Star Wars D6: Green Vipers Episode III

Episode III - The Heat of Freedom

Introduction:

The third instalment of our Green Vipers adventures sees the team continue the Long Shot campaign. This adventure took three sessions to run and made use of the published outline "The Heat of Freedom" which featured in West End Games' "Classic Adventures" book. I had to find an image for the factory and then flesh out all of the locations. I own none of the images, all of which were sourced from Google. This is an advert-free, non-for-profit blog.

Numbers in brackets refer to locations on the GM Map (see further down).

Nowhere:

Music Cue: Rebel Briefing

Returning to the capital ship Nowhere, the team are told to report to Lens Reekeene to provide an account of their time on Masterhome. As they approach the room, a black-haired wookiee barges through their midst. A grim-faced woman barely notices the Vipers as she follows in the wookiee's wake.

Falynn Voidstepper

Kentara

Lens and Mikka Reekeene are in the room, along with their advisor Santhou. Captain Ixsthmus and Sienne Symm follow the Vipers inside and all take a seat.

Lens: We understand that your mission was a success and that the Godking will provide us with aid. Perhaps you could provide us with a brief outline of events on Masterhome?

Lens allows Tarrik Nightburner to set out the events before her demeanour hardens and the questioning begins to feel more like an interrogation.

Lens: Captain Ixsthmus sent me on a report before you arrived. He gave you a strict instruction to contact the Rebellion to pick up the pirate ship - the Martinette - yet you chose to claim the vessel for yourselves. Furthermore, in the process of landing, that vessel made a display of its firepower. My recollection of your instructions when dealing with these technologically challenged people were that they were very clear. How did you put it advisor?

Santhou: I believe I said 'remember, we are the good guys. No coercion, no extortion, no threats'.

Tarrik denies any recollection of that being said and insists Santhou is mistaken. Santhou draws a holographic projector from his pocket and replays this fragment of the conversation. It repeats his words verbatim. Tarrik's demeanour darkens and he falls silent.

Lens: Yes, 'no threats'. Captain Ixsthmus also had a conversation with the Godking before you left. One of the Godking's tests was of loyalty; when he sent one of his people with a suggestion to depose him, you did nothing to raise this with the Godking. Indeed, he believed you may have been considering assassinating him! Hardly a ringing endorsement for the Rebellion, is it?

General Lens Reekeene

The group - and Nightburner in particular - respond angrily, explaining that they did what they thought was right. The display of firepower was not intended to cow the Anointed Ones, rather to show them the kind of firepower the Empire could bring to bear upon their people. On top of that, the Martinette was the reason that 15 Stormtroopers were sent into the forest to investigate: had that not happened, they may have all been killed on the assault upon the shuttle.

Lens: This Rebellion depends on people who can follow orders! And any more insubordination from you Nightburner, and you can spend the next few months on the brig! Jericho, you're needed for pilot duties on one of our transports, report back to the hangar bay for reassignment.

Jaden sighs and, with an annoyed grunt, waves goodbye to the group. Lens waits until he has exited before continuing.

Lens: However...you did manage to do some things right. On board that ship and among those you captured was Moff Dixton. He was headed for Doneer'so when some of our boys hit his vessel. The Imperials managed to make the jump before we could finish the job - hence their impromptu and unfortunate landing on Masterhome. Dixon's interrogation is about to begin, but we've already discovered important information from the data tapes recovered, thanks to Sienne Symm on the return journey. And that's where you come in. Santhou, if you'd explain...

Santhou sets out a mission to the volcanic world of Alabash where the team have to shut down an automated mining platform, highlighting that the Vipers are being sent because diplomacy is not required on this mission. They are then sent to visit Captain Hark'r for supplies.

Hark'r is excited to see the Vipers as they report to him.

Hark'r: Sssss-chk-chk! The excellent and most resourceful Green Vipers! What a delight to see you again! I have some very exciting supplies for you! ReProBu uniforms, passwords, identities, protective coats for the heat - [to Jimi] yes, you'll like those my Mon Calamari friend - chk-chk-chk! But best of all, I have 25 detonators for you! Hasn't old Captain Hark'r done well for you, eh, my good friends? Chk-chk-chk! Now, one good turn deserves another! Perhaps you could smuggle me off this cold, dark ship, eh? Chk-chk-chk!

Captain Hark'r

Nightburner: Yeah, we're headed to a world torn apart by active volcanoes. We can drop you off there.

Hark'r: Ssss-chk-chk! Perhaps not this time, but when you visit a more hospitable world, eh?

The team ask why Hark'r wants off Nowhere. He explains that he is a trader and who had the misfortune to stumble across Nowhere. The Rebels insisted he stay and he's been stuck here in the store ever since, a complete waste of his talents. The team are distracted to by the sound of distant screaming and ask Hark'r what is going on.

Hark'r: Sss-chk-chk! Yessss...the interrogation of your prisoner begins! I understand that is why Falynn Voidstepper and her sidekick Kentara are here. Dixon doesn't stand a chance, no! He'll talk all right! He'll spill all of his secrets - or Kentara will spill his guts! Chk-chk-chk!

The group feel uneasy about the situation, but, collect together their supplies and head to the Long Shot. On board, they are met by Captain Ixsthmus.

Ixsthmus: Ah, Vipers! I trust that I will not have to file any further reports for insubordination! While you're under my command, I want you to treat this ship like your own home - but show me some manners and respect and we'll all get on well.

Captain Ixsthmus

The Vipers do not respond, simply strapping themselves in as Nightburner blasts off. In a show of petulance, he buzzes Nowhere's bridge before engaging light speed.

Watch the video for the full lowdown on the mission...

A Needle in a Molten Ocean

Music Cue: The Droid Invasion and the Appearance of Darth Maul

Coming out of hyperspace, the Vipers discover a communications satellite in orbit. Kaleban Maars puts on a vacuum suit as Nightburner brings the Long Shot in close to the satellite. Kaleban sets a timer on a thermal detonator for two and a half hours, planting it on the satellite before returning to the ship.

The Long Shot descends through the thick black plumes of noxious gas that fill Alabash's choked skies, and, soon after a close call with a huge flying beast, they discover the platform. Jimi Ackbar opens communications and a droid voice asks him to state their business. Explaining they are ReProBu representatives, he provides passwords and the Long Shot is given permission to land.

As they approach, they see a huge 500 metre by 500 metre slab of technology floating above the ground. At the front of the platform, huge tubes suck in a swathe of land 100 metres wide (1), while exhaust ports spray out huge gouts of pulverised dust in their wake (2). Huge repulsorlifts keep the platform aloft and heat shielding protects it from the scorching heat of the molten surface below.

GM Map

Nightburner carefully avoids the plumes, following the beacon in to a platform (3). When they touch down, the pad descends into a cavern below, while huge doors close above, sealing them in. Leaving Ixsthmus and Symm on board the Long Shot, the team disembark and enter the facility where they are met by reception droids (4) who instruct the group to take a seat and wait. As time passes, they ask the droids to show them around. They are informed that their passes and codes are out of date and that they must wait 48 hours until their identities can be verified. Huge blast doors seal the room off from the Long Shot.

Trapped, they decide to wait until the communications satellite is destroyed by Kaleban's thermal detonator before making their move...

Nightburner: I have a very bad feeling about this.

Abandon All Hope...

Not knowing for sure if the communications satellite was destroyed by the thermal detonator, the Vipers make their move. They hack the terminal leading into the facility. The blast doors slide open, only to discover two Droidekas blocking their path!

Droideka

Watching his friends' blaster bolts simply bouncing off the droid shields, Jimi Ackbar seizes the initiative by tossing a thermal detonator into the corridor and hastily closes the door back over again. When the doors reopen, there is nothing left except a puddle of molten metal!

Jimi Ackbar

Music Cue: The Battle in the Snow

Rushing to the repulsorlift engine room (5), they are confronted by a huge maintenance droid which has a range of deadly hardware in its toolkit! As it lumbers towards the, they pepper it with blaster fire but its armour is so thick, they barely dent it - and so beat a hasty retreat! Even the normally cavalier JiBa is forced to flee!

Maintenance Droid

Music Cue: The Sith Spacecraft and the Droid Battle

Seeking an alternative route through the centre of the plant, the group encounter a number of battle droids. Exchanges of blaster fire are fierce, but slowly the team pushes on until they arrive at the corridor which leads into the storage room (7). There they engage in a firefight with another 6 battle droids but, just as they begin to make progress through the corridor, a Superbattle Droid appears at the doorway and shoves a Battle Droid to one side, opening fire upon JiBa!

Battle and Super Battle Droids in action!

For once, his ability to dodge incoming enemy fire fails and he is struck in the chest by the droid's heavy laser fire! Jimi calls on all his reserves to hurriedly drag the unconscious JiBa into the relative safety out of sight from the firefight into the adjacent corridor, while Kaleban and Kira step up to blast at the still-advancing droids. The last survivor from Yavin's Green Squadron, Tarrik Nightburner, rolls a thermal detonator into the midst of the cluster of droids and a massive explosion tears through the corridor!

Tarrik Nightburner

The droids are blasted into oblivion - but the heroes are too close to the explosion! Realising his error in the last moment, Tarrik throws himself in front of Kira to save her. Both she and Kaleban are badly burned in the explosion, and are knocked unconscious. When Jimi returns to the corridor, he finds his friends incapacitated...and Tarrik's charred skeletal remains.

Jimi and Skye have no time for mourning as they now have three incapacitated warriors to attend to. All of their remaining medkits are cracked open and, fortunately, their combined attentions are enough to revive their friends and partially heal some of their wounds. Jimi mournfully searches the corridor where Tarrik fell and finds a scorched remnant of Tarrik's flight suit which displays the Green Squadron badge. Pocketing it, he realises that the last of the heroes who drew off the Death Star's TIE squadrons to allow Red and Gold Squadrons to make their attack on the has now fallen. Their sacrifice - and Tarrik's last act which undoubtedly saved Kira from certain death - will never be forgotten.

Music Cue: General Grevious

Pushing into the Storage Room (7), a huge conveyor belt dumps metal into a pit in the centre of the room. Jimi sees that in that huge pit, dozens of docile labour droids sift through the metals, looking for precious alantium. Of more concern is another approaching group of battle droids and yet another firefight ensues! Several droids are picked off in the battle, providing JiBa with the perfect cover to rush around the outer rim of the room - and tossing a thermal detonator into the droids' midst! All are torn apart, and this time the team are far away enough to be unaffected by the explosion! The battle over, all suddenly seems quiet.

JiBa

The team push into the Droid Maintenance bay (8) but only find a harmless Overseer Droid, before pressing on to the Control Area (9). Jimi is first in and looks upon the huge piece of machinery in the centre of the room. He doesn't recognise what it is...but he has a very bad feeling about it!

Music Cue: Battle of the Heroes

What looked to be eight solid struts suddenly rise up with a fluidity that stuns and amazes the party. Out the centre of the cluster of tentacles, a Control Droid rises up, the red glow of its eye suggesting malevolent intent. "You are not permitted here," a familiar voice, the one that guided them into the platform announces. "You will be disassembled."

Control Droid

One of the tentacles lashes out at Jimi, slamming into the wall behind him, and tearing plaster loose as it retracts! Jimi turns and flees. Kaleban and JiBa prime another thermal detonator and hurl it at the machine...but it fails to detonate! The machine casually flicks a tentacle to bat it right back between the two Rebels - while another stabs out at Kaleban! Its pincer pierces straight through Kaleban's leg before retracting once again! Clutching at the gaping wound, he collapses from shock and blood loss, and once again passes out!

Kaleban Maars

JiBa picks up the thermal detonator and, determined to save his friends, activates it and rushes at the machine - but sensing the danger, it suddenly plummets down a pipe it was nesting upon. Gazing down into the hole, JiBa sees that a platform, illuminated by the red glow of lava, lies fifteen feet below. Crucially, the machine has already scuttled out of sight. JiBa hurls the thermal detonator down the pipe in the nick of time as it suddenly detonates and knocks him back from the blast! The group use the opportunity to retreat and regroup - but cannot revive the unconscious Kaleban as they have no medpacs left!

Dragging their incapacitated mercenary friend along with them, they make a desperate break for the Control Room (10) and frantically try to override the security protocols to open the doors. A tentacle re-emerges from the chute, and then another. The control droid pulls itself out of the pipe and pursues them to the Control Room. The door slides open and the team throw themselves inside. Jimi hurls another thermal detonator at the mechanical monstrosity, but it barely causes the machine to pause.

Inside the Control Room, Skye and Kira disable the heat shields which protect the platform from the intense heat of the lava, while Jimi unlocks the computer systems. As Kaleban begins to regain consciousness, JiBa issues urgent calls for them to move quickly as the control droid starts battering at the locked doors to the control room. Trapped, it seems they are facing a certain and horrendous death at the hands of the tentacled droid. As Kira and Skye rejoin Jimi and also hack the computer systems, Kira activates a magnetic lock on the door, causing the droid to emit a high-pitched scream and suddenly cease it's assault upon the door.

Kira Rishkar

Seeing no other way out, Skye activates the missile defence system and targets the far end of the room. Everyone dives for cover as the rockets are launched...and moments later the room is blown apart! Fortunately, the impact crater from the explosion has provided an escape route to another part of the facility! Jimi releases the huge hangar doors imprisoning the Long Shot and overrides the facility's navigational controls, and, switching them to manual, he sets the platform on a course for a nearby volcano!

Skye Bodelyn

Music Cue: Anakin v Obi-Wan

With Skye offering the limping Kaleban support, the team embark upon a mad dash across the base. Soon, returning to the Long Shot, they discover Captain Ixsthmus and Sienne Symm were knocked unconscious by gas! Fortunately, the team were provided breathing apparatus by Captain Hark'r and, piloted by Skye and Kira, make a hurried blast off. As they clear the hangar, Skye spots something leaping from the lip of the hangar and cries a warning. At the same moment, the mining platform teeters on the edge of the volcano before suddenly flipping over and down into the lava pit! Skye and Kira take evasive manoeuvres as the volcano is sent into cataclysm and the explosion threatens to engulf the Long Shot! Skye and Kira struggle to keep the ship in the air as boiling boulders rain down all around them!

The Mining Facility is no more!

Though still badly wounded, JiBa mans the ship's laser cannon and spins the gunnery chair around...only to come face to face with the Control Droid which is climbing across the surface by stabbing its tentacles into the ship's hull! Though the sudden fright of the mechanical overlord causes him to jump in his chair, he instinctively clenches the trigger and, unleashes a volley of shots which sever several of the machine's tentacled legs off, and, untethered, the Control Droid slides off the ship's hull and into the volcanic inferno! Skye and Kira gun the ship high into the sky and, moments later, make the jump to hyperspace.

Skye: We're clear!

Return to Nowhere

Music Cue: Rebel Briefing

Back on the base, General Lens Reekeene thanks them for making the mission a complete success. She is saddened to hear of Tarrik Nightburner's death - although JiBa is unimpressed, being quick to explain that his demise was due to his own idiocy in mishandling thermal detonators. With Tarrik dead though, she needs a new Captain to lead the group. JiBa volunteers, but the team vocal in their concerns about allowing the unpredictable native taking command. Somewhat reluctantly, Mon Calamari Jimi Ackbar accepts the team's call for him to take command.

Jimi: You do me great honour. I will do my upmost to lead the Green Vipers to further success.

Lens has more grim news for the Vipers, showing a transmission from Jaden Jericho who was piloting a Rebel Transport. He calls for aid, but before the end of the transmission he draws two heavy blaster pistols and opens fire upon pirates who have boarded the ship. Several pirates fall under his fire...until Jaden is finally overwhelmed and, he too, falls under blaster fire!

Jaden Jericho

Lens: As well as Jericho, we lost several other valued Rebel operatives...and, worse still, data critical to the security of this base. If it falls into the wrong hands... We were wrong to ignore this pirate menace. The information you learned on Masterhome identified their base as being on Pilahni. We want you to go to Pilahni and retrieve the data. Given that you have a personal stake in this, I know you'll need no encouragement to do whatever's in your power to shut this operation down for good - but any other objectives are secondary to retrieving the data! Go, and may the force be with you!

The team report to Captain Hark'r but, instead of providing the team with equipment, he demands the return of any thermal detonators the team still have! Everyone returns theirs, but JiBa cons Hark'r into believing that he has none. Thinking he has got away with it, JiBa is in a buoyant mood as they head back to the Long Shot...only to be met by a Rebel security team who demand the return of the five thermal detonators he is still carrying! Sensing betrayal from his own team, he casts accusing glances at his fellow crew - but can't tell who - if any of them - are responsible! Furious, he hands over the grenades and storms on to the Long Shot. The moment gives the team a moment for shared amusement, but it is tempered by a sense of loss. In as many days, they have lost two of their teammates. Which one of them might be next?

Music Cue: Finale (The Empire Strikes Back)

As they blast off from Nowhere, they see that weapons are being fitted to the capital ship, and R2 units continue to weld armour plating to the hull. Things seem to be looking up for General Reekeene's Capital Ship Base. If only the same could be said for the Green Vipers...

Nowhere

To be continued...

Closing Reflections

The adventure outline in the campaign pack was extremely thin on the detail required to run what was essentially a grinding dungeon crawler of a mission. I'll put up another post with all of my additions for other GMs to use and do with as they please if they have interest in running the adventure. 

I did try to balance the threat with that set out in the previous adventure and from the other outlines: They faced two teams of 15 Battle Droids, each headed by a Super-Battle Droid, but the Maintenance Droid, and Control Droid in particular really put the fear into the players - and rightly so as their armour made them formidable opponents! The obvious way to deal with them was to use Thermal Detonators, but after Tarrik's blunder, they were understandably reluctant to use them! Jimi was also unfortunate that his thermal detonator which delivered 10D damage against the 8D armour of the droid only caused a stun. There's no doubt that the firefights with the two droid teams were punishing, and it was interesting to see just how powerful the thermal detonators were. Tarrik's misjudgement of the blast radius proved fatal for him and could easily have killed both Kaleban and Kira - thankfully, they were 'only' incapacitated! With medpacs exhausted and most of the team wounded, the closing stages of the adventure had the players on edge and I had personal concerns that a TPK was a possible outcome!

Once they hit the control room, they were completely trapped, but I had accounted for there being access to weapons systems and Skye's quick thinking about trying to blow a hole between the control room and another room behind it was one of those moments of inspired player ingenuity that a GM should always roll with. Rolls were made for dodges as huge pieces of machinery were blown across the room, and Kaleban in particular was fortunate not to suffer yet further damage - but the idea was their salvation!

Jaden Jericho was killed off because he had a player drop out, but Tarrik's demise came as a result of in-game play. I was sorry to see him go as he was an interesting character - but pleased that it was all of his own doing, and not as a direct consequence of any of my machinations as GM! Despite this character death, the feedback is that the players are thriving on the challenges they are facing!