The twin suns of Tatooine hadn't yet risen when Kael Solaris climbed into the cockpit of his HLAF-500 starfighter. The world around Outrider Station was still steeped in predawn haze, the sky bleeding from black to violet. He powered up silently, eyes locked on the blinking MercNet objective panel.
[ Mission Briefing – Operation: Broken Chain ]Target: Slave Convoy Theta-9 – Inbound from RylothConvoy Includes: 2 armed transports, 1 scout speeder, and a heavy hover prison skiffPriority: Rescue target: Twi'lek girl (approx. age 12, Force sensitivity detected – latent)Secondary: Recover stolen tech – Republic-grade sensor disruptorsThreat: High – Escort includes Mandalorian bounty hunter "Karn Vox"Reward: 6,000 Credits | Bond Potential (Target) | Equipment Crate (Rare)Optional: Defeat Karn Vox non-lethally to unlock recruitment potential
Kael's thumb hovered over the launch key. "You ready for this?"
Ghost's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Turrets and shields calibrated. Extraction route uploaded. Voro is en route to intercept the convoy's forward scout."
Kael nodded and launched.
The HLAF-500 burst through the canyon and into open sky, skimming just above the rocky ridgelines of Tatooine's southern wastes. The stars were fading, but Kael didn't need them — the mission was clear, and his purpose clearer still.
An hour later, Kael crouched beside a jagged rock formation on the edge of the canyon route where the convoy was expected to pass. He'd already dismounted, cloaked the ship nearby, and laid motion sensors along both ridges.
The convoy was late — but not by much.
[ Contact Detected – Convoy Approaching | Distance: 1.9 km | ETA: 2 Minutes ]Visual: 2 modified cargo haulers, 1 prison skiff, armed scout speeder
He zoomed in with his scope.
And there she was — the girl.
Pale lavender skin, barely visible through the bars of the skiff's caged section. Shackled, thin, her lekku marked with bruises. She sat still, knees drawn to her chest. But her eyes glowed faintly, even in the gloom.
Kael's stomach turned. "Disgusting."
Then his scope moved — and locked on the hunter.
Mandalorian armor. Heavy. Scuffed and marked with crimson symbols. A wide blaster carbine rested across his chest, and a jetpack was slung tight to his back.
Karn Vox.
[ Target Profile: Mandalorian Enforcer – Karn Vox ]Age: 39Record: Guild Expelled | Bounty: Cleared | Combat Rating: EliteStatus: No current affiliation – Hired muscle, unclear moral alignment
Kael activated Reflex Surge and signaled Ghost.
The ambush hit like a bolt of thunder.
Kael fired the first shot — a high-velocity EMP round that shattered the lead hauler's control panel. Sparks flew as the vehicle spun, smashing into the canyon wall. Slavers spilled from the back, dazed and screaming.
The prison skiff swerved, narrowly avoiding the wreck, only to be hit by Ghost's concussion mine — launched from a ridge a hundred meters away.
Kael dropped from his perch, cloak whipping behind him, rifle already reloaded.
The scout speeder turned to circle around, but Kael spun mid-fall, fired a charged pulse, and knocked the pilot out cold before he hit the ground.
Vox didn't move.
He stood atop the skiff, unmoved by the chaos around him, blaster carbine held low.
Kael landed ten meters away, gun raised.
"Step away from the girl."
Vox tilted his helmet. "You're the one from the Boonta incident."
"So word's spreading," Kael replied, voice flat.
"Didn't think much of it until I got offered a bonus to make sure you died screaming."
Kael's fingers tightened around the trigger.
"But I don't take bonuses unless I know why they're offered," Vox added. "You want the girl. I don't care about her. The slavers are scum. The tech is junk. So tell me something."
Kael hesitated. "What?"
"What are you really building out here?"
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Something that doesn't bow to Sith, Jedi, or Senate."
The Mandalorian was quiet for a beat.
Then, slowly, he lowered his weapon.
Kael didn't relax.
"She's Force-sensitive," Vox said. "They wanted to sell her to someone who specializes in... 'exotic' apprenticeships."
Kael's pulse spiked. "Sith?"
"Or something worse. I didn't ask."
Kael lowered his rifle slightly. "And now?"
Vox shrugged. "Now, I see a clean break."
[ Optional Objective Met: Vox Defeated Without Combat ]Recruitment Opportunity Unlocked – Karn VoxLoyalty Rating: Conditional – Awaiting ResponseMercNet Note: Invite to Outrider Station recommended
Kael moved quickly to the cage. The girl flinched, eyes wide, but he knelt beside the bars slowly.
"I'm not here to hurt you," he said gently. "I'm getting you out of here."
She looked at him, confused. "You're... not a Jedi?"
"No," he said. "I'm something different."
He used a magnetic cutter to break the lock. The door creaked open.
She didn't move at first — just stared at him. Then, slowly, shakily, she stepped forward and into his arms.
"I'm Kael," he said softly.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "My name's Aris."
[ Primary Objective Complete – Aris Rescued ]Status: Force-Sensitive (Latent) | Age: 12Potential Role: Support Class / Recon / Force EmpathBond Level: 1 (Safe)Timeline Impact: Minor Branch CreatedXP: +1,000 | Credits: +6,000 | Equipment Crate Unlocked (Tier II)
Voro arrived fifteen minutes later with a stolen speeder truck. She said nothing when she saw the slavers unconscious, the vehicles wrecked, and the girl wrapped in a blanket beside Kael.
Vox stood nearby, helmet tucked under one arm, watching the stars.
Kael approached him.
"Come with us."
Vox glanced at him. "You offering a job?"
"I'm offering a war," Kael said. "A quiet one. But it won't stay quiet forever."
Vox studied him. "What happens if I say no?"
"You walk away," Kael said. "But you'll still think about what I said."
Vox nodded. "Fair."
He looked at Aris.
Then back at Kael.
"I'm in."
[ Karn Vox Recruited – Class: Heavy Assault / Tactical Infiltration ]Loyalty: 75% (Conditional – Protect Aris)New Base Upgrade Available: Barracks ExpansionOutrider Station Operatives: 4MercNet Capacity: 8 (Next Unlock: 20,000 Credits)
Kael looked at his growing team as the sun began to rise.
The galaxy wouldn't notice them yet.
But it would.