I am usually able to write adventure based on my own creativity. I've posted a few career seed plots and I've written many for my RPG group. I mention this so you folks don't think I'm asking for a hook for every idea I come up with. Sometimes I just can't get my head in gear to take an adventure to the next level. I need help with this one.

Here's the plot:

1. The heroes are hired to test the new security measures put in place at Nubian Star Drives Incorporated. They are tasked to infiltrate and steal a dummy file named "Shockwave" from the headquarters.

2. I want the heroes to plan and execute this infiltration in the style of "Jewel of Yavan" and "Ocean's 11". I have written up detailed information on the layout and security measures. My group likes to come up with complex plans so this should be a hit with them.

3. The heroes successfully get through security and download the dummy file "Shockwave". They deliver the file to Nubian Star Drive's chief of security and get paid well. The chief states he'll hang on to their transponder code for future work opportunities.

4. Two days later the heroes are preparing to take off when they are approached by Nubian Security Enforcers. After being taken to the Nubian Tower of Justice they are told that they have sufficient evidence to charge them with industrial espionage and theft of intellectual property.

5. The security chief was a fraud! The heroes are presented with the evidence: They have arrested the ringleader of the crime and he has offered a full confession. He had the heroes transponder code.The Security Enforcers also have footage that shows the PCs delivering the file and getting paid.

6. When shown the video the it's all over the chief's soldier only the PCs faces are visible. The man who confessed looks similar to the chief but is a different person (in reality a career criminal paid a large sum of credits to take the fall and implicate the heroes).

7. The heroes are released on bail. They have to clear their names, but how?

What happens next? What plot hook would you use to wrap this caper up? I'm at a mental roadblock and need your help to complete this episode.

Thank you very much for the assist!

How much longer do you want it to go past that point? Is everything up till then just the Act I? Or is the "trial" and reveal the twist before the final Act?

The amount of additional mileage you intend would inform what sort of "what comes next" to prep.

At the very least you should have means by which the party can investigate to try and find the real con artist who set them up. Perhaps track him down in time to crash the meet where he is supposed to exchange "Shockwave" with his buyer. With the actual con artist and the stolen file recovered, a few bribes and a bit of bureaucracy could conceivably clear their names with a "don't ever come back here" slap on the wrist.

Or if your group is unscrupulous, they could try and dig up blackmail on key enforcement officials and the judge to get themselves out of one sort of trouble and potentially into a whole other kind of trouble.

How much longer do you want it to go past that point? Is everything up till then just the Act I? Or is the "trial" and reveal the twist before the final Act?

This episode will run a little long. I intend for an Act 2 to contain the quest to prove their innocence (this is where I'm stumped). Act 3 will consist of the final showdown with the fake chief and the criminals he's working with (Black Sun? The Pyke Syndicate? Invid Alliance Pirates?)

Maybe have the Nubian Security Chief make them an offer they can't refuse. If they help get the file back for him, he'll let them go. Obviously because the PC's successfully absconding with the information makes him look bad for his employer, so its better nobody knows that this happened. If they don't help, he'll turn them over to the Imperials.

Maybe have the person who hired them be a competitor of Nubian Star Drive. Maybe a smaller company, run by a minor crime syndicate looking to join the big leagues, thats trying to get a leg up on their competition.

Is this the first adventure for a new group or just a new adventure for a seasoned group? The reason I ask is you may need to be prepared for suspicious players throwing a wrench into your plans.

As an early adventure in a campaign I think you would have less problems. This adventures sounds like something the GM would throw at a party that is getting used to the rules, needs to meet some new in-game contacts, etc. It sounds great. Consider the idea stolen. But a seasoned group may have a player or two asking, "So this adventure is just making some money testing security? That's it? No real threat just some credits for free really?" If your players aren't too green, they could easily know something is up from the get go. Are you ready for one of the PCs to be told to not go on the security heist, but stay back and begin surveillance on the chief? How about someone taking out a camera and snapping a shot of the chief for use later? Researching his company credentials to see if he is legit before taking the job? Sticking a tracking device on the chief or his speeder just in case? Be prepared for that kind of stuff in case your group gets suspicious and derails your plans.

Ideas for the follow-up investigation by the players:

• As already suggested, look for the real chief. Make sure the players have enough to start with by giving a few clues during the heist itself. If they are left with no clues at all to track him down, where do they even start?
• Surveillance cameras on businesses nearby the heist building may catch the fake chief's real image.
• The fake chief stopped at a nearby diner before the heist and was memorable somehow. A waitress may need to be interviewed. "Yes I remember him, left a large credtip, he mentioned he was about to make it big and had already made a down payment on a shiny new red XP-38 speeder over at Seezto's Speeder Lot".
• The players locate the company uniform the fake chief tossed in a nearby dumpster. Perception checks could lead to an item left behind in a pocket or something else tossed in the dumpster. Perhaps a receipt from the diner above? Not sure if Star Wars has receipts though.

Is this the first adventure for a new group or just a new adventure for a seasoned group? The reason I ask is you may need to be prepared for suspicious players throwing a wrench into your plans.

Thanks for the great ideas! I will incorporate them into the episode. Everyone who has contributed gets a +1 for today. Please keep the clues coming; my group is very cerebral and loves putting complex things together.

To answer your question, it will be a seasoned group on their 17th adventure. Based on your suggestions I may run this much sooner as an adventure for getting used to the rules.

This sounds like they need to hunt down the fake chief and con him into confessing (while they secretly record it).

Maybe he thinks he has them at his mercy and is about to kill them.

Maybe there is a huge sabaac game amongst the local underworld and part of it is boasting about recent scores (the rep gained in this game is almost as lucrative as the winnings). They have to disguise themselves (or prop up a ringer) and then somehow sneak in a recording device (a challenge in and of itself) then win enough games to get to his table, just so you can goad him into spilling his story of pulling one over on the party.

… actually, just use the last one.

Taking some of the ideas given, this is the ending I am currently planning to go with. If someone posts another good idea I may change this. Friendly criticism and reviews are welcome.

The ending involves Asante Okoro, a reoccurring NPC who is part of Black Sun. Sometimes she aids the PCs; sometimes she works against them.

Here is the outline for Acts 2 & 3:

1. The heroes have to track down the real villain to clear their names. They should start by searching for clues:
   1. Holocams near the Nubian Star Drives Incorporated building may have captured the fake chief on a recording.
   2. The fake chief stopped at a nearby diner before the heist and was memorable. A waitress may need to be interviewed. "Yes I remember him, left a large credtip, he mentioned he was about to make it big and had already made a down payment on a shiny new red G35 “Silver Cloud airspeeder over at Seezto's Speeder Lot ".
   3. The company uniform that the fake chief was wearing was ditched in a nearby dumpster. If searched the heroes find a receipt for a visit to the diner before the crime (see above). There also is a scrap of flimsiplast with an address (the address is for the loft he is staying in).
2. If the heroes head for the loft, in the upper class part of town, they find the bottom level contains Miss Abigale Sternly and her husband Roric Sternly . They are adamant about not letting the heroes go up to the loft.
   1. Once the heroes get up to the loft they find several immaculate outfits including three Nubian Star Drives uniforms. On the desk is a flimsiplast receipt for a down payment on a G35 speeder from Seezto’s Speeder Lot.
   2. When the heroes return downstairs they find Abigale & Roric armed with heavy blaster pistols. They reveal they work for Black Sun and the heroes will not leave this building alive. Abigale & Roric use Journeyman Bounty Hunter stats from CRB page 400.
3. If the heroes proceed to Seezto’s Speeder Lot they find a vast assortment of speeders. At long range the fake chief, Raylon Dice , is signing off on a piece of flimsiplast to purchase the G53 speeder (Suns of Fortune pg. 104) . Raylon immediately spots the heroes and leaps into his new speeder.
4. The heroes must give chase. They can jump into whatever speeder they want.
   1. Raylon Dice uses Smuggler Baron stats from CRB page 395.
   2. The chase is difficult as the heroes must pursue Raylon; there are other airspeeders and thick cloud cover overhead.
5. After the chase the heroes apprehend Raylon. If they try to kill him he will be rendered unconscious until this scene resolves.
6. Suddenly an old enemy, Asante Okoro, appears on the scene. Behind her are two three-man minion groups of Pirate Crew from CRB page 393. She reveals that Raylon Dice is an agent of Black Sun . He’s gone rogue and Asante has been sent to track him down and bring him before Vigo Clezo . Asante demands the heroes hand over Raylon. If they refuse she will try to bribe them with a 10,000 credit exchange.

ASANTE OKORO [NEMESIS]

Skills: Athletics 2, Charm 3, Coercion 2, Cool 2, Coordination 3, Deception 3, Ranged (Light) 3, Perception 2, Resilience 2, Stealth 2, Vigilance 3

Talents: Adversary 1, Quick Draw, Lethal Blows 2 (+20 to critical checks), Stalker 2 (Add 2 Boost Dice to any Coordination & Stealth checks)

Abilities: None.

Equipment: Holdout Blaster (Ranged [Light]; Damage 5; Critical 4; Range [short]; Stun Setting), Heavy Blaster Pistol (Ranged [Light]; Damage 7; Critical 3; Range [Medium]; Stun Setting), armored clothing (+1 soak, +1 defense)

1. The heroes can opt to let Asante finish her work or they may fight her gang to see Raylon brought the justice. Either way Asante isn’t leaving without Raylon Dice.
2. Once the dust settles the heroes can recover the Shockwave data chip carried by Raylon. With a hard Computers check the heroes determine Shockwave is the code name for a new Class ½ Hyperdrive .
   1. If the heroes return the stolen plans to Nubian Star Drives Incorporated they will be rewarded with 10,000 credits.
   2. The Nubian Security Enforcers determine that the heroes were being manipulated by Black Sun. They are cleared of all charges.
   3. The heroes can opt to keep the Shockwave file. With a hard Mechanics check the heroes are able to build their own prototype to install in their starship.

The heroes can opt to keep the Shockwave file. With a hard Mechanics check the heroes are able to build their own prototype to install in their starship.

If they choose this route, I would make sure they know they are gaining a very large amount of Obligation as they will be hounded for the file and/or prototype.

The heroes can opt to keep the Shockwave file. With a hard Mechanics check the heroes are able to build their own prototype to install in their starship.

If they choose this route, I would make sure they know they are gaining a very large amount of Obligation as they will be hounded for the file and/or prototype.

Agreed. They would make a new enemy in Nubian Star Drives Inc. with the power to influence things throughout the galaxy and endless coffers to hire bounty hunters. It would open up several new story ideas.

You also may find that they choose option 4. Copy the data and give the original back to NSD.

Players will find a way to have their cake and eat it too.