And Ask Questions Later

[Foxfire]

(Occ-sorry short posted)

Ryver heard and moved all the mismarked crates to the air lock. Tayme was still antcy about the swap. Ryver had no quams. It took them just under five minutes to move the crates.

Crates are ready and waiting and an check on no weapons. That is unless they start some thing. Over and out.

They waited for the ships to dock and mag-lock in place. They were going to take all procautions for this trade. They would have to move the bloody crates themselves, unless the captian ordered it.

[Cirith An'Gol]

Rogarr sighed with relief when the captain of the Black Cat agreed to just swap cargo peacefully and go their separate ways. They don't want our cargo and I can't say I'm surprised. If it is Sith that ordered these things, then things are going to be hairy from the get go. Plus they're force users, and those are a scary lot. We've gotta play this cool either way or we'll end up fighting for our lives, however short that might be Rogarr thought as he lifted himself from the co-pilot's chair and headed to the cargo bay to move the crates to the airlock.

He paused at the entrance to the bridge and looked behind him "For what it's worth, I wasn't told about the Sith items. I was told that there were some unique items only Jedi or Sith would be interested in, that would sell for a high price but, nothing specific. I figured that we were selling crystals, some lightsaber parts, or some such to a third party who had contacts in either faction. Which could still be the case. I took the lack of details as if someone wanted this kept quite to avoid further conflicts with rivals" Rogarr said as he rubbed his chin and took a breath. This was always the hardest part for him. Even though it wasn't all his fault, he was still responsible for what happened in the next few hours, come what may.

"Either way, I'm sorry for this and come what may, I'll make sure you get out alive. I'm the one that took the job and involved you. You're just a bystander and I won't have innocent blood on my hands" Rogarr said turning to face Pak directly, a look in his eye that said that he meant what he said. If the people that showed up at the dock were Sith, then Rogarr would give Pak the time he needed to escape. There wouldn't be a problem like that if they were Jedi.

Rogarr turned and started back towards the cargo bay "I'm going to record the data on those crates and move'm to the airlock for the swap. I just hope the people waiting for us at the dock are Jedi eager to buy our goods" he said over his shoulder.

A few minutes later, Rogarr opened the crates, recorded the data he needed and moved the crates into position. Then waited for the tell tail thunk! that would tell him their guests had docked.

A few seconds later he heard it and reported to Pak that the Black Cat had docked.
When the airlock cycled and opened, a droid was waiting for him with their cargo.
The Amaran was taken completely by surprise as he recognized the model and make of the droid, along with numerous upgrades to it's body.

All Rogarr could think to say was "Uhhh...Hi. Sorry about this mess, honest mix up I swear."

[Mara]

Pak grunted at Rogarr's response after he asked the Amaran to get the airlock ready and oversee the transition. This was a whole big mess that he would have to deal with sooner or later, but just didn't have the patience to at the moment. He wasn't exactly angry with Rogarr but did feel a bunch of conflicting emotions. Betrayal, perhaps. The Balosar listened but didn't really hear what the other was saying. Just more empty words as far as he was concerned.

Before he would let himself think of anything else, Pak just focused on holding his ship steady after he had brought it around to face the Black Cat. His hands gripped the yoke almost a little too tightly as he willed his ship to remain still as Rogarr and the other ship completed the docking procedure. The surreality of the moment was crazy for him. The fact that he was switching cargoes with a pilot of a ship who was a complete stranger and was just taking his word that they had been part of a mix-up. But right now, he just didn't really care anymore whether the man was telling the truth or was just a cunning pirate. Either way, he was getting rid of the spice that wasn't his and getting back his ill-conceived cargo. A simple high-paying job had just got more complicated. And costly.

He stared unseeing through the viewport in front of him as he waited. Waited for the transition to be completed so he and Rogarr and the Requiem could get out of Umgul's gravity well and on to Nar Shaddaa. If that was even where they were still headed anymore. This whole job seemed out of his hands now. And Pak felt played by the Amaran. The little furry guy seemed to convey his innocence, but Pak wasn't sure. Just because his antennapalps hadn't picked up anything suspicious didn't mean none was there. He was still a bit alcohol-logged from earlier, plus distracted by the meeting of this Albatross guy and his ship. The thought of dropping Rogarr off with the cargo was looking good to him. It wasn't as if the guy didn't have his own fighter following them or anything.

A thud disturbed his thoughts then, the sound of the ships locking together. Only a few minutes more now, and this would all be over, hopefully. At least this part would be over. The delivery was yet to be done. Pak spun his chair so he wouldn't have to stare out at the stars, sick of them taunting him. A lazy eye scanned the area of the cockpit for anything he could drink.

Something he wanted to look for more eagerly after he heard his comm beep at him. Turning back to face the console, he pressed the button, only to hear the voice of the other captain seemingly taunting him as well. At least the guy didn't want to dwell on the screw-up any more than Pak did. He was preparing to send back a reply to remind the guy that he was just sending up his partner, when the second half of the message came through and stopped his finger mid-flight. The words surprised him. And almost made him chuckle. That Albatross guy was thinking of something like that at a time like this?

The Balosar clicked his comm to reply. "Like I said, I'm sending up my partner. But since you put it so nicely, I guess I'll come up as well, make sure this goes all fair and all, with you gracing my ship with your presence." He stood up and tried to fight back responding to the man's fighter pilot reference--it wasn't any of his business and totally out of place--but he lost the battle anyway, his sarcasm ekeing through. "Oh, and you're more than welcome to stay on board. Maybe we can discuss my piloting over tea and biscuits if you like." Pak snorted. "Let's just get this over with. See you at the lock.

Shutting off the comm, Pak made his way out of the cockpit and off to join Rogarr for the exchange. Even if the other captain had come alone and there was no worry about inequal numbers in the parties, the Balosar had decided just now that he wanted to know who this other guy was, see him with his eyes. Perhaps probe him with his 'palps. Even if he would never see this Albatross again. Some would call it curiosity; Pak called it sizing up a potential rival and enemy.

[Jazen]

It didn't take long for Shine to traverse his ship to the airlock, where he knew Ry-Tam would be waiting for him with the cargo to transfer. He was just about to reach it when his comm chimed again, the sound telling him it was for a ship to ship communication. Turning the corner and giving Ry-Tam a short nod to indicate his readiness, Shine pulled the comm from his pocket and clicked it on. The voice of the other captain came over loud and clear, though Shine made sure the voice didn't echo the small airlock room.

At first, part of him was disappointed that the man wasn't planning on coming down to oversee the exchange. He had hoped he'd get to gander at the hands behind that incredible piloting; guess that wasn't in the cards today. Of course, this only lasted a second or two as the stated he had changed his mind and was on his way. Perhaps this day wasn't going to end as badly as it had started. Shine snickered at the comment about tea and biscuits; while he wasn't a fan of tea, he did like his snacks. Of course, he knew this was sarcasm, but one could run with the sarcasm, couldn't they?

"Oh, I would like that. Although, not much of a tea fan. Perhaps a nice cold glass of milk with some cookies instead?"

The airlock hissing broke him from the comm and with another nod to Ry-Tam, rested one hand near his blaster and the other on his hip. He watched as the door went through its decompression cycle and, finding that the two sides were locked together without error, slid open. On the other side was a being who, to Shine's eyes, resembled a giant wolf. If his knowledge of other species was correct, the guy was an Amaran. Well, you didn't see one of those everyday.

As the man's apology, Shine silently and carefully slipped his hand away from his blaster, sure that if the Amaran wanted to try something, he would have already done so. Also, he had faith Ry-Tam would cover it if he still tried to follow through on that something. Stepping to put himself before the man, Shine gave him a short bow, then extended his left hand to the man, a show of respect and understanding all in one.

"No apologies or explanations are needed. Maybe if I'd gotten my frelling behind here faster, I would have grabbed my order before you guys did. I think, if any blame is to be given, it should be to the morons who put two orders into the same hangar without proper markings, don't ya think?

So let's just forget that little mix up and start anew. Shine Albatross, captain of the Black Cat at your service. The walking tank of metal behind me is Ry-Tam. I'd call my other crew mate, but shes disposed at the moment. It's a pleasure to meet you...well, since I don't have names yet, I'll just call you Sir Amaran until I get one. And the same goes for your captain, who I think I hear coming right now."

[Cirith An'Gol]

Rogarr again was taken completely by surprise as the Captain of the Black cat stepped up and introduced himself after waving the mix up away. He had to agree that the situation would've been much easier had the movers used two different hangars instead of one with unreadable markings. Rogarr had to laugh at the conversation between the two Captains, the bit about tea and bisquits still making Rogarr smile. "Agreed Captain Albatross and no need to draw attention to my race. The name's Rogarr Clawfere, glad to meet you. Thanks for not taking this too hard Captain, last thing I need at the moment is another needless fire fight" Rogarr said taking the offered hand and giving it a firm grip and single shake. A moment later he turned to see Pak coming.

Things were off to a good start but, rarely did things go this well in the smuggling trade. Rogarr maintained a warey vigilance about him as he prepared to trade cargo's on Pak's say-so.

[Foxfire]

Ryver was bored to death of the wait for the lock to engage when it did Taym ran through their system checks to make sure every thing was in top order. The last thing Taym checked was the weapon's system, this was most unfortunet in that when the doors opened their arm blasters motovaters were active and noisey. The sound of ammo loading and unloading made many think they were getting ready to fight.

When the little being said....

"Uhhh...Hi. Sorry about this mess, honest mix up I swear."

.... Ryver and Tayn knew that killing was off of the event forcast. Still when the Captain came from behind them and began to be very talketive with the little being they began to have some doubts. Ryver primed the arm blasters once more as the Captain and the fox like being shook hands. They were not going to be caught off guard and left to fend for themselves it was after all a very ling way down to planet side from there.

[Mara]

(((*giggle* I like how Shine introduces himself with Pak's version of his last name "Albatross" instead of "Albartos." )))



On the way to the exchange and to meet this other pilot who apparently seemed keen to know why Pak was so skillful, the Balosar popped into the galley to look for something to drink. He hoped that in the elapsed time something would have appeared, but there was nothing. Nothing in his cabin either. And the bottle from the cockpit was drained dry now. Pak sighed as he went about the original task of going to the airlock. At the first chance he got, he'd have to restock his liquor stores. Though, depending on how the rest of this job with Rogarr went he might want something a bit more stronger. Maybe deathsticks.

Pak didn't even really think any more about the risks he was taking as he traversed to the other side of his ship. The fact that these others were strangers and he was taking them at their word no longer bothered him. He felt kind of dull to everything that had been happening. So much so that he didn't even bother grabbing the old blaster he had stashed in his cabin. If he came unarmed, they wouldn't harm him. And if they did anyway, at least his life would be better if he were dead.

As a lark, just before he rounded the corner to where he could hear voices, obviously of Rogarr and the man from the comm--the captain of the Black Cat--Pak decided to pull back his antennapalps. Just because he was apathetic to this whole mess now didn't mean he didn't want to keep at least one little trick up his sleeve. There wasn't a need for the rest of them to know that he could sense their emotions or any possible danger. Plus, the Balosar had heard a few times how other beings perceived his race. Better to play things safe for a moment. He'd just look like a human male a bit on the shorter side. As long as Rogarr didn't make any mention of the change, it'd be smooth flying.

Feeling properly ready for this meeting now, Pak came into the small airlock area, just catching the end of the other captain's dialogue. He decided to get right at things. "Captain Har'edanno at your service, Albatross." He mixed the semi-formal introduction of himself with a sloppy two-fingered salute, hoping to give the impression that he didn't really care, but could care, if he needed to. "I see you've met my partner."

He took a couple moments then to scan the newcomers. The other pilot was human but barely taller than he was. If he extended his antennapalps, Pak thought he might actually be taller, which would be a new experience for him. All the human males he had met before were way taller than he was. He took this as a boon; if they were the same height, the other man wouldn't suspect that the Balosar was not a human. But other than that, nothing really struck Pak about Albatross's appearance.

Next to him, though, was some kind of robot that had looked quite humanoid. At the moment it seemed harmless, but he didn't need his 'palps to sense that it could be deadly if called for. He decided not to look at the droid for much longer, preferring to get this exchange over with, so he turned his light blue eyes over to the Cat's captain, hoping that the other man would notice his empty holster and keep his war robot tamed.

He slapped his hands together and rubbed them a couple times. "Now, shall we get this over with? I'm sure you'd like to get on your way, and Rogarr and I have places to be. So if there's nothing else..." Pak paused and looked at the droid, Rogarr and then back to Albatross. "Let's get going."

[Jazen]

(Holy crap, I did. My bad, lolz. Anywho, about time to wrap this up I think.)

Shine was about to comment on how it was no problem letting this little event be put in the past when he heard the sound of footsteps from inside their ship. A moment later, a man walked into view and Shine could only assume that that man was the captain of the Requiem. Even if it wasn't, he was still going to show this man the same respect he had showed Rogarr, the same respect he would show any fellow smuggler or man.

"Its my pleasure to meet you, Captain Har'edanno. Always a joy to meet someone who knows how to put a ship through her paces. And yes, I've had the pleasure of meeting...I'd assume your first mate."

Like Har'edanno, Shine spent the next few moments giving his fellow captain a look over. He wasn't extremely big, standing just a little shorter than Shine himself. The big comment also referred to his body mass, which was, for all appearances, light and skinny. Well, maybe not too skinny, but his clothing hid most of him from sight, so he could only make comments off what he could see. There was something else about him that while Shine couldn't see it, made him seem like he was different from your average man. But there was nothing that he could see to justify that, so Shine simply put on a smile and tilted his head to the man's request.

He heard the whine of blasters being warmed up and turned his head to Ry-Tam, who was watching both Rogarr and Har'edanno intently. Well, at least, that's the impression he got from the droids line of sight; droids really couldn't show expressions. He turned to Ry-Tam first, hoping to calm the nerves of both their guests and the droid quickly before things got hectic.

"Easy Ry-Tam, we're here to make nice, not war. Besides, our friend here is showing his faith in us but not carrying a blaster. Least we can do is show him the same respect by keeping the guns down. But you can keep them hot if it'll make you feel better.

As for our business Captain Har'edanno, yes, let's get to it. Oddly enough, while we may have the least obviously dangerous clients, I think Hutts can be as dangerous as the Sith should you get on their bad side. So let's get this switch done quick and easy and hopefully, be on our way to where we need to be before we both have our heads on the platter."

Shine then moved aside to allow Ry-Tam to make the transfer, keeping both his eyes on the men across from him, still smiling. Just because he had said that he would show their guests respect by keeping the guns down didn't mean he wasn't ready to draw his at a moment's notice. So he waited for Ry-Tam to use the power a droid had to get Har'edanno's crate across, and to get theirs onto the ship.

[Foxfire]

With out a word Ryver/Taym hauled the crates to their respective sides. Ryver looked back once more to size up the little fox being. The being must have had talent in some thing other wise it would not have been here in space and they knew that some time later they may face each other once again.

Turning back they hauled the crate back to the cargo room with the others. Then they went to work on making a tracker becon for the holocron when they took it back. NO not the other crew not the Captain but they themselves. Some thing of this importance they would not leave to fleshies. Fleshies were often to unreliable for their standards.

(OCC-short droid post)

[Cirith An'Gol]

Rogarr nodded as Pak told everyone to shift it. The orange/red Amaran waited for the droid to take their cargo before moving to get his own and bringing it aboard the ship. The job was difficult to say the least, Rogarr wasn't nearly as strong as a droid and he didn't have a steel frame or a powerful hydraulic motor to power his arms and legs, so the process of moving their rightful crates took longer than it did for the heavily armed combat model droid. Rogarr groaned and grunted with every shove but, finally all the crates were on board.

He wiped his damp fur ridden brow and sighed, then consulted his datapad to make sure they hadn't left anything. Then he checked the contents of the crates "Looks like that's all of it Captain, shall we move out?"

[Mara]

Pak stood silently as the other captain told his war machine to cool it. He was glad for that. Hopefully they could just get this exchange done with and get out of there. And he'd never see this arrogant bastard again. And after he and Rogarr finished on Nar Shadaa, hopefully he'd never see the scheming Amaran again. All the Balosar wanted was a little bit of peace and quiet. He hadn't wanted to turn into a heavy hitting smuggler; he just wanted to pay the bills. He was beginning to wonder if he should go back into more legal occupations. Smuggling Sith artifacts was not something a former Republic fighter pilot wanted to be doing.

He grunted as Albartos replied in kind, not really having anything to say or reply to the guy's platitudes. Pak wasn't sure what this guy's game was. And he still wasn't sure that he was entirely innocent of this whole meet-up in the first place, the coincidental switched cargo and him coming after the Crimson Requiem. But he was too tired to think about anything deeper than that. Plus, there was the whole bit where the guy was admiring his flying skills. Something that Pak found a little odd. Something that might have made him suspicious about motives, but again, he was just too tired.

Folding his arms across his chest--outside he looked bored but on the inside he was anxious to get things over with--he waited as the droid and Rogarr made the switch of the cargo loads.The war droid did so easily, but the Amaran obviously struggled. Pak didn't bother stepping in to help him, nor mentioning to let Albartos's droid do the work. He might not want it, in the first place. And secondly, he felt it was slightly made of his punishment for getting the two of them in this situation to begin with.

Finally it was all over with, and he looked at Rogarr when he spoke. Pak walked closer and pretended to inspect the cargo boxes for accuracy. Though it pained him, he was still taking his partner's word for everything. He nodded; they might as well head out. Nothing else was left to accomplish. Walking back to the other captain, he stood there a second before offering his hand. A small bit of politeness in an obviously tedious meeting and exchange. "Nice doin' business with ya." He stood back and gestured to Rogarr to get ready to unclamp. "Perhaps we'll meet again someday, Albert." Pak didn't really wish for that, but he knew it was the right thing to say. He saluted again and headed back inside the ship and off toward the cockpit.



(((Sorry for the suckiness...
Anyway, I figure one more round of posts, with me ending it after, and we should be set...)))

[Cirith An'Gol]

When they had finally proceeded with the transfer of cargo, he sent orders to his fighter to move into the Black Cat's wake. He wanted insurance in case the other crew tried anything. It was anyone's guess if the other crew detected the maneuver though.

A few strenuous minutes later, Rogarr finally set the crates where they belonged, and made his way back to the docking hatch, just as Pak finished with the Captain of the other ship. He could tell that something was bothering him but, he didn't know what. All things considering, everything was going relatively smooth, and that was every mercenary and smugglers dream wasn't it? That a mission go as planned and no one ended up dead? Rogarr thought about asking Pak but, decided to let things lay for the moment, and just followed him silently back to the bridge.

He checked on his fighter that was for the moment hiding in the Black Cat's wake, that should've been appearing to be nothing more than a ghost in the sensor readings if he had gotten the math right. He sent orders to his AI through his datapad, to move from it's position and come along side the Crimpson Requiem. When he got to the bridge and sat in the co-pilot's chair, The Stinger came along side a moment later, it's golden and black hull shining like it was brand new, reflecting the glow of the planet behind them. Rogarr typed in the next set of coordinates and transferred them to his AI along with instructions to jump on his order and not before.

Then he looked to Pak and said "I'm all set here Captain, ready when you are" then he sent orders to his AI to jump a second after they entered hyperspace.

[Foxfire]

Ryver/Taym moved the crates with ease and when the little being moved in to help on their side Ryver snickered to her self. Fleshies were so funny Ryver thought for they had a bot they could tell by the WI-FI connection they had with the electronics of both ships. The bot could easily handled the whole load but Fleshies always needed to be seen as help full unlike what they really were in space, a waste of.

With the transfer complete Taym moved them to the far side of the entry and kept watch over their Captain. No funny business was going to happen they could see this but you never know about fleshies. On the off chance they were going to have trouble Taym started the flight checks for departure via Wi-Fi. Warmed up the ships guns and engines for that possible first hint of either betrayal or ambush by another faction. Taym too did a scanning sweep of the area to recheck for ships, both narrow and wide bands of the ships farthest reach. Checking an all clear Ryver took back over control to watch, wait, and follow their Captain until the fleshie did some thing stupid.

[Jazen]

(bah, its crap, but bam, done.)

Shine watched in silence as Ry-tam and Rogarr went to the task of collecting the other ship's crate. He tried to keep his amusement from showing when Ry-tam easily brought their crate over while Rogarr just barely managed to get theirs without collapsing. Nodding to Ry-tam as the droid moved off into the ship with their crate, he turned back to Pak and Rogarr, the latter already moving off with the other crate.

Using his datapad to get the confirm from Ry-tam that the crate did indeed hold their load, he nodded quickly before shuffling the pad under his arm to give a final salute. The exchange had gone over rather well, without incident too. It was a good thing Shine knew how to make it seem like there was no threat at all; even if the droid had almost botched that by bringing in the heavy toys.

"And a good day to you as well Captain Pak. I actually do hope we meet again in the future, I'd enjoy having a drink with you and finding out where you learned to fly the way you do. Till then, have a safe trip."

With that, Shine headed back into his own ship, unhooking the passage attaching the ships to one another once he was safely back in his own. Tossing the datapad onto the first thing he could, Shine moved back into the cockpit and brought the Cat away from the Requim slowly. Once he was clear of her, he gave the ship a farewell via his engines venting a quick goodbye, then punched his ship into hyperspace. He had a delivery to make.

[Mara]

(((Time to end this bad boy... )))



Settled down in his captain's chair back in the Crimson Requiem's cockpit with his antennapalps re-extended, Pak was feeling better about the situation. Only slightly better, though. There was still a lingering dark cloud surrounding him. Or rather, himself, Rogarr, and this whole job. Plus there was the overreaching fact that everything in his ship even remotely containing alcohol was all gone. It was enough to turn one suicidal, he thought.

He sighed quietly to himself as he started bringing all the systems back online, the ones he had shut down for the exchange, and getting out of the way of Umgul's gravity well. No, he wouldn't shoot himself out of an airlock any time soon. It wasn't that he felt he had a lot to live for; Pak just had too much respect learned from the military to end his life himself. Better if someone else did. Or maybe the booze. Besides, after he got rid of this cargo, and also Rogarr most probably, he'd be able to try to turn things around. As much as someone in his position could do so, that is.

Oh well. Pak could think about his future later. Right now he had to take care of his present. His Amaran partner had come in almost right after and had settled down in the copilot's chair. In what could strangely be called companionable silence, they both worked on their own things: Pak on setting up the calculations to Nar Shaddaa, Rogarr doing whatever it was on his datapad. Something to do with his figured, he figured, as he noticed it coming closer through his display. No matter about that. As long as Rogarr kept his ship out of the way, there should be no problems. Pak didn't want to think what would happen if he showed up to drop off the cargo with not only a freighter, but a fighter to what was apparently Sith now, not the regular shady types.

But he didn't want to dwell on that too much. Pak knew he'd be better-tempered during the trip over if he just kept himself focused on the simple things, like making sure the Requiem didn't fly into a star, and not coming up with nightmarish possible situations on Nar Shaddaa. Rogarr broke into his mind then, stating that he was ready to go. Though glad for the small distraction, Pak had to bite back a sarcastic reply. Instead he just nodded and said, "All right. Let's get rid of this cargo." A couple switches, and the red ship zipped into hyperspace, destination known, the rest unknown.


[to Dropoffs...]