Nightshade: Return to Karvis III

[Nightshade]

Turning to the Captain, Nightshade says to her, "Do we have those resources available and what time frame are we looking at to have them here?"

[GM Craig]

[OOC: No Captain on this run, the ranking trooper is a Lieutenant.

"I suppose so, Sir. We've got stockpiles in the region, though it might take some time. I'd have to run it past the Captain first."

The Keeren looks at you. "You not important enough to make promises, Agent? Need to check with your superiors?" She kind of smiles at you, and it's obvious she's trying to goad you into a decision.

[Nightshade]

"Do you want false promises or actual goods in hand?  I figured you for someone who appreciates results rather than talk.  But if you just want empty promises, how does a star destroyer strike you?"

Taking a moment to send an icy stare that shows no signs of humor, he continued, "Don't forget that my goals will be accomplished with or without your assistance.  I am trying to include you as a show of good faith, that I really want to minimize the number of casualties to the populace while I work to remove the Imperial presence.  But I can leave a trail of bodies in my wake if that is the path that you want me to take.  Your assistance definitely makes my job easier, but I have accomplished harder tasks with fewer resources."

"Lt, check and see what time frame to get the resources that have been requested delivered here."

[GM Craig]

Keeren holds up her hands, smiling. "Easy, agent. No need to go all 'cold blooded' on me. I'm just lookin' out for my people. Sometimes it feels like the high folk don't pay much attention to us closest to the Imperial Blasters. We need an advocate with the Silver Fox, I was just hoping you might be it, since you seem to be making changes around here. We'll help, but you can't blam a lady for asking."

The Lieutenant nods to acknowledge your orders, and steps into the other room to use the comlink.

After a pause, Keeren continues. "We're on the same side, Agent. It's just sometimes, it feels like the decision people view us as expendable. And sure, to an extent, we sign on for that. But we all kind of want to know that our deaths will mean something, you know? I'm not afraid to die. But I don't like feeling like a minor piece on a game board. That's all I was gettin' at."

The Lieutenant returns. "'The Captain' says a week for safety, and three days with moderate risk of exposure." It's clear from his tone he is speaking of Captain Barakis.

[Nightshade]

"I don't view anyone as expendable, and I will strive to ensure that others don't either...we should be better than what we are fighting."

After hearing the words of the lieutenant, he asks, "Would a week be alright, so that we don't put others at risk?"

[GM Craig]

She sighs slightly, but nods.

"Well that's not ideal, but it's a damn sight better then what usually happens. We've got supplies that can tide us over until your stuff gets here, if it comes to that."

[Nightshade]

"Lt, please make the arrangements for the supplies to be transferred.

Keeren, shall we continue?"

[GM Craig]

She nods, and produces a datapad.

"We've got a safe house - a burned out building from an earlier Imperial raid with a bunker basement that the Imps never found. It's fairly centrally located. Once he's on the move, we should be able to get you to him in time. There's four places you can arrive before him. If he takes the 5th or 6th place, you'll not be able to catch him before he arrives, though we can intercept him on the street. He'l have half a dozen guards with him. Imperial Army regulars. Well trained, but not very well motivated. The General is an ass, and his soldiers are unlikely to die for him.

"Best place to do whatever you need to do is in the room, but there will be a witness - the girl he picked that night. Two of them are agents of ours, but the other two are just girls trying to make a living.

"We'll get you to the brothel, figure out what room he'll be in. You do what you need to do - kill him or extract him or whatever - and exit the way you came in. We'll have people standing by to cut power in case you need a distraction. Does that work for you, Agent?"

She hands over the datapad.

There's marked routes. The two locations you wouldn't be able to intercept are on the other side of security checkpoints, and much closer to the general's residence. There's opportunities to hit him on the street, but that will involve his guards. Hitting him in the room would be quicker, quieter, and give an opportunity to seed clues like you intended. The witnesses might be beneficial, if it comes to that.

[Nightshade]

"This is excellent intel.  I think that the best point is definitely going to be at one of the locations.  It will be easier to accomplish our objectives in the secluded places.  Even if he goes for the areas that we can't reach before his arrival, I would still like to try to take him inside if at all possible."

[GM Craig]

She nods. "Getting through the checkpoints would be tricky, but if we can avoid complications, we should be able to get you there before he's... well, done. You'd have to enter through the window, which may remove the element of surprise. The checkpoints can be tough to get through, and make timings difficult. There was a big attack on the air base several months ago, and ever since security in the government ward has been much tighter. If we need to go through the checkpoint to get him, you may be better off waiting for another opportunity. Escape from the government quarter is a lot more problematic."

[Nightshade]

"Understood.  It seems that we must simply wait and see what move he makes before we can determine our next step."

[GM Craig]

She nods. "If you're ready, my people can take you to the safe house to wait out." She glances at the troopers. "Smaller crowds make it easier to move. All right if we leave them here?"

[Nightshade]

"Yes that would be wise...let us go.  I am ready."

[GM Craig]

She immediately starts to bustle you to the door. The Lieutenant that came with you looks alarmed, but presses a case into your hands. He calls out as you're whisked away, "The Captain said you would need that!"

Outside, you and a few of Keeren's people hop into a nondescript speeder truck and you're heading down the road.

"Glad to be rid of those guys. Not sure you know much of the history around here, Agent, but the Silver Fox has seemed more concerned with her own safety than ours. After the insurgent base in the north was destroyed, things got bad for us. Door-knocks, sweeps of the city, people being summarily executed in the street: it was a rough time, and there was no word from the Silver Fox. Only once things quieted down, they started reaching out again. So I'm not all that sure the folks at the top have the best interests of the people of Karvis in mind, ya know?"

[Nightshade]

Listening to Keeren, Nightshade also looked over the case to see what was inside. 

After she was done speaking he nodded an assent in response to what she said.  "It is unfortunately a common reaction and I am truly sorry you suffered.  I will not insult you by saying she had to look at the bigger picture because that does nothing to mitigate your loss."