Flashpoint

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Carrick Station, the main hub of the Republic Fleet; nearing 300 years since its construction, the massive spacedock is kept in near-pristine condition, ready to cater to the needs of thousands of crews and passengers every day-cycle.

Every pilot worth of the name knows the hyperlane coordinates to Carrick, and will visit the place at least once in their lifetime.

Comments

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Was that a blush at the compliment? Hm, maybe... "I did. I made some good friends there, met lots of good people, and stuff more people should know." Cabin is good, and Corso starts with Annabelle towards the interfleet transport dock that will shuttle them to the Esseles.

Of course, he also did not realize yet that its one cabin for two?

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It was the last cabin left! Really!

Annabelle smiles softly. "I'm glad. My own luck with meeting people has been....mixed. Really mixed."

She chuckles. "First captain I served with was a good man though, I think you would have liked him. Only man I've ever met who regularly smuggled grenades in his chest cavity. I'm not sure he had any fear left in him."

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"I don't think anyone I met was like that." Corso chuckles a bit, pressing the elevator button; it fills up quickly, with humans and non-humans, and a few droids too... oh, look that human female over there is a jedi, taking from the lightsaber clipped to her belt.

She is wearing something different from the usual jedi robes, with a light hooded top almost providing modesty? Short black hair, cut in a practical fashion, and actual make-up reminiscent of some Core World styles.

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Annabelle glances at the Jedi. "Huh, I wonder what one of Them is doing here," she muses to Corso. "You don't see them mingling with the general public, much."

And if she's admiring the view, well, she's only human.

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If she like the view of nice curves with toned muscle underneath, well, the Jedi is a sight to behold.

"Yeah." Corso nods. "They usually have their own ships."

Interesting, she seems to have a Trandoshean for an escort or bodyguard; the lizard-man is armored, carrying a heavy electroblade, and walking half a step behind the human.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle can appreciate that, yes.

"And possibly a bodyguard as well," Annabelle muses. "Hopefully, this trip isn't going to something they find interesting. I don't want the Jedi Order taking an interest in my activities."

If only because they're in bed with law and order and she's technically a criminal.

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"Hopefully they won't." So, to their cabin, where Annabelle can embarrass Corso a bit more; then, perhaps down to the main lounge for food and such? the trip will last a bit more than a day, with brief drops out of hyperspace to shuttle out passengers and cargo.

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Probably. Annabelle points out that she wouldn't mind...sharing the bed, but if he'd rather not she's flexible. There's always sleeping in shifts, or on other pieces of furniture.

Food is definitely next on the agenda, yes. Since they've already paid for it, might as well abuse any buffet privileges.

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Corso thanks her, blushing much, but the Cabin has a second bed in bunk style, so... he wins some time to get used to the Captain hitting on him.

Concidentally, they arrive at the lounge behind the Jedi and the Transdoshan, so the smugglers are in the enviable position to witness a certain exchange...

It starts with a blue-skinned Twi'lek woman calling for the sorta-scantly-clad force-user. "Master Jedi? A moment of your time, please?"

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If he wants her to stop, all he has to do is ask. But since he just blushes....well, that just encourages her. It's a flaw.

Is Annabelle going to eavesdrop? Of course! Annabelle keeps their position while trying not to be noticeable about it. Master Jedi, eh? Interesting.

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"How may I help?" The Jedi speaks in a polite, neutral tone, each word precisely spelled out. Its the flattest Basic Annabelle ever heard, without a hint of any kind of accent.

"Did the crew talk to you? About any... issues?" The Twi'lek seems worried about something definitely.

"No. Why should they?" Despite the question, the Jedi does not show actual curiosity. Eeech, droids display emotions more openly.

"Well... there is a rumor an Imperial ship started tailing us soon after we left Carrick Station." The Twi'lek sighs. "I know, I know, the Treaty of Coruscant, but that's why I'm worried, why would an Imperial ship be this far into Republic territory?"

"I understand your concerns, but I believe the crew is right in keeping it quiet; that kind of news could easily spread panic." Back to the Jedi's flat, polite tone.

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Hell, droids don't even speak Basic that flatly. What do they DO to jedi trainees?

If she's always that unemotional....she's probably terrible in bed. Which is a damn shame in someone with a body that fine.

Annabelle gives Corso a look that says 'It just figures, doesn't it?' Just once, could a trip go as planned? Is that too much to ask?!

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On cue, the ship is rocked by... something, that sends most people tumbling to the floor; the good news is that artificial gravity also fluctuates a bit, so the falls are not as hard as they could be.

The Jedi did not fall... she helps the Twi'lek up. "I guess the rumors were true; I should go to the bridge, see if I can help."

"Its never too late to try." The Twi'lek nods, and the jedi hurries away, her Trandoshan companion following close.

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Annabelle makes herself known to the Twi'lek. "Should we head to the bridge as well?" she asks, "or is there somewhere else we ought to head to and start dealing out the trouble in kind?"

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The woman is a bit surprised, but nods to Annabelle. "If you want to help, I recommend the bridge too; the captain is the best qualified to decide what needs to be done."

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Annabelle nods. "Good luck to you."

Then she takes off for the bridge at a run. Hopefully, Corso will follow.

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Corso is right behind her; he left his rifle in the cabin, but of course he brought the pistol and vibroblade.

They do not go very far before finding that several of the service droids seem to have gone haywire and attacked crew and passengers.

The way the droids were taken apart shows the Jedi and the Trandoshan are good fighters too.

Hey, there they are, entering that lift.

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Might as well catch the same lift up, right?

Annabelle calls a greeting to the duo as she makes for the doors.

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The jedi seems to have cast off her light coat for the sake of mobility. "Greetings." My, what beautiful green eyes.

...and it might be that her tube top stays on by the grace of the Force?

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"Greetings," Annabelle replies. Annabelle's eyes are a dark blue.

Annabelle is betting on glue. Damn it, it's not fair that someone who's supposed to be celibate is that hot!

The lift door closes right behind them and begins its ascent. "Nice work on those droids back there."

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The Jedi nods. "They were sliced, but not remotely."

The Trandoshan says something in his own language, and the Jedi nods again. "We will let the Captain know."

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"Someone on board's in on it then, most likely," Annabelle says with a sigh. "Is no one on the up and up in this galaxy?"

Yeah, she's aware of the...irony of a criminal making that statement.

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"The Master Hunter agrees, the attackers had some of their own in the ship. Maybe as crew, maybe as passengers." The Jedi dashes off as the lift stops and the door opens; one crewmember steps up to say something, likely to stop her from entering the bridge, and she waves a hand at the man, who stops and stares blankly into nothing.

The bridge is a mess, a few consoles burned out, several crew injured. Two men are standing by the viewscreen.

"You are in charge now, Captain. What we should do?" says the tall, rotund one.

"Do? Weapons are out, shields are out, engines are out, and that thing has us trapped in a tractor beam." He gestures at the viewscreen; holy mother of space, that is a huge ship! "We are done for."

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Annabelle makes a note of the crewman's suddenly staring out into space. Looks like the tales about Jedi being able to mess with your head ARE true.

"It's a Harrower Dreadnaught," she says, her tone a little off. "I'd...rather hoped that I'd never see one up close."

She shakes herself a bit, trying to clear her head. "Not done for as long as we're still breathing," she argues.

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"Consular Onemi Arael." The jedi says, and shows a badge to the captain. "I'm a Republic Field Commander, Lieutenant equivalent. Calm yourself down, Captain; this woman is right, if the Imperials wanted us dead, they could have destroyed the Esseles already."

The man blinks in surprise, and takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry for losing my temper, Lieutenant. I'm First Officer Haken, currently in charge of this ship." He gestures to the tall, big man. "This is my second-in-command, Ensign Plex."