Another early morning, another briefing.

Delivered by holo, this time.

Revan hasn't been getting a ton of sleep, lately. He's been too busy, and he's Force sensitive, he can run off of less sleep than ordinary people. What's another early morning.

Where's he going this time?

"The new mining operation on the north side. We're going to see if we can't set them back a little."

"'A little.' Give me some credit, now."

"They teach us pessimism at SIS Academy. I'll trust your reputation to get you out alive. We'll see about the rest."

"All right, fair enough. Anything you want me to coordinate my timing with, or just as soon as I can make it explode into pretty colors, do so?"

"This one's all you. I'll keep an eye on their communications and guide you as best I can."

"One explosion, coming right up. Anything else I should know?"

"If you could try a little subtlety on this one, my fragile information leaks would appreciate it."

"Fine, little explosions. Surgical ones. I will attempt discretion."

"Mission freq is 83.7-esk. See you on the battlefield."

"Yep."

Off he goes. Once he's out of the meeting room, he retrieves his comlink.

"Hey, HK. How's the west side holding?"

  "Answer: Oh, it's going wonderfully! The meatbags keep putting their fragile, liquid-filled head modules right where I can see them!"

Revan snorts. That'll mean that HK-47's still busy, and while the Republic has snipers, they don't have any other droid snipers. He is uniquely equipped to help, by way of thinking from a different direction and being something the enemy (and the enemy Force users) don't expect. So that's a no, for taking HK along with him on his adventure. He's better off where he is.

"Glad to hear it. Keep up the good work."

  "Acknowledgement: Thank you, I am pleased my talents are appreciated."

"I'll be away for a while, please make sure the defenses don't fall to pieces while I'm gone. Call in before you go on a proper assassination mission, but feel free to look for good openings. And of course if any Sith's fragile, liquid-filled head module happens to be where you can see it..."

  "Acknowledgement: I look forward to the chance with giddy anticipation!"

"That's the spirit. Revan out."

He puts his comlink away, and goes to get changed into more Sithy attire, then see about transportation.

A couple hours later, he's on a little nook overlooking the mining operation, peering at it through a pair of macrobinoculars.

"All right, Legate, I'm in position. Got a clever entrance for me or should I get creative?" he murmurs.

"Hundred meters west. Drop straight down, unobserved scaffolding. Door may or may not be locked."

"On my way."

He goes where he's told like a good little field operative, taking care not to be spotted. He drops down, and tries the door. Is it locked?

Yep.

Okay. He can do this. This is his moment. Forget the Sith, forget the Empire, this is his one true nemesis. A locked door. He can defeat this enemy.

He attempts to slice the lock.

The lock remains locked.

"Let me guess: it's locked."

Fuck.

"There is important information located in the carved glyphs on this door. Give me a moment, I must study it intently to figure out what they say."

He's going to try slicing it again. He thinks he can get it this time.

Spoiler alert: he can't.

"Do you want a hint?"

"No."

C'mon, you stupid door be sliced!

He's really not getting any closer here.