. Some sort of experimental test driver ?"

"Also, an agent who purportedly receives her orders directly from the palace."

Just then, the door opened as a Zeltron female walked in, a sly smile on her lips as she surveyed the room.

Why hello there.

She smirked before she slid into a seat, her eyes lingering slightly on Briar.

"Hello, I am Agent Briar Ostell, Imperial Security." Briar said in the same crisp manner that she had greeted almost everyone in the Empire since graduation from the academy. "What is your name?" She asked curiosity slipping into her voice.

Just call me... V.

The female smiled and said as she leaned back against her chair.

Den would look surprised at this new arrival. He had honestly assumed that he would be the only alien here today, it was a rare day in the empire to see two in the military like this. She didn't look like a regular trooper, maybe a specialist of some sort? He was sure they'd find out soon enough.

"V?" Briar stuttered "Just V?" The Zeltron's response had been the last thing Briar had expected. No Rank? No Title? If that's really what she calls herself that would really narrow down who she could answer to Briar though to herself.

The female smiled sweetly.

You can call me Captain V if you would like.

The female winked.

Brecor Surit strides into the room, his officer's uniform crisp and close-fitting, his movements rigid and precise. Standing at attention, he offers a firm salute to Colonel Yularen.

"Lieutenant Brecor Sturit reporting in, Sir. I apologize for the slight delay. I was detained carrying out a series of last-minute orders of some urgency on behalf of my superiors. I give you my assurances that my tardiness in no way reflects my capabilities as an officer or my commitment to whatever assignment you see fit to give me."

Though he lowers his arm following this introduction, the Lieutenant remains at attention, awaiting further orders while examining the other soldiers present.

The Zeltron is the only team member Colonel Yularen had not seen a complete file for, and he quietly takes her measure. It cannot be any worse than working with Anakin, surely?

His private musings are interrupted by the entrance of the apologetic Lieutenant. Acknowledging the young officer, he nods toward a chair. "Please stand at ease, Lieutenant. Or better yet, take a seat."

Looking around the conference table, then back to the door expectantly, the Colonel lets a low whistle escape his lips. "Right, then. Just waiting on Cavalry, per usual. "

The twinkle in his blue eyes reveals the old Navy Admiral beneath, who probably has more than a few Army jokes in his repertoire. His demeanor remains serious, however, as he produces and busies himself with a datapad. Pausing, he looks up. The faces he sees are young and full of promise. And expendable resources in the eyes of the Empire. "Feel free to talk amongst yourselves. You shall be working together for the foreseeable future."

Den would manage to stifle a sigh as the new officer arrives. Another stiff collar at first glance the grunt assumed. They weren't exactly his kind of person, but he supposed that they must be good for something. Looking around the table at the odd gathering, he would clear his throat. Keeping his voice low he would turn to speak to the others.

"Sir, what kind of mission do you guys reckon requires this kind of squad? I mean, most of you don't exactly look combat ready, and I know I'm not being asked here for my thinking. Just seems like a weird mix is all".

V’s eyes quietly look over everyone in the room, her head resting against her hand as she smiled, the female’s gaze like a hunter’s trained on prey, her slightly seductive smile further enhancing her hunter vibes. As she sat, she gently twirled a strand of hair, her gaze now focusing on Briar again.

Briar shifted slightly in her chair, trying to ignore the Zeltron's gaze by focusing on Sergeant Luks' question, and waiting to see if and how Colonel Yularen responded to it. He seems very determined to wait until everyone is here, that could mean this is very important mission! ...or it could mean he just doesn't want to repeat himself... or maybe both?

Colonel Yularen sets the datapad on the table and clears his throat. "Right. I have just now received the final orders for this team. Lieutenant, Agents, Sergeant.. Welcome to Task Force 75."

Reaching for his mug, he takes a drink of his tea before continuing. "It will probably come as no surprise that anti-piracy efforts will be a part of your mission in the Outer Rim. Of particular interest, however, is a certain enterprise that has apparently undergone a drastic shift in policy. Perhaps a recent regime change. They seem to be specifically targeting shipments carrying the Empire's resources in from the Rim- and with some success."

Placing a small box on the table, he opens it to display a meticulously preserved hand. "Hand of the Emperor. It is a mostly whispered honorific, bestowed upon those serving the Emperor's will, often from the shadows. This is all that remains of the one operating in the Suolriep Sector. It was sent to us. Your task force is our Emperor's reply to this grotesque message. Find the ones responsible and execute justice. The Empire has few resources to waste upon criminal elements operating so far out, but this must be dealt with swiftly." The colonel closes the box, his white mustaches wrinkling in distaste, and spins it to reveal an archaic wax seal. The symbol is that of a mask, with elaborate cheekpieces joining to form a flared hood in the back. "This Pirate Queen and her reign of terror must be put to an end." @Rabobankrider @Imperial Stormtrooper @btmaja @player3333902

A knock interrupts the Imperial Combat Driver as he struggles with his newly-acquired dress uniform. "Sergeant Arkmeda. Your presence is required in the Executive Building. Briefing Room 19." The knocking persists until the stateroom door is opened, to reveal a man in an identical uniform standing there. When the man looks up, the sergeant is surprised to see that the man's face is his own.

V keeps quiet as she stares at the box the hand was in.

So there are more than one of us... as expected....

The female thought to herself, continuing to stare at the box quietly.

Den would let out a low whistle as he leans forward to take a closer look at the box. "Well that's not something you see every day" he mutters to himself. Looking up her would continue talking in a clearer tone. "So whoever did this, I suppose they have a death wish right? They must know this is just going to antagonise the empire. Out of interest sir, if this is just pirates, why isn't command sending a star destroyer to the system? Bring the boot down on them".