Spaceport Escapades

[Harlan Banks]

​

Theme​

Nar Shaddaa had more than a few criminals on it. And now it welcomed a pair more. Harlan Banks and Cazar Mindingo were here together, though not of their own accord. No, as paid members of the Cartel they went where they were told. Today they were told where by The Wook.

He'd read the briefing.

He'd skimmed the briefing.

Well, he knew it was about ships. And... stopping them.

For what reason? Well Harlan wasn't quite up yet to asking questions of his superiors just yet. He wasn't particularly into having superiors at all but ya do what ya gotta do sometimes, and taking out these ships with help from the little guy was what he gotta do now. They were at a spaceport, but not one you'd choose to go to. He certainly hadn't. In the kriffed up end of Nar Shaddaa was rather old, rather nasty lookin' building with a bunch of ships from the Lorda Balla, as well as more than a few thugs to look after them.

Take em out, that's what they'd been told. Or, something like that. No pilots, or no ships, or kriff no spaceport'd do. And he didn't know about Cazar, but he wasn't exactly ready to go in guns blazing. And so, as they approached the abandoned streets before the port, he looked over to his partner and had a word,

"Alrighty, Cazar, I got this feeling that you and me both ain't exactly fightin' types" he took a stab in the dark really, but he thought that might be right,

"But I do like to think of myself as a talker, a businessman, so maybe, maybe, maybe, we got some way into this. Say like, 'Hey yeah we're Balla's lads too, we're here to check it out, give the stuff a tune up' we poke around, quietly knock out the ships, maybe even a couple of guys if we got it in us, kriff rig it all up to blow if you got that sort of know-how, and pow pow, a job well done, we retire to the bar" he acted the whole plan out with his hands, he was exceedingly animated. As ridiculous as it sounded he was rather proud of himself as he did say so himself. Looking like an impresario finishing a show, he looked to his companion,

"Whatta ya think?"


@Cazar @Clayton

 

[Cazar Mindingo]

Cazar was unsure why he agreed to go on this mission for The Wook. The Jawa was notorious for being a snack giver and not for being a fighter. He then quickly learned that his partner was not a fighter either. Caz didn't really know what to think of the mission ahead but one thing was for certain: he brought cookies. He didn't even read the briefing at all he just figured the other guy would know what to do. The Jawa was not exactly the plan ahead type of criminal.

"Okie. Boom boom!" He quickly said, his head twitching as he spoke. "Not fight best, snack best. But make boom boom!"

It was not the most elaborate response ever, to say the least. Caz had his stun pistol in one pocket and cookies in the other. No armor or tools, but his small hands were good at stealing tools and reaching wires. They'd find a way to make those ships go away. That was probably the goal. He assumed it was the goal. The other guy seemed to think that was the goal. He would go with it. Rig some ships to explode, maybe steal one and blow others up with it. They'd play it by ear.

"Me steal ship. We boom boom things." He said again with a firm nod while offering his partner a cookie.

@Nightfall096

 

[Harlan Banks]

"Boom boom things, I like the sound of that" Harlan replied to his little companion as he accepted the cookie, cracking it between his teeth. It was one to savour, that was for sure. But, Cazar certainly seemed to have the right idea about it all, steal a thing, break this whole little party up a little. And Harlan couldn't help but be thankful that the little guy had offered to do the fighting part for him, it wasn't exactly his favourite little number, but he'd do what he could all the same.

"In which case, showtime" Harlan said with a wry grin, straightening his tie and combing-over his hair just the way he liked it. It was time to put on the big guns, and that meant big words, a big smile, and kriff ton of confidence. Getting into his stride, he could still taste that cookie in his teeth. He'd damn well ask for a couple as reward after. For now, well, now it was time to be the face of the pair.

At the front of the hangar Harlan came upon a group of men, guns, armour, generally frustrated expressions. They were Balla's thugs, here to keep things quiet and secret. They wouldn't be doing so for long. Even as Harlan approached a couple raised their rifles toward him and Cazar, another calling out,

"Oye, mate, you'd best out of this kriffing district!" curt and direct, there would only be one warning it seemed. Harlan put on a confident grin and kept moving, speaking,

"I'm pretty sure Balla owns this district boys, and a Lorda wouldn't want you holding up their senior workers for some nonsense like this"

"What in the-"

"It's Harry, good to meet ya boys, this is Minding, we're here to check in on the fly boys. Balla's ears been hearing nasty stories about subterfuge, espionage and the like that someone in their position cannot oblige. Imma talk to the boys if that's alright, Min's checkin' out the ships for worries, whether coaxium been watered down, or the hyperdrive actuators are hardlining the navisystem components..." the four looked bewildered at his words, but entranced by them. This was clearly above their pay grade and they knew it,

"You boys won't mind?"

"No, no, kriff the kriffers yeah, yeah" the man snorted, and waved them past. Like a used car salesman plying a client for upgrades they didn't need, Harlan still had a way with words sometimes, and one of those times was now.

They were in.


@Cazar

 

[Cazar Mindingo]

This was the type of mission that truly took advantage of the Jawa's mechanical expertise. Caz went right over to a big gunship and began to inspect it. A few eyes went to him but he was very small and quick with his work so it didn't tend to draw suspicion. He crawled up inside the ordinance storage for this first gunship and saw it was fully loaded and ready for battle. That would certainly not help The Wook and his crew if they wanted to make an attack on this gang. Cazar would be certain to 'fix' this issue for his boss. He knew just the right way to do it too.

"One... three.. two... four!" He counted out loud to himself as he messed with some wires and timers on the missiles.

Cazar then slipped out of the gunship quietly and did another round to pretend to check the systems. When he was finished with his fake quality control mechanical work he moved on to the next gunship, but this one had a pilot standing guard. As the Jawa approached, the pilot said he demanded to accompany Cazar as he did the inspection. An idea struck the little cute criminal as he agreed to allow it. Part way through, as the Jawa opened components and did a legitimate health check, he turned to the pilot who was watching.

"Finish that too. Can start, do system check? Then finish yous gunship too." He struggled to make the sentence good in basic, and he even handed over a cookie for the favor request.

"Wh- Oh." He took the cookie and looked at the Jawa's work. "Well you have been doing a good job on mine, I guess I can do that for you just to make sure it seems good."

The pilot began walking to the gunship Caz had rigged. Hopefully his partner was ready for what was about to come next. Cazar's plan was to wait inside this gunship while the other one exploded and killed a few people. Then he'd launch the one he was in to handle anyone remaining that ran over to see the destruction. One other gunship sat in the hangar and the Jawa figured his smooth talking friend could handle stealing it.

KABOOM

The entire structure shook as the pilot and his friend went inside the wired gunship. They happily entered the cockpit and initiated start up functions. The missiles inside skipped their safety checks and instantly exploded, destroying the ship in an epic fireball. Cazar ate a cookie as he watched the flames dance and the scraps fly. Now everyone's attention had been gathered and even the door guards came running inside to see what was going on. Cazar would wait to see what his partner was doing before he started up this ship.

@Nightfall096

 

[Harlan Banks]

As his little buddy got to work in the ships, Harlan made his way into the hangar with the rests of the thugs, trying to keep up the conversation, and keep em distracted,

"... So that's when I was like, no Carol you can't give it to every Hutt!" he cackled, making up some irrelevant anecdote to keep the boys laughing and not thinking. So far it seemed to be working, Cazar had got to work on the ships, presumably flicking about, cutting wires, overloading stuff, whatever it was that a criminally minded Jawa could do. Perhaps he could be of use himself, this little act was going well so far, maybe it could go a little better,

"And hey, uh, boys, boys, while we're checking out the ships, do ya mind if I give ya a little weapons inspection?"

"Piss off"

"No but, hey, Balla just wants to make sure that ya know, ya'll ready for anything, et cetera, et cetera..."

"These are staying with us I'm afraid buddy boy, do the ships, that's you're job" the leading thug barked back in a voice like black caf. Harlan wasn't getting anywhere with that, and that was okay with him, so long as they let Cazar do his thing then it seemed they'd be doing alright for now. He glanced over to the side, Balla's pilots were gathered over against the wall near the launch controls, playing some game with a chance cube. A good way to kill some time with these boys,

"Hey, fellas!" he called out "any room for another few-"

KABOOM

Oh, oh Caz had really done it. He had to jump left as a spinning piece of debris shot toward him. Though that wasn't the only thing. Catching the Jawa in the cockpit, one of the pilots took off quick from their seat, dashing to the last gunship. He wouldn't get a chance. Snatching up his cane Harlan gave a nod to the thugs in front of him and ran, chasing after that pilot.

With a smack to the legs the man whacked right into the ground, leaving Harlan with a clear shot to the fighter. Well clear apart from the hail of blaster fire that shot up from the guards. They might seem like idiots but they had quick trigger fingers, he'd give them that much.
Dashing behind the gunship, he gave a little salute to Caz, a baker and a criminal, a good combo, before throwing himself into the cockpit. Things were gettin' loud, fast.


@Cazar

 

[Cazar Mindingo]

As a smuggler, piloting a ship was one of Cazar's main skills. It is was kept him alive a lot of the time. His own ship was not as powerful as a gunship, but this might soon change if he could keep this one together. He caught his partner making it to the other ship but he was taking some blaster fire. The Jawa decided that would all change. A hum filled the air as the gunship lifted off the ground and weapons came online. Lights indicated that all was ready. Caz pressed the firing mechanisms and sent lasers ripping into the enemy lines. Those that did not die were quickly jumping for cover or running away.

"Utini!" The Jawa shouted to himself in excitement as he pressed the throttle and left the hangar before quickly turning around.

He would wait for his partner to get out of the hangar in his own gunship before launching the ordinance. Missile after missile would fly into the hangar to break it down. Nothing would be parking there or leaving from it when Caz was done with his destructive playtime. He hoped The Wook would give him more snacks in exchange for this. Maybe he'd get to keep the big booms but really he wanted snacks.

@Nightfall096

 

[Harlan Banks]

Harlan wasn't a thin man.

Nor was he a particularly dexterous one, as rather aptly demonstrated as he tried to thumb the kriffing gunships' controls and pull out of the place after he'd heaved himself into the cockpit. For now though he was safe enough from the blaster fire, their small arms doing bugger all against a machine like that. And for now his little jawa companion seemed to be doing a rip roaring job at tearing through em with a things cannons.

It should have given him enough time to get to grips with the things controls, and safely fly his way out of there. It didn't though. Rather stressed and with his pudgy hands, Harlan wasn't exactly an ace pilot. The gunship lifted off the ground in a lurch, nearly stalling as it broke ground, its engine sputtering on and off as he scraped the roof of the hangar escaping out into the open air. At least though Cazar kept em busy, there wasn't in the way of much fire coming their way now.

As his friend let of a hail of missiles into the thing, Harlan followed suit, albeit with a little less pizzazz then his partner. One rocket crashed into the roof of the place, another smacking into the wall outside, sending fire and scrap around it. Though between them the damage wrought would be catastrophic. Few would make it out, and certainly no ships would,

"Force, these things pack a punch!" Harlan called into his headset, throwing it over his ears as the wire caught in his lapel. They likely weren't the most dashing pair, but they got the job done it seemed.


@Cazar

 

[Cazar Mindingo]

Destruction was likely more than needed but Caz liked it. Next all they had to do was fly these bad boys back to The Wook and present their work. The Jawa figured this counted as a job well done. He hoped as much at least. Just to be sure nothing could walk away, Cazar fired one last missile into the burning mess before turning the ship around. It would not be a long flight home, but he wanted to parade the ship about before he handed it over.

"Race! Race me!" Came the excited shouts over the headset. "Race!"

Caz's ship lurched hard as he hit the throttle to begin his trip home. He wouldn't give Harlan a chance for a fair race. The big man clearly wasn't the best pilot either so it didn't matter in the end. Cazar would make his way back to where The Wook's gang would park ships. He'd land first and exit the ship while cheering for himself loudly even if no one came to see him. First thing he would do once on the ground was to find The Wook to report in.

/exit
@Nightfall096

 

[Harlan Banks]

Harlan was still getting to grips with the kriffing things controls as the little guy seemed to finish the place off and sent it to oblivion. That said, at least there weren't any blasters cracking off at them anymore, he had a moment to try and figure out exactly how you were supposed to get the altitude going on the thing.

Well, a moment before his partner called across the headset for a race, shooting off in a flash back to The Wook. Cocky little cook,

"Yeah yeah, race me ya little bugger" he mumbled with a laugh into his headset as he finally managed to turn the handbrake off and get the thing spinning where he wanted it to, shooting off long behind the jawa. Cazar would win his little race, Harlan accepted that before it even began.

All he cared about now was that he'd made it through with a minimum of personal damage. He still wasn't keen on the idea of being shot. Well, being shot again. And for now he kept the streak alive. And with the job well done he had the glimmer of hope that his employers wouldn't be shooting him either. Not just yet, anyhow.

/EndThread


@Cazar @Clayton