"But how could they have known that Sieri would have been sent?" says Ithrorn. "Seems a very tenuous way of doing things. Besides, that Hutt ship was already in orbit when we arrived."
It seems that both Hutt and crates are being taken in the same direction. If you guys want to follow, you had better be careful...
The procession appears to be heading underground. They obviously have been told where to go.
After some fifteen minutes, with you guys shadowing them, they come to a halt in a wide underground area. Luckily, a nearby balcony offers you an obscured but safe view of proceedings.
A number of heavily armed men, sporting Faylar's embelm, are wating for the Hutt comittee.
The Hutt settles down on her grav platform at one end of the room and a single crate is brought inside.
Lots of blasters indeed. The Hutt's bodyguards move in to surround her, and now more and more of Faylar's helmeted men are moving in as well.
With four more bodyguards behind him, a tall, slightly greying man walks on with a continous conteptuous sneer on his face. This man is Faylar.
"You're late, Shareth," he says;
Shareth the Hutt speaks in a typical mocking Hutt voice., In the cinema, this is subtitled, but I am assuming you can all understand basic Huttese!
"Do not test my pateince, Faylar... you may have provided me with the codes for the blockade but NOT with a way to jump the queue... there are many hundreds of ships out there... but if you are unhappy, maybe you do not want what I have to offer..."
Faylar sighs.
"Very well," he says. "Let me take a look at the merchandise."
"Your war is finished without my cargo, Faylar," says Shareth. "Do not forget that. Maybe before I show you anything you should provide proof that you can pay me..."
Faylar motions two of his men forwards. They are heaving a sack between them. They struggle to tip it out, and many gold bars fall to the floor.
"All mined from Avalar," says Faylar. "And plenty more where that came from. Now SHOW me what you have!"
Sharteh laughs a deep Huttese laugh, and motions for the crate to be opened.
The front of the crate falls open. It is dark inside. Shareth waves her fat finger at one of her men, who presses an unseen switch. A hum starts and rises sharply, and something starts to come out of the crates...
"Uhhh... what's going on out there... check it out..."
"Roger Roger"
Two unmistakebale figures of Trade Federation battle droids leave the crate, with two more behind...
"They don't look very impressive," says Faylar.
"They are not the finest troops you will ever see," says Shareth. "But they need no food, no water, and no sleep... and they transport well. I have almost a million units ready for you..."
"And you can supply them to me safely?" says Faylar. Shareth chuckles.
"The Federation army that atacked Naboo is being decomissioned, but many cargo shipments have disappeared... with chaos in the Republic courts it is impossible for them to track these missing shipments... I cannot, of course, trade them inside the Republic..."
"But I'm not in the Republic," says Faylar, with a smile.
"Indeed. And you are rich and willing to pay... perfect for my needs. With this army you can dominate Damagran and no-one will stop you..."
A million units...a million... Gundark rolled the word around inside her head like a marble. Faylar wouldn't stop with Damagram either. He could move on to other planets, other systems...but this was not the time or place to try to look into the future. She whispered to Lance. "Getting a message to the Jedi Council is our top priority right now. Searching for Argentis will have to temporarily wait."
"But no tanks?" asks Faylar. "No fighters?"
"Even with your codes, getting the droids through was difficult," says Shareth, "and it is only the foot soldiers that are slipping through the Republican net... you must supply the heavy forces, and I can supply you the foot men..."
"Very well," says Faylar. "I understand my men are loading the crates into the palace now."
"Yes," says Shareth., "The droids pack efficiently indeed, there is no special care needed with the crates."
"Then with the droids already in my possession," says Faylar, "Perhaops we can talk about your fee."
"We have already decided my price," says Shareth, darkly.
"Well, I think you aren't being fair. I am paying you EXTREMELY well as it is without your mark-ups"
"That as it may be, my price stays. And if YOU had not offered such foolishly large bounties on your opponents you would not have exhausted your funds so quickly!"
"This isn't a discussion," says Faylar. "I have what I need. I'll pay you a price that I agree and no other!"
"Do not test my patience, Faylar..." says Shareth. She motions to one of her men.
Suddenly, the whole rooim is filled with motion as EVERYONE draws their guns and levels them at the otjer side! At least a hundred guns are brandished at once!
And the only one who does not move is Shareth herself, who lets out another deep, mocking laugh...
But Gundy, you notice something else... a man near the back of Faylar's bodyguard... he went for his weapon BEFORE Shareth motioned her men, like he saw it coming... and also, he did not reach for his gun. He reached behind his jacket where he might, for example, conceal a lightsabre, then looked annoyed and reached for his gun instead...
Shareth's laughter continues for a while...
"You are a fool, Faylar," she says. She motions. and an aide produces a control unti about a foot square.
"Your army, grand as it may be, is no good without thois... the activation switch..." Shareth's bodygaurds start to chcukle as well. The aide points his gun at the switch itself. "Put down your weapons," says Shareth. Faylar does nothing. "Destroy it," says Shareth.
"WAIT!" yells Faylar. "I'll pay." Shareth laughs again.
"Good. I will leave sveeral thousand droids activated to help you keep order. I will give you the codes to activate the others once I am in orbit."
"And I am meant to bekeive that?" says Faylar.
"You have no choice. But if I get a reputation for bad business my profits will suffer. You will get the code. If you are sensible." Shareth's grav-platform takes off.
"A pleasure doing business with you, Faylar..." says Shareth, as she floats away, laughing.
"Get me out of here," says Faylar, soon afterwards. "And get all the units to the palace."
Over the next few minutes, everyone files out. Last to go is the person Gundark spotted, acting oddly. He looks all around, as if he senses your presence, but then he gives up.
For a moment, though, he looked at the balcony, and you get a good look at him. Even with the helmet, you can tell who it is. It is Argentis.