The cargo on the space barge was mostly empty except for rations and supplies, there just wasn’t much to find despite Lyla’s thorough search. The pirates had evidently not long ago left their hideout to begin their raiding. The pirates revealed that they part of pirate band known as the Scourge. The pirates used the super container ship that the Rebel’s had spotted as a mobile base. The pirates had hideouts in the Dega system and Korad System for storing good and resting when between raids.

Upon request the ship computer database had the following report for Dega.

Dega

Nearly a century ago, Dega was the chief supplier of ore for Radell Mining, but with the mine’s playing out in recent decades, Radell abandoned the planet. Today, Dega is a barren world that’s been destroyed by industrial mining. Rusting, abandoned equipment stands forlornly over the planet. The ecosystem is destroyed, and the only remaining native organism is a tough brown cord grass. The few reserves of water on the planet are poisoned with toxic chemicals. The wind carries a thick choking dust, which causes acute lung pain after a few hours of exposure. The ground below the surface is riddled with unstable mine shafts which stretch of kilometres. Dega is now used by criminals as a meeting place to transact illicit deals. A few organisations even have hideouts scattered about the planet.

Type: Poisoned terrestrial

Temperature: Temperate

Atmosphere: Type II (breath mask suggested)

Hydrosphere: Arid

Gravity: Standard

Terrain: Barren, mining pits and tunnels, scattered hills

Length of Day: 19 standard hours

Length of Year: 295 standard days

Starports: Landing fields

Population: Less than 10,000 (estimated)

Planet Function: Abandoned mining planet

Government: Anarchy, but owned by Radell Mining Corporation

Tech level: Industrial

After the interrogation, Tera relayed her information to the rest of the team. "Ok, so there are some complications. Three of the Gray griffins are still alive on Dega. All the rest of the information is subjective and couldn't be corroborated, with one exception, the leader of this band is Chalmer Trillili"

'Okay, good news on the Gray Griffins.' Lyla accepted, glad they were still alive and that the original mission was still on track. 'Did they say anything about how they made us drop out of hyperspace? Some kind of interdiction field?'

Meanwhile, she tried to look up the Scourge abd this Chalmer Trillili, to learn what kind of man or woman they were dealing with.


OOC: 16:55, Today: Lyla Rahn rolled 29 using 1d20+10. knowledge: galactic lore.

There was little news found about The Scourge. What news there was indicated that they were a small band of pirates operating in the outlying and unpoliced regions of Elrood Sector. More interestingly mention of Chalmer Trillili was not on the holonet but on Alliance command database. Lyla learnt that Chalmer had been a member of the Rebel Alliance but was now a deserter.

Whilst the Rebels came closer to the atmosphere of the planet Dega a saucer-shaped ship perhaps fifty metres across crested the horizon and sped toward them. The ship’s brown hull was dotted with many viewports, all glowing softly against the backdrop of space. The comm indicate that there’s an incoming message.

“Greetings, unidentified ships. This is Iych-thae of the Ithorian shepherd ship Varnay. I would like to have a few words with you on the surface. You might want to bring a breath mask.”

Lamar was confused by this turn of events. "L.T. this isn't in the plan. What is this Ithorian connection?" He was having no real trouble piloting the freighter remotely, but landing it would be impossible. They hadn't intended to land so that wasn't an issue. But now...

Tera started scanning the planet for signs of life and potential hazards as she talked "Uh well we have 3 starships and they have one...so is there much risk involved in a meet? We can find out what they want and who they work for in one?"

11:48, Today: Tera Inkari rolled 21 using 1d20+11.  Gal Lore (life Sci).

"From what I know about Ithorian, they are a peacful specie. I don't think we risk an attack from them. Maybe they had trouble with the pirates too.

But I don't know why they want a meeting on the surface and not aboard one of the ship.

I just hope they don't think WE are the pirates, thanks to our newest acquisition..."

Both Klyn and Tera knew Ithorian's as a peaceful people, meditative and deep thinking. They remembered their crew member Oglo Obwatt who had been left of Neskroff when they became trapped onboard the Handree with the Imperials. It reminded Klyn that he should clean up the portside cargo bay, the Force knows what state it would be in after Oglo had installed a hydroponics system and being cultivating plant life onboard.

The Ithorian's voice buzzed over the comm "Come my friends, I'm a Pilgrim of the Mother Jungle. I wish to show you Dega".

Tera's scan of the planet showed scant signs of life, it was as if the planet were bare rock. The saucer-shaped starship was more promising, Tera could detect eleven life forms onboard.

'That's... unexpected.' Lyla said as she scrutinised the Ithorian vessel, not sure what to make of either their arrival, their request, or their purpose. She wished Oglo was here to explain and possibly interpret the Ithorian culture for them. Lyla raised her voice to address the team that had as many questions as she did. 'The risk is that we blow our cover as pirates to the Scourge and lose our advantage of surprise and infiltration. And the Ithorians should not be here for any reason, and that makes me suspicious. So we should be cautious.'

She was still trying to think of how to respond when the Ithorians contacted them a second time. Lyla had enough to hit the button to answer. 'Thanks, but I've seen enough of it from up here, and it's not much to look at... So, what's a Pilgrim of the Mother Jungle doing at a planet with no jungle?'

In reply to Lyla's questions the comm buzzed "It is our duty to educate the galaxy about its most precious resources, the natural beauty of untainted worlds.  Perhaps you are willing to join me and listen to my words." Iych-thae asked them.

"All that talk about nature and untainted worlds is very Oglo-like.

I suppose a devastated planet like Dega must be very painful to watch. They might be here to try to restore her, now that there is no mining activity anymore?

But I must admit I don't see why they would ask us to land to listen to them. We can do it very comfortably by com.
Perhaps they think seeing - and breathing - the disaster that is the planet would make us more susceptible to listen to their suggestions and demands for help?"

'Yeah, maybe,' Lyla agreed, still sounding uncertain, 'Or maybe it's to get us to land right in a trap... On a good day, if I was still a ranger, I'd be happy to study with some Ithorian ecologists. But I'm not still a ranger, and I haven't had a good day in a long time.' She couldn't shake feeling suspicious, and disappointed that she had to be suspicious of good folk across this Imperial-ruled, crime-ridden galaxy.

Clicking her tongue, she thumbed the button to respond to Iych-thae. 'That sounds lovely, Iych-thae. But Dega is far from untainted and far from beautiful. Could you tell us what you see in it?'


OOC: Does this actually sound like an Ithorian? With their four throats, two mouths, and stereo speech, and Lyla being familiar with Oglo, I figured this might be something apparent. Perception 11, rerolled to 11 (maybe not so apparent after all).

"I see a lesson about our responsibility to the galaxy. I only wish you to see the damage that Dega has endured under the stewardship of Radell Mining" the Ithorian replied. The voice of Iych-thae was very familiar and sounded much like the voice of Oglo.

"L.T. if we don't get to Dega soon, the pirates will get suspicious." Lamar whispered to Lyla. "We need to hurry."

'Please hold, Iych-thae.' Lyla responded after some thought, then closed the connection to the Varnay and opened another to the whole team. 'Alright, did you hear all that? It's inconvenient and odd, but they seem to check out and maybe they know something. So, should we go meet the Ithorian door-knockers, or tell them we don't want any?'


OOC: Putting it up to a vote.

"Look Ithorians are nice people and all, but... We. Don't. Have. Time." Lamar responded exasperatedly.

Tera thought she should add a comment "Not just that, but if they want to talk to us about radell mining, then we have to balance the needs of the rebellion against the ilthorians request. We should still probably talk to them."

"I agree, we could talk, but not at the moment. We have lives at stakes, and the planet won't mind a few hours or even days of wait.

But we could also take a bet and use the occasion to improve our status with a second 'captured ship'.

But I doubt the Ithorians would agree. "

'No, no matter how nicely we ask, and I don't fancy turning actual pirate. And Radell and Dega are definitely not a priority right.' Lyla agreed. They hadn't heard from Rynn yet, so she turned to the Ubese, 'Rynn, what do you think? Take the chance or give it a pass?'

"Any reason we can't do a flyby once we complete the mission?" Rynn asked over the comm channel. "I agree now isn't the time but still think we should hear them out eventually."

'Only that we might be high-tailsing it out of here as soon as the job is done, if not sooner.' Lyla offered to Runn. 'Alright, sounds like we're all for passing on them now and catching up after, so I'll give them the news.'

Turning back to the communications console, she reopened a connection to the Varnay. 'Hi, are you still there? Thanks for the offer, but we've got some urgent business to take care of first, so we'll give it a miss, sorry. But maybe we can catch up after it's done, if we're all still in the system?'

"I hope that one day we do get to talk and that you may learn the truth. Farewell my friends" Iych-thae replied to Lyla and let the Rebels go.

'Yeah, us too. See you around.' Lyla replied, then closed the connection. She turned back to her crewmates and link with those on the Gold. 'Alright, what's next? Have you found the beacon this barge is meant to be heading to?'

With the information about the pirate's homing beacon the Rebels were able to search for the signal. The ship's scanners located the signal at a crater in the southern hemisphere. Scanners picked up all sorts of metals and machinery running deep into the Dega's crust all around the fifty metre wide crater.

Lamar checked the computer readouts and nodded. "Yes I can have us follow the ball." He began taking both ships further into the system.