Ask So Close, So Abafar

[Zhaan Duran]

Damn near every government hired mercs and bounty hunters. The shiny and new, polished-up Empire was no exception. Wanderer types had particular sets of skills and experiences worth paying for. Especially when it came to the rougher parts of the galaxy. Abafar, despite it's location on the galactic, was one such place. Back during the Clone Wars it'd been barely inhabited. These days it had a shining city parked near the world's only natural body of water, fed from deep underground.

It also happened to be closest to the rhydonium quarries, the planet's claim to fame and main source of income. Those were why Duran was even here, waiting to meet some undercover Imperial contact. The city was a rough place with rough people and big troubles of its own. But the pay was good for this job if they could pull it off and Duran could always use more regular clients.

It was sunset on the desert world, the only time when the shadows in the desert weren't wiped clean by the strange sunlight and instead cast long shapes over every orange-bathed surface. He was leaned up against the sandstone wall of a local dive bar, cigar burning away between his teeth as he waited and just took in the sights. Not like he was in a rush while waiting.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

She was dressed in civilian attire and actually took time to ease into her cover. ISB jobs always involved a lot of waiting around. She had to mingle with the locals and learn how to blend in. While she had done this many times before and it was always a job, Six did take the time to enjoy herself now and then.

She made her way over to her contact, already spotting the Chiss. It was always odd seeing a Chiss - they were always rare out in the galaxy and she never knew what to expect. Most people expected all Chiss to be like Admiral Thrawn and she figured they were all tired of hearing about him.

“Tali Karn,” She said with a smile as she introduced herself, “Let’s go inside,” She said with a breezy wave of her hand. Six ordered herself a brightly colored drink, grabbing a table at the corner.

“What do you know about rhydonium facilities to the north?” It was where she was interested. She had done her research, but she wanted to make sure this guy was up to the task. The job involved breaking in to stir up some trouble and for her to come save the day and take over the shipments.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Zhaan Duran]

Zhaan tipped his hat up to look at the woman and then removed it entirely with his left hand, offering the right to shake her hand with a friendly half-smile. "Duran, ma'am. My pleasure." The Chiss man strode in right behind her, placing his hat down on the table and going with a glass of bright green spotchka. After the first sip he took a thin cigar out from his jacket and place it between his teeth.

"You mind?" He wouldn't light it if she had a problem. Then it was on to business. His posture and tone were casual, like he was talking to someone about the weather. "Manned by droids and livin' folk with outsourced security. Estimates clock around..." he listed estimated numbers for weekly import and export- not from any official report, but from talk and observation.

"Two entrances into the mines themselves. Big place. Day and night shift managers are a Rodian named 'Big Snazz' and an indie droid called 'Copper'. Lookin' for something specific?" There was plenty to know, and nothing he'd said was exactly 'secret' so far, but if he listed every scandalous rumor or miner's riots violation he'd be here 'till the heat death of the universe. 'Course, clients that paid partly up front got whatever info they wanted. That's just business.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Six smiled, “Only if I can’t borrow your lighter,” She teased, drawing out her own cigarra. If he let her, she would light the cigarra and exhale a cloud in the opposite direction. From what he described, he had certainly done his homework. Even if it was public knowledge, he had to have taken the time to understand the target location. She was feeling better about her prospects already.

“Patterns,” Six said when he asked about what she looked for, “Mishaps..incidents..accidents. Anything that can be repeated to break the eopie’s back,” She explained, “That’s what I’m looking to create. That’s what I’m paying you for,” She spelled out flatly, deciding that he wasn’t going to waste her time.

“I can’t be in the picture at all in the beginning so you’ll have to move in to cause some disruptions,” She said, “I will go in to fix things. There can be no trace of our agreement anywhere.”

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Zhaan Duran]

The Chiss just grinned and held up the lighter for the lady to light her cigarra before starting up his cigar, then put it away in his coat. Duran took a good couple of puffs and took a drink while Karn elaborated. He took the cigar from his mouth and gestured vaguely with it, smoke forming random shapes in the air between them.

"Snazz's rumored to be a Pyke plant. Loose with the rules, favoritism, light on safety, probably skimmin' profits. Folk sometimes called to his office tend to end up as 'unfortunate casualties' of 'mining incidents.'" Of course, no one working these mines did it 'cause they wanted to. Most didn't have much choice, so the man had a stranglehold on his shift. "Copper's called Copper 'cause they're a Core model police droid. Dunno how they got here, but they're by the book. Paperwork and safety compliance. The two don't get along so well."

Zhaan puffed at his cigar. Well, if Ms. Karn wanted a disruption... "Big guy keeps order with mercs, I'll get in just fine. Glad to oblige a lady's request for trouble." He nodded with a playful tilt of the head. "I'll arrange for some extra friction with Snazz near about shift change. Toss in a tragic circumstance or two to get blood boilin'. Copper'll pay attention to phrases like 'miner's rights' and 'unionization' if you want to get him on your side." Duran finished his drink.

"Not to worry, ma'am. I'm a professional." The job was mostly verbal agreement, thus the upfront pay and concealed channels for money and communication. Besides, Duran didn't carry around client information on the job. Bad for business if things went horizontal-like. "Just another humble hired gun takin' an enthusiastic walk through the mines."

@Sreeya