SPACEMASTER

The Team arrive on Brigia II,
land at a place called 'Town' aboard the trusty but rusty Aardvark. Brigia II is located deep into the Brigia system which is otherwise a vast asteriod field. Milton, like a man, remains on the Bridge and develops a nice healthy sheen. The Brigia Tions have been trading with off-worlders for around 3 years now. 'Town' , the only off-worlder settlement shows all the hallmark of this. Pre-fab buildings, an open field acting as the spaceport and the requiste scum & villiany(tm) in attendance. 'Town' is located near the equator, in a desert sandwiched betwixt jungle to the south(30km) and ocean (5km) to the north. The team lands, prep up and then ooze into town and set to work. After a few hours of subtle questioning, they discover that all off-world trading is done by two dudes who have the muscle.

The uber crime boss is
a guy called Materazzi, rich mother who lives out on a large sail barge that hovers out on the ocean most of the time but comes inland when there's trading to be done. The other is a hard bitten Weequay who goes by the handle of Nissan O'Douglas (PJ's other SM char 8-)). The Weequay has a dive in town called the 'Tarasco Bar' where all this dealing take place.

The trade works like this..
the off-world "traders" come to Brigia, sell their wares to either Materazzi or O'Douglas, they then take the money and split. The most lucrative cargo of recent times (8-9 months) has been droid components and it's been very lucrative indeed. What the two crime lords do with the droid parts nobody knows or cares to know. Too busy counting the elmonits, know what I mean friend?

So, the boys tool up
and decide to pay Nissan O'Douglas a visit. Raphen Shondia, who fought with O'Douglas during the Rebellion is especially eager to meet his olde war buddy. He's a reb, we won't have any trouble and we can then mush on find who's building the Mark 3's remarks the Sullustian confidently. 'Didn't you cut his ear off once' remarks Milton scanning the ship's databanks for infomation on the pair. Raphen pauses as the memory resurfaces. 'Thats was a long time ago, I'm sure he's forgotten about *that*', laughs off the Marine Captain...'besides I'm packing 'Old Painless' (rubs PML) there won't be no trouble'.

The team head towards the Tarasco bar,
as they near the establishment the sounds of a bitter firefight can be hear. Turning a corner the team see the bar currently under attack from around 20 goons and 4 large vehicles packing heavy weapons. As they watch a missile hits the bar front from a side street. Hmmmm...the boys decide en masse to intervene on O'Douglas's behalf. Raphen grabs Bodok and Grav belts it up to a higher vantage point. The Pair land on a roof (eventually) and unlimber weapons (PML & MLA Rifle).

Alini Sarason unslings his Medium Blaster cannon
and scans the area for a suitable firing point. He notices the Weequay and Sullustian high up on a building to his left...hmmm..high and safe eh?...Sarason strides across the street and raps on the door. Milton Scraggs ignites his light saber and rushes down the street with Mattlock following him at a leisurely jog behind.

The rooftop boys open fire
and quickly disable 2 of the vehicles. Sarason is still rapping on the door to the same building. Dr Oblivion is still contemplating the 'ifs', Milton&Matt are nearing the fighting. McJimmy opens up with his Heavy Laser cannon on his Grav Sled. A Security Probe appears above the door and scans the Weequay holding a big feck up medium blaster cannon standing expectantly outside. The occupants of the abode decide not to open the door.

Alini's patience is beginning to get somewhat frayed...
how many doors must a Weequay knock on before he's allowed in (to then go up to the roof and fire his blaster cannon)?...the answer my friend is...one! The p*ssed off weequay re-slings his blaster cannon and unhooks 2 large objects from his weapon belt. Up on high, the boys shoot up a variety of things. One PML explosion highlights the fact that one of the Grav Vehicles has a shield, the one that is now backing up and turning to bring it's twin heavy blaster cannons to bear at the rooftop pair...hmmm things are beginning to get interesting.

Down below,
Alini has fiddled with buttons and then plants the two large objects onto the Door of Pain. He turns, he flees..before he stumbles, on the stairs. The Weequay regains his footing and runs once more, but he finds this difficult, weighed down as he is by the heavy blaster cannon..undeterred he courageously makes another 10 metres, abeit a little *slowly*...In front of him, Dr OBlivion & Maria turn a corner and get out of blast range. McJimmy the Finn engages his Grav Belt and rises about a foot off the floor...behind the Weequay, the digital readouts are now in single figures...adrenaline courses thorough the Weequay's and now, Mon Calamari's veins...Alini Sarason desperately makes another 10 metres and the stubborn McJimmy continues with his Grav Belt 'manuvering' and rises yet another foot off the ground.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!
2 Mark 4 Plasma Grenades detonate on the big yellow door. An expanding wall of plasma fire rushes out in all directions, engulfing and then hurling the hovering Mon Calamari far down the street....buy buy Heavy Laser. The burning plasma wall reaches the straining, unarmoured Weequay and sets him on fire...Alini Sarason loses consciousness and goes down burning at 9 hits per round. Up on high Bodok and Shondia noting that the building probably won't collapse, release each other and stare down on the prone, gently burning Alini Sarason. The pair then turn their attention back to firing at the goons attacking the Tarasco bar.

Brian Oblivion notes
that there is no-one in the vicinity that can now save Alini Sarason bar him. The Correllian doctor calmly unholsters his trusty Needle gun and acquires the prone, burning weequay within his gunsights. ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP..a burst of needles emerge from the business end of the weapon's barrel and glide gracefully towards the burning arse of Alini Sarason....and fall..

Just short...
of the Weequay's unconscious, unknowing, burning behind (in the real world Dabe scribbles something down on his character sheet). The Smart Medi on McJimmy's arm brings the engineer back to his senses, he surveys the situation before stumbling over to the burning Weequay and kicking sand over the body to put out the flames. Seeing this, Brian holsters his Needler and runs up with Maria to help out as best as he can. This 'help' consists of sneakily swiping Sarason's Elmonit card when McJimmy's back is turned. Dr Oblivion is overjoyed to find that the Weequay has two elmonit cards...One of which is his, whilst the other bares the name of 'Dr Brian Orac Oblivion' on its shiny, plasteel exterior.

Meanwhile back at the bar end of the street.
Mattlock has shot and then dodged a goon vehicle trying to mow his down. Milton has engages, slashed and disarmed around 3 goons clustered near the shielded truck. Raphen and Bodok have decimated the goon ranks to such an extent that they are leaving as best as they can manage.

The fighting dies down
and various peoples make for the still smoking Tarasco Bar, various other people hump the body of Alini Sarason back to the Aardvark Infirmary at the down quick. A lot of Weequay skin will need to be regrown. As the remaining guys get within 20 metres of the Tarasco Bar, Nissan O'Douglas shouts out for them to stop. He aint seeing anymore visitors today, and if anyone sees different he'll burn 'em down to the ground.

Milton undeterred,
and as diplomatically as he can, informs O'Douglas of the team's New Republic credentials and asks for a meeting. Milton then reminds O'Douglas of his former Rebel past and states that a meeting could be potentially beneficial for both parties. The Jedi points out Raphen Shondia, one of O'Douglas's old Rebel buddies...surely we could just come in for a few drinks and talk about old times at the very least?

A hollow point MLA round hits Raphen Shondia
square on his Ordium II Alloy Combat helmet. The impact sends the Sullustian onto the floor *hard* ...'how you been old buddy?' laughs the Weequay, 'I see you've still got that suit of armour'. Raphen Shondia rises from the dusty desert floor slowly and removes the squashed head of the MLA round from just above his helmet visor...the Sullutian then stares hard into the gloomy confines of the Tarasco bar as he turns the distorted bullet around in his hand. 'I don't owe the Rebellion or you New Republic p*ssies sheet!..so the reminiscing over...why don't you come back tomorrow and I might be in more of a talking mood' states O'Douglas with some finality.

The guys decide
that, yes, tomorrow might be better for a chat and return to the ship. The Weequay Re-Skinnning(tm) is in full swing in the Medbay by then so most of the boys kick back and take in the show. 8-) The Medi Droid finished it's work and informs Alini Sarason, that he should be ok in around 3 days until then he'll be at a -25 penalty on all actions due to the drugs and treatment. Sarason decides that this is the time to go and have a little lie down. The Weequay removing his personal effects before bedding down notices that his elmonit cards ...have been *tampered* with....8-)

A new day dawns,
the boys eager for the info, arrive at the Tarasco Bar before noon... the boys get to talking with Nissan O'Douglas and discover....

1. He used to be top dog here until Materazzi arrived. Materazzi had a lot of money and has slowly out muscled the Weequay in the town and now most of the off world trading goes via Materazzi.
2. Materazzi lives on a big Grav Barge (I said he had money) that spends it time out on the waves and only comes to town on Sundays when most of the off world traders make landfall.
3. Yeah he knows what the off-worlder traders bring in, contraband droid components, so?..it's just business out here on the rim. He'd like to get back into some of that action again. Mondo bucks to be made.
4. A Tion Hive on Brigia buys all the droid merchandise. Yes he knows which one...no he aint just gonna tell yooose. 8-)
5. Nissan knows exactly what the Tion Hive are building with the driod components and calls in his own personal Mark 3 combat droid guards. I got me a couple of these...he boasts proudly as the party look on in horror as 2 Mark 3 Combat Droid stride in. The 2 Droids are missing the fleshy exterior but the exposed exoskeleton is all 'Murdoch' model combat droid.

Milton asks the Weequay
what he wants for the Hive infomation. Nissan O'Douglas wants the team to take out Materazzi (that's not his real name either...no I aint telling yoose that either). You take out Materazzi and I'll finger the Hive who are building these droids. Milton asks O'Douglas why he hasn't taken out Materazzi already? 'I aint never had me a Jedi on hand before..' replies the Weequay with a wry smile. 'Oh and when did you start talking hillbilly?' continues Scraggs. 'When I got the banjo' ripostes the beaming Weequay.

Val Bodok listens to the banter in the bar
in a professional but thoroughly uninterested way..it's only when he notices O'Douglas's MLA rifle that the Weequay perks up some...from the shorter barrel length, bigger capacity magazine and modified layout...that kinda looks like a burst firing MLA rifle to me. Long range MLA fire..with burst mode....mmmmmmm...Bodok make's a mental note to have a private word with Nissan O'Douglas. The talks conclude and the team return to the Aardvark. The path is clear gentleman, we devise a way to find and then take out Materazzi, Nissan then tells us the Hive location, we then investigate the Hive and see what there is to see.

Dr Oblivion gets to work
on the computer to punch up all info on Materazzi and sends off the profile pic supplied by Nissan 'Douglas. A few hours later the Sullust relays the information of the search back to the Aardvark. The man in the holoimage doesn't match anyone in the New Republic by the name of Materazzi...the man in the holoimage matches the profile of someone called 'Gant'. Mattlock Starfighter, chokes on his coffe, 'GANT!' exclaims the Correllian, he's the man who betrayed me on Raltiir IV, he's the reason why I got locked up for a 845 year stretch!...I gotta a score to settle..' (I think in real life PJ raised an enquiring eyebrow...and then said...that name should mean something to me right?)'

First things first, how to find Gant.
All the team know is that Gant travels around in a big sail barge usually out on the ocean and only comes into town on Sundays to trade. Various plans begin to formulate. An attack when the yacht comes into town, we pose as Traders, get in close and then he's ours. We find the yacht from orbit and then nuke it from the comfort of the Aardvark?. But all this..is tish..is not what occupies Dr Obvilion's whirpool of thought...cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives...perhaps if we contact Gant and tell him Dr Brian Oblivion wants to meet him...that I wish to meet him...that em>I have an upgrade to the Mark 3's he may be interested in...hmmm....once on board, signal Aardvark...they come in and take Gant out...hmmmm....it is a complicated plan, with many if's and many, many unsatisfactory and unpleasant outcomes but for some reason the good doctor is strangely enamoured with it.

After the initial planning,
various team member decide to check out the viability of their individual plans out in the big, bad & "real" world. Thus numerous party member squint in the afternoon sun as they step out of the Aardvark and onto Brigia's field of dreams. As many eyes wander around the barren landing field they can't but notice the large dust cloud bearing down on the ship. As the cloud draws nearer to the ship, the whine of grav motors can be heard as four vehicular shapes emerge from the billowing dust and head towards the ship. In the vanguard of the convoy, the big red truck (with shield) from the earlier Tarasco bar fight can clearly be seen. Perhaps they've come to talk, offers Dr Oblivion, his plan plainly fresh within his mind.

WHOOOOMP!
A blast bolt whizzes over startled heads and blackens another section of the Aardvark rusty exterior. Perhaps not. A frantic bit of party running around(tm) now takes place as

As of the people outside:
Bodok drops to floor and sets up up his MLA rifle. Milton disappears down into the dirt????? Brian and Maria...and Alini all run off towards the approaching vehicles???

Whereas the people inside:
Mattlock vaults over the R2 unit and into *his* pilot seat. The Correllian Pilot's fingers a blur on the console. Various ship systems begin to power up.. shields, engines, gravitics, weapon systems, comms, ecm, everything and anything...no way anyones gonna say it was Matt's fault the ship got tore up this time. 8-). Raphen belts himself down into the Quad Blaster controls for a possible bit of Air to Surface gunnery action. The Quad's systems are all heating up nicely...the Sullustian is in a happy mood...this is turning out to be *good* day...probably bag me a couple of goon vehicles in a minute..McJimmy down in Engineering looks to his console and sees each system powering up in sequence...hmm...he thinks...sequential startup is all well and good...but it kinda takes a long time to get all systems to power....why don't I bypass this, re-route that, plug this to...this and then finally squeeze.....

ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......
All the lights go out in the Bridge, and in the corridor next to the bridge, and in the galley, and in the medi bay, and in the cargo bay, and in the toilets, and in engineering....basically, if there's a room in the ship then chances are it'll be dark now..emergency red lighting filaments begin to flicker into life as the stunned trio sitting in the red murk feel the vibrations of further blaster impacts on the Aardvark's hull. The computer console on the bridge explodes, the landing gear is damage and translight is offline until repaired. The trio sit silently in the near darkness with 2 of the 3 wondering whose fault it was and the remainder deciding on whom he can blame for this feck up!...8-)

Meanwhile outside,
Val Bodok shoots the driver of one the lead vehicles and sends it careening away into the desert at a tangent. Another vehicle notes this and tanks towards the prone Bodok but not before a blade of light emerges from the ground and slice the vehicle clean in half! Various sections of smashed up and burning vehicle arrive but not a few metres in front of the seemingly unconcerned Weequay. Things on the ship are quiet, tanquil even, as Matt & Raphen sit silently in the red glare with the calm serenity of PCs who know...that it wasn't their fault (this time anyways). The Intercom crackles, a signal from engineering, Mattlock has never hit that 'on' switch with such vigour before, a crackle, a hiss and then the word 'Sabotage' filters across the ether from the dark depths of engineering centrale. (cue: everyone in Beastie Boys mode)....SA-BA-TAAAAAAGE! no? anybody? no? 8-(

Outside, the furiously running trio
of Brian, Maria and Alini are nearing the red truck. Oblivion picks up McJimmy's message on ship via his commlink and sees it's potential to embellish his cunning plan. 'People in the red truck, this is Dr Brian Oblivion, I wish to speak to Mr Gant....God's teeth! ..it was I who sabotaged the ship, so stop shooting at me and get me the feck outta here! After a pause, the person(s) in the red truck agree to the plan. So Brian Oblivion the computer genius, Maria Oblivion, the genius's daughter and Alini Sarason, the...erm...*shrug*..bodyguard 8-) I guess, board the now stationary red truck and then head to destinations unknown.

There are 2 mercenary types in the truck,
one who is driving the vehicle whilst the other waves a rather large and robust looking blaster pistol in the new arrivals faces...Which one of you is Dr Oblivion? he barks. Brian raises a hand in reply. Who's she? continues the guard, motioning with his pistol at the sweet, docile face of Maria. It is at this time, that Alini Sarason feels a bead of sweat, form and then trickle down his back. She's my daughter, explains the eager and seemingly totally-in-control-of-the-situation Dr Oblivion. The large pistol then moves to center itself on the unarmoured chest of the Weequay called Alini...and who is *this*?...Brian casually informs the merc that the Weequay is his bodyguard (in the real world, all vestiges of colour remaining on Dabe's pasty cheeks drains anyway).

Bodyguard?
...Gant only wants you and her...we aint got room for no bodyguard!...We *haven't* got room for a bodyguard! corrects Brian Oblivion totally oblivous (8-)) to the impending violence that this situation now clearly demands. Alini's sphincter is beginning to pucker up good... he watches the big heavy blaster pistol poke him in the chest..YOU! GET OUT! orders the mean looking guard...Mr Sarason...looks out the passenger door at the ground blurring past a few feet below him...he turns back to face the guard and glibly tells him to 'GO FECK HIMSELF!'

BOOOOM!
The Weequay feels a blaster bolt strike his left hand followed by a weighty punch to his chest. The dual impacts send him flying from the speeding grav truck and tumbling, sprawling, hard, onto the burning desert floor...Miraculously, Alini remains conscious as the searing pain of his crippled left hand begins to reach his brain. You shot my bodyguard! exclaims an outraged Dr Oblivion...You dirty stinking rotter! continues the vexed Correllian. SHUT UP! replies the merc in return, making the fatal mistake of pointing his smoking pistol at the good docter's furious face....whhhhhuuugg..... arrrrrrrrrrrgh... *choking sounds* *struggling sounds* CRACK!

The pistol wielding chump
crumples to the floor of the grav truck, his discoloured neck at an odd angle...the beautiful, serene, blood splattered face of Maria turns towards the open mouthed driver of the now slowing vehicle..who decides that jumping and fleeing is far preferable to suffering the carnage he's just witnessed. Brian grabs the vehicle controls and brings the truck to a halt. He then reverses over to where Alini Sarason is doing a bit of on the spot medicing up. Seeing the Weequay is not too badly hurt 8-), Dr Oblivion gets on the comms and tries to reach Gant. Hello hello?..can anyone hear me..this is Dr Brian Orac Oblivion, I wish to speak to Mr Gant on a matter of great urgency! ..and so on...for a fair few minutes.

Eventually, a message returns...
'Where are you and what happened to my men?', Dr Oblivion replies that the Gant's heavies are both dead, he is now the sole occupant of the Grav Truck...but..he still wants to see Gant...no this is not a trap!..tell us where to go and we'll meet you!... Directions and assurances are exchanged. Brian contacts the ship to inform the party of his plan.. the Plan, before he, Maria and the injured (crippled) Alini get back into the truck and drive off to their rendevous with destiny.

Back at the ship,
McJimmy has re-started the Aardvark's reactor and is beginning to pick up the pieces..in addition to the damage to the computer, landing gear and translight drive...several of the ship's internal security monitors blew out..in a weird short circuiting incident...mostly in the staterooms. 8-) The Mon Calamari engineer arrives on the bridge to repair the computer console just as Brian O'Blivion message is received stating his intent, his plan on getting to Mr Gant. '....await my signal and then come in and get us...Brian out'.

He does realise that
it'll be a few *hours* at the very least before I can make the ship airworthy again?, states McJimmy the Finn. He's out of communication range now, replies Milton, but I guess he'll have prepared some backup plan in case we can't get to him or Gant's yacht in time. Right? 8-) Meanwhile the big red truck have meet up with a Grav Flitter sent by Mr Gant on a lonely stretch of deserted beach. The trio strap themselves into their seats as the Gravitic plane lifts off and swoops across the expanse of ocean.

A few hours pass
before the Aardvark also takes to the air. Starfighter at the helm, powers the ship up to a high altitude. Milton sits behind him in the captain's chair and looks pretty darn good doing it. McJimmy is on the Sensor console furiously scanning the surface for any sign of yacht or transmissons from a yacht..so far zip..and for perhaps the first time, both of the Aardvark's 2 Weapon mounts each hold a competent, uninjured and *sighted* gunner. Raphen on the Quad Blaster and Big Val on the Big Ion Cannon..the operation look's pretty slick in the Aardvark....Hell Raphen's even worked out how to get the HUD display to work thus improving his chances to hit things by 20%! Mattlock guides the ship into large circular sweeps over the area where they'd previously picked up a faint trace of Gant's Grav barge.

Meanwhile, the trio of Brian, Maria and Alini
arrive on Mr Gant's imposing Sail Barge...the muther's BIG..bigger than the Aardvark and bristling with weapon mounts and missile launchers...all of which fails to register on the seemingly pre-occupied Brian Oblivion. The group is lead to a luxurious stateroom and told that dinner will be served at 8 and that they are to arrive suitably attired. The guard opens various wardrobe doors revealing many suits of dress clothing. After the guard has left, the three take in their surroundings and then help themselves to the drinks cabinet. Ralla Vodka!...this Gant is the sh*ts! HUZZAH! Up on high..still nothing registers down below. ECM perhaps? 8-)

The appointed hour arrives
and Brian, Maria and Alini are lead to the dining area. Brian looks pretty sharp in his all black Correllian threads, Maria looks stunning in a shimmering little Shirlian Bassian number while Alini...well Alini breaks with the instructions and prefers to remain in his standard, drab (somewhat burnt) Weequay clothes. He has done what he can with his sorched left hand, i.e. pumped it full of drugs and wrapped it in a sling...this arrangement will make eating somewhat *interesting*. In the ornate dining area, pride of place is taken by a long, massive plasteel table and at it's far end, one lone occupant is seated. A man of standard size, standard features, swept back hair and piercing green, green eyes.

Mr Gant I presume,
begins Dr Oblivion breaking the shroud of silence that had fallen within the room. 'Please my friends, sit, eat..the Mandelorian Veal is exquiste' is the man's only reply. Dr Oblivion moves towards Gant but is brought short by a raised hand. 'Please Dr Oblivion, come no further..for you own safetly..sit ..eat..ah the wine has arrived.' Brian scans the room before taking his seat and then watch's his glass filled with a turquiose liquid by one of Gant's goons. The good docter stares at the full glass and then back to Gant. Gant noticing Brian's uncertainty, raise his glass and quaffs some of the bluish liquid...please, my friends you can eat and drink in confidence here.

Dr Oblivion picks up his wine glass
and raises it to his nose, he inhales deeply before taking a sip...he finds the *wine*...adequate. 8-) Score 1 for the Good Guys! (did I say Good Guys?...of course I meant the Not-so-Bad Guys right readers!) You may have the guns, you may the goons and you *may* have the power..but in high society playa you aint nothing but a johnny-come-lately Mr Gant, thinks a smug Dr Oblivion to himself. Meanwhile Alini is feeling not so smug, the Weequay hasn't touched his food...or his drink..he sits and he watches the silent, chomping away, seemingly non-concerned figure of Mr Gant and he worries..8-) The meal proceeds for some time without conversation.

This is all very pleasant Mr Gant,
but I feel it is time to talk about business, begins a slighty inebriated Docter Oblivion. 'Business? Doctor..what business would that be' replies the smiling figure at the head of the table. 'Let me be blunt, you know who I am, and no doubt you know what I can do, (small smile)...it is but common knowledge these days..(laugh)..waxes Brian Oblivion. Alini bites back his lip..'Egotistic little tosser' thinks the silent, watching Weequay. '..so what would you say, continues the Doctor, if I was to tell you that *I* have completed the designs for a new improved variant of the Mark 3 combat droid? 'I would say *nothing* at all' replies the bemused Mr Gant. 'I care nothing for your droid designs..that is not the reason that you were brought here' he concludes..his eyes glinting at their most greenest and most evilest.

Brian pauses,
a vexed expression replaces his previous jovial one, 'Ah...' is all he can manage at first, but he rallies '..so why then are we here?'. 'Because you are the great Dr Brian Orac Oblivion', begins Mr Gant, to which the smug, smiling demeanour slides back across Brian's facial features once more ...'I have..um..*associates* who wish very greatly to meet *you*...and your *daughter*, continues Gant as his eyes come to rest on the silent, slighty shivering figure of Alini Sarason...'you however, they do *not* wish to meet' he concludes with a icy smile. Several super chilled guinness cold beads of sweat form on the Weequay's back..and start there slow trickle down...this whole plan..is getting worse all the time, thinks the Weequay. All he can do is to look pleadingly at Brian Oblivion and pray for a lifeline.

Brian, looking somewhat puzzled,
'but...he's my bodyguard...where I go, he goes' he begins... 'Oh believe me Dr Oblivion, you will not be needing any bodyguards where you are going', and with that Gant presses a button on the table beside him. A few panels on a wall glide aside as 4 burly armoured guards enter the dining area. Gant gestures towards the meek looking Alini Sarason and says 'please depose of *this*'. 'WHAT! issues the gobsmacked Dr Oblivion, 'Mr Gant you do me a great dishonour, this man is my personal bodyguard, his life is not your to dispose of...it is *mine*...he has no free will, he is mine to command, he is nothing...Brian's tirade ends with the phrase 'watch as I crush his testicles for your amusement'. But these heartfelt statements do not move the iron willed thou somewhat taken aback Mr Gant. 'Take him away and do..what you do'. The guard acknowledges with a salute and the dejected Alini Sarason is escorted out of the room by 2 of the guards and lead away to his probable doom. 8-)

Meanwhile, up above,
in the heavens, the Aardvark, that trusty angel of mercy, with those heavenly sensors, operated as they are, by the benign, healing hands of good olde McJimmy 'Sensor Queen' the Finn.....still have no clue as to the yacht's wearabouts. 8-) 'Mr Gant! I must protest! this is totally preposterous! roars a livid Brian Oblivion. 'Indeed', waves away Mr Gant 'but you begin to tire me Dr Oblivion...Guards take the good Docter (and I bet every time I write the phrase 'the good Docter' PhilJ gets a little tingling sensation in his little nutsack 8-)..tell me it aint so Jonesy I dare ya!)...back to his room'. With that Mr Gant leaves the dining room, the still protesting form of Brian Oblivion is frogmarched to his stateroom leaving Maria Oblivion to rise, to stride and then bounces off an invisible force field now surrounding the dining area. 8-)

Alini Sarason, contemplates 'things'
on his long walk from the dining area to the stern of the sail barge. The Weequay's hair braids flutter in the sea breeze as the smell of brine fills his nostrils. The natural, gentle undulation of the sweeping waves seeming surreal against the harsh, technological stillness of the barge's gravitic hovering..the two opposing forces in perfect juxtaposition. 'So this is death...born upon a desert..died upon a ocean...it is fitting' laments a resigned Alini Sarason. At the stern's end, the two guards grab and then push the dejected Weequay down onto his knees. One of guards puts a well worn blaster pistol to the back of Alini Sarason's head.

Any last words?
asks the other guard. Alini raises his downcast head to look into the man's grinning face. The eyes meet, the guard's grin slowly fades to be replaced by a much more serious expression. The guard bends down, grabs the Weequay's hair braids roughly and then stares intently at Alini's upturned face...the words 'it is you...' finally issue forth from the man's disbelieving lips. Intrigued, Alini stares back at the man in return and finds to his amazement that he too has seen the guard before...memories long dead begin to re-surface on Sarason's psyche.

Motioning to the pistol wielder to hold,
the guard release's his grip on Alini braids, straightens and then flips on his communicator. 'Mr Gant I have some information on the Weequay that you asked to be disposed.' 'Indeed, any interesting last words?' comes the terse reply. 'No sir, the Weequay is still alive...it's just that.. I believe him to be <Alini's Sarason Real Name> (ASRN)' A pause from Mr Gant, before 'you are sure of this?....surely he must be dead by now?' The Guard with the communicator moves out of Alini's earshot and the last bit of infomation the Weequay overhears is 'well if you are sure, you are sure.....so be it..bring him down to room ....' The guard with the blaster pistol motions for Alini to stand and then follow the other guard. The Weequay gratefully does so as great waves of relief surge thorough his now tembling body.

Down below,
Dr Brian Oblivion is still raging as he is manhandled back to his stateroom. Here, the fuming Correllian is left to his own devices as the room is sealed shut behind him. Brian trashes a few things within the room before calming down and pouring himself a drink...the plan is not proceeding as intended. Alini is lead back down into the bowels of the sail barge, eventually the Weequay and his guard escort meet a cheerful Mr Gant standing outside a grey pasteel door. 'I am a busy man so I advise you to choose your answers carefully' begins the green eyed man. 'I have been lead to believe that you are <ASRN>, is that correct? Alini gives a stiff nod.

Gant's smile increases in magnitude
and the man becomes visibly animated. 'This is wonderful news! Oblivion and <ASRN> both!...they will be beside themselves!'. Gant then quietens and raises a hand to stroke his chin. 'But we only have your word on who you are, don't we?. some kinda proof will be necessary...' with that Gant presses the open button on the nearby door. The door opens and Alini stares into a sterile room. It contains a table, on which several instruments are arrayed. Instruments that are quite familiar to Alini Sarason. Adjacent to the table, suspended from a meathook (PhilJ: Does it have to be a meathook?..it's always a meathook..come on, this is the future! this is Star Wars..surely they've invented something more.."sexy") ...hmmmmmmm...... suspended from a 'CYBER' meathook is a body of a badly beaten and bleeding Weequay. 'Now' begins Gant stepping into the room, followed by the prodded Alini Sarason. 'this individual has certain information that I require concerning the location of Nissan O'Douglas's secret stash of MLA weapons..the fool was actually planning a strike against my barge..anyway, find me this location <ASRN> and you will live to see my associates.

Up above, the near futile search
for Gant's sensor masked Yacht is getting to the point of becoming 'actually' very futile. McJimmy the Finn is beginning to develop blisters on this fingers from all that button pressing and dial fiddling when his jaded eyes spot a faint echo of something on the ocean's surface. 'Guys, I may have something', voices the Mon Calamari engineer. The Jedi wanders across and then leans over the Finn's shoulder and gazes at the ghosty image on the sensor screen. Milton stares in silence at the Engineer. 'Thats all I've been able to find in the last 3 hours ..it's gotta be him'. Milton clears the last of the Jedi Snacks(tm) from the corners of his mouth. He gives a curt nod in answer to Mattlock's unspoken question. The Correllian acknowledges before bringing the ship about and rocketing at full speed towards the ghosty image, fading in and out on McJimmy's Sensor console. Val and Raphen strapped into their gunnery seats, hear the words 'Light em up guys' crackles forth from the Ship's Intercom....Vvvoooooooom...Vvvvvoooooooooom....Time for the epic battle music to commence I guess?

Alini Sarason washes his blood stained hands
in a small bowl and then wipe off the residual water on a towel. 'Bravo <ASRN>! Bravo!, laughs Gant, 'your level of skill is excellent..indeed you are everything that the Emperor once boasted off. Alini remains silent as he wipes his hands dry and then mops the heavy prespiration from his brow. Before Gant can continue in his drivel, the door opens and a guard approaches Gant and whispers a message into his ear. The two confer in whispers for some time before the guard salutes and then departs. 'I fear I may have more work for you to do <ASRN>' informs the devilish MR Gant beckoning the Weequay to follow him.

A mildy drunk Dr Oblivion
is awoken from his sleep. The dis-orientated docter can feel himself being lifted up and then dragged by 2 guards. As his vision clears, he sees that the guards have carried him into another room which holds a strange crucifix-like machine arrangement attached to the far wall. The guards prop the mildly dazed doctor against the machine and then snap the restraints down tight. Where am I? croaks Brian, but the guards pay him no heed and depart through the one solitary door. Time passes. Up above, the Aardvark his nearing the vicinity of the ghost image, there is something definitely there as the image has been gaining in clarity ever since they started moving towards it. Suddenly the Lock On Alarm sounds, somethings painting the ship and before Matt's had a chance to see what, a missile appears on the sensor scope heading towards the Aardvark. 'Strap yourselves in, it's beginning' barks Starfigher as he banks the ship towards the incoming missile.

Brian Oblivion is now fully alert
and his plan is still not proceeding to *the* plan..the door to the room opens and a smiling Mr Gant steps in... 'Mr Gant' exclaims Dr Oblivion. A silent Alini Sarason steps into the room. 'Alini!, your alive!...you have my thanks for not disposing of my bodyguard Mr Gant...now about this bed..' 'Dr Oblivion, I have a small problem that you may be able to help me with', interrupts Mr Gant 'Anything, just name it' replies Brian obviously beginning to smell the coffee. 'We have problem with your daughter Dr Oblivion', continues the green eyed devil..My daughter?, issues Brian. 'It seems she is stronger than we estimated and the forcefields that contain her are begining to drain much of the ship's power..depriving other vital systems of theres...so please..what is the shutdown code for your daughter?...come now, you must have built in a failsafe docter?..Gant steps up to stand eyeball to eyeball with the good docter, 'and you WILL tell me what it is!..otherwise' 'Otherwise Mr Gant', snaps back Brian Obilivion flippantly. 'Otherwise', Gant turns aside to show the Docter the silent, still figure of Alini Sarason, '<ASRN> will cut it out of you!'

Brian Orac Oblivion is begining to feel rather unwell.
The good docter has always prided himself on the fact, that if in the unlikely event he was ever in the position of 'about to be tortured ', he would spill his guts at the first opportunity...no qualms about selling out other people or anything at all for that matter, aslong as he stayed 'torture free'...and yet now, now that the undesirable event has arrived...he finds he does indeed have 1 thing in the universe that he *does* care enough about to submit to torture..the relevation is a startling one for Dr Oblivion. Gant gazes at the silent, tight lipped figure of Dr Oblivion and then turns towards Alini Sarason. 'You know what to do...do it now and do it quickly'. Alini Sarason covers the distance to the restrained Correllian in short, measured steps. Face to face, eyeball to eyeball the Weequay gazes on the stony features of Brian Oblivion as his own face splits into a long, satisfied smile. 'It will be my pleasure'

Up in the heavens,
the Aardvark's two gunners try to gain a lock onto the incoming missile but without sucess. 'It's coming in too fast' blurts out Raphen Shondia, 'I'm gonna try firing a spread..' informs the frustrated Sullustian. The missile and starship streak closer together, the weapon mounts on the Aardvark open up...Ionized particles and balls of liquid, hot blaster energy erupt out across the path of the missile...a near detonation of one blaster bolt, buffets the missile and sends it off at a wild trajectory. Starfighter sees the opportunity and banks the ship away in the opposite direction.

Unfortunately the missile stablizes,
does a neat turn, reacquires it's target and then rockets back towards the rear of the ship. 'It's still back there guys!' informs Mattlock as he suddenly feels the ship lurch downwards through his control system, 'what the feck was that!'gasps the startled Correllian. McJimmy checks the reactor from his console, the power readings are fluctuating alarmingly!... 'The reactor canna take it Captain (8-)..10xp Sukh), it's never been tested with all systems operating at maximum power before!, if we keep on like this, she'll burrrrrn up! informs the highly animated (and strangely Scottish sounding) Mon Calamari engineer. 'Well you'd better get down to engineering and go do something asap as we're gonna need every bit of juice the reactor can spare right now!' commands Milton sternly from the authoritive comfort of the captain's chair. The wail from the Incoming Alert alarm increases in intensity.

McJimmy the Finn departs the bridge area
and heads down to engineering via the lift tube. The engineer is somewhat perplexed on exactly what he can do down there ..but he's sure something will present itself soon enough. The persistent missile homes in towards the rear of the Aardvark, Val and Shondia strafe across it's trajectory once more..but to no available...Mattlock Starfighter noting their distress over his headset, yanks the controls sharply and barrel rolls the ship in a final, last ditch manuver to escape impact..and the missile flies through the exact centre of the Correllian's Arcs of Extreme Manuvering(tm) (I thank you), before splashing down harmlessly into the ocean. A great cheer erupts across the ship!.. well a cheer from all those strapped into something as the ship is rolled over...that would be everyone bar....McJimmy the Finn in the lifttube...the Mon Calamari feels the pain to a knee joint as he hits a internal bulkhead hard! xxAnother cheer echos over thexx *cough*...The Aardvark is now close enough to the ghost sensor image that the occupants onboard can physically see the yacht on the ocean's surface below...and as they watch, a great plume of smoke issues from the sail barge and the Incoming Alert alarm begins to blare once more. 'We've got another one' barks Starfighter as he sends the ship into a steep dive down towards the distant yacht.

Meanwhile, on the yacht, Dr Oblivion is experiencing emotions
..many many emotions, trepidation, fear, humilation, yearning?..eh *harrumfph* where did that one come from *cough*..anyway, as he feels the purposeful Alini Sarason, finger and probe various pain pressure points on his bound frame. During the premlimary investigation, the good docter's lips remain firmly shut (both ends). The Weequay satisfied, then turns to the table, the table, the one containing many many wicked things, and picks up a medtab applicator...he then looks, cylinically, through the ungodly amount of drugs on offer and finds the *right* one. Dr Oblivion stares into the Weequay eyes with cold contempt as his resourceful Inquistor presses the applicator against his naked flesh and pushes the inject button. The world of Dr Brian Orac Oblivion becomes strangely funky...'Now...', thunders the voice of Sarason eerily, 'Dr Oblivion, I have some questions for you...for you.. for you...you..you'

Meanwhile, flying up in the unfriendly skies,
the crew of the Aardvark have sucessfully shot down another missile. McJimmy in engineering has collated the relevant data on the ship's power system woes and *thinks* that if he turned off all non-essential things on the ship, translight engines, RIF generators, life support, med bay, galley, etc...there *might* be enough power to fully utilise the weapons systems and manuvering thrusters. Milton gives his accent and the Mon Calamari engineer gets to work..slowly, carefully, powering down large areas of the ship. On the Bridge, Mattlock is now tearing towards the yacht at 'Nap of the Water', a few metres above sea level, height. Suddenly the ghost image on the sensors disappears and the contact becomes a solid image, which the contruct computers begin to dissect into deck plans. Milton punches up the information to search for best areas of entry. Meanwhile Mattlock notices the yacht raising it's shields and powering up its gun turrets, as he prepares a high speed strafing run across the yacht's bow.

'Stop toying with him
<ASRN> and get me the codeword' demands an impatient Mr Gant. Alini stares into Dr Oblivion's glazed eyes and whispers 'What is the shutdown code?...tell me the shutdown code?' He brings a vibroscapel to within a few millimetres of Brian's left eye... The external Dr Oblivion mumbles something, gibberish (or was it? 8-)) whereas the internal Dr Oblivion is shouting out the shutdown code as loudly as his lungs will allow..but for some reason..he has lost the ability to speak..the words form in his brain..but they just never quite reach his tongue....8-)

Outside, the Ion cannon and Quad Blaster
score direct hits on the yacht, the high energy particle impacts send explosions of colour rippling across the vessel's shielded hull. Damage from return fire is minimised by Starfigher's excellent piloting. The Aardvark rockets pass, a few metres above the yacht, buffeting the sail barge within it jet wake. Alini, and to lesser extent Brian, feel the sail barge shudder around them. 'Stop playing around <ASRN>, time is of the essence, we need that code now!' shouts an angry Mr Gant. A guard enters the room and confers with the green eyed man. After a period of hushed conversation, Gant motions for the guard to remain in the room whilst he departs. His parting words are 'don't let <ASRN> leave this room until he has the codeword..and if he not done so in the next 10 minutes, shoot him...' To which, the guard draws his blaster pistol and then points it at Alini Sarason's head with grim determination.

Repeated passes across the yacht
by the elusive Aardvark, coupled with a deadly barrage of ION and Blaster fire from the A One A Team Turret Team, finally pummel the sail barge's shields into submission. The *real* damage now begins, as the sail barge's turrets, power systems and hull intregity are knocked out in quick sucession as it feels the full ferocity of airborne, accurate, high energy projection. The crippled yacht comes to a halt and then begins to list. Finally it loses all structucal intregrity, the gravitics give way and it breaks up and plunges down into the water. Following a spectacular splash, the larger pieces of the ex-sail barge *slowly* begin to sink. Seeing this, Starfighter brings the Aardvark to a hover adjacent to the doomed vessel. Milton Scraggs opens the cargo bay door on the Aardvark (which to Mattlock's surprise is at the *front* of the ship! how many years PJ?..how many?), the Jedi sets his teeth into the wind and then prepares to leap down on a larger section of the sinking sail barge.

Down in interrogation centrale,
Alini gazes at the business end of a big bore blaster pistol and then at his watch...'it's gonna be tight' thinks the Weequay.. 'I've gotta buy us some time'... With this in mind, the Weequay returns to the table of extreme pain and looks over the tools that are currently available for his uses. He spies a tube of 'Universal Sticky'(tm)... (PhilJ: '"Universal Sticky"?...39 years and a degree education and '"Universal Sticky" is the best you can come up with!?..') 8-| hmmmmmm.. He spies a tube of 'Universal C*ck Wookie Juice'... (PhilJ: '*CCCCOUGGHHH*...on second thoughts, "Universal Sticky" will do just fine...') He spies a tube of 'Universal Sticky', the bright, familiar logo brings long suppressed memories back to the surface. Another smile cuts across the Weequay's leathery features. Picking up the tube and a pair of latax gloves, Alini Sarason retuns to the groggy, suspended figure of Dr Brian Oblivion and begins to disrobe his lower garments...the guard's expression behind the kneeling Weequay slowly changes from indifferent bemusement to downright, disbelieving disgust...

Up above, Milton Scraggs, Jedi, Bat, BatJedi
leaps off the cargo bay door and plummets down towards the largest chunk of the fragemented sail barge. His aim is ..not true, Milton misses his intended footfall, lands hard against the slanted, perforated sides of the sail barge, slides downward another 15 metres, finds the tiniest of finger holds with his frantic, flailing extremities and latches on for dear life. Up above, Val Bodok seeing the Jedi's predicament and deciding that he probably needs some help..steers the big ION cannon in that direction..he targets the remains of the sail barge's power generator just behind the welk-like Jedi's body.. Milton Scraggs wipes the sea spray from his sodden face and watches the big ION cannon on the Aardvark rumble efficiently in his direction...a eyebrow lifts on the Jedi's surprised face...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!
A massive ION cannon bolt flies but a few metres above the Jedi's receeding hairline and hits the remains of the barge's power generator HARD!...a series of massive explosions rock the remains of the sail barge! A panel above the Jedi's head explodes outwards trailing a column of smoke and flame. As the blast dies away, Milton sees his chance and mercifully vaults thorough the blackened opening. Down below, Alini Sarason is in the process of disposing of his soiled gloves when the ION cannon induced series of explosion ripple through the sail barge. The whole room shakes and rolls, throwing all those not restrained onto floors and against bulkheads. Dark smoke begins to fill the air. The Weequay regains his senses first and appears to be none the worst for wear. He looks about him, the guard lies a few feet away, completely out of it. Obivion hangs limply from his moorings (8-)) and continues to mutter gibberish. Seeing his chance, Alini grabs the guard's communicator and then releases Dr Oblivion from his restraints. The weak Docter begins to fall to the floor once released but is caught by the Weequay and the pair limp their way out of the room and into a smoke and debris filled corridor. The emergency floor lighting indicates the an exit lies in *that* direction.

Milton finds himself on the engine deck,
his keen Jedi senses inform him that Brian and Alini are on the deck above. Finding no easy way up to them and seeing that he is already knee deep in seawater, the Jedi ignites his lightsaber....yes...he does...and makes his own opening in the ceiling above him. All on the Aardvark, watch the bubbling remains of the sail barge slowly sinking into the watery depths..still no sign of Milton, Oblivion or Sarason...but hey, think of the bright side..still no sign of...8-) Alini, hauling the semi-conscious form of Dr Oblivion, finds himself at a stairwell, the smoke is becoming unbearable now and the Weequay mercifully staggers upwards and outwards onto the sail barge's top deck. 'This is your doing <ASRN>!' accuses the blackened and scorched face of Mr Gant, as the pair's nemesis stands at the top of the stairs holding a blaster pistol. 'But I won't die alone' he concludes as he aims the weapon at Alini Sarason and the rapidly sobering up Brian Oblivion. Raphen Shondia notices this movement on the sail barge and glides his Quad blaster in that direction..

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Another explosion erupts within the sail barge and the Sullustion watches the three figures disappear within a pall of billowing smoke before he can fire. The trio all fall to the floor in one big heap and a series of blind, down and dirty, hand to hand action (oh er)..erm..punch and kick action takes place. As the three antangonists fight and fumble in the black, choking smoke, they can't but register the seawater now begining to lap around their sides. The punching, kicking, biting, erm scratching stops unilaterally as the trio begin to become submerged in the icy cold liquid. A blade of blue light emerges out of the smoky gloom and rapidly rising waters. The three forms of Brian, Alini and Gant are surprised when they start floating gracefully up into the air and then into the open maw of the Aardvark's cargo bay. The unseen hand deposits each of them gently onto the floor and there, all three lie, recovering from their ordeal.

The first to recover is Brian 'Orac' Oblivion,
he coughs smoke and seawater out of his lungs, before rising *awkwardly* to his feet. He spies the prone, dazed form of Alini Sarason lying but a few feet from the open cargo bay door...Dr Oblivion has a thought, the clarity of which clears the residual effects of drug administered to him earlier by the industrious Weequay. The Correllian strides purposedly across the cargo bay floor doing the 'Waddle of the Killer Penguin'..nearing the rising Sarason, Brian pulls back a leg and launches a kick into the Weequay's midrift....Dabe: 'He wouldn't be able to do that Sukh...not for a man in his current "condition"?' Sukh: 'Low leg lift', Dabe: ?, Sukh: 'Jay Jay Okocha', Dabe: 'ah'

McJimmy watching on the ship's internal monitors,
sees that another altercation is about to occur between the Correllian and the Weequay. The Mon Calamari tycoon thinks that we don't really have time for this and so he orders his Droid Bodyguard 'Maximillian' to stun the pair into submission! The combat droid scans the cargo bay with it's one red eye. It acquires it's targets and raises it's Heavy Stunner just as the boot of Brian Oblivion goes in. The semi conscious Alini registers a kick to his guts, the impact of which, will send him flying back out of the cargo bay and then plunging back down into the sea. He does what anyone would do in this situation, he frantically tries to grab onto something. The soaked, dishelleved water treading Milton Scraggs watches the flailing forms of Brian Oblivion and Alini Sarason re-emerge out of the Aardvark's open cargo bay and plunge back into the ocean's inviting arms. 'BY DARTH SIDIOUS HAIRY BALLS! DO YOU REALISE HOW MUCH OF AN EFFORT IT WAS FOR ME TO LIFT ALL THREE OF YOU UP THERE!' shouts the angry Jedi, 'I SHOULD HAVE LET YOU BASTADS DROWN!'. Up above, watching from the Aardvarks' bridge, Mattlock takes out his notepad and scribbles some more 8-).

Tirade finished, the Jedi calms himself before swimming towards the still struggling pair. Maxillian hoves into view at the very edge of the hovering Aardvark's open cargo bay. The droid scans the ocean's surface to reacquire his targets, it spots the entangled forms of Dr Oblivion and Alini Sarason...the droid raises an arm and lets rip!...8-) WEEM! WEEMM! WEEM! WEEM! WEEM! Goes the Droid's arm mounted Heavy Stunner...and knocks the living tar out of the now unconscious, sinking forms of the two pugilists, 'Marvellous' Brian Oblivion and 'Smoking' Alini Sarason. Milton utters another curse before diving down to drag the submerged bodies back up above the waterline. *Eventually*, all persons currently in the water, Milton, Brian, Alini and the re-surfacing Maria make it up into the cargo bay of the ship.

Mattlock closes the exterior doors and then sets a course back to town.
A number of people on the Aardvark are eager to interrogate Mr Gant, but when the prone body of the green eyed devil is turned over...he is found to be dead. Val Bodok, checks the mouth...'yep..poison tooth..just like those "pirate" dudes at Dorado Space Docks...something very bad is going down here' informs the troubled Weequay Bounty Hunter. The rest of the team digest this bit of information before Milton orders the corpse to be bagged up and left in the cargo bay. They will after all, require proof to satisfy the needs of Nissan O'Douglas. The ship returns to the Town's spacefield without further incident and the crew then arrange to meet with O'Douglas at the Tarasco Bar in the morning to show him Gant's corpse. The medi bay during this time is busy as a number of team members require medical aid...in addition, tubes of 'Universal Solvent' change hands on the black market in brisk trade 8-).

The next day, a little before 10am, the party hump the bagged corpse of Mr Gant
to the Tarasco bar. 'That should fill our part of the arrangement', states Milton without fanfare. The former Weequay rebel is overjoyed with Gant's demise and he quickly proffers up the required information. The 'Zizou' Hive is the one buying all the driod components. It is located, via a 6 hour drive by grav truck, in the dense jungle area due south of Town. As the offworld traders won't be trading with Gant anymore, they'll have to deal with the Weequay engineer when they arrive on Sunday. Then..*his* shipment will be driven to the hive (by Grav Truck) on the following Wednesday. Milton cuts a deal where the team will be part of the Grav Truck convey heading to the hive...and they won't interfere until after Nissan O'Douglas guys have completed the transaction with the Zizou Hive Tions and turned back to Town.

Brian Oblivion sits down at a spare table in the bar *gingerly*
and orders the strongest drink in the establishment. The bar goes deathly silent. Brian Oblivion downs it in one. Brian retreats to the khazi for a *massive* lower region evacuation :-) He returns. Sits down. Even more carefully this time. And orders another. And one for Alini Sarason. The bar goes deathly silent. Brian knocks it back in one. Gives the Weequay a 'Hard Stare'.and the Weequay...shites it...and slinks out of the bar. Brian orders a babycham with a cherry in it to celebrate :-) Omega team have 5 days to rest and recuperate before the convey is due to head south.

The rest days past swiftly
and as suspected when the off-world trader ships arrive all roads eventually lead to Nissan O'Douglas, as trader each one surmises the new power structure in the town. The contraband droid components are bought, loaded onto Grav Trucks and they, together with Omega Team head to the Zizou Hive. The 6 hour journey is uneventful, the only tidbit of controversy being why no one in the party wants to travel in the truck driven by Mattlock Starfighter? The convoy arrives at the Zizou Hive and a multitude of Tions appear to conclude the transaction and cart off the droid components. Omeaga team, true to the agreement do not infere with proceedings.

Once O'Douglas's Grav Trucks have departed,
the team burst into action.. in ones, twos and threes.. *Sukh holding head in hands* *shrug* ...they begin following the long line of Tion bugs carrying the components into the dark, sinister recesses of the Zizou Hive. In the vanguard of the Omega Team's incursion is the intrepid Milton Scraggs, the unarmoured Jedi stalks silently behind the line of insects and has his senses on full alert. Let us call him 'Team Jedi' gentlemen. Following Team Jedi at a not too considerable distance is Major Raphen Shondia & the bounty hunter Val Bodok. The pair seemingly developing a understanding (and dare I say "friendship" 8-)) that each complements the other's considerable talents. We shall call this grouping 'Team Big Gun Frenzy (BGF)' After this potent martial pairing, the not quite so impressive pairing of the old adversaries Mattlock Starfighter and McJimmy the Finn...neither party in this team is happy with the situation but needs must when the devil bites your ass. They together are called 'Team Marriage of Convienence (MoC)'.

And lastly in the 'Voyage to Trip Out City' Corner,
we have the eternal three amigos comprising, Brian Oblivion, Maria Oblivion and their dependable bodyguard / plaything Alini 'Shoot me were it don't grow back' Sarason. These three pool their considerable mental and physical talents to form 'Team Certain Death'. *Sukh holding head in hands again* Guys you have a needle gun and a flame pistol...both weapons having an effective range of 10 metres...your pitted against legions of massive, intelligent bugs with hard exoskeletons and many, many layers of sharp teeth....if things turn ugly in there...yoose is gonna die! Brian turns and stikes the power pose. Brian: 'Ah but you forget my ready wit!' Maria turns and strikes the power pose. Maria: 'my alluring beauty!' Alini turns and strikes the power pose. Alini: 'and my ability to endure excruiating and unecessary pain!' All three then give the pelvic thrust of power. Brian&Maria&Alini: For together we are Team Certain Death! *Sukh still holding head in hands* Team Certain Death, to make things even more interesting, decide to enter the Hive using a completely different entrance. They will head to the centre of the Hive using Maria's innate sense of direction.

Hours pass as each team delve further and deeper
into into the strangely silent Zizou Hive. Jedi Scraggs senses that the Hive is strong in the dark side of the force. As the sweat begins to drip from his brow, he finally glimpses some light ahead of the long line of crawling bugs. The tunnel opens out into a vast chamber, Milton stares around the cathedral-like space and spies spots of sunlight far above him. The line of component carrying insectiods crawl across the open floor of the chamber and down into a trench at the far end. Just above this trench, seated on a vast egg sac is the massive, still, deep breathing form of the Zizou Hive Queen. Apart from the trail of bugs scurrying towards the trench, everything within the chamber is still. Milton has a good long look at the Queen seated at the far end of the chamber. The huge creature is immobile and has some sort of mental construct implanted, embedded? into her massive head. The last of the bugs are disappearing down into the trench below the queen. Milton decides that he will continue following the droid component trail and come back to the Queen and her mysterious head wear at a later date. The Jedi speeds across the chamber and heads down into the trench. Nothing within the chamber moves or stirs during the Jedi's rapid and silent passage.

Time passes. Team BGF arrive at the cusp of the Queen Chambers.
Calloused, sweaty hands clasp weapons a little tighter and minds used to direct, unsubtle, *violent* action survey the scene within the chamber and then....retreat into the shadows to formulate a plan... =8-O Time passes. Team MoC arrive at the sphincter of the tunnel opening out into the Queen's Chamber. 2 pairs of eyes spy another 2 pairs of eyes hidden within the shadows by the entrance. Eyebrows are raised on both sides. After a period of reflection, Mattlock Starfighter unholsters his GUN and edges silently over to Raphen and Bodok. McJimmy undecided on his next course of action remains where he is. Mattlock reaches the hiding places of the Sullustian Marine and Weequay Bounty Hunter. The Correllian Pilot scans the contents of the adjacent chamber slowly..he notices it's still and silent nature, puntuacted by the deep breathing of the Zizou Hive Queen seated at the far end...hmmmmm scary, Mattlock immediately switches on his new acquired Absorption shield for a little extra protection. WoooBle! Being in close proximity to the shield, Val Bodok feels the hairs on the back of his neck rise..but this sensation is soon forgotten as a harsh, deep, rumbling hiss echos around the nearby chamber.

HHHHHAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
and after a few moments, it is answered by many, many smaller hisses high up in the dome of huge cavern. Raphen stares at Mattlock with a raised eyebrow, Val Bodok fights back an sudden impluse for extreme violence and simply stares at Mattlock in bewilderment. Mattlock...um..stares back at pair in non-comprehension? 8-) High up in the chamber, a multitude of big, dark shapes 'unfasten' themselves from rocky crevices and begin to crawl downwards ...upon reaching the floor, the 10 foot tall Guard Warrior bugs, 'Behemoths' if you will, races across the floor and bear down on the glowing figure of Mattlock Starfighter....and a violent confrontation ensues...Ferocious MLA and Blaster fire erupts from the tunnel mouth and either slide off hard, chitinous exoskeletons or simply blow expendable extremities clean off...the unrelenting tide of insectiod rage rolls towards the trio at the tunnel mouth without pause. A rain of PLASMA PML missiles impacts within the horde of insectiod bodies, still the survivors come forwards..MLA fire gives way to automatic blaster fire as Val Bodok stands like a rock, a *ugly* rock granted, within the maelstrom of smoke and charred flesh and fires his assault blaster in a frenzy at the oncoming wall of mandible death... A few rounds of this and things have not improved ..the onrushing mass of bugs seems never ending so Raphen and Mattlock engage Grav belts and bug out into the cavern's high, open spaces.

The undaunted (& un-Grav Belted) figure of Val Bodok
notices this and gives ground grudgingly. The Weequay backs his way down into the tunnel to reduce the number of bugs that can come at him in one go. Meanwhile, behind the retreating Weequay, McJimmy finishes the last arming sequence on his bag of nerve gas grenades...The Mon Calamari engineer hefts the bag and lobs the grenade sack into the writhing mass of insectiod bodies. WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP! A huge, purple, poisonous gas cloud speads out in all direction only a few metres inside the chamber. Val Bodok checks the seals on his Armoured Suit, yep internal atmosphere still 100% good, as the wall of purple gas billows past him. The Weequay switches to infra-red before aiming the smoking muzzle of his assault blaster back in the direction of the Queen's chamber. Behind him McJimmy, in his unsealed Light Body Armour, looks on to see if his nerve agent will have any effect on the insectiod, completely different physiology Tion bugs. Sukh: I don't know about Tions baby..but this stuff 100% effective against Mon Calamaris! Silence, the gas cloud dissipates somewhat, a dark shape appears out of the murk...and it goes...HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! thorough rows of sharp, pointy teeth. Hmmmmm.... the melee resumes...the wall of bugs have almost reached Val Bodok..his supreme efforts at resisting their onslaught, in the end appearing to be utterly futile...it is at this point that McJimmy the Finn grabs his *other* bag of grenades... HUURGH! A bag of Mark 5 plasma grenades lands 20 metres within the Queen's chamber...and behind the insectiod horde clustered around the tunnel mouth... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!! ROOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRR!! WHHHOOOOOSHHHHHHHHHHH!

Meanwhile, a little before this and in another area of the hive,
Team Certain Death have also entered a huge underground chamber. Dr Oblivion looks about him at the mounds of seemingly dead Tion Bugs littering the wide area, fhousands and fhousands of them. Examining one body for a cause of death proves fruitless and only serves to highlight the good docter's somewhat limited knowledge in xeno-anthropology. 8-) Whatever, Alini seems uninterested either way. Finding nothing of interest, Team Certain Death decide to move on, they negotiate the insectiod morgue and continue down a tunnel which Maria assures them leads towards the center of the Hive. More time passes, the tunnel Team Certain Death have chosen, continues onwards and downwards without pause. The trio eventually approach a T-junction and from the ajoining tunnel the sounds of movement can be heard. Team Certain Death draw weapons and look to the shadows.... Hey readers! Team Certain Death have drawn weapons...I bet you feel safer already right? 8-) Whatevers causing the schuffling sounds in the adjacent tunnel draw nearer...and Brian & Alini watch in silence as a group of six Geonosian insectiods march past them and continue down the interconnecting tunnel. Geonosians? What are they doing in a Tion Hive? As the pair ponder this, their feet perceive a trembling in the tunnel floor. A large TION bug appears far down the ajoining tunnel and bounds down towards them..and the Genosians. 'Carnage time', thinks a beaming Alini Sarason. The Tion Warrior bug slows as it approaches the genosians..it stops close to the group and Team Certain Death watch in wonder as the Tion Bug *sniffs* the air around the Genosians. Several eyebrows arch skywards as the lead Genosian lifts a green bracelet adorning one of it's arms and waves it at the nearby TION. The Warrior bug catches the scent and immediately edges back and then around the Geonosians before bounding past down the connecting tunnel. The genosian group continue on their way in the opposite direction indifferent to the encounter. Team Certain Death decide to follow the Geonosians and move as silently as they can behind the marching insectiods.

Meanwhile, a little before Team Certain Death meet the genosians
and a trifle before McJimmy the Finn throws his Bag of Plasma Grenades(tm), back in the Queen's Chambers Mattlock Starfighter and Raphen Shondia had engaged Grav belts and 'deserted' the land locked figure of Val Bodok. PJ: 'Deserted' is a bit strong for what happened? DM: I think that's how Rich saw it. 8-) Anyway, the pair skim across the chamber in relative airborne safety. The TION Warrior Bugs lacking wings and thus unable to pursue this quarry, turn their full attention to the Weequay at the tunnel mouth and the Mon Calamari skulking behind him. PhilM: 'Skulking' is a bit strong for.... DM: Shut it! Mattlock races across the chamber as fast as he can manage, having never used a Grav Belt before, the Correllian manuvering is somewhat tentative rather than assured. Not so for the old hand Raphen Shondia for whom Grav Belting is now almost second nature. The Sullustian roars upwards at speed, does a stylish loop the loop around the unsteady Correllian before damaging his control thrusters on his Grav Belt so badly that he barely remains airborne! Mattlock shakes his head in disgust and wonders how the Sullustian race ever managed to crawl out of the Great Galactic Green Gloop(tm) in the first place! The Correllian heads towards the giant Queen and intends to land a few feet from the shimmering shield encasing her.

Raphen slows his damaged Grav belt and bring himself to a hover,
the Sullustian then brings forth the wonderous ObliviMac Gun(tm) and takes aim at the solid looking shield. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEM! A pulse of green swirling energy hits the shield, cause a small hole to appear for a few seconds before the shield reforms and the tiny puncture is sealed. A power reading on a console somewhere deep in the hive, monitoring Reactor Cluster 12 that provides the power for Shield Generator Gamma that raises the Shield in the Queen's Chambers goes from 120 000 000 Bejeeblies to 120 000 000.01 Bejeeblies. Undeterred the Sullustian Space Marine, braces himself to fire again next round. Confident that the 5 Bejeebly powerpack on his ObliviMac gun will overcome the generator creating the shield emcompassing the Queen! They don't know who their messing with!

Mattlock Starfigher touches down before the Queen
and beside the the stubborn red shield. He draws his GUN, the sleek Mark 5 intelligent Blaster Pistol twinkles as light from the shimmering shield reflects off its chrome exterior. 'Ok GUN, you've got a job to do, so do it well and do it sexy!' states Mattlock as he hurls the GUN at the shimmering red shield. The Correllian watches the GUN sail towards the shield (in slow mo) confident in his belief that the 3 Bejeebly strength Electrical Trap will overcome the power of this puny shield generator. A power reading on a console somewhere deep in the hive, monitoring Reactor Cluster 12 that provides the power for Shield Generator Gamma that raises the Shield in the Queen's Chambers goes from 120 000 000 Bejeeblies to 120 000 000.00001 Bejeeblies. The charred and smoking GUN falls to the floor and the shimmering red shield remains defiant! Mattlock rushes over to his GUN and cradles it in his arms....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Meanwhile, a little before Mattlock fell to his knees and cried like a good un,
and before Raphen fired the ObliviMac Gun once more, and before Team Certain Death encountered the Genosians and a smidgen before Val Bodok retreated into the tunnel mouth and a whisker before McJimmy the Finn threw his sack of plasma grenades...(don't you just love split up parties?) Milton Scraggs pauses in his dogged pursuit of the Droid component carrying Tion Bugs. Hell if this was a Peter Jackson movie, the Jedi's manly chase would have been captured within a stunning montage of majestic mountain peaks, uplifting sunrises, deep, verdant valleys and strident horn blowing orchestral scores. But we can't afford all that sheet, so a scratchy tape recording of Men at Work's 'Down Under' will have to suffice! Shut up! Thats the budget so lump it! Anyway, the Jedi pauses, he pauses because he hears the distinctive sounds of weapon fire coming from the Queen's Chamber behind him. Weapon fire from the direction of the Queen's chamber can only mean one thing...the rest of the party have made it to the Queen Chambers and entered into diplomatic negoiations in their own special way... The lean Jedi considers his next course of action very carefully, continue following the trail of TION Bugs and the Droid Components (Mind's Eye: Oscar winning montage sequence) OR go back and save the party (Mind's Eye: PG Tips commercial of chimps hauling a piano up some stairs) *Sigh* The Jedi turns tail and heads back to the Queen's chambers at the double quick!

Meanwhile, somewhere else in the maze that is the TION Hive,
Team Certain Death have been following on the coat tails..erm...wing tips of the Geonosian group for some time. Passing one intersection, Brian and Alini spot some light off in the far distance. Pausing to take a longer look, the sounds of gunfire wafts into their ears. Hmmm...Gunfire = Rest of Party = Good... Team Certain Death head towards the sounds of combat. As they near the light and sounds of confrontation, the team begin to pick out the forms of Val Bodok, Mattlock Starfigher, Raphen Shondia and McJimmy the Finn within a vast arc of crawling, seething Tion Warrior Bugs Hmmm...Gunfire = Rest of Party = Grim Death = Bad. Team Certain Death engages reverse gear number three. The trio back up a bit, but are then brought short by a rather sinister HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! hissing sound *behind* them...the three turn just as a 10ft tall Tion Warrior bug appears around a corner in all its terrorifying majesty. Brian, Alini and Maria stare upwards and upwards at sharp insectiod mandibles, rows and rows of gleaming sharp teeth..all backed to the hilt with murderous insectiod intent. Hmmm...Trapped = Rest of Party = Good.

The three engage reverse gear number seven
and turn tail once more and head back towards the conflict in the Queen's chamber..the bounding sounds of the TION warrior thunders behind them. As they near the Queen's Chambers, the three witness the airborne departure of Mattlock and Raphen, the slow retreat of Val Bodok and then the billowing cloud of toxic, purple gas erupting at the tunnel mouth. This brings the Light Body armoured and no body armoured forms of Brian and Alini to an abrupt halt. Hmmm ...forwards...certain nerve gas death..backwards...not quite so certain insectiod disembowelling.. The pair swing around and unloads mighty weapons into the charging TION Warrior Bug...the deadly needle burst pings harmlessly off hard chitinous exoskeleton..the burning jet of sticking naplam flame slides off hard insectiod carapace....but brings the TION Bug up short...Alini continues firing jets of flame at the Bug and keeps it from nearing to within melee range. How many spare weapon cartridges did you bring Mr Sarason? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!! ROOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRR!! WHHHOOOOOSHHHHHHHHHHH! A blast of explosive hot air hurls Team Certain Death to the floor. Brian looks back to the tunnel mouth in the Queen's Chamber as a wall of plasma fire spreads out in all directions... blasting bits of TION insect parts to all corners of the Queen's chamber...Grenades eh? Brian looks across at sprawled form of Alini Sarason...'Way ahead of you' indicates the Weequay as he rises to his feet and unhooks a pair of big feck off grenades from his well laden weapon belt. Brian's feet begin to run even before the memory of the Weequay's last attempt at grenade use surfaces on the good Doctor's brain.

CHUNK! THUNK!
A pair of Mark 5 plasma grenades land before the TION warrior bug...it pays no heed but instead watches it's prey turn tail and head towards the Mother's chambers. The TION races to catch the pair before they can harm the Mother Of All Things. Team Certain Death are running as fast as they can..but running has never been an entry requirement for Computer Technicians or Imperial Interrogators....the pair are not gonna outrun the chasing TION bug let alone the plasma explosion. As these thoughts sink into the minds of the flagging pair, each feels themselves lifted by unwielding feminine arms and then their vision blurs as they speed towards the tunnel mouth at great velocity. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!! ROOOAAARRRRR!! WHHHOOOSHHHHHHHH!

However, a little before these 2 plasma explosions
Milton Scraggs brings himself to an abrupt halt close to the entrance to the Queen's Chamber. The Jedi has already negoiated himself past several TION Warrior bugs scurrying around this vicinity but he senses different lifeforms approaching along an adjacent chamber and so blends himself into the tunnel's hewn sides. He watches a group of Genosians march past, fully armed and fully alert. The Jedi watches another Genosian / TION Warrior Bug encounter...another arm bracelet lifting exercise...and the Genosians then leaving unmolested. Hmmm..thinks Scraggs...he re-appears in the tunnel and rummaged in his backpack. An arm bracelet recovered from the crate discovered in the Stalagasin Hive is soon affixed to a Jedi arm and so equipped Milton Scraggs rushes straight to the Queen's Chamber.

Raphen Shondia prepares to fire the deadly ObliviMac Gun once again
...the Sullustian Major's keen senses spy his airborne shadow on the chamber floor...as a large dark cloud begins to form around it...Raphen Shondia looks up...at a the figure of large TiON WARRIOR BUG plummeting towards him...hmmmm...the armoured Sullustian moves his hand from the trigger of the ObliviMac gun and onto the pistol grip of his Grav Belt and nudges himself 15 feet in a forward direction. The dark bulk of the falling TION warrior scythes through the space that he previously occupied.. phew...it's getting a little crowded in the friendly skies isn't it? Raphen watches further shapes fling themselves off high vantage points and glide towards him...On the Chamaber floor Mattlock Starfighter is somewhat consoled when he discovers that his GUN is still operational, the weapon's exterior might be a little charred but it's innards are still 100% online. The Correllian rises to his feet and spies Milton Scraggs standing at a tunnel beneath the Queen's throne.