Spy Hunt (Game Event: 03-02-17)

[Akirapryde]

Spy Hunt
City of Jaoppolis
Outer Rim World of Olivan
Date: 2919 AOK (Eight months after Auro’s Birthday)

Auro sat in his chair, gazing out over a burning Jaoppolis neighborhood. Day by day, the city was dying. Every once in a while, there was a flash of light followed by a small plume of smoke. He could open his window and hear the sharp snaps of weapons' fire, the explosions, and the smoke. It was the smell that Auro couldn't stomach; the smell of burning flesh seemed to rise from the city like a vile specter. This once beautiful city was dying a slow death, and Auro had a front row seat to its demise.

Auro watched an ARC 170 starfighter swooped over a row of building. As the ARC 170 started to pull up, the buildings erupted in to flames. ‘Master Milani is burning this entire city to the ground, one neighborhood at a time,’ Auro thought. It was a horrible tactic, one that he would never even think of ordering. He glanced down at the report in his hand. What bothered him was the sinking realization that there might be a reason for Master Milani’s methods.

Auro and his team had hatched a plan to determine whether or not there really was a spy aboard the ‘Vengeance’ or if Master Milani was attempting to lure the 2nd Battalion into this bitter conflict. He didn’t want to believe that Kali Demaya was the source of a now confirmed information leak. However, per computer records, she was the only one who had reviewed the data about the last convoy which had been ambushed. Hoping to prove Demaya’s innocence, Auro and his team found a way that would allow Duncan and his younger brother Jaden could slip behind enemy lines as spies incognito.

To that end, The Starchaser brothers would each be disguised as a “Tommy” clones, a general-purpose household model. Preparation for this mission would require time, and Auro knew how to go about orchestrating it. Demaya's deep-rooted bloodlust and craving to avenge the attack on Base Camp Mercy would be nurtured to fulfill his plan. One of the key players to his plan would be the prisoners that were taken when Duncan rescued his bother Jaden from that Olivan aid station. This would allow Auro to plant Duncan and Jaden among the ranks of prisoners.

Everyone on the ship knew Auro’s intimate relationship with the Chancellor. This gave him a level of access that would prove critical in the plan. His plan started officially when he ordered Duncan and Jaden to return to that small village disguised as clones. This covered the fact that Duncan and Jaden underwent the operation. They even had a big production, leaving the Vengeance. Thanks to Ashla’s and Unna’s help, the disguised Duncan and Jaden were brought in as saboteurs. No one questioned the two lovely members of the group. Duncan and Jaden were placed with the rest of the prisoners.

Auro announced at a morning meeting that Republic Intelligence suspects that clones are bring trained at a secret location on Olivan. He tasked Demaya with questioning the Clones that they held in custody. This would provide Demaya the opportunity to discover that they possessed important information; information that Auro would make certain Duncan and Jaden had.

After a week spent in interrogation sessions, Auro was able to learn a great deal more about what made Demaya who she was. She was the kind of commander he had often envisioned leading Republic troops during the great Clone Wars. Strong-willed, driven, and focused on the task at hand, there was no doubt in Auro’s mind as to why her troopers loved and respected her. She exhibited single-minded determination in everything she did. As such, all it took was a mere hint from Auro that Republic Intelligence believed one or more of these prisoners might have vital information about a plot against the Republic for her to respond.

Normally, Auro had seen that Demaya had a general respect for life that would be in line with the Jedi Code. However, in this situation that respect seemed to had change. Auro found it hard to discern if this was an act for those who she was interrogating or if this was a different side of her persona. Either way, it was linked directly to the darkness within her. Her love for the Republic and her duty to it clearly drove her in all that she did. Auro had a great guilt over this part of the plan.

This was neither painless or honorable. She drew upon her own pain to give her strength of will. This allow her to press her own will up against those she was questioning. There were times where she even tapped in to her own darkness as she pressed her mind against the strong will minds of others. While she didn’t actively call upon the darkside to aid her, she didn’t ignore that which was already within her either. Often Demaya would face off in the battles of will alone, only a few rare times did she allow other members of the crew to join in.

One thing that Auro noticed was that she did everything by the book. There were times before an interrogation where she would consult Military Regulations over her plans. She always had a pair of lawyers from the Vengeance’s JAG department on hand to both witness the interrogations and available to answer her questions regarding what might break the law or not. Even though she didn’t break Republic Law, that didn’t stop her from pressing the limits.

There were times Auro could barely tolerate watching her at the terrible task. Nonetheless, he owed it to his two men who were already undercover and to their mission at hand to stand by and watch as the interrogations were carried out, no matter how much he detested the manner in which they were conducted. Clone after clone fell victim to Demaya’s ruthless and relentless interrogations. All of them, including Jaden broke against her will. All of them expect for one, Duncan.

It was Duncan (by random roll) who suffered the most under Demaya's interrogation methods. Halfway through and after he had already given up what he was supposed to tell her, she suspected that this rebel clone had more to offer. Indeed, he did. He could tell her that he was actually, Jedi Knight Duncan Starchaser and their mission would have died before it had a chance to begin.

Watching this series of interrogations was the hardest thing Auro had ever been forced to make himself do. For nearly a week, Auro stood there in the observation room watching Duncan resist Demaya’s attempt to crack his mental defenses. Demaya didn't hold back as she pressed Duncan to his very limits, then beyond. At the end of some of the more intense sessions, Duncan had to be taken down to medical for treatment. During these times, Auro had a rare glimpse in to Demaya.

She hated what was being done in the name of the Republic. She would often leave the interrogations and go down straight to a gym. There she would release all her anger upon training droids. It was a surprising personal detail that he learned of her. While she did tap in to her own darkness, she also released it without it touching her soul. The sessions were so taxing on both Demaya and Duncan, that Auro was able to see in to her and know that her pain runs much deeper than he ever imagined.

Already, their plan had revealed a treasure trove of information. But this was hardly over. Demaya felt that Duncan was still holding out on her. That he was still keeping a secret from her and she was going to break him. And so, she demanded that interrogations would continue. There were times Auro had to physically stop himself from intervening. This two-week battle of wills between them was truly epic and it took an obvious toll on Demaya as well as Duncan.

These exchanges were the catalyst that launched Auro’s plan into overdrive. Demaya was sure that Duncan had more information, even though she failed to break him. Even before Auro had a chance to do so, Demaya suggested that Duncan and Jaden, convincingly disguised as clones, be transferred to the Twenty-Seventh Strike Division for enhanced interrogation. This enabled Auro to play off her suggestion, restating his commitment to keep the Republic from being dragged into the war on either side.

Acting upon Unna's advice, Auro staged a dramatic showdown with Demaya on the hangar deck. Not only did this guarantee them a sizable audience, it added a very believable sense of realism to their intense exchange. Auro seized each rare breath Demaya took to interject his true, if exaggerated, concerns about conclusions that would be drawn to should prisoners of war in their custody at the 'Vengeance' be transferred over to the Twenty-Seventh Strike Division.

The verbal battle was better than if Auro had planned it personally. Using what he knew of Demaya he could make sure that the transfer would appear to come from Demaya’s suggestion. In the end, he also could give her a victory before her troops. Auro finally respectfully conceded the argument and allowed the transfer to take place. And in doing so, Auro noticed that Demaya nodded and thanked him for allowing it. She even promised that she would make sure that this would not draw the Republic in to the conflict. Inwardly, Auro allowed himself the modest luxury of cautious optimism as the various pieces they needed to succeed at their mission fell neatly into place.

The first three weeks of Auro’s plan had been brutal on Duncan and Jaden. Now it was time for Auro to be tested. During the three weeks, reports kept coming back that three more convoys were ambushed. There were also attacks on the Vengeance its self. A suicide truck drove in to a check point killing three troopers and a dozen civilians. The death toll for the Vengeance was slowly raising. For all her anger and her blood lust, Demaya honored Auro’s wishes about reprisals.

What surprised Auro, was a predawn knock on his door. It was Demaya, she was dressed in her battle armor and that thick black robe. She allowed him to get dressed in his own Jedi robes. She personally escorted him to the cargo bay, where Auro was allowed witness one of the most intimate rituals of the 10th Division, 2nd Battalion. During this funeral, the 2nd Battalion was laying to rest the three troopers that were killed from the suicide truck two days before. Auro couldn’t ignore that this rare opportunity came just a day after their conversation on the hanger deck.

Also during this time, Master Milani pressed Auro for information on the hunt for the spy. Not wanting to tip his hand, Auro delayed providing any detailed information other than they were investigation it. At the end of the third week, Master Milani paid the Vengeance an unannounced visit. During that visit, Auro and Unna had a private meeting with the Jedi Master. Having Unna nearby was a powerful tool for Auro during this meeting.

The new troops had indeed shifted the battle back in to the favor of the Coruscant Jedi, but the Partisans were gaining ground on Olivan. More and more clones are flocking to the banner of this Sky King, whoever that might be. Master Milani wanted to have Jenna transferred back to the Twenty-Seventh for further questioning. It was Unna who realized that Master Milani was holding back a key detail.

After being pressed, Master Milani finally admitted that they have lead as to where the Partisans had their base of operations at. Master Milani suspected that Jenna could complete this lead. Master Milani also hoped that Jenna could offer more details as to how the Partisans operated and selected their targets.

While Auro wasn’t likely to agree to that, it was Unna who gave him the reasoning that he needed to say no. Unna called Master Milani out for not caring about the physical condition of Jenna. According to the Vengeance’s own doctors, Jenna was due to give birth in six weeks. Auro was not about to put Jenna through what he just watched Duncan go through.

After sending Master Milani on her ways, it was Demaya’s turn to upset Auro’s plan. Unlike other times, Demaya confronted Auro in the privacy of his own room. It was another surprise that Auro had not expected. Maybe that was the reason why Auro was off balance in the conversation. She questioned the convoy set up. The use of only droids to protect the two clones, was clearly not acceptable. She wanted to use her forty ARC troopers supported by assault shuttles and walkers.

At the end of the conversation, the two agreed upon a company of troopers. It wasn’t prefect for Auro’s plan, but at the same time he also applied a bit of logic. Why would the Republic transport two prized prisoners while under the protection of a handful of droids? It was a foolish oversight that almost cost him the success of his plan. As the end of the day, the last-minute change in the convoy would increase the believability of the plan. Auro watched the five-truck convoy depart the Vengeance. At this moment, the plans success or failure would be completely out of Auro’s control.

It didn’t take long for the report to come in. The convoy was under attack!

For Duncan and Jaden, they were stuck inside an armored wheeled transport with five troopers. The company was fanned out in an over watch formation. There was a moment as the convoy was in transit that the brother’s thought that they were going to make it to the Twenty-Seventh’s headquarters. A fate that the brothers weren’t concerned about. They knew that Ashla and Unna were waiting at the end of the road to snatch them up, just in case.

As the convoy was working its way through a small village, that was when the convoy fell under attack. From the armored slits, they watched partisans battle the troopers of the 2nd Battalions. Two rockets from nearby roof tops immobilized the transport that the brothers were in. As bullets were flying, Duncan and Jaden could hear soldiers being cut down by the overwhelming firing. They had read reports of past ambushes, and this was much larger than what the Partisans were used to employing.

Already, there was proof a spy aboard the Vengeance. Duncan and Jaden weren’t sure if they should celebrate or be scared. Two more rockets left the transport they were in, tipped over on its side and smoking. The troopers grabbed the bothers in an attempt to protect them from the fire that was slowly consuming the truck. They opened the back door and drug them to a nearby building for cover. It was in that moment that Duncan and Jaden were able to take in the full scope of what was going on.

Partisans were firing from window and tossing makeshift incendiary devices down upon the troopers. While the Partisans were only fighting with single shot blaster-carbines, it was more than enough to inflect heavily losses on the Republic troopers. They noticed a pair of heavy repeaters being used to provide suppression fire. A medium recoilless rifle was making short work of the lightly armored trucks.

Duncan knew many of these weapons well. They were old, but still very effective in the given situation. The partisans with the single shot would rotate from their window after firing. A new partisan would take his or her place to target a trooper and fire. Then they would rotate again. It wasn’t prefect, but it was effective. And they turned this stretch of road in to a slaughter, and the convoy was in the heart of the kill zone!

As Duncan, Jaden and their three troopers were trying to escape the kill zone, that was when they saw Tristin. Jaden had to fight back the reaction at seeing the gray skinned woman with two blade. There was nothing that they could do, as she danced her way through the troopers. Blood dripped from her blades as the last trooper fell behind her. She smiled at the two clones before her, “you have been freed bothers. Come with us! We will protect you.” For them, it was clear that Tristen and her friends were more than touched by darkness.

At that moment, the clear sound of a mass driver. The energy blast hit the side of a building with so much force that the heavy repeater crew of the roof were blown in to the air. It was an AT-TE from the Twenty-Seventh responding to the urgent call for help from the convoy. Troopers of the Twenty-Seventh were fighting their way in to the ambush to rescue those trapped within. With the arrival of the Twenty-Seventh, the ambush was broken. But the battle was far from over. The Partisans continued to fight.

Tristin and her fellow Dark Jedi rushed the two clones from the ambush zone. As they ran further way, Duncan saw the recoilless rifle crew go toe to toe with the AT-TE. It was then that Duncan and Jaden realized that the Partisans were buying time for them to escape. Tristin led the group to a waiting airspeeder. As the group were boarding, Duncan and Jaden saw the recoilless rifle rip the Mass Cannon from the top of the AT-TE. A second hit blew the driver’s compartment apart. The AT-TE erupted in to flames as the Partisans cheered their victory.

The airspeeder slowly rose in to the air as a pair of ARC-170 starfighters swooped in. One turned and blasted the airspeeder with laser fire. Two partisans were killed instantly while Jaden was blown from the craft. It was Tristin who caught him as he dangled hundreds of feet in the air. The second ARC-170 dropped bombs over the ambush zone. The heat blast was so hot, that Jaden was burned from it.

Jaden could see the flesh on Tristin’s hand bubble as the fire bomb which had incinerated the partisans left behind, continue to grow near them. Despite her flesh was burned and ripping from her hand, Tristin never let go of Jaden. The airspeeder dove for the cover of the forest as it attempted to shake the two attacking starfighters. Fighting against the pain, Tristin pulled Jaden up enough for others to pull him in to the wounded airspeeder.

An hour later, an official report to Auro would indicate that ten troopers were killed, dozens of others were wounded. Thanks to the efforts of the Twenty-Seventh, twenty Partisans were also killed. Half of a small village was decimated. The two clones, the convoy was protecting had been liberated by the Partisans. The report also indicated that the Partisans knew about the last-minute change in security and appeared to be ready for it.

Everything that Auro and his team had planned, had worked so far. The rest of the mission would now continue in two parts. Auro and his team would seek to uncover who the spy was aboard the Vengeance. Duncan and his team would learn as much as they could about the Partisans. It was going to be a painfully long mission for Auro.