Without my wife?! What universe are these creeps from...?!

But it was then that Shayla suddenly registered fully in the Force once more, and moments after that a little red sigil came alive on the navboard, indicating that someone was headed his way. He tensed a moment when he spotted a TIE through the viewport...

...then calmed when he realized it was Shayla. He frowned, wondering just what she had been doing in an Imperial TIE fighter...

...and at the fact that she had apparently been masking her presence in the Force all this time that he couldn't find her. But he pushed it to the back of his mind as he prepped the ship for their next destination:

Chandrilla. In the meantime, Shayla sent confirmation that she had docked safely in the warship.

"Better check that thing for homing devices," he said back through the comm.

A few minutes of silence. Then: "It's clear," Shayla replied. "And I'm coming up."

"Okay," Erik replied, closing the comm connection his hand hovering over the hyperspace sigil, the ship programmed for departure. In only about a minute Shayla appeared, clad in her usual black pilot's suit. Erik cocked a brow at her. "A TIE Fighter? I'd love to hear about all this, since I haven't been able to even sense you through the Force for the past nine hours."

Shayla shot him an apologetic look.

He acknowledged it, then turned to the navboard again. "Have a seat," he said, seemingly taking everything in stride. "We have a date to keep, and it's a good thing this baby can haul ronto," he continued, actually grinning as Shayla took up a spot nearby. Then he sobered ever the slightest. "You can tell me what happened while we travel."

That said, he reached for the navboard, reoriented the ship towards his departure vector, then at last hit the hyperspace sigil.

Destination: Chandrilla.

(((OCC: Follow Erik and Shayla to a thread to be named shortly. Thank you.)))

[ 03-04-2003 10:04 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Erik Kartan ]

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He looked at Jebbua who was trying to hack into the archives from the ship, but wasn't having any luck.

"Well I don't think this is going anywhere. Don't you?" Ruhatt said.

"I don't know. we could go to another planet with some good archives." Jebbua replied.

"Like where?"

"I don't know. Lets try to find someplace."

Ruhatt brought up the destination diplays while Jebbua went over and helped him find some place with some useful archives.

--------------------

"I can't find anything." I said.

we had been going around the gaxaly, while we were looking for a planet to go with some archives.

"Well I hate to interuppt you, but we need to land to refuel." Ruhatt said to me.

"Well, where is the nearest planet? I asked him.

"Kamino"

"a planet full of clones, great. just what we need."

Ruhatt direted the ship torwards Kamino.

"Just enough fuel to get there." Ruhatt said.
after we refuel then we will resume are search for some archives. I thought.
(((OOC: Follow Jebbua and Rahutt to a Civilization Stirs in the CSWU Forum. Thank you.)))

[ 03-07-2003 08:48 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jebbua Dahutt ]

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"What number is he facing?"

"Number 15. We've just added certain drugs into his bloodstream to prevent fatigue and increase his fortitude."

"Interesting. If Number 19 terminates Number 15, he will be more effective than a Jedi Master..."

Romanus was not asleep. It was another of his memories, randomly being revealed before his eyes. At first he didn't know what triggered it. But Romanus realized it was the humming sound emitted from the radio-silent terminal, combined with the blank blue screen that covered it.

He had been staring at it for half an hour...perhaps thats what triggered the memory.

It was bliss for a few minutes. He completely forgotten what he was waiting for. But now...

If that weasel's face doesn't pop up in the next few seconds...I swear I'll hunt him down and gut him myself.

--------------------

In the corner of his board, a small yellow light blinked. The lieutenant had been so enmeshed with traffic control that he hadn't the time to respond.

The Major frowned a little.

That's not attuned to receive ship transmission frequencies, he noted to himself as with a slight, "As you were," he now reached over the lieutenant's shoulder and flipped the switch.

A small screen began warming into life beneath it.

He straightened as the image of a scowling, hairless individual came into focus before him.

"You have reached Command Center, Imperial HQ, upon an unauthorized frequency." He paused, nodding to a couple of guards who were standing at the entrance to the CC; with a quick motion of one hand he signed the origin of the transmission and sent them on their way. Then he turned back to the scowling man, who only appeared to be scowling harder.

"Identify yourself."

[ 03-08-2003 08:17 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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"Name's Romanus. I've already wasted enough time being put on hold here, so I'll be quick..." the assassin squinted his eyes to catch the officer's rank. "...Major."

"One of your officers, a lieutenant of some sort of police faction in the Imperial Army I think, hired me to track down and eliminate a defector to the Empire. He gave me an access code for me to use when the job's done."

Romanus sat back, starting to relax. While he was talking, he had been studying the officer.

By the book guy, and very loyal. Could seem as a threat...

"Well, the target's been eliminated...so I'm trying to collect my fee. Unfortunately, your lieutenant seems to be absent now...and I'm thinking about adding a few more credits to my reward..."

--------------------

Since Admiral Actar's takeover there had been various and sundry such attempts to flamboozle lower-ranking officers into unwittingly misdirecting Imperial funds into the wrong hands. For the most part this practice had long been squelched; it was a good thing that he had taken this transmission instead of the lieutenant, however. The young officer was a touch harried by the pressure he was currently under, and just may have fallen for this feeble attempt on the part of some bum to obtain a free handout, just to get rid of him.

"We show no such records. It is highly suggested you do not attempt this again; your transmission frequency has been traced as a preventative measure.

"Command Center, Imperial Headquarters, out."

He turned away with a little sniff, but only after making a vow to himself to see about changing their access codes yet again.

[ 03-08-2003 08:57 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

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Romanus stopped just short of the switch. I'll get that money either through credits or blood...and since the Empire hasn't been opening up banks recently, I'd probably have to knock off a few heads. Though, that might be too much trouble for both sides...

Then he noticed that the officer's side of the channel wasn't switched off, and decided on one more desperate attempt...

Looks I'll have to extend the story a little bit more.

"The job was worth a pathetic 5,000 credits." Romanus said, loud enough to hopefully call back the Major's attention. "It was a simple job...but for your lieutenant, it was personal. The defector was a Devaronian Imperial officer, and was an assistant to my employer."

"Last year, he worked briefly with Imperial Intelligence, helping transfer coded information and such. The defector decided to make a little cash on the side and sold the data to Republic informants...at least thats what I've been told."

He waited a little while, still unsure if the Major, if at all anyone, was hearing him. Nonetheless, Romanus continued.

"Classified files, Major! No way some adjutant can get his hands on that and get away with it for so long. BOTH men were selling the data to enemy spies...it was just that I was hired by one to terminate their business relationship."

"I already executed one traitor, sir, but another one is still out there. Of course, he could be dead by now...one of your boys told me his ship was heading to Tattooine and they haven't heard from it since."

"But, if you still don't believe me, and think this is some trick by some lowly merc...I can just give you his name as proof. In return, for both that and the job with the Devaronian, you just gotta pay me half of that 5,000..."

I can make up the sums later...

"You can still ignore me, however, and write this off. But some of those files were still in the Devaronian's keeping...and I just happened to find them under his little drug stash."

[ 03-08-2003 10:56 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Romanus ]

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This all had to have come down from one of the higher ups, perhaps Lt. Gen. Tarnus; gods know he's been keeping a quiet eye out on some rather odd places as of late, Sullust wasn't it, that rumor had he had gone to?

And this channel is exceedingly unauthorized, I'll grant the man that. Yet he reached me....

"Very well," he said smoothly turning back to the open link and making the poor lieutenant nearly hit the deck in surprise. He reached over, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Two Imperial guards are heading to the source of this transmission. You will return to CC HQ with them, where we shall, ahh... investigate the veracity of your words in greater detail.

"Command Center, Imperial HQ, out."

Major Tybranis pulled back from the console, this time making certain the connection was closed. He then pivoted and departed for Lt. General Tarnus's ready room, there to report this next unexpected little turn of events.

But then again, perhaps not so unexpected....

--------------------

Romanus shut off the terminal and leaned back in his chair, awaiting the arrival of the guards.

Not too long, the door to his apartment slid open and two stormtroopers, wearing black armour instead of the usual white, stood there in the open-lit hallway.

"We're to escort you to Imperial HQ."

"Yeah I know." Romanus stood up, and stepped out of the darkness of his apartment. One of the troops held out a pair of handcuffs. "You're not serious, are you?"

"For our protection."

Romanus grunted, and yanked the cuffs from the man and hooked a ring onto one of his hands. The trooper did the second one.

The trip involved a short speeder ride from the hotel to a military docking port in which Romanus was to be escorted onto a shuttle. Still cuffed, the shuttle disembarked for their command ship...

Ah, so its in space their HQ is. he thought, looking outside a port window. Romanus noted that he wasn't placed in any type of cell enhanced to prevent use of the Force.

They don't know I'm a Jedi. At least, not until I get on the ship...

After they docked with the command ship, five minutes were spent in stripping Romanus of his weapons until the meeting was done, and then he was escorted to an interrogation room usually meant for on-board prisoners.

Along the way, Romanus sensed the presence of the Reborn Jedi on the ship...

--------------------

...which suddenly slid open, revealing the two guards and the restrained Romanus.

Tybranis merely nodded toward a seat, indicating that the guards release the restraints, even as he probed into the man's mind.

Good... he chuckled deeply to himself, turning his head slightly and scratching his nose. Behind him Tarnus merely shifted.

They have misled this one well, that he believes himself aboard one of our ships....

He then cleared his throat, capturing Romanus's attention by the slight sound. At either side of the man and slightly back, just out of arm's reach, the two guards stiffened to attention, hands casually laid upon their blasters.

"And now, my fine fellow," Tybranis purred silkenly. "If you would be so kind as to disclose the name of this... second traitor, we shall see about reimbursing the small fee you are suggesting we owe you. And perhaps... just perhaps now, mind you; if this information is of particular interest, we may see about tossing in a bonus...."

He fell silent with that, snorting to himself.

A traitor among the Reborn, especially after that induced earthquake fiasco in the wake of which Admiral Actar so ruthlessly cleaned house---?

Impossible... but then, only a fool would blindly adhere to the apparent impossibility of unfolding events.

Behind him Tarnus shifted his head a millimeter or so toward Romanus, waiting to hear what he had to say...

...and more importantly, via the incredible Reborn abilities of Major Tybranis, if not his thoughts, to at least feel the emotions being evoked within the man by this little confrontation.

[ 03-11-2003 01:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

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"Lieutenant First-Class Auldron. Didn't tell me his first name, nor the name of his ship, but I know he contacted me in his personal quarters. I'm sure it won't be that hard to..." It was here that he finally felt the Major probing his mind...not to read his thoughts, but his emotions to the situation. Romanus thought about blocking him out, but quickly dispersed the thought. "...find him on one of your ships."

Heh, don't want to scare him off. Though, that is unusually strong for a Reborn and he managed to hide it well...wonder how many troops have the same ability?

The question left Romanus's trail of thinking as he noticed the armoured figure glancing at him.

Mandalorian armour...with an Imperial rank insignia. This must be General Tarnus that Force-user was thinking about...

Romanus leaned back in the seat, and returned his attention to the Major. "If your still interested, I can tell you the location of the smuggled data. Provided it helps my 'bonus' out a bit..."

--------------------

Hyperspace...

Jasyn was in no mood for humor, to say the very least. Soaked through and through, hands still bound behind his back, he managed somehow-or-other to get to his feet, at length finally catching his breath. Then he eyed Loban Kenobi measuringly.

Well now, this is a strange turn of events, he thought smugly, considering the young man's laughing form.

Something about that laughter was extrememly disturbing...

...but then, maybe Jasyn was just keyed up already because he had enough of a clue from Cartina's last words before she'd thought it'd be fun to try to drown him in the bathroom to know she'd gotten some information regarding Galen from him.

Probably via whatever drug she knocked me out with, he figured. But at the moment, that isn't what matters. What matters is that, the last time you saw Loban, he was WITH Galen, and now...?

No bounty hunter, no Galen. Baaaad combination...

"Where the hell did that bounty hunter go?!" Jasyn finally managed, glaring laser bolts into a pair of electric blue eyes. "She's after Galen, and got information from me with some sort of drug."

His brown eyes were immeasurably serious...

...and now it had finally dawned on him the Raptor was again in motion, and in hyperspace, no less.

"Just where are we going, and dammit, where is Galen, considering the last time I saw her she was with YOU?! We've gotta warn her before that hunter gets to her! And would you mind getting these binders off me, or do I have to do it myself?"

[ 03-13-2003 10:56 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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A brief flurry of intraship communications exploded through the destroyer until quieting down as Commander Sarantogo marched onto the bridge and approached the communications center. He leaned over the lieutenant who had received that incoming transmission, nodding briefly to him as he flipped open the tranceiver.

"Kamino vessel, this is Commander Sarantogo of ISSD Catalytic, speaking for Imperial fleets Alpha and Omega. I am sorry, but your identity does not compute with our current data of Kamino; please state again your identification and classification codes thereof--"

With that he cut the switch, striking another to send the message even as he now reached forward to another private channel, there to type in a highly coded and unhackable message concerning this new situation now facing his ship, which he sent along a private link directly into Lt. General Tarnus's personal receiver....

Personal ready room, Command Center, Imperial Headquarters....

Major Tybranis sniffed lightly, staring Romanus straight in the eye. He was about to speak when behind him Tarnus jerked a little, lifting an arm and keying rapidly upon a communications link there. The Mandalorian helmet hid the way his eyes narrowed and blackened as he read that transmission; with rapid movements of one hand he typed a reply and sent it on its way. Then he closed the connection and with a crossing of his arms leaned back once again against the wall. His helmet dipped once toward Major Tybranis.

The Major smiled like a fox. He leaned over the table toward Romanus, lacing his fingers together on the table.

"If you would be so gracious then, good sir, as to provide us with this information, the Empire is more than happy to comply with your request for reimbursement. Should what you have to say please me, I am authorized to offer you, ohh---" He trailed off, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling before letting them fall back directly into Romanus's own pair once again.

"No more than twenty thousand credits. You may take that or leave it, it is no offer but a verbal promissory note, if you will."

With that he fell silent, channeling into Tarnus the insidious emotional signals coming his way from where Romanus sat in apparently polite anticipation. Behind him the lieutenant general merely shifted, all too comfortable with playing the waiting game himself.

--------------------

Kamino....

My frown deepened as I mulled further.

Strange isn't it, that a world so removed from the galaxy in general, save for the few times people throughout history had approached it for one cloning need or another, would now be pressing its existence into the very maw of the dragon by this self-proclaimed emissary....

And the fact that I had returned to Coruscant not too long ago, with a daughter whose tiny form I had just retrieved from said formerly-removed world--?

Now, that was beyond mere happenstance, in my book.

Still waiting for a response of any kind from the tight-lipped Romanus, I raised my gauntlet and opened a private channel to Lt. Edgar.

"Take Darra," I typed succinctly. "And disappear. You will find funds in the ship... and you know where to find the latter. I will be assigning some Reborn as personal guards to you both; they too will be waiting for you at the ship.

"I will contact you when it is safe for her to return... and I hold you personally responsible for her continued safety.

"Lt. General Tarnus, out."

I smoothly lowered my gauntleted arm then, and returned my attention to the still-quiet man in the chair in front of us.

Is he going to make up his mind, or are we going to have to just send him on his way....

--------------------

That'll pay the rent for years...

"Hell, thats more than what I make already.." he said aloud. He then reminded himself that it was still not an offer...more like a possibility.

Deciding not to delay any further, Romanus cleared his throat to speak. "The data's back on Sullust, in the city of Piriingisi. Its underneath a broken floor panel in an inn called the Azure Planetoid, Room 14. No one else knows where it is."

Not yet finished, Romanus placed his hands on top of the table. "I also have another request. Business is hard to find these days with you guys policing the galaxy and such. But, there still lots of work to be done in the systems and especially in the Outer Rim. I was hoping the Empire could hire me to help out in these cases."

Romanus waited, letting the words sink in before he continued. "I may not seem like much, but I'll take jobs for cheaper prices than an expensive bounty hunter would. Plus, I can always guarantee a successful termination..."

--------------------

"Very good, Romanus," he finally replied with a nod. "You will find your initial fee of five thousand deposited in an Imperial account in your name. Our central supply is at your command; garb yourself as you see fit, and terminate the lieutenant who seems to have forgotten where his loyalties lie. Then retrieve this data of which you speak, and bring it here to us.

"Upon your completion of this contract, the remaining fifteen thousand will likewise be deposited in your account. And then we shall speak about... further requests we may have of you."

He rose to his feet, saying no more but merely nodded his dismissal. Then he sank back, waiting until the guards had escorted Romanus from the ready room before he turned and cast a thoughtful look upon Lt. General Tarnus.

The enigmatic Mandalorian helmet tipped toward him. He nodded in return, then turned back to the console imbedded in the table in front of him. Quickly he opened a com-link with the Kaminoan vessel.

"And now, er... Lord Elnas... there is something of mutual interest of which you would like to speak, I believe? A shuttle is en route to you now to bring you here that we might discuss matters together more fully."

And more privately, the look in his dark eyes finished as he blinked twice, then cut the transmission. He turned back to Tarnus and smiled, knowing that smile was being returned even though he couldn't actually see the expression on the general's face.

[ 03-14-2003 04:42 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

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"I'd like my weapons back." he asked, staring ahead at the lift. "And I need a ship to get to Tattooine and Sullust."

One of the stormtroopers shifted his helmet slightly to respond. "Your weapons will be returned to you in the hangar. We'll find a shuttle crew to take you to Tattooine, then to Sullust."

"Right," Romanus responded, approaching close enough to the lift to have the doors slide open automatically. "And let's make it quick. I'm itchin' to get these cuffs off..."

((OOC: Follow Romanus to 'Shattered Green' in the CSWU forum))

[ 03-16-2003 01:39 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Romanus ]

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"Keep an eye on that vessel," I told him with a nod of my head. "I'm not quite comfortable with the idea of this Lord Elnas; Kaminoan government doesn't function in that manner."

But that of the Sith does.

Major Tybranis saluted and departed for CC. As for myself, I merely regained the chair he had been sitting in, leaning back just a bit and spreading my hands along the gleaming tabletop in front of me. I had just finished settling myself in this manner when the doors whooshed open and the newcomer strode in.

I waved away all but two of the guards accompanying him. The majority saluted and whirled as a unit, departing for the corridor. The door slid shut, while the last two took up invisible positions on either side of it.

Now I waved toward this Lord Elnas, indicated he take the seat Romanus had so recently vacated.

"Please," I motioned with a gloved hand. After letting some time pass by in which I simply studied every nuance of his body language, I leaned forward, my hands lacing together.

"There is something you claim to be of mutual interest of which you wish to speak?" I opened.

"You've got my attention."

--------------------

I looked out where we had just come out of hyperspace and waited for Dash.

"Dash hurry up before the traffic control calls us." I said.What is taking him so long. I hope he hurrys. I thought.

[ 03-17-2003 05:38 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jebbua Dahutt ]

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--------------------

I raced up to the cockpit as soon as I received the mental massage from Master JEBBUA.

"Master, it doesn't look like we are going to get through! We will have to try something else!"

"Every one, make good use of the SMUGGLING compartments in the FLOOR of the ship, I'm gonna try to get us through!"

I turned on the COM-system. "This is the SHIMMERING SCIMITAR, I have no affiliation to any faction. I am simply trying to make contact with an old friend on the surface. Please allow me passage through the blockade. You can even escort me to the co-ordianted if you wish..."

I clicked off the COM, and waited for an answer...

--------------------

Still no reply...

I turned my COMM back on, "If you check the signature on the ship in my Hangar, you should find an Imperial serial #. I had to get a new ship, after my crash. That ship no longer functions!"

--------------------

I looked at the Jawa who was next to me.

"So... Do you get smuggled often?" I asked him.

Although I hated to admit it, It looked as we weren't going to be able to get in unless a mircle happened.

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