"Do either of you have Jedi mind powers?" Jack asked Talamon and Ikis.

Ikis shook his head.

"I do," Talamon admitted.  "That's what I was trying to allude to earlier.  I'd rather get in without fighting."

"I might even be able to persuade them to let us in without a Mind Trick," Connus spoke up.  "But it would be good to have as backup." he admitted.

"Let's try them both then," Jack responded.  "The combination might get us through."

Connus took the lead with Talamon close behind him as you approached the Gamorreans openly.  The brutes took no hostile action and seemed concerned only with blocking the doors.

"Good evening my good friends.  We come on behalf of Maya Samaris.  We would like to speak with your boss.  Please, let us pass." 

The Gamorreans looked at each other, grunted and moved aside.

"Thank you gentlemen," Connus replied, sweeping inside.

The deep storage bay was as run-down as the hallways leading up to it, with entire metal plates missing from the floor and a huge, open exhaust shaft near the back of the room. Large crates littered the area, creating the appearance of a haphazard mess, and the air had a distinct smell of sweat and fumes that made the entire area unpleasant.  Flickering lights provided modest illumination, and a burst pipe along the ceiling leaked blue fluid down one wall.

Near the center of the room was an item that seemed very out of place—a large, finely crafted desk made of Japor ivory wood, which meant that the desk was both priceless and rare.  Sitting peacefully behind the desk was an administrative droid with shiny, transparent coverings that let you see through to its innards.  The droid’s single photoreceptor flickered slightly, as though imitating a person blinking rapidly.

At first glance, Switch, the administrative droid information broker, appeared to be the only occupant of the storage bay.  However, upon approaching the desk you also noticed a blue-and-red astromech droid beeping and burbling quietly beside Switch seemingly lost in its own world.  You also noticed a Twi’lek standing quietly off to one side, as well as two rough-looking Humans hiding behind crates scattered around the room.

"We're here to pick something up," Jack explained to the droid, subtly indicating for Connus to help out somehow.

As Connus was already standing in the front, he proceeded: "We are here on behalf of Maya Samaris," he started.

"Ah, yes," the droid replied.  Even from that simple phrase, you could tell that Switch had a male personality and a Coruscanti-Imperial accent.  He could probably fit in among Brentaal’s nobility if he were not a droid.  His voice was cheerful and light, as though his power and prestige left him without a care in the worlds.

"I'm afraid we don't have any chairs but feel free to make yourselves at home," he said, motioning for you to sit on the crates in front of the desk.  "I am Switch, an information broker here on Sel Zonn Station.  And this," he said, indicating the atromech droid, "is my most valued companion, R5-B8."  The astromech tootled a greeting.

"May I offer you something to drink?" he asked.  He then listed off his extensive collection of beverages (a few of which were non-alcoholic), and you could tell that for a droid that did not consume he had exceptionally refined tastes.

"We're here on business, not pleasure," Jack replied politely but firmly.

Switch glared at Jack with his singular "eye" as if he had given him a great insult.

"I'll have a Corellian brandy," Connus said, to cut the tension.

"Nothing for me," Talamon answered.

"I'll take Rodian ale," Ikis replied.

After Switch had his Twi'lek majordomo see to the drinks, he opened up.  "My services are available to anyone who can pay.  Please, tell me, why have you come?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:43, Fri 04 June 2010.

"Well, as we mentioned," Connus began, "we represent Maya.  She has told us, oh great informer, that you were entrusted with the great and important responsibility of receiving and storing some cargo for her.  Some valuable cargo shipped all the way from the Deep Core.  We implore you to provide us with the location of this cargo." 

"Even if I knew what you were talking about," Switch replied.  "What makes you think I would believe that you represent this 'Maya' that you speak of?"

"Switch, please, your reputation precedes you," Connus continued to praise.  "A being of your stature and standing must know everything going on in this station; you surely know our relationship with Maya."

Switch considered the green-skinned Twi'lek for a moment; what seemed like a very long moment.  "Very well, I do know of what you speak.  And I would be glad to hand over the cargo to you for the eminently reasonable sum of..." he made a dramatic pause (the fact that the droid was dramatizing spoke volumes of his independence), "...1000 credits."

Jack looked over at Connus with a dour expression and shook his head a little.

Connus took the hint.  "I'm afraid that amount would put too much of a strain on our resources," Connus replied.

"Well..." the droid hesitated.  "I might be willing to accept less if..." he trailed off.

"If what?" Ikis asked impatiently.

"If some of you agree to supplying me information on a regular basis from wherever your travels take you." Switch answered.

"I will," Connus spoke up quickly.

"There, one of us will give you information from wherever we go," Jack replied, crossing his arms.  He hoped the droid didn't expect ALL of them to give information.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:55, Sat 22 May 2010.

Ikis shrugged, but hoping it would help their situation, he also offered to provide information for Switch.  Talamon was a little confused as to what he should do, but as two of their company had already agreed, and as Jack was not particularly kind to him, he decided to go with the majority.  "I too will provide information for you during my travels," he agreed.

"Excellent," Switch declared.    "Now we may proceed.  The fee is now a trifling 400 credits."

Connus motioned for you all to 'huddle' to discuss.  "If it will make it easier, I can handle all the money for us, and when we part after this mission, I can redistribute the money based on the percentage contributed.  Agreed?"

"Agreed," Jack said.  He had no worries about remembering to get everyone's money back.

Ikis agreed reluctantly, adding "If you steal from me, I will hunt you down and make you wish you hadn't."

Connus gulped.  "Threat noted."

Talamon agreed reluctantly as well.


Connus then paid Switch the 400 credits.

"Thank you," he said, handing the credits to his Twi'lek majordomo.  "Your cargo is in the main docking bay on Blue Deck.  With your current company you may have trouble going there.  Blue Deck is in a section of the station heavily traveled by Imperial loyalists, whom as you probably know do not favor non-Humans.  However it is also one of the few places where Imperial ships dock."  Switch stopped to laugh at some private joke.  "I couldn't help it--hiding it right under their noses; best place really."

"So what is the cargo?" Talamon asked naively.

"That information is beyond my current obligation to reveal," Switch said matter-of-factly.

Connus whispered to the rest of you, "What he really means is, he won't tell us unless we pay him more."  Then he said more loudly to Switch, "What level of investment would we need to make to increase your obligation?"

"A simple 50 credits would suffice," Switch answered.

Connus whispered again, "Is it worth it guys?"

"Yes," Jack replied.  "I want to know what I'm dealing with."

"Very well," Connus conceded out loud.  "Here is the fee."  He handed over the 50 credits.

Switch gladly took the money, again handing it over to his majordomo.  "The cargo, is in fact, an Alderaanian Security agent who has been frozen in carbonite for transport from the Deep Core world of Empress Teta."

"But why is he frozen in carbonite?" Talamon asked.

"I imagine," answered Switch, "that he had himself frozen so that he could be transported as cargo rather than a passenger, reducing the chance that the Empire would find and arrest him."

"Will a carbonite block that size fit on the ship Maya has arranged for us?" Connus asked Ikis.

"It should," Ikis confirmed.  "I don't know exactly what kind of ship Maya's arranged for our transport, but she's a pretty good planner."

"Why Empress Teta?" Jack asked.

Jack felt like he was having deja vu when Switch said ""That information is beyond my current obligation to reveal."

"And oh great one, how much does this information cost," Connus asked cordially. 

The droid seemed pleased by the oblation and replied "A mere 200 credits."

Connus looked to the rest of you to see if it was agreeable.

"Well I'm not doing a job without as much information as possible," Jack explained.

"I agree," Ikis said.  "We need to know as much as possible."  Talamon silently nodded his head.

Connus handed over the money and Switch continued.  "The Alderaanian Security agent was spying on the Empire’s secret interests in the Deep Core. In the months since the rise of the Empire, hundreds of warships have sealed off the few known
trade routes into the Deep Core, only allowing wealthy Imperial loyalists in or out of that region of space. Over the last few months, the Empire has set up the Deep Core Security Zone, and Emperor Palpatine himself has overseen the transfer of large amounts of resources and nobles loyal to the Empire into the Deep Core. The frozen security agent had been scouting one of the dozens of worlds that the Empire had discovered during its recent expansion into the Deep Core."

Before any of you even had time to process this new information, you heard the Gamorreans guarding the bay's entrance letting out death squeals amid a hail of blaster bolts.  Suddenly a familiar-looking Chevin burst into the room with a handful of thugs.

"Ganga Lor?" Connus said, confused.  "What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry to see you're involved in this Connus," Ganga replied shortly, then he addressed Switch.  "So you thought you could hide your deal with the offworlders from me, droid?" The way the Chevin said that last word was as derogatory as any name could sound.  "I'm tired of not getting my cut!  Turn him into scrap heap boys!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:40, Fri 04 June 2010.

"You chose the wrong day, mister," Jack said.

Switch's astromech droid companion and Twi'lek majordomo, immediately ducked for cover (the astromech getting as close to the desk as possible, and the majordomo diving to the floor).  A shot came from behind one of the stacks of crates; you hadn't seen anyone there before, but it must be one of Switch's thugs, as the shot went toward Ganga Lor and his thugs, but completely missed.

As Ganga's thugs had been planning on shooting things up anyway, most of them reacted first.  And as all of you were in between them and Switch, you took the first shots.  Ganga's first thug (GT1) fired at Jack, completely missing.  He then moved to cover behind a short stack of crates.  Another thug (GT2) fired at Talamon, and because Talamon did not have his lightsaber drawn, he hit him in the chest, nearly knocking him down.  The thug then also took cover near the first thug. A third thug (GT3) fired at Ikis, but he missed, so he sidestepped behind a pile of rubble.

Jack aimed for Ganga Lor and fired his rifle.

Jack's shot hit Ganga Lor in his right breast.  He howled, but stayed on his feet.

Talamon then stepped past Jack and used the Force to slam two of Ganga's thugs, knocking over the crates they were hiding behind and killing them.

Ganga Lor caught a second wind and fired back at Jack, hitting him in the chest as well, and nearly killing him.   He then moved behind the pile of rubble as well, and bellowed "What are you waiting for?  This is why I payed you off."  Suddenly, one of Switch's thugs fired...at Ikis.  Fortunately he missed.  Another one of Ganga's thugs also fired at Ikis, also missing.  He then moved behind the crates that Talamon had just slammed.

Ikis turned around and moved over to Switch's thug that had fired at him, punching him in the face and killing him where he stood.  Ikis then took his place behind the cover.  Unfortunately he still didn't have cover from the last of Switch's thugs; but Ikis was able to duck, and the blast missed him.

Connus fired at Ganga's thug that was hiding behind the pile of rubble because from his angle he still had a beam on him.  His shot hit the thug in the head, dropping him.  Connus then moved behind the other end of the pile of rubble so that he could have some cover.

Switch didn't seem too phased at the fact that most of his associates had turned on him.  He quickly turned around and fired at the thug closest to him, dispatching him efficiently with a shot to the heart.

Switch's remaining thug fired at Talamon from behind his cover, but he missed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:27, Tue 08 June 2010.

Jack decided it was time to move into some kind of cover, so he moved over next to Connus.  Once relatively safe he took a deep breath in an attempt to Recover.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Thu 24 June 2010.

Talamon activated his lightsaber and then went after Switch's last remaining traitorous thug.  After sidling around the corner, he swung at the thug and knocked him down for the count.

Ganga Lor didn't seem willing to risk his own hide enough to step out and fire at anybody, but his last remaining thug, who now had a relatively open shot at Switch , fired, but missed.

Ikis moved in closer to the two remaining opponents, but as he knew he could not make it to either one before they reacted, he made sure to pull up short so that Ganga would not be able to get a bead on him.

Connus peaked around the corner of the debris pile, and seeing Ganga's bulging backside, fired at him, but the Chevin was fighting defensively, and Connus missed.

Switch fired at the remaining thug, taking him out just as efficiently as he had his own thug.

Jack took a few more seconds to catch his breath, then moved around the far corner, past Connus, and stopped just short of Ganga Lor.

Jack then brought his gun up and fired.