Hale nods and turns to the Pirate Queen. He removes his blaster's power pack before holstering it, then he grabs her by the arm, "Right this way, madame." He gestures magnificently towards the holding cells as he leads her through the shuttle.

With the hanger secured Briar turned to the Inquisitor, slightly out of breath after the battle "We should attempt to take Ms. Sipal alive, she is in possession of intelligence codes, and I would like to determine if she acquired those codes from intelligence or through other means."

Den squints as he takes aim for the fighters flitting around outside of the ship. Come on you little rats, stay still so I can-" he pauses as he lets rips with a torrent of ion fire. Unfortunately the fighters are able to dodge the crackling blue energy easily. Den thumps his fist against the console in frustration, "Come on! I can't hit anything today".

Gunnery Check: 1eP+2eA+2eB+3eD+1eS 1 failure

On 3/14/2020 at 12:50 PM, Imperial Stormtrooper said:

With the hanger secured Briar turned to the Inquisitor, slightly out of breath after the battle "We should attempt to take Ms. Sipal alive, she is in possession of intelligence codes, and I would like to determine if she acquired those codes from intelligence or through other means."

He turns from the open view of space from the hangar bay and looks over to Briar, "I never Intended to Kill her, Agent. My Pilot has his orders to neutralize the ship." His usual cold menace was felt as he spoke, "I'll be wanting to break her through Interrogation myself." He turned back to the open Hangar to watch Ral do his work.

As the Sorority’s fighters veer off from attacking the destroyer, the pilots understand just how to interpret their Queen’s orders to neutralize the traitor’s yacht...

The pirate queen appears more concerned by Sgt.Major Hale’s choice of words, than she does about being taken to the holding cell. “Madame?! I run a fleet of privateers, not a bloody brothel! It’s not that kind of veiled sorority.” Her voice is playful, despite the circumstances, but she can tell her wiles are not working on the steadfast stormtrooper. “You’d look good in red, by the way. And I would certainly pay better. We could take off in this shuttle right now..?” Nope. He’s having none of it. She sighs as the door to the Stormcrow’s small detainment unit hisses shut.

Aboard the yacht, it has become apparent that the hyperdrive is not operational, and that both capital ships and their fighters are now targeting the unarmed pleasure craft...

”Never mind. Take us back to the Intrepid,” Venlana orders, ending her previous call, and opening comms with the imperial destroyer, “Inquisitor Drogos, Agent Ostell, this is Venlana Sipal. I am coming in, protected under diplomatic co...” (at this point, her lawyer droid L7 interrupts):

“My client formally requests imperial asylum, from flagrant piracy and imminent attack upon this unarmed civilian vessel. Further, my client and her personal protection detail have been granted temporary consular immunity under Chapter 3 Article 16 of the Imperial Diplomatic Statutes, pending approval of a more permanent solution. Standby to receive and authenticate documents from the office of the sector moff.”

41 minutes ago, Edgehawk said:

The pirate queen appears more concerned by Sgt.Major Hale’s choice of words, than she does about being taken to the holding cell. “Madame?! I run a fleet of privateers, not a bloody brothel! It’s not that kind of veiled sorority.” Her voice is playful, despite the circumstances, but she can tell her wiles are not working on the steadfast stormtrooper. “You’d look good in red, by the way. And I would certainly pay better. We could take off in this shuttle right now..?” Nope. He’s having none of it. She sighs as the door to the Stormcrow’s small detainment unit hisses shut.

Aboard the yacht, it has become apparent that the hyperdrive is not operational, and that both capital ships and their fighters are now targeting the unarmed pleasure craft...

”Never mind. Take us back to the Intrepid,” Venlana orders, ending her previous call, and opening comms with the imperial destroyer, “Inquisitor Drogos, Agent Ostell, this is Venlana Sipal. I am coming in, protected under diplomatic co...” (at this point, her lawyer droid L7 interrupts):

“My client formally requests imperial asylum, from flagrant piracy and imminent attack upon this unarmed civilian vessel. Further, my client and her personal protection detail have been granted temporary consular immunity under Chapter 3 Article 16 of the Imperial Diplomatic Statutes, pending approval of a more permanent solution. Standby to receive and authenticate documents from the office of the sector moff.”

"So does that mean I go get to blast anything? Awaiting orders..."

"Ah, but you mizunderstand me, I am imitating ze manners of ze illustrious Pinky! You know, ze dancer who fancies himself a zwordzman? I would never in-ZULT a lady of your caliber so cavalierly. It iz merely... lost in translation, yes? Ah, your suite milady." As she enters the cell and makes her one last pass, he chuckles and drops the accent, "I'll bet you say that to all the boys." He reaches out and smacks the controls, letting the door hiss shut before he turns and makes his way back to the others, reloading his pistol as he does so.

The Zeltron spins the golden bladed Cutlass, ready to make a quick end to the Queensguard when the shout from the Trooper Hale rings in his ears and the wave of blaster shots sizzle past and over him. He winces.

Pinky

He smiles, takes a step back and makes an elaborate bow before the Queensguard.

"Ah, your life is yours to keep this day my friend." He says cheerfully, though frowns rubbing the spot on his silk tunic that had been singed a little.

"A man could use a warning before you shoot, not during." He says with a grin to the Trooper and takes the broken sword from the Queensguard.

Things start to settle down a little, and as The Pirate Queen is taken away, he takes it upon himself to follow Hale as he escorts her to a holding cell, he wanted to be sure his mark was secure, and where exactly to find her if the inquisitor did not soon follow through with his intention to have her executed. Valecien Kaan's orders were simple and clear. Kill her. Such was the will of those above him, but now things had become even more murky. Not unprecedented however.

"Not bad for only just meeting me." He replied to the Troopers imitation of him. "Though you may try, copying me is like trying to forge a work of art, whilst being only an infant, riding on the back of a Blurgg."

He winks at Hale. "It'z cute and czertainly endearing. But messy, no?"

"Some 'works of art' look like they were created by an infant riding on the back of a blurrg. A drunken blurrg at that." he says sarcastically, holstering the pistol.

Ignoring any further retort from the Zeltron, he comms Luks, irritation with the unresponsive Duros clearly evident in his tone. "Luks, where in blazes are you? Get back here on the double. Do I need to requisition a horde of probots to hunt you down, or are you going to come quietly? Or for that matter, just respond in a normal voice!"

Griff walks up the ramp into the shuttle now, lugging Hale's damaged Z-6. Hale thanks him and hefts it up to his chest, "This baby'll need some work before you use her again. Don't want to make the problem worse." Griff stated. Hale nodded, "I'll take it under advisement. I'll stick to the E-11 as much as possible until we get her fixed up." He plants a mock kiss on the weapon through his helmet and strides off to stow it in its locker.

4 hours ago, Edgehawk said:

Aboard the yacht, it has become apparent that the hyperdrive is not operational, and that both capital ships and their fighters are now targeting the unarmed pleasure craft...

”Never mind. Take us back to the Intrepid,” Venlana orders, ending her previous call, and opening comms with the imperial destroyer, “Inquisitor Drogos, Agent Ostell, this is Venlana Sipal. I am coming in, protected under diplomatic co...” (at this point, her lawyer droid L7 interrupts):

“My client formally requests imperial asylum, from flagrant piracy and imminent attack upon this unarmed civilian vessel. Further, my client and her personal protection detail have been granted temporary consular immunity under Chapter 3 Article 16 of the Imperial Diplomatic Statutes, pending approval of a more permanent solution. Standby to receive and authenticate documents from the office of the sector moff.”

"Your codes are valid Ms. Sipal, you may return to the Intrepid's hanger bay." Briar says in response to the incoming call "Lt. Somar, make certain that they get here. Then, Ms. Sipal, we can discuss reasons to grant a 'permanent solution' to someone who recently assisted in the takeover of an Imperial ship by pirates." Briar continued, hiding the fact the she was very much looking forward to meeting the 'baroness' again under these new circumstances.

Banshee Squad’s engineer sergeant accepts the Z-6 and lugs it back to his tinkering table aboard the Stormcrow. Shot ‘til he dropped, he did, covering the other troopers. I’ll get this back to him, better than new.

The yacht is received without incident, taking its former berth on the port side of the Intrepid’s hangar bay. As the ramp lowers, L7 can be heard arguing. “It is imperative that you do not exit this craft until the official documents have been ratified by all parties! Do you think they wish to welcome you with open arms? Throw you in a cell, more lik...”

“Very well, Elsie, have it your way. Show them aboard, then.” The droid ceases its protests, exits the yacht, and approaches the imperial welcoming party.

”Very much against my counsel, Minister Sipal is prepared to listen to your concerns, presently. Your presence is requested in the salon.” In a precision movement reserved for droids, and troopers fresh from training, L7 turns on heel and brooks no response.

Drogos walks up to the Yacht Gangplank "Agent, Join me." He says waiting for Briar before he steps on to the ship, his hand was firmly on the Pirate Queen's Sword.

"Of course Inquisitor." Briar says, following Drogos to the yacht, before following him up the gangplank.

The Zeltron smirked and chuckled at Hale's response.

"I like you, a man that speaks his mind and one with a quick witted tongue. I shall make it my mission to make that feeling mutual."

Back in the Hangar bay, with the Yacht back in its berth, Val quickly skips up behind the Inquisitor and Agent Briar as quietly as he could and without saying a word follows behind them onto the Yacht.

As Pinky leaves the shuttle and makes his way to the yacht, the burly stormtrooper can't help but grin at the Zeltron's antics, but dearly hopes that "Make it my mission to make that feeling mutual." includes maintaining a good amount of distance.

11 hours ago, P-47 Thunderbolt said:

As Pinky leaves the shuttle and makes his way to the yacht, the burly stormtrooper can't help but grin at the Zeltron's antics, but dearly hopes that "Make it my mission to make that feeling mutual." includes maintaining a good amount of distance.

Evon leaves with the injured soldiers to the Infirmary, still on his way out slaps Hale on the shoulder and teases him a bit:

,,Office hours 8-12 standard Coruscant time, if you want to talk about it!"

He jerks his thumb back over his shoulder at where Pinky made his exit, "Depends. Got any idea how he came to be working for us?" he says with a wondering tone.

Sorry,

@CloudyLemonade92, Hale/I will be referring to Val Kaan as Pinky for a while.

Once Somar gets the Phantom squared away, he starts to check in with the rest of the Taskforce. "So, who's got my sidearm?"

Venlana is seated in the yacht’s lushly appointed salon, two crimson guards flanking. “Welcome, Inquisitor, agents of Task Force 75. It is time I come in from the cold. My efforts infiltrating and bringing down the Zann Consortium, as well as the Veiled Sorority, have been largely successful- but my usefulness in such a capacity is at an end.”

No one on the task force actually believes the woman before them has ever served the empire, or anything but her own ambitions. The Pantoran woman sits back and steeples her fingers, looking at each of them in turn. “I have an endorsement here from Imperial Senator Brancen Hasse, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee. The designation of Lieutenant Governor of Saleucami has been temporarily bestowed upon me, pending investigations into Governor Holt’s embezzlement, negligence, and general dereliction of duty. Once he has been ousted, Saleucami will be mine.”

She permits herself half a smile. “There has even been a petition to ratify my nobility, and confer upon me the title Baroness of the Empire. So you see. Hard work can pay off.” If you can afford to pay it off...

“Your mission here is complete. I will preside over a celebration, perhaps a medal ceremony, recognizing the Empire’s triumphs over lawlessness and chaos... And then I am sure your inquisitive minds will be put to better use elsewhere. We understand one another?”

20 hours ago, P-47 Thunderbolt said:

He jerks his thumb back over his shoulder at where Pinky made his exit, "Depends. Got any idea how he came to be working for us?" he says with a wondering tone.

Sorry,

@CloudyLemonade92, Hale/I will be referring to Val Kaan as Pinky for a while.

,,He has the proper protocols, that's all I need to know. Welcome to the secret services!" His words are trying to be light, but a slight irritation can be felt from him.

Briar scowls slightly as Venlana reveals how she expects to go unpunished for her role in the capture of the Intrepid. "I'm certain that as someone who serves the Empire, you will understand our need to contact Senator Hasse, to confirm your credentials. Before that however, I have a question, if you are a Lieutenant Governor of the Empire. Why did you leave while the fighting was still going on?" Briar asks, not expecting a true answer, but hoping to start to pick apart her story.

“My dear Briar, I only accepted this post just now, whereupon I immediately returned to berth here on the IPD Intrepid. I left previously because my duty at the time was to survive and transmit important data to Sector Plexus. The footage of me personally leading the strike team to the bridge, my elite guard catching the Pirate Queen unaware and swiftly taking her down? That will be the official story, regardless of the fate of the woman you have captured. Your propagandists are writing the story as we speak, and it will hit the holos before we return planetside. You were right there. You are all heroes of the Empire. A fabulous victory.”

She raises her glass in a toast. “Where are my manners? Water, or something stronger, perhaps?” L-7 plops a pitcher of water down, in such a way that some sloshes over the top, spilling onto the fine greelwood conference table. “Water it is. If you have further need of me, I’ll be in the spa.” Following my oil treatment, I may be as slippery as you (the droid muses).

“When I took down Tiber Zann, many assets were transferred, crippling his criminal organization. A not insignificant portion of those confiscated funds has now been placed into the Empire’s dark budget, which keeps divisions such as Adjustments afloat.”

Venlana smiles again, infuriatingly, a flash of white from her perfect blue complexion. “From my hard-won personal assets, I am having a CompForce academy built, and will be aggressively recruiting a Sub-Adult Group. Under my governance, Saleucami will be a model world of the New Order. And coming from a native citizen, it will be an easier pill for the people to swallow. Contact whomever you need to. I am what the Empire needs here, and I have its support.”

Venlana’s imperial service still smacks of a desperate backup plan, a retroactive defection bought and paid for, but much of what she says is true.

”So. We will be kicking off Carnevale tomorrow in Taleucema City. It is a weeklong celebration of life, a festival from the local Pantoran culture. I hope you will all join me for the opening ceremony and parade?”

Drogos watches the interaction between Briar and the Pantoran Velana he scowls at her excuse, 'You lie, that is not why you returned." The Inquisitor stares the Pantoran woman down, "You return to this ship after having plenty of time to escape into hyperspace yet you did not, you returned because you were scared to be destroyed by the Pirates and Imperials outside" his expression serious, if looks alone could kill Velana would have died several times over "Tell me how did your Hyperdrive fare?" He says his intention, for her to know full well who prevented her escape.

“Yes, of course, Inquisitor. We clearly stated that we were seeking refuge from attack when we returned to the Intrepid.”

Venlana’s eyes narrow at the hyperdrive reference. “Our routine flight check did uncover anomalies with our hyperdrive. I had assumed it was sabotage from the pirate queen’s spider droids. She deploys them everywhere, like ticks on a dog. I see I was mistaken.”