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Not Everything Is Perfect
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| Ana_Stark | Date: Sunday, 03 Jun 2012, 6:57 PM | Message # 1 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 474
Status: Offline
| That day, was one of the many days that Ana Riley wondered why she ever left Naboo. The once helpful protocol droid laid in a heap with smoke fizzling from it's back, and Ana was on the floor across from it with her comm link clutched in her hand. Oddly, a fire extinguisher laid nearby, which she had used to smack the droid repeatedly before its circuits finally fried and it shut down.
With shaky hands she dialed Alyn's number, to absolutely no avail, but she had no idea who else to call. From what she could see from the window, the whole of Imperial city was under siege. The driver she had was a droid, so that was not an option. And she had no idea where Senator Vanden was during all this, if he was even still alright. She could see the smoke from around the Senate building from where she was.
It was at that point that she felt the entire hotel shudder, and she looked down to see a nearly building sized droid lumbering nearby.
Message edited by Ana_Riley - Sunday, 03 Jun 2012, 7:05 PM |
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 03 Jun 2012, 7:35 PM | Message # 2 |
 Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| Stark, of course, was unable to answer. When Ana called for him, he was currently engaged in a suicidal dive towards the surface of Imperial Center to rescue the Lorrdian senator. This wasn't to say that the call went completely unanswered, at least in part. Stark, being the Lord of the Kinyov Province, did merit a few additions, namely escorts for official functions in the form of Castle Stark guardsmen or soldiers of the Kinyov Province Defense Forces. The current officer in charge of this delegation, a Major Womack of Stark's personal defense forces, received the call. Before he could respond though, the communications net shut down, overridden by Sabis' virus.
Putting together a small team of ten took only a short time. Comprised of five castle guardsmen and five of the defense forces soldiers, they planned to utilize a Lorrdian Lambda to reach the surface. Stark had left instructions for Ana's retrieval, after all, prior to his departure, and the fact that she'd placed a distress call did not bode well. However, Womack as a close friend of Stark's would do his best to ensure that Ana was brought safely back. All ten soldiers and the Lorrdian pilot who worked on Stark's staff prepared for the drop as they slid into the atmosphere of Imperial Center.
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Ana_Stark | Date: Sunday, 03 Jun 2012, 7:46 PM | Message # 3 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 474
Status: Offline
| "I hate technology." Ana murmured as she shook the comm unit that had just died completely. The battery wasn't dead, but it seemed that the line was just...cut. She shook the device, like it would help, and checked again. When that didn't work, she let it clatter to the hotel room floor and pulled herself to her feet. The building shuddered again and she frowned as she looked out and saw stone and steel twisting...the building next door was nearly toppled.
She decided at that moment that it was time to go, though she wasn't exactly sure where that was. Somewhere else, she thought, anywhere but here. Ana grabbed her bag and opened the door of her room and looked down the hall, only to see a few more protocol droids down the hallway, wreaking some sort of havoc. Just as quickly as she had opened it, she shut the door and tossed her bag on the counter before she struggled to push the hall table up against the door, not that it would help in the long run.
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 03 Jun 2012, 8:13 PM | Message # 4 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| The shuttle was bounced and jolted violently as the pilot strained to prevent a collision with any of the suicidal taxis or varied air transports, some of which had people inside of them. Ana's residence was their destination; being a rather large motel, it was easy enough to pinpoint, both from the map and from the air, if one knew where to look. Fortunately, their shuttle's internal computers had not been affected by Sabis' virus, and Womack promised to tip his hat to the programmers at Vigilance Technologies who'd done a bit of aftermarket work on the shuttle at Stark's behest to improve its sensor suite, among other things.
Avoiding any mishaps on the way down, the pilot brought the shuttle to a hover some twenty feet above the duracrete surface in front of the hotel. Utilizing fast-roping techniques that would have made some of the Imperial commandos jealous more than likely, the small team under Womack reached the ground safely. As the Major looked up once clear of the shuttle, he was able to see it winging its way off, pursued by a rather large freight barge. The pilot was going to have to make it on his own. Here, in the open, the team were sitting ducks. It was the motel itself with a large droid staff, more than likely, that was going to be troublesome. Splitting into two teams and moving in wedge formation, they secured the entrance without incident, then entered, prepared for anything.
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Ana_Stark | Date: Sunday, 03 Jun 2012, 8:28 PM | Message # 5 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 474
Status: Offline
| The halls were a flurry with the droid staff, though most were unarmed because they were, after all, service droids. Maids and the likes. That did not mean that they were any less dangerous, of course, likely just easier to subdue. None the less, there were a lot of them, and they seemed to be every where.
Ana heard a pounding on the door of her room on the 59th floor and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Again, the metallic pounding on the door, which she backed further away from. "Are you kidding me?" She murmured as the pounding got louder and the table she had pushed against the door began to move some from the impacts. Since there was no other way out, she did the only thing she knew to do.
She locked herself in the bedroom quickly. Ana tried as hard as she could to push the dresser in front of the door, but it was too heavy and just toppled over onto its side in front of the door. It worked, at least. Maybe, she thought, it would just all be over soon, but it almost didn't seem like that was going to happen.
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Monday, 04 Jun 2012, 2:21 PM | Message # 6 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| The interior floor of the hotel was in shambles. Apparently, serving, cooking and butler droids could and did massacre people. It was a terrible sight to see what might have been a man... or perhaps a rather large woman? Either way, the corpse was butchered beyond belief and headless. What was left was a pincushion for what Womack could identify as kitchen knives and three forks. The lobby was strewn to and fro with guests and staff who'd been unfortunate enough to be caught unawares, or not fast enough when the droids engaged in their foul little games.
Signaling the first team to advance, Womack moved forwards with the second. They leapfrogged the lobby, pausing only twice to take down approaching droids. It seemed that most of the racket had moved upstairs, as guests were slowly driven from their rooms and slain. The hotel was rapidly becoming a charnel house and the further up the two teams moved, the more dangerous the path became.
As they emerged on the landing that led to the floor where Ana was supposed to be staying, by Stark's wording, Womack's heart sank. The wide hall was clogged with droids, some still hacking at people who were gurgling out their final cries, and a number were banging on an unopened door. Was it Ana's? Womack could not be sure, but he would have to take a chance. Motioning to his alpha team, he mimed throwing a thermal detonator, then stood back to allow the alpha team leader and one of his men access to the corner. Both men primed their detonators, cocked back their arms and threw, the silvery explosives clattering down the hallway. There was silence for a moment as over two dozen photoreceptors snapped upwards to focus on the corner and the bouncing grenades.
Then all hell broke loose.
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Ana_Stark | Date: Monday, 04 Jun 2012, 2:40 PM | Message # 7 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 474
Status: Offline
| As the explosives blew, the entire floor shook and Ana shrieked as parts of the ceiling and the wall came crumbling down. As the dust cleared, she glanced over and saw that part of the wall was gone, which meant the droids could have gotten in, were a big portion of them not blown to bits across the hallway. Either way, she paniced and started to push the dresser back away from the door so she could get out of the bedroom.
Once she was back in the main room, she realized there was no point, as the door was down too. "This just keeps getting better and better." She murmured before she peered out briefly and saw the team of commandos making their way down the half destroyed corridor. it was only then that she felt a metallic hand wrap around her arm in a death grip and drag her out into the hallway.
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Thursday, 07 Jun 2012, 12:21 PM | Message # 8 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| The droids came from below them on the stairwell as the corridor rocked, blasting debris in a wide swath. They came from above, even, dropping down onto the troops below. One of the defense forces soldiers cried out briefly and then his neck snapped under the weight of a protocol droid that had fallen atop him; the droid was blasted into scrap. The fighting was practically hand to hand now as they struggled to maintain their ground. Womack saw the inevitability of such as the tide threatened to overwhelm them; caught a quick glimpse of Ana Riley as a droid latched onto her and pulled her into the hall. He turned, clubbing a droid aside with the butt-stock of his shatter gun before lining up a quick shot at the head of the droid that held Ana.
There was only one way to go: forwards. With a roar of anger, Womack charged forwards, shatter gun in one fist, his vibroblade in the other. Behind him, his two squads, now reduced by three, followed suit. The Castle Stark guards formed the advance group; with their blades they hewed droids down while the defense forces covered the rear with a wall of heavy blaster fire and slugs, knocking droids down like bowling pins. As Womack approached the spot where Ana likely was, he would cast about trying to find her and pull her to her feet.
"Lord Stark sent me! We're to get you to safety!"
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Ana_Stark | Date: Thursday, 07 Jun 2012, 12:57 PM | Message # 9 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 474
Status: Offline
| The smoke had gotten thick, thick enough that it was hard to see what was happening in the hallway. Ana crashed to the floor when the droid dragging her was destroyed. She pried its fingers from around her slender arm and then felt a human hand helping her up. She was shocked for a moment when he identified himself as being sent by Alyn. Of course he would send and entire force. She didn't feel that she was worth all of that...but apparently someone else thought otherwise.
"Well then let's get out of here? Please? " Even in times of crisis, she was still polite about it. As she would follow him, not to be a distraction though, Ana braved a question. "So....how are we getting out of here, exactly?"
Message edited by Ana_Riley - Thursday, 07 Jun 2012, 4:48 PM |
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Friday, 08 Jun 2012, 8:44 AM | Message # 10 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| With the amount of fire from the defense forces increasing behind him, Womack had to shout to make sure he was heard. "That's a good question Miss Riley!" Up was not going to be very safe; from all indications, the further up they went, the more droids they'd encounter. Down would be hard to push through, and now that he had acquired Ana, he did not want to risk her life. It might well be that they'd have to hole up and plan, but that would simply draw more drones down on them.
"You room! Let's get to the window! It's going to be an interesting ride out, but if we can get to the ground, we'll have a better shot at survival." Already, two of the other Castle Stark guardsmen were working at uncoiling rappelling rope they'd brought with them. It was interesting that not all that far off, a team of Imperial commandos were doing the same thing with a group of injured senators.
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Ana_Stark | Date: Friday, 08 Jun 2012, 9:05 AM | Message # 11 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 474
Status: Offline
| She looked at him like he was crazy, and then told him as such "Surely you aren't serious." She asked as she watched, then leaned down to look out the window to see how far it was. The distance made her nauseous almost immediately and she didn't think she could do that. Ana paled considerably and turned her gaze back to Womack. "I don't....think I can do this." She said meekly, though she knew there was really no other choice than to do what she was told.
56 floors was a long way down, especially if one was falling. Unfortunately, she thought, staying here would have been much worse. "Fine....fine let's get it over with. " she finally relented, though she was panicking inwardly.
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Friday, 08 Jun 2012, 9:25 AM | Message # 12 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| Womack waited until she was completely done speaking and then grunted. Civilians. They had no concept of urgency or life-and-death. "Damn right we'll get this over and done with, Miss Riley. It beats being butchered by a group of out-of-control serving droids. They don't seem to kill their victims quick." He watched the two men with the ropes begin anchoring them into the wall and spooling them out.
"You'll go down with me in a reverse rappel. You'll be in a harness and you'll have to wrap your arms and legs around me as tight a you can. Try not to shift your weight and we'll be down as quickly as possible." The sound of weapon fire had diminished slightly as the remaining security forces soldiers cut down the latest droid charge; several bore scuffs on their armor from thrown projectiles; apparently the droids were not beyond hurling knives, crockery or even potted plants.
"Here, hold your arms out and I'll get this fitted on you," the Major continued, seemingly oblivious to the near-death around them.
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Ana_Stark | Date: Friday, 08 Jun 2012, 9:46 AM | Message # 13 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 474
Status: Offline
| To say she was panicked would have been a horrible le understatement. She let Womack do what he needed to, but she had almost shut down herself. Even his instructions were clouded in her mind, but she still heard them, despite the fogginess. "Yes, of course. Very still. " She murmured in response. No, she had decided that moving wouldn't be happening, nor looking, or probably even breathing.
Finally Ana looked up to him. "Thank you. I know you probably didn't want to come here and deal with this."
Message edited by Ana_Riley - Friday, 08 Jun 2012, 10:00 AM |
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Saturday, 09 Jun 2012, 7:34 PM | Message # 14 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| At last, with a brief delay, Ana was tied to Womack, facing him, and ideally with her legs hiked up around his waist. It was an obscene parody of copulation, but it allowed him to move more or less freely. "It's orders, Miss Riley. Mr. Stark wants you safe and we'd die for him. If that means we die for you as well, so be it." Womack flashed her a brief smile, mounted the window ledge... and ran down.
Rappelling normally isn't a difficult task; anyone can do it with a little practice. Rappelling in reverse, with a person strapped to your front however, is much, much more difficult. Nonetheless, Womack pulled off running towards the ground with only some difficulty, providing Ana stayed put and didn't panic. Beside him, another of the castle guardsmen ran parallel. Up above, the last guardsman and one of the security forces men prepared to do the same.
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Ana_Stark | Date: Sunday, 10 Jun 2012, 1:52 PM | Message # 15 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 474
Status: Offline
| Dutifully, Ana did as Womack instructed, only pausing a moment to pull her chestnut locks into a ponytail before he spoke again. She tilted her h head some and frowned very briefly. "Im not worth that, sir. " But it did feel good to know how Alyn seemed to regard her. That thought distracted her long enough for Womack to make that first terrifying jump from the window.
Again, Ana did as she was told and held on tightly. Not so tightly that he couldn't work, but enough so she felt comfortable. She also chose not to look at all. In fact, she didn't actually open her eyes or speak until both feet were firmly on the ground.
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