Boost THE FIRST GALACTIC KAGGATH - RUMBLE ON RUUSAN

[CT-312]

//: Jacen Breska Kudau | OPEN //:
//: Bespin Gas Company Locker Room - Arena, Ruusan//:​

CT-312’s thoughts churned with some discontent. She didn’t want to go through another round. Looking at the names left in the tournament and what strengths they held. Even she knew she needed more stopping power.

Something caught the Camo Scout’s eye as she returned to her locker. ‘Equipment?’ New gear that hadn’t been there before. A note was attached to the crate:

We noticed you've recovered one of our LO-18D units.
Please find enclosed a supply of LOKI/22 Standard Slug Rounds—designed to maximize the weapon’s full potential in the Kaggath Tournament.
As a bonus, we’ve also included an LO-22s sidearm for your use.
– Lilaste Arms

She stared for a moment. ‘Another sponsor?’ A smirk tugged beneath her helmet. ‘How the hell did they know?’ Her hand reached into the back of the locker. Pulling out the LO-18D. Looted off from a Diarchy Battle Droid she’d destroyed on Serenno. Her hands, like clockwork, slid in the new rounds. Putting the rest of the slug round ammo on herself and holstering the sidearm. CT-312 peeled the Lilaste Arms logo from the note and slapped it on the side of her helmet.

A familiar voice caught her attention. Kudau. Her brow ticked up behind the visor. The Scout didn’t expect to see him again. She turned as he approached. Listening to the rasp of his voice and weight behind his words. He could’ve taken his saber and left. Instead here he stood, before her. Holding out his saber by the ring and not the hilt. CT-312 didn’t speak. Taking a step forward, she reached out and took it with a steady hand. Her visor tilted up, looking Kudau in the eyes. Despite being a force user, CT-312 respected this action Kudau had done. She pressed the hilt in her hand to her chest. Giving a simple nod. A warrior’s salute.

Her HUD flared to life. Cutting the interaction short.

<:// Bounty Notice //:>
<:// Target: Kaggath Event Organizers //:>
<:// Stolen Funds: 5,000,000 UC //:>
<:// Recovery Bonus: 1,000,000 UC //:>

CT-312’s eyes scanned the names. She didn’t know Razmir Tezhyn . But Mauve ? That one she recognized. The Princess’s acquaintance. An odd one. The Scout had been assigned to her once. And if something were to happen to her… The Princess, Quinn Varanin , whom she’d been assigned to a lot recently wouldn’t take that well. CT-312 put the saber away. Restocking before shutting the locker with a clank. Rifle in hand. Her voice cut through her helmet’s voice modulator.

“TK-710. With me.”

Without waiting for confirmation, CT-312 gave Kudau another brief nod. Before turning on her heel and moving towards the locker room exit. Making her way to the panelist’s skybox. Mauve was somewhere in this mess. Whatever the hell this was.

 

[Antar]

Enki Rak​

---

"No catch. Just business." He opened the package. Inside, two objects -- an oblong, metallic sphere approximating a grenade, and a smaller, round device, with a clip to fasten it easily to anything.

"Gravity snare. GS-08-01. Czerka prototype -- six years old, minus all the extra work my head tech did. One of a kind, after I killed the chump who made it. Shuttered half the Czerka munitions development wing with that one. Not groundbreaking; only real advancement was the miniaturized hyper-power supply. Lasts four minutes at max power and max range. Plus-" he rolled it, detaching a small remote- "control over the levels at a distance. Swap size and strength of the grav bubble, turn it off and on. Ten meters max, eighty Gs max. More than enough to immobilize even that Hutt chump.

"And then, the antithesis: boosted mass-nulling clip. Activates on clipping. Zero-point-zero-four ratio max reduction -- hell, you can stand in the Czerka with it. Or clip it to the other guy and throw him into the sun. Kark if I know." He shrugged, took another drag of the stim.

"So -- the no catch. I give you something, you give me something. I get my pick of the loot when you win. Just one thing from the pile, rest is yours." He slapped his knees, hit the whelp, and stood up. "Nasty disruptor, Devaronian blood-blade, armour you could cut krayt teeth on. Nice, very nice, even. Y'know, though, and I know y'know. Lot of ways to kill a man, but only one to win a fight. So, we got a deal?"

Antar could just cut the Captain down where he stands but who knows what figures guide this individual behind the scenes. Well, Antar didn't really consider that. Plus, Enki Rak offered him a cigarette. He'd lose sleep killing a nice guy like that.

"Fine," Antar can't recall every relic and gadget listed in the winnings, "but if you go for the credits, you get twenty-five percent."

He offers his open hand for Enki to shake.

---

A short amount of time passes after Enki Rak's offer.​

Antar is reviewing his next opponent's first round bout when he's visited again. Pretty popular for a loser. He pauses the playback and folds his arms nonchalantly behind his back.

​

" Antar ,

"Drystan came at you with everything he had. What was your initial strategy going in, and when did it began to unravel?"

"Haha, I didn't have a plan at all. I just went with the flow of things. I tried to match Drystan Creed where he was strongest, but I never did get the better of him in any of our exchanges. The bastard is tough."

"You stayed in there, fighting until your last even when the tide turned. What kept you locked in despite the overwhelming power you faced?"

"I happen to be a tough bastard, too."

"With your return due to another duelist's withdrawal, does this feel like redemption story waiting to happen or are you feeling the pressure building?"

"Um, neither? By that I mean nobody expected anything special from me in the first place and I bet they still don't."

He smiles with his eyes at Razmir.

"But, I feel like whoever makes it to the third round will be relieved if the Hutt is knocked out. Nobody's worried about me, right?"

Antar suddenly sputters with laughter.

"And if the Hutt makes it, I'm the only one who can say they lost twice! Wouldn't that be pretty impressive in its own way?"

He lets his laughing fit pass and wipes the corner of one of his eyes.

"Whew! But, yeah. I don't feel any pressure."

"What changes do you intend to make with this unexpected second chance? How do intend to rise to the challenge of the mechanical monster awaiting you?"

"I'm just going to go and have fun with it. I didn't get to show off everything I'm capable of, so I guess I'll just do that."

He shrugs his shoulders with a coy smile.

"It's whatever, man."

---

Moments before the third round.​

Antar, outfitted in his newly acquired gear, stands in his waiting room ready to enter the arena. He's holding a handheld device now and sends off a message to Mauve .

I just saw the news.
Good luck, boss!

 

[Mauve]

Electing to remain in the skybox, as she had little choice - surrounded by so many Sith Lords and rulers - Mauve picked up her data pad and typed out a quick encrypted message to Sars Sarad .

“I hope you are still in position. And untempted. Would it be silly to ask if I can still trust you?”

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Open

Still. Silent. Observing. That had been Thalen for the matches. He hadn't moved from his seat. Not for a snack, a beverage or even for a break to relieve himself. Instead his gaze had been on the fights, taking them in as much as he could. This was how the Galaxy at large could fight. There was vast amounts of skill on display and Thalen had been able to watch it all.

Yet there was something different in the air now. A tense atmosphere that felt like it could be sliced through with just a vibroknife. An eyebrow raised as the man started to take in how some members of the audience were reacting. Some going for their datapads to read through, whilst others seemed ready to make a hasty exit. His eyes went to his own datapad for a moment as he flipped through it before...Ah. There you go. A new bounty placed upon the Kaggath organisers...In fact there appeared to be plenty of bounties related to the Kaggath.

How would this affect the rest of the matches? Hm...That was an interesting thought at the very least. Would the Kaggath be cancelled now? Would someone else host it? How many of the fighters would look at this as a payday? How many of them would rather claim the honour of fighting in such a bout...And how many of them just wanted to relish in the slaughter? The Will of the Force was a fickle being Thalen was starting to find out, but as he leaned forward, resting his chin atop his fingers, the man only had one single thought on his mind, as a wide grin spread across his face.

Now this. This is when the fun begins.

 

[Sars Sarad]

After she'd typed her message there was nothing.

Eventually the datapad would indicate someone was typing a reply. When it came through Mauve would read:

"Info Brokers are more valuable than credits. That said I have a small matter, outstanding accounts that you could assist me with. Let me know when those are settled, then I am your man."

 

[Mauve]

“The auction debt? Consider it settled. I would warm up the Dragonet‘s Qektoth surprises if I were you. Things on the ground have become interesting. I will need your help, darling.”

With that, Mauve exited out of the encrypted communication and transferred credits to Sars Sarad to cover his auction debts with the Syndicate.

 

[Sars Sarad]

No response.

The Credits were delivered.

Unseen, unheard the core mechanism that heated the ionized gases that would be used to cause catastrophic amounts of damage was initiated.

Mauve had her man. He would wait, until the time was right.

 

[Jacen Breska]

K A G G A T H ​

WEARING:: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield | Aredian Amulet
EQUIPMENT: MAIN WEAPONRY: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife |
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades | 1x Ion Grenade | 2x Incendiary Grenade
LOCATION: :: Ruusan - Arena ::
TAG: CT-312 Kudau

The interview was over.

And the interviewer skittered away faster then Jacen thought necessary. He watched him go with a raised eyebrow before he shrugged and returned to his locker.

A lava arena. Great. Well I don't karkin' need THESE THEN DO I? He pulled the incendiary grenades off of his belt and put them back in their box, instead, he grabbed a couple more Ion grenades. He also looked at his trusty DC-902d and remembered what happened when he tried to use the shotgun on Maestus. Maybe that wouldn't happen again, but the 902 had Ion rounds. And it could fire particle beams.
"What a pretty gun. Pretty pretty beautiful lovely. Perfect," he muttered to himself as he grabbed the sweeper off his back and placed it in the locker while he grabbed the 902 and put it on his back.
"Happy days. Oh so happy," he continued quietly to himself.

The energy around him in the locker room changed at some point, but Jacen didn't notice. Too busy wrapped up in his equipment and whether or not it'd make a difference in this upcoming bout. He had no idea the life changing scenario that had just unfolded.

“TK-710. With me.”

Without waiting for confirmation, CT-312 gave Kudau another brief nod. Before turning on her heel and moving towards the locker room exit. Making her way to the panelist’s skybox. Mauve was somewhere in this mess. Whatever the hell this was.

"Huh? What?" He looked at her, then at his locker, then at her own locker, and pointed as she walked away. "But why?! Your stuff! There's still time! Do I grab my helme- 312? Wait!" he closed his locker and jogged behind her before he stopped suddenly and turned, looking at the one who'd fought 312 earlier, noticing him for the first time, "Hey you're still alive. That's great. Wonderful. Sublime, really." He turned over his shoulder and watched as 312 continued out the door, "Whatever. Uh. Hey I dunno better luck next time I guess I dunno you look great." He shrugged his hands and turned around, following 312 out of the locker room.

Where was she going?

What was happening?

​

 

[Tai Corde]

//: Arris Windrun //:
//: Attire //:​

---

"So what do you say, boss?"

Tai feigned musing over the choice. They didn't cost much, and having her fighter equipped with some good stuff meant that there was more of a chance she'd win. Looking over the gun that was presented, Tai nodded and smiled.

"That's all?" she began to undo the holsters that hung at her side. Two of the same guns that Arris had pointed out were a pair she typically wore at her side. The hutt that created them was a mad genius at gunsmithing, among other things.

"They're valuable, so take care of 'em." Tai held out her twin blasters, the same make and model that Arris had wanted. It was an easy enough gift for the scrappy fighter. Reaching into the bag she had with her, a few extra clips of ammunition was also handed over.

Tai pushed her glasses back up to hide the annoyed expression she felt settling in the moment she saw the fight announcement behind Arris.
Keeping her composure, Tai tipped her hat.

"Till next time, then - maybe we can get you something a bit heavier."

With that, the Bespin Tycoon disappeared into the crowd.

 

[Lachadann]

A new alert crossed Lachadann's field of view as she circumnavigated the booming under-bleacher concession stands, an ecosystem unto themselves. LOCATION BOUNTY - Hyperlane Route from Ruusan to Toydaria. Keep going for a slim chance at the big prize, or take the easiest money Third Sight could ever offer?

Or did someone know she was on the hunt, know who she was, and was using this posting to eliminate competition? Was Lachadann's distraction worth twenty thousand credits to someone?

Now on the plus side, though, being the very first to claim this one, doing what she did best, through space that she needed to get more familiar with anyway - that had a lot of appeal. So did the ability to pay off her credit debts incurred while seeking licensure.

Viewed through that point of view, it was a no-brainer.

---

Forsaking the main hunt, Lachadann hurried to her shuttle and blasted off. As she rose through the desert skies of Ruusan, she spied a couple of other ships hustling along similar vectors. Competition, maybe. Best to be quick. She called up her Chiss mapping tools before the shuttle even cleared low orbit.

Galactographically speaking, Ruusan and Toydaria were neighbours. Both were inside Black Sun territory, which both complicated and took care of AVOIDANT OF MAJOR FACTION SPACE. In theory you could leave Black Sun to get there but that would void the FASTEST TIME TO DESTINATION thing.

The way you had to do this after the Planeshift was to work from where planets actually were, then see what new routes or re-stabilized chunks of old routes still applied.

The fastest routes, all Black Sun worlds, were Ruusan>Drogheda>Trandosha>Varnak>Toydaria (which had appeal, since she'd just been to Trandosha and had current data for the first leg), or Ruusan>Sev Tok>Nanth'ri>Toydaria, part of which was up a nascent major lane and could be significantly faster. Drogheda was a recent Black Sun acquisition with no complications, and Drogheda to Ruusan went along the northeast part of the old Mara Corridor just fine. She'd been past Varnak briefly; it was the kind of subsistence mudhole where she'd spent a good deal of time. Varnak to Toydaria was right on a major line, well-mapped space that passed through re-stabilized sections of the Trax Tube and the quiet, sleepy end of the Shag Pabol. She already had Toydaria to Drogheda to Ruusan just from coming here. So route one was uncomplicated, safe, and already in her systems.

She hit low orbit and paused there. Yes, some ships were jumping for Drogheda and some for Sev Tok. Slow to go fast, she told herself, and ran through route two in the system. Ruusan to Sev Tok, very straightforward, using well-mapped routes coming off the nearby hypergate. That gate was actually how she'd come to the region, so she had some of that data already. Her darknet search functions kicked an error when trying to find out if there was anything about Sev Tok that mattered, even whether there'd been conflict there, and that gave her nerves. As a longtime instinctive astrogator and sarlacc survivor, she'd learned to trust her nerves. Nanth'ri wasn't an error but was a blank in her systems, other than some old notice about a rogue princess. The problem...ah. LOW DETECTION OR SURVEILLANCE RISK. The major lane taking form alongside route two, as well as the chunk of the Trax Tube between Nanth'ri and Toydaria, had higher risk of extortion. If there was such a thing as a TRADE CHOKEPOINT in Black Sun territory, it would be along that line. And looking closer at some o the maps, Nanth'ri would be a bit of a switchback, so maybe route two wouldn't be so fast either.

That made route one the clearest choice for fitting all the bounty's criteria as much as possible. She did it all up in a file, complete with recent nav data, half of which she'd gathered herself. She double-checked as much as she could through her shuttle's long-range nav beacon sensors, firmed up everything, explained her reasoning, and sent it off to CHNT-FX-004-HYPERLANE/TYDORIA

• Ruusan
  • Old Mara Corridor/Trax Tube alignment
• Drogheda
• Trandosha
• Varnak
  • Trax Tube, then Shag Pabol, see map for this little-known back road!
• Toydaria

Shorter route possible, higher risk of interception and extortion:

• Ruusan
• Sev Tok
• Nanth'ri
• Toydaria

DO NOT attempt to take the apparent shortcut through Randon and Nal Hutta via the Ootmian Pabol. Will see major risk of interception and extortion.

She took a moment, too, to make really sure she was in compliance with all criteria. Some of this would be in the eye of the beholder, but that was out of her control.

• Follows known routes and provides the relevant route data
• Fastest time to destination
• Low detection or surveillance risk
• Avoidance of major faction military space
• Avoidance of trade chokepoints
• Avoidance of disputed systems

 

[Lachadann]

And as simple as that, 20,000 Underworld Credits appeared in Lachadann's accounts.

She sat back in her shuttle, in geosynchronous orbit over the Valley of the Jedi, and waited to see what opportunities would come her way next.

 

[Whottoomuzz Chantin]

The datapad flickered in Whottoomuzz's plated hand, his reflection distorted in the readout.

“Claim received. Hyperlane confirmed. Path to Toydaria mapped.”

He hadn’t expected much when he put the bounty up—just another call into the void. But someone answered. Fast. Efficient. Real.

He let out a slow, mechanical hiss through the metal jawplate fused to his face, the sound halfway between a sigh and a chuckle.

One step closer.

Ruusan to Toydaria was no longer a question mark. Now there was only a few things left:

• Win the Kaggath.
• Get the credits back to the First Bank of Toydaria.

The rest—the pain, the blood, the betrayal—it was noise.

But this?

This was a direction.

Whottoomuzz tapped in the new route coordinates, saving them under a secured Chantin family file.

Then he whispered to no one, in that same warped voice that scraped like gravel against stone:

“Your money’s comin’ home.”​

And then a thought occured. Moments before the second round was set to start.
He dialed an old contact number, to send a last minute offer. A way to 'clean things up.' with something mutually beneficial. To draw the heat from the organizers to the Hutt with newfound purpose in life.

FROM: Whottoomuzz Chantin
TO: Razmir Tezhyn , Mauve
ENCRYPTION: Very High
SUBJECT: Toydarian Trouble, Black Sun Blues

---

Raz.​

Looks like you're in a bit of a bind, pateesa.​

I don't judge. You tried to run a bloodsport in the Valley of the Jedi, merchandise a Sith rite, launder some heavy creds, and now the First Toydarian Bank is breathing down your neck like a Hutt fresh out of paddy frogs and dancers.​

Here’s what I’m offering:​

• You transfer the full 5 million UC to me.
• I drop out of the Kaggath. Antar advances. You get your Black Sun darling back on the bracket.
• I deliver the credits to Toydaria. The slate gets wiped.
• But — and this part’s non-negotiable — I’ll need some physical evidence of your ‘resistance’ to the handover.

A few bruises. A broken nose. We take a holopic. You get to keep all your organs, and the Toydarians gets to see that someone got roughed up to match his bounty terms.​

You play ball, we all walk away with our skins intact. You keep your credits flowing. The Kaggath continues. Mauve keeps talking. You keep selling the bloodshow. And I — I keep my promise to Toydaria.​

I’m a Hutt of my word.​

You’ve got about 5 minutes to decide before the round starts.​

— Whottoomuzz Chantin
Chantin Kajidii​

 

[Koda Fett]

Greed and corruption rule the underworld.

Bloodsport was an unruly business. Lives earned over the corpses of those that were taken. Credits, too; five million was the score, or so the rumours said. Gambling dens had their eyes fixed on the shifting arena, eager to see if their favoured champion would conquer or crumble. There was always a favourite. Reputation allowed for that, and such was the reason a backdoor deal ensured Fett was not listed on the title card. A late entry. A raw deal.

Then again, with the bounties in play around this Kaggath, there was more than one way to secure a score.

In his private chamber, he waited.

 

[Mauve]

I’m a Hutt of my word.
You’ve got about 5 minutes to decide before the round starts.

The reply came swiftly from Mauve's encrypted datapad. She hit enter and watched the message leave. Her plum lips curved up, but only slightly.

"Send the credits, Hutt."

Molten rock covered the arena floor, churning under the pressure of its own heat. The dying corpse of the Wroyshr tree lit up with flame, descending steadily as its base burned away. Great branches broke away and were quickly consumed by the lava. As it devoured the last remnants of the first round’s environment, the second round’s stage took shape.

Platforms were scattered throughout the arena. They ranged from small ones which could barely hold one person to larger ones that evoked small duelling rings. Dozens of them floated at various heights, their machinery shielded against the heat from below.

Together, they formed the battleground for this round: a precarious battle above all-consuming lava with limited space to stand on.

Those who fell would be incinerated by the lava and forgotten in a tomb of molten rock.

The announcer’s voice cut through the excited chatter of the crowds as the combatants were ferried into the arena on small, floating platforms: “In remembrance of the Battle of Mustafar, fought by the First Order and the Galactic Alliance many decades ago, we present to you the second battlefield of the Kaggath!”

 

[Razmir Tezhyn]

His hand stayed on his pistol, but he didn’t pull it out.

“Butcher’s price always comes due.”

Katarn nodded once.

“But I’ll be your gate keeper.” Would be a far sight from the worst employer Sal had ever had. “You got a bolt hole around here we can hide away?”

Razmir nodded, his smile slowly returning to him.

"Follow me," Razmir said.

# # #​

It didn't take long to reach the small safe room that had been prepared in anticipation of a righteous group of Jedi (or Sith) who might take offense to their blatant desecration of the Valley of the Jedi. To have to use it because of some group of Toydarian thugs and their bounty hunters? That, Raz had to admit, did come as a little of a surprise.

On his way here, he'd received a most interesting offer. He sat now, surrounded by various weapons and gear, and penned a brief holo-letter in response.

The letter read:

My dearest Whottoomuzz Chantin ,​

​

I must admit I was surprised to see your name on the list of contenders, but one can hardly fault a great being such as yourself for engaging in some recreational sport. Who doesn't enjoy a little blood match vacation trip, eh?​

​

However, this proposal of yours was turly shocking.​

​

What of the spirit of criminal enterprise? What of the grand legacy and culture the Hutt worlds worked millennia to uphold and maintain? To find a Hutt reduced to a mere Toydarian gofer, that is truly disheartening.​

​

I can only hope this was a ploy to lure me in and take the credits for yourself.​

​

I'm afraid I will have to decline your offer.​

​

Best wishes to you and yours,​

​

Raz​

​

P.S. Send Xoff my regards, I hear his kavasa pie is to die for. And say hello to Jobbi for me, I'm sure she's been worried sick about you through this entire tournament. I do hope those worries end up being unfounded, for her sake.​

​

P.P.S. Your generous donations won't go to waste, dear friend.​

​

He gave it one last once-over, then hit send. Other matters required his attention. He turned to Sal Katarn .

"When we built this place we had to comply with a few galactic health and safety regulations that required safety exits for the crowds in cases of emergency. There are some which lead into the old tunnels."

 

[Mauve]

P.P.S. Your generous donations won't go to waste, dear friend.

P.P.P.S. Blackmailing your hosts? I am impressed, dearest. Impressed by your stupidity. The Syndicate will remember this, Hutt.

Die screaming.

Whottoomuzz Chantin

 

[Whottoomuzz Chantin]

​

The nerve.

To take his credits, to pocket the two-hundred thousand credit bribe as if it were a tip for room service, and then to toss him into the arena regardless — all while snickering behind curated signatures and smug etiquette.

Whottoomuzz did not rage.
A lesser Hutt might have taken offense.
Whottoomuzz merely took notes.

“So be it.” The words dripped from his durasteel-grafted maw like molten tar. His pulse barely rose. The blood had long since turned to cinders.

He flexed one massive Phrik-armored forelimb, hydraulics sighing as the rocket-cannon seated into place.

“When I return, it will be as a creditor come to collect. No need to settle for cosmetic damage.”

A rasp of mechanical breath. Somewhere inside his reinforced cuirass, Whottoomuzz’s backup breathing system hissed and recalibrated.
Then, he turned from the comm screen.
His tone grew quieter. This was their sponsored challenger he was about to face.

“But first…”
A weighty pause.
“Round two.”

The Hutt's malformed grin surged as he placed the helm of Shyran Dol upon his head and slithered into the arena.

Showtime.

​