[i looked back through the previous posts and we have no call sign for our group. What is the check that Geoff needs to:
If any one else have any ideas/questions, throw them out?]
EPISODE 3 - NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
"Revenant 1, are you receiving? Revenant, is anyone there?" there's a pause on message. "Revenant team, we can't use names for security but rest assured that this is a tightbeam communication. The only person other than you who might be able to detect it is half a sector away. That said, it won't be long before the Imperials lock on and jam us; it makes a lot of noise sending out a tightbeam. We need you to respond now, or we won't get another chance.
Comms Check: 2eA+2eP+4eD 3 successes, 4 threat
Boost for Comm Check: 1eB 0 successes, 1 advantage
Thank you for saying the Imperials would be properly equipped, thought Geoff as he and CT quickly verified the channel. Seeing it verified, Geoff quickly grabs the microphone.
"This is Revenant 1 Delta. I'm reading and so is half the sector, Imps included. Be advised, get well package was delivered and received by the patient."
Looking at the rest of the team, Geoff shakes his head and sighs. Making sure he wasn't transmitting, Geoff looks at the rest of the team. "Next time we go for a mission, we need to clarify communication protocols. And get either CT or someone knowledgeable about comms training the Captain about what is acceptable forms of communications."
The signal is obviously genuine: it's using an identification code used by Rebel medics to indicate a serious surgical emergency, requiring immediate attention.
"Revenant 1, we know, but this is the only way we were likely to pick them up. You should know, there's a magpie in the nest. You'll want to head for the burrow instead if you're hoping for a warm welcome. Out." The cryptic message shuts off, and the comm system is only static. Tookur's ears prick up however. "Me understand. Me know about code. Me can take to safehouse-safehouse."
[Does Geoff or anyone else recognize the voice? If this is going to be a murder/espionage investigation, we're going to want to figure out who is talking to us.]
Sighing at the mention of magpie, Geoff looks at the rest of the team. "Welp, this is going to be fun. Before we do anything, should we put it to a vote first if we should head back to base or to this 'safehouse'?"
As Geoff waits, he looks over at Tookur. "What do you know about this safehouse, Tookur? Who else might know about it?"
"Is old house, from start of cell. Tookur was only pup, but loved machines. Very few left remember it now. Many left. Many die. Few remain. Tookur, Voggs, Niarl, Doctor Cohlen, Urias, Tolb. As Tookur say, few remain."
"Does the Captain know about this safehouse?" Toco quietly asks Tookur.
Regretting the words as he speaks them.
"Captain Zavvel? No. He new to cell. He join after move into new base. No point in telling about old base. He have no idea. It not used any more."
"So, why isn't it used anymore Tookur?"
Hearing Toco voice his question and reaction to it, Geoff shrugs at the soldier. "Don't regret it, man. Right now, only the seven of us can really trust each other. As for the person telling us, they didn't quite identify themselves."
Turning to Tookur, Geoff leans forward. "That being said, the code is used by medics for serious surgeries. Between that and Tookur's list, Doc Cohleen is the one that fits. However, I do find it odd that the base wasn't mentioned before. In addition, I haven't heard of the four unknowns. What do you know about Voggs, Niarl, Urias, and Tolb?"
Edited by Sarone"They are soldiers. Or support personnel. Long members of Rebellion. But Tookur would trust with life if needed. And as for base, why have house when you can have warehouse?" the diminutive driver grins back between the seats.
Issan rolled his eyes. "Of course someone like the Captain would waste such resources..." The Twi'lek then shrugged as he absentmindingly checked his camera. "...though I guess his loss is our gain. Might be able to put that place to better use."
Hearing Tookur's description, Geoff shrugs, then looks over at CT. "You still didn't answer CT's question. Why isn't the safe house used anymore?"
As Geoff waits for Tookur's response, Geoff looks at the rest of the team. "Look, as much as it might be nice to go to this safe house, I believe we need to go back to base. If there's a situation there, I'm going to want to get everyone evacuated out as soon as possible. Especially since we spent all night trying to save them."
Geoff looks at each person, trying to gauge their reaction. Hopefully I didn't tick them off.
"Look, we, not anyone else, have to decide what we are going to do. I am also not one to abandon my team, my crew, my patients, or this cell just because there's a possible mole. I haven't before and I will not now. What do you all think?"
[i want to put this to a vote before we head to the safe house. Do we head to the safe house or head to the base?]
"Safe house adandoned because too small. Empire never find it, but not big enough to warrant whole cell staying there. Sometimes used if laying low after disaster. Could be something happened while gone?"
"I feel we should head to the safehouse."
Toco drags his hand across his face and looks suddenly tired.
"We verified the signal's ours. And we don't know what we are walking into at the base. Anyone heard of 'Magpie' before?"
He glances at the other strike team members. "If there is an ambush at the safehouse, we can at least get information back to the main base that the Tightbeam is compromised.""
Old memories surfaced as Issan thought about the group's next move, flashes of Imperial raids wiping his homeworld clean of their resistance in less than a week. Once the attacks started, coordination became impossible. In his mind, top priority was to make sure that whatever was left standing wouldn't be left so disorganized as to be completely ineffective.
Outwardly, Issan shrugged, a contemplative expression masking any overt emotion. "I don't disagree with the sentiment, but if the base has already been compromised, it could already be too late to do much good by just charging back into the fray. I think we should stop at this other safehouse first. If it's still secure and serviceable, we can use it as a fallback point to rally the cell if they're scattered by an attack on the base."
Edited by ImperialSpy"Tookur, why havent we heard of the others before?"
"Tookur, start driving to the location. Take the long way and circle the safehouse so we can scope it out."
Toco checks over his rifle and gear, readying for some close quarters fighting.
"I hope it is safe," he turns to the strike team, "but let's be ready for trouble."
"Not heard of others? You not been around for long time. Nobody expect to learn every name. Not even Tookur learn all names; just useful ones," the Chadra-Fan accelerates forward, turning down a side street. "Tookur take you to safehouse. Hopefully answers waiting."
"Either way we could be walking into an ambush, so let's just get this over with," Rax pipes in, checking the charge on his blaster.
Seeing that they at were willing to go back to base, Geoff nods at Tookur. Hopefully we don't comeback to a bloodbath.
As the Tooker and rax drive the truck to the safe house, Geoff doubles check the medical gear in order to calm his thoughts. There is too much political back stabbing. And the random hijinks from yesterday isn't going to bode well for us in the long run.
The safe house was in the city's Artists' Quarter. You remembered reading about it in a beat-up travel guide aboard the tramp freighter that brought you to Arkos II, that said described it as "An extension of the Old Town, full of quaint buildings and small cafes full of some of the planet's finest creative minds. Always lit up, even in the very earliest hours of the morning, the Artists' Quarter is a welcoming place for all." This impression does not exactly tally with what you see: run-down streets, lamps shut off, cafes empty and the vast majority of buildings shuttered or boarded up. This is a deserted place - even the Imperials seem to be ignoring it.
Tookur pulls up outside of a house that looks just like all the others: narrow, three storeys, with a tiled roof on a cobbled street and not a light shining in sight. Only the moon illuminates the street, but Tookur is certain. "This is house, I know it. How you want to do this?"
"Don't stop here! Move on past the house Tookur!" Rax almost shouts at the Chadra-Fan. "Find a place to stop somewhere nearby so that we can scout the house on foot."
Edited by Kymrel"Sorry, sorry," Tookur whistles enervatedly through his front teeth as he glides the truck onwards, searching for an alley or some other place to stop. "Tookur just wanted to provide door-to-door service. Is too much for Tookur to ask?"
"Tookur, I am sure you had the right idea; but we need to verify the site is safe."
Toco glances at the passing buildings and people looking for trouble.
"You'd hate for the truck here to get shot up delivering us, right?"
Toco tries to put a smile in the last sentence.