Consulting the data terminal you learn that there are dozens of cantinas, entertainment complexes and the like within reasonable commuting distance of the starport.  It is reasonable to assume the priates don't travel too far lest they be needed to head off on a mission at short notice.

Outside the bay there is various hawkers and merchants trying to sell everything.  Airtaxis offer to show you the sights, merchants offer you every product imaginable whilst others beg for credits.

Seeing Jamie's team already being assaulted by the hawkers, Cyril's team moves quickly around the corner to avoid the throng.


OOC: Well you have a mission, now all you need is a plan!
This message was last updated by the GM at 12:01, Thu 25 Jan 2007.

Moving to a position next to Cyril, Xil offers him some advice.  "I think we should stop into one of these cantinas, so we can get our bearings straight and make a plan."

Cyril nods at the suggestion, but does not make eye contact.

"That has been my plan since we landed. We must find out which cantinas appear to be popular, and mingle there. We need to find out everything we can about the more infamous people in this place - who to avoid, and who to go to if we ever have 'special needs'. In short, we need to become locals as fast as we possibly can."

Ash had the vibro blade out and was idly glancing at it and swinging it easily with his gate as he walked along.  He gazed around and noted building types, windows, roofs, ranges as he started formulating possible stations to fire from.  His free hand occasionally ran through his hair and he sometimes skipped to some internal tune as he somewhat followed the others.

Xil maintains his position next to Cyril and speaks to him in low, hushed tones. "As much as I would prefer to be looking at these people through a high power scope, I think I could become one of these people.  My question is, 'How do I do that?'  I don't think I have ever done something like this.  What do you want me to do?"

Cyril supresses a smile, then recalls all the times he'd been dropped into a strange place, with nothing but the equipment he brought and an objective to complete by any means. Often, he wasn't even given a clear exit plan.

He looks around, searching for people whom he thinks would be knowledgeable about the goings-on in the underworld, then locks his eyes of the most likely target. He starts to walk towards one of the many dubious characters lining the streets, and replies to Exilim by saying, "I want all of you to watch, listen, and learn. The first lesson I am about to teach you, is about asking the right people the right questions in the right manner.

"Koruusk, you stay beside me. Exilim, Ashlyn and Allen, you three walk behind us. Try to memorize the layout of the place while looking over our shoulders, in case we ever find ourselves in need of a quick exit."

With the formation complete, Cyril approaches one of the hawkers, one of those selling 'companionship', and stares them down. "We just landed here. Know where we could find some work?"

Xil does as he is told and tries to look as comfortable as possible.  But not like he is TRYING to look as comfortable as possible.

Allen follows along, casually fiddling with something on his blaster.

The human who Cyril speaks to has the looked of a man very comfortable in his situation.  Everything about him suggests an honest, dependable fellow.  The merchant's eyes fall over the group with what Cyril recognises as a practiced eye.  A small smile graces his lips as his eyes fall across Exilim, Ashlyn and Allen.  He then turns his eyes to Cyril, his teeth flashing a wide grin.

"New to our town then?  What sort of work is it you be looking for sir?  I know many people and can help you with many things.  Do you need accommodation?  Know the safer eating establishments?  Perhaps I can help you find friends.  The nights can be lonely if you are alone."

Cyril maintains his emotionless face and, with calculated precision, replies, "We're an experienced group looking for an employer that offers physically challenging work. Do you know of any?"

He realizes this is a lawless society, but he knows than one can never be too careful. He waits for the man's reply, keeping eye contact and limiting his movements to the intermittent blinking of his eyes.

Ashlyn had to turn his back and look around to keep from rolling his eyes.  This Cyril guy was a real piece of work.  Ash busied himself with quick glances to suitable sniper zones as he gazed around at the natives and local topography.

He swung the vibro blade lazily and occasionally made slashes with it at imagined foes making suitable faces of victory at the phantasmal kills.

OOC: apologies for my absence. internet was down for awhile and I haven't had time to post while at work lately.

Koruusk's eyes wandered the scene around them deliberately. As a bodyguard it would've been his job to watch for approaching trouble anyway so he took to the task immediately. All the while, though, he listened to Cyril as he spoke. There was something truly slippery about the man and Koruusk felt awkward having to trust him. Still, he would trust the man as long as he didn't betray them. He had to as a fellow squadmate. You had to trust the people you worked with because your lives were no doubt going to be in each others hands.

Every time Cyril stopped speaking Koruusk gave a sharp glare at the merchant. Occasionally it was accompanied by a low snarl. He felt it was also his job, posing as Cyril's bodyguard, to make sure people knew it was a bad idea to cross Cyril. He would make everyone believe that crossing Cyril would quickly invoke the wrath of all six feet and seven inches of him. And how many people wanted to provoke a large trandoshan who by appearances had managed to slay a wookie in close quarters combat? That should be a very short list outside of other wookies. He hoped with all his might they wouldn't run into any wookies though. It would be extremely hard to properly explain himself without blowing their cover.

As he was thinking he caught sight of Ashlyn behind him. He was swinging about his vibroblade, seemingly out of boredom. Koruusk couldn't blame him but he thought it was not the image a group of hardened mercenaries wanted to project. He hated doing it but with sudden quickness he reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"Quit playin Ash! Bossssman'sss workin an we ain't paid ta play around. Keep sharp or I'll shove that vibroblade down yer throat!" Koruusk snarled viciously at Ash.

He felt awful doing it but he was vigilant in protecting what he thought was supposed to be their image. He would apologize to Ash later when they were not in public. Koruusk just hoped Ashlyn would understand. On that note he let go of him with his notably firm grip, turning back to Cyril and giving him a nod that he was doing his job. It seemed to him that while it was Cyril's job to act as the boss and give orders and line up work, it was his job to act as Cyril's bodyguard and the toughest merc and to make sure everyone else stayed in line and followed those orders. He would perform that task dutifully, regardless of how bad he felt about the way it might make him treat some of them. He just hoped everyone would understand.

The conversation between Cyril and the merc stretches on for a good thirty minutes as the pair talk about all sorts of inconsequential matters whilst mingling in their own agendas.  Whilst Cyril is subtlely trying to draw out information about pirate and mercenary organisations, the merchant is continually trying to sell things to the group.  The others tend to lose focus of the conversation from time to time.  Several groups walk past, watching Ashlyn closely as he swings his blade around.

One point of the conversation catches everyones attention.

<b>"Nah there aint no pirate groups around here friend.  We aint got no time for 'em.  If you're looking for merc work though you might find some employment with the Blood Axes.  Their a merchant group, imports mostly, some escort work.  The best pilots and specialists tend to work for them though they tend to be picky.  They hang out mainly at the Spiral Nova over near their base.  Tough joint.  Mostly employees hang out there and they aren't too friendly of outsiders."

"Now the Spicy Lady is a quality establishment for quality folks like yourselves.  Why I can even arrange special visitations for you with the quality ladies, the ones that wont frequent the regulars. . ."

He continues to drone on.



OOC:  Two things are for certain:

1.  There is only so much this fellow seems to know.
2.  Ashlyn's blade waving is drawing a lot of unwanted attention

Cyril nods at the man's statement. Regardless of whether or not there was, in fact, a pirate group here, the information on the Blood Axes was their biggest lead.

"I appreciate your time," he says finally. "Perhaps in the near future I shall take you up on your offer. For now, point me in the direction of the Spiral Nova."

Once the man gives him the directions, Cyril turns to rest of the group, and sees Ashlyn. He immediate confronts the man, slightly irritated that he would attract attention this way, this early. Of course, he was not that new as to give himself away by berating him in an informal manner.

"Put your weapon away, Ash, or I will personally sever your hand from the rest of your arm. Now, let's go."

Ashlyn dodged back avoiding the grapple by the big lizard.  He certainly didn't have to do too much pretending to look terrified of Koruusk.  The reflexive slash when someone came at you didn't even happen.  To cut off the lizard's hand would surely mean bad things for Ash...

He kept his distance, but sheathed the blade and assumed a sullen, pouty posture.  When Cyril finally wrapped up and  then had his words, Ash muttered back sufficiently cowed.  "Sorry boss."

Cyril nodded at Ash's sullen apology. He turned to the direction of the Spiral Nova, and gestured his companions to start walking. Every hour they spent here meant an hour more for people to remember them, and recognition was something they were so fervently trying to avoid.

Allen follows Cyril along in the direction of the Spiral Nova, this time tinkering with his tool kit.

Xil switches the safety on his blaster pistol back to the safe position and follows off in Cyril's direction.

OOC:  Sorry for the delay, as of yesterday, I hadn't slept in two days.  I figured that I would catch up on some much needed rest (got off work, went to sleep, just woke up now, so I had about 11 hours)

Koruusk dutifully fell in beside Cyril, his hand resting on the butt of his bowcaster. By all appearances he was ready to fire at a moments notice. He kept pace with Cyril but his eyes were constantly in motion scanning for trouble.

Receiving directions the group soon found their way across town to the Spiral Nova.  The cantina was located on a corner of a main transit area less than 2km from the starport.

The cantina was quite large compared to its counterparts in town, boasting seating for 200 in comfort.  A small bistro to one side offered local cuisine at moderate prices whilst a sound stage occupied one side of the main bar.  A mixed group of humans, a twi'lek and sullustan were on stage, playing a variety of local favourites, very heavy on the bass and synthesisers.

The articles decorating the walls were varied.  Posters of recent holivids were intermingled with shots of various fighters and transports, all sporting the Blood Axe insignia covered the walls.

The cantina was about half full when the group arrived.  There was a minimum of dregs that populated many of the other local cantinas.  Instead a large number of low-level workers and merchants occupied the various tables.  Many of the workers wore the patch that identified them as members of the Blood Axes.  They looked like mechanics and labourers.

The group quickly found a table that would accomodate them all.  A data display in the middle of the table described the various food and beverages available along with costs.

As the group ordered they made note of their surroundings.  Cyril was quick to note that many groups were taken a keen interest in the group as they were obviously outsiders.  It was also obvious that while most of the patrons wore weapons that fights rarely occured because the furniture was in excellent condition and no blaster scoring marked the walls or floors.

The final point of interest was that none of the people present seemed to be pilots, security or any higher level member of the Blood Axes.  The Blood Axes present were all low-level functionaries.

"No one touches their weapons unless we need to defend ourselves," Cyril whispers to the others.

Cyril waits until a waiter or waitress approaches, then asks them who in the cantina they should talk to regarding employment for the Blood Axes. The place was suspiciously clean for an allegedly tough neighborhood, and it was not a stretch to assume that the real grunts of the Blood Axes were somewhere else in the building, hidden away from prying eyes. After all, this wasn't his first time crashing a hostile organization in a cantina.

If he was a Blood Axe, he'd be watching them through a monitor somewhere, himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:09, Sat 22 Apr 2006.

"Roger that, oh fearless leader." Xil says with only a small amount of sarcasm.  Xil tries to look as nonchalant as he can, whilst keeping an eye out for the impending danger that he feels is coming.

Koruusk looked around the place anxiously. He couldn't help but feel they were being watched. He also couldn't help but notice that no one of reasonable authority was in this room. He guessed there was likely a VIP section nearby but they were not yet recognized by the higher ups in the organization that clearly owned this bar. They had to figure out a way to do that and quickly was better. The longer they were out and about the more recognizable they were and that was not a good thing.

"grrr..... We don't need our weapons to fight this bunch bossss," Koruusk snarled quietly so as to appear he was being secretive but intentionally just loud enough so that someone close by might overhear. "Perhapsss we should jusst announce ourselves?!"

"Do that, and you might as well consider us dead. We will not be able to find employment that way," Cyril replies, impressing upon the rest the need to keep cover. He could not help but appreciate the effort at subterfuge displayed by the Trandoshan, however.

"However, it just might work.  If we tear up the whole lot of them in here, their employers just might think we are hiring material and give us jobs."  Xil says in a hushed undertone to Cyril.

Ashlyn got up and walked to the main bar where he took a seat.  His fingers drummed on the countertop as he waited for the bartender to acknowledge him.

The mumbled voices and guarded looks from many of the small groups of Blood Axes made it apparent Cyril's group was the topic of their conversations.  The atmosphere was less than friendly.  Noone came to the table to take an order and the group was left alone.

A barkeep, human or close enough, came over to Ashlyn.  "Name yer poison."  It wasn't much of a question.  More like a professional curtesy as the man eyed the oddball that sat before him.

Those at the table notice three Blood Axes get up and head in Ashlyn's direction.

"We will sit back, for now, and let Ashlyn handle himself. Koruusk, you be ready to stand up a moment's notice, to act as if I'm sending you to the bar to tell the bartender what drinks we'll be ordering."

Cyril, for his part, lays relaxed on his seat whil still keeping himself firmly in character.

Allen just sits there, glancing at various things around him, his hand twitching each time as though he were itching to try out his toolkit on them.

Ashlyn slouched a bit in a comfortable position.  "Maka'wati Bularg."  He ordered without hesitation.  He glanced left and right at the attention he had garnered and just grinned.  His fingers drumbed on the bar as if he had a whole lot of adrenaline and nowhere to vent it.

After waiting fruitlessly for someone to serve them the group finally realise that nobody actually waits the tables (or at theirs anyhow) and order their drinks.  Time passes and still nobody shows the slightest bit of interest in them.  Clearly nobody plans to approach the group.

"Look around," Cyril Hyquin says to the group. He points out the scene playing all around them with his eyes. At the entrance, the Blood Axes who just arrived immediately turn around and make a hasty exit, while the multitude already in the bar were filing off to a corner near the bar that hid them from view. Slowly, but surely, the Blood Axes were making themselves scarce.

"Something is about to happen, and I fear it is going to happen to us. Make haste, everyone. Stand up and walk calmly to the bar and make it look like we're just going to pick up Ashlyn - but keep your weapons ready to be drawn. We must follow the crowd that disappeared that way, but of course, we may not be welcome."

"Also, I noticed this place sure has alot of cameras and other security elements then your standard dive.  I wouldn't be surprised if we were being watched by more than the patrons of this bar."  Xil stands up and heads toward the bar as directed.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Wed 07 June 2006.

"Indeed.  I feel as if we don't belong here and everyone else does as well."

OOC:  Was hoping for another response or two but guess we move on!


The group slowly stand and saunter over to the bar.  Some patrons give the group a quick glance but nobody seems to pay them much attention.  Regrouping with Ashlyn the team saunters around the corner.  Around the corner is a door that leads tot he restrooms and a small archway that leads into a smaller area.

This area is only graced with 3 tables.  Two of the tables sit empty whilst the third has four people playing a hand of sabaac.  All of them have heavy pistols sitting freely in holsters and several stun batons rest on the tabletop.  A door can be seen at the back of the room.  A large sign says 'Employees only'.

One of the sabacc players, looks up from his game with a frown.  Chomping on a cigar stun he growls at the group.

"This is a private area.  Yer got no business in here.  Get out whilst all yer limbs still work."

Cyril steps forward, bidding Koruusk to step beside him. He needed the imposing figure of the Trandoshan to give his speech a little more credence.

"We came in the hope of finding employment with the Blood Axes," he says, locking his gaze on the one that blocked their path. He turned his eyes to the direction of the sign and continues, "'Employees only' means we've come to the right place."

The cigar-chomping man slowly rises from the table and moves over until he is less than a handspan from Cyril.  His cigar smoke blows directly in Cyril's face.

"Perhaps you didn't hear me stranger.  I said you should get out.  The Blood Axes get hundreds of wannabes wanting to join every day.  Unless you got something special that will impress me, you better start walking before the boys teach ya how to bleed."

Cyril represses the urge to cough from the puff of smoke. He keeps his eyes locked  on the man's before replying.

"What do you want to know?" he asked monotonously. "That we 'liberated' some shuttles from some backwater planet, or that we 'tore down' some buildings that were in our way? Sit down, and I'll tell you all about it."

With that, Cyril begins to narrate a believable story, a story that had some ring of truth in it. After all, except for a couple of parts that he had to keep secret, it had been based mostly on his own experience on the field.

The guards seem to grow more interested as Cyril weaves his tale.  Blasters are slowly holstered and batons lowered as Cyril clearly impresses his audience with his tale.

The guard before Cyril takes a step back.  "Well you certainly sound like you know your stuff stranger.  Maybe there's a space for you in the Blood Axes after all."

He sits back down.  "But first you have to prove yourself.  Call it an initiation of sorts.  There's another organisation onplanet, the Yorzek.  Bunch of Trandoshan slaver scum.  Slavery is a dirty business and it draws too much attention to us.  We want their operation dealt with.  There's only a dozen or so of 'em and they only have an old freighters and a couple of fighter escorts."

"Blow 'em out of the sky, stab in an alley, I don't care.  Take 'em out.  Bring me proof of your deeds and I'll present ya to the Blood Axes for potential initiation.  You keep whatever plunder you get from the Yorzek."

"Interested?"

Allen straightens up.  "Sabotage would probably be better.  They wouldn't know who did it."

"Agreed." replied Cyril to Allen's remark. He silences himself for a few seconds, as if contemplating, before turning and deferring back to the man that gave them their assignment. "We'll take the mission, but we'll need to know everything you know about them. It'll be the last time you'll need to remember them anyway."

Cyril then begins to interview the man, trying to glean as much reliable intel on their targets as he possibly could. He knew they would have to return to their base of operations before undergoing the mission, and he wanted to make sure there would be a lot less surprises in store for them than if they simply charged in.

Xil pipes up.  "This would be a good opportunity for me to do some sniping."

The guard laughs.  "Fool.  You want them to know who did it.  This group is an annoyance to us little more.  However the Blood Axes have rules.  We can't attack them.  Its an honour code that prevents all out war between rival groups.  However if you guys destroy them, you not only remove a thorn we can't but you gain a reputation onplanet.  Its the reputation that will earn you a place with the Blood Axes.  You may even acquire yourself some merchandise, depending on how clean you deal with the scum."

"The Yorzek have a small private field on the north side of town.  I'll pop the co-ordinates on a datapad.  That's about all I can tell you.  You wanna earn our respect you have to do it yourselves."

He hands a datacard to Cyril then return to his game.

Cyril took the datacard and slipped into one of the pockets of the jacket he was wearing for a disguise. He gave a slight nod to the Blood Axe as the man went back to his game.

"We will return when the mission is complete," he replied, before turning around towards the exit of the bar.

"Let's go, Crusaders," he said, as he walked past the others of his team, leading them out. Once outside, he began to head directly to the their rented hanger, but about a hundred meters away from the bar, he slowed his walk to form a line with the others.

He began to order them, "Like Exilim, start thinking about what your role in the mission will be. Assume that we may still not have the others around to assist us. We will be returning to the hanger to prepare.

"Exilim, I want you to make sure your rifle is good and ready - if the location is indeed an open field, our best bet at eliminating each target is for some of us to sneak in to flush them out of their hideout, where the rest will lie in ambush just outside their doorstep, with you providing fire-support from a distance.

In fact, your primary targets will be their starship pilots, as well as any that try to escape in their transport. It is imperative that not one starship leaves the ground - in fact, I would prefer to have that transport scrapped, along with the hideout, of course."

Xil perks up with the thought of getting to tag others from a distance.  "My rifle is always ready, but I will give a good once over just to be sure.  Does anybody else with us have any good long range marksmanship skills?"

A hoverbus carries the group back to the transfer station outside the local starport where the Talon's shuttle is berthed.  Nobody pays much attention to the group as they arrive and head to their hanger.

Inside they find Tania at work serving the shuttle while Mark is busying himself at one of the local data terminals.  Zyra is not present, nor is Jamie's team.  Assumedly both are still out on their respective assignments.

The commander looks up from his data sifting to take in Cyril's team as they enter.

"You're back quicker than I expected Mister Hyquin.  Have you completed your mission successfully"  His tone is direct and probing, clearly suggesting Cyril will have to reply in the negative.

Cyril does not drop either of his facades for a moment, and responds rapidly to the Commander. In fact, he doesn't even bother to salute anymore, since his cover holds technically the same rank as the Commander's, planetside.

"Phase 1 is halfway through. We have contacted a local gang, called the Blood Axes, and sought employment with them in order for us to infiltrate the underworld. They are willing to admit us if we take out a group of Trandoshan slavers due north."

Cyril Hyquin hands over the datacard for the Commander to peruse.

"The intel we gathered from the Blood Axes says there is a rule around here that prevents each of the known groups from openly conflicting with each other, thus the need for outsiders such as us. As well, it may be of note that the slavers we have been hired to eliminate are in possession of a startransport and several starfighters, but our main objective is to simply wipe out the dozen or so members of the group...

... and to make sure everyone knows that it was the Crusaders that did it. We are regrouping to rearm - if we have any spare demolition charges or grenades, we would like to requisition them. We intend to make an explosive impact."

Cyril takes back the datacard after the Commander finishes with it.

The commander slides back into his seat.  Instead of becoming jovial at the valuable info he seems to become more reserved.

"Your team has done well Mister Hyquin.  I take it you see these Blood Axes as a major player in this area or else there would be little benefit in gaining their trust.  Can you be sure this is the case?"

"We have an opportunity here, one I am undecided in how to exploit.  We are here on a reconnisance mission.  Wanton assassination was never our mandate, not that we truly had one.  We have no durisdiction here to play lawmen.  Our 'employers' do not have the right to do so in this system.  If things go badly we will be seen as little more as pirates ourselves."

He gazes off into the distance momentarily before looking back.  "This will not be something I can decide for all of us.  If we proceed it will be with everyone's input."

"In the meantime we must investigate further.  What if we did take out this pirate group as the Blood Axes want.  What then?  Will they truly welcome us with open arms.  You say there is some sort of non-aggression pact among the pirates.  If we go in and eradicate a group, what would the others say if the next day we were welcomed into another?  There would be open war."

"If war were to break out, it would be to our advantage.  However I see it as more likely that the Blood Axes would deny knowledge of us or at worst try to kill us to maintain their 'Pirate Laws' as it were.  Maybe Zyra will be of some help there."

He seems to drift momentarily as his mind begins to account for variables and contingencies.  Remembering his place, he turns to Cyril.

"Talk to your team as well as Tania.  See what plans you can come up with.  As soon as Jamie's group returns we'll pursue this further."</b>

Xil proceeds to the shuttle to get his rifle.  He takes out the case and opens it, peering intently at the contents.  After a moment, he closes the case and walks with it over to his group leader, waiting for instructions.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Tue 08 Aug 2006.

Cyril nods after the Commander makes his thoughts known. He turns his head a bit to see Exilim taking out his rifle from the shuttle he decided to keep it hidden away in first. The weapon was certainly going to get a lot of use, soon.

"All right, Crusaders," he says to his group, as he walks to one of the tables. "Tell me what you brought, and how you intended to use them."

Mark busied himself sending several messages.  Afterwards he stood and watched as Cyril questioned his team.  He liked the way Cyril was taking charge but his men seemed not to be taking the initiative.  This was a dangerous sign for he needed quick-thinkers for the challenges ahead.


"Mister Hyquin.  I have recalled the other team, based on the data you have given us.  When they return we shall discuss how best to implement this.  So you and your team need to start planning.  I want recommendations on how to proceed, not just a tally on what's been done."