Star Wars OPEN Star Wars: Kain's Heroes (Always Accepting New Players)

OOC: Apologies for the extended hiatus. Was up to my eyeballs in stuff to take care of life-wise, and even now I still have a lot on my plate. I’ll be trying to get back to a sense of normal again, so please bear with me.

IC: Kell Lian

Ground control to Major Tom…I’m waiting at the door…

Navigating through the ruins of Grad was surreal. Before the Empire arrived, Kell had been to the city many times, enough to know his way to his usual haunts at the bars, hotels, and radio stations. A large amount of his equipment had been bought her, once upon a time. Seeing it as a smoking hole of a battlefield was heartbreaking, but admittedly not surprising given the factories and strategic importance of the place. Just like back in Port, the Empire was quick to move on targets of importance and infrastructure, like factories and radio stations.

As Kain and the others tried to work their way into the factory, Kell went to work setting up more comms gear. So far, he had kept things simple and mobile, but with contact with other teams getting difficult, it was time to get serious. The time spent readying at the pub had given him a chance to rig up new tools with what they had salvaged from enemy gear and what was on hand, and he was looking forward to trying them out.

From a pocket in his pack, Kell produced a small puck-shaped metal device and gripped it in one of his upper hands. With a quick glance around to make sure he was not going to be spotted by a droid or Imp, he winded back and threw the device at the side of the factory. With a soft plink, the device hit the wall high up and stuck like a magnet. Within moments, the top folded out and produced a pair of small dishes. Satisfied, Kell pulled out his comm link wired into his pack equipment and tested the airwaves on one of the secure channels.

“Jori, Connor, please respond if you’re picking up on this,” he said into the mic.

As he worked the radio, he watched as the small dish on the factory tweaked and changed its angle every few moments, searching for signal.

TAG: @TheAdmiral @galactic-vagabond422 @Cowgirl Jedi 1701 @Bardan_Jusik and others

 

GM Update
​

IC: Geralt Ponds (NPC for now)
Guard shack, factory district, Grad, Skarn

Standing by while the Ardennian fiddled with his equipment both Ponds and Skarnsson had been left with little to do except wait and watch his back as Lian tried to raise Jori and Connor on the radio. So far he hadn't had any luck and though Ponds wasn't going to say it out loud, he had just joined this band of resistance fighters after all, he assumed that they were now dead. What were they thinking, going off into the ravaged remains fot he city alone like that? There was safety here in numbers, and Ponds didn't even like that the group had been split up again with some going inside the massive factory while he babysat the radio operator outside. At least he had confidence in his own abilities if it came to a fight.

That time seemed to be drawing nearer, for though there was a lull in the battle between the Imperial trenches and the assaalting droids trying to take the factory, that allowed for both sides to send out patrols to guard their rear. Even now, one such patrol, a quartet of mudtroopers was picking its way through the rubble towards the guard shack that the rebels now occupied. When the rebels had first arrived they had been met by a scene of dead stromtroopers and the remains of a battle droid of some kind. It was Ponds guess, as he watched the patrol slowly move towards them, that the stormtroopers had missed out on a scheduled check in and now the patrol was headed there to see what was wrong.

Ponds motioned to Skarnsson, pointing out the troopers in case the younger fighter hadn't seen them yet. "They'll spot us any second now" he whispered quietly as the four mudtroopers continued picking their way through the muck towards them. Ponds readied his weapon and trained it in the direction of the oncoming troopers. "Do we wait until they see us, or open fire right away?" He wondered aloud. It never crossed his mind that they should inform Kain inside the factory that they were about to be discovered. Before Ponds heard a response to his question there was a loud explosion from the direction of the Imperial lines, and then another and another, followed soon thereafter by intense blaster fire. The droids had launched a renewed offensive against the Imperial trenches. Errant blaster fire ricocheted nearby, and Ponds forgot all about the mudtroopers, who turned away from the guard shack in disbelief, drawn to the sound of the droid attack back at the trenches. That presented their backs to the rebels, who were now afforded an easy opportunity to clear out the four mudtroopers without much opposition.

"Skarnsson, do we take the shots?"

TAG: @Bodhran777 @RIP.CommanderPonds @Anedon

---

Elesewhere on the streets of Grad...

With introductions out of the way and the nearest threats dealt with a sense of calm finally descended on the pair of Heroes and their newly discovered friend. It was sense that was not to last for long. The trio was still in the middle of a ravaged city and though at least the sounds of the nearby battle between the Imperials and the droid remnant forces had subsided somewhat. That was an added relief for Jori and Connor who they knew their comrades were in the thick of it there. It then that their com links finally crackled to life and the voice of Lian could be heard through crackling static.

“Jori, Connor, please respond if you’re picking up on this.”

It was clear that the Ardennian had been trying to reach them for some time, and that meant Kain himself had something for them. Before they could respond though the sound of battle behind them suddenly intensified, first with a series of explosions and then heavy blaster fire...

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @TheAdmiral @Cowgirl Jedi 1701

---

IC: Elim Kain
Leading the group into the factory...

Kain's sense of dread and confusion grew as he led the trio of other rebels deeper and deeper in to the cavernous old factory. In the darkness it was hard to see anything, but it didn't seem as though there was anything to be seen anyway. Surely nothing worthy of fighting over. Old machinery, maybe a few spare parts left by scavengers. Nothing that Kain would even call interesting, aside from Chrondarr's gruesome discovery that is.

The sound of fighting outside intensified demonstrating that even though Kain couldn't see it, there was something that both the Imperials and droids wanted from this place. Maybe they would find something towards the back of the factory? The large "bantha doors" at the far end seemed to be open, spilling light in there that didn't filter it's way back to where Kain and his raiders were.

Where would those lead, he wondered. The train tracks? Possibly. The only way to find out was to keep moving so he waved the group on, glad the others providing over watch above were keeping an eye on them. It was then that a clanking noise from up ahead caused Kain to stop dead in his tracks and he held his right hand upwards in a fist halting the others behind him. he had just enough time to register it as not natural in origin when the darkness in front of him lit up in bright flashes of blaster fire.

​

Kain threw himself to the ground even as he yelled "Down!" to the others. Most were quick enough to take cover, but Jal Wuu, the group's slicer was himself cut down by a concentrated burst to the midsection. He crumpled to the ground without a sound, dead before his brain had even processed the pain. "Kriff!" Kain shouted as the shower of incoming bolts illuminated their attackers in brief flashes. They were droids, but not like the automatons fighting outside. These moved with a lethal grace as they advanced on Kain's group with deadly intent.

Still, there appeared to be only four of them, though Kain couldn't be sure with all the confusion in the darkness. If he was right though, the rebels did outnumber these droids. They also had another advantage, they had the high ground. So even as Kain and the others began to return fire on the advancing droids he raised his comm link to his lips and shouted out to the overwatch group. "Close contact front! Advancing on our position!"


TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas @Mistress_Renata @Sarge

OOC: Used "bantha doors" as a stand in for elephant doors.

---

IC: Pathfinder (NPC)
Catwalk above the factory floor

As the ground team moved through the darkness below them, Pathfinder was getting fidgety behind his Z-6 rotary canon. It's not that he wanted anything to go wrong, he just hated sitting here exposed on this high perch with nothing to do. As he shifted his weight and again fussed with the settings on his canon he wondered how his two compatriots, Ronaan and Windsong were able to stay so calm and still when they had nothing to do. Whatever they were looking for Pathfinder hoped Kain would hurry up and find it, he wouldn't be able to sit still much longer...

Blaster fire erupted out below and well in front of them answering Pathfinder's silent prayer. At last, something to do! Without being told Pathfinder hefted the large rotary blaster and readied to empty into the area the blaster fire was coming from. It was then that the trio's comm links came to life with an urgent report from the leader. "Close contact front! Advancing on our position!" Pathfinder needed no more urging than that as he let loose with his blaster, raining blue bolts of plasma down on the droid's position. "We're pinned down! Hit them hard!."

Pathfinder was of course way ahead of the order, however his blaster fire didn't seem particularly effective. Though his rotary cannon was making a loud commotion and a heck of a light show, he didn't seem to actually hit anything of consequence at all, certainly none of the droids were damaged by his barrage. It did however force them to keep their heads down and slowed their advance towards Kain and the others. It also had one other less desirable consequence, it revealed the position of the over watch team who now had to contend with sporadic fire sent their way by the quartet of commando droids below.

TAG: @Vehn @Adalia-Durron

OOC: A quick breakdown so we are all on the same page:

• Skarnsson, Ponds and Lian are at the abandoned guard shack witnessing a renewed attack by the droids on the Imperial trenches. The four mudtroopers that were headed to check out the guard shack have now turned back towards their lines and have their backs turned to your characters. Your call on whether to engage them or not.
• Jori and Connor of course are still looking for her source who may or may not be of any help They have run into Mairéad. And have finally heard the radio calls from the rest of the group.
• Ronaan, Windsong and Pathfinder are providing overwatch for...
• Kain, Chrondarr and Reva who are under attack by four (4) BX type Commando droids. These droids are free use for these Players and the Players on overwatch. Any of you damage/destroy them as you see fit on a first come/first served basis. Any of these droids left by my next update will be dealt with by Kain/NPCs.

 

Connor Neil
Grad

"How did you know he was there?" Jori asked Connor was curious himself, he'd kept a close eye on things but he'd missed it too. But, Jori was also right that they didn't have time to be standing around.

"Let's play twenty questions somewhere else yeah?" He asked keeping an eye on his surroundings. He didn't expect to take this new possible recruit to their base or to Jori's contact but, they could have this conversation somewhere that wasn't so out in the open. Looking down the street he could see a burned out cafe that still had a roof. "Perfect, why don't we go get a caf and a pastry and talk this all out." his com came to life a message from Kell coming in.

“Jori, Connor, please respond if you’re picking up on this,”

"Yeah, got it." He said, "We hit a bit of a snag but we're moving on now. Something going on?" His feet were already in motion walking towards the cafe, hoping to get out of the open, find another way to get to Jori's contact, and figure out if they brought the new girl along with them.

TAG: @TheAdmiral @Cowgirl Jedi 1701 @Bodhran777

 

IC: Thomas Ronaan
Factory
Grad

"Close contact front! Advancing on our position!" Ronaan heard Kain say over the comlink.

Thomas didn't need any further encouragement. For the briefest of moments he'd taken his eye off of his thermal scope to give a chance for his good eye to rest. Ever since the injury that took his eye the other eye had to compensate for the extra usage. That made him fatigued, occasionally gave him ocular headaches, and changed the very nature of the business for him.

He fought off his eye fatigue and looked down the scope to find four advanced droids with some weaponry shooting toward Kain's Heroes. Pathfinder, despite his enthusiasm for destruction, opened up with his rotary cannon and at least kept the droids busy. Blaster bolts flew up in his direction but he knew he hadn't been discovered yet. The shots were too scattered, too loose, to really make him feel worried.

"Open fire!" Thomas yelled to Windsong over Pathfinder's roaring rotary cannon.

Thomas bracketed one of the droids, steadied his breathing, and pulled the trigger. The round put a sizeable hole in the lead droids head but still the droid kept coming. Still the droid refused to go down. Thomas fired again putting more holes in the chest of the droid and still it kept coming.

"Windsong, finish it off for me!" Thomas grunted not sure why this droid, and his ammunition, weren't doing the trick.

Tag: @Adalia-Durron; @Bardan_Jusik

 

IC: Kell Lian
I heard it on the X…

As Kell sat listening for a reply on his commlink, his eyes wandered out toward the trenches, where they had witnessed the mechanical carnage overtake the bucket heads. Now, it seemed, they had more coming. At the first sight of the mudtroopers, Kell quickly ducked behind something to avoid being seen, praying he’d been quick enough. However, it soon made little difference, as a patrol of droids had also come to check out the area and immediately engaged the four troopers.

As blaster fire rained around them now, he suddenly heard the commlink chirp and the voice of Connor come through clearly.

"Yeah, got it." He said, "We hit a bit of a snag but we're moving on now. Something going on?"

The improvised dish had worked! Grabbing his commlink, Kell replied.

“Connor, we’re at the factory. Kain and some others went inside, but a few of us are outside and have a bit of company fighting it out in the open.” He readied a stolen E-11 blaster in case things got a bit hairy. “I’m going to try and patch you through to Kain, but you may consider regrouping with us if you can.”

One of his free hands moved to his comms gear and pushed some buttons, working to push the call on through to Kain’s commlink.

“Kain, I have Connor on the other end. We got muddies and droids out here exchanging fire.”

With the call patched through, he returned his focus to the fight in front of them while staying clear of the errant blaster fire. He looked over at Ponds and Skarnsson, who were huddled at the guard shack as well, trying to see if they were about to open fire.

On one hand, the mudtroopers would be easy targets for them, seeing as they had their backs turned. The droids, however, could potentially see them firing and decide to work on them next. The guard shack was solid cover, but there was no good way to spread out. They were clumped up and might get flanked.

"Skarnsson, do we take the shots?" he heard Ponds ask.

“Why not let the droids sort them out? If we drop the Imps, those droids might spot us and come after us next,” Kell suggested. “If we stay quiet, they might not see us, and they could take care of this patrol for us.”

TAG: @Anedon @RIP.CommanderPonds @Bardan_Jusik

 

Reva Cambrion
In the factory

She watched as Chrondarr went in to the pit, looking at the bodies of the shaggy people. She didn't know what this race was called. He arranged them silently, while the others continued to keep guard, then climbed out. Either rigor hadn't set in, or it had worn off, enabling him to manipulate their limbs. From the smell, she believed the second. Who were they? Why were they here? Who had killed them?

They continued to advance, with Reva more bewildered as they went deeper. This place was deserted, and had been for quite some time. There was no indication of what had been made here, and even less to show why the Imps were trying so hard to take the factory.

A tingle at the back of her neck and she was dropping even as Kain was taking a breath to shout "Down!" Blaster fire over head and she looked around for cover. To her right she saw Jal Wuu go down, and she crawled over to him, opening the straps on her medical kit. He was dead before she could do anything. Terrible loss of a young life, and as a slicer, he'd been their best bet to figure out what was up with these droids and if anyone was controlling them.

She refastened her med kit and grabbed Wuu's rifle, which was newer than her blaster. She aimed it in the direction of the droids, then..."Safety," she grumbled, fumbling for the small latch. With that off, she remembered Ronaan's advice, and took a deep breath, exhaling as she sighted along the barrel. There were sights, which her old blaster didn't have. She aimed at one of the droids and pulled the trigger. There wasn't much kickback, and a red plasma bolt shot out, hitting one of the droids square in the chest. Her eyes widened. "I got one?" she whispered in disbelief.

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik, @Sarge

 

IC: Chrondarr
Vengeance is Mine

Chrondarr dropped to the factory floor as Kain yelled "Drop!" The duracrete surface was cold, rough, and far too hard a surface for an old Coynite to throw himself down on. But bruises are preferable to being shot.

Blaster fire ripped back and forth between the four droids and the rebels. The Wookiee bowcaster was still in Chrondarr's hands, so he readied it for action. This particular weapon wouldn't fire until it was cocked, which meant grabbing a hefty lever mounted on the left side of the barrel and pulling it back to the stock, putting tension on the crossbow arms. He pulled, but the lever slipped from his hand and snapped forward again. This thing needed a lot of muscle to operate. Taking a firmer grip, he yanked again, grunting with the effort, and managed to pull the lever all the way back to the trigger catch. Clearly, the Wookiees who had made the bowcaster didn't lack for muscle.

Windsong's voice drifted down from overhead, "The neck, aim for the neck." No doubt that was a vulnerable point, but it was also a small target, tricky to hit in uncertain lighting, especially with an unfamiliar weapon. He let out half a breath, held it, aligned the sights on the center of the nearest droid's torso, and squeezed the trigger.

The bowcaster kicked hard, launching a bright red blaster bolt - no apparent arc or drop at this range - and hit the droid in the chest. A powerful explosion tore the droid to pieces, bits of metal flying through the air. The hips and legs were blown backwards out the door where it came in. The head was blasted almost straight up, slamming hard into the factory ceiling many meters overhead, and dropping back down to smash on the floor.

Chrondarr stared in amazement at what the weapon had done. No, at what he had done. Weapons are only tools. I'm the one who did that. The responsibility is mine, not the tool's.

He abruptly realized he had been lying prone in one place for several seconds. Staying still in an open area without cover was a good way to make oneself an easy target. He rolled over to his right. As he turned, the runes on the bowcaster's stock caught his eye for an instant. VENGEANCE. The name was fitting.

Flopping onto his stomach again, he seized the cocking lever and readied Vengeance for another shot.




TAG: @Adalia-Durron @Mistress_Renata @Vehn

 

IC: Jori Atreus
The streets of Grad

Before the woman could answer there was a crackle coming from their comms. It was Kell. She hoped the volume was not loud enough to attract any further attention, but given the emptiness of the street it was a safe bet that if there was anyone else there, they would have heard.

Nothing to do about that now though…

Jori then nodded to Connor. She was going to interview the woman afterwards, if she were to stick with them that long. Making a swift 360-degrees turn to scan the area she followed him. Her fingers twitching on her blaster’s handle.

She really hoped that they were going to meet her contact as this was turning into a wild Bantha chase…

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @galactic-vagabond422 @Cowgirl Jedi 1701

 

IC: Corrin Skarnsson
Streets of Grad

"I agree," Corrin said in Kell´s direction, while nodding, without actually opening his eyes. "Let our enemies fight each other, what matters is that they die, and if they can do that without our interference its best to let them. Besides, if we attack them we would give away our position to any potential onlookers and the noise might draw more of the machine spirits over to us." As long as he kept his eyes shut Corrin was able to ignore his fear of enclosed spaces and his distaste for places like this. In his mind he was on the hunt again, out there in the wild, giving him the peace he needed.

Tag: @Bodhran777 @RIP.CommanderPonds @Bardan_Jusik

 

GM Update
​

IC: Elim Kain
Inside the factory...

“Kain, I have Connor on the other end. We got muddies and droids out here exchanging fire.” Kain's comm link came to life with the voice of Lian barely able to be overheard as blaster bolts whizzed by close over the rebel leader's head. Kain barely took the time to shout back "We've got our own situation here!" through the comm link as he brought his own blaster to bear and began returning fire on the swiftly moving droids. From where he was on the floor he didn't have the best vantage point and his shot's sailed wide. Other though seemed to be having better luck, as first one droid fell, and then one was blown apart.

That gave the remaining two droids some pause, as they reevaluated their situation. It was then that fire erupted from above them, Pathfinder's rotary cannon. It didn't seem very effective, neither of the remaining two droids were hit, though it kept them from advancing, or retreating. Pathfinder's innaccurate fire was contrasted by the surgical placement of Ronaan's own fire on one of the droids. It seemed to be made of sterner stuff than the other droids that had been hit, as it didn't immediately go down until struck by one of Windsong's arrows. "The neck, aim for the neck," her voice echoed down from up above. By this time there was just one droid left, though it took Kain a moment to realize that as the incoming blaster fire from the droids had died down to nothing.

Jumping to his feet, Kain began to advance on the droid's position, his blaster held at the ready. He waved his hand out in front of his face, palm out as a signal to Pathfinder to cease fire. The over anxious rebel wasn't hitting anything anyway, and Kain didn't want to get nailed by a stray blaster bolt from his own man. This last droid still wasn't returning fire but seemed to have hunkered down instead, and Kain wanted to know why. He motioned his group forward, confident that the trio above would keep watch over them. Bit's of the droid Chrondarr had hit were strewn all over the place, while the other two downed droids were still relatively intact, though clearly no longer operational. The last droid though, had huddled against some old machinery. Rather than cradling a blaster rifle as the other droid's had it had in one hand a blaster pistol, while in the other was a data tape. The droid looked up at Kain, seeming to study him for a moment before it made it's move. bringing up the blaster pistol quick as a flash it trained it's sights on the rebel leader. Kain though, his blaster already at the ready, was faster, and he sent a bolt straight through the neck of the last droid. It went down in a smoking heap and Kain spared a glance towards Windsong in acknowledgement of her advice. Then he bent low and took the stolen datatape from the droid's mechanical fingers.

​

"I have a feeling this is what we're looking for," he said to the others. They had no way to read it just yet, but that was a problem they should be able to easily solve. "Rally back at the guard shack," he yelled out to his team, and to those in the catwalk, before he slung his blaster carbine and pulled out his com link again. "Lian," he stared as he looked down at the data tape in his hand. "Tell Connor and Jori to fall back to the guard shack and regroup." Hopefully they had found Jori's friend by now, but if they hadn't, they probably weren't going to anyway. Not in the chaotic mess that had become Grad. "We'e got what we were looking for." Now they just had to get away with it.

TAG: @Mistress_Renata @Sarge @Vehn @Adalia-Durron

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IC: Geralt Ponds (NPC for now)
Guard shack, factory district, Grad, Skarn

“Why not let the droids sort them out? If we drop the Imps, those droids might spot us and come after us next,” Kell suggested much to Pond's disgust. “If we stay quiet, they might not see us, and they could take care of this patrol for us.” That caused the hunter's lip to curl as his emotions were laid bare. He didn't like the idea of letting someone else do the work for them.

"I agree," Skarnsson replied, sadly agreeing with Kell rather than Pond's own unverbalized dissent. He wrinkled his nose and furrowed his brow now. He could force the issue, open fire on the Imperials with their backs now turned to them and wipe out the band of occupiers before they even knew the rebels were there. He very much doubted his comrades in arms would appreciate that particular action though, and though he had just recently joined the resistance he didn't want to be kicked out so soon. So he waited, and snarled loudly, making his disgust at their cowardice known.

That cowardice though appeared to readily pay off as the mudtroopers quickly were under fire by the rapidly advancing droid army. The ground beneath their feet began to tremble slightly as artillery explosions rocked the Imperial trench lines. Indeed it seemed the droid army was on the verge of a breakthrough. That would soon make their position here at the guard shack untenable, and yet Kain and his teams were still inside. It pained Ponds to even think it, but he hoped the Imperials would hold out against the droids just a little longer and he quietly wondered if there was anything they could do, or even should do, to help that cause...

TAG: @Anedon @Bodhran777

---

Abandoned tapCaf, Grad.

While the other had been fighting for their lives or Connor, Jori and Mairéad had made their way off the dangerous street s and to an abandoned tapCaf, the only building in sight that still looked relatively intact. Of course given the condition of the other nearby building that just meant they had a roof over their heads. The interior of the cafe had been ransacked, looted for anything of value and then torched. The tables had all been destroyed, burned to cinders, and the few remaining chairs had been mostly melted away leaving the trio no where to sit aside from the ash strewn floor. The windows of course had been blown in, the result of blaster fire or explosions. Or perhaps even busted inwards in purpose by whoever had looted the cafe before it had been burned. There was no telling why that fire hadn't destroyed the entire building, there was no evidence that anyone had tried to put it out, and yet even though the interior was a total loss, and much of the exterior had been ruined, the building still stood, giving the trio a bit of sanctuary from the dangerous streets as the message from Kain to retreat back to the guard shack was relayed to them from Lian.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @TheAdmiral @Cowgirl Jedi 1701

OOC: A quick breakdown so we are all on the same page:

• Kain, Chrondarr, Reva, Ronaan, Windsong and Pathfinder have defeated the commando droids and recovered a data tape that one of them was carrying. They are now leaving the factory and on their way back to the guard shack where...
• Skarnsson, Ponds and Lian are at the abandoned guard shack witnessing a renewed attack by the droids on the Imperial trenches. The Imperial lines are about to break, which would allow the droid army to swarm over their position. Your call on what actions to take there (help the mudtroopers, stay put, retreat, anything else you can think of...)
• Jori, Connor and Mairéad are safe in the burned out cafe. they have received the recall order from Kain.

 

IC: Thomas Ronaan
Factory District
Grad

The last shot Thomas ever fired in this engagement reverberated throughout the factory. Then all fell quiet. The kind of quiet that usually brought a respite from the rigors and stresses of combat. He expertly tucked his rifle close to him as he glanced downward at Kain who'd found something interesting. Something that wasn't typically found on a droid in combat.

A data tape in the hands of a droid not yet departed from this world.

Thomas was slow in getting his long rifle ready as Kain vaped the droid. He grunted and gave Kain a look as if to say, Nice reaction.

Kain gave the orders to move out. Thomas took one final look at the factory floor in all its wreckage and the terrible memories that lay here in Grad and resigned himself to never return if he could help it.

"Time to go," Thomas said to Pathfinder and Windsong.

Tag: @Bardan_Jusik and @Adalia-Durron

 

IC: Chrondarr
The Question

For a moment, Chrondarr wondered how long the noise of blaster fire would go on echoing inside the factory. Then he realized, the echoes had stopped. He was hearing distant shots from outside. The end of this fight didn't signal the end of the war, or even this battle.

Kain grabbed an item from one of the droids, some kind of computer thing by its appearance. He didn't know much about computers, but he knew that among civilized - or at least industrialized - people, they were valuable.

And with that, Kain was ready to leave.

As they worked their way back the way they had come in, moving from cover to cover, Chrondarr found himself next to Kain momentarily. He gestured toward the datatape.

"This is so valuable? This is worth all the killing and dying?" he asked quietly.

Before Kain could answer, it was time to move again.



TAG: @Mistress_Renata @Vehn @Adalia-Durron

 

IC: Reva Cambrion
In the factory

It was getting darker, and colder. Not as cold as it had been in the mountains, but Spring in Grad could still be chilly. And while some of the city was still on fire, the night air was distinctly chilly. The droids were falling, now. Reva was rather proud she’d gotten one, but the rest had fallen to her comrades before she could line up another shot. Wuu’s rifle was definitely better than the old Clone Wars blaster she’d been carrying around.

The final droid went down, and Kain approached it, finishing it off with a single blast. She peered through the dimness, and watched as he bent down, then straightened with something in his hand. "I have a feeling this is what we're looking for," he said. Reva couldn’t make out what it was, but it was small. "Rally back at the guard shack!”

That was it? That little thing? That was what the Empire wanted? What so many had died for? Reva shook her head. If it wasn’t plans for a new Death Star, she wasn’t sure it was worth it. Still, maybe Kain would let her slip home to see if her grandmother was okay before he sent them all off again.

Chrondarr edged up to Kain, and asked him something in a low voice. Reva didn’t hear a response. With a few nervous looks into the shadows and up into the ruins of the rafters and half-expecting to come under fire again, she trotted along after her companions towards the guard shack. “Anyone hurt?” she asked.

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik, @Sarge, @Vehn, @Adalia-Durron,

 

Connor Neil, Jori Atreus, & Mairéad O'Crainn -- combo post with @TheAdmiral and @galactic-vagabond422
Abandoned cafe, Grad

Connor kept an eye out as the trio made their way down the street to the bombed out café. He kicked in the door after finding it, hilariously, locked, despite the smashed window next to it. Once inside he checked the corners making sure no one else was in the space with them.

"Alright, everyone know their orders? I like my caf with a little milk and sugar." He said with a smile trying to lighten the mood.

"Me too," Mairéad laughed, playing along. "I wonder if they have any chocolate donuts?"

"Well," Connor continued looking at the once shining rack for baked goods. "I think they're out of chocolate, but they do have glazed. Will that work?" He looked over to Jori. "You want anything?"

Jori pursed her lips, unamused, still on edge and still suspicious of this new girl. "Some tea, please..." she stated flatly.

"Well," Connor jumped over the counter, looking through the machines along the back. He hadn't the slightest idea of how any of them worked, but he was hoping he could find one that was simple. As he looked he left the others to talk. Jori had questions she needed answered. Connor would be nearby to assist should she need it.

Jori leaned on the side of the door and looked at the girl "I am not sure you gave a proper explanation of how you knew that there was anyone there?"

Mairéad wrapped her hands around the empty mug in front of her as if it actually contained a hot beverage. "Honestly, I don't have much of an explanation to give you." She removed one hand from the cup and began absently fingering the crystal on her necklace. "I'm not sure exactly how I knew. It was just a feeling. Somehow I just....knew."

Jori observed her silently for a moment, pursing her lips. That was as good an explanation as any. Not that she actually bought it, but that was not the time, nor the place for any of that. She and Connor would have to ditch the girl "I see, any more such hidden talents?"

"I can see your still not sure about me, and I honestly don't blame you. Times like these it can be hard to know who to trust. I'll try to explain a little better. It's like everything has....energy? And I can read the vibes? And I've always been able to do it, but the crystal on my necklace seems to help me....focus it....a bit more? I don't know if that makes any sense, but I hope it does."

Connor had just finished up making caff and tea and handing it off to the ladies. He took a post at the door and shattered window, keeping an eye out for more unfriendlies. Though he did have to arch a brow at the things the other woman was admitting. Looking to Jori from over Mairéad shoulder he slowly moved his finger in a circle around his ear. The interplanetary signal for crazy, though with the expression on his face it was more of a question than a statement.

Jori nodded, trying to look like she understood, but this explanation caused more questions than provided answers. Though that was going to be a mystery for later, if there will be any. She gave a subtle nod to Connor, but said nothing.

She took a sip and grimaced slightly. The tea leaves were rather stale. "Either way, thank you for the assistance." She eyed her companion again. "I think we should be going, given the last transmission..."

Mairéad took a breath and tried one last time. "Look, haven't either of you ever had a gut feeling about something, and your rational mind questioned it, but you went along with it anyway, and you were glad you did because your gut was right? Well that's basically what happened with that sniper. Also, he really wasn't as quiet as he thought. I heard a sound."

Jori listened intently, though her face did not betray her feelings. After all, she was still a pro journalist. The girl was either delusional, or there was something more. She was not sure which option was worse.

Jori then simply nodded and sighed. "Connor, we should get going." She turned to her comrade, then focused back on the girl. "Whatever it was, it was useful." She gave a small smile.

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik , anybody

 

IC: Corrin Skarnsson

Corrin had left his seated position and had moved to observe the battle between the droids and imperials. He had to admit finding some grim pleasure at the sight of their enemies battleing each other. Every death of that fight was one less threat for them. But at the same time he knew that whoever would win the battle would be become a serious problem and it currently looked like the machines where the ones to pull of a victory. That had its advantages, for not only would the imperials die the droids could potentially be avoided. He turned back to the other hunkered down in the abbandoned guardhouse, "the machine spirits will soon reach our position. The imperials can´t stop them, I suggest we take cover somewhere they can´t find us."

Tag: @Bodhran777, @Bardan_Jusik, @RIP.CommanderPonds

 

OOC: This was supposed to have been posted Monday, but this week has been all sorts of shabbed up with snow days and events at my kid's school. So here it is better late than never I suppose.

GM Update
​

IC: Elim Kain
Outside the factory, rallying with the others at the guard shack.

With the interior layout of the factory now fresh in their minds it didn't take long for Kain and the others who had infiltrated the complex to make their way back outside. He still had the datatape and was carrying it by the handle in his left hand while his blaster carbine slung over his shoulder and his WESTAR 34 in his right hand, just in case they encountered further resistance on the way out. They didn't, however their exit from the inside of the factory just led them right back into the free fire zone that was the current battle between the Imperial army and the Separatist Remnant. It was a battle that didn't seem to be going the Imperial's way.

Out towards the trench lines the Imperial's were wavering, it looked like they had been pushed nearly back to the factory itself, and held just their one last trench. Out beyond them was row after row of droid troopers, though their ranks too had been significantly thinned. It looked to Kain as though their victory was going to be a costly one, though when the soldiers fighting weren't alive he supposed it made no difference if you threw them away in order to win. Still he had to wonder why their advanced team of droids had infiltrated behind the lines just to try to retrieve the datatape he now possessed, and if this was so important to them would they now come after the heroes because they had it? Furrowing his brow he tabled those questions in his own mind as he looked to the guard shack where the the rebel security team was still waiting for them.

"Let's make our way back..." he motioned forward to them when chaos erupted in the last Imperial trench line. The droids had seemed on the verge of breaking through and some Imperial mudtroopers, seeing their inevitable defeat began to retreat, running away and abandoning the line without orders. The few stormtroopers in among them didn't take kindly to that and fired upon the mudtroopers, encouraging them to stay at their posts. Some were killed, convincing a few others to stay and fight, but many kept on running. Too many for the stormtroopers to stop, and with the droids nearly upon them the stormtroopers turned their attention away from the deserters and towards their attackers.

"Hold." Kain said, the retreating troopers were crossing right between his group and those still at the guard shack. It looked like those mudtroopers still retreating were out of the fight, but Kain didn't want to take any chances. They waited for the mudtroopers to go by before rushing towards the guard shack and rallying with the others. "Have you heard from Jori?" Kain asked Lian quickly, there wasn't much time and though he had ordered everyone to rally here it was becoming apparent that soon this position would be untenable, overrun by droids of the Remnant. Behind him there was a loud rumbling, one that drowned out the Ardennian's first attempt at an answer. As Kain leaned in forward to hear him better the rumbling grew louder, accompanied by the ground trembling slightly beneath their feet.

"Droid artillery fire, to kill the deserters in the open," Kain explained to the others. "OK, we have to go now, rally back at the edge of the city..." He led the others out of the shack and into the open as the rumbling grew louder still and the tremble beneath their feet grew in intensity to a measured shaking. "Of course I could be wrong, maybe it's an Imperial barrage..." he said aloud wondering if perhaps they should rush back inside to find cover. He never finished the thought as suddenly, from behind them and far over head red blaster bolts began to rain down upon the droids who had just pushed the last stormtroopers out of the trench. The white shelled troopers, their armor covered in mud, dirt and blood, all turned back and then raised their fists high in a sign of victory before re-engaging the droids. Kain stopped, and looked up at the source of their sudden encouragement, and as he did so the blood drained from his face,

Spoiler

"Oh kriff..." he let out, as the huge Imperial walker let out another barrage of fire at the droids. Farther down the line was another of the AT-AT walkers, and then another and another, all coming out from behind the factory and advancing on the droids, the mudtroopers who had been retreating now advancing with them under their protective bulk. "Now how are we supposed to take down those!?!" Pathfinder yelled, his Z-6 rotary cannon seemingly puny in comparison to the might of the Imperial behemoths. Three of the AT-ATs were well down the line, and advancing rapidly towards the droids. The last though seemed to be headed right for the guard shack!

TAG: @Mistress_Renata @Sarge @Vehn @Adalia-Durron @Bodhran777 @Anedon

---

TA-50 (NPC)
Overseeing the battle of the Facotry, Grad, Skarn

The tactical droid was rather pleased with itself at the moment. The attack he had planned was going better than expected. He had calculated only a 57.8% chance of outright victory and occupation of the factory facility and now here they were on the verge of accomplishing just that. Of course he had also predicted just a 1.2% chance at actually holding it against the inevitable Imperial counter attack which was why the commando droids had been sent in, to recover the data the tactical droid sought. Normally those would have had an 87% chance of success in such a mission, but with the distraction provided by the ongoing battle between the remnant forces and the Imperial army, those odds rose to 98.2%. Now they would not only have the data, they would hold the factory, at least for a short time.

Still the tactical droid was somewhat irked that the commando droids had not yet returned. Had they once again gone off mission to attack the vulnerable Imperials from behind? it wouldn't be the first time and the tactical droid thought that he would have to get their circuits checked. From his position atop a battered old speeder well behind the droid lines the tactical droid once again raised a set of macrobinoculars as it scanned the battlefield for some sign of the commando droids. The few "guards" with him, a quartet of old B-1 battle droids with remnants of crimson paint still on their shoulders, were likewise totally focused on the battle in front of them rather than their own duties. That was why none detected the approach of the small band of resistance fighters to their rear, Connor Neil, Jori Atreus, & Mairéad O'Crainn. The trio had backtracked most of the way to the factory, but hadn't yet made it beyond the droid lines. Their efforts had seen them happen upon this location just as the AT-AT's burst out from behind the factory and began their assault on the droids.

"I had not anticipated that." TA-50 said aloud to no one but himself, though the rebels were near enough to hear it. "Retreat." There was now just a 3% chance of victory, though still a 92% chance that the commando droids would eventually show up with the data he wanted, and that was far more valuable than the droids that had been sacrificed. "Fall back to rally point Bravo Foxtrot." The security droids rushed to obey the tactical droid's orders, though it was now they belatedly noticed the humans who were just mere meters away. "Spies!" one of them yelled in that comically high pitched voice they all shared, causing the other three to level their blaster rifles at them.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @TheAdmiral @Cowgirl Jedi 1701

OOC: A quick breakdown so we are all on the same page:

• Kain, Chrondarr, Reva, Ronaan, Windsong and Pathfinder have linked back up with Skarnsson, Ponds and Lian at the abandoned guard shack. Of course there are now four AT-ATs in the area, with one coming directly at them. You may engage the mud and storm troopers (as well as any remaining droids) as you see fit. You can attack the AT-AT's too, just don't post any damage to them as yet.
• Jori, Connor and Mairéad have made it back to the battle site but are just behind the droid lines (while the others are just behind the Imperial lines) and of course have their own issue to deal with. The four security droids and the tactical droid are yours to deal with as you please.

 

IC: Chrondarr
vs Behemoth

Chrondarr's eyes widened. He had never dreamed robots could be so big. The shots they fired were huge and devastating. Pathfinder wasn't even bothering to shoot the walkers with his handheld cannon, so the things must be too heavily armored for hand weapons. But even the mightiest beasts have vulnerable points. Peering intently at the nearest walker, he tried to make out chinks in the armor. He wiped at the smoke and dust that blew in his eyes. Smoke and dust...

The last walker was coming around the corner of the factory. Chrondarr aimed his bowcaster, sighting in on the corner of the factory building at the same height as the walker's head, and touched the trigger. He hesitated; would his shot give away their position? But the Imperial soldiers and the droids were still fighting fiercely, one more stray shot shouldn't be noticeable to the walkers. Spirits, keep us hidden. He squeezed the trigger, and the bowcaster kicked and spat fire. The spirits had never felt more distant.

The bolt detonated on the corner of the factory walls just ahead of the walker. A small explosion obscured the head of the war machine in flame, smoke, and duracrete dust. The behemoth didn't even slow down, immediately emerging from the cloud. Chrondarr hoped the dust had blurred its eyesight. No responsible hunter would ever shoot without clear vison. The walker fired again. We are not dealing with honorable hunters.


TAG: @Mistress_Renata @Vehn @Adalia-Durron @Bodhran777 @Anedon

 

IC: Reva Cambrion
Hopelessly confused

They had gone into the factory and now they were back where they started. The droids were fighting what was left of the Empire, and so far none of them had noticed the tiny band of rebels. Kain watched the back and forth. "OK, we have to go now, rally back at the edge of the city..."

Reva cleared her throat nervously. "Um, actually, I need to go to the Market district, I need to find--"

He hadn't heard her, he was leading them back into the open, getting ready to withdraw. The ground was rumbling, possibly more explosions nearby. "Of course," he added, "I could be wrong, maybe it's an Imperial barrage..."

And then there was a shout from the Imperial troops and red blaster bolts began to rain down on the droids and everything nearby. "Oh, kriff!"

"Now how are we supposed to take down those!?!" shouted Pathfinder, shifting his weapon and staring up at them.

"What are they?" gasped Reva. Were they droids? Massive, bigger than the hover trams, as big as houses! They were like robot dogs on four legs, spitting fire from guns in the front. Chrondarr waited until one came closer and took a shot at it. It didn't affect the thing in the least. It was shooting at the droids, and the troopers were retreating to take cover near it. So it was Imperial.

She tried to move towards Kain. "There's got to be another exit to the complex," she said. "I have to see if my grandmother is still alive."

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @Sarge @Vehn @Adalia-Durron @Bodhran777 @Anedon

 

IC: Thomas Ronaan
Grad

The rumbling grew louder and louder. So did the heavy cannon fire. So did the presence of the Imperial stormtroopers and thier mudtrooper buddies. It was as if all of the Empire had suddenly awakened to the fact that the factory, that Grad, was a city still worth fighting for and conquering.

Thomas cast his eyes toward the Imperial lines and nearly dropped his long rifle. The walking behemoths, the juggernauts, the metallic fists of the Empire were bearing down on them. AT-AT's. The most lethal ground assault platform the Empire possessed. Obviously Skarn mattered to them or they wouldn't be here. That said something about this place he once called home. Perhaps there was a strategic element to this war he was missing.


He frantically looked around him for a way beyond the battle. This was no place for their small band of resistance fighters. They didn't have the weaponry or the men to take down one of those walkers. More blaster bolts came his way this time from some of the stormtroopers who'd noticed their presence. These were actually fairly decent shots. They were getting closer despite the range.

Thomas kneeled, frustrated he was caught out in the open, raised his rifle, and sighted down the scope. Shot after shot he unleashed watching with satisfaction as the Imperial blaster fire slowly dwindled. Finally it stopped. He looked up in annoyance at the Imperial AT-AT as Chrondarr fired a shot with his bowcaster. He admired the Coynite. He had guts. Still, as he suspected, the attack did very little to jar the walker from its date with the guard shack.

"We need to get out of here," Thomas said," now!"

Tag: @Bardan_Jusik; @Mistress_Renata; @Adalia-Durron; @Anedon; @Bodhran777; @Sarge

 

IC: Jori Atreus
The streets of Grad

Jori was mostly focused on their immediate surroundings, so far the mystery girl did not seem to be a threat, so questioning her would come later. Hopefully Kain would have enough sense as to bring her somewhere away from their usual safehouses and interrogate her.

Well, that was if Mairead wanted to join them. The skill that she had displayed back on the street with the sniper could be very useful. Unless that was pure luck and posturing.

If only they had more time to meet her contact, but now that the Empire must be counter attacking they were running out of time. She could hear the sounds of battle and the distant rumble of heavier walkers. Even at a distance the ground was trembling.

There was another freak coincidence. They stumbled upon four Battle Droids and a Tactical Droid! Jori’s eyes widened, but there was no time to react before the AT-AT appeared and the clankers were about to retreat and spotted them.

Uh-oh…

“We are not spies!” she cried out indignantly “We were just taking a stroll, the weather is nice this time of the year!” if she remembered correctly the droids were easily confused by illogical behaviour. Hopefully that would buy them more time.

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @galactic-vagabond422 @Cowgirl Jedi 1701

 

Connor Neil
Grad

Connor hadn't really spent too much time in the city making it easy for him to be lost in the samey looking burned out streets. Mostly he was following Jori and trusting her. He gave a slight smile to Mairead hopefully putting her at ease after the somewhat cold reception Jori gave her. He might not trust her completely but she seemed like a nice enough girl, not someone he distrusted instantly.

As the walked he heard the sounds of conflict increasing, his hand tightened on his blade as he checked the charge on his blaster. Didn't want to be walking into another fire fight unprepared. He kept his weapons in hand once the blaster fire sounded just down the street.

When they rounded the corner and ran into the droid group the young man raised his blaster just a little slower than Jori started speaking. Maybe it would give them a moment, a moment he could use to…

He held down the trigger spraying the droids with red lasers looking to take out two droids and clipping the tactical droid...then his blaster ran out of power...leaving him with just his sword against the remaining droids. Unless their new acquaintance had something?

TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @TheAdmiral @Cowgirl Jedi 1701

 

Mairéad O'Crainn
Grad

Hearing the telltale sound of a blaster exhausting it's power pack, Mairéad drew the scavenged hand blaster she'd stuck in her belt and aimed at the tactical droid, shooting it squarely in its central processor. Turning in the saddle, she then shot the remaining two droids with equal precision.

"Well that was exciting. Everybody okay?"