- Post
- #82311
- Topic
- Starkiller's Fan Fic. Story
- Link
- https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/82311/action/topic#82311
- Time
Here's some more:
We started exploring the city. It was a lot like visiting a big city like New York on Earth. In some areas, there were small shops, specializing in handmade or niche good. Other places, usually closer to the hotels and casinos, we found much larger stores. Restaurants were numerous, both large and small. I decided to stop at one to get some dinner.
With dinner finished, I found my way to my hotel room. My first night there I had not taken a great deal of time to inspect the room. I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodations. The furniture was plush, the view was breathtaking and I found there was an information terminal, which I could use to view practically any information in the Cloud City databanks on. Casino jackpots, entrants to the sabaac contest, a list shops and stores, there were even a couple hotels that gave out the names of the people staying at them.
“This information could be useful.” I thought to myself.
References I had brought with me indicated that also attending this sabaac tournament were several members of independent rebellions against the Empire. Using the tournament as an excuse to congregate, they were called by Bria Tharen. Her hope was to unite the groups to fight more effectively against the Empire. I was very much tempted to attempt to join their little get together. I was something I was going to need to think about.
It was getting late, at least by Earth time it was. My biologic clock was still set to home. I decided I was done for the day, and I bedded down for the night.
Chapter 25: A Chance Encounter
When I awoke the next “morning,” it as already bright outside my window. “It could take a while for this adjustment.” I thought to myself.
Not knowing what time it was, I quickly called down to the hotel desk to enquire about breakfast. Luckily, due to differing habits amongst the different races, I learned that they served breakfast all day. I ordered, ate and was soon on my way back to the detail shop to see how my ship was coming along. She was about 75% finished, and going to take another couple hours.
Since I now knew how much time I had on my hands, I walked to my landing pad in the hopes that the pad coordinator could help me with my next little project.
“Greetings. How has your stay with us been so far?” he asked me when I arrived with B0B.
“Excellent. I’m new around these parts and was somewhat worried when I realized I had no idea what the local food would be like, but everything has turned out very well. I was hoping you might be able to help me with something though. As I was exploring this beautiful city, I remembered that someone I know was going to be here for this tournament. I have no idea where she might be, or even if she has arrived yet. Would you be able to help me find her?” I asked.
As he stood there thinking, I thought that perhaps this wasn’t the kind of information he’d be able to give me. After all, I have no proof that I know this person.
“I can try running a name through the registered names at the hotels, but if she used a false name or is not registered, you will be out of luck. What was the name?”
”Winter. If it makes any difference, she’s from Alderaan.”
He walked to a console and began working. After a couple minutes, he returned.
“I did find a Winter listed as having checked in at one of the more luxurious hotels in the city. That was the best I could do. For any additional information, you will have to try at the hotel.”
I thanked him for the help, and then checked my watch. When it came down to seconds, minutes, hours, and days, time on Earth and the rest of the Galaxy was the same. I had another hour or so before I could pick up my ship.
I asked for directions to the hotel, and headed on my way. Upon arriving, my information was confirmed. I was then told that I could not be given any additional information. The hotel respected the privacy of its residents, and the only way I would get help, was from Winter herself. That put a crimp in my plans. I decided against leaving her a message. She didn’t know me, and I had no way of knowing if Bail had spoken to anyone on Alderaan about the Earth situation.
At this point, I had enough time to walk to the detail shop and wait about 5 minutes for my ship to be finished. Upon arriving, I found that the ship had been finished up early, and it was ready for me to take away. I inspected the work, paid for a job well done and flew the ship off to the repair shop. “Ray” was there, remembered me and was looking over the ship almost before I could land.
“So, what’s been done to her, and what changes do you want made?” he asked.
“Only a couple things were modified previously.” I replied. “A few months ago I had some work done on the shields and drives, plus I had a rapid-fire blaster installed in the underbelly. Based on my droid’s past calculations, we figure I’m doing about 1.75 with the current hyperdrive configuration and about 70mglt at sublight. I really don’t know where the shields stand. The ship is fairly new and I haven’t had her him much combat.”
I paused for a moment to catch my breath and let him absorb what I’d said.
“As far as what changes I’d like, first and foremost is something as far as a stealth system. I’d prefer something that hides the ship entirely, but if the best I can do is use a secondary IFF transponder that would allow me to impersonate another ship, that will be sufficient. Also, if I can increase the hyperdrive rating to 1 or less, and get the sublight to about 80-85, that would be great. With regards to defenses, increasing shield strength would be good. The laser cannons are fine as far as range and power, but I had an idea that would improve them, hopefully without a great deal of effort.”
It was at this time I noticed a couple customers had entered the shop. I recognized them immediately and could have passed out right then and there. If I had thought meeting Bail Organa was cool, then watching as Han Solo himself and Chewbacca entered the room meant I had no understanding of the real meaning of the word cool.
“Aye, what’s that?” Han said.
He must have overheard me talking about the laser cannons.
“Well, it’s a trick I’ve heard about. You add a splitter to the end of the laser cannon. When the bolt gets processed, the splitter converts it into 2 weaker bolts. When these 2 bolts strike their targets shields simultaneously, the shields are, in reality, getting hit twice, it increases the chances of shield failure and can inflict more damage to a ship. I’ve never actually seen it used, so I’m not 100% sure if it works.”
What I couldn’t say was that this ‘trick’, as I called it, I learned from a book with details about the Millennium Falcon. I was telling Han Solo about something that would inevitably show up on one of his own ships.
“That’s not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Chewie, keep that in mind when we get our next ship.” He replied.
Han then went on about his business, whatever that happened to be.
“Anyways,” I said to the mechanic, “how much of that work can be done and how much is just my dreaming?”
Ray thought for a moment. “Well, the splitter’s shouldn’t be any trouble at all. Increasing your sublight speed could just a matter of forcing your system closer to its tolerable limits. I doubt that the hyperdrive can be pushed that much with the parts I have in stock. I could probably get you to 1.25, possibly a little better. Increasing shield strength would just require adding additional power cabling between your power reactor and the shield system, to get more juice flowing into the system. Your shield generators should be able to handle the extra power. That leaves us with the stealth system you’re asking for. I’m afraid I do not have the supplies right now to help you with that.”
No
