Star Wars - Tales of the Black Curs 3 - Explosive Developments Read online

  That night the group from the tavern had moved through the streets of Wroona’s starport district, following a series of back alleys.

  “I knew Moff Jellrek,” Jai said, stepping to the front of the group. “I almost killed him myself.”

  “For those who meet Moff Jellrek, their first response is usually to try to dispatch him.” Tru’eb said.

  “I tried so many times, he put a bounty on my head,” Jai replied.

  “What did you use, a sniper’s rifle?” Platt asked.

  “Rifles aren’t my style,” Jai said. “I used explosives. The concentrated kinds.”

  The group stopped before a door at the end of one dark alley. Dirk knocked three times, then the door opened.

  “Lo hong, lo hong, nechak,” beckoned the Rodian inside.

  “Cut to the chase, Tulagn.” Dirk said, waving for the others to enter. The back storeroom was piled with unmarked plastic crates. “Where are the goods?”

  The Rodian scampered over to one crate near the center of the room. He opened it and smiled at the explosive charges inside.

  “Whoa!” Starter cried. “There must be enough bombs in that crate to blow up a Star Destroyer. What’re you going to do with all …”

  Platt clasped her hand over Starter’s mouth, silencing him.

  Dirk hefted one of the charges in his hand. He looked to Jai. “How many you think we’ll need?”

  Jai moved to the crate and examined another charge. “I’d say about five — that should do the job.”

  Starter, released from Platt’s grasp, popped another crate open, then removed one of the thermal detonators packed into the crate. “Hey, Jai! Catch!” Starter called, tossing the detonator at her.

  She spun around, her eyes going wide and frantic when she saw the detonator in mid-air. Jai caught it with one hand, then made sure it wasn’t armed.

  Starter stood in the corner, snickering to himself. “A little jumpy there, aren’t you, Jai?”

  Before Starter could breath again, Jai had her free hand at his throat, pinning him against the wall. “Don’t ever, ever joke about thermal detonators,” she snarled. “Or you just might find yourself having one forced down your throat …”

  “Could we make some attempt at acting like civilized beings?” Tru’eb asked. Jai released her grasp and Starter gasped for air. “Thank you,” Tru’eb said.

  “We’ll take five,” Dirk told the Rodian.

  “Why’s she so hyper over the detonator?” Starter asked Platt. “It was only a joke.”

  “Your reaction to Starter’s trick was rather extreme,” Tru’eb noted.

  “Let’s just say I’ve had some bad experiences with thermal detonators,” Jai snapped.

  “You want to tell us about it?” Platt suggested.

  Jai ran a finger along the scar across her left cheek, then looked back at Dirk, who was busy haggling with the Rodian for the explosives. “I suppose we have time,” she said, sitting down on a crate.

  “Moff Jellrek had already issued a bounty on my head for my several failed assassination attempts,” Jai began. “I had to blow the guy away before one of his hired goons did the same to me. I was on Komar, where Moff Jellrek had his estate. I had hidden my ship in the Derrbi Wastes and hiked three days, sneaking past sensors and scout patrols, until I reached the mansion …”

  Jai crouched behind some fancily cut shrubbery, scanning the area for patrols. Two army troopers paced near the mansion’s main entrance, but the short run to the open door of the repulsorlift bay was clear. She checked her heavy blaster pistol, making certain the safety was off, then made sure the two explosive charges inside her satchel were set. She closed the flap on the bag, looked for any more guards, then dashed to the bay.

  Nobody was inside. A few speeder bikes hovered along one wall, but the Moff’s Chariot command speeder was sitting right near the bay’s wide entrance. Jai glanced at her chronometer — the Moff was leaving in five minutes for the starport. If Jai worked fast enough, it would be the shortest flight in his life.

  She popped the hatch to the pilot’s station and leaned inside. She clicked the detonator timer to five minutes, armed the charge and affixed it beneath the pilot’s command console with the magnetic grip plate. She did the same with the other explosive charge, but put it beneath the opposite console.

  Jai was about to slip out of the speeder when she noticed a small display screen and a knob concealed beneath the pilot’s console. After checking the wires and circuitry linked to the small unit, she turned the knob a few clicks. The display lit up — 01:00. 00:59. 00:58. 00:57 …

  Moff Jellrek is really going to get it this time, Jai thought.

  She slipped out of the command speeder and reached up to close the hatch.

  “Halt!” cried the trooper near the bay door. “Stay where you are.”

  In one swift motion Jai drew her blaster and dropped the trooper to the ground. No doubt more guards would hear. She needed a quick escape, and not in the command speeder.

  The trooper zoomed to one side of her and slammed into the rocks with a fiery explosion.

  After some repairs on the speeder bike’s repulsorlift unit. Jai returned to her ship, Doomsayer, a small Ghtroc freighter nestled in one of the Derrbi Wastelands’ canyons. She slipped off the speeder bike and spat in the dust. She had missed Moff Jellrek again.

  Jai took a step toward her ship and froze. Something was wrong. She drew her blaster, all the while peering into the rocky crags. Jai sniffed the air. Someone had been here.

  Stepping carefully to the closed starship hatch, she inspected the dust. Just as she thought — footprints. They led up the canyon right to the hatch.

  Jai pressed the hatch release panel and dodged to one side of the entry ramp.

  The ramp whined as it lowered from the hull. Dusty footprints led up into the freighter. Jai cautiously stepped into the ship, blaster at the ready. The footprints led to the cockpit, but Jai checked out the engineering station, crew cabin and hold first. When the door to the cockpit slid open. Jai didn’t see anybody. She approached the pilot and co-pilot seats. “What the …”

  A thermal detonator sat in the pilot’s chair, several colored lights methodically blinking away …

  Jai spun around and dashed out of the ship, dodging down the hatchway and into the dust.

  Jai peered at the hunter, then noticed another thermal detonator clipped to her belt. She could feel the knife’s cold edging closer to her throat. Jai reached for the detonator, flipped the arming switch, then kicked the bounty hunter in the gut. The knife zipped along her face as it flew from the bounty hunter’s hand. Jai leapt for the ship’s ramp and closed it behind her. Clutching her side, she found the thermal detonator still blinking in the pilot’s chair:

  Jai cursed, then powered up the ship. As she lifted off, the thermal detonator she had activated on the bounty hunter’s armor incinerated the canyon and buffeted the Doomsayer. Jai razed the entire canyon with the Doomsayer’s guns, just to be certain. But there was no sign of the bounty hunter …

  “And to this day, I have no idea whatever happened to Beylyssa,” Jai said. “Which is why I’m so jumpy when people like you start tossing them around.” She glared at Starter.

  “Hey, I didn’t know that bounty hunter cut up your face like that,” Starter said. “Not that it makes you look ugly or anything … I mean, it’s like, uh…”

  “He who keeps silent lives longer than he who wags his tongue,” Tru’eb counseled, patting Starter on the shoulder.

  “I’ve heard Beylyssa’s still around,” Platt ad
ded. “Or at least someone like her who uses that disarmed detonator trick.”

  “Well, she needs to buy her explosives from someplace,” Dirk grunted. “Say Tulagn, you ever know a bounty hunter who popped the trigger wedges out of thermal detonators?”

  The Rodian shrugged his shoulders. “Ne hinga, ne lochak.”

  “Figures …” Dirk muttered. “We’re all set.”

  “Great,” Platt chimed. “How about a nightcap out at my ship. I’ve got a good stash of Gruvian Tovash to help everyone sleep well …”

  Roleplaying Game Statistics

  Jai Raventhorn

  (At the time of Explosive Developments)

  Type: Outlaw

  DEXTERITY 4D

  Blaster 6D+2, dodge 5D, grenade 5D+1, melee combat 4D+1

  KNOWLEDGE 3D

  Streetwise 4D, willpower 4D+2

  MECHANICAL 2D+2

  Repulsorlift operation 5D, space transports 4D

  PERCEPTION 2D

  Con 4D, hide 3D+2, sneak 4D

  STRENGTH 3D+1

  Brawling 5D, lifting 4D+1, stamina 6D+2

  TECHNICAL 3D

  Demolition 4D+2, repulsorlift repair 4D, security 5D

  Force Points: 1

  Character Points: 11

  Move: 10

  Equipment: Blast vest (+1D physical, +1 energy, torso only), comlink, two heavy blaster pistols (5D)

  (Three years after the Battle of Endor)

  Blaster 9D+2, brawling parry 5D+2, dodge 7D, grenade 6D, melee combat 5D+1, running 4D+2, thrown weapons 5D Intimidation 6D, streetwise 4D+2, survival 5D, willpower 6D

  Astrogation 3D+2, space transports 4D+2, starship gunnery 4D

  Con 5D, hide 4D+2, sneak 6D

  Brawling 7D, climbing/jumping 5D, lifting 4D+2, stamina 7D

  Demolition 7D+2, repulsorlilt repair 4D+2, security 7D+1

  Force Points: 1

  Dark Side Points: 1

  Character Points: 12

  Capsule: Jai Raventhorn always knew the Empire meant trouble, but she had little to do with it during her quiet life working as a mining engineer on Kodaj. Until one day the man she was to marry was gunned down by an Imperial officer for no apparent reason. As she held him in her arms, his last words to her were “Avenge … my love.”

  The man ultimately responsible for her lover’s death was Moff Jellrek, whom Jai tried several times to assassinate using her expertise in demolitions. She later joined the Rebel Alliance as a SpecForces operative. After the Battle of Endor, she became disillusioned with the New Republic, partly due to her sister Morgan’s death at Endor. Jai left the New Republic to travel with Dirk Harkness and other companions throughout the crumbling Empire on a reconnaissance mission. With Harkness, she helped found the Black Curs, a mercenary intelligence group.

  Jai is known for her short temper and disregard for her personal safety in battle. She is very tall with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Jai always wears a red article of clothing, usually a red shirt, and a green blast vest. When thinking she’ll often finger the eight centimeter scar across the left side of her face. If Jai doesn’t look angry, a troubled look clouds her face.

  Beylyssa

  Type: Bounty Hunter

  DEXTERITY 4D

  Blaster 7D, dodge 5D+2, grenade 5D, melee combat 6D, melee parry 5D+1, missile weapons 5D

  KNOWLEDGE 2D+2

  Languages 4D, streetwise 5D, survival 4D+2

  MECHANICAL 2D+2

  Astrogation 3D+1, space transports 4D+2, starship gunnery 4D, starship shields 3D

  PERCEPTION 3D

  Intimidation 5D, investigation 5D+2, search 4D, sneak 6D

  STRENGTH 3D+2

  Brawling 5D+2, climbing/jumping 6D, stamina 4D+1

  TECHNICAL 2D

  Armor repair 4D+2, blaster repair 5D, demolition 8D+2

  Force Points: 1

  Dark Side Points: 3

  Character Points: 7

  Move: 10

  Equipment: Arelik bounty hunter armor (see below), two heavy blaster pistols (5D), two thermal detonators (one dummy, see below)

  Capsule: Little is known of Beylyssa’s origins. Some say she is the daughter of an Imperial Advisor, others believe she’s a super-commando left over from some long-forgotten military unit.

  Her characteristic black and gray bounty hunter armor is feared throughout the galaxy. Her emotionless helmet has a long, black braid of hair emerging from the back. Few know if this is her true hair or simply a crest she wears. Nobody knows the face which hides behind her helmet’s dark faceplate.

  Beylyssa has been seen working for the Empire, and is responsible for killing several Rebel operatives. She single-handedly destroyed the Rebel cell on Durgeon after hunting the fledgling Rebel group for months. She has also worked for several crimelords.

  Beylyssa is ruthless and cunning. Her penchant for setting up traps involving thermal detonators is known only by those few who barely escaped with their lives from such traps.

  Beylyssa’s Armor

  Model: Modified Arelik Armor

  Type: Modified personal battle armor

  Cost: Not for sale

  Availability: Unique

  Game Effects:

  Basic Suit: Provides +2D to Strength (or physical attacks, +1D for energy attacks. Covers head, torso and arms. Dexterity and related skills are -1D.

  Sensor Pod: +1D to search.

  Infrared Sensor: Adds +1D to Perception in darkness.

  Turbo-Projected Grappling Hook: 20-meter lanyard, uses missile weapons skill (ranges 0-3/10/20), spring-barbed hook (3D+2 damage if used on a live target).

  Winch: Capable of lifting 100 kilograms (Beylyssa and her equipment only).

  Environment Filter: Helmet filter system can prevent harmful molecules from entering the lungs.

  Tampering with Thermal Detonators

  Beylyssa’s trademark is the thermal detonator. Nobody knows where she buys them in the large quantities she often uses, but some say a Rodian arms dealer on Wroona keeps her well supplied.

  Beylyssa tinkers with detonators — some explode as usual, but others have the trigger wedges removed, allowing the timer to tick down, even after reaching the zero mark. These “dummy detonators” are good for scaring Beylyssa’s prey. Bounties often panic and act clumsily, stumbling away from the dummy detonator and into Beylyssa’s blaster sights.

  Removing the trigger wedges from a thermal detonator is risky business. Characters who wish to make dummy detonators like this must make two Very Difficult demolition rolls, one to open the detonator housing and remove the trigger wedges, and another to reassemble the detonator without setting off the explosives. Once reassembled, the detonator is stable, and is rather useless until the trigger wedges are replaced (a Heroic demolition task).

  From Star Wars Adventure Journal 3 (08-1994)

  11.6.18.15.14.5-1

 

 

  Peter Schweighofer, Star Wars - Tales of the Black Curs 3 - Explosive Developments

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