Action Thread: Episode II

[max_vale]

The Blast Doors spiral open and a burst of hot air forces the Rebels back. After a moment; the 'hot breeze' passes and the Rebels turn back to look and see a twisted metal stairway descending into a raging inferno. The large area beyond the Blast Doors is one of the Star Destroyer's Sublight Propulsion Unit shafts; and the massive cylindrical engine itself is burning. It does appear though that the staircase can be utilized to reach a suspended catwalk which opens onto a powered up computer work-station....

[NJWilliam]

Caius examines the path to the work-station more closely for any obstacles or entities.

[Corsair]

"Guess we'd better climb quickly," says Terra, tucking the blaster into her pants and moving past Caius to lead the way. "Especially you, Furry," she adds to Borsk.

[angelicdoctor]

Giving his impetuous human female companion a raised brow and a quizzical look, "Furry?" Betraying his emotions, his midnight black, white-striped mane ripples with agitation. "Just you try and keep up, woman!" With that, the force-sensitive Bothan leaps to the staircase in an attempt to compete with the pilot for access to the first trio of steps.

Dex check?

[NJWilliam]

Caius leisurely walks toward the terminal watching his hasty companions with curiuosity.

[Corsair]

Giving his impetuous human female companion a raised brow and a quizzical look, "Furry?" Betraying his emotions, his midnight black, white-striped mane ripples with agitation. "Just you try and keep up, woman!" With that, the force-sensitive Bothan leaps to the staircase in an attempt to compete with the pilot for access to the first trio of steps.

Dex check?

"Oh, you're on, pal!" replies Terra, trying to get there first.

Strength check:
Input: Terra Shardhopper Strength Check: [3d6]
Output: Terra Shardhopper Strength Check: [3d6] = 10

[Vargr1105]

Lord observes the antics of his companions with silent amusement.

[angelicdoctor]

La'Reth allows himself a smile as he attempts to outpace the brash young pilot.

Strength: [3d6] = 7

Hehe. I guess you win...this time!

[max_vale]

The impetous Rebel pilot races ahead of the Bothan and the two of them quickly begin to scamper down the stairway above the raging inferno to the computer terminal on the catwalk. As they reach the bottom of the stairway; the metal frame lurches a bit and the two have a sickening moment of fear as it seems the metal structure might collapse entirely and dump them into the flames; but then with a groan; the now twisted stairs screech to a halt and the two quickly get off at the terminal station.

Above them; a cautious Lord, Caius, Zeke and Walex gingerly make thier way down to the landing one at a time and other than a bit of swaying and the cringe-inducing sound of metal on metal grinding; everyone makes it down intact.

The 6 Rebels find themselves on a small platform containing the computer terminal complete with a single seat and a shut door on the side wall. Sweat begins to break out among all of the band as the heat from the flames is closer and almost overpowering. The air is extremely dry and everyone is acutely aware of thier thirst all of sudden....

[NJWilliam]

Caius sets to breaking into the computer system, focusing on opening the nearby door, and then on seeing if it will provide a schematic of where the damage is on the ship, and plans of the area they are in.
While working, he says to the others,"What do you want to try and find out from this?"

[Corsair]

Terra thought for a moment. "Overall, where the hell their shuttle bay is, and the fastest way to get there. More specifically, if you've got the time, do they have an auxilliary shuttle bay? That might be less protected. I don't know about the rest of you, but I want us off this ship, and I mean soon!"

[max_vale]

The one-time pirate now turned Rebel worked his magic with the computer terminal as his companions nervously sweated out the few minutes on the landing; keeping a sharp lookout for any signs of approaching Imperials.

After a few minutes; Caius had pulled up several pieces of interesting information as well as successfully unlocking the security door on the landing. He had managed to pull up a schematic of the Star Destroyer on one screen (see attachment thread) and had found a brief personnel file on the Commanding Officer of the ship; Captain Ryik Kolaff.

Captain Kolaff was 47 years old and had enlisted in the Republic Army at the age of 18 during the Clone Wars. He had been awarded several times for conduct under fire and ended the war as an NCO commanding an AT-PT walker. Shortly after the ending of the war and the rise of the Empire; Kolaff had resigned from the Army and been accepted at the Imperial Naval Academy. Graduating with honors; he had spent the past 24 years in the Navy; being largely successful with several commendations for fighting pirates and lately; Rebels. He HAD however, also been given a couple of disciplinary actions for insisting on getting into the action personally; including twice in personal combat actions when he should have been commanding from afar or leaving the matter to junior officers.

He also learns that 5 of the 24 carried TIE fighters were listed as currently 'ready for action' in one of the hangars; as were 2 Lambda class shuttles in two different hangar bays.

Of more pressing interest to the rebels though was a recent coded message sent from Kolaff's computer directly to Senior Lieutenant Juren; the Chief Engineer of the ship; that Caius' managed to decrypt. The message read as follows:

VSD Subjugator****Priority Command D-112***
Restricted Access****Security Code D-1228-H
Command Clearance Only
From: Kolaff, R. CAPT, C.O. VSD Subjugator
To: Juren, A. SRLT, Chief Engineer****Your Eyes Only, Effective Immediately***

Readings on bridge indicate 67 percent power loss throughout the ship. Two of six power cells operational. Main and auxiliary deflector screen generators destroyed. Power available to remaining weapons systems nominal. Starfighter compliment 80 percent depleted. Crew casualties at 64 percent.

It is therefore my decision to reroute all available power to engine control core. Main and auxiliary hyperdrive and sublight engines to be rigged for self-destruct. Three hour delay posture. Implosion sequence will be programmed from the Bridge and transmitted for reception and implementation by you at engine control core. Clear engine control of all personnel not essential to this operation. This is a priority command; I want no leaks. I am holding you personally responsible for the success of this operation.

****Transmit Priority Command D-112***Time: 03:00 hours and counting****
CAPT Kolaff, out.


In a bit of a daze, Caius realized that Chief Engineer Juren had sent a receipt of the order; acknowledging it and confirming that it had been carried out. He tells his companions what he has found and for a long moment, no one says anything....

The Blissex speaks up; "No one knows the working of this ship better than I do; I can manipulate the destruct mechanism to explode one hour earlier than the Imperials expect. That'll take out this ship while still giving us enough of a time buffer to reach the hangar bays and escape. We'll have to head for the Control Core though....I know the way; you guys in?"

Out of the corner of his eye; Caius notes a slight flashing green light almost hidden on one of the computer screens; he realizes that someone has just been monitoring this computer station....

[angelicdoctor]

I say that we make for one of those Lamba-class shuttles and escape as if we were Imperials. If Blissex can rig this thing to blow earlier than later, that would certainly help. Anyone know how to fly one of those TIE fighters? An armed escort would be a bonus and perhaps give more weight to our cover.

[Corsair]

The Blissex speaks up; "No one knows the working of this ship better than I do; I can manipulate the destruct mechanism to explode one hour earlier than the Imperials expect. That'll take out this ship while still giving us enough of a time buffer to reach the hangar bays and escape. We'll have to head for the Control Core though....I know the way; you guys in?"

"That's insane, old man. Risk our lives for one Imperial ship that's already on her last legs?" Terra smirks. "I like it."

I say that we make for one of those Lamba-class shuttles and escape as if we were Imperials. If Blissex can rig this thing to blow earlier than later, that would certainly help. Anyone know how to fly one of those TIE fighters? An armed escort would be a bonus and perhaps give more weight to our cover.

"Damn right I can," replies the pilot. "Once the ship's rigged to blow, you guys grab the Lambda. I'll steal myself a TIE. And keep it for myself, too! Maybe paint it pink and gray," she adds with a wicked grin. "That'd frost the Emperor's eyebrows!"

[Vargr1105]

"Wait one second!" Lord exclaims, "Now I ain't no pilot but I do know them TIE Fighters can't hyperjump. Does anyone even know were we are? In-system, in the void? We better know what the nearest port of call before hopping onto ships that can't jump. What about the shuttles, can those jump?"

[max_vale]

Blissex and Terra quickly assure Lord Morel that Lambda class shuttles are indeed equipped with hyperdrives. After a quick discussion; it's decided to head for the Control Core to allow Walex to do his thing to speed up the self-destruct mechanism; and then from there to the Hangar bays to attempt to commandeer a shuttle for an escape.

The party heads out the door and shortly after moving into the deserted hallway behind it; they are thrown off thier feet as the ship lurches and an explosion is heard. The door behind them is partly buckkled and flames flicker at the open air from the Sublight Engine shaft.

The party all exchange glances and then with slightly ashen faces; they continue on the way with a subdued Blissex giving them directions. They find themselves moving through wide, eerily quiet and empty hallways; encountering no signs of any Imperial personnel. It is almost a relief from the tension when a slight noise is heard echoing down from one of the many intersections up ahead of the party.

The rebels all clutch thier blasters with determination as the sound gets closer to the corner of thier hallway; about 10 meters away; and then the sight of a small; MSE droid is seen; rolling into sight and pivoting towards the party. The MSE droid looks like a shoe on wheels; perhaps a foot long and a little more than half of that wide not quite that high. It 'stands' on 4 small wheels and has a circular 'eye' in the center of the small box which makes up most of the simple droid.

'Looking' over the Rebels; the Droid gives a strange sounding litle beep which almost sounds like a fearful exlamation of surprise and then starts to wheel around at high speed....

[Vargr1105]

Bringing his blaster up Lord takes aim and shoots at the fleeing droid on wheels.

"I hate those things..."

[NJWilliam]

Caius makes sure his blaster is not on stun and fires at the droid.

[Corsair]

"Wait! It's a repair droid!" shouts Terra as Lord and Caius open fire. "We might be able to--" But it's too late, as the pair shoot to destroy. "The hell with it," she mutters. "I hate those things too."

[max_vale]

As the little MSE-6 'mouse' droid attempts to zip away; Caius and Mattel fire shots from thier blaster pistols at it. The little droid moving in a tight circle at high speed is a tough target and Caius' shot JUST misses; leaving a burn scar on the deck of the Star Destroyer. However; the one-time bounty-hunter manages to drill the droid with a perfectly placed bolt that blasts the droid into bits. Seconds after the sound of the blaster shots and the resulting explosion of the little droid; the halls are back to being eerily silent.

Blissex shakes himself out of his stupor at the sudden violence and gets to leading the escapees on the path towards the control core again. The little band falls into a group moving two-by-two with Zeke and Walex in the lead, followed by Terra and La'Reth, and Lord and Caius bringing up the rear. The path is a long; winding one; mostly through great ten meter wide hallways in a grid pattern. Up ahead; yet another intersection is spotted and Blissex points to it saying; "Straight through that intersection up ahead and then the next right and down about 100 meters should take us to the turboshaft leading to the Control Core."

A moment later; Walex and Zeke step out into the Intersection and a sudden cacophony of loud blaster fire and the sight of large bolts of energy coming from down the unseen left part branch of the intersection assault the Rebels' senses. The sight of Zeke getting drilled by at least 3 of the bolts and his body smashed to pieces sears itself into the minds of the escapees and Bissex almost shares the same fate until he is yanked back behind cover by La'Reth who acted more from some kind of Force impulse more than conscious thought.

A split second later; Mattel and Caius can hear the unmistakable sounds of armored footsteps echoing towards them from the passage behind the Rebel band and then the ship-wide comlink crackles to life. A smoothly sarcastic voice adds itself to the din of battle; "Are times so trying in the Rebellion that they have armed farmers and used-Droid salesmen against the might of the Empire? Must they leave it to me to train you as proper soldiers? So be it. Your first lesson is called 'neutralizing a crossfire position.' Do try not to panic". As he signs off; a half dozen Stormtroopers carrying Blaster carbines become visible spread out through the hallway behind the Rebels at a distance of about 30 meters....


*Notes: From your brief Alliance 'bootcamp' training; you'd all recognize the sight and sound of a Heaby Repeat Blaster firing and would realize that this is what tore up Zeke. (I.e. a tripod-mounted Heavy-machinegun equivalent; like what the snowtroopers were setting up on Hoth to shoot the Millenium Falcon with in Empire Strikes Back; before Han deployed the hidden Blaster and hosed them down with it.)

*30 meters is Medium range for the Blaster pistols you all are carrying while only short range for the Stormtroopers' carbines. So shooting the Stormtroopers will be a little more difficult (i.e. a higher Difficulty number); also note that while turning the corner of the intersection in front of you will provide cover from the Stormtroopers behind you; it will leave vulnerable to the Heavy Repeat Blaster...which cannot shoot anyone in their currnet position in the hall. Other than this; there are no other routes visible. Please let me know if you have any questions.