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 <WARNING: Memory leak detected> <Attempt log recovery y/n?> y <Attempting log recovery...> <Log recovered – warning, some data loss detected> ##Begin Log## Captain’s Log, entry #078 Stardate: Stretching thin drat defective gear. I've half a mind to write a report, or else it's the SIS “editing” my logs again.  This one starts off missing a few key bits. Long story short, we found Major Vinson and Cresh outpost on the road to Shai Tenna's place.  Vinson had us track a signal from a supposed Chiss defector. The defector was dust by the time we got there, but he still had some intel on him – namely, plans for the Imperials to take over a geothermal plant that the White Maw took off of us a little while back.  Vinson sent us in with a straightforward objective, destroy the facility before it could fall into enemy (well, worse enemy) hands. Pirates couldn't do much with a geothermal plant, but the Empire could build a whole offensive around it.  We had demo charges and a technical readout of the plant identifying critical infrastructure, including the generators. We also had some good luck in that these particular White Maw were not Shai Tenna's lot, which would've put me in a bind.  Doesn't mean they couldn't fight, though. Neutralizing hostiles at the generator site took longer than expected, but they weren't really ready for us. No doubt the Imperials still could've brushed them aside, and were planning as much.  We were just setting the charges when Akaavi heard someone creeping around behind us. At first I figured more hostiles, but no, it was a different kind of complication.  quote:Ortolan Leader: We'll hold a parade in your honor! A feast! We must find some proper way to thank you for this!  Realization dawns for both of us. Vinson hadn't really considered if any of the facility's original staff were still alive. quote:Ortolan Leader: You... you didn't come to rescue us, did you? You came... to destroy my power station.  In force, at that. And we'd just killed the pirates that could've softened them up for us first. quote:Ortolan Leader: The Empire? Please, can't you help us? You saved us from the pirates, I know we can get through this, too! Strictly speaking, this wasn't in the mission parameters, but then that's why I went freelance in the first place.  I considered refusing, but I didn't know just how many Imperials to expect. Even I need backup sometimes.  Ortolans aren't exactly warriors, but they turned out all the same. I honestly think the Imps were more surprised than I was.  What was more surprising was they actually fought pretty well, considering they were using modified vibrotools. I don't think the Empire's going to live down getting chumped by a bunch of three-foot-tall aliens with clubs any time soon, but then I wouldn't bet on ever seeing it happen again either.  quote:Ortolan Leader: You've inspired us! We won't let our work fall into the wrong hands again! We're going to fight back!  Unless command posts a serious garrison, I don't know what the Ortolans could build to protect such a remote facility. Honestly, if Taris taught me anything it was don't assume a planet's saved just because everyone's smiles and sunshine when you leave – I just hope when it does fall, the Ortolans get a softer landing. Anyway. Enough doom and gloom. We headed back to Vinson to wrap up things at Cresh.  quote:Quinine: I chose to stay and fight the Imperial Army. Or an Ortolan, although maybe they should keep letting people underestimate them. quote:Major Vinson: Thank you. You've probably just saved the lives of half the soldiers on Hoth.  Sounds fair to me, though we couldn't afford to keep skipping out on the whole Shai Tenna operation without risking blowback, so once we were done with Vinson we made tracks for the White Maw's local lair to meet our new contact.  It wasn't an easy ride. The White Maw like to stay out of the way, at least when it comes to their bolt-holes. We had to dip deep into the ice canyons on this one.  It also meant sneaking around some restless local fauna. I've fought bigger, sure, that doesn't mean I like tangling with a hard target three times my height.  Just when I started thinking that fish-face Guss had given me bum directions, lo and behold we find Shai Tenna's secret lair.  A cozy kinda place. Half cantina, half black market warehouse, all kinds of trouble. I should open a tab.  Of course, no visit would be complete without checking in with the man of the house. I had his sensors and Guss's introduction. Time to see if I could sign on for a life of piracy. Recommended for a fresh round of introductions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guPkdrhvLDU  Strong opening hand from Shai.  And here we meet the brains of the outfit, Alilia. Easy on the eyes, but her current relationship has... issues. quote:Shai Tenna: This is Alilia, slave of my body and queen of my heart. The best treasure I ever plundered.  So my foot's in the door, but he and I both know I'm not signing on at the bottom like some two-cred cantina rat, and that means a tougher interview. The burden of being an overqualified criminal. quote:Quinine: Why do I feel like it won't be this easy?  quote:Quinine: I wouldn't want to see anyone stop your meteoric rise. That got me to pop an eyebrow. So much for her “sun and stars” shtick.  That got the other eyebrow up too. She's clearly a cut above Shai in the brains department, but sussing out an Imperial connection like that gets my respect. quote:Quinine: You ever thought of escaping, putting those talents to work somewhere else?  I'm leaning toward expose. I like a good mutiny, and even pirates deserve better than getting sold down the river by their captain. Alilia, though. She's got style, and she deserves better than a life as some pirate's plaything. Might be a little risky, considering Shai Tenna's my way into the White Maw, but what's life without a little risk, right? ##End Log##
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