GALACTIC LEGACY: A STAR WARS D6 RPG STORY - EPISODE 1: THE BEGINNING (PART 4)

GALACTIC LEGACY: A STAR WARS D6 RPG STORY - EPISODE 1: THE BEGINNING (PART 4)

Combining the information they learned from their separate investigations, Tikkit, Lott, and Choe developed a better picture of why someone was interested in the stolen medicines. The data sheets on the stolen medicine were highly technical, aimed at physicians and biopharmaceutical specialists, but the SPECTRUM team was able to understand at least the basic uses of each drug. Accela increases production of epinephrine, norepinepherine, and serotonin, influencing the patient's arousal, focus, and sens of time causing the patient to feel as if their conciousness is accelerated and improving the speed of thought and calculation. Betathanatine's uses included preparing patients for cryogenic stasis hubernation by lowering metabolic rate and body temprature, but could also be used to cause emotional detachment in obsessive patients. Cortexiphan was used to treat psychogenic catatonia by stimulating cerebral activity. Ephemerol had several uses, including treatment of nausea (especially morning sickness experienced by pregnant females of mammalian species), treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and tension. Focusyn, Ridderall, and Vellocet were stimulants used to treat narcolepsy, behavioral inhibition issues, and attention deficit disorders. Glitterstim, in additional to its well known use as a recreational drug throughout the galaxy, was also a legitimate treatment for substance abuse issues and an adjunct for psychotherapy. Melatropin was a hormone regulator used to treat sleep disorders. Prozium was a powerful antidepressant, treating various depression, panic, and obsessive disorders; and being used in females of warm-blooded species to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Pylene-50 was used to treat cognitive disorders, obesity, and sleep disorders. Repressitol was used in the treatment of performance anxiety, stress disorders, communication disorders, and aggressive behavior due to traumatic brain injury.

Agent Choe tracked the medicine shipments from their factories to the points where the ships had disappeared. He'd followed up by checking who at Imperial Navy Medical Command had ties to the Sith. At the upper echelons, it would have been a smaller list if he'd tried to note who DIDN'T have Sith connections. All of the admirals and other administrators owed their positions to the Sith, and would probably be out of jobs once the de-Sithification of the galaxy got underway. Most of the medical staff that had served as part of Vul Isen's staff for his unethical medical experiments and vivisections had already been either purged and imprisoned awaiting trial or killed resisting arrest. Suspicion pointed to either a high-level MedCom officer or staff member, or someone in the supply or logisitics chain that moved the drugs from place to place.

The information on the drug's uses, and the research notes from the Sith scientists, and the personnel and supply chain information provided by Choe pointed toward some disturbing ideas. The stolen medicines all had psychoactive uses, and were being shipped to Fleet Hospitals to treat combat veterans with battle related stress disorders, commonly referred to as "Blaster Shock". In the right combinations and doses, the medicines would do more than stabilize moods, help patients sleep, and reduce anxiety; in the wrong doses they could be used to lower inhibitions, make patients susceptible to hypnotic suggestions, alter their perceptions, and possibly increase latent extrasensory abilities. There was definitely a chance that these medicines were being used to somehow affect the connection of Force sensitive individuals to that mystical energy field. Lott was certain that only a Sith would submit themselves to that, no Jedi would willingly use chemicals to change their relationship with the Force. His feelings on the Imperial Knights he kept to himself.

Mykar, having recovered from his encounter with Skull Leader, sat with Forks and Jhok listening to the others give their reports. The droid beeped and whistled, his head rotating around on his cylindrical body.

"He says that list of medicines would make a good recipe for some brain melting Spice Balls," Mykar translated.

"Spice balls," Jhok repeated, not understanding what the words meant, but thinking that they sounded like an important part of this talking ritual that his friends were taking part in. He subconsciously rubbed his furry arms, the dry recycled air aboard the Shady Lady having caused him some static electricity issues. The others of the group interpreted the motion as the stereotypical behavior of a "ball nibbler" looking for a fix. They interpreted this to mean that Jhok believed that the medicines had been stolen to feed the spice addicts of the Outer Rim.

Now, the SPECTRUM team had to determine their next course of action. They could head out to investigate one of the areas where shipments had disappeared (Rogue Leader's suggestion of the Malastare to Tattooine route seemed as likely as any to turn up evidence, or at least a lead), they could make use of Mykar's underworld contacts on Coruscant to see if there was any word in the Fringe that might help, or they could try something completely unexpected. Whatever they chose to do, they would have to do something. Captain Bey was anxious for SPECTRUM to prove itself, he wanted quick results for their first operation, to prove to the political leaders of the galaxy that SPECTRUM was worth the effort and expense they were pouring into it.