Rotten Eggs

[Overkill]

You sit, huddle around the holoscreen of the System Patrol Craft so lovingly "stolen" and modified over the past two years, awaiting a briefing on your next mission from a most psychopathic but charming FrogFreak, Daye Tiggs.

[Overkill]

The holovid shows a Sakiyan, a Near Human with jet black skin and a large shiny head, in a charcoal gray suit adjusting a screen.

Images of people sitting at a conference table move about, staticy.

A loud voice can be heard from a Verpine. Its the sort you'd imagine if a grasshopper could talk if it were a chain smoker.

"Jeff! Why do you always want to adjust the set!"

After a bit of an argument, the Verpine adjusts the set and you hear a smooth voice calmly bring the meeting to order.

Daye Tiggs, dressed in a flamboyant ascot, the style he has worn for over 20 years downs a whiskey sour and squares himself to the screen.
He is the only being in the entire galaxy that can pull off a chartreuse ascot.

This mission we are about undertake is your most dangerous yet. A sleeper cell of Sneevels, those disgusting STINK PIGS who aren't even from the Outer Rim proper, stole intellectual property from our military. With the advances in illegal hyperdrives and point defense turbolasers this could be absolutely disastrous. It sickens me to think of stink pigs with our skunk works. They lack the wisdom necessary to use these weapons and have set our R and D department back years. Sabotage, theft, and murder.
Since these were not Sneeve affiliates or military members, but rather terrorists acting on their own, we cannot start a war over this.
Nor can we risk them having the capability to use or sell to other intergalactic actors Death Star caliber weapons on any planet within the Outer Rims in a week. We need you to recover this information. Do whatever it takes.

[RandomLunatic]

As always, it was hard to figure out what exactly Tencal was thinking behind his helmet and monotone voice. "What exactly was stolen, and where was it taken?"

[Catch]

Irella
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1096/irellayoungadjust.jpg

The young human woman had been waiting impassively, a datapad balanced on her knee, checking stocks and making notes with a stylus. When the holo-screen flickered to life, Irella perked up and took a synopsis of the briefing, the tip of her pen clicking faintly against the datapad's screen. Following the briefing, she smiled wryly at the hologram.

"Daye, my favorite criminal scum, you call this a dangerous mission? It's not much more than a delivery run. In a couple of days, we'll be back with your IP intact, and you can get back to being a handsome devil with more money than worries."

Confidence and flattery he seemed to like.

"A couple questions and we'll be off. Was the data encrypted? If the files can't be copied, recovery will be a snap. Otherwise, we may have to torch their whole computer system." Irella winked. "Not that it would be a problem. And, so I can start pulling ears, do you have a list of the members of the Sneevels, or the name of their leader? The more I know, the more I can get them to... squeal. So to speak."

[WhiteFox]

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081002123809/starwars/images/a/af/RachiSitra_SWGTCG.jpg

A purple twi'lek comes out of her quarters upon hearing the holoscreen voice. What was it now she thought? She saw in a glance that it was Daye briefing the crew.

Suu asked "This loss off materials puts you at fault and now you require us to make up for your shortcomings.....Alas you do make a point. With more splinter groups and various governments taking these advanced upgrades in technology will lead to an arms buildup and the balance of order in the sector will be threatened"

I would like whatever information you have on their force size and defenses, their tactics, and what sort of situation we are getting into

[Grendelstiltzki]

The heavily modified IG-86 (http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090921052047/starwars/images/8/86/IG-86_assassin_droid.jpg) sat silently, calibrating his Firelance as he processed the information. Sneevels. Large, awkward heads, thin, nimble bodies. Tendency toward recklessness, thrill-seeking, little regard for personal safety. Recommended approach, blaster bolt to the head. Situation deemed politically delicate. Success critical. Authorized to use any measures necessary.

Perfect.

Satisfied that his weapon was in working order, Heckler put it away and turned to face the hologram.
"Seconding all previous requests for information, and asking for additional details. Is their approximate location known? What type of terrain will we be fighting on? How well funded is this group, and what sort of armaments do they possess?"

[Overkill]

Daye answers the questions, as best he can, in ways similar to their posing.

"Tencal, the full extent of what was stolen is not known. What we do know is that information on experimental explosives was seized, as well as a significant quantity of Dayetonite. A crate of advanced tensor rifles and laptops near them were stolen. Information on hyperdrives was either stolen or destroyed. We are searching for firegems. An Ishi Tib scientist working on that turbolaser project is missing."

Irella was addressed next.

"Oh sugar, how many times do I have to tell you you're not my type?
Anyhow, onto the info.
Sneeve is an advanced planet with a military about 300,000 strong.
They are not given to conquest, but don't mistake that for weakness.
They are adequately trained in hand to hand combat though I must give true credit where it is due: They are phenomenal marksmen. We suspect that materials and information this sensitive was taken to one of their larger bases,
10,000 strong, though that is in large part support.
Still sound like a milk run?"

Daye was more curt and forceful with Suu. Every briefing he had to verbally spar with her. Why couldn't he get a real Jedi? Used to be when a general said Jump they were 30 feet in the air and hovering, awaiting further orders.

"Ms. Vao, I suggest you continue your successful career in the Lowick Special Forces. It would be a shame if something were to happen to you. We are sending you information to the craft's computer system. I find it adequate enough to avoid further grumbling."

She complains worse than a raw recruit, but thats how you know she cares right?

[CrypticOcean]

Curses, the droid asked some of the Captain's questions since I was not a quick enough poster!

Captain Vulkor

Vulkor had been waiting patiently from word from Tiggs, his clawed fingertips dancing along each other slowly as he took in every word. Tiggs was volatile and unsubtle in his delivery, but he left little room for misinterpretation, at least. He flicked his scarred tentacle slightly, feeling suddenly aware of it at the mention of the word "terrorist". He was familiar the feeling that made his stomach churn when the word was mentioned. He felt as though he had certainly been one himself.

However, Vulkor refused to allow this feeling to impede their mission. He listened to each question in turn, carefully calculating each answer that Tiggs had granted them. His crew was tactically sound. They were asking all of the right questions, but their delivery methods varied greatly. He delivered a question of his own, his voice deep and powerful, but his tone was reserved and somber.

"Very well, Tiggs. My other compatriots have been rather astute in their line of questions thus far. My only inquiry is that I would like to know how recently this has occured."

[Overkill]

Tiggs shook, a series a of twitches taking over his left side.
Not nervous tics, adrenaline.

"Hot off the presses, you are some of the first to be informed.
Would have communicated sooner, but CYBERCOM is reporting widespread slicing attacks attempted against our military.
We do not know if this is the actions of isolated terrorists, or if this is nation-sponsored. It could even be the Sneev intelligence community. This slicing could constitute an act of war. I don't know how much more I can say. This transmission could be compromised. Be careful out..."

[Catch]

Irella

What appeared to be a slight curve of amusement touched Irella's eyes when Daye chastised the Jedi - though it could have been her focusing on the viewscreen - and it vanished as the holo-feed began to flicker. She cocked an eyebrow, waited, and pursed her lips.

"It had better be terrorists," Irella said finally. "For Daye's sake. Because I'm not fighting a war for him."

Connecting her datapad to a port beneath the holoscreen, she attempted to trace the connection and gather any information about the feed from Daye's location, including what had severed it.

Use Computer: [roll0]

[CrypticOcean]

Captain Vulkor

As the transmission suddenly cut off, Vulkor leaned back in his chair, observing Irella as she began to work.

"I am doubting that the Lowick Special Forces were ever intended for direct confrontation in active warfare. I am certain that if any war was declared, our operation would see little variation in execution. We would either be bait or infiltrators. ...Although Tiggs has a tendency to defy expectation. In any case, you would die beside the rest of us. I would imagine that would give you a modicum of solace, correct?" he said expectantly, leaning forward as his gaze turned back to the empty space were the hologram once was.

[WhiteFox]

Suu Vao

Suu shook her head in frustration. Computer Network attacks as well? What strange enemy caste a shadow over this whole ordeal.

Suu stretched out with the force and read the mind of Daye as he spoke of his opinion of her.

Suu responded "I do care, that is why I ask these questions, but I am far from a raw recruit. Real Jedi are dead. Jedi do not go into any situation blind, we go into it prepared.

Let us hope it is not too late to prevent a war.

Suu turned her head to the captain and asked"Where should we head to first? Will it take long to get there?

[CrypticOcean]

Captain Vulkor

Vulkor turned to view the Twi'lek Jedi, leaning back in his chair once more.

"At the present, I do not believe we were given a specific location. Let us see what Irella can figure out from the severed connection before we begin jumping around through space aimlessly. If the terrorists were responsible, we can use this to trace the exact location of one of their hideouts. Our only other lead is Sneeve...and I would rather not land on Sneeve just to find out that these actions were nationally sponsered." he stated bluntly, nodding as he ended his sentence.

[WhiteFox]

Suu Vao

Suu understood the Captain's words, after all he spoke true and logically. At the time the crew would need to use their technical skills or art of persuasion to see how to approach this situation.

" This will take quite some time, I will return to my quarters until she can dig something up. I shall prepare and rest for whenever you discover something.

Suu returned to her living quarters. A private room, with very comfortable furnishings. Suu had them placed on the ship since it would be her home for the time being. Suu checked her medical equipment and surgical tools and filled up her utility belt in preparation for the upcoming series of events. After doing a quick check, Suu lied down in wait for someone to call her.

[Catch]

Irella

Characters flickered across the datapad screen as it attempted to bridge the lost connection, and Irella, hands folded in patience, watched the scrolling numbers and numerals until the Twi'lek left the cabin. Swiveling in her seat, she addressed the captain amiably, in cool contrast to her previous banter with their mutual patron.

"I think we misunderstand each other, Vulkor. Daye hired me as a business consultant, trade and finance being my specialties; I'm not worth much as a blaster arm. Daye knows there's money to be made in a conflict like this. Fighting a war for him with my skills means profiteering, and I've already told him I'm not interested." She made a noise of amusement and shook her head. "Getting shot at, I can handle. It's prison that worries me."

[CrypticOcean]

Captain Vulkor

Vulkor smirked (as much as a Quarren can smirk), amused. Irella was the only crewmember he would allow to get away with not addressing him as 'Captain'. He knew that arguing it with her was just a waste of his breath, and she obviously knew what she was doing frequently enough for him to tolerate her insubordination. She had never truly threatened the chain of command, and he did not care to reprimand her until she did so.

"Oh, of course not, Irella. I understand where you stand perfectly. Just do not think that Daye Tiggs will release you from his grasp so easily. As you said yourself, Tiggs has much use for one of your skills in states of...'peace' and war. ...When that day comes...I still might cover your arse."

[Grendelstiltzki]

Heckler

His rifle cleaned, and the scope correctly aligned, Heckler had moved on to looking over his pistol while the rest of the crew talked. Just now finishing that, he holstered it, then, unnervingly, began pulling out each of his individual thermal detonators and disassembling them to be sure the explosive core was stable and secure, and the detonation switches and timers were in perfect condition.

"I, for one, would hope for the day that we're sent to war," he chimed in, reassembling the thermal detonator and setting the timer to make sure it worked, then turning it off, pocketing it, and beginning the process again with a new one. "There would be a greater supply of targets to dead, and less time spent wasting my battery power on idle chit-chat, and finding ways to be discreet and politically delicate. Then again, I might begin to find the simple joy of deading targets boring after so much repetition, and long for my quiet days as a black ops assassin. It is a conundrum that I have long pondered."

As he said this, his fingers slipped, and the thermal detonator's most explodey part rolled out of his hands, and tapped (thankfully harmlessly) against the floor. He reached over and scooped it back up.

"Whoopsie. Butterfingers."

[Overkill]

Irella was able to find some clues, but nothing to conclusive. Appears that transmissions originally came from space near Sneev off of a ship, but were doctored to look like they came from near Lowick. She wasn't able to find anything that would give a precise machine or location, just that the HoloNet Service Provider and MAC addresses were altered.

On an underground invite-only site for slicers she got got an IM...

"Really suspicious activity!"

"Info-loggers and backdoors and other malware has been found on some slicers from Lowick. All very similar and professional Other slicers and info groups are reporting DDOS attacks and worse. My advice? Get. Out. Now."

[Catch]

Irella

"Well. Somebody go wake the Jedi princess."

Setting her datapad on the table, Irella disconnected the short length of cable from the holoscreen and looked around the cabin to command the attention of everyone present.

"What I can tell you, is that that we're probably dealing with an isolated group, and they've been busy little piglets all over the Lowick range of the Holonet. It seems that the transmission came from a ship in Sneev space, made to appear to originate from this area, but I've no way to track them. But, given that they're so greedy for information, I suggest a bit of a ruse."

She turned to the Quarren captain to appeal her suggestion. "This is your call, Vulkor, but I think we can lure them to us. If I put out on the HoloNet that another shipment of 'sensitive cargo' is headed for Lowick, leak a travel path and list of coordinates, we can set up an ambush. I wager if we let ourselves be 'captured' and boarded, we can capture a few operatives for interrogation."

Irella shruged. "Or hostages. Whichever you prefer."

[WhiteFox]

Suu Vao

Suu arose from her sleepy state at the sound of a knock on her quarter's door and left to the common area to see what the group had came up with.

Suu listened to the plan of Irella and chimed in

"You will have to make sure that the data is not too easily given up, else they will suspect it's a trap. We may wish to do some changes to the ship's signature and disguise parts of the ship. A target bristling with turbolasers may attract far more attention than we wish, if we can look like an non-descript target, they may send fewer numbers.

Suu also commented

"Interrogation should not be too difficult, we should not have to resort to "lesser" means, my powers of persuasion should be able to recover what we seek."

[CrypticOcean]

Captain Vulkor

Vulkor watched as the thermal detonator rolled across the ground harmlessly.

"Soldier, you had better be damn sure that I do not see that happen again, or I am going to have you converted into spare parts."

He then turned back to Irella as she finished up her task.

"Hrm..." he grumbled to himself. It was risky. Suul had brought up some of the possible flaws in the plan. If they were unable to make it look like an accidental information drop, or did not replicate the signal correctly, the Sneevels would likely smell a rat. Then there was the issue of their own ship. It certainly did not look like a cargo vessel. It also would have no escort ships even if it did look like one, which may look suspicious on its own.

"Well, if you believe you can execute it properly, Irella, go ahead. I want this ship looking the part if it can. If we can get it to look like a proper cargo freight, I still believe that our lack of back-up will alert them to the situation to some extent...or at the very least make them cautious. We have to be certain that we can still utilize our armaments should something go wrong. ...Regardless, unless we can get any more leads, it seems to be our best shot at getting some more solid information on these operatives. I honestly do not care what we have to do to get them to talk. Jedi Mind-Tricks, interrogation, less...civil methods, we have to get that information in order to obtain success."

Here he observed the rest of the crew.

"Got anything to add? If not, get to work."

[Reverent-One]

Vir

Vir chimed in here, "Captain, this is a System Patrol Craft, making look like like a simple transport is going to be difficult. Perhaps it would be better to forget physical disguise. We could simply say they've switched to a better defended target to quickly import some important cargo, like a scientist to jumpstart research. Our ship is still far more than the standard model and would surprise any would-be raiders."

[RandomLunatic]

Tencal emerged from the silence he had dropped into after the transmission had been cut. "I believe his idea has merit," he said, offering a tilt of the head towards Vir.

[Erad]

A fish-eyed Mon Calamari finally leaves bathroom.

"I have to be more careful with food from this forsaken planet", says Rabar Valzha, "What just happened"?

(After getting answer)

"So our leader wants us to find don't-know-what, don't-know-where? I myself amn't going to fight, no matter if it were terrorists or enemies, my dept wasn't THAT high. But anyway, should you need my help, say."

Got late with beginning, so couldn't write something more prettier and logical. Now waiting for the next chance to do something.

[Catch]

Irella

"Or," Irella began, "we don't disguise the ship at all."

She shifted in her chair to nod to the two latecomers, and continued.

"It's true we don't look like a transport craft, and I suggest we skip trying to hide it. Modifications take time, and we'd be better served by a target that looks the part. If we can, I'd like to acquire a small stripped-down cargo freighter from Daye, a retired ship, or one not currently in use. We set up a slave circuit to this ship, maneuver it to our chosen ambush point, and we wait for them to pounce on an empty vessel. Once the Sneevels are aboard, we swoop in and tow the ship back to Lowick."

Irella snapped her fingers and allowed herself a smile.

"Simple. It ends without a firefight, we get our prisoners without starting war, and if the Sneeve authorities have any objections, they'll have to come up with a damn good explanation for what their operatives were doing boarding an unarmed Lowick freighter."

[Overkill]

Hey, since there are 7 people in game, I'm just going to say it here...

PM your ideas and we will roll from there. I'd type more, but I just woke up,
I'm really hungover, and I want to eat lunch before the chow hall closes.

Have a good afternoon, I'll be back.

[Erad]

"I too think we shouldn't disguise our ship", said Rabar. "It is better for us not to lose any firepower, we'll need all of it for those criminals. Maybe like Irella suggests we can use another ship to trap them. I can try to spread information that this second ship is carrying something important: a valuable cargo or maybe a relative of our beloved Daye Tiggs. Whatever to make the bait. And then my dear partner will show them."

Mon Calamari smiles as he looks on his battle robot.


Overkill: can I please get more info on droid you suggested me to take?

[RandomLunatic]

Hey, since there are 7 people in game, I'm just going to say it here...

PM your ideas and we will roll from there. I'd type more, but I just woke up,
I'm really hungover, and I want to eat lunch before the chow hall closes.

Have a good afternoon, I'll be back.

((This is why OOC threads are nice to have.))

[Erad]

(( Yes can we please get OOC thread?))

[Grendelstiltzki]

Heckler

"Of course, Captain, it was only a minor malfunction of my servomotors, I'm sure. I'll be sure to look into the problem later. And never to check my weapons in front of you again." His task completed, Heckler returned each piece of his equipment to its regular place.

He then sat quietly for a while, listening to the other crew members as they discussed their plans. After some time, he spoke up again. "A sound plan, should it go as predicted, Irella. However, it is risky. We would need to pick an appropriate location to set our ambush. The void of space is not abundant with places that allow a vessel this size to wait in complete cover, at a close enough distance to allow us to observe a raid by a group of armed soldiers with combat experience, and respond in time to catch them, to use an organic expression, 'with their pants down.'

"What is more, I find it likely that they will be on the lookout for armed escorts or other witnesses, given the supposedly important nature of the ship's cargo. If we do manage not to be detected, that leaves the matter of their ship, which I believe would be manned while their search party is on the decoy vessel. If we simply try to abscond with their crewmen, they may try to follow us, or even intercept and disable us — vessels that expect to go on raids will sometimes be outfitted with ion weaponry. If they do expect resistance, or simply want to end any potential fights quickly, they will probably bring more than one ship, which, should they successfully engage us, would leave us outnumbered against enemies that have already been stated to be excellent marksmen, a trait that we can only hope does not translate to starship combat.

"But despite all of the variables, this is the best plan we have. I only recommend that we account for these possibilities."

[RandomLunatic]

"In theory, it would not be difficult," Tencal said. [/color=red]"We would just have to wait along the decoy's route, a couple light-hours out of system to avoid detection. Then we just have to wait for the decoy to overtake us and follow it, about 20 seconds back. We'll fall afoul of whatever means the raiders use to pull the decoy from hyperspace, amd come out right on top of them Probably give them a nasty shock, too-nobody expects an armed escort that far behind the freighter.

"Personally speaking, though, I'm in favor of the 'use our ship as a 'priority transport'' route-fewer things involved to go wrong in the operation."[/color]

[Overkill]

The ship is sending and receiving holonet transfers, though not from transmissions based on or near Lowick.

One such transmission came from a greasy, shifty looking Bothan.

Looked like a ferret slicked up with crankcase oil and crammed into a seersucker leisure suit.

"Hey, Iheard a bout yer troubles. Anythin' I can do yafer?"

A transmission, in deeply technical and nerdy form, was received. Must be from a Verpine. The transmission asked in great depth about ships needed, illegal transponder codes, and the like.