USH'S GAME EPISODE III- 'ARTIFACT'. Dark Side area

Quam hands him a small compter stick. "Try that one on for size, it'll overwrite security systems. That'll make the programming easier."

Ok can I assume you are re-programming the computer to prioritise the drives? You have about 45 seconds to get out of there.

Quam, you may now laugh at your associates...

*duck tapes Quam's mouth b4 he can laugh 😛 *

"Okay, we need to get the hell outta here," says Galder. He picks up his multipurpose rifle and heads for the docking bay, following the droids.

Well, the droids are indeed taking several hyperdrive units to the docking bay right now. Three units for three ships, you need.

Takuan runs back at the docking bay.
"ok...i think i can lift one drive at a time enough for u guys to push it a little and steer it onto the ship..."

"You're late," says Kuylen. He's not interested in explanations. Pliot guy has boarded his ship and is powering up.

(BTW, Kuylen's old ship was destroyed last story. What he is using now is a four-man Jedi craft, which he has had cosmetically disguised. It has many scorch marks on it)

(Awesome...I suppose I'm taking a shuttle with Takuan or somethin?)

Ah, something like that... you can use your own ship if you want.

BTW, it's not that Kuylen has been out raiding Jedi shipping yards... that's his old ship from when he WAS a Jedi.

"ok...we talk about this later. what ship do we take?....we're running a bit late here"

Well, it's time you choose whether you normally travel with Quam, Kuylen or Galder, Takuan!

"ok, Galder it is...let's go."

And so rather dramatically, you guys power the heck out of there mere seconds before the security systems get back on-line to take irritating pics of you all, and you are free again...

Now you need somewhere near to get these things fitted. Luckily, you guys know a few shady contacts that will get an installation job like that done with no questions asked. Hardly a back street job- too much equipment needed- so this means getting your ships re-fitted at somewhere quite large, which in turn means anyone following your trail will find evidence. But if you have done everything right, no-one WILL be following that trail. The new drives will take at least a day to fix.

So now, back to your original problem... to summarise:

You people need to get to the Mausoleum of Demnos, where with any luck you will get what you need to continue your pillaging of Sith secrets. Two components are needed to get there- the star maps you got from Avalar, and the ancient Sith Astrolabe (the Artifact of the story title). The maps can be copied and spread around, but the Astrolabe is heavy, awkward and unique. Once you HAVE a fix, you would no longer need either, though it is worth keeping the Astrolabe if you have it just to spite others.

You have the maps. Ascar has the Astrolabe and almost certainly made a copy of the maps as well. Which means Ascar knows where the Mausoleum actually is...

You people meet back down in the capital on Malastarew to discuss your next move. Pilot guy is still moaning muchly about the danger of all this. He still thinks that you guys have left too much evidence of sabre and Force use; Kuylen still feels confident that there is no chance of the Jedi knowing you are here at all to begin such an investigation. As it is unlikely that people will look for evidence of sabre use by default, the attack on the depot should be blamed on pirates as planned.

So, you guys are meeting on the surface. Anyone have any points to raise?

After leaving the ship. Takuan joins the group. The chilly weather makes him strap on to his coat a little stronger. His saber hanging from the belt has a vague shine in the dim light.
"so...now we track down ascar again? If he's still on malastare that is. "

"Ascar has no reason to leave," says pilot guy. "This is the centre of his business empire."

"Based on gambling, mainly..." says Kuylen, who is looking thoughtful.

"gambling.....still money he's after. We can say he knows where the mausoleum is. He did get the feeling we were interested in finding it, enough to realise some ....ammounts could be drawn into this. He has the astrolabe, the map...why wouldn't he go for it himself?"

"He's got no reason to," says Kuylen. "There is nothing there for him."

"Literally, if the legends are true," says pilot guy.

"He's so rich now it is difficult to tempt him on any scale. But we will have to find SOME way to convince him. I have Edna off-world doing a job for me that may well get us some new allies, but I will have to wait to hear from her."

"So that cuts us down one person. Hopefully she'll arrive with more though," says Galder.

"Anyway, he might seek out the Mausoleum so that he can add to his collection."

"Somehow," says Kuylen, "I don't believe that a place that reveals itself only to those who wish to learn of the Sith would hold much interest for him."

"IF that is true," says the pilot guy.

"Of course it is true," says Kuylen. "And he didn't seem at all interested when I offered him what artifacts we found there. He's become too cautious.

"Incidentally, Galder, do you want to hear some amusing news I heard? Apparently Pelloran- you remember our old 'dear' friend Pelloran? In charge of the pirates back at Jaglon Beta? We'll have to kill him one day. But I hear he has set a bounty on all the Jedi that were on Jaglon. Can you guess who has picked up the contract?"

"So that includes those Jedi? Well, maybe a bounty hunter will pick them off if they come after us."

"No bounty hunter would be stupid enough to try and take a Jedi inside Republican space," says Kuylen. "Especially not the man I hear has taken the contract, because he is very careful. Care to guess?"