Oriana was torn, actually, between amusement at the fact that Hector had fallen for the scam, and annoyance that Marigg had used it against another smuggler.  It was a common enough ploy, but there was usually a sort of gentleman's agreement about who and what such things would be used upon.

Not to mention that Marigg had probably already taken the liking to Hector's ship before contacting him, and had selected him precisely for that purpose.

In the end, she voices none of these thoughts, merely glancing over at her fellow smuggler and asking, "What happened to her?  How'd you get off Port Nowhere?"

"Well, getting off Port Nowhere was the easy part.  I have friends too, you see.  Tried to have the ship tracked immediately, but he'd already made the jump to hyperspace.  It was a matter, then, of using up most of the favors I'd built up over the years just to find where he'd run off to.  I also managed to find out what he was up to as well - heard from a friend of a friend that he was looking for some lost treasure."  Hector reached across the console, and flicked open one of the air vents.

"So, I set out on my own search.  Borrowed a ship, and headed off to beat him to his next contact, and thus procure the next piece of the puzzle that was the location of his prize.  I manage to succeed, and it didn't take long for him to find out.  Sent a group of hired thugs out to kill me.  That, as I'm sure you can understand, was the last straw.  I would've been fine with just getting my ship back, but not anymore.  Anyway, moving on."

"Eventually, I managed to arrive, purely by chance it seems, on the planet at the same time as him.  Lucky, again, that I found the ship as well.  Of course, he wasn't there at the time.  Out drinking, I dunno.  But, I found my ship - and with it, the woman he'd been working with on his quest to find Nok Drayan's fortune.  Seemed said woman wasn't too loyal to him, and decided to stay aboard and team up with me instead."

"It was probably not long after that you met up with him.  Thanks to the information Ves - that was her name - had gathered along with my own, we were able to find the last clue, and piece together the location of the barge Nok Drayan had sealed his treasure away on.  We made best speed there - out beyond the outer rim.  I found out later, of course, that Marigg had planted a beacon on the ship just in case - that was how he showed up at the barge not long after I did.  As to how that ended, you already know."

Throughout the latter portion of this story, Oriana's had her head swiveled around, watching Hector tell it.  By the end, she's frowning, her eyes narrowed.

"You honestly think you got the worst end of the deal there, Terrachova?  Double-crossing a fellow smuggler, that's low enough... but having your own crew turn on you?  That's another thing entirely.  I hope you left her ass in deep space."

"The way I understand it, she was never actually a part of his crew, merely someone who was looking for the treasure as well.  She teamed up with Marigg because he had a ship and a similar interest.  Word is, he wasn't a very nice person to work with."  Hector shrugged.  Oriana had a valid point, but considering the circumstances, he hadn't been in a position to pity Marigg at all.  "'Sides, once we found the barge and took what we wanted, we parted ways with an agreed cut.  Whatever slight upon Marigg she was guilty of made no difference to me."

"He wasn't that bad."  Oriana shifts in her chair, pulling her heels up to perch on the front corners of the seat, so she can rest her elbows on her upraised knees.  She brings her hands together, thumbs and forefingers pressed together into an 'L' shape, the other three fingers interlocked and folded down.  With a sigh, she leans her head into her hands, supporting her chin with the tips of her thumbs, with her fingertips pressed against her forehead, staring straight ahead through the window.

When she finally speaks again, her voice has a tone of injured apathy, like it's just dawned on her that her glasses haven't always been orange, sometimes they've been rose-tinted.  "He took care of me, when no one else would, Hector.  Even years before, when I was just a scrawny kid running errands in the cantinas, he could always find something to justify slipping me a cred or two.  Hell, just last night, he was vowing to make them pay for locking me up."

Oriana draws a deep breath through her nose, exhaling it as a resigned sigh.  "You killed him, but I couldn't leave him there to die, even if I probably should have."

"A few good deeds does not absolve a man of a life of sin," Hector said, turning on a bit of philosophy.  "I'm willing to grant that, from your view, he was a decent man, but the Kai Marigg I and my acquaintances know is quite the opposite I'm afraid."  With a sidelong glance at Oriana, he decided that, for now at least, he would hold off on insulting the Duros.

"While I don't approve of your past association with him, I certainly won't fault you for it, all things taken into account."  He flashed a grin. "Fortunately, you roll with me now.  Things are going to get a lot more interesting, I think."

Oriana snorts, the ensuing snicker perhaps hastily disguising the briefest of sniffles.  "Yeah, well... Hopefully not so interesting that I wind up having to pull your unconscious and dying ass off the floor of a barge headed into a black hole, yeah?"

She glances over and flashes a grin that's a little forced at first, but quickly fades into something genuine.  It crosses her mind to offer him a few hours alone with the ship, to get used to her, but in truth she wasn't tired yet. Sure, she'd be ready for a nap once they landed on Corellia, but that could wait.

And so, Oriana stretches back out in her chair, one leg draped across the other, and both of them propped up on the center console, settling in for the rest of the trip.

Hector put a hand over his chest, feigning shock. "Oriana!  I'm touched you would even consider that!"  The look turned into a smile, and he leaned back into his chair.  Things were going well, and while he figured Oriana was still rather loyal to Kai - meaning he'd have to be a little careful - he did sense they had a sort of rapport.  That, at least, was worth something.

But it did still leave them with a number of hours before either of them was likely to sleep by the looks of things.  "Well then... how about a game of Pazaak?  Republic Senate rules?"

Duran headed into the mates room, hoping that none of the woman would ask for the room, he'd happily hand it over but he was still concerned about the Captain's intent over Oriana. She seemed like she could handle herself but it was one thing when you had a blaster, quite another lying asleep in bed next to the man.

The thought of it made his face colour already as he started to sort through the Cabin, he'd have to keep his eyes open. There wasn't much in the cabin to start with but as he made his way through he realised she only kept things in the footlocker built into the base of the bed.

Opening it he saw her clothing. Simple enough, he started stacking it on the bed in neat piles, most of it looked exactly the same as what she was already wearing. Not much in the way of fash.....

Something lacy fell out of the pile and his eyes followed it down. She wore that? Blood rushed to his face as he looked in the locker and saw several duplicates of the offending item. She was wearing something like that now? It hardly covered.....

He closed his eyes, focusing on the force, his lightsaber anything but the pictures of what was and wasn't covered by what lay on the floor. Focusing he cleared his mind, this was why they didn't allow attachments, a simple piece of cloth and he could hardly think, imagine if he had to actually look.....no better not to think about.

Shaking his head he packed the bits up as quickly as he could, putting them between the other clothing, his face bright red for most of the time. Under the socks, which he piled on top, he found a bracelet and three holobooks. He looked at the titles.

One was in a language he didn't understand, one was a book of fables he'd seen before and the third...well 'The Fires of Conquest' hardly seemed like a promising title. Pressing the display the cover came up, a scantily dressed woman and what looked like a republic soldier with their arms wrapped around each other greeted his widening eyes.

With desperate jabs he managed to close the book, but not before unintentionally opening a bookmark and leaving one of his own a few pages later. Shaking his head he decided the sooner he was meditating the better. Collecting the things together he lifted them up and took them through to the Captains quarters and left it on the desk where it could be easily spotted.

Trying not to think of what he had learned about the woman he made his way to his bed. Sitting into a meditation position he tried to focus, thoughts of lacy bits and 'Flames of Conquest' didn't last long beneath his years of discipline and soon he was deep in a force trance. At least for the next four hours. Then he'd ask to be taught how to use the Ion Cannon.

The hyperspace jump draws to a close.  As everyone straps themselves in, the stars form back into points in the sky, and in the distance, the blue-green ball that is Corellia comes right into view.  Even from here, the numerous orbital construction yards and stations are visible, obscuring the planet with a sort of gray blocky distortion.

Just then, however, as Hector and Oriana start bringing the ship to a course toward the planet, daggers begin piercing the space around the Skyfisher.

The ship's radar lights up as other entities come into position nearby, and then the display becomes scrambled just as X2 issues a series of warning beeps, which it relays to the screens.  "Alert = Skyfisher's communications = jammed."  An entire Sith Empire fleet is now all around you, likewise pointed towards Corellia, with two of the larger Harrower-class dreadnaughts among at least 30 of the smaller Terminus-class cruisers.  One ends up close enough that you think you can see its crew, and it takes some immediate maneuvering to avoid a collision.

What do you do?

A picture of the Harrower-class ship: http://images3.wikia.nocookie....sDreadnaught-EGW.jpg  The Terminus cruisers are similar to the Star Destroyers in the movies, but a bit smaller and thinner.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:53, Thu 31 May 2012.

Seely had been ready to make her rounds for landing at about the time hyperspace ended.  Naturally, the sight that greeted her in space around them was enough to make her blood rush.  She had seen fleets like this before, but she had had the benefit of a Republic fleet nearby or being on the fleeing end.  Sith fleets like this were a little small for glassing planets, but they could probably turn a region into ash given a little time to set up and a continuous bombardment...

The Captain inwardly panicked as they nearly crashed, but Hector spared them that instant death.  The officer in her came to the surface, "We need to get to a point where we can use our comms, if we can get out of this mess alive."

Serina is sitting comfortably in whatever chair she is strapped into but tenses as the Sith fleet appears.

"Did we just drop out right in the middle of a Sith attack? That's the worst kind of luck"

She tries to look towards the planet itself

"Surely Correlia has defenders of it's own?"

She can't help but glance briefly towards the two Jedi, the Sith might leave a transport alone in the middle of a battle if they don't get themselves involved, but not if they sense two Jedi onboard, if that's even possible.

"Karking Imperials!"  Oriana hisses, swiveling her chair around so fast that she knocks over the remnants of the pazaak game on the center console, scattering cards about the floor.  She'd been on a roll, too.

She ignores the appearance of the Imperial fleet so close by, although whether she's just that non-plussed, or if she trusts Hector's skill enough to not worry is anyone's guess.  "On it, little guy!" she calls out, immediately activating the console to her right to bring up the Skyfisher's main terminals.  Her fingers flash over the keys and touchpads, attempting to coax the trusty freighter's computer systems into overdrive.

"Buy me some time, or get us the hell out of jammer range.  You wanted to see what she could do."

---

OOC: Attempting to override the jammers. The penalty to Ori's check is either a -2 (if we're being specifically targeted with a suite), or a -4 if we're just caught in the area of an array)

12:41, Today: Oriana Cy'Kast rolled 24 using 1d20+21. Use Computer, override Imperial jammers.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Thu 31 May 2012.

"Not enough to save us if we get into trouble." Seely calms a little, logic taking over as she has time to evaluate the situation, "They wouldn't send all of these after us; we just have to not be a target.  Watch out for fire from their turbolasers."

Shanda stood out of the way watching, her hands folded inside her robe listening and observing, Apparently the problem was rather self evident...the Sith were invading the planet or at least attempting to establish a blocade. Standing out of the way she focused her thoughts inwards, her lips moved slowly reciting the jedi code under her breath as she reached out with the force to see how she could best help, even if it were only to mask the presence of the force sensitives aboard the Skyfisher....

[Private to GM: Small query about the power Cloak, would it be possible to extend it to the ship she's in? I know it has a personal target description but just wanna see if it might be possible to do it... :)]

"Karking Republic Intelligence!"  It shouldn't come as a surprise to hear Hector's first words as they drop out of hyperspace in the middle of a Sith invasion.  His hands are a blur as he flicks on all the important screens and pulls the headset down on his head.  Mere seconds after they've dropped out, his hands are on the yoke and throttle, pulling hard.

"Hold on, thing are going to get a little shaky."  Rolling the ship on its axis, Hector aimed to dive down close to the nearest Dreadnaught, to take them underneath the ship where it had the fewest number of turrets.  He aimed to keep them close though, as those large turrets would then not be able to track them.

"Some of you might wanna get on the turrets in case some fighters are looking for an easy kill.  Prove them wrong," he barked out.  He didn't have time to look around for any of Corellia's defenders, which he figured were probably already space-dust.  "Oriana, find me one of those frigates close by the dreadnaught.  We can use her for cover from the larger ship's weapons as we leave the area."  While he asked her to check, he made a quick scan of his own sensor screens to do the same thing - not that it was easy with everything else going on.




16:29, Today: Hector Terrachova rolled 19 using 1d20+13. Initiative.
16:25, Today: Hector Terrachova rolled 27 using 1d20+13. Pilot, roll under and fly close to ship.
16:27, Today: Hector Terrachova rolled 17 using 1d20+14. Perception - look for frigate.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:29, Thu 31 May 2012.

Shanda moved to where she could see beyond the ship laying a steadying hand upon the wall as she reached out to the force shaping it beyond the ship superimposing it for a moment over the Skyfisher but having it veer off in the opposite direction of where the actual ship was heading. Still she frowned, feeling the sweat beading on her forehead. The illousion formed, but it was a mere ghost of the actual ship, only a complete idiot would fall for the decoy illousion.

Panting softly she closed her eyes trying to recover from the strain of creating something so large, she'd make another attempt when she caught her breath.

OOC: Using her Illousion talent to create a second Skyfisher. Sadly the diceroller doesn't like this idea.

18:18, Today: Shanda Rell rolled 6 using 1d20+4. Use the Force check at -10.

"Isn't that an oxymoron?" Oriana laughs, reacting to the sudden pitch and roll of the vessel by shoving her foot hard against the console to maintain her balance, being too busy to bother with negligible things like strapping in.

"X2! Get that Imperial frequency plugged into the IFF!" she calls back to the droid.  While saying this, she quickly switches tempo and runs a scan of the area, happy to note that the Skyfisher's decided to tell the Imperials' jamming array to bugger off, at least momentarily.

"Frigate at ten o'clock, just like you ordered," she taps her fingertip against the sensor screen.

---

Sensor Sweep
16:56, Today: Oriana Cy'Kast rolled 28 using 1d20+18. Perception, look for frigate.

As Hector plunges the ship down, just about nothing happens so far as the Imperial ships are concerned.  It's a bit like they haven't noticed you're there.

As you're flying downward, the scanners open back up as Oriana, despite a quick curse at some interface or other, is successful.  What it tells you confirms what you noticed with your eyes:  there are lots of Imperial ships around you, certainly enough for an invasion.  Likewise, you're able to discern that the jamming they're using is definitely a wide-spread array, extending almost out to the planet.

Hector gets the Skyfisher under the dreadnaught.  There are two frigates below it, each about equal distances away.  The Imperials basically have the two Harrowers rather far from one another, with the frigates taking up positions almost randomly throughout the area.

Another of X2's messages shows up on-screen, "IFF transmission = transmitting."

The Imperials then begin dispensing an innumerable quantity of starfighters, which are all on trajectories toward the planet.  None of the vessels have acted in any hostile way towards the Skyfisher as of yet.

"...they're attacking Corellia.  Is it all for that one man?" Seely doesn't really know what to say with regards to that, but she did know about killing the other guy and not dying in the process, "Duran, get on one of the turrets, I'll man the other.  We do not want to draw their attention unless they show some sign of recognizing us, but Hector's right."

"IFF's online?  Wonderful!"  Casting a sidelong glance at the screen showing the frigate he had asked for, Hector made a quick decision.  "That frigate's a nice screen... but I'm thinking those fighters will provide a better one.  They're goin' our way, after all!" He nodded to Seely though; having those guns spooled up would be a safe thing to do.  Hector made a quick check, noting the twin linked cannons he had control of as well.

"Well, here we go!"  Rolling the freighter over once more, Hector dove down, ducking behind the swarm of fighters coming out of the dreadnaught's bay, and aiming to place the freighter below the swarm, heading the same direction, such that the fighters were between them and the more dangerous guns.  He made sure not to swing too close, of course, so that his actions wouldn't seem aggressive.



18:09, Today: Hector Terrachova rolled 32 using 1d20+13. Pilot, precise flying.  If I need any other roll for what I'm doing let me know.

Oriana holds her breath, her eyes flickering back and forth from the sensor screen, to the fighters outside, to Hector, and back again.  This... this was nuts, and she liked it.  The corners of her mouth twitch into a grin, and she laughs, flipping her attention back to the sensor screen to keep an eye out for any Imperial ships that seem inclined to be breaking their direction.

Duran watched with a sense of fatalism as the Sith fleet warped into space around them, at least now they knew why they were here. Shaking his head at the older Twi'leks words he said,"No, they're most likley here for the hyperdrives, but we know what we have to protect our friend from."

At her mention of the turret he unclipped the belt and stood up,"I'll take the Ion Cannons, Captain." He grinned as Terrachova said he'd be following the fighters in,"Good, lots of targets if we need to fight. Now let's see if Ms Cy'Kast's lessons were any good."

Turning he headed to the turret dropping down the ladder into the turret. It took him a little longer than he'd ever admit to Terrachova to remember which straps fitted where but soon he was in place and had the headset in place++Terrachova, Ion Cannon manned, ready to go.++

He pressed the release button to ready the gun and grinned as he flipped upside down. Spinning the gun around he looked for targets, not that it was time to shoot just yet.

11:03, Today: Duran rolled 34 using 1d20+15. Perception (Force Perception).
This message was last edited by the player at 09:03, Fri 01 June 2012.

Seely situated herself on the other gun and pulls her own headset on as she settles in for what could be a terrible battle, ++Quad lasers?  All right, let's hope I don't have to see what these can do.++

The Skyfisher soars out, tailing a group of fighters.  At this point, you expect the capital ship personnell can definitely see you.  Despite the mobilization of the Sith fleet around you, there is a palpable sense of hesitation, likely due to the IFF transmission.  You get an image of the Sith commanders in charge looking to one another, "Did we just send a freighter?  Who sent a freighter?!"  With their comms down due to their own jamming, they probably have no way to confirm what's going on between ships.

As though on cue, the jamming field drops.  Moments later, a wing of bombers nearby unleashes a veritable volley of ordnance, torpedoes locked on to whatever defenses the Corellians have available.  They'll hit a number of Corellian installations within seconds.  Simultaneously, your sensors show another dreadnaught and escort has dropped out of hyperspace near the rest of the Sith fleet, increasing the Sith presence by approximately 50%.  They begin launching their own waves of fighters.

Speaking of the Corellians, you can see a number of patrol ships and a few defensive corvettes...moving away from you and toward the planet.  [Private to Seely Komad: Likely to regroup, getting into a defensive formation, or perhaps in range of planetary defenses.]

[Private to Oriana Cy'Kast: Additionally, what starts as a tingling sensation at the back of your mind comes roaring forth, cascading over your mind like three of the worst headaches you've ever had all at once.  Someone, probably a Sith given the current circumstances, never learned the control part of their regimen.  Also, the wave is quite pervasive, giving you entirely more glimpses into the sender's mind than you would have liked...you feel malice, recklessness, thirst for power.  As well, while they're not very particular with their probing, you get the sense they now know you're here.]
[Private to Duran: Additionally, what starts as a tingling sensation at the back of your mind comes roaring forth, cascading over your mind like three of the worst headaches you've ever had all at once.  Someone, probably a Sith given the current circumstances, never learned the control part of their regimen.  Also, the wave is quite pervasive, giving you entirely more glimpses into the sender's mind than you would have liked...you feel malice, recklessness, thirst for power.  As well, while they're not very particular with their probing, you get the sense they now know you're here.]
[Private to Shanda Rell: Additionally, what starts as a tingling sensation at the back of your mind comes roaring forth, cascading over your mind like three of the worst headaches you've ever had all at once.  With your Force Sight, you see a nova of Force energy is radiating from one of the Sith ships, sending out wave after powerful wave.  Someone, probably a Sith given the current circumstances, never learned the control part of their regimen.  Also, the wave is quite pervasive, giving you entirely more glimpses into the sender's mind than you would have liked...you feel malice, recklessness, thirst for power.  You're able to maintain your resolve, but you sense Duran and Oriana are now quite known to the "attacker".  It was just a probe, but used far more power than necessary.]

[Private to Hector Terrachova; Seely Komad; Duran:  One of the groups of fighters, about 8 in total, is breaking off to engage the Skyfisher.  They'll be in range next round.]

Assuming you continue heading for the planet, you'll be there in two rounds.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:58, Fri 01 June 2012.