[Law & Order LTC] [Suntilla-N12-BSB] Dawn of the Excubitors

The Excubitors were an elite guard-unit assigned to protect the six founding members of the Bryx Security Bureau known as The Hexad. This 300-strong force - originally recruited from Bryx's own Carigan Academy were highly trained in hand-to-hand combat, danger sense, mindform & vibroblade-work.

It was to be an important week for Suntilla's newly minted class of oligarchs. They were practically licking their lips as the all-white LAET (Low Altitude Executive Transport) descended onto the landing platform. The side door, emblazoned with the purple insignia of the Santhe Corporation slid smoothly open and out stepped the beautiful Miri Santhe, heiress to the fading starship conglomerate. Her dutiful protectors followed close behind, observing the diplomatic envoy there to welcome them. At the foot of the red carpet, stood an Arcona, a Rodian, two Tarsunts, and a Dowutin that loomed over them all. The group were dressed ostentatiously, in heavy furs and high collared dinner jackets, looking more like holofilm stars than captains of industry. In truth, they were merely opportunistic gangsters that took advantage of the system's rapidly deteriorating political situation.

When Haelos Star Yards shuttered their Suntilla factories, a small number of savvy entrepreneurs with criminal ties bought up the planet's industrial centres on the cheap. Penning a deal with the once illustrious Santhe Corporation would both fill their pockets with an obscene amount of credits and help to legitimise their standing in the business world of Corellia and beyond. While Miri smiled politely through the customary introductions, her mind was elsewhere. Following the initial meeting, Miri summoned two of her bodyguards with a mission.

"I'd like you to investigate a murder that was committed in the Entertainment District last night. We've intercepted Suntilla Security cables that describe the suspect as a fair haired human woman in her thirties, reported to have injected a man with a syringe before slipping from the scene. You'll find all the case files on this datapad."

After a beat, the older Excubitor answered uncertainly.

"Of course, Miss Santhe...but-"

"I'll be quite alright with my security team, Bloux" she answered sensing his hesitation. "Between ourselves, this is a highly delicate situation for the Bureau. You may recall the briefing on the murder of a Rebel Intelligence intelligence figure a few months ago. The method was poison injection, not dissimilar from this one. The perpetrator was a rebel agent gone rogue. We acquired her image from a maintenance droid in the area. We're nearly certain this is the same woman."

"Looks like she's developing a taste for it" the younger Excubitor - Jecte remarked, scrolling down the datapad.

"Quite" said Miri. "However, the target came to a considerably more violent end on this occasion"

"A syringe did this?" asked Bloux incredulously, peering over Jecte's shoulder. "And the body? I don't see an autopsy report in here."

"There...was no autopsy. It appears that the target's internal organs...imploded."

The Excubitors stared up from the datapad, slack-jawed.

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Thanks for looking! This is started as a table scrap of a door. After watching some detective noir films, I came up with the idea for the wall fan. This is the first appearance of The Excubitors - BSB's take on force adept sword wielders. I like the idea of them going on Obi-Wan/Kamino type sidequests during peacetime.