Chapter 1: The Mines of Trexel

The intersection appears to be a completely ordinary urban layout. Like any urban environment, firing positions and ambush opportunities abound, but there doesn't seem to be any troops in the area, other than the clearly visible squad. As for the squad, they're either green, or bored, or both, because their formation is fairly sloppy and they don't seem to really be paying attention. The workers however, seem nervous. As one glances about, he locks eyes with Hira, catching her observing him. He motions to grab the attention of the Stormtroopers, but before they can react, one the Officers steps forward. He points toward a woman who is standing closest to the operation and the Stormtroopers respond to move her farther away from the operation. The Stormtroopers return to position as the last of the boxes is loaded. The Officers and Stormtroopers load into one of the haulers and roll off.

As the party moves up towards the warehouse, one of the men sitting outside the Cantina shouts, his words slightly slurred from the drink in front of him, "Hey! What do you lot think you're doing? Despite what the Empire," and he spits as he says that word, "may say, that's still my refinery. I may not be able to keep them out, but I sure as heck can keep a bunch of wanna-be thugs out."

The man's surly demeanor softens as Lotus mentions his dislike for the Empire. "Maybe I was a little hasty. Sit down, sit down. Let me buy you fine lads a drink." He motions to the waitress who brings another bottle and three glasses. "What am I refining you ask? Nothing, that's what I'm refining. Most of the refineries shut down when my grandfather was a boy, back when the mines went dry. But you gotta remember, dry is a relative term. Sure, there's not enough carvanium left here for the big boys like Vulca or Turlin to run a large scale operation, but there's plenty to keep the locals fed and happy. That's what I had been doing, before those Imperials showed up. They come, outta nowhere, and just open up all the old mines. At first we thought it was a blessing, a lot of good men went back to work. But, if they're trying to farm durasteel, they're doing it all wrong, because they haven't brought a single truck of ore back to the city since they got here. And I would know, since my refinery is really the only one left that can handle raw carvanium in any quantity. So I had to shut down. Then last week they swoop in and start scavenging parts from my machines without a word as to why. Some officer told me they're done with my stuff after today, but I'm too depressed to go in and see what they even left me."

"Burns is what everyone calls me. They're mining something, that's for damn sure. This planet has been occupied for thousands of years, and the only thing anyone ever found of value was the carvanium. So that's what I assume they're mining. But it's been months since anyone not in a white helmet has come back to town. The ships come and go, so they have plenty of opportunity to take stuff off, but it doesn't make sense. Raw ore is heavier and less valuable than refined ore, and my equipment isn't anything the Empire couldn't make in a day on a hundred worlds. If anyone knows what's going on out in the mines, they ain't told me."