Ask Fix the Vote

[Salvatore Russo]

A Laborious Undertaking: Pabol Hutta
Fix the Vote​

Teamsters Local 1 based on Nal Hutta firmly established, word had gotten out that a union movement was afoot primarily among the transporters and industrial dockworkers along the Pabol Hutta. Not only that, but it was surprisingly given its blessing by Durr the Hutt as a sort of...tryout of sorts...to see if unionizing increased revenue, production, and of course, provided unwaivering loyalty to those pulling their strings. Planets and systems along the Pabol Hutta were no strangers to the Hutts. Most of it was inside of what was once called Hutt Space, after all, and most of these planets answered to the slugs for thousands of years. Their eventual fall from grace didn't necessarily make life better as the power vacuum often meant uncontrollable warlords, an even sharper increase in slavery, and fewer opportunities for jobs. And the jobs that were available paid breadcrumbs in many of these worlds. Such was the planet of Sakiya.

A jungle planet, Sakiya still had pockets of incredible industrialization that specialized in building technology and vehicles. No doubt, being on the Pabol Hutta hyperspace trade route had a lot to do with that. They had multiple large spaceports to export these goods, and that meant a potential large and profitable teamsters union. Russo flew in to Sakiya with a former Feeorin slave with a sketchy moral compass looking to make some money by just about any means necessary by the name of Kenrik Rollo and a Toydarian associate of his that he had become quite impressed with named Vako Yizok.

Russo led them into a cantina near one of the starports that was often visited by the dockworkers. It was loud and as one might expect, a rowdy location. Russo pointed out a tall Sakiyan docker on the other end of the cantina. He was standing and had a presence about him. Others were sitting and holding on to his every word. "See that tall, black-skinned Sakiyan over there? The one holding court? That's the one we need to win the union election. His name is Yurese Bhor. He's up against someone who is backed by the Crimson Dawn of all things. They must be trying to edge into our business, or they see what we're building and they're trying to sabotage our efforts."

Russo ordered himself a drink and would give them time to do the same. He would wait for the waitress to leave before continuing. "It's a relatively close vote, but I'm not sure our Hutt-backed man Bhor is winning. He has a couple of major spaceports, but his rival, Huwaa Gocci, has seen his support spread rapidly among the minor docks that connect the planet's own shipping lines, and he has the unified support of the largest transport company, Sakiyan Transport Lines."

The waitress would come back with the drinks and Russo would again wait for her to leave. He put a large bag on the table which he kept closed. "I have a feeling that the transport company is going to need some convincing, and I don't know that we can win the vote if they vote in block for Gocci. Inside this bag, I have eight explosives and a manual detonator. I don't know that blowing up one transport will drive the message home that this Hutt territory again. It may take an entire garage with one of their fleets."

He looked at Feeorin. "This is a golden opportunity for you, especially with the Hutts. Vako is old hat at this. Follow his lead, learn, and don't get caught. And if you do get caught, ratting someone out is a death warrant when it's the Hutts your ratting on." He looked at Vako and said, "I'll work on some of the minor spaceports. If we get the transporters to vote for our man, we should have enough votes. But, in case some of them vote...incorrectly, I'm going to work on getting some of the minor docks to get on the right side of the race." He looked between them and asked, "We good?"

@Tulos @Morse

 

[Vako Yizok]

When Vako had started working with Sal Russo it had been a strange arrangement. He had only come to know him after the massed assault on Nal Hutta wherein the usurper Preef Callo declared his new dominion. They had both been on the side of the Hutts in that very same battle, but it had ultimately been for not. Still they had both come out on top in their own way.

Vako had utilized the opportunity to extort his benefactor and squeezed every bit of value out of the Hutt name until it all came down, removing competitors and getting rich along the way. Sal had taken a more operational approach, utilizing the chaos to get his fingers deeply entrenched within the Teamster Union. There were different roads in the galaxy, but allies were essential when on the run from mutual adversaries, especially dangerous ones like Preef Callo.

Now again working on another Union Vote, Vako knew precisely how business was to be handle. Though Vako had a reputation for ruthless tactics, he found himself the more reasonable negotiator of the two. Vako would at least try to find a fair deal and make clear when he was removing competition... Sal was quick to pull a blaster and make his point. Maybe it was his age or his experience, but he certainly got results where he wanted them.

Hearing Sal's plan reinforced that exact point. Vako did not know this Feeorin that was with them, but from Sal's description he was a reliable new upstart a few paces behind them. If he was not a boasting, arrogant fool that would put him in a category above 95% of those they came across... the rest was up to him.

"We could take it all simultaneously if you want to put a face on it." Vako offered. "Knock a couple of them down and make it clear it'll keep happening, maybe even to his family and friends, unless this Gocci backs down." Vako was offering a similar solution to what they had done on Hutta. "But that depends on if you want pure submission, or coercion. Sounds like he's got a lot of ears at his disposal. Might be useful to keep him."

Vako blinked a short blink, smirked, and shrugged. "Or we could just keep breaking ships until they get back in line. Your call."

@Isen @Tulos

 

[Kenrik Rollo]

Life had a funny way of throwing people one way or another, not by choice but by fate. Such was what had led the Feeorin known as Kenrik Rollo to his current whereabouts. Weeks prior he had been less than nothing. A slave working the spice mines of Kessel yet permitted to live within the palace of his Master’s. Days ago, he searched the lower levels of Nar Shaddaa for ways to bring in credits and found himself peddling the same substance he spent his life harvesting. Then a chance meeting changed everything once more.

Salvatore Russo seemed a respectable man, if not a bit brash, and saw something in Kenrik that spurred him to bring the Feeorin to the world of Sakiya. Who was he to deny this man? Especially if this trip had the potential of providing the runaway slave with some spare change that would feed him and keep clean clothes on his back. That was more than he could have ever hoped for in years past and he was eager to get to work.

The cantina was exactly like every one Kenrik had visited since his escape. Loud and packed full of fools who would drink, swear and fight the night away. Tapping the bag of spice he kept put away in his pocket as he followed Sal and his flying friend, the Feeorin immediately began eyeing up the patrons one by one. It did not take the man long to discover the traits commonly associated with his clientele. Gaunt eyes, lean bodies, the odd twitch. These were the junkies. These were the first ones to spot. From there, they’d lead you to other ‘customers’ in exchange for a cheap hit. And there were plenty of these junkies littered around the bar. If he had the time, Kenrik promised himself to make some extra cred before he left.

As Sal sat them at their table and began elaborating on his plans, the Feeorin silently hand waved the waitress with a blank expression as he did his best to mull over his employers talking points before her arrival. If there was anything he had learned during both his time on Kessel, doubly so since his departure, intoxication led to mistakes and mistakes led to negative outcomes.

“This is a golden opportunity for you, especially with the Hutts. Vako is old hat at this. Follow his lead, learn and don’t get caught. And if you do get caught, ratting someone out is a death warrant when its the Hutts you’re ratting on,”

“Of course, sir,” Kenrik replied with a neutral tone. While he had a disdain for the Hutts and their lifestyle, he saw little to dispute in Sal’s statement. Besides, he didn’t want to work in the drug trade forever. He knew fully well that he needed to take the opportunities as they arose. “I will watch and I will learn. If there is one thing I can do, it is take direction,”

As Vako responded, Kenrik remained absolutely silent and gave him his full attention. While the Toydarian’s size, shape and stature were of some amusement, it was clear his mind was sharp. If he had been asked, Kenrik would offer his opinion of chaining Gocci and keeping him within arms reach as an asset as Vako suggested as an interesting path to take. But he was not asked. He knew his knowledge on such matters was non-existent and he was sat with two men who had a world of experience over him. No, he would remain silent and serve as Vako’s muscle and learn as he went.

@Isen @Morse​

 

[Salvatore Russo]

The bald headed gangster nodded to Feeorin. You had to be willing to break the rules, be a rebel, and defy authority in order to be useful to any of the 5 Syndicates. Breaking the law is quite literally what you do. But, to rise the ranks, to be more than just a lapdog or expendable fodder, you also had to be able to learn and follow orders from those either higher in the structure or with more experience. At least on the surface, Kenrik was smart enough to realize that. "Good. Vako is one of the best I've worked with. Stay sharp and pay attention to how he thinks on the job when the shit hits the fan. When things go south, they go south in a hurry. Cool heads will get you out of just about any jam."

As if to put a punctuation on the point, Vako starts offering up some possible ways to go about the job. They all had their merits. In general, the less force necessary to be applied the better off you typically were. It's cleaner and it burns fewer bridges. Russo narrowed his eyes and looked into the liquor glass he was nursing. He sat in silence for a little bit. He had hinted to the company that while this was no longer technically "Hutt Space" it was still heavily Hutt influenced. Backing a Crimson Dawn candidate in an election that only came about because the Hutts wanted to win it would be quite the risk on their end. Still, leadership at Sakiyan Transport Lines didn't budge. Maybe Russo didn't tell them directly enough. The rumors of Hutt trying to pull some stroke was spreading among the transporters as well, but the drivers didn't seem to be intimidated either.

Russo finished off his glass and pushed it to the middle of the table. "Vako, you have a good point. Blowing up an entire fleet may be too much. to start. What if we take a more...targeted...approach. What if just the truck that Mr. Gocci just so happens to be on explodes on its way to port? A terrible, tragic coincidence to be sure. That should send the message not only to the STL, but also to anyone else wanting to run against our guy."

Russo put a cigarra in his mouth and lit it before taking a puff and exhaling it politely away from those at his table. He tapped the first bit of ashes into his liquor glass. "If Bhor is the only name on the ballot, he can't very well lose, can he? And if STL puts another candidate up in his place, then they deserve to get an entire fleet taken out." He looked to both of them. "Thoughts?"

@Morse @Tulos

 

[Vako Yizok]

The amended plan was certainly something Vako could get behind. He did not mind the overtly harsh approach if it was needed, unhinged and unregulated force were a sort of specialty of his. That said he was recognizing the need for force as being necessary for consideration more and more as the days went on. Especially with things in Hutt Space being in such a degree of flux. With no way to know it was always best to leave room for escalation.

The Feeorin was an interesting addition at that point. The way he spoke gave Vako the thought that perhaps he was military, but he certainly did not have the accent or inflection of one that was. He was certainly large enough to be some sort of brute. It was to be seen what he could do.

"I say we do it, but he'll probably have friends." Vako commented. "If you wanna set up the bomb, me and the blue one can probably keep anyone in the area otherwise occupied... silently at first... but loud if it has to be."

@Tulos @Isen

 

[Kenrik Rollo]

This was nothing like the Feeorin had ever experienced in his life. The game of pulling strings behind drawn curtains was his Master’s area of expertise while he was left to toil in the mines. It was all undoubtedly beyond his scope, at least at this point in time. He would leave the planning to the others and he would follow directions. It was what he was raised to do and while he wanted to shed the shackles of his past, he knew that he needed to observe how business is done first.

As the men altered their plan to one of focused violence as opposed to the more general approach, Kenrik silently considered the possible outcomes. He believed that Vako was only too right in his surmising of their target being well protected. His own Masters rarely travelled without their hand picked guard; why would a man such as Gocci be any different?

Kenrik would think of his own chances of survival. They would have the advantage of surprise if they played their cards right but they would likely be outnumbered. Kenrik wasn’t weak nor afraid of getting his hands dirty but he also knew he wanted to live to see the other side of these events.

“...silently at first… but loud if it has to be,”

Kenrik nodded in agreement with the Toydarian. If they were able to keep their presence unrevealed to Gocci’s guards, something he was fairly confident in being able to accomplish, then they could simply melt away into the shadows after everything was set. If not? Well, the BW-713 that the Feeorin had managed to purchase with his spice income would get its first workout.

Spoiler

All I had in me tonight. Not the greatest post but just wanted to make sure the thread continues at a steady pace.

@Isen @Morse​

 

[Salvatore Russo]

"Then we're agreed," Russo said. After thinking it over for a few minutes to get specifics he said, "Here is what we'll do. I'll buy us a couple of junker speeders with hard credits. No electronic trace of the sale. I'll take one, you two share the other. We'll meet each other at the STL warehouse. The perimeter fence is nothing but chain and barbwire. We'll see every transporter that gets in every transport vehicle. I'll take a speeder and the explosives. You two take the other speeder and the detonator. We'll follow the truck, and when they make a pit stop, I'll take care of planting the boom toys while you watch my back. After that, I'm off to start working on solidifying the docker vote at some of the minor spaceports. Hopefully the news of one of the candidates for the local teamster's union having an unfortunate accident will reach us while I'm highlighting the dangers of not supporting the Hutt's choice."

He took a long drag from his cigarra, exhaled, and continued. "You two will follow the truck until it's just about to enter the dockyards, then blow that transport to high hell." He leaned forward and was very adamant about what he would say next. "Listen to me very carefully. Blow it before he gets to the dockyards. Killing dockers can kriff up all of Bohr's support with the dockers, you understand? If that happens, no Hutt candidate will ever get the docker support again."

He tapped the bag that held the explosives and the detonator. "This detonator is good for 100 meters. If that transport is within ten klicks of the dock, there will be dozens of vehicles and hundreds of people in that 100 meter radius. When it blows, and the traffic detours out of panic, detour right out with them."

He leaned forward again as he snuffed out his cigarra in the glass. "As close to the dockyards as you can without killing any dockers. We want the message sent, but we can't have any docker collateral damage. Zero. Got it?"

Russo's time as a vice cop really paid off with plans like these. He knew not only how law enforcement responded but how the people around things of this nature responded. He had decades of clever tricks and stupid mistakes. He had them all filed away in that bald dome of his. As long as one of them could stay could within 100 meters of Gocci's truck and not get pegged for following, the plan should go off without a hitch.

Of course, plans usually had a few hitches that had to be dealt with.


@Morse @Tulos

​

 

[Vako Yizok]

In many way’s Vako was not as concerned with the collateral damage as Sal apparently was. Vako looked at the state of the galaxy as a series of wrong place wrong time sort of accidents. It just depended on when that happened to you. For the moment Vako was up, but any operation like this could change that quickly. He opted to see it as he was the predator and they were the prey. Any accidents were incidental.



Vako nodded all the same to the terms of the plan. It was easy enough in many ways. Just blow the transport at the right moment. He did have a strong feeling that this union rep perspective would have a certain amount of security, be they friends or hired goons. Whatever the case they were probably not prepared for what Vako and the others were prepared to levy at them. Vako was a Soldier, warrior, bruiser, and brigand of the worst sort of caliber. He would handle anyone that stood before them without remorse in a matter of moments.



“We’ll keep you covered. If anything gets too hot… I say we do him right there before he takes off.” Vako commented. “Gang violence happens all the time… tragic.” Vako’s face did not move, but as much as it was a joke he was certainly serious about killing him right there.



@Isen @Tulos

 

[Kenrik Rollo]

It was decided. This man would die and the Hutt clans would be ever closer to establishing a position of power on the jungle world of Sakiya’s ports. Kenrik remained silent through much of the discussion, instead soaking in the experience. This was not what the Feeorin had anticipated when Russo recruited him for the job but credits were credits and he needed to eat.

Nodding as Sal made it clear that innocent bystanders were to remain unharmed and out of danger, he felt it was the best option. He held little regard for most but he also knew that those who are going on with their day to day deserved nothing less than a life of relative peace. It was something he had always wished to have and as such did not wish to steal it from those who did nothing to lose the right to life.

What truly caught Kenrik’s attention was Sal’s plan to rent two speeders. As a slave, he had always dreamed of flying amongst the stars in his own ship. During his few travels since his escape from servitude, he would frequently ask the pilots and crew members how to handle the controls. While a speeder was not remotely of the same league, he still desired to learn as much as he could. Perhaps this was his chance to get behind the wheel of a machine.

”I will do what is required of me,” The Feeorin stated plainly as he looked between the two men. ”Perhaps it is time we be off. The sooner this is done, the better,”

@Isen @Morse​

 

[Salvatore Russo]

The next morning, all three were there on time. That was a good start. Russo was a big fan of punctuality, especially when lack of attention to the details could get you killed or thrown in prison until you rotted. He pulled his landspeeder up next to the one with Vako and Kenrik in it. He tossed the detonator to them. [/color]"You'll need this for later,"[/color] Russo said. "Now, we just wait for the target to get out and pick a truck.

And wait they did...for hours. Russo was about to believe that their target took the day off. All of the trucks had been filled with drivers, loaders, and unloaders and were gone- save one. Russo looked at Vako and Kenrik and shrugged, wondering if this thing was going to go down at all. Finally, Gocci and one another Sakiyan came strolling out of the warehouse and got into a truck. The man with Gocci was no transporter. He had two sidearms, a vibroblade with at least 6 inches on the business end, and he tossed in some sort of carbine into the truck before getting in. He was wearing some sort of body armor and dressed all in black with combat boots that were well taken care of, but also well-worn. The man had experience and had lived up to this point.

The truck started and Russo got on his comms to talk to Vako and Kenrik. "I guess you guys saw what I just saw. He has a bodyguard, a well equipped one at that. He may not be going to the docks at all. He won't have anyone to help him unload his transport. This doesn't smell right. We'll follow and see how it goes. Stay behind me about 50 meters. If a speeder or two gets between us, all the better." Russo, the former Cor-Sec vice cop, was an old pro at working a tail and not getting spotted. If that bodyguard was a professional...well, it could dicey. But, with his experience, it seemed best for him to run point on the tail.

The truck pulled out and Russo waiting, letting some speeders get between them before pulling out. He wasn't worried about the transport vehicle getting too far ahead. It was the biggest thing on the damn road. Even if it took a turn and then another quick turn after that, Russo would be be able to find it. It was freaking huge. "Game faces on, brothers. No naps. Eyes wide open, heads on a swivel. Pay attention to the details and let's get our target if the opportunity presents itself."

@Tulos @Morse

 

[Vako Yizok]

Landspeeders had always bothered Vako. His species lived in the air, and there was only a small series of adjustments to make an air speeder out of a land speeder. Sure they consumed more fuel and were harder to learn how to drive, but such things came natural to a Toydarian. Being ground bound was actually the less natural thing for him, and that had taken him a great deal of time to get passed.

The body guard was certainly an imposing figure, and could likely handle himself. But Vako was a soldier, and a soldier knew that it only took one pull of the trigger to end a person that was able to take care of themselves easy enough. That would be Vako's plan in this. Though they wanted to get the upper hand and complete the mission, Vako was concerned about that guard such that he would not hesitate to take the shot when it was needed.

"We'll follow to the right. If you wanna make the move, we'll cut ahead and attack on the front." He said in the com to Isen.

Vako looked at the Feeorin with him. "You be ready to blast anyone not driving. But do not shoot the driver. A controlled vehicle is not nearly as dangerous as one with a dead stick going at full speed."

@Isen @Tulos

 

[Kenrik Rollo]

Patience, it was something that Kenrik had grown accustomed to in life. A slave had no hope on the horizons of each passing day, nothing to look forward to. Nothing but another day of toil and servitude, more time spent under the unforgiving whip of those who dictated every moment of their oppressed lives. So when the trio gathered in wait of Gocci and his predicted entourage, he was content counting granules of dust on the rusty speeder’s dashboard. His curiosity allowed him an alleviation from boredom as he looked to each of the gauges that lined the faux wood panel, inspecting them and silently pondering what each one indicated to the operator.

He considered it time well spent but when Gocci and his bodyguard withdrew into the confines of his transport, the Feeorin sat up at full attention in the passenger seat. This was what they had come for and the time for action had arrived. He watched the smaller man first, the one of interest. His step had confidence. This was his home, no one would dare threaten him here. Not with the election looming nor with the STL backing his ballot. It would take a fool to recognize that Gocci felt untouchable here but he would soon see the error in his overzealousness.

The bodyguard was far more interesting. He immediately reminded Kenrik of the slave masters of Kessel which caused the Feeorin to tighten his jaw. Those men were cold and heartless, unwavering in their brutality. This man, with his threatening armament and his no-nonsense saunter onto the transport, told them that he had seen enough action that there was little for him to fear on Sakiya. Perhaps even the whole sector. He wasn’t some fresh merc. He had experience backing him. He could make things… difficult.

As the speeders took off, Sal taking the lead with Vako and Kenrik pulling up the tail a short distance back, the Feeorin understood what was to come so as the Toydarian explained what it was he wanted of him, he clicked the tongue against the roof of his mouth and nodded. Unclipping the button of his holster, the Blackhand was ready to be drawn at a moment's notice with his right hand already wrapped around the grip.

”As you wish, winged one,” Kenrik responded in monotone, slinking further down into his seat as he observed with a watchful eye. They were on the move and while it seemed like things were progressing calmly, the Feeorin wasn't sure if it was a growing sense of paranoia or if they had picked up a tail of their own. Watching the mirror on his side of the speeder, he would nudge the Toydarian gently and nod to the reflection with a grunt. "Matching us turn for turn, that one. Makin' my skin crawl..."

@Isen @Morse​

 

[Salvatore Russo]

For a while, it would appear that Gocci was headed exactly where Sal figured they would be headed. But instead, he turned left at an intersection when he should have stayed straight. There were two reasons that would be the most likely for this change of plans. Either Gocci's initial destination was not the starport docks as expected, or they had picked up that they were being tailed by a couple of landspeeders. Perhaps this bodyguard was even better than Sal anticipated. Sal was a pro at tailing even the most paranoid subjects without getting made.

Of course, he noticed the same speeder that Rollo did. Maybe it wasn't the guard that made the tail.

He got on his comms and said to Vako and Kenrik, "I'll stay on Gocci and the truck. You stay straight through the intersection. I'll give you a location and you can circle back," Sal said coolly. This wasn't the plan, but he didn't need to sound alarmed or nervous, especially with a rookie in the car. "Someone behind us may have made us and tipped them off. If they follow me, we were probably made. If they follow you straight, we're good. They're probably just headed to the starport."

Sal turned left and kept his distance was quite pleased to see the speeder in question follow Vako and Kenrick through the intersection. Russo stayed on the truck until it pulled into the lot of a small diner with many large windows. The guard got out first and circled the truck looking for anyone who may still be in their vehicles. He saw Sal pull in and locked eyes on the speeder, but Sal noticed this. He drove into the adjacent parking lot of a boot and glove storefront, and the guard immediately lost interest.

The guard knocked on Gocci's window and the Crimson Dawn's candidate for labor leader stepped out of the truck. Sal whispered to himself urging the guard, "Go with Gocci...Go with Gocci..." But alas, the guard stood at the front of the speeder and eyeballed Gocci all the way inside before turning attention back to the parking lot. Sal shook his head. This just got more complicated. He could see through the large windows and Gocci was seated across from a human highly dressed, all in black, with three large guards standing with their arms crossed, their eyes covering 360 degrees, including out into the parking lot. Once Gocci was inside the diner, his own guard trusted in his safety there and turned his attention back to the parking lot. Now Gocci's professional bodyguard made more sense. He was a Crimson Dawn soldier as well.

"I'm sending you my coordinates. Gocci is inside. Sure looks like he's meeting with someone with some clout in Crimson Dawn. Whoever it is has three bodyguards, and they look professional. His personal guard, likely Crimson Dawn as well, is outside with the truck." Sal sat there for a minute, tapping the steering console on his speeder before he addressed the two of them once more. "The price of poker just went up, boys. Bigger risk, but winning the pot is a big haul. Vako, you may have to talk me out of what I'm thinking."

What Sal was thinking was simple. Blow up the meeting with the Crimson Dawn gangster inside. There would be little collateral damage as it looked like they had cleared the diner out for the meeting, and it would more than send a message that the Hutts, not Crimson Dawn, were the kingpins on this planet.

@Tulos @Morse

Spoiler: OOC/Dice:

Dice - Guard stayed with the truck, and the car that Kenrik and Sal spotted is not following.

 

[Vako Yizok]

If there were things in the Galaxy that Vako did not like, it was Rancors, Razolaks, Corovoran Corsairs.... and as a close fifth, it was Crimson Dawn. Crimson Dawn were incompetent and pompous. They brought shame to the game, and still wandered around pretending as though they were some sort of great power in the galaxy. They were nothing of the sort, but some annoyance that got in the way. But because of this perceived power that they had not held for some time as Vako knew, they had to honor lines and play rules that Vako couldn't stand.

Deference to the Hutt's made sense. Respect for the Black Sun was assured. But Crimson Dawn was just some slyth mongering upstart that lingered around and made friends in the right places to have their assets kept. But in Syndicate Space, you had to defend everything you had at a moment's notice.

Now may be one of those times, and Vako was willing to point that out.

Vako had circled the vehicle back around as directed, and when Crimson Dawn was mentioned his brows went rigid and he had a snarl come from his trunk. "I hate those pompous chuk'taks."

As they came into position Vako called back in the comm.

"Freeing slaves is Syndicate sin, Sal." Vako noted. "Killing Crimson Dawn is doing it a favor." That was his honest point of view. "If things go bad with this bid.... I'm not above flipping a poker table." Vako commented. If they needed a more aggressive strategy, Vako was more than willing to up the anti if needed.

@Tulos @Isen

 

[Kenrik Rollo]

Kenrik struggled with keeping up to what was transpiring. The speeder that had been following them turned out to simply be the worry of the inexperienced Feeorin but regardless, the entire situation was starting to wear his typically neutral demeanor thin. Add into the mix that suddenly they weren’t simply trying to take out some local figurehead with Crimson Dawn ties but now they were looking to eliminating members of the crime syndicate itself, likely ones with a degree of clout within its ranks. Rollo was entirely unfamiliar with Crimson Dawn, of course. He knew nothing of who they were, what sort of operations they ran, what they were capable of. All he knew was that things were escalating. Quickly.

“Freeing slaves is Syndicate sin, Sal,”

As Vako spoke the words, his tone leaving little doubt that his feelings on such things were true, Kenrik’s head slowly panned over to the Toydarian at his side, his upper lip twitching slightly. Rollo had kept his past hidden from everyone since departing Kessel and he knew that getting himself involved with Sal and his team meant he would need to leave that chapter of his life behind but the wounds were still fresh. If he didn’t need the money from this job so desperately, he would have reached across the console of their speeder and tore the man’s little wings out of their sockets.

He had learned how to redirect his emotions of anger and hatred long ago however. Slaves who disobeyed or disrespected their masters were often never heard from again so the Feeorin adapted into putting those emotions into his work. It kept him busy, distracted and alive. It was a skill that he could put to use now, a skill he would undoubtedly put to use. For now he remained silent, observing and waiting to see what the other two would decide. It was not his place, not yet.

@Isen @Morse​

 

[Salvatore Russo]

Well, one thing about Vako, he wasn't afraid to stir the pot when it was served a purpose. Of course, this was more than just stirring the pot. This would be kicking the pot over with all the soup still inside of it and then making someone else lick it up off the floor. In short, it was EXACTLY the type of statement that would show this planet that the Hutts were in control. Not Crimson Dawn. Not some shell of Sakiyan government. Not even the labor union would be calling the shots after the vote. The Hutts were calling the shots. That's the message this would send, and the labor union would be the enforcement arm.

Sal sat with a line of vision on both the meeting inside the diner and the guard standing post in the parking lot. If nobody knew about the meeting and was planning a hit, this was a safe setup. It was setup to protect them from each other...not someone looking to make a point. "I have the explosives. If you guys try to park the speeder in the diner's lot, the guard will come out and tell you to move. He will not come out blasting. They don't want attention. He'll try to ask you politely to move. When he does, plant a blaster in his forehead and pull the trigger," Sal said over the comms. "I'll drive by the window, toss the explosives through the window onto their table. You give me three seconds to get out of there, and you blow it with the detonator. Then we haul balls back to the docks where we have allies. It isn't far from here."

He was going over the plans in his head. He was making them on the fly, and there were big risks. If it didn't go down right, it would embolden Crimson Dawn and make the Hutts look like a second rate street gang. It had to work. He clicked his comms back on and asked, "Guys, what do you think? We can blow the hell out of a Crimson Dawn lieutenant and win the election all in one hit."

@Morse @Tulos

 

[Vako Yizok]

The plan was sound enough. The simpler the better, but Vako was going to make sure that things went nice and easy. Nice and easy being an overwhelming onslaught of fire from they in his speeder into the diner to suppress anyone that would stick their head up. It was going to be absolutely devastating and that was all there was to it.

Vako looked at the Feeorin beside him. "The plan is sound to me. Only one thing to add. When that attendant comes to meet his end... take that blaster and unload the entire powercell into the windows until after that bomb goes off." Vako told him. "People get antsy when there's a shot... people take shelter in place when there's shots coming their way."

Prepping the speeder Vako called back to Sal. "We'll get you that cover you need. Maybe even more than three seconds. But I don't want any second chances for this Crimson Shek." Vako announced. "That bomb goes off, I'm checking a body... then we go."

@Tulos @Isen

 

[Kenrik Rollo]

Leaning over the edge of the speeder, Kenrik pursed his lips and spat onto the street below as the two discussed the new plan. He didn’t need to know Crimson Dawn to piece together the sort of dealings they likely had in the galaxy. What was one less sentient buying scumbag in the galaxy? Blowing up a diner may be extensive in accomplishing their goal but Sal and Vako were right; it would send the message that they had come here to deliver and with the diner cleared of locals, they likely wouldn’t get a better opportunity.

”It will be done, sir,” Kenrik replied curtly to Vako, a lifetime of forceful obedience left him with little in the way of discussing details. Though the details of this current plot suited him just fine.

As the speeder landed, Kenrik jumped from it’s passenger seat and began to walk towards the diner door. Of course, the guard that was stationed outside wasn’t going to simply allow that to happen and quickly intercepted him.

”Get your caf somewhere else, spacer. Diner’s closed,” he stated with a gruff growl. Kenrik’s heart raced as the man stared directly into his eyes as though he was looking through him rather than at the Feeorin. He had never done anything like this before. He needed to steel himself to accomplish his goal. Sighing, he focused on all the abuse he had suffered on Kessel. He recalled the face of the Slave Master responsible for every bruise, every wound, every injury he had ever suffered. Today, he would finally allow himself to release his emotions that had been bottled up for so long.

”Sorry,” Kenrik replied before turning back to the speeder. He could feel the bodyguard’s eyes burning into his back for a moment but soon the shuffling of feet behind him told the Feeorin that he had begun to return to his post. Pulling the Blackhand from his holster, Kenrik tucked the barrel under his left arm and glanced over his shoulder before squeezing the trigger twice.

The first bolt whizzed by the body guard’s shoulder but as he turned to once again face Kenrik, the second shot found it’s home in his chest and dropped the man to the ground. The Feeorin then turned his weapon on the diner window and began to fire, not aiming at anything specific but lighting up the interior of the diner with everything the pistol could muster.

@Isen @Morse​

 

[Salvatore Russo]

As soon as Russo saw the guard turn toward the speeder with the other associates, he backed his speeder out and began to drive over to the other lot. He timed it perfectly. The teamster boss saw the first blaster bolt zip past the bodyguard, but as the second one found paydirt, Russo slammed on the breaks right in front of the diner window and fired two a few shots to match the Feeorin's blows. The window shattered and the Crimson Dawn thugs were bailing for cover, sending a few wild shots back.

Russo took the bag of explosives and gave them a nice toss into the diner right near the table where the meeting was taking place. Before he zoomed off he pointed to the guard in the parking and yelled at Kenrik, "Put one in the forehead! No chances!"

He hit the accelerator, waiting for the explosion. The Crimson Dawn captains were right on top of the explosives along with the real target, Huwaa Gocci. All that awaited was Vako pushing the button and blowing the place smooth back to Nimban.

@Morse @Tulos

 

[Vako Yizok]

The blasting started with a rush. It was quick, but hardly clean. With the Syndicates it never was. They were not a special forces team of the Sith or undercover Rangers for the Republic. The Syndicates were experienced people with way too much firepower and far too much ambition to take proper orders. Unless that order was to make a mess, in which case they could always be counted on to do their duty.

Guards were taking blaster fire, and diner patrons were being laid to the floor by the blaster fire. Vako was not taking chances with the people that were there.

Vako was firing aimed shots. He echoed shots into the guard that the Feeorin fired on. He fired on a civilian in the diner. He unloaded a volley with intention into the crowd. This was the sad reality of the situation.

A targeted strike with casualties looked sloppy. An oppressive violent strike that caused a lot of casualties built reputation. And that was something that everyone in the Syndicates needed to keep in tact.

The bombs were dropped. The crescendo was at hand. And Vako did his part as the Feeorin re entered the vehicle.

He hit the accelerator on their own speeder, and clicked the detonator.

VWAM!

The explosion was violent. The heat was intense. The smell of scorched glass and durasteel filled the air. Just as intended. And the explosion was large. It threw bodies into the street with great force. Shrapnel rippled the entire area and pieces of debris clinked off the back of the speeder.

"I'd count a very dead Crimson Dawn Cohort." Vako said to the Feeorin and over the com. "Even the droids aren't gonna be salvageable from that mess."

Vako looked at the blue skinned Feeorin, stoicism in his eyes from the deed he'd done.

"That was good shooting." Vako complimented, not concerned with any reservations the being may have had. "Always keep em on the floor, live or dead." Vako smirked having seen the work was done well.

@Isen @Tulos