Pulling Weeds: Spring Cleaning

[Cainhurst Crow]

On the nearby asteroid colony/spaceport of Borgo Prime, a haven for information brokers, black-market merchants, and other shady types - as well as much more legitimate businessmen and craftsmen - the pirates have managed to entrench themselves, using the asteroid as a beneficial transfer area for their slaving operation. As well, their thugs have taken to roaming the ‘streets’ at night, terrorizing most of the citizens into staying in their homes.

After one too many principled merchants have disappeared after refusing to deal with the pirates, and after numerous failed attempts at sending a mercenary force to route them out, the local government has turned to the Jedi for help, asking us to clean the thugs from the streets and to find out just what business is being used as a front for the pirates - and remove the infestation, by whatever means necessary.

Spoiler

Objectives: Wait until ‘nightfall’ and capture a pirate thug from the streets, and have them lead you to the local business front the pirates are operating under as a disguise; then, make them leave, however you have to.
Conflict: Armed pirate ruffians roaming the streets, whoever decides to fight back when you go to make them leave the asteroid.
Extra Info: This mission was pre-agreed to be NPCed by Ecclessey, and the pirate that is captured will be his NPC "Tall" Tulo Turner.
Thread Type: Ask.
Reward: 1/4 sector capture; gratitude of Borgo Prime’s residents; ability to set up a small listening outpost on Borgo Prime.
People Needed: Three Jedi; One or more Knights, no more than two Padawans.
Mission Link:
Mission OOC:
Members: Knights: Djura Volfe, Taox the Rogue (I think Taox Rouge [Taox the Red] sounded better though), and Siah Morvayne.

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Borgo Prime, an asteroid space station which served as the home to many businesses and traders, both legal and illegal. It was here that the jedi had been called to answer the plight of the people here, against the scourge of pirate activity that plagued their streets at night. The jedi had come in via a ship, landing in the port without much issue, posing as simple visitors on a trade mission for some of the businesses here. A ruse to slip onto this station unnoticed and get ready for their operation.

It was an hour before what those on this station called nightfall, and an hour before the jedi would make their move against their targets. In a simple inn that had been swept for bugs and other listening devices, Djura Volfe stood looking out of the window, changed into his jedi combat robes as he went over the plan in his head. He turned to his companions, the usually solitary jedi Taox, and the formally dressed Siah, as he examined his own sabers to make sure they were in proper working order.

"So...Do you two understand the plan?" Djura asked as he finished his own mental plotting of their movements once night came to the station, putting his sabers onto his belt and rubbing his wrist anxiously, "We need to capture and interrogate one of the pirates here. Preferably, we'll hit a straggler who can guide us. From there, we will negotiate for these criminals to leave. Avoid being spotted, or getting the attention of any larger group, unless absolutely necessary."

@Korvo
@Siah
@Ecclessey

 

[Siah]

Siah nodded in response to the Kiffar's question. He understood the mission. He also understood the need for a measured approach. This city was infested with pirates, murderers, and opportunists. The Jedi would make a worthy prize for any enterprising criminals, if they were not careful.

Standing stoically, and looking over spaceport through the Plexiglas window below, he folded his arms behind his back. The force was a vibrant entity on this chaos. Unlike the serenity of Ilum and other such ice-worlds, Borgo Prime was teeming with vexed currents of the facetted forced. Siah turned to his companions, "As cautious as we are sure to be, we must prepare for the worst possible outcome. This place is a melting pot of the worst scum, and the force is not at ease here. I can sense great troughs and rifts in the force. A successful outcome for this mission may rely on our preparedness to become one with the vexed force and follow its guidance." Siah was worried about the force and how it may lead the Jedi on a less than peaceful resolution.

He looked out at the streets below, in an hour he would become just another small individual on those distant streets.

 

[Korvo]

Taox felt his nose wrinkle by reflex. He'd been to many worlds, many moons and more residential and commercial space stations than he could count. From the Core Worlds to the Outer Rim to Wild Space and the Western Reaches. So there was no bias or inexperience in his thoughts when he mused about how much the asteroid colony seemed to stink. A pungent and repulsive chemicalized industrial odor, one that seemed to gnaw at him. Perhaps the others wouldn't have really noticed, or equated it with the status of Borgo Prime being a wholly artificial environment, but Taox was spaceborn, lived in space for most of his life. And he knew the look, and smell, of second-rate maintenance when it was around him. Only thing he could hope was that this wasn't a station-wide thing; any spaceport deserved better.

"Keezx, understood and ready", Taox remarked. In an ironic way, Taox was already used to these kinds of missions, as he hunted for food on a regular basis. And as far as he was concerned, an urban jungle was still a jungle in its own right.

"And don't worry so much. I grew up in places like this. Be quick on your feet, use discretion, and no one will bat an eye for anyone else", Taox said, almost regrettably. Reaching for his back, Taox grabbed his lightbow and activated it, inserting a power core to revitalize it's charge. It was always useful to tagging distant targets, should the need arise, and it could be fired in a low-powered mode to stun, instead of burn. Most criminals had a pack mentality; stragglers and dregs, most of all. Given the chance, they'll run, draw in as many as they can. Preventing that makes all the difference.

"We have an hour till we start", Taox said, mounting his lightbow and donning his hood, "I'll move about down below, get a mental map for the spaceport. I look like a vagabond anyways, so no one will pay me any heed."

Taox never wore Jedi robes, instead wearing simple space leathers. Normally that robbed him of the passing respect and dignity many Jedi receive from others, and usually just upon them being seen. But when anonymity was more ideal, Taox's style had its uses. "I'll be back before 'dark'."

At that, Taox dropped down from their position, landing on rooftop after rooftop until he landed in an alleyway. From there, the Jedi departed, seamlessly blending in with the crowds around him. He'd never been to Borgo Prime before, and he wanted to get the lay of the land as soon as he could.

 

[Cainhurst Crow]

"Sounds good. Just don't do anything to compromise our cover." Djura said, not meaning anything by it as he made his preparations. With a hour to kill, there was little else to do but sit back and wait. It would be the best option to take, besides going out and scouting. And the less of them doing so and drawing attention, the better.

Djura glanced to Siah as he went down onto his knees, lowering himself into a lotus position as he closed his eyes, "Communing with the force may not be a bad idea. Perhaps we will find the place we're meant to start." He said as he tried to focus on letting himself drift away into the hold of the force, and to shut out the physical world around him. It was always hard for Djura to do so, but it did make him feel better to try.

 

[Siah]

The hour passed quickly for Siah. He spent a few moments watching the station below them, through the plexiglass windows. It never ceased to amaze him how people lived and thrived on such a busy world. There were vehicles of all shapes, sizes, and designations whizzing by. The stoic knight could feel the multitude of lives and the unnerving buzz of the life here. He did not like it.

Siah would have much preferred to be on a barren world, devoid of all this confusion. He was sure the force had a firm grasp of all things, but this was still not to his liking.

The latter part of the hour was spent in meditation, simply centring himself and attuning his mind to the business that is Borgo Prime. Amid his meditations, he wondered if this hub of information brokering wouldn't pose a threat to the mission. All manner of information, secrets, lies, and misinformation could be found here. Ever cautious of non-Jedi, the knight let his mind explore the possibility that their quarry was at least aware of their presence here. His robes lying calmly about him as he sat erect in thought, Siah's mind was ever working. He would be mindful of his environment and not underestimate these pirates.

At last, the force rippled with energy and there was an almost imperceptible lull in the energies of the station. It was time.

 

[Korvo]

Taox inhaled deeply as he finished his ascent from the metropolis below. The coldness on the sterile and recycled air was dry as could be, in stark contrast to the odor of polluted industry and mired filth. His cloak covered over his head, concealing his dark strands of hair. In truth, it probably mattered little, if at all. The busier the city, the less people looked at one another's faces with any sort of care. Everyone had their own concerns, and it made discretion all the more easier.

Climbing up the way, Taox watched the bustling spaceport from a growing distance. It didn't take long before he caught sight of the others, particularly Morvayne. His formalistic attire was the perfect antithesis to Taox's own simple wardrobe.

"The night-cycle's in progress. If we're going to do this, now is the time", Taox remarked, making eye contact with both Siah and Djura. "And I think I know where we can start. There's a cantina over in the Navax Quarter, called the Hallaz Varockee. It's a regular drinking hole for several pirate factions sharing the turf, and more importantly, it's fairly close. Might be a good place to start, at least."

 

[Fyremage]

Amidst the typical loud, raunchy uproar within the Hallaz Varockee, one could see all manner of drunken antics and debauchery. This was always the case when such an establishment catered to... Spacers of the pirate variety. The place was dimly lit and a light haze of smoke hung in the air thick with the smell of death sticks. Drinks were spilled atop a mahogany Bartop, a fight sparking over one man standing within the spot another man wished to stand in.

Off to the side, at a large round table in the corner, a singular man of such repute as a 'pirate' could be seen speakin between chuckles "Oh you wouldn't believe it. I look at him and I says: 'Oi, that ain't a woman mate.' Then he looks at me and shouts back: 'What're you fekking getting at mate?' Then.. Heh. HAAAH. Then I says: 'It's a hog, can't you see?' Then he looks at this pig in the eye, and plants his lips on its snout." Even more laughter filled the room as the man neared his punchline. As soon as he caught his breath he downed the rest of his ale, and smacked the table with a handful of credits before he rose up and swaggered over to the exit. He burst through the door and stumbled over to a dark 'alleyway' by the side of the cantina. The sound of a zipper could be heard along with a sigh of relief as he began to relieve himself against the wall of the building. The drunk pirate known as James Rackham could be heard singing the following:

"Fifteen men and a dead man's chest. Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum..."

 

[Cainhurst Crow]

"So this is the place, huh?" Djura asked as he looked towards the cantina in question, raising a brow as he looked it over. The Hallaz Varockee, certainly looked like the type of place that pirates and lowlifes would frequent. Djura had stored his sabers within a few choice places in his robes, one up his sleeves and another tucked within his vest, not wanting to draw attention to himself being a jedi. Most likely he'd be confused for some form of riff raff, after all, what kind of jedi was missing an eye?

The trip here hadn't taken long, but it seemed the place was already pretty lively judging by the laughter within. As he took a few steps towards the entrance someone came out, stumbling as Djura watched him heading towards the side of the cantina. He looked behind him and motioned the others to follow him, an opportunity arising. Someone inebriated, alone, and most likely just finished and therefore would probably not draw much suspicion if they went missing.

He walked a few steps towards the alley and rounded the corner when he saw the man doing his business and singing as he went, "I think we have our guide..." Djura said to his companions as he rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles as he looked behind him to meet their gazes, "Let's make sure we approach him carefully. Be ready to catch him if he runs."

 

[Siah]

Siah took in the sights and sounds of the space station. The lifeless metal and the lively organisms were a stark contrast within the force. Keeping to the shadows, and enshrouding himself in the force he kept a decent distance between himself and the Kiffar. The walk through the streets had been uneventful, no one seemed to notice or care much for the cosmopolitan group of individuals.

Nearing the venue, Siah noted the unsavoury types milling about in the alleyways and empty streets. Taking a moment to himself Siah stopped in a small alcove a distance from the bar. He watched the building impassively, the force keeping him ready for any eventuality. When a seasoned figure came swaggering out of the Hallaz Varockee, Siah felt a twinge in the force. The white robed Jedi nodded to himself.

Knight Djura was correct, this was definitely their guide. The force was flowing forwards and this man, disconnected though he was, was interconnected with the will of the force. "I'll remain here," Siah whispered to his companions, "and prevent him from escaping. I will remain hidden in the force and remain just out of sight." At that Siah backed away, further into the dark alcove.

Siah watched in amusement as the pirate relieved himself on the side of the street. Such was the character of places like this.

 

[Korvo]

Taox stared unimpressed, catching sight of the man Djura had reckoned to be their target. Anyone looking at the establishment, seedy as it was, would know not to expect a finessed sort of company to be going and coming from the place. But even with that in mind, the bloke pissing on the wall, song-singing in a drunken stupor had to be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

"Our guide?", Taox began, not even bothering to hide his already low opinionated first impression of the man, "The man looks like he could barely find his way out of the building in the first place."

Taox never found alcohol appealing to begin with, but seeing the ramblings of the inebriated was someone punching in new nails in a coffin, reconfirming his conviction to stay away from the stuff. He never understood the excitement some had at the prospect of losing control of their mental inhibitions. It was moments before Djura alerted him and Siah to be wary to catch the drunkard if he tried to run, although he had to be frank; it was a credible debate in Taox's mind if the man was even capable of coherent running to begin with.

"I have another idea", Taox briefly uttered.

Following behind Djura from a distance, albeit not as far behind as Siah stayed, Taox reached out with the Force and into the conscious mind of the man ahead. In one instant, the man's song, his thoughts, his relief, his stupor and all his imaginings would freeze. His voice would freeze and even his body would freeze. A stasis effect would overcome the man, and while it took all of Taox's focus to enforce, he himself didn't need to do anything else.

"Djura, if you'd do the honors", Taox said in a somewhat distant and distracted manner. "I don't think he's going to be running away."

At least he wouldn't be for the time being. The man was now free to approach and at least initially apprehend. What would occur after, well that was anyone's guess.

 

[Fyremage]

"Oi, yo-ho-ho and a bottle of ruuuuummm." James bellowed the finale of the song he began singing, shaking his member a few times before pulling it back within his pants. As was the case after a good pissing, James let out a satisfied grunt and nearly lost his balance as he turned to walk down the ally. It was at this moment that he felt himself slowing to the point of being unable to move. He struggled against whatever invisible force was keeping him, and his mental strength was indeed compromised from the high levels of alcohol. "The feck is happening?!"

 

[Cainhurst Crow]

Djura walked towards the man after giving a nod to Taox, coming to stand in front of the immobilized but hopefully not muted drunk man as he narrowed his gaze and looked him up and down. He looked benign enough, though a bit disheveled, and the large coat he wore and the shanty screamed that he was a pirate. Not to mention he seemed quite confident walking the night drunk off his own arse, which meant he didn't seem to fear the pirates around him.

"Let us cut to the chase, pirate. I'll make this nice and breif...." Djura said flatly, crossing his arms as he spoke to the man and curious what sort of resistant answer he'd get, "Tell me what your name is, and where it is you and your pirate comrades operate out of here in this spaceport..." It wasn't a question so much as a demand, one that the jedi didn't feel he needed to elaborate on as he hoped his comrades would cover the alley to watch out for others.

@Siah

 

[Fyremage]

"Feck." James said as the disguised Jedi rounded the corner and began asking questions. When the question of "what his name" was came up, James merely glanced up a guffawed for what seemed to be a good ten seconds before replying: "Yew come up 'ere, do some fekking thing to paralyze me, an' yew don' even know who oi am?"

His tone seemed to imply near complete surprise and bewilderment, as if to imply he were someone important. "I'm Captain James Rackham mate, and who the karking feck are you?"

 

[Korvo]

Taox stared in silence, exasperatedly obvious that he was unimpressed with the good 'captain'. He knew better than to judge ones prematurely, but by the Force, this man came off as a buffoon.

"Well, at least he can form sentences", Taox sarcastically remarked. "That is Basic, right?"

Walking around the man, Taox narrowed his eyes, as if to better get an estimate on who he was dealing with. He may be drunk now, but what kind of man was he when sober? Fierce-hearted? Cowardly? Cunning? Ruthless? Shed away his stupor now, what would still be there?

"Eh, blast it", the young Knight remarked, quickly approaching the 'venerated' Captain James Rackham as he soothingly and slowly waved his left hand. "You will tell us what you know about the pirate operations in this spaceport."

There was no telling if this would work or not, and Taox knew it. He could have been strong willed behind that drunkenness, or even his current state would dull or inhibit the Force's effects on his mind. It wouldn't be the first time altered brain chemistry affected the potency of the Force on the mind, either for good or for ill. But at the end of the day, when all's said and done, he had to at least give it a try, didn't he?

 

[Cainhurst Crow]

Djura kept his face still as stone as he bore into the captian, looking at him in the eyes as secretly he was pleased. A captain would indicate someone of some repute within the pirate gang here, which meant he was almost guaranteed to have information they were after, assuming his claim of being a captain was truthful, or relevant to this part oft he galaxy. 'Either way, he should be able to lead us right to their base of operation.' He thought, as he allowed Korvo to take the lead here. If his mind trick didn't work, they could always do things his way.

@fyremage

 

[Fyremage]

"You will tell us what you know about the pirate operations in this spaceport."

"I will not do anything of the sort, lad. What's to say I know anything about pirate operations anyway?" James chortled, obviously in his element with a little rum in his system. Call it a life of building up one's tolerance, or whatever else, but James had endured a lot worse while under the influence and had the prescience of mind to tell about it.

"Pirate.. such a dirty word. I prefer the term: 'Aggressive trader.' Don't worry though, I'll forgive you for the obvious misunderstanding."

 

[Korvo]

"Well... osik. That figures."

A sarcastic, or perhaps sardonic, grim etched its way onto Taox's face. Naturally, he just had to have happened to be strong-willed, didn't he? Of course things couldn't have gone that easy, Taox of all people knew he should have known better. The Jedi Knight turned to face his comrade, raising his hand and opening his mouth before quickly closing it, clinching his lips tightly together as if to prevent a stupid thought from being vocalized.

Mind Tricks could be resisted by strong minds, but there was always a breaking point. Multiple Jedi using their influence on a single person could theoretically overpower any one individual's will power, but the potential devastating effects it could have on the mind could be nothing short of traumatic. Now that was a bad idea for anyone, especially for a Jedi Knight.

"Okay, not out of ideas yet, my pirate friend", Taox said, deliberately ignoring the man's poor alternative expression as he patted him on the back, just walking past him as he crossed his arms inquisitively. "Don't suppose you're the telepathic type, are you?", he asked Volfe as he turned his head around to again look at Rackham.

 

[Cainhurst Crow]

"No. But I do have an idea..." Djura said as he approached rackham from behind, throwing one of his arms around the mans neck to give him a headlock, while his other hand grasped his saber, pressing the unactivated sabers blade emitter into the side of the man. "You seem like a smart man. So I'm betting you have a good idea what i'm pressing against your side..." Djura said with a calm and cold tone of his, his eye staring into the back of the pirates head as he continued, "If you don't cooperate, i'll turn on this saber, and cook your organs from rib to hip. Our job was to send you pirates packing. That doesn't mean we can't send you packing in a body bag."

@fyremage

 

[Fyremage]

"An' what's to say you won't kill me after I tell you, eh?" Things were beginning to get serious, and along with that James' usually winning personality turned a bit more straightforward than he had been moments prior. It was very clear what was being held to his side, and he mildly expected it. Only certain kinds of people could stop him in his tracks in the manner he was in now, and the name rolled in his mind. 'Jedi...'

"In all seriousness, this be how I see the situation: You can't be Sith. Why? Because why would they be so concerned with Pirates out here, eh? Plus, I've dealt with the sort, and they usually start off with the threats... whereas you didn't. Which means you are Jedi, or sommat of the like. In'it against some code of yours to kill in cold blood? I'm clearly no threat to you, and my blood'd be on yer 'ands."

With a smug grin, he continued: "And if you do kill me, it means you'd have to wait for another drunken sod to walk out 'ere and you do the same to 'im, save he may not be as clear minded as I be, and try to fight you back. Now..."

He cracked his neck slightly, apparently being able to still move it to a degree: "I'm a reasonable man. You help me, then I may be more inclined to 'elp you. Savvy?"

 

[Korvo]

Taox had stood off to the side to allow Djura make his play. They weren't explicitly in a rush, so they had enough time to experiment, to see what could work in cajoling the alleged pirate. To be honest, Taox truly wondered that the man wasn't just a simple bum. And if nothing else, he could treat the encounter as a learning experience. As he was usually on his own, Taox didn't frequently interact with those the galaxy would normally write off as scum.

Between his position standing behind Rackham and his open interest in the conversation, Taox didn't even bother to hide his look of surprise. Whatever the man was on the outside, there was more to him than the makings of a buffoon.

"I'm impressed", Taox said, slowly walking around to face Rackham, "So you're capable of obvious deduction. I'll give you credit, I wasn't expecting that."

Taox then turned his head upward, discretely directing a glance, and a thought, toward Djura. ::Not sure what to expect, but it's more of an in than we had a moment ago. Let's see where this goes::

"Alright then, 'captain'. Let's say you are reasonable, that you want an... exchange", Taox began, taking a step close to the man, "Why don't you tell what you're after, then we'll decide if we should just... go after another 'drunken sod'."

Taox then drew a distinct grin onto his face as he inched his head forward in the Rackham's direction. "Savvy?"