Public Ground Zero

[Chanoel Farver]

Farport, Above The Worlds Within | 'Custodian's Piss' Cantina
Ara Sheridan Scilla Xarielle Pavanos Atlas Drake Kal Trinity Harris | THE CREW | OPEN
​

This was the biggest expedition she'd ever been on, so it matched that the last night before launch was going to have an absolute rager. It was half past ten, and most of the people in the cantina were well on their way to being blackout drunk in the next thirty minutes. Atoan physiology helped Chanoel hold her liquor a little better, but she was pacing herself -- after all, she hadn't met her team.

The tables were very roughly organized into the groups they'd be descending with; getting wasted with someone tended to be a great bonding experience, which was why the higher-ups were fine with the party. But by whatever administrative muck-up, she was being transferred to another group, comprised completely of strangers. That was fine. She thought she was good at making friends.

It was a surprise that being friendly with the crew was something that actually mattered. Normally, expeditions vetted pretty extensively -- but from what she'd heard, not as many people were excited to slide down those giant elevators on the surface. It wasn't a surprise given the myriad of horrors and dangers that were rumored to be on the surface. Naturally, opportunists and other scruffy sorts popped out of the cracks to fill in; some of the people she'd seen packing the station were suspicious enough to have bounties on them, while others looked tough enough to be their hunters.

Maybe their employers were okay with the suspicious sorts -- they didn't seem the cleanest themselves. The 'Center for Galactic Anomaly Exploration' was based on Coruscant, but from what Chanoel had seen, they were very new and didn't have a lick of state funding. But they promised solid payouts. For the survivors, anyways. That might be why they were okay with those more suspicious types joining up; seemed like there was a solid chance they weren't making it all back.

All the more reason to party.

Chanoel squeezed her way through a Herglic and an Ithorian who were having a heated discussion about- an animated show?- to get towards the back of the cantina. She was tempted to stop and just dance to the music (she'd never heard anything like it, in a good way) but knew she was just drunk enough that it might make her forget her other goal.

After slipping past a few more people, she finally made it to the table.

"Hey, this is team 13, right? I'm Chanoel, just got moved to help with you guys." She grinned, and pulled up a chair. "Heard somebody dropped out. What's up with that?"

Spoiler: some stuff

First off, if you're just now checking this out + you're interested, you can check out the OG pitch, maybe tag me there to let me know you're showing up here. Second off, please please PLEASE do not hesitate to worldbuild or make shit up. I just added a random hook -- maybe your character knows who dropped out, or why (or maybe they're the reason for it). Third, throw in three (or more!) rumors others might've heard about your character in their time on the station. They don't need to be true, of course. Here are Chanoel's:

• She has a lightsaber -- I swear, I saw it!​
• She got into a fight the other day with a Nikto grifter and knocked his teeth out.​
• Her father (or mother?) is one of the lead scientists on the main team.​
• She has a Corellian Bloodstripe, but doesn't wear it because she thinks it looks silly.​

 

[Fenn Stag]

​

The pitch was simple, the job wasn't complicated, and his role there wasn't hard to pick out in terms of status. He was there for no other purpose than to provide security. After all, what else was a Mandalorian good for anyways- especially so far out here?

The simple answer was that for every expedition, as much as a person needed scientists, equipment, instruments- the ever prevailing threat of death loomed over them all. The unknown presented more dangers than the known, usually.

And thus, the bid was made, and contracts were filled. There were many of those like Fenn, but none quite like him. He was to meet his team there. One had dropped out, prior to Fenn's acceptance, so his arrival and addition wasn't a factor. Some other nefarious reason, he assumed, or cowardice. Or perhaps cowardice wasn't the right term here- perhaps intelligence or forethought was.

Fenn entered the music-plagued cantina, with an awful name. He was glad his helmet could filter out audio, he would've flipped a table if he wanted to. The rumors were already circulating about the Mandalorian onboard. That he was a clone of Preliat Mantis, that he was in fact, Preliat Mantis. That he punched a durasteel chestplate in of a mouthy mercenary. The first and the last were true. The secret wasn't superhuman or unnatural, inhuman strength, but rather crushgaunts and a determination to make a point.

He was wearing a cloak over his armor, as most of his people did. Armor and weaponry made people nervous. Almost as much as a fairly large, fully armed and armored Mandalorian coming over to your table.

He didn't say anything, but took his seat anyways. He was part of the team, sure, and he was partially entrusted with their safety, but he wasn't responsible for having to like them, now was he? He stared over at the green haired girl. Or perhaps he wasn't staring at her. It was hard to tell with the helmet on exactly what he was looking at.

He liked it that way.

Made checking out women easier.

​

 

[Miri Nimdok]

"Hey, this is team 13, right? I'm Chanoel, just got moved to help with you guys."

Miri looked up from her datapad at the young woman that had recently taken a seat at the table and gave her a friendly smile. "Hi, I'm Miri. Nice to meet you."

Chanoel asked about the missing person in the group. Miri shrugged. "I don't know. I never met them. Whoever they were, they never bothered to show up to any meetings." She inclined her head toward Chanoel. "What made you decide to join?"

Chanoel Farver Fenn Stag​

 

[Trinity Harris]

Warrant Officer Trinity Harris
DXenbo MAnthro
​

Location: Farport Cantina
Objective: Represent Imperial Interests scientific expedition
Tags: Ara Sheridan Chanoel Farver Scilla Xarielle Pavanos Atlas Drake Kal

Spoiler: Equipment and links

Weapon: HH38 Geysa Hybrid Pistol
Vibrokukri
Riding: Phantom
Accompanied by: Plushee Companion Droid
Wearing:
Hersir Imperial Uniform
Guardema Bio-suit
OPBC-01e
Ship: Luminary class light explorer exchanging crew space for biolabs

Trinity had stayed aboard her ship over night whilst on the Farport station, it was comfortable and safe, and she was already paying docking fees. She has however explored the station a little and found a couple of nice bars. Nice was a generous word, but she hadn't been robbed or stabbed so it was nice enough, they reminded her a little of some of the mitary bars that Eleena Salwa had dragged her along too, they could be good fun. Much more rowdy and entertaining than the campus bars at the University.

She walked into the 'Custodians Piss' bar at the arranged time and looked at the gathered patrons. She got a couple of funny looks, walking into a bar with her heavy military overcoat wrapped around her. But she had signed on to this as an Imperial Scientist and the was bringing funding along with her so the team themselves would be expecting her to dress accordingly. She approached the table, they stood out like a sore thumb, the group of scientists and other adventurers surrounded by dishevelled spacers. There was some tension in the room, but she wondered if that had something to do with it being the first time she had gone into a bar with a loaded gun.

"Team 13, I assume? Hi, I am Dr. Trinity Harris, Warrant Officer, its a pleasure to meet you all please call me Trin." The pretty and youthful scientist smiled politely and with confidence in her abilities. She looked around, sizing people up. Her biochip updated her with small amounts of public information avaliable to MEIPOC on each of the seated individuals, nothing major, but it was good to at least know who were the brains and who were the muscle.

She took a seat and quickly ordered a small drink, despite her confidence, the nerves were drying her mouth a little.

 

[Scilla]

In spite of already being a bit tipsy herself, Scilla managed to slip her way through the crowd of inebriated patrons whilst balancing a collection of drinks in her arms.

"Thirteen, thirteen, how unluckyyy…"

She shimmied up to the table, decidedly offbeat with the music, and distributed the glasses to her soon-to-be comrades. "I dunno who else is coming but if there's spares you can drink 'em, I don't give a fffff-" Scilla cut herself off, gulping down the glass still in hand before plopping down in the nearest seat. "I heard our little dropout was actually two Jawas in a trenchcoat. Turns out they were just in it to steal a bunch of supplies and make a break for it." That's what Scilla had been told, anyway. Was it true? Maybe not, but she chose to believe it was. Her brow furrowed as she scanned over everyone present, none of whom seemed to match her energy at the moment.

"Oh. I'm Scilla. Now drink."

​

Spoiler: Scilla's Rumors

• She definitely has a lightsaber - She was swinging it around like an idiot the other day!​
• She's the mysterious urchin whose been stealing everybody's wallets lately.​
• She's like, what, twelve?​

Chanoel Farver | Fenn Stag | Miri Nimdok | Trinity Harris​

 

[Atlas Drake]

Spoiler: Drake's Tall Tales

• One of them Outbound Flight explorers poking around the Unknown Regions.
• Wanted by the New Imperial Order.
• Killed Jorus Q. Merrill in a duel on Kal Shebbol.

"Captain Atlas Drake," chiseled features eagerly greeted his team with a disarming smile, "On loan from the survey ship Constellation. Welcome to Farport!"

He raised a glass of fortified pamarthen wine in toast. Atlas was wearing a utility vest over his tunic. Tools dangled from his belt next to the holstered Glie-44 blaster on one hip. Padding around near his legs there roamed a domesticated charhound. Its ears perked up in curiosity at each new arrival. Friendly yaps were accompanied by a tiny jet of flame.

"This is Flint," Atlas scratched behind the hound's ears to calm him down, "Don't worry. He's well trained around most bipeds."

Out here in the New Territories Captain Drake couldn't even follow the stars back home. At least he seemed a little cleaner than most of the scoundrels who frequented the Custodian's Piss. His easy grin was a little too charming even. Now that most of the team was here Atlas decided to build some early comradery.

"Next round is on me. What's your poison?"

Chanoel Farver Fenn Stag Miri Nimdok Trinity Harris Scilla​

 

[Toby Russen]

Farport, 'Custodian's Piss' Cantina
Tags: Chanoel Farver , Fenn Stag , Miri Nimdok , Trinity Harris , Scilla, Atlas Drake ​

Adventure was in the air. Mr. Nine could almost smell it. He made his way into the 'Custodian's Piss' Cantina, making his way up to the table they were intended to meet at. Nine didn't know anyone here. If he was being honest, he preferred that. The young Umbaran was never one to turn down a chance at a new experience. He strutted up confidently, a grin spread across his face as he took a seat at the table.

"Ahoy there," he greeted (his signature greeting). "Guess this is team 13 then? Name's Mr. Nine, but you can just call me Nine."

He turned, tipping his hat to Atlas Drake .

"Captain Drake, I presume?" Nine assumed with a chipper tone in his voice. He turned to the waiting staff, asking for a non-alcoholic beverage before turning to the rest of the crew. "Interesting lot we got here. Where you all from?"

Spoiler: Nine's Rumors

• He has a low alcohol tolerance. Nobody's seen him drink.
• He's secretly part of a prevalent Umbaran family.
• Something is in his hat. Why is it so big if not?

 

[Chanoel Farver]

Atlas Drake Miri Nimdok | Fenn Stag Trinity Harris Scilla Toby Russen
​

Yeah, this was a wack crew. Umbaran kid with a fat hat and a number for a name? Actual child drunk off her ass? A prim doctor, Mando, and moderately famous captain to round out the bunch.

"Wanderlust," she spared a reply to the first woman -- Miri -- to speak, giving a little shrug. "Seems like a cool place to explore."

After that, though, her attention was heaped on the charhound. "Ohhhh, hello Flint- can I pet him?" she asked, glancing briefly to Drake, before deciding it wasn't worth it to wait any longer and beginning to rub Flint under the ears. "You're so warm! You're a warm boy, aren't you. So warm."

Since Drake was offering, she grinned, glancing back to the bartender- "Hey! Pass the top-shelf Corellian." She paused from her most joyful scritches of Flint to point at the bottle of whiskey, but not for long. Her drink was collected among the next round to be served to their table.

"So loan, huh? You get bored traveling with the Outbound Flight? I thought they had some interesting shit out there. Honestly my fallback if I get bored with this."

 

[Miri Nimdok]

Chanoel gave her a one-word answer before turning her full attention to the charhound pet of Captain Atlas Drake. Atlas spoke as if he was somebody they all should know, but Miri had never heard of him. She didn't confess this out loud, of course.

The others were quick to introduce themselves, and what a motley bunch of oddballs they were. One rather young-looking girl named Scilla arrived with a bunch of drinks, which she swiftly passed out to the crew. Atlas also offered to pay for their drinks, probably looking to win them all over as fast as possible. Miri politely declined. "No thanks, I don't drink."

"Interesting lot we got here. Where you all from?"

"Alderaan originally," Miri replied. "But I moved around a lot."

Somewhere among the ruckus of drinking and introductions, Dr. Harris was standing by with a loaded gun. Miri glanced at her, raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. She was content to sit back and observe as various conversations sprung up around her, watching and listening.

Spoiler: Miri's Rumors

• Don't be fooled! She's really a shapeshifter! If I were you, I wouldn't trust anything purple from now on!
• She's looking for someone. The story keeps changing depending on who's telling it - sometimes she's looking for a missing relative that vanished in one of the biomes, sometimes a lost droid, other times a fabled animal. But she's definitely searching for something.
• She is somehow connected to an infamous galactic terrorist group.

Atlas Drake Chanoel Farver Fenn Stag Trinity Harris Scilla Toby Russen​

 

[Etta Soo]

She walked slowly, her azure-colored eyes slowly scanning the marketplace. This was how she had taken to spending her vacations as of recent. Finding places well beyond the known ages of her people's maps, and exploring them. Top to bottom most times. Allowing her moderate understanding of the Force, and her religious beliefs be her guiding light. The synth-armor hugged her body tightly, custom made for her and her alone as a sign of status from her warrior culture. On her back, two gnarly looking katana's sat in tandem, one just slightly shorter than the other. While she kept two slug-throwers in holsters on either thigh.

Though she didn't walk with her hand on her weapons, and instead walked with her head high. A true to life tourist, as she now came back from her walk. It was amazing to think there was quite so much in the galaxy that she hadn't seen yet, and yet every adventure only offered something new to experience. New people, new foods, Men. Well, she wasn't particularly interested in them, but there were no Men on her home-world, so they often found themselves being casually ogled by the woman who found the opposite and elusive gender frankly bewildering.

'You're Arsenian'

The woman came to a full stop, seemingly frail as she looked to her left with curiosity.

"Do you know me?"

She asked a shopkeeper who was staring at the taller woman with curiosity.

'Oh, heavens no. I just recognize the insignia, I watched a documentary on the holo-net about your people'

She stared for a moment, digesting the information within before her face scrunched up slightly.

"Documentary?"

The woman behind the counter shook her head in brief surprise, before scoffing aloud.

'Wow, so it's true then. You don't get out much huh? Its like a story about something. I watched one on the Arsenians. Anyway, sorry to bother you. Unless I can interest you in some jewelry'

She looked at the jewelry in question for two seconds flat before her eyes shot back up on the shop-keep.

"No thank you. Goodbye"

The woman would continue staring at the smaller woman for a moment before pushing on. Certainly there was more interesting things to encounter than this. Though she was a little impressed that her people weren't completely unknown. The last time she tried to explain that her society was completely woman the person she spoke to looked at her like she had three heads. All she could really do about that was pray to the gods. They would guide her when her own knowledge could not.

For now she would continue on her path which lead her into the Custodian's Piss bar. She needed water, although she wasn't content with drink anyone's urine. Hopefully she could get her drink without it.

Stepping in, she noted the group, but would only give the occupants equal glances of curiosity before moving to the bar and asking for the water. The thing about not needing to drink alcohol was you generally never had to pay for a glass of water. One of the first things she had learned about the galaxy.

 

[Toby Russen]

Farport, 'Custodian's Piss' Cantina
Tags: Chanoel Farver , Fenn Stag , Miri Nimdok , Trinity Harris , Scilla, Atlas Drake , Etta Soo ​

"Alderaan originally," Miri replied. "But I moved around a lot."

"I feel that," Nine nodded in response. "Was born on Corellia. Haven't been back in some time now. I always seem to find myself headed off to wacky and wild places. Speaking of wild, I'm a bit surprised. I wasn't expecting such a lively bunch."

He grinned, leaning back and resting his hands behind his head. It had been a while since Nine had worked with a crew. While he enjoyed the freedom to go where he pleased, he quite liked to be in the company of others.

"Nice change of pace for me, I'd say," Nine shrugged. He paused briefly, taking the drink he had ordered from the waiting staff, a non alcoholic Jogan fruit juice. "It's been a minute since I've been on a proper expedition. I can't even begin to imagine what we'll find down there..." Nine turned to Scilla, who was, undoubtedly, incredibly drunk. "Apologies, but I don't think I got your name."

 

[Kal]

The 'Center for Galactic Anomaly Exploration' promised generous payouts to expedition members, assuming they did their job and came back alive. That was motivation enough for some, but Kal was here for other reasons entirely; he wanted to know the inner workings of the mysterious world-construct and for once could not simply go it alone.

This 'Custodian' was far better at preventing infiltration than most organic states.

"You know, the dropout might have been a Jawa. I hear one stole a ship a bit back." A Zabrak body had been chosen for the occasion, a fit male specimen in its late twenties with short horns barely poking through messy brown hair.

It was somewhat unclear what his job was; the dossier simply read 'Irrik Vezdi, information specialist'.

Spoiler: Irrik Vezdi's Rumours

• He doesn't actually have a job, per se, but he is a senior Center researcher's nephew.
• Alternatively, he might be there to protect the Center's interest - or spy on them.
• Vezdi's a Lesai addict and as a result, he doesn't need to sleep.

Chanoel Farver | Scilla | et al.​

 

[Atlas Drake]

"Tell me about it," Drake chimed in, "I'm from a small moon you've never heard of on the other side of the galaxy. Haven't seen home in years. Looks like we've all got something in common then."

He tossed a few scraps of exotic meat on the floor and Flint cooked each one before happily scarfing them down.

"So loan, huh? You get bored traveling with the Outbound Flight? I thought they had some interesting shit out there. Honestly my fallback if I get bored with this."

"Outside their jurisdiction," the captain rolled his eyes, "Imperial entanglements. Besides, the Constellation is a few meters past safety regs. Too much risk of triggering the old defense systems."

With a shrug Atlas gestured to the seedy cantina.

"Guess I can't resist a new frontier."

Toby Russen Miri Nimdok Kal etc​

 

[Fenn Stag]

So far, they all seemed to intermingle and coexist rather well at the moment. Fenn had yet to say anything, not for a lack of fondness or an aversion to any of them. He just didn't have anything to say. His story wasn't particularly unique, and he was quite literally a copy of another man. He was his own man, sure, but he took after the real Preliat all the same.

He rarely drank in cantinas or in seedy bars- they were for business, not for pleasure. More often than not, also, he wound up sickly due to the alcohol messing with his stomach. Watering down, bugs, poor cleanliness. Things that he did not particularly enjoy to be drinking in.

He did however, eventually say something when asked where he was from. So he gave a half-truth.

"Concordia."

 

[Scilla]

Scilla melted into a doe-eyed expression as soon as the charhound entered the scene. Alas, he was at the other side of the table, and she was far too lazy to get up and pet him, leading her to simply make grabby-hands in the dog's direction until something else caught her attention.

"You know, the dropout might have been a Jawa. I hear one stole a ship a bit back."

"I knew it. The Jawa Conspiracy is real." Scilla pumped her fist in celebration of what was, in her mind, a total confirmation of every Jawa-related theory and rumor she could come up with.

Nine turned to Scilla, who was, undoubtedly, incredibly drunk. "Apologies, but I don't think I got your name."​

"Eh? Scilla. I'm from Kuat. It fuckin' sucks."

She chewed on her lip in thought, her eyes very clearly set above the Umbaran's face. Finally she blurted out, "I gotta know what's under the hat, dude."

Kal | Toby Russen | I ain't tagging all y'all anymore​

 

[Vetru]

Spoiler

Rumours:

• He got into a fight the other day with a Nikto grifter and out second best - possibly explaining the bruise under his left eye
• He is a master thief just hear to steal from the expedition
• His ship is exceptionally fast, or at least he likes to tell everyone this
• He once romanced a Xi'Dec for a bet.

Of all the bars Vetru had visited, the Custodian's Piss was certainly...somewhere in the middle. That fact alone told a little story about the life Vetru led. He liked to think of himself as an entrepreneur, but more frequently than not ended up flogging illegal wares in dingy little back alleys dives. Still, this was exciting, even if he was more interested in the value of discovery than any scientific merit it would hold.

"Guess this is team 13 then?

On hearing this, Vetru turned from his corner of the bar. It was a squeeze to get through the crowd and he was very keen not to spill his drink on anyone. His mouth had already put him in harm's way once already.

"Team 13 right?" He asked. There was a healthy slur to his speech already. There were no free chairs so he ended up awkwardly leaning over the table. He followed Scilla 's gaze to spot the offending hat. "You know the devaronian at the bar has glitterstim on proper cheap?" he muttered under his breath, not quite reading the atmosphere.

 

[Toby Russen]

Farport, 'Custodian's Piss" Cantina
Tags: Scilla, Vetru , etc...​

She chewed on her lip in thought, her eyes very clearly set above the Umbaran's face. Finally she blurted out, "I gotta know what's under the hat, dude."

"My hat?" Nine asked, letting out a chuckle. "The only thing under it is my unkept hair, I'm afraid."

He tipped up his hat, revealing that he did indeed have only hair under his hat, but not enough to tell if anything had been attached to the inside of it. Nine lowered his hat back down, pulling it snug over the top of his head. Before long a Zabrak man had joined them, leaning against the table.

"You know the devaronian at the bar has glitterstim on proper cheap?"

"That doesn't surprise me," Nine shrugged. "You get this far out and regulation goes out the window. I'd advise against it, though. I don't know how our employer will feel about recreational activities while on the clock."

Nine leaned back again, taking another sip from his juice. To most, the proposition to take copious amounts of drugs might seem out of place. Having grown up in the Coruscant underbelly, it barely phased him.

"Besides," Nine continued with a grin, "Being under the influence of psychoactive spider excrement might make me miss my shots. I have a track record to uphold."

 

[Chanoel Farver]

Atlas Drake Fenn Stag | THE CREW
​

"Same, cap'n." Part of her was honestly embarrassed she hadn't heard of this place before a few weeks ago; seemed like a real playground. The kind of place she could spend a lifetime on, and not explore every inch. Not that she wouldn't try.

Her drink came, and she took a good long draw from the Corellian whiskey. The satisfying burn in her throat had only just come by the time she was speaking again -- this time to the Mandalorian. "You one of the types that doesn't take the helmet off?" she asked, before raising her hands slightly. "Uh, like- no offense. I dunno. Just, uh, it'll be- eh, probably not a problem. I don't know."

Of course, she couldn't help but wonder what was under the helmet. Patience would be key. They'd be down there a long time, surely she could sneak a peek at some point.

Shoot to get to know 2-3 people. Once a few more interactions get to interesting points/conclusions, I'll skip ahead to the next morning -- banter in the ship to the surface, then we get exploring Layer Zero. As always, DM me with questions/ideas/whatev.

 

[Fenn Stag]

He didn't answer her question about the helmet. He did take it off- fairly regularly.

Though there was something else about the question that made his head tilt- just ever so slightly...

"We come in all types. You'll have to be more specific." His answer was cryptic for a purpose- a light prodding to see how much she knew about his people. And if she heard the other rumors about him- the ones that were true, to some degree. An early, vulgar display of violence guaranteed him a spot and a reputation amidst the hires.

He had his own reasons to not like looking at himself.

 

[Trinity Harris]

Warrant Officer Trinity Harris
DXenbo MAnthro
​

Location: Farport Cantina
Objective: Represent Imperial Interests scientific expedition
Tags: Ara Sheridan Chanoel Farver Scilla Xarielle Pavanos Atlas Drake Kal

Spoiler: Equipment and links

Weapon: HH38 Geysa Hybrid Pistol
Vibrokukri
Riding: Phantom
Accompanied by: Plushee Companion Droid
Wearing:
Hersir Imperial Uniform
Guardema Bio-suit
OPBC-01e
Ship: Luminary class light explorer exchanging crew space for biolabs

This isn't my world, she thought to herself as the other members of the team got know each other and drank. Officially she was on duty, so it was soft drinks only for Dr. Harris she was eager to get started, she was much more useful in the field than sat around a bar getting inebriated. She opened up her data pad and switched it from personal to professional mode, blowing a little kiss at the rather provocative image of Eleena on her personal screen background. "I would quite like to take stock of out personal capabilites, to ensure each of us is in the right position. I am a Xenobotanologist and anthropologist, so will be focusing on those fields of expertise." She wasn't entirely sure if anyone would hear ot respond but someone needed to encourage scientific discourse.