[hr][center][h2][color=0076a3]Commander Aamra Tulez[/color][/h2][/center][hr] It was a cavalier operation at best, Aamra Tulez ruminated as she finished double-checking Anderson's inventory check. A mission that an actual squad or command crew could have done without having to spend three days shaking brigands off of their tail, perhaps without even having to fight their way out in the first place. Any proper team would have been rightfully embarrassed for such a slipshod operation, but for this particular band of criminals it was apparently to be expected. Pausing as she came to the container with the Committee's classified payload, she deftly removed the key-card accessing the container from her inside pocket to proceed with the security check. Still securely locked. [color=0076a3]"Tango,"[/color] Aamra commanded the ship's AI. [color=0076a3]"Kindly give me a security sweep of high security cargo vault."[/color] [color=lightblue]"All sensors are reading normal, Commander. Logs indicate the last authorized access was performed by yourself approximately six hours previously. No unauthorized access has been detected."[/color] Aamra nodded approvingly as she marked off the last point on her digital clipboard before folding the hard light device and replacing it with the key-card in her jacket pocket. [color=0076a3]"Thank you, Tango, Continue your passive monitoring, I will return for the next sweep in six hours."[/color] [color=blue]"Alright, everyone. Tango has offered to keep watch while we all try to get some rest for now. No arguing, this is an order. If we don't die in an ambush, I'll let you know when they attack again."[/color] Aamra sniffed derisively as her spots flashed wintergreen, not at all amused by the Captain's attempt at a bit of dark humor. Turning on her heel, she made her way out of the cargo hold and returned to her quarters. Sighing in relief, she shed her uniform top in one fluid motion before folding it neatly and setting it to the side. The duty shifts had been almost as cavalier as the mission itself, and as much as she disliked the idea of sitting idle while they were still in danger, she could use the rest. "Meditation music, half volume," Aamra ordered the music player, lighting incense in an ornate vase on her side table as the first strains of oceanic pipes began to play. Taking a deep breath, she picked up one of her sheathed long daggers from the specially made wall holders, weighing it in her hands as delicately as a fragile glass figure. She rolled her neck as her muscles ached in relaxation, convincing her to forgo the usual ritual stances in favor of some simple meditation. Closing her eyes, she crouched into the lotus position, the sheathed dagger resting lightly on her clawed fingertips. [i][color=0076a3]"My spirit speaks to the waters, strength and harmony the waters bring," [/color][/i]Aamra recited sleepily in her native tongue, her head beginning to hang over slightly. [i][color=0076a3]"The sea brings balance to my spirit... through balance...my chains will be... broken..."[/color][/i] --- *BOOM* [color=0076a3]"HSSSK!"[/color] Aamra Tulez ripped the blade from the scabbard with a furious hiss, her pointed teeth visible and her markings pulsing an angry red as she looked around for the disturbance. It took her less then a second to realize what had happened to knock her out of her inner peace, though the explosion hadn't been strong enough to knock her out of her position in the center of the room. A cavalier operation indeed. [color=blue]"Rise and shine, people, we got uninvited guests on my ship. Aamara, Max, meet me in the cargo hold. Yasaliah, I need you to get us in position to shoot these assholes. Sam, group up with Tony and get your asses on the turret controls--"[/color] Aamra was already dressed again and out the door before the message finished, her long daggers sheathed behind her back as she spun the barrel of her Longstrider after loading in fresh ammunition. Forgoing her usually diligent stride, she stalked her way towards the cargo bay with grim determination, her senses finely tuned to locate any hostiles. Aamara made it as far as the cargo bay before three of the pirates appeared from a side corridor and charged, evidently attempting to intercept any of the crew trying to do what she was doing now. Continuing her pace, Aamra dispatched the first attacker with a few well-placed shots, gracefully ducking behind a corridor wall to avoid angry return fire. Letting the two remaining pirates approach, she drew one of her long daggers in her offhand and, as one of them tried to approach, Aamra dashed out of cover again with a snarl, drawing the blade across his throat and replacing the dagger in one swift motion before charging at the last one. He attempted to lunge in for a poisonous bite but she was faster, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him into the air as she made her way into the cargo bay. The Ulna snarled viciously at Aamra, who responded by snarling right back at him with her teeth bared before throwing him into the wall with a crash, the pirate sliding down the wall into an unconscious heap. Returning to her normal composure, she quickly made her way up to the Captain. [color=0076a3]"It appears we are being boarded, Captain Chase,"[/color] Aamra Tulez said entirely seriously, wiping off with her free hand the bit of blood on her face that matched the more gruesome one streaking her normally pristine uniform.