Golden Link Casino

[Kat Nargal]

"I was thinking of something along the lines of a business holiday... C'mon, lets go pack, we might as well leave now." Making their way up towards the staff apartments. Stopping at an intersection, kat gave brina a quick kiss, and headed up to his own room, leaving her to go to hers.

 

I really should get her to move up to my room... Hmmm.

 

Shoving a box of cigars, a change of clothes, a few guns and a few samples of his "products" into a case. Making his way to brinas room, he waited for her to pack.

[Brina Thalin]

She parted ways with him, heading up to her room. He seemed to be eager to leave immediately, and she rolled her eyes. Men...

 

However, she packed a few outfits into a small suitcase. Realizing that she wasn't sure how long this trip would take, or if she'd need any fancier attire, she threw in several changes of clothes and a nicer, dressy outfit. After making sure she had of her toilettrees, she zipped up the bag.

 

Turning around, she saw Kat waiting for her at the door. "Honestly, you're very lucky. Most women would take much longer to pack," she siad, checking her wrist-chrono. "Fifteen minutes is nothing short of a miracle."

 

Shouldering her bag, she headed out the door to join him. "We taking the Pantha or a different ship?"

[Piccolo]

The Howling Runner emerged from hyperspace at the busy Casino. The Firespray ship touched down in the large hangar of the roullette shaped space station. Piccolo had already removed all his weapons and even his sacred armor. The hunter was going in completely unarmed.

 

It feels strange. I have not gone in public without my mask for many years.

 

But he did not want to risk getting into any trouble. Besides, this way he wouldn't be recognized. But even unarmored, the half-Doshan represented an imposing figure. Not believing in synth flesh, he'd left his mechanical arms and legs clearly visible. The cybernetic humanoid submitted to a weapon's check before walking into the Casino's main floor. The bounty hunter awaited for his companion to arrive.

[DarthBrendo]

Mindan gently touched down in his assigned hangar bay and set hi ships security protocols. He had already removed all his weapons and obvious body armour. However in his travels he had seen many more varied sorts of armour than what most sentinents had ever come across.

 

Although he carried no weapons, and wore no visible body armour, he knew that as long as he wore his cape he only had to watch in front of himself. Striding imperiously and confidently down the gangplank he made his way into the Casino, undergoing the weapons scan, which came up negative, and took long efficient strides heading deeper into the casino, to meet with Piccolo.

[Piccolo]

Piccolo watched Mindan enter.

 

He came relatively quickly and carried out my orders exactly.

 

Piccolo was pleased with Mindan thus far. He waited until Mindan was standing right next to him.

 

"Look at this place. Such a waste. People gamble away their lives at the mercy of dives like the Golden Link Casino."

 

Piccolo emphasized his disgust as he spoke the name.

 

"What does the Republic do about it? Nothing. Anyone who says the Republic is any better than the Empire is a liar. The Republic kills with bureaucracy and indifference. At least the Empire kills you outright."

 

Piccolo ended his tirade and walked with Mindan to the nearest employee.

 

"Take me to the owner of this establishment immediately."

[DarthBrendo]

Mindan had never indulged in gambling. He could never see the point in wasting hard earned credits in the hope that you might win more. His own disgust matched that of Piccolo's, however he maintained his calm and indifferent exterior. Mindan could see the employee quake as the towering Piccolo himself turned their undivided attention to him.

 

”œI..I'll take you to my supervisor sirs”

[Kat Nargal]

Sighing as the holoreceptionist popped up on his wrist mounted holopad and delivered the message that there were people here to see him, he said

 

"Im afraid im going to have to see these men before i leave... I wish people would make appointments once in a while. Im afraid zara has taken the panther, so perhaps we could take one of the company YT-2400's. Ill meet you in the company hangars control room in an hour."

 

Throwing his bag into the casinos automatic goods transport system, along with brinas, he had the two cases put into the ship he would take, and headed to a meeting room. The two men were led inside, and seated offered chairs on the opposite side of a white table.

 

"How can i help you gentlemen? Im afraid you caught me just as i was leaving, so lets make this short and sweet."

[Piccolo]

Piccolo got his first look of someone actually in a command position of the Link. Needless to say, he was not incredibly impressed with the impatience this one displayed.

 

Patience is tied with being impulsive which in turn relates to errors in judgement. Not a valued quality in the least.

 

But Piccolo wasn't here interviewing a candidate for the Black Sun. He had a much more important purpose.

 

"I would suggest you put those plans on hold for the moment. Right now you may be encountering the single greatest obstacle your organization has faced. Me."

 

Piccolo checked himself a bit. This wasn't the time for intimidation, though as a half-Doshan with metal arms he was skilled at it. Nevertheless, he realized one of his weaknesses was a tendency to show off in front of new recruits like Mindan.

 

"However, Since you desired me to get to the point quickly, I'll oblige. I'm certain you've heard of the Empire? The Black Sun as well I expect. You see, the Black Sun has been charged by the Empire to meet with you. I and my associate are fully charged representatives of the Black Sun leadership sent to make certain determinations about the Link, namely whether the Empire should allow it to continue to exist or whether they should obliterate it. This determination is solely in my hands. But I consider myself a fair man. I think the Black Sun and the Link can have a mutually beneficial relationship. Any threat the Empire poses would be deflected if you and I can come to some sort of agreement."

 

Piccolo sincerely didn't wish this man to feel like this was a forced arbitration.

 

"Don't take this all the wrong way. The Black Sun leadership has always felt the Link did good work, and associating the Black Sun and the Link has always been a priority. But the Black Sun has been having many difficulties. Until we recently came into a very large sum of credits, we didn't have time to make connections with your organization. Bad timing it appeared, because we happened to discover the Empire had unpleasant designs for the Link at the same time we were ready to expand. Luckily for both of us they owed us one."

 

Owed us a hundred is more like it.

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Per agreement, a few modifications are made to the Link Casino through its more or less silent partner in the venture.

 

A retinal scan authenticated accounting system, seconded with a special scanner for finger prints and a verbal access code to make the security pre-eminent.

 

Entrances are now refitted with bio scans and sensor scans at every entrance- now able to detect power sources, explosives. To neutralize this each of the threats- particularly automated laser traps embedded deep in the durasteel walls.

 

Larger weaponry inside the hangar bays and docks- smaller ship laser cannons and ion guns to discourage ships from being a problem or escaping. The ante is upped for the defenses in the neon-holo signs and advertisements orbitting the Link, again to discourage attack.

 

New Rules are listed to weapons sellers, enforcing the fact the Link is a neutral zone, including:

 

* All weapons will have to have their power sources removed before entering.

* All weapons we sell will be sold without power sources (we can have a shop outside the entrance which will give the customer's their power source if they provide a ticket from the gunshop inside, this shop will also have heavy security measures)

 

Finally, a couple measures tweak the Link's hyperdrive system so as to ensure its reliability and speed, along with regular maintenance for its turbolaser towers, so all possible angles can be covered.

 

Finally, a special detention center is created- durasteel and cortosis, all set to the force dampening harmonics field found in the casino proper to make it sturdy enough to hold FUs and NFUs that create problems for the establishment.

[Zara Nargal]

The Black Pantha emerged from hyperspace, giving the clearance codes to the Casino so she could land in their main private hanger bay. Zara could see that the workman had been at it by the report she received upon emerging back to realspace. She landed the ship and slowly moved back to collect her large black cat, placing a leash on the current plain collar as she promised Rascal a diamond studded one. The black cat rumbled it's pleasure as she petted it's large head.

 

The pair emerged from the depths of the ship, passing through the extra security measures as Zara was welcomed back. She was informed that Brina was already within one of the freighters and that her brother was currently in a meeting. She figured she would put in an appearance as, knowing her brother as she did, he would be impatient to leave. She nodded to the security personal as she and her black panther wandered into the meeting room. She was in time to hear the last comments from the Black Sun representative. She held Rascal on a short leash as he rumbled protectively of his master.

 

"I'm Zara Nargal, Kat's sister and joint owner of this Establishment. If you wouldn't mind running the details by me. Sorry I was late. I had some business to attend to."

 

She glanced at her brother, already suspicious with the last couple of comments the operative had said regarding the Empire.

[Kat Nargal]

Kat laughed. He laughed long and hard. Tapping a few keys on a remote, every single exit from casino was closed, and each ventilation shaft had a laser grid activated., although neither of the men would realise this had happened, it would become apparent should they try to leave. Outside, Guard droids surrounded the room quietly. Breaking a slight silence in the room, Kat squeezed the trigger of his blaster pistol, shooting a bolt of red straight between the two men.

 

"You would walk into my casino, and threaten me? I think you need to seriously reconsider your own actions. The link was started as a smuggling organisation, and zara and i worked as mercenaries well before we even came up with the Idea. Although you may have one powerful ally, the link provides services to many allies."

 

As he was speaking, A series of security tapes were run through by the staff, tracing the two men back to their ships. Armed security droids made their way into the hangars, Moving over the exterior of the ships.

 

"I think you underestimate us. Now, I think its your turn to make a choice. You can give me a comm frequency so i might personally contact the leader of your so-called empire, a sorry excuse for what it once was, or I will happily have you transported down to our brand new prison cells. Id love to try them out, and im sure a few of my employees would most definately enjoy trying out a serious of instruments on a few lackeys."

[DarthBrendo]

Mindan silently noted the appearance of Zarga. He also silently noted the twitching of Kat's forearms as he triggered something. Not knowing quite precisely what, but knowing it would be some sort of security measure, he was glad he'd invested so much in security and anti-tampering technology. He maintained the same calm and implacable posture, wondering what his new bosses response would be. If he had the measure of the”¦.Doshan, it could get”¦physical.

[Piccolo]

Piccolo wasn't sure whether to be amused or angered. Being a Doshan, he eventually went with the latter. The arrogance of this Kat person was exactly what he'd expected after observing the decadence and waste of this casino. But he had to remind himself they probably knew little about who and what they were dealing with. The half-Doshan hadn't revealed who he was, and the bounty hunter was not as well known among the younger crowds as he used to be. However, he would not hold back. If this came down to it, they would find out just how ineffective their prison cells would be on one like Piccolo. But still the nagging Doshan anger was in the back of his mind. He'd always struggled to control it. And as Piccolo spoke intending to stick with diplomacy, very different words came out of his mouth.

 

"Are you deaf or just stupid? The Empire may be less powerful but it would still crush a puny base like this. You think an armed casino can stand against the Empire's fleet? I don't know how you've managed to keep this organization afloat. Not to mention how angry the Black Sun leadership would be if they learned you betrayed their kindness. That's two against a very weak one."

 

The assurance in Piccolo's voice was chilling. These were not idle threats. And though his voice was tainted with emotion, it was not desperate rage that was revealed, but indignation at the audacity of Kat.

 

"We came here to help you. The Black Sun desired to save the Link as a kindred organization. We have suffered from the hands of the Empire before, and been forced to save ourselves. If only we had been so lucky as to have another organization lend a hand. In reality, we no interest one way or the other. By your foolishness, you are forcing us to side with your enemy. We have not threatened you, but apparently you are so blinded by how great you think this pitiful Link to be, you can't imagine us coming here to do anything else. Even if I had the private comm of the Emperor, a ridiculous notion, I would not give it to you. Take us to your worst prison. When these walls tumble down, you will regret your words. Here you are poised on the edge of a giant ravine and you're slapping away the only hand that can pull you up. If I was not under strict orders, I would have snapped your neck for sheer stupitidy."

[Zara Nargal]

Zara raised her eyebrows delicately, looking from their "guests" to her brother and back again, keeping a firm griip on the growling large cat at her side.

[Kat Nargal]

"Alright, so you want to save us. If your full of such high and mighty notions, Return to your leaders and do so, just ensure that the blacksun or the empire never comes here looking to get payed, because that will be the day the black sun will see this casino sold, and a new miliatary enemy created.

 

I dont want a full fledged war, but I would far prefer it to your people sucking everything we have earned away."

[Zara Nargal]

Zara cleared her throat subtly, tactfully bring the attention to the more... diplomatic twin... though she was just as tough as her brother and would take the hard stance along with him.

 

"Tell me kind sir. Who does run the Empire these days? We had very good relations with Havoc when he ran it, as well as the Emperor that came after him."

 

 

"And I wouldn't call either of us stupid were I you. I don't think you know who you are dealing with either. Tell me exactly who you are and what your position within Black Sun is."

 

She casually dropped the comments. Besides which, they had close relations with other allies as well. Zara had a sneaking suspicion of who this half doshan was... She casually sauntered around the other side of the large wooden desk, holding Rascal still on a firm leash. Again casually, under the guise of running a hand casually over the surface of the desk, she caressed the hidden keys that ran scans on their... visitors... glancing down on the smooth surface of the inbuilt screen as information came up about their guests. Her movements were all hidden, subtle. Her voice hardened, as steely as her grey gaze as she brought it back to the leader of the two. She thought he looked familiar... she just needed it confirmed.

 

"I don't believe I caught your name... Sir"

Edited September 30, 2005 by Guest

[Brina Thalin]

As Kat headed off to the meeting, Brina headed to the hanger. She chose one of the ships and had the bags loaded onto it, then made a brief stop at the Crazy Mynock. It appeared to be in good order, but Brina missed the time she had spent working on it.

 

"Well, old girl, maybe I can work on you a bit when I get back from this trip," she said, patting the hull. Working on her ship was one of the few things Brina truly enjoyed. It helped her calm down when she was angry, and relaxed her when she was stressed. The ship had been hers through thick and thin, and it was her only possession that had any monetary value.

 

After a few minutes, she decided to head to the ship they would be taking on the business trip. Brina realized, as she sat down in the pilot's chair, that Kat still hadn't told her where they were going. She shrugged and began running some preflight checks.

 

It was a good thing that she did, because a red light came on on the control board. Brina frowned. It was probably just a short circuit, but she decided to head on to the back and check it out.

[Piccolo]

Piccolo shrugged. He already knew this had reached beyond his control. He would not get the alliance he came for. Piccolo should have learned his lesson about being honorable with smugglers a long time ago.

 

"I am Piccolo Daimaou, Black Sun agent serving under the Daisaku family. The current Emperor's identity I do not know, but I know a man by the name of Phillep has reasserted himself in a position of power within the Empire. But who the actual Emperor is or if there actually is one, I can't say."

 

Piccolo was being somewhat honest with them, though he did omit a few details.

 

"Your companion has already made his wishes clear. Even if he didn't have such a thick skull, I would not give you any help for free at this point. And as he said, he's not about to pay for anyone's services. He expects everything to be handed to him. I don't work for nothing, so it seems we are finished here. I suggest you escort us back to the hangar and prepare yourselves."

[DarthBrendo]

Mindan tensed and allowed a slight upturn of the edges of his mouth. He expected this was either going to get physical very soon, or they would be taken back to their ships and something would be done to them there. He did not think for a moment that they would be allowed to just leave unhindered and unharmed. It would be nice if they were though. He didnt like to get sweaty unless necessary.

[Kat Nargal]

"You are free to leave at any time, so long as you do not provoke or partake in violence as you do so. You have no need of an escort, I will be watching you. I would suggest that you dont stop off anywhere though, and simply return to your ships and leave. If i thought your organisation posed any threat, things would be going otherwise."

 

Kat stayed seated, and waited for them to leave the room.

[DarthBrendo]

Mindan raised an eyebrow as he heard Kats words. He had not expected that he and Piccolo would be allowed to leave. Mindan watched Piccolo to see what his reaction would be.

[Piccolo]

Piccolo responded to Kat's words before making his exit.

 

"I have no interest in gambling. It is a depraved practice and anyway I have no interest in being here when things turn ugly. I will leave without incident. I wish you luck."

 

Piccolo and Mindan walked back to the hangar.

 

"Return to Artus. I will meet you there. Now you've seen a bit of the negotiation side of things. Soon I expect you will witness the violent side."

 

The Howling Runner headed into hyperspace.

[DarthBrendo]

Mindan strode up the gangplank of the Laayla, deactivating the security systems. Starting the prelaunch checks, he ran his Hull-Check program, which scanned the contours of the hull, against the stored specifications of the norm, to determine if anyone had planted a homing device. Not that it was a secret where he was going. But he didnt like to be "tracked." Getting clearance from the traffic controller, he took off and headed out into the cold depths of space, heading for a random destination.

[Kat Nargal]

Standing, kat tapped a few commands into a wrist mounted keypad, and then headed out to find brina. When he found her, he simply said

 

"Right, zara is back now, so we will take the panther... The luggage has already been taken from this ship and transported there, along with an order i need to drop off. Lets go."

[Zara Nargal]

Zara observed them all go, including her brother as she petted the large cat. After they'd left, she led the cat up to her penthouse where she unleashed Rascal, letting him roam free around her dwelling. In her absence the workmen had performed modifications, the nursery now completed and her 'office' had now been placed in the corner of the living room. It had also been partitioned off. The large cats bedding, food and water had been brought into the penthouse also, and now black beast moved over for a feed and drink.

 

Zara headed into her room to lie down to rest. She was getting rather large with the twins now and it wouldn't be that much longer before they arrived, maybe another month if calculations were correct. She hadn't seen Ronin for months, hadn't heard from him even, though missed him dearly.

 

She would review the other security measures later, make sure she was totally up to speed with the new changes.

[Brina Thalin]

Brina was just tuning up the hyperdrive of the Coreillian ship when Kat appeared. His words had an air of brusqueness to them, and surprised, she stood, wiped the grime off her hands onto a dirty old rag, and followed him to the Panther.

 

She quickly made her way to the cockpit of the ship and ran the preflight checks. Everything went smoothly, as it had just been recently flown, and Brina sat down in the copliot's chair.

 

"Where are we off to, Kat?" she asked, hands poised to enter the information into the navicomputer.

[Onderin Starlisk]

--Incoming comm from Onderin Starlisk--

 

"Kat and Zara Nargal:

 

"This is Admiral and Jedi Knight Onderin Starlisk of the Rebel Alliance. I have been contacted by the Black Sun Crime Syndicate with somewhat of a request for my aid. They requested that I arrange a meeting between your two great organizations for extended peace talks. According to Captain Piccolo, the Link Organization refused to listen to past attempts at peace talks.

 

"The Alliance stands for peace and the attempt to reach it. I should hope that, when a military faction such as the Black Sun comes to the Link, a non-military faction, asking for peace, the Link would at least have good reason for turning them down.

 

"I am contacting you to arrange a meeting in the Upper Levels of Coruscant in a negotiable twenty-four standard hours. An Alliance diplomat will be on hand to make sure things run smoothly. Please consider this as a step towards the peace that the galaxy is in such desperate need of.

 

"Please and thank you, Onderin Starlisk out."

 

--End Comm--

[Zara Nargal]

Zara received the incoming comm, sitting back and musing over the message it contained. Hmm interesting... first Black Sun comes in here and threatens us, now they cry foul and bring the Alliance in. I wonder just what Black Sun is up to... She got to her feet, her growing twins making it alittle awkward to move about but it would still be a while before they were due to arrive. She hoped that by that time Ronin would put in an appearance. She wasn't certain she'd be able to bring them up alone. Oh she'd manage, but it would be easier with their father around...

 

She picked up her comm link again, sending a message to Kat, saying she'd deal with this... negotiation. She could play the "I'm pregnant... am I that much of a threat" angle. She then sent one back to the Alliance, stating she would be willing to meet with them, as long as hers and her unborn children's safety would be guarenteed, preferably she would like the father of her children present as well. She didn't trust Black Sun at all.

[Sabian]

--Incoming comm from Sabian Devanus--

 

- The voice was clear, calm and was steady throughout the brief conversation over the communcator link.. -

 

"Hello, this is Officer Devanus of the Rebel Alliance in reference to the meeting place with Black Sun. It shall be held in the Upper Levels of Coruscant.

 

You are welcome to arrive at your leisure between the next several hours. I will be assisting your company on the way there as a third party ambassador.

 

I look forward to our meeting.

 

Officer Devanus, signing out."

 

- The message ended with the same definite click after the voice ceased to speak. -

 

--End Comm--

[Zara Nargal]

Zara received the comm, mulling over the possibilities. She sent a quick comm off to her love, on the off chance he was within range of comms, stating she was heading to Coruscant. She'd leave her comm channel open for him to find her. Zara then spoke with some of the staff, making sure they would look after Rascal for her, she would leave the big cat here this time. She petted him, making a fuss of Rascal, telling him she would be back and not to attack the staff while she was gone. She had another staff member take her bags down to the freighter she would be taking, while she made her way down to the hanger bay at a more leisurely waddle.

 

Once on board, Zara sent another comm back to this... Sabian person, stating she would be there, also letting Kat know where she was going. She then lifted off, programming the course the YT-2400 would take to Coruscant. In a matter of moments she was clear of the Casino, punching the hyperspace lever for her destination.