35:1:23 12:07
- Portions encrypted for personal use only -

Given the severity of our situation, I'm taking a brief moment to record these notes about the events of the last day – perhaps going over them will clear my head and bring a useful plan to mind. If nothing else, perhaps they'll serve as a warning to Compatriot and/or others if things go like our last “plan”. – Honestly, I'm a jumble right now – terrified that all my… our… secrets may be coming down on us, struggling to maintain a disciplined front, but also exhilarated to have a true test before me. And dreading what may happen to me even if we DO succeed, given how unlikely the non-lethal-force scenarios out of this are. –

Back to the start: we were all relaxing at the bar the evening following Compatriot's visit. Vinnie was off doing some side-job driving – and glad to have a bit less excitement, I'd wager –, and Marv had shut the place down so we could have a well-deserved peaceful evening.

That peace was quickly broken by a pounding on the front door, a muffled voice yelling “Let me in! Open the door NOW!” interrupting the staccato beating. A quick glance amongst the team and Sprend jumped behind the counter while the Baron went and opened the door. A bloodied – but nonetheless not-too-shabby-looking – man rushed in, gun in his (luckily for him) lowered hand.

Then the real shock – “Baron, Damaria, I know all about you – and so do others. I'm a Rebel operative working undercover as Imperial. What's important though is that you all run, NOW!!”

The Baron and I exchanged glances as this man (Seth Vance, according to him… real name or not, who knows?) rattled of what he claimed was a Rebel authorization code. The Baron seemed satisfied and then tried to pry more information out of the man – while I tried to sense his true intentions - also part of the knowing glance to the Baron –, while I took a close eye on his mannerisms. He seemed to be telling the truth – thank the stars, no slippery minds this time, just apparently straight honesty –, but I got no further than nodding my assent to the Baron when the door blew open. – Think, Damaria! A man with a gun bursts in, there may be others behind!! Use the Force to your advantage to find out! – (Note: we really need to get some security if we make it through all this.)

A gaggle of people came into view – humans, Aqualish, and a Weequay. I saw the Baron start to speak out of the corner of my eye just as Sprend popped up and let loose a volley. Only the aliens were left standing, he'd managed to take out all the humans! – I immediate cringed and steeled myself for another incapacitating fire to wash over my mind… but nothing came. Maybe I'm getting the hang of maintaining discipline? Still, I've thought that before… can't get complacent, must maintain my focus! –

Next thing I knew, Seth was behind a flipped table, the Weequay was missing his gun but still standing even after a volley from Seth and myself, and the Baron had rushed through to door towards the Aqualish and… I'm not sure what. – Liar. You know EXACTLY what he was doing, the amount of Force he was aiming at their minds was easy to pick up even in the midst of the chaos. Is it always like that… or is it easier with people you're close too? To much to unwrap about those thoughts for now, that's for a later time. –

Pain flashed through my shoulder – the Weequay had found his gun and leveled it at me. Frak! Still not used to this whole “getting shot” thing, though I kept my cool. Right afterwards, the Weequay wasn't an issue anymore – the Aqualish had turned there weapons on him and blown him away, a surprised look on his face.

Apparently there was more backup – a very irritated Barabel stormed into the middle of the bar and knocked Tor-Nenko down behind the bar. Seth jumped out and stabbed upwards through the Barabel's chest, causing ichor to gush everywhere. – Dammit, why doesn't an undercover operative know not to use a knife in a gunfight?! Now he's in the way of the rest of us! –

More gunfire flew: Sprend took out some more humans coming through the door – remind me to not make him mad, at least not while he's within reach of his gun –, and Tor-Nenko and I both managed to shoot past Seth and hit the (now very-mad-looking) Barabel.. who STILL wasn't going down. Seth, however, was, as the Barabel blasted him point-blank with his carbine, sending Seth flying back into a table and then slumping into a heap. – Still alive, thankfully – I could sense at least that much –

What does it take to bring down a Barabel?! The Aqualish tore into it with another volley – clever job, Baron! –, but he just went down to one knee. Finally Marv popped up from behind the bar again and with a “Go get 'em boys, we're almost done!” – Ahem –, drilled enough holes into the Barabel to bring him all the way to the floor for good.

Soon after everything was cleaned up… we'd taken out the remaining human and (very confused) Aqualish, and Seth had “taken care of” the human I'd stunned. – I am getting VERY tired of people like Seth and D'Gane trying to clean up for me – While we caught our breath (and Fox wandered in – apparently he'd had some fun with a Barabel outside himself), Tor-Nenko walked around slapping on bandages and stimpacks, and Seth urged us to leave immediately. Apparently that was just the first wave; more were on their way. He claimed they were Imperial Black Ops operating alone, tasked with taking out Rebel groups, and he'd escaped just in time to come warn us. – Still being honest, I sensed… as much as an undercover operative ever is, at least. –

Some of the group wanted to stay and “handle” further visitors right there, but the Baron & I convinced them we needed to leave, if for the safety of the others in the safehouse still if nothing else.

And that's how we ended heading towards Brown Fox's den – we couldn't think of a better place that the Black Ops wouldn't be looking for us (I'm certainly not going back to MY place right now!). It was good we'd run; the drone I'd set up showed 3 more vans full of agents pull up soon after we left, but thankfully Marv reported they just tossed the bar without finding the safehouse.

Along the way Seth got a bit too nosy for my taste… he asked about the messages – private!! Black Ops had been reading MY private messages!! How long have they been onto me?! What else do they know?! – between the Baron & myself, speaking of our “shared lineage”. The Baron shut that one down before I could even speak - “Need-to-know, and you don't have clearance.” Thankfully that seemed to satisfy Seth, as with a shrug he sat back into his seat in the commandeered van.

Once we got to Fox's den, Seth gave the group a bit more intel. Apparently someone named “Sabak” runs this Black Ops cell, and they're off-grid from the main Imperial forces since there'd been several leaks to the Rebellion. And they had reams of intel on us already. And they were still hunting us down. – Frak – And Seth had an idea, that if we acted fast we could wipe out the intel and maybe the group as well. – Steel your mind now, Damaria… –

After a snide remark about plans and casinos, the Baron agreed with Seth about us taking a rest to formulate plans with clear minds later. I suggested we take watches, and the Baron agreed to take the first… after he brought up the idea of contacting D'Gane for her assistance. I implied my… hesitation about the idea – “She's talented”? Hah, yes, I'm sure… and there was that blush again. Then he tried to get me to take the sole comfortable sleeping spot in Fox's den… I appreciate the gesture, to a point, but I'm hardly some weak ferbil – he should know that by now! –

Night watch… I hadn't done that in a while. – I think the Baron may have wanted to talk when we first traded shifts, but after the brief look passed over his face he seemed to change his mind. I wonder why… – I tried to formulate some plans while I kept guard, but too many things were running through my mind to have much success. Thankfully the watch, and the rest of the night, passed peacefully.

Planning time: Sprend and I were going to run surveillance on the warehouse used by the Black Ops; Tor-Nenko and the Baron were going to city hall to try to get blueprints for the warehouse, and Brown Fox & Seth were going to go talk to D'Gane – Fine, yes, she will be useful in an operation like this… if she keeps herself in control. –

So here I sit… surveillance nearly complete (a couple of guards case the rooftop every 5 minutes or so, and a van entered via a back entrance; I think we've got a rough idea of the shift change patterns, hopefully that'll help). We haven't heard back from the other teams yet, but should soon; it can't take that long, even with the Baron's penchant for long conversations. Then the real fun begins.

– As I've been sitting here staring at a drone remote datapad, I've been practicing reaching out with the Force to sense beyond simple life signs… the twinges I've felt now whenever guards enter the rooftop are new, I believe I can more easily tell when danger is imminent now. (OOC: acquired “Sense Danger”) I've also practiced my mental exercises from the Academy to focus my mind… I believe I may have a slightly better handle on blocking the trauma of deaths from overriding my Force senses. (OOC: acquired “Confidence”) –