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Drifting lazily in a slow, sickening roll the LMI 14 waited for assistance in the lonely, blackness of space. It's life extinguished by some unknown accident, the dim light from a distant star was the barge's only comfort and warmth. Something barely felt in the empty space between the Kailen System and Brak Sector. It's call for help a beacon only heard by a distant ship's communication's suite.

Suddenly, out of the blackness a sleeker vessel entered realspace and was on a near collision course with the vessel. Slowing, the patrol craft slowly made a turn to port to avoid the ailing barge. Onboard, two crewmen in dark blue uniforms sat to the captain's right and monitored everything within range as lights of various tones and colors brightened the dimly lit cockpit.

Younger of the two, the lieutenant turned to the ship's captain. "Sir, I'm receiving a distress signal from the vessel which appears to be a X-Twenty-Three Barge. It's life support seems to be offline."

"Any survivors onboard," the aged veteran inquired, his stern gaze rose to the transparisteel window.

"Yes, sir. Five in the aft cargo bay." He studied the commander's face intently, waiting for further orders.

Nodding, the captain turned his gaze to the pilot. "Bring us in," he commanded then turned to the security chief. "Ready a team, just in case."

"Yes, sir." Dutifully, the partially armored sergeant nodded and turned towards the entryway, then disappeared.

* * *

In the tight confines of the cargo bay, Cymbrecia looked up from her pocket computer which had been linked to a camera in the cockpiit. "Here they come," she informed as the nervous adrenaline that had become the norm on this type of operation welled within.

"You owe me for this one," the taller gunner's blue eyes glared through the thinly masked helmet, his deep voice still holding power even through the life support suit.

A playful nudge from the copilot preceded a chuckle from his right. "For such a big guy, you sure complain a lot."

"This wasn't my idea," Korentin replied, nudging back and sending the Curry into the quiet mechanic as Armand shoved back.

"Hey guys, relax," the frustrated security specialist yelled through the muffled mask's comlink as Galen turned to Cymbrecia. "You sure this guy is worth all this trouble?"

Blue eyes turned to the fourth of her team. "Yes."

As they lingered in the darkness, the five crewmen waited for their rescue and soon heard the distant resounding pop of outgassing and she knew it wouldn't be long before the questions began. She listened to metallic footfalls on the hallway's thin tiles approach the main hatch to the cargo bay, then stop as Galen pushed through them and moved towards the small, inset panel to the right and manually opened it. They all waited quietly as light streamed through onto the wall of plastisteel crates hemming the anxious faces looking back.

"Hi," Cymbrecia greeted as helmet mounted lights turned to her, praying they weren't going to shoot first.

* * *

Once aboard the Gallow's End, she sat with her four companions in the galley as three guards posted at the door watched quietly, rifles at the ready. Across the blue, smooth table sat an officer in pressed uniform belonging to a Brak Sector marshal. His quiet, serious demeanor as he peered through their doctored ship's log helped her judge the first of many targets.

Steel-blue eyes soon looked up to her. "So, you were enroute to Enet from Laud, that correct?"

She nodded, her long, curly black hair loosely flowing behind the tightly fitting, dark blue body glove whose broad, black border around her neck stretched down the outside of both arms to the wrist leading to baggy, medium grey pants. "That's right. Had to make a drop at Jinet when the main reactor blew and took everything else with it." She shot him a sultry smile. "Just lucky you found us when you did."

"Hmm," his professional demeanor apparently unimpressed as he returned his eyes to the small screen. "How long have you all been together, Brandi," he looked back up to her. "That is your name, correct?"

"It is," she agreed and straightened in her chair and glanced down the table to her cohorts. "About four years now," blue eyes returned to the officer. "Why do you ask?"

The lieutenant shrugged. "Filling in all the blanks, that's all," he glanced up to her momentarilly, then back to the computer. "We've called for a tug to tow you to Jinet, so once they arrive you can embark on their vessel."

"That'd be great, I appreciate it."

He continued scanning the long list of details. "It also says that you reside on Bacrana. You originally from there?" This line of questioning was becoming a bit more personal than she liked, but played along.

"Yes. My family is mostly farmers," she lied.

He nodded quietly. "Galen Haag, ex-military. How'd you find yourself aboard the LMI-Fourteen?" She turned her attention to her friend whose light brown hair had been marred by the helmet.

"Needed a job," he stated, deadpan with arms crossed. For their sake, she hoped their stories would pass the marshal's test as Armand stood and motioned to the door.

"Mind if I hit the 'fresher," his face curled as left hand went to his stomach. "Something hasn't set well. Sorry."

"Sure," the officer straightened and motioned for one of the guards to accompany him and they both departed. It would only be a matter of time now, she thought. "You know," he glanced back to Cymbrecia. "I find it odd that you wouldn't be working for Lant Mining, a lot more money for a budding ship captain."

She smiled. "I know they don't like competition but, there are many other companies in the Sector that pay well too." Lant also had a close affiliation with the Empire whose attention was the last thing this crew needed. "I'm not looking to get rich," a comment that gained the attention from the remaining three at her side.

A smile finally cracked the law enforcement officer's face. "You're kidding, right?"

"No," she shook her head. "Must be the humble beginnings," a pressed grin followed as the comment couldn't have been further from the truth. One nearly uncovered as Curry coughed, trying not to laugh and she shot him an evil glare as he tried to recompose himself.

"Sorry," the copilot poured another glass of water and quickly drank.

Cymbrecia looked back to the lieutenant. "How soon did you say the tug would arrive? We kind of have a schedule to keep...as closely as possible."

"Within an hour or so." He finally turned off the computer and pushed himself up to stand, then nudged the chair back in. "We'll ask you to remain here in the lounge and you'll be notified when they arrive."

"Okay," she relaxed. "Thanks again for your help."

"No problem, that's why...."

Suddenly, the lights cut out and she sprung into action. From her belt, she pulled out a shank and stood, grabbing the officer's coat and upthrusting with the homemade weapon into his throat. As the other three charged the guards at the door, she rifled through his pockets and found the pass card she needed, then turned to the door as the scuffle and slumping bodies were illuminated by emergency lighting over the door. In their hands, Curry and Galen held the rifles as Korentin removed both men's stun sticks and handed her one as she approached.

"Go," she motioned as Curry led them out into the hallway, then headed right as gunfire was heard further down. "Next floor down, four doors to the left."

"We know," Galen replied as they quickly moved and cleared the near hallway, then continued down it to the turbolift. "You've only been drilling us with the floorplans for the past week," he replied, watching down the barrel of the stubbed rifle and moved to the keypad as she handed him the access card. As he pushed it in, the red buttons turned green and opened the lift, allowing them access as Korentin continued to the next hall and moved to help Armand.

She watched the numbers quickly indicate the next floor as adrenaline pumped, causing sweat to bead on her forehead. Sliding open, the thick doors revealed a patrol in dark uniforms who immediately were ambushed by the trio. Without thought, she stabbed the closest guard in the exposed flesh of his neck, then rammed it into the face of the one behind him as her companions shot them all. Once all four fell to the floor, they grabbed up rifles and unstrapped the belts, then continued on to the detention area.
Knowing they had little time, she glanced backward to note two crewmen duck into a room and shut the door. Hopefully they would stay there.

Once at the target door, she spun and crouched, then glanced to the e-clip. Full. Once she thumbed off the 'SAFETY', she kept watch as Curry did the same in the opposite direction while Galen did his magic on the security panel. All three avoiding the door's plane, she calmed her breathing and soon heard the whirring of a droid approaching. Concentrating on the nearest corner of the hallway they had just entered from, she waited.

"How long," she whispered to the security specialist.

"Working my magic, darling," he returned distractedly as she soon noticed the front, protected wheel of the droid round the corner and fired into it's midsection. Four shots found their marks and the last hit the faceplate directly, sending a shower of sparks into the nearby wall as the sentry went silent.

"Nice shot," Curry congratulated from the other side of the intrusion expert.

"It's in the blood," she replied, thoughts of family piercing the cold veneer she had thrown up to get their target free of prosecution. As she waited impatiently, Galen finally chuckled as the door opened and they heard the chaos of combat beyond. Blue eyes glanced into the melee as freed prisoners mobbed the few guards now trying to survive behind a small computer desk.

"Curry," she called and aimed at the nearest guard, then fired as both companions shot at the remaining defenders. Red bolts hit not only uniformed men, but also the wall and desk around the guards until a large group of angry faces turned to them. One in particular stepped from the crowd and smiled as he moved towards her, causing her to lower the rifle and step into the room. Relieved, she hugged him as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately.

Once letting her down onto her feet, brown eyes looked into hers. "Miss me?"

"You have no idea," she smiled broadly, then backed. "We've got a ship on the way so, we have to leave now."

He nodded, then turned to two other men in light green jumpsuits who appeared like a before and after picture. "Let's go." Neither one made her comfortable but, she didn't care right now as they quickly moved into the hallway and allowed the rest of the prisoners loot the ship and do what they wanted to the remaining crewmen and officers onboard.