Mission Log

Episode IX: No Going Back

Date: 37:6:20 - 37:6:31

After completing their raid on Danth Artifice's factory on Woor, the Hammer and her crew returned to their Waypoint Station hideout. Not long after they arrived back at the station, Kethan received a message from Ringali Shell's Customs HQ informing him that Jaron Vashir, an Advisor to Admiral Ridol, would be in the Shell on an inspection tour. Kethan also received orders instructing the Hammer to rendezvous with Vashir's starship, the Everlasting, at Esseles on 36:6:30. On receiving these orders Kethan knew that the Hammer's cover was going to be compromised. One way or another there was no going back...

Ever the opportunist, Kethan decided that they'd use their cover one last time and kidnap Vashir! Recognising the intelligence opportunities and the value of such an undertaking, the command staff of the Hammer fully endorsed Kethan's decision and started gathering as much intelligence as they possibly could for the mission.

Samic soon learned that very little was known about this powerful advisor and that the Alliance was eager to speak with him. Samic also pointed out to Kethan that Esseles has an Imperial Naval Base in system. On hearing this, the team came up with several excuses to use to delay their arrival and to arrange a rendezvous elsewhere. They finally settled on telling Vashir that they were en route to Escada from Trinex, and hence could not meet him at the required time, but could meet him in the Yorg system if he wished. Vashir agreed with their suggestion a few days later.

In the days that followed, Aaron instructed the entire crew in the custom and protocol attached to a visit from a high ranking official. During this time, Chaide went to Calldor and did a crash course in parachuting. Once Chaide was back aboard, the Hammer headed for the Yorg system to meet the Everlasting.

On arriving in system, the Hammer was directed to clear the Jump Zone and to hold station and wait for the Everlasting. On the arrival of the Everlasting, the Hammer fell into an escort position. The two captains exchanged pleasantries and the Everlasting's captain informed Kethan that Advisor Vashir would like to make the hyperspace jump to the Palentis system aboard the Hammer. Seeing this as the opportunity to lift Vashir, Kethan readily agreed and started to prepare his team. Meanwhile the Everlasting's Dx-9 Stormtrooper Transport ferried Vashir and his escort across to the Hammer.

Aaron, Chaide, JD and Kal stood waiting in the starboard side docking room for their guests to arrive, whilst the rest of the Nova Dragons, with the exception Kethan and Dallara, laid in wait in the crew quarters on the same deck. Kethan remained on the bridge to oversee the whole operation and to monitor the Dx-9 and Everlasting's activities, whilst Dallara remained at the helm. To maintain their cover whilst still in the Yorg system and under the Everlasting's guns, the greeting party were disguised as Imperial Customs agents. Aaron wore a Commander's uniform, JD wore a Lieutenant's uniform, whilst Chaide and Kal wore Stormtrooper uniforms.

Once the Dx-9 had docked and the airlock cycled, Aaron was able to greet their visitor. Two Stormtroopers accompanied Vashir, who was clad in his trademark black. Vashir was invited to take refreshments in the lounge whilst "Captain Renner" was delayed on a matter of some urgency. Vashir assented reluctantly, expressing that the Captain had better not be too long.

As Vashir, Aaron and JD entered the lounge, Vashir's Stormtroopers took up positions outside the lounge in the corridor, whilst Chaide and Kal took up positions either side of the door inside the lounge. After some brief pleasantries, Vashir dismissed Chaide and Kal with a wave of his hand and sent JD to fetch the Captain. Chaide and Kal left the room and stood opposite Vashir's Stormtroopers in the corridor. Meanwhile JD headed to the bridge to discuss the situation with Kethan, as it was clear that Vashir wasn't prepared to hang around for any length of time.

After hearing the situation it was decided that JD would go back into the room and stun Vashir whilst Chaide and Kal took care of the Stormtroopers. During this time, Vashir questioned Aaron about Captain Renner's competence and loyalty, in addition to the 'Rebel Attack' on Convoy 1037.

Finally losing his patience with the Customs Captain, Vashir instructed Aaron to lead him to the Captain at once. As they exited the lounge, JD left the turbolift at the other end of the corridor. At this point, Chaide could see their plan falling apart and chose this moment to strike. As he began to move his blaster in line with the Stormtrooper opposite him, Vashir and his Stormtroopers, specially trained in body language, spotted Chaide's offensive movement. Their lightning reflexes took over, allowing both of the Stormtroopers to fire at Chaide and Kal, whilst Vashir grabbed Aaron from behind and used him as a human shield. Luckily, both of the Stormtrooper's shots went wide of the mark, allowing Chaide and Kal to return fire with little success. Though caught off guard, Aaron reacted quickly and drove Vashir backwards through the open lounge door and into a chair. The pair careered backwards over the chair landed on the floor, winding them both. Meanwhile, Kal dispatched his opposing Stormtrooper and rushed into the lounge after Aaron to help him, whilst Chaide managed to score a glancing blow on his Stormtrooper. During this flurry of activity, JD ran down the corridor to help his friends, but by the time he got there both of the Stormtroopers were down, Vashir was being tied up and Aaron was reporting the situation to Kethan.

On hearing Aaron's report, Kethan ordered the waiting Nova Dragons to board and capture the Dx-9, whilst ordering the Hammer's gunners to fire upon the Everlasting. As the previously waiting Nova Dragons charged to the docking room, Aaron ordered Chaide and JD to join the rest of the Nova Dragons whilst Kal and himself took Vashir to the brig.

On arriving at the staging room adjacent to the docking room the Nova Dragons were greeted by a large number of Stormtroopers with blasters at the ready. Some how Vashir or his escort must have got a message to them. The gun fight that ensued favoured the Nova Dragons in the relatively enclosed quarters and superior combat skills. The fight ended rather abruptly when the Dx-9 undocked from the Hammer without shutting the airlock doors by overriding the safety protocols. In an attempt to close the airlock doors Krib threw an unprimed grenade at the airlock control button. Unfortunately, it only partly worked closing the doors half way before the airklock control panel shorted out. Zulah grabbed Morrez and pushed Raggy through the doorway adjoining the staging room and docking room, whilst Krib closed the door behind them, leaving the remaining Stormtroopers to be sucked out of the airlock. During the melee, the Hammer's gunners managed to bring down the Everlasting, without so much as a scratch to the Hammer's paint work.

The now unburdened, Dx-9 unleashed two volleys of proton torpedoes at the Hammer, causing some minor damage before it was chased off by the Hammer's gunners.

Free of Imperial entanglements the Hammer plotted a new course for Starforge Station and jumped into hyperspace.

Captain's Log:

<<37:6:31/NOV.DRA/CAP.LOG/>>

Further to my previous entry, Customs Command sent through details of our upcoming rendezvous. Apparently we were to meet with Advisor Vashir at Esseles. Two immediate issues: Esseles has far too large an Imperial presence for us to enter now, and Vashir is one of those shadowy figures about who too little is known.

It was an opportunity Alliance Command didn't want to let us pass up! I had to agree with them, but only on our terms.

We were able to rearrange our rendezvous site for a much quieter system, Yorg. Though it still has an Imperial naval presence, it's much smaller, raising the odds of our survival.

To a degree, the Imps played into our hands, requesting that Vashir interview Captain Renner (i.e. me) aboard the Hammer whilst we provided escort to Vashir's personal ship, the Corellian Corvette, Everlasting.

I had hoped that we could effect the kidnap and then vanish straight into hyperspace, but it wasn't to be. I should have known someone like Vashir would be too impatient to wait for long, things degenerated into a firefight, I was forced to order the guns to open up on the Everlasting before things spiralled too far out of control. Gunnery did me proud again, blasting the corvette apart in short order, though we did suffer damage when Vashir's transport, a Dx-9, hit us twice with Proton torpedoes.

Vashir was taken alive and unhurt, it'll be up to Alliance Intelligence to extract what information they can from him. For us, now we become the hunted as much as the hunter. There'll be no way to fake a report to offset these actions!

Next stop for the Hammer will be Starforge Station for repairs and refit. I have to report to Ral'Rai Muvunc in person to update him on the progress of Project Hammer and to give my thoughts on how to improve and expand the programme. I'll rejoin the Hammer later on.

-Captain Kethan Falor

 

 

 

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