(Star Wars d6) #16 - Leisure and the Lisani

Our "Heroes"

Ne'vets Aharo - an exotic animal broker, both legal and otherwise.  Looking for an easy job and an under-priced ship.
Evus - Twi'lek former mercenary, Ne'vets' armed muscle with a keen eye and a tendency to shoot first.
Tarrie - Human pilot "under contract" for the upcoming mission, whatever that is.  Brother of potential terrorist, rebel  Latorna Savvn.
Frokazza - Wookie co-pilot, mechanic, and unarmed muscle. Very distrustful.

Downtime!

After a disastrous, yet profitable
Meeting with Tarrie Prolek's sister, 
Latorna Savvn, our heroes have 
Four Days to relax in Botajef 
Until the starship Lisani picks them up
for a rendezvous with the famed 
Big Game Hunter himself,
Abel Norrum.
What could go wrong until then?

Despite being part of the assault on Customs House 7, and possibly implicated wanton, murderous spree of terrorism and robbery perpetrated by Tarrie's older sister, Latorna Savvn, staying low in the StarHostel only worked for the first day. The nightly news was full of painful reminders of the Y-Wing pilot's antic, plus other acts throughout the galaxy

• A group of renegade Bothans have fled the Outer Core. Helped spark a number of uprisings against the will of the people.
• Imperial Public Relations Officer Captain Ammern Gav refused to comment when why the capture of some renegades has been taking so long. "We are still confirming some recent news in a number of sectors. I believe good news is coming soon."
• In an official statement, the Imperial Government has declared all worlds in the Circapous system, including Mimban, have reverted to prewar travel classifications. With this proclamation, all emergency proclamations promulgated by the recent campaign, agitated by a well-known ring of renegade Bothans, are withdrawn and life in the sector will return to normal.

Evus picked up some computer programming with some techs he befriended, 

Frokazza enjoyed his time in Botajef, except for a few seconds in a cantina he walked into, where everyone immediately stared him down the second he walked in. An old Iktochi bartender named Sterling stood up from the table he was wiping down and came over to him. After clearing up that the Wookie just wanted a drink and no trouble, Sterling requested that he sit with him, for some small talk, and to avoid a brawl. His money was good there, let's have the first one free to smooth over the rough welcome.

It was odd, but Frokazza went with it. A few drinks in and the friendly nature of the barkeep, the Wookie realized he was in the presence of royalty.

Royalty in the sport of Gladiator Walkers!

"Sterling" Zohaar was a prominent Gladiator Walker pilot. Not one of the best, but one that survived long enough to retire comfortably. It wasn't his bar, but he knew enough folks that he did a little work and kept up with the pulse of the planet, the star system, and even some seedier parts of the galaxy.

Sterling didn't leave the planet anymore, thanks to Space Rheumatism, but the friendship forged with the Wookie would be beneficial if he ever returned to this crossroads of hyperspace lanes. For now, Frokazza's naive ways of the dirty city life were tempered by the wisdom of Sterling (GM: +1 pip on Streetwise).

"Sterling" Zohaar - ex-Gladiator Walker pilot, and current part-time bartender

Ne'vets would spend each night in minor gambling dens, honing his skills and desperately trying not to become indebted to some local crime boss.

Late in the evening of the 2nd day of waiting, with the others chilling in SpaceHostel, watching holoview, Tarrie kNe'vets returned.

"How'd ya do?" Tarrie inquired.

"Alright I guess," Ne'vets retorted, "I got some dude's eye...."

He unrolled a wire from his hand that stopped at a cybernetic eye.

"Neuro-Saav Hifold Sensory Package is what he called it, but yeah, I won some guy's eye."

He ended up down 700 credits total, but kept the eye and a random blaster splitter that expanded the beam, but reduced the effectiveness of blast.  They installed that on Tarrie's blaster rifle.

Day four, the group packed up and casually walked to Terminal L-15.  Avoiding the troubles of the inbound customs house, they walked right up to a shiny metallic space yacht, The Lisani.

Descending the ramp was a well-dressed gentleman holding a datapad.  He repeatedly looked the party, then referenced the datapad, until he was well-resigned to welcome them aboard.

"Mr Aharo?  I am Nigel of the Lisani Company.  Welcome aboard.  We are to transport you to Mr Abel Norrum."

Inside, the ship was as opulent as the outside, yet Ne'vets caught something odd about the vessel.

"Is this a converted Old Republic Troop Transport?"

Nigel raised his eyebrow. "You're well versed in Old Republic ships?  We've slowly improved upon it after picking it up in auction many moons ago...  The staff is at your beck and call.  Let me show you to your rooms, and we'll take off and get you to Mr Norrum.  Dinner will be served once we make the jump to hyperspace."

At dinner, fifteen servants beyond Nigel were at their beck and call.  Nigel sat down with them at the table, in his nondescript white jumpsuit.

Three of the staff were young human females, who seemed very attentive to their needs.  Perhaps the mirrors on the cabin ceilings weren't for an odd alien trait.

Ne'vets broke the silence, "Nigel, where exactly are we going?"

"It appears that you will be traveling to Alcazzar with Mr. Norrum.  We'll be arriving at the Wyaf Spaceport to arrange your transfer."

"Does Abel work for Lisani?"

"After the last safari, he sure does.  A man of his talents, with his own ship, could become quite rich working for Mr Lisani."

The women fawned over their every word, no matter how dull the stories were.

Tarrie had an enjoyable evening with one of the escorts, named Jazmin.  He got her whole backstory out of Space Community College and some time as a promo girl for Combat Sports.   She was quite vague as to the animals procured, as well as rumors that the Wookie in Abel's crew was quite small,  could speak Galactic Common, but yet he strangely refused to take off his goggles.

Evus had no need for such women and politely pressed Nigel for information regarding his data he had procured from the Imperial recruiter.  He received access to the database to review Lisani interests on Mandalore, Myrkrr, Phindar, and San, but could find none, nor any related Imperial interests.

"Mandalore is still under direct Imperial control, Phindar is a water world of little value, Myrkrr is unsettled, except for some smuggler hideouts, and San is well beyond the Outer Rim.  Why would you want to go out there."

Frokazza kept his stomach fed at the table, and by the end of the trip, was cooking in the kitchen with the executive chef. Walu.

"Ne'vets simply entrained the other two young ladies, Rubb-e and Tabi.  Two university grads with advanced degrees, the Lisani Corporation hired them as an entertainers and hostesses after a short career as morticians.  The only other info he could pull out of them were that Abel's men were very quiet."

The trip ended with an odd question to Ne'vets, "Why doesn't Abel take off his hat, like, ever?"   Ne'vets did not have an answer.

At the end of three days, the Lisani arrived at Wyaf Spaceport.  Nigel escorted them off the ship, Frokazza with a small box of snacks.

At the bottom of a ramp was an older fellow with faded military fatigues, with shoulder length blonde hair, and a safari bush hat.

Add a soft safari hat, and you have Abel Norrum

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!"

"Thanks Abel!"

"No, not you Ne'vets, you twit, I was saying hi to Evus.  You're just an ugly kriff.  All of you, give Abel a hug...."

GM Notes: After non-stop travel and action, it was okay for the guys to rest up in a safe location and watch a little holoview (TV?) The news stories covered were converted from the Traveler New Service article for Challenge #25. The best part is, they could perfectly be fitted into the the current timeline perfectly. The reference to Mimban, initially tied in to the Bothan menace was a nod to the fact that two years previous, the Mimban campaign was conducted against insurgents. It's only known for the excessive use of Swamp Troopers in combat... and the high levels of theft and corruption among its officer corps. Why else wouldn't you see those guys in any later movies in the timeline?

Next #17 - Finally Introducing Abel Norrum