A Test of One's Mind and Will

[Gavin Caste]

Location: Imperial Command Cruiser Aquila

Position: 2 Kilometers above Mos Eisley

Operation: Atmospheric Station Keeping

"Sir, We have the reports from the surface garrison." The sergeant shifted his weight underneath the bulk armor of the military cannon fodder uniform, simply known to all as the Storm Trooper Armor. Glad in white, meant to harbor purity and righteousness... to tell the universe that they had the honor necessary to lead the Empire's defense into the new age. Those who wore the armor were meant to carry themselves with assured confidence... Yet the anxiety that pervaded through the non commissioned officer told an all together different reality.

On the other side of the austere desk, his back to the soldier and his gaze nearly transfixed on the sands and adobe structures below, simply answered the challenge with a silent shift of his head to the right. Quietly the ocular implant scanned the soldier, the flared scar around the ancient wound enough to cause an increased shudder in the trooper's body language...Brief but noticeable by the implant. The officer closed his eyes slowly before turning his head back to the transparent steel bulkhead and the last vestiges of the Mos Eisley Space Port. The soldier remained at attention as he awaited acknowledgement from the ship commander, fearing the rumors of the fate of those who left before permission had been granted.

Finally, after nearly five minutes of allowing the soldier to sweat and ponder his potential fate for the unwanted disruption, Captain Corbin Dentsun slowly turned to face the uncomfortable Sergeant. He reached out his hand and within a flash, confiscated the data rod before the trooper could register the movement. "Disappointing Sergeant," He quietly spoke, his voice sending a shiver through any who had served under this particular commander. "Had I been someone other than myself, do you believe your slow reflexes would have prevented the loss of such data... Do not answer Sergeant, the question was rhetorical and thus unanswerable by ones of your... station."

Without dismissing the trooper, Dentsun slid the rod into the data port and brought up the most recent communiques from the garrison below. Yet again, much to his chagrin it was yet another list of excuses and symptoms of incompetence from the garrison commander. Complaints that supplies had been diverted from the projects to fund other more pressing ventures and military operations across the outer rim. Crying reports that the local authorities refused to bend their restrictions on certain policies necessary to complete testing and ultimate deployment of the new project. It was the same excuses he had heard time and time gain. Each time, however, the correction methods had been the same... hence why he and his squadron had been reassigned to the system. "Sergeant, has my shuttle arrived?"

"Y... yes sir. It just docked as I was coming to deliver the reports sir."

Corbin pushed himself from the desk over which he was leaning, and allowed his gaze to slide passed the stricken Storm Trooper. He blinked twice as he took in the sight of the modified Trandosian spine and skull trophy that hung beside the cabin door. It was one of his more favorable possessions, the combination having been dipped in nano molecular hardening agents and equipped with a handle and pommel, made for a rather gruesome blade. Whether or not the Sergeant noticed his gaze mattered little to him... the trooper would be trained to his specifications eventually or he would be introduced to his favorite trophy. "Very well Sergeant. I will be there shortly. I want three security details deployed to Mos Eisley as well."

He took up his cane and slowly began the journey to the prow of the vessel where his shuttle awaited. "You will personally oversea the details. I want a full inventory of all ships, cargo haulers and containers by the end of the rotation."

Corbin Dentsun did not wait for the soldier's response, he already knew what it would be. Failure to do otherwise would prove fatal, as most under his command knew full well and all who transferred soon learned. "Let us end the first stage of the Garrison Commander's primary contention regarding lack of resources."

[SnowDog]

Mos Eisely - Spaceport

Hera rubbed at the bridge of her nose. She had sent Ezra ahead to recon and investigate for any possible rebellious cells that could be hiding in the outer rim, but she didn’t think he was gonna leave the city proper.

“Alright so Ezra went out further than anticipated.” The Twi’Lek told the Ghost team as she led the way out from the freighter’s cargo ramp, “We’ll head into town to meet up with Hondo’s contact stationed here. Chopper, you stay with the ship for now. If anything goes sideways we’ll need you to help bail us out and maybe grab Ezra.” Hera’s astromech bleeped angrily as it’s external armatures shaking about. “I would if I could Chop’ but this place is notorious for droid swiping. You’ll be fine.”

Hera finished tying a simple shawl around her head to protect her twin lekku from the harsh twin suns of the system before leading the way out from the spaceport. Their next stop was the bazaar and if they were lucky, no one should recognize the ship.

[Insidious]

Mos Eisley--Spaceport

Kanan had a strange feeling as they drew closer to the spaceport and ultimately landed. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, and he couldn't let his mind focus enough to identify it right now.

“Alright so Ezra went out further than anticipated,” Hera said.

"Well, we expected that," Kanan said with a halfhearted smile as he and the others moved to disembark from the ship, despite Chopper's protests. "I trust he'll have a good reason for doing so."

"He always has a good reason to get us lined up in Imperial crosshairs," Zeb gruffed.

[epyon321]

Sabine was last out of the Ghost, and gave Chopper a sympathetic pat on the head. "Hey, don't sweat it, Chop- with our streak of luck, you'll probably be busy in no time." She consoled, striding up to the rest of the Ghost crew. Mos Eisely, huh? In the greasy pocket of the Hutts, and home to pretty much every kind of scum and villainy you could imagine.

This was going to be fun, she could tell.

She stretched her arms with a satisfying crack. "All right, so what's the plan? Or are we just serving up the Ghost specialty?" That is, wing it and hope you don't end up in an Imperial cell.

Again.

[Insidious]

Mos Eisley--Spaceport

"Don't encourage him," Kanan said to Sabine with a grin. Chopper let out a grumpy series of clicks in response.

"All right, so what's the plan? Or are we just serving up the Ghost specialty?" Sabine asked. Kanan's body tensed a little, but he let it go.

"I hope we have a better plan than that. We do, right?" he said as they continued deeper into Mos Eisley. "Where exactly did Hondo's contact want to meet us? Surely not the cantina."

[Gavin Caste]

Mos Eisley: Imperial Garrison Landing Station 2

The powerful thrusters of the military shuttle ignited but a few meters above the arid dust covered landing pad. Particles of rust stained sand flew in small billows as the jets bombarded their rest, sending them cascading into reinforced blast resistant adobe walls of the star port. As the small vessel touched down on the landing pad, the roar of the engines dimmed into a soft hum as the small stabilizing wings folded up to greet the single decked hull of the trans-atmospheric craft.

Immediately upon the extinguishing of the primary lift thrusters, a crew of conscripted technicians scurried out from underneath the protective shade of an awning. They chattered to themselves as they began visual inspections of the craft while a pair of security officers ordered a droid lander to draw the stairs to the primary air lock. Upon confirming magnetic lock, the two security officers snapped to attention at the base of the boarding stairs as the station officer emerged from the conning tower. "Is everything secure?"

The officer on the left nodded only slightly in affirmation. "Yes Sir, locks are confirmed, authorization codes have been authenticated."

Lieutenant G'bril Soln, allowed only the flicker of a scowl before waving it off. "Of course the codes have been authenticated. If they had not been, you would not be standing here." He did not push the rebuke further, it served no purpose. One who states the obvious was destined to remain in a position of being completely oblivious. Instead he looked up to the cockpit of the shuttle and gave a subtle nod to the copilot.

The magnetic locks on the primary hatch of the small shuttle popped and hissed as the energy dissipated from their super conductive connections. After a few moments, the hatch pushed itself forward before sliding along hidden rails to press flush against the hull. A curl of coolant laced fumes wafted from the breech before the eerie curls were disturbed by the distinctive click of metal tapping against metal.

With the grace of purpose and authority, Captain Corbin Dentsun slowly pulled himself from the transport. He stopped at the top of the descent, allowing the hot dust laced air swirl around him as if upon his command. The moment had its desired effect as the officer was forced to swallow a gulp of air... a result that pleased the newly minted System Overseer. It was a temporary position, one that would last so long as it took to complete the development on project "Overseer."

Dentsun slowly stepped down the flight of steps and finally came to rest one position above the station officer. "Lieutenant Soln, I presume?"

The voice of the experienced commander sent a tremble of apprehension through his body, Dentsun could not help but smirk ever so slightly as the younger officer snapped to attention. "Y... yes sir. I am Lieutenant Soln."

"Take a breath Lieutenant. If you continue along your current reaction, you won't be admitted to a bacta tank." Dentsun stepped down to the tarmac and waved the officer and the military security to parade rest. "Now then... before I venture further to the garrison. Soln, you are to prepare Landing Bay 3 for the arrival of two military troop transports."

"Sir," Soln started and then stopped as the glare of the ruined facial features tore through his nerve. "Sir, Commander Estine has ordered that particular landing platform to be reserved for..."

With incredible speed, the brass tip was driven within a half micron of the Lieutenant's nose. A flick of his wrist, Corbin flipped the cane in his hand and slapped the grip behind the officer's head and yanked it forward and down forcing the soldier to his knees. It took great effort to stop at that point in the maneuver, rather than conclude it by dropping his freshly polished boot straight into the jaw of the fool now coughing at his feet. He released the grip ever so slightly and flipped the cane back in to his palm. "Commander Estine, is no longer your concern. You will follow your orders." No moment for response was given as four escort soldiers disembarked from the shuttle. They fell in behind their captain as he lead them towards the speeder that would take party to their destination on the top of the Plateau.

[epyon321]

"When you say 'not the cantina' which one are you talking about exactly?" Sabine asked sarcastically, looking about the Mos Eisely streets. Cantinas, bars, shady dives, there were a plethora of those, not to mention the locals- people that usually wouldn't be out in broad daylight in other places. From a shady deathstick merchant on the corner, to an assassin droid clearly out to make a quick credit at someone's expense, to someone selling a crumpled piece of metal that they would SWEAR was the severed hand of general Grevious himself, it felt like someone had dropped a chunk of lower Coruscant in the middle of a sandbox.

Still coming back later to buy that hand though.

"He said to meet him and his contact... by the big cantina at the spaceport, I think. That one with the Bith band, right?" Sabine scratched her head as she tried to recall exactly where it was.

[Insidious]

Kanan chuckled.

"Yeah, I didn't exactly narrow it down much, did I?" he said as they continued to walk through the crowds of Mos Eisley.

"He said to meet him and his contact... by the big cantina at the spaceport, I think. That one with the Bith band, right?" Sabine continued.

"Yeah, the Modal Nodes. I actually have some of their music. And that would be the one, err, the one I hoped we could avoid. It's a magnet for trouble and the owner has droid issues."

[cravex]

Mos Eisley – Spaceport


Kayn Somos studied those moving about outside the spaceport with a sneer behind his storm trooper helmet. The types that were drawn there would make things difficult if the Empire wished to cow this planet. They may even be more dangerous than the Hutts, as the gangsters could be persuaded to aid and Imperial attempts.



If this is why we’re here, he thought, his curiosity growing by the minute. Especially concerning the arrival of the new System Overseer. Why he was here as well as Kayn was an interesting question to ponder. But he’d have time to work out those details later. So far, this joint venture with the Hutts (if one could really call it that) had been disappointing. The fact there had to be a rebel force here and had yet to be found was… problematic and he intended to correct that. He intended to join the next patrol to gauge their aptitude for this environment and endeavor.



“You have the watch, Sergeant,” he said, turning to leave.



“Yes, Sir,” came the reply, as Kayn knew it would.

[Gavin Caste]

Mos Eisley: Route to the Imperial Garrison - Entertainment District

The convoy of Imperial speeder bikes, personnel walkers and two Imperial armored transports, turned onto the primary thoroughfare of the outer rim space colony. Immediately, clouds of red dust and sand washed over pedestrians and traders as the repulsor engines slammed concentrated energies and air down into the ground to create lift for the vehicles. The turrets on the armored transports swiveled to and fro as they painted imaginary kill shots on those who were insignificant enough to be stuck in the rancid radiation contaminated dust of the space port and its surrounding territories.

As pedestrians coughed and hacked at the contaminated air as the convoy passed, inside the lead armored transport Captain Corbin Dentsun paid little heed to their plight. Instead his eyes darted from left to right, allowing the prosthetic eye to immediately scan the route for possible dangers or evidence of supposed resistance that had been one of the excuses proffered by the current garrison commander. Of course he did not expect there to be resistance on the levels that were contended... to delay the completion of the weapon systems development would have required a coordinated effort that quite frankly the Hutt Cartel simply did not possess.

In between scans of the road ahead, Dentsun familiarized himself with the project details and the plans that had been set in place for the final development of the system. It was a straight forward plan, something he had come to expect from Imperial Research and Development. A synthetic version of an old Jedi technique that allowed the user to manipulate the thoughts and will of a target. A highly skilled Propaganda Department would serve the same purpose just as well as this device, he mused to himself as he finished the review. Not necessarily a simple project, but it was something that had piqued the Emperor's interest, and if the Emperor wanted something done then it would be done.

The convoy turned the tight corner onto the primary avenue of the Entertainment District. Immediately the driver took note of a quartet of pedestrians making their way towards one of the local watering holes for spacers located between two merchant stalls. He slowed the convoy briefly as they approached a bank of sand before forcibly releasing a powerful gust of energy into it... sending a wall of sand and debris cascading over the quartet which comprised of two humans, a Twi'lek slave and a bipedal mongrel that looked more like a diseased Wookie than its own separate species. A brief chuckle erupted from the driver and the two troopers manning the turrets and sensors respectively... a chuckle that was immediately quashed by the cold murderous glance of the new regional overseer. "Corporal," the Captain set the data pad down on one of the provided utilitarian work tables. His prosthetic eye locked on the driver with a silent order to stop the convoy.

Carefully, as the two armored transports and their escort speeders and walkers came to a stop, Corbin pulled himself to his feet and made his way to the starboard hatch. A wave of his hand called his security detail, the corporal who had been assigned as the driver and the still sulking Lieutenant Soln to fall in line behind him. Together the five men exited the craft and were immediately greeted by the powerful desert suns. If the intense heat bothered him, Dentsun did not let it show... his expression as cold as Ilum and twice as frozen as Hoth. Two steps forward, the new Regional Overseer made his way to impede the path of the four travelers.

Allowing, only for a moment, the chance for his entourage to fall in line... Corbin Dentsun stepped passed the female slave and made his way to the male owner and his rather flamboyant daughter. He allowed his eye to scan the four briefly in order to ascertain the appropriate response to the humiliating events that had just transpired under his command. The grip on his cane tightened before he finally addressed the elder man, "My humblest apologies citizen," he began crisp and curt. He did not want to show weakness yet he also wanted to assert his own style of command. "This humiliation towards you and your menagerie of exotic servants was unbecoming of an Imperial Officer."

He made a show of pointing out the Corporal who had been driving the vehicle while ensuring the two guards that flanked himself and Lieutenant Soln were visible... to discourage out right retribution. "You can rest assured that this non commissioned officer will receive an appropriate punishment for such disrespectful actions." He stepped back briefly as the non commissioned officer stepped forward and bowed ever so slightly to offer his own half hearted apology. Dentsun did not expect the show of humility to have any effect on the two travelers and their pets, but it wasn't exactly designed for them. The locals required a gesture of good faith to ensure their total obedience to the Empire... so such gestures served a small purpose.

Finally his withering glare pulled the Corporal back in line with the two guards. The Clone Wars Commander bid the travelers a farewell and pivoted on his heel. The signature cane punctured the red stained asphalt as he recalled the escorts back to the transport. He paused only briefly to deliver a subtle nod to the Lieutenant and began a brief inspection of the parade units while Soln went to work.

Lieutenant Soln smirked ever so slightly underneath the short brimmed officers hat as he reached into a satchel that hung around his waist. He stepped up to the human male and whipped out a small printing device. A few strokes of a stylist across the sensor pad, and an invisible sweep of internal scanners, a pair of translucent slips began to emerge. "As disrespectful as such an event was," he began slowly barely hiding a satisfaction beneath the tone of indifference. "This region does have laws that all must abide by."

He handed the two translucent slips to man who wore his hair long and tied back. "You are found in violation of leashing laws. Allowing property to roam unrestrained is also in violation of regional statutes." He smirked only briefly as he glanced between the Twi'lek female and the diseased Wookie. "Perhaps next time you will properly bind your two pets before disembarking your vessel... you are setting a rather bad example for your daughter on how to be a good Imperial Citizen... Oh, and do remember... the fines for failing to pick up after your beasts is proportional to the violation to the previous statutes."

[epyon321]

Of course, despite a brief moment of amusement at the whole 'daughter' comment, Sabine had to fight really, REALLY hard to not clean some of THIS Imperial garbage off the streets. Apparently, even in the greasy folds of Hutt territory, the Imperials were still marching about with their noses wedged up their own exhaust ports like they were Hapan royalty. It managed to wrest a special kind of frustration out of her chest and into her head to see that this kind of junk was happening, even this far out. "Touching how you're concerned about OUR garbage..." She muttered under her breath, wiping off all the dirt and street filth from her outfit that the Imperials had kicked up on them.

[Insidious]

"I will take those," another voice said.

Through the mixture of various Tatooine citizens, the little interaction between the Imperials and some--natives? Travelers? It was hard to tell which. Either way, the interaction had not gone unnoticed, to say the least. And it was precisely these sorts of interactions that Jabba the Hutt had told his palace coterie to keep an eye out for: the Empire pushing too much of its weight around on his planet. Their presence here was tolerated, at best. And it was clear that they were going to need ongoing reminders of that.

Bib Fortuna approached the small group, followed by several Gamorrean guards and an EV droid.

"There are indeed laws to be followed within this region, but his eminence Jabba would not-so-humbly request that I remind you.....um, 'corporal' was it? Those laws are determined by the almighty Jabba and are his to enforce. These fine citizens have barely left their port of arrival and here you are issuing citations. I don't think so."

[Insidious]

Kanan had to take a moment to get his bearings. One moment they were walking along completely innocuously. The next, they were being surrounded by Imperials.

The leadmost Imperial actually seemed somewhat reasonable, as Imperials went. No harm, no foul. Maybe a little dirtier than they'd planned, but it would blend them even more to their Tatooine surroundings. His subordinate, however? He was clearly cut from a different cloth.

So he thought Hera and Zeb were slaves? He'd hear about that later. Ugh.

Sabine, unsurpridingly, didn't take the officer's attitude much better, and started to dish out some of her own.

"Whoa, okay, easy now. Let's..."

But before Kanan could get anything else out, a new figure entered their conversation. Just as the officer was in the process of issuing them citations, a robed twi-lek intervened and snatched them away. Kanan's jaw dropped open slightly, looking from the twi-lek to the Imperial officer.