STAR WARS: An Ill Wind
Session 05

[Avirida's player was absent from this session, thus her lack of activity.]

INT. TRADE FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

Jacobi Festus strides onto the large split-level command center of the battleship, bellowing, "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" The source of his displeasure is no doubt the alert klaxon hooting urgently in the background.

Another man, much less imposing than his captain, looks up and bolts nervously from the throne-like seat at the center of the bridge. "C-Captain sir. There's a security breach..."

Jacobi cuts the other pirate off. "I've got EARS, man. What caused it?"

<OOC> Pira says, "That's our team, the walking security breaches :)"

Remy looks more like a tech than a pirate bold, wearing neutral grey coveralls with goggles pushed up onto his forehead. His build is thin, his hair short, black and spiky. "Uh, it looks like some of the prisoners have escaped. Sir."

Jacobi walks down the steps from the upper level of the bridge and takes his seat. He looks pointedly at the unoccupied computer station. Remy scrambles to obey the unspoken command.

Here the pirate's talents become apparent, as he plays the keyboard like a virtuoso. "I've got alerts on levels 8 and 9. Looks like they may be splitting up."

Jacobi leans forward in the captain's chair. "You're sure this isn't some kind of system error? I mean, that pack of cowards down there don't have a backbone between them."

"I don't think it's the crew, sir. Look." Remy enters a command, and a short clip from a security camera appears on the rippling circular viewscreen. The pictures are grainy, black and white, but show a pair of Nemoidians in the company of three of the newer captives, including the Wookiee. And even in greyscale, the glowing blade of a lightsaber is unmistakable.

Jacobi's eyes widen. "So..."

The pirate captain leans over, speaking into an intercom. "Durrde, Lorr, Vinc, get up here. We have a problem."

INT. BATTLESHIP - CORRIDOR

The panel beside the lift chimes softly as the doors open, two blaster barrels immediately poking out, followed by a humming green saber tip. However, it seems no one is there to greet the occupants.

Day-Lin emerges first, turning in a tight circle to scan the area for hostiles. "Which way?" he hisses back to the elevator's occupants.

Harukuk looks expectantly at the Nemoidian guide.

Sekk peers out cautiously. "Dis way," she says, pointing down the corridor.

Harukuk nods and ambles by the side of the Jedi in that direction.

Day-Lin heads in the indicated direction at a cautious run, lightsaber held slightly to one side so as not to impede his vision. "Lock the elevator on this floor, if you can!" he calls back.

Avirida stays behind to do so, and to guard the rear.

The female Nemoidian follows the two large and aggressive aliens at a prudent distance, looking around constantly for signs of pursuit.

Pira frowns at the sound of the alarm klaxon, casting her senses outward to see what disturbance triggered it.

From the few living beings aboard, Pira can clearly sense greater urgency and agitation... probing further, she feels it is directed at her comrades.

Pira's smooth serene face shows nothing to the two droids inside her cell, but a unJedi wave of agitation washes across her mind, and she reaches out to Day-Lin again.

Pira rolls 4 dice: <1> 2 6 5
From afar, Pira winces.
<OOC> Kelly says, "No go."
<OOC> Pira grumbles. How long to try again?
<OOC> Pira says, "DAMN those critical failures."

Coming around a corner, Day-Lin finds himself looking at a corridor intersection that widens out a bit. A large doorway with the edges of blast doors just visible leads into what looks like the reactor room. Of course, there's the small problem of another six battle droids between him and the door. They don't seem to have noticed him or Harukuk yet.

Day-Lin ducks back around the corner, motioning silently to Harukuk to stop. Then he flattens himsely against the wall, waves his lightsaber just enough to make the signature humming noise, and shouts in a fair impression of a fearful voice, "Help! The Jedi's loose!"

Harukuk flattens against the wall as well, holding his stick at ready.

<OOC> Sabriel laughs.

Down at the end of the corridor, there's a quick consultation among the droids, their long noses waggling. In a moment they're all trotting to investigate, blasters at the ready.

With quick birdlike steps, the battle droids reach the corner.

Day-Lin waits, trying to remember his master's lessons in patience, until the the clicking of metal feet on metal floor is almost too close to stand, and then whirls out around the corner toward the droids, hoping to get in range for a slash quickly, but keeping the saber close to protect his own all too fragile skin.

Harukuk appeared more ready to wait until they came around the corner, but quickly follows the Jedi around.

<OOC> Kelly says, "PER rolls, please. (And yes, I'll take surprise into account.)"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "You'll have the higher PER. :)"
Day-Lin rolls 4 dice: <2> 1 3 6
<OOC> Kelly says, "Yeah, you beat them."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Close enough to attack + defend, or just defend + close?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Real close."
<OOC> Day-Lin rolls to attack:
Day-Lin rolls 6 dice: <4> 4 6 1 2 5
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "...and to defend:"
Day-Lin rolls 6 dice: <5> 5 1 5 1 2

The nearest droid goes down with a 'squaaark' and a clatter as Day-Lin steps out from cover, his blade cleaving through its body.

<OOC> Harukuk will attack twice. We'll see about dodging. :)
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "No, make that once."
<OOC> Harukuk forgot Melee wasn't strength based. Harukuk rolls 3 dice: <4> 6 4

The Wookiee bashes another droid aside - not too hard, since they don't really dodge. Instead, they raise their weapons and fire, point-blank.

Two of the shots go wild and the third and fourth are deflected into a wall by Day-Lin's flashing saber.

Meanwhile, back at the lift... Avirida and the remaining Nemoidian tech hear a strange rumbling sound, getting closer. They flatten themselves back against the insides of the car as whatever it is goes by, fast.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Next round. Per rolls."
Day-Lin rolls 4 dice: <2> 4 4 1
<OOC> Sabriel says, "The audience goes Uh-Oh. :)"
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Ow, that was a shite roll."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Fortunately, the droids are worse."

Pira pages: Can she tell anything about the lock from inside?
You paged Pira with 'Going to go over and examine it?'.
Pira pages: Since there are two droids on this side of it, no :) I assume that is where they are standing?
You paged Pira with 'Yes.'.

<OOC> Harukuk says, "Eeeh. If there's a roll that it doesn't really suck botching, its the PER roll. It just decides who gets to decide whether to go first, or see what the other person is doing."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Same again, I think; this range is too close to risk multi-attacking."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "I agree. Bash, bash. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay, one attack each. Roll."
<OOC> Day-Lin rolls to attack:
Day-Lin rolls 6 dice: <6> 6 4 4 6 4
<OOC> Kelly says, "Jeez."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Holy shit."
Day-Lin rolls 1 die: <4>
<OOC> Pira says, "What'd he roll?"
<OOC> Sabriel says, "Did Day-Lin boxcar it or something?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Sure you don't want to multi attack? :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Total of 34. Sixes and fours."
<OOC> Kelly says, "on six dice plus one wild."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Nah, I already declared. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay. But keep in mind for the future: you're gross. ;)"
<OOC> Day-Lin blinks innocently. :)
Harukuk rolls 3 dice: <2> 4 2
Harukuk rolls 5 dice: <2> 5 2 5 1
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Well, keep in mind that this was not what we spoke about the first time we spoke about the lightsaber skill. :)"

Harukuk smashes another droid to the floor. Meanwhile, his first opponent is trying to get up again, jerkily.

On the other side, Day-Lin executes a perfect slash that goes through another droid without him breaking step toward the last two.

<OOC> Kelly says, "They're firing."
<OOC> Harukuk will dodge if they shoot at him.
<OOC> Kelly says, "One at each of you."
<OOC> Day-Lin rolls to defend:
Day-Lin rolls 6 dice: <4> 2 4 5 4 3
Harukuk rolls 2 dice: <5> 3
Harukuk pages: That's also +2, so net 10.

The first droid's blaster shot, at Day-Lin, goes into the ceiling. Its comrade takes aim at Harukuk, who sidesteps... and the second droid shoots the first square in the back. It jerks, sparks, and starts stumbling aimlessly to and fro.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Four straight ones. Wild die, too."
<OOC> Pira says, "Now THAT's a blown roll."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Oww. :)"

Now Day-Lin and Harukuk can hear the rumbling sound, transmitted through the deckplates as well. Getting closer.

<OOC> Day-Lin says, "How much do we know about the Trade Federation's toys? :)"

Something like a wheel rolls around the nearest corner and, like some giant metal pillbug, unfolds into a curved body with three short legs and two blaster arms. The faintly-seen bubble of a force shield snaps up around it a heartbeat later.

<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Never mind. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Next round. :)"

From afar, Pira checks again about whether she can see anything about the lock from a distance via force senses?
You paged Pira with 'Roll your sense, please.'.
Day-Lin rolls 4 dice: <6> 5 5 4
Pira rolls 2 dice: <2> 5

<OOC> Sabriel says, "Wherein the heroes run like blazes, or end up one. :)"

You paged Pira with 'Well, it's a basic lock, more for privacy than security. But you can't tell the combination or anything.'.
You paged Pira with 'Keypad type.'.
From afar, Pira hmms. Smashable?
You paged Pira with 'Just about everything's smashable with enough force. :)'.

The final battle droid steps back, trying to get out of melee range while bringing its rifle to bear.

Harukuk growls a loud warning and gets ready to beat feet, preparing to take up the rear of the retreat.

<OOC> Harukuk says, "That is to say, I won't be the first one to run. The captain has an obligation to his passengers, after all."

Day-Lin shouts, "Get in there and shut them down, I'll hold it off! Go!"

Harukuk nods, and roars for the others to follow, dashing down the corridor.

Sekk, who had been hiding in another nook during the firefight, has no such qualms about not being the first to flee. She runs after the big Wookiee.

<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Block, block, block, block, block..."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Full defense. Goood."
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Brave, not suicidal. :)"

The destroyer droid opens up with both its blaster cannons, and it's all the Jedi can do to avoid and parry them as the bolts strike his blade with physical impact, literally driving him back. He can feel the heat from their close passage.

The battle droid adds its own fire to the onslaught, but it doesn't really make much difference as Day-Lin slaps those shots aside as well.

Day-Lin backs up as slowly as he can manage, his attention focused entirely on the incoming blaster bolts.

<OOC> Pira says, "Macho macho man :)"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Full defense just gives him an inherent bonus, actually. Instead of the roll being their target number, the roll is added to the base target number (which is admittedly very low at that range, but every little bit helps.)"
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "At this point, I'll take what I can get. :)"

The damaged battle droid, sparks still falling from the hole in its back, stumbles into the line of fire and is cut down.

INT. REACTOR CHAMBER - UPPER GALLERY

Running along the interior of the cavernous reactor chamber at this level, dwarfed by the scale of the gunmetal grey sphere of the reactor itself, is a maintenance walkway (with a safety rail; trust the Nemoidians to think of that). Sections of the walkway are enclosed to form galleries from which the engineers can monitor and control the reactor. An identical walkway can be seen dozens of decks below, with lifts connecting the two.

Harukuk, with Sekk at his furry heels, makes it into the control room before any more droids show up.

Harukuk points at the panel, and makes what sounds to Sekk (I imagine) as incoherent, yet interrogative, growls.

The Nemoidian tech moves to one of the blinking, beeping consoles and goes to work.

Harukuk moves to assist, though keeping a wary eye on the door. Despite the brutish exterior, he's far from incompetant as a technician.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Give me a Technical roll."
Harukuk rolls 3 dice: <4> 2 5
Harukuk pages: +1 on that. 12.

The destroyer's fire is relentless, unlike mere flesh, even fortified by the Force. Day-Lin's arms begin to tire from swatting aside the endless series of deadly bolts.

Doubt begins to creep into Day-Lin's thoughts... and its close cousin, fear.

The destroyer droid advances with a scuttling crablike walk, moving one of its three legs at a time. The few shots that are returned in its direction glance harmlessly off the hemispherical energy shield.

<OOC> Pira says, "Doubt leads to fear, fear leads to anger, and anger leads to suuuuuuuuufffering!"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Hush, I'm tempting him. ;)"

Day-Lin's pace of retreat begins to quicken. "Hurry!" he yells back to the two in the reactor room, not taking his eyes off the oncoming droid.

A warning appears at Harukuk's station - someone on the bridge is trying to override control from this part of the ship.

The droideka matches Day-Lin's pace, forcing him back, an unstoppable juggernaut that will grind him under and then kill everyone else too.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Give me another defense roll, Day-Lin."
Day-Lin rolls 7 dice: <4> 4 2 4 6 6 6
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "...I think I'll stand on that one."

Harukuk growls warningly at the console, as if to intimidate it by sheer force of will. Then he more practically works at cutting off the bridge controls over engineering.

The section of corridor between the corner and Day-Lin's current position is scarred with black pits and sparking cables. All of those parried blasts have to go somewhere, and the evidence of the destroyer droid's firepower is plain to see.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Harukuk, technical roll."
Harukuk rolls 3 dice: <4> 1 5
Harukuk pages: 11, this time.

Sekk says, "I think I have it... yes!" She reaches over and yanks down at a large striped switch.

The effects are immediately obvious, as all over the ship, the lights flicker and go out. The only illumination in the hallway is the dancing bar of emerald-white fire. By its cool glow, Day-Lin can see that both droids have ground to a halt.

Harukuk grins toothily.

A few seconds later the lights flicker on again, but much dimmer. A computer voice intones a warning in Nemoidian.

"Ruuk?" Harukuk asks of Sekk.

"Computer says, 'Emergency Lighting Activated'," the engineer responds.

Harukuk nods. He points at the panel, then up to where the bridge should be, and goes, "Roourugh?"

Sekk shakes her head grimly. "I do not have clearance to keep bridge control locked out..."

Harukuk frowns mightily, that clearly was indeed the question he was asking.

Day-Lin exhales, sweat beaded across his forehead. "You don't think you want to try cutting that a little closer next time?" he calls back, shutting off the saber as he lopes back into the reactor room.

Sekk points. "But the control cables are behind this panel." It's locked, of course.

Harukuk nods to Sekk, and makes a welcoming gesture to the lock at the Jedi.

Day-Lin catches only the tail end of that conversation, but that's enough. "Locked? Not a problem." *snap-hiss*

INT. GUEST CABIN

As the lights come up again in Pira's cabin, she sees that both droids have slumped forward like puppets with cut strings.

Pira comes to her feet in a single smooth move and crosses the cabin to see if the door is still locked. If it is, it will not be for long.

Locked the door is, as that system requires minimal power.

Pira puts her palm across the lock, preparing to smash it open with the Force.

As Pira places her hand on the keypad, a question occurs to her: is "smash" really the metaphor she wants to use, even for a mere lock? As with most such thoughts, the inner voice is her old Master's...

Pira frowns, and with a little inner sigh, strives to convince the lock to open.

<OOC> Pira . o O ( Damn that Masterly serenity! )

With a bit of tugging and pushing, the mechanical bits of the lock are moved apart and the indicator light turns green.

Pira pulls the door open, vaulting through, prepared for a fight if the other droids are not similarly frozen.

<OOC> Day-Lin says, "Prepared for a fight? What will you be using, harsh language? :)"

She cuts quite a figure, leaping through and coming down in a fighting crouch... to face two more motionless, directionless droids.

<OOC> Pira humphs. There's the Force and there's jedi judo thank you very much!

Pira reaches for one of the blaster rifles, prying it loose and jogging down the corridor towards where she sensed her companions before.

<OOC> Pira says, "Not that she doesn't suck with a blaster, but there's a certain lack of lightsaber about."

As Pira reaches the end of the corridor and turns, she finds herself face to face with three figures looming out of the murk: the pirate captain and two of his men, a hard-eyed Devaronian dressed all in black and a pasty, fidgety Twi'lek. Everyone stops in mutual surprise.

<OOC> Pira says bad things. There's no cover to dodge to, I assume?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Not really. Back around the corner, then a long and gently curving corridor."

Jacobi's startlement becomes a grin. "Well. Just the girl we were coming to see." He raises his blaster, points it at Pira's forehead almost casually. "We would be honored if you would join us."

Pira drops her blaster hand slightly. "I don't think you wish me to do that."

From afar, Pira goes for the mind trick, hey why not.
You paged Pira with 'Ah. Roll your C+S+A.'.
Pira rolls 6 dice: <1> 2 3 6 2 1
<OOC> Pira covers her eyes. My rolls have sucked tonight bigtime.

The Twi'lek at Festus' left arm nods slowly. "Yeah, Captain, you don't want to do that."

Jacobi snarls and backhands his crewman. "Idiot!" To the Devaronian, he says, "Gag her."

<OOC> Sabriel laughs.

The other pirate nods and steps forward, taking the blaster from Pira's hand, blocking out the camera...

CUT TO:
INT. REACTOR CHAMBER - UPPER GALLERY

Sekk looks unhappily at the sparking remains of the engineering console. "I hope I will not get in trouble for dis. Dis equipment is very expennsive."

Harukuk growls something that would undoubtably be ironic and reassuring, were it understandable.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Day-Lin, you are *tired*. You've had a busy day and your concentration was beginning to slip there at the end."

Day-Lin brushes a hand back through sweaty hair. "I'm sure there'll be no problem. After all, you'll get the rest of the ship back, and that's more expensive than the console. But...we should probably get back to the rest of your people?"

Sekk nods. "Yes, yes. The pirates, they may blame them for what we have done."

<OOC> Kelly mutters, meanwhile, at his inability to render a good fake-Asian accent in text.
<OOC> Pira giggles. Well, it's hard to get the out of synch effect especially.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Our-a blockade is-a pehhhfectly legal.""

Day-Lin says "You two go ahead, I'll catch up in a minute. Just need to get my breath."

Sekk looks worried. (But then, she's looked worried ever since you first met her.) "Are you all right?"

Day-Lin says "Little tired, is all."

Sekk nods, not looking much reassured.

Harukuk shakes his head. He offers a hand to the Jedi, but by his stance its clear that he's not going anywhere until the other man is.

Day-Lin blows out a breath. "Okay, okay, I'm coming. You go first this time, though," he suggests with a wry grin.

Harukuk nods. He leads, at a slow rate until he's certain the others are just behind.

In the corridor outside the reactor room, the droideka waits, looking menacing even when inert. Next to it, the final battle droid of the group guarding the reactor lies like a discarded toy.

Day-Lin says "You're sure they can't turn that thing back on?"

Sekk shakes her head. "Not unless they restore power to the communications array."

Harukuk points at the the destroyer droid's limbs, then at the Jedi's lightsaber. He says something. ["It pays to be cautious."]

Day-Lin nods. "That's not a bad idea, if you're saying what I think you're saying. Catch up to you in a minute." He takes the opportunity to remove its limbs and, for good measure, its head.

It feels good - maybe dangerously good - for Day-Lin to dismember his robotic opponent. The blaster arms are the first to go, falling heavily to the deck. The head is really part of the upward curve of the body, and the armor along the back resists even a Jedi's lightsaber briefly. But only briefly.

<OOC> Pira makes lightsaber noises! zhmmmmmm! zhannnnnng!
<OOC> Harukuk read that Ewan McGregor made lightsaber noises during the filming. :)
<OOC> Kelly says, "Yup."
<OOC> Pira heard that too. In fact, Ray Parks mentioned that they all gave into the impulse during the duel at the end.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Heh."
<OOC> Harukuk laughs!
<OOC> Harukuk tries to imagine Liam Neeson going "Vvvvvvrm! Vvvvrm!"

Day-Lin frowns a little as he shuts the weapon off again, and looking at the pile of scrap that's the remains of the droid. Then he shrugs, and is off at a lope after Sekk and Harukuk.

Avirida and the other Nemoidian escapee are waiting at the lift. Both look anxious, though Avirida puts on a look of good cheer as she sees her captain and the Jedi Knight are both unscathed. "Where to, sirs?"

Harukuk stops to pick up a blaster before coming back to the lift. He then rumbles an answer to Avirida. ["First back to the other Nemodians, then we need to find the other Jedi."]

Avirida nods, and pushes a button. The lift door slides silently closed.

INT. BRIDGE

Another lift door slides open and Jacobi emerges with his men and the bound and gagged Pira, whom he pushes before him.

"Put her over there," Festus says, pointing to an empty seat to the right of the captain's chair.

<OOC> Pira says, "Mmmph! Mmmmph! MmmmmmmPH!"

While Pira is hustled off, Jacobi turns to Remy at the computer station. "What's our status?"

"The reactor's offline. Main power down," the pirate computer op says. "Backups are running lights, life support..."

"What about the droids? I passed some on the way up, they're just standing around."

Remy shrugs. "Without a command-control signal from the tactical computer, they all go into standby mode."

Jacobi rubs his eyes. "Great. Just great." He turns to Pira. "Your 'friend' is causing me a lot of trouble."

Pira gives him her coolest violet-eyed look, a tiny smile hidden by the gag.

<OOC> Day-Lin . o O ( Oh, he excels at that, sir )
<OOC> Kelly says, "Yup, that was the line I was thinking of, but wasn't gonna say. ;)"
<OOC> Pira snickers!

Festus points to his men. "Vinc, get together anyone who can hold a hydrospanner and head down to engineering. Edrick --" (here he turns to the dangerous-looking Devaronian) "I want you to find that other Jedi and the Wookiee, and kill them."

Lorr Edrick nods once, the corners of his mouth creeping upward as he moves toward the lift.

As his crew moves to carry out his commands, Jacobi sighs and runs a hand over his short hair. Becoming aware of eyes on him, he turns to Pira again. "What are you looking at?" he demands testily of his prisoner.

<OOC> Pira does that trying to contact Day-lin thing again?
Pira rolls 4 dice: <4> 3 2 2

Pira drops her gaze, closing her eyes... and casts her thoughts out, searching for Day-Lin's mind.

The contact with Day-Lin is faint, but it's there.

Pira sends */'ware. Many coming your way./*

<OOC> Day-Lin makes a Sense + Alter roll to send back?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Yes."
Day-Lin rolls 3 dice: <6> 1 3
Day-Lin rolls 1 die: <4>
<OOC> Kelly says, "Good as hers."

Day-Lin returns, laconic: */Got it. Stall./*

Day-Lin says out loud, as the lift climbs, "There's trouble on the way."

Pira's reply is a wordless burst of incredulity, and then silence.

Harukuk looks around and pronounces, "Hurrr."

Pira opens her eyes again and goes back to staring at the captain.

<OOC> Pira says, "Stall? STALL?"
<OOC> Day-Lin says, "He felt 'wipe them out before I get there' would be presumptuous and 'run away' would be not presumptuous enough. :)"

(And the GM decided to call it there...)