Star Wars Rise of Black Sun [No Longer Accepting New Players]

@Shadow Trooper and General Immodet: I have sent a group of Twi'leks and several other choice species, which the Hutts seem to favour, for Shadow Trooper's selection. Shadow Trooper, try not to damage any of the merchandise.

 

Klatooine Mission Report:

• All selected targets destroyed.
• 123 captives.
• 80 of which defected to our force.
• 92 casualties.
• Minor damage to hovercraft
• 14 snub fighters destroyed

----------
The report above meets all the standards I have set for this mission. I am glad to see the fruits of our strategising.

 

General Immodet, Thuro, Darth Master Titus, The Star Wars Archivist, Scholomancer
Durga is pleased with our operations on Klatooine. It appears our victories against Zorilla have also impressed the rest of the Hutt cartel. While I initially thought only the Besadii would want to negotiate with us, our recent actions as well as Trillian Banjeers renewed campaign against the Hutts has caused some of the other leaders of the great Kadjiics to want to join Durga in discussing the terms of an alliance. They have extended an invitation for our representatives to meet them at Durga's new base on Klatooine. While their offer seems genuine, these are Hutts that we are dealing with, so our representatives will need to be on their guard.

 

Shadow Trooper: Since you already have had talks with Durga the Hutt, I suggest you represent Black Sun during the negotiations. Maybe you can take Darth Master Titus with you to remind the Hutts of Zorilla's failure. I myself will be present through hologram projection. If all goes well, an agreement with the Hutts will only strengthen our organization's power. Our Underlord will be most pleased.

The Star Wars Archivist and Scholomancer: It would be wise to keep some of your men ready to leave. After all, the Hutts have not proven to be good allies in the past. If something happens during the negotiations, Black Sun must retaliate as quickly as possible.

 

General Immodet Very well. I will take Darth Master Titus to meet with these Hutts. Tell the others to prepare their armies. We will end this conflict today, even if negotiations fail.

 

Scholomancer's Palace, Black Sun Outpost - Ord Mantell, Bright Jewel Cluster

The party was in full swing when the communications tech arrived. Just outside the main hall where Scholomancer's courtiers and guests reveled, many exiting sentients had greasy, glassy grins, or some of facial expression that radiated narcotics and pleasure. The tech passed through the weapons scanners monitored by guards, and then scanned the crowd for Scholomancer. He noted that the main hall was lit by a soft yellow globes which gave both visibility and intimacy, and reflected off the highlights of the brown-toned tables, furniture and bar areas. The great hall had many small wings and alcoves shadowed from the overhead lights, which, softly lit in blue, red or green, offered secluded seating and booths to accommodate not only certain species relaxation patterns, but for privacy for professional, personal, and regularly pleasurable discussions.

Scholomancer's slaves were in abundance as servants, cleaners and escorts for Scholomancer's top guests. Scholomancer had few droids, keeping only a protocol droid for the more obscure languages, and kept the choicest captives out of the slave market to stock his own staffing needs. The slave's uniforms were on par with the guests, appropriate for their species and build, albeit all slaves had a sometimes elegantly engraved slave collars around their necks.

The guest themselves were in opulent party clothing; even the scruffiest and fearsome Black Sun captain had made a point to dress formally. The tech noted many planetary and Republic officials availing themselves of Scholomancer's hospitality. They were mostly in the secluded wings and booths, where the casually guest would be dissuaded from entering. The rest were a mix of Black Sun gangsters in their finest and a mix of the local rich, who loved to rub elbows with gangsters for the thrill.

The tech finally found Scholomancer at a round table surrounded by guests. He made his way up to the Black Sun Vigo and overheard the last part of his story:

"...I don't always kidnap children, but when I do I blame the Jedi." The table burst out laughing with a few groans. The tech caught Scholomancer's eye and he excused himself from his guests. Taking the message cylinder he read the contents swiftly. The tech at the ready composed his reply;

"A set-piece battle is more for The Star Wars Archivist 's military than a group of raiders. Still, I will detail a few pirate cruisers with their starfighter squadrons, the arms of my operations with the most discipline, to the Vigo's fleet. Hopefully they can add firepower to the space elements. Inform the captains that they and their crews will be paid from the Black Sun's coffers as hazard pay, as there is no hope of loot from this operation."

OOC: If you can take the lead on this one Star Wars Archivist that'd be appreciated. Pirates and slavers are no good in stand-up battles, they are way better for raids and the like.

 

<< After the incident at Allyuen, Trillian Banjeer had been investigating Zorilla the Hutt's activities. This search eventually led him to a company called Glittering Jewel Lines. >>

<< Aided by the Chancellor's office, Banjeer managed to obtain a warrant which allowed him to look into the records of Glittering Jewel Lines. Evidence was found that Zorilla the Hutt had been using this firm as a legal front for her criminal dealings. As a consequence, the company was temporalily shut down. All employees of Glittering Jewel Lines were brought in for further questioning. >>

<< A slicer searched the firm's computers for information on Zorilla the Hutt's whereabouts. It seemed most of her former associates had distanced themselves from Zorilla after her defeat at Allyuen. Clearly, none of her connections wanted to have trouble with the Republic. >>

<< Zorilla the Hutt had vanished. Banjeer wondered what she could be up to. >>

 

@General Immodet, @Thuro, @Darth Master Titus, @The Star Wars Archivist, Shadow Trooper

OOC: So what's after the Hutts? Are we going up against the Jedi and Republic, the Sith\Dark Jedi and\or the Trade Federation?

 

Vigo Shadow Trooper reporting on the status of Hutt negotiations, as requested by the Vigo council:
Darth Master Titus and I have managed to earn the support of the two largest kadjiics, Besadii and Desjillac. The terms of their support were that the Hutts would retain control of all of their enterprises but would become Black Sun affiliates. They have offered their support against Banjeer and any of our other enemies in the Criminal underworld and an exclusive contract with us for Twilek slaves and starships. They have also offered to help us aprehend Zorilla the Hutt. In return, we are to allow them to use our hyperspace lanes without fear of piracy, and also to cede any claim and remove all forces from Hutt space, including Nar Shadda. Are these terms acceptable to you Overlord @Thuo?
OOC: Scholomancer We have not yet decided on the next plot but it should be something along those lines. Do you have any preferences?

 

<< Immodet had been following the negotiations with great interest. Because he was only present through hologram projection, he let Shadow Trooper and Darth Master Titus do most of the talking. >>

<< Some of the Hutts were quite suprised to see Black Sun had chose Darth Master Titus as a representative. After all, the Vigo had just recovered from torture by Zorilla the Hutt. A couple of Hutts asked Titus to be removed from the negotiations, but those demands were quickly dismissed by the Besadii. >>

<< Suddenly, Immodet's hologram projection faded away. Suspecting treason, the Vigo immediately contacted Black Sun's military chief, The Star Wars Archivist. Clearly, something on Klatooine had gone terribly wrong... >>

 

<<Inside the Besadii conference chamber on Klatooine:

Durga reads the terms of the treaty to the assembled party. "These are generous terms Vigo Shadow Trooper. This new peace that we have accomplished today will create a more profitable and powerful position for us both. I hope your Overlord is satisfied."

"Well there is one more thing" Shadow Trooper says. "My associate Darth Master Titus wants Zorilla's head. Surely you can not expect a lasting peace if the instigator of our conflict remains a member of your organization."

"You will have it than" another Hutt elder responds. "She may have already escaped though."

"The galaxy isn't large enough for anybody to hide from Black Sun, especially a being of her considerable size." Shadow Trooper grins.

Just as he finishes speaking, the door to the audience chamber suddenly explodes inward. Standing in the breach (or whatever it is Hutts can do without legs) is Zorilla the Hutt and a squad of armored mercenaries. She glares contemptuously at the assembled Hutts
"You are all Traitors and Cowards. You would have us become the slaves to the likes of Black Sun. When I kill all of you here today, the war will have to continue. Black Sun will suspect this negotiation as an ambush and all of the traitors who doubted me will have been purged from our ranks." She notices Darth Master Titus in the Black Sun delegation. "And if it isn't my old house guest. Maybe I will take you alive so you can have another stay in my dungeons."

Shadow Trooper nods to Titus. "Looks like you won't have to go hunting for her after all. Take her out!" >>

 

Quite unexpectedly, Zorilla entered the conference chamber with armed guards. This was a rather peculiar situation. If a firefight was to ensue right then and there, many of the Besadii might be taken out which would be counterproductive for both the Besadii as well as the Black Sun.

Now was the time to exact revenge on Zorilla for torturing Titus. And saving the Besadii' hide would prove beneficial from a business perspective for the Black Sun.

"Looks like you won't have to go hunting for her after all. Take her out!", Shadow Trooper gave Titus the go-ahead. "Don't have to tell me twice," Titus said with a savage smirk on his face.

9 enemy targets total, 1 Hutt, 8 Gamorrean pig-guards. The gamorreans were no immediate threat, and to avoid a huge firefight, all Titus had to do was eliminate Zorilla. Surely, after their master was dead, the Gamorreans would surrender.

Titus stood, un-holstered his blaster pistol, and aimed right in between the Hutt's big bug eyes. The Gamorreans noticed Titus too late, not bringing their rifles up in time. It only took one shot. Zorilla lay dead in the conference chamber. So much for a fight.

To Titus' surprise, the Gamorrean pig guards hefted their rifles and began to fire. Titus unleashed a flurry of shots, connecting with a target each shot. 5 guards down, 3 to go. Shadow Trooper seemed to have no concern for his personal well-being, just sitting there watching the show unfold. Durga began to wail, screaming for his personal guards to deal with the threats. 2 of his guards were gunned down immediately, the other 2 began firing back.

A lower level Besadii Hutt was struck in the neck, sure to die. Hopefully that wouldn't create any backlash on the Black Sun. Titus emerged from cover and finished off the remaining 3 Gamorreans. Holstering his pistol he turned to Shadow Trooper and Durga the Hutt, grinning. "Looks like I have concluded my work here," Titus said to the Besadii. Turning to Shadow Trooper, "I'll wait by the ship. Make it quick."

 

Vigo Shadow Trooper faces the assembled Hutts. "You know, this reminds me of a "friend" I once had named Gargonn the Hutt. Back on Nar Shadda, we had a little understanding, similar to this one in fact. Than he got greedy, Darth Master Titus had to pay him a visit, and well..." he gestures at Zorilla's corpse. "You know the rest." "In the meantime, I will be your liaison with the council of Vigos. Heed what I tell you and I can promise that you will not have to reacquaint yourself with Darth Master Titus." Shadow Trooper smiles coldly at the room full of Hutts. It was amusing to see how these slugs whom had once thought of themselves as rivals Black Sun were reduced to the level of cringing and subservient lackeys. He was pleased to have taken part in such a grand victory for Black Sun.

 

<< When Immodet was informed everything was alright, he immediately ordered all Black Sun forces to stand down. Apparently, Zorilla the Hutt had tried one last trick which resulted in her being killed. >>

Immodet: Very good work, Shadow Trooper and Darth Master Titus! With the help of the Hutts, there will be no one stopping Black Sun now. I am most certain our Underlord, Thuro, will be most pleased about the results of the negotiations. There will be a bottle of Corellian brandy waiting for both of you when you return home!

<< Immodet ended the hologram communication. He sat at his desk, dreaming about power and wealth. >>

 

Sanrafix Corridor Hyperspace Nexus, Outer Rim

"Let them go." The last few Trade Federation ships flickered into hyperspace moments later as the Black Sun pirate turned their focus on their prizes. Glowing blue-white energy crackled over several of ships as the ion charges had their effect. Pieces of Trade Federation droid fighters littered the battle plane as Black Sun rescue shuttles plucked unlucky fighter pilots out of the dark of space.

Other craft were manuevering for docking; Corellian Corvettes and assault transports packed with pirate boarding parties angled for forced boarding operations.

Scholomancer's own shuttle poised itself over the dorsal surface of a Trade Federation freighter which had been identified as the convoy leader. The shuttle's airlock opened as the pilot confirmed the seal with the hull of the disabled freighter. He nodded to the pair of pirates on either side of the Trade Federation outer airlock. Pairs of shaped charges blasted locks and hinges, and quickly more charges were placed on the inner doors.

"Get ready!" Pirates tensed and gripped their weapons tighter. The first moments of boarding were the worst.

With a crash the doors blew open and inward into the TF freighter, filling the corridor with smoke and ozone. Blaster bolts zipped out of the haze to snap pirates backwards as they charges into the gloom, firing wildly as barely scene silhouettes. Scholomancer, screaming, jumped on the nearest shape, a B1 battledroid, and drove the droid down to the ground while shoving his vibrosword with both hands through the slim droid's casing.

Scholomancer twisted the blade to damage circuitry before pulling it free with one hand while firing a blaster down the corridor with his other. Around him his pirates streamed around him, splitting into several groups to secure the engineering, cargo, and command decks.

He followed the shipjacking party towards the command deck, passing over wreckage of droids, smashed doors and the slain bodies of pirates. His two guards, a Selonian female with blaster scars on her fur, and an Ikotchi with engraved horns, moved fore and aft of him, checking down cross-corridors and hatchways for surprises.

The sound of high-pitched blaster fire and the wump of explosives sounded from up ahead. The haze cleared to show pirates using the doorway and the broken doors themselves as cover against a last-ditch defence. The defenders, a mixture of B1 and B2 battledroids and shielded droidekas that had arrayed themselves outside of the command deck doors behind packing crates and data banks.

Scholomancer assessed the situation quickly. "We're running out of time before the Trade Federation reinforcements come. We'll have to use grenades and risk damage to the control circuits."

Between shooting and dodging return fire, the pirate squad leader, a Nautolan with a smile no-here near Kit Fisto's, turned and responded angrily.

"If we did that, we may not recover the cargo in time" he snarled, "We'll lose our shares!"

Angrily, Scholomancer snapped back "And if we wait, those reinforcements will catch us on this ship! Do it now!"

The Mandalorian and the Nautolan exchanged glares for a moment, then the Nautolan, seeing reason and the need, gave way.

All the pirates pulled a grenade, and then threw them as a volley towards the droids. A series of blasts erupted, sending bits of droids through the corridor. Scholomancer and the pirates, recovering from the concussive effects, charged into the room and shot down droids still capable of resisting.

The bridge doors were forced open, and the frightened Neimodians and command droids surrendered. The parties sent to engineering and the cargo bay controls reported success. Quickly looking over the boards, Scholomancer discovered the Nautolan was right, this ship could not be piloted to a safe place to be looted. Looking through the viewports he could see the two other ships on hyperspace vectors, which meant this attack wasn't a total loss. But Scholomancer had set himself a different task.

On the lead freighters of convoys, there were datacores which had records of fleet and convoy movements, cargo transfer locations, and bases throughout this region of the galaxy. In short, the information recovered would give Scholomancer data for future raids, which was worth more than this completely disabled freighter.

Quickly, he rapped orders out. The cargo bay team was to open the cargo bay doors, ejecting cargo containers into nearby space. Cargo haulers and shuttles will scramble to pick up anything they can before departing. The engineering team was ordered to set the engines to overload, to destroy the ship, to cover the theft of the datacore. The pirate ships were already on hyperspace vectors before a massive Trade Federation battleship arrived, too late to catch the pirates but right on time to see the derelict freighter explode.

Black Sun Outpost, Ord Mantell

A technician's hologram appeared on Scholomancer's desk. The Verpine spoke, his words being automatically translated by the communications system.

"Sir, we've recovered as much data as we could from the core. Some of it was damaged during the fighting." At a nod, the technician's hologram faded as he sent the data over to Scholomancer's console. Scholomancer perused and sorted through it, finding new movement and positional tables, and coordinates and vectors for shipping. However, many of the freighters vectors and endpoint coordinates seemed to stop over in a part of space that the Trade Federation never operated before. At least, not openly.

~~~

"Vigo Shadow Trooper, I trust you are well and back from your discussions with the Hutts on Klatooine. I have enclosed a series of coordinates around a remote system in the Outer Rim. From the data on the core I recovered, there seems to be much Trade Federation activity in and around this system. Interestingly, I cannot find any data publicly available about this system. I was hoping you could infiltrate your smugglers in some fashion to spy out the system and discover what the Trade Federation are doing out here. I have enclosed some open Trade Federation shipping credentials which may be helpful."

Shadow Trooper

 

OOC: lol, I hate this 90min editing rule, I find all of my spelling and grammar errors way too late!

 

Scholomancer I can send some of my guys to recon the system. Now that the Hutts are no longer a threat, a lot of my ships have been freed up to carry out spying operations against the Trade Federation again. The amount of fire power they displayed during your raid is quite surprising, considering that they were forced to disarm by the Republic after the invasion of Naboo. This suggests that they have other partners supplying them with the weapons. My guys are expert smugglers; sniffing out the source of these black market weapons should be an easy task for them.

 

Viceroy Nute Gunray would never take any risks, especially now he is being trialed by the Republic.
So, that probably means the Republic has absolutely no knowledge about what is going on in that system.
Maybe, the Trade Federation already was using the system before the invasion of Naboo...
Perhaps, Scholomancer could pass some intel you recovered to aalagartassle. He might be able to analyze the financial records you found.

Our Underlord, Thuro, seemed determined to get revenge for the death of Alexi Garyn.
This might be the chance we have been waiting for...

I wonder what your smugglers will find in the system, Shadow Trooper.

 

Not trusting the Holonet or intergalactic holo communications, a R2 unit's holotape module was filled with the data from the recovered core and sent to the Vigo for finances for review. Perhaps the old adage was true, for tracking banking, politics and criminal activity, all you have to do is follow the money..

 

Scholomancer, General Immodet Vigos, the situation with the Trade Federation is far worse than we anticipated. My smugglers have located the source of their armament suppliers. We posed as independent contractors and hired ourselves out to the Trade Federation as black market couriers. When they loaded the product into our holds, all of the boxes had Commence Guild and Techno Union symbols. My men also noted that their payment in this illicit transaction was handled by the Intergalactic Banking Clan. It appears that the Trade Federation is making alliances with other technology and financial companies in order to build another army. Scholomancer and I can continue to spy and raid the Trade Federation along the major trading routes. I also think that General Immodet was on the right track when he mentioned tracking their finances. Perhaps Vigo aalagartassle could look into the Muun's involvement with funding the Trade Federation.

 

Scholomancer, Shadow Trooper:
The power of conglomerates such as the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guild and the Techno Union has increased much over the last couple of years. Although I thought the Battle of Naboo would have a major impact on their operations, they clearly are helping each other out.
It almost seems like they are more powerful than the Republic...
The supreme court just cannot touch Nute Gunray in any way.
It very much looks like he will remain in control of the Trade Federation, even after the Invasion of Naboo.

Have some of your men been sent to the system Scholomancer has been talking about? Did they discover anything useful to our organization?

 

My smugglers haven't found anything specific. Security is too tight. Looks like a big meeting of corporate forces though. They had Trade Federation, Techno Union, Commerce Guild and IBC ships all over the place. What ever they are doing there, its something big. I suggest deploying a more sizable recon force to scope the place out besides my smugglers. Perhaps we could sell the information we have on the Black Market as well. I can think of several interested parties who would buy evidence of a corporate alliance and arms build up.

 

I disagree. Why would we sell information to others before we can profit from it ourselves?
When Black Sun has taken whatever it wants, we leave the crumbs for our allies...

There must be something big going on in that system. Otherwise, why would the Trade Federation go through so much trouble to hide it?
Yes, indeed, we must deploy a more sizable recon force. Black Sun must find out what is going on in that system.

 

General Immodet If our intel is correct, the Trade Federation appears to be building an army that rivals the Republic. How do you propose we fight that? The Hutts were rather small time compared to whatever the Trade Federation is doing out there.

 

I will set in motion a plan to discover more about this system so tightly under their control. With an ability to punish the Trade Federation for their attack on our Naboo outpost, we may need the contributions of every Vigo!