STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Brothers

"Such plan should work, my brother, as I said, is hot-headed fool- he will run straight into a trap to settle his grudge against me. Stilll, I need to be there as well for the trap to be believable." Speaks Melkor firmly, his fits cleanched. He recalls back all these times his brother ridiculed or bullied him, even when they were children. But now Melkor will beat him at his own game.

Tarkin smiles.

"I can promise you that if this endeavor succeeds, the Emperor will be most pleased with you, Esgabath," Tarkin says, putting another slice of meat into his mouth.

-

Though it seems as if the plan would be set in motion immediately, Janus advises patience and Tarkin requires time to organize his forces. It is nearly a month before all aspects of the plan are set...

Janus has recruited fifty soldiers, skill 8, and Tarkin has donated fifty stormtroopers, skill 7. All will be armed with Imperial-issue blaster carbines, which give them +2 to hit but are light compared to the rifles of the Erengardian army.

The stormtroopers will be led by Commander Skall, a dedicated soldier.

Janus says he has also hired an assassin, an Arkanian sniper of some notable skill. His name is Arvus Okmead.

In order for your arrival to seem believable, and to get the Imperial stormtroopers into the city, Janus is going to retrieve you from Coruscant in a larger vessel. You will run the blockade of Star Destroyers above Erengard and descend into the city, with Janus seeking refuge from TIE Fighters.

Janus has found a warehouse in Maurenburg that is ill-used by the Castellan, a perfect place to spring the trap. All one hundred men will lie in wait for Einar to arrive with his bodyguard and will be wiped out. Once Einar is dead, you will go to the Palace and subdue your father's will. Tarkin will accept him as a prisoner if he does not surrender his throne.

Meanwhile, the 'Imperial invasion' will begin on the plains below the mountain. Tarkin has advised Commissar Perry to only deploy Imperial walkers in the approach to the mountain, based on your intelligence that there are several batteries hidden in the mountainside. The armored walkers will be able to weather the cannons and pose a threat to Maurenburg, so the army will mobilize and be distracted.

Does Melkor meet with Arvus before or after he gets to Erengard?

After.

Shortly before the plan is to be set in motion, Janus contacts you.

"Greetings, my friend and soon-to-be Regent. I understand that you we are ready?"

"Yes... but I do not contact you on such matters," Janus says. "I call regarding a more personal matter. I have no doubt that you remember Anaztazia of the Kostas of Solstheim."

"Of course.... I sent her a letter few days ago...." Melkor speaks with hesitation, as the latter was fairly short and he didn`t devote enough effort to it..... but surely there would all the time in the world for Anastazia when Einar is done with.... though she wanted them to stop their fighting, he will have to explain it all to her.

He then abruptly fixes his gaze on Janus. "What is with her?"

"I'm afraid I have bad news..." Janus says, slowly. "It seems that... well, how to break this... Anaztazia and Einar are to be wed. It seems that Einar convinced her that you had tried to kill him before fleeing... they talked more during the negotiations over this past month, apparently... I don't know what else to say other than give my condolences..."

Melkor`s eyes get wider as he listens to Janus, and for a moment he simply stares in disbelief.

"Impossible!.."- he finally exclaims. - "She would never marry that brute of her own will. Her father forced her, right?"

"If Einar has a softer side, she may be the only one to have seen it. The Ban of Solstheim has indeed pushed for such a union in hopes that Einar would realize that fighting the Empire is a fool's errand, but... from what I have seen, their courtship has been very genuine. As strongwilled as Anaztazia Kosta is, she has been wooed by your brother's charms."

Janus pauses.

"But they are not wed yet. There is still time to act, my friend."

Melkor shakes his head in disbelief, still shocked. But then he considers Janu`s last words, and clenches his fists so firmly that it is painful.

"Indeed, my friend, we must act quickly. Anastazia, she.... doesn`t understand. I will explain it all to her after I am done with Einar, she will listen."

"Then let's go overthrow your brother," Janus says.

It is later that evening that Janus arrives in one of his luxury cruisers, larger than the sleek ship that he first retrieved you from Coruscant in. It is large enough to carry the fifty stormtroopers and their commander to Erengard with you.

"The Imperials have initiated the blockade, as planned," Janus says. "It will be an easy matter to run it; I have been assured that the TIE pilots know my ship. Once we get to Maurenburg, we make straight for the warehouse, understand?"

"All according to the plan. I hope Einar falls for it."

"Speaking of that, what if he doesn't? Do we raid the Palace?"

Hm, would it be plausible to get sneakily into the Palace with Melkor`s knowledge?

Actually, the original plan was for Janus to pretend to be traitor, do we still include it?

Yes, Janus is going to contact Einar to let him know where you are.

Okay then. So is getting to the Palace plausible Plan B?

Sneaking in is less likely, but with the military drawn toward fighting the Imperial landing force, it will be much easier to get in through brute force.

Okay then, let`s go for it!

Shortly after Janus' arrival, a Stormtrooper Commander marches onto the landing platform, with fifty of his men in tow.

"Commander Skrall, reporting for duty, sir!" he says, saluting you. "I have been sent by Grand Moff Tarkin to particpate in a covert operation to overtake the Erengardian government under your command. I have been asked to inform you that the Grand Moff wishes to award you a standing in the Imperial government if you are successful."