A Secret Beginning: 3,958 BBY
The Republic has drawn a breadth of life to rebuild. The Mandalorian Wars has shattered many worlds. Thanks to Jedi Revan and Malak, the Madalorians were defeated at Malachor V and driven out of Republic Space. Revan and Malak at the head of a small fleet continue to chase the Mandalorians into the depths of the Unknown Regions.
People have been happy to once again see the return of peace to the Republic. People are beginning to call this the Second Restoration. It is a second chance for the Republic that was rocked previously be the Great Sith War in 4,000 BBY.
But in the depths of the Unknown Regions a monster awakens. A slumbering fleet of Sith Warriors bent on reclaiming the glory of the bygone days of the Sith. Ahead of them move their agents, gathering resources and preparing bases the Sith will need to strike to the heart of the Republic.
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You have been working on a Republic Space yard, filled to capacity with Republic ships being rebuilt, repaired, and outfitted for duty following the damage they sustained in the Mandalorian War. It is the Republic's largest effort to repair and replace her fleet since the end of the Great Sith War.
You have come to the end of the work week and are pulling a few credits for a night of relaxation when the monitor displays the message, 'Awaken Black Valkyrie'. You suddenly start to remember that you are a sleeper agent planted on the Space Yard and you have a mission.
<Sullust Six a SoroSub Space Station floating above Sullust.>
You remember that you have hidden a supply of weapons, armour, and equipment. Items that you will need for the mission.
You don't remember much of your past life but you do remember an image. An image of being on an icy planet and watching a crashed ship burning. You don't know what world, what ship, or how you got from that memory to working in the Sullust Spaceyard.
You also, somehow know the first portion of your mission. You need to gather with others tonight. You will gather in the Space Stations aquarium in front of the planet's coastal water exhibit. You will recognize each other because you each will have a Blue Sullust Sea Bear toy that you will purchase in the Aquarium's gift shop.
You know that after you gather, you will go somewhere but you can't recall what comes next on the mission.
You are to be at the Aquarium at 21:00. It is now 15:00.
You 'wake' up and recall that you are to go tonight to the Station's Aquarium, acquire a Blue Sullust Sea Bear, and then go to the Coastal Water Exhibit for 21:00. You will meet several others there for doing a secret mission.
Places another dot.
HK-33 is in the maintenance room hooked up to his power station when he receives the signal that triggers his hidden programming, the red light of his photoreceptors flickering to life as he activates.
"Diagnostic: HK-33 activated. Running checks through primary systems," the droid announces as though talking to itself. "Observation: While my assassination protocols seem to have been reactivated I am missing several mission relevant memory engrams, how frustrating. Addendum: Additionally my inner monologue seems to have yet to reactivate, that will make discretion most challenging... ah!"
There it is.
Gathering the odd pieces of equipment he has collected around his power station, HK-33 heads out to retrieve his weapon cache before journeying to the rendezvous point at the aquarium.
A menacing looking rust coloured droid with glowing red eyes walks into the aquarium gift shop.
"Annoyed Statement: I must purchase this... poorly constructed model bear as an errand for my Master. Implied Threat: What value of credits do you require in return?"
Vash'elie was drying her hair, fresh out of the shower, looking forward to meeting her friends at the Blue Oyster canteen and sharing a few drinks. Toying with the idea of not going home alone as the mesage pops up on her com-display.
All thougts of revelrie disapeared as she pulls a black bodyglove out of her closet, an ugly colorless thing she often wonder wh she kept around. Throwing it on and a short jacket she straps on her brace computer and grabs the keys to her air speeder as she heads out the door.
Rushing through traffic she speeds as fast as she dares without atracting attention to the out of the way maintainance shute she knows keeps the geer she'll need to complet her mission. 'What mission?' fleets through her mind. Maybee the peole she was to meet would hold some answers, she though, a little afraid.
Reaching her destination she took a deep breath to calm her self, with a focus she didn't know she possessed she reached out through the force to sence her surroundings. Checking every nook and crany for any hidden observers.
Satisfied she was alone she opens the shute and reaches in. As she sorts through the asorted equipment she grows more amazed and apprehensive. 'Who am I?' she ponders as she realizes that all the equipment has a familiar feel to it and she knows full well how to use it. Even the security kit.
Straping on her equipment and running the weapons to their various hidden places, she heads for the Aquarium with steele determination.
Coming to the gift shop she smiles sweetly as she says to the attendant; "You will give me the Blue Sulust Sea Bear and then you will forget you ever saw me."
Retrieving her stuffed toy she sets of into the aquarium, looking for a place where she can stay in the shadows and observe. When she spots someone carrying the same bear she will shadow him and wait till the 'people' have assembled.
...
A menacing looking rust coloured droid with glowing red eyes walks into the aquarium gift shop.
"Annoyed Statement: I must purchase this... poorly constructed model bear as an errand for my Master. Implied Threat: What value of credits do you require in return?"
The Aquarium like much of the Sullustan station is in subdued lighting. Sullustan's are a people that developed a civilization underground due to the Volcanic nature of their world. They have a great appetite for other cultures and are fascinated with sea life since they rarely get to sea it from their homes.
The air is very warm and mixed with the water of the Aquarium leads to it being very humid. The glass of the tanks is specially treated to prevent condensation from destroying the view.
A Sullustan Teen is working the evening shift in the Gift Shop (owned by SoroSub as noted by their sponsorship seal).
He giggles and burbles in Sullustan.
'Oiye, you're an odd one. Haven't had your hug today?'
In Basic, the Teen says, 'That will be 25 credits. For 10 more credits you can get a ticket to see Boltto Blue Sea Bear perform. The next feeding time is in one hour.' The Teen has trouble speaking Basic so his burbling mouth ends up spitting up a small spray of phlegm.
It is possibly a byproduct of corrective bracing the Teen has installed in his mouth or just typical Sullustan sharing of fluids.
Even the security kit. Straping on her equipment and running the weapons to their various hidden places, she heads for the Aquarium with steele determination.
Coming to the gift shop she smiles sweetly as she says to the attendant; "You will give me the Blue Sulust Sea Bear and then you will forget you ever saw me."
Retrieving her stuffed toy she sets of into the aquarium, looking for a place where she can stay in the shadows and observe. When she spots someone carrying the same bear she will shadow him and wait till the 'people' have assembled.
The Sullusatn Teen burbles happily and hands you over the Blue Sullust Sea Bear. There appear to be three bears left on the shelf.
"Same wounds, different day. I swear, who the heck ever thought it was a good idea to install a series of rotating blades on a jerky conveyor belt without any guardrails or safety protocols is beyond me, NB-21." The Doctor wipes his hands clean, frowning at the throwaway smock with the heavy blood spatter on it. "I mean, heck, just because we can replace a man's torso with cybernetics don't mean we..."
Mission. Must attend the mission.
"NB, finish up the stitch up on our new cyborg. Monitor him for any internal hemorrhaging. I've got an appointment to attend." The good Doctor wipes his hands on his now clean clothes, pauses to grab his medical kit, shoulders it with a groan and begins moving toward the potted fake plant in the rear of the atrium. He kicks it, then knocks three times rapidly, pauses and knocks it once more. A small panel opens with a whir and reveals his cache. He dons the holsters, pockets the grenades and puts the visor on his head, pushed up on his forehead. He then heads to the Aquarium.
Upon seeing the oh-too-happy teen, he grunts, hands over the credits for the bear, takes the ridiculously blue annoyance, rips out the vox box and heads inside.
"Threat: Perhaps I did not enunciate clearly, organic." HK continues, almost seeming to glare at the teenage boy and fingering his blaster rifle. "I suggest that you hand over the cheap imitation animal now and forget you ever saw me."
Leaning forwards over the counter so his 'face' is very close to that of the Sullustan, the droid reduces the volume of his vocabulator, switching language to Sullustan.
"Rhetoric: Are we clear?"
Gol finds himself in the breakroom mixing his soycaf. Again. He has to take frequent breaks just to cool down. Otherwise, his anger rises and he wants to bash some heads in. Another missing badge or lax security protocol broken and he is going to lose it! He is staring at the holonet when it happens.
"What the..." Gol muses as the activation code comes in. He shakes his head but remembers something. He bluffs his way into running an errand and rockets home on his speeder bike, marches to his closet, and hits a micro-switch that opens into a storage area. It's not big but it houses some interesting gear - everything from a blaster carbine to a jet pack! Seriously, like those Mando freaks use? "Ridiculous" he thinks to himself.
Following the programming, he gathers his gear (not wearing the jet pack) and speeds over to the aquarium. While there, he will venture in and try to commandeer a maintenance skiff or a janitorial assembly with a trash receptacle. This way he can dress like someone who belongs and stash his bigger stuff in the trash can. "Infiltration can be nasty business" he mutters to himself.
Once he has his "disguise" in place, he goes to the register to purchase his bear. "It's for my nephew." he bluffs and pays the fee. He plops it on top of the other stuff and makes his way to the meeting spot. He scans for unfriendlies and then stands rigidly, waiting for the next step.
"Threat: Perhaps I did not enunciate clearly, organic." HK continues, almost seeming to glare at the teenage boy and fingering his blaster rifle. "I suggest that you hand over the cheap imitation animal now and forget you ever saw me."
1d20
Leaning forwards over the counter so his 'face' is very close to that of the Sullustan, the droid reduces the volume of his vocabulator, switching language to Sullustan.
"Rhetoric: Are we clear?"
1d20+1
The Teen burbles in Sullustan with even more fountains of phlegm being spit forth,
'Sure, sure. Take the bear. I don't even like the damn things. Take them all if you want.'
[b]'You want me to say that I never saw you then I never saw you.'
Upon seeing the oh-too-happy teen, he grunts, hands over the credits for the bear, takes the ridiculously blue annoyance, rips out the vox box and heads inside.
The Sullustan Teen burbles happily as he records another sale.
There are only two more Blue Sullustan Sea Bears left on the shelf when you leave.
Following the programming, he gathers his gear (not wearing the jet pack) and speeds over to the aquarium. While there, he will venture in and try to commandeer a maintenance skiff or a janitorial assembly with a trash receptacle. This way he can dress like someone who belongs and stash his bigger stuff in the trash can. "Infiltration can be nasty business" he mutters to himself.
Once he has his "disguise" in place, he goes to the register to purchase his bear.
If HK didn't a face that that always seemed to be grinning evilly, he would have done so. As it was his eyes simply seemed to glow a little brighter, and he waltzed gleefully out of the gift shop to the rendezvous point by the planet's coastal water exhibit.
Kol was working on a plasma injector, refurbishing a Republic Cruiser. He was cussing under his breath; bleeping new equipment, bleeping old ship, bleeping boss, etc. Going to the next item on the checklist, he saw "Awaken Black Valkyrie". Suddenly he woke up.
Calling in sick he went to his locker, pried up the bottom and put his stash in a toolbox and strode out the yard to the meeting at the Space Station aquarium.
But first, he had to buy a bear at the Aquarium's gift shop.
Kol was working on a plasma injector, refurbishing a Republic Cruiser. He was cussing under his breath; bleeping new equipment, bleeping old ship, bleeping boss, etc. Going to the next item on the checklist, he saw "Awaken Black Valkyrie". Suddenly he woke up.
Calling in sick he went to his locker, pried up the bottom and put his stash in a toolbox and strode out the yard to the meeting at the Space Station aquarium.
But first, he had to buy a bear at the Aquarium's gift shop.
You are buying your ticket to enter the Aquarium when you notice a couple of Sullustan Security show up and start talking to each other and someone else via comlink.
They seem to be relaxed as they stand near the entrance. They don't appear to be paying much attention to people going into the Aquarium. They also don't seem to be paying much attention to people coming out of the Aquarium.
Beyond them, you can see the gift shop where you are to buy the Blue Sullust Sea Bear has a rope up with a closed sign attached.
*Lurking*
*Lurking*
From the shadows where you are 'lurking' you spot two individuals carrying 'bears'.
The first appears to be some sort of rusty protocol / translator droid.
The second appears to be a human. His 'bear' appears to have had an 'accident' as it looks like some of the stitching has been ripped out and a bit of the stuffing is falling out.
You can trail either of these two if you like or continue to lurk in the alcove formed around a theme of sea creatures.
If HK-33 also sees the man with the broken bear he approaches him.
"Observation: You stand besides the coastal water exhibit bearing a Blue Sullust Sea Bear. Confident Statement: You are a contact of Black Valkyrie, we are to join forces organic."
Gol will stick around near the shop, trying not to atract the wrong kind of attention. He won't stick around too long - he will circle back every 10+ minutes to see if the shop opens again.
Gol will stick around near the shop, trying not to atract the wrong kind of attention. He won't stick around too long - he will circle back every 10+ minutes to see if the shop opens again.
You do notice that the normal hours of operation appear to be the same hours of operation of the Aquarium. The gift shop appears to be closed early.
You come by twice at ten minute intervals but see no change in the closed status of the shop.
It is roughly 20 min before the stated time in your mission brief for the rendezvous.
The Sullustan Security continue to talk and chat as they loiter by the entrance.
Seeing as the shop is closed and the security is pretty entrenched, Gol will make his way down to the designated meeting point. If others have the item then he can identify them and then explain his situation.
No need to staring a firefight or drawing unwanted attention over a minor detail.
'4th. degree droid? This keeps getting more and more interesting.' Mindfull of her suroundings Vash'elie detaches herself from the shadows and makes her way to the costal water exhibit. Finding a good view point of it she will continue to observe.
If HK-33 also sees the man with the broken bear he approaches him.
"Observation: You stand besides the coastal water exhibit bearing a Blue Sullust Sea Bear. Confident Statement: You are a contact of Black Valkyrie, we are to join forces organic."
" Yeah, that's a fair assessment. They call me Doc. What's your designation, droid?"
"Greeting: I am HK-33, protocol and translation droid." HK answers wryly. "Statement: My programming seems to tell me I am here to meet contacts, as opposed to a contact. Extrapolation: This implies there will be more here bearing the Blue Sullust Sea Bear. We shall wait."
re-dotting, all my dots seem to have disapeared...
"Greeting: I am HK-33, protocol and translation droid." HK answers wryly. "Statement: My programming seems to tell me I am here to meet contacts, as opposed to a contact. Extrapolation: This implies there will be more here bearing the Blue Sullust Sea Bear. We shall wait."
Doc Vallorian says, 'Yeah, that seems to be the plan. I hope they don't plan to get the deposit back on the doll.'
'4th. degree droid? This keeps getting more and more interesting.' Mindfull of her suroundings Vash'elie detaches herself from the shadows and makes her way to the costal water exhibit. Finding a good view point of it she will continue to observe.
You sense the HK droid you noticed earlier talking to the human that you noticed earlier. They appear to be talking though you are currently too far away to hear the conversation.
Seeing as the shop is closed and the security is pretty entrenched, Gol will make his way down to the designated meeting point. If others have the item then he can identify them and then explain his situation.
No need to staring a firefight or drawing unwanted attention over a minor detail.
You head towards the Coastal Waters exhibit. You see there are a droid and a human with the Blue Sullust Sea Bears. The human's Blue Sullest Sea Bear appears to have been opened and something removed. Bits of stuffing appear to stick out from the toy.
You are currently too far away to hear what they are saying.
Seeing as the shop is closed and the security is pretty entrenched, Gol will make his way down to the designated meeting point. If others have the item then he can identify them and then explain his situation.
No need to staring a firefight or drawing unwanted attention over a minor detail.
You head towards the Coastal Waters exhibit. You see there are a droid and a human with the Blue Sullust Sea Bears. The human's Blue Sullest Sea Bear appears to have been opened and something removed. Bits of stuffing appear to stick out from the toy.
You are currently too far away to hear what they are saying.
Gol will move forward slowly, trying to look busy with "custodial duties" while trying to get closer to the beings with bears.
Remaining silent Vash'elie watches the exchange between the human and the droid. 'They have the bear.' she thinks. 'They are my contacts.' Just as she is about to step out of the shadows she sences a new arival. Focusing on the duros janitor she imediatly becomes suspicious. Reching out with the force she gouges him.
Sence Influence on Gol
Doc Vallorian says, 'Yeah, that seems to be the plan. I hope they don't plan to get the deposit back on the doll.'
"Amused Statement: Oh I believe that is the last thing on their mind at the moment."
Remaining silent Vash'elie watches the exchange between the human and the droid. 'They have the bear.' she thinks. 'They are my contacts.' Just as she is about to step out of the shadows she sences a new arival. Focusing on the duros janitor she imediatly becomes suspicious. Reching out with the force she gouges him.
Sence Influence on Gol 1d20+7
EDIT: You don't sense any external influence on the Duros subject.
Remaining silent Vash'elie watches the exchange between the human and the droid. 'They have the bear.' she thinks. 'They are my contacts.' Just as she is about to step out of the shadows she sences a new arival. Focusing on the duros janitor she imediatly becomes suspicious. Reching out with the force she gouges him.
Sence Influence on Gol 1d20+7
EDIT: You don't sense any external influence on the Duros subject.
Doc Vallorian says, 'Yeah, that seems to be the plan. I hope they don't plan to get the deposit back on the doll.'"Amused Statement: Oh I believe that is the last thing on their mind at the moment."
Doc says, 'So, what are you? The messenger boy? You know the next part of the mission or the target?'
Feeling a mixture of shock and relief at what she sences from the duros Vash'elie steps out of the shadows and rattles he stuffed toy to get his attention. Gesturig for him to follow she goes to join the human and the droid.
Showing the stuffed toy as she approches she says; "I have a feeling your not sure why your here either."
At the "Closed" sign and the security hovering around, Kol cursed under his breath. He didn't know how or why, but he KNEW that it was his contacts fault and he was running out of time to get the bear and make his contact.
A distraction.
Kol goes in search of a public bathroom...
At the "Closed" sign and the security hovering around, Kol cursed under his breath. He didn't know how or why, but he KNEW that it was his contacts fault and he was running out of time to get the bear and make his contact.
A distraction.
Kol goes in search of a public bathroom...
Like most public buildings, there are plenty to be found. Due to the needs of multiple species and genders (some species have more than two), there is no 'male/female' division of rooms.
There is a panel on each door where the user 'selects' his species and gender before entering. The bathroom then takes a moment to customize the interior before the user enters. Not all needs can be handled but 85% of average species requirements can be accomidated with little or no additional specialty hardware (and those needing that hardware usually have specialty suits that carry it).
There are four doors near the entrance way to the Aquarium. There are more located roughly every two to three hundred feet of Aquarium hallway.
Doc says, 'So, what are you? The messenger boy? You know the next part of the mission or the target?'
""Disclosure: I am a versatile protocol and combat droid, fluent in verbal and cultural translation. Should your needs prove more... practical, I am also highly skilled in personal combat. My programming has not however, yet revealed to me the reasons for my being here. I presume we are to meet with others who possess more information than us."
Kol finds an empty stall and, holding an old rag and about to light it on fire and throw it into a waste disposal unit, hesitates. He realizes he's angry, and angry decisions have always bitten him in the butt. Is this the best way?
Setting a fire here? Or perhaps a dumpster outside? Or call in a mugging on the other side of the aquarium? What would distract the guards so he could break in and steal a bear?
Knowledge (Tactics):
OK, concentrate now... think it through...
Use the force (Search your feelings):
Kol finds an empty stall and, holding an old rag and about to light it on fire and throw it into a waste disposal unit, hesitates. He realizes he's angry, and angry decisions have always bitten him in the butt. Is this the best way?
Setting a fire here? Or perhaps a dumpster outside? Or call in a mugging on the other side of the aquarium? What would distract the guards so he could break in and steal a bear?
Knowledge (Tactics): 1d20+7
The guards appear to be mostly talking to themselves and glancing at people leaving the Aquarium.
You figure it would be an easy task for someone with stealth training to duck past the rope and grab a bear.
A diversion would increase the odds of succeeding but would get the security more suspicious and paying attention. They might even call in a second or third unit so they can send a patrol into the Aquarium to look for people.
OK, concentrate now... think it through...
Use the force (Search your feelings): 1d20+7
You search your feelings for the future if you were to light a fire to create a diversion.
You look around the area and realize that the station has automated fire detection and suppression equipment. Setting a fire would likely trigger the fire alarm system and release some form of fire suppressant foam or gas (like halogen gas).
The trigger of the alarm would automatically signal security to the site to help evacuate people. This would bring in more units to the site.
The flood of people going out the door would give you plenty of cover for getting a bear.
You do think that the mandatory clearing of the Aquarium would cause problems with the holding of the meeting in the Aquarium. You might not even spot the other people for the meeting who would be directed to the nearest exit to leave.
The setting of a fire on a station has the slight risk of harming many people and would be a darker approach.