Outer Rim – Socorro

We blasted out of hyperspace over the desert planet. The Omman Minor and Socorro systems were both in the Kibilini sector. No doubt that if Cassus had other operations, they were spread throughout the sector. Munshaan was half right – Socorro was certainly a barren wasteland, but there were some settlements. A spaceport, at least.

As we descended planet side, my thoughts ran alongside my subconscious. Sometimes, it just wouldn't shut up.

You're hunting another Mandalorian

What will you do when you find him?

Will you kill him?

Will he kill you?

Why are you doing this?

Credits are for aruetiise

I shook my head. I was doing this because it was my job. I decided on becoming a bounty hunter to turn the tables on those that had hunted me. This wasn't personal. It was just business. The Mandalorians hadn't conquered the galaxy. Instead, the Republic "won" and now I had to live in their galaxy. I had to make a living somehow. I made a decision and I was sticking with it, right or wrong.

Keep telling yourself that, chief

Irritated I hit the comm. to speak to the others. "I'm picking up a single settlement in the region. Soco-Jarel spaceport."

"I read the same." Gorman replied over the channel.

"Let's land in the outskirts. Sending LZ coordinates now." Irkchik said. There was a 'beep' as the coordinates were received to my Basilisk's computer. I followed the coordinates and landed alongside the other two ships.

Gearing up, I headed outside and surveyed our immediate surroundings. The hot, humid air hit me like a brick. The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, adding more heat. The terrain was dry and barren, an arid, merciless desert. No bright sands like Tatooine or Er'kit, no…this sand was black. Volcanic black. The only people looking to live here were outlaws on the run, or those looking to hide. Smugglers, pirates, and my kin, Cassus Fett. As I observed our surroundings, the others came out of their ships and were greatly unprepared for the heat.

"Wonderful idea Irkchik, yes, let's land in the outskirts! If the locals don't kill us, the planet will!" Terran exclaimed to his Saurin comrade. Suuvarsh muttered something in Ubese, and Terran looked at him incredulously. "Yes, I'm aware one of your colony worlds was nuked!"

"Calm down Terran. It was a good idea. We don't know who lives in the spaceport. Probably a hive of scum and villainy." Palscho replied.

The Ithorian's comment made me think. If Cassus had hired those mercenaries and miners out of Socorro, then it was feasible he had hired others. This planet was rife with criminals, smugglers, pirates…it wasn't a stretch to think he had backup units here.

"We need a plan. What are we doing, Mando?!" Munshaan asked. His and Terran's dislike of me was obvious. I could console myself, knowing this was my first and only job with them…or they'd die here.

"Cassus hired those mercenaries from here. We can find more." I replied.

"You think he has more mercenaries working for him?" Palscho asked. I nodded.

"So we're walking into a giant powder keg. That we're going to set off. Great." Terran retorted.

"Enough Terran! We have to find Cassus somehow. We'll ask around the cantinas and bazaars. We don't need all three ships. Everyone get in and we'll fly over."

That settled it. The whole group of us – Gorman, Munshaan, Terran, Suuvarsh, Palscho, Irkchik, and myself – headed up into the bounty hunter's freighter, and we flew off for Soco-Jarel spaceport."

/\/\/\/\/\/

We landed inside one of the open docking bays, and then headed out. A dock officer approached the group of us. While Gorman dealt with the D.O., I observed the docking bay. The shadow of the structure hung over us, providing some relief from the sun. Some peddlers were milling about…they looked harmless, but then, this was Socorro. Any one of them could have been a dirty thief. Once Gorman finished paying the D.O., I turned to him.

"You and Suuvarsh stay with the ship." I said. Irkchik, who was nominal leader, seemed to go along with the idea. He nodded to me in approval.

"Good idea. Don't know what sort of street rats hang around here." Irkchik said as we exited the docking bay.

We turned a corner, and found ourselves walking down a busy, narrow city street. Sun tanned plaster houses lined the dusty road, as locals went about their business. My helmet sensors were running crazy picking up the numbers of people in our vicinity. We turned another corner and headed into the bazaar. Consumers crowded about market stalls, merchants shouted out their wares. Soco-Jarel was quite the bustling spaceport, it looked like. On the other side of the bazaar was a cantina. We pushed through the crowds and headed over.