Dangerous Liasons (Episode 1)

[GM Fang]

The Black Hole was a den of iniquity, often filled by some of the dregs Mos Espa had to offer. They were dangerous dregs to be sure. No one ever truly trusted anyone in the Black Hole. It was unusual for a night to pass without several fights or even deaths to occur. Tonight was not about to be any different.

The surprising explosion that ripped through the wall put everyone into a shocked silence for a moment. Before the dust had a chance to settle, blasters were out and ready for the trouble. The cause of the disaster was not what anyone expected, as the diminutive Drall rushed out of the dust cloud and scampered across the floor of the cantina bouncing off legs of both chairs and people as he went.

It quickly became apparent that the cantina housed a mix of those associated with Madon Ani and those who clearly were not and the newcomers were caught in the middle. Uneasy and sometimes difficult lines were formed as the patrons opened fire on each other as well as the security guards chasing Garet. And the newcomers were not spared, easily taken for being responsible simply through their presence.

In one area, Den Nasi and Proiah Pron exchanged shots with several thugs at the table near their booth. Nasi dispatched one before switching to his vibrosword and skewering two others before being dragged down by one of the men he fatally wounded. Pron meanwhile was hit in the initial exchange but managed to hold his own taking out a couple thugs as he moved forward to support Den and taking cover behind an overturned table.

Kilian opened fire on the entering security figures and took a nasty shot in the shoulder for his trouble. A moment later a stun grenade went off and shocked several assailants. Through their disoriented daze they turned to open fire at the one who tossed the grenade in from outside. It was the youngster Spanner Yutani. Hunkering down in the debris of the new opening, the shots they fired didn't come close to finding their target.

Kilian continued his attack on the guards who wounded him. He snuck over the bar and slipped past the hiding bartender and the Rodian Shara. Reaching a close enough point, he lobbed his own grenade but this one was an armor piercer. The explosion ripped through the debris, the roof and the three guards there. If they weren't dead from the blast, the falling ceiling saw to that end.

Meanwhile, the humanoid in the cloak and hood sat stoically watching the proceedings. He kept an eye on Tara Nightshade who was keeping up a steady round of firing, despite several other seeming to concentrate their fire at her. Her armor managed to turn aside most of the force of the blasts that did hit. Each of her shots tended to drop one of her opponents however. Then someone spilled his drink.

Under the tables and in the midst of the chaos, Garet tried to hide behind a fallen body. But looking around he saw a lumbering creature coming for him, one arm outstretched and the other with a blaster pointed in his direction. While an unconscious squeal, the little Drall quickly weaved through the battles and found another body some distance away to try to hide behind, nearly burrowing under the fallen thug.

The chaotic battle was reaching a crescendo. Blaster fire was ripping chunks out of the walls, lights exploding around everyone. Then two more grenades went off in the group's midst. Bodies were thrown around from the double blast. The scene was in so much pandemonium that one could not ever be sure they were firing at friend or foe as colored lasers created a chromatic maze of death. FL-AR3 had enough. No one spilled his drink. He didn't know why that finally made him act. He just knew he didn't like it very much.

Moving closer to his "friend", Tara Nightshade, the droid construct fired at one of the remaining thugs menacing her. He went down in a heap. Tara gave the droid a smirk and continued her own assault. Slowly the number of shots died down. The battle was winding down and a few moments more and the shooting suddenly stopped. It was a weird sensation for everyone left standing. The new near silence was almost deafening after the gun battle that erupted.

The Rodian who first shot at the Madon Ani guard went over and shot the Wequay in the head again, even though he was already dead. "Chuba, stupa!" Then he walked out the door. Another of the combatants simply went back to his booth and continued his drink as though nothing had happened. Pron helped Nasi to his feet and he wrested his vibrosword from his fallen target's skull. Everyone looked around, making sure the trouble had ended. Spanner ran up next to Pron and Nasi, having determined they might be his best bet off this rock.

Nightshade placed her hand on FL-AR3's arm as she passed and nodded her silent thanks. Seeing the bartender peak over the smoking bar, she pointed a finger. "Those are Madon Ani's thugs. You can get your compensation from him."

Then she turned to the newcomers. "You guys seem like you can take pretty decent care of yourselves. Any of you looking for a job?"

Tara Nightshade.png (68.99 KiB) Viewed 56 times

[GM Fang]

Tara Nightshade watched as the group collected themselves. The furry little Drall offered some medical assistance to the injured combatants. A few of them scavenged weapons off the defeated bodies as well. She left them for a moment to their own devices. Looking around, she noticed a large enough table and flipped it back upright and took a seat, signaling for the bartender who brought a round of drinks.

"Whomever is interested in the job is welcome to join me." She sat for a moment, waiting.

"I'm down for a drink and a job," Den Nasi quickly offered, taking the first seat.

Proiah Pron was right there with him. "Not sure about that drink, but I am interested in the job offer. If there's something you need flown, I'm your guy."

"I'm not expecting the need for a flight in this operation, but always good to know," she responded sizing the Sullustan up.

"I'm up for anything that gets me off this rock," the teenager chimed in.

"This job is on Tatooine," Tara countered. "But it is in Mos Shuuta and not here in Mos Espa." That seemed to be met with general acceptance and outright preference. Tara pulled out a datapad and set it in front of her. This got the attention of Garet who leapt onto a nearby seat and tried to see what might be on the datapad's surface.

Killian also joined in taking a seat. The sixth individual was the hooded and cloaked droid. The droid took up a position to the rear and left of Tara, watching over her shoulder. Tara had seen the droid before in the Black Hole several times. It was said that it was there almost every night for some reason. She had learned that its designation was FL-AR3, but it didn't seem like most other droids. It was likely independent and possibly had a damaged processor.

She gave it a strange look over her shoulder as it seemed to be indicating it was somehow on her side already, based on it's positioning, almost like a stray animal. Based on what little she had seen of its chassis, it was better to have a potentially dangerous rogue droid "on her side" than chasing after her.

Tara took a drink and pushed the datapad into the center of the table. Garet quickly snatched it up, saying he would take good care of it. Some of the others joined her in the drink. The droid gave the bartender a silent look and he quickly brought over a blue liquor and set it on the table. FL-AR3 gazed at it for long moments, satisfied.

"Let's get this straight," Nightshade quickly said, "I don't work for the Imperials and I am not part of the rebels either. But this job involves brokering between the two of them. It should be a straight negotiation and your group gets 10% of the commission." Tara was expecting the follow-up question, but no one asked what her take was. She liked it better that way.

"Ulan Mustigar, an Imperial Science Officer, has made contact with the Rebel Alliance in the hopes of negotiating his own defection to their cause. Your group is tasked to act on his behalf in negotiations. He has sent ahead an Encrypted Datapad containing classified intelligence to prove his intent." She pointed to the datapad that Garet clutched to his chest.

"There is a meeting scheduled in two days with a Rebel operative. Her name is Oona Braitano. Braitano is the daughter of a minor noble house whose power collapsed with the Old Republic. She was born only a few short years before that and was just a child when senator Palpatine seized power. She is an aristocrat but definitely deeply tied to the rebels."

"The meeting place is a cantina, the Lonely Bothan. Ulan is currently temporarily stationed in a secret research facility located elsewhere in the outer rim and will provide the rebellion with co-ordinates for extraction upon agreement. Oona Braitano already possess the encryption key and
will be able to decrypt the datapad at her leisure."

"Ulan has tasked your team with negotiating a cash fee for securing his defection. He estimates that 20,000 credits would be a suitable fee for a
man of his value. In exchange he offers 10% of any settlement fee you are able to negotiate as well as a bonus of 500 credits should you be able to secure his freedom of movement. Who's in?"

Tara looked around at the six potential hires. One by one, they all joined in on the offer, even the droid. From what she could surmise, FL-AR3 was the only one not looking to get out of Mos Espa quickly. The group exchanged some pleasantries and introductions among themselves, while Tara stepped away and watched from the bar.

Once they seemed done with their grouping, Tara called over to them. "I've arranged a transport shuttle for you to Mos Shuuta tomorrow mid-day. You're to meet Vl'Grax the verpine who runs a shuttle service between Mos Shuuta, Mos Espa and Mos Eisley. Don't be late." Tara paid for the drinks and headed out into the Tatooine sun.

[GM Fang]

The hired crew bought some gear while waiting in Mos Espa and then met for the transport to Mos Shuuta. Den Nasi was not at all happy about the fact that the Verpine shuttle manager, Vl'Grax, was actually insectoid. He made a point to stay far in the back of the shuttle and keep an eye on the green alien. The trip took about 2 and a half hours and the crew of six had two other unknown individuals on the shuttle with them.

Tatooine is the sort of Dustbowl citizens only choose to visit when they’re looking to avoid attention. Mos Shuuta is a small city on this planet operating primarily as a refueling stop and marketplace for merchants passing through on their way to somewhere of actual significance. Mos Shuuta offers a subtler location for clandestine meetings for those who can keep their heads down.

After the somewhat uncomfortable transport, the group saw where they were coming in for a landing. Hanging from the northern side of the town in the shadow of a large landing bay, is a series of rickety wooden platforms, held aloft by gigantic gas balloons. The shuttle lands there and the group carefully make there way out of Traders Ledge and onto the mesa proper. Working their way through town, some notice a figure on top of the water tower. A number of individuals gather around to get their allotted quantity. Pron uses his macrobinoculars to see that it is a hairy figure with a wolfish face. The figure seems to be sitting and watching, a rifle casually placed on its lap.

Deciding to check out the cantina, the group wanders through the town. Garet stops for a moment to access a computer terminal. The find the location of the Lucky Bothan and the little Drall does a quick search on news and also info on Bargos the Hutt. Spanner meanwhile keeps his head on a swivel, careful to make sure they are not being watched or followed. Although they do receive many eyes upon them, as they are obviously new to the town. Keeping an eye out for Hutt or other underworld markings, he notices a few here and there as they pass.

Mos Shuuta1.png (199.83 KiB) Viewed 35 times

The path to the cantina passes by a weapons shop, marked with a Hutt insignia, as well as a Junk Shop and OffWorld Traders. From there, Teemo palace can be seen to the west on a raised rocky outcropping towering over the town like a looming vulture. Further on the Jawa traders operate under a torn sail strung between buildings. As you pass by the diminutive aliens scurry up hoping to trade for some of the group's equipment. Nasi pulls his pistol and the annoying beings back away. Near the cantina are a bath house and a bunk house and next to them a recently burned out building.

Several of the group note cameras on the outside of the cantina. The group gets some food and drink, Proiah settling near the fences of the Dewback stables. He decides to watch the comings and goings of the cantina. Several notable individuals visit the cantina including a Gotal, who he never sees leave the building, a yellow-skinned female Twilek, a Trandoshan and a blonde female human, who looks rather competent. He also notices a drunk Rodian stagger out of the cantina, visibly sobbing as he heads for the nearby bunk house. Pron is very aware of a man in black armor and helmet, with a blaster rifle slug over his shoulder move through the area. He stops for a few moments and watches Pron in return before continuing on.

Tomorrow late morning is the meeting with Oona Braitano.

[GM Fang]

Kilian spends some time asking around a few of the vendors about specifics of Mos Shuuta.

A few places that he is told to be wary of include of course the Barracks of Teemo's Gamorrean guards. They tend to bully people for fun. The Wequay and Klatooinian guards are no less dangerous, but are more intelligent and less belligerent. Also anywhere that has Aqualish hanging around or in. They are generally foul and aggressive creatures.

There are dangerous goods to be had at the scrap market at the base of the base outside the ramp and gate to the city. The bounty office of course can be a dangerous place. Shantytown of course is of questionable repute. And it seems there have been more Imperial Stormtroopers in the city the last week or so.

Settling in at the cantina, Kilian sees a large number of various humans and humanoids come and go including a Gotal who later in the night slips into the back and is not seen again.