STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Brothers

"Well, I have some blaster burns, but I can continue!" -Speaks Melkor, who didn`t feel much pain due to the adrenaline. He wonders how his mother would react to such devastation... well, he should focue on his task and on his just revenge...

The stormtroopers are setting explosives on the main gate at strategic points, guaranteeing that it will be blown inwards in a fantastic blast. Arvus keeps the windows covered with his bowcaster, while Skrall keeps the stormtroopers organized. Janus, however, tends to one of your blaster burns, making a Medicine roll to heal ten of Melkor's damage.

"Once the door is open, we must be quick to wipe out all within," Janus tells you. "You understand this, I'm sure... but what of your father?"

Melkor stands darkly before him, in a futile attempt to pierce walls of the palace with his eyes.

"We must do out best to take my father alive." He responds finally.

"And if we cannot?" Janus says. "Your father may have become impotent as the ruler of this world, but times such as these have roused even the most inept of Castellans to action."

"Well, if he wants to fight his own son to the death....." - Melkor speaks grimly.

"Anyway, the main point is to take control of the Palace. If we can capture my father, or even my brother, their fate may be decided later."

"We will see," Janus says, putting away his medical supplies and recharging his pistol. "Just remember that you mustn't hesistate, though. If you stall for even a second, Einar would shoot you down in an instant."

Melkor also recharges his pistol, with determined expression.

"I fully know what is at stake! We shall waste no more time!"

Shortly after, the stormtroopers have the explosives arranged and prepared for detonation. Skrall gives the signal, and the mighty wooden doors that have stood for generations are suddenly and violently blown inwards. The stormtroopers begin to pour through, into the elegant foyer with its impressive grand staircase. They fan out and make sure everything is covered before you move in with Janus and Skrall at your side.

"It's quiet in here," Skrall comments. "Soldier, get me a life scan. I don't want to walk into anything."

"Yes, sir." A stormtrooper produces a box-shaped device and begins tweaking the tunings.

Melkor looks around, trying to imagine the Palace being his.

Do I know about any secret escape routes?

There are several doors branching off from the foyer leading to various rooms of the Palace, nothing secretive.

Progressing slowly across the foyer, treading on the thick ornate carpet, Skrall and his men stay behind you with blasters ready. Janus stays next to you, and Arvus hangs out in the back of this cavalcade.

"Where is everyone?" Arvus asks.

"Patience," Skrall cautions. "Soldier?"

"There are readings moving toward us from the direction of the stairs," the stormtrooper alerts you all. "And minor readings to our flank..."

"Behind us?" Skrall asks.

"Yes, sir."

"Watch our backs, assassin," Janus warns Arvus, who nods.

Melkor looks behind, alerted and ready to fire.

It is then that the doors at the top of the stairs burst open and draw everyone's attention as soldiers pour out of them and begin to arrange themselves on both flights of the grand staircase. An Officer marches out with them, pushing ahead of him a portable anti-personnel artillery cannon.

"By the order of the Castellan, you are to surrender your arms or be destroyed!" the Officer shouts.

You recognize the man as the Speaker for the Castellan, an important military position that helps communicate the Castellan's orders.

"I will speak only with the Castellan itself!" Melkor shouts back.

"Poor decision, treacherous son of Erengard!" the Speaker scathes.

And so the battle resumes, now inside the Palace. Everyone raises their blasters towards the Speaker and the soldiers he brought with him, just as they turn their blasters on you all... except Arvus, who has spotted the approaching party from the rear- led by five of Einar's Elite guard.

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BATTLE OF MAURENBURG

Grand Staircase

The Speaker: 0/47 (cover: 2)

Erengardian Soldiers x20: 0/48

Foyer

Melkor: 7/46

Janus: 0/47 (1A)

Skrall: 9/50 (1A)

Arvus: 5/44

Stormtroopers x22: 0/47

Turncoat Soldiers x18: 0/48

Great Door

Erengardian Elite x5: 0/46

Erengardian Soldiers x10: 0/48

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Melkor intends to help Arvus deal with the Elite, leaving his main force to deal with the Speaker and his men.

As Arvus was the only one keeping a look out for that group, Melkor cannot join him this action as the Elite and the men with them crept up on your force.

So he was propably shooting at Speaker, since he is the biggest threat with his cannon!

That he is! Is Melkor going to make a regular shot or a double?

Regular, since I figure cover will make him harder to get!

"Spread out, Speaker has a Cannon!" Melkor shouts as well.

Having pumped himself with stimulants, Arvus lets off a rail charge into the midst of the soldiers at the rear, taking out four of them. The Elites decide to fire back at him directly; unlike their ordinary counterparts, the Elite Soldiers carry assault blasters with repeating fire instead of the bolt-action charge rifles. He takes 15 damage, then fires off his railgun again and takes out most of the ordinary soldiers in the rear.

When Melkor and Janus shoot at the Speaker, he activates the built-in shield on his portable cannon, providing him with cover. Despite this, Melkor manages to hit for 7 damage and Janus for 5.

The stormtroopers fire before the Erengardians do, cutting them down as they march down the stairs into position. They fire back before the turncoats join in.

Because of Melkor's warning, the Speaker chooses to fire his cannon at Janus and Melkor instead of the scuttling-to-cover renegades. An 8 is a miss by four on both targets, meaning no damage to either. The tremendous bolt from the cannon tears a whopping hole in the ground that Melkor and Janus dive clear of.

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BATTLE OF MAURENBURG

Grand Staircase

The Speaker: 12/51 (cover: 2)

Erengardian Soldiers x7: 0/52

Foyer

Melkor: 7/51

Janus: 0/52 (1A)

Skrall: 9/50 (1A)

Arvus: 20/50

Stormtroopers x17: 0/50

Turncoat Soldiers x18: 0/51

Great Door

Erengardian Elite x5: 0/49

Erengardian Soldiers x2: 0/51

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