Episode 32

Winters sighs and turns to Udart “I’d imagine you want to check up on your friends, they may even be useful in this investigation. But please after that treat this with the utmost importance”

After assessing the equipment Kayvan Whidowes and Rev Cly D'Tirle place their injured friends upon the medical tables. Deciding to assist Lul Ba'Ri first, the Rev operates on the Dug re attaching the lost limb that has been kept safe throughout their jungle ordeal. During the procedure Gunt enters the room, and once the operation is complete and 'Bari is stable informs the others that Admiral Blarken has been found hung in his cell and he has been tasked with uncovering the truth.

As the group discuss this information and assess the duty log, the Rev begins to work on Kawfee cleaning up his cuts and bruises and setting him on the road to recovery. During this time Kayvan happens to overhear the commandoes outside complaining that they once again have to go back into the jungle before they leave the medical wing. The group decide to investigate Blarken's cell and make their way there.

Blarkens Cell

Passing a few commandos on patrol across the base the group enter the security complex and head straight to Blarken's cell. It appears to be empty, containing only a bed and a refresher. The sliding door shows no sign of forced entry. Entering the cell they begin to look for clues and spot some broken pipework above them, seemingly corroborating that Blarken was hanged. They also notice multiple foot prints on the cell floor some larger than others, but the only detail they can glean is that they were made by Republic boots. The Rev disappears and returns with a complex measuring device and starts to measure the height of both the ceiling and the pipework. Perplexed by the lack of bed sheets supposedly used for the hanging and feeling they may have missed something the group begin to pry off tiles and remove the refresher, practically destroying the cell. Although no further clues are found in the cell, the group do notice the cameras dotted around the security complex. Gunt and Kayvan decide to ask

Major General Winters about the footage while Rev Cly D'Tirle perfoms the autopsy of Blarken back at the medical wing.

Security Footage

Udart Gunt and Kayvan Whidowes ask Winters if they can review the security footage from Blarkens cell. Winters acquiesces but explains that there was a power cut around the time that Blarken was killed so it may not be useful. Winters seems stressed and his nerves frayed. Reviewing the footage the group see the original guards arguing before the guards are switched for Scorpion Squad. The squad are joined by Aiden Parr , Gurathus Ordelon and The Seagull and they begin to play Sabacc and eventually start to drink.

The camera footage then cuts out, and when it resumes the are no guards and Blarken's body can be seen hanging in his cell. The cell remains undisturbed until

Bi'Wee approaches the cell with Blarkens breakfast, discovering the body.

Autopsy

Before

Rev Cly D'Tirle can enter the morgue he runs into Yan'Maa loitering outside the security doors. He seems relived to see the Rev, claiming it is on outrage that the body hasn't been buried and is an insult to The Sacred Way. The Rev tries to assure him that the proper customs are being followed but Yan'maa is far from convinced and begins to grow more agitated. Overhearing the commotion a commando tells Yan'maa his is not authorised to be there and escorts him away. The Rev then enters the morgue.

The Rev sees that the datapad contains an autopsy form waiting to be completed, so while conducting the autopsy, fills in the following discoveries:

Assistant: none

Name: Cly d'Tirle

DOB: unknown

Age: approx late 38-42

Race: Human

Sex: Male

Date of Death: yesterday

Time of Death: 24 hours

Body Identified by: Winters

Evidence of Treatment:

Hung after death, no signs of struggle

External Examination:

Bruises consistent with blunt force trauma, something large.

No foreign DNA samples under fingernails

Internal Examination:

blood sample shows Cauhun poison and aggravant added to poison

Organs consistent with poisoning, no oxygen dep

DNA Sample taken

Description of injuries:

Poison - Fatal

Ligature - non fatal, post mortem

old scars from previous fights

Puncture wound, entry point for poison

During the autopsy Udart Gunt and Kayvan Whidowes enter the room. Udart Gunt can barely suppress his hatred for the man responsible for the oppression of Takron-5 and other worlds. They are informed by the Rev that Blarken was poisoned and they in turn inform the Rev of what they found on the security footage. They decide to investigate the source of the power cut before conducting any questioning.

The group head to the building which contains the power generators. On the way they run into Sandy StarSkipper and explain they have been tasked by Winters to get to the bottom of Blarken's death. Starskipper acknowledges this but seems rather dismissive.

When the group arrive at the power generators they see that some have clearly exploded. There are parts and debris strewn around the room and the structure itself is damaged. The group inspect the area for any signs of what would cause the explosion and find the remains of a timing mechanism among the debris, suggesting a timed bomb was used. Assessing the area and damage they conclude that the explosion would have occurred the same time the power was cut, so is more than likely the source. While searching the room they also discover a strange green substance, which they identify as a food condiment. They decide to head to the canteen to learn more about the strange substance.

The canteen is quiet, due to Winters orders anyone requiring food is escorted in and then quickly escorted back to their quarters. Yan'Maa is behind the counter serving the standard republic slop. The group receive thier portions but ask if Yan'Maa has anything to spice up the bland food. He tells them he doesn't and although the group don't believe him at first they eventually realise he's telling the truth. They present the food stuff they have found and ask him if he has ever seen it. He identifies it as "Green Joy" a food condiment favoured by Toydarians.

The group sit down with thier meals and discuss what they have learned so far. They also communicae with Major General Winters asking if there are any Toydarians on the base. Winters states Pesh Ey is the only one.

The group then embark on questioning everyone that they can think of. Starting with Pesh Ey. The Toydarian is as slimy as ever, denying any knowledge of the explosion in the Power Room and claiming he is being wrongly persecuted. Due to his years as a lawyer and his natural talents it becomes impossible for the group to determine if he is telling the truth or not.

The perimeter guards Leeroy 'Jenkins' Zephstryder and Dak'Fuu are questioned first. The group learn Aiden Parr was seen leaving the base as well as fighting with Gurathus Ordelon and The Seagull.
The group then head to the quarters of each guard originally posted against Blarken's cell, the rookie Jado Allen the grizzled Veteran Odon Finall and the spitting, foul mouthed Val Izes. On their way they pass Starskipper again who Kayvan notices is watching him in a foreboding way.

The three soldiers reveal little, their stories match stating Blarken was making wild offers, causing a scuffle between them which was eventually broken up by Tzchen.

Interviewing Tzchen the group become suspicious. He reveals that it was him who suggested his squad could do a better job of guarding the prisoner and his open disdain for the way Winters is running the base. He also claims he had no personal relationship with Blarken. However his war torn, haggered face is impenetrable and the group move on.

Blaze is next to be questioned, who seems more preoccupied with the fact he may be disciplined for drinking on duty than the fact a key prisoner has been lost. He does however vouch for Gurathus, Parr and Seagull as much as he can.

Gurathus Ordelon and The Seagull are next to be interviewed and admit to attacking Blarken in his cell, but claim that they did not kill him. Their accounts leave the Rev very suspicious as the timeline he has constructed now places Parr in tow places at the same time. "Either someone is lying, or there is a shapeshifter on the base" he states. This forces Kayvan to think back to all of his previous encounters, did he sense something which he dismissed at first? "Starskipper!" he suddenly exclaims and the group head off to find Sandy.

The group find Starskipper alone patrolling the base. Deciding to knock her out the Rev attempts to palm off a potent anaesthetic to Kayvan, but a fumble causes it to fall to the floor. Luckily Starskipper is distracted at the time and still does not notice the hand over. The Rev then goes to investigate Aiden Parrs quarters.

Udart approaches Starskipper and tries to ask her more questions, again she is hostile and dismissive but does not notice as Kayvan sneaks behind her and applies the sedative. Her body drops to the floor, the face beginning to contort into the face of a Clawdite, which Kayvan recognises as being known as an assassin famous for collaborating with The Empire. A quick search of its posessions reveals a neourotoxin applicator and a vibro knife. During this time the Rev returns to inform them that Aiden Parr is dead, poisoned and hidden in his quarters.

The Clawdite is dragged to the autopsy room where the group have arranged to meet with Major General Winters. After chastising the Major for the running of a very shoddy base, they accuse the Clawdite of murder aided by Pesh Ey. They also suggest arresting Tzchen. The Major immediately has them all arrested.

Epilogue

A few days pass, allowing the body of Parr to be inspected and tied to one of the poisons possessed by the Clawdite. The three accused are collected and sent to await prosecution and eventual sentencing on Coruscant by the Republic bureaucrats. Never to be seen in the Rhao system again.

Little does anybody know, the assassination was actually organised by Admiral Tantaur, a rival of Admiral Blarkens. The falsely accused Tzchen had no part in the assassinations.