Someone has a price on their head.

[trutkowski]

Tom Sun, the bounty hunter, walked around the Alderaan memorial station. He was informed of a criminal walking this memorial. He had tracked the ship. He had also disabled, by quick sabotage, the criminal's hyperdrive, so he could not escape. He wondered if someone could assist him on finding this criminal. He saw someone unholster a blaster and aim towards him. He noticed immediately he was a Black Sun pirate. With skill Tom drew and hid behind cover. Other people unholstered their blaster, not only more pirates, but also passers-by and security gaurds. There was a mass fight in hangar bay 2.

[Gavin Ravenna]

The Alderaan Memorial Station was the location for the drop. Gavin exited his ship, the Fool's Gambit, and made his way through several security checks and stations that were, at this time, unmanned- just as was planned. Bribing officers stationed on a boring space station was more then too easy. Throw in a little spice and they agree more then eagerly. A large bag hung from Gavin's shoulder by a thick strap. This was the merchandise that he'd be paid to 'acquire'. He did not like working with Black Sun becuase it was dangerous to one's health. Which is why he only did independant missions for them, such as carrying smuggled merchandise halfway and letting them take it the rest. He was not, really, affiliated to the Black Sun crime syndicate- he just worked with then occasionaly. They paid good, but their jobs were always high-class and dangerous. Just the way Gavin liked them.

And now he was stepped into a crowded public area of the station. No one have him a second look, or even a first one for that matter. He was not the kind of person that stood out in the crowd or was easily remember. He was average in all appearance; standing at an average height, looking to weigh an average weight, dressed averagely, not handsome or ugly, just average. He could have a conversation with someone for hours and then once he was gone the conversationalist would not remember what he looked like. If asked he would just say he'd been chatting with an 'average' looking man. If asked for details the man would only be able to sputter and groan as he could not recall anything, such as the man possessing a big nose or broad shoulders. The only thing people ever remember were his deep brown eyes, but only if they took the time to check his eye color.

Gavin moved innocently through the crowd until he reached a specific point and dropped his bag on the floor, tapping his chin twice with his other hand. Out of nowhere stepped his contact, a Black Sun smuggler by the name of Jenkins. The man took the bag and handed Gavin another bag, a smaller one that went clink when shaken. Gavin smiled and slipped the bag under his coat. Jenkins smiled also as he looped the black bag over his shoulder and prepared to leave... And that's when all hell broke out.

For some reason unknown to Gavin, Jenkins pulled a blaster from it's hiding place under his coat and aimed it at something over Gavin's shoulder. Gavin, acting on instinct, threw himself to the ground as Jenkins' finger closed around the trigger of his blaster, "Damn fool," Gavin muttered as he army crawled through the screaming mass of feet to get away from the trigger happy Jenkins.

This is what he got for working with Black Sun...

[Bloodcrest]

It had been earlier that day when Racuto Bloodcrest had received an encrypted communique for him to be on the Alderaan Memorial Space Station at a certain time. He would meet his first Rebel contact there.

Finally. After months of searching here and looking there, and now all that work has paid off.

Bloodcrest strode quickly through the crowds. He had, perhaps, stayed a little too long at the bar talking to the beautiful waitress. If he didn't hurry, he would be late and Racuto Bloodcrest, former Corporate Sector Espo and one-time space pirate, was never late. Ever.

Ever since he had left the Corporate Sector after the death of his parents, he had been searching for a way to get in contact with the Rebel Alliance against the Empire. The main reason he wanted to join was the equipment. His small, swift ship was currently, not up to par for taking anything but lightly armed transports and them only when there were no escorts. His pirating business was virtually non-existant at the time. The second reason he wanted to join was because the Empire was the indirect cause of his parents' deaths.

Racuto Bloodcrest saw opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, and he took that opportunity.

And so here he was, now standing in a private conference room overlooking the main terminals. The Rebel operative that would give him his first step into the Rebel Alliance was to meet him there in two hours, but the communique had specified that he be there two hours in advance as a precaution.

These Rebel guys sure are...paranoid.

That would be when all hell broke loose. It only took 5 seconds for almost half the station to pull their blasters and only 6 seconds for Bloodcrest to come to the realization that with this publicity, the Rebels wouldn't come.

Bloodcrest, pulling on training-ingrained riot control skills he had needed in the Espos, grabbed his weapon, a sword/laser rifle combination, and left the conference room. On his way out, he put as much command as he could into his voice and told the guards that had been standing outside the door to the hallway leading to the conference rooms to come with him. The guards, used to following the bossy patrons that usually used the conference rooms, obeyed with only slight hesitation.

Bloodcrest and the guards walked into chaos. Very few shots were going off, but the mob was doing damage without them. Bloodcrest turned to one of the guards, "May I borrow your comlink please?"

The guard handed over the comlink and Bloodcrest found out from another guard what the frequency for the intercom system was. He turned the comlink to that channel and spoke, his amplified voice booming over the crowd.

"Everybody freeze!" With the amplified voice and the support of four guards, those nearest at least stopped immediately. A ripple of shock moved through the crowd. The station coordinator came up to him at that moment completely out of breath. Bloodcrest handed him the comlink, turned, and began walking back to his ship.

At least no one had gotten seriously injured without just cause. The Rebels would contact him again and set up another rendezous...at least he hoped they would.

[trutkowski]

Gavin was shocked when he saw Jenkins as he got up, the Black Sun was drenched in flowing blood. Tom appeared out from behind a ship and noticed Gavin. " Hey mate, I need some assistance. Will you assist me to find Mr Jarr, the Black Sun I am hunting. I'll give you a spare blaster if you do." He steadied his aim on Gavin but was tempted to just go away, although he knew he wouldn't catch Mr Jarr without help. He saw Gavin was working for the Black Sun and then asked him to consider a new life, and join the interplanetary bounty hunting guild on the Byss space station
"Red Fist". He then saw in the corner of his eye, Jarr with an escort of gaurds. " Come with me on board my ship, Gold Lancer " Tom ordered to Gavin.

[Gavin Ravenna]

Gavin made a 'pffft' sound by blowing air through his lips and didn't move, remaining one the ground in a prone position, "And what makes 'ya think I'd want t'ride on your ship? Especially when mine is ten times better," He shook his head, "Sorry, I don't know a Mister Jarr, and I even if I did I wouldn't tell the likes of you. I might be scum, but we scum have a code and conduct and...er... honor. Yeah. Honor. And I would be breaking that honor if I gave you aid. So I'm sorry, but you'll have to go on without me and..." He nodded his heads towards the station guard coming in their direction, "...I'd get out of here quickly if I was you. The weapon in your hands is a good enough reason for them to shoot first and ask questions later... Good luck!" He continued to lay there, a happy look on his face. He twiddled his thumb and checked the chrono on his wrist, "Tick tock..."

[trutkowski]

" My ship could outfly and outfight your ship any day. Anyway, I have no time to waste. Mr Jarr is leaving Hangar 2 and I need to terminate him. Goodbye." As he said the last word Tom threw a smoke bomb on the floor, flipped over Gavin and entered Gold Lancer. He activated the repulsor, powered the throttle, activated the tracking gear, and started his chase on the criminal.

He picked up his com-link and said " This is Tom and MX-5 (Pilot droid), Code Red, Jarr is getting away. His hyperdrive is disabled, but give him some time, he'll escape. Bring in the reinforcements. Focus all Tartan cruisers on the wingmen and escort ships. Do not destroy Jarr's ship. I'll focus on intercepting it."

Now in range of Jarr's fleet, Tom and MX-5 (Top turret) was firing at the suprised wingmen. They scattered at first, but soon regrouped for an attack.

Tom's comlink rattled:" No reinforcements currently availible, you'll have to endure 5 minutes before the cruisers can deploy. Our base is under attack! However com-link to Alderaan Memorial. Maybe someone can help there."

Tom replied " Just great guys. You were told to be at standby!"

Tom com-linked Alderaan Memorial Control. " I need help on defeating the criminals here. You can take all the cargo. Just send in some reinforcements.Come on!

Tom awaited a reply.

[Bloodcrest]

"I need help on defeating the criminals here. You can take all the cargo. Just send in some reinforcements. Come on!" The voice came over on ship-to-ship channel.

Wow...someone's desperate. Unfortunately, because I missed my first contact, I still have no cash. No cash equals no funds to repair ship; no repairing ship equals no helping some hotshot who not only got himself in over his head, but also went and asked for help...from anyone.

Even though Bloodcrest had just left the station, he could see the battle in front of him. He was headed towards it, but only because the hyperspace exit point was just beyond it. As he neared, he contemplated on how to go around it without wasting time. If he stopped to help, he was sure to get shot at. If he went right through it, he'd get to the exit point, but at the risk of getting shot.

Bloodcrest cut his engines and decided to wait the battle out. It probably wouldn't take long and at the distance he was, there was little chance he'd get shot.

[trutkowski]

Tom saw a few ships exit the various hangar bays, but none other then gaurd-ships came to assist. Loads of ships were shooting, and Tom was starting to get confused who to shoot at. Some civilians swore through the com-link. Pilot droid MX-5 even cursed Tom for not keeping his stealth. Like promised, some reinforcements came. But they were not going to stop Jarr, who was already aware of the hyperdrive and forced to call in support (although suprisingly no carrier ship came to give him getaway yet). Tom still had a chance to get him, although now he was focusing on capturing Jarr dead instead of alive. He gave MX-5 the order of suppressing the enemies while he tried to get a steady lock on Jarr.

He noticed a lot of civilians were being killed by trying to escape. He felt guilty of starting a fight in the first place, but this was important.

Suddenly a big noise sounded. The emergency laser cannons were firing from the station. Although they were missing, everybody ceased fire in order to scatter. Concussion missles were then launched, causing some people to flee in terror. More people were now able to hyperspace safely.

However peace was not going to come that easily. The enemies regrouped and shot at anybody. Civilian ships, gaurds and cargo carriers were all being shot down.

The Imperials were alerted with the fighting, and soon Victory Star Destroyers were soon visible. Rebel Forces also deployed at the ship.
Other bounty hunters and mercenaries hyperspaced. Tom Sun saw Jarr's getaway carrier. A Black Sun Interceptor Frigate was now visible and it would be impossible to take down with a single fighter. Tom Sun knew loss would cost him dearly.

Tom grabbed the com-link and shouted to Alderaan Memorial Station
"Anybody with SP (Shield Piercing) Ion Torpedos in their ship. Fire at the engine of the Interceptor Frigate, and I will give you some creds. This is desparate!"

He waited for a reply.

[Bloodcrest]

Shield piercing eh? Gotta watch to see if anyone has something that has shield piercing torpedoes...ion ones at that. Those might just be worth pirating off someone.

Bloodcrest got on a comlink channel with Alderaan Memorial Station.
"Seeing as how anyone who leaves the station is getting shot down, my suggestion would be to halt all exits. Amazingly, some Imperial stardestroyers just happened to jump in-system, you guys should be fine." Bloodcrest tried to keep his dislike of the Imperials under control, but even he had to admit, if there was one thing the Imperial Navy excelled at, it was blowing anything and everything up just in case it happened to be an enemy.

[trutkowski]

Tom Sun was in luck. Jarr was pinned. The Victory Star Destroyers had blown up the carrier ship. Jarr's ship was locked on by Tom who threatened to shoot unless Jarr docked and went inside the ship's cell.

Jarr surrendered instantly and did everything Tom said. Tom diasrmed him and his gaurds and they all went into the cell, except one who tried to kill Tom, who was shot, chained and ready to be sold as a slave.

Tom realised the blockade around the station was inpenetrable, he decided to dock in the station. By luck Tom arrived back at Hangar Bay 2 just before it went into lockdown. However, he needed to escape to get back to Red Fist guild, where he could sell the criminals. He got MX-5 to gaurd the cell, in case someone tried to escape.

He then walked around the station, looking for any kind of officer who could take him to command.

[trutkowski]

By luck, Tom eventually got to control where an officer told him how to open the gate (no permission however to open it) . However, he found that the lockdown on Hangar bay 2 was operated manually at Hangar bay 2 and heavily gaurded.

Tom got back to Hangar bay 2 and saw the gaurds, all armed and with riot protection. He could not face them all at once. He needed a plan. Tom hid behind a ship and started to think of a plan.

[Gavin Ravenna]

While the battle was raging outside the station in the cold, dead of space. Gavin was walking through the panicking, screaming crowds inside the station. He walked slow and calmly, a unafriad and generally happy look on his face. He even whistled a tune as he walked. For some reason he was the only person not screaming, running, or crying in the corners. In the chaos he was a pillar of sanity- pity no one noticed. If they had noticed they might have wondered why he was so calm and they themselves calmed down in the process. After that they could have joined him, walked with him, and drawn others to sanity. The whole station might have been saved this way... if only someone, anyone, had stopped long enough to see him. Pity no one did...

He walked towards his ship, the Fool's Gambit. The upgraded XS-800 Light Freighter was his home and business at the same time. He used to for excessive smuggling, a crime he was told, and as a place to lay his head. People said it was bad to mix business and pleasure, but that didn't stop Gavin from playing darts while his ship flew on autopilot towards the drop-off point of some illegal, or so he was told, smuggling operation. He did what he wanted and what he wanted he did. And right now he wanted to leave this panic-streakin spacestation. He entered Bay-2 and made his way over to the long, sleek body of his ship, not even noticing the man from earlier as he went.

It was not until he reached his ship that he realized the station was in a state of lock-down. Damn. He'd have to wait it out now. There existed a spot on the side of his ship were a sensor node poked out from the otherwise sleek, flowing form of the ship and presented just enough flat space to sit on. A stim was slipped out of a pocket and lit. He knew it was dangerous to smoke in a hangar bay. He just didn't care enough not to. He blew out a smoke ring and leaned back as far as he could, fixing the hang of his black flight jacket as he did so in order to get a wrinkle out of his back- those things could hurt like hell.

Now it was just a matter of time... as always...

[trutkowski]

Tom chucked a grenade at the gaurds. Their slow reactions made the kill easy. Tom ran to the lever, trying to avoid the blasters. He managed to pull the lever down, but while he pulled it, a gaurd got a perfect shot on his back. Tom fell back. The pain was not only of hurt, but the failure to think of a plan that would not get him injured. As he was about faint he saw his ship open. Before he was unconcious, he saw MX-5 take him into the ship before the droid took the controls of the ship and escaped the hangar with him.

[trutkowski]

The battle was soon over. The entire station was now a mess, the Imperials and Rebels escaped, the Black Sun disappeared and peace was restored. The once bloody and ruined station, was cleaned up and then slightly repaired. Everybody wished such a battle will never happen again in such a place, but who knows? MX-5 hyperspaced away from the space station. The destination, Polis Massa medical facility.