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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The crew quickly mobilizes, helping injured people, taking away the bodies of the dead (Corso quietly scoops and keeps a few things, its not like the mandalorians need it), check the systems for damage.

After a few minutes, Plex, the second in command, looks up from the navcom station. "Captain, we are moving."

"Kilran is taking us away from the hyperlane." Asara speaks up. "He doesn't want interruptions while he does... whatever he's planning. We have to get away, now."

"We are not going anywhere, Ambassador." Haken shakes head, checking the computers. "The Imperial ship still has the Esseles in a tractor beam."

[aeons_crackshot]

"....I just had an idea," Annabelle announces. "And I'm not sure if it's brilliant or just insane."

"We still have the shuttle the Imperials sent as a distraction, right? If the Imperials will let that shuttle dock we could take out the tractor beam machinery."

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"...that must be the craziest idea I ever heard." Corso shakes head. "Okay, lets do it." If thy pull that off, they will never again have to pay for drinks in any smuggler-friendly bar.

"A daring plan, in a desperate situation. I will be going too." Onemi nods, and Qyzen nods his assent too.

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"Time to get a look at the inside of an Imperial battleship," Annabelle says with a grin.

This will be some combination of fun and terrifying, she's sure.

Annabelle will employ sad puppy eyes to get to pilot the shuttle, if necessary. (Pilots are bad passengers for much the same reasons as doctors make bad patients.)

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Asara will mention being familiar with the system disposition in an imperial dreadnought, and offers to write down directions or a map of sorts.

Hearing that, Haken will mention they are betting everything on that mission, and would not it be better of Asare went along to guide them? After pondering it a moment, the Ambassador agrees.

Commander Narlock will offer to lend her a security uniform as a disguise; seems they have more of a plan now.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Thank you, Commander. That will be a big help."

Annabelle starts to make her way to the elevator...

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As they approach the lift, Haken comes after them. "A moment, please?" He has a serious expression.

Onemi and Qyzen stop, waiting.

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Annabelle stops as well, and turns to Haken. She wonders what he wants to talk about.

"Certainly," Annabelle replies. "What's on your mind?"

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"I just spoke with Chief Salen, and he told me what happened. I'd like to thank you for stopping Asara." He nods. "You saved the lives of a few good men."

Onemi simply nods, apparently not seeing a reason to comment; the statement from Haken is rather simple and direct.

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"Just doing what anyone ought to have done," she replies with a smile.


After that, well, they'd probably better hurry. They're on a tight schedule, as it were.

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"Yes, and also showing how willing to sacrifice people Ambassador Asara seems to be." He shakes head. "Her presence endangers us all, and as long as she is aboard, the Empire will just chase us down again, us or the next ship she boards in secret."

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"I could hog-tie her once we make port," Annabelle offers. "That might give someone a chance to come up with a more permanent solution for tracking the Ambassador."

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"Actually, I was wondering if you could hog-tie her and leave her aboard the imperial ship instead. That way we would have more of a chance to escape." And he is serious about that.

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"That might work out better for us in the short-term," Annabelle argues. "But if they get their hands on her alive, they're going to torture her for information."

"I'm assuming her position has given her access to classified information?" that question can be fielded by anyone who knows the answer.

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"And she chose to risk herself by boarding a transport under a false identity, putting everybody here at risk." Haken frowns. "She gambled with our safety, she was ready to kill all my engineering team to save herself; I have no doubt that she will keep choosing to risk others to ensure her own safety."

"What you are suggesting is treason, Captain." Onemi speaks to Haken, a frown creasing her brow. "I plan to report Asara's behavior and see that she is held accountable for her actions."

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"We'll see how it goes," Annabelle replies. "We might all die pulling this trick off, which would render a decision either way moot."

She'll clarify things for her companions away from the captain but before they reach the Ambassador's line of hearing.

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"Just, keep it in mind; I don't think its fair to keep endangering this ship because of her." Haken nods to them. "I'll see you soon."

Onemi shakes head, but continues on to the lift.

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"She may be scum, but I'm not leaving anyone to be tortured by the Imperials," Annabelle says quietly. Of course, that doesn't preclude leaving a body on the ship if circumstances require it.

Time to hit the lift and attack an Imperial Battleship.....with five people. And one of those people is both an ambassador and has shown herself to be perfectly willing to sacrifice other people to save her own neck.

Why are they doing this again?

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"Self-absorbed, putting her job above people." Onemi shakes head; Qyzen says something and she nods in agreement. "Never a good thing."

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Annabelle nods. There's nothing more she can say in response to that that's fit for polite company.

The elevator trip down is uneventful. Annabelle's betting the trip in the shuttle won't be.

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Well, good news first: they will be seven, two of Narlock's men will go along to guard the shuttle.

"Very well." Asara examines the computers. "It looks like the security codes still work, so we can go in safely. After that, we have to run two decks up, slice the power core, shut down the tractor beam, and then come back to the shuttle before they catch us."

You know, just do the impossible.

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Annabelle nods, trying to make a mental estimate of the time involved. "Good thing we got those uniforms then, might buy us a few more minutes."

Changing clothes en route might be a good idea.

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Herself, Corso, Asara and Onemi fit well into the uniforms; Qyzen is too tall for that, but armored as he carries himself, it should make little difference.

Docking codes are transmitted, and the shuttle allowed into the hangar, just a couple techs there to see the arrival.

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The trick to infiltration is looking and acting like you belong. In an organization as large as the crew on a ship this size, nobody knows everyone on sight. Plus, if you look busy, the rank and file grunts will do their hardest to ignore your existence because they don't want to get "volunteered" for whatever work you're doing.

Annabelle nods a greeting at the techs and attempts to move out and away from the hanger as if on business of some kind.

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Onemi waves a greeting at the techs and nobody pays them attention.

Benefits of having a Jedi on your side.

Asara takes them out of the docking bay and up a level, stopping here and there to hide and avoid crew; better to not push their advantage too much.