STAR WARS: The Emperor's Game

[Dr Midnight]

This will be the sequel to my four-session campaign STAR WARS: WRATH OF THE REBELLION. You can read that campaign writeup here: http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10582
or read the entire thing without ENworld commentary here: www.dr-midnight.com/starwars/wotr.htm

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PROLOGUE

General Madine took a breath and said it. “No.”

Across the table, Luke Skywalker blinked. “What?”

“I said no. Permission denied.”

Luke gritted his teeth. “General, with all due respect, this man is as responsible for the destruction of the Death Star as I am. Without his support, I would have died in that trench, and all the rebels on Yavin would have died only minutes afterward.”

Madine ran a hand through his hair and structured his argument in his head. “He was well-paid for that support, if you recall. He bled our resources dry with his ‘reward money’.” He looked at Luke and saw only hurt. “Han Solo is a mercenary.”

“He’s a good man,” Luke replied. “and he’s of great use to the Rebellion.”

The general agreed. “Absolutely. And if things were different, I would fully endorse sending you, Organa, and Calrissian in to save him, as you suggest. However, I have to consider certain things. The Rebellion needs you, first and foremost… and this ‘Jedi Training’ leave time you’ve been taking has genuinely hurt us here. I like to think we’ve been very lenient in that regard: allowing you months at a time off on some hidden planet, training to be a ‘Jedi’, using one of our ships as transport.” Luke opened his mouth to retort, and Madine went on. “Furthermore, a man like Solo would be of much greater use to us if he didn’t demand compensation for every little deed. He’s not an enlisted man, like yourself. He works for us. At this time, we don’t feel that his rescue is worth sending you, three other high-ranking Rebels, and two serviceable droids to Tatooine. Han’s criminal background caught up to him, and he’s paying the price.”

Luke remained calm. “I won’t leave my friend in the clutches of a gangster.”

The general had had enough. “You WILL follow orders, soldier,” he growled. “Have you forgotten that we’re fighting a war? You’re needed here. Permission denied. That is all.” Luke got up and stormed to the exit.

Madine called out to him. “I’m sorry, Luke. It’s not our fight.”

Luke paused briefly, then left the room. He walked away briskly. Princess Leia Organa stood up from her seat and followed. “Let me guess,” she said.

“He’s wrong,” Luke said angrily. “Quantifying people by their worth isn’t what will make the New Republic great.”

“He’s a general,” Leia said, hurrying to keep up with Luke’s long strides. “He has to make hard decisions every day.”

Luke sighed. “I shouldn’t be getting angry like this. I have to learn to separate myself from my feelings.” He slowed to a stop, and Leia stopped with him. They stood in the center of a long hallway. Luke spoke after a time. “We can’t just leave Han like this.”

Leia bit her lower lip and thought. “No,” she said. “We’re going to get him.”

Skywalker looked up at her, confused. “We are?”

“Yes. I have an idea.”

“What about Madine?”

“To Hell with Madine and his orders,” She snarled.

Luke was surprised by the outburst of emotion from Leia. The young woman was normally diplomatic and reserved- a true politician, she rarely let her feelings flare like this… except, of course, where Han Solo was involved. “What’s your idea?”

She told him, and he listened. In the end, he agreed that it was a dangerous game they were playing, but that rescuing Han was the end to which all means were justified. “Let’s do it. When can we put the plan into motion?”

“As soon as the others get back,” she said nervously. “Do you want me to talk to them?”

“No, I’ll do it, I guess.” He stepped forward and hugged her, and she hugged him back. They stood there silently for a moment.

Leia said “I miss him.”

“Me too.” Luke held his friend and felt the loneliness and pain coming off her in waves. “We’ll get him back.”

MORE PROLOGUE TO COME...

 

[Richards]

All right! Some more gaming action, Doc Midnight style! I know I'm speaking for quite a few of us who frequent the Story Hour boards when I say:

Damn! We've missed you, Doc!

Great logo, by the way!

Johnathan

 

[Neverwinter Knight]

Yes !!! I was hoping for a new Star Wars campaign when you finished the knights' story, but it's not just a new SW campaign, but a sequel. Will it be featuring all of the old PCs? Obviously, T'ek Nova will have to be replaced...who's coming in for him?

Looking forward to this VERY MUCH. Do you already know how many sessions you will be playing or is this a longterm campaign.

Regards,

NWK


PS: I always thought Luke's borrowing an X-Wing and taking off looked too easy - hail to bureaucracy.

 

[Dr Midnight]

With a squirbling bleep, the little Astromech droid came back to function. Its diode came back on and its trapezoidal dome “head” swiveled around. It began to curiously examine its surroundings. Kneeling there before it was a blue-green Twi’lek woman, soldering wires within the droid’s frame.

“Hey there, you’re up,” she said. The droid tweeted anxiously. “I don’t know who- much less where- ‘Dent’ may be. You’re on a Rebel Flagship, and you’re in pretty sad shape, my friend. Don’t strain yourself.”

The droid whistled, and the woman chuckled. “You got cut in half by a blaster bolt or something is what happened. By all rights you should be scrap… but apparently the powers that be want you whole again.”

A gurgling boip. “No, we’ve never met before,” she replied.

The droid chirped softly. The Twi’lek woman laughed and put up her goggles. Through the goggles’ leather headdress her two long, tattooed lekku hung down her back. Her honey-colored eyes regarded the green and yellow droid’s view-lens kindly. “I’m glad to meet you, R5-F6. I’m Avara Tel. There, we’re not strangers anymore… no need to be so nervous.” She picked up a 3/5ths Ganudu wrench and began loosening the bolts over R5’s filament casing. “Hey, while you’re conscious… mind telling me what this goes to?” She held up a piece of metal from the ground.

R5 twittered, and she nodded. “Motivator servo. Got it.”

From behind her, a voice: “Tech Specialist Tel?”

Avara whirled on her knees, eyes darting around. “What?”

A hangar worker stood there, holding two cases at his sides. “I, uh… I was told you’d need a set of torquescopes for the Astromech you’re repairing.”

She relaxed somewhat. “Yeah. Yeah, I need one of those, yes I do. Leave it there, thanks.”

He stood there motionless for a moment, then asked “Um. Which set?”

Avara looked at him. “What?”

He held up the case in his left hand. “Helial,” then the one in his right. “…or Sedrial?” Tel sat there staring at the cases until the worker said “Oh, it’s just an R5. You’ll want the Helial, then.” He put it down.

Avara took the set and opened the case, examining the tools within. “Yes, Helial, that’s right. Thank you.” The worker walked away. She waited until he was gone and then picked up one of the torquescope attachments, turning it over and examining it.

R5-F6 made a modulated bleating sound. “Nothing,” she said. “Examing the craftsmanship. Good tools. Anyway, tell me about this ‘Dent’ friend of yours.” She lowered her goggles back over her eyes and returned to work on the little droid’s insides while the other blurped and beeped happily about Dent Darkstar and the travels they’d had together.

Avara listened, nodding, then stopped as R5 detailed one of their more exciting adventures they’d had some time ago. Again, Avara raised her goggles. “You were there when the Death Star was destroyed?”

R5 whistled that no, in fact, he remained on the ship during the adventure, but Dent and his friends had gone into the Death Star and rescued the Rebel detainees from the detention block even as Rogue Squadron flew toward the station from the other side. Avara listened intently as R5 told the tale of how they’d barely escaped in the Chandrila Surveyor, trailing several transports behind, as Luke Skywalker made his historic shot to the Star’s reactor core. The droid played a tinny-sounding explosion noise to climax the story.

“I remember,” Tel said with careful interest. “I was one of the people they saved that day.” R5 tweeted excitedly. “Yes, I was. I was arrested for… being Rebel scum. Then, your friends came by and saved us all.” She frowned as she got back to work on the droid’s circuitry. “Of course, no one told us then that we’d be stuck on this ship for the rest of time. Nobody ever told me the life of a tech specialist would be so dull and sedentary. I’ve got things to do, y’know?”

She soldered for a minute more, then stopped. “Say, where is Dent now? Does his team make frequent trips off-base?” R5 beeped an affirmative. “All the time, eh?” Avara rubbed her chin. “Y’know, R5, I think it’s time I make my value known to the Rebellion. All this time, I’ve missed my true calling as an adventurer. Don’t you think your ship could use a tech specialist on board?”

The droid warbled. “I know you’re Chief Engineer, I would never dream of taking over your job. Couldn’t your team use a slicer, though, to help slip through screen-systems and repair things you can’t reach on ship? Don’t you think it’s time you had someone with my expertise?”

R5 paused, seemingly thinking, then chirped a happy reply. Tel smiled. “Why, you’d put in a good word for me?”

Bloop.

“You’re too sweet.”

Next: The Game Begins

 

[JDragon]

Alright!! Doc's back with more Star Wars fun! !

Can't wait to get into this one Doc.

Keep this at the top of the page so no one misses it.

 

[Dr Midnight]

We played the first game yesterday, and I've gotta say it was pretty good. Some action, some plot hooks, some pretty hairy narrow escapes, some wackiness from... certain characters...

And, hey, sorry for abandoning my last story hour. I just lost the excitement very early on. I've been looking forward to this one for months now, so I don't think it'll happen again unless I just run straight out of time.

I've got some writing to do!

 

[Dr Midnight]

Woonwooken growled.

Dent looked up from his spot on the floor where he was tweaking the ship's secondary compressor units. He spoke without much real interest. "What's her problem now?"

"She's grumpy," Lexo Yust replied, ruffling the fur on his wookiee companion's head. "We haven't seen any action for a while. She's getting restless."

Dent went back to "Well, who's she got to blame for that?"

The Chandrila Surveyor flew through hyperspace. Through the windows, countless stars winked at them as they passed by, almost instantaneously. Whole systems flashed by in the breadth of a second. Hyperspace is one of the most fascinating sights, most agree, that a galactic citizen could hope to see.

…Unless, that is, you've seen it hundreds of times before. Woonwooken growled again. "I know you're bored," Lexo said soothingly. This is what happens when you get demoted. You get all the dull jobs." Woonie made a warbling, mournful grunt. Lexo nodded and said "I agree. It's not fair."

"Not fair?!" Dent sat up again. "You were court-martialed for perfectly good and just reasons. You released a known enemy of the Rebellion into space. One that had only hours before turned on us and destroyed a droid- MY droid- that possessed the station plans to a critical Imperial installation." He gestured with his wrench angrily. "He turned into a snarling beast, betraying everyone who trusted him, and you two let him go in one of MY ship's escape pods. You're LUCKY you were only demoted. You're lucky I even let you on my ship anymore."

Lexo sighed. Dent got like this, now and again… he was upset about his team being set back in mission status, and now and then he lashed out. It would pass. "T'ek deserved a fair chance," Lexo said quietly, petting Woonwooken's head.

"Don't even say his name aboard my ship," Dent said bitterly, laying back to return to his work.

A figure appeared in the doorway. The man had auburn hair and a dingy off-white and tan outfit. His appearance was that of a common moisture farmer. He spoke. "You two did what you thought was right. We just wish you'd discussed it with us."

"We didn't think you'd approve, Zybor."

"We wouldn't have." The man in the doorway stepped into the room. "And it's Onjo," he said, sitting. "Always Onjo."

"Sorry," Lexo shrugged. "Onjo Quee. That's going to take a while to get used to."

The Jedi Zybor-Jae had changed his name and his image, going "underground" even among his contacts within the Rebellion. The reasoning was explained to him by Obi-Wan Kenobi, through T'ek Nova. Obi-Wan thinks that if Luke Skywalker knows we exist, T'ek had told him long ago, He would see us as his superiors and never come to lead the new Jedi order in his own right. In retrospect, T'ek may have lied and suggested the plan to weaken the new Jedi… but the idea still made sense. The new Jedi order would need a new leader, instead of drawing knowledge from the old guard, which had grown bloated and unbalanced. Zybor had taken the identity of a simple fringer to allay suspicion, and kept his double-bladed lightsaber hidden in the folds of his loose tabard. The name Zybor-Jae simply wasn't safe anymore. His name would have come up in some archives eventually, and then the questions would start… maybe the one asking would be Luke Skywalker, maybe it would be an Imperial inquisition team. No, better to stay disguised and maintain a more secretive Jedi presence within the Rebellion.

Onjo had disapproved of Lexo and Woonwooken's actions, but unlike Dent, he enjoyed the new nature of their assignments. These new missions were almost always peaceful and diplomatic in nature. A courier job here, a transport job there, peacekeeping at an information exchange. It allowed him to exercise his sense of justice and fairness, instead of wielding a lightsaber to solve his problems. It was refreshing. Still, Dent was upset about the slowdown, and Uschi Neff had left the group entirely in a fit of disgust. Onjo understood their pain while striving to keep from further alienating Lexo and Woonwooken from the group.

Currently, the group were returning from a mission to the Alderaan vacuum. Some colonists on surrounding planets had erected a floating memorial in space. The Empire had deemed the display treasonous and ordered them to remove it or face "consequences". Onjo and the others managed to convince the colonists to grieve privately and pick their battles until the Empire was no more. It was a small matter in the big scheme of the war, but their actions still saved lives here and there. Onjo felt at peace.

The transceiver light began blinking a dull red. "I'll get it," Dent said as he stood up, arching his back. He walked into the cabin, sat down, and hit the receive button.

"Chandrila Surveyor, this is Colonel Wellion. Do you copy?"

"I'm here," Dent replied. "What can we do for you?"

"Come out of hyperspace at the coordinates I'm sending you. You will be met and boarded by a Lambda-class Imperial shuttle. Do not fire on it."

"I'm afraid I'm going to need your clearance code before I dock with an Imperial craft over transceiver orders. I don't take that kind of risk with my ship."

"Yes, of course," the voice said grudgingly. "4753-H2345-J0198-a."

"That'll do. We'll meet you at the rendezvous in a few minutes. Darkstar out." He thumbed the receive button off and walked back to the group. "Emergency meeting in two minutes with a Rebellion representative," Dent announced. "Looks like something's up."

Lexo made a snorting noise through his breathing mask. "A meeting? Out here, in space?"

Onjo thought for a moment and said "This is unorthodox. Might it be a trap?"

"I don't think so," Dent said casually. "He claimed to be Colonel Wellion. The ID code he gave me checks out, though he was not happy to give it."

"Sounds like an imposter," Lexo said.

"On the contrary," Dent replied. "Only superior officers get haughty about being asked for their codes, as if you're questioning their authority. It's when the person gives up the codes eagerly that you have to watch out. Still, everyone be ready for anything. Woonie just might get her wish."

Woonwooken took out a pink length of ribbon and tied a bow at the top of her head. Company was coming.

MORE TO COME...

 

[Felix]

Doc, I might not have been your loudest fan before, but I am wonderfully suprised that you have a new Story Hour. Christmas came early this year!

 

[fenzer]

Finally! Something other than Buffy to read. Sorry Doc, not a big Buffy fan, Star Wars on the other hand.

I love seeing the old characters back in action. And the pink ribbon...what can I say other than everyone needs a little Woonwooken love.

 

[idarii]

avara tel wanted me to stop in and say hi to everyone, cause she's a little busy fixing some droids or something. i wasn't really listening, i was too busy thinking about how i could steal her ultra cool goggles...


carrie (avara tel)