Day 1
The shipped touched down in late afternoon. They walked to the coordinates Drace gave them. It took 3 hours to walk there and they only saw a handful of people. These people don't like tech. Most of the buildings were stone and wood. The target was a large building made of concrete, steel doors, tinted windows lining the top. Very out of place.
Day 2
Womanne had lunch on the way to check the building. A low profile was key to getting out of this alive. If we are suspected, backup for the imperials is only a couple hours away. Lots of working people in this town. She saw nothing of interest during the day, but back at the ship Vinn had more luck. He saw a luxury speeder leave the building. Plans were tossed about including putting the bomb in the car. They all realized later that would not accomplish getting any data and was designated as Plan B.
Day 3
Womanne spent the day at the park watching the building. Besides a little tan, she went back to the ship with nothing. Everyone else also turned up with nothing new. People were getting ancy for results, nervous about getting caught.
Day 4
Vinn and Slot decided to charm the locals and see if they could gleam some useful information. They visited the local pub and the old gruff bartender knew rumors about the building. It was an Imperial medical facility project that turned into a fancy garage for the fancy speeder and the imperial dignitary that owns it. He also knew that the man liked to frequent the pub across town.
Day 5
Webber and Slot visit the bar. Webber gleaned some helpful info from the bartender. Who knew that kid could be a charmer?! The target is an older man that likes to frequent this place, but only in the VIP room. He used to run some kind of biologic doctor. He rubs elbows with the big wigs in town. Womanne had been doing some window shopping. Webber exited the bar limping a little and let her know. She found Vinn and they waited in the shadows of the back alley. She went back to the ship but a little over an hour later everyone else came back too. The target had gone to the bar. The speeder was still there with a pilot while the man and his lady were having drinks. After a quick discussion they all agreed they couldn't miss this opportunity. They quickly setup a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C.
Plan A: Get the driver out of the speeder. Get the target into it. Drive it back. Download data. Blow it.
Plan B: Ambush the house when the speeder returns. Download data. Blow the place.
Plan C: Blow the place and run like hell.
Plan A: Everyone made there way back to the alley. Womanne went around to the front of the bar. She stumbled through the alley and fell in the road in front of the speeder. Instead of the driver coming out to move her so they could ambush him, he radioed the bar bouncer and she stumbled off and went around to meet the others. Plan A's never work, right? That's why we make Plan B's.
Plan B: Everyone ran as fast as they could to beat the speeder back to the house. They laid in wait in the tall grass, like a lion for a gazelle. Womanne and Dorge held granades. They had no idea what the layout of this place had in store for them or how long they would be laying in the rain waiting for this man to finish his business in town. Luckily, the weather cooperated and it was raining the lightest they had seen on this planet.
Finally they saw the lights of the speeder. "It's a go." Womanne said over the comm. J-9 was ready. He did a localized sensor sweep and let them know that the building contained 6 strong human signals and 6 weak human signals. As the speeder entered the wide doors, they all ran forward. Before they entered the building Dorge & Womanne threw the grenades. They heard a scream from the left. Entering the building they were in the garage. 1 dead guard. 5 to go. The speeder front was demolished from the explosion.
There were 2 doors in this room. Womanne entered the door to the left. A pantry. She dropped the bomb here. Everyone but Slot exited the next door. Vinn made his way down a hallway to the left, everyone else entered a larger lobby room. There was a big door with a keypad and it looked like they found the medical facility from the rumors. The adrenaline was pumping. Womanne and Dorge took turns trying to crack it while Vinn and Webber cleared the other rooms. They went back and forth a few times before opening the door. Slot walked up to them, the doctor was shot in the speeder, he's not going anywhere. Womanne let J-9 know how the plan was going. He had taken off with the ship to land in the clearing behind the building for a quick escape. He was minutes away.
Vinn went through the door first. It was a medical facility. A blaster shot cracked into Vinn as he took in the room. Everyone gripped their guns a little tighter. 5 life-signs left. Everyone entered the room. Two guards were aiming blasters at Vinn. 1 man in a lab coat was typing as fast as his fingers could work on a console.
Womanne shot at the guard, but everyone realized that this scientist was probably doing something that wouldn't help us here. The man took shot after shot and hung on to that keyboard. Finally, he hit one last key and slumped to the floor. Womanne quickly stepped over to undo what ever he had done. It took just a second to realize he had some pretty poor security on this thing. She worked fast to shut down the four functions the man had initiated. There were four huge cases behind her that started emitting a white misty smoke. As Womanne shut down the functions she heard the cases click shut one by one. Even working as fast as she could there was not enough time to shut down four functions. Womanne turned from the console as the third case clicked shut and the fourth case cracked open. She raised her weapon as a 9 foot tall naked man pushed the door open and stumbled out. Her mind raced. She heard Vinn in a blaster battle in the background and she shoved the data tablet over to Dorge. "Get the info downloaded fast. Let's get outta here." She looked over and Slot was snapping shots of the room. Webber took down one of the guards. Womanne returned towards the console to cover Dorge. She took a deep breath and as the enormous man ran towards Webber. It took blaster bolts like Webber was throwing pillows at it. Womanne turned and shot the last guard as he was trying to rush Dorge. Then quickly turned and steadied the blaster with her other hand and took down the giant. The poor thing was unarmed, but they couldn't take any chances on it hurting them. Who knew what this place did to it.
Dorge finished the download. He gave the tablet to Womanne then moved the bomb to this room to ensure what ever this experiment was is destroyed. Slot pulled back the curtains around the room. He found four small children. Dorge wanted to save them, but there was no telling what was in the IV's they were attached to contained or what experiments they had already undergone. They had to stay. Everyone looked at the medical droid sitting in the room. Vinn spoke up "We have to at least try to get this thing in the ship." Everyone lifted their hardest, but the adrenaline was wearing off and this thing really needed an industrial skid lift to move. They got it to the door and Gage came over the comm reminding them that an imperial signal was on its way, unsure of how close. The two hour window was only a guess. They couldn't let them scan the ship. They dropped the droid. As they entered the garage their hearts sank. The door was closed. The old doctor was slumped on the floor under the keypad.
J-9 quickly moved the ship and blasted a nice hole instead. Everyone grabbed as much food and parts as they could and ran onto the ship. As Womanne ran out past the body of the sick mad scientist who obviously performed experiments on children, she consoled herself that soon he would be buried under his work.
They reached high orbit and Gage let them know that an imperial ship just arrived in orbit on the opposite side of the planet. Womanne told J-9 to activate the bomb. They watched the sensors to ensure it ignited. Then, they jumped into hyperdrive.
Womanne sat down at the console and messaged Drace. "Mission Accomplished. We have the data you requested and the rest was destroyed as agreed. As you requested, we will not be going back to Haven. If you want to pick up the data pad, we are on our way to Solath."
Sunday, January 6, 2013
This Mission is Suicide
Womanne sat at the console looking at the stars fly by so fast they looked like streaks of light.
The rebel leader Drace was on the ship's comm letting her know he'd meet her back on the planet to pickup the intel they gathered in the jungle. "You want it intact? Unspoiled?" she asked. "Yes. We'll be there in 48 hours." and Drace ended the transmission.
"Is the man safely confined in the hold?" she asked as she went back to the common room. The imperial they captured in the jungle was tied up behind a locked door. She showered and slept till they landed. The mission had been exciting, dangerous, and hopefully a help to the rebellion. She came out of the jungle in better shape than most of the others, but that's the risk we all take.
It surprised her that Drace would meet them, that he would even be in the area. He took the datapad, ship core, and prisoner then paid them the price they had agreed on beforehand. While she hoped there would be a tip in for capturing a survivor, it wasn't worth soiling the relationship to fight for one. She told him the crew would be interested in doing jobs for ship upgrades if anything came up.
For the next couple of days everyone went their own ways, spending the spoils they worked hard to earn. Womanne was extremely disappointed to find out the shady business that sold her a brand new unusable droid was no longer on the planet. However, some well placed creds let her know where he was. Saloth. She did not want to let her anger get the best of her. The thief will be on that planet a while, perhaps her path will lead her there on its own.
Drace was ready with another mission when she returned. He came to the ship bearing a delicious lunch. While she sat and ate with him he explained that the imperial prisoner had said enough for him to put it together that there was something important to the Empire going on in the jungle. His man placed a bomb on the table and asked that we find out what it was exactly and destroy it.
It was a dangerous mission. Everyone stared at the bomb. A bomb changes things.
Terrorists use bombs. Zealots use bombs. We were just people trying to stay alive.
Womanne would jump at the chance to cripple the empire. But this is not her personal ship, not her crew. She sat back and gauged everyone's reactions.
"What kind of payment?" asked Vinn
"I don't have credits for this one. I will have to owe you one." replied Drace
Dorge's face turned red. "Owe us one?! You want us to risk our lives, go on a suicide mission, for an IOU?!"
Womanne still sat back, waiting to see if Dorge's quick response would be infective to the rest. The rest rabbled a bit, but there was not a solid decision on the negative. The rest were more worried about the lack of details.
While she was slightly embarrassed that this unprofessional rabble took place in front of Drace, it's not like this crew is structured. There's no captain, no ranks, just people that work together to survive.
Drace was excusing himself to leave us to our discussion when Womanne heard a voice say "Drace, if you are going to just owe us one on this I want something from you. . . a rank!" She looked around to see who among the crew decided they wanted to actually join the rebellion... it came out of Dorge's mouth, but she strained to recognize the zabrak standing before her.
The rebel leader Drace was on the ship's comm letting her know he'd meet her back on the planet to pickup the intel they gathered in the jungle. "You want it intact? Unspoiled?" she asked. "Yes. We'll be there in 48 hours." and Drace ended the transmission.
"Is the man safely confined in the hold?" she asked as she went back to the common room. The imperial they captured in the jungle was tied up behind a locked door. She showered and slept till they landed. The mission had been exciting, dangerous, and hopefully a help to the rebellion. She came out of the jungle in better shape than most of the others, but that's the risk we all take.
It surprised her that Drace would meet them, that he would even be in the area. He took the datapad, ship core, and prisoner then paid them the price they had agreed on beforehand. While she hoped there would be a tip in for capturing a survivor, it wasn't worth soiling the relationship to fight for one. She told him the crew would be interested in doing jobs for ship upgrades if anything came up.
For the next couple of days everyone went their own ways, spending the spoils they worked hard to earn. Womanne was extremely disappointed to find out the shady business that sold her a brand new unusable droid was no longer on the planet. However, some well placed creds let her know where he was. Saloth. She did not want to let her anger get the best of her. The thief will be on that planet a while, perhaps her path will lead her there on its own.
Drace was ready with another mission when she returned. He came to the ship bearing a delicious lunch. While she sat and ate with him he explained that the imperial prisoner had said enough for him to put it together that there was something important to the Empire going on in the jungle. His man placed a bomb on the table and asked that we find out what it was exactly and destroy it.
It was a dangerous mission. Everyone stared at the bomb. A bomb changes things.
Terrorists use bombs. Zealots use bombs. We were just people trying to stay alive.
Womanne would jump at the chance to cripple the empire. But this is not her personal ship, not her crew. She sat back and gauged everyone's reactions.
"What kind of payment?" asked Vinn
"I don't have credits for this one. I will have to owe you one." replied Drace
Dorge's face turned red. "Owe us one?! You want us to risk our lives, go on a suicide mission, for an IOU?!"
Womanne still sat back, waiting to see if Dorge's quick response would be infective to the rest. The rest rabbled a bit, but there was not a solid decision on the negative. The rest were more worried about the lack of details.
While she was slightly embarrassed that this unprofessional rabble took place in front of Drace, it's not like this crew is structured. There's no captain, no ranks, just people that work together to survive.
Drace was excusing himself to leave us to our discussion when Womanne heard a voice say "Drace, if you are going to just owe us one on this I want something from you. . . a rank!" She looked around to see who among the crew decided they wanted to actually join the rebellion... it came out of Dorge's mouth, but she strained to recognize the zabrak standing before her.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Small Change of Plans
Anne sat on the bench outside the park. The air smelled cold and sweet, it would start snowing soon.
She looked at a picture on her datapad. It was her parents holding her tight in her graduation outfit. She had graduated with honors, top of her class. Only a week ago but now, sitting here it felt like ages ago. Shortly after this photo she had sat them down to tell them that she wanted to take some time for herself, not go straight into the corporation they had picked for her. They were livid.
She thought her mom might cry, but she didn't. Her father's face had never been so red. Finally her father stopped yelling and looked like he was waiting on Anne.
"What?" asked Anne. "This swindler has little to offer you - a life beneath you. He has to go. You have a bright future that your mother and I have taken great care to groom for you. His world and our world are not the same, Anne. He will not be welcome here or at any corporate function. You've had your fun, now cut your ties and get your head on straight. You start your job in a week."
Just as snow began to fall, Tech pulled up in front of her on a speeder. She threw her bag over her shoulder and hopped on behind him. She checked the time. In a few hours her parents would realize that she wasn't going to make it to her first day of work tomorrow. Anne had programmed the house protocol droid to display her letter to her parents that evening. Tech drove towards the shipyard.
She looked at a picture on her datapad. It was her parents holding her tight in her graduation outfit. She had graduated with honors, top of her class. Only a week ago but now, sitting here it felt like ages ago. Shortly after this photo she had sat them down to tell them that she wanted to take some time for herself, not go straight into the corporation they had picked for her. They were livid.
She thought her mom might cry, but she didn't. Her father's face had never been so red. Finally her father stopped yelling and looked like he was waiting on Anne.
"What?" asked Anne. "This swindler has little to offer you - a life beneath you. He has to go. You have a bright future that your mother and I have taken great care to groom for you. His world and our world are not the same, Anne. He will not be welcome here or at any corporate function. You've had your fun, now cut your ties and get your head on straight. You start your job in a week."
Just as snow began to fall, Tech pulled up in front of her on a speeder. She threw her bag over her shoulder and hopped on behind him. She checked the time. In a few hours her parents would realize that she wasn't going to make it to her first day of work tomorrow. Anne had programmed the house protocol droid to display her letter to her parents that evening. Tech drove towards the shipyard.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Beginning
Anne was standing in the hall going through a datapad, checking all of her test answers to make sure they were correct. As she lifted her eyes after confirming which relay the probe droid's broadcast antennae connected through she noticed an odd man at the end of the hall. He seemed to know where he was going, but his clothing was too ragged to be a student or teacher at this school. He carried a large black case. Anne quickly pretended to read her datapad as she realized she was standing there staring with her mouth open. Hopefully he didn't notice. He walked right past her into the classroom she had just exited.
" Mr. Jones I have everything you asked for as long as you have what I required." " I told you to wait for me outside. This is most unsettling. However, lucky for you I have your payment here." Anne could hear the case being loudly placed on a desk and the cold snap of metal unlocking. " Please inspect the cargo at your leisure. If there's anything else you or your friends need, don't hesitate to COM me."
Anne wondered what a teacher would need such a rough man like this to buy for him. She heard footsteps coming back out of the classroom and Anne held her gaze on her datapad.
All of a sudden, she realized the man was in front of her and not moving. She raised her gaze to see him staring at her with a wide smile.
"Hey girl, is there a good cantina on this rock?"
"Hey girl, is there a good cantina on this rock?"
Anne studied his face. That smile.
"I'm no girl."
"I'm no girl."
"Alright, woman, where should we go spend these hard earned chips?"
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Another Life
"Anne! Don't forget your backpack!"
She always forgot something. As she ran back up the stairs she went over her mental checklist again. Today was her final in droid mechanics and she was going to be late. It was her favorite class and she was sure to ace the test, but not if she didn't show up.
As she ran down the hall her mind replayed the dinner discussion from the night before. Her parents pushing her to finish her applications to the corporations they had picked out. She was about to graduate from the best university on this side of the planet and her future was wide open. She could climb the corporate ladder and be making more than her father before she knew it.
She always forgot something. As she ran back up the stairs she went over her mental checklist again. Today was her final in droid mechanics and she was going to be late. It was her favorite class and she was sure to ace the test, but not if she didn't show up.
As she ran down the hall her mind replayed the dinner discussion from the night before. Her parents pushing her to finish her applications to the corporations they had picked out. She was about to graduate from the best university on this side of the planet and her future was wide open. She could climb the corporate ladder and be making more than her father before she knew it.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Recuperating
Running. They were all running. They all ran aboard the antique vessel.
They all looked at her. GET US OUTTA HERE!
Her mind scrambled. She didn't know anything about the Outer Rim planets. No idea where they would be safe. Tech would know but he was busy getting this bird in the air.
Ummm... Let's just go back to the last planet we were safe. Back to the Hutt.
She did the calculations and a flash of stars whizzed by.
They land and are standing by the ship. She sees each of their faces.
They are all smiling at her, grateful to have their feet on the ground.
She blinks and now everyone is in a fire-fight with a bounty hunter.
His clothing looks familiar, but she can't place him. Everyone is shooting.
She sees each of their faces concentrating on the fight.
The huntsman runs and they pursue.
All except her and Dorge.
She thinks about how good they are with computers but how they are not as handy in a blaster fight as she walks to the bar to get a room. It hadn't been very long since they were last here. She sits at the bar and looks at the droid bartender.
He seems to have a look of pity on his droid face.
The neck band clicks into place.
Womanne awakes with a scream, her own hands around her neck trying to pull an imaginary slave collar off.
They all looked at her. GET US OUTTA HERE!
Her mind scrambled. She didn't know anything about the Outer Rim planets. No idea where they would be safe. Tech would know but he was busy getting this bird in the air.
Ummm... Let's just go back to the last planet we were safe. Back to the Hutt.
She did the calculations and a flash of stars whizzed by.
They land and are standing by the ship. She sees each of their faces.
They are all smiling at her, grateful to have their feet on the ground.
She blinks and now everyone is in a fire-fight with a bounty hunter.
His clothing looks familiar, but she can't place him. Everyone is shooting.
She sees each of their faces concentrating on the fight.
The huntsman runs and they pursue.
All except her and Dorge.
She thinks about how good they are with computers but how they are not as handy in a blaster fight as she walks to the bar to get a room. It hadn't been very long since they were last here. She sits at the bar and looks at the droid bartender.
He seems to have a look of pity on his droid face.
The neck band clicks into place.
Womanne awakes with a scream, her own hands around her neck trying to pull an imaginary slave collar off.
Getting Through the Day
Womanne lay on the cot in the Captain's Quarters. So far they had not been able to get a response from the rebel ship. She lay there hoping that when they did respond it would help show her what path lay before her. She lay there happy to be where she was - not on an Imperial slave ship, not on her home planet, not anywhere worse. Happy to be alive and traveling the Outer Rim.
She exited her room and overheard one of the boys telling Dorge that he could probably boost the COM's with the right power source. Yes! Perfect. She could tell it was going to be a great day. A group of them headed out and ran into a kid Dorge could lean on for info. Yes! A great deal on renting a power unit. Shaping into a fantastic day. Womanne smiled as they walked back through the entrance of the ship yard, estimating they should have word from the rebels within the day.
Looking ahead they saw a couple of big guys on speeder bikes as they hear the J-9 droid's warning over their COM. Hmm. A slight damper to the day. They tried to flank the guys but the kid's scared looks to them both only helped to point them out. These guys were waiting on them. One look at Dorge and you could tell what they were here for.
Looking them over Womanne could tell one was human, the one holding a blaster and yelling towards Dorge. The other a trandoshan, no blaster, but they didn't need one to cause a lot of hurt. Womanne flashed back to the gambling fights back at the Hutt's.
Shots were fired, Womanne drew her weapon and shot towards the Trandoshan as he seemed the scarier target. Chaos ensued as the space port erupted into screams and running. The trandoshan scrambled off his bike and towards Dorge. Womanne kept an eye on him as she dodge bolts from the human. She dodged most of them, taking a couple in the shoulder. Finally the reptile slumped to the ground but the human jumped on his bike and tried to escape.
Quickly Womanne evaluated her options. If this guy brought reinforcments they would be done for. If they took off now they would void the rental of the power supply and probably end up fried in space. The only option left was to grab the other bike and run this guy down. The boys in the ship took off trying to back her up and keep this guy from getting away.
He stopped in a blind alley. Womanne was very hesitant to follow him in, knowing he was trying to get the upper hand. She rode to the other end and tried to walk in behind him but this place was full of trash and every step seemed to crunch. Then she saw him right as she caught another bolt in her chest. She pulled her blaster but it hurt to hold it up. Her shot hit the wall above him and he looked up to make sure nothing was going to fall on him. When he looked back all he would see was her back as she got outta there. She could hear the ship hovering ahead and only hoped they would stay and finish this. She was in no shape to stick around.
She jumped on the speeder and headed back to the space port. It was pretty much the only place to land a ship near here so this is where they would come back. She drove slow trying to not draw much attention. The ship was back as she pulled into the port. Dorge waited outside the landing ramp and told her that they got him and were bringing him back, alive. She gave the speeder to him and walked in and collapsed on her bed.
She was still alive. Yep, today was a great day.
She exited her room and overheard one of the boys telling Dorge that he could probably boost the COM's with the right power source. Yes! Perfect. She could tell it was going to be a great day. A group of them headed out and ran into a kid Dorge could lean on for info. Yes! A great deal on renting a power unit. Shaping into a fantastic day. Womanne smiled as they walked back through the entrance of the ship yard, estimating they should have word from the rebels within the day.
Looking ahead they saw a couple of big guys on speeder bikes as they hear the J-9 droid's warning over their COM. Hmm. A slight damper to the day. They tried to flank the guys but the kid's scared looks to them both only helped to point them out. These guys were waiting on them. One look at Dorge and you could tell what they were here for.
Looking them over Womanne could tell one was human, the one holding a blaster and yelling towards Dorge. The other a trandoshan, no blaster, but they didn't need one to cause a lot of hurt. Womanne flashed back to the gambling fights back at the Hutt's.
Shots were fired, Womanne drew her weapon and shot towards the Trandoshan as he seemed the scarier target. Chaos ensued as the space port erupted into screams and running. The trandoshan scrambled off his bike and towards Dorge. Womanne kept an eye on him as she dodge bolts from the human. She dodged most of them, taking a couple in the shoulder. Finally the reptile slumped to the ground but the human jumped on his bike and tried to escape.
Quickly Womanne evaluated her options. If this guy brought reinforcments they would be done for. If they took off now they would void the rental of the power supply and probably end up fried in space. The only option left was to grab the other bike and run this guy down. The boys in the ship took off trying to back her up and keep this guy from getting away.
He stopped in a blind alley. Womanne was very hesitant to follow him in, knowing he was trying to get the upper hand. She rode to the other end and tried to walk in behind him but this place was full of trash and every step seemed to crunch. Then she saw him right as she caught another bolt in her chest. She pulled her blaster but it hurt to hold it up. Her shot hit the wall above him and he looked up to make sure nothing was going to fall on him. When he looked back all he would see was her back as she got outta there. She could hear the ship hovering ahead and only hoped they would stay and finish this. She was in no shape to stick around.
She jumped on the speeder and headed back to the space port. It was pretty much the only place to land a ship near here so this is where they would come back. She drove slow trying to not draw much attention. The ship was back as she pulled into the port. Dorge waited outside the landing ramp and told her that they got him and were bringing him back, alive. She gave the speeder to him and walked in and collapsed on her bed.
She was still alive. Yep, today was a great day.
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