Gorensla’s first move

We headed back to our homestead after the trial. Since we couldn't use our ship Arron rented a speeder for us as I was embarrassingly out of credits. You know your life has taken a turn when you can't afford a twenty five credit speeder rental.

We rode off into another storm but luckily Arron had been brushing up on his piloting skills. Is what I thought before he crashed into a tree causing our navigation to go out.

When Jern fixed it he said it was better than new! I breathed a sigh of relief. It was going to cost all our damage deposit if he hadn't fixed it well, and we didn't have that kind of money.

By the time we got back I was ready to kick back and relax till the storm was through. But Jern had a “bonding exercise” for me or something. We spent the evening working on some armour; I helped him make it look expensive.

Later that evening I discovered that the float at the homestead was missing - Vreck saw a flash of a blue figure. Even before they described being attacked by mouse droids, I knew who could have done this. Jaleel and the ECC.

The next morning I told the others that I was going to town bright and early and if anyone wanted to join me to look for information they were welcome along. My faithful bodyguard and friend Arron said he would come along with me. And Jern wanted to come, too, but just to talk with Satchel Paige.

Two hours later we were in town and in front of the Avaron mining corp headquarters. I stepped inside and a secretary greeted me. I told her the normal stuff: this is too important to wait, I'm an important council guy, I don't need an appointment. She said he was busy and wouldn't budge so I had to make an appointment.

I told Arron to stake out the building and comm me if Corto came out. I headed to the council hall to try to chat with Tirano.

Turns out Tirano was busier than Corto and was having a secret rebel meeting that was going over the lunch hour and I'm no rebel, so no way was I getting in there. That's when Arron called me. It's show time.

I hopped on Jure and rode to meet with Corto. I left Jure with Arron at a nearby hitching post and went into Porko's Slop Shop, a terrible smelling diner with a beaded front entrance. I spoke to the gamorrean waiter and asked to be seated with Corto. The waiter was quite pleasant and gave me a handful of mints before taking me to my seat. The mints tasted awful, but at least reduced the smell a bit? Weird, but nice.

I greeted Corto with a smile and began to explain all the reasons that he should sign a document for a search warrant for the ECC. I reminded him that it was us who saved the Avaron II, that Jaleel could not be trusted. If we could find evidence that they were poisoning Ojib and Djinn we could get them arrested and get back the mining rights that he so coveted. The coral reef mining was illegal and they could be doing other acts…

Corto responded that I was mistaken on some facts. Avaron was a failing company and this was their last chance. Their reputation was in shambles and their last operations had ended in failure. So he hired the ECC to investigate Avaron’s history of sabotage. As punishment for sabotaging the Avaron II, Corto convinced the Council to make Jaleel an indentured servant - hoping to use him as bait to discover the sabotaging organization. The reef mining puzzled him as he didn’t believe that the ECC would do such a thing, and these pirates were a concern that he was getting the ECC to investigate.

I nodded thinking about how it all made sense now as Corto made his leave. I didn’t really think that the ECC had a reason to betray the trust of the people by destroying coral. And why would they dabble in petty thievery? But it was still a very strange coincidence that only Djinn Monka and Ojib would be poisoned. Why only the people opposing Avaron? But before I could figure that out, the Gamorrean waiter came over to me.

“Hey I’ve got a great business opportunity for you”.

“Um ok,” I responded.

“Yeah. Come out to the back. I’ll show you our mint factory.” The Gamorrean said hurriedly.

“Well I’m a little short on investment funds right now but I’ll take a look,” I said, as the waiter ushered me into a back room.

To my dismay and horror a blue twi’lek with black face coverings pushed a blaster against my gut.

“I’ve got you, you slippery little weasel, Bosatta the Hutt is looking for you.”

I stepped back and I started to stall. “Um, I think you’ve got the wrong guy. Um, who are you looking for? Maybe I can help,” I stammered, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

“Don’t start with me, Zane Arkell. Your petty falsehoods will get you nowhere when Jaleel gets to you.”

That’s when I struck. With a jab of my knee to his hand, I knocked the blaster behind him, pulled my blaster and shot. Unfortunately, I’m no quick draw, and he grabbed my hand, pushing my blaster away from him. He rolled back, snatching his gun and fired in my general direction. The door crashed shut behind me. I dropped and rolled, trying to get behind him, but he blocked my way. I was trapped!

Then I heard Arron shout, and the door crashed open.

“What took you so long?” I called out, then fired my blaster into the ceiling, disabling the lights and raining parts on the twi’lek. I took the momentary surprise to slip past the Twi’lek and ran toward the exit.

Blam! I heard the twi’lek’s blaster fire. I saw my arm fly forward and hit the ground then there was pain. I screamed.

I staggered forward and slammed through the fire escape. Outside, I ran toward a crowd that was gathering from my cries for help. Jern was among them, and he helped me to the hospital…

After spending the night in a bacta tank and having surgery done to what remained of my arm, I checked in on Ojib and Djinn Monka. Ojib seemed to be at least stable, but Djinn was barely breathing. I shook my head and walked out.

I got a call from SoFA - they were on their way to pick me up if I was feeling well enough. The plan was to head out to the ECC base to clear up any misunderstandings. I thanked the hospital staff that helped me and set off with the team.

Adi had apparently insisted on coming along, which I thought she deserved since it turns out that she alerted both Arron and Jern to my situation. She has good eyes, and people underestimate her. Very useful - I need someone looking out for me.

It was, of course, storming again today. Arron loves flying as fast as he can, and it didn’t feel safe. Every bump hurt my arm - well, my stump.

We saw rising smoke as we approached, so we took a stealthier way forward. We got to a walled compound with security cameras. Vreck jumped over the wall with Jure and scouted the inside. Guards patrolled the walls, and an obvious pirate ship packed in the centre.

Jern managed to get a signal through to Vreck’s Ranger corp despite the interference from the storm, and I talked to Director Corto about what was happening and to call for backup. Jern then convinced Arron to climb the wall with him on his back, leaving me alone in the gloom. I waited for a bit before remembering that Adi was there with me. I looked around but she was missing.

I panicked for a bit before remembering that she had a com. I tried to call her and she picked up.

I asked where she was and she told me she was stalking around like the others. I winced and said to stay put. I realised that she wasn’t going to listen, so I said I would be very proud of her if she could sneak into the ship. Arron would kill me if he knew I said that, but I think he doesn’t understand how capable she is of sneaking.

Once the Rangers arrived I gave the attack plan, which they promptly ignored and drew up their own battle strategies. We infiltrated the compound under the cover of darkness. All the power was off because of a lightning strike to the generator. We had just got in when alarms went off - I guess the others aren't as stealthy as me. I called the order to open fire but the rangers had already started wiping out the majority of the guards before they could act.

A fire fight ensued, but before it was over I spotted Adi making a dash for the main building. I ran after her. She opened the door just as I arrived. I put my hand on her shoulder, and she screamed!

Inside there was Jaleel and a bunch of goons. They all turned to us, and strangely, Jaleel started to bleed out of his ears. I looked at Adi whose face was red with anger and said “let’s get em!” I shot into the room at the same time the rangers burst in firing as well. The pirates, having no chance, surrendered in shame.

I looked at Adi and thought, “she’s one resourceful kid.”