Revealing that you are working for the Republic would provide the Empire with evidence to turn the Hutt Cartels against you. Keeping your identities secret would be good.

So far we've got:

Revanchist7 is for negotiations.

Korro Zal is for trickery.

Me and Kesh apparently favour negotiations but wouldn't mind a bit of trickery either.

Any other opinions?

At the moment, the majority would vote for negotiations.

If no one else posts, I'll go along and start contacting the Imperials for negotiations.

Since we have the key, let's do both: we claim to be cartel thugs working for some upstart who'd like to supplant the boss who controls this area, and this mission is to convince the Empire to treat us with respect. We tell them that since we've made our point they can go free (and deliver our demands to their superiors), but they have to leave everything behind as as "donation."

EDIT: Wait, did they see the lightsaber? If so, it probably won't work.

Hmm...the lightsaber is an interesting one. However, in this world where lightsabers are relatively common, not all Force users identify with the Jedi or the Sith and the cartels of Nar Shaddaa are always looking for a new advantage in the gang wars there might be lightsaber wielders knocking around. However, your use of the lightsaber would upgrade the check once (as opposed to making negotiation impossible).

Thoughts, everyone?

Ashrym took the offered stimpack from Rast. "Not at all," he answered the man, "I got ya." He quickly looked Rast over and administered the stimpack as expertly as possible.

It looks like this is the 3rd stimpack of the day for Rast, so he'll recover 3 wounds +2 from Ashrym's specialization for a total of 5 wounds.

Marcelus moves towards the door, flicks a switch at the control panel next to the door and opens a com channel.

"Can anybody in there hear me? Good, Vandin Brooks speaking.

As I see it, you're in quite some tight spot. You are cornered, your commanding officer has fallen and we have reinforcements standing by. There is no chance for escape. This door will not protect you, as we have the key to override the controls. You are out-manned, out-gunned and out-of-hope.

Alas, there is no need for further causalities. We are civilized people and bear you no ill will.

It is just that my most benevolent master felt displeased by the ongoing Imperial presence in this area. He tried to be reasonable to your superiors but nobody listened to him and he can not ignore this disgrace.

So his radiance in his infinite wisdom hired us to shut this facility down. Our commands are simple; we are to empty this building and to close your business here. But his magnificence has no wish to anger the Empire any further than absolutely necessary.

No living soul is to remain inside these halls but you are free to lay down your arms and go with us, bound but alive. If you wish, our master will gladly arrange a transport to your superiors as an offer for a new era of negotiations later on. Of course, he is always searching for new business partners as well, should you have no interest in returning to the Empire.

Yield and throw yourself in the embrace of our generous master.

You have fought well and honourably, now surrender well and honourably as well. Yield and you will be treated well. No harm will come to you. Lay down your arms, open the door and surrender.

Should you fail to surrender, you will leave me no other choice but to command my team to storm your hide-out. Anyone throwing down his weapons will be spared, but anyone opposing us should not expect any mercy.”

What do my fellow players think? Is this approach ok, going all the way with a mysterious Hutt master?

@Colonel Commissar: Do I have to make any dice checks and when yes, which? In my opinion, this situation could call for a negotiation check (--> negotiating terms for surrender) as well as for a coercion (--> "Surrender or die"), charm(--> "We bear you no ill will") or even a deception check (--> "our Hutt master"). Which difficulty?

You hear some muttering across the still-open com channel "How'd the damned Hutts find us...we're trapped in here...do you think they'll let us go?" then a voice, shouting through the comm channel. "We'll never surrender, Republic filth!" However, a second voice answers it, saying: "We're just communications techs. We can't fight. Why can't we just surrender?"

"You must have misunderstood me. We do not owe our allegiance to the Republic, just to our magnificent master. For us, the Republic and the Empire are the same – they both disturb his excellences business with their petty squabbling.

I understand the concept of honour and value it. Your honour compels you to fight on. But ultimately, you are wrong.

Your technician on the other hand got it right: There is no further need for fighting. If you’re dead, you will be useless for the Empire. If you surrender, you can live to fight another day. Not us, but your real enemy – the Republic.”

"He's right you know-"

"Shut it! You cowards make me sick, what did your forefathers give up for you?"

"Hey, I'm just saying. I'm not sure my forefathers ever wanted me to get shot up for listening in to Senator Varrick putting in a call for fifteen hundred cases of Alderaanian Wine to be shipped to his apartment."

"He makes a good point," a lot of the communications techs put in. "You know the com's still on right?" observes one. There's an audible click as the line closes, then another as it re-opens. "If you're not Republic, then why was that one flashing around a fancy laser sword earlier? We all saw it."

The Jedi knight walks closer to the com station and whispers coldly:

"There are more truths out there in the universe then just the teachings of the Jedi and the Sith. They are both so narrow-minded. Do you really think that the Hutt Empire is the only region of space without any force users, worm? Oh, we are few and hidden and do seldom take care of the matters of the galaxy but sometimes the Hutts call for our help. We gladly answer their calls - these occations are few and the protection and privacy they offer is worth a lot more..."

Edit: @all: Would that be in-character for Vohr?

Wulie, if you read that, you can have your character back anytime you want...

Fear check: 2eP+1eB+3eD 2 successes, 1 threat

Fear check: 2eA+1eB+3eD 1 failure, 1 threat

The message takes a moment to sink in. "Not Jedi...not Sith...what are you?" one of the technicians sounds terrified, and you imagine he speaks for the others too. One of the troopers, obviously the fire team leader, snarls in response. "It doesn't matter what he is, we can kill him. We are sons of the Empire. Our Emperor's will is done through our actions. Would you disgrace that now?"

"But we don't stand a chance. We're unarmed. What's the point in fighting?"

Marcelus answers: "There is no point. If you fight, you will die.

Unfortunately for you, your superiors messed with our quite powerful master and his radiance doesn't like it if someone treats him like some unsignificant nobody, be it the Empire or somebody else.

If you wish to help your Empire, you should rather surrender and try to mend the relations between the Empire and our master. In the long run, this will be the best for everyone."

Well done, FeBommel. This is going well.

"Our Master has been most magnanimous, more so than usual. But his patience has limits. If you wish to walk out of here and fight for your Empire another day, you had best decide quickly."

Rast idly fingered the fletching on one of his arrows, contemplating how fast he'd be able to put down any overeager Imps. Or perhaps an arrow to the hand, a disarming shot...yes, that might send a clearer message.

There's a long pause, and you get the feeling the Imperials are probably having a fairly weighty argument about what to do next. The line clicks open again so suddenly it almost takes you by surprise.

"If we surrender, it'll be on three conditions. One, we go free. Two, we get transport back to Imperial space. Three, we aren't required to do anything to help you. Those are the terms, take it or leave it."

Marcelus takes a moment to think and answers: "Agreed. We will arrange a transport for you shortly. Once you are disarmed on our transport, it will bring you to a destination of your choice on this moon. Of course, if anyone of you wishes to change his employer and work for our bountiful master, he is free to do so. His lavishness is always looking for new buisness partners.

If anyone of you tries to deceive us, he will die. We are civilized people here, but we are not weary of live."

After a moment he adds, "If you accept these terms, then leave your weapons in the room, open the door and come out slowly one after the other with raised hands. I will call for a transport."

With these words, he steps back and whispers to Tee-Nine: "Open a channel to mission control. We need an unmarked transport for roughly a dozen Imperial prisoners."

After a moment, the door unlocks and slides open. The technicians eagerly walk out, arms raised high - though one of them is holding a datapad, on which he appears to be calculating the wages of a Hutt Cartel Computer Technician - and they are followed more hesitantly by the troopers, two of them escorting the third, their wounded leader, between them. The wounded man looks up, face set with disappointment. "We'll do what you say. The terminals are in there. Take what you want, I'm done with this war."

"Thank you. You did the right thing."

Pointing first at Tee-Nine and Rion and then at the now open door, Marcelus says, "Go and take a look inside. Oh, and would you be so nice as to relay our current situation to our master."

Nodding to Ash, he suggests, "Why don't you take a look at our Imperial friend's wounds? By the way, good work everyone. Now keep your eyes open, lads!", while he strides towards the Technican calculating on the data pad. "Interested in a new job, son?"

"Well," says the technician. "It's not like the Empire pays well. You can't buy dinner with a sense of duty."

"You're absolutely right, lad." With a pat on the back, Marcelus leads the technican a few steps away from the group.

Saboteur that he is, Rion checks the room out thoroughly to make sure no traps have been left or any sabotage performed--I'll leave checking the computer systems to our droid ally.

Ashrym does his part to play along and does as suggested by Marcelus. He steps towards the troopers and motions, as non-threateningly as he can, towards their leader. "May I?" he asks, and assumning their acquiescence, he does proceed to give the man a quick checkover, especially for anything truly life-threatening. Doing his part to ensure continued good will and compliance.