V winked.

You never know hon...

she said, kissing the female passionately before letting her go.

Jocinda's response to Veitra's unexpected ardor is probably not quite what the Zeltron had been hoping for. Gently but firmly she pulls away from the embrace, as a faint tingling sensation spreads across Veitra's face.

"I am sssorry. You caught me off my guard, and triggered an automatic response. Your reaction seems mild, but take this antivenin just in case." Handing her the stimpack, she smiles. "I almost bit you. Now I really must go."

Den would be quick to pocket the cred-stick, supressing a smile. He would nod in appreciation for the credits, though would remain silent for now. At least now he should be able to pay for his round next time he was drinking with the squad.

Unsure of what to do with the sign of affection in front of him, Den would glance down at his boots, clearing his throat a little. "Probably time for us lot to head back as well" he would mutter to the others as he straightens up. Leaving the ring Den would turn to look at the others. "Alright, I'll be honest, I was wrong about the whole thing back there. I was certain that something shady was going on. When we land I'll buy the first round of drinks".

As they walk back towards the shuttle Den would give V a sideways glance. "So where were you for all of this? I thought you were right behind us, but then you went in with that lady?"

V smiled.

Oh young one, there is a lot you don’t know about me. But do not worry, I will have your back.

She smiled and winked.

When the task force and its squad have assembled once again back at the imperial docking bay, they are surprised to see a small reverse-jointed walker mounted to the front of their shuttle, just above the boarding ramp. Cani, of course, recognizes it as the prototype she has been tinkering with. "The freighter dropped this baby off for you, along with the exterior docking clamp mount... strange bird, your Stormcrow - it's the only place we could figure to attach it. We received orders to have it ready for your immediate departure."

Indeed, upon boarding, there is an encrypted message from Colonel Yularen himself awaiting their attention: "Ms. Sipal's movements have been tracked to Taleucema City, so you are to proceed directly to Saleucami space and make contact. Lieutenant Patral and her toy are being seconded to the task force until further notice. Good hunting."

This final leg of their journey to the Outer Rim takes nearly another week, and the members of the task force avail themselves of the extra space to spread out a bit now that they truly have the ship to themselves. Hyperspace is uneventful (as it should be), and reentry into realspace occurs without incident. The addition of the walker proves a bit ungainly during atmospheric insertion, but the sleek shuttle handles it in stride.

Breaking through the dense cloud cover, an enormous crater-city shimmers with lights below them, like a beacon in the verdant landscape. There is no base or designated imperial docking facility, so they are guided down to the spaceport on the northern rim without fanfare. There is an Imperial presence on the planet, so the walker only raises a few eyebrows.

As they make their way back to the shuttle, Den would take a moment to look around the surroundings again. It was strangely comforting to be back on an urban station like this, after all this was the life he had known, suspended above Duros. Still, perhaps it would do him good to be away from places like this, see the galaxy.

As he arrive back in the hanger he would pat Dyson on the shoulder. "I finally got that money I owe you" he would say as he passes by. Pausing as h sees the newcomer, he would offer them a nod. "Hey, are you joining us on this mission? Welcome aboard".

On the journey to there new destination, Den spends most of his time alternating between piloting the shuttle, and playing cards with anyone willing to take his money. Despite being used to loosing, this always frustrates Den, usually ending with him storming off to shout at space through the cockpit window.

As they finally arrive in the city, Den stretches with a yawn as he goes down the loading ramp. Turning back to face the others he would finish fitting his armour onto his forearm, helmet still in hand. "Alright, so what's our plan?"

This team Cani was assigned to had alien filth in it. Cani wasn't as blind as to know the Empire needed workers. But allowing them some positions of authority was going too far. The Stormtrooper one kept trying to get her to play some game of chance with her but Cani would always make the excuse of working on the walker. She could hear him when he lost at cards. Yelling at nothing. So primative. And the other one. The other one was just creepy.

V hums.

You do your thing, I do mine.

she smiled simply.

"Well, that's not helpful" Den would grunt before turning to the others. Pulling on his helmet, his voice is altered a little, muffled by the laminate. "I'm just here for muscle, you lot are the brains behind this job. Should we make contact with whoever's in charge or just dive straight into this hunt?"

Ms. Venlana Sipal is not entirely sure what the imperial arrival means for her, but she does not plan to sit around and wait to find out. The governor and small garrison are bought and paid for by the Consortium, at least to a degree... but this new shuttle's intentions are not known- and she does not like that. Whatever it is, she intends to get in front of it!

The communications console on the Stormcrow chimes, announcing an incoming call. Members of the task force instantly recognize the smartly-dressed Pantoran woman, from the holo at the briefing on Coruscant.

"Welcome to Saleucami. I look forward to meeting you, and have arranged for a private conference room at the Paradise, a cantina at the east edge of the spaceport. I am sure it has been a long journey for you. When you arrive, I will ensure you are all properly refreshed before we get down to business." At the conclusion of the message, the holo flickers and disappears, brooking no argument.

"That could simplify things." Briar said surprised by the message "Or it could be some kind of trap, but it is not a location that the Zann Consortium controls... maybe its a location that the Veiled Sorority uses... Either way I think this meeting is worth attending, so long as we are careful." Briar finished observing the others' reactions to the message.

"This area isn't as controlled by non Imperial forces as you might think. The details are...... Classified. But if worst comes to worst, I could have some very fine mechanical friends here to offer assistance within an hour, maybe 2."

"It probably is a trap" Den would grunt, as much to himself as to anyone else. "Perhaps some of the quieter ones here should check the place out before we all go stomping in? You know, check for ambushes and stuff like that. I'd go, but," he would pause as he gestures to his armour and weapons. "I tend to stand out in a crowd".

"Good thinking." Dyson chimes in. " Slowdive, with me. Lose the laminate. We'll scout the place out. Griff, Backbeat, monitor things from the shuttle, but be ready to move. Arkmeda, suit up. You'll be with Luks, escorting the task force." Given their assignments, the troopers of Banshee Squad ready themselves for action.

The squad leader and intelligence sergeant don their smartest civvies and go on ahead to the Paradise, on the lookout for any unpleasant surprises that might be awaiting them. Apart from a Twi'lek man in a suit hanging about near the entrance, whose gaze lingers on them them briefly, there is no overt reception party. They quickly find that the Paradise is an expansive establishment teeming with life; it occupies several floors, with bars, restaurants, salons, gaming rooms...

"Banshees, Banshees. This place is huge. No way we can clear all the private rooms, but we'll stay close in case you need us."

Grinning under his helmet, Den turns to face Arkmeda. "So I guess that means I'll be doing all the work" he would joke before patting the man roughly on the back. "Come one, you watch the back, I'll take the front. If it comes down to it, I can afford to take a hit".

Moving along with the others, Den would be sure to keep an eye out, not just on the locals but on the environment around them. He was certain this was some kind of trap, why else would this woman want to meet them? Still, if it was a trap, he was looking forward to a bit of action at least. Simulations can only bring so much excitement after the hundredth run through.

Glancing back at the others, he would raise a voice a little so he can be heard through his helm. "So, anyone actually know what we're looking for? I'd rather find these people before they find us".

"That is part of the problem, if it's the Veiled Sorority, then we don't know what we are looking for, except for Ms. Sipal. Just keep an eye out, if anyone keeps following us around then they may be part of something more." Briar said, while considering various factors in the upcoming meeting.

The members of Task Force 75 wend their way through the spaceport to their rendezvous. The pretentious boutiques and flashy casinos seem almost inelegant compared to the true opulence they had witnessed on The Wheel; by any other measure, however, the establishments appear to be top-notch.

The Paradise blows them all out of the atmosphere. There is the subtle buzz of both business and pleasure, patrons leaning in close for intimacy or furtive conversation. Faint B'ssa Nuuva music can be heard, from another room, or perhaps unseen speakers. Scents from the open kitchen waft toward them, smoke from a real brick oven, a beautiful long greelwood bar. While the imperial party notes a number of cantina and private security personnel in suits, the arrival of two storm troopers in full turnout gear generates an entirely different buzz around the entrance.

A male Twi'lek in a tailored crisp brown suit approaches, seemingly unfazed. The fine cut of his jacket almost entirely conceals the outline of a small blaster beneath. "You have come to see Venlana," he states. "I will take you to her." The ambience of the room returns to normal, and the patrons go back to their momentarily interrupted business, as the imperials are led through to a private room at the back of the resort.

The room is lit by a series of carved crystal globes suspended near the high ceiling, the polished floor crafted of the same reddish wood as the gleaming bar in the corner. It occurs to the visitors that there is a lot of quality lumber in this establishment, for a world not known for its forests. "Thank you for joining me." Ms. Venlana Sipal is standing at the head of a long conference table, with a single guard flanking her, in red laminate armor very much like that of the troopers. His rifle is pressed professionally into his shoulder, with the muzzle pointing downward, but the storm troopers would note a decided lack of trigger discipline.

The Pantoran underboss gestures to the lavishly appointed seats, taking her own seat at the head. "Please sit," she beckons, then nods to the Twi'lek. "The door, Porel, then refreshments." As the door closes, Venlana smiles at her guests. " I have your traitor."

Den would remain silent under the helmet as he moves into the new room with the others. He knew when he should and shouldn't get involved in business, and this was one of those times. He was only here for security, not for the subtler parts of business. He would instead keep his eyes on the guard, watching him very closely in case anything went wrong. Den assumed he was just another mercenary, playing soldier. Still, he was the largest threat in the room

"I have your traitor." The words hang in the air for only the briefest of instants. Unruffled, Venlana activates a personal deflector shield, which shimmers around the head of the table.

Porel's reaction is considerably more frantic in nature, like that of cornered prey. He leaps back in the direction of the door he had just closed, lekku flying behind him, but finds the portal unresponsive. Drawing a holdout blaster from his low-cut jacket in a swift, practiced motion, he levels the blaster at his boss and fires.

Venlana does not flinch, but perhaps she should have, as the point-blank fire slips through her protective barrier and strikes her in the shoulder. "This blue harpy is the real traitor! Do I look like I belong to a sorority?"

"Do it!" The now visibly shaken Pantoran woman commands in a raspy whisper. Her crimson guard is already bringing his disruptor rifle to bear on the defiant Twi-lek.

Cani makes a quick decision to shoot at the Twi'lek, she was here to meet Venlana not him and she was the one in charge here and had the firepower to enforce it.

Sergeant Arkmeda recognizes the Crimson Guard as one of the elite close protection officers employed by the Zann Consortium, but his eyes widen beneath his helmet as he recognizes the weapon being raised in his direction: A T-7 Ion Disruptor!

He immediately side-steps a bit, distancing himself from the Twi-lek being targeted, and draws his pistol. New Lieutenant's firing on the Twi-lek, but that disruptor's the biggest threat in this room! Drawing a bead on the guard, he holds his fire, waiting for orders- or to see how this plays out- whichever comes first...

The Crimson Guard brings the rifle to bear on the out-of-favor assistant and fires. The super-ionized plasma bolt slams into the Twi-lek's body, sending him writhing to the floor in agony as his systems near failure on a molecular level.

As Den had expected (or hoped a little), the situation devolved at a surprising rate. The gunshots are already flying through the air as the young stormtrooper realises what is happening and springs into action. The apparent traitor is already on the floor thanks to the others, and that blasted guard has already opened up with that blasted disruptor.

Den assumes that the others will want this Porel alive, and so he rushes forwards, moving to put himself between the guard and his target. Swinging upwards with the but of his rifle, Den tries to clatter the guard in the head in a rushed attempt to put him out of the fight. Unfortunately it is only a glancing blow, the guards helmet protecting him from the blow. "Hold fire!" Den shouts at the guard as he takes a step back. "Amateur, you want to disintegrate the person we've come for? Use your head!"

Now now... there is no need for violence.

V smiles, her voice gently floating through the air.

We are all friends here are we not...? Let’s settle this calmly.

she smiled at the guard and his charge.

Seeing the chaos break out around her as various members of the task force went after the crimson guard or Porel. Briar pulled out her blaster pistol and aimed at the shield generator in the table Maybe this will make her less confident.

The shot fired harmlessly into the table leaving a blaster mark. Well that didn't work...

"Enough!" Venlana stands, wincing at the pain in her shoulder as she rises. "If this is how the Empire conducts itself, perhaps the Consortium should have thrown its lot in with Porel and the pirates... Stand down, Logan!" she orders her guard, who looks like he is about to mix it up with the big-headed stormtrooper.

Walking over to where her assistant is still writhing in agony, she looks down at the Twi-lek. Always did detest that horrid brown suit. "It seems the Empire has an inexplicable soft spot for traitors. Cooperate. Tell us everything of your duplicity , and you may just live."

Porel is still clutching his blaster, and for a second it almost seems like he is mustering the strength to raise it again, but he lets it drop at his side. He tries to say something, but his faint mutterings are unintelligible, lekku spasming pathetically. Venlana shrugs, wincing again.

"Or we can just put him out of his misery? I know where this self-styled Pirate Queen is. She is here on Saleucami as we speak."