2007-10-14 - Casino Battle

The inside of the Pink Sky Casino is, you guessed it: Pink. All neon and glamour and glitz, this high roller casino boasts one of the most lavish environments in town. From the slot machines to the card tables to the 'private' booths and high class entertainment, the Pink Sky oozes pleasure.
The casino floor is well organized. Towards the front is a well stocked bar with attendant well endowed waitresses. Here patrons can pick up their drinks before proceeding onward, past the slot machines and automated games on the right and left and then finally, through a set of sheer curtains, to the card tables. There is a clearly marked 'Exit' sign and a spiral staircase that leads downward.
Ksar crouches at the front his men by the door. The Corellian looks over at the insectoid. "Can Gand fly a dreadnaught?"
Kaal Saito shakes his head.
Kaal Saito's respirator hisses, "Gand will investigate what is happening outside." He walks toward the doors to the Trader's quarter.
Pavaan Hor walks boldly up into the Casino, flanked on both sides by the Casino's Security Guards, who hold blasters at the ready. Pavaan himself holds a SoroSuub Bi-pod mounted Annihilator Cannon in both hands. The Bipod has already been extended, and he merely places it on the floor when he enters the room. The Casion Police form up in front of him, making a bit of a screen.
The pirate flashes a toothy grin at Antilles. "I am the very model of a modern Major-General, Master Antilles. Boys, open fire!"
A glittering near the stairs may allow the sharp-eyed to just barely detect the presence of a shape near the entrance.
Ksar stands up his men who raise their blasters. "Damn Mantellians! It ends here, I swear it. Open fire boys."
Kaal Saito's weapon is already raised and aimed at the new arrivals. His finger squeezes the trigger and energy erupts from the barrel.
A voice booms from near the stairs, "Warriors of Mantell, prepare to engage the enemy! Execute them to the last man!"
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Kaal Saito fires his Merr Sonn Omega Cannon at Amalfiel!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Amalfiel shoots at Kaal Saito with his BlasTech DL-44 Blaster Pistol, disrupting his attack but missing him.
The Casino Police <75 Humans> engage the CorSec 101st Riot Platoon <19 Humans> in mass combat.The Casino Police open fire with BlasTech E10 Carbines ...The CorSec 101st Riot Platoon return fire with BlasTech X92 Advanced Blasters ...CASUALTIES:Casino Police: 5 killed.CorSec 101st Riot Platoon: unit eliminated. The remaining fighters disperse.
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> CorSec 107th Riot Platoon fire their BlasTech X92 Advanced Blasters at Amalfiel!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Pavaan Hor fires his SoroSuub Bipod-Mounted Annihilator Cannon at Ksar!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Pavaan Hor breaks off his attack upon Ksar.
Zwat! Zwat! The shadowy shape by the stairs opens fire at the same time as the casino police, allowing him breathing space. He ducks and covers behind a pink card table, grabbing a waitress by the breasts and jerking her down in front of him to serve as a human shield. "FOR MANTELL!" booms the loudspeaker voice--someone has started it broadcasting over the PA system.
The casino explodes in volleys of blaster fire, and the Police open up on the one platoon of Corellians, taking them down swiftly. Then, Pavaan's Cannon opens up on the Senator, filling the air with a volley of shots that make tables and glasses explode and send patrons screaming and ducking for cover!
The Corellian Senator draws his blaster. Standing at the top of the steps to outside, Ksar presses his back against the wall to show as little of his body as possible. Raising his blaster, Ksar aims at who he thinks might be the pirate leader.
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Pavaan Hor fires his SoroSuub Bipod-Mounted Annihilator Cannon at Ksar!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Ksar dodges Pavaan Hor's blaster bolt.
A blast bolt comes out the chaos. Ksar turns his body just in time for it fly past. Ksar squeezes his own trigger.
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> You fire your BlasTech DL-44 Blaster Pistol at Pavaan Hor!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Pavaan Hor tries to dodge, but Ksar's blaster bolt hits and mauls him.<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Amalfiel raises his BlasTech DL-44 Blaster Pistol to fire, but CorSec 107th Riot Platoon's blaster bolt hits and mauls him..
The loudspeakers crackle. Blaster bolts target the shadowy shape lurking behind a woman; he squeezes off a quick shot, but the blaster shots from the riot cops riddle the woman and wound the Prince of Mantell as well. Agonized, he roars out orders, and a band of brutal-looking men open fire from the stairwell on the riot cops, Mantell Liberation symbol gleaming on their chests.
The Mantell Freedom Force <50 Humans> engage the CorSec 107th Riot Platoon <19 Humans> in mass combat.The Mantell Freedom Force open fire with Merr Sonn TM7 Repeaters ...The CorSec 107th Riot Platoon return fire with BlasTech X92 Advanced Blasters ... CASUALTIES:Mantell Freedom Force: 3 killed.CorSec 107th Riot Platoon: unit eliminated. The remaining fighters disperse.
Kaal Saito dives clear of the return fire, missing his target in the process. The insectoid's hand dips into his tattered cloak and appears again holding an active Theta detonator. He throws it toward Amalfiel.
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Kaal Saito starts to throw his Merr Sonn Theta Detonator, but it explodes in his hand!
Pavaan screams as the blaster bolt hits him in the shoulder and throws him back from the Cannon, which now lies useless behind the Police. He clutches at his smoking shoulder and bellows, "Fire on the Senator! Ignore CorSec!"
The Police oblidge him, raising their blasters and opening up. <repose>
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Casino Police fire their BlasTech E10 Carbines at Ksar!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Ksar dodges Casino Police's blaster bolt.
The Theta detonator explodes early. When the smoke clears, the unmoving body of Kaal is a few meters from where it had been.
The riot police drop to the stairs around Ksar as blaster fire pass all around. The Corellian sees another bolt flash and he sinks back against the wall again just in time. With one last unit left and he swings his arm, motioning them forward into the blaster melee. The SpecOps raise their own blasters and fire into the mass.
The CorSec SpecOps Unit <14 Humans> engage the Casino Police <69 Humans> in mass combat.The CorSec SpecOps Unit open fire with BlasTech X92 Advanced Blasters ...The Casino Police return fire with BlasTech E10 Carbines ...CASUALTIES:CorSec SpecOps Unit: unit eliminated. The remaining fighters disperse.Casino Police: 5 killed.
While the Casino Police are obedient enough to Pavaan when he gives them orders, as soon as they're fired on by CorSec's Special Ops they return fire savagely. Their blaster bolts tear into the unit, and Corellia police officers fall down left and right.
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> You fire your BlasTech DL-44 Blaster Pistol at Casino Police!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Casino Police dodges Ksar's blaster bolt.<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Casino Police fire their BlasTech E10 Carbines at Ksar!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Ksar tries to dodge, but Casino Police's blaster bolt hits and moderately wounds him.
Amalfiel staggers to his feet, dropping the body of the woman. His stealth cloak is now malfunctioning, gleaming green and orange and purple and blue at odd and irregular intervals. He gives a gasp, massaging a charred shoulder, then barks an order to his Mantell Freedom Fighters. "Seal the door!"
Pavaan gets up on his elbow and looks murderously at the Senator. He fumbles his Carbin out of its holster, and smiles a bloody smile at the Senator. "Drop your weapon, Antilles."
Looking around furiously, the Corellian does not see any of his men left standing. Even the bounty hunter has fallen. With bad blaster burns on both arms, the Senator has no choice and throws his blaster to the floor.
"Ah-ha... " Pavaan begins, and his voice is low. "Ah-ha... Ha ha ha ha haaaaa!"
He fires his blaster up in the air, and it leaves carbon scoring on the cieling. With some help from the Police, he gets to his feet, still sneering at the Senator. He limps over to the man, and points the muzzle of his blaster at Ksar's face.
"Search him, boys! And then get him undergroud, right fast. We've got ourselves a prisoner."
Amalfiel tucks away his own blaster and curtly waves to the Casino Police. "Now," he says, glancing down at the bounty hunter with surprise and distaste. "Dear me. Dear me. A killer bug." He looks up, eyes moving quickly to Ksar, and bats his eyelashes shyly. "Ksar Antilles! We meet again!"
Ksar holds his head high and does not speak.
"We'll want to keep this quiet, Amalfiel, my dear," Pavaan says slyly, "We can't have the Republic sending in marines. Who can we ransom him to? Or should we just blast him and leave his body in the lake?"
Ksar squints his eyes and his face hardens.
Amalfiel says, "My dear Pavaan Hor, Ksar Antilles comes from an excellent family! We cannot just go around murdering him. Better to reach a gentleman's agreement. Shall we go to the basement?"
Pavaan Hor turns over to the Gand, "And what in space is that. Bounty Hunter, by the looks of him. Ugh."
Amalfiel says, "Notice that there are no witnesses. Take this ugly bug downstairs as well."
Amalfiel says, "We shall have both frisked!"
Pavaan Hor nods, "All right."
Pavaan Hor turns his blaster on Ksar, "March, Antilles."
Ord Mantell: Worlport - Pink Sky Casino Cellar
While upstairs the technology is geared towards customer satisfaction (and relieving them of a substantial sum of money), the technology in the cellar is geared towards surveillance. Hundreds of display panels line the walls here, each wired to a security camera. Pit posses can call in report and, dressed in black, the Casino Police deal with problems remotely or in person, vanishing upstairs from time to time. The air is full of clicks and beems and an electric hum. Almost hidden, yet another stairway leads even further beneath the casino.
Amalfiel coughs. Then hacks. Then coughs again, as his wound catches up with him. He begins to stagger on the stairs, groaning. "Oh--galloping galaxies! They got me good. Pavaan, those death sticks of yours--give me two for the pain?"
Pavaan Hor passes the death sticks over the Amalfiel, and puts one in his own mouth. He frowns over at his crispy shoulder and glares at Antilles again, "You sure I can't just put a bolt through his cheek? Just one, for payback? It would look mighty nice on that pretty face of his." He flciks a light, and burns his death stick.
As the bounty hunter loses bits and pieces of hardware on the way down the stairs, Amalfiel stoops and picks up a few like they're candy. "Bombs!" he says. "Bombs and more bombs! This bug sure knows how to live." He takes the death sticks and lights up, shivering slightly as his pain abates. "No, don't ruin Ksar's beautiful face."
Ksar turns his head to show the pirate his other cheek. "Take a closer look. I think you'll recognize your handiwork."
"A matching pair, then?" Pavaan says, chomping his death stick with a grin and blowing a delicious curl of smoke in the Senator's face. He twirls his blaster on a meaty finger, and then looks over at the Police frisking the Gand, aghast, "Hell. That bug had more hardware than a Rodian after Festival Day." His eyes light up particularly at the Omega cannon. Then he looks back to Ksar, "So, Senator... I think it's time you negotiated with the Crown Prince and rightful executive of Ord Mantell. The magnificent, beneficent Amalfiel Daving."
Amalfiel says, "I want to tape my interview with Ksar, Pavaan. I want it to be suitable for galactic holocast. Ksar Antilles, under the circumstances I'm sure we can agree that I've treated you fairly well--protected you from the excesses of my high-minded but occasionally rash friend ...""
Pavaan Hor looks indigant. "I don't have any rashes! Those Twi'lek on Nar Shaddaa were clean."
"How noble of you," the Corellian replies to Amalfiel with a sneer.
Pavaan Hor pulls out a holo-scanner. "All right. Let's hit it. We can edit it later." He flicks a switch, and trains it on Amalfiel and Ksar.
Kaal Saito's respirator chirps and clicks, followed by an odd harmonic sound. It is a miracle that the respirator works at all.
Pavaan Hor looks over at the respirator suspiciously.
Pavaan Hor says, "Bind it."
And the Police put manicles on the limp insect, for whatever it's worth.
Kaal Saito's respirator continues to make odd noises. Chief among them is an odd harmonic reminiscent of crickets. Thick blue-green blood seeps out of the insectoid's wounds.
Amalfiel preens, smoothing back his hair. Smoke from his death stick rises from his mouth in wreaths, jets from his nostrils in plumes. His eyes half-close. He smiles. "As I'm sure you're aware, I am Amalfiel Daving. Let it not be said that negotiation never works; Ksar Antilles and I are both grown-ups, and we can solve our differences by sitting down to chat. Can't we, Mr. Antilles?"
The Senator from Corellia only nods.
Ksar stands by while Amafiel and the pirate smoke their narcs.
Amalfiel says, "Mr. Antilles, can't negotiation work?"
Amalfiel says, "Aren't we both adults here?"
"Negotiation can work." Ksar frowns.
Amalfiel says, "Here I am, ready to negotiate. I have to say, my people really need some sense that Corellia is also ready to negotiate!"
The Corellian nods his head. "I am ready to negotiate."
"In that case," says Amalfiel, "I must begin by saying that we really would you to hand over the garrison fortress. It feels like a threat!--'Obey, or we will shell you!' Autonomy is also important, as is autocephaly and if possible autochthony."
"I am willing to discuss autonomy." Ksar looks at the holocam with a detached look on his face.
Amalfiel says, "And autocephaly?"
"I apologize, but I speak only Basic, Mr. Daving. That is what we speak in the civilized worlds of the Galaxy." The Viceroy smiles a bit. "Something I cannot say for Ord Mantell, despite the generations we have spent trying to civilize you people."
"What the hell are you talking about, Amalfiel?" Pavaan asks gruffly. At Antilles' reply, he grins broadly, "Oh, juicy stuff."
Pavaan Hor says, "Rough him up a bit."
Pavaan Hor says, "Maybe I should have been a director."
Amalfiel gives Antilles a chilly look. "We want our own laws, our own leaders, our own freedoms, our own navy," he says grandly, strutting forward, taking a death stick out of his mouth, and trying to stuff it into Ksar's mouth. "Here, have a death stick, they're very good."
Ksar grab's Amalfiel's wrists and pushes the death stick back into the Mantellian's face, attempting to burn Amalfiel's mouth with it. "Here now runt, its yours. You go ahead. But be careful. They're burny burny on one end lad"
Amalfiel attempts to turn the Corellian's attempt into a kiss. "See, there can be harmony between our worlds," he mutters around a burnt tongue.
Releasing Amalfiel's wrists, the Corellian wraps his strong arms around the Mantellian before kneeing him in the crotch.
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> You lash out at Amalfiel with your fists!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Amalfiel parries Ksar's attack with his BlasTech DL-44 Blaster Pistol.
Amalfiel swipes his pistol down as he twists out of the way, covering the Corellian with his blaster. "I know you want to embrace me with your strong arms, you noble specimen you," he purrs, widening his eyes, "but not on holocam! We can celebrate our newfound friendship in private ... in the wilderness, say, under the stars ... but right now let's stick to political business!"
Ksar steps back. The Corellian looks at the holocam and declares, "this is what the Galaxy has to look forward to if Ord Mantell is free. This is not freedom. It is pure chaos!"
"No more cat-fighting!" Pavaan barks, and points his blaster at the Senator's legs, "Dance you miserable swine!"
He pulls the trigger. "Just answer the Prince's questions!"
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Pavaan Hor fires his BlasTech E10 Carbine at Ksar's legs!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Ksar dodges Pavaan Hor's blaster bolt.
Ksar stands aside as Hor's bolt hits the floor. "This is a charade and I will not cooperate with it any longer. Blast me if you want," with a grin Ksar looks at the terrorists, "or if you can."
Amalfiel sniffs and takes a step back, picking up a Theta Detonator. "Pavaan made a reasonable request, Ksar my love. He asked you to dance. Shall I help you dance? Are you shy? We were having a lovely conversation before you started trying to molest me, you amorous man you."
"Mantellians, you heard the Senator. He gave you an order," Pavaan says shortly. He nods to the Freedom Fighters, and they open fire on the Senator.
<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Mantell Freedom Force fire their Merr Sonn TM7 Repeaters at Ksar!<FONT color="#FFFF00">COMBAT:</FONT> Mantell Freedom Force's blaster bolt hits and grievously wounds Ksar.
The blaster bolts hit the Senator, who does not even try to evade them. With a soft thud, Ksar's body hits the floor, his charred skin smoking in several places.
Amalfiel lets out an irritable sound. "Dastard be the man!" he cries. "If we kill Ksar they'll just elect a new one. Let's take him to Nar Shaddaa and sell him to the Hutts."
Pavaan looks down at the Senator's mangled form. "Oh well. The Hutts won't take him. Should I keep rolling? Maybe we should just hang him from the flag pole?"
Amalfiel looks profoundly disappointed. "Mantell's people--most of them--do not crave extreme displays of brutality. If we hang him from the flag pole, every holocam in the galaxy will be trained on us. Let's dump him on Dantooine!"
Amalfiel says, "We can maroon him with the bug."
Amalfiel says, "Let it eat him if it wants."
Amalfiel says, "We could even leave them on Kessel ..."
Pavaan Hor giggles, "You're funny, Amalfiel. But if we do any of that, we'll have marines up our backsides. And I don't want that."
Pavaan Hor switches off his holo-cam.
 
The smell of burned skin waifs off the mained Corellian.
Pavaan Hor says, "Let's just release a statement and dump him on Corellia. In his underwear. Wrapped in a Mantellian flag."
Pavaan Hor says, "The bug... we could sell him to Kessel."
Amalfiel sighs. "Pavaan," he says petulantly, "I admire Ksar Antilles. The man has--guts. Gumption. Style. The strong but silent thing. A brutal self-possession. It would be a shame to murder such a man, but almost as bad to leave him without his dignity." He looks thoughtful. "On the other hand ..."
Amalfiel says, "Yes! Sell the bug."
Amalfiel says, "I don't want it here, it gives me the creeps."
Pavaan Hor says, "But tomorrow."
Pavaan Hor frowns, "Tonight, I want to have this nasty thing looked at by one of your boys, and do a little spice to settle my nerves."
Amalfiel nods curtly. "Sell the bug on Kessel tomorrow. Ditch Ksar on Corellia--it will show our benevolence, but also our power. Do not harm him. He was injured trying to assassinate me--the holovid _will_ show that, right? But we are merciful."
Pavaan Hor kicks Ksar's limp body, "Yeah. Magnanimous, even. Boys, stand guard. I'm going to go unwind."
Pavaan Hor says, "And edit this classic footage."
The kick elicits a soft groan from the Senator.
Amalfiel says, "I want the holovid edited and broadcast at once! In half an hour tops. Leave them here in the basement."
Pavaan Hor nods, and heads down the stairs, "Night, my sweets."
Continued in Casino Escape.
Category:October 2007 RP Logs
Category:Chapter I