Stray Dogs Episode 2 - Going Knowhere

When you are ready to arrive at our destination we will begin here.

Jorbo's turf within Knowhere includes a casino named "The Lucky Star". That is where Chuck was instructed to bring the specimen encased in the special thermos - it was also where the crew of the Ronin was told to bring the researcher "Ashley"

The spaceport (just inside the mouth of the long dead Celestial head) will permit you to land (the fee is 10 credits a day, they also top off fuel, replenish energy cells, dump waste, etc. This extra service comes to another 50 credits. As with every spaceport, they are not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen property/ships.

You could try to negotiate...

The hangar office is located on the central hub that also contains the lift to the rest of the station. The hanger bays must have been hollowed out from where the Celestial's teeth once were, and while everything is outfitted with gangways, power and such, the outer walls are clearly petrified stone-flesh. A balding demihuman holds a data pad and crew of recently landed ships cue up to pay him. He chomps an old cigar as he apathetically deals with each customer.

The pit boss looks at you... "Lookit pal, 50 creds. Gimme 30 now and 20 later.

"Look pal, if you can't afford the docking bays you'll have to park outside - there is a shuttle service into Knowhere for 1 credit a person. The Docking Authority is not responsible for damage or theft to ships parked outside. Parking is found around the ear."

The Lucky Star was also where you were to settle with Kilter regarding delivery of Chuck.

"Outlook Not So Good" The face replies.

You make your way to the Lucky Star, it's a massive structure that lines one of the walls of the inner skull. Hotel, combat arena and casino. Outside the casino con men, hustlers, pimps and food fenders vie for your credits before you enter Jorbo's domain.

The crowd is pretty thick and you occasionally bump into others.

Please make perception checks, you may add alertness or thievery if you have them.

S'skaar notices a furry looking alien attempt (and fail) to pick Chuck's pocket. It looks like the alien is planning on blending back in with the crowd after his blown attempt.

The cat faced..girl?...is rather nimble and tumbles away from you into the crowd.

Saru can try a perception check if he wishes.... You must succeed with greater than a 2

You make your way inside where it is much more peaceful. You are buffeted by music, the smell of exotic foods and womens' perfume, and chatter of gamblers at various game tables. A protocol droid approaches, offering to take your coats, a chrome plated combat droid next to him offers (demands?) to take your weapons.

Chuck will need to make a contested MND + DX + thievery vs the droid's MND + IN + Alertness (Assuming it doesn't have some sort of weapon detection function).

THANK YOU, SIR....THANK YOU, SIR.... the combat droid says as it collects your weapons.

The protocol droid goes on and on about the games, food and activities offered by the Lucky Star.

THANK YOU, SIR

The Protocol droid informs you of the spa package available catering to patrons hailing anything from frozen to desert worlds.

The droid look at Chuck and S'skaar, THANK YOU, SIR....THANK YOU, SIR...

He doesn't notice your hold out weapons!

You are each given a token to turn in to retrieve your weapons

The casino floor has lots to offer the space weary traveler and even though it's a little seedy, it is a welcome change from the Ronin and the zombie infested corridors of the research facility.

There are two restaurants - one 'high end' and one buffet, 2 night clubs (one features thumping dance music and the other is more of a bar), a theater, gladiator arena, a shopping mall (no weapons!), a spa and of course all sorts of gambling tables and games.

Chuck sees a stairway that leads to the offices. Standing on the upper walkway, looking over the gaming floor, is Kilter, a Borgoz representative of Jorbo's.

You all make you way up the stairs. Kilter greets you with a smile "Gentlemen, welcome. Jorbo is speaking to another client right now. Follow me.

He turns to guide you through a very decorative door that is clearly a blast door. Two bouncers part to let you in.

You follow the hulking Borgoz into the private lounge. Here you find a private bar which is much more darkly lit. There are patrons in small groups, talking in hushed tones. As you enter most of them look up to see who has come in.

Kilter points to a corner booth, "Have a seat" he turns to an attractive Humavari waitress, "Drinks on the house for my friends, here."

You follow the hulking Borgoz into the private lounge. Here you find a private bar which is much more darkly lit. There are patrons in small groups, talking in hushed tones. As you enter most of them look up to see who has come in.

Kilter points to a corner booth, "Have a seat" he turns to an attractive Humavari waitress, "Drinks on the house for my friends, here."

Kilter sits down with you - "Thank you for retrieving our courier but I've heard that the research base was destroyed. We didn't ask for that to happen - what did you guys do?"

Not being one for technology or data, Kilter waves over a droid who studies the data for him.
"IT WOULD APPEAR THE SKAL-AZ CLAIMS ARE VALID" it replies.

"Ok, we don't like drawing undue Imperial attention to our activities, as long as you think you weren't identified..." he then turns to Chuck. "and were you successful in retrieving the specimen?"

Chuck smiles and places the thermos on the table. "Kilter, I'd love to pour you a steaming mug of what's in here". Before Kilter can take the canister, he pulls it back. "Now, now...let's enjoy our drinks. Me and my friends here have a few questions."

Taking a bolt of his whiskey, Chuck wipes his lip with the back of his hand and continues.

"What's old Jorbo want with this rock? He doesn't strike me as a geologist? It has some real nasty side effects, turns people into deadites."

Kilter frowns. "I don't ask questions about Jorbo's bid'ness and neither should you!" The Borgoz turns to the rest of the group. 3 grand, like we agreed. He reaches into his vest pocket and retrieves a small stack of e-coins. Each i worth 500cr, totaling 3,000. He slides the stack towards you.

Kilter looks at you all and says "Jorbo is pleased with the speed your performed your assignment. He's willing to take 3,000 off of your debt and give you a bonus of 1,000 credits as he assumes you need currency"

"Now, about the rock"

(OCC: Does anyone have any moral issues with giving a crime lord a zombie producing asteroid?)

Kilter moves a stack of creds onto the table. "5 thousand, as we agreed, Chuck" he says as he snaps his fingers. A bouncer approaches and stands by him.

Chuck looks around. "That seems fair. " he pushes the thermos over to Kilter's side of the table.

Kilter goes to open it

"Ah, ah ah, I wouldn't do that. That little piece of meteorite managed to turn a whole station of Imperials into the walking dead. You'll want to treat that thing with a bit more respect than your big paws could manage"

Kilter stops. "Very well" and the exchange is made.

"Well boys, I say we head out and gamble away our pay, give it back to Jorbo one hand at a time!" Chuck smiles at all of you (nodding towards the door).

He chugs his drink, pockets the creds and gets up. Urging the rest of you to come along. As you step out of the bar he turns to the rest of you "I think you guys need a face man on the Ronin, I think I'm right for the job. To show my team spirit, here" He digs in his pocket and hands each of you 1,000 creds. "and now, we should be going...like off this rock."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about Jorbo making any zombies." Chuck smiles. "On our way here I spaced the rock, sent it towards a sun."

Meanwhile, Kilter stares at the themos. Eventually, curiosity gets the best of him and he opens it, finding a small cube.

He picks it up, and it hums to life with blue light.

"I think we've been scammed' he says, staring at the face on the cube...

"You may rely on it" the cube replies...

END OF CHAPTER II

Chuck decides to catch a tramp freighter and leave you out of his doublecross of Jorbo. He promises to catch up to you and the rest of the Ronin Crew again sometime.

You are welcome to explore Knowhere

Shops, spa, casino....etc

You are free to explore Knowhere or head out on the Ronin...

There is a big open market near where you parked the ship. Traders hawking all sorts of things.

I'm ready when you are - you can either do more in Knowhere or head out on the Ronin...

It is a mini chiller, a device you could jury rig to 1. keep a container cold (for food, medicine, etc). Keep an environmental suit cold, etc. Basically a spare part that you can use somewhere else.

You gather the gear you are thinking of selling and make your way down to the market. On the way, leaving the casino area, you retrieve your weapons from the security bots.

The market area is a bit more 'rough and tumble' than the casino district. Food stalls selling questionable alien foods, merchants hawking strange objects, seedy looking shoppers who eye everyone carefully. It feels good to be reunited with your blasters and blades.

You come across "Pav Bhaji's Junk You Need" a large stall with all sorts of engineering gear, space suits, etc. A sign says "Trade for cash, 1/2 price. Store Credit 3/4 price." A Skal'az merchant in a rubber apron, sporting a cyber-eye and thick glasses with multiple swing out lenses smiles a toothy grin at you as you approach.

(OCC: Here you can sell at half listed price or trade for 3/4 listed price. He has everything in the book non-weapon wise).

Pav looks at the big Borgoz - "Hey big burly man, how about some Payne? Make you better fighter! You can handle the rest, you Borgoz! You heal!" he says, holding up some little pills.

So you are making your purchases when you are approached by a human male wearing worn looking coveralls.

"I'm looking for a crew who can get things done." He says, looking around carefully.

Behind him is another man with a shaved head and yellow shirt. Beside him is a white canine.

I am looking for a group to liberate scores of fellow miners who are slaved by the Empire, being forced to mine Talium day and night for the Empire's war machine. I have already recruited this warrior, but this operation will need more - people like yourselves.


S'skaar knows that talium is an explosive substance that is mined in solid form and refined into a highly volatile liquid, used for fuel and making explosives.

Yours!

The man in coveralls looks around carefully. "This place has ears, let us talk in the cantina. Meet us there in one hour, finish your trading." He says as he nods toward a ramshackle looking tavern in one corner.

In one corner of the market you see a junk yard of sorts. There is an old fighter, a shuttle, engines and other parts walled off by panels, wings and other pieces of space junk. Rajma Dal's Spacer Imporium is spelled out in parts and tools on a sign over the entrance way

Tchock scans the place. He quickly spots a quadruped robot with large, bear trap like mouth filled with metal teeth. It's yellow eyes watch everyone who is walking the rows of junk.

An Omikroner (goblin like alien with a brainy head - known for being space merchants) greets you as you enter.
"Welcome to my shop! Is there anything I can help you with?" he looks right at Hotwire, who's out in front of the group and salivating at the opportunities.

OK, there are some newly published space ship rules but I will not be able to translate until summer. So I am handling this just like magic items in DS (Pg 100).

So if you are looking to improve the ships, attack, defense, etc purchase as per making a magic item. Single Check (like medic) use the Single Check row (see the table on 100). Remember to take the total and x 2 for Rajma's profit.

I've got concussion missiles (500 CR) and proton torpedoes (800 CR). Rajma smiles as he shows you the hardware.

Haggling is an option MND+AU+rascal or something similar

Yep, that one was pretty cool.

So do you want to head to the cantina to meet your contact?

Purchases can be worked out in the chat thread.

After shopping at Rajma's the group makes its way to the cantina where their new employer told them to join him when they were ready to talk business.

THe cantina is bustling with all sorts of space travelers drinking exotic drinks and playing games of chance or huddling quietly over small tables in dark corners. The group soon spots the spacer in coveralls that had talked to them earlier. He is sitting at a large, circular booth with enough room for the group.

The gruff miner takes a swig of his drink and wipes his mouth with his arm. "Out in Voidspace there is a planet named Tarnara. It's a dusty, wind blasted rock of a planet, with hardly any native life, outside of borer worms. But Tarnara is a jewel to some, because it is filled with Talium . Back during the war, there was a mining complex owned by the Mazura Empire. During the cease-fire, the Empire was forced out of Voidspace.

The mines on Tarnara came under the control of the Genngrol Mining Company. Genngrol has been recruiting miners from all over Voidspace, promising good pay and benefits for hard work. The thing is, everyone who agrees and is taken to Tarnara disappears and is never heard from again.

Genngrol's mine security is extremely tight. Only ships allowed in or our are theirs. In a recent shipment of Talium, one barrel didn't hold the explosive liquid, it held a miner. He was dead, probably suffocated or starved, but you could tell he was weak and malnourished. He had whip marks on his back. They are treating them like slaves. I think Genngrol is a front for the Empire, who are breaking the cease-fire agreement indirectly by operating this mine in Voidspace.

I don't care about the politics, you can't expect the Empire to lay on its back for too long. What I do care about are the lives of those miners, 30 or so I'd say are there. I want someone to rescue them, and if the mining operation gets taken down, all the better.

Are you game?"

"I am happy to hear that" the man says. He then looks down in his drink "We don't have much to provide you in terms of payment. But you are welcome to what you salvage from Genngrol's base."

"Sure.. the mine complex has 4 mines. Near each mine is a barracks. There is also a building used to store the Tallium There's a tavern, or what used to be a tavern back in the day, called "Dusters". Lastly there is the mine HQ building. The mine HQ will have a radio that can reach Imperial space and bring reinforcements. Around the mine complex there are also mining vehicles, trucks and such. They probably require a mine ID to operate. I have some maps I can give you" he says as he pulls a data stick from his pocket.

MAP Showing the mines, barracks, military structures, HQ, and bar.

The miner smiles "Wonderful. Tarnara's weather is extremely windy with dust storms. It plays havoc with communications, but I suspect the Empire has early warning systems. You should land some distance away and move through the ravines towards the mining camp.

The atmosphere is breathable. Us miners get by mostly by simply wearing a scarf. If a big bad storm comes in, it's best to hunker down inside, though.

"If this was an official Imperial operation, there would be a few heavy cruisers in orbit, defending the planet. Since this is in the neutral zone, there's no space side support on hand.

I don't think they will detect you unless you fly really close to the mine complex, due to Tarnara's weather patterns. Now, if they send an alarm message, they could probably have support there in a few hours or less. It all depends on how bold they are in possibly breaking the peace treaty.

Any miners you rescue, bring to these coordinates"....he says as he slips you a piece of paper. "There will be a medical ship waiting here to pick them up".

The group makes its way back to the docks where the Ronin is waiting...

When you get to the gang plank controls. You can see the panel is open - meaning that someone is on board and raised the gang plank from the inside

You have 3 ways. Gang, airlock and an access hatch

When Saru lowers the gangplank, Chuck is there leaning up against the support pylon, smiling confidently.

Saru sighs dissapointed

:)

You have the coordinates for the planet you can plug into your hyperdrive.

Just as the Ronin closes it's gangplank and the ship taxis out of Knowhere, a squad of Jorbo's thugs move through the crowd. They watch the Ronin leave through the gaping maw of the Celestial's petrified mouth.

Soon you are in hyperspace, on your way to the planet Tarnara within Voidspace - neutral territory between the opposed forces of the League of Free Stars and the Empire.