Hailing from the planet Duro, Sl'P St'Reme was an exceptional pilot, even among his own kind. As the clone wars were drawing to a close, he signed up as a pilot for the Galactic Republic, because "they needed him and he was the best pilot ever." Besides, he had an uncanny knack for impressive maneuvers which in his own words, all he had to do was "concentrate and the maneuver nearly performed itself."
Unfortunately, by the time he graduated from the academy, the Galactic Empire had emerged and the clone wars were concluded. The Empire had no need for his services and promptly released him from service. Sl'P has been hiring on as a pilot for various savory and unsavory missions since. Some of those missions taught him how to be flexible (as he literally dodged many more blaster shots than he would ever have imagined), and how to use a blaster in return. Nothing beats a good blaster, except a better one and he always keeps his close at hand just in case.
His last mission brought him to the planet Hijantis, were he is currently stranded (again, literally, there is no way off the planet), jobless, and quickly running out of credits. Something should be along shortly, everyone is in need of good pilots after all and Sl'P St'Reme is one of, scratch that, IS the best pilot in the galaxy. Ah, here is the summons now...
Hijantis, Capital City, 3788 Foundry Lane
As you arrive at the address listed on the summons, curious what and who you would find at the other end of it, you are struck by how the stench of the foundries- now mostly closed still permeates the once busy industrial sector, turned slums. The address itself appears to be little more than a hole in a wall in a mostly closed down factory. It must once have been a worker's saloon. A large Gamorrean guards the door, though when you show him the summons chip he lets you inside. . .
"Oink oin grunt gr oink oink"
Inside you find a few others already gathered, and the place outfitted as a surprisingly nice lounge. A Defel lurks in the corner, and you get the distinct feeling that if he didn't want you to see him, you would not.
"Take a seat. Help yourself to a drink," he says, motioning to the bar, lit by a glowing blue light, "Once you have all arrived, our leader will join us."
First to arrive, Sl'P takes a seat, but never lets his hand stray far from his blaster, not in a place like this...
A pale woman in a gold dress enters dispassionately. Her red hair flows across her shoulders, her eyes are an unnaturally bright blue, and as she displays her summons, the Gamorrean notices her skin to be impossibly smooth, like porcelain. On her legs she wears black tights, holes across the outside of both thighs in what is now a dated style, showing patches of skin, the largest hole level with where her hand would fall.
Despite the appearance of culture and high society, she wears a tool belt across her waist.
Allowed access, she glides smoothly across the floor, keeping her eyes level and sits at the bar, back perfectly rigid. "A Corellian Twister, please," she requests, although when it arrives, she does not interact with the drink.
Braxen Graldosse is a tall, olive-skinned young man in his early twenties. He wears an all white multi-layered suit, cut in the latest fashion, and his medium-length black hair is very messy and windswept. When asked he would show his summons to the guard, and then pour himself something from the bar. He then sits down and nods at the others. "What are we waiting for, my bike is just waiting to be stolen out there."
"When all have arrived, our leader will join us," she parrots back in a surprisingly accurate impression of the Defel. The porcelain skinned woman turns her attention to Braxen and says, matter-of-factly, "Clearly there are more yet to arrive."
When she speaks, Braxen looks up from his drink, and gives her a surprised look. He then shrugs and goes back to his drink.
As the most recent arrivals have a verbal exchange, Sl'P observes silently, waiting for the bar to erupt in a brawl.
A young looking girl - probably around 17 years old - entered, almost curiously looking around. She was near human, given her slightly pointed ears. Shy and with very light blond hair, the most noticeable thing about her was an apparatus covering her eyes, like an implant to see that looks like a poorly looking pair of bionic glasses... Something a scavenger would carry around, and likely repurposed from some deactivated droid.
Her steps were small and equally shy, and she had one of those long scavenger canes with her, tied to her back. Most of the cane was made of sturdy wood, but covered in badly shaped plaques of metal, and one of each ends looked more electronic - though wrapped in rags ornamented with red and blue colors.
She was clothed like any peasant from the outer rim would be, yet there was something proud on how the young girl moved across the room until she silently found a sit in the back. When offered something to drink she gracefully declined, crossed her legs, and stayed upright, almost motionless, in her sit.
After a while, with a few others joining you, the defel slinks up the stairs and returns a few minutes later. Another few minutes pass, then you hear a click. . .click . . .click and a gray haired human walking with a limp and a cane appears on the stairs.
Those of you who have been on the planet for a while recognize him as Duke Armigen, the grandson of several Kings before the most recent King, and whose son had been Senator for Hijantis until he was executed around the time of the Empire replacing the Republic.
"Good evening," the Duke says, "Some of you may know me, some not, but my agents have relayed to me all of your usefulness to the cause I mean to make."
The duke's tightly cropped grey beard gives the man an aura of distinction as he speaks, "Sadly, my own days of the active life are over," he gestures to his lame leg, an injury from his previous existence when young as a famed duelist, "but I can still plan. . . and fund certain operations."
"I am beginning to put together a plan that will eventually get some of our operatives off Hijantis, and ultimately, I hope, take the fight to the Empire and Moff Tay'Doon, but we will need to start by thinking. . . small."
He taps a button on a console in the lounge where you sit, and a map of an Imperial Detention facility appears.
"This is a schematic of the prison complex, approximately 100 klicks out of town." a particular cell unit lights up, "I need you to retrieve the inmate in this cell, and return him to a particular address which I will provide later."
"You'll want to knock out the communication dish that sits outside the complex before breaking in-- this should keep Imperial reinforcements away long enough for you to get in, get our target, and get out."
"So, are you with us on this?"
Whether she does or not, the quiet woman makes no sign of recognizing the Duke, paying close attention with nary a blink.
"I can get you in anywhere you need to go," says the pale woman, without a hint of bragging or irony. "Can handle that relay, too." Her face throughout is impassive and emotionless.
"Aye, tis a noble goal to release prisoners from the clutches of the Empire, but, " he looks around for any eavesdroppers and continues in a low whisper, "tis not good for ones health to defy the Empire here and now. This shall take a bit of extra credits to go with the planning of such a venture, yes?"
Sl'P is rightfully worried taking such drastic action will paint a target on their backs with no real means of escape from the planet and the vengeance of the empire on this planet. With the right amount of funds and specialized operatives, he does think this can be done so that not only are they not implicated in the breakout, but the true goal of releasing this one captive is unobserved by the Empire.
Braxen looks around at the motley crew assembled, nods as the duke walks in . When asked he would think, then say "I think we could make something work, and I'm always down to stick it to the empire.
For a moment, Qot's first impulse was to stand up and flee - this was all too much in the open, and that association could easily and quickly become deadly to her. Well, to be fair, deadly to all involved anyway, so anything extra that her background would carry, probably would wash against being captured for treason. She breathed deeply, then finally spoke.
Despite being more used to diplomatic work... I could try to help you on your endeavor. Maybe there's space for talking somewhere. Who is this prisoner? - she completed, directly to the point.
"The prisoner's name is Bennie Five, and while some credits might aid in this endeavor, I suspect there is very little that could be done with the credits before-- the very reason we need Bennie Five is to trade him to a gangster", the Duke shudders at the word, "we need supplies to start this rebellion, and freeing this gangster's associate will open up access to his black market for our cause."
"If its mercenary credits for yourself-- don't worry, you'll get paid-- when the job is done."
The woman nods.
"Why was Bennie Five arrested? Is there anyone else you wish liberated? Or information for which we should keep an eye out?"
"Well, all I am sayin' is some of us gots to make ends meet and that takes hard creds. This Bennie Five better be worth it..." He pauses to look around and for dramatic effect, "Do any of you have a plan yet? Mine went out the window with no creds."
If there are groups of imperials moving prisoners around from the spaceport, maybe we could get a hold on some uniforms. - she says, looking around at her companions and imagining who would be able to pass for a soldier if properly clothed as such.
"How willing is everyone to crawl through the garbage?"
"I wouldn't say I'm willing, but I could be convinced. What's the rest of the plan?"
"I have enough explosives to set charges twice-- sadly, that's all that's been available. The prison itself is thinly defended-- and the guards live at a barracks several miles away-- knocking out the tower and there will be no reinforcements. Four guards at the tower, a half dozen or so at the prison itself plus an officer. The officer will have the codes to open the cell, then get out."
"The guards use a repulsorlift transport for shift change; you can use that to get to town, then ditch it as soon as possible."
"That is some really good intel, I think I like this one. Sl'P turns to the others, "What do you all think? Beats rummaging through the garbage twice, eh?"
"It most certainly does. Plus we get to blow stuff up."
Qot thinks a bit, before speaking.
I think it could work... But ideally we could try to minimize on the violence. - says the girl, before continuing - But I'd also include steps to pretend we left the planet after the action, so they don't retaliate against the civilians while "searching" for us.
The Duke sighs at the last statement, "Unfortunately, with the blockade, that last will not be possible." The two capital class ships orbiting Hijantis, the Interdictor cruiser and the older model Republic Assault cruiser assure that any launch from the planet's surface is known to the Imperials.
The woman repeats her earlier questions in the exact same tone, speed and delivery. "Why was Bennie Five arrested? Is there anyone else you wish liberated? Or information for which we should keep an eye out?"
"Bennie Five is being held for weapons trafficking charges, according to what I've been able to find. I'm not aware of anyone else of interest to our cause being held at this time. As for information-- stay alert for anything which you think may be useful, but I'll have to leave that to your own judgement- I do not know what I don't know, as it is said."
You get to the area where the prison is. . .
Slide Two has a rough sketch of the comms array; you park the speeder a safe distance away and get to the treeline without incident, looking out onto the comms array.
To get any closer would risk being seen (requiring sneak rolls).
As they drive to the location, the woman turns to each companion in turn and requests their names and talents.
For herself, she only offers "Milady. No other name. I can shoot, slice into anything, and I know droids."
She looks over the comms relay; if she's nervous, she's not showing it. "What's the plan? My weapon can't reach that far." In her tight dress and tights, she does not appear to be carrying a weapon.
"I am Sl'P. Pilot." Is all he offers as well. As they approach the scene, he answers Milady, "If we can approach from the far side, once we swing around the base of the tower, our weapons will be more effective at the closer range. While my blaster can reach from here, I am not so sure it will do the job before they can raise the alarm. Otherwise, I hope one of you has a con you can run to get us close enough to do the same."
And I... Don't even have a long ranged weapon... - she says, tapping at her vibrodagger - Honestly, I'd rather not see much use of it, or getting shot at... But I can be good at speaking with people, maybe create a ruse to get us closer to them.
Braxen would be running circles around the larger speeder, and generally showing off on his swoop. "I'm Braxen, I can shoot, and I've been told I'm decent at bureaucratic management, though my passion is this girl," he says, and pats his bike.
Are you sure young one? Our long range options are not great, but if you can get us in close enough, we may be able to take them down without too much of a fuss."
"It seems the plan is: Goggles, distract the troopers, perhaps appearing to be a young girl in distress, while Braxen, Sl'p and I approach from the back and get into position. Any other suggestions?"
One of the troopers is oblivious. but the other hears something.
"Did you hear something?"
"No, I didn't hear anything."
"I'm going to check. . ."
In a loud whisper, "Oh crap."
Sl'P takes a quick look at the platform and judges he has no chance to jump onto it, even by grabbing the edge. He will have to resign himself to climbing and hope the trooper is on the slow side to "check it out".
using strength default DC 5, 5 meters/rd, +10 if not many handholds
Sl'P scrambles over the ledge and readies himself to assist his partner.
Having failed to gain sufficient purchase to climb the side of the platform, Sl'P pulls his stunner hoping he is faster on the trigger than the trooper.
SI'P scrambles up on top of the comms array dish quickly.
Not trusting herself to pull herself to safety, Milady reproduces the sound of a bird, attempting to make it sound as though it is coming from a ways off, but having never previously attempted such, she fails entirely.
Braxen attempts to scramble onto the platform.