Chapter 2: Forges of Ithyari

[Ayingel 24]

Szen took her ID from the Jaim.

"Kilee Amalun," glancing at the rest of the ID she frowned. "Dancer?"

Edited August 27, 2007 by Ayingel

[Vergere 1]

She laughed at Layla's ID name before she looked at her own. "Raya Tsal, Professional Gambler." She grinned wickedly, "Nice. Alright, we'll play some sabacc later and I'll make sure I win all your money from all of you."

Edited August 27, 2007 by Vergere

[Rogue 4]

"Hey, if you'd rather be Imana Proul, I'll gladly switch." Layla said, offering up her ID with a grin. "I've got no problem playing dancer."

[Ayingel 24]

"It's...fine...Just, surprising...that's all." Szen tucked it into one of her pockets.

[Vergere 1]

"What, don't feel comfortable doing that?" Brier smiled in amusement, but her features were kind.

[Ender 8]

Jaim smirked at Brier. "Sabacc, eh? That's interesting."

[Rogue 4]

Layla smirked to herself. Jaim had found another victim for his gambling steals. She shook her head.

He's full blooded Corellian alright...

"So where did you dig up these ID's anyway Jaim?"

[Vergere 1]

She offered Jaim a little-too-innocent smile. "Mmm. Think you can win, hotshot? Against someone you know almost nothing about?"

Edited August 27, 2007 by Vergere

[Andy 60]

Aston took his ID.

"Kenzie Brannon, Network Systems Engineer. Nice... That'll certainly help me get away with the mass of cables in my pack, and the programming routines on my datapad... But do I look like a Kenzie? Hmm..."

[Ayingel 24]

"Well, you could be an Imana," Szen chirped.

[Andy 60]

Aston s######ed, and received a prod in the back from Layla.

[Drake 53]

Jya took an ID badge and read the name, "Vina Drask, Explosives Engineer. Sounds good to me!" She grinned.

"How very fitting," Tak said. He looked at his chrono. It was getting close to 0700 and Captain Tunon had not shown up yet. Instead, Tak brought out the datapad he had been carrying. "Anybody have any questions? Captain Fae, do you have anything to add on top of what you said at the briefing?"

[Vergere 1]

She got a thoughtful look on her features, and it almost looked like she was reading from an invisible datapad in front of her. "Just a very Imperial world... they have Chiss there, but mostly a human population. Some slaves that work in the factories -- they're often non-humans. There's a decent enough tourism industry, but it's often only Imperials that use it as a travel destination. And some black market stuff going on, but that's almost everywhere." She shrugged, and smiled again. "I dunno, any random questions of things that I didn't cover that you needed or wanted to know?"

[Drake 53]

"No, that's perfect, thank you," said Tak. "It's good to hear about their extensive black market underground. We're going to need to fit right in there."

[Rogue 4]

"My kind of scene." Layla grinned. When she recieved looks she clarified. "The black market part, not the alien-oppressing Imperial hate-monger part."

Edited August 27, 2007 by Rogue

[Drake 53]

"Look the part, kids," said Takeshi as Aeric and Nat entered the hangar. When they walked over to the group, Takeshi had already sauntered over to meet them. He cracked a large grin and extended his hand to Lieutenant Riamor. "Captain Errick Tanon? A pleasure to meet you!"

Nat glared at him, obviously not understanding the charade. Aeric knew, however, and chuckled. He took Tak's hand and shook it. "Captain Aeric Tunon, actually. The stern-looking Twi'lek here is my Executive Officer, Nat Riamor. And you would be?"

Tak laughed. "I apologize for my earlier rudeness, my boy! The name's Jast. Kruger Jast." He offered the Captain an overexaggerated bow. "Busniessman, middleman, entrepreneur, and space tycoon at your service, my good sir!"

Aeric gave a smirk and, pointing to the rest of the group, said, "And who might these people be?"

"Why they're my crew, of course!" Tak said before introducing each one by their alias name. "Now we have a mighty strong need to get to Ithyari...but our only problem is a need for transport. I hear you can possibly be of assistance in that department!"

"I suppose I can, Mr. Jast," said Aeric with a smile. "But only if you do something for us to return the favour."

Tak raised an eyebrow. "A deal? My boy, I love a good deal! What are the terms?"

"I will give you a YT-2000 Corellian light freighter," started the Captain.

Tak's eyes lit up in excitement.

Aeric continued, "In exchange, you and your crew will help my crew out on a little mission."

Tak pretended to give the deal some thought while in-character. "Hmmm...what kind of mission might this be?"

"All you need to do is tweak the sensor relay system on Ithyari so that my squadron and I can slip in undetected."

Tak frowned. "Not a small task, Captain."

Aeric grinned. "I'll throw in a crate of food rations."

"You drive a hard bargain, sir," said Tak. "Make it two crates and we have a deal."

Aeric nodded. "Done!" As he and Tak shook hands, he added, "Good luck on your mission, Lieutenant."

Tak brought his hand up in a salute. "You as well, Captain." He returned to his team as Captain Tunon and Lieutenant Riamor made their way elsewhere in the hangar.

Edited August 27, 2007 by Drake

[Rogue 4]

Layla had a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh as Tak approached. "If looks could kill, the Lieutenant would have just fried you alive. Nice performance babe. So who gets to fly the pretty little Corellian bird we've got for this mission?"

[Drake 53]

He grinned. "Why that would be me, of course. Now let's move out, team."

Tak led them toward the front end of the hangar where the Corellian freighter sat dwarfing the surrounding X-Wings. A couple technicians were working around the ship, giving it a few last-minute check-ups.

The ramp was already lowered and Tak went up into the ship, followed by the rest of the group. The YT-2000 was slightly different from the rest of the YT models in that the cockpit was housed in the centre of the ship's hull instead of to one side. Aside from that, the rest of the vessel was very similar, with a saucer-shaped body and two turrets on the top and bottom. The YT-2000 was heavily armed and armoured but very maneuverable and fast. It would be perfect for an arms dealer and his crew of misfits.

Stopping in the corridor leading to the cockpit, Tak said, "There's only enough room in these cockpits for the pilot and co-pilot only. So Layla, you can help me fly. The rest of you, make yourselves comfortable in the main hold. If we're lucky, there will be a dejarik board in there."

He and Layla climbed into the cockpit and got settled. The pilot seat was at the front of the cockpit with the co-pilot seat behind and slightly raised above the pilot. It gave the freighter a little more of a two-person fighter feel than a transport. Once they started up the systems, Tak read the name of the ship and laughed.

He flicked on the ship-wide comm system. "Welcome passengers, this is your pilot speaking. We will be taking off shortly. The fasten crash-webbing and no-smoking signs have been turned on. Thank you for flying Krazy Krakana spacelines and have a safe flight!"

[Mara 29]

When Kaden saw Captain Tunon and Lietenant Riamor come into the hangar but go to Tak's group, he stayed with his X-wing, giving it another once over. He didn't want any surprises. He also tried not to think of Tak and Layla and how they were acting towards each other. It was an all too familiar memory to him, and something he didn't want to dwell on because it might cloud his judgement.

The captain was done and he and Lt. Riamor moved off to the other side of the hangar. Kaden slid down off his ladder to wait by his fighter in case there were any more instructions before they also took off. When they took off with only half the compliment of a normal squadron.

[Rogue 4]

Layla laughed behind Tak, eyes on the controls. "Krazy Krakana indeed, with you flying. Try to remember that this isn't an X-wing, Tak."

[Vergere 1]

Brier went and sat down in a seat in the back somewhere, and looked at the others. She spoke dryly, "Should I be afraid of them flying?" She smiled and strapped in.

[Andy 60]

"Well I am..." Aston muttered as he took a seat.

Edited August 27, 2007 by Andy

[Vergere 1]

"You're not helping my confidence level at all." She grinned over at him before leaning back and getting comfortable.

[Drake 53]

"Oh ye of little faith!" said Tak to both Layla and the pair who voiced their opinions over the open comm. "I've been trained and certified to fly twenty-seven different classifications of transports including the entire YT line. So just sit back, enjoy the ride, and stop complaining."

He closed the comm then sent a request to docking control for clearance to debark. While waiting for approval, Tak turned his chair around to face Layla.

"Good luck, Officer Nasrin." He grinned.

[Rogue 4]

"You too Lieutenant Beskar." Layla winked. "Not that we need it."

She finished running all the checks on the systems. "We're all green. So...they fear our piloting huh? What do you say we give them a reason to?"