Session 33

The defenders stand true in the face of the Imperial advance. Starships clash above the Opal in a deadly dogfight. Nurod Zengoshi is saved by Aaylas's close support in the Longhorn at the last moment. Kel Markens proves to be a dangerous foe but the freighter crews stand against him. The freighters make an attack run on the Gozanti Cruiser destroying it. Nurod survives another brutal pass by Kel Marken's TIE Interceptor, by the skin of his teeth. The Longhorn blows apart one of the Charnel squadron TIE interceptors.

The Interceptors are out classed and without support. They make one final pass, Kel and his wingmen destroy Nurod Zengoshi's D-Wing with blast of green laser fire. Aayla breaks radio silence making her self known to Kel who recognises her as the one remaining suvivor of Hellraiser squadron. Kel and his two surviving wingmen fall back. The day is won. The crews are heroes to the Urgnaught miners.

 Epilogue Rolls:

Val: Returns with the Udalam Eye-wa and Captain Marneg to Taan. Udalam tearfully reunited with her mother and the Longhorn crew get some down time and rest. The crew of the Longhorn agree to tell the Captain Marneg how to reach Alukalaria

Aayla: Whilst the Longhorn is down at Tann Aayla clears her head by finishing the modifications on the longhorn installing hidden smuggling compartments. 

Lorne: TBC.

Jorus: Works with Aayla on the modifications on the Longhorn.

 Significant Milestone awarded.

Session 32

The Longhorn returns to the Opal. Over the next few days they prepare for the return of the Empire, Aayla uses the M27 mining droid and explosive charges to lay a trap that can be detonated as the TIEs and shuttle approach the Opal. Lorne, Val, Aayla and Jorus all do there bit to get the Ugnauts ready to defend the Opal. Lorne runs tough Maruder style training drills, Aayla helps them prepare jury rigged defences using mining equipment and tractor beams. Jorus prepares a medical bay, a repurposed medical droid and gets medical info on the Ugnauts to better treat them should they be injured in the fit, and to get them back into the fight as soon as possible.

 The Lavish Rouncey arrives and the three crews get to know each other.

 The day of the Empire's expected attack comes, the three freighters take to space and set and ambush, powering down their systems and maintain radio silence, hugging asteroids to  get the drop on the Empire. The Duster and the Longhorn form one wing with Tasha Jorrier, Nurod Zengoshi and the Lavish Rouncey as the second wing, forming a pincer movement to strike the enemy ships when they enter the kill box. The crews waits nervously, ships floating hidden in the asteroid field, flanking the concealed explosives.

 Sure enough the Empire return, a Zeta class shuttle with crimson edged wings escorted by four TIE Vigilantes vector towards the Opal. They fly into the trap and Aayla eagerly trips it.

 There is a massive detonation, six asteroids blasted apart, three TIEs destroyed, one by his wingman crashing into him sending his fellow pilot spinning into an asteroid and to his death. The Longhorn blasts the Zeta shuttle and the one remaining TIE pumps power to it's engines and breaks to escape, Jorus snags it with the Longhorns tractor beam, a few laser blasts later and it's scrap, it's hexagonal wing panels spinning off into the night.  

 The ambush is quick and brutal and it's unlikely the Imperial Pilots even got off a distress call.

 A huge cloud of dust caused by the detonated asteroids hangs over the opal, imperial wreckage and asteroid chunks floating within.

 Inspired by Val the crew of the Longhorn set down on the Opal with the two other freighter crews and the  celebrate braking out brandy from the on board bar, many hours of celebration follow, there are Ugnaut drinking games, cards and music and Kolduuck once again takes to the dance floor.

 During the celebrations Lorne returns to the ship to get some supplies and sees a red light flashing in the cockpit. Examining closer he sees five ships on the sensors heading for the Opal. He gets the word out via the Longhorns External address system.

 The three freighters prep to lift off. The Longhorn sends Tasha Jorrier through the dust cloud to identify the incoming ships. She reports back that she sees a blood red marked Gozanti cruiser, four TIE inceptors, one of which is painted completely blood red. Tasha is spotted before she can withdraw and a bust of laser fire is heard over the commlink, then a horrible screen. Nurod broadcasts messages trying to raise her, there is no response. 

 The three freighters rise up from the Opal to meet the incoming Imperial forces. The Gozanti and the TIE Interceptors emerge from the asteroid dust. Over the comms Ayala hears a terrifyingly  familiar "This is Commander Kel Markens of the True Empire, Identify yourself or be destroyed!"

Session 31

Lorne and Jorus dispose of the body of Oberon Faleen dumping the cargo crate out of one of the way stations  airlocks. 

 Lorne and Aayla bond over Caff and hyper drive repairs. Aayla tells Lorne that she has lost friends she has tried running which is how she ended up in the Rift, and now her nightmare is here too, Lorne asks what she wants to do about it and says he will be there what ever she decides.

 Jorus leaves the PTSD suffering Twi'lek alone judging it too soon to interfere.

Jorus prepares for the meeting with the Mining Amalgam by researching their contracts and methods.

Val, Jorus and Zorobos Met with Incumbent Bleys Slemur at the Mining Amalgam Exchange, Val takes the lead, playing the part of  rich playboy doo-gooder to a tea. Backed by Jorus playing the part of a para legal the two negotiate for an M27 Mining droids and enough seismic charges to fracture open six asteroids. They plan to put these two mining the approach to the opal.

 Val and Jorus are accosted by a the Shistavanian Kraaa Zet. He blocks in them both in an alley but Val is the trusting type and goes along with it. Explaining that he wasn't paid for the job Val compensating from his own pocket, paying what Kraaa asks for but what Jorus is certain is far too many credits. Kraaa can't believe his luck. He says to Val to look him up next time he wants work done.

 Having returned to Silbar Malogaans with Aayla Val takes on the appearance of Oberon Faleen and contacts his imperial handler. Val informs Kel Markens that the Duster will leave on schedule to make the two week pickup. 

 "We have received a report that their was another freighter at the Opal?". Val denies all knowledge. "Disappointing Agent Onyx. I expected you to know more. Find out about this other freighter. Do not fail me." Kel Marken's abruptly signs off.

Session 30

Recognising the voice of the Slaughterer of Hell Raiser squadron, Kel Markens, Aayla loses it, stumbling away from the subspace transceiver and  sitting down, almost collapsing onto the low marble table, she knocks of a decorative ornament which shatters when it rolls off the table onto the floor. Lorne is concerned and shocked, they are both distracted and do not hear Sibar Malogaan come up the stairs and to the threshold of the lounge with a blaster pistol raised "Who are you?" he asks in a scarred voice.

 Lorne snatches the pistol from the aged Bothan and waving the blaster signals for Sibar to move into the room. Aayla recovered from her fugue slams Sibar against the cushioned wall and begins to crush his throat, she hisses at him to explain, Lorne pulls her off and Sibar slides down the wall into a crumpled heap clutching at his brusied throat. Aayla paces over to the subspace transceiver a stabs at button to play back the incriminating message. Sibar seems surprised, Aayla demands an explanation.  The pair question Sibar. Aayla looks at the holotransmission records in more detail, finding most messages are sent in the early or mid evening. He finds some that are to Sibar's friends, family and business associate but finds others sent every 3 or 4 weeks sometime after local midnight that are to the True Empire. The pair press Sibar on this daming evidence, and a worried look of fear and realisation spreads across his face. He names Oberon Faeleen as the culprit, according to Sibar his friend comes around to discuss business and they both drink wine and spirits and Faeleen often passes out, Oberon must be sending the messages.

 Aayla & Lorne call Val and Jorus over a commlink. Aayla relays a description of Oberon to Val and he confirms it as the same person they met earlier in the day. They are currently looking for leads in a night  club with twilek dancers and flashing disco lights. The spy Oberon and who seems to have crashed and burned chatting up a Twi'lek. They decide to capture him and take him to Malogaan's apartment so the two can be questioned together. As Oberon makes his way through a darkened area of the bar Val districts Oberon pretending to be interested in his offers from earlier. Having mixed the correct chemical concoction Jorus sneaks up on Oberon and injects him with a cocktail of drugs that makes him seem very drunk. The pair carry their new drunk friend out of the club and take him to Malogaans.

 The drunk Oberon is deposited on a cushioned cream sofa and his arms restrained by Aayla. Jorus searches him and removes a knotched vibro knife and a hold out blaster and puts it on the marble table in the middle of the apartment.

  Sibar tries to engage Jorus and Val, explaining he had nothing to do with this. Val questions him about his relationship with Oberon trying to find out if Oberon infiltrated his life. Sibar says he came into his shop, the two became firm friends and they have been meeting up and discussing business deals ever since.

 Val manages to Calm Sibar and allows him to get a drink from another hidden compartment that contains a drinks cabinet. Jorus is more concerned and intercedes, checking the cabinet for hidden weapons, there are dozens of liquids, decanters, wine, he considers the risk low and lets a shaky Sibar poor a glass of Sulustan Brandy and sit on one of his cushioned seats near the marble table.   

 Aayla secretly installs a relay that will cause the sub space transceiver to rebroadcast any messages the terminal receives (including all of Sibar Malogaan's inbound personal and business calls to the Holotransmitter on the Longhorn. 

 Jorus sets about sobering Oberon up for questioning and puts together a stimulant dosage to sharpen him up, the then compliments this with a cocktail of drugs that make Oberon very suggestable and talkative. 

 The crew question Oberon, they tell him that they are not New Republic or RiftCo but do gooders, The those are the worst says a smirking Oberon. Aayla does not think Oberon is an ISB agent or specially trained imperial intelligence operative, he is likely a sympathetic local recruited by the Empire. Oberon unable to resist the drugs spills the beans. The crew learn that Oberon really doesn’t like non-human scum and has been motivated to support the Empire for money and to put the non-human scum back in their place. He finds great glee in using Sibar's transmitter knowing the Bothan reputation for spying and setting the non-human up should the transmission be discovered, He says that he sends a transmission every 3 or 4 weeks. He has recently been keeping a specific eye on the Duster as the True Empire is particularly interested in Ardanium but he is not sure why they want it. Like the crew he suspected they want it for some kind of project.    

 Sibar is shocked by the revelations about a man he considered his friend, disguised by the betrayal, his attitude to non-humans and the suffering of his people experienced under the empire, he is moved to act and lunges for the hold-out blaster on the table. He is not quick enough to grab it and it is snatched away. He says that if they are not brave enough give him the blaster so he can end Oberon and end the harm he has done.

Lorne takes the afront to his bravery directly and slits Oberon's throat with his shardglass spear spilling blood onto the cream cushioned seating.

 Sibar, tells them to take the body downstairs and place it in a cargo crate he has.

Sibar summons a cleaning droid which sets about cleaning up the mess.

Lorne cuts off Oberon's head to fit the body into the cargo container. The container is sealed.

Val points out that they will need to open it up again to get Oberon's clothes.

 Val tells Sibar they will be back to use the transmitter at first he will not accept this but after some convincing he says that if they enter the shop he will leave so they can do what they must, after that he does not want to see them ever again.

 The crew with cargo box in hand leave Sibar Malogaans Mineral Trading and head out into the low lit night-cycle corridors of Tephra Way Station.

Session 29

With the crew together for breakfast in the Longhorn Lorne asks Val about the wanted posters around the station. Although Val doesn't share his story it's clear the rest of the crew all have their own troubled pasts. Lorne encourages Val to share more, he his perhaps a little disappointed when Val fails to confirm that he has been on murderous rampage through RiftCo. Later Val also has to calm the concerns of Marneg Shenur the Selkath captain of the Duster and his crew. 

 Aayla constructs a signal tracker and uses it to locate the signature she found in the central station sensors. It leads her to Malogaan Mineral Trading, the signal seems to be coming from the accommodation above the trading post.

 Val and Lorne enter the trading post and Val posing as a property dealer confirms there is living space above the store. The store owner is a old Bothan,  the store looks fairly exclusive and the counter he is behind is protected by a mesh grill. Goods it seems are passed through a hatch/dumbwaiter like device to the side of the counter. There is also a door which is somewhat concealed by the shops design. Unable to reach the Bothan the pair make their excuses and leave. The Bothan seems none to happy to see a Maruder in his shop anyway. 

 Val and Jorus hit the bars, looking for possible pilots to help them in the coming days. They finds some promising leads. In preparation for the defence of the Opal, over the next 3 days on the station they will hire two pilots, ex-local rebels who have a grudge against the empire and fly escort fighters for mineral transports.  

 Lorne spends the day watching the shop front. During his stake out he notes several locals giving him disgusted looks. Used to this kind of treatment he suspects a group of locals are watching him and mean him harm, he counts at least six distinct members of the group.

 In the bars and drinking holes Val and Jorus are approached by Oberon Faeleen, he approaches with a broad smile and a drink for each of them. He positions him self as well connected middle man and starts asking how he can help their business, pegging Val for an investor. Val turns the conversational tables on Oberon and gives him little information, he learns that although Oberon claims to know all the real movers and shakers he's light on names and details, and he also picks up on his dislike of non-humans when two Ithorian's sit down near their table. Oberon leaves empty handed. Val picks up on brewing anti Marauder sentiment and comlinks Lorne to warn him. He's aware.

 When the night cycle comes and the central concourse is more concerned with entertainment and less with trading Lorne and Aayla, break into the living space using Val's loaned grapple Lorne and Lorne's skills to enter through and upstairs window.

 Inside they find an apartment fitted out in luxury style, cushioned surfaces, floor level lighting, a low marble table, gemstones and rare minerals in presentation cases. They determine that past the corridor of six doors (three on either side, likely sleeping quarters (one might be a lift) is a set of stairs down to food preparation area and maybe other rooms on the ground floor. From the sounds, The Bothan must be down stairs and from the noise is likely preparing food.   

 Searching the lounge area they find a panel behind which is a private subspace transceiver, the high end equipment is built into the concealed unit. Aayla is able to access the a recording of a transmission that would have taken place when the duster was last on the station. There is no security on the transceiver. Coalescing from blue static a holo of an Imperial Pilot appears, his armour is painted red. The figure in the holo says "Operative Onxy….. That is good news….. , excellent, good work Onyx." then the recording ends.

Session 28

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.