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It had been almost three hours since his companions had disembarked the Aegis on their way to infiltrate the prison, and the ship was quiet.

Real quiet.

Caden hadn't heard his ship this way since back when it was just he and Kex running about the galaxy and the pilot would be sacked out leaving Caden to enjoy the peace. Now the silence was ominous.

The Bestinian sat in the cockpit killing time, waiting for the word- either to come rescue the team or to assist in the attack. He had his feet up on the console and his eyes on a computer analysis of the hyperdrive. The Aegis was holding up just fine during the last five hyper-jumps, but it would need some standard maintenance soon. After this mission, they would have to find a place to hole up for awhile and allow him and Sam to put some time into tuning up the ship.

A low sensor alarm started to sound and brought Caden out of his thoughts. He looked to see it was an area proximity alert. The Aegis' sensors were on passive, but still she was emitting minor, high-frequency waves of energy that would bounce back a return on everything around the ship - stones, vegetation, or whatever might be there. The computer than took this sensor picture and kept it mapped as standard. If it changed, the ship would alert all individuals inside that something outside was now different. Usually what would change was the approach of animals... or people.

Caden looked out the cockpit canopy, but saw nothing there. He tapped his console into the lower turrets camera reticule and panned it around. He found them; two humanoids were outside the ship moving between the landing struts and rubbing their hands on the ship's outer skin as if to ascertain that the Aegis was not an illusion.

The two figures were a mix of species - one a human for certain, though his skin was badly burnt from exposure; the other a Weequay. To Caden, it became quickly apparent who was in charge of whom, as the Weequay pointed and the man obediently moved to where his leader commanded. The Bestinian watched as the two moved around below his ship and it appeared that they were sizing the Aegis up, almost as if they were looking for things they could use from her.

The Weequay leader was dark brown with a rugged, if not chisled look, as their species was. He wore a dome like helm, a duster-like jacket and goggles to shield his eyes from the light. His human companion was not so fortunate in his torn up pants and shirt. He was balding but with a ring of blonde-white hair wrapping around his pate, and his pudgy gut bloomed out from under his shirt. Caden could see no weapons on either, but it was hard to tell with the Weequay's jacket. In any case, the Aegis' captain was getting tired of their snooping. It was time to find out what they wanted.

Caden strapped his holster belt to his waist, tied down the end of the gun just above his knee and then went to the command console. He was already tied into the lower turret, so with a quick movement of a small joystick he traversed the two barrel cannon so that it aimed right at the two strangers. Their attention was immediately grabbed and Caden's voice came over an exterior comm speaker, "I am not sure I know what you want, but whatever it is, you'll stop right now. Throw down any weapons you have."

The two strangers quickly did as they were told and Caden spoke again, "One of us is coming out to speak with you. If you move or try anything, I will blow you away." With his last word, and a nod of their heads, the landing ramp began to lower once more. Caden went down and out to meet his new guests.

 :ooc: Apologies for my absence, everyone. After vacation, I managed to get sick enough to be flat on my back for a week. I didn't expect a year's worth of posts during that time.  :-[

***

"Terrific," Caden said to the echoes of his cockpit. "It's just an asteroid, right? Abandoned except for this prison, right?"

As he strode down the deck and towards the landing, he gritted his teeth, hoping that whoever he was about to meet wasn't interested in blowing him away. Immediately, at least.

"All I wanted was a few quick creds, a card game or two; a relaxing couple of weeks impressing the ladies thanks to Kal's largesse, and what happens? Everyone ends up dead, and then the freeloaders I pick up here and there think they're a damn army."

He drew his pistol, pressed the gangway release and shook his head.

"Unbelievable. Next thing you know, I'm gonna be talking to myself."

:ooc: Dude! It is a bummer that life is so busy right now for you! I always enjoy your posts.  ;D

I will give you more to work with tonight or tomorrow.

 :ooc: Sorry I need to catch up as well.  I'll be hammered at work again tomorrow.  Everyone at work is sick, so I'm teaching a double load.

The airlock hatch of the Aegis hissed open and revealed the barren landscape at the base of the lowered landing ramp. Caden put his hand on his blaster's grip, but left the weapon in its holster, as he walked down the ramp. The air was dry and the light was bright after being inside the darker confines of his ship. The rocks around him shone from the sun and caused him to squint. The Bestinian looked left then right and saw his visitors standing passively in front of the laser cannon, but they were eyeing him.

"Hello, sir" said the Weequay in a gravelled voice. Caden could see that the chisled skin was cracked and even more dry from apparrent dehydration - his human companion standing silently by looked even worse. Caden saw two weapons laying on the ground before the two strangers where they had thrown them. One a dusty blaster and the other a crude looking haft with a knife strapped to its end. The Weequay continued, "Are you broken down here? Er... is your ship functional? My ship... my crew... we have been stranded here for some time and our supplies have run out. We could use some food... drink... maybe?"

Caden was certain that the Weequay was speaking the truth about being stranded here. He wondered though, if these two had come with good intentions.

Far away, his companions were entering the maintenance tunnel after examining a foul smelling mutant beast that had attacked them.

Quote from: tomcat on Mar 04, 2011, 10:00 AM
"We could use some food... drink... maybe?"

"Maybe," Caden said, squinting. "Your ship, your crew - where are they? How many of you are... stranded?"
He smiled a bit, acting friendlier.
"What happened? Maybe I can help."

The Weequay's eyes were obscured by the dark blackout goggles he wore. He spoke again, "My ship is over there." Caden followed the gestured direction and saw the great distance of the river-plain below stretch off in the opposite direction of the prison until it met up with another plateau ridge. "We have been marooned here for over ten weeks when an asteroid stuck my vessel. We force landed here and hoped that the resident Imperial prison could aid us. We were turned away under the guns of the facility as if we were beasts. Along that journey, I lost two of my people... we were attacked by large, sickly looking and smelling creatures. We are low on supplies and I am not certain if my ship will ever leave this place... we need food... water..."

Caden sighed. He couldn't help but feel for the two. "Geez, I'm a sucker," he thought.
He collected their weapons and walked back up the ramp, motioning for them to follow.
Once they were all inside, he locked away their weapons and showed them to the galley.

"I expect you both to repay the courtesy I'm showing you today," Caden said, as sweetly as he could muster the warning.
"I'm not keen on having strangers aboard my ship."
The lie almost made him laugh.

"So the Empire knows you're here," he said as they ate. "They didn't follow up with any patrols? Doesn't that seem unusual?"

"The Empire has no cares about this rock. I don't think the Empire even cares about the prison that is maintained here, but keep it only as a place to send people to die," said the Weequay commander as he drank. He wiped his mouth, "Where is all your crew?" he asked while looking around.

Quote from: tomcat on Mar 27, 2011, 05:16 PM
"The Empire has no cares about this rock. I don't think the Empire even cares about the prison that is maintained here, but keep it only as a place to send people to die," said the Weequay commander as he drank. He wiped his mouth, "Where is all your crew?" he asked while looking around.

"Crew?" Caden did his best to look surprised. "Don't need any. Just me and a couple of droids; they're out looking for a mineral vein that might net me something to get me out of this system for good."

He leaned forward, as if he was conspiring with the two.

"I heard the same as you; so I thought I'd come in low, under their scopes and see what I could dig up. Can never have too many creds, y'know?"

:ooc: Because Caden is playing a bit of verbal poker here, I want to get a randomized roll to see how the Weequay is buying it...

Caden Deception roll to determine how well the lie was stated
:00: DC 14 Deception +6, deception level is difficult so roll takes a -5

:ooc: NAT 20!! Caden has them eating out of his hand!  (-D

I will post more in the morning.

"So your ship is automated? And you just have a droid crew? Pretty bold to be out in the midst of nowhere with only yourself and a few mechs." The Weequay stood up, "Do you have more that you can offer than some water for me and my man? I have a dying crew... perhaps you could fly us back to my ship?"

The Weequay commander was not rude, but his race's social skills left much to be desired. In any case, Caden was beginning to feel that these two were after more than he might be willing to give... and he was truly all alone.

"Let's eat," Caden said with a smile that he hoped didn't look entirely forced.
After locking up their weapons, he brought them two meals and a small one for himself.
Then he leaned forward again, as if wanting to be let in on a secret.

"And then, we can talk about why you're really here... and why the Empire hasn't vaporized you yet."

The blaster he had drawn under the table became visible as he pushed back from it and stood up.
"I've been more than hospitable, gentlemen. Now, it's time for some answers."

The Weequay commander's hands rose and his gravelly voice choked in reply, "Hey! Hey! We have no problems here! Just hungry and thirsty..."

All the while the two visitors' eyes glanced around as if looking for a way out.

Quote from: tomcat on Mar 31, 2011, 10:43 AM
The Weequay commander's hands rose and his gravelly voice choked in reply, "Hey! Hey! We have no problems here! Just hungry and thirsty..."

All the while the two visitors' eyes glanced around as if looking for a way out.

"Well, you've been fed and watered," Caden replied. "You're welcome. Now I want to know how you found my ship, and what you want - really want."
He raised the blaster a bit.
"I'm an agreeable man. But that can change."

There was no time for reply, nor was there a signal made, but the man behind the Weequay commander suddenly stood and lunged at Caden.

---

:ooc: Shawn, the human pirate in your ship's lounge is going to surprise with his attack - try to be unexpected in his attack. Of course, you have your blaster aimed on both and you are prepped for anything, but I still want to leave a little to chance. Below is a Dexterity roll that will be against your flat-footed Reflex score... if it beats your Reflex, he will get his unarmed attack (which I am posting below that); if it fails, well... you may do whatever you wish.  ;D

:00: DC 19 Dex +1


The human brute takes a swing at Caden:
:00: DC 19 Unarmed combat +2

:ooc: He missed his Dex check against your Reflex, so he does not get the attack but is making the lunge, which Caden may react to. Let me know what you want to do.

Quote from: tomcat on Mar 31, 2011, 01:10 PM
:ooc: He missed his Dex check against your Reflex, so he does not get the attack but is making the lunge, which Caden may react to. Let me know what you want to do.

:ooc: Caden's going to want to blast him into oblivion. It's a tough way to make a point, but them's the breaks.  >:D

Caden fires his blaster at the man:
:00: DC 13 Ranged +7

The Weequay's sidekick made a lunge for Caden, but did not catch the Bestinian unaware. Caden had his blaster at the ready and fired into the man's chest. The blaster bolt hit him and knocked him back sending him sprawling over the lounge's table and chairs. He hit the deck and did not move again. Caden moved his blaster to now aim at the Weequay's head.

"I will tell you anything you want to know," said the Weequay. "But there is nothing to tell! We saw your ship come in over the horizon. You practically passed directly over us. Me and my mate there decided we'd head off in your direction to see if there was any help." Caden stood looking at him wondering what help really meant. "As for the Imperial base... they don't care that we're here. They don't care that we are dying!"

Quote from: tomcat on Apr 02, 2011, 06:21 PM
The Weequay's sidekick made a lunge for Caden, but did not catch the Bestinian unaware. Caden had his blaster at the ready and fired into the man's chest. The blaster bolt hit him and knocked him back sending him sprawling over the lounge's table and chairs. He hit the deck and did not move again. Caden moved his blaster to now aim at the Weequay's head.

"I will tell you anything you want to know," said the Weequay. "But there is nothing to tell! We saw your ship come in over the horizon. You practically passed directly over us. Me and my mate there decided we'd head off in your direction to see if there was any help." Caden stood looking at him wondering what help really meant. "As for the Imperial base... they don't care that we're here. They don't care that we are dying!"

:ooc: Is there a skill I can use to deduce how authentic the Weequay sounds? 'Cause now I feel guilty.  :(

:ooc: Caden knows the Weequay is now spouting the truth for certain, but he shouldn't feel guilty - there was definitely a feel of unease before from these two. Smugglers and pirates are not philanthropists and especially those that have been marooned and will do anything to save themselves. Finding a working ship that may be unoccupied or occupied by a small crew might make for a good departure source... and Caden wouldn't fool himself to think that they'd take him with them if they commandeered the Aegis.

Go to Wookipedia to get an idea of what Weequays are like.

Quote from: tomcat on Apr 02, 2011, 06:21 PM
"As for the Imperial base... they don't care that we're here. They don't care that we are dying!"

"I believe the last part, but I'm not sold on the first." Caden's blaster never moved from its target.
"An isolated planetoid, with the kind of sensor net that they have? They don't want people here - and they don't want people leaving to tell anyone else where they are."

Caden thought for a moment, then barked, "Sit down. Keep your hands where I can see 'em."
"You're going to tell me everything you know about that base. Everything."

The Weequay commander sat back down. "Sensor nets? The base has a big dish array, but that is it. I don't think there is any satelites around this planetoid... besides, what do you think goes on here? We are on the furthest reach of the Outer Rim! They don't care if we are here... they don't care if they are here! This is a place to be sent to be forgotten. The Empire has soldiers there, but I don't know what for... why not just make it a penal planet and leave prisoners here to fend for themselves. Why observe them? But no matter... smugglers, pirates, and privateers use this space lane all the time to keep out of the sight of the new Order.

"My ship took a hit from an asteroid and I force landed here. My crew is dying... or dead," he said looking over his shoulder. The Weequay was now turning his desperation into trying to lay guilt on Caden. "So, I don't know anything about that stinkin' prison except that we weren't allowed in and they offered no help either! There are some freakish creatures running around the base of that plateau, but other than that, it is a forgotten facility."

Caden eyed his guest. Part of him felt a pang of guilt for killing the man moments before, but in his heart he knew that if the role was reversed, he would be watching his ship disappear in the Tantau night sky. His mind next wandered to his companions, and where they might now be.

---

:ooc: To keep in relation to the other thread, the team is currently resting while waiting to infiltrate the prison.

Quote from: tomcat on Apr 03, 2011, 03:56 PM
"The Empire has soldiers there, but I don't know what for... "

"Neither do I," Caden snapped, "But I don't suspect it's because they've 'forgotten' about this place."
At this point, he realized he couldn't just let the Weequay go - if he let the Imperials know they were here...
"Now what," he thought.

"So," Caden said softly, "You probably wanted my ship - either for parts or the whole thing. Now that you understand that you won't be leaving with either... what's next for you?"

He shuffled his feet a bit, but never moved his blaster.
"Because I gotta be honest with you - this conversation's gotten pretty dull."

The Weequay looked at Caden. He knew it was pointless trying to refute the Bestinian's claims of his intent - neither were dumb enough to believe anything else.

"Well..." he started. "I will return to my ship. Maybe we will live. Maybe we shall die. Maybe... after you are done with your business with that prison we may be able to find parts useful in there to allow me to get my ship off this rock." Caden's face didn't change, or betray his companions, but the Weequay continued, "Oh yea... I know of the team you sent north. We saw them crawling across the rocks earlier. So although it was really well played, your lie earlier about an automated ship is a crock of poodoo."

The Weequay stood up, "I guess I will make my way now, if you will let me, of course."

Quote from: tomcat on Apr 07, 2011, 07:17 AM
" I know of the team you sent north. We saw them crawling across the rocks earlier."

Caden stiffened and he raised his blaster even more aggressively.
"Watching them is all you better have done," Caden snarled. He hated being out of contact with everyone. If the Weequay, his late companion or any member of that crew had tipped off the Empire to his shipmates' presence...

"If not, you'll be envious of your friend over there," he spat, anger almost overtaking him. The Weequay couldn't just leave - not now, when he could just head back to the prison base and try to sell the information he knew about them.

For the briefest of moments, he thought about simply pulling the trigger, but he knew that would make him no better than anyone he was now fighting against, or that psychopath they brought on at Jovan.

Then he had an idea - and he knew he was a bad one. "How far away is the base entrance where you asked for help?"

"The entrance is a good four hour march north of this position. You should know that if your people were making the hike."

Quote from: tomcat on Apr 12, 2011, 10:18 AM
"The entrance is a good four hour march north of this position. You should know that if your people were making the hike."

"Oh, I wasn't thinking of my people making the hike. I was thinking about yours," Caden said sweetly.
He raised his blaster yet again. "How many people are left on your ship, and how far is it from here? What armaments are you carrying onboard?"

The Weequay looked incredulous.
"Maybe I've got a job for you. Pull it off, and I'll see what I can do to get you off this rock."

"There are three others... what is it you want us to do?"

Caden decided to put some of his cards on the table.

"That 'team' of mine should be in that prison right now, giving those Imperials hell."
His look - and his still-raised blaster - indicated to the Weequay that follow-up questions weren't going to be welcome.

"They'll be making enough of a racket that you and your crew should be able to get inside one way or another - either there'll be no guard at all, or a very distracted one. Either way, get in there, take care of a couple Imperials, buy my people some time, and you can have whatever you find in there - I don't want any of it, and there's surely enough equipment to get your ship up and running again. Salvage the rest for creds - it's all yours."

Caden looked at the chrono - if all went well, the others should be inside now; four hours was too long to wait.
"Son of a..." he thought.

"I'll take you back to your ship; we'll fly very low. Convince your crew to go along with it, and I'll fly you all closer to the base - the Imperials know my people are here by now, anyway. You'll surrender all your weapons to me before you board, but you can have them back when we reach the base - and you're off my ship for good."

He lowered his voice to a menacing growl, and pointed his blaster towards the fallen privateer, still on the deck.
"That's the deal. Any funny business, from you or anyone, and I'll burn all of you. Don't like it? You can walk... and take your friend with you."

The Weequay's face cracked a smile, if that is what it could be called. Caden could tell that his deal was to the pirate's liking.

"We can have any and all of the spoils within the prison? Then I accept this deal. When we pick up my crew, I may need some help from you in sustenance - primarily water. But you have it on my honor... no funny business."

Caden wondered if he just made a deal with the devil. He looked once more at the chrono and made some mental calculations of distance and movement. He was certain that the team, if all had gone well, were in the underground maintenance tunnel and waiting for the time Britton had planned to strike."

---

:ooc: time relation to prison attack - only an hour and a half has passed since the Weequay and his companion came on board, it is dark now on the planetoid and the team will not be attacking for another 3 hours. The time it takes for the pirates to be brought back to readiness will probably be accommodated by the time remaining.

Please continue to RP with this thread... I may speed it up to bring you guys together based on the prison attack results.

 :ooc: You've probably figured it out by now, but since we didn't really set a return plan for the strike team... I'm making one up as we go.
Figured they didn't want a four-hour hike back. ;)

Looking forward to finding out what "goodies" are in that base that we weren't warned about... that I may have just handed over.  :|

Quote from: tomcat on Apr 20, 2011, 07:53 AM
"We can have any and all of the spoils within the prison? Then I accept this deal. When we pick up my crew, I may need some help from you in sustenance - primarily water. But you have it on my honor... no funny business."

"Better not be," Caden growled. "We're leaving. We'll navigate by sight, so you'll follow me to the cockpit... after you leave your friend outside."
Caden tried to stay gruff, but couldn't hold out any longer. His voice softened as he said quietly, "I'm sorry."

He wanted to regret it; keep up his tough-guy facade, but in the end, if this new rebellion made him lose his humanity, then what was it all really for?