CHAPTER 20 – A Spicy Raid
In the dimly lit quarters of the Bastion of Eriadu, Ayala and Wazhay huddled together, plotting their strategy to oust the disreputable spice dealer, Hean-Sad Cejill, from the rundown housing complex on Shumavar. The stakes were high; not only would the success of their mission secure a safe future for the Bith refugees, but it would also help them uncover the identity of the crime boss lurking in the shadows of Magula.
The Twi'lek captain and the disguised Jedi, their eyes focused and minds determined, exchanged glances, understanding the gravity of the situation. Wazhay began, "Ayala, our best chance is to catch Hean-Sad off guard. We need to neutralize his henchmen first and then get him to reveal information on the crime boss."
Ayala nodded in agreement. "I suggest we approach quietly through the windows. If we can avoid causing a ruckus, we might catch them unaware. However, we need to be cautious of any traps or alarms they might have set up."
Wazhay pondered for a moment. "I doubt they have anything that sophisticated. They probably figure thugs and guns will be enough to scare off the locals. Trest can provide us with covering fire from outside. Once we're inside, we'll move swiftly and silently."
"Exactly," Ayala affirmed. "We'll take down Hean-Sad's henchmen one by one, using non-lethal means to incapacitate them. We want to keep him in the dark as long as possible."
"Agreed," The captain replied. "Our primary objective is to capture Hean-Sad alive. With him in custody, we can extract the information we need about the crime boss and dismantle their operations."
As Ayala and Wazhay continued their planning, they acknowledged the obstacle presented by the group of spice addicts loitering outside the rundown housing complex. The crew had already identified a golden-scaled Trandoshan woman as a lookout, and there could be more lurking in the among the addicts that they hadn't spotted yet.
"We need a distraction," Wazhay proposed, tapping her fingers on the table thoughtfully. "Something that will scatter or move the addicts away from the entrance, giving us a clear path to enter."
Ayala considered the options. "What if we create a commotion on the other side of the building? Perhaps something loud enough to draw their attention away."
"Sounds promising," Wazhay replied, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "Puhl can rig up a makeshift speaker system and use Trest's blaster to fire a few warning shots into the air. That should get their attention."
Ayala nodded in agreement. "Good plan. While the addicts are focused on the commotion, we can slip in from the opposite side, through the windows on the first floor. If we time it right, they won't even notice us."
Wazhay smiled, impressed with the human woman's strategic thinking. "That could work. Once we're inside, we'll need to move quickly and quietly. Jax and Razor can provide backup from outside, keeping watch in case any of the addicts return."
As the crew prepared for their mission, Puhl set to work on the makeshift speaker system, rigging it to emit a loud and attention-grabbing noise. Meanwhile, Trest double-checked his blaster and prepared for his part in the diversion.
Nis, the Bith mercenary, stepped forward with a thoughtful suggestion. "Captain, I think it's a good idea for me and the two former Imperial troopers to take up positions near the main entrance. If Hean-Sad comes out to check what's causing the commotion, we can intercept him and keep an eye on the two thugs we convinced to help us. We can't afford to take any risks."
Captain Wazhay nodded in agreement. "You're right, Nis. It's crucial that we maintain control of the situation. Keep a close eye on Jax and Razor, and if there's any sign of betrayal, act accordingly."
Nis, along with the former Imperial troopers, nodded firmly. They were well-trained in combat and knew the importance of ensuring the safety of the crew.
With their roles defined, the crew proceeded with their plan. Ayala and Wazhay moved quietly to the opposite side of the building while Nis and the two troopers positioned themselves near the main entrance, hidden from view. The distraction created by Puhl's speaker system and Trest's warning shots worked like a charm, drawing the attention of the downtrodden denizens away from the main entrance. The night was disrupted with screams, yelling and other chaotic sounds of fighting thanks to the speaker system's recordings of a battle.
Seizing the opportunity, Ayala and Wazhay swiftly moved to the windows on the first floor, using the room Razor and Jax stayed in because they knew it would be empty. The area was clear and Wazhay pulled out a plasma-torch from her backpack and used it on the locking mechanism while the loudspeaker was making noise covering the sound. It popped and they were able to push it open and slip inside.
The two women advanced through the dimly lit bedroom into the main room of the home. Ayala remarked, "On the bright side, Razor and his partner didn't betray us… yet."
The Twi'lek pulled out a hand comm and smiled. "Razor's comm. We can listen to what the spice gang are doing."
A gruff voice came across Razor's comm that they didn't recognize, "I don't care, just get over here. If something is going down you need to be over here, doing your job. Protecting me, and our stash."
The captain pulled out her own comm, and spoke to Nis. "Move in and take down the two thugs that are about to cross the courtyard hall. Trest get over here and help with the breach. The spice dealer is hunkered down."
"We're on it," came the curt reply from the Bith, as he, Klek and Tarak sprinted across the street toward the residential complex entranceway. The Bith and the two ex-stormtroopers saw the ruffians and opened fire, shooting tight, blue conical rings toward the two bodyguards crossing the open-air hall. The first man was a tall, scarred, imposing human. The other was a greenish-blue Rodian, thin and wiry. The human took the brunt of the assault and dropped like a stone, the Rodian was hit as well and nearly incapacitated him as he fell to the floor writhing from the electric energy pulsing through his neurons. He stayed conscious enough to reach for his blaster.
Just as that happened, Ayala flicked her hand toward the door controls and the rusty door screeched open.
Wazhay blinked in surprise, for the first time seeing her directly summoning the Force was astounding, even though she expected something like that to happen. She was glad the Jedi was on their side. The captain followed the ex-Jedi into the courtyard hall. The red-dyed woman kicked the Rodian thug in his ribs and sent him into a tumbling barrel roll where he fell unconscious, still twitching from the residual stun energy like a glopper fish out of water.
The Twi'lek motioned toward Jax and Razor. The human called into the door comm. "Open up, boss. It's us, Jax and Razor. There's trouble coming down the street. We'll setup inside and help take out whoever it is."
The Weequay's voice responded through the door comm. "Where in the pits of Kessel have you been. You should have been back and hour ago. What the frakk is going on?"
"We got into an accident and had to get patched up. Went to a free clinic and made them fix us up. Got back as soon as we could."
The voice from the crackling speaker intoned, "Morons. Get your sorry shebs in here, and hurry. Grizz, let those boneheads in."
Waz and Ayala were out of the view of the cam on the door controls and at the ready to charge in, just as Trest joined the raid. Nis and the former troopers kept a vigilant eye on the addicts along with Jax and Razor. The battered, grimy door opened with a metallic groan.
Razor and Jax stepped out of the way as the Twi'lek, the burly mercenary and the stun baton wielding red-head woman burst into the room.
The blue Twi'lek captain held up her heavy CR-2 blaster pistol pointing it at spice dealer, as the scarred, bearded human followed suit with his intimidating blaster carbine. He flashing a menacing grin at the Weequay, with a look that said, 'dare to try something'.
The Twi'lek captain demanded, "We have the place surrounded, Hean-Sad, and have taken out the rest your goons. Tell your men to stand down or my highly trained mercenary is going to give your face a burnt makeover."
The brownish-gray Weequay glanced around the room, and saw the numbers were not favorable. Especially with himself in the cross-hairs. "Alright, fine. We can make a deal. I'm just a businessman. I provide people with the escape they need from their wretched lives."
She turned to Trest, "Take him out."
The Hean-Sad's black eyes widened, "wait, wait. Listen..."
Wazhay interrupted. "I said have your men stand down, you got two seconds."
"Drop your weapons, now," the leathery-faced spice dealer cried out to his henchmen in a shrill, distressed voice, "Do it now!"
The three men laid down their armaments. One was a burly human with a shaved head, thick beard, scarred arms, cold eyes, and worn leather jacket. The second was a towering reptiloid Trandoshan with a scaly pale-green hide, orange eyes, wearing a vest adorned with different types of teeth hung on some plastoid twine, and a wiry human man with a shifty gaze and a scruffy beard.
Trest barked at the men, "lay down flat on your stomachs, and don't move. We're going to bind you up for now. Try anything cute and you'll be sporting a nice charred hole in your chest cavity." Ayala and the burly crewmember moved around and cinched the plastoid ties to bind their hands behind their backs. They secured the brown-grey skinned spice dealer with his hands in front.
The Weequay brushed one of his braids out of his face as he asked awkwardly in a resigned tone, "What is it that you want?"
The Twi'lek captain gave the Weequay a cold stare. "First. We need some information on your boss, Haas Weera. What happens to you depends on what information you give. If you have none, well. I'm not sure how useful you will be to us."
Trest gave a wink to Wazhay, and then aimed his carbine rifle's muzzle at Head-Sad, letting out a feral snarl. "We don't need 'em. That flashy speeder and his fancy outfit. We can track him down easily, way easier than those other mercenaries we got rid of. He sticks out like a Hutt snow-sledding on Hoth with jingling bells. Let's just take this low-level spice dealer out. He'll just be more baggage, or trash."
The leathery faced dealer shook his head making his long-braided hairs flop around like a Nexxu's tail. The spice dealer's hands began to tremble. "No, wait. Please. I… I can help. I have information. I do whatever you want."
Ayala couldn't bear to watch, causing so much stress as she could feel his fear. It began to make her nauseous. "I'll get these three henchmen outside and round up the rest of the goon squad."
The ship's captain nodded to the red-haired woman and turned to face Hean-Sad. "Go on, then. What information do you have for me?"
"I saw something on one of his visits. I greeted him as he got out of his speeder. He was on a personal comm, and I heard him telling someone to close down the lower tier sabaac tables, someone is having a party there. Then he said something about 'his' casino. I also saw his fancy drink glass he put down in a cup holder of the speeder, it had the name on it that says 'Raksha's Gambit' and the symbol of an Idiot Array, which is the best sabaac hand you can get. That's how you can find him. It is likely in the Stardust District of Magula."
"We're still taking you to our ship until we can verify your information is correct. The rest of your gang is going to be incarcerated. We'll find enough of the former residents to testify and put them away. Perhaps your help will be taken in consideration for your sentencing for trafficking of illegal spice. We will give them that information."
Ayala went outside and told Razor and Jax they were free to go, gave them two hundred credits, and told them to leave the city and never come back. After seeing how well the ship's crew operated, they had no arguments about compliance. She, Nis and the two troopers bound and gathered the other thugs and sat them down. They brought the speeder truck and piled in the prisoners, then delivered them to the authorities.
