With a few beeps and a whir Tee-Nine affirms Marcelus' request and rolls into the communications room behind Rion. Simultaneously, as a small satellite dish extends from his dome, he attempts to establish a connection with mission command.

TeeNine is confused. The Republic base had a military-grade comms receiver, relayed through an orbiting cruiser disguised as a heavy freighter, yet now there's only static on the channel. It's almost as if you're being jammed.

However, Rion's inspection does at least reveal that there aren't traps in the command centre. It seems the Imperials didn't want to booby trap their own rooms. In addition the reluctant gratitude of the injured lance corporal indicates that they aren't going to put up a fight. The data seems to be yours for the taking.

"Alright, looks clean. Tee-nine, I assume you can handle the data transfer."

"Probability of complications = 5%. Acceptable!" Tee-Nine blurts out in a series of binary beeps. Rolling over to the console, he links up to the interface with an extendable connector.

Then a few more worrisome beeps, "Signal connection with Republic cruiser faulty, returning static. Almost like they knew we were..."

Vohr sighes, "Republic Cruiser? ****, that little rustbucket is malfunctioning again. I Well, that's what you get for using stolen ex-Republic droids..."

In the meantime, Marcelus is busy talking to the technican: "Well, son, the Hutt's are always paying well for good work. Sure, you should never anger them and our master's wrath can be terrible, but I heard much worse about the Sith. At least a Hutt would never willingly destroy profitable assets.

His Gloriousness will be very pleased about an ex-Imperial technican working for him." He lowers his voice and adds, "By the way, you haven't got any valuable information for his radiance? Knowledge is money as they say, for our master as well for you and us who recruited you, and I say never no to a bonus..."

The man lowers his voice. "Well you never heard it from me - I wouldn't say a word - but you might just want to download the communications logs as well as the computer database. I'm sure there's some information in there your master," at this, he coyly raises a knowing eyebrow. "Would greatly appreciate knowing."

"Thanks, I really appreciate that. I'll take care of it immediately." With these words Marcelus strides over to Tee-Nine, bends down and whispers: "Hey, Tee-Nine, I just got a tip that we should have a look at the communication logs. And by the way, please remember that you're a Huttese droid until we've finished this mission."

After having helped out the Imperial officer, in efforts to support their cover, Ashrym began giving a once over to his squadmates. Everyone was standing, which was good, but he also prompted them, "Does anyone else need some assistance?" He has both his medpac and some stimpacks out, ready to assist as required.

TeeNine plugs into the console, his manipulator probe spinning as he isolates and copies the files from the computers. In moments, the mainframe is stripped, all the data from the storage banks and communications logs saved onto a thin data-chip that emerges from a port on the primary console. TeeNine takes this with one manipulator arm, holding it between his pincers. This is it - the data you came to retrieve. With the mainframe wiped, all that remains is to get clear away.

"Excellent work, lads! Let's get out of here! According to the maps, there should be an exit on the Ground Floor"

Marcelus signals everyone to move forward, down the stairs. "If our honoured prisoners would go first? I don't wish any unpleasentness to occur."

"Not at all sir, praise your excellency and his wise and benevolent master," the senior technician leads the way as the prisoners form a single line, hands behind their heads - save for the injured soldier, who is still assisted by one of his subordinates - and they troop down the stairs towards the lobby.

Ashrym moves out at Marcelus's urging. once Teenine had secured the data. He follows at the back, eyes continuing to dart back and forth from what lies ahead to their flank, always checking on the flank. His belief was that their flank should be clear, but he was in no mood for any surprises.

"All glory to the most gracious Hutts!" Chirps Tee-Nine as he rolls away from the console towards the exit.

"Yes, yes, may glory hail upon your most graceful masters, but can we get out of here?" one of the technicians, more nervous than the rest, seems eager to get clear as he leads you down into the lobby of the building.

Macelus tries to calm the technican down while marching downstairs.

"No worries, lad, a shuttle should be waiting for us at the exit"

"Well that's always a relief," your impromptu column has reached the lobby. The leading prisoner turns back to you, gesturing at the door. "Shall I?"

Is there a viewport or something that would let us see what's on the other side of the door? I'd like to confirm our shuttle (and not Imperial reinforcements) is awaiting us outside.

As you enter the entrance hall of the building, you see before you the exit point, a blank metal hatch in the wall leading out to the landing pad with nothing in the way of viewports or other similar points. There is a desk next to the door from which you've come, which looks like it's been recently abandoned by a staffer. On that desk you see a monitor displaying footage from a number of cameras around the base, including one showing the surface of the landing pad as if looking down from a perch above the door. There's nothing to be seen.

Ok, what should we do? Just go outside and spring the potential trap? Any other ideas?

Rast will go and open the door.

The hatch slides open, allowing you to emerge onto the pad. A spotlight blasts on: first one, then another, and another, more and more lighting you up. In the air around the pad, a dozen Hutt speeders are idling, their many blasters painting a neat killzone around you. You feel the traceries of a dozen or more laser sights on each of you, from heavy repeaters to long Weequay lances. A vast sail barge is settled broadside-on across the pad's main docking area, its blasters pointing towards you. Engraved in the hull is an icon of a Hutt, blindfolded and carrying a pair of scales and a ritual blade.

A hatch opens in the hull, and a Hutt - unnaturally gaunt and wearing shell armour with a grenade launcher on his shoulder and a pole-ax in his hands - slithers down the ramp with an escort of four vast Ganks.

"Warriors," Its voice is massively enhanced by a set of speakers embedded in its armour and the hull of the barge, which translate it into Galactic Basic for your convenience - a nice touch, given the otherwise-threatening manner of these Hutts. "Your actions have contravened the law of peace on Nar Shaddaa. Your conflict has not been approved by the Cartel. Present your license of invasion or be taken into custody. Resistance will be met by absolute force. Comply immediately or face your fate."

The cameras pointing outside and the base security system had no way to detect the massive force lurking outside?

"The Imperials who had a base here contravened the law of peace--send your men inside to check if you need verification. We did nothing more than save your Cartel the effort of restoring the balance, as per the agreement between all sides in this matter. We have presented you and yours with no problem on this day, only assistance.

"But you knew that already...you were lurking outside, ignoring the conflict within, waiting for someone to come out so you could spring your little trap, which means you have ulterior motives probably unrelated to your Cartel...if, in fact, you actually are representing them, which I find doubtful. The Cartel would not act in such a restrained manner if they really thought the treaty had been broken.

"So drop the Cartel enforcer charade and speak plainly, Hutt...what do you want? If you persist in blustering, then I want proof you actually are Cartel--fail to do so, and," Rion says, drawing a grenade and bouncing it in his hand, "there will be consequences. See, the great thing about ostentatious sail barges like yours are the wondrous explosions they make when you blow holes in them."

"Now would be a good time to ignite your lightsaber," Rion mutters under his breath. "We can't bluff our way out of this--only a show of force will make them think twice before rushing in."

The Hutt roars in rage. "Spurious accusations! You doubt the worth of the lawkeepers the Hutt Council - profit be unto them - servants of the mighty Gorgal and his fellow legislators? I should have you thrown from this landing pad to perish on the surface of the moon! You did not act with authority, you have broken the peace that the Hutt Council - profit be unto them - work so hard to enforce. You bear no clan or cartel marks, and have not presented a warrant of conflict or license of invasion. You have broken the peace with the offworlders, one which your glorious masters have worked to uphold.

"And besides, no Hutt lurks. His slovenly, cowardly servants will leer wretchedly from the shadows, but then they will invade land held by off-world guests as well. I commanded my forces to respect the beings inside this building, and not engage, even to keep the peace. The outside of this building is another matter, and my forces will soon take both you and them into custody, where you will await trial. I demand only that you surrender your weapons and allow my forces to take you into custody, where fair and measured justice will be rendered to you, as befits servants of the great Cartel. Fail to do so, and it is you who will suffer the consequences," a loud click-shunt can be heard as the Hutt's shoulder-mounted grenade launcher chambers a round, and the creature's guards raise their sidearms menacingly.

"You don't want to fight," says one of them. "We're set to stun for now, but push us and that will change all too quickly."

Vohr grips his lightsaber hilt tightly. His finger is already hovering above the ignition button when he is stopped by Marcelus's whispering: "Hold for now. We've got still a chance to solve this situation without a fight."

Then Marcelus addresses the Hutt with a louder voice: "Apologies for my bad-mouthed companion, oh mighty one. He did not mean to anger his radiance - he is just simple-minded and acts rash and without any thinking. Your guard is right, your magnificence - there is no need to fight.

We have broken no peace agreement between the Empire, the Republic and the glorious Cartel. We do not work for the Republic. However the Empire ran a listening post in this very building - spying on the Republic as well as on the mighty Cartel. Our wise master was furious about this infamy, but neither the Council nor the Empire did not listen to his complains. Only his cunning and buisness sense rivaled our masters fury.

Fortunately for his radiance an opportunity arose to still all his lusts. He sent us to close this facility and to claim the priceless Imperial intelligence data.

But this could be an opportunity for you, oh mighty one, as well. His bounteousness is generous - there is no reason not to share these informations.

Take a copy of the data and let us go - we and our master would be in your dept. An Imperial outpost, that isn't even existing officialy, does not exist anymore. Informations, gathered by the Empire but rightfully belonging to the Cartel, are back in their rightful owners hands. It could be said that nothing has happened at all. There is no need for any unpleasentness - this way everyone involved benefits. At least anyone important, that is any powerful hutt. For the glory of the Cartel!"

"There is indeed glory in the Hutt Cartels, yet there must also be justice. Though the mighty Hutts are without failing, our servants must be brought to face justice when they act without approval from a higher master. If your own worthy master truly believes you to be deserving of his notice he will send another of his servants to aid you, but for now there is only justice, for if the servants of the mighty Hutts will act without authority then they must face judgement for this crime. Of course, your knowledge of this installation - for the treaties with the lesser powers of the galaxy permitted only embassies and trade posts, not military installations - will act in your favour in the trial: as will presenting me with data on other such illegal bases in Hutt Space."