Sprend and Fox have requested that Tor take a look at the armour they scavenged from the dead Imps in the desert, and there is enough for two new sets. They are hoping for something more lightweight. So the template you'll use is the Deflective Armor in that first chart, which happens to only need 24 hours.

Tor has all the materials needed (the scraps of 4 different laminate armors is plenty for 2 suits), and begins work. Roll an average mechanics check. ~KF

Well I believe my illness lasted 8 days, so it should have been done before the end of 10 days it took me to set up the command center. Also I do have Rank 1 in Gear Head so that would have taken away at least 1 Setback. ~SA

First Armor set: Roll Result - 3 Success

The first set of armor takes 20 hours with the two extra successes (I'll allow it to overlap slightly with the command center work - as you near completion, it wouldn't require full days); it can be split up over a few days.~KF

Second Armor set: Roll Result - One Success, One Advantage

I think the Lightweight option would be best for Sprend (assuming that his Brawn of 1 negatively effects his Encumbrance). I will keep myself from branding the inner collar of said armor with 'Huntersman Death Resistant Suit'.

Tor spends the rest of his time wiring up the communications center for the Reactor Core base - I can't seem to find the communique about that.

About an hour after Fox leaves, another visitor arrives for Swift.

Tor walks in, carrying a stack of papers which are just some standard IRIM forms that need to be signed, although assuring Merlyn that there is no rush on them, and in a hushed voice mentions there is no need to open the small white box (of studied-to-be-safe-chocolate-covered fruits which he had palmed underneath the papers). Tor slides it to the shelf next to the bed as he greets the Baron and Damaria.

They are at a table with a huge pile of junk on it - blaster parts, and it looks like Swift's staff of office is completely taken apart at this stage, and he seems a bit frustrated.

Swift looks up. “Oh, hello Tor. Come on in - is that real food in your hands? I'm rather tired of this hospital food Merlyn keeps forcing me to eat. Just in time for supper!” He stands, stretching out his back.

Friendly chatter ensues until Merlyn vacates the room at which point Tor cuts to the chase. “Truthfully, I had more dire reasons than food for coming to see you. Have either of you two been aware of what Fox has been up to the last few days? He's informed me that Via has been missing the last few days. Would you know anything about this?”

Swift had mentioned earlier that he was captured by the Human League while meeting Via at a restaurant when the team met together on the 10th, but at that point he didn't know she was also missing. Everyone would have realized she didn't attend the team meeting, but that in itself wasn't unusual.

Swift glances over at Damaria, and turns to Tor. “Fox was just here, and he picked my memory clean. It's concerning. If she was also captured by the Human League…” He trails off. “You know what I went through, and I'm human. Though Zeltrons are near-human, I don't know what they'd do to her. At the same time, she's a capable ISB double agent - it's possible she's just deeply undercover.” He doesn't sound particularly convinced of this, and looks worried.

Damaria is noticing that Tor seems very disturbed by Via's disappearance; a little disturbed makes sense, but he has always tended to avoid Via in the past - maybe has had one brief conversation with her in your presence - and so it doesn't seem in proportion.

Damaria had smiled at Tor as he entered the room, but now gets a more serious look on her face. “I haven't heard any news of her lately either – not since the banquet, in fact,” she says with a glance toward Swift. “I don't care for the idea of the League or the Empire getting wind of her either… for her sake or ours, frankly.”

With a light cough she raises an eyebrow at Tor. “But… well, Tor, I have to ask. I've worked with you long enough to know something seems wrong… Is there more to your concern? Anything we should know?” She raises her hands briefly towards him. “I don't mean to pry… but if something more is wrong, any information could be helpful.” A half-smile flickers across her face. “Don't worry, I promise not to go hunting for information if you don't want to hand it out.”

Tor lets out a brief sigh. He guards himself for releasing this information, but it would take a little more omph on his part. “While I am concerned for Via, I'm afraid I have added interest in her well being. Currently she is the only active contact between myself and my sister, Manya.

“Given what we've seen so far, I wouldn't doubt the Human League has some significant ties with the Empire; how else would they have been able to procure that AT-ST to guard the warehouse they were holding Swift in. And frankly that terrifies me even more. I know the Empire will go to any means to… extract information. And even if Via is a well trained agent I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to stand to what measures they would use.”

Tor becomes visibly uncomfortable with his last thoughts, shaken a little more than his usual composed demeanor would ever allow. He continues after recomposing himself. “Perhaps I am letting my fears run wild, for what is at stake here is much greater to me personally. Not to undermine what else could be at risk for all of us. But again this based entirely on speculation on the fact she hasn't been in contact of late. I was hoping that you two perhaps might have answers.”

“As for Fox, he told me he plans to go undercover himself, but I told him to at least speak with you first and not to do anything hasty,” Swift replies. “You made an excellent point about the AT-ST; after my experiences with Larness, and I'm guessing Damaria will agree with me, I would not be surprised if Larness was a key figure within the Human League. He does not care at all for non-humans, but views them as tools to be used. Then again, he probably views humans that way, too!

“Tor, I think you should tell Damaria who Via is working for, and how you're connected. I've held back since it's your story to tell, but Damaria can be trusted completely. Then we can speak freely about this situation.”

Tor takes a moment to collect his thoughts before beginning.

“I'm sure you figured at this point Damaria, 'Tor-Nenko' is just an alias given to me by the Rebellion. My original name is Taloon Merr-sonn, from the branch family of Merr-sonn Munitions…” Tor continues, explaining how his family was betrayed by an unknown entity, then how Via had revealed herself to be a go-between for the Rebellion, Merr-sonn, and his previously missing sister.

“I believe that Swift can take care of the rest.”

Damaria processes the information for a minute before responding to Tor with a wry smile. “I suppose that explains the spats of weapon malfunctions we had when I was with the garrison. In hindsight, I don't mind having spent the money on “repairs” to line your pockets at the Empire's expense”.

Tor pockets his hands and betrays a mischievous grin. “Would you believe how often Power De-Converter seemed to be the missing or damaged part? An awful inconvenience for something that doesn't actually exist.”

Swift shakes his head, then follows up with further details. “Via was working with Tor's sister before being sent here to smuggle data on Imperial weapons research to Merr-Sonn, and Merr-Sonn has been supplying the fledgling Alliance with weapons, while at the same time remaining a “legitimate” business in the eyes of the Empire. I don't have to describe the consequences if that intel is made known to the wrong people. Even criminal organizations could take advantage. Once we made contact with Via, she received permission to aid our team as long as she didn't blow her cover.

“I'm not sure what the best approach is to this - should we trust in Via's abilities that have kept her alive for several years as an ISB double agent, or do we take action? She knows we use the cantina as a base, but I've never shown her the Safehouse - I actually haven't brought myself to trust her fully, even though she has proved her worth.” He looks at Damaria. “Shades of Circe, I suppose. In any case, what do you think, Damaria? Do you think Via would reveal our secrets under duress? What are the pros and cons of waiting or acting?”

A serious look crosses Damaria's face. “I have my own issues with D'Gane, but so far she seems to have been trustworthy. Imperial Security is quite good at extracting information though, so if they've suspected her and taken her in we've good reason to be worried. I'd recommend trying to track down anything we can get about her current state… but still make sure to do it quietly, and don't pry too hard anywhere. The last thing we want is to make the wrong people suspicious – at least not too early – regardless of D'Gane's status right now.”

“I think Fox might be best to do the looking for now… he's close enough to the situation that he should know some of the places to poke around in, and can hopefully do so without arousing too much suspicion.”

Tor only nods solemnly. He knows he is in way over his head when it comes to the world of covert ops, but having two of his most trusted allies vouching for Fox put him a little more at ease with the entire situation.

Swift asks Tor, “Anything else you'd like to talk about? How's that wiring coming along? I'm looking forward to the improved communication and surveillance within the base.”

Tor clears his throat and admits, “Things aren't quite as smooth as they should be. I'll admit between that, the fever, and my lessons of Duro anatomy, it might take another day or three longer than initially projected. Still we can only hope things don't suddenly get exciting in the meantime. On that note I hope the extra worry does not hamper your own recovery, but…” he looks about to make sure Merlyn is still not in the area, then sampling a strawberry for himself ”… these should at least be a little more soothing then treated vegetables and water!”

Swift samples the chocolate covered fruit appreciatively, and makes a half-serious comment; “Life is like a box of chocolate-covered fruit… You never know what's exactly beneath the surface.”