Atrivis Sector

[Trax]

OOC: Got nothing to add for Trax.  Michelle, whenever you're ready go ahead.

[Nim Naja]

Nim expressionlessly looked back at the shuttle but inside she was certainly having thoughts that the storm was some sort of foretelling that this mountain might end up their tomb in a few hours.

She nodded to the younger man and smiled to Cleagre as they moved inside. "I don't mind. It seems to be a theme here on Fest, and a much welcome one. So how many do you have out here?"

OOC: So I haven't forgotten about Maris, but she hasn't been seen or heard since the medbay at the other base. Is that oversight or should I be concerned?

[GM Craig]

[OOC: Maris has been around, though I haven't mentioned her explicitly. She did vanish as you guys were coming in for a landing. You haven't seen her since.]

Lt. Cleagre leads you into a covered passage. The transparisteel cover gives you a bird's eye view of the settlement as you proceed towards the mountain. Several large smoke stacks, likely part of the smelters that operated here, dominate the skyline, though the smelters are apparently not working, as no smoke is visible.

As you walk, Cleagre continues the discussion. "Hmm? How many? Well, I guess there'd be a little over fifteen hundred of us left that can fight, and twice that many others. We lived here with our families, not just workers. When the uprising started, about half the population joined in."

You reach another building, apparently perched on the side of the mountain. Cleagre hits a button and in a few moments the doors of a lift open. He steps inside.

"So, how many other planets are up in arms? We figured we weren't the only ones, but with the Empire controlling broadcasts, it's hard to get news from off-planet."

[Nim Naja]

"Openly? About 30, give or take." She neglected to mention half were actually hopeful.

Nim stepped into the lift, and although the scene outside was quite breathtaking of the landscape, she couldn't really say she was all that fond of snowy mountains anymore.

[Trax]

Trax followed Nim onto the lift.

"And as news of what you were able to do spreads, that number will grow.  As much as the broadcast inspired you to fight back, news of your success will inspire others even more."

[GM Craig]

Cleagre whistles as the lift continues to rise. You have an amazing view of the valley through the transparisteel walls of the lift tube, broken every second or so by non-transparent reinforcements that whip past as the lift flies past. The view is amazing, but much of it is shrouded in thick snow, so you only see twinkling lights out in the distance. But the closer buildings are still visible, and the rocky sides of the valley loom in the white shroud.

"We figured lots of folks were sick and tired, but we never imagined it would be so many."

The lift comes to a stop and the doors open. Two armed guards stand outside the lift, alert, but their weapons are not raised. They nod to Cleagre. "Sir. The Commander is in the command room."

Cleagre nods, and sweeps his arm to usher you two ahead.

He takes you down a short corridor, and through a large, open blast door to a large room. In the Imperial style, there is a central walkway with pits to either side full of consoles, and a large open area for the base commander to feel imperious. You see a middle-aged woman standing there, speaking to several other folks dressed much as Cleagre is. When she sees you she stops speaking and looks up. Everyone around her turns to look at the two of you.

Cleagre says, "Ma'am, the Rebel Envoy, Agent Naja."

The group of them quickly break into applause. The woman in the centre, a large smile on her face, steps forward with a hand out.

"Agent Naja. Rhia Linki. The folks here call me commander, but I was a foreman before all this broke out. Thank you for that broadcast - it gave is the push we needed to take the station."

[Nim Naja]

Nim spoke as she too walked forward and strongly grasped the woman's hand. "Foreman in a facility this large is nothing to scoff at. So please, call me Nim. Besides, only Trax here has to call me Agent, 'cause I have permission to kick him out of the shuttle at 30k feet. He knows it's no bluff because I've done it."

She gave him a wry smirk and turned back. "Congratulations are certainly in order on your part for your victory. I'm happy to see the message had its intended effect."

[GM Craig]

She smiles with a nervous laugh. "Tell you the truth, we were afraid at first that we were the only ones in the galaxy. But we heard the other factions on the planet had their successes as well. Are there other planets in revolt?"

[Nim Naja]

"Oh yes. At least thirty are openly revolting. News of your success has inspired many."

[GM Craig]

She draws a breath. "Not sure I'd call it a success yet. We beat them in a surprise attack, sure, but holding Fest is a whole other matter."

[Nim Naja]

Her demeanor fell to a quiet seriousness, her ruby lips forming a thin line.

"Yes. Yes it is a whole other matter."

Nim gave Trax a sideways look that read she wasn't thrilled at killing their mood so karking soon.

"Good.You understand that undertaking. A little more than the other factions did." She peered at all of the eyes around the room centered on her. "Commander, I need to speak frankly. Up to you whom should hear."

[GM Craig]

She looks around the room. "Give us a moment alone?" There's a few reluctant looks, but eventually everyone files out of the room.

As he leaves, Rhia calls out, "Cleagre! Close that door, would you?"

The inner door slides shut, and Rhia Linki turns to you.

"Ok, Agent Naja, cards on the table. There's still a station in orbit in Imperial hands, and I doubt the anyone has cracked that bunker. We're a major raw materials provider for the Empire. Now maybe the Rebellion sent you out here just to say hi, but that seems a long way to come. So what's going on?"

[Nim Naja]

Nim didn’t ask, but kark if she didn’t want to wince at the lack of Rhia’s trust of anyone of that group.

“Congratulate everyone was on the list. But mostly we came here with word of an invasion of one of these nearby planets in the not so distant future, and started talking to the factions to unite everyone for when the time comes. But soon after arrival we found out that timetable had jumped significantly. Instead of near-future, it is more like,” she checked her chrono, “..in the next hour.”

[GM Craig]

She frowns and sighs. "Well, shit."

She turns and walks to the windows overlooking the valley.

"You've been to the other militias? Which ones, and what did they say?"

[Nim Naja]

"Both of them. Enric and (insert name). We brought two small shield generators, which we donated regardless of whether they joined the Alliance, and they are moving their people to them as we speak. They agreed to share supplies and manpower with all the factions. The miners didn't fare very well and frankly are still recovering but they are getting ready. Enric's is in a much better position so they're helping them get set up. If you join them the survival chance of Fest goes up tremendously. And, sadly I know how much it sounds like an ultimatum at the 11th hour, but if you also agree to join the Alliance we will send supplies, weapons, manpower. But because the timetable jumped, we would have to hold out for a few weeks."

"But again, that assumes the Imps decide to stay. I absolutely cannot predict where they will go after resupplying. But if your resources are valuable enough, and the shields are enough deterrent, if they do stay I think it will be a full on ground invasion rather than bombardment. And if they hit another planet instead, it is likely just a matter of time before they come back."