Sorry, I have been out of pocket (working 7:30am to 1:00am two days straight) for the last 48 hours, only being able to read the posts from my mobile phone.
I subscribe to the philosophy that the game rules and mechanics are for the GM to adjudicate the role-playing actions. The other way would be like PBP chess with role-playing added on. I was not confused either until I started catching up on this OOC thread. I kind of agreed with possum's interpretation on Keyton's actions, and also had a similar impression of the events as Nebten saw them.
Now I have had several hours to consider it (the advantage of being halfway around the world) while you guys have been sleeping. The only thing I am not clear on was when we actually entered combat, I think we jumped the gun on Initiative rolls while Keyton was moving in to talk to the stormtroopers.
To me Initiative rolls are applied only once hostilities have been joined, but we had not really gotten there yet. Initially I had thought Keyton acted before rolling Initiative and if that's the case BinderFred's entire argument about drawing the weapon is moot. From a role-palying persepective that makes sense as well. His drawing of a weapon is the spark that triggers the Initiative checks and then combat starts so the action was basically free. Likewise Sloor and Mir's reactions to take cover are also pre-battle. Mack's delay was only because hostilities had not started yet and it was unlikely he was going to set them off without waiting for the result of the Stormtroopers response to Keyton's verbal challenge.
Nebten's impression is how possum saw it, except Round 2 is actually Round 1, with those other actions being pre-combat. Therefore Mack's actions are being allowed to preceed the Stormtroopers, and potentially change the results if he rolls exceptionally well. I would even say they should go before Keyton's if combat doesn't actually start until he draws the weapon, which was all Mack was really waiting for.
I do offer this suggestion though. Possum, do you mind rolling all the Initiative checks once it is clear hostilities have commenced? It saves us a round of posting and then we can submit our inputs knowing where we are falling in the order of things. It could cut down on confusion as well.