Episode IV: Seeking Refuge
Part I
The Kraken's Kiss escapes Derra IV by jumping into an uncharted hyperspace route towards the Vondarc System, unfortunately they are followed into hyperspace by an Imperial Capital Ship. With a damaged ship already low on supplies, and most surrounding systems being unfriendly Imperial planets the crew decides to take their chances with the independent world of Vondarc. Baric's astrogation skill and piloting brings the ship out of hyperspace much closer to the planet than the Imperials were able to, giving the crew time to communicate with Vondarc traffic control before the Imperials can reach them. While monitoring the Imperial Communications The Kraken's Kiss talks their way into being granted permission to land at a starport while The Imperial ship is turned away. The crew quickly discovers that they are not as free and clear as they thought, as they are escorted to their docking bay and searched by customs officials. With no incidents in the docking bay the crew is brought to a meeting with Dalo Namore, a young Zabrak with dark gray skin and long white hair who appears to be the authority which allowed them to land and controls their ability to leave. Dalo shows that he is well informed and eludes to Malloc's bounty by the Imperials before further expressing his distrust of the crew, he has done them a favor now they need to pay him back. Dalo proposes the crew eliminate an Imperial Intelligence threat on Vondarc for him, while he holds their ship as hostage, completing this task will pay Dalo back form giving them refuge from the Imperials and earn enough trust to have freedom to come and go as they please.
The crew is provided with intelligence reports on the Imperial agents, which shows the the Imperials have executed a series of terrorist attacks and bombings on the planet with apparent government targets. Forensic reports show the agents are using homemade bombs for their attacks rather than military equipment which leads the crew to search the surface slums of the city for leads, Gand is able to get information on a smuggling crew who is renowned for getting in and out of the walled metropolises. Suspecting the Imperial agents are outside of the walls and need a way in and out themselves the group searches the infrastructure tunnels of the undercity, which puts them on the trail of the smugglers. Unfortunately, the crew is not as stealthy as hoped and give themselves away which leads to a series of small shootouts in the tunnels. The crew eliminates the thugs who were sent back in search of them, however when they try to communicate over the commlink they immediately give themselves away.
The smugglers are then able to exit the tunnels and lock the exterior door before the crew can catch up to them, however Malloc is able to slice past the electronic lock and override the physical locking mechanism without much trouble. When the crew opens the vault door to exit the city they discover the smugglers are waiting for them and an extensive shootout ensues, though the crew takes some damage themselves they manage to gundown the remaining smugglers.
Experience Awarded: 15
Part II
After the encounter with the smugglers the crew searches the bodies and the surrounding area, they find a datapad on one of the smugglers, but are initially unable to break the code to access it. Gand searches for a trail to follow and discovers a previously used path as well as a repulsor sled full of bomb making materials and other various supplies. The crew decides to make camp for the rest of the night, hiding the sled to come back to and spending some time disassembling the datapad which allows them to get access to the data. On the datapad they discover the smugglers had a meeting point for the following evening, though the other party is unidentified it is the best lead they have.
The crew makes their way through the wilderness of Vondarc and discover that it is no easy trek, eventually having to back track and stick to the carved out path. Along the way they encounter unfriendly wildlife in the form of a giant, predatory feline creature. Luckily the group is able to gun it down before it does any serious damage. Continuing on to the meeting point the group attempts to sneak up and spring and ambush, but instead find themselves the ones being ambushed by a pair of well armed Imperial agents. Malloc is nearly gunned down before anyone can react, but once the shoot out ensues the crew's superior numbers prove the difference and the Imperial agents are stunned and captured alive.
Searching the agents yields a datapad on each one as well as the weapons they were carrying and an activated tracking beacon, the group decides to wake up the agents and march them back towards the city after being unable to crack open the datapads. Once again the crew finds the Vondarc wilderness unfriendly, but more prepared this time they shoot down two of the large cats before they can cause much damage. The Imperial agents test their restraints during the commotion, but are unable to get free and the crew efficiently dispatches the cats without providing an opportunity for them to flee.
The crew returns to the city walls, only to find that the vault door they had exited has been closed and locked and this time is not so easy to crack in to, even more disturbing they discover the door has been rigged with explosives. Deciding that the less risky bet at this point is to contact Dalo, they do so and explain the situation, asking for him to pick them up from outside of the city. He agrees, though expresses he doesn't quite trust them yet, and shows up with a heavy military escort for protection and the turning over of the Imperial agents. Meeting with Dalo goes smoothly, and both parties freely exchange information about the mission and what happened as the crew is transported back to their now repaired ship. Dalo tells them they are free to come and go as they please on the planet, and offers to share the information from the Imperial datapad with the crew, though Malloc conceals that the have two datapads and only turns one over.
Dalo tells the crew that the bounty on Malloc has been raised to 30,000 credits, but he is still wanted captured alive rather than killed. Also, the Imperial agents on the planet were alerted of his arrival on Vondarc, most likely by an encrypted transmission sent from the capital ship that followed them through hyperspace. The crew now fully realizes how wanted Malloc is by the Empire, worse yet the Empire is aware that they are traveling in a Firespray and their general location.
Malloc is also able to eventually crack the datapad he kept and discovers some information about the activities of the Imperial Intelligence on this planet. He finds that Vondarc's government has been covertly supporting the Sullustian rebellion against the Empire, not necessarily in support of The Rebel Alliance, but as an effort to create more independent systems like themselves in the area without declaring a side in the growing conflict. Imperial Intelligence was on Vondarc attempting to eliminate the leaders of this support as well as build public support for isolationist policies which Vondarc is typically known for. The group sticks around long enough to resupply, and decide where they should be off to next...
Gand's Oath Obligation is reduced by 1 due the confidence gained by taking such dangerous targets alive.
Experience Awarded: 15