Droxu – The Cignet System -
Vago puts up his big Hutt mitts, pulls you all aside and replies in Basic, "Dengar, Dengar, Dangar, how can I pay you that many credits when you brought me four crates of spice? The payment agreed upon was for a ship full of spice.
You can certainly tell Popara what I said but I can refute it, who do you think he will believe, me or you?
Tell you what, you risked yourselves and saved Mika so I'll give you 40,000 credits - 10,000 credits per spice crate recovered.
If you go back to Endregaard and get the balance of the spice, I'll pay you the balance of the Credits". He crosses his arms making it clear that he'll not budge on the offer.
"Make it an even 50,000 and we can all forget we ever had this conversation," Errin says, the speakers in her armor giving her voice a flat, business-like tone.
"I agree. That'll make it 100,000 altogether. It's not what we signed on for, but it'll be enough to compensate us for the work we did."
"Indeed. Of course you're always welcome to return there yourself..."
Droxu – The Cignet System -
Vago laughs, in typical creepy Hutt fashion. "You drive a hard bargain, 50,000 credits it shall be. You are welcome to stay until the upgrades to your ship are completed, all food and drink will be complementary!"
---
The Imperial operatives return to the ship with Gunnar for a little rest and relaxation.
The codes are given to the group the next day and Gunnar is quite excited to review them with all of you.
By that evening the damn Jedi has vanished! None saw him leave nor did he announce he would be leaving.
"Let him scurry back to his masters. We got what we came here for. I say it's time to head back to the Emperor and hand over the maps. After that, we have some cresits to spend."
"Yeah, I'm ready to blow this joint. The whole place smells like Hutt."
Kaldo will prepare the ship for take off
"I agree. I trust the components Emperor Fel will be able to provide more than the Hutts, if I'm being honest. Especially considering some of them are being installed in me." Garrett prepares for the journey back to Imperial space, heading to his bunk. "I'm ready when you all are."
"Seems we're all settled for it then."
Rennah pauses a moment and thinks to herself.
"May the Force be with you, Jedi. You'll need it in this galaxy.
After that, she follows Kaldo to the cockpit, and helps him prep the ship for launch.
Droxu – The Cignet System -
As per Roan Fel's instructions, you send a coded message on the frequency under which you first received the mission message.
Perhaps a half day later, you receive a scrambled message back. Of all places to meet, Yavin IV.
Setting a course for the moon where one of the most significant events in Galactic History took place, you have some time before you arrive there.
Kaldo will look through the crate of spice. Besides that, he simply wanders the ship, and stays in his cabin, reading stuff on the holonet.
Does Kaldo have any alone time? If so, he will try and contact the Galactic Alliance, and tell them about the meeting on Yavin IV
Garrett hangs around his bunk and trolls through the HoloNet for anything they might have missed while they were on-world and away from easy access.
Rennah secludes herself in her cabin for a couple of days, coming out only to eat, trying to penetrate the veils of the Force, and get an impression of the future.
Errin seeks our Rennah and meditates with her, trying to find a relaxed and stable connection to the force. As usual, she struggles, her excitement from the confrontation with the Hutts clouding her mind and keeping the harmony of the Force at the edge of her grasp.
"Errin, you need to learn to let go of your feelings. While they can be a useful tool, you must learn to control them, not to be controlled by them."
Stretching her legs from the position that she'd been sitting in Rennah gets up, and extends her hand to Errin.
"Perhaps a spot of sparring can help both of us relax, work out some frustration.
She gives Errin a wink and drops into a combat crouch with a grin on her face.
Erin grimaces, then smiles.
"You know that among my people, the Echani, your proposal could be considered flirting," she says. "There are few more intimate ways of communicating than to spar with another. Much can be revealed ... but I see I am already doing a poor job of concealing my frustration. So yes, let us fight, as I and my sisters once did."
Erin's kips up, balancing in the balls of her feet as she rolls her shoulders and stretches out her muscles.
"Let us find the Force, then," she says, before leaping to attack.
"Flirting is it?"
Rennah laughs as she ducks under the attack and rolls up into a defensive crouch.
"I agree though, nothing brings people closer and shows their true face mpre than sparring. Though perhaps real combat reveals more, as you stand shoulder to shoulder, against the enemy..."
Rennah slowly circles round, a wary eye on Errin's movements, opening herself to the Force.
"But who am I to deny anyone a little intimacy?"
She grins widely as she throws a jab, followed by a nasty haymaker.
---
Garrett, you find two things of interest. First, a crime wave has hit Hutt space, it appears that new gang wars have sprung up over turf for the selling of a new exotic drug, Tempest. Second, the Sith continue to consolidate their power. In what is being called the Rishi-Krayt War, Galactic United Syatem and otehr Rishi Maze governments have fallen to the Sith. Ketaris which had remained loyal to Roan Fel fell in the decisive battle.
---
Rennah, as you expand your mind you sense great conflict in the galaxy. It seems the balance, though seemingly tilted to that of the Sith is still in flux. However, there is something, something on this very ship that appears to have some significance for you in the near future.
As you begin to focus on what that thing may be, Errin's presence distracts you.
---
The two deadly women work to hone their battle skills over the coming days.
---
The ship's hyperspace detection system pings alerting the crew to the fact that they have arrived at Yavin IV.
As you exit hyperspace you see nothing. However, once you round the planet you see near the moon of Yavin IV the signature Star Destroyer of the Emperor himself. They hail you, "Good morning agents. Permission to land in bay X 30 is granted".
As Kaldo guides the ship near the Destroyer, the tractor beam takes over and after a bit of shaking, brings the ship in smoothly. As you lower the walkway you see a familiar face Master Antares Draco and a contingent of Stormtroopers behind him.
"Imperial Knight Rennah! I trust the mission was successful?"
Kaldo finishes docking, and, after double checking the ship controls and status, follows the rest of the crew to meet Drago.
Rennah quickly takes to one knee in front of Antares Draco, her ceremonial armor scraping gently against the ferrocrete.
"Master Draco, the mission was successfull in that we have the map. Unfortunately it would appear that the Jedi have also obtained knowledge of the map, as we encountered one of their kind, with whom we made a temporary alliance. He snuck off as before we left orbit on the planet.
What the Hutt had not told us however, was that at least one of his subordinates had gone into business for himself, and it was this underling with whom we originally dealt. Though he did not have access to the map, he offered us a job that would take us to the same planet as Vago himself would. As we were there, we managed to save the Hutt's son, and earn his gratitude. In exchange we got the map. As well, as a bit of payback on the Hutt underling.
Rennah gestures towards the ship.
"You'll find the information aboard ship. Also, while we did not find any devices or any signs of intrusion on the ship, I do not trust the Hutt, and it may be worth double-checking. Finally, if possible, I would suggest a complete physical checkup, for all the organics. We were supposedly given innoculations against the plague on the planet, but I can't exactly say that I trust Hutt medicine."
Garrett just stands with his arms crossed, his eyebrow raised when Rennah takes a knee. "I'm not much worried about the ship, I'll be giving her a pretty thorough look-over when I do some upgrades. If I find anything, I'll take care of it. We've got a sizable sum from the Hutts for the job they asked of us, might as well give ourselves something nice." Garrett shrugs, but he nods with Rennah mentioning the distrust of their medicine. "Speaking of Hutts and their drugs, it seems a new gang war has sprung up within the Hutt network. Selling a new drug called Tempest, seems like. I have a feeling that might've been what they were carrying on-world, on the Hutt's crashed ship. We have a container of it, right? That we stole? We might want to take a look at that."
"It's got to be rather valuable, I would think," Erin says, hoping Draco takes the hint.
Draco frowns at the knowledge that the Jedi gained, "Rise Rennah, I do not need that sort of formal greeting from you. You have proven yourself to me time and again including now.
Well. I prefer the Jedi having such information over the Sith.
Come, the Emperor awaits and we shall see what he has to say regarding all of this".
---
To the very same quarters that you were granted an audience last time are you brought this time.
The Emperor listens as you tell him what you told Antares, though with a bit more detail as he asks follow up questions.
"This Vryce is not a Jedi I have ever heard of.
His Commander in the CSA though I have heard of. Kryn is a dedicated Commander. Should you encounter her and the CSA once more, attempt to recruit her to the cause.
For now, I will have you all and your ship inspected, just in case. I certainly do not need a Hutt learning of my location.
This Tempest situation, I will have my security team monitor it. It would be best if your group retained the spice for now as if I feel the need to take action, it would be your team best suited to do so. No reason to take such a commodity away from you only to give it back to you for a later mission.
For now rest and outfit your ship as you see best, I should have everything you need aboard my flagship. No doubt a new mission will rear it's head for your team soon enough".
Draco chimes in, "Emperor, one of our own, Rai Zon, I believe would be best suited to complete the health assessment for the team. Plus, I believe he is ready to go out in the field. Assuming you would allow it?"
The Emperor nods, "Indeed. An excellent idea Antares. Proceed".
---
As you meditate you find yourself interrupted by a Stormtrooper whose voice comes across the intercom, "Rai Zon, Master Dracos wishes to see you. Please come to the medical bay on level 30".
Rai unfolds himself from meditation and stands thanking the trooper for the information and then briskly makes his way to medical bay on 30 wondering if soon he will start his quest to free his people.
Rennah gives Draco a wry smile when he tells her to get up.
"You say that every time. And I ignore it every time. What makes you think this time will be different?"
She gives him a grin as they head to meet the emperor.
..................
After the debriefing and the meeting with the Emperor, Rennah heads to bay 30 to meet this Rai Pon, standing casually around till he appears, wondering who this new being is
Rai enters the medical bay with a brisk walk not one to make Master Draco wait and at precicesly two arms lengths away stops and drops to a knee with grace but more with efficency of movement saying nothing as his presence speaks for him waiting for command.
Errin gives the side eye to the new arrival.
"I've had enough inoculations to last me for the next couple of months, thanks," she says. "You can give me a scan, but keep your hands and any pointy bits to yourself."
She relaxes a bit as the medical inspection is completed.
"So, what, we get some downtime now? Are we gonna R&R here on the ship, or head someplace more entertaining? I wouldn't mind seeing the armorer if this ship is really as well equipped as command makes it out to be."
"A bar. We need a bar. We have a new arrival after all. Though I'll admit that an armory visit might not be a bad idea. After that though, definitely a bar. I need to wash out the taste of that planet."
"A bar? How... typical." Garrett watches the new arrival without any sort of introduction, and waves his hand at any mention of a medical inspection. "Not necessary, unless you're a mechanic." He grins, flexing his mechanical arm. "Speaking of a mechanic, if you all insist on getting drunk, I'll take the time to look over the ship personally. I'll see if I can't find anything useful to install while I'm browsing for my own parts."
"We need to find a way to get you to relax at some point, Garrett... Perhaps we should program a sub-routine for you called "This is how organics unwind". But you're right, duty first. Let's get the ship and ourselves checked out first, then we can grab a drink afterward. And tell our new friend all about our exploits."
"I don't need to unwind, Rennah. Stress is a biological function, and I am thankfully immune to it. I operate at full efficiency regardless of the gravity of the situation. It's one of my many advantages." At the mention of checking out the ship, Garret nods. "You all can go 'unwind', if you wish. You're welcome to help me look over the ship, but it isn't necessary if you'd rather rest. I can meet you at the bar if you really want me to."
"Even your datadrives need to defragment at some point, Garrett. Call it stress, call it erroneous data or whatever you wish. The effect is the same, a lessening of efficiency. But sure. That said though, I doubt there's a bar on here, so we'd have to go planetside somewhere for it. Any preferences, people?"
She looks over at Rai Zon.
"When you're done with the examinations obviously Doc. While you're making certain we all check out, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?"
Kaldo nods at the new arrival.
When Rennah asks which bar we want to go to, he shrugs I'll take anything. Do you guys know any good places?
after his greetings are completed he will snap to taking a look at this motley crew including the robot and he says to Erin if you wish to be cleared as mission ready you will allow for as much poking and prodding as necessary for a full physical and diagnostic exam. Thank you and then he will start with Kaldo whom he notes as most injured and says I am surgeon and doctor by trade who has some practical skills
Rai Zon inspects each of you in turn giving you all a clean bill of health. Rai is well aware of where a spot to drink is located on the ship, its a mess hall but one that serves alcohol.
A few Officers are present but they keep to themselves.
---
Oddly enough, Garrett does not find anything on the ship, he was sure he'd have fund a tracking device. Perhaps this Hutt actually was a being of his word though it's more likely they just did not have a chance to get a tracer onto the ship in a place where they believed it would not be found.
it seems you all have a clean bill of health, and from your earlier conversation as I arrived it also seems you want a drink. Come to the mess hall, it's got some drinks and an officer area for some off duty fun
"So Rai... I hope you don't mind me calling you Rai? What brings you to the Emperor's service? Or is that too personal a question?"
Rennah takes a sip from her lomin-ale and utters a small sigh.
"Ah that hit the spot. Damned mudball of a planet, and then Hutts on top. I do wonder why they just quarantined the planet though, instead of trying to help the people there. But then again, it IS the Corporate Sector. I bet it was just a better bottom line in the end."
Errin orders up the most potent distilled spirits available and takes the bottle, sipping slowly but with purpose - after this she plans on hitting the showers and then a long snooze on clean sheets.
She shudders as Rennah mentions Hutts.
"Ugh. I'm still trying to clear the stench out of my nose," she says. "But even if it did all come down to money, we ought to have the chemists on board take a look at that spice, make sure it doesn't contain any more surprises."
"You're right Errin, hopefully Garrett is taking care of that. Remind me to tell him in the morning.
Rennah takes a look at the bottle on Errins hand and raises an eyebrow.
"Better make sure the good doctor prescribes you some painkillers if you're going to down that by yourself."
Rennah tales another sip from the mug, and looks around for some snacks.
Kaldo drums his fingers on the surface of the table, and takes a long time deciding what to order. When he finally does, he orders a light beer, then begins to look for a snack.
Rai is fine thanks. My home world was annexed by enemy forces and I and a small group of my people escaped and are working to free my world and our people through the assistance of the emperor.
Rai orders a whiskey and has a drink and says: what about yourselves?
Rennah points at her uniform, that of an Imperial Knight.
"Pretty obvious why I'm here. That said, I joined the Empire itself as I was originally working as a mercenary, and I once got involved with them during a mission. Quite frankly, I'd never met more capable people, and I wanted to know more about them. I eventually did, and I thought I was Imperial Knight material."
Rennah grins to herself at the memory.
"Looking back at it, I was rather arrogant about that, but in spite of that, I managed to impress them enough that they let me join. And the mission you just cleared us medically from... That was my first mission without my Master himself. It seems I've passed the test."
Rennah takes another sip of the Lomin, and stretches languidly.
"All said and done though, I go where I'm told to go. A tool of the Emperor and all that, but even if I hadn't been an Imperial Knight, it's my hope that the Force would have eventually steered me right. That said, at least before I joined, I certainly lacked... control."
in many ways the force is a tool in its owners hands. Sometimes a weapon and sometimes a healing balm. Regardless of the tool it is it offers no more then we ourselves are capable of doing of it and with it Rai takes another sip of his whiskey.
Kaldo is not able to find anything from Duro on the menu. The ship reminds him of a Coruscant restaurant in the upper levels, mostly human fare.
Imperial Knight Sigel Dare enters the Mess and approaches your table, "Knight Mars. I wanted to congratulate you on your first successful mission. I hear that you encountered Jedi on your mission, do you remember their names?"
Garrett, after taking a look at the ship and deciding he was fairly certain it hadn't been tampered with, decides to browse through the wares on the station through the HoloNet. He starts selecting a few items to have them sent to the ship—upgrades for himself, mostly, although he puts in a request to meet with an armorer on the ship about some new weapons—before he gives an interested look toward the crates of spice sitting near him on the ship. "Maybe it's time we took a look at this, hmm? See what we can find out..." Garrett slides the lid of the crate open, examining the spice as it poured through his open fingers; regardless of what it was, Garrett was certain it wouldn't bother him. "What are we looking at here, exactly? Some kind of drug? I'm not exactly a scientist..." The droid frowned, putting in another request on the HoloNet for someone to come and aid him in examining the drug.
"Master Dare. I'm afraid we were only introduced to one of them. A Jedi by the name of Gunnar Wryce, a male human. The others were not introduced to us, as they didn't bear on the mission. He might have rejoined them, but the way he worked together with us, without calling them in, I have my doubts."
Rennah looks Dare up and down. Then nods respectfully and asks the question that's openly on her mind.
"May I ask why you're interested in this Jedi?"
Dare nods at Rennah's response, "The Jedi could be allies or enemies. Right now, it's hard to judge which they may be. This name is not familiar to me so he must have been a Jedi and not a padawan but certainly not a Knight or a Master.
If I knew which Jedi was present I could determine whether the knowledge they "borrowed" would be a help or a hindrance.
Regardless, be on the lookout for Jedi on your next mission, if possible I'd lie to direct them at the Sith rather than interfere with what we are trying to accomplish".