Public The Briefcase | Cloud City

[Glar Ulchtar]

Location: The Pair O’Dice Casino in Cloud City.

Time: 6:15 local Bespin time.

Equipment:

• 1 CC-500 Blaster Pistol (concealed).
• 1 Pyke dagger (concealed)
• 1 Lightsaber (concealed)
• 1 commlink

Objective: Steal a briefcase.

Tags: None yet.

Sabacc. Roulette. Pazaak. Race betting. All games of risk and reward, and all games offered at the Pair O’Dice. The Pair O’Dice Casino was one of Cloud City’s greatest centers of risk and reward in a city well-known for them. And tonight, Glar Ulchtar was here to take a big risk indeed.

Glar was at the casino not for its officially hosted games of chance, but to hunt down a 50,000 credit bounty. Slightly unusually for him, this bounty was not for a person, but rather a briefcase. The information Glar had been given on this briefcase was scant, and came with a warning in no uncertain terms that it was not to be opened. The bounty also did not specify exactly who would be holding the case, only that he should be prepared to fight if necessary. What Glar did know was what it looked like (black rancor leather, silver corner guards, and a distinctive emblem of 3 lines on each side), where it would be (this casino) and when it would arrive (roughly 15 minutes). All he could do for now was wait and watch.

The table Glar sat at was positioned on a balcony overlooking the casino’s main entrance, which he stared down at intently while sipping on a tall, intricately constructed glass of ice water. (Glar made it a point not to drink anything that could affect his behavior on a job.) He wondered what type of person might be carrying this all-important briefcase, and what sort of security they might bring that he would have to deal with in addition to the casino’s. There was also the possibility that he was not the only bounty hunter after the case tonight. Or a hunter might be after him given his own fugitive status from the Pyke Syndicate.

Glar was hoping to make his theft of the case as discreet as he could depending on the circumstances, but the presence of multiple hunters would likely toss that out the viewport. If things did get chaotic, Glar had roughly mapped out the utility tunnels that ran under the building, which he could carve his way into with his lightsaber and slip away into the bowels of Cloud City.

Whatever would happen tonight, Glar had no intention to fold.

 

[Juniper Le Fey]

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Bespin-

Sith space wasn't somewhere Juniper liked to find herself, not because she couldn't handle it, but because she had never cared to play along. She could make her own among bounty hunters and scum without issue, but the Sith operated on a kind of devotion she had no patience for, and while some Dark Jedi drifted toward that structure and found comfort in it, Juniper never had. She aligned with Juniper, and that had always been enough, which meant she relied on preparation and instinct rather than anything resembling faith.

That same instinct carried over into the outfit, which was a different kind of problem. There was only so much room to hide weapons before it stopped looking intentional, and while a knife in the garter was easy enough to justify, Pathbreaker was not. Collapsible or not, it resisted subtlety, and she had no interest in walking into a place like this looking armed. Still, people saw what they expected to see, and a woman in a near floor-length leather duster didn't invite much scrutiny, even somewhere warm, so she let the assumption do the work for her.

Getting past security had been easy, which meant the real work started now. Juniper had stolen intercepted information about a large sum of credits moving through the casino tonight, something that wasn't unusual on its own, but the number of interested parties made it worth paying attention to. She'd been given almost nothing to work with beyond a leather case with silver corners, which was just vague enough to be irritating, but not enough to stop her, and if nothing else she could afford to take her time and see what surfaced.

The Pair O'Dice opened in front of her like a coliseum, all noise and light and movement, with the weight of the upper levels pressing down in a way that felt more watched than crowded. She didn't linger on it, though she noted it all the same, the mix of species, the way people held themselves, the quiet tells of who was here to play and who was here for something else. Wookiees leaned over tables, Twi'leks drifted between conversations, Pykes lingered along the railings above among dozens of others, all of it blending together into the same low hum of opportunity and risk, and it wasn't hard to imagine that she wasn't the only one with the same idea tonight.

"Whiskey, neat." She smiled when she said it, offering the bartender something that felt just out of place enough to matter. The old Bothan took a second longer than necessary to respond, which told her everything she needed to know about how this place ran and how its staff were treated, and that made things easier.

"Thanks, love," she added as she took the glass, her tip generous enough to shift the interaction without making it obvious, "anything going on tonight that might interest me?"

The hesitation came right on time.

"Well, ma'am… funny you should ask."

Juniper took a slow sip of her whiskey, already certain this was going to be worth it.

She was unaware of Glar Ulchtar on the hunt for the same treasure she was, for now.

 

[Siv Dragr]

G U N S L I N G E R
Cloud City, Bespin
​

Tag: Glar Ulchtar | Juniper Le Fey

Being a Mandalorian meant that it was hard to be inconspicuous. Siv's experience taught him that instead of trying to blend into the shadows, it was better to stroll in confidently as if you owned the place, almost making an invitation for someone to try and take a lucky shot at him. The upside of being Mandalorian was that more often than not, that lucky shot would glance off his beskar armor, and his would-be assailant would be out of time for a second chance.

His duties with the Iron Covenant always meant he had one foot in, one foot out of the galaxy's criminal underworld. And when he was on a patrol with little else to occupy, 50,000 credits was quite the pocket change. Hushed whispers said that the Rekav'dral meant to launch their fleets within the week, which meant that soon Siv would be a lot busier for a lot less pay. When the job came up, a simple extrac by the look of it, it seemed too easy to pass off.

Then again, he thought as he walked unhurriedly into the casino, whatever seemed too easy was rarely ever so.

Siv entered not through the primary main doors, but one of the smaller ones just to the side. He wasn't foolish enough to literally announce his entrance. His eyes first glanced around the room, his HUD automatically adjusting to the dim lighting of the casino to provide better contrast on its patrons. He noticed several unsavory-looking figures -- a pair of Devaronians, a heavily-armed human, a Pyke in the corner, a gang of Weequay thugs gathered around a table -- mentally keeping a tab on them while he made his way to the bar. Any or none of them could be a threat. Arriving at the bar, next to a woman in a black trench coat he waved aside the droid attendant and instead turned to watch for who might be watching him. A chronometer in his HUD kept track of time. The job had outlined exactly how this briefcase looked and when it should be coming.

8 minutes from now... could the credits be this easy?

 

[Glar Ulchtar]

Objective: Steal a briefcase.

Tags: Juniper Le Fey , Siv Dragr

As Glar Ulchtar drank his crisp glass of iced water and maintained his watch on the casino’s main entrance from his balcony table, he observed a few noteworthy arrivals file in.

First there was the bald woman wrapped in a long leather overcoat who moved in a way that suggested the casino’s officially offered games were not of interest to her. Glar could not discern her exact species beyond “near-Human”. Her tall and thin build plus her hairless skull called the Rattataki to mind, but her skin was far darker than that species. There was also something about her which formed an odd presence in The Force. Glar would not be able to probe for deeper insight without possibly making her aware, but he made a mental note to be aware of her and expect her to have some command of The Force, whether that be over the Dark, the Light, or something else.

Next, Glar saw a Mandalorian, instantly identifiable by his full set of deep red beskar armor, trudge in and take a seat at the bar next to the near-Human. It was abundantly clear that this man was not here for leisure, and chances were his objective was also tied to the briefcase. Whether he was here to guard it or he sought it for himself, it put him in Glar’s path and Glar in his. Glar had seen a few Mandalorians before as one is bound to in his line of work, but fighting one would be new territory. And judging by the battle scars he displayed across his armor, this one was no novice.

Finally, there was “the VIP”. Glar mentally assigned this name to a richly-dressed Falleen who entered flanked by a party of 12 others. His party consisted of five nervous assistants of various species who appeared to be practically climbing on top of each other to compliment their boss and cater to his whims, and six stoic G-1 Security Droids who mutely marched in alongside the organics. Also in the party was a Human man with a buzzcut and a rugged scatterblaster that contrasted with the suit he wore, likely an ex-soldier of some sort and the VIP’s head of security. Glar had noticed him alone earlier, evidently he had been scouting out the building in advance. None of the VIP’s party appeared to hold the briefcase, but the amount of security he had brought likely meant that he was here to receive it, or was tied to the deal somehow.

As the VIP’s party walked deeper into the casino, Glar trailed them in parallel from the balcony above, which extended quite far back into the building. As he did so, he made sure to stop and look around elsewhere from time to time both to avoid looking conspicuous, and to see if the near-Human, the Mandalorian or anyone else was also on the trail. He felt certain that this VIP was leading him to wherever the briefcase would be, and needed to know who else would jump into the shuffle.

 

[Juniper Le Fey]

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​

Juniper let the old Bothan finish, giving him the same easy attention she gave everything else in the room. A famous client, a spectacle, increased security, none of it sounded like much on its own, but to a trained ear it was more than enough. It meant credits, and not the kind that moved quietly, and it meant that whatever was coming through here tonight was meant for someone important enough to justify the attention. It also meant there would be more standing in her way.

She knocked back the whiskey in one smooth motion and set the glass down with a soft tap. "Thanks, love." A playful wink followed as she slid another chit across the bar, generous enough to be remembered without drawing eyes. The Bothan would appreciate it, and more importantly, he'd stay open if she needed him again. Information was the real currency down here. Credits just made it easier to get.

As she turned back toward the crowd, something caught her eye. A Mandalorian, head to toe in beskar, moving through the space like he belonged there. Before Crimson Dawn, she wouldn't have known what to make of it, but now she knew enough to recognize the weight of what she was looking at. Even at a glance, Siv Dragr read like a walking fortress, not someone to test without reason.

It was becoming increasingly obvious she wasn't the only one hunting tonight. The room had a way of looking back when you looked at it too closely, and Juniper could feel that same quiet scrutiny settling over her in return. She stood out whether she wanted to or not, six feet tall, taller still in her heels, bald, dark-skinned, impossible to fully disappear in a place like this. Usually she didn't mind. Tonight, though, it cost her a little more than she liked.

Still, she kept her cards close. Weapons hidden, presence controlled, the Force kept quiet unless it was needed. That bought her a little time, and time was all she needed.

Then it happened.

The shift came all at once, subtle but unmistakable, like something carried through the air that only the right people caught. Juniper felt it before she saw it, and when she did, it made sense. A Falleen, rich enough to wear it without trying, surrounded by sycophants and armed security, and at the center of it all a black leather case with silver corners.

There it was.

The room tightened around it in a way that had nothing to do with space, the kind of tension that came from too many interested parties clocking the same prize at once, and while no one moved openly, not yet, it was already happening beneath the surface.

Juniper watched just long enough to understand the shape of it, then let herself move with the crowd instead of against it, angling for position without ever approaching directly. If the Falleen knew he was being hunted, he didn't show it, his entourage doing its job in creating just enough noise and protection to discourage the obvious plays, even if it wouldn't stop what was already in motion. Now that the game had started, hesitation wasn't an option, and Juniper had no intention of falling behind. During her movement, she looked back up to where Glar Ulchtar had been. It appeared he had been on the move as well.

Her old Bothan friend may have some more usefully information...

 

[Siv Dragr]

G U N S L I N G E R
Cloud City, Bespin
​

Tag: Glar Ulchtar | Juniper Le Fey

Siv's 360-degree field of view HUD meant that he didn't miss the woman next to him giving the side eye, but he pretended not to notice. He could feel several pairs of eyes on him across the casino, with varying degrees of mild interest, or maybe cold hostility from others, but he paid no more mind than a quick check to see if they were armed, and if they were reaching for said weapon. He was here to get this job done, get his credits, and get out of here.

Just as his chronometer ticked to zero, a rather well-armed entourage entered the casino. Right on time, Siv thought as he quickly scanned the group. Thirteen, seven organics, and six security droids. All of them looked lean and well-armed except for one, a Falleen richly dressed. Siv looked at the woman next to him without moving his own head and saw her eyes scanning the retinue. If he had credits to bet, she was somehow on the case as well. He sighed. He hated case brokers who sold out contracts to multiple hunters as well.

Ever so subtly, he removed the security strap holding his blaster tightly in its holster, but made no move to draw the weapon. The entourage was moving, and so was this woman. Keeping track of both of them, he turned to the bartender. "Droid," he called out, rapping his knuckles on the bartop. His voice was gravelly-low, with a slightly metallic tinge from his voice modulator. "Tarisian Ale." He might want a drink before the shooting started.

 

[Glar Ulchtar]

Objectives: Follow the VIP (immediate), Steal a Briefcase (overall).

Tags: Juniper Le Fey , Siv Dragr

As Glar carefully did the balancing act of following the VIP and his entourage without looking like he was doing so, he could feel the tension in the casino rising like mercury in an antique thermometer. The Force certainly helped him sense this, but the purely social instinct that one develops by being in the criminal game long enough would have been enough to clue him in. In his periodic stops to check behind him and throw off suspicion, Glar noticed a few other patrons of the casino seemed to be moving in the same direction as he and the VIP. This included the tall near-Human with the slightly odd force presence he had noticed earlier. The Mandalorian though, still seemed to be at the bar towards the front. Though if he wore a jetpack (Glar could not tell due to the cloak over his back.), traversing the distance would not be much of a concern for him.

The VIP and his party slowed their pace towards the back of the casino, and began to approach a table with a high stakes dice game where a lean and suave Zygerrian had apparently just won big. While he did not flaunt his wealth as openly as the VIP, his security detail of three Kaleesh bodyguards showed that he was by no means strapped for cash. He also had a female of his species with him who was evidently his date, but she carried herself with a cold and analytical posture that suggested she was much more than a simple decoration for him.

The VIP approached the Zygerrian at the table where they performed a businesslike handshake. They exchanged a few words, but Glar could not hear them over the ambient noise throughout the casino. Based on their body language, the VIP seemed to be operating under the assumption that he was the dominant party in the conversation and the Zygerrian was not doing anything to openly challenge that assumption. The VIP told a joke, which his party laughed much harder at than the Zygerrian’s. Shortly after, the Falleen moved up beside the table to join the Zygerrian in another round of the casino’s dice game.

By this point, Glar was wondering who exactly was holding on to the briefcase. Nobody in either party was openly carrying it, but he felt as though one of them had to be. He watched them for a bit longer when he noticed one of the VIP’s assistants who appeared to be an unassuming young Human man do something very unusual. When his boss motioned for a cigarra, he extended his arm farther than any normal limb could in order to hand one to him, as if it were made of an elastic substance. Then it all clicked into place. This assistant was no Human but rather a Shi'ido making use of its shapeshifting form to contain the case in such a way so that nobody but it could access it. He had to admit that the VIP might have been more clever than he had given him credit for.

Glar decided that now was the time to leave his vantage point and move down to the first floor where the action would be happening. Accordingly, he made his way to the door of a nearby stairwell leading down. He had no intention of directly walking up to them to remove the briefcase from its shapeshifting protector by force unless he had no other choice. Though if a distraction were to crop up naturally, say from one of the other hunters after the briefcase, that would create an opening Glar would be more than happy to exploit.

While thinking this over as he climbed down the enclosed stairwell, Glar heard the muffled but distinct sound of blasterfire start up outside. It seemed someone else had decided to push their luck first.

 

[Juniper Le Fey]

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The tension in the air of the casino was taut, on the edge of snapping, just how Juniper liked it. She found that the edge was where she liked to live, anywhere else and she was taking up too much space. The huntress sauntered her way back to the bar like she had forgotten something, two tall fingers raised to get the Bothan's attention. One of the droids tried serving her instead, but she insisted on waiting for her dear friend.

"Busy night." She laughed softly as the Bothan approached, watching to see if he picked up what she was hinting at. "Funny how things all start to move all at once." Her deep eyes narrowed to meet the old Bothan's gaze, his own returning with that same quiet wisdom.

"It's not the movement you should be watching." He returned coldly. Juniper's ears perked up at the new information, though she kept it off her face. Of course. She cursed to herself, why hadn't she thought of that. They were putting on a show with all of the security; the case would never be out in the open to take.

"Oh?" was all she offered him in return, light and unimpressed. She didn't want to come off as too desperate, people like the Bothan could smell it.

His canine eyes sharpened, turning just a bit more predatory, like he thought he had something on Juniper. She didn't like that. "Doesn't stay where you think. It changes hands." He paused for a moment. "Sometimes more than that." The Bothan then leaned in a bit closer, the smell of his whisky breath burning Juniper's nostrils. "Shapeshifter."

That was all the huntress needed, and she slipped him another chit before turning sharply on her heel. Her smile was faint, but knowing. She had enough to work with now, and she would just need her in. The crowd had already shifted from where it had started, and Juniper had lost direct contact with them, but that didn't matter. There needed to be a break, something to crack the room open. Taking them all on at once was messy. Letting someone else make the first move was cleaner.

She just needed to find her mark, and that's when she spotted the shaky security guard sitting by one of the sealed-off staircases. Juniper was great at reading people, and this poor kid was shaking like a leaf, grip too tight on his blaster, posture all wrong. Likely paid off by some large crime boss, or just scared enough to act like he had been. If there were already this many fingers in the pie, that meant someone from the bakery was likely in on it as well.

In her satchel, Juniper took out a bottle of pheromones, labeled "Ve' Le Fey". It had hints of honey, a sting of heat, and finished in a sweet, almost creamy scent. It settled along her clavicle, resting over her natural scent delicately. It wasn't necessary to meet her goal, but Juniper was never one to turn down an advantage. The sorceress then turned again, making her way toward the guard. As she passed, she used the Force to amplify her suggestion, and mixed with the perfume and the general charisma Juniper weaponized, she simply said,

"It's time to make your move." As she passed the boy, his hand hovered unsteadily over his strapped blaster pistol. Juniper didn't look back as she slipped behind the sealed-off door he had been guarding, disappearing into the back hallways of the casino. A moment later, the distinct crack of blaster bolts rang out across the floor, and she allowed herself the faintest hint of a smile. She had her distraction; now all she needed was to set her trap. She quickly scaled the stairwell, breaking out onto one of the back railways that overlooked the casino below, where the chaos was already unfolding. Her eager eyes scanned the floor, searching for the shapeshifter.

She also knew to keep an eye out for the other players she had clocked, including Glar Ulchtar and Siv Dragr .

 

[Siv Dragr]

G U N S L I N G E R
Cloud City, Bespin
​

Tag: Glar Ulchtar | Juniper Le Fey

Siv watched the party move towards the back of the casino, towards the dice tables. He saw the richly-dressed human talk with the Zygerrian at the table, and his eyes narrowed as he saw the human contort its arm in a physiologically impossible way.

The droid slid the glass over the hard durasteel countertop. Siv swooped it up in one hand and threw enough credits to cover the tab down on the counter, which the droid wordlessly collected. It was a second, but turning his head a number of things happened at once.

A young, nervous-looking guard pushed his way through the crowd up at the front of the casino. "You're not supposed to be here," he stammered, trying to sound authoritative. He spoke to a helmeted Bounty Hunter-looking type, Ubese if Siv had to guess. The Ubese chuckled lowly and pushed aside the guard. "I said, stop!" The guard shouted, unholstering his blaster pistol. The Ubese, quicker, turned on the spot, drew and fired his own at the guard. The boy crumpled to the ground, smoke rising.

Casino staff were quick to react. Patrons screamed as other guards opened fire at the Ubese, some blaster bolts striking the crowd. Others drew their own weapons, some firing at the guards, some firing at each other -- complete chaos. Siv set down his drink calmly and turned back to look at the back of the casino. The patrons back there were beginning to notice, including the VIP and his staff, who had closed up formation at the sound of blaster fire. They were beginning to move.

Siv began to make his way through the crowd to keep up with his target. Bumping into a drunken human, the man brandished a vibroknife, but Siv drew his blaster pistol and dropped him without a second thought, stepping over the corpse as he continued. The action was lost in the chaos that was quickly enveloping the casino. He estimated that it would be only a couple of minutes before law enforcement arrived at the scene, giving him a time constraint to complete his objective.