[SoNE Freebuild] Operation Outlaw - Part 1: Poker Face

[VK-318]

OPERATION REPORT

Operative: VK-318 Vladimir Volker

Operation Codename: [NONE]

During our last contact, we were unfortunately interrupted. At the time, I was involved in an extremely sensitive operation, and could provide no details due to the risk to my sources. I am pleased to inform you that this incidental operation has been successfully concluded. I submit that it should be recorded as "Operation Outlaw," and will refer to it as such in further dispatches until orders to the contrary are relayed.

Subsequent to my promotion into the Imperial Security Bureau, I was stationed, as you are aware, on Nar Eurbrikka, pending a more permanent posting. Shortly after my arrival, a message was delivered to me by the local ISB station chief. It consisted of the name "Raven Williams," the address of a Nar Eurbrikkan club, a date and time, and a memo from the station chief or his yoemen, which said that this note had been delivered through an Imperial agent in the local Rebel underground, and that I had been identified as the intended recipient by my name and operating number.

The name "Raven Williams" was far from unknown to me, and it is unlikely to be unknown to you. Williams was born a Corellian of low to middle class, and was shanghaied by a space freighter at age fifteen. She disappears from known records until age seventeen, when she emerges as captain of said freighter in the salvage documents - the freighter was destroyed by pirates, and, the documents note, she survived by taking cover in a mining facility on a nearby mega-asteroid. She joined the Rebellion at eighteen, and today is an information broker and occasional operative in Alliance Intelligence.

What the record does not state, and what has likely been until now unknown to anyone but myself and Raven, is that the facility in which she hid from the pirate attack on her vessel was my own mining base, during one of my early mining expeditions into the Outer Rim. She sheltered there until the freighter with whom I contracted my supplies of consumables made its next visit, and then bought passage away. Evidently, Raven still remembered my name, and seemed to have something worth communicating.

I judged the risk acceptable, since I as yet knew little of critical value to the Empire and thus could reveal little of value to the Rebels should this prove to be a trap. Accordingly, I proceeded to the club, and was there at the appointed time, 2300 Imperial time.

I wish to pass along my thanks for the timely processing of my materials requisition. My ISB armor would hardly have been suitable for a rendezvous of this sort, nor indeed would have my uniforms. I was, at any rate, sufficiently inconspicuous, even in a nearly-empty room, that it took Raven a moment to recognize me. She was precisely on time, and over a hand of cards she quietly explained why she had arranged to meet me.

As an officer in Alliance Intelligence, she was painfully aware of the stark price the Rebellion exacted from its supporters, and the lack of protection it offered in return. She, like myself, had no interest in supporting a lost cause. But the Rebellion polices its own forces as effectively as the Empire, and her dissent was discovered. When she learned of this, she passed a message through a known Imperial agent (in light of this data, I recommend a complete analysis of all data produced by Nar Eurbrikkan infiltrators in the Rebel ranks), hid her data in a secure location, and made her escape. Now, here she was, seeking political asylum. As an officer of the ISB, I had the authority to grant this if it would further the goals of the ISB and the Empire. So, we made a bargain.

We would need to recover her data in order to render her useful to the ISB. So, if she would assist me in recovering that data and delivering it safely to the ISB, she would be granted asylum and a full pardon in accordance with the Bureau's war powers. She was quite willing, and now all that remained was to retrieve the data.

I would like this entry judged, please.

Edited March 7, 2015 by VK-318

[Kodan Black]

This shows what you can do with a small footprinted build. While it isn't big or elaborate it fits the story perfectly well (and a really well written and intriguing story too). The SNoT bar and card table are excellent. Can't wait for the further adventures.

[Tariq j]

Great work, there is alot to say about this build. The bar is very nicely built and the use of SNOT technique contributes to the smooth look. The poker table and floor really go together well. The story is very well written and structured so I'm looking forward to your next build.

[MKJoshA]

Your story is good and I like how you've had your character progress. Your build is also well done and you have some great elements. My only complaint is that there is nothing here to make it look like it fits in the SW universe.

[BEAVeR]

Ah, the Empire's most famous cowboy is back for what seems to be a terrific story!

The build itself is quite... sterile. Still, it features a beautiful bar, and I like the variety in chairs, and the subtle lines in the green of the poker table give it some realistic texture. And it's fantastic that you include little details like the tips of the legs of the table. Your build clearly depicts a saloon, but doesn't really scream Star Wars to me. I think it's great that you try to show us different sides of the universe we haven't seen yet. But if you make it too similar to something we know from the real world, we forget that it's Star Wars and your creativity gets a bit lost. So I advice you to, if you build this unseen sides of the Star Wars universe, to keep it different from what we know from the real world as well. Maybe poker tables aren't covered in green cloth in that galaxy far, far away, and maybe there are entirely different classic patters on the floor, maybe with some rails for a rusty droid. That droid could be managing the tables as well. So instead of literally interpreting our real world, think back to what are the key elements, not visually, but conceptually, and try to translate them. I'll give the example of the poker table. We think of it as wide, green, and containing cards - exactly like you made it, recognizable. But what are the underlying concepts? It's a place for multiple players (not necessarily humans!) that try to make good fortune out of chance, by bluffing, gambling... How could that relate to the Star Wars universe? It could involve holo's etc... the more you disguise it, the more people will enjoy recognizing it.

Also, this creation seems a bit empty because it doesn't go in the vertical dimension. A wall or a cabinet with who knows what would have been good, or maybe some lamps. that would really set the atmosphere more and give us that in-universe feeling I like so much. Because now your build isn't only quite sparse of bricks, it also doesn't have a lot of mood to it, because it is so open.

The story, on the other hand, draws us in right away. Well done! Some people tend to make backstories long and complicated, but here it is really clear and clean, but opens up a lot of possibilities. You have an unique situation here, and I can't wait to see what's coming up. Just keep the interaction between the characters going, direct conversations can do a lot to liven your stories up. I'm already ready to get sucked in by your story!

[Shadows of Nar Eurbrikka]

Judges have awarded you 2 XP!