Link to Swift's Journal

Damaria, Sprend, and Dash arrive back at the alley behind the Reactor Core after the rather stressful mission. “Tor-nenko needed some rest, but he recovered the datachip from D'Gane's smuggling droid. I'd rather not make this night longer than it already is, but we need to meet with Fox and D'Gane. Dash, you should probably head home - we've kept you too late already. We all made it through this, so that alone is a success. Good work.”

Along the way to Brown Fox's Den, the Baron gets an update on how the evening went from the Damaria and Sprend's perspective. He does not look happy. Damaria doesn't even need to Force Sense to know that he is upset about the casino - both the exposure they received, and the dead businessman. It's rather unusual he lets the group see his disappointment - he clearly has a LOT on his mind. When he hears about the ambush and the body count, he shakes his head, takes a long, deep breath, exhaling audibly. “This is my fault. I clearly underestimated this situation. On the bright side, there is a slight chance that, if distracted, the ISB may not look deeper into the casino incident.”

“I am going to have to speak with D'Gane alone to find out if she is indeed an ally - I received some intel that should provide me with a way to do so. I need you both to back me up in case things go poorly - a double comm click is the signal to engage. But hopefully it will not come to that. My apologies for the secrecy - you will just have to trust me for now.” The Baron gives everyone a wry grin as the taxi whines to a stop at the coordinates Brown Fox provided.

---

The Baron knocks at the door. “Special delivery.”

Brown Fox ushers them in, and the Baron half-bows politely. “My apologies for being absent - I was meeting with an official who actually showed up early and talked late. I am looking forward to speaking with you further - I hear you prevented some deaths today - thank you.”

Further into the room, D'Gane gracefully steps forward (over the unconscious body of Madar). It almost looked like she had been covering the door with a blaster, but there is nothing in her hands now. Damaria senses the Baron using the Force to augment his charming personality. roll - 1 success, 1 Triumph, 2 threat, but uses one dark side pip for the success (narrative consequences)

He steps towards her, takes her hand and kisses it gallantly. “Enchanté, Madame D'Gane. My intel spoke highly of your abilities, and it seems as though you have kept my colleagues safe - my gratitude. It is a pleasure to meet you; I am Baron Swift.”

D'Gane smiles broadly at his approach, eyes shining, and responds, “I did not realize you were involved in the Rebellion here - a member of the Assembly is continually under scrutiny. You must be quite talented yourself, to have avoided the attention of the Imperials for so long. Call me Via.”

Damaria and Sprend stay just outside the door as the Baron requests a moment with D'Gane to discuss an urgent personal matter, apologizing to Brown Fox.

As the others stealthily haul Madar and the captive trooper to the taxi for safekeeping, Swift takes Via's arm and steps deeper into Fox's Den. Damaria and Sprend stand near the door, ready to break in should the call come. Time passes, and the moon drops in the horizon; there is a muted sound of a raised voice, but it is covered by an alley cat scrounging garbage cans nearby, and the wind picks up slightly, rattling an old shutter. It really is getting late…

Just when Sprend is ready to comm the Baron to see if everything is okay, the door opens, and they both walk out. D'Gane's ruddy Zeltron complexion seems more flushed than before - it's hard to say whether she is angry or excited. In any case, the Baron nods to the group solemnly and ushers everyone inside.

Swift motions the others to gather around a table, and they discuss the plan going forward. Madar is to be planted with the classified datachip and accused by both D'Gane and Brown Fox in their reports. Agent 63 will again be contacted, this time with only Brown Fox and D'Gane around. The casino mess has apparently been taken care of, except Fox's Twin Tails may have some interesting details to report. Sprend will definitely have to lay low. The Baron will talk to the casino owner before the ISB investigates and try to smooth a few things over - he is not an ally, but has no love for Imperial agents.

D'Gane copies the datachip for her smuggling contact - she firmly maintains it is necessary for her to keep that intel for her employer, and the original is sewn into Madar's jacket. Tor will be asked to falsify some security images at the facility to prove Madar's presence there. The trooper will have to stay at the Reactor Core as a “guest” - he knows too much about the team but Swift insists he be treated well, with Fox's approval.

To keep Brown Fox on assignment, D'Gane will request his assistance (as an ISB officer) in tracking down a lead - “We suspect that the Black Sun is indeed the recipient of the stolen intel.” After much discussion, the plan is solidified, the kinks worked out, and the team disperses. The Baron opens the rear taxi door for D'Gane and then climbs in after her, and Sprend, Fox and Damaria follow.

The group is exhausted and quiet on the drive back the center of Bin Prime, and above the city lights false dawn begins to change the shade of the sky. D'Gane and Brown Fox get out at the Imperial Safehouse with Madar, and the rest return home. As Swift exits the cab at his estate, he casually says, “We actually have our own copy of the datachip, compliments of Tor, and we'll send it to the Alliance for further processing. It looks like valuable intel. We can trust Via for now, but we still do not know much about her, so perhaps we should keep the Reactor Core a secret.”

“Goodnight.”