Shadow of the Crimson Turtle

Another horn blares over the phone and the tell tale whine of repulsors can be heard in the background. "Friend Nils! Hello! Nice to hear you! You get what you needed at the bank?" There's what sounds like a distant explosion and a brief buzz of static. "Where I pick you up?"

"Yes, I think so! Maybe! We're outside the bank now! But don't rush if you're in the middle of something!"

"30 minutes, ok? Habib will see you soon!" The comm goes silent as the line is ended.

"He said 30 minutes, guys. Want to have a look around whilst we wait?"

Leb goes to the elevator following Drael. Once they are going up she opens to the Force to try to catch a glimpse of what they could expect. 

Leb sees a man sat behind a desk in an office with a large window behind him. He's watching his visitors with interest as they talk, but looks as yet unconvinced.

"Alice it has been a pleasure, five minutes was never going to be enough though. I hope we'll meet up again soon." Drael flashes a smile and beckoning to Leb heads straight for the elevator without a backward glance selecting the button for the fourth floor as soon as Leb is inside. "Now, let's see how generous our soon-to-be new friend is." Seeing Leb concentrate he goes quiet, as the doors  open out he looks across the room they arrive.

The lift opens onto a corridor, on the opposite side of which is a gunmetal grey door labelled: Felix Greuter C.E.O The door has a smoked glass window, and the room of the far side appears to be brightly lit. Exactly thirty minutes later, the chugging of overworked repulsors announces Habib's taxi as it slaloms around the corner and jolts to a halt outside the bank. The engine is steaming and carbon scoring mars the bonnet. "Nils! Good to see you so soon! You all done here?" Christine points Vin on his way back towards the spaceport and he soon finds himself passing familiar sights as he draws close to the enormous complex.

"So it would seem! And we have a new destination - do you know where these coordinates are?" He lists off the numbers from Ceph's datapad, then eyes the carbon scoring on the bonnet with interest. "What happened to your bonnet 1 ? Did someone try to get out of paying? Or was it pirates?" 1. Or 'hood' if you're American. Habib himself is not wearing a bonnet. As far as I'm aware.

Habib laughs a deep, powerful laugh. "Oh, Nils, my young friend, there are no pirates in Salis D'aar ! Now, let's see where it is you want to go..." Habib plugs the coordinates into his satnav, and the destination comes up on the speeder's control screen. It appears to be high-powered government communications array, situated at the top of a mountain a few kilometres from the city.

Nils gives Ceph a sideways look. "Your employer doesn't like to make things too obvious, huh? Last time we looked at a big comms array we kind of got shot at. At least we have Habib this time. Habib, let's go give it a look! "

Sovia closes her eyes. Deep in concentration she let's out a couple of grunts of effort and thought, followed by a sigh. "Clouded, the future is... Clouded. Wait. No. Its just cloudy. There are clouds coming. Winds too, perhaps rain, or worse. A storms coming, An Electrical storm perhaps. Surrounding a tower. Not an easy climb. We need a tub of some kind that can support our weight. Habib, anywhere we can stop for scrap metal parts? "

Nearing the starport, certain of his bearing.  Vin decides to see how his partner is coming along.  He reaches for the cylindrical comlink.  "Drael, mate.  Tell me some news."   He immediately regretted coming off so glib.  'What if it was bad news, what if he'd actually made a steal on the ore?  How good of a price would justify actually trying the piracy life?'  Vin still held on to an outside hope that they couldn't move the product, maybe make up some story, and ditch the hitchhikers clean.  But each hour made it seem less and less a possibility.  Then the darkest thought came across him... 'maybe, he could just steal the ship back and take it back to Obrim.'  He thought about the risks and the rewards.  'Loyalty was hard to come by, and Obrim's threats over failing this shipment still stung that he would toss away Vin's months of work and dedication on a moment's indiscretion.  Obrim really wasn't any better than a slimy hutt.'   And that realization brought another...  'He couldn't leave Drael like that.  He owed him more than that.'   And then one final ironic stroke of humor hit him write before the comm chirped back, 'There still wasn't a new transponder installed.'

"Aren't we in a flying car? Why would we climb?" Nils asks Sovia, not entirely convinced the Force presents quite the danger he'd been taught to believe. As they set off, he gestures to Ceph that he'd like to take another look at the code which had accompanied the coordinates. "Let's see... high entropy... length looks about right... You know, I think this is just gonna be a standard symmetric key. I suppose we're supposed to hook into the relay and use it to establish contact? Ceph, has your employer never heard of a payphone?"

"This place... it a ways out of town. My cousin Mahdad, he runs a junkyard, you want to go there first?" Habib asks as he drives.

"No, Nils is right. We should have all we need here. Just prepare for bad weather."

The drive out of town takes some time, and Habib's fingers fly across his car's control screen, telling it to play music that sounds like it is played on some kind of deep, twangy string instrument. The speakers stutter for moment, until he thumps the computer with the side of his fist and play resumes. Lebenha and Drael open the door to the office, and inside sits a smartly dressed man with a neatly kept beard and round glasses. He's behind a desk, with the window behind him. The room is decorated all in white and silver and makes a very sterile impression. On the left is a sofa upholstered in grey and a low pair of round chairs bound in white leather. They form a C around a thick-pile grey rug, atop which sits a glass coffee table. On the other side of the room stands a lamp besides a short bookshelf. "Good afternoon," the man, greets them, glancing up from his desk. "You must be Drael and... Leb was it? I'm Felix Greuter, I hear you're here at Boto's recommendation?"

Leb nods when the man adress her and she says  “Indeed we are. We under the understanding that we may have some material that you could be interested in, and that you are a reliable buyer.” She smiles at the man, trying to emulate how she has seen Drael smooth talk on their previous encounters. If she has to be a smuggler to survive long enough to return to Endor and take care of the younglings the she better learn fast. 

'Must have it off.' Vin sighs.  Giving up waiting for a reply, he heads for the ship. He punches in the 9-digit access code and the landing ramp hisses as it lowers.  Inside it hits the panel to pull the ramp back up.  Staring at the mess in the common room, he thinks about getting a start on cleaning up the area.  He shakes his head and instead heads for his bunk.  In a few minutes, as he's sitting down, the tucked blaster clatters to the floor.  Vin had forgot about it at the cafe.   'Maybe that's why Christine was so distant.  I hope I didn't scared her.  She probably thought I was some sort of thug.' He'd never been that good with women, but having a weapon somewhat hidden away like that probably didn't do him any favors.  Vin went ahead and picked it up off the deck, placing it and his com-link on the bureau crammed into his quarters.  He fluffs the pillow on his bed before laying down.  Guess he'd get a cat-nap in until Drael got back to him.  He glanced over to the com-link to look for the green light that it wasn't off.  Satisfied, he relaxed.

Drael steps a little more into the room, being careful to not to tread on the rug.  "This is a lovely office, I like the clean and tidy aesthetic myself, I'm told it speaks of an ordered mind, and a reader as well, it is rare to see, most people don't see the value but books are so much more enjoyable than reading everything from a datapad, don't you agree?  I admit to being envious."   Without missing a beat, the pilot turns the conversation to business. "My friend and partner here is right, Boto recommended you as a good person to know and to trade with.  And to be honest you'd be doing your friend a favour as well, the money we make selling this durasteel will be paying him for the work on our ship he has agreed to do.  Friends helping friends, and if we make a little profit as well then all the better." Drael smiles over at the man "The situation is pretty simple, I have a hundred tonnes of durasteel needing a home.  The original buyer panicked when the j droids attacked Endor Station, we got left with the cargo but it's his loss.  It's great quality and we have it nearby, ready for delivery at a moments notice.  If you're interested, and I think you might be, then throw a price at me, see whether we are in the same zone." 

Mr Greuter smiles a shark-like grin, arching his fingers as Drael tells his tale. "Fascinating," he remarks, "I never tire of Boto sending interesting friends my way... but of course I do have a very reliable and regular supplier of durasteel. So, the question remains how much am I saving on yours, so as to make it worth disrupting my standard supply chain? How much of a markdown on the market value are you prepared to offer me? At which point, my next question becomes, why am I getting this offer for such a price? Is it possible that anyone might come looking for this cargo?

"See, like I said, an ordered mind." Drael turns to Leb as he prepares to answer Greuter. "Its true I do need to move this, the cargo needs to go so I can pay for work on the ship, but only because I need the work done before we head out. Nobody is coming looking for the cargo, the money we get from it will mostly go back into fuel and another load of cargo, although the damage we took means it'll be less of a haul than we'd like to have seen. We have to put food on our table and you wont be the only person interested in buying but you came recommended so I am happy to give you first offer. If it inconveniences you too much than no harm done, we can be on our way, tell me what you'd pay your usual partner, maybe we can work together, maybe we can't. I know I'd like to have the evening to enjoy myself rather than chasing buyers throughout the city, so I'm inclined to maybe offer you a little bit of a discount. For being in the right place at the right time, so to speak."   Drael looks out of the window, behind Greuter, as if suddenly remembering he exclaims "oh by the way I'm assuming that speeder out there is yours, she is a real beauty. Just for pleasure, or do you like to put her through her paces?"

Greuter chuckles when Drael mentions his speeder. "Oh, she really goes," he assures the pilot, "but back to business. Shall we say five thousand credits then? That seems fair to me."

"We both know it's worth ten to you but I understand you need to make a better deal to justify going with someone new, but I can't afford to let it go for five, the trip would end up costing me money. Let's say eight, actually how about seven and a half and we all go home with a smile?" Drael looks expectantly at the man across the desk, then turns to Leb "I'm assuming you are ok with this? We could check out other avenues, but I think this works well enough. What do you say?"

Greuter stands and looks out the window, mulling Drael's offer over. "How much work do you need done at Boto's?"

"Several thousands worth, not sure exactly. I need to fuel up and resupply too." Drael looks curiously at Greuter "I hope we can reach an agreement here, you must be a busy man, I dont want to take up more of your time than necessary."

Greuter glances back over his shoulder at Drael with a smirk. "Five thousand credits, payable upon delivery, and I'll call in a favour with Boto for two and a half grand worth of parts and labour. That's as good as seven and a half to you, if I'm not mistaken?"

"As you say, it is just as good. Thank you, let's discuss delivery and we'll be our way." Drael then happily engages with Greuter or a subordinate in organising the said delivery before preparing to leave.

The distant mountain rears up in the distance as Habib's speeder heads out of town, the meter slowly ticking up one credit at a time. A little less than an hour later it reads 23 credits, and the cab is straining to keep altitude as the communications tower looms up ahead.

As Sovia forecasts a dire scene ahead and Nils questions this “help” his employer has given them, Ceph pales to a shade of sickly lilac. “His... his instructions have never been this cryptic before.” He looks out the window at the darkening sky and ominous landscape. “Mr.Axos, what are we doin out here?” he groans to himself.

Having thanked Greuter, Drael leaves with Lebenha, heading back downstairs to Alice on the desk.  "Happy times, not only are we in business but I have a need to spend a little time with you." All smiles, Drael makes himself comfortable, leaning on the opposite side of the desk to Alice "The boss has agreed to buy from us, the only problem is I need my ship fixed to bring the Durasteel to you, and I need the money from the deal to do it.  If you could call Boto, tell him Greuter has agreed to give him two and a half thousand for the work I need on my ship, if Boto can confirm that the cargo is aboard and as described then we have a deal, Boto can fix her up, and then I'll fly the Durasteel straight over here, and collect the rest of the payment."  Alice agrees to this and makes the call through to Boto immediately, while she does Drael turns to Leb saying "This is turning into a great day - I think we should check in with the others, I'll call Vin, see where he is, could you give the rest of the crew a shout?" As he finishes he turns back to Alice, smiling broadly "Thank you Alice, you have been extremely helpful, I take it Boto was ok with the plan, oh and did he mention how long it would be likely to take?" After he answers Drael thanks her again before calling Vin "Hey buddy, hope all is well, we've shifted the durasteel but we need the ship fixed up first so I can fly it over here.  Boto and his team will be starting work on it soon I hope, I'm heading back now, am I going to see you there?"   

Dark clouds brew overhead and thunder rolls in the distance as Habib's cab draws close to the top of the communications relay. A precarious durasteel grill platform protrudes from the side, just a meter or so from where the speeder bobs in the air.

Leb nods, somehow happy to see Drael in such a good mood. It was contagious and a refresing change of mood after all the worries and things she had in her mind. She reaches out for her comm and try to contact Sovia.  "Hi! We are done here and it seems that we had made a deal. How are you? Where we should be going to rejoin you? " she turns to Drael " Or should they rejoin us? 

"I think we should get the work done and then drop the Durasteel, we've been fortunate to find reasonable people to work with and I don't want to let them down from our part of the deal.  As soon as we get the cargo unloaded we can catch up with the rest of them or they can come to us depending on where they are."  Drael heads back outside after a cheeky wink to Alice and looks for the taxi they had left waiting for them outside.  Turning back to Leb he asks "If you want to take this one and join the others I can wait for another ride. Up to you."

Sovia sits calmly in the speeder, she enjoyed the flow of the force rushing by as they journeyed, meditating on her new found connection, strengthening it, allowing it flow through and around her and filtering the different elements to it through her mind. Despite the weather and her visions of the future she feels calmer and well rested when they arrive. "Nils, Ceph, do you need to get there? I can hold us closer if you require."

Hearing the crack of the com-link on the edge of consciousness, Vin slowly roused.  Hearing only the end, 'back now, am I going to see you there?'  Groggily, he default to his old military dogma.  "Didn't copy that. Repeat. Over."   Hearing it a second time half awake.  He replied.  "Yeah, I'm already back at the ship on a breather.  When should I expect you or Boto?" Realizing he doesn't know what or who a Boto is,  "And what does he look like in case he beats you here?"

Nils peers out the window, then looks down at the ground to see how high up they are. "So, one of us basically just needs to go over there, connect the datapad, run a couple of terminal commands to apply the encryption layer, then they can call whomever they want! Should be easy! Once they're over there I mean. So. Ceph, do you want to make the call to your boss? Or could someone trained by a famously-acrobatic order," he looks pointedly at Sovia, "make the call on your behalf?"

Sovia shrugs, a little embarrassed. "I could certainly get over there, but I, err, I don't really know what I'm doing with all those wires. It could be better if I hold one of you on place so you don't fall. Like I did when you tried to run back in the parking complex." She gives Nils a grin." You will be perfectly safe."

"Were you sleeping on the job Vin?" Drael chuckles as his friend asks for clarification "Don't worry you wont miss him, four arms, friendly disposition, significantly larger than average. Don't panic and shoot him by mistake. Either way I'm on my way back now, probably with Leb so put your pants back on we'll have a lady on board." Laughing to himself at his childish humour Drael gestures to Leb to see if she is getting the cab with him, and heading back if so.

Ceph nods at Sovia’s assurance. “I should do it. I mean... this is my mission after all I guess. If Sovia holds me steady and you coach me through the technical parts, Nils, then it seems like it sounds harder on paper than it actually is.”

"Relaxing a bit.  Trying to stay out of trouble."  Vin replies - not wanting to go into his little distraction - before putting the comm-link in his pocket.  He tucks the blaster away and moves into the main cabin to await his 'cohorts' and the four-armed sure-to-be freak, Boto. 'I guess as long as he's useful, but Drael relies on these blithering aliens too much.'

Not long later there's a buzzing sound, and a warning light flashes inside the ship. Someone is ringing the buzzer to be let in. When Vin takes a look at the camera he sees Boto's broad toothy grin and a thick fingered hand waving up at him.

Lebenha smiles at Drael and enters the cab to help him finish the job and make sure the durasteel is delivered.  " Thanks for the pants thing.. " she says " You know there are things that not even the Force could undo... " she grins to him. 

Ceph waits for nods from Nils and Sovia before stepping up to crouch on the seat of the speeder. It was true that Mr.Axos hadn’t ever given him such a cryptic message, but Ceph was familiar with danger. It’s a test. Even if he’s wrong, he likely doesn’t have any other choice if he wants to stay employed. He steels himself, and places a foot on the edge of the window for stability. With one last look at his companions that says ‘Here goes nothing’, he leaps from the speeder. While Ceph doesn’t go out of his way to flaunt his bioengineered body, as he soars through the air and lands gracefully on the metal platform his lean, dense muscle flexes beneath his translucent cloak. His agility is cat-like but his shifting skin, now a cool grey like the metal and sky around him, reveals the Chromirid specialization of his shell as usual. “Ok Nils, gonna need you to guide me through this.” He calls out as he goes to plug in the datapad.

Meanwhile at the ship, Vin walks to the ramp and hits the opening panel.  The compressed gases hiss as the walkway descends to the durasteel landing pad below.  At the bottom, he notices the alien's stubby form, "You Boto?" As the creature nods and begins to speak, Vin interrupts him. "Come on board." and turns to head back to the main cabin.  He leans up against the wall when he thinks about the possibility of a backstabbing from it.  He tries to hide the inbred anti-alien hostility, well at least dial it down a notch.  'This isn't the Empire, anymore.'  He thought before the creature pauses at the top of the ramp.  "That way."   Vin eases up, adding half-heartedly "...if you please."  Vin points down the hall to the engineering suite.

The relay access panel is a milieu of flashing lights, dials and screens displaying technical data, all surrounded by trunked cables running up and down the durasteel pole. However, Ceph's keen eyes quickly pick out the SCOMP port from the arrangement. He connects the datapad and the script immediately activates. The pad's screen fills with rapidly scrolling code as an uplink is established and security protocols are overwritten. An audio feed begins, and Ceph can hear the background hum of many voices. There's a muffled rumble as though the microphone is being moved, and then a familiar male voice. "Ceph?" Edovan asks quietly. Meanwhile thunder rumbles overhead, causing Habib to lean forwards, peering cautiously up at the clouds. "Yes, you're-," Boto begins, arching a wrinkly brow when Vin cuts him off. The Besalisk saunters up the ramp carrying two cases, one of which is obviously a toolbox. "Oh, don't you worry, I can find my way around a freighter," he assures Vin with a chuckle. "Boy, somebody really did a number on this one," he remarks as he gets to work.  "Your friend wasn't kidding, the whole thing's fried!"

Unsure where to continue this conversation, Vin groans giving into the talkative alien. "He's typically very funny from my experience, but yeah.  That thing got shorted out or something."   Realizing he didn't know what Nils had actually done to it.  Unsure where to continue the conversation, he watches as the creature begins to work with his cases.  "Those must be very handy working on ships and whatnot."   Realizing the obvious pun after speaking he smirks to himself.  He'd meant it as small talk not a joke, but to each their own.

“Mr.Axos! Yes, this is Ceph. Sorry for all this trouble, things just... escalated really fast back there. It’s good to hear your voice.” Ceph looks back to the others and flashes a victorious grin and thumbs up.

Boto throws his head back and laughs a loud raucous laugh. "You know I've heard that one more times than I can count on all my hands, but somehow it never gets old, " he tells Vin, wiping at his eyes with the back on one hand. "Ah, there we go!" Boto declares as his hydrospanner twists and a bracket holding the old transponder comes loose with a clank. "Should have the whole thing switched out in an hour or so." "It's good to hear yours too, Ceph," Edovan replies. "Until I got your message, I feared that you'd been lost on Endor station. I can't talk long, but this comm should at least be secure. Hold on to the datapad! You'll need it if you're to tap another uplink. Don't trust RBS channels, the Grey Dawn have their claws in deep. Anyone could be a mole. Ceph, I need you to travel to the Jehda system. I have a lead indicating that the Grey Dawn can be traced to there. We know far too little of our own enemy. We have to understand what it is that we are facing."

"Sounds good."  While allowing for this brief moment of sociability, Vin just can't bring himself to leave it alone back here.  He leans up against the wall and watches quietly.  Finally shifting to find a comfortable spot.