STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- City in the Clouds

Which one would be easier/quicker to search?

They are about equal; Group 1 is multiple platforms while Group 5 is just one big platform with some outlying others.

Hmmm. So both will have to be searched. Maybe having two groups to do so...

Do Rianna's senses tell her anything?

Zaltus says he can scout whichever one you don't. He doesn't have the resources to commit to a manhunt in either of these areas.

And no.

Well, I still think Group 5, so Rianna will go there.

Perhaps it is Rand's tendencies for megalomania that draw you to the conclusion that his student is hiding out on the larger platform. Zaltus assigns one of his more trusted men to fly you out to where you think Vash may be hiding your family, as you have no transportation of your own. You ride in one of the orange twin-pod cloud cars from the films, sitting in the 'gunner' seat while the pilot sits in the opposite pod.

Soon, you come into view of the large gas mining platform. It very vaguely looks like a smaller version of Cloud City, being a third of the size and lined with massive cannisters just under the curved dome shape that makes up the work area. There is a single tower atop the facility, and a handful of defense batteries just beneath it.

In the near distance are some other, much smaller platforms. One platform is reminiscent of a hot air balloon and bears the insignia of the Wing Guard; the bed of the balloon has space for a cloud car to land and a turbolaser to ward off intruders in this restricted area. It is currently unmanned and tethered to the main platform.

The Wing Guard takes you directly to a small landing pad, just above the rows of canisters. He warns you to be careful; those canisters are mostly empty, but some may still have explosive contents.

Rianna will be sure to be wary of the canisters, then.

Does she sense anything?

The Dark Side clouds your senses, Rianna. You try to reach out into the facility to try to get your bearings and see if you can pinpoint anything within. It does not appear to work. You do feel slightly uneasy.

The cloud car lands and the pilot opens your pod to deposit you onto the landing pad. Just then, a warning signal begins beeping inside the vehicle.

High above you, one of the defense batteries begins to shift...

"Get to cover!" Rianna says, igniting her lightsaber as she gets out.

Where is the nearest cover?

The overhang at the far end of the platform.

How far?

Rianna's going to make a dash for it, yelling at the pilot to do the same.

No way is the pilot staying! Not wanting his cloud car to be taken apart, he pulls away as the turbolaser starts gunning for him. He zips out of range after a few massive bolts sail past him, only once causing his shieids to flare.

You are nearly under the overhang when the turbolaser comes back around to fire down at you. You roll four successes on your Agility check to fling yourself clear just as a barrage strikes the landing pad. The ensuing explosion consumes most of the landing pad.

You are safely inside the facility and out of the battery's line of fire.

Well, if that's not an indication that someone's hiding out here waiting for Rianna, I don't know what is...

Does she have any sort of map of the layout of the platform?

You don't!

Lovely! Any sort of map in here she could use to get her bearings? Or maybe if the computers are functional, something on that?

Everything appears to be offline.

Grrrr.

Well, I guess up near the batteries is a place to start to see who is here...

The batteries are controlled from the central tower, at the top of the mining facility.

Is there a way to get there without having to go back out and risk being shot at by them?

Tell me what you're thinking of doing and I'll judge whether or not that is suitable. Keep in mind that these are turbolaser batteries intended for ship-to-ship defense, not mowing down one little Jedi.