Chapter 25: Arrival

Sluis Van was a system dedicated to shipbuilding. Orbital shipyards surrounded the planet, also called Sluis Van, and starships in all stages of repair and construction sat in docking slips.

"I want to commission some work here at one of the slips," Revan said conversationally, as she sipped caffa in the co-pilot's seat.

Carth turned to look at her, surprised. "What? On the Ebon Hawk? What more do you think we need?"

Revan nodded. "BR-01 did great with the new paint job and adding more sensors to change the silhouette, but I'd like to add another turret, with firing controls placed in the helm. And upgrade our existing cannons to the heaviest ones we can get. Should change the silhouette even more."

Carth raised his eyebrows. "More firepower? Are you thinking we'll run into that kind of trouble out here?"

Revan shook her head and shrugged. "Not so much in expectation as being prepared. The Outer Rim's a pretty wild and unruly region, and that's before the wars stirred it up. And with the Sith retreating from the Core Worlds back to the Rim, well, I'd just like to give the Hawk some bigger teeth."

"No complaints from me on that."

"How long do you think the work would take?"

"If we go to a reputable yard, it should take around, um, two weeks. Give or take."

"Know of one?"

Carth thought for a moment, as he ran names through his head. "There's a big one the Republic uses--Vosaryk Shipyards, I think they're called. They do civilian work, too." He looked dubiously at Revan. "But can we afford it? Work like that takes a hefty amount of credits, and they'll want some kind of payment in advance."

"Sure. We're plenty flush right now, what with the monetary gifts the Senate bestowed upon us, the spoils we sold off to Suvam before he had to leave ahead of those Trandoshans and the payment OFI's giving us for this job."

Carth brought them down to one of the planet's many spaceports, one located in the capital, while Revan used the time to contact a Vosaryk representative to negotiate work on the Ebon Hawk. Fortunately, the shipyard had just completed most of their last building projects, and the slip was free to take on new work.

He listened with half his attention to Revan's expert haggling, his lips twitching. Even over the com Revan was able to bring the full force of her charm and personality upon the unsuspecting sales rep to bargain for the best price she could get, shaving off a not insignificant number of credits off the rep's starting price.

Dustil wandered into the cockpit, looking out curiously at the expanding view of the planet of Sluis Van through the viewscreen. "So what's Sluis Van like?"

"Shipbuilders, mostly, their main specialty and export. They're a pretty laid-back people, and they've always supported the Republic. The Sith never dared to attack this system, because they've got a pretty substantial navy and orbital defenses. No surprise, given what they specialize in," Carth replied.

"It should be safer and cleaner than Nar Shaddaa. I'm commissioning some work on the Ebon Hawk, so we'll be here at least a couple of weeks," Revan added.

Dustil looked hopeful. "I'd like to breathe air that hasn't been recycled."

Revan grinned while Carth chuckled. "I think that's a hint for us to turn you loose, isn't it?" Carth asked, looking amused.

Dustil shrugged. "I do want to do a little sightseeing."

Revan gave Dustil a knowing look. Dustil wrinkled his nose at her, making her smile. "We've still got work to do here," she reminded him.

Dustil nodded. "I know. I'll do my part."

"I didn't doubt that. And there's less work to do than you think. There're only three informants we have to contact here. We'll each meet with one, and then the rest of the time's yours. What say you?" Revan asked.

"I say that'd be great!" Dustil said excitedly.

"But once these two weeks are over, it's back to lessons, son. Enjoy your holiday while you still can," Carth said.

Dustil sighed at the qualifier. Revan shrugged at him sympathetically.

Carth landed the Ebon Hawk in a vacant docking bay. "Well, we're here. Sluis Van. We'll have to find some local lodgings, since we won't be able to sleep on the ship while they're making repairs and modifications to her at the yard."

Revan nodded. "Right. We'll ask at the portmaster's office for the name of a decent hotel. The Vosaryk rep said we could bring the Hawk to the yard as early as tomorrow, so we'll have plenty of time to find a nice place to stay."