With a full belly of guns, hopefully well enough disguised under various food stuffs, the crew of the Archelon hoped to get past the imperial inspections on their arrival to Arda II.
Ymira, a lithe Mirialan, maneuvered her ship through the asteroid belt with the grace of a dancer. The cockpit of the Archelon was a blend of grime and gleaming tech, a testament to the lives it had saved and the battles it had endured. Her leather-wrapped hands gripped the controls, her eyes narrowing as she read the incoming data stream from the sensors. She was a smuggler, and a good one, with a knack for staying one step ahead of the Empire's ever-watchful gaze.
Irdis, a Chiss doctor with a stoic demeanor, checked the medical bay's supplies. His past as an imperial servant weighed heavily on his conscience, but he had found purpose alongside the ragtag crew. He knew the risks of their mission, but the cause was just: the guns likely meant emancipation. One way or another. He had seen firsthand the Empire's disregard for lives deemed unimportant, and he was determined to make a difference.
Zavi, a Squib mechanic with a penchant for explosives, whistled a tune as he worked. His nimble fingers danced over the ship's circuits, ensuring that every weapon was primed for a quick escape. His cheerfulness was infectious, though it often belied the seriousness of their situation. Despite his size, his knowledge of ship systems was unmatched, and he had become the crew's unsung hero in more than one tight spot.
Roona, a sharp-eyed Rodian scout, kept a vigilant watch on the sensor array. Her antennae twitched as she picked up the faintest whispers of movement in the asteroid field. Her green skin was a stark contrast to the cold metal of the ship, and her gaze never wavered from the display. She had a nose for trouble, and she had a feeling that the Empire wasn't going to let them through easily.
Xander, the human slicer, sat hunched over the ship's computer, his eyes darting back and forth as he scanned the imperial airwaves. His mind raced as he sifted through the sea of information, hoping to not find anything that might signal them to abort. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of excitement and fear. If he was caught, it wouldn't just mean the end of the mission; it could mean the end of all of them.
With a deep breath, Xander nodded to Ymira. "We're good," he murmured, his voice steady despite the tension. "Transferring transponder codes now." The ship's systems beeped in response as the codes were sent, and a moment later, the comm crackled to life.
"Archelon, you are cleared for landing on Pad 2. Proceed with caution."
The comm's cold voice echoed through the cockpit as Ymira brought the ship into the planet's atmosphere. Her stomach lurched slightly, but she kept her expression stoic. This was the moment of truth. If Xander's slicing had been good enough, they'd be waved through without a second glance. If not, well, they'd be facing the business end of an imperial blaster.
The Archelon's thrusters roared as it descended towards the bustling spaceport. The landing pad, a stark square of light amidst the shadowy expanse of Arda II's surface, grew larger in the viewport. The ship's hull trembled with the force of the retro-thrusters, and the crew braced themselves as the ship touched down with a gentle thud. The engines wound down, and the hiss of cooling metal filled the air.
A figure clad in grey Imperial trooper armor approached the ship, the crimson insignia of the Empire stark against the pale backdrop. The door hissed open, revealing the stoic face of the imperial inspector. "Identifications, please," he demanded, his voice as cold and efficient as the blaster at his side.
The crew passed over their IDs, hoping that Xander's slicing had been thorough enough. Syalla felt the weight of her secret pressing heavily on her shoulders. But she remained as still as a statue, her helmet obscuring any signs of worry. The inspector's eyes lingered on her ID, which listed her as a medical professional, not the deadly cybernetic warrior she truly was. He nodded in approval, handing back the cards. "Dr. Irdis," he said, his gaze shifting to the Chiss doctor. "Quite the medical team you've assembled here. What's the nature of your business on Arda II?"
"Food supplies," Ymira replied smoothly, gesturing to the crates in the hold. "We have a contract with Lissa Kale, one of the leaders of the mining contingent here. She's been having trouble with some of her workers' health. We're delivering fresh produce and medical supplies."
The inspector's gaze grew sharper as he took in the diverse crew. "You all seem... well-equipped for such a simple task. And a Chiss doctor traveling with a Mirialan smuggler and a Squib mechanic? I'd say that's a rather unconventional setup for a delivery crew."
Ymira flashed a charming smile, her silver eyes glinting in the landing dock lights. "We're a bit of a motley crew, true, but we've found that having different skill sets on board makes for smoother runs." She nodded to Zavi and Syalla, who both managed to look slightly less threatening under the trooper's scrutiny.
The inspector grunted, his expression unchanged. He took the manifests and data pads, scanning through the information. After a tense moment, he looked up. "These manifests indicate some deviations in the weights of your containers," he said, his tone sharper now. "I'm going to need to inspect them."
The crew exchanged quick glances. Zavi's whistle trailed off, and the tension in the air thickened. Ymira nodded, keeping her smile in place. "Of course, we understand the importance of thorough inspections."
As the inspector and his guards began to ascend the ramp, she called out, "But before you do, I wanted to mention something. It's just a small oversight, really. One of our containers had a... ahem, a slight malfunction. It's perfectly safe, but it does emit a bit of a... smell. Something we're looking into. You know, with the organic produce and all."
The inspector paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What kind of smell?"
Ymira shrugged, her leather jacket creaking. "Some of the fruit we're carrying has a... potent aroma, shall we say? It's nothing to worry about, but it can be a bit overwhelming."
The inspector's gaze remained on her, unblinking, as if he could see through her words to the truth. But something about her confidence made him hesitate. The presence that had swelled within her grew stronger, a silent, unseen ally that bolstered her resolve. Without realizing it, she was subtly influencing his thoughts, planting the seed of doubt about the necessity of searching the cargo.
"Very well," he said, his voice tight. "We'll trust your word for now. But if I find any discrepancies, I'll be back, and I won't be so... accommodating."
Ymira's smile never wavered. "Understood," she said, watching as the inspector and his entourage retreated. Once they were out of earshot, she turned to the crew. "Let's move quickly. We need to get these guns offloaded before our 'accommodating' friend changes his mind."
Gun Run, Black Sun (Episode 25)
Moderator: GM Fang
Re: Gun, Run, Black Sun (Episode 25)
The mining crew, a mix of weary-looking humans and aliens, began to load the containers onto their hover hauler. Lissa Kale, a tough-as-nails human with a no-nonsense attitude, strode over to the group. She had a history with Xander, something more than just a professional acquaintance. Her eyes lingered on him as she spoke, a hint of warmth in her otherwise stern gaze. "Follow me," she said, gesturing to a quieter part of the docking bay. "We've got a safe spot to talk."
They followed her through a maze of corridors and into a small, dimly lit room. The walls were lined with screens displaying various data from the mines. A worn table dominated the space, surrounded by chairs that had seen better days. Lissa gestured for them to sit, and once they had, she spoke in a low, urgent tone. "The rifles are crucial for the uprising. You can all see the increased imperial activity, and we need to strike soon before more Imperials arrive."
Zavi popped the seal on one of the containers, revealing a gleaming array of blaster rifles. The sight of the weapons brought a sense of gravity to the room, reminding everyone of the lives that depended on their success.
"These look good," Lissa said, her voice gruff but tinged with relief. "But what's the extra surprise?"
Zavi stepped back, revealing a large crate at the back of the hold. "Ah, this," Xander said with a smug grin, gesturing to the metal behemoth. "This is our little secret weapon. A heavy repeating blaster. It's got enough firepower to make a stormtrooper wet his armor."
"A gift for me? I'm touched." Lissa's eyes lit up as the rest of the containers were opened and the weapons were revealed.
Ymira nodded. "We had to get creative with the cargo manifest. Didn't want to raise any eyebrows."
Roona leaned in, her green eyes gleaming. "Got some intel for you," she whispered in halting Basic to Lissa. "New squadron TIE fighters. Be deployed to outer perimeter. If planning make move, sooner good."
Lissa's expression grew grim. "We're on a tightrope. The longer we wait, the more danger we're in. But we can't rush this. The miners need time to organize, to prepare. You interested in a tussle?"
"We understand the stakes," Irdis said, his voice calm and steady. "But we're not soldiers. We're not equipped to join your uprising. We're here to deliver supplies."
Lissa's gaze swept over them, and she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I know you're more than just smugglers. Word travels, and I've heard tales of your... other work. If you stand with us, I can offer you protection, a place here on Arda II, and a share in whatever we manage to claim from the Empire."
Ymira met her gaze, the weight of the offer heavy in the air. For a moment, she considered it. A life free from the constant danger and uncertainty of smuggling, a place where she could lay down roots. But the thought of fighting in a full-blown rebellion, of facing the Empire head-on, made her stomach twist into a knot. She just couldn't bring herself to be tied down that much. "We're sorry," she said firmly. "But this isn't our fight. We wish you well. and let us know if you need anything else."
Lissa offers to pay 41,800 credits for the delivery. 4000 credits on a credstick now and the remainder is on a special datapad in a secure location on Coruscant. She hands over a code breaker to allow the datapad to be opened and transfer the remaining credits.
Ymira's heart races as she accepts the credstick. Forty-thousand credits was a fortune for a single job, but the offer of protection and a life beyond the constant dangers of smuggling was tempting. Yet, she knew that accepting Lissa's proposal would mean turning their backs on the very essence of their existence. They were not rebels; they were survivors. They had chosen the shadows because the light was too dangerous.
Fueling up before take off, the crew was off to Coruscant, which just happened to be were they already needed to be.
They followed her through a maze of corridors and into a small, dimly lit room. The walls were lined with screens displaying various data from the mines. A worn table dominated the space, surrounded by chairs that had seen better days. Lissa gestured for them to sit, and once they had, she spoke in a low, urgent tone. "The rifles are crucial for the uprising. You can all see the increased imperial activity, and we need to strike soon before more Imperials arrive."
Zavi popped the seal on one of the containers, revealing a gleaming array of blaster rifles. The sight of the weapons brought a sense of gravity to the room, reminding everyone of the lives that depended on their success.
"These look good," Lissa said, her voice gruff but tinged with relief. "But what's the extra surprise?"
Zavi stepped back, revealing a large crate at the back of the hold. "Ah, this," Xander said with a smug grin, gesturing to the metal behemoth. "This is our little secret weapon. A heavy repeating blaster. It's got enough firepower to make a stormtrooper wet his armor."
"A gift for me? I'm touched." Lissa's eyes lit up as the rest of the containers were opened and the weapons were revealed.
Ymira nodded. "We had to get creative with the cargo manifest. Didn't want to raise any eyebrows."
Roona leaned in, her green eyes gleaming. "Got some intel for you," she whispered in halting Basic to Lissa. "New squadron TIE fighters. Be deployed to outer perimeter. If planning make move, sooner good."
Lissa's expression grew grim. "We're on a tightrope. The longer we wait, the more danger we're in. But we can't rush this. The miners need time to organize, to prepare. You interested in a tussle?"
"We understand the stakes," Irdis said, his voice calm and steady. "But we're not soldiers. We're not equipped to join your uprising. We're here to deliver supplies."
Lissa's gaze swept over them, and she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I know you're more than just smugglers. Word travels, and I've heard tales of your... other work. If you stand with us, I can offer you protection, a place here on Arda II, and a share in whatever we manage to claim from the Empire."
Ymira met her gaze, the weight of the offer heavy in the air. For a moment, she considered it. A life free from the constant danger and uncertainty of smuggling, a place where she could lay down roots. But the thought of fighting in a full-blown rebellion, of facing the Empire head-on, made her stomach twist into a knot. She just couldn't bring herself to be tied down that much. "We're sorry," she said firmly. "But this isn't our fight. We wish you well. and let us know if you need anything else."
Lissa offers to pay 41,800 credits for the delivery. 4000 credits on a credstick now and the remainder is on a special datapad in a secure location on Coruscant. She hands over a code breaker to allow the datapad to be opened and transfer the remaining credits.
Ymira's heart races as she accepts the credstick. Forty-thousand credits was a fortune for a single job, but the offer of protection and a life beyond the constant dangers of smuggling was tempting. Yet, she knew that accepting Lissa's proposal would mean turning their backs on the very essence of their existence. They were not rebels; they were survivors. They had chosen the shadows because the light was too dangerous.
Fueling up before take off, the crew was off to Coruscant, which just happened to be were they already needed to be.
Re: Gun Run, Black Sun (Episode 25)
Coruscant was not just the location where their money could be retrieved. And they still owed Tebora the Muun 8000 credits from their haul. Xander was in danger of Seedoneo bringing the Black Sun down on him through the blackmail efforts that had been in place for some time. This forced Xander to do work for the corpulent Rodian. Roona was also aware of him and his nasty reputation as she had been hired several times to do planetary scouting expeditions for the sand trader.
Roona was just as happy to turn the tables on that embarrassment to her people. Xander thought it would be possible to inset data into the Black Sun records to show that Seedoneo himself was the hacker and not Xander. Roona expanded on this idea. Roona thinks that it makes sense to pull off the blackmail job with a method of deniability. To that end, the best way is to break into the Black Sun network while working for someone else and while inside drop the information needed to blackmail Seedoneo.
Roona has a contact with the Pykes. Recently, a Nikto Bounty Hunter, tasked with transporting a shipment of spice, absconded with the shipment, costing the Pykes a lot of money and some reputation. While The Pykes wanted to make an example of this Bounty Hunter, it was soon discovered that he was using an alias. It was also discovered that the Bounty Hunter had ties to the Black Sun criminal organization. Therefore, it's possible to get this contract quickly and make the move to effectively eliminate Seedoneo. At the same time, either let Bargos or Tebora aware that the business holdings of Seedoneo will be open for a take over once he's out of the picture.
Get paid to bring down an enemy and a threat to one of the crew, create a measure of deniability and then gain favor with one of the Mos Espa organizational leaders with information to help them take over Seedoneo's business. It was a grandiose and dangerous plan.
Several of the crew meet with a Pyke contingent. The Pykes explain that they will have to gain access to a building housing a Black Sun operation. The crew will have to access the Black Sun systems and retrieve as much data on the Bounty Hunter as possible. It's likely that the data will be highly encrypted, but they are to bring that data to a very capable contact, known as Chopper. The first stage of the contract is to find and acquire the data and deliver it. Once deciphered and the identity of the bounty Hunter revealed, then capture him, if possible. Or dispose of him, if necessary.
The crew disguised themselves as an emergency medical team and breached the security. Xander managed to access the data that they were tasked with retrieving and downloaded the encrypted information to his datapad. He also worked to input the information that would incriminate Seedoneo. Xander felt as though he did the best he could, but there was a nagging doubt somewhere, as the Black Sun system was so secure and electronically defended.
Just then an alarm klaxon went off. There was no more time to verify the insertion and they had to escape. There would be too many guards to fight.
Klaxons blare overhead as the crew flees from the facility with the stolen data. Black Sun agents can be heard scrambling to investigate on the floors above. Exiting the skyscraper onto a bustling landing platform where the droid-driven airspeeder sits nearby, awaiting their return. A blaster bolt whizzes past everyone's head, and the speeder seems like the only option for escape! As you jump inside, the droid quickly zooms away into the streams of traffic. Hundreds of flashing billboards and neon signs, countless zooming transports and speeders, the hiss of steam and the grind of great machinery all rush by as the desperate chase commences.
Unfortunately, the Black Sun thugs are not that easy to lose, and within seconds they are in hot pursuit on swoop bikes of their own. More blaster fire screams past the speeder, when suddenly a lucky shot takes out the piloting droid with a bang!
Amidst the heavily populated, skyscraper-packed areas of the city, the crew needs to regain control of the careening speeder in order to shake the Black Sun thugs off their tail. The speeder bounces off one skyscraper and then an oncoming transport and Ymira tries desperately to climb over the smoking remains of the droid driver, nearly falling out of the speeder in doing so. Unfortunately before she can stabilize the controls, the speeder crashes onto a landing pad, skidding to a halt and sending everyone sprawling.
This building turns out to be a massive commercial shopping center and the team decides to split up and try to lose their pursuers in the many shops.
-----------------------------------------------
The following ship upgrades were installed by T'mennit's favor that was called in:
High Output Ion Turbine
Physical Countermeasures
Encrypted Computer
Unspent XPS:
Irdis - 20
Roona - 5
Xander - 5
Ymira -20
Zavi - 15
Group spoils (update)
2854 credits (+4000 payment, -200 landing fee, -700 fuel, -1145 food, -200 speeder rental)
29800 credits in hold (owe 8000 to Tebora)
Gear: quick sale value in ()
3 scrolls (unknown)
robe
Roona was just as happy to turn the tables on that embarrassment to her people. Xander thought it would be possible to inset data into the Black Sun records to show that Seedoneo himself was the hacker and not Xander. Roona expanded on this idea. Roona thinks that it makes sense to pull off the blackmail job with a method of deniability. To that end, the best way is to break into the Black Sun network while working for someone else and while inside drop the information needed to blackmail Seedoneo.
Roona has a contact with the Pykes. Recently, a Nikto Bounty Hunter, tasked with transporting a shipment of spice, absconded with the shipment, costing the Pykes a lot of money and some reputation. While The Pykes wanted to make an example of this Bounty Hunter, it was soon discovered that he was using an alias. It was also discovered that the Bounty Hunter had ties to the Black Sun criminal organization. Therefore, it's possible to get this contract quickly and make the move to effectively eliminate Seedoneo. At the same time, either let Bargos or Tebora aware that the business holdings of Seedoneo will be open for a take over once he's out of the picture.
Get paid to bring down an enemy and a threat to one of the crew, create a measure of deniability and then gain favor with one of the Mos Espa organizational leaders with information to help them take over Seedoneo's business. It was a grandiose and dangerous plan.
Several of the crew meet with a Pyke contingent. The Pykes explain that they will have to gain access to a building housing a Black Sun operation. The crew will have to access the Black Sun systems and retrieve as much data on the Bounty Hunter as possible. It's likely that the data will be highly encrypted, but they are to bring that data to a very capable contact, known as Chopper. The first stage of the contract is to find and acquire the data and deliver it. Once deciphered and the identity of the bounty Hunter revealed, then capture him, if possible. Or dispose of him, if necessary.
The crew disguised themselves as an emergency medical team and breached the security. Xander managed to access the data that they were tasked with retrieving and downloaded the encrypted information to his datapad. He also worked to input the information that would incriminate Seedoneo. Xander felt as though he did the best he could, but there was a nagging doubt somewhere, as the Black Sun system was so secure and electronically defended.
Just then an alarm klaxon went off. There was no more time to verify the insertion and they had to escape. There would be too many guards to fight.
Klaxons blare overhead as the crew flees from the facility with the stolen data. Black Sun agents can be heard scrambling to investigate on the floors above. Exiting the skyscraper onto a bustling landing platform where the droid-driven airspeeder sits nearby, awaiting their return. A blaster bolt whizzes past everyone's head, and the speeder seems like the only option for escape! As you jump inside, the droid quickly zooms away into the streams of traffic. Hundreds of flashing billboards and neon signs, countless zooming transports and speeders, the hiss of steam and the grind of great machinery all rush by as the desperate chase commences.
Unfortunately, the Black Sun thugs are not that easy to lose, and within seconds they are in hot pursuit on swoop bikes of their own. More blaster fire screams past the speeder, when suddenly a lucky shot takes out the piloting droid with a bang!
Amidst the heavily populated, skyscraper-packed areas of the city, the crew needs to regain control of the careening speeder in order to shake the Black Sun thugs off their tail. The speeder bounces off one skyscraper and then an oncoming transport and Ymira tries desperately to climb over the smoking remains of the droid driver, nearly falling out of the speeder in doing so. Unfortunately before she can stabilize the controls, the speeder crashes onto a landing pad, skidding to a halt and sending everyone sprawling.
This building turns out to be a massive commercial shopping center and the team decides to split up and try to lose their pursuers in the many shops.
-----------------------------------------------
The following ship upgrades were installed by T'mennit's favor that was called in:
High Output Ion Turbine
Physical Countermeasures
Encrypted Computer
Unspent XPS:
Irdis - 20
Roona - 5
Xander - 5
Ymira -20
Zavi - 15
Group spoils (update)
2854 credits (+4000 payment, -200 landing fee, -700 fuel, -1145 food, -200 speeder rental)
29800 credits in hold (owe 8000 to Tebora)
Gear: quick sale value in ()
3 scrolls (unknown)
robe