[Boba Fett's Quarters]

The dull red predatory form of the HWK 290 Courier known as the Hawkbat sat in the middle of Docking Bay Five of the Mandalorian spaceport. Looking more like an oversized starfighter then a transport ship, the ex-smuggling craft had clearly been built for speed, but she also looked as if she had seen better days, the worn appearance of her paint job belying the fact that the she had been well cared for and was ready for action. Opening the ships's hatch for her strike team, Rasha stood aside to let them board.

"Sorry there there isn't more space. She wasn't designed to carry many passengers. Some of you will probably have to stay in the crew sleeping area."

Kayen had followed Rasha to the hangar bays and when he saw her ship, The Hawkbat, he couldn't help but grin as he gave a little chuckle, speaking only low enough for her to hear.

"I certainly hope she's more reliable than she looks..."

He waited for her to address the soldiers and he took a data card as well. He knew the plan but he needed a copy of the map just in case. He slid the card into the belt of his armor and then he opened the secret compartments on either thigh to check his Westar-34 Blasters. Satisfied that they were perfect, he returned them to their compartments and closed the secret plates of the armor.

He had also managed to pick up his Slug Thrower Rifle from his ship on the way and it was slung over his shoulders with multiple ammunition charges attached to the strap. He doubted he would need it, but it was there just in case.

On his belt, clearly visible, was his oldest but most trusted weapon, a DL-18 Blaster. The Eighteen was certainly not that strong, but it was very light and extremely accurate.

As he stepped into the Hawkbat, Kayen opened a panel on his right glove and opened a tiny compartment that housed his Dart Shooter. He checked the tiny, silver darts and then he nodded to himself and shut the panel.

"Two darts... two kills if necessary....."

He pulled on his helmet and opened the front panel so that he could see well and wouldn't waste the oxygen supply or anything else in the helmet. He looked around the interior of the Hawkbat before turning to the beautiful -- and apparently deadly -- Twi'lek that was his partner.

"Do you need me in the cockpit? I'm not a bad pilot myself..."

Rasha shook her head as she strapped in and started the ship's engines, still a bit miffed by Kayen's comment about the Hawkbat but not really showing it too much.

"Not really. Which is fortunate, because this ship's last owner had a Togorian as a partner, and the co-pilot's station is still set up for him. You could try it if you want, but you might find it a bit uncomfortable."

Kayen smiled softly to himself as he moved into the cockpit with Rasha and looked at the oversized seating area where the last co-pilot sat. He chuckled slightly and turned his eyes to study the controls of the Hawkbat, seemingly impressed.

"Wow, she really isn't that bad... I apologize for my earlier comment. Not a bad ship at all. HWK-290, older model but still incredibly reliable. How'd you acquire her?"

He asked as he sat in the large co-pilot seat and reached out uncomfortably to turn one of the monitors to an easier angle for him to see. He could barely reach the controls because of the Togorian seating arrangement, but he could at least monitor sensors.

"She's on loan to me from Jabba for this mission." Rasha didn't mention how she'd originally had to hand the ship over to the Hutt when her attempt to collect the bounty on its owner had gone sour and she'd needed to offer the Hutt an extra incentive to let her leave with her freedom.

"She used to belong the a smuggler named Suran Vel. He specialised in small scale, high risk deliveries, so this ship was perfect for his needs. Perfect for mine too, since I needed something that could get me over here fast."

A wistful tone crept into the twi'lek's voice.

"With the addition of some ion cannons and a secure holding area for prisoners, she'd make a pretty good ship for bounty hunting too. She's got the full 290 armament suite with missile tubes, not just the pair of laser cannons you see on some of the watered down civilian models."

Kayen listened to her and he nodded slightly before he leaned up in his seat to check the engine status before turning to look at her.

"We're ready to lift off..."

Rasha nodded and openned a channel to the spaceport's control tower.

"Right. Spaceport Control, this is Hawkbat, requesting clearance for departure."

She waited 'til the spaceport controller replied to her, then put power to the repulsorlifts, easing the ship into the air above the spaceport before openning the throttle and making for orbit. Keying in the channel for the Firesprays, she transmitted a message to the fightercraft.

"Hawkbat to Predator Flight. I'm on my way to the jump point. Rendezvous with me there and make the jump a minute after I do."

Hearing the Firespray pilots aknowledge her order, Rasha stopped transmitting and waited as the Hawkbat broke orbit and approached the jump point. Shortly thereafter, its pilot having done a last check in with the Firesprays, the ship made the jump to hyperspace, the stars outside its viewports flashing into starlines as it zipped away. Undoing her restraints, Rasha stood up and addressed the gathered Mandalorians.

"Okay, guess it's time to go over that assault plan..."

Kayen smiled over to the twi'lek and unstrapped himself as well, standing up to his feet next to Rasha with his hands behind his back.

Rasha walked into the Hawkbat's crew rest area and waited as the rest of the team crowded around in the ship's cramped interior. Despite the somewhat sceptical looks she was getting from some of them, she was glad that they had taken helmets off while aboard -at least this way she could read their faces.

Activating a small holoprojector, the twi'lek began her briefing.

"This is map of what we know of the layout of the target," she began. "As you can see, it is incomplete. However, we are aware of the location of three of are targets and have a probable location on a fourth. Our objective during the initial attack will be to secure the hangar bays and the command centre that controls the base defenses. After that, we will do a full sweep of the base with the assistance of the Firespray pilots."

She pointed to one of the hangars.

"We will be landing in this hangar bay and moving out to the objectives from there. The main thing we need to figure out is who will be tasked with capturing each objective. I will be carrying out an attack on the command centre with the assistance of one of your number. The rest of you will need to determine a plan to both clear out and secure the hangars. Each captured hangar bay will need at least one sentry, so I need to know who will be responsible for each hangar."

Kayen listened to the entire briefing before he stepped forward towards Rasha, smiling softly as he spoke up to her.

"Take me with you for the Command Center assault. I'm the best armed of them, and I know how to slice into the security systems for the turrets. I would be the most beneficial to you."

In actuality, Kayen was trying to avoid being stuck in a fighter outside of the base. He hated that job.

Having seen the firepower some of the other Mandalorians were packing, Rasha was a bit sceptical about the 'best armed' part, but at this point Kayen was more familiar to her then the other Mandalorians, so she let the comment go.

"Alright then. So we need to decide who's going to be securing which landing bay."

She fixed her gaze on a Mandalorian who was carrying a repeating blaster.

'You should probably guard the first hangar, since we can only spare one person for that job and it's one of the most likely locations for an enemy counter attack. The rest of you will assault the other hangars. You just need to figure out who the best person to leave in charge of guarding the second hangar bay is."

One of the Mandalorians raised his hand.

"I'll volunteer to do that."

Rasha nodded.

"Alright then, good. Everybody make sure you're familiar with the intelligence we have, and let's get these guys good."

[Pirate Hunting]

Kayen nodded and he stepped forward to Rasha, waiting with his hands behind his back as he looked around.

"I'm ready whenever you are..."