Wings of Hope

[SnowDog]

Hyperspace - Onboard The Royal Decree Approaching Fresia

Blue streaks swirled around the exterior of the C-ROC class Gonzanti Cruiser, it’s hull illuminated by the intense light produced by hyperspace travel. The craft wasn’t anything new, a couple generations old and certainly showing her age. However, for the Onaka Pirates it was the latest in their line of stolen starships. The ship was meant to be a gift given to the captain of the royal guard by the nobility of some backwater world on the fringes of the mid-rim, named such after the angered transmission Hondo and company received following their theft of the craft. The ship was still fresh to them, fairly unused before their recent shift away from their old and more easily recognizable saucer like craft. The Decree has yet to be given all of the “personal” touches needed to truly make it feel like it was their ship just yet. This played perfectly into Hondo’s latest scheme however as the ship did not bear any of his marks, which makes passing visual checks a breeze.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard!” The Weequay pirate boasted, emerging through a sliding pair of bulkhead doors with his arms held out wide in a theatrical fashion as he entered the main meeting area. “I hope the Decree has provided each of you the needed comfort during this endeavor.” As he approached the holoprojector In the center of the room, Hondo rested his hands against the control panel that encircled the terminal. “After all, it’s not everyday a rich, marketable opportunity presents itself like this!”

From the corner of the room, a blue skinned Twi’Lek rose from her seat, her bright yellow sport jacket doing her no favors in trying to keep a low profile. Her name was Loba’Bondara, a frequenter to Nar Shadar where she made a living running underground swoop competitions.
She slowly walked up beside the holoprojector and folded her arms over he chest, watching and waiting for Hondo’s debriefing.

“One of my many, many good friends within the system passed on some very valuable information I’m sure those in the- uh, ‘Rebellious Institution’ would most certainly like to hear about.” The Weequay pressed several keys into the projector and pulled up the planet Fresia, a planet notable for being the home of the Incom Corporation. “My associate on the inside is willing to work with you on buying and selling some star fighter parts. Now, you sit there and say, ’But Hondo, we didn’t come out this far just to trade parts like Jawas under the sun!’ To which I reply with, of course you did! You’re traveling with Hondo!” The grizzled Weequay let out a hearty laugh which was echoed by members of his crew standing about within the room. “No, see I know you all know that I wouldn’t bring you out this far for a deal so lowly. My friends, you are here to invest in the opportunity of your lives! A deal so lucrative, that even the Empire has passed up on taking...”

[Gavin Caste]

The Royal Decree: Lounge

A small bead of sweat began to form along the right temple of the human male as he stared at his reflection that barely obscured the image of the arcade screen style simulator. He tightened his grasp on the yolk of the simulator controls and banked heavily to the right before ordering the computer generated avatar to evade another relentless barrage from the pirate raider's lethal volley. The lights around the edges of the viewer flickered gold to indicate structural strain before he was forced to level off the tight spiral. "That was a close one," he muttered to himself yet enough for the practitioner in the other seat could hear. "Alright, I admit it... you aren't half bad."

He did not give himself the luxury of glancing over at his Weequay raider adversary. In truth, it did not matter to him how confident or focused his opponent was. The fight, which was already going on its third minute, had already exposed several flaws that could be exploited for an easy victory. But it was a nice diversion to the monotony of hyperspace transit... and it kept him away from the general rabble that gathered throughout the lounge. The alert lights flickered again along the edge of the viewer, this time in silver, warning him of a simulated missile lock.

Wedge Antilles instinctively activated the reverse thrusters and pushed forward throttle to maximum, causing the simulated Arrowhead Fighter to snap into a sharp C turn. He pulled the activation toggles on the two primary batteries on the fighter with a satisfying reward of two simulated bolts of crimson lancing through the raider's primary hull. Moments later the avatar exploded as a result of the damage to the forward hull that had damaged the missile launch systems. A flurry of curses exploded from the console to his left. "Sorry bout that Condla," he chuckled at his good fortune. It had been a friendly competition, with an added spice.

The pirate Condla, an aged veteran to Hondo's crew, was one of the few who still believed in honoring agreements... even if he had been on the losing end of such a gambit. As a handful of other crewmen in the lounge jeered their pilot for losing a fist full of credits to a lowly human whelp.

For his part, Wedge smiled a boyish smile and thanked the man for the diversion... refraining to offer further insult to the pilot by pointing out how many times the fight could have ended with similar results. This was not a den in which such comments would be rewarded with appreciation. If anything, telling the guy that I could have sent him packing right after the simulator launched would probably get me thanked with a blaster bolt to my back. He shook the thought from his head as the heavy double doors in the farthest end of the bulkhead opened to reveal their flamboyant host. "Hondo Onaka." The name slowly and cautiously hung in the air before the pirate leader began his presentation.

After a few moments of the sails pitch, Wedge leaned back in the simulator chair and folded his arms behind his head. "So, this is the fantastic opportunity you told Ezra we needed to hear? Some sort of time share on an industrial world under Imperial control?" He chuckled to himself as he kicked his feet up onto a fixed unoccupied stool nearest the simulator seat. He remained quiet for a moment after Hondo began talking about starfighter parts. "I've heard some of this from Ezra. Asked me to keep an open mind Hondo..."

[Insidious]

The Royal Decree

The holoprojection of Jan Dodonna, rebel general, scratched thoughtfully at the edges of his chin, safely tucked away under a thick, mostly-gray beard.

>>"And what assurances do we have that the Empire's interest in InCom is truly as lapsed as you say? We cannot afford to take idle risks just for 'starfighter parts'."<<

[SnowDog]

“Gentleman! Please, your words cut at Hondo like a vibroblade!” The grizzled Weequay retorted back with his usual flair of dramatics, “We are not here for simple star fighter parts, but if we were I can assure you they would be top of the line!” Hondo then shifted his attention to the controls of the holoprojector, typing in a few commands which shifted the planet over and replaced the focal point onto some Z-95 Headhunter fighters.

“I don’t have specifics, though my friend at Incom says they have been working on improving upon their old model here. In fact, he was surprised the Empire passed on their deal with how highly he talks about the prototypes they’ve got on hand.” He allowed his words to sink in a bit before turning his attention to the various guests that surrounded the holoprojector.

“Now, as an entrepreneur myself, word of your competitors slipping out on a possible business venture opens the markets for everyone else.” He said while idly stroking at the bone-like protrusions of his “beard”, “So that brings us back to why I invited you all on this little outing of mine. I say we go pay our friend Viznek a visit, get a first hand look at their latest project, and if we can’t front a good enough deal for his grubby fingers, well- We do what us pirates here are well known for!” Hondo’s pirate crew all shared a brief chuckle with a couple letting loose an a small cheer of excitement. The transport then rocked a bit as the craft exited hyperspace, the onboard speaker system scrambling on shortly after.

>>”We’ve excited Hyperspace, Cap’n, but uh- We got a bit of a situation up here, you might wanna come take a look at this...”<<

“Well why don’t I leave you all to further discuss how you would like to negotiate this out with Viznek while I go see what all the fuss is about.” The Weequay pirate said pushing off of the holoprojector console. “I would make it quick as we should be landing shortly.”

——

It was a quick walk to the bridge for Hondo, arriving through the sliding bulkhead doors and being washed in the glow of the planet’s atmosphere bleeding into the cockpit area of the ship.

“What’s the situation, boys? We were just getting to the good part of the plan down there.” Hondo’s Officer didn’t even need to answer before the pirate captain saw what he had been alerted about. Hovering around the planet’s orbit was the instantly recognizable shape of the competition he had just been discussing about down in the lounge area: an Imperial Star Destroyer.

“Ohhh Viznek you snake, I thought your guests all had left before you called me!” He cursed aloud, approaching the back of the seat of his flight officer, looking over the pilot’s shoulder at the arrowhead-shaped vessel. “Well this may have become trickier than I was initially expecting. Good thing our new ship isn’t recognizable.”