Star Wars: Fortune Hunter Quest #36

Why the fuck are you doing this? Was losing an arm not enough to prove that Reike is a competent evil villain, and even being the barest level of competency is enough to outsmart the average user's plans?

I just want to look at it. I didn't vote, "Forget all ideas and do xyz!"

Ehh it's a Sith thing so probably red, black, and covered in spikes.

You're not wrong.

Checking out the Force Harvester when we need to be going to Reike with the full appearance that we are done with the Empire, the Civil War, want nothing more to do with him, and just want to retire to Wild Space with our fortune so we can live out our life well away from not just the fighting but also from him.

Going to check out the Force Harvester goes against that.

Showing any goddamn interest in the Force Harvester will make Reike consider why we have any interest in it when we're coming to him and saying we want to retire, and don't want that instructor job or test pilot position (because both of those mean we're within his sight instead of out in Wild Space where we can plan this shit).

Neat.

It's a nuke. It's going to draw attention. I kinda want to look at the tie fighters as well.

Then look at the TIE Fighters, not the thing that has the most security in the entire flotilla.
Wanting to take a look at it is going to raise suspicions from Reike.

SO look at the Tie Fighters, I don't trust Rhys who is a force sensative to be near the thing.

Well I want to look at the force nuke as well. So I voted that. If we get the chance on the way out I'd love to look at the ties.. or hell with the money we get we maybe able to buy one or two.

I'll vote for that later but I wanted to see the force thing.

We are trying to project the mannerisms and persona of a merc who is afraid of losing any more body parts, who has had his confidence supremely shaken, come to the realization that he can't pilot as good as he used to and is no longer an ace, and just wants his goddamn money.

What part of looking at the Force Harvester help to sell this act to Reike?
Someone who is not stupid or incompetent, but is actually smarter than quite a few anons.

Hey I want to see the thing. We lost an arm over it (No that was over lying blah blah blah) I want to see what all the hubbub is about.

this

google it.

No, I wanted to see it in character, fuck you. I just voted and I'm being harassed by jackasses who don't like it.

Your vote jeopardizes the course of action that other players had planned for.
So for them, you're the asshole who's trying to ruin the plan and fuck over everything before the first step even gets accomplishes.

So really, I don't see why you're complaining.

> Other

“Just like we planned. Go in, say the job’s finished, I want to retire, collect my pay, then we go out to Wild Space, then grow old and fat while we plan out how to destroy you know-what, if I even want to continue it then,” you say. “That sound simple enough for ya?”

“I understand, hopefully you can keep your composure for a little bit longer,” says R5. You roll your eyes. “Lead on, sir.” You pat R5 on the head. Reliable, but he sure has a way of making you feel like an idiot sometimes. One of these days, you’re going to scrap him and you’ll regret it too.”

-

-

“Sir! Sir!” An Imperial Officer follows closely behind you, trying to ineffectually stop you from invading on Admiral Reike’s private meeting of some kind. You aren’t waiting around. You know he likes those that are upfront. Maybe he’ll get a kick out of this. “You can’t go in there! Admiral Reike is in talks!”

Whoever he is in talks with can wait. You find his little briefing room, then slam the button to open the door. “Reike, I got something to say to you…” Your voice croaks as your step inside, and see just who he is in talks with.

Admiral Reike turns around, his arms folded, and his gaze as stern as you last saw it. Projected from the table is a holographic image of the great shadowy hand of Emperor Palpatine himself. His cape masks his true strength, and behind those big dark eyes you can tell he doesn’t seem happy to see you.

And for one last confirmation, the hiss of his breath tells you exactly who this is.

> DARTH VADER “Um. No. I can wait.”
> “Yes. There is.”
> Other

>> “Um. No. I can wait.”

Rhys you idiot.

>> “Um. No. I can wait.”

Because we totally said we'll burst in like a moron.........

> “Um. No. I can wait.”

great job trying to intentionally fuck us GS.

> “Um. No. I can wait.”

>Other
>"Just to say the job's done. Payment details can wait."
You know, this is one of those choices that's kind of important and should have been left to the players, not railroaded.
Especially when you include an officer telling us that Reike is in a private high-level meeting in the text.

At least let us keep the mannerisms and word choices of a man who wants to retire with ALL of his money and the rest of his body intact.

Changing my vote from this.
toI'm going to call GS on his scare tactic.

Then go all in and call out Reike.

>> “Yes. There is.”
and this

"Don't go look at things idiot! Just go right up to the admiral"

Heh.

Gs is intentionally fucking with us now.

So let's fucking double down.

> “Um. No. I can wait.”

“No. No.” You throw up your arms. This is ridiculous. “Goodness, I can wait.” He points to a chair in the briefing room. You sigh, taking it up and sitting down.

Still, looking at Lord Vader, even in hologram form. You haven’t seen anything this scary in years. Reike looks back up at Vader. “Lord Vader. I don’t see why the Emperor sees it fit to stuff the Undertaker into secure storage. We have quite possibly the ultimate weapon in our hands. I know he has already invested so much time and money in the-“

“The decision has already been made, Admiral.” Darth Vader’s voice booms through the room. Reike doesn’t even look phased. “The Force Harvester has been found. And away from the hands of the Rebels it will go.”

“But I was under the impression that the Harvester would be used,” says Reike. “We have a weapon that can cleanse entire planets in minutes, without harming the raw materials or causing infrastructure damage. Every living thing dies when we point it at them. And you want it collecting dust?”

“The Emperor has a purpose for all things,” he says.

Reike narrows his eyes. “You’re scared of it, aren’t you?” Darth Vader stares at him. “This thing can harvest the living Force. You still believe in that stuff, don’t you.”

Darth Vader leans forward. And for a second, Reike actually flinches. “If Anakin Skywalker could destroy it. Then so can I. This discussion is over. For your sake, you will do as you are commanded.” His image disappears.

[1/2]

[2/2]

…

He looks over at you, then you shrug. “So…” You bite your cheek a little. “Going to pay me?”

“Excuse me?” he says.

“I finished the job,” you say. “I want my money. I want out of this. Right now.”

Reike places his hands on his hips. “Really.” You nod firmly. “You’re giving up on the Empire then? You’re going to let your talents go to waste. You’re just going to grow fat and slovenly while the rest of the Galaxy moves on without you, huh.”

You shrug. “I don’t mind getting fat. Just means there’s more of me to love.”

He snorts, actually finding that slightly funny. “You chose a very unusual time for this.” He pulls out his holopad, then taps in a few numbers, scrolls over to a command. “By the way.” He points to your new cybernetic arm. “How’s the arm?”

> “How’s your Force Harvester?”
> “It’s good.”
> Remain silent
> Other

>I prefer the old one.

>The prosthetic is good enough I can fly, but not nearly enough I can do it well. I'd probably get shot down against anyone with actual skill, much less multiple people who have half an idea what they're doing. Part of the reason I want out.

>Other
"Part of the reason I'm retiring. I'm good, I'm real good, and I've got the kill count to prove it. But with his arm, I'm not. And the absolute last thing I want is some two-bit rebel in a rust bucket to brag that he got Rhyse Cykgil, just because I had a short circuit in my arm at a bad time."

Oh, these are good. I like these...

And Vader being a Bro? I like him beyond the whole death star and choking people issue.

Vader is an absolute bro to people he respects. There's a lot of that in the films like in a New Hope where this one guy just tells him "vader you just fucking ruined everything goddamn it" and Vader is like "relax, i got this, bro."

You should see his latest comic line, it's great.

True, I've seen a couple of the comics, really weird to see him working with CIS droids though.

Though it always bothered me, how the republic didn't re-purpose or capture droids more often.

> Other

“The arm’s good. Part of why I’m retiring, I guess.” He tilts his head, curious. He motions for you to continue. “Look. With this arm, I’m not sure I’ll ever be the pilot I used to be. I think I’m done.”

“That’s a shame,” he says. “Maybe next time, you continually lie to people in positions of power over you.” That bites at you hard. “But, oh well. I guess I may still have use for you later but, I can understand if you feel you are no longer the man you used to be.” He taps the last button his holopad. “Your money is being transferred now.”

You blink. “Really?”

“Yes,” he says. “All 79,000,000 credits. You will be a very rich man.” He steps up to you, then stands over you. The look in his eye is a very disappointed, but very angry gaze. “But rest assured, Cykgil. This is because I told you I would let you off if you asked and it’s because I have no need for someone of your skills anymore. But if I need you again, or if you cross me at any juncture even unintentionally.” He wags his finger. “I’ll find you.”

“Is that a threat?” you ask.

“Threats are for intimidation,” he says quietly. “Consider it a promise. Now, unless you have more business on my ship…”

> “I’d actually like to see that Force Harvester of yours.”
> “Wasn’t I promised a TIE of my own?”
> “No, we’re square you and I.”
> Other

German's illness got him....

ha, spoke too soon. i'm not dead yet.

stomach is killing me though, i should really stop eating this burger

>> “Wasn’t I promised a TIE of my own?”

Fuck you, if your threatening to kill us, might as well milk you for all it's worth.

>> “No, we’re square you and I.”

>Other
"An advanced TIE fighter was included in the original payment."
Reike knows criminal scum like us.
Not trying to squeeze everything we can, even when under the threat of death, would seem out of place to him.

> “No, we’re square you and I.”

> “Wasn’t I promised a TIE of my own?”

I want Misri to study the shit out of it and use it to upgrade our R-22.

Will these two
essentially count as the same vote to demand a TIE fighter, and it'll just become a question of wording?

> “No, we’re square you and I.”
We're so close to being free, don't cock it up.

Basically yes.

>don't cock it up.
Oh, I agree, but did you catch that look that Reike gave us?
I think he suspects something odd.
And now it's a question of what will make him less suspicious: criminal scum just wanting to get away from the man who took his arm for what would be considered betrayal by any other criminal master, or criminal scum trying to sleaze his way to getting more loot as he's leaving?

>> “Wasn’t I promised a TIE of my own?”

Not to mention we are angry about the arm so might as well grab an arm and a leg from him interms of a TIE.

TIEs are a piece of shit until you get the later models but hopefully we can use it to improve our dampeners.

>> “No, we’re square you and I.”

Guys we've got a bazillion credits, why don't we just buy a tie fighter?

Because what we were promised was one of the advanced TIE fighter prototypes; like a TIE Advanced, Avenger, or Defender.
Not a regular TIE fighter.

Also, the reasoning behind some of us voting to haggle for the TIE is that we think that Reike suspects something, and acting like criminal scum that has no shame to demand payment for a half-assed job would allay those suspicions.

> “Wasn’t I promised a TIE of my own?”

Alright.. but if we lose another body part I'mana bitch.

Hey, we're just asking a question here, and getting a TIE fighter and becoming an instructor/test pilot WAS part of the payment we agreed to when we first signed on with Reike.

Of course, what with our consistent lying and intentional sabotage of Reike's missions, he's well within his rights to refuse us those other things.

The only question is whether he'll feel angrier for us thinking we're still entitled to an advanced TIE fighter prototype, he'll feel that his suspicions might have been off because we're acting the way he thinks we would if we really are just criminal scum that wants to retire, or he'll troll us by giving us one of the remaining prototype TIE bombers that failed so miserably.

What makes you think Reike is going to let Rhys buy a TIE prototype cash? Plus, even if he did, the price would be so high that it would inextricably put Rhys back in the hole, and then he'd have to run jobs again. Especially when Rhys just said he's a crippled pilot and can never fly like he wants to again.

>let Rhys buy a TIE prototype cash
Reike promised Rhys a TIE prototype and an instructor/test pilot position, as well as market price liquidation of his auridium haul, for working for Reike.
Not letting Rhys buy a TIE prototype, but giving him one as part of the deal.

Reike never said that was part of any severance package.

> “Wasn’t I promised a TIE of my own?”

“Well, I mean. You did say I could have a TIE of my own.” He huffs, as if angry at being reminded at that. You smirk a little. “Come on, Admiral. You’re a man of your word. Can’t you part with one measly little advanced TIE fighter?”

He stares at you. Then he says, “Come with me.” You stand up and follow him out of the briefing room.

-

-

Merena Valerius again. “Sir?” You and Admiral Reike meet with her in the fighter hangars, where some of the new models are being tended to.

“Guide him, let him have what he wants,” says Reike. Merena looks confused for a second, then nods firmly. “Good.” He looks to you. “Cykgil. Until next time.” Hopefully there won’t be a next time. And with that, he storms away, hands behind his back, straight posture and everything.

Funny, a couple of years back, you probably would’ve loved working for a guy like him. Now though… You look back at Merena, who places her hands on her hips. “Um, Sir. Is there something I should know?”

“Ah, just a bit of business transaction. I was told I could have one of the new TIE prototypes,” you explain. Merena squints a bit in confusion. “I deal with a lot of stuff, Merena, I can trust you to just let it slide, right?”

She shrugs. “I guess, sir. Did Admiral Reike tell you?” Tell you what? “I was promoted to Lieutenant. I’m leading the first squadron of TIE Defenders.” Really? That’s… interesting. You smile a little. Are they really letting kids like Merena fly those kinds of fighters now? They must be desperate.

> “That’s great, tell me more.”
> “Show me around the TIEs. Is there anything I can take without potentially compromising Imperial security?”
> Other

> “Show me around the TIEs. Is there anything I can take without potentially compromising Imperial security?”

>“Show me around the TIEs. Is there anything I can take without potentially compromising Imperial security?”
>Other: "That's great for your career, but don't let it go to your head too much. Must mean that their losses are pretty high."

>> “Show me around the TIEs. Is there anything I can take without potentially compromising Imperial security?”
Also this. Congratulate her properly but tell her to not let it go to your head, she has skill but unfortunately politics always plays at the forefront. Like how we were screwed over for criticizing the TIE.

So what's the difference between the two votes?

We talk more with Merena herself, or we get to business and look at the TIEs. If I recall correctly, this is the Imperial ace cadet we've been giving lessons to each time we met and nearly banged her in a TIE cockpit if common decency and protecting the youth didn't stop us.

Also acting as a proper senpai.

> “That’s great, tell me more.”

>Reike never said that was part of any severance package.
Thread 27
suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/45398867/
>“I am offering you in advance twenty thousand credits,” he says. “And to sweeten the bargain, I can allow you to walk away with one of our prototype TIE-series, if that suits your fancy.”

>> “That’s great, tell me more.”
>> “Show me around the TIEs. Is there anything I can take without potentially compromising Imperial security?

Do both and warn her.

>“That’s great, tell me more.”

So is the Force Harvester officially out of the picture? I mean, Reike just got orders from Big Daddy V himself to put it in storage. Disobeying the order would be disobeying Vader.

Admirals being naughty was a lot plots in the EU

If he disobeys Vader, Vader should cut his fucking arm off.

On one hand we might not need to get our hands dirty anymore.

On the other. I'm iffy on Reike following orders on this one.

> “That’s great, tell me more.”

Nah, Vader has a noted record of Force Choking officers to death VIA COMMS if they screw up.

Yeah, but remember, there are few people who actually fear Vader for the full extent of his power. Sure, he intimidating, but he's mostly just know for stomping with a orchestra looking intimidating, and killing the occasionally underling. Few people realize what he's capable of, especially considering few people actually believe in the force, and fewer still have seen it in action.

If Reike won't listen to Vader, then he might listen to Grand Moff Tarkin, and if anyone knows what Vader is capable of, it's Tarkin.

Known for stomping around* Jesus, even forgot to take off the stupid name

> “Show me around the TIEs. Is there anything I can take without potentially compromising Imperial security?”

“That’s great,” you say. “Try not to let it go to your head though. You’ve got some spunk but rest assured, that won’t get you far unless you know when to keep your mouth shut.”

“Understood.” She nods quickly, taking in your every word.

“Now, show me around, what do you have?”

“Well, I mean, I don’t normally manage the inventories…” She shrugs as she leads you through the hangar. “We have a spare TIE Defender that we just fixed up and marked for scrapping because the hyperdrive is broken.” You walk past that Defender, which has been painted with yellow stripes to indicate its status to be scrapped later. “Then we have the TIE Oppressor.” You walk by it. Nice craft, it’ll probably get replaced by the Defender though, or be put out of action by the TIE Bomber too. “And then we have the TIE Avenger.”

“Avenger?” you ask.

She nods, showing off a craft that looks disturbing similar to Vader’s own Advanced TIE. “New model, I think you’ve heard of it.” Vaguely. “Do you want to choose one now or…?”

> “Give me some time.”
> Take the Oppressor
> Take the Defender
> Take the Avenger
> Other

Reike specifically fought in the Clone Wars under Anakin. While he doesn't know that Vader is Anakin Skywalker, Reike is the one who told Rhys that Force powers are real and that the legends of Jedi powers are not myth.

If there's anyone that'll take Vader seriously, it's Reike.

>> Take the Defender

I want those dampeners copied. we have cash for a hyperdrive.

Wait a minute; isn't the TIE Defender the successor to the TIE Avenger?

Defender or avenger.

Maybe? I know the defender is less maneuverable.

Bit faster, has more dakka though.

It is, in old canon.

I work off of old canon, but new canon takes priority and in new canon, the TIE Defender seems to have come directly AFTER Vader's TIE Advanced and the Interceptor without all the stuff like the Oppressor, Avenger, Hunter, Phantom in between.

At least, according to Star Wars Commander.

Right.. but at a base level it looks like the defender, while less maneuverable is a better craft than the Avenger.

Oppressor is a big ass heavy fighter.

So shouldn't we take the Defender? I mean it's the best model, and i kind of want to have Misri study it to improve our R-22/

So, should we go with the old specs for the Avenger and Defender, or go with the new specs?

Because the old specs, the Defender has two ion cannons that the Avenger doesn't, but consequently the Avenger is slightly more maneuverable.

Since Schteel said new canon takes priority, the Defender might be using the Star Wars Commander specs, which would make the Avenger the better choice.

Not to mention we can find a hyperdrive for it. or worse. combine our R-22 and this to make the most monstrous fighter craft ever.

German can we get more info on the Avenger model?

However, the inclusion of deflector shields meant that the Avenger would not fall prey to stray debris or laser fire that claimed unshielded TIEs, and with its shields at full power the Avenger was exceptionally difficult to destroy. The succeeding Defender, while still remarkably fast and agile as the Avenger, relied more heavily on shields because its triple wing design gave opponents a larger profile. - Wiki.

So Avenger is small shielded tie that's really good.

Where the defender is a fat tie, with more shielding.

So.. it'll be easier to hit.. but hard as hell to actually take out.

I think we should probably ask what's different between the avenger and the defender.

starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TIE/ad_starfighter

I mostly refer to the Wook for everything.