This is an intelligence briefing for the Green Vipers and is based heavily on the briefing provided for the Rebels of Chayloon adventure by Padre, available here on the Rancor Pit. Please note that this has been published with the author's blessing, along with his illustration of the Callonia II equatorial region. All other images have been sourced from Google images. Please note that this is an advert-free, not for profit blog.
MISSION BRIEFING
Destination - Callonia II [Fakir Sector]
Operatives - Green Vipers [Reekeene's Roughnecks Strike Team]
Callonia II
As the Green Vipers are called to the briefing room, they are met as usual by General Lens Reekeene and her advisor Santhou.
Lens: Your recent mission to Iyuta is already bearing fruit and it's thanks to the bugging device you planted that we're learning of a number of significant Imperial operations in Fakir Sector. Most significantly, we're now aware of many Imperial patrols in the Sector and we are able to coordinate our forces to ensure we can avoid any unwanted Imperial entanglements. We've called you here to assist in supporting an independent group of Rebels on Callonia II. Along with several other secret insurgency activities in neighbouring systems, there is the potential that this uprising will contribute to a critical disturbance in Imperial authority within the Fakir Sector.
General Reekeene
We have recently received intelligence reports concerning what appears to be a local rebellion against Imperial forces & Imperial allied corporate interests (believed to be a subsidiary of Minarac Enterprises) on the jungle world Callonia II. Decrypted Imperial communications indicate sabotage activity on a growing scale, including sporadic guerrilla warfare.
The identity of the rebels is unknown. They may be a breakaway faction of local corporate personnel, or possibly members of the native population. Local Imperial personnel may know the identity of the rebels.
According to the existing survey records, the native sentients of Callonia II are at a primitive level of technology. If they are responsible, then it is feared that without military advice or possibly direct leadership, their rebellion will be brutally quelled.
Santhou here will provide you with detailed intelligence. Please note that Captain Isthmus also contributed greatly to this report. Ixsthmus stole the Long Shot from an Imperial Admiral at Cohlanga Spaceport so had some knowledge of the world.
Santhou: Thank you General. There is plenty of information for you Vipers to digest, so I ask for your attention...
Santhou
Your Specific Mission Orders are as follows:-
Travel to Callonia II.
Identify and locate the budding rebel forces.
Assess the situation.
Assist in their rebellion against Imperial forces.
You will use your usual vessel, the Yindao. We are unable to provide up-to-date clearance codes so you will have to bluff it out as best you can. You should be out of scanner reach once you get down into the planetary surface ‘scar valleys’.
We've arranged for your ship to be stocked with 4 E Web Repeating Blasters, as well as 10 cases of NR standard issue Blaster Carbines (6 per case, with 4 ammo clips each) to equip the natives. These are rugged and reliable, even in the hands of amateurs.
Activating a holographic projection, the Vipers see an image of the Fakir Sector with the Callonia System highlighted.
Sector Map
The image then zooms in to show the world of Callonia II (see top image), and the air fills with technical information which floats around the image of the world.
Survey Information on Callonia II(Limited)
Type: Terrestrial
Temperature: Temperate
Atmosphere: Type 1 (Breathable)
Hydrosphere: Moderate (32% surface water)
Gravity: Standard -3%
Terrain: Forest, bush, freshwater, swamp, mountainous (no full map schematic available)
Length of Day: 27.53 standard hours
Length of Year: 459 local days
Sapient Native Species: Mah-ta
Population: 12, 230 off-world personnel & families; Native population unknown
Planet Function: Mineral Extraction
Tech Level: Stellar; (Native – primitive; stone tools)
Major Exports: Gemstones & Belt Minerals
Major Imports: None
Starport: Cohlanga Down Facility
Star system: Galactic Survey data
System name: Callonia
Star Name: Haphlux
Orbital Bodies
Name.................Type.................Moons
Callonia I..........Vacuum...............2
Inner Belt............Asteroid belt
Callonia II..........Type 1................none
Outer Belt............Asteroid belt
Callonia III..........Gas Giant............4
Callonia IV..........Gas Giant............7
Once the team have had a chance to absorb the technical date, Santhou continues:
Callonia II is a forest/jungle world, with a population clustered in the equatorial regions due to climactic variations. Huge, volcanic mountain chains rise out of flatland surroundings to form criss crossing belts of rock (known to space goers, having looked down from orbit, as ‘whip scars’). The flatland valley areas consist of lakes, swamps, ‘velth’ and jungles, surrounded by long stretches of mountainous terrain. The massive velth expanses consist of closely-packed, broad leaved, stubby trees of several varieties, all similar in size. These have short (2-3m) trunks and flat splays of leaves forming what looks like a raised ground level, beneath which is the dark and damp ‘under velth’.
Callonia Equatorial Region
Native life
Callonia II’s sentient inhabitants are called the Mah-ta, an amphibian-like race believed to have a stone age technology. Their primitive society of herding clans was not always so, however, as archaeological remains have been discovered which point to an ancient civilisation, which although apparently limited to stone age technology, was potentially great in scale and grandeur. There are some very old records of several sub species of Mah ta, having different anatomical forms and social structures, but the information is vague. These were probably just races of Mah ta living in varied climactic conditions perhaps in the swamps or upon the mountain slopes.
Resources
Mineral Asteroids
The Callonia system is rich in mineral asteroids, to which the corporation MINARAC ENTERPRISES holds the legal mining rights. Local Minarac interests, although not directly managed by the Minarac HQ on Coruscant, apparently maintain a small mining fleet serviced by several planetary surface processing installations.
Crystalline Gemstones
As well as mineral asteroid mining there is one other major business activity the harvesting of crystalline gemstones from the slopes of the great mountain gorges. It is for the export of these gemstones that Callonia is best known. Their multi coloured, multi faceted nature cannot be artificially copied, except at great cost which makes the process unprofitable. Indeed, in some Arguvant sector and neighbouring sector business deals, when local currency is looking unstable or the political conditions are volatile, Chayloon gems are used in lieu of currency! This practice was declared illegal by the Imperium, but recently local ex-Imperial elements have resorted to such methods of payment
Imperial Presence in the Chayloon System
[Data extracted from Iyuta Communications Centre.]
A brief breakdown of the Imperial force’s strength and command structure:
Lt. Col. Relthus commands the remaining elements of an Imperial Army Regiment, plus a reduced strength Stormtrooper Battalion (Major Karbin).
The IA regiment has been reduced to less than half strength two depleted battalions commanded by Major Moltor and Major Chad.
The First (Armour) Battalion (Maj. Moltor) consists of one company equipped with repulsorlift armoured combat vehicles (ALCUs (Armoured Light Combat Unit), MRTs (Medium Repulsorlift Tanks) and RaSCaVs (Repulsorlift Scout/Comm Vehicles), one with armoured walkers (AT ATs, AT GTs, AT STs and AT Pts) and one company (Scout) is equipped with Speeder Discs. There is no fourth company. The battalion has several support elements: IGAACs and a Floating Fortress.
The Second Battalion (Maj. Chad) is also depleted in strength, a Line Battalion of Imperial Army Infantry units (with some Light Personnel Skiffs).
Major Karbin commands the Stormtrooper Battalion, at half strength, who guard the Imperial military facility at the planetary surface starport, Cohlanga Down.
Other military presence
Minarac Enterprises local security forces’ strength and composition is unknown.
Details of any mercenary or paramilitary elements are unavailable.
As Santhou finishes, he switches off the holoprojector and nods to the General.
Lens: Thank you advisor. It's thanks to your recent successes that we have this information. Clearly the opposition is formidable, but you Vipers have an aptitude for destruction and, unlike the debacle on Mycroft, you do not need to coordinate your attack with any other Rebel forces. We have faith that you will prove to be a major thorn in the Empire's side! May the force be with you!
The Long Shot campaign continues with this adventure outlined in the Classic Adventures book. All of my additions to the outline feature under Closing Reflections at the end of this report. As usual, I own none of the images which were mostly sourced from google images. Please note that this is an advert free, not for profit blog.
Additionally, please visit The Rancor Pit. The support shown to me by fellow GMs and players there has been wonderful - thanks again to all of you who are reading these write ups!
JiBa Unchained:
Music Cue: Rebel Briefing
Once again, General Reekeene calls the Green Vipers for a mission briefing. As the team settle in, she activates a holographic display, showing the planet Iyuta.
Iyuta
General Reekeene: Maars, you may recall on your first outing with the Vipers that you captured Moff Dixton. Now, this dustball may not look like much, but one of the secrets Dixton spilled was that there's an Imperial Communications Centre on this planet. During Operation Retribution, the Blue Lightning squad uncovered more information about the Centre, namely that it is built atop an an ancient sewer system. I think it's possible if a powerful listening device is planted in the sewers we will be able to listen in to all Imperial transmissions in the Fakir Sector. Naturally, such a planet is heavily guarded by Star Destroyers and spy satellites, so you'll have to go in undercover. Head for the Rusty Bucket, a bar on the Strip in the city of Takari. Our agent, Chilla works there. She'll provide you with more information and transport to the sewers. It's up you to formulate your reason for going to Iyuta, but report to Captain Hark'r for some important supplies, including the bugging device. Any questions? Good, dismissed.
The Vipers make their way to the store to meet Hark'r but his station is empty. A range of equipment has been laid out on the desk and there is a holographic projector alongside the equipment. Once activated, an image of Hark'r fills the air.
Captain Hark'r
Hark'r: Sss-chk-chk, ah Green Vipers! Regrettably I have travel arrangements so can't join you today! But, not to worry, old Hark'r has left all of your requisition items for your mission-chk-chk-chk! Fresh blasters, ammunition, comlinks, glow rods, the bugging device and five thousand credits for expenses...sometimes Imperial Customs Officers need a good bribe to turn a blind eye! So long Vipers! See you in hell-sss-chk-chk-kak-kak-kak!
Music Cue: General Grevious
The team grab their items and rush to the hangar bay. Looking around, they spot activity on the opposite side of the hangar. The cargo lift for the Martinette has half opened and JiBa stands behind a large cargo crate! Features contorted with hate and rage, he shakes his remaining fist defiantly in the air.
JiBa: Hear me Rebels! You haven't seen the last of JiBa! I'll kill you all!
JiBa
He kicks the crate off the elevator before closing the cargo lift and disappearing inside. The ship's engines fire up, and as it takes off, Captain Hark'r waves gleefully to the Vipers from the cockpit. It blasts off and, as soon as it clears the hangar bay, makes the jump to lightspeed.
Music Cue: The Journey Home
As the Vipers open the crate, they find the bodies of three Duros - members of Purple Squadron that JiBa had just joined - inside. They appear to have been run through with swords. A note has been left upon them in JiBa's handwriting. It reads: A GOOD START.
Purple Squadron Duros
Tala: When I was part of Blue Lightning, I'd heard this JiBa was a maniac. This proves it...
A former crew mate of JiBa's, Corr Alden is shocked by this disturbing turn of events.
C4-S0: Well I can! I told you the man was an imbecile! Good riddance to him! If only you humans listened to me in the first place, those poor Duros from Purple Squadron would still be alive!
C4-S0
After alerting General Reekeene to JiBa's escape with Captain Hark'r, Captain Hannah turns his attention to the equipment Hark'r left them. Fearing JiBa has tampered with it in some way, Hannah orders a scanning crew to check it - particularly the bugging device for their mission - as well as their ship, the Yindao. Hannah is particularly concerned that JiBa will target his former friends, but they are unable to find any homing devices , explosives or signs of interference with any of the Yindao's hyperdrive, computers or hardware. While General Reekeene fears what JiBa may tell others, and reviews safety protocols on Nowhere, she orders the team to get on with their mission.
Undercover Escapades
Music Cue: Inner City
The bounty hunter Bots Vridak suggests they make use of his profession as a cover story.
Bots: Captain Hannah is wanted by Empire. Could use as excuse to land on planet.
Bots Vridak
Captain Hannah: There's a bounty on my head?
Bots: 10,000 credits. For termination. You're deserter.
Tala: You weren't tempted to collect on it yourself?
Bots shrugs non-committedly.
Corr: We'd be mad tae mention the Captain tae the Empire when he's oan oor team. Just pick somewan - anywan - else!
Bots checks his warrant meter for wanted criminals and picks the first name that comes up - a killer known as Myles Long who has a predilection for skinning his victims, leaving a trail of death across the Outer Rim.
Bots: We say we're hunting Long. Empire will grant passage.
Hannah likes the plan and the Vipers set off in the Yindao for Iyuta.
As they are hailed by one of the three Star Destroyers in orbit around Iyuta, Corr hands over his headset to Bots to explain the situation. After the Imperials initially believe Myles Long to be a joke name, the information Bots provided them with checks out and they are permitted to land in Takari. Hannah orders Bots to deal with the Customs Officer who seems hellbent on searching every nook and cranny for contraband. When Bots hands over the credit stick with 5,000 credits, the officer's eyes light up and he immediately instructs his men they have another ship to check...
While they make their way down the Strip, Kaleban is challenged to an arm-wrestling competition by some rowdy off-duty Imperial marines. Captain Hannah steps in to accept the challenge, but his arm is almost broken when the trooper wrestles with him! Surrounded by laughter, Hannah sheepishly slinks away, but his challenger suddenly shouts him back.
Marine: Hey, don't I know you? Have we met before? I could swear I recognise your voice.
Kaleban: Yeah, remember that advert for Fish Sticks? He sung the song, he loves Fish Sticks!
Kaleban Maars
Marine: Uh, yeah! We do too! Mon Calamari sure taste good when you smoke 'em!
Kaleban: I bet you like the taste of Quarren Fish Sticks, too!
Marine: Mmm! Yeah, I love them!
Music Cue: Cantina Band
As Hannah escapes being identified by his former crew of the Star Destroyer Patriarch, he thanks Kaleban for his ingenuity and quick thinking. Unfortunately, they soon discover that the Rusty Bucket has been burned down! They think better of approaching any more revellers, but do approach bar staff in the adjacent bar who tell them they can find the bar's owner, Chilla, in the Giant Step. Despite him having necked several drinks, Hannah orders Corr to approach Chilla. Mistaking his approach as advances to romance her, Corr completely alienates Chilla and is mocked by his friends! He bites his tongue however - he knows Santhou has advised against expressing anger. Captain Hannah intervenes to rectify the situation. Once he does, Chilla provides them with a rudimentary map and directs them to a repulsorlift around the back which will take them to the sewers.
Chilla
C4-S0 refuses to enter the sewers and is told to hide in nearby bushes. Kaleban provides C4 a scarf to hide his glowing eyes, before they leave their droid to keep watch for anyone following them.
The Heat Is On
Music Cue: The Walls Converge
The team enter the sewers and, fearing the worst, cautiously sneak through the dark tunnels. Bots spots ripples in the sewage at the main junction, which further raises the team's guard. Both he and Tala scout on ahead and locate the pumping room. While water is pumped from this room to clear the drains, they spot catwalks mounted on the walls, which in turn lie directly beneath a grating. Tala climbs up the catwalks and can see from the scum on the walls that when water is pumped into the room that it doesn't raise this high. Not only that, she can hear chatter above! The sensitive bugging device will be able to pick up everything the Imperials say!
After planting the device, the Vipers are satisfied that they have completed their mission and quickly retrace their steps back to the sewer pipe exit. As they approach the main junction, they spot the dead body of a woman in fatigues. Fearful of what may be lurking in the water, they ignore the corpse and hurry on. Tala is last to leave and narrowly avoids being grabbed by a dianoga!
Tala Nor
Music Cue: Finale
Relieved to complete the mission without having fired a blaster in anger, the team swiftly return to their ship and make their escape!
Captain Hannah: Excellent work, Vipers! General Reekeene will be delighted the mission went without a hitch! Look what we can achieve when we work as a tight-knit group! I foresee this team will go from strength to strength!
Captain Hannah
Finally, the updated Fakir Sector map shows locations the Green Vipers are familiar with. Note that Tsukkia has been included as this was where Captain Solo dropped off Andews Rolo after the To Free The Forgotten mission (see Episode VI) before then dropping the team off on Nowhere.
Fakir Sector
Closing Reflections:
I enjoyed setting JiBa loose! Now that he's a NPC, who knows what badness he will get up to? Interesting that Corr found it hard to comprehend JiBa's actions, it will be interesting if those two former friends come face to face in the future!
Myles Long was a name that popped up on a Star Wars name generator and I hadn't realised that it was a bit of a joke name until I read it out! We decided to roll with it though, and it provided a bit of unexpected light relief as Imperials constantly thought the team were lying about his existence until they checked the bounty hunter records!
The adventure was fun from the roleplaying side of things, but the lack of action meant the scenario didn't have that classic Star Wars feel. This mission is important to the progression of the campaign though and I didn't much mind the lack of action after the Assault on Repair Station M13 involved 3 sessions of intense and continuous battle, but I think we're all ready for more conflict next session! We'll see what happens next!
I won't be publishing a separate adventure post for GMs as the outline for this mission was better detailed than others in the campaign. You can find below the sewers maps - a players' map and GM map - that I managed to source online. In the key, the locations relate to those given in the Hideouts and Strongholds book, for the Sewer System maps. There is one additional location - 14 - which is simply an antechamber leading in to the Communications Centre. Thankfully, my players didn't try to enter the base so I didn't have to go searching for more maps (it was a large centre so had the potential to go disastrously wrong)! I've also added a few images of the denizens of the sewer, a few of whom the PCs did not encounter!
It may be a good few weeks before there is another post as the next adventure is The Rebels of Chayloon (set on Callonia for my own campaign) by Padre of the Rancor Pit and I expect it will take several sessions to run (potentially it will be split into two write ups as Assault on Repair Station M13 was). This is the first time I'll have ever run someone else's homebrew adventure, but after I read it, I thought it was too good not to play!
The Long Shot campaign continues with the short one-shot mission "To Free The Forgotten" which features in the 1st Edition Rules Companion. Please note that I do not own the images contained in this adventure, they were all sourced from Google images. This is a not for profit, advert free blog. Special thanks as always to members of the Rancor Pit for their continued support and suggestions in running this campaign!
A YT-1300 over Captivity
Spiritual Guidance:
Music Cue: The Magic Tree (first half, minus the Vader section)
While the team have some downtime on Nowhere, Corr finds himself a quiet room on the labyrinthine ship to meditate. Clearing his thoughts, he reaches out with the force, searching for someone else who will hear his call. To his delight, he hears a response form in his mind.
I hear you. Meet me on the Martinette.
He heads down to the hangar bay where the Martinette, a heavily modified YT-1300 stock freighter that the Vipers seized from pirates on their mission to Masterhome lies. As he makes his way up the landing ramp, he feels the force draw it closed behind him. Inside, he finds General Reekeene's advisor, Santhou. Corr returns Santhou's welcoming bow.
Santhou: You wanted to see me?
Santhou Lazith'chika
Corr: Santhou! Thanks fur hearin' me when ah called out! As a child ah wis a member of the Jedi order, taught by Maser Yoda himsel'. Ah wis lucky no' tae have been in the Jedi Temple when Vader attacked. Ah've been in hiding fur many long years, but on mah recent mission ah wis able tae call upon the force tae aid in oor escape from the Empire. Ah want tae resume mah training tae learn more of the ways of the force. Can ye help me?
Santhou: A powerful Jedi was master Yoda. I met him on my travels some two hundred years ago - but I do not possess the same knowledge and understanding of the force that he did. Unfortunately, I am not equipped to train you. I am capable of little more than a few cheap parlour tricks, such as when I closed the entrance ramp to this ship as you entered. The fire of the Jedi has went out of this universe, extinguished by the Emperor's purge. I fear we may never see their like again. I do not believe there is anyone left to train you. However, you may be able to learn more of the force should you find ancient artefacts, or perhaps a vergence in the force.
Corr: A vergence in the force? Dae ye know where ah can find one?
Corr Alden
Santhou: I encountered one a century ago, in the Cathedral of Mab Ashoto on Fest.
Corr: Fest..is that in the Atrivis Sector?
Santhou: The very same. But some five years ago, I had a vision of that same place. The vergence
was disturbed by two Jedi: a young woman and an old man. By unlocking the tomb which held it, they set the power free, although it rewarded them by granting some of its power. I fear a journey to Fest would be a waste of your time. Instead, you must look elsewhere for such a phenomenon. Should you be in close proximity to one, you will hear it call to you as you did to me. I advise caution, however. Only the most serious mind can unlock the mysteries of the force and I sense much impatience in you, Alden. The Emperor requires no more soldiers. I would not wish to see you become an enemy.
Corr: Ah huv nae interest in becomin' another pawn of the Emperor. Ah will meditate and seek tae calm mah mind.
Santhou: In that, at least, I can assist you. You may join me in my quarters each day to commune together. Who knows? Perhaps instead seeking enlightenment across the galaxy, it may find us?
Corr: Aye. Thanks fur yer advice an' offer of aid.
Corr stands up and bows to the alien. As he turns away, Santhou's calls after him.
Santhou: One last thing, if I may?
Core: Of course...
Santhou: Would you mind activating the hydraulic ramp close when you exit? Closing it with telekinesis is rather tiring...
With a nod and a smile, Corr bids Santhou farewell.
Breakfast Brawl:
Music Cue: Mouse Robot and Blast Off
Accompanied by their two droids, Kaleban and Corr attend the mess hall on Nowhere for breakfast. Skye is not joining them as she has a meeting with General Reekeene. They have not seen JiBa since he was put in the bacta tank after Kentara claimed his vengeance for the loss of his wife.
Another squad, who go by the name of Blue Lightning, sit in the canteen, eating their breakfast. As the Vipers enter, they watch them intently and several of them sneer at them. Other than them and the cook droids, there are two Bith engineers, a group of three Duros from Purple Squadron, and a silver-haired old man - who they don't recognise - sits on his own in a darkened corner. He has wrapped his robe tightly around him.
Blue Lightning (l to r): Tala Nor, Janoas Sobari, Uldrir Gonibar, Zuel Zeemor, Krenan Soulreaver & Bots Vridak
Sobari: Well, well, well, if it isn't the Green Vipers! After the stunt you pulled on Mycroft, Kentara should have taught all of you a lesson!
Kaleban: Pfft, Blue Lightning. Did you get a bulk discount when you to bought those fatigues?
Zeemor: Yeah, I know, you're bad. Check your food everyone, could be poisoned. This lot have a taste for killing fellow Rebels.
Krenan Soulreaver suddenly throws his tray of food across the floor and approaches Corr.
Soulreaver: Look at the mess you've made, Alden. Pick it up and get me some fresh food!
Corr: Naw, ah'll not pick it up! If ye want food, get it yersel'!
Soulreaver punches Corr, grazing his forehead. Kaleban leaps out of his seat and jabs back at outlaw. Corr meanwhile draws his blaster and fires a stun shot at Soulreaver, missing him. Soulreaver responds by drawing his own blaster and returning live fire back at the pilot! Fortunately the shot misses him - and Uldrir Gonibar, the leader of Blue Lightning intervenes, shouting at his man.
Gonibar: That's enough Soulreaver! Holster your gun or I'll take you out with a stun shot myself! C'mon, let's get outta here. Rebels and Vipers don't mix.
Kaleban shoves Soulreaver away and Blue Lightning exit the room.
Kaleban: Dunno what kind of dumb name Blue Lightning is anyway.
Last to leave, Gonibar pauses in the doorway and, eyes narrowing, cocks his head in Kaleban's direction. Realising Captain Gonibar is not to be trifled with, Kaleban takes a step back before the grizzled leader leaves.
The Big Shake Up:
Music Cue: Rebel Briefing
Lens Reekeene has once again convened the the team in the briefing room.
General Lens Reekeene
As the team gather together, they notice that Skye is not there. Fresh from his stint in the bacta tank, JiBa has returned, but, missing an arm, and heavily scarred by Kentara's raking claws, he looks a shadow of his former self. His face pales further as General Reekeene enters the room with three other Rebels, two of whom they recognise as members of Blue Lightning! The last is the silver-haired man from the canteen - who they now see is wearing an Imperial uniform!
Lens: Thank you for joining me. I know these past weeks have been trying for you all, they certainly were for me. First of all, you'll notice Skye is missing. I assure you she's fine, but she is temporarily being assigned to another squad in the Roughnecks. I know you'll miss her and I'm sure you'll share my sentiments in wishing her well with her new team.
Now, moving on to other matters, I've reviewed the situation and come to the conclusion that not only do you require some fresh blood to bolster your ranks, but firm leadership is needed to keep your more...outlandish notions of heroism in check. First of all, allow me to introduce Tala Nor from Naboo-
JiBa: Aw no, not a stupid Cathar! I want reassignment to another squad!
Lens: That's enough from you, JiBa! The Empire are xenophobes, but we're not! All are welcome under the Rebel banner!
JiBa: I'm not a xenophobe - I'm allergic! I'll be coughing up fur-balls! This is the final straw! I quit the Vipers!
JiBa leaps out of his chair and storms towards the exit.
Lens: Very well, but return in a few hours for reassignment, JiBa!
JiBa waves a dismissive hand at the General before leaving.
JiBa
Lens: I'm sorry about that Tala...
Tala: Not a problem...now he's gone. By all accounts, he was this squad's biggest problem. It's a relief not to have to work alongside him.
Tala Nor
Lens: Next we have Bots Vridak, a Weequay...
Vridak simply grunts before taking a seat.
Bots Vridak
Lens: Finally, this is Captain Hannah. He'll be leading you from now on...
Hannah: That's right. And the breakfast brawl I witnessed in the canteen was a disgrace to the Rebellion! I've reviewed your records and note that individually you Vipers all have impressive skills! But you lack discipline and cohesion! If you listen to my instructions, perhaps this can be the finest unit in Reekeene's Roughnecks!
Captain Hannah
Lens: I admire your ambition, Captain. Now, your next mission's a bit of a strange one. You'll be leaving the Fakir sector. R3 won't be able to accompany you as he'll be a problem where you're headed. You won't be taking weapons with you either as we need to get you impersonate the Rajah of Virujansi and his personal retinue. Intelligence states that the Imperials are going to make a move on him. Your mission is to insult the Imperials and get yourselves exiled to a moon called Captivity. There's several former senators and persons of interest on that prison planet who we believe will be sympathetic to our cause. Your task is to find them and get them to the extraction point, the mountain peak known as Borolol's Claw...
Royal Welcome:
Music Cue: The Imperial March
Disguised as the Rajah of Virujansi and his advisors, the Vipers are confronted by Major Lariss and a squad of Stormtroopers. As the Major's lieutenants demand the Rajah's compliance in accepting Imperial rule, the advisors offer the Rajah conflicting and contradictory advice, with the Wrathor and the Eye of History making highly offensive comments concerning the Empire's activities. Major Lariss threatens them with being placed under house arrest, at which point the Conciliator points out that the "big nose" has a point. Furious, Major Lariss condemns them to exile on the world of Captivity, sparking apologetic comments from the advisors as the Stormtroopers slap binders on them. Lariss is unaware that he has played directly into the Rebels' hands, instead he is blissfully delighted at the distress he has caused.
Rough Landing:
Music Cue: Inner City
As the drop pod hurtles towards Captivity, Captain Hannah realises that the braking jets have not kicked in and shouts to his team to find the controls to manually activate them. Corr locates a panel which he and C4-S0 pull at, and succeed in shearing off half the panel! Kaleban climbs over his friends in the overcrowded pod and manages to override the computer to activate the jets. The pod touches down gently and Kaleban discovers that there is fuel enough for them to fly the pod into orbit, but no further.
They decide to emerge from the pod to check their surroundings - and discover they have landed on a ledge on the side of a cliff! Rocks are hurled at them from above by thugs who shout to stop them "getting to Rolo". Hannah orders that they retreat from the attack and make their way down to the caves below.
C4-S0 takes a tumble as he tries to negotiate the treacherous descent - but Tala catches him! Unfortunately, as she grips on to the droid, the shelf of rock she is standing upon crumbles away! Using her claws to grip the rock behind her, she clutches on to C4's arm until both are pulled to safety by Hannah.
C4-S0! Thank the maker!
C4-S0
As they close in on the caves, Rolo calls out and draws them inside.
Rolo: Ah my friends, you are very lucky to have landed here! Come inside and warm yourselves by my fire! It's a delight to have such esteemed guests! Those are very fine clothes you are wearing! Tell me your story while you rest your weary heads!
Andews Rolo
Captain Hannah explains that they are Rebels and Rolo suddenly calls his henchmen out of the dark recesses of the cave!
Rolo: Excellent! We'll ransom you to that fool Dedelin and his people in return for some supplies! Seize them! Tie them up!
Hannah: Now don't panic everyone - and don't resist!
Bots disobeys his Captain as he scoops up a rock and cracks a henchman over the head. Kaleban lunges for Rolo, and manages to twist his muscular arm around the criminal's throat. At the urging of Kaleban's insistent grip, Rolo orders his henchmen to back off. Captain Hannah quietly acknowledges he made a wrong call and praises Kaleban's quick thinking. He then questions Rolo about his past. Under duress, Rolo reveals that he was the leader of the notorious Spectrader Ring who operated on over thirty worlds. He curses the Empire for imprisoning him here on Captivity.
Hannah: I think we all got off on the wrong foot here. We're here to free you from Captivity. I think we can get you off of this world if we just work together. We're looking for other people who may be sympathetic to the fight against the Empire. Would this Dedelin you mentioned - and his friends - be fit that description?
Rolo: Yes, yes, Dedelin and his friends hate the Empire! But they're terrible people! They attacked poor Rolo and his friends often! They made our life a living hell! If we take you to Dedelin, he may react unfavourably. They hate us.
Hannah and the Vipers see through Rolo's lie - knowing fine well that it is Rolo who has been making Dedelin's life a misery. All the same, they strike a bargain with Rolo that if he takes them to Dedelin, they will arrange for them to escape Captivity along with everyone else. Rolo is highly suspicious and makes Captain Hannah repeatedly promise to get them off Captivity. For some reason, he finds a man's word hard to believe, but on this occasion Hannah intends no double cross.
When they are led to Dedelin's camp, Hannah orders Tala to scout the encampment.
Kaleban: Let's hope no one throws a ball of yarn in front of her.
Kaleban Maars
Tala makes a spitting hiss in response before she and Bots - who is skilled in stalking himself - head off. With Hannah's permission, Corr heads into the camp alone. Holding his hands up and displaying he is unarmed, he quickly wins the trust of the guards and Captain Dedelin, along with the two Senators in the camp.
The Vipers all soon enter the camp and arrange for Dedelin and his people to follow them to the extraction point at Borolol's Claw.
Climb To Freedom:
Music Cue: Hyperspace
Despite Tala and Bots identifying the safest route up the mountain, C4-S0, Corr and Bots - the latter of whom is laden down with a makeshift blaster cannon from Dedelin's camp - all struggle to climb to the peak, but with the help of their friends, eventually manage it. The mountaintop is clouded in mist, and when they hear a freighter closing in, realise that they can't be seen! The screech of TIE fighters pursuing the freighter can be heard. Bots quickly hooks up the makeshift cannon and opens fire! He scores several hits, ionising a TIE fighter which drops from the sky and crashes across the mountainside! Bots and Kaleban reposition the weapon just in time as another TIE strafes the area of ground where they'd just stood!
Keying in on their blaster bolts, the freighter lands and its captain rushes out. A Wookiee's shout can be heard from behind him. The ship is the Millennium Falcon, and its pilot, Han Solo.
Han: Glad you could make it! But we're a little rushed for time, so if you'll just get on board, we can get out of here.
Corr is first into the ship and rushes in to the cockpit, throwing himself into the pilot's seat. Chewie roars at him from the co-pilot's chair. Solo enters the cockpit and scowls at the pilot.
Han: Let's get one thing straight: only one person pilots this ship. Me!
Corr: Hey! Ah'm no' such a bad pilot mahsel'!
Corr reluctantly gives way to Solo while Kaleban and Bots grab the gunnery chairs. The Falcon quickly fills up with the remaining Vipers and Dedelin's people, but Hannah, with C4-S0 following closely behind, insists that Solo pick up Rolo and his people.
Hannah: I made an oath, Captain Solo, an oath! And I don't intend to break it!
Kaleban and Bots shoot down several pursuing TIEs in the flight down the mountain, buying enough time to pick up Rolo and his reprobates. By the time everyone is on board, the Falcon's holds and corridors are filled with Captivity's denizens!
Solo guns the Falcon into the sky and out of Captivity's atmosphere. Ahead of them, a Star Destroyer closes in!
C4-S0: We'll never outrun that! We're doomed!
Han: Oh yeah? Watch this!
Han and Chewie
The Falcon makes the jump to hyperspace - and escapes! The journey is cramped and unpleasant with the foul odour of Captivity's unwashed former prisoners filling the freighter, but a week later, they return to the Fakir Sector. Solo drops off Rolo's people on Tsukkia before landing on Nowhere. He waves the Vipers goodbye from the landing ramp.
Han: Well, I guess this is it. We'll get Dedelin and his people to Alliance High Command, then we're headed on to Ord Mantell. I think thing'll be less eventful there. See you around...and may the force be with you.
With Dedelin and his people still on board, the Falcon then takes off and, as the Vipers watch from the hangar bay, disappears in a flash of light.
Closing Reflections:
Another great session with a lot of excellent roleplaying from my players! It was at the request of one of the players that the Green Vipers be disliked by other Rebels on Nowhere as a consequence of their being responsible for the destruction of Bronze Squadron. It proved a good suggestion both in terms of making life on Nowhere far more interesting and in giving me an excuse to introduce a rival team and new NPCs for the Vipers to bounce off of when they are on base. It does mean that even on home turf the Vipers cannot fully relax!
The new characters were all a lot of fun, and all had some moments to shine. Bots Vridak - a Weequay - was suitably gruff and keen to fight rather than surrender, while Tala put her claws to use to save C4-S0 and hissed when Kaleban indirectly compared her to a cat. Both worked together to scout Dedelin's camp while Corr distracted the sentries - clearly the PCs are being slightly more cautious after the M13 debacle! A former Imperial Captain, Hannah was clipped and suitably pompous which is making for a fun an interesting dynamic. He did concede to his team that they were right not to surrender to Rolo and his thugs, but it'll be interesting to see how he will deal with matters if there is continued insubordination, particularly as he has been parachuted into the team to install some order following JiBa's chaotic leadership (same player btw!). Leadership is a really tricky role for any player because the other PCs always have their own ideas and will usually act as they see fit, particularly if what is being ordered goes against their character's personality. It'll be interesting to see how that relationship develops! I'm looking forward to finding out more about all of the new characters, but on initial evidence we have an interesting mix of personalities in the Vipers now!
The opening of the published adventure isn't set out particularly well - the whole objective and reasons for impersonating the Rajah and his advisors are quite poorly explained and, the concern I had when reading over the adventure was realised: I had to provide the team with clearer information than is provided in the text. That said, once they understood their roles and their turns, the exchanges between the advisors and Lariss were a lot of fun and had a lot of great improvisation from the players. I wish I could have remembered it all to set it out here!
The rest of the mission was fine, though lightweight, as shown by the fact that it was completed in a single session. What was most interesting was to see the team dealing with a mission without blasters at their side. They did well and confounded expectations as usual! There was no situation covered in the scenario for offering Rolo and his criminal friends safe passage, but as I believe GMs should, I rolled with their plan! It seemed fitting that the Rebels might even save criminals - and also provides me with the opportunity to reintroduce Rolo at a later date...Will be he an ally or an enemy though?
Note: bizarrely, no stats are provided for Andews Rolo, a major NPC, yet they are included for Major Lariss and Captain Dedelin who the PCs are less likely to fight against!
There were a few fun complications to throw into the mix from "1" results on the Wild Die: the panel in the pod shearing in two and the cliff shelf Tala was standing on while saving C4-S0 crumbling were fun examples of these being put to use! It's not always possible to come up with unique complications, but I feel they always add a bit of unpredictable excitement to sessions when they arise!
One final note: The reference about the two Jedi finding the vergence in the force is a reference to connect the current campaign to the previous one we ran which covered the period 5BBY to 0BBY. The two Jedi mentioned, Anka and Magnus, were the ones who discovered the vergence in a former Jedi temple. Along with the rest of the party, they ended up so powerful that they managed to survive Vader on two occasions. We agreed that the party had become such a thorn in the Empire's side that they would be the central focus of the Emperor's machinations - so the Rebels sent them out of the galaxy for bringing too much heat on their fledgling Rebellion. I may at some point retell those adventures on this blog as well as publish the adventures (most were homebrew). For anyone interested in reading those adventures, please join the Star Wars Green Vipers Group on Facebook and look at the Photo Albums: all 52 episodes in that campaign are summarised there.
