Deep Dives/Resolute Bay

Resolute Bay is a refueling station which on of the last stops one can make one the Crimson Serpent Line before entering nullsec space. The station has a notorious reputation thanks to its perpetually breaking down nanoprinter causing that station to become backup with a perpetually growing backlog of repair quests that it cannot meet. Those staying there for repairs may find themselves stuck there for awhile. Beyond this a series of exposed reactor feeds that were never repaired have been linked together and modified to power several cooking stations making for a Line famous food court. However, recently a newly formed pirate gang has been seeking to take control of the station and has made their lair somewhere in its forgotten underbelly.

This is Roketzal family territory and it is not something the notorious gangsters are willing to tolerate. Many of Resolute Bay's inhabitants are becoming increasingly nervous as the feel the station becoming a powder keg that could explode at anytime.

It is this very situation which the Sojourner Akitza Syalotl will find herself thrust into on a visit to the station...

## Chapter 1

"Oh come on!" Akita shrieked causing many of the mechanics shops patrons to wince and glare in her direction. The shop keeper who was now having to deal with the furious red scale flinched at the sheer volume she just shot in his face and held out his hands placatingly, "look mam were kind back up on orders right now so we can't get to repairing your ship at the moment."

"But the you said it should only take about ten hours," Akitza protested, "you said, and I quote, 'don't worry mam we'll get to your ship as soon as possible it'll only take ten hours at most', and don't call me mam I'm not some old spinsterish!"

The shop keeper sighed and began rubbing his neck, "okay so ten hours was perhaps a bit generous but look it hasn't been that long..."

"I've been here a day since then."

"Well what even is a day when your in space..."

"Oh go breakdown," Akita snapped before storming out in a huff. Silently she was kicking herself for she knew that screaming at the shop keeper like that would not help her case as they would likely just bump her name down farther on the list of repairs they needed to do and she won't get out of here any faster. Even worse was the knowledge that stopping at Resolute Bay, a rest stop notorious for its nanoforge breaking down was not the best placer to stop for repairs.

"If only it wasn't the only on in the area," grumbled Akitza heading back to her hotel, a broke down and dingy place right next to a neon lit building known as the "Barbwire Pussyskrat". Akitza didn't know exactly what went on in there but the patrons constantly leaving and entering dressed excessively in studded leather gave her ideas. She had decided to steer clear of the place for now.

Flopping down on her bed and staring up at the ceiling fan Akitza steadily started to grow bored, something that was not helped by the oppressively muggy and hot air that the fan did little help other then stir around slightly. After tossing and turning for a while trying to take a light catnap Akitza felt her stomach growl. Signing she got a up and stepped outside to make her way over to the food court. The food court in question was build around a couple of exposed reactor feeds that had been linked together and had several cooking stations set up to cook food on powered by the feeds. It was a bustling, hot, and steamy place filled with noise of people running to and fro shouting out their orders and the return shouts of their food being ready. Akitza ordered herself a pulled jork sandwich and after deciding it was some of the best pulled jork she had ever had tipped the vendor, a rather beefy Saviki with two cybernetic arms, some extra cash.

As she was about half way through her sandwich she sensed something change in the atmosphere and general disposition of the crowd around her. They had all gone quite and people were clearing a path that was beginning to lead directly to her table. Looking up sharply Akitza noticed a dark blue Vanara watching towards, a tall older female with half her face burnt off. Akitza bristled slightly as she recognized who this was. The older Vanara stopped in front of her, "Akitza Syalotl I presume!"

"Zuteca Roketzal," Akitza said evenly recognizing the matriarch of the Roketzal family, one of the most feared and powerful mob families only challenged by well, Akitza's own father's.

"Have I offended you in anyway being on your turf," asked Akitza wearily, "I assure you I'm only here to get my ship repaired."

Zuteca waved the statement off, "I have no doubt you are here in a strictly professional capacity, I'm not so foolish as to believe the existence of the Widower's daughter on my turf is a prelude to hostilities. Also I'm aware of you Sojourner's status, in fact its why I'm here."

Akitza's ears pricked up at this and she nodded steadily for Zuteca to go on. Zuteca obliged stating, "the pay is 100 quint up front and immediate bumping of your ship up to the top of list for repairs as well as full refund upon completion."

Akitza nearly shot out of her seat to agree right there and then but she stopped letting caution rule over her enthusiasm, "what's the job."

Zuteca sighed, "there's a pirate gang invading this station trying to take over, obviously I can not let this stand, unfortunately my men here are all tied up dealing with this problem and I commanding them to handle this one little issue."

"And that is?"

"The pirates have captured my son, and I want you Akita Roketzal to rescue him."