You-Why thinks things over for several microseconds before answering, "I am capable of communicating with all cybernetic systems, in a wide variety of electronic, digital and synthetic languages."  Oddly, he does not sound as annoyed as he normally does when his capabilities are questioned.  "I could certainly attempt to gain all of that information.  The only difficulty might arise if the data is protected by security protocols that require a higher clearance level than I possess."

And again that cheerful tone returns, "Questioning the woman directly might produce faster results."

"The problem is," the aide states quietly, "that while you may have felt that short-cuts were necessary, your group might easily have compromised an operation being run by Security.  Who were, incidentally, also trying to find out who is behind this recent sabotage, and the leaking of information to the Imperials.  This broadcast might have added unnecessary panic to an already volatile situation."

"I'll be sure to file a full report with Colonel Kourene when he gets back.  In the meantime, did any of your group consider liaising with Security in an effort to avoid clashes of this nature?"

"We'll be happy to show you some identification as soon as you open the door.  Meanwhile, are you responsible for a recent, unauthorised, site-wide broadcast?"

Haarmon wasn't sure what to do about the door. He didn't want to open it until he was sure it was really base security. But he couldn't get credentials until he opened the door. They could hurl a starship past the speed of light, but this was a problem.

Ah well, stall for time. Always worked in the vids.

"Yeah, that was me," he said to the door, "But I don't what you're talking about unauthorized."

Juragga glanced at the air vent at the back of the room.  It was the only other way out, if this was a hit squad.  He rumbled uncertainly.  But he could tell the kid was stalling for time.

Some days you just have to Wookiee up and take the bantha by the horns.

"GrAAAAAAAAAuuurgh," he roared.  Open it.  He lowered his bowcaster.

Haarmon's face went white. I mean, most likely this was just some security flunkies out there trying to look big. And maybe he shouldn't have blasted the comm like that, but this here is a delicate operation and things gotta get done.

But all the same, confrontation wasn't really his thing, unless he was way (WAY) up on the ole advantage meter.

But Rags? He was a drop down and get moving kind of guy.

So he walked over to the heavy metal door, keyed the opening switch, and stepped out of the way as fast as he could. If there was blasting to be done here, let it be done by those that are good at blasting.

Haarmon, if nothing else, was all the way into efficient division of labour.

"Understood." Shard sighs. "Apologies all around, and no, we didn't set up a contact with Security."  There are reasons they might not have - Security isn't ALL on the 'trust' list - but the fact is that they just plain forgot.

"Blame for that as well.  I guess I'll probably be assigned to sitting in a tiny spy-ship at the edge of Imperial space for the next six months." A shrug follows.  "For now, let's just try to move on with this."

Rhijans gave You-Why a measuring look.  "I already asked her about the bomb that injured her, which is what led us to Barsh.  If she's the spy, she's certainly not going to volunteer anything that will incriminate her.  What kind of questioning did you have in mind?"  He was guardedly curious about why a protocol droid seemed so enthusiastic about the prospect of interrogating someone...but said nothing more to that effect.

He'd wait to see what the answer was.

All inflection drains from You-Why's voice, and the room seems to become as cold as the depths of space.  "I can be quite intimidating when I choose to be.  It could be interesting to discover why she sent a team of assassins to deal with Barsh.  It could also be interesting to find out how she knew there would be no security personnel here to protect him."

Then his voice returns to normal, "If, however, you would prefer to pursue an alternate line of investigation, I am in no position to object."

"The broadcast was not authorised.  Security was not... "  The door opens to reveal four men in Alliance combat jump suits and body armour.  All armed.  They spread out as best they can in the passageway, and start yelling at Juragga to lower his weapon.  One of them holds out a pass card of some description. 

The aide gives Shard a narrow-eyed look, and all but harrumphs at her, "Well, as I said, I have no way to contact the Colonel directly at the moment.  The best I can offer you is that I'll fill him in on the latest developments as soon as he's back in contact."

Juragga - who had already lowered his bowcaster - roared defiantly - and then charged, ducking low and spreading his arms out to catch as many of the guards as he could.  He was aiming to knock down and bash, not maul and rend...

11:28, Today: Juragga rolled 23 using 6 dice with the WEG Classic system with rolls of {Wild}3,4,3,6,1,6. Brawling.

Rhijans' eyes narrowed and his lips tightened, in what could have been either a snarl or a grin that he refused to allow full exposure.  When he spoke, however, his voice had mirthlessly humorous overtones.  "Well, when you put it that way, it does actually sound like an intriguing possibility."  He glanced into the Medical area, appraisingly.

"I suppose we'll have to do it in there," he observed.  "Unless Kedra's stable enough to take somewhere else.  The intimidation factor will be a lot more effective if she can't call a nurse over because she claims to be in pain..."  He did a little mental calculating, and nodded.

"Wait here, fifteen seconds.  If I'm still arguing with Medical personnel at that point, go ahead and ask her while I've got them busy.  But if they clear her to go, I'll be right back this way."

"I think," Shard begins slowly, "that it might be better to have the colonel contact us ASAP rather than just giving him the rundown.  I realize I'm running on thin ice with this request, but this is critical.  We have bombs going off, we have someone in-hand who may have critical information, and we have a saboteur loose on the base.  The faster we get this information to the colonel, the more lives might be saved.  Especially since by that point we likely will have more information."

She slowly shakes her head.  "All right, I'll get out of your hair now.  Thanks for your time, and sorry for the inconvenience."

With that, Shard moves toward the door.  "Barsh, keep back from the door; we're heading out, but I want to check the hallway first."

When the door opens, she has the murder-stick gripped tightly in her hand.

Rhijans walks into the infirmary, while You-Why stands outside and monitors his internal clock.  The medical droid, busy examining another patient, spots the grey skinned man and dispatches one of the medical personnel to deal with him.  The man walks towards Rhijans, "Can I help you, Sir?  If your business will wait, we are a little busy just now."

Shard steps out of the door, and into a deserted hallway.  Behind her Barsh moves to cover, as instructed.  Somewhere in the distance, machinery hums - something to do with the base's thermal regulation, or atmospheric recycling, or something.  There are voices too, again distant, and indistinct.  There seem to be several of them, at least three or four.  Maybe more.  Possibly behind some of the office doors which line the corridor...

Juragga lunges forward and hits the first two men, causing one of them to drop the pass card.  Both men try to withstand the impact, but are knocked over, falling in a tangle of limbs.  A blaster fires, sending a shot ricochetting off the ceiling above Juragga's head as a third man is driven backwards.  A second blaster discharges a stun pulse, striking Juragga, who shakes off the effect easily, and still stands amidst the carnage...

Haarmon was just about to start snarking the security guys when Juragga went full-on-rage-wookie on them. This wasn't the first time he'd seen the big guy snap, but it was a shocking and awe-inspiring sight every time to watch the normally placid and polite wall of muscle fill with rage.

With little effort he bowled the team over. Haarmon had no idea how he was going to spin this one. He put his hands up and started toward the melee. He kept his distance. But he didn't try to look like he was keeping his distance. He sidled casual. As he approached he called out of the sounds of growling and howling. "Okay okay okay let's all calm down here and have a talk..."

And if his voice wavered a bit, well who could blame him.

"Getting a touch paranoid," Shard mutters. "Okay, Barsh.  We're moving.  Going to find the others, I think.  Probably the best idea, but first we're going to hit requisitions.  I want you in armor, and I have a hunch your boss isn't going to disagree."

With another check both ways, she motions for her charge to follow her and heads down the hallway toward requisitions.

The security team scatter before the enraged Wookiee, scrambling back down the corridor.  All except the one who appears to be unconscious.  The pass card lays forgotten on the floor.

Juragga turns...

... and sees Haarmon, sprawled on his back.  A thin wisp of smoke curls lazily upward from a scorched hole in his shirt as the Wookiee's friend lays unmoving...

Juragga roars in horrified fury, his cries louder than before.  He looks for the attacker who'd shot Haarmon.

Rhijans stepped into the Medical Bay, heading directly for the head medic on duty.  "We have some additional questions we need to ask that one," he said, nodding in Kedra's direction.

"However, they're questions of a highly sensitive nature, best not asked around personnel who aren't cleared for the discussion.  Is she well enough to move?"

The security personnel, except for the unconscious one, have all vanished around the corners where the passage connects with a crossway at a 'T' junction.  Juragga can't see anybody else. 

In his room, Haarmon gives a weak groan...

Shard moves through the base with Barsh close behind her.  But not too close.  The Quartermaster's clerk has a steady stream of questions about the plan, and what Shard intends to do after she has him in armour.  he's starting to sound increasingly nervous.  "Should we be moving about like this?  What's to stop somebody shooting me from one of those side passages?  Wouldn't we be better off just hiding out somewhere?"

The medical droid, who appears to be in charge of the infirmary, ignores Rhijans and continues working on its patient.  The assistant who had been sent to talk to him when he arrived comes up behind him, "Please don't disturb the doctor while he's working.  If you need to move the patient, you'll need to do so under your own authority.  Her condition is such that you will need to take responsibility should you decide to move her."

Rhijans turned to the assistant.  "But she CAN be moved?" he asked, to clarify...and then, without really waiting for an answer, turned and began making his way to Kedra's bed.

"Barsh, take it down a notch.  You're attracting attention, and the whole point of me walking around without my favourite cloak -" and it shows, what with all the wear and tear "- is for you to be innocuous."

Despite her frustration, Shard keeps her tone level and quiet; not just to avoid attention, but because Barsh doesn't deserve her snapping at him.

Another check down a passage, surreptitious-like, as she passes.  Nothing.  Finding themselves in a straight hall with an exit to the left, Shard stops for a quick palaver.  "Look, the colonel isn't in right now.  As you've wisely noted, sitting you in a single room makes you thermal detonator bait.  So long as I keep moving with you hopefully under cover, it's less likely we'll get into a situation where we can't see it coming or can't break away."

She ticks off a finger for that, then another; it's made difficult by the nicked, scuffed metal cylinder in her hand.  "Furthermore, we've already fired off word to the whole base that you've told us what you know.  Unless there's something you know that we don't, yet - not that you've hidden, but that you haven't realized is important yet - the push to get rid of you drops waaaaay down.  If we DO have their identity, coming after you puts them in danger for no reason.  If we don't, they're increasing the odds of us figuring things out by coming after you.  So chances are, there's no real percentage."

Check all three directions again, and Shard grimaces.  "Chances are.  But this is your life we're talking about, so I'm not willing to take those chances.  Better to keep moving, get you that armor, talk to your boss - maybe he knows something - and keep moving until the colonel gets back to us."

Motioning him to continue, she heads toward stores.  "I mean, we could all hop in a ship and go up to orbit, but then we worry about someone down here managing to seize control of an ion cannon or something."

"But walking about  makes me more conspicuous if somebody knows what I look like.  And percentages are easy to figure when you own life isn't on the line - nobody on the base has tried to kill you, remember." Barsh says with a sigh.

"Look... I have a better idea, I think.  The service tunnels.  They run between the floor levels, and there are a limited number of entrances, all locked, as far as I know.  But I know where to get hold of a key.  It's cramped down there, and there are a lot less people to run into, which means that you have less random meetings to calculate the odds of them ending in blaster fire."

The assistant chases after Rhijans, "Yes, she can be moved.  If you don't mind maybe not being able to ask her any questions when you get her to where you're going.  Or ever again, for that matter.  It's fifty-fifty either way."

"But if you want to move her, I'll need some ID and a signature on the paperwork.  This tech saved the Colonel's life, if she dies after you move her, I want to make sure that nobody on this medical team gets the blame for moving her."

He pauses for a moment, then, "In fact, if you want, I'll come with you.  I can keep an eye on her, and do what I can to minimise the chances of her dying."

The Haarmon that first walked into the Rebel base not that long ago had thought he'd had a life filled with pain. Outcast. Misfit. Misunderstood. Unliked. Unwanted. Judged and dismissed. Since then, he's learned that he's never really even seen pain, let along felt. The Haarmon of a few minutes ago was an older, wiser, Haarmon who understood the real nature of pain.

Unfortunately, THAT Haarmon as dead wrong too.

Somewhere deep in his brain, he was pretty sure there was all kinds of stuff that hurt more than a blaster bolt to the shoulder, but he couldn't really pay too much attention to that part of his brain, because the rest of his brain was screaming out HOLY SWEET JUMPING HYPERDRIVES I'VE BEEN SHOT AND IT HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURTS!

All that came out was a weak moan. All that good anger and rage and pain and he was too weak to do more than sort of weeze into an empty room.

Ad somehow, that seemed the unkindest cut of all.

Roaring in fury, fear and frustration, Juragga scooped Haarmon up and barreled towards the medical bay like a furry freight train.

Shard laughs - it's not unkind, it's more pained.  "My life is rather on the line, Barsh.  I'm the one here protecting you; smart money says anyone trying to get to you is going to realize they have to go through me, first.  Or just toss a grenade in for both of us."  She doesn't even mention the fact that unlike Barsh, she's always out there.  It's not germane, just snottily superior.

"But if you do have a better idea - and it seems you do - I'm good with it." Her lips thin.  "As long as getting a key isn't going to land us in further trouble.  Much.  We're skirting the edges of that already."

It has occurred to her that Barsh might be trying to get her alone...and not for licentious purposes.  It's possible he might be pulling the wool over all of their eyes.  She doesn't think so, based on his thoughts from before; low possibility, at most.

Hardly comforting if she turns out wrong, but there it is.

"Let's get you the armor, speak to your boss, and then head to these tunnels.  Okay?"

Rhijans stopped dead in his tracks, and wheeled to face the medic.  "You could have just said that in the original answer.  And if moving her is a fifty-fifty proposition, what exactly is accomplished by bringing you along?  It's not like you'll be able to treat her as we're walking down a hall.  If she's so badly off that she needs constant medical attention, then she's not well enough to move, is she?"

He let his voice raise slightly...not to a yell, not even necessarily to a particularly loud talk.  But, hopefully, enough volume to give You-Why a hint that things weren't going smoothly and the droid should make his entrance to ask his questions now, while Rhijans had the medic occupied.

Barsh smiles, "Good, now your thinking.  The key will be easy to get, I know there's one in a cabinet in the stores.  And since we're going there anyway, to find me some armour and talk to my boss, then lead away."

Juragga starts to move as fast as he can through the corridors, carrying Haarmon towards the infirmary, and howling to clear the way as he goes.  Ahead of him, base personnel scatter out of his path.  He briefly considers the elevator, but decides it would take too long, so he takes a flight of stairs up one level.  Almost there...

"Because I can keep an eye on some of her readouts, and watch for signs of trouble - like something that will kill her if you don't stop whatever you're doing.  And, while I probably won't be able to heal her completely, I might be able to, at least, undo any further damage that moving her causes."  The medical assistant folds his arms across his chest and glares at Rhijans.  Behind the man's back, You-Why appears in the doorway, and starts to shuffle, as quietly as possible, towards Kedra's screened bed.

Somewhere in the distance, Rhijans can hear what sounds almost like an angry Wookiee engaged in battle.  The assistant seems about to say something further, but changes it to, "What is that racket?" and starts to turn away from Rhijans, and (all unknowingly) towards You-Why...