Nar Shaddaa

Niall stepped off the shuttle, grimacing at the unfamiliar atmosphere. His long cloak helped to protect him, and his currently spotless uniform, from the grime of the spaceport.

He cast a look around as he walked slowly towards the transport area. There would be some time before they needed to be at the wedding, after all; there was no hurry.

Adrianaa sat on one of the benchs in the waiting area, reading something on her datapad, humming a soft tune. She lifts her head and smiles at the Captain as he approaches the area.

"Ah, good morning Captain. No Hutt Ball today?"1

Niall's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Good morning, Senator." He said, angling his path to bring him to her. "I was actually hoping I'd run into you sometime today. May I join you?"

His lips parted, then pressed shut. "You have a lovely voice, you know." It was true; her humming was quite musical.

She sits upright a bit and motions toward the bench opposite her.

"Thank you. Sometimes I wonder if in another life AI would have been a singer in some back ally cantina somewhere."

She laughs a little.

"Please, have a sit. What do I owe the honor?"

Niall sat at Adrianaa's gesture. He leaned forward, resting elbows on knees, chin on hands.

"Hmmm." Niall smiled. "I actually know someone who made a choice rather like that, in fact. An Alderaanian noble, like myself, but now she does odd jobs here on Nar Shaddaa. And I think she's happy with it."

Niall sighed. "Work, I'm afraid. Your name came up in a matter I'm looking into. Ras Urdo." He said.

"He wants to be a Senator. Runs the Black Sun on Nar Shaddaa, Very powerful man, and a very powerful organization for the Republic to have in our pocket. SIS is actively investigating him though and all his records are locked down. How exactly did you hear about this?"

"From my commanding officer. Report is, he's smuggling weapons to Imperial agents on Coruscant. He's helping to get our people killed." Niall said.

"And he wants to be a Senator?" Niall scoffed. "How does he think that's going to happen?"

"He has me as a connection is his plan. I already spoke to Senator Seir'oto about it, and the Senator would approve his candidacy provided the records aren't too bad. Unfortunately, Agent Wren Yuris stands in my way from accessing those records."

Adrianaa frowns a little at the news.

"Well, while they might be my allies, the Suns are still a neutral gang like the Hutts. I imagine they got paid something well to do the smuggling. I know how to deal with that. Just pay higher. Sadly until I can get Ras what he wants, they won't want to work with my again. And if I fail well.."

She draws a line across her neck.

"That sounds... fraught." Niall said hesitantly.

"But Senator, this doesn't end with them in our pocket. It ends with us in theirs. He'll have an easier time with his smuggling as a Senator, and it'll be harder for us to outbid him. Although he'll probably want us to."

"So help us instead, Adrianaa." Niall said, using her name instead of her title for the first time. His expression was serious. "We can keep you safe."

She chuckles.

"You are right. I can say for certain that my own Senate seat has opened doors never before available. There is a lot of power to do underhanded deeds when one is part of the ruling body."

She shakes her head and sighs,

"Few seem to agree with my outlook, and the fact that the SIS directly opposes me now it seems I am beaten. I do not think things would have ended the way you believe, and I pray we do not end up losing the underworld because of this, but unless I want to sit behind bars it looks like I have no choice to help. What did you have in mind?"

Niall gave her a slight smile. "Well... perhaps that will be good enough, then. I've got a lead, an informant back on Nar Shaddaa. I could certainly use your help with him, and with more besides."

He frowned thoughtfully, his forehead creasing. "Ummm... this isn't entirely relevant, but how many underhanded deeds are we talking, here?"

"Everything I have or ever will do is for the Republic, not my own gain. I have been known to deal with many an organization we usually would put in jail. I also might at times find myself carrying cargo otherwise unwanted on an official Republic transport. Did you never wonder why I always flew with my own ship?"

Adrianaa shrugs again and pulls out her datapad.

"I keep a diligent record of everything at least, so even if things were to turn against me I can prove my intentions were good. I wouldn't concern yourself too much with my business, Captain. After all, I wouldn't have been a Major and then elected to the Senate if I was an enemy."

"Now, knowing you have a lead does me little. I need to know a plan. What exactly you want assistance with? What role might I be?"

"My mission funds are not infinite, but after I dealt with the Mandolorians and sold them Lesai, I have a decent chuck to help fund things. Mercenaries, goods, equipment, bribes.. In addition I posses various spy gadgets to help get into computer systems. I have a network of informants, and multiple other skills you may find useful. Just don't expect me to shoot a blaster. Never been much of a front line fighter. Last but not least is my ship, the Night Saber."

Niall's expression remained blandly polite as Adrianaa spoke. As she finished, he made a similarly polite noise of semi-acknowledgement, combining it wish a shrug.

"Ah, Senator. Would you prefer Senator or Adrianaa?" He asked. He went on. "I've only just received this mission a few hours ago. I don't want to form a plan in advance of gathering intelligence."

"So, what I could use your help with is just that, gathering intelligence. You know how to talk to informants, or so I gather. What sorts of questions to ask, the shape of the organization we're dealing with, that sort of thing. If you can help me with that, then we'll see what the next step will be. Acceptable?"

"In public? Preferably we go with protocol and use Senator. In private like this? It isn't much of a concern what you call me, though some friends have picked the nick name Adri."

"I can conduct a number of intelligence gathering methods, both hands on and hands off. Just tell me what you want done and Ill see to it."

She hands the datapad over, showing a text conversation with Ras from the other day

Dapper Dog wrote:

Adrianaa Morindel wrote:Whenever you get a chance to let me know what Ras decided to do based on the thread, please let me know! Gotta figure out what step I am going to take next please!

Ras says that they are probably looking into his slave ring that he shut down, because he knows it would be bad for his campaign. He has fingers in some operations on Coruscant, extortion and racketeering and smuggling drugs but nothing that could stick to him.

"An offer of good will, I suppose."

Niall read the conversation, nodding as he did so. "Thank you... Adri." He said, giving her a smile.

"Well. The first step is to talk to this informant. See what he knows, and see if that leads us in an obvious direction. We could go meet with him together. Or, perhaps you could meet with him alone, but with me on comms. That would provide a few advantages. I think I'm becoming a bit well-known at this point."

"That seems like a good idea. Also, do you know who this informant is? I can run some searches and try to dig up any information on them to ensure credibility."

"One thing with gangs, they will happily sell each other out with false information if they think it will grant them a boost in their standing..."

Niall hesitated a moment. "The informant has been cleared by SIS. I'd rather not discuss it here. I'll forward you the information later."

"Ah." His lips twitched. "A good thing to keep in mind." He said, his tone dry. He gave her a reassuring nod. "But I'll look out for you. You won't have to worry about... you know." Smiling, he mirrored her earlier gesture, drawing his thumb across his neck.

"I am glad to hear that. Though do expect some crazy stories might start circulating. Ras is one of nine leaders of the Suns. He holds an incredibly high position. If people think they could gain favor with him, they won't care who gets in the way. If he finds out I 'betrayed' him, not only will my life be in danger, but yours as well."

She sighs

"Not to mention if the Empire were to find out, we could have a potential disaster politically."

"That will be one more source of potential death to worry about." He said dryly.

"Well." He said. "Let's get you out, then." He tilted his head to the side, his expression lightly inquisitive. "What sort of problem would you expect from the Empire?"

"They hold an intelligence arm much like the SIS. If they find that we are shutting down their criminal connections, it could play poorly for us. You have waged many a war on a battlefield, Captain. There are a multitude raging on every day in the streets. Shadows. Today it might be the Hutts, tomorrow the Suns, next week the Mandalorians, but make no doubt, it is either the Empire or the Republic who truly pull those strings."

Niall raised his eyebrows. "Senator, don't underestimate my political background. I would hope you've heard the name Organa before. Even if I don't play the game the way you play it, I know how it's played."

He shook his head. "If shutting down criminals within our borders denies them assets, so much the better. We have the right to protect the sovereignty of the Republic, after all."

She chuckles

"I did not forget your name, Captain, though it seems you forgot the one of where we are. Nal Hutta. This is no more Republic space than it is a cozy retirement home."

"Believe me, I remember." Niall sighed. "Look, you have your methods, and I have mine. Perhaps you're right, and they're both needed. I certainly need yours now. So, let's work together. Please, Adri?" He gave her a slight smile.

"I said from the time we sat down I was going to help you. We are not enemies. So, we don't have much to go off of, but where do we begin at least?"

"We'll talk about it later." Niall said, looking around. "It's not secure here. Tonight?"

He sighed, his expression turning more pensive. "So... can I ask how things are with you and Remmi? He does seem like a good sort."