The slaves cower at your word. You are not so great with people, but you got the point across with your call for up-shutting. You have their attention!
The guards bristle at this, though. They're not entirely sure why you need quiet... but you've got their attention, too!
Still want to carry on with the second line?
Panic does not remain low for very long as the concussion missiles burst against the hull of The Trade... or so it seems. It actually has a disruptive shield that detonates projectiles before they hit the hull, a very powerful but power-draining device. The concussion of the missiles still bumps the ship, but little else.
A few slaves have joined you, peering out the viewport as more shots are exchanged.
Xavier watches as the ship defenses take care of the attackers. He sees more people coming around him. He stands tall and tries to give off his best presence of power and strength.
"You see that vessel is trying everything it can but this is a hard shell to crack. No to take down a beast like this you've got to do it from the inside out. Where there is but tender meat and flesh." He pauses then adds.
"Still the fact they are fighting at all despite the odds is a characteristic we should all hope to have."
With that he will finish watching the spectacle outside.
With the nervous chatter having resumed, you are not overheard by the guards.
But the slaves understand what you've implied. They watch you go, then talk amongst themselves about you.
It is not long after you stop viewing the space battle that the pirates scramble to their transports to abduct survivors and pick up supplies from the wrecked freighter. They return with, unsurprisingly, more slaves, nearly a hundred.
Trax serves as an informant of sorts to the slaves, now that you have gathered more interest than simply 'that guy who got beat up for doing something stupid.' The slaves are wary of receiving the treatment you've received, but at this point, an attempt to escape sounds better than a lifetime of servitude. Trax tells cryptically of your idea...
What few followers you start with are mostly minorities amongst the slaves, mostly non-humans from agricultural worlds. Experience with firearms is low, but better than nothing.
Xavier takes a seat on something remaining calm, detached from the situation. This is good cause despite even the biggest structures started with the tiniest of materials. This was a good start at least now Xavier knew he had something.
Xavier had a feeling that those remaining on the fence were not so much the ones who didn't want to be free, but more of those that wondered if such a thing could be successful. So that was Xavier's next goal some small demonstration that this could work. That could wait for now. He sill needed some more of Trax's stuff before he would do something like that.
Trax does his best to keep spreading the word on top of his other tasks. As he does so, a few characters turn up amongst your minor following.
One such person is Prassk, a former pirate that was captured after Svidrigailov sought to claim space lanes from the competition. The Trandoshan voices his interest, wanting the old fool dead for ruining his profitable (though illegal) career.
Another is Hoondan, a human from an outlying agricultural world. A hunter by trade, he was taken by the Sklaboreans when they raided his world to stock up on commodities. Svidrigailov had his family killed to break him, but you have restored his hope and rekindle his want for revenge.
Other than these two and Trax, none of the other slaves claim any phenomenal skill with blasters.
Trax also discovers that Loola is being kept near the bridge, but still no specifics.
Are you informing anyone of your idea for a small example?
Xavier will talk with the Prassk and Hoondan a little before. Trying to be as sutbe as possible making it sound like he is more interested in their backgrounds.
"So Prassk you were a former Pirate and you Hoondan were a hunter. You guys must be skilled combatants then. Do you guys ever miss fighting?"
Xavier will scan them to see what their emotions are and whether or not they can be trusted.
Prassk boasts and brags of numerous feats he has under his belt, but you sense that most of it is just that: boasting. There is not much meat to his career. Simply put, he was a thug. A decent one, at least.
Hoondan says in a thick accent that he is "pretty good shot" and "not bad hunter," but you sense he is being modest. He does not miss hunting; it is easier being fed than feeding yourself.
Hard to say on trust, as they have no reason to have you trust them yet.
Xavier thinks he will need to keep a watchful eye on Prassk. He maybe be angry but for some reason Xavier could see him turning tail and taking the easy way out.
Xavier will take Hoondan off to the side though for a moment and whisper to him. "So you say you lost your family. What lengths are you willing to go to avenge them?"
Once again Xavier will scan Hoondan to see how honest his answer is.
"Yes I am," Xavier says but not wanting to make too much noise with the guards possibly around.
Xavier figures it is time for the demonstration to take shape. He doesn't want it to be something that will gather a lot of attention. He doesn't want to increase the guards alertness. He figures the best way is to show a demonstration to a small group of people on one Pirate.
The basic plan is for Hoondan to do something that would normally not attract enough attention from all the guards just something one guard would normally correct. Xavier wants to get that pirate alone enough that him and Prassk, who will be staying very close to Xavier, will show up. Xavier then will try and make an intimidation roll simply by show of presence hoping that three people standing around the pirate will make him nervous enough to run back to the rest of his friends.
Xavier wants to do this to show that through numbers and surprise that the slaves can over run the guards.
"I like your enthusiasm Prassk I almost share it, but my Father use to tell me don't rush things. Wait until you have the advantage then press the issue. Until word can fully get around we will wait for now."
"Prassk, Hoondan I have a simple task for you guys. I want you to get a head count of any possible pilots from the slave ranks. Don't be to open about it as to get caught though."
Once him and Trax are as alone as Slaves can get he will talk more with Trax but not about the mission, "I'm sure you have been doing everything I asked of you Trax you are a good person for doing so. But I wanted to say Thank You for all your help so far it has been most valuable."
Trax is nonchalant about your thanks.
"It is an honor to be of use," Trax says, "for more than slave labor."
Hoondan is able to count about fifty slaves with piloting experience. Nothing notable, however. Prassk, being a Pirate, is an excellent pilot, and Trax is decent enough. Trax tells you that there are roughly ten transports that the Sklaboreans make use of. They only require a single pilot, but no harm in co-pilots.
"Remember when I say this Trax that you are more than slave labor you are a being of the universe and worthy of all it's glory." Xavier said this with his never changing tone of voice.
The number of slaves with piloting experience definitely was very good in Xavier's mind. It means they could lose some and still have enough to pilot the craft.
Next it was time to find a way to get Friste Tem out of the picture to buy Xavier the time he needed. No doubt the Pirate Leader already sensed something was a foot. Xavier doubted he knew the exact level of it so far but it was a chance he wasn't willing to take.
After all the Slave rebellion was just a ruse to get to Loola, which was the most important part of his mission. Thus it needed to go off without a hitch. So he needed something he knew Friste would dive into head first and not give anything else a second thought.
The only thing Xavier knew right now that would totally distract Friste from the rebellion was his one fatal flaw. His absolute confidence in his abilities, and the fact that anything that challenged that lie would undoubtedly gain the full attention of the former Jedi Knight. What then could be used to do such a thing Xavier thought to himself.