Nar Shaddaa

He’d gone back to his quarters, shaved and showered, but by the time he’d left Captain Organa’s quarters, he would have been awake anyway. There was nothing to be gained from going back to bed at this point.

However, if the early start had made him feel this crappy, I swear, I’m going to fire the next person who wakes me at 4 am into the nearest star… then it might also take its toll on other people. People who might let their guard down.

Niall had provided him with the information of the Czerka Freighter, and he approached the slip where it was docked. In one hand was a Venti takeaway, full-fat, double-extra-shot, no foam latte. He crosses the gangplank to the main hatch and presses the call chime, taking a sip of the caff and folding his arms over his chest while he waits for an answer.

A woman with the bright, blonde hair to rival Cole's approached him with a bright smile on her face. She was wearing a casual dress-suit with clear Czerka corporation logos. She had a datapad in hand and bowed her head to him. "Welcome! My name is Mallory. Is there anything I can help you with, sir?"

Cole cocked an eyebrow with feigned discompassion, "I hope so. Lieutenant Kragg, I'm here to conduct the inspection." He tries to sound just impatient and important enough to give the woman a sense of urgency.

The woman tapped on her datapad and then looked up to him. "I'm sorry, but I don't have a Lieutenant Kragg on today's schedule. Were you supposed to come on another date?"

He smiles with roguish charm, crinkles appearing around his pale blue eyes. "Hey, I gotta follow my orders," he shrugs, a little sheepish and runs a hand through his blonde curls, rubbing the back of his neck, "if this deal between the Republic Military and Czerka falls through, I'm sure they'll find a way to blame me. You couldn't help a poor soldier out in his pursuit of duty, could you?"


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[D7 MM] Turning on the Charm (Charm): 2eP+1eA+1eD+1eS 2 successes, 1 threat, 1 Triumph

She blinked and looked around. "I'm not sure what you're talking about," she stated nervously, "If you need to inspect the ship and make sure it's by protocol, I suppose that is alright."

Cole's smile widened and he winked to her, "you're a life saver," he finishes his caff and throws the takeaway cup in a nearby bin, "I really owe you one," he presses his hands together in front of his chest and tries to look as earnest as he can.

"No problem, sir. I know what bosses can be like when they don't get what they want!" She followed along with her datapad in hand. "What were you supposed to inspect again?"

"The cargo areas," Cole lies glibly. "Are any of the crew aboard? or are they all ashore?" He looks the woman up and down and cocks an eyebrow just slightly, lopsided smile curling one side of his mouth.

"Some of the crew are running patrols. I wouldn't worry about them though. They're only looking for trespassers."

"Good," he purses his lips and nods, "I'd be worried if there was no security aboard," especially as you just let a stranger with no credentials on board just because he wears a uniform.

She led him to the cargo area where there were several armed guards making their rounds. "Czerka makes sure that all of their shipments are secure. It is part of our corporation's guarantees," she said with a smile.

"I'll need to inspect the cargo as well," he hints, trying to ignore the guards. He's regretting the venti-sized caff, now that the armed presence is twisting his stomach up in knots.

"Alright! But Czerka protocol for this shipment is to not have any of the crates opened! But if you want to check for integrity or anything else, let me know!" she explained with another bright smile.

Another charming smile, "of course, I would never impose," and he indicates for her to lead the way.

The employee led him past the guards and showed the current shipment. From the outside, it was clear that there were diagnostic panels on the contents inside. However, each crate did not have any specific labeling to its contents, just vague serial numbers.

"Are these diagnostic systems networked? Can they all be monitored remotely?" Cole moved to the nearest one and touched the panel, "I just need to check that the diagnostic reporting protocols meet military standards." He produces a blank data chip and plugs it into the panel.

"Oh, hey, hey, hey! I don't think my bosses want those interfered with! Protocol and whatnot!" The woman moved over to pull the chip out of the panel.

Cole puts his hand over the port before she can touch the data chip. He arranges his expression into a sheepish, pleading look, "you've helped me out so much already. I don't need any data," he outright lies, as he plans to download everything that he can access, "all I have to do is check the software. If I go back to my C.O. without doing this, then I might as well have not come at all. They'll just send me back, and I know you're busy."

[Deception (Cunning) Check at Hard Difficulty ^^. Oh and go ahead and add Two Boost Dice.]

Perhaps Cole has overplayed the 'tough bosses' angle.


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[D7 MM] Liar Liar (Deception): 1eP+1eA+2eB+3eD+1eS 3 failures, 1 advantage

She placed her hand over his and stared at him. "Sir, I really must insist." She gave him a weak smile. "I can call my supervisor if you'd like but otherwise I'll be needing to take that chip."

Cole's hand turns underneath hers and he closes his long fingers around the woman's small hand, holding it gently. Turning away from the panel to face her, their bodies just inches apart, his pale blue eyes meet hers and he smiles, just a little. "I'm sorry, of course I understand." His other hand comes up and brushes against her hair, softly, like a whisper of a breeze.

The assistant turned bright pink and looked at him. However, there was a slight cough from the guard patrolling by. She stepped backward and adjusted her jacket. "Right then. M-may I have the chip, please?"

Dammit, thirty more seconds of privacy would have been all he needed for his plan. He releases the assistant's hand as if reluctant to do so, "all right, you win."


OCC: The data chip is blank.