Ask Dirty Deeds

[Carrick]

Carrick had always known he was going to have to sell his soul if he wanted to get elected but this was the first time he had had to give something more than just a list of vague promises. Blackwell Technologies was not a small company in the backwaters or a massive company too faceless to even remember that he owed them favors - no, they were at that happy medium. Big enough that they could give him a significant boost but small enough that they were actually going to want to lean on him in the future.

Marriage made out of necessity later and here he was.

Making a raid for the new designs a company had for droid integration into a starfighter was not something out of the usual for a company that wasn't afraid to get it's hands dirty from time to time. The fact that they asked him to tag along on a raid for a company that was very visible when it came to his voter base? It wasn't an accident that much was for damned sure.

Nubia Star Drives might not actually be based on Naboo - or even from the planet to begin with - but their designs were heavily in use around his homeplanet. Iconic didn't even begin to describe it. People thought about his planet when they thought about the sleek designs of the starfighters and the larger ships and the company's products were woven into the history of his planet.

People cared about the company.

Playing idly with his beard as he waited for his contact, he eyed the countryside of Nubia. It was peaceful but he doubted it would be for very much longer if their raid wasn't as stealthy as they wanted.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

Nubia was a nice planet that was easy on the eyes, and a double whammy is that Nubia is a planet known for their engineering for starfighters, sleek engineering at that. And Nubia Star Drives had new designs for droid integration into starfighters? This was of interest to Newton as he was a droid engineer. This is something he should get his hand on definitely.

Newton can't say he's much of a stealth specialist or operator, but he did have a bit of training done when he knew he'd be undertaking this mission. Newton didn't bring any of his droids with him either. In addition to some prep, the droid engineer brought some gear just in case, a Blast Vest for protection as well as black outfit, hat, and balaclava. Newton doesn't need any security cameras or anything catching his face, so that would eliminate that issue. He would also bring a Knife, Blackhand pistol (already set to stun), and some smoke grenades. He also had a few datacards with dataplague (just in case) on it as well as an empty one, to extract information to.

Newton would then meet up with the contact (@Nefieslab), who is playing with his long beard. ::: Is that the contact?:: he questioned to himself, but that's the person. That's supposed to be Carrick, an outsider who will also be undertaking this for Blackwell. He admits, he doesn't know much about why he is involved, but a job is a job. "Carrrick right?" he asked when he linked up with him. "Ready when you are" he said after giving the beared man to answer. The Blackwell employee really didn't leave much room for pleasantries to be exchanged, this is a stealth mission after all, the quicker and efficiently this is done, the better.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

This was his contact from Blackwell?

Carrick hadn’t been aware that Blackwell took interns. The young man looked as though he hadn’t had any right to have left college yet. Either Blackwell hired them young or Carrick was beginning to act like an old man. He could work with either but it was still a little bit odd to have someone working with him on an infiltration be so… smooth-faced.

He tugged at his beard without really thinking about it.

“That’s me.” He confirmed without a second’s hesitation, “Can I assume you’re my support for this… jaunt?”

If the man was just some young kid walking around… no. He’d greeted him by name before he had spoken to him so it was likely the contact. Sighing a little bit, Carrick eyed the factory/office complex they were going to be infiltrating.

“Can you slice well?” he asked with a frown, “If you can, we’ll sneak up to the side of the outer guard building and get you a hard line connection. You can then enter the two of us, under false names and pretences, as inspectors. No need to break down doors if they’ll open them for us.”

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

"That I am." He paused. He confirmed he was the Blackwell contact. With the short-lived pleasantries out of the way, now they have to figure out how to approach the task at hand. Carrick was quick to come up with a plan, it sounds like the breaded man did his homework scoping out the place.

Newton would then answer the man's question. "That shouldn't be a problem." he nodded his head. Newton is a tech expert, sure his specialty likes with droids, but he can slice, suffice it to say. Plus failing that, there is the dataplague that Arden brought along with him, he was expecting quite a bit of tech-based security. "Than plan sounds good." he said in agreement. "Ready to move whenever you are." Newton is ready to go, he isn't used to 'jaunts' like this, so he would prefer Carrack go first and he'll follow. But then again, this guy this guy appears older, and is a politician? Is he better suited? Who knows, either way Newton will find out.

Newton would squint focus his eyes as he would go to take a peek at the facility, he sees a couple of security officers guarding the entrance, the rest is pretty walled up with duracrete. The officers though, seem to be content with staying inside and conversing with each other. They might be switching shifts or something, but they don't seem to be paying much attention to the perimeter. Looking around, there are no incoming vehicles or anything, at least not yet.

This seems like an opening. Nubia tends to be a quiet, peaceful planet where crime doesn't happen often. Security is probably complacent, as they expect nothing to go wrong.


@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Alright they had a plan of attack so the only thing left to do was actually get on with the attack. Well, 'attack' might be a strong word because if this worked it was going to be more of an infiltration than a shootout. He didn't really want to get involved in a shootout after all but, just in case it did go bantha-side up? Reaching into his pockets, he removed the power cell he kept hidden away on his person and inserted it into the lightsaber he kept at his side.

If this went poorly he was just going to throw his cape around his head and try and pass it all off as a rogue Jedi attack. It would mess with the Jedi Order's PR but what did he care? He wasn't a member of the Order any longer and he did not hold with their beliefs or their struggles.

"Let's go - I'll distract the guards with conversation while you make the manual slice."

Moving up the road toward the guard station, Carrick did his best to get himself into character. He wasn't going to be a politician or a Jedi when he presented himself; he was going to be a government inspector and he had to carry himself as such.

With an entirely unwarranted sense of his own importance.

But it would give Newton time and a window to access the physical lines so that he could adjust their schedules so that they were expecting him.

"Hold, who goes there?"

One of the guards spoke up, spotting him as he stood a few feet away from the guard station. Having not been spotted immediately, he had assumed a pose as though he were examining the time on his watch. He raised an eyebrow and looked to the security guard.

"Thirty seconds." he sniffed dismissively, "It took you thirty seconds to realize a man was standing not ten feet away from your security checkpoint. I wonder, if this is your first response, what other deficiencies am I going to find inside? Hm?"

Calling the guard out on the fact that he hadn't spotted him right away caught the poor man flat-footed. To be fair to him, he didn't suppose most people asked for their name by security lectured them on how slow they had been to do so in the first place.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

The guards then looked at each other after hearing Carrick, speak, looking very puzzled, looking at each other in shared confusion and then back to Carrick.. In the meantime, Newton was getting to work slicing after making his approach, working as quickly as possible, although not doing a rush job.

These guards didn't even consider that there would be an inspector visit, they happen so rarely. They still didn't know what to make of Carrick's antics, he isn't anyone they know and they don't look official either.. The other guard among them would speak. "I'm sorry, but who are you?" he asked soft spoken, some hesitation to his voice.

After the guard finished asking his question Newton would have completed his task. With that, he would rise up and quietly signal with gestures to Carrick that it is done, so they should have no problem convincing the guards that there is indeed a legitimate inspection today. Newton would take off his balacanva, he doesn't need it anymore at this stage and stash it in his pocket.


Newton would pull out a datapad, and then he would walk up behind where the guards are, and then he would appear to be typing on his datapad. "You guys do realize there is an inspection today right?" that would grab the guard's attention away from Carrick. "You been preparing for our visit, have you not? I managed to get past you two entirely by going through a window. And with what I'm seeing here, security is really lacking I must say..." Newton said with stern authority and would shake his head for a poor 'showing' by security. The guards appear to be panicking, one of them would check the terminal, and indeed see there is a visit. "Sorry sirs, we didn't know, we will do better going forward. Please don't get us fired" the two would bow their heads and look worried. Newton would look at Carrick, this is probably a good time to proceed after the finish dealing with these two. While it might be fun to futher add insult to injury, they do need to get this done soon.

@Nefieslab





.

 

[Carrick]

Projecting confidence... the key to any performance or lie.

And he was going to be treating this whole thing like a piece of theater so grand that it fooled all those involved. It was either going to be a masterful performance loved by all or he was going to get shot at. He knew which of the two outcomes he preferred but they would see as they went on. That the guards hadn't immediately started shooting was a good sign but they still had many acts to go before the end of the show.

"Nigel Wrathbone." he 'introduced' himself loudly enough for Newton to hear the name of his alias, "I am part of a special commission from Coruscant to inspect the facility for security violations. Can I expect your full compliance?"

The last part was not really phrased as a question.

He didn't have to continue however as Newton made his entrance and further scolded them for their inattentiveness. It was a ballsy move to lecture someone for not spotting you messing with their terminal but he didn't have room to judge. Especially when it seemed to work just as well. He made a show of sharing a glance with Newton before nodding.

"We shall proceed with our inspection as though this... unfortunate business... had not occurred. Now I believe there is the matter of our passkeys?" he declared, holding out a hand imperiously, "With security guard access levels, naturally."

The guards shared a glance nervously - doubtlessly they were hesitant about giving them what amounted to, essentially, free reign of the place. He narrowed his eyes in a calculated display of impatience and one of the guards, the weakest willed, cracked under the pressure and hurriedly handed one over.

"Here you are sir."

Carrick made a point to eye his name tag.

"Well done... Peterson."

Marching away from the security checkpoint further into the facility, he waited until they were out of earshot before speaking to Newton.

"Well that wasn't too bad. I'd say we have about twenty minutes before they kick it up the chain and realize there isn't an inspection. Where should we head first? R&D or the assembly plant for the design?"

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

So, they have access now, good. Carrick was right they couldn't keep this up for very long, they will just have to do what they can with the time they have, use it wisely, and don't do anything to compromise themselves. As to where to head first, Newton's choice is clear. "R&D." he simply said. They very likely keep design they are looking for there as well, but Newton thinks there might be other worthwhile information that could be worth downloading from their databanks that Blackwell or Newton himself could make use of. Stealing others' designs and making better versions of said designs played a big part of Blackwell's initial success back in it's early days, after all.

With that, Newton would proceed into the facility, there would be hallaways of workers going about their day, busy and wrapped up in their own work. Newton would observe and find a map of the building on a wall close by. "There we go" Newton would gesture towards the map. "Looks like R&D is in the west wing on the floor above." With assembly plant in the east on the ground floor, if they were still interested later on "Lets get going, shall we?" With that they at least know where they are going. On foot, it would take about two minutes to get there, but no one seems the wiser yet. Once they turn the corner to get to there, they would find two scientists carrying on a conversation. The sign by the door says "Restricted Access'. If Carrick and Newton are to get into R&D, they would need to get pass these two somehow. So far, the scientists wouldn't have noticed the would-be raiders yet.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

R&D it was then.

Made sense too but he likely would have followed along regardless. Newton was the representative of Blackwell and it was up to him and his assessment of his willing and skills as to whether or not he was able to secure some discrete funding from the organisation to fuel his campaign to become a Senator in the New Republic. Considering his home planet wasn't actually part of the New Republic, he had precious few options on how to get elected and the options that didn't involve years of work required credits of a kind he could not be seen to be spending in ways he definitely shouldn't be spending them.

Problems for later though.

Spotting to the two scientists having a conversation, he could tell just from the feel of their minds in the Force that they were very protective of their work (good for the company, bad for them) and they were not weak willed (good for productivity, bad for mind tricks). Thinking about it for a moment longer, Carrick knew they were going to have to do something with a bit more flair than before. He placed a hand on Newton's shoulder and stood behind the other man as he closed his eyes and steadied his breathing.

"Walk forward slowly, calmly, and don't touch anything. When we reach the door, use your keycard - it should still work, even if the personnel wouldn't believe us." he gave the other man instructions as he began to weave the Force around the two of them in an illusion, "We will look like two scientists just like them but as soon as you touch the scanner it will fall and we will need to be through the door before they can ask questions."

Illusions were powerful, focus heavy but they had their weaknesses as well.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

"Wait what?" he muttered to himself as he rotated his head looked back towards Carrick, his face puzzled. The Blackwell employee didn't even know what he just said, or how he would do that. There is no way they will look like scientists. He would face the door again. He could try the inspector thing if they get stopped, but that may not work as a fallback, and failing that, he has a pistol on them...

He would mentally sigh. Well, here goes nothing. He would walk forwardly, slowly, calmly, and not touching anything, although he had his right hand in close distance of his blaster, just in case. When they are at the door, and assuming nothing goes wrong until then, he would use his keycard at the scanner, making a quick swipe. When the door opens, he would get in quickly.

Hopefully those scientists were having a particularly interesting conversation...

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

He probably could have explained more about Illusions but that was the kind of conversation that took up a good chunk of time even with the chance to show literal illusions as examples. While they had gotten access to the building, there was no certainty that they would be able to get through it if they took the time to get the explanation out. Instead he just pushed on ahead and focused his mind on maintaining the Force technique.

Even with some experience, illusions were harder to keep active the longer someone used them. The more simplistic they were, the easier they were and he'd just had to completely change their appearance, make up a fake conversation for their doubles to have and walk the length of the corridor.

The strain started when they reached the door and Carrick knew that things were reaching a head. It was a close thing but they were both able to get in before the illusion completely failed. Still, Carrick caught one of the scientists giving the door an odd look as they closed it behind them.

Locking the door quickly, Carrick drew his vibroknife and threw it at the lock console, breaking it as the knife slammed into it. He was breathing heavily with a thin layer of sweat on his brow.

"We need to move quickly - one of the scientists looked suspicious. They might just think the lock is malfunctioning but..."

He didn't believe it and he didn't think Newton would want to rely on it either.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

The scientist would look over at the console, wondering why it's sparking and hissing as the knife broke it.

At least the door closed behind Newton and Carrick, and looking forward, there is no body inside. Looks like those two were the only people staffing R&D and they happen to be outside at the moment. That leaves them with a certain amount of time to do what they want, and get out with what they want.

"How did that even work?" Newton wondered, there is no way unless those scientists are dim-witted. But rememembering shortly after they are on a strict timetable, he would focus on the task at hand. Anyways, there would be all kinds of terminals, holo screens, and other computer devices, there would be displays of various objects as well as blue-prints of random things on the walls, not anything interesting to Newton at a glance.

Newton after taking note of his surrondings, would get to work on the main terminal. He would sit in the chair, snap his hands, and immediately get to work, the terminal would come to life again as stand-by mode is turned off.

"Password protected" he said. "I'll need some time." he would look towards Carrick. After that, he would put in a datacard for dataplague. The dataplague once put in, will begin to override the security on the terminal, leaving it vunerable. Newton would also get his datapad out and begin plugging it in to the terminal. Once security is overrode, Newton can begin with the fun part.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

How did that even work?

With an application of the Force he was still mentally winded from and a whole mess of luck if he was being honest with himself but he would be damned if he showed weakness in front of someone who's organisation was going to hold something over him as it was. If they knew some of the limits on his abilities they would know how tightly they could slip their leash on him and that wasn't ever a good thing; better they not truly understand the extent of his abilities and underestimate him.

"Magic." he joked quickly before adding, "And also quite a bit of luck and practice I suppose."

Close enough to the truth for them to be moving on without trying to go too far. He got them into the R&D area but he was banking on Newton to actually secure the data that they wanted. Hell, outside of a basic understanding of the stuff he used on the regular, Carrick didn't know much about tech, let alone slicing.

He'd probably grab the wrong files if he was here doing it by himself.

Time huh?

Already Carrick was beginning to hear voices on the other side of the door - the one he'd broken the lock to. If breaking consoles didn't lock doors automatically he would have never thrown the knife but it was a common design feature really. Still, he could tell that there were people out there... reaching out with the Force he muttered a small curse under his breath.

"The scientists outside called for security; just one guy from what I can tell and they're talking about getting maintenance down here to fix the door. How much longer?"

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

'Magic' he said, magic doesn't exist. Unless he is talking about the Force? Could he have the Force? Could he be a Jedi? No... He doesn't think Jedi would do things like this. Sith? The possibilities are there, but right now he can't let the possibilities distract him, he does need to remain focused.

"Just a few seconds and I'll get pass this password" he said as the dataplague was doing it's work. In due time, the computer would be corrupted and under Newton's control. Newton would then hit the enter key, and the terminal would let him through. "I'm in, now I just gotta locate the files" Newton would immediately get to locating the files as well. He had to admit, he can feel the preasure, the urgency, and the adrenaline, knowing that they called for security outside and are getting someone to fix the lock.

There are a lot of files on this terminal, but luckily this terminal is a state of the art one, and is fast. Soon he would locate the folder that contains the research he needs and begin the process of extracting it to the datapad he just hooked up. That wouldn't take too long. "Got it..." he muttered. With a cursory glance at the data,, some interesting theories, and other notes about starfighter-droid integration with more advanced heuristic processors. But he can't let his mind wander off. There could be more stuff to grab, but they don't have time...

Newton would then quickly unseat, log-off the terminal, and then unplug his device and stash it on his person. By this time, the facility staff are either working on getting the door to open or on the cusp of it. Newton would look around for another way out and while he is doing so, he would half-seriously and half-jokingly ask "By any chance are you able to make us disappear too?" It would pretty good if they were to open the door and see no one inside...

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Just a few seconds to get the password? Well he was doing far better than Carrick himself would be and he damned well knew it. Gave him a timeframe he actually quite liked the sound of as well actually - a few seconds was hardly enough time for all the security to get onboard with the break in. As he was checking the doors he raised an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder.

"I'm in..." he grinned, "Do slicers actually say that? I thought that was just for the holonet dramas."

Learned something new everyday.

The sound of sparks drew his attention to the doors and he cursed loudly. Whoever was on the other side of the door had gotten tired of waiting for maintenance because they were now using fusion torches to burn through the doors. A poor man's version of a lightsaber, they would still be in with them before too long.

Time for his trump card.

Taking his ostentatious lightsaber from his belt, he unscrewed the base and added the power cell he kept handy for it. Screwing the lightsaber back together securely, he shrugged a little bit at Newton's question.

"Nothing quite so special but I can assist us with an exit stage left."

Igniting the blade of his lightsaber, he thrust it into the side wall of the building they were in, beginning to cut a hole large enough in it for them to escape through. A 'Jedi' lightsaber being used in a theft would likely be terrible for the image of the Order but he didn't give a kark - he was out after all.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

Newton was worried that they would be able to get out before getting caught, especially since they were apparently bringing fusion torches into the equation. But Carrick revealed he had a lightsaber? That was surprising and unexpected. That explains everything, he must be either a Jedi or a Sith, or used to be one of them. He doesn't know what a Jedi or Sith would be doing something like this for Blackwell, but who knows. Is he going to ask? No, he doesn't think he will. It's probably better not to. It's better to focus on getting out.

Newton would simply nod as he made a hole large enough for them to get out, he would go ahead first and get out, he can see the country side. "My ship's this way." he said to Carrick. Newton's ship would be past the trees he would be making haste towards. "M7, warm up the ship's engines." he said on his comnlink to his astromech droid, which would reply in affirmative. After Newton is safely onboard his ship and able to get off world without any problems, then the job is done for both of them.

The guards inside would eventually get inside the R&D lab, but it would already be too late, there would be no trace of the two. The only thing they can see is a large hole with burn marks around it. The only thing they can do is scramble for what backup they can and try to chase them down.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick wasn't exactly probing Newton's mind but even a Force-blind would be able to tell that he wanted to ask him about the saber and the Force and what he was doing here. The fact that he didn't ask was something he was grateful for because he really needed them to get out of there before they got caught. He made a mental promise to give the guy some information; when this place was in the rear-view so to speak.

Jumping out of the building after Newton, he extinguished his saber and strapped it back to his belt. He would make sure to remove the power cell in the future but it wasn't really something that he wanted to do in the field, in an actual field, mid-chase.

"Alright let's make tracks."

Carrick wasn't exactly slow even when he wasn't using the Force to aid him. Right now he couldn't without risking leaving Newton behind - and that would really make the whole job pointless really so he really didn't want to do that. Cutting through the perimeter fence with a quick slash of his saber, he followed as Newton led the way to his ship, keeping an eye out behind them.

"I used to be a Jedi." he told the man quickly, briefly, "Then I left and now I'm an aspiring politician in need of funds and support from organisations such as yours."

The abridged version for sure but none of it untrue.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Newton]

After going through the hole in the fence, they only have to go on the other side of the tree-line and then they are home free. The guards would begin to exit from the hole, once they see where they intruders are, they would be yelling for them to stop, ineffectually. Newton would be looking back as well to see what they are doing and be able to adjust as needed. He did hear Carrick's little story, an ex Jedi turned politician. "I see, interesting...". He wonders why he left, but now is not the time and place, maybe another.

Newton can already see the security folks beginning to take position to start firing their weapons at them, Newton would take out his blaster pistol and begin firing some stun shots their way. They don't need to land, it's just suppressing fire.

Now in the treeline, that would break line of sight and they already had a good lead over the security forces. The Messier 7, Newton's vessel is visible and within close reach, the shuttle craft's ramp is down, ready to retrieve Carrick and Newton.

As the security forces advance again in pursuit, Newton would navigate around the trees to make sure they don't have a clear shot at him.

But soon, Newton would then board the ship, if Carrick is onboard too, he would order over the comnlink again "Alright M7, lets get out of here" The shuttle's ramp would close as the ship would take off, and taking flight straight into the sky. The security below could only look helplessly as the intruders are getting away.

After they are safe and sound, Newton would look towards Carrick. "Well Carrick, this was a good run. We've got what we came for. So with that, you will be compensated as per your deal with Blackwell soon." Newton would nod his head, pausing.

"Also" while Newton is thinking about it. "If you don't mind some extra credits to the side, feel free to seek me out. I'm a droid designer that wouldn't mind paying to see how my creations fare against a force user, for research purposes." he offered.

@Nefieslab