"Six, Five.  Understood."

She turned to the droid.  "Catch, keep your scanners active.  If any vehicle or person approaches I want to know."  She thought for a moment, remembering their earlier issue.  "One long beep for a speeder, two for a person, three for imminent threat."

Kyvarr left Catch in his location and crept forward as close as she dared without risking her position.  She opened her bag and ensured her weapons were ready to go if needed.  Then she returned to watching the guards through her electrobinoculars for any sign of change.

What? Cannot be? Oh… Now I realise. She has got the wrong Horn. Damned. It seemed Dohr would have to do with what he knew already about the General. Sheila hadn’t been able to help and there was no more time to correct her and wait for more intel. If Dohr wanted to act, it would have to be now.

The Kel Dorian nodded to Heigren. ”Fair enough. I believe you are right. Personally I would certainly appreciate my own favourite over someone else’s.” The Doc wasn’t much of an actor… Actually he was probably one of the worst the galaxy had ever seen. But fortunately he didn’t really have to act when he glanced a few times at the General as if to try and recognise him and then started to explain to the Zeltron why the man was famous. Dohr nodded at the Corellian more than a few times and used his hands in an attempt to elaborate to Heigren the beauty of the Corellian Horn. In fact the doctor’s voice got more than a bit excited as he explained the events of the Centerstation Conflict and what might have happened if that pirate Commons had been able to harness the device’s power to be used as a weapon.

When he noticed a waiter passing buy, Dohr waved her to their table. ”My dear, could you please tell me if it really is the famous General Rennek Horn sitting over there with the other two gentlemen? I would really like to buy the man a double of the lovely 21 year old Coronet Black you have available here at your wonderful club. Please tell him it is from a ‘Fan’.”

Mika continues on towards the speeder and gets into the drivers seat.  She looks around, wishing that Fiarr would hurry up.  Now that she had down time while waiting, she has too much opportunity to think about not only how she failed in her job, but to the full extent of how miserable a failure she had been at trying to do her job.  Fiarr would've been better off taking Catch in with her.

Alert: Team Fiarr

Mika spent a nervous two minutes waiting, wondering when the alarms were going to go off.  She couldn't help but jump when Fiarr slid silently into the seat beside her.  She hadn't seen her approach despite looking around anxiously for guards and the Bothan.

Without a word, Mika slid the speeder out of it's stall and moved towards the gates calmly.  Fiarr waved to the guard who showed as little interest in their departure as he had their arrival.  Then they were out.

It took less than a minute to collect Kyvarr and Catch and the group was on it's way again.  It appeared they'd made it.


OOC: Well you don't have the info but you're out!

---

Alert: Team Dohr

The waiter took Dohr's order and moved off.  A minute or so later the waiter supplied the drink and Dohr could see the waiter point at him for the General's benefit.  Horn sipped the whisky thoughtfully for a moment then stood.

He walked with the precision of a career soldier.  His eyes moved neither right nor left as he honed in on the Kel Dor.  He stood near the table staring for a moment, examining the uniform.

"Do I know you. . . .Major?" he guessed correctly.


Showtime!  In diplomacy terms the man is 'indifferent' to you.  To get him to share confidential information you have to get him to 'helpful'.  A Diplomacy roll will determine it (DC25) but the way you manage things will determine if I add and bonuses or penalties.  Good luck!
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:32, Thu 16 Apr 2015.

It's a rather subdued Mika that drives along.  Finally though, she says, "think we should ditch the speeder?". She didn't bother to elaborate on her thoughts, figuring Fiarr would be thinking much the same, that if someone back at the comm station put two and two together, seeing evidence of the failed slice attempt in conjunction with the car leaving.

Fiarr shook her head.  "It's a rental and I switched the ID tags on it before the mission.  Even if someone magically found this car I paid in cash and used the fake ID Zyra gave me.  I think we're safe."

She looked at Mika.  "What exactly happened?  I need to know so I can determine if we need to cover our tracks further."

Before Dohr could respond, Heigren threw his hands in the air.  "Thank you." he said in apparent relief.

He stood and vigourously shook the General's hand.  "You must be the great General Horn.  I'm afraid I've never heard of you but the Major here won't stop talking about you.  It's all 'Durge's Lance this' and 'Centrepoint Conflict that'.  I think he's auditioning for president of your fan club."  Heigren was glad Dohr had called Sheila for help.  He wouldn't have had those key words otherwise!

"I swore if he didn't speak to you I was gonna challenge him to a duel.  Now I'm going to see if I can find a good game of cards, an aged scotch and some genial company.  Enjoy talking war gentlemen."

Heigren moved off towards the bar.  Whilst a card game was still on his mind, the stakes would no doubt be high, he needed to stay close in case he needed to run interference on the General's drinking buddies.


Bluff: 35! - I'm guessing he buys the story, now it's your turn to dazzle him boss!

Mika sighs.  "I don't what's wrong with me.  I tried to do a simple patch into cable, but I didn't catch that it was an ald K3F wire, so instead of cutting into the passive conductor line instead of the tertiary dateline.  So Ihad to assume it triggered an alarm on their grid.  Then after fraying the whole cable, I got the right conductor and got connected, but it was home grown system I've not seen before.  I started a debug routine, figure out it's architecture, but the I got a green screen, locked up completely.  Then you said it was time to bug out.  I didn't waste time trying to hide anything.  Even a labor droid could probably figure there was an attempt and narrow it don to the server room inside five minutes."

Fiarr chuckled good-naturedly.  "I can confidently say I understood about twenty percent of what you just said Trake.  Based on what I understood there was some wiring damage and maybe some computer compromise.  Will they definitely suspect sabotage or do you think it's possible they'll think it's accidental damage or the like?  Remember it's a civilian monitoring station we were in, hardly a military stronghold.  People will be slow to believe terrorists are trying to steal satellite sensor data."

Dohr was about to stand up when Heigren jumped up and beat him to it. The Kel Dorian waited until his friend had finished up his smooth talking and had to force himself to remain totally calm instead of laughing out loud. The Zeltron was good… Not good. The best. Dohr’s initial feeling had been a mix of surprise, frustration and anger as Heigren had interrupted his plan and thoughts, but it was immediately washed away by his amazement at the man’s skill.

As Heigren finished up his last sentence Dohr quickly stood up and spread his arms apolitically. ”Please accept my apologies for my associate’s impolite behaviour. I may indeed have bored Vyn with my fascination over military tactics as he is not a man of the military himself.” Bowing customarily to his species, the Major continued: ”Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Major Dohr Veen, of Dorinian Armed Forces. And I regrettably do have to admit that I have not had the pleasure of meeting you in person before, General Horn.”

Bowing again, the Kel Dor beckoned at an empty chair at the table. ”But I forget my manners. Please, have a seat. I would be an honour, if you could spare a moment of your time and share a drink with a… fan of your tactical and leadership skills.” It is clear that the Major doesn’t use the word fan lightly and feels somewhat uncomfortable about it. He is after all a professional soldier himself and not exactly a young man anymore. But given the circumstances, it is the only fitting word that he could think of. He does truly admire the brilliant mind behind the Corellian Horn.

---

OOC: Hopefully Heigren’s beautiful roll paves the road for Dohr’s attempt at diplomacy. But I could’ve done worse with the roll myself.
11:31, Today: Dohr Veen rolled 30 using 1d20+11. Diplomacy.
:)

Mika shrugs, "The smart money is on they'll figure out it's deliberate damage.  Still, maybe it's blatant enough that they'll assume it couldn't be on purpose or here would be some attempt to hide it.  Still, I'd guess they'll figure out it was deliberate."

"Well these things happen.  At least it's unlikely we'll be chased off planet by squads of stormtroopers and TIE fighters.  Hopefully Dohr and Heigren have more luck.  Else we'll just have to work out a new plan."

"Now head for the nearest spaceport and you guys can catch a suborbital back.  I've got to do a little final housecleaning before I return.  Need to put those ID's back where we found them.  I'll be back at the ship by morning.

After a few minutes of reading and Dohr's correction, Sheila realised she had really screwed up.  And in front of Devon too.  She turned bright red.  "Oh gods."  She slumped back in her seat.  "I think i'm just gonna go shoot myself."

Too late now.  She buries herslef back in the padd, looking for the actual information he wanted.  If she could find the battles, maybe it would be useful for later.  And it gave her something to do rather than look at Devon.

(OOC, I assume that she won't actually find the requested information until later, but it's something she would do.)

Dohr and General Horn quickly fall into conversation over battles past.  The General quickly warmed to Dohr's natural flair and military knowledge and soon one drink became several.

Dohr worked patiently, slipping in little hooks to the conversation to steer it the way he wanted it.  It was slow work as the Kel Dor didn't want to make the General suspicious, instead he had to settle for a comment here, an innuendo there and the occasional statement.

After nearly an hour or so the General looked at his chrono in suprise.

"My goodness, where has the time gone?  I have to go."  He stood and shook Dohr's hand vigorously.  "It's been a pleasure Major.  I could use a man like you on my staff.  Just say the word and I could arrange your commission."

He hands Dohr a business card, nods and leaves.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:51, Sat 18 Apr 2015.

Seeing that Dohr had everything under control Heigren moved off about ten minutes after the General sat down with him.  Instead he went hunting for a good card game, good gossip or if all else failed a cozy companion to while the time away with.  He primarily hunted for a card game.  His funds were almost gone and this was a place to win big sums fast.

A dejected Mika makes her way towards a space port.  Pulling up at a convenient place to get out and let Fiarr take the controls.  "C'mon Catch.  Kyvarr, you heading back with us or sticking with Fiarr?"

Mika will handle the tickets, for Kyvarr too, if the Cathar joins her and Catch.

In the bar, Devon sat there and tried not to fret.
He wanted to call both teams up and ask for status reports at about a thirty second interval, but he'd been around Mark long enough to know that was a bad idea.  He had to trust them, not let his worrying make him interfere and distract them.

Did Mark feel like this during every mission?

So instead of melting the comms with constant traffic, he let Sheila get on with her data-mining and munched his way through the nachos she had ordered.  It was going to be a long night...

Dohr was just as surprised as General Horn to notice they’d been chatting away for nearly an hour. In all honesty he had to admit to himself that it had been the most pleasant information gathering assignment he had been on for a long, very long time. In another time, in another place, Dohr could have imaged himself working with Rennek Horn... But even then the Corellian’s words did come as a surprise to the Major. ”I could use a man like you on my staff.” It made Dohr straighten his back in pride another couple of degrees. But being the soldier he was, Horn was also the Imperial he was expected to be. He clearly did not question the decisions made by the leaders of his people and did his work to the best of his abilities. Dohr wasn’t one to say never easily, so he could and would not rule out the possibility of them being on the same side one day. But that day was not today.

He’d stood up with the General. And after shaking the man’s hand and accepting his card,  gave him a courteous bow. ”The honor has been all mine, Sir. I have enjoyed immensely talking with a fellow officer and especially one I hold in great esteem. And I will certainly keep your offer in mind. It may well be that I will get weary of this role of a marketing mannequin very soon. Thank you.”

Dohr waited until the General had left before he sat down again and emptied his glass slowly. The operation had gone well, incredibly well. It had taken a lot of circling around and leading the conversation furtively to the right direction all the while making sure the General did not notice his ulterior motive. He was fairly certain Horn had not been suspicious of him. As a doctor he’d learned to read people and their feelings a long time ago and his guts said everything had really gone as well it had seemed. But just to be on the safe side, it would be best for him and Heigren to leave the club asap.

”Seven, Eight here. Mission complete. Heading back to BoO with Four now.” Dohr knew Heigren had heard him too. He looked around and noticed the Zeltron at a card table. He stood up and walked over. ”Well Vyn, cleaned up the house yet? I am getting tired and we have got a long day tomorrow.”

Dohr had found Heigren in another room of the club, deeply engrossed in a card game.  Dohr had been shocked at the amount of credits on the table.  It wasn't possible Heigren had this kind of cash.  The pot held enough credits to buy the limo outside that waited for them!  Heigren was either wealthier than he let on or was playing very high risk.

The Zeltron had refused to leave when Dohr urged him and the other players had offered to have their bodyguards 'escort' Dohr from the premises.  When an appeal to Devon had been answered with a 'let him play', the former Major had left alone and returned to the spaceport without incident.  Sheila and Devon, no longer needing to hide, met the limo outside their cafe and rode back to the spaceport in oppulent luxury, a reverse of their taxi trip in.

Once back at the ship, Dohr and Devon disappeared for a private chat where Dohr explained the basics of what he had learned.    Sheila headed for her cabin.  She sensed they would be moving early in the morning.

Mika, Kyvarr and Catch arrived a few hours later.  They'd received comms enroute advising them to grab what sleep they could as they'd be a briefing at dawn.  Catch was instructed to ensure the ships were all checked during the night.

Fiarr returned to the ships about two hours later and quickly retreated to bed.

Heigren was the last in.  He staggered into the spaceport about an hour before dawn.  For someone who had been up all night, he looked suprisingly alert.

---

Sunrise next day

As instructed, Catch moved around and woke all the Talons up at dawn, reminding them there would be a briefing in the dining room of the Nebula Drifter in thirty minutes.  Luckily there were two ships and 'freshers in the hangar to choose from as suddenly wash facilities were in high demand!



OOC:  Devon decided the news could wait until morning and that Heigren could have his night of gambling.  Thus I have fast forwarded to next day.  Time for one of those planning meetings!

Most of you would have had time for sufficient sleep unless you did something else the night before.  Only Fiarr and Heigren had shorter sleeps.  Fiarr would have got 4 hours tops and Heigren could barely have managed one!

Mika wakes up slow, but as soon as she realizes what's up, she moves quickly, wanting to get one of the on-board freshers.  It doesn't take her long to clean up and make herself marginally presentable.  She stops by the control room and does a quick systems check on the ship, make sure that Catch didn't have any issues she should review.  Then she grabs a few fizzpops, a bag of something crunchy, spicy and not particularly nutritious.

She's one of the first in the dining room, putting her back to a wall so she can watch the others coming in.  She fidgity, obviously anxious and ill at ease.

When Mika made her way through the kitchen she found Heigren already there.  He has several frypans going, something in the ovens, a brewmaster preparing caf and a juicer in action.  When he saw Mika come through he smiled but then frowned at her choice.

"Won't do, won't do.  You need a nutritious breakfast to start the day.  Give me ten minutes and I'll have a hearty breakfast, nutritious breakfast juice of my own recipe and lots of coffee.  You won't be disappointed!"

He busied himself, getting food ready for everyone for the briefing.

When Catch came to wake up Kyvarr he found her cabin empty, her bed neatly made.  Normally the Cathar woke at dawn for her morning workout but given Devon's wish for an early briefing she had risen an hour early.  Dressing quickly she'd headed out into the hangar where she had set up a workout station for herself.  Lacking gym equipment she'd used whatever heavy equipment and machinery she could find as well as making a jogging circuit around the hangar bay.

Lacking time she completed an intense thirty minute workout, committing to make the time up this evening.  Then showering and drying, she accepted one of Heigren's fruit drinks before heading to the dining room to ensure everything was set up in preparation of the Commander's briefing.

Sheila came sleepily through the corridors, following her nose.  "Oh my," was her response to Heigren and his pans and the smell coming from there.  "You'll make someone a wonderful wife. or heck, just open a restaurant. you'll be rich."  She halted a moment.  "You need any help?  Anyrhing I can do?"

Yawning and with his hair still damp from the shower, Devon arrived in time to hear Sheila's 'wife' comment.

"The hell with that - I'm appointin' Heigren our official Morale Officer.  Now gimmie some of that caf."

Once he was loaded down with a mug of caf and a suitably artery-clogging breakfast, Devon headed off for the dining area.  Briefing stuff to do.  Sometimes being in charge was too much like hard work....

Nodding a good morning to Kyvar, Devon dropped into a seat and yawned again, then busied himself with his breakfast whilst he waited for everyone else to arrive.

---

Once the whole merry band had gathered, Devon pushed aside his (now-empty) plate and sat forward.

"OK, we got through the night and no-ones gotten themselves shot or arrested.  So what have we got?  Fiarr, Dohr - you guys wanna tell us what you've learned?"

Fiarr had briefly considered attaching a small explosive device to Catch when he woke her up after so little sleep.  The thought of droid parts flying in every direction was a nice balm for her weary body for a second.  But the effort involved in doing so felt too much right now.

She stumbled out of bed, showered and pulled her clothes and fur into some semblence of order.  Wandering into the kitchen she mumbled "Caf.  Strong.  Lots.  Now!"  Once she had a 'Cor-sized' mug of strong caf she made her way to the briefing.  She was probably late but she didn't care.

She was half-dozing in her caf when Devon spoke.  She quickly took a big drink of her drink to vitalise her then looked at Devon.  "I'm afraid to say my mission yielded no information useful to our goals.  I have been considering alternate plans. . ."  She stopped to yawn and have another drink.  Caf now, plans later.  She'd wait until others spoke. . .and she'd woken up more.