Diplomatic Entanglements 4 - More Quotes than Notes

*Katira does drugs, Blaine, Jawa Jimmy and Jowkazza move the plot along while Droo and Tek use their force powers to play hacky sack with a stranger's foot.*

*While on the hunt for Bota Zi, the team takes time out from their busy schedule to stop in at a nearby bar. Katira buys a shady trio some drinks and robs the bar, while the rest of the group actually accomplishes something worthwhile. Talking with their new pal, technician Ameral Breed, they discover that he was an unwitting aid to the machinations of Governor Parnot.*

## **Previously**

*An investigation of the former offices of Governor Parnot gave no physical clues in the search for Bota, but did reveal the location to be the prison many of our heroes visited for a short time previously. As Tek sliced into the building surveillance system for a treasure trove of information, the rest of the team headed to a nearby bar to meet the mysterious Ameral Breed. Before they could get down to business though, they first had to take out the trash (aka Gold Pants). With the bar cleared of the obvious non-desirables, the team now prepares to have a friendly chat with their next lead.*

## **Recap**

### **Getting Into Position**

Just as Cantle Spiros slams the back door on his way out of the bar, Tek catches up with the group, having completed all the setup work for the back door access to the team’s new office space surveillance system. The majority of the group crams into a nearby booth with Ameral Breed as Katira stays back and tries to get the barkeep droid’s attention for a fresher vintage of Rydonian Spice Wine, but having to settle for a free Kessel Spice Ale.

> "*Here’s your drink, no charge. Sorry for the inconvenience.*"
> ― monotone bartender droid
>
>

> "*Yeah, I mean, the inconvenience was talking to you, but okay.*"
> ― Katira
>
>

Blaine calls the “maintenance technician” over for a drink, inviting him to have a seat. As Ameral sits down, he seems relaxed and unconcerned with the Wookiee that slides in next to him and cuts off his exit from the booth. They discuss the recent lease agreement for the office space in which they met, the rules regarding use of the space as a living area, and the possibility of installing security, which Ameral states he will provide a quote for the following morning. Feeling more relaxed, the group proceeds to bluff when Ameral asks after their activities on Coruscant and future plans.

> "*You asked about our business. One might say that we’re in the business of finding things that need to get found and losing things that need to get lost. Think you might have some use for that?*"
> ― Jowkazza
>
>

> "*Ooh. A riddle! Let me see if I can figure this one out. Uh… a key!*"
> ― Ameral Breed
>
>

From the bar, Katira looks over the room for anyone watching the discussion at the table. She spots three rough looking individuals that are conversing amongst themselves with little to no attempt at disguising their focus on the party. She orders a round of *Remote Terminators* (6D drink strength) and has Kenneth deliver them to the suspicious table, care of Sparky. The ruffians look around for someone to thank before one of the trio downs his glass as the other two hold off for the moment.

### **Theft, Intimidation, Conversation, and the Force**

Blaine decides to change tactics and be more up front with Ameral, indicating that they know that the technician knows they chose their new lease property for a reason and is up to more than just installing security systems. Though Ameral tries to deflect, Blaine sticks to his guns and offers credits in exchange for information. As cracks begin to show in Ameral’s facade, Blaine raises his offer to include amnesty on Cloud City or even a starship for information pertaining to Governor Parnot.

At the mention of Parnot, Ameral becomes visibly uncomfortable and says that he thinks that it’s time for him to leave. As he moves to stand, however, one of Jowkazza’s furry arms reaches over his shoulder and holds him in his seat. A low growl is followed by Jowkazza’s translator droid implying it might be best for Ameral to stay.

> "*Hey man, I’ve seen what this Wookiee can do with two good arms. I wouldn’t stand up if I were you.*"
> ― MT-D
>
>

> "*Oh… a nice, uh… warm hug. Who could refuse? Alright. I’m here, but I really shouldn’t be. What do you guys need?*"
> ― Ameral Breed
>
>

As Jowkazza holds their new friend firmly but quietly in place, Blaine lays out what the group already knows and implies that Ameral should share whatever he knows about Parnot, Kampe, the Eriadu Authority, and Bota Zi. Unfortunately it seems that Ameral knows far less than previously hoped, stating that he doesn’t even recognize half of the names and titles that Blaine just spoke and was primarily told to keep an eye on Cal Omas and the New Republic dealings on Coruscant. Droo seizes the change in Breed’s behavior to reach out with the force and attempt to listen to his thoughts.

From under the table, Jawa Jimmy notices that Ameral appears to be tapping his foot against his toolbox in what appears to be an intentional manner. He mentions this (in Jawa) to Jowkazza, but the Wookiee has to hurriedly power down his translator droid when it starts to spit out the information in Basic instead of Shyriiwook. With his first attempt at getting help failing, Jimmy then contacts Tek over their cyborg constructs but finds his friend completely spaced out.

Across the bar, Katira keeps an eye on the table she sent drinks to, watching as one of the trio passes out drunk, and another becomes visibly impaired. She decides to send another couple drinks over.

> "*Hey Sexy 9! I want to send two drinks to that table over there. Obviously one of them isn’t going to get more drunk, but… no, not the computer again!*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*I’ll have to run a breathalyzer on them to ensure that they aren’t over the limit. Here on Coruscant we’re not allowed to serve patrons with a blood alcohol level above 0.01*"
> ― CS-X9
>
>

> "*You’re not allowed to serve drinks to someone who has had **a** drink?*"
> ― Katira
>
>

As CS-X9 walks over to breathalyze the table, Katira takes a quick glance around and notices that there are no cameras on the bar, also recalling that the top shelf is monitored by a pressure sensor to keep inventory. She quickly sends Kenneth away with a request for water to avoid having any witnesses as she jumps behind the bar and grabs three bottles from the second shelf.

Back at the table, Jowkazza decides to both convince Ameral to talk and distract him for a moment by pulling him in tight and roaring out a warning. Ameral is sufficiently startled that he fails to notice Jimmy sliding his toolbox away from his foot. Following this, an impressive act of teamwork from Tek and Droo takes place, wherein Tek force pushes Ameral’s foot as Droo force pulls it back, simulating the sensation of the tool box remaining under the table.

Jimmy slides out from the bar and manages to slip away unnoticed to open up the toolbox. Pulling it open, he notices that beneath a small insert there is a transmitter that was being activated by the tapping of Ameral’s foot. From the looks of everything, the transmitter is relatively short distance, though the receiver can’t be located. Jimmy passes the information along and recommends that the group start to make their way out.

### **A Larger Plot**

At the table, Ameral finally decides to yield and give what little information he knows to the group. Calling back to the “medical facility” that he gave the group a small tour of, he mentions that one day he saw a copy of himself come out from there. Adding to this, he comments that whatever that copy was, it appears to have been acting unwillingly. Questions posed to Parnot from there yielded nothing of use, and Ameral’s best guess is that the Clawdite Royalty are being force to assist Parnot for some unknown reason. Ever since then, he has been looking for a way out.

The only lead moving forward that Ameral has is the surveillance system that he has set up. Tying the information he received from there in with back door access to Coruscant monitoring equipment in the traffic and surrounding surveillance systems, he was able to track persons of interest throughout the area. His greatest worry outside of Parnot is being brought in by the New Republic for being part of a crime he wanted no part in.

> "*Well, if you’re worried about the New Republic… I think I can guarantee your safety.*"
> ― Blaine flashing his NR Police Badge
>
>

> "*Oh great. I just confessed to a crime directly to the New Republic.*"
> ― Ameral Breed
>
>

> "*Alright Ameral let’s go downtown, and by downtown I mean our office.*"
> ― Blaine
>
>

## **Featured Characters**

### **Our Heroes**

* Blaine Hansom
* Droo Vos
* Jawa Jimmy
	+ Sparky
* Jowkazza
* Katira Eve
* Tek Krodak

### **NPCs**

* Ameral Breed
* droid bartender - CS-X9 aka “Sexy 9”
* Kenneth

### **Mentioned**

* Cantle Spiros
* Bota Zi
* Governor Parnot
* Cal Omas

## **Inventory**

* -150cr for drinks (Katira)
* +Ameral Breed’s toolbox/transmitter (Jawa Jimmy)
* +1 bottle of Toga Blaine (Katira)
* +1 bottle of Old Janx Spirit (Katira)
* +1 bottle of Vader’s Bane (Katira)

## **Notes**

* With the arrival of Tek later than the rest of the group, it was presumed that he was reviewing data gained through the surveillance system. Some key points of information gained included noticing Ameral meeting with Governor Parnot several times, one meeting in particular laster much longer than normal and Breed displayed habits and familiarity with the Governor not otherwise noted. It is presumed that this was in actuality a Clawdite meeting with the Governor.

## **Quotations**

> "*Is it wrong that I know when he’s trying to lead us in the right direction, but I kind of like to see where it goes because I think it’s so funny when we go off?*"
> ― Jimmy Chris
>
>

> "*You guys don’t go against the game master’s will just to mess with them like I do all the time? Gotta learn.*"
> ― Ilya
>
>

> "*Which is why I love it so much. He’s **clearly** telling us not to go here, and we’re **clearly** going anyway.*"
> ― Jimmy Chris
>
>

> "*Why would we ever want to finish this mission?!*"
> ― Luke
>
>

> "*When instead we could have Carl Winslow here!*"
> ― Jimmy Chris
>
>

> "*It’s all about going behind the door that Luke didn’t want you to find, and talking to the character that he didn’t prepare or have any backstory for.*"
> ― Ilya
>
>

> "*If you inherit an empty jail cell and torture chamber… you can’t just let it go to waste.*"
> ― Tek
>
>

> "*Yeah, I mean if you turn that into a hospital it just becomes haunted.*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*I might be doing drugs for no reason when I drink all this Spice Wine. So far I haven’t seen a Clawdite, but…*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*Who told you to do drugs?!*"
> ― Tek
>
>

> "*Nobody. It was just a hunch I got, but I’m sticking with it until I see a Clawdite. This might get really messy, guys.*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*You gotta stop listening to those kids at school, Katira.*"
> ― Droo
>
>

> "*Guys, we can use the bounty hunter’s guild as a kind of income stream.*"
> ― Blaine
>
>

> "*Legally… you don’t need a warrant, right? You just have to put up a bounty for someone.*"
> ― Droo
>
>

> "*You have committed the high crime of wearing those gold pants in public!*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*Fashion police.*"
> ― Tek
>
>

> "*We put this bounty on you in Bota’s name. He would definitely approve. Speaking of which, where is he?*"
> ― Luke
>
>

> "*Such a funny coincidence running into you guys this morning. Do you guys live on Coruscant?*"
> ― Ameral Breed
>
>

> "*Well, we have an office now…*"
> ― Blaine
>
>

> "*We live in our office.*"
> ― Tek
>
>

> "*But don’t tell Reginald that, because I think we’re breaking some sort of health codes.*"
> ― Blaine
>
>

> "*Yeah I think that’s on the lease, you’re not allowed to live inside the units, but I won’t say anything*"
> ― Ameral Breed
>
>

> "*You won’t if you know what’s good for you.*"
> ― Tek
>
>

> "*You know us, we’re always traveling. Regular, uh, traveling… band.*"
> ― Blaine
>
>

> "*I never even asked. What do you guys do for a business? Seems like you guys have an odd bunch here. Little bit of this, little bit of that.*"
> ― Ameral Breed
>
>

> "*Eclectic music.*"
> ― Tek
>
>

> "*What about you? I don’t think I caught your name, fella.*"
> ― Ameral Breed
>
>

> "*Utini*"
> ― Jawa Jimmy
>
>

> "*Is that one syllable or two?*"
> ― Ameral Breed
>
>

> "*U-ti-ni*"
> ― Jawa Jimmy
>
>

> "*Hey you. Robot… cyborg… uh, droid. That’s what you are. Droid.*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*My name is CS-X9*"
> ― CS-X9
>
>

> "*Yeah. Sexy 9. Can I get a round of drinks?*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*Alright Droo, for whatever reason you pick up Katira’s thoughts instead of Ameral’s with a roll like that. What does she hear, Katira?*"
> ― Luke
>
>

> "*Ah man… I’d love to get right knackered now, but these guys just want to talk to that **stupid** technician…*"
> ― Katira
>
>

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