Private Two Shuttles Passing in the Night

[Skeevi Merrill]

DEEP SPACE
OUTER RIM
NEUTRAL TERRITORY

The rendezvous was about the most secret shavvit Skeevi had yet experienced, and they'd been at the edges of both Darkwire and Black Sun and under the Corpos' noses and etc. A trustworthy pilot flew the shuttle and otherwise Skeevi was it.

Skeevi sat alone by the airlock, drumming their fingertips on the bulkhead with great anxiety, and waited for someone to come through. The potential for mutual benefit was complex and sensitive enough to prompt not just a face-to-face but Skeevi's least disreputable clothes.

They got to pacing in the hold, cybernetic knee clicking.

Ronhar Tane

 

[Ronhar Tane]

The MIN Fool's Errand dropped out of hyperspace at the designated coordinates, far away from the prying eyes of the Imperial Confederation. The crew had not been briefed on their reason for being here, nor on who they were meeting or why. All they had been told was that Captain Ronhar Tane was meeting with an important person, someone who might be of value to the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant.

As the Fool's Errand began tacking stock of the situation, its sensors indicated that they were not alone. A small shuttle had been located in the area, apparently waiting for someone or something. That someone or something, of course, was the Fool's Errand.

The Nebulon Fire-class Light Carrier launched a squadron STX-TIEs out of its spacious hangar bay, as the captain of the ship began broadcasting over the other ship's comms:

"Unidentified shuttle craft, this is the MIN Fool's Errand. Link your flight path to our fighters, and follow them into the hangar bay. Upon your arrival, you will power down your shuttle and wait to be boarded. You will then be taken to Captain Tane. Any attempts to flee will be taken as an act of hostility. You have been warned."

Without waiting for a reply, the patrolling STX-TIEs began circling around the unidentified shuttle, ready to take it into the bowels of the Fool's Errand...

 

[Skeevi Merrill]

Alone in the cargo hold, Skeevi could hear the incoming transmission pretty well, and the pilot's quietly frightened acknowledgement. Empires did things a certain way and you had to roll with it. Skeevi had taken extra special care not to be carrying anything an Empire might find objectionable.

Within minutes, the shuttle's ramp hissed down to reveal an Imperial docking bay and boarding personnel. Skeevi allowed themself to be taken to the captain, Tane was the name, not that they had much of a choice. The pilot stayed with the shuttle for similar reasons.

Along the way - Skeevi's first time on a warship other than a Black Sun raider corvette - Skeevi found the whole thing just fascinating. They especially kept an eye out for any cybernetics.

Ronhar Tane

 

[Ronhar Tane]

Luckily, the shuttle had entered the hangar bay of the Fool's Errand without incident, complying with all the demands of the ship's Captain. After its arrival, Ronhar had the ship searched from top to bottom, his Junktroopers combing every inch of the vessel for anything that could be used against the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant. Finding nothing of concern, the Junktroopers then escort Skeevi Merrill to Captain Tane, who was currently flanked by a pair of Chrome Guardians.

"Welcome aboard Skeevi Merrill . I trust that you’ll find your accommodations to your liking?", Ronhar said dryly as he began his contact from head to toe. They seemed rather ordinary at first glance, but Ronhar could detect the telltale signs of cybernetic enhancement hidden underneath their clothing. Not that he could blame them, of course, since cybernetics were always a hot commodity on the Galactic market. His own cybernetics on full display, Ronhar took a breath before he continued speaking.

“Come, we have much to discuss”, Ronhar stated as he and his bodyguards began walking away, not even bothering to check if their guest was following them. They made their way across the vessel into what appeared to be an improvised cybernetic lab. Scattered across a number of tables were dozens of different cybernetic pieces of varying quality. Some seemed to be little more than a random assortment of junk and scrap, while others were capable of rivaling the cybernetics that Ronhar was currently using.

Arms, legs, eye replacements and even neural implants were all available for sale…if the price was right, of course.

“Impressive, is it not?”, Ronhar boasted of the wares laid out before them. “With our Cybernetic Enhancement Chamber fully operational, we are now capable of producing cybernetics at an astounding rate. I understand that you represent certain…interests”, Ronhar said as he chose his words carefully. “We wish to develop a working relationship with you and your bosses, for we feel that such an arrangement would be beneficial to both parties involved. Please, take a look at what we have to offer”.

With that, Ronhar and his guards stepped to the side, giving Skeevi Merrill full access to the various cybernetic components scattered around the room.

 

[Skeevi Merrill]

Skeevi had not in any way expected to find a kindred spirit here on an Imperial warship. They took in Ronhar Tane 's extensive cybernetics and then the troopers' armor and the lab and its accoutrements and saw people used to making do. Carving out creativity and greatness against all odds.

"Just call me Doc, Captain Tane," they said, eyeing everything, let's face it, greedily. They shucked off their coat and draped it over the edge of a workbench chair. They had a few implants just now, some Tane might recognize as old iBorg and Iskalloni gear and some nobody would.

"Won't pretend we don't have a use for alla this. Who I'm working for, she's got me set up on Nar Shaddaa turning legbreakers into backup. Supply's what matters. Stable supply. Betting you'd never sell that chamberrrrr...but what comes out's good and plenty. If y'can get regular cargo to Nar Shaddaa. Big if these days."

Empires were busy people.