The run: Part 1

[Rob the Player]

Renn rolled his eyes and moved to check on the cargo. He quickly scanned over them to make sure they were in their proper place, and then returned to his perch on the bed. Renn thought about wha his father would say. No matter how bad things may seem at a time, follow through with your best, and you will be rewarded. He mumbled something under his breath and started to fidget with his father's lightsaber.

 

[Law abiding heretic]

"Thisss will not end well." Mulako muttered to himself as he took his place on board the patchwork ship and more or less relaxed for the coming flight.

 

[Rob the Player]

Renn shifted nervously before asking, "Hey, um, do you have any food? I forgot to grab some off of my ship."

 

[Melomex]

Verguxa put the ship on auto-pilot and pointed to a cupboard next to the holoterminal "look in the cupboard by the holoterminal, real Zabrak food in there" Verguxa said "you picky humans probably won't like it".

Verguxa bengan walking to the cargo bay to check the cargo "oh yeah, and don't touch the Novanian grog, may get you a bit drunk".

 

[Siah]

There was a light jolt. Alone in the cockpit, Siah swayed with the motion. The Ithorian moved from the plexiglass window to the small radar screen.
Small red blips told him what he already knew... Another small jolt. There were two ships closing in, one large one directly in front and a smaller one to the left. The comms console was beeping with a message. Siah stared at it, but refrained from pressing any buttons.

Holding down the button for the internal intercom system Siah warned the crew, "We have company. Two ships -" He was interrupted by another jolt, this time a stronger one. Siah swayed with the motion.

There was a hissing sound from a coolant pipe near the hyperdrive, and a small electrical outlet caught fire in the living quarters. The comm system was beeping furiously, as someone was trying to get through.

"We are the Talakan Liberation front. Surrender all your goods to us and we will spare your lives. Dock with the freighter directly in front of you or prepare to be fired upon!" A voice crackled over the comm system, "Erm, hello. We are the Talakan Liberation front. Surrender all your... Hello is anyone there?! Fire another shot at them, Looms!"
The pirates fired...

 

[Rob the Player]

Renn was halfway to the cupboard when the ship jolted. It nearly knocked him off his feet. When the pirates came over the comms, he recognized the voice. "I've dealt with these loons before, and l should've blasted them when i got the chance. They shouldn't be much of a problem. Just dock the ship and let me talk to 'em. If things go south, blast them." Renn grabbed his helmet and locked it back onto his head. He then proceeded to check his weapons. "Unless anyone has a better idea?"

 

[Melomex]

Verguxa rushed out of the cargo bay with his pistol in his hand.

"What are these scum doing here" Verguxa said, drunkenly fumbling to grab his helmet next to the pilot seat, "thought this would be an easy job, damn pirates".

"Screw these sculags" Verguxa cursed, clumsily putting on his helmet.

 

[Siah]

Siah nodded thoughtfully at Renn's suggestion. He doubted that Grobu's Bounty would hold up to a firefight or be able to outrun two vessels.
"Perhaps negotiation would be wise, if Master Renn could prevent any sort of conflict," Siah contemplated.

Meanwhile the Trandoshan pirates were arming themselves to the teeth. Not having had a reply from their prey, they decided to use weaponry to resolve this encounter. A large Trandoshan, Looms, was the crew's weapons expert. Looms would take point on any raid, while Myshak would coordinate the two ships.

Looms and five henchmen stood ready at the airlock doors, the pirates' freighter moved closer to Grobu's Bounty. Myshak, the captain of the Talakan Liberation front issued one final warning, "Prepare to be boarded and have your cargo transferred to our ship. Any attempt to flee or fire upon us will result in your deaths!"

 

[Rob the Player]

"Too late for that now. Everyone get your blasters ready, and Siah, I think you would do best guarding the cargo. Me and Verguxa will be at the front. Everyone find cover!" Renn readied his pistol. He quickly ran to the comms and attempted to sway them. "Hey now, no need for that ok? It's me, Renn. You remember me right? Look, we don't need trouble. Besides, you wouldn't want our cargo anyways. Who needs fertilizer right? Just don't come aboard for all of our sakes ok?" Renn looked back at the rest of the crew. "Hope this works."

 

[Siah]

"Rem? What's a rem?" Myshak's gruff voice crackled over the ship-to-ship comms. There was silence for a few moments, "How exactly do we know you?"

Siah gave a slight bow at the suggestion that he wait with the cargo. As he sauntered off towards the aft of the vessel he murmered, "Plants... not fertiliser."
On his way to the cargo hold, Siah casually stuck his head in the living quarters. He looked at the large Yam'rii, "You might be needed at the airlock. Hopefully the sight of you can deter any violence." He then disappeared.

The pirate freighter was mere meters from Grobu's Bounty, and the airlocks were almost aligned.

 

[Rob the Player]

"My dad turned in a bounty for you once or twice. You remember Jax right?" Renn paused, "Just forget it there's no reason for you to come aboard. We don't have any cargo you may want." Renn turned off the comms and shook his head. "If they so much as scrape the airlock I'm blasting 'em."

 

[Siah]

The two vessels clamped together. The pirate pilot was good, there was hardly a jolt as the airlocks aligned. With Siah now in the cargo hold, Renn was facing the pirates alone. There was the distinct sound of the pirate ship's airlock depressurising.

Siah slid open the side panel of one of his cargo crates. He feared that the jolting may have disturbed his cargo. There was a deep green glow emanating from the crate. A warm, musty odour escaped from within. Siah peered into the dim interior, he smiled. There were two young saplings, growing peacefully in moist, rich soil. A green light supplied them with constant light and nutrition for photosynthesis. The Ithorian closed his eyes, "Not long now young masters. Your final journey has begun." With that he sealed up the crate and sat cross-legged on the floor. He would wait out the situation with the pirates.

A moment later the airlock of Grobu's Bounty also depressurised and slid open slowly. Six Trandoshans stood in the narrow hallway. Looms, by far larger than any of the others, looked directly at the blue armoured figure. "Son of Jax? Rem?" He asked while pointing his carbine rifle at Renn. He gave the mandalorian a toothy smile.
The pirates shifted their weight anxiously, some were pressed up against the sides of the narrow entranceway, others crouched behind Looms.

 

[Rob the Player]

Renn had his pistol at the ready when Looms made his entrance. "It's Renn actually." He said while aiming his weapon at the Trandoshan's head. "This is your last chance to surrender. Can't we just avoid this? I really don't wanna have to clean up any bodies today." Renn counted how many pirates were at the airlock. He was outnumbered, but if he could take out the men surrounding Looms first, he might have a chance. Renn only brought one thermal detonator with him, hopefully that would be enough.

 

[Melomex]

"Look, this cargo ain't worth anything, lizard" Verguxa put his blaster pistol back in his belt, but keeping his flamethrower ready. He noticed a thermal detonator hanging from Renn's belt.
"Hey, we don't all want to go round blasting and blowing each other up now don't we?" Verguxa said "don't want to blow up this lovely vessel".
Verguxa kept his hand on his flamethrower, ready to activate it at a moments noticed. "We're all friends here, why don't yo just go rob an imperial ship, not a vessal carrying plants".

 

[Siah]

Looms looked about the old vessel. His eye darting from the two men in front of him, to the bulkheads and floors. The ship did look old, but it had been patched up a few times and was obviously very much liked by its owner. He shrugged and slung the carbine over his shoulder. Two of the other Trandoshans did likewise, the rest kept their weapons drawn.

Siah had heard no shooting as yet, he wondered if this was a good sign.

"Well, we can't just leave empty-handed, now can we?" Looms' voice was rough and gravelly. "Perhaps a few credits for our troubles would smooth things over for the captain." Looms entered Grobu's Bounty and made a show of inspecting the ship. Looms knew that Myshak would order this vessel blown to pieces rather than leave with nothing, hell he'd probably strip it down to the hull and sell off the parts.
Looms liked the attitude of these space farers and didn't want to see them blown to dust. He looked questioningly at the two men before him.

 

[Melomex]

"My credits are my credits" Verguxa said angrily "how about you go back to your stinkhole of a planet, forget about this". Verguxa pointed his flamethrower at the nearest Trandoshan.

 

[Rob the Player]

Renn opened fire upon the pirates, aiming at the ones without weapons drawn. He planned on using his detonator when the time was right. If things get too hairy, Renn may use his father's saber. "Conversation was boring anyways." He muttered.

 

[Melomex]

Verguxa activated his flamethrower, the flames leaping at the pirates. The fire caught on the floor, almost burning his feet off. Verguxa flew backwards with his jetpack, landing fairly gracefully despite him being drunk.
"Defend the cargo!" Verguxa yelled "I think there's more coming!". A Trandoshan jumped through the flames and tackled Verguxa to the ground.

 

[Siah]

Two Trandoshans went down with Renn's first attack. Looms tried to duck for cover, but there was nothing he could do at such close range. He took a hit in the shoulder and growled in pain. The three Trandoshans, still holding their rifles, opened fire on Verguxa and Renn. They weren't the best shots, but they were firing from close range too. One of the Trandoshans used his fallen comrade as cover while firing at Renn. A Trandoshan took out a plasma welder and charged Renn.

The last Trandoshan was attempting to bite Verguxa while swinging wildly with a plasma welder.

Siah heard the shots ring out. He almost got to his feet, but his common sense got the better of him. He closed his eyes and reached out with the force, he could sense that there had been a loss of life. The Ithorian could not yet sense who had died, he hoped it wasn't any of his acquaintances.

Looms managed to get his blaster rifle in hand and fired off shots randomly at Renn and Verguxa, through the flames. He was struggling to aim through the searing pain in his shoulder. He hadn't yet been able to communicate the situation back to the Captain.

 

[Rob the Player]

Renn saw the pirate coming at him. He quickly drew his vibrodagger, buzzed it on, and dug it into the trandoshan's neck without a second thought. He pulled it out and swiftly threw it at the pirate on top of Verguxa. Renn then pulled out his pistol and ran at Looms, firing it in his direction.