Chapter 41
Baiting traps and other fun and profitable activities
The atmosphere in the Naboo air traffic control was semi relaxed as the day was filled with the usual fast paced movement of multiple vehicles entering and exiting Naboo space with no complications in their movements. Elosah Nakomy had just cleared a departing freighter from the heliosphere when the next contact lit up on her board
"Naboo ATC, this is the Ebon hawk transmitting on all channels, we are declaring an emergency."
Her hand slammed on emergency activation button. The room fell silent as the board above her station lit up in red and supervisors rushed over to her station. The other stations immediately started sending orders to other vehicles to hold position and clear the air waves
"Ebon Hawk, state the nature of your emergency." She demanded
"Naboo ATC, our shields are offline and have taken severe hull damage, engines are failing."
An operative from the customs and excise control desk stood up
"The Ebon Hawk, medium sized freighter. Registered on Dantooine." He called out
"Not picking up a transponder signal." Search and Rescue desk called out.
Elosah frowned as she heard the second message
"Hawk, please activate your transponder." She demanded
"Negative, transponder unit has been destroyed. Transmitting current coordinates now, sublight engines are failing."
"Hawk identify your flight crew."
"Commander Carth Onasi, Republic fleet and Jedi knight Bastila Shan."
Search and rescue desk called out.
"Got a positive scanner contact at that coordinates, minimal movement on vehicle. Rescue one to four prepped for flight."
"Customs seven and eight ready for deployment."
"Deploy all craft. Deploy security and rescue to docking bay three fifteen." The shift senior ordered
Elosah triggered her comlink
"Ebon Hawk, search and rescue has been deployed. What size is your crew complement?"
"Eight organics and three droids."
The air was tense as they followed the movement of the six craft to the now stationary craft.
"Rescue One to ATC, we have visual. Craft is adrift, minimal power readings, suspect they are on emergency power. They are venting atmosphere. Got two heat signatures in the bridge. One in the rear , three on starboard and two on port."
"Proceed to dock."
The rescue craft drifted over to the top hatch and extended the bridging dock. The onboard marine trained his rifle on the docking hatch as the engineer ensured proper fit before rapping thrice on the crippled ships hatch with a wrench. Three knocks came back. Slowly the hatch was manually opened. The marine brought his rifle up to ready when he noticed the armour on the other end
"Mando aboard!" He called out
The mandolorian stepped back and raised her hands.
"I am unarmed and on my last oxygen cylinder." She stated
"What happened?" The marine demanded
"Our navigation droid was sabotaged, it nearly dropped us in a black hole." The mandolorian replied
Naboo Space dock security offices
Major Taron Shere was drumming the fingers of her cybernetic hand on the desk as she was studying the monitors to the interrogation rooms. The technician behind the monitors winced at the sound, she had been doing it for several minutes now and the sound was increasingly annoying
The door to the room opened and three individuals entered. Shere stopped her drumming and turned to the individuals straightening up.
"Do we have the preliminary reports?" She asked
A women dressed in a technicians overall spoke first
"We found malicious software on the T3 unit, it had been uploaded four days ago. The droids security software had been bypassed. Reports from the A2 confirms that the droid had been acting erratically. Last hyperdrive calculations were to a restricted section. Vocal records showed a request to plot a course to Coruscant. The protocol droid had been inactive for the last five days. I don't blame them for switching it off, that thing is more annoying than most protocol droids" She reported
Shere nodded at the report from her chief technician. The customs agent spoke next
"We found a large amount of weapons and ammunition on the craft along with a large amount of gemstones and gold and silver. There was other contraband found in a smugglers hold"
"Smuggling?" Shere asked
The customs agent shook his head.
"The cause of the ships damage apparently, several gemstones are still embedded in the hull itself. They seemed to have run into the richest meteor shower ever recorded. One of my officers is at the university to verify the probability of their tale with the geology department. We had to post a triple division around the ship to prevent theft, and the ship is locked down." The customs agent explained
"The contraband being?" Shere asked
"Class four weaponary and slicing equiptment with military grade explosives and equipment."
Shere turned to the last person, the intelligence officer on detachment from Republic intelligence
"Their identities check out for the most part." The brown furred Shistavanen spoke
"The most part?" Shere questioned
A clawed finger pointed to two screens
"The one known as Terri Cazor is listed as a republic scout. The one calling herself Melissa Wren is identified as Melissa Carpenter, republic fleet."
" Go on."
"I had to dig to get more than surface information, and what I found was interesting. Carpenter's and Cazor's records are sealed on orders of the high Admiral of the Republic fleet. Onasi's had been upgraded to flag officer rank access only. All three are cross referenced to the Jedi high council."
Shere started drumming on the desk again
"What else do we know?"
"Cazor and Carpenter both have an abnormally large midichlorian count. We had medical draw blood for testing for pathogens." The Shistavanen continued
"The others?" Shere asked
"Shan and the Cathar Juhani are recorded members of the Jedi Order, officially listed as on sabbatical pending dissolution from the order. The wookie Zaalbar and the twi'lek Mission Vao are registered to Dantooine, prior records found to Taris. The other mandalorian Ordo is registered to Keldabe."
"Criminal records?" Shere continued
"Vao and Zaalbar has citations from Taris for vagrancy and petty theft. Carpenter, Cazor, Shan and Onasi have warrants of arrest on Lothal for destruction of property and escaping legal incarceration, aggravated assault. Marshall's office on Arkaxia have records for public drunk and disorderly for all except Juhani and Shan. One case of indecent exposure for Vao. Marshall's office on Dantooine have a record of arrest for Carpenter and an incident report of violent behaviour during incarceration. Ordo is listed as a know mercenary. "
The technician lifted a hand in question. Shere nodded to her granting permission to speak
"I was under the impression the first two planets were under Sith control." She stated
"They are. However the law enforcement agencies have an agreement of sorts to keep updating data to the holonetwork regardless of their status. Officialy no data is shared." Shere explained
Shere turned to the intelligence officer
"Am I the only one smelling a Dug here?" She asked
"No, on the surface they appear to be a run of the mill crew of petty criminals." The shistavaned stated. " However with the Jedi high council and the high Admiral's office involved."
"Your thoughts?" Shere asked
The shistavanen rubbed his chin carefully with a clawed hand
" A special forces detachment or a mission so of the books as to be called fiction should it be discovered." He spoke thoughtfully
"So identifying themselves as they did was a covert message that something went wrong." Shere postulated
"There last port of call was on Tatooine, the ships weapons log showed missiles being fired eight days prior and the sabotage of the droid occurred in that time frame. So yes, I believe something really went wrong"
The Shistavanen pointed to the two screens again
"It comes back to those two again. Prior medical records I could find for Cazor showed no midichlorian counts to the level she is showing now, the same for Carpenter. I am wondering if they are not plants by the Jedi and that they were forced to use them when whatever they are on came up."
"I can see trying to infiltrate the Mandalorians but not the scouts." Shere stated
"We do it all the time, so I am guessing the Jedi would do the same. Though that girl must have ovaries of steel to attempt to infiltrate the mandalorian clans." The Shistavanen shrugged
"There were rumours of Jedi investigators before."Shere said musingly
"Yes, the shadows. Officially they had been disbanded before the Mandalorian War." The customs agent spoke
The shistavanian put his hands in his tunic's pockets.
"We will just have to wait and see how long it takes before we get a discreet notice to let them go."
Several hours later Shere was finishing her dinner in the staff canteen when the shistavanen sat down opposite her at the table, his food tray filled to the brim with undercooked meats.
"I have been ordered to stop asking questions and delete all information I have recovered." He casually stated.
Shere looked up at the door as the communication officer of the watch came up to her table
"Mam. Your presence has been requested in the coms room. It comes directly from the palace."
The shistavanen looked at his chronograph
"Seven hours, must be a new record." He stated impressed.
Naboo Royal Palace
Jeweler guild master Fenek Naberie stepped into the foyer of the throne room still disgruntled by the summons he had received. He saw several other members of the Merchants guild standing around waiting as well as several well known academics friom the university, he also noted that the door to throne room was closed with the gaurds armed with rifles and full armour instead of the usual side arms and official uniform. He edged his way to the other two members of the crafters section of the Merchants guild.
"Any idea why we have been summoned." He asked
"No, for all we know it is about the money freighter." Dimitri Arosov of the Glass maker guild stated
The three snorted in amusement at the mention of the newest wild rumour floating through upper society. Really a freighter surviving a run through a block hole with gems and metals coating the hull afterwards, what would the idiots come up with next?
The door to the throne room opened and King Gawain the third stepped out accompanied by his personal guard. Behind them were three beings in hooded cloaks and a fully armoured mandalorian. As the three hooded women moved the standard tunic of the Jedi order was revealed and Fenek noted that the Mandalorian was armed, curiously enough that said mandalorian was carrying a lightsaber as well. The King stopped in front of the scattered Merchant guild members who dropped into deep curtseys
"Thank you for your time. If you would follow me" The king stated
Thet followed the procession to a hall adjacent to the throne room. The room normally used for the seasonal Balls had several tables set out in the middle of the room, the contents covered by cloths. The King stopped in front of one table and turned
" I know of the rumours running around of the money freighter and wished to bring you up to speed as to what is going on."
"Surely his Majesty does not believe the wild rumour." Fenek spoke out
"A freighter coated in gems and semi precious metals, no." The King gave an enigmatic smile.
Servants entered the room and lifted the cloths from the tables to reveal piles of gems and stacked lumps of metal ore. The sight of the gathered wealth on the tables shocking all into silence
"However a ship that had its hull damaged by meteorites while close to a gravity anomaly I can believe however." The King smiled
Fenek was standing in front of two of the biggest rubies and emeralds he had ever seen, never mind heard of. The two stones had deliberately been set aside from the main horde along with two pieces of amber one yellow, one red
"Impressive aren't they." Someone spoke behind him
He turned to find the Mandalorian behind him. The girl lifted her helmet revealing a very young face
"That they are." He stated
"I was wondering if we could discuss a business deal. They are part of my take of the total." The girl said pointing to them
"My dear girl, I am not rich enough to buy that." Fenek replied
"I am sorry, I think you misunderstand. I want to have custom pieces made from them. What ever is left over you can keep."
"What do you want made? The stones alone would allow you to retire comfortably." Fenek asked
The girl extended a data pad. He looked at the design on it.
"Game pieces?" He stated incredulously
"And two small statuettes." She replied
Fenek looked at the specs and the stones. Barring unforeseen circumstances if he took the commission at least a quarter of the stones would still be intact for his own use. The value would be triple his usual rates at rough guess
"I have to ask again, are you certain?" He asked
"It is a small part of what I am taking from this mishap." She replied smiling
Fenek looked at the specifications again
"I am not familiar with the game pieces." He said
"It is from an ancient game called chess. So do we have an accord?" Melissa replied
"My dear, it would quite a challenge. I accept. Where can my lawyer contact yours for the contract."
"My lawyer is on Dantooine. His name is Sykes. The contract he drew up is on the third file on that datapad."
"You were that certain I would accept?" Fenek lifted an amused eyebrow
"An artist turning down the opportunity to work with the most exciting material around. I think not." Melissa smirked.
A2 R4 never saw who shot it with an ion blast as it was making its way back to the Hawk. The droid disappeared completely from the docks, never to be seen again.
Captain Benjen Strider of the Warlock privateer guild looked steadily at the Ortolan information merchant as he studied the data on the pad in front of him
"How accurate is this?" He demanded
"We obtained the droid directly from a procurer. I extracted the data personally." Ortolan stated
Strider pulled out his datapad and send the payment directly to the Ortolan's account
"Pleasure doing business with you." Strider stated standing up
The ortolan waited till the rude Devaronian had exited his shop before going to the back to report to the Matriarch. Having sold the data to seven other privateer companies meant that they had more than recovered the cost incurred in obtaining the droid. This month was finally looking to be a good month, decent profit and news from Taris that his Matriarch's cousin had survived the bombing of the planet thanks to an early warning from a previous customer. He waited patiently as the matriarch was busy planning a relief food shipment for her cousin and family. After all he time to wait before reporting, the next privateer was only due in another two hours
The Leviathan: Orbit over Lothal
Malak was impatiently waiting for the officers to leave his stateroom when the meeting came to a close. The intelligence officer was patiently standing to one side, clearly wanting to speak to him. The man waited for the door to close leaving Malak, Karath and him as the last occupants
"Sir, My lord, as per your orders we have been keeping track of the craft known as the Ebon Hawk and its crew." The man stated
Malak gave the officer his full attention
"The craft has resurfaced on Naboo after leaving Tatooine. They were forced to call in search and rescue due to damage to the ship. We were able to obtain their flight data from an information broker on Naboo."
The man handed Malak a datapad with the relevant information
"They allegedly sustained the damage at this location. As per our information this was as result of sabotage by parties unknown to a droid in use on that ship"
The screen of the datapad cracked as Malak tightened his grip.
"Get out." Malak ordered
The officer rapidly left the room. Karath patiently waited for Malak to regain control
"This is no accident, they are hunting the star maps." Malak ground out
"Shall I dispatch units to guard the maps?" Karath asked
A door to a side room opened and a human male and a human female stepped from the room
"No my apprentices Darth Bandon and Darth Misera will go and secure the most vulnerable maps. I have had enough of your bumbling in this matter." Malak stated
Malak pointed to the door where the officer had just left.
"Get the location from the notes that was inevitably kept and set course to it. I will personally investigate their last location."
"At your orders, my Lord." Karath nodded, knowing he was dismissed.
Karath moved to the door. From the corner of his eyes he noted the two apprentices dropping to their knees awaiting their orders. The door closed behind him. The intelligence officer was waiting several feet away from the door next to his flag captain. At least he would not have to wait to get the information needed, you could never predict how Malak would react if he perceived his orders were not immediately filled.
The Drunken Rancor was typical of low class spaceport bars, dimly lit, cheap drinks and the denizens had iffy standards of cleanliness. Equal trade was being done in illicit substances, prostitution and alcohol. With Naboo's cultural pretences , the bar was inside the basement level of a run down mega warehouse on the far edge of the spaceport. The floor and level above being an unauthorised market. Naboo security had full knowledge of the place and what went down in it, but as long as the spacers kept to themselves and did not venture into the city of Threed for entertainment and nothing to illegal occurred, they pretended it did not exist.
Melissa found herself in the backroom behind the casino being interviewed by the bounty hunters guild master for her application interview. HK stood by the door behind her, seemingly deactivated by a restraining bolt, little did they know that the bolt plug had been altered to send a signal indicating that the bolt was active when in fact it had no effect on the droid.
The guild master was dressed effeminately in trying to copy the airs and graces of the general population. The effect was ruined by a dark five o'clock shadow and facial scars, not mentioning the aroma of alcohol clinging to the man.
"Miss Wren, do you have any references? Any proof of successful captures" The accent was undercity Coruscant
" Zax The Hutt on Taris, and Sakara the Hutt on Tatooine. The Marshall's office on Dantooine has also paid out several bounties to me during my independent phase. Although there I used Carpenter as an alias" Melissa replied.
Through the amplifier in her helmet she heard someone tapping away on a terminal behind a thin wall behind her interrogator. Thermal vision had pinpointed two beings pointing weapons at her from a wall on the side. A moment later a message appeared on the terminal before the guild master.
" That has been verified, you have reached the minimum requirements to join the guild. Though to be honest I believe you to be too young to be an active member." The man stated
"The only thing contractor's care about is getting their credits worth, not the age of the hunter." Melissa shrugged
The man frowned at the rejoinder but could not refute the statement. He tapped on his terminal.
"I see you have paid for the application and membership fee in credits, not interrested in setting up a bank account?"
"Credits spend easier and is a lot more difficult to track than bank transactions, though my understanding is that my financials is my own business and not that of the guild." Melissa replied.
The man looked as if he swallowed something sour at that, but again the guild rules were against him. He pointed to a camera mounted by the terminal
"Please take of your helmet, so we can sort out your guild id." He stated
Melissa leaned back in her chair.
"I have to wonder why you are so determined to track my identity and movement. As per guild law everything required for registration is already in your possession."
The man stilled, before his hand started drifting under the table. Melissa gave a dry chuckle.
"Before you press the button to summon help I want you to think of a few things. Do you really think the two men on my left will be fast enough to get in here before I get you, or the tech behind the wall. Two did you really think I would allow someone to disable my droid?"
HK stood up and pulled the restraining bolt from it before dropping it and stepping on it. Melissa leaned forward.
"So let us stop this bantha crap of an interview and let me speak to the real guild master
A panel slid open to the right and an older female stepped from the room. The man stood up from behind the terminal and the woman took the seat with the man leaning against the wall. The woman looked at Melissa questioningly
"What gave the game away?" She asked
"Do you want a list or would one thing do?" Melissa replied
The woman chuckled dryly
"Indulge me." She stated
"Firstly the administration you had me fill in. Too much detail demanded for an institution that prizes privacy. Two your man's appearance, if he was as dandified as he wanted to appear I would recommend a new hand and nail technician, the nails are chipped and the knuckles too rough. Three his aroma, if he was trying to blend in with those in the city he should be smelling of perfume not brandy. Four his fishing for information was anything but subtle, and your technician screwed up by sending the information too early. No matter how good a slicer is, he or she will not be able to get that type of information from a system in three minutes flat. It tells me you knew who I was when I walked in. Five, the absence of electronics or electrical currents to my right told me there was something there, only securing three walls with a faraday cage, not buying it." Melissa enumerated
The woman leaned back with a smile
"Curious. From all the previous applicants you were the only one to reach this stage. Too often there are those that think that all you require for bounty hunting is a tracking fob and a blaster. I have to ask how did you learn of the guild laws? They are not in public domain." The woman stated
"A few of your members have a very low tolerance to alcohol or the additives that accidently gets in. A general reminder to watch their drinks and not the pair of tits buying it for them would not come amiss." Melissa replied
The woman leaned back in the chair chuckling
" Wise words. I do believe you would fit in well with the guild. I believe we can skip the probation level and register you as a level one hunter." She stated
"Meaning I get actual guild benefits a lot earlier." Melissa replied
"Yes, many do not survive their probation period so why should we have them access the guild resources."
Melissa jerked her thumb over to HK
"Will there be any problems registering it as a primary autonomous asset?" She asked
The woman studied HK for a moment
"It is unusual but then I see no difference to using a droid to hunt than to using drones. As long as you realise its actions reflects on you and makes you responsible for it."
"I have no issue with that" Melissa replied
The woman slid a card across the desk.
"Your hunters licence, we will add all the data you have given us to the holocom network later. Your id will be valid on all planets that recognise the guild."
Melissa stood up and took the card and slipped it into a pouch on the gunbelt. The woman looked at her
"Not going to remark on the paper work you filled in?"
"I am guessing it is mostly to tweak some noses. The standard law enforcement officer will not be bothered to fully read it and tying up bureaucrats in flimsy is always amusing."
The woman nodded at that and pointed to the door.
"Show the barman your licence he will let you access the databanks from the holocom in the main room. Happy hunting."
Melissa and HK left the room and the woman lifted up the application datapad and started reading. She started laughing after a moment, still chuckling she turned to subordinate
"Did you actually read this?" She asked
"Did not get to it." He replied
She lifted it up
"The answers she wrote down here already makes it worth the effort of loading it."
The man took a look and started reading it in detail
"I pity the pen pusher that has to interrogate her with this." He smiled
"Never mind a pen pusher, I am imagining a jedi having to read this." She chuckled
HK waited till they were well away from the warehouse before speaking
"Confused Querry: Mistress, why did you go through the motions of registering as a bounty hunter?" He asked
" Having a bounty hunters licence is usefull in getting information from sources that will not talk to law enforcement or a Jedi normally and keeping law enforcement from looking to closely at your documentation." Melissa replied
She pointed to a security patrol
"What would happen if I were to start beating up a civilian before tying it up?"
"Immediate response: Be arrested or questioned by security." HK replied
"On seeing a hunters licence they will most likely assume it is in relation to a hunt and be less inquisitive. Sure they will log an incident but most likely that is where it will end. Leaving me to pursue my agenda. Most planetary authorities will turn a blind eye to a bounty hunters actions as long as the actions are kept to a reasonable level." Melissa explained, " As to identification they will rarely dig into the identity of a bounty hunter. They see you as scum and can not be bothered further."
" Musing reply: So Mistress is setting up an identity to discourage enquiry into your actions?" HK stated
"Correct. People see and believe what they want to believe. Digging deeper into the obvious is too much effort for the average person." Melissa replied
"Understanding: Mistress is using the standard meatbags laziness against them."
Melissa opened up the newly received datapad and looked at the scarce few open contracts listed on it.
"Well, my faithful droid. Shall we go liven up the city night live with some low level violence. We have to start building a reputation somewhere, the higher our reputation the more interesting the weapons we can eventually buy."
"Delighted acceptance: Mistress, you say the most wonderful things, where shall we start?"
Melissa stopped as a notation drew her attention. Carefully she read the file
"I believe I found us something fun to do, we might even get to escalate to moderate violence and stun weapons."
"Acceptance: Till we get to civilised planets where killing is encouraged this will have to do."
Thrace Cantrile looked over the floor of his club , or as he liked to refer to it the credit factory. With how culture driven the planet was, it was inevitable that the teenage and younger population would want to rebel against it. He provided the outlet, the ultimate in rebellion, a swoop gang hideout or what the pampered little darlings perceived to be one. They would slink to the warehouse their "streetclothes" under their silk robes. Once they entered they would patiently wait in line to have their "tattoos" applied before stepping onto the main floor to interact with the other "gangsters".
The reputation of a criminal owning the place had been enough to get started. The thrill of being in the presence of someone who had done time being the lure. Being the minor son of a society family who had been caught dipping in public funding served him well, his reputation preceded him and the credits rolled in. Then the attraction started wearing of and he had to step up. And after all what was a criminal bar without spice and selling alcohol to any who wanted it. The credits doubled and tripled. Then he found he could get money and revenge on those who looked down on him and his disgraced family. A careful application of spice and some holopics and the society elite paid through the nose to keep the indiscretions of the house scions out of private eye.
Cantrile looked over his shoulder to the group of girls slumped in the booth behind them. They were nearly ready for the nights entertainment and their debut into pornography. The one that he was paid the most for to procure the granddaughter of guild master Naberie. That she was thirteen did not bother him in the least. The man who wanted her for the night had paid triple the going rate. He would have to move his recruiter to another school after tonight but the price was worth it and he already had a replacement lined up to take her place at the exclusive girls school.
Naberie would pay through the nose to protect his granddaughters reputation, his client will get his rocks off after payment is given, the only loser would be the girl and she would most likely not even remember a thing. Plus selling the pictures to a contact on coruscant would bring in a little extra, the younger they are the better the credits.
There was a coomotion by the front door and the sheep made space to let an armoured figure walk through, Cantrile looked at his bodyguard
" Find out who hired that actor and bring them here, this type of initiative needs to be rewarded."
The man stepped to the side as he spoke in his comlink. Cantrile followed the figure as she made her way to the bar and pushed her way to the counter. The barman motioned at her to wait as he was still serving a gaggle of "streetwalkers" their designer drinks. Cantrile spotted the barman dropping something in the third drink, the man was following his orders then. The bodyguard came back
"None of the pitbosses or supervisor know anything. They are checking their staff but so far nothing" He reported
"None of them?" Cantrile confirmed
"None, Sir. Could be a cosplayer."
"Real ballsy if she is one, a real mando would beat the crap out of you for that." Cantrile chuckled
The area around the bar erupted in screams and the sheep stampeded away to clear a space. The music and the lights cut off as the DJ pressed pause. The mandolorian holstered her blaster, the drinks the barman had prepared slag on the counter.
"Get that bitch out of here and teach her a lesson." Cantrile snarled
Melissa holstered her blaster with smile on her face, blowing up the tainted drinks giving her an opportunity to set the stage. She stared at the barman
"Where is Thrace Cantrile?" She asked
The voice modulater on her helmet had been set to produce a metallic flange to her voice. The barman stepped forward to the counter reaching for something under the counter. He grabbed a baton and pointed it at her
"Get lost before I make you leave." He threatened
"Cute." Melissa replied
She fired the micro line in her gauntlet trapping his arm. Grabbing the line she pulled him onto the counter towards her. A quick blow had him passed out on said counter. She turned around and cricked her neck before addressing the bouncers trying to surround her
"Before we start this dance, where is Cantrile?"
The DJ accidently pressed the play button and the music and lights resumed. The Mandolorian actually tapped a foot to the beat before the first bouncer rushed in. A quick shoulder throw had the man crashing into the shelving behind the bar counter, destroying several nights worth of profit in the process. The patrons cleared more space, none of them had the common sense to think of leaving the building.
Two bouncers rushed her at once. Melissa went for a move that would normally have earned her a lecture about showmanship in a fight. She jumped up in a spinning kick, dropping one before using the momentum to backflip over the second bouncer and kick her in the back of the head as she came past. She looked at the remaining bouncers
"Now that we have showed of the crowd, can we get serious now. Where is Cantrile."
Cantrile's bodyguard grabbed the man's sleeve.
"Sir we need to leave."
"Not till I have personally taught that bitch a lesson." Cantrile snarled
Melissa decided to stop playing and efficiently disabled the remaining bouncers. Looking up from the unconscious bouncers around her she spotted the figure looking over the bulastrode on the managers level.
She made her way to the stairs. A suited man stepped into her path, the earpiece marking him as security. He threw a controlled punch at her and she tanked it on her helmet. The man stepped back cradling his broken hand. Another rushed at her, stun baton deployed. She slapped it from his hands and deployed her gauntlet tasers, dropping the security gaurds
Cantrile's bodyguard grabbed his principal and started pushing him to the stairs to the back exit as the mandalorian was mowing her way through the security gaurds and remaining bouncers
"Gretcher get the land speeder ready." He called into his comlink
Silence greeted him
"Gretcher are you there?"
" Witty response: The meatbag you are calling cannot respond, leave a message once he has stopped moaning."
The bodyguard swore, cursing again that he was not carrying anything stronger than a stun weapon. Having been ordered by his principal not to carry anything potentially lethal in fear of being arrested by Naboo security on weapons charges.
The dispatch room of the spaceport security office was in an uproar as multiple callers tried to report the disturbance at the club at the same time. Units were being pulled from the city centre to help respond to the reports at warehouse three fifty. The sergeant of the watch was rapidly issuing dusty riot gear to the officers in the station, multiple riot shields failed to activate as the batteries had run out of charge. Airfield mechanics were being called in to help start up even dustier large prisoner transporters. The Emergency medical section was barely doing better as vehicle were being pulled from Threed hospitals to stand by in case of casualties.
The senior officer on scene sighed in relief as a landspeeder pulled up and a senior officer stepped out. The relief disappeared when he noticed that it was Major Shere. From where he stood he could see her disapproving glare as she looked at the chaos around them. The clubgoers were sitting in straight lines before the warehouse doors. Not one of them having tried to escape when the first three vehicles had arrived on scene. The last of them trickled out and were told to join the lines.
A rust coloured droid appeared by the door and gave a theatric bow before stepping out, towing a man tied up in a cable. A mandalorian female followed next a bundle in her arms.
"Need a medic over here. Drugged juvenile, not responding" She called out.
Shere stepped forward to speak to the mandalorian, two medics standing by with a hovertrolley ready to move in. Shere spoke a few words before motioningthe medics forward. The central comlink channel chirped
"All units move in, medical to follow. Priority two more juveniles on third level, drugged with unknown substance.
The Mandalorian handed the girl over to the medics before passing an id card to Shere. The Major took one look before thrusting the card back, from where he was standing he could see her shoulders tighten in anger. The bundle being dragged by the droid tried squirming, muffled cries came from the gagged man. The droid produced a rifle and fired, the blue stun bolt flashing across the captive.
Shere turned around and walked over to the area designated as the command post and the ex senior officer officer got to attention. Anger was dominant in her movement. The officer sighed, tonight was going to be a long night.