[center] [img]http://pm1.narvii.com/6273/594305ec2733dc7f226ca96b899850355bed6b1e_hq.jpg[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/uKpanqX.png[/img] [h2][color=fff200][b]Location:[/b][/color] [color=a9a9a9][i]Executor[/i] Bridge[/color] [color=ed1c24]----->[/color] [color=fff79a]South Eastern Desert/Mesa[/color][/h2] [b]Mentions:[/b] [@CHammer] (November Terra) [@Zarkun] (Eventual Raider Pickup) [/center] [i]*+ 4 Hours After Palpatine's Dismissal - Executor Bridge*[/i] [b][color=5E6E63]"So... what am I here for?"[/color][/b] the bounty hunter asks curiously towards the dark lord in front of him. Vader's helmet turns towards him as he finally faces him. Shortly after the Emperor left, the dark lord decided to contact the infamous bounty hunter named Boba Fett to help him with an errand. Recently, the bounty hunter helped Vader track down the lightsaber-wielding pilot who happened to destroy the Death Star one year back. While he didn't catch the boy, he did provide him with his name... Skywalker. That alone provided more than enough information to confirm his identity, and that boy was none other... Than his son. Who would've thought that his own son would be the one that destroyed the all-mighty super weapon? In fact, he shouldn't be alive if Padme died in childbirth. Of course, the Emperor hid this from him, yet he only kept in his place in fear of the Emperor killing him outright. All he could do is not mention it and continue to be loyal to him. Yet he will find his son soon enough, once he has permission to head out into his own galaxy. Until then however, he will remain here and hire a bounty hunter for his duties instead. [b]"I have called you here for an assignment that will do a great service for the Empire here."[/b] the sith lord replies deeply. [b][color=5E6E63]"And that is what...?"[/color][/b] the bounty hunter questions curiously, [b][color=5E6E63]"Some sort of scouting mission I bet?"[/color][/b] [b]"Precisely,"[/b] Vader replies bluntly as he continues on, [b]"You are to scout out the surrounding terrain and be on a lookout for any factions you come across while on patrol. They may be either a potential threat or ally to the Empire. Do NOT engage any potential faction personnel unless it's for defense or otherwise..."[/b] Boba Fett simply chuffed at that order quietly. [b][color=5E6E63]"Well, that's a little disappointing... I was hoping to hunt someone or something for a change."[/color][/b] he remarks nonchalantly as he lowers his carbine. There was a thick pause between the two, with only the sound of Vader's breathing echoing throughout the Bridge. He didn't seem to impressed by Fett's attitude at this very moment. The bounty hunter recognizes this and nods while looking back at the dark lord. [b][color=5E6E63]"But as you wish,"[/color][/b] he quickly responds with little care, [b][color=5E6E63]"What's the price?"[/color][/b] [b]"A substantial reward."[/b] was all that the sith lord answers, [b]"Remember to check back with Imperial command immediately after taking note of any potential bases, vehicles, units or anything regarding a faction. Understand?"[/b] [b][color=5E6E63]"As you wish."[/color][/b] Boba replies while nodding slowly. [b]"Good."[/b] Vader replies firmly as he turns back to the bridge, [b]"You are excused... DO not fail me again."[/b] With that, Boba Fett slowly leaves the bridge and heads to his ship as he starts the mission. [hr] [i]*+ 1 Hour & 36 Minutes Later*[/i] The Bounty Hunter eventually landed his ship in a small ravine in the outskirts of the mesa biome overlooking the great blazing desert to start his search. He is instantly reminded of the planet of Tatooine, where there's also a great desert along with rocky mountains and hills harboring tribal communities of Tusken Raiders and Jawas. That was also the location where he attempted to catch Luke Skywalker for Vader, though he unfortunately failed. He hopes that this time he can provide substantial info for his employer. Fett immediately began looking in the mesas for any signs of activity and for the past hour and a half he seemed to be turning up with nothing. All he saw were rocks, rocks, and more orange rock. Sure there were signs of primitive animals here and there, from wild dog-monsters to soaring-birds, but no sign of any intelligent life so far. Maybe he landed in the wrong place? Perhaps he should've landed somewhere else? In fact, only 45 minutes in, a sandstorm seemed to pop out of nowhere as the bounty hunter gets caught with the shifting sands. His armor and visor provided protection against the sands, but regardless it seems as if he needs to be turning back at this point. The armor isn't going to last forever in this weather before getting glitchy and sand-locked. But before Fett has a chance to consider leaving the Mesa, his helmet begins detecting an encrypted transmission being broadcasted at an unknown signal. With a little fine tuning of his helmet, he is finally able to hear and understand the transmission that was being sent around this location: [quote][i]"This is Lieutenant Rave Mallard of the Spectre Ops with Raynor's Raiders. If there are any Dominion personnel hearing this, we are in the southern desert on a mountain. In one hour, I will be heading to the northern border where the desert meets with mesas and badlands, waiting six hours for you to arrive. I will be doing this for the next two days, this message looping every hour on the hour for the time I am waiting. Please let me know you hear me on one of these channels. I repeat, this is Lieutenant Rave Mallard of the Spectre Ops with Raynor's Raiders. It's time to come home."[/i][/quote] Aha. There's the first signs of a nearby faction. Apparently this message has been on loop for some time but regardless it's recent. However Boba Fett didn't immediately call the Empire to notify them of this, rather he keeps on going through the storm. Perhaps he can find some stragglers nearby... And through a small opening within the thick dark sand, he sees a person. The bounty hunter kept his head low as he virtually swam through the thick sand, popping in from rock to rock in an attempt to take a safe look at it. Upon closer inspection, it turns out the human is a female, with blonde hair and wore advanced tech in the form of a grey tight latex suit, along with some cybernetic-esque armor with blue glowing stripes. She appears to be talking into her arm, suggesting she might be answering the looped message or calling out to her boss... if she has one anyways. And after some time of talking, she stops and continues walking. Whatever she is doing here, she too must've been caught by the sudden storm and is seemingly searching for shelter. Boba Fett continues to be sneaky as he stalks the woman from afar, careful to blend in with the storm as he hunches over in a sneaky fashion. Before long, the woman just suddenly sits down in the sand and does nothing but look around her. She looks rather vulnerable at this stage and Boba couldn't help but just thinking about pulling the trigger as he aims his carbine at her direction. Yet he doesn't do it. He lowers his gun down and gets onto his knee, using his holographic comlink to get in contact with Vader. [b][color=5E6E63]"Lord Vader."[/color][/b] he speaks while looking into the blue projection of the sith lord, [b][color=5E6E63]"I'm caught in a sandstorm, but I'm able to faintly see a woman of some kind sitting a good distance away. She's wearing some kind of unknown armor, not one familiar to us."[/color][/b] [b]"Continue to monitor her for awhile."[/b] Vader replies bluntly, [b]"Study what she's doing and then head back to base. Did you find anything else?"[/b] [b][color=5E6E63]"Indeed,"[/color][/b] Boba continues, [b][color=5E6E63]"She also appears to have noticed a repeating encrypted transmission that was announced in the area for the past two days at least. I was able to decrypt it... Said something about 'Raynor's Raiders or something... also mentioning someone named Lieutenant Rave Mallard... it's certainly a faction of some kind."[/color][/b] [b]"Interesting"[/b] the sith lord replies curiously, [b]"Bring the message to us in order for Imperial Command to commence a full analysis on it. Anything else to report?"[/b] [b][color=5E6E63]"That's all I have."[/color][/b] Boba concludes as he begins transmitting the message, [b][color=5E6E63]"I'll be heading back to my ship in a few minutes. Fett out."[/color][/b] And with that, the comlink shuts off and the bounty hunter continues to check on the woman... unless she somehow finds out about him first...