Public Hive nearest to Rimward

[Karkosuchus]

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Spoiler: Equipment

Bandolier Right Shoulder Bandolier Flash Grenade Sonic Detonator Bacta Grenade Concussion Grenade Thermal Detonator Left Shoulder Bandolier Stun Grenade Ammonia Bomb Utility Belt Syntherope Food Rations Hush 98 Comlink Imagecaster Energy Bola Fire Blade Field Security Overloader

Holster Dissuader KD-30 .48 Caliber Enforcer Pistol Stouker Concussion Rifle Brass Knuckles Echani Shield Heavy Battle Armor The Swamp Vanquisher

Abandoned Czerka Research Facility
The Andelm IV System


The dead silence of space brought little comfort to the Mercenary & Bounty Hunter as he made his approach towards the Planet of Andelm IV. The Hutt Space Consortium had contacted him to eliminate a hive of Bortlings on the world of Andelm IV. The payment was barely enough to make it to the next quarter but he needed the work in the meantime as bounty hunting had become an obsolete profession. Although working for the Hutt Lordas did provide benefit in comparison to other factions which relied on their own armed forces to accomplish a task.

The Rimward Trade League was nearby and thus his first priority was to inform them of the menace that interrupted shipping and trade due to their infestations. They might pay him better than the Hutt Space Consortium. Clicking open a communication channel to the nearest rimward communication tower.

"This is Karkosuchus; Bounty Hunter Guild ID 4556007. I have recently come across a menace on your southern border called the Bortlings. I've tracked the main hive to the Planet of Andelm IV"

He said; sending further information regarding the shipping lanes which had been disrupted due to the bordling infestation on board starships. Costing the local companies thousands of credits to eliminate them which drove prices up on consumers. Creating just the economic bubble that the rimward would be hard pressed to ignore if they truly wanted to help the outer rim become independent of galactic factions. Karkosuchus hoped they would send reinforcements because although the bortlings weren't difficult. They reproduced at a rapid rate which meant eliminating them was a tough task.

His shuttle broke through the clouds of the atmosphere into the planet below. Leaving his shuttle's tracking device on to alert the rimward to his presence if they decided to come. Landing down within a old clearing on the planet with a soft thud as his landing gear made impact with the ground. His eyes scanned the area around the landing zone until finally coming across the ancient czerka laboratory which supposedly housed the bortling queen which had caused such a mess in the first place.

All that was left was to await the leaguers to arrive at his location.

​

 

[Quauhtli Sacul]

The Reliant rumbled breaking away from Hyperspace, blue tachyons fading into the nothingness of the void. As functionality to science stations and communications was restored his Officers began yet another survey, searching frequency bands for distress signals or ominous readouts.

Quauhatli for his part stood on the command bridge, accompanied by the alien droid he called Couatl. His presence here was merely dictated by regulation, his crew a mixture of seasoned officers, ensigns from the Academy, and specialists from their allies. That wasn't even counting the Jedi, Rangers, ORION agents, or civilian personnel who all just as important as his command crew.

They were a colourful bunch, with sometimes conflicting interests but he was used to that. Life amongst the Avali was all about managing conflicting interests, avoiding character assassinations, and petty disputes.

Overhearing a excited conversation Quauhatli turned to see what the fuss was about. Huddled together was one of his Commanders, a Talortai named T'Syriel who as chief science officer had been coordinating their surveys of the local systems and anomalies.

The officer manning the station wasn't one of his, instead it was one of those Novean lot that left some of crew feeling uncomfortable. Quauhatli could count himself amongst them, whatever this creature had once been was gone now. Hidden beneath the chrome of extreme augmentation to the point of becoming more machine than flesh. What flesh remained, was sickly grey stretched and distorted by cables that burrowed like worms into their flesh.

Upon seeing him the two fell silent glancing at each other before T'Syriel took initiative, "Admiral. Striga has picked up a encoded message on frequency band 414.17."

"That is commonly used by the Bounty Hunter Guilds, are they preying on pirates?" Quauhatli purred thoughtfully.

"Nothing so pointless." Striga croaked dryly. Without another word, it pressed a key on the console playing back the message.

"This is Karkosuchus; Bounty Hunter Guild ID 4556007. I have recently come across a menace on your southern border called the Bortlings. I've tracked the main hive to the Planet of Andelm IV"

Couatl chimed in, "ID 4556007 Confirmed."

"Yes. Thank you." Striga sneered, clearly having already confirmed as much. "As your Droid says, their license and authority is valid. Liberty was taken to ping them back confirmation of such. No further action is required."

"On the contrary, we have a duty to investigate. It coincides with reports of infestations on local shipping lanes." T'Syriel countered.

"The survey cannot be delayed Commander. Localised anomalies and valuable data will be lost for 3,567.89 Standard Cycles."

Quauhatli sighed, he wasn't sure what Novean's interest was in a few gravitational anomalies was but he couldn't deny them on that basis alone. Equally, if these Bortlings were damaging local markets they owed a duty of care to local businesses.

"Striga, if relevant access was given to our probes could you modify them to collect your research?"

There was a moment of hesitation, as it calculated the probabilities. "This would be acceptable. I will advise Karkosuchus to expect a Team."

He looked up at T'Syriel, "See that Striga and their team can make the necessary modifications. Please prepare an away team letting our Jedi and Ranger friends know. I imagine they'll enjoy an opportunity to stretch their wings."