Allow Serena to Assist You.

{if S1 = true}Taking a deep breath, you unsling the rifle and prepare to creep closer to the pod. You are stopped by Serena's hand on your shoulder. "Please. Let me help," she whispers. You look at her for a long moment, deep in thought. She's been through a lot...and you are loathe to put her in danger (exactly why regulations frowned upon developing relationships with junior officers you realize ruefully). But this would be easier with her help. Taking a deep breath, you hand her the rifle. "Stay here, and cover me," you order. "If anything goes wrong, start shooting." Her eyes go wide as she takes the gun. "But....you will be unarmed...." she stammers. You give her a smirk, and show her the knife. "I still have this. And you." She smiles and nods, seemingly a bit more assured. "Be safe," she whispers as you turn and once again begin to approach the crash.

{else} Taking a deep breath, you unsling the rifle and prepare to creep closer to the pod. You are stopped by Serena's hand on your shoulder. "Please. Let me help," she whispers. "I have a score to settle with those bastards." You look at her for a long moment, deep in thought. She's been through a lot...and you are not sure just how far you can trust her with her apparent vendetta. But this would be easier with her help. Taking a deep breath, you hand her the rifle. "Stay here, and cover me," you order. "If anything goes wrong, start shooting." Her eyes go wide as she takes the gun. "But....you will be unarmed...." she starts. You give her a smirk, and show her the knife. "I still have this. And I know how to handle it. Trust me." She nods and takes up a position where she can keep you in sight. "Stay safe," she whispers as you turn and once again begin to approach the crash. {endif}

Staying in cover, you get close enough to the pod to actually identify your targets. The Dansby brothers, you think distastefully. Low level enforcers and runners for the higher ups in the brotherhood. By themselves, they shouldn't be too much of a problem. They were notorious cowards, not very dangerous unless in the company others of their ilk. And that is what gives you pause. There was a third prisoner you captured along with the brothers...one eminently more dangerous than the brothers. But after observing for almost an hour, you see no sign of him. Deciding you may as well get this over with, you slip around behind the pod, and sneak across the last gap to the pod.

Standing up behind the two men, you cough to get their attention. They both stumble to their feet, shocked by your sudden appearance. "Hello, boys," you say, brandishing the knife ominously. "Kind of an odd place for a stroll, don't you think?" The men are too dumbfounded to even respond. The fear is evident in their eyes...they certainly remember you from their capture. Frowning, you take a step toward them. "Now...where is your boss. Is he still around here or did he die in the crash?" The two patsys still can't even been bothered to speak. Sighing, you lower the knife a little. "Ok, guys. I'm not going to hurt you. Just tell me where Big Baarden is..." referring to their boss. Suddenly, you feel a large hand grabbing you from behind...pulling you back against an even larger body. It reaches down and encloses your wrist in an iron grip. "Right behind you," a gravelly voice says, coming from above and behind you.

Baarden is half-Naavalan...7 1/2 feet tall, and as ill tempered as they come. The undisputed leader of this cell, and the real prize of your capture. "Major Hathaway," he says, and obvious leer in his deep voice. "You have no idea how much I've wanted this day since you stuck me in that jail of yours. I've dreamed of nothing else. " You struggle against his grip, but his grasp is unwavering. "Oh, the things I'm going to do to you. I'm....." Whatever he was about to say next is cut of by the unmistakable whine of a laser shot flying through the air. His grasp goes limp, and you are able to stumble away from him as he tumbles to the ground. Breathing a sigh of relief, you look down and see a smoking hole square in his chest. You take a moment to be thankful Serena's aim was true before turning back toward the very stunned brothers...