STAR WARS: An Ill Wind
Session 04
Hyperspace is mottled shades of blue and white, surrounding the Dauntless in a swirling tunnel of seemingly infinite length. All systems are functioning nominally as the courier starship ferries its Jedi passengers to their next assignment.
Algus, a world on the edge of Republic space - not far from the regions under Hutt dominion - has asked for help in dealing with some sort of 'monster' that has been attacking the colony. As with most requests that do not fit neatly under the purview of the Republic military or the Sector Rangers, the task falls to those wandering, all-purpose problem solvers: the Jedi Knights.
The view outside the viewports is ever-changing, yet always the same. The random energy fluxes of hyperspace invite the sentient eye to try to make sense of chaos, like sensor static.
Pira kneels in placid meditation in the small observation area, the flow of random energy a useful focal point.
Day-Lin, on the other hand, is a good deal less than placid, despite the strip of rough cloth wound over his eyes. Compressed air hisses as a remote jets back and forth, counterpointed by the faint hum of the activated lightsaber in Day-Lin's hands.
Tiny darts of energy fly from the remote's lenses, simulating more lethal discharges.
Day-Lin easily deflects the stings of the dancing ball, moving in a flowing dance.
Down in the aft end of the Corellian-built ship, in a compartment with accessways leading to the three massive ion engines, Avirida and her two fellow engineers watch over the purring hyperdrive.
Avirida paces back and forth, eyeing the drives and displays sidelong. They look perfectly in order. But she knows, knows, that if she takes her eyes off of them for as much as five minutes...
On the bridge, Harukuk looks up and makes an appreciative noise as the co-pilot returns with a Wookiee-sized mug (pitcher) of the captain's favorite hot beverage.
<OOC> Pira says, "Why do I feel the urge to break a round of the Gilligan's Island theme?"
Harukuk sips it appreciatively, careful of his fur.
Just as the co-pilot takes his seat again and Harukuk takes his first careful sip, a light on the console begins to flash to the accompaniment of a strident alarm. There's a hard jolt and then - as the spaceframe pops and groans in protest - the Dauntless is yanked from its normal course.
Starlines snap back to hard points that jitter in the windows as the whole ship vibrates.
Avirida breathes an imprecation under her breath. That was supposed to be minutes, not seconds.
A fat spark arcs from the hyperdrive to a nearby console as breakers blow, the automatic safety cutout engaging to keep the whole motivator from melting down.
Avirida picks herself up off a wall. "Someone check that console! Is the whole thing fried?" She lunges for another, trying to read status on the two great engines farthest from that spark.
Ensign Koos leaps to obey the Chief's order. The power droid in the corner stumbles around underfoot, uttering bewildered "Gonk" noises.
Pira comes to her feet in a single smooth motion, senses reaching outward through the Force.
Day-Lin exclaims something most un-Jedilike at the sudden jolt, but keeps his feet, saber shutting down almost at once.
The remote shuts down as the saber goes off, hovering almost serenely in the air as beings with footing try to retain theirs.
Day-Lin makes haste up toward the cockpit, leaving Pira and the remote behind in the observation chamber.
Pira frowns in frustration a moment at the uninformative view, and makes her own way up to the bridge.
Harukuk grumbles with irritation, and mans the scanners.
Slightly to port, looming large as the Dauntless's psuedomotion brings it to a halt a few dozen kilometers away, is a dark and irregular shape... a good-sized asteroid, covered with craters large and small.
Almost dead ahead, however, is a plainly artificial object - a broken ring, with a spherical projection into the center. Sensors show many smaller contacts headed this way from the battleship-sized vessel.
Harukuk sighs explosively, and grunts something to the co-pilot. He looks back, assured that Avirida is working on the problems, and turns back tot he scanners.
Harukuk frowns, and barks something to his crew. ["I have contacts. Stations! Try to raise them on the com. Shields up, just in case."]
Harukuk grumbles something under his breath. ["I have a bad feeling about this."]
The co-pilot nods and hits a few switches, speaking into his headset. "Trade Federation ship, this is the Republic courier Dauntless. Please respond." Several seconds pass, as various alarms slowly begin to shut off. "No response, Captain."
A group of points moving against the starfield splits apart into a dozen grey-brown shapes that flash past the Dauntless on all sides. But that glimpse is enough for trained officers to identify them as droid starfighters, a full squadron of them.
Harukuk repeats his mutter, emphasis adding an adjective or two. He then speaks aloud to his co-pilot, and sets the ship to moving. ["You don't knock a starship out of hyperspace to invite them for tea. Battlestations, and someone try and get a message back to the nearest Replublic base about our situation."
The co-pilot says, "Trying, sir, but Comms reports we're being jammed." Turning his head away again, he curses the other officer. "Well, keep trying! With the transmitters on this ship, we should be able to punch through anything!"
This is the scene that greets the Jedi as they crowd over the shoulders of the startled co-pilot and Captain.
Day-Lin gets there a bit in advance of Pira. "What in -- " he begins, and then stops, spying the Federation ship.
Harukuk is going to move away from the battleship and the incoming fighters. He's assuming this is a hostile situation.
The Dauntless' sublight engines come online and it starts to come about, bearing away from asteroid and Federation battleship.
Pira rests a hand on the back of one of the command chairs, watching the Trade Federation ships. "How were we attacked?"
The alarms of the unexpected hyperspace reversion, and the assorted systems failures resulting therefrom, are replaced by pulsing alert indicators.
Harukuk rumbles to the co-pilot. The end of the statement is fairly emphatic. ["No firing until we are fired upon. We haven't been attacked yet, but if we are, sit down and be quiet."]
Avirida's order of priorities in the engine room: first is finding out status, second is isolating any failures likely to spread further damage, third is regaining /minimal/ hyper capability. If that's even possible.
As the droid starfighters come around for another pass, their oval 'wings' snap open to ready their lasers to fire.
Harukuk mutters something dire involving treacherously thick foliage.
Harukuk pages: Supposes we're not able to outrun the fighters? You paged Harukuk with 'You are correct sir.'.
Between the three engineers, the status is soon sorted out. The hyperdrive is off-line and needs a reset, and probably to have a few fuses replaced in the process. Sublight engines are good, power systems are settling down from the surge when the ship came out of hyperspace. Hull integrity is down a bit from the shaking the Dauntless got.
Day-Lin looks across at Pira. "I don't suppose Master Windu taught you anything for situations like this?"
Pira says "I learned the theory of starship combat strategy."
Pira says "But I cannot say that we were ever attacked on any of your journeys to put it to any practical test."
Day-Lin says "Somehow I don't think that's going to help up much against a Federation battleship."
The co-pilot looks up again. "Skipper, getting something through a window in the jamming. It keeps changing, though. Comms says they can't send through it."
Harukuk growls a response. ["What have we got?"]
A voice crackles through the bridge speakers, static bursting in the background every second or two. "Republic courier, you are ordered to cut your engines and prepare to be boarded, or we will open fire." Despite the poor quality of the transmission, the characteristic Nemoidian accent is notably absent.
Pira says "Do you have a probe you can send with warning of the attack?"
Pira says "If they are blocking normal transmissions."
Two by two, droid starfighters make passes along the Dauntless' flanks like predators harrying a bantha. The mother ship is also starting to move in this direction, though not as quickly.
Day-Lin says "It might be best not to provoke them."
The co-pilot looks back. "A log buoy, but..."
Harukuk instructs the co-pilot. ["They'll shoot it down, unless we can disguise its launch somehow. Inform the Trade Federation starship that we are a Republic starship, interfering with our passage is an offense... and so on. Maybe we can buy some time to figure out what's going on here."]
Avirida, with the engines, searches out and replaces fuses as fast as her quick grey hands can swap. She doesn't even swear. Out loud.
The co-pilot repeats, "We are a courier ship, Federation... interfering with our safe passage is a violation of diplomatic law." Hearing nothing but static in reply, he frowns and shakes his head.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Piloting roll, Harukuk."
Harukuk rolls 5 dice: <6> 1 6 4 3
Harukuk pages: Woo hoo!
Harukuk rolls 1 die: <4>
Harukuk pages: 24.
Pira says aside to Day-Lin "They've taken up piracy in the wake of their expulsion, do you think?"
Pira says "Or is this a matter of revenge?"
Harukuk's pilot instincts serve him well, as the starfighters open fire. Most of the hail of lasers pass over or to the side as the Wookiee throws the small starship into a frantic dodge.
Day-Lin says "I'm not sure. Something about this doesn't seem quite right."
Day-Lin says "The Federation has always been interested in profit. Where's the profit in this?"
For a moment it seems as though the Dauntless will collide with one of the droid fighters, then it darts out of the way and space ahead is clear, for a moment.
<OOC> Kelly rolls...
Harukuk pages: How many are there, btw?
You paged Harukuk with 'Twelve. A squadron.'.
The Dauntless rocks as more lasers pelt against the rear shields, tearing them almost completely away with the first volley.
Day-Lin glances backward. "I wouldn't think we can take too many more of those."
Harukuk pages: Am I right in assessing we're way over our head?
You paged Harukuk with 'Oh yeah.'.
Pira says "Do we carry any cargo? This is only a transport, no?"
The co-pilot nods, face pale and drawn with fear. Then he cries out as a panel next to him blows in a brief shower of sparks.
Harukuk barks into the ships com. ["Where's my hyperdrive, Chief?"]
Day-Lin says "We can't possibly get away from them. But there are alternatives to fighting."
<OOC> Kelly says, "You are such a hammy bastard. :)"
<OOC> Day-Lin hee hee hee
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Overacting is a great Star Wars tradition."
Pira says "Surrender would appear to be the only other option in this moment."
Day-Lin says "When faced with a choice of surrender or death, I generally prefer surrender."
The co-pilot clutches his burned cheek with one hand as he informs the captain, "Shields are gone sir, GONE!"
Engineering is a madhouse. Just as the hyperdrive is ready for a reset, the shield generator starts overheating. Another shot causes the lights to flicker out to be replaced by the bloody glow of emergency illumination.
The shield generator and some of the cables leading to it have caught on fire from feedback. Koos grabs an extinguisher and tries to put them out as choking smoke fills the compartment.
Avirida slams on the com. "Captain," she snaps crisply, "the drive's almost reset, but the shield generator's overheated. No projection for repairs yet." Off again, and she lunges for the generator. "Koos, take the drive; let's see what we can rig for shields -"
Koos quickly hands the extinguisher to the Chief and swaps positions with her.
Avirida foams the base of the fires, trying not to breathe the smoke. Given conditions, that would be trying not to breathe at all.
At that moment, another buzzing message comes through from the other ship. "Last chance, Dauntless. Cut your engines NOW or eat vacuum."
Harukuk growls something that would make anyone who understood him blanch, were it not for the severe situation, and pulls the throttle back, killing the engines.
Day-Lin glances around the bridge. "If nothing else, at least it'll take them a little longer to get here to board us. That could come in handy."
The droid starfighters continue to buzz around the Dauntless like angry hornets as the courier coasts to a halt, its red paint now scored by some new ugly black marks.
Pira says "It seems we will find out what is the profit for them after all."
In engineering, Avirida manages to get the fire out and the fans begin work on the task of clearing the air.
Avirida lets herself cough nonetheless, and take a moment to stare dismally in the relative silence at the wreckage of the generator.
Koos says, "Okay, I've got it reset, but... oh, man." He shakes his head at the ruined shield unit, which pings and pops as the metal cools. "Looks like a total loss."
"What do you think is going on up there?" the third engineer asks.
Avirida draws a deep breath. "We'll see what we can salvage. Haven't the faintest what's going on, but things've gotten fairly quiet." She touches the com again. "Hyper capability should be back, sir."
Day-Lin asks, thoughtfully, "You wouldn't happen to have a spare ship's uniform that might be somewhere near my size, would you?"
Harukuk looks thoughtfully at Day-Lin for a moment, then nods his shaggy head. As Avirida's message comes through, he cocks his head at the co-pilot.
Day-Lin explains, apparently for Pira's benefit, "Two Jedi if they're expecting only one could be to our advantage."
The co-pilot shakes his head. "I have no idea where we are. We'd need to get a star fix, and then feed a new course into the navicomputer... And by then, they'll be right on top of us."
Pira considers Day-Lin for a moment, and nods. "But there had best be a Jedi here if they expect one. Or they may begin questioning the crew."
Pira says "If the Federation is hunting Jedi, the Temple needs to know."
Day-Lin smiles, somewhat wanly. "You're probably much closer to what they expect from a Jedi than I," he points out.
Pira draws her hood up. "You will carry word to the Council if matters go badly?"
<OOC> Pira says, ". o O ( ooooh, if he goes hightailing it back to the Rim... )"
Day-Lin says "Assuming I have the option." He starts back away from the bridge, toward ship's stores."
EXT. SPACE
The Trade Federation battleship draws nearer, nearer, like some spacegoing leviathan about to swallow its prey. Most of the starfighters withdraw to a distance as it approaches.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Cue 'Inner City', the Death Star theme."
There's another brief jolt, and though the engines remain off-line, stars begin to move past the bridge windows. Instruments confirm the Dauntless is in a tractor beam.
Slowly, the small cruiser is drawn into the hangar bay at the end of one of the battleship's curving arms. Gun emplacements track it all the while.
Zipping up the front of his jumpsuit, Day-Lin takes a moment to check himself out in the mirror. Not bad. Though the question remains, what to do with his lightsaber...
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "I resist the obvious temptation to ask if they've got an astrodroid handy."
The Dauntless settles to the deck on its landing shocks. Already assembled to greet it are a large number of skeletal white battle droids, blaster rifles held at the ready.
Day-Lin mutters, "Toolkit," to himself, and heads back toward engineering.
<OOC> Kelly says, "So, what are people doing?"
<OOC> Avirida is seeing what can be salvaged out of the shield generator.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Well, it might be worth ten credits at a scrapyard."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Thirty if you're good at haggling with junk dealers."
Pira folds her arms into her sleeves again. "I think I shall see what intent our Federation friends have." She turns away, heading down towards the entry airlock.
Day-Lin enters engineering to find the normally clean white surfaces scorched by fire, and the air smelling of smoke and ozone. The engineers stand about in various stages of frustration over the state of the ship. The boxy little droid at the charging station turns to him and asks, "Gonk?"
<OOC> Pira giggles. Cameo!
Day-Lin says "Uh, yes, I'm looking for...uh...A...Avirida." He peers around the cramped compartment. "She here?""
Avirida removes her head and shoulders from the generator's casings, smudged and generally tarnished. "Unfortunately."
Day-Lin says "I need a toolkit." He holds up the saber hilt. "Something this wouldn't look too out of place in, something most people don't know all the functions of anyway."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Unlike in the Imperial era, you can't rely on people to go "Whut's that thang?" ;)"
<OOC> Pira says, "That some kinda fancy flashlight, boy?"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Well, the bounty hunters know what it is. Its worth money!"
Avirida studies the saber. "That's pretty recognizable," she says doubtfully, "but if we buried it..." She eyes the generator. "Maybe we can get some use out of that thing after all."
Avirida starts assembling tools - and the occasional piece of likely-looking scrap that could pass for tools.
INT. BATTLESHIP HANGAR
Looking down from the elevated bridge, Harukuk and the co-pilot see another group emerge from a lift and walk toward the grounded ship. They don't look like Trade Federation... but the battle-droids step aside to let them pass. The one in the lead is human, while the rest are an assortment of species. Their clothing is equally varied, though all wear blast vests and carry blasters or carbines.
The apparent leader comes to a halt right below the bow and cups his hands around his mouth to shout. "Well? Are you coming out, or do we burn you out?"
The co-pilot and Harukuk exchange a look.
Pira stands at the airlock, and taps the outer entrance lock, leaving the inner doors closed.
Harukuk grumbles to the co-pilot. Then moves to the hatch.
Harukuk pages: I tell him to do the talking. Play it indignant.
The man nods in satisfaction as he sees the bridge crew moves out of sight, turning to say something to his second. A squad of battle droids moves up to secure the main ramp and airlock.
Pira tucks her hands into her sleeves again, hood shadowing her face as she stands in the middle of the lock.
The heavy airlock door hisses open and the droids quickly take stock of the situation. One with yellow stripes across its shoulders speaks in a buzzing voice: "Do not move. You are our prisoner." Its birdlike head turns. "Search her."
"Roger roger," the second droid replies.
<OOC> Day-Lin was just saying that out loud
<OOC> Kelly says, "I've been waiting to. ;)"
Pira says "This is an illegal action, the detaining of a Republic diplomatic vessel."
The droids say nothing to that, and the organics at the end of the ramp look unimpressed. Strong metal fingers glide and pat over Pira's robe, quickly finding the lightsaber and drawing it forth.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Any action?"
<OOC> Pira considers. Her first impulse would no doubt be to intercept it and slice the damn thing in half, but she's supposed to be finding out what the plan is here, so I guess not.
<OOC> Kelly says, "And while you're cutting him off at the chest, his five steelbrothers open fire. Then the twenty others standing outside. Bad idea."
<OOC> Pira says, "Well, yes."
Harukuk emerges at the top of the exit ramp of the starship, looming just behind the co-pilot.
<OOC> Harukuk says, "That's what parrying blaster bolts is for!"
Pira is gripped by the arms and marched down the ramp, just as the Wookiee and the other officer emerge.
Nort, the co-pilot, gives Harukuk a look as the droids repeat their speech and search.
<OOC> Pira says, "I assume our crowd of scum and villiany is bounty hunters?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "You may assume anything you like."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Has his stick, that's all he's carrying."
<OOC> Pira says, "oooh, they'll regret touching a wookiee's stick!"
Pira is brought before the head of the procession, a large man with dark brown skin and short curly hair as black as space. He shows teeth in a broad grin. "Now, don't tell me you're a Jedi. Why, you're just a girl." He reaches out and grips Pira's chin, lifting and turning. "Quite a pretty one, at that."
Pira twists her head out of his grasp, and says in her coolest tones. "I am Knight Pira Kunsai. You are interfering illegally in in a Republic diplomatic mission."
The man laughs. "I'll have to take your word for it. I never studied law."
Pira says "Do you speak for this ship?"
He nods. "Though I'll not speak to you... yet."
The Wookiee and Nort are brought up next, as the droids move Pira off to one side, despite any struggles.
The leader looks between the two and inquires mildly, "Which one of you is the captain of this ship?"
Harukuk bares his teeth in a rather savage-looking grin.
Nort huffs, "I am. And as m'Lady said, you have a lot of nerve..."
The dark man grins back. "So do you, it seems... since he's wearing the Captain's insignia." He nods to Harukuk.
Harukuk growls out a few words, and cocks his head toward the co-pilot. ["Unless you understand this, you may as well speak to him. And you do have a lot of nerve."]
The leader laughs. "Actually, I do. Though I can't speak it worth a damn. Welcome, Captain, aboard my ship. Impressive, isn't she? I'm Jacobi Festus. Though you can call me 'Big Jake'."
Harukuk gives a sniff. "Aruagh kurroch ggaaa" ["Sounds like a pirate's name."]
Big Jake just grins. "Well, that would be because I am one. We all are. Right boys?" The question produces a confused cheer of agreement from the other organics present.
Big Jake asks, "And what's your name, friend?"
Harukuk arches an eyebrow. "Harukuk," he says.
"Harukuk," Jacobi repeats. "Captain Harukuk, I'd like to thank you for the gift of your fine vessel. I'm sure we'll find a way to put her to good use." Again that broad grin. Pirate or not, he takes care of his teeth.
Harukuk rattles on in Wookiee. He seems dubious. ["What possible good can it do you? No good cargo either."]
Jacobi shrugs. "Bait? An escape ship? I'm sure I'll think of something. Doesn't matter right now."
Jacobi asks, "Now, *Captain*, will you have the rest of your crew come out and join us?"
Harukuk nods and gestures to Nort.
Carefully, at blaster-point, Nort pulls out his commlink and gives the order.
Harukuk smiles that Wookiee smile as he asks a casual-sounding question of Jacobi. ["So the Federation are so hard-up they're selling their battleships?"]
By twos and threes, the remaining crew appear at the airlock and are hustled down and searched by the battle droids. Avirida and the disguised Day-Lin are the last to emerge.
Jacobi laughs. "Sell? Hells, no. We took it. And it was even easier than capturing you."
Day-Lin makes as if to object when the battle droids search the toolkit he clings possessively to. "Hey, be careful with that," he says instead, apparently unnerved by the profusion of blasters in view.
Avirida has, with luck, by this time equipped /all/ the engineers with suitably appropriate and confusing toolkits. Day-Lin would thus stand out a little less. Assuming that the droids don't search thoroughly...
Harukuk grunts something that sounds like he's encouraging Jacobi to go on.
The droid searching the kit finishes pawing through it and snaps it shut again, handing it back for now.
Day-Lin mutters, "Thanks," as he accepts the kit's return.
Jacobi shakes his head. "Sorry, can't give away all my secrets. You might get ideas. Speaking of which..."
The pirate captain turns away, and as he does bright red light flashes briefly. Nort's eyes widen... then he slumps to the floor, a blaster wound charring his uniform.
The other pirate, the one who shot, smirks and turns the blaster on Harukuk, just in case.
Avirida's eyes widen, her hands clamping on her own kit till her knuckles are ashen.
Several battle droids also still have their rifles trained on the big Wookiee.
Harukuk seemed about to reach out and touch someone, someone very specific, in fact. The hand is still reached out in a grasping position.
Pira's gaze grows colder, and she tenses, testing the battle droids' grip on her.
"Don't try any more tricks, Captain," Jacobi warns. "And I won't have to shoot any more of your people."
Harukuk's teeth remain bared.
"Take them to level five and lock them in with the others," the captain orders the yellow-painted battle droid as he walks away.
"Aye aye, Captain," the droid officer replies.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. BATTLESHIP - CORRIDOR
Escorted by droid soldiers, the crew of the Dauntless are led to a section of the Trade Federation ship that appears to be crew quarters. Here Pira is separated from the rest.
Avirida looks anxiously after Pira, but under the droids' blasters, evidences no further rebellion.
While Pira is led further down the hallway, the remaining crew are hustled into the room and the door locked behind them. It's a large one, with several bunks along the walls... and other occupants. Several Nemoidians, including a few in the robes and uniforms of officers, look up at the new arrivals. Some back away nervously, while others just glumly return to whatever they were doing.
The engineers, surprisingly, still have their toolkits. No one ever told the battle droids to take them away... and droids of this type tend to be very literal.
Pira's face evinces no reaction to her separation, as she keeps a careful cool mask.
<OOC> Pira says, "Jedi lesson three, after learning how to draw a lightsaber without mutilating yourself: never let them see you sweat."
Pira seems to have been granted a single room, something a junior officer might have used once. Two droids enter with her and take up a silent vigil on either side of the door, while two others remain outside.
Pira makes a single circuit of the room, looking for any details that might be of use.
The room Pira's in is comfortable, with a small round viewport looking out into space, and furniture almost up to what she's used to in the Temple. But she finds little that is of use to her at the moment.
The droids' black photoreceptor eyes follow Pira as she prowls around the room and finally sits down, feeling frustrated even if she doesn't show it.
Pira returns to the center of the room, dropping into a seat meditatation position, hands resting lax and upturned on her knees.
Day-Lin observes, under his breath, "Could be worse."
Avirida murmurs, "Could be a lot worse."
Day-Lin, struck by a sudden thought, turns to question Avirida. "Where are those battle droids controlled from?" he asks in an undertone.
Avirida murmurs, "The Federation droids are usually controlled from their ship. But..." She frowns. "How'd they take the ship in the first place?"
Day-Lin jerks a thumb at one of the uniformed Neimodians. "Maybe we should ask them."
Harukuk breaks from his brooding long enough to comment something to Avirida.
Avirida nods to the Wookiee. "Right." She glances around, then sighs and approaches the nearest of the Nemoidians, cautiously.
Pira sends out a thread of thought. */Day-Lin/*
The other Jedi hears Pira as clearly as if she were standing beside him.
Day-Lin pauses, head cocking slightly. He attempts a reply: */Yes?/*
The return thought from Day-Lin is a little vague. He's obviously not had much practice at mindspeech through the Force. "Yes" is a simple concept, though.
<OOC> Kelly says, "It was Pira who initiated last time, too. I wonder if this is going to become a steady theme."
<OOC> Kelly | */Day-Lin!/* */what? ... shower... go away/*
Pira briefly gives him a mental image of the path she was taken on from their point of separation. */Where have they taken you to? Were you separated?/*
Day-Lin sticks with the easy concepts: */Prison. No./*
<OOC> Pira says, "Them rim boys don't get the advantage of Temple discipline."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Yeah, we get the advantage of low cunning. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Heh."
The Nemoidian looks up at Avirida's approach, startlement in his red-orange eyes. "Don't hurt me." He wears a high hat that tapers to a point, with simple grey robes.
<OOC> Harukuk snickers. Why do you think that I'm not doing the questioning?
Pira sends */They only killed one. Presumably they intend to either impress the rest of the crew or sell them as slaves. You could escape then./*
<OOC> Day-Lin . o O ( Showoff )
<OOC> Pira says, "A wookiee is a good friend to have "
Avirida says, "I'm not going to, sir." She brushes futilely at smudged face and tarnished hair. "We're in this together now. What happened to you? To your ship?"
Day-Lin returns: */Not yet. Talk old crew. Get droids./*
<OOC> Pira . o O ( It's like talking to a two year old... )
Another voice answers the question, ringing with indignation: "We were hi-jacked!" The speaker draws himself up to his feet, looking regal in his deep blue robes and miter of command. His courtly accent is strong, and he tends to draw out his vowels.
Pira's mental touch grows marginally more cheerful. */You are with the old crew? That's a good plan, if only you can get to the controls./*
Avirida bows toward the speaker. "As were we." She looks rueful for a moment. "With your ship, I'm afraid."
"They came aboaaard disguised as cargo handlers, and hid," the Nemoidian captain continues. "Then, when we were in flight, they made their way to the bridge and took control. We... could not resist them," he finishes sadly.
Day-Lin's acerbic tone comes through quite clearly. */Thanks for advice./*
Harukuk grumbles something. ["Trouble with relying so much on droids."]
Still another of the aliens speaks up. "Now they have turned our own drrroids against us! They use our vessel for piracy!"
Avirida nods back to the Wookiee, woefully. "That's our story," she agrees to the most recent of the other aliens. "We were captured by them, they took our ship."
"We are all doooomed," the last one says mournfully.
Harukuk says something to Avirida.
Avirida translates, "He wants to know where the droid control center is."
Reaching out with her feelings to touch the Force, Pira finds the sparks of her companions' lives a dozen meters away or so, and beyond that, nothing... except for faint flickers at the edge of her awareness, maybe three or four that she can sense from here.
"Droids, communications, de bridge... all of that is on the top levels of de center sphere," the captain says. "But we could never make it."
Day-Lin snaps out of his trance in time to ask, "What about their power source?"
Harukuk grunts something. ["Why not?"]
Day-Lin says "If we could shut them down, even temporarily, that would be almost as good as regaining control of them."
Avirida asks, "Why couldn't we make it?" She glances toward the door. "Besides the obvious."
"What more reason do you need?" "Have you no thought for your lives?" "At least, then, think of us! If you try to escape, who KNOWS what they might do? *shiver*"
Day-Lin says "Humor us, just briefly. Assuming you wouldn't be molested by anyone, where would you go to neutralize the droids?"
Day-Lin says "If you wanted to do it as quickly as possible."
The Lord Captain harrumphs. "The control stations on de bridge... or, the antenna array."
One of the other officers looks around for a moment, then pipes in. "My Lord, forgive the interruption, but... there is another way, as well." She (the voice is higher pitched) says to Avirida, "As you guessed, if main power were shut down, the backup circuits do not include the droid command-and-control unit."
The captain snorts. "But the reaaactor will be guarded as heavily as the bridge. There is no chaaance."
<OOC> Kelly says, "By the way, if you haven't already been, imagine cheesy Hollywood-Asian accents for all of these guys. ;)"
Harukuk strokes his fuzzy chin.
Day-Lin says "Just where is the reactor in relation to here?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Adjacent to the hangar, where young boys in borrowed starfighters can easily shoot it. Oh, sorry."
<OOC> Day-Lin LAUGHS
<OOC> Kelly says, "Couldn't help myself."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Well, actually..."
The other Nemoidian thinks for a moment. "Six levels down."
Day-Lin says "You mean if the six floors below us suddenly vanished, we'd be there?"
<OOC> Day-Lin sets up her battle droid action figures.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Mook Bowling!"
All of the Nemoidians look at Day-Lin as if he had totally taken leave of his senses. Finally, a few nod.
Day-Lin says "...and there's nothing dangerous in between, like a waste disposal area or a plasma chamber or open vacuum or anything?"
There's a quick, whispered consultation... then shaking heads.
Day-Lin sets down his toolkit, undoes the toggle latch, and begins searching through the contents. "Good."
<OOC> Kelly says, "It slices through everything, including plot!"
<OOC> Day-Lin has total confidence in the GM's ability to stop him if desirable.
<OOC> Pira giggles!
Harukuk takes the stick from off his back.
Day-Lin produces the familiar plastic and metal cylinder. "Stand back now, and if a few of you wouldn't mind coming along with us to make sure Avirida can shut down the reactor, we'd be very grateful.
"What do you mean?" "What are you going to do?"
Day-Lin says, "Improvise."
INT. BATTLESHIP - CORRIDOR
Jacobi tosses an ironic salute to a nearby battledroid as he steps off the lift. He seems in good cheer, though the smile quickly fades from his face as his first mate gets in it immediately.
"Why are you letting them LIVE?" the Twi'lek hisses. "We should kill them all, now. Space the bodies, blow up the ship, and pretend none of this ever happened."
Big Jake frowns. "The problem with you, Vinc, is that you have no vision. No grasp of..." he spreads his hands wide. "... the big picture. That's why I'm in charge of this band, and that's why I'm the one that came up with the plan to take this ship in the first place."
Vinc falls in behind the human as Jacobi starts to walk off. "I'm telling you, this is a really REALLY bad idea. Was there really a Jedi Knight aboard?"
Big Jake snorts. "Just one. I've got her under double guard, for now. Quite a looker... if only she wasn't a Jedi. I could get a good price for her."
Vinc repeats, "It's too dangerous, having a Jedi aboard. Even with all the droids we've got. Kill her, Captain. Kill her and all the rest."
<OOC> Pira smirks. Hey, there's probably someone dumb enough to buy a Jedi for the thrill of risk
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Keep 'em well-drugged..."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Are you supposed to be helping? :)"
The Twi-lek's face becomes even paler as Jacobi suddenly turns and seizes him by the throat, thrusting him up against the wall. "I've already made my decision, Vinc. If you don't like it, you're welcome to challenge me for the lead." The smile widens as the grip tightens.
"Naggh," Vinc chokes. One of his hands starts moving toward his belt, but the pirate captain strikes that wrist hard and the blaster drops to the floor.
Festus kicks it away, then releases his lieutenant, who doubles over in a coughing fit. "Relax, Vinc. You worry too much. Trust me... big things are coming our way. This is just the beginning." His voice fades as he walks away.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Vinc gasps.
<OOC> Pira says, "heh heh heh"
<OOC> Avirida beats Kelly, gently and lovingly
<OOC> Kelly accepts the beating in the spirit it is given.
INT. (YET ANOTHER) CORRIDOR
<OOC> Avirida laughs!
Two unmarked battle droids are patrolling an empty hallway when both become aware of a strange humming noise nearby. They look around curiously, and finally up. Suddenly a bright green spot pokes out of the ceiling and starts carving a rough circle.
The droids raise their rifles, their standard response to the unknown, as they mill uncertainly below the phenomenon.
The glowing saber tip completes its arc and the ceiling gives way, crashing down on top of one of the droids and crushing it completely flat. Day-Lin leaps down through the breach, saber still alight, and neatly decapitates the other one. The young Jedi looks up, then down the corridor and finally announces to those above, "All clear."
<OOC> Pira says, "Whoops :)" <OOC> Day-Lin snickers.
Avirida peers down through the hole, impressed.
Day-Lin hisses up through the hole, "Come on, we don't have a lot of time."
Pira flicks a thought out to Day-Lin */Did you find anything out from the crew?/*
Day-Lin's reply is atypically laconic: */Yes./*
Assorted fluids drip from the cleanly-cut ends of pipes attached to the circle of deck, and wires spark around the edges of the hole above.
Harukuk comes down the hole, his large stick in his hand.
Avirida lowers a couple of the toolboxes down to Harukuk - then crosses her fingers, and jumps, avoiding fluids and wires alike as best she can.
Day-Lin motions at the decapitated droid with his saber. "Somebody could probably use that rifle."
There's another rifle, still clutched in a metal hand, sticking out around one of the edges of the heavy circle.
Pira manages faint exasperation. */What?/*
Avirida says "I'm not the best of shots."
Day-Lin moves a little to one side, so one can drop down from above safely, and begins cutting another hole. He works quickly and not particularly carefully, trying to keep an eye on the corridor around him as he cuts.
Harukuk gestures to the rifle at Avirida.
Day-Lin sends back: */Reactor. Cutting now. Later./*
<OOC> Kelly says, "Oh SPIT. :)"
<OOC> Day-Lin hee hee hee
Avirida says, "If you're sure," and juggles both her toolboxes to pick up the rifle. Finally, in frustration, she hands one of the toolboxes (Day-Lin's, previously) to someone else.
Of the Nemoidians who have accompanied the alien newcomers, only one - Sekk Ulii, the one who first mentioned the reactor - seems at all inclined to pick up a weapon. The others wait nervously for Day-Lin to finish with cutting the latest hole. At least they'll carry tools.
Harukuk nods.
Steam, sparks and unpleasant vapors shoot up around the edges of the cut ... then gravity takes over and the section of deck drops out of the hole. Everyone cringes yet again as the sound of its landing seems to echo through the entire ship.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Keep this up and I'm going to have to roll for wandering monsters."
<OOC> Pira says, "A gelatinous cube fills the corridor and glides towards you..."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Are gelatinous cubes immune to lightsabers? :)"
Day-Lin leaps down lightly, and scans cursorily for any sign of battle droids.
Once again, the corridor is empty. The continued good fortune makes Day-Lin a bit uneasy... for he is not one of those Jedi who deny the existence of luck, and he's sure theirs has got to run out soon.
Day-Lin waits for Harukuk and Avirida to come down and join him before attacking the next section of floor.
Avirida jumps down, guarding one direction uneasily with her rifle.
Sweat beads Day-Lin's brow, as both the strain of forcing the blade through layers of deck plating and the heat given off by the cutting itself are starting to affect him.
Harukuk jumps down, stick in one hand.
Day-Lin presses on as quickly as he dares; even a pirate can fail to notice this sort of disruption for only so long, after all.
Again the lightsaber's luminous blade, the extension of the Jedi Knight's soul, is put to the task of cutting through a floor.
<OOC> Kelly says, "At least, that's what Pira would probably say if she were here."
<OOC> Pira snickers.
<OOC> Day-Lin slice slice slice slice
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Tell me when we run into trouble."
Deck 8 crashes down into Deck 9 and Day-Lin drops through the hole - to find himself looking at the backs of a fleeing troop of maintenance droids, of similar construction to the soldiers but childlike in proportion.
Harukuk growls a warning.
Day-Lin mutters, "Uh oh." He calls back up, "Let's go! When they report in they're going to figure out what's going on real fast!"
The half-sized droids scatter in both directions.
<OOC> Pira says, "kill the baby robots! ;)"
Harukuk nods to Day-lin.
Avirida drops through promptly at that. "How far to go?"
"Two more decks," Sekk says breathlessly. She looks up. "Mebb, come on!" One of the Nemoidians shakes his head and cowers at the edge of the hole, having finally lost his nerve.
Avirida calls up, "If you don't, they'll catch you."
Day-Lin ignores the contretemps; he's already back to cutting, now making the holes as small as he reasonably can just to make them go faster.
Harukuk growls an agreement with Avirida.
Mebb just shakes his head again, trembling. Suddenly he bolts out of view.
Avirida shakes her head, looking to Sekk. "I'm sorry," she says breathlessly, before looking back to the way she's guarding.
On Deck 8, Mebb pants in fear as he runs as best as his robe will allow. He comes to a door and pushes the button to open it... and comes face to face with a squad of battle droids, rifles raised. The ruddy orbs of his eyes get even wider.
From above, through the hole, there is the sound of distant blaster fire.
Avirida glances up, and draws a breath. "I won't ask if you can go any faster..."
Day-Lin asks, without taking his eyes away from the cut, "Do you have any tricks in those toolboxes you didn't tell me about?"
At about that time, Day-Lin finishes cutting the latest hole. It looks like it'll be a tight squeeze. Fortunately, there don't seem to be any power cables in this section; he's cut through an air duct.
Avirida says "I could throw salvage at them." She frowns. "Or possibly rig a power pack to blow, but..."
Day-Lin implores, "Do something." He deactivates the saber before dropping through the hole this time, but it's flicked on again before he even hits the ground.
And well that it is, for this time, Day-Lin finds another squad of battle droids waiting for him in the corridor that intersects this one. One turns to look, then they all do.
"There he is." "Blast him."
Avirida says, "I can rig it or shoot, make up your mind!" She glances down - then jumps after Day-Lin, heedless.
<OOC> Kelly says, "You did say heedless. "
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "What's the corridor layout?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "T intersection in front of you, angled corner behind you."
(Day-Lin rolls to parry)
The green blade hums and flashes, moving like a living thing in the Jedi's hands, knocking red bolts aside into the walls and floor.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Avirida, your Blaster roll."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "This is some rescue! When you came in here, didn't you have a plan for getting out? :)"
Avirida rolls 2D+1 dice: <6> 4 Avirida rolls 1 die: <5>
One of the droids goes down with a smoldering hole in its chest. And then there were five.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Harukuk, you aren't there yet."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Avirida and Day-Lin are standing under the hole."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay, next round."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Declare actions, please."
Harukuk swings down the hole, grunting at the tight fit.
Again, Day-Lin manages to deflect all the bolts... almost. One somehow slips through his guard and hits him glancingly in the side. [Day-Lin gets a 'Stun' result]
<OOC> Kelly says, "Roll, Avirida. Harukuk, you're down this round, able to attack next one."
<OOC> Avirida rolls - dodge?
<OOC> Kelly says, "No, blaster. They're all shooting at the Jedi, or were."
Avirida rolls 2d+1 dice: <5> 6
*zark!* clatter. Two down...
<OOC> Kelly says, "It's late, so I'm using one-hit rules for these guys."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay. Next round."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Day-Lin, you're in melee range. Harukuk, going to charge?"
<OOC> Avirida is striving not to hit HER FRIENDS
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Okay."
<OOC> Kelly says, "How considerate of you."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Yep! Charge, stick held high."
Day-Lin, still somewhat shaken by the effects of that grazing shot, elects to keep to a defensive stance.
<OOC> Day-Lin doesn't feel like losing *two* dice off his parry, thanks.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay. You're just parrying."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Roll. LS + Sense - Stun."
Day-Lin rolls 6 dice: <1> 2 6 2 4 5
<OOC> Harukuk says, "At close range, diff is pretty low to begin with, but hey, every bit helps..."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay, you lose the six."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "New dice!"
<OOC> Day-Lin tosses this handful out.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Well, they're at point-blank to you. :("
<OOC> Kelly says, "Spend a CP or two?"
Day-Lin rolls 1 die: <3>
<OOC> Day-Lin debates...yeah.
Day-Lin rolls 1 die: <2>
<OOC> Day-Lin will stand on that.
Day-Lin grits his teeth with effort and manages to deflect both of the shots coming his way. The other two are aimed at the charging Wookiee.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Want to declare reaction dodge, or soak it?"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "I'll do a reaction dodge, sure."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay. Roll dodge, please."
Harukuk rolls 3 dice: <1> 2 6
<OOC> Avirida says, "Ow."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Eigh, okay, at least it's not just me."
One shot goes wide, the other hits, but Harukuk doesn't seem to notice at all.
<OOC> Kelly says, "LOW damage roll."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Batter up! Take your swing. You're at -2D for the move and the dodge."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Right. ;) Yep. Better than nothing, though."
Harukuk rolls 3 dice: <1> 3 2
<OOC> Kelly says, "Steeee-rike!"
Harukuk pages: Damn! Ah well. That's life. ;)
<OOC> Kelly says, "Avirida, going to try and shoot past your comrades in melee?"
Avirida tries indeed to shoot past her comrades in melee.
Avirida rolls 2D+1 dice: <5> 3
<OOC> Avirida would like to blow two CP, if such is possible.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Yes."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Two, not one?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Each one gives you another D."
<OOC> Avirida says, "Two, not one. :)"
Avirida rolls 2D dice: <5> 4
<OOC> Kelly says, "Oh, also - they're open-ended up, like the Wild Die."
Avirida takes aim, squints... and blows the head off the battle droid between the Jedi and her Captain.
<OOC> Kelly says, "I do hope everyone's keeping track of the CP they're spending."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Next round."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Parry & attack."
<OOC> Kelly says, "You're unstunned, but still 'affected'. -1D to both (multi-action penalty). Roll."
<OOC> Day-Lin rolls parry first:
Day-Lin rolls 6 dice: <5> 6 6 4 6 6
<OOC> Kelly says, "Hoo ah"
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "...I think I'll stand on that."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Attack is straight Lightsaber?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Actually, no. Same roll. Which is why Jedi are so gross with them."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Oo, sick sick sick."
Day-Lin rolls 6 dice: <6> 6 5 5 2 1
Day-Lin rolls 1 die: <4>
<OOC> Kelly says, "Flaming whirlwinds o' destruction, remember?"
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "So it would seem."
<OOC> Day-Lin fills in: parry 33, attack 29
Day-Lin slices down, and a battle droid falls to the deck in two diagonally-cut pieces. The molten edges glow briefly.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Harukuk? Ack, suddenly realized, I'm an idiot. I should have been having people roll PER for initiative."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Yeah, kind of forgot about that myself in the heat of battle. ;) My PER isn't the best, so someone else should do it."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Well, take your swing. Avirida doesn't really have a shot at the moment."
Harukuk rolls 3 dice: <6> 1 3
Harukuk rolls 1 die: <5>
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay, damage?"
<OOC> Avirida isn't even tryin'
<OOC> Kelly says, "Shooting Your CO in the Back is high on the list of bad career moves in the Navy. Republic Navy, at least."
Harukuk rolls 6 dice: <6> 2 5 6 3 1
Harukuk rolls 1 die: <1>
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Well, that's going to leave a mark. ;) 24."
The final battle droid gets bashed against the wall with the side of its body caved in, and slides to the deck. Harukuk gives it another whack or two, just to make sure.
Sekk peers down through the hole. "Is it safe?"
Day-Lin is already looking for a good place to cut through the last deck level. "That's a matter of opinion. Probably safer than it is up there."
As Sekk drops down through the hole, Day-Lin finds a likely spot and shoves his saber through the deck. Or, rather, he tries. The blade sinks in a bit and then begins to spark and skitter. More pressure has no effect.
Day-Lin appears at a loss. "Uh..." He pokes at the deck again, and then pauses. "When you say the reactor is six levels down, you mean the reactor controls are six levels down, not the reactor vessel, right?"
The other two Nemoidians bring up the rear, huddling behind Sekk. "Yes, but... ohhh." She looks suddenly pained. "I am sorry, I did not realize what you had in mind."
Day-Lin says "What, what?"
"The whole deck, it is magnetically shielded," Sekk explains apologetically. "Is that a problem?"
<OOC> Kelly holds up the cue card: "We're in trouble."
Avirida murmurs, "We're in trouble."
<OOC> Kelly says, "And I think we'll close there."
<OOC> Day-Lin claps. :)