Around town (Caden, Brim and Britton)

[tomcat]

General info on Cloud City:

LayoutCloud City consisted of 392 levels, in addition to a top-side surface-level concourse. The level-arrangements were as follows:
Level 1-50: Luxury hotels and casinos which made the city famous throughout parts of the Outer Rim.
Level 51-100: Upscale housing areas.
Level 101-120: Administrative offices.
Level 121-160: Privately owned industrial areas with an infamous reputation, known as Port Town.
Level 161-220: General housing of the facility's workers.
Level 221-280: Factories.
Level 281-370: Gas refineries and miners' quarters.
Level 371-392: Contained the 36,000 repulsorlift engines and tractor beam generators that kept the city afloat and in position.



The three men were at a loss as to where they needed to go. They did not have an internal database of Cloud City's layout and so Brim would occassionally ask directions, leading as he did. It was the nature of a Rodian - to always be in the lead on a hunt.

Finally the trio were lead to a cafe and library hall on level 105. It was a public information facility that allowed individuals (who either did not have the ability in their home, or were away from it) to tap into the holonet for news, special communications, or any other information that might be needed. It was just a matter of waiting until one of the consoles freed up and Caden was able to sit down to initiate the screen.

[sdrotar]

Caden briefly searched the news-net, looking for any mentions of Bakura, wanted criminals, ships on the run, or anything that might give them an update on their situation. He made sure he did not search for the Aegis by name, nor any of their names or anyone else involved... no need to raise any flags to whomever might see the data stream, he figured.

As long as the local populace didn't have any obvious reason to go after their hides, that would have to do for now.

[ZehnWaters]

Britton waited impatiently.  Unless there was something for him to hardwire, or a face to punch, there wasn't much for him to do but be an extra set of eyes.

[BrianM]

Brim was intrigued by this new hunt. When Caden was finished with the public information terminal, the Rodian took a turn. Their adversary had targeted public officials, probably those who posed a threat. He searched the news feeds for any stories that resembled their experiences on Bakura.

"Perhaps our foe has struck elsewhere. There may be a trail for us to follow."

[tomcat]

The news on the holonet was grim and Caden and his companions were none to pleased to see that they were part of the story.

Bakura had made headlines for the attack on Ranie's mansion and the death of another of the planet's senators and churchmen. Planet-wide investigations were being undertaken and there were a few individuals that were being sought after for questioning, although no names were listed in the article.

'... At the moment, there appears to be a link in the deaths through the senators' relationship, but why they have been targeted is in question. Both senators had an upstanding service record to Bakura, the Church, as well as the Republic and further investigation is ongoing by both the Bakuran Federal Investigators, along with Imperial Governor Thieraan. The local governor has dispatched the Vigillance, a Venator-class Stardestroyer that now hangs in orbit over Bakura. Imperial Stormtroopers have taken up garrison of Salis D'aar and are currently requesting all information known to the Bakuran Federal Investigators.

More details to follow pending release of information.'

Caden was slightly relieved that no mention of names was made, not even his ship, but that didn't mean they didn't have their names. It just meant that the government wasn't giving information out to any would-be bounty hunters - but, he was sure that wouldn't be too far off.

Brim then edged in to take up command of the holonet viewer and he started typing in search commands on various types of similar situations for the region. He also typed in a search request for the symbol that had been burned into Seelig's forehead...

SEARCH: [Regional Drug crimes and drug-related criminals...]
...
Death Sticks on an all-time high in distribution and production throughout the Outer Rim. Investigations and arrests continue although trails lead back to a mysterious organization known as the Bando Gora. Further information pending... ACCESS VERIFY ENTER
...
Reports now coming out of the Modell Sector of a new, highly potent, drug and alcohol being illegally produced from the nimana plant. Pure forms of the oil are showing up in smoke houses throughout the Outer Rim and usage is gaining popularity. The addiction rate is very high, and the mortality rate is also very high. Bakura is one of the few planets that has the nimana plant indigenous to it, but the government there keeps a tight rein on any illegal production or distribution. It is still used as a liquor in the ceremonies of the Bakuran church. More details pending...

SEARCH: [Hutt, Varta...]
...
Varta the Hutt is a business Hutt, also been associated with the crime syndicates within Hutt territories. Last known location: Tatooine... no more information available
...

SEARCH: [Symbols, concentric circles, crime tag...]
...
Rumor of a large crime syndicate known as the Black Sun has been popularized throughout the Galaxy. No firm evidence of said syndicate has ever been retrieved and the possibility of an organized galaxy-wide syndicate is highly unlikely. The syndicates symbol has been said to be concentric circles, the center circles blackened in
...

SEARCH: [Assassinations, galactic senators, local officials, Outer Rim...]
...
Senator Seelig of Bakura was recently found slain within his home of Salis D'aar on Bakura. Investigations are still pending and further information is awaited from the Bakuran government
...

[sdrotar]

"So all this is over a damned drug ring," Caden said under his breath, with more than a hint of sadness. He had no interest in the stuff - never would - but if people wanted to smoke themselves into oblivion, what did he care?

Now he did. Two of his oldest friends were dead, and he was going to be implicated in their murders. Brim was right - it was time to find a way to turn this around.

But who could they turn to? Surely not the Empire, although Caden suspected that the Imperials wouldn't look too kindly on a crime syndicate usurping some of their ill-gotten power. Who was crazy enough to take on a shady gang of mobsters?

[BrianM]

Brim stared at the results of his search. Surely there was more to this than just drugs and gangsters.

"Hmmm ... certainly the drugs are at the heart of this, but why would the dark Jedi be involved? We need to learn more about this Black Sun organization. Perhaps Varta will help, given the proper 'persuasion'." The Rodian turned to Caden with that certain look in his eyes. The hunt was on.

[tomcat]

As the three companions talked amongst themselves, one last piece of information scrolled up on the holonet.

SEARCH: [Assassinations, galactic senators, local officials, Outer Rim...]
...
!!UPDATE!! On the planet Bakura, an attack was reported on Senator Kal Ranie's estate by unknown perpetrators. Sources reveal that the senator was in close relation with Senator Seelig who had been assassinated weeks prior. Ranie was said to have been running a private investigation into his friends death and had recruited outside sources.

Reports indicate that the senator's mansion was structurally disabled with the use of explosives and caused to topple over the cliff on which it perched. The senator and most of his staff were within the mansion when it fell to the rocky ocean coast below. No survivors have been found.

Reports also tell of two bodies that were found outside of the broken structure at the cliff base - a man from Naboo and a Bakuran woman: names withheld by authorities. Forensics are having a tough time, as the indigenous crustaceans that live within the shallows had made discovery of the actual manner of death for the individuals near impossible. Still, there has been silent word that the victims appeared to have burnt slash marks indicative of weapons once used by Jedi. No official verification has been given regarding this detail.

Bakuran authorities have stated that more information shall be released soon including names of individuals sought for questioning, along with apparent footage of a vessel that is said to have been seen hovering over the mansion prior to its collapse.
...

[ZehnWaters]

"Fantastic," Britton said.  "Let's exit out of this screen before they show our pictures for the whole library to see.

"Your ship isn't too visibly recognizable is it?" Britton asked.  He hadn't really had time to get a detailed look at it from the outside yet.  "No identifying markers, paint-jobs and what not?"

[tomcat]

It suddenly occurred to Britton... he would not be on any list except maybe those listed as dead. As a staff member for Ranie, he would be assumed to have been slain in the collapse. That might give his companions an edge.

[sdrotar]

"Fantastic," Britton said.  "Let's exit out of this screen before they show our pictures for the whole library to see.

"Your ship isn't too visibly recognizable is it?" Britton asked.  He hadn't really had time to get a detailed look at it from the outside yet.  "No identifying markers, paint-jobs and what not?"

"No," Caden said. "I've found that anonymity is usually better business. If we could somehow get the reg numbers and transponders changed, I think we'd be hard enough to spot; just another run-of-the-mill freighter."

[ZehnWaters]

"I just realized something," Britton said, after thinking for a minute.  "I was on Ranie's staff.  Whoever was behind this wouldn't think to pin this on me.  They'd think I was dead along with the rest of the household."

[tomcat]

Caden nodded at Britton, "That is a card we will keep in our hand and play when it becomes necessary." Then to Brim, "You saying you wanna go hunt down this Varta?"

[sdrotar]

Caden thought this a dangerous game, and one that he was ill prepared for, but he had no choice - unless he wished to be a wanted man forever.

"And forever wouldn't be very long," he thought, knowing how many bounty hunters and other unsavory characters plied the spacelanes.

"All right, we only live once," he said. "Brim, you wanted a 'hunt', you've got one. But we've got to make ourselves harder to spot - let's see if we can make the Aegis... well, not the Aegis anymore. Then we can travel more freely - I doubt we'll find too many Hutt crime lords on Bespin."

"At least I hope not," he thought. One was more than enough for him - even if he was still half the galaxy away.

[ZehnWaters]

Britton was glad to be doing something again.  He was still angry over losing his associates, employer and friends from his life on Bakura.

"Let's do it," he said.