Welcome to the Wretched Hive [Location Thread]

[Jorus Merrill]

OOC/ This is a location thread. Jump in or bail anytime, or pop in if you need to talk to Jorus about anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoGweOFqapU

IC/ The Wretched Hive is an ugly boat, an old Starcrest medium freighter with mining gear welded on in place of the guns. Aboard, an old Krevaaki Undergrounder named Dingo Darr leads a crack team of Jorus' best outlaw techs. When ships dock with the Hive or land in one of the hangars, they're usually here for repairs, modifications, or special gear. It's not a bad place to catch a briefing on First Order hijinks or pick up a lead on a smuggling opportunity. Jorus himself can usually be found in the guts of some scout fighter or tramp freighter, or else he's off somewhere with his wife Alna. Even when he's not available, the Hive keeps on humming along.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

"All right, let's see what we've got here..."

Jorus could have sworn he still felt Hoth's cold on the datapack as he unwrapped it and slotted it into a computer panel. This particular hardware hailed from an old Fringe Confederation SIGINT ship, and all things considered it still did the job. The Hoth Enclave's accumulated years of sensor data started sorting itself into military and civilian contacts, ships that had passed Hoth or lingered.

He'd set up the analysis console not far from the forward hangar. "Ship coming in," said Darr through the hatch, wiping engine grease off his reddish claws. "What you got there?"

"Whole lot of footprints. Just sorting out how big they are."

The ageing Krevaaki nodded genially. "Let me know when you're done, boss. Think we're going to need a bunch of hands on this next rig."

Jorus' eyes flicked from sensor contact to sensor contact. "Yeah, I'll be right in."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

Some nights sleep evaded him. Maybe it came down to growing pains from being young again, but then again, maybe he missed the aches and pains he'd accumulated on his way to middle age. Nights like this, he looked over at Alna and her new form - far younger than she'd been, slim, with red hair spilling over the blanket and her nightshirt. Nights like these, he let her sleep, and padded out to one of the hangar bays to do some work. He didn't do anything risky, no heavy equipment operation or welding or power tools, just grabbed a wrench or a hydrospanner and dug into a ship's guts, yawning away.

Tonight his target of opportunity was the Black Dagger, an Underground scout ship. Aerin Kath and John Shepherd had put it together on his advice, and it needed some tweaks. On a spaceframe level, the Dagger boiled down to an X-wing fuselage bracketed by four Y-wing engines. The instrument package was a thing of beauty, capable of matching a Naboo scout fighter for sensor resolution. Aerin and John had designed this thing to run recon through the fringes of First Order space, and escape at .375 before interdiction could be brought to bear. Nice little boat in its way, and criminally underused. In short order, Jorus popped a ventral panel off and got engrossed in a tune-up.

 

[Cortana Jade]

"What business do we have here?" He looked over at the older man standing beside him.

"Gotta old Krevaaki friend onboard..." a raspy voice cut through the bustling sound of air coming from the vents above. "Plus we gotta see what we can get done with this ship. Once fixed up, it's yours." Jed Moonrunner was large and round but built, and he had a head full of grey hair that stopped at his shoulders. He looked experienced in life...his mustache gripped his face and matched his hair in color. Most people would characterized him by his brusque manner, stern demeanor, cautious disposition, and suspicious nature. But his care for others would manifest at times...perhaps he was overly critical but he always understood what was at stake. The man was well connected...seemed like he had a friend of some kind everywhere..."Then, you can't ever say I never gave you anything. Your welcome. And I told you I'd take you to meet some undergrounders."

Rebel parted his lips and sighed as they walked through the hangar after docking an old Helot-class medium space transport that Jed bought for a low price back on Nar Shaddaa. He figured he'd find something cheap, back at his shop he did some minimal work on it but The Hive was where he could get the best repairs and mods...and he knew exactly what he wanted on this ship.

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

(Figured this would be a good way to introduce them, while working on a ship I'd like him to have.)

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Rebel Sunka"]

"Holy feth, where'd you dig up a Helot?"

A kid swung down from a bomber's undercarriage and approached the spacers. His focus stayed on the old red ship they'd brought aboard. Out of the pocket of his grimy blue coveralls, he procured a rag and wiped hyperdrive coolant off his hands. If the rag bore an uncanny resemblance to black zeyd-cloth, and if that might have been a threadbare One Sith logo on the corner - well, who could have said for sure?

"You looking for the boss? He's not in, but Dingo Darr vouched for you, asked me to take a look at what you want done to your boat. It being a Helot, I'd lay money in you wanting a real shield generator for starters." He eyed the old freighter. "So this is one of them replicas, right? This ship ain't actually seven hundred years old? 'Cause we can work with that, but stripping out the old wires takes serious time."

 

[Cortana Jade]

Both men turned, Jed' eyes grew big as he took a deep breath and released it before squinting his eyes to examine the young man. As if he always thought he knew someone..."You know your ships aye?" he said gathering the energy in his throat to produce a low humming sound. "Dingo' not in huh? Well...I.." before he could really mentioned anything "Yeah actually, we gotta get this puppy some shields...or it won't be last too long." He laughed to himself before looking over to Rebel.

"I'm Jed Moonrunner, this is my apprentice Rebel." he would speak while motioning to the boy. "Know a guy back home, got his hands on the designs. He built this puppy, I'm fond of antiques and this came close so I bought it off him and started on the repairs myself. However, there's much more work than an old goat like me could handle given the very little time I have."

Rebel looked over the ship, "Rust bucket...curious to see the end result and finally fly the darn thing." he said folding his arms.

"You gotta learn first..."

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Rebel Sunka"]

"Well, bud, you just said the magic words. See, if this isn't an official replica, if it's made by some guy with resources and the original plans...well, it could have all kinds of variation at the nuts-and-bolts level. Which means this job just got pretty fething interesting. Yeah, Jed, I'll take a look at it for sure."

He tucked the rag back into his pocket and stepped over to a nearby console that looked like it had been ripped out of something shiny and chrome. In fact, it had been ripped out of something shiny and chrome: this was a Naboo sensor package out of a scout fighter, mated with a customs probe's scanner modules. In pretty short order, he'd have a strong idea of the ship's internal structure, right down to the peculiarities and anomalies that crept into any Helot or any replica.

"You said your name's Rebel, kid?" he said over his shoulder. "Or he said, rather? Funky name. Where'd you pick it up? And anything I should know about this boat? My scans aren't gonna detonate anything, right?"

 

[Loto Afu]

A AT-120 Freighter seeming fresh off the line jumped out of hyperspace and made its way to the old Starcrest medium freighter. He had asked his boss who was the best as "customizing" boats and was told to leave it in the capable hands of one Jorus Merrill. Docking at the nearest port he stepped out into the old ship and made his way down to the maintenance deck.

"Hey, anyone here, got a fresh boat that needs some attention."

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge was aware he was making a typically 'Sarge' move bringing a frigate into the system, but as The Fortunate Son snapped back to real space, he knew the only person who wouldn't be surprised was the man he was here to see: [member="Jorus Merrill"]. He wasn't particularly worried about anyone bolting, he knew the deal. Warship pops in, they attempt to ascertain where it's from - old Republic tech, without a doubt, Jedi Order transponder - and then they contact the head Outlaw.

In this case, one greaser neck deep in social networking and spare parts.

And that's when he'd likely puzzle out a few ideas of who might be on the ship; some old Jedi acquaintances, perhaps. Darron Wraith, maybe, come out of hiding. Though he might be dead, who was to say. Sarge, perhaps, or another handful of the many individuals Jorus counted among his repertoire of contacts.

By that time, however, a Justice class shuttle had docked and out came the olive drab human-sized walker that was the former Lord Protector. It was a simple matter to hunt down Jorus, hunched over what appeared to be the sort of advanced sensor package you'd find on an affluent world's planetary defense fleet scout vessel. Easily dwarfing both [member="Loto Afu"] and [member="Rebel Sunka"] in his eight feet of plate, Sarge cast a visored gaze across the gathering.

"Who're the misfits this time, Jorus."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Loto Afu"] [member="Rebel Sunka"]

Jorus glanced away from Sunka and the scans, then did a double take. It wasn't that he hadn't seen similar tattoos in his time; he had a winding, traditional kind of thing from shoulder to wrist on his left arm. Mostly, though, he'd only ever seen them on the secret world of Q-27. "Welcome aboard, bud," he said. He glanced at Rebel. "Gimme a sec to get this going."

A glance out a porthole revealed the make and model of Loto's ship. "Arceneau 120, yeah? Haven Shipyards? Always wanted to get my hands on one of these. Apparently they mod like a dream." He pulled out a grimy notebook and a stylus. "Shields and guns, or you looking for something unique..."

He trailed off as an eight-foot-tall suit of armor ducked into the hangar. "Holy feth. Uh, guys, give me a sec, I'll be right with you." He caught Dingo Darr's eye, and the scarred orange Krevaaki headed over. "My chief engineer can help you with whatever."

Sarge's voice echoed in the mod bay. Jorus broke into a grin. "Paying customers. Friends of friends. I'm fething stunned to see you out and about, Sarge. Been way too long. What can I do for ya?"

 

[Cortana Jade]

"Good business ehh?" The old man elbowed young Sunka with a laugh that was just as much a series of coughs than anything. Rebel would only nod before making his way towards a wall to lean up against. He head shot up when he heard his name, he cleared his throat and would respond first with a nod, "Yeah...it's more of title, or nickname more than anything. I picked it up back home, on Yavin."

He started to pace, "I was a little Rebellious...clansmen took to calling me a Rebel. Whatta ya know? It stuck!" he said throwing his hands up.

He took a few steps closer, "Ehh nothing should detonate, but then again it was Jed who picked up...who knows." He said sarcastically before a few others arrived. Jed seemed to have walked off for the moment, who knew. The boy was just left with the others for the time being.

He nodded in response, and left Jorus to handle his business with the others. He took to looking over the Helot again.

[member="Jorus Merrill"] | [member="Loto Afu"] | [member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

Rekha was doing some casual flying she had slipped through the patrols of the First Order and made it away from Bespin. Though she had to say she liked Bespin and she had heard through the vines, that [member="HK-36"] was around the galaxy again. She thought about contacting him and catching up. Maybe.

Right now she was just enjoying the freedom of old ship with it's dings, dents, and hiccups as she flew. She had a few places she could go but she had also heard that there was party, and that there was movement once again in some of her old stomping grounds.

yep, that's what she was going to check out, just which one first...she'd toss that old coin in the air see what came up.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge cast his gaze once more around the bay, a smile creasing his weatherbeaten features behind his helmet. Jorus was as lively as ever, and as friendly. It was no wonder they'd been friends so long, barring that rather unfortunate happening on Zeltros, resulting in Sarge actually being... semi-responsible for a growing human being. The parenting sort of responsible, that is, rather than the procreation sort of responsible.

He was definitely responsible for her birth. There was no doubting that.

Realizing he was basically... staring at Jorus while he thought, he shifted, armor resettling as his hands came around to the small of his back. Pulling two mag-locked wooden cases from his armor, he held them out - one stacked on the other - for his old friend. They were relatively nondescript; red oak, silver latch. "Making the rounds." He says gruffly. "One for you, one for Mara." He did not explain why he felt Jorus should give it to her. It could be any number of a hundred thousand reasons with the immensely cagey Lord.

"If you're ever in trouble, and you need a way out, you'll know them by the company they keep." He gave a slow nod of his head, beckoning for Jorus to take them off his hands. They were fairly heavy, about the size of a small jewelry case. Inside, if he bothered to check, would be coins - simple ones, rusted looking, with a three headed serpent emblazoned on the face. The reverse held merely a quote, 'Three heads, one eye.' There was probably about forty in the case, arranged in rows of 10.

This was obviously not a 'what are these for' sort of moment. There was company around, and Sarge had always operated on a 'need to know' basis. [member="Jorus Merrill"] now knew what he needed to know.

 

[Loto Afu]

Loto was a patent man, well most of the time. Seeing the dude was busy he want around looking at all the salvage. Half burn shield emitters, tangles of wire and even a few short nosed laser cannons all lay strung out all over the floor seeming to be placed haphazardly.

"It's cool Brotha, take care of business, I got a few."

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

The right questions refused to take coherent form. Jorus eyed Sarge and cracked one of the cases. He ran his thumb across the edges of the coins in a row, getting a feel for the metal. "Thanks," he said. "I'll have to take a solid look at these later, and yeah, I'll make sure Mara gets hers." For the moment, he closed the case and handed both off to spindly droid. "Cabin," he said, and the droid rolled off.

"Anything I can do for you, bud? You going to stick around for a bit? Could take a look at sprucing up that old boat of yours...ah feth." He stalked away, laser-focused on a well-meaning human male in coveralls much like his. The tech was perched on the side of [member="Rebel Sunka"]'s Helot, in company with a new hyperdrive on a hoverplat, and he'd just lit up a cutting torch. "Halcyon. HALCYON. Get the feth off that boat. That drive's going in the CloakShape." As he walked, Jorus twisted back toward Sarge. "Don't go anywhere," he called back. "Have a drink or something on me. Lemme sort out a couple things. DARR!"

The orange Krevaaki poked his carapaced head out of a YT's superstructure. "Yeah?"

"You busy?"

"Little bit."

"Lemme know when you're not. Looks like a heavy fething day. Fethed but we need to hire some new hands. I would pay serious coin right about now for a couple extra wrench monkeys." Jorus ducked under a swinging pipe without seeing it and came to a stop in front of [member="Loto Afu"]. "All right, bub, sorry for the wait. You're the one in the Haven boat, yeah? What can I do for ya?"

Meanwhile, [member="Rekha Kaarde"], as a longtime Underground associate, would get all kinds of priority access once the Hive recognized her ship.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

"flying fly--ing through the sea of black I'm half crazy over the love of YOUUUUU, OHHHHH.......it won't be a stylish marriage we can't afford the carriage....oh buuuut youuuuu willll look sweet upon the seaaaat of swoop built for two!!!!!"

Rekha felt the weight of responsibility slowly slipping away and yes she knew she would head towards the Hive...but should she show up in feathers. She had used them once in trying to get those sith transponders if it hadn't been for the interference of Mon Loup she would have had them. Feth...moving along.

She had a new black feather outfit but had found no cause to use it..yet. There was always a reason in some way to find a way to dress up. Eh. Rekha turned the ship towards the location of the Hive switching on the beacon to show it as the Midnight Star as she moved through Alliance space.

She began another little song to keep her mind moving along

"MY lover lies over the ocean, my lover lies over the sea.....ohhh won't you bring back my lover to me to me....yes bring back my lover to me...."

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Loto Afu]

The singing chick in feather was kinda thrown Loto off but feth it, looked like she was having fun at least. Turning his attention to Jorus he said.

"Bha, I want her to be fast, and agile like a eagle in the sky. Some nasty big guns too. Oh and chief tells me you got some wicked fast hyperdrive, like .5 light speed. Having one of those in their would be bitchen. Other than a great astronav suit. Somethin to help me ride the lanes when the call to explore hits me. Also the usually cap protections, decoy, false transponder, haha. You know da cool stuff to keep the baddies of my trail."

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Loto Afu"]

"That's a nice shopping list, bud. Heavy, but nice. You're lucky your ship's as modular as it is. Alright, here's what I can do. I don't have a point-five handy, but I can absolutely swap out your crappy Class Two drive for a Class One - twice as fast - and might be able to spare some parts to boost it to around point-seven. That'd get you going three times as fast as you're going now, or close enough.

"Now, far as sublight speed goes, if memory serves you can get going to a decent clip with those engine pod things. Not the quickest boat around, but I don't have four replacement engines for a light corvette, not on hand anyway. What I can do is swap out the injectors and reshape the nacelles, and that'd get you a few points more thrust. Might be able to cram a few more maneuvering jets into those forward pylons. Wouldn't give you much of an edge over stock, but every little bit helps, right?

"Navicomputer, you're in luck. I've got a Clan Rekali one, a real good one. Turn on a dime, cross the galaxy without dropping out of hyperspace. As for the rest -- cap drains, decoy, fake telesponders, that's all doable. Silk makes a good decoy dropper, I've got my hands on a solid cap drain setup, and telesponders are a dime a dozen on this ship.

"Sound good to you?"

 

[Loto Afu]

[member="Jorus Merrill"] - Good start Brotha, love the .7 and I hear the Clan Rekali stuff is the bomb but lets see. We still need to talk about weapons, was thinking something maybe like missiles, a big sheb bank of them, ohh and a few droid shootie turrets. Basically I want her to be able to rip apart anything smaller than her or run from anything bigger. Also will need something to help me re-supply in the wilderness, maybe like a food processor or something?

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Loto Afu"]

"Guns? Well, let's see what you've got already." He entered a code on a nearby wall panel and flicked through a few options. It was just good business to keep an eye on nearby ships and identify their weapons. The Hive had the gear to identify emplacements and so forth.

"Four forward lasers and two quad lasers on an eighty metre ship? The '120 is a good boat, but I'd forgotten how bad the loadout was. Two quad lasers won't give any kind of coverage to that spaceframe, and turning the whole ship to point those fixed little cannons? That's just not realistic. If your generator will take the load, I'll strip out those forward cannons and shove in a quartet of basic proton torpedo launchers, one to each mandible. You want autoturrets? I've got a couple of those too. They'll plug the coverage gaps from the quad lasers. If you want, I can even strip out the quads and go all autoturrets, take this ship one step closer to solo operation.

"As for supplies, I've got a Silk solid fuel/ration converter. It'll turn any biomass - dirt, grass, trees, crap - into basic fuel cells and food paste. Injects vitamins and flavors, too. It's not bad once you get used to it, and there's no better way to make sure you don't starve in Wild Space."