Campaign Life is a Hyperlane...

[Aeshi Tillian]

Bohatei Chorva Sasmay Cull Spek Zhio Kyra Perl

Give me sure, strong sign. Give me clear, steady sight.
With a heart that aims for home, give me wisdom not to stray.
May my stars align as I sail through this dark night,
And chart the course of my own Hydian Way.
NEW CENTARES SPACEPORT
​

Aeshi had a bounce in her step as she hefted the refilled bag of rations over her shoulder with one arm. She had a good clean job lined up, with a few other spacers to spread out the cargo. Not that it paid particularly well, but the Outer Rim Development Corps was at least always reliable and on-time, unlike some organizations in this part of the galaxy. Or, quite frankly, most of them. But that was happened on the frontier. Not that this was exactly the frontier she preferred, teetering on the very edge of the galaxy with the vast emptiness between galaxies just a handful of parsecs away.

But the fact was, this part of the galaxy had been wrecked. Bryn'adul. Sith. Anti-Bryn and anti-Sith crusades. She shook her head at the thought. Typical though, Core-world governments and fanatical ideologues devastating vast swathes of the galaxy and then leaving others to pick up their mess. But that was what the Ossus Initiative and the Outer Rim Development Corps were made for.

Building a new future, to copy some of the Corps' slogans. A better future, today, as they put it. Or something like that. But anyway, it was the only quasi-governmental agency she'd ever seen actually willing to do real work. Well, she grudgingly had to admit the Rescue Service did their fair share as well. But she'd been contracted to start making shipments of plant material and equipment from Centares, her temporary Scarred headquarters, where she coordinated with the local Underground, the Ossus Initiative, and the ORDC. This was sort of a side project, if she understood correctly.

Preserve material to rebuild planetary ecosystems in the future. Seed vaults and other genetic material stored in stasis all across the galaxy, tucked away and hidden. It was a good cause. Relatively safe, given the nature of everything going on in the galaxy. She didn't like being near the edges of the New Imperials or the Ashlans. They were dangerously unpredictable and, quite frankly, she was just waiting for an opportunity to pull the trigger on some... shenanigans. It just needed the right cause. But when the time came, her new Centares Underground crews would be ready. Weapons, ammunition, incendiary whiskeys, rations, and most importantly, medical supplies. She'd been trucking them in from the Terminus Republic for a few months now when this job filtered in from the family headquarters.

She'd hired some more pilots, at least one from Confederacy space, figuring the League owed them much more than that, but it was the least she could at the moment, except stirring the hearts of freedom fighters and advocating for self-government and autonomy for the affected worlds. Well, and maybe putting bullet holes in any pirates, imperials, or organized crime goons she ran across. But the spacers, and perhaps one escort had agreed to be part of the operation, and it was possible that this whole project organizer/spearheader would be showing up to explain in a bit more detail. Which would be good, since she wasn't fully aware of what was all happening with this, except the Corps was involved, somehow, and maybe the Circle of the Light Hand?

Gossip was fast in her circles, but she could never quite quess what all was true or not. Aeshi waved to the other ships in the spaceport corner, where she'd had them all cluster together for cargo loading. There were the real cargoes, of course, but she'd also purchased a sizable number of other, mundane trade goods as cover.

"Hello, hello!" She called to the other members of the expedition as her boots crunched on the duracrete next to the Requiem. "Everyone fueled up and ready? Any concerns with pre-departure checks?"

​

 

[Spek Zhio]

[Chopin; Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Andante]
​

The Centares System. Bordering the Outer Rim.

Whatever bordering meant, in terms of the inconceivable distances across realspace vacuum.

"What do you think. Alcy?" the Zeltron male inquired, out loud. The recipient of his question, the droid brain module acting as ship's main computer, answered by way of blinking lights over the console panel.

"Yeah... Hindsight is 20/20, as the Corellians say. I really thought I could have made some easy cash over at that casino." The console objected, rhythmically flashing. "Hey! Counting cards is not illegal! And I wasn't counting on being caught doing it, anyway," he laughed at his own pun.

"But no, I meant about this new job. Pretty lucky, don't you think? Like Mon Cals in a fish bowl!"

Right out of dry dock, the Azure Alcyone, a relic of a YT-1930 heavily modified to fit - and actually excel at some - current standards, caught a sector-wide broadcast requesting freighters willing to venture into less-than-reputable space. That was right up both of their alleys. Current financial liquidity aside.

That the job was one small hop away, along the Perlemian, was just added benefit. "At least we won't go to bed on an empty stomach," after being literally robbed, over at The Wheel's Crimson Casino. According to how Spek Zhio saw it.

So, they were suppose to haul some seeds or something, right? He and a few other spacers. The Alcyone alone could fit two hundred tons of cargo, which was impressive for its size, and certainly enough to transport a gazillion and then some of those things. How many seeds could there be, for them to need several ships? Or, maybe he was getting it all wrong...

If the seeds - or whatever they were - were anything like bota, then they could be a prime target for all sorts of opportunistic individuals. Bota. The single act of recalling that word, sent shivers down his spine.

Whatever it was, it was not spice or some similar illicit substance. Of that, the captain was sure, thanks to the public broadcast. Therefore, he answered the call and took the job.

"Or maybe these people just don't know what the kark they're doing!" he uttered. The ship was in hyperspace, the trip was short enough that he had no time to unwind, yet long enough that he felt like he really needed to. He did not had to plot a course, since it was one single jump on the same hyperroute. And, as such, he did not even got to take off his clothes and meditate for astrogation. So, there was nothing to put on, now.

Even his long red jacket was still being worn, rather than draping the back of his seat.

"Bah! Almost there, guess I'll go grab my stuff, and..." he froze, upon feeling that small prickle at the base of his neck, telling him that they were about to enter realspace. It was the Force telling him what the inertial dampers tried to hide.

Switching flight controls to manual, "Alcy, send over the Corellian transponders as usual, I'll bring us in myself," would at least give him something to do.
​

---

Zhio exited the Azure. Landing went without a hitch, as usual. For weapons, he carried only his lightsabers, safely stored with all the other stuff on his utility pouch; and, a blaster behind his back, concealed by the long jacket.

As the woman approached him, he reached for his right-arm bracelet. The one that he recently bought, as per that nice lady's recommendation - albeit, he did so on the black market.

He was making sure that the device was set to inhibit the release of his Zeltron pheromones. After all, a job is a job.

Pleasure can come at a later time.

"Well, hi there!" he gave her a warm smile. "Name's Zhio, with a Ʒ, as in precision.

"Know any particulars about this stint, or is all also 'seeds'?"
​

Note

Ʒ - The letter ezh, also written zh, is part of the IPA and represents the phoneme that corresponds to the sound 'si' in precision or vision.

​

 

[Bohatei Chorva]

The Contact V is docked alongside the other vessels, it's cargo ramps both lowered with trolleys on both of the ramps to assist with the job at hand. The duralloy hull barely reacting to the bright lights overheard with clear signs of use along the metal. Ranging from dents, scratches all the way to scorch marks from the more adventurous jobs that had been taken by her pilot.

The latter of whom, was having much more trouble sitting still. His last job was stressful, having been caught up by one of his own people's Star Destroyers which had pulled him in and practically pulled his ship apart looking for SOME reason to detain them.

Fortunately, his clean record was not one born of dishonesty.

Bohatei had gotten this out of his system by pacing around, having long since fueled up his vessel and performed all the necessary maintenance. He had gone over the message he received, sitting on the entryway of his Class-720 Freighter with a thermos of tea at his side as a thumb scrolls up and down the contents they would be carrying.

Unlike the more risky deliveries of a deflector array or a whole person who wanted to come with him for whatever purpose they had, it was something much more natural and likely much less stressful.

The crunching of boots upon duracrete derails the Zabrak's train of thought, who looks over to the source of the sound and gives a friendly smile. Tucking his datapad and thermos back onto his belt, he stands up and waves.

"Howdy." Bohatei greets, walking off of the Contact V's entry ramp and joining Aeshi besides the Requiem.

"I'm guessin' that you must be the hire for this job. Can't say that anythin's really comin' to mind at all about it, mind fillin' us in on the specifics?"

Another greeting is given towards Zhio, sending another warm smile his way. "Good t'meet ya, Zhio. The name's Bohatei."

 

[Sasmay Cull]

Wearing: Outfit​

Spoiler: EQUIPMENT AND SHIPS

WEAPONS: 4 Whimsy Knives, 1 Nastirci Combat Knife, 1 HG-88 ‘Big Iron’ Hand Cannons, K914 SMG, (4) Elemental Grenades, (2) Impact Grenades, Phase X-E CryoSonic Heavy Pistol, 1 Firebrand Thermite Grenade Launche
EQUIPMENT: Phase II Haywire Armor without force mask UL-13 Corporis Skin Suit, Kirino Visual Interface
FLYING: The Gray Queen's Throne carrying The Termite
ESCORTING: x1 Agrilat-series Freighter loaded with various goods. Designation - Toy Box
LOCATION:
TERMITE GEAR: 1 HG-88 ‘Big Iron’ Hand Cannons -(Outfitted with Glitter Bullets), BR-3 Rowdy Rancor, Winter Rose Rifle, Phase XI Anti-Material Rifle
DROIDS: (4) Droid Bois - (Tremor, Clang, Skitter, Pop)
ACCOMPANIED BY: Myunna

TAGS: Aeshi Tillian Spek Zhio Bohatei Chorva Kyra Perl

The GQT loitered for the time being elsewhere, weapons powered down and shield operating at substandard ratings rather than battle ready capacity for the sake of clarity with the yard master.

The tense exchange between Sasmay and the being only diffused once Vella had forcibly separated the two and sent the captain on her way.

With a few choice words punctuated by Vella's use of her lekku.

Still uttering the choice curses and wishes for a long and healthy life to the both of them, the clack of her heels had the being finally focusing on Sasmay second in command as the brunette left the slick talker to do her thing. The Agrilat was getting its manifest and cargo double checked for final preparations as Sasmay clicked her tongue in pleasure at the sight.

Nothing major she figured, something about seeds but also relief supplies in one container. An array of equipment in another and something about raw goods in the last two. Textiles? Stuff to build with?

So long as it there.

Sasmay found the ships in question. Smaller vessels compared to the pair she had brought but no less useful. Perhaps more so for their diminutive size. Hard hiding two-hundred meters in an asteroid field. More so when you needed to not be found.

But that was the price for bringing a toothy devil into the pirate lanes.

There was no friendly wave or large smile as she joined the trio. A somewhat blinder glance between the trio before something close to a smile emerged.

"Sasmay Cull. Gray is waiting instructions at the moment while the Toy Box finishes its cargo check. Bout five minutes before I tell them they are eating exhaust...so." Sasmay informed them. Her eye drifted over each ship in turn, taking in the smaller details.

"Sheesh. You uh, you run blockades with that thing? Like a ram with guns." She finally commented on the Requiem, getting a better look at it up close than she had the last time she'd seen it. The clunker vessel would have escaped the attentions of a normal being, but having a past like Sasmay did, the YT-1930 at a glance held some oddities.

The housings for the sensors were just off. A touch of extra paneling to cover the gaps made by more efficient and space saving models. A few extra lines around the cockpit and other assemblies that a passerby would brush off as aesthetic choices.

But when a bored slave child had little else to do than stare at ships all day loading cargo; They learned a thing or two by listening and looking.

The single weapon was an oddity, likely to do with the internals if she could take a peek at them. Newer cable lines on the landing gears paired with minimal cable management needed suggested an old hull with new guts. Even twenty years ago she didn't see the model aside from show pieces.

Those proud, true to spec owners had loved toting their gems around when they came around.

"Sleeper of a ship, Zhio. Haven't upgraded something though with the single gun. Favor the old systems inside or what?" She chuckled, leaning back to look at it better. At least before switching to the last ship in the line.

"I see someone likes to stand out against the Why-Tee series. Ghtroc seven-twenty. Hard to come by parts. Harder to modify. Have a decent scrapper or personal manufacturer?" She prattled on with a glance back to Bohatei.
[/SIZE]

​

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra was technically part of the cargo. Where the supplies went, she went.

It wasn't some big underground market, they weren't even particularly valuable. The real value came in what they could do when chit hit the fan. Chit being the maw and fan being all the planets they were smashing the hell out of.

Kyra didn't think this recent cult of baddies would appreciate learning that she and this little box of cargo was the first step of many meant to undo their work.

Maybe she was just too into it, maybe this really was too big of a task to ever get done, but she wouldn't know unless she tried.

And she had to try.

So she in her single cargo box of seeds, equipment, and chocolate packed away on their first trek test site numero uno. It was kinda exciting, if not for the overwhelming fear that she just might fail. So many hands were in this now. She felt more pressure than ever before.


She jumped down from a stack of crates and landed lightly besides the gathering crew.

"Seeds? Who said anything about seeds?" She challenged, playing dumb as she leaned down to fix her boot. "You're a basic cargo hauler. You picked up a passenger, you're going to let me and my luggage off at Terminus when you refuel."

She straightened, the spunky Zeltron not beyond a small waft of pheromones meant to relax and... help worries just... feel a little less edgy.

"Sound good? Great."

 

[Aeshi Tillian]

Kyra Perl Bohatei Chorva Sasmay Cull

Aeshi shrugged slowly, "I'm more... the general contractor. The job is on the behalf of someone else." She thought Kyra would be present, but she was not entirely sure, but the familiar figure appeared.

She half-turned at the question about her ship and raised an eyebrow. "Blockades, battle fleets, customs patrols. Interdiction stations. I run 'em all with the Requiem when the need arises."

Kyra explained the general situation and Aeshi rubbed her forehead. While technically true, it wasn't exactly how she preferred to work, especially not with independent shippers like these.

"Yes, the destination is Terminus. Yes, the cargo is completely legal. However, there are chances of it being targeted by, I don't know what to call them. Terrorists, maybe? It's not like aurodium or bota. So speed and secrecy are our main defenses here, although Sasmay's ship has some impressive firepower in a last-ditch effort."

She activated a map, tracing a finger along a route from Centares to Terminus. "We'll split the cargo into small bundles to ensure that at least some of it get through. Kyra can go on whichever ship she wants. We refuel at Terminus and then carry on with a mixed cargo to Imynusoph, and then wherever you want to go. Half payment before we leave and half on arrival."

 

[Spek Zhio]

"Right back atcha, pardner!" Spek greeted Bohatei.

While he awaited for someone - anyone, really - to explain the job's specifics, seeing as Alcyone was quite peculiar about letting strangers into her hold, a newcomer hailed them all in a rather bewildering manner. As if he was supposed to know who Gray or that Toy Box were...

"Pleasure to make your acquaint—", as the woman cut him off to offer commentary regarding their ships, the Zeltron simply allowed his sentence to drift into a whimsical smile.

After studying his ship in detail, and offering them both a chuckle and a quip, Sasmay got targeted by Alcyone's turret-mounted Laser Cannon, as the ship rotated them towards her in an act of belligerence. Or rather, it would have, if not for lacking any sort of functioning targeting system. Therefore, instead, the cannon willy-nilly rotated a full half-circle past her position, and was angled at least ninety degrees higher than it should. Either way, Alcyone had no means in which to fire the lasers. Not that she otherwise would - so he thought.

Regardless, Zhio was happy that she was incapable of doing so, anyway. As he kicked her in the closest landing gear leg, "Knock it off! Play nice!" pretending to do it as part of the action of leaning his body against it.

The ship's sensors, namely the Aural one, had the - oftentimes, bothersome - side-effect of providing the ship's computer with ears to her surroundings.

"What can I say?" he addressed Sasmay, concerning the ship's single turret. "I'm a lover, not a fighter!"

As the quirky same-species girl joined them, Zhio directed his attention to her, in turn. "You travel with a lot of baggage there, missy!" Upon catching a whiff of her pheromones, he subconsciously triggered his own empathic ability, which probably served to heighten its soothing effect on everyone present. "Sure, knowing the destination and gateways are enough. Unless you also want to discuss routes? I suppose we'll be flying formation, or do you intend to make this a race to the finish?"

Spek raised an eyebrow along with the corner of his mouth at the mention of Sasmay's ship's firepower. "Some parental supervision is always welcome," he smiled and raised his shoulders, palms faced up. "Either way, you can count on me. I get stuff from point A to point B, no questions asked.

"But, one last thing... Provided there's some downtime while our ships are being tanked and loaded, I wouldn't mind getting a running start on that first half of the payment, on the nearest cantina of point A..." he outstretched his hand.​

 

[Bohatei Chorva]

Contrasting the crunch of boots, the clacking of heels upon the ground hangs on the air as another individual joins the small group that had assembled. Unlike the Zeltron who eagerly returned the Zabrak's greeting, she was straightforward and aimed right for the point.

Respectable, but Bohatei returned the greeting. "Good to meet'cha." He repeats, nodding toward Sasmay before glancing around at the others as their contractor called up a map. The cerulean light bends between her fingers as the route is traced from Centares to Terminus. An idle hand traces Bohatei's chin as he listens attentively to the instructions for their haul.

Then, a thump is heard as yet another person arrives. Between the two vermilion humanoid's presences the Zabrak couldn't help but feel his shoulder's loosen a little.

Huh, weird.

Nodding towards Sasmay as she commented on the Contact V, he spoke up. "Good eye there." He agreed. "Got a personal manufacturer. Puts together what I need for replacements and repairs. And whatever I can't jury rig my way around. Old mate used to work in one of the foundries that made 'em." Bohatei explains in a little bit too much detail, a nostalgic smile crossing his features for a moment.

For a hand-me-down ship, his old boss ensured that the vessel was in good hands and condition when it came down to his apprentice.

"I'd imagine formation. 'tween the rest of you, can't exactly say my ship is as well specced. 'Course, that means we'll need to discuss routes. What're we thinkin', the Parlemian? Change to the Hydian at Brentaal IV then trek the rest of the way? Corellian goes a little wide, and I imagine timin's key."

Bohatei throws out his own route suggestion as his emerald eyes followed their contractor's finger between the two systems.

 

[Sasmay Cull]

Wearing: Outfit​

Spoiler: EQUIPMENT AND SHIPS

WEAPONS: 4 Whimsy Knives, 1 Nastirci Combat Knife, 1 HG-88 ‘Big Iron’ Hand Cannons, K914 SMG, (4) Elemental Grenades, (2) Impact Grenades, Phase X-E CryoSonic Heavy Pistol, 1 Firebrand Thermite Grenade Launche
EQUIPMENT: Phase II Haywire Armor without force mask UL-13 Corporis Skin Suit, Kirino Visual Interface
FLYING: The Gray Queen's Throne carrying The Termite
ESCORTING: x1 Agrilat-series Freighter loaded with various goods. Designation - Toy Box
LOCATION:
TERMITE GEAR: 1 HG-88 ‘Big Iron’ Hand Cannons -(Outfitted with Glitter Bullets), BR-3 Rowdy Rancor, Winter Rose Rifle, Phase XI Anti-Material Rifle
DROIDS: (4) Droid Bois - (Tremor, Clang, Skitter, Pop)
ACCOMPANIED BY: Myunna

TAGS: Aeshi Tillian Spek Zhio Bohatei Chorva Kyra Perl

The small Zeltron that appeared before them, explaining that the seeds were meant to be secret in no fewer words felt strangely familiar to the woman as she fixed her gaze on the girl. She could have sworn she had seen her before. But let the detail slide as those around her filled in the details of their ships.

A serious and considering nod to Aeshi about running it all with her ship that got a small thumbs up from the woman.

The targeting by the mounted laser cannon had her staring at the ship, an seeming excited by the prospect rather than fearful as she watched the thing whirl around with a growing smile.

"Droid brain. Not updated and no sensors. Manual controls. I like it." Sasmay was grinning like a madwoman at Zhio for his choice as Bohatei explained his connection.

"Good. You'll need them out here now. Whole sections cut off with people less interested in safety and more interested in lining their pockets." She commented to the Zabrak.

"I'll be running a fixed path with my ship being bigger and slower. Toy Box has their orders and will be in the same lane as myself but further out. You'll have my coordinates at all times and I'll respond as quickly as I can to any call outs." Sasmay pointed out as she listened to the trade of information.

She dropped the interest in the group once more, staring at Kyra for a while longer but didn't offer any comment just yet.

 

[Kyra Perl]

"But, one last thing... Provided there's some downtime while our ships are being tanked and loaded, I wouldn't mind getting a running start on that first half of the payment, on the nearest cantina of point A..."

There'll be no drinking on the job. Was what Kyra wanted to say. She bit her tongue before she could, aware of the tension in her shoulders and the fact that she just might be taking her stress out on the wrong place.

She let out a tempered breath and looked to Aeshi Tillian . "As she said, she's the contractor. She can answer these questions, I'll be over there when you're ready."

Before anymore impromptu requests could be leveled on her shoulders, Kyra stepped away. She'd let them figure out the route, and the plan, on their own. She was paying them for safe passage and a cover, if she could have done that on her own, she would have. She walked a whole five steps away and hefted herself up onto one of her crates. They weren't worth much, but only a fool measured value in credits.

Either that or a banker.

She kicked her feet, several deep breaths taken to shake her nerves out.

 

[Aeshi Tillian]

Kyra Perl Sasmay Cull Bohatei Chorva Spek Zhio

"No racing this time," Aeshi said with half a smile. "I emceed the Imynusoph Run and that was enough for a while. Imynusoph to Morellia in ten days. I'm more than happy to take things slow. Draws less attention that way too."

She considered and shrugged. "We're all professionals. And if you can finish the job after tanking up at the cantina, that's your business, not mine, as long as departure is on schedule."

As Bohatei ran over the route, Aeshi paused to play through it in her mind, before nodding. "Yeah, that's a good route. Corellia's decent if we need to pick up any other sort of cargo en route, but if there's nothing pressing, I'm not sure there's any reason for the detour."

Aeshi checked her chrono. "Lift off in thirty minutes. I'll pull some strings if need be to get these tanks full up by then. The NIO's been sniffing around the system and I don't care to be around where they are, if you catch my drift."

 

[Spek Zhio]

As he heard everyone's pitch regarding the route, he simply nodded at what they were saying in turn. There were certainly faster ways to go about it if you were in a... rush, so to say. Or, wanting to fly under the radar, and daring enough to venture into more secluded lanes. Still, as Tillian had put it, safety, rather than haste, was the concern here. The cargo itself did not seem all that valuable, except maybe to the right - and wrong - kind of people. And, judging by the looks - and scent - on the little fellow Zeltron, there seemed to be at least the concern over less than benign third-party interest. Otherwise, why even invite muscle for a convoy of lean ships?

Nevertheless, Bohatei's proposed route presented itself as a double-edged vibrosword. Being the fastest, most direct, and most traveled one, certainly made it the safest and obvious choice, on the surface. Alas, therein lay the problem. If someone were out to get them, that would be their guess as well, and they would have time to select a good point from which to ambush them. As gambits go, that was still the safest Dejarik opening still. As there were few blind spots along the route and, mindful of them (as all the pilots present certainly were), it was just the simple matter of being extra cautious along those.

"Thirty? That's plenty, for a little boost anyway," with all that time on the move, getting their lips wet when feet were dry, was any spacer's prerogative - even if the idiom had not stood up well against the test of time, as the Zeltron thought while on the space station's metal hangar. "Have to keep my second liver in top shape. Wouldn't do to keep it out of practice," he grinned. ​

"I'm rather interested in this ship of yours, Captain Sasmay," he turned towards her. "I would feel a lot safer out there, knowing what I was relying on to cover my butt," and maybe get a chance to pick her brain over her flamboyant starship knowledge.

"Care to tell me about it, over a drink or two?" a warm smile crossed his face. "I know just the place, right around that corner over there."​

 

[Bohatei Chorva]

"Wish that came as a surprise." Bohatei replies to the captain's comment, pulling his eyes away from the Holomap with an attentive nod. "Can't be helped, I suppose. 'Least I'll feel safer with someone like you keepin' close 'n in contact." Considering his rather lackluster armament compared to the others, it was a genuine relief to the young cargo pusher to have a genuine escort for once.

Who knows? Maybe this time he won't have to deal with paperwork! If only!

"Yup, best we try not to look like we're too much in a rush. Saves me eatin' stardust too." He remarks with a hum, an idle foot tapping as his seafoam eyes look toward his employer at her insistence on such a tight schedule with a curious blonde brow.

"Fair enough. Truth be told, I'd rather keep the bureaucrats I gotta talk to a minimum. Always askin' too many questions and stickin' their beaks where it doesn't need to be." He remarks to Aeshi, walking over to one of the trolleys to flick some switches and take hold of the humming and hovering carrier. Moving it over to the collection of goods and stepping away for a moment to wrap up the conversation.

Bohatei would go to playfully tap the back of Spek's head as he passed. "Don't get too carried away, loverboy." He mischievously hummed. While he was also a fan of some liquid courage, the Zabrak was never exactly too fond of drinking before a job.

Especially when it involved being tasked by the higher ups of the Confederacy.

"Can't say I've got any stops in mind save for fuel, though. Anybody got any stops or anythin' they want to throw in?" The Zabrak inquires to the others around, only to find that one of them had already scrambled up some of the crates to escape his queries.

Shrugging his shoulders, Bohatei goes to start loading up some of the other crates that were not part of this stranger's throne of evasion. Long and question-free may her reign be.

"Takin' that as a no. Any other takers?"

 

[Sasmay Cull]

Wearing: Outfit​

Spoiler: EQUIPMENT AND SHIPS

WEAPONS: 4 Whimsy Knives, 1 Nastirci Combat Knife, 1 HG-88 ‘Big Iron’ Hand Cannons, K914 SMG, (4) Elemental Grenades, (2) Impact Grenades, Phase X-E CryoSonic Heavy Pistol, 1 Firebrand Thermite Grenade Launche
EQUIPMENT: Phase II Haywire Armor without force mask UL-13 Corporis Skin Suit, Kirino Visual Interface
FLYING: The Gray Queen's Throne carrying The Termite
ESCORTING: x1 Agrilat-series Freighter loaded with various goods. Designation - Toy Box
LOCATION: Portside
TERMITE GEAR: 1 HG-88 ‘Big Iron’ Hand Cannons -(Outfitted with Glitter Bullets), BR-3 Rowdy Rancor, Winter Rose Rifle, Phase XI Anti-Material Rifle
DROIDS: (4) Droid Bois - (Tremor, Clang, Skitter, Pop)
ACCOMPANIED BY: Myunna

TAGS: Aeshi Tillian Spek Zhio Bohatei Chorva Kyra Perl

The small Zeltron stepped away as quickly as she had appeared, albeit with Sasmay still watching her. The tingle of familiarity still about her as the route was explained and agreed upon.

"Copy that." Came the smirk as she set a timer on her interface. The question about sharing details wasn't missed as she

"Sure, and Sasmay is fine. I'm only captain when need be." She chuckled to herself. Vella was far better at the direction aspect of running a ship thankfully, leaving her to do the finer things.

"Lead the way." Nodding forward as she ran through her head about the vessel she ran.

"Gray Queen's Throne is actually named that because of the artificial intelligence built into the ship. Made my Niki Priddy, she has a slew of A.I. systems aboard vessels to make life easier." She was already rambling as they walked.

"Based on Nebulon-B design, its shorter altogether but still sports enough room for a single squadron of fighters. Two if you can squeeze them in right." She was animated while she spoke, hands moving to accentuate her points while her head bobbed back and forth as she went on.

"Upgraded weapons and defensive systems, the base model is meant for picket lines. Even still, mine is custom and can go toe to toe with pirate rabble pretty easily."

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra sighed as two of the hired hands left for a drink.

On the job.

A forlorn look was cast at Aeshi Tillian , a subtle shake of her head saying it all before she hopped down and grabbed her own bag.

"You know the right guys," she echoed, the woman's promise looking a little shaky if first impressions were to have a say. "None of my stuffs in their ship... right?" Concern crept into her brows as she saddled her bag up and walked back over.

 

[Aeshi Tillian]

Sasmay Cull Kyra Perl Spek Zhio Bohatei Chorva

Aeshi just shrugged at the mention of the drink, “I mean, you know what you need to completely the job. I mostly just drink my own stuff, personally.” She paused for a moment, leaning forward to trace imaginary lines along their route.

“Fuel stops can be just about anywhere,” she said at last. “I have some extra tanks mounted in my hold right now, because I’ve been making long runs, so I can get pretty far. Lantilles is a usually a safe stop though. Good, solid folk there. Check in with the Merchant-Captain’s guild for any new rumors or route reports, and they know the most reliable port and fuel folks. Lantilles work for you, Spek?”

She tapped her chin and raised an eyebrow. “It’s not bureaucrats that’s bother me. My trigger fingers just get real itchy when I see bucketheads.”

Two of them headed towards a drink and Aeshi turned back to the charts as they talked. “Be back for lift off!” She called over her shoulder, before adjusting the balance of a stack of other cargo as Kyra spoke. Aeshi just shrugged.

“They’re professionals. Sasmay captains a fething frigate, so it doesn’t matter if she’s real sober or not. And everything I’ve heard of Spek’s reputation indicates reliable.” She pushed for a moment and leaned on the crates. “You wanted this to be discreet. That means independent captains typically. Fringers. Rogues. Scoundrels. We don’t work by the same rules, but we live up to the trust we get. Our reputation is our life. Trust the captains, we all know our business.”

 

[Spek Zhio]

As jobs went, this was one of those clear-cut ones. Haul whatever people were paying him to haul, while getting there in one piece.

The hauling part fell within the Azure Alcyone's responsibilities. The getting there, was a burden shared between the two, and so was doing it in one piece.

To those not familiarized, or maybe acting under a different work ethic, going for a drink half an hour before takeoff might have seemed like a disregard for responsibilities. But that could not have been further away from the truth. Since flying a ship was an ebb and flow between dullness and exertion, and no organic was exempt from error and cursory moments of distraction, making sure to stay focused at all times was actually one of the hardest things to do. The isolation of space, particularly hyperspace, carried the proclivity for the mind to dawdle and wander. Therefore, compartmentalizing, knowing when and when not to loosen up, was a crucial skill.

It was best to relax while anchored, rather than let one's attention span fly orbits around a couple of drinks or words spoken in pleasant conversation, that never were. Best to get it out of one's system while still possible.

To begin with, it was not like he was drinking on the job, since the actual job had not started yet. Loading the ship was the dock workers' business, not his. And it was not as if he was leaving her alone. Alcy was never alone, because she was... well, Alcy. She could fend for herself. And, although prepping her for launch would have been his duty, there was no need to, for the Azure was already so. This has been a minor gateway stop for both, that even the freighter's drives were still humming to the tune of star travel.

In regards to astrogation, he knew those routes like the back of his hand, of which he caught a glimpse of as he ran his eyes over his bracelet, making sure that it was in fact set to inhibit the release of his Zeltron pheromones. He did it, after the brush and remark done by the Zabrak pilot. "Loverboy? What nonsense," he threw a smile at Chorva, over his shoulder. "Just gathering the necessary intel, whatever it takes for the job to go as smooth as blue butter!" Zhio knew not to mix work with Abrax. Whatever happened afterwards, was anyone's guess.

And not like he was about to get drunk from a couple of spirits, regardless of their alcoholic content. Given his expertise, it would take considerably much more than that to knock out one of his livers, let alone both. For him, drinking was never about getting drunk, but about enjoying one of the pleasures the galaxy had to offer. He never outdid himself and never lost control, despite sometimes getting merrier than average. In fact, and under normal circumstances, he would not have been able to remember the first and last time he ever got drunk, if not for how embarrassing it - allegedly - was.

Indeed, he knew those lanes like the back of his hand, and even if he did not, he could already feel Terminus and Imynusoph beckoning to him. The Force pulling at cosmic strings to weave him a trail for which to follow. While connected with the Force, Spek could never get lost in space or pick a substandard course. He never got lost per se, only sometimes ushered into bumping with more peculiar places and people.

Nevertheless, he was not acting by instinct alone. Due to never staying in the same port for long, he was already familiar with many, if not most, of the nooks and crannies between common or otherwise, sources and destinations. All along, he had been already crunching numbers on the back of his head, pondering the best alternatives to take in case of any compulsory detour. Arguably, this proficiency of his might be considered a talent, but to him it was a bare necessity when piloting a ship without - or one who refuses to have installed - a navigation module.

Moving away, he did catch the scent of doubt, most likely aimed towards a perceived lack of professionalism or trustworthiness to his method. However, there was no point in arguing intangibles, that thirty minutes from then would become anything but. Particularly, not when the cantina automatic doors were already itching to open for the two of them - in more ways than just figuratively, which was probably related to a pneumatic issue it had.

"So you are trying to tell me that your ship's AI actually makes your life easier?" he inquired, as they crossed the threshold into the bar. "Must be nice..."

He jested, and hopefully his demeanor revealed that intent. Alcyone had personality quirks that, like any other, were both a blessing and a curse. In somewhat less than even proportions.

"And you fly a Nebulon-B offshoot?" to him, those things always looked like someone just piled a bunch of different vessels one on top of another, and had it pull the engines and shield generators behind. Never form before function, he liked to think. And, in his opinion, an elongated and slim neck rather than a solid frame, bridging two important and codependent groups of systems on a same vessel, never seemed to have much of both. It was like having a giant sign to any and all bombers pointing to its weak spot. "And you were giving me shit about my wings? Nah... don't throw me any looks! I noticed how you were eyeballing Alcy," he smiled at her, while waving at a server droid as they sat.

Asking Sasmay about her ship, seemed to have pushed her button - or several of them all at once - judging by the vivacious way in which she expressed herself. It was nice to be a part of that, and got Zhio in high spirits as well. That it did so without any added chemical substance going back and forth between the two - particularly now that they both had moved away from Kyra, and he was wearing his bracelet - was a cherry on top. It felt genuine that way. Which was a rarer thing to find with each passing day.

"That's my ship, by the way. Hum... Partner, more like it. Alcyone. She's also an AI... of sorts. Sometimes, I wonder how much intelligence is in there..." he mumbled the last sentence. "I'll have a pint of Lum, if you have it," he ordered, and waited for her to do the same, before resuming the conversation.

"I don't own Alcy, any more than she owns me. We found each other under... unique circumstances. I met her at a junction, in life. At the time, I had already done plenty of travel across the galaxy, but never of my own accord," he paused to take a sip of his drink that was just being served. "One might say that I gave her wings, and she let me bum a ride ever since. We go were we please, provided it pays something... so, more or less that...

"But tell me, do you actually carry a fighter wing inside that frigate of yours? If so, let me hear all about it." He did not like to admit, not even to himself, but he missed the opportunity of piloting a fighter since his days as a Padawan during the Great Galactic War.
​

OOC:

Don't let this side-narrative stop the main one from going forward. Feel free to takeoff at any time, and I'll leave this to fade to black if needed, or do something else to keep the ball rolling.

​

 

[Bohatei Chorva]

"Nonsense is my second language, Loverboy!" Bohatei chortles back, flashing his own toothy grin right back at the Zeltron as he marches off with the other captain.

An amused sigh leaves him after, securing his grasp on a crate and hoisting up and onto the trolley. It shifts under the new weight, the gravlifts remaining steady as it remained in the air. Bohatei was always cautious around the machines, visibly recoiling at the shifting weight. He took a couple cautious seconds, before grasping the carrier once more and moving to the next box.

"That's one way 'bout it. Let's hope that trigger finger of yours doesn't get too jumpy then, eh?" Bohatei hummed, taking hold of another lockbox. Lifting it up and onto it's heavier counterpart, he nodded his head and turned the trolley around to start making his way back up to his ship's lowered cargo ramps.

"If it's any consolation, I don't got any plans to run off to any waterin' holes." Bohatei butts in, returning to the group with an empty trolley.

"Anyhow, is there any particular order to who carries what? Otherwise I'll just load up and start on gettin' everything ready to lift off." Bohatei enquires, a curious eyebrow lifted between Kyra and Aeshi. His ship wasn't going to take very long at all to start and frankly would probably start getting restless without anything to do or a conversation to keep him occupied.

So he tries to strike up more conversation.

 

[Sasmay Cull]

Wearing: Outfit​

Spoiler: EQUIPMENT AND SHIPS

WEAPONS: 4 Whimsy Knives, 1 Nastirci Combat Knife, 1 HG-88 ‘Big Iron’ Hand Cannons, K914 SMG, (4) Elemental Grenades, (2) Impact Grenades, Phase X-E CryoSonic Heavy Pistol, 1 Firebrand Thermite Grenade Launche
EQUIPMENT: Phase II Haywire Armor without force mask UL-13 Corporis Skin Suit, Kirino Visual Interface
FLYING: The Gray Queen's Throne carrying The Termite
ESCORTING: x1 Agrilat-series Freighter loaded with various goods. Designation - Toy Box
LOCATION: Portside
TERMITE GEAR: 1 HG-88 ‘Big Iron’ Hand Cannons -(Outfitted with Glitter Bullets), BR-3 Rowdy Rancor, Winter Rose Rifle, Phase XI Anti-Material Rifle
DROIDS: (4) Droid Bois - (Tremor, Clang, Skitter, Pop)
ACCOMPANIED BY: Myunna

TAGS: Aeshi Tillian Spek Zhio Bohatei Chorva Kyra Perl

She waffled back and forth on the AI talk, finally offering her opinion on it.

"Gray does a good job maintaining things. Not much for dealing with people though. She's a softie." His comments about eyeing his ship gathered a smirk as she saved her comments for later.

"Ah. Droid based AI was a solid guess then. Built on what was there without a wipe. It seems to have worked out thus far. So must be good for you both." Came the shrugging nod to the pair. "Correllian Whiskey neat."

The question posed to her had her grinning almost wildly as she cackled.

"I don't like throwing people into the void so it's actually droids I have for backup. Little under two dozen of the little buggers are in there if I remember right." Nodding forward as she ran through her head about the vessel she ran. "Keep them on the thin neck to drop right into the thick of it."

"The hangar has got support drones in it. Repair, refuel, retrieval if they can. Handy little things." She was already rambling as they walked.

"The fighting ones run either bomblet jennies or cannons to switch on the fly. Keep from having two job specific groups." She nodded her head back and forth before finding the glass in front of her and taking a sip.

"Can make some less experienced people do a double take when the whole lot of 'em break off suddenly and go after something else."

 

[Kyra Perl]

She pushed for a moment and leaned on the crates. “You wanted this to be discreet. That means independent captains typically. Fringers. Rogues. Scoundrels. We don’t work by the same rules, but we live up to the trust we get. Our reputation is our life. Trust the captains, we all know our business.”

Kyra's lips pressed into a thin line, Aeshi's words a firm reminder that this wasn't the core anymore. "Fine. Fair." She sighed and rubbed her face, mentally reminding herself that Aeshi was guild. She wouldn't lead her wrong.

"If it's any consolation, I don't got any plans to run off to any waterin' holes." Bohatei butts in, returning to the group with an empty trolley.

Kyra shot him a tight smile.

"I'll keep my stuff with her," she gestured her chin to Aeshi. "But here, let me help, some of it's bloody heavy." She moved to her closest crate, the force flexing into her fingers as she hefted her side up enough for the trolly to wedge under.

"....What made you get into shipping, anyways?" She asked the woman, curious how someone with a similar backdrop to her could fall so low on her perceived totem pole.

Which was ironic, cause she had left the order all together.

Aeshi Tillian