Jan Lomona: The Solo Runs - With
Friends Like That 1986/1999 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 1987/1999 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 |