Veitra walks into the room, her eyes widening slightly as she saw the members of the taskforce she had till recently been with.

”Oh... why hello there.”

She smiled as she walked over to Den.

”It seems like we meet again. I heard your doctor is being treated by mine.”

she smiled.

”I’ve also heard that you managed to capture the pirate queen... impressive.”

“Buy in for the next round is 500 credits,” the croupier at Hale’s table announces. Two players balk immediately at the raised stakes, leaving just Hale and two other to decide whether they want to continue?

Briar is continuing her self-guided tour, familiarizing herself with the resort facility, when she discovers an unmarked service lift in the central tower. Curious, she investigates further, and finds that it will open for her.

Hale figures the arrival of the other pinky is a good reason to find a different table. That and the raised stakes. He is just about to stand up when he reconsiders. He draws himself up taller in his seat and leans forward, looming over the table, hoping to intimidate the other players a bit. His not-insubstantial muscles are hampered by the uniform, but if anything that might add to the effect.

Somar approaches the entryway to the higher stakes salon. He pauses to straighten his hat and collar. "Time to shine.", he thinks to himself, as he confidently strides into the parlor. The smell of hookah makes his lungs to burn slightly and he has a slight coughing fit, causing some of the alien patrons to chuckle. He gives them a sneer as he sits down at the open seat and places his wager on the table.

Briar hesitates for a moment after the lift door opens. She considers coming back later better prepared, but then decides to go ahead and enters the lift to see what floors it accesses. This opportunity may not come again if I wait. she thought to herself, as she presses one of the buttons and the doors close.

Hale smirks in satisfaction as one of his competitors shifts uncomfortably, though he doesn't seem all that put out. The dealer slides out the cards and he picks up his hand. If it wasn't for the doc's shot, he probably would be given the game away. His cards were great. Finally a break... as the game goes around, he grows more confident until one of the cards suddenly shifts. With the Doc's help, he manages to keep a straight face. It's still a good hand, but it isn't quite as good as it was. He starts to sweat--metaphorically, of course--as the hand winds down until the cards come out. He laughs as the others' cards turn out to be pretty awful, allowing him to rake in a pretty good amount of winnings. "Better pick on someone your own size next time! See ya around." He throws a casual salute and cashes out, figuring it's best to not press his luck. He glances over to Luks, deciding to stick with the blue maniac.

He puts an arm around the Duros's shoulder, "Hey, wanna find out if there're any fights happening? Could be a fun way to win some credits, or at least will give the doc some less serious injuries for giving his new eye a trial run. Mind games are fun and all, but gambling ain't really my thing. 'specially when I don't wanna lose what I won!"

V raised a brow at Hale’s show of masculinity before she chuckled.

”Is the squad here on a vacation...? Or is there something else behind it?”

She smiled as she watched the two stormtroopers.

Hale snorts, "Depends who you ask. Working vacation I suppose. Figure we may as well make the most of it, since I doubt we're getting another one soon. Us Banshees have a training exercise with some of those Death Troopers soon."

“Ah, join us, commander.” The croupier on the next level is not entirely sure about imperial ranks and insignia, but has found it is always best to round up. When they dress up in their uniforms, they want to be acknowledged.

The patrons at the tables here are likely guests of the resort, as opposed to the players below, comprised mostly of their staff. Ral is glad he wore his smartest uniform, because everything else he owns would have been woefully underdressed.

Below, as if summoned from Hale’s desire for a fight.. and the unvoiced wish to escape his current conversation.. the Aqualish from Ral’s earlier game collides with Den and crashes squarely into Hale.

“Hmmm is that so...?”

V hummed.

”That is interesting news.”

She replied as she smiled. She raised a brow slightly as the Aqualish crashed into Hale, wondering what the stormtrooper would do.

Hale drops back a couple steps, but quickly regains his footing and side steps to gain some breathing room, "Hey pal, what's the big idea?" He keeps his voice measured, but with a tinge of "watch your step." Inwardly, he's sizing up his opponent and preparing for a full-blown brawl if it comes to that. From what he knows of Den, that's pretty likely regardless of the Aqualish's motives.

“Hey pal, what’s the big idea?” the Aqualish unimaginatively retorts. He has discovered that while his own responses are never that clever, simple mimicry can often prove infuriatingly provoking. The voice, though harsh as it emits from beneath his facial tusks, is also almost comically squeaky.

“Jus tryin’ t’getch your attention. The hairs, they hear, see? Heard you hankerin’ for a scuffle. Want to take it to the Shoals, then?” The Aqualish is a bruiser to be sure, fit to test the stormtroopers, and yes- possibly their doctor afterwards as well.

Perhaps against her better judgement, Briar enters the lift. Maybe it’s all the field work she has been recently thrust into, taking a leading role in the task force.

A seemingly innocuous prompt on the menu is nagging at her attention, so she selects it. The Lieutenant-Inspector has learned to trust her instincts in these matters. A text box opens, and Briar is again in her element, but she must act quickly. It would not do to be caught slicing into the resort’s lift.

As soon as the cards are laid in front of him, Somar realizes he's in over his head. Even the randomizer wouldn't be able to save this one.

After the winner collects his earnings, Ral reaches into his pocket ant pulls out his comlink, and 'flips open the channel'.

"TI-4433 here. What's that, Commander? You've got an important assignment for me? I'm on my way! "

He pockets his his comlink and rises from the table. "Sorry, boys, duty calls."

Hale relaxes a bit and grins at the Aqualish, "Who else is coming?" He's considering inviting more Banshees along, this might be a good "training exercise."

“Not so fast, sir. If you truly are an officer, and not a charlatan as well as a card sharp. And not even a good one, at that. You are a disgrace to your uniform, and to card cheats alike. Your chicanery is not to be tolerated in civilized society. I demand satisfaction.” The Arkanian gentleman rises from the table, full of indignation.

8 hours ago, Edgehawk said:

“Not so fast, sir. If you truly are an officer, and not a charlatan as well as a card sharp. And not even a good one, at that. You are a disgrace to your uniform, and to card cheats alike. Your chicanery is not to be tolerated in civilized society. I demand satisfaction.” The Arkanian gentleman rises from the table, full of indignation.

(5 Threats is a lot! One of the gamblers is accusing you of cheating

@bsmith23).

"You dare to speak to an Imperial officer in that tone?! Perhaps you'd like to accompany me and see for yourself how much of a charlatan I truly am. Pray that you are right, for I'm sure you've heard how the Empire treats...beings...who speak with such treasonous tounges."

Den snaps out of gazing forlornly after his lost credits, and looks up at Hale. "Fights? This is a posh resort from what I've seen, I doubt they're going to have a fight ring or anything. I'll come and look though, sure". As he stands up he mutters "at least you won something, I lost credits on the wrong frigging game".

At V's question Den quickly straightens up. "No no, this is work, definitely work, not a vacation, sir, ma'am?"

As he is collided with Den lout out a cry of annoyance, quickly checking that nothing had been spilled on his prized jacket. "Watch it, mate, you just trying to cause trouble?" He straightens out his jacket while listening before nodding in confirmation to Hale. "I'll come along, could be fun".

The Arkanian gentleman stiffens under Somar’s barrage, and seems to reconsider his position. “Accept my apologies, sir. I only call it like I see it, but the eyes are not what they once were. Hence my visit to the eye clinic here. The tables were calling to me, but perhaps cards should wait for after the procedure. Please excuse me.”

The gambler withdraws with as much dignity as he can muster, under the circumstances, hoping the young pilot does not pursue the matter further. To his dismay, the imperial officer leaves the table in his wake; but to his relief, the pilot stops to investigate the scene he finds with Hale, Luks, and the Aqualish from his earlier game. At first blush, he is not sure if it is drunken revelry, or an altercation brewing.

The Shoals are the resort’s worst kept secret, not officially sanctioned, but well known nonetheless. It is where staff and off duty security professionals go to blow off steam, keep their edge, while their wealthy charges enjoy the more peaceful amenities on offer. Mostly. A balcony overlooking the shallows allows resort patrons with the desire, to observe the blood sports in the cove below.

When the imperials arrive with their Aqualish guide, he continues, “And best of all, finest medical facilities in the sector, right here on site- not the usual hacks you find at these fight clubs.”

Presently, a pair of Squamatans are squaring off, ankle deep in the shallow water. “Oh, and no biting. Important rule, here especially.” A small crowd is gathered on the beach, cheering and passing credits.

Hale dramatically cracks his knuckles and rolls his neck, "Sounds wonderful... What'll it take to get into a fight?" All of the Banshees had shown up, but most only to watch Hale and the "Deranged Duros," as they had decided he should be dubbed for these purposes, Backbeat assigning himself as Den's promoter.

Ral headed outside to get some fresh air. "Well, that was fun while it lasted. But at least I got a few more credits out of it."

As he turned the corner, he spied the Banshees, members of the Task Force, and and the Aqualish from the first card game, making their way to an area of the beach. His curiosity picked, he hurried to catch up to them.

V let out a small hum as she watched the events unfold.

”Boys...” she would sigh to herself as she picked herself up from her seat, following behind the stormtroopers as they headed out to the beach. As she did so, she looked around, looking what type of crowd would be interested in such an event. After all, no one knew who might be watching for what reasons...

Modifications to the pirate queen’s mask complete, Drogos places the helm upon his head, and settles into a meditative trance. He is perched high upon a mountaintop. A desolate landscape stretches out beneath him. The wind is howling, but he cannot feel it. He has been here for a very long time. In torment.

When the Inquisitor comes out of his meditation, he removes the helm to wipe away a single black tear. He can vividly recall the scene on the mountain, and with it a sense of loneliness and despair unlike anything he has known.

Collecting himself Drogos stands with some understanding now that the helm had taken some control over his mind. It was a powerful artifact, but he would need to keep his mental defenses in the best shape as to not let it take his mind once more.

With his meditation done on the shuttle he decides to make an inspection of the resort, should anything important happen, a jedi be revealed and try to run away or fight it would be best to know the lay of the land.

Nils Crispin, Eight of Sabers in the rim’s most wanted deck, stands on the beach. Hands mimicking the blocks and blows of the contestants in the shallows, he ceases his shadow boxing when he senses the imperial agent’s eyes upon him.

Indeed it is the eyes that give him away, for his face has changed. The rogue special forces operative meets Veitra’s gaze, and offers a little wave, while reaching with his other hand.

Veitra’s eyes widened as her hand whipped towards the blaster at her waist. She recognised that look and casting a glance down, she notices the male’s hand heading for his blaster.

I have to warn the others!

The thought flashes through her mind, yet the female was unsure if her voice would be able to overwhelm the roar of the crowd, and turned to what next she knew best.

Her allies in the area would immediately sense a feeling of caution, urgency, shock and danger flood through them, Veitra’s force warning reverberating through them.