Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Star Wars / Space Opera Chapter 5 Subject: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:13:56 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012567 >On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 22:47:16 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012563 > >"Limbdeath." Quiet Moon explains. "I've seen it before, it came up >occassionally on my homeworld. Fortunately it is not too contagious. >Normally it spreads from decomposing matter." (OOC: I'll spare >everyone the CSI graphic explanation) > >"Apt name. And no shortage of that around these parts. The Empire >isn't too worried about hazmat training. So, what will you do now?" > >"It depends on what the rest of the group I came with wants to do. >I'm a bit new to all this." > >"Finding your way still? Well, best of luck. Force be with you." > >"Kai protect you." the Kai replies almost automatically, getting up. "...and the shift change takes place here, in front of the Grand Entrance," Princess Leia explains, pointing at the hologram. Roland frowns. "Right in front of the cameras, the Stormtrooper patrols, and half of New Delhi. So much for ambushing the Imperial Guard during the change." The Champion leans back a half-fist covering his mouth as he ponders the map. "Maybe you could use these 'Starspawn' you've mentioned," Luke suggests. Roland shakes his head. "I'm trying to keep them in reserve as much as possible. We're going to need them to absorb the Possibility shock when we displace the Emperor. Besides, the thought of what the Dark Side would do with them gives even _me_ the shakes." He looks at the hologram of the palace again and taps his lips with his forefinger. >Quickly, before even Vader's enhanced senses can pick it up, Asajj >Ventress withdraws her psychic probe. Everyone thought her dead, >killed at the hands of the so-called 'chosen one'. > >Fine. She had had the pleasure of watching the fool fall himself, >clutched by the darkness of his own misery and rage. > >"The Force has smiled on me. I get to revenge myself...twice. Beware, >Anakin Skywalker." As she spoke, she pulled out a pair of long black >tubes. Holding them, she sent a silent mental command, a precise >reverberation in the Force that no one else could detect or >duplicate. Microseconds later, energy beams, darker than the deepest >nights, sprang from the tubes. The blades crossed just under her >eyes, which faced straght ahead. > >"And all those between me and them." The only question that remained >to her was...Vader, or the brightsider? "Anakin?" Qui-Gon asks as his pupil looks up suddenly. "I felt...the strangest ripple in the Force..." Anakin's eyes unfocus, his hand going to the hilt hanging from his belt. "...I believe the Terrans call it 'deja vu.'" Elsewhere... "Why can't we just teleport in?" Morgan asks. Roland points to six small dots around the palace edge. "Reality stabilizers. They specifically prevent spacial or temporal effects within their area. We might be able to overcome them, but..." he shakes his head. "No. I'm still convinced these are our best bet." He waves his hand, and the map zooms in to a system of ducts underneath the palace. "According to your scans, there are no detection systems or patrols in the ducts, just automated sweeps by non-sentient droid units." Leia grimaces. "I'm worried about relying on that trick too much. Surely, even if the average Imperial Governor is that sloppy, the Emperor isn't." "Has Palpatine shown any signs of having studied the Evil Overlord handbook?" Morgan semi-quips. At the quizzical looks from the rebels (and no doubt to groans for accompaniment from the CAoL), Roland says, "Long story. Basically, fictional villains in our world make a lot of the same mistakes, and it's a running joke that the competent Evil Emperor has studied the list." He 'taps' the duct image with one finger. "Actually, I'm almost hoping he expects us to use the ducts. My photokinesis may be as rusty as an R2 unit on Dago...uh...anyway, my ability to interface with the automated systems should make us completely invisible to their sensors. My only concern is the Force senses of the Sith." The Eternal leans forward again. "I'm sure the Emperor will be attuned to unusual ripples, and even if we aren't 'really' Force-wielders, I'm not about to bet our lives that Palpatine and Vader won't feel us coming." Leia nods. "Then the infiltration team will have to be us 'mere mortals.' We can set charges to keep the Imperials busy while you knock on the front door." Roland shakes his head. "I won't be able to mask your team that way. Besides, Vader might sense you, given that you've met before." [Not to mention that you're not exactly a 'mere mortal' yourself, but I'm sure not going _there_ right now,] he adds to himself. "Hmmph. Then what--" Leia begins. As she speaks, Luke looks up suddenly from where he sits, hand going unconsciously to his lightsaber. Anakin and Qui-Gon, more fully attuned, have already drawn their weapons and are standing back to back. Leia's sentence ends on the spot, punctuated by the screams of rebel patrols. Half a second later, klaxons go off. "Imps! Hundreds of them!" A rebel scout runs into the encampment, firing her blaster behind her almost without looking. "At least two dozen of those Force demons! And VADER!" "Nass," Roland snarls, already on his feet, pike drawn and extended. "Form a perimiter!" "What he said!" Leia barks. "Specials on the outer ring, blocking! Everyone else form an inner ring and start shooting! Except pilots -- get to your ships!" "/You read my mind,/" Roland chuckles as he and Morgan surge forward. Force-trained Imperial Guardsmen and Tharkoldu warriors attack, and are blunted by the outer ring. OOC: Crunchies! Get yer hot buttered crunchies, right here! It doesn't take long for the immortal pair to drive back twice their number in Guardsmen, even backed up by a full platoon of Stormtroopers, but then techno-demons take their place, and the lovers are hard-pressed. /Hnn,/ Roland grunts, throwing one back with his telekinesis as he blunts an astral attack with his mind shields. /They sent some tough ones this time./ He snarls in pain as a demon-spirit invades his body, twisting his insides around (or is the thing just affecting his mind?). As a being of corrupt mystical energy, it flows through his defenses as if they don't exist -- which they do not, to the spirit. /Morgan?/ /Already on it,/ Morgan replies, parrying two sets of claw slashes simultaneously as she glances at Roland's midsection. The pain subsides, and Roland can swear that, just for a moment, he hears something scream in pain and fear. /Thanks, love. "Hy-AH!"/ The farther demon's cybernetics short out, and it falls. His other opponent takes wing, appearing to retreat. "Yeah, that's right, come back when you want to get your butt handed to you aggAGGHH!" Even the protective wards Morgan has set up cannot protect the Eternal from this assault, and he stumbles back, falling on his side. "Well well well," a familiar voice echoes, and Roland looks up in surprise. "You!" "Me," Aras benHaav agrees, a sadistic smile on his (yes, his) face. The remaining techno-demon from the initial assault on Roland attacks Morgan, making her battle three on one. "No," Roland moans, leaning on his pike in a Herculean effort to rise. "Yes," Aras replies, once again prosaic. The assault intensifies manyfold. A series of horrific runes light up all over his cyberware, and Roland screams. His powers have been completely suppressed. He remains immortal, but is otherwise completely human. "Oh, you have no idea how long I've been planning this," Aras laughs silkily, striding over to the writhing hero. With an almost gentle caress, he shifts Roland's flesh around his hand, reaching inside him. Roland's screams intensify. "I'm going to shift you into a techno-demon. Then I'm going to dominate you. _Then_ I'm going to make you beg, limbless, while I slowly butcher your woman. At the end, you will be a self-aware breeding pod. An _immortal_ self-aware breeding pod." He smiles as Roland actually tries to swing the pike, turning the bones in his arms to water. "And all your friends are busy with Vader and his legions. This is so very satisfying, I must say..." A lightsaber-claymore hybrid plunges through benHaav's chest, incinerating his heart and sticking three feet out of his rib cage. "Kuh...kuh...kuh..." "Aye, i' _tis_ satisfying. Very satisfying," Morgan says coldly. The "laser sword" moves a few centimeters to one side, taking out part of a lung and some of his internal cybernetics. "Though I don't much care if you beg or not." "...KAH!" the Demon Lord lurches forward, managing to un-impale himself. He spins, throwing half a dozen sorcerous curses at the druid. Each is powerful, torturous, and energized by nether-forces. They do him little good. Morgan slashes Aramegil in an expert arc, its Arcadian enchantments and Jedi energies destroying most of the curses' power. The remains still nip at her, weakening her slightly and distracting her briefly, but in the Demon Lord's condition he is in no position to take advantage. BenHaav backpedals, jets coughing at the base of his wings, though he lurches away but slowly. Roland spends the time trying to force his bones to solidify; they shift from water to gelatin. Morgan easily advances faster then benHaav retreats. "I believe you said something about limbs." A slash, and the demon lord's leg falls. Morgan glares. "You're not looking well, pav. Let me help." Red and blue energies play around the edges of his cyberware as flesh rejects implants. The jets stop sputtering as their own weight pulls them free of the wings. "pav...monkey...scum..." benHaav gasps with the last of his strength as he collapses backward, the ruins of his wings beating weakly in a vain attempt to escape. Morgan advances, blood in her eyes. "my hero," Roland gasps. He smiles weakly at the druid, each arm wrapped four times around his pike to keep him upright. "but love...i think you got him." "He's still breathing," Morgan growls. While this is true, it clearly won't be for long; most of the demon's internal fluids (both organic and machine) are seeping into the soil. "I can fix that," another familiar voice cuts in, a burst of magicks that put Aras' to shame disorienting the druidess long enough for a hyper-enhanced arm to blur around her, attaching a small crackling box to her forehead. Morgan's eyes roll upward, then close, and she collapses into Thratchen's waiting arms. Her sword hangs limp, but remains in her hand, clutched in a death-grip. The lightsaber-aura around the blade vanishes. "no," Roland moans again, eyes flickering weakly with energy. "AH-ah," Thratchen chuckles, a claw popping out directly above Morgan's neck. Roland freezes, helpless horror frozen on his face. "You will get your chance, never fear. For now..." it glares at benHaav, whose eyes have glazed over. "...master...master..." Aras croaks. "Expendable fool," Thratchen snarls. "Did you truly think you could plot to supplant me without my knowledge?" It spits on Aras, and where the fluid lands, it burns acid-like into the lesser demon's skull. He dies before the acid even reaches his brain. "As for you," the High Lord continues silkily, turning back to Roland. "if you so much as scratch her," Roland begins. "Yes yes, I know, hunt me to the ends of creation, set the Stardragon on me, shatter my bones and scatter my molecules across the cosmos," the Demon Prince replies airily. "I have no intention of killing the woman..." again, Thratchen smiles toothily. "...as long as you end this _my_ way." Roland's eyes narrow as his arms begin to unwind from the pike, bones stiffening ever so slightly. "I didn't think the 'duel to the death' was your thing, Thratchen." "We must face one another. The Everlaw makes it inevitable. However," Thratchen explains smoothly, its smile broadening and its grip on the unconscious Greywolf tightening, "I _can_ make it a time and a place of my choosing. Besides, it suits my sense of dominance." It motions vaguely at Roland with Morgan's body. "You can follow her 'signal' to me." The smile vanishes. "Come alone, immortal. Well, I will permit you to bring the boy Anakin," it adds off-handedly, and both warriors glance over at where the young Jedi and his master duel a half-dozen Imperial Guards, "but I doubt you'll place that opportunity before me." Roland's face is a rictus of fury. "I'd rather burn in hell." "It's overrated," Thratchen quips dryly. "Alone, Storm Knight, or she'll awaken to live just long enough to know you failed her." With that, the two vanish, Aramegil falling to the ground where they had stood. Roland's face is a mask of grief and worry as he falls to the ground beside it, his limp, snake-like arms clutching at the hilt. A cool blue-green glow covers the Eternal in a gentle nimbus. Within seconds, his body is healed. His devastated Halo and distraught emotion are another story, though he can use his powers again. A fresh pair of techno-demons (nothing is left of the trio that faced Morgan but kibble) charges at Roland. He charges back, at least with electricity. With no concern for subtlety, he knocks both unconscious, though their nervous systems may never be the same. In his right hand, Aramegil flares to life again, sheathed in blue power that flays the air around it. In his left, the pike springs out once more, tipped with a blue power 'head' like a spear. *"I have to go,"* he spits hoarsely, transmitting savagely at the enemy as well. *"On the other hand, I can't abandon my teammates. I suggest that anyone who wants to get out of this battle with all their parts intact leaves. NOW."* OOC: Well. That enough to kick-start this lot? Vader's not likely to be intimidated, but a lot of grunts might be -- depending on who wants to keep fighting. Have fun! ;^) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: The Rebels' Hidden Base On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 08:30:10 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012574 >On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 16:54:03 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012562 >>On Sat, 21 May 2005 13:06:30 -0700 (PDT) >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012556 <*znap* lightsaber snip> >>"I thought you looked like rebels, but when you failed to show up >>for your ride..." She shrugs, with a glance at Roger. "The jewels >>were handy for equipment on the black market, though. M'name is >>Solo; Zian Solo. Captain of the Milennium Unicorn over there. This >>is Chewie. Unless Roger has already told you about me." She doesn't >>seem all that pleased to see all the Jedi, alone among the rebels. > > Roland forces himself not to smile; He's not sure how much >this...iteration? split? co-location? of Zia knows them, but >chuckling at the sight would be poor form. Besides, we all know what >happens when Wookies are unhappy with results. *G* "Ms. Solo. I'm >Roland; this is Morgan," he replies, gesturing to his wife. "I'm sort >of in charge of this traveling manifestation of chaos, though I use >the term very loosely. And I'm sorry, but I have to ask...you're not >related to a _Han_ Solo, are you?" Zian Solo just smiles slightly at him, nods to Morgan, clears blaster, whirls it four times around in her hand, the Lens implanted in the grip gleaming on contact with her palm as it does, and then she slides it home on the tied-down holster again. Having flashed her ID (badges? we don't need no stinking badgers!) "My uncle." She admits with studied humor. "I'm surprised you hadn't already guessed as much, him being a dark-haired smuggler and a sharp pilot of a ship, besides. Doubt he'll be making this tussle, though, so I decided to follow in the family tradition." >Next... >>On Mon, 23 May 2005 21:28:58 -0700 >>Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012558 >> >>"I am Quiet Moon, a Kai Lord. I apologize if my usefulness has been >>limited to date. I will try to do better in the future." The Kai >>blinks slightly; the whole room is fairly screaming with Mindforce >>potential. "If anyone here needs healing, I have some skills that >>might prove useful." > > Roland keeps his face even. [Limited. Compared to, what, >Starspawn? Ah well, it's not like angst is foreign to the CAoL.] OOC: Somewhere, an Irony Meter just pegged its needle to have _Roland_ reflecting thusly... Capt. Zian Solo and Chewbacca Providing life's little black market pleasures at a reasonable markup for stellars and stellars. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 08:58:42 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012575 >On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:13:56 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012567 > "Maybe you could use these 'Starspawn' you've mentioned," Luke >suggests. > Roland shakes his head. "I'm trying to keep them in reserve as >much as possible. We're going to need them to absorb the Possibility >shock when we displace the Emperor. Besides, the thought of what the >Dark Side would do with them gives even _me_ the shakes." He looks at >the hologram of the palace again and taps his lips with his >forefinger. There is a Wookie hoot, which Zian immediately translates for the other humans present, "Well, Chewie agrees with holding them in reserve, which is good enough for me. Wookies have a natural instinct for tactics I'm still trying to approach." >Elsewhere... > >"Why can't we just teleport in?" Morgan asks. > > Roland points to six small dots around the palace edge. "Reality >stabilizers. They specifically prevent spacial or temporal effects >within their area. We might be able to overcome them, but..." Zian looks mildly offended at the 'might' of that statement, but since it doesn't sound like this is the preferred option, she doesn't comment. > "Imps! Hundreds of them!" A rebel scout runs into the encampment, >firing her blaster behind her almost without looking. "At least two >dozen of those Force demons! And VADER!" > "Nass," Roland snarls, already on his feet, pike drawn and >extended. "Form a perimiter!" > "What he said!" Leia barks. "Specials on the outer ring, blocking! >Everyone else form an inner ring and start shooting! Except pilots >get to your ships!" Zian, who had her blaster hand, bellows a Wookie curse at this order, but she nonetheless holsters the blaster and hauls butt so fast she barely has time to look really good doing so in those leather pants. > "/You read my mind,/" Roland chuckles as he and Morgan surge >forward. Force-trained Imperial Guardsmen and Tharkoldu warriors >attack, and are blunted by the outer ring. > > OOC: Crunchies! Get yer hot buttered crunchies, right here! OOC: Just you wait until I get the Unicorn's ship guns ready, you! >*"I have to go,"* he spits hoarsely, transmitting savagely at the >enemy as well. *"On the other hand, I can't abandon my teammates. I >suggest that anyone who wants to get out of this battle with all >their parts intact leaves. NOW."* With a furious downblast of scorching air, the Millenium Unicorn spins into a hovering positon above the ring of defenders, and its heavy ship-mounted grav-canon go into rapid fire. Even the lesser Force-wielders are blown backwards with stunning force by the heavy energy weapons normally reserved for ship-to-ship combat, as huge chunks of earth and groups of unenhanced demons unlucky enough to be within each blast's area are vaporized immediately. "I hate missing my cues. Order me to my ship, will she? Jealous bint." Zian remarks to herself, quite calmly but with the utmost of genteel savagery as she calmly begins at one side of the circle and walks her gun's bursts around, blowing an entire 180 arc of the enemy into ions. Chewie serves the other side of the circle a similar fate. > OOC: Well. That enough to kick-start this lot? Vader's not >likely to be intimidated, but a lot of grunts might be -- depending >on who wants to keep fighting. Have fun! ;^) OOC: Of course, there's still crunch - I mean, baddies who were too close to the Rebels to be targeted by something as big as a ship's rotating blaster-canon, too. And while a big enough blaster can make even a Force-wielder's day a bit more interesting, I doubt Vader will let himself be in the path of a blast, either.... Capt. Zian Solo "Force? I'll show you some force. Never bring a sword to a gun fight." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 18:28:48 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012576 OOC: Fortunately, I spent hours playing LEGO Star Wars in preparation for just such an emergency. >On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:13:56 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012567 > > "Imps! Hundreds of them!" A rebel scout runs into the encampment, >firing her blaster behind her almost without looking. "At least two >dozen of those Force demons! And VADER!" > "Nass," Roland snarls, already on his feet, pike drawn and >extended. "Form a perimiter!" > "What he said!" Leia barks. "Specials on the outer ring, blocking! >Everyone else form an inner ring and start shooting! Except pilots -- >get to your ships!" > "/You read my mind,/" Roland chuckles as he and Morgan surge >forward. Force-trained Imperial Guardsmen and Tharkoldu warriors >attack, and are blunted by the outer ring. > > OOC: Crunchies! Get yer hot buttered crunchies, right here! OOC2: I prefer to serve beats. Remember kiddies, veggies are good for you! They're purple, just like the attacking Imperials are about to be! Staff in hand, Quiet Moon heads for the outer ring, mystical shield of force already springing up around him, deflecting a hail of blasterfire. Immediately, two of the trainee Sithlings, lessons Force-fed (sorry, someone had to say it!) charge in, mistaking the Kai for another Jedi fool. One of them, fancying himself an Ataros stylist, leaped overhead, intending to wow the Kai with a display of acrobatics. As he caught several blaster rounds from assorted rebel gunners (Mass-combat lesson #1: Never jump around on a battlefield unless you WANT to draw enemy fire. Or someone else is. Or you're blasterproof.), Quiet Moon focussed on the second Force user, parring the inexpert attacks. "Fall, blast you!" Parry. "No." *zark!* "You're overextended." *zatch!* "And your left foot is too far ahead. See?" WHAP! The saberist hops away, footbones shattered by a single strike of Quiet Moon's metalic staff. His lightsaber fals to the ground, forgotten. Curious, Quiet Moon picks up the weapon, not as eager to let this one go. Two down, but several...hundred left. (Lesson 2: NEVER count how many enemies are left. Because 'Oh, I'm out of opponents' is a LOT less demoralizing.) There is a flash of despair, before it is overcome by years of Kai training. A third Force trainee comes in, his own saber swinging in a downward arc. The energy blade is caught on the staff, and the attacker recieves a swift boot in the...a well-aimed kick removes *him* from the fight. Glancing around, Quiet Moon can see the line around him holding. Well enough for... The baton hums. Magnetic pulses propel the Kai upwards, over the attacking stormtroopers, and placing him down behind them before they can react (See? It's okay to jump when you're not being shot at!) "Lightning Hand!" he cries, dropping the attackers with a bolt of electricity, fusing armored plates together and shorting weapons out. Five more troopers are shoved away as a throat-tearing Power Word is invoked, the semi-divine utterance like a massive fist. More troopers close on the Kai, weapons raised. And the battlefield is torn apart by blasterfire. Heavy blasterfire. "GET DOWN!" Devon Raymorn screams, manning one of three hastily scavenged capship-grade quadguns, previously hidden under camoflage netting. Microfusion plants thrumming, the three cannons make -everyone- duck with terrifying, if unaimed, energy blasts. Interspersed with the heavy guns are more Rebels, using a mix of sonic impact rifles and repeating blasters to pin down the troops. Quiet Moon rolled back, avoiding a small volley of ionized plasma, followed by a 'sorry!' a few seconds later. He's not annoyed. Instead, his mind reaches out. Not as an attack. Instead, he tries to see, to size up the battlefield, to see where he could be more effective. The one called Vader seemed to be cutting his way through. He seemed to be a rallying point for the attacking Imperials. The world seemed to shimmer, then snapped into sharper focus. He could almost see the pattern of blasts, the waves of battle..."COVER ME!" the Kai shouts, staff in hand. Easily dodging the suppressing fire, he makes his way towards the Sith Lord. And, on the other side of the battlefield... "Master, there's a fight going on!" Lloyd Irving leans over the ledge, watching as the two forces clash. "More of those Imperial guys, and another group. It must be the Rebellion!" Barriss Offee glances to where Lloyd is looking. "Yes. I sensed the ripples caused by the deaths. But I'm not sure that-" Barriss stops dead. Force-enhanced senses pick it up. Blood red blade. Black armor, complete with matching cape. "Vader," She snarls, most uncharacteristically for the somewhat melancholy Jedi. "Barriss?" "Wait here." Barriss leaps, saber already springing to life. The wind whips around her, and Lloyd can spot the scars on her arms. He knows that there are a lot more... The Jedi Knight lands in the middle of the field, the first pulse of the Force sending Stormtroopers, unprepared for a Jedi attack, scattering like tenpins. Two troopers try to advance, but are cut down. "VADER!" Barriss yells. Catching the black-clad Sith's attention, she beckons to him. "Your clones failed to kill me last time. Now you'll have to do it yourself. "Or do you prefer sabering down children, coward?" Lloyd gasps. He knew that she had some issues, like with the number '66', but this..."Well, might as well back her up." Sighing, he picks out his own knot of troopers, and draws his swords, crystals embedded in the pommels shining as Lloyd felt the Force flowing through him. And he leaped, third crystal, an emerald coloured shard of Pontite lodged in the back of his hand like a birthmark, glowing with a life of its own. The ground around him explodes too, and he proceeds to show his own skills at swordfighting, catching saber strikes and blaster bolts on Force-empowered, Mandalorian forged swords. It's quite a sight. If a Jedi in the battle manages to catch sight of the red-clad swordsman, they might see a lot of the Djem So style in his technique. Paradoxically, the metal blades allow Lloyd to perform moves that even Jedi Weapon masters would find insane. Yet the blades still cut like lightsabers through any offered resistance. >*"I have to go,"* he spits hoarsely, transmitting savagely at the >enemy as well. *"On the other hand, I can't abandon my teammates. I >suggest that anyone who wants to get out of this battle with all >their parts intact leaves. NOW."* He's a bit torn. Stopping Vader now might weaken the resolve of the attackers. And the Rebels were starting to fall back. [Okay, I doubt anyone could, or even WANTS, to stop Roland right now,] Quiet Moon reasons. [But then, what Evil Emperor doesn't like a good show? Especially a duel between two mortal enemies?] He starts to reply via minilens, then stops. And, using the tightest, narrowest beam possible, sends only (Note: -and only-) to Roland: *You'd better go then. I will not speak for the others, but I will be fine. We Kai have a reputation for succeeding against overwhelming odds.* The mental smile that goes with it can almost be heard across the battlefield. *With luck, while you go after Morgan, the Emperor may be distracted enough for the rest of us to find and take out the Darkness Device. Workable plan?* His mind drifts back to the battle, spotting the black-clad Jedi knight making her own way towards Vader. *And there may be someone to save here, too.* =========================== Subject: AAE IX:s Reienforcements and Repos Part 1 On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 08:32:28 -0700 (PDT) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00012577 Drilea used the crush of the crowd fleeing the bar to help her get outside. Her mind hopped from Sport trooper HUD to HUD to make sure no one was observing her as she slipped down an alleyway towards the silent signal she was sensing. She froze where she was as she suddenly sensed another two in front of her, but hidden for some reason... She could also sense the signal coming from one of them. Two white forms stepped out into view, one with a red squad leader spalderon on. "Well hello there beautiful. You're lucky I'm taking a liking to you. Get going. This is a secured area. Visitors not allowed." cracked the voice of the squad leader through his helmet mike. Drilea couldn't help but smirk as she realized these two were expecting to find Driscoll, not Drilea. She smiles sweetly and swished her hips as she moves slowly closer towards the pair. Both raised up blaster rifles to try to encourage her to rethink her plan. "Why Thrak... I wouldn't think you'd want to put holes in a body as shapely as this one..." she cooed. Thrak nearly dropped in rifle in surprise. He clamped down his hand on the grip even harder, "Who are you and what's the sign?" Drilea smirked and reached out a hand to slowly slide her fingertip along the curves of the stormtrooper helmet, "Officers and fools are one and the same..." "As long as you know how to play the game" finished the other stormtrooper witht he countersign, "So where's Driss? This area's hotter than a supernova. We need to scoot before this disguise get perferated and so do we." Drilea chuckled softly and put her hands on her hips, "Why I'm right here! I've gone through a few... changes since the last time you saw me, but we have time to go through all that." Thrak nodded his head and removed a set of manacles from behind his back. Reaching out he snapped them around Drilea's wrists and took her blasters from their holsters. "Alright prisoner. March!" He gestured up the alleyway with his blaster and Drilea nodded. Hanging her head and shuffling like a true captive she slowly moved up the alley and into the street beyond. Thrak gave her a hit with the butt of his rifle, "Move it scum! We ain't got all day!" People quickly moved out of the way of the trio, turning their head asid, afraid to make eye contact with the storm troopers. Many had either seen or felt what happened to those that crossed the invaders. They moved up the street a bit farther towards an Imperial Freighter that had three more stormtroopers standing guard by the hatch. "One more prisoner for the cells." "Roger Roger. That fills us up. All onboard." All five stormtroopers and Drilea boarded the plank and it withdrew into the ship as the hatch closed up. Forg's voice cracked on the intercom, "Everyone grab something stable. We may have patched her so she's flying but I still need to do some work on the stabilizers yet." A half hour later, the ship was well hidden in plain sight on a landing pad with a few dozen identical ships. Thrak and Kovar had ditched their stormtrooper armor and donned imperial tech uniforms and Forg stuffed his small body into a hollow R2 shell so they could go scavanging for the parts he still needed. Drilea, Havock the Hairy, Chitath, Davion McCalister, and Gregory Viok sat at a table talking and tossing dice. "So you all crashed into Everest? You're lucky the ship was still flyable." Drilea commented. Chitath shook his insectoid head adn chittered something unintellegable that a protocal droid standing in the corner quickly translated. "He says there was nothing flyable about the ship after its crash. It was fortunate that Sienar Fleet Systems attempts to keep costs as low as possible by making parts to its various ships interchangable. Salvage crews went out on the speeder bikes and brought back what we needed to affect repairs." Drilea tossed the dice and shooke her head, "You all should learn better than to bet against me. I have talented hands." She reached out and scooped a pile of coins towards her, tossing a couple back for ante for the next round. "So how'd you find me?" Havock growlered and reached out for the dice. The protocal droid quickly went to work again. "Master Havock says that they listened for the biggest flair up of action and assumed you would be there. When traffic said Lord Vader would be going to a small bar, we knew we were right." Gregory waggled a finger at Drilea, "So what happend with you Driss?" Drilea swatted the finger away, "It's Drilea now. Driss died." Davion shook his head, "I seen Driss get shot so bad you thought there was no way he'd survive but he always did. I can't believe you that he died." Drilea cocked her head adn smiled mischeviously, "So you don't think I'm really a reincarnated Driss? Maybe I should relate to everyone about that time you and I crashlanded on the Wheel and you had to do a rather convincing performance as a prostitute to get past some Imperials who were looking for you?" Davion blushed brightly and waved his hands in the air, "No no no I believe you! I believe you!" Drilea started to fill them in on what all had elapsed thusfar that she knew of. The scavenging crew came back with the parts and Chitath went off with Forg to make the repairs. "OK, so were do we go from here?" Thrak asked as he drank down a cold brew. Drilea rubbed her chin, "Well I already gave the coordinates for the rebel cell. We need to hook up with them. But we should get the Slingshot and free it from the Imperials before they start running techs through it and finding new gadgets to add to their arsenals. If I know Roland they're going to have quite a few security systems to get through first but the Imps won't care how many techs they lose in the process." She giggled merrily as the idea struck her. Her antennae quivered as she broadcast through the ship's intercom system, "Forg, could you fly the Slingshot?" Forg looked up from the panel he was soldering connections in, "There isn't a ship around I can't fly. give me a couple moments with the control and you'll think I was born behind them." Drilea nodded and explained her idea, broadcasting it for Chitath and Forg too. "OK we take Forg's R2 costume, the tech uniforms and some Storm troopers and go take custody of the ship. This one should be safe here. I'll go as one of the Storm troopers and use my abilities to fool any sensor systems watching us into thinking we're a Tie Transport once we're in the air. Forg flies us to the Rebel base and we stash the ship there and hook up with the rest of the CAoL." =========================== Subject: AAE IX:s Reinforcements and Repos Part 2 On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 08:34:17 -0700 (PDT) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00012578 >Chitath and Forg too. "OK we take Forg's R2 costume, the tech >uniforms and some Storm troopers and go take custody of the ship. >This one should be safe here. I'll go as one of the Storm troopers >and use my abilities to fool any sensor systems watching us into >thinking we're a Tie Transport once we're in the air. Forg flies us >to the Rebel base and we stash the ship there and hook up with the >rest of the CAoL." Boots clicked on the tarmac as three storm troopers, two techs, an R2 unit and an officer in imperial black walked briskly towards the alien ship with the guards posted about. "I want two of you posted at the entrance, the third will escort the R2 unit and techs inside. Evict anyone onboard immediately." snapped the officer to her troopers as she looked over the Slingshot with a cold calcuating gaze. Troopers posted already around the ship shifted uncertainly, confused by the goings on, but unsure if they should try to make demands of an officer. They were relived of the decision as the lead scientist came running up to the officer, "What do you think you are doing with my ship?!" The officer turned her head slowly, eyes boring holes through the scientist as surely as if they had been lasers, "This ship is Imperial property. Not yours. And due to your continued failure at disassembly and inspection of the craft it is now in MY custody." The scientist seemed to shrink a bit in his grey uniform and at the same time turn to something alien as a crimson flush of combined embarassment nad fury crossed his face, "I have NOT failed! We've made incredible inroads against the defenses of the ship. Now you're saying you're going to walk in, steal all my hard work and take credit for yourself? I'll see you hung first! I'll take this directly to Admiral Hastings!" Drilea shook her head slowly, contempuously, "Your patron has already been relieved of his command. I'm surprised you hadn't heard already. Admiral Montoya is now in command of this project. You're even more of a washed up worm than I thought." She turned back to the ship, giving complete disregard to the scientist now. The others stood still waiting for her at the boarding hatch, knowing that the defenses would activate unless she boarded first. "Stop her! Shoot her! Keep her away from that ship!!" bellowed the scientist from behind her to the other Stormtroopers who had been posted at the ship previously. Drilea was glad that she done some mental scouting earlier through the stormtroopers' net of those posted and who was where. "Davies! Fitzroy! The doctor has just commited an act of treason against the Empire by attempting to order the death of a superior officer. Have him escorted to the cells immediately!" Two of the stormtroopers nearest the hatch paused only a moment before leveling their weapons at the quivering scientist. "I never liked him anyhow." quipped one to the other over a private link, but not private enough to hide it from Drilea. "Lets go you! Submit to restraint or I will use lethal force." The scientist gaped at the back of the officer as he was shackled and lead off. She paid him no attention though as she ran a hand over the controls of the Slingshot's hatch. Fingers moved swiftly to unlock the hatch and at the same time give the system a chance to recognise her. Stepping inside, The techs R2 unit and a stormtrooper followed, leaving Thrak and Kovar's large armored frames filling the hatchway looking out and ensuring no one else could board. Once safely inside, Forg popped out of his robotic suit and moved to the controls to start familiarizing himself with them, Havok removing his helmet and followings to do likewise. Gregory and Davion shook their heads collectively at Drilea, "I thought for sure you were going to get us killed there Driss," Davion commented with a smirk. Drilea plopped down in front of a computer console, "We're not out of here yet. I still have to do some creative computer work now." she closed her eyes and let her senses flow at the same time her fingers were moving. passwords are easy to hack through when you can read the needed word before the prompt even comes up. Listings start getting altered, adding in two new Imperial Transports on the rolls, one matching Forg's ship, the other the Slingshot. IIF codes changed and set. flight plan documentation locked in. Finally she pushed away from the console, "Alright, I'm ready here. You ready Forg?" The Sullustan nodded and slipped into the pilot's seat, "I've done all the preflight checks I can without alerting anyone outside. Time to take this whole thing live." Fingers flashed over the controls, warming up the engines and bringing systems online. Davion gave a thumbs up to Kovar and Thrak, and the pair stepped inside, letting the hatchway slam shut behind them. Outside Troopers began to move away from the ship, unsure of what was going on. One quick thinker radioed the flight control, "Umm is that ship supposed to be starting up?" The controller blinked and checked his system, "Pad 4385, confirmed. Clear to move to take off line." The trooper blinked serval times, unsure he was hearing right, "OK to.. ALRIGHT! Lets get out of here guys, this bird's going up. I wish they would tell us what the hell is going on when they go changing plans like this!" "Officers. what do you expect?" clacked a second trooper as they moved away from the trembling ship. The slingshot moved steadily towards the launch pad though Forg had to force himself to take it easy. Any moment he expected one or all of the gun emplacements to open fire on them. This was going too smoothly. "Wh.what are all of you doing in here?" came a timid voice that caused Thrak and Kovar to quickly spin around with their blasters ready. A tech with large glasses stood wide eyed and trembling before their weapons, "Where the hell did HE come from?" "I.. I.. I was in the bathroom..." the tech stammered. "DAVION!" snapped Drilea, "I thought you checked for any personel here!" "I expected them trying to get into the bridge or into the engines. I didn't think of the bathroom..." He said, his face blushing as he pulled out a blaster pistol of his own. "Who do we do with him?" Drilea bit her lip, "I'd love to say just shoot him, but I don't have the heart. Restrain him. We'll turn him over to the Rebels as a prisoner. Maybe he'll have something of use to them." Thrak slapped a pair of manacles on the tech and searched him for weapons. "Everyone find a seat. Here we GO!" announced Forg on the intercom. Just as Drilea sat down and buckled in, the ship shuddered and quickly ascended into the sky, "Forg! we're not running as far as they know you don't have to fly so fast!" "But I LIKE to fly fast!" Forg chuckled, "You just sit there on your pretty little butt and leave the flyin ta the people that know how to do it best." Drilea grimaced as Forg did a barrel roll, "If you don't get this back to him in one piece Roland will see you're scattered over the universe a little at a time." =========================== Subject: AAE IX:s Reinforcements and Repos part 3 On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 08:35:58 -0700 (PDT) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00012579 > Drilea grimaced as Forg did a barrel roll, "If you don't get this >back to him in one piece Roland will see you're scattered over the >universe a little at a time." The ship flew on through the Indian airspace and it seemed the plan was going to go flawlessly until it got the the next stage. Drilea hopped on the computer again, this time trying to hack into whatever sations might be monitereing them so she could cause the ship to suddenly disappear off their screens so they could turn towards the base. But something went wrong. "ROWWWR! whine Mrowr!" bellowed Havok as he pointed to a small screen. "Drilea! what the hell happened? We've got incoming Tie Fighters!" Drilea cursed, "Bad luck it seems. Battle stations everyone! We're off the screen but it seems to have sent out an order to scramble fighters for a search at the same time." Thrak strapped the tech down securely to the chair, "I knew it was all going too easily." Davion strapped himself into what looked likely to be a Gunner's position. "You're just the eternal pessemist and ALWAYS have to prove you're right don't you?" "Don't worry, I see a storm ahead. I bet I can lose them inside there." Forg said, rolling the Slingshot tot he side and heading for the turbulent area. Drilea suddenly froze as things from breifing started clicking in her mind. "Storm... storm... NO! FORG!! There's storms here that change reality!" Even as she spoke, Drilea could tell it was too late. Change flowed over the ship like a wave, suddenly things were the same, yet... different. The deck plating was covered in little dots and everything felt somehow, boxy... Drilea turned towards Thrak and wasn't sure what was causing her a panic attack more. Thrak was still there dressed in his Stormtrooper armor, except now it seemed to be painted onto a box-like body and his head was bright yellow and bald with a cylindrical lump on the top of it. His hands were like claws with no fingers visible and there appeared to be a seam around his wasite like his upper and lower halves could... come apart! Yet if anything made Trak's transformation seem all the more surreal, it was the tech, who was now no longer strapped to his chair which had changed as well, but the tech looked exactly the same! As if he were imune from whatever had changed all of them... "CHAOS!!!!" The tech sighed, 'Awww you weren't supposed to find me out so soon! Wait! No it was just a delayed effect that's it!" He snapped his fingers and suddenly his body had been transformed like the rest of them. The Slingshot rocked as blaster hits struck the hull. The console in front of Davion exploded into blocky pieces, sending him tumbling backwards. Gregory reached down and picked up a yellow object rolling around, "Oh my gods! It's Davion's head!!" Chaos jumped up and took the head from Gregory, "Oh geeze, don't you know anything, here you put it back on like this!" He moved over to Davion's prone body and shoved the head down onto a cylinder rising up from Davion's shoulders. Davion blinked and held up a hand in front of his face, "Ok this is just TOO wierd!" Forg came waddling back oddly, "You think that's wierd, LOOK AT THESE! You call these legs? They don't even bend! I may not have holes in my butt like the rest of you do but I don't even have a butt! I CAN'T SIT DOWN!" Drilea blinked, "Forg, who's flying?" Forg shrugged, "Autopilot I guess. When the change happened, all the controls changed. They all look the same now except for the flight stick which is a steering wheel stuck to the floor!" The ship suddenly spun and changed direction, sending Forg flying into Chaos. Both figures broke apart and scattered. "OK I think Havok figured out how to fly this thing. Someone put them back together again please!" Drilea snapped as she rushed tot he station Davion was just at. Out of curiosity, she picked up the falled blocks and put them back together how they looked before. The console lit back up, "Ok, I've got weapons on-line. Firing!" The ship's defenses flared to life and two of the Tie Fighters following them exploded into showers of rectangular bricks. "Chaos! Fix this!" Chaos shook his newly re-attached head and shrugged. "OK!" The two tie-fighters quickly reassembled themselves. "NOT THEM! THIS! Put us back how we're supposed to be!" "Fussy fussy fussy!" He gestured and the two fighters exploded once again, some of the blocks striking another fighter this time and sticking to the outside of it. Forg hurried back up to the controls as a wash of normality came over the ship again, putting everyone how they were again and the Slingshot back to normal as if nothing unusual had happened to it. Frog fought with the controls and then suddenly started sending the ship down towards the lush green jungle below, "I'm going to cover. See if you all can find something to toss out to make it look like we wrecked!" Drilea smiled malevolently, "I know something perfect!" Over the jungles of India, an imperial tech was thrown out of the airlock of the Slingshot. He tumbled down towards the trees yelling, "I'll be back!!!" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 18:41:56 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012580 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012567 > > A fresh pair of techno-demons (nothing is left of the trio that >faced Morgan but kibble) charges at Roland. He charges back, at least >with electricity. With no concern for subtlety, he knocks both >unconscious, though their nervous systems may never be the same. In >his right hand, Aramegil flares to life again, sheathed in blue power >that flays the air around it. In his left, the pike springs out once >more, tipped with a blue power 'head' like a spear. *"I have to go,"* >he spits hoarsely, transmitting savagely at the enemy as well. *"On >the other hand, I can't abandon my teammates. I suggest that anyone >who wants to get out of this battle with all their parts intact >leaves. NOW."* ^Roland, whatever else you do, do not BROADCAST Morgan's situation on your lens link Unless you WANT the Child's 'help'.^ Oracle sends urgently but quietly. ^That would bring The Stardragon here instantly, and it is not yet time for that. Hydra and I have it making a new container for a darkness device, so it is not aware of Morgan's plight, and it should remain unaware for some time. Should you inform it, be prepared for it to arrive in a state of fury such as you have only seen it in once.^ =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 21:59:19 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012581 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012567 > > "...and the shift change takes place here, in front of the Grand >Entrance," Princess Leia explains, pointing at the hologram. > Roland frowns. "Right in front of the cameras, the Stormtrooper >patrols, and half of New Delhi. So much for ambushing the Imperial >Guard during the change." The Champion leans back a half-fist >covering his mouth as he ponders the map. As the planning continues, Rob stops to get his bearings, then freezes. "Hands up, mister," the Rebel guard says, "unless you want an observation window to your brain." [Well, it'll get me in the Rebel base. I can probably arrange my release later.] With that thought, Rob puts his hands up and goes quietly. > "Hmmph. Then what--" Leia begins. As she speaks, Luke looks up >suddenly from where he sits, hand going unconsciously to his >lightsaber. Anakin and Qui-Gon, more fully attuned, have already >drawn their weapons and are standing back to back. > Leia's sentence ends on the spot, punctuated by the screams of >rebel patrols. Half a second later, klaxons go off. > "Imps! Hundreds of them!" A rebel scout runs into the encampment, >firing her blaster behind her almost without looking. "At least two >dozen of those Force demons! And VADER!" > "Nass," Roland snarls, already on his feet, pike drawn and >extended. "Form a perimiter!" > "What he said!" Leia barks. "Specials on the outer ring, blocking! >Everyone else form an inner ring and start shooting! Except pilots -- >get to your ships!" > "/You read my mind,/" Roland chuckles as he and Morgan surge >forward. Force-trained Imperial Guardsmen and Tharkoldu warriors >attack, and are blunted by the outer ring. Rob has barely made it to the front door when the attack hits. His guard nearly falls to a Force demon in the first wave, when Rob sweeps the Rebel to the floor. "Sorry!" he yells, as he catches the next attack and turns it into a shoulder throw. Even as the demon bowls over a pair of Imperial Guardsmen, Rob's eyes flicker back and forth. [My Ler doesn't work here. I -know- it doesn't. What's out there giving me the "big and bad" sensation?] While the Freelance Immortals deal with Aras benHaav, Rob works to hold the line, when he sees a flash of light from a tree. "/Sniper!/" he yells, as he dives for a blaster rifle. The dive puts Qui-Gon and Anakin in between him and the sniper, whose first shot kills a Rebel lieutenant. As he searches for a clear shot, Rob watches the Jedi fight, and reads their motion, looking for an opening. Then he brings the rifle up, fires once, adjusts his aim, and fires again. The first blast ricochets off of Anakin's lightsaber to destroy the sniper's targeting scope. The second one caroms off of a Guardsman's staff, Qui-Gon's saber, and another staff before blowing the sniper from his perch. [Wh-?! I'm good, but that's impossible...] Then an Imperial Guard breaks off from Anakin to attack him, and he leaves the train of thought in favor of blocking the first swing with the rifle, dodging the second one, and stepping in to relieve his opponent of the staff for the third strike. Quarterstaff isn't Rob's strong skill; however, he's learned enough to hold back some of the Imperial Guards trying to work around the Jedi and into the base until... > *"I have to go,"* Roland spits hoarsely, transmitting savagely at >the enemy as well. *"On the other hand, I can't abandon my teammates. >I suggest that anyone who wants to get out of this battle with all >their parts intact leaves. NOW."* The Guardsmen look up, then turn and run. Rob takes this moment to look at Roland, and a chill runs through him. [He's Hunting. Nothing does that to him except...] A swift check of the battlefield confirms his guess - Morgan's gone. A techno-demon attempts to take advantage of the street fighter's apparent distraction to slice him from top to bottom. Unfortunately, the distraction is only apparent, not actual; Rob sidesteps the slash, losing part of his sleeve instead of his life. His response is a side kick that sends the demon on a one-way flight through a tree. /Um, boss? Does that include us?/ =========================== Subject: AAE9s: Dark Forces On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:20:21 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012583 >On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 08:58:42 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012575 >>On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:13:56 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012567 >> >> "Nass," Roland snarls, already on his feet, pike drawn and >>extended. "Form a perimiter!" >> "What he said!" Leia barks. "Specials on the outer ring, >>blocking! Everyone else form an inner ring and start shooting! >>Except pilots -- get to your ships!" > > Zian, who had her blaster hand, bellows a Wookie curse at this >order, but she nonetheless holsters the blaster and hauls butt so >fast she barely has time to look really good doing so in those >leather pants. OOC: Somewhere, Eric is _really_ sorry he missed that. (Eric adds: "I'll catch the rerun in the Place." ;^) >>*"I have to go,"* he spits hoarsely, transmitting savagely at the >>enemy as well. *"On the other hand, I can't abandon my teammates. I >>suggest that anyone who wants to get out of this battle with all >>their parts intact leaves. NOW."* > >With a furious downblast of scorching air, the Millenium Unicorn >spins into a hovering positon above the ring of defenders, and its >heavy ship-mounted grav-canon go into rapid fire. Roland bares his teeth at six Tharkoldu bearing down on him. He slices through an incoming curse with Aramegil -- [Well _that's_ going to be useful,] he thinks -- but sees that they are all armed with corrupt magicks and falls back, retreating towards the second perimeter with an uncharacteristic string of words that would peel paint in the 30th Century, as well as a handful that would have jaws gaping among Gaels in the Middle Ages. >Even the lesser Force-wielders are blown backwards with stunning >force by the heavy energy weapons normally reserved for ship-to-ship >combat, as huge chunks of earth and groups of unenhanced demons >unlucky enough to be within each blast's area are vaporized >immediately. Roland looks up wearily and salutes with the "spear," his gratitude clear. >"I hate missing my cues. Order me to my ship, will she? Jealous >bint." Zian remarks to herself, quite calmly but with the utmost of >genteel savagery as she calmly begins at one side of the circle and >walks her gun's bursts around, blowing an entire 180 arc of the >enemy into ions. Chewie serves the other side of the circle a similar >fate. Other rebel fighters launch as well, though none of their fighter craft have the flexibility to perform the Millennium Unicorn's protective maneuver. Vader calmly parries a half-dozen bolts from various sources. "Rebel fools. Now." The all-too-familiar scream of TIE Fighters echoes in the distance as dozens of fighters, with one squadron consisting entirely of Interceptors, rise from the jungle and appear on radar. Leia gasps, then sighs. "Evacuate the base! Repeat, evacuate the base! All non-combatants to the transports! Everyone else, start falling back!" She fires a bolt at Vader, who (again) parries effortlessly. "I hate him," she says almost casually. Padme winces. >On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 18:41:56 -0700 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012580 > >^Roland, whatever else you do, do not BROADCAST Morgan's situation on >your lens link Unless you WANT the Child's 'help'.^ Oracle sends >urgently but quietly. ^That would bring The Stardragon here >instantly, and it is not yet time for that. Hydra and I have it >making a new container for a darkness device, so it is not aware of >Morgan's plight, and it should remain unaware for some time. Should >you inform it, be prepared for it to arrive in a state of fury such >as you have only seen it in once.^ ^I know what you're talking about, Oracle, and believe me, involving the Stardragon right now is an absolute last resort as far as I'm concerned.^ Curiously, Roland has _not_ taken the Stardragon's assistance off the table; then again, given the stakes for him, that is probably not very surprising. [Ed note: the following paragraph includes a later retcon.] /Team, I'm a liability at this point, as the techno-demons just proved,/ he sends bitterly. /Zian, you're in charge; you have an existing relationship with the rebels, and in spite of some of its less savory elements, they trust the 'Solo' name. Moonstone, if the Big Guy goes boojum on us again, you're XO. Unless the new command force countermands, retreat with the rebels. If you get separated, regroup with them./ Seeing a squadron of TIEs bearing down on a transport quickly being filled with rebels, he throws a final burst of speed in, tearing wings off all of the fighters with Aramegil and the Phoenix Rod. He stays just long enough to ensure all the pilots eject, then vanishes. OOC: If anyone's checking, he just ficton-twisted to Arcadia. -- (/) Roland X Ever have one of those days? 8^) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:56:33 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012584 Darth Vader strides through the carnage like a god, carving through rebels while barely noticing most of them. The most skilled of them earn a flicker of attention, the terrible helmet pivoting just slightly before he slices the unfortunate in half or snaps a neck in haste (no time for slow trachea crushing just now, even for him). "No!" Luke cries, leaping through the battle and parrying blaster fire rather more clumsily until he comes between Vader and...wherever he was striding purposefully to. Vader regards the last Jedi student evenly. "This is not your time, Skywalker. Move aside." Luke extends his saber, both hands locked on it in a death grip, and says nothing. "Very well." The remark sounds like an epitaph as Vader moves forward, his crimson blade flashing out probingly. Luke parries even more clumsily than before, but there is an artless grace to his efforts. While his training is clearly minimal, the Force is with him. >On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 18:28:48 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012576 > >OOC: Fortunately, I spent hours playing LEGO Star Wars in preparation >for just such an emergency. LOL! >Quiet Moon rolled back, avoiding a small volley of ionized plasma, >followed by a 'sorry!' a few seconds later. He's not annoyed. >Instead, his mind reaches out. Not as an attack. Instead, he tries to >see, to size up the battlefield, to see where he could be more >effective. The one called Vader seemed to be cutting his way through. >He seemed to be a rallying point for the attacking Imperials. > >The world seemed to shimmer, then snapped into sharper focus. He >could almost see the pattern of blasts, the waves of battle..."COVER >ME!" the Kai shouts, staff in hand. Easily dodging the suppressing >fire, he makes his way towards the Sith Lord. Vader's helmet pivots slightly again. Strangely, a sigh hisses through the voice system. "Pity." He extends his free hand, palm out. Luke flies back with a strangled scream, landing several feet away with a distinct thump. >And, on the other side of the battlefield... > >"Master, there's a fight going on!" Lloyd Irving leans over the >ledge, watching as the two forces clash. "More of those Imperial >guys, and another group. It must be the Rebellion!" > >Barriss Offee glances to where Lloyd is looking. "Yes. I sensed the >ripples caused by the deaths. But I'm not sure that-" > >Barriss stops dead. Force-enhanced senses pick it up. Blood red >blade. Black armor, complete with matching cape. "Vader," She snarls, >most uncharacteristically for the somewhat melancholy Jedi. "Oh no you don't," Anakin rumbles with surprising control as Vader moves in for the kill. Force-leaping over a dozen Stormtroopers (and taking about half of them out along the way, parrying blasts into the group as he cartwheels overhead), he lands almost directly in front of the Sith Lord and nearly takes his head off with one swing. Naturally, however, Vader is able to parry, though it is a near thing. The blue saber's glow reflects dully on the glossy black helmet, while the red is almost in the cyborg's cheek. >"Barriss?" > >"Wait here." Barriss leaps, saber already springing to life. The wind >whips around her, and Lloyd can spot the scars on her arms. He knows >that there are a lot more... > >The Jedi Knight lands in the middle of the field, the first pulse of >the Force sending Stormtroopers, unprepared for a Jedi attack, >scattering like tenpins. Two troopers try to advance, but are cut >down. "VADER!" Barriss yells. Catching the black-clad Sith's >attention, she beckons to him. "Your clones failed to kill me last >time. Now you'll have to do it yourself. > >"Or do you prefer sabering down children, coward?" Both Anakin and Vader turn to look at Barriss. Ani takes one look at the exotic Jedi, once beautiful and young, and pales. Vader, on the other hand, is impassive to the naked eye. Those better at reading body language or the Force, on the other hand, can almost imagine him...smiling, under that terrible mask. "Are you so eager to rejoin Luminara, Padawan? Or are you simply more incompetent than I believed?" "Leave her alone," Anakin hisses, a tear racing down one cheek, as he presses Vader with all his might. Even the Dark Lord grunts with the effort of not getting dead. >It's quite a sight. If a Jedi in the battle manages to catch sight of >the red-clad swordsman, they might see a lot of the Djem So style in >his technique. Paradoxically, the metal blades allow Lloyd to perform >moves that even Jedi Weapon masters would find insane. Yet the blades >still cut like lightsabers through any offered resistance. Vader catches sight of the youth from Sylvarant, and the "smile" practically becomes obvious. "The Dragon Way...or perhaps you have brought me a peace offering? I have been considering a student of my own, and yours is farther along than my own prospective apprentice...UHNN!" Dirt flies in two even grooves as Vader is rammed back three meters, though he stays on his feet. Anakin fluidly withdraws his arm, gripping his lightsaber again. "Mother would be so proud," he almost whispers. Luke rises shakily and takes a step forward. "Forget it!" Leia orders. "Get to your X-Wing, you can do more good that way!" Luke looks between Vader and Leia, grimaces, and douses his saber. "This isn't over, Vader." He then high-tails it for his fighter. "No. It is not." Vader glances between Anakin and Barriss. "Not for _you,_ at any rate." >*With luck, while you go after Morgan, the Emperor may be distracted >enough for the rest of us to find and take out the Darkness Device. >Workable plan?* *Let's hope so,* Roland replies as he tears through TIEs. >His mind drifts back to the battle, spotting the black-clad Jedi >knight making her own way towards Vader. *And there may be someone to >save here, too.* *Do your best. And make sure someone watches out for Ani, please.* With that, he vanishes. -- Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader Music: "Duel of the Fates" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Dark Forces On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 20:03:11 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012585 >On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 21:59:19 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012581 > > The first blast ricochets off of Anakin's lightsaber to destroy >the sniper's targeting scope. The second one caroms off of a >Guardsman's staff, Qui-Gon's saber, and another staff before blowing\ >the sniper from his perch. "Hey! I'm _using_ that head!" Anakin half-quips. "One would hope," Qui-Gon replies, his aplomb unshaken. >> *"I have to go,"* Roland spits hoarsely, transmitting savagely at >>the enemy as well. *"On the other hand, I can't abandon my\ >>teammates. I suggest that anyone who wants to get out of this battle >>with all their parts intact leaves. NOW."* > > The Guardsmen look up, then turn and run. Rob takes this moment to >look at Roland, and a chill runs through him. [He's Hunting. Nothing >does that to him except...] A swift check of the battlefield confirms >his guess - Morgan's gone. > A techno-demon attempts to take advantage of the street fighter's >apparent distraction to slice him from top to bottom. Unfortunately, >the distraction is only apparent, not actual; Rob sidesteps the >slash, losing part of his sleeve instead of his life. His response is >a side kick that sends the demon on a one-way flight through a tree. >/Um, boss? Does that include us?/ /Of course not,/ Roland replies, a bit more testy than he'd intended. /Although I suspect a retreat _is_ in order,/ he adds, reining in his emotions. /I'll leave that decision to Leia, though./ -- (/) Roland X Dang, I _knew_ I forgot something... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 21:48:03 -0700 (PDT) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00012587 >On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:13:56 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012567 > "Imps! Hundreds of them!" A rebel scout runs into the encampment, >firing her blaster behind her almost without looking. "At least two >dozen of those Force demons! And VADER!" > "Nass," Roland snarls, already on his feet, pike drawn and >extended. "Form a perimiter!" > "What he said!" Leia barks. "Specials on the outer ring, blocking! >Everyone else form an inner ring and start shooting! Except pilots -- >get to your ships!" > "/You read my mind,/" Roland chuckles as he and Morgan surge >forward. Force-trained Imperial Guardsmen and Tharkoldu warriors >attack, and are blunted by the outer ring. > > OOC: Crunchies! Get yer hot buttered crunchies, right here! Meanwhile the Slingshot and her current crew streak towards the base skimming low over the terrain to keep under any radar or other types of detection sites. Drilea yawns as she sits at the communicator trying to send a tight beamed message to the rebel base to exect their arrival. Her antennae quickly sprout and start to twitch as she feels something wrong. Concentrating she feels machines, a lot of them, computer systems in imerial armor, the black twisted taint of the technodemons... all around the base, "THEY'RE UNDER ATTACK!" Forg blinks and nods his head, 'Then we better move and see if we can't help out." The sullustan smuggler replies as he pushes the ship's engines to their peak causing a loud boom to reverberate along the langscape in their wake as the ship drives through the sonic barrier. The battle's been joined already as the ship rockets towards the field, the IIF broadcaster proclaiming it another Imperial Transport until they're almost on site, then Drilea changes it, broadcasting the Rebel and CAOL IIFs instead. She quickly finds controls for external speakers for the Slingshot and an extensive MP3 database. A mischevious smile crosses her face as she punches up "Ride of the Valkaries" at top volume to serenade the stormtroopers with. Inside she can't help but to sing the little known words: "Riding through night skies, Flashing their fat thighs, Picking up dead guys! You call this a life? You take the blonde one, I'll take the redhead, Wait he's not dead yet! Throw him back! SPLAT!" Forg shows a mischevious streak of his own as he starts to bring down the altitude of the Slingshot, but not the speed. The terrain becomes a mear blur as the expert pilot sloots along lower across the lroops than you'd have through possible and much lower than probably smart. Stormtroopers ducks down reflexively as it passes, then stand adn bring their weapons to bear only to get hit with blinding sand and rocks that have been swept up in the ship's wake. The slingshot passes a mere 3 feet over the top of an AT-ST that's being moved into position to support the ground trooper. As the wake hits the chicken walker, it becomes the one needing supporting as it teeters tot eh side and then falls over completely, crushing those not fast enough to get out of its way. Forg whips the ship around and starts slowing down. "Hold onto something!" He yells back too everyone else and they pause from their redecorating of the stormtrooper armors to get a deathgrip on anything they can find, and for good reason. Forg brings the Slingshot over a pack of stormtroopers, ignoring the blaster blosts scarring up the paint of the ship but doing little else. He yanks back hard on the controls and slams the throttle full force at the same time, putting the Slingshot's nose straight up as the afterburners kick in, roasting some the stormtroopers where they stand and crushing those that didn't get cooked from the sheer force of the backblast. Forg straightens out again and brings the ship back aroudn towards the base, finding a spot to settle it down for a moment and Drilea and the others come running out, firing their blasters at the troopers. The stormtrooper armors have been "fixed" now with paint to differentiate them from the bad guys. One has a big yellow happyface painted on it sticking out its tongue, while the other is a little more telling, picturing a hand with a upturned middle finger and the words "You Vader!" beneath it. Forg takes off again to see what else he can stir up as the speakers change to the next MP3, that of a calvery charge bugle call. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 09:05:50 -0400 David McMillan Said As CAoL Message # 00012588 >Samatha Cooper wrote: > >With a furious downblast of scorching air, the Millenium Unicorn >spins into a hovering positon above the ring of defenders, and its >heavy ship-mounted grav-canon go into rapid fire. Even the lesser >Force-wielders are blown backwards with stunning force by the heavy >energy weapons normally reserved for ship-to-ship combat, as huge >chunks of earth and groups of unenhanced demons unlucky enough to be >within each blast's area are vaporized immediately. A black-clad arm thrusts out of a shadow in the impact zone, holding an unlight lightstaber. One blade ignites just in time to redirect an incoming quad-gun bolt into the midst of a cluster of imps charging the inner defensive line, then waves in a polite, if wry, salute in the direction of the Millenium Unicorn (which should be too far away for the pilot to notice, but this IS Zia we're talking about), before snapping off and withdrawing back into the shadow from whence it came. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 19:11:00 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012589 Warning: The following has been rated ES (excessive snipping)-13. >On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:56:33 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012584 > >>On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 18:28:48 -0700 >>Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012576 >> >>OOC: Fortunately, I spent hours playing LEGO Star Wars in >>preparation for just such an emergency. > > LOL! OOC: You will obey the LEGO Artoo Deetoo! Zzapp! And his ARMY of LEGO WOOKIES! :)) > Vader catches sight of the youth from Sylvarant, and the "smile" >practically becomes obvious. "The Dragon Way...or perhaps you have >brought me a peace offering? I have been considering a student of my >own, and yours is farther along than my own prospective >apprentice...UHNN!" > Dirt flies in two even grooves as Vader is rammed back three >meters, though he stays on his feet. Anakin fluidly withdraws his >arm, gripping his lightsaber again. "Mother would be so proud," he >almost whispers. "DEMON FANG!" A bolt of Force energy tears a deep furrow just in front of Vader, bisecting the two grooves Vader had just dug. "Sorry. As Master Barriss will tell you, I'm not very peaceful." Lloyd holds back, waiting for either Vader or Anakin to make a move. "But I don't think I'd be much of a student for you." His eyes narrow. "I'm not into taking lessons from puppets." Inside, he's worried. [I guess those lessons in Emptiness didn't take. What did that guy DO to her?] . Two more technodemons close, along with a brace of stormtroopers. Lloyd's thoughts fly away, long-practised techniques taking over. "Battle is not the time for thinking," the voice of his former master, Kratos, whispers in his ear. "It is a time for action." The Force flows into him, and, with an explosive breath, is released. "Demonic Chaos!" Minions fly, and for Lloyd, the melee continues... > *Do your best. And make sure someone watches out for Ani, please.* >With that, he vanishes. *Mission accepted* Quiet Moon replies psychically, before severing the link. [Now, we just have to resolve this battle quickly. Preferably with all our limbs still attached.] >On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:20:21 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012583 > > Leia gasps, then sighs. "Evacuate the base! Repeat, evacuate the >base! All non-combatants to the transports! Everyone else, start >falling back!" She fires a bolt at Vader, who (again) parries >effortlessly. "I hate him," she says almost casually. *Anakin?* the Kai sends to the Jedi he's nearing (OOC: Good Anakin, not the evil guy in ebony and steel sleepwear...Or whatever Thratchen's got stuck up his...rebreather now) *Fallback's just been called.* He finally closes to melee distance with the Dark Lord of the Sith. *And we can't afford a prolonged battle.* Out loud, he addresses Vader: "Odd. In the images I was shown of you, you seemed...bigger." Quiet Moon edges around, giving Anakin enough room to fight. The staff whirls, throwing back another faceless minion, marrying it to a convenient boulder. The Kai's eyes never leave Vader. He can feel the faint skitterings of Force-based attacks against his own shields, mind tossing off images of fear and death, his Nexus discipline keeping Vader from crushing his throat. Just as well. Neither side expected those kinds of attacks to work at this point in the battle. Staff and saber slowly raise... Meanwhile... Barriss can still see the images. Dath Arnorim, newly confirmed Jedi master, who had been helping her set up an aid station, cut down. The same attack nearly killing her. Seeing Luminara's remains, coldly catalogued by the newly founded Empire's agents. The escape, to see the Jedi Temple, her home... A burnt out, gutted ruin...And images of the traitor, the so-called 'Darth Vader', a man she'd fought side by side with once, putting them all to the sword, even the children, barely able to hold sabers...a holoimage of the masacre was left playing, as if for her benefit. Everything she had learned, from Luminara, Presea, even Lloyd, falls away. Leaving the Rage...She doesn't even realize that she's already moving forward, saber ready, almost begging, to bite into Vader's skin. Then she catches sight of Anakin Skywalker for the first time. Rage falters, snarled insult dying in her throat, replaced by sheer confusion. The face is the Anakin that she remembers, but untainted by the Sith, as if he'd just returned from Ansion, and skipped 20 years in the process. She stops, trying to reconcile the paradox. Which you should -NEVER- do in a warzone like this one. OOC: Assumedly, Vader (Or someone else) takes the opening. Either way, I'm seeing a quick medevac in the near future. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 19:57:51 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012590 >On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 21:48:03 -0700 (PDT) >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00012587 > Forg straightens out again and brings the ship back aroudn towards >the base, finding a spot to settle it down for a moment and Drilea >and the others come running out, firing their blasters at the >troopers. The stormtrooper armors have been "fixed" now with paint to >differentiate them from the bad guys. One has a big yellow happyface >painted on it sticking out its tongue, while the other is a little >more telling, picturing a hand with a upturned middle finger and the >words "You Vader!" beneath it. > Forg takes off again to see what else he can stir up as the speakers >change to the next MP3, that of a calvery charge bugle call. While dealing with half a dozen other things, Vader still manages to find time to throw the broken panel from a TIE Fighter (an entire wing, mind you) at the guy with the "You Vader!" armor. (OOC: I couldn't help myself. ;^) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 21:24:33 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012592 >On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 19:11:00 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012589 > >>On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:56:33 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012584 >> >> Vader catches sight of the youth from Sylvarant, and the "smile" >>practically becomes obvious. "The Dragon Way...or perhaps you have >>brought me a peace offering? I have been considering a student of my >>own, and yours is farther along than my own prospective >>apprentice...UHNN!" >> Dirt flies in two even grooves as Vader is rammed back three >>meters, though he stays on his feet. Anakin fluidly withdraws his >>arm, gripping his lightsaber again. "Mother would be so proud," he >>almost whispers. The mighty Vader is taken aback, hissing in outrage (and perhaps something else?) as the shot drives home. Which saves a young boy's life. >"DEMON FANG!" > >A bolt of Force energy tears a deep furrow just in front of Vader, >bisecting the two grooves Vader had just dug. OOC: God, I miss that game (rented it, loved it, _just_ got to Tethe'alla when we had to return it). Vader blocks it reflexively with a wave of his hand, but is too distracted to reverse the blast properly. Which is fortunate, since the vector indicates that a more accurately-aimed Force twist would have planted the Demon Fang burst firmly in Lloyd's torso. >"Sorry. As Master Barriss will tell you, I'm not very peaceful." Vader straightens. "Excellent," is his only response. >Lloyd holds back, waiting for either Vader or Anakin to make a move. >"But I don't think I'd be much of a student for you." His eyes >narrow. "Hey, don't look at me," Anakin quips, "I've got enough problems watching out for _my_ Master." "You're too kind," Qui-Gon replies, droll as ever, while cutting down a techno-demon and an Imperial Guard almost simultaneously. >"I'm not into taking lessons from puppets." Anakin winces. Vader attacks, and his younger counterpart parries. "Curious," Vader responds, 'looking' towards Lloyd, "as you called one 'Master' mere moments ago." >*Anakin?* the Kai sends to the Jedi he's nearing (OOC: Good Anakin, >not the evil guy in ebony and steel sleepwear...Or whatever >Thratchen's got stuck up his...rebreather now) *Fallback's just been >called.* He finally closes to melee distance with the Dark Lord of >the Sith. *And we can't afford a prolonged battle.* *No kidding.* Anakin mentally scans the battlefield. *Every minute we take getting out of here, we lose more rebels.* >Out loud, he addresses Vader: "Odd. In the images I was shown of you, >you seemed...bigger." Quiet Moon edges around, giving Anakin enough >room to fight. The staff whirls, throwing back another faceless >minion, marrying it to a convenient boulder. The Kai's eyes never >leave Vader. He can feel the faint skitterings of Force-based attacks >against his own shields, mind tossing off images of fear and death, >his Nexus discipline keeping Vader from crushing his throat. > >Just as well. Neither side expected those kinds of attacks to work at >this point in the battle. Staff and saber slowly raise... Vader slides forward smoothly. While it might seem to the casual observer that he is making a classic tactical blunder -- allowing his opponents to flank him -- he is (rather skillfully) attempting to separate the pair. From his stance, he's _probably_ thinking of trying to kill Quiet Moon quickly so he can deal with his other self...but this _is_ Vader we're talking about. >Then she catches sight of Anakin Skywalker for the first time. Rage >falters, snarled insult dying in her throat, replaced by sheer >confusion. The face is the Anakin that she remembers, but untainted >by the Sith, as if he'd just returned from Ansion, and skipped 20 >years in the process. > >She stops, trying to reconcile the paradox. > >Which you should -NEVER- do in a warzone like this one. Fortunately, Anakin is in hyper-protective mode (hey, there's a _reason_ he and Roland get on so well ;^). Vader casually gestures, and Barriss nearly dies instantly as her neck constricts. Her arms stop working and her legs start to give way, but Anakin leaps over both Vader and Quiet Moon, gesturing down and breaking the effect before Vader can finish the job. Master Offee finds herself able to move again. "Barriss, what are you _doing_ here?! Last I heard, you were on Ansion trying to stop Dooku from subverting it!" A quartet of techno-demons flies at them, and Anakin slices through one of them with practiced ease. The other has respectable skill in 'Force curses' -- aka demonic magic -- keeping him occupied for a few moments. (OOC: If the two attacking Offee appear to be giving her a hard time, Ani will pick up the pace.) "Wait -- I heard something about a kidnapping?" Unfortunately, that rescue gave Vader what he wanted -- Quiet Moon, alone. "And now," he intones fatefully, "we shall see if there is more wisdom in you than to judge an opponent by his size." And he attacks, moving with astonishing speed, given his height and bulk... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Dark Forces (retcon) On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:57:17 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012594 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012591 > >>On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:20:21 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012583 >> >> /Team, I'm a liability at this point, as the techno-demons just >>proved,/ he sends bitterly. > >/Zian, you're in charge; you have an existing relationship with the >rebels, and in spite of some of its less savory elements, they trust >the 'Solo' name. Moonstone, if the Big Guy goes boojum on us again, >you're XO. Unless the new command force countermands, retreat with >the rebels. If you get separated, regroup with them./ Rob takes note of the chain of chaos control, even as he slips around a Guardsman's energized staff and hits a pair of nerve clusters, dropping his opponent. [Something's wrong with this picture - these guys are supposed to be Force-trained. Why does it feel like they're phoning in their moves?] Then he catches a glimpse of the action around Darth Vader. People are using the Force to the limit of their abilities, and for a moment, Rob stops to watch the fight. All of it. Suddenly, it adds up. The ability to add power to his attacks, the shots that would need a precog to plan, the easy prediction of people that should be out-reading him. [It's the Force, stupid. It's the only possible answer. And why were you ignoring the obvious?] [Because it's ridiculous. Martial artist/mage/telepath/metahuman wasn't enough over the top already? Force abilities had to be added in to the mix?] As Rob argues with himself, he unravels a techno-demon's Force curse, and makes note of the parts he can use as a template. >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012583 > > Leia gasps, then sighs. "Evacuate the base! Repeat, evacuate the >base! All non-combatants to the transports! Everyone else, start >falling back!" She fires a bolt at Vader, who (again) parries >effortlessly. "I hate him," she says almost casually. Rob grabs a pair of blasters, and begins using them. Even with his Force-enhanced abilities, he still can't hit Vader, but he can use Vader's lightsaber. And Vader is the only person in the fight that he can't hit. Shots ricochet from every lightsaber in the melee, to hit techno-demons and Imperial Guardsmen from unexpected angles, even as Rob moves towards the hangar bay. He isn't even aiming - just trusting that this new ability is reliable. [Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Jedi Gun Fu.] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Revenge of the Sith On Sun, 26 Jun 2005 07:39:27 -0700 (PDT) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00012595 >On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 19:57:51 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012590 > > While dealing with half a dozen other things, Vader still manages >to find time to throw the broken panel from a TIE Fighter (an entire >wing, mind you) at the guy with the "You Vader!" armor. The Panel comes sailing at Drilea and crew as they fire into the Imps from their flank, trying to give some cover to the retreating Rebels. A TIE panel is a hard thing to miss though. Reflexively several people try firing at it hoping to break the panel apart before it hits, but rifle blaster bolts just aren't strong enough to do more than scar up the surface. Almost everyone starts running, hoping they can get out from under the massive debris before it hits, but finding the chance unlikely. The exception is Drilea. She stands there unmoving for a moment, her body rigid and to some it might seem paralyzed with fear. But her eyes take on a bit of a glow and finally she moves. She doesn't think about her actions, she simply does. A hand gestures and she feels the elemental power of the Force flowing through her, different than magic but in some ways the same. Still an elemental force tied to all things, and she is first and foremost an Elementalist. The winds stir and lift the panel up a bit more, causing it to sail overhead and safely crash into the jungle. Dirt and dust begin to lift up, swirling about around the defenders to help blur the sight of them as they retreat. Then Drilea seems to crumple, her will totally spent in directing these new energies. Havock gives out a roar and sweeps her up into his arm as they fall back into the jungle, trying to move to a safe place for Forg to pick them up again. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Dark Forces On Sun, 26 Jun 2005 08:01:44 -0700 (PDT) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00012596 >On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:20:21 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012583 > > The all-too-familiar scream of TIE Fighters echoes in the distance >as dozens of fighters, with one squadron consisting entirely of >Interceptors, rise from the jungle and appear on radar. > Leia gasps, then sighs. "Evacuate the base! Repeat, evacuate the >base! All non-combatants to the transports! Everyone else, start >falling back!" She fires a bolt at Vader, who (again) parries >effortlessly. "I hate him," she says almost casually. > Padme winces. Forg picks the incoming fights up on the Slingshot's systems and decides someone needs to run interference until the rebel fighters can launch to cover their transports. The Slingshot bobs and weaves through a seeming horizontal rain of red bolts as he gets closer and closer, then finally peals away, causing some of the TIEs to leave the formation as well to give chace. The Slingshot shakes and shudders as a couple of lucky hits find the hull, but Forg isn't about to give up that easy. He puts the craft into a tight turn, flipping it around again to charge the fighters as a wicked plan pops into his mind. The ship corkscrews and rolls avoiding the shots as best as he can as he gets closer and closer. Finally he yanks back hard on the stick, sending the ship into a near verticale climb. At the same time he slaps a couple of buttons on the control panel. "Waste evacuation implimented." eached a voice in the otherwise empty ship, causing Forg to jump a little in surprise. His surprise wasn't near that of the fighter pilots though as they shot through the space occupied moments ago by the Slingshot, just as the waste tanks from the bathroom emptied out, covering the cockpits in sludge. Visibility suddenly lost, one pilot holds his ship steady, going on instruments along and would have been fine if the other pilot hadn't panicked. The second TIE wobled, its panel smashing into the panel of the first and sending both fighters crashing into the rain forest below with firey explosions. Two more were left chasing the Slingshot. Forg chuckles and shook his head as he maneuvered above a river that cuts its way through the jungle. TIEs could be effective fighters in the right hands, but they weren't made for Atmospheric combat. There were just some things that they couldn't do. The TIEs fell into place behind him, giving chase as he headed upstream. The Slingshot rocked as a couple more blasts hit it, but Forg didn't dare lose them too well or his plan wouldn't work. He kepts the trottle as full as he could to keep the two fighters at their top speed. Mountains began to rise up before them where the river was born. Forg raced heedlessly toward the rocky crags and the TIE pilots stayed right on his tail, confident that wherever he went, they could as well. The cliffside loomed closer and closer. "Bye bye suckers!" Forg muttered as he suddenly killed all the engines and pulled up on the controls. The Slingshot's speed started dropping rapidly as she rose up, gliding on the air currents alone. She dropped in speed far too fast for the TIEs who became bonded permenently with the Indian landscape as their ships disintigrated into the solid stone wall before them. Forg restarted the engines and turns about heading back towards the base, wiating for contact from Drilea for a pickup point. ===========================