When the comms come in about a meeting, Avizzi is hunkered over a workbench with goggles on and tools at work. He pauses briefly to check the message, then returns to the bench, and finishes working on his rifle before putting things away and getting ready to meet up. The pistol modifications were fairly simple, just a matter of tinkering with the ammunition and then making sure the gun itself would hold up firing them, and without a loss of accuracy. The rifle was more extensive: the rangefinder got wired in the main body, up alongside the scope, but to put in the recognition system he'd found in one of the vendors, he had to rip out a bunch of internals, and then take out the automatic fire capabilities, and that led to other issues, and it was all fairly last-minute...
The result is that when Avizzi walks into the briefing room, he's wearing a simple outfit with a jacket thrown on over his grease-stained shirt. There's some oil on his hands and face as well, and a set of welding goggles are pushed up on his brow, just under his montrals. "Anyone know what this is about?" He takes a seat across from Kalus.
The briefing rooms aboard the Resurgence are clean and white, with several benches wrapping smoothly around a holographic projector seated on a raised dais in the center of the room.
When you arrive at room 3, you find that Gilder Varth awaits the group there, now dressed in the uniform of an Alderaanian ship officer. At his side is a small yellow-and- silver astromech droid that whistles softly as it interfaces with the holographic projector.
Nomi enters the conference room looking like an extra from a space pirate holo--billowy white shirt, brown version of Han's vest, tight black nerf-hide pants, and a red and black handkerchief bandanna. She has a new heavy blaster on her hip. She kicks her feet out, tips her chair back and locks her fingers behind her head as the meeting begins.
"I suspect we'll find out once everyone's here. Shame about Russell having to go. He was good in a scrap. We'll have to make do, though."
As Nomi enters the room, Kalus raises a wry eyebrow at the entrance and the apparent swagger. The fact she kicks her feet up as well provides a certain amount of amusement to him, as the briefing takes on a bit of a feel from the days of the Black Corsairs, when the crews would lounge about as Alaze'uun explained their mission. Such thoughts inevitably led to the desperate fight above Cato Nemoidia, and the amusement fades as he turns his attention to Varth.
Despite the fact that you rescued him from prison only weeks ago Varth's manner is cold and militaristic, a clear contrast to the more laid back privateer style of your crew. He holds a superior air and doesn't speak, or really acknowledge anyone's presence until Taril arrives and everyone is seated.
" Ahem... " He clears his throat loudly, scratching his bushy grey moustache and the projector springs to life. The blue-tinted hologram of a Hutt appears to hover a few inches away from the projector’s three curved prongs. The former Imperial officer begins to speak, wasting little time on pleasantries.
" Captain Verana has charged me with an itteligence gathering mission, and has authorized me to use you as my agents. "
He starts striding back and forth looking around at each of you as he outlines the mission details.
" Before the Empire decided my conscience was a liability,” he says, “I was involved peripherally in a top-secret plan known as the Sarlacc Project. While the details of the project are unknown to me, I was involved in the transfer of large sums of credits and resources to the project. Whatever the project entails, it is taking up a lot of the Empire’s time and effort. Moreover, I believe that this Sarlacc Project is destroying the lives of thousands of sentient beings; casualty reports crossed my desk on a regular basis. "
“Unfortunately, I don’t know much more than that. However, during my brief brushes with the project, I discovered that the Imperial Navy was hiding the program’s existence from the Senate by transferring resources through secondary sources. Resources were routed through the Corporate Sector, through fake contractors, and through the criminal underworld to keep a trail from leading back to the project. "
“One such secondary source was a Hutt crime lord named Darga. Like all Hutts, Darga is a slimy gangster whose love of credits is exceeded only by his love of power. Part of my job involved transferring resources to Darga, and in turn arranging for Imperial agents to take control of other resources from the Hutt’s organization. These were not simply transfers of credits. The items being traded were not specified, but physical resources were definitely being exchanged. Though it’s not much, this is the only lead we have. "
" Your mission is to uncover more about the Sarlacc Project. We need you to travel to the planet of Cato Neimoidia and find Darga the Hutt. See if you can learn what he is trading in and how it relates to the Sarlacc Project.”
" Any questions? "
Kalus frowns pensively as Varth mentions Darga's name, thinking, Now, where have I heard of him before? When Varth mentions Cato Nemoidia, Kalus's hands involuntarily clench into fists, and his eyes take on a far-away look, as though remembering something. He looks at Varth and says, "I have two questions. The first is how are we getting to Cato Nemoidia. The second is whether or not you know if an Imperial Captain named Filus Errin is stationed there."
“Captain Verana has agreed to once again put Captain O'keefe and the Banshee at your disposal for the purpose of traveling to Cato Neimoidia. "
" Captain Filus... ah yes I have heard of him, he was due to be promoted according to a memorandum I received just before I was imprisoned... I'm not sure if he's stationed at Cato Neimoidia but I do know that the Imperial presence in the city of Zarra is quite small compared to the rest of the planet. Zarra saw some heavy destruction during the war. That's where I believe Darga's headquarters is located. Though I only have the requisition forms that crossed my desk to go off. "
Avizzi glances at Kalus with a curious look, but doesn't comment on his question, only asks his own. "Obviously you would rather we maintain a subtle presence, no sense in alerting the Imperials, but how important is it we maintain the status quo of the planet while we're there? For example, does it matter whether the Hutt lives, or maintains his presence and power there?"
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Taril had sauntered in last, sleek and feline, having just waved off a couple of admirerers at the door of the meeting room.
Crunching happily on an exotic fruit, she waved lazily to the others and gathered her long frame into a nearby chair.
As Varth made his presentation, she'd occasionally snap her teeth into the piece of fruit, causing the military man to pause and look at her.
Her eyes shot daggers right back at him, and her sweet smile all but said, "I don't trust you, Imperial."
Soon thought, her snack was finished and she did manage to actually listen to what the former Admiral had to say.
Leaning back, hands clasped behind her head, "If the damage to Zarra is as you say, this Darga's probably has that city tied up tight. You have any insiders we should know about?" she asks.
Varth turns an appraising eye from Kalus to address Avizzi.
" Yes you should do all you can to avoid any unnecessary entanglements with imperial forces. As for the Hutt, well, the main objective here is to gather information on project sarlac. If his organisation is weakened or he is eliminated then so be it. There's a slight chance it could tip our hand to the empire but it would also probably delay the project... "
Turning to Taril he answers her question.
" Unfortunately I don't have any contacts on the ground in Zarra or in Daga's operation. You will need to do a bit of information gathering once you've landed I'm afraid. Perhaps locate someone in Daga's organisation and see if you can get recruited, then gain the Hutt's trust. "
" Any other questions? " Varth asks, looking around the room, giving his bushy grey moustache a little scratch.
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Nomi opens her good eye as the meeting closes.
Nominated opens her good eye as the meeting closes.
" Very well then, you are scheduled to depart at 1700 hours, don't be late. " he strides out of the briefing room, the astromech gives a low whistle and trundles out after him.
Sirona O'keefe and Crash again welcome you aboard the Banshee. The trip to Cato Neimoidia is fairly uneventful and after a few successive hyperspace jumps the Banshee arrives in the planets orbit.
There seems to be very little traffic traveling to and from the world. As the Banshee descends toward the planet, the ship flies through layers of clouds and zooms over cities that are built on massive bridges between rock arches. However, the bridge cities are all but abandoned, seemingly left to rot after the Clone Wars.
The Banshee lands on Cato Neimoidia with no difficulty and no visible Imperial presence. Docking at a spaceport in the city of Zarra. Though propaganda posters line the spaceport walls, there is no sign of stormtroopers or other Imperial officials.
After a short comms conversation between Sirona and a Neimoidian Spaceport official you're free to head out into the city. As you exit the relatively quiet halls of the port you look over a dilapidated rubble strewn street. Though a number of beings, mostly shabby-looking Neimoidians, pick their way through the debris going quietly and quickly about their business, it is clear that Zarra has been nearly abandoned since the Clone Wars.
The party is not ten meters down the street when the rumble of swoop engines is heard. Six swoop bikers in bright green and yellow colours shoot down a side street and circle around the group before coming to a halt, surrounding the party.
One of the bikers removes her helmet (green with yellow strips. White fangs painted under the visor.) revealing herself to be a young, battle scarred human woman with spiky black hair.
" Hey offworlders! You fraggers wanna land in Zarra you gotta pay the landing fee. That's... " She looks everyone up and down. " a thousand credits each! "
The other five jeer and laugh. Though their bikes lack mounted weapons they all seem to be armed with vibroblades or blasters.
"Let me handle this." Nomi steps forward toward the leader. "Hey there, you're a little late to be collecting fees for what's already done. Maybe you can catch us the next time round. Could be though that locals such as yourselves might earn some cred in exchange for some info though. It's a win win."
Taril was just about to unleash a barrage of complete and utter fabrication on the swoop bikers, when Nomi steps up and makes her speech.
Eyebrow raised, Taril rolls her eyes at Kalus, crosses her arms and awaits the result of Nomi's gambit...
On the descent into the planet, Kalus is abnormally quiet, as he seems lost in thought. The look on his face a mix between thoughtfulness and anger.
As the ship lands, he shakes himself out of his funk and says, "I've spent some time here before, and I might have a couple contacts I can find to ask for information. Hopefully, we'll have Darga'a location quickly."
As they're confronted by the swoop gang, Kalus sighs and loosens his blaster in his holster. As Nomi attempts to talk the gang out of it, Kalus catches Taril's eyeroll, and prepares to step in should her offer be rejected.
Kalus steps forward and says, "What my compatriot meant is that someone from your group already came and collected the fees from us. He was sure to very specifically describe your helmet. Unfortunately, I didn't catch his name. If this person was not your representative, we'll, you'll have to collect your fees from him."
Avizzi doesn't make any comment when the obvious shakedown starts, and as soon as anyone goes for a weapon, he draws his pistol and shoots the leader in the gut.
"Listen, we are the sort of people you're looking for." Nomi says subtly indicating all the preparation going on behind her back.
The woman looks around the group again, and shifts almost inperceptively as she sees everyone tensing for a fight. " The sort of people I'm looking for? You wanna join the Vipers you gotta be a bit tougher than all this. " she waves a hand lazily at your group.
The others jeer again but it's clear the leader is ready to back down as long as it doesn't cost her to much in the way of pride.
" Anyway, I might consider waivin' your landing fee, depends on what info you want and how much you're gonna offer for it. "
"Being new in town, we were sort of wondering who runs the action. We'd like to discuss business."
" Ha! Round here is our turf, right guys! But I guess if your looking for who runs the city, well that would be Darga. I'll give you that for free, anyone on the street could tell you that if they weren't too kriffing scared to say his name... "
" We've got nothing to do with him though, he leaves us Vipers alone. I know a guy who can get you an audience though. For a thousand creds I'll give you his name and where he can be found. Deal? "
Taril looks at the others, then shrugs, tossing the credit chips at the lead Viper, "Do tell..." she says.
Snatching the cred chips out of the air the swoop biker smiles from ear to ear.
" Warrick 'The Womp Rat' Raden is the Devaronian your looking for. I seen him doing Darga's dirty work around the city. He hides out in the old warehouse district north of here. You got somethin to take this down on... I'll tell you how to get there. " she says.
She spends the next five minutes detailing landmarks like 'take a left at the crumbling duracrete wall that's got the dead Stormtrooper graffiti' and 'just keep going straight till you pass the burnt out husk of a massive yellow labour droid.'
" Hey, when you get there, be careful how you approach 'im, Raden's paranoid as a glitbiter trippin' ! Ha! Anyway pleasure doing business with ya, let's get out of here boys. " The gang fire up their swoops, and after raving the engines a few time, they shoot off down the street and up an alleyway.
It doesn't take long to pick your way through the quiet city streets, the old warehouse district seems to be completely deserted. Finally you reach the corner of the abandoned warehouse that Raden supposedly holes up in.
Most of the buildings on this street look half destroyed or collapsed, and none of the damage is recent. Dominating one side of the street is a crumbling warehouse, which has the half-buried wreckage of a landspeeder jutting from its front. The walls of the warehouse have large chunks taken out of them, exposing the building’s interior to the street. Two spiderlike excavation droids sift mindlessly though the rubble on the street.
Quietly, Kalus says to the others, "Those construction droids aren't actually doing anything to clear the rubble. They've probably been programmed to act as sentries. If this Raden is as paranoid as the Vipers said he was, it wouldn't surprise me. Our best bet might be two groups. We send two or three people in while the rest wait here as backup. Any thoughts?"
"Right. So what's the plan?"
Crumbling sections of the warehouse wall gives you a small glimpse of the rundown dim interior.
After about 15 minutes of staking out the warehouse you hear peels of raucous laughter from inside. Shortly after one of the droids moves, walking on crab like appendages around the building as if going on a patrol, or to watch the back of the warehouse maybe.
It could be easier now to dart across the street and through the crumbling warehouse wall while the droid is looking the other way.
"Now's our chance! Let's try to sneak across the street to that crumbling hole in the wall."
Avizzi had been studying the warehouse, wondering about tactical possibilities for hunting in such grounds. He wondered about climbing another building to provide overwatch with his rifle, or perhaps sneaking around the side. Then the droid moves, Kalus voices his thought and dashes, and the togruta quickly darts after the other man, his training and poncho keeping him scarcely visible.
Taril waits for the others to make their way across, then takes a look to make sure the coast is clear.
Darting across the road one at a time, quietly and swiftly using rubble as cover you all make it through the crumbled wall and into the warehouse. It doesn't seem that the droid sentry noticed you.
The interior of this room is drab and only lit by the sunlight coming through the hole in the wall. To your left is a damaged doorway and through it you can see four beings sitting around a table playing a Sabacc game maybe, lit by a fusion lantern. They talk softly but occasionally break out in laughter or groans as cards are played.
"There. The Devaronian." Nomi whispers, pointing out their likely target.
Taril nods and strides boldly into the room, declaring loudly, "Hey, boys, deal me in, won't you? "
She stands , hands on her hips, "Raden, heard from the Vipers that you can get me in touch with Darga the Hutt. I've got business to discuss with him."
Avizzi was going to start rigging an ambush, but instead he just waits, hidden behind the wall, pistol in hand and primed to start shooting.
As Taril walks boldly in she sees two other thugs having a quiet discussion in the middle of the empty warehouse and a third sitting at a desk in the corner watching some monitors.
As she asks loudly to be dealt in everyone around the room turns in surprise, leaping from their seats, scattering cards as they go for their weapons.
Raden pistol in one hand, holds up his other to signal the others not to open fire.
" Right, business with Darga, huh, and what business would that be? "
He asks circling about the Sabacc table to put it between himself and Taril.
Taril smiles confidently at Raden, ignoring the others...for now.
"Now , I wouldn't be the successful entrepreneur that I am, if I went about stating my business for all to hear. That's for Darga's ears...buds...holes...Whatever it is Hutt's listen with." Taril says with a wave of her hand.
"Anyway, the word is , you're the one to get me an audience with Darga..." Taril says, then stops, "Or perhaps, you aren't. That's ok, I can find Darga another way...." she says thoughtfully, and begins to turn away....
" Ha! Haha. " Raden laughs with bravado, though he seems a little less sure of himself than a moment ago. The thugs shift a little, keeping their blasters trained at Taril.
" I find it... hard to believe that anyone with such standing or important business with Darga wouldn't know where to find him so... I'm afraid you'll need to give me at least some of the details, or as you say find him another way. "
Kalus takes off his gloves, revealing the tattoos on the backs of his hands. Striding into the room behind Taril, he says, "Someone's been sniffing around some of his operations. We're here to provide him with some information, and maybe a little troubleshooting. Now, if things get disrupted, you don't want to the one responsible for preventing us from delivering the information, do you? Besides, we might be able to throw in a little bonus for you. Now, how about pointing us in the right direction, Raden?"
Kalus stands there, hands hooked onto his gun belt, tattoos prominently displayed for all of the assembled thuggery to see.
As Kalus walks into the room, one of the thugs eyes widen slightly as the they flick to his tattoos and then back to his face.
Raden's eyes widen as Kalus says that someone's been sniffing in Darga's operation.
" What? How could y... but I onl... Kill them! "
20.5
13.1
Rapidly drawing his blaster, Kalus flicks the stun selector and pumps a stun bolt into Raden from point blank range.
Avizzi barely even lets out a sigh as the discussion breaks down. While Kalus draws and fires his blaster, the togruta leans from around the corner and takes a shot at one of the thugs in the middle of the room.
Taril looks incredulously at Kalus, then smiles and flips the other scoundrel a sardonic salute, draws her blaster and fires at the nearest thug...
She moves up beside Avizzi. "Maybe I should handle negotiations from now on?"
The devaronian sways groggily as the blue rings of stun energy wash over him
Avizzi leans round the corner firing a slug with a loud 'BANG' the slug sails through the warehouse slamming into the car duracrete wall.
Taril flips Kalis a sardonic salute with one hand while drawing her blaster and firing a bolt into the nearest thugs head with the other. The Aqualish thug slumps to the floor.
Nomi moves up besides Avizzi and draws her lightsaber, activating it. The golden blade hums to life, several of the thugs turn their attention to her, eyes wide.
The construction droids enter into the warehouse crawling over rubble piles.
The thugs all start to react:
The two Aqualish thugs near Taril fire their aimed blaster pistols. The bolts flash past the nimble Twilek.
The others fire at Kalus with just as much skill, bolts flash past the pirate flying acrsoss the warehouse harmlessly.
Raden flips the card table as if to hide behind it but then decides against that and groggily stumbles for the hole in the wall to make his escape.
" Don't let them leave alive. " he calls over his shoulder.
Raden 10 stun damage (-2 condition track)
Kalus says, "Oh, no you don't," and moves after Raden, firing another stun bolt at him.
Avizzi nods at Nomi's suggestion. "Or maybe we should just start by shooting." He quickly slides to the other side of the doorway and fires another shot as the fight continues, aiming for the another thug.