Bespin: (Black Sun's) Cloud City

[Francisco DeGlasso]

Francisco looked down at the flaying corpse as it falls down the bottomless pit below.

 

"I am pleased with your performance."

 

Francisco then gives $10,000 tip to each of them.

[Rinwald Dahlmiester]

As agents filter through Cloud City an automated protocall in the main computers activates. An earlier raid left something behind. The computer searches and locates its quary, nicknamed "The Package"

 

Somewhere in the depths a droid executes the protocall called "Open Package" The droid carries out its command and is instantly incinerated 5 seconds later.

 

The city shakes terribly as a massive bomb- aka The Package rips through the cities repulsers. Failsafe measures fail as the city starts to plumet into the depths of Bespin.

[Lord Ar-Pharazon]

OOC: Wrong Thread

[CORE Agent(s)]

Several small ships land and sink into the clouds of Bespin. Though the main city has sunk beneath the clouds and its deziens evacuated by the unexepected explosion, several small platforms remain aloft. Small detachments of CORE agents filter into the shadows of gas tankers and wait for further orders.

[CORE Agent(s)]

A message comes in that a Jedi has been captured and there is no further need to wait for one to show up. The CORE Agents quietly leave and take off into space for a meeting point with their comrades, leaving Bespin behind.

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Through pains taking labor and expenses, KVC's crews have raised and restored the once prosperous Cloud City to its former glory, giving the fallen place a new and fresh look. Again in the upper levels the casinos and night clubs are blowing under the watchful eye of a factorate Baron Administrator. Below tibanna gas is once again being produced, being shipped off to planets under Imperial rule or allied with the Empire, primarily the 3Cs: Cardia, Coruscant, and Concord Dawn.

 

The upper levels sport a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The casinos and clubs are full, and represenative of any true capitalist system, owes allegance to money alone and is relatively neutral in that regard. Though security prevents the worst dangers from happening, protection from murders, assaults, and other foul deeds is not guarenteed, adding an element of risk and danger to the casual and loose fun.

[Kyoni Trimusa]

*A hyperspace shuttle bus approaches the planet from the planet Coruscant loaded with many of the rich and famous citizens of the planet city who hope to enjoy a vacation from possible war. Along with this group of aristocrats there is an oddity, a man in a black jacket with blue jeans and a duo guitar case. The bus comms a security station and asks for permission to dock.*

[Guest]

A heavily modified Corellian freighter emerges out of hyperspace above Bespin. The mercenary ship keys in on the location of Cloud City, and then descends to the surface. As the freighter nears the floating metropolis, it is given clearance to land at landing pad C-30.

 

Twin columns of steam jet out from underneath the freighter as the ship's landing ramp extends. Rane Scando, clad in his odd assortment of Mandalorian and non-descript armor, exits the craft.

 

The mercenary heads to the nearest bar.

[Reagan McGreggor]

A fiery red head walked into the bar, and strolled over to a table. She sat down and brushed the long curls out of her eyes and motioned for the droid to come over.

 

”œCorellian Whiskey on the rocks, and keep them coming.”

[Guest]

The masked mercenary rose from his seat and moved to wear the woman sat. With a slight nod to the bartender, Rane Scando removed his helmet and placed it on the table. The bartender brought them each another drink.

 

"Well, you're a sight for sore eyes, old friend. Tell me, what is a smuggler of your quality doing on Cloud City? Business can't be too big in these parts - petty gamblers for the most part."

[Reagan McGreggor]

Reagan looked up over her glass of Correllian Whiskey and smiled. "Well, Rane long time no see. What brings you to bespin? I have been on a short vacation of sorts, it is time to get back into the swing of things again. What has been going on? I heard rumors that the Empire is taking control of the galaxy again. That should make business very lucritive."

[Guest]

"It has made business interesting to say the least. I've joined a special band of warriors - scoundrels for the most part. Anyway, the Empire posted a big bounty on all the Jedi. Seems everyone is off getting a piece of the action. I have no love for the Empire, but they do know how to throw one hell of a party."

[Reagan McGreggor]

"Yes, they do. I am looking to get back into working. Do you have anything for me?" Reagan smiled over at him.

[Guest]

"This is funny ”“ in the past it was always me coming to you for jobs. As it happens though, I might have something for you."

 

Rane took a sip of his drink and glanced around the bar. Eyes on the door, the mercenary continued.

 

"I'm not like the others. They're in the game simply for credits. I'm playing for much, much more. Respect. Revenge. You get the idea, sweetheart? What I'm into these days is not quite like stealing artwork from the Corellian Government ”“ I shoot to kill."

 

Rane turned back to his friend and smiled strangely.

 

"I have what you might call a feud with a bunch of small-timers. They're not much, but they need to be taken care of. Then, then I'll get back to the Jedi. So the question is, are you just a smuggler or a can you pull a trigger too? All I need you to do is watch my back. Blood will be on my hands..."

[Reagan McGreggor]

Reagan looked over at Rane and raised her eyebrow. "You need to ask if I have a problem with pulling the trigger? I have no problem watching your back, and if need be, taking someone out to keep it safe. Just let me know when and where."

 

Reagan smiled over to him, and made sure he noticed her hand slide down to rest on her blaster.

[Guest]

"Good. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. I'll head back to my ship now; I've got to have a few quick words with an information broker on the whereabouts of our little friends. Have you got transport? If not, the Raptor is on Landing Pad 57."

 

The mercenary rose, drink in hand. After downing the remains of the glass, Rane Scando heads to the bar's exit. He heads back to the landing area, where he meets with a gaunt Bith. After a few words, and exchange of credits, the mercenary boards his freighter and prepares his weapons.

[Guest]

OOC: Sorry to do this to you Chrissie, but it makes things a little more interesting. I'm going with you're on the Ion Raptor II with Rane Scando right now. You came after Rane finished his business with the Bith information dealer.

 

Rane Scando grabbed his female companion's wrist. With his free hand, the mercenary pulled the woman's blaster free and threw it to the side. Through his helmet, the mercenary gazed at the woman's eyes.

 

"You won't need that blaster anymore, not when you're in this ship."

 

The mercenary spun her around and retrieved his restraints from his belt. After binding the woman's hands together, he sat her down in the seat meant for a co-pilot. Rane then sat down and entered some coordinates into the navigation computer. Hands dancing across the controls, he continued to speak in his gruff voice.

 

"It took me a long time to track you down. You're not an easy woman to find, especially when certain people will pay top credit for you. I spent a long time tracking you own, following leads. I received word that you were on Nastarine ”“ that little trip took a month out of my busy schedule. And that wasn't the only false lead."

 

The Corellian freighter lifted off the landing platform and took to the sky.

 

"Finally I heard a rumor ”“ a rumor that a fiery red-head was doing business out here. That little bit of info cost me a lot. The price on you will more than make up for it though. You've got nowhere to hide now, sweetheart."

 

The Corellian freighter shook as it made the jump to lightspeed.

 

"You're an easy woman to fool, I'm surprised. I settled my feud with the Space Pirates a long time ago ”“ I killed them."

[Reagan McGreggor]

OOC: Adam, you double posted, tsk tsk tsk. And this is fine, I'll go along with this for a bit...don't make me kill you though.

 

IC: Reagan stared in disbelief for a moment before she smiled at Rane. "Well, I was not ready to be found then, so I sent out false leads as to my whereabouts. You should know me better then that. I can only be found when I want to be."

 

She watched where her blaster went, and continued to smile. She had every reason to smile, she knew things that her new captor did not.

[Guest]

"Not going to ask where we're heading? Or do you not want to know? You've angered a lot of people with your shenanigans over the years. You've got almost as many enemies as I do. In all honesty I though you smugglers would have learned some sense after you all began to drop off. How many are left? Can't be too many."

 

The mercenary grinned behind his helmet.

 

OOC: Shall we contine this in the Space thread?

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon lands his ship Action VI transport from Corellia and enters the administrative offices, action on behalf of the current Baron. He checks up with the books, noting minor discrepancies between the lines. Ganelon's orange eyes grow flinty, but he lets this slide. Such corruption seemed inevitable.

 

"Load up the tibanna gas and the tithe," Ganelon instructs. "I'm getting a drink."

 

Ganelon shakes his head. The job was beginning to wear on him slightly, but he needed to work. He bitterly passes the casinos of Bespin, remembering Correlli's explicit instructions not to get caught gambling. Ganelon would never openly admit his own love for the cards and ivories, in addition to other illicit pleasures is what drove house Bozel to near bankruptcy.

 

Ganelon finds himself in a well light casino, listening to the sound of slots, waiting for his ship to be readied. He pours down small amounts of whisky and rye, absently watching a dazzling floor show under the red lights of the stage. Outside, workers move to load up his ship.

[Ronin Wartide]

*Ronin's ship, The Cortez, dropped out of hyperspace just above the planet. Quickly it headed toward Bespin, requesting permission to land, then putting it down in a port. He got off his ship and headed into the city, waiting patiently for his allies to arrive.*

 

"They better get here soon... I never liked Bespin..."

[Guest]

The Interceptor followed just behind the Cortez, putting down in an adjacent port.

The combatants from the Interceptor met up with Ronin.

Together, they walked through to the landing pads on which all the cargo ships were parked.

[Ronin Wartide]

*Ronin grinned and nodded at Kela. The game was about to begin.*

 

"Ready?" *Kela-tan nodded.* "Then hit the deck."

 

*Ronin hurled a sonic grenade into the crowd of workers. Ronin and Kela quickly slammed the door closed and ducked for cover. The men scattered, but before they got far the sonic grenade went off, emanating a sound that overloaded their senses, The body's natural defense was to go unconscious, thus they went to sleep. The sound lasted for about ten seconds, then the grenade ran out of power. Kela and Ronin pried the door open then gave eachother a look, followed by a big grin.*

[Guest]

Kela turned and barked orders to his crew.

"Okay, I want you three to storm the ship, with me" he said, indicating three of the larger members of his cadre. "The rest of you, take anything valuable that is on the workers"

The pirates hurriedly went about their tasks.

Aboard the ship, resistance was barely existant, with the few crew members inside being stunned and unceremoniously dumped near the side of the port, out of harms way.

The crew continued to prepare for take off, with several pirate guards standing watch.

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon returns from his drinks and heads to his cargo ship, holding a half finished bottle of whisky and a mean disposition, which increased tenfold when he sees pirates going about his ship.

 

What the... Sons of... Ganelon responds by giving a firm toss of his bottle, smashing onto the form of Ronin, spraying him with cheap alcohol. As Ganelon ducks behind a container, he fires off a shot with his sporting blaster, igniting the alcohol, turning the pirate into a blazing torch. Ganelon, ducking behind the container, pulls out a concusion grenade, waits two counts, and lobs it over in the vincinity of the pirates.

[Guest]

The grenade landed near the outskirts of the group, a brave pirate running to try and smother the grenade with his bulk.

The grenade went off underneath him, sending him flying across the landing pad and over the side.

In an instant, the 10 remaining pirates aimed their weapons at the intruder, many holding 2 blasters each.

In the background, Ronin was running around screaming.

Kela stepped forward and began issuing an ultimatum to the newcomer.

"Obviously you are stationed aboard this ship," Kela began,

"Aaaaghhh, Help HELP! Put me out. For the love of all things holy; PUT ME OUT!!!!" Ronin screamed, interrupting Kela's grand speech, running like a constipated Kath puppy.

"Someone put him out." Kela ordered.

Two pirates broke off from the group and knocked Ronin over, taking off their coats and beating him with them. Forgetting that they were armoured. In the process of extinguishing the flames, they also managed to knock Ronin unconscious.

"Now, you are obviously stationed on this ship. Give us the codes for it, or we will cut you down where you stand. Oh, and don't worry, we don't actually need your codes, but it will just make things that little bit easier. You have 1 minute to consider our proposal."

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon hides behind the container, blaster held high. One hand strays to his side, activating the emergency beacon on his comm, wired to a security tower in the administrative levels.

 

"I don't care much for your proposal, pirates!" Ganelon shouts over the containers to his foes. "How about you get the hell off my ship before the guards arrive and make mincemeat out of you." Ganelon goes into a low cat like crouch. "This container I'm behind is full of tibanna gas. If you shoot it trying to get me, this whole platform goes and we'll all go too." Ganelon waits, hoping they'll come at him, giving him room to fend them off till the calvary shows up.

[Guest]

Kela looks as two of his people, makes a few short hand signals, and turns to the pirate nearest him.

"Get this thing hotwires, and contact the others, we need to get out of here soon."

When he turned back to where Ganelon was hidden, he saw the two pirates creeping forward.

"Well, looks like you have all your bases covered" Kela said, loudly.

When the pirates when in position, he continued.

"However, I respect that, and because of that, I will grant you one thing."

The pirates leapt forth, flanking Ganelon and blasting him in the chest with stun bolts.

"I shall let you live." Kela finished.

"Get everything you can from him, wallet, chrono, jewellry, everything."

With an unexpected rumble, the ship started up, and there was a triumphant yell from the cockpit.

Kela sent a short confirmation message to the Interceptor and the Cortez, and within three minutes, they had all lifted off and were heading for space, all crew aboard, and Ronin in a sick bay being attended to by one of the crew.

Just in time, to, because not half a minute after they had kicked in their repulsorlifts a cadre of security officers burst onto the landing pad.

The three ships cleared the gravity well of Bespin without incident, and jumped into hyperspace.

[Ganelon of Seneferia]

Ganelon is found naked, stunned, and shivering on the landing pad by Bespin city officials. The stunned nobel is taken to a med center, treated, and given a new set of clothes for him to function with.

 

Ganelon finds himself stewing in the administrative offices a short time later, savagely chewing out the security staff.

 

"You realize how this looks?" Ganelon states in a deadly quiet voice. "We lost a ship to the pirates. The space pirates... No one takes them seriously since they are not a threat! And look what happens? They manged to somehow take off with one of Correlli's transports. I lost some valuable family heirlooms."

 

"Sir... you were there and you did nothing."

 

Ganelon looks are the guard who spoke up. His eyes flicker a bright orange and Ganelon's tongue shoots out of his mouth, catching the guard on the base of the neck. The guard drops to the ground unconscious, shivering from the poison. Ganelon notes with literal distaste the guard did not bathe regularly.

 

"Get ahold of Kheldar. I want bounties on all of them, to the last man. I want them dead or I will see your corpses suspended in nooses below this city. Do I make myself clear?"

 

The staff dispearses. Ganelon sighs and radios Corellia to have them forward his ship. This was not going to look good on the status report.

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Under KVC's orders, a new transport is loaded with supplies and tibanna gas. Ganelon follows his majesty's instructions to a T, and the ship, piloted by the lord from Seneferia takes off into hyperspace, destination, Cardia.