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(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/Kessel_SWCCGb.jpg)
Kessel is a far flung misshapen planetoid with a history of galactic repute as far back as Xim the Despot's reign. It is the second and only notable planetary body in a star system of the same name, located dangerously near the treacherous and mysterious Maw Cluster, making it even more isolated than simple astrographics already placed it.
While it is a dim barren rocky landscape with a very thin atmosphere and low levels of oxygen, it's allure lies not in it's hospitality but in being the only source of a highly prized and valuable strain of spice known as Glitterstim, found only in the cavernous depths of the planet's innards, used in both medicinal and recreational applications.
Historically, prison colonies sustained on the planetoid were responsible for procuring the highly demanded substance. The planet's single tiny natural satellite, ages ago dubbed the Garrison Moon, served watch over the host prison world as an entire operational military and administrative complex was carved within. During the reign of The New Order and height of The Galactic Empire, the situation was no different.
But when word of the Fall of Palpatine finally reached the remote outpost of Imperialism, uncertainty began to set in, followed closely by mutinies, uprisings, treachery and power grabs. . .(story of faction establishment TBC here in Corruption Consolidated!)
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FACTION START UP LOG
+1 Player Hero (w/ 2 upgrades), +23 CP Start Fleet, +2,000KC start income, +2 ADs Income
Imperial Officer; Commodore => Admiral => Executive Management
Imperial mk I Star Destroyer - Dracus (adjusted from mk II to mk I 11/12)
Account Balance; 4,900 KC (2000 start up, 2[1000 base pay 1 AD, +200 omega, +150 imp sect palace, +100 exec man])
+1 Stronghold World (Kessel)
+1 Unique PDF, ISDI
+1 Omega Platform (embodied as Garrison Moon)
+1 Imperial Sector Palace
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FACTION INCOME/EXPENSE LOG
Begin Construction 1 Adv. Eng. Inst. *(exempt of Stonghold ban per GM ruling in trade of start up Golan & Sigma) -1,000KC
Begin Construction 3 Undisclosed Facilities -1,500KC
End Balance; 2,400KC
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Corruption Consolidated Pt I
A microcosm of the greater schism that splintered the once grand and unshakeable Galactic Empire raged on within the Kessel System and nearby Maw Cluster. Imperial pitted against Imperial in a bitter struggle of life and death for control of the region, clouded by accusations of treachery, corruption, delusion and sometimes merely the logistics of survival in a post Palpatine Era.
Imperial forces have sharply divided along two fronts, those loyal to Admiral Natasi Daala and those under the banner of Admiral Ishfan Szymon. Originally under Daala's authority, in the wake of the defeat at Endor and ensuing galactic wide free for all, Szymon and a core group of loyalists who perceived her as weak and inviting encroachment sought to plan her assassination and seize power for themselves. The plot was prematurely exposed however and she had the conspirators themselves banished to the Mines of Kessel.
Unbeknownst to Daala only a small portion of the total scheme had been uncovered and her seemingly fitting move in expelling the traitors to Kessel was in fact a misstep, playing directly in to Szymon's preparations. With long standing ties to the under world through his involvement with the Tenloss Syndicate and links to the Hutts, 'imprisoned' on Kessel, Szymon was perfectly positioned to make a power move for complete control of it.
An organized planet wide prisoner uprising brought a half resolved response from the Garrison Moon, half of whose personnel held sympathies for or allegiance to Szymon. The immediate ensuing chaos provided a perfect back drop for a rendezvous with redemption. . .
The cargo turbolift was a cramped and tenuous affair as it loudly rocketed up the decaying shaft, with several dozen liberated prisoners of an array of races brandishing improvised melee weapons, a small handful of heavily armed and uniformed Imperial Commandos surrounding Syzmon and a few close associates huddled closely inside.
A malnourished but towering Wookie prisoner growled an inquiry towards Admiral Syzmon that was interpreted by a Twi'lek,
"He wantsss to know, why we don't kill you and your friends now?"
The Commandos tensed up as they took aim and prepared to sacrifice themselves if necessary before the Admiral spoke up with authority,
"Any man or being who aids this mission will be free to serve me, any one who declines this offer dies on this forsaken shithole here today. ." he proclaimed, locking stares with the pale yellow skinned head-tailed alien before scanning the confined room with a threatening gaze.
The lead soldier ripped off a single shot of his heavy blaster rifle, sending a lethal bolt of red energy singeing through the towering furballs skull and burning out on the metallic wall behind. His lifeless body dropped with a hairy muffled thunk as the prisoners around him parted in startled surprise. The clean wound smoked on both sides as the Twi'lek held back those around him and exclaimed,
"Stop! Sstop!" he paused only a moment, gritting his pointy teeth and calculating before turning to his beleaguered and long imprisoned brethren. Raising the makeshift sword he clenched he declared,
"Sszymon!!," to which they replied in an uproar of support.
As the Turbolift neared the surface, the Commandos doled out a few small arms amongst the prisoners. The Twi'lek was sure to acquire one.
A synthesized female voice declared over a comm speaker, "Approaching Hangar Bay 12".
The large door flung open with a rapid hiss as incoming blaster fire ripped through the first wave of prisoners to exit. But with numbers far outweighing their adversary, the Admiral's liberating guard and new minions quickly over ran them and captured the shuttle they'd foolishly descended in. . .(TBC at a decent hour when I don't gotta work)
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FACTION INCOME/EXPENSE LOG
Begin Balance; 2400KC
Collected 1450KC per AD 11/1 (base 1000KC, facil/hero bonus 450KC)
Purchased Fleet Admiral Hero Upgrade -1000KC
End Balance; 2850KC
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Corruption Consolidated Pt I (cont'd)
. . .the dust settled in the prison facility's hangar bay, where just a day earlier Szymon and his compatriots had worked loading bulked spice on to transports that were shipped off to fuel the logistics of Daala's continued reign over Imperial forces in the region. While most of the dead littering the small hangar bay floor were garbed in prisoner tatters, the rest were Imperials, most of whom bore the armor markings of hardcore Daala loyalists.
The several Commandos, part of an elite infantry unit loyal to Szymon who'd been inserted on the surface prior to the uprising to secure 'Precious Personnel', took up guard of the shuttle while the few dozen surviving prisoners themselves looted the resources of the fallen.
A fellow conspirator escapee, former Ubiqtorate Inspector Niks Urratio shadowed the Admiral, lending him a long dark Imperial military coat to dawn over his woolen convicts costume as he inspected the dead aggressors.
Szymon kicked over a stormtrooper corpse onto it's back and crouched down near it as Urratio stood over him and offered a thought, "A shame these losses. When this is over, we'll need everyone we can get. . ."
Ishfan scoffed lightly and countered with genuine inquiry and conviction, "If they aren't loyal now, why should we trust them when she's gone? There are others who would keep us tied to the Core if not sell out to the Remnants."
Niks crouched down next to Admiral Szymon and pried, "Are you suggesting a purge? You've said yourself when Daala falls, they will all fall in line. What's the alternative, Slimey Hutt Thugs and Tenloss Mercenaries?"
Szymon smirked and adjusted the coat slung over his shoulders as he stood, "It pains me to hear you speak so ill of the Hutts. I understand a being who's loyal to profits. Economics are much simpler than Politics," he ended turning his attention to the Twi'lek who'd approached as the remaining mob of prisoners straggled together awaiting instruction, "What's your name Twi Lek?" he asked.
"Kassha," the Yellow Skinned being responded holding his head high for the first time in years. Though withered from years of imprisonment and work in the tunnels, Ishfan recognized the ambition and potential, his apparent clout with the prisoners an even more valuable trait.
"Impress me, I'm looking for a new Warden. Organize yourselves and this complex, restore order to the other facilities . You have a month to resume full scale production. Accomplish that, and we'll talk more," Szymon plainly stated as he began to turn and depart.
The alien angrily grabbed on to his arm and growled, "You said we'd be free!"
Szymon pulled away as Urratio strong armed him back.
"To serve me," the Admiral answered, "you have it better up here than down in the cell blocs and tunnels, that's a start. You'll have to do more than kill for me to get off this rock."
Kassha hissed, "You play trick Imperial!"
"You assume too much Head Tail. One month," Ishfan answered as he confidently strode off for the Sentinel. Urratio followed after supplying the Twi'lek with a communicator for contacting them and giving him what could only be a reprimand or warning.
"You trust him Admiral?" Niks asked quietly as he caught up with a few jogs and matched pace. Szymon paused a moment just before setting foot onto the shuttle's extended ramp, "Less than some, More than others," he answered while subtly motioning with his eyes towards one of their liberating Commando companions.
Niks understood. The soldier hadn't fired a single shot in the frenzied assault as the escapees swarmed from the turbolift over-running the Daala Loyalists. He must be a plant loyal to her.
The Inspector checked his blaster as the Admiral boarded the shuttle followed by the other Conspirators and Commandos. As the last member of the armored guard began to pass Urratio headed up the ramp, the other stopped him and without a word split his glistening black helmet open with a point blank face shot. His body crumpled to the ground as Niks strolled up the shuttle's ramp and in to it's under belly, the walkway retracting behind him as the Sentinel's engines roared to life. . .
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Corruption Consolidated Pt I (cont'd)
. . .the hangar bay doors slowly swung open with a moaning rusty groan as the shuttle slipped out, leaving the weathered facades of the prison complex behind. Scattered across Kessel, according to plan, similar situations unfolded as fellow conspirators were rescued from their imprisonment amidst the chaos of a planet wide prisoner riot and whisked away.
The cockpit was sealed and dimly lit as the control panels cast a soft glow over the occupants faces. Szymon was comfortable and fluid in the ship's pilot chair as he set a course for the Garrison Moon on the other side of the planetoid. Next to him, Inspector Urratio hailed brethren on an encoded frequency while he switched the transponder signature,
"Op Ivy, Op Ivy. Jailbreak Alpha," he spoke in to his headset followed by a reply over the cockpit's comm-speaker,
"Op Ivy, Roger Alpha. Delta has your course, intercept in six," a voice responded, followed by another pair of supporting calls.
Chasing the horizon, a trio of other Sentinel's formed up along side the Admiral's as the Garrison Moon began to peak over the distant rocky landscape.
The smooth ride came to a close as several small contacts appeared on their sensors, briefly triggering a deep whooping sound before Niks silenced it and flipped a secondary transponder switch before attemping to hail them,
"Incoming Contacts, this is Imperial Operations Flight Sigma, declaring Protocol Five, break off your rendezvous course,"
The incoming ships declined to respond.
"I thought not," Ishfan said to the Inspector who responded, "They're closing FAST. Definitely Interceptors."
The Admiral donned a headset, "To the incoming flight of Interceptors, this is Admiral Ishfan Syzmon. Stand down and break your course," he declared sternly, provoking a response,
"Negative Sigma, you are an illegal flight of prisoner escapees and by order of Admiral Daala authorized to be destroyed," a defiant voice obliged.
"Well at least we know who they are," Inspector Urratio jested.
"Indeed," Szymon responded dryly before conveying directions to the group.
The quartet of shuttles broke off in to groups of two as the Moon Base drew near and a swarm of menacing dark glints began to focus in the distance. They followed suit and broke up in to two separate groups, each pursuing a pair of the Sentinels who separately raced towards the Garrison.
The Sentinels and Interceptors collided in a hail of green and red laser bolts lancing past and in to one another. In the group opposite of the Admirals the Escapees fared well in the first pass, taking out one of the attackers and sustaining only light hit's to their shielding.
The Admiral's flight and wingman in particular were not so lucky. The larger of two groups of Interceptors swooped in raining relentless fire upon them, tearing through the other ship's shielding and ripping a gaping hole through the left side of it's body as they rocketed past. Attempting to follow at first tightly in formation and shield the Admiral's shuttle from a rear attack as the aggressors swung around behind them, the ship shortly buckled to it's mortal wound and gradually lost altitude before diving and crashing down in to the mountainous terrain they passed over below. . .
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Faction Income/Expense Log
4 Facilities Complete Construction
Start Balance; 2850KC
-2140KC Various Starship Constructions (adjusted 11/11 -24KC cost per Exec. Man. Hero Ability)
-700KC Infantry Training Initiated (adjusted 11/11 -200KC cost per Exec. Man. Hero Ability)
End Balance; 10KC (adjusted 11/11 +224KC balance per adjusted savings, 234KC end balance)
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Corruption Consolidated Pt I (cont'd)
. . .one of the pursuers broke off, following the crippled shuttle down to assure the deed, rocking it with several additional blasts that ripped the entire stern apart before it's glide stalled and the remnants dove steeply in to a mountainous crevasse, exploding in a ball of fire on impact. The aggressor swooped in over the smoldering wreckage before pulling up high and with a roll banked back towards it's companions who were closing in on the Admiral's ship.
The Garrison Moon now loomed large ahead as a trio of TIE Interceptors raced upon the lone Sentinel and began to unleash their fury. The shuttle purposefully bumbled about as green jolts zipped passed and grazed it's shielding, giving it a light bump before a shot ripped off half of it's lower right wing causing it to jerk hard before regaining composure. It's ion engine's glow intensified offering a brief sprint.
Inside, a warning siren blared manifesting the ship's distress as a rolling red light bathed the cockpit,
"Engines recieving 200% power Admiral! Overload and Core Meltdown in ten seconds!," the Inspector urgently cautioned as they momentarily out-paced their upper handed assailants.
"Better by my own hand than on their terms, unless you've got another plan!" Szymon cynically retorted while braced in his seat and pushing the shuttle to it's limits,
"Nothing comes to mi. . ." Urratio began before a re-assuring voice came across the comm-speaker,
"Imp Op Sigma, Imp Op Sigma, Garrison Control. Support incoming,"
An operator declared mere moments before a flock of nearly a dozen TIE Fighters came screaming in breaking up the chase and bringing with them a hail of fire ripping wing from fuselage of the unexpecting Interceptors whose debris fluttered off,
"Your tail is clear Sigma, Zulu Flight assuming escort, Over" the rescuing Flight Leader spoke over the comm as half of the TIEs surrounded the lop-sided Sentinel that had slowed to a limping pace and the rest rushed to confront the remaining attackers.
"Roger that Zulu! Thanks for pest control!," the Inspector eagerly responded with relief as the Admiral's tension washed away and he added his thanks in sarcasm,
"Fashionably Late Commander, that will be reflected in your pay," he said warm but boldly in to the comm to a chuckled response,
"Still a better rate than my last job Sir," answered the lead pilot.
Szymon and Urratio relaxed as the bruised ship and her escort neared the Moon whose crater pocked surface came to focus as it filled the cockpit view port. . .
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Corruption Consolidated Pt I (cont'd)
. . .nearing the upper polar region of the Moon Base, the TIE Fighter chaperones swooped away, breaking off their escort of the Admiral's Sentinel as they'd approached the main hangar bay entrance, it's large opening parallel to the surface and apparent only because of the large fortified tower bristling with weaponry and jutting out from the otherwise vacant landscape standing guard nearby.
A communique came across as the small ship drew near,
"Imp Op Sigma this is Garrison Control, the station is Op Ivy. We have you on lock and are bringing you in, Welcome to Sky Bogey Admiral!,"
a friendly voice from the tower fortress welcomed the battered shuttle as the giant hangar doors slowly retracted and guided by tractor beams it gingerly descended beneath the moon's surface and in to the Garrison Base itself.
The interior of the main hangar deck was vast and spacious, several hundred meters deep and across in both directions and highly illuminated by hundreds of ceiling mounted lamps. Upon one of the walls sat dozens of TIE starfighters of various sorts, neatly organized and glimmering perched on their racks. Another filled with larger auxiliary berths with support craft housed within, nearly mirrored on the behemoth facade across. The spanning floor space was mostly open with clearly marked path ways, guide posts and several repair bays along the base of the walls. A handful of Scout Walkers freely paced about, their heads slowly swiveling from side to side.
The shuttle came to a hydraulic cushioned landing within a large marked boundary and as though with a sigh of relief, with a chorus of hissing expelled pressurized exhaust fumes as a mechanical hum accompanied the extension of the gang-plank which settled on the steel paneled floor.
A gauntlet of twenty or so stormtrooper platoons, their left shoulder plates dyed a deep dark red, hurriedly formed up on either side of the walk way and facing the Sentinel while a quartet of ranking officers waited on the end.
CUE THE IMPERIAL MARCH!!!
A pair of the rescuing obsidian black armor clad Commandos descended first and walked slowly ahead of Admiral Ishfan Syzmon, Inspector Niks Urratio, Commander Illith Valk and Major Barl Cestis, all still wearing an assortment of bulky wool like prisoner garb and Imperial Military Overcoats, and followed by the few additional guard.
As the procession emptied the shuttle and marched down the gauntlet, the hundreds of loyal troopers snapped to attention and swung their stance ninety degrees to face the arrivals with the familiar plastic to metal sounding clank of many stormie boots echoing throughout the hangar deck, their BlastTechs clenched in proud display.
With Szymon and his attache approaching the welcoming group of Imperial Officers, it became clear that one of them was in detainment, his wrists locked in binders and his rank insignas stripped off. Much to the Admiral's disappointment, it was the Kessel facilities Warden, Commander Dewt Kluskine, an individual he had known personally and counted on to fall on his side. The other three straightened their already stoic posture while Kluskine fell to one knee before Admiral Ishfan and his company as they halted their confidant stride before them. . .
ANNNND FLUTIE TWINKLE SOUNDING FADE OUT!!!
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Corruption Consolidated Pt I (cont'd)
. . ."Admiral," a young rosy faced Lieutenant eagerly paid homage while stepping forward and presented Szymon's neatly folded and freshly pressed charcoal colored uniform with an ornately hilted and sheathed scimitar like vibro-sword atop.
Ishfan was initially more concerned with the shackled Kluskine,
"Commander," he addressed the kneeling officer.
Dewt stood and met the Admiral's intent gaze briefly before breaking eye contact and hanging his head, starring back towards the floor.
The highest ranked of the other greeting officers, an aging greyed Lieutenant Commander with a wiry handle-bar mustache, began to address the issue,
"Admiral Szymon, the Garrison Moon has been secured by personnel loyal to you sir and it is with great relief we welcome your Command. There was however, some resistance, directed by Commander Kluskine who has petitioned to address you in person. The rest of the traitors are in the lower levels, and being processed for immediate transfer to the mines. I regret to inform you Sir that during the fracas, a transmission was dispatched. It is likely that the developments have been exposed,"
Szymon continued starring intently at the bound Dewt Kluskine as the Lieutenant Commander gave his report. As the other finished, the Admiral spoke to Dewt bluntly,
"Fool, your place was promised, what has Daala given you that I already haven't?"
he asked with genuine appeal. A broken Kluskine looked back up to meet Ishfan's cold stare and respond,
"It's not Daala I serve or fear Ishfan, but do you not think the Emperor's Agents will come from the Core? do you believe that he is dead? have you never seen the things to come out of The Maw? What if she comes wit. ."
The Admiral abruptly cut him off and leaned in,
"You're delusioned my friend. Palpatine is dead, Vader is gone. The Empire is gone with them. Pretenders remain. The Republic will Return. Right now? It's all up for grabs, you just have to reach out and take it. As for The Maw, I've been there, and there's nothing Tarkin's Wrinkled Old Bitch can bring with her that scares me more than the thought of serving that wench,"
he stepped away, turned and reached for the sheathed vibro-scimitar, drawing the blade and continuing,
"How much was it you owed me still?" Szymon inquired while admiring the sword's edge, referring to an outstanding debt the morally and literally bankrupt Dewt almost constantly maintained to the equally corrupt and swindling Admiral.
Kluskine nervously replied, "Fifty-thousand."
Turning to Inspector Urratio, Ishfan asked, "ten thousand a finger, fifty for a whole hand?"
Niks smirked and answered, "he's not much good mining spice with one hand though,"
"Good point," the Admiral conceded with a light humored chuckle, "might as well take both then," he concluded while clenching the scimitar and motioning with his free hand to two of his obsidian armor clad guard who slung their blaster rifles behind their backs and each grabbed an opposing arm of the handcuffed Dewt Kluskine, holding them extended out while forcing him back to his knees as he pleaded,
"No, No, Admiral, Please! Send me to The Rock, I'll dig ten times that out for you personally!"
"No thanks, I don't want your filthy paws touching my spice" Szymon declined, while raising his weapon two-handed and preparing to strike down.
"Daala will come, and if you defeat her, other's will come after her to control the Glitterstim!" Kluskine exclaimed as Admiral Ishfan Szymon grew angry and swept downward. . .
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Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 234KC
Income AD 11/15; 1550KC (1000 player rate, 450 facilities, 100 hero), 1250KC Spec. Projects Purse (The Maw/Adv. Eng. Inst.)
Current Balance; 1784KC, 1250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Constructions (start 2:30pm EST 11/15)
-135KC various GAVs begin construction
-400KC various Infantry initiate training
-1246KC various Starships begin construction
End Balance; 3KC, 1250 KC Spec. Proj. Purse
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Corruption Consolidated Pt I (Conclusion)
. . .a split second twist of Ishfan's wrists brought the blade to bear sideways rather than straight across, as needed to sheer off Kluskine's hands. With a loud metal to metal shank and break accompanied by a gruesome distinct sound of tearing of flesh, his binders were split in their center as the tip of his nose was sliced in half and draped open as the guards released him and he dropped to the floor clenching his profusely bleeding nasal wound and his wrist binding fell apart.
Szymon knelt down close and passed his sentence upon the betrayer,
"I anticipate that. Go to her then, and come back with her if you dare," he said, motioning with a clenched fist and his thumb back towards the damaged shuttle upon which he'd himself returned from imprisonment.
Szymon stood while sheathing his blade and hadn't returned a glance upon the disgraced Commander Dewt Kluskine, as the defeated man hastily hobbled down the gauntlet of daunting stormtroopers, hands clenching over his nose, nervously looking them up and down as he passed and occasionally behind over his shoulder. Expecting to be gunned down at any moment, he stumbled on his way up the boarding ramp that retracted as the ship quickly began to lift off and bobbled it's way up and out of the Garrison Moon Hangar Bay.
The Admiral and his now dense party of several loyal officers and guards themselves hastened away from the scene, discussing preparations for the inevitable confrontation with Admiral Natasi Daala, while the parade formation of loyal followers was dismissed and jogged away to their posts. Speaking to the group but directed towards Inspector Urratio who hung near Ishfan's side and now fiddled with a datapad, the Admiral conveyed his orders as they exited the hangar area in to a turbolift to take them lower in to the subterranean base structure.
"Some immediate appointments are in order, Major Cestis is elevated to Colonel with oversight of all infantry and supporting ground units. Commander Valk is charged with order of the starfighter squadrons. Lieutenant Commander Eliss is promoted to Commander and Warden of the prison systems thereby Chief Administrator of the Garrison Moon and Commander of the Spire, Inspector you will forthright hold the office of Inspector General, second to me,"
His address was interrupted by a rickety jittering of the turbolift along it's guide rails after which the newly appointed Inspector General Urratio inquired,
"Sir we are humbled by your graciousness, but pardon my inquiry, was it to our advantage to release Kluskine to return to Daala? His insight could prove useful to her,"
The Admiral scoffed, "Careful Inspector, you'd better express your graciousness through swift and decisive execution of my orders," to which Niks quickly bowed in supplication and caved, "Forgive me Admiral, I. .", Ishfan cut him off,
"You're being skeptical and bold, hence your appointment," he took a breath before elaborating his reasoning, "There is no 'Stim in the Maw. Dewt has been a maintenance 'Stim addict for decades, when he cleans out and withdrawal sets in he will fall to pieces, already in her midst. Daala is too careful. She won't move quickly, though she will come against us. She will accept him in to her fold, by the time she makes her move he'll be nothing but a liability at best and we will be well prepared for her encroachment,"
"Of course Admiral, a stacked gamble in our favor. I eagerly anticipate the pay out," the Inspector General praised after which Szymon continued to elaborate the entire background of the scheme with many intricate facets of detail as the turbolift sped to their stop, the detainment or 'slave pen' levels, where the numerous surviving collaborators of Kluskine's on Daala's side had been tossed after being defeated in the base wide mutiny.
Ishfan stepped out of the turbolift on to a sturdy cat walk, suspended from the ceiling as a relatively wide open detainment area below was filled with opponents to his rise, as a stormtrooper guard greeted the now burgeoning warlord,
"Admiral!," the solider eagerly exclaimed in a slightly fuzzed comlink voice while snapping to a firm salute stance. "Welcome to the Detainment Level Sir! We'll have these scum shaped up and Rockside as soon as you give the order!"
"Excellent Corporal," the Admiral commended his high spirits with a pat on the shoulder, "I trust you're keeping our guests cozy in the meantime?," he asked with a devilish smirk.
To which the young trooper jovially answered, "Cozy, yes sir, you could call it that!," as a loud zapping noise followed by painful outbursts of screaming followed in the background.
"The situation on Kessel should return to operational status soon enough," the Admiral continued before he spoke up loudly to address the several hundred prisoners as well, who were in general half attired in some form of imperial fatigue and staggered to their feet to squint up towards the intentionally blinding spotlights that beamed down on them below, "and then our friends down there can really have a taste of the new direction to which they are so opposed and experience first hand the muck of our birth to greatness!," he declared in shout by the end of his words, accompanied by cheers of the loyalists around him who spat down and scorned the opposition below, who returned their jeers that were answered with painful zaps from long armed shock poles wielded by the numerous other stormtrooper guards who paced about the gridwork of catwalk throughout the lower most base level. . .
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Disclaimer Note: Lead in to GM Administered "Mock Battle" for Story Premise. Unit's Described in any state throughout Corruption Consolidated story installments or impending mock combat posts do not NECESSARILY exist in GCW II Real Time. Kessel PDF and Hero Forces exist in the now along regulations independent of story development and mock battle action.
Corruption Consolidated Pt II
. . .two weeks later. . .
Ishfan stood on the dimly lit small observation deck of The Spire, the towering defensive structure rising out from the cratered landscape of the Garrison Moon and seemingly lined from top to bottom with heavy weapon emplacements. Finally again fitted in the proper attire of an Imperial Warlord, his sturdy black knee high boots and charcoaled fatigues, Admiral's ranking, and a few other interesting unique adornments pinned atop a deep red sash wrapped from right waist to left shoulder and around again to hang down one's back as a cape. He paced about the uppermost platform swirling a bubbling concoction in a glass as his vibro-scimitar clanked at his side, stopping intermittently to gaze out the wrap around transparisteel walls and domed ceiling in to open space. Alone, save for a pair of black armored guards on either side of the only doorway in to or out of the secluded chamber. Waiting and watching for his adversary, Admiral Natasi Daala, to return for a climactic confrontation of rivaled Imperial commanders set to determine the future of the fractured Imperialist forces in the region.
A trio of TIE Interceptors screamed by and off out on patrol as a Hopper Shuttle approached the main hangar entrance, the mines of Kessel already again beginning to reap and return their valuable asset, the potent unique strain of spice known as Glitterstim. Popular both legitimate and illicitly for pharmaceutical and recreational consumption, the spice is harvested by hand by the slaves of Kessel's various prison facilities from the treacherous deep vast interconnected system of cavernous tunnels, home to the deadly Energy Spiders, the actual source of the spice itself. A caste system amongst the imprisoned populace of Kessel manages itself, as higher level prisoners worked in the safety of the complexes themselves and administrated the mining and raw refinement. Only the top levels of a facilty, where the spice was shipped off to Sky Bogey and new prisoners recieved, were staffed by Imperial personnel- specifically those loyal to Szymon.
Now in complete control of the Kessel System and distribution of Glitterstim, Admiral Ishfan Szymon has summoned support from his seedy associates and consolidates a base of power to draw out Daala for defeat and control of the Maw along with remaining nearby Imperial assets to extend his sphere of influence and galactic prominence.
The Observatory's entrance smoothly glided open as the finely affluent civilian attired Inspector General entered from the brightly illuminated corridor and sealed behind him as he briskly strode up the slightly inclined spiral walk way to the Admiral. A unique yellow-orange two block rank badge pinned to his collar the only apparent identifier of his post. Szymon greeted him with an embrace that was unexpected by Urratio, then ushered him to one of the few hovering seats as he presumed to pour him a glass from a nearby server droid which the Inspector reluctantly accepted as Ishfan himself continued to pace and swirl while they conversed personally briefly before business ensued,
"Sharp look Niks," Ishfan commented with a tip of his glass, "I must say I'm jealous, you seem to be enjoying things more than me," he said.
The Inspector sniffed his chemically roiling beverage in hand before pulling away to hold it at a distance as his eyes teared up and retorted, "from the scent of things definitely not, and there's nothing to be jealous of, this is the third time I've changed today, after playing go between all day to settle a dispute for a pair of rival Hutt Kajidics we're supplying there's not enough fresh water on a super tanker to wash the stench and slime off,"
The Admiral halted his pace and smiled, "the slime I can understand, but the only stench I detect from a Hutt is that of money," he humored Urratio before tucking his sheathed sword around, taking a hover-seat himself and inquiring, "What developments have you to report Inspector?" Ishfan plainly addressed his newly officially made executive officer.
"Admiral, our scouts and sleepers report Daala's battlegroup is now moving out of The Maw. It will take some time, but their arrival is now imminent. We estimate a week at most, few days at least. The Spire is strong, our forces drilled and ready, your auxiliary contracts now mustering in the outer reaches of the system with a strong investment on behalf of the Hutts who've committed a pair of Providence cruisers to protect their interests with us. With Daala however come four Imperial Star Destroyers" the Inspector began with concern as he hailed the server droid and placed his drink on it's extended tray arm and shooed it away as it spit a few boops and bops of unappreciation and rolled away, it's head still pivoted towards the two. Szymon cut in,
"What of my Flagship?"
The Inspector hesitated before answering, "Still no word from the Devorantum my Lord,"
The Admiral was blank for a moment before biting his lip and angrily hurled his glass across the room as his patience was wearing thin, sending it smashing in to the transparent steel walls as the liquid contents streamed down the wall and shattered fragments fell to the floor. The server droid hurriedly scurried over while emanating an annoyed barrage of beeps and whistles,
"The stealth beacon was active and received our transmissions," the Inspector attempted to offer optimism, "there is hope yet that she will return in time," he concluded.
"Yes, hope," the Admiral reiterated and continued as he stood and kicked the hover-chair back across the floor, resuming his pacing, "the Hutt warships are fodder, the Tenloss reliable and brash but no match for Star Destroyers alone, offer me something more reassuring than hope Inspector," he said rhetorically as the server droid returned and Ishfan helped himself to a freshly brewed specialty as it seemingly let out an electronic sigh. . .
-
Corruption Consolidated Pt II (cont'd)
. . .the settling somber tone was then in a moment of miraculous timing shattered as out in the distance in a flash of light, the familiar form of the refitted Victory Star Destroyer Devorantum appeared.
The Inspector's face was awash with pleasant surprise as he reached out towards the sever droid and picked up his previously unsampled drink in celebration, taking a sip while watching the ship in the distance and attempting to contain the creeping gittyness. The Admiral swung his neck back and jaws gaping gulped his entire glass, this time in contrast tossing the empty vessel across the room and shattering in to the wall in a resounding display of relieved comfort as he turned towards Inspector Urratio and cracked a dastardly grin from ear to ear while the distraught and agitated server droid again scurried off to perform it's task.
"That's a nice trick Inspector!," Szymon warmly declared, addressing the irony of timing, "pull a few more out of your sleeve for me if you don't mind, but first let's relocate my Command" , he said motioning about the chamber with a sweep of his arm as he returned his attention to proudly watching his command ship close in.
Urratio brushed the folds out of his clothing as he stood and took another small taste of his beverage before returning it to the attending droid and pulling a communicator from his belt beneath his tunic and speaking in to it,
"This is the Inspector, prepare Admiral Szymon's shuttle for departure and inform Commander Eliss that the Garrison Moon is vested under his full authority as of our departure," . . . .
A small shuttle sped out of the Garrison Base's hangar bay and made it's way towards the recently arrived Star Destroyer. It disappeared beneath the shadow of the large starship as it was swallowed up in to the cruiser's belly and the Devorantum itself slowly turned away from the moon and made it's way towards the massing patch work fleet of Tenloss Syndicate mercenaries and Hutt warlord allies on the fringes of the system, waiting to greet Daala upon her arrival. . .
-
Prologue
For hundreds of years Kessel has stood at the top of a mountain built on slavery and spice. While the promise of a lucrative resource has brought many to Kessel, it has been the Galactic Empire alone who has cornered this region of the galaxy off for its own purpose. For the Empire, it's not just about spice... it's about the neighboring Maw Cluster where some of the most fearsome weapons of mass destruction are devised in secret. It has because of the many black holes in the region why the Empire chose the build the Maw Installation there - for in the event that their calculative and "mad" science could create a catastrophic event - the black holes would provide both protection and secrecy. It is ironic that the fear the Empire itself has for its weapons, is the same fear it seeks to strike in the hearts of all...
GM Notice The Kessel Uprising is a staged storyline Flashpoint for character and plot development. Participation from all other players is neither required nor desired, and all units featured in this battle are scripted. The battle is taking place in a region of deep space between Kessel and the Maw, so all combat actions for purposes of the rules will be confined to a single grid.
THE KESSEL UPRISING
(http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy185/americanhero1984/BattleofKessel.jpg)
(http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy185/americanhero1984/JolieDaala.jpg)
with Angelina Jolie starring as Natasi Daala
Admiral Daala sat comfortably in her command chair onboard the Imperial Star Destroyer Gorgon, reading a briefing report from her executive officer Commander Kratas regarding the recent performance evaluations from the all-hands drills she had administered recently. Though the thoughts of satisfaction in her crew came to a halt as the Commander approached her hastily...
"Admiral Daala, long-range sensors report an inbound attack group, mixed vessels - both Imperial and Rebel of design."
Daala lept from her chair and rushed to the front of the bridge, "bearing?"
"237 Mark 014."
Looking in that direction, Dalaa finally saw her threats.
"ComScan confirms that we have one YT-1300 freighter - the SPARTACUS - escorted by one X-Wing squadron and one Y-Wing squadron, all craft appear to be in an attack run!"
"The SPARTACUS?! I thought that freighter was destroyed months ago. It seems the Tenloss Syndicate doesn't know when to quit. Launch the Skiprays and a partial fighter screen then signal Maw Command that we are repelling threats... Perhaps it is time we field test our new prototype weapon and give a demonstration of its firepower, yes? Activate MEDUSA."
"Yes Admiral," replied Commander Kratas, who stepped over to a special console and pushed a few buttons. Within moments, additional shields came online and the Gorgon's tractor beams were activated. The MEDUSA was Daala's latest pet project that she hoped to implement on a mass-scale for all Star Destroyers, as its destructive power was large relative to the size and cost of the actual system itself. MEDUSA was an abbreviation of Magnetic Energy Displacement for Unidirectional Suppression/Assault, which converted tractor beams into weapons by reversing their polarity and modifiying their projectors with phased particle cannons. After firing a first shot however, the MEDUSA system had to rely on an inordinate amount of energy, and so power had to be rerouted either from the core or from the shields for sustained attacks.
"Admiral... MEDUSA is online."
"Good. Target the starfighters and destroy them..."
Within moments, the Gorgon's tractor beams began projecting red pulses of energy, which began slashing at the Y-Wings and X-Wing with brutal intensity. Daala smiled, seeing the destructive power of her combat system finally realized. Would the fools continue to press their attack?
Action Summary
1. Launched 3 TIE Interceptor Squadrons to CSP. TIEs form into TIE Swarm.
2. Launched 36 Skipray Blastboats to CSP.
3. Fired 5 MEDUSA Tractor Beams at X-Wing Squadron TS1: 500 x UCR [3/6] = 250 Damage.
4. Fired 5 MEDUSA Tractor Beams at Y-Wing Squadron TS2: 500 x UCR [3/4] = 375 Damage.
<> ISD Gorgon
Location: The Maw Cluster | UCR: 3 | Shields: 3520/1860 | Armor: 1860/1860 | Hull: 880/880 | Systems: 880/880 | MEDUSA Online (+100% Shields & Tractors = Weapons)
>> Imperial Officer: ADMIRAL Natasi Daala
Location: Onboard Gorgon | UCR: 10 | Armor: 200/200 | Health: 200/200 | Attack: 200 | Flagship bonuses applied.
>> TIE Avenger Squadron MI-G-01
Location: Hangar | Status: --- | UCR: 9 | Shields: 240/240 | Armor: 240/240
>> TIE Advanced x1 Squadron MI-G-02
Location: Hangar | Status: --- | UCR: 7 | Shields: 216/216 | Armor: 216/216
>> Elite TIE Interceptor Squadron MI-G-03
Location: Hangar | Status: --- | UCR: 10 | Armor: 360/360
>> TIE Interceptor Swarm MI-G-04
Location: Deployed | Status: CSP | UCR: 10 (Swarm UCR = 8) | Armor: 720/720
>> Skipray Blastboat Rapier Group
Location: Deployed | Status: CSP | UCR: 5 | Shields: 25/25 | Armor: 25/25 | (36/36)
>> Imperial Landing Barge Python Group
Location: Hangar | Status: --- | UCR: 1 | Shields: 100/100 | Armor: 100/100 | (10/10)
--> Infantry: 1000/1000 Stormtroopers | Status: Loaded
--> Vehicles: 60/60 AT-STs | Status: Loaded
-
(http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy185/americanhero1984/JolieDaala.jpg)
Admiral Natasi Daala
"Admiral, the Tenloss Syndicate skermish force continues to persist, shall they be destroyed?" asked Commander Kratas.
"Yes, but I want the Spartacus brought onboard. I wish to question her captain and get to the bottom of this Tenloss Syndicate..." replied Daala.
"Yes, Admiral," replied Kratas, as he hurried to execute her orders. The Gorgon unleashed a full turbolaser salvo against the remaining starfighters and finished them off before using its ion cannons and tractor beams to disable the Spartacus and haul it onboard.
Daala smiled pridefully, having repelled another pirate attack, but the reasoning behind the attacks is what vexed her the most. In the past weeks, frequent incursions into the Maw and Kessel system were becoming too common. Still operating under orders from Grand Moff Tarkin, Daala was to maintain strict radio silence with the rest of the Empire until called for. Her compliance to these orders and the resulting ignorance that followed would ultimately be her undoing, as she had no idea what the rest of the galaxy was brewing.
"Commander Kratas, prepare the prisoners for interrogation, and take the Gorgon into the Kessel System, high orbit" ordered Daala, who returned to her command suite at the rear of the bridge to open up a subspace HOLOCOMM connection with the rest of the Maw Fleet. Sitting in her own command chair, the warden of the Imperial Corrections Facility - Dewt Kluskine - was waiting there for Daala. "Dewt, when did you get here? And why are you sitting in my chair!?"
"Apologies, Admiral, but I have urgent news..." replied Kluskine.
"It can wait!" responded Dalaa, who opened up a HOLOCOMM channel with her Fleet. "Attention, Maw Fleet, this is Admiral Dalaa. We have successfully repelled our pirate attackers and are entering the Kessel System to investigate the apparent uprising on our hands as led by the traitorous Syzmon! Presently, I need all three Star Destroyers to make their way to Kessel, there is---"
Immediately, Kluskine lept from the command chair and jammed a vibro-knife directly into Dalaa's kidney, and then withdrew the blade to further subdue Dalaa by holding the knife to her neck as he bound her arms behind her back.
Crying out in pain, Dalaa was helpless while Kluskine had effectively taken her hostage onboard her own ship. Although Kluskine was steadfastly loyal to Dalaa, his spice addiction had prompted this lashing out in violence. Along with the prison break at Kessel itself, Kluskine knew the only way to satisfy his spice addiction and take control of his destiny once and for all would be to kill his comrade and take her place as the supreme executor of all Imperial forces in the system.
"NOW LISTEN TO ME!" shouted Kluskine, who was also broadcasting on the open HOLOCOMM channels. "I AM NOW THE CAPTAIN OF THIS SHIP! AND I DEMAND THAT ALL IMPERIAL FORCES LOYAL TO THE EMPIRE CONVERGE ON KESSEL AND DESTROY SZYMON NOW!!"
Before Kluskine could finish his statement, a pair of Stormtroopers opened fire on him and freed Dalaa from his grasp. Dalaa fell to her knees and crawled over to Dewt, who was dying, "Whyyy...!? You bastard!"
"Syzmon... he... is... Ten---" and then he faded into death.
Unfortunately for Dalaa, the entire escapade was broadcasted on the HOLOCOMM, and so the trio of Star Destroyers that were ordered to Kessel dwindled to a pair as the Basilisk immediately lept into hyperspace - abandoning its post at the Maw. As the Hydra and Manticore traveled a safe route, the Manticore was halted by an immediate surge of subspace radiation and the swelling of a black hole. Unable to make a pursuant course safelt to Kessel, the Manticore was forced to stay behind while the Hydra joined position with the Gorgon over Kessel's high orbit.
"Captain Gracchus, why aren't you taking positions?" asked Dalaa over the HOLOCOMM.
"Admiral, the black holes and radiation are too intense at the moment. We will resume our journey when activity subsides..." replied Captain Gracchus of the Manticore.
Still reeling from pain, Dalaa held her kidney wound stiffly. Medics were helping patch her up, but the pain was still present. "Captain, there is an uprising taking place! Need I not remind you that we are the only line of defense in this system?! Proceed to Kessel immediately!"
"Yes, Admiral," replied the captain, and despite intentions not to do so, the Manticore began its sublight trek to Kessel, but unfortunately for the ship and her crew, it was soon swallowed by a black hole swell. Even taking the ship into hyperspace was not enough to escape the black hole's grip, as within moments the Manticore was gone and its crew with it.
Admiral Dalaa slammed her fist, knowing now she had only the Gorgon and the Hydra to safeguard Kessel, as apparently the captain of the Basilisk was also somehow involved in this uprising - having decided to bail at the most critical moment. Returning to her command chair, Dalaa prompted Commander Kratas regarding the status of the Spartacus.
"Admiral, the Spartacus has been captured, yet the only crew onboard is a single astromech droid, which apparently was piloting the vessel."
"I want that droid's memory completely scanned and the Spartacus cargo holds checked for any stow-aways. Something's not adding up..."
"Yes, Admiral. And what of our operations in Kessel?"
"Deploy all remaining starfighters for patrol, and put the Hydra on full alert!"
Action Summary
1. Moved to C-14. All units on CSP.
<> ISD Gorgon
Location: C-14 | UCR: 3 | Shields: 3520/1760 | Armor: 1760/1760 | Hull: 880/880 | Systems: 880/880 | MEDUSA Online (+100% Shields & Tractors = Weapons)
>> Imperial Officer: ADMIRAL Natasi Daala
Location: Onboard Gorgon | UCR: 10 | Armor: 000/200 | Health: 100/200 | Attack: 200 | Flagship bonuses applied.
>> TIE Avenger Squadron MI-G-01
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 9 | Shields: 240/240 | Armor: 240/240
>> TIE Advanced x1 Squadron MI-G-02
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 7 | Shields: 216/216 | Armor: 216/216
>> Elite TIE Interceptor Squadron MI-G-03
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 10 | Armor: 360/360
>> TIE Interceptor Swarm MI-G-04
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 10 (Swarm UCR = 8) | Armor: 720/720
>> Skipray Blastboat Rapier Group
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 5 | Shields: 25/25 | Armor: 25/25 | (36/36)
>> Imperial Landing Barge Python Group
Location: Hangar | Status: --- | UCR: 1 | Shields: 100/100 | Armor: 100/100 | (10/10)
--> Infantry: 1000/1000 Stormtroopers | Status: Loaded
--> Vehicles: 60/60 AT-STs | Status: Loaded
<> ISD Hydra
Location: C-14 | UCR: 3 | Shields: 1600/1600 | Armor: 1600/1600 | Hull: 800/800 | Systems: 800/800 |
>> TIE Fighter Swarm TF-H-01
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 8 | Armor: 864/864
>> Skipray Blastboat Cutlass Group
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 5 | Shields: 25/25 | Armor: 25/25 | (36/36)
>> Imperial Landing Barge Cobra Group
Location: Hangar | Status: --- | UCR: 1 | Shields: 100/100 | Armor: 100/100 | (10/10)
--> Infantry: 1000/1000 Stormtroopers | Status: Loaded
--> Vehicles: 60/60 AT-STs | Status: Loaded
-
Corruption Consolidated Pt II (cont'd)
. . .several days later. . .
Admiral Szymon's fleet had amassed near Kessel, composed of mostly various non-Imperial ships committed by his various nefarious allies and associates such as the Hutts and Tenloss Syndicate, though headed by his personal command cruiser the Victory II Star Destroyer Devorantum.
With battle looming, tensions ran high throughout the fleet as they anxiously awaited their opponents. Onboard the Devorantum, Szymon sat tall in his command chair on the bridge as he convened with a few small holograms emanating from his stoop's arm rest and the crew scurried about their duties.
"Wunda Boofash Kee Lanee!" a diminutive Hutt figure said while gesturing to another scaled down Hutt representation beaming separately nearby.
The other miniature bluging character reacted in a threatening manner, shaking it's short arm with a clenched fist towards the neighboring bulbous holo-likeness, "Osaka! Kajidic Moola Vundoosh Ikami!" he exclaimed in response.
Ishfan grew immediately impatient with their hostile exchange and interjected with his own threats to alleviate their contention with one another, accompanied by bit of humored spite, "Gentlemen, I can assure you any ship attempting to leave this congregation or betray our arrangements will be left drifting aimlessly through space in a sea of twisted and charred debris. When I consolidate power here, the torrential flow of Glitterstim will satisfy everyone's demand. Let's put these differences aside and resolve them like the civil human beings we all are after our immediate business is handled?," he stated commandingly.
The robust arguing characters yielded to the Admiral while dismissing each other with quiet grumblings and annoyed stubby armed articulations as another tiny alien holo-being spoke up as it stepped forward and nodded respectfully while standing erect and bearing a pilots helmet clenched under it's arm at it's side,
"Lord Szymon," a professionally spirited Duro sub-species of some sort began in characteristically accented basic, "The Hussar's stand ready to bravely fulfill our obligations. Should we perish in service, our compensations may be withheld as penance for failure," he said before taking a knee and bowing his head.
"A true soldier of inspiring integrity Captain, should you perish, the families of your unit will be compensated triple our negotiated amount, but in the likely event of our triumph and your survival, report to me when this is over and you shant want for compensation again," the Admiral answered him after which he rose, offered another nod and silently stepped back.
The conference was then interrupted as a worried officer approached Szymon in haste,
"Admiral!," he anxiously began while panting and slightly hunched over before standing back erect and continuing in short breathes, "Four Imperial star destroyers detected and engaged by our screen deep in sector six, near the Maw Gateway as you anticipated. The scout force was destroyed and the lead ship, Spartacus, captured. ." the young ward took a deep breath before sharing the interesting news, "Sir, reports are sketchy, but it seems Kluskine has made an attempt on Daala's life. On live Holo-Vid! Two of the Destroyers have since disappeared, one we believe lost in the Maw, but the Gorgon and Hydra now drawn near!"
Szymon's brow peeked as he fingered the outline of some something small and rectangular in his front right trouser pocket, "Kluskine?!" he verbally thought aloud. Though Ishfan had anticipated some benefit on his end to sending the defeated and broken addict Dewt back to her, he could never have imagined in his wildest dreams the crazy junkie would do something so drastic and blatant.
"What of word of Daala's condition?," Szymon anxiously pried the subject further.
"Sir, we believe the assailiant failed to inflict mortal wounds, and was himself killed in the skirmish," the subordinate answered. Szymon shook his head and blinked away the surprise, though more than content with the unexpected developments.
After briefing the pint sized figures which acknowledged their part and dissipated, Szymon rose from his perch of command and calmed the panicked officer with a pat on the shoulder before assuming his role and barking orders throughout the bridge as he strode up and down the walk ways, eying up the various pits full of console operators on either side as he passed,
"The Stars are nothing but a gamble my friends! Fate has delivered us to this moment and chance has declared in our favor! Prepare to engage! All Battlestations! Half thrust ahead until the Hutt cruisers out pace us by ten thousand meters, then full speed ahead. Deploy our screen fighters, contact the Hussar formations and transmit Attack Plan Beta,"
Whooping alarms sounded aboard the Devorantum's bridge as an officer overseeing the sensor operators' pit smacked a large alarm switch and issued a ship wide announcement,
"Battlestations, Battlestations! Hostiles in sector six! Prepare to engage," his voice bellowed over loud speakers across the Victory class cruiser.
Another officer manning the com pit briefly queried Szymon as he strode past, "Sir, transmit Attack Plan only to the Hussars? What of the Hutt ships?"
Szymon knelt down to answer the officer with a corrective contemptuous tone, "Do you think they'd follow the plan anyway Lieutenant?"
The other embarassed with his faux pas supplicated, "N, No, No Sir. They wouldn't. Forgive me. Brilliant strategy Admiral!," he nervously responded before hurrying to tend to his own subordinates, hoping to be forgotten.
The duo of outdated but powerful Hutt warships and swarms of smaller craft were intentionally allowed to far out pace the Devorantum, which made slow but steady behind as the two opposing groups of ships drew within visual range of each other. Szymon resumed his roost upon the bridge's command chair and watched ahead through the main viewport in the closing distance as a pair of the familiar behemoth wedged Imperial Star Destroyers came to focus, the details of their superstructures becoming ever more defined until the twin shield projecting towers were apparent.
"Com, visual on all main displays. Open a free channel and ping the closing Destroyers,"
Szymon stood tall and confident in the middle of the bridge as his full bodied holo-image was cast openly throughout the system, his half length, shoulder wrapped cape seemed to catch an unknown source of a breeze as it ever so slightly fluttered and the unique adornments and medals attached to it glistened and glowed with radiance. His facial hair was dark and dense but trimmed to a thinly sliced beard following the angle of his chin and coalescing in to an upward pointed goatee on his chin. The sparse hair on his head was greying, while the sides were streaked with the same dark color of his beard. Though naturally somewhat broad shouldered and good postured, he fluffed his chest out a little more than normal as he began to address in a cold stern tone,
"To Natasi Daala and those loyal to her. I am Admiral Ishfan Szymon of the Rimward Imperialist Coalition. You are enroaching upon sovereign space, turn back, OR BE DESTROYED," he finished with emphasis. . .(battle post coming separately SOON)
-
Corruption Consolidated Pt II (cont'd)
. . .an oversized image of Daala beamed from the torso up, a cue to her seated state and informative of her current health. Her eyes were distraught but the rest of her screamed disgusted dominance while her lips seemed to snarl as she condemned Szymon, invoking The New Order and all the associated cast. . .
"COALITION? SOVEREIGN!? Treachery you impotent Pig. You're an affront to The New Order! Banishing you to Kessel was not enough, that infernal hive has proven your refuge. First I shall destroy it, Then I shall destroy you. By the Emperor you will burn Szymon Tenloss!"
She motioned across her throat for the feed to be cut, then hunching forward as medical aids again rushed to her side accompanied by a droid and administered medication while unfurling her bandages.
Back on the Devorantum, Szymon started off with a snicker that formed to a nearly outright cackle as he responded to the dead screen aloud, sure she was still listening,
"By the Emperor you say witch!? Bwahahahahaha!! If you only knew woman! The Empire is no more! Call upon your pimp Tarkin and see if he answers! Your blind obedience has been your undoing, welcome to the new Galactic Standard!"
The much larger and well equipped Imperial Star Destroyer Gorgon bypassed the ensuing skirmish with it's swath of tiny guardians and appeared to be making a bee-line for the planetoid Kessel itself, while the Devorantum, with entourage in tow, began to increase it's speed and bring it's bow to follow the crossing Star Destroyer in the distance, firing off a few shots that harmlessly dissipated as they were yet out of range. . .
The Hutt and Tenloss forces swarmed over the Hydra and her entourage, inflicting a relentless pounding as the sturdy formation withstood their initial barrage. . .
-=Combat Summary=-
Gorgon & Devorantum on HONOR system (for now)
EZ95 Tremor Attacks TIE Swarm TF-H-01; UCR 6/8 = 0.75 factor dmg. 24 HLCs = 36dmg, 24 PTs = 54dmg
Cloakshape Hunter Attacks TIE Swarm TF-H-01; 3/8 = 0.375 factor dmg. 48 HLCs = 36dmg, 24 LICs = 9dmg, 24 PTs = 27dmg
Z95 Klaata Attacks TIE Swarm TF-H-01; UCR 5/8 = 0.625 factor dmg. 24 LCs = 15dmg, 24 CMs = 30dmg
Vet. Y-Wing Domini Attacks TIE Swarm TF-H-01; 5/8 UCR = 0.625 factor dmg. 24 HLCs = 30dmg, DLICs = 30dmg, APTs = 60dmg
StarViper Hussar Echo Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 6/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 24 DHLCs = 96dmg, 24 APTs = 96dmg
StarViper Hussar Zulu Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 6/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 24 DHLCs = 96dmg, 24 APTs = 96dmg
StarViper Hussar Rho Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 6/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 24 DHLCs = 96dmg, 24 APTs = 96dmg
PBC Varl Nova Attacks ISD Hydra; UCR 3/3 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 10 HQTLCs = 400dmg
PBC Echeron Attacks ISD Hydra; UCR 3/3 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 10 HOTLCs = 400dmg
MARC Hussar 1 Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 5/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 8 DTLCs = 96dmg, 4 PTs = 24dmg
MARC Hussar 2 Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 5/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 8 DTLCs = 96dmg, 4 PTs = 24dmg
MARC Hussar 3 Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 5/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 8 DTLCs = 96dmg, 4 PTs = 24dmg
Providence Battle Cruiser Varl Nova
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 1100/1100/650/650
Location: C14 - UCR; 3
Elite Z-95 Squad Tremor
Shield/Armor - 288/144
Location; C14 - UCR; 6
Cloakshape Squad Hunter
Shield/Armor - 180/180
Location; C14 - UCR; 3
Providence Battle Cruiser Echeron
Shield/Armor/Hull/System- 1100/1100/650/650
Location; C14 - UCR; 3
Z-95 Squad Klaata
Shield/Armor - 144/144
Location; C14 - UCR; 5
Veteran Y-Wing Squad Domini
Shield/Armor - 384/384
Location; C14 - UCR; 5
Marauder Corvette Hussar 1
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location: C14 - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar Echo
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; C14 - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 2
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; C14 - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar Zulu
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; C14 - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 3
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; C14 - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar Rho
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; C14 - UCR; 6
Victory Class II Star Destroyer Devorantum
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 1000/1000/900/500
Location; B7 - UCR; 4
TIE Swarm OMEGA (3 T Ints)
Armor - 720
Location; B7, CSP - UCR; 8
Gamma Shuttle Group ALPHA (12)
Shield/Armor - 30/30ea
Location; B7 - UCR; 4
Lambda Shuttle Group ALPHA (12)
Shield/Armor - 20/20ea
Location; B7 - UCR; 5
-
(http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy185/americanhero1984/JolieDaala.jpg)
Admiral Natasi Daala
The Hydra and its support units had now fully engaged the Tenloss, and were repelling the threats as best as they could. Meanwhile, the Gorgon loomed over The Spire...
"THEY DARE DEFY ME? I AM ADMIRAL DAALA!" retorted the woman, to her right-hand man, Commander Kratas. "They speak lies! They are a pit of vipers! Call their bluff."
"Admiral... we're receiving messages now from the Strategic Internal Protocol Router (SIPR) HOLONET. Grand Moff Tarkin is dead. The Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star... and... my god... the Emperor..."
"WHAT?!" Daala rushed over to the CommPort to see the messages for herself. After scanning over everything else, Daala suddenly felt that everything was lost. Her lover - Grand Moff Tarkin - was dead. The Galactic Empire itself had been shattered. In a fit of rage, Daala rushed over to the MEDUSA Command Terminal and began inputting target coordinates herself. "Kessel is the key to this entire system; and is the key to the power they desire..."
"Admiral... what are you doing?!" gasped Commander Kratas.
"What I should've done years ago to this god-forsaken rock... all we need is the Maw!"
"No! You can't do that!"
Immediately, Daala withdrew her blaster pistol and executed Command Kratas on the spot with a blaster bolt to his forehead. "Are there any other objections?"
The crew on the bridge remained silent.
In the next few moments, the MEDUSA system was activated and the tractor beams were aimed directly at Kessel's core. One by one, the red pulses from the tractor beam projectors fired until the combined energy began disintegrating Kessel's planetoid surface and a giant hole was being drilled into it.
"Try mining spice now..."
Action Summary
1. SKIP Cutlass Group attacks S/V Hussar Echo with 102 ICs, 72 LCs, 36 APTs, & 36 CMs: 648 x UCR (5/6) = 540 DMG!
2. 18 Skiprays blow up after returning fire.
3. TIE Swarm TF-H-01 attacks Veteran Y-Wings with 144 SLCs: 288 x UCR (8/5) = 288 DMG!
4. ISD Hydra attacks PBC Echeron with 60 HTLBs & 60 HICs: 1040 x UCR (3/3) = 1040 DMG!
5. ISD Gorgon fires MEDUSA at Kessel: SL Damage.
<> ISD Gorgon
Location: C-14 | UCR: 3 | Shields: 3520/1760 | Armor: 1760/1760 | Hull: 880/880 | Systems: 880/880 | MEDUSA Online (+100% Shields & Tractors = Weapons)
>> Imperial Officer: ADMIRAL Natasi Daala
Location: Onboard Gorgon | UCR: 10 | Armor: 000/200 | Health: 100/200 | Attack: 200 | Flagship bonuses applied.
>> TIE Avenger Squadron MI-G-01
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 9 | Shields: 240/240 | Armor: 240/240
>> TIE Advanced x1 Squadron MI-G-02
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 7 | Shields: 216/216 | Armor: 216/216
>> Elite TIE Interceptor Squadron MI-G-03
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 10 | Armor: 360/360
>> TIE Interceptor Swarm MI-G-04
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 10 (Swarm UCR = 8) | Armor: 720/720
>> Skipray Blastboat Rapier Group
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 5 | Shields: 25/25 | Armor: 25/25 | (36/36)
>> Imperial Landing Barge Python Group
Location: Hangar | Status: --- | UCR: 1 | Shields: 100/100 | Armor: 100/100 | (10/10)
--> Infantry: 1000/1000 Stormtroopers | Status: Loaded
--> Vehicles: 60/60 AT-STs | Status: Loaded
<> ISD Hydra
Location: C-14 | UCR: 3 | Shields: 800/1600 | Armor: 1600/1600 | Hull: 800/800 | Systems: 800/800 |
>> TIE Fighter Swarm TF-H-01
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 8 | Armor: 537/864
>> Skipray Blastboat Cutlass Group
Location: C-14 | Status: CSP | UCR: 5 | Shields: 25/25 | Armor: 25/25 | (17.28/36)
>> Imperial Landing Barge Cobra Group
Location: Hangar | Status: --- | UCR: 1 | Shields: 100/100 | Armor: 100/100 | (10/10)
--> Infantry: 1000/1000 Stormtroopers | Status: Loaded
--> Vehicles: 60/60 AT-STs | Status: Loaded
-
The Providence cruiser Echeron was visibly rocked from the raining onslaught of the Hydra as lash after lash of turbolaser fire overwhelmed it's shield generators. As the Hutt and Tenloss force closed within a stones throw of the Hydra, the two lumbering archaic giants unleashed their secondary and primary weapons in a forceful display. Swarms of smaller ships buzzed about the central heavyweight match clashing with their similarly sized opposing brethren. The pure overwhelming numerical superiority of the mercenary forces gave them the edge against the much larger and well armed Star Destroyer Gorgon.
Meanwhile, further in towards Kessel itself, Daala's Command ship, the Gorgon began to unleash a decimating new powerful beam weapon upon the planetoid itself, literally burrowing through the surface and through the crust towards the mantle and core itself. Sprouting up from the nearby Garrison Moon, the towering massive fortification known as the Spire, manned by Imperial Personnel devout to Szymon, began to unleash a furious barrage from the various heavy weapon emplacements scattered up and down it's super structure aimed towards the Gorgon and it's blanketing support. While most of the fire dissipated in range, some well place heavier long range weapons found their mark.
A swarm of TIEs emerged from the surface of the Moon and raced off to meet the pursuing Star Destroyer Devorantum and cast, meeting up just in time for the opposing groups of TIE Fighters to clash together in a motley melee of eyeball to eyeball carving while the Devorantum itself maneuvered in to a holding position off the Gorgon's starboard side as it slowed and unleashed it's formidable barrage of heavy weapons upon the much larger cruiser.
Szymon clenched a command podium nearby for support to steady himself as the large nimble cruiser slid in to position, the taste of battle had begun to satiate his hunger as his already spiteful challenging demeanor grew to something more sinister and adoring of the pain within conflict. Again the Devorantum unleashed a barrage as the Gorgon stood like a rock and shrugged off the punishing assault. In the distance, the Spire fruitlessly spouted off. Gorgon sat nearly idle, patiently drilling away at Kessel. The Admiral addressed his adversary,
"You were defeated before you arrived Daala! Alone and isolated! Surrender and Yield or Be Destroyed!," he sternly declared while reaching in to his trouser pocket and procuring a small data-pad like command device and proudly displaying it with out reached arm, "I hold your fate in my palm!"
-=Combat Summary=-
EZ95 Tremor Attacks TIE Swarm TF-H-01; UCR 6/8 = 0.75 factor dmg. 24 HLCs = 36dmg, 24 PTs = 54dmg
Cloakshape Hunter Attacks TIE Swarm TF-H-01; 3/8 = 0.375 factor dmg. 48 HLCs = 36dmg, 24 LICs = 9dmg, 24 PTs = 27dmg
Z95 Klaata Attacks TIE Swarm TF-H-01; UCR 5/8 = 0.625 factor dmg. 24 LCs = 15dmg, 24 CMs = 30dmg
Vet. Y-Wing Domini Attacks TIE Swarm TF-H-01; 5/8 UCR = 0.625 factor dmg. 24 HLCs = 30dmg, DLICs = 30dmg, APTs = 60dmg
StarViper Hussar Zulu Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 6/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 24 DHLCs = 96dmg, 24 APTs = 96dmg
StarViper Hussar Rho Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 6/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 24 DHLCs = 96dmg, 24 APTs = 96dmg
PBC Varl Nova Attacks ISD Hydra; UCR 3/3 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 10 HQTLCs = 400dmg, 80 PTs = 240dmg, 40 QLCs = 160dmg
PBC Echeron Attacks ISD Hydra; UCR 3/3 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 10 HOTLCs = 400dmg, 80 PTs = 240dmg
PBC Echeron Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 3/5 = 0.6 dmg ratio. 40 QLCs = 96dmg
MARC Hussar 1 Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 5/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 8 DTLCs = 96dmg, 4 PTs = 24dmg
MARC Hussar 2 Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 5/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 8 DTLCs = 96dmg, 4 PTs = 24dmg
MARC Hussar 3 Attacks Skipray Group Cutlass; UCR 5/5 = 1/1 dmg ratio. 8 DTLCs = 96dmg, 4 PTs = 24dmg
The Spire (Omega Plat) and it's constituents Honorably Engaged ISD Gorgon and Entourage
The Devorantum (VSDII) and complement Honorably Engaged ISD Gorgon and Entourage
Providence Battle Cruiser Varl Nova
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 1100/1100/650/650
Location: C14 - UCR; 3
Elite Z-95 Squad Tremor
Shield/Armor - 288/144
Location; C14 - UCR; 6
Cloakshape Squad Hunter
Shield/Armor - 180/180
Location; C14 - UCR; 3
Providence Battle Cruiser Echeron
Shield/Armor/Hull/System- 60!!!!!/1100/650/650
Location; C14 - UCR; 3
Z-95 Squad Klaata
Shield/Armor - 144/144
Location; C14 - UCR; 5
Veteran Y-Wing Squad Domini
Shield/Armor - 96!!/384
Location; C14 - UCR; 5
Marauder Corvette Hussar 1
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location: C14 - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar Echo
Shield/Armor - 0/0
Location; C14 - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 2
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; C14 - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar Zulu
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; C14 - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 3
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; C14 - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar Rho
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; C14 - UCR; 6
Victory Class II Star Destroyer Devorantum
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 1000/1000/900/500
Location; B7 - UCR; 4
TIE Swarm OMEGA (3 T Ints)
Armor - 720
Location; B7, CSP - UCR; 8
Gamma Shuttle Group ALPHA (12)
Shield/Armor - 30/30ea
Location; B7 - UCR; 4
Lambda Shuttle Group ALPHA (12)
Shield/Armor - 20/20ea
Location; B7 - UCR; 5
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 3KC, 1250 KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income AD 12/1; 1550KC (1000 player rate, 450 facilities, 100 hero), 1250KC Spec. Projects Purse (The Maw/Adv. Eng. Inst.)
Current Balance; 1553KC, 2500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Constructions
-320KCs various GAVs begin construction
-765KCs various Starfighters begin construction
-72KCs various Infantry initiate training
End Balance; 393KCs, 2500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
(http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy185/americanhero1984/JolieDaala.jpg)
Admiral Natasi Daala
The Spire and Kessel proper began unleashing a hailstorm of green and red laser bolts on the Gorgon, rocking it's shields. The initial drillshot from the MEDUSA system had left the shields drained from the power loss, and so the Spire's attacks in combination with the Devantorum blasts had put the Gorgon at risk of loosing all of its shields. This had struck fear in the bridge crew onboard the Gorgon. Although Daala's crew were fiercely loyal, they knew they were facing a loosing preposition by staying in the system. The ship's chief enlisted man stepped up to confront the Admiral, since the XO had already been shot dead.
"Admiral Daala, ma'am, I request an audience in the battleroom," asked Chief Dasani.
Daala was on the verge of a mental breakdown, but her cooler intuitions prevailed, "granted, chief." The two then stepped off to the side. "What can I do for you?"
"Admiral... take a look at the enemy positions..." the chief pointed on the holotable. "We're being outgunned, and I've analyzed their attack plan to conclude that staying here is a death sentence. We need to sound the retreat, regroup, and restrike to put down this threat. Chances are these thugs are just getting paid for this battle. Chances are they'll turn on each other as soon as we're done. Let's let them scum each other up and come back to make a clean sweep."
Daala looked down at the holotable as she listening to Chief Dasani. She nodded her head in agreement but nothing was clicking rationally. She had officially lost it at this point.
"I see, Chief. Yes.. I understand entirely. You want to leave the system? YOU CAN DO IT IN A BODY BAG!!"
Daala then sent a right palm straight to the Chief's nose, sending him reeling backwards with a bloody nose and slightly dazed. Daala then unholstered her blaster and double-tapped a pair of shots to the Chief's chest - killing him instantly. As soon as the Chief went down, the entire bridge crew left their chairs and rushed off the bridge - not before sounding the abandon ship alarm.
Daala walked over to the Automated Command Interface - yet another Maw Installation toy that enabled even an entire Star Destroyer to be slaved to the whim of a single computer panel. Daala let the abandon ship alarm ring out - she didn't care anymore. Allocating every last bit of power she could obtain for a final MEDUSA attack, she made the neccessary firing calculations and continued to penetrate deeper into Kessel's planetoid core like a diamond-tipped power drill.. hoping to destabalize the entire planetoid.
Over the next few minutes, the escape pods jettisoned one by one from the Gorgon, and since the ship was being unresponsive to all hails, the Hydra's commander had no choice but to collect what escape pods he could before giving the order to retreat.
Daala was now on her own...
-
Corruption Consolidated Pt II
The Hutt and Tenloss forces blanketed the Hydra, relentlessly pounding the much heavier cruiser while taking a significant carving themselves from the proper front line warship and her entourage. Severely out numbered and floundering, the Imperial Star Destroyer's commander repeatedly attempted to hail Daala's command ship, the Gorgon, to no avail.
The Hydra began to pull away from the swarming assailants, while the Tenloss forces with their smaller Marauder corvettes and fighter support pursued, the two Hutt Providence Battle Cruisers turned their attention on one another and began exchanging bitter blows at point blank range.
"Bootaka! Hushfana Weeka Dun Moorsa!" the slithering Hutt commander of the Varl Nova declared through holo transmission to the other already severely weakened cruiser, the Echeron.
A screen aboard the addressing ship opened up and beamed the Echeron's captain, a Weequay, who grunted and snarled out a response,
"My Lord Shahala forbids your demand of surrender. And insists that if you persist in your attack, upon your return to the Jewel your head will be paraded throughout the Kajidii on a spike,"
The opposing Hutt commander scoffed and bellowed his reply, "Ooooo, KAWASH!"
The Varl Nova let loose a final crippling barrage of heavy turblaser fire, slicing through the thin armor plating of the Echeron and ripping in to it's interior. As a dozen or so fully charged blasts smashed the beleaguered ships hull, she began to break up and gradually scatter.
Aboard he Devorantum, as the battle began to swing decidedly in his favor, Szymon settled in his command chair and began to relish the impending victory as intercepted chatter from the pair of bulky aggressors was aired over the bridge's comm system.
"Hydra to Admiral Daala, the situation is deteriorating. We've lost half our support, shields are failing and we're taking repeated direct hits. Recommend re-group and pull out, please advise, Over,"
The frantic call for direction and plea of dismissal went unanswered as it was repeated several times.
Nearer the planet Kessel itself, the Gorgon sat idle as numerous escape pods began rocketing out in to space from both the top and bottom of the hulking superstructure while the ship's devastating experimental beam weaponry visibly increased in intensity and persistently burrowed a massive canyon in to the surface of the planetoid. As the Devorantum's weapons continued to lash out at the powerful Gorgon, the mightier vessel remained undeterred, declining to bother continue answering back with fire of it's own.
A logistics officer urgently addressed the Admiral from his nearby pit, "Sir, the planetoids stability is failing. Estimated compromised integrity in thirty-six seconds!"
A massive sprawling cloud of incinerated planetary debris of particle size ranging from microns to hundreds of meters filled space surrounding the beam weapon trails.
Szymon frustratingly sighed, hoping to capture the ship for consolidation and inevitable further conquest, he was left with no choice but to settle for the back up plan. Still clenching the small remote device, he keyed a short sequence and watched the Gorgon looming ahead while waiting for a reaction. .
-
Corruption Consolidated (Conclusion)
. . .moments later. . .
While plugged in to an interface and uploading terminal viruses in to the Gorgon's system, a crimson and grey colored Astromech droid frantically screeched and sputtered while it's head turret performed at least a pair of full spins as it observed the entire corridor to it's left and leading to the hangar bay consumed by flame and shock wave bellowing towards itself. In an instant the unsuspecting small metal being was vaporized by the atomic blast. The Spartacus, a beat up Corellian Freighter the droid had piloted before being seized by Daala, had exploded in an archaic yet effective display of thermonuclear energy.
The massive fireball and planed shock wave erupted from the Gorgon's under belly near it's smaller forward hangar bay, tearing away significant hull structure and leaving the cruiser stunned. The intense sustained beams pounding their way through Kessel's bedrock flickered before ceasing as the vessel slowly began to turn on it's port side and downward. All the while intermittent clusters of escape pods continued to jettison away from various locations across the now sickened beast as it's pace hurried in a plummet towards the planetoid.
As the behemoth's pointed nose smashed in to Kessel's surface followed by a mountainous cascade of the rest of the massive ship as it seemed to all at once be consumed in a violent storm of explosive chaos, Szymon cracked a smirk while bent forward upon his stoop of authority aboard the Victory Star Destroyer Devorantum as celebratory cheers erupted from the various stations and pits throughout the hall like room. With Daala vanquished and her forces decimated, defected, or scattered, nothing stood in his way towards domination of this remote region of space. . .
THUS IS BORN, THE RIMWARD COALITION!
-
Faction Logistics Update
SL status ENDS, all further movements/disclosures represent ACTUAL existing units.
All units further noted have been accumulated/produced per Regulation.
Considerable time (months-year) has elapsed between events of Corruption SL and current GCW Time.
Fleet Enters Hyperspace Bound for *********. (effective 8:00PM FT)
Fleet Status
Victory Class II Star Destroyer Devorantum
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 1100/1100/990/500
Location; HS - UCR; 4
Imperial FLEET ADMIRAL ISHFAN SZYMON (+10% Hull, Armor, Shield, Attack Dmg ALL ships of fleet)
Armor/Health - 100/100
Location; Ship Bridge - UCR; 10
TIE Avenger Squad OMEGA
Armor/Shields - 240/240
Location; Hangar - UCR; 9
Elite TIE Interceptor Squad GAMMA
Armor - 360
Location; Hangar - UCR; 10
TIE Interceptor Squad BETA
Armor - 360
Location; Hangar - UCR; 10
Assault Gunboat (XG-1) Squad EPSILON
Shield/Armor - 270/270
Location; Hangar - UCR; 5
Gamma Shuttle Group ALPHA (6)
Shield/Armor - 30/30ea
Location; Hangar - UCR; 4
Lambda Shuttle Group ALPHA (6)
Shield/Armor - 20/20ea
Location; Hangar - UCR; 5
Landing Barge Group ALPHA (5)
Shield/Armor/System - 100/100/100
Location; Hangar - UCR; 1
Imperial Army Brigade Hammer (200 squads)
HP - 7 ea
Location; Shipboard Barracks - UCR; 6
Imperial Stormtrooper Brigade Anvil (200squads)
HP - 8ea
Location; Shipboard Barracks - UCR; 6
Imperial ARC Battalion Ghost (100squads)
HP - 8ea
Location; Shipboard Barracks - UCR; 9
AT-TE Squadron Dragon (6 vehicles)
HP - 100ea
Location; Shipboard Armory - UCR; 6
AT-ST Squadron Mantis (10 vehicles)
HP - 60ea
Location; Shipboard Armory - UCR; 7
Marauder Corvette Hussar 1
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location: HS - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar ECHO
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar ALPHA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 2
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar ZULU
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar BETA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 3
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar RHO
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar DELTA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 4
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar TAU
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar KAPPA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 5
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
Veteran Y-Wing Squad BASILISK
Shield/Armor - 384/384
Location; Hangar - UCR; 5
PMC Platoon Hussar GAMMA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 6
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
Elite Z-95 Squad TEMPEST
Shield/Armor - 288/144
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar ECHO (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 393KC, 2500 KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income AD 12/15; 1550KC (1000 player rate, 450 facilities, 100 hero), 1250KC Spec. Projects Purse (The Maw/Adv. Eng. Inst.)
Current Balance; 1893KC, 3750KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Constructions
-972KC in Starfighter Constructions begin (adjusted 12/16, -108 cost in savings for Exec Man. Hero Skill)
-500KC in Infantry training initiated (construction first posted and begins 12/16 12:30EST)
-400KC in GAV construction initiated (construction firstp osted and begins 12/16 12:30EST)
End Balance; 21KC, 3750KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
A squadron of Marauder Corvettes exits Hyperspace and just kind of hangs around, patrolling for dirty little smugglers.
-=Summary=-
(effective 9AM FT 12/22) Marauder Corvette Squadron Hussar Exits Hyperspace and begins Christmas celebration preparations.
Marauder Corvette Hussar 1
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location: ?? - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar ECHO
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar ALPHA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 2
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; ?? - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar ZULU
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar BETA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 3
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; ?? - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar RHO
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar DELTA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 4
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; ?? - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar TAU
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar KAPPA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 5
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; ?? - UCR; 5
Veteran Y-Wing Squad BASILISK
Shield/Armor - 384/384
Location; Hangar - UCR; 5
PMC Platoon Hussar GAMMA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 6
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 214/214/110/100
Location; ?? - UCR; 5
Elite Z-95 Squad TEMPEST
Shield/Armor - 288/144
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar ECHO (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 21KC, 3750 KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income AD 1/1/2013; 1550KC (1000 player rate, 450 facilities, 100 hero), 1250KC Spec. Projects Purse (The Maw/Adv. Eng. Inst.)
Current Balance; 1571KC, 5000KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Constructions
-1000 KC worth of Facilities begin construction
-400 KC worth of GAV construction begins
End Balance; 171KC, 5000KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 171KC, 5000KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Constructions
7 IPVs begin construction, -0KC
End Balance; 171KC, 5000KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
A squadron of corvettes are joined by a heavy gunship squadron and hit the road. . .
-=Summary=-
Some Ships Enter Hyperspace foooooor. . . Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.
Assault Gunboat Squadron Lancea Longini
Shield/Armor - 270/270
Location; HS - UCR; 5
Marauder Corvette Hussar 1
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location: HS - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar ECHO
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar ALPHA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 2
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar ZULU
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar BETA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 3
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar RHO
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar DELTA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 4
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
StarViper Squad Hussar TAU
Shield/Armor - 252/252
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar KAPPA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 5
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
Veteran Y-Wing Squad BASILISK
Shield/Armor - 384/384
Location; Hangar - UCR; 5
PMC Platoon Hussar GAMMA (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
Marauder Corvette Hussar 6
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 195/195/100/100
Location; HS - UCR; 5
Elite Z-95 Squad TEMPEST
Shield/Armor - 288/144
Location; Hangar - UCR; 6
PMC Platoon Hussar ECHO (2 squads)
HP - 10ea sqd
Location; Ship - UCR; 6
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 171KC, 5000KC Spec. Proj. Purse
1/15 AD Income; +1850KC (1000 player, 650 facilities, 100 hero abil, 100 Hutta Diplo Mile#1), +1250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Balance; 2021KC, 6250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Constructions
-600KC in facility constructions begins
-500KC in Vergesso Bribe Payout
End Balance; 921KC, 6250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 921KC, 6250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Constructions
-500KC in facility constructions @ Nal Hutta begins per Mile#3 Req
-360KC in starfighter constructions begin
End Balance; 61KC, 6250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
The VSDII Devorantum exits hyperspace near the Kessel system and makes way for the Maw shipyards for repairs. Some of it's support units are reassigned to other warships while it's own berths are refilled with new units and it is posted to PDF. . .
Victory Class II Star Destroyer Devorantum
Shield/Armor/Hull/System - 0/48/900/500
Location; ?? - UCR; 4
TIE Avenger Squad OMEGA
Shields/Armor - 240/240
Location; Hangar - UCR; 9
TIE Interceptor Squad BETA
Armor - 360
Location; Hangar - UCR; 10
TIE Interceptor Squad GAMMA
Armor - 360
Location; Hangar - UCR; 10
Lambda Shuttle Group BETA (24)
Shield/Armor - 20/20ea
Location; Hangar- UCR; 5
Landing Barge Group ALPHA (5)
Shield/Armor/System - 100/100/100
Location; Hangar - UCR; 1
Imperial Fleet Trooper Brigade ALPHA (500 squads)
HP - 6 ea
Location; Shipboard Barracks - UCR; 5
-
note: effective 7PMish EST
The remnants of the initial Vergesso strike force returned to their nest and sought much needed rest and reconciliation, mingling in with the vast fleet loyal to Admiral Szymon that hovered near Kessel. A new fearsome warship emerged from the lot and chugged relentlessly outward from the large misshapen planetoid and it's moon base. The massive Imperial Star Destroyer Serpentor, newly recommissioned in the wake of Admiral Daala's defeat, the ship was the pride of the Admiral's assets. With a distinct hull paint scheme in various shades of green and gold, made to resemble a scaled pattern and shield generator towers done up as a pair of peering reptilian eyes, with all recessed areas of the superstructure in pitch black, it was sure to stand out wherever it appeared. Half of any battle is fought in the heart and mind, the imposing look of the Serpentor conveyed initial terror, backed up and sustained by the weight of it's projected power.
Aboard the Serpentor's Bridge, the ship's standing commanding officer, Captain Zesh Alixondor and the recently returned from failed mission at Vergesso, Commander Illith Valk exchanged contemptuous barrages back and forth,
"It seems as though we'll be cleaning up your unfinished business Commander, do thank the rest of the squadron for me. It's not as though we have better things to do than mop up a gang bust. I'll be sure the next mission we dispatch you on is of much simpler task," Alixondor lectured the wing leader who objected aggressively,
"Sir, we were outnumbered three to one, the Hussars proved little help and I'm sure you noticed, but the Devorantum herself came crawling back bleeding! It doesn't help that you're sending us out there in ships that ranked state of the art five years ago or that intelligence underestimated ORC defenses by about one hundred percent bu. ." Commander Valk countered before being cut off,
"You don't like the Gunboats? That's fine, you've got one more chance to prove your ineptitude. We've been assigned a handful of StarVipers and a few Tenloss squadrons, the filthy alien rats. . ., Szymon has mandated our distancing from standard Imperial protocols and practices, as such eventually TIEs are going to be a thing of the past for us, as apparently the traditional Humanocentric upholdings we've strived for will be. . ., but mark my words, if you screw this one up, I promise to see that you're crammed in the last Eyeball or Squint piece of canon fodder we deploy Commander. Don't derail my conquest," the Captain retorted apparently full of poorly masked discontent.
Illith Valk bit his lip and snapped a reluctant salute before taking his leave of the superior and offering a final thought while trudging away, unable to contain himself, "The conquest part is over Captain, you're cleaning up our mess, remember?" he finished with a wide eyed cocked smirk as the turbolift door slid shut, whisking him off to the behemoth battleship's innards to prepare for the next dance. . .
-=NonCom Summary=-
All Previous Player Fleet assets are returned to Kessel and shuffled in to PDF or storage
Imperial-Star Destroyer Serpentor [start up ship] transitions to an ACTIVE Player Fleet asset
ISD Serpentor is assigned new support craft
ISD Serpentor w/ Escort enters HS for **********
StarViper Squadron Hussar Zulu (FLEET ESCORT)
Shields/Armor - 252/252 Location; HS UCR; 6
Imperial Star Destroyer Serpentor
Shields/Armor/Hull/Systems - 1600/1600/1600/800
Location; HS - UCR; 3
StarViper Squadron Wyvern
Shields/Armor - 252/252 Location; Hangar UCR; 6
StarViper Squadron Ophidian
Shields/Armor - 252/252 Location; Hangar UCR; 6
Vet. Y-Wing Squadron Basilisk
Shields/Armor - 384/384 Location; Hangar UCR; 5
TIE Avenger Squadron OMEGA
Shields/Armor - 240/240 Location; Hangar UCR; 9
TIE Interceptor Squadron ALPHA
Armor - 360 Location; Hangar UCR; 10
TIE Interceptor Squadron BETA
Armor - 360 Location; Hangar UCR; 10
Gamma Shuttle Group RHINO (6)
Shields/Armor - 30/30ea Location; Hangar UCR; 4
Lambda Shuttle Group EPSILON (15)
Shields/Armor - 20/20ea Location; Hangar UCR; 5
Lambda Shuttle Group SIGMA (15)
Shields/Armor - 20/20ea Location; Hangar UCR; 5
Imperial Landing Barge Group INVADER (10)
Shields/Armor/Systems - 100/100/100ea Location; Hangar UCR; 1
Imperial ARC Trooper Battalion (100 sqds)
HP - 8ea Location; Barracks UCR; 9
Imperial Stormtrooper Brigade (200 sqds)
HP - 8ea Location; Barracks UCR; 6
Imperial Army Trooper Brigade (200 sqds)
HP - 7ea Location; Barracks UCR; 6
Imperial Fleet Trooper Brigade (500 sqds)
HP - 5ea Location; Barracks UCR; 5
AT-TE Squadron Dragon (6 vehicles)
HP - 100ea Location; Armory UCR; 6
AT-ST Company Mantis (20 vehicles)
HP - 60ea Location; Armory UCR; 7
Speeder Bike Squadron Mercury (28 vehicles)
HP - 10ea Location; Armory UCR; 10
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 61KC, 6250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
INCOME; +1000KC player, +100KC exec. man, +450KC PDF IO, +450KC FACIL IO, +100 (IMPNET) HUTTA< +1250KCsSPP MAW/RESEARCH = 2100KCs, 1250KCs Spe. Proj. Purse
Balance; 2161KC, 7500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Constructions
-1000KC in defensive facilities
-324KC in starfighters
End Balance; 837KC, 7500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 837KC, 7500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income; +1000 Conquest Mile 3 Vergesso*
+550 Kill Cash Vergesso* (22 ORCFAS, 18 ORCYT2400, 3 CLK, 3 R41, 3 TW, 2 SV, 3 Z95, 1 EZ95, 1 VYW)
+525 Salvage Vergesso* (7 Captured ORCCRVs)
* = Wrap Up Info/Activity to be included in forthcoming Lybeya post.
New Balance; 2912KC
Constructions
XXX Lambda Class Shuttles FREE
XXX TIE Fighters FREE
XXX IPVs FREE
XXX Imp Fleet Troopers FREE
-1400KC Capital Ship Constructions
-600 Infantry Training Initiated
-2000 KC TOTAL CONSTRUCTIONS
End Balance; 912KC, 7500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
The newly repaired and outfitted Victory Star Destroyer Devorantum emerges from the Maw Shipyards and eventually leaps in to hyperspace for ***********.
-
The battered but victorious Serpentor arrived at it's home port of Kessel, power base of the scheming Imperial Admiral Ishfan Szymon who's ties and influence were slowly beginning to spread throughout the Outer Rim. Fresh from backing-up the Victory Star Destroyer Devorantum's and Tenloss Hussar Squadron's initial calamitous attempt to rout the squatting ORC's forces from their haven at the Vergesso Asteroids, the ship had seen it's first action since falling in to Szymon's hands with the defeat of Admiral Natasi Daala, a confrontation securing both control of Kessel and the Maw Installation for Ishfan and his loyal forces.
In tow slightly beneath itself, the massive beleaguered cruiser drug a much smaller frigate along, carrying it off in to the shipworks as it was gingerly taken load of by numerous tiny tugs. . .
-= General Summary=-
ISD Serpentor exited HS at Kessel (effect @ 11PM EST)
ISD Serpentor entered Maw Shipyards for repairs
Support Craft Shuffled (POST Status report)
HAF Beautiful Queen entered Maw Shipyards and Adv Research Facil for Repair & Study/Reverse Engineering [15 Days per GM Ruling]
Imperial Star Destroyer Serpentor
Shields/Armor/Hull/Systems - 0/468/1600/800
Location; ?? - UCR; 3
StarViper Squadron Wyvern
Shields/Armor - 252/252 Location; Hangar UCR; 6
StarViper Squadron Ophidian
Shields/Armor - 252/252 Location; Hangar UCR; 6
TIE Avenger Squadron OMEGA
Shields/Armor - 240/240 Location; Hangar UCR; 9
TIE Interceptor Squadron ALPHA
Armor - 240 Location; Hangar UCR; 10
TIE Interceptor Squadron BETA
Armor - 240 Location; Hangar UCR; 10
Gamma Shuttle Group RHINO (6)
Shields/Armor - 30/30ea Location; Hangar UCR; 4
Imperial Landing Barge Group INVADER (10)
Shields/Armor/Systems - 100/100/100ea Location; Hangar UCR; 1
Imperial ARC Trooper Battalion 'stimulus (100 sqds)
HP - 8ea Location; Barracks UCR; 9
Imperial Stormtrooper Brigade Hammer (200 sqds)
HP - 8ea Location; Barracks UCR; 6
Imperial Army Trooper Brigade Anvil (200 sqds)
HP - 7ea Location; Barracks UCR; 6
Imperial Fleet Trooper Brigade Defender (500 sqds)
HP - 5ea Location; Barracks UCR; 5
AT-TE Squadron Dragon (6 vehicles)
HP - 100ea Location; Armory UCR; 6
AT-ST Company Mantis (20 vehicles)
HP - 60ea Location; Armory UCR; 7
Speeder Bike Squadron Mercury (28 vehicles)
HP - 10ea Location; Armory UCR; 10
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 912KC, 7500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income; +1000 Hutta Diplomacy Mile 4 Reqs Complete
New Balance; 1912KC
New Constructions
-1200KC Capital Ship Constructions Initiated
-180KC Starfighter Construction Initiated (530pm EST)
End Balance; 532KC, 7500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
General Faction Updates
Numerous Traveling PDFs arrive at their destinations!
-
Reining In The Dog
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/sephinorokos_zpsc26eaf0a.jpg) (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/ishfanszymon02a.jpg)
Adjunct Sephi Norokos Lord Ishfan Szymon
The return to Kessel had not been the relief he'd hoped, indeed quite the opposite. Upon the shuttle's descent in to the Garrison Moon base's main hangar, a large streamlined Surronian attack ship of gleaming obsidian hull stood distinctly out of place. The lack of markings made no matter, Szymon knew exactly of the vessel's origins. Observably tense as he strode down the boarding plank, he made formalities with the greeting Commander Elliss, Warden of the Kessel facility,
"Admiral!" the weathered, grey and seasoned Commander addressed his superior while snapping to attention.
Szymon returned the formality while quietly questioning, "Our friend, when did he arrive?" he inquired while removing a pair of pilot's gloves one finger at a time and tucking them in to a rear buttock pocket.
"Not more than an hour ago Sir. He awaits in your personal quarters. I insisted otherwise, but he's invoked the Trinity. ." the aged Commander Elliss answered in his raspy voice and trailing off in an unfinished and bated manner.
Szymon grew irritated with the revelation, momentarily taking the frustration out on the subordinate, "NEVER mention them by name!" he quietly scolded the other while standing over him and bearing down with a phalange extended nearly in to his face.
The elder corrected himself, "Yes Admiral, apologies my Lord!" he promptly responded while bowing his head and keeping his gaze pointed downward.
A group of several of the Base's personnel standing nearby and tending to a pile of cargo containers with a pair of heavy loader droids shot peripheral glances at the muted conference while busily hurrying about their duties and pretending not to notice.
Szymon turned his attention to the accompanying Inspector Niks and directed him to tend to some other benign matters, after which he himself took a brief moment to gather himself while taking in the bustling surroundings of Sky Bogey's hangar operations before hastily making his way to a small bright yellow highlighted turbolift.
The door hissed shut behind and the platform ascended the railed shaft rapidly, rising up past the subterranean levels, shooting past the surface and the hangar bay ceiling as the tube guided the compartment in to and through the towering base's superstructure, carrying the Admiral directly to his personal suite, the upper observatory deck of the Spire, the Moon's only prominent architecture- a large defensive obelisk fortress, the only visibly exposed portion of the base's body.
A journey of only several seconds, Ishfan took the opportunity to consider the possible motive of the unexpected visitor, be it the folly and near total destruction of the Tenloss Hussars at Lybeya or exposure of his recent cozying to the Hutts. Regardless the cause, it was sure to be an unpleasant encounter.
The turbolift slowed to a cushioned halt as the built up pressure proceeded through an intechange and pneumatically powered the door to glide open. Szymon stepped out in to the lavish and luxurious comforts of what normally served as his personal nest, though now shadowed by the pungent presence of the Tenloss Adjunct Sephi Norokos, a rotund pale yellow skinned and brown speckled Twi'lek of ornate jewelled dress who was slowly strolling about the quarters, admiring the over head star scape transparisteel ceiling.
The portly head-tailed alien turned about to face the newly arrived Szymon and donned a sly pointy smile while he let out a slow deep gluttoral groan while twisting his fingers around one of his own cranial appendages,
"Sssszzzyyymoonnn! Greeeeeetingggssssss!" he boisterously declared in feigned friendly demeanor.
Ishfan cracked only the side of his mouth in a deliberate dismissal of his authenticity, "By all means, make yourself at home Sephi," he began while motioning to a server droid that eagerly awaited paging in a corner.
The small droid scurried over and Szymon helped himself to several elements atop a tray bore in one of it's many arms, producing a fuming beverage concotion in moments as he continued, addressing the other over his shoulder, "is there a particular vice I might offer to quench?"
The Twi'lek narrowed his devious smile and answered bluntly, ignoring the offer, "The Trivium is dissatisfied."
Szymon placed his concotion back on the droid's tray without getting a chance to sample it and turned back to face and took several steps up to the guest, "By what offense?" he inquired intently, softening his previous sarcastic tone and severely raising his pitch in prepared defense.
"More than one are there? Perhaps I should look?" the Twi'lek countered smartly while raising his brows in rhetorical inquisition and motioning an upheld hand slightly outward towards Ishfan's forehead and wiggling his fingers.
Szymon smacked his slowly encroaching hand away and turned, marching back to the server droid and fetching his drink. The Twi'lek snickered in a hissing fashion and began to pace while toying with his head-tail again, unfolding the purpose of his visit,
"Vergesso. THEY have conferred and I, to deliver judgementttt," he began to speak.
Ishfan interrupted, "Vergesso was a success. The squatters were flushed and it was delivered as promised. The Hussar's loss was their own blame. Yanosh was a brash fool, it's by luck alone he survived as long as he di," until he himself was cut off, his vocal chords and tongue experiencing a sudden sharp pinch, followed abruptly by what felt like a boot upon his throat and a fist in his mouth as he grasped at the intangible cause in the empty air in front of him and distressingly was forced to panicked breaths through his nostrils. . .(TBC)
-=General Summary=-
E/LSHT Sigma exited HS at Kessel, returned to Garrison Moon
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 532KC, 7500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income; 3000KCs (1000 base, 100 exec man, 800 kessel facils, 450 hutta traits/impnet, 250 hutt facils, 400 vergesso facils)
New Balance; 3532KCs
New Constructions
-2000KCs in Facility Construction Begins
-779KC in Starfighter Constructions (posted 2/15 9:20PM EST)
-626 in additional Starfighter Constructions (posted 2/17 9:40AM EST)
XXX Z95 Headhunters begin acquirement (posted 2/17 9:40AM EST)
XXX Tenloss Mercenaries [ImpFleetTrps] begin training (posted 2/17 9:40AM EST)
XXX Hopper Shuttles [Lambdas] begin acquirement (posted 2/17 9:40AM EST)
End Balance; 127KC, 8750KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
Reining In The Dog (concluded)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/sephinorokos_zpsc26eaf0a.jpg) (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/ishfanszymon02a.jpg)
Adjunct Sephi Norokos Lord Ishfan Szymon
. . .the portly stout Twi'lek stood sternly a few yards in front of the subdued and dwindling Szymon with one hand extend out in tight upright grasp and the other in a broad wide punching fist. The color and pupil of his eyes had drained, replaced by empty blackness as a smug fang bearing over bitten grin displayed his peek pleasure in finally unleashing the dark power upon the always insubordinate human.
He hissed angrily as his voice took a possessed deep echoing reverberated tone, "Forget not, Princep you and Adjunct I, I deliver the word and will of the Trivium!" he angrily bellowed while heavily huffing and continuing, "Certaaaaaaain. .skills I wield. And now, you know, a rumor? heh. ." he paused and dropped his arms to his side, releasing the defenseless Ishfan from his Force Grasp as he collapsed to the finely carpeted floor with a muffled thud, finally gasping full breaths of air.
The roundly head-tailed alien slowly wobbled upon the knelt over Szymon and lifted his head up with his claw like finger tips, now speaking in his normal voice and a soft yet threatening manner,
"So for now, I leave our personal matters apart. This. . ." he stopped to consider his terms while now crouched on his haunches and raised his other hand with two of his short pudgy digits curved, tips separated by a few inches that was then filled with an intense sustained crackling and snapping purple and blue hued lightening that lit up one side of his face leaving the other seeming shadowed and cast glimmers across his golden adornments, ". .Demonstration, a command of my Masters. Along with the seizure of your ship, the Devorantum, to satisfy our needs the Hussars can no longer fill. The Three have spoken and consider the matter resolved. Unless. . of course, you'd like to dispute?" he finished sarcastically in a cynically chipper demeanor.
Szymon nearly choked at the mentioned requisition but unnoticeable in his still lain over recuperative state. Already humiliated in privacy, against the mysterious Tenloss Triad, as an entrenched associate himself, defiance assured death. Gathering himself he mustered to a single knee and still breathing heavy bowed his head before the Twi'lek,
"Express my gratitude for this lesson to them," he replied quietly in stress and in between long breaths, "in thanks I bid you return to them with offerings" he finished his adulation, referring to a cargo hold stuffed full of Glitterstim as the general customary offering expected any time the Three dispatched an address.
The now known apparently Force adept Twi'lek Adjunct stood and dusted his hands off, smirking in satisfaction. He began to casually stroll towards the still open express turbolift the Admiral had arrived on and turned to share a final thought,
"Perhaps you should watch the stones you step upon to reach higher. Some of them may be pillars driven deep," he closed and took a step backwards, the door smoothly gliding closed and carrying the messenger back to his ship to return to his keepers, the Tenloss Triad, the most mysterious upper branch of the most mysterious underworld enterprise unknown of.
Szymon was left to consider the various angles and relationships he'd brought in to play, and the myriad of pinches it now placed him in. At least for now, the wheels of friendship and support in the neighborhood remained greased, but distant relations to must be stroked. . .
-=General Summary=-
Finished a little Interlude
VSDII Devorantum SEIZED by the Tenloss Syndicate! (previous movement)
HERO moves to newly organized PLAYER FLEET*
PLAYER FLEET* ENTERS HS FOR ****
* = 2nd Battle of Endor FP Regulations. Max 40 CP. Fleet to be revealed upon exit at Rally Point.
-
A newly acquired cruiser emerged from the Maw Shipyards and entered Hyperspace for it's new home port. Various newly acquired Stock units head to their new homes as well. (Exit @ PDF destinations will go unannounced). . .
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 127KC, 8750KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income; 3200KCs (1000 base, 100 exec man, 2100 facils/planet traits), 1250 Spec. Proj. Purse.
New Balance; 3327KCs, 9000KC Spec. Proj. Purse.
New Constructions
-9000KC Spec. Proj. Purse, Super Star Destroyer begins outfitting @ The Maw Installation!
-2000KC in Capital Ship Constructions begins
-1164KC in Starfighter Consutrctions begins
-100KC in Troop Training begins
XXX Z95 Headhunters begin acquirement
XXX Tenloss Mercenaries [ImpFleetTrps] begin training
XXX Hopper Shuttles [Lambdas] begin acquirement
End Balance; 63KC, 0KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 63KC, 0KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income; 1950KCs Endor Flashpoint Bonus
New Balance; 2013KCs
New Constructions
-600 Infantry Training Initiated
-360 SF Construction
XXX Z95 Headhunters begin acquirement
XXX Tenloss Mercenaries [ImpFleetTrps] begin training
XXX Hopper Shuttles [Lambdas] begin acquirement
End Balance; 1053KC, 0KC Spec. Proj. Purse
MISC. Unit Movements; (3/8 2:15pm EST) A starship leaves Vergesso heading for a new home port (arrival to go unannounced, movement part of a short pending story arc). . .
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 1053KC, 0KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income; 3200KC total AD (1000 player base, 100 hero abil, 2100 facils/defense/system traits), 1250KC Spec Proj Purse
New Balance; 4253KCs
New Constructions
-756 in Support Craft construction begins
-760 in GAV construction begins
-900 in Infantry training begins
**Maybe a lil more pending some scheming!**
End Balance; 1837KC, 1250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
Offering (Pt I of II)
With his hand now fully loaded, the old clever Ishfan sought to place his bets. It seemed ironic that the First Battle of Endor would set in motion his rise from Imperial Admiral and Tenloss Baron to sovereign warlord and the Second had secured a degree of comfort and assurance as well as delivering two very important pawns, or rather a Rook and a Knight perhaps, to Szymon's clutches. In his usual personal refuge, the uppermost observation deck of The Spire, Szymon had been relaxing for hours since the return of his star fleet to their home port. While the Serpentor returned to the Maw shipyards for repairs, her sister ship the Imperial Star Destroyer Audacity resumed it's normal stalwart post of guardianship over the bustling acquisition, refinement and distribution of the highly valued Glitterstim Spice. The prize and spoil of Endor, the Rebel Alliance Calamari cruiser Freedom, sat motionless in a hovering position some several thousand meters out from Ishfan's direct line of sight as he sat reclined and settled in to a finely upholstered oversized chair awaiting his company.
The Express Turbolift to his suite hummed a soft tune to notify of the impending platforms arrival. The Admiral stood and brushed himself off as the doors hissed open. . .
An aged grey haired human prisoner stepped slowly and gingerly out. His clothes tatters, his coat strips. He shivered uncontrollably as a pair of de-masked obsidian armor clad guards led him towards the waiting Admiral as he fumbled forward and wobbled every few steps.
"No, no, this simply won't do. Not for our dear General Iblis. CEE SIX!" Ishfan called out. A carbon grey protocol droid bumbled from around a corner and inquired in a feminine computerized tone, "My Lord, what do you require?" she asked.
"General Iblis here, please retrieve some more comfortable and fitting attire for a man of his stature would you?" the Admiral asked of the mechanical servant who eagerly replied, "Oh Yes Lord Ishfan! But one moment General Iblis!" the droid called out as it scurried off.
Iblis scoffed in a chattering speech, "Pffchchpfffchcff!" *chchcchchcccchh* "Sstu-ss-tu-stick it upp yer ass" he managed to get out as he dropped in to a large pillowy cushioned couch and somewhat slightly dug in as the pair of guards mirrored him closely off to the side.
"Maybe later!" Ishfan merrily retorted and intentionally sat awkwardly close to the withered curled up ball of a man. "Let's talk first. . ." he began in a friendly manner while motioning for a separate server droid with a myriad of arms, trays and compartments embedded into and extending from it's dual track and ball body core. It rolled up and sputtered a series of chipper bloops and beeps while extending an already prepared concoction to the trembling visitor.
"Some warm Corellian Ale? Just as they serve it back home I believe.. " Szymon offered the frigid Iblis.
The prisoner hesitated for a moment reaching and recoiling twice before committing and eagerly snatching the foamy rumbling glass from the droids pincher-like hand and gulping down half in his first swig. The rapid boost of inner warmth heightened his defiance, "Sso get to the ch-chase and s-send me back. I was.. j-just getting cozy d-d-own t-there!" he sputtered out before finishing the beverage in the second tip and throwing it across the room, sending it smashing in to a wall.
A pair of large rodent sized droids came scurrying out of a small knee high recessed garage port that had previously blended in with the decor. They hurriedly gathered up the glass fragments and wiped down the residual liquids. Ishfan had simply watched the event and smiled while turning to the General,
"Quite relieving isn't it!?" he jokingly quipped. Garm grumbled now more coherent, "Yeah, q-quite an assortment of minions you've got for yourself it seems, get to the point," finishing with a few puffed breaths and standing with a bit of a full body shake and began pacing slowly in a circle.
"Whoo!" he exclaimed shaking off the worst of his frigidness. The pair of guards stepped closer, prompting a taunt from the General, "Easy tweedle dicks," he razzed them.
Ishfan began to elaborate, "Bit puzzling the way your fearless commander departed wasn't it?"
Iblis gave a muted cough-laugh, "Once he's gone, it don't matter to me no more," he answered plainly before spitting on the seeming expensive rug in the increasing attempts at offense while continuing his small circled hobble now slowly forming to a bit of a strut.
"So you say, but we all conceal our true thoughts.. at least the smart ones anyways!" Szymon countered while reaching at the idling server droid and fashioning himself a very gently spice laced beverage.
The General rolled his eyes, "Annnyways Admiral, unless one of these dickheads is going to give me one of their rifles.." he leaned in slightly bent over close to Szymon, the server droid separating them and starring at him, "those mindless fucks in the tunnels tell a better story in the dark than you in this glittery stinking pig nest. So back to Xim's eye with me then?!" he exclaimed while shoving over the server droid unto it's side and attempting to lash out at Szymon, now frail arms outstretched.
The Guards pounced him without hesitation, and though spilling a bit of his drink, the Admiral was unharmed and chuckled at the outburst, "It's good to see you've still got some fight in you Garm! I thought you'd be ready to talk. But not yet. A bit more time on the Rock then it is.. " Ishfan responded still merry and now full of smug. Raising his glass towards the redefeated man who was being drug back to the turbolift to be transported back to the Spice Mines of Kessel, Szymon alluded to the intent,
"She'll be waiting for you Bel!" the Admiral yelled motioning back and out in to space towards the nearby hovering Mon Calamari starcruiser Freedom.
A few moments later, the Protocol droid returned bearing a freshly cleaned and pressed full set of attire. "Ooh," she remarked as she stopped in her tracks upon realizing the guest was no longer present. "My Lord, he forgot to take his clothes!" she exclaimed to Ishfan in disappointment. The Admiral chuckled, "Put them aside for now. We'll see if he'd like them later. ." he answered before finishing his drink. (tbc)
-=General Action Summary=-
2nd Battle Endor FP fleet FINALLY returned to home port and disbanded
ALL Faction Wide ships now in normal LEGAL deployments
-
Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 1837KC, 1250KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income; 3200KC total AD (1000 player base, 100 hero abil, 2100 facils/defense/system traits), 1250KC Spec Proj Purse
New Balance; 5037KCs, 2500KC Spec Proj Purse
New Constructions
-540 Starfighter Construction begins
-540 Aux Craft Construction begins
-1000 Infantry Training begins
-1250 Facility Construction begins
End Balance; 1707KC, 2500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
-
Offering (Pt II of III)
An older model Corellian stock freighter made it's relaxed padded landing softly upon the metallic hangar bay floor. Personnel bustled about their business of tending to maintenance, repairs, refueling and deployment of various craft throughout the massive subterranean complex. Not the usual Imperial personnel of old, now Sky Bogey's "employee" roster was composed of a wide array of humanoid and alien species. Duros, Neimoidian, Twi'lek, Selonians, Nikto, Klatoonian, Gran, Ithorian, Dug, Gungans and Rodian to name just a handful. A core loyalist group of trusted personal guard had been retained in close service, but what hadn't been left deployed to Endor of Szymon's Imperial assets was redeployed in concentration to The Maw, while the Kessel operation was now staffed entirely by a newly emerging brand.
Upon a lofty catwalk platform, the Admiral stood with his closest confidant, Urratio Niks, a long ago Ubiqtorate agent, as the two focused on the newly arrived ship,
"How do you know this Verose again Admiral?" Urratio probed his old friend and superior.
"You should know Inspector, the Alliance ranks are far from clean cut either. We bunked briefly in Academy. And in the wake of Hoth, we had an arrangement. That's why he's still alive. I trust him, more importantly. . .SHE trusts him. Iblis has proven himself to be the rock of lore and the following he's building on the surface is problematic.. we've GOT to get rid of him, one way or the other," Szymon responded.
The Corellian ship's boarding plank lowered with a mechanical hum and gently settled with a clank as a squad of heavy armor clad human troopers formed up, their previous daunting obsidian colors replaced with a primary soft purple plate, the shade of Glitterstim, and dark grey underlying layers. Two cloaked figures emerged from the vessel, one visibly taller and fuller than the other of them, the second of whom appeared distinctly feminine as a Sullustan envoy of Szymon's eagerly rushed to meet them. The Admiral and Inspector listened in, monitoring a concealed Comlink the Sullustan wore,
"Muuukaa!!! Wecoome Wecoome, Gunrul unt Pruncus! Deese Wah Deese Wah!" the short flappy faced greeter made his best attempt at Basic and ushered the two guests along.
As they proceeded past the lined up guard, the two guests threw back their hoods revealing themselves. The taller, a human male and long time officer in the Alliance and emerging New Republic, General Calgan Verose, had long strides. His New Republic uniform was neatly pressed beneath his bulky cloak. His hair was mostly greyed and clinging to a hint of auburn brown speckled throughout. His face was worn, reflecting years of frontline service to the cause. A Chandrilan himself as well, Szymon and the man had history in their early days in the Imperial Academy and encountered each other more than once throughout the Galactic Civil War, each owing a bit of thanks and grace to the other. The female visitor wore bright colors, her cloak was a loud yet calming light blue. At first with only dainty wrists and thin hands visible, she softly gripped both sides of her hood and tossed it back revealing her smooth flawless royal complexion. Her skin itself was as bright as the shades of her attire, as well as the sparkle and glow in her eyes. Her hair was deep brown and worn in one of the usual traditional Alderaanian styles of multiple roped braids, twists and curls. Her stoic presence hid the intense nervousness that consumed her beneath. General Verose, aware of the personal risk she was taking attempted to ease her as they proceeded to follow their guide along a highlighted pathway towards an ancillary chamber,
"Your tension is understandable m'Lady, but rest easy. There is great honor amongst certain thieves and I wasn't always so proper, Ishfan can be trusted, especially to look out for himself.." he quietly spoke to her.
Princess Leia Organa retorted softly, "why General, I'd hate to know you then if you think yourself proper now. And whatever made you think I was worried? I've faced hundreds of men who've wished me dead," she cheekily replied with an assuring stare and crisp smile. Always an effective masker of emotion.
The General returned the smile while clasping her nearest hand with his, "You're trembling Princess. A hundred men yes, but never in Hutt Space,"
The Princess declined to verbally respond and offered a deliberate blink to reset her thoughts and broke the gaze as they entered a separate chamber and the door hissed closed behind them.
Observing above, Szymon and Niks conferred as they hurried along now to meet their guests,
"Could you make out any of that?" Ishfan asked the other.
"Not verbally, but she's VERY nervous," Urratio answered.
Szymon kind of furrowed his brow towards the other, "thanks Inspector Obvious," . . . (TBC, one more part! gotta go make a dog tired!)
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Offering (Pt III of III)
. . .the room was empty of furnishings though brightly lit. General Verose and Princess Organa had been waiting for several dozen minutes for their host and could only pace anxiously as each passing moment brought increase to the tension and suspense. Previously assured of genuine intentions, even Calgan grew weary of the wait.
"You promised me General.." the Princess nervously cautioned the elder military man as she bit her lip while engaging in a completely non-rhythmic pacing while picking at her own nails and staring off in to no where.
Verose assessed the rooms floor and ceiling perimeter looking for an obvious sign of observation equipment. None standing out, he simply yelled aloud, "WHAT TRICKERY IS THIS SZYMON!?"
Just then a door opposite of which they'd entered the sealed empty room recoiled with a heavy intake of air and Lord Ishfan Szymon strode commandingly through , one arm folded behind his back and the other bearing a sipping vessel. A smug smirk stretched across his equally self fulfilling peaked facial expression. He was followed closed by Inspector Urratio Niks who'd stepped off to the side as soon as he'd entered and motioned out in to the corridor, apparently for others to enter.
"No tricks Cal! It took some time to fish this one out of his puddle you know!," Szymon answered the General's outburst, referring to the person of interest in Ishfan's keeping that had drawn Verose and Organa to Kessel in the first place. He took a sip from his glass, reacting little to the bite of it.
A pair of bulky armor clad guards stepped awkwardly sideways through the passage while dragging a withered greyed human prisoner between them. They approached the visiting New Republic emissaries and allowed their burden to drop to the floor in front of them before exiting the chamber leaving the five others to sort out their business.
"Garm!" the Princess exclaimed in concern, hastily throwing off her bright ornate cloak and tossing it over the trembling man as she dropped to the floor at his side, attempting to offer comfort. Always a proud, fit and masculine figure, months on the Rock had left him a shadow of his former visage. She helped him to his knees as he coughed and offered half of a nodding bow to her, "Princess" he managed to emit.
She turned her nurturing nature to scorn directed at Szymon, "Just another honorable man broke in the gears of your twisted machine Lord Szymon," she hissed at him.
Ishfan chuckled as he casually strolled around his guests and retorted, "Oh come Princess, I've merely inherited this machine by will alone. The Republic itself did little to stop things here. I'm simply trying to survive myself in this post Empire chaos.." he lectured the two.
Leia Organa continued tending to the near crippled Iblis with the little she had on her person, which happened to consist of some small medical supplement pills and devices from her sash. General Verose engaged the Admiral,
"Palpatine is gone. The Empire still controls the Core, we can't protect you from them. Dac is our fortress. Beyond that we.."
Ishfan interrupted, cutting short Calgan's misdirection and feigned feebleness, "..Yes, and a mighty fortress it is. Full of facets. You think every being with an ear in the entire galaxy doesn't know of your looming Invasion?" he finished with a cocky inflection and another taste of his refresehment.
The Princess shot a surprised glance to Admiral Szymon then to her own, General Verose who met her out of his peripheral. Ishfan continued, filling the void their stunned silence left.
"Alone you stand no chance. The Sith Lord is beyond prepared for you.."
"That's our business. What concern is it of yours!" Princess Organa snapped back as she jumped to her feet and stomped over to the Admiral, snatching his beverage container and returning to the knelt over Bel Iblis, carefully administering him a drink to which he abruptly reacted with a bit of life from the sting of it.
Ishfan laughed, full of entertainment from the Princesses' display of spunk but offered the basis of his motivation in dealing with the New Republic, "I thrive in the shadow of greatness Princess, the Sith ARE shadow. They consume and become it. There's no room in the galaxy for any one else to a Sith Lord."
Verose scoffed at the notion, "And Palpatine? He was not a Sith? He was not your master?" Ishfan again chuckled, "Always a slave to a cause, your mistake old friend is believing in Masters. And Sith or Not, Palpatine brought balance and resolve. But his time has gone, now is ours. I give you Iblis as a gesture of goodwill. The Freedom can be yours for a price, should you accept, I have valuable commitments of my own to offer"
"You have the Freedom!" Organa exclaimed, again jumping up from Garm Bel Iblis' side. "Name your price, that ship could change the Battle for us," she stated, entering diplomatic mode and standing toe to toe with, albeit a few feet shorter than Admiral Ishfan Szymon.
"Ahhh, there's the royal charm that has been as of yet so aloof!" Szymon remarked jovially back towards Inspector Niks who cracked a rare public smirk. He then continued,
"It's not a matter of monetary sum I'm looking for m'Lady, it's merely an accord I seek. Mutual respect if you will,"
Organa cocked her head and raised her brow, "RESPECT!?" she began, before being interrupted by a throat clearing from General Verose and regaining her composure,
"Slavery is an unacceptable condition to the NEW Republic. Capital Imprisonment is a separate issue. But the subject of your operations are disputable.. given your..GENEROSITY towards the realization of our goals..we can agree to grant the Kessel system economic exemptions under the new Galactic Constitution and Charter," she answered in a tone of mixed emotion.
Szymon rejoiced, "Marvelous! A true diplomat! You see Inspector, the requisites of mutual respect amount to little more than a mutual enemy!" he remarked as he slapped his hands together, "Please, see to it that our guests are properly cared for before their departure, and see to it they receive escort to the edge of Hutt Space!" Ishfan continued while strolling up to Verose and grabbing his hand, forcing a shake, "It's been nice doing business with you again Cal!," the other gripped firmer, "Yeah nice, can't wait for the next time Admiral," he said oozing with sarcasm.
As the gathering dispersed, the Princess of the Alderaan turned to Admiral Szymon offering a final thought before exiting the room, "If we fail Lord Szymon, your gamble will be for naught.."
Ishfan smiled warmly, "I have faith in you."
-
A small capital warship hovered in place near The Spire, leashed to it by several massive cables and a single rigid extended boarding tunnel. Eventually disengaging from it's suckling posture, the cruiser departed the Garrison Moon, Sky Bogey, and soon leapt to hyperspace for the ancient and elusive Roon system. . .
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Faction Income/Expense Log
Start Balance; 1707KC, 2500KC Spec. Proj. Purse
Income; 3200KC total AD (1000 player base, 100 hero abil, 2100 facils/defense/system traits), 1250KC Spec Proj Purse
New Balance; 4907KCs, 3750KC Spec Proj Purse
New Transactions
+1225KC from scrapping some heavy Imperial assets (25% cost production)
-3900 in capital ship acquisition (for use in anticipation of BoC)
-1801 in starfighter acquisition
End Balance; 431KC, 3750KC Spec. Proj. Purse
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Battle of the Bulge (Pt I)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/18df43336427bc742056c0e779bc986c_zps9818a677.jpg)
Deep space outside the Maw, nearing the star Kessa and her subordinates. The oblong odd shaped rock world Kessel was an unpolished yet glistening jewel in the crown of the would be reborn Hutt Empire, yet to be set and coronated. Until the rise of The New Order and for eons before, the spice rich world had been in their prized custodianship. With the demise of Palpatine however it fell to the rogue Imperial Warlord Ishfan Szymon who operated in recent years under tribute to the Hutts. But the brash Szymon's ambitions and uncovered schemings stretched the patience and trampled the generosity of his hosts. The Kajidii are united behind the Council of Elders and a combined fleet of commitments from every known Hutt Clan has assembled. To return and reclaim was a presumption of natural right and inheritance.
Aboard the flagship, the Providence Battlecruiser Varl Nova, the Hutt Granee Lorda Zapata Izissi relaxed upon his hover sled, observing the impressive gathering of warships with his primary strategical advisor at his side, the Duros slave Waugak. Acquired as a child, the servant over decades earned his masters rare respect and appreciation, elevated to the highest levels of slave heirarchy amongst the Hutts. Captain Waugak as he were was the long time commander of Zapata's own starfighter wing, a proven gifted pilot and leader. He had frequently led smaller assaults on his masters behalf against all sorts of targets from commercial shipping raids to strikes on underworld rivals, normally directing numerous small attack ships but never a congregation of such size and strength,
"Oooocheeee!" Zapata exclaimed, "Makassa Armee Huttuk! [My Army is truly worthy of a Hutt]"
"Oooom, moopa Lorda.. seki dookash Kuneldra [beg your pardon my lord, the Council's Army]", the Duros replied, knowing his worth but careful to not exceed his credit.
"SSssssssssssssss!" Zapata reacted with a harsh hiss to his underling, "Sagama ooka meela Waugak, doopa lunga Ranca Poodo! [Lucky so good at serving my will Waugak, others by now Rancor fodder]"
"Chi Lorda! Possos, sala gakak moo doo repish! [Yes Lord, Apologies, you honor me with your praise]" the Duros answered back.
"Gaaaaaah, nokko. Choska veedee Huttuk Armee.... [Ahhhh, now. My plans for this Glorious Hutt Army....]" the bulging creature pushed for the unfolding of his strategy.
"Ooo," the Duros considered for a moment before deciding not to push his luck and again correct his master. "Chi Lorda, Yokassa pankesh malla Granee Armee....[Yes Lord, Your plan for the Grand Army..."
The slave soldier proceeded to unfold his general plan for the attack on Szymon's forces at Kessel, first pointing out the various warships congregated in their own group and noting from whom they had been pledged. It was an assortment of mostly aged albeit powerful cruisers who'd seen the last of their frontline military service in decades or centuries past. The most powerful starships under Lord Zapata's banner were his flagship itself, the Varl Nova, an old Separatist Providence class, and the Council's own enforcer, the Acclamator cruiser Vontor Ichum. Dozens of smaller frigate and corvette class ships made up the bulk of fleet, with a handful of lighter Providence cruisers scattered sparsely throughout.
Waugak contiued to explain his strategy to his Hutt master Zapata as the Hutt force drew nearer and nearer Kessel. . .
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Battle of the Bulge (Pt II)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/PachangaIzissiShahala_zps9fd7acd6.jpg) (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/ZapataIzissiShahala_zps4412c13b.jpg)
A thick rolling steam billowed out the Bath House door way, filling the corridor as a spider-legged droid marched in it's quick patterned ticks passed a pair of dozing Gamorreans, one leaning forward upon his ornate pole arm vibro-axe and the other slumped back against the wall. Their jowls raised and lowered in sync with the tips of their snouts as their heavy breathing neared a snore, peppered with snorts and gurgles, nearly waking themselves as with a quick seamless shift of direction, the metallic octo-pod swung in to the steam filled chamber and skittered off in to the dense vapors.
A pungent incense filled the air while in the far corner a trio of musicians manipulated their odd string, percussive and wind instruments, producing a strangely timed and wide ranging toned ensemble, not necessarily lacking rhythm or tune, just the kind pleasing to most species ear. A seductively attired and exquisite specimen of a Wroonian woman clenched a large palm leaf fan, three or four times wider than her petite frame. Her bronze colored lip cover matching the same natural shade of her glistening eyes. Her midnight blue hair accentuated by her deep indigo skin. She was expressionless and tight lipped as she carefully and slowly waved a gentle breeze upon her master.
Zapata basked in a recessed floor tub of what seemed to be a slowly stewing mud. As the heat bubbles rose, expanded and exploded, they occasionally tossed small splotches of the brown sediment filled liquid throughout the room. The walls were covered in the cooled and dried speckle, fresh layers of condensed and settled moisture rolling down over it. The bulbous creature swirled a finger of one hand in the warm brewing dirt satured water while in the other he daintily pinched the conical metallic end of a hookah hose as the uninhaled exhaust vapors rolled from the tip. He leant back on the elbow of his hose clenching arm against the tubs slightly raised and cushioned out-lining, his eyelids weighing heavy and fluttering. The source of the smoke itself was a rather excessive device, a multi bulbed glass enclosure three meters tall in progressively smaller chambers of refinement that stood behind him, it's inner walls above their liquid line caked with a resinous compound, the smoke feed tube extending in an angle from the lowest and largest section. It was decorated with ornate etchings in ancient Huttese, perhaps the oldest still known written language in the Galaxy, and encrusted with precious metal and gem linings. Upon a kind of rudimentary swing dangled from the ceiling, a kowakian monkey-lizard bore a torch that he occassionally put to a firebox atop the mechanism to keep it churning. The exhaled and unconsumed second hand smoke from his master's indulgence wafting up in a large cloudy path encompassing the space the tiny frail jester alien occupied, fighting sedation himself from it's effects.
The spider-droid paused for a moment, and seemed to almost sigh with it's mechanical body langauge before approaching the Hutt.
*BO-DOOP!* it called out for the massive creatures attention, going unnoticed.
*BOBOOP BOBOOP!* it again hailed in a higher pitch.
"Ooooo, poochala!? [WHAT IS IT?!]" the Hutt bellowed, his eyes finally breaking their spaced out flutter as his elbow lost it's grip and his pose slipped.
"Magaga vuchi sem teppa! [Can't you see I'm Busy!]" he called out while adjusting himself and taking a slight pull from his inhaling tube.
*CHOOOOOOP!* the droid beeped before commencing a hologram. . .
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/PachangaHolo_zpsd8cad133.jpg)
. . .Pachanga Izissi's holo-image emanated from the spider droids flat head-body surface, manifesting roughly a foot above. . .
"BRUDDAH! [BROTHER!]" the miniature blue likeness deeply yelled.
Zapata's eyes widened with surprise as he dropped the hookah hose and seemingly spit out his mouth and lungs full of smoke. He shoed away the female Wroonian attendant and abruptly stopped the three piece band with his frantic hand motions.
"BRUDDAH! Wegah ekko chee chee moola vamash!? Mokash Eldruun eemood chakala! [BROTHER! Where is the fleet I've secured for you!? The Elders demand you move on Kessel at once!]" the holo-hutt continued in a scolding tone.
"Mocha mocha meenee Bruddah! Wogasa midi veemoooo! [Relax relax dear brother, My plan is in motion!]" Zapata responded in his own defense.
"Wogasa? [Your plan?]" Pachanga countered. "Me chooga, tu ahd beecha dumesh, fo deese Kajidii Beemo ahnooka Wekash Eldruun! [I doubt that, but you had better deliver, in honor of Father Beemo and one day for our rise to the Elders!]" he offered the heavily weighted provocation.
"Ooooooo, choomu ichee mala meenee Kajidii! [Ooo, do not lecture me on dear Father!]" the previously scolded Hutt answered now bold, turning the aggressor. "Geemo alla dumesh Xo's Eek tu fo Eldruun! Ahn dee meenee Bruddah mekala bo foovo Izissi! [I will deliver Xo's Eye to the Elders! And then dear Brother, I will be the favored Izissi!]" he proclaimed, now chins raised in pride and motioning to his band to play something upbeat to which they immediately obliged.
"Ooohohohohoho! Doosh meenee Bruddah, Doosh. Ahspeega suuvo mekka unt Nar Shaddaa. Cowaka agama Hoota jamma deeso talla! Nah, golo woogash fo Huttuk Eempeerlio![Oohahahaha! Good dear Brother, Good. Those aspirations will serve you well here on Nar Shaddaa. Ashame I'd have you killed before setting tail on Hutta! Now, go conquer for the Hutt-kind Empire!" Pachanga replied yelling over the jazzy instrumental, then immediately terminating the transmission.
"OOoossssssssssss" Zapata hissed at the threat.
His brother Hutt Pachanga was diminutive in stature, but his scheming and shrewdness made up for it. Clan Izissi had been elevated from a mere family branch of the Besadii only centuries ago by the Elders and because of this were bound to serve as the Council's personal dogs for a thousand years. Their first Kajidii was the powerful baron of Teth, Beemo Izissi Chikori, meeting his demise some years ago. Long winning the favor of the Elders since the cowardly murder of their Clan Patriarch, Pachanga was the Elder Council's eyes, ears, and fist on Nar Shaddaa, enforcing tribute and the Council's personal tasks there, making him one of the most untouchable yet despised amongst the Hutts. But all Hutts had aspirations as bright and vast as the stars. For too long Zapata had served second to his puny brother Pachanga. The conquest of Kessel he'd hoped would stoke the Council's notice and faith.
Elsewhere, the plan devised by Zapata's military adivsor, the Duros indentured soldier Waugak, began to unfold. . .
A run down Corellian Engineering Corps Barloz freighter approached Kessel's Garrison Moon, Sky Bogey. An organized chorus of shipping traffic and armed escorts slowly circled in holding patterns over the natural satellite, awaiting their turn for docking and ensuring order respectively. Occassionally a freighter emerged from within the moon itself, departing loaded with the precious Glitterstim Spice. While the massive mishapen planetoid below served as the prison colony and mining site, the tiny moon was it's administrator and distributor. The central hub of the Imperial Warlord Ishfan Szymon's economic life, his betrayal of his oath to kill Leia Organa had brough the vengeance of the Hutts to his doorstep. But absent from his nest on some brashly decided hiatus, Szymon was no where near his base of Kessel and had no way of being reached. His forces would face the threat unprepared and leaderless.
As the weathered Medium Barloz freighter drew near the Garrison Moon, a pair of TIE Interceptors and a StarViper formed up in escort of it and attempted to establish contact,
*SHHHHHHH* "Barloz, identify and authenticate to proceed to queue, Over" *SHHHHHH* the comm-speaker within the CEC freighter's cockpit buzzed. It's seats were empty. An old Astromech droid, preceding the R series by at least five generations was plugged in to a control port and piloted the vessel. The comm-speaker chatter prompted it's lament,
"Wooowooo," it quietly remarked in it's electronic language, unsure of what to do. A moment later, the cockpit door slid open and a bulky Gonk Droid bumbled it's way in, announcing itself along the way, "*GONK!* *GONK!*". Approaching the comm panel, a small mechanical arm emerged from behind on of it's face panels and depressed a button. The boxy metal being then activated a preloaded recording,
*SHHHH* "Esssscort, this isssss Hutta Flyyyt Zeeroo Two Foe. Asss Sssscheduled arrrriving forrr weekly sheepment do Na Shaddaaa. Transsssmitting Awwthenticasssshun!" *SHHH* a Trandoshan or Twi'lek sounding accented basic speech replied to the hailing.
*SHHHH* "Affirmative Zero Two Four, you are cleared. Follow us to the queue." *SHHHH* the greeting starfighter escort answered before peeling off and heading for a swirling congregation of eager traffickers hovering above the Garrison Moon, followed by the droid manned beat up old freighter. . .(TBC, Conclusion in Part III)
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Battle of the Bulge (Pt III)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/gonk1_zpsbef6d0d3.jpg) (http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii262/jjstepanski/SWSF/GCW%20EP%20II/astro1_zpsaf5abe1c.jpg)
. . .the scarred and battered Barloz had broken off it's slow circular holding pattern and was in it's descent approach to landing within the subterranean hangar bay of the Garrison Moon Base. Within, a pair of rugged droids chirped and blooped in their electronic language back and forth to each other about their specified separately programmed missions, slowly piecing together the pawned role they'd come to play in the Hutt Kajidic's assault on Kessel.
*BRRRRR-Booooooop! Wonk Wonk-BRRRRRrrrr!" the centennial Astromech remarked to the bulky Gonk droid hovering over him as he continued to pilot the freighter according to his directives.
*GONK! GONK! GONK!* the boxy being remarked wearily.
*Beedoop Boop Blop!* the archaic Astromech answered, turning his face lense to his companion.
*GONK! GONK! GOOOOOOOOOOONK!* the Gonk droid replied, now in a sedated form of panic.
*WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!* the Astromech whirred an angry scathing to his fellow metallic being as he stood up on his rear foot-tracks and lent forward attempting to manually manipulate the controls and pull the starship out of it's descent. It did no good, tractor locks had already taken full control of the ship as it was now almost beneath the hangar ceiling line.
*GONK!!!* the Gonk droid exclaimed in it's deep tone as it hurriedly made it's awkward half high stepped strut out of the cockpit. The Astromech followed in haste.
The Gonk droid was far out-paced by the speeding Astromech as they'd rushed towards the cargo hold. The previously piloting droid arrived first, reaching up with a secondarily tool kit arm piece and keying the personnel door open. The Gonk droid arrived a few moments.
*Woowoo* the Astromech commented, followed by a somber and extremely low pitched *Goooooooooooooonk!*
The pair stepped in to a cramped cargo hold filled with stacks upon stacks of interlocking neatly piled containers of various kinds of incendiary or explosive liquids or gelatins, wires running into each and throughout the room, linking each other. Universal warning labels clearly marked their destructive natures. Tip toeing around the laid and coiled lengths of bunched wires, the pair found the control hub for the whole network, shooting each other a nervous puzzled glance in deciding which would try to disarm it.
The Astromech droid slumped forward on it's front arms and lowered it's head in lament, resigned to the Gonk droids insistence, then pivoted himself to meet a hub-port with a complex key piece mounted on an ancillary arm of his own that swung out from his rusted body. It made several spins one way, coasting to a stop and reversing itself the other. A series of lights and quiet electronic sounds dancing throughout the process. Eventually, the key piece stopped spinning and locked up. A mechanical metal against metal grind proceeded, before a dramatic shock wave emitted from the base of the control hub and ran up it and through the port to the squat droids key-piece and down his arm, sending a slivery-blue rippled effect briefly throughout his body.
*Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!* he exclaimed, shooting himself back and slamming against the wall in a loud thud. As he shook himself off, the Gonk made his attempt. The same result ensued. The droids fled, making their way to the main corridor and aimlessly zipping back and forth in a frenzy, lamenting their predicament to each other in a series of electronic exclamations only a droid could comprehend.
The Barloz settled to the hangar bay floor. Far across the spacious arena like enclosure, about half way up the towering walls, a tractor beam released it's hold of the ship and pivoted up to grab another descending mercantile vessel as it lowered beneath the ceiling, the twin massive hangar bay doors rolling shut behind it. Numerous berths honeycombed the opposite walls, housing fighters and various support craft. Some were empty, their occupants out on patrols and escort work, but most were occupied, some darkened, some lit and full of maintenance or tuning type action. Several other freighter type ships sat on the Hangar bay floor near the Barloz. Ground crew scattered around them all and hurriedly conducted their tasks in an organized efficient manner. Various aliens of all sorts, but similarly uniformed in almost civilian seeming industrial or administrative workers attire. Standing near the Barloz, a male human administrative worker impatiently tapped his foot while waiting for the ship's boarding ramp to descend.
"Any time Zero Two Four!" he yelled out, looking at the ship's darkened cockpit. A pair of alien Gran laborers waited nearby, leaning against their powered loading cart that was filled with specially reinforced long diamond shaped containers of the precious Glitterstim spice. A moment later, a loud unlocking sound preceded a mechanical hum as the wide boarding plank lowered from the vessels belly, clanking against the floor. A few moments passed and no one emerged, prompting the now aggravated floor manager to stomp over to the ship's opening and glance within, he was whisked back by abrupt reaction as a pair of droids came racing down the ramp, chittering and gonking along the way, racing away from the vessel as fast as their individual modes of movement could carry them.
*GONK!* *GONK!* the Gonk droid called out to his companion who was now a few dozen meters ahead, as if to plead for him to wait up.
The human administrator cocked a puzzled brow and motioned for the pair of Gran to follow him as they moved to further inspect the vessel. The human strolled up the ramp within while the Gran waited just outside.
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