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Post by Meira on Jan 19, 2020 11:38:08 GMT -5
Note: This thread begins on Fornax Station, but should be mostly on Ord Mantell.
The fire rings were incredible. Enzo hadn't seen them since he was a boy, come with his parents to gawk like tourists. But, to be fair, this was a tourist attraction worth gawking at. The cantina Enzo now sat in, dubbed The Burning Ring, was packed full. There was, apparently, a number of brave young pilots preparing to make their run through the rings and the crowds had gathered to watch through the bar's large observation windows. Enzo, mildly interested, occupied a booth a bit further back from the outer walls. He could see, and would glance up whenever the crowd reacted, but he wasn't here entirely for leisure.
Fornax Station was not a usual haunt for Kavela. He usually preferred to do most of his work in the chaos of the galactic southwest. But when those Archeri showed up in Hutt space and damn near destroyed the galaxy, the major powers came rushing in and it was all a little too close for comfort. And so Enzo had made the decision to migrate north for the season, or at least until the fungal infection in Hutt Space was sorted.
There were benefits to being in a new place. Local authorities hardly knew of him or his ship. Movement between the systems was much more relaxed and required fewer bribes. Indeed, Enzo could hardly remember a time when planetary governments and defense forces cared less about who was coming or going. Their eyes were on Hutt space and all they cared about was keeping any infection from entering their systems. But there were drawbacks, as well. Not being known to the authorities also meant not being known to prospective clients in the area. To the black market dealers and buyers in these parts, La Decadencia was a gamble.
But they got by. It had been mostly smuggling runs and bulk trades over the border while the superpowers weren't looking. Not particularly exciting, but it had kept the lights on. Now, however, news was spreading of the Archeri's defeat over Nar Shaddaa and it seemed like things would be working their way back to normal. Enzo was itching to get back to his own home turf. But close on the heels of the news of victory came tell of the Republic's betrayal. Enzo had laughed when he heard that. For all the propaganda pumped out from the core, one would have thought the Republic military was comprised of saints and the Imperial forces were devils from some depraved hell. And yet it was the "good guys" that shot first.
Increased tensions between the superpowers meant a crackdown on border security and Enzo lost the line on his regular smuggling gig. It was unfortunate, as one more run would have been enough to set them up to get out of the area and back to the southwest. There was bound to be good pickings down there now. But the longer they waited, the more likely that all the good stuff would be gone. and so he'd scrambled to find another job, anything that could get them set up to head out.
"Kavela?"
Enzo looked up to see a tall, somewhat portly gray skinned Nautolan had come to stand by his booth. He wore fine clothing, well tailored and of the most current fashion for the area. Enzo glanced around, noting two bulky human men trying to look like they weren't watching the booth. Fair enough.
"Si, and you are Jae Su?" Enzo replied. When the Nautolan nodded in confirmation, Enzo gestured for the man to take a seat. "Benvigut, Senyor Su. May I offer you a glass? The wine here is very good." Enzo held up the bottle he'd ordered earlier and motioned to a waiting empty glass. The Nautolan nodded again and Enzo poured the wine handing the glass over to the man before taking up his own in a casual toast. "To your health." he said, and drank.
Jae Su took a polite sip and then set his glass down. His large, black eyes watched the room, impatient and wary. Enzo allowed the man to stew in his apprehension. This man needed something. When people needed something, it was best to make them say it... to make them name their desperation. It was always more lucrative that way.
"I was told you're the man to see about... acquiring things from across the border." Jae Su finally said, leaning over the table conspiratorially. Enzo smile, shrugging his shoulders in a you caught me expression. But he did not say anything. Leaning back, he took another long drink of his wine and watched the Nautolan. Jae Su stumbled for only a moment before continuing. "It's my ship. The Namadii Pearl. It was taken from me, and I want it back!"
"That is very unfortunate." Enzo said, leaning in toward Jae. "A man's ship is his heart, no? I understand this. I sympathize. Please, tell me how I may help."
An hour later, Enzo stepped into his private quarters aboard La Decadencia. Picking up a datapad from his desk, Enzo sent out a message to all his crew, calling them for a meeting in the lounge area. They had a job to do. And if done well, they'd be more than set to get back to their home territory.
The fire rings were incredible. Enzo hadn't seen them since he was a boy, come with his parents to gawk like tourists. But, to be fair, this was a tourist attraction worth gawking at. The cantina Enzo now sat in, dubbed The Burning Ring, was packed full. There was, apparently, a number of brave young pilots preparing to make their run through the rings and the crowds had gathered to watch through the bar's large observation windows. Enzo, mildly interested, occupied a booth a bit further back from the outer walls. He could see, and would glance up whenever the crowd reacted, but he wasn't here entirely for leisure.
Fornax Station was not a usual haunt for Kavela. He usually preferred to do most of his work in the chaos of the galactic southwest. But when those Archeri showed up in Hutt space and damn near destroyed the galaxy, the major powers came rushing in and it was all a little too close for comfort. And so Enzo had made the decision to migrate north for the season, or at least until the fungal infection in Hutt Space was sorted.
There were benefits to being in a new place. Local authorities hardly knew of him or his ship. Movement between the systems was much more relaxed and required fewer bribes. Indeed, Enzo could hardly remember a time when planetary governments and defense forces cared less about who was coming or going. Their eyes were on Hutt space and all they cared about was keeping any infection from entering their systems. But there were drawbacks, as well. Not being known to the authorities also meant not being known to prospective clients in the area. To the black market dealers and buyers in these parts, La Decadencia was a gamble.
But they got by. It had been mostly smuggling runs and bulk trades over the border while the superpowers weren't looking. Not particularly exciting, but it had kept the lights on. Now, however, news was spreading of the Archeri's defeat over Nar Shaddaa and it seemed like things would be working their way back to normal. Enzo was itching to get back to his own home turf. But close on the heels of the news of victory came tell of the Republic's betrayal. Enzo had laughed when he heard that. For all the propaganda pumped out from the core, one would have thought the Republic military was comprised of saints and the Imperial forces were devils from some depraved hell. And yet it was the "good guys" that shot first.
Increased tensions between the superpowers meant a crackdown on border security and Enzo lost the line on his regular smuggling gig. It was unfortunate, as one more run would have been enough to set them up to get out of the area and back to the southwest. There was bound to be good pickings down there now. But the longer they waited, the more likely that all the good stuff would be gone. and so he'd scrambled to find another job, anything that could get them set up to head out.
"Kavela?"
Enzo looked up to see a tall, somewhat portly gray skinned Nautolan had come to stand by his booth. He wore fine clothing, well tailored and of the most current fashion for the area. Enzo glanced around, noting two bulky human men trying to look like they weren't watching the booth. Fair enough.
"Si, and you are Jae Su?" Enzo replied. When the Nautolan nodded in confirmation, Enzo gestured for the man to take a seat. "Benvigut, Senyor Su. May I offer you a glass? The wine here is very good." Enzo held up the bottle he'd ordered earlier and motioned to a waiting empty glass. The Nautolan nodded again and Enzo poured the wine handing the glass over to the man before taking up his own in a casual toast. "To your health." he said, and drank.
Jae Su took a polite sip and then set his glass down. His large, black eyes watched the room, impatient and wary. Enzo allowed the man to stew in his apprehension. This man needed something. When people needed something, it was best to make them say it... to make them name their desperation. It was always more lucrative that way.
"I was told you're the man to see about... acquiring things from across the border." Jae Su finally said, leaning over the table conspiratorially. Enzo smile, shrugging his shoulders in a you caught me expression. But he did not say anything. Leaning back, he took another long drink of his wine and watched the Nautolan. Jae Su stumbled for only a moment before continuing. "It's my ship. The Namadii Pearl. It was taken from me, and I want it back!"
"That is very unfortunate." Enzo said, leaning in toward Jae. "A man's ship is his heart, no? I understand this. I sympathize. Please, tell me how I may help."
An hour later, Enzo stepped into his private quarters aboard La Decadencia. Picking up a datapad from his desk, Enzo sent out a message to all his crew, calling them for a meeting in the lounge area. They had a job to do. And if done well, they'd be more than set to get back to their home territory.
