Aftermath Session XXVII

[baronsamedi]

It seems like every time we make a lot of money, someone with a bunch of friends comes and shoots up our ship. It happened again, and it’s getting predictable. Namri keeps saying that there is no such thing as luck. Frankly, I am starting to agree and think it is a conspiracy. Our funds are back where they were before we rescued the Motti girl, were paid to help her escape and sold all those droids to Ero. But at least we are alive.

We left Susevfi and headed to Socorro. I was hanging around with Aya and Elili when R5 came up and told me to be in my weapons position when we dropped out of hyperspace or he would weld my eyes shut while I slept. I gave him a swift kick and told him I would, and he buzzed off. Elili asked about it and I filled her in. She said he needed a memory wipe. I really hate to consider that since I promised I would not do that. He has been reliable so far at least. Jek contacted us a bit before leaving hyperspace and said to get to battlestations, so assumedly R5 said something to him.

[Editor’s note: I detected a ship tailing us leaving Susevfi just before we went into hyperspace. I could not be certain but suspected it was following us. I told Greegan this and he wisely warned Jek Hebrides. Jek Hebrides seems to know many languages why does he not speak something useful like Binary? –R5-D7]

When we dropped out we quickly found five ships bearing down on us. Jek tried to talk to them, and it turned out it was Captain Rhell and the Asteroid’s Blister, who we fought over Utapau. As Rhell was affiliated now with the Red Scourge, Jek advised him we had business with his boss. He advised Jek he could not allow that to happen, and shut the channel. It was dog-fighting time.

The Asteroid’s Blister brought four Skipray Blastboats with it; twice the number we fought at Utapau. That is a lot of firepower. While we initially opened up and scored several hits, most just hit shields. The Blastboats split up and attacked several targets. While our shields took a beating and Sigma got hit by an Ion cannon, we were not doing badly at first. By combining firepower we managed to take down one of the Blastboats. However, apparently Rhell then ordered them to focus fire on us, as they began to almost ignore Sigma and Sheela, who were pummeling them as best they could but the Asteroid’s Blister, being a heavily modified Severis-Class Courier and those Skipray Blastboats were not soft targets. Every time I hit I seemed to just damage shields. The combined firepower of the four ships easily overpowered Namri’s ability to pilot even with the Force she talks so much about. We got pummeled by lasers and torpedoes, and the Sunrise took major damage. Nika’s quick work was probably all that kept us moving. Sheela and Sigma combined firepower on one Blastboat and I managed to take it down, but I really had a bit part compared to the hotshots.

It was hard to see from my vantage point but it seemed like the Sigma and Sheela stuck to combining fire on the Blastboats, which did serve to slowly whittle them down. Khayall, Tycho and I took potshots where we could. When we whittled them down a bit Namri was able to adapt and have us take…less damage. One Blastboat when down then another, though they eventually had to deal with Sigma and Sheela. One got a lucky shot and managed to damage Sheela’s Torrent. Still our flying aces, with support from the Sunrise, managed to bring the attacking Blastboats down, even with the Asteroid’s Blister shooting missiles at them. That left the Asteroid’s Blister, which attempted a parting shot then fled. Sigma and Sheela both managed to hit it, but then Tycho got a one in a million shot in at long range which sent explosions crashing throughout the ship. It’s performance fell through the floor as apparently our Clone Commander did major damage. It flew out of the range of the Sunrise, being terribly fast, but Sheela and Sigma were on it. Sigma then Sheela blasted the Asteroid’s Blister and it exploded even as it tried to flee with its tail between its legs.

Given they did not see lightsabers I tend to be reluctant for scorched earth, but the Asteroid’s Blister was showing up with double the Blastboats from the previous time. It had to go. We did collect the black box for the bounty on Rhell, and headed to Socorro.

Elili was terrified during the fight poor thing. She ran up to my turret after the fight, and I gave her a hug. Elili is such a sweetheart.

After landing, Jek, Khayall and I went to talk to Linjen Mok again who, coincidentally, had a repair shop. He agreed to see the Sunrise for repairs. It was really at that point I realized how close the Sunrise came to being destroyed…she was in awful shape. I went on back in to keep an eye on Shella Motti while Jek hung around out in the shop (I think he thought he was helping) and Khayall, Greegan, and R5 worked. Remarkably, they got it repaired in about nine hours (Mok has a good shop, droids, Ugnaughts, the whole nine yards) and the contact was made with that Kubaz dude we saw in the bar last time we were on Socorro. I figured he was up to something. Sheela’s Torrent was also repaired, having been hit by more than an Ion blast. Repairs took a huge chunk out of our funds though, leaving us where we were…well…last time we were on Socorro.

[Editor’s Note: While Master Dumaw is correct there are as many innocent Kubaz as intelligent Gungans, altruistic Hutts or Snivvians with anything approaching a grasp on reality, he left out some details. The Kubaz arrived and spoke to Mok, and Jek Hebrides waited patiently but conspicuously so the Kubaz would know he was the one to talk to, not, say, Greegan. They had a discussion; it turned out to no surprise of ours they found the intelligence correct, and they did in fact crush the Furies, though their leaders escaped. Jek intimated he had additional information, and told them Rhell was in league with the empire. He noted the clash, and presented the black box when asked about Rhell’s whereabouts. The Kubaz wanted the box, but Jek demurred, saying they would need the Bounty to help pay repairs. The Kubaz countered that his bosses would pay more for proof of a spy, so Jek in a gesture of trust offered the box. They arranged a means of communication and parted ways. –R5-D7]

Before leaving Soco-Jarel Spaceport, Greegan wanted to visit the Black Dust Tavern. Jek, Khayall, Sheela and I joined him. Khayall split off enroute to go spy on something after whispering to Jek. He met us inside. Greegan went and talked to that Nosaurian who was still drinking heavily. Maybe he wanted to sell him a mechanical liver. We found fewer folks giving us the hairy eyeball this time, and eventually Khayall came in and told us he got buffaloed by a bald imperious human, likely one involved in imperial intelligence, or at least the navy. Based on his description, Jek agreed. He apparently had been watching us closely and disapproved of our involvement with the Red Scourge. Imagine. As we were being actively spied upon, Jek noted we would have to be more careful. After we returned to the Sunrise, we did a sweep for tracking or listening devices but found none.

Of course, given the considerable damage we took, they may have been among the parts scrapped.

We are now en route back to Susevfi to report to Ero. Taking a circuitous route just in case. Need to not be too paranoid, though, or I will end up like R5. No one wants that.