Hot Coruscant Nights 8 - Unrefined Spice

Spice, refined or otherwise, seemed to be the theme of the night as the team hoped to finally gain the upper hand.

### Runtime

2:20:58

*Droo attempts her first drug deal, Katira takes flirting to the next level, Blaine rolls an epic con and Tek force pushes some cinnamon. Our heroes find themselves looking for the mastermind behind the Changeling Conspiracy and end up right back where they started, in a bar fight.*

## **Previously**

*A forced meeting with the mysterious mastermind of the Clawdite Conspiracy introduced the group to the enigmatic Governor Parnot of Eriadu. Rather than answers, the group finds themselves pressed to yield their claim to the doonium mining facilities on Lok. When they refuse, they are quietly escorted to a secret prison on Coruscant against their will.*

*A prison riot is incited, and the group manages to extricate themselves from the situation just in time to warn Bota and keep him from joining them. Emerging from the smoke filled prison, the Coruscant tower is eerily quiet. As a method of freeing the Jinxed Starhawk is explored, an skiff arrives to spirit the team away to a Life Day gala.*

*After celebrations have completed, the team walks out and comes face to face with the enormity of the situation. The Starhawk is effectively impounded, secret political prisons are in full operation, and someone has their sights set on the team as a means to gain power…*

## **Recap**

### **Regrouping**

As the Life Day gala guests meander out from the party, Bota pulls the team aside, wanting to talk about the situation that they find themselves in the middle of. He has made a trustworthy contact with a Senator of New Alderaan, and set a meeting for the following day at the New Republic Senate building. Surprisingly, the Senator turns out to be Cal Omas: the liaison to the New Republic Bounty Hunters Guild, the very same man who appointed Bota & co. as an ambassadorial team.

Taking the night to clean up, everyone arrives for a meeting in the morning, Blaine bringing a bottle of *Space Wine* as the customary gift for the first meeting. Cal begins the meeting, and is introduced formally to Blaine for the first time, and to the rest of the group for the 3rd time.

> "*Tek Krodak. Slicings my name, musics my game, tears are my profession*"
> ― Tek
>
>

> "*Tek… this is the 3rd time we’ve met, and that’s the 3rd time you’ve said that*"
> ― Cal Omas
>
>

As Al'Teese is requested to wait in the antechamber, Katira provides a detailed backstory on recent events, focusing on the involvement of recently obtained doonium mining facilities on the planet Lok. Blaine then provides amplifying information from the events on Denon, and Cal tries to piece together these accounts with information that he already had. The group is told that changelings have been noticed in other positions of power in the New Republic, looking to control trade routes, natural resources, and political influence. A sting has been put into motion to bring an end to this, and the group is offered a role in the process with the hope that Bota’s legitimacy as an Ambassador will help cover their tracks.

Blaine asks after what compensation can be expected for the groups assistance, but Cal adeptly counters that the group will be acting under their responsibility as ambassadors, as well as with mention of the “civic duty” that all should feel toward the operation. While that is all well and good, Blaine hopes to at least improve his trade agreements for Tibanna Gas and Katira expresses hope that the New Republic can aid in improving life for and establishing the populace of Lok in the New Republic. With these things in mind, the team tentatively agrees to aid in the sting operation.

> "*If we don’t get what we think is fair, we’ll just make it fair on our own*"
> ― Bota
>
>

With an agreement in place, Cal lays out the requests of the New Republic for the operation. Based on their previous report, Lannik Rakto, Merrick Kleiner, Syvar, and Eristo are identified as consistent players in the conspiracy and set as targets of any operations, and the group is encouraged to break ties with Al’Teese as he is considered a potential mole in their own work. The hope is for the group to find any source of funds for the conspiracy, find contacts, and keep things as quiet as possible while they do it. Bota formally accepts the offer and gives the location coordinates of the Jinxed Starhawk and prison to Cal, who recognizes the location and sends an aide to “take a look around”.

At the last moment before leaving, Katira asks that Cal clear all legal blockades placed on the Jinxed Starhawk and their personal goods. Cal agrees, but recommends they first slice in and see if the impound record may be used as a lead to help in their mission.

### **Do You Know My Dad?**

Proceeding to a recommended holonet access point, Tek begins slicing into the nearest access point as Droo starts cold calling numbers. Suddenly Merrick Kleiner picks up and Droo attempts to impersonate Katira, floundering miserably before beginning to cry and handing the comm to a completely unprepared Katira.

> "*uh… hi… I’m Katira… I don’t know if you remember me, but you gave me your card because, uh… do you wanna buy some drugs?*"
> ― Droo impersonating Katira
>
>

> "*Do you even know who you’re talking to? This is Merrick Kleiner... what’s your business?*"
> ― Merrick Kleiner
>
>

> "*I’m lonely. Please come have a drink with me*"
> ― Droo
>
>

> "*Honey, I haven’t heard a full sentence from you yet. I don’t know if you should be out drinking anywhere right now*"
> ― Merrick Kleiner
>
>

> "*Do you know my dad? Uh... please hold... for my mom*"
> ― Droo
>
>

As Tek patches in to the holonet, Katira takes communication over from Droo and introduces herself as Lorenza Beyonté. Through some misunderstanding, some double entendre, and some pure luck, the group is given Kleiner’s location at Bar 247. At the same time, Tek is successful in finding the impound order for the Jinxed Starhawk, showing as originating from Cloud City. As everyone heads for Bar 247, Blaine contacts Lobot and tasks him with tracking down the origination of the order.

> "*When we saw each other earlier, you had me take off... **all of my weapons**… and set them aside. I’m wondering if this time you might be interested in a more official meeting*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is yes!*"
> ― Jordan as Merrick Kleiner
>
>

### **Unrefined Spice**

Arriving at Bar 247, the group immediately spots Merrick Kleiner sitting at the bar. Uninterested in the conspirator, Katira quietly walks by a pair of Rodians and takes a look at what they are looking over. It appears to be a schematic of some facility that they are discussing the movement of goods in and out of. Bored, Katira nudges Droo and points toward Merrick, telling her that she can make up for her failed call earlier by chatting him up now.

Droo agrees to approach Kleiner, but Katira refuses to trust her with any *actual* drugs. Tek decides to assist and force pushes some space cinnamon over to Droo as a stand in. Katira tells Droo over the comm that the cinnamon looks like unrefined spice as Droo heads over to Kleiner.

> "*Hey. I’m new in town, I don’t have a lot of contacts… Hi. I’m sorry… Can I level with you dude? I know we just met. Honestly, I’m just rebelling against my dad. He’s this big shot politician, but to be honest I just feel like nothing I do ever gets his attention. \*flashes cinnamon\* I don’t even know what this is. I mean… I don’t even know how to **use** this…*"
> ― Droo to Merrick Kleiner
>
>

Blaine steps in and offers 500cr for the goods, coming to the rescue for Droo. The trio head over to a private table for a more discrete conversation as Katira gets herself a *Dirty TIE* (no cinnamon garnish was available for a *Sublight Dust*) and takes position to observe the bar.

Blaine attempts to con Merrick, claiming to be working with Lannik Rakto and looking for more information on Governor Parnot. Merrick offers up that he has been running intel and surveillance on Blaine & co. for another party that he meets with, but he doesn’t understand their language. After some back and forth, Blaine offers Merrick the one thing he doesn’t seem to have - freedom. In exchange for help getting off planet and having his history wiped by Tek, Merrick provides his data pad and allows the group to see the records of his last several jobs.

Just as Merrick Kleiner sets down his data pad, Syvar and Eristo walk into the bar…

## **Featured Characters**

### **Our Heroes**

* Blaine Hansom
* Bota Zi
* Droo Vos
* Katira Eve
* Tek Krodak

### **NPCs**

* Cal Omas
* Merrick Kleiner
* Al'Teese

### **Mentioned**

* Governor Parnot
* Lannik Rakto
* Syvar
* Eristo

## **Inventory**

* -25cr for drink at the bar (Katira)
* -50cr for *Space Wine* (Blaine)

## **Notes**

* Countdown continues for the archaic droids sent out on Coruscant by Tek: 5 missions remaining for unidentified FOB, 18 missions remaining for Blaine's Ghtroc Freighter
* Katira misunderstood who she was speaking to, thinking it was Black Blaine and referenced their earlier interactions. Luckily her double entendres were misunderstood by Merrick Kleiner and the call ended in a success

## **Quotations**

> "*I don’t have these crazy powers to push people’s hats off, but dang it… when you’re on drugs you feel like you could Wookie rip a mans arms off!*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*You know what would be a great gift for a New Alderaanian Senator? A piece of Alderaan*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*If you put your ears really close you can still hear screaming*"
> ― Bota
>
>

> "*I’m Droo Vos. I still think of myself as new, but it’s mainly because I don’t really know what I’m doing*"
> ― Droo
>
>

> "*So Tek got a belt full of droids, Bota got Captain America’s shield, Blaine got a flaming sword, and Katira just got a fancy tiara that does nothing?! I’m gonna murder those porridge eating bugs.*"
> ― David
>
>

> "*Why am I on this call?!*"
> ― David
>
>

> "*Because you’re Droo’s dad*"
> ― Ilya
>
>

> "*Am I right in assuming Eristo is with you, or was that just a one off where both of you wanted to watch me?*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*Oh now I think I remember you! Is this Trixie?*"
> ― Merrick Kleiner
>
>

> "*I’ll meet you at the bar in… I don’t know how time works on Coruscant..*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*Droo… I do not make my drug calls over my personal phone!*"
> ― Katira
>
>

> "*This seems like it might run counter to our goals here, but… Katira can I have some drugs?*"
> ― Droo agreeing to talk with Merrick Kleiner
>
>

> "*What do you think goes well with unrefined spice?*"
> ― Droo
>
>

> "*Everything*"
> ― Tek
>
>

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