StarDestroyer.Net BBS

I've decided to work on a piece spinning off from a roleplay/simulation I was part of. Its based on star wars...I thought I'd put up the post from the roleplay I'm spinning off from first....so here goes....

The ship leapt forward in psuedo motion, the light of the stars all around stretching from pinpricks of light to lines into infinity. In an instant they snapped away, the starlines replaced with the mottled blue grey of hyperspace. Tyrbalt stood staring out the bridge viewport at the swirling sights. He sighed slightly then turned to regard the commander of the vessel, Nal'iathor a female Twilek with a past nearly as convoluted as his own. She bore some strange intricate markings on her brain tails, tatoos that marked some of the darker parts of the galaxy she had experienced.
She was looking over one of the consoles, checking some data supplied by one of the crew, a smile slipped across Tyrbalts face as he moved towards her.
"When will we be reaching our destination captain?" he enquired.
She turned and looked up at him, an arrogant and slightly indignant look on her face.
"We will get there soon enough....I dont tell you how to....do whatever it is you do.....so I'd appreciate you to keep out my way on my bridge."
Tyrbalt chuckled, "My apologies, but I need to know. Dont worry, I wont get in your way."
She straightened her jacket, a small tan coloured piece with a small broach on the left breast, and sighed.
"Alright, it will take about 3 days to reach our destination....then another few hours at sublight, the reports say there is a lot of dangerous material to be navigated through."
Tyrbalt gave a small bow and a smile, "Thank you m'lady you have been most helpful."
Nal'iathor muttered something and returned to regarding the console infront of her. With another chuckle Tyrbalt headed toward the rear of the bridge, walking around the main command chair in the center and heading into the main corridor of the vessel.

A diminutive hooded figure detached from its unobtrusive spot in the shadows and followed the tall falleen deeper into the ship. Suddenly Tyrbalt turned and looked at the small figure in the dark grey hood, "Must you follow me everywhere even on the ship?"
The small figure hissed, "I must. The Zila'Kedar has entrusted your saftey to me my Lord."
It was Tyrbalts turn to sigh. "There are no threats here, no need to follow me every moment...and certainly no need to call me a 'Lord'."
The long corridor was dark and grey, much the same as corridors on starships all across the galaxy. Access panels dotted the wall to allow engineering personell access to the systems and components concealed within the structure of the vessel. One of these came loose and fell towards the durasteel deck, landing with a loud crash...in an instant the small figure had spun. A wicked curved knife in one hand, a heavy pistol in the other...from within the wall came a long low growl....then a black fur covered paw reached forth to scoop the plating up from the deck and pull it back against the wall. The creature in the hooded robe relaxed, recognizing the arm of the ships engineer....and also his inventive wookie cursing. He turned back to his ward.
"You may think so my Lo...sir, but the Zila'Kedar has ordered me and I obey."
Tyrbalt nodded, "Very well then...but try not to be so paranoid."
He continued on along the main corridor, passing several bulkeheads before reaching the ships massive docking bay. Inside rested a number of vessels and a few technicians moved over each. Tyrbalt stood on the framework balcony overlooking the bay, regarding the work for a few moments. He then turned his gaze once more to his small protector. "Did you recive word on our special cargo before we left?"
"Yes my L...I mean Sir, the special cargo was all loaded and secured before departure....except for item #1173X."
Tyrbalt tilted his head and gazed down at the face concealed in shadows, "You are doing that on purpose, arent you?"
A raspy and inhuman sound that could only be described as a poor attempt at laughter eminated from the hood.
"Perhaps..."
Tyrbalt shook his head and walked down the ramp into the docking bay itself, moving towards the adjoining cargo storage area. Moving past his personal shuttle that was sat to one side in the bay, the only vessel untouched by the army of technicians in the vessels hold. A small astromech unit moved out of his way as he continued over to the storage area, inside were large sealed packing crates, each with a small keypad to unlock them...if the incorrect code sequence was entered then the cargo within would be destroyed before the packaging could be opened. Perhaps a rather obsesive security measure, but there was good reason in the case of most of the items within. Tyrbalt moved along checking the markings on each case till he came to the one he sought. #1172X. He touched the keypad, entering a string of symbols. The small light above the pad flashed amber twice then blue. With a hiss of released pressure a panel on the crate slid open. Within rested a smaller box, this one of ornately carved black wood, with a reverent grace Tyrbalt retrieved it from the confines of the crate and then moved to reseal the crate. He paused, noticing a small data card inside the compartment at the back, he retrieved this also and slipped it into one of the concealed pockets of his jumpsuit.
"Time to retire to my quarters I think."
He nodded to the small figure who moved to the back of the cargo hold. The vessel was very heavily modified, with a number of rather secret compartments, all sensor shielded....rementants from a long career in the art of free commerce. Tyrbalt smiled at the thought of free commerce, once long ago he had enjoyed a career in such....an independent trader often called smugglers, though only if caught. The paneling on the rear wall of the cargo bay swung inwards and the hooded figure moved through, Tyrbalt followed in his wake. The compartment had been extended, it linked in the twists of the ships structure with three others....and one very secure door. It was to this door that Tyrbalt and his protector went. Once more the hooded creature operated the lock and the door swung open slowly...

Beyond lay an opulent suite of three rooms. An office, a living room and a bedroom. The sort of suite normally only found on consolur ships for an important ambassador. Tyrbalt moved into the room and his assigned body guard sealed the hidden door behind them. From within the room it looked like part of the rather extensive drinks cabinet that dominated one wall of the living area. Tyrbalt walked into the office, it contained a desk with a large nerf hide chair behind it and two smaller chairs facing it. Built into the surface of the desk was a small holo projector...
Tyrbalt seated himself in the tall chair and gently placed the carved wooden case on the surface of the desk..drawing a deep breath he closed his eyes. The wood had a strange scent, like a mixture of a dozen exotic spices....it had been too long since he had been near it. He carefuly undid the catches and opened the case. Inside on a soft crimson velvet lay two items....one a bracer of sorts with long finger pieces all covered in strange angular carvings, the overall look of it resembling an odd winged creature. Laid beside was a long double edged dagger, it was this that Tyrbalt lifted first. Along the blade of the dagger were angular symbols much like those on the other item, on its hilt rested a deep blue saphire of sorts....seeming to glow even in the currently dim light of the office. Tyrbalt twirled the dagger round once, moving it so he held it blade down and flicked his wrist....there was a low thumming noise and the stone in the pommel glowed brighter. He smiled and watched the glowing stone for a few moments, getting lost in its deep blue facets.....with a flick of the wrist the thrum ended and the stone returned once more to its dimmer glow. Tyrbalt touched the blade to the thumb of his left hand and ran it lightly along....opening a small cut.....his blood oozed onto the carved blade....along the intricate symbols. He then carefully wiped the blade with a cloth from within the desk then resheated it....laying it along side the box. It had been repaired as promised, it had taken too long though....
Absently he took a small bacta impregnated swatch from his desk and ran it over the cut, the bacta quickly sealing the small wound. He stood and moved to the living area, at the door to the office the hooded sentinel remained, alert as ever.
Tyrbalt made his way to the extensive drinks cabinet, selecting a vintage bottle of Whyrens Reserve....obtained from a rather special source. He took a tumbler and added ice to it then slowly poured the expensive whiskey in over it. A deep breath of the warm rich aroma brought back a lot of memories...times long past....adventures and revelries...excitment and enjoyment....the good times. In the back of his mind remained the other half of all those remembered things....the problems and the dissapointments....the fear and trepidation......those things that could still bring occasional nightmares.....but for the time being the memories of good held the high ground. A delightful rememberance brought on by a simple scent.
He sipped the drink and took the datacard from within the folds of his jumpsuit. Carefully he slipped it into his datapad and read through the message it contained....

It has been too long since we last met under good circumstances. I hope you are keeping well and out of trouble, though I doubt it greatly. The repairs and modifications you requested were carried out and the items you required secured and transfered to you. I apologise, but one item eluded me, though it should not prove a problem....I included one of those little toys you are so fond of in its stead. The control code for its casing is the name of the last bar we met in so long ago.

Take care old friend.

Tyrbalt shut down his datapad and took another sip of the drink.....contemplating how this would affect matters. If the item was what he believed it would be, then it may indeed make up for the missing equipment....checking could wait till morning though, by ships clocks it was mid-evening and Tyr was begining to feel the strain of all the travelling that he had been doing of late. He continued to sip his drink and closed his eyes.
"Make yourself useful and turn on some music." he murrmured to his bodyguard.
With scarce any sound the figure moved across the room and activated some quiet music. A soft ballad played on ithorian wind pipes....Tyrbalt sipped at his drink and unconciousness slowly overtook him.....

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Ahead he could see a massive tree....its trunk filling the view almost completely.....its branches extending upwards out of sight....its massive roots burrowing deep....it was strange, seeming massive, yet incredibly distant......slowly it grew.....filling everything....the cracks in the trunk becoming deep black chasms.....the darkness expanding to fill all.....great balls of light forming in the darkness.....one of these expanding to fill all.....then that seperating out into a million tiny points of light.......the view continued its race inwards.....one of the points of light filling the view......a twinkling pinprick that quickly swelled into a burning orb of nuclear fusion.....a star.....around it the darkness swirled....rocks careening through space....colliding with one another......amongst them a small flash of ion drives flicker....darting among the massive rocks....the small vessel manouvering deflt through them....slowly he realized this was a memory.....years ago.....back in his first days running cargo......another two flares of engines came into the scene.....manouvering among the rocks trying to follow the first....one of the chasing glows was obscured for an instant....then there was a bright flash....the engine never reappeared.....the other continued the chase.....slowly loosing ground.....eventually the first left the field of rocks......the view rushed in towards it.....the instantly recognizable shiloutte of a YT-1300 filling his sight.....his old ship.....his first ship.....so long ago......so......long....ag.......it faded away to nothing.......

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Tyrbalt awoke slowly....stiff from an evening spent asleep on the couch in the lounge. He stood, stretching his arms and legs out, feeling the kinks in his muscles pop and loosen. He walked to the 'fresher closing the door...filling the bath it contained with hot water....close to boiling.....an incerdible extravegance on a vessel anywhere. He disrobed slowly and sank blissfully into the warm embrace of the water....it was something that his Falleen genes ached for....the tender caress of the water across his pale green skin......he closed his eyes enjoying the feel his skin tone wandering through a rose tinted shade of red as he enjoyed it. Tapping the comlink beside the bath with a clawed nail.....
"Can you arrange for a member of the engineering staff to meet me in an hour in the main cargo hold please?"
An affirmative response came back through the comlink.
"Excellent. Make sure I am not disturbed before that."
Tyrbalt clicked the comlink off once more with his clawed nail. He sank back slowly into the water, letting his head submerge beneath the surface....

An hour later Tyrbalt left his quarters, diminutive bodyguard in tow. Dressed as ever in his plain black jumpsuit, armour woven through it....a number of small pockets concealed about its folds. A short crimson cloak hung from one shoulder, at his belt was a DL-18 pistol, on his left wrist he wore the strange intircate piece of jewelery from the wooden container. Just visible on his belt, partially concealed by the crimson cloak was the sheathed dagger that the box also contained. He strode out along the main corridor of the vessel, an imposing figure as he made his way to the docking bay....the view of technicians working on vessels remained as impressive as previously; slowly he manouvered through to the cargo bay, waiting there was a tall wookiee with silver-grey fur, black in places....
Tyrbalt approached him and they moved deep into the maze of cargo containers to check on the special items that had been included.....

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There was a flicker and suddenly a ship appeared on the edge of the system beyond the asteriods that swept in odd orbits around the systems star. From among the debris a small capsule floated towards the newly arrived vessel.
On the bridge Nal'iathor looked out surveying the system ahead, she turned to regard Tyrbalt.
"I thought you said there would be someone here to meet us?"
Tyrbalt chuckled, "Check the sensors," he replied looking up from one console.
"What?"
"There is a small probe heading towards us....its locked onto out transpoder......"
Nalia looked at the scopes, frowning for a moment before the small but unmistakable sensor shadow of a small engine could be made out.
She frowned once more, "You know that there is no operational tractor beams in the bay right now.....we cant pull it in...."
Tyrbalt had already started walking towards the rear of the bridge.
"Contact the docking bay, have my personal shuttle prepped for launch..." He called over his shoulder as he dissapeared through the door.

In the docking bay a couple of technicians finished checking over the Firespray as Tyrbalt entered, his bodyguard following him like a shadow. They moved away as Tyrbalt strode up the ramp into the cockpit of the vessel that served as his personal shuttle. He flicked two switches sealing the cockpit and closing the ramp up, after a moment all the lights on the board turned green and he slowly manouvered the ship out through the magnetic field into the depths of space.
He manouvered towards the the small probe, sending a coded transmission towards it on a special frequency, assuming his associate would have taken the usual precautions.
The probe sent a return signal, confirming the self destruct on the probe was now disabled. Tyrbalt closed with it and carefully latched onto it with his shuttle's tractor beam. Stowing it in the ships airlock and then turning back to the light carrier.
With a stately grace the Firespray returned to its place in the hanger. As soon as the ramp descended once again a pair of technicians, came aboard. Tyrbalt met them at the top of the ramp and they followed him to the airlock.
Tyrbalt nodded to them, "Open the casing, there will be a unit inside...have it brought to my quarters. No one should try to access it....the consequences could be dire..."
Leaving them alone he returned to his quarters, taking a small datapad from the safe in his office. It was a special item designed to decypt a very particular code. One of the technicians entered the office escorted by Tyrbalt's bodyguard. He laid the small black item from within the probe on the desk and retreated out of the room. Tyrbalt sealed the door after them and activated the message it contained.
A burst of static...
.ad...o...ba.l....h..d....s..me..prob...ms....me..t...ou..s..on....yo....kn..w....wh...re.........
Tyrbalt sighed deeply, he was hardly suprised.


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The comlink on the bridge went off.
"Commander set course for these co-ordinates." came Tyrbalts voice.
Nal'iathor muttered something and turned to the navigator, her brain tails whipping round over her shoulder as she turned.
"You heard him....start the calculations for the jump..."
Slowly the vessel turned, lining up with its new destination, a star system not too far away.
Meanwhile Tyrbalt sat at the desk in his quarters...sending one simple message out to a little used and rarely monitered channel....no encryption was necceseary for this....and would be more problematic than useful.....those to whom it concerned would know....others would simply fail to understand it....
.....Justice comes slowly, though it will prevail. A light in the dark.....ZK......
A moment after transmission went out the carrier leapt forward....dissapearing once more into the mottled realm of Hypersace.

I'd like thoughts on this bit first before I gather together some more bits and pieces to post....

Ahhh....the good 'ol days...

Do write more, You are the best writer I know