Saturday, October 20, 2018

[Star Wars] Guardians of Peace, episode 12: The Rot Within, part 2

Dark forces are at play in the galaxy. Shadowy figures and cults move among the far-flung systems of the unknown regions. Growing ever more daring, they advance toward the bright centers of the New Republic and the Empire.

On a data-gathering mission to the urban planet of Taris, the Jedi Taanar Ryl and her companions have discovered a link between the SHADOW WING pirates and a swoop bike gang, the Flying 15s. Following a clue leads them to the abandoned Imperial Tower...

A thermal detonator popped out of the wall and landed on the floor at the feet of the Jedi party. As it exploded, Nema threw up her personal shield to protect herself. Den backed away hurriedly and blocked for the Tunnel Snakes who had accompanied them into the abandoned Imperial tower. Taanar attempted to use the Force to grab the device and hurl it into some nearby rubble but failed to pick it up. Then Ren dived on top of it!

Nema quickly moved to her cousin's side to treat his injuries from the limited blast. There was no light it the corridor now, but that didn't prevent the Tunnel Snakes from fleeing the area. Den activated a light stick and began to examine the door they had been looking at before the thermal detonator appeared. It appeared to have been recently repaired. Den used his blaster to destroy the security camera beside it. 

Taanar ignited her lightsaber and began to cut through the door. Beyond it the small group found a second security door. Beyond that lay what appeared to be a detention block. Slime slugs crawled on the walls, consuming the slime slick that grew there. The group located the security office and determined that the computer systems there were in standby mode. The cell doors were not locked, and one cell showed signs of recent occupation. On the wall of that cell they found scratched into the wall by the bed "VM Imp Knight". They attempted to access the computers for more information, but were unsuccessful.

Having found all they could at the Imperial tower, they considered whether to follow up on the shipment Ren had overheard some people talking about while they were at the swoop bike race. Ayja contacted Taanar, indicating that she had been trying to get through for some time. The others waited for her to come to the Imperial tower as she was more skilled at computer use than the Jedi or the other two Rangers, but once she arrived she had no more success. Taanar felt they should leave soon, so they headed back to where they had left their rented swoop bikes. But when they arrived at that location they found the bikes missing. Annoyed by this event, they decided to walk back to their hotel. 

It was dark by the time they had walked half the distance to the hotel. Taanar heard the sound of a swoop bike engine in the distance. Abruptly a wamp rat lunged out of the shadows at her. Den, Ayja and Nema all drew their blasters The rat bit Taanar on the thigh and Ren stabbed it with his vibroknife. At the same time his brother blasted it and it died. Taanar drew her lightsaber and stabbed a second rat that appeared. As they dispensed with the rats, Taanar noticed that she could hear the swoop bike she had noticed earlier flying away from them. 

Once they had finally returned to their hotel hours later, the party found an invitation waiting for them. Senator Valens had invited Taanar and one guest to a reception at Roff Tower. Ayja recalled that in past times a padawan would always accompany her master, so Nema could go with Taanar and one other person could be her guest for the event. After some discussion over what their strategy should be, it was decided that Ayja should attend the reception with the Jedi, while the Secura brothers would remain outside the tower in a rented aircar and swoop bike, circling the building to watch for trouble. 

When the time for the reception arrived, the group traveled to Roff Tower in their rented aircar. Taanar and Nema wore formal Jedi robes and Ayja wore a formal gown. They were questioned by security guards, who weren't aware of Jedi tradition, but the senator's aide Breena agreed to admit Ayja as Taanar's guest. Senator Valens greeted the Jedi warmly and told them to ask Breena if they needed anything. Taanar noted that Breena appeared displeased by this statement. When they were alone Taanar advised Ayja and Nema to keep an eye on Breena. Ayja used her ever-present data pad to look up the plans for the building, determining that the reception was taking place on the floor above the senator's offices. They observed that Breena was watching them as they conversed.

Taanar then approached Breena to ask her what dignitaries and celebrities she should meet, but Breena ignored her question. Taanar found herself introduced to Valtino Rossi, a popular swoop bike racer. Meanwhile Ayja tried to find a way to sneak off to the offices below, but any attempt seemed to be too obvious. Noticing Ayja's dilemma, Nema began to ask Breena questions about swoop bike racing to distract her, which gave Ayja an opportunity to leave unnoticed. She contacted the brothers via a secure commlink and just managed to avoid encountering a security guard.

The senator was to make some prepared remarks during the reception. As the time for this event arrived and Senator Valens began her speech, Taanar and Nema noticed that Breena had left the party, but she didn't go in the same direction than Ayja had taken. Abruptly the public address system cut out, and the catering staff suddenly drew blasters and revealed that they were carrying thermal detonators. They announced that they were members of the terrorist Committee for the Restoration of the Empire. 

While the reception was being disrupted by the pro-Imperial terrorists, Ayja had found a computer she could hack into and was collecting some useful data. Nema contacted her surreptitiously to tell her about the terrorists. Ayja then contacted the brothers outside so they could notify city authorities and keep the public away from the tower.

One of the terrorists holding a detonator grabbed Senator Valens and threatened to set off the device if anyone moved. Quick-thinking Nema used the Force to snatch the detonator away from him, and then Taanar sent him flying backward. Several of the other terrorists fired on them, hitting Taanar. The reception room burst into chaos as other guests screamed and tried to flee. Tables overturned and dishware fell to the floor. Nema flung the detonator out onto the balcony where Taanar had tossed the man and it exploded outside the building. 

Outside, the Secura brothers had a near miss with a luxury speeder bearing several passengers armed with heavy blasters. Inside, Taanar disarmed one of the terrorists. Two more fired on her but she deflected their blasts and reflected the energy back at those who had shot at her. Nema disarmed another terrorist. Ayja rejoined them, then went after the absent Breena. 

The terrorists headed for the balcony, leaving Senator Valens behind. She took cover by a security guard who had been injured. Taanar hurled an ornate sculpture of ice that had been the centerpiece of the refreshment table at one of the fleeing terrorists. She was struck by another blaster bolt. Nema was wounded also. 

Den directed his brother to collide with the luxury speeder, then dived out of the aircar aboard the rented swoop bike. 

Security guards trained their blasters on Ayja. She told them she was with the Jedi party and there was trouble in the other room and they let her pass as she continued her search for Breena. 

On the balcony, Taanar spotted the same luxury speeder that the brothers had encountered. She also saw Den on his swoop bike diving after it. Ren positioned the aircar above the speeder. Taanar was distracted by another shot fired at her, which she failed to deflect. She reacted by stunning one of the attackers. Den landed on the balcony and ran into the reception room to join Nema in flanking some of the terrorists. 

Ayja heard someone running and began to pursue the runner. Inside the reception room, Taanar drew her saber and slashed a terrorist. Outside the building, Ren dropped his aircar toward the speeder but failed to collide with it because the speeder dodged away. The aircar hit the edge of the balcony instead. Chunks of concrete went flying with the impact. Two terrorists were knocked off their feet. The occupants of the luxury speeder fired on Ren. The terrorists who had fallen got to their feet and ran for the speeder. Both Taanar and Nema attacked them and Taanar's target fell. Den fired on an unarmed man, and one of the armed men shot at him. The fleeing men reached the speeder. 

Ayja found Breena trying to open a door and crept up on her to stun her with her blaster. Upstairs, Taanar stepped out onto the balcony and used the Force to grab hold of the luxury speeder containing the terrorists, preventing it from speeding away. Then Ren slammed the rented aricar into the speeder. His aircar's engine failed and it began to fall toward the distant ground.

Breena drew a holdout blaster and fired on Ayja, but missed. Some of the men in the speeder fired on Taanar. She pulled the speeder onto the balcony. In the falling aircar, Ren told FE t get the vehicle's thrusters back online and the droid did so, but the aircar was still out of control and plummeting. 

One of the terrorists drew a thermal detonator and set it off, blowing up the speeder. Ayja and Breena were still struggling and Breena managed to wound Ayja seriously. Ayja managed to send her location to the others and fire on Breena, but by this time both she and Breena were reeling from their injuries. 

Ren managed to slow the wild descent of the aircar, but then the engines failed once again. He and FE climbed aboard the second swoop bike stored inside the vehicle and dove out of the aircar. Breena wounded Ayja again, and Ayja fell unconscious.

Next Episode: Episdoe 13, "The Rot Within", part  3

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