Farko Noman was no native of Tatooine. His mannerisms, his accent, and his personality all suggested one who was deeply familiar with the Core Worlds. Perhaps even a Coruscanti, Auriga thought. Irrespective of his spawnworld, Auriga immediately grew to like him.

The Captain threw down his sabacc cards onto the makeshift crate. "You mean to tell me you hooked up with the company through a Bith merchant in the Coco District of downtown Imperial City?"

"That's Kooroo's Own Most Holy Truth, Captain," Noman said, adjusting his hand. "Why, it was a double agent in Palpatine's own guard that approached me." He eyed the captain.

Auriga rolled his eyes and shot a grin to Commander Arkwright, a fellow sabacc player at the makeshift table, and then returned Noman's gaze.

"I may be some naval officer inexperienced in the ways of subtle subterfuge and the lifestyle of the super spy," he said with precise and mocking Core annunciation, "but I am quite certain, Mr. Noman, that I know a cart of nerf dung when I see it."

Noman laughed, nodding to himself, and began the next round of sabacc.

"I am curious, Mr. Noman," the Commander ventured, his slightly rosy scalp glinting in the inefficient lighting of the cave complex, "about the sort of the funding you receive out here."

Noman began dealing cards and picked up a deathstick, another sign of a true Core aristocrat, before speaking. "An interesting conundrum, Commander, with an unfortunately uninteresting answer: smuggling, private funds, and Skywalker."

Auriga noted Farko's use of the deathstick, its chemical ingredients actually shortening one's life with every use. He put his disapproval of such habits out of his mind, however, and returned to the conversation as the Commander requested elaboration.

"You see, Commander Arkwright, we get a small portion of our supplies from routine Alliance smuggling drops. Another portion comes from private funds, mostly mine, and, shall we see, 'acquired monies.' However, our true saving grace is the graciousness of Alliance hero Wing Commander Luke Skywalker himself." Farko reinserted the deathstick and inhaled its toxic contents, his eyes turning slightly cloudy in the process.

Arkwright looked suspiciously to the Captain before returning to the intelligence agent. "You mean to tell me," he said, "that Luke Skywalker personally helps you out?"

"Well," Noman said, tossing another credit into the pot, "I wouldn't go that far. Your bet, by the way. You see, the Wing Commander has contacts with the big wigs in the Alliance--Princess Organa, the councilor for Alderaan on the Advisory Council, Admiral Ackbar, and General Madine among them. If I should need additional materials, all it takes is a comscan to Rogue Squadron and within a month I have an extra supply drop."

Auriga and Arkwright again exchanged glances as they continued their game of cards, booze, and bloated stories.