"Could we take it back to the space station, that we were at? How friendly are they?" Karval wonders.
Then adds sharing Janitors concern. "We certainly don't want to space the crew of the Star Destroyer, but how loyal are they?"
Zaelos nods in agreement. "If we are to commandeer this Star Destroyer then the optimal solution would be to return to Mirianna's fleet. Certainly having an extra ship would certainly be helpful to our cause. Perhaps she could send some reinforcements to the Station so we can rendezvous with them and they can take control of the ship from there."
"What about the forces on the planet? As uneager as I am to be in the middle of it, we can't just fly off and leave the Malakai completely on their own should another ship arrive. I don't know who this Mirianna is or who is in charge of the station now, but if we can, we should have them meet us here, just like we should have your friend meet at the landing site instead of us trying to pick him up. We can only do so much, and trying to be in multiple places at once is foolish."
"Good idea, Na'Soth. They can help subdue the people inside the ship, we can pick up the Malakai." Karval looks to Zaleos; "Do we have the commicator to try and contact Me'oena? Get him to meet us at the landing site. We then take the shuttle and leave."
Zaelos pulls the communicator from his belt and switches to the secure channel. "Me'eona....Me'eona, come in..." Once he is acknowledged, he relays the orders to pick up the raiding group at the landing site.
Shanosuke, was wondering if it were possible for Arana to make use of the Malakai armour, at penalty as she doesn't have armor proficiency? Or whether in her time with them she learnt enough to use it properly.
On another note, meant to ask about this earlier, and if you addressed this elsewhere I apologize. Are we handling the dark side of the force as in the rule book. I assumed so when I created Arana, with a couple of dark side points already. So, if she uses force choke on somebody, she will accrue more dark side points and if she accumulated enough she would be irredeemable and become an NPC? Just want to be sure of the mechanics you want to use, just in case. ;)
Karval waits with bated breath, hoping that everything has been prepared for the mission. Then he realises they may need some rope and tries to see if the Malakai stores have some.
Janitor nods as he realizes that the briefing is essentially over, and moves outside. Stripping his armor off and stacking it neatly on a stone, he begins doing some basic exercises to get his body ready for the upcoming events--nothing strenuous, just enough to ease his muscles into readiness and get a touch of adrenaline going. Of course, back in the Legions, we'd do all this with the armor on, but no sense dirtying it any more than it is already.
You would have spent enough time with the Malaki to gain exotic armor proficiency in their hide and bone armor. This is a free feat only for you two.
Malaki armor is strategically placed to gain the most optimal benifits. It is made from bone and hide and when custom made for the wearer, it offers full benefits.
Your fitted armor offers 3 DR +5 Dex bonus -2 armor check penalty and a +5 to resist grapple attempts. The benefits are cut in half(rounded down) and the penalties are doubled if it is not fitted with you.
The armor, despite it's coverage is revealing and very crude looking. It is fitted tight and is very primitive looking. It can be improved by abdominal coverage. This will result in a 5 DR +3 dex bonus and -4. These bonuses can be added with a craft armor check and a weeks worth of work.
Me'eona responds that he can pick you guys up. Taggard nods to you. "We need to get moving. Even if you have a ship, it will likely not be worth it if it isn't going up when the others are. My men are ready when you are."
Taggard introduces you to fifty of the toughest warriors you have ever seen, even among the imperials. They are holding blasters and melee weapons.
Is there anything you need before we FINALLY start this mission?
Karval silently inspects the troops knowing that Taggard has done an amazing job of pulling the force together, but also making sure that they know his face.
He nods in assent at his preparedness.
Janitor also moves to look at the troops after redressing in his armor. Fearsome, strong, skilled... but are they disciplined? Will they hold against heavy guns, being outmanned, outgunned, outmaneuvered? Will they be able to capture a ship, and take orders?
Janitor hopes they can do all this and more. He turns to Karval and nods as well, also showing his acceptance to Taggard.
Arana returns to her creche to gather her belongings. Returning she is wearing a suit of traditional Malakai armor. Like the Malakai,she seems unperturbed by the armor's revealing nature.
She nods her readiness to the others.
Zaelos wondered long and hard whether he should follow Arana's lead and don his own Malaki armor, or continue to wear his Imperial outfit. All things considered he felt he would be better suited in the Imperial armor, if only for bluffing the enemy. He nods his readiness to the others.
Okay it is time to start this mission.
You all suit up and Taggard takes point for the first part of this mission. He leads you all out of the base and to the secret underground route through the mountain. It is a rough journey and you all get through the tunnels covered in dirt.
It was a several hour trip through the under belly the mountain and when you arrive at the exit, there is an imperial shuttle waiting to take you up to the Destroyer. Surveying the field you see the imperial army array standing ready next to the mountain. The are building rigs using the spider walkers to assist the imperial walkers over the mountain so they can use them against the imperials.
You board the shuttle. Me'eona calls out. [b]"I need Nichos or someone to come up here and update our code.
With a glance to Arana's costume and beautiful countenance, Karval softly shakes his head and concentrates upon the mission at hand. Still wearing his pale billowing shirt, he starts off after the others.
As they come to the exit upon the landing pad, Karval drops to an easy crouch. "Need anyone to cover you?" he asks Na'Soth.
Janitor gives a low whistle at the sheer number of Imperials readying to assault the Malakai. "Well, let's get this done, and fast," he says, holding the boarding ramp until the rest of the group are inside.
Na'soth grabs what little he still needs from his bike before parking it and returning, still wearing his same outfit. The dirt from the trip simply adds another layer of messiness that doesn't seem to phase him at all. When he sees the spider walkers, he eyes them with a clear longing in his eyes before returning to the business at hand. Hurrying to the boarding ship, he quickly boards and heads to the cockpit.
"Me'eona..." Karvals' gruff voice is unusually hesitant; "Nichos, he... he fell..." It's always tough when a comrade falls but for the Mandolorean; the far-sighted Chiss' loss was keenly felt. His intellect and wit missed keenly, only the Janitors' reappearance and Aranna's appearance could steady his thoughts.
"He died a hero, trying to help the clan..." the words feel hollow, like ashes in his mouth.
Me'eona is quiet for a moment, he then turns his blind attention to the viewport. "So as far as I understand, I am simply to fly us up to the above destroyer and drop these.....soldiers onto the ship and you guys make a mess of things? To do that We need to update the shuttles code. The computer is strong enough to allow access to imperial files and encryptions but I do not have the skill to hack them. If we don't want to get shot out of the sky, we need to have the codes updated or a really clever excuse as to why we aren't using a current code. It was one thing getting past the blockade but boarding a ship is another matter. Alternatively, we could steal one of those landing ships or even stowaway on a vehicle drop ship to the destroyer. Both would require some stealth, quickness, and if need be, a good amount of firepower. So what's it going to be?"
You have four options. Choose wisely.
This is the current option of using the shuttle you brought to board the destroyer. In order to do that, you need to up date the clearance code which is a difficult Comp use Check of DC 35. Assists are possible as are masterwork datapad bonuses as well as other bonuses relating to such a check. FP can also be used. Failure to make this check will cause you to be flagged upon approach and could result in you getting shot out of the sky.....killed.....TPK....not guaranteed if failed but a definite possibility.
Use diplomacy and bluffing to talk your way on the ship. Again, this DC varies but they are extremely high as well. Primary speakers can be assisted and other bonuses may apply. Failure can have the same results as option one.
High-jacking. A risky maneuver that without stealth will result in a small skirmish around the vessel you wish to steal. If the fight takes too long then more enemies may come to reinforce and the destroyer may be alerted to your presence. This tactic requires a heavy hitting party with reasonable stealth skills. You need to at least approach a landing craft without drawing others attention and kill the crew quickly enough and efficiently enough to give yourselves the best opportunity to approach the destroyer before it is warned. Failure could blow the whole plan leaving you fighting for your lives against imperial ground forces or if you are discovered while ascending to the destroyer, the consequences from option one and two could ensue.
Stowaway. You sneak aboard the larger of the landing craft and use that to get aboard. Requires good stealth scores. The Malaki themselves are good at stealth, so it is up to your scores to pass. The risk of discover has obvious consequences.
Someone are a small few persons could sneak aboard another shuttle and steal it's access code. This would require mediocre stealth and comp skills but also must be done by a small team who all have equal stealth skill. A team of five would be risky and if you are found out......you couldn't even hope to kill that many foes.
Those are you stratigic options for getting to the destroyer. Pick one and make the appropriate checks and I will start the mission from there.
"Move over, I have a bit of familiarity with entering unfriendly computer systems." Na'soth moves quickly and is clearly quite happy to get the practice.
The Mandolorean leans over and taps some other key-pads to help Na'Soth with the deception. "Yes, seemingly." he adds wryly to the Givin's boast.
Once the party is on board, Janitor moves inside, and hears Me'eona's chat about options. He's about to voice his opinion when the givin whips out a datapad and begins tapping away at the screen. The trooper takes one look and knows he's out of his league.
"Right," he says, blinking inside his helmet and glad no one can see his expression. "I'll just, erm, watch the ramp, while you... do that."
Shaking his head, Janitor moves to the main area of the shuttle, though he's smiling in the helmet. Good to be part of a team again, he thinks, eager to see his companion's capabilities in a true combat--Janitor's arena.
Arana leans over Karval's shoulder trying to see what Na'Soth is doing, her own computer knowledge being a bit more limited.
Zaelos marvels at the expertise of the Givin with the computer datapad. Wondering if he can even assist the techie, he still pulls out his own pad and tries to help as best he can.
You would not have time to recover the droids. It would take more than a day to do that alone. Time is of the essence. You would have to come back for them. They are likely developing counterpart personalities as we speak >.>
Na'Soth successfully hacks the encryptions and updates the code. Once it is in place you take off for the star destroyer. The leviathan of military tech grows bigger and bigger as you get closer to it.
The imperial docking officer contacts you and requests the code. You submit it and it clears with ease. You then bring the shuttle into the bay. Given how late in the assault it is, there are not a lot of soldiers in the hanger. You land with ease and see only the remaining guards, pilots, and hanger staff.
There is no stealth at this point. You are monitored and there is no way for a group of fifty heavily armed Malaki to sneak through the bay. Time to draw weapons and move.
The ramp drops and several dock workers move up as does an officer. The last thing you see on his face is shock before he is blown away.
On Taggard's orders the Malalki storm out of the shuttle blasting away, engaging some foes in melee and hurling throwing weapons at softer foes. Taggard's lightsaber glows to life as he storms out and cleaves two men down.
The Malaki are working to make there way to the nearest doors but pause waiting for your team to take point. Taggard turns to you. "Were holdiing but we need to move. Which way!"
There are three doors at the back end of the hanger.
You know the door at the far right back end of the hanger is the best route to the bridge.
"Far right!" Janitor calls, sighting down his rifle and blasting one worker through the chest. Remember: everyone here is hostile, and combat-trained. There are no civilians here; anyone who isn't with you is trying to kill you.
The trooper begins to dash his way to the door, wanting to try and take point, now that he's in his element.
Zaelos found his hand straying to the lightsaber on his belt before he allows his Force sight to scan ahead of the group. He motions to the door at the far right back end of the hanger. "That way, Taggard." He waits for the soldiers to take the lead, drawn blaster at the ready.
Intelligence Check
Arana stands there confused, the size of the ship and the multitude of options confusing her momentarily
Karval pats Arana softly on the shoulder; "This way." The strap of his blaster rifle around his torso, he keeps it low slung on his hip. Against his thigh the vibro-blade slaps as he moves to take point.
Quickly he moves to the far right, moving rapidly through the hanger. 'Speed is of the essence, a protracted combat with cause us to die of attrition.'
Janitor glances at Karval as his fellow Mandalorean moves forward. "Taking point together, brother?" he says, smiling inside his helmet. "Let's lead the charge, show the Malakai the strength of Mandalore!"
Face flushing with embarrassment, Arana runs to keep up with the Mandalorians.
As she runs, she pulls lines of the Force into her body, attempting to improve her physical abilities.
Battlemind.
Na'soth moves quietly, slightly in awe of actually being on a ship this large, something he never seriously expected. He draws his pistol, and tries to stay near the middle of the group, out of the way of the warriors and those who would try to stop them.
The Malaki fend off the any attackers as they push through the right entrance. Janitor you lead the party though the large blast doors and down a tight corridor. As you run down the hall you gun down a few guards along the way. The alarms begin to sound and a large blast door begins to shut.
You have two choices.
1st: Attempt to rush through the door and carry on before the imperials can rally against you. The resistance will lessened against you as you rush forward but you stand the risk of leaving a good number behind as not everyone can make it.
2nd: Hold up and attempt to hack the lock. This has the chance of getting everyone through but also has the risk of taking too long. You can make multiple attempts at the lock. You must succeed at five consecutive comp use check. Because of the size of the lock, only one person can attempt it. DC 20. If this option is not done quickly done quickly, the imperials will have a chance to rally and call reinforcements. Note: Each attempt takes a minute. Five successes takes five minutes. Remember, they need to be consecutive.
Make your choice, try and be mindful of each other.
"We wait, I'm sure Na'Soth can unlock this. If we carry on regardless, we'll lose what little strength we have..." Karval says softly moving for the door. "Plus can we drop the door behind us giving others the same problem."
"Or," Janitor offers, "we press through with some, and Na'Soth and the others wait here. Combine a swift strike with a second wind of combined, brute force from the group." The trooper looks at the group as he moves. "Or is splitting this group even a little a bad idea?"
"Perhaps, I can be of assistance here..." Zaelos says quietly as he lets his Force Sight expand looking for concentration of lifeforms and approximately how far away they are from our position.
As always when Zaleos uses his Force sense, Arana peers at what he does through her own connection the the force.
And as always, she finds herself frustrated by he inability to duplicate his efforts.
You sense a large presence of force users following right behind you. I wonder what that my be? :\
Zaelos shakes his head. "I can only detect the Malaki with us. So I cannot say for sure what waits ahead of us."
"So what do we do?" Janitor asks, mostly to Karval. "Leave the whole group to hold here and hack through the door, or should I take who I can and charge forward?" Strike fast, don't let the enemy ready themselves, he thinks, remembering his training and some of the "basic" rules of warfare.
Janitor leads the charge through the main blast door followed by Taggard, some of the quickest Malaki in the unit and any party members other than Na'Soth who wish to follow them through.
The blast door nits itself shut behind the advance party. Over all, Taggard and about 16 Malaki made it through. The advance team presses on while the "rear guard" attempts to break through the door.
Advance team Leader: Janitor
Party Member: ?
Malaki: Taggard and 16 Warriors, six of which are pilot trained.
Rear Guard Leader: Na'Soth or ?
Party Members: ?
Malaki: 23 pilot trained and 10 strait warriors.
Please let me know which team you are in. I need a leader for the rear guard team. Once you have all placed yourselves into teams, we move to spoilers again. *Shrugs* Not a big deal but you guys are consistent enough to make it work.
Not really thinking about it, Arana jumps through the closing doors.
Karval nods to the others as the door closes; "Join you soon, but I don't leave a man behind."
Zaelos salutes his bodyguard as he heads through the blast door. "We will reunite again soon...watch you back, my friend."