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Ashin Varanin
Jun 1st, 2016, 08:22:57 AM
Landfall (for varying values of 'land') came as a welcome relief. The Sanctuary Pipeline was a turbulent wreck these days: S-thread boosters, though massive as capships, were worth their weight in aurodium. Naturally, in Endor's aftermath, several had gone missing. The Sanctuary Pipeline had responded about as well as a spine minus a couple of random vertebrae.

Even so, they'd gotten through with a 244Core transport full of Unknown Regions trade delegates. There were more reliable routes -- Cerea, for example -- but certain Unknown Regions commodities were perishable, and stasis fields were cost-prohibitive, especially on a 244Core-built ship. In most respects, wild space couldn't compete with galactic standard tech. The ship's cargo was the exception that proved the rule. 'Exotic technology and curios,' the manifest read. The passenger list was replete with Lugubraa, O'reeni, and Geroon names, among others. So far as Ashin could arrange, the vessel had all the proper permits, but one never knew. The Greater Javin had ambitions, Bespin and Cloud City were at the heart of those ambitions, and with ambition came security protocols. And security protocols multiplied like Hoojibs in heat.

Orange clouds enfolded the battered transport as it began its approach. The ship's captain, a cyborg from the same industrial world as the ship, turned to Ashin and raised a steel-threaded eyebrow. "Madame Varanin, would you make our introductions?"

She nodded and stepped over to the comm officer's panel. The officer, a quadripedal Tchuukthai, ambled aside to give her room. "Cloud City landing control, this is the independent freighter Golden One out of 244Core in the Unknown Regions, carrying delegates and trade goods. Landing permit number QR-4237. We're checking in for approach."

Might be the ship got some attention on the way in. Unknown Regions craft didn't tend to be familiar sights.