[IC] Junk Yard Dogs [A Sage Edition Game]

ic - Junk Yard Dogs - A Star Wars Saga Edition Game.

Scene: Space.

An old Imperial C Class Shuttle emerges from the side of the Befhr class cruiser. After emerging from the hanger the shuttle banks and travels along side the cruiser. The cruiser fills the screen. The shuttle passes over a larger Hurin class orbital transporter, slowly edging its way into another of the cruiser's hangers. Eventually the cruiser falls way. Space fills the screen for a moment before a plant slowly emerges from below. The planet is brown, hundreds of shades of brown. Few clouds break up the sky, and on the dark side, no lights can be seen. Tatooine. Slowly the planet grows to fill the screen.

Scene: Interior of the Shuttle, cockpit.

The Pilot and Navigator sit in near darkness, illuminated mostly by the instruments around them. The flight clock reads 6.2 minutes. A disembodied voice emerges from the console.

"Shuttle 26 Alpha, this is Tatooine ASC. I have a transmission for you from GarCom. Secure the channel."

"Confirm that." The navigator flicks a couple of switches above his head, before adjusting a dial. A blinking light turns green.

"Channel secure. Green to transmit."

Scene: Interior of the Shuttle, main passenger cabin.

There are six individuals in the cabin. They are something of a mixed bag; an ISB officer, two Storm-troopers from Tatooine Garrison, an Imperial Army officer, a single Scout-Trooper, and an FQ droid. A number of bags are crammed into corners and empty spaces. The navigator of the shuttle pokes his head around the corner.

"Incoming transmission from Garrison Command. I'll patch it through to the HoloDis." With that, he returns to the cockpit.

Moments later, the HoloDis flickers into life. Major Sward, the Garrison SIC, appears. He leans forwards slightly, scanning the room.

"Good. You are all there. I'm Major Sward, SIC, Tatooine Garrison." He pauses for a moment, giving everyone a moment to stand a salute.

"At ease, and welcome to Tatooine. I hope you had a pleasant flight. Something has come up, so you are going to have to put of unpacking for the moment I'm afraid.

"We have just received some fairly good Intel into the location of the missing archaeology team. We tracked a transmission from a location in the Waaler Desert region. You are in the air and available, so the Commander thought you could handle this one. It should give you a chance to work out the wrinkles.

"For those of you new to Tatooine, the archaeology team was snatched seven days ago while out in the desert. There are, well were, five of them; two have been executed apparently. The team is lead by Horfield Nar Fendish. The Fendish family is quite wealthy. Several demands for ransom have been made so far. We want the team back, alive and unharmed obviously."

The image of Sward flickers and is replaced by that of a middle aged man, well kept and expensively dressed. The image rotates through 360 degrees before cutting to a close up of the head, which does the same before disappearing. Sward reappears.

"If you can capture any of the kidnappers alive, great; bring them home for questioning. But its secondary. Securing Nar Fendish and bringing him home alive is the priority.

"A data file with the new intel and descriptions of the other team members has been attached to the transmission.

"Any questions?"

[sblock=ooc]Jonos has been assigned two Storm-troopers and sent out to greet Qira and the Scout-trooper. I haven't decided which officer FQ is with. I'll give you a few days to discuss it among yourselves. If you come up with a plan, we can go with that. Otherwise I'll make the decision.

Obviously, there is still a fair bit of background as yet unsorted. But rather than wait for me to write it all up, I thought we would jump in and sort as we go.

A few posting guidelines.
* "Talking marks" for anything spoken aloud, Italics for thoughts. Default text colour only.
* All posts in the IC thread must have some IC content. OOC notes can be added at the bottom, but should be sblocked. OOC only posts should go in the OOC thread.
* Even if there is nothing in particular that your character wishes to do or say, if you can post something it helps me know that you have checked in and are ready to move on.[/sblock]

Lt. Jonos takes his data pad out from one of his belt pouches and synchs it with the transmitter, uploading the image that Major Sward is transmitting and the rest of the data file. As Sward finishes Jonos looks up from his work.

"What intelligence do we have about the kidnappers? Who are they affiliated with? What is the closest settlement to their supposed location?"

His eyes continue to flicker down to his datapad as he enters notes and information.

"Archeology, Major? Is there money in that, or just opportunity for the kidnappers? Any chance of the kidnappers having off-world transport, or will the Befhr be loitering for interdiction while we're on op? Will we have air support for this? Speeders, maybe? I hear that Tattoine is pretty brutal on foot." The Lieutenant speaks with the thick, nearly aristocratic accent common to Imperial Center, Coruscant.

Qira loads the intel data into her reader and glances over it for content, then begins logging the tedious requests for data on the entire system over her I2 network to outline the disposition and details of the Imperial Forces, known rebels, etc.

A dedicated computer specialist could probably do it quicker, but they'd likely end up on a prison planet making big rocks into little ones eventually. Better to do things by the book, Qira thought.

The FQ droid bipped, and started downloading the information.

Pvt Holser stands stock still, still at attention even though given the at ease order. "No questions, sir! We will bring this man back alive or we will die trying, sir!"

Holser has the intense look of a naive kid, ready to please.

Othello watches the video silently, remaiing seated and waited for the ship to land.

ic - Junk Yard Dogs

Major Sward nods in response to Lt Jono's question.

"Nothing that we didn't already have really. No known affiliations, no confirmed links to any of the major criminal or subversive groups. Of course, the Hutt would have to be the prime candidates at this time. But as you know, so far we have had only the most limited of success getting anyone inside their operations.

"Assuming that the transmission is from where they are hiding out, them they are in a remote area indeed. Its at least 400 klicks to the nearest settlement - a small mining operation. Our nearest forces are over 3,000 klicks away. Our nearest useful forces are more like 5,000 klicks away.

"Which is why I've had your shuttle redirected. In about 12 minutes you will be passing over the site of the transmission. You can get there faster than anyone else we have to hand.

"Lt Maru. Welcome to Tatooine. Once again, apologies for denying you a decent shower so close to the finish line.

"Archaeology no. The Fendish family, yes. As for transportation, we have no idea what the kidnappers have to hand. Sorry. As for the Behfr, I am talking to him at the moment. He's agreed to throw out a squadron of TIE's to interdict anything trying to escape. But at the moment he's unwilling to alter course of the cruiser War Born. At least not until we have something more substantial. As for other support, I'm assembling a squad of Scout-troopers for transportation to the transmission location. But ETA is over 5 hours. So for the now, look around you Lt., that's what you have.

"And yes, Tatooine is brutal. So be careful."

[sblock=Qira: Use Computer - Data Request]Qira successfully makes the connection to the HoloNet. I2 and the IA have never been on friendly terms. The IA only hands over information grudgingly (and vice versa) and then it is usually hoarded by whichever department or branch of I2 that gets it. Qira gets a general outline of the IA forces allocated to Tatooine, number of units, vehicles, ships etc. The data does not include any assessment of the current status or deployment of those forces.

Reading between the lines, Qira's knowledge of organisational structures and operational requirements suggests that Tatooine Garrison is under
equipped and operational readiness is fairly low.

There is little of any interest regarding rebel operations. There is the usual speculation, rumour and scare mongering. But nothing concrete. Nothing to indicate any serious rebel activity.[/sblock]

[sblock=Voda, Einan]Can you post a copy of your characters to the RG thread. Thanks.[/sblock]

OOC: Ummm. Where's the Rogue's Gallery thread located?

ic - JYD's

The navigator reappears at the hatch. "We have just received a new destination. Somewhere out in the middle of the desert on the far side of the planet." He looks puzzled, obviously wondering if the co-ordinates are correct. After a moments pause, he continues. "Atmosphere insertion point will be reached in 9 minutes. Do you have any orders?"

[sblock=ooc]Its gone a little quiet around here. Any problems?[/sblock]

"What's the source on those new coordinates?" Qira unstraps herself to move to the entrance of the crew cabin. "Bounce them back here for tactical."