Gavin's Star Wars campaign

Session report for 9/5

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:02:55 GMT

Tonight's session involved:

Luke Skywalker, human Jedi Master and head of the council
Mara Jade-Skywalker, human Jedi Master on the council
Kam Solusar, human Jedi Master on the council
Cilghal, Mon Calamari Jedi Master on the council
Kyle Katarn, human Jedi Master on the council
Iluum, Shard Jedi Master on the council
K'krukh, Whiphid Jedi Master on the council
Ikrit, Kushiban Jedi Master on the council
Saba Sebatyne, Barabel Jedi Master on the council
Noc'cest, Vultan Jedi Master and artisan on the council
Kourg, Coynite Jedi Master and warrior on the council
Squoj, Ergesh Jedi Master and instructor on the council

Due to the Republic getting attacked on two fronts, the Jedi were torn. Certainly, the Republic needed and had requested their assistance against the Empire... but at the same time, the Outer Rim needed help with the new invaders. They simply don't have the numbers to assist both in any meaningful way, and all believed it was unlikely to be a coincidence that both wars were occurring simultaneously -- Kam in particular suggested that the Empire had encouraged these invaders to split the Republic's attention. In addition, some within the council were concerned that the New Republic was asking for their help in a war again.

Kourg was frustrated with any debate. He felt that the Republic needed the Jedi's help, and only a dedicated, completely unified strike at the front of the war with the Empire would decisively end the conflict, and after that was resolved, then they could deal with the invaders. Saba was also frustrated with the debate, demanding that others follow Luke's lead, and aggressively defending the New Republic from suspicion of corruption due to her respect of Master Skywalker and his twin sister.

Mara (pregnant with Luke's child) and Kyle, on the other hand, as well as a number of the Jedi who had survived the Purge, believed that the Jedi should not leave the Outer Rim to die, and were very wary of serving as generals and warriors in a war between two different governments again. The other Jedi on the council had a wide spectrum of opinions, some of whom were more willing to share them than others.

Sensing the rising tension in the room, particularly when Saba accused Mara of thinking like a Sith, Luke interrupted the debate. He said that he had heard everyone's concerns, pointed out that there was no perfect answer, and proposed a compromise solution.

Luke would ask the Jedi Order to go to the aid of the Republic, with as many numbers as possible. However, if a Jedi felt the Force called them elsewhere... say, to the Outer Rim to protect those worlds out there... they would be free to do so. Luke hoped that this would allow those in the Outer Rim to gather information on these invaders, information that would be useful when the Jedi were ready to commit more fully to defending the Outer Rim against them. In addition, those fighting on the Imperial front would be able to gather information between any connections between the Empire and the invaders, which would give both groups of Jedi needed intelligence. While none of the Jedi were particularly thrilled with this option -- Mara wanted more help for the Outer Rim and more autonomy for the Order, while Kourg felt this divided the Jedi too much -- all were willing to go with this option for the time being. Mara was put in charge of the Outer Rim campaigns, to be joined by Kyle and Squoj.

With that, the council disbanded, and their players played a rousing game of Touch of Evil, but that was a different story altogether. ;)

Arriving on Coruscant

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:52:23 GMT

This takes place shortly after the first three sessions

The Millennium Falcon was deeply crowded with refuges, making everyone pretty crowded and uncomfortable by the time it arrived on Coruscant.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you can't just bring a vessel full of refugees to Coruscant and drop them off," the voice on the other end of the comm frequency announced. "Our sensors show you're carrying a massive amount of biological material."

"That's right," Lando explained patiently. "And it's getting a little crowded up here, and we need clearance to land."

"We can't clear you with that many people aboard," the man said. "Might I suggest heading to..."

Han growled and took the com. "No, you won't. You're going to give me clearance RIGHT now, or you'll be explaining to Senator Organa-Solo why her husband was turned away from his home, and why saving the lives of hundreds of Republic citizens from an alien invasion is less important than your red tape! You get me?"

"...Senator Organa-Solo?" the voice replied, cowed.

"That's right. Millennium Falcon. Han Solo. Now are you going to get me and the other two vessels with me a landing zone and some refugee aid workers, or do I need to start making a report?"

There was a long pause. "Bay 1478-CDB-L," the voice finally replied. "Aid workers are enroute now."

"About time," Han growled, sending the coordinates to the New Hope and the Dianoga Trap<. "This many people are stinking up the Falcon."

Chewbacca wurfed gently from the chair beside him, reminding Han of Wookiee's own sense of smell. Han turned to his copilot. "Alright, alright. I know I'm getting pretty ripe too. It's not their fault... or mine. Let's just get them off before tempers get any shorter."

At least that Nagai, Djodem Shal, had been helpful at keeping the refugees from breaking into fights. It hadn't been a long flight, thankfully, but these people would need food and water, not to mention the other trauma they'd been through. He continued to hope the kids he brought aboard would find their parents on one of the other vessels.

A short time later, while the vessels were disembarking, Han approached Shal.

"I haven't had much of a chance to talk to you one-on-one," the smuggler said, putting an arm on the Nagai's shoulder. "But you were really something out there. It's been a while since I've seen a Nagai fight, and it's usually more lethal than that. Thanks for your help."

"I'm glad I could be of assistance," Shal replied. "I'm sure there were those on the ship who preferred a bump on the head to a missing one. Thank you for the help back on the planet and for the passage here. I hope you don't think ill of my curiosity of your ship, I have never had a chance to look at one as I have during this trip."

"Hey, that's alright," Han replied with a grin. "Most people are curious when they get aboard the Falcon. That ship is one of a kind." He frowns a little. "So you're fresh from Nagai space, huh? How are things out in that region? The Tofs staying low?"

One side of Shal's mouth curved up, "It is definitely a nice ship." The curve went away. "For the most part they stay back, but the Order occasionally gets reports and deals with any problems. I believe they get too into hunting though." He paused. "You say you've seen other Nagai fight? If you don't mind, would you tell me where? I don't believe many that have come to the Republic have my kind of training."

Han frowned. "I fought alongside the Nagai when they battled the Tofs. I was there when Prince Sereno was captured. That was... twenty years ago. Almost 21." He scratched his head. "What do you mean, 'my kind of training'?"

A sudden look of what may have been shock or awe showed on Shal's face, and was almost instantly gone. "You were in that battle? I've heard stories, but to be able to freely speak to someone who participated is truly an honor. The training I'm referring to is my combat training. Most of the others I've heard that left to republic planets were tradesmen." He paused, reluctant then forged forward. "Honestly I was hoping for a different answer to my question, so I'll be more direct. Do you know a Nagai named Ultari Nigel?"

"Nigel?" Han frowned. "Sure. He's one of Luke's Jedi buddies, or something. Runs an animal safari park out on Femas, near Wild Space." Han regarded Shal a moment. "You need to look the man up?"

"I believe he may be the only one who can help me, and the only one who can understand my particular situation."

"Lemmie see what I can do. I know one of Nigel's former students is working with Luke right now to track down a rogue Star Destroyer..." Han thought for a moment in silence. "Let's see if we can't reach Nigel for you. Come on."

"Thank you for your help Mr. Solo." Then with a questioning look, Shal asked, "Who is Luke?"

Most recent SW game

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:00:45 GMT

The last game took place almost entirely with NPCs, which people were kind enough to play for a bit of plot exposition. The story took place in the court of the 'King of Nar Shadda', Nakta the Hutt, an ancient and particularly powerful Hutt who had agreed to hold a meeting with the Yuhzan Vong in order to determine his course of action.

The deal they proposed was simple: They offered some proof they were behind the war between the Republic and the Imperial Remnant, demonstrated their power by offering a gift of a damaged Star Destroyer and Jedi master Corwin Shelvay, and asked for the Hutt's help in pursuing this conflict. They guaranteed they would not attack the Hutts or targets in Huttspace in exchange for passage and knowledge of travel routes, as well as potential trade and supply alliances.
More dangerously, they asked the aid of the Hutts and the bounty hunters guild in effectively decalring war upon the Jedi, offering an almost unheard of bounty on any target confirmed to be a Jedi.

Nakta heard arguments from many people collected, including smugglers, the bounty hunters' guild representative, and a Black Sun vigo, before retreating to private audience chambers to hear from his most trusted advisors, Rasiip of Clan Korvalis, his Nimbanel major domo, and Sped Wheeler, Nakta's friend. A decision was struck wherin Nakta would agree to help the Vong, but hide his resources and protect his holdings, and arrange to turn over Master Shelvay and captured Jedi to be hidden through one of the attendees - Valsa Nenn/Rae, the daughter of old order Jedi Master Jolen Rae.

Nakta has given considerable incentive to Black Sun and the hunter's guild to extend their resources towards the effort, and has sent envoys to the Hutt clans in order to encourage them to do likewise, while he remains cautious with his own resources, men and ships. He has put Rasiip in charge of quietly conspiring with Valsa, who has been given a casino within Nakta's palace, to work on hiding the captured Jedi, anticipating a double cross. He also has spies watching Valsa to use her oddsmaking to determine the threat presented by different Jedi.
Sped Wheeler, meanwhile, has been given the bounty hunters Taggor Bren and Traada, Nakta's most trusted representatives, to go among the Vong and represent Nakta's interests there, while secretly spying on them.

Meanwhile, Valsa has met a mysterious armored visitor who left her a small box containing promise of help with an escape, should it be necessary, and a message from Jimmo the Hutt indicating that he remained confident of their working alliance despite her employment with Nakta, and a datapad with access to an account with 250,000 credits to be used to manipulate and 'fudge' her gamesmanship to better manipulate Nakta, the bounty hunters, and the Vong. Jimmo's exact relationship with the Jedi is unclear at this point.

After speaking with Valsa, Jolen Rae has gone personally to speak with Vago the Hutt.

Session Summary for 7/25

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:28:45 GMT

The session tonight involved the following characters:

Luke Skywalker, head of the Jedi Order.
Wes Janson, pilot of Rogue Squadron (with the higher-ranking members of Rogue Squadron on other missions at the time, Wes was in charge of the Squadron).
Kourg, a Coynite Jedi on the Jedi Council
Ruund, a Cragmoloid Jedi knight
Hides-Well, Ruund's human padawan raised among rancors
Oolren Thule, a Ho'Din Jedi knight
Thoja Jineth, Thule's Neti padawan
Lolu, an Epicanthix human of the Matukai order
Liam Yarrow, a Jedi knight (and son of Brev Yarrow, from the last session)
Takesa Cora, a Human mercenary, and sister to a Jedi knight.

This session takes place simultaneously to the last two sessions.

Luke was in charge of an MC-90 Cruiser to track down the rogue Star Destroyer that had started terrorizing the Imperial/New Republic border. Accompanied by Kourg as a strong Jedi warrior, three Jedi and their padawans, and a Matukai that he wished to exchange lessons with, they set out in search of the villainous Star Destroyer. Friendships quickly blossomed between Hides-Well and Thoja, particularly when Thoja met Hides-Well's rancor Large-Claw.

When they received a distress call from Aantoine, just on the other side of the border, the characters left the cruiser to investigate in a small group. When they arrived, they quickly made contact with Takesa Cora, who had seen the attack on the planet. This planet claimed to have been assaulted by the New Republic Frigate the Mace Windu. Every male between the ages of 18-28 had been forcibly taken to be drafted into service; if they failed to do so, this small agricultural planet's farms would be bombarded from orbit. The characters, there undercover, attempted to reveal the truth, but did so very carefully. Unfortunately, no one believed them.

Using the Force to track the so-called "Mace Windu," they discovered the vessel was heading deeper into Imperial space, to planet with an Imperial military training facility, Erkon V. Upon finding a way to follow, however, the cruiser reported that they had encountered the Star Destroyer, and needed Luke to return immediately. The group split at this point, sending Luke, Ruund, Hides-Well, Thule, and Thoja back to the fleet battle, while Wes, Takesa, Liam, Lolu, and Kourg attempted to follow the "Mace Windu".

The group heading towards the battle with the Star Destroyer attempted to board the vessel. During the invasion attempt, they encountered a group of Imperial officers who could not be sensed in the Force. They were armed with serpent-staffs, and during this fight, Hides-Well was bitten. To save her life, the group retreated, particularly when dozens more Imperial vessels arrived. These other Imperial vessels declared that, with the death of Pellaeon, the Imperial Remnant was returning to a state of war with the New Republic. The heroes escaped and returned to the Cruiser, at which point, outgunned, they retreated.

The other group managed to get to Erkon V, and the humans among them managed to get into the base through making a bet with one of the pilots from the base. Once inside, they managed to steal a shuttle with a small handful of the recruits from Aantoine. The recruits, having discovered the truth, still didn't want to return; they knew that if they retreated to tell the truth, their world would be attacked. They recorded messages for their loved ones, but remained behind. Kourg managed to gain evidence on his own, as well, and the group returned to the New Republic to report on what they'd found.

In brief: Moff Tarkin has taken to drafting Imperial citizens into service, but made the planet in question believe that it was the New Republic kidnapping those people. With Tarkin taking control of the Empire, the "rogue" Star Destroyer is no longer quite so rogue. And Hides-Well has been poisoned by one of the serpent-staffs, wielded by an Imperial officer that didn't appear in the Force.

Preparing for upcoming sessions:

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:09:27 GMT

With the changes to the Galaxy brought about by these last few sessions, please start to think about how your characters will be affected by these events. Please let me know what you think is going on with them, so I can start to make plans for where people will be.

Do you want a character on the front line with the renewed war with the Empire? Do you want to try to free Calipp from this strange race? Do you want to try to track down the invading aliens? Do you want to spy on the Empire? Do you want to prevent another attack from the invaders in the Outer Rim?

Please let me know! I can create plans based around this easily enough!

Session Outline for 7/12/09: Invasion

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:38:46 GMT

The session tonight involved the following characters:

Han Solo, a Corellian scoundrel gone “respectable”.
Chewbacca, his Wookiee partner
Lando Calrissian, a Socorran scoundrel gone “respectable”.
Brev Yarrow, a Corellian scoundrel with a reputation for interesting luck.
Bolt, Brev’s Wookiee partner.
Kureel, Brev’s Squib mechanic.
The A New Hope, Brev’s sentient starship.
Valsa Nen, a half-Wroonian, half-Lorrdian gambler; daughter of a Jedi Master, she has significant Force skills.
Fxz’t, a Verpine technician from the New Republic, often just called, “That Verpine”.
Trada, a Rodian playwright and bounty hunter; together with his partner, they are the favored bounty hunters of Nakta, the most powerful Hutt on Nar Shadda.
Tagger Bren, Trada’s human partner.
Throsh Ordon, a Jenet criminal who stole from Nakta and is now on the run.
Djodem Shal, a Nagai Force-user on the run from the P’takh Order that trained him.
Lon Barret, the human technician in charge of the HoloNet connection for the planet Calipp.

This session takes place simultaneously to the last session.

The game began on the planet Calipp, on the edge of the Galaxy, near Wild Space. Fxz’t had been sent from the New Republic to make certain that the local computer had been upgraded properly. While he was making certain that all systems were properly upgraded and connecting properly, he discovered that the planet was no longer connecting to the HoloNet. Attempting to hack the planetary systems to discover why, an ill-timed sneeze, leading to a few unintentionally-pressed buttons, caused his attempt to be noticed. Officers began tracking down his computer system, believing that this hacking attempt was what brought down the planetary connection to the HoloNet.

At the same time, Valsa had arrived on Calipp to drop off an orphan with a contact who could take care of him. Attempting to contact her boyfriend on the Wheel, the HoloNet went down while she speaking with him. She contacted the planetary government to complain, and she was told that Lon Barret would be informed immediately.

Meanwhile, in a cantina, Han, Lando, Kureel, and Brev met to discuss Lando’s latest scheme. Lando planned to set up a new business dealing with forged Jedi artifacts, hoping to draw real artifacts out. He wanted Brev and Han’s assistance in this scheme. Chewbacca and Bolt, in the meantime, caught up on Han’s ship, the Millenium Falcon, while Chewie performed some basic maintenance. When Trada and Tagger came into the cantina and spotted Throsh, a firefight broke out. Lando and his compatriots turned a table over for cover and continued their conversation.

Shal, riding into the system via a shuttle, happened to spot five large capital ships entering the system (size comparison to a Star Destroyer), from a direction indicating they were arriving from outside the Galaxy. He warned the pilot of the shuttle, who began taking evasive maneuvers as the large vessels began releasing a number of smaller vessels, including an eel-like creature which attached itself to the roof of the shuttle, bit through the hull, and began to release reptilian warriors armed with small dagger-like eels as weapons. While Shal attempted to repel the boarders, he avoided using lethal damage.

Down on the surface, Fxz’t convinced the officers that he was not involved in the attempted hacking, and they informed him that Lon Barret could not be located. He was brought to the HoloNet center, to see if he could repair the connection. While there, his antennae began to pick up another signal, which included strange voices in an unusual language speaking to each other. Looking up, he spotted vessels approaching the planet, and pointed them out to the officers, who immediately left Fxz’t to furnish repairs while they investigated the new vessels.

Valsa also noticed the vessels, and contacted the planetary government to report them, but the operator she contacted insisted that the vessels weren’t being picked up on sensors. Valsa, however, could pick them up, indicating the vessels were not cloaked despite the fact that the planet could not sense them. Valsa began warming her ship for takeoff.

Trada and Tagger chased Throsh out of the cantina. When Throsh stole a speeder from a passing motorist, Tagger hit Throsh with a sniper rifle (set to stun, since Nakta wanted him alive). Throsh hit the ground… and one of the eel-like transport shuttles came down to land where Throsh fell. Trada pulled Throsh out of the way with his grappling hook, in time for dozens of armored warriors emerged from the transport, each armed with serpent-like weapons which converted from staffs to whips as needed, and could also spit a thick black fluid. Trada attempted to delay the warriors while Tagger took Throsh towards their ship.

Lando and his friends were interrupted in their meeting by Shal’s shuttle tearing off the roof of the cantina and crashing nearby, with the eel-like transport still connected. Shal and several reptoids emerged into the street. Han called for Chewie to bring the Falcon to their location, and Brev flagged Hope to lift off as well.

Valsa, in her ship, the Dianoga Trap, began to avoid the coral-like starfighters that began firing on the starport. These strange vessels spat magma rather than fired blaster bolts, and most of the starport was destroyed. Sticking with the only two other vessels that managed to lift off, she followed the Falcon and Hope.

Fxz't found that the HoloNet had been sabotaged, but before he could fix it, Lon Barret entered the room, armed with one of the snake-like polearms. Lon attempted to kill Fxz't, but Fxz't managed to escape and lead the technician on a chase. Lon threw several yellow blobs of goo at the Verpine, but Fxz't avoided the blobs and led Barret out of the building, whereupon he managed to lose Barret.

Tagger ran afoul of another batch of armored warriors, who threw a strange bug at him. The bug hit him solidly with a loud thud sound, knocking him to the ground. Trada came to Tagger's rescue even as Tagger retrieved the now-inert bug and retreated with their prisoner. One of the warriors threw a new, razor-edged bug at Trada, but Trada managed to knock it into the air and catch it. The bug attempted to burrow into Trada's armored hand, but Trada threw it back into the shoulder of the warrior that first threw it. The warrior approached Trada, grinning, and, pointing to the burrowing razor-edged bug, told the Rodian, "Again!" Trada, determining that the armored warrior was too ill to live, instead severed his head from his shoulders.

Tagger, meanwhile, arrived at the spaceport to find that their vessel was destroyed. He retreated with Throsh to retrieve Trada and found where the three vessels were landing to take on as many passengers as they could. With Bolt and Lando gunning and Han and Chewie piloting aboard the Falcon, and with Hope piloting herself, the others boarded the Dianoga and took off. Throsh had been hit with a yellow blob, which was merely incredibly sticky, but was not corrosive. The blob was taken for study by Trada.

Fxz't, still on the planet's surface, returned to the site of the HoloNet sabotage. He repaired the system and sent out a signal via his antennae, telling the planet that the HoloNet was working again. That's when Lon returned and attempted to kill Fxz't, but Fxz't was saved by a mysterious Chiss. Fxz't's fate remains unknown at this time.

The three vessels took off with as many civilians as they could cram aboard. They sent out a message via the HoloNet to inform people offplanet that Calipp was being invaded, and they attempted to leave the system. Unfortunately, the capital ships seemed to be setting up an interdiction field. Unlike a standard interdiction field, based on planetary gravity, these interdiction fields seemed based on singularity gravity. Han led the way in the Falcon to attempt to get past the interdiction field, while Valsa suggested a rendezvous point of the Wheel. They managed to get past the field, avoiding the massive serpent-like tentacles that emerged from the large invading capital ships and attempted to swallow the three freighters whole. As the last in line, the Dianoga Trap, attempted to jump to lightspeed, the singularity interdiction field was placed back on them just as they jumped.

Instead of jumping to Hyperspace, they ended in Otherspace, where they were immediately surrounded by three vessels like the Desolate (see the Otherspace adventures from previous weeks). Valsa immediately heard a cold, dark voice in her mind, telling her that this occurred because the voice had planned it, and asked them to come aboard. Instead, they jumped immediately right into Hyperspace and made a break for the Wheel, leaving the mysterious voice and the Charon vessels behind.

However, upon arriving on the Wheel, they emerged into a pitched space battle, as Moff Tarkin was leading an invasion into the Wheel, claiming in response to the death of Admiral Pellaeon at the hands of the New Republic. Han, complaining to Valsa about her choice of vacation spots, drew a number of TIE fighters after him and approached the Interdictor keeping them there. Then, using his repulsorlifts (typically used for landing only), he shoved the TIE fighters into the Interdictor, damaging it enough to let them go. The three vessels made a break for Coruscant.

Summary: An unknown alien race has invaded, seemingly from outside the Galaxy, conquering the tiny world Calipp on the edge of the Galaxy and bordering Wild Space.

Session Outline for 6/27

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:08:48 GMT

The session tonight involved the following characters:

Senator Leia Organa-Solo
Plif, a Hoojib senator
C-3PO, Leia's protocol droid
Behn-kihl-nahm, a Cerean senator
Winter Celchu, Leia's assistant
Brekh'mir, Leia's Noghri bodyguard... who also happens to be a recently-graduated Jedi Knight
B1-T, a small pest-control droid owned by Brekh'mir.
Admiral Gilead Pellaeon, head of the Imperial military
Admiral Mulchive Wermis
Admiral Julias Narn
Master-Com, their droid host

This session begins the current campaign, which takes place roughly 21 years after the Battle of Endor / Return of the Jedi (25 years after the Battle of Yavin / the original Star Wars: A New Hope)

Following the appearance of a rogue Super Star Destroyer attacking and destroying a New Republic world along the border of Imperial space, Senator Leia Organa traveled to a diplomatic meeting with Admiral Pellaeon to resolve this issue. It was decided that the space station known as the Wheel was the best place for this meeting. By closing a wing of the Wheel for a "Private Party," they could have privacy and secrecy for this meeting, which was to be considered top-secret. Master-Com, the master of the Wheel since the death of Senator Greyshade 25 years prior, could maintain absolute neutrality as a host.

The Republic's numbers were made up of Leia, selected as one of the top diplomats of the Republic, along with her protocol droid; Behn-kihl-nahm, a Cerean who had been at the original signing of the peace accords between the Republic and the Empire; Plif, the Hoojib senator who could use his telepathic abilities as needed; and Leia's Jedi bodyguard, along with the bodyguard's personal droid. From the Empire, Pellaeon brought two trusted admirals and four Stormtroopers as guards.

Upon arrival at the Wheel, Master-Com showed Leia and her entourage to their quarters; while they settled in, the Imperials arrived, and were likewise shown to their quarters. The first meeting went well: Pellaeon explained that the Star Destroyer was rogue, and he had yet to figure out just where it came from. He promised that the Empire was doing everything it could to locate the missing Star Destroyer and bring its crew to justice. Leia, for her part, believed him, and told him that the Republic was likewise attempting to track down the vessel. Pellaeon asked her to assure him that Imperial borders would still be respected, and if the Star Destroyer was found in Imperial space, Republic vessels wouldn't simply invade to pursue it, but would attempt communication with Imperial forces to stop the vessel together. Leia did not mention that her brother Luke was heading up a search party with Rogue Squadron and several Jedi in an attempt to track the Star Destroyer down. Plif could sense no deception from Pellaeon, though he was confused by the Stormtroopers: he couldn't read any of them. He suspected that the Empire may have a new technology within Stormtrooper helmets to protect them from telepathic probes.

As they broke for the evening, Master-Com told them that they were free to explore the station, though he recommended that they keep a low profile to avoid recognition. While Leia and Pellaeon both went to bed, individuals from their entourages explored the station.

In the early hours of the morning, the B1-T (nicknamed, "Little Bit," as he stands merely a foot tall), was checking the vents for infestation and discovered a dead body. He reported to his master immediately, concerned about maggot infestation. Upon investigation, Brekh'mir found it was the body of Behn-kihl-nahm, with a blaster burn to his chest.

The heroes began to investigate, and discovered that Benny had never left the private area, though he had planned to do so. Pellaeon also reported that Admiral Wermis had not returned the previous night. As the heroes investigated further, they discovered two more bodies: one of Wermis, and one of a member of Wheel security, also with blaster bolt wounds.

They soon discovered that the blaster wounds were used to cover bite marks. These bites injected a toxin neurovenom which killed the three men; the blaster wounds merely hid the true source of death. Little Bit suspected that the bite was caused by what was likely a serpentine creature. Security logs did show Wermis leave the private area, where he apparently purchased some clothes; he returned with a Stormtrooper escorting him. The security guard's last private comm had been to a civilian dancer on the station; when she was questioned, the heartless dancer claimed that he'd been asking for a date. While she was helpful, she was also utterly uncaring that a member of Wheel Security had been killed. Benny's last comm had been to inform his family that he had arrived safely.

Little Bit decided to inform Pellaeon of the evidence, and warn that one of the troopers may be infected with vermin. C-3PO accompanied him, while Leia, Winter, Plif, and Brekh'mir looked into other details. Threepio and Little Bit entered Pellaeon's quarters, where he was investigating events on their end along with Admiral Narn. Two Stormtroopers remained outside, while two waited with them inside. Upon Little Bit's revelation that a trooper accompanied Wermis back into the private area, the two troopers in the quarters with the Admirals opened fire... on their commanding Admirals.

Simultaneously, Master-Com was attacked and destroyed, but he transferred to a new body and reported to warn Leia that his attacker was going after her next. Two Imperial Shadow Guards dropped some sort of personal cloak and attacked.

While the Admirals returned fire on their two stormtrooper guards, the two troopers outside opened the door and also opened fire on the Imperial Admirals. Threepio, who had toddled across the firefight, shut and locked the door, while Little Bit distracted the two troopers in the room to the best of his ability. When the Admirals, wounded, managed to take down their two troopers, the admirals and the two droids waited inside, knowing that the other two troopers were just outside the door.

Leia and her allies battled the Shadow Guard, and Winter was shocked to discover that they didn't use the Echani fighting style that all of the Emperor's guards utilized; when they were killed, Plif investigated, curious... and discovered that both the Shadow Guards were both Tofs, a sadistic race from the Unknown Regions that had been defeated by a joint Alliance/Nagai force shortly after the death of the Emperor.

When the Admirals opened the locked door to exit their quarters, they found the other two troopers were gone. They rushed towards their shuttle, followed by Threepio and Little Bit (who kept up by riding a mouse droid). The two Admirals boarded their shuttle, pursued towards the end by the other two troopers. Little Bit spilled oil on them and ignited it while the two admirals boarded their shuttle... which immediately began to take off before either one could have reached the cockpit. Suspecting something was amiss, Little Bit launched his grappling hook to attach himself to the outside of the shuttle and go along.

Master-Com then contacted Leia and warned her that it would be best to leave the station immediately. As Leia looked out the viewport, five Star Destroyers entered the system, approaching the Wheel. She also saw Admiral Pellaeon's shuttle pass by her viewport... where it abruptly exploded, leaving no survivors. Moff Tarkin's voice came over the coms, announcing that the Wheel had been the site of Republic aggression towards the Empire, and that all in the station must surrender immediately. This claim of course led to a multitude of vessels attempting to leave the Wheel all at once; Leia, who had just reunited with Threepio, went with Winter, Plif, and her bodyguard back towards her shuttle and took off. She was immediately attacked by a single TIE Interceptor (other TIEs were attacking other fleeing ships), but they managed to avoid serious damage despite the shields going down. As they were approaching their hyperspace jump point, an Interdictor cruiser came into system... and Leia jumped just in time, before the Interdictor could finish starting its systems to keep any vessels from entering hyperspace.

In short: Pellaeon is dead. Moff Lavira Tarkin has taken control of the Empire and has invaded the neutral system of the Wheel, and has declared war on the Republic for their aggression, blaming the Republic for Pellaeon's death.

Change of schedule:

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:09:30 GMT

June 27: The first session of the new game. The plot will focus on Leia sitting down to diplomatic discussions with Pellaeon. Characters should be able to attend such a diplomatic mission.

July 11: This session, the plot will focus on Han and Lando out in the Outer Rim on business. Characters should tend to be more on the roguish side of things. This session takes place during the same time as the June 27th session.

July 25: This session, the plot focuses on Luke leading a New Republic mission to track down a Star Destroyer. Characters should be able to attend a Jedi/New Republic military joint mission. This session will also be occurring at the same time as the June 27th and the July 11th session.

Please let me know if there's a problem with this shift.

Game Outline for 6/13

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:46:55 GMT

The game session for 6/13 involved the following characters:

Erin Carick, a human field medic and transport pilot for the Alliance, piloting the Long Shot
Teegray, an Ewok shaman that follows Erin around
"Jackel," an Ubese soldier and demolitions expert, and the highest ranking member of the squad
"Tinkie," a Tinnel mechanic so nicknamed for her tinkering abilities

This game took place shortly following the Battle of Hoth

The characters were sent to the Alliance safeworld of Stronghold. The planet lost contact only a few hours before, and Alliance Command sent the characters to investigate and see the reason for the loss of communication.

The characters came out of Hyperspace to find a panicked shuttle leaving. The pilot was willing to open fire on the Long Shot to get past. He refused to let the characters land, as he was convinced that "they" would get him if the Long Shot landed. "They" wanted off the planet, and "they" would kill everyone. The crew of the Long Shot recognized the pilot was panicked and let him go, then came down for a landing, a distance away from the base (just in case).

While approaching the base, they discovered that something appeared to have crashed into the planet's surface. On their way to the crash site (which was giving off a comm signal), they were attacked... by two Charon and a Charon construct. The construct was part Charon and part Human... and the Human part had had the Charon parts grafted on while he had still been alive, and in great pain. After dispatching this Charon party, they discovered that what had crashed on the surface of Stronghold was the Desolate, the Charon vessel they once encountered in Otherspace. They found the source of the comm signal on board: Commander Bane Nothos, the commander they last saw aboard the Desolate, still alive.

Nothos reported that Moff Ravik had managed to expel the mind Ber'asco, the Charon leader, from his own body, and taken it over, apparently killing Ber'asco by dispelling it. He led the Charon into Realspace with a rudimentary hyperdrive engine, and they had crashed on the surface of Stronghold. Nothos knew that Ravik wanted to find the shipyard of Stronghold, so he could lead the Charon into an invasion of Realspace, but for the moment, they were trapped on the planet. Nothos suggested that they take off and destroy the base from above, but the crew of the Long Shot was unwilling to do so: there could be survivors in the base, including Erin's brother.

They entered the base, and soon found evidence of Charon patrols and hasty retreats throughout the base, as well as occasional remnants from battles. They soon encountered a small group of children who were hiding in the air ducts, and managed to convince them that they were friendly. After this, they located a device that was producing the poisonous and hallucinogenic red mist that they had encountered aboard the Desolate several months prior; Teegray managed to destroy the device with an arrow which he had anointed with poisons intended to harm evil spirits.

When they located the computer control room, occupied by several Charon bioscientists and watched over by a small group of Charon warriors, Bane used a comlink to deliver orders in the Charon tongue, sending them out of the room. Bane explained that he had picked up a bit of Charon language from his time aboard the Desolate, but Teegray remained skeptical.

Using the computer room, they discovered that the brig had been transformed into a medical experimentation center, with a hundred prisoners -- many of them civilians or even children, including Erin's brother -- being experimented upon by Charon bioscientists. They entered the brig and freed the prisoners, killing the Charon there, but the freed prisoners were weak and needed rest. They retreated away from the incoming Charon and located the Charon armory, which had several suits of Charon power armor. They set a trap, so that any who came to use the armor would cause a plasma grenade to detonate, destroying all the suits (and their would-be wearers).

They also checked the hologramatic records of the attack, and soon discovered that a group of survivors retreated behind a waterfall in natural caverns connected to the base. They retreated to this area and made contact with Captain Markos Tor, the highest ranking surviving Alliance soldier. Relieved to be reunited with his very pregnant wife and young child, Tor suggested that, after allowing the former prisoners to recover, they retreat to the hidden shipyards and escape, setting the place to blow as they leave.

During this time, Teegray became increasingly suspicious of Bane Nothos, and when Erin investigated his vital signs, she discovered that, while he was physically human, his brainwaves seemed to not match up. Confronted, Nothos admitted he was actually Ber'asco, having not been destroyed when he was exiled from his body, but instead retreated into Nothos's body. He still claimed he wished to destroy the Charon for betraying him, after which time, he would surrender to the Alliance (though no one believed he would surrender). Still, he would attempt to retake his body if he made contact with Ravik again, and this could cause the Charon forces to become disorganized as they lost their leader.

Having rested, the characters led the force of exhausted and battered soldiers and civilians across the planet's surface to the external hangar entrance to the shipyard... only to find the Charon marching on the same location, having finally located the shipyard for themselves. Amid a whipping storm, the forces engaged.

During the battle, while Tinkie led a group of technicians into the hangar to begin warming up vessels, Teegray, Erin, and Jackal led Ber'asco towards the heavily armored Ravik, who resembled Ber'asco's original body, but with an altered head resembling Ravik's original face. Armored and with a powerful jet-pack, Ravik waded into the battle, throwing Alliance soldiers right and left. Ber'asco reached Ravik, who was amused to see his old rival was still alive, and the two battled for possession of Ber'asco's original body.

Ravik won, and crushed Bane Nothos's neck, killing Ber'asco. He then turned on the crew of the Long Shot. However, Jackal managed to damage his jump jets, causing them to explode the next time he attempted to use him, sending him arcing off into the sky, apparently dead. The Charon were broken without their leader, and most were slaughtered, with only a few being stunned and captured instead of killed.

While the tired inhabitants of Stronghold managed their retreat, Teegray was unconvinced that Ravik was dead. He led the other characters on a hunt for Ravik, but while they located the site where his body apparently crashed, they couldn't find any trace of the Charon leader's body. Unfortunately, due to the storm, Teegray was unable to pick up the scent, so they returned to their vessel... where Ravik, scarred and insane, attacked.

When Ravik grabbed Jackal and swore to send him to the Void, Teegray acted. He closed his eyes and let the spirits guide his arrow, poisoned as his other arrows had been, to damage evil spirits. The arrow went down the shaft of the plasma cannon just as it attempted to fire, causing an explosion that tore through Ravik's face. As he screamed, Jackal (who was still held close to Ravik's face) aimed his pistol in the monster's mouth and pulled the trigger. Ravik was finally dead.

For their bravery and success in saving the majority of inhabitants of Stronghold, the characters were given a week R&R on Ord Mantell.

Session Outline for 5/30

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:06:45 GMT

The game session for 5/30 involved the following characters:

Erin Carick, a human field medic and transport pilot for the Alliance, piloting the Long Shot
Teegray, an Ewok shaman that follows Erin around
Bobabango, a Xexto gunslinger
Ahlv'n, a Dazouri information broker
Zimm Mar'nona, a Balosar sniper
"Jackel," an Ubese soldier and demolitions expert, and the highest ranking member of the squad.

This takes place shortly before Empire Strikes Back.

The squad was assigned to meet with another transport, the Celestial, carrying supplies for the Alliance safeworld of Stronghold, as well as several dangerous criminals and prisoners of the Alliance: Imperial Grand Moff Ravik, Imperial captain Bane Nothos, pirate captain Celis Mott, assassin droid EL-434, and bounty hunter Zardra. Unbeknownst to the party, Bane Nothos managed a prison break, and the prisoners managed to contact an Imperial vessel for pickup. Captain Alain Gryphon managed to make a cold jump into hyperspace, without any coordinates, to escape pickup.

Unfortunately, the Long Shot came out of hyperspace to find the Star Destroyer that responded to the Imperial call for help. In the ensuing fight, its hyperdrive was also damaged, and when it attempted to jump to hyperspace, it went somewhere... else.

According to the nav computer, the new location was neither Realspace or Hyperspace, but was something else that it declared to be "Otherspace." They had no way of leaving with the burnt-out hyperdrive, needing several parts before they could repair the hyperdrive and escape. They did, however, locate the Celestial, floating near a strange nebula. The vessel had been abandoned, and there were signs of scavengers -- claw marks, webbing, and missing objects. The hyperdrive was fused and useless. Having discovered what happened to the Celestial through the logs, they also discovered that all escape pods ended up onboard a large vessel that emerged from the nebula, almost organic in appearance. This vessel, the Desolate (as they later learned it was called), gave very strange sensor readings. Having no real other options, they went aboard the alien vessel.

They quickly discovered the Desolate gave off signs of being alive. It had membranes between different areas of the vessel, and it seemed to grow fuel for itself in pods. They also found signs of altered life -- living beings that had their nerves replaced with technology that mimicked its actions, but were no more alive than animated corpses. The being aboard the Desolate built and constructed life forms that were not truly alive any longer, but mimicked many functions of life, such as crawlers that spat webbing, or leaping creatures that attempted to take Bobabango captive for the labs of the Desolate, or the beings that seemed to have built-in blasters on their forearms, or even the mysterious being that could seem to open portals to shift individuals to different locations.

In their exploration of the ship, they made several discoveries. First of all, the vessel had a thick red mist in several portions that would enter even through the pores of people walking through it, clinging to anything almost like webbing. In small doses, the mist causes hallucinations and brief episodes of madness. Enough mist, and it can cause permanent neural damage.

They also found the fate of most of the crew of the Celestial. Two of the security agents had been exposed to the mist along with the pirate Celis Mott, and believed themselves to be pirates alongside him. After the crew of the Long Shot stunned them and treated them, they returned to the Long Shot with Mott as their prisoner. None of the rest of the crew of the Celestial lived -- some were experimented upon by the crew of the Desolate, some were fed to the ship, and others were killed in skirmishes with the crew of this alien vessel. Most were given as a gift from Moff Ravik to the captain of the Desolate.

The crew of the Desolate was an as-yet undiscovered alien race that called themselves the Charon. The Charon apparently believed only in service to the Void -- all life was a disease that must be eradicated. Moff Ravik, speaking with the Final Prophet of the Desolate, Ber'asco, made a deal with the Charon, believing he could control them. He wanted to help them establish hyperspace travel so that they could attack Palpatine, and allow Ravik to take command of the Empire. In the ensuing struggles, the bounty hunter Zardra teamed with the Long Shot crew briefly, even taking in the assassin droid in the process. (To the Charon, they saw the droid's method of breaking its own programming -- life out of nothingness -- akin to a deadly disease spontaneously appearing in a sealed chamber. They wished to study it, then destroy it.) Bane Nothos served under Ravik, and took Charon warriors to attempt to capture the crew of the Long Shot, but after an accident with a thermal detonator, Nothos vanished into a large hole in the floor and was assumed dead from the fall.

Physically, the Charon were an arachnoid race, with immature males serving as the warriors and immature females serving as the biotechnicians. The leader, the mature male Ber'asco, had armor plating. Thankfully, while they were exploring the vessel, most of the Charon remained in hibernation, but while the crew was passing through the hibernation chamber, they began to awaken, forcing the crew to retreat deeper into the ship, cutting off their own escape route. Meanwhile, they continued to find pieces of a hyperdrive that they could utilize for their own vessel.

Upon arriving on the bridge, they were abandoned by Zardra (who had one of the last remaining pieces they needed for fixing their hyperdrive), as she didn't want to face the individuals on the bridge. Grand Moff Ravik and Final Prophet Ber'asco attempted to persuade the characters to support Ravik's ideal of overthrowing the Emperor. Of course, this led to a battle, during which time, the dome which provided a view to space ripped open. The characters managed to struggle into Charon vacuum suits, and called the Long Shot for pickup. Unfortunately, neither security officer down there could pilot a vessel, but Zardra showed up (with the droid in tow as a prisoner), and flew the ship on a rescue of the characters. They repaired the hyperdrive while Charon fighters attempted to blast them down, and jumped back to Realspace.

Unfortunately, both Ber'asco and Ravik lived, and Ber'asco began reconstructing Ravik, hoping that, once free of the "disease" of life, he would lead them to the rest of "Ravik-culture"...

Game Setup:

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:40:10 GMT

It is a time of peace for the Galaxy. The Emperor has been defeated.
The Sith appear all but extinct. Peace has been declared between
the IMPERIAL REMNANT and the NEW REPUBLIC. And the Jedi
Order has reformed under LUKE SKYWALKER and is once again
bringing peace and prosperity to the Galaxy.

But in the shadows of the Galaxy, dark evil remains hidden. The
Empire of the Hand, formed by Grand Admiral Thrawn in the
hidden corners of the Galaxy before his death, has warned of a
threat that may come soon from the UNKNOWN REGIONS. Within
the halls of government, there are whispers of strangers pulling
strings to manipulate events to their bidding. And what of the Sith?
They have been believed extinct once before…

As the Galaxy breathes a sigh of relief that the dark times of war and
death seem to be behind them, already things are in motion to bring
about a new age in the Galaxy… an age of pain and suffering at the
hands of a foe that remain as yet unseen…

The Star Destroyer Obfuscation cruised through the vacuum, its long black lines difficult to spot around the inky darkness of space. This was no standard Star Destroyer, clean and white. This was solid black, to better mask visual sensors. The stygium-prismatic coating would make certain no electronic sensors would pick the vessel up, either. There were no planets anywhere nearby… just the vast endlessness of space.

Captain Arral Parr gazed out the viewport from the bridge, looking for new constellations. Every region of space has different constellations, many of which are not viewable from anywhere else in space. He prided himself on learning the constellations for every part of space he’s been to; such information helped him navigate better than his peers. Back in the Academy, they jokingly called him part-Sullustan. But he didn’t mind the ribbing… the truth was that they were envious of his skill. He never got lost anywhere in known space.

This part of space has no constellations he recognizes… not yet, of course. But he’ll learn them soon enough. And then he will be the best navigator of the Unknown Regions within the Empire.

His reverie was interrupted by an ensign calling for him. He turned to the junior officer. “Yes, Ensign?”

“Captain, we have our coordinates for the final jump. It should take approximately four hours.”

“Excellent,” Parr grinned. “Ensign, please open a channel for a final message to Moff Tarkin. She will be pleased to hear the news.” Moff Lavira Tarkin was the one who sent them on this mission in the first place – a scouting mission to determine the truth about the Empire of the Hand. It’s true that Parr wasn’t too happy about going behind Pellaeon’s back like this, but Lavira had a way with words. If the Empire of the Hand had not been honest with Pellaeon… or if Pellaeon had not been honest with the Moff Council about the Empire of the Hand… then it was best if one of the Moffs found out the truth sooner rather than later. A simple scouting mission… that’s all this was. Lavira was most persuasive. He smiled a little at the memory of some of her more unorthodox persuasion techniques.

He stepped to the comms station, awaiting the open channel… when something rushed past the bridge outside. He turnned to look, shocked…

“Captain!” one of the sensor techs cried out. “I’m getting multiple vessels emerging from lightspeed!”

The bridge shook under a sudden assault. “Who?” the captain demanded, rushing to the front of the bridge. “The Empire of the Hand? How could they know we’re coming?”

There. Now he could spot the enemy. His brow furrowed as he looked at the strange fighters suddenly swarming his vessel out of nowhere. “Scramble all TIEs,” he ordered. “And return fire, dammit! What are the gunners waiting for?”

“Sir? Fifteen more hyperspace signals bearing out of vector 7328!”

Captain Parr looked out into space at the bearing reported, just in time to see fifteen more vessels arriving… each as large as the ship under his command.

“Belay the TIEs! Get us out of here!” he ordered.

“It will take three minutes to move to our jump point!” the navigator replied.

“You don’t have three minutes!” Parr snarled. “You have one!”

But as the smaller fighters pulled back, Parr began to suspect that they had less time even than that. The other fifteen vessels opened fire and Parr struggled to stay on his feet. Damage reports began being called out from all over the bridge, and he realized how little time they truly had.

He moved back to the com station and sent a rapid message to Moff Tarkin. She should know what had happened here.

Ten seconds later, the Obfuscation exploded in a blast of fiery plasma.

Gilad Pellaeon let out a long sigh as he stepped into his quarters. It had been a very long day indeed. The Council of Moffs continued to fight his efforts to reduce security along the Republic/Imperial border. It had been over five years since peace was signed… it was time to relax their military efforts and focus their strength elsewhere. But the Council of Moffs continued to argue with him every step of the way. At least Tarkin had eased up. He needed her family’s continued support.

On top of that, there had been further demands to learn more about the Empire of the Hand, and even several calls to force the territory to join with the Remnant proper. He wondered about the wisdom of some of these Moffs sometimes. Thrawn set up the Empire of the Hand as a self-sustaining organization within the Unknown Territories for a reason. Thrawn had suspected that there could be a threat to the whole Galaxy within the bordering regions… there were even signs that he may have fought against the threat when he was with the Chiss fleet.

Thrawn. There was a time he seemed the best chance to bring peace back to the galaxy. With his cunning, he nearly destroyed the New Republic rebels and united the galaxy once again under the Empire. A Chiss from the Unknown Regions, he was exiled from his people for what amounted to being a skilled general… and he became the highest ranking alien within the Empire. His skill as a tactician was beyond reproach.

If he had been at Endor, who knows how that debacle would have ended differently. Instead, he was in the Unknown Regions and Wild Space, establishing the Empire of the Hand. His return four years after the death of the Emperor had given Pellaeon hope for the Empire once again. But with his death, the Imperial Remnant suffered defeat after defeat until they signed a peace treaty with the New Republic several years ago… about the same time Pellaeon learned of the Empire of the Hand’s existence.

At least the New Republic had not been as corrupt as its predecessor. And Skywalker’s new Jedi have not been the child-stealing hypocrites that he remembered from his youth. Indeed, the New Republic hasn’t seemed as bad as he thought it would be. Still, their politics leave many openings for chaos and corruption to reenter Galactic life. And when that time comes, he hoped that the Imperial Remnant could be there to provide stability for those who need it. If not Pellaeon himself… he was getting on in years, after all… then whoever took command when he fell.

As he took off his hat, he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. Something… was amiss. His instincts warned him that he was not alone.

A dark figure emerged from the shadows. “Pellaeon,” it hissed. “Welcome home.” Instantly, the aging officer had a blaster in his hand and aimed at the intruder, and another hand reached for his comlink. “I’d ssssuggessst not calling for guardssss just yet, Pellaeon,” it added, holding its passive stance.

Pellaeon gazed at the figure, his blaster still aimed, his finger ready to com for guards in an instant. It was armored, likely male, with a black hood and robe, but he couldn’t quite seem to make out its face in the shadows. “Who are you?”

“I am Nom Anor,” he explained. “I have assssissssted you in your rissse to power.”

“I very much doubt that,” Pellaeon replied.

“Doubt it or not, I will sssay thisss… I can help you achieve your goalsss.”

Pellaeon scoffed. “I don’t think there’s anything you can offer me.” His finger twitched towards the com switch.

“I have evidensssce of one of your Moffssss operating behind your back,” he replied. “I can give it to you… in exchange for loyalty.”

“I’ve heard enough,” he replied, flicking the com switch. “This is Pellaeon. I have an intruder in my quarters.”

“You’ll regret thissss,” Anor hissed angrily, fading into the shadows again. Pellaeon fired at the vanishing figure, striking it in the chest, but as the blaster flash faded… he could no longer see anyone in his quarters.

Red-robed guards stormed into the room, and Pellaeon turned on the light. “He can’t have gone far. I didn’t get a good look at him… but he was black armored and robed. Find him!” Once caught, I can question him more extensively about his evidence… and whatever his goals are.

Moff Lavira Tarkin stomped into her quarters. This was not what she had wanted. Pressing a button to activate anti-spying measures, she hissed into the room. “Anor! Are you here?”

It took several seconds, but his form finally emerged from the shadows in the corner. “I am here, Tarkin.”

“The Obfuscation was destroyed!” she snarled. “You assured me that the Obfuscation’s mission was critical!”

“It wasss,” Anor replied. “And itssss desssstruction was unplanned and regretful, but it will sssserve our purposessss just as well. All is sssstill in hand.”

Lavira Tarkin didn’t stop to wonder how Anor could already know of the Obfuscation’s destruction. His fingers reached throughout the Imperial Remnant; she wasn’t his only source of information. But she did notice something unusual about her companion. “…are you out of breath, Anor?”

He didn’t answer. “A vessssel dessstroyed so clossse to the Empire of the Hand will require Pellaeon to dissssclossse full information about the territory. And if he indeed knowsss asss little as I sssussspect he doessss… thissss will weaken his sssstansssce. And you, Moff Tarkin, will have the political power from inssstigating this resssearch and leading the effort to absssorb the Empire of the Hand… you will become Empresssss, assss promisssed.”

She glared at him. “I liked Captain Parr,” she pouted.

“More than you want to be Empresssss?” Anor gestured. “Trussst me, Tarkin. All isss prossceeding assss planned.”

Tarkin smiled, taking her eyes off Anor for a moment, and pictured the throne of the Empire. What is an Empire without an Emperor or an Empress? And it had been so long without one… certainly she could do a better job than any of the others. Certainly better than that doddering old fool Pellaeon.

True, Parr had been a fantastic captain, a loyal officer, and a skilled lover, but all these things could be replaced. The Empress of the Imperial Remnant could not be.

And once she had the Remnant under her control… the rest of the Galaxy would soon follow.

“There isss something elsssse,” Amor added. “It isss time for a direct attack.”

“On the New Republic?” Tarkin frowned. “You’re not serious.” She paused, waiting for Anor to clarify or deny her question, but he said nothing. “Pellaeon will never allow it.”

“I have a gift for you.” Anor placed a small holoprojector on the table, and an image formed over it. Tarkin gasped. She recognized the form in an instant.

“A super star destroyer,” she breathed.

“It isssss the Interrogator.”

Tarkin turned to look directly at Anor. “You’re joking.” Anor didn’t reply, and Tarkin looked back to the hologram of the Interrogator. It disappeared two years ago, when the last of the Emperor’s High Inquisitors was killed. And his personal flagship was being given to her.

“It will ansssswer to you,” Anor said. “Find a crew. And attack a Rebel world on the border of Imperial sssspace.”

Tarkin heard him, but she didn’t look at him. It was the Interrogator. The last of the stygium-coated Super-class Star Destroyers. With that under her command, she could almost take on Pellaeon directly. For a moment, she considered it… but only for a moment. That alone wouldn’t be enough. Not by itself.

She turned back to Anor, but was unsurprised to see that he was gone. Ah, well. He was useful for the time being. But when the time was right, she planned to have the worm arrested and tortured until he spilled every last secret he’d been keeping.

Soon.

The planetary government of Juryin was hit hard by Imperial rule. Under Emperor Palpatine, the world was mined, and the citizens were forced into work camps or were pressed into military service. They chafed for freedom, but due to Imperial strength, they simply didn’t have the power to join the New Republic for many years. Ten years before, aided by the New Republic, they managed to throw off Imperial rule.

Captain Mal La looked down at the tiny world below them. This would be a perfect signal for what Nom Anor wanted.

In theory, La answered to Tarkin. She selected him straight out of the Imperial Academy. He was young, promising, handsome, and everything she wanted in a captain. But she was intended to select Captain La. Anor had arranged everything perfectly. Because La answered to Anor… and beyond that, he answered to the very forces that Anor answered to.

None of the other forces on the vessel were aware of La’s loyalties. Everyone believed that he had been seduced into obeying Tarkin’s every order. Nothing could be further from the truth. She disgusted him, and the idea of lying with such a creature turned his stomach. No. He allowed her to think that she interested him; he allowed her to believe that he was looking forward to a carnal pleasure upon success of his mission. But he would kill her before he would allow that to happen.

The walkers had been unleashed thirty minutes before. Now the shields were dropping. No world can withstand the bombardment of a Super Star Destroyer.

“Captain? The governor is hailing us. He’s asking for terms of his surrender.”

“Give no answer,” La replied. “Open fire. I want no survivors.” His eyes narrow. “Melt their cities into slag.”

And green turbolaser fire began to burn down…

Timeline of events:

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:43:22 GMT

Immediately following the Battle of Endor
Immediately following the battle of Endor, the Alliance to Restore the Republic changes into the Alliance of Free Planets, a transitionary form between a rebellion and a real government. There are three noteworthy invasions that take place during this time.
• The Ssi-ruuk, an aggressive dinosaur-like race which had a non-aggression pact with Palpatine, invaded upon his death. The Alliance, working with a small group of Imperials, pushed them back into their own territory,
• The Nagai, a race of warriors from Wild Space, invaded. It turns out they were seeking a base to protect themselves against the next invaders: the Tofs, their sadistic neighbors in Wild Space. The Alliance ends up uniting with some Nagai and pushing the Tofs back into their territory.
Within this first year, the Alliance of Free Planets reorganizes itself into the New Republic. It begins liberating world after world, always with an eye towards Coruscant. Many Imperial leaders refuse to follow Imperial law any longer, and many declare themselves the new Emperor or carve out sections of space for their own control.
During this time, Luke Skywalker retires from the New Republic military, and Ysanne Isard takes political control of the Empire on Coruscant.
See: The Truce at Bakura, the Marvel comics, the Rogue Squadron comics.

1-4 years following the Battle of Endor
The New Republic, using a newly reformed Rogue Squadron at the front of their attempts, begins a serious push into the Core to take Coruscant. They encounter opposition from the clever and diabolical mind of Ysanne Isard, though they eventually are able to take the capital. When Isard flees Coruscant, however, she leaves behind a deadly virus (the Krytos virus) which only affects non-humans, hoping this strain will shake the New Republic apart. Rogue Squadron leads a mission to Thyferra, the source of the Galaxy’s bacta, to secure a cure for the plague. In this mission, Isard is believed killed. In reality, she fakes her death and vanishes.
The Hapes Consortium makes overtures to the New Republic, offering their Prince Isolder to Princess Leia for marriage. Leia instead marries fellow hero of Yavin, freshly-retired general Han Solo, but Prince Isolder insists on an alliance with the New Republic despite this, while he marries a Witch of Dathomir. During all this, one of the major warlords, Zsinj, is killed at Dathomir, and Luke Skywalker recovers a major Jedi find: the original Chu’unthor, a Jedi records vessel lost 600 years ago.
See: The Rogue Squadron novels, the Wraith Squadron novels, Courtship of Princess Leia

5 years following the Battle of Endor
A previously hidden Grand Admiral, Thrawn, returns to Imperial space and leads the Imperial Navy on a deadly and diabolical assault on New Republic space. Developing fast-grown clones and finding the massive lost Katana fleet, Thrawn brings the New Republic to his knees before he is defeated at the Bilbringi shipyards. In the midst of this, Leia gives birth to twins, and Luke leads Mara Jade back from the dark side.
Isard returns in the chaos following Thrawn’s death, but is killed by Iella Wessiri.
See: The Heir to the Empire trilogy, Rogue Squadron: Isard’s Revenge

6 years following the Battle of Endor
Things change rapidly. The Empire reorganizes quickly and successfully pushes the Republic off of Coruscant, then falls to internal squabbling. During this time, a dark side energy being possesses an unused clone of Palpatine and successfully convinces others that he is the Emperor Reborn. He activates massive war machines, the World Devastators, on the planet of Calamari, and, using massive powers of the dark side to confuse and disorient him, turns Luke Skywalker into his minion. Leia, however, manages to save him, and the Emperor’s clone body is destroyed, and the World Devastators are destroyed. The energy being, however, has many spare clones on the planet of Byss, the Emperor’s retreat-world.
The World Devastators were not the only superweapons being developed, however – the Emperor’s clone also had the Galaxy Gun built, which could fire a torpedo anywhere in space to destroy an entire planet. The New Republic’s base on Da Soocha is destroyed, but thankfully, they’d had time to evacuate. Before the weapon can be used again, it is forced to misfire into Byss, destroying all the spare clones of Palpatine. Meanwhile, Luke, Leia, and Han find several other survivors of the Purge, all the while being pursued by many of the Empire’s darksiders, who have allied with the Emperor’s clone. Finally, in an attempt to take the body of Leia and Han’s newborn baby, the energy being is in a weak enough state that one of the relocated Jedi sacrifices himself to kill it, putting an end to the Emperor Reborn.
See: Dark Empire, Dark Empire II, Empire’s End

7 years following the Battle of Endor
Luke Skywalker establishes a Jedi Academy on one of the moons of Yavin, in the former rebel base. Unfortunately, one of his first students is killed and another is turned to the dark side by the spirit of the ancient Sith lord Exar Kun, which had been slumbering in the ruins. Meanwhile, another Imperial superweapon, the Sun Crusher, is located, capable of firing a torpedo into a sun and causing it to supernova. Since it seems indestructible, it is instead hidden deep within the gas giant of Yavin. Luke’s corrupted student, Kyp Durron, retrieves it through the Force and declares himself a Sith lord before going on the attack against the remains of the Empire, using the superweapon on the Carida system (home of an Imperial academy) before being redeemed and helping destroy both the Sun Crusher by having it piloted into a black hole, and destroy the spirit of Exar Kun. About this same time, a crazy Imperial admiral named Daala begins random brutal assaults against the New Republic, and Mon Mothma survives a poisoning attempt on her life before retiring and making Leia the new head of the New Republic. Simultaneously, Corran Horn locates the Jensaari, who eventually join Luke’s Jedi Order.
At the same time, the Imperial Remnant unites under Carnor Jax, a former royal guard; Jax is killed by another former guard named Kir Kanos. Kanos goes on to kill many of the Imperial Council, believing them to be responsible for the death of the Emperor’s Clone, who he believed to be the real Palpatine.
See: The Jedi Academy trilogy, I Jedi, Crimson Empire, Crimson Empire II

8 years following the Battle of Endor
The New Republic locates a colony made up of Jedi Padawans who survived the Purge, and Luke restores an apparently dead Jedi, Callista, to life in the body of a former student, then begins a romance with her, though she is distraught to discover that she cannot feel the Force anymore. The Imperials unite under the insane Admiral Daala; meanwhile, the Hutts rebuild the Death Star’s superlaser and call it the Darksaber. The New Republic arrives to deal with this threat, but upon the first firing of the weapon, it misfires and destroys itself, but not before Crix Madine dies attempting to sabotage it. Daala is defeated when attempting to destroy the Jedi academy; she retires and hands control of the Imperial military to Thrawn’s protégé, Pellaeon. Callista retreats from the Jedi academy, however, and vanishes.
See: Children of the Jedi, Darksaber

9-10 years following the Battle of Endor
Luke searches for Callista but is unable to find her. Leia, Han, Chewie, and Lando stop the Drochs from threatening the rest of the Galaxy. Hethrir, a former protégé of Darth Vader, attempts to create a new Empire, filled with artificially-enhanced Force warriors called Reborn; his lieutenant, Desann, is a former student of Luke’s. He is defeated, and Desann is killed by Kyle Katarn. When Hethrir attempts to kidnap Jacen and Jaina Solo at part of his scheme, he is finally defeated by his partner, the extradimensional Waru.
See: Planet of Twilight, Jedi Knight: Jedi Outcast, the Crystal Star

11-12 years following the Battle of Endor
The Yevethans, an aggressive xenophobic race of shipbuilders within the Core, finish building a fleet and begin attacking the New Republic. The New Republic eventually destroys the Yevethan fleet, leaving them isolated on their homeworld once more. Luke discovers the Falanassi.
See: Black Fleet Crisis trilogy

13 years following the Battle of Endor
Two former students of Luke’s, Brakiss and Kueller, begin a revolution against the New Republic which begins with the bombing of New Republic’s senate chamber. These two individuals call their organization the Second Imperium. In the ensuing Almanian Uprising, several worlds suffered terrible bombings, and the Imperial Remnant attempts to strike back at the New Republic while they are reeling from this. The New Republic defeats the Imperial offensive and pushes them further back into overlooked backwaters. Kueller is killed, and Brakiss vanishes.
See: The New Rebellion

14 years after the Battle of Endor
A rebellion within the Corellia system leads them to attempt to withdraw from the New Republic. Following this insurrection, Leia resigns as president of the New Republic.
See: The Corellian trilogy

15 years after the Battle of Endor
The Caamas Document is revealed, showing that the Bothans were responsible for the destruction of Caamas. The ensuing chaos is fed by a group of rogue Imperials hoping to destabilize the New Republic. Meanwhile, Admiral Pellaeon attempts to sign a peace treaty with the New Republic.
At the same time, the Empire of the Hand is discovered. This offshoot of the Empire near Chiss space was created by Thrawn to watch Wild Space for a great threat. The Empire of the Hand provided an unaltered copy of the Caamas Document, which proves that only rogue Bothans were involved, not major Bothan families. The rogue Imperials are captured, and a peace treaty between the Empire and the New Republic is signed.
See: The Hand of Thrawn duology

16 years after the Battle of Endor
Luke Skywalker marries Mara Jade.
See: Union comics

18 years after the Battle of Endor
Leia and Han’s children join the Jedi Academy. Meanwhile, Luke and Mara are invited by the Chiss Ascendancy in Wild Space to recover the remains of Outbound Flight.
See: Young Jedi Knights books, Junior Jedi Knights books, Survivor’s Quest

19 years after the Battle of Endor
The Second Imperium, led by Brakiss and one of the Nightsisters of Dathomir, establishes a Shadow Academy to tempt young Jedi away from Luke’s academy. Jacen and Jaina Solo uncover its threat, but the ensuing battle causes major damage to the Jedi Academy. The Shadow Academy is destroyed, the leadership of the Second Imperium is killed, and the Academy begins rebuilding.
Meanwhile, a team of Jedi Padawans locate Jedi Master Guldolp Squoj, and High Inquisitor Tremayne is killed.
See: Young Jedi Knights books; our last campaign

20 years after the Battle of Endor
The Diversity Alliance, an anti-Human organization, begins engaging in terrorist activities. The Jedi get involved and defeat the alliance, while the New Republic meets with delegates from the species involved to address their concerns and complaints.
See: Young Jedi Knights books

21 years after the Battle of Endor
Game begins here!

Upcoming sessions:

gavin.downing@gmail.com — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:27:17 GMT

Currently, the plan is this:

May 30: A fill-in game. This will be Otherspace; it takes place shortly before the Battle of Hoth (ie just before Empire Strikes Back; three years after A New Hope, and one year before Return of the Jedi). Characters should be Rebel agents.

June 13: The second fill-in game; Otherspace II. This takes place roughly 8 months after the previous session. People can play the same character in both games; if you join us just for Otherspace II, please make a Rebel operative or the family member of a Rebel.

June 27: The first session of the new game. The plot will focus on Leia sitting down to diplomatic discussions with Pellaeon. Characters should be able to attend such a diplomatic mission.

July 11: This session, the plot focuses on Luke leading a New Republic mission to track down a Star Destroyer. Characters should be able to attend a Jedi/New Republic military joint mission. This session will be occurring at the same time as the June 27th session.

July 25: This session, the plot will focus on Han and Lando out in the Outer Rim on business. Characters should tend to be more on the roguish side of things. This session also takes place during the same time as the June 27th and July 11th sessions.

Please leave a comment if you'll be playing, and let me know who you'll be playing for which sessions. Thanks.