Dramatis Personae

The Noncoms

Rina Hambly, chef - human female from Contruum
Caden Hambly, diplomat/hustler - human male from Contruum
Ro'tahn "Jettison" Fyr, chef - Twi'lek male from Ryloth
Jacinto "Jayce" Bastra, kitchen porter - human male from Coruscant
Amaya Sunrider, kitchen porter - human female from Tatooine

The Wraiths

Commander Wedge Antilles (Leader, One) - human male from Corellia
Lieutenant Wes Janson (Eleven) - human male from Tanaab
Lieutenant Myn Donos (Nine) - human male from Corellia
Jesmin Ackbar (Two) - Mon Calamari female from Mon Calamari
Hohass "Runt" Ekwesh (Six) - Thakwaash male from Thakwaa
Garik "Face" Loran (Eight) - human male from Pantolomin
Ton Phanan (Seven) - human male from Rudrig
Falynn Sandskimmer (Three) - human female from Tatooine
Voort "Piggy" saBinring (Twelve) - Gamorrean male from Gamorr
Tyria Sarkin (Ten) - human female from Toprawa
Kell Tainer (Five) - human male from Sluis Van
Eurrsk "Grinder" Thri'ag (Four) - Bothan male from Bothawui

Squadron Support Personnel

Cubber Daine, mechanic - human male from Corellia
Chunky (Tyria's R5 unit)
Gadget (Phanan's R2 unit)
R2-D69 "Thirteen" (Kell's R2 unit)
R5-G8 "Gate" (Wedge's R5 unit)
Shiner (Myn's R2 unit)
Squeaky, quartermaster (3PO unit)
Vape (Face's R2 unit)

New Republic Military

General Edor Crespin - human male from Corulag
Chaptain Choday Hrakness - human male from Agamar
Lieutenant Atril Tabanne - human female from Coruscant
Dorset Konnair - human female from Coruscant
Tetengo Noor - human male from Churba
Pash Cracken - human male from Contruum
Airen Cracken - human male from Contruum

Zsinj's Forces

Warlord Zsinj - human male from Fondor
Admiral Apwar Trigit - human male from Coruscant
Captain Zurel Darillian - human male from Coruscant
Lieutenant Gara Petothel - human female from Coruscant

-000-

2am - Quarters of the Contruum Delegation, Nar Shaddaa

"There!" Fingers flew across the keyboard as the finishing touches were added to the submission for, "All done and it's only..." tired storm grey eyes looked up at the chrono on the wall and the figure at the desk groaned, "two hours before I have to get up."

With a few more taps, the essay entitled 'The Role Droids Play in Society' was attached to the academy application and was sent out into the aether of the holonet.

Rina Hambly, part-time short order cook and keeper of many secrets, slumped forward onto the hard surface of her desk and closed her gritty-feeling eyes. As she drifted into sleep, she hoped Daddy wouldn't be cross that she'd applied to join the military like her cousin and her uncle Airen. She was only following in her Mother's footsteps really; although the fact that mam has been involved in the conflict between the remnants of the Empire and the Rebels was relatively new information.

Life as a less-than-scrupulous diplomat's daughter hasn't always been easy, or as comfortable as it was for the moment. Rina was sure that she'd be exiled back home to Contruum when she'd put her foot down last year and got herself this honest job as a chef. Mind you, that had a high cost of its own; one that was still causing trouble for her even now.

Still; she smiled as sleep finally claimed her - sure that her mother would have been proud of her.

-000-

2:30am - Club Temptation, Nar Shaddaa

Caden Hambly was starting to sweat. He'd always had a weakness for a good high-stakes sabaac game and suddenly his winning streak had deserted him completely.

His 'sure thing' was beginning to seem anything but and as the pile of credits in front of him dwindled, Caden realised he was in a hole that even his daughter's meagre earnings wouldn't be able to get him out of. The green-skinned twi'lek in front of him grinned in a wholly disturbing way as they called the final hand.

Hambly's hand was worthless. He knew it. They knew it. As he flung the cards down onto the table, he idly wondered if even Rina back at their quarters knew it. 'Probably.' Caden thought as the last of his credits and IOUs were scooped up by the suspiciously masterful players he suspected worked for Club Temptation to lure in innocents and fleece them of all of their hard-earned money!

If he was being truthful; he'd have to admit that nothing about his finances could be classified as 'hard-earned' - most of the time they could barely be called honest either.

"So then, same time tomorrow?" The greying human smiled and hoped it looked less than a rictus than it felt at that moment. "Give a fellow the chance to win back some of his losses yes?"

Hambly's hopes were dashed when he felt the heavy hand of one of the club's bouncers drop onto his shoulder, 'So much for diplomatic immunity then.' "I'm good for it I swear - I can have the money for you by the end of the week."

"See that you do. I would hate for anything to happen to that lovely daughter of yours." the twi'lek bared his teeth in a clearly threatening way.

Hambly swallowed and hurried home - it was high time that he visited his brother-in-law; Rina would be glad to see her cousin after all. As he mentally planned for the quickest way off this cursed moon, Caden didn't spare a thought for the consequences of blowing off what was likely a hutt-run gang. After all; if he wasn't on Nar Shaddaa when they came to collect; what was the worst that could happen?