[OOC: Sure, kegs exist. They tend to be high-tech, self-tapping kegs with a built in dispenser and volume tracking, but they still count as kegs.
]
The manoeuvre alert sounds, and everyone straps in. As mission commander, Nim heads to the bridge. In short order, the ship takes off into a night shrouded in blowing snow. You have an hour long flight, so Nim takes that time t go over the, rather thorough briefing provided by her analyst.
You are heading to Prura Station, under the control of the Prura Thon militia under the command of Derek Wren. Wren was a mining foreman who ostensibly worked for the Empire, but spent a lot of time in confinement because he resisted the more egregious actions of the Empire. We are clearly on the workers' side. He is an oddity on Fest in that he was not a local. He was originally brought in by the Empire to expand the Prura-Cresh mine, and stayed on as a supervisor. There were three mines here - Prura Aurek, Prura-Besh and the newest one, Prura-Cresh.
Based on somewhat questionable intelligence, when the uprising first broke out, the Prura Thon militia suffered heavily casualties against two companies of Imperial Infantry. They were forced to retreat to the mines, loosing close to 50% of their forces in that operation. Secured inside the mine, the Empire prepared to starve them out. The militia had no weapons and no supplies. But what they did have was mining lasers. According to unconfirmed reports, Derek Wren modified the mining lasers for combat, and mounted them on industrial exoskeletons. Over the course of three days, with his forces getting hungry, he built enough of these personal mechs to finally challenge the Empire. It was a route, and the Prura Thon militia wiped out the Empire. Uncorroborated reports say that no Imperials survived to evacuate, and the local garrison commander's shuttle was brought down by a shot from Derek Wren's own exoskeleton.
The analyst adds some footnotes that the mining lasers are unlikely to be effective weapons. Even modified and focused, they would not have the range to be very effective. Yet the Prura Thon militia managed to wrest control of the station from two companies of Imperial Army regulars, so they must have had some combination of tactics, strategy and equipment that allowed them to do it.
After about an hour flight time, Nim can see lights in the distance, and the ship drops down over a ridge and into the Prura Thon Valley. Your captain establishes contact, and you are granted permission to land. As you approach, the whole site looks very industrial, with scaffolding and industrial lighting everywhere. There are blocks or low buildings that likely serve as barracks for the workers, but this was definitely not a city. This was a work site.
The ship lands and the flight crew starts to secure from flight operations, and Trax, Nim and Maris meet at the boarding ramp. Prura is higher elevation, and the outside temperature shows much colder than your last stop. You open the airlock and descend the boarding ramp to find a starkly lit, utilitarian docking bay. Heavy snow, like small balls of ice, are driving by a strong wind, and that wind has a bite to it like a kath hound. Your last stop, the air hurt your face. Here, you been a deep, burning pain in deep your chests just from breathing.
The ambient light changes slightly, and your attention is drawn in the direction of a nearby building. Three figures, in shadow due to back-lighting from the building they are emerging from, come out a door and walk towards you. Two of them spread out a little and hang back - you can all clearly see weapons held in a relaxed but ready position. Theya ll appear a little formless due to the heavy clothing they are wearing.
The heavily clothed figure in the centre continues forward. He is wearing a cold-weather parka with the hood up, a hat, and a scarf covers his face. He also wears goggles, but you cans ee his eyes behind them. When he reaches you, he pulls off the scarf, and you see a thick beard that disappears beneath the collar of his parka. When he speaks, his tone is polite, but he is obviously cautious and guarded.
"Welcome to Prura Station. We don't get many travellers 'round here, so you'll excuse my curiosity. What business brings you here?"
He has no weapons to hand, but a hunting blaster pistol hangs from his hip, though it seems unlikely he could wield it with the thick mitts he wears. You note some blaster burns on the left sleeve and chest of his parka.
