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And now we're in the meat and potatoes of the story. Foundationals out of the way, let's go meet up with out favorite applicant for the role of Mandalore!

Week 0 - Chapter 4: Messy Business

We've made it to the Kalinda system. For such an active thoroughfare, I'm surprised how little surface development there is. Karima, the only planet in the system with breathable air, is definitely not an ecumenopolis. Hell, I don't think I see more than a handful of towns down there. According to what HK's dug up, the Halcyon Stars cantina is in Verena City, this system's capital, specifically near the spaceport. Very public. Either he doesn't trust me, or he's got a back room lined up. Probably both. Respectable.

Getting through flight control and the system security forces was a complete breeze compared to Eriadu. HK handled most of it, though he definitely was a little more aggressive about it than he needed to be. Anyways, we land at the Verena City spaceport. My manner of dress (Earth clothing definitely doesn't quite fit the established norms of Star Wars) draws some attention, but our walk to the cantina is relatively uneventful. Halcyon Stars is a nice joint; small, out of the way, but clean. Definitely not the hive of scum and villainy most people associate with the word 'cantina'. Walking in, it's definitely more a popular spot for spacers than locals. I see a pair of Mandalorians (Presumably Jaster and someone he's brought along), a bunch of Rodians, a Bith, and a variety of other races I don't recall the names of. 

Walking with HK-47 over to the Mandalorians, I quietly ask;

"You fellas with Mereel?"

The one in black and red livery chuckles. 

"You could say that. Are you the individual that sent Mereel that intel?"

"I am."

He takes off his helmet, revealing the spitting goddamn image of a beardless Jason Court. 

"Well, you saved the lives of myself and many of my men from that Death Watch ambush." 

I do my utmost not to squeal in nerdly fashion over the fact that live-action Jaster also resembles Kyle motherfuckin' Katarn's actor. I sit down on one of the empty stools as he speaks.

"You had a business proposition?"

"So, introductions. I'm David Hatton, this durasteel-plated headache is HK-47, and I wanted to see about working as an informant for you, Jaster, as well as hire your organization out for some operations I'm far too flimsy and inexperienced for."

HK grumbles at this point. 

"Commentary: I'd rather be the one to do the wanton violence." 

Both Jaster and I glance at the assassin droid, before continuing. 

"I'm not going to hire you gentlemen for wanton violence. I want to hire you folks to help me solve some of the galaxy's problems and net your movement good PR in the process."

Jaster raises his brow. "Just like that? Intel from you and the occasional job? I'd like to know why you've chosen to get an in with the True Mandalorians."

"Not to join the Mandalorians, no, but a stable Mandalore is a gateway to many of my objectives being completed. You know damn well that the Rusaan status quo is about to get broken within our lifetimes, and I'd rather not let the galaxy burn down; I want to live here comfortably after all. The Death Watch are murderhobos that want to revive the crusades, so they're not worth my time, and the pacifists refuse to take the initiative unless their ridiculous cube-cities burn down around their ears. You, Jaster, are my only hope." 

I chuckle. 

"Sorry, couldn't resist throwing in a reference." 

His expression becomes slightly confused as he tries to figure out what the hell I just referenced. 

"Anyways, I'll compile a list of Death Watch bases for you fellows to look into, along with what I remember of their command structure." 

His focus returns to my words. 

"Of course, my intelligence is not perfectly reliable, some of it may even be exaggerated, but I do know that the Death Watch has a powerful backer. I'm currently piecing the precise chain together, but I know the governor of Galidraan is connected to them and the slave trade, and I know their would-be backer is also heavily invested into the Trade Federation. The individual in question wants Mandalore to be unstable, either to keep your people off-balance or to use the Death Watch as puppets."

Jaster's expression is deathly serious. 

"Do you have evidence for your claims?"

"I do not. You're free to look into it on your own time, and if your independent verification is successful, I'll be sure you'll know where to find me. Safe travels, Jaster, and I do truly hope your endeavors are fruitful." 

Jaster looks like he wants to interject, but instead nods to his second, who I suspect is Jango. They head off towards a public terminal towards the back, and I head back towards the spaceport. Time to get my money flow going before Jaster gets back to me.

Within two hours, I've sent Jaster a list of locations to look into, including an abandoned Beskar mine on Concordia. No reply, guess he'll follow up on that and then throw in his opinions. Most of the locations in question are dubious, but Concordia is the most solid lead.

The local spaceport has a shipment of stuff they want sent somewhere; guess tramp freighter time it is.

- - - - 1 Month Later - - - -

I've made buckets of money, and I've found out that dear old Bog Tawem has been sending me royalties. Royalties! Ha! Love me some regular guaranteed income. So, I'm sitting on a few hundred thousand credits from moving large quantities of grains and the like around the core. Turns out, a lot of these worlds need the imported food. You'd think they'd just set up orbital farms, but nope; apparently, the newest space stations are over a century old. Economic downturn is a hell of a thing and the Trade Federation strangling bulk markets hasn't helped. In addition, HK's gotten addicted to murderhoboing on my various singleplayer games on my xbox. Halo 1-Reach, RDR 1 and 2, and a variety of other games have seen NPC casualties in the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands. He's also critiquing KotoR 1 and 2, but he approves of the broad-strokes being reasonably accurate. I think I may have opened a door to some wild shit. I'll have to introduce him to some of my WW2 games.

As for other events, HK has successfully recreated new carbines based on the C96, with integrated suppressors. The things kinda look a bit like the DeLisle carbine, but angrier. 

Ah, a call from Jaster, I wondered when he'd get back to me. I activate the holoterminal, greeted by a slightly dinged up Jaster. 

"How did you know? Did you work for them? How did you know?"

I'm slightly taken back by his accusations, before I respond. 

"My information is confidential. If you need the details, I need you to help me with a job. Yes, I'll pay your usual contract rates, and once I get your measure, I'll tell you in private. Meet me at Aridus at your earliest convenience."

"Fine, but this discussion isn't over."

"Safe travels."

I hang up, suddenly boneless. 

"Remind me never to interact with an angry Mandalorian again. Speaking of, now I need to get ahold of the Jedi."

"Query: Why bother interacting with the Jedi?"

"Because I need one of their councilmembers to help me destroy a fucking Sith artifact."

"Interrogation: Which Artifact?"

"An amulet, it creates rakhghouls and I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting something else."

I send a message to the Coruscant Jedi temple, stating that I must speak with Master Mace Windu at his earlier convenience, and sneaking in that I know about 'the bane of your order.'"

I did not expect him to call back within 15 minutes. "This is Mace Windu. Who is this, how did you come about this information?"

"Is this channel encrypted?"

A few seconds of silence pass. "It is now. Spill."

"I have a lead on a Sith artifact that needsto be destroyed using Shatterpoint. Meet me at Aridus, before other parties catch wind of this. I'll explain further there."

A few more seconds pass while Mace considers what I've said. "Very well, but you had best have a full explanation once we're there."

I nod before hanging up, and begin planning a hyperspace jump to the out-of-the-way system. It's time to put an end to the Muur Talisman before it causes me headaches, and it'll be a good way to get good PR with the Jedi.