(Star Wars d6) #104 - Flashback - Life Day Special - Shadows of Yavin IV, Part 1

Sitting on the pleasure planet Zeltros, two old friends continued to commiserate over neon-green drinks in a tropical theme poolside bar. Ne'vets Aharo, exotic animal broker, and Abel Norrum, big game hunter, were trusted colleagues, trusted enought to get themselves faced while celebrating recent professional successes.    Drenched in credits, Abel prodded Ne'vets to fill in gaps in their histories.  

"So you got out of Bespin intact, your rental ship, the Oh-Bah-Die,  in tatters, and still not enough credits to get her anywhere legit?"

Nevets:  "Yep, we were pretty much screwed, but Tarrie, my pilot, promised us some time to lay low and get free repairs if they could visit her sister on some moon around Yavin.  He had me at "free" so I couldn't argue with that plan. 

I mean, I regretted a two day trip with four of us in a craft meant for one, but is was Frokazza the Wookie who made the refresher off limits on day two."

As Tarrie jumped into the system, he heard a voice immediately kick on  over the comm"Security Code Zulu Alpha, please provide security code, unidentified ship.  We will fire for lack of compliance."

Tarrie:  "We are looking for Latorna, if you can get her on the comms, that would be great!"

"What the kriff???  Standby..."

A few minutes later, "Maintain course, follow coordinates .  Do NOT deviate..."

The rest of the explorers were concerned.  Outside of the ancient ruins jutting out of the jungle, there was nothing resembling even the smallest amount of civilization.....

A few minutes later, the comms came alive again, perhaps a bit early:

"Vanya, why did you call me hear?  Who?  What?  What the kriff?  This is Latorna.  Identify yourselves or we will immediately fire!"

Tarrie:  "You do not need to start firing, sister.  It is I, Tarrie..."

Latorna: "Hello Tarrie, what trouble are you in now?..

Tarrie filled in the details, and Latorna sighed heavily and provided coordinates, "We'll meet you there, Tarrie.  You owe me and we're going to collect immediately.  

Tarrie guides the Oh-Bah-Die to the destination,  an exposed stone courtyard, sticking out like sore thumb from the jungle. 

Ne'vets: This is your shin-dig, Tarrie, lead the ways.  

As they disembarked, the crew realized they might be the only sentient lifeforms in the area, that is, until the knowing high-pitched whir of some speeder bikes.  The five bikes come to a sudden stop on the edge of the jungle, four humans and a Sullustran.  

The last rider removed their helmet, revealing a tall woman with the remnants of face camo.  

Latorna Savvn

She immediately walks up to Tarrie and punches him on the shoulder.  

"Hopefully nobody followed you here.... Is that a rental code on that tiny ship? ..... Kriff....  Tarrie, what did you get yourself into."

"Latorna, we're legit, I'm under contract...."

There was an in-depth discussion with Latorna and  Ne'vets, Tarrie and Frokazza interjecting at the wrong times.  Latorna was even more curt with the crew than she was barking orders to the techs trying to begin repairs on the ship.  She stepped back, incredulous to the questionable activities of the crew, Tarrie choice of life partners (the Wookie), and possible Imperial ties.  She walked over to Evus, the Twi'lek scout and servant, minding his own business off the to the side.  She stared through Evus' soul, but the Twi'lek only flashed a smile. 

Latorna, taken aback:  Hi....

Hi!  I'm Evus!

Evus Monval

Her head tilted: What do you do around here, Evus?

Whatever Ne'vets needs....

She tried to intimidate him.  Evus, what does this thing haul?

"Animals... lots and lots of animals, usually above board transactions."

Latorna smiled, admitted to their big secret, and presented her offer... to cover all the repairs.

She admitted that this was the early recon mission to establish a clandestine base for the rebellion against the Galactic Empire.  The ancient structures offered great protection, and the jungle canopy hid anything else too big.  

Many klicks away was a large courtyard or promenade, large enough to land sizable supply vessels.  However there was an infestation of large feral lifeforms.  She offered everyone a speeder bike to travel to the main camp and offer more details.  

Following Latorna, the party gingerly meandered through the jungle.  Then, everyone heard a large explosion... and everyone noticed Evus was missing, and the jungle was exploding.

Evus was found on the ground, away from the explosion.  Latorna pulled up next to him and offered her hand.  Evus accepted and quickly he was lifted onto the back of her speeder, holding onto her mid-section for dear life. 

They finally arrived at the main base, a collection of tents, tarps, and netting, some sensitive equipment had already found its way into a ziggurat. 

Latorna fully explained that there had been numerous engagements with this tall, lean mammalian bipeds, and the Rebel Commander Maren wanted them removed without and reduction in manpower.  Killing, luring, capturing, even selling them were all acceptable results, so long as the rebels were no longer attacked at that location.   One shot with a blaster rifle was usually enough to scare them off.  

The rebels had managed to kill a few around the site, but they had not been able to capture any of them alive... yet.  

Latorna procured two additional speeder bikes.  She offered one to Evus, but he much preferred to ride  behind her.  Latorna did not protest. 

A Mon Calamari arrived in the area, in a lab coat.  

Latorna:  This is Dr Emory Talen, our head biologist of the Rebellion.  She's coming as an advisor to ensure we're not "impacting the delicate ecosystem of this moon." 

Ne'vets:  Fair enough...

As they prepped to delve deeper into the jungle, Latorna dealt out rations, and a gift for Tarrie.  Handing him a package in plain brown paper, tied together with a string.    Tarrie opened it up and was hit with a wall of the color mustard.  Latorna had found a cable-knit sweater vest and it made her think of her brother.  

Tarrie and his latest gift

One prepared, they travelled out to the future sit of a landing pad.  The two bodies were still on the edge of this.  The bodies were lean and long, nearly two meters, with rodent features and wearing some odd jewelry on their forearms. 

Ne'vets was aghast, "These aren't animals, they're primitive Selonians! 

Everyone was confused, but many were shocked into reality, as very alive Selonian jumped out of cover and attacked Tarrie! 

A poor recreation....

The Selonian failed to bite or claw the smuggler, rather landing on him, cross body, pinning him to the ground.   Its claws dug into the sweater and soon the two were tangled in mustard colored yarn. 

Ne'vets sensed more of these aliens around them and pled in galactic common to cease and desist.  The Selonians did not seem to respond.  

Latorna was slow to notice the other aliens and opened fire on them, scaring a number of them off.  One of her shots hit the first Selonian tangled with Tarrie, wounding it and setting the yarn webbing on fire.  The alien escape its bindings, but that left Tarrie on the ground with a flaming sweater.  

Everyone else finally got their bearings and drove them all off. 

It was decided that Ne'vets would pretend to be as bait, sitting on the stones.  The others were hidden and were ready to act it he was attacked. 

Once everyone was positioned, a single Selonian lurked onto the stones, almost slithering towards Ne'vets.  The others braced their shots, but were surprised from behind.  A half dozen of the aliens had worked up the hillside, and seemed to evade the shots being sent downhill.    There was a frantic flurry of blaster fire and melee weapons.   Again, it took some aggressive action, but they were driven off...

The Explorers turned back to the stone field, and discovered Ne'vets was no longer there....

Next: #105 - The Finale for Shadows of Yavin IV