Karvis
The Rebel Alliance => The Kota Militia => Topic started by: GM Craig on December 19, 2017, 01:14:28 PM
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Your days become long and difficult. There are a bunch of new recruits who spend several hours each day doing physical training. You are put in with them. Then, when the recruits are giving a few hours off to rest, you are put to work doing manual labour - physical labour like unloading supplies, reorganizing cargo bays, and the like - the sort of things droids would normally do. Then, you run a few patrols in starfighters or other training tasks. Near as you can figure, you are three times as busy as anyone else in the base, with the possible exception of the commander and the general. You see them both at all hours, so however hard you are working, it seems your senior leadership does not take breaks either.
As a result, your sleep cycles are much shorter. You are lucky if you get six hours a night, and you fall immediately to sleep when you hit the pillow. We week or two in, you've both become quite adept at cat naps, snatching a few moments of shut eye while waiting for instructors or during (brief) meal breaks. But the physical training is making you both lean and firming muscles you haven't used much recently. [OOC: You have the opportunity to buy a stat pip in Strength at a future date, as well as pips in Climbing/Jumping, Lifting and Stamina.]
At the end of two weeks, you hear your names called over the intercom. "Recruits Spaar and Rostierne to the command centre immediately."
Wondering what you may have done wrong now, the two of you set down the boxes you were carrying, and head to the command centre. As you enter (you have to be passed in - your security does not allow you independent access), there is a heated discussion going on. General Kota, Captain Eclipse and Commander Jann are arguing with a glowing blue translucent image hovering over the centre console. You cannot hear what they are saying, and General Kota ends the communication before you arrive. The image was of Mon Mothma.
The General sighs heavily, and turns to the two of you. He does not look happy, but if does not appear as if his ire is directed at you specifically.
"Rebels on Chabosh managed to overthrow the governor, but a full Imperial ground assault put down the rebellion. It was a massacre. Survivors have gone into hiding. We have been tasked with a mercy mission to bring medical supplies to the survivors, and evacuate as many of the worst wounded as we can. Captain Eclipse will be in command of the task force. You are to support her. Questions." From his tone, it is obvious he does not expect any. Regardless, before you can respond, he says, "Your ship leaves in fifteen minutes." He then turns away to the console, obviously dismissing you.
You're going to be hard pressed to pack and make it to the landing bay in fifteen minutes. Just travel time from here to your quarters and then the docking bay would take 10 minutes, at a brisk walk.
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"Time to run," Collan noted to Niil and took off. A list of item popped off in his head: blaster, change of clothes, medpacs, training saber, blaster power packs, a couple of grenades and stun grenades, armor. He also made a note to keep a go-bag ready at all times.
[stamina roll to have 10 minutes changes and packing time]
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Niil was already sprinting by the time Collan said "to". "See you at the shuttle. If you have' 'nocs, grab 'em," he called out to Collan as he veered off to his quarters to grab his gear.
(OOC: Stamina roll if needed to get to the shuttle with time to spare. I have no idea of what the militia kitted us out with, but Niil had his blast vest taken at the Death Star, and he gave his macro-binoculars to Zenia. So: Imperial blaster rifle, heavy blaster pistol, maybe 6 blaster power packs, a change of clothes, a recording rod and a datapad. As the Ysanna advised us to keep our Adegan crystals close to our bodies at all times, I'll bring that as well.)
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[ooc: Collan is weating his crystal...and will grab macross]
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The two of you break into a run through the asteroid base, dodging other members of the militia, and reach your quarters. A quick pack later, and almost in unison you emerge from your quarters and run for the docking bay.
By the time you get there, it seems everyone else was either faster or had more warning - you appear to be the last ones to arrive. Several ships and four fighters appear to be preparing for launch. You are impatiently waved towards the docked corvette, and scramble up the boarding ramp. As you enter, the hatch closes and moments later the ship takes off.
Inside, things are fairly chaotic, with people moving everywhere, and supplies are literally stacked in corridors, making the whole ship overcrowded. Given the apparent chaos, it seems you were not the only ones to get short notice for this mission.
About a minute later, the manoeuvre warning sounds throughout the ship, and you make the jump to hyperspace.
In the next thirty minutes, much of the chaos calms down, and the two of you are assigned "quarters." Your quarters are two footlockers and hooks to hang a hammock in a side corridor outside the engineering compartment. You are told to make yourselves scarce until called for. Rest is difficult - every few minutes the ship intercom calls out for someone to report somewhere, and there is a lot of activity in the main corridor next to your sleeping space.
Twelve boring hours later, tired and hungry, you hear your names over the intercom.
"Recruits Spaar and Rostierne, report to cargo bay 2, with gear."
You make your way through the busy ship to the indicated cargo bay. This would be the big one, a little forward from Engineering. You worm your way through the corridors - activity on the ship has definitely picked up - and slip through the open door.
A lieutenant you do not recognize is giving a briefing to a squad of men. You recognize a couple of heavy troopers among the platoon.
"... secure the area. And cover those..." The lieutenant spots you both. "Ah, there you are." The Lieutenant turns to one of the troopers. "Sergeant, get the platoon deployed. I'll brief our auxiliaries."
The sergeant nods. "Yes sir." Turning to the platoon, the sergeant says, "You heard him, you apes! Gear up, and move!" The soldiers shoulder their combat packs and weapons and make for a nearby shuttle.
The lieutenant turns to you. "You are accompanying my platoon. We'll be focused on securing the perimeter. Your job will be to support the medics, help triage the wounded, and assist any evacuations. You'll bring weapons and gear, but you shouldn't need them. Any questions?"
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Collan thought for a moment, “How many casualties are we expecting, sir? And what kind of Imperial interference can we reasonably expect?”
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He shakes his head. "We have no intelligence. We're a recon force, scoping things out so the task forces know what they are getting in to. We're expecting casualties, and maybe some resistance. Based on what we find, Captain Eclipse will plan the rest of the rescue."
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“What kind of LZ are we looking at? And how are we being dropped in?”
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"Shuttle. The squad will deploy with jetpacks, secure the area, and when it is clear you and the medics will land. We're going into an older facility that we think the rebels would have used to retreat to. We're hoping to find survivors."
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Collan heard ‘older facility’ as ‘death trap’ and made a personal note to learn how to run a jet pack.
“Odds sound good that Empire will be hot on their trail and likely know where they retreated to, sir. If I can speak freely, I would recommend treating this as a trap.”
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He gives you a lopsided smile.
"Of course this could be a trap. Why do you think we're only sending in one platoon? That's who whole point of this. If it's a trap, we're the ones to trip it and get caught. Then Captain Eclipse can do something else."
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Niil grinned at the lieutenant's matter-of-fact response to Collan. "Understood, sir."
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Collan nodded, “Also understood.”
Jedi skills were going to come in handy it seemed.
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You load into the shuttle. It's a little crowded, and you are moved to the front of the shuttle by the press of people, trying to find seats with harnesses among crates of medical supplies, medical droids, and medics. Within a minute, you are off.
Collan is in the interior of the shuttle with no view, but Niil ends up with a small porthole to see out of, and spots two Y-wing flying cover for the shuttle. Behind you, the other ships of the task force are spread out behind the corvette.
You have a few minutes before a course change brings the planet into view. You are already quite close, and only glimpse it for a few moments before the re-entry turbulence kicks in. In short order, it feels like your stomach is trying to break out of your throat. An alarm blares, and an overhead light goes yellow and the rear doors open. The troopers make a last check of their gear. This goes on for a couple of minutes before you are slammed hard into your seats as the shuttle flares and slows. It feels like moments later, there is an alarm of a different tone, and the light goes green. In moments the entire squad pours out of the shuttle into the open air beyond.
One of the officers from the shuttle flight crew comes back from the cockpit.
"Team two, stand by. We've got hostiles inbound. If we can get in to the landing zone, we won't be able to stay. Watch the signals, you'll need to unload fast."
The medics look a little nervous, and one of them wearing a Lieutenant's rank nods. The flight officer heads back to the cockpit.
The ship makes several violent manoeuvres, playing havoc with your stomachs. You hear one concussion, then a second, closer one. The shuttle shudders, and you hear a handful of gravel had been thrown at the hull. A third concussion, and the shuttle must have dropped a hundred feet. Loose gear and debris rise into the air. it is several seconds before the pilot can get control. You start to hear a disconcerting whine coming from the main engines. Another concussion throws you down into your seats for a moment, then you feel weightless. The engine sounds fade completely, and the ship starts to roll to the right. Looking out the porthole, Niil can see earth, rotating to sky, and back to earth as the ship starts to trace a corkscrew course towards the planet.
"Brace for impact!" is called over the intercom. You hear a couple of screams from the medics, as everyone assumes the crash position. The rotation of the craft increases, and the G-forces make it difficult to continue to brace yourself. Repulsors whine, pushed far beyond their capacity, as the ground rushes up to meet you. There is a cacophonous crash, and the shuttle bucks like something alive. With the screech of tortured metal, you watch in horror as a crack opens up in the deckhead above you. You see daylight out through it. A moment later, the entire rear section of the shuttle shears off, taking two screaming medics with it. The wind howls through the open fuselage, and the air is sucked from your lungs. There is another crash and you see rocks and trees fly past the now open rear of the shuttle, and the whole ship starts spinning rapidly. Then, the world goes black.
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Collan is the first to awaken. He feels like he's been put through a dough press - every centimetre of his skin hurts. He is having a hard time breathing, as each attempted breath brings a stabbing pain - it was that pain that woke him up. His vision is blurry, but he can make out blue sky, sparks and bodies around him. Some of them are groaning, others are still. The smell of smoke is thick in the air. He can't seem to make his left arm move, but his right seems to be functioning. He wipes at his eyes, which helps, but his hand comes away crimson. Looking down (painful) he can see he is still secured by the harness. His arm did not respond because it appears to be pinned under a crate of medical supplies that broke loose from it's mooring.
You can hear sobbing and groans, so at least come of the others are still alive.
[Actions?]
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Collan quickly cataloged potential injuries: bruised rins at a minimum...cut in the forehead...possible concussion...pinned hand. First things first: harness off. Crate off him. He needed to know how bad he was off.
[unbuckle...get crate off me. Scan myself for any damage]
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You manage to work the release, and are freed from the restraint. You can feel the burn of ligatures wounds under your shirt where the harness had dug into your skin, but that is minor compared to everything else you feel. You are able to move not too badly, so your ribs must be intact, but the stab of pain every time you breathe is concerning.
Twisting on your side, you manage to find purchase on the crate and lift it enough to slide your arm out. Almost immediately the sensation of pins and needles starts to spread down from your shoulder. It is currently uncontrollable while the feeling returns, but it seems intact.
You are injured (wounded twice), but a self-check reveals nothing obviously life-threatening. The cut to your head appears to be relatively shallow. The stab when you breathe could mean internal injuries, pulled ligaments, or cracked ribs, but you can't really tell that without some sort of diagnostic.
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Collan slowed his breathing and began to focus. Calm. Peace. The Force and the balance. He sought harmony in himself and in the universe around him. Though also prepared himself for the death and destruction he might feel as well. He focused his mind on the Force and himself. Let the pain flow through him and around him. It was nothing against the Force.
[ip to 3 cps to activate Control Pain]
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The Force fills Collan with soothing cool, and the fires of his pain fade. He also gains full use of his still numb arm. [OOC: No CP required.]
Getting up and looking around, it is a little gloomy, but light spills in from outside. You appear to still be in the forward part of the shuttle. Beside you, there are bloody remains, mostly obscured by a container that broke loose. On your other side is the body of a medic. A quick check reveals she is breathing, but unconscious. With no obvious life-threatening injuries, you move to the door to the cockpit. The door has been badly damaged, and when you force it open a crack, only twisted metal is visible. It seems at some point the cockpit was crushed against the rest of the hull. You can only hope the flight crew ejected before that happened.
Moving aft, you find Niil. His seat had broken loose and he was thrown from the harness. He on his stomach, pinned against the bulkhead, his lower torso and legs under a pile of containers. Beside him, partially shielded by his arm, lies a moaning medic. The medic is semi-conscious, and does not seem aware of you. Niil's vitals and strong, but he has a head wound so a possible concussion.
Moving farther back, you find three more bodies - the lieutenant, and two more medics. They are beyond saving. But you do find a female medic, awake and alert. However, her left lef is missing from just above the knee. She is very pale, and is likely in shock. Blood pools on the deck around her. She smiles weakly. You glance down, and she has made a crude tourniquet out of her seat harness. "Could... could you find a medkit maybe? The smaller crates all held medkits, hopefully some of them survived."
You note she also has a piece of metal protruding from her left side, though you cannot tell if it is from shrapnel or a puncture from the rear. It does not look to be bleeding too badly.
A quick glance reveals no other survivors. It looks like you, three medics, and Niil are the only ones still breathing.
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Collan said, "Hang on then," and went to look for medpacs. She was clearly the worst of the lot. He made a mental note to see if the lieutenant has any briefing materials or comcodes or callsigns. One of them (probably one of the medics) was now the commander for this team. He and Niil were recruits so they weren't briefed; moreover, they'd received the mushroom treatment and been given little time to assemble anyways.
No...focus. Don't ruminate; concentrate on the task at hand. Collan looked for medpacs as quickly as possible. He would need to get Niil and the other two medics treatment soon to get them moving. And where was his go-bag?
[Find at least one medpac to use on the wounded medic; treat her; up to 3 CPs if needed to get her stabilized]
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You track down a not-too-damaged case of medkits, and break one open. The medkit diagnostic scanner confirms the metal is protruding from rear entry (it looks like the frame of the chair she is in), and has caused internal injuries to her liver, kidney and lung, but that can wait. You seal the wound on her amputated leg, and give her some blood replacements from the medkit to stabilize her, and analgesics for the pain. Getting her off the chair is going to be tricky, but she seems stable for now.
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"Your stable for now," Collan informed her, "But we're going to need to get that metal out of you soon. I've given you something for the pain in the meantime. I'm Collan by the way. You are?"
Once introductions are made, Collan let her know, "Hate to hit you with a lot of info and questions but we have little time. Here's the sitrep: The LT is dead. The other recruit, my friend Niil, and two other medics are unconscious but appear to have no injuries. Who has chain of command? We're going to have to move soon with as many supplies as possible. And we'll need the callsigns and rendevous points. I wasn't briefed on any of that."
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[OOC: Her name is Trina.]
"The assault boys had all that. The LT and the Sergeant has a briefing, but the LT is gone, and the sergeant was in the aft section of the shuttle. The LT should have a datapad on him. We should be able to get details form that, if it survived."
Trina catches Collan's eye. "How bad am I, really? I don't... I don't feel good."
[About this time, Niil Spaar starts to come to. He can't feel his legs, and has a splitting headache. Some large crate is on top of him.]
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“Not good Trina. Internal damage to liver, a kidney, and a lung. Not to mention too much durasteel in your blood stream,” he hoped a little humor would lighten her mood and let her know it was nothing to worry about yet.
“You’re stable now and that’s what matters. Moving you is going to be a problem in a bit but that’s later not now. We’ve got enough for a makeshift stretcher. How’s your pain? I want to manage that first and then get Niil and the others up and moving. I’m going to want another medic or two on this when we get that metal out of you.”
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"I'm fine. Can't feel much actually. Just cold and thirsty." She looks pretty pale, despite the blood replacements.
"Go see to the others."
You manage to get the crate off Niil. Other than a mild concussion and various contusions and abrasions, Niil seems to be in fair health. You get the other two medics up as well. As you are putting a bandage on the forearm of the last one, you all hear a deep thud, like something striking the earth. It is distant, and felt more than heard. Then, you feel another one, closer. And a third.
[Actions?]
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“Oh frak,” Collan muttered, “That’s gotta be walkers. Everyone move! Grab what supplies you can!”
He pointed to one medic, “ Search the LT for a datapad. We have to grab it. It’s got intel on it.”
He ran to Trina, “Alright Trina. I don’t time to gentle. I’m going to cut the bar and we’re going to take you with us with it in you. It will hurt like hell.”
[ooc: direct niil and a medic to grab medstuff, another to sesrch the LT, grab the datapad and whatever else she can. Free Trina. Stretcher if we can make it.]
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Collan added, “Three thuds probably means we’re encircled. Possible troop deployment as well.”
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Niil nodded, and promptly threw up from the vertigo that danced a jig inside his head. Spitting in disgust, he slung his blaster rifle over his shoulder and started collecting as many medical supplies as he could carry. "Yeah, walkers, but they're probably still out of range, otherwise they'd blast the shuttle. Collan, tell me what we need to treat Trina, and I'll keep an eye out for it." He snagged a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, and said, "Here, Collan!" He lobbed it at his friend. "Dump it over the bar and the wound first."
OOC: Collecting as much medical gear as I can, including stuff that could help with Trina's particular injury. Also looking for a stretcher.
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You guys grab as much as you can carry, which is not much. There's nothing immediately workable as a stretcher, but you can rig a tarp like a hammock between you and carry her that way.
The thuds get louder, and you can start to hear the whine of the motivators. If it is walkers, it's a small one, and the cadence suggests only one.
Collan uses the snips. Leaning Trina carefully forward, he tries to cut the seat frame. It takes a couple of tries, with her sobbing from the pain as she is jostled by the attempts, but after a few moments she is free, with a two-inch it of metal protruding from her back. You get her onto the tarp, and brace her as well as you can, and head for the opening in the hull. As you make your way, the thumping stops. an amplified voice calls out, "We know you are in there. Step out with your hands up."
[Actions?]
You guys have your jump bags and whatever weapons you brought with you. The medics are unarmed, but the LT had a pistol.
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[ooc: is there anywhere we can see out without them seeing us easily?]
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There are viewports. At least 2 of them have light coming in.
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Collan pulled a mirror from his bug-out bag and crawled under a window. He slowly raised the mirror, hoping to get a look at the situation outside the crashed shuttle. The Imperial response was a little too fast for his taste; he figured this group had backup...but where?
ooc: I guess this would be a sneak roll?
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You peek through the viewport using the mirror. You see a AT-ST walker standing over the shuttle, about thirty meters away. Beneath it, a squad (7) of Imperial Regulars are fanning out and approaching the shuttle.
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Collan backed away from the window.
“Sit rep. There’s at least one AT-ST and a squad of Imperial regulars moving in. Who’s armed?”
[ooc: how long do we have till the regulars reaxh the shuttle? This feels a little too Rogue One?]
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Niil muttered, "I've got a heavy blaster pistol and an Imperial blaster rifle." He looked at Collan. "Neither of which are going to matter much with that scout walker out there, unless we can coax it to point-blank range and get under its guns. I don't think this is a fight we can win. We might need to stall for time. Does anyone have a communicator?"
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Collan pointed to a medic, “Check the LT’s body for comm. get the datapad and his weapon too.”
He paused, “I’m thinking distraction time, everyone. We can’t win this battle. If you don’t have something to do right now, look for anotger exit or a place we can make one. Niil...I’m thinking we need a smoke screen. You,” he pointed to the other medic,” check aft. See if that vector is clear. I’ve got a couple ideas for distractions but we need a clear exit vector.”
To Niil, Collan said, “We need to get a lot of smoke and dust up. Some good explosions would do that. Downsize: it tells them we’re here. My next best idea uses the Force...remember the sandstorm? I can do that again. Downsize: dear old dad will almostly assuredly sense it. It’ll be the Inquisition down on us hard eventually. And that’s one I don’t think we can escape from.”
Ooc: Darren, it’s up to Niil to mention full cells. Or maybe we can make a fuel-air bomb...
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Niil shook his head as he checked his weapons. "They probably already know we're here. Let's resort to using the Force as a last option and go for conventional first. Starting a fire is good; lots of combust . . . hey! Does this shuttle have any fuel left? If we plan it right, we can create a lot of smoke to cover our escape, then when the cells ignite . . . whoomp." To the others he, muttered, "Pass me a comm if you find one . . . I'm gonna see if there's any fuel left."
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From the inside of the shuttle, it is hard to tell, but it looks like the entire engineering section and the drive core broke away while the shuttle was going down. There might be some emergency power cells in the forward section where you are, but there's no fuel as far as you can tell.
Neither of you are techies, so you'd be kind of guessing and hunting to find anything you might be able to jury-rig into an improvised explosive.
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You've recovered a datapad from the LT. He had a helmet comlink, but it's been fried.
The atmosphere it pretty dirty already - smoke from your crash is obscuring vision a little. If you had a suitable distraction, you could maybe slip some of your people away. Not a stretcher though.
The only things you could rig for explosives that come readily to hand are blaster packs.
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[ooc: what kind of cover is nearby?]
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There's quite a trench from the crash. The terrain father out appears to be rocky and scrubby, but no large cover within view.
The walker is standing on the edge of the impact trench your ship made. You might be able to destabilize the ground under it. It has gyros to keep it upright, but those have limits.
There are also view hatches the drivers use to see out of that are open. If you could land a shot or explosive through those, you may be able to remove the walker as an issue, but it would be a difficult shot / throw.
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“Niil...I’m not seeing much choice at this point. Trina can’t walk under her own power and we can’t sneak away carrying her. If nothing else, I can use my powers now and go into hibernation once we get somewhere safe.”
“Patch me up a little...it’ll make it less taxing to focus on what I need to do.”
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Niil nodded wordlessly, his mind already working on a plan that . . . if it worked! . . . would greatly reduce the odds against them. As he suspected, the shuttle didn't have a drive section left, so no fuel. And there wasn't anything volatile enough on board to bring that scout walker down in one burst. Still, the scout walkers have one vulnerability to small-arms fire. A very small vulnerability . . .
Getting the medpack open, he said softly, "Everyone, hunker down and away from the windows. I want one of you to soak some gauze in alcohol, and wrap it tight around a glass bottle filled with the same stuff. Sing out if any of you see any movement. We might be able to get out of this mess."
Setting his weapons down within grabbing distance, he started to tend to Collan's wounds. "Better tell me quick what you have planned," he whispered, "'cause this wreck's the only real cover we've got. If we try to leg it we're gonna get fried, and I'm not leaving anyone behind. If I have a few seconds and the right firing position, I might be able to get a shot through the viewport and take out one of them. Maybe both, I don't know."
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“Basically, I’m going to remove the dirt from under one of it legs. I’m going to have to reach deep to do it. Otherwise, there’s no way we get everyone out of here.”
“Remember the sand in the arena on Ossus? How it shifted and trapped those monsters? That was me.”
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Niil chuckled. "Do tell. Yeah , that trench that opened up out of nowhere was a bit of a giveaway. Tell you what . . . once I'm done here, let me try get into position for a shot at the pilot first. When you hear me say, "Go for it", tip that walker over."
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[ooc: so that’s the plan? If we can block their view, that woeks. Otherwise, Collan will do conc on tk with a fp]
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(OOC: Yup, double-shock. If Niil can get into a firing position where he can shoot at the walker's crew, he'll use a FP to try and shoot them - or at least one of them - and then call out for Collan to tip the tin can over. If he can't get a clear shot, he'll tell Collan to go for it and then maybe he'll have a clear shot. Also, I've asked one of the medics to create a Molotov cocktail. ;))
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[OOC: So what's the plan?]
One of the medics finds a volatile disinfectant, and does their best guess at rigging up something that might spread fire.
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[plan is as-above. Niil tries to crack and obscure the windows on the walker. I use my powers [FP on Concentration and TK] to scoop as much dirt from under one leg and make it fall if Niil can’t make it unusable. The medic needs to throw the molotov and make more smoke and fire to hide our escape]
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(OOC: Actually, Niil was going to use a FP and try to get a blaster shot - or more than one, depending on the DC - through one of the walker's open view hatches to hit one or more of its crew. Once Niil did that - or if Niil doesn't have a clear shot - then Collan would try to trip the walker over. Keeping the Molotov cocktail for a secondary attack against the walker's view hatches. If Niil does have a shot, he'll use whatever blaster gives him the best chance to hit depending on range. What would be the DC for either weapon? Niil's 7D+2 with the heavy blaster pistol, and 6D with the Imperial blaster rifle.)
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The least-injured medic, Niil and Collan stand next to the gaping whole at the rear of the craft. Given that Collan is planning on using concentration, Niil decides to go first, then Collan to try and up-end the walker. The medic will go last, to try and obscure your escape.
Niil takes a deep breath and centres himself, feeling the Force fill him. The same occurs for Collan. Both your senses become heightened, and time seems to slow down. In a flash, Niil bursts out of the aft end of the shuttle and draws a bead on the open viewports of the walker. He is aware of details he would normally miss - he can see the crew of the walker through the viewports - a gunner, a driver and a commander. Collan is close on Niil's heels.
Niil's heavy blaster pistol is already drawing a bead. The sightlines are not great, especially for the commander in the back. That will be the toughest shot. Drawing a bead on the first crewman, Niil's hand cannon roars, and his target is slammed back into the seat, his arms flailing limply at his sides.
Just behind him, Collan uses the Force to block out everything else, and focus his attention like a laser beam on nothing else but the Force between him and the impact trench underneath where the walker is standing. Colan is successful, blocking out everything else.
One of the Imperial troopers on the ground is alert, and swings his rifle at Niil. The rifle coughs, but Niil just ducks slightly, and the shot goes wide.
The medic comes up behind Niil and Collan and lobs the antiseptic bottle with a length of flaming bandage in it. It arcs through the air, but comes up a little short. The bottle breaks, and the volatile antiseptic inside bursts into flame. Several of the Imperials stagger back from the heat, but appear unharmed. it does obscure vision from the troops on the ground slightly.
Then the blaster cannon on the walker swivels and trains on the shuttle and fires. Twin blaster bolts strike the hull, causing a secondary explosion. Niil and Collan feel the heat of the blast, but manage to avoid any damage.
Another trooper fires at Niil, but the shot goes wide.
Niil, gritting his teeth, fires again at the walker cockpit, striking the gunner in the shoulder. He's still in the fight, but hurting.
The walker commander takes over the controls, and turns the walker to face Niil, Collan and the medic, as the concussion missile launcher levels at the three of you. You see the mechanism on the left side whir and a long cylinder emerges from an ammo bay and is loaded into the launcher, ready to fire.
At this moment, Collan extends his hands towards the walker and rapidly spreads his warms wide with a grasping motion. Immediately, a cloud of dirt and debris rise into the air, scattered by an invisible wind. A gouge has formed in the ground beneath one of the walker's feet. The walker is slightly off-balance from the turn, and the commander tries to right the walker, but it is unstable. The remaining group troops see the walker struggling to stay up, and they scatter away from it. One of them stops to take a potshot at Collan, but it is not even close.
Niil's eyes narrow as he draws a final bead on the walker. The hand-cannon coughs, and the blaster bolt clears the viewport, striking the commander square in the throat. He slams back, then slumps over the controls.
That is too much for the walker. The gyros whine as they struggle to compensate, but the walker is too unstable. The left foot slips to the right, knocking the right foot out as well, and the walker topples like a tree, landing square on the concussion missile launcher on the left side. Armed and ready to fire, the missile is crushed from the impact, setting off the explosive charge. The walker is shredded from the concussion, and the armoured body of the cockpit rips to shreds. Niil, Collan, and the medic duck and cover as shrapnel streaks through the air. You can hear it pinging off the shuttle hull and splatting into the ground around you. You also hear the screams at the Imperial troopers are shredded by the death throes of the walker. When you raise your heads up, only two of them are conscious, and they are sprawled on the ground moaning in agony.
[Actions?]
The other medics managed to evacuate the shuttle with your wounded teammate before the walker fired, making use of the confusion of the initial fighting to try and get clear.
| Name | Status |
| Niil Spaar | Wounded |
| Collan Rostiern | Wounded x2 |
| Imperial Regular #1 | deceased |
| Medic | Wounded x2 |
| Imperial Gunner | deceased |
| Imperial Regular #6 | incapacitated |
| Walker Commander | deceased |
| Imperial Regular #2 | deceased |
| Imperial Regular #3 | deceased |
| Imperial Regular #7 | deceased |
| Imperial Driver | deceased |
| Imperial Regular #4 | incapacitated |
| Imperial Regular #5 | deceased |
| AT-ST Walker | destroyed |
-
"We need comms and gear," Collan said to Niil, "We should see what we can appropriate. Plus...we need more weapons."
[ooc: strip the stormies of their gear as much as possible. If there's anything left in the walker, take a quick look. Collan will also do a once-over on the two incapacitated stormies. He will do a quick check to see if they are going to bleed to death and administer a quick painkiller if he can.]
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"On it." To the other medtechs, he motioned toward Trina and said, "Make sure Trina's secured as good as possible; we need to get out of here fast. Someone's bound to have seen that explosion, and there might be more missiles inside that walker that could cook off." His smile softened the snap of command in his voice as he added, "And thanks for getting her out safe under fire. Just, umm, please don't mention to anyone what you saw us do, okay?"
Nill brought his blaster pistol up to a firing position, and went over to where the two thrashing troopers were. First kicking their weapons out of reach, he scooped up four blaster rifles by their slings while Collan tended to the two badly injured Imperials lay. Moving over to the dead troopers, he quickly searched their bodies for useful gear, putting the acquisition of at least one working communicator as first priority.
(OOC: Beyond the blaster rifles, I'm not sure what gear the Imperial regulars carry.)
-
Comlinks are easy enough to find. They all have one integrated with their helmets, and it is easy enough to remove it, given a little time. You grab a helmet, sling four not-too-badly damaged rifles over your shoulder, and take a quick survey. The troopers all have a utility belt with spare blaster packs, a canteen, a small survival kit and emergency rations. Only two belts are still intact, giving you four blaster packs, 2 man-days of rations, and 2 man-days worth of water.
Meanwhile, Collan tends to the surviving troopers. They are in a bad way, but if you take the time to stabilize them, they should survive. In the meantime you expend a medpack to make them comfortable.
Your surviving crew make ready to move out, securing your casualty and loading up what supplies they managed to save from the shuttle before it was hit.
[Actions?]
Is Collan going to take the time to stabalize the troopers?
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Niil looked at the two troopers, and shook his head regretfully. "Collan . . . how long do you figure it will take to stabilize them? I can work on one of them, but we might not have time. If that explosion wasn't seen, a missed comm check-in from them will be noticed. We've got a lot of ground to cover."
(OOC: Scoop up the helmet, blaster packs, rations and water as well as the rifles. Did Juno give us a call-sign? And would Imperial comms have built-in tracers in case a trooper got lost/wounded?)
-
No tracking that you are aware of - they appear to be simple comlinks. But using one will likely give away your position.
-
Collan shook his head. His responsibility was to his team. He had to focus on that. It was hard though. Ch’lana’s comment about the path of a Jedi being hard was true. He wasn’t sure it was completely right to leave them but neither was it right to risk their capture by the Empire when so many others needed their help. He hated having to make this choice.
“Time is our enemy; we need to go. I made them comfortable but I don’t have the time to help them enough to ensure survival. We need cover and time. We should move out.”
-
You load up and make your way as quick as you dare. Without any point if reference, you pick a direction that seems to offer the best cover. You are barely a klick away before a pair of TIE fighters buzz the crash site. You stay low, following a ravine to stay out of sight. A couple of minutes later, a troop transport flies almost directly overhead. You barely have time to scramble under an overhang before the shuttle is over you. It flies past, apparently having seen nothing.
You reach what looks to be a dry riverbed and hunker down under a place where the bank is undercut. Niil scrabbles up the slope with the macrobinoc's and checks your back trail.
Several Imperial regulars are combing over the area by the wreck, but none seem to be searching for you. You may have gotten away clean.
Meanwhile, Collan checks the others more thoroughly. Minor injuries mostly, a possible mild concussion. But your more severely injured patient is not doing well. Her blood pressure is dropping, and she is becoming disoriented.
[Actions?]
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“Blast!” Collan cursed, “She’s going into shock. I think we’re going to have to do field surgery right now...”
[What gear do we have?]
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[OOC: Basically medkits. DC to stabilize her with a medkit is going to be pretty high, but you have some medics who can assist.]
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[how long does she appear to have? Minutes? Long enough to juice me up with a medkot to stem my wounds?]
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[OOC: Yeah.]
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[ooc: what are the medics’ skills? I’m nominally 4d+2 but would they have higher skills?]
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(OOC: Would it take one successful round with a medkit to stabilize Trina, or would it require a number of successful rounds? I don't want to intentionally abuse the Concentrate power, but if it would only require one round, what about this . . . have Niil or a medic hit Collan with a medkit to bring his wound status down, then have Collan use Concentrate and a FP - or CP - with the First Aid attempt.)
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[Stabilizing her is going to be tough. She's in a bad way, with internal bleeding and organ damage. You're looking at DC's somewhere north of 18. It'll be a few rounds to fully stabilize her, but one roll.
Concentrate can work over multiple rounds. Also Force Points can spread over multiple rounds, or even hours, but then it only applies to a single skill.]
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[what bonus would we get for all of us workijg together?]
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[+1D.]
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“Niil, patch me up a little and I think all of us together can do this,” Collan noted. He’d have to reach but it wouldn’t be very deep. All he had to do was call on his powers of concentration and that should take care of it.
[my plan for s for Niil to patch me up a bit.With concentration, my first aid is 6D+2. That should get us to an average of 23...at 7D+2, we’re looking at an average of 25-26. Assuming Collan can assess things, is that rrlatively decent odds?]
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[You won't really know how tough it is until you get in there.]
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[can I use a FP at that point?]
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[Sure.]
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[ok: then my plan is to have Niil use a medpac on Collan to heal him up enough to get to -1D--unless Niil can heal me completely. Then use Concentration on First Aid in tandem with Niil and the other medic to get Trina stabilized. If it's not working, Collan will then use a FP to help heal her]
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"Sure thing, Collan. Gimme a moment here . . ."
Niil popped open the medkit and started going through a mental diagnostic while eyeing Collan's wounds. Yeah, he said that it hurt to take in a full breath, so it's hard to say if it's cracked ribs or internal injuries. Gotta be careful here.
OOC: Going to use Concentrate on Niil's First Aid attempt seeing as he doesn't know for sure what's aggravating Collan's breathing.)
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Collan definitely has a broken rib [-1D STR skills, -1D Endurance], but Niil is able to brace it and apply a little osteo-regenerator to start the healing process. When he is done. Collan is feeling much better [wounds effectively gone, but you keep the penalties to STR and Endurance.]
Now that he's feeling and breathing better, Collan goes to work, with the aid of the medics and Niil.
Collan goes to work.
Things are a mess in there, and keeping Trina sedated is going to be important. The metal is torn jagged, and getting it out without causing more damage is going to be difficult. Carefully, Collan goes to work trying to separate the metal from flesh, while simultaneously sealing the tears to organs and blood vessels.
And once he's in, it's a lot tougher than he realized. He manages to get the metal debris out without causing too much damage, but the wound is filling with blood almost as fast as they can clean it. Things are a lot worse in there than Collan was expecting. He works for a few minutes, sealing wounds and nicks, but the blood does not seem to be slowing down. It is obvious he is loosing her.
Collan stops, takes a deep breath, and opens himself to the Force.
With time apparently slowed down, Collan appears to have more time to work. He manages to identify a tear to the inderside of the liver that was bleeding heavily, but also a laceration to the heart that pierced the left ventricle. it was tiny, but bleeding like crazy, and would have been easy to miss. He manages to seal up that leak, and the blood finally stops filling up the wound. Collan tidies up a few more minor wounds, then seals up the incisions he made. Adding a few more units of artificial blood, and Trina's vital signs begin to stabilize.
When Collan returns to normal awareness, his shoulders and neck are aching, and the sun has moved significantly in the sky. He must have been working for an hour or more, under intense concentration.
Trina still looks extremely pale, but she is starting to get a little colour back to her neck. As long as nothing else happens, and with ongoing medical care, she should make a full recovery.
[Trina went from Mortally wounded to Incapacitated. I took the Force point when your first roll failed. The DC was 25.]
-
Collan swallowed with muck in his throat. He’d been concentrating so hard he’d not swallowed for a while.
He was a little hoarse as he spoke, “We need to move...the Inperials could be tracking us. We’ll if we can find a decent overhang or cavern.”
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Niil grinned and clapped his friend on the shoulder as he handed him a canteen of water. "I'll take point and see what I can find for us. And good work, Collan. Oh . . . might want to check the el-tee's datapad; it should have his orders on where we're supposed to go, or comm passwords."
OOC: Going to scout around for a good place for us to lay low.
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Niil is moving ahead, looking for a good spot with some shelter and cover. About an hour later he finds a likely spot - an old dry oxbow where the old riverbank was undercut. You could shelter easy enough there for a few hours at least. Niil climbs down the near bank and heads over, staying low, to eyeball the location and make sure it'll be good. He creeps through a bush, and finds himself staring into the muzzle of a blaster rifle.
After a momentary panic, Niil realizes these are rebel survivors, and hurried introductions are made. You are all taken into a small reinforced chamber under the riverbank, and spot a dozen fighters, and twice that many wounded - their putative leader among them. Niil and Collan are taken before the man, a grizzled twi'lek named Vissawem - Vissa for short.
The twi'lek looks up at you from his blanket, a dirty bandage covering most of his head and his right eye. His right arm is in a crude sling, and there doesn't seem to be any lump under the blanket where his right leg is supposed to be. The right side of his body is covered in un-bandaged abrasions and burns, and fully a third of his left lekku is missing. Blood has soaked through every bandage he has.
"Who the drek are you two supposed to be, and what's this about a rebel alliance, who have apparently come to rescue us - if we can just save them first?"
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Collan gave Niil a glance of ‘well...here it goes.’
“Asked in the order, we are what remains of a medical relief detachment sent by General Kota. We were shot down in transit. Our mission was to provide medical care and evac to the most severely wounded as we could. We were also the stalking horse to spring the trap.”
“And yes, the Alliance is coming to provide some support. As much as we can. Other than that, Niil and I were given the mushroom treatment on this op.”
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Niil nodded. "Mushroom treatment sounds about correct." To Vissa, he said, "Sir, if you've no objection, perhaps we could start by tending to your wounded here as we fill each other in?" He tapped at a datapad by his side. "The el-tee in charge of our group was killed in the crash, but this might contain his standing orders as well as contact names and locations on Chabosh. Hopefully communication code names and frequencies for dustoffs as well."
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The twi'lek shakes his head. "Hope you have a lot of firepower. The Empire hit us with a full battlegroup - three star destroyers, and a dozen support ships. They couldn't hit us through the shield, so they landed ten assault groups and hit us from the ground. Population centres with troops were wiped off the map first, so our remaining forces evacuated the cities. They Imperials ran us to ground. The whole operation took less than twelve hours. There's hardly any of us left, and what is left is scattered and on the run. I don't even know who is alive anymore - the highest rank I could reach four hours ago was some captain somewhere, right before a flight of bombers turned his bunker into a smoking hole. There's not going to be a dust-off. Your commander's a sharp one not to commit. If you had, your whole rescue mission would just be more casualties."
He shifts position and winces from pain. "Look, do what you can for my men. I won't say no. But there's not much left for us to do but surrender or die. The Empire has made it clear they're not going to stop until every one of us is made an example of."
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Collan began treating the Twi’lek.
“Hey, we get it. We saw the Karvan Resistance’s HQ get battered to bits by a flotilla of Star Destroyers as we were going off planet for a mission. “
“What is your situation here?”
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Nill shook his head grimly when Collan mentioned Karvis. Even if he and Collan hadn't gone searching fro Ch'lana, there wouldn't have been any way for them to know about Darth Banen's Star Destroyers preparing to obliterate the resistance's headquarters. That fact still did little to lessen the feeling of guilt he bore.
"Collan, give me a few minutes to go over the el-tee's datapad first? Once I've looked it over, I'll start helping out with the wounded."
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Vissa shifts on his makeshift bed, wincing as he does so. "Our situation is complete crap. We've got emergency rations for a few days, but no water other than what's in our canteens - we can stretch that to a couple of days, tops. I've got a dozen relatively healthy fighters, double that in walking wounded, and a dozen too badly injured to move. We're out of medical supplies - emergency or otherwise. We're low on blaster packs - most of my guys are on their last one, we're out of grenades, and the only heavy weapon we have doesn't have any power. We lost our communications gear, so all we have are helmet comms. With the Imperials disrupting the planetary comms array, we've got maybe 15 klicks range, tops - depending on terrain. As far as we can tell, we've got a company of Imperial Regulars hunting for us by squads. The only thing going for us is this bunker was officially decommissioned ten years ago, so it's not on any current records. I only knew about it because I happened to train here before it was shut down. So if we keep our heads down and avoid any broadcast transmissions, we can hold out here until we die of dehydration. If pressed, we can hold out against a force three times our size for maybe half an hour, but not much more than that. However, with all the TIE fighters the Empire has in the air, the most likely scenario if we get found is they'll bottle us up, call in bombers, and turn the bunker into a crater."
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Yup. That was as about as bad as things could get short of a Dark Jedi walking in right now. Collan looked over his shoulder just in case; it would be their luck. Then he shuddered; it was their luck and Collan probably had made it more likely.
"Yeah...that almost as bad as things can get. We looted a squad of imperials that we took down so we have some gear that we can distribute. Plus we'll do what we can for your wounded," Collan replied, "If we had to move, what are our fallback options from here? Water, food, medical supplies, shelter?"
-
(OOC: Anything on the lieutenant's datapad that might be of help/interest?)
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Niil is not much of a computer tech, and the datapad is locked and encrypted. But he bangs away on it for a few minutes to see if he can make any progress, and is surprised to find that he somehow unlocked it. Not even sure what he did, the first thing Niil does is re-configure the security so you can access it again at will.
On the datapad, you find everything you were looking for - communication instructions, encryption codes, call signs, maps, and contingency plans.
[OOC: Niil aced the computer programming / repair roll.]
The original plan you know. The assault team was to enter and clear a bunker with a landing bay, and the medical team was to come in behind and set up a forward command post. Based on that assessment, the rest of the evacuation force would move in and get people out.
There is a last ditch plan to recover the assault team. If everything went pear-shaped and communications could not be established, there was an evacuation set up. The pickup point is roughly 180 klicks away, and the pickup time is in a little under 37 hours.
Now, if the assault team you dropped is still intact, or even completed their objective, their bunker might be a place to get to - that's about 75 klicks away at this point. Presuming they have contact with the task group, you may be able to get help there. But if they are out of communications or otherwise ran into trouble, the plan called for everyone to head for the fallback point and get picked up by the task group.
The fallback point is through some pretty rough terrain. It's remote and isolated.
***********************
Vissa shakes his head at Collan. "This is about as good as it gets. Populated areas south are heavily patrolled. If we had the supplies and the healthy people, I'd head north into the highlands. It's rough country, sparsely populated. But in our condition, living off the land is not really an option - especially there. We might find water - there's springs and streams, but no food. Going to ground might buy us time, but we're just dying from exposure or starvation instead of dehydration." He gives a black chuckle. "Though choice is good, I suppose - not many people get to choose how they die."
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Niil willed himself to stay calm as he tried to unlock the encryption around the lieutenant's datapad, but things seemed to be going nowhere for the first few minutes. With all the info on this thing, I'm damned lucky I haven't triggered a memory wipe! Screw this. Let's backpedal a few steps and ask Vissa if he has someone that . . .
Blip. Lost in backtracking his steps, Niil almost dropped the datapad when the screen abruptly shifted into a series of icons. Comm protocols/call-signs, Maps, Primary/Secondary objectives, Fallback . . . frag me, it's all here! "Damn me," he muttered, and hastily accessed the security settings to reconfigure them so suit his preferences.
"Collan, Cap . . . umm, Mister Vessen . . . sorry, sir, I didn't see your rank insignia . . . I've got everything on the el-tee's datapad here." He moved it over for Collan and Vissa to see, and punched up the map of the primary objective. "The original plan was for our assault team to clear a bunker with a landing bay, and then have our medic team come in behind them to establish a forward command post. If that worked, the evac force would come in for dustoffs."
He frowned. "Seeing as our shuttle and comm gear was skragged, we don't know what happened to the assault team. If they're still intact, they might have the bunker set up, but that's about . . ." Niil opened the map up a bit wider, and tapped a finger on a spot where he suspected they were currently hiding, "seventy-five klicks away. But that's assuming the assault team succeeded, and that also assumes they have a comm link with the task group. And both of them are out of our comm range, anyway."
Niil tapped the screen and brought up another map. "This is the last-ditch fallback point if everything went to hell in a hand-basket. It's a hundred and eighty clicks away, and we'd only have about thirty-six hours to cover that. Crap terrain, and very isolated."
He blew out his breath. "Without communications, it looks like we're limited to going for the fallback point up in the highlands. And for that we'll need to appropriate transport. And food, water and medical supplies." He thought for a moment. "Okay . . . not that I'd be fool enough to try it here, but what would the range be on an Imperial comlink? Or are the Imperials limiting the range on those as well?"
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Collan leaned over to look at the map and check how much of binary choice this was.
“Either path we choose, we’re going to have to get transport to get to either dust-off point.”
“Mister Vessen, you said you were being hunted...what kind of equipment do the Imps hunting you have?”
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"We didn't see all of them in a formation of anything, but they had the usual mix of small arms and heavy weapons. There were TIE fighters flying support off and on, usually in pairs. We spotted four scout walkers, and a half dozen armoured troop transports."
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"Troop transports . . ." Niil glanced at Collan, and nodded. "Sounds like our best bet if we want to evac the personnel here. If we're going to capture a few of them, we'll have to lure them into a bottleneck and take away their maneuverability. Mister Vessen, did anyone notice if the Imperial ground units stuck to specific sweep patterns, sectors and times, or are they keeping those random?"
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He shakes his head. "Search by grids I suppose? I don't know. We were more worried about not getting found and killed than trying to figure out what search pattern they were using. Most of their guys are on foot. They're being pretty thorough, with sensor units and such as well, and lots of communications support. Hit a patrol, and you'll have a lot of heat on you in short order. They're prepared for exactly that - hoping we'll try and pick off a patrol so they have a contact they can follow. You guys go and try to pick them off, you're going to bring down a lot of heat down on you pretty quickly. And if they catch us here, it's all over. They're not taking prisoners."
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Collan turned to Niil, "What do you think the odds are that the Stormie squad we hosed still is laying there? We could grab some armor and walk right up to a group and get transport."
To Vessen he said, "It shouldn't bring too much heat. A walker and stormtrooper squad came up on us at our crash site."
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Niil shook his head. "I, ah, strongly doubt that they're still lying there. They might have just been the closest units in the sector, but they'd have radioed in to their HQ once they spotted the crash site. When they didn't give HQ a second SITREP in a timely fashion. . . fleas on a bantha. Likely a TIE flyover first, then troop transports and a few more scout walkers."
He thought for a moment. "And from there, they'll spread out into search sectors. We'll need to see what the hell they're doing before we commit to any plan of action. Or listen in on what they're doing."
(OOC: Sorry if I'm inadvertently asking this again, but can the Imperial headset comm we captured be traced if we used it only to listen and not transmit?)
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Collan said, “I like idea of listening in. If we can know where they’re at. We might aboe to secure disguises and possibly some transport.”
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[As far as you know, it can't be traced. But if you use it, they might be able to locate it - either through a connection trace, or detecting a broadcast from the comlink.]
Vessen grunts as he shifts position,a nd lowers his voice. "Honestly, you guys are probably better off striking out on your own and trying for the evac point on foot. Then, maybe, someone will make it off this planet. We got the hell beaten out of us, we're only going to slow you down or make you a target."
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Collan’s face fell. Maybe there was no hope to save everyone but it might be possible to save a few.
“Mister Vessen,” he began slowly as if it hurt to evenspeak the words, “I hate to even ask. Can we take your ablebodied with us? And those we’re able to get ready to travel. And...I have terrible thing to ask you: can those we can not get well enough to handle travel and possibly combat: I’d ask those that remain to put up a massive fight.”
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He gives you a steely stare. "Sure. But what's left won't put up much of a fight, and we wouldn't have the morale to last long. And with a bigger group, you're a bigger target. Even the able-bodied don't have much firepower left. We're soldiers, not infiltrators - and truth be told most of us are more shopkeepers and farmers than soldiers."
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Collan looked at Niil...realistically it was only going to them and the other two medic. Trina wouldn’t be able to travel or fight like she’d need to.
“We need to talk amongst the five of us. If you have any hunters among your farmers they might be able to do this. It’s about mov ng silently and fast...like hunters need to.”
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Niil stepped aside with Collan and the medics. "Mister Vessen's got a point. We'd have better luck with a smaller team if we hope to capture a transport, and we only have the weapons we brought with us, plus the four rifles we took off of the troopers. I'd say another two or three, tops. And - assuming we do manage to capture a vehicle intact - we need to create a mental flowchart now of where we go from there."
"Communication contact with Captain Eclipse or the strike team that came with us is primary, I think. If we can accomplish that, we might be able to coordinate and come up with a way to bring in a quick dustoff for Vessen and his troops. At the very least we could find out if the strike team secured the primary evac point." He shrugged. "If we can't establish comm contact . . . we can either try to recon the primary evac point first to see if it's actually viable, or say 'screw that' and just go for the secondary evac point. And if we decide to head straight for Evac Two . . . we'll we're probably going to need more transport if we want to get everyone out of here."
He looked at the medics accompanying them. "First, though . . . Collan and I are new to General Kota's team, so I have to ask a dumb question here . . . what kind of combat training slash experience do the both of you have? Firearms, evasion, stealth and communications, in particular?"
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Collan added, “I’m pretty sure I can bounce a com signal around a bit to make it harder to trace. Need another medpac though to really help. But, we’ve another problem, and I don’t like talking about it when Trina isn’t here.”
He sighed, “If we’re going to make this op work. she cannot come. I was hoping we’d find a bettr equipped and supplied remnant. Best we can do at this point is to take an expedition and see what transport we can get or if we can get someone from the main force here.”
“If someone can patch up the rest of the way, I can even do that now.”
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Vessen shrugs, which causes him to wince. "You guys brought the medics. We don't have anyone skilled with our crew."
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Niil nodded to Vessen and replied. "Which is why we're here, sir" He shrugged apologetically to the medics and Collan. "Yeah, Trina has to stay, but I think the other two should stay here as well and tend to Trina and Mister Vessen's team while we're away. They're going to need as much medical attention as they can get, and our medics know their trade. We're going to need the wounded as ambulatory as possible if we're able to arrange a dustoff, and likely they'll have to be ready to move within twenty-four hours."
He turned to Vessen's crew, and carefully laid down the four purloined Imperial blaster rifles and two utility belts on a table. "Here's the plan. We're going out there to try and get in contact with our people to see if we can get a dustoff here. If that plan goes south on us and we can't establish a communications link with them, then we'll have to grab some transport and evac you ourselves. Dangerous as hell. The Imps have ground and air patrols scouring the countryside, and probably some probe droids as well. But the alternative is to let hunger, dehydration and wounds take us out slowly and painfully, and that just doesn't hold water with me."
He tapped one of the rifle stocks. "That being said, I'd like to ask for a few volunteers - two to four - to come with us. People that know this region well, and are good at hiding and moving quiet. I wouldn't say no to anyone with sharpshooter or sniper training, either." Something sprang to Niil's mind, something Vessen had said to them earlier. "One sec . . . Mister Vessen, you mentioned you had a heavy weapon without power? What kind? An E-Web?"
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He shakes his head. "Nothing so fancy. We have a medium repeater. It ran off a fusion cell, but the cell is dead. It's a 2-man weapon, 3 when it's moving. It's no good to you, even if it had power."
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Niil smiled and nodded. "Yeah, too impractical for what we need to do, but it might be useful if we can snag a transport."
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[OOC: So what's the plan? Get Collan healed up, then what?]
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[THen Collan uses Concentration and 2 CPs on Communication to bounce a com signal around and up to Juno...get a sitrep and orders]
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(OOC: Doing that from here might not be a good idea. If the Imps do manage to detect it, we could bring down a lot of firepower on Vessen's safe house. If we want to try establish commo contact, maybe try it at least a few klicks from the bunker. I was thinking heal Collan first, then head out with any volunteers that join us to try and see if we can snag a transport. Of course, we might have to recon for awhile to pick out a likely target and ambush point.)
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[OOC: I don't want to move on until Corey responds to the modified plan. As it stands right now, I'd say you try and patch up Collan, the he tries to work the com wonders from here, seeking to establish contact sooner than later.
Does that sound OK?]
-
(OOC: Okay, let's heal up Collan and then try the comm signal attempt first, but I'd still recommend trying to establish it away from the bunker - maybe a klick or two - just in case the Imps do manage to detect and locate the signal.)
-
[I’m fine with that plan...]
-
The two of you load up the equipment you'll need and a power generator, and head out into the evening for a bit of a hike. Finding a secluded spot on a low rise out of sight of the bunker, Collan takes a deep breath and focuses on the task at hand.
It is a stretch for Collan, but the Force helps him focus. Collan takes his time, gently feeling out the local comm network. In about an hour, he's set up several bounces. Provided you keep the connection short, you should be masked from Imperial tracing. Collan sets up the communications équipent using the codes from the Lt's datapad. Taking a moment to exchange looks with Nill, Collan says, "Best I can do."
Activating the gear, he calls out for the Task group. "Archangel, this is Mercy. Come in."
There is silence for a moment, and he is about to repeat the call when a voice distorted by the encryption comes over the com.
"Mercy, this is Archangel. Protocol Ursine. Report."
Niil flips through the datapad for "Ursine." It is orders to assume the channel is being monitored in the clear."
-
As much as to be expected, Niil thought with a mental sigh. What can I can tell them without giving Imperial eavesdroppers useful intel to work on? "Archangel, this is Mercy SITREP. Linked up with friendlies, but critical on necessities. Requesting further instructions, over."
-
There is a pause. "Mercy, can you reach checkpoint Besh?"
Besh is the secondary extraction point.
-
Collan looked at Niil, his face blank but his stomach a pit. They really had little choice. So many of their fellow Rebels would be left behind. Trina too. He had to use a quick Jedi breathing exercise to quell the quaver he knew his voice would have.
“Affirmative Archangel,” he replied, “Please confirm that the advertised store hours for Besh are correct,” he hoped the question about that was taken that he wanted a yes/no confirmation of the dust off schedule.
-
Niil was about to respond to Archangel when Collan replied. He raised a questioning eyebrow at Collan's answer, but waited for Archangel's response first.
-
"We can make arrangements for a special order. Expect a package in thirty minutes. Make sure someone listens for the bell. Archangel out."
-
Niil tried to respond, but Archangel has already cut the communication. He looked at Collan, and shook his head. "Dustoff for just the two of us? I don't like this, Collan . . . not a bit. We came to this planet to help others that took up our call for rebellion; what message do we leave by abandoning them?"
-
Collan hung his head.
“I never said we were going to abandon anyone but I don’t think we can save everyone. We have some choices to make. I make it 30 hours to get to Besh at normal walking rate. Throw in some rest time plus E&E, and we’re close to the deadline. The completely incapable are just not going to be able to do it. It’s a matter of being able to something or nothing.”
-
Niil rubbed at his temple and swore softly. He shook his head, and, oddly, smiled. "They might also be bringing in a supply drop for Vessen and his crew. If we make it to Besh, I'll see if I can convince them to commit to an EVAC for Vessen and his people."
-
[OOC: What are you guys doing? Going to sit tight? They did mention something about a package in thirty minutes, and to listen for the bell.]
-
(OOC: Sorry, I completely "duh'ed" on part of the transmission from Archangel and forgot to correct it last time. One small change to my older post followed by this.)
Nill stole a look around the area, and shrugged. "So . . . we hunker down here, or try and find somewhere close by with better cover? Thirty minutes is a long time with TIEs and troopers whizzing around."
-
“Let’s find a little better cover...though...I don’t know how they’ll find us.”
-
Niil shrugged. "Comm signal, mirrored surface, blaster bolt . . . we'll figure it out when the time comes."
(OOC: Looking for better cover if the place we're at isn't secure enough. Otherwise, stay put until the dustoff arrives.)
-
You guys find a nearby crevasse (about a click away) and hunker down. You hear occasional sounds of distant fighting - heavy weapons, by the sound of it. Could be dozens of klicks away.
Thirty minutes later, your comlink beeps again.
Collan answers it. "Data inbound. Stand by."
Without an actual datapad, you can only store the data on the comlink. In moments, the data transmission is complete.
"Decode and follow instructions. May the Force be with you."
The line goes dead.
-
Collan’s heart raced.
“Let’s get out of here. No need to wait to see if our location was pinged by the Empire. Decode when we get back.”
-
(OOC: Don't we have the lieutenant's datapad?)
As the transmission terminated, Niil felt as if dozens of eyes were boring in on their position. Collan voiced the opinion that Niil was feeling, and he promptly nodded. "Yeah, I can almost feel the cross-hairs. I'll take point."
-
“Roger that,” Calland said a little dreamily as he focused hismind elswhere. It was time to try using the Force to sense danger. No sense in not practicing at this point.
[take a round and try to activate Danger Sense]
-
Collan can detect no immediate threats, though his senses are still pretty new. You make your way stealthily back to the bunker. A few minutes after you leave the area, you take cover as a couple of TIE fighters do a flyby in the general vicinity. They didn't pass directly over where you were, so its probably unrelated.
A little later and you are back at the bunker, under solid rock and apparently undetected. Things look much as they were when you left.
[Actions?]
-
Niil pulled out the lieutenant's datapad and waved Collan over. "Let's plug in that comlink, download the data and have a look at what they sent us."
-
The encryption takes a little work, but together, with the help of the Force, you manage to unlock the data packet.
Inside are new comlink codes, encryption keys, and a communications schedule. Also there is a report from Captain Eclipse.
You activate the message, and Captain Eclipse's face appears. "Gentlemen. As you know, the landing was a bust. Heavy Imperial presence at the landing point. The assault team has gone to ground. There is a large Imperial presence separating you. We're working on getting everyone out and evacuating everyone we can, but it is going to take some time. The Battlegroup is hunting for us, and we cannot take on a Star Destroyer, let alone three. However, I am working on a plan. We'll know more at your next contact. In the meantime, put together a list of everything you need to get the group you are with mobile. We'll see if we can arrange a supply drop."
She looks off-screen a moment. "Next contact is in 4 hours. 9ommunicate only by burst. Follow the schedule, and never transmit from the same place twice. If the Force is with us, we will see you soon. Eclipse out."
-
"Pfffffff . . ." Nill let out his breath quietly as Captain Eclipse's transmission ended. Mobile? A pair of shuttles or heavy repulsor transports would do nicely.
Tapping his knuckles on the table, he called out, "All right, my friends, we just got a SITREP from our boss. Unfortunately, the original plan has been nixed, but the brainstormers are hashing out an alternate evac plan even as I speak." Here, he paused for a few moments and made sure that he made eye contact with everyone in the room. "It is their - our - intent to get each and every one of you out of here, but this is going to take some time."
He gave a brief smile. "In the meantime, they've asked us to compile a list of supplies and equipment needed to get us all mobile. Medical supplies, food and water will be on the top of that list, and likely spare power packs, too. We have . . . say, three hours to get this list ready, so let's take some time to round-table this so we don't miss anything. If all goes well, they'll arrange a supply drop for us soon." To the medtechs, he added, "I'll leave the both of you in charge of the medical end of the supply list, so let's do a triage if it hasn't been completed yet."
He placed his hands on the table. "Are there any questions at this time?"
-
[nothing to add]
-
From the floor, Vessen sounds confused. "You mean you're still going to try and get us out of here?"
The rest of the room grows quiet.
Vessen takes a moment to process, then starts giving orders. "Sergeant, put together a weapons inventory and fill in the blanks. Sergeant Nix, look at our approaches. See he we can maybe put up some sensor netting to better mask us. Everyone else, check your survival kit, and give them a list of anything you're needing." He pauses to think.
"We'll need thirty minutes. But the biggest thing is going to be transport. Unless you guys can evac us from here, we're going to need vehicles."
What follows is a flurry of activity. Those who are able are running around, those who can't move are making notes on datapads. And in thirty minutes, you have your list.
There is an extensive list, but almost everything should be within the capabilities of Eclipse's crew to provide - a portable shield unit and sensor netting will turn this place into a fortress, and with enough supplies you should be able to hold out indefinitely. Communications drones should make it easier to establish and maintain live contact. But the biggest issue you have is mobility. You have too many wounded. Unless Eclipse and her team can come up with a solution for that, they're going to have to extract you from here, or abandon 3/4 of the survivors.
The time for the next contact is approaching.
[Actions?]
-
Niil went over the list with a careful eye and wracked his brains to see if anything was overlooked, but he couldn't come up with anything else. Except for transport. If Juno can't commit to a hot extraction here, we only have about a dozen troopers healthy enough to move from here. And frak me if I'm going to leave the others behind.
He looked up at Vessen and his troops, and tapped the datapad against his palm with a grin. "All right . . . Collan and I need to head back out to transmit this to our contact, but we'll be back as soon as we can." He paused. "Transport. Yeah, that's all on our minds. If worst comes to worst and they can't arrange an extraction from here or arrange GEV drops . . . well, we might have to cook up a plan to 'borrow' some Imperial vehicles."
He tucked the datapad away in his blast vest and shook his head. "I know this may sound stupid with all things considering, but keep the spirits up, my friends. We're going to do our damnedest to get everyone out of here."
(OOC: Unless Collan or anyone else have anything to add, I guess we'll boogie off for the next transmission.)
-
You pick another place, a good long hike away. The requirement to specify a burst transmission will mean you can't get real-time communications - in effect you'll each be receiving a message that you will need to decode later.
It is early evening when you head out. The sunset over the sprawling vistas is dramatic to see, but it is broken by the obvious presence of Imperial military. From a ridge top you see an Imperial walker probably twenty kilometers away about some business that seems unrelated to you. Several TIE patrols fly overhead, forcing you to take cover, and you spot an assault shuttle that crosses behind your path. You hide and hold your breath, but it passes beyond the area where your survivors are holed up without deviating.
Eventually you reach a good spot - a sheltered hilltop with a good view of the surrounding countryside.
[I need your prepared message.]
-
[ooc: Collan would have taken time to center himself and activated Danger Sense before setting out]
Collan nodded to Niil.
"Let's hope Captain Eclipse can get us the gear and equipment we need. The Force knows we could use either a hot evac or vehicles," he whispered.
-
Nill nodded. "Yeah, trying to evac four dozen people while the Imps control the ground and air is gonna be a bantha's breakfast," he whispered back. "If they can't commit to a full evac, we might very well have to hit an Imperial outpost or light convoy to get some vehicles. I wonder if Juno's got a few suits of stormtrooper suits available."
-
[OOC: Besides the shopping list the crew gave you, I need to know if you're sending anything else as a message.]
-
(OOC: Nothing that I can think of off the top of my head. Corey?)
-
[Something along the lines of proceeding to Checkpoint Besh with mobile packages.]
-
You activate the comlink at the coordinated time, and quickly send and receive your data packets. You quickly pack up and surreptitiously make your way from the area.
As you are picking your way through the terrain, a pair of TIE flights overfly the general vicinity of where you sent the communication. They do not appear to be running a search pattern. Probably more of a patrol, or a transit flight.
You make it back to the bunker without incident.
It takes a few minutes to unencrypt the data packet. There's a series of files - maps, encryption codes, and some drop locations, coded and named. And there is a video message file. Collan fires that up.
You see Captain Eclipse on the screen.
"Gentlemen.
"We have some contingency plans under way, and we expect to be able to manage an extraction within three days' time. But you are going to need to help.
"We cannot land the ship to effect an evacuation. However, we do have options.
"Thirteen kilometers from your location is an old regional shuttle port. The town it was located is has been bombed to rubble, but the Imperials have rebuilt the port and are using it to conduct resupply operations for troops in the field. We have a plan, attached to this packet, for you to steal a shuttle. Details are in the plan, but if you can get that shuttle and reach low orbit, we can extract you. You'll be supported by the assault team, who will be launching a strike at the regional communications system timed to the theft. That should provide cover for your escape.
"The only other option is for us to get the Rogue Shadow, which will take two to three weeks."
"We're arranging a supply drop, at point aleph, in 12 hours. You'll have weapons, medical supplies, some droids, rations and water and a few other things we thought might help. We're also deploying communications drones. That will take us about 24 hours to complete, but once we have established a network we should be able to communicate real-time.
"Hold on, and keep your heads down. We're going to do everything we can to get everyone we can off-planet safe and sound.
"Eclipse Out."
The plan is enclosed, and fairly detailed. It makes reference to equipment and weapons you do not have, so that should be coming in the supply drop. It is a stealth attack, timed to follow the Imperial supply schedule. if all goes well, there should be little fighting. But you are going to need a pilot to pull this off. The escape route seems to have some pretty wild flying requirements, nape-of-earth and weaving around hills.
-
Niil pored over the datapacket and video transmission with a faint smile. although the part about requiring a skilled pilot was threatening to be a potential killjoy. Never thought I'd find myself wishing that Navara was here with us.
He turned his attention to where Vessen and his troops waited expectantly, and gave them a reassuring grin. "Good news first. Command has green-lit a supply drop within twelve hours. Looks like we'll be getting everything on our grocery list, and a few other items on top of that. Also, they've assured us that they're going to do everything they can to get all of us off of this planet safe and sound."
He looked down at the ground for a moment, and blew out his breath. "Right now they have a primary and alternate plan for the evac. Before I go into the details, I need to know . . . do we have any skilled shuttle pilots here? And when I mean skilled, I mean capable of performing high-speed nape-of-earth flying while weaving around hilly terrain."
-
Vesen shakes his head. "We're all techs or ground-pounders. The closest we have is Alix - she was just an airspeeder pilot."
-
Collan spoke up at that point, "We then either have to take a chance or we wait two to three weeks for alternative transport out...and honestly, I'm not sure we have that kind of time."
-
Niil nodded, and could almost picture General Kota snorting and shaking his head. "No, waiting three weeks only allows the Imps to close the net on us. We'll have to make do with what we have, and keep our eyes peeled for unexpected opportunities."
He looked sideways at the medics that were with them, and smiled faintly. "I don't suppose that either of you is a hot hand with a shuttle . . . ?"
-
[OOC: Taking a quick poll, and OOC'ly, the best you're going to have from the others is 3D skill level. Calland is a better pilot than anyone here, but not by much. The big advantage to putting a PC in the cockpit is CP's, which the others will not have.]
None of the survivors you brought with you are much of a pilot. You're either going to have to find one, or make due with what you have.
-
“I see nothing for Niil...” Collan intoned, “I’m probably the best we have. Assuming no pursuit...which is a long shot, I can fly us out of here if we get a ship.”
-
"It shouldn't be as nasty as the Cron Drift," he muttered quietly, "so we'll have to make do. Unless we're lucky enough to find a friendly shuttle-jockey nearby or at the port facility."
-
On other shortcoming of the plan - there is no mention of moving your wounded to the extraction. You're either going to have to figure out how to move them, or bring the shuttle here to pick everyone up.
-
Niil rubbed at his forehead, and muttered, "So, if we manage to grab the shuttle, we're going to have to pull off a hot evac here first ." He hesitated, then added, "Or see if we can also liberate a few ground transports while we're at it. If we can pull that off, we'll have to split into two teams; a shuttle team, and a ground transport team. We could use both the shuttle and the ground transports to do a hot evac of the troops here. If Imperial pursuit is close, though, we might have to use either the shuttle or one of the ground transports to try and sucker the Imps away from here while the others come in for the evac."
He shrugged. "But all of that is making the assumption that there's going to be ground transports available for us to steal."
-
Collan asked, "Does anyone have a map? I'd like to know where the nearest settlement is? Maybe there is transport there...sympathizers to house our wounded unable to move or fight. Or hopefully, the drop will include some means of transport."
-
The data packet has recent topographical scans, and the locals can fill in some details. There's a couple of bombed out settlements not too far away. You might be able to recover a vehicle from one of those places, but intel from the locals says anything living in the area has either been killed, imprisoned, or fled.
Then one of the survivors from the local group comes forward.
"There's Benereth's place. He was a bit of a hermit, operated a mushroom farm. He was out of the way - maybe the Imperials skipped him? His place is pretty nondescript. His farm in underground, in an old cave. From the surface, it's just an old shack." The trooper points to your holo map. "Here."
{OOC: Got lucky on an investigation roll. Result of the throw of dice "4d6" : 5 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 23]
-
Niil smiled. "Yeah, I'd say it's definitely worth checking out. If we wanted to keep out of sight as much as possible for the trip, would you recommend any particular route?"
-
He shrugs. "It's pretty remote country. But you take this old riverbed, you might avoid unfriendly eyes. Just watch it if it rains - that riverbed has been known to flash flood sometimes."
-
(OOC: Judging by the map, how long would it take to hoof it via the riverbed route to the hermit's place? That's assuming no floods or evading Imperial patrols.)
-
Few hours, best guess.
-
Niil studied the route intently, then glanced up at Collan and the trooper. "Hmm . . . figure a few hours to get there, buy that's assuming we don't run into any delays on the trip." He shrugged. "Collan, If we went now, I think it would be best if one of us stayed here to prepare for the supply drop . . . just in case. Or, we could head for the hermit's place after the supply drop. The latter's probably the more prudent move."
-
Collan pondered that.
"Caution should take precedence. That supply drop may have additional gear we can use..."
-
Niil nodded. "Then we wait. Might as well help out the medics while we cool our heels."
-
Collan nodded.
“The more beings we can get up and moving around or good enough to fight the better of a chance we have.”
-
You wait until near the appointed time, and head out to the area. You have a few tense minutes in tense hiding when a scout walker, an armoured vehicle and a squad of dismounted foot troops sweep past your position. Staying under cover delays you a bit, and forces you a little off your intended path.
You find yourselves crossing through a farmyard. You give it a wide berth, but find a grim scene along the fence line. Near the front gate, you encounter a line of a half a dozen corpses of various ages and genders. They all have blaster burns to the back of the head. You move on.
You are behind schedule by this point, but you allowed a little leeway, and make the supply drop location shortly before the drop was scheduled.
You are just hunkering down in some cover when you hear the whine of repulsors and the quiet roar of thrusters. A shuttle appears, flying almost low enough to touch. It streaks over the location. As it passes, you see several containers fall out of it. As it passes, you spot the open rear door as it closes, and the shuttle streaks away.
You move to gather the boxes quickly, and find them equipped with repulsor cargo lifters to make moving them easier - good thing, because there are several large crates. You rig a rough train so the two of you can move them over the terrain, and start the trek back.
Not long after you leave, a flight of four tie fighters streaks over the area where you were, obviously in pursuit.
You have to scramble to find cover when another pair of TIE's overfly you, but you don't think you were spotted, and you make it back to the bunker without further incident.
Inside, there is a wealth of goodness. Advanced medical supplies, two 2-1B medical droids, holo-netting for camouflage, weapons and power packs, a shield generator, two power generators, a subspace radio, and everything you asked for.
While you are unpacking, Niil's issued comlink beeps. Surprised, you activate it. There is a pause as the encryption module kicks in, then you hear a distorted voice.
"Guardian, this is Hound. SITREP."
-
Collan spoke up, "Hound, this is Guardian. Packaged received and we are deploying contents now. Medical shuttle crashed, 5 survivors. Three medics plus Niil and myself. One medic has lost her legs. On the ground we hooked up with a Chabosh unit. They have about a dozen able to fight, another dozen to wounded to move, and another two dozen walking wounded. We are going to get them healthy while we conduct an op to obtain transpo. Over."
-
"We've taken some casualties, but still above 50%. You need backup for your t-p-t?"
-
[Okay...so who is this again? Should I know?]
-
You're not sure.
-
Niil's eyes narrowed. Wasn't our call-sign "Mercy" when we contacted the task force earlier? He help up a warning hand, he covered the comm with his hand and whispered to Collan, "Don't use our actual names. Tell them to wait a few seconds. I want to check something first."
Digging out the lieutenant's datapad, he quickly searched the list of call signs for "Hound" and "Guardian". Maybe there was a protocol in place where the call sign names changed, but wanted to make damn certain before they said anything further.
-
In the few moments you have, you find nothing in the LT's datapad that references those call-signs. And that does not sound familiar from the callsigns from your recent data packet.
But they have the correct code authentication, and the encryption is good. Maybe there was a mix-up somewhere? If this is an Imperial ruse, getting the encryption codes was no easy task.
"You there, Guardian? Did you need backup for your T-P-T op?"
-
“Hound...do you have any update on Mercy?”
-
"What? I though you guys picked up the survivors..."
-
“Hound...thanks. I needed to check. This is Mercy, not Guardian. We are unaware of Guardian’s status.”
-
Niil was still troubled about the mixed-up call-signs, and his eyes flicked in between Collan and the communicator. Neither the el-tee's datapad or Juno's datapacket referenced either Hound or Guardian. I don't like this.
Niil picked up the lieutenant's datapad, quickly typed in a message on the viewscreen, and held it up for Collan to see.
No reference to either Hound or Guardian on datapad or new datapacket?
Something's not right here.
Maybe wait for their response, then tell them to wait five and cut link? If these are Imps, they could be tracing us.
We should contact Archangel for verification.
-
Collan nodded, "Hound...verify command's code."
-
"Stand by."
A moment later, the command authorization code is verified.
If these are Imperials, they have deeply infiltrated your operation here.
-
"Apologies Hound. This is definitely Mercy. We are unaware of Guardian's status. What was their LKP?"
-
"Unknown. We thought it was you guys. Mixup on our end. Not important - did you need support for your op? We can provide cover or distraction if you think you need it."
-
Collan looked to Niil.
"A distraction would be good should you be able to manage it with little risk. The local company we've hooked up with is heavy on the wounded and I'm not sure how many we'll be able to get into fighting shape. Something to draw off Imperial forces or have them looking in any direction would be useful."
-
"Understood. We'll do something in the area to draw their attention. We can probably buy you 15 minutes with minimal risk. Will that be enough? We could draw it out to thirty, but we're looking at casualties to do that."
-
Nill thought about that for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. "Fifteen is good. If we drew it out any longer than that then the odds would drop drastically."
-
Collan nodded to Niil. He had little more to ask or say at this point. THey needed to get transport. Preferably transport with plausible deniability on the part of the provider.
"So much for being medics, eh? We're ex-fil spec ops now."
-
[OOC: I was going to warp, if you guys are amenable.]
-
(OOC: Sure thing from my end.)
-
[yup...factor 5]
-
It is some time later. There has been a little back-and-forth from the assault squad, and you have learned that they are not too bad off. They are separated from you by distance and hostile troops, so linking up will be problematic. They found some survivors at the original target bunker, so the mission was not a complete bust on their part either - provided you can get everyone off-planet. They could use the medics from your shuttle, but since most of them are casualties, you are both having to make due.
The initial confusion was due to a misunderstanding. The assault squad thought that more troopers had been landed. They had thought your ship completely destroyed, and that Eclipse had landed more troops. You now know that the area was too hot to land anything else in the area - there are several long-range anti-aircraft missile emplacements in the region, which will making any landing problematic.
So, you find yourselves in position, about a kilometer from the target site. Through the macrobinocs you see a rickety-looking shack, about 20 meters on a side with an overhead door. There is a vehicle parked beside the shed, but you can tell from here that it is derelict, and was probably used for parts.
Over the comlink, you hear a distorted voice call out, "We're go. 15 minutes, clock is ticking."
[Actions?]
You guys are about a 5-minute run from the shed, unless you had intended to be closer. It's pretty open between the hill where you are and the shed though.
-
[So this is the transport we're going to steal right?]
-
[OOC: There was a hope there might be a transport there. The vehicle you can see is obviously derelict. Maybe you could get it running, but it looks to have been sitting out in the lements for years. The shed is big enough to possibly house a vehicle.]
-
Collan looked at Niil, "It looks like it was used for spares...that might mean there's a good one inside the shed. What do you think? Make a run for the shed?"
-
Niil blew out his breath. "Yeah, looks like we don't have any other options. Even if we try to creep in, we still have a klick of open terrain to cover, and the Force help us if the Imps choose that time to do a flyby. Looks like we're sprinting. We'll come in from one of the sides if we can."
Tapping Collan on the shoulder, he leaned closer and whispered in Collan's ear, "Danger sense might be useful here if you don't think its too risky to attempt."
(OOC: The plan is to run for it, and use whatever terrain advantages we can exploit along the way.)
-
Collan took a deep breath in and began the process of focusing.
"Yeah...gimme a sec here. I need to focus a little bit to make sure it works."
[active Danger sense, take an extra round for the +1D bonus]
-
You guys break into a run, and cover the intervening space in good time. Collan does not detect any danger during the run, and the two of you reach the shed without incident.
The shack is prefab plasteel, quite old and in great need to some repairs and maintenance. The door panel seems powered. There is a viewport on the door, but the inside is gloomy, and the window quite dirty, so you can't see inside very well at all. It seems a single room with various mechanical / industrial shadows visible.
[Actions?]
-
Niil took in the door and viewport with a critical eye, and muttered, "I don't see any other way in, unless we try the roof and see if there's a way in that way. Pfff. That leaves the door panel. Hope whoever owns this place doesn't have it wired with something nasty."
He looked at Collan. "Want to keep watch while I try the door panel?"
-
Collan took out his blaster and set it to stun.
Rather than speak, he nodded and focused on ttying to sense any approaching danger.
-
Collan keeps watch as Niil gets to work on the door panel. A quick look shows it's pretty sophisticated, at least compared to Niil's skills. He takes a breath, and lets the Force guide him. With all distractions blocked out, he is able to concentrate on the task. In a few seconds, the door panel beeps happily, and there is a click as the door unlocks.
Inside you see a workshop sort of area, with a fairly large lift to one side of the floor, easily large enough for a speeder.
There is no sign of life inside the building.
[Actions?]
-
Niil's eyes narrowed as he looked around the workshop from his vantage point just outside the entrance. Ugly and run-down looking from the outside, and yet it still had a working door panel?
He took a few moments to look around the workshop's walls and ceiling to see if there was any surveillance equipment visible, then shifted his attention to the floor directly in front of him. Leaning over to scoop up a handful of dust, he carefully blew it across the door's threshold to see if there were any laser break beam sensors.
-
There is no sign of any further security measures, or surveillance devices. It seems the security was limited to the door panel.
-
Niil absently wiped the dust from his hands, and motioned Collan inside. "Might as well shut the door behind you in case the Imps do any recon around here. Let's have a look-see around here; this wouldn't be the first place we've checked out that had a concealed basement or bolt-hole."
Niil walked slowly over to the lift, his eyes scanning around the floor and tables for signs of tracks or disturbed dust.
-
The place looks deserted. There's a workbench to one side, littered with various tools and spare parts. The whole place is pretty grungy, and has that 'garage' smell of grease, dust and metal.
There does not appear to be any power beyond the door panel. There's lights and such, but they appear shut down. The floor is dominated by a large cargo lift, but from here you can see the lift has no power. There's a door to the left that seemed to lead to a windowed space beyond - an office perhaps? There is also a set of stairs made out of grating that leads to what seems to be a storage loft above the office.
The place appears to be deserter.
[Actions?]
-
Niil stared around the garage and shook his head in disappointment. He strongly doubted that either the office or the loft housed a large hover transport, but maybe they'd at least find some information of value? "Collan, you want to give the office a look-see? I'll check the loft."
Wait a minute . . . Niil stopped and stared at the cargo lift, and then at the storage loft.
(OOC: Checking the cargo lift a bit closer. Where does it lift to? Are there any indicators that it accesses a lower floor, or are we already on the bottom floor?)
-
There is no structure above the cargo lift. The storage area is accessible only by the stairs.
-
Well, so much for that idea, he thought sourly. Niil drew out his blaster, set it for stun, and headed slowly up the stairs leading to the loft.
-
The storage area seems fairly normal - storage crates of various sizes are kept here. They have a wide variety of goods - looks like fertilizer, several crates of something labelled "Portenko Spores - Grade A" as well as miscellaneous mechanical and electronic spare parts. Nothing seems terribly significant, though Niil is not much of a tech.
-
Niil closed his eyes and did a slow mental count to ten before he allowed them to open again. I don't suppose that I can transport four dozen wounded with whatever the hell 'Grade A portenko spores' are. Well, let's do a bit more searching here before heading downstairs. Maybe there's stuff hidden behind some of these crates? Or maybe there's some stuff here that we can use to get that rattletrap outside functional. If we ever get back home, I'm burying my karking nose inside as many technical and mechanical manuals that I can find.
Niil carefully clambered on top of some of the more sturdy crates and headed for the center of the pile, curious to see if anything was concealed amidst the stacks.
(OOC: Trying to see if anything is being concealed by the crates.)
-
Collan meanwhile went to take a look at the office. He closed his eyes as he entered and let go of his danger sense. He would need to search and it would be best to have his full attention or more on that. He focused inwards for a moment and let himself slip along the Force. He would let it help him focus his attention and be able to search more effectively and better.
[Concentration on Search]
-
In the loft, Niil doesn't discover anything else. These look to be consumable supplies and spare parts in support of the mushroom farm. There don't seem to be supplies or weapons or any kind up here.
The crates in the rear of the loft have a thin layer of dust, so they haven't been disturbed in a while - these are mostly spare parts for some sort of mechanical device.
In the office, Collan conducts a thorough search, finding business records,bills and lading and inventory notes, the access code to the small safe that is under the desk, and the main computer that appears to have served as a personal computer as well as manage the farm equipment down below. He can pull up a status display, but it appears there is no power down below, or all the machinery is shut down.
-
Niil blew out an exasperated breath and headed down the stairs to the main floor. Heading over to the office, he called out, "Hey, Collan . . . all I found was consumables and spare parts for the mushroom farm here, and some mechanical parts. Any luck with the office?"
-
“Nothing,” Collan sighed into the com, “Bills of lading...inventory notes. I’m going to see if there’s anything I can get out of the computer.”
[Concentration on search again...look through the stuff and see if there’s anything that indicates transportation like power cores, spare parts, etc.]
-
Niil saw that faraway look in Collan's eyes and remained silent so he could focus on the task at hand. Hmm. What about that junker outside? Is it possible to get that up and running? And where's the power core for this shop? The door panel and computer are working, so they have to be powered somehow.
"I'll be back," Niil muttered, and walked back into the shop to see if he could locate the shop's power core.
-
Calland does pick find trace stains that appear to be lubricant on the surface of the large cargo lift. Given the arrangements of the lift and the overhead doors, it could be that the lift was used for vehicles as well as cargo? There is also a heavy access hatch on one corner of the lift.
In the office, Niil takes a crack at the power systems. The place looks to have been wired by hand, so at first it doesn't seem to make much sense. The Niil uncovers a repeater control panel. He's not certain, but as a guess, given the proximity of other things, the power core looks to be in the lower level.
-
Well, look at that! A repeater panel in a place this small? Unless the primary panel was actually the one I used at the front door, it must be somewhere that's not readily accessible. Judging by how everything's wired, the power core's got to be below us - which means at least another room below us. Now, how would they access the core if they needed to fix it?
Leaving the panel alone for a moment, Niil walked out of the office and back on to the main floor. "Collan . . . I found a repeater panel in the office, so I'm kinda curious where the primary one is. From the looks of things, the shop's power core is below us, which means that there's at least another floor below us." He saw Collan investigating the lift, and added, "Find something?"
-
"yeah, this is a heavy lift and there's some trace of lubricant for heavy machinery," he replied, "I'm betting transport might be whereever the lift goes."
-
"Now we're getting somewhere . . . I hope. Let's see if I can figure this repeater panel out and get some juice flowing to that lift."
Niil turned his attention back to the repeater panel and delved into the Force to concentrate on the task at hand.
(OOC: Use Concentrate to figure out the schematic of the panel so Niil can figure out how to power the lift.)
-
There's no active controls - the panel here is just a monitoring station. But based on the wiring, the power generator is down below somewhere.
Connor does find a small cabinet with headlamps, a small electronic toolkit, and what looks like a lift hook [OOC: like something used to lift manhole covers].
There doesn't appear to be any other exits from this level, other than the heavy hatch on the floor of the lift.
-
Niil snagged a pair of headlamps, the tool kit and the lift hook and headed over to the lift where Colllan waited. "The panel's just a monitoring station, but the power generator is below." He pointed a finger at the hatch on the floor, donned one of the headlamps and handed another to Collan. "I'm going to check the hatch to see if it isn't wired first, and then I'll try and pry it open. I might need a hand heaving it open, though."
With that, Niil hunkered down with the lift hook in hand and closely examined the hatch.
(OOC: Examine the hatch first to see if it has any booby-traps. If not, try and pry the hatch up about an inch and check again.)
-
Collan put on one of the headlamps as well and followed Niil over.
“Hopefully, there’s transpo down there. I’d hate for this to be a wasted trip.”
-
Niil snorted as he checked out the seam to the hatch. "You and me both. I'm not that bad at driving repulsor vehicles, but shuttles? Fighters?" He shook his head in self-disgust. "The Old Man was right," he muttered, referring to General Kota. "There's a drek-load of skills I need to bone up on, and quickly. My technical and mechanical knowledge are both crud, and that's a dangerous liability in our field."
-
You pop open the hatch with the puller, and see the top rungs of a ladder descending below you into the dark. There's a few glints of reflection down there, about 30m. Your headlamps don't reach far enough down to light anything, but the ladder looks sturdy enough. It is recessed into the wall of the lift shaft.
You climb down, and the air gets noticeably colder as you descend. Finally you reach the bottom. According to the diagrams, main power should be off to your left. Your headlamps reveal a large machine shop, or perhaps a garage. There is a large vehicle off to one side, a powered down repulsor truck of some kind. There are lots of other shapes in the gloom - mostly storage crates and equipment shelves, but there are a couple of things covered by tarps.
Niil heads over and find the main power generator. It takes a couple of minutes, but in short order the generator is activated. Slowly, overhead lighting comes on, and you get a first good look at the area. The repulsor truck in front of you looks to be serviceable - there is no obvious damage, and it is not in pieces or anything. The rest of the room is filled with what appears to be farming equipment. There are a few powered down labour droids against one wall, and several pieces of speeders bikes and swoops in various states of disassembly.
Collan goes to one of the tarps and has a peek underneath. He lets out a whistle, and pulls the tarp off. Beneath is a very well cared for swoop bike. The basic design follows the standard swoop philosophy of a chair mounted on a massive engine, but this bike has a stylish pain job as well. A quick check confirms the other tarp covers another swoop bike, this one only half-painted.
-
Niil turned at Collan's low whistle, and found himself echoing his friend's expression of appreciation. Even from his untrained eye, the two swoops screamed the word POWER. Strap a seat and a set of controls to an overpowered repulsor engine and shoe-horn an ion-engine afterburner in the arse, and you had a grotesquely fast hover bike that accelerated like a TIE fighter and cornered like a terrified womp-rat.
Niil shook his head; driving repulsor trucks, landspeeders and even speeder bikes was one thing, but swoops required another class of driver altogether. Niil was sure that he could handle one if he drove it at relatively low speed, but if he cracked the throttle open and had to do some high-speed maneuvering, he'd likely turn himself into a red smear on the plain or against some canyon wall. Still, perhaps someone back at the camp had the skill to handle these beasts.
He walked around to the back of the hover truck, eyed the cargo bed, and looked back at the two swoops. "Collan . . . think we could get those two swoops loaded into the back of this truck?"
(OOC: Would one or both of these swoops fit into the cargo bay of the truck?)
-
“I believe gamblers will call this jackpot,” Collan said, “We better hurry as my gut tells me that the holder here probably knows or will know shortly that we are here.”
He took a look at the swoops.
"We should try to get at least one of these onto the back and any power supplies that we can as well. If we can make this move quickly, we should."
[OOC: how long to assess if the truck and swoops are operational and to load them to get out of there?]
-
[OOC: Sorry guys. I suck. On the plus side, the new job is working out very well. The downside is that I don't have reliable internet access from work anymore.]
It'll just take a few minutes to assess the swoops. Loading them and getting them out would take a little more time, depending on how you want to transport them.
You might be able to fit two, but it would be a little like a game of tetris.
-
(OOC: No prob. Great White Northerners are used to loading 2 snowmobiles on the back of a pickup truck. ;))
Niil cocked his head to the side as he alternated his attention between the truck and the swoops, and nodded to himself. "We're going to need something to serve as a ramp to get the swoops on to the truck and some rope or bungee cords to secure them . . . maybe the cargo lift? . . . but I think we can get both of them on the truck. Once we activate the swoop's repulsor, all we have to do is push it on to the truck and turn it sideways. Rest the arse end down in the bed, and have the forks stick out over the other side."
He thought about that for a moment, then shrugged. "Or . . . if there's enough room . . . put one in butt-end first and the second one along side it nose first."
-
"Let's do that," Collan agreed. He wanted to be gone quickly at this point. It was past time to move out; especially since it was easier to offer plausible deniability for the holder if the holder thought everything was stolen to begin with. Of course, it could also sour him/her/it on the Rebellion too...but that was a concern for down the line. They'd have to make a record to reimburse whoever lived here when they could.
"Even if we get only one, we could use it as a missile or distraction," Collan noted, "If we can get them on fast, let's take both..."
-
Niil nodded. "Let's move the fully painted swoop on first. I'm guessing it's race ready, so it should give us the least trouble."
-
It's pretty heavy going. The swoop's thrusters are way too powerful and touchy to be of any help in manoeuvring it, but the repulsors can support a 5 meter gravity column, so it should be workable. With a great deal of sweat and exertion, you manage to wrestle the first swoop into position. It's going to be a tight fit, and there may be a little cosmetic damage, but you should be able to get both swoops in the back. You'll need to take the second to the limits of the repulsors and settle it down into position from above.
It's easily 30 minutes work, and you're both exhausted, but you finally manage to wedge the second swoop into the back of the truck before finally taking a break to lean against the hull of the truck to catch your breath.
There's a few fuel cells in the shop for the swoops, which might come in handy. Other than that, it's mission accomplished. Well, this first step accomplished anyway.
-
Niil felt regret at stealing the truck and swoops from the owners, but he had to take comfort in the fact that the vehicles would likely help a great deal with the evacuation of Vessen's people and the medics.
He wiped sweat from his brow as he tightened the last strap holding the swoops in place on the truck's bed. "Karabast! I think it would've been easier to load a stubborn nerf than these racers," he chuckled. "Let's snag whatever fuel cells we can stuff in the back and get going. I don't want to be in the general vicinity when the owners show up."
-
Collan wiped the sweat off his brow. At this point he wished for a great big glass of Corellian ale. Tired. Hot. Sweaty. His body wanted a break but he needed to keep going.
"Yeah...let's grab what we can and go. I'm hoping we were quiet enough but I keep getting a bad feeling. I'm probably just paranoid. You know? It's been too easy so far," he noted to Niil, "Surely we'd have tripped an alarm by now."
He shook his head but reached out into the Force. He took a moment to set himself and get a feel for it.
[Danger Sense...take an extra round]
-
Collan's awareness expands. There is a generalized sense of danger, probably from the ongoing fighting on the planet, but nothing immediate.
[Are you keeping it up?]
You activate the lift, and the old mechanism creaks and shudders before slowly climbing to the top level. As it nears, the doors open, and the lift comes to rest at the ground level.
So far, so good.
[Actions?]
-
[Yes...keeping it up for now]
"Niil...how good are you are security stuff? We should probably make sure there's no security features on this like tracking or alarms," Collan asked, "It's been so easy so far and that's just not how things go for us."
-
Niil held his hand out, palm down, and waggled it. "Passable for security systems."
He hunkered down to where the truck's ignition system started and held a finger up. "If the truck has a security system, it's probably gonna be linked to the ignition system. Keep watch for a bit; I'll have to zone out for a spell. Then I'll probably have to check at least one of the swoops. The pretty one's probably worth more than this truck."
Niil took a deep breath to shut out all distractions, and started hunting for any sort of anti-theft security systems.
(OOC: I guess this will be a Security roll? Niil will add Concentrate to the attempt. First he'll do the truck, and if there's no setbacks/interruptions/etc., he'll check out the painted swoop next).
-
Niil does a sweep of truck, checking everywhere he can think of for security devices, and comes up empty.
-
Niil turned to Collan and shrugged. "Looks all right to me." He tapped a finger on the roof of the truck. "You want to operate the lift while I take the wheel? I didn't find any security devices on the truck, but the shop's power plant might trigger one somewhere."
-
[ooc: we're already at the top...we can go]
Collan made way for Niil to take the controls of the repulsor transpo.
"Get us out of here and I'll do overwatch," Collan said while trying to keep his senses in focus, "I can feel a generalized sense of something but nothing specific. Regardless, we should be careful."
[Keeping DS up]
-
(OOC: ?? I thought the repulsor truck and swoops were on the level below the main one?)
-
<snip>
You activate the lift, and the old mechanism creaks and shudders before slowly climbing to the top level. As it nears, the doors open, and the lift comes to rest at the ground level.
So far, so good.
-
Niil nodded and slipped into the driver's seat. Togging the truck's ignition, he said, "Pop the doors for me so I can get the truck out, but close it behind you, okay? I feel bad enough having to swipe the owner's truck and hot rods, and I don't like the idea of leaving the shop wide open."
-
Collan nodded and hopped out.
By the Force, he hoped this wasn't going to set off alarms. Or may be he did...as long as there weren't any trackers on the repulsortruck, there was a part of him that wanted there to be an alarm so the steader could at least claim the truck was stolen.
On second thought, that meant the Empire would piece together that something was up in the region and narrow their search for the Rebels in the area. Yeah. That was the most likely outcome. So...no...hopefully no alarms.
"You know...once we're away and fairly secure, we need to sweep the truck and swoops for tracking beacons too," Collan said as he made to open the doors.
[Open doors...let the truck out and close them back up...hop in and go go go. Also DS is up]
-
Niil leaned out of the open window and called out, "I didn't find any tracers or GPS on the truck, but yeah, if we get a few minutes and a secluded spot I'd like to go over both swoops before we get back to the troops."
-
You guys roll out from the structure, taking the time to close the door behind you.
[OOC: Did you leave the power on when you left, or shut it down?]
You find a secluded spot a few kilometers away, and go over the swoops. Niil doesn't find anything transmitting - the swoops are fairly stripped down racing models, not intended for luxury, so identifying every component is not difficult.
Making your way without being spotted it a lot more difficult with a large speeder truck. You have a couple of TIE overflights, but the fighters were moving at speed, and didn't seem to pay you any mind.
[Heading back to the troops?]
-
(OOC: Yes, shutting the power off at the garage before we leave. Also, on the way back to the troops, I'd like to do a short backtrack or two to see if we're being followed instead of making a straight beeline back to base.).
-
You do a couple of back-tracks, and no one seems to be following your trail. However, during the trip you come through a small ravine between a couple of hills in an attempt to avoid some other TIE fighters and you spot at the end of the ravine an armoured troop transport with the Stormtroopers doing some sort of work nearby. They spotted you before you spotted them, and several are moving to intercept you as you move out of the ravine. They have weapons held at the ready, but not in firing position.
[Perception] Turning around now will certainly alert them, and [Technical] the old truck won't be able to out run a troop transport.
The transport looks to hold about 15 stormtroopers. Four are approaching you, and you can see 3 more near the APC and 3 several meters away working on a piece of equipment, which leaves somewhere around 5 unaccounted for. Only the four moving to intercept you appear to be paying particular attention to you.
They are currently about 40m away from you.
None of the troopers appear to be particularly agitated or unusually alert, and they are moving with purpose, but unhurriedly to intercept.
-
"Malfing crud," Niil muttered even as he gave a leisurely wave with his hand to the approaching troopers. "Collan, there's no way we can outrun them. Let's hide our blasters quick, and check the glove compartment to see if there's any registration for this truck. We need an excuse to be out here. Maybe we're scouting out a race route for the next 'swoop race'?"
-
Collan nodded, "Yeah...and...I think I can talk us out of this...it won't be like last time though."
[OOC: gonna stow stuff and start thinking through a quick story. What does Collan know about swoop races and the fear factor? I'm thinking the story is that we done daytime racing but we wanted to set up and run a night course for a higher danger factor.]
-
Niil chuckled, thinking back to the space station. "That's a good thing. We almost shot you the last time."
-
Given the situation on the planet, and that it is currently being pacified, selling that you're just scouting for a new swoop track may be a tough sell. But fringe swoopers (who generally run afoul of authorities) could be a plausible tack to take.
-
“How do you want to play this? I can do the talking but we’re fringe swoopers. We’re sneaking out for a race without our ‘da’s permission?”
-
Niil nodded. "Yeah, That's probably a better sell than 'The Midnight Club' approach, but we'd better have a good excuse for not having any goggles or body armor with us."
He chuckled. "If we're pressed for I.D., we can tell them it's in the back with the duffle bags." He tapped his chest. "And guess which nerf-herder forgot the bags back at home? Just gotta play the role of a pair of air-headed throttle jockeys, and they might just wave us on with a warning."
-
“Yeah...I doubt that’s gonna happen. I’m hoping I can sell them a good story. I wish I knew how to do a mindtrick though. They’re impies si I can’t imagine they have that strong of a will.”
-
Nill sighed, then nodded. "Trust in The Force. All right . . . let's do this." He put on a lopsided grin, and gave the troopers a wave as they approached. He was, however, careful to keep both of his hands in clear sight.
-
One of the troopers motions for you to stop, and you come to a halt. The troopers split up then, one in front, one behind, and one on the passenger side. Once the others are in position, the fourth one comes to the driver's side door.
You open the window and hear a synthesized voice say, "Identification."
-
Collan looks out the window.
“Damn...that’s some impersonal drek...na even talking to us li’ pe’ple, eh eh Nadron.”
“Look, mate. We ain’t got ‘em on us per se. These pants don’t look so good when you got things sticking out,” Collan paused for effect, hoping to convey the idea of being in snarky thought, “weelll, you know...except for one thing, if’n you catch me drift.”
He then pointed towards the Stormies codpiece, “ya know...down south...where the armor...ah...makes the ole impression. Which might I say, is really impressive. Is...ya know...gen-u-ine? Are the rumors true that you guys are...weelll...good at making ladies happy?”
[con: fast-talk. Trying to be both super cringy and finding a point where this guy might just get disgusted enough to wave us on and not have to hear us anymore]
-
(OOC: Just waiting to see how things play out with Collan's attempt first. Niil will have a lopsided smile on his face, but he'll also have a raised eyebrow as he looks between Collan and the trooper asking for I.D.).
-
The trooper cocks his head at you a moment and says, "What?"
Collan spins a little more cringey BS, making a pretty good impression of a clueless spicehead racer. After about ten seconds, the trooper holds up a hand.
"Shut up."
He then moves away from the door and calls to the aft of the vehicle. "Anything?"
You don't hear the response, but the trooper comes back to the window of the vehicle. In a voice that sounds tired he says, "Where are you going with the swoop bikes?" You can almost hear the eye-roll.
-
(OOC: Niil's content to let Collan continue to talk for the time being unless one of the troopers questions him directly. Unless that happens, he'll just sit there and listen to the conversation with his mouth slightly open.)
-
[Continuing the con:fast talk; up to 3 CPs if needed]
Collan kept his spice-addled swoophead routine going.
"Listen...have you ever ridden one of the bad boys tweaked out to the max? We got them all hot and ready to roll! We taking these out and we gonna do some sweet jumps across the ravines. You know...push it hot and hard," Collan put a special emphasis on hot and hard to exude a sexual connotation to it, "Ride 'em like we've never ridden before."
"'da ju' went out to make an equipment run so we only got a couple to really see what we can do."
-
Niil's eyes took on a dreamy, thousand-kilometer look as he slowly raised a fist in the air and reverently whispered to no one in particular, "Push the envelope and balls to the wall, baby. Balls. To. The. Wall."
-
The trooper confers with his compatriot. From his body language, he seems to be buying your routine and just wants this encounter over with.
After a few moments he comes back to the truck. "You're cleared. Move along." He starts waving his arm to usher your vehicle down the road and away from him.
You make your way the rest of the way to the evacuees. There was a bit of a tight spot with a TIE overflight, but the fighter seemed to pay little attention to you and did not deviate course after flying almost directly over you. The rudimentary systems on the truck picks up a sensor sweep of your vehicle, but the TIE fighter kept on going.
Looks like you have made it back to the evacuees with a truck and two swoops.
-
Niil clambered out of the hover truck and took a few moments to stretch his legs. Since their encounter with the Imperial troopers, he couldn't help but feel a nagging suspicion scratching away at the back of his mind. Sighing, he went to the back of the truck and started to scour it for tracking devices. They'd been completely surrounded by the troopers earlier, and one of them could've easily slapped on a small tracker.
OOC: Checking the back of the truck (outside, underneath, the bed and the swoops) for any trackers/transmitters.
-
Collan got out with Niil and looked around as well.
"That went far better than I thought it would. I was afraid we'd have to blast our way out of there."
-
Niil nodded and chuckled. "That would've been an ugly firefight, but you sold them on the whole spice-head routine. It was starting to get on my nerves."
-
The ride the rest of the way to the survivors is uneventful, and the speeder truck pulls into the old bunker without incident.
Surprised walking wounded crowd around the truck, and you see for the first time hope on some faces that they might actually get off this place.
[OOC: OK, how to proceed? You guys have some time before you need to move, but I need you know how your going to go about getting everyone there. There's plenty of room in the truck for the non-mobile wounded and the injured, and survivors can drive it if you guys want the swoops.]
-
Niil looked at the survivors, then back at the truck and the pair of swoops, and blew out his breath while he rubbed at his forehead in thought. "Well, we've got ourselves a decent haul to get to the extraction point, and I have my doubts that we're going to get all the way there before we're spotted . . . or run into a checkpoint."
He turned to Vissa and his people, and said, "Okay, we have some time to get things squared away before we bug out, and I hope to contact HQ before that to get a SITREP. If our assault team's had success in securing the bunker, then we've got a seventy-five klick dash to make. Worst case is head for the alternate extraction point, which is close to two hundred klicks away. The good and bad point of that is that's it's drek terrain and isolated, and puts our timetabe in a hell of a pinch."
Niil punched up a map of the area on his noteputer so that it covered an area large enough that included the secondary extraction point down on the deck of the truck, and shrugged. "Two questions come to mind, and the first one's gonna be odd, so . . . okay, first of all, does anyone know of any festivals or celebrations that usually happen around this time of year around the area I've got showing on the map here? Maybe something that we can somehow take advantage of to pass us off as, umm, celebrants? It might not stop an Imperial checkpoint, but it might reduce our chances of being stopped or - The Force forbid - fired upon."
"Second question . . ." He jabbed a finger at the pair of swoops that were being off-loaded, " . . . does anyone have decent experience driving these monsters?"
-
Vissa shakes his head. "Since the Empire reoccupied the planet, there's been no public gatherings. People are hunkered down. There's some movement - need to keep the taxes coming in and all that, but nothing like a festival. But we know the lay of the land, and with the swoops, you can scout ahead and make sure the way is clear. We got people that can drive the truck."
-
[OOC: I think Corey is MIA. Ball is on your court, Darren.]
-
Niil nodded. "All right, then. Let's take a few minutes to check out a map of the area between here and our objective first so Collan and I can familiarize ourselves better." He chuckled grimly. "I don't want to malf up and lead us into the mother of all cul-de-sacs."
He glanced back at the swoops, and blew out his breath. "I guess Collan and a I are going to put on some some armor and head-gear if we're going to driving these sub-light beasts. So . . . let's get the non-mobile and seriously wounded into the truck first, as well as many supplies as we can. We can cache the rest of the supplies if we run out of room."