Outback Trading Co. - Flight 0219 - Blue Star Pirates

[Rane DeCola]

**Mid Rim Territories**
**Glythe Sector, J-7**
**Fornax Station**

Rane was stationed at the airlock of the Destitute Spacer as he monitored the load of cargo being brought aboard by the small fleet of load lifter droids that Captain Molo had purchased to keep his operations quick and efficient. It was the speed and effectiveness of the Destitute Spacer that had caught the eye of the Blue Star Pirates initially, and what had caused further expansion of the Blue Star Pirates’ interests in Captain Molo’s outfit.

The last two trips taken by Rane aboard the Destitute Spacer had been without drama. Rane preferred to keep it that way. However, senior management decided it was time to up the ante and further expand the influence of the Outback Trading Company.

By expanding the influence, management of course meant shipping more illicit goods in more heavily patrolled regions of space. This trip, the Destitute Spacer would be joined by her sister ship, the Deprived. The Deprived was another Action V transport that would be docking soon at one of the outer piers of the station, as the station didn’t have platforms large enough for the massive transports to land. It was a wonder that the station could accommodate the amount of cargo that one of the transports was able to carry.

As Rane continued oversight of the activities prior to getting underway, Captain Molo signaled him that the Deprived had arrived on station and was in queue to dock following the Destitute Spacer’s departure. It would definitely slow things down to have to wait for the Deprived to be loaded up, Rane just hoped that it wouldn’t impact the convoy’s schedule.

-----
OOC:

Transport Vessels:
Action V Transport Destitute Spacer - 320 RU
Action V Transport Deprived – 220 RU

Pilots:
Action V Transport Destitute Spacer - 3x RX-24 Pilot Droids; Rane DeCola
Action V Transport Deprived - 3x RX-24 Pilot Droids

[Ashara Rys]

Fornax Station
Fornax system, Glythe sector
J-7, Mid Rim

Normally, Ashara would be escorting the Outland Mining shipments which, covertly or otherwise, her Captain Buggie was usually heavily involved in. However, this cycle she been asked by said Verpine to assist one of his associates affiliated with the Outback Trading Company, also under the administration of the Blue Star Pirates. While Ashara had attempted to resist, not really liking the idea of leaving her insectoid friend by his lonesome, even though he was more than capable of handling himself. She was a Togruta, and Togruta grouped together, instinctively hunting in packs. Buggie was a part of her pack, and, well, leaving him alone didn't sit well with her.

... But he had somehow appropriated for her such a grand gift for this occasion that the woman couldn't really say no after that.

"Haud yer wheesht! Watch the paint job on tha' thing, ye wee clankers!"

She shouted indignantly, as one of the load lifter droids almost - almost - hit the side of the boarding ramp of her brand new, shining, beeeeeeeautiful dearly beloved darling starship.

Her eyes literally glimmered and shined and she shed a comical tear as she turned her head to gaze up at the gigantic YT-2400. She didn't know how Buggie got this for her, but he did, and she had promptly proceeded to paint it her favourite colour and name it after her favourite Selonian flower.

Ashara Rys was now Captain of The Sunflower.

Eyes still sparkling, the half-Togruta ensured that the lifter droids got all the cargo on board without scratching off any of the paint, before making her way towards where the Destitute Spacer was docked.

Her eyes narrowed as she stalked over, catching sight of familiar glareshades. "Aye, 'tis ye," she commented, stopping next to Rane and placing a hand on her hip.

"I ken I was sent here tae escort ye then, or whoever yer workin' fur. We met a while ago, I remember ye. Name's Ashara, we met at Ponemah," said Ashara, dressed in complete smuggler/battle gear, as she gave the man a two-fingered salute.


____________________________________________________

Transport Vessels



The Sunflower (YT-2400 light freighter)
Pilot: Rex (RX-24 pilot droid)
Co-Pilot: Ashara Rys

[Jak Bexel]

"Fomax Station, huh?" muttered Ozark from the co-pilot chair, the tall Duros that Jak struggled to make friends with, desperate to make conversation. "I been here."

"You travelled, that's nice," Jak replied into his coffee cup.

"Had an affair with an Imperial spy. She was a wealthy debutant from one of those families, you know, the rich ones from on high in Coruscant. Lasted half a cycle. She never knew, otherwise she'd have had me spaced," Ozark placed some emphasis on spaced while he rolled a cigarillo.

"How'd she find out?"

"She didn't. Lots of air locks in Fomax, and between you and me... you don't need authorization," he turned to Jak, who took a moment to understand the implications. He said nothing, and nothing continued to be said as they waited for Other Bandid to blast out of hyperspace outside of Fomax.

"I'm kidding, she was a kriffin's spy of course she knew! Had me arrested, then I blew up the south pole and made a break for it," Ozark confessed. Jak allowed himself a chuckle at being had.

"I bet you wished you had," he shot back at Ozark, who nodded in affirmation. With a FWOOM that shook the Jacket, Other Bandit blasted out of hyperspace within spitting distance.

"Close one, OB. Nice of you to join us," Jak replied to his young charge Van Kleef.

"Hell of a roundabout coming from that damned dustball. We're all ready to go, what's the hold up?" She said briskly, the clicking of buttons and flicking of switches audible over their secured comm.

"Flag your fathiers, OB. They're still loading. Remember what we talked about, stay calm for your crew."

"Yes yes. Staying," She replied. And so they all waited, while Jak ping'd The Destitute Spacer for an ETA.


====

Escort ships:

YT-2000 Freighter The Nice Jacket: RX-7 Pilot Droid, Jak Bexel
Skipray Blastboat Other Bandit: RX-7 Pilot Droid

[Rane DeCola]

“Glad to have you along. Things here seem to be set, the Deprived appears loaded up and the rest of the escort vessels just entered the system. I guess it’s time to take this show on the road.”

Rane was pleased that Outback Trading’s management had seen fit to arrange for an escort this trip. As he looked over the stats for the escort vessels, he realized that the escort vessels wouldn’t be much of a match for a well-armed and organized attempt to overtake the convoy, but he hoped that the mere presence of the ships might deter any interference in the convoy’s safe transit.

----

Several hours after the Deprived and The Destitute Spacer, the ships were assembled in space and ready to make the jump to hyperspace.

“Mr. DeCola, if you’ve had the opportunity to review the route and approve, you may transmit to the other ships in the convoy,” said Captain Molo aboard The Destitute Spacer.

“Aye Captain, I’ve reviewed them and made a couple of subtle course corrections based on a business tip that I received prior to departure.”

“I trust your judgement Mr. DeCola.”

“Thank you Captain. It’s once again been a pleasure doing business with you.”

With that, Captain Molo ordered the pilot droids aboard The Destitute Spacer, to re-program the navicomp and communicate the updated jump route to the remainder of the ships in the small fleet via the pre-established encrypted communications channel.

“Once everyone acknowledges the adjustments to the route, give the order and make the jump to hyperspace.”

----

Within minutes, The Destitute Spacer and the Deprived were no more than two blinks of light winking out of real space and into the swirling star field beyond.

[Ashara Rys]

Fornax Station
Fornax system, Glythe sector
J-7, Mid Rim

"Aye, that should be th' lest o' them!" Ashara nodded to herself as she the the last of the lifter droids descend the ramps of her brand new ship. She looked at the chrono on her wrist, realizing it was almost time to take off. Shrugging, she wondered, in passing, that she would be alone on this journey.

She hadn't... been alone on a journey. Since, like, ever.

Someone was always with her. Her parents. Her slavers. Captain Buggie and his crew. This was the first time she would be alone. Granted, she was flying alongside many ships, but the only company she had aboard The Sunflower was an RX-24 pilot droid that she didn't even know. Someone had loaned it to her.

"Oh, braw," she drawled in sarcasm. The roar of sublight engines brought her out of her anxiety, and she looked to her right to see the Deprived and The Destitute Spacer had begun their ascent.

"A'richt Ash, might as well get it ower wi'..." she said before beginning to ascend her own boarding ramp, only to perceive (via echolocation) someone approaching her from behind. Her inherited Togruta traits from her mother's side allowed her to 'see' with sound.

"Miss Ashara Rys?" the man, tall, handsome, fair-skinned, muscular - dashing, Ashara thought with slightly widened eyes - and dressed in what appeared to be some kind of uniform, approached her before handing her a holopad.

"... Huh?" she mumbled, staring at the holopad. A name, and a profile, with several Blue Star authorization codes she recognized.

"Leftenant Qui-Gon Pyke, First Mate of the The Azure Storm, Aurek fleet. Admiral Brakken sent me, on request from Captain Buggie, to accompany you on this shipment. With your permission of course," Pyke announced giving her a smile, before extending his hand for her to shake, which she dumbly shook back.


"... Uh-huh..." Ashara shook her head out of her stupor. Okay, the man was charismatic, but she needed to focus. She was a First Mate, she was his superior dangit! "... W-Well then, aff we go, t-then, Mister Pyke..."

She moved aside to let him ascend, and he smiled and nodded before ascending up the boarding ramp with his hands clasped behind his back.

This man was a pirate? How in the world did someone with such charm and charisma end up-- then again, her Captain, Buggie, was a Jedi...

Blinking dumbly, Ashara finally decided to ascend behind him. She made a mental note to give Buggie a kiss. He had perceived her fear of being alone, and sent a travelling companion. More than that, he was... she couldn't decide between the contradictory terms of 'hot' and 'cool'. Just... wow.

Finding herself in the co-pilot seat, Ashara turned her head, silently, to stare at Lieutenant Pyke, who adjusted the controls on the navicomputer with an accuracy and speed that bespoke expertise and experience. He had clearly been doing this much longer than she had. Thus, with Qui-Gon in the pilot seat, Ashara in the co-pilot seat and the RX-24 droid available for assistance if necessary, the brand new YT-2400 The Sunflower's sublight engines heaved in a neon blue sigh as the light freighter began its ascent. Within what seemed like moments, the stars became streaks moments before they breached the blue cosmic oceans of hyperspace.

[Rane DeCola]

Rane slept soundly aboard The Destitute Spacer. He appreciated the quiet that the long convoy transits had afforded him. The last several convoys that he had arranged and pulled security on had gone successfully. He had been assured by Captain Molo that his efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed.

As he slept, The Destitute Spacer and the Deprived emerged from hyperspace briefly at the crossroads of the Celanon Spur and the Namadii Corridor, the latter which the convoy would take a turn coreward on. Captain Molo hadn’t bothered to raise Rane from his slumber, as once again everything was going along as planned and instead allowed him to continue his restful sleep. No sooner had they emerged from hyperspace, the pilot droids had already vectored the two Action V freighters onto the new jump coordinates and again launched the main part of the convoy back into hyperspace.

[Rane DeCola]

**Inner Rim Territories**
**Reecee System, J-8**
**Riebold’s Foam and Sizzle, Reecee**

The Destitute Spacer and the Deprived had arrived in the Reecee system without incident. After making the appropriate contributions to the local customs agents, Outback Trading’s convoy had been quickly cleared to land. Once on the ground, Rane set security around the two transports prior to going to see about payment for the shipment.

“Sure you don’t need some backup?”

“No thanks Captain. Besides, if our associates here on Reecee want to continue to do business with management, well, it’s in their best interest to make sure that our ships, our crew, and our cargo aren’t interfered with.”

Captain Molo understood and didn’t question Rane further. Prior to leaving to meet with the customer, Rane thought it prudent to dress accordingly, which meant throwing on a suit of light body armor, securing his concealable weapons in their usual locations, and strapping his blaster pistol on at his side. Once he was ready, he checked in once more on the security efforts and left Captain Molo to look after Outback Trading’s convoy while it sat idle on the ground.

----

Rane entered Riebold’s Foam and Sizzle and was immediately immersed in the loud and rowdy atmosphere of the notorious drinking hole. It seemed to Rane that he was frequenting these types of places all too frequently lately, and would make an effort to try to encourage perhaps a more civilized meeting location for Outback Trading’s next investor relations meeting.

Looking around the room, Rane sees a group of three Snivvians sitting around a table. It appeared that the customers had arrived early to the meet. That didn’t bother Rane any, but he was now having second thoughts about Captain Molo’s offer for some backup. He began making his way across the room, all the while keeping as low of a profile as was possible considering that he had to dodge at least two drunken Gamorreans and a Rodian waving his blaster in a Wookie’s face as he rattled on about being taller than the Wookie.
Finally, Rane made it to the table.

“Hell of a place you’ve picked for our meeting. You know that when it rains it pours.”

The middle Snivvian smiled widely showing off the short fangs in his mouth.

“They said you were a funny man.”

Rane rolled his eyes. Management had seen fit to use the play on his name regularly as code that he was representing their interests. Rane would definitely need to take the issue up with his superiors upon his return.

“Always good for a joke I guess. Anyhow, you have the information I am here for?”

“Of course, and perhaps a business proposition for you.”

One of the Snivvians slid a datapad across the table toward Rane. Instinctively Rane’s hand ran down his side toward his blaster, and watching the Snivvians slowly took his hand away from his side and picked up the datapad to review it. Looking quickly through the information, everything appeared to be in order.

“Seems like we have another satisfied customer, but you said something about a proposition of sorts?”

Again the Snivvian spoke, “yes very satisfied of course, however we would like to extend the terms of our current agreement.”

Negotiation of contracts wasn’t something that Rane was authorized by the Blue Star Pirates to do. The best he could do at this point was to advise the Snivvians to get in touch with management about the terms of the agreement, whatever they may be. In the meantime, it looked like Rane might be playing the waiting game until the disposition of Outback Trading’s current cargo could be figured out.

“Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to negotiate the current terms. You’ll have to get in touch with management.”

“Understood,” the Snivvian replied. “Now, for proper introductions. My name is Zakeel. Why don’t you join my friends and I for a drink?”

[Ashara Rys]

Coordinates Indeterminate
Unknown/Uncharted Hyperspace Route
Hyperspace

The YT-2400 Sunflower trailed behind the larger convoy it was charged with escorting and protecting. As the journey continued, Ashara had grown used to Pyke's presence rather quickly. The man was somehow the perfect combination of charming, imposing and commanding. She suspected he was of a military or navy background; just the way he walked with his back straight and stiff as a board was enough to confirm that to her.

"We, uh..." she began, as her blue eyes turned to glance from the navcomputer towards Pyke in the command seat, "we should be exiting hyperspace soon."

Qui-Gon smiled and nodded as he sat casually, one hand on the chair's armrest and the other hand cupping the side of his own face as he stared out into the unending sapphire void that was hyperspace. "A little longer, then, but I doubt anything untoward should turn up once we've made this far. Any hostiles should've engaged us way back. It was definitely pleasure sailing with you, Miss Rys."

Ashara nodded, not really knowing what else to say.

"... Likewise," she replied after a short pause.

Qui-Gon smirked. "Though I sense we'll be doing a lot of that from now on."

Ashara looked at the man in the co-pilot seat, but it didn't say anything. She understood what he meant. She had been in the Blue Star Pirates long enough, and had earned herself quite a repute by now. It may not be long before she might get... a promotion, for lack of better word.

In any case, their journey continued, uneventfully, until they reached the last nav point...

[Ashara Rys]

Hyperspace, en route to Rie Boldley Spaceport
Reecee, J-8
Reecee system, Reecee sector

The YT-2400 light freighter The Sunflower continued in its journey through the last of the blue clouds of hyperspace as the final nav point approached hither, and Ashara continued to steer her brand new starship through the alternate dimension with experienced ease.

"We'll be outtae hyperspace soon enough," Ashara spoke up, breaking the silence that had fallen between her and Pyke. The two had discussed many things over the course of their journey, and come to know one another quite well. He would be there to assist her whenever Captain Buggie couldn't.

"You know, it's too quiet in here," Pyke spoke up suddenly, startling Ashara. She glanced his direction as he reached over the control panels and his nimble fingers ran across the touchpads.

Suddenly the cockpit started blaring with music.

♪♫ I'm feelin' like a star, you can't stop my shine
I'm lovin' Cloud City, my head's in the sky
I'm Solo, I’m Han Solo
I'm Han Solo, I'm Han Solo, Solo ♪♫

Ashara laughed at the upbeat song as it played. She recognized that name. Anyone who had been born to smugglers, grown up among them, and then lived the entire remainder of her life among pirates knew that name. Of course, like many a legend, the details always got fuzzy and Ashara could only remember conflicting information.

"Han Solo, the Rebellion General? Or was he a Smuggler?"

"Wasn't he a War Hero?"

♪♫ I'm puttin' on my shades to cover up my eyes
I'm jumpin' in my ride, I'm headin' out tonight
I'm Solo, I'm Han Solo
I'm Han Solo, I'm Han Solo, Solo

I'm pickin' up my blaster, puttin' it on my side
I'm jumpin' in my Falcon, Wookie at my side
I'm Solo, I'm Han Solo
I'm Han Solo, I'm Han Solo, Solo ♪♫