Ask Plot Eriadu Boogaloo: Relieving of Goods

[Kel Dryden]

Kel's first job for the Zaa Fenn crime family didn't sound like much trouble. Get into a warehouse and retrieve some supplies that were unaccounted for. Piece of cake. The payday wouldn't be great too, but Preef and Marissa knew what they were doing. In fact, such smaller jobs were what Kel thrived off. So the scoundrel was in his element.

The question remained: how to take it? Kel's first instinct would've been to contact Pidge and have her scope out the place: find out why the medical supplies provided by the Jedi Order hadn't been distributed; see who would benefit from it; blackmail them or pose as a Sector Ranger, since he now had that opportunity. Maybe even forge the paperwork to make the warehouse Zaa Fenn's property. Unfortunately, the Twi'lek slicer was preoccupied, so Kel had to improvise and settle for retrieving the goods.

Regardless of the approach, the Zaa Fenn would need a way to haul off the goods. That's why the young scoundrel had acquired a TN-Y speeder truck and parked it near the warehouse. That left only two problems:

1. How to enter the warehouse?
2. How to get all the cargo loaded in the truck?

The young scoundrel had a few ideas which he was now sharing with his accomplice: "I can pose as a Sector Ranger. Either they start blasting and get the law on their asses; or they yield and let us grab the supplies. Then we just need to tell the loader droids to fill our truck, and we're good to go. How's that for a plan?"

@Darasuum

 

[Celiana Drayven]

It'd been awhile since I'd been out in the galaxy, starting your own cartel of darkness meant getting resources. It also meant running the risk of making your name a known factor or earning a reputation. Doing a job for another crime family seemed as good a place to start as any. I'd only learned the name of the group thus far....The Zaa Fenn family. The job I'd taken on included breaking into a warehouse and relieving it of some goods left by my former kin. Aid work was notorious for things going missing, this was no different.

As it was I saw someone I knew and had been waiting to work with again. Walking up quietly I said "Those are certainly possibilities, however if the aid supplies were left here by Jedi then what better way to relieve them with no blood than for a former Jedi to simply say there's been request for aid supplies in another system? If nothing else the sabers are a dead giveaway that to them I am who I say. Plus, erasing memory is something of a hobby. If we want to avoid the law then why not pose as the highest law some recognize?" Glancing over at Kel I smirked and said softly "It's been awhile eh Kel?"

@Kel Dryden ~ @Darasuum

 

[Kel Dryden]

Of all the people Kel could be doing a small-time job with—on Eriadu of all places—Celiana was the least expected... but not at all unwelcome. Not only because they had a history. Even better, Celi already had a plan that wasn't any worse than Kel's. Though the scoundrel doubted that the locals would be thrilled with the idea of parting with the supplies. After all, they had been left unused for a reason.

A part of him wanted to make it a con; but Celi wouldn't even have to; she'd just be herself, though from earlier times. Plus, erasing memory definitely sounded like a useful trick. "Yes, it sure has," he replied after a brief pause, wondering if the blonde had ever messed with his own mind. But the prospects of subterfuge were thrilling; so much so that a smug smirk started showing through Kel's perfect Sabacc face. "So, a Sector Ranger and a Jedi. Makes it all the more believable," Kel flashed a metallic badge before pocketing it again. The fact that the badge wasn't his didn't make it less legitimate. "The front door it is then."

With that, the scoundrel got behind the controls of the truck, letting Celiana ride shotgun if she wanted. A few switches hit, and the engines and repulsors hummed to life, lifting the machine above ground. Soon the truck was parked in front of the warehouse loading bay, with one of the four guards approaching from the driver's side. The man was armed, but his blaster pistol was holstered yet. "Hey, what do you think you're doing here? We aren't expecting any cargo," he addressed the driver, mild annoyance in his voice.

To that, Kel simply leaned backwards, gesturing towards the passenger with an "I-don't-know-Talk-to-her" expression. Sure, he could just flash the badge and do the talking himself. But he was curious what Celi would bring to the table.

@Urb4nGlitch

 

[Celiana Drayven]

Smiling at Kel's agreement with my plan I smirked at his flashing the badge. I hopped in riding shotgun, along the way I was listening to the hum of the repulsors. Focusing my mind in anticipation for the task ahead. Before long we were in front of the warehouse loading docks. One of the guards approached Kel's side and asked what we were doing here. My hand wrapped around my curved saber hilt until Kel gave the man a look that said I was "the lady in charge".

Looking at him with my purple eyes I said "Jedi business, a call came out requesting aid supplies in a system several parsecs away. We were requested to see if there were any stores of aid supplies in nearby systems and if so to load them up and deliver them." I hadn't missed the fact that he had a holstered blaster. I hadn't seen other guards but I sensed three other individuals along with several security and loading droids.

Waiting for his response my hand was still wrapped around the curved hilt of my saber. It wouldn't matter in any case, I'd be wiping the memory of the guards prior to us leaving. It simply wouldn't do for them to remember our faces, that had a rather annoying habit of coming back to bite you. For now I simply let my words sink in and waited for his response....

@Kel Dryden

 

[Kel Dryden]

For the time being, Kel did not interfere, allowing Celiana to do all the talking. So far, the guard was not impressed: "Huh? I didn't hear about any outgoing cargo," He tilted his head slightly as he gave the blonde an inquisitive look:, before asking: "Who authorized it?" That didn't bode well. As expected. There was a reason why the supplies had remained there for so long without being used.

Clearly, someone stood to profit from the Jedi supplies in the long run. But to the guard, it probably didn't make any difference. The man's job was to watch the warehouse on behalf of his authorities and make sure that nobody would try anything funny. When an unannounced truck made an appearance, it made sense to double-check it. Even if Celiana knew the name of that guard's boss, the guard might as well radio to him or her to verify that.

Of course, it could be worse: the guards could have their own vested interest in the warehouse and its contents. In that case, they could be even more motivated to keep the supplies where they were.

@Urb4nGlitch

 

[Celiana Drayven]

Looking at the guard as he further questioned me I simply looked within his mind and saw.....hmmmm interesting. Solid moral compass, questioning why he was still here. A solid year after Jedi had originally left the supplies in this warehouse. Desire for another posting as well. Smirking at that mentally I said "Look Mr. I don't ask why The Masters give me orders, I just follow them. I'm guessing you're in the same position. Lot's of other jobs four men could be doing around here I'm certain."

Pausing I looked at him with a weary look in my eyes. Then continued, "look man the sooner I get this loaded into the truck and away from here, the sooner me and my pilot get to go home. Also the sooner you and your men get to request another posting we're all just doing jobs." I infused my words with gentle, yet firm suggestion from The Force. Playing on his desires and empathy of others doing a job they weren't too excited about. After all there were so much more exciting jobs a Jedi could be doing; I'm sure he knew that.

I subtly pulled a portable data pad from my thigh and altered the dates and locations of that transmission for a aid mission I'd done several months ago. Keeping the Masters' name in the transmission who'd also been elevated in position. I'd kept tabs on the people I'd left. Made for the ability to bring influence to bear quite nicely. If he was particularly insistent I'd simply mind wipe them all now and infuse them with new memories in which they "recognized" Kel and myself. Then no alarms would be raised and we could simply slice the droids.

@Kel Dryden

 

[Kel Dryden]

The blonde's manipulation was subtle enough, and she even showed a datapad for good measure. Kel could feel the power and confidence radiating from Celi as she spoke; a stark contrast her weary tone. And apparently, it had some effect on the guard too: "You've got a point, Jedi. Have your vehicle parked by the loading bay, the droids will load it up." Kel's lips curled up in a slight smirk as he heard that; the scoundrel was already preparing to maneuver the vehicle. But then the guard added something: "To save you the time, I'll call it in while the transport's getting loaded. Standard procedure."

That's not good. As much as the guard doubted his posting and why the supplies had been left undistributed for so long. His moral compass combined with desire for another posting meant that he'd do his job right, no matter what he thought about the bureaucrats who had messed things up.

Meanwhile, other guards remained where they were. So far, none of them were given a reason to interfere, and most of them were fare enough to hear the exchange. Kel looked at his accomplice—or in this case, he was the accomplice—ready to park the truck, but also clearly wary of the guard's intentions.

@Urb4nGlitch

 

[Celiana Drayven]

I noticed Kel's discomfort at the guard changing routes. Though it wasn't actually an issue for me either....Nodding at the guard my fingers flew across my data pad silently. Tapping into the local network and covertly introducing a script that'd enslave ALL the droids to me. They'd load things up regardless now, as they trundled along to carry out the guards' "orders" I reached into the guards' mind and with the amount of willingness he'd given me already I influenced his mind further, warping it so that he'd already believe he'd called it in.

A slave to protocol made him predictable, he'd now have a false memory he wouldn't recognize as being false. When he tried to remember our faces following our departure he'd be unable to. "It's said The Force can do terrible things to a mind, it can wipe away your memories and destroy your very identity." Words from long ago, repeated throughout countless ages since. Oh how easy it would be to simply render them all empty husks.....but there was a time and place for such activities. Here wasn't one of them. Perhaps when I swung back through Nar Shadaa....

Looking at Kel I said "It's handled, we just sit back now. There shouldn't be any issues now; he thinks he's already called it in. The droids will continue on loading things. Pure Pazaak, Kel...." I unclipped my curved hilt saber just in case and simply held it aloft with The Force. Making a twirling motion with my index and middle finger I sent the hilt twirling in a tight spin. Still simply looking bored to any of the other guards. Blowing a strand of my platinum blonde hair of of my eyes I looked over at Kel and gave him a flirtatious smile...

@Kel Dryden

 

[Kel Dryden]

After announcing the intention to call it in, the guard didn't follow through with it. Instead he just... walked off, wiping his forehead? Despite Celi's casual demeanor, there was something off about how she had looked at the guard, and what the guy did next. Something that Kel couldn't quite put in words. Either way, there was no point dwelling on it. Kel wasn't one to refuse a gift or accept a blow. So he simply maneuvered the back of the truck to the loading bay, letting the droids do their job.

So far, it seemed like Kel wasn't even needed for the job. Apart from acquiring the vehicle and driving it. Still, there was no complaining on his part. Celi seemed to have everything under control: the droids were loading the cargo in the back of the truck, and the guard was giving them no hassle at all. The job was basically doing itself for the time being.

"More like, pure magic," the scoundrel looked at the hilt hovering and spinning mid-air... And then at the woman who was making it happen. That brought back memories of how they had met on Coruscnat all that time ago. Her brief smile evoked the passions that Kel had tried to suppress. Celi could look bored and innocent when she wanted to, but Kel could feel the power behind that innocence. It was alluring, like playing with fire. Of all the people... No, now's not the time for this, Kel. There're people around, and we've got a job to do.

Little did Kel know about Celiana's script. Even less so about the fact that it had set off a silent alarm somewhere at the remote control center a few blocks away. Although the guards at the facility had no reason to suspect anything—they'd even confirm that the droids were working normally—the technicians were going crazy trying to figure out what had gone wrong. Even though there was no indication yet, things could go sour pretty soon.

@Urb4nGlitch

 

[Celiana Drayven]

As I waited there while the droids moved about their jobs I still held my saber aloft spinning it with a twirl of though and gesture of my fingers. "So Kel, think I could interest you in a job after this? Seems I remember you having some rather unorthodox piloting methods, along with several other....unorthodox things about you." I let the suggestive tone hand there. I felt......panic of a sort a short distance away but had no indication it was tied to the job.

Though....I'd noticed it, so perhaps something to keep a mental note of. For now though I was interested in finishing this gig...seeing what came after that....

@Kel Dryden

 

[Kel Dryden]

The scoundrel didn't mind the wait. So far, things were exceeding expectations. The truck was being filled with all those relief supplies, and nobody was the wiser. Or so Kel thought. Fascinated by the floating saber, he simply relaxed in his seat. Celi's remark made him smirk: "That'd depend on a job. Fair warning though, I've been a little preoccupied by this whole Zaa Fenn business lately. Got to be a very good reason to slip away from that for a while."

Then something else crossed his mind: "You should meet some of those guys. We've got slicers, gunslingers, muscle, fixers. Anyone you need to pull off the big stuff..." He had to pause, as the guard that had walked off earlier was approaching again. This time, with all the other guards. And with their guns at the ready. "Hold it..." that was the only thing that the guard would manage to say before Kel gunned it. Instinctively. He didn't know why he did it; perhaps it was one of his hunches. Either way, the truck would dart off with a roar, followed by the barrage of blaster bolts hitting it's back and the crates. A sharp turn would put the vehicle out of the attackers' line of fire. But not into safety.

"Watch out!" Kel shouted, swerving the truck to the left as two landspeeders rushed at them from ahead. The pilots of the speeders had no deathwish either and tried to dodge to their left. A loud screech followed by a harsh hit and a sudden clatter of the cargo in the back indicated that one of the speeders had hit the truck. The heavier vehicle did survive the hit, leaving one of the speeders turned upside down in its wake.

The other speeder, however, made a U-turn and followed, gaining speed and closing the distance quickly. Its three passengers were more than willing to let fly with the blaster rifles at the escaping truck. "Get them off our tail!" Kel shouted in the heat of the moment, unsure how Celi could or would achieve that. Frankly, he didn't care. Once the last pursuers were dealt with, the duo would hopefully be in the clear, and ready to turn in their merchandise.

@Urb4nGlitch

 

[Marissa Hesse]

The Zaa Fenn’s rapid expansion over Eriadu was going surprisingly smoothly, all things considered. She had reports coming in of minor gangs disappearing, old enemies dropping away. She herself had been party to some tense dealings with the Mothraki for druids, and club owners for a front to their operations. It was to a next meeting she was being shuttled now through the streets of the capital.

Taking backroads to avoid the prying eyes of Sith law enforcement, her driver held the wheel while her bodyguard sat quietly across from her, holding his rifle close. It was only the screech of wheels and the crash of metal that made her look up from her data pad, only to see the face of Kel Dryden fly past in a truck, pursued by a landspeeder full of gun toting goons. Because of course at least one of the jobs would have to get complicated,

“Arren, step on it, after that landspeeder!” she waved the driver onward, who shot through the intersection to follow the truck at speed. As the landspeeder was closing in on the truck, the two in there would see blaster bolts whip around behind them. The goons had started firing, and be fired upon by Marissa and her bodyguard from their own vehicle. She quickly came to realise she much preferred firing to driving in this scenario, the driving was a whole other skill she had never really put the time into. A blaster at least she’d fired in many fights before,

“Knock them out, would you?” She called at the driver once more, who promptly slammed into the speeders side, knocking them across and sending them skidding out and tumbling away as the truck made its escape.

Pulling the vehicle up alongside the drivers side, Marissa lowered her window and looked up at Kel, simply raising an eyebrow in his direction, a smirk on her face.

@Catbert

 

[Kel Dryden]

The noise of blaster shots quickened, yet somehow they stopped hitting the truck. Then the blaster fire stopped completely after the loud and gnashing screech of metal somewhere behind them. Only then did Kel finally slow down and look backwards to see a familiar vehicle catching up. The lowered window revealed none other than his employer, Marissa Hesse.

Her reaction to the shootout and the pursuit was a mixed bag. Kel didn't know her too well, but the raised eyebrow didn't bode well for the scoundrel. A smirk, on the other hand, indicated at least some degree of amusement. All he could do was shrug in response. Sure, they might've set off an alarm her and there. But the truck was loaded with Jedi relief supplies, and the Zaa Fenn were home free. So, Kel simply shrugged and returned the smirk before speeding up. There surely were a lot of things to discuss, but at least the mission was done.

// End thread