Looking at the others, Panaka says, "Keep an eye out. If they figure out where we are, they may come for us before we have time to complete the repairs and escape. Let's hope that this goes quickly and smoothly." He scans the horizon before ducking into the ship, following Sabe.
Sabe:
Once they are alone, he says, "What were you thinking, blasting off like that!? Had the Mandalorians been waiting in ambush, you could have gotten blasted well before we reached the safety of the ship! You are the Queen's last line of defense, and you need to act like it! Keep your wits about you, and don't engage in reckless behavior - especially not over some boy who shouldn't even be with us! Now, I let the queen know Handmaiden Protocol was in effect, so she's changing into handmaiden's robes now. I suggest you get changed as well, your Highness."
Update for everyone, I'm working on figuring out the arc for the rest of The Phantom Menace. I've got a decent framework for the next part, but I still need some time to get things together. So, Monday, June 26, I'll start seeing about getting things moving with the story again.
Okay, so far I've gotten PMs from Sabe, Kyra, and Anakin. JonJon, I know you're still thinking it over, and if you can't really come up with much, that's okay, PM me and we can work together on it.
I'd like to hear from Ralk and Obi-Wan by Sunday. I'll PM them if I don't, no big deal, but I'd like to get working on this.
I have the necessary level of system mastery to run this if need be. Given that Panaka fades completely into the background after the end of Episode I, it probably makes the most sense for me to do it as well. I'll have to take some time to figure out what direction we want to take the plot.
I am going to ask that each of you PM me a character plot arc you want your character to go through. It will help me plan things out for the game.
Panaka gave Anakin a piercing gaze, before reluctantly saying, "Fine. We're wasting time. Let's move." He will, however, make sure the boy is ahead of him as they move.
"I disapprove of this, Dall'rey. Surely we can take care of defending ourselves from any attack while Kyra installs the necessary part. We don't need to bring him along." Panaka objects to Ralk's decision to have the kid come with them. He wanted strangers nowhere close to the actual queen - at least, not without proper vetting and credentials.
Panaka sighs heavily, while secretly being glad Sabe assumed the Queen role. "As you say," he says, holstering his blaster. He continues to eye the Mandalorian with distrust, however. Ralk and Obi-Wan had answered the first question the boy asked, but at this second he fixes a scowl on his face.
"You will forget you heard that. All of you. As much for your protection as ours."
Panaka will accept a glass of water from the Toydarian and sit down to wait for Ralk to finish haggling. He isn't happy about the delay, because every moment they wait here is another moment the Queen is alone with only the one Jedi for protection. Still, he knows he has to be patient, because it's not like he could just use authority to get this done quickly like on Naboo.
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Once the Mandalorian bursts in, Panaka has his blaster out and a dark look on his face. They could not allow the Mando to report their presence to the rest of the fleet.
Perception to notice hand signs:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Panaka crouches down when Ralk motions him, but notices the hand signs and shoots the Bothan a dirty look.
Panaka continues to sweep his eyes around the room and looking into the street outside, keeping an eye out for any potential threats. He hears the price the boy mentions for the motivator, and suspects their being gouged, but when the boy says he'll do the install. Panaka's face darkened. They couldn't let this kid on the ship - he'd likely blab about the queen's presence to the first person he saw. He hoped Ralk could negotiate that away.
It seemed odd that that Obi-Wan wasn't handling the heat well. He thought Jedi could just use the Force to make themselves not feel the heat or something like that.
No worries. Real life can do that, and it's always important to support your friends. I get that. I'll still be here, posting at whatever pace we can manage.
Although not thrilled at leaving the Queen with only Master Qui-Gonn for protection, Captain Panaka joins the others in scouting the city, looking for the hyperdrive part. His hope is that they'll be able to quickly locate and purchase it, without taking too much time.
Once they arrive at the shop, he allows Ralk and Kyra to do the talking. After all, it's their ship, and they likely know best what they need for it.
I have not been getting notifications. For any of my games. It was very puzzling. I figured it out this morning.
Panaka has a sour look on his face. "I don't know how I feel about leaving the Queen with only one protector. I do not doubt your capabilities, Master Qui-Gon, but I am not best pleased to leave her with only one protector. Perhaps I should stay, as well."
"Essentially, we lure the Queen's foes to us while ensuring the Queen is never in the direct line of fire. Sabe has literally trained her entire life to act as the Queen's bodyguard and decoy. Of course, the protocol was designed to be in effect while still having the full protection of the Royal Security Forces, so this isn't the most ideal situation to implement it, but it will be a necessity. Tell me, Master Jedi, what do you think?" Panaka turns to the two Jedi to get their opinions.
Panaka's face hardens. "If you think there may be an ambush or a trap set for us, then I agree with Sabe that we put the decoy protocol into place. It is vitally important that the Queen be kept safe at all costs. Perhaps we should only send a small team to locate the part while the rest stay here, concealed on the ship."
Not having any better ideas of where to go that Tatooine, Panaka will merely shake his head and sit back in the passenger area, beginning to plan keeping the Queens safe while they're in a lawless den of gangsters and criminals.
"I don't know that contacting Senator Palpatine will necessarily help. The Hutts aren't members of the Republic. The Republic would have to negotiate with the Hutts for permission to send the ship into their space, or else they would send another group of fringers, like Ralk and Kyra, who they could hire but aren't official Republic representatives. Negotiations would reveal the presence of the Queen, and that could lead to kidnapping and ransom demands, while there's no guarantee that any hired ship would be able to get us from Tatooine to Coruscant without having to make another stop. We may just have to wait and hope that the part Ralk and Kyra need is here, and that they can quickly acquire it."
"Tatooine!? You cannot be serious! The Hutts rule Tatooine! You cannot take the queen to a planet under the control of those gangsters. If they discover her presence, who knows what foul acts they will commit. There must be another option. Find it!" Captain Panaka shouts at Ralk, unable to believe that this smuggler would countenance such a thing.
Okay, this was one of the points that really bugged me about the prequels, especially Episode I. According to the official galaxy map, Naboo is a Mid Rim world. But Tatooine is an Outer Rim world. Luke even calls it the planet furthest from the bright center of the galaxy. This means that the Queen's ship was unable to reach Coruscant, but could reach an out of the way world that's literally in the opposite direction from Coruscant.
I get it was a necessity of the plot, but still. It's one of those inconsistencies that's always bugged me.
Panaka quickly boards the ship. Once the Queen and Sabe are secure, he turns to Kyra and Ralk. "You may wish to have me hide someplace, as well. The leader of the Naboo Royal Security Forces isn't exactly a low-profile position. However, we might be able to get past regardless."
At JonJon's comment, Panaka says, "Don't worry, JonJon, Coruscant may not have the water of Naboo, but there are places you'll be able to swim. Hopefully we won't be there long, and we can return to Naboo quickly."
"Agreed. The Jedi can take point, and we'll get out of here as quietly as we can. Sabe and I will flank the Queen in the middle. Ralk, Kyra, take the rear. JonJon, in between us and the Jedi. Let's move out."
"If we are not cut off, we can go through the library and down to the first floor via the balcony, back to the kitchens and to the gardens. There is an access to the canals in the city there. We will swim through them until we reach the abandon warehouse district, where we will board a ship to take us past the blockade and to Coruscant. We will have to hurry. The Mandalorians will have heard the fight and may be on their way even as we speak."
Panaka takes aim and fires at one of the wounded Mandalorians on the right, shouting, "We'll keep you covered!"
Two swift actions to aim, and attacking a Mandalorian to the right which activates Cover Fire since I'm making an attack with a pistol, giving all allies within 6 squares a +1 bonus to Reflex Defense. Does not require line of sight.
Reaction if the Queen is targeted by a ranged attack:
Panaka will shout, "Your Highness, take cover!" and activate his Get Down ability, allowing her to drop prone as a free action, imposing the standard penalty to ranged attacks (-2) against her.
Panaka, having gotten used to JonJon's disappearing act, creeps forward towards the double doors. Once there, he will motion to Kyra and himself, indicating they should kick the doors open.
"Agreed, Jedi Kenobi. If the Mandalorians are alerted, they may move the Queen or take more drastic actions. If there is a clear route, you may take point. Kyra, heavy weaponry such as yours is best utilized from the back, so would you please take the rear? The rest of us will move in between." Panaka himself will take the spot behind Obi-Wan.
"Well, then let's hope the two of you and a pair of Jedi are enough. We've found a way into the palace that will allow us to avoid any patrols or security sensors. Tell me, how we'll will your equipment hold up under water? Are you able to swim with that, Kyra?"
"JonJon Banks is one of the native Gungan people of Naboo. He has been aiding us in harrying the Mandalorians. I am Captain Quarsh Panaka, head of the Naboo Royal Security Forces. This is Sabe, one of the Queen's bodyguards." Panaka studies the Intrigue. "You could not have brought many soldiers on that ship. How large is the strike team, Captain...?"
Captain Panaka will take the time to restrain each of the Mandalorians, then remove their helmets so that they can't call for help easily, except for the one Sabe has. "Sabe, try to remove the comm from that helmet. It will be useful to be able to listen in on their chatter."
Panaka looks about before deciding on one of the abandoned factories. "Queen on the run. We'll use that factory there. JonJon, let's get into position. Inside we'll set up in a crossfire position so that if the Mandalorians take cover from one of us, they can't take cover from the other."
Panaka will then go to enter the factory so he and JonJon can take up positions inside.
Captain Panaka was, silently, fuming. Again. He'd acknowledged Queen Amidala's order to have his troops stand down and not resist the Mandalorian occupation. He'd then insisted she flee the palace, and have Sabe take her place. This was precisely the situation that Sabe had been created for, and the Queen had ordered her to leave the palace! Oh, they had argued, they had protested, but in the end, they had been given little choice. These were Mandalorians, with a reputation for savagery and brutality unmatched by any other species in the galaxy with the possible exception of the Hutts, and the Queen had chosen to remain in their clutches! Instead of protecting her like he should, he'd been out here in the city of Theed with the Queen's personal bodyguard and a Gungan exile with 'strange voodoo powers.'
The Republic's extraction team had better get here soon. They needed to get the Queen out of there before the Mandalorians executed her. Looking about the street for any signs of Mandalorian patrols, he quietly says to Sabe, "Who do you think the Republic sent to support us?"
Panaka's Legends backstory includes the name of the previous monarch (King Ars Venura), as well as the fact he was assassinated. That assassination led to Panaka's predecessor resigning, and Panaka reacted by creating the handmaiden decoy plan.
We should stick with King Ars Veruna being assassinated, and add the Amidala surname to him. The monarchy should be hereditary, as well.
I like having Sabe be a clone of Padme. I think Panaka should have found that out only after he became Captain of the Naboo Royal Security Force. He knew she was going to be Padme's bodyguard, and spent some time training her, but he isn't sure how he feels about finding out she's a clone.
IIRC, Palpatine was behind King Ars Veruna's assassination. So we can keep that for the campaign. We can say it's because Palpatine can more easily manipulate Padme.
@Sabe: I read through your background a bit. I think we need to iron out some details about our alternate history Naboo before working out Panaka and Sabe's relationship. For instance, is the position of ruler of Naboo now hereditary, and is Padme now older than 14? We also need to determine if cloning the future ruler of Naboo is standard procedure, or if someone was extra paranoid regarding Padme.
@Ralk: Like the ship. I don't know that there's much we can contribute to further modify it, though, without sacrificing more cargo space. You've used up all of the EP already :). It is quite limited in passenger space. I'm guessing this time we aren't taking a dozen pilots and Queen Amidala's entire retinue and bodyguard corps.
@Obi-Wan: I've seen that happen a few times, typically as a malfunction of the Paizo website. It should clear up.
