SPACEMASTER

Where to begin, oh yes...
The entire team, except for Carlos Castillo (on the Pride of Sullust [PoS]) and the Combat Droid (not yet found), are down a deep hole in the Tion/Geonosian Hive trying to stay alive. Masses of bugs are descending on them, some riding heavy gun platforms.

Carlos Castillo has been removed from the bacta tank early because there are some new arrivals in the star system - namely 8 Pirate ships (3 times the size of the Aardvark) and a Star Destroyer. These were detected by the A Wing Recon ship hiding in the asteroid field. The Star Destroyer has been identified as the ‘Executioner’ - not seen since the end of the empire.

The team in the ‘pit’ are attempting to cut the power (well McJimmy the Finn is trying) but eventually decide to leave the power so they can get back up to the Queen. Meanwhile, the hoards of bugs continue to descend being shot up by Raphen Shondia & Val Bodok.

In space, no one can hear you scream.
Oh sorry, wrong film. Carlos Castillo discussed with the PoS Senior staff the options of taking on the pirates. The PoS could survive an attack by 3 pirate ships and possibly even 4, but that’s it.

Carlos Castillo: "However, if we split their firepower, can we take on all 6 and survive?"

PoS Captain: "It is just possible, but how are we going to split their forces?"

Carlos Castillo: "Modify the Dropship Hawk with a Blip Enhancer, upgrade the torpedoes with decoy emitters. Send the Hawk out to draw off 3 ships, the PoS takes on the other 3. The Hawk keeps its pirate ships busy with hit-and-run attacks until the PoS can help finish them off"

PoS Chief Engineer: "You know, it might just work"

Carlos Castillo: "Meanwhile, the Dropship Eagle will be prepped for a hot drop to the planet to assist in the retrieval of the team"

It’s a plan, with no drawbacks (well almost) ?
Back in the ‘pit’ - Mattlock Starfighter, Val Bodok and Alini Sarason head for the lifts. The others take on the bugs at ever decreasing ranges. Two of the gun platforms rain disruptor death from above, but miss. One of the platforms is taken out (partially) by Raphen Shondia and his trusty PML.

The race for the lifts is on. Mattlock Starfighter & Val Bodok get into a lift each and head up. Mattlock Starfighter seems to be going slow (maybe it’s malfunctioning?), whilst Val Bodok ascends at a steady rate. Alini Sarason gets to a lift and hits the ‘Turbo’ button. The lift starts to ascend at a very rapid rate, smiles all round from Alini Sarason?

During the ascent, the lift containing Mattlock Starfighter is targeted by a gun platform. Fortunately the shot misses, but the lift tube disintegrates below the lift. Mattlock Starfighter panics and gets out of the lift at the next level.

Alini Sarason continues on up. Val Bodok gets about half way up and exits his lift, just as gun platform descends. Mattlock Starfighter gets into another lift and continues up to the same level as Val Bodok.

Deep Space Doo Doo Zone
Two of the Pirate ships head in to the planet surface. The Tions send up an unknown number of ships to intercept. These are quite small and many are taken out by the pirates. The Tion ships do not fire at all, but seem to merge with the pirate ships before being destroyed. The A Wing detects the 1 pirate ship is crippled and the other moderately damaged - indications of acid burns on their hulls.

At Carlos Castillo’s request, the PoS offers assistance to the Tion Hegemony, which they accept. The plan from earlier is put into effect.

The Pit of Fire
Raphne Shondia takes aim at one of the Gun platforms descending and through the curious art of missing the target, causes it to crash into the side wall and then hits the floor. Mattlock Starfighter & McJimmy the Finn take out the goons on the platform, eventually. Raphen Shondia & McJimmy the Finn take over the platform and attempt to take off.

The platform was leaning at an odd angle and the engines are straining - partly due to damage and partly due to the ‘pilot’ (McJimmy the Finn). They manage to get a little way up (about 20 levels), taking out numerous bugs with the disruptor (in the hands of Raphen Shondia). Another platform fires at them and causes more damage, forcing McJimmy the Finn to ‘land’ on one of the levels. The manoeuvre doesn’t quite succeed; something is stopping it from getting onto the floor, from the side. Then it fails and starts to descend, slowly. Milton Scraggs (who foolishly hopped onboard earlier) decides to levitate up and McJimmy the Finn & Raphen Shondia use their grav belts to continue on up.

The Mid Level Antics
Val Bodok is hiding behind a ledge whilst being oppressed by the 3rd platform. Mattlock Starfighter emerges from the lift on the other side, sees this and just watches in amusement? Suddenly, the bug pilot starts to turn the platform round and fire heads in Mattlock Starfighter direction. Mattlock Starfighter dives for cover, allowing Val Bodok to pop up and take out the gunner. Mattlock Starfighter manages to leap onto the platform and over power the pilot. He takes control and moves to pickup Val Bodok.

Val Bodok: "Thanks for the diversion"

Mattlock Starfighter: "Oh, anytime, just don’t make a habit of it!"

Deep Space Doo Doo Zone
The PoS & the Hawk head out to engage the pirates, running close together to appear as one ship. The Eagle, with Carlos Castillo & the majority of the SMCS onboard, heads toward the planet via the direct (dangerous) route. The pirates send the 6 ships to intercept the PoS. As they approach, the Hawk (now enhanced) separates and draws 3 of the pirates away. The remaining 3 pirate ships were taken on by the PoS.

Alini Sarason exits the turbo lift
on the top floor. A short while later, Brian Oblivion & Maria also arrive. Brian Oblivion immediately heads over to a computer terminal and hacks into the mainframe. Alini Sarason looks around at nothing in particular, when he notices a droid coming towards them - devoid of any synthetic covering. Alini Sarason is visibly shaking at the approach of the droid, who doesn’t appear to raising its gun.

Alini Sarason: "Uh, Brian, I think you better stop that"

Brian Oblivion: "Stop bothering me Saranson, I’m busy"

The droid gets closer.

Alini Sarason (panicking somewhat): "No, I really think you should stop and take a look at this."

Brian Oblivion: "Maria, stop him from annoying me will you"

Maria moves to silence Alini Sarason
and doesn’t notice the droid. The droid moves then final few metres and leans over to whisper in Brian Oblivion’s ear. Suddenly, Brian Oblivion stands upright, turns and faces the droid.

Brian Oblivion: "Well, what have we here? A Combat Droid, somehow different from the others."

Alini Sarason has moved to a safe position, behind a large desk. The Droid just stands there, scanning Brian Oblivion & Maria.

Combat Droid: "You, what are you" it says pointing at Maria.

Brian Oblivion: "She is my creation, as are you. I made you and your programming appears to be intact"

The droid moves forward and Maria intercepts. Some ‘girlie’ arm waving ensues between.

Brian Oblivion "Search your feelings (well, programming). You know it to be true, I am your father’ says a defiant Brian Oblivion.

In the Pit
Raphen Shondia & McJimmy the Finn continue their upward spiral with grav belt power, aiming to get to the top. Milton Scraggs is prancing about using the Force, and Val Bodok & Mattlock Starfighter are moving on up in the Gun Platform. More bugs die as the firefight continues.

Asteroid Belt & Deep Space
The Dropship Eagle continues through the asteroid belt for the planet surface, deftly avoiding colliding with any stray rocks. The PoS has managed to take out the first 3 pirate ships, whilst suffering moderate damage. The other 3 pirate ships have given up chasing the Hawk and are now inbound to the PoS. As per the agreed plan between the Senior Staff, the PoS will remain to take out as many pirate ships as possible, whilst still being able to get away. The A Wing Recon flight detects 4 small objects heading from the Star Destroyer towards the 2 pirate ships in the asteroid belt. These were identified as TIE fighters. They soon link up with a transport ship that was launched by the pirates, and the 5 ships head into the planet.

Top of the World/In the Pit
Val Bodok & Mattlock Starfighter are on the gun platform, Raphen Shondia & McJimmy thr Finn via grav belt and Milton Scraggs under his own steam arrive at the top level. By this time Brian Oblivion, Maria & Alini Sarason are talking to Combat Droid (formerly known as droid). Milton Scraggs is the first to lay eyes on Combat Droid and lights up.

Milton Scraggs: "Oblivion, step back, I’ll protect you"

Brian Oblivion: "Don’t be a fool, he’s with us."

Milton Scraggs: "Oh, in that case, I name it 'Colin'!"

The others now see the Combat Droid and look at each in confusion, and then realise that this Combat Droid is different from the other Mark 3 Combat droids they been fighting. This one is ‘naked’.
Milton Scraggs: "Quick, we need to get to the Queen before the hoards of bugs behind us catch up"

With that the others turn round to see a wall of bugs heading towards them. "Oh shit!" they all scream as one.

Deep Space
The battle continues, result unknown.

Low Orbit
The Eagle, now clear of the asteroid belt, heads for the planet surface. The sensors indicate that the pirate transport & 2 TIE fighters have landed at the main starport. So it is decided to head for the Hive entrance and land close by. On the way in, the other TIE fighters attack the Eagle. After some fierce manoeuvring and shooting back, one of the TIE fighters breaks off.

A suitable drop zone is located and the Eagle swoops down. The SMCS & Carlos Castillo prep for a ‘hot drop’. The Eagle approaches the ground, lowers the ramp and the Grav APC and Speeder bike leap out and away towards the Hive entrance. The Eagle breaks off in an attempt to get away from the remaining TIE Fighter.

Tunnel of bugs
Everyone in the tunnel starts shooting at the bugs approaching in a vain attempt to create a way through. The bugs just keep coming. Eventually they manage to get through to the cave where the Queen is. Milton Scraggs & McJimmy the Finn communicate with the Queen telepathically (Well, I think it was just Milton Scraggs that succeeded ?), something to the effect of ‘we need to get that headgear thingy off - any suggestions?’.

Somehow the headgear was removed, either by the Queen forcing it off or someone (Val Bodok maybe) shooting it off. Anyway the Queen, now free from the Geonosian influence gathers up her troops and sends them down to clear out the hive below.

Hive Entrance
The Grav APC & Carlos Castillo arrive at the entrance, dismount and head in to meet up with the others. CC continues trying to get through to the others on the comms, but no response. A Marine with a Tac scanner leads the way into the Hive. The others manage to work their way out and are now heading for the exit.

Eventually Carlos Castillo gets through on the comms. "Scraggs, Starfighter, you still in here?"

Milton Scraggs: "We sure are, but we’re on our way out"

Carlos Castillo: "Okay, we’ll meet you near the entrance. We’ve got transport to get back to town’

After what seems like ages,
the two groups meet up and the usual pleasantries are exchanged. Colin is introduced to those not already aware of what he is. Carlos Castillo appraises the rest of the situation in the system, the pirate ships, the Star Destroyer, etc, etc.

Carlos Castillo: "Okay, lets load up and head back to town. Hopefully, the Aardvark is still airworthy"

McJimmy the Finn: "Of course she’s airworthy, I take pride in my work"

Milton Scraggs: "We’ll see. Let’s move out"

Mattlock Starfighter & Val Bodok ride on the Gun platform, Carlos Castillo is on his speeder bike and the rest are in the Grav APC.

En-route to town,
smoke was seen rising off to the right. The Gun platform team are sent to investigate. They find the wreck of a dropship, with the name ‘Eagle’ on the side. Examination of the interior reveals no survivors. Mattlock Starfighter tries to take the Gun platform lower and catches a few trees, making it handle badly. They manage to get back to the others.

Mattlock Starfighter: "There’s something wrong with the steering on this thing. I thought you fixed it earlier McJimmy?"

McJimmy the Finn: "Let me have a look, it’s probably operator error"

McJimmy the Finn checks out the Gun platform, only to find the underside has been damaged. It takes him about 10 minutes to fix (mainly by pulling out bits of tree).

The group continue onto town
As they leave the cover of the jungle and enter the open expanse, sensors picked up movement off to the left. Something on the ground went into the jungle. So, off we go and investigate. It turns out to be a grav truck, now hidden in the jungle. The engine is still warm, and there are foot prints leading away from it (at least 4 people). Val Bodok follows the tracks on foot, whilst Mattlock Starfighter & McJimmy the Finn provide top cover in the Gun platform. The tracks lead to a dead end at the foot of a large mound.

Val Bodok: "Looks like they’ve gone into an underground hideout"

After a short while, a voice is heard over a comm system. "Will you guys piss off?"

Val Bodok: "Why?"

"Coz you’re not welcome here"

Val Bodok: "Who are you anyway?"

Nissan O'Douglas: "Just me, Nissian O'Douglas trying make a living by not getting caught by the Imps!"

Val Bodok: "Imps, where?"

Nissan O'Douglas: "They’re all over the town and the starport. If you stay here much longer, they’ll come out here too. So Piss Off will ya!"

With that the comms went dead. Val Bodok, Mattlock Starfighter & McJimmy the Finn rejoin the others and pass on the news.

McJimmy the Finn: "We need to get into town and recover the Aardvark before the Pirates tear it apart"

Mattlock Starfighter: "Great, we’re gonna walk into town and ask for it back are we?"

Milton Scraggs: "No, we’ll recon the perimeter and find a way in."

Val Bodok: "I can cover one side, and somebody else can go round the other side"