[center][h1][color=00aeef]Captain Dev Arx[/color][/h1][/center]
[sub][i]Vandor[/i][/sub][hr]

The trick to a low drop was always in the landing. Unfortunately, landing on a snowy mountain made the usual landing tactics a bit more difficult. Dev realized this the hard way as the LZ was rapidly approaching. With two slight pulls on his parasail, Dev was able to readjust his entry and come to a roll right on a more level bit of the mountain. The harness, detecting a landing, automatically cut the cords and began burning up any evidence. Dev hated to waste good credits on a landing like this, but they were a bit pressed for time. After brushing the snow off of the sleeves of his artic fatigues, Captain Dev Arx tightened his grip around his A310 blaster rifle and began trudging through the calf-deep snow to begin scoping out vantage points.

After about forty minutes of grueling work, and a series of updates over his comlink from a rather annoyed Hit, Dev removed his pack and dug it into the snow a few meters away from his vantage point. There was a small outcropping near the frozen sea that had good sight-lines to the best vantage spots around the mountain ridge. What Dev was setting up, however, was something that Captain Stim had taught him years ago. The commando was first setting his A280-CFE into it's sniper variant. On top of his pack, however, Dev set up a second scope. If the enemy saw the reflection off of one scope (or what appeared to be a huddled mass that could be humanoid for a moment), they would likely see the other. Worst case, it gave you a 50% change of an opposing sniper shooting the wrong target. Best case, it would intimidate enemy forces by artificially inflating the threat they were facing. At least, that's what Captain Stim had always said. Granted, the Captain also said that alcohol cleaned your teeth, so he might not have been right about everything. As Dev began to dig himself into position, he reached for his comlink. [color=00aeef]"Dart-1 is in position, and the LZ is clear of snowmen. Set the bird down and send word to the target, over."[/color]

With brief acknowledgement over the comlink, the Captain watched as [i]The Forward Thrust[/i] approached the opposite side of the mesa and landed below. This was, of course, followed by the waiting game. After about twenty minutes of silence, Dev's ears perked up as he heard the familiar sound of a sublight engine echoing in the distance. A [i]sheathipede[/i]-class shuttle emerged from over the mountain ridge and approached the mesa below. Dev's first instinct was to do a quick pass over the front of the shuttle. To his relief, it was unarmed. Minister Kaal's story was holding up so far. The Captain watched as the shuttle landed on the opposite side of the Mesa below from DART's transport, and only two individuals were waiting by the shuttle. Greeting those figures were Rexa and Hit from [i]The Forward Thrust[/i]. From his comlink, he could hear the discussion going on down on the mesa below. But that was of little concern to Dev, whose eyes were hard-trained on the mountain ridge.

Maybe it was the incessant drone that dulled Dev's hearing. Or maybe it just wasn't what it used to be. Regardless, Dev was caught off-guard by the loud sound of roaring behind him. By the time the Captain was able to look over his shoulder, an Action IV transport was already rapidly approaching. Unlike the shuttle in the mesa below, the rapidly approaching freighter was clearly armed with laser cannons and piecemeal armor plating. The Republic commando quickly grasped his comlink and shouted, [color=00aeef]"Tangos incoming. Get back to the ship."[/color]

The confusion in the following moments was clear. The small assembly on the Mesa below split apart, with one figure ducking into the shuttle while the other three began legging it across the icy terrain. Dev let his sniper rest on the ground next to where he was lying and grasped the A310 slung on his back. It wasn't a particularly bright plan, but he knew he could buy a bit of time. The Republic Commando began firing at the approaching transport, the faint sounds of blaster bolts impacting against the shielding growing louder with every second. The approaching transport veered off to the right, seemingly thrown off by the sudden blaster fire. Of course, it wouldn't throw the hounds off the scent. But it did give enough time for Arx's crew to get back to the ship. While the sublight engines of the pursuit craft were firing up, Dev watched as the Action transport was sizing up for another pass at the mesa in the distance. Luckily, one of Dev's team must have been ready for that. As the hostile ship emerged over the mountain ridge, [i]The Forward Thrust's[/i] top-mounted turret began firing. The shots went wide, but were enough to force yet another wide pass on behalf of the Action transport. The Minister's shuttle used this as an opportunity to take off in the other direction. As DART's ship began its initially slow ascent, the Action transport and the shuttle seemed to have disappeared. For now, the coast was clear.

[i]The Forward Thrust[/i] pulled up along the section of ridge Dev was gathering his gear on. Once he was packed up again, A280 back in pistol form and A3100 in hand, Dev made a running leap onto the boarding ramp of his ship. Hit was by the entrance, there to support the Captain as he jumped on. Standing in the center chamber of the ship was a Rodian dressed in furs. His lips curled into a small smile as he nodded upon the Captain's arrival. That smile faded as Dev calmly walked past the diplomat like he wasn't even there. He was busy mounting his weapons in their proper slots in the makeshift armory, but spoke up over his shoulder. [color=00aeef]"You have something you want to tell us, Minister Kaal?"[/color]

The Rodian looked confused as Hit approached the cockpit, and Dev emerged from the armory. He had removed his outer coat, and had his hands resting upon his belt right near the handles of two vibroblades. The Rodian quickly shook his head and responded in a tongue that Dev wasn't familiar with.

[color=0072bc]"Kesslar's bandits."[/color] Rexa emerged from the cockpit, a sour expression on her face as she approached the Captain. [color=0072bc]"A local mercenary band working with the Remnant forces here on Vandor. Minister Kaal here was telling me how they've been harassing government officials for weeks."[/color]

Dev sighed, lifting a hand to his right temple. [color=00aeef]"So we've got Imperials and Mercs to worry about? Great."[/color]

The Rodian began speaking quickly, directing his speech to Rexa passionately. The Twi'lek turned to her Captain. [color=0072bc]"Minister Kaal has valuable intelligence regarding a shipment being made by the Imperial Remnant to the Core worlds. Supposedly the Colonel in charge of the Imperial forces here is trying to make an impassioned plea for a way out of this system and to the Grand Imperium. But Minister Kaal needs something from us first."[/color]

Dev sighed as he gave a short nod, turning his back to the others and shaking his head. [color=00aeef]"We've got to take care of Kesslar?"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"We've got to take care of Kesslar."[/color]