Mission Log

Episode III: Beer, Blasters and Strippers

Date: 37:5:14 - 37:5:15

The Hammer arrived at the Gallas system and was greeted by the Invader, an Imperial Customs Nebulon-B Class Frigate. The Hammer informed both the Invader and the local Customs Office of their orders, and was able move freely in the system.

During the journey to Gallas from the Edryn system, Samic had decided that they needed to obtain the hyperspace route to Starforge station and to find a bolt-hole to lay low in should the need arise. To obtain this information it was decided that a group of the Nova Dragons would go on some 'shore leave' on Gallas IV and visit the seedy Ractar Starport. The Hammer docked with the Aimis Hub space station orbiting the planet and a group of the Nova Dragons boarded the station in disguise.

Whilst on the station the group visited 'Honest Jim's Tapcafe' and discovered the potency of some of the local spirits. From the Hub they transferred to the surface via a small shuttle, and landed in Ractar Starport. Once there, they got a taxi to the 'Legs Eleven' tapcafe, which had been recommended to them by 'Honest Jim'.

The tapcafe, in the heart of the Ractar district, features a 10m bar, female pole dancers from all over the galaxy, and it also offers some other more dubious services. Once the Nova Dragons settled down in their booth they started surveying the tapcafe's clientele for a likely group of people who were well 'connected'. After a few drinks Chaide and Samic mingled with the crowd that had gathered at the main stage, whilst the remaining Nova Dragons kept a sharp lookout. The pair was successful in getting involved with two separate groups and soon started forging new friendships.

After a particularly disturbing pole dance by two female Gamorreans, a group of shady looking characters entered the tapcafe. Alyssa, ever alert for danger, spotted the group and warned the others with her to keep an eye on them. The apparent leader of the group started a loud and abusive argument with one of the barmaids. Chaide, now alerted to the group's presence, eyed them carefully and watched the building tension with a keen interest. The leader of the group struck the barmaid hard across the face, and Chaide was immediately on his feet challenging the dangerous looking man. A brawl and gunfight ensued between the group and the Nova Dragons, resulting in another victory for the Nova Dragons. They later found out that the group they had fought was a local racketeering gang that had been harassing the tapcafe's owner for many months. Hailed as heroes by the tapcafe's owner and its clientele, the Nova Dragons' drinks for the rest of the night were on the house.

Chaide and some of the Nova Dragons spent the night with Chaide's new friends and managed to acquire a hyper route to Starforge station and a contact name for when they arrived - Lenar, a male Duros. Meanwhile, Samic and the remaining Nova Dragons enjoyed a pleasant card game with his new friends, and managed to acquire information regarding an abandoned Imperial space station located near the Fyris system.

Armed with their findings and a very bad hangover the Nova Dragons returned to the Hammer, which had been maintaining its cover as a customs vessel during the team's 'shore leave'.

Captain's Log:

<<37:5:15/NOV.DRA/CAP.LOG/>>

It begins.

We have entered Imperial held space now, the Gallas system to be precise. The level of tension I can feel throughout the ship has increased over the past few days. We've made our "introductions" with the local customs, more particularly the Invader, a Nebulon-B frigate. Despite some errors in the initial contact by myself, we have established the identity Hammer as a vessel on special orders. The news of our arrival should spread on Imperial channels, which will help to authenticate our cover. How long we can keep up the pretence…it's difficult to say.

Gallas IV seemed a good place to start some recon. It was strange to leave the ship and the identity of Captain Renner behind, but at the same time, there was a sense of freedom, I didn't even have to be Kethan Falor. He certainly wouldn't have got involved in the escapades that followed our arrival on planet! (Most of which I will not record, to preserve the dignity of the involved parties).

Chaide and Samic did a fine job, making contact with the local fringe; we now have leads to the Starforge shadow port, a group of smugglers and an abandoned Imperial space station, not bad for an outlay of around 5000 credits.

I'm still not sure that provoking a bar room brawl was the best way to go about it, but it DID feel good to know we had been part of breaking up a protection racket. The fight could easily have gone against us. They were well armed, and of murderous intent. We were under the influence of alcohol, and mostly packing whatever we could lay our hands on. It nearly cost me dearly. Kal says the bruising will subside in a few days. Chaide on the other hand… He has no physical injury worth speaking of, but when he came to my aid, I sensed, just for a fleeting moment, a dark shadow cross his future. He snapped a man's neck in two. Nearly twisted his head clean off. I spoke briefly with him afterwards, studied him as best my limited command of the Force will allow. I saw no sign of the shadow in his heart, just the scars that marked its passing. He'll pull through.

I'll have to take some lessons in self-defence from Chaide, I was too vulnerable, a liability in that situation.

We still have enough capital in reserve that we can afford to make a detour to this Imperial space station. It could provide a useful bolthole for a while, IF it's still in working order. And if it is, why did the Imps abandon it?

-Captain Kethan Falor