"All right," Shard breathes.  Recon, find out what's going on.  Confirm something is up.  Then either bug out...

...or, depending on how dire the circumstances happen to be, try to deal with it.  But she's not going to mention that out loud.  "Sounds like a plan, Rhijans.  We're going to have to do the old 'part of you', again."  She grimaces.  "That's...going to be tricky.  We don't have the luxury of being part of a group shipping stuff in, and we can't put half the group in irons."  She glances around. "If they talk to me, they'll know something's wrong.  No female stormtroopers."

She frowns.  "Could be a tech, but again, the moment I open my mouth that'll kill any thought of me handling mechanical stuff."  Steepling her fingers, she considers further. "Imperial shuttles will get attention, and that's a problem.  There'll be questions as to why we're there, requests for our orders, etc.  Any way of inserting us under their sensor net?"

Haarmon was trying to stay out of the way. The last time he'd opened his mouth he managed to piss off Shard and the Colonal. But Shard was right. How were the four of them going to manage to walk around without looking like the rag-tag band they were?

And hey! Maybe that was it.

Haarmon raised his hand. "Colonal? Can we get some BII uniforms and badges and such? If Rhijans and Shard were, like, agents, right?" His voice went up a register and sped up as he started to get worked up about the idea. "And Rags'n'Me were, like, informers, or whatever? Looking for some subversives? Or whatever they call them? They we can poke our faces wherever we want, yeah? And look as confused as we need to, yeah? And anyone can talk Agent talk. Way easier than tech-talk, am I right?"

Truth be told, Haarmon wanted to be the agent. Was almost ready to explode at the thought of wearing the badass black suit and flashing the badge around and looking awesome. And, perhaps more importantly, looking awesome with Rhijans. But he resigned himself that Shard was probably the better choice.

He was still plenty excited, though.

Rhijans quietly cursed himself.  It was a point that needed to be discussed, sure, but they could work out details later.  "The important thing we need to know is, do we have anything along those lines available as a resource?  We'll work out the specifics of who's what and how we all fit together later.  But having some credentials would give us options to move around and gather intel...as well as keep us from being gunned down for being obviously non-Imperial when we disembark from an Imperial ship."  He shrugged.

"Unless someone other than the Empire is using the Lambda shuttle..."  To the best of his knowledge, it was a vessel designed by and built for the Imperial Navy...but his knowledge on the subject was hardly encyclopedic.

He tried to get things back on course.  "At any rate...we've got our approach and landing covered, we just need to figure out a way to get around unnoticed once we're on the ground.  We've apparently got quite a few ideas on that one, we can figure it out before we take off.  Are there any other relevant points that we need to know, Colonel?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 23:18, Wed 20 June 2012.

"The main purpose of the shuttle is to get you past whatever the Imperials have in orbit.  It also has the advantage of being better armed than anything else we have available just now." the Colonel explains.  "You'll be given a security code by Paxlo which will get you down to the ground.  As I mentioned, we don't have much in the way of intel about the situation on Osmur, so we don't know how pervasive their sensor net is, so getting in under it is something we can't guarantee."

"How you handle things once you're on the ground is up to you.  You'll need to play it by ear to a large extent."

"We can provide you with Imperial uniforms and we have some suits of stormtrooper armour.  I realise disguises aren't going to work for Juragga, but to be honest, a Wookiee is useful to have with you in case something goes wrong."  He thinks for a moment, "If you need to move around planetside, you might do well to borrow a vehicle.  You might be able to find something that will let Juragga travel with you, out of sight.  Otherwise you'll have to come up with a reason to have a Wookiee with you.  Haarmon's suggestion might work there."

"Just bear in mind that your primary objective is to get home with whatever information you can find.  Combat should definitely be a last resort on this one, if you can manage to avoid it."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Mon 25 June 2012.

"I'm liking that plan," Shard mutters as Haarmon chimes in.  It's bold, somewhat crazy, and...it just might work, she mentally finishes.  "And Rhijans is correct.  We need enough to get in and land.  And move out.  After that, we can work around obstacles in whatever way seems to fit, and find our own route off-planet if necessary, assuming things go south."  They will, she knows.

They always do; but when one walks in with one's eyes open, it makes it easier to adapt.

"As for Juragga...yeah, Haarmon's right.  If we're 'intelligence', we can present him as a Wookie who has sold out."  She snorts.  "It's silly for us to consider, but to the Imperials, who suspect people of selling out everywhere...well, that kind of people assumes there will always be traitors.  He makes for good muscle, to boot." Another shrug. "The big lie.  Sometimes it fails, but if everything else looks good, people tend to buy it."

Sitting up straighter, she nods to the Colonel.  "Sir, we can get this done.  We just need a short time to discuss and pick up whatever equipment this calls for.  I assume we have...well, carte almost blanche for the purpose of requisitioning?  Not a cruiser, but most personal things?"

A humorless smile creases her lips.  "No heavy firepower this time.  Like you say, combat is a last resort, and if we need the heavy stuff on this mission, we're in it deep."

Rhijans gave a tight-lipped grin.  "If there's an Imperial presence there that's worthy of worrying about, any heavy firepower we need, we can probably acquire from them.  They won't know it, of course...but it can be done."  He shrugged and added, "I'm all for holding off on the shooting until no other options are available...gathering intel in a firefight is useless, unless you want intel about how well the enemy fights."

The Colonel confirms that the team can requisition uniforms, stormtrooper armour and various items of small equipment.  He also confirms that they can take some time to prepare for the mission.  "Captain Jalt's ship is prepped and ready to leave when you are.  He will fly you to Dor-Tennia where Kaer Paxlo will arrange access to the shuttle... "

Reldan Jalt interrupts, "Excuse me Colonel.  I take it you want me to fly the shuttle for them?"

"That would be up to the rest of the team.  If they need you to do it, then yes."

"I'll leave you to make your plans.  I've spoken to the quatermaster about providing you with anything you requisition."  A smile, the first one since he entered the room, "Short of a cruiser."

He starts towards the door, clearly in a hurry, "May the Force be with you."

Rhijans sat back slightly, a mild look of surprise on his face.  The Colonel's last words were, to those who listened for it, an astonishing vote of confidence--practically throwing open the Rebels' supply chain to the team.  It would be important to use the resource optimally...

Belatedly, he rose in acknowledgment of the Colonel's departure.  It was a formality that he hadn't observed before...but given what had just been offered to the team, it seemed to him to be reasonable to return the respect.  He'd likely never get to the point of saluting...but this much, he could do.

"Well, at least they aren't asking us to do the impossible with nothing at all," he commented, drily, after the Colonel left.  The undercurrent of appreciation in his voice could be heard, however...a chink in the emotionless armor he presented to the world around him.

He looked over at Jalt.  "Provided our last outing wasn't too traumatic for you, we'd appreciate you at the controls.  None of us has had the chance to become proficient at piloting, even if a couple of us may have a grasp of the basics, and if we go with a cover story of being some kind of Imperial operative visiting with an entourage, a better-than-basic landing will help promote the image."

Anything they want?  This obviously has the upper brass on a hot plate, Shard decides, so disturbed over the idea that she doesn't even grimace at the Colonel's parting words, instead giving them a polite nod and a small salute.  "Thank you, sir."

At least Rhijans sounds pleased.  It's a new thing, but not surprising; if the mission is important, getting given carte blanche would just make sense to a professional of his calibre.  She shoots him a quick look, one eyebrow quirked, then also turns her attention to the pilot.  "Yeah, I'm good with you flying, Jalt," she muses, then shakes her head and offers a crooked smile.  "Nice to have you aboard this one, though I figure you'll regret it halfway through."

Leaning back in her chair, she stares owlishly at the ceiling for a moment, then snaps back forward and completes the motion by standing.  Her back twinges as she does, but Shard needs to move; she's getting jittery sitting there, and sitting around in itself won't do her spine any good.

"I'm liking your ideas about going in as imperials.  As long as  we can make a convincing go of it, and don't shake the ship too much, they'll quite possibly buy it." A grimace twists her mouth. "And we don't come face to face with the Moff's headhunter, of course." 

Seeing Shard and Rhijans rise, Juragga does the same, though it takes a minute for it to sink through the fog into his noggin as to WHY.  They were being given the keys to the kingdom, or at least the requisition room.  A huge vote of confidence, and it sobered the Wookiee considerably.

He still wasn't sure how useful he'd be on this mission; but Juragga could admit to himself he wasn't a thinker, a planner, in any event.  He was a Wook of Action, and he'd stand (or sit) ready to leap to his comrades' aid if they needed him.

"Guuhhhhhrrr," he rumbled.  They'd want You-Why on this one too, he said.  He wasn't sure why, other than to avoid using the wonky translator disc; but his gut told him they'd need the uppity 'droid.

Then he glanced to Haarmon.  He figured the kid's shopping list would be larger.

Haarmon caught the look and shrugged. "All I need is a terminal, really, and I'll take the best one I can find. Someone needs some uniforms. What else is there?"

"If there's a spare suit of armour, I can use it." Reldan interjects, "An extra pair of eyes, not to mention another blaster, can't do any harm.  And I'm damn sure I can pilot one of those Lambdas at least as well as an Imperial pilot."

"I think this is going to work.  Especially if they've got some sort of base we need to look at.  With disguises we can land close to it and get a good look, then get out again without any trouble."

He nods, grinning, "Yep, blue milk run."

At the back of the room, UY-3PO turns as Juragga mentions his name, "Colonel Kourene has already asked me to assist with this mission.  That is why I am present.  It is my belief that he was concerned about your ability to complete the mission without me."

Reldan's astromech droid, R2-O0 responds with a series of noises which don't sound at all complimentary.

Rhijans grimaced at Jalt's reference to the mission as a milk run...he wasn't much given to superstition, overall, but declaring a mission's simplicity before they'd even picked up their first requisitions of gear seemed like a reckless method of tempting Fate.

Still, he said nothing about it.  Not everyone shared his beliefs, just as he didn't share theirs.  The protocol droid's commentary about being included in the mission amused him...but he kept it to himself.  He figured the droid probably wouldn't appreciate a human finding his logic amusing, based on the 3PO unit's complaints about the people at the mine.  No sense antagonizing anyone...he was sure there'd be occasion for that later, and for now, it was best to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

"All right," Shard muses.  "Uniforms.  Armor.  You're lucky, Juragga.  Don't have to put on some secondhand threads for this one.  Secondhand Imperial threads, to boot."

She purses her lips. "That means standardized weaponry, as well.  Imperial stuff.  We can take the heavy pistols with us, but not cart 'em around when we're on the job.  Obviously Juragga gets to keep his bowcaster, but we might be able to swing you somethng even bigger as well.  Makes the point."

A frown of concentration puts lines on her forehead. "Does ISB even have standardized uniforms?  I guess so.  Most of the time they wander around undercover, making everyone nervous.  But they must have something they can pull on when they want to show up and present facts."  The frown transforms itself into a dry smile.  "Wearing it all the time would probably be hazardous to their health."

Even in the Imperial Army, nobody likes a rat.

"ISB aren't as secretive as Imperial Intelligence, so yes, they have uniforms for those times when they want people to know they're being watched.  They also have their own stormtroopers, but they dress just the same as the regular ones.  So a uniformed ISB agent being followed about by a couple of 'troopers shouldn't attract too much attention." Reldan replies.  "Well... it will attract attention, but not the wrong sort.  If you see what I mean."

He stands and stretches, "I'm not so sure we can plan much more.  Better to leave things flexible until we know what the situation is on Osmur.  Unless anybody can think of a good reason why ISB would be paying a visit.  Not that they need one, of course."

It's obvious from his tone that, now the plan is coming together, he wants to get going.

Rhijans grinned wolfishly.  "I don't think we need a cover story for why ISB would be showing up...we just need the people there to BELIEVE we have a reason for turning up.  The less that gets said, the better...especially if there's anything at all that's not square and above-board.  If they're innocent, they shouldn't be worried about why we're there, and if they're guilty, they will want to stay away from us and hope to stay beneath notice."

He shrugged.  "So, do we requisition two or three sets of trooper armor?  Might be best to keep Dak in regular uniforms...a stormtrooper sitting down at a data terminal might be a little unusual, an officer or a tech doing the same should be far less noteworthy."  He turned and looked at Shard, appraisingly.

"I think you need to be the ISB agent, though.  An otherwise innocuous-looking woman in command of her own entourage?  There will be an implied threat of ruthlessness there that should serve our purpose.  Especially if you have your own 'pet' Wookiee hovering over your shoulder, at your beck and call..."

Juragga grinned at that part.  He liked the idea of being Shard's Wookiee enforcer more than he liked the thought of being holed up in a vehicle, waiting for something to happen.

Reldan Jalt considers theit options briefly, then, "Yeah... ISB for Shard, regular tech uniform for Haarmon, nothing for the droids and Juragga.  White suits for me and you, Rhijans.  That should do it, I think.  Imperial issue weapons for the 'troopers and the tech, of course.  Shard can, naturally, carry anything she wants because nobody is going to question an ISB officer about personal gear.  Juragga as her tame Wookiee enforcer can probably get away with carrying a non-standard weapon, like a bowcaster, too."

The pilot chuckles, "This is going to work, I think.  Anything else we might want, and can get away with, or shall we go and wake the Quartermaster?"

"Great," Shard mutters, but Rhijans, as usual, has a solid point.  She would work as an ISB agent, better than he or Haarmon, and the men are needed to fill out stormtrooper uniforms.  She almost makes a mental comment on how well they could pull off the 'filling out', but it would be pointless; thermoplast armor doesn't actually give away any detail.

But the plan itself...  "Gonna have acquaint myself with some Imperial etiquette," she murmurs thoughtfully.  But then, there was that time back on Gravitas III, where she posed as Garvin's slave girl during the 'visit' to the Imperial governor.  Void, was that twenty years ago?

Poor Garvin.

"Stuff..."  Rising, she paces back and forth along her row, studiously avoiding tripping over Rhijans' feet.  "Haarmon should have the latest and best interface gear and personal comps.  The 'stormtroopers' with me should be decked out in the heaviest stuff we can find - that is, top-end military weaponry troopers can carry and you guys can use.  And Juragga..."  She eyes him speculatively.  "Maybe a repeating blaster."

A grimace follows.  "This is for appearances.  ISB agents, when they show up in full uniform, like to make a splash, remind everyone that they have to be wary of stepping on the agent's toes, no matter what their rank is.  ISB can't get away with anything, mind - I won't be sassing off to an Imperial Commander - but it's helpful to present the right image."  An ironic grin twists her lips.  "Hiding in plain sight while playing horns, so to speak."

"For me?" Shard rolls her eyes.  "Vibroblade, some needles, holdout blaster, a standard blaster for the holster, maybe a wire with grips.  They'll scan me, see all kinds of weird stuff, and figure I'm dreaming I'm the Emperor's Knife."

And the cursed murder-stick will fit right in with that.

Rhijans nodded.  "Yeah, we want to keep in mind that, even with our cover story, we still wouldn't be invulnerable.  People would be slow to cause trouble, because there's no telling when, down the line, the repercussions would catch up to them...but if we make ourselves troublesome enough, they WILL do something about it."

He thought for a moment.  "Might be a good idea to take some of the standard-issue firepower for me and Jalt, as well.  I like the notion of making a show of our arrival, but if all we've got is the top-end gear, then we're wasting the potential anonymity of the armor...anywhere we go, people would recognize us because of the weaponry.  It'd be nice to be able to stash the rifles on the shuttle and opt for a more standardized load-out for a little recon work."

He turned and looked at the others, thinking.  "Cameras.  Everyone should have a couple of them, and we need the smallest, most easily concealed ones that we've got available.  Never know when a strategically timed image will make the difference between a major discovery and a puzzling footnote in a report."

He focused on UY.  "Would you be opposed to having a recording device wired onto your optics?  Something that you could access and store still images and short clips of footage from?  When it comes to anonymity, you've got the best cover out of all of us...you could probably wander through areas of the base freely that would get the rest of us interrogated heavily for even trying to enter."

UY-3PO turns to face Rhijans, "I beg your pardon.  For a moment it almost sounded as if you... " he pauses, possibly to gather his thoughts, before continuing, "Perhaps you would like somebody to interfere with some of your more delicate components?"

Reldan grins and shakes his head, "Calm down 3PO.  It's a good idea, and we'll get a qualified tech to do it.  And it will only happen if we can find somebody who can do the work without damaging you."

"Sir, respectfully, I disagree with your statement that this is a good idea.  Would you, might I ask, suggest that a human should have a foreign object connected to his sensory system before a mission?  Or is this good idea only applicable to droids?"

"I would like to offer a better suggestion."  He taps R2-O0 on top of his dome, eliciting a whistle of protest, "R2 units are fitted, as standard, with the necessary apparatus to record and project holographic images."

Rhijans grinned...it started out as a grimace, as the protocol droid voiced his protest, but changed to a grin as he offered an extremely viable option.  "Sorry, I don't work with droids often and didn't realize that we already had access to a recording device already."  He nodded and focused on the R2 unit.

"You might even be a better option for that.  Astromech droids are, if anything, even more safely anonymous than protocol droids.  Plus, on a psychological level, you're below eye-level to most folks...they automatically tend to assume 'small' means 'harmless'."  And I already know that you're quite capable of handling independent orders, he thought, but didn't say aloud.  Based on the touchy responses from UY, he didn't want to run the risk of bruising the taller droid's ego--but he remembered their first mission as a team, and being left with the only option being to follow the R2 unit and hope he was leading them correctly to their rendezvous.  That had gone off without a hitch.

Yeah, he had a lot of faith in Jalt's astromech droid.

He looked back up at the protocol droid.  "And I didn't realize you were so protective of your components, though I can understand that.  I'll keep it in mind."

"A cover story is a cover, nothing more.  We don't want to have to stand up to scrutiny," Shard agrees.  "We want to not be scrutinized.  Much.  I'll leave most of the weapons up to you fellows - you know better than I what you'll need - and just pick up my Assassin of the Month garbage."

She listens to the back-and-forth regarding droid modifications, stifling a snort of amusement when You-Why points out the issues.  "Yeah...I can agree with that."  Then comes the surprise, that R2 units are already set up for such.  Well, that saves us some time and effort. Of course, people will be watching out for cameras on an R2, but as ISB, it really wouldn't come as a surprise if they are found to be recording.

"Works for me," she mumurs, with a small nod to Rhijans.  "Good suggestion, You-Why.  If you have any others, the floor is open."

Her smile falters slightly.  "Just...nobody say anything like 'we might just pull this off without a hitch', right?" 

Juragga smirked as the droid went indignant, then chimed in with "My bowcaster is all I need.  A few grenades might be handy to cover an escape, but a heavy blaster isn't my style."

Not to mention he never had gotten the knack of aiming the things.

Decisions have been made regarding equipment.  It only remains now to see what the Quartermaster has available...