The Rancor Rises

Posted on Mon Aug 31st, 2020 @ 4:09pm by Spacer Talon Kolani

Mission: A Long Long Time Ago
Location: Sluis Van Shipyards
Timeline: Before Order 66

Talon pushed the engines of the modified courier ship he was piloting that little bit more, knowing that they were almost at their maximum sunlight capability and for once, didn't care.

He yanked the control yoke left and right as he tried his best to outmanoeuvre the Koklani Holdings Cloakshape fighters that had been sent after him, in pursuit of one of the Kolani siblings who had decided to detach himself from the family business after finding out the dealing they had with both the Separatist forces and also the Hutt Cartels.

Talon wiped a tear away from his eyes as he focused on trying to get to a safe point in the planetary system so that he could make the jump to lightspeed safely, however, the hornets on his tall were making life more difficult than he wanted it to be.

Talon swung the ship over hard and headed towards the planetary rings that surrounded one of the neighbouring worlds with a clear plan in mind. He'd flown in and around the rings many times before when practising as part of his training and he knew them like the back of his hand.

Diving low as he entered the debris field, Talon started working the control yoke as he pushed the throttle hard, forcing another couple of per cent from the sunlight engines, knowing where to dive and were to evade as the chunks of rock moved around them. He stole a short look at the scanners and could see that the pursuing fighters were falling back slightly, as they opened fire on everything in their path trying to clear a path to the fleeing Kolani.

Talon could see his chance come up ahead as one of the larger rocks strayed from its normal rotation and looking down at the small armaments he had installed in the ship, he armed the single concussion missile that had been kept in reserve for emergencies just like this. Talon flipped up the arming switch and locked on to the rock.

Behind, one of the Cloakshapes opened fire again and got close to his modified courier ship as they kept up the barrage. Waiting for them to close a little more, Talon could feel the sweat upon his brow as he closed as far as he dared to the rock and then pressed the firing trigger. As the concussion missile flew away, Talon quickly chose a preset set of coordinates that he'd rarely used, hoping that the explosion of the larger rock would cover his escape.

Looking up as the nav computer confirmed a path, Talon saw the concussion missile had struck the rock and it blew apart into a million pieces, giving him the chance he needed. He threw the Hyperspace throttle forward and the modified courier ship jumped at the last moment as he fled the system.

What Talon didn't see behind him were the two Koklani Holdings Cloakshape fighters colliding with the debris field and exploding as their shields struggled and finally gave in against the immense pressure and energy of the explosion.

Several hours later, Talon had made his way to the Sluis Van Shipyards, where he had arranged to meet with a contact of his to sell off the Koklani Holdings modified courier ship that he'd flown for so long. Knowing that his family were embroiled in dealings with some of the worst forces in the galaxy, Talon no longer wanted anything to do with them and had arranged the sale over private and secure channels.

Once the sale was complete, Talon was soon on his way to a destination he'd kept off the books from the rest of the family and the business, flying there in a brand new YT-1300p Light Freighter and ready to meet up with another former colleague, his Twi-lek friend and co-pilot Alema Rha. Alema knew of a quiet location where they could work on the new ship and modify it to its needs.

Once he arrived and landed the YT-1300p, Talon opened the ramp and cautiously worked his way down, blaster in hand. He nearly jumped as Alema walked into the landing bay, also armed and looking cautious.

"Whoa!" claimed Talon

"Hey, I'm on your side remember!!" shouted Alema and she stepped back. The two of them holstered their weapons as they greeted each other with a hug.

"So, you got out in one piece? No one followed you out?" she asked him as Talon stepped back to take a look at his new ship.

"Nah, Mother sent several Cloakshape fighters after me, but I managed to ditch them and jump out of there in one piece," he explained. "As far as anyone should be concerned, my ship collided with one of the larger asteroids in the planetary rings I headed into and piloting error was my end."

"That's one way to ditch the family and the family business I suppose," Alema agreed. "Ok, rest up here and then we'll get started on upgrading this little gem."

As Talon walked with her from the landing bay, he looked around seeing various crates and tech lying around in some semblance of order.

"What is this place anyway?" he asked her, curious as to how she'd gotten so much equipment there and also finding a small living area in working order.

"I have an uncle who has a lot of money and never said no to me," Alema replied as she smiled. "As far as he is concerned, I'm one of the best mechanics in the Nubian Navy working on contract to them and I have expensive needs."

"Well, that's one way to earn a living I suppose," Talon said.

Two months later and work on the newly named "Rusty Rancor" was complete, with Talon and Alema running a private passenger/freight service, catering for the private sector and those who wanted to be discreet about their passage to different locations whilst in the middle of a galaxy-wide war. The business was good and soon Talon was able to find a stable clientele base to work from, until the day that saw Order 66 take effect...