Fwurg

[Shebi Ajava]

Shebi Ajava memorizes the woman's appearance and the feel of the woman's impact on the force. But she stays still until the woman is gone.

[T'Sal]

T’sal waits for the women to leave.

“S4 make sure you record everything, so we can check on things later.

Move the probe towards the scientists I want to see what they are doing. With this magnifier on the probe we should be able to see the panels/tools they use and maybe I can finger out what they are working on.”

((OOC: Force level 5 + Reason 5 + scientist 3 + preparatory study before))

[Mercury]

Once the woman was gone, the probe carefully got to work, taking in data and displaying it while T'sal analysed. It was good T'sal had come along as her scientific expertise proved to be crucial to figuring out what was going on.

The team had already established that this station was more than a mere research base. The collectors did not just gather particles for study, but the station had been refitted to gather and store exotic matter, preparing it in containers ready for transport, though they could not tell where the containers were from here - likely the lab computer contained that data, though the team hadn't located the lab computers yet either.

T'sal didn't leave her research at that though.

((OOC: I am giving a +4 circumstance modifier in total as you also have an established background in science, so the final score is a whopping 17, enough to beat the DC of 15, a very hard check. Like a boss.))

From the configuration and the parameters of the collectors and the adjustments the scientists were making, T'sal had no choice but to let the logic lead her to a conclusion she would normally dismiss as impossible: the exotic matter they were gathering were Micro-black Branes. Resembling subatomic scale black holes, these Micro-black Branes also held dimensional components outside of the regular and hyperspace universe, giving them some very exotic properties. In theory: Micro-black Branes were impossible to detect with current technology.

In any other situation, T'sal might have gotten quite excited about this discovery. Here someone had not just detected something that existed only in theory, but they were actively harvesting them! Despite how outdated it looked, whomever controlled this station had access to technology that was unavailable in the Union.

However, knowing what they were collecting, T'sal also realised the implications. Anyone capable of this might also be capable of taking it to the next level and developing them into weapons.

Ironically, that also suggested that the owners of this station might in fact be innocent in the attacks on the Floating Factory - anyone who could harvest and weaponize Micro-black Branes probably wouldn't bother with something as primitive as an exotic matter charge.

[T'Sal]

While investigating various expressions are seen on T’sals face. From concentrated at the beginning to glaring at the results to surprise and excitement and finally concerned. She checks up a few things and garthers info to help her explain what there are doing here.

“In this station they are doing very advanced technological research. They are collecting Micro-black Branes, these are particles which in the Union only exist theoretically. These particles have special properties and on subatomic scale resemble black holes.”

T’sal shows some pictures and graphs.

“This is a great discovery! However like with all great scientific discoveries it can be used in multiples ways and have quite an impact on the universe. If these Micro-black Branes are used to make weapons they will be quite destructive. It would be like firing small black holes to your enemy.

Whoever owns this station has quite something in his hands. The big question is what will he do with it?
From the way he takes care of his employees he does not have much empathy.”

T’sal looks up who owns this station and what his profile is (to which faction does he belong, political influence, etc.).

((OOC: Yeah! this is uber))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava listened to the torrent of information from T'Sal.

When T'Sal was done talking, she asked: "So they do make weapons. We need to gather as much information on these weapons and as much of the research you just described.

I estimate we have a few more minutes before she will reach the command centre. After that, we can be detected at any moment. We will have to move fast. We need to find the lab servers, and copy their data; just copy all encrypted data as well, we can have it decrypted later.

As I don't see any servers here, we'd better check out the collectors."

Shebi Ajava looked to see whether the technicians were focussed on their work, and prepared to hop back into the corridor. ((OOC: Force Level 5 + Vision 4))

"You two did make a copy of the data on the system you sliced into in the data centre, right?"

[Darones Rei]

" Indeed we did, Miss Shebi, " Darones responded "It all on T'Sal padd. As for the encryption, it's not hard to break, but we do not have the time to spare. Once we find the servers, we'll see if we can get in and copy the data, just as before. Perhaps we should consider destroying the data or the servers afterwards.. "

[T'Sal]

“Guys, you should not jump to conclusions. The only thing we have now is data that supports that they are collecting Micro-black Branes. We do need to get the server data and get a sample to prove that.

We do not have any information where they are using the particles for. We are here to investigate things and we should not sabotage anything unless you want to let everyone here know that we are here.

This research station should have a connection to the server, maybe behind one of the panels. S4 could you use your magnetic field sensors to find the server or a connection to the server.

For a real sample we need to steal a monster. But as long as those scientists are working we cannot get close.”

((OOC: S4 uses sensors to find server, so we don’t have to break open multiple panels.))

[Shebi Ajava]

"I'm not jumping to conclusions. You just said they can create weapons with these micro-brane particles!"

"I agree that we shouldn't sabotage anything though. Maybe we can mark their data and containers somehow? That would allow us to track these things. But whatever we do, we must hurry up. As I already said we don't have more than a few minutes before she is at the command centre."

[Mercury]

((OOC: Apologies for my long delay before posting here again))

The team carefully made its way away from the lab to find the server room, using S4's sensors to lead them and finally locating it in a separate room conspicuously marked "cleaning-droid closet" where all the data cables running along the ceiling led to.

The server itself was pretty heavily fortified, Darones soon found, not so much software-wise as by the a solid durasteel casing surrounding the system to prevent tampering - without a screen or even access ports exposed, getting to it would be difficult.

Durasteel is vulnerable to lightsabers, but using a lightsaber on the casing might trigger an alarm if the casing was rigged and it most certainly would be noticeable afterwards.

While Darones decided out how to deal with this, T'Sal quickly looked up more information on the station, finding it was owned by an investment firm named the Hesperus' Initiative. It was registered as an Outer Rim corporation, but that was all T'Sal was able to figure out while on the station - she'd probably be able to find out more later on though.

Just then, the lead scientist stepped out of the room they had been in earlier, passing by the "cleaning-droid closet" where the team was now hiding with the server. The scientist hadn't noticed them, nor was he likely to as he continued walking towards a different section of the labs, carefully pushing a cart with a spherical device of some sort on it.

[T'Sal]

T’sal looks from the server to the scientist.

“I think we need to use our powers to get more access. We might want to trick that scientist into giving us the information.

Like making him to check if everything is all rights with the probe near to we can see what he does.

It looks like he is going towards …”

T’sal looks at the maps to see where he is going.

[Mercury]

T'sal noticed the scientist was moving towards the docking bay.

[T'Sal]

"......the docking bay."

T'sal looks to Darones and miss Shebi.

" It is going to get shiped. What shall we do?"

[Darones Rei]

"Hmm, " Darones responded softly " Cracking this server is going to be noticed," concerning the durasteel housing of server.

" But this scientist and the equipment might be an easier target, besides he could provide us with valuable intell we are unable to gather just from stealing data. We could just take him and the cart with us. Unless eihter of you have other ideas? "

[Shebi Ajava]

"Now now Darones. The mission was to get to the station unnoticed, gather the information in secret and get back out without being noticed. I don't think capturing the lead scientist will promote our chances of not getting noticed."

"Since this server is not accessible without leaving traces, we will follow the scientist. We'll see what they are up to in the docking bay. Between the video and audio recordings from S4, the data from the other servers and some idea of what they are doing with those devices we will probably have enough evidence.

The most positive option would be the extraction of a device from the docking bay -- though it would leave some traces, we might be able to sneak out a device that has been stashed already... This would mean that any traces of our presence will only be discovered once the devices arrive at their destination."

Shebi Ajava calmed herself for a moment, trying to determine the heading of the force disturbance around the woman. ((OOC: Force Level 5 + Intuition 4; Circumstance: found her before))

"I still think we should hurry up though. That woman wasn't joking about running a security check. Let's make our way to the docking bay through these access tunnels we've been using; with luck, we arrive before the scientist does. T'Sal, you take point."

[Mercury]

Shebi Ajava concentrated on the disturbance, sensing the woman had come to a halt - knowing the woman's intentions and having found her before, the Veolian was able to sense predatory instincts coming from the woman, like a hunter searching for prey. Nothing good could come of that.

((OOC: Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see any final decision being made. I'll need a clear course of action from the team.))

[Shebi Ajava]

"T'sal, take point! Darones, follow suit!", Shebi ordered the pair.

"That interesting lady is currently hunting for us, so we have only a few more minutes before we are getting out of here regardless of any evidence we've found."

[T'Sal]

“Okay, I’m ready to go. I just retrieved the Ixa’a probe, we do not want to leave anything behind.”

T’sal takes a final look at the datapad with the best route to the docking bay and then puts it aside.

Before leaving their hide-out she checks if there is no-body near and moves out, closely followed by S4, Darones and miss Shebi. The route was not the shortest or fastest but the safest, they really did not want to be detected.

((OOC: Force level 5 + Vision/Fitness 3 + stealth 1))

[Darones Rei]

Darones followed T'Sal as they made their way back through the vent-shaft. Time was now working against them, and they didn't want to be detected, as with all they had learned already, it would be to dangerous to let them go if caught.

" You do realise " Darones mentioned " That if we manage to acquire one device, we would be in violation of the Second Kinewa Convention, covering shipment and use of Singularity weapons. The Council must be told immediately. "

[Shebi Ajava]

"Oh... Maybe we should not take such a weapon with us then", Shebi Ajava said while following T'Sal and Darones into the ventillation system.

[Mercury]

The Padawans quickly hurried through the access tunnels, shortcutting towards the docking bay. Soon they found themselves tightly packed together in an air duct ((OOC: X)) above the upper walk way of the stations docking bay, overlooking a single ship ((OOC: Y)). It almost resembled a fighter, but it was bigger than that, having space for some cargo as well. From the heavy weapons and armour it was no doubt however that this ship was made to pack a punch.

In the main bay below, the scientist had just arrived carrying the spherical device with them. And it wasn't the only one there. A droid was loading the vessel with several more, similar devices, seemingly taking its job very slow and carefully.

The refuelling lines for the ship were disconnected, implying the ship had already been refuelled and was getting ready to leave.

[Shebi Ajava]

"I think stealing that ship is not the best of plans; as we were supposed to get in and out unnoticed.

However, we don't know what they are going to do with all these bombs -- it surely can't be good. I think we should put a tracker on that ship, or on some of the devices?"

[T'Sal]

“I do not have transmitter, but we could make one.”

T’sal looks like she is thinking hard.

“Power source, antenna, circuit board,…..

I think S4 has everything to make one. We might need to disassemble some things tough. But he has a work/repair shop with equipment, so that should do.

Darones could you help me with the design then S4 can make it quickly.”

((Check: 11 = 5 Force Level + 5 Reason + 1 Mechanical Engineer -- + assistance))

[Darones Rei]

" Indeed, " Darones said in agreeing with Shebi's situational analysis, " taking the craft out with us would compromise our mission orders. But i'm not keen on seeing this craft just disappear as it is obviously being prepped for launch. We would need some way to keep tap on where it is going, and I believe a tracker might just do the trick. I'll give you a hand T'Sal, we should have all the materials we need."

((Check: 11 = 4 Force Level + 5 Reason + 2 Mechanical Engineer -- conjoint with T'Sal to construct a tracker))

During their work on the tracker, Darones opted the following: " What about those devices, these Micro-grain blackholes, should we mark some of the containers as well? "

[Mercury]

Darones and T'sal got to work - getting all the components wasn't as easy as they'd hoped, so they had to scavenge some components from S4, disabling his transmitter, though that would be easy to replace later.

Meanwhile, growing ever more nervous with the woman they had seen earlier discovering them, Shebi Ajava kept track of security scans being run in the station through the warning system T'sal had installed back in the server room - the station was being scanned sector by sector. If the room they were in was scanned, they would surely be discovered, so they'd need to keep ahead of the scans which were moving closer quickly.

Finally, the scientist and the engineer managed to finish up with the tracker and using a swift swiping of the force, T'sal was able to use her Telekinesis to hide the tracker inside the ship.

And that wasn't a moment too soon as the scan was just starting in the next room over and the hangar bay would be next!

With the time taken to build a tracker there weren't all that many options open to them.

They couldn't stay in the hangar, but they also could not go back into the air-ducts as those would be scanned as well. The elevator that the scientist had come in on being the only other way out, the team hurried towards it. But before even getting near, the doors of the elevator closed, the lighting on it changing to red and a marking appearing on the screen above it "Security Lock - please wait for security check to complete before using the elevator".

It seemed they were trapped!

[T'Sal]

T'sal comes to a halt. (Damn)
Now it was time for some quick thinking.

"Emergency exits are always open." and T'sal starts looking around for it.

((Check: 8 = 5 Force Level + 3 Vision -- + bonus of having a map))

They needed to get access to some door or exit.

“ Mmh wait, we still have the access card maybe we can use it to open the door.”