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She ran.

Her heart within her chest felt like it was going to burst. Her legs screamed with the agony of having run non-stop for the near three miles. They were close behind her but she needed to make it to the city - at least to the outskirts where she would find some kind of technology and communications. It all depended on her.

Her name was Darone Fellsum and she was from the planet Commenor. She had worked for the Third Directorate of Intelligence for the Royal Family, under the command of the Prince, Jalek Katan. When that planet had been sacked by the New Order and the Royal Family either scattered or killed, Darone had not ended her work. Instead, she had gone underground and continued in her efforts alongside the man that had led them all. They were all fugitives of the new Empire, but they were sworn in the commitment to find a way to sunder the new emperor's power.

Jalek had sent her on a mission to the planet Salliche, and the capital city of Netassa, in search for his sister, the Lady Kilstara. The Prince had only recently learned of her being alive and her whereabouts after he found his other sister, Kaida, alive. With the information she revealed, Jalek had sent his agent to garner more information.

The planet Salliche was an agricultural world. Vast swaths of land were used for the production of food and bio-fuels. It was a quiet and peaceful world with a simple folk that enjoyed technology, but did so in harmony with the planet. The capital city was large, but it was only one of small number of such cities across the continents. The primary purpose of the few metropolises was for spaceport and trade, Salliche's inhabitant preferring their lives in the country.

Because of the resources of food, the Trade Confederation had taken control of the planet early in the beginning of the Clone Wars. The empty land also allowed for internment camps to be set up and many prisoners of the war were brought to Salliche to wait for the Republic to free them, or to die. With the end of the war, Palpatine saw the opportunity to use the established camps to move political prisoners off of Coruscant – to make them disappear. The Imperial Security Bureau moved in their best inquisitors to procure whatever information was valuable and also to indoctrinate any rebellious spirits.

Darone had come to Salliche as a corporate envoy to discuss shipment terms, all the while trying to garner information about the six re-education camps and a particular captive. The task proved difficult and she had needed to extend herself beyond her cover. Darone had snuck aboard a transport that travelled back and forth between Netassa and camp six. She had secreted her way from the transport and into the administrative yard of the prison. Donning a uniform of one of the food service personnel that hung within an open locker of a staff room, the agent was able to make her way down into the sub-basement of the facility and there slice into data feeds that ran throughout.

A number of prisoners were scheduled to be moved off world. The data reported that the prisoners were no longer useful and would be moved to new facilities where people were sent to be forgotten. Darone saw the name Kilstara on the list. Jalek's sister was not only here, but soon she would be moved and the information needed to be sent to the Prince as quickly as it could. Unfortunately for Darone, her cover was lost and she had to run. After a small firefight, she escaped on a speeder bike and raced back to Netassa. Scout Troopers sped after her and the agent's bike was shot out from under her.

Darone ran. She quickly disappeared into a field of tall standing kaeva crops, evading her pursuers. She continued to run back towards the city where she could disappear once more amongst the many inhabitants. Eventually the field ended and Darone was again out in the open. She ran. Behind her, the Scout Troopers searched.

She passed into another field with large bales of hay that were scattered everywhere. Loose piles of the cut grass were also abundant and she moved from the cover of one to another. That was when she saw it – a transmit tower blinked on the horizon. She drew out her comlink and looked to see if she had a strong enough signal. Suddenly a speeder bike zoomed past her position. She ducked into the bale and set the comlink to transmit, burying it into the straw.

The Scout Trooper saw movement amongst the bales and cut his steering control into a hard turn. He came about and brought the bike's blaster cannon to bear. The world around Darone erupted into a storm of blasted earth and fire.

Farok made a fist.

The smile that crossed his face told the tale. It had been years since he was able to make a fist with a right hand. It had been years since he had been able to bend an arm, scratch his left arm, and so much more. The smile remained on he man's face.

Yes, the pain was still present, but he knew pain enough and how to control it. The surgeons had been good and the graft was done well. Along with the purchase of the high quality cybernetic, he was once more a whole person. The burning ache that could be felt where bone was connectd to metal, the doctors had told him would persist for at least a month. It would be the shortest month of his life after waiting near half of it to be able to once more make a fist.

Farok turned to the sight of Ardana walking across the park. Her pleasant color a contrast to the green of spring and the rich blue sky above.

---

:ooc: I will continue this intro after I get the rest of the conversation from everyone in the last thead of Black Sun.

The man of the desert raised his new arm and let the pain in his shoulder wash over him. He relaxed his fist and with some difficulty placed a long wide cigar within his new grasp. Lifting the new arm he placed it in his mouth and lit it with his good hand.

"ice walks in the spring
among the trees she is elegant
My arm has no pain"

Caden looked down the manifest one more time and then he scribbled his signature across the document. It was nice to know that he could do that without any challenges. Antturus must have kept his word because since their departure from Malastare, they had had no more challenges with the Empire. Whether there were bounty hunters still out there looking for them was another story, but Caden could live with that... well, he thought.

It had been five Bestinian months, by which the Aegis chronometers maintained its time, since then and they had bounced around the Galaxy for a while to loose any tails. Caden finally decided that he would take them to Abregado-rae, a major manufacturing and trade-oriented planet, the third of five worlds in the Abregado system in the Core Worlds. It sat at the beginning of the Rimma Trade Route, and was also the starting point for the Shapani Bypass or the "Bacta Run". The planet had a reputation as one of the Core Worlds' more rough-and-tumble planets. It was home to the infamous Abregado-rae Spaceport. It was also one world that Caden knew well, having had many trade deals and deliveries there, that they could disappear in the crowd, so to speak.


Even though it was in the Core, the Empire did not have too much interest in it even though the planetary government willingly accepted the Empire's New Order. Still, spacers, smugglers, privateers, and pirates would take advantage of its close proximity to major business and te anonymity it offered.

Abregado-rae was a temperate world with pleasant summers and mild winters in its settled regions. The capital city, named Abregado-rae Spaceport, contained many water canals which were used for transportation. The older part of the city was referred to as The Old Patch. The city had numerous sights, such as the LoBue Cantina. It also had beautiful parks and gardens. The green of the planet and its blue skies made for a peaceful location, too, as long as you did not bring trouble for yourself.

The Aegis had been in spacedock for the better part of the five months for repairs and to allow the crew to relax. They had not stopped to heal from their wounds - both physical and emotional loss for their fallen - and even though Kaida had won everyone's support in rescuing her sister, Caden was not going to take the ship into another engagement without repairs and upgrades. Even Farok had taken advantage of the down time and invested in a new arm. The surgery had been a great success and the former Jedi was healing up nicely. Sam had had his own systems repaired, and BIT (which was the only name he would go by) was fitting in with the group quite well.

He handed back the manifest and was returned a receipt for materials and labor, along with an inventory of ship supply loadout. He gave the droid technician his cred chip and the fees were deducted. He hated doing it - no one liked spending over 6,000 credits - but you couldn't park a ship for free and have it repaired. It wouldn't be long now that they found themselves once more in the fray, but Caden figured he would take advantage of the few days left to continue his many visits to the LoBue Cantina for some gambling.

The day was warm and he turned back to his ship and started up the landing ramp, into the cooler confines within.

Inside the Aegis, Kaida had been busy, too, over the last few months. She had spent the time making networks with agents from her brother's resistance group, creating false communication accounts, and setting up discreet financial accounts for her brother to get her money. She had had a number of false identifications created for herself for the purpose of banking, with no two accounts listed with any data the same.

She was busy with a transfer of funds, when she heard the familiar footsteps of Caden's boots on the Aegis' deck. The man took a fancy to the Corellian-style of high boot and spacer pants. Kaida turned to talk to him when the computer console in front of her chimed. She looked to see that one of her mail network accounts had a new message. She opened it, ran the algorithm encryption software on the received transimission and waited until the language became clear. It was from her brother and simply said, "Kaida, we must talk. Kilstara is to be moved and we must act quickly. Contact me at your earliest convenience."

Caden stopped when he saw Kaida's urgent look. Something was up.

Farok was in the hold of the ship. Sweat poured down his face and further stained the weather beaten cloak and clothes that he wore on Tatoonie. The Jedi's appearance was curious by the robes that he wore. The right sleeve hadn't been bleached and faded by the sun as the other had. Its new appearance seemed out of place, but for anyone who knew that up until recently the desert man had had only one arm.
The smell of ozone filled the room as Farok worked to mentally and physically relearn the use of having two arms. His light saber style had always relied on only one arm, in that regard he had been lucky. But subtle nuances he once had known would take practice to relearn and develop into his fighting style.

Ardana was there with him, his constant shadow. Today however she held one of the ship's repair riveting guns. She took aim at her Master and again fired several hot slugs at the Jedi. With fluid and rapid swings of his lightsaber he worked at deflecting and blocking them.  He had several scorch marks on his clothes, but during their time in space his performance improved greatly.  He waived her off deflecting the last of them and powered down his lightsaber and wiped his brow. A sudden blast of the gun sent three more screaming through the air of the hold at the Jedi. The snap hiss of the lightsaber came up again and the three slugs were vaporized by the quick work of the aged man.

"Desert Imp! You'll pay for that one when we resume your training." He said with a laugh.

Farok seemed years younger now that his body and a purpose had been returned to him. Farok paused and frowned, "Come, the Princess has news of something."

Kadia tried to keep a lid on her emotions, but when she heard the news that the Empire planned to move Kilstara her alarm level skyrocketed and she sat up straight in the chair and looked at Caden.

"I need your help," she said to Caden without preamble as she swung her chair back to the monitor and re-read the words on the screen. "The Empire is moving Kilstara. I need to talk to Jalek, my brother, as soon as I can. If we can find out where she's being moved to, it might be possible to rescue her while she's in transit."

She stood, her nerves in turmoil. Would she be able to get to her sister in time? As was her habit, she raked a free hand through her hair.

Farok walked in followed by Ardanna at that point. She spared her master and Ardanna a nod and a wan smile and continued. She knew she should have tried the Jedi calming trick Farok had taught her, to slow her breathing, to reach out and try to feel the life around her. But it was hopeless. She had tried it dozens of times over the past five months and had rarely felt anything but annoyance. That and how acutely aware she usually was of her aches and bruises. Farok liked to have them practice the meditation in-between training sessions with the lightsaber. She didn't know if she even had the ability in her, but she knew Farok would have her try again tomorrow just as he had every previous day. Her smile dipped into a shallow frown.

Thankfully she had at least picked up at least lightsaber forms so that she wouldn't accidentally stab herself in the thigh when igniting the blade and might have a chance at hitting the broad side of a bantha, but at her rate, she would never be able to deflect any of the projectiles Farok had demonstrated.

"Anyway..." she wiped the frown away and concentrated, pulling her mind back from her training with the Jedi. "I like the sound of an en-route rescue better than breaking into another imperial prison. Either Jalek doesn't know all the details or he cannot safely communicate them to my accounts. Do you know of a way I can get a secure holofeed to my brother on Commenor? I need to make sure we have as up-to-date and accurate information as we can."

"I don't know about 'secure'," Caden said, "but this is a popular spaceport. A single message to Commenor might not raise any suspicion - it'd be one of many from here. There are a few holocom-for-rent stations spread around the port; maybe we could hide your message in plain sight."

:ooc: I'm suggesting the equivalent of the old "call from a payphone" trick...

"We're in good enough shape here," he continued. "We should be able to ship out once we know where we're going... unless we need to hire a small army first."

"Well if that's the best route we have, I suppose we'll have to take it. Lead the way."

:ooc: GM is there something I can do with my computer skill to encrypt the holo-feed?   

Quiet as ever, BIT spooked the crew on more than one occasion with his quiet appearance.  As if out of almost no where, he appeared to Kaida and Caden.  With out much for a sniper and slicer to do until now, he was restless.  "I can set you up with something, or as reasonably as secure as you can be with civilian-grade equipment."

BIT was unquestionably odd (and unnervingly quiet at times), but he was also an excellent houseguest on board and seemed eager to help. Caden decided a few days back that he wouldn't look this particular gift horse in the mouth.

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at Kaida. "Anything's better than just throwing it out on the 'net, right?"

Kaida nodded. She hadn't learned much from BIT, even in the close proximity of the Aegis for five months other than he had once been a soldier who had gone MIA. Still, he had proved himself on Malastare. "Very well. Whatever you can do BIT."

:ooc: Sorry for the delays - here we go:

To answer your question, Jared, Kaida's brother already gave her a DC 31 encryption algorithm - meaning it would take an opposed Use Computer test DC 31 to un-encrypt, assuming the individual is aware of coded messages being sent. I mentioned the decryption in the narative.

BIT may enhance, or provide a new software encryption, but he will have to make a Use Computer test and the results will be the decoding difficulty level. Remember that Kaida's brother has the same encrypt/decrypt algorithm, so sending him something more difficult might deter your communications until his crippies can decode it.

You guys decide and make some dialogue with it.

:ooc: I'm assuming we've been staying at a hotel right while the ship was repaired?
Also, can we purchase some more hardware/weapons here, right? Do we need to RP that or can we have already done that given the amount of time we've been here?
Can I get a live holo-feed to Jalek from within the ship or do I need to go somewhere to do that? I was assuming the latter, but I don't know SW tech well enough.

Kaida tapped out a few keys from the ship's computer, and brought up the encryption algorithm for BIT to take a look at and then she transferred it to her datapad in case she needed it. "Jalek and I do use an encryption algorithm. From what I can tell, it's reasonably secure. But if you can do better, BIT, I'm all ears."

"Of course I can do better," BIT mildly bristles, "given a bit of time but you're pretty safe from most regarding the security of the data packet itself.  But even then, you should never use the same encruption algorithm more than a few times.  Your immediate concern is the security of wherever you're going to record your message, no amount of data encryption will protect you from someone spying on you while making your recording.  But that's just coming from an old paranoid like myself."

(:ooc: okay she'll send do the holo meet from within the Aegis if possible, since the possiblity of prying eyes/listening ears is lower, if not this takes place in the next most secure location she can find.)

Kaida waited on the edge of her seat as the holo image of her brother sprang up casting the room in a bluish tint.

Jalek.

She swallowed hard, but kept the tears in check. Barely.

It seemed ages since she had last seen her brother when the capital of Commenor was invaded by Imperial forces several months back. Jalek was only a few years older than she in his mid to late twenties. He had always been the more "interesting" of her brothers. Thinner than Delmon. Somewhat more sarcastic and brooding. But he was always the daring one. The one who took more risks, who always wanted to be at the center of the next big thing. What he did in the area of intelligence suited him and he suited it. He was intelligent and cunning.

"Jalek," she whispered smiling.

"Hello little sister," he smiled in return. "You're looking thinner than usual. Are you sure these friends of yours are feeding you enough?"

She had told him very little of Caden, Farok, BIT, and Sam (and her now deceased companions). Only that she had a team she was working with. A competent team she trusted.

In response, she only beamed happily and nodded, and made sure the threatening tears did not fall.

Jalek's blue image pieced together across the light years smiled and then broke into a frown. "Look, would love to chat sis, but I don't know how secure this is. The longer this takes, the more time someone can intercept and decode, so time is short. I need to tell you what I found out about Kilstara.

"I sent an agent to the planet Salliche to check up on the intel you had forwarded me on her last known wherabouts--an imperial re-education facility.

"My source wasn't very prolific in the details. I only received a burst transmission. I can only assume my agent...didn't survive the sending of the message or is possibly captured."

His frowned deepened and his dark eyes grew hooded. He leaned forward, hands steepled under his chin. "The tranmission stated that the facility she was at is moving twenty high--profile prisoners to out-of-the-way prisons. Kilstara is one of those twenty. The transfer will take place two weeks from when I received the burst transmission."

"How and when are they transporting them?" Kaida said anxiously when she could find her voice. This might be their chance!

"They'll be moved from the re-education camp to the spaceport in Netassa via speeder trucks. From there onto a transport."

"What about the camp itself?"

"No intel." Jalek sighed. "And before you ask me about the ground convoy or where she'll be transferred to... same answer. No intel. I'm sorry sis. I only have the date and time of the transfer. I'm sending it to you now."

The date and time floated briefly in the hologram.

"But Jalek, I need more--"

"Sorry. It's all we could get. Look be careful. I don't want to lose you like I did Delmon. Like I did father."

"Any word on mother?"

"No. Nothing yet. My sources are still searching though. We won't give up."

"I know. I know you wont," Kaida said soberly and blinked hard. "Jalek I--"

"No time. I have to go. I love you sis."

And with one last wave, the transmission flickered and died.

It left her hungering for a thousand more somethings she couldn't name. One hand reached out and then fell.

"I love you too..." Kaida breathed into the darkness then bowed her head.

Some moments later she informed all she had learned to the rest of the team.

:ooc: This was a perfect post, Jared. Your assumption is correct - the Aegis does have a holo-comm system. Sorry if I left you guys with too open a situation that you needed to piece together on your own. I have just been very distracted at home and work at the moment. We went through a week of computer issues at the office, then I brought in a new phone system and some new PC's and it has had my mind everywhere else but in game.

The one thing is I have been listening to my Audible Lord of the Rings, and also getting psyched up for The Hobbit, so, I think the gears of Tolkein are starting to turn again in my head. Not sure if that means anything for Star Wars right now or not, but as you all know with me, when one genre takes the fore, the others seem to regress into the back of my brain.  ':}

I will have a post up here later tonight or tomorrow, once the kids and family are all done with the Turkey Day.  ;D

Quote from: Jingo on Nov 20, 2012, 01:26 PM

Some moments later she informed all she had learned to the rest of the team.

"Well," Caden said simply, "looks like we've got a place to start."

:ooc: Let me just say, it is nice to FINALLY be able to sit down at my computer with no interruptions and feed our story! Sorry for the delays, guys. Work has been a tremendous bear (which is a good thing) and home and the holidays has been involved, too. Anyway, here we go...

---

The team looked at the data feed that now replaced Jalek's face on the holo. It was a basic itinerary, actually a prisoner transfer ledger, and boldly listed upon it was the name Kilstara Katan (Commenor). The details were simple - date and time, as was standard on the planet Salliche, along with the means of transit. Prisoner containment trucks would be used to move the people to a local space hub and from there they would be lifted out to destinations unknown. If they were to take Kilstara from her captors, it would have to be either a direct attack on the convoy - or maybe some other form of subterfuge - or, the team would need to intercept her transport ship after its departure. Sam was already running the numbers.

The droid spoke after the captain, "We will need to determine the strength of the Imperial garrison on Salliche. If this is to be another raid like we achieved on Tantau, it would increase the odds of success by knowing what we are dealing with. Perhaps your brother already has this information, Kaida?"

Caden looked at the time of the movement of the princess' sister - they had less than two weeks to prepare. If he could get the Aegis ready to dust off Abregado-rae by tomorrow or the next day, the whole affair would still be pinched for time. But there was little options for them - they either needed to free the woman now, or it was a big galaxy to try and find one person. He was actually impressed that they had found her at all.

They needed to get things going.

Sitting quietly to herself, listening to her companions talk, Kara mulled over the idea of another attack on an Imperial facility. She had been there on Tantau. She had felt the searing heat of the blaster bolts as they struck her body. She had watched as Britton died from an exploding grenade, fragments tearing into her as well. She had ran, leaving him behind not sure whether he was still alive or not. Then there was the attack on Malastare and the terrible hits on the Aegis by ground-based missile fire.

They were going to do it again.

Kara was a mech. A gambler. A swindler. An addict... she was no warrior. At least not in this way, not the kind that sought out combat. No, she was the kind that swaggered with a blaster on her hip just in case some son of a nerf decided to give her the wrong business - and even those kind of moments were few and very far between.

No, this was not her style of living. It was time that maybe she made a change. Only a few heard her when she said, "I need a drink."

Kara grabbed her holster and long coat and slipped from the Aegis' comm center, and then the ship altogether.

---

:ooc: Do what you will in terms of Kara, but this maybe my precursor for removing her from play.

Let me know if there is anything you guys want to do on this planet before you leave. You are going to need the rest of this day plus half of tomorrow to get the ship ready to go. It will be a three day flight out to the Mid Rim planet of Salliche - so that is 5 days of the 11 you have available.

 :ooc: Kaida will spend all her time until they leave getting as much information as possible from the holo nets or via secure channel with Jalek, or even gathering information in bars etc on this planet. She will cover her tracks and try her best not to per herself in danger. Some of this intel gathering will likely have to wait until they get on Salliche but she'll get what she can.

Here's the info she will cautiously try to obtain:

1) Garrison numbers at re-education camp
2) Blueprints on the vehicle type that they typically use to transport prisoners and the type(s) of typical escort vehicles. (ie she's looking for game stats--that might help us see a weakness). Also typical makeup of prisoner escort complement.
3) The distance and terrain between the re-education camp and the facility. She wants an up to date overhead terrain map of the surrounding area.
4)  Any contacts to resistance groups or dissidents on Salliche that Jalek trusts. She'll contact them to arrange a meeting to get their services.
5) Blueprints on the a likely transport ship used to take them off planet (again stats would be nice). Someone with hacking skills--BIT? Might actually be able to hack into imperial records and get the exact prisoner transfer orders and find more details.
6) Special weapon/equipment dealers here or in Salliche.
7) The overall imperial presence and current political state of Salliche.

Intel intel intel!

Anything else the team thinks we'll need?

If she has time, or if she happens to be in the bar gathering info and Kara is there, she'll talk to Kara to shore up her help as well for this next job. I'd hate to lose her. We need the extra pilot. She'll try to persuade her to stay and help (ie Persuasion) and may offer money if it comes to that.

OOC:
BIT will assist as he can for hacking for intel, he is quite eager to do so.  He also is apparently the most skilled pilot of the active players  ;)  I think we need to have our plan in place before we decide if we need anything else in terms of things, people, etc.

 :ooc: I'm favoring hitting the imps while they're in transit to the shuttle or to disable and board their shuttle later. I don't really want to try infiltrating another prison, there's nowhere to run to if things go bad once you're inside.

At least if we're in the wilderness, urban jungle, or in  space, we have a better chance to run and hide if things go south. But I don't know if we can really plan much else until we know what we're up against.

Sam knew the time frame that was before them and after the discussion, he exited the Aegis. The droid began the arduous task of 'buttoning' up the ship. Having sat in her current berth for almost half of the year, the many hatches, maintenance ducts, electrical panels, and any other sort of exterior access had been opened. The crew had been working on the ship for the better part of each day and it was easier to leave things 'open' then to have to 're-open' the access points. It would not be healthy for them to launch anytime within the next twenty-four hours unless the ship was put back into its hermetic state.

The mech droid chuckled to himself. "Who says hermetic?", he thought.

He accessed a data blueprint of the Loronar-class in his processor and highlighted every accessible port on the ship, save the two airlock landing ramps, and began to systematically check each one. It would take him well into the night for the task to be complete. No matter, the others had the planning to do and Sam thought it better that he was out of the way.

It was early in the morning as he worked quietly under the ship that he saw Kara stagger back into the hangar and stumble up the ramp.

It had hit her hard. She had been clean for months but tonight the temptation had been too great. First the liquor and the gambling had softened her resistance and then the two spacers that were hanging out until closing time had sealed the deal. Kara and her two new 'friends' had laughed and joked as they wandered aimlessly along the quiet, sleazier streets of Abregado-rae. It was no surprise to her that they would run into a shadowy dealer. Money was exchanged and stims and 'sticks were obtained. She gladly took the deathstick and let the drug do its magic.

Kara had woke up in the dark, on the cold pavement. She didn't know where she was at first, but soon had oriented herself. Her friends were gone, as was her blaster pistol and her money. She pointed her way back to the Aegis with the hope of sneaking in unobserved and being able to sleep it all off in her bunk.

---

:ooc: Keep up the planning. I will give you a point-by-point breakdown of the info you glean from the holonet based on two things:

I need a Use Computer check to change the attitude of the system to your favor (i.e. hack some passcodes): currently it is Indifferent (-2); the computer that you are linked to and gateway-ing into the HoloNet has an Intelligence of 17 and Will Defense of...

I will get back to you guys in a few after I figure out how to determine a computer's Will defense.  (-D

 :ooc: Heh. BIT can do the computer stuff, because he's awesome!  B-) Use Computer +18!!

:ooc: Keep up the planning. I will give you a point-by-point breakdown of the info you glean from the holonet based on two things:

Okay, so I need BIT (or whomever) to first give me a:

• Use Computer check to change the attitude of the system to your favor (i.e. hack some passcodes): currently it is Indifferent (so whomever makes the test will have a -2 modifier to their test)
• The computer that you are linked to and gateway-ing into the HoloNet has an Intelligence of 17 (+3) and Will Defense of 18.
• A Use Computer check to Access information. The level of info that can be accessed will be determined 1) by the computer's attitude, and 2) by this Use Computer roll based on the DC chart in the skill description.
• You may also make a Knowledge: Galactic Lore test DC 25.
• Finally, you may make a Gather Information check DC 20 along with 5,000 credits in bribes

Let me know what you guys are doing.

 :ooc: that sounds good, lets do that.

BIT gets out his equipment and sits down to the Aegis' terminal to access the HoloNet.  It takes him a moment to get into his groove accessing protocols and breaking through firewalls but it all comes back to him like piloting a speeder.  The AI of the computer was the usual found most anywhere and he was able to easily able to negotiate passed it and to get to where he wanted to go.  Soon, the data came pouring in.

:ooc:
3.  A Use Computer check to Access information. The level of info that can be accessed will be determined 1) by the computer's attitude, and 2) by this Use Computer roll based on the DC chart in the skill description.

BIT's Use Computer - Roll(1d20)+16: 13,+16 Total:29
I will use a Force Point if it would help decrease the likelihood of being detected or the ability to get more/better intel.

:ooc:
I can also make the Galactic Lore check as well if you want.

:ooc: BIT has changed the attitude of the computer gateway from indifferent to friendly.

You now need to roll another Use Computer roll to see what level of info you can find:

General - DC 15
Specific - DC 20
Private - DC 25

As for the Galactic Lore roll, you can all make the roll and I can add to the notes what each of you may know.

R :ooc: Farok will search his booze addled brain for fragments of useful knowledge. Galactic Lore

  :ooc: Sweet! With that roll I'll spend a Force Point to bump it up to Private. pick best.

:ooc:If applicable:

As Farok pondered the mission he began to get the feeling that there were something familiar about the planet, or the prison...

 :ooc: And Kaida will Gather Information and spend the 5 grand. *gulp*


I'll also spend a force point if it helps.

Niiiiice...  ;D

BIT smiled the smile of a gundark about ready to pounce upon its prey.  "One step closer..."

:ooc:
Use Computer - Roll(1d20)+18: 8,+18 Total:26
Galactic Lore - Roll(1d20)+13: 14,+13 Total:27

Quote from: JingoHere's the info she will cautiously try to obtain:

1) Garrison numbers at re-education camp
2) Blueprints on the vehicle type that they typically use to transport prisoners and the type(s) of typical escort vehicles. (ie she's looking for game stats--that might help us see a weakness). Also typical makeup of prisoner escort complement.
3) The distance and terrain between the re-education camp and the facility. She wants an up to date overhead terrain map of the surrounding area.
4)  Any contacts to resistance groups or dissidents on Salliche that Jalek trusts. She'll contact them to arrange a meeting to get their services.
5) Blueprints on the a likely transport ship used to take them off planet (again stats would be nice). Someone with hacking skills--BIT? Might actually be able to hack into imperial records and get the exact prisoner transfer orders and find more details.
6) Special weapon/equipment dealers here or in Salliche.
7) The overall imperial presence and current political state of Salliche.

:ooc: Here you guys go. I will list the PC's name that discovered the info:

1) BIT - no exact garrison info on the re-education camps, as they do not exist per the official government word. But, BIT was able to tap into the Empire's current data and find that the planet Salliche is currently considered accommodating to all Imperial requests. Due to the current planetary 'condition', Imperial records show that only 25% of standard Republic planetary TO&E (table of organization and equipment) are present. From that nugget of info, BIT was able to extract military info regarding Republic TO&E during the Clone Wars - as there was no other basis to go with - and put the following together:

Corps HQ consisting of fifteen senior adjutants and 97 support personnel, guarded by a security company (25 soldiers and officers), 10 picket platoons (30 stormtroopers and command officers each), and burdened with 12 ISB agents and 1 CompForce support platoon (25 soldiers and officers).

One battalion of AT-STs (10), SoroSuub X-34 speeder escorts (10), TX-130T Saber class fighter tank (5), A-A5 speeder trucks (10), BARC speeder bikes (20); two Ground Support Wings each consisting of one LAAT/i gunships squadron (10), one LAAT/t transports squadron (10), one TIE/gt squadron (20), one TIE/sa bomber squadron (15) and a TIE/fc spotter flight (5).

This links to Wookieepedia Corp entry - it is for info purposes only but you are welcome to look (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Corps)

2) The planetary garrison is equipped with A-A5 speeder trucks with a 25 ton carrying capacity. There is no 'official' prison here, so there is no information on standard prisoner transfer protocol. Still, with the inquiries made and the details given, it would be assumed the prisoners would be moved either by ground or air to the space port. If ground, most likely within the A-A5's, with an escort of 1 to 2 Saber tanks or X-34 escorts, and a platoon of BARC speeder bikes (5). Specs of vehicles are attached below.

3) Map is attached below

4) The government of Salliche has given full cooperation to the new Imperial rule, but dissidents amongs the wealthier farmers are appearing. The landowners have the title Graaf and Jalek has information of one by the name of Savraan who is beginning to become unhappy with the current relationship with Coruscant and the Emperor. Contact will be made to him via a portion of the 5,000 credits paid by Kaida. He is willing to meet in an open market outside of Netassa. The time is noon three days before the prisoner transfer.

5) The most likely vessel that will be employed will be a Guardian-class light cruiser. There is an abundance of these smaller vessels within the Core and Mid-rim

6) Salliche will have few weapons dealers, as it is more an ag society. The weapons that are available there would be primarily for hunting and personal (or homestead) protection. Here on Abregado-rae, it is a different situation. Still, the dangers are real due to the fact that the planet's position in the Core makes for a tight control of weapons. Black Market is the only way and prices will be steep. Part of the 5,000 credits paid by Kaida greased a few palms and has put you all in touch with a dealer. Her name is Loryll Tanin and she runs a small repo and service shop.

7) See #1 and #4 above.

Kaida sipped her cup of caff and pored over the holographic map for several hours. She flipped the display, rotating in in 3D and zoomed in on a portion. There it was. The ambush spot they would. The road the imperials were most likely to take was the most direct route and a portion of it swung close to some trees. That would provide the team not only with cover from imperials, but a place to withdraw should things go south.

A plan began to form in her mind. "Here's what I think," she began and drew out the plan to the team.

:ooc: Here's a very rudimentary plan that will likely change based on how much assistance from resistance elements we have, the weapons at our disposal, and other intel (vehicle blueprints etc) we get:

If North is the top of the map, the W Fair Ave road runs roughly west to east and is the most likely route they'll take. Where the forest (Cederlen Park) borders W Fair Ave, there seems to be A canal or waterway that cuts diagonally SE next to the forest just before the main city. That forest offers our best approach to the road they'll travel on. It minimizes the presence of civilians and hence civilian casualties.

1. We setup a standard L shaped ambush with the length of the L in the forest and the short stem of the L across the canal in the building (if vacant) or maybe even in the canal (all this is assuming we get some resistance help and that we have some anti-vehicle weapons or explosives).

2. When the lead escort vehicle crosses the canal, we blow the canal and the lead vehicle, and at the same time we nail the rear escort vehicle. This halts the convoy. A firefight pins down or destroys any escort/troops.

3. Once they enemy is pinned or destroyed, a rescue team heads out of the trees and frees the prisoners.

4. The rescue team and prisoners fade into the forest to the south. The resistance covers our escape to the Aegis waiting in a clearing in the forest.

5. We fly to freedom.

:ooc: Thanks for not giving me a hard time on my map! I didn't feel like being creative on my own so I Google mapped my home town.  (-D

---

Her name was Abby, and she was an Arkanian - actually an engineered offshoot of that race. Unlike the aloof, albino pure-bloods, her hair was red and her skin had a warm pigmentation to it. If one could get past the grease on her face and all the cuts and nicks on her hands, they would see that she was quite a lovely young woman.

She had been on Abregado-rae for some time now and had had to take work in a local service shop to make ends meet. Room and board was expensive on this planet so her talents were paying off - literally. Abby had just finished working the magno-thermal inducer out of a small induction motor. It had stopped producing electricity and needed replaced. It had been a real hell of a job trying to get her spanner into the motor's small confines, but she always seemed to find a way to get things done. Now the component lay in her hand and by its appearance was ready for the scrap pile. The unit would need a brand new one. That kind of information always made Rizzo happy - the Toydarian who owned and operated the shop. New parts meant more money and most times they got to keep the broken hardware, which always had a scrap value.

The mech looked up to see Rizzo flutter in to the shop. She was not a nice looking creature to observe, unless maybe to another Toydarian, but she was friendly enough to Abby. There was a look in her eye as she approached, "Heard some people talking today." Listening to her boss, but not too interested in another one of her stories, Abby turned to the workbench to see if maybe the inducer could be spared. Rizzo continued behind her, "They were asking questions...something about Salliche. Don't you have some business on that planet? Anyway, these people, they paid some good money to get some information." Abby turned from the bench at the mention of Salliche. "Not to me," continued Rizzo, "No, they paid old Herm for some insight into who might know somebody that might have military grade weapons. Herm is good at keeping quiet to officials, but he can run his lips in his circle of friends - anyway, he sent them to Loryll Tanin. Know her? What do you think is up?"

Farok listened to the Princess outline her plan and he observed her as a teacher observes a student on a class project.

"Your Highness, we also have the E-web blaster." He made no other comments until he heard the finished plan and all their information was gathered.

Sam was also there and he added, "Plus we now have two speeder bikes of our own."

---

:ooc: Also, Jared, your compass points are fine - the top of the map can be north.

"There you are!" Abby said with a great deal of satisfaction as she held up the magno-thermal inducer she had just wrestled out of the small induction motor. She frowned a bit as she inspected the part. "You ain't looking so happy though, are ya? Well, let's see what we can do for ya..."

As she made her way to her workbench, Abigail heard Rizzo return from some delivery. The Toydarian had been good to Abby... Well, good enough, at least, the Arkanian smiled inwardly at her quirky employer. "Got that inducer out," she said cheerfully as the Toydarian approached. "It ain't likely to be wor..."

Rizzo interrupted her. "Heard some people talking today."

Turning back to her work bench, Abby smirked, Here we go... The Arkanian listened to her boss, wondering what Rizzo's "story" would be today.

The Toydarian continued, "They were asking questions...something about Salliche. Don't you have some business on that planet?"

Abby turned back to face Rizzo at the mention of Salliche. Rizzo knew well enough Abby's business.

Rizzo continued, "Anyway, these people, they paid some good money to get some information. Not to me," Rizzo protested when Abby gave her a hard look, "No, they paid old Herm for some insight into who might know somebody that might have military grade weapons. Herm is good at keeping quiet to officials, but he can run his lips in his circle of friends - anyway, he sent them to Loryll Tanin. Know her? What do you think is up?"

The Arkanian frowned slightly. "I don't know..." Turning back to Rizzo, her bright eyes burning with a bit more intensity, "but I'd like to go find out. Mind if I cut out earlier today?"

:ooc: I'm assuming that Abby does know Herm and Loryll Tanin and where to find them. If I am wrong, she'll ask Rizzo to connect her to them. Basically, I am hoping to find out who was asking Herm for information and where she might find them, perhaps approaching them either at their ship or at/around their meeting with Loryll.
[/quote]

:ooc: Aryn - Abby will no old Herm, but has only heard about Loryll. Herm is an old merchant in the market who has been around for a long time and seems to know a lot of peoples' business. Loryll is also a business woman, but she isn't necessarily seen on a day to day basis within the business district. She is wealthy and manages her business from a distance.

I am going to run these threads together with this next narrative.

---

Time was coming soon for the Aegis to lift off.

Kaida had stirred early, cleaned herself up for the day, and exited the ship into a bright, cool morning. She found Sam finishing up a few details with the hangar bay's power exchange and watched him for a few minutes. The droid was built on a battle droid chasis, but had the programming for a mech. Still, she had seen him in combat and knew that the old programs still ran in the background. She approached him, "Sam?"

"Yes, Kaida," he said in his human manner.

"You run an errand with me later?"

"Of course... whatever you need. I will have the Aegis prepared for departure within the hour, so if Captain Whitesun wishes to leave, we will be ready."

"Great, thanks!"

With that Kaida turned back around and returned to the Aegis' primary deck. Her fellow crewmates were also stirring and she found BIT sitting in front of the ship's computer console within the data library. The Aegis was originally built for the purpose of exploration and now had a few compartments that were of little use, or those converted by Caden to serve new purposes. The data library was one such room.

BIT looked up when he saw her, "I ran a batch file overnight to grab info from the net. It took me sometime but I was able to hack into some backdoors and was able to hopefully dredge out some good information." The two began to look at the data stream as it scrolled up the flat panel screen. They were pleased to see that his efforts had been successful. Kaida was also happy that there was another message from her brother. He spoke of a dissident on Salliche by the name of Savraan. The man would be a good contact and perhaps even a potential comrade-in-arms, but Jalek warned that it may cost a few credits to grease the wheel, so to speak.

They spent time reviewing the information and schematics of Imperial military organization and equipment, although most of the data was based on the Republic model. It was only a few years back that the Clone Wars ended, so surely they would be relevant. It was clear that Salliche was under the Emperor's sway and that there would be little assistance from planetary officials - but that would also mean that Imperial presence would be less. At least, that was the hope. Sam, Caden and Farok joined the duo and they moved to the main lab behind the ship's flight deck that was now used as Caden's planning room. The lab tables allowed for three-dimensional holographic star charts, or planetary landscapes, all of which aided him in his mercantile business - now they were being put to the use of combat. From the information gleaned, they began to trace possible routes and intercept points between the re-education facility and the starport. There was a lot of distance between the two and they wondered how accurate Jalek's spy had been with her data. If Kaida's sister were to be moved by air to the starport, than their plan for an interdiction would be for naught. They began to make contingency plans with each option and all wondered if any were a possibility.

After an hour of review and preliminary tactical planning, Kaida left BIT to continue his task. She stood, "I am going to see about more hardware. We may need some."

"Your Highness, we also have the E-web blaster," said Farok.

"And two speeder bikes," added Sam.

Kaida nodded, "Yea, but I want to see if I can muster up anything else. Sam, you come with me?" The droid nodded.

They spent the late morning and into the early afternoon moving throughout the market of Abregado-rae. Kaida was very careful to keep their interests concealed, making subtle inquiries amongst the many merchants and skilled tradesmen. Finally, at the cost of 250 credits, a Toydarian named Rizzo pointed them in the direction of another local merchant whose business was well established and entrenched in many 'things'. Around the market, everyone knew him as old Herm. The Toydarian fluttered away with her new wealth - Sam watching her all the way until she disappeared around a corner.

"Oh well," he thought. "It will be what it will be."

Kaida led him to where old Herm practiced his business. At the same time, Abby ran from her employer's shop in hope of catching up with these folks who were interested in an agro-planet named Salliche.

The sun was arcing the sky when Kara rolled out of her bunk. She felt like her head was being squeezed within a vice. Nausea bloomed within her and she rushed to the refresher. Exiting the lav once she felt well enough, she heard activity of her fellow shipmates. Soft talk could be heard from the direction of the flight deck. Kara again felt like she would swoon, and she knew the one thing that would take the terrible feeling away. She had to get her some more sticks.

Her few items were in her bunkroom along with the last of her money. She looked around. The Aegis had been home for quite a while, but she did not have the desire to follow her once more into battle. Not against the monolith that was the Empire, which her companions seemed to want, heedless of the risk. Kara had no desire to see anymore of her friends die - Britton, Logar, and Brim. And for what? She had no answer to her questions except to escape; to find her comfort within that which she knew. To become once more a nameless face in a huge galaxy.

She quietly strode towards her bunk cabin.

---

:ooc: You guys can run into Kara if you want - not Sam or Kaida (or any that say they would have gone with them) - if you want. I have no problem RP'ing out her final scenes.

Rubbing his eyes, BIT got up for a refresher, heading for the lav to splash some water on his face.  Staring at the computer for so long was beginning to wear on him.  On his way there, he encountered Kara.  He hadn't seen her in some time and she certainly looked all the worse for wear.  Taking a closer look, he vaguely recognized symptoms that resembled those of the overworked and overpartied during his stint as a merc.  "Hey Kara ... didn't see you at the briefing?  What gives?"  He certainly care to go into battle with someone unprepared mentally let alone physically.

"Er, umm, nothing. Wasn't feeling well this morning, so... I wasn't there. You guys pretty much have all this in hand." BIT could feel the edge in the woman. He could also smell the sour scent of alcohol exuding from her. "Just going to my cabin," was all she said as she slid past him and disappeared around the circular corridor of the Aegis.

:ooc: I will get a post up here shortly.

"Not good," the clone thought.  "This won't do us any favors down the road."  He went to find Caden -- he's the captain of this ship, he should know.

Quote from: GandalfOfBorg on Dec 14, 2012, 08:27 AM
"Not good," the clone thought.  "This won't do us any favors down the road."  He went to find Caden -- he's the captain of this ship, he should know.

Caden was in the cockpit, fiddling with the navcomp, when BIT strode in.
He was uncomfortable with attacking another Imperial facility, even though he had committed to it, and was trying to formulate a multitude of quick escape routes, should they need them.
"Making sure I don't have to plot an emergency exit on the fly, with a dozen Imperials on our tails," he said to BIT with an exasperated look on his face. "I think I'd rather have a battleship."

"Hmmm, gimme a hand at the wheel and all you'll need to do is close your eyes and hold on tight... but that emergency route might be needed if we continue with Kara on the mission," and BIT relayed the interaction he had with Kara and his impressions.

Quote from: GandalfOfBorg on Dec 14, 2012, 01:29 PM
"Hmmm, gimme a hand at the wheel and all you'll need to do is close your eyes and hold on tight... but that emergency route might be needed if we continue with Kara on the mission," and BIT relayed the interaction he had with Kara and his impressions.

"How come everybody comes on board and wants to fly my ship," he said with a grin. He really didn't know BIT yet, save that he was good -- very good -- in a fight and seemed eager to help for whatever reason. He was growing fond of the man; he wasn't a borderline psychopath like Logar'Dan, and he was clearly very skilled. "But he's not getting the stick," Caden thought. "I don't even know his name."

"I've noticed Kara," he said simply. "I've been trying to get her clean since I met her, with... mixed results."
He shook his head. "I want to believe she's not a lost cause. She's a good person."

That said, she was a clear risk; a potential loose cannon that -- either aboard the ship or off of it -- could conceivably sell them out for a fix if she was that desperate. It concerned him a great deal -- it was part of the reason he had tried so hard to get Kara straightened out.

He didn't share those thoughts with BIT... but he had a feeling that the man had reasoned this out already.

Kaida took a deep breath, and stopped briefly to look in a store-front window. She pretended interest in the item but she instead studied the reflections around her. Were they being followed? She didn't think so. She had been careful. Her brother Jalek was better suited for this sort of thing. Whatever "training" she possessed had been "on the job" training, so to speak. "On the run" training was probably a better term, she thought wryly. Those first few months when she had been all on her own and constantly on the run came back to her. She felt the old chill, the desperateness again. Her escort had been killed off one by one as bounty hunters and imperial agents had trailed and hounded her.

But now she was part of a team and they were taking it back to them. It both alarmed and thrilled her.

She buried her memories and studied the storefront again. When she was sure they weren't being followed, she rapped her knuckles on Sam's head to get his attention and motioned with a jerk of his head for him to follow. She moved through a side-street and then into an alley, following the directions Rizzo had given. Sam followed silently on rubber soled feet.

She shook her head ruefully. For not the last time she wondered if maybe she should have brought Caden instead. But the Corellian treated the Aegis like his lover and didn't want to let "her" out of his sight for longer than two standard minutes. But Sam seemed...distracted at times. Internal diagnostics were likely churning away at fantastic speeds. Programs to ensure that redundant systems were functioning. And probably a bunch of other things she didn't understand. It all took processing power. She didn't know a lot about droids, but she had to trust that bringing Sam was the right one for this particular purchase.

She paused in the alley way and whispered to the droid. "We're going to need some extra fire-power on this one Sam. I need a special piece of hardware that's right up your alley. Something that specializes in the anti-personal fire power arena." she smiled slyly and filled him in and wondered what the droid "thought" of her idea.

She had read several after-action reports on the units and tactics of the battle droids during the clone wars and hadn't been terribly impressed with the Separatist's choice of grunt troops with their focus on the B1 battle droids. Mindless and underpowered, they made up for their weaknesses with sheer numbers. But the Droideka series... Well, she had always thought that a Droideka battle droid, in just the right situation would be very useful.

Maybe this "Old Herm" could come through for them. This had better be worth it. She had paid some pretty credits to get the information she needed, and if anyone would have access to the equipment she needed, he would.

She stepped inside.

:ooc: Time to go shopping. Here's what she wants Santa Herm to bring in order of priority. She' been a good girl, so stuff those stockings!  ;) She's interested in prices and availability on the following:

• A Droideka battle droid (new vs. used) - the benefits speak for themselves. She wants it reprogrammed to take orders from her. BIT is good with computers and might be able to do that.
• An Astromech Droid - it always helps to have a mobile toolkit around.
• A jet pack - She's envious of BIT's mobility.
• Portable anti-vehicle or anti-air missile launcher and prices for missles
• Land mines?
• Smoke Grenades - useful in various tactical situations, but she wants something that would hide from thermal sensors
• Normal Frag Grenades

[/color]

The shop smelled heavily of engine oil and sweat. It was warm in the daylight sun, even though Herm had two industrial blowers drawing air through the place. Sam and Kaida moved amongst tables of metal parts - some new some scrap, generators, hyperdrive coils and intakes, and sublight engines - all of which were scattered about the room.

A Sullust technician was laying on a flat dolly underneath a power generator when the two walked past. He slid himself out from under his work and called out to them, "Can I help you?"

Kaida turned to see the jowly faced alien - his mouth glistening with either perspiration or drool. She asked for the shop's proprietor and the technician disappeared through a door that led to a back office. A moment later old Herm came from the same door, a large sandwich of multiple meats and vegetables layered between a sliced roll. He wiped his face and looked at the droid and woman.

"Yes, can I help you? Need some parts for your droid, Miss?"

Kaida quickly shook her head and began to talk to Herm about looking for select items and that she had been sent to him through a private referral. Herm took on a cautious air as he listened, all the while eyeing the droid behind her. He didn't need anything stated that could be incriminating and recorded by her companion. He waved to both and escorted them back to his private office.

It took Kaida some time and finally an exchange of credits to the old mech for him to open up about his contacts. The noblewoman started asking about a few items that she was interested in procuring - a droideka droid in particular. The tripod-like battle droids were deadly opponents from the Clone Wars and she knew that surely there had to be some of the units still available in the galaxy. If it could be reprogrammed, it would make for a perfect mobile, shielded weapon system. She continued with her requests of more military hardware from land mines to a portable anti-vehicle or anti-air missile launcher. Kaida ended her list of needs with a personal jetpack and a simple R2 unit.

Herm listened quietly, never really easing his tension, but not closing the conversation down. When Kaida had finished her shopping list, Herm scratched at his stubbly chin and made a half smile. "I think I know someone who can help you, but I am pretty sure you're going to need to show you have the funds before your wishes will even be entertained. You know how illegal a droideka is right now? This Empire that we now live under is confiscating all the weapons that they see from most civillians. They control all manufacturing and distribution and most of the hardware from the war has been accounted for." Kaida didn't buy his last statement - the war had raged across the galaxy, there was no way that everything had been accounted. "Let's see what your friend has to say."

"All right," nodded Herm. "I will arrange the meeting. You'll need to give me some offertory for my contact, or you wont be seen."

"How much?" asked Kaida.

"Four thousand," said Herm matter-of-factly.

Kaida sighed and Sam whistled. The noblewoman displayed the most intimidating bearing that she could muster that years in a political life had taught her, "All right, I will give you four thousand credits but you will arrange the meet and you will let the contact know that this isn't offertory money, but a down payment on our product. Otherwise, me and my people will blow your small business off the face of this planet."

Herm looked uneasy once more. He cleared his throat and softly said, "Okay."

Kaida and Sam stood and began to exit the room. She stopped long enough to set a cred chip on a counter, and then turn around, "Tonight... at 2100 hours."

Exiting the back office, Sam and Kaida reentered the shop to see that there was a new patron talking to the Sullustan mech. An attractive, young woman with long auburn hair stood with hands on hips. She looked at the two as they entered the shop, her eyes betraying that it was Sam and Kaida that she sought.

Kaida passed by the other woman as if she hadn't noticed.

For a moment her insides churned. Was this an imperial agent? Had she been followed after all. Yet clearly the woman wanted to be seen--possibly wanted something from her. Either that or she was a rookie. But if a rookie, how then had she been followed? She had been careful.

Her face remained a studied mask as she and Sam moved outside. She waited until she was certain the other woman was following then she moved into an alleyway, letting her cloak follow after just as the other woman excited the store. "This way," she whispered. They moved behind some crates. She was glad the droid moved silently, his only sound the soft whir of his servos. "This could be trouble. Follow my lead."

She loosened the blaster in her holster and her cloak hung to cover both hands. She didn't quite pull it out, but it was readily available if needed.

Then she waited.

:ooc: Abby, you can follow her out as you please.

Jingo, just so you know... Sam has spent a good deal of time and his personal finances to make himslelf un-droid-like. He characterizes himself as human, trying to emulate them in posture, poise, movement, and speech. He wears a long jacket, kind of like a cowboy's duster and a hat (kind of like Cad Bane's)...actually the Cad Bane characters garb is a perfect example of what Sam wears.

Anyway, he has also padded his feet with rubber to not 'clank' when he walks. So, except for the servo-sounds, he does a good job at emulating a person... at least until you get up close and see his droid face.

This was all part of his development by his former player, Donimator. I just want to stay true to the character.  ;)

---

Kara moved like a ghost around the ship. She heard the soft voices of the two men talking and knew that BIT was reporting her condition to Caden. She didn't care anymore. They could talk about her, think their ill thoughts, be disappointed in her, or whatever. She didn't care. Kara just wanted to get out of the Aegis. She skirted around the circular corridor, past the lounge, and towards the access ladder to the lower deck. From there she could go down the ramp and get off the ship.

She had enough credits in her pocket to make a good score, buy some lunch, and perhaps a bottle. Well, maybe not lunch, she thought to herself with a grin. From there she would need to make some more money... was she coming back? Again the thought of who cares pressed on her and she started down the ladder.

---

:ooc: Again, if anyone wants to intercede with Kara's departure, roleplay it in. Caden and BIT can give me a Perception check DC 14 if they want to notice her pass the main corridor to the flight deck.

With a "Go on with ya" nod from Rizzo, Abby made a quick exit from the shop and headed out to catch up with Herm. She knew the old fella well enough. Herm had been a acquaintance of Pash, and likely would have taken her on himself if he'd had the work. Over the course of the past couple years, they had continued to run into each other. "hopefully, he's not going to be all secretive about these folks," she said quitely to herself as she approached Herm's shop.

Entering in the Herm's place was always a joy for Abby. He vast network of connections always seemed to garner him and his techs with some of the more interesting jobs. Quietly making her way amongst the tables and tools, Abby found Jien, Herm's Sullustan tech, working under a power generator.

"Hey Jien," she called out, causing the Sullustan to near crack his skull against the magnetic conductor. Abby smiled at the tech as he rolled himself out. Switching to Sullustan, she asked, "How you doing?"

Jien replied back in his native tongue, "This unit's been getting the best of me all day."

"Mind if I take a look?" Without waiting for a response, Abby slid under the generator. With in moments, she chirped, "Youse guys got a timing curcuit box lying around. The one on this venting ring," she held out the part to Jien as she slid back out, "has seen it's last days. It's the one connecting the coil coupling to the intake..."

Jien just his head and smirked, "Yeah, yeah... I got it, Miss Wiz. You come here to put me outta work?"

Abby laughed lightly, "Nah, I'm actually looking for..." she turned in the direction of Herm's office, just as two figures walked out the office. That's gotta be them, Abby thought to herself. "Actually," she turned back to Jien in an effort to stop staring, "you know what? I was going to ask to see if youse guys had any linked-carbon diffusors, but I just remembered where Rizzo put them. So, I guess I'm good... thanks!" She made her way to exit.

"Always a pleasure, Abby," Jien called after her.

The pair, a woman and droid, had a bit of a head start, as Abby hit the streets, but she was able to follow them. What are you gonna say, Abby, once you catch up with them, the Arkanian thought. "Just gotta be honest, I guess," she mumbled to herself as she caught up to the pair an side alley. Approaching the woman, Abby's words tumbled out, "Excuse me, ma'am. I was just wondering if maybe youse might be able to help me. See, someone said that maybe youse were looking," she dropped her voice a bit, "to head to Salliche. And, well, I... ah... got some... business on the planet myself. And, I'm wondering if I might be to get passage with youse guys. Not for free mind you... I have some credits saved. And I'm a good ship hand... got a way with machines and all." Abby looked at the droid, "Good with them types too. Upgrades, reprogramming, repairs... you name it, I can probably handle it."

Well, that surely was honest... might want to shut up now before you go telling them your whole life story... The young Arkanian tech paused to take a breath.

"So... yeah..." Abby ended with one of her sweet smiles, shoving her hands in her pockets, looking hopeful.

:ooc: Excellent post, Ayrn! I like how you filled the gaps I left.

QuoteAnyway, he has also padded his feet with rubber to not 'clank' when he walks.

:ooc:Gotchya GM. I fixed up my posts. [/color]

Quote...See, someone said that maybe youse were looking," she dropped her voice a bit, "to head to Salliche...

Kaida rose one eyebrow, and looked the Arkanian steadily in the eye. "We might be, and we might not. I'm not the captain. Who did you say you gave you your information? And supposing we did go to this Salliche, what sort of business did you have there?" she questioned cautiously.

They had been careful and would continue to be careful. No alarm bells yet, but this could turn south real quick. She studied the woman very carefully to detect any lie. It could still be a  trap. Or it could be the contact they needed that could put them in touch with any anti-imps on Salliche.

Or, the other possibility, one she didn't want to consider: someone on their ship had loose lips and--no! she tried to bury that thought. She wouldn't think badly of any of them. They needed to trust each other, especially now, even-- Kara? Her one-time friend had been acting strangely the last several months. Or maybe she was just acting more her original self lately. Ever since Brim and Logar ate space dust, Kara had dipped further and further in dissipation.

Kaida wished now she had spent more time with her, but her training with Master Farok had taken nearly every hour, and Kara had spiraled back into her bad habits.

Abby returned the woman's gaze, not with a hard look, but one of angst with a hint of desparation. They're heading to Salliche, the Arkanian reasoned with herself, but how do I get this woman to trust me. Abby had known of her father's location for almost a year now, and here was the first really chance of getting a step closer... and only fear and distrust seemed to stand in the way... the new way of life under the Empire.

"My name's Abby," the tech began. "I heard about youse from the owner of shop I work at, a Toydarian named Rizzo. She said she heard about youse from Herm and said youse were headin' to Salliche. She knows I have some business there and thought I might try findin' passage with youse, tis all. No harm. I'm just lookin' for my dad... got some information said he was on Salliche."

Abby paused to let the information sink in. "So... maybe I could meet your captain and see if we might work somethin' out?"

Kaida searched the other woman's face and just saw only desperation. Maybe it was all an act. If so it was a phenomenal one. No, she was confident the Arkanian was not lying. There was a lot of desperation under the Imperial's draconian heavy-handedness these days. She saw it in far too many faces.

The question is could they afford to take her along. The better question might be could they afford to leave her behind if she did happen to know details about their little trip best left unshared. Best to keep her close for now, she reasoned.

"Look, Abbey, I can't promise you anything. Personally, I think we could use a good tech on board." That much was true. With Kara becoming more and more erratic, many tasks had fallen to Sam and Caden to fix. "But it's Captain's call, not mine. And we're running on a very tight schedule, so we're leaving as we're restocked, possibly tonight." Hearing no objection she continued. "Very well, follow me."

When they passed by Sam, she spoke out of the corner of her mouth in a bare whisper certain to be detected by the droid's audio intake. "Sam, take up the rear, behind and keep a lookout for any trouble or anyone else following us."

As Kaida led the way through the streets to the starport, She asked questions about the Arkanian on the way. Where she was from. How long she's lived here, how her work with Rizzo. Kaida didn't provide any information about herself, yet or their crew, or their mission.

Once at the ship... 

"Let's wait out here, it's a mess inside with all the restocking going on. Sam, please fetch Caden. Tell him this time we have someone who can pay."

BIT gave a rare laugh.  "Caden, you love your ship, I get it.  But Kara is worrisome, that problem needs to be dealt with soon.  Perhaps when Kaida gets back," he shrugs.  "You know where to find me if you need anything."

The afternoon stretched for the crew that remained behind in the Aegis. Farok and his Twi'lek consort spent the time working within the hold on lightsaber maneuvers and defenses. The former jedi wanted to make sure Ardana had as much training as he could give her before the rest of the gear was loaded back into the hold - primarily the two speeder bikes that sat outside underneath the Loronar's belly.

Sam entered the ship of a sudden and looked at Farok and Ardana, "Seen Caden?" he sked.

The jedi pointed up with his new hand and the droid moved on in silence. Once on the primary deck, he found the captain looking through a few items that Sam was sure belonged to Kara. He dismissed any questions and spoke, "Caden... Kaida and I have returned and we have news. The princess has found a potential dealer in weapons along with someone else." The way the droid hung on the last statement made Caden cringe. Who now wanted ride?! he wondered to himself. Not letting him ask any questions, Sam continued, "You are requested outside the ship in the hangar bay."

Turning to BIT, he finished their conversation about Kara. "If you've got any bright ideas, short of killing her," he said with an uneven grin -- he didn't think BIT the type to leave loose ends, "I'm all ears."

***

He hemmed and hawed as Sam caught him poking through Kara's things, looking for...
"I was just, uh, seeing if," he stammered before realizing, of course, that Sam's metal face wasn't about to show any emotion. "Never mind."

He walked to the hangar to greet Kaida. "What'cha dig up?"
He paused to look at the grubby young woman with her. "And who?"

 :ooc: Perception - Roll(1d20)+12: 11,+12 Total:23

:00: Caden's Perception -

Farok cocked his head to notice how naturally he had used his new arm. He reflected for a moment how quickly the human body can adapt to conditions. He flexed the fingers of his out stretcehd hand with a curious look on his face.

With an ozone cutting flick of his other wrist his blade came up to deflect the incoming blow, "Some day you may get the drop on me and regret the slow reflexes of an old man." He winced and rubbed his shoulder, "the arm is mine but not my own...We are done for the day."

With an abrupt snap Farok shut his saber off and walked down the gangway. Ardana followed suit and went to follow after him, but stopped she recognized the pain of memory at work on her master.

Farok walked down the gangway in order to feel solid earth under his feet. There he saw the Princess and her new companion in tow. With a shrug of his should he rolled his robes over the lightsaber attached at his hip. He didnt speak, but nodded and stepped to the side and gazed at the star port.

Quote from: sdrotar on Dec 19, 2012, 09:14 PM
... He walked to the hangar to greet Kaida. "What'cha dig up?"
He paused to look at the grubby young woman with her. "And who?"

Kaida smiled a greeting to Farok and then beamed as she moved up to greet Caden. "Captain..." her voice oozed honey. She moved up and gave him an embrace. It wasn't really her style--neither was the man her type, well, okay sometimes she found him charming, when he wasn't barking about his ship! Sometimes. Maybe a little. But type or no type, sometimes you had to get your hands dirty. 

She was close enough that from Abby's vantage point it looked like she was giving Caden a lingering hug and kiss on his cheek. Her lips fairly brushed his ears alone. "Play along. She found me. And I was being careful! She might be who we need to get in touch with the people on Salliche...or she might not. I don't think she's lying, but she insisted she talk to you. It's you're call. I don't think we were followed." Then louder as she stepped away. "Well, this is Abby. Abby the captain. She heard we might be headed for Salliche and is seeking passage. Has some business or other there. Anyway, she wants a ride, and has the credits to pay. Plus for the duration, she's good with droids and the like. I told her you're the captain. You decide where the ship goes, not I."

She gave an ingratiating smile and then turned and pretended to inspect the ship's manifest on her datapad mouthing something about checking the supplies. While she walked around the ship looking at the crates and boxes nearby, she surreptitiously studied their newest addition. Her eyes also scanned the starport for any tails that may have followed them.

Quote from: Jingo on Dec 20, 2012, 08:18 PM

She was close enough that from Abby's vantage point it looked like she was giving Caden a lingering hug and kiss on his cheek. Her lips fairly brushed his ears alone. "Play along. She found me. And I was being careful! She might be who we need to get in touch with the people on Salliche...or she might not. I don't think she's lying, but she insisted she talk to you. It's you're call. I don't think we were followed."

He played along as Kaida drew close. He had to admit it wasn't entirely unpleasant.
With Brim and Logar gone, they had room, and they needed credits. If she was a halfway decent tech, so much the better.
There wasn't any need to tell her what they were really doing... not yet, anyway. Kaida was right - they were all safer with her onboard, rather than having someone find out what she knew.

"You'll have to share a bunk," he said to Abby, "but I can get you where you need to go, and I can always use a hand with the machinery."

:ooc: This post lies somewhere between BIT and Caden's conversation, Kara's departure, and Kaida returning with Abby.

---

The two men were very observant and Kara's departure did not go unnoticed. Not only that, Caden noticed that the woman seemed to be carrying more items than a person that would taking a trip off of the ship - especially since Kara had made it her home since Bakura. He wondered what was up and decided it was time to take a look through her bunk.

The Aegis had four passengar/crew cabins that each had a dual bunk. Along with individual captain and first mate quarters, the ship's ammenities were rather nice. Caden had spent some good money in improving said quarters since the ship was his home. And so the Bestinian made his way around the circular passage to where the four crew quarters were and opened the one that Kara was currently enjoying to herself. The Aegis was not at capacity in terms of crew, and so private quarters were available to those that wanted them.

The cabin was sparse, save for the dressed bunks and a few ammenities kept by Kara. He searched the locker closet, bed drawers and the small desk/dresser unit. Caden found more than he wanted. Pulling back a rag of a shirt, he saw evidence of deathstick and stim caplets. Not a user in any sense of the word, Caden was not sure if he was looking at active drugs or used up containers.

"Where are you heading," Caden asked Kara. "That's a lot of stuff just to go hit the cantina."
He let the words hang in the air; without malice or accusation.
He hoped Kara might open up to him, just a bit.

Kara liked Caden. She had since the first day she had met him, defending some woman that had gotten herself too deeply into the business of politics - or at least politicians. Caden had been respectful to Kara, given her a home, and a reason to try and clean up.

But it was too much now.

The ghost of Britton had haunted her since Tantau II. It seemed that nightly his spectre came to her and accusingly beckoned to her, as if she could save him now - bring him back from death. A death that might not have occurred if she had not run. She shook her head. The tremors were startintg. The perspiration. She could not kill the ghost that haunted her unless she buried him in a drunken stupor. Fortunately Brim and Logar had not visited her, but she was not responsible for them.

Kara could not do it. She could not see anymore people that she knew, and liked, die in this pointless struggle. There was an Emperor now, so what! It hadn't changed much in the galaxy. Things were still just as bad as they had been since the war; still as bad since she found deathsticks. Yet, the drugs were the only thing that made life seem right.

Caden watched as the woman's eyes welled up with tears, though none broke away. She stuttered, "C-c-can't do it anymore, Caden. I can't be part of another trip on your ship where people die for nothin'. I can't watch someone bleed out in front of me, again... and I don't want to die. I mean - I know I won't live for ever, but I never saw my life ending due to... well, whatever you guys are doing now. I just can't. I need to find my own way now. Thanks for a place for a while. You are good cap... don't let them pull you in too deep."

---

:ooc: This part of the post is later and is the interaction with Abby, based on Posterboy's General post.

Abby agreed wholeheartedly with Caden's demands - anything to get her the lift she needed to Saliche. She had a few more words with the Captain of the Aegis and then was taken on board the ship to be shown where she would bunk. Abby introduced herself to the rest of the crew and then made her way quickly back to Rizzo's to gather her things.

Ardana, the Twi'lek, liked this new member to the team. She seemed spunky and driven, unlike the woman that she had spent the better part of her time with since they left Tatooine. Ardana had seen many like Kara - male and female. Addicts that destroy themselves and at times bring down those that they love. The Twi'lek looked at Farok. He seemed a new man now, with his new appendage - not just in body but in mind. She liked that. Ardana knew that her time taking care of Farok was over, he had won his battle with the demons.

Sam, who had stayed outside the ship working, observed her leave and then noticed as the others came out. He spoke, "Might be a problem explaining to the new crewmate why we are loading heavy weapons on board, don't you think? Well, at least she will replace Kara in helping me keep up the ship. I wonder if she can fly as well as the Corellian, too?"

Caden and Kaida both wondered at the droid's words. They wondered if Kara would come back before they left in the morning. They also wondered if the new shipmate was on the up and up, and not some kind of Imperial spy.

 :ooc: When Kaida gets a moment, she quietly informs Caden and the others (minus Abbey since she's not sure she can be trusted) about the weapon shipment that night.

Quote from: Jingo on Dec 20, 2012, 08:18 PM

Quote from: sdrotar on Dec 19, 2012, 09:14 PM
... He walked to the hangar to greet Kaida. "What'cha dig up?"
He paused to look at the grubby young woman with her. "And who?"

Kaida smiled a greeting to Farok and then beamed as she moved up to greet Caden. "Captain..." her voice oozed honey. She moved up and gave him an embrace. It wasn't really her style--neither was the man her type, well, okay sometimes she found him charming, when he wasn't barking about his ship! Sometimes. Maybe a little. But type or no type, sometimes you had to get your hands dirty. 

She was close enough that from Abby's vantage point it looked like she was giving Caden a lingering hug and kiss on his cheek. Her lips fairly brushed his ears alone. "Play along. She found me. And I was being careful! She might be who we need to get in touch with the people on Salliche...or she might not. I don't think she's lying, but she insisted she talk to you. It's you're call. I don't think we were followed." Then louder as she stepped away. "Well, this is Abby. Abby the captain. She heard we might be headed for Salliche and is seeking passage. Has some business or other there. Anyway, she wants a ride, and has the credits to pay. Plus for the duration, she's good with droids and the like. I told her you're the captain. You decide where the ship goes, not I."

Abby whistled lowly at the sight of the ship. "An E-9 Explorer! Oh, wow! I've always wanted to get my hands dirty in one of these girls," she exclaimed with joy. Her face beamed like a girl getting a birthday gift. "I once got to work on the radial-imaging scanner of one of these, but never dreamed I'd get to... ooh!" she squealed with delight. "She's got the RX-50s upgrades with the dual-drive thrusters!"

Turning to the captain, she was nearly quivering, "Have youse ever tried a Segnor's Loop with her? I bet she handles like a ship half her size!"

Quote from: sdrotar on Dec 20, 2012, 08:38 PM
"You'll have to share a bunk," he said to Abby, "but I can get you where you need to go, and I can always use a hand with the machinery."

Abby through her arms around Caden, "Oh, thanks, captain! You're not gonna be disappointed, I promise ya that!"

Kaida rolled her eyes at Abby's obvious exuberance and murmured to herself as she checked the crates and stocks around the ship. "RX-50s and duel drive thrusters? Ah Caden. She already has you wrapped around her finger. You're never going to get rid of her are you?"

Quote from: tomcat on Dec 24, 2012, 10:13 AM
Kara liked Caden. She had since the first day she had met him, defending some woman that had gotten herself too deeply into the business of politics - or at least politicians. Caden had been respectful to Kara, given her a home, and a reason to try and clean up.

But it was too much now.

The ghost of Britton had haunted her since Tantau II. It seemed that nightly his spectre came to her and accusingly beckoned to her, as if she could save him now - bring him back from death. A death that might not have occurred if she had not run. She shook her head. The tremors were startintg. The perspiration. She could not kill the ghost that haunted her unless she buried him in a drunken stupor. Fortunately Brim and Logar had not visited her, but she was not responsible for them.

Kara could not do it. She could not see anymore people that she knew, and liked, die in this pointless struggle. There was an Emperor now, so what! It hadn't changed much in the galaxy. Things were still just as bad as they had been since the war; still as bad since she found deathsticks. Yet, the drugs were the only thing that made life seem right.

Caden watched as the woman's eyes welled up with tears, though none broke away. She stuttered, "C-c-can't do it anymore, Caden. I can't be part of another trip on your ship where people die for nothin'. I can't watch someone bleed out in front of me, again... and I don't want to die. I mean - I know I won't live for ever, but I never saw my life ending due to... well, whatever you guys are doing now. I just can't. I need to find my own way now. Thanks for a place for a while. You are good cap... don't let them pull you in too deep."

Caden nodded slowly. He hoped that Kara would find a better path than the one she had been walking, but he valued his own freedom deeply -- he wouldn't think about telling anyone else what to do with their life.
"Thanks for everything," he said, offering a handshake. "Disappear for a while if you need to, but remember that there are other ways to get through life. You're more important than those sticks."
"I won't tell the others. Take care of yourself, Kara."

The handshake turned into a brief embrace, and as Caden watched Kara walk away, he suspected that he would never see her again. It made him sad.
But there were other lives to be saved; perhaps it was best that he got going.
Caden turned on his heel and walked back into his ship; his home.

Quote from: tomcat on Dec 24, 2012, 10:13 AM

Sam, who had stayed outside the ship working, observed her leave and then noticed as the others came out. He spoke, "Might be a problem explaining to the new crewmate why we are loading heavy weapons on board, don't you think? Well, at least she will replace Kara in helping me keep up the ship. I wonder if she can fly as well as the Corellian, too?"

"Sam," Caden replied, clanking his metallic friend in what would be his stomach, "have I ever needed a pilot before? We've got me!"
He took a few steps toward the cockpit, then turned around.
"Don't answer that," he said with a smile, and then a pause. "That's an order."

Quote from: Posterboy on Dec 25, 2012, 08:02 PM

Abby whistled lowly at the sight of the ship. "An E-9 Explorer! Oh, wow! I've always wanted to get my hands dirty in one of these girls," she exclaimed with joy. Her face beamed like a girl getting a birthday gift. "I once got to work on the radial-imaging scanner of one of these, but never dreamed I'd get to... ooh!" she squealed with delight. "She's got the RX-50s upgrades with the dual-drive thrusters!"

Turning to the captain, she was nearly quivering, "Have youse ever tried a Segnor's Loop with her? I bet she handles like a ship half her size!"

"She'll surprise you, if you keep her running right. And I expect you to keep her running right," he said, with a look that meant business. Then a smile crossed his lips. "Welcome aboard."

Quote from: Jingo on Dec 27, 2012, 02:59 PM
Kaida rolled her eyes at Abby's obvious exuberance and murmured to herself as she checked the crates and stocks around the ship. "RX-50s and duel drive thrusters? Ah Caden. She already has you wrapped around her finger. You're never going to get rid of her are you?"

"We need a mechanic, and it sounds like she'll work for the ride," Caden replied, shrugging his shoulders. "It's exactly what we need."
"As for 'getting rid of her', that's more your department... We'll see how she likes what you've got planned."

"You mean how our friends all tend to die at the hands of imperials and dark jedi?" she frowned and shook her head to shake away the memory and the shadows of depression. "I bear some responsibility, since I and my family are hunted by the Empire. But I didn't force any of the crew to do any of these missions." she slammed down the data pad and thrust her hands into her pockets. "What should I do? Betray what I believe in? Take the easy way out? Lose myself in the crowd and in drugs--escape, like Kara?" Discouragement nearly overwhelmed her, and she leaned against a crate and felt Brim's lightsaber heavy on her hip. "Sometimes I want to," she began softly, "sometimes I want to just walk away and ignore it all and say, 'To hell with the the galaxy. Let it fix itself!' But don't you see? History and physics tells us otherwise. It never does fix itself. It requires a catalyst. An ideal. Freedom. I can think of no higher ideal to fight for..." she scrubbed her hand through her hair. "But it doesn't make any of this any easier."

For a moment her troubled eyes studied the happy Abby, watching her tinker with her tools. "She's like a child in a candy ship isn't she?" She stood and faced Caden. "Look, she doesn't have to be part of any of this. I honestly hope she's not. If she's not some imperial spy, when we get to Salliche let's just let her go okay? Hopefully all she really wants is a ride there. I don't want more blood on my hands."

Quote from: Jingo on Jan 03, 2013, 04:13 PM
"You mean how our friends all tend to die at the hands of imperials and dark jedi?" she frowned and shook her head to shake away the memory and the shadows of depression. "I bear some responsibility, since I and my family are hunted by the Empire. But I didn't force any of the crew to do any of these missions." she slammed down the data pad and thrust her hands into her pockets. "What should I do? Betray what I believe in? Take the easy way out? Lose myself in the crowd and in drugs--escape, like Kara?" Discouragement nearly overwhelmed her, and she leaned against a crate and felt Brim's lightsaber heavy on her hip. "Sometimes I want to," she began softly, "sometimes I want to just walk away and ignore it all and say, 'To hell with the the galaxy. Let it fix itself!' But don't you see? History and physics tells us otherwise. It never does fix itself. It requires a catalyst. An ideal. Freedom. I can think of no higher ideal to fight for..." she scrubbed her hand through her hair. "But it doesn't make any of this any easier."

For a moment her troubled eyes studied the happy Abby, watching her tinker with her tools. "She's like a child in a candy ship isn't she?" She stood and faced Caden. "Look, she doesn't have to be part of any of this. I honestly hope she's not. If she's not some imperial spy, when we get to Salliche let's just let her go okay? Hopefully all she really wants is a ride there. I don't want more blood on my hands."

Caden shook his head and smiled; although he found her idealism charming, the woman was way too intense for his tastes.
"When we get your relatives back," he joked, "you need a vacation."

She smiled at Caden's recommendation and nodded. He was right. She DID need a vacation. Needed to relax and open up. Why did she feel so passionately about this fight when so many around her seemed not to care? Was it just her family being taken and hounded that kept her constantly wound up like a spring? Certainly that was part of it.

"I think I might just do that." It was good to talk to him. Pleasant. His carefree manner was refreshing. She needed to get some of that for herself somehow, but without sacrificing her beliefs or ideals. Was that even possible?

"Come on, Cap, you can tell me of some good vacation spots you've been to while we're packing these supplies."