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Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 8:30:35 GMT -5
The haphazard nature of the space station was evident of itself even as she pulled her small cargo ship into it's confines, her comm buzzing with activity even as the station control instructed that enviromental controls were offline within the docking ring and space suits were required.
Glancing over the instrument panel, confirming it for herself she slipped back to her small cabin to put on the form fitting space suit. Noting there were no weapon restrictions listed she strapped on the small blaster onto her side and proceeded to her airlock.
It was her first run into this system, it was also her first run for Coca the Hutt. She was already on edge enough since the Port Authority on Calis IV attempted to hijack the shipment as she was leaving.
Entering the airlock, she noted that outside of it was a droid peering in as she activated her controls.
The door whushing back as she takes note the protocal droid in front of her with a datapad.
"Cargo Manifest, Please"
"Here ya go tinhead," as she hands over the manifest she was given for her cargo.
"My designation is DU-ky, ma'am." As the droid examines the manifest.
She can hear it transmitting something back to it's controlors, shifting uncomfortably she wondered how hard it would be to escape with her ship if the Hutt had set her up.
Just as the time pbutted enough to make her sweat, the droid hands back her manifest. "You are scheduled for a twelve hour layover Miss Lac, than you will proceed to your final destination."
"Wait a second this is my final destination. I was told to bring the shipment to Dragon's End."
"That is correct, this shipment is to proceed to Dragon One in the morning. Till such time your ship is impounded....."
"What you can't impound my ship!"
"and you are confined to the station....."
"This is crazy."
"is there a problem Miss Lac?"
"Damn right there is a problem, I want to speak to whoever is in charge."
The droid's eyes blink, "Ma'am you are already on the schedule to speak to him."
Beads of sweat forming on the young smuggler's face, 'Gods what did he have me hauling to warrant this.'
Her brain in overdrive, everything she heard of the Dragon and it's laws coming up. There weren't many against smugglers, most considered it one of the safer runs. But the ones they were strict on carried stiff penalties. Calming herself somewhat, "What do you mean I'm already on schedule to speak to him?"
"In twelve hours you are to proceed to Dragon One to confer with him and deliver the shipment. It is the most current schedule available to me at this time. Till such time your ship is sealed and you are to enjoy the Dragon's End."
"What about my personal belongings?" Starting to make a step back into her airlock.
The buzz of mechanicals stopping her, as she looks back at the droid again.
Its hand flipped over revealing a hidden blaster in its left arm, "Ma'am your ship is sealed currently and will not be available for reboarding for eleven hours fifty-eight minutes and fourteen seconds. Please enjoy your stay."
Seeing she was not getting the drop on the small droid, she resigned herself to walk into the station with the droid following, barely listening to it ramble.
"What was that you just said?"
"I have instructions to see to your expenses while you are here ma'am." As it holds out a cred stick to the woman.
Taking the stick, "How much is on here?" Not sure if she should trust what was going on or not.
"I do not know ma'am, the only instructions are to contact me if you need more funds. But they should be more than enough."
"Have a good day ma'am," as the droid moves away towards another airlock.
As she situates herself, her helmet in hand. She follows the signs towards the main deck of the station. Her nose and ears buttaulted with all aromas and noise of a bustling market place when she steps off the turbo lift.
Twelve hours, what am I to do for twelve hours.
All types of creatures pbutt her by as she continues her walk around the edge of the deck, taking in all the sights. She notes with interest what appears to be a pilot's bar as most of the ones entering and exiting are also carrying their helmets with them.
Walking towards it, her suspiscions confirmed as she can hear the normal banter of smuggler's and pilots boasting their flying skills. Sliding up to the bar, she finds an open spot next to pair of humans as she asks for a cafe. The larger male seeming to study her with interest before he goes back to talking with the female.
She can faintly overhear her telling him to relax for once.
"Do you have rooms available as well?" she inquires of the barkeep.
Swiping the credit stick, she noticed a change in the attitude of the barkeep almost immediately asking if there was anything else she needed to just call down. He would send it up immediately.
Taking the lift up to the fourth floor, she found the room easily enough. Searching the room turned up just a basic kitchenette, pamphlets on immigrating to the Dragon, and a few of the local holosheets of news.
Laying back on the bed wondering what she had go herself into this time, she wondered how tomorrow would go.
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Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 8:30:58 GMT -5
What have I gotten myself into.
As she lay their nervousily, her hand subconsicousily holding onto her pack strap ready to run in an instance.
She racked her brain trying to remember any stories she heard of the Dragon Security forces, but for the most part no one ever said anything bad about them. It reminded it or the Empire in a way. Anyone that spoke out was never seen again.
All she could think of was they were one of the military powers that helped bring down the Sith Empire, allowing the Galactic Alliance and Roan Fel's Empire to come back to power and they had been slowly expanding their power here along the rim.
Looking out the window she wondered why they didn't just arrest her and get it over with, why all the delay and making her go through the motions of meeting someone in charge.
Studying the crowds out on the causeway she noticed most seemed carefree but alert, she did occbuttionally spot the odd guard or two walking around but noticed they were friendly with everyone they came in contact with. It reminded her of some of the older patrolmen when she grew up on Corellia how they would know everyone and crime was low in their neighborhoods.
They must keep the heavy troops hidden away.
Munching on one of the food bars from her pack she layed back down setting her chrono timer to wake her in ten hours. Might as well catch some shut eye.
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Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 8:31:17 GMT -5
The fitful sleep leaving her none to rested, came to an end as her chornotimer dinged at its appointed time.
Walking down the stairs, still amazed she was breathing somewhat free air, the same tender was sitting at the bar.
"Good morning Ms Lac, is there anything you want for breakfast before your flight?"
"No, no thank you." she barely got out as shock washed over her that he knew her name and pending flight schedule. Than she remembered his attitude changed the night before when she used the credstick to pay for everything.
It was probably programmed to conviently track me.
Making her way back towards the docks she already had her suit on and helmet in hand. Wondering to herself the possiblities of making it out of here.
Seeing the DU-ky droid waiting for her, she approached it.
"Good morning Ms Lac, we trust the accomadations you found were adequate to your stay on Dragon's End."
Shocked by the questioning, "Yes it was just fine. I'm eager to get back to my ship and the cargo delivered."
"Yes things are currently on schedule though his schedule can vary widely at any given time. The environmental controls are back in order now. We will be removing the impound lock on your ship once your ready to board her.
"Yes I'm ready to reboard my ship now and take care of this."
"Excellent, here are your flight plans. Please do not deviate from the flight plan as several fighter squadrons are conducting live fire exercises within the Asteroid Belt at this time.
"Great live fire exercises," as she groaned inwardly. Just my luck.
Getting to her ship's airlock, she watches the droid connect to the impound lock easily removing it.
"Please inspect your ship for any irregularities. I have noted in the logs a series of twenty-two three millisecond gaps of coverage within the security log. This hapened over a two hour period, once environmentals were corrected so were these gaps."
Boarding her ship, she begins the pre-flight checklist watching out the tallwhackerpit window as various droids go about their business making sure nothing was in her way leaving the hanger bay.
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Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 8:32:10 GMT -5
Manuevering the ship easily out of the tight confines of the hanger bay, she can see two Star Detroyers in the distance practicing gunnery on an asteroid target.
Keeping the small cargo vessel on course for the main space station above the Dragon, she can see fighter wings engaging in mock combat throughout the sky. Their graceful dance shining against the black backdrop of space.
I could run, I'm not in a gravity well. It wouldn't take much to jump out of here.
Her train of thought broken as she watches several of the Seraph-clbutt fighters dog fighting close to her flight path. Watching their death dance up close showed how out clbutt her ship would be against them.
Entering into the gravity well of the Dragon as she approaches the space station, she knows she is committed to seeing this through. Pbutting through the pickett ships, she can see they are heavily armored and with advanced weaponery, even the older fighters look refitted with new weapons and armor.
Unlike Dragon's End, Dragon One is remarkably uncluttered within its oversized hanger bay. There are a few other ships like her's offloading and loading cargo. Following the directions of the Hanger Chief over the comm she guides the ship into docking space fourteen. Looking to her starboard side she can see a Baudo docked into the number thirteen slot.
Must be nice to be a high roller, she thinks to herself as she admires it's lines.
Picking up her repacked bag, not knowing if she would be forced to stay again it buldged on her back as she opened the exit ramp. Awaiting at the end of the ramp was a young lady dressed in coveralls and a Jawa standing beside her. That's when she notices a large number of Jawa's everywhere within the hanger.
"Welcome to Dragon One, Ms Lac. My name is Marissa, this is Mak-it he is buttigned as your personal mechanic while docked here. Should you require repairs, upgrades or anything else ship related he will be in charge of seeing it completed."
"Is there a docking fee?"
"No ma'am, as your cargo is for Dragon personnel docking fees are waived. If you would open your cargo bay up, the droid team will off-load it all for you."
Moving to the ramp post entering the code to drop the cargo bay open, she watches as a droid crew supervised by another Jawa begins the unloading process.
"There are a lot of Jawas here, don't think I've seen this many outside of Tatoonie before."
"Yes, their entire clan lives within Dragon Space. Mr Rel, befriended one of the Clan Elders and offered them work and homes."
"I see, I was told I was to meet someone. How long will that take? I was hoping to leave soon."
Eyeing the pack on the woman's back, "According to my listings, you are scheduled in an hour to meet with Miss Toi. She handles the day to day runnings of Rel Corporation, I'm not privy to Mr Rel's schedule. I can show you the way to the office if you like?"
"Thank you Marissa," seeing the marks on the woman's neck as she turns to lead her away. "How long have you been with RelCo? I've heard quite a few rumors about them as a company."
"I've been with the company about two years now, free for the last three years."
"Free?"
"Yes, Mr Rel bought and freed me about three years ago."
"He's a slaver? I thought the Dragon had tough anti-slavery laws."
Rounding a corner into the hallways of the station now. "Heavens no. He makes a monthly purchase of slaves and frees them immediately upon their arrival here."
"Really, I've heard rumors of it. But nothing ever substanciated."
"Well most freed slaves end up working for RelCo or one of it's subsidiaries. Pay and benefits are decent, and it makes for an easy way to start a new life."
"I see, why did you wait a year to work for them?" as they enter a lift.
"I was in rehabiliation, took me a long time to get full use of my legs back. My ship when they were deliverying me crash-landed, had a cargo container fall on me pulverising my legs mid-thigh down."
"O my. That medical bill was probably huge. No wonder you have to work it off through them."
Smiling at the other young lady, "O no, there was no bill. RelCo picks up the medical cost for all of us that live on the Dragon."
"Here we are, as she opens a doorway into a secretary's office."
"Hi K, this is Miss Lac for Miss Toi. She had the cargo delivery for Mr Rel from Coco the Hutt."
"Take care Miss Lac, call if you need anything while your on board Dragon One. I'm your duty conceirage for the week."
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Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 8:32:28 GMT -5
"Hello Miss Lac, my name is Kara. Miss Toi is running a bit behind would you like something to drink while you wait?"
"Water please," as she moves to take a seat on the spacious couches along the one wall.
A serving droid immediately appears with an iced water.
"Thank you," than looking over at the lady behind her desk. "Do you know how long my meeting is scheduled for?"
"Currently its for thirty minutes, but I believe Mr Rel wanted to meet you as well so it could be longer." As she goes back to the paperwork she was going over.
Sitting wondering to herself what merits this meeting.
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Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 8:32:46 GMT -5
Out of the office walks an exceptional looking older Twi'lek lady dressed in business attire.
Extending her hand out, "Good morning, Miss Lac. My name is Toi, I'm the Chief Operations Officer here with RelCo. I hope your stay on Dragon's End was plesant."
"Yes rather uneventful, I'm still puzzled why I'm here though."
"Here come into my office," guiding the young human lady into the office.
"Well to be honest, we were actually quite curious about you," as they both take seats at the desk.
"Curious about me why?" True puzzlement crossing her face.
Consulting a datapad, "Well according to our information you dropped out of the Empire's Officer Academy your second year."
Interrupting, "So a lot recruits dropped out during the second year. It's know as the hell year for a reason."
"But you did it three months before the Battle of Corsucant, right as the plans were being put in motion for the battle and one week before you were to move to your third year. According to this you were ranked number seven in your clbutt of 842."
"I'm still not following why it should matter to anyone here."
"And from there you proceeded to the mid-rim taking any piloting job you could get. Than taking a job with Coco the Hutt a few months ago, and he puts you a regular run to our system."
"It's a job that pays decent, and someone had to make the run now since Drewmar got feed to Coco's Rancor."
Sadness crossing her face, "That's a shame, he was a good man. Do you know what became of his family?"
Confused slightly at the turn in direction, "No, didn't know him that well. He was carrying some Ugailiran Blood Eels and dripped over something dumping them all over Coco. It wasn't five minutes later he was screaming in the rancor pit."
"I see," as she makes more notes. "But back to your leaving the Academy. We are very curious in your reasoning why."
"Why would it matter, it just felt like the right thing to do at the time. It was just a feeling I had to get out of there."
The voice from behind her startling her, "It's well that you did leave the Academy when you did."
Turning seeing a man in his late twenties early thirties standing there in a fine suit.
"Miss Lac, may I introduce you to Grand Admiral Locar Windu."
Taking in the man in a new prespective at his introductions, "Pleasure to meet you sir," as she extends her hand.
"The pleasure is mine madam," leaning forward kissing the offered hand lightly.
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Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 8:33:08 GMT -5
"The attack on the academy's moon base left very few alive, and all the pilots that did manage to get in the air were short-lived as it was."
"My people and I take a great interest in the personnel files of individuals like yourself that up and quit so arruptly."
"Why would it matter now?" Her curiousity piqued as much as her danger sense.
The man leans back on to a comfortable couch. "It doesn't matter much in the scheme of things, it's mainly a curiousity on my part. Sometimes people get feelings on things they can't explain, able to react quicker than others. It's a useful talent to have really. Some call it luck, some have other names for it."
"I'd call it lucky I left the system when I did. After all you and your friends did invade it a few month's later." Her defenses rising at the probing by the two. She knew she wouldn't stand a snowball's chance on Tatoonie if they decided to kill her here and now.
"Chuckling, yes I did send my forces in with the others. But you should note, mine withdrew nearly immediately once the threat to my confederation was dealt with. I don't need to conquer worlds by force, only protect my own."
"Millions died that day, many of my friends." Her eyes growing misty at the memories of the news reports that found her on Coreillia at the time.
"Yes they did, and history will judge me right or wrong depending who gets to write the book on it. By the time they do, I will be long gone from this universe."
"That still doesn't tell me why you are meeting me today. It's kind of unsettling to tell the truth." Her eyes studying both of them.
"Yes sorry about that, when I recruit people I try to get a measure of them beforehand. Just your history had a few puzzle pieces, I'm just now getting to figure out."
Leaning out the office, "Kara, could you let Nadia know we might have a canidate for the project. We are in Toi's office. Thanks."
Closing the door, as he turns back to the young lady.
"Commander Lombardi will be interested in meeting you as well. She is heading a special project of ours and we need talented persons like yourself for."
"What kind of project?"
"It's a test pilot project. We are testing it first with starfighters but would like to test it's abilities within a small cargo ships as well. From what I sense, you would be a good canidate for testing it. You have the necessary pilot skills and latent talent necessary to pilot the crafts."
Hearing a knock on the door as it opens, they turn and see a stunning young woman walk in.
Turning to Locar, "Kara says this one might be an acceptable canidate."
"I'll let you be the judge of that, premonition ability for events happening, natural piloting skills, yada yada yada," as he hands a thick folder over to her.
Turning to the young woman, "Locar seems to think you might be able to buttist me."
Moving towards the door, "I'll leave you two to figure it out. I have a few more meetings that Kara has on my plate today."
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Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 8:33:29 GMT -5
The constant training wore her out, but they were constantly teaching her the latest and greatest innovations in starship piloting. Most of it came naturally to her, though learning to understand the Jawa's buttigned to the project was a task unto itself.
Shir did her best in keeping up with other pilots in the program, but there were parts where their years of experience and numerous combat flying just outclbutted her, she still couldn't fathom why they wanted her in the program. The pay was great, even if it was on a planet on the Outer Rim.
It wasn't till a few months later that she saw the new designed fighter they wanted her to try, well the tallwhackerpit at least. The Jawa's tooks so many measurements of her, it left her wondering if they were fitting her for a dress.
A week later they had the tallwhackerpit in a new Seraph Fighter, she could see the Admiral in the distance watching, the young Commander beside him talking looking in her direction. It gave her a feeling of she should run.
She snapped out of it when Mak-it started screaming at her, "NOT YET! NOT YET!" in her native language when she saw the engines turning on the fighter. The little Jawa scrambling turning a switch off in the tallwhackerpit.
"What did I do?" she asked.
That's when she noticed Commander Lombardi next to her.
"Not a thing, this is our next generation fighter. It's what we wanted you as a test pilot for. Apparently we were correct in our initial evaluations of you. The fighter is designed for you and you alone. It's advancements will only work for you, anyone can fly it to an extent, but only the one its designed for can fully operate it."
"What is it a bio-reader or something?" Her questioning look at the Commander.
"Something like that, your force of will will be a key in piloting this craft. Your going to fly on my wing today. Your job is to mimic everything I do as quick as you can. Nothing more than that."
Seeing the dubious look on the young woman's face, "You can do it, just trust yourself and your instincts. The engines were already responding to your thoughts. That's a good sign."
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