Steam rose up as the boarding ramp came down, pressure from within the ship finally being released after a rather lengthy interspace trip. Boots clanked on the durasteel, quickly followed by rolling wheels. Grey eyes surveyed the space port. While Coruscant wasn't considered a particularly large world, its planet-wide city made the atmosphere suffocating. While the upper-city was elegant and pleasant, Meera had always felt ill-at-ease at the thought of so many people on a single planet. Her gaze went from left to right, looking for anything out of the ordinary or even just to make sure no one eyed her longer than necessary. She paid the docking fee then got ready to step out of the bay, a burdened leather bag tied to her belt on her hip when she heard the telltale sound of treads on the ground. She turned around to see L005 80LT following closely behind her.
"Eltee stay on the ship, you know that."
Her answer was a sad-sounding (at least, as sad as a droid could sound) beeping and she had to shoo the astromech away before it finally obeyed. With a long suffering sigh, Meera took the lift to the main level.
She took a taxi to the cantina her client had given her the address of. Bright lights blurred past and typical city noises like nearby speeders, music, laughs and shouts became an indescribable cacophony. The smuggler had never missed the tranquility of her empty ship more than she did now. She finally arrived at the cantina and somehow, the commotion only got worse. She sped past the other patrons to the private room at the back. A Gamorrean guarding the door glared at her until she said the required password and then he let her pass. The new room was a lot smaller and quieter than the rest of the cantina. The furniture was a lot more ostentatious with gauzy curtains and Alderaanian silk pillows. Her client, a Rodian (who looked like he had never worked a day in his life and relied way too heavily on daddy's money to subsist, if you asked Meera's opinion), rested languidly on one of the couches, sipping on a golden cup.
"Finally. I was beginning to think the Wookies ripped your arms off, leaving you with no way to come back to me!"
A sinister laugh followed his exclamation, one that the smuggler had heard numerous times before, always coming from the same type of person: people with more money than sense who got off on watching their inferiors get hurt. She held back her grimace and threw the leather bag on the table in front of him.
"Twenty Tach glands, as you asked. My pay?"
"So curt! But I guess I didn't hire you for your conversation skills."
He fiddled with a datapad for a moment then informed her the credits had been transferred to her. Meera wasted no more time and left in a flourish, her red coat fluttering behind her.
She exited the cantina and made for the market. Maybe she could finally buy some upgrades for her ship. Her hyperdrive was in need of some boosting.
While the market was just as loud as the rest of the planet, Meera felt some sense of belonging. The people who frequented this kind of place were nothing like that entitled brat and somehow she was almost reminded of home. She bought what starship upgrades she needed from the merchant and had to bargain for a bit, then started aimlessly wandering the market, her mind filled with nostalgia.
Another day, another job [Closed]
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Meera Holst
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Master Buggie
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Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
The shouts of a Bothan dressed in a set of blue coveralls rang through the market. He was not hawking wares, but rather opportunity to the many citizens of Coruscant that were still reeling from the destruction brought about by the system's liberation. The underlevels of the ecumenopolis were historically underserved by the galactic government in control of the planet, but a new power had begun to take root after the upheaval of the liberation. Through its countless fronts and associated businesses, the Blue Star Pirates indirectly funneled life into the seedy underworld. While it wouldn't provide a life of luxury to those that signed on, oftentimes not realizing that they were becoming tangentially associating themselves with one of the largest criminal organizations in the galaxy, it was better than starving in an alleyway.
A passing female's red coat caught the eye of the Bothan herald and, stepping down from his perch atop a set of stacked cargo containers, he called out to her, "The lady wears red, but she would look divine in blue. Come; opportunity awaits within your reach!"
A passing female's red coat caught the eye of the Bothan herald and, stepping down from his perch atop a set of stacked cargo containers, he called out to her, "The lady wears red, but she would look divine in blue. Come; opportunity awaits within your reach!"
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Meera Holst
- Registered Member
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:46 am
Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
Managing to navigate the market stalls without being jostled by the crowds was an impossible task that Meera had given up on the minute she entered it. Some kids ran by strollers, likely playing an innocent game but the smuggler had been around the underworld for too long to not suspect that they might be thieves who profited off people's obliviousness, pick-pocketing their credits as they ran by. She kept her belongings close and never let her guard drop. While Coruscant used to be a very safe planet long ago, it had only gone downhill in the most recent years and now, the planet was almost as bad as Nar Shaddaa.
Meera stopped at a jewelry stall, intrigued by its tamer bracelets, mostly made out of braided bantha leather. The merchant tried to sell it to her by recounting some sort of tall tale on its origins. "Direct from Tatooine, blah blah blah... Braided by real-life Tusken raider women, yadda yadda yadda." He was attempting to lead her on like she was some common tourist who had no idea how much of a swindler he was. No thank you.
Thankfully, the seller's speech was interrupted by some beeping coming from her datapad. Eltee had sent her a message through the ship's terminal. Joint to the message was a picture of the engine covered in oil and a hydrospanner stuck in between some cogs. Dammit Eltee. She should have wiped its memory core long ago and start it afresh. Rainee had told her the droid was already like that when she got it and she had never wiped it while it was in her possession. Some people got an intelligent, sentient droid that decided to continue existing as their own individual instead of someone's servant when it went unwiped for too long. But noooo, not Meera. She had to have the one that decided to act like a three year-old. Nevertheless, no matter how much she complained, she would never get rid of that old can of bolts. After all these years, it had become like family.
Whatever, she needed to hurry before that mess became irreversible. She took off in the opposite direction, her long strides hitting the pavement. Once she managed to get out of the market, maybe she could start sprinting towards her ship. She was almost out when a Bothan called out to her.
"The lady wears red, but she would look divine in blue. Come; opportunity awaits within your reach!"
Just her luck. The last thing she needed right now was a conman who would try to sell her some worthless land in some remote planet on the Outer Rim. She did not trust anyone who tried to sell or recruit with this Bothan's methods. You could never know what you were really getting into.
"I'm not interested, now beat it."
She flashed the blaster on her hip just enough that only the Bothan would see it. She did not want to create a panic in the market but she had enough experience to know that trying to reason with scammers was a lost cause. She had to dissuade them right from the start. Of course, her blaster was not much to look at. It was an old thing, starting to rust and was more likely to blow off in her face than to actually fire a shot. But, well... He didn't need to know that. She didn't often use her blaster, preferring to get out of whatever bad situation she was in using her words rather than weapons. She actually had a better blaster back on her ship in case words weren't enough but she preferred to take the old one whenever she went in a populated area as it was there more for threats than actual use.
Meera stopped at a jewelry stall, intrigued by its tamer bracelets, mostly made out of braided bantha leather. The merchant tried to sell it to her by recounting some sort of tall tale on its origins. "Direct from Tatooine, blah blah blah... Braided by real-life Tusken raider women, yadda yadda yadda." He was attempting to lead her on like she was some common tourist who had no idea how much of a swindler he was. No thank you.
Thankfully, the seller's speech was interrupted by some beeping coming from her datapad. Eltee had sent her a message through the ship's terminal. Joint to the message was a picture of the engine covered in oil and a hydrospanner stuck in between some cogs. Dammit Eltee. She should have wiped its memory core long ago and start it afresh. Rainee had told her the droid was already like that when she got it and she had never wiped it while it was in her possession. Some people got an intelligent, sentient droid that decided to continue existing as their own individual instead of someone's servant when it went unwiped for too long. But noooo, not Meera. She had to have the one that decided to act like a three year-old. Nevertheless, no matter how much she complained, she would never get rid of that old can of bolts. After all these years, it had become like family.
Whatever, she needed to hurry before that mess became irreversible. She took off in the opposite direction, her long strides hitting the pavement. Once she managed to get out of the market, maybe she could start sprinting towards her ship. She was almost out when a Bothan called out to her.
"The lady wears red, but she would look divine in blue. Come; opportunity awaits within your reach!"
Just her luck. The last thing she needed right now was a conman who would try to sell her some worthless land in some remote planet on the Outer Rim. She did not trust anyone who tried to sell or recruit with this Bothan's methods. You could never know what you were really getting into.
"I'm not interested, now beat it."
She flashed the blaster on her hip just enough that only the Bothan would see it. She did not want to create a panic in the market but she had enough experience to know that trying to reason with scammers was a lost cause. She had to dissuade them right from the start. Of course, her blaster was not much to look at. It was an old thing, starting to rust and was more likely to blow off in her face than to actually fire a shot. But, well... He didn't need to know that. She didn't often use her blaster, preferring to get out of whatever bad situation she was in using her words rather than weapons. She actually had a better blaster back on her ship in case words weren't enough but she preferred to take the old one whenever she went in a populated area as it was there more for threats than actual use.
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Master Buggie
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Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
The woman had made it clear to the Bothan that she wanted no part in what he was peddling by showing him her blaster. Universally, that was signal of a no-nonsense sentient, and the Bothan was not one to test his luck against someone who carried a blaster into the weapons-free marketplace. The Galactic Alliance, in an effort to curb looting and other criminal activity in the marketplace, had instituted a strict no-weapons policy, enforced by local police forces and the occasional Galactic Alliance guard cruising the perimeter in a speeder.
The woman couldn't have missed the signs marking that this was a weapons-free zone, and while she clearly attempted to only flash her weapon at the Bothan, a local officer's sharp eyes caught the gesture and hurried over to apprehend the woman, pushing through groups of assorted sentients to close in on the violator.
From his perch atop the stacked crates, the Bothan watched with interest. Perhaps this situation could yet evolve into something he could benefit from.
The woman couldn't have missed the signs marking that this was a weapons-free zone, and while she clearly attempted to only flash her weapon at the Bothan, a local officer's sharp eyes caught the gesture and hurried over to apprehend the woman, pushing through groups of assorted sentients to close in on the violator.
From his perch atop the stacked crates, the Bothan watched with interest. Perhaps this situation could yet evolve into something he could benefit from.
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Meera Holst
- Registered Member
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:46 am
Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
After showing her blaster, the Bothan did not say anything, so Meera took that as a good sign and was ready to go on her way once again if it had not been for the Alliance officer hurrying her way that she could see in the corner of her eye. Damn. Last thing she needed was the authorities on her. She was doing pretty good as a smuggler for the time being: she had not gotten caught and if anyone had suspected anything, she always managed to deflect their suspicions. She could not get caught and taken to the station just so they could have a file on her. That could seriously dampen any jobs she had in the future. What was the point of a criminally-known smuggler?
When the guard got close enough, Meera put her game face on. She had several options to get out of this and you could be damn sure she was going to use every one of them. She put her coat back over her blaster and put on a sweet smile. She would first try the innocent, polite young lady card and see where it goes from there.
"Is there a problem, officer?"
"Ma'am, you're under arrest for possession of a blaster on a weapons-free zone. I'm taking you in."
He reached for her wrists, already ready to slip handcuffs on her. Meera managed to sidestep him without looking too obviously like she was evading the law. Years of practice really. In a placating manner and with slow motions, she took out her blaster in all its rusty glory.
"I'm so sorry, officer. I didn't mean to harm anyone. You have to understand, the blaster is useless, I only take it with me as a precaution. I mean, you never know what could happen to young ladies like me out on the streets..."
The frown on the guard's face told her everything she needed to know: he was not buying her act. She took out a small purse from her belt and got discreetly closer to the Galactic Alliance soldier. The purse in her palm, jingled with credits. In a sleight of hand that her mentor had taught her, she slipped the credits in the guard's hand. She did not need to say that she was buying his silence.
Very suddenly, the guard took on an offended posture.
"Are you trying to bribe an officer of the law? That's it, you're coming with me!"
Plan C it was then. He was quick enough to lock the handcuffs on one of her wrists, but not enough to dodge the kick directed at his nuts. Meera was not afraid to fight dirty, especially when something threatened her livelihood. She was lucky that the officer was not wearing a full body armour, given that he was patrolling in a relatively tame area, otherwise she could have really hurt her knee.
Once he was doubled over from the pain, Meera grabbed the keys to the handcuffs, freed herself in a movement too fast to see, and slipped the handcuffs on the guard, putting his arms around a pole so he would not be able to move from his spot. And so there the soldier was, handcuffed to a lamppost while Meera was free as a bird. She took back her coin purse (no way was she losing credits over this) and put her blaster back in its holster. She was about to leave when she caught sight of the Bothan who had been observing the whole thing from atop some crates.
"You speak a word of this, you're done for. Get me?"
She was losing so much time over this. By the time she gets to the ship, the oil stains will probably already have dried and become impossible to clean. And just a minute ago she was having such a good day too...
When the guard got close enough, Meera put her game face on. She had several options to get out of this and you could be damn sure she was going to use every one of them. She put her coat back over her blaster and put on a sweet smile. She would first try the innocent, polite young lady card and see where it goes from there.
"Is there a problem, officer?"
"Ma'am, you're under arrest for possession of a blaster on a weapons-free zone. I'm taking you in."
He reached for her wrists, already ready to slip handcuffs on her. Meera managed to sidestep him without looking too obviously like she was evading the law. Years of practice really. In a placating manner and with slow motions, she took out her blaster in all its rusty glory.
"I'm so sorry, officer. I didn't mean to harm anyone. You have to understand, the blaster is useless, I only take it with me as a precaution. I mean, you never know what could happen to young ladies like me out on the streets..."
The frown on the guard's face told her everything she needed to know: he was not buying her act. She took out a small purse from her belt and got discreetly closer to the Galactic Alliance soldier. The purse in her palm, jingled with credits. In a sleight of hand that her mentor had taught her, she slipped the credits in the guard's hand. She did not need to say that she was buying his silence.
Very suddenly, the guard took on an offended posture.
"Are you trying to bribe an officer of the law? That's it, you're coming with me!"
Plan C it was then. He was quick enough to lock the handcuffs on one of her wrists, but not enough to dodge the kick directed at his nuts. Meera was not afraid to fight dirty, especially when something threatened her livelihood. She was lucky that the officer was not wearing a full body armour, given that he was patrolling in a relatively tame area, otherwise she could have really hurt her knee.
Once he was doubled over from the pain, Meera grabbed the keys to the handcuffs, freed herself in a movement too fast to see, and slipped the handcuffs on the guard, putting his arms around a pole so he would not be able to move from his spot. And so there the soldier was, handcuffed to a lamppost while Meera was free as a bird. She took back her coin purse (no way was she losing credits over this) and put her blaster back in its holster. She was about to leave when she caught sight of the Bothan who had been observing the whole thing from atop some crates.
"You speak a word of this, you're done for. Get me?"
She was losing so much time over this. By the time she gets to the ship, the oil stains will probably already have dried and become impossible to clean. And just a minute ago she was having such a good day too...
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Master Buggie
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Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
Impressive, the Bothan thought, as the red-jacketed lady freed herself from the Galactic Alliance patrolman and carried on her way.
Evidently, though, the woman caught him observing her handiwork. After she had threatened him against reporting her, the Bothan gave a sly smile and gestured with his furry hand toward his mouth, giving a motion similar to turning a key in a lock, signaling that he would keep his mouth shut... at least to the Galactic Alliance.
The woman would be left to carry on, at least for now. After the woman was out of sight, the Bothan, up on his perch, followed the distinctive red jacket, reporting her whereabouts to another representative of the Blue Star Pirates through a wrist-mounted comm unit. She had skill and attitude, both of which were traits that the Bothan recognized as potentially valuable.
Evidently, though, the woman caught him observing her handiwork. After she had threatened him against reporting her, the Bothan gave a sly smile and gestured with his furry hand toward his mouth, giving a motion similar to turning a key in a lock, signaling that he would keep his mouth shut... at least to the Galactic Alliance.
The woman would be left to carry on, at least for now. After the woman was out of sight, the Bothan, up on his perch, followed the distinctive red jacket, reporting her whereabouts to another representative of the Blue Star Pirates through a wrist-mounted comm unit. She had skill and attitude, both of which were traits that the Bothan recognized as potentially valuable.
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Meera Holst
- Registered Member
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:46 am
Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
Meera hurried to her ship, sometimes having to push through people so they could let her pass. The city seemed unusually crowded today but that might have just been because she needed to get somewhere and was not just strolling around. She had wasted enough time, her engine was probably ruined by now. On her way back, she thought she noticed a furry figure following her out of the corner of her eye once or twice. However she did not think much of it. She was too much in a hurry and there were too many people to actually care. Maybe if she went fast enough, she could lose them. And so she pressed on, slipping by people like a leaf in the wind. Soon enough she had finally reached her ship.
Just like her blaster, her ship was not much to look at. A modified Corellian cruiser that had seen better days and that came with a lot of mileage. Eltee was waiting for her at the top of the boarding ramp almost as if it had never moved from the spot since she left but of course, the evidence of her oily engine begged to differ. She dropped her stuff, blaster, newest ship upgrades and coat, in the lounge and immediately went to inspect the damage.
It wasn't pretty.
With a sigh, she sat down in front of the engine and went to work, Eltee at her side, handing her the tools. It was making sad beeps, knowing that it had done something wrong. While Meera was busy cleaning the oil stains with an old rag, the droid disappeared off to the galley and after some crashes and clangs, it came back holding a full glass and handed it to its master. The astromech was in the habit of making smoothies for the smuggler, mostly as a gesture of apology which happened more often than not. Meera sniffed the concoction then took a small sip and was relieved to find out it was edible. Due to the droid's lack of taste buds, it did not always know what was good to have in a smoothie and what was not. Several times, she had ended up with raw eggs, curry, cauliflower and way too much salt in her drink and on one particular occasion, even a button.
"You know I can never stay mad at you."
With a soft smile, she gently nudged her droid in camaraderie which then proceeded to beep in excitement and roll around in circles. Once it was done rejoicing, Meera beckoned for its help in undoing its mistake and together the engine was cleaned much quicker than if Meera had done it alone. The oil had permanently stained the engine but it would soon become invisible among all the other stains, and the smuggler had managed to get her hydrospanner back from the cogs. It was a little bent but could probably still work.
She also installed the new hyperdrive upgrades and put the credits she had left in her cache in her chambers. She was hoping to buy a speeder one of those days to facilitate her job when she was planetside.
Just like her blaster, her ship was not much to look at. A modified Corellian cruiser that had seen better days and that came with a lot of mileage. Eltee was waiting for her at the top of the boarding ramp almost as if it had never moved from the spot since she left but of course, the evidence of her oily engine begged to differ. She dropped her stuff, blaster, newest ship upgrades and coat, in the lounge and immediately went to inspect the damage.
It wasn't pretty.
With a sigh, she sat down in front of the engine and went to work, Eltee at her side, handing her the tools. It was making sad beeps, knowing that it had done something wrong. While Meera was busy cleaning the oil stains with an old rag, the droid disappeared off to the galley and after some crashes and clangs, it came back holding a full glass and handed it to its master. The astromech was in the habit of making smoothies for the smuggler, mostly as a gesture of apology which happened more often than not. Meera sniffed the concoction then took a small sip and was relieved to find out it was edible. Due to the droid's lack of taste buds, it did not always know what was good to have in a smoothie and what was not. Several times, she had ended up with raw eggs, curry, cauliflower and way too much salt in her drink and on one particular occasion, even a button.
"You know I can never stay mad at you."
With a soft smile, she gently nudged her droid in camaraderie which then proceeded to beep in excitement and roll around in circles. Once it was done rejoicing, Meera beckoned for its help in undoing its mistake and together the engine was cleaned much quicker than if Meera had done it alone. The oil had permanently stained the engine but it would soon become invisible among all the other stains, and the smuggler had managed to get her hydrospanner back from the cogs. It was a little bent but could probably still work.
She also installed the new hyperdrive upgrades and put the credits she had left in her cache in her chambers. She was hoping to buy a speeder one of those days to facilitate her job when she was planetside.
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Master Buggie
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Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
The red jacketed lady may have seen a furry sentient following her, but that sentient was just one of hundreds of billions of beings going about their daily business. If she had really wanted to see who was pursuing her, she should have looked to the skies, where a pudgy, green Toydarian hovered above. The red jacket was easy to spot, and the Toydarian was certain that he had followed straight to her ship on a nearby landing pad. It was time to call in the cavalry.
---
Some time later, a knock sounded on the boarding ramp of the freighter. A squad of Coruscant spaceport security personnel stood outside the starship, a set of gravity locks on hoversleds, ready to be clamped on the landing struts of the ship. They had been notified that captain of this vessel was responsible for the recent assault on a Galactic Alliance guard and, if this proved to be true, they would impound the vessel and arrest the captain.
"Open up in there! Coruscant security!" the sergeant in charge of the squad ordered as he knocked on the hull of the ship.
---
Some time later, a knock sounded on the boarding ramp of the freighter. A squad of Coruscant spaceport security personnel stood outside the starship, a set of gravity locks on hoversleds, ready to be clamped on the landing struts of the ship. They had been notified that captain of this vessel was responsible for the recent assault on a Galactic Alliance guard and, if this proved to be true, they would impound the vessel and arrest the captain.
"Open up in there! Coruscant security!" the sergeant in charge of the squad ordered as he knocked on the hull of the ship.
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Meera Holst
- Registered Member
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:46 am
Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
After a stressful day, Meera was just hoping to get off this planet into space as soon as possible to kick back and relax. She had started the navicomputer on calculating a route to Dromund Kaas where a job was waiting for her but it was still loading and would be for another 30 minutes. Bored out of her mind, she was playing pazaak with Eltee who was a surprisingly worthy opponent. Considering his computer core could predict every possible outcome, no matter the state of its memory chip, it was no wonder.
She was about to win (her first victory out of 7 games played) when a knock resounded across the whole ship.
"Open up in there! Coruscant security!"
She swore under her breath, both because the authorities were at her door and because she would not get the occasion to win the game. Eltee looked almost gleeful at that prospect. She dumped her deck on the table and went to check the security cameras. Five men armed and with restraints, wearing security uniforms were waiting for her at the entrance of her ship. And she could determine from their impatient faces that they were not going to be waiting very long if she did not open the door for them.
She lowered the boarding ramp. She had left her coat and weapons in the lounge as she wanted to appear as non-threatening as possible. It would do no good to start a fight, the odds were not exactly in her favour. Instead, she had a pouch full of credits attached to her belt, behind her back. In case of emergencies.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?"
"You are suspected to have assaulted an officer of the Galactic Alliance and we are here to investigate."
Without waiting for an invitation, they entered the freighter and divided to look around for clues. To be honest, Meera was not sure about what they were looking for. It's not like she would be stupid enough to keep evidence that would link her to a crime. Plus, she just beat the guy up. There was no murder weapon or trophy of the deed to be found.
Meera let them do as they pleased, looking nonchalant while still showing some signs of stress on her face. Even innocent people did not feel peaceful when authorities scrutinized their homes. The leader of the squad stayed at her side, observing her, looking like a typical officer with his uniform, a frown, and a rigid posture as befit a man of his rank.
"What is your business here on Coruscant?"
"I was completing a job, I sell items from outerworld."
The best lies were always based in truth as her mentor liked to say. There was nothing on her ship to disprove her claim, her illegal merchandise was hidden away in a smuggler's cache and instead she had many exotic gizmos all around her ship that she had encountered on numerous travels and that she kept for her covers. One guard found her blaster next to her coat. Possession of a fire arm when not in a weapons-free zone was not illegal and, with further observation, the guard noticed it was useless and would never fire a shot anyway. Some frantic beeping from the lounge indicated that someone had found Eltee. That someone was probably the same guard who came to report his findings to his officer.
"We're gonna have to look into your droid's and ship's camera feed."
The smuggler gave them the go-ahead but once again, there was nothing to be found. She certainly felt glad at the moment to not have taken the astromech with her to meet up with her buyer. After a few minutes, all the guards came back to where their superior was waiting, all having nothing to report.
"We're gonna need to take you in for questioning. If you would come with us now."
The officer grabbed her wrist but thankfully there was no use for restraints yet. But still, going to the station was a no-can-do. Thankfully, she still had an ace up her sleeve.
"I do apologize, officer, but I am expected on Ord Mantell and I don't know what exactly happened with that Republic Alliance soldier but I had nothing to do with it. You've searched my ship, clearly I've nothing to hide so you could just... Let me go on my way."
She handed him the pouch, much heavier than the one she had tried to bribe the Alliance soldier with considering there were several men. This time, there were less chances her tactic would fail. People joined the Galactic Alliance not for the credits, but because they thought it was the right thing to do and so their loyalty was greater than their greed. But Coruscant security? Let's just say the government was running out of money to rebuild the planet and a guard's salary was not as impressive as it used to be.
The officer glanced at his subordinates and, as predicted, took the pouch.
"You look like an upstanding citizen and there was nothing on the ship anyway. We'll let you go but be careful next time."
Meera smiled sweetly at them.
"Of course. How about you buy yourselves a round for your good work. On me."
She was about to win (her first victory out of 7 games played) when a knock resounded across the whole ship.
"Open up in there! Coruscant security!"
She swore under her breath, both because the authorities were at her door and because she would not get the occasion to win the game. Eltee looked almost gleeful at that prospect. She dumped her deck on the table and went to check the security cameras. Five men armed and with restraints, wearing security uniforms were waiting for her at the entrance of her ship. And she could determine from their impatient faces that they were not going to be waiting very long if she did not open the door for them.
She lowered the boarding ramp. She had left her coat and weapons in the lounge as she wanted to appear as non-threatening as possible. It would do no good to start a fight, the odds were not exactly in her favour. Instead, she had a pouch full of credits attached to her belt, behind her back. In case of emergencies.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?"
"You are suspected to have assaulted an officer of the Galactic Alliance and we are here to investigate."
Without waiting for an invitation, they entered the freighter and divided to look around for clues. To be honest, Meera was not sure about what they were looking for. It's not like she would be stupid enough to keep evidence that would link her to a crime. Plus, she just beat the guy up. There was no murder weapon or trophy of the deed to be found.
Meera let them do as they pleased, looking nonchalant while still showing some signs of stress on her face. Even innocent people did not feel peaceful when authorities scrutinized their homes. The leader of the squad stayed at her side, observing her, looking like a typical officer with his uniform, a frown, and a rigid posture as befit a man of his rank.
"What is your business here on Coruscant?"
"I was completing a job, I sell items from outerworld."
The best lies were always based in truth as her mentor liked to say. There was nothing on her ship to disprove her claim, her illegal merchandise was hidden away in a smuggler's cache and instead she had many exotic gizmos all around her ship that she had encountered on numerous travels and that she kept for her covers. One guard found her blaster next to her coat. Possession of a fire arm when not in a weapons-free zone was not illegal and, with further observation, the guard noticed it was useless and would never fire a shot anyway. Some frantic beeping from the lounge indicated that someone had found Eltee. That someone was probably the same guard who came to report his findings to his officer.
"We're gonna have to look into your droid's and ship's camera feed."
The smuggler gave them the go-ahead but once again, there was nothing to be found. She certainly felt glad at the moment to not have taken the astromech with her to meet up with her buyer. After a few minutes, all the guards came back to where their superior was waiting, all having nothing to report.
"We're gonna need to take you in for questioning. If you would come with us now."
The officer grabbed her wrist but thankfully there was no use for restraints yet. But still, going to the station was a no-can-do. Thankfully, she still had an ace up her sleeve.
"I do apologize, officer, but I am expected on Ord Mantell and I don't know what exactly happened with that Republic Alliance soldier but I had nothing to do with it. You've searched my ship, clearly I've nothing to hide so you could just... Let me go on my way."
She handed him the pouch, much heavier than the one she had tried to bribe the Alliance soldier with considering there were several men. This time, there were less chances her tactic would fail. People joined the Galactic Alliance not for the credits, but because they thought it was the right thing to do and so their loyalty was greater than their greed. But Coruscant security? Let's just say the government was running out of money to rebuild the planet and a guard's salary was not as impressive as it used to be.
The officer glanced at his subordinates and, as predicted, took the pouch.
"You look like an upstanding citizen and there was nothing on the ship anyway. We'll let you go but be careful next time."
Meera smiled sweetly at them.
"Of course. How about you buy yourselves a round for your good work. On me."
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Master Buggie
- Staff
- Posts: 1053
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 7:03 pm
Re: Another day, another job [Closed]
"But sir!" one of the security personnel protested, "What about the contraband we found?"
Playfully weighing the pouch, the officer in charge of the squad feigned ignorance, "Contraband? What contraband? Why was this not reported sooner?"
The security guard produced a vial of spice, safely secured within an evidence bag and presented it to the officer in charge. Clearly, this was planted on the ship for the purposes of extorting an even heftier fine. It was obvious that this charade had been played on unsuspecting captains before.
After inspecting the evidence, the officer in charge looked at the red-jacketed female and shook his head, "Oh ho, missy, this is a serious offense. Even this small vial of spice is enough to cost you fines, jail time..."
He left the rest unsaid, obviously hoping for a larger bribe for he and his companions. These were crooked security personnel, clearly, and they were exactly the type of corrupt civil servants that the Galactic Alliance had been fighting against ever since the planet had been liberated. While the Galactic Alliance gained their fair share of prestige from liberating the former capital world, there was a significant delay in the time it was taking to change the planet's collective consciousness. Inequality and absolute tyranny had been the norm for decades, and the liberation brought on corruption, scavenging, and lawlessness as the world struggled to rebuild after the damage and destruction. The lofty ideals of the Galactic Alliance still had not filtered all the way down to this group of security personnel, and it seemed they were still in the mindset of doing whatever it took to gain a few extra credits in these hard times.
Two more individuals strode up the boarding ramp of the ship, at that moment, though, halting the security officials in the middle of their routine.
"I think that's enough," the Bothan from the market interrupted, holding a recorder in one hand, "That is, unless you want the same Galactic Alliance Guard you're allegedly here to support breathing down your neck."
"And no funny business," a large thick-browed, low-toned Quarren growled out, smashing his fist into his other palm as a warning.
The spaceport security personnel looked as if they were going to protest. Finally, the officer in charge pocketed the pouch of credits he had received from the captain of the vessel as one final act of defiance and gestured for the rest of his squad to follow him off of the ship. As their shoulders nudged those of the Bothan and Quarren on their way out, the two blue jumpsuit-clad sentients remained.
"I'm sorry that happened to you," the Bothan said once they were all alone, "Fortunately, I had someone following you after the market incident, since we had heard that certain security officers were extorting offworlders like this. Tell me, miss, what is your name?"
Playfully weighing the pouch, the officer in charge of the squad feigned ignorance, "Contraband? What contraband? Why was this not reported sooner?"
The security guard produced a vial of spice, safely secured within an evidence bag and presented it to the officer in charge. Clearly, this was planted on the ship for the purposes of extorting an even heftier fine. It was obvious that this charade had been played on unsuspecting captains before.
After inspecting the evidence, the officer in charge looked at the red-jacketed female and shook his head, "Oh ho, missy, this is a serious offense. Even this small vial of spice is enough to cost you fines, jail time..."
He left the rest unsaid, obviously hoping for a larger bribe for he and his companions. These were crooked security personnel, clearly, and they were exactly the type of corrupt civil servants that the Galactic Alliance had been fighting against ever since the planet had been liberated. While the Galactic Alliance gained their fair share of prestige from liberating the former capital world, there was a significant delay in the time it was taking to change the planet's collective consciousness. Inequality and absolute tyranny had been the norm for decades, and the liberation brought on corruption, scavenging, and lawlessness as the world struggled to rebuild after the damage and destruction. The lofty ideals of the Galactic Alliance still had not filtered all the way down to this group of security personnel, and it seemed they were still in the mindset of doing whatever it took to gain a few extra credits in these hard times.
Two more individuals strode up the boarding ramp of the ship, at that moment, though, halting the security officials in the middle of their routine.
"I think that's enough," the Bothan from the market interrupted, holding a recorder in one hand, "That is, unless you want the same Galactic Alliance Guard you're allegedly here to support breathing down your neck."
"And no funny business," a large thick-browed, low-toned Quarren growled out, smashing his fist into his other palm as a warning.
The spaceport security personnel looked as if they were going to protest. Finally, the officer in charge pocketed the pouch of credits he had received from the captain of the vessel as one final act of defiance and gestured for the rest of his squad to follow him off of the ship. As their shoulders nudged those of the Bothan and Quarren on their way out, the two blue jumpsuit-clad sentients remained.
"I'm sorry that happened to you," the Bothan said once they were all alone, "Fortunately, I had someone following you after the market incident, since we had heard that certain security officers were extorting offworlders like this. Tell me, miss, what is your name?"