Travelling to a not too distant part of the city Aelly, Link and Captian Rico arrive and the Emperor's Palace Hotel.

THe building is constructed in the most elegant manner. Beautiful paintings adorn the large walls in the main entrace. Couches and chairs arranged in various spots for people to have their own little gatherrings as they wait for a room or transportation. Family reunions, corporate meetings, tired travellers all a part of the Hotel's abilities to accomodate.

Aelly looks tot he front desk and spots the escort she had dispatched earlier to arrange the room. He nods to her as she approaches.

The front desk attendant smiles broadly at her. Though the smile is just part of his job he tries to make it seem genuine.

"You're room is ready for you Miss Ssyn. The presidential suite has been prepared for you"

A gentle nod to the man. "Thank you very much."

She turns and gestures Link and Captain Rico to follow her as she heads for the turbo lifts.

They arrive at the suite and upon opening the door ther are welcomed by an immaculate view of the city. Fruits and refreshments await on the table.

"Please come in. Help yourselves to the refreshments and when you are ready we can continue our talks."

Feeling a bit hungry herself she grabs a small plate and tops it with a few fruits and cheeses and sits on one of the chairs.

((OOC: This thread ties in with Sorben Tarnus's posts, of approximately the same date, in My Enemy, My Ally in the "Jedi/Sith" forums, as well as with the thread Even Smugglers Get the Blues in the "CSWU" forums, again of approximately the same date, thank you.))

[ 11-08-2005 04:03 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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"Many thanks for the food."

With that she started eating.

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"You are most welcome. If you want more just let me know and I'll have more food brought up. I do what I can to look after those who will in turn look out for me. Whether it be through favors or services."

She ate a piece of fruit and looked to Rico to see if he was having anything or if he was just waiting to get to business.

[ 11-02-2005 09:05 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelly Ssyn ]

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"Maybe something with some meat on it if it isn't to much."

I can see that this company has alot going for it and I'll enjoy every minute of it.

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"Feel free to order what ever you wish. I like to take care of my employee's the best we can. Especially if I know they have skills that are useful."

She looked to Captain Rico to see what he was doing.

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“Well,” I started, sitting down on a chair. “Like I was saying back there, about my previous experience. It’s pretty extensive.” Yeah, and so was my life experience, but I didn’t say that.

“I’ve been piloting for a good many years, running risks where some others might not. I also was careful to keep a legit side, too, which really paid off on some big easy money here and there. In fact, the job I was doing here was a legit run, or so I thought. I got hired to deliver a load of warheads to the empire, right up into the bowels of an SSD. Seems the order manifest was a little off from the delivery papers I had, though, because according to my log I’d be pulling in sometime around 16 hours from now. The order on the ship, though, which I saw in a panic this morning, put me in the SSD right about 08-hundred… right about the time our little furry friend there was having a hairball about her ship burning up.”

Yeah, let ‘em chew on that for a minute.

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"So you were hired by the Empire, or by someone else to make the delivery?"

She got up but kept looking at Link and Rico as she grabbed a glass and filled it with ice followed by crystal clear water. She took a sip and headed back to her seat.

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She gave him a rather curious look.

"So how were yu going to get your cargo aboard the SSD? Would you tell them you were transporting warheads?"

She noticed how much Rico kept looking her over and she kinda liked that she had so much of his attention. Though that attention was for business purpose only, for now at least.

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I directed that last comment at the furball.

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"Do you need a specific kind of cargo or you can take anything? Also, where is this SSD stationed? Is it part of a blockade?"

If I can get things set up for Captatian Rico here to take a special cargo tot he SSD maybe I can get those transponder codes after all.

She glanced at Link momentarliy then back to Rico.

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This is what I get for assuming that everyone knows as much about slicing as I do.

"They wouldn't be dumb enough to leave the codes on every SD. Your only hope of the codes being on a SD would have to be the suppreme commander of the Imperial Forces flag ship, and even then the terminal would be heavly guarded and they would never let a ryn within 200 feet of it."

Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way, I don't need the master codes themselves just enough codes to make my own.

"Here's an idea, If you can download the data from enough trasponders I might be able to reverse enginere the codes, and the best part is that a SD should have enough transponder information stored in its loggs for me to work with."

[b](((OOC: Sorry about that, I hope this is a better reason then, as to what the Ubiquitoral Agency is its in the star wars guide to the universe and is reffered to in some books, I'll try to avoid things like this in the furture if it isnt a well known fact.)))[/b}

[ 11-05-2005 05:35 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Cel ]

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The officer in charge of the scan turned to the acting commander.

"There she is," he stated, zooming in on Sullust to show a large cruiser in geostationary orbit about it.

"This one is registered to... the organization Dark Star. Her call sign is Black Nebula."

The acting commander strode to his side, peered down his nose at the boards. He raised his head quickly.

"That's it," he stated simply, then nodded.

Once.

Immediately Sormontato ravened forward, roaring in upon Sullust with all the latent ferocity of one of the volcanoes which dotted it's surface.

A brief announcement squirted planetward to the Sullustan authorities, then the gravity well generators went into action, that the cruiser would not be able to depart from orbit, to flee into hyperspace.

Massive shields were raised. High energy scans leapt out, punching through the first-line shields the ship had raised as easily as a hot knife slides through butter.

Sormontato hovered over the Black Nebula like impending death, as remote links sprang online, reached out, sliced into the smaller ship's computers, and and begin ripping out all the information stored in its databanks.

The acting commander smiled coldly.

There were many slicers in the galaxy, as there were spies. It was to the credit of the Empire that they employed only the very best of the best...

Shields redoubled, more power sent to triply back up the gravity well generators, the enormous SSD calibrated her weapons, readied them, and trained them upon the cruiser, while within the data already gleaned from it began to be quickly and quite thoroughly analyzed.

[ 11-07-2005 01:27 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

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“So, anyway, you were saying something a job maybe?”

I didn’t actually remember if she had, but I thought it was a good time to start the dealing. After all, I still needed a way off this rock, and if I could make a little money along the way then that’s even better. Besides, this might lead me to the goons who tried to set me up as a living time bomb.

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Suddenly an emergency beacon sounded. It was the Black Nebula.

"Mistress an Imperial SSD has just arrived from hyperspace and it is currently sitting over us. It's defenses are activated. We've raised our shields as soon as we deteced their ship but we're out gunned head to head. We aren't sure of their intentions, but they seem to be getting into our databanks."

Her face remained calm as she was always thinking.

"Activate the EW systems and blind her. Have the mauraders flank the aft of the SSD with all defenses and weapons ready. Have them Target the engines of the SSD. Then I need you to send down a squad of fighters as well as Viraga to my location. Have the fighters act as an umbrella for Viraga. Also do what you can to prevent them from taking too much information, and find out what ship that is and who commands it."

She pauses for a moment, but only briefly.

"IF things start to get out of hand get yourselves out of there and I'll contact you when it's safe."

Looking back to Rico and Link. It would seem we have some unexpected company.

[ 11-07-2005 10:05 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelly Ssyn ]

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"Sir!" he called, returning his gaze to his console.

"The Nebula is sending out a fleet of Marauders; they seem to be going to our aft--"

He pulled back instinctively as a blinding flash erupted.

"They've used an electromagnetic pulse to try to overload our sensors, Sir! Coming back online, visual on screen, Sir--"

Now he looked up, as did every crew member on the massive bridge of the even more massive SSD. Ahead of them the view split, the left showing the cruiser from which tiny specks were being spit, the right showing their own aft section.

The acting commander wasn't in the least bit ruffled.

"They haven't the power to penetrate our shields, and with the gravity well generators in operation, they can't go anywhere either.

"Hold fire, but keep objective targeted. Block all communication frequencies but one standard, so they can be polite and contact us if they wish. Continue downloading and analyzing, but make damned sure our own firewalls are in place and backed up.

"And let me know when you have something."

Falling silent he crossed his arms, studying the the screen ahead while the bridge crew fell back to work again... until one raised his voice in warning again.

"Sir, there seems to be a ship heading planetward; wait, Sir, make that several..."

The acting commander strode to the ensign's side, stared at the blips on the screen, the little red flashing dots informing him that there was a lead ship with what looked like flanking--

"Fighters. They seem to be accompanying that lead ship."

His finger reached out to tap the screen.

"Track them," he said simply, then watched while his order was put in effect.

[ 11-08-2005 12:16 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

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"Mistress they aren't doing anything aside form retreiving files from our databanks."

"Delete any and all files linking Dark Star to Black Sun and quickly."

How did they know where we were and what gives them the right to invade my privacy? She thought to herself.

"Yes Mistress we are doing so as we speak. We have found that the SSD is the Sormontato. We are attempting to make communication with them to see why they are doing this. I didn't think the Empire invaded other ships databanks upon arrival into a system." answered the Nebula.

"They must have some kind of reason otherwise I will personally turn them in to their superiors, and don't think we don't have connections." she responded. then continued. "Don't force their hand. Keep yourselves positioned as I stated earlier, and keep me informed."

[ 11-08-2005 12:52 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aelly Ssyn ]

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"Bingo!" he breathed to himself as the data he had been slicing into suddenly quit saying things about Dark Star and began naming names and places and objectives for something far more ominous--

Black Sun.

"I have it, Sir!" he stated loudly, still manipulating his keyboard. More information began rolling in, folders holding hundreds of files...

...and then, abruptly, the data stream stopped. He cursed, his fingers flying like mad across the keys, the rat-a-tatting nearly drowning out the sound of booted footfalls as the acting commander approached and came to a halt by his side.

He turned angry eyes upward.

"They've jammed the data stream, Sir!" he snarled, angry that he wasn't able to complete his job.

A sharp hand fell upon his shoulder as the acting commander leaned forward, scrutinizing what they had managed to find.

"You've found enough, Son," he said, then straightened.

"Back these files up, now! I want triple redundancy; and send a copy with my private encryption code directly to Lt. General Sorben Tarnus on Relentless, his eyes only."

He turned his gaze to the screen, where the group of Marauders were buzzing about like angry hornets.

"We'll let the Lt. General make the next move."

"Aye, Sir," came the smart reply, and in moments the order had been carried out.

The acting commander smiled, for nothing and no one could stop that comm. There was no time to try to slice into the encrypted code, none whatsoever, and this was a code he changed every day.

He smiled, counting to himself the time it would take for that lightspeed message to get to Relentless, and for the response return to him. It wouldn't be long.

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"Yes?"

"Mistress we've managed to keep them from getting everything but They may have downloaded enough to incriminate us. They also just sent a coded messege. Possibly to their superiors. What should we do?"

Hmm... Well, we're obviously out gunned but lets see how this plays out anyways.

"Hail the Sormontato and ask for the commander. I wish to speak with him or her. Have the signal bounced down here to the hotel and to my room. Has Viraga and the fighters made it yet?"

"Yes Mistress the Imperials didn't even try to stop them. Viraga's systems seem to be in top performance. They have gone to the planet, where they are awaiting your order."

Well, at least we should have a way out of here should things get ugly in orbit.

"Very good. Redirect the communcation to my personal device if you are able to get the commander online. I'll be heading for my ship in the mean time."

She looked at Captain Rico and Link with fake smile.

"Shall we go"

[ 11-09-2005 09:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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Oh man, I hoped my suspicions didn’t turn out to be right, but I had a sudden feeling that they were pretty darn close. Unexpected company, my ass! She was under attack, and that wasn’t the kind of trouble I needed right now.

But then again, if I got a ship out of this…

Ah, what the hell. Life’s too short to worry about getting’ caught. Besides, I still had a couple of aces somewhere in my sleeves.

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He had barely settled down at his desk, his usual cup of tea before him, when his comm beeped for attention. With a sigh he responded, discovering the message was coming in from the bridge.

"Yes?" he asked flatly. But the neutral look upon his face spread out into a serious sort of smile when he heard what the acting commander was telling him.

Quickly he assimilated the information, assessed it, decided upon a course of action while they waited to hear from Tarnus. He hit his comm with the side of his hand.

"Who is in charge of Black Sun; did you get that information?"

There was an embarrassed sort of pause, before the acting commander replied.

"No Sir... but we have them incontrovertibly linked with that ship."

Ahem cocked his head to one side.

"And this vessel belongs to the Dark Star organization; have you discovered the CEO of that?"

This time the answer was immediate.

"Yes, Sir. A Falleen, by the name of Aelly Ssyn."

"Very good; I trust you sent this information to General Tarnus, along with the information gleaned from the databanks?"

The affirming reply came even faster than the last.

"Very well. You stated that a vessel departed planetward, accompanied by-- fighters?? Hmmm-- this certainly bodes no good."

He paused, debating to himself as to the best course of action.

"Notify Sullustan authorities to keep an eye out for them, and to be prepared for possible hostilities. Inform them that we are standing by, ready to assist if necessary.

"Meanwhile, don't let that lead vessel from your sight. Keep an eye on her, and please ask the port authorities to inform us as to who comes and goes into that ship. I want her tracked the moment she puts her nose back into atmosphere."

"Aye, General."

Ahem considered a moment longer.

"Has Black Nebula messaged us yet?"

There was another, lengthier pause.

"No Sir, we've yet to receive any message from Black Nebula."

Ahem frowned at that.

That's very odd. Why this stubborn silence?

"Hail her. Request that she remains in orbit, as well as that she resumes our file transfer. Let me know how they respond to this, if they do, or when Lt. General Tarnus replies.

"Make certain our own firewalls are on random rotation, and put more power into the shields, especially those around the gravity well projectors. Go to Yellow Alert, but make no outward hostile move until I deem it necessary.

"Are the orders clear?"

A quick affirmation snapped across the link.

"Good. This is General Ahem, out."

Sighing a bit, he reached for his cup, leaned back in his seat, took a careful sip of the by now cool liquid.

First Tattooine... and now Sullust.

It never rained but it poured...

"This is Sormontato, out."

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The ship commander stopped as the messege was sent. Waiting now to see what their response will be.

Meanwhile down on the planet...

"Captain Rico I will allow you to pilot one of the fighters unless you'd prefer to pilot a shuttle or ride with me?"she stated as they made their way through the hotel and then outside.

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"Ohh sith, this is extremely toxic fo..."

That was all she managed to get out before she fell to the ground convulsing uncontrolably, her breathing started to slow and she slowly slipped into unconciousness.
(((OOC: Cel is in a comma, please don't try to heal her until I get back, thanks)))

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So we could get as much information from you as we need before you jam the connection, or delete files? he thought to himself.

Let them play the innocent; it's obvious they are not.

Reaching forward he tapped in a return.

"Black Nebula, this is Sormontato. Our reply to you is the observation that if you have nothing to hide, you will resume the data transfer, immediately.

"Again, stand down from any aggressive action and remain in orbit.

"This is Sormontato, out."

Straightening, he then sent the message and his reply on to General Ahem, as well as a coded copy to the Relentless, in yet another heavily encrypted squirt.

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