Star Wars OPEN Elite League Limmie

IC Louise Till

There’s a whole lot of chaos going on after the final seconds tick off the clock on Nar Shaddaa. What I feel is relief. There’s just so much pressure all season for us to reach the finals. This is the third year in a row, if we don’t go we fail. I don’t see any other option, so to know we made it, I just feel this weight come off my shoulders. I collapse to the turf and just let some of the pressure release. I feel a tap on my shoulder. I’m expecting a teammate, but when I turn around James is there.

I jump to me feet and hug him. “How did you get down here?” I ask.

“Your brother got me an escort,” he says into my ear so I can hear over the noise. “Louise there’s something I need to ask you.”

This is confusing why would my fiancé come down onto the Limmie field after our biggest win of the season so far to ask me a question. “What!” I demand.

James gets down on a knee, “I know you already asked me, I know it’s already official, but I always wanted to ask a girl to marry me, so.” James looks down at the turf and clears his throat. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black box, he opens it and I cannot believe the size of the rock. “Will you marry me?”

“Get up silly, of course I will. Where’d you get the credits for that ring?” I grab the box from him and pull out the ring. “This is gorgeous,” I say inspecting it.

“Let me put it on your finer,” he says.

“Okay,” I hand him the ring and the box and spread out my fingers for him. I totally forget where we are and how many holos are recording this. It’s my own private moment and the whole galaxy is watching. James leans in to kiss me after he puts the ring on my finger and I can’t leave him hanging. Once we pull out I ask again, “Where’d you get the credits for that ring?”

“This ring?” He asks playfully pointing down at my finger. “Well it’s a loan from your brother. He offered me a job with the team after I graduate, so I can pay him back.”

My family is always looking out for me, they even got my new fiancé a job. All those news stories about how I couldn’t take care of myself. Couldn’t be more true. I wonder how James is going to adjust to all this.

No time to think about that now. We have a shuttle to Mandalore to arrange. James will have a lot of catch up to do with his classes when he gets home, but I need him this isn’t like the last two years when we went to the finals this year somehow my name ended up on the awards ballot. I am not attending as a nominee without him. It’s crazy how the minute I make a new friend the Galaxy starts warming up to me and recognizing that I’m more than just a spoiled girl who was given a roster spot. I earned this spot and I carry my team. 3rd finals in 3 years. Team captain finally gets a little recognition. About Freakin’ time.

I don’t expect to win, but I am going to buy a dress, get my hair and make-up done. Live it up. I even make sure Richard buys James a new suit and I tell him to take it out of my pay, not some loan to be taken out of James’ future salary.

So when my name gets announced as a nominee that evening I’m looking good and feeling good. I’m ready to toast the winner and go back to my hotel room for a little R&R with James, but what I’m not expecting is that my name is going to be announced as the winner. When my name is announced everyone at our table stands, everyone but me. I’m in shock. I don’t have a speech prepared.

Not the first time I’m not prepared. It is the first time I’ve spoken in front of a group, unless you count my teammates before and after games, or during bad practices when we need to kick it to another level. I pretend the audience at the awards is my team. I forget I have heels on and start to jog to the podium, luckily I can jog pretty good in heels. I grab the trophy like it’s a bolo ball and toss it from hand to hand.

“About time you recognized the work I do for this team.” I say. “You think it’s easy trying to reign in all my nieces and nephews on this team. Playing for my big brother? My older sister the darling of Ralltiir most famous Starkiller dance girl of all time. It’s nice to know I’m no longer in their shadows. I’m here. I’m here to stay and win Limmie games and titles and coming next, a Commissioner’s Trophy.” I hear everyone on my whole organization and planet gasp as I surely curse us from ever winning a Commissioner’s Trophy. But I don’t believe in curses and if they do exist our team is already cursed in some way because we have never won a Commissioner’s Trophy. Maybe I just broke the curse.

That’s it, it’s all I have to say. I’m not going to thank anyone or tell some kids to keep reaching for their goals. All the other award winners can do that. This is my moment. I’ve arrived.

Tag: @Bardan_Jusik

 

Sub GM Post

Bonus Potential for: Tatooine (28)

Skimmer Ade League Finals
Mesh’la Vhetin, Keldabe, Mandalore
Druckenwell Marksmen vs Tatooine Sandskimmers (23-22)

Congratulations to the Druckenwell Marsksmen the Skimmer Ade League 302 League Champions!

Tag: @Vehn

 

GM Post

And so we come to the climactic finish of another season. Bonus potential for both our Finalists today, as it should be.

146th Galactic Cup Final
Mesh’la Vhetin, Keldabe, Mandalore

Spoiler

(3) Ralltiir Starkillers at (1) Mando’ade Mercs (0-38)

Congratulations to the Mando'ade Mercs , the 302 Galactic Cup of Limmie champions!

And though we say goodbye to a long time player, perhaps it's only farewell.

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @Runjedirun

 

CatChat holo updates from @TheBestBast

“Hey Cat Chatters! You love it, I love it—well, except when it’s about me. That’s right, it’s trade rumor time!

“Word is that the Miners are on the comm to the Starkillers about acquiring young up-and-comer and Bakuran limmie royalty Olivar Kirt. And is it any surprise? Three straight Galactic Cup Finals for him with a Cup in his first season, talk about a hot commodity.

“But get this—I’m hearing that they’re not the only ones interested. Apparently Olivar impressed the clans in Keldabe in this year’s Final because they’re pushing hard to swing a trade too. No doubt Mama Alana wants to get the gang back together again from when the two of them won the All-Bakura high school championship.

“With so many suitors and a couple years left on his deal, Ralltiir’s apparently driving up the price. I’m told they only want proven ELL talent in exchange for him.

“Don’t you just love the drama?! And we haven’t even gotten to the Draft yet! You know I’ll be there to give you the inside scoop. Later!”

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik

 

​

IC: The Rancor Pitt

"LIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! From downtown Keldabe, on a sunny and warm Championship afternooooon. Welcome on into the Rancor Pitt, here on your wave home of the reigning Galactic Cup Champion Mando'ade Mercs. I'm Randy the Rancor, he's Justin Pitt. Liz over on the boards, with Kitterich on the other side of the glass and oh baby do we have a lot to talk about today."

"They did it again!"

"They sure did..."

"Repeat Galactic Cup Champions!"

"... beating the Ralltiir Starkillers for the second Cup Finals in a row, this time on shutout 38 to zero win that was all Mercs all the way from the opening kick."

"Yeah not a lot to be said about this one except what a dominating performance by the Mercs across the board, from the coaching staff on down through the players and even down to the nacho cheese guy in the stands..."

"The Mercs do offer some great concessions at an affordable price for the fans."

"They do, they really do...but this wasn't about the smoked gihaal it's about this win, the Mercs second Galactic Cup championship in as many years under head coach Alana Kirt."

"It's been said before and even made into a song, but all she does is win, win win."

"Three championships in a row for her as a head coach if you want to go back to her last year coaching UBCS..."

"Hadn't thought of that."

"And of course she has won the Cup here now in her only two seasons as an ELL head coach."

"Two seasons, two championships, that is something even revered former head coach Ryi Kor'le can't boast of."

"Sure sure, though she did guide them to three in a row later on in her coaching career."

"That was the beskar age of limmie, and don't count Kirt out, she just might bring the Mercs another title next season."

"I woulnd't bet against her, she is a proven winner and it's the reason she was brought on as the head coach."

'Let's talk about that beskar age of limmie though and how it compares to now."

"Sure sure."

"Mercs won five Galactic Cup titles there in the span of ten years, a feat that I don't think has ever been done before."

"Certainly not in the modern age."

"That kind of sustained excellence is nearly impossible to achieve, sure you get teams that are dominant for a season or two, might even make three finals in a row, but most lose at least one of those and then start to decline as either players age or leave via free agency, keeping a team together like that isn;t cheap."

"For the Mercs though, they keep a coaching staff together that has the winning formula, which is much cheaper, and then go from there."

"Yeah first with Kor'le who won our first title and presided over the beskar age, and now with Kirt who has won the last two Cups."

"Together that gives the Mercs eight Galactic Cup titles now, which is good for sixth all time."

"Sixth?"

"Yup, not bad for a team with only 36 years in the ELL."

"Not bad at all."

"What's the rest of that list?"

"What now?"

"Which teams have more titles?"

"Oh right..." there was a pause as Kitterich perused the computer screen. "Well as has been drilled in the heads of every limmie fan across the galaxy, the Strugglers are at the top of that list with 13 titles in 19 total appearances."

"Yeah yeah."

"Second is the Miners..."

"Figures, the GM of the game will participate in every season, his team has to be up there."

"...with 12 Cup wins in 27 appearances."

"Interesting they have that many and yet a losing record in the finals."

"Starkillers actually come in third with 10 Cups in 13 appearances."

"So when they make it, they usually win."

"And their last two losses were these last two season's so Mercs have something to hang their helmets on there."

"Pats have nine Cups in 21 tries..."

"That's a deflating win percentage."

"And the Sens have the same line, nine Galactic Cup Championships in 21 appearances."

"And still the game never got popular there..."

"Crazy."

"Now I will say this, those teams have been around a lot longer than the Mercs have."

"Oh for sure, for sure."

"I mean the Mercs have only been an ELL team for 36 years, and you have some teams on the list with 20 almost 30 galactic Cup appearances!"

"Sure, sure."

"So what I am asking now is, which teams have been the best during the Mercs tenure in the league?"

"Well now, I just had a feeling you were going to ask that so I compiled that list as well..."

"And?"

"Since the Mercs joined the league in 267, the Mercs themselves have the most Galactic Cup championships, with of course all eight of theirs coming during that time frame."

"Yeah would be hard to win a title before you joined the league."

"OK, so tops since then is the Mercs with eight, what's the rest of the list look like?"

"Well the Strugglers and Miners have six each."

"No surprise there, part of the reason they are so high on the overall list to begin with."

"Starkillers come in with four."

"Their last just a few seasons ago."

"They had a repeat pair of seasons too a little while ago didn't they?"

"281 and 282."

"Wow, 20 years has gone so fast."

"Pirates have had three and that is a team even younger than the Mercs."

"I hate those guys."

"Sens and Pats each have two."

"Tied here and n the overall list, that's freaky."

"Sounds more like the Pats cheated."

"And then the Officers, Jets, Lightning, Monarchs and Rough Riders each have one."

"Rough Riders, I remember that they won theirs against us."

"That was the Mercs first appearance in the Galactic Cup Finals."

"That's right, and they lost their second appearance against the Miners as well."

"Back when Vizsla worked for Bakura."

"Right, right, right, then he came over here as the GM hired Kor'le as head coach and the rest is history."

"It took 12 seasons for the Mercs to finally win their first Galactic Cup, a win which kicked off the Beskar Age of limmie, and though they have slowed down since then they have still accumulated quite a total."

"Eight Galactic Cup Championships over the last 24 seasons, that's pretty good."

"That's a title every three years."

"Bonus rolls!"

"And now if Coach Kirt can keep that up she will keep adding to her Hall of Fame resume, already in as a player, now I'd guess she gets enshrined again as a head coach as well."

"I think that's certainly on the table."

"Who would have ever thunk she would be in the HoF wearing a Mercs hat..."

"After all the years she terrorized the Mercs midfield, it's crazy to think could ever be the case."

"Of course another candidate for the Hall was on display yesterday as Mercs goalkeeper Rho Larren was named Galactic Cup final's MVP for the second year in a row as well."

"She steps up when it matters most, last year allowing just three points, this year shutting the Starkillers out, she is a huge part of the Mercs continued success and she seems to really be flourishing under the guidance of Coach Kirt."

"And now she has yet another off season to relish in her success, though if she, Kirt or any of the other Mercs thought it would get any easier they are sorely mistaken."

"Yeah hard enough to repeat, that target is on your back all season long and everyone is gunning for you, after back to back wins, the pressure and the target grows to insane levels..."

"Still, we have a whole offseason to worry about that, for now, let's celebrate for the Mercs are once again the Champions!"

"Wooohooooo!"

TAG @Runjedirun and @Trieste for keeping such impeccable records without which much of this post would have been impossible.

 

Elite League Limmie 303: You Make Limmie Fun
​

“Welcome back to another exciting season of Elite League Limmie!” Commissioner Lokensgaard announced. “And this one is shaping up to be a great one.”

“As you know, we’re excited to see the return of conferences as we welcome the Euceron Officers and Fondor Hyperdrives back to the ELL. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a team from Fondor here and I’m sure they won’t disappoint.

“On that note,” the Commissioner said, “though our tradition of recent seasons has been to reward the Commissioner’s Trophy winners—the best trophy there is, if you ask me—with the right to host the Galactic Cup Final, this season we’re going to do something a little different.

“Because we want to extend a warm welcome to the Hyperdrives, the 303 Galactic Cup Final will be held in the sparkling-new Starline Stadium on Fondor. It will provide an exquisite backdrop for the game’s most beautiful game,” Lokensgaard announced.

“Though we don’t have the Hyperdrives with us today, we’ve got some old friends present for the draft. Everyone knows what to do at this point, so why wait any longer? It is my privilege and honor to begin the 303 Elite League Limmie Draft,” Fenrir declared.

“The Bakura Miners are first on the clock.”

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @galactic-vagabond422 @jcgoble3 @JM_1977 @The Jedi in the Pumas @Vehn

---

CatChat holo updates from @TheBestBast


“OK Miners fans, this is it! Draft day! We know Shay’s got some work to do. The big question has been what hole she’s going to fill first. They’re all across the back end of the team.

“Part of the drama is that HSN went deeper than usual on this year’s top picks. With so few, they really got into all the nooks and crannies. By the way, cranny is such a weird word, right? Let’s look at them together.”

Next to Bast’s image were the HSN draftee rankings.

Goalkeepers

1. Runi Meshurok (Human, Female, Goalkeeper, Concord War College)
2. Carmina Jammer (Human [Hapan], Female, Goalkeeper, Royal College of Hapes)

Defenders

1. Koryaka Konstantos (Bith, Female, Corner Back, UB Cape Suzette)
2. Delta "Data" Terraflop (Human, Male, Half Back, VCU)
3. Darrrkether (Wookiee, Female, Full Back, Wookiee Forrest Institute)
4. Kyr Kaage (Male, Ssi-Ruuk, Half Back, VCU)
5. Dral Choruk (Human, Male, Defensive back, Keldabe Military Institute)

Midfielders

1. Eddie Pickles (Human, Male, Midfielder, UB Gesco City)
2. Tes'arect (Twi'lek, Female, Midfielder, University of Tatooine)

Forwards

1. Miranda Soulstone (Human, Female, Forward, University of Denon, Eastlake)
2. Tiger Terassic (Trandoshan, Male, Forward, VCU)

“Good thing the Miners locked up the front six, because competition’s probably going to be fierce for forwards this year. Hold up—we’re getting the pick now!”

Bast paused and looked away from her datapad.

“We probably should have seen this coming—it’s Konstantos out of Bak10 champions UBCS! I bet Shay wants to harness that chip on her shoulder about getting snubbed for the GCAA playoffs. She also used to play next to Riviera, so maybe we’ll get some of that 300 Blue Bird playoff magic going.

“So the Miners go for the cream of that large defender class. Next move is yours, Smugglers!”

TAG: @Vehn

 

IC: IS-86
The Draft

"I've reviewed all the data and the analysis is clear. There's only one being to pick that can return a high reward. One being that can help us stay elite with our defense. Run the schemes I need to run. Keep us performing at a high level," IS-86 explained to the rest of the Smuggler War Room.

"Go on..." Head Coach Shady Lerouex stated.

---

"With the second pick of the 303 ABY ELL Draft," Lars Steelhead, lifelong Smuggler fan, said as he introduced the pick, "the Nar Shaddaa Smugglers select Darrrkether, Full Back, Wookiee Forest Institute!"

Tag: @Trieste

 

IC: Kassandra Kirt
Ojai, Bakura

​

Kass sat on the family room couch that her family had as long as…well, Kass was a member of the family. Just because your mom was an ELL all-star didn’t mean you just bought a new couch every year. Couches were shockingly expensive (at least they were in every place she’d looked in Atalanta when she’d been furnishing her apartment…which was every place in Atalanta).

She blew out her breath through one corner of her mouth, causing a stray lock of hair to briefly flutter. It was a good encapsulation of how she felt coming back from Mandalore.

The whole family had gone to the Galactic Cup Final—for the third straight year. Olivar had played in the last three and her mom had coached in the last two. There were really no words for a Mandalorian championship party. That might not be true. Kass figured there probably wasn’t a word in Basic for it. There was likely one in Mando’a that translated to “multi-day rager that involves lots of weapons fired into the air” that her mom had learned. (She was ridiculously proud of what Kass called her “parent Mando’a,” the basic conversational fluency that parents everywhere delighted in using when on vacation.)

Her dad handed her a cup of caf. They’d only just gotten back from the transgalactic flight and to say she was hyperspacelagged was an understatement. She didn’t know how she was still awake—just that she needed to be to catch up with local time.

“How have we not fixed this?” Kass grumbled before sipping her caf. “We can travel at lightspeed, but we can’t create something that keeps you from arriving at your destination tired? This is the worst.”

“No wonder you decided to play in the Bak10,” her dad said, taking a seat with his own caf.

“Time zones are still awful. I’m usually supposed to be in a REM cycle whenever we play Telaan Valley,” Kass said.

“Don’t go into elections. A couple times a year you have to stay up all rotation,” her dad said. He’d been doing that for years for his work with the Federal Election Commission. She knew he loved it though. Luckily, 303 only had the random off-year election. Next year was the federal election and that would be a big one.

“Yeah, no chance of that,” Kass said with a smile. They both knew she loved her courses in computer science too much to consider anything else.

They sipped their caf in silence for a few moments as they just breathed for what the first time in days.

“Would you like to talk about anything?” her dad asked casually. They both knew what “anything” was.

Like about how her mom’s and brother’s successes only creates more pressure for her to match them.

Like about how everyone expected Kass to be just like her mom, maybe more so than they did Olivar.

Like about how everyone wondered if Kass wasn’t as good as her mom.

Like about how BBC Sports ranked Atalanta second in the Bak10 to start the season and would probably be in the HSN Top 25.

Like about how everyone was going to come for Kass this season because they wanted to show up the Great Alana Glencross’s daughter to make a name for themselves.

Like about how Kass was always “Alana’s daughter” or “Olivar’s sister,” never “Kassandra Kirt.”

Like about how none of it was fair.

“Yeah,” Kass said, “I do.”

Niall drew himself up from his slouching position on the couch, signaling he was ready to take whatever question it was seriously.

“Is the hound going to sleep on the bed when Mom gets back?”

Her dad gave a loud laugh. To provide her with company during the season, Kass’s mom had gotten herself a white and black spotted hound. When she wasn’t on the field for practice or a game, they apparently went everywhere with her. His name was Canderous, which her mom swore he had when she got him (and amused her to no end).

“She says he’s well-trained enough that if she tells him to sleep on the dog bed on the floor he will,” he said.

“But…” Kass prompted, sensing something more.

“I ordered a larger bed that can fit all three of us,” her dad admitted. “It should be here later this week.”

“That’s what I thought,” Kass said with a smirk. Canderous was not a small dog. It was probably a question of her dad or the hound in their current bed.

“If there are any non-pet-related questions, I’m here them too,” her dad said. Kass knew that he was aware of the family tactic of deflecting from conversations someone didn’t want to have by bringing up an amusing topic. It was yet another thing she shared with her mom.

Kass leaned over to put her head on his shoulder. “Thanks Dad.”

“You bet. You know we love you, right?”

“I know,” Kass said. She meant it. Her mother’s success didn’t mean she didn’t love Kass.

It just made everything more difficult.

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik

 

Mando'ade Mercs Off Season News and Notes:

• Mando'ade Mercs announce the signing of Right Half Back Mir'ka Kol to a two year contract extension
• Mando'ade Mercs announce the signing of Midfielder Dar Djarin to a three year contract extension
• Mando'ade Mercs announce the signing of Full Forward Bajai Brirs to a two year contract extension
• Mando'ade Mercs announce the signing of Left Corner Forward Steyr Aug to a three year contract extension
• Mando'ade Mercs announce the signing of backup Midfielder Circei Lancaster to a two year contract extension

• Mando'ade Mercs announce the retirement of backup forward Kuiick. Sources state that team officials attempted to bring back the Ugnaught forward but there was no dissuading him once the choice to retire had been made, his only response was "I have spoken."

• Mando'ade Mercs announce that the team and starting Fullback Aurora Terragone have been unable to come to financial terms and Aurora Terragone has thus elected to become a free agent.

• The Mando'ade Mercs remain in contract discussions with pending free agent starting half forward Shasta Carp, though sources say little progress has been made towards a deal. Carp, a 299 2nd round selection by the Mercs out of UBCS has been a major part of the team's recent success with many analysts saying her retention is vital to the team's attempt to "threepeat" as Galactic Cup champions.

• The Mando'ade Mercs and Ralltiir Starkillers also remain in heated trade discussions regarding forward Olivar Kirt, son of Mercs head coach Alana Kirt.

OOC: I have my pick...picked and the post will be...posted here later this evening. Just thought I would post this first and let it marinate a bit before making my selection

 

​

IC: The Rancor Pitt

"LIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! From the official Mado'ade Mercs draft party at the historic oyu'baat cafe in downtown Keldabe..."

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"...It's draft night!"

""Oya, oya! oya!"

"Welcome on into the Rancor Pitt, here on your wave home of the reigning Galactic Cup Champion Mando'ade Mercs."

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"I'm Randy the Rancor, he's Justin Pitt. Liz and Kitterich back at the studio making sure the show goes off without a hitch and oh baby do we a lot to talk about tonight!"

"Draft night, the beginning of new pro careers, and in so many ways the unofficial start to the next season."

"I consider the official start, even if opening day is months away."

"Sure, sure."

"Small draft this time around, just three teams participating even after ELL expansion brought us back to eight teams and two conferences."

"Mercs get to see al the familiar faces there in the re born Skywalker conference."

"Yes the team we hate, the team we're sick of and of course that shabla team from Nal Hutta's moon will all share the conference with the Mercs in a season where once again those Mercs will be defending their Galactic Cup crown."

"Top of the heap and with the target on their back, the decisions the front office makes here tonight will go a long way towards deciding if and how they accomplish that."

"Decisions made all the more important with how few teams..."

"Just the Miners and Strugglers joining them in the draft."

"...to go along with a draft class as small as we've seen in recent years."

"And only 11 players in the draft, but whoa are there ever some good ones."

"Quite a few good players, which means value not only at the top of the draft but potentially at the back end of it too, whch benefits the defending champions as they own the later picks."

"Yeah when the last pick in the first round is the third overall pick, you're doing pretty good."

"Fortunate year for the Mercs to be the defending champions then."

"Sure, sure."

"Of course, they have just two picks this draft, having traded their second rounder to the Miners during last year's draft."

"Mercs turned that pick into Ghall, a corner that the Miners could have desperately used as they missed out on the playoffs last season."

"Mercs sure appreciated his efforts there in the defensive backfield, and he was a huge part of their shutout win over the Starkillers in the Galactic Cup finals..."

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"So I think the Mercs did pretty well there."

"They did, they did, at the same time though, when you look at it that's the sixth overall pick the Mercs traded."

"Sure, sure."

'In most drafts that's a late first or early second rounder."

"I see what you're saying, and yeah the Mercs gave up a lot, but man did it ever pay off for them."

"Did it ever!"

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"Should be interesting to see what the Miners do with that pick there, just as I am sure we'll be looking at what the Mercs do in the draft here."

"Not a lot of holes here for this team, though I guess you'd say maybe that Fullback position with Terragone leaving via free agency."

"Well, she is testing the free agent waters, nothing says she won't come back if the Mercs meet her price."

"Sure sure, but the likelihood of that happening is pretty low given the other rumors surrounding the team."

"You're referring to the Carp situation?"

"Sure am."

"Well at least those talks are still ongoing and she hasn't exercised her free agent rights just yet."

'Hard to see the Mercs under this GM acceding to her financial demands though."

"Yeah in previous years maybe, but not the way Villy Pitt runs the front office."

"Of course the Mercs have their irons in another fire that may impact that, the situation out on Ralltiir regarding backup forward Olivar Kirt..."

"Momma Kirt wants her son to join her on the Mercs, and it looks oike the fornt office is doing all it can to bring him here but by all accounts it's devolved into a bidding war between the Mercs and Miners who would also love to bring him home to play for his home town team."

"He is royalty..."

"Not real royalty, sports royalty."

"...on Bakura."

"The Kirt name is practically sports royalty here now after back to back Championships!"

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"Sure, sure."

"Of course a bidding war just drives the price up for whichever team end sup with him..."

"Can't go too high, Miners are pretty value conscious as well, whether it's credits, drafts picks or player value, that's a well run front office."

"No doubt, but look for the Starkiller's front office to glean every bit of value out of an asset like Kirt, especially from two teams that are perennial powers in the league."

"In any case, I can't see how the Mercs can afford to bring in Kirt and keep Carp, it just can't be done."

"Well, it could."

"With my cousin in charge? No way."

"Of course there is the worst case scenario to think about too."

"That is?"

"Losing out on the Kirt sweepstakes and seeing Carp leave via free agency."

"BOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Fans don't like that idea."

"I don't either."

"At least Hurtle will be back from injury to help bolster an offense that was second in the league last season."

"Yeah, Mercs looking good on the offensive end here going into the draft I think, and with that hole looming at Fullback..."

"I bet San'sa'stark can fill that."

"Which means we would still need a backup fullback."

"...I think we go defense early on and then take the best player available with the last pick of the draft."

"Sounds reasonable but what about... wait hold on here, looks like the Miners pick is in..."

"...Koryaka Konstantos, Corner Back from UB Cape Suzette..."

"Oya!" there was cheering as some Mercs fans now also followed the Blue Birds due to their connection with Coach Kirt.

"OK, OK. So no surprise there with the Miners going with the hometown pick."

"Konstantos is a great back, a great back. I have been a defender and love defense and I can say that three letter network rating they gave her at the top of the defensive class is actually well earned."

"Too bad her talents were wasted out there in the Bak10."

"Yeah no kidding."

"So with the Strugglers here now on the clock who do you think the Mercs are looking at? You were talking defense right?"

"Yes, and specifically fullback, which means Darrrkether the wookiee out of WFI..."

"Who else thinks of wifi when they see that?"

"...that would make a great pick for the Mercs, fill that potential hole at fullback and give the Mercs a well rounded roster..."

"See her as a starter or backing up a San'sa'stark, a converted goalkeeper who has been filling in at backupfullback."

"Honestly it could go either way. Probably a starter over San'sa'stark but I would expect a lengthy training c amp battle between the two before Coach Kirt made a final decision..."

"Hold on here come the Strugglers with the pick..."

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

"With the second pick of the 303 ABY ELL Draft, the Nar Shaddaa Smugglers select Darrrkether, Full Back, Wookiee Forest Institute!"

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

"Ouch."

"Yeah that one hurts."

"Mercs fans hate the pick of course, though at least now we're on the clock."

"Can't say I blame them."

"So...with the Strugglers taking what you thought would be the Mercs pick, what odes the Mandalorian front office do now?"

"Well from what I've heard the Mercs front office isn't too high on the remaining defensive players...of course they never told me they were all that high on...well anyone."

"Really? As in they see this as a poor draft?"

"No, quite the opposite in fact, they have told me numerous times that they love this draft class, they have just been really tight lipped about who they are looking at."

"So you just assumed defense..."

"Well yeah, it's the position of need for them, and maybe they still got hat way."

"Choruk could play fullback, but he undersized for the role."

"And no way they take a Ssi'ruuk."

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

"Don't think the Miners will either."

"So that leaves Terrflop out of VCU."

"Mercs do have a history of taking VCU players..."

"Tough school, players there fit well with the Mercs style."

"Well, hold on here come's Villy Pitt with the pick!"

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"With the third pick of the 303 ELL first year player draft, the Mado'ade Mercs select...Miranda Soulstone forward from University of Denon, Eastlake."

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"Whoa!"

"Surprise pick for the Mercs!"

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"The Bakura Miners are back on the clock."

"So the Mercs pull and end run and go offense here, taking the top rated forward off the board at number three where she will join what was the second best offensive unit in the league last year."

"Mercs are stacked at offense."

"Well Coach Kirt is an offensive minded coach but this is an embarrassment of riches."

"Especially if they can keep Carp or bring in Olivar Kirt."

"And that may be why the Mercs made this pick, to leverage talks with both Carp's agent and the Starkillers who control Kirt's contract."

"Sure, sure. Mercs would love to have one of them in addition here to Soulstone, but won't need either of them now."

"Crazy crazy pick from the Mercs..."

"Oya, oya! oya!"

"...and the draft has just begun."

TAG: @Trieste

 

CatChat holo updates from @TheBestBast


“Hey there, killer Bs! Let’s get real for a second. A lot of teams talk about being ‘gritty’—” Bast even used her hands to make air quotes. “—like it’s this magic ingredient that makes teams win championships. ‘They had a lot of skill, but they didn’t have enough grit.’ ‘Oh, they need to add some grit to the lineup.’

“Grit is a sham. Grit’s just a way of saying ‘playing dirty, but not getting called for penalties.’ Honestly, if that’s the only way you can play limmie, you don’t belong in the ELL. It’s the beautiful game for a reason, folks! Not the gritty game!

“You know what good teams have? They have skill. They have heart. They have soul. And nowhere is that more important than at goalkeeper, the loneliest, most-important single position on the field.

“Miners have big shoes to fill without Marnie, but mark my words: they’ve got a winner between the pipes now. She’s yet another GCAA champion for the Miners’ roster. So welcome to the team, Runi Meshurok! And good luck with that next pick, Smugglers.”

TAG: @Vehn

 

IC: IS-86
Draft

"Ripley is hardly the phenom she once was," IS-86 explained to the rest of the Smuggler coaching staff, "time to draft her replacement."

"You saying we should cut her?" Head Coach Shady Lerouex asked.

"She's lost her way and frankly in our quarter of the galaxy we can't afford to be seen slowing down on defense," IS-86 replied, "so let's think about the future."

"Any objections?" Shady Lerouex asked the coaching staff.

No one spoke a word.

"Do it," Lerouex ordered.

---

Draft Stage

"The Nar Shaddaa Smugglers select Carmina Jammer, Goalkeeper, Royal College of Hapes!" came the announcement by another fan of the Crew.

Tag: @Bardan_Jusik; @Trieste

 

CatChat holo updates from @TheBestBast


“And that’s why Shay Dionne gets the big credits, everyone! A well-timed pick for goalkeeper right before Nar Shaddaa? Clutch.

“I really like how the Miners closed out the draft. First off, they nabbed the top midfielder in the Draft. Welcome to the crew, Eddie Pickles! Looking forward to teaming up with you at the half line this season!

“And with the back end of the Miners’ two straight picks, they went for the front end of the field, grabbing Tiger Terassic out of VCU, a versatile forward who could slot in almost anywhere.

“So that’s the Miners draft! Looking forward to the new faces at training camp! I wonder who the Smugglers are going to take from what’s left?”

TAG: @Vehn

 

OOC: In game terms this post occurs after the draft, but I wanted to get it posted prior to that since the week one scores will come right before the ELL season starts.

​

"Hi I'm Ken Kitterich with your five by five sports update brought to you by Merr-Sonn, Fill you enemies with primal fear, fill their lungs with fire, Merr-Sonn."

"Well the annual first kick for college Bolo ball is underway out on Bakura so now's a good time to talk about the HSN Pre-season rankngs..."

"Won't be affected this week, neither Bakura Fleet nor Atalanta are ranked..."

"Doubt either one will be after this snoozefest either."

"Yeah it's pretty boring there."

"Starting out at number one as the locals know is Keldabe Military Institute..."

"That was a shock, I mean Concord War College won the title last season to bring it back to the SEC but they are ranked all the way back at 13."

"Yeah this was a case of ranking the best team in the best conference at number one, though the Warriors have to be thrilled to start the season on top."

"Not about where you start, it's where you finish."

"Meanwhile the three letter network thinks the best bolo ball this season will be played in the sand as the planet Tatooine has three schools ranked in the top ten!"

"UT Anchorhead at three, Mos Eisley nipping at their heels at five and then University of Tatooine at ten."

"While once again the Bak10 gets no respect..."

"They shouldn't after last year."

"With just one team ranked, UBSD coming in at 22."

"They won't even be ranked that high come the end of the season."

"Really?"

"Book it."

""I'm Ken Kitterich and this has been your..."

"Hold on a second there Kitterich, the Titans/Ensigns game just went final."

"Who cares?"

"Atalanta over Bakura Fleet seven to three."

"BO-ring!"

"...and with that, I'm Ken Kitterich and this has been your five by five sports update. I'll be back with you next hour at five after the hour but until then more of the Rancor Pitt, right here on the Fandalorian!"

TAG: @Trieste

---

HSN Pre-Season Top 25

1. Keldabe Military Institute (Mandalore)
2. University of Denon, Eastlake
3. University of Tatooine, Anchorhead
4. University of Kuat
5. Mos Eisley University, Tatooine
6. University of Bison
7. Cloud City University, Bespin
8. Imperial College of Bastion
9. University of Zeltros, Paradise
10. University of Tatooine
11. Chandrila A&M University
12. Druckenwell Technical University
13. Concord War College
14. Royal College of Hapes
15. University of Onderon Rupings
16. Chiss Ascendancy University, Pesfavri
17. Wookiee Forrest Institute
18. The Ord Sabaok University
19. University of Agamar
20. University of Denon
21. University of Euceron
22. UB Salis D'aar
23. Vertical City University, Nar Shaddaa
24. Theed University, Naboo
25. Verpine Technical Institute (Roche Asteroids)

 

IC: IS-86
Draft

The droid had already made its recommendations. Once again it was a controversial pick. But now wasn't the time for political correctness. It was the time to dominate and win.

---

Draft Hall

"With their final pick of the 303 ELL Draft," Lars Steelhead said returning to announce the final pick, "the Nar Shaddaa Smugglers select Kyr Kaage, Half Back, VCU!"

The portion of Smugglers fans who attended the draft went nuts.

A statement had been made.

Tag: @Trieste; @Bardan_Jusik

 

IC: Mando'ade Mercs

"With the final pick of the 303 ELL first year player draft, the Mando'ade Mercs select... Dral Choruk, Defensive back from Keldabe Military Institute!"

"Oya, oya, oya!

TAG: @Trieste

 

IC: Kassandra Kirt
Bakura Fleet Academy, Watercrest County, Bakura

​

“All right then! Now I know we haven’t spent much time together, but I think we’re still ready to take it to ‘em today thanks to the great work by the Seniors who kept the practices goin’ like a vornskr with a bone. Anyways, here’s what we gotta know about Fleet Academy. They’re a ground-and-pound team. Not surprising for a military academy, I guess. That basically describes their approach to most everything, am I right?”

The locker room, including Kass, just looked at their new head coach, Den Bolo, fresh off the shuttle from Brentaal. For her part, Kass didn’t know what to say at this flurry of words. Which was coming 10 minutes before their first game of the season.

“What? Do y’all not say ‘ground-and-pound’ out here?” Bolo asked, genuine in his rural Core world accent. He was wearing a bright blue sweater with the Atalanta logo in bright red on the left breast, a decided departure from the usual polo shirt with slacks that most Bak10 coaches favored. “‘Cause we use that all the time in smashball.”

“No, we know what it means,” Kass ventured on behalf of the team. At least she thought she did.

“Right, well just ‘cause we’re all gettin’ to know each other all Chancellor and I-style let’s just make sure we’ve all got it,” Bolo said with the same enthusiasm. “They’re runnin’ a ground game. No long passes like y’all like to use out here.” Bolo was demonstrating on a large holo board of the field. “It’s about controllin’ time-o-possession out there.”

Time of possession? That wasn’t even a thing in limmie, Kass thought. Was that a smashball stat or something? She wondered if her puzzlement showed on her face.

“And they like to hit. Hoo-ey, do they like to. I mean, Mikey Summeraz from my third grade class could take a few lessons from them. Now I realize probably don’t mean much to all y’all ‘cause you didn’t grow up on Brentaal in the 80s, so suffice it to say that Mikey needed some counseling on how to more productively use those aggressive tendencies. Last I heard he was in construction or somethin’ so he’s probably poundin’ rivets or somethin’ like that. Anyways, that’s not the point. Point is that this is gonna be a hard work game. Team that works the hardest is goin’ to take it today. So let’s get to it!”

Coach Bolo clapped his hands to get the team pumped up to take the field.

“All right, huddle up everyone,” team captain Agozza Maradoo called out. Kass joined the press of players to put her hand in the center with everyone else. “Titans on three. One two three!”

“Titans!” Kass shouted in unison and joined the team in bouncing out of the locker room and onto the field.

---

“Now that, gentlebeings, was some good hard limmie!” Bolo said, clapping as he jogged into the locker room after the conclusion of the game. “I mean, that’s an old-time limmie score before they got the three-pointers in there. Great win to start the season, y’all. Put on some tunes, enjoy this one, get all cleaned up, and we’ll get ourselves back to Atalanta so we can get the celebrating started back home.”

Kass slumped against the utilitarian visitor’s locker room stall with a huff. For all his down-home bluster, Coach Bolo had been right. Fleet Academy had played an in-the-trenches game today. That had meant the win rode on the play of the defense. It was how Kass liked it, being in the action, but with the scores low on both sides of the game it had amped up the pressure.

As a Senior it was her job to be one of the best players on the field, to be the difference that put the Titans over the top. She knew she’d done that today, but she also knew there were eight games left in the season. There was a long, long way to go. They were only just starting.

“Hey Kassandra, you got a sec?” Bolo said, his voice cutting through the din of post-victory joviality.

She pushed herself up from the bench to follow the head coach into the tiny office designated for the visitors. It was more like a broom closet than anything else, devoid of anything but a diagram board on the wall (which had become a palimpsest of half-erased plays and plans) and a couple plastic chairs that looked like they’d collapse under the weight of anything heavier than a four-year-old child. The Bakuran military industrial complex didn’t seem have much interest in funding athletics.

“Yeah Coach?” Kass asked. She couldn’t prevent a note of weariness from seeping into her voice after a game like that.

Kass knew what was coming. I’ve admired your mom for years. I bet she taught you some great tricks that will really help us this season. I’d love to talk coaching with your mom. Would she sign this jersey for my kid? Kass had heard it all.

“Shut the door there, will you?” Coach Bolo said. Kass complied and waited for the inevitable. “Heck of a game out there today, Kass. Heck of a game,” he continued. “Great work on the blackout.”

“It’s a shutdown,” Kass corrected, consciously trying to keep any note of criticism from her voice.
“Right right right. That’s a much less problematic term, come to think of it. Anyways, something’s been nigglin’ at my brain. I noticed you aren’t wearing the captain’s armband.”

“It’s actually a C on the jersey,” Kass pointed out again.

“Darn it!” Bolo said, snapping his fingers. “I’m gonna get that down eventually. Guess when y’all name a captain you don’t go changin’ that up any time soon—at least not without angerin’ the sewin’ department. Anyways, you’re a heck of a fine player out there, Kassandra. I woulda thought for sure your teammates would have elected you captain. I mean, assuming that’s how y’all do it here. That’s the way we did it back at Brentaal State, but this is a whole different kit and kaboodle, ya know?”

Kass did not know about a third of what Den Bolo was talking about, but didn’t want to get into that right now. “Yeah, we elect our captain.”

“Ah, well if it was the team’s decision, that’s that. All right, go on now! Enjoy the win!”

She closed her eyes for a moment. She could get out of this conversation. He was giving her the out. But darn it, it would bug her if she committed the lie of omission. Kass opened her eyes and exhaled.

“It was a decision by the team,” Kass said.

Bolo cocked his head to one side. “All right now you’re just being more mysterious than Master Yoda giving his lunch order at the Temple cafeteria. You’re gonna have to explain that one to me.”

“The team elected Agozza captain after they elected me,” Kass explained.

“Is this one a those runoff election thingies that they do on Chandrila? Like the first winner isn’t the real winner? Sometimes I feel like we just make democracy a little harder than it needs to be.”

“No. They elected me captain and I said I didn’t want it.”

“Why’d ya do that?” Coach Bolo asked. He sounded genuinely interested.

Kass paused and her eyes darted briefly to a corner of the drab office-closet. “I think the team needed someone else as captain.”

Ned Bolo nodded. “OK then. Well that’s mighty selfless of you, Kass. I appreciate you telling me.”

“Soooooo…anything else?” Kass prompted.

“Nope. Go on, get outta here! I’ll see ya on the shuttle,” Ned said, clapping her on the shoulder.

Kass nodded and opened the door. “Open or closed?” she asked after stepping out.

“Leave it on open there. Close that up and y’all might forget about me until you’re halfway back home,” Ned said pleasantly.

Kass went back to her stall to get out of her uniform. She thought she could feel Coach Bolo watching her, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of turning around and letting him know she knew.

He hadn’t asked one thing about her mom. He was the first being in limmie who hadn’t. Kass wasn’t sure what to make of Ned Bolo. Not at all.

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik

 

​

IC: The Rancor Pitt

"LIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! From downtown Keldabe, on a sunny and warm Taungsday afternooooon. Welcome on into the Rancor Pitt, here on your wave home of the reigning Galactic Cup Champion Mando'ade Mercs. I'm Randy the Rancor, he's Justin Pitt. Liz over on the boards, with Kitterich on the other side of the glass and oh baby do we have a lot to talk about today."

"ELL training camp just around the corner."

"Can't wait for that, we also have last nights doubleheader from Sundari to talk about."

"Do we have to?"

"Hey they earned a split, thought for sure the Renegades were going to sweep them."

"With the Warriors pitching staff, yeah I wouldn't have been surprised."

"There is also the upcoming shockball draft..."

"Still don't now who is going first there."

"Either the kid from Byblos or the wookiee from Chewbacca College..."

"I think the Cavs need a guard..."

"Can't teach size, I bet they go with the wookiee."

"Sure, sure."

"But first let's talk about the Mercs."

"Oh thank the manda."

"Who just last week managed to re-sign potential free agent forward Shasta Carp to a three year contract..."

"Meaning they will have their entire starting offense back from last season."

"Something they will desperately need if they want to three peat as Cup champions."

"That's a big deal, especially around here as it was rumored the Miners were sniffing around in an attempt to bring the former Blue Bird back to Bakura."

"They could have never afforded her."

"I'm surprised we were able to."

"Yeah, no kidding. The move does apparently put to rest the rumors of the attempted acquisition of Olivar Kirt, Mercs head coach Alana Kirt's son, who will either be staying with the Starkillers..."

"Not a bad gig for him, they have gone to three straight Galactic Cup finals."

"...or potentially on the move to Bakura himself."

"Not a bad consolation prize for the Miners if they were indeed in on Carp."

"My sources all say they never contacted her, but you never know."

"Sure sure, but that rumored asking price."

"Jimsey Vigo? I mean it makes sense from a emotional point of view, both kids going home, but I don't see the Miners ponying up that sort of trade chip."

"So, barring some other team jumping into the sweepstakes, Kirt will be staying with the Starkillers while the Mercs have their own full slate of forwards to deal with."

"Yeah, draft went well for them, look for San'sa'stark and the rookie Choruk to compete in training camp for the starting center half back's job while the sitting center HB, Slid Kik will slide on over to starting fullback, a position opened up by the departure of Terragone."

"Should be an interesting battle. On one hand you have the converted goaltender San'sa'stark who has been backing up there at the halfback position the last couple of seasons..."

"She has been a quick study and come quite a long way in a short amount of time, learning it all at the highets level of limmie."

"...while on the other you have a versatile back, one well suited to playing half as well as corner back."

"He's young, and has a lot to learn himself. My money is on San'sa'stark..."

"Agreed."

"...but it will be a fascinating battle."

"On the other side of the ball, we have all the starters coming back on offense, to go along with the return of Hurtle from injury and we added the top rated forward in the draft in the person of Miranda Soulstone."

"She's great, but look for her to begin the season in the backup role just vacated by Kuiick."

"Yeah a hard starting front six to break in to, but luckily she will be able to learn and take things slow from the get go."

"It's a huge leap, even for a near champion, to go from college straight to the ELL, so getting a little time coming off the bench isn't the worst thing in the world to happen to her."

"Of course she could get more reps if she was sent to Concordia to start the season."

"Yeah, and there is a lot to be said about getting those sorts of reps, I mean look what they did for Paol Gynd."

"Yeah Gynd, the last pick in the previous year's draft really outdid himself last season with Concordia."

"One of the few bright spots there in a four and five campaign for the Crusaders."

"Ii could see that being a heck of a training camp battle then, the more experienced Gynd against the more explosive Soulstone."

"Frankly makes more sense to let Soulstone start at Concordia and see what you have in Gynd."

"Yeah probably, and I think Gynd would do really well off the bench there as well."

"Of course we're set at midf..."

"Hold on a second here guys, we have some breaking news from the Mercs front office."

"Oh exciting."

"Lay it on us!"

"oh...oh wow. hold on, still getting the details here but the Mercs front office is confirming that they have acquire the right to forward Olivar Kirt from the Ralltiir Starkillers..."

"Oh shab!"

"No word yet on the compensation package headed out to Ralltiir, but it looks like here on the verge of training camp that Caoch Kirt's son will be joining her here with the Mercs."

"And the comms lines just lit up like a life day tree."

"Yeah let's hold off on those for a moment and go to commercial while we try to get a handle on all of this. We'll be right back right after this message from one of our sponsors."

​

"OK, we're back...."

"mmm chocolate."

"And for those of you who missed it or are just tuning in, breaking news that the Mando'ade Mercs have just traded for forward Olivar Kirt, and we're starting to get some information on the trade and what will be going back to Ralltiir, and brace yourself Mando'ade, because this is a big one."

"Mercs obviously wanted Kirt pretty badly here."

"So going back to the Starkillers is Gynd, who we were just talking about."

"Yeah, like we were saying a solid up and coming player who actually has an extra year on his contract over Kirt, who himself has just been a backup with the Starkillers."

"If it was just that I'd say the Mercs it's about a break even. That extra contract year makes a big difference."

"It does, it does, but it helps keep your Hall of fame coach happy."

"There is also some cash going back to the Starkillers, and from what we're hearing folks, it's not an inconsiderable sum."

"Still getting word on just how much is going back, but yeah the Mercs had to stretch..."

"Break, I'm hearing."

"...the budget here in order to bring in Kirt."

"Not my money."

"No, but if it hampoers the budget then it may affect the Mercs ability to bring in..."

"Or even retain their own."

"..big budget free agents."

"Another consideration is, where does he play? Did the Mercs make this trade just for him to sit the bench?"

"Doubt it."

"Knowing coach Kirt she won't just give him a starting job though, he will have to earn it, and she will probably be harder on him than anyone else too."

"Hold on here getting word on the cash considerations sent back to the Starkillers."

"And?" Randy and Justin asked in unison.

"Mercs will be paying off the remainder of Gynd's current contract..."

"That's three more seasons."

"Correct, and yeah this is now confirmed. Mercs will be paying the remainder of Gynd's contract even as the Full Forward plays for another team."

"So Starkillers basically have a someone playing for them for free?"

"Well a player they aren't paying."

"That's huge."

"Means they can afford to pay their own players a bit more in bids to keep them."

"Or spend a little more to bring in free agents they like."

"Big trading chip down the line for them too, who else wouldn't want a good player that someone else is paying for?'

"So...big trade for the Mercs, let's see what the front office has to say about this as we go now to them live..."

TAG: @Trieste

 

*HSN Headlines*

• Nar Shaddaa Smugglers release Helen Ripley (Goalkeeper), Jade Enders (Half Back), and Myra Rappahannock (Half Back) from the roster.
  
• Nar Shaddaa Smugglers also announce that they are working diligently to increase the stadium seating capacity in proportion to the number of fans who are clamoring to see the beautiful game. "750,000 was a conservative figure when the stadium was built in 278 ABY," Owner Vera Grames stated, "and personally I've always felt that the stadium could at least seat 2 million beings if configured properly. Last season I sat down with our lead engineering firm and they confirmed for me that the seating capacity at Six Boroughs is less than adequate for the number of fans and could be increased. Therefore construction is well underway to add seats throughout the stadium to increase capacity to that beautiful number: two million souls."
• The Nar Shaddaa Smugglers officially announce that their stadium name will revert back to Six Boroughs. In a statement from the team the franchise boldly declared that the stadium name change had gone over poorly with the fans and with the surrounding neighborhoods. "Six Boroughs today, Six Boroughs tomorrow, Six Boroughs forever," owner Vera Grames said.
• Head Coach Shady Lerouex was pressured by the media after drafting another Ssi-Ruuk. Shady only replied, "I don't get into politics. I get into playing the game. That's enough questions on that subject."
• Lerouex also added, "Look I'm a Galactic Cup winner as a player and a head coach. The last eight years or so have been hardly kind to Nar Shaddaa. I'm lucky to still have a job. To still have management believe in me. I'm going to get us back to the promised land. It may take some time. We'll get there."

 

IC: Kassandra Kirt
Atalanta, Bakura

​

Kass opened her locker cubby to get her shampoo and soap. There were few things in life so satisfying as cleaning up and getting fresh after practice. Just as she reached for her shower caddy, she noticed her commlink was blinking. Wrapped in her towel, she hesitated for a moment, but grabbed it instead of the caddy.

One of the advantages of being a Senior was you’d figured out where you could get some quiet if you needed some space. The kit room was usually empty right after practice, so Kass sequestered herself among the racks of cleats on shelves and rows of jerseys on hangers.

“Hey Ollie,” Kass said as the commlink connected with her brother. “Sorry, you caught me during practice.

“Of course I did. Always the way, right? How’s it going with the new coach?” her brother asked.

“He’s…let’s go with interesting?” Kass ventured. Olivar laughed. “I’m guessing you didn’t call just to see how practice was.”

“Yeah. Right. I wanted you to hear it from me,” Olivar said.

“Hear what?” Kass asked warily.

“I’m getting traded.”

“I heard the Miners wanted you. Already picking out your fancy apartment in the capital?” Kass jested. “I’m 100% going to sleep on your couch when we play UBSD this year.”

“I’m not going to the Miners,” Olivar said. “I’m going to the Mercs.”

Kass was speechless for a moment in her surprise. “Oh my Maker,” she eventually blurted out.

“So I’m guessing Mom didn’t tell you she was pushing to make it happen,” Olivar stated.

“Yeah. But I’m happy for you. You two were great together in high school.”

“Mesh’la Vhetin is a long way from Ojai North.”

“You’re still gonna be great!” Kass said, willing her voice to be chipper. “I bet your jersey’s going to sell out in seconds. Everyone’s going to get rid of their Arock and Kor’le jerseys to buy yours.”

“That is literally not going to happen,” Olivar said.

“Says you. I’m already buying mine on my datapad,” she innocently fibbed. “If I’m lucky I’ll get it signed. Probably have to show up like five hours early to stand in line at a fan event to make that happen. I hear everyone’s excited about this Kirt guy wearing blue and silver.”

“Oh totally. Hey, I don’t want to keep you. You’ve probably got things like coursework to do. I remember how that was.”

“Oh yeah. Loads of work. Mountains,” Kass said. “Congrats again. This is going to be great.”

“I’ll see you at Truce Day,” Olivar said. “Mom and I both will.”

They hung up and as Kass headed back to the locker room to swap the commlink for her shower supplies, she realized that was right: the Mercs were coming to Bakura for the last week of the season. Instead of the Week 2 visit by Ralltiir to Bakura, Olivar would be here then. Not only that, this meant the entire family would be together that weekend. She’d get to see Olivar and her mom with the Mercs and they’d be able to see her play with Atalanta. It was going to be the rivalry game with Evenvale that week too.

“Hey there Kassandra!” Coach Bolo said brightly, breaking Kass out of her thoughts. “You get lost on the way to the showers? If so, I’m going to have to drastically recalibrate my expectations about how long it’ll take to orientate myself around here. I mean, I’ve only been here for like a week and you’ve been hanging out here for three years.”

“No, just got interrupted and had to take a call,” she said. She waggled the commlink in her hand.

“Everything good?” Den asked.

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” Kass replied immediately. “Just something you’ll hear about on HSN soon enough.”

“Oooooh, I love me some must-see HoloNet!” Coach Bolo said. “I’ll just keep my eyes peeled. Is it a I’ll-know-it-when-I-see-it kinda thing?”

“Yeah, that’s it,” Kass said. The whole limmie galaxy was probably going to be talking about the great Kirt reunion pretty soon.

“Well when I do, I’ll think of you,” Den said, pointing a friendly finger at Kass. “Oh! And before I forget, might wanna give the shower a second before you step under it. Just got on in there and got the pressure sorted out and don’t want it to knock ya off your feet.”

“Thanks for the tip,” Kass said, cocking an eyebrow. It seemed like a silly thing for the coach to spend his time on when they had games to prepare for. “See you tomorrow, coach.”

“Later alligator!” Bolo said brightly as they went their separate ways.

A few minutes later as Kassandra stood under the steaming hot jets of water, she thought about how wonderful it felt after three years of weak, limp showers…and how little she was thinking about the news about Olivar.

She didn’t know what an alligator was, but she was sure that Den Bolo knew his plumbing.

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik

 

CatChat holo updates from @TheBestBast


“Hey B Nation! I know you’ve been waiting for the inside scoop on what happened with Olivar Kirt. After working my sources, I’ve got the scoop.

“We all know now that the Mercs gave up one of their top prospects to get him—plus they’ve got two salaries for one player now. Clearly they were willing to do what it takes to get him.

“There’s been a lot of talk that the price for the Miners would have been Jimsey Vigo. I can tell you today that’s completely true. Not only that, but the Starkillers wanted the Miners to do a similar salary retention deal to even out the cost differential. Kirt’s still on a generous entry-level contract and Jimsey’s got a well-deserve journeyman deal that’s worth much more. When asked to trade a key starter for a being who’s just played bench minutes, it was a tough ask for the Miners.

“I know Jimsey well. I wouldn’t have made that trade. Just watch—he’s going to have a career year. That’s right. That’s an official Bast Prediction right there. And I say it knowing that he plays on a line with Alexa and Harle.

“Trust me: this Opening Day is going to be one you won’t want to miss. Fondor’s first ELL game in forever? Roster drama? It doesn’t get any better! Ciao!”

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @JM_1977

 

Mando'ade Mercs News and Notes:

Mando'ade Mercs make a number of roster decisions coming out of training camp.

• Slid Kik has been moved from starting halfback to starting fullback
• San'sa'stark has been promoted from reserve halfback to starting center halfback.
• Rookie Dral Choruk will serve as the Mercs reserve halfback.
• Starting half forward James Lancaster has been moved back to his natural position of midfielder where he will come off the bench aside his twin sister Circei Lancaster. The latter will sub exclusively at midfielder while the former will serve as a "super sub" subbing in for both midfielders and forwards as needed.
• Miranda Souldstone has secured the starting center half forward position
• Olivar Kirt will serve as backup half forward to start the season.

 

​

"Hi I'm Ken Kitterich with your five by five sports update brought to you by Merr-Sonn, Fill you enemies with primal fear, fill their lungs with fire, Merr-Sonn."

"College Bolo ball season is finally under way for everyone as we had a full slate of games to start the weekend."

"Some good ones last night."

"Looks like the pollsters got it right to start the year as every top ten team came away with easy victories..."

"Yeah those were kind of boring..."

"Still always interesting when you see the defending champions go down..."

"Especially to unranked Sundari."

"Peacemakers over the Dawn Treaders 22 to 17 in that one."

"Look for CWC to plummet after that."

"Further back in the rankings, number 18 The Ord Sabaok University destroyed National University 32 to 2..."

"Oh yeah! That's what I am talking about!"

"While number 22 UBSD held on for their second win of the season, 14-10 over UBGC."

"Cubs had no business being even in that game."

"And also in the Bak10, UBCS grabbed their first win of the season defeating Atalanta University 26 to 21..."

"Oh burn..."

"I'm Ken Kitterich and this has been your five by five sports update. I'll be back with you next hour at five after the hour but until then more of the Rancor Pitt, right here on the Fandalorian!"

TAG: @Trieste

---

HSN Top 25 after Week One (LW)

1. Keldabe Military Institute (1)
2. University of Denon, Eastlake (2)
3. University of Tatooine, Anchorhead (3)
4. University of Kuat (4)
5. Mos Eisley University, Tatooine (5)
6. University of Bison (6)
7. Cloud City University, Bespin (7)
8. Imperial College of Bastion (8)
9. University of Zeltros, Paradise (9)
10. University of Tatooine (10)
11. Chandrila A&M University (11)
12. Druckenwell Technical University (12)
13. The Ord Sabaok University (18)
14. Wookiee Forrest Institute (17)
15. Chiss Ascendancy University, Pesfavri (16)
16. Royal College of Hapes (14)
17. UB Salis D'aar (22)
18. Concord War College (13)
19. University of Onderon Rupings (15)
20. Verpine Technical Institute (25)
21. University of Agamar (19)
22. Technical institute of Jakku (NR)
23. University of Thyferra (NR)
24. University of Euceron (21)
25. University of Denon (20)

Dropped out: Vertical City University, Theed University

 

Logan Manx-Sandin
Carratos

It still doesn't feel real, it's been months and I still looked at my datapad, still felt like I should get up and go to practice. I keep waiting expecting a message from Schnitt, or someone in the front office to tell him to meet with them. I felt like at any moment I would get up, put on my shirt and head out the door.

That message never seems to come. And every morning I feel cold. Did the other teams figure me out? Crack my code, focus on Iris, on the right side, and our offense crumbles. Was last season my fault? Had I not changed in my many years of coaching? Sure there were some changes in the league but, the Pirates had always been a threat. Just last season, things, just went off the rails. I have to take some blame. Maybe I was just coasting on the Once in a Generation Talent that was handed to me. Scarface's iron back was holding up the Iron Cage. I've seen the art, the illustrations of the superhero Iris Copin holding up a crumbling bird cage with a falling Pirate flag. They weren't completely wrong but, in my defense when we were bereft of her, we got to the playoffs again.

Yeah Tynos showed up and showed out that season, in more ways than one, but it was still my system. I was still the coach for that season. Sure we didn't go all the way but it was certainly better than last year. Where I was also the coach.

Couldn't win for trying it seems.

I have spent months racking my brain as to what went wrong and I...I just wasn't sure. Mikia is already awake and I can hear her working out in the other room. So I'm left here alone with my thoughts. Not the best thing right now. The longer I'm with my thoughts the more likely I am to do something stupid, like review game tape from last year looking for an answer…

And in five minutes I'm in my chair staring at the holo projector watching games from last season. It is hard to watch, and I can see the team struggle to adapt and I can see that I'm not helping matters. There is clearly more I could have done, have the midfield fall back a bit to defend the zone better, lighten up on the fore check focus more on intercepting less physical play in the offensive zone to safe our energy. There are a million more things I could see where I messed up. And I note each one. The only way to move forward is to find your mistakes and fix them.

"Daddy?" A voice breaks me out of my studying to see my kid rubbing their eyes.

"Yeah it's me." I say turning in my hoverchair. They're wearing one of Mikia's old jerseys. It wasn't as long on them as it used to be but, they still had a lot of growing to do. "Morning Alex."

"Morning…"

"I was just studying a little." Alex wandered over to the couch and sat down.

"You do that a lot."

"Yeah well, daddy has to study a lot for his job." A job I no longer have.

"I'm hungry…"

"Uh huh, I'll get started on that in a moment…" I still had a few more notes to make. Those few more notes turn into a few more and before I know it, I hear a noise in the kitchen. I turn to see Mikia in making breakfast.

"Oh sorry, I got…"

"It's ok, but maybe take some time off hum." She asks me

"Well I mean, I did have all offseason to take off, and it isn't like I couldn't have done better."

"But that hardly matters anymore."

"They could hire me again."

"If they were going to do that they would have called by now."

She is right, it'd been months and no word from the front office, though they've gone into hiding after firing me and a whole host of others that got let go on Black Zhelday. As it is called now in Pirates' history.

But, if I do get another job, it's important that I get better. Leigh had made some offers of a job with the Miners. After she turned down the head coaching job for the Pirates she really wanted to rub it in to management and try and swipe me. It was very tempting. But, I decided to think about it...and I'm still thinking about it.

"Come on huh, let's have breakfast."

"Yeah, sure." I move away from the projector and move up to the table having a quiet meal with my family before taking Alex to school. I could almost get used to this.

TAG: @Trieste

 

GM Post

Happy to start to the season! Bonus potential for Bakura, Carratos, Euceron (remember, they've had a couple coming to them for a while ), Mando'ade, and Nar Shaddaa.

Week 1 results
Nar Shaddaa Smugglers at Carratos Pirates (3-11)
Fondor Hyperdrives at Bakura Miners (2-6)
Euceron Officers at Ralltiir Starkillers (2-10)
Geonosis Gangbusters at Mando’ade Mercs (3-21)

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @galactic-vagabond422 @jcgoble3 @JM_1977 @The Jedi in the Pumas @Vehn