As predicted by Colonel Kourene, Vekkis Lund's Bold Gambit arrives at Mothessh the next day.

Lund immediately goes into a huddle with as many techs as he can persuade to look the ship over, and ignores a message from Kourene to report to his office.

This results in Kourene summoning the team that will be going to Ord Mantell, and leading them all to the hangar for a discussion with Lund.  The sight that greets them is not reassuring.  Bold Gambit looks rather the worse for wear, even discounting the fact that the techs are busy performing a variety of repairs across the whole hull of the YT-1300.

Karra Hedine lets out a low whistle.  "I presume this ship wasn't always in this state?"

Kourene walks across to Vekkis Lund.  "What happened?"

Lund looks at him, then turns back to watch the techs.  "I'd love to know Colonel.  Something has the local Impies really stirred up.  They're shooting first, second AND third, and then, maybe, asking questions.  That's why the Gambit is a bit battered."

"Something has upset them, and they've decided they're going to take it out on everybody within reach.  I mean it.  The sector is wall-to-wall TIEs just now."

Rhijans debated commenting on the observation, given that they had a pretty good idea what it was.  Instead, he said, "Well, guess it's a good thing our next mission is outside this sector, then..."  While he was certain that Lund was in no way an Imperial sympathizer, he was also sure that wouldn't stop the pilot from giving them an earful about how much these sorts of things complicated life for tramp freighter captains, especially those who might have dubious Alliance affiliations...

Shard critically pokes a laser-scar on the side of the ship, wincing when flakes of oxidized metal float away.  "Glad to see YOU got out of this one alive, Lund," she notes.  Grimacing, she considers all of their antics that might have forge the foundation for this assault on the beloved freighter.  "Fairly speaking, we've been prodding the spider's next a tad, so I guess this had to happen eventually."

But in no way is she paying for the repairs.

"Anyway, like Rhijans says, we're heading out-sector, maybe somewhere less-hot."  Probably not, but it never hurts to be a little optimistic.  "So, once we get your ship repaired, maybe better times for you?"

It never hurts to keep the pilot in a good mood.

Lund asks, without turning, "Where am I supposed to go?"

Kourene steps in.  "Anobis first.  Then on to Ord Mantell."

"Interesting."  Lund appears anything but interested.  He seems more preoccupied by a datapad that a tech handed to him.

"On Anobis you'll be picking up another ship, before taking it to Ord Mantell."

"I don't know... it looks like I have a lot of repairs to do here." Lund muses, "Not sure I can spare the time... "

The Colonel looks, for a while, as if he is about to explode, and then he smiles, and nods, "Right.  How about this... you give me a list of the parts you need, and I'll get somebody to forge you an Imperial requisition for them?  You'll be landing at an Imperial dock on Ord Mantell, and if you hand in a requisition they should be able to fill it, so the Imperials end up covering the cost of the components they damaged."

Thinking for a moment, Lund breaks into a grin, which soon develops into a laugh.  "I like it.  You have yourself a deal."

"Now, who's going with me?"

Rhijans spoke up.  "The two of us, two techs, a Wookiee, all with Imperial IDs."  He turned to Kourene.

"You-Why should stay here.  Since we're not sure of the condition of his processors, we can't be sure they wouldn't fail at a critical point.  And while I'm all for anyone choosing to go out in a blaze of glory, if he fails while we're in there, the whole reason for the trip goes out the airlock.  If something fails while he's here, he can be shut down and kept safe until we get back."  While his initial pronouncement was efficiently pragmatic, there was the minutest hint of understanding, on an emotional level, as he gave his rationale for the choice.

Shard keeps quiet for the most part; then Rhijans speaks his mind regarding You-Why, and she breaks that silence.  "I concur.  You don't take a patient with you when going to rescue a doctor."  Oh, there's always the dramatic possibility of the doctor taking a mortal wound and somehow managing to treat the patient on the battlefield before expiring, but that's best left for the vids.

"Hopefully this'll go a little smoother than our trip to Alrirkr, Lund."  A sardonic smile accompanies that wish.  "But...you know."