|
Into the Fray Once More
| |
| Shiva | Date: Sunday, 11 Sep 2011, 8:42 AM | Message # 1 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 386
Status: Offline
| The operation was the same as it had been at a number of places, Volus included. A solitary Theta shuttle dropped out of hyperspace in the Kibilini Sector, near Neftali. A frozen world, it seemed an ideal site, what with its deep geothermal chambers, to serve as a mining area for nova crystals; Shiva's primary export that made the most money. It was to this end that the solitary shuttle had come to Neftali, to determine its suitability. Of course, there were those who lived on the planet and to be sure, there were a few small mining operations; operations that Shiva's infiltrators planned to drive out to make way for Shiva's own operations. For now though, a scan of the sector and space around the planet for ships and their identifications would suffice. Added (24 Jul 2011, 9:32 Am)
---------------------------------------------
Several transport vessels for carrying mined ore and the like were noted leaving the system. Said vessels were registered publicly to the Eos Mining Company. Apparently, seeing as it was their transports that were dominant near the planet, it would seem their operations were the ones Shiva's team would need to displace. Oddly, perhaps, there seemed to be a lack of heavy security for such an operation. Then again, Neftali was not a world that many would fight over, especially as it had already been claimed. A quick check of the company's name and history though revealed it to be primarily owned by a certain Moff Verilia, which provided Shiva with all sorts of options. Not only could he embarrass a rising businessman and Moff of the Empire; he could likely take the planet to mine on his own.
Light gravity and a frigid, cruel surface was likely to keep all but the hardiest away, as well as Imperial influence. Integrating themselves with the local population looking for work would be easy enough; nobody liked extra competition, so they were careful whom they encountered. For now, it was a watching, waiting and recording game. Note would be taken of any security installations, armament of guards and security forces and the disposition and morale of the workers based on their pay scale. Added (27 Jul 2011, 6:39 PM)
---------------------------------------------
It had taken several weeks, but hard undercover work and perseverance paid off. The infiltration team had made good with the majority of the miners, having conversed with them over cards or drinks at the little cantinas where miners tended to spend their hard-earned money on their downtime. Work for a mining crew was a joyless lot; many were poor and trying to scrabble enough together to find a way offworld to a better life. There was no denying mining was a brutal job. Despite all the precautions and the like that the Eos Corporation could take, there were likely a number of mining fatalities or serious injuries; more if Eos was a cheap company and skimped on the safety items. Of course, the team would know much of these facts from the workers with whom they were becoming fast friends with. Only a week or two more of planning and they'd be able to make their move. Added (08 Aug 2011, 10:06 Am)
---------------------------------------------
When the explosion came, it would likely come as a surprise. One of the agents, working amongst a mining crew, had utilized explosives he'd secreted away on his person and planted upon strategic weak points in one of the mining shafts. A timer had been set and then the explosive cleverly concealed. Gloves had ensured a lack of fingerprints as well. Six shifts came and went, with no issue. Then, come the seventh shift, the explosives would detonate.
The placement of the explosives would collapse the shaft, burying the current crew who'd begun their mining under tons of rock and blocking what was a relatively rich mineral vein. The culprit, however, was far and away from the damage, being off-shift and asleep, waiting for his shift to come around again. The first blow had been struck at Neftali, and it was not to be the last. Added (13 Aug 2011, 1:08 Am)
---------------------------------------------
It had been a week or two since the collapse of the rich vein. No suspicion had fallen upon any of Shiva's men, though the loss of a mining crew was sure to be a blow, even if it were a small one. Now, consistently dropping mining areas on top of the heads of miners would rapidly give away the fact that something was wrong. That, coupled with the fact that explosives were sure to be noticed at some point meant that such a drastic action was not likely to be used overmuch. Corporate sabotage was the next matter of business. Instead of striking at the miners (whose families would likely need to receive some sort of death gratuity, providing Eos was not so cheap as to forgo such things), sabotage of the expensive mining equipment would be the next matter of business. Every machine that went down would cost Eos in credits and time on Neftali. Such actions would be taken with great care to ensure that, should security holocams be present, the actions would be undertaken only when said machines were surrounded by others and access was easy. It did not take much to clip a wire with extreme stealth, or for a rock to fall by happenstance into gears where it should not have fallen.
Worker carelessness, high amounts of use and the working environment ensured that such things were likely to go unnoticed, or chalked up as occupational damage. Even so, a tally of costs would begin to rise. Added (18 Aug 2011, 9:51 Am)
---------------------------------------------
The next major blow had been carefully picked; this time among the transport vessels that Eos utilized to transport ores and minerals from the planet's surface to wherever Eos processed them at. The axe would fall as the fleet of transport ships departed the planet. A secreted away explosive on the freighter's power core would be triggered as it broke atmosphere, placed on a timing detonator. The unfortunate vessel would rupture, mortally wounded, and then explode in a massive ball of fire. Once again, the shadowy hands would have made sure to stay out of sight and out of mind, and Eos lost yet more credits. Perhaps one day, they might wise up to what was going on. Added (11 Sep 2011, 9:42 Am)
---------------------------------------------
Two other transport vehicles had been destroyed in one fashion or another. In one case, it would only be the cockpit that ruptured; killing the crew due to rapidly venting atmosphere, more than likely. Quite some time had passed, several months in fact, and while nobody from Eos had come to inspect, over one-hundred worker deaths had occurred within the facility from cave-ins, damaged equipment and numerous other work-related hazards. With no offer of better pay or safer working conditions from the parent corporation, the workers were more than grumbling; they were near to open rebellion. That day came at last when three workers were killed in a cave-in that, surprisingly, was unrelated to the work of Shiva's minions, but rather to carelessness. Either way, it was the straw that broke the dewback's... well, back.
With no representation that had been heard, no representatives, the miners and disgruntled workers stormed from the mines under some rudimentary leadership, aiming to swarm the Eos offices and demand ransom. At least that was how it started. However, the mob mentality had kicked in, and after losing so many friends and fellow workers; of bad conditions and horrible room and board, they wanted blood.
Shiva
The Shadowlord
The Lightbringer
Separatist High Commander (former)
|
| |
| |
| Major_Wugs | Date: Sunday, 11 Sep 2011, 11:09 AM | Message # 2 |
 Private
Group: Users
Messages: 9
Status: Offline
| Alone in his comms center on Neftali, Major Wugs had watched the events at the Eos Mining Company with concern, then alarm, then tentative relief. The establishment of Imperial operations on the planet had compelled him to shut down the comms center—indeed, there hadn't been a broadcast of The Mighty Monnok since. The Toydarian propagandist had been in discreet contact with Toth and the rest of the Socorran Resistance, but there was no agreement on what to do about the Eos Mining Company; a series of attacks by the Resistance intended to drive the company off the planet might have drawn the attention—and reprisals—of the Empire. When the first of the "accidents" began occurring at the facility, it seemed this might indeed happen and Wugs became alarmed.
But as "accident" followed "accident" and the Eos Mining Company handled them so poorly (that is, ignored them), the "accidents" appeared to be the consequence of an exploitative Imperial company with no regard for the safety of its employees, rather than deliberate acts of sabotage. Wugs didn't quite accept this narrative, however. There was some unseen hand in this, he surmised. But it wasn't the Socorran Resistance, which had gone largely underground since the Imperials arrived. Who was it, then? Wugs, while hopeful that the Imperials would close the "death plant" on Neftali, also intended to find out what was really causing its deathly reputation. So he would continue to watch, and wait. Toth and the others remained on stand by.
Major Wugs
Propagandist
The Socorran Resistance
|
| |
| |
| Darres_Verilia | Date: Sunday, 11 Sep 2011, 3:37 PM | Message # 3 |
 Lieutenant colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 144
Status: Offline
| ((Considering this just came to my attention, thanks for not giving me a chance to defend myself or anything. But it seems like a lot of that goes around on AGW.
Here's the major thing though. The operations on Neftali do not mine for ores. They mine the ice. So there wouldn't be anything to gain from attacking them. Plus, they dont have a standing station, which means, no miners on the planet. All mining would be done from the ships, over the glaciers, and thus present no danger to any mining crew. Which means that somehow, Shiva's men would have to figure out a way to get up onto one of the ships, which would be difficult, let alone the fact that a new face on board one of the ships would be noticed. So trying to say that you killed all those miners when most are on the ships, and only on the surface long enough to extract enough ice needed for one year and leave the planet alone until the next year. There wouldn't be a need for an established facility on Neftali. Therefore The Eos company wouldn't lose miners or ships, as there would be no way for your people to jump onto one of the ships to destroy them. ))
Shiva's people though had been mistaken, as there was no standing facility built by the Eos company on the world of Neftali, there wasn't a need for one considering the company that was sent there only mined the Ice. That though was regulated to the northern most point of the world, where the ice was the thickest and of the best quality compared to the rest of the world. The ships that were sent would stay in orbit and send down teams in shuttles, which would only work for an hour or so, before another team would take their place. All equipment was never out of sight, as it was always loaded on the shuttles at the end of each shift, due to the damage they could receive if just left out in the cold. Their exact location as well wouldn't be easy to pin point if one didnt know where the foremen of the company decided to drill and mine the ice this time of the year. It wasn't unusually for the teams to move from place to place each time they arrived to mine the ice. Any such scouting would take months, or even years to confirm where the company mined, and where they would be next.
The mining teams were also paid very well, due to the fact that it was a hazardous job. Each miner was paid double what their counterpart in another branch of Eos' companies may be paid, as well as the fact that the families were also given health care benefits, and would be taken care of in the unlikely event that something went wrong. Each miner was checked with a strict background check, as well as being checked at the end of each shift by a mandatory medical screening to ensure they had not been injured and hidden it, or contracted an unknown virus that may have lain dormant in the ice. Thus making any way of sneaking onto one of the shuttles, or into the ships more than difficult. The ships alone were also monitored with in, by many different cameras and recorders that scanned each passing individual's face, and vocal patterns, which were then matched to those on record.
The actual mining operations were also set on a time, in which the ships would arrive anywhere from six standard months, up to a year, mine enough ice to last for such a time, or only mine as much as was ordered. As such, there was no needed for a primary facility to remain on planet, and no such one was established. It would so seem then, that all Shiva's people managed to do was kill hundreds of innocent workers, and destroy outbound shuttles of innocents, with out ever getting a chance to do any damage to the Eos ships. The slaughter though of countless innocents and the destruction of the many ships would no doubt be checked by that Sector's Moff as each incident would be reported.
Darres Verilia
Baron of the Empire
Moff of the Cadavine Sector (Retired)
Message edited by Darres_Verilia - Sunday, 11 Sep 2011, 3:53 PM |
| |
| |
| Shiva | Date: Monday, 12 Sep 2011, 6:34 AM | Message # 4 |
|
Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 386
Status: Offline
| It had appeared that Shiva's men had indeed bumbled. It was not the Eos Corporation, but the Eon Corporation, based largely on Neftali, who had been attacked. Even if the Moff checked in, he was not likely to find anything other than the obvious: faulty equipment, unsafe working conditions and now, a mining company that had been overrun by the workers and seized in their name, to work as they would. The company owner and his foremen would be forced off-planet under threat of death, and Shiva's insurgents were among those who cheered on the new mining leaders. The operations would continue, but the miners would be running the show. Whispers in the right ears also placed one of Shiva's lieutenants as an output for the ores and materials mined by the new management.
Shiva
The Shadowlord
The Lightbringer
Separatist High Commander (former)
|
| |
| |
| Captain_Heller | Date: Monday, 19 Sep 2011, 10:24 PM | Message # 5 |
 Lieutenant
Group: Users
Messages: 60
Status: Offline
| A standard week had passed when the dagger-shaped form of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Marathon appeared in high orbit above Socorro, and with it the blunter form of the Impavid, its smaller Victory-class cousin. It was the Impavid that led the formation, however, as the Marathon lingered some distance behind it. Closer examination of the larger ship would reveal its hull to be marred with turbolaser damage from a recent engagement. Scaffolding was mounted on the hull in areas where makeshift repairs had been undertaken. But damaged or not, the Marathon was immaterial to this assignment—indeed, the Impavid and its compliment of stormtroopers were more than sufficient to remove striking workers from the foundry on Neftali, Soccoro's frigid moon, that they had seized from its management.
The management hadn't "gone quietly into the night," however. Once on Omman, the sector capital, they had agitated for Imperial assistance, a request that made its way from the Sector Rangers eventually to the Imperial Starfleet, which had dispatched the two Star Destroyers to Neftali for this purpose. "It's all yours, Impavid," Captain Heller said from the comfort of the Marathon's bridge as the Star Destroyer assumed a steady orbit of Socorro that coincided with that of Neftali, its moon. He noticed that the Impavid, under Captain Nelia, was doing the same. With Heller's presence here rather superfluous, he deduced that he was here to supervise Nelia, who had quite recently been given the Impavid as her first command. Heller was content to leave the operation largely to her, however; he would give his advice and assistance when needed, but in the meantime would busy himself and the Marathon with a series of long range scans of the surrounding system—Heller had learned twice over to be vigilant of enemy ships lurking on the periphery of a battle.
Clive Winston Heller
Captain of the Marathon
The Galactic Empire
|
| |
| |
| Bella_Nelia | Date: Tuesday, 20 Sep 2011, 5:37 PM | Message # 6 |
 Lieutenant
Group: Users
Messages: 41
Status: Offline
| "I am not fond of being babysat." She commented idly, mostly to herself, as she stood on the bridge of the Impavid. Captain Nelia understood the order, however, as her commission was still so new that it's luster had not diminished yet. Still, her first several missions had gone relatively well, ending most recently with a visit to Dantooine and her first trip planetside in over a year. In orbit over Dantooine (despite the protest of the planets senator), the Impavid had received her most recent assignment and they departed immediately to rendezvous with the Marathon, and of course, Captain Heller.
Despite her dislike for being treated with kid gloves, Heller was one that she liked. He did seem a bit soft, however, that judgment only coming from her scanning of reports and having never met the man in person. So she finally added, "I suppose we will just have to show them what we can do."
After the Impavid was settled into a steady orbit, Bella Nelia pulled herself from her chair and straightened her uniform jacket. "Prepare the landing barges. It is better to be safe than sorry." She said as she walked around the console. "And open a line to mining companies offices. We need to know when and if and what is going on down there."
Bella Nelia
Captain of the Impavid
The Galactic Empire
|
| |
| |
| Shiva | Date: Thursday, 22 Sep 2011, 9:37 AM | Message # 7 |
|
Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 386
Status: Offline
| There were no tricks nor traps here in the form of enemy ships lurking about. It was no Alurion, one might say, if they'd known the situation. However, the actions of Shiva's men, leading to the actions of the miners, had unintentionally created a situation that Shiva had indeed found pleasing. It drew two well-known Star Destroyers away from more pressing duties; quite the equivalent of lighting a fire on one side of town, waiting for the rescue and police to respond and then committing a murder on the other. Now that Shiva knew what the response to such things would be, he could plan accordingly.
The miners, simply miners, took note of the Imperial warships in orbit. Nobody had bothered to contact them though so they simply waited for now.
Shiva
The Shadowlord
The Lightbringer
Separatist High Commander (former)
|
| |
| |
| Bella_Nelia | Date: Thursday, 22 Sep 2011, 3:43 PM | Message # 8 |
|
Lieutenant
Group: Users
Messages: 41
Status: Offline
| Once a line of communication was established to the mining building, Bella flipped the switch to activate the holo at her console. "Employees of the Eon Mining Company, I am Imperial Captain Bella Nelia of the Impavid. Myself along with Captain Heller were sent here as a direct result of your work stoppage due to complaints of unsafe working conditions. Your concerns have been heard and taken into consideration. However, I regret to inform you that your employment with Eon Mining has been terminated and you are hereby ordered to vacate the premises immediately. Transports will be landing shortly to escort you from the planet, where you will be removed to the nearby planet of Omman." She paused for a moment and recalled the communications from Admiral Hines.
"Those that choose to resist will be forcibly detained and under arrest for treason. The Empire will not tolerate work stoppages of this nature." She reached out and cut the holo feed so that her image would disappear from their projector. The Captain moved around the console to look at the console of her communications officer.
"Send word to the Major to make sure that his troops are armed. Blasters set to stun...." She took a breath and then cleared her throat. "For now." As the Captain waited on the bridge of the Impavid, within a half hour the transports landed near to the mine and storm troopers filtered out in an orderly fashion and began to enter the building.
Bella Nelia
Captain of the Impavid
The Galactic Empire
|
| |
| |
| Shiva | Date: Friday, 23 Sep 2011, 8:42 AM | Message # 9 |
|
Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 386
Status: Offline
| The stormtroopers, when they arrived at the mine, would find a long line of very unhappy miners and workers who'd be grumbling more than a little as they agreed to depart and find work elsewhere, but they'd hardly stand against Imperials. The injustice of the act rankled them greatly, but they were not warriors and many had families to provide for. As such, it would be a successful mission for Captains Heller and Nelia.
Shiva
The Shadowlord
The Lightbringer
Separatist High Commander (former)
|
| |
| |
|
