Star Wars Saga: The last, best Hope [AU] - IC

[Liliedhe]

The Droid manages to crack the code... The transmissions - aside from technical stuff - talk about an incoming inspection scheduled for the next day and some funding problems. It seems to be a research station and their shutdown is imminent if they can't justify what they do.

[OldSchoolGamer7]

QT-86

"Your fears seem to be unfounded. Unless this research station is directly connected to one of the Empire's major projects, I believe that we should be able to accomplish our task before the inspection fleet arrives. I know not how many ships they would send, but the increased security because of it will certainly cause us no end of problems getting out of the system." The droid slips away from the console and back against a bulkhead, resuming his usual "silent type" appearance.

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

Rathe hears the tranmissions with a deadpan face.

Thanks QT. Lets get to the meet.

She's looking... cold. Professional. Or angry. Hard to tell with her.

[Ascension]

"Yes, you go on, get to your meet. We're already sitting on the pad, you know," Rissa reminds, "That's why you don't feel like you're moving. If you thought the Light's inertial compensators were that good, well, you don't know the Light as well as I do."

Though her voice remains jovial, she flashes a look of concern in Rathe's direction. She knows that determination in her friend's face, and she knows it means something's up. Likely something beyond the planned scope of the mission...

[Liliedhe]

Yes, the Liberty is indeed already sitting on the walkway, the entrance into the building a mere fifty meters ahead. It might once have been a door, but now it's just a gaping hole in the side of the building, with steel girders jutting from the ferrocrete above it like entrails of a monstrous beast... It is dark behind it.

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

The Imperial doesn't even seem to notice Rissa's jab. She nods.

Right. Reilo?

Rathe bounds out of the cockpit, and down to the passenger ramp, ready to head off into the cavernous depths of this ruined tower.

[Ascension]

Once Rathe is out of the cockpit Rissa leans close to the Light's controls and whispers, "You know I'm just kidding, right, Libby? I really do like you."

[OldSchoolGamer7]

QT-86

With an eerie silence...you'd expect to at least hear servomotors...QT floats along and out of the ship, instantly scanning the surroundings for a place to begin observation. Let's see what happens. You'd think the Empire would have gotten wise and put their covert ops on these ruined planets; they're the only place that the Rebellion seems to have these kinds of important meetings...

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Perception: (1d20+11)[13] to see if I can find myself a cranny to hide out along the way.
Stealth: (1d20+13)[14] if I can find a place to hide and you believe it's necessary.

Edit: I suppose my string of good rolls had to come to an end sometime; at least it won't be fatal.

[Liliedhe]

The floating droid does find a place behind a large chunk of ferrocrete that fell onto the walkway many years ago... He can keep the entrance in his field of vision that way and shouldn't be visible from the inside.

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

The black clothed ex-Imperial starts walking, firmly and confidently, in the direction of the wall, and the meeting... and the informer.

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Were we given instructions about the darkness?

[Liliedhe]

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No, not at all. Just "land at these coordinates, and walk into the middle of the building".

As she draws closer to the hole, she sees a grey shimmer inside - it isn't completely dark, there have to be some other windows or openings further in...

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

Rathe doesn't stop to blink as she draws close to the doorway. She simply closes her eyes whilst in mid step, and continues onward.

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(1d20+17)[32] UtF check for sense surroundings, to... well, do what it says on the tin. Assuming it can work this way...

[Liliedhe]

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That's exactly what it's for, AFAIR.

The large hall contains a lot of rubble, and thus a number of places that could be used for concealment, but there is nobody there. As she walks deeper into it, evading the debris and several holes in the floor, she reaches a round area that has been somewhat cleared. A fusion latern is standing on a square of concrete, with a hooded and cloaked figure beside it who makes no effort to hide.

"Hello, there."

The language is basic and the voice seems to be a human male, but she can't see the informer's face yet.

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Well, blame Ascension, he got me hooked on the movie quotes.^^ They have absolutely NO significance here. Not all. No, seriously.

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

Rathe doesn't open her eyes until the Informer is within a few feet. She's temporarily blinded by the fusion lantern, but recovers quickly.

Hello.

She sits opposite the Informer, with the fusion lantern between them. She tries her utmost to maintain a poker face, but it is a struggle for her. She decides to say nothing, and to let their "friend" begin the dialogue.

[The_Snark]

Jena

Should have brought infrared goggles. It's too late for that now, though, so Jena follows Rathe and Reilo into the gaping hole, squinting to accustom herself to the dimness. Her clothing is a drab grey, chosen to blend into the old, rain-washed concrete and durasteel of Taris; it blends well into the dark interior of the building.

She lets the other two get well ahead of her, following their footsteps at a slow pace and stopping well before she reaches the light cast by the lantern.

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Stealth (1d20+18)[22]

[Liliedhe]

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There is no place to sit down here (unless you want to squat on the floor)

The contact moves the latern to the side, revealing a datapad. As the glow of the illumination shifts, she gets a glimpse of his face - a human with a graying beard and a C-shaped scar on his right cheek. He proceeds to move a datapad towards her, just like it was done on the previous meetings.

"This contains information on where back-up plans of the Battlestation could be obtained. You may check them, I will wait."

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

Rathe, on the floor beside the informer, poker faces, activates the datapad, and starts sliding her fingers over it, accessing it's reserves of information

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(1d20+13)[33] Use Computer check, to access the info, and ID the source if possible. (1d20+13)[30]Knowledge, Gal Lore on the information, to see if it's possible..

[Liliedhe]

It contains informations about several corporations involved in the construction, and access codes for a facility on Geonosis where the plans are supposed to be stored.

The contact just remains standing there and waits for her to examine the goods.

She can't narrow down where the source must come from, the information is too haphhazard - it almost seems like it is pieced together from bits and pieces gathered accidentally.

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

Rathe laughs, in spite of herself, as the information comes up

They outsourced construction? And to Geonosis?

She becomes more serious after her initial light merriment dies down.

I assume you can't, or won't, tell us where this information came from. But I wouldn't put the Empire past a bit of deception. And there is a lot on the line here. How sure are you this is genuine?

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Which corporations?

[Liliedhe]

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Sienar Technologies, Baktoid Armor Workshop, LiMerge Power

"I am sure, my dear. I'm betting my life on it."

Despite the hood shadowing his features she has the short impression of a somewhat roguish smile crossing his face.

"And now, if you don't mind, I would ask you to leave this building again."

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

As you wish

Rathe slowly gets up, but doesn't move away yet, though she half turns to go.

Err... It's not important, but I did have a question of my own, outside the bargin. It's not obligatory of course, but whilst you were here... Would you mind?

[Liliedhe]

"Sure. I can't promise I will answer, but you may ask."

The man moves a step back from the latern, so she can't read his features anymore.

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

This place is supposed to be borderline Imperial. Token garrison, no real economic or strategic value. Might as well be one big desert.

Yet there's a research facility broadcasting in the area. A concealed one at that. On a world like this?

She stares into the shadow, after taking a step back herself, keeping opposite the informer.

We haven't been assigned to deal with it, but I'm curious. Know anything about it?

[Liliedhe]

She can see him visibly start. That was a question he obviously did not expect.

"I do not know anything of an installation here. There are many hidden bases on otherwise unremarkable planets...", he then says after a moment.

"And, please leave. Information about a new meeting will reach you through the usual channels."

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

Rathe notes the surprise with a grim smile. She turns and walks... five steps away, before speaking behind her.

You know nothing of what they're doing there? Truly?

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Direct lie. Oh, what fun! :D

[Liliedhe]

"If you are so interested, why don't you look for yourself?"

Suddenly, the voice is different, the cultured Coruscanti accent vanished. It sounds younger now, the voice from the last meeting...

[Moral Wiz]

Rathe

Rathe is very, very still at that. Her voice when she spoke was... calm.

You're doing his voice wrong, you know. That's why I didn't work it out sooner.

Taunting bastard

She is silent at that. It would be so easy, so easy to pull her lightsaber out and turn it's red glow upon the Informer. Mission or no... To make this arrogant dog fee her pain, feel her anger. Anger that was ju...

No.

She wipes away a tear that had fallen whilst standing still. Her voice is barely level.

Another day, Master Shape-Shifter. I look forward to our next conversation

With that, she turned, and walked towards the unseen Liberty Light.

[OldSchoolGamer7]

QT-86

Typical cryptic organics. They try to hide their plans through thinly veiled mystic or nonsensical comments. Simple encoded documents would serve just as well. They think they're so clever. The droid doesn't move, waiting for a cue from one of the others if they still need it to follow the mystery man.

[Liliedhe]

QT sees Rathe emerge from the building, alone.

Inside, Jena can watch how the contact stays still for a moment, then extinguishes the lantern and moves towards the other side of the building, disappearing into a doorway.

[The_Snark]

Jena

She moves after the emissary, timing her steps with his so that not only will she match his pace, whatever noise she makes will hopefully be masked by his own footfalls. The extinguishing of the light was an irritant, but she'd been carefully looking slightly away from the light, so as not to completely lose her night vision; it still left dancing spots across her eyes, but they adjusted quickly.

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Stealth (1d20+18)[24]

Perception to follow the noise he makes, if needed: (1d20+17)[23]