With the astromech reprogrammed, he was deemed safe but Kraken wasn't sure if the R2 was the one that had attempted to sabotage the ship.  Continuing his investigation during the two days the ship was overhauled, Kraken continued to investigate, checking any deleted viles on the computer, checking for anything someone was trying to hide, looking for any subvert or hidden commands ... trying anything and everything to determine who had left the virus.

Motioning to the Verpine, Jospi points to the deck flooring where the R2 unit had indicated.  He pantomimed for the Verpine to move around it and open it toward himself while Jospi drew both of his dueling pistols and pointed them where the opening should appear.

Xyklo tilts his head quizzically at Jospi, clicking to himself as he works through what is being asked.

Then, on understanding, he bounces over to the hatch, and crouching inside its opening arc, slowly pulls at it.

Forim takes the datapad and nods "Thanks"

Seeing that they are ready to get working and Caddy has reached an agreement, Forim stands up and says "Lets head back to the ship"

Putting actions to words, he heads back to the ship.

Getting back, he sees the R2 unit moving around and says "Kraken, whats the update?"

Caddy wasn't quite ready to return but smiles to Forim, "Go on ahead.  I'm sure you've much to discuss."

When the two men are distracted, she sidles over to the desk and picks up the holo frame, "Your family?"  A telling question given Ardana had just told them that she'd been adopted by a non Twilek family.

In reply to Forim Luk (msg # 118):

Kraken, working the ships computers, scaning the deleted files frowns at a bit of information and waves as Forim enters.  "The R2 unit has been ... reprogrammed.  He is now R2-E3.  Jospi took him apart and we both studied his components to ensure there were no secret parts or anything which might indicate if he was sabotaging the ship.  I found no commands, no applications or anything that would indicate he had installed the virus.  So, the astromech is safe or as safe as we, Jospi and I, can determine."

Shrugging, a bit frustrated for not finding what he had  been looking for, Kraken continues, "So, I'm back to looking in the ships systems, checking for who instealled the virus." he bites off aggravated.

Forim says "Are you kidding me?" then takes a deep breath and says giving the droid a narrowed look "That thing still gives me a bad feeling, but maybe there is another saboteur"

"Good work Kraken, very thorough.  On a more positive note, we paid for a new hull configuration, with a IFF switcher and 5 new identities."

Kraken nods, "Will they start work immediately and can we stay aboard while work is being done?"

Looking at the computer again he frowns and turns to face Forim, giving him his full attention.

"Five new identities?  That is good.  However long it takes to make the re-configuration we can use that time to memorize our new identities along with everyone else's and perhaps learn more about each other.  We'll need to be good enough to pass any Imperial questioning, should it come to that." he offers quietly.

"Do we need to do anything before the re-configuration starts?"

The twi'lek looks uncomfortable. "Well, I wasn't adopted right away," she dissembles. Caddy isn't buying it. With a sigh, Ardana closes the drawer and starts writing on a flimsiplast. "Look, drop the subject and I'll hook you up with a contact of mine. He's a gun-runner, able to get high-yield explosives past Imperial scanners. I don't know how he does it. Luis Slahlvo; lives on Malastare, near Volofar. If you don't need proton bombs yourself, you can easily sell them to other markets. Now would you please leave?"

R2-E3 wanders around the ship, familiarizing itself with the modifications. While this is happening, a group of ASP droids come aboard. They are carrying coffin-sized storage containers. These are standard containers for hauling low-temperature goods. The electronic readouts on the side beep and blink. The ASP droids place them in the cargo hold and make their orderly way out. You peer into the vision windows and see a sloshing blue liquid.

According to a datapad given to the crew, this is a shipment of cordioline trehansicol, mixed with a preservative chemical. It is bound for Sluis Van.

Over the next two days, the ship is a hub of activity. DUM droids scamper everywhere, being harassed by R2-E3 as they drop things and loosen bolts. The rodian engineer, Brolan Vajar, is more of a roboticist than a mechanic. He is eager to learn about YT-1300 freighters and proves as able a student as a worker. He is a little annoyed at his boss for signing up for this gruelling schedule, though.

Eventually the engine has been completely rebuilt. With the ion signature changed and the new transponder in place, no-one be able to compare the squibbed ship with its original model. You wonder if this particular vessel has ever had this process performed before.

Finally the moment comes. You run through a full round of preflight checks and verify that everything is in order. With a full tank and new upgrades in place, the team is ready. It's time to cast off. Next stop, Karhexadine!

In reply to 'Kraken' (msg # 122):

Forim says "Good idea.  Nothing we need to do, their techs should be here shortly.  We can stay on the ship, it just might smell like engine grease." with a smile.

--------------------
While the modifications are being made, Forim remains on the ship.  He hovers over the droids doing the work, keeping an eye on everything being one.  He is a firm believer that a pilot should know his ship, and this was a great opportunity to get to know it.  He was kind of in the way, but he was the customer, so he was not sent packing.

---------------------

Forim goes through every modification that was made after they are given the all clear, making sure to have Kraken and Jospi with him.  He plans to leave in the morning, letting the crew have a good night sleep while the techs go over everything.  He can sleep in hyperspace.  "Oh yea that" he says when the subject of the smugglers hold comes up "We discovered that on our last mission.  There was a toxic organic being in there that we ended up having to fight.  Not much fun at all"

-----------------

"I think we should come in far out on the system with our transponder off, and dark.  Lets hang around for a while doing some recon.  That will let us decide if a direct approach is best, or if we can try a close orbit insertion on the far side of the planet from the majority of the forces"

There is a limit to how far out a ship can appear in realspace from a system. The object cloud outside a star system creates its own mass shadow. It is safest to appear within a few light-minutes of the star, even when attempting stealth.

The Sunset Shimmer arrives in system in a furtive manner, popping in several astronomical units out from the star. Hopefully, any sensor stations or ships will be around the habitable planets.

Your ship arrives in system. Several natural satellites are quickly detected by your passive sensors, and you view them on screen. You appear to have arrived in the orbit of a tremendous gas giant. In lieu of a proper name, you tag it as K3, for Karhexadine 3. It is some minutes away by sublight, and poses no navigational hazard.

Closer to the system's centre is an asteroid belt. Hundreds of small objects travel in a rough orbit around the star. Potentially hazardous if approached callously, an asteroid belt is not nearly as dangerous as the far more chaotic asteroid field. The rocks are at least a few kilometers apart. They move in predictable arcs, so with careful plotting and a steady hand on the flight stick, you should be able to pass through unharmed.

Karhexadine 2, the second furthest body from the star, is a large planet that seems devoid of life. Its two moons spin serenely above a cold planet with a thin atmosphere.

Your eyes are drawn to Karhexadine 1, your target planet. It has one moon. The atmosphere seems rich with nitrogen and oxygen. Your team should be able to breath easily. Although you detect plenty of life readings, there are no radio signals or technology evident to passive sensors.

You are about to discuss your approach when passive sensors pick up another set of signals. Ion engines are roaring across your screen. Between K2 and the asteroid belt are a half-dozen small sensors contacts. They are moving from 'west' to 'east.'

Xyklo had returned to his turret seat a few minutes before the Shimmer left hyperspace. It still wasn't automatic for him, so sparing a couple of moments to double check everything was just right made sense.

He takes in the sensor warning light on the guns console.
"Err...  Forim you reading that? Just a routine patrol right?" He chatters down the comms.

"I see it" Forim says.  Then after a long pause he says "Not moving toward us, so I think so yes.  I am logging the location and speed.  If we are going to go in slowly, we can estimate how long the patrol takes to do a full circuit, and we know when to make our move.

Keep your eyes peeled on K1, we want to know if it is a possibility of doing a close jump from the far side.  Roger and Kraken can start working on an approach path from the far side of the star to see if it is possible with the current configuration of the system."

Caddy raises an eyebrow but allows the top to 'drop' with a simple, "A gun-runner called Luis Slahlvo on Malastare, near Volofar.  Thank you.  I'm sure you're gesture of good faith will encourage a long and congenial relationship between us!"  It is hardly a threat but Caddy has no intention of 'forgetting' this woman. (2 Successes)

She does however leave thank the woman and then heads back to the ship, flimsiplast in hand.

---

During the modifications Caddy will make herself scarce spending most of her 'free' time in her cabin studying maps and browsing intelligence on their destination.   The rebels may not know what they are looking for, but there just might be rumours as to what was hiding there and any clue would be useful.  Unfortunately, none of her searching garners anything useful.  During the downtime, she'll spend time getting to know the crew (and will pass on the details about the gun-runner).

---

When it is time to leave, she'll join the others in the cockpit readying for departure, "That sounds sensible.   Don't make it too obvious that we're keeping our distance though as we are still expected to be traders - even if we are traders with limited skill in astrogation."

---

Upon arrival she offers assistance in the tracking of the various astral bodies but leaves command, as always, to Forim.

---

OOC:

13:29, Today: Caddanra 'Caddy' Manitu rolled 2 successes, 1 threat using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 1A 2P 1B 3d.  Negotiation, boost for 'secret'.

13:40, Today: Caddanra 'Caddy' Manitu rolled 1 failure using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 3a 3d.  Knowledge.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:51, Mon 17 Apr 2017.

 “Roger, roger.” Roger works with Kraken to plot a new astrogation route to the destination, pulling in sensor data to bolster the data in the navcomputer.  As he works on the calculations, he mutters to Kraken, “We’ll have to be mindful of object designated Shen-4-4-Esk, it appears mildly more erratic than other objects in the region…

Roger’s Astrogation skill is at 2, ability at 2; Using Kraken's Ability
11:54, Today: B1-P3 'Roger' rolled 2 successes, 1 triumph using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 2P 2A 2D ((8(P), 12(P), 8(A), 1(A), 7(D), 6(D))).

Roger completes his work and sits upright in his seat, "OH!  Would you look at that!  Flight Commander Luk, I think I found something that might prove beneficial..." He gestures Forim to observe his screen, "I think if we follow a vector along Krill-Leth-3-0-0-5, Quk-0-0-4-2, Herf-Nen-9-4-3-3, we may fall into a small sensor shadow on approach to Karhexadine 1.  It will bring us close to object Onith-5-2-3, but I think we can do it."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Mon 17 Apr 2017.

After watching for a few minutes, Forim calculates that it would take 2.17 hours for a squadron of fighters moving on their current course to circle the sun, just inside the asteroid belt.

Roger and Kraken assess the system's navigational hazards. They conclude that they may be able to approach the planet within a few minutes' flight time with only marginal risk of detection, provided that the enemy fighters have moved to the opposite side of the planet. This will allow them to use the planet to mask their approach.

"If we are detected, we aren't going to shoot, correct.  That would likely ruin the plan.    We're just plan ordinary merchants looking for a new place to call home." Kraken mutters to himself watching the screen sending a prayer to the Force that this all works out for their good.

Forim nods "Correct.  We are trying to get in undetected, but if we are detected we respond as any merchant was.  We just got lucky to come into an unknown blind spot, and play dumb.  Fighting our way down is probably not the best option."

Then over the intercom so everyone can hear "My plan is to stay on station for 24 hours.  I would like to confirm the schedule of the patrol, and see if there are any more.  Low power passive sensors.  Make sure everyone gets some rest, but not all at the same time.  Head to the cockpit if you want to discuss the finer points of the plan"

---

The Alpha Team settles down on their, shutting down all nonessential systems to minimize their signal output. It seems to work fairly well. The fighters fly on without changing course.

After a little while, some albedo fluxuations seems to be coming from the planet. Without active scanning it's hard to tell from this distance, but it seems that something sizable is in orbit around the planet.

It's been an hour, and you are debating what this means, when an alarm sounds in the cockpit. Forim and the flight team are on it at once. It is a proximity alarm; something has just come out of hyperspace.

About half an AU behind the Sunset Shimmer, a ship enters the system. It immediately powers up its sublight engines and shields and begins racing forward at combat speed. You note its class immediately: a Skipray Blastboat.

Pilot and Gunners must roll Vigilance. All else can roll either Cool or Vigilance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:06, Fri 21 Apr 2017.

Caddy will remain on the cockpit pending the inevitable hale.  "'Playing Dumb' is right up my street it would seem."   She doesn't crack a smile - hopefully she's not upset by Forim's words.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Fri 21 Apr 2017.

Xyklo is sitting in the turret keeping an eye on the surroundings as he clicks and hums along to some ambient Wookiee drums from the datapad. He was just musing on the gyroscopic nature of hanging baskets in a spaceship when movement catches his eye...

OOC:
12:19, Today: Xyklo Voozul rolled 1 success, 1 advantage, 1 triumph using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 1P 1A.  Cool.

Sitting in the navagation seat, Kraken worked the ships system computer, checking and updating, scanning and surfing.

OOC:
COOL - 'Kraken' rolled 1 success, 1 advantage

Forim sees the proximity alarm, and sees the weapons and shields light up right away.  He quickly puts his hands to the power switch...


08:09, Today: Forim Luk rolled 1 success, 2 advantages using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 3A.  Rolling Vigilance.

I am assuming it is heading directly for us?

I know Kraken and Roger planned a jump already, so I should be able to just shove us into hyperspace ASAP?

Also, a skipray blast boat majorly outclasses us, correct?

Caddy gasps as the alarm sounds, her hands leaving the control panel as she does... only to quickly reach back for the controls to open a comms channel to the Skipray, "Unknown Skipray, this is the Freighter Trinity out of Subterrel.   We've just arrived... please stand down!"  She lets a note of 'fear' slip into her voice at the fact that the fighter is approaching what is supposed to be a defenceless freighter. (3 Success Negotiation)

[14:00, Today: Caddanra 'Caddy' Manitu rolled 2 successes, 2 advantages using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 3a.  Cool.

14:07, Today: Caddanra 'Caddy' Manitu rolled 3 successes, 1 threat using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 1a 2P 1B 3D.  Negotiate vs 3D.  1B for the 'fear' and the Fake ID.

1 Threat taken in strain.]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Sat 22 Apr 2017.

"Oh my!"

Vigilance
20:26, Today: B1-P3 'Roger' rolled no successes, 2 advantages using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 1P ((10(P))).

The Force rolled 1 failure, 2 advantages, 1 despair using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 1a 2p 1b 1d 2c 2s.  Rerolling Deception w/adjusted difficulty.

The Force rolled 3 successes, 1 advantage using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 1a 1p.  Cool.

Initiative Order:
Alpha Team
Skipray crew
Green Squadron (TIEs)

Doubtless the newly-arrived Skipray receives the message, but they broadcast nothing in return. They don't seem at all swayed by the pleading request. Forim glances down at a beeping light; the Sunset Shimmer is being targeted by an incipient missile lock.

Your comm station does pick up a broadcasted signal, but it is encrypted. Without decrypting it, there is no way to tell what the Skipray is broadcasting. You can make a fair guess, though, as the fighter squadron begins to come about.

Imperial fighters are fast, but they are far away at the moment. At long range, their laser cannons are of little use. The Skipray is closer. At medium range, they are still out of optimal weapons range.