USH'S STAR WARS GAME- CAMPAIGN II, EPISODE I (LIGHT SIDE)- Conspiracy

"You may feel less honoured by the time it is done," says Mundi. "I cannot pretend that this will be a stress-free assignment, and it may offend several of your sensibilities, Master Marcus, so I hope you can focus on the overall goal."

-

"The demands on the Jedi are many, Xeth," says Windu. "And the Galaxy is very large. Rarely are we afforded the opportunity to stay in contact with comrades.

Good day, Roan. I have an assignment for you. It is not a pleasant one, I am afraid. Very dangerous, and not easy, and one no-one could take pleasure in doing."

(apologies to Fire, but the person who gives the briefing is always related to the type of mission it is, and the Masters aren't getting the ass-kicking one this Episode. No worries, as you paid all those backgrounds you can always speak to Mace later)

"Really? Any backup or just me and Sundra?"

(And where can I have gone?)

"Aye, understandable, Master Windu," Xeth says, nodding in agreeance.

"Am I to be going with Roan? I'd like that a great deal. We haven't done anything together since Zeiton."

"Let me guess we have to bodyguard some senator or something like that?"

(no need to apologize Ush I was just having my fun wiv it, you're the GM so it is your call, I didnt know Mace was that ass-kicking oriented)

"That would be rather irregular," says Mundi. "Senators all receive considerable protection from the Senatorial Guard, and there are all sorts of jurisdictional problems there!

No, it's not as simple as that. Let me give you an overview. There is a trial coming. Well, not exactly a trial. A pre-trial hearing, to see if the suspect can be indicted for the trial to go ahead.

Now, we have a personal interest in this matter., We believe the suspect can give us a very valuable amount of information on his sponsors. We've been pressing to do a deal; a plea bargain to reduce the charges against him in return for full disclosure on who employed him. Of course, there can be no question of plea-bargaining and deals until this hearing is done and charges are actually levelled against him!

One problem. The suspect thinks, and not entirely without reason, though it seems exaggerated, that there is a threat to his life- that someone will kill him before he is indicted. He is refusing to do anything at all unless he is provided protection- he is not a man without ego, and nothing less than a Jedi bodyguard will do.

Now, there was a Jedi already on the case, but sadly he's not suitable. No doubt over his abilities- only that he was the man who arrested the suspect in the first place, so there is little room for an efficient bdyguarding relationship there. And so, Masters Marcus and Gundark, we want you to take over the case.

As you can see, Master Marcus, this will involve bodyguarding a very unpleasant man, who will likely make your life very difficult."

-

"We are officially assigning you and Christof to the mission, Roan, but we will try and see who else is available.

Here is the situation. There are a series of incidents happening in a sector out in the eastern arm of the Galaxy, in the mid-rim. Three days ago, a refugee transport, carrying children being re-housed after the environmental disaster on Trebik III, was attacked by a group of pirates known as the 'Anzat Corsairs'. The crew did not, of course, offer any resistance. None were left alive.

I am afraid this is the thirteenth such incident in the last three months. The Corsairs are slaughtering everything they come across, without mercy or discrimination. They are well-organised and well equipped- and now they are starting to hit planetary targets as well. They are making raids on ports, and even occpying and annihilating small settlements.

All attempts at communication and negotiation have met with total failure, nor have any contacts or resources helped us get an insider look at these people. Roan, this is never an easy thing for me to ask any Jedi to do, but we have only one alternative left to protect the people in that sector.

The Corsairs must be destroyed. We don't want to mess around here, Roan. We want them eliminated."

-

Jelena, they want you on the bodyguarding mission- just it is the Masters who are getting the briefing for that one right now.

FINAL CALL FOR USE OF PREDICTIVE POWERS

(for the sake of anyone who has not used one yet)

"can't we just mind trick him into giving up his sponsors?"

That's ridiculous, Fire. I keep telling people, Persuade is not hypnosis! And even if it was, that would be incredibly unethical.

okie got the point, I wouldn't consider it unethical but sure.

I'll keep him alive to the best of my abilities

Of course it is unethical- forcibly extracting information from someone using mental powers? Against someone who is, may I remind you, not even indicted yet of any criminal charges...

(Here I am - sorry gang, not to mention my tardy apologies to the Evil GameMaster). As to prediction power, Ush - I'll take Instinct unless I already possess said trait - you know I need you to keep track of this bloody mess for me.

"Who was the Jedi who made the arrest, out of curiousity?" Kellan asked.

"You can meet him now," says Mundi, stopping by a small office. "You've probably heard of the case. The suspect is Nute Gunray, Viceroy of the Trade Federation."

He opens the door. Standing inside is Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"And their employers, Kenobi here is certain, were the Sith."

"good day Obi-Wan"
*makes a small bow*
"I take it you fear that the sith will try to have the viceroy killed?"

(BTW AWESOMELY COOL TOUGH USH, THO I THINK GUNDY WILL HAVE MORE TROUBLE WITH THIS)

(Oh the Viceroy is not here- they won't take him to the Temple!)

(okie my badsorry 😮)

"Whilst that is always a possibility, Master," says Obi-Wan, "I don't actually have any direct evidence for it. The fears are coming from the Viceroy, and seem to be related to some internal politics on Neimodia. He makes no Sith link at all, but if anyone is going to try and kill him, I would not be surprised if the Sith were behind it.

The point is that the Viceroy continually moans and complains constsantly, and this is just another step in a long line of this. No-one has sensed any genuine threat to the Viceroy at all, so with any luck this will just be a matter of politics."

"Of course," says Mundi, "we are all in agreement that once the bodyguard is provided, it is as well to take the job seriously. It may well be that the Viceroy faces threats he does not imagine, as well as the ones he makes up."

"As you know," says Kenobi, "my old Master Qui-Gon was slain by a Sith assassin on Naboo, and the Council is convinced that this was a genuine Sith."

"Furthermore," says Mundi, "we are now of the opinion that the one that Kenobi killed was the Apprentice. We are searching for the Master."

"The body itself held no leads," says Kenobi. "But before he died, Qui-Gon was absolutely convinced that the entire Naboo episode was orchestrated not by the Trade Federation- who had too much to lose- but by the Sith. And some of what I have learned from the Viceroy and his associates since has gone towards confirming that. Certainly the leading Federation members were taking orders from a mysterious figure who they never met in person. But the Viceroy will not talk."

"It goes without saying," says Mundi, "that this information he may have is vital for us. The Sith have returned, and to be sure, they will be plotting something big. By their very nature, it is hard for us to discern what that is. The Viceroy may hold the key for unlocking the mystery of the Sith. This is the other reason you were chosen for this Assignment- aside from Kenobi here himself, you two have recent experience of things Sith-related. Experience the Order is sorely lacking.

IF the Viceroy has useful information, and we are correct in our suspicions, and it looks like he will do that deal with us... then it is almost certain that the Sith will try and disrupt that process, most likely in the simplest manner. Of course, they will not reveal themselves in the process. So, this is more than just a bodyguarding mission. This is our move in a silent war that is building."

(Wow, it's Obi-Wan! Another reward for the last Campaign! 😄 )

"They Anzat Corsairs sound nasty," Xeth says after listening to Master Windu. "I'm available to help Roan, unless you have something else in mind for me."

(Yay, I get to go with the masters! 😄 )

"Well indeed," says Windu. "Our main request was the use of your vessel for the mission, Xeth- using a Jedi craft would be rather conspicuous when dealing with pirates. But we were hoping you would also not find it objectionable to aid Roan's mission."