Out of the Frying Pan... (d20 Star Wars)

Just a little advanced, but that's okay Ambrus. I'll take it into consideration during the next part. I wanted to see if Bobitron was going to post first, but that's okay. I'm going to keep all the writings in the open because I trust you guys are good enough not to meta game.... Oh and as for the fight between Lun Xan and the Clones, that will be revealed soon enough...

The unlikely pair of small reconnaissance droid and Jedi Padawan made their way towards the hangar that the droid was familiar with. As they approached, the droid's long range sensors detect that the hangar's main defenses are down, especially since it is visible in the distance through the trees. Also visible in the distance is the familar bluish color of Clone blaster fire and another color that Femi is more familiar with. The tell-tale crimson red glow of a Sith's lightsaber. They stop approximately 400 meters from the hangar.


Meanwhile, the digging of Felia has finally made progress. Silently cursing herself for allowing this noble to explain to her why she should dig instead of them helping each other, Felia eventually found light. Or something that was lighter than where they were. With a few more handfuls of rock, she can see that indeed, she found the surface. Pointedly ignoring the woman's question, the Nemoidian looks at her expectantly. "Well, are you going to finish or would you rather we die here?"

Cognitive Processing
Datum: Hangar bay 17B's cloaking field is inactive.
Datum: Blaster fire detected in proximity of hangar bay 17B.
Proposition: DRK-1X and cerean Jedi will be unable to reach hangar bay.
Algorithmic Node: Obeisance protocols apply. Must move immediately towards
hangar bay 17B at highest possible velocity (V=10.667 m./second).
Heuristic Node: Override. Self-preservation protocols apply.
May risk unnecessary damage by entering hazardous area.
(Safety index: inadequate data to calculate)
Emotive Node: Anxiety 32.9%; Frustration 29.6%; Resolve 19.9%; Excitement 17.6%;
Heuristic Node: More data required.
Volition Threshold reached.
Priority Hierarchy established.
Uploading data to vocabulator data buffer 12G-1.
Revising flight plan.
Uploading directives to repulsorlift unit [X=-3.2m.,Y=+100m., Z=-0.62m., V=5m./second]
Awaiting reply (encrypted channel #782364B)

The diminutive probe droid stops a few meters ahead of Femi and reorients it's external sensor pods to face forward towards the battle ahead. In the stillness of the night, the soft whirring of it's optic lenses can be heard as it tries to focus on the conflict so far away through the trees. Once again it addresses its cerean companion in its whisper-soft mechanical voice: Report: The cloaking field of the concealed hangar bay we were heading towards is currently inoperative. The hangar bay may be occupied by enemy forces. The visual signature of multiple blaster discharges and of a single lightsaber have been detected in the hangar's vicinity. Instruction: Remain here and conceal yourself. Statement: I will reconnoitre the area, assess the situation and report back to you. Inquiry: Do you concur that my instructions are reasonable?

OOC: Unless Femi has an objection, DRK-1X intends to stealthily hustle towards the hangar bay (double move, 30 meters per round, Hide +22, Move Silently +12, taking 10 on both checks and taking advantage of available concealment, less than full-speed move penalty is -5 for both checks.) It'll advance as close as is necessary to get a good view through the trees while keeping a safe distance away, then stop and carefully scan the area (Spot +15, Listen +9, taking 20). How many troopers are in the area? Who's holding the lightsaber? Are they fighting each other or working together to fight someone else? Are they in the hangar, next to it or some distance away? Are there any casualties yet? What appears to be the condition of the hangar bay, its two vessels and it's automated defenses? DRK-1X will record what it sees with its holorecorder for future playback.

Even crouched down in the midst of the Clone troopers, Tal stands out from the unit like a sore thumb. His Creshaldyne Industries armor is painted in a complex digital camo; a mix of grey, green, and black pixels that make a sharp contrast to the stark white of the Clones.

A onlooker would never be able to tell that Tal was out of his environment, though. He seemed quite at home in command the troops, calling out soft orders as they approached the hanger to assess the damage. Holding up his right hand in a fist, Tal motions for the patrol to take a knee and halt as the communication comes down the line. His eyes widen as he hears the message, but he regains his composure quickly enough and turns to the clone sergeant who kneels stoically a few feet to his right. Pausing for a moment, he considers his words carefully. I'm not going to attack the Jedi without getting a better handle on what's going on here. I might be a mercenary now, but that doesn't mean I am going to turn on my allies just because that old bastard Palpatine's political games aren't going the way he expected. First things first, I gotta get free from these clones and get some more information.

Tal barks out his orders with the tone of a career soldier used to being obeyed."Sergeant! Take your squad and clear the area west of the hanger. Make sure there are no remnants of the Seperatist forces within 500 meters. If you see any Jedi activity, radio me and I will advise you of a course of action. Take a position 200m west of the hanger once you finish your sweep and wait for my instructions. I will take a closer look at the hanger. Be prepared to support me if I call for you."

As the clones begin to move off, Tal heads slowly toward the hanger, swinging his BlasTech T-21 back and forth to cover his flanks as he walks.

At the sight of the red Sith lightsaber, Femi sighed audibly. The situation was growing worse by the second. He wondered how exactly the little droid was going to proceed now that the odds were continuing to stack up against them.

Report: The cloaking field of the concealed hangar bay we were heading towards is currently inoperative. The hangar bay may be occupied by enemy forces. The visual signature of multiple blaster discharges and of a single lightsaber have been detected in the hangar's vicinity. Instruction: Remain here and conceal yourself. Statement: I will reconnoitre the area, assess the situation and report back to you. Inquiry: Do you concur that my instructions are reasonable?

Click to expand...

Femi nodded. "Agreed. You will attract much less attention alone than with me tagging along. I'll conceal myself here."

After the droid leaves, Femi calls on the force in an attempt to mask himself from detection by the newcomer wielding the red saber.

OOC: Activate Force Stealth +3. If the total on the skill roll is more than 5 but less than 15, spend a force point to increase the roll.

Dofina and Felia slowly poke their heads out of the hole they, or more correctly Felia, had dug to escape the collapsed tunnel. All around them was forest, but it seemed Dofina knew exactly where to go. Pointing off in the distance, she spoke. "There, beyond the trees in the clearing." Looking where the Nemoidian's finger pointed, Felia saw a building of sorts with smoke pouring out of one side.

"That was my secret hangar. Obviously somebody found it. I just hope my droid made it there safely, or we're going nowhere. He has the codes to open the ships and jam the signals of those ships in orbit." Without saying another word, the noble took off towards the hangar.


The Jedi Padawan turned fugitive sank down to the ground. He knew that if either the clones or the one with the Sith blade detected him, his life would soon be at an end. Trying to focus his thoughts on relaxing, his connection to the Force slowly ebbed from him as he built a wall to close his being away from its ever-present touch.


The small droid DRK-1X advanced towards the hangar, slowly hovering and scanning his sensors in all directions. It saw that a lone person in a dark cloak was wielding a crimson red lightsaber and fending off the attacks of at least a squad of clone troopers near the part of the building that cargo was usually loaded into.


As the Clone Sergeant told his men to do as the ex-Republic soldier had said, he turned to him. "Sir, our orders were specifically to kill any Jedi found. My men will do so, as it is ordered by the Supreme Chancellor. Anything else however, is up to you. Sir." He then starts to walk to join the rest of his men on patrol.

Looking at the building, Tal can see a giant hole blasted into the side of it, smoke pouring from it. There are spotlights at 10 meter intervals surrounding the building, sending out light in 10 meter arcs. Directly ahead, the shield keeping the ships inside seems to still be active, and at least one ship is still inside. Oddly, there is no one moving inside.


Dofina and Felia reach the outer area of the hangar and see that there has been a hole blasted into one side of it, where the smoke is coming from. Dofina also notes that the launch shield is still active. There are lights surrounding the building spotlighting someone checking out the damage....

[sblock]
Femi's Force Stealth: 18+3 =21. This is the check necessary for Femi to be detected by anyone using See Force.

DRK-1X's Hide: 27 Move Silently: 17. Clone Spot: 13+2-20-5= -10 Clone Listen: 6+2-20-5= -17 Sgt Spot:11+4-20-5= -10 Sgt Listen: 9+4-20-5= -12. Dark Jedi Spot: 4+1-22-5= -22 Dark Jedi Listen: 8+1-22-5= -18.

Note: For now the troops that Tal have commanded are on patrol 250 meters from the hangar and making a wider arc around it. They could turn up again at any time...

Init checks for everyone:
Tal (26)
Dark Jedi (22)
Tac (17)
DRK-1X (16)
Clones (14)
Femi (13)
Clone Sgt (5)

Locations:
Femi is 410 meters away from the map. All others are on the map.

Here is the link for the new and improved RG thread
[/sblock]

Cognitive Processing
Datum: Eight republic troopers have surrounded and engaged a Jedi.
Proposition: Death of the Jedi is imminent.
Proposition: Arrival of republic reinforcements is imminent.
Emotive Node: Anxiety 37.6%; Frustration 32.9%; Resolve 14.6%; Excitement 12.9%
Heuristic Node: Status of hangar bay and vessels remain uncertain.
More data required. Continue survey.
Uploading directives to repulsorlift unit [X=+50.3m.,Y=-11.3m., Z=0m., V=5m./second]
Awaiting reply (encrypted channel #782364B)

OOC: I'm not certain if you intend us to list our actions round by round again since none of the PCs are in combat and some don't even seem aware of it yet. DRK-1X certainly has no intention of joining in. For expediency's sake, I'll just describe my intended actions for the moment.

DRK-1X tries to focus its holorecorder in on the cloaked figure hoping to catch a shot of his/her face as he/she spins around deflecting the troopers' blaster fire. Once successful, DRK-1X will slowly pull backwards out of the illuminated area and begin to circle the building counterclockwise (away from the troopers) to survey the other side of the building and its damaged facade while remaining concealed and silent (double move, 30 meters per round, Hide +22, Move Silently +12, taking 10 on both checks and taking advantage of available concealment, less than full-speed move penalty is -5 for both checks.) Afterwards, it'll head back towards Femi's position to report.

OOC: If DRK-1X spots Dofina and Tac it'll slowly move towards them to report to its mistress. BTW, how tall is the hangar building? I assume it can't be too tall since it's supposed to blend in with the trees around it. Does the hole in the building seem to have been created by an internal or external force?

Felia creeps up with Dophina, sneaking off ahead as best as she is able to hide behind the farthest tree south on the west side fo the building, peering out at the figure examining the hole in the side of the hangar. Wondering whether or not she should draw her tiny Q2 hold-out blaster, she places her hand inside the mouth of her satchel, but does not remove the blaster.

(Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot all at +0)

"We could probably circle around the clearing and come upon the hole from down there," she whispers to the neimodian, pointing tothe southern extent of the forest, leading to the hole. "We could move slow and far enough out that they wouldn't hear us over the shooting, and we could probably sneak past one person. Besides, from down there we'll be able to see if the hangar is occupied," she added softly, eyes trained upon the being in the clearing, her mind reaching out to touch his emotions.

OOC: Tac will take an attack action to take 10 on an Empathy check on the man in the clearing (Tal). I can find no mention of range in the skill description, so I'm assuming I can do this. It costs 2 vitality and he must make a DC 11 Will save. If he saves, he has no indication that anything happened, and if he fails Tac gets to know what he's feeling and gets a +2 to the first interaction skill check made against him within a minute. Given that it's a PC, I'm mostly interested in how he feels. Tac will remain hidden approximately 18 meters from Tal's position (-4 to his spot check to see Felia and Dofina due to distance, I believe) until Dophina confers one way or the other whether they should move.

shadowbloodmoon said:

As the Clone Sergeant told his men to do as the ex-Republic soldier had said, he turned to him. "Sir, our orders were specifically to kill any Jedi found. My men will do so, as it is ordered by the Supreme Chancellor. Anything else however, is up to you. Sir." He then starts to walk to join the rest of his men on patrol.

Looking at the building, Tal can see a giant hole blasted into the side of it, smoke pouring from it. There are spotlights at 10 meter intervals surrounding the building, sending out light in 10 meter arcs. Directly ahead, the shield keeping the ships inside seems to still be active, and at least one ship is still inside. Oddly, there is no one moving inside.

Click to expand...

Tal nods as the Clone sergeant leaves, but then closes the outbound communication and swears softly to himself. I guess I can't blame them. We created them to follow orders without question.

Moving slowly toward the hanger, Tal makes his way carefully through the grass with his blaster at his shoulder. Once he is confident that no movement can be spotted inside, he runs in a zig-zag pattern to the northern edge of the gaping hole in the wall, flipping the small switch on his breath mask to start filtering out the smoke. Once he reaches the wall, he stands close to the edge and peeks into the hanger, quickly pulling his head back to minimize his intrusion. Be careful, old man. No point in getting killed before you don’t even know what you’re fighting for…

The Padawan Femi, now absent from the Force is nearly invisible to everyone. The little droid that would be his savior moved towards the other side of the building, sensors looking for anything. It immediately spots its Mistress attempting to hide among some trees near the southeast corner of the building, but he also spots someone with her, a Human female by the looks of it. Its memory bank has no recollection of the woman however.

Approaching them, the woman is surprised, but Mistress Dofina is simply ecstatic. The woman has to muffle the Nemoidian's surprised words before she gave away their position. DRK-1X also happens to see another Human male at the explosion site, which looks like it was made with a high powered energy weapon. Perhaps from orbit. It also notices that the hangar's ceiling is noticeably lower than that of the tree tops, as if some of its floor is actually a few meters underground. They group also see that the energy shield that keeps the ships in is still active, so all the power wasn't taken out by the blast.


The smoke from the hangar's wound is choking, even through the breathmask. The ionized air tingles Tal's skin as he surveys the damage. Considering the many power cables that have ruptured, whatever hit it knew where to target the blast. Quickly peering inside, he spots a sleek ship parked inside with cargo scattered around it. The loading ramp is currently closed. Tal sees no movement inside, but he sees flashes of light across the floor past the ship, possibly outside the hangar.

[sblock]

DRK-1X- Hide: 27 Move Silently: 17 Listen: 7+9= 16 Spot: Nat 20 (30)+15= 45
Tac: Hide: 10 Move Silently: 10 Listen: 8 Spot: 12 Empathy Check: 10
Tal: Will save: 11+1= 12. Spot check: 10

I've relocated you all on the map, but unless you want me too, I won't repost it... Tal is at the north side of the hole in the hangar, the rest are north of him in the trees by the NW corner of it. Notice I flipped the map for you Ambrus ...

[/sblock]