STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Chains

"That worries me..." Wentar says.

"I think I shall hold some squads back near the bridge. Should we see any enemy movements towards the Maintenance area I intend to have those units moved there via the emergency lifts immediately."

"Certainly a reasonable plan," Loj'oon says. "We will have to keep an eye on that. Losing the engines is not acceptable, as there is only one alternative once that has happened.

"Win or lose, we blow up the station."

"Blow up the station?" Wentar asks. "Isn't that a bit extreme?"

"No," Loj'oon says. "There are a multitude of reasons why I'm considering it.

"If we win but the engines are ruined, the Seat will be immobile and attacks on it will continue. I want to move it once the fight is over; if we can't, there's no point in keeping it. I would just have to fight this battle again and again.

"If we lose but the engines are online, the Seat will be mobile and in the hands of the pirates. That would be horrific, as I'm sure you can understand.

"And in any case, if we lose... might as well take as many of them out as we can in one final act..."

"That last statement is a fairly grim one," Wentar says. "But I see your point. The Srum with a mobile space station is a very dangerous threat."

"What is the plan for destroying the station? At what point do we decide that we have lost this fight?"

"If they hold everything but the Bridge and we have no means of fighting our way out," Loj'oon says.

"You need to understand something, as I don't think it's been made clear. We have no way to get everyone off of this station. Your freighter is the biggest ship we have right now. If we lose, the slaves are doomed. We all are."

Wentar runs a hand over his horns as it hits him. "And what is the expected size of the fleet that the Srum will throw at us?"

Loj'oon isn't sure.

"Well then. We have to get this station operation," Wentar says flatly. "Even if the committee agrees to send support I am unsure if they will be equipped to take out the Srums fleet."

"We'll see," Loj'oon says.

Now, it is time for Wentar to organize his forces as he wants them to be when the fighting starts! Once you decide, it will be locked in.

You don't have to assign equipment right now.

Alright then! This is the lay out I wish to use.

BRIDGE Total Strength: 100
2 x Freed Slaves: Strength 20
2 x Reformed Pirates: Strength 30

MARKET Total Strength: 90
3 x Freed Slaves: Strength 20
1 x Reformed Pirates: Strength 30

UPPER QUARTERS Total Strength: 0

LOWER QUARTERS Total Strength: 50
1 x Light Artillery: Strength 20 Bombard: Can lend strength from reserve sections
1 x Private Guards: Strength 30 Charge: +50% when attacking

HANGARS Total Strength: 90
3 x Freed Slaves: Strength 20
1 x Reformed Pirates: Strength 30

CARGO Total Strength: 0

MAINTENANCE Total Strength: 0

Alright! Everyone starts getting into position.

You are overseeing things being set up in one of the upper levels of the hangar area when you receive a call to return to the Bridge once again. Since the lifts are still online, you can zip up there quickly. When you arrive, Loj'oon has everyone gathered around the holographic table again. There are blueprints to the station being displayed, but nobody is looking at them.

The nearby comm unit is beeping urgently. Loj'oon seems to have been waiting for you before answering it.

"It's probably the Committee's reply," Wentar says. "Let us see what their answer is."

"It's not the Committee," Loj'oon says, grimly.

He activates the comm and a hologram appears. You instantly feel cold, Wentar. Very cold. The hologram depicts two men. The first is the most horrific-looking man you have ever seen, a patchwork of cybernetics and stitches. The second is Hanza.

"Overseer," Loj'oon says, coldly.

"Lord of the Seat," the Overseer says. His synthesized voice is about as pleasant as chewing on broken glass. You can sense his hatred quite keenly; it is almost overwhelming. "What have you done?"

"I am bringing an end to the tyranny that the Seat maintains," Loj'oon says. "At long last, I am taking a stand against your disgusting regime of enslavement!"

"Oh, Loj'oon," the Overseer says. "You had such promise. Has your conscience rather inopportunely decided to revive itself? You speak of MY regime, when none were so effective at it than yourself..."

Hanza snickers in the background.

Wentar takes a moment to compose himself. He thought he had felt the worst criminals had to offer while in the marketplace of the Seat, but now... This made all the other feelings he had sensed recently seem innocent in comparison.

"So you're the leader of the Kylugo Srum," he says, stepping forward.

"I am," says the Overseer, turning his attention to you. "And you are Wentar Reiua, Jedi Knight. I have heard much of the trouble you have caused me..."

"I guess I should be flattered, since what I have done so far has warranted the attention of a pirate clan leader," Wentar replies, keeping his gaze on the disturbing man.

"Do you have a name or will I just have to stick with Overseer?"

"I have a name," the Overseer says. "None are worthy to speak it."

"Why have you called?" Loj'oon asks, pointedly.

The Overseer turns his attention back to Loj'oon.

"I have called to give you an offer," the Overseer says. "Turn the Jedi Knights over to me, and all aboard the station will be spared and free to leave."

Loj'oon gawks at the hologram, and you can sense his turmoil...

Wentar couldn't believe what he just heard... Three Jedi Knights for the freedom of all those here... Was it worth it?

Or perhaps more importantly, could this Overseer be trusted?

Then Wentar realized something... The Srum cannot be allowed to hold this station, regardless of the cost.

It didn't matter if everyone went free today, if the Srum regained control of the station and got it moving again far more would suffer for it.

"Think carefully about this Loj'oon," Wentar says, slowly. "Do you really want to hand this station back over to the Srum."

For one tense moment, you are actually not sure how Loj'oon will answer. He looks between you and the Overseer a few times... before the anger returns to his face and he settles on the Overseer.

"No," Loj'oon says. "I do not. Keep your bargaining. I have no interest in it."

"As you wish," the Overseer says. He cuts contact, and that oppressive cold feeling dissipates. Everyone gives a sigh of relief.