Tibannopolis

Asha got her bearings as the readouts on her console updated the gunship's location in proximity to the rundown city that floated in the sky off in the distance. Leftenant @kaytra had them on a direct approach, coming up from below the line of sight of the city. Fourth Platoon's commandos, including its Leftenant Ali Hadrix and the Jensaarai woman assigned to them for the duration of the mission, Crystaall Sehefadu, sat in the troop bay behind the cockpit, waiting for their arrival at the landing zone. Their target was one of the large Star Destroyer-class vessels the pirates had operating over the abandoned city. It was Kaytra and Asha's mission to blast their way into the vessel's landing bay and deploy the commandos they carried on board.
As the vessel came into view on Asha's visual readouts, she began wondering if they would be able to make the landing with the Destroyer's bay shields still activated. Not wanting to let the thought be lost in the heat of battle, she relayed her concern to Kaytra.
Hey, Leftenant, just a thought here. Are we going to have trouble from that Destroyer's bay shields, or do you think we can break them with rockets alone? It looks like they've got the generator exposed to the left and right of the bay opening, I'm thinking we could use the composites to overload the shield itself. Like most stock Low-Altitude Assault Transports, the neck of the vessel was equipped with outboard composite beam weapons, which were designed to cut through buildings and personnel with ease. The aft-mounted rocket launchers should be capable of handling the generators themselves, but if the pirates had redundancies built in, they would also need to overload the bay shields before they could be reenergized. Asha waited for a response from the gunship's lead pilot, Kaytra, busying herself for the moment by double checking their approach vector.

*Crystaall stood there, keeping her balance as the gunship shook in the air. The doors were closed, and no light came through the slots, so the glare in her right eye was probably just a simple light to allow the people inside to see what they were doing.*

"I don't think the Destroyer knows our plan of attack, so this should be a breeze. If not, I remembered to bring one of my lightsabers. Its relatively useful when people start shooting at you."

*Crystaall chuckled at the thought of Ali messing around with a lightsaber. She thought it comical that Ali nearly cut off her own head. But she understood how. The blades were weightless, and you had to practice for years with one to even do the basic of moves. Crystaall being a warrior, changing from weight to no weight just gave her the advantage of an extra bit of speed and agility.*

"I'm surprised no one told you that you have to think of the blades as another piece of yourself. It is usable in combat, but it can also turn against its own user, if not careful."

Ali pulled her helmet off for a moment and shook her hair out, running a hand through her thick locks. For some reason, Ali wanted Crystaall Sehefadu to see her smile as they talked. She clipped the helmet to her belt, knowing they were still awaiting orders to move in from the infiltration team. Returning her eyes to Crystaall, she laughed easily. "On Mandalore, we have a saying, Besbe'trayce cuyi besbe'trayce. Weapons are weapons." Ali lifted the sub-assault weapon hanging from its clip on her shoulder. "When I was a child, before I learned how to use a firearm, my father found me out in the forest on our homestead, playing with one of my mother's rifles I'd taken from the shed. He nearly had a heart attack when he found I'd already loaded a power clip into it." Ali's smile grew slightly, though the corners of her mouth twitch as she was reminded that she hadn't spoken to either of her parents in several years.
"Luckily, my father realized I had jammed the clip in backwards, and my mother later joked that I wouldn't be much of a threat to anyone. That's when she decided it was about time I learned." Ali shrugged her shoulders slightly. "Any weapon can be learned to be used properly, though I'm not sure lightsabers are for me." She patted the rifle with her free hand. "I like firearms just fine." She smiled at Crystaall. "Though I've seen what a lightsaber can do; they're quite impressive."



Asha nodded as Leftenant @kaytra confirmed her orders. Roger that, Leftenant. She replied, confirming the target lock on the Star Destroyer's hangar bay as Kaytra voiced the same concerns Asha had been thinking herself. She looked up from her console, traversing her gaze back and forth around the floating city. Asha could see any fighters in the sky, though suspicion began to build in her mind. Leftenant, do you think they know we're coming, and are keeping their fighters prepped in the hangar for launch? I understand those heavy doors can take a while to open, maybe they just want to surprise us with a launch?
Asha glanced back down at her read outs, seeing nothing but the larger pirate vessels, alone. A pair of Acclamator-I cruisers, two Venators, and several smaller support craft, such as gunboats. If they know we're coming, they'll be able to launch those fighters before we're in range to strike the bay itself. And we don't have the fire power on this gunship alone to make it through. And if they're privy to our plan, they might just fire on the Venator themselves if we manage to get on board. That'll scrap the entire plan. What should we do, Leftenant? Asha asked Kaytra, the concern evident in her voice. Asha wasn't sure what support the Jensaarai had prepared for the mission, but she knew the only support assets GALSAF had brought consisted of their gunship alone.

Ali listened to Crystaall Sehefadu's description of her combat abilities and training methods. They sounded very similar to how Mandalorian helmet systems functioned. Ali's helmet was packed with a variety of sensor packages and programs that allowed for more information manipulation than Ali could even come up with uses for. Targeting and sensory data, even the first person view of an individual's helmet, could be transmitted over some of the fastest and most secure connections available. Battle plans could be drawn onto stills and even live images of an area, creating a living playbook by which Ali and her commandos could execute their operations. These helmets, working in conjunction with their armor systems, were capable of relaying a commando's physical and mental condition as well and their camera systems allowed for each commando to maintain a 360-degree view of their surroundings, so nothing was left amiss.
"Impressive, Crystaall," Ali replied, her eyebrows jumping slightly in surprise. She had learned a lot about Jedi training methods during her time with the Defense Force on Yavin 4, though she hadn't learned as much about non-Jedi methods as she would have liked. The Sith had been a focus, but then again, theirs were the simplest: Pain, pain and more pain. And through that pain, you somehow became really good at killing people. A ridiculous ideology, though it seemed to work for Dark Siders well enough. Ali silently commended Crystaall with a sweet smile.
The Jensaarai woman looked around the enclosed troop bay, eyeing the other soldiers, then commented on the memories it brought to her of assaults carried out with old hunting mates. Ali's lips maintained their smile until Crystaall's composure began to deteriorate, and sadness leaked into her voice. Angrily, Crystaall chided herself for past failures, began slamming a fist into the side panel of the bay door. Instantly, Ali was at her side, gently wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against her hip. She shook Crystaall slightly, muttering, "Hey, don't get down on yourself. We've got an objective to fulfill and we need you at your best. I need you at your best. Royut cuyi royut, Crystaall. The past is the past." Ali whispered, her voice firm, confident. "People will say you can't change it, but you can. By doing better." Ali lightened her hold on the other woman just enough to look her in the eyes. "I'll keep you on the straight and narrow, ori'haat, I swear?"

*Crystaall was surprised by Ali's reaction to her sadened state. and blinked her eyes as Ali shook her. The woman was more sensitive and more caring than she thought. Any normal leader would have told her to quit whining and get focused. But Ali, just encouraged Crystaall to act better for her past, and to be at her A game for this mission. She agreed. The time for weeping over long dead friends were over, and it was definitely not needed on the battlefield. Crystaall rolled her shoulders back and let out a deep breath.*

"Promise me you won't try to save me if I jump off this Destroyer to try and regroup with the infiltration team, if things go wrong. I've trained myself to push my body over its own limit and survive impossible injuries and stunts of glory."

*Crystaall closed her eyes and grinned at Ali's subtle words. That jump would be hard enough to survive on her own, not to mention she only knows how much her body can take, and to prepare for another would take at least a month.*

"I'll have to carry you, ya know."

*When Crystaall saw the yellow light and Ali gave word for a two minute window for prepparation, Crystaall checked her weapons, making sure each device wouldn't fall apart. She put her pistols back in their holsters and took out her lightsaber from her her back pocket. The dull phrik metal was a good contrast to the intricate dragon design that went around the whole handle. When one looked closely, it was shaped to where the design tol where the user's fingers should be located. Crystaall did just that. She held it up to her chest and made sure no one was too close to her as she ignited the blade. It had a bright red shine, and crystaall sighed as she deactivated the blade.*

"This saber is my first hand-crafted lightsaber. I thought It wouln't work so I had to trest it real quick. And don't ask why its red. It's close to my armor color. Sithspit! I knew I forgot something."

*Crystaall took off every peice of gear she had, and handed them to the trooper behind her not caring if he lost his balance. She took off her necklace and pressed the jewel within the middle. Suddenly her armor began to form around her arm it soon lapped over her trench coat, pants and boots, as well as her other arm. The only thing uncover was her head. She took her weapons from the trooper, putting them back in the places they were originally set up in early. and held the lightsaber in her right hand. Her crimson red armor glowed with the reflection of the yellow light its red and white design as well as how smooth the armor was showed that its wearer would be still flexible, yet stronger in the armor. This was Crystaall's personal Spartan armor: Model 7*

"I'm ready.. not sure about the guy behind me though."

=Garwig Gil Ga'Mesh=
A response to Ali via the comm between her and Garwig came to her.
:: You may launch now, Ali. And last I checked, the rest of the attack team along with some of Cloud City's sky patrol should be there soon to provide you all backup. You can let sky patrol take care of any fighters in the sky above the upper levels while both teams on the larties storm the Venator-class in the confusion of the attack. While that occurs, the infiltration team will fly to the lower levels of the floating city via thrantas during the said confusion of the attack to not get noticed either. ::
The Saarai-kaar said over the comm as the lartie holding some of the tyrosaarai's and bounty hunters amongst the Jensaarai appeared behind the lartie Ali was in. In the far distance to currently keep away from the pirates radars, the small sky patrol fleet from Cloud City held their position to be given the word from the Baron to advance and begin the attack in the sky.

=Leon Calrissian=
Leon heard the anger in Ali's voice through the comm, though he did not understand one bit of what she said. Was the strangest form of Huttese he'd ever heard, not knowing that the lady was clearly speaking Mandoa.
:: Err...right. Sure thing, my sweet. Just give the word and I'll tell the sky patrol to attack the upper levels of Tibannopolis. Those onboard this lartie are ready as well to jump alongside you guys into the hangar of the star destroyer too. ::
He told Ali as he saw those in the lartie get prepared for any battles within the Ventator-class. Maahes had his lightsaber ready, as did Yumiko, while Meg made sure her songsteel sword was still at her side. Gogan however looked ominous in the aircraft. Whatever he hid underneath that large coat he wore, it probably wasn't nice. Baron thought of going too, but perhaps it was best he remain on the lartie to help give instructions to sky patrol in the sky battle.

.....

=Garwig Gil Ga'Mesh=
Meanwhile, within about five to three minutes of approaching Tibannopolis lower levels, the infiltration team on their thrantas were able to now see the floating city within their sights. Far far above them, Garwig could sense that the attack team was close to the upper levels of the floating city. Once Ali gave the word out on the comm that the attack would start, the Saarai-kaar would tell his team to fly their thrantas faster to the area of the lower levels where the pirates barracks should be located. Not too far from him was Sylas and the Imperial Knight sent by Xeonon Solomon, named Finnick. Garwig hoped that Crystaall Sehefadu was doing ok up there with Ali, as well as the rest of the gang that was sent to join in the attack team. Until then, the Saarai-kaar did his best to enjoy the ride while he rode the flying creature he was on and held on tightly to the reigns.