"The Techno Union vessel had landed on the surface," he says. "I stole a shuttle to make my getaway. It took me days to get to a nearby world on my sublight thrusters and..."
Gralus cuts him off.
"We think it was no oversight by Navir's employers that the sales team was ambushed on Respite by one of the warlords," Gralus says. "If we keep with Xeth's theory that the Techno Union is looking for testing grounds, then Respite would serve perfectly. There are already skirmishes ongoing. The battle droids would just escalate things.
"Additionally... Navir, tell her what happened when you got back to the Union."
Navir shakes his head. "They sent me packing for my failure and returned my ship to me. All fine and dandy, but the hyperdrive on my ship malfunctioned and nearly ripped my ship apart in an asteroid field. Another close call with death."
Alright, I take two new vibro-blades, a blaster, a bowcaster, and a rocket launcher. I can't use the latter, but it may have other uses.
I follow Xeth. Though I stop if we're about to leave the planet. I have business to attend to at my ship if I'm not to be taking it with me (which I don't think I can, as I don't have Pilot skill yet).
Technically Tilulla can still fire a rocket launcher. It is rolled off of your Dexterity stat and successes only happen on 6s. Additionally, what kind of blaster? A bowcaster counts as one (a Targeting Rifle with a base damage of 3* and a +2 bonus to your pool). Did you want something in the way of pistols?
Feel free to visit your ship. I need Vera-Kin to get through her interview with Navir before we can really get going.
Quite right. A light blaster in addition to the "Targeting Rifle", and thanks for asking me to clarify.
-
I head toward my ship, the Steady Shot, where I leave my newfound supplies and touch base with G8-TR ("Gator").
"Gator, I've got something you can do for me before you go into standby for the night." He chirps contentedly. "See if you can get into contact with the man I mentioned earlier, and send along this message." I pull out a small chip and insert it into a data uploading port in the ship's main array. "Save any message he sends back, and let him know I'll be in touch with him again soon."
Upon leaving these instructions, I head back toward the base, in search of a quick bite to eat and some sleep.
No worries. Keep in mind that Ush may only allow you to take one blaster weapon in his games. For now, I don't mind. You are going into dangerous territory.
"You suspect that this was no accident," Vera-Kin says, catching on to the suspicious ways of these people. "Any of it. Meaning that the Techno Union wanted the warlords of Respite to have the battle droids for free? Seems unlikely that they'd want to leave any profit unturned."
"We have many agents working for us, Master Vera-Kin," Gralus explains. "Xeth and his allies are some of our best but they cannot do everything. However, in the year prior to Xeth's confrontation with Ryamore, many of our agents died through technological 'accidents' when Techno Union parts were found to be 'faulty.'
"Additionally, we think that the Union wanted only ONE warlord to have the droids."
Gralus uses a small display on the table to show a hologram of a tough man with his hair styled into a mohawk, wearing bandoleers, an ammo vest, and glare goggles. His arms are crossed and he is sneering in typical villain fashion.
"This one."
-
In the mean time, Ti and Xeth must prepare! And Vera-Kin too, if she so desires.
Respite is an uninviting world of killers and decay, a hollow shell of its former beauty. If you want to bring specific equipment or make use of certain Merits, do so now!
"Tarvik's greatest problem is his lack of manpower," Gralus elaborates. "He's been losing a lot of men in combat. He has also lost their minds; they don't follow his ideals any more. Either they have fallen subject to the persuasive religious antics of Elder Malteen, another warlord, or they have their eye on some of the nifty tech that the Biker Wazo brought with him."
Two more people appear beside Tarvik- a nimble nervous guy with a racing helmet (the Biker Wazo), and a towering dark-skinned male holding a pair of machetes (the Elder Malteen).
I wake up from my rest (?) in the facility and begin to search for Xeth. Knowing that he's a bit more knowledgeable in the field, I'll defer to him on equipment, and will bring whatever he decides is appropriate for the situation.
-
I'd like to bring my astromech. I need him to relay messages between me and my earlier contact, even if he doesn't trail us on every step of the mission. I assume Xeth and I are taking some kind of larger ship together? My character can't currently fly her own ship ( ).
Xeth's got a ship we'll all ride in called the Nexu's Grin, pretty well known amongst the players. Room for plenty!
Vera-Kin ponders this. "He won't have any trouble with battle droids straying from his orders. And they're not quite as fleshy as his minions. How many battle droids were in that shipment, Navir?"
Xeth's got his gear. I'm also thinking grenades and flashbangs. Wouldn't hurt to have a few spare blasters on hand. Synthrope and grappling hooks. Maybe body armor?
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THIS IS WHAT WE'VE WAITED FOR
THIS IS IT, BOYS, THIS IS WAR!