> Disclaimer: Star Wars and all of it's Intellectual Properties is owned by George Lucas and Walt Disney, This fictional work and all of it's original characters are however mine.
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The hum of the Stellar Envoy’s engines was steady, rhythmic, almost soothing, as the crew settled into their seats on the way back to Hangar 7-10. Jake was leaning back, enjoying the rare moment of calm after the tension of the mission, when he heard Kado’s voice echoing through the cockpit.
“Alright, everyone, listen up!” Kado called, his tone carrying that rare mix of firmness and warmth that had somehow become his signature. “First of all, Tarek—good job on your first real flight out. You kept us steady, on course, and close enough to the action that we could move in fast without being spotted. That’s what I like to see.”
Jake glanced over to Tarek, whose expression was a blend of surprise and pride. It was subtle, but Jake knew this nod from Kado meant a lot to the rookie pilot.
“And Jake,” Kado continued, turning to him with a small grin, “we’d still be working on patching up this hunk of metal if it wasn’t for all the work you’ve done. Making the Envoy spaceworthy was no easy feat—especially with everything you pulled out of those salvage piles.”
Jake nodded, returning the smile. “Thanks, Kado. Just doing my job. Still got a few mods I want to get done, though—can’t say I’m satisfied until I get those heat sinks in.”
“Keep up the good work, and we’ll have one of the best ships this side of the galaxy,” Kado replied, his praise underscored with genuine respect. “And Davik, Mira,” he said, looking to them, “thanks for pulling your weight on and off the ship. We couldn’t have done this without you.”
Davik and Mira exchanged looks before Mira smirked and nudged Kado lightly. “Don’t forget yourself, Kado. You’re the one who pulled us all together.”
Davik chimed in with a small nod. “We’d still be on some backwater rock if you hadn’t gotten us on the right track.”
Kado chuckled, brushing it off with a wave. “Alright, alright, we’re all doing what we need to. Let’s just keep at it, yeah?”
With that, the Stellar Envoy completed its journey back to Hangar 7-10. As they docked, the familiar clank and whir of the landing gear was music to Jake’s ears. He was already thinking of the work he’d be diving into the second they disembarked. He wanted to push the Envoy’s sensor range, boost its power output, install heat sinks for stealth, and finish wiring up the EMP shielding. And there was that backup shield generator waiting to be hooked in—small but better than nothing.
The days that followed were a blur of focused work and camaraderie. Over the next six days, Jake fine-tuned the ship’s systems, diving into the guts of its wiring and circuitry. Tarek, who was around more than expected, had been eager to learn, so Jake used the opportunity to set up a mock scenario based on the old recorded hyperspace route to Malachor V. If Tarek could handle that tricky path in the simulator, he’d gain valuable experience in long-haul nav plotting.
Meanwhile, Kado and Davik worked on offloading some of their more intact salvage pieces, bringing in solid credits that would help fund more upgrades and fuel. Mira, never one to leave loose ends, was busy checking in with her contacts to see if the Hutts had assigned anyone else to try slicing into the ancient Old Republic relic they had secured. Each of them kept to their own tasks, but it was all aimed toward the same goal: getting the Stellar Envoy—and the team—ready for what lay ahead.
As Jake wiped his hands on an oil-stained rag and surveyed the almost-finished upgrades on the Envoy, he felt a deep, well-earned satisfaction. The ship was finally shaping up, a few more days away from being as good as he could make it. The galaxy was unpredictable, but one thing was certain: with the right crew and a solid ship, they’d be ready for anything.
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Mira kept her head low, eyes subtly scanning the cantina’s dim, smoky interior. This was the third such establishment she’d visited in as many days. With her background in scouting and recon, she was no stranger to the patient, drawn-out work of intelligence gathering, but the stakes had grown higher with every passing day. Gardulla the Hutt's hold on information was notorious, and any hint of her team’s involvement with that relic was as dangerous as a fire sparking on a fuel line.
From her corner, Mira could overhear scraps of conversation—smugglers laughing over tall tales, bounty hunters boasting of their latest captures, and traders haggling over cargo runs. These were the lifeblood of cantinas in Hutt space: rumor, deals, and bravado. Still, nothing substantial had turned up. She was about to head back and strategize when a discreet message pinged on her comm. It was from Rina, finally, after three days of scattered updates. The message was brief but clear: she’d arrived, and she was ready to meet.
Relief swept through Mira, and her resolve sharpened. Rina, her longtime contact and trusted ally, had arrived. She was one of the few people Mira felt comfortable relying on when things were this precarious. Rina was shrewd, adaptable, and never careless. But now that she was here, Mira knew they had to meet carefully, even in a place like this where half the crowd wasn’t paying attention and the other half was too busy looking out for their own tails.
Rina had suggested the very cantina Mira was currently in. It was a bold choice, but not without reason. Their back-to-back setup would keep things discreet, and the dim lighting and constant hum of chatter would cloak their voices in a way even a careful observer couldn’t easily track. Mira took a slow breath, quietly adjusting her look—rearranging her scarf, altering her stance, and brushing dust over the patches on her sleeves. It wasn’t much, but in places like this, small details could make her look just unfamiliar enough.
When Rina finally arrived, her appearance was so understated that she could have passed for just another face in the crowd. Mira watched her settle down at the adjacent table, one seat removed, blending seamlessly into the cantina scene. She didn’t turn around, didn’t make eye contact—they knew how to keep things low-key. They sat back-to-back, blending into the hum of the room, exchanging details in the most subtle of voices.
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After the usual coded introductions, Rina leaned back just enough for her voice to reach Mira. “Someone’s been talking,” she said in a voice so quiet that Mira almost had to strain to hear. “The relic Gardulla’s been hoarding—it’s under scrutiny. I don’t know all the details, but apparently, a slicer recently uncovered changes to the records that nearly went unnoticed. They’re saying it’s connected to something around Malachor V. And Gardulla’s men are… less than pleased about the oversight.”
Mira absorbed this with a slight, barely perceptible nod. So, Jake’s clever work hadn’t gone unnoticed after all—only delayed. “Eight months,” she muttered, more to herself than to Rina. It had taken Gardulla’s slicers that long to pick up the sleight of hand Jake had woven into the data, but now that they’d seen it, they wouldn’t stop until they pieced together the trail. The Hutts were ruthless once they had a target, and Mira knew they wouldn’t be satisfied until they tracked down every individual who might’ve touched that relic.
“From what I heard,” Rina continued, “they’re putting out bounties, tracking down anyone remotely connected. They’re sending out feelers, combing through data trails. It won’t be long before they start compiling a list of suspects.”
A pang of worry coiled through Mira’s stomach, but she stayed composed. The crew would be prime targets. Jake had done the slicing, Kado had organized much of the operation, and Davik, with his extensive connections, had likely left traces just by proximity. Fortunately, Tarek had only recently joined them, and Rina herself had only now arrived, meaning they would likely avoid the Hutts’ radar for now.
“Gardulla’s not about to take this lightly,” Mira murmured. “She’ll have bounty hunters circling anyone she suspects.”
Rina's voice was calm, but Mira could tell that she shared her concern. “There’s a sliver of good news in all of this. They haven’t nailed down the culprits, just the data. They’re searching, Mira. It’ll take them time to sort out who’s responsible. If we move carefully, we can stay one step ahead.”
Mira nodded slowly, feeling the familiar surge of determination. It had been a gamble, leaving any traces of the relic’s data intact, but the potential reward had outweighed the risks—until now. Having Rina on board added a critical advantage; she was quick to adapt, resourceful, and capable of moving through Hutts’ territories with an almost ghost-like precision. Mira felt her spirits lift slightly, knowing she had a trusted ally who was as invested in this operation’s success as she was.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Mira said quietly. “And ready to step in. We’ll need every advantage we can get.”
In a wordless agreement, both women rose from their tables, leaving a few credits for their drinks, each heading toward a different exit. It was a practiced, subtle departure, drawing no attention as they left through opposite doors. Minutes later, they met up in a quiet alley a block away from the cantina.
They exchanged quick glances, each scanning their surroundings to ensure they weren’t being followed. Satisfied, Mira spoke up, her voice steady. “We need to warn the others. Gardulla’s reach is long, and if they’re putting out feelers, it won’t be long before bounties go up. She won’t risk anything less than an iron fist.”
Rina’s expression was calm but determined. “Then let’s get to them before anyone else does. Your crew deserves to know just how much heat is headed their way.”
With a mutual nod, they moved swiftly, shadows in the dusty streets, carrying news that would change the course of the team’s plans. The game was about to get infinitely more dangerous, and every second would count.
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Jake leaned over the control console of the Stellar Envoy, engrossed in fine-tuning the modifications he’d just installed. The sensor range and heat sinks needed a few last adjustments, and he wanted everything humming at peak efficiency before their next job. He glanced over at Tarek, who was across the hangar, getting hands-on blaster training from Davik. Their makeshift shooting range was little more than a few targets lined up against a crate wall, but it did the trick. Tarek had shown promise, though he was still a bit jittery with the weapon.
Kado had left earlier, heading back to his shop for a meeting with a buyer, and he'd taken the droids Skew-01 and Skew-02 with him. When Kado mentioned “intimidation factor” as his reason, Jake had rolled his eyes. He knew better—it was more about having the droids haul heavy equipment than scaring off customers. Kado wasn’t about to break a sweat if he could help it.
In the hangar, Jake watched Mira and Rina approach, noting the steady, determined stride Mira had, contrasted with Rina’s easy confidence. He shot a glance over at Davik and Tarek, who were looking on in curiosity. Jake hadn’t seen Rina before—none of them had—so she must have been Mira’s contact.
Mira stopped a few paces in, gesturing toward Rina. “Everyone, this is Rina,” she said, looking at each of them in turn. “She’s been a trusted contact of mine for a while now.”
Rina gave a smirk, eyes glinting with mischief as she looked over the group. “Nice setup you all have here,” she said casually. Her gaze landed on Jake, and she shot him an appraising look. “So, you’re the famous tinkerer I’ve heard so much about. It’s not every day I meet someone who looks ready to marry a ship.”
Jake felt his face flush, utterly caught off-guard. “I—uh—what?” He stammered, a bit flustered by her unexpected tease.
Davik chuckled under his breath, while Tarek’s eyes widened in surprise at Jake’s rare moment of speechlessness. Rina’s smirk widened, clearly enjoying the reaction, and Mira gave Jake a small, understanding smile, as if to say, Better get used to her style.
Recovering his composure, Jake cleared his throat, nodding to Mira. “So, where’s Kado? He’ll want to meet her too, right?”
Mira glanced around, looking slightly impatient. “Kado’s back at his shop,” Davik explained. “Said he had a buyer coming in. He took Skew-01 and Skew-02 for muscle, but we know it’s mostly so he doesn’t have to do the heavy lifting.”
Rina raised an eyebrow, but her expression turned serious. “We’ll fill him in later,” she said decisively. “There’s urgent news he can catch up on.”
Mira’s expression shifted to a contemplative look, her eyes narrowing briefly. She nodded, though, signaling that she agreed. She took a breath before diving in, her tone serious as she brought everyone up to speed. She and Rina laid out the disturbing news that Gardulla’s people had become aware of the tampering in the relic’s data—a discovery that could send them hunting anyone connected to the job.
As Mira spoke, Jake’s mind raced, the implications hitting him hard. When she finished, he looked at her, his expression pale. “Wait,” he said, forcing himself to keep calm. “Was Kado hired directly by Gardulla’s crew? Or was he just recommended?” His tone betrayed his worry.
Davik’s eyes narrowed as he quickly understood what Jake was getting at. If Gardulla’s men knew of Kado’s direct involvement, he’d be at the top of their list for a “visit.”
“We can’t take chances,” Davik said, glancing over at Jake and Tarek. “Prep the Stellar Envoy. Mira, Rina, and I will head to Kado’s shop.”
Jake nodded sharply, his focus snapping into place. He directed Nick-01 and Nick-02 to accompany Mira, Davik, and Rina, leaving Nick-03 in the co-pilot seat with him and Tarek. As he boarded, he felt a wave of nerves, almost as if this were their trial by fire.
He settled into the cockpit, glancing over at Tarek, who looked equally tense. Trying to lighten the mood, Jake reached over and put a reassuring hand on Tarek’s shoulder, grinning as if to say, We’ve got this. It worked—Tarek managed a half-smile, seeming a bit steadier.
With the ship powered up and everyone in position, Jake prepared himself. They had no time to waste. Kado’s life might just depend on it.
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