Avizzi keeps close to the guard, his slugthrower pointed always at the man's gut. "Don't make any sudden moves, or you're going to die, slowly and painfully." He keeps his eyes, ears, and montrals open and alert.
As Avizzi watches the guard punch in his access code to open the door he notices an open message on the next screen:
//ROUTED . . . SECURITY ENCRYPTION CONFIRMED //FROM PRAKITH CITADEL COMM CENTER VIA HOLONET NODE 6673-ALPHA //FROM NODE 6673-ALPHA VIA STAR DESTROYER ASSIDUOUS Priority 1 Message Follows:
Prepare former Admiral Gilder Varth for transfer to the Citadel. Inquisitor Draco will be arriving within a standard Felucian day/night cycle to take custody of the prisoner. You are instructed to have your medical technicians ensure that Varth is fully rested and at his highest possible strength.
Interrogation chemicals should be administered to Varth upon notification that the Inquisitor has arrived on Felucia. Varth will be transferred by shuttle to the Assiduous before Inquisitor Draco takes custody. Time from administration of interrogation chemicals to transfer to the Inquisitor’s personal transport should fall within an acceptable window of 27 to 54 minutes.
//END TRANSMISSION
The doors slide open revealing a couple of human prisoners who'd been pounding on the doors.
They look about at the broken droids and unusual people.
" Are you busting us out? " one asks whoever is nearby.
Avizzi quickly scans down the information and turns back to the guard, ignoring the prisoner. "You. Is this inquisitor here yet?"
A rakish smile appearing on his face, Kalus says, "Well, that depends entirely on what you got locked up for, and how potentially useful you are. First order of business, would Admiral Gilder Varth please step forward?"
Avizzi keeps close to the guard, his slugthrower pointed always at the man's gut. "Don't make any sudden moves, or you're going to die, slowly and painfully." He keeps his eyes, ears, and montrals open and alert.
Nomi makes sure the imperials are bound in binders and tucks her lightsaber out of sight before opening the cell block.
"Yeah. That's the plan."
Avizzi quickly scans down the information and turns back to the guard, ignoring the prisoner. "You. Is this inquisitor here yet?"
Glancing at the screen with the open message, the guard glares at Avizzi defiantly but then shakes his head as Nomi binds his hands.
A rakish smile appearing on his face, Kalus says, "Well, that depends entirely on what you got locked up for, and how potentially useful you are. First order of business, would Admiral Gilder Varth please step forward?"
" What we got locked up for? Johnny and me got caught smuggling " He says pointing to the other guy who'd been pounding on the doors. " and Wolhm over there is in for sabotaging some imperial equipment or something. Then there's "
" Me. " A slightly overweight man with close-cropped gray hair and a bushy mustache. stands up cutting off the other prisoner. He has clearly seen better days; his right eye is swollen and bruised, and a trail of dried blood stains the corner of his mouth.
" I'm Admiral Varth, or rather I was. You're looking for me? My contact came through? "
The first prisoner speaks up again. " Excellent what's the plan? Busting out the front doors? Give us blasters and we'll be happy to help. Right Johnny? " his friend nods with a wry grin on his face.
"Yes, Admiral, your contact did. We're here to bust you out. Now, as to shooting our way out the front door, there's a walker out there I don't fancy meeting. Instead, we're going to quietly sneak out a vent in the back. But first, we're gonna cause the Empire a little pain."
Kalus moves over to the computer and, taking out the code cylinder, keys up the security footage and erases it. Then, he calls up the controls for the base reactor.
Kalus is able to erase the security footage and call up the reactor system but setting the reactor to overload proves difficult. The settings seem to have some system fail safes in place.
The twitch from the stimpack causes his hands to hit "Enter" before he finished typing the bypass command.
Taril looks over the eager just-released prisoners with a jaundiced eye, "There's a bunch of dead troopers out in the hall...grab their gear and have at it."
Turning, she watches Kalus access the security system, leaning in to stab at a control here and there...
Kalus attempts to bypass the safety protocols, he's unsuccessful but doesn't trip any computer security. Taril leans over his shoulder pressing a few buttons here and there to lend a hand.
The prisoners nod and slip out into the hall to pick over the Stormtrooper's belongings.
"Thanks. Those stimpacks really make you twitchy." Willing his hands to be still, Kalus manages to enter complete commands, thanks to Taril's help.
With the safety protocols bypassed, Kalus is easily able to set the reactor to ramp up its power output incrementally to overload.
The group gathers together as the prisoners finish gearing up and your Comms crackle with an incomin message as the group heads back to the ventilation grate in the storage room.
" Ca...ain O'Keefe ...ere, ..... .....anshee is oper...tional ..ain. Le... ..e know i.. you need ... evac. "
Avizzi crouches near the grate and peers out into the jungle. He sees a disturbing sight—just outside the grate, a large number of stormtroopers stand around the crumpled body of their Felucian guide, and an AT-ST stomps around the exterior of the facility.
Avizzi pauses at the grate, once more holding his rifle in hand, and he holds up two fingers as a signal to hold back as he looks out. Seeing the troopers and walker, he frowns and looks back to the group. "We may want to call for that evac. The Imperials have found that something's going on."
"We'll need to get to higher ground. This facility looks like it had a landing pad on the roof. We should head up. That'll also clear up the comm signal, since that message came through a little on the garbled side."
Looking at the Admiral and the other prisoners, Kalus asks, "Anyone know if there's another way up besides the turbolifts?"
Varth shakes his head. " No, it's the only way I know of. "
The othe prisoners simply shrug. Heading to the turbolifts You find them locked down, but when Kalus slots in the lieutenant's code cylinder access is granted.
" You are all injured, " The Med droid says as the group moves towards the turbolifts " Can I offer assistance? "
Russel: 15/26 Hp
Nomi: 19/34 Hp
Kalus: 25/29 Hp (-1 Persistent step)
Taril: 18/25 Hp
Avizzi: 34/37 Hp
Russel, Kalus, Taril and Nomi have received first aid today.
Kalus and Russel have taken a second wind today
Crouching by their inital exit path, Taril quips, "We could always sic the med droid on them."
She waves the droid away, "I'll be alright. Hope all the imperials are out back and the landing pads clear...." she says as the turbolift rises up.
Everyone piles into the four turbolifts and they begin to rise quickly, then lurch to a stop as they reach the next floor.
The doors of each lift slide open revealing a large cargo/storage area. Two large cargo lifts, one on each side of the turbolift cluster are coming down from the roof area, a massive montrosity of a felucian stands on each lift, along with some stormtroopers and a tall, sickly looking Imperial officer.
12.2
10.5
15
As Vishera sees the turbo lift doors open he shouts "Kargrek, Defend me!" he draws a blaster pistol and ducking around the monstrous felucian fires at Nomi.
[b]"Take them out troopers! Leave Varth alive, the inquisitor is coming for him.
The Large Felucian with the Captain stays put providing cover and swinging his bonesword arm menacingly.
The other Felucian (Blue) lumbers forward swinging its horrible sword arm at Avizzi
Avizzi manages a dodge and spin but still gets a nasty gash on his left forearm.
The Stormtroopers raise their blasters and open fire.
One of the Prisoners (Green) takes a bolt in the chest and falls to the floor.
Another bolt flashes past Taril burning her left shoulder.
Nomi dodges to the side as a bolt burns through the air beside her.
Nomi: 23/40 Hp
Kalus: 25/29 Hp (-1 Persistent step)
Taril: 18/25 Hp
Avizzi: 34/37 Hp
Russel, Kalus, Taril and Nomi have received first aid today.
Kalus and Russel have taken a second wind today
Avizzi tries to duck back from the mutated Felucian's assault, but the bony edge catches his forearm and tears open a large wound. The togruta grits his teeth and raises his pistol, firing a slug point-blank into the creature.
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"Yeah, this our floor alright!"
"Great, we take an elevator and wind up in a kriffing ambush! Admiral, do us a favor and help take out your former colleagues."
Kalus aims at one of the stormtroopers and fires, since the big Felucian was staying back and appeared to not have a blaster to shoot at them.
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Taril shrugs when the ambush is revealed, snarling when the stray bolt hits her shoulder, glancing over at the Admiral, thinking "Sure, couldn't think of another way...."
She takes a step to get closer and fires pointblank at the felucian threatening Avizzi...
Avizzi fires at the monstrous felucian, it bellows as the slug rips through its shoulder.
Nomi activates her lightsaber sweeping it through the air with a defensive posture.
Kalus takes careful aim at a Stormtrooper and sends a bolt of red energy through the visor of the soldiers helmet. The trooper falls to the floor.
Taril steps in ducking under one of the Felucian's arms and shoving her blaster up into it's chest. Pulling the trigger, a red lance of energy burns through it and it topples to the floor with a loud thump.
Prisoner blue steps behind Avizzi and fires at one of the troopers on the cargo lift.
Prisoner Red takes aim at the Felucian and fires his carbine. The monster roars as the energy burns the flesh of it's torso.
Admiral Varth grunts at Kalus's request, aims with his pistol and fires at the Felucian as well. The bolt burns into the roaring creatures shoulder.
A stormtrooper moves away from the cargo lift controls and fires a barrage of blaster bolts into Nomi's turbo lift. Nomi flies into a spin, red bolts fly everywhere as they're deflected by her lightsaber. Only one stray bolt gets past her, burning on the Medical droids durasteel plating.
Russel aims at the Felucian firing his pistol. The bolt hits directly in it's face and it topples back to the floor.
On the other side of the lift cluster the lone stormtrooper sets his rifle to autofire and sends a barrage at Taril. Taril manages to duck against the turbo lift wall avoiding the bolts.
Captain Vishera ducks behind the body of the Felucian and fires at Russel. The bolt slams into Russel's chest burning a large hole. He collapses to the ground.
Nomi: 23/40 Hp
Kalus: 25/29 Hp (-1 Persistent step)
Taril: 18/25 Hp
Avizzi: 34/37 Hp
2-1B: 5/9 Hp
Russel, Kalus, Taril and Nomi have received first aid today.
Kalus and Russel have taken a second wind today
Taril sees a torrent of blaster fire come at her from the remaining trooper on her side.
She presses herself as flat as her curvy body can against the turbolift wall and somehow all of the bolts misses her!
Smiling at her luck, she crouches and calls out to the trooper, "You better watch the action on that rifle, heard they can overheat on autofire!"
"Excellent shot, Admiral."
Sighting down his blaster, Kalus takes aim at Captain Vishera before firing a blast at him.
At Taril's jibe the trooper (yellow) begins fumbling with his rifle, checking for heat.
Kalus hits the imperial Captain. The blaster bolt burning the side of the Captains abdomen.
Nomi: 23/40 Hp
Kalus: 25/29 Hp (-1 Persistent step)
Taril: 18/25 Hp
Avizzi: 34/37 Hp
2-1B: 5/9 Hp
Russel, Kalus, Taril and Nomi have received first aid today.
Kalus and Russel have taken a second wind today
Captain Vishera: 9 damage
"Whose turbo lift? Mine that's whose!" She waves her bronze saber in front of the mutant felucian. "Hey big guy! Down here!"
Avizzi, seeing that Taril seems to have the last trooper in hand dashes out of the lift and moves around to help on the other side. He lines up the Captain in his sights and fires. There's a bright spray of red as the slug smashes through the Imperial officer's skull.
Red prisoner steps forward sighting his rifle at a Stormtrooper. The bolt takes the trooper in the chest throwing him to the floor where he lies still.
Blue prisoner aims at the stormtrooper that's checking his rifle (yellow). The bolt hits, burning the troopers armour but the man seems unaffected.
Varth exits the turbo lift, bolstering his pistol. " Come on we can ride these cargo lifts to the roof and make our escape. "
The yellow trooper checks the readout of his rifle, tapping it a few times, making sure it's not overheating. Then he moves to take cover behind pillar in the corner.
Nomi: 23/40 Hp
Kalus: 25/29 Hp (-1 Persistent step)
Taril: 18/25 Hp
Avizzi: 34/37 Hp
2-1B: 5/9 Hp
Russel, Kalus, Taril and Nomi have received first aid today.
Kalus and Russel have taken a second wind today
"2-1B, see to Russel! Get the bodies off the lifts."
Kalus then moves to cover the pillar the final stormtrooper was hiding behind.
Taril smirks at the troopers gullibility, then unceremoniously kicks the dead prisoner's body off of the lift.
"Let's go , before that bonehead trooper realizes I fooled him." she says, hitting the control of her own lift to rise.
"Whose turbo lift? Mine that's whose!" She waves her bronze saber in front of the mutant felucian. "Hey big guy! Down here!"
Nomi shrugs. "Well that was easy."
Nomi grabs Russel and drags him to the far lift pad.
2-1B dithers a little, " Yes sir, " it responds to Kalus, and then follows Nomi as she drags Russel to the cargo lift. Jabbing the unconcious man with a stimpack.
Kalus moves to cover the last stormtrooper, and gets onto the cargo lift.
Taril moves onto the cargo lift as well, followed by one of the prisoners. "Let's go , before that bonehead trooper realizes I fooled him." she says, hitting the lift controls without hesitation.
The rest of the group gathers on the other lift and Avizzi hits the controls to raise their lift up to the roof.
--------------------------------
The lifts rise up and you find yourselves on the roof of the facility. A large slate grey airspeeder rests on a landing pad between the two lifts, engine still warm from recent use. Down on the ground a couple of At-St walkers patrol the outside of the prison, while squads of white armoured troops apcan be seen moving about.
Kalus knows there must only be a few more minutes before the reactor overloads!
Checking inside, Kalus finds the speeder has two seats in the front, four seats in a middle compartment that is decked out for comfort (two rear facing and two front facing with a table between) and a large cargo area at the rear that has webbing straps. (It looks like the rear compartment was modified to transport the mutant Felucians.)
Kalus hops into the speeder's drivers seat before saying, "Everybody get in. We'll use this to rendezvous with the Banshee - and get clear before this place blows. If the seats fill up, strap in in the cargo area. I'll be as gentle as I can."
He then begins powering up the speeder.
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Avizzi tucks his pistol in its holster and pulls up his rifle, keeping an eye on the group's surroundings. He glances at Kalus as the man begins firing up the speeder. "You do know how to fly this, yes?"
Grinning, Kalus says, "I grew up on Nar Shaddaa, and I've been flying one thing or other since I was a teenager. I know how to fly this - and I know how to make evasive maneuvers with it, too."
Nomi heads to the rear straps herself into a standing position to one side of the bay and readies her lightsaber.
Taril jumps up into the co-pilot seat, hitting switches to bring the replusor lifts up in a hurry, her manner completely business-like.
She quickly scans the installed systems, looking for any weapons she can bring online....
Everybody jumps into the Air speeder, Admiral Varth straping into one of the middle compartment seats along with another prisoner and Avizzi. Kalus takes the pilot seat and Taril jumps into the co-pilot seat and starts firing up systems. She finds a set of low power front mounted lasers which she brings online. Nomi straps into the webbing in the rear compartment along with the other prisoner, she keeps her Lightsaber ready incase of incoming fire.
Kalus throttles the speeders engines to max power and launches off the rooftop landing pad at incredible speed juking this way and that to avoid the laser fire from the AT-STs down below.
The rolling thunder of small explosions fills the air before one massive explosion rips the facility apart, the fire ball expands upwards sending heat waves over Nomi and the prisoner in the open rear compartment.
-------------------------------------------
Up above the mushroom forest Kalus is able to get a message through to Sirona and before long everyone is safe aboard the Banshee, the stolen luxury air speeder parked in the cargo hold.
Sirona and Crash expertly pilot the Banshee, flying low through the atmosphere of Felucia to put some more distance between yourselves and the Imperial Star Destroyer before angling up into space and then jumping to lightspeed.
Once safely in hyperspace Captain Okeefe meets with everyone in the Banshee's lounge area.
" Well, I'm glad you all made it through that safely... I've been instructed by our benefactor to rendezvous with a starship in the Zandrax System. Our benefactor has set up a mobile refuge for the admiral there and hopes that you'll agree to continue working for him from there. " She informs you, seeming to go out of her way not to mention Bail Organa's name in front of the Admiral.
Upon exiting hyperspace, the heroes are greeted with the impressive vision of the Resurgence, a brand-new Nebulon-B frigate that will serve as a mobile safe house for the Admiral.
Captain Okeefe lands the Banshee in one of the Resurgence’s docking bays, and disembarking, you're met by the captain of the frigate, Adrian Verana, a tall and slender man with jet-black hair and a finely trimmed beard that hugs his square jaw. He is dressed in the sterile uniform of an Alderaanian officer. Admiral Varth escorted away by several Alderaanian Security agents, who look at the former Imperial with a mix of suspicion and interest.
Captain Verana addresses you all once the Admiral is out of earshot, his dark eyes seem to weigh each of you carefully as he speaks.
" You've all acquitted yourself well, Senator Organa is very grateful and the agreed amount of credits have been transferred to an account set up for each of you. You have been assigned quarters here on the Resurgence, I'm sure we will have more work requiring clandestine agents once Admiral Varth has been debriefed. Until then all the ships facilities are at your disposal. "
Once the Banshee is safely in hyperspace, Kalus changes into clean clothes, finishing by donning his black and gold coat and his hat. He strides into the lounge, noting Captain O'Keefe's caution and avoidance of using Bail Organa's name.
As they come out of hyperspace and see the Resurgence, Kalus can't help but give a low whistle. "Looks a bit like the old Xiytiar-class bulk cruisers, with that connecting spar going from the stern to the bow, but bigger. Probably roomier too, and nicer on the inside. Is that a turbo laser cluster?" The Nebulon-B Frigate was considered the top-of-the-line in small capital ships, and was the perfect vessel for a mobile strike force. They were also incredibly expensive. Clearly, he should have negotiated a higher fee from Organa.
Kalus looks about the pristine docking bay in approval, eyeing Captain Verana and the Admiral as he's escorted away. Smiling at the Captain, Kalus says, "As long as the Senator continues to pay my fee, I'm more than happy to do any clandestine work necessary. Now, if you would kindly point me to my room and then the lounge, I'll consider myself at leisure until I'm needed."
Captain Verana gives Kalus a curt smile, and waves some nearby personnel over. " Well, If there's no other questions, these men will escort you to your quarters and show you around if necessary. Russel, the Senator intructed me to give you this, and put a ship at your disposal should you require it. " He hands Russel a datapad before stepping towards Captain O'keefe. " It's my understanding that you picked up an extra couple of passengers... " he says, as your led away to some turbo lifts.
Your quarters are comfortable if a little small, you all have a separate room furnished with a bed, built in storage closet and a desk that has a built in computer terminal. The rooms open onto a shared lounge area, with a few holo games and a Vid screen.
Checking your accounts you find you each have a balance of 2000 credits.
STAR WARS
DAWN OF DEFIANCE II
A WRETCHED HIVE
Between the stars in the blackness of space, the Nebulon-B frigate Resurgence floats silently away from the prying eyes of the Empire.
Meanwhile, the galaxy continues to sink further into darkness. Each day, remnants of the Old Republic are crushed and a New Order is more firmly established.
Former Imperial Admiral Gilder Varth has provided Alderaanian agents with vital information on secret projects, and even now events are in motion to reveal the Empire’s misdeeds to the galaxy . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the first few days on the Resurgence, Russel gathers everyone in the common lounge. " I've had a lead come up on some personal business that Organa was looking into for me. It's been fun working with you all but I've got to follow up on this... "
You spend the next two and a half weeks relaxing and taking advantage of the facilities aboard the Resurgence available to those on retainer. Perhaps drinking or playing Sabacc in the onboard cantina, getting your wounds healed at the Medical bay or ordering new equipment with the ships Quartermaster.
It's about noon (shiptime) when wherever you are aboard the ship the receive a recorded message on your comlink, requesting you to attend a meeting in briefing room 3 at 14:00 hours.
The briefing rooms aboard the Resurgence are clean and white, with several benches wrapping smoothly around a holographic projector seated on a raised dais in the center of the room.
When you arrive at room 3, you find that Gilder Varth awaits the group there, now dressed in the uniform of an Alderaanian ship officer. At his side is a small yellow-and- silver astromech droid that whistles softly as it interfaces with the holographic projector.
Kalus, dressed in the black-and-gold coat, comes into the briefing room and takes a seat somewhere about the middle of the room, throwing his feet up over the chair in front of him.