Nightshade: Return to Karvis III

[GM Craig]

Two weeks in a rather circuitous transit, by way of Corellia and following the Corellian Trade Spine.

Your public transport ends at a world known as Quamar - a strangely backwater place, considering it's position on the Corellian Trade Spine. It is here that you are to meet a private charter, apparently arranged through contacts provided by Trax and company. One Jenny Zyback runs a "no questions asked" transportation service from Karvis III. Rumour has it she is very good at what she does, though if she were as good as what she says, she's wasting her time on a farming world off the main trade routes.

And that is something else that has been bothering you during your meditations. Karvis is well off the beaten path - it takes four days from the Corellian Trade Spine to reach it. Yet last you say, the Empire had a full legion of stromtroops, a division of infantry, a wing of TIE fighters, and an entire Imperial Star Destroyer battlegroup stations on or around the planet. Nothing about that world that you noticed would have attracted such a commitment of manpower and resources - the planet is not strategic. It is an agrarian world, so the food production could be important, but that does not merit long term deployment of significant forces. The planet had, for the most part, been completely pacified.

These are background thoughts that bubble up in meditation and quiet moments. You have no answers, but you have the feeling that the answers could be important to your mission, should you ever be able to complete it.

You make your way to a grubby little cantina off the beaten path. The patrons eye you up as you enter, and most make the wise decision that you are not worth the effort. The few that are too drunk of stupid to reach that same conclusion, you catalogue for further observation in case their bravado wins out over their laziness.

Not a minute after you sit down at a quiet table, a human female with pale skin and black hair tied back in a braid sits with you. Curious - you did not see her when you scanned the bar for threats, and you are not one to miss details. She has a heavy blaster pistol on her hip, and three hold-out blasters - one in her left boot, one in the small of her back, and one under her right arm. She appears to have no other weapons.

"A 'friend' tells me you're looking for a ride."

She places a small hand-sized datapad and slides it over to you. You can see the details of the arrangement displayed on the small screen. The fee - already paid in full - is certainly substantial.

[Nightshade]

The Shinobi's thoughts were certainly dominated by the strange events that he had witnessed since first setting eyes on Karvis.  He was not surprised that something out of the ordinary was going on, after all his clan wasn't hired by normal people in normal situations, but it still warranted consideration.  His training demanded that he always be aware of his circumstances and to gather as much intelligence as possible to ensure positive outcomes.  He mulled over the variables and came to the conclusion that this was not going to be a straight forward job, even if he was able to find any remaining members of the royal family.  The empire wanted something or someone on this planet and they wanted them very badly.  Perhaps it was one of his recent travel acquaintances, which might help if he were able to provide evidence that they were now off world, but it could just as likely be something or someone else.  At any rate, the subject certainly deserved more time and attention in the very near future.

But for now, he focused on getting to the planet.

Stepping into the cantina brought a flood of familiar sights and smells, and working up the preliminary threat assessment was more reaction than conscious thought.

Nightshade was certainly intrigued at the sudden appearance of this woman and filed it away for future reference. 

He replied briefly to her opening line, "That is correct.  I am ready to leave at your convenience."

[GM Craig]

She raises an eyebrow. "I like you already." Her voice is similar to a Shinobi in manner - calm, evenly metered. This is someone who has trained to control their emotions. Her face also reveals little - a trait that was rare though certainly not unheard of outside the Shinobi. "We can leave now then. We are safe enough here to leave together, but if you are concerned with being linked to me then find me at docking bay R3 in fifteen minutes." She places a coin on the table - some sort of archaic local currency? and gets to her feet, heading for the door.

You catch a look between her and the large female Weequay behind the counter. A contact, perhaps?

[Nightshade]

Nightshade took a look at the coin without touching it.  It seemed to be important and perhaps part of the look between the alien and his transport.  He had no issue with walking with his new 'friend', so followed her from the bar.  Keeping a wary eye out for trouble, he was curious to see the reaction of the other patrons to their exit.

[GM Craig]

You had been a subject of interest to the other patrons. Curiously, the moment Jenny Zyback sat down at your table, you apparently became invisible to them. They appear to pay you no mind at all.

Zyback walks in silence. You note she is careful to keep an eye out, and from time to time redirects your path off the shortest route. No explanation is offered.

Eventually, you reach the docking bay. Jenny moves to a different panel than the main one - apparently a simple entertainment kiosk - and fiddles with it a bit before going to the main panel and entering a complex code. The door opens. She glances around a moment before ushering you inside.

You see an aging Gthroc freighter. It appears to be literally falling apart - panels are missing here and there, and there is the telltale scorching of an engine leak.

It is refreshing walking with someone who does not waste their breath on unnecessary talk.

She activates a device on her wrist, and the boarding ramp drops down. She glances at you, and climbs the ramp.

Once you are inside, you immediately understand that the outward appearance of the ship is a ruse. Inside, the place is immaculate. The ship could have rolled off the factory floor this morning, for the condition it is in.

She leads you to the common area, and points down the read starboard corridor.

"You bunk is there, outboard side. Bridge and engine room are off limits. I have allies here, but the Empire has spies everywhere, so best to lay low. It's a three day trip to Karvis. There's some holovids in the computer if you need entertainment. We'll take off in thirty minutes."

She stands there a moment, apparently waiting to see if there are any questions.

[Nightshade]

If Nightshade hadn't already been bound to service, then he would have been most pleased to spend some more time with this singular woman.  He bowed to her to signal his respect and his acknowledgement of her instructions.  He departs to set up his mat in his assigned quarters and start his meditations.

[GM Craig]

[OOC: as a side note - you have a small-ish stasis pod filled with tea, a second stasis pod with Mariah's remains, and a bundle of credit notes for the Rebels on Karvis.]

The trip passes in companionable silence. She does not engage in idle chatter - a welcome relief. She also does not ask questions. It is a quiet trip to the system.

When you revert, you are a long way from the planet - likely a precaution against scans and patrols.

A few moments later, you hear her voice on the ship intercom, asking you to the cockpit.

You join her a few moments later, and take an empty seat.

"We've got some options, so where did you want to land? I've got a landing pad out in the plains far away from civilization, but you'll probably want something close. Amarin or Vésén would be good choices - the Empire doesn't have much of a presence there. Ataregy on the coast is also a good spot - it's remote enough the Empire doesn't have a presence there, and the crime syndicates keep the place pretty stable. Relkedagy Szezet is the Imperial capitol, but I'd never get clearance to land there, but you can get there easy enough from Amarin or Vésén. The southern area is the Bladesea - no landing there I'm afraid, but if you wanted to go into that area, I can drop you in Telyos or Io. If you're looking for the Northern continent, it is pretty much overrun with Imperial troops. Strange - thousands of miles of cold desert, but the bulk of their presence is there.

"Any ideas where you wanted to land?"

[GM Craig]

[OOC: Background Info:

1. Cali is an apparent crime lord based in Amarin that Trax spoke fondly of. He is no friend to the Empire, and has aided the rebels several times, though his motives remain his own.
The rebels had gained many allies and built a base in the Northern desert. The surviving members of the royal family were there.
2. The rebels main base in the northern desert had been destroyed, and presumably their assets there neutralized. However, there was a cell on the southern continent that was fairly independent, led by Senator Pasteur. Her hidden base was in the mountains south of Vésén.
3. The rebels had captured a CEC corvette. It was likely destroyed in the bombardment, but perhaps it might have escaped. That might be worth exploring.

As an aside, you know from your previous preparations that the Northern continent is mostly hyper-arid cold-temperature desert. If you wanted to explore the site of the former rebel base there, you would need to be prepared for extended periods with no water.

[Nightshade]

"Let us land in Amarin, I should have a contact there that seems like the best place to start my search."

[GM Craig]

The approach is without incident. You see faraway signs of imperial patrols - sensor pings and such showing up on Jenny's instruments - but she keeps her ship in passive mode, and slips through their patrols with apparent ease.

You and up landing in a remote location - a small shack with a reinforced landing pad.

"This is about as close as I can get and avoid their tracking. It's about a 12 kilometer walk to Amarin that way. There's a road about a kilometer to the south - maybe you can pick up a ride."

She hesitates. "Thanks. Most of your associates are pretty preachy. It was nice to deal with someone who minded their own business."

[Nightshade]

Nightshade flashes her the rare smile and bows, "They just have yet to understand that you have two ears and one mouth for a reason. I truly appreciate your assistance, let me know if I can return a favor some day."

Gathering his gear he headed out in the direction that she indicated.  The walk would be no trouble and he was in no particular hurry.  He didn't want to risk having to deal harshly with some innocent civilian on the road who got too curious.

Actions: Walk to town, avoid all other contact wherever possible.

[GM Craig]

You see a small smile returned - the first time you have seen her smile in your short acquaintance, and the two of you part company.

The trip to Amarin is uneventful, and getting a long walk in feels good. It is hard to keep all your muscles fit and toned in space.

Amarin is a smaller city nestled in the foothills of the mountains. There are armed patrols, checkpoints, and guard towers. The city has also been split into six sections, each barricaded from the others and any accessible to the average person through checkpoints.

Fortunately, you are not the average person.

It is fairly simply to enter the city unseen, and the barricades are easily traversed. The patrolling sensor droids pose a momentary hurdle, but it is not difficult to bypass them.

The contact information you had been given involved some obscure septic service. You find the building and attached vehicle yard, and spend some time observing it. Business seems slow - no one enters or leaves the compound in the few hours to keep vigil. You note four people inside, with no obvious weapons. Only one of them appears to be a fighter of any description, and his stance and the way he moves suggests an unarmed specialist. So, you are alert as you enter the building towards evening.

The fighter is behind a small desk. He has the brown skin, prominent nose and crinkled eyes of the early settlers here, a subspecies fo human known locally as the Kothe. He sizes you up quickly, and you can tell he has made some assessments about you. His stance firms slightly, ready for trouble. However his manner seems relaxed and effusive.

He rises from the desk and comes forward, all smiles and his arms wide. "Welcome, friend, to Amarin Septic Service! I am Bari, your most humble servant. How may I help you this wonderful day?"

His eyes never leave you, and below the surface have the steely aspect of someone assessing a threat. There are three others somewhere in the building, but they are not present here in the room.

[Actions?]

[Nightshade]

The Shinobi returns both the gaze and the gesture of the other being, also subtly switching his stance to be ready for trouble.  "Good Bari, we are well met.  A friend, one Trax, told me that I might be able to do business here, said to ask for Cali."

[GM Craig]

He raises an eyebrow. "My Uncle has many business associates, and I, humble labourer that I am, am not familiar with even a small sampling of them all. However, if you have business with my Uncle then perhaps I can help you. I will need to make some calls."

He turns his head and bellows, "Amir! AMIR!"

A younger man runs into the room. "Yes, my cousin?"

Bari smiles. "This is ..." He turns to you a moment, then bows. "My deepest apologies. May I have the honour of your name?"

[Nightshade]

"Sincere apologies.  I am Nightshade."