Kal chuckled at Claire's response, "I'll leave the smashing of noses to my three new friends, thanks. I'm more the kind to either discover or plant damning evidence that will lead to their incarceration. Or execution, depending on what sort of wrong-doer we're talking about."

Kal paused, slightly annoyed that he still had no idea what the capabilities of his newfound allies entailed. Besides the obvious, of course. They all could obviously fight well. And all could pilot pretty well, too, likely better than Kal himself. But Kal was never one to be daunted by others ignoring his questions, he would continue to poke, prod, and probe until satisfied. "I'm not sure if any of the rest of you had the chance to get any information on where we're going. Koshibal apparently is a former Republic mining colony located in Hutt controlled space. It's obviously quite remote, and the mines dried up before the Clone Wars. Some strange core readings created phantom mineral signatures far beyond the meager veins of ore on the surface. The colony, as it was originally intended anyway, quickly died as the thousands who moved there seeking a new life were suddenly left without one. Nowadays, it seems, it's become a haven for those that don't want to be found. As we're about to find out, it's supposed to be pretty difficult to get to. With any luck, our target is there, though we'll have to move quickly once we land."  After a pause, Kal decided the women were probably both in a bad mood and needed some gentle prodding, "Any thoughts on the situation, ladies?" He then thought that Claire probably liked it rough rather than gentle, but he could test that theory some other time.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:59, Wed 20 Apr 2011.

The moment the conversation turned to... less savory subjects - before she could even get a good retort in for Kal's quip - Mirax simply turned down the volume on her comm, and went about making herself more comfortable.  She was fortunate that her Jedi robes were as long and thick as they were - it didn't take long for hr to get them bunched up beneath her to provide a bit of a cushion for her rear.  That, at least, would save her from a very unpleasant first few steps upon leaving the ship.

"We're gonna have to be on our guard the moment we touch down.  Incognito is the name of the game.  I know its a bit redundant to tell you both this, but I also don't think you really realize what we're up against here," Mirax replied, having turned the volume back up on her comm in time to hear the conversation turn back to more important matters.  "We have to watch our every move to make sure we don't unknowingly tip off Master Skywalker." She didn't say it, bu she would likely have the most difficult time in this regard - she was a Jedi, and strong in the Force at that.  She would have to mask her presence enough to keep it hidden from a Master.  Not easily done - even in a densely populated area.  "Because that's all it will take.  One tip, and he'll disappear.  That is, if he truly doesn't want to be found.  If he does... well, I don't know what to think in that case."

"You both are forgetting something.", Claire piped in.  "Vertuba mentioned that we're going to be taking a smuggler's route to get to Koshibal faster.  A very dangerous smuggler's route... the kind that passes through an asteroid field.  Before worrying about what to do on the ground, can we perhaps worry about getting through an asteroid field?"

Kal made sure to kill the audio feed shortly before Mirax said 'Master Skywalker' turning it back on a moment later. He responded, "Incognito is my middle name, so that shouldn't be a problem."

When Claire asked about the asteroids, Kal shrugged, not that those in the fighters could see it. "My guess is that the asteroid field is such that there's not a whole lot of planning that can be done for it. Actually, I take that back. I plan to be sitting here with our new friends while we're heading through the asteroid field. It seems like everyone else is quite capable of handling the fighters."

Kal then turned to Vertuba and said, "Vertuba, if you think there's anything we should know about the asteroid field before we get there, we seem to have plenty of time to talk about it."

"You have no idea, Kal.  Incognito works fine for a normal target, but we have many, many other ways of picking out pursuers from the crowd.  But, that's what I'm along for," Mirax replied, hoping the emphasis on 'we' would lend itself to the subject being Jedi.  She was a little embarrassed about having spoken the name of their target aloud mistakenly.  "As for that Asteroid Field... I agree with Kal.  Best planning we can do is to boost the particle shields and prepare for the worst, mentally.  However, it won't be any worse than a tense combat situation.  Just keep your wits about you."

Mi had tied his comlink into the ships com so that he could hear the entire conversation even though he was sitting back in one of the living compartments.  He smiled listening to the playful banter between his partners and couldn't stop a smile from crossing his face.  That was one thing that he missed since becoming a warden was the interaction that he could enjoy between others.  So long had he been alone that he didn't mind his own company and was perfectly fine with just his own thoughts, but being a blood carver did make him long for a clan ever since he had left his it was the one thing that he missed.

He said nothing just listening waiting for a break in the discussion  to answer Kal's question.  Not knowing this ship he would have little to offer those that knew it well and so wouldn't distract them by offering it.

The hyperspace journey is arduous and long for those of you in the v-wings. A few days go by (and 71 some hours of flight time in the fighters) go without incident. Well, the pilots might tell you differently, but otherwise the Comet and the starfighters are on their final stretch, the fighters more than ready to dock with the Black Comet to replenish life support one final time, and giving Claire and Mirax a much needed chance to stretch their legs / vent their frustrations over some hot meals and drinks after a much needed stint in the freshers.

The pilots eye their chronos and the minutes stretch out impossibly long before, finally, it's time to disengage. The stars field stops streaking and the three vessels find themselves a few hours away from the famous asteroid belt.

Inside, Pugwis interrupts the crew who are relaxing in the mess. "We've just arrived," he intones. "If you want a nice view before Koshibal ruins it all for you, I suggest you come to the cockpit for an eyeful," he says with a grin before turning back the way he came. Those that follow are greeted by the view outside the Comet, and to the disgruntled sounds of the pilots trying to dock with the Comet one final time.

Kal appeared to be getting nowhere in his quest to find out more about his new allies, though he did learn a few Trandoshan curse words from Claire at the end of one of her piloting shifts. He filed those away for future use.

When it was suggested that they check out the asteroid field, Kal complied, though he suspected they would just be looking at a bunch of floating rocks.

When he made his way to the cockpit, he thought to himself, wow, a bunch of floating rocks. I've seen hundreds of asteroid fields. And thousands of rocks on the surfaces of various planets. This asteroid field is about as interesting as the last hundred I've seen.

Then out loud he made a sound like someone who was looking upon a natural wonder for the first time, "Ooooo, they're beautiful, Vertuba. Now I know why you like this run so much. It would be hard to ever tire of such a gorgeous approach. If you ever run out of stuff to haul, you could make a killing by taking tourists out here." Kal tried hard to keep the sarcasm out of his voice and act amazed.

Rolled a 20 for Deception

"Seriously, you could."

Having taken a brief nap - a bit of meditation, actually - Mirax returned to the bridge after Vertuba's announcement, arriving just behind Kal.  Once there, she leaned forward, taking a look out the cockpit.  She too let out a low whistle.  It certainly was a sight to take in, even if she had already seen asteroid fields before.

"It is gorgeous," Mirax replied.  "And every single one of those little rocks is out to kill us.  Wonderful."

Claire steped up into the back of the Comet's cockpit.  She looked like she has just gotten out of the refresher with a towel wrapped tightly around her torso.  With another towel, she was drying her black hair.  Her cybernetic eye, to protect it from the water, is conspicuously out of its socket leaving a dark hole in her face lined with metal contacts.  Her Armored Flight Suit, however takes more time getting "refreshed", both to remove the smell and to refill its air supply.

Claire stared out with her one good eye at the asteroids.  She had no such whimsical impression, or even put on such airs in jest.  "They're just a bunch of floating rocks.  If you think that's beautiful, you've been struck about the head by too many rocks.", she remarked at Kal.

Kal turned around to see Claire, and let his eyes wander over her state of undress for a few heartbeats before returning his gaze to a more gentlemanly spot on her face. Her form appeared quite pleasing when not hidden under loose clothing or a bulky flight suit. A smile played across his lips before he responded, "Well, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some things that I find beautiful, another man may not." Kal then shrugged, but didn't avert his gaze from Claire's face, "Of course, that simply makes those other men foolish simpletons."

"I see.", replies Claire in a skeptical tone.  "So unlike most men, you find beauty in what is otherwise dead, hard, lumpy, and bearing the scars of ancient impacts?  Then you might like this."

And with that she opens the towel to reveal a skin a greyish pale like the color of asteroids.  Her muscles are pronounced and not in a girlish way.  In fact, her musculature is so cut that most men would be envious.  What may pass for feminine lumps are not the shapely thing seen in adult holovids.  They're not even quite the same size as one appears to have had a piece of it cut out at the bottom.  And that is only the most unusual of her scars.  The rest of her body is marked with more pink blade scars than there is canals carved into the surface of Lok.  Add to that the crater-like scars left from blaster hits.  And finally she has fresh bandages on her two latest wounds that are going to heal into another two scars.  Claire seems to collect scars the way a gambler collects Pazaak cards.  At least the gambler plays with some of his cards.  Claire's collection is more a history of brutality and masochism.

Relishing the moment to make everyone feel very uncomfortable at looking at her body that makes it seem like she sleeps with vibroblades, she makes an effort to make people more uncomfortable by pointing out what they may least want to look at.  With her index finger, she points at her scarred breast and notes with some kind of perverse pleasure, "I made that one myself.  I was trying to cut the whole thing off, but the pain was too great and I had to stop.  Anyways, I dare you find beauty here.  But I figure for a man who sees beauty in asteroids, maybe you'd see it here.  I've got it all, except the dead part.  I'm still working on that."

"And once again, Claire misses the joke," Mirax replied, with only a casual glance back to their bounty hunter companion.  She was rather surprised that Claire went on to expose herself in such a manner, considering how tight-lipped she had seemed to be earlier on in their voyage.  Mirax didn't seem at all bothered by the extent of her scars though... it was actually about what she had been expecting from the Bounty Hunter.  What she was surprised by, was how adamant Claire was that no one could find her beautiful.  She was very black and white in her thinking, that was for sure.

"Claire, there are people out there in the Universe that find the Hutts attractive."  Mirax rolled her eyes and turned back towards the asteroid field.  "Sarcasm aside, there is a sort of perverse beauty in an asteroid field... the same way you can find beauty in an intense thunderstorm, a volcano, or a supernova for example.  Its a matter of perspective.  Nos, put your towel back on before Kal jumps you.  I don't think scars would bother him much."

Well, since Claire did open herself for him to look, Kal happily studied what he saw. He reached out and traced a finger along some of her scars, very gently, then looked into her still-human eye.

He furrowed his brow at Mirax's response and flashed a quick look at her, but then returned his gaze quickly to Claire. "No, scars don't bother me at all, nor do I find you anything like a Hutt. In fact I envy you every one your scars. Well, all but one, anyway. I've been in a few scrapes myself, but you'd never know it by looking at me. In my line of work, one is not allowed to keep one's scars. Either bacta, surgery, or...other means are used for removal so that we can blend in and not be noticed. I envy you your unique look," Kal now traced a finger around the empty metal eye socket, "for similar reasons. I also appreciate your strength," now he ran a finger along one of her well-defined biceps, "and assure you that I'm not alone amongst men who do. Much better than a woman who worries about hair styles, staying slim, and other vain pursuits. Your entire body is a testament to your individuality in a universe full of those who are not, and I hope that one day you realize how special that makes you. If Mi and Mirax take the next shift in the fighters, perhaps I can help you come to that understanding. If not, I look forward to hearing the stories behind every one of your scars," Kal now traced the one she had indicated on her breast, "and we'll start with that one. I think we might discover a lot if we talked about it."

Claire seemed comfortable with Kal touching her scars and biceps.  She has been worked on by enough barely trained medics and street-doctors to be comfortable with her body, particularly the parts of it associated with her combative nature.  But when his hand reaches close to her breast, she reflexive pulled away as one would pull away from someone wielding a knife.  Her arms swung up defensively as though she were expecting a beating.

But when no beating came, she looks Kal eye-to-eye and teld him, "I bet you would discover more about me talking about that one scar than nearly all the others combined.  For now, you'll just have to submit to fantasizing about talking about that one.  For all we know, one or both of us may soon become nothing more than dust floating through space to finally settle upon some of those asteroids.  And if that one of us should be me, remember that you are the only man to have touched my flesh without the intention to do harm or heal harm."

She then stooped down to pick up her towel.  As she did so, she said, "Now if we're all in agreement that I am prettier than a Hutt, and Kal would jump any Hutt that so much as called itself female... We have an asteroid field to navigate."

Kal wasn't surprised when she flinched from his touch, but slowly dropped his arm and returned his gaze to her face once she did, listening intently to what she had to say. He smiled thinly at her jest about female hutts, and let it slide. His smile then broadened, "Well, perhaps once we're clear of the asteroids, you'll let me touch your flesh again and you can tell me all about that one scar."

Kal looked around at the others not really caring about what they thought of the exchange, but recalling they all had a job to do. "Let's navigate some asteroids, eh?"

Mi had watched the exchange between his allies with the practiced eye of an observer.  He knew enough about human nature to understand where both Kal and Claire were coming from and couldn't help but smile at their banter.  He shook his head turning back to his data pad seeing if there was any connection to the holonet to check on messages from his fellow wardens about trouble that they might need help with or updates on anything that would affect their mission.

After a moment he looked up seeing them still waiting around he shook his head and looked over at Mirax Bey.  "Should we let these two be alone and decide to make the run through the field ourselves?"

Chuckling to herself, Mirax was already on her way out of the cockpit when Mi spoke up. "Sounds like a decent plan to me," she replied.  It was a bit of personal preference for why she wanted to be in a fighter for this.  It mainly had to do with the fact that she didn't fully trust their guides.  She preferred to be in control in instances like this, rather than holding on for dear life.  Plus, with her abilities in the Force, she had an extra asset on her side.

"See you all in space."  With that, Mirax was gone from the cockpit, heading out to where her fighter was docked.  She intended to take a moment to make herself comfortable this time, before undocking.  She had taken a shower in the refresher earlier, so she was as ready as she was going to be.

Claire kind of jumps when she heard Mi speak up from behind her.  She hadn't expected Mi to come up to the cockpit to check with the HoloNet Communicator.  In fact, Mi's very existence often slipped her mind.  He reminded her of an MSE Droid she once had.  After being stepped on a few times, it learned to hide from her, and went about its chores when no one was looking.

Suddenly aware that she had exposed herself in such a way that people would take it the wrong way, she excused herself saying, "I should have packed more clothing.  Usually when I travel I book a private stateroom.  Sorry if I treat this ship like my own private quarters.  I better go check on my laundry now, then get back into the cockpit of my own fighter."  She then re-wrapped herself in her towel.

Kal shook his head, "No apology necessary, in fact I'm quite happy when you treat the ship like your private quarters." He called at the receding backs of the two women heading toward the fighters, "I'll be there in a minute to help you two get settled."

In the meantime, there had been something tugging at the back of Kal's mind. He scratched his neck for a moment while he thought then reached into a pocket and brought an old, chipped datapad. He smacked himself on the forehead, having forgotten to look at it previously. He turned it on to see what might be in it (or hoped that it turned on).

PM
[Private to Kal Wennyn:
The datapad has seen better days, and pressing the power switch doesn't do anything to coax it any further either. Perhaps its power source is faulty?]

Kal frowned at the datapad in his hands. It didn't seem to be able to power on. Might as well disect it and see if there were some other way to provide power. Perhaps a spare power pack, energy cell, or hardwiring it directly into the ship would work.

19:56, Today: Kal Wennyn rolled 24 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 15. Mechanics.

In reply to Kal Wennyn (msg #260):

The cover slips off easily and Kal expertly removes the power cell and replaces with one from the ship's inventory when Vertuba's back was turned. The device emmits a tiny beep and humm as it powers up. A few moments later, Kal reads the screen.

[Private to Kal Wennyn: Please enter alpha-numeric passcode...]

"Humph." Kal grunted. They always had to be password protected, didn't they? Well, he had ways around that. Kal grabbed his own datapad and hooked it to the older one. He ran some decryption software that came standard on all RMI issue datapads (though he had made some special modifications of his own) to see if the code could be cracked.

10:24, Today: Kal Wennyn rolled 26 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 17. Use Computer.

As Kal hacks away at his new mind teaser, the rest of you prepare for the crossing. Claire is already suited up, and going through the pre-flight inspection with her fighter. Before Kal knows it, Pugwis and Vertuba are done with their share of preperations, and announce that everyone man their stations.

[Private to Kal Wennyn: Your computer skills, you are quite certain, would make quick with any other datapad, but this one, you realise is special. More than that, the password seem to be anamorphous. Every try you make at it, the code seems to scramble itself even more. This is no ordinary pad, and whomever had it before definately wanted its secrets well hidden, almost paranoicaly so. Of course, there are no such thing as anamorphous codes,  but rather several layers of code. You make progress, but everytime you have one wrong it brings you back to the beginning.

Who knows how many layers this thing has? The only way to find out is to keep at it....]Resigned, Kal repockets the datapad and readies himself for what lies ahead.

The trek through the asteroid belt is slow and arduous, the fighters often having to resort to last minute evasion maneuvers and the Black Comet's crew to exclaim a few curses as the haul clangs and grates against some of the debree, though none of it quite severe enough to cause real worry. The crossing visibly ages our dear Mirax, whose knowledge of the Force is the only thing keeping her alive, whereas Claire, more suicidal than the lot of you, takes more and more chances as the crossing progresses, making her on the receiving end of several of Pugwis' outbursts.

Hours of carefull flying later... the Black Comet recieves an unexpected transmission! At the same time, a large transport appears from behind a large chunk of space rock, 4 light interceptors leaving it's bays and streaking their way toward the Black Comet. The voice over the transmission demands that Pugwis surrender Jabba's shipment, "or... we have no problem taking it from the breached hull of your ship!" Despite his denial of carrying anything for Jabba, the pirate insists that they "know" it's there!

The starfighters advance...