Infiltration into Fort Sunfire

The title of this article is conjectural. Although this article is based on canonical information, the actual name of this subject is pure conjecture.

During 3 ABY, Jabba the Hutt coerced the bounty hunter Vail Tormin and the outlaw Kay Vess to perform a mission in infiltrating Fort Sunfire, a stronghold of the Galactic Empire, in order to identify a Zerek Besh spy planted within the Hutt Cartel. While the infiltrators were able to find the data containing the information of the spy within the fortress, they were discovered and pursued by the Empire after an alarm was triggered.

Vess, Tormin, and the merqaal Nix soon escaped with speeder bikes and reached Mos Algo to regroup with the Hutt Cartel, but was abandoned by the Cartel after they found themselves tracked by Imperial forces. While the trio engaged in a skirmish against the Imperial assault, they were soon overwhelmed by the Imperial forces. Nevertheless, the droid crewmember ND-5 would pilot the Trailblazer to push back the Imperial forces and rescue the trio from the onslaught.

As the group was rescued, they were able to successfully transfer the data to Jabba. As a result, the Zerek Besh spy has been killed, and Kay Vess' crew would be redeemed by Jabba. In response, the Zerek Besh leader Sliro Barsha would secretly discuss the matter with Jabba's Twi'lek right-hand-man, Bib Fortuna. Ultimately, Sliro would request Hutt knowledge on Kay Vess, in exchange for supporting Fortuna to succeed as the future leader of the Hutt Cartel.

Prelude

In 3 ABY,^[2] when Kay Vess' crew attempted to build a heist crew for Jaylen Vrax's campaign in taking over the Zerek Besh syndicate, Kay Vess's merqaal partner-in-crime, Nix, has been captured and sold to the crime lord Jabba the Hutt by the Sullustan Hoss as payment to a card game. Vess would infiltrate Jabba's Palace in a desperate attempt to rescue Nix, but was ultimately caught by Jabba and his forces. While the Zerek Besh bounty hunter, Vail Tormin, was present to collect the bounty placed on Vess, Jabba would altogether attempt to execute Vess, Nix, Hoss, and Tormin as a message against Zerek Besh.^[1]

Though Tormin and Vess would be able to work together in escaping the palace and later in disabling the sickened rancor, Pateesa, they would ultimately be recaptured by Hutt Forces. Nevertheless, Jabba would recognize the talent of Vess and the entangled Tormin, threatening them to infiltrate the facility of Fort Sunfire to uncover a Zerek Besh spy among the Hutt Cartel, in exchange for keeping Nix and their lives. When Tormin questioned the relevance of infiltrating an Imperial fortress for finding data relating to a Zerek Besh spy, Jabba the Hutt would soon dismiss the group to complete his task.^[1]

The mission

Infiltration of the Base

After being contacted by Vail Tormin through holocomms, Vess and Nix would meet with the bounty hunter upon a cliff overlooking Fort Sunfire, where they then negotiated a plan in infiltrating the base. While Vess questioned her role in performing the majority of the infiltration, Tormin would ultimately be able to force Vess to go in with a threat concerning her life. Vess and Nix would then enter the base through navigating across the cliff, and eventually arrive at the outer perimeters of the compound. As Vess reached the interior of the base, Tormin would advance upon the vehicle hangar of the base, informing Vess over the option of a quick withdrawal from the facility in case of an accident.^[1]

While Vess and Nix continued to infiltrate the base, Tormin reported to Vess about how she would navigate deeper into the fortress for a reason the bounty hunter did not disclose. After Vess reached the data terminal of the base, she was able to find information regarding names and operations related to the spy. However, through a security monitor in the terminal, Vess observed Tormin confronting a Zerek Besh enforcer present in the facility, where she inquired about the relationship between Zerek Besh and the Galactic Empire. When Tormin killed the Zerek Besh affiliate after the enforcer refused to answer her question and attempted to escape, an alarm has been triggered as a result of the infiltrators' actions. Vess and Nix would soon reach the hangar of the base after surpassing the alerted Imperial forces, where she met Tormin and their prepared speeder bikes.^[1]

Escalation across Tatooine

The Empire would immediately deploy numerous scout troopers piloting 74-Z speeder bikes, several K79-S80 Imperial Troop Transports, and two TIE/ln space superiority starfighters in pursuit of the trio, with the forces engaging in a firefight as they traversed across Tatooine. Eventually, Vess and Tormin would presume that the Empire has lost track of them, with Tormin noticing how easily the Imperial forces had withdrawn the chase. Nevertheless, the group would progress to the abandoned town of Mos Algo, where Bib Fortuna, the Twi'lek right-hand-man of Jabba, planned for regrouping. As Vess questioned Tormin over her investigation in the relationship between Zerek Besh and the Galactic Empire, the conversation would be dismissed by Tormin after Vess mentioned the distrust that the leader of Zerek Besh might have towards the bounty hunter.^[1]

After the group reached the town, they would soon realize the absence of the Cartel forces. When Vess contacted Fortuna, the Twi'lek denounced that the trio was being secretly tracked by the Empire, where then the transmission became weakened after Vess attempted to contact the BX-series droid commando crewmember, ND-5. The source of the disruption would soon be identified, as Imperial stormtroopers arrive upon additional K79-S80 transports. While Vess and Tormin desperately attempt to hold back the Imperial onslaught, additional Imperial reinforcements would arrive, including a Sentinel-class landing craft and an All Terrain Scout Transport. With Tormin injured, Vess would comfort and attempt to defend Tormin, but was soon overwhelmed by the Imperial assault. However, ND-5 would arrive soon enough to push back the Imperial forces with the EML-850 light freighter, Trailblazer, and evacuate the trio from the skirmish.^[1]

Aftermath

With the data ultimately sent to the Hutt Cartel, the Zerek Besh spy would be found and killed. In response, Sliro Barsha, leader of Zerek Besh, would contact Bib Fortuna for a secret meeting. As Barsha revealed for the spy to be planted in the aims of evaluating the Cartel's efficiency, he deems the faction to be inadequate for their dullness. Offering the proposal to support Fortuna in becoming the future leader of the Hutt Cartel, Barsha requested the Cartel's knowledge over Kay Vess, which the crime lord presumed to be a Rebel affiliate.^[1]

After Kay Vess' crew and Vail Tormin was able to succesfully reach Docking Bay 94, Jabba the Hutt would confirm through a holographic message over the death of the spy, that the debt which Kay Vess' crew and Tormin owes to the Hutt Cartel has been cleared, and how he will continue to interact with the group in the future. As Vess thanked ND-5 for the rescue, Tormin would also decide to not capture Vess for her bounty, leaving with a bluff in claiming that she will pursue the outlaw later. With their debt cleared, Kay Vess and her crew would resume their journey in pursuing Jaylen Vrax's campaign.^[1]

Behind the scenes

The mission first appeared in the Massive Entertainment video game Star Wars Outlaws,^[1] released on August 30, 2024.^[3] The infiltration was portrayed within the main quest of "Jabba's Favor".^[1]

Appearances

• Star Wars Outlaws (First appearance)

Notes and references