Star Wars OPEN Elite League Limmie 310: Shiver My Timbers

GM post

Bonus potential for all the player teams today. Huzzah! That's Bakura, Carratos, and Nubia.

Week 6
Kashyyyk Rangers at Nubia Silver Streaks (0-32)
Centran Royals at Ord Mantell Scrappers (8-30)
Dac Mariners at Carratos Pirates (12-23)
Corellia Rebels at Bakura Miners (3-31)

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

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Bakura Gardens, Salis D’aar, Bakura
IC: Kassandra Kirt

Kass raised her arms towards the crowd as they cheered her latest goal, welcoming their praise.

Back-to-back games were a tricky thing. There were a few ways they could go.

With 60 minutes fresh in each team’s mind, you could know how the other team was going to come at you. With the right adjustments, you could stop them in their tracks.

But that could also get you into a dejarik match where you went through endless permutations of what you thought they thought you thought they were going to do. It could into a stalemate of two teams throwing themselves against the other until something broke somewhere.

Or one team could just build on having the other’s number—like the Miners did to the Rebels today.

Corellia had no answer for the Bakuran strong midfield system. There were a lot of teams who just didn’t have the ability to put points on the board like the Miners, Silver Streaks, and Pirates did, but the Rebels looked worse than them—and they had been leading the conference until today. They were like the Millennium Falcon when its hyperdrive was acting up. Sure, it could still take some shots, but it lacked the coaxium to really zip.

Kass had grabbed the reins of the game from the start and driven the Miners up the field, not giving the Rebels a chance to get established at the other end. They controlled the boloball and moved it around, sometimes at will.

That second point was key. After the last game, Kass knew she was going to get hit hard. The Rebels wouldn’t let her single-handedly destroy them like she had last time out. The Miners knew this.

Instead of just giving her the ball, the team used Kass as a decoy, getting the Rebel defense to key into her, only to pass it off before they could, drawing coverage off other players. And then, when they least expected it, they’d put the ball back to a now-open Kassandra, who would almost always be in scoring position and just as frequently convert.

This was how Kass wanted to play limmie. This felt great.

---

IC: Olivar Kirt

Winning last week had been a step in the right direction. It was the kind of game that Olivar was used to playing with the Mercs, one where you stormed up the field and fought your way to a score. He’d wanted to be a bigger part of it, to show the fans everything he had to offer the team, but he trusted his mom and her choices. They’d won two Galactic Cups together that way.

Today, playing his part had been rewarded.

On the way back from Corellia, Alana told them they wouldn’t be able to pull that kind of a move on the Rebels again. “Nobody here is Iris Copin,” she’d said. “The quickest way to lose a game is to be a one eopie show. This next game will take everyone if we’re going to win it.”

That’s when they’d developed the Decoy Kass Plan (the DeKass didn’t stick, despite an honest attempt). Olivar knew that he needed to deliver. All week long he’d practiced his receptions. This was his moment, when he needed to show Bakura why they’d traded for him. If he didn’t do it now, he might never make his mark with the team.

So when the boloball came to him, Olivar wasn’t going for points over the bar. He only wanted the back of the net and the three sweet points to be found there.

And Olivar didn’t miss. Not once, not twice, but three times. He hammered the boloball past the Rebel goalkeeper with the blue chip consistency Bakura expected from him.

After his third score, he punched the air with a giant uppercut and yelled in celebration. This was everything he wanted playing with the Miners to be.

---

IC: Alana Glencross Kirt

Alana watched from the sidelines and kept her celebrations enthusiastic, but even. Part of being a good coach was to help your team weather the lows by not getting too low yourself, to not let them key in on you and panic. That meant not riding the highs too hard either, letting emotions get the better of you, getting careless.

But inside Alana was thrilled. This was what she wanted her Miners to look like: a fast team that hit you with scoring and played defense by keeping the other team from getting to the other end of the field. She lived by the mantra that if you weren’t in the attacking zone, it was hard to score.

As satisfying as it had been to see Kassandra own the Rebels last week, she’d been wracked with guilt for abandoning Olivar. And she knew it was dangerous. Only the rarest of teams could make one player their lynchpin. As much as Alana believed in her daughter, she was not willing to risk everything on her.

That was why it was imperative that the rest of the offense get established this game. And that started with Olivar.

She hadn’t had to sit her son down and spell out that he needed to be ready for this. She’d coached him long enough that he knew without being told. And it was why she was unsurprised when Olivar made the most of his opportunities when he got the boloball, converting quality scoring chances.

If the Miners could keep this up, starting next week on Kashyyyk, then maybe, just maybe, there was something here.

Alana could drink to that.

TAG: None, but @galactic-vagabond422 I just keep coming back to Iris this season!

 

Iris "Scarface" Copin
Carratos

If there was one thing Iris didn't think she'd feel as she sat down in front of the microphone with headphones on, it was nervous. Excited to start something new, a sense of purpose now that she had an idea of what she was doing after weeks of nothing, not nervous. She was just talking into a microphone, something she'd done a thousand times over her long career. It was just an interview, well even easier since she was the one in control. And it wasn't like anyone had to hear what she had to say. This was just a pilot episode, a test to see if this was going to work. Besides she was just chatting with her friend right?

"You ready to hit record?" Her recording partner for this session, Zara Bell'ator.

"Almost let me check a few things first." She looked at the note she'd handwritten and stuck on the corner of her terminal screen. It was all the audio settings that Pej had sent her. Her eyes moved from the note to the settings, and back again. They could always scrap this recording and start again. But, starting again was not what she wanted to do, she wanted to do this right. "Alright…I think we're ready."

"Ok,"

Iris took a breath and hit record.

"Hey, and welcome to Scarface Conversations, the new holo-cast coming out of O'Pahz, Carratos. We'll be chatting about sports, life, and questions of the universe." Iris went through the intro she'd worked on, and honed the best she could get it. "And welcome to the first episode the Pilot episode of this wave-cast, and for my first guest the leader of the Pirates' backfield, lock down half back, and close friend, from Devon University, Zara Bell'ator." Iris smiled looking at the screen where her friend Zara smiled back at her over the holo connection. "Hey Zara how are you doing?"

"I'm good Iris, and how are you?"

"I'm doing good, doing good, had a good week, getting ready for this and catching up with the Pirates."

Zara smiled warmly, "And it was a good good week for that."

"You don't sound happy about that?"

"Yeah, it's nice to win but, we've been going back and forth, a win here a loss there, we just can find consistency, so I'm not celebrating this win." the defender shook her head looking down. A long exhale left Zara's chest. "But it's fine, we've had some bad seasons and no one is perfect but, coming into this after being the Greatest Show on Grass, it's just a let down."

"The old Championship hangover. Happens to everyone."

"Except for the Mercs between 284 and 286 arguably they never really had too many problems for a whole decade really."

"Not every team are the Mercs, and we're still here, we're still playing in the ELL and they fell on hard times."

"Sure we can take solace in that but, reality is they were still a dormant force in the ELL for a long time."

"Yeah but with the new rules of relegation and playoff format have really put an end to those dynasties."

"I'm sure someone will put it all together, and we'll be living in a new reign of terror."

"Think we could be that…"

Zara shook her head. "I would love that but, I just don't know if that is possible for anyone in this new ELL."

They went back and forth talking about limmie season and the future of the league before turning to other topics.

"So how has retirement been?" Zara asked moving into sort of non-limmie territory.

Iris opened her mouth to say something but held back for a moment. She wanted to give the caned reply of it's been good, finally have time to catch up with family. But that wasn't the truth, and she didn't want to lie in the first episode.

"Boring…" she said throwing her head back. "I spent my life playing this sport and knowing everything that was going on, and then suddenly that was all gone. I felt like everything I was, everything I did was gone. I thought it would be nice to finally relax, and not have to go a hundred klicks an hour during the season but, I'm missing that. That structure and that purpose, I'm missing it. There's nothing to do anymore. That's half the reason I started this to give me something to do with my suddenly very plentiful free time. It wouldn't be so bad if Peg…Pej was home, but he's away working on a movie."

"Oh…what movie?"

"I'm not allowed to say most studios take their secrets as seriously as the government. And I could get in big trouble if I say anything."

"Fair enough. But, I'm surprised it's been so rough for you. I thought you would be living it up after going out on top."

"Yeah well, that lost it luster really quick…I'm just not good at doing nothing…here's hoping this is something to do…"

"If you just wanted to talk to me you could have called…"

Both laugh and for the first time she felt just a little happier.

TAG: No One

 

GM post

Bonus potential for all the player teams again: Bakura, Carratos, and Nubia.

Week 7
Nubia Silver Streaks at Corellia Rebels (4-13)
Ord Mantell Scrappers at Dac Mariners (0-10)
Bakura Miners at Kashyyyk Rangers (19-6)
Carratos Pirates at Centran Royals (30-25)

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

Bakura Gardens, Salis D’aar, Bakura
IC: Kassandra Kirt

“As individuals? Sure, they’re great. You spend a lot of time with players from other teams at fan events, charity events, so you get to know beings in the League. But when it comes to being on the field, when you face them as a group? No, I don’t particularly like them,” Kass said.

She’d just been asked by a reporter whether she hated the Rangers. Maybe she should have been a little more politic about it, but it was the truth. There were few teams that she got more satisfaction out of beating. To say it was annoying to lose to the Rangers was an understatement.

The postgame media conference barreled forward. “What do you think put you over the top against the Rangers?”

“When you’re a hydrospanner, everything looks like a screw, but honestly I think our speed at midfield is what made the biggest difference,” Kass replied. “The traditional thinking is that you beat the Rangers by being fast, but we flipped that script on them last season. Today we stuck with the tried and true and leaned in to speed and passing and it paid off.”

“Do you think you can do it again on Truce Day?”

“Let’s worry about Nubia first, shall we?” Kass said with a smile.

---

IC: Olivar Kirt

“I played against the Rangers a lot in the Premier League,” Olivar said when asked about his feelings towards the Miners’ vanquished opponent. “They were always one of the tougher games. You saw that ELL pedigree every game and you knew they were going back one day. And some of those Mercs-Rangers games could get wild. Lots of history there. You learn to make sure you use the emotion rather than letting it use you. So in that regard, they’re like any other team.”

“What was the key to the Miners’ win today?” a reporter asked.

“We continued that balanced attack that we used last week against the Rebels. When the Rangers took away one option, we turned to another. Ball movement was key. Trying to carry the ball up the field is the Rangers’ game. They’re strong and practice that way, so they know what it looks like when they see it,” Olivar said. “It was all about keeping them off-balance.”

“The Miners are in the lead of the conference, but that lead is tight. Making the playoffs could come down to Truce Day. Do you think you can pull it out against them again then?”

“You have to win the big moments if you’re going to win the Cup,” Olivar said. “Truce Day is going to be a big moment.” He decided not to say that the thought of playing his first-ever Truce Day with those stakes caused his heart to pound in his chest.

---

IC: Alana Glencross Kirt

“Oh the stories I could tell,” Alana said, leaning back in her chair, lacing her hands behind her head. “It was always a thing when you played the Rangers. I mean on the one hand you want to just give them a hug, and on the other hand you wanted to stiff-arm them into the turf.

“You know, when I started playing limmie, that was the heyday of the Rangers. They were the team to beat. The Miners just couldn’t find the consistency in those years. And I know we give Nar Shaddaa a lot of credit for going local, Carratos for continuing that today, but the Rangers almost always field an all-Wookie/Trandoshan crew. That’s not just going local. That’s some heavy-duty interspecies reconciliation work right there,” she continued. “Nah, I can’t dislike the Rangers that much. They’re out there, doing their best, trying to win, like the rest of us. And if you hold grudges after games, that’s when you start making mistakes. You let teams live rent free in your head and they’re just going to use that against you.”

“So how did you win against the Rangers today?”

“Patience. The Rangers play a dedicated system, but it’s rigid. A lot of teams have had success this season finding the holes in it and we watched the vids, learned from them, and looked for how that could work in the game we want to play. Now, there’s a hundred bounces and oddities in a game that can make that all go to Korriban, but we liked our plan going into the game and it held.”

“You see the Rangers again on Truce Day next. How do you feel about your prospects?”

“All I know is that when you play on Truce Day,” Alana said, looking into the reporter’s eyes, “it’s a good day because every Truce Day game you get is special. And the Rangers know that too. I think there are going to be fireworks not just after the game, but during it too.”

TAG: @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

Iris "Scarface" Copin
Carratos

"Hey, and welcome to Scarface Conversations, the new holo-cast coming out of O'Pahz, Carratos. We'll be chatting about sports, life, and questions of the universe." Iris said with a smile on her face, the nervousness was gone and she was settling into this new role. Even sitting digitally across from her idol she wasn't worried anymore. She could remember the time she first joined the Pirates and sat next to the legendary Leigh Cavanaugh. Iris could barely talk and now she was just there smiling and chatting like it's the most natural thing in the galaxy. "And my guest today is Pirate Legend, Miner Hero, and first Pirate solo hall of famer, Leigh Cavanaugh."

"Thank you for having me." the older woman smiled warmly, "It's been awhile since we've been able to talk."

"Well, you've been very busy what with being the Vice President for Limmie Operations."

"Well, sounds fancy when you put it that way." Leigh replied slightly rolling her eyes. "I'm just a glorified GM, looking at the pipeline, seeing who's coming up, working on contracts, and seeing what path we want to take in the coming years on the pitch."

"That still sounds like a lot. And I'm sure Big Boss would bristle at someone else doing his job."

"Nah, he's happy for me to take the long view while he handles the day to day job. We have a good working relationship. Though he could tone down his suits a little."

Iris laughed, "Where does he get those?"

"I don't know I think he gets them made special, because he's the only being that would want to wear such loud clothing."

"He does make a statement every time he's on holo."

"Well, he's likely the most widely known GM…besides the Miners GM Lena Cundertol."

"Us and the Miners, linked together forever."

"That jar of dirt…it keeps us together."

Both laugh at the ridiculous trophy that had been passed between the two teams for years now. The joke prize made on a dare some believe, that had been rising and falling in importance for many years. It was a relic of the old days when every long standing teams had marquee games between themselves. But since the great shakeup years ago the rivalries had died down, though the Pirates and the Miners still remained, the only rivalry that remained from that age. The pair recalled the loss of the teams they used to play against.

"You remember the wars we would have with the Mercs?" Iris said rubbing her shoulder.

"I think worse were the battles between us and the Smugglers, that throw down between Boutros and Lerouex. I think they really wanted to kill each other on the pitch that day." Leigh shot back shaking her head.

"I'm sure the league would have a melt down if that happened these days. The game has changed, that went down before the Headbands, before the player safety revolution." Iris layed out the changes that had happened in the decade since she'd started, and the many more years since Leigh started.

"And that's not a bad thing I'm glad that players get to end their careers on their own terms, and have long happy lives after their playing days. It's just that there's a heart and a passion that is just lacking here. We've just lost something. Like against the Royals last week, sure we played well, and we won, but, can you even remember any interactions between our two sides that weren't standard play? Like no trash talk, no chirping just nothing."

"Some might say that we are acting more professional. This is our job."

"But, it's also our life, a thing we've spent our childhoods doing and to play it at this level and leave our passion behind. I understand getting a paycheck but this sport is still rough you can't be doing it just for the money."

"I don't think they are lacking passion it's just that it doesn't boil over into the brawls that went down in the past. Harder to win when your best players are suspended for fighting."

Leigh chuckled a little. "And the game has sped up so much that if you hire a player specifically for roughing up other players you run the risk of having a detriment on the pitch."

"And the Goon label has somewhat fallen out of fashion in other sports leagues." Iris shook her head. "And I for one am not eager to bring them to Limmie. I remember my "Welcome to the League moment." and It would be even worse if there was some bruiser was waiting to slam me into the ground."

"And then your team gets a enforcer, and the arms race continues."

"Yeah, no thank you. I like my highspeed strategic game with a bit of roughness."

"Me too…"

TAG: No One

 

GM post

Bonus potential for Bakura, Carratos, and Nubia.

Week 8
Corellia Rebels at Kashyyyk Rangers (29-24)
Ord Mantell Scrappers at Carratos Pirates (27-11)
Centran Royals at Dac Mariners (22-1)
Bakura Miners at Nubia Silver Streaks (3-6)

I'm out and about today, so stats and standings will come later. But from the looks of things they got a lot more interesting in at least in the Solo Conference.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

Tallera Field, Nuba Ciyu, Nubia
IC: Olivar Kirt

Olivar clutched his head and crouched into a squat as the game ended, a grimace on his face. He wasn’t in pain; he was frustrated, upset.

None of his feelings were directed at the Silver Streaks. They’d played brilliant defense today, halting the Miner attack that had been so prodigious in the last few weeks, looking like the power offenses Olivar had grown up watching.

All of his anger was directed at himself. The team had needed points and he hadn’t put a single one on the board. One goal could have tied it and sent them to yet another overtime this season. Anything could have happened there. The Miners might have even locked up a playoff spot.

Now the playoffs were a giant question mark. Now their playoff hopes could be gone with one more loss.

Olivar stood, but his head continued to hang. He knew he could have done better.

---

IC: Kassandra Kirt

Kass did not want to shake hands with members of the Silver Streaks. It wasn’t because she disliked them. They were good players and fair opponents.

It was because she hated losing.

The Miners could have had this one. The teams had never been separated by more than a goal. One play could have changed the game. But it never came.

There was another reason Kass wanted to be done with the pleasantries, even though every congratulation she exchanged reflected true respect for the team that had twice defeated the Miners (the only Solo Conference team who had). Kass knew her team needed her right now. This was a moment when a captain had to steady the ship, remind them that they had two games left in the season, two games where they could turn this around.

No one looked like they needed that more than her older brother.

Kass jogged up to him, putting her hand on her shoulder as they reached the entrance to the tunnel. “We played well,” Kass said.

“We did, but I didn’t,” Olivar said, dejected.

“You played some awesome defense up front. That stuff doesn’t show up on the scoresheet, but you really took it to them.”

“I’m paid to be on the scoresheet.”

“You’ve still got two games to put a gaudy amount of boloballs in the net and do whatever weird Mandalorian dances you learned with the Mercs.” Kass smiled.

“They’re a very important parts of their culture,” Olivar retorted. Kass could see his spirits were starting to come up despite himself. “Even if they are weird.”

“We win the next two games, we’re going to be set,” Kass said, giving him a squeeze on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it.”

“If Nubia wins their next two games too, we’re going to play an extra game against them for a playoff spot,” Olivar pointed out.

“Yeah, well my credits will be on us if we do,” Kass said, letting go of him as they stepped into the locker room. “Third time’s the charm, right?”

---

IC: Alana Glencross Kirt

Alana walked into a locker room full of downcast eyes. She’d seen that look on hundreds of players on Little League Limmie, high school, university, and pro players in locker rooms and fields across the galaxy. She knew what she needed to do.

“That was a tough one,” Alana said. “Not because we lost, but because we played tough. That was a grinding game. I want everyone to look at me when I say this. Eyes up.” She made sure that heads were pointed her way before she continued. “Roy Cardan was watching—” She pointed a finger up, towards where scouts and team executives would have been in the rafters of the stadium. “—and he is so proud of you right now. You have been the best defensive team in the galaxy for these last four weeks. How much have our opponents scored on us?” No one spoke up. “Akira, how many?”

If anyone would know, it would be the goalkeeper. “Twenty,” the Shistavanen said.

“Twenty points. Five points a game. That’s like averaging a shutdown a game,” Alana said. “That is the kind of defense that has not been seen on a Miners team for a long time. That takes commitment, dedication, skill, and all the things that win teams championships.

“This one hurt. That’s OK. That means we were close, we were in it. That’s good,” Alana continued. “Because if we play this way to the end season, we’re going to win against Dac and we’re going to beat Kashyyyk again. Because we are going to get the bounce we didn’t get today and that’s all it’s going to take.

“I’m proud of all of you and I can’t wait to finish this kriffing road trip with a win at The Tank and get back home for Truce Day,” Alana said. “Shower off, stretch it out, and I’ll see you at the bus after interviews.”

Alana left the locker room, having said what she wanted to. She couldn’t let the team wallow in the loss too long. If she had, they might not have come out of it by the time they played the Mariners. It had been a hard loss to take, especially when the game had been there for the taking. She couldn’t let them spiral on that, not when there were games left ahead of them that would decide the season. That was what a head coach was supposed to do: never panic, give consistency, and help a team move on.

She stepped in the tiny equipment room for the visiting team. “Mind if I have a minute in here?” Alana asked the being who was packing up for the flight to Dac. The track-suited being stepped out, leaving Alana alone. After the door shut, the coach flipped the lock and waited for a minute to increase the chance she was alone.

When Alana was sure no one would hear, she unleashed a flurry of kicks directed a trash bin over and over until she’d dented it. Then she grabbed a couple towels and screamed into them over and over, letting out all of the frustration at this lost opportunity that she couldn’t show the players.

She had wanted this one so badly and she just couldn’t keep it in any longer.

TAG: @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

Iris "Scarface" Copin
Carratos

Iris smiled as she prepared for another holo-cast. It was fun, and she got to do something, plan what she wanted to talk about, schedule with her guest, and look through comments to see if there's something to fix. Though sometimes the comments are a little concerning, though she's delt with those kinds of messages a lot in her playing days. She looked over the sound settings again checking her levels and making sure the audio device is set right.

"And I think we're good."

"Alright," Her guest replied, with an equally bright smile.

"Hey, and welcome to Scarface Conversations, the new holo-cast coming out of O'Pahz, Carratos. We'll be chatting about sports, life, and questions of the universe." It was easier now, for Iris to give the intro to her holo-cast. "With me today is Tynos Taal, Pirate's midfielder, Galactic Cup Champion, and Mr. Hyper-travels."

"Thank you, thank you for having me."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm doing well." Tynos replied.

"And how's your significant other?"

"Rose-Lynn is fine, thanks for asking." His smile was apparent in his voice.

"That's good I thought we could start this week with answering some questions from the audience…" Tynos raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry I've vetted them…" Iris paused for a moment before looking at the list of questions she'd put together. "Right, so our first question, are tubers better fried or mashed?"

"Fried."

"Fried." both agreed instantly. "I'm sure Jay would also agree. Now I'm not saying mashed tuber isn't good with the right spices and with the right meal, but you can replace any place where the mash is with fries and it instantly becomes better."

"Nerf steaks and mash."

"Nerf steaks and Fries…instantly better."

"Meatloaf and mash."

"Meatloaf and fries, instantly better."

"Endoran Chicken and Mash."

"Chicken and fries Instantly better."

"Mash and gravy…"

"Not actually better, I don't like soggy fries."

"You don't like soggy fries, Iris?"

"Nope."

"Learn something new…but I think we're good for that."

"Right next question…" Iris looked through the list again, "Ah, this one…Tynos, what is it like dating a player from another team, what difficulties do you encounter during the season, and out of it."

"I guess I couldn't avoid it forever.." Tynos took a deep breath, "Well, we don't really do much during the season we're both too busy to hang out, though we do try to do something the weeks the Pirates and the Miners face each other…though we've had to institute a protocol of meeting away from the stadium."

"Did something happen?"

"Well, there was a rather overzealous security guard outside the stadium one time and well, he put my face into the pavement faster than a unblocked Miners halfback." Tynos shook his head. "Though Halfbacks can't put you into an arm bar to keep me on the ground."

"Yikes you guys get that resolved?"

"Yeah, Rose-Lynn explained the situation and he let me up…after that we started meeting at a neutral third site. During the offseason, we split time between Bakura and Carratos."

"You ever think of settling down on one planet?"

"Maybe once one or both of us retire…though her being Bakuran they can keep playing for a while…"

"Ok, level with me here…do you, as the partner of a Bakuran, do you get access to all their life extending procedures?"

"Maybe, though the current politics around their life extending procedures is complicated and I don't fully understand them…but I'm fine getting about a century in this galaxy. I've won a Galactic Cup found a partner that's just as nerdy as me, and have seen the galaxy from one side to the other. I'm fine with my life so far, and I'm sure however long I have left I will be content."

"Rather philosophical of you."

"Well, I did have a shot of rum before we started so, I'm not exactly sober right now."

"Would we be Pirates if we didn't have rum close by?"

"Yo Ho Yo Ho…"

"Next question…Do you like the Pirates can make the playoffs, what do the Pirates need to do to get to the promise land."

"Win, we need to win and win a lot to have a hope of getting to the playoffs. The Pirates have always been escape artists but, there only so far that can go. At the end of the day, we need wins and we need them now…and we need some of our opponents to lose…so that's always fun."

"Well, as far as I know…we're still playing next week." The infamous quote from Coach Manx-Sandin in the 294 season, after going 2-4 and still making the playoffs…they fell in the first round but they still made it after so many things stood in their way. It wasn't used much but, it was some hope in these uncertain times. As long as you could play you could win, and get to the playoffs.

"Let's hope we do better than we did that year."

"Let's hope."

TAG: No One (Except for maybe @Trieste for the reference to Limmie's past.)

 

GM post

Since all the player teams are in and I've got an early start tomorrow, let's do early scores!

Week 9
Bakura Miners at Dac Mariners (16-2)
Kashyyyk Rangers at Ord Mantell Scrappers (23-4)
Corellia Rebels at Carratos Pirates (23-29)
Nubia Silver Streaks at Centran Royals (31-19)

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

GM post

HSN Headlines

• Ord Mantell will host Skywalker Conference championship game.
• Carratos will go to Skywalker Conference championship game with a win against CentralDac will go to Skywalker Conference championship gamenl with a win and a Carratos loss.
• Winner of Corellia/Nubia game will go to Solo Conference championship game.
• Bakura will play beyond Week 10 regardless of outcome of game against Kashyyyk.
  • They will go to Solo Conference championship game with a win, Solo Conference qualifier game against the loser of Corellia/Nubia with a loss.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

​

Salis D’aar, Bakura
IC: Kassandra Kirt

It was always sweet to come home after a long string of away games. The Miners had been off-world for three games in a row, picking up two wins. This stretch could have sunk their season—but the Miners were still here, in the thick of the playoff hunt.

They had a chance going into Truce Day, which was all Kass could ask for as she unlocked the door of her flat.

“There she is.”

Kass dropped her bag as the door swished shut behind her. She opened her arms to let her boyfriend wrap his arms around her before she did the same.

“You looked great against Dac. Another awesome game on defense,” Herron said after they’d kissed.

“Best in the League on defense now,” Kass said. The Miners didn’t often lead the ELL in defense, only do so three times in 50 years. It was a heck of an accomplishment.

“Yeah, but you know the Rangers. They’re probably going to try to run up the scoreboard next week just to ruin it for us,” Herron said.

“Jinx it much?” Kass asked, pulling back and looking skeptically into Herron’s eyes.

“You and your superstitions,” Herron laughed.

“Han Solo thought the Force was a superstition,” Kass replied.

“Oh so you’re saying I’m Han Solo? Well, he was rather good looking so that makes sense.”

Kass squinted at him. “Hmmmm…I think I’d need to see you without your shirt on to be sure of the resemblance.”

“That can be arranged,” Herron assented as he did that attractive thing where he put his arms over his head and pulled the shirt off collar-first, “especially for the lead midfielder of the team with the best point differential.”

“You say the sexiest things…”

---

IC: Olivar Kirt

Olivar was unpacking in the bedroom when he heard the front door slide open.

“I should warn you I have a flamethrower in here,” he called out, even though he continued throwing clothes into the laundry hamper.

“If you’ve been keeping one of those here since you moved from Mandalore, I’m going to be pretty upset,” Bryk said as he popped his head into the bedroom.

“They’ve got a whole market of armor and weapons there,” Olivar said, looking up from his bag and smiling.

“That seems…very Mandalorian,” Bryk decided after a moment. “By which I mean irresponsible, unsafe, and deadly.”

“The Mandalorians on the Mercs said that there were some shady dealers, but they were mostly aboveboard.”

“But they just sell these things? In a market? Like without background checks or regulations?” Bryk called from elsewhere in the flat. Olivar heard the rustling of bags and opening of panels. He had probably been out getting groceries when Olivar had gotten back from the spaceport.

Olivar had bought a home in Cape Suzette years ago that he lived in during the offseason. The Mercs had arranged for rental housing during the season when he’d been with them. He’d been glad to take them up on it.

Even though Olivar was now on the same planet as the team he played for, the travel from Cape Suzette to Salis D’aar would have been too much. That meant he needed to find another housing solution for the season.

He and Bryk had been seeing each other for a while when Olivar was traded to the Miners. Bryk had offered that Olivar could move in during the season. Though it might be a little early in their relationship for such a move, Olivar had decided to go for it. If things suddenly went south, he’d sleep in Kass’s spare room until he found his own place. Thankfully, there hadn’t been any epic fights and, as Bryk said to their friends, “I still like him, so I guess that’s something.”

“It’s part of their culture. Anyone can be a Mandalorian, regardless of species, sex, orientation, anything. It’s a way of life. You usually have someone who brings you into it, including getting your beskar’gaam. That includes steering you to the right smiths, makes sure you stay safe,” Olivar explained as he put his bag in the closet.

“When you put it like that, it sounds kind of cool,” Bryk said.

Olivar left the bedroom and walked into the kitchen. “Yeah, once you learn more about it, you see where they’re coming from.”

“But seriously, have you been keeping a flamethrower in here?” Bryk asked, turning around from the fridge unit.

Olivar wrapped his arms around his boyfriend. “Nah. I keep it at home.” He wouldn’t admit whether that was a joke or not. “But haven’t you been forgetting something?”

“Welcome home, goal scorer,” Bryk said before giving Olivar a long kiss.

“You know I put a couple over the bar too,” Olivar said when their mouths parted, though their faces were millimeters from each other.

“Mmmmm…well that was going to be part two of the afternoon,” Bryk informed him, hooking his finger inside the collar of Olivar’s shirt and gently pulling him back to the bedroom.

---

Ojai, Bakura
IC: Alana Glencross Kirt

Alana sighed as she rolled onto her back. The sound of gentle rain filtered into the room. It had probably been there all along, but she’d been distracted.

“You working something out there?” her husband Niall asked as he positioned himself on his side, pressing his body against hers under the sheets. He knew full well that there was something on her mind. They’d only been making love for over 30 years. They knew each other the way you knew the curve of a favorite caf mug, including how their moods and thoughts manifested in their bodies.

“I’d feel a lot better if we had one more win right now,” Alana said, looking at the ceiling.

“Worst case scenario is a play-in game,” Niall said. “The Silver Streaks and Rebels probably wish they had that fallback.”

“I’d rather not have it come to that.”

“Then go win.”

Alana rolled her eyes. She knew it was really that simple, but didn’t want to give Niall credit for cutting to the heart of the matter. She couldn’t make it easy on him this early in their marriage. After all, they were Bakurans. They probably had another good 60 years together—at least. This was just the one-third mark of their relationship.

“But it’s more than that,” Niall gently pressed.

“I worry about the kids,” Alana admitted. They were the team’s stars and you needed your stars to be big players in big games. It was an enormous amount of pressure.

“Your championship-winning children,” Niall clarified, “who have done this before.” She knew he was right. They’d both won Cups, Bak10 championships. They’d played in bigger games than this next one. And still…

“It’s different this time.” Alana didn’t elaborate. Those four words contained so many things.

“Like how it’s Truce Day.”

“Frakking Truce Day,” Alana grumbled. “Frakking Truce Day.”

“Speaking of…” Niall said, slipping under the covers.

“Oh you.”

TAG: @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

GM post

Bonus potential for Baker and Nubia to finish the regular season.

Week 10
Kashyyyk Rangers at Bakura Miners (23-11)
Centran Royals at Carratos Pirates (4-11)
Corellia Rebels at Nubia Silver Streaks (6-20)
Dac Mariners at Ord Mantell Scrappers (20-25)

Final standings
Skywalker Conference

1. Ord Mantell Scrappers (7-3, conf. 5-1)
2. Carratos Pirates [ @galactic-vagabond422, Iris Copin (former player)] (6-4, conf. 3-3)
3. Dac Mariners (4-6, conf. 2-4)
4. Centran Royals (3-7, conf. 2-4)

Solo Conference

1. Nubia Silver Streaks [@Lady_Belligerent, Bellorum Graul (owner) and @HanSolo29, Aryan Graul (owner)] (6-4, conf. 4-2)
2. Corellia Rebels (5-5, conf. 3-23
3. Bakura Miners [@Trieste, the Kirt family (head coach and players)] (5-5, conf. 3-3)
4. Kashyyyk Rangers (4-6, conf. 2-4)

Galactic Cup Playoffs
Conference championships
(2) Carratos Pirates at (1) Ord Mantell Scrappers
??? at (1) Nubia Silver Streaks

Qualifier game
Corellia Rebels at Bakura Miners

Stats to be updated later in the week, with the qualifier game happening at my convenience since Bakura is the only player team involved.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

GM post

HSN headlines

• ELL summons general managers of Bakura and Corellia to League offices for "an important procedural matter."
• ELL says they will broadcast the proceedings on HSN.

TAG: Me! See you on Sunday for an exciting moment of ELL action.

 

And now, for a little fun, and yes, I think the music perfectly sets the tone for today's post.
GM post
ELL offices, Coruscant

​

Lena Cundertol, general manager of the Bakura Miners, wanted to shoot someone. Specifically, Elite League Limmie Commissioner Fenrir Lokensgaard. This was all his fault. Or, more precisely, all his doing.

For the last hour and 45 minutes, she had been stuck in a custom-built soundstage for—

“Welcome back to The Coin Flip!” Lokensgaard proclaimed for the audience watching on HoloNet Sports Network—though Lena couldn’t figure out who would waste time on this ridiculous, advertising-cloaked-as-content boondoggle.

Lena had expected the summons from the League was related to the tie between the Miners and the Rebels. They had finished with the same statistics the ELL used to determine standings: record and conference record. That was why they would play an extra game in a week’s time, to decide who would travel to Nubia for the Solo Conference Championship Game.

That left the matter of who would be the home team for their qualifier game. Lena had pointed out that the Miners had won both of their games against Corellia and the Miners had a vastly better point differential than the Rebels. Therefore, logically, the home field advantage should go to them.

But the rules didn’t say those things were used to determine home field privileges. In fact, they were silent on the mater. Rather than do the sensible thing (far be it from the League to do that, they did this instead.

The Coin Flip. They’d even trademarked it. Because of course they had.

“It’s time for what we’ve all been waiting for,” Lokensgaard said with a broad, winning smile.

As if this wait had been anything but manufactured. 30 minutes of replaying the Miners’ and Rebels’ season (interspersed with advertising, of course). 30 minutes of interviews with Lena and the Rebels’ GM (with plenty of product placement—and ads too), none of which remotely added value to a limmie fan’s perspective on the season. 30 minutes of HSN analysts predicting—and Lena wished this had all been a hallucination—who was going to win the coin flip (broken up by plenty of—you guessed it—ads).

Adult, sentient beings, who had jobs and careers, sitting around for half an hour talking about a coin flip.

Lena did not give two Sithspits anymore and her face showed it.

“Now, before we get to the Flip—” because of course there had to be more. Lena was seriously considering that she might be dead in a shuttle crash and this was a purgatory she was condemned to inhabit for the remainder of eternity. “—let me remind you that you can get your very own replica of the coin we’re about to use today, with the logo of the Miners on one side and the Rebels on the other—from the ELL holosite, the only authorized seller of The Coin 310. This is sure to be a collectors item and I can tell it’ll be one of the most popular items in Father Yoda’s sack this Life Day. So make sure the limmie fan in your life has this piece of ELL history!”

That was the first thing Lena had heard today that she approved of. Because if that sack was weighted down with replica coins, it would be all the more effective when she bludgeoned Lokensgaard to death with it.

“And now, it’s my pleasure to present…”

At least it would be over now.

“…our celebrity coin flipper, HSN play-by-play announcer and color commentator, Callis Fellonis!” Lokensgaard announced.

Lena put her head in her hands, not caring if the cameras captured it. This was never going to end.

The two-headed Troig, because of course the League couldn’t resist adding yet one more double feature to this absurdity, smiled for the cameras. The Commissioner spent a good 5 minutes debating with yet another being who was going to win the coin flip (which, of course, each head of the Troig disagreed about).

“Now Callis, are you ready for this? The biggest moment of your career?” Lokensgaard finally asked.

As if the being hadn’t called a dozen limmie playoff games and five zoomball finals in her life.

“Absolutely! And may the best team win!” Callis replied happily.

Lena couldn’t take it anymore. “It’s a kriffing coin flip!” she shouted. “There is no skill involved!” She wasn’t sure, but someone might actually have restrained her from moving forward and throttling the Commissioner.

Whether or not her outburst had anything to do with it, Lokensgaard finally said, “And the winner of Coin Flip 310, presented by Wookiee’s Wonder two-in-one shampoo-conditioner is…”

The Troig flipped the coin and it spun end-over-end in a long high arc, seeming to hang in the air for a second before it began its parabolic path down to the floor…

Spoiler

“…the Bakura Miners!” Lokensgaard announced. “Lena, would you like to—”

“We’ll host,” Lena said, preempting the question the winner got to decide. The words had barely left her mouth before she barreled off the set so as to not endue what would undoubtedly be an hour of post-flip commentary, breaking down “all the action.”

It also prevented her from beating Lokensgaard senseless over what was the Miners’ right by virtue of performance this season. She had wasted valuable time that she could have been using to help prepare the roster for the qualifier.

Lena also would have laid a beat down on the Commissioner if the flip had gone the Rebels’ way due to the blatant unfairness of that.

But as much as Lena wanted to see the light die in Lokensgaard’s eyes at this moment, she needed to get back to Bakura. Her team had a game to win.

TAG: me!

 

​

Salis D’aar, Bakura
IC: Kassandra Kirt

Kass could feel the nerves crackling through the locker room. Even though the League hung “qualifier” on today’s game—signaling that it was technically part of the regular season—everyone knew that this was really a playoff game. One chance to keep playing, to extend the season.

It wasn’t fair that they were here. They’d trounced the Rebels twice this season. They were better in every performance statistic. In fact, this was the rare season the Miners led the league in points allowed. In another season, under different rules, the Miners would have won the tie outright and been automatically sent to the Solo Conference Championship.

But it was this season, with these rules.

A lot of the team had been here before, in 308, the first year the League had used qualifiers to break ties. The Miners had been in the best position then: two chances to get in. They’d played loose and fast, cruising to a road win on Ord Mantell in the first game.

But this felt different. There were no backstops now. They’d used that up on Truce Day when the Rangers had gotten the better of them.

The team needed something to get out of their heads. They needed to get focused, controlled. They needed what a captain could give them.

But for the first time this season, Kass didn’t know what that was.

---

IC: Olivar Kirt

Olivar felt the tension in the locker room. It was starting to creep into his heart, his breathing.

And it was weird.

He’d never felt like this before. He’d played much bigger games in his career: a Bak10 championship-deciding game, a Premiership Final, two Galactic Cup Finals, and he’d faced them all with equanimity. Confidence.

Olivar tried to figure out what was different now. There’d been a bond among the team for the season he won the Bak10 title with the Prytis College of Natural Sciences. They’d played just as many games together, gone through just as deep a training camp.

But several others in the locker room had won college championships. Aisa Arain had won two, but she was still gripping the bench in her locker stall with white knuckles. Maybe it was because you didn’t always know what game was going to be the one that put you over the top in college.

Olivar turned to the championship games he’d played with the Mercs. That was a similar situation. Do-or-die games. But the Mercs locker room hadn’t been so jittery. Why?

Olivar racked his brain. He remembered how some of the players would pound each other’s chests, a Mandalorian tradition for before they went into battle. Then there were the chants they’d do sometimes. They taught them to Olivar and the other non-Mandalorians. Olivar had bristled at first and one of his teammate sensed it.

“We do the Dha Werda Verda because it brings us together, us against the opposition, and it clears the mind,” she’d told Olivar. “When we say we are, ‘The first noble sons of Mandalore. Let all those who stand before us light the night sky in flame,’ we move outside ourselves. We are greater than ourselves. We are part of generations that stand with us and we for them.”

And when Olivar said those words, even though he didn’t buy into Mandalorian machismo, he’d felt part of something too—a team that would stand with him. And that feeling had done what she’d promised: loosened him up so there was only the game.

But the Dha Werda Verda meant nothing to this team. The Miner fans had songs, but they weren’t the kind of thing to rouse a team to victory. (He’d grown up hearing them, but never quite understood them.)

Olivar kept thinking, searching. His mind roved back through the season, everything they’d been through, the long road trip, the rocky start, the defensive surge in the second half of the season, looking, looking, all the way back to training camp—

—and a night when he, Chez, and Big had opened up a bottle of sweet liquor and gotten trashed in front of a fire pit. They’d paid a price for it the next day at camp (he could still remember the hangover), but when they’d been in the throes of pleasant inebriation there’d been something.

Maybe. Maybe that would do it. He didn’t have time to overthink it.

Olivar made a fist and started pounding a rhythm on the bench.

---

IC: Alana Glencross Kirt

Alana took a deep breath in her office. At least this game was at home. It wouldn’t have been an indignity to play this one at Solo Stadium if it had come to it, but it would have been dangerous. A single-elimination game on the road…thank you, but no.

The good thing about coming to a new team was you could reuse all your speeches. Only Olivar would know she was dipping into old material. And that meant she had her very best stuff ready to go.

She needed to get the team level, remind them that if they played their game, they’d win today. They were the better team. All she had to do was remind them of who they were.

But when the door of the locker room open, she found the entire team pounding their fists on the benches, singing (to the best of their ability) an old space shanty about early space travel, one where they hadn’t corrected for the time dilation effect.

And Alana remembered singing it in the speeder on family vacations, after she’d retired from playing. It was Niall’s favorite songs for reasons she couldn’t understand. And her kids had learned it by heart.

Alana looked at Kass, but she could tell this wasn’t her daughter’s doing. She was looking at someone else as her fist kept rhythm on the wood. She was looking at her brother.

And he was looking at the rest of the team.

That’s my boy, Alana thought. And she joined in, keeping time with her palm on the side of a locker stall. They probably seemed more like the Carratos locker room than anything else, but Carratos had plenty of Cups. When it came to playoffs, Alana wasn’t proud. She’d take whatever got her team ready.

When they finished, there was no speech to give. Her words were superfluous to what the team had done for itself. Sometimes a team didn’t need a coach—and Alana liked to think she was a good enough coach to know when she wasn’t needed.

“Let’s go!” Kass shouted and the team rose to make their way to the field.

All Alana had to do was slap each of them on the shoulder as they passed. There was no looking back now.

TAG: None

 

GM post

Galactic Cup Playoffs
Galactic Cup Playoffs Qualifier
(2) Corellia Rebels at (2) Bakura Miners (16-11)

Conference championships
(2) Carratos Pirates at (1) Ord Mantell Scrappers
(2) Corellia Rebels at (1) Nubia Silver Streaks

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

​

IC: Kassandra Kirt
Bakura Gardens, Salis D’aar, Bakura
Game day

The moment that Kass knew their season over wasn’t when the final blared. It wasn’t when the Rebels goalkeeper brushed a shot with her fingers, sending the boloball centimeters wide of the goal post, preventing the game from narrowing to a 2 point deficit. It wasn’t when Shiv misplayed a ball in the first half and it squeaked into the net behind her, just rolling over the line.

It was when, late in the second half, she heard a song start in the stands of the Gardens. Of all the traditional songs that Miner fans sang, this one was the least heard. It had been written after the Bakuran Civil War, by none other than Declan Trieste’s aunt, the pop star Mandy Syfred. Somehow the sister-in-law of Prime Minister Kerry Trieste, the being who had fought and won the Civil War, had been the one to give voice to the pain of the losers of that conflict. And in a twist the Kass had never fully understood, in the half century since it became tied to the moment the Miners’ playoff hopes faded away in front of a home crowd.

Kass had heard that song when watching Miner games at home on the BBC. She’d heard it in person as a child when her mom had been on the field.

The night they drove Bakura down
And the bells were ringin’
And all the people were singin’
They went, “Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na…”

Kass kriffing hated that song.

---

IC: Olivar Kirt
Salis’ Daar, Bakura
The day after the qualifier

Olivar knew he shouldn’t. But he also didn’t try that hard to stop it.

He watched the armchair full forwards on the HoloNet dissect the game. He had missed the playoffs plenty of times in his career and eventually you heard all the takes: the offense failed to perform, the defense couldn’t stand up against the attack, the goaltending was weak, the midfielders got outplayed, the players didn’t care enough, the coaching was lacking, the team couldn’t take the pressure, the refs were unfair. Sometimes it was a variation on a theme, but it rarely changed.

What he found on BBC Sports was something new.

“Yeah, you could say that the offense didn’t do what it needed to do against the Rebels, but there were bigger issues here,” Aerax Skytrayn, the in-game color analyst for Miners games said on the lead Centaxday program. “And none of those issues were on field or in the locker room.”

“When you’re right, you’re right,” field reporter Horst Penn said. Even though he had his own wave show, he still appeared on the BBC Sports’ prime in-week limmie coverage. “You can lay this one squarely at the ELL’s feet.”

“Absolutely ridiculous to have this game played in the first place,” Lun Selayen, Miners play-by-play caller agreed. “The Miners dominated the Rebels all season long. And now this team that, let’s be honest, got destroyed by the Miners by a combined score of 8-59 is playing in the Solo Conference Championship instead of the Miners? This is an utter travesty. Lokensgaard should be ashamed.”

Olivar flipped to HSN. He figured it was just homerism. The galactic media had to be more evenhanded. Surely they’d point out all the failings of the Miners.

“I don’t think this helps the sport at all,” an Ithorian on HSN said, his voice emanating calm. “The Miners had the second-best point differential in the League, just two points behind Ord Mantell. One less goal in that loss to Kashyyyk and they would have led the ELL. To have such an exciting team to watch sitting at home, especially when there was a path to making that happen…well it’s not going to do much for the ELL.”

“It really speaks to a lack of foresight by the ELL,” an Iktotchi with gravitas that belied her small stature agreed. “They had a clear head-to-head tiebreak sitting right there for use.”

“They were burned before in the Commissioner’s Trophy controversy of 278. Everyone panned how that turned out,” the Ithorian reminded his colleague. “Accused the League of making up rules on the fly. So I’d say it’s less that an easy tiebreak existed, but rather that the League just didn’t think to include that scenario in their defined procedures.”

“Agreed. But I won’t go so far as to say they didn’t think about it. For the last three years the ELL has been aggressively chasing more broadcasting revenue through the use of tiebreak games. Lokensgaard is clearly trying to maximize profit sharing for the teams. But the League now has egg on its face for what looks and feels like an injustice.”

“Now, that’s not to say there’s no upside to this. The Rebels and the Streaks split the season series, so one can hope we’re going to get a good Solo Conference Championship,” the Ithorian pointed out.

“True, and the Miners dropped both games against the Streaks this season, so we might have gotten a snoozer if the Miners had gone through to the championship,” the Iktotchi agreed. “And I acknowledge the appearance of hypocrisy in that we’re sitting here bemoaning a two-head-to-head-loss loser bouncing the team that bested them in the regular season, but I think there’s a big difference between the Miners and the Rebels when it comes to overall quality.”

“A difference of 70 points in point differential. Second compared to seventh.”

“This could be hyperbole because we’re talking about a 5-5 team, so I’ll moderate myself somewhat in what I’m about to say, but I think the 310 Miners might go down in history as one of the best teams to not make the Galactic Cup Playoffs. No one outside of the Five Worlds would have complained about the Rebels missing out this year. In fact, I think there are a fair number of Rebel fans who would agree, if one’s being logical about this, that the Rebels shouldn’t be there. But we’ve been getting a lot of mentions on social and notes from fans throughout the galaxy saying that the Miners were robbed.”

“And, yes, this is playoff limmie, any given Primeday and all…but I think a lot of beings were looking forward to a Nubia/Bakura rematch in the Solo Conference final. I know I was,” the Ithorian said. “Their week 8 game was one of the best this season—assuming you appreciate the nuance of a defensive dejarik match like I do.”

Olivar turned off the holoprojector. It was almost worse having the galaxy say that the Miners had been robbed. While part of him felt that way, a bigger part of his heart knew that wasn’t true.

His first year of high school limmie, Olivar had won his county championship. His first year of university, Olivar had won the Bak10. His first year with the Mercs, Olivar had won the Galactic Cup.

And now he’d failed to bring home the Cup in his first season with the Miners. Even with a convenient scapegoat like the ELL, Olivar couldn’t let himself off the hook for not delivering now, for his homeworld, when he’d done it for so many other teams in his life.

---

IC: Alana Glencross Kirt
Ojai, Bakura
One week later

Alana had let the waters calm down while the team had cleaned out their lockers and licked their wounds. But once enough time to process the end of their season had passed, Alana put the word out.

She was calling a family meeting.

Kass and Olivar had returned to the house they’d grown up in, sitting around the same kitchen table they’d eaten meals at as a family. Even though they’d been back for holidays and birthdays, today the house felt smaller than before. Perhaps it was the collective weight of their joint failure compressing the space.

“So, what are we here to talk about?” Olivar asked as he took his seat. “Vacation plans?” It was a frequently a reason for a family meeting and he wouldn’t say no to a vacation after the way the season had ended.

“I’m going to veto the Gold Beaches of Corellia,” Kass said preemptively.

“No objections from me,” their father, Niall, agreed.

“Quite the opposite,” Alana said. “This is about work. We need to talk about the Miners.”

“So why’s Dad here? No offense,” Kass added.

“He makes better snacks,” Alana said simply.

Her kids murmured general agreement before scooping some garlic cheese dip from the ramekin in the center of the table.

“Everyone at this table knows that no matter what anyone else says, including the galactic media, if we couldn’t win when it counted, then we didn’t deserve to go to Nubia,” Alana began. “Championship teams have to win the big moments. For everything good we did this season, we didn’t win the big moments. We started slow. We lost both games to Nubia. We lost to Ord Mantell. Our offense was in the bottom half of the League.

“I want us to come up with what we’re going to do now so we win those moments next season.”

“So light conversation today?” Kass joked.

“Exactly,” Alana confirmed casually.

“I might as well start,” Olivar said. “That last point is the one that I think is the biggest issue. The offense never got going at the speed we wanted. I think we’ve got to take a hard look at the roster. Artio made it out of camp and he got a year contract, but we just weren’t strong enough at full forward this year.”

“I agree that we could use an upgrade at full forward, but I don’t know if we should just pin this on the offense and ignore the defense,” Kass said. “Yeah, we were best and had a great stretch of games, but too often the Miners as organization have assumed something they’re doing well doesn’t need attention and we regress. I think we need to look hard at the defense.”

“We’ve got three contracts coming up,” Alana said.

“Yeah, but two are Obi-Sam and Rose-Lynn. They’re veterans that we need,” Kass said.

“Fravisa is the third, right?” Olivar asked.

Kass nodded. “I think we could do better at corner back.”

“Aisa looked great this season, especially for her first year as a starter. Giving her support back there would be a strong move, and take some of the heat off Akira,” Alana agreed.

“And if we keep working the system we put in place at camp, I think we’ll see a big improvement,” Kass continued. “Just like we did this season on defense. All of Roy’s work paid off this year. I think the strong midfield is going to click next season.”

“So a full forward and a cornerback,” Alana summarized.

“If you’ll excuse an interjection from someone who’s never kicked a boloball,” Niall ventured, “if that’s what this is going to come down to, I think we all know where you can get one of those things.”

“You don’t mean UBTV?” Olivar asked warily.

Alana sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m going to have to call Horst, aren’t I?”

“Worse,” Niall informed her. “You’re going to have to call Trixie.”

Alana groaned. “Lena is not going to be happy about this…”

To be continued in 311 ABY…

TAG: @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

GM post

Bonus potential for Nubia for the first true week of playoffs.

Conference Championships
(2) Carratos Pirates at (1) Ord Mantell Scrappers (13-29)
(2) Corellia Rebels at (1) Nubia Silver Streaks (17-2)

154th Galactic Cup Final
(2) Corellia Rebels at (1) Ord Mantell Scrappers

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent

 

GM post

154th Galactic Cup Final
(2) Corellia Rebels at (1) Ord Mantell Scrappers (2-27)

That's the season! Everyone, you've got a couple of weeks to get in any finishing posts.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent