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Jan Lomona: The Solo Runs - With Friends Like That 1986 story by Mark Newbold Three years before Episode IV - A New Hope Jan Lomona has completed
his gun smuggling run to Afagard
with Latti Tellex and is now en
route to Tatooine to have
discussions with the gangster Jabba
the Hutt. Arriving on Tatooine Lomona and Tellex are
given an audience with the gangster who is most displeased with the two of
them running free-lance jobs without his authorisation. Lomona apologises and asks how he
knew. Jabba smugly replies that he has
spies everywhere. Jan apologises again
and the two of them leave Jabbas Palace – Latti bound for Amagad and Lomona bound for A-desando and his brother Hijjins funeral. As they leave a figure appears from behind
the dais – it’s Imperial Colonel Pillot, a soldier posted to
the world of Durathosin who has
entered into an arrangement with the Tatooine gangster to pass on vital
information pertaining to the underworld of the Setnin Sector. Lomona
arrives on A-desando, where he is treated with hatred and suspicion. Only three people treat him with anything
approaching respect – his cousin Sharn
Retgarr, his Uncle Ade Lomona
and his girlfriend Frans Latka. He doesn’t speak to any of his relatives
until the funeral where his mother Sierra
and his father Narn Giapa tell him
that he should have helped his brother whilst he was being attacked. Jan admits to speaking with his elder
brother aboard the ISD Barbarian
and also admits that his brother helped him out by having some fake ID’s made
up for him. But he denies ever having
seen Hijjin again after that, and he certainly didn’t fight his brother on a
field at the back of a cantina on Agubia. Both Sierra and Narn don’t believe him –
Sierra tells him to watch his back.
Narn warns Jan that he’s a wanted criminal and whilst he wouldn’t
arrest his own son he also wouldn’t stop a fellow officer from doing the
same. Jan sadly accepts this and turns
to leave with Frans. Uncle Ade and
Sharn both agree to cover for him until they are away. Jan
and Frans go back to her home and turn in for the night. While they try to get to sleep there is a
tap at the window. Lomona pulls the
curtains aside to see who is there – a squad of Imperial. Jan wakes Frans and the two of them are
swiftly embroiled in a firefight.
Knowing that they are no longer welcome on their homeworld the two of
them grab their belongings and race towards the Berone Sunrise, which is parked adjacent to the house. They warm the engines in an emergency cold
start and blast away, angling past the Imperial vessels in orbit and hitting
hyperspace. Jan
and Frans decide to take the Sunrise to Amagad. Landing in the starport they meet up with
Glann Cipple and tell him the story of the recent events, and how Jabba has
made it clear of his displeasure of Jan running for other operations. Glann agrees with Jabba - he dislikes Jan
running for anyone else, but he accepts it as a part of the profession. Cipple offers Jan and Frans a short run out
to Wennicas and the junker
operation of outlaw tech Arach Raynor,
to drop off some mechanical parts and pick up some Noscage spice. They
accept and blast away. Upon exit from
hyperspace a squadron of Imperial TIE Fighters intercepts them and
attacks. They dispatch them swiftly
and continue towards Wennicas. Frans
points out that she thinks they are being bugged – Glann doesn’t have spies
in his operation so the bug probably originated on either Tatooine or
A-desando. Jan frowns at this. If it was put on Tatooine, then the Hutt
lord knows that Jan has travelled directly from A-desando to Amagad. After landing they locate the bug with the
assistance of Jan’s droid Aurran. The bug is of Imperial origin, which makes
Jan wonder exactly who is bugging them – Jabba or the Empire. Meanwhile,
on the world of Durathosin, Pillot
sends a message to Jabba the Hutt. He
tells him that Lomona was intercepted by a squadron of TIE Fighters that he
saw off, but has no idea who planted the bug – Jabba or the Empire. The truth lies somewhere in between. Pillot hypothesises that Lomona will think
twice before running for anyone else.
Jabba is pleased. Upon
arrival at Arach Raynor’s place Jan and Frans drop off their cargo of engine
spares and pick up the consignment of Noscage spice. They chat over a bottle of Flameout and Raynor tells Jan that he
has heard that Jabba has plans for the Setnin Sector. Jan agrees and finishes his drink, telling
Arach that he hopes that he can survive the conflict and decisions that he is
sure are to come.
Jan Lomona: The Solo Runs - With
Friends Like That 1987 story by Mark Newbold Three years before Episode IV – A New Hope Histories - Recorded on 9th, 13th and
16th November 1987, this mid-era NHP story revised in 1999 by Mark
Newbold shows the precarious balance of power that existed in the Mid-Rim and the local sectors around Setnin. With Jan
Lomona running for both Jabba the
Hutt and Glann Cipple he is in
a prime situation to know both sides of the story - and the plans for the
Setnin Sector that the giant Hutt has. Cast of
Characters Jan
Lomona Latti
Tellex Jabba
The Hutt Pillot Ade
Lomona Sharn
Retgarr Frans
Latka Sierra
Cetting Lomona Narn
Giapa Lomona Arach
Raynor |