Episode 1 - For a Few Credits More

[Summer Silver]

 

 

 

Sienn Freetaa

Twi'lek Noble, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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Sienn gave a horrified look at the news that the imperials were shooting at normal civilians. What in the galaxy could that possibly accomplish? She felt her gut churn as she considered Teel's words. There were so much harm they could do to a nice place like Cloud City if they wanted to, it was more than troubling that they seemed to be taking their hurt pride out on everyday sentients.

 

"Is anything being done about this," she asked worriedly. "Surely whoever's in charge here has filed a complaint with the nearest Moff or at least opened a dialog with the local commander. It doesn't do anyone any good for them to act this way, right?" Hearing the commotion outside she bit her lip in worry. She glanced around at the other occupants of the dinner, trying to think of how she could possibly help ease the tension without risking getting shot herself.

[Primeval Stasis]

Jeela Ajik

Human Jedi, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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The urge to remain hidden is strong. Jeela first tries to console herself that those outside are criminals, people in custody and those assaulting the captors. But she knows that is not the only truth. The empire doesn't constrain it's brutality to those deserving - more often than not, it inflicts it on the innocent. She shudders. She knows all too well.

Who knows what other bloodshed they might cause along their way. She shut herself off from the world for so long, but she can feel it again. The galaxy is changing. There is a chance to help.

Standing, Jeela feels in her robes for the lightsaber hidden within, hoping not to have to draw it but fearing the worst. The weight of it imbues her with confidence. She draws her cloak about her and moves for the door.

Edited July 5, 2023 by Primeval Stasis (see edit history)

[Draidden]

Vou Chontur

Ithorian Scoundrel, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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Vou is a bit shocked when the human gets up and starts walking towards the exit. Is she really going to go out there and interfere. Gonna get herself shot! But at the same time he feels drawn to move to a position where he has cover by the windows and can give her support if needed.

He glances at the bounty hunter and shrugs and tips his head as if to saw "come on". He has no idea if Kardassk will help or not. But he does know the bounty hunter wants the info he has and hopes that will be incentive to give some aid and keep him alive. 😉

 

[Malkavian Grin]

As the stormtroopers quelled the dissidents, the people in the cafe all panicked and ran for whatever cover they could find--some going behind the counter.

"Somebody do something! They're just gonna shoot everybody!" one cried out.

"And do what? Get shot themselves?! No way!" replied another.

Teel pursed her lips as one hand reached into the counter and rested on her gun. Steely eyes stared out at the violence, but when Sienn spoke, the woman's eyes lightened again. "Yes, the Baron Administrator--Dominic Raynor--assured everyone after the first riots that everything was being taken care of, but we all know he's just a figurehead. The real power comes from the Exex--the crusty one-percent. Uh...no offense Miss Freetaa. You're not like the rest of the nobles around here who are too snooty to care about the reason this places stays in the air."

The woman sighed heavily. "I don't think bureaucracy is going to get us out from under the Empire's heel. Not after the--Hey, you're not going out there are you?!" she said, interrupting herself as Jeela walked to the door.

[Fletcher]

R2-K8 "Kate"
Class III Astromech Droid

Vitality: 11 / 11

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While the crowd gathers within the cafe and those already there make the difficult choice of how they will react to the situation, the astromech in the corner sifts through the chatter on the Imperial Network, learning of the recent events. <Deet deboop whooo iddit neep biddip>These are mechanics of the tibanna gas union. The Imperials have forcefully dissolved their meeting and arrested leaders. Multiple dead, others arrested. Kate reports to anyone who is nearby and listening. The cylindrical access port spins and clicks, the domed head turning backwards to face the beings moving toward the window.

<Beep dip bedoop bip whee>These people may be integral to the existence of this facility - a strike at the proverbial throat. she goes on, binary sounds becoming more urgent than before. There's no way to know if these detainees are necessarily ringleaders of the union or any other resisting factions, but she knows a thing or two about the people who hold this place together in spite of the upper crust living off its generated wealth. The ugnaughts have always been very clear of that opinion.

<Bip bip veedoo boop bip dee>I am initiating a feedback distortion on Imperial network frequency receivers in five seconds.  she announces further. Whether anyone will take advantage of this action remains to be seen. But a chance to humble the boast of Imperial Wrath is too good to pass up. It's the kind of sudden, proactive thing the old droid might have done in a past life. The dome swivels to regard Teel and the droid teeters faintly in apology, currently acting well beyond the scope of her duties for the cafe. But her hand is on her gun and her words seem like she's admitting the fight is inevitable.

After the five seconds are up (counted down by a warning beep from K8), she commences with a burst of interference that (hopefully) feeds back into the stormtrooper's comm channels.

[Primeval Stasis]

Jeela Ajik

Human Jedi, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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Jeela grits her teeth. This isn't what she hoped for. She should have known K8 would have a trick up her canister, even if she didn't seem to have her old memory, but the support of the Ithorian surprised her. Maybe she can still salvage it somehow. Maybe no one else has to die right now.

Nodding at Teel's question, Jeela flips commlink frequencies to one Kate usually used. "K8- Kate... please trust me. Wait for my signal." She raised the lightsaber to as close to a defensive stance as she can within the ill-defined shape of her robes and passes through the door.

"Stand down, Troopers," she calls. She stands just beyond the doorway, a dark, cloaked figure, aggressively postured and exuding the confidence her lightsaber gives her. "Leave this place before you get yourselves killed. You were attacked. These men," she gestures to the two prisoners, "'escaped' during the confusion. You made it away with your lives before the rest of the mob could close in around you. Go."

She holds her ground, breathing slowly, feeling the force slowly return to her. Her lightsaber is posed to defend, her commlink open to Kate to signal if the combat she seeks to avoid is inevitable.

Edited July 6, 2023 by Primeval Stasis (see edit history)

[Phntm888]

Kardassk

Attributes: Menace +2, Daring +0, Guile +0, Acuity +1, Presence +1, Spirit +2

Vitality: 14/14

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The relief Kardassk initially felt at knowing his quarry wasn't among those arrested is immediately replaced by wide-mouthed astonishment as first the human woman got up to intervene and then Vou, his Ithorian contact did the same. He quietly hissed at the Ithorian, “Scorekeeper preserve me, are you kriffing insane? If the human woman wants to try and get herself killed, let her, but I need you alive to collect my bounty. And what is that droid beeping about?" For the last question, he turned towards the shop owner and the Twi'lek woman next to her.

Then that human woman spoke to the troopers, and he felt even more astonishment. She sounded like she was in charge - an authoritative figure who was used to commanding others around. Some young noble, slumming it down here? No, she'd have been closer to the Twi'lek. Maybe undercover ISB? Why would undercover ISB get involved? Regardless, the Trandoshan narrowed his eyes in suspicion at her.

[Malkavian Grin]

As Jeela walked out, the group of stormtroopers all turned toward her. It immediately felt like a power move a gang might pull, as the ones in back tried to puff themselves up threateningly. The ones in front let their weapons fall into both hands. One trooper stepped forward while another elbowed a prisoner.

"Excuse me?" came the voice from the helmet's speaker. It was male in nature, full of incredulity. "Did you just--" he started to say, but Jeela cut his words off. He gave pause and allowed her speak fully. There was a long lull drawn out between the group and the woman. She could tell, even without seeing his face, he was shaken.

The stormtrooper slowly leaned back, clicked something on his helm, then seemed to be speaking without the microphone to his cronies. One of the troopers in back deflated and started making hand motions at her, then at themselves. At the last moment, he made hand motions like a fake lightsaber, then motioned toward something he was wearing. His hand made a chopping motion to his other arm. Two more of the troopers nodded along to the unheard conversation.

Finally, the lead man flicked his mic back on. "Look girlie, I know you think you're big and tough, but there's six of us. Even if you're some mystic whatever-the-hell like TF-102 says--you're outnumbered."

That was when the three stormtroopers in back turned and made for the end of the street at full run. One of the others turned and shouted, "COWARDS!"

The lead man shook his head. "Fine. Three-to-one. You'll make a better prisoner anyways." He turned his head. "Let 'em go. I want this one." The prisoners were shoved to the side, immediately running into a nearby alleyway. One of them stayed behind to peek from around the corner.

Taking another step forward, with arms open, the trooper said, "Alright, you're move. I'll even let you take the first shot. Go ahead--but you only get one."

[Summer Silver]

 

 

 

Sienn Freetaa

Twi'lek Noble, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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Sienn felt a surge of worry from the shouts outside and Teel's words weren't making her feel any better. Luckily some of the other occupants seemed to be stepping up to help resolve the situation. However seeing even little K8 willing to do something she couldn't bare to stand back any longer herself.

 

"Kate is trying to help," she told the trandoshan quietly. "We should do the same. Is there an exit through the back by chance?" She glanced toward Teel with that question, asking in a hurried tone. She wasn't going to leave the human out there alone but she didn't want to get bottlenecked at the door. If she could go around through another exit though with her droids then perhaps she could surprise the stormtroopers from behind while they were focusing on the brave young woman.

 

[Primeval Stasis]

Jeela Ajik

Human Jedi, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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Strange that these troopers think of her as some mystic. Jeela smiles to herself; she is odd, something other. With both the Jedi and the Inquisitors gone, not much remains of the force. Maybe she alone still carries the light... "Do not fear the darkness."

She gave them their chance. Only 3 chose life. This evil - this evil that took everything from her - it has to be stopped. Maybe now is the time to start. It seems that maybe she won't be alone. Maybe she doesn't have to be anymore. "We're always outnumbered," she says, beginning to circle around the troopers, "It never seems to matter." She moves slowly, not escalating, letting the tension in the air drag out. If she can get clear of the line of fire, maybe some of the others will help out when she signals Kate and makes her move.

[Draidden]

Vou Chontur

Ithorian Scoundrel, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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Seeing three of the troopers run off, Vou starts to feel a little better about the odds. Then the leader steps forward and holds his arms out and offers the human girl the first shot. It is just too good an opportunity. Vou pulls his blaster from its hidden location, takes aim and the leaders chest and fires as soon as the human is out of the way.

His aim is true and the shot slams right into the center of the troopers chest.

 

Edited July 6, 2023 by Draidden (see edit history)

[Malkavian Grin]

The tension could be cut with a knife as Jeela started to pace across the street away from the cafe windows. True to his word, the stormtroopers didn't open fire yet. But she could see the two in the back already lining up their shot, just waiting for something to trigger the violence.

And then it happened.

Vou fired on the lead trooper from a hidden spot near the doorway. He was used to this kind of thing and it just felt natural. His spray of shots landed squarely in the leading trooper's chest, burning multiple holes in his armor which melted and then blackened. It had been so sudden that he didn't even have time to howl in pain. His body flung backwards from the force of it and he hit the ground hard, legs flopping up and then down.

In response, the other two stormtroopers opened fire with wild abandon. One of them had been so focused on Jeela making a move that he fired straight for her. The other snapped his sights toward Vou, filling the doorway with pockmarks and melted welts.

Bookkeeping

Hero Points

Vou - 1 spent

[Phntm888]

Kardassk

Attributes: Menace +2, Daring +0, Guile +0, Acuity +1, Presence +1, Spirit +2

Vitality: 14/14

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Kardassk blinks in disbelief as the Twi'lek woman suggested they help. “Trying to help? You want to get involved, too?" He glanced back out front in time to see three stormtroopers run away, then he growled as he saw Vou lining up a shot. If you take them out, those troopers are worth Jaaganath Points... Kardassk drew out his baster pistol and said, "Fine, I'll get involved. I don't suppose that droid told you why the stormtroopers arrested those two men?"

Kardassk followed the Twi'lek woman out the back and into the alley to catch them off-guard. The human draws attention and we strike from the flanks. That's good hunting tactics.

[Primeval Stasis]

Jeela Ajik

Human Jedi, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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Aware of the Ithorian slipping forward, Jeela whispers into her comlink, "Now, K8."

A small part of her is nervous to expose herself for what she is, but she quickly dismisses it. Whatever comes her way, she can handle it. Now is the time. As the blaster bolts strike the stormtrooper with surprising ferocity, she whips the black saber handle free of her cloak and ignites it with a snap-hiss , poised to defend herself.

The blaster bolts come at Jeela fast. She moves, trying to treat the blade as an extension of herself, like she was taught. Using her lightsaber is the only situation that use of the force ever came naturally. Her efforts focus on reflecting the shots back at their source, rather than deflecting them into the periphery, where innocents and newfound allies stand.

Edited July 7, 2023 by Primeval Stasis (see edit history)

[Summer Silver]

 

 

 

Sienn Freetaa

Twi'lek Noble, Level 1

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Vitality: 13 / 13

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Sienn led her droids as the fearsome-looking trandoshan out and around, arriving just in time for the fight to start. Her eyes widened at the sight of a lightsaber but she quickly pushed her shock aside and pulled out her own small blaster. "Go-1, Go-2, be careful with your fire. Only hit the stormtroopers," she ordered her guards droids before aiming and opening fire. The pair quickly followed her lead, taking slow carefully aimed shots toward the imperial thugs to avoid hitting any bystanders rather than laying down more substantial fire.