EPISODE I - SEVEN: Did Anyone Bring A Map?

There were only two stormtroopers assisting the customs officer at the landing platform. The platform was little more than dirt and gravel, surrounded by a tall, solid security wall. The troopers appeared equally simple. Obviously, the First Order thought it more prudent to station their brighter charges at the processing facility or in defensive positions. 

This should work out well, thought Dex.

The customs officer approached the shuttle's ramp as it lowered and directed his focus past the two crew members approaching him and into the hold where the other three and a few droids hurriedly worked on a rather meager shipment of something on repulsor sleds. He eyed the containers with discernment.

"You're not bringing much down here," Officer Paldy observed. "Orbital security transmitted the contents as 'edible consumables and domestic items'."

Adria flashed a grin. "No, there's not much here. One of our other pilots brought the last full shipment in about a week back." She turned and thumbed toward Paloame. "We're really only here because we have a new pilot we're training and needed to show her how things are done on the approach to Aporoth." She pivoted back to the trio of officials standing before her and nodded.

"If she's the pilot who brought the," the befuddled man stammered. "Blue Kaadu? Right... the Blue Kaadu in, she should be speaking to me and delivering the cargo manifest in person."

Balagon gripped his belt, shifted his weight to his right hip and struck a cocky, but commanding stance. "She's got that part down, man. I'm the captain of the Blue Kaadu and this is my first mate. I'd rather take care of the formalities and leave the grunt work to the newbies. You know what I'm saying?" He practically winked at Paldy, suggesting a show them who's in charge attitude.

This obviously somehow registered with Paldy, which elicited a nervous laugh from him. "Yes. Well, let's see if everything is in order here and I'll let you proceed."

Adria motioned to the crew to have them bring the skids down. "We'll let you check out the contents of the containers. It's all just rations and cheap home goods. We're planning on sticking around for a little bit--have a bite to eat and then return to make our delivery. I wouldn't feel right asking you for the favor of us just leaving the skids locked down here on the pad without know what was on them."

This caught Paldy off guard and he tried to verbalize a protest, but just made some unintelligible sounds instead.

"Thanks! We knew you'd understand." Dex gave Paldy's shoulder a friendly slap and started walking past the two stormtroopers, who just shrugged and gave obviously stupid glances at each other despite wearing helmets. Adria followed along a couple paces back as the crew brought their shipment down for check in and examination.

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"We've got a lot of work to do," mused Dex as he looked out on the settlement's seemingly endless tiers of dwellings that climbed the hills of Pashtoon province. Where to begin? Was the general's spy still on Aporoth and if he was, had he been discovered by the First Order? If he was good enough, he'd probably already entrenched himself into the local population. And if he'd managed to do that, he'd likely made some contacts who worked inside that collection plant. That would be helpful. But again, where to begin?

Paloame looked at each member of her squadron and her expression shifted from examination to irritation. "Come on, you guys. This isn't the first time we've been in such a populated area! We've been in far more urban areas," she spat. "This only looks daunting because we can see the whole thing laid out up the sides of the hills." She gestured toward the rough-hewn earthen buildings where its numerous residents could be seen going about their late afternoon activities.

"Fine," Jai said. "Let's do what we always do and find the nearest watering hole and hunker down in there. I'm sure we won't be the only unusual faces in there and that alone will help us blend in."

"So the usual plan, then?" commented Adria.

"The usual plan. Besides, the alcohol will loosen a few lips and even if we don't engage, we might get a couple scraps of information that might give us direction." Balagon adjusted the strap on his rucksack to stop it from digging into his shoulder and did a quick scan of the surroundings. "This place doesn't make a lot of sense. It looks like the homes and businesses run up to one another."

"We could ask someone," offered Dom.

We could ask someone. That sounded like a sensible plan to Adria. "That seems especially reasonable compared to us wandering around and poking our heads into doorways since there's no clear town center."

"Great. Let's do that. But let's break into two groups," Dex directed. "I don't care which one of you feels like being the chatty one with Aparothi, but let's not all do the talking at once."

Jaimos casually raised his hand, taking the role for whatever group he found himself in. Paloame rolled her eyes and raised her hand with mock exhaustion.

"Fine. The rest of us need to keep the banter casual and roll with it."

The scruffy band of humans and Dom's astromech, R4-G6, vacated the landing pad and splintered off toward the hope of helpful direction.

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Adria grabbed Paloame's forearm and tried to not look nervous. She was doing a terrible job at it from where Paloame stood. "What?" she whispered curtly through gritted teeth. Adria let go of her arm and scanned the terraced levels of the housing district.

"There are a lot of stormtroopers here. A lot."

Paolame winced and gave her the stink-eye. "Yeah, there are a lot of stormtroopers here. And?"

"And I'm beginning to wonder if we're even going to make it out of town and into that processing terminal." Almeida looked eastward toward the rolling hills beyond the city. "We've been wandering around for the last hour and we've made exactly no headway."

"We're good at this," she said with a  reassuring smile. "What's gotten into you anyway? You're usually not this wigged out about these missions."

Adria nodded--Paloame was right, nothing seemed out of place, but it just felt like they were operating with less information this time. All they needed to do was figure out if their contact was still on Aporoth--or alive. That seemed simple enough. Maybe Dex and the other two were having a little more luck finding the local hangout. And as if by cue, Dex sauntered down the alleyway, arms raised above his head, indicating success of some fashion. She exhaled in relief.

"Looks like you found something?" she gushed, trying to squelch her trepidation.

Balagon briefly attempted to size up whatever was going on between Almeida and Lam, but quickly abandoned it. "Yeah. I think we found the place."

"And there's a chance we might run into some helpful people..." Browhar excitedly whooped before Dex gave an aggressive shove, which silenced him.

"Two things: don't go announcing stuff and don't put the cart before the eopie," exhorted Dex.

Dom looked penitent. "Sorry--I got excited. It's been a little while since we've had a 'good one'."

"So anyhow, it's just back up this way and off to a quick left. We'd passed it six times before spotting it, so it's probably frequented by some dyed-in-the-wool regulars and people who are looking for a good place to escape. And why are you guys acting so weird? Come on."