STAR WARS: An Ill Wind
Session 02

[Note: Avirida was an NPC during this session, due to the absence of the player.]

INT. NIMBOS - AIR DUCT - NIGHT

Almost literally in the bowels of Nimbos, this wide metal passage curves out of sight in both directions. Deep grooves run the length of the duct; every few meters is a ring of softly glowing maintenance lights. A cold breeze wafts through the duct, carrying the scent of machine oil and other industrial smells.

Lying on the floor of the airway, having come to rest here, is the body of a young man in civilian clothes. His light blue eyes stare sightlessly upward. The cause of his death seems plain: a blaster wound just under the ribs, along with a charred hole in his shirt.

A small group has gathered to view the body: a few of the Prince's security, the Prince himself, Pira, Day-Lin, and Master Yago. Deller is not present, having retired to her quarters (under escort) to prepare for the negotiations tomorrow.

Prince Leet paces anxiously in the confined space. "You must understand," he assures the Jedi, this sort of thing doesn't usually happen. My men are good at their jobs; crime is low." He draws a deep breath of the chill air, looking pained. "It must be the miners, trying to stir up more trouble - to embarass me while you're here. Why else would this happen now?"

Day-Lin keeps his arms folded, his expression neutral. "An excellent question," he says.

Yago stands watching the officers do their work. At the Prince's words, he turns and shakes his head. "Calm yourself, your Highness. This could be nothing more than an unfortunate, random assault." He looks to the nearest security man. "You said that his credits and identification were missing?"

Pira crouches down beside the body, twitching the hem of her robe away from it. "Murder is most often a personal matter."

The guard, uniformed in Nimbos gold and silvery-grey, nods soberly. "However, we do have his prints and genescan on file." He consults a datapad. "His name is Magg Offen... a dataclerk in the city's Shipping office."

The Prince continues to fret quietly as the security men produce a bag in which to put the corpse.

Pira briefly rests her fingers below the burn mark, before the body is slid into the bag.

Pira rolls 2 dice: <6> 4

A darkened hallway, somewhere on Nimbos' upper levels - waiting, anxious - a sudden presence - the flash of blaster fire. Falling, falling...

Pira rises, moves back to where Day-Lin stands.

The staring face is covered, and the dead weight hoisted between the shoulders of two large guardsmen, who begin to walk back toward the access lift.

Day-Lin frowns slightly. "A dataclerk? Does he have any sort of record?"

Yago smiles faintly. "Criminal, you mean? If he did, he wouldn't have been hired here."

Pira says "What manner of shipping went through his office? Gas?"

The Prince nods, rising slowly out of his funk. "Gas going out, yes... though not much of that lately. Food and other supplies coming in."

Pira says "Could we see his office, Prince?"

Prince Leet blinks. "I... I suppose." He glances to Master Yago, who nods.

Prince Leet continues, "But the negotiations are tomorrow. And I'm sure my own men can handle this without needing to burden you..."

Pira tucks her hands inside her sleeves, her expression bland.

Yago adds, "Surely, that is more worthy of your valuable time than a minor incident such as this."

Day-Lin says "It's no trouble. And it bears discovering whether the timing truly is accidental or not."

Yago nods uncertainly, while the Prince merely looks depressed.

WIPE TO:
INT. SHIPPING OFFICES - NIGHT

Except for the lights that the after-hours visitors have turned on themselves, this office in the executive levels is dark and quiet - everyone else has long since left for the day. A cleaning droid hums quietly along the carpet, following its programmed path.

Again the group has dwindled, now consisting only of the two Jedi, Yago, and two security types. The Prince, sensibly, has gone off to bed; while Master Yago, as the Mining Guild representative, has a direct interest in matters of shipping going in and out.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Feel free to make Investigation rolls."
Day-Lin rolls 4+1 dice: <6> 2 3 4
Pira rolls 4 dice: <4> 2 3 2

The late Mr. Offen had a small office, with a window looking out over the city. By night, Nimbos is a brilliant constellation, almost like a little piece of Coruscant. The furnishings are simple: one chair, a desk with a work terminal, and a few personal knicknacks on the top shelf of a rack of datatapes.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Day-Lin, you got a 6 on your wild die. Roll another 1d."
Day-Lin rolls 1 die: <1>
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "How useful. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Oh well. ;)"

Day-Lin prowls through the office, frowning -- as well as one can prowl, in a small space with one's arms folded.

Pira sits at the dead man's desk, looking through drawers, the wide sleeve of her tunic serving to keep her fingers from touching anything.

After a brief inspection of the personal items - bits of a life, now cut short - Day-Lin concludes that if there are clues to be found here, they will be on the deceased's computer.

Pira asks Yago "Had you ever met him?"

Yago mms, tilting his head. "Can't say as I did. We have several people here on Nimbos, I don't usually have the chance to meet all of them personally."

Day-Lin inspects the system cursorily, but this sort of thing is far outside his realm of experience. He suggests to Pira, in a low murmur, "Check the computer? There's certainly something...odd here, though I'm not certain what."

Pira pages: Is he lying? :)
You paged Pira with 'Give me a +roll/p of your sense.'.
Pira rolls 2 dice: <1> 1
From afar, Pira cackles. Critical failure :)

As Pira attempts to confirm Master Yago's veracity, Day-Lin steps close to whisper to her... and trods upon her foot, breaking her concentration entirely.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Care to react? :)"

Pira bites back a noise, trying to keep her Jedi poise. She gives Day-Lin a brief laser look, pulling her foot back with a jerk.

Day-Lin murmurs, "Sorry," just loud enough for Pira to catch it. He watches his step more carefully thereafter.

<OOC> Kelly says, "I predict this is not the last time you two'll be stepping on each other's toes. ;)"
<OOC> Pira says, "Them graceful Jedi :)"
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Hey, we're new. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Day-Lin is so new, he's still in his blister pack. ;)"

Pira stands up, reassembling her dignity, and asks "Do you want to look through the computer?"

Day-Lin attempts to demur gracefully: "I think you'd be more likely to find anything useful in it."

Yago says, "Ah... the computer? I'm sorry, but I don't think I can allow that. That system contains confidential records for the Mining Guild."

Yago squares his shoulders and tries to look officious.

Pira turns to look at Yago. "We must know if this death was an attempt to destroy negotiations."

Yago replies, "I'm sure it wasn't."

Yago explains, "The Prince is... overwrought. He sees enemies everywhere these days."

Day-Lin says "Surely you don't expect that we would make illegal use of the information."

Pira sits back down at the desk.

Yago shakes his head. "Of course not. Everyone knows that Jedi Knights are, are incorruptible. It's simply Guild policy. My hands are tied."

Yago says, "Please. The hour is late, and we all must be up early tomorrow. That is why you came here, yes?"

Yago looks between the both of you, pleadingly.

Day-Lin looks across at Pira, still frowning.

Pira says, in her calmest, most sincere voice, "Master Yago, it is vital that we know all that we can, vital to Taloraan's future."

Pira rolls 5 dice: <5> 3 3 2 6 (Persuasion)

Yago sighs, his shoulders slumping. "Very well. I suppose there's not much I could do to stop you."

Pira flicks the computer on.

Day-Lin steps up behind Pira, observing closely.

The terminal goes through its startup procedure, soon presenting Pira with a work space and menu. The twin insignia of Nimbos City and the Mining Guild flank the choices.

Master Yago also moves to watch, though not so closely. The guard remains by the door, looking as if he'd rather be in bed himself.

<OOC> Kelly says, "A detail - SW computer interfaces seem to be, for the most part, rather primitive. 70s tech, y'know. That, or machine-level stuff for talking to astromeches. ;)"

Pira investigates cautiously, looking first at the newest files.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Now, Pira - Unless you have comp prog/repair, roll me your TECH."
<OOC> Pira says, "Perhaps we could get our crew in here to help :)"
Pira rolls 2 dice: <6> 1
<OOC> Kelly says, "Gee, ya think?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Ya think I might have provided something for everyone to do?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Roll another 1d."
Pira rolls 1 die: <2>

Pira murmurs to Day-Lin "Perhaps we should contact the ship, for someone more gifted with this."

At the moment, the screen displays a bewildering array of files. Pira's first attempt at 'recent' seems to have resulted in 'this last year'.

<OOC> Pira says, "We definitely need our crew :)"

Day-Lin says "I think that would be a good idea."

Pira stands up, leaving the chair to Day-Lin, and produces a small communicator from her sleeve.

<OOC> Pira says, "Strangely, there is an odd resemblance to a razor :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "*SNERK*"
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Ah, the Norelco Comlink."
<OOC> Kelly says, "It's the salt-shaker laser scalpels all over again."

Pira calls the ship, pitching her voice softly.

A voice answers, also sounding rather tired. "Koos here."

Pira says "Koos, can you send someone to us, who can decipher the local computer systems?" She gives the level and office number.

The man on the other end is silent for a moment. Then, "I'm sorry, m'lady, it's just me and Ander here right now. The Captain took the rest into the city for some R&R, and they're not back yet."

Pira flicks the send button. "Did they take their comlinks with them?"

Fainter, in the background: "yeah, havin' fun wi'out us" "shut it ander! ... Sorry, what was that, m'lady?"

Pira turns toward the wall, hiding her brief flicker of a smile from Yago and the guard. "Did they take their comlinks with them?"

Koos answers, "Yes, I believe they did."

Pira says "Thank you, Koos." She resets the comlink and says "Avirida?"

There's no answer (yet).

Yago fidgets beside the seated Day-Lin.

Suddenly a "YAH!" blasts from the tiny grille. There's the very faint sound of giggling in the background. The first voice continues, a little loud. "What is it, Koos?"

The background giggles give way to a rhythmic chant: "chug chug chug chug"

<OOC> Kelly says, "Yes, EVERYONE is having more fun than you."

Pira says austerely "This is not crewman Koos, I am afraid."

You can *hear* Avirida coming to attention on the other end. "M'lady. What's going on?"

<OOC> Pira snickers. Pira enjoyed that :)

The distant chant ends with a cheer and a triumphant Wookiee roar.

Pira says "If they can be... spared, we have need of someone with a gift for understanding computers."

<OOC> Kelly says, "'Betcha your Wookie can't chug an entire keg of lum.' 'Bet he can.'"
<OOC> Pira says, "Oh god, we are going to get a DRUNK wookie :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Fear."
<OOC> Pira says, "Pira plots ways of getting Yago out of there before anyone comes :)"

Avirida replies, "Well, Lieutenant Ilardin is our main computerman, but he's... indisposed at the moment." She sounds quite apologetic.

Avirida adds, "Perhaps I could help?"

Pira says "Please. And bring anyone else who is... still disposed."

Avirida sighs. "I'll try, m'lady." *click*

Pira murmurs to herself "I have a bad feeling about this." The comlink vanishes into her sleeve like a magic trick, and she turns to face the room.

Day-Lin's still seated at the computer station, but he hasn't done anything to it.

Yago's frown has deepened. "More of your crew will be joining us?"

Pira says "I do not wish to keep you from your bed any longer, Master Yago."

Yago says, "Again, I must protest. Allowing a Jedi Knight access to these records is one thing, but now you are bringing others into this?"

Pira says "I assure you, there will be no ill-use of your information."

Yago harrumphs. "Very well. But I warn you, the Guild will be filing a complaint." With a word or two to the bored-looking guard, he huffs out.

Pira says to Day-lin "Avirida is coming."

Day-Lin says "Good. I'm sure she'll be able to figure this out."

Time passes. Eventually the grey engineer arrives, along with the Dauntless' Wookiee captain. The latter shows no signs of rowdy drunkeness; if anything, he's fairly quiet. Avirida explains that Harukuk came along out of curiousity.

Shortly after their arrival, four more Nimbos guardsmen quietly appear and take up positions outside the office.

By then, the situation has been explained to Avirida, and she is digging into the computer records. "What are you looking for?"

Pira says "Anything odd. Anything out of place. Any private files he might have kept. His mail?" She glances at Day-lin.

Day-Lin says "That'd be a good place to start."

Offen's mail is easily accessed, and appears fairly routine - cargo manifests for incoming ships, a request for outgoing tonnage figures for last month (before the strike started), a few personal notes from co-workers about the strike... the deceased seemed to think it was more inconvenient than anything else, judging from the replies.

There is one note, which came in this evening, from a female co-worker proposing a meeting of a decidedly non-business nature, this weekend.

Harukuk folds his arms and overlooks the scene.

You paged Harukuk with 'I figured that at the moment, you're experiencing "mellow and buzzed."'.
From afar, Harukuk grins. Works.

An hour has passed since the Jedi first came up to the office when Avirida leans back in the chair and stretches, popping several joints and looking up at them for their suggestions.

Pira murmurs "He was waiting for someone when he died."

Pira says "And nervous about it."

Outside the window, the lights are fewer as Nimbos sleeps.

Pira says "Could he have been..." she makes a vague motion with her hand "... involved in some manner of... corruption."

<OOC> Pira waits for some of the more worldly to help her naif along. She knows nothing of greed :)

Day-Lin translates for Avrida: "We think someone might have been bribing him. Where would that kind of thing show up?"

Avirida thinks a moment. "Well, I can probably access his city account from here. IF I knew the password."

Day-Lin looks around the office, searching for something distinctive about it. "Password..."

Avirida begins opening drawers, as Pira did earlier.

Pira looks puzzled, watching them.

Harukuk makes a gesture of a female figure, as a suggestion.

Avirida runs a hand along the underside of the desk... and suddenly grins. "Some people. No brains." She pulls out a small strip of flimsi, with a string of numbers on it.

Avirida has to navigate through several layers of menus to get to the city's banking system, but once there, she enters the number on the faded slip and is soon looking at Offen, M.'s account records.

Pira leans over behind Day-lin, looking curiously.

Another half hour passes before you concede defeat; there don't appear to be any unusual deposits or withdrawals here.

Day-Lin frowns. "You don't think it really *could* have been a coincidence?"

<OOC> Kelly says, "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Sorry. ;)"

Pira turns at looks at the guard at the door. "How many murders do you have here a year?"

The guard snorts. "Maybe four or five... mostly miner brawls that end bad, sometimes someone passing through when a bounty catches up with 'im..."

Pira says "As Master Kegir says, 'there's seldom such a thing as coincidence.'"

Harukuk hums a tune to himself, though he appears to be thinking.

Day-Lin says "But nothing *looks* out of place..." He considers. "Could those numbers be a code of some sort, rather than just a password?"

Avirida hmms? blearily at the Jedi, not following him.

Pira says "I wonder... if we asked Representative Deller, if she would know of him."

Day-Lin says "I mean, like a coded message or something..."

Avirida suddenly yawns, widely.

Avirida rubs at one eye. "Sorry, m'lord, m'lady... I've been up since first watch today."

<OOC> Pira says, "Humph, Jedi don't need sleep! (much)"

Pira stares at the shelf of knicknacks, thoughtful.

<OOC> Pira says, "What's on the shelf, anyway?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "If I tell you it doesn't matter, will you stop bothering the prop man?"
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Bah! yes. :)"
<OOC> Pira snickers. Okay.

Avirida suggests deferentially, "Maybe I should give it another try tomorrow, while you're talking with the big shots?"

Pira says "If there is anything, it might be gone."

Pira says "Is it possible to copy the files?"

Day-Lin says "That's not a bad idea. Then we could study them at leisure..."

Avirida checks for a few minutes, then answers, "Not at this terminal."

<OOC> Kelly says, "Remember, think big 70s computers. Mainframes. :)"

Avirida says, "Maybe if we had an astromech, and could find an interface socket..."

Avirida notes, "But we'd still need clearence to copy the files."

Pira says "Before we go... look at the last few files he looked at, if such is possible."

Avirida gives a wary glance at the still-vigilant guards around the office door.

Avirida mms, and taps in the request. The screen fills with file names. She selects one to look at, then another.

Avirida says, "Looks like there are two groups of files here. One is production figures from the gas mines, tabulated monthly. The other set is outbound shipping... all gas freighters. Names, tonnages, you know."

Day-Lin says "Anything unusual in the numbers?"

Avirida squints at the screen. "Not that I can tell without a closer look..."

Pira says "Could we print them out?"

Avirida nods, taking a deep breath and sitting up straight again as she sends the command. Finally she looks up. "There. They should all be going to the print room at the end of the hall." She manages a proud smile, despite the lateness of the hour.

Day-Lin says "Excellent. You should probably get some sleep now..."

Avirida nods, rising from the chair. "Aye... and you too, if you don't mind me saying, sirs."

Pira glides out the door, going to investigate the print room.

A seemingly endless sheet of paper emerges from the slot of the humming printer, folding into a neat pile in the output tray.

Harukuk yawns, showing those large teeth.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Yes, official edict, my SW universe does have paper for some things. It's just too useful."
<OOC> Pira grins.
<OOC> Kelly says, "I'm not going to twist myself into knots trying to create a truly paperless society when the real world stubbornly refuses to comply."

Pira waits for it to finish, standing so that anyone looking in the door cannnot see.

At last the printer finishes its task, ejecting a blank length of paper after the end and then shutting down. The small room is abruptly quiet again.

Pira picks up the stack and tucks it into her obi, twitching her robe over it to conceal.

<OOC> Pira says, "Yay for stately cloaks :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "What now? Going to head back to your rooms?"
<OOC> Pira says, "Seems wise."
<OOC> Harukuk was planning on it.
<OOC> Day-Lin nods.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay. And what then? Sleep?"
<OOC> Pira contemplates whether Pira is paranoid enough to leave teh papers at the ship before going to her room.Probably not, though her player is :)

Day-Lin murmurs to Pira, as they walk through the corridors, "Don't leave those anywhere obvious."

<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Day-Lin *is* paranoid enough."
<OOC> Kelly says, "That's what he's here for."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "He'd say 'realistic' enough..."

Pira says "You think they might take them from our rooms?"

Day-Lin says "I think it would be wise not to tempt them."

Pira says "The ship, then?"

Day-Lin shrugs expressively. "Do you think it's safe?"

Pira says "Where would you put them?"

Pira pauses in the middle of the corridor.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Four of the last five lines have been questions. I love it."

Day-Lin shrugs again. "Somewhere I thought they'd be safe."

<OOC> Pira says, "Ooooooh, darn that man :)"

Pira folds her arms, tucks her hands inside the wide sleeves. She says carefully "And where would that be?"

Day-Lin says "Coruscant."

Pira says "A little far, don't you think? Or did you mean to send copies?"

Day-Lin says "That would certainly make it harder for them to get lost. Well, I suppose it would actually only make it harder for them to get purposefully lost."

<OOC> Kelly says, "You could tuck them under the captain's mattress. That would give even the most determined thief pause. ;)"
<OOC> Harukuk grins.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Me, I'm still snickering at the idea of Coruscant being safe (given later developments)."
<OOC> Day-Lin smirks.

Day-Lin suggests, more practically, "Why not give them to the captain? They're going to be the people studying them anyway, and I doubt someone will try to take them from *him*."

Pira looks at Harukuk.

Harukuk looks up, apparently a bit intent on what he was humming. He grunts a query.

Pira says "Avirida, can you ask Captain Harukuk if he would keep these papers for us?"

Harukuk nods an affirmative and puts out his hand.

Pira pulls the stack of paper from under her cloak, handing it to the wookie with a bow.

Harukuk nods, and gives the sort of smile that makes you feel sorry for whomever would try to take the papers from him.

Avirida is very tired and very quiet at the moment.