Now This Is Podracing!

[Valiens Nantaris]

@[member="Cira"] @[member="Ayden Cater"] @[member="Sarge Potteiger"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Allaina Mare"] @[member="Jak Sandrow"] @[member="Zero"] @Silvia Starfire @[member="Jorus Merrill"] (And anyone else I've missed!)

Malastare

A world where the Gran and Dug had struggled for eons, never quite being on the right side of the galaxy's rulers. There was one thing that Malastare was famous for; podracing!

Omega Pyre's interest in the planet was economic; the fuel, factories and licensing that went on there was worth a lot of credits. It was also a vital stepping stone to the valuable areas further along the trade lanes, Sullust especially.

Fortunately, direct control was not necessary by conflict. Rather, a huge podrace was being held, with the prize being a massive payout. If Omega could win that they would gain such credibility and respect that they could assume control peacefully.
Of course, there would be those not so keen for them to succeed.

Tegaea Alcori disembarked from her transport with Siobhan and some of her other companions from OP. The fleet and backup forces were hiding around the orbit of the 4th planet in case they were needed.
"So the plan is that one of us races. If we win we should be able to get them to join us. If we don't...we may have to assume direct control. Now who of us is a good enough pilot to actually race in this? The rest of us need to be ready in case there's trouble."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Thus the great push towards the south had begun. It was in the nature of empires to expand until they stagnated or, having bitten off more than they could chew and suffering from overstretch, found a bigger fish and got devoured.

Planets, resources, strategic positions had to be claimed. Stripped of all ideological baggage, which often only represented post-ex-facto rationalisations anyway, conquest was justification in itself. Of course, it was always good to point out if one's own rule was more benign and just than that of one's predecessor.

Siobhan followed @[member="Tegaea Alcori"] at a close distance, not at all staying a step behind because she was looking at her rear, before linking up with her.

"Hmm, think I'll pass on the racing part," she said, as much as she liked wild driving way beyond the speed limit. "White Suns, Massive Dynamic, the Hutt Cartels and half a dozen other groups are all eager to score a win and they brought muscle with them. A dropship of Maladian commandos has been sighted. Lovely, maybe I'll meet old Nar Shaddaa buddies and we can talk about the good old days."

She gave a casual, nonchalant shrug. "I'd expect trouble...we win, lot of people will be jealous. After all, we're awesome and lots of people want our heads. Course there's no prize without considerable risks!"

 

[Qae Shena]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"Then why don't I do the racing?"

Allaina's voice was clear. After all, she was probably the best damn pilot in all of Omega Pyre and she'd already proven that more than once. While she wasn't a Jedi, she didn't need to be. An elite pilot with years of trained reflexes could match it. There were historical figures to that effect as proof, probably, if the entire Galaxy hadn't lost all of its history because of that damn plague.

Keeping pace with Siobhan, Allaina thought about it. Well, tried to. This gravity was a pain in the neck - literally.

"You put me in the race, Siobhan can keep everyone off my ass... and probably try and grab it while she's there, knowing her... and I come home safe and sound with some shiny prizes next to my name. And a cut of the prize so I can fund my starship."
Because she wanted her command ship somehow, right?

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

@[member="Allaina Mare"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"I expect she will try and grab it. She does that," Tegaea said happily. The gravity really as annoying, but she was determined not to show it, and kept on walking normally, even if she was getting a headache and a sore back. "Alright, Allaina, you can race, but be careful, alright?"

 

[Qae Shena]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"Well, it's not a bad thing," Allaina said lightly, referring to the eternal status of the crazy theoretically omnisexual (including machinery, if some were to be asked) pilot who just did not get laid. "Look, boss ma'am, I can do this. I'm the best choice out of everybody you know, past, present or future. Put me behind the sticks and I can handle it. My biggest problem right now is that I don't have a ride. We just going to buy a pod here and hope for a miracle? Do we have a mechanic team available to tweak it, even?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"I have a contact here who should sell us a pod. His name's Trant, and he's a slimy Dug, but he should give us what we need...for a fear. As for repairs, we know some others here who might help, and we've also got @[member="Ayden Cater"]. The man's quite talented with machines. But yeah, you'll be risking your life on a wing and a prayer. Having second thoughts? We can hire a racer to do it instead if you want."

 

[Qae Shena]

And then Allaina laughed. Straight up laughed. "Boss ma'am, you seem to forget how much you pay me for doing my job. I'd hope that your fiscal faith in me is well-placed. If not, well, you apparently like throwing money at me."

Folding her arms, the pilot looked to her companions. "Look. Get me the pod, keep me alive before the race and maybe stop someone assassinating me during, and I'll handle the rest. You guys can handle that for me, right?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"It's true. We throw money at people to keep them loyal...if our charms don't help with that on their own! We'll keep you alive before and from assassins during, the rest is up to you."
Tegaea stopped and waited for the others to catch up....

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Allaina Mare"], @[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

"You're welcome to join in with the grabbing, boss! Show how much we mean tot ake control and all that and how beneficial submitting to us will be," Siobhan said happily to Tegaea. "Hmm. Now that I remember, Heli's supposed to be attending as well." No doubt many a rich bigwig would be missing several valuables once the pod racing contest was over. She kept on walking as normal, the gravity was a serious pain in the arse. Getting physical with someone, be it through violence or other ways, might make it better.

She voiced no objections about Allaina racing. She was the best pilot they had and if she thought she would wing it, then that was for Siobhan. If things went south, well, Siobhan knew how to handle herself in a tough spot. "Show 'em what you're made off, Allaina. I'll watch you're back and keep naughty assassins of it."

 

[Vora Kaar]

Zero was silent on the ride here. He was not to fond of flying with everyone else. he couldn't sleep on the ride there. He was surprisingly unnerved by the group he was flying with. Women were seemingly in charge of alot of the operations in Omega Pyre. He didn't really care however because he just liked the pay. He heard some talk of a pilot that will be doing the racing for the faction today. He hoped she was up to it because he didn't want to be sent on a stupid rescue mission. or a mission for revenge.

Zero kept to himself about the women grabbing at each other. He didn't have or want any love interests because they brought complications. And he did not want to have someone to 'protect' ether. he just looked at his reflective blue songsteel blade He would sharpen it alittle bit here and there. but he loved this sword. It had gotten him money and food on the table. He put the blade away as they were going to go planet side some time soon. He'd rather not hear about the sexual tendencies of lesbians.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea turned to @[member="Zero"]. "There's a potential annoyance in the Palace who needs to be...dealt with. His name is Pazza, and he's a Rodian. He's made the mistake of swindling us on some deals with Massive Dynamic. I want you to collect the money owed. Two hundred thousand credits. If he resists...you know what to do."

Turning back to her companions she suddenly became more business like. "Come on, we need to get this pod going as soon as possible. The others can catch up later."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan did not bat an eyelash when Zero got his assignment to "persuade" the Pazza fellow. You tried to cheat the Company, you faced consequences. Massive Dynamic was a corp that increasingly becoming a rival, they were certainly investing big in Sullust shipyards, another area Omega was interested in, and making inroads in the mercenary market, trying to outbid Omega.

Of course, they did not have a Redhead Brigade and in Siobhan's totally objective opinion their force-using battering rams had to be less good at causing mayhem than her. Well, perhaps her opinion was not totally unbiased. She linked up with @[member="Tegaea Alcori"], who was in a businesslike mood again. I like it when you get authoritative.

"Yes, ma'am," she said teasing salute, emphasising the last, "let us go forth and see, race and conquer." Moving with all the gravity gave her a sore back and she felt the start of a headache forming, but she pressed on normally. At this time of the day the city was packed with sentients from various species and walks of life, though many of them from well-to-do backgrounds, all kitted out to attend the pod racing contest.

Corporate executives, soldiers, aristos, gangsters, merchants, simple commoners nobody really cared about, all had come to attend the contest. Some simply to watch, others to bet and either make or lose a fortune, others again to close shady deals negotiated in backrooms with cigarras and whiskey and to gain clout by betting on the winning pod racer. Siobhan thought she recognised a few gangsters from Nar Shaddaa and felt cheeky enough to give them a wave. Some shot her very hostile glances, quite a few turned away at the sight. Ah, it was good to be on top of the world. Some armoured commandos passed by, Mandalorians Siobhan surmised based on the armour, accompanying ornately robed Muun who came swooping down in armoured speeders, probably bankers.

Passing through the streets they headed towards the workshop of Trant, a small, somewhat run-down place further away from the centre.

 

[Jak Sandrow]

Jak was a bit behind the others, he was somewhat unused to the gravity change, though it wasn't too far from standard. He heard talking about mechanical something-or-other, and moved up to get in the conversation.
"So what's this I hear about fixing a pod?" he asked Allaina. "I'm a good hand with a hydrospanner myself."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"Excellent, you can be in charge of making sure that Allaina doesn't end up smeared across a wall at 300 miles an hour. Let's go see Trant...he's likely to need some encouragement to give us a fair price!" She chuckled slightly.

 

[Qae Shena]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Tegaea Alcori"] @[member="Jak Sandrow"]

"If there's going to be grabbing, let's at least have the courtesy to save it for when we're in private, you," Allaina said with a wink to Siohan, knowing full well it was a promise that was going to be followed up on. But if it was going to happen, it'd probably be right before the race, because, well, you had to get laid right before you died, and she wasn't about to go out and throw her neck on the chopping block without a good luck, um, charm.

But they had a job to do. They needed her a pod to race in and they needed to be very careful about what they got. It had to fit a human and they had to pay for it. Truth told, the nerves were getting to her already. There was a little gentle tapping of her hands against her thighs as they walked together in a group, her eyes casting around for threats. Somehow it felt like someone was going to come for the group of Omega Pyre bigshots before something went critically wrong and they were attacked. And, as usual, she'd be totally useless.

Again.

She cast glances to Siobhan, Jak and Tegaea. She hoped force of arms would be enough. Her silence was proof of her uncertainty - an uncertainty bolstered by a crash inspired by a mechanical beast.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"], @[member="Allaina Mare"], @[member="Jak Sandrow"]

"Is that an offer?" Siobhan queried innocently. "Got to have a few moments of bliss before you go out and risk your life for us," she pointed out.

Regardless they had a job to do and so they proceeded to Tran't workshop a bit further away from the city centre. A variety of pods were lined up in front of the buiding on display for the few customers still there, most of them were hoarded in the garage. When they moved in they could hear noise, apparently rather enraged shouts, coming in from inside.

"You cheated my brother...you claimed that pod was fully functional and now he's in a wheelchair!" an enraged human yelled at the Dug Trant, brandishing a blaster pistol, though he seemed uncertain about whether to actually put it to good use or just threaten.

As everyone with a proper appreciation for safety standards knew, one should never point a gun at someone unless one was willing to use. Otherwise one not only looked like a complete tool, but it was simply impolite. The Dug cowered, trying to calm him down. "I don't build most pods, I get them delivered from other sources and these were unimpeachable. I tested this one myself. But, while I don't want to put too fine a point on this, I told your brother that it might..."

He did not get any further because then the human pistol-whipped him. "Might need some repairs? Like for the power couplings." He kicked the Dug and then advance upon him.

Trant keeled over, holding up his hands in submission. "Well, you know that pods aren't made for humans."

"I'll teach you about safety..." before the human could do anything his blaster had flown out of his hands and into Siobhan's outstretched left hand. The human looked shocked, then when he lunged at the Dug Siobhan tripped him with a tug from the Force.

"Get in line, we kinda need the Dug right now," she said. "Trant, up to your usual tricks again? You know what they say about karma."

"This man's a swindler!" the human called out, playing the Captain Obvious role.

The Dug got to his feet, shooting the human angry look before facing the Omega mercenaries, a grin spreading across his features. "Thank you, humans. This man wanted to murder me...an honest businessman. I was just explaining to him that I can't be liable if perfectly adequate merchandise has problems. Please..."

"Spare me the crap. I'm not doing it for you," Siobhan said very coldly. "We want a pod, you can provide. One that actually works. You see, when we want to make customer complaints, we tend to be more direct."

The human with the customer complaint used the brief lull to grab an iron crowbar and swung it at the Dug, but with the Force Siobhan levitated him and then made him fall to the ground. Not particularly hard, she had no real animus against him, but enough to make the point. "Leave and call customer service. Now, Trant, a pod. You swindle us and some guy waving a blaster around will be the least of your concerns."

 

[Qae Shena]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"], @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], @[member="Jak Sandrow"]

"Talk to me before the race, Siobhan," was all Allaina said, cryptically, her smile just as much of an enigma. Hook, line and sinker. Perfect.

Meanwhile, skip the walking and Allaina managed to witness exactly why she liked Siobhan so much - not the kind to pussyfoot around, rather the kind to take direct action and leave it at that. When someone wanted to crack someone else's skull in, it never tended to end properly for anyone. Instead, apply liberal use of the Force and problem solved. Instead, while Trant was having demands made, the pilot folded her arms and stared at Trant the Dug.

"This pod needs a quad engine setup, independent fuel feeds, and at least one working set of engine binders and preferably some heat vents," she said, being rather pointed in the way she asked. What? It was going to be her doom. Let it be serviceable. She wanted to maintain her fuel flow herself to optimise turning and braking, as well as acceleration, on the fly. That she could handle. Heat vents in case someone got the wrong idea, and quad engines because yay quad engines.

"Oh, and a comfy seat for my butt. You can handle that, right, Trant? You are meant to be one of the best pod dealers in the business," she said. Good cop to Siobhan's bad cop.

 

[Ayden Cater]

@[member="Sarge Potteiger"], @[member="Cira"]


While the others chatted and laughed and made their plans for happy fun times, Ayden hung back and busied himself with assembling a device from a crate that he had had off-loaded. While the others prepared for the race, he had other plans to work out with Sarge and Cira. Exactly what they were, he was frustrated to say he didn't know. And when he was asked to do something he knew not what, Ayden's first instinct was to be prepared for every contingency.

He paused briefly and raised a hand to his forehead and sighed in discomfort for a moment before shaking it off. Strapping the device to his forearm and setting it into a frame concealed by his jacket, Ayden turned to the other two and gave a silent nod to indicate he was ready. And that was something one should always be wary of, when Ayden Cater was ready.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"], @[member="Allaina Mare"], @[member="Jak Sandrow"]

"Oh, I will," Siobhan responded innocently to Allaina's cryptic comment.

At the workshop the human with the legitimate complaint shot them another angry glare then got to his feet and scurried out, yelling various protests. When one thought about it the poor chap had had a legitimate complaint, what with his brother landing in a wheelchair and all due to faulty merchandise.

However, far more important things were at stake, namely Omega's control over Malastare. That would make things better for everyone! Besides, his brother had probably been an awful racer anyway.

Trant cleared his throat, trying to look like the respectable businessman again, despite having a bruise from being pistol-whipped. "Well, that might be," at Siobhan's cold look and Allaina's pointed words he nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, I can provide it. I am one of the pod dealers in the business after all. Only sometimes certain third parties try to cheat me! They're jealous."

"Tragic. Then you give her what she wants and we get your best speeder," Siobhan said matter-of-factly. It was a statement, not a question.

"Certainly, I'll make all the necessary upgrades. You did just save me, after all. But most of my workers are on leave today...so I must...", no doubt he was trying to haggle the price up again.

Siobhan waved his objections aside as if they were buzzing insects. "Double your efforts. We got a mechanic here," she pointed a robot finger at Jak Sandrow. "And we did just save you from a rather nasty scene with a blaster." In other words, start showing gratitude right about now.

"I'll make it happen...you won't be disappointed," the Dug relented at last. "You'll get the favourite customer price," he shot Allaina a look that would pass as concerned on anyone else's features, but was probably just about covering his butt in case the race turned ill. "Without wanting to cast aspersions on your skills, I must caution you though. Pod racing wasn't made for humans."

Siobhan shrugged. "We moved on. Besides, our pilot's great."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea watched as Siobhan dealt with the irate customer and then Trant. Personally, Tegaea would have been happy to just skip the race, but she would rather not waste company assets in a long campaign they had little chance of winning.
"Mr Trant, I'm so glad you chose to cooperate with us. We will, of course, sweeten the deal for you. If the pod wins the race you will receive an extra bonus...as a sign of our friendship."

She took a step forward, towering over the dug. "Our mechanic, @[member="Jak Sandrow"] is very skilled. If he were to find anything...untoward, we would be most displeased."

"Alright, I get it!" the Dug said. "Come out back and I'll show you!"

Loping along he took them to the back of his shop to where a pod was resting. Well, most of a pod. Bits of it were on the ground, and even worse, one engine had a distressing scrape mark down one side.
"Is this...it?"
"Hey, it just needs a bit of paint and a tighten up here and there!"
Tegaea smiled slightly. "Let's hope so...."