IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY...
He listened as the Colonel described the smallish fur-faced humanoid. He didn't remember seeing them on Malvane, but had seen holos of them in the past. Unless they were as thick as jawas on that backwater desert, it likely wouldn't be hard to find him. He was about to reach into his jacket to retrieve something when the Colonel mentioned Admiral Zorn and asked Bronasi if he was clear about the mission. As he'd done before, his eyes narrowed at the man's words. The look turned into a glare as he removed a small chromed case and opened it with his thumb. Arrayed in a neat row were 8 pencil-thin grey deathsticks, each with a gold-coloured ring showing about a third of the way down. Without looking, the Senator retrieved one of the 'sticks and snapped the case closed. "We've known each other for a short while, Colonel ... so I'll let you have a little slack on that cable-line between my team and Alliance command." He replaced the case back where it was and eased a small igniter from another pocket. "I've been dodging Palpatine's drones, Bounty Hunters, and a trio of cartels since the Empire occupied my home world. I've been captured once by those people, and I have no intention to be their guest at any time in the future." He touched the igniter and raised the thin deathstick to one side of his lips. The small blue flame slowly turned the end of it into a colourful glowing red before he spoke. "So do me a favour, Colonel ... Don't tell me how to do my job, and I won't tell you to do yours." Bronasi clicked the lighter off and exhaled a cloud of blueish-grey smoke through his nostrils as he moved past the Alliance officer and into the corridor. Smoke trailed over his shoulder as he walked away ...
Bronasi looked up from the table and chair that sufficed for an 'office' and towards the blue-tinted Wroonian. Normally, he associated blue skin with Twi'leks and it had taken him over a week to not think of Kepperdies as one. His hand moved to the edge of a tray, where the stub of the deathstick he'd been working on had almost reached the gold-coloured ring. "Military intelligence," he derisively snorted as he reached for the stub of the deathstick and tapped the end on the tray. "As you and I both know with the Alliance ... is neither military, nor intelligent most of the time." Bronasi brought the 'stick to his lips and inhaled, turning the end of it a bright red before he removed it and continued, "How's the YT-1300? Will it do what it's supposed to, or will it need an overhaul mid-mission? We might need to haul asteroids at a moment's notice." Haul Asteroids was a colloquial term Bronasi liked to use occasionally to move things along - usually at a much faster speed.
Bronasi looked up from the table and chair that sufficed for an 'office' and towards the blue-tinted Wroonian. Normally, he associated blue skin with Twi'leks and it had taken him over a week to not think of Kepperdies as one. His hand moved to the edge of a tray, where the stub of the deathstick he'd been working on had almost reached the gold-coloured ring. "Military intelligence," he derisively snorted as he reached for the stub of the deathstick and tapped the end on the tray. "As you and I both know with the Alliance ... is neither military, nor intelligent most of the time." Bronasi brought the 'stick to his lips and inhaled, turning the end of it a bright red before he removed it and continued, "How's the YT-1300? Will it do what it's supposed to, or will it need an overhaul mid-mission? We might need to haul asteroids at a moment's notice." Haul Asteroids was a colloquial term Bronasi liked to use occasionally to move things along - usually at a much faster speed.
Tal casually takes a seat and plops two bottles of purple fizz drink on the desk, one for himself and one for the Senator. It's sharp, acidic, and yet cloyingly sweet and Tal developed a taste for it years ago.
"Well, Boss," he said after taking a long draught and smacking his lips, "if we have to 'haul asteroids' I'd say were pretty well frelled. I haven't had time to look at the overall spaceframe of that pile yet, but if a TIE just as much breathes on us, we'd explode."
"If we could.....procure a better sensor suite, that would be great for now. If we can hear 'em coming, we can at least microjump before they close distance. That and the hyperdrive is this close [Tal holds up his thumb and finger to show a centimeter or two of distance.] to burning out."
Tal takes another long swig from the bottle. "I guess the question is, what do WE want to do with the freller? Fast, I can do. But it'll take a bantha's age to turn it into any kind of gunship." (Think Grape Soda for the purple fizz drink)
Exhaling the last of the smoke, he listened to the list of what needed to be worked on, the furrow on his brow deepening. He expected the Alliance would toss them little more than scraps, but this ... "What I wouldn't give to have the Dreamer..." he muttered for a moment, then looked back to Kepperdies.
"Looks like Miss Barler--," He began, then corrected himself. "Syra will be working her usual magic while you're keeping the ship from falling to pieces.
The Senator chuckled. "As for what to do with the ship, I'd suggest finding something better and commandeering it for our own use. But since we can't at the moment, we'll have to make do with what we've got. But keep an eye out, just in case."
Tal grins at the mention of commandeering another ship. “We just have take the pile to Tatooine. No one said anything about leaving with it.”
Now off duty, Tal is spinning a hydrospanner like a heavy drumstick walking around a taken apart KV Swoop.
Heavy, brutal music fills his workshop, practically drowning out any other noise. He adjusts a stabilizer fin for the thirteenth time and hopes to take the bike out for a long overdue spin before the mission.
Just thinking, a high-powered Admiral could somehow be in the same patch of dust and sand as this handful of characters who've barely made a name for the group combined. Even without Force powers, that made Toa's gut clench. The team had been working on pumping more power out of a freighter's engines, and as clearly established, so far all this talk about "intelligence" was outside the Mon-Cal's domain. He stayed silent, flipping through a datapad to scour for whatever was available on this "Admiral". The Senator clearly has some strong feelings about the Empire, and unless I'm mistaken, they DID attempt to seize Mon Calamari the planet or at least stop the manufacture of their signature capital ships. Plus, the sheer discrimination against non-human species meant the Empire lost themselves this character as a particular asset. Ah well, that's the Alliance's gain, and the Empire's loss. "All this talk about TIEs and YTs, what should we expect when we get planetside? We supposed to take on a whole battalion all by ourselves?"
((If there’s time before the mission, Tal would like to check out a Hovertruck from the motor pool after he puts his bike and another speederbike in the back.))
After clearing the request with motor pool, Tal taps on Toa’s door. “Hey, Toa. Let’s go clear our heads. Got a pair of speederbikes running and some brews.”
"I'll be right there."
Tal casually drives out to a nearby point where he marked off a makeshift off road circuit “for training purposes.” After parking the truck he rolls out his not quite refurbished KVSwoop and standard issue scout bike. “Well, I can already tell ya which one of these is more reliable, Pal.”
One ride across the surface of a planet later, by truck, then he grabs the shoddier one and just says, "I like to live dangerously." Queue one dramatic vroom-vroom sound from the Swoop's engines and turbines, as the duo are about to ride off.
Tal laughs and does an ancient hand sign for a blessing as Toa mounts the KVSwoop. The Wroonian mounts the Alliance issued scout bike. "You're lucky you're a pal. I don't normally let anyone ride MY Swoop."
"This thing is YOURS? I thought yours was the shinier one." There's a friendly chuckle that immediately follows.
"I JUST got the freller put back together. Just promise me you'll treat her like the lady she is."
"Don't worry, it's safe with me. Though I don't think that's the most fitting comparison we could've made, but I get your point."
Tal revs his engine, signalling the ride's start!
After a couple friendly laps around the trail, Tal turns off his bike. He dismounts and flips open the portable chill box. Brew. Grog. Beer. Ale. He forgets what the locals called it specifically, but it’s real, Honest-to-the-Maker alcohol and it’s cold. He casually hands Toa a can and pops his open.
He takes a long gulp and nods appreciatively. “Not bad,” he tells the can before turning to his friend. “So, how’d she handle?”
"Handles better than she looks," he casually admits while knocking back a can of booze, with these two guys hanging out...
Tal smirks. “She’ll be holo-wall-worthy soon.”
He takes a long swig and casually says, “I’m thinking about asking Candra Astallan out. You know, the desk sarge in Ordinance and Supply? No offense, but I don’t know what the Mon Cala standard of beauty is, but to my Wroonian one? Candra’s.... “ he grins wider as he dramatically pauses, “adequate.”
Toa laughs. "I don't think I'm the right person to ask about that, Tal. And of course, one can't represent a whole culture...but that's beside the point."
Tal explodes with a deep laugh. “That’s what I get for not coming out and saying ‘I think she’s attractive.’”
He laughs along. "Hey, I dare you to say that to her face. See what happens. And if you get slapped, we can share a drink over it and laugh."
"All I know is, the officers aren't allowed to mingle like that with the enlisted grunts. That aside, the worst that'll happen is she'll stay 'professional'. Or, y'know, press too hard and you'll get a talking-to about being too forward. So yeah, good thing that's not my problem."
He takes a deep drink of booze as if to silently signal "I'll shut up now before this gets any more uncomfortable."
Tal grins broadly, “One: totally worth the risk.
“Two: she’s enlisted like we are. Besides, you know how informal the Alliance can be with rank structure. After all, there was that one kid that went from Farm Boy to Flight Officer because Red3 vouched for him....” Tal’s voice trails off “...and he showed up to Yavin4 with Top Secret info and the Princess of Alderaan...”
Tal finishes his beer.
While the 'kids' are off having fun, Bronasi will be working on getting things squared away for the trip to Tattooine; simple things like making sure there's enough food for everyone - even if some of it might be ration packs - and checking in on the ship (things like fuel levels, everything's in working order...) before he takes the larger quarters and does some investigating about Admiral Zorn. When Mulvane became an Imperial world and Bronasi was forced out as its Senator, there was a brief period of unrest against the occupying forces. The Imperial response to it sounded like classic "Zorn" - rounding up civilians and executing large numbers of them to force their leaders out of hiding. He'd lost a good friend when one of his non-human advisors, a Twi'lek named Ran Adar, was captured and dragged before a Tribunal. Remembering the holo broadcast that had shown Adar's execution via firing squad filled the Senator with a rage few ever saw ... Bronasi will also do some research into Tattooine and the strength of the Imperial Garrison. From what little he remembered, Tattooine was a backwater desert with little to recommend it. But that didn't mean that the Empire thought of it the same way. He'll also look into the local criminal 'fauna' - the Hutts, the Pykes, and any other group that might interfere with their mission. Nothing's ever as easy as it looks.
Tal & Jaime, when you load the Hovertruck and the bikes, you see Bronasi ordering a few crates going in the YT. As always, the Senator has made sure the logistics side wouldn't be the reason a mission fails. Syra is already in the cockpit, working on the flight plan. She seems very focused on the nav computer. She already has entered the jumps coordinates for Tattoine.
Going to Tattoine is uneventful. In a few days of hyperspace, you finally get into the scorching atmosphere of the twin suns desert planet. It's the end of day and the two suns are placidly dying on the horizon. A few com calls exchange between Syra and Mos Esley and soon, you hear the noise of the engines dying. You open the door and feel a burst of hot air pouring through the ship, welcoming you to that remote sand ball on the fringes, even as the evening is already well advanced. You all stretch your legs beside the ship and have a first look at the starport. Lost of people from all places in the galaxy are working, moving and all in the starport, still active as an anthill at this hour.
You leave begin to leave the starport in global indifference, while a crowd of technicians and imperial soldiers are working with agitation all around. It seems that Mos Esley is about to welcome an important host : guards are preparing a parade, and several buildings of the starport are bearing huge banners marked with the imperial heraldry.
Knowing both his and Syra’s almost genetic desire for a proper handling, speedy vehicle, Tal can’t help but to be extremely disappointed in the Pile’s performance. “The frelling thing handles even worse than it looks,” he mutters to himself. He scowls at the engine monitors and does the only real tinkering he can while in flight: the gunner’s station. He goes to work on the actuators, the seat servos, trying to remove any latency from the fire control systems. ((I’d like to roll a Starship Weapons Repair to improve the Fire Control)) Once they land, the Wroonrian hits the refresher, brushes back his hair and puts on a broad brimmed lightly colored fiber hat ((think a Panama)) and a light jacket.
“Just remember we can’t outrun a Hutt on a Hoversled, Flygirl,” he reminds the pilot before disembarking.
After seeing the Imp presence and looking at the banners all around the legendary scumhole of Mos Eisley, Tal lowers his brim and leans over to the Senator. “It’s not Empire Day or Palps’ Birthday, is it?”
Sen. Bronasi: Aboard the ship, Bronasi kept himself busy with a few things - being a leader meant you had to take care of the 'little' details that kept things going. He checked over the ship while they were in Hyperspace and the crew on occasion to see how they were faring on the journey. Although he had many moods, he seemed to show only a couple; either he was the sternly disciplined Senatorial "Father-figure" that was seen by Imperial agents or Stormtroopers, or the laid-back "wise Uncle" who shared his experience of the Galaxy to those inclined to listen. Getting to Tattooine, he too cleansed himself and changed clothes - donning a loose fitting robe-and-cloak outfit, with a head-wrap he'd seen on the Holonet. He didn't look native, but at least he didn't stand out like a lost tourist when people looked at him. He secured the hold-out on one leg and stepped into a blast furnace. As he squinted through the haze, he noted the red and black banners and bunting, as well as the running about of Stormtroopers and Technicians. It reminded him of a besh'kara hill that had been kicked ... but thankfully none of the Imperials here were inclined to violence. Whatever's going on here, I'll wager Zorn's involved with it somewhere.
“It’s not Empire Day or Palps’ Birthday, is it?” The question from the Wroonian broke into his thoughts, but he only blinked rapidly twice as he considered the answer. "No, " Bronasi growled low. "Those are Zorn's pennants - looks like he's here for a visit. Best keep low and out of sight as much as possible. Better find whomever it is we're looking for and get off this sandpit as fast as we can."
Syra lands the ship with practiced ease, almost belying the clunkiness of the old freighter they were forced to fly in. She finishes all post-flight checks, powers down the YT-1300, and exits the cockpit, fastening her blaster pistol under her jacket. Heat didn't bother her, as she had raced in the swamps of Taris, her... well, not birth planet, but certainly home planet from her mid-childhood until the day she joined the Alliance. She produced a pair of dark goggles from her pocket and slipped them on, as she popped a piece of juba fruit chewing gum into her mouth, then offered the pack around "Gum, anyone?"
Tal grabs a piece, "At least it'll get the taste of the recirculated air out of my mouth." He made a mental note to change the air scrubber filters, if not just flush the whole damn system. Yet another thing to do on this pile of bantha dung ship the Alliance foisted on them.
Let's case ships to steal on our way out of the spaceport." Syra said with a smirk, almost reading Tal's thoughts.
"Plan B.... Well Plan A-1," Tal winks and tips his hat to the pilot.
Either way, it's clear there's a big to-do going round, and Toa explicitly remembers those orders about a particularly high-ranking character that may be in the midst...more specifically to leave that guy alone.
He looked towards the offering of gum, and just said while trying to be cool, "Save it for when it's ass-kicking time. I hear there's a cliche action motif about gum."
On the way out of the docking bay, Tal nudges Toa with his shoulder. “Hopefully, this will be an easy in-and-out pick up. One or two squads of Imps we can handle on the fly, Imps-on-Parade is something we actually have to plan for.”
“I know we got a...general... description of our target, but did we get anything about a safehouse, password, a frelling secret handshake to find this guy, Boss?”
He then leans over to Syra, “With Zorn sniffing around, we may have to hold off on Plan A1... for now. I’d like to make it back to base in one Face for the Comm Links piece.”
"Yeah, better be careful."
The blue skinned humanoid thinks of Toa’s dare and, never turning down from a dare in his life, Tal’s resolve to survive this mission is steeled. He looks to his compatriots and gives them all a “we can do this” nod.
Toa took a quick look around, as a legion of marching Imperials had definitely not been part of the plan, but the briefing did mention a particular name that took him a few minutes to draw from memory. Could be related to Colonel Beremnos or Admiral Zorn...the names we were expressly instructed to avoid, under all circumstances. This fireteam of rising heroes were still under-equipped for facing off against the greatest Super Soldiers the Empire had to offer. With that in mind, such restrictions on the Rules of Engagement definitely seems reasonable from the perspective further up the chain. "I definitely think it's a good idea to lay low for now. The one thing we don't want is a rain of laser fire while we're in the open."
As they wander through the grimy city, Tal leans over to the pilot. “What Docking Bay did we land in again? Just trying to keep my bearings. I forgot what a damn maze Mos Eisley can be off the main streets.”
"That was 34. You can tell because its next to the tallest rectenna in the spaceport." The horned pilot pointed "See?"
Tal followed the much shorter pilot’s arm and squinted against the dusk. “Yup. Thanks, Flygirl. You reckon that’s a couple clicks away now? May need to get a ‘taxi’ if we need a quick out.”
"Depends on if we want quiet or quick." she shrugged.
“My vote is always for quick. There are only a handful of things I like to do nice and slow.” Tal smirks.
"Quick can get you shot at, pal." she replied.
“Uh huh.. and slow can get you shot down. Are we back on that A Wing v B Wing thing again?”
((Tal, you extract a +2 on the gunnery skill to fire the YT weapons by endlessly tuning the fire units during the trip. Now, there isn't anymore you can make better on that ship without upgrading the hardware. Toa, Beremnos is the colonel of the rebel alliance. Your 9 miss the threshold by a few points but you realize when Bronasi says the name that, yes, that heraldry you remember when you were reading Zorn's file back on Krytemnes.))
As you walk for the cantina, you realize that the sand filled streets become more and more small. Imperial troopers are doing some police work around the starport but they quickly disappear as you drift away, towards the maze of small streets. Lots of cartwheels bear stands of street food. Some smell delicious, whatever your food inclinations are. You see street urchins here and there trying to make a living as guides or small time thieves. The further you go, the less secure streets become. You still are probably among the most dangerous people around but still... Passing a corner, you see Jawas salvaging pieces from a pile of discarded droids. Another time, there's a bizarre human in a brown robe, seated on a huge colorful pillow, smoking a pipe and trying to sell you a fortune, divination or séance. His basic is so garbled you have a hard time being sure. Finally, you see the sign of the cantina. When people go in or out, you hear the sound of a jazzy electronic music, with a female voice singing in an unkown language.
Inside, there's a lot of patrons but you manage to find a table, pushing a passed out twi'lek from its stool to make room. He opens the eyes, looking lost and aim for the door, shambling, under the laughs of a few ones who seem to know him.
You get some drinks. The rendez-vous should not be that long, you are about one hour in advance. You hear the smugglers around talking about their victories. It seems they don't care working for alliance or empire, whoever pays most but you get that there's a kind of honor about respecting a contract : you never betray your employer, as it is bad for business.
A pair of them seem to discuss about a ghost ship they have seen. Rumors of such ships are endless in the galaxy. So many stories, a few even happen to be true. "I've seen it", a rhodian says, "gigantic, terrifying. So many ships attached to the hulk it looks like a giant organic creature !" "Yeah, t'was your mom and we were all drunk, Bocho !" All the others laugh.
You're about to order another round when a small, hooded, humanoid shambles to your table, half falls down on the bench pushing you. He removes his hood and you recognize a Taï, with his furry face. He is wounded. Blood begins to pool on the table as he pushes a metal suitcase, jerking your glasses. He has a hard time to speak. "I'm one of Yele's. ... To meet you... QUICK!... Orders t'kill me. ... my life... not important. This !" He shows the suitcase with his other arm and speaks with hurry : "this needs to go to Taypho. Fast. " He takes a deep breath "Take... To Taypho... Droof masters... Ask the rancor..." He dies.
At this exact moment, the music stops suddenly and every band member draws out a weapon. They're 5 bounty hunters !
Syra jumps from her seat, going for her gun, and taking cover under the table but I'm not planning on firing first. (Blaster roll : 22)
Ok, they shoot before you do and you have a few blasts that hit the table. A few inches lower and you would have been toast !
Since they have no cover, your shot hits target. Roll dmg (19)
Your shot flies through the room and hit the drummer in the shoulder, a four-arms insectoid that let out a hiss of pain ((wounded)). They drop the sticks they had in the corresponding hand.
Tal grabs the suitcase and lands on it as he hits the deck. He flips it up into a makeshift shield as he pulls out his pistol and takes two shots mainly to force their heads down.
“Looks like you’re ‘out of gum’, Toa!”
Roll your blaster. Two shots so -1D on each but since you’re doing suppression fire, it won’t be for a damage effect (more to get an advantage). (7,2 with 1s on both Wild Dice)
So you jump over the table blasting around while trying to grab the suitcase. You trip your foot under the tabletop, rolling over and going ass over head to the other side. You land on your ass just in front of the Bounty Hunters with a dumb smile. The suitcase is now on the ground at the feet of the other PCs, the table is now on the side, keeping Syra’s cover. You litterally emptied your blaster’s battery in the ceiling, destroying a few of the lamps and decorations of the bar.
Toa looks towards Syra and he pipes up just as the fighting started (assuming it hasn't already ended). "Remember how I said save that gum? That's because, NOW is the time for it!" And so, kung-fu time ensues towards the hunters disguised as musicians. He heard a story about some jungle tribe where every single man, woman, and child had been armed with a firearm - yes, even the baby in its stroller had an adorable hold-out pistol.
So, with some flipped tables for cover, Toa does a cool flip over the table, with flipper-hand-things on the rim to wheel over, and HOI-YAW a kick down onto one of their heads. Because kung-fu needs to be awesome.
"I'm busy shooting! Just kick their asses and stay out of my line of fire!"
Tal starts a timer in his head, thinking about Imp response time compared to how much time that heap of a freighter will need to start up and how “known” he is to the Birdwatchers (ISB). He reloads his pistol and takes cover while shouting over the din, “Boss! Grab the case and get to the ship!”
Toa jumps over the tables, makes a hand stand over the shoulders of a patron and use that to make a huge salto all over the fake band. He lands his legs around the neck of the band member in the background, taking him down as they both stumble but the neck of the bounty hunter snaps while Toa swings his legs to jump back in standing position as the martial artist he is, ready to kick another butt.
While blasts are flying around him and everybody's jumping, the Senator calmly put his cancer stick down and puts a few creds on the table for the drinks. When Tal says to grab the suitcase, he takes it by the handle, pushes his chair and walks to the door, like it's just your run-off-the-mill barroom brawl. "Guys, when you're finished there, I'll be at the ship."
The remaining bounty hunters regroup and will try for the door behind him, blasting their way. What do you do ? If combat action, please roll your corresponding skill.
Syra gives covering fire for the Senator.
Toa does more Kung-Fu to take more heat off the briefcase.
Tal scans the area for overhead fire suppressors. He wants to shoot the head off one to activate the system, knowing it will cause more confusion and chaos.
Toa slides on the floor and gets a second Bounty Hunter down, prone, immediately coming back up. Some blast fly but they don't hit, even if Tal feels the heat of rays passing by, rolling on himself to go back to cover. Looking up, sprinklers are easily found.
Syra & Toa storm out the Cantina, moving through the brawling guys. With all the people, one guy next to Toa gets hit by a blast that missed him by a hair. Syra gets hit in the shoulder and lets out a scream as the heat burns her shoulder blade ((wounded)). Still, you manage to hit the streets, as well as several patrons. You see stormtroopers running towards the cantina, pushing you aside while they enter the Cantina, blaster in hand. At the exact time when the Tal shoots a sprinkler and smelly grey waters soak everybody.
Tal throws his jacket over flygirl to keep the grey water out of the burn and hurries them out the door with the rest of the confused throng. His fiber hat pretty much ruined.
“Let’s split up. Meet you at the ship.” He then ducks into the nearest clothes merchant for a quick change. Spending as little as possible and probably going to show up to the ship looking absolutely garish.
"Gotcha " Syra tries to slink between the alleyways on her way to the ship, to avoid notice.
Before being able to say any acknowledgement, the Mon-Cal Toa had already gone through a random alleyway, blasted with all the sand colors of the desert planet.
When you step outside, it's now the night. This red lantern district of Mos Esley is still very active. While you get away, you hear some blaster exchange from the cantina. The remaining bounty hunters must have had an exchange with the stormtroopers coming in.
((All of you, roll your Sneak+1D (because night/crowd). Also, roll Search-1D (because night/crowd also)))
Syra manages to blend into the crowd and various corners. She manages to see some bounty hunter but shakes her tail to the starport.
Toa, camouflaged, sneaks to the airport.
Tal gets in a hot argument with the shopkeeper about prices and quality, that becomes more heated as the shopkeeper retains his presence. "There are rules, here, young man ! The price isn't set and bargaining as only begun. You did try that one, so you buy it !" "No way I will pay that many credits for that rag !". Two bounty hunters, that Tal hasn't seen, are fiddling with their fingers, against a wall, waiting for him to get out. Then they follow him to the starport. Tal's out of 50 credits for a flea-bitten rag of a hat, trying to get the shopkeeper to shut up.
You all arrive to the starport. You see the senator, with several blasters pointed at him. You want to turn to find a plan but the bounty hunters following Tal have been reinforced and point their blasters... You have no choice but walk to the ship, where the team is lead by a humanoid in robes with a serpent head.
The creature makes a face that wants to be a smile and turns to you : "Its Ssserene Sssplendor, the ssssupreme Jabba desiresss talking witthhh thosse who have magnificccently esssscaped hisss hunterss. My masssster would like to end that sssad sssstory and get back what he hisss owed. He issss sssssugessting a meeting in the Karien chasssm, eassssst of town, tomorrow morning, when the firsssst sssun risesss. Of coursssse, any refusal would consssstitute a heavy offencccce. My massster is very ssssensssitive on mattersss of honor. I am very sssssure you don't want to make him angry. You would not like him, angry."
"Sithspit..." Syra mumbles.
“It would be a great honor to meet the Illustrious Jabba, whose fame even reaches far off Wroona,” Tal says purposefully unconvincingly in a flat monotone.
Syra looks down, gritting her teeth "Indeed, we'd be honored."
Toa just silently rolls his eyes, subtle body language as if saying, "Ah crap, here we go AGAIN!"
After the thugs leave, Tal wonders about the request. Something feels off about being summoned to neither his infamous palace nor is in town residence. (I’d like to roll a Streetwise to try and remember how much I learned about Jabba’s gang working with the Salvagers)
Once the thugs leave you all, what do you want to do. I assume you all went inside the ship, with the senator and the suitcase.
“This makes no sense,” Tal confides in Syra and Toa. “If these nerf herders wanted the case, why didn’t they just gun us down and take it when they had the chance?”
"Maybe because they felt they couldn't just gun us down?"
Tal : it seems lots of your contacts are now lost but you manage to contact a repair guy that still owed you one. The chasm is an enclosed place far from prying eyes that Jabba uses from time to time when he needs to be able to conclude a deal in a neutral space. Still, he warns, beware : Jabba's men know the ins and outs of that place and do not expect being able to easily escape him from there...
(What do you want to do, the night before the meeting ? You have, like, 6-7 hours left.)
Tal spins in the co-pilots chair and lets out a bemused “Heh. Well, believe it or not, I think we do have something going for us.” He points up to the sky. “Zorn. Now hear me out. From what I know of the guy, he doesn’t seem the type to be on Jabba’s payroll. With his Flying Wedges orbiting, Ol’ Jabba may want to keep things civil. I still think we should log a flight path to Chandrilla and put this dustball in our ion trail, though.”
At the moment he says that, a patrol of 5 TIE Fighters zoom by above the YT and disappear.
After hearing the iconic TIE sound effects pass right by our transport, Toa just mutters, "I'm not sure those are for us. If you feel the ship shake, we're in trouble."
"So..... off to [air quotes] 'Chandrilla'?"
"Definitely not for us. Wish I had a T-65,' though."
Tal turns on the METSP to see if the Empire has grounded flights out of Mos Eisley.
No. Flights are not grounded. Still, there is a nice quantity of imperial vessels above it. It's probably not the whole fleet of an admiral but you get that there is the main one : an Executor class star dreadnought with escort destroyers (including two Interdictors) and a collection of smaller crafts. "Zorn's here", mumbles the Senator, seeing that. "Showing off, like all the imperial puppets..."
You finally arrive at the Karien chasm, from the map you got. For a small while,n you were above a flat desert and now you see it, a deep chasm like a godlike blade had cut into the ground. There is a space where it's large enough to pass the YT without going sideway. You see several guards on the lips of that entrance with what seem to be heavy blaster artillery.
As you slow down to a stop at the bottom (about 200m down), you can see that chasm has stairways and apertures in the sides. It must have been digged by troglodytes long ago.
At the bottom, the welcome commitee, the hodge podge of the smuggler king : bounty hunters, merchants, several guards with their boar face, but also members of his "court" : dancers, musicians, etc. And, on a platform, surrounded by guards, the huge green slug of jabba itself.
You also recognize as you get out of the ship the serpent headed guy that had talked to you the day before. He is waiting with a few guards to welcome you to Jabba's court.
((Any last action before the meeting with Jabba ?))
((Toa : Just a kung-fu montage with some '80s sounding drums.))
Tal says a little prayer to the Wroonrian goddess of fortune under his breath and decides not to pack a blaster.
The serpent-headed counselor welcomes you and tell you to follow them. He guides you toward Jabba, on his gilded couch. He sees you and laughs.
The serpent-headed servant looks at him then turns to you : "Hiss ssserene ssplendor hopess that you will show yourssselves more reasonable and pay the debt of your late friend. The ssssum isss payable immediately and breakss down thuss :
- - for the detonatorsss fabricated on ssspecs, 100 000 creds;
- - for the lossst livess : 200 000 creds;
- - for the inssssuferable business losssss sssufered by my Massster : 200 000 creds."
They look at you... ((what do you say/do ?))
While still on board, Tal talks to his teammates. “Toa, Syra, Boss, let’s have a quick huddle.
“First, we’re well and truly frelled. Now that’s out of the way, let’s have a quick think.
“I think Toa and I should go out an meet Jabba. Flygirl, you should stay at the ready to evac if things go more belly up than they already are. Boss? Would you man the turret? If Toa and I aren’t back in ten minutes, fire a salvo into the air. Hopefully that will draw that TIE squadron and make these womp rats scatter.”
Syra : "I'll stay in the cockpit, sure."
Toa : "I got the memo, half a mill is a lot of dough."
"We wish to plead our case to the Mighty Jabba himself," Tal tells the literal snake.
« If you wisssh to tell you agree to the termss directly with Jabba the magnifisssent, I shall not interfere. » he takes a step back and open the way to were the giant slug lies. There is still a barrier of bounty hunters. At his side, one of them bears kind of knight’s helmet and has the hand on the grip of his blaster, calm but menacing. A Twilek’s on the other side and talks to Jabba’s ... ear(?)
Then the Twilek turns to you. « The Mighty Jabba will hear you plea. Proceed. »
Tal nods in acknowledgement and approaches the infamous gang lord, well aware of the nest of vipers he’s in. He does a respectful bow and then takes a clearing breath.
“Thank you, Illustrious Jabba, for granting us an audience with your magnificence. We are but humble, unbonded, discreet, third party couriers and gentle beings of fortune.
“We were simply contracted to move an item from Tatooine to its destination and did not wish to incur your attention nor wrath. As you, yourself, subcontract with those of our low standing, your Mightiness knows of the inherent risks, however small, of such unbonded couriers.
“We regret the loss of your men. However our actions were solely in the purview of our contract. But, Great One, we are third party contractors. We did not commission the device, nor are we privy to its intended planning or use. Simply delivery beings. If your magnificence wishes the return of the device, we will gladly comply.”
(Toa thinking: "Just a shame we can't wring a few necks and call it a day.")
(Tal thinks: “Just keep talking until the Senator fires the cannons.”)
(While talking Tal takes stock of the surroundings: Who’s armed (everyone) but, more importantly, who presents an immediate problem besides the Bounty Hunter behind Jabba. Also if there are any speeders or exits from his current frelled position. ((I’d like to roll a Search)))
So, yes everyone is armed. As you approach, you feel the invisible shield, with a low tune buzz of energy, around Jabba's couch. He's not stupid. There are a handful of speederbikes with their pilots idly sitting by them.
After being translated your words, Jabba talks his Hutt language, which the T'wilek behind him translates once the laugh of Jabba recedes. "His highness Jabba tells that the detonators are now in your hands. The payment was supposed to be on delivery, which hasn't been. He stands by the requested sum. As the only contact with the Great Jabba, you are hereby considered the contractors and bearers of the debt." Jabba looks at you with a direct stare that intents to drive the point home.
You can see the huge cables that power up the shield generator on the couch coming from a room in the mountain. It must have been a very very expensive gadget. Maybe repurposed from a small starfighter, or a portable shield...
Exits are along the chasm or by the sky (via the YT). Lots of the people around Jabba are small fishes bounty hunters. The guy with the weird helmet and the jetpack looks like he really know his stuff, though.
To Syra : the Senator asks if you can be able to fire up the engines and fly (from 0 to lift off) in a very, very, short time."We are to go to Taypho and help the rebels there. This suitcase is their stuff, so we shall deliver it. I won't let that giant spiteful slug prevent me from delivering." you hear in the comms. ((the senator happens to speak Hutt))
"I'm ready when you say go, boss."
Tal fights back a scowl at hearing Jabba’s words. “....The Great and Mighty Jabba is known far and wide for his fairness. The sum is the sum, but may this humble now agent of his magnificence request some time to gather the demanded credits? I respectfully doubt that even your Illustriousness carries such a sum on his person.” Tal also thinks that the first thing he will do is go over every square millimeter of that heap of a 1300 looking for a tracking device if he gets back to it.
"His Serene Magnanimity Jabba will accept to provide for time to get the sum - with an interest rate of 17% - to the condition that one of your stays in the fortress or, at least, a solid proof you will pay. The time passed by the hostage as a slave worker will be, of course, be deductible from the total, as Jabba is known for His generosity"
The senator says to Syra : "I will give you the signal to open the door and get near the other so we fly out of this trap. Tell you the truth, I have an unsettled debt with Jabba, that's why I did not get out."
"I was not eager to see the bastard either. Just give the word."
Munches on his cancer stick. "Won't be a word, but get ready."
You see on the screens energy being tapped by the heavy blaster capacitors...
"Open me a mic to the exterior, in case I need to talk to Tal & Toa. Or to say Jabba to go salt himself."
Tal’s mind is racing... Solid proof... Solid proof.... he focuses on the Hutt’s portable shield unit.. “I see Mighty Jabba wisely values his safety. However the CEC Mark I transport shielding is loud, and very power hungry. If I may say, Mighty Jabba, that right now, even the most blind Imperial Sensor Operator can see your presence. As proof of payment, and as an act of good will, may this humble starship mechanic bring you a more efficient generator for your personal use?”
“Even this will take some time, however. At present I can only attempt to modify the existing equipment.”
“Of course, if Mighty Jabba permits, this for kind arrangement will count toward our debt.”
All the while Tal is thinking “Any time now, Flygirl....”
He looks intrigued at his couch talks and makes a gesture. One of the Speederbikes pilot comes up and send you a toolbox right that you get into your hands. "The Mighty Jabba has agreed to you working on his shield generator. This man will keep an eye on you. Fett ?" The bounty hunter with the helmet nods and walks you towards the generator...
"I feel like this is about to hit the fan", Bronasi says to Syra on the comms.
To Tal : you are in front of the generator. You can still see the YT. Fett is by your side. Toa is still in front of Jabba, they are both looking at you.
Tal will keep his word and attempt to modulate the power draw on the shield. First he checks what it’s set to, knowing full well that the bounty hunter would happily blow his head clean off if Tal twitches wrong. “Mighty Jabba, for your safety I must take the shield off line during the recalibration.” Tal looks to the stoic Fett, “Last thing we’d want is for your employer to get fried by a power surge.”
“Mighty Jabba...this may take a moment. May I suggest you allow one of your dancers to entertain you and your men?” ((Here’s my plan. Tal rolls Space Transports Repair to sabotage the shield emitters and turn them into ad hoc Flash Bang Stun Grenades. During the confusion, he will move behind Fett and use Jet Pack Ops to activate Fett’s jet pack and shoot him out of the combat zone. Lastly he will Dodge toward the ship. The only question is that 1 round where all skills will be doubled or 2 where the Jet Pack Ops and the Dodge will be?)) ((I’m assuming that because Boba was ordered to watch Tal, he’s within 5m of our blue skinned mechanic.))
((You can do it in one round it’s just multi action. It IS Star Wars))
At the first sign of trouble, the Senator shoots towards Jabba and shouts to Syra « Here ´s your signal ! FLY ! »
So, there is a huuuge flash in the chasm, with a defeaning bang. There is a weird few seconds when nothing happens but suddenly the heavy blaster of the YT shoots in the chasms wall above Jabba’s troop, provoking rubble and boulders to fall down on the smugglers.
The YT gets immediately in the sky and, a few feet above ground, forced people to jump aside while going to fetch Toa & Tal.
Tal dodges the blaster shot of Bobba Fett, who was surprised by the explosion and manages to launch him in the sky, bumping in the chasm ceiling.
Toa puts his knee in the jewels of a smuggler, who folds in two. He uses him as a springboard to jump to the access ramp of the YT. He manages to grip the ramp with his hands but not gettting inside.
Syra manages to create a sand cloud by using the reactor of the YT but just enough so the people down can’t use their hand weapons.
Tal runs to the YT too.
In the tumult, Jabba cries orders. You see a big shadow coming above the chasm from behind Jabba... probably one of his ships !
« Get Toa & Tal inside, we need to go ! » cries the senator.
Tal Full Dodges his way to the YT
Once inside Tal either takes the co-pilot’s spot to man sensors and shields. He hopes to The Maker that this thing has shields....
Syra: « Is everybody on board? We've got incoming! »
That enough to get up and out the chasm while Tal manages jumping on the ramp. Toa still dangling by his fingers though.You go up the chasm, hear the whirring of the speeders at the bottom. They’re going to follow you by ground.
Heavy blaster battery got your bottom and exploded the YT heavy blasters.
So Tal lifts Toa at the right time. You tumble inside while Syra closes the ramp
When you out the chasm, you see a smuggler’s corvette that came on Jabba’s call
So to summarize : you got a corvette on the tail from above and speederbikes from the bottom.
The senator was in that blaster station.
Tal runs to the co-pilots seat. «Toa!Check on the boss!" As he almost leaps into his station he pats Syra on the shoulder. "Just keep us in the air, Flygirl. Show us what ya got!" Then he does the only thing he can do... Hit the Comms to try to get the attention of the flight of TIEs. ((Can I roll a Communications to see if I know any Imp frequencies? If not, I'm just going to blast a general distress))
"To any ship that can help! The Golden Pile is under attack by pirates! Guns down, shields down! Send assistance!" He turns to Syra and shrugs at the name he just gave the ship.
Thing is. There are TIE around. They do answer the call.
But you will have to stand at least a few turns before the (dark evil) cavalry to come.
"Thank the Maker I got the vector jets boosted."
Syra will try to climb upwards, faster than the corvette can keep up, while doing her best to keep out of the angle of their guns.
Tal, maybe you can obtain a bit more oomph for this one round. Make an engineering roll to give a temp bonus to Syra
Syra : You push the engine speed up to eleven and to your great surprise, nothing explodes. You have weird noises and several secondary circuits cease functioning but you manage to put distance between you and the corvette. The landsluggers are left useless, so far away below.distance and your tumblings, you manage to get through. Some fire glance on the hull.
One hit gets in though.
Tal wants a Sensor Sweep of the Covette. I want to know what it's armed with to see if there are any blind spots in its fire arcs we can slip into.
"Sithspit!" Syra mutters. "Stupid flying crate!"
Multiple action: A quick kick to the controls to get them reset and a sensor sweep to see what we're up against.
Controls get repaired !
Model unknown. You pretty sure you saw that two triangles design somewhere. You know it has a tractor beam.
And a few turbolaser cannons
Also, your stomach might want to get out of your body, with all that spinning but you are ok.
Syra I'm still climbing and dodging, perhaps a corkscrew to do both at once.
Ok. Second round ! Roll your pilotings Aaaaaand the TIE Fighters too! They’re entering the dance.
Syra : corkscrew climbing
You made it !
"Woohooo! Shall we get out of this sandball of a planet?"
As soon as the TIE enter the game, the corvette breaks the combat and concentrate on escaping.
The last laser cannon shots pass you by a parsec.
"Start prepping for the micro jump. I'm gonna go check on Toa and the Boss."
You find Toa kneeling in front of the body of the senator. He turns to you : « he is alive but barely. He is gonna need a bacta tank if we want him to survive »
You can keep him alive until you arrive on Taypho.
We will close Episode 1 on that note
You got saved by Zorn’s TIE fighters, escaped Jabba’s thugs, retrieved a weird suitcase...
You all get your Force Points back.
You all get one FP
Also, 8 CPs seem to be a good load. Let’s make that 10