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(7.22) Decoys
(7.22) Decoys
The Mercenary Star
The Telos Republic
Outer Rim World of Vish'tish
9th September
When one is looking for the very best military units in the galaxy, they only need to look as far as the Mercenary Star. Here the marriage of profit and war takes the mercenary units to horrific levels of skills and abilities. Born out of the ashes of the Republic, the Mercenary Star was founded by the mercenary unit 87th Light Horse. The 87th had been an elite Republic Light Horse Division till the fall of Coruscant when the unit finally went mercenary. After being burned over a contract dispute, the Commander of the 87th decided to create a place where Mercenaries would have an equal voice in dealing with contract disputes and employers would be able to search for units. Originally, the Mercenary Star was founded on Telos and flourished. This lasted till the local government demanded the organization move due to complaints from its citizens over unruly mercenaries. Not wanting to loss such a valuable assist so being so close, the government of Telos assisted the Mercenary Star in its move to the nearby world of Vish'tish. Much of the cost of moving was even carried by Telos. Since then, the relationship between Telos and the Mercenary Star has always been a close one. This was made clear when the Tingel Command, a Jedi Military Command Zone, finally collapse in on its self. In the wake of the Tingel Command collapsing, the Mercenary Star helped defend Telos repeatedly from invaders.
As Telos was forced to endure invasion after invasion, it was the 87th that help spearhead the defense of this embattled world. At times facing odds that were three to one against the 87th, still the unit was able to pull victory from where defeat was near certain. It didn't take long for the 87th to build a reputation for its self and formed a legend off of that reputation. The legend of the 87th during these times brought units from across the Galaxy to sign up for with Mercenary Star. Currently, Telos was the Mercenary Star's only employer. This all changed when Maridum went to war with Yavin. The farmers of Yavin had no hope of defending against the military might of Maridum. They pulled their resources and hired the mercenary outfit Jango's Raiders to help defend their worlds. During a critical battle the Raiders turned and fled the field leaving the farmers of Yavin helpless. When word of the betrayal reached the Mercenary Star, a crisis had already been created. The reputation of the Mercenary Star was at stake. The Mercenary Review Board found Jango's Raiders in violation of their contract and ruled in favor of the farmers of Yavin. This did not change the situation on the ground back in the Yavin system.
The Review Board went further and ordered that the Mercenary Star to liberate the world at all cost. In the opinion letter submitted with the ruling, Senior Board Member Jesmin wrote: “Had it not been for the cowardly behavior of the Jango's Raiders, the Plaintiffs of this review would have seen their world liberated. Now we, the members of this community, must carry the responsibility of these cowardly actions. To wash this responsibility from our hands, we must undo what has been done. Yavin must be freed from its occupation.” With that ruling, five mercenary units took flight for Yavin headed up by the legendary 87th. The two year war ended in the complete defeat of Maridum forces on Yavin and finally a peace treaty between Yavin and Maridum. The Treaty of Yavin would ring out across the galaxy as the first sign that the Mercenary Star had come in to its own. Though this would be the last time the 87th would see official action. Shortly there after, the members of the unit would elect to disband the unit as most would fall back to take on roles within the Mercenary Star's Administration.
The Mercenary Star is made up of four branches which is designed to support Mercenary operations around the Galaxy. The Mercenary Hiring Hall gives units a place to advertise their talents and skills to possible employers. The Hall is more like a large university campus with different buildings where units are grouped by their capabilities. A site map helps employers locate just the right building to suite their needs. At the far end of the complex is the all exclusive Combined Arms Building. It was the very first building built as part of the complex. At the steps of this large building is one of the original fighters that belonged to the 87th. Within this building battalion sized or larger units with a combined arms frame work can compete for contracts. One of the most busiest buildings is the Single Operator buildings. Here lone operators can hire themselves out for just about any task from bodyguard work to covert operations. If an employer is unsure of what they are looking for, or need the best bang for their buck, there is the Open Contractor Building. Here contractors, or Fixers by their street name, can weigh the demands of any contract and offer the best fitting unit within their contact network for the mission.
The Mercenary Review Board helps keep units true to their contracts and helps protect units from employer misconduct. When a contract is signed, it goes to the Review Board and is submitted as evidence with the payment in trust for the unit once the contract is completed. Both the Employer and the Unit pay a one percent fee to the Review Board for its services. The vast majority of the time, the role of the Review Board is largely in the shadows. It ensures that the payments of the contract are paid out once the terms of the contract are met or in genuine effort attempted to be met. Simply because a unit losses on the battlefield does not mean that they don't deserve to get paid for their efforts. If there is a dispute between employer and unit, the Review Board acts as a binding mediator during these disputes. Throughout its history, the Review Board has acted on millions of disputes between employers and units. Some were simple misunderstandings of the terms of contracts while others boarded on near treason or set up. Units and employers have seen their privileges to the Star revoked due to the most extreme misconduct while under contract. Jango's Raiders were the first unit to actually face disbanding under the Review Board's ruling. While the unit attempted to resist the ruling by seeking work else where. In the end, they were forced to comply and its members waited their probation time before seeking work within the Mercenary Star once more.
The Internal Mercenary Hiring Hall is used for units to seek new personal and to replace combat losses. Only card caring members of the Star can seek access to this part of the over all complex that is the Mercenary Star. This location is a hub of activity were fresh young mercenaries come in hopes of seeking adventure and fame. The IMHH is also the place where Units receive their famed Mercenary Ranking. The lowest possible ranking a unit can have and still be able to seek work on the Mercenary Star is the ranking of D. Those units with an F ranking are no longer allowed to seek work within the Mercenary Star. Normally when a unit gets an F ranking, its members tend to disband the unit and attempt to seek work elsewhere. The best ranking units can get is a double A. These units have stood out above all the rest. These units can normally write their own terms within their contracts. However this is not the top ranking on the Mercenary Star. The famed Triple A ranking is reserved for the very best of the best of units who are part of the Mercenary Star.
Units that have held this famed ranking have become legends in their own time. These units have followed the footsteps of the first unit that signed with the Mercenary Star, the 87th. Other such units to have followed the 87th have shown courage, skill, honor and a strong strategic mind. One of the most tragic stories of the Mercenary Star was the fate of the Val Karyie. The unit fought hard to gain this coveted Ranking throughout their career. After spending most of their career with a double A ranking, they finally were able to lay claim this ranking when the unit that was currently holding it disbanded. Only months after they were crowned the best of the Mercenary Star, a tragic hyperspace accident cost the unit their lives. The sole survivor of the accident was a new recruit by the name of Lut Sha. In honor of the Val Karyie's legacy, a statue was erected within the Heroes Mall. A large open field between the IMHH and the MHH. The Val Karyie took their place in honor as one of the finest units the Mercenary Star offered.
The last part of the Mercenary Star complex is the massive Combined Arms Training Center or as the units call it, CAT C. Any and all units who are members of the Mercenary Star have access to CAT C. The center is so large that two full brigades can engage in large scale combat. When the 87th disbanded, a section of the 87th remained an active unit under the new unit name, OPFOR or Opposing Force. This unit works solely within the CAT C to help units maintain their combat edge. The CAT C offers units the ability to train up for missions and for a cost can even build sites that are specific for special operation missions under the direction of employers. The CAT C has also been used to help employers put units to the test for possible contracts. Units have even come to the CAT C to settle disputes over which unit was better. The CAT C offers hundreds of different ranges, both live fire and simulated. To take it one step further, Colonel Mitch Pieash the founder of the CAT C and first commander of the OPFOR, opened up CAT C's first war collage. For a cost, mercenary commanders can attend classes to better their command skills. Today, CAT C boasts five different collages that teaches a wide range of command, control and combat skills. Units with a CAT C certificate can expect to get ten percent more on their contracts. Unit Commanders with a CAT C Diploma can increase this bonus even higher. In nearly all regards, the CAT C is the one factor that gives the Mercenary Star an edge over every other mercenary regulatory agency and organization.
As the Galactic War rages on, the demand on units from the Mercenary Star has grown drastically. As an answer to this, The CAT C has opened up its own Mercenary Boot Camp. While the boot camp does not create units, it does allow Mercs to come to gather and build bounds that ultimately leads to units being formed. Units that graduate this one year boot camp come with a CAT C certificate and with Commanders who already have CAT C Diplomas. Currently the Boot Camp has not graduated its first unit. By the end of thirty eight, the first units are expected to graduate. Many worlds are eagerly looking forward to what these fully trained units can do in combat. Though some units have cried foul over these units receiving a automatic B ranking upon completion of the Boot Camp. If the program is successful, than the Mercenary Star could see its influence grow considerably in the industry. Already, Commanders from the Republic are holding talks with the Mercenary Star regarding training Republic Units. This could be a sign of the changing times, as the Mercenary Star has hinted its loyalties to the Republic. Hints that have sent waves of concern through Telos.
The recent battle of Bimmial saw massive losses to mercenary units. Even though the battle was a victory, the losses across the Republic were very high. The mercenary unit the Sky Rangers, who are current holders of the coveted Triple A ranking, had suffered such losses that they had to announce that they would be disbanding. The unit suffered nearly ninety percent losses during the battle and are no longer combat effective. With the official disbanding of the Sky Rangers, the Triple A is once more up for grabs. The IMHH received nearly a hundred applications to be reviewed for the ranking. While there were many units that could compete for the ranking, the IMHH ruled that only two units actually met the most requirements to hold the ranking. While this didn't discourage other units from attempting to reach this Ranking, it did set the stage from one of the most epic stand offs between units in the Mercenary Star's history. Never before had two units been in a situation to directly compete one another for the Triple A ranking.
On one side of the lines stood the platoon size Vixens. An all female unit that placed personal honor and courage over contract obligations every time. It was this level of pride and honor which made the Vixens who they were. The Vixens held the single highest rating across the board at the CAT C and every one of its members were graduates from one of the collages within the CAT C. This gives the Vixens an unparalleled level of skills and talent that they used to devastating results on the battlefield. While they lacked any heavy equipment or air support, they made up for such short comings with a wide range of tactics, strategy, and personal equipment. They excelled at small unit tactics and never failed at a mission objective. They have been known for taking on units that were as much as five times their size and defeating these units on the battlefield. The recruitment process for joining the Vixens is by far one of the strangest within the IMHH. The process looks more like a merger between beauty pageant and combat training. This has given them to reputation of being the Hottest Unit in the Mercenary Star. Many commanders have mistaken this reputation and the results were devastating as the Vixens showed their claws. Due to their skills and successes on the battlefield, the Vixens can afford to pick their own contracts terms. While they do have a Fixer, the Vixens have been known for picking their own contracts. This practice has placed them in rough spots many times before. Most recently, a bad contract left them sitting in a holding facility for over a week before their freedom could be secured. Still with these short comings behind them, they are widely seen as the top contender for the Triple A. That is, unless the Bad Boys of the Mercenary Star don't say something about it.
Those bad boys of the Mercenary Star are the Ruzz Boyz. When size does matter, the Ruzz Boyz can really bring the force. This large reinforced battalion size unit can bring a wide range of combat options to a battlefield. The Ruzz Boyz hosts three armor platoons, two light armor and APC platoons, and one heavy armor platoon. With just these armor three platoons, the Ruzz Boys already boasts more fire power then eighty percent of the units back on the Mercenary Star. The Ruzz Boyz also come with their own armored transport with can help them fight their way in to hostile landing zones and can even turn the tide of battle. Though despite their abilities, the Ruzz Boyz do come with a negative reputation. They were widely known for being the bad boys of the Mercenary Star. This reputation comes from a wide range of questionable tactics during combat and their ability to get even the nastiest of jobs done. Rumors of war crimes have fueled this reputation. As well as complaints filed by fellow mercenary units who found themselves at the mercy of the Ruzz Boyz. And while none of the rumors were ever proven to be factual, none of the complaints were ruled to be founded, the reputation still persists. Colonel Bek, the unit commander, has vigorously denied these rumors and dismissed the complaints as all being unfounded and baseless. Still the reputation does offer the Ruzz Boyz a much wider contract pool than other units have as employers looking for that unit that will do dirty work.
Deep within the corridors of the Open Contractor Building, Dreyla worked at his large desk. The massive Feeorin turned his chair as he lifted his feet up and rested them on the corner of his desk as he spoke in to his comlink, “Listen, I promised you guys a contract and I got one for you. Its not my fault that your unit has a low ranking. This low ranking is the reason why I can't get you any more credits.” He pauses as the person on the other end of the call continued to talk. “Look, do this contract. Its not hard.” he was cut off once more, “Its only a baby sitting job” once more cut off, “because you guys need to get your name out there. These people are good employers, I have dealt with them in the past and they pay good and more importantly they pay on time.” He paused once more as the caller was seemingly getting upset. Dreyla, or Tiny as his friends call him, was one of the bigger named Fixers in the MHH. Tiny was both well respected and liked by both friend and competitor. Just one of his claims to fame was being mid level commander within the disbanded Sky Rangers. The first unit he signed as a Fixer had been the Val Karyie, since then he has had a no nonsense reputation of helping units prove their worth on and off the battlefield. He watched a taller than normal Sullustan walk in. He waved the man to a chair. He knew the man well, they had served together within the Sky Rangers.
The Sullustan was EZ Slayer, and at one time, one of the finest pilots around. Now 'a has been' with an addiction problem. While they were close friends during their deployment days, they drifted further and further apart due to EZ's addictions and bad choices. Tiny was not pleased to see the man. “Look, This is your very first contract as a unit, what are you expecting a multi-million credit contract?” He rolled his eyes at the answer, “That just is not going to happen. Take the contract or don't. Its your choice.” He lifted his feet off of the desk and turned to face the desk, “Listen, just let me know what you are going to do so I can let the employers know.” He paused once more as he waved his hand as to symbolize he was trying to hurry the conversation forward, “Okay, so you will take the contract. Good, I am glad that you are coming to your senses. Don't be late.” He pauses once more, “You better not fuck me on this or I swear to god, I will ruin you and your friends. You will never work again if you fuck me on this!” he half yield while he stood up, “Do I make myself clear, fuck me and I will ruin you all!” he waited once more, “Good....good bye!” he said ending the call.
He dropped back to his chair, “EZ what do I owe this visit for?” he said cutting to the chase. Tiny knew that dealing with EZ was going to be both bothersome and offer him a headache in the end.
EZ sighed and nodded, “Tiny, I have a problem.” EZ said then paused, “Actually a big problem and I need your help.”
Tiny could read EZ well enough, there was more to what EZ was saying but he also felt a sense of anxiety from his former friend. He knew right away that something was wrong. “Okay what I can do for you” Tiny said not wanting to commit himself to anything too soon.
“The Ruzz Boyz are on mission, and have failed to check in. It might be nothing” EZ explained, “Bad transmitter, or they could have run in to trouble with a rouge Jedi group that they were to be hunting.” EZ further explained, “Colonel Bek reported back that they were on mission and didn't report anything out of the ordinary. So I don't know what is going on other than the fact that they they missed regular check in. Which for Colonel Bek is not normal.” EZ sighed a bit, “I know this sounds stupid but the Boyz are my only big named unit and I can't afford to loss them. I am not like you, I don't have a list of units waiting to sign with me. Tiny, please....”
Tiny was not completely sure of how to take the news. Still there was something off about the conversation, but Tiny could not put his finger on it. On one hand, Tiny knew that EZ had only a few units signed under his name. All of them expect for the Ruzz Boyz were all D and C units. The Ruzz Boyz could have done better when it came to Fixers, but Colonel Bek and EZ were close friends and loyalty ran deep between the two. Something that Tiny could respect. He was loyal to EZ as well till the calls to pick EZ up from the local jail started to add up. Tiny had cut the friendship off before he too was dragged down with EZ. “What do you want me to do about it?”
EZ pulled out a form from his briefcase, “I need to hire the Vixens. I have two of my units going also” he explained as he handed the form to Tiny, “None of my other units have the skills needed to pull of this kind of search and rescue. But your Vixens have in the past.”
Tiny looked over the contract carefully. It was surprisingly detailed and covered all the points that Tiny normally would bring up. Tiny concluded that EZ had to have had someone put it together for him. Some of these points were points of interests that EZ simply didn't think of. “You would be placing the Vixens in over all command of the operation but you are denying combat pay?” A fact that didn't sit well with Tiny.
“Tiny, I can't afford the pay the Vixens for their combat bonuses. Not at their premium rate. Please Tiny, Colonel Bek and his people could be in danger and need our help.” EZ pleaded.
Tiny looked over the contract much deeper than he normally would, “EZ, I just don't know. The Vixens haven't even returned from their last mission to Lorta yet. They need some down time and to resupply.” Tiny wasn't lying but at the same time he knew that the Vixen could easily pull this mission. He had their new recruits ready and it would take nothing for the unit to be on site. But there were still concerns that Tiny had. Something in the back of his mind was nagging at him about this whole thing. He just couldn't put his finger on it. Still, Tiny knew Bek well. Ever since Bek took over the Ruzz Boyz four years ago, he had really turned the unit around. Bek was a good commander that would have bent over backwards for any other unit in trouble.
“Tiny, when the Val Karyies were lost. I pulled the Boyz off of their contract to help you find them. Please. Don't make me beg, I need your help.” EZ said with sadness in his eyes. There was a sense of convincing in EZ's eyes that told Tiny that the man was in dire need of help and had no one else to turn to. This much Tiny knew to be true, even if it was due to EZ's own choices.
Tiny couldn't deny history. It was a well known fact that when the Val Karyies were lost, a large effort was made to help find them. Sadly that mission ended in tragedy. He lost some good friends during that time. During the whole thing, it was EZ who never left Tiny's side. Another well known fact. He sighed deeply, “Fine, but the Vixens don't leave the landing area. If you are not going to pay for combat, than they can lead the operation from the ship.” Tiny looked at the contract once more, “And EZ, if I found out that you are leaving something out, I will break you”
“Tiny I am not leaving anything out. I have told you all that I know.” EZ smiled broadly as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, “But yes, of course Tiny. I will make the payment” he said as he pulled out his datapad out to make the payment, “And I will let my Captain know that the Vixens are to remain at the ship at all times.”
Tiny looked over the contract, “Tell me EZ, where are the Ruzz Boyz after all?” Tiny knew that Sha had a vested interest in finding more information about the where abouts of the Ruzz Boyz before they reach Lorta. Maybe the Vixens could do a bit of intel gathering for Sha while on this mission. There were rumors of what the Ruzz Boyz were doing, but nothing solid. Tiny actually felt like he was doing Sha a favor by sending the Vixens on this mission. It was a win, win for everyone involved.
EZ flipped his datapad closed, “Payment sent” he said as he looked up, “They were sent to Cyout to route out some rouge Jedi.” EZ explained and pulled a datachip, “This is all the information I have on the contract and the advanced intelligence. Maybe your Vixens can find something that I or Colonel Bek missed.”
“Cyout, you don't say?” Tiny said knowing for sure that he made the right choice. Sha wanted to know more about the world and it had come up before in conversations. Now he would have something to offer her once the Vixens reported back.
“You have heard of it?” EZ asked.
Tiny didn't want to tip his hand, “No” he said lying. “I thought the Ruzz Boyz were heading to Lorta” he tried to cover the lie.
EZ looked in to Tiny's eyes as he knew the large former Merc was lying, “Oh, well yeah.” he said not giving any sign that he knew Tiny was lying, “They had a rider on the contract. More like a side mission.” EZ said as he pointed to a section of the contract, “Its all there” he admitted.
“Oh yes, I see now.” Tiny said glad that EZ didn't show any signs of catching the lie. He heard a tone over his datapad and checked it, “Your payment has been confirmed. I will notify the Vixens and have them link up with your people at Lego. I will make sure that they are there in say thirty six hours. That should be the whole team on the ground in Cyout in fifty six hours.”
“Thank you Tiny” EZ said getting up, “I will let my Captain know to pick up the Vixens on Lego. Hopefully all this will be over a bad communication array and nothing more. Let the Vixens know that I owe them.”
Tiny nodded with a smile, “Oh I will.” He said softly as he watched EZ walk for the door. He waited for the door to close before activating his desk comlink, “Get me Lut Sha at once!” he said as he looked over the contract. Finally they were going to get some answers to all this mess about Cyout.
“Sir” his secretary replied, “Her comlink is not active. When I do a search for her, she is listed as being in custody of the authorities of Narsis. Though there is very little information on this other then she is in their custody.”
“What!?” he said turning to the comlink. He took a moment to collect himself before continuing, “okay forward this contract” he said uploading it to the comlink, “to the Vixens. Once they have it, tell them I want to talk with them on a secure channel. I know how much love just love playing spies.” he sarcastically said.
EZ walked down the corridor silently as he watched over his back to make sure that no one was following him. Once he was sure that he was not being observed he ducked in to an side room and activated a localized jammer. He pulled out a secured comlink that was rare for use by even the most advanced merc or bounty hunters. He activated its security protocols and waited for the red light which indicated that the signal was not secured to turn off. Once the green light came on, he knew that the signal was not only secured it was shadowed so not to be detected by the Security Forces of the world. He activated the communication device.
“I have made contact with Tiny. The Vixens are on their way to Cyout” He said softly so not to attract unwanted attention.
Over the comlink he heard a voice, “Good. Once we confirm that they are on world, I will make sure that Sha is made aware of this fact. Till then I will keep her in the dark. Wait for conformation that the Vixens are on world. Then kill Tiny and make sure that the evidence points to bounty hunters behind the murder.”
Without question in his voice, “Yes Sir, as you command” he said as he shape shifted in to another form. “Also, I made sure that Beks reports were secured and that there was no leak through this EZ Slayers office. The murder will look like nothing more than an over dose once I am finished with this cover. For now, I have him on ice while I use his identity to set up the Bounty Hunters. Your plan is moving forward without issues.
“Excellent. Once Sha knows that her friends are in harms way, she will have little choice than to come for them. And with that, I will have my revenge for Imaginous.” There was a dark sinister tone to his voice, “Sha will pay for betraying us. For betraying the Cause. For betraying the Light. Sha will suffer like no other. This I promise, she will pay!”
“Yes Master.....” the shape shifter said as he replied.
“Now move forward with the plan. Make sure that the murder of Tiny points right back to the Bounty Hunter Guild and linked to Sha's bounties. That is all.” The line went dead after that. The shape shifter returned the secured comlink back to his pocket and assumed an identity that did not attract any attention.
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