How to be threatening - in a totally non-threatening way.

We gather together the next morning and start hashing out what has been going on and discuss Davish's new theory based upon his all-nighter with Gravok and team. They feel that Almon D'Joy is up to his old tricks and is trying to get the Kwi map from Chalcedon. My aunt also keeps popping up in the conversation so I step aside to contact her to see what she has to say:
 
Areena: Aunty?
There is a delay in talking as Hutt Space is in the Outer Rim and Corellia is in Core Worlds.
Aunty: "Yes dear, how goes the mission?"
Areena: What makes you think I am working on your mission??? I don't recall signing up for anything?
Aunty: Well, I did ask if you happened to come across anything about a young Nautolan boy or a Mandolorian Clone while on your travels. I just thought since you were on detached duty with those Jedi .. I only assumed that it must be some exciting new venture!
Areena: Yeah - I got your people. Now dish or I lose them - permanently.
Aunty: I can't believe you'd talk to your favorite aunt that way!
Areena: You are my ONLY aunt. Favorite is a default status
Aunty: sigh but... there isn't much I can tell you, dear. You aren't working this as an operative.
Areena: I am surprised you want to pay me money. Of course, Spook does have her eyes on several modifications to the X-wing you so VERY graciously gave me after my last assignment ended.
Aunty: Well, dear, if you are interested in the work .. I have the funds to cover an operative. If you think you might be interested.
Areena: My rate has gone up. After all, I do have mad skillz now
Aunty: So I've heard!
Aunty: Would that be a 'yes' dear?
Areena: First - what kind of time frame are we working with? How secretive do I have to be with my party? Can you get me the tools/supplies I need in time to do any good? What kind of extraction plan is in place? Does that plan include my entire party? What did you do with our ship??
Aunty: Well, the mission is already underway. Mostly you would be our eyes and ears on Nar Shaddaa, as well as our liaison there on world. There might be an extraction needed but you would have to transport two people alive ... and dear... your X-Wing doesn't have a 'sidecar'. ... and I've done nothing with your ship. Why would I?
Areena: Being deliberately obtuse Aunty?
Aunty: Well, you've not accepted the job, dear.
Areena: You are going to insist - aren't you.
Aunty: Why no. If you're not interested, I completely understand. The time frame is within this week, I'm afraid. I have resources on Nar Shaddaa that can help some. It depends on what you need, they are limited on their own.
Aunty: And as I said, it's just finding out some information.
Aunty: if you're interested. I understand if it's not what you're interested in these days.
Areena: So - back to my original questions - A short-term contract, I can tell my friends about my mission, there will be some help with tools/supplies, no extraction. Awesome - sign me up
Aunty: Excellent. It's a contract then
Areena: When can I expect the $150,000 credits?
Aunty: Just transferred
Aunty: Now we need to know what Pek and the clone know about the pirate hijacking
Aunty: What they know about the cargo from the world of Tau Ceti
Aunty: We would be very interested in those samples and what happened to them
Aunty: If you need help in securing the boy and the Mandalorian clone, I can arrange for some assistance if you like?
Areena: No help needed. Just trying to get you the information you want. It is JUST information - correct?
Aunty: You will need to keep this as quiet as possible. We know that there is one Hutt clan looking for the two and another Hutt clan has begun asking questions. This has caused some rumors passing about between the Hutt Clans.
Areena: That I already knew
Aunty: It wouldn't be advantageous to the mission if the Hutts became more interested. They need to be dissuaded if possible.
Aunty: I'll settle for information. Talking with them directly would be wonderful, dear but I don't want to complicate your other work.
Areena: Got any favors you can call in from the Timpani sector?
Aunty: Hm ... I'll see what I can do. Vorpadaran, Vorhejeron, or Vorstepanov ... might be some favors there.
Aunty: I'll be on touch once I've sent some comms
Areena: House Vormecetti - HIGH LORD COUNT (RANK) BODÉ LEOBUND VORMECETTI (A.K.A. COUNT VORMECETTI; COUNT VORLEOBUND; BODÉ LEOBUND XI) - he can get you all the information on the original experiment
Aunty: Vormecetti? Hm, interesting. Vorhejeron is a sept of House Vormecetti. And Vorpadaran tends to be at odds with Vormecetti. Hm .. yes. Thank you, honey! That would work nicely!
Areena: Awesome - glad I could be of service.
 
 
I tell the group about what my aunt is up to and after giving out the information, we head to the local drunk tank to talk to someone who might have answers. I take a threatening posture in the most non-threatening way possible against the wall behind Vanya and await developments. She talks with the guy awhile and then we head back to the desk sergeant to check on the bounty he was working on. We thought it was to capture/kill us, but it was actually to get Pek, the boy, and the clone trooper. Someone named Fen Jalus is willing to pay $300,000 for the pleasure of their company. We meet up with So'Zen and he shares the information he gained and since it all leads back to the boy and the trooper, we head back to Grakor's compound. Behind us, I hear an aircar and turn around to see Piotr is driving with Madalitso as a passenger! I yell at everyone to stop the car and then there are weapons dancing in the air and the aircar is held still in the air. Then there is a blaster shot and Piotr is shot through the chest by - PIOTR!
 
I attempt to return fire and hit the sniper, but he is too well shielded by the building. I take another shot and almost hit him and then he pops back up and I am positive I am going to get him this time when a shield is suddenly in front of him. A familiar shield and I hear a familiar Wookie roar from behind me. I turn to see the Wookie charging me. Then So'Zen is suddenly hitting the Wookie from above. I know that Wookie and I turn to look for their leader. I see her down the street so I turn on my shield, start running directly for her, and when she starts to fire I hit the ground on my shield and slide on it directly to her. I fire at her twice point-blank, but she has a shield gauntlet and knocks my first shot aside. The second one hits her in the side. I comment that she should just get over it already, but since she is getting paid for taking me down she is extremely happy to take me down. She turns her bow into an energy staff which she slices towards me, but I get my shield in place fast enough to block it. I then fire under my shield, but she manages to jump up and kick my blaster aside.
 
Vanya yells "Medusa!" and we both turn and look at her. She just says, "fuzz" and the Twilek groans and turns to run back down the street. "Next time Relentless!" We get back to Grakor's compound and find both Pek and the clone trooper here. We get some rest and then Grakor requests us to join him in the med bay. There we find out that the Piotr are multiple and don't like each other - in fact, they are killing each other. Then Grakor tells us about the Hutt fight between Tigu - the one who has a live bounty on Pek and the clone - and another Hutt. He has managed to get a video of our first encounter with the group - OverWatch. While we are watching the video, we can see in the background someone being kidnapped.
 
At Vanya's request, I contact Spook and request him to find me a dozen droids that can handle inhospitable environments to search out the areas below ground. I also give Spook $25,000 to spend on the ship, but no weapons.