Meetings in secret

[watanabe]

 

Come on Bail, you are a senator, you can do better than that! 

[sdrotar]

Caden looked at his feet, lost in thought for a moment. Though he tried not to show it, he respected the Senator greatly - and the rule of law since lost under the Empire's ever-widening boot.

This ragtag crew he'd assembled, besides Sam now completely by chance, had their futures essentially destroyed, and eventually, their lives probably would be, too. It was simply a matter of time now, and he knew it.

His life, such as it was, scrambling from rock to rock to scrape a few credits together, wasn't anything he truly missed, anyway.
If there was a chance for something greater... well, allies like the Senator weren't easy to make - he knew wouldn't ever get a better offer.

Caden looked up from the floor and at the Senator, a deep breath expelling as he did so. There was no turning back from this moment - he knew that - but he thought of his friends Kex and Kal, of Dan and all the others who died on Bakura for nothing.
Maybe, just maybe, he could turn nothing into something.

"I'm in."

Then, he looked to the others... "But, Senator, one of our crew isn't here with us. And, the truth is, even though she's gotten us out of some tough spots... she's not exactly... reliable." He felt guilty saying it - he felt that Kara could still get her life straightened out - but truth was truth, and if they were going to undertake something like this, they may not be able to afford her particular brand of risks.

[ZehnWaters]

"I hate the Empire," Britton said, anger welling within him.  "They're nothing but bullies.  I'm in."

[tomcat]

Then, he looked to the others... "But, Senator, one of our crew isn't here with us. And, the truth is, even though she's gotten us out of some tough spots... she's not exactly... reliable." He felt guilty saying it - he felt that Kara could still get her life straightened out - but truth was truth, and if they were going to undertake something like this, they may not be able to afford her particular brand of risks.

Give me a bit here on how Bail is going to absorb this one. In a situation of absolute confidence, and the Senator really not wanting anyone to know his secret travels, a missing crewmember might cause some concern.  Especially with the vote of reliabilty she was just tagged with!

[sdrotar]

Then, he looked to the others... "But, Senator, one of our crew isn't here with us. And, the truth is, even though she's gotten us out of some tough spots... she's not exactly... reliable." He felt guilty saying it - he felt that Kara could still get her life straightened out - but truth was truth, and if they were going to undertake something like this, they may not be able to afford her particular brand of risks.

Give me a bit here on how Bail is going to absorb this one. In a situation of absolute confidence, and the Senator really not wanting anyone to know his secret travels, a missing crewmember might cause some concern.  Especially with the vote of reliabilty she was just tagged with!

Hey, don't blame us - that Ulric fellow ain't the sharpest spy around, apparently! On the other hand, Kara's wasted right now and doesn't know where we went, anyway...

[tomcat]

Bail's eyes flashed to Ulric with Caden's statement. There was a rogue member of this party?! The implications were as deadly serious as falling into a Sarlacc pit. Ulric shrugged to his patron, not sure what to advise. Organa focused back on Caden, "This other member... how unreliable is she? Is there any fear that she could be betraying this meeting?"

Ulric stood of a sudden, "Senator, I do not like this. Until she has proven herself, I do not believe anything else be said here. We cannot jeapordize your life, the life of your family, or the work that you have begun!" To this Senator Organa made a gesture for the man to calm. Looking at the companions, he spoke, "You are all in. What of the droid? Is he owned by you?"

Sam didn't speak, just nodded his head. With that, Organa breathed deep, "All right then, we are taking an awful risk here, so I trust you all to keep our agreement confidential. Understand, if we all fail, we are all dead. The Emperor has proven he has little tolerance for disobedience, and Vader is as cruel a disciple as any could have. Thus our strength lies in our trust and I give mine to you. I must leave now. I will leave Ulric here to escort you back to your ship and to advise you on how you can first lend your aid. While you work on this task, I will be setting up private accounts to keep you funded. Through my connections, you will be erased from the datanet along with your ship. New identities will be given to you and papers for your vessel that will allow you to deal with day-to-day living. All of these things will be transmitted, or given to you at future meetings. Understand, this will probably be the last time we meet face to face, but I will be alongside you each step. Hopefully with our deeds and sacrifices, there can be a new hope for future generations."

Bail stood and extended his hand to each of the companions, grasping firmly to shake while his other hand grabbed the upper arm. Caden always liked that kind of handshake, it signified a bond of friendship. When Organa reached Kaida, he looked at her and smiled, "Dear Kaida, I am not sure about the status of your family, but I will set about looking into it. I can say, and this may pain you to hear, but your father and brother, Delmon, both fell during the scouring of Commenor. Delmon fell with the defeat of his troops, and what I heard is that the new Moff that was given authority over Commenor had your father beheaded. It was to show the people of your world that the new Order had come to topple the foundations of old. It was whispered that you and the others of your kin were secreted off the planet, but I assumed you had all met your fates. It pleases me to see you alive and that gives me hope that others may be also. I will learn what I can and any information I find will be sent to you."

That done, the Senator backed away, "I leave you with Ulric. Good luck, and may the Force be with you."



Going with the assumption that Sam would say yes. 

[tomcat]

The companions were surprised to see as Bail did not go to either the door out of the room, or those that led further in. Instead, the Senator returned to the balcony where a silent speeder vehicle hovered just above the retaining wall. A ladder had been setup and an assistant aided Organa inside the darkened craft, and once inside, it disappeared into the Jovan night.

Ulric drew their attention back to him, "We have much to do still, so look here."

The companions were filled in of the mission that was needed to be undertaken via a portable three-dimesional display. The small electronic box sat on the center table and above it was the image of a small planetoid, or a large asteroid. On the surface of the planetoid was a facility that was highlighted amongst the crags and peaks. There appeared to be nothing else to be seen.



Ulric pointed to it, "That is Tantau II. It is one of hundreds of prison facilities that the Empire, and the Republic before it, had erected to detain some of the galaxies worse offenders. Each facility is set up on a large asteroid, or small planets - the key thing the builders look for is active planetary cores. A large enough body will produce energy through an active core and so aid the facilities in running. They also need to be large enough to provide an appropriate atmosphere and gravity. Oovo IV is another example of this type of prison. Like Oovo, Tantau is a massive gas giant planet with an asteroid belt held in its gravitational well. The prison facility is old and neglected and the Empire only uses this particular location to send minor criminals, or political enemies, away to be forgotten." The man hit a couple buttons on the display and the prison facility was zoomed in on. Ulric pointed, "As you can see, there is a large communication antenna and a power generator. The power comes from planetary thermodynamics, as well as solar radiation reflected to it from Tantau. Bottom line is it is completely independent of any outside source, except to have food shipments and change of the guard twice a month. The prison has stationed within it a total of 35 standard Imperial stormtroopers, and at least 5 other superior officers. With the end of the the Clone Wars, the companies Incom and Subpro have had a bit of falling out, and Incom has made its stance very clear to the Empire that it will not be nationalized. To try and sway the corporate leadership, the Emperor has taken a few of Incom's cheif designers and imprisoned them. We do not believe it is the intention of the Empire to hold these individuals forever, more to try and get the point across. That is why we think that Tantau II was the chosen prison for this man, Antar Danjapa, to be detained. The facility is off the beaten path. It is not filled with the worst the galaxy has to offer, and it would be easy to forget a human being was ever there. But Danjapa is of the utmost concern to Incom, and based on Senator Organa's communications with the company, it has become a concern to him. The only thing I can tell you is the man has led up the design on a prototype for Incom, the TX-65, and the company has no desire in letting the Empire have it. We want you to get it." Again the map zoomed in closer, "You'll need to get it by going there and breaking into the prison and removing Danjapa safely from his cell and bringing him to a location to be designated later. You will see through this faciltity layout, there is a drainage system that exits the building at this point. The sewer leads into the prison and via two sub-basement levels, will deposit anyone trying to get in, here." Ulric pointed at the large maintenance chamber for the massive antenna dish. "Once inside, you can shut down all communications and then by means of stealth, or force, you can remove the prisoner."

He touched a button again and the image zoomed back out to the planetary level. "Tantau II is on the opposite side of the planetoid from that of its mother planet. This is due to the larger amount of radiation that bathes that side of the planetoid. A ship that approaches from this side of the planet is literally masked by the shadow of the planetoid along with the noise created by the radiation. It is a perfect path in. The Empire, or the Republic before it, has never feared anyone trying this because... no one even knows who is on that rock. Basically all are forgotten." Ulric met all of their stares, "Can you do it?"

[sdrotar]

Caden stared for a moment, in shock at the display. He thought, at worst, they'd be smuggling; gun-running. But this... this was more than he bargained for.

"We're not soldiers," he said. "Well," looking to Britton, "he is, but the rest of us..."

They had made an effective team in a fight, and he was quick enough on the draw, but this...

"Unless you have something else up your sleeve - y'know, like a commando team - this sounds like suicide," he said. "How will we even get close to the asteroid without them noticing? I doubt a backwater prison gets a lot of visiting ships."

Plus, somehow, he was going to have to explain all this to Kara.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

[donimator]

Going with the assumption that Sam would say yes. 

Perfectly fine. Sam knows when to play ball

Sam stepped up after the Senator left and leaned over to look at the holo-display. He converted the rough display shown into schematics and his military circuitry began probing for weaknesses. He was built for this. Running all the time would be the end of them. This was a chance to get back at the Empire that had scoured his planet Bestine IV. The quiet life of trader had been turned upside down. It was time to turn it back.

"Do we have full plans of the facility? Are they recent? Any changes or upgrades to be expected? We can get this done, Caden. And you can get us there."

[sdrotar]

We can get this done, Caden. And you can get us there."[/color]

Caden chuckled at Sam's remark.
"At least you can get back to doing what you do best," he said with a smile.

[BrianM]

Brim had been quiet since the issue of Kara came up. He hadn't even realized she wasn't there. Inside he cursed himself for being so inattentive. This relationship with Senator Organa was vital to their new role ... vital now to the future of so many beings beyond their small group. At the moment, Kara was a liability, but she could be a willing participant in all of this. Brim hoped that under her rough facade there was someone with a conscience.

The Rodian listened attentively to the plan laid out by Ulric. Caden's response was no real surprise. Whether they could contribute or not, they were all in over their heads now.

"Caden, I think Sam is correct. This is a mission we can accomplish, but we must use our strengths to do so. What you said is correct: we are not a military force. A mission that might not be achieved by force, however, could still be achieved covertly."

[ZehnWaters]

Britton stopped paying attention after he heard 35 Stormtroopers.  35 was a manageable number, plus it wasn't like they'd be taking them all on at once.  He then turned his attention to Kaida.

"Are you alright?" Britton asked quietly.  Having just learned of her brothers death and her fathers gruesome execution, he didn't imagine she would be in very good shape.

[sdrotar]

Having just learned of her brothers death and her fathers gruesome execution, he didn't imagine she would be in very good shape.

I wasn't quite sure if that was something that Kaida knew already that Organa was simply relating that he was also aware of (to assure her that he had kept up with events on Commenor), or if he was breaking that news to her. If it's the latter, yeah - that's something I'll RP, for sure.

[tomcat]

Yea, that bit of knowledge is new to Kaida... and I am not sure that I had Organa reveal the information with enough tact, now that I look back on it.

Let's go with the story that he at least stayed long enough to show some regret for the woman's loss and tried to comfort her.

Sorry Jared... I had Ulric's mission sitrep in my head, I kind of hurried Bail out of the scene! 

[Jingo]

No problem she apparently was too stunned to reply right away anyway, so it works out.

Following the Senator's revelation of her father's and brother's deaths, Kaida struggled to keep her emotions in check. Her father and brother. Dead. Dearest father, the monarch of Commenor. And Delmon, the Prince General of her army. Both cut down by the Empire.

The senator had tried to comfort her and she was grateful. She had said something when he left, but couldn't remember what. As he zoomed away, she felt a part of her die as well. She wondered if he was the only person in this galaxy beside herself that had known her family. Was she now all alone?

Memories bombarded her. Her Father. She remembered his gentle hands playing with her as a little girl. Remembered him reading to her at her bedside in his quiet voice. Remembered the way he looked at her at her last birthday, with such love in his eyes. Oh he was not without his faults, but those were not the things she remembered.

Beheaded. The void take the Empire!

And her brother too. Prince Delmon. At least he died a warriors death, cut down with his troops. She had been secreted away when the palace walls were crumbling under blaster fire from Imperial walkers. Delmon himself had put her into the departing shuttle and ordered her evacuation, she still felt his arms around her and the whispered, words spoken into her hair, "Fear not, little sister, we shall meet again. At the rendezvous point."

But he hadn't shown up. None of them had. No. She would never see him or father again, not in this life anyway. Delmon had always been a tower to her. He was always taller, even when she tried standing in his shoes and on her tippy toes. Tall and strong and wise. He would have made a great monarch to Commenor.

She sat down and stared blankly at the holo display, letting the memories wash over her, and the guilt. She should have stayed and fought by his side. She should have done something.

Was this all the Empire would bring? Death and turmoil? She sat numbly and let a single tear slide down her cheek. Dead. And how many more of her loved ones and friends would be slain before this was all over?

She hurt inside, and felt a deep abiding emptiness in her core. And more than that. She felt anger and defiance.

"Are you alright?" Britton asked quietly.

She nodded and stood, looking out the window for several long minutes, her fists to her sides, clenched in white-knuckled grips. She would grieve later, but not now.

"It doesn't matter what Ulric proposes," she turned around slowly and eyed them all. "We can and will do it."