(Star Wars d6) #65 - A Complicated Profession, Part 1

Thirty years after Episode #64....

The camera pans from the void of space into a planetary system.  It zooms to the planet Orocco, with a spaceport orbiting it.  Further still it focuses on a clear dome which is hosting what is clearly a carnival, complete with all the sights, sounds, and smells that one would expect.  Small children are clumsily walking down the midway, trying to control the custom balloon they have in one hand while  balancing a bag of popcorn and a dripping ice cream cone in the other.  Both popcorn and ice cream end up on the ground as a giant shadow envelopes the boy,  shocking him, but them proceeding to block the illumination of the planet to the spaceport, a large pleasure cruiser come precariously close to the doom, less than 100 meters from it....

With a good set of monoculars, that child could see a number of people staring back through a large window on the ship, namely Ne'vets and Tarrie,  Evus, and even  Sid,

They had spent a number of year working together as a crew, capturing exotic animals, finding specimens, getting game and notoriety.  But over the last twenty years, each of the crew drifted apart in their own way.  Even the most successful crews are pushed out by increased Imperial meddling and profiteers who only cared about quantity, not quality.  

After years apart, it was Ne'vets' bright idea to get the gang back together for a new venture, far away from the exotic animal market and onto the next long con.

He figured that Abel Norrum's safaris for the bored and wealthy were quite profitable in their time, why not make it a safer trip across the galaxy for the rich?  Even with the Empire in charge, people still had ridiculous piles of credits to waste on frivolous pursuits.   And no one had designed a drone to pilot a ship through a nebula.  Folks were needed

Whether it was open space or a neon glowing asteroid field, or serving bright blue drinks while fending off scavengers on the edge of space.  A luxury space liner for hire seemed like a good way to get some credits and still have some hijinks.

For Evus, he had spent years using his brawn and blaster to achieve his goals.   Those years had him develop a nervous twitch in his eyes, but he was able to keep thing under control with his commanding presence as he took the role of Master of Ceremonies on Ne'vets Cruise Liner, the Azure Dream.   The old tank top and cargo pants were replaced with a crisp, smart-looking khaki military uniform, resplendent in vintage medals as it was strategically placed pieces of glitter.  With a wireless headset and mic in his earth, he was the front-line leader of the staff, and the go-to gentlemen for any escalations.  He didn't leave his old way completely behind. The only prosession from his previous life that he had kept was his trusty blaster rifle.  He had immaculately kept it over the years, at the bottom of his foot locker in his quarters, ready to go at a moments time. 

For Tarrie Prolek, he still remained the hot-shot pilot, now with the faintest hint of a receding hairline.  Back in the day, he kept everyone safe with quick reflexes and undeniable style with the hint of craziness in his cyborg eye.  Over the years, all his associates referred to him as a competent dick with a penchant for feathered boas and show tunes.  

Despite keeping up his piloting skills, handing over the controls to much too serious pilot under contract for the cruise ship seemed like a great change of pace, so he focused one a second career: Head Bartender.  Garbed in a full tuxedo with a universal translator in the lapel, Tarrie kept the party going for all the passengers, at all times. 

Sid may have had a falling out with Ne'vets, but once the "boss" had a new idea, it was like things had never stopped.  The back-up pilot was as stoic and mechanical as ever.    

Like with Tarrie, the professional pilot for the cruise liner may have agitated Sid, but with Frokazza not available, Sid became head of security.   Her old unmarked uniform was worn and baggier, but it gave her a chance to hide her two favorite things:  Her old hold-out blaster, and a half-dozen packs of gum.

For Ne'vets, the cruise liner was redemption from his final days as an exotic animal broker.  Fighting all the groups for his territories and interests, Ne'vets had turned away from drugs and alcohol and turned his attention into weightlifting.  But worse than a weightlifter that skipped leg day, he focused entirely on heavy curls, bulking up just those muscles.  His oversized and unbalanced arms earned his the derisive nickname, "The Python" among those rival interests.  All these years later, he  has embraced the nickname, and is still known to find some free weights from time to time. 

Establishing the space cruise liner company, Ne'vets established himself as Captain of the vessel, if in name only, although the datapad of forged documents could convince scrutiny of even the most hardcore Imperial inspector.

Besides "Keeping the lights on," and "Putting the fires out", Ne'vets spent most of his time wandering the ship in a grand ceremonial uniform, wielding an elaborate ceremonial staff,  which matched the lone tooth a drop bear that he wore around his neck.

Their ship, the  Azure Dream, was a converted military feature, chosen for all the extra safety features that had already been installed.  Many of these were installed by the military when they discovered how dangerous many of the metal walkways were. Tarrie had installed some mood lighting through the cruise ship, and it was the biggest compliment most passengers provided in their mandatory exit interview.

GM Notes:  As the game neared real-time Christmas, and the game paused on a giant cliffhanger, it was time to take the smaller group through a flash-foward side-trek, using the rules for A Complicated Profession.  The concept for the game is simple.  A group of old spacefaring  adventurers have decided to give up their careers and focus on a new chapter:  staff on a cruise ship.

Next: #66, Part Two of A Complicated Profession