Halo Bay

[Halfbat]

From the information brought back by the Ravens, Losshaven law enforcement officers continue with the investigation into past activities of the pirates. One thing that becomes clear from the hyperjump logs is that apart from preying on the regular space-lanes, the pirates continually jumped into the Bay-55R system and from there ending up in different locations in deep space at the end of many jumps.

The Bay-55R system is sparsely populated. Why the pirates should be going there is a mystery, and an even bigger mystery is why no-one recorded their presence. Did they avoid Halo Bay? Did they stick around the asteroid belts? Did they use Crater Bay? The Law Enforcement Agencies could do with some off-planet help as they have no jurisdiction in Halo Bay....
...could the Raven's do something?

Commander Medj'D'mas is a bit wary of going off half-cocked so suggests a brainstorming after an intelligence gathering excercise. He's looking for suggestions and will support any relevant action before the session. [GM: hint ]


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Meanwhile, the Action IV freighter is examined by the Raven's engineers along with staff from LEC. Ownership has been transferred to the Peace Corps: it's a near-working warship which can't be left alone. Basic repairs are made to bring it back to Keysh'kar and, though the jury-rigged repairs barely survive, it makes it back to Keysh'kar. The freighter is landed on a solid plateau a few klicks from the base and it's marked as a work-in-progress: staff and engineers can repair it when they have time or other maintenance duties are up-to-date.

Cdr Medj'D'mas decides to run a naming competition for the vessels new name when it is finally commissioned into service... whenever that is.
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[mr_fingle]

Captain,

might I suggest a number of covert reconnaisance missions into the system using the Darkcloaks with some form of passive SigInt package in the passenger compartment (as I previously suggested)? That could be backed up with HumInt missions to Halo Bay or any other in-system bases. I am more than happy to volunteer for any mission as appropriate Sir.

Assuming the pirates have poorly maintained ships, it should hopefully be relatively simple to locate drive emissions and track their numbers although we should obviously be cautious in case this whole set-up is merely to lure the Raven's main force into a trap.

In the meantime, Chumma will assist the engineers with developing the sensor package for the Darkcloaks (if that's decided a viable option), working on the Action IV, studying further on lightsaber building techniques (and scrounging necessary parts to build my own if possible), generally helping out wherever I can (invariably getting under people's feet).

Oh and the nomination for the Ships name: Raven from the Ashes, Raven Reborn

[w00hoo]

Looking through the briefing material Klashie pipes up "I would of thought people on Halo Bay would have reported unexpected craft, unless they were being particularly careful. It sounds like the most valuable resource for them to of been pillaging. As we've not heard anything, I suggest we start with some covert scanning runs on Crater Bay as it's attracted a lot less attention. They may have some sort of supply dump set up there. I think Chumma is right about using the Dark Cloaks."

Work wise, Klashie will start helping out with the repair, specifically seeing if it would be possible to fit the bay to carry and launch multiple fighter craft, or possibly fit external mounts for them. Name wise, he'll champion 'Big Momma' at the moment.

[Mr. Venom]

"The pirates will have a hideaway or a fence in the system, probably as near civilisation as they can bear. Even they need shore leave and food supplies."
McRoss thinks awhile.
"The Trade Federation have a presence there, maybe asking them about cash-for-parts deals and big buyers of rations would help."

[Halfbat]

Cdr Medj'D'mas smiles. "For now we'll codename the upgrade 'Big Momma', pending the outcome of this competition. I'm pleased to see some constructive suggestions from our resident expert, FO Klashie*."

Klashie rapidly works out that internal mounts and are easily possible for the StarGnats, as they can hang from a bulkhead and have fittings for such a configuration, a bit more complicated for the Headhunters with their more sophisticated landing gear and expectations for a horizontal take-off. With Chumma and the other tech they appraise the workload, apart from the clean-up required! It's a lot of work, months perhaps. The weapon systems on the freighter are a complete mess and need a great deal of work, the hyperdrive is shot and the repulsors are dodgy.

Jerek also considers the options passed to him so far. "We've no confirmation that the pirates were working with others or not - just the astrogation log for this craft. The Trade Federation outposts on Halo Bay have been transferred to the MNMC who, as you know, have officially declared themselves breakaway from the Trade Federation - and need I remind you we're officially at war with the Federation, even though we see little of it.
"FO McRoss, you have a point: we have not yet found where this ship refuelled or resupplied. FO Klashie, Jedi Brin - discuss with building enhanced scanning packages into the Darkcloaks. I'll consider a flyby on Crater Bay, for now, but I want to keep well away from Halo Bay until we have more intel. "


* Duros normally only consider their first name important, the second name typically being use as a sort of unique identifier.

[Lusus Naturae]

"Sorry I'm late to the briefing guys, got chatting to a little lass at the bar."

Kal wanders over to the lads.

"I'll volunteer to help with the scanning effort over Crater Bay. If that is indeed the plan. Maybe I can rig the scanning computers to scan deeper, get under the rock, our pirates might well have a base under the surface"

[w00hoo]

Klashie nods in agreement, "with the lower planet density there may be cave systems or such they could have utilised."

[Halfbat]

Cdr Jerek nods. "My thoughts, too, Ravens. But it's a big planet and I'm concerned there might not be anything left."

[Mr. Venom]

"This is true. Maybe locals have had problems with raiders, too though. They might have a better idea of where not to travel, even if they don't tell us outright."

[Halfbat]

Cdr Jerek looks at McRoss and tilts his head. "I take it you still think we should contact whatever scientific establishments we can find on Halo Bay whilst also doing a deep-surface scan on Crater Bay... Crater Bay being virtually devoid of life, of course.

Trouble is, we don't know who on Halo Bay this gang were using. If we send anyone in, it's going to have to be either completely official and above board - and in force - or an infiltration which is so far under the radar they don't realise we're checking them out."

He looks round at all the pilots. "Ideas on both those, people? We'll start constructing the additional deep-scan and stealth systems in the Darkcloaks whilst we think of ideas for gaining information from Halo Bay."

[GM: do give construction ideas an corresponding checks for any kit you're building in the Darkcloaks: synergies are rampant, so suggest them if you will and the chief engineer is pretty hot, too.]

[mr_fingle]

Chumma thinks about this for a bit.

"Might I suggest we scan for energy sources, most people forget that even arc welding gives off a nice spread-spectrum energy spikes, and I'm sure pirates will be forever welding things together even if everything else is operating on low power.

Also, I would expect to see a lot of debris from scrap equipment about, they are unlikely to go to a lot of effort to hide their waste - failing that, they may sell it to the nearest scrap merchant for raising more money - they didn't look too financially well off.

We could, however just send a ship in with the Action IVs transponder codes, after all they would be expecting it back at some point, but we wouldn't know any codes if they change them."

Smiling, as something obvious comes into his mind, he then looks around the assembled grinning like a maniac "or we could just ask the prisoners, it might save a lot of searching and I might be able to persuade them to help us out!"

[How do you want us to sort out the sensor stuff? Just list what sort of things we would be looking to add?

[Halfbat]

Medj'D'mas looks at Chumma with respect. "Nice ideas, jedi. Waste - good point. Faking it - it's a start and we can run with that once we've scanned Crater Bay. As for interrogation, be my guest. That Togorian Captain's proving a real problem, a right handful, and it's likely to be the Spice Mines for him. Take who you wish and liaise with Losshaven LEA."

Teapot speaks up. "I can speak...." At the groans he looks round with an blank expression* and turns and walks out, apparently hurt. "I think I had best be getting back to my administration work, then. At least the protocol droid at Losshaven HQ appreciates my perfectly-completed requisition forms."


* I know. What other expression can a droid have?
[GM: Yep. Just list the sort of things you're building, make sure you have a _really_ good techie and get him to roll. If it's impossible then I'll raise the DC, otherwise we can un with the standard build rules for some DC15 to DC20 kit (see Craft()). The Chief Mechanic/Engineer (careful what you call him!) Fynn Keyis has a set of superb skills but his sensor specialisation isn't so good. He is also badly overworked so if the pilot's reckon they have a good chance at altering and throwing something together (who, I wonder), then try!]

[Lusus Naturae]

"I'd like to rig the computers on the darkcloaks so they can have a better scan range if that's possible" Kal chips in.

Computer Use roll = 15 + 7 = 22.

[Halfbat]

The meeting breaks up, wiht everyone going to their own focus.

Kal - works on the onboard computer sensor routines, optimising their performance on low-resolution data (this is effectively a craft() type of check).

Klashie - ?Currently working on 'Big Momma' for retrofitting launch mountings. The hyperdrive and turbolasers also need some work (the latter right up his street, of course).

Chumma - liaises with Cdr Medj'D'mas and preps his Aethersprite for a trip to Losshaven.

McRoss - ?

[Mr. Venom]

McRoss opts to accompany Chumma to question the imprisoned pirates.
"After all, you have to work with the rough paper before you can put on a smooth finish..."