Log:Resistance: The Azzameen Connection III
The Azzameen Connection III
OOC Date: March 24, 2019
Location: Kabal
Participants: The Resistance: Sapphira Solari, Kare Kun, and Merek. Elrych Cometburn GM Ambrosia Greystorm as Turlok
Kabal was orbited by at least two Corvetts which in conjunction were reinforced by a fighterscreen of old Line TIEs. These ships and their commanders remained silent except for a red fist painted on the sides of the ships and on the panels of the TIEs. They did not approach incoming craft and they did not hail those dropping out of hyperspace. Perhaps they were here on some shore leave after a long tour elsewhere in the universe where mercenary groups could make a few creds. IF anything it was an odd sight as the Resistance team hand picked by LT Yavok breached the atmosphere on it's way to the Capitol of Shoribus.
There was a secret auction for the supposed Hyper fuel they were after... A good chance to gain actionable intel on the players and culprits who stole the fuel from Azzameen station and otherwise caused them a months worth of trouble. A pirate group called the Stranglethorns already had a bid in on the fuel. The goal was simple, bid higher and get the fuel, and or find out where it is and steal it. This was to be off the books.
"Personally I prefer theft," Sapphira explains to the little group she's traveling with today. She's dressed for an auction, wearing a black leather jacket over her red cocktail dress and black boots. Her makeup can only be designed as 'smokey evening'. Her red hair is pulled up in some intricate futuristic fashion without being too overdone. It's "up" enough that when she tucks a knife into it, the knife stays hidden. "But the floor's open for ideas. Either way, we'll want someone on the auction floor, someone sneaking around looking for the fuel, and someone floating to support either if they're needed. Any volunteers?" she asks the little group, tugging on a pair of black gloves as she continues to ready herself for some violence ... or parley. You know, whatever.
Kare is quiet as she listens, dressed in s civilian flightsuit and checking her modified rifle a moment before looking up again at Sapphira. Her gaze sweeps over those gathered and she clears her throat. "I am not one for bluffing or..well sneaking. I would prefer to offer back up and cover to those who need it." She points out and slings the rifle back to her shoulder casually as she gives her hand a sweep through her blonde hair.
A hand comes to rest on her hip as the other hangs loose at her side. "You let me know where you want me and that is where I will be."
Merek has on his mesh weave armor that is placed in black tones upon his attire. He looks like a civilian, his hair has been let down and he has managed some things so he would look less like him, but he's still a bit noticable to those that know him. He checks on his pistol while he nods to the others, "I am more here for if you need someone to work on some computers or shoot, besides that I will try to keep with you folk as I'm more... Diplomatic than stealthy," he says.
As the Ocilu (I'm assuming that's the ship we'd be using) lands on a pad not far from a small warehouse, the occupants can see outside that there are a couple different ships parked here as well with a number of unsavory looking dirtbags moving to and fro or just loitering around. Though ones attention might still go towards the warehouse as it demands attention. Theres a few ways in, including the massive hanger door but more likely entry can be gained from the 'people' sized door in the corner lined by two Houk guards.
"No sneaking?" Sapphira asks Kare with that mischevious grin on her features. "But you're so little, you'd barely make a sound." Says the tiny person. Sapphira does one last weapons check. As she looks down the barrel of one of her weapons, the redhead nods to Merek. "Alright. So you're on the floor to bid for us if we need. You're also going to be our eyes. What the security looks like, if anything sketchy's going on, if we need a distraction. See if you can't find out where the coaxium is being kept too; that'll make life easier. Just keep a low profile until you can't. You're more recognizable than the rest of us." The redhead tucks her weapon away, and checks her comms in her ear. "Which means I'm terribly overdressed. But we'll make it work."
"So," the redhead recaps. "Shorty on support, Private on the floor, I'll be sticking my nose where I shouldn't when we figure out where that is. No overt communication from here on out." Grinning like an asshole, Sapphira pushes to her feet, shifts in her booties, and she'll step out to join the group no-doubt trying to get through the people-sized door.
Letting out a huffed laugh, Kare stares at Sapphira, "Snap is quieter than I am. I prefer to light it up and not sneak around but I suppose I could give these nimble feet a go," she says with a smirk playing at her lips for the Lieutenant. She turns her attention to Merek when he is given his role and nods to him, her smile fading to an even expression. "I will follow you for now," she says to Sapphira though she doesn't seem like she's going to enter as she does, stepping off to the side to keep and eye as her hand remains upon her rifle and swings it forward. Adopting a casual stance she makes a not of occasionally figuring out what exactly the Houk have on them for weapons and armor, seeking weak points - just in case. Always be prepared. But it gives her time to move in to help Merek if need be as well. Merek nods a bit while he checks his comms, then he takes a moment to place his pistol into the holster. Best to not draw attention, and he takes a cigarillo with some tabac spice in it to light up, while he takes a drag from that. He also checks the holsters of his weapons to make sure the sigil of the Resistance has a leather on it also. He also checks his credits, "And, what folk don't like credits, just in case we need a bribe, you know? I don't mind managing some of my own money to that if the diplomacy doesn't work." He looks to the others, to wait and know which path he will be taking into the place.
The houk look mean but don't often like to handle ranged weapons. Instead this two giant scaley lizards weild vibro-ax's as if they were but mere tooth picks. "Hah! I I will show you. Once I return to conquor Grom's Skythrone." One snorts. The other on the left side lets out a hearty laugh. "HA... HA HA HA. You could not touch Grom's Sky Throne. I know this to be true. He is mighty and you could not even be a goo challenge for him. Don't forget the mammal who bested you only a few cycle ago." He clears his throat and stands tall as the group makes their way towards them. "Rktor... Look sharp..." He takes a deep breath. "What is the password?" He inquires of those attempting to gain entry.
Sapphira's stride doesn't slow as she approaches the Grom-fans. Everyone appreciates a good Grom-fan, and so the two Houks get a wide white-toothed grin from the redhead. "Garmanbozia. And he's right, Rktor," Sapphira says, jerking her head toward Zktor, the other Houk. "The Sky Throne is untouchable." With that, and the open doors, Sapphira's continued stride will take her directly inside. Hopefully no one bats an eye.
Sapphira can handle all the password type stuff as Kare allows her gaze to flit after Merek before she listens to Sapphira and gives a rather firm nod as she follows the other woman in, keeping her gun pointed down before she catches something up ahead down the hall. She reaches out to touch the Lieutenant faintly and leans in to keep her voice low. "Up ahead...behind that force field. Something about volatile cargo and taking care not to drop it. I think that's our target." She offers her and steps back to keep herself looking as if they might be separate entities with interest in what is going on. She hangs back a step or two, dark eyes attempting to ascertain how big the cargo actually is.
Merek walks into the place with the others, while he tries to look less like he's trying to be noticed, not even talking to the others. He takes a light drag from the cigar while he looks to some of the folk about, and places one of his hands upon the belt he has with the roguish tilt also.
Quite the turnout for this auction, on the other side of that people-sized door with Houk-sized doormen.
Among those assembled and mingling are some rough and tumble mercs with a weirdly floral tatoo around their throats. Stranglethorn vines, coiling 'round and ending in the carnivorous maw that the mature plants are known for. It's not exactly subtle. A few of them are bony-ridged, beefy Krish. And one of /those/ is decked out in a hodgepodge of armored finery a touch nicer and shinier than the rest.
Turlok's patience is waning for the bidding war to begin, but he's found ways to pass the time. One meaty hand clutches a bottle of Bothan Reserve - livin the high life! - while the other clutches his opponent's wrist over a presently trapped astromech's server tray. Everybody loves an impromptu match of arm wrestling! His opponent has in HIS idle hand three of those crystal glasses that once resided atop that tray, no doubt alongside the Bothan reserve. Those muscly arms are closely matched: one Krish, one Klatooinian, and they seem to have reached a stalemate. So Turlok takes advantage of his opponent's lack of bony ridge where he himself is well endowed and headbutts the Klat in the face.
TURLOK WINS!!! The Bothan reserve is promptly chugged straight from bottle, then smashed upon the floor, while the droid makes its wheely escape, zooming a beeline for more civilized looking guests.
Meanwhile on the dais serving as auction block, there are a number of printed cards propped along the edge, representing the objects or services that attendees can bid on. No way was Hemi's Hyperlanes gonna put such valuable items in plain view for the snatching. There are things like 'Free hyperdrive tune-up', 'Three night stay for two at Pleasure Pointe Resort, Zeltros', '200 liters of Raava, from Ethra Brewery, Socorro', 'Liquid Iron', and so on, so forth. None of them happen to read "Coaxium", so perhaps the Iron Fist is running this little operation with a smidge of discretion while here in plain sight.
While the arm wrestling match ends and the crowds cheer on the auction floor, through the force fielded hallway that Kare has pointed out, two humans heft up said container of coaxium that had fallen off the hovering pallet. There are several more containers stacked there. "Heck Jebb, you trying to get us both killed?" One coveral wearing pleb says to the other. If it weren't for their different builds, one fat and the other skinnier than even Sap, they might be mistaken for the same person. Their coveralls have the patches of Heni's Hyperlanes on them.
From out of the shadows comes a more ominious, imperial, and commanding voice. "Be careful with that you blabbering fool... That's our budget for the next few cycles your tossing around." The voice remains in the dark.
Another serving droid passes, and Sapphira plucks up a beverage. She can't drink it, what with her half-liver and all, but at least she can meander with it in her hand. She only glances toward the noise of the arm wrestling. She only has eyes for coaxium, as there are no dangerous men with strong hands to be had around here today. Krish excluded. <<Nicely done, shorty. See if you can't scope out the storage facility and see what we're up against. Private, the goods are already lining up on the dais so I'm going to need you to get close to whoever wins the bidding. We're going to intercept it after it's pulled from the stage but before it's loaded onto the buyer's ship, so we're gonna need to know which ship.>> With that, Sapphira and her glass of sparkling something-or-other makes her way to a computer terminal, trying to be oh-so-sly as she typey types.
Another serving droid passes, and Sapphira plucks up a beverage. She can't drink it, what with her half-liver and all, but at least she can meander with it in her hand. She only glances toward the noise of the arm wrestling. She only has eyes for coaxium, as there are no dangerous men with strong hands to be had around here today. Krish excluded. <<Nicely done, shorty. See if you can't scope out the storage facility and see what we're up against, since that's likely our exit point. Private, keep an eye on my six and make sure none of the security get nosey. Start thinking of a proper distraction, cause we're gonna need one.>> With that, Sapphira and her glass of sparkling something-or-other makes her way to a computer terminal, trying to be oh-so-sly as she typey types.
Kare takes a note as she starts to slip towards that hall, watching the other attendees all armed to the teeth which only serves to cause her to hold her own rifle a little more firmly in her hands. She glances aside, pausing in midstride as she spots something, her brows furrowing before tilting her head into her hand as she speaks over the comms once she has enough buffer room from those around her. <<It would seem that they have a cover name for the coaxim. It is Liquid Iron. Most tickets are being put into that holder for the item. But I will see if I can not get closer. See if our eyes can not get close enough to speak to someone. Remember..Liquid Iron. Also to note, we are going to want to find a back way out if we take it by sneak thief method. Too many people armed to the teeth and someone's going to kill us for it.>>
That said she starts her slow walk towards the back, attempting to get a better view of what is beyond that front room. How far she can get before she's questioned is another matter but she walks like she has the authority to be there.
Merek listens as he hears the note about the six, doing that while he looks to see what might cause a distaction from his observations of the place subtly. He crosses both his arms casually while he watches that.
"Hellooooo, you beautifully big spenders!" A suddenly too-energetic voice broadcasts from hovering drones bobbing aimlessly high overhead. The source isn't hard to spot though, when a snazzily-suited, blue-tufted Omwati woman comes prancing out onto that dais from some unseen point of origin. Maybe she was just quiet and small in the crowd. "Welcome to Heni Hyperlanes' annual fundraiser! We sincerely hope you've enjoyed yourselves thus far, and enjoyed the wiiiiine even more!" Ah-hah-hah-hah what a wonderfully fake smile she has on that petitely pointed little face. There's too much teeth showing under that sharp nose of hers and her yellow eyes are quite dilated. Maybe she hit the pre-party stuff a little hard.
"I know you've all waited for the /real/ fun to begin though, so grab your friends close, your enemies closer, and lets see how deep your pockets go! First item available for bid, is....." Give her a moment. She's kicked some of the big cards over and has to turn them over until she decides upon which to snatch up. "TWO HUNDRED LITERS OF RAAVA! From Zel--er--Ethra Brewery. Soccoccoccoccorrrrrrro! Is anyone thirsty to the tune of 800 credits?" Eleven hands go up.
The owner of the commanding voice steps out of the shadows as the two peons move the coaxium into the secure room and shut it. He is wearing a crisp yet old style imperal uniform. He is also pretty young, about Emon's age. He taps a code and the door locks. "There. Once the winner is announced, give them the proper code and they will have access to the storage room and can load at their desire. But..." He holds up a gloved finger. "Get the creds first." Without another word, the crisp Imperial Officer turns and moves back into the darkness, his boots echoing and slowly fading away.
"Yes Commander Azzameen..." The two movers say in unison.
Sapphira lifts her bright greens from the terminal, letting out a soft 'huh'. She logs out of her session, or whoevers session she piggy-backed onto, and steps back into the room to meander. <<Private, keep eyes on Azzemann too. Get ready for your distraction. Shorty, how's our exit plan looking?>> With the same stride and confidence that got her past the guards, Sapphira moves through the room while the bidding begins, pressing a few buttons on the side door leading to where all the goodies are kept. A few more steps and clicking of her heels, and she finds herself at the force-field covered coaxium. That, too, is quickly opened. <<I've got the goods. Could really use a back door now, Shorty.>>
Kare comes away from her search not so keen on what lies ahead but she begins to approach that keypad, giving it a long look s it gives them a regular door sized exit - if that will fit the coaxim has yet to be seen. <<Red. There is a regular door back here, locked with a keypad. I may be able to override...give me a moment.>> It takes Kare a moment of tinkering, perhaps taking longer than Sapphira could but thankfully the click of the locks shifting back out of their slots comes with a relieved exhale. <<Back exit is unlocked and ready. Be ready to leave, Private. Red let me know if you need me otherwise I am going to take a forward position as you head my way to offer cover should things go sideways.>> Kare does just that, moving away from that door and closer to the front of that room, readying her rifle. Merek doesn't note a lot of ways he can make a distraction, so he shifts his attention to the front and decides to do what he does best. Be the nobleman. He holds up a hand, "2,000 I will put upon it," he says, while he nods a bit. The beginning of the distraction while the others do what they are doing, likely having some kind of plan for when they actually move on their way also.
Lovely!" says Xi Coo, in response to that modest show of hands. She twirls the big card once in hand, catching it behind her back before throwing out a wildly steep hike in credits. "But let's an a zero to tha--2,000!?" a very avian sort of whistle leaves her lips in the wake of Merek's bid. Suddenly his bid is standing alone. "Those of you who've tasted the nectar upon your discerning little tongues knooooow it's worth the pain..." she tries to work the crowd back into competition but alas, no one takes the bait.
Ambrosia Greystorm says, "Very well. 2,000 credits, going once....twice....SOLD, for a steal, to THIS fine gentleman...." she flourishes an arm in Merek's direction, then coyly crooks a finger for him to approach to receive his card and further instructions.
"Next on the block shall be....." her eyes squeeze shut for a moment before popping open with a fuzzy brow-waggle. "Liquid Iron. I see some of you have already shown interest in this mystery prize, so let's set the stakes a bit higher..."
A 'bit' would be an understatement, for sure. Because "17 million credits, to start." Even /that/ is low, but it's fun to get hopes up. Like Turlok's hopes. the Krish snorts loudly and barks a baritone laugh.
"IS child's money..." he taunts aloud, trying to throw any would-be competitors before thrusting a finger into the air. "Twenty." Still a fraction of the rumored worth, but he hasn't risen to the top of the clan by being a total spendthrift. Under that hardened exterior is a frugal, sensible Krish, when he needs to be. And his fleet needs him to be, much as they need this fuel. That chest sure is puffed though and he shows a sharp-toothed smile to the few ladies suddenly gravitating his way."
Lovely!" says Xi Coo, in response to that modest show of hands. She twirls the big card once in hand, catching it behind her back before throwing out a wildly steep hike in credits. "But let's an a zero to tha--2,000!?" a very avian sort of whistle leaves her lips in the wake of Merek's bid. Suddenly his bid is standing alone. "Those of you who've tasted the nectar upon your discerning little tongues knooooow it's worth the pain..." she tries to work the crowd back into competition but alas, no one takes the bait.
"Very well. 2,000 credits, going once....twice....SOLD, for a steal, to THIS fine gentleman...." she flourishes an arm in Merek's direction, then coyly crooks a finger for him to approach to receive his card and further instructions.
"Next on the block shall be....." her eyes squeeze shut for a moment before popping open with a fuzzy brow-waggle. "Liquid Iron. I see some of you have already shown interest in this mystery prize, so let's set the stakes a bit higher..."
A 'bit' would be an understatement, for sure. Because "17 million credits, to start." Even /that/ is low, but it's fun to get hopes up. Like Turlok's hopes. the Krish snorts loudly and barks a baritone laugh.
"IS child's money..." he taunts aloud, trying to throw any would-be competitors before thrusting a finger into the air. "Twenty." Still a fraction of the rumored worth, but he hasn't risen to the top of the clan by being a total spendthrift. Under that hardened exterior is a frugal, sensible Krish, when he needs to be. And his fleet needs him to be, much as they need this fuel. That chest sure is puffed though and he shows a sharp-toothed smile to the few ladies suddenly gravitating his way."
Azzameen is long gone but the two Henri guys are walking slowly back towards the entrance of the hallways that Sap is heading back towards. They're talking about nonesense. Kare unlocks the back door. Merek gets his expensive Jawa Juice. So far things are going rather well. Sapphira actually starts /humming/ as she leads the hover-cart of coaxium toward the exit. She casts her bright greens around the back rooms, storage areas and all, and catches a glimpse of the two HENRI'S HYPERDRIVE gentlemen. Her hum turns to a thoughtful purr. <<Shorty, come on in through the exit. We're being a little too neat for random thieves. Private, if you get a chance to take out Azzemann quietly, take it. Only if practicable.>> Of course, Sapphira doesn't know what's going on out front. Merek will have some choices to make: follow the orders or roll with what's happening in front of him and make a judgement call knowing that the buyers, if there are any, will follow Sapphira back to pick up their goodies.
With that, Sapphira leaves the cart of coaxium by the exit, out of sight, and turns back toward the HENRI'S HYPERDRIVES men. She smiles broadly to the pair of them. "S'cuze me, gents...." and then there's a pistol, and quiet shots are fired.
At Sapphira's call, Kare moves forward quickly, rushing back up that damned hall when she hears the shots. "Kriff". This is all about to fall to shit now. Coming up on Red she glances at her, "Move it, I got your back from here on out." She is in armor after all and she is motioning to the coaxim allowing Sapphira to push it while she is taking steps backwards to offer cover for her - likely to come from the front room mostly though she is turning to help jog after her and even push the coaxim if she needs help. First priority is to shoot the incoming. <<Best to make your distraction now. We re near the back exit with the prize. Be ready to make your exit when we say.>>
Merek moves forward to exchange for the card, while he nods a bit, then he looks to the person that is making the bid, "25,000 I will offer in that, and let's make the game a bit more interesting," he says. He smiles a bit while he takes the gloved hand to smooth his armor, then there is a *click* as he pulls a frag from the pockets. "No one make a move, or this auction will be finished."
The private takes a moment to flick his finger about on the switch, while he backs up to the door, placing his hand to his belt where the holster also is, "Alright, put your hands up, do not make a move for your weapons, if you make a move the demolitions I have placed in the facility will take this whole place. We're taking all of the credits!" he exclaims with a husky drawl while the frag makes a sound also.
Merek's counter bid of 25,000 causes the entire auction floor to errupt in laughter, after just a moment of stunned silence. The auctioneer titters gleefully from her perch. "Surely you meant /million/, my dear..."
"Thirty-four," comes a snide sounding attendee from across the floor. The Rodian waggles a few extra-jointed fingers at Turlok infuriatingly. Perhaps he comes on behalf of a Hutt cartel, perhaps his own enterprise. But this is now a LOT of money on the table.
"FORTY" booms Turlok, over the sound of that little detonator being pulled from Merek's armor.
Eventually though, those nearest to him do see it and there's a chain reaction of gasps and yells and screams and spilled drinks. The auctioneer has disappeared behind the podium. Turlok turns slowly on booted heel to regard this little human and his threats while the Krish's new lady friends cower behind. "Nnnnn...." he exhales a low growl while narrowing eyes thoughtfully in study of the man. "What cred-its, little one? No one but yourself has promised a sum to the pot."
"THIS IS A FUNDRAISER! For impoverished children of Kafrene!!" chirps the auctioneer from her hiding place. A low murmur starts to replace the frightened noises in the crowd and all eyes - if they weren't already - are now turned to stare at the frag-wielding ne'er do well.
With the distraction underway and literally no eyes on KAre and Sap, the two seems to be in the clear for now. Only question was, how the heck was Merek going to get out of his situation? Certainly they wouldn't just let him walk out. A couple of the tougher looking characters draw their weapons but don't point them at Merek or approach him just yet. That would likely be a bad idea in their estimation.
"Slow your roll, baby girl," Sapphira purrs happily, stepping over one of the bodies she just dropped to the secondary storage room. The door hisses open and inside is another flat of hyperdrive parts. Sapphira lets out a low whistle. "This'll pay our salary, at least. Moreover it'll make sure that it doesn't look like we targeted the coaxium. Go grab that and get it loaded. I'm right behind you." And with that, Sapphira will activate the hover-cart of parts and, in a relaxed saunter, begin to push them toward the exit where she and Kare can make their leisurely exit back to their ship.
Looking from Sapphira to the parts she is bidding her to get, there is a huffed sound from the pilot. She glances at the other woman a brief second before she walks in, shouldering her rifle as she observes. "Well then, look at your little thieving brain thinking of everything. This is why you get to wear heels," she quips and smirks as she makes quick work of tossing them onto the hovercart and then nods, stepping back from the opening and looking back down the hallway. "Time to make our timely get away. Hopefully the Private is on his way out." Little does she know but Sap and Kare will get things loaded and ready to go. Merek moves one of his hands to draw up the pistol while he makes his way back to the door while he points the weapon to them also. He doesn't want to hurt people at the moment, and he clicks a switch which changes the timer on the weapon. He then tosses that into the midst of the people. It is set to a minute so that people can make their way to escape, though they don't have knowledge about that.
The man makes his way from the door if he can, thinking the crowd will make for the door while some look to him, and he takes a few shots of the blaster towards whatever looks like it is important also, if he can also.
"TURLOK HAS HIGHEST BID!" the Krish reminds all present, still clearly expecting there to be Coaxium in his future. But for now...he skidaddles with all the rest, clearing a wide berth around the rolling frag. As fortune would favor, he and the Rodian who bid 34 mil end up behind the same mini bar. By the time that frag goes off, the Rodian may as well have been on top of it, as bad as he looks under Turlok's throttling fist.
As for the Omwait woman on the auction block, she stands by her decision to cower there and it serves her well, made even better by the crushing throng of guests trying to huddle up around her. Meatshields. There's absolute chaos in the wake of the little blast as some bleed and most simply outrage at the unsatisfactory end to their evening of expensive entertainment and charitably-acquired prizes. Like the lady crying about not being able to put in a bid for the Zeltros resort. "Get that man!!!" shrieks the Omwati when the smoke clears and she's disentangled from the dogpile suffocating her. "Securiteeeeee!!!!"
Heni Hyperlanes' popularity just took a hit for sure, but what's worse is that the dude who ended the party was probably captured on event footage. PR fallout might be worse for folks other than the front company for the Iron Fists....
The Coaxium is loaded just before the explosion goes off and Merek makes his way out. There is of course a lot of confusion. The two Houx brothers try to stop the crews outside from going inside but get so overwealmed and confused they just give up and run inside themselves. Lucky there is noone shooting towards the Ocilu as it takes off and heads for orbit... yet. They still needed to get to their jump point and past those corvettes. Luckily, the panic and confusion bought the Ocilu enough time to escape without out reproach from the Corvettes of Iron fist.
