The Longhorn and the Duster arrive at Tephra Waystation. Val's resources pay for docking bay closer to the concourse well served by repair droids. Aayla spends time working on the longhorn and with the droids help the ship is soon looking nearly as good as new, at least form outside, it's hull cleanly patched and it's gleaming frame finished with fetching fresh coat of paint. You could almost believe she was new.
Meeting up in a bar called the Drunk Cornelian, a functional metal tabled place with little atmosphere and cheap booze the two crews an Foreman Zorabos discuss the possible ways to help protect the mine. These include: Arm and/or Train the Ugnauts, Prepare defences on the Opal, Plan for the Tactics of True Empire, Hire Some Muscle, Hire Flyboys, Convince the Mining Amalgam To Send Aid.
Val suggests he should go with the Zorabos to lend his charm to the request for aid. Val and Aayla seems to favour an attack on the shuttle rather than a ground defence. An idea to detonate asteroids using mining supplies and create a minned corridor of approach is raised by Aayla.
Aayla connects the LH-0 into the stations central computer and LH-0 is able to sift through holonet broadcast data, unable to read the contents she finds no regular transmissions that look suspicious enough to be the expected spy. The spy likely has their own subspace transceiver or could even be using a ships. Signs or a possible suspicious energy reading that could be the tell tale signs of a private broadcast rig somewhere near the central concourse are identified in station monitoring logs however.
Jorus sets about finding out where to start. His investigation provides several possible Those working in docking crew/station control would have information on the coming and going of vessels, those working on the Mining Amalgam exchange are likely to know about anyone who trades goods there as well. Security around the docking bays is pretty lax and corridors away for the centre of the station are sparsely populated and poorly lit. Someone stealthy could make their way round to key docking bays. Someone working in maintenance would stand a good chance of being overlooked. The spy would need a way to get messages off the station. A comms device hooked into True Empire frequencies seems most likely. There are plenty of shady bolt holes to do business in. Someone plying the bars or even working as a bartender would be in a position to keep an ear to the ground.
Other options raised include talking to their Shistivanien contact again or as suggest by Lorne just hitting the bars and beating people up until the turn up the spy.
One thing the crew do notice when walking around the central concourse is new holoposters that say
Wanted
for questioning in connection with murder
Valdaron Vander-Dak'win <<holo of a familiar clawdite>>
Reward
$20,000
for information leading to capture
Contact the united shattered rift merchants company
Val makes sure to go undercover but the crew of the Duster are shore to see them as well and Val will need to come up with convincing story he doesn't want to trust them with the truth.
After the days events there are 13 Days left until the True Empire is due to return to the Opal.