Episode VIII: The Rebels of Callonia (Part III)
Introduction:
The Long Shot campaign continues with the final instalment of The Rebels of Chayloon adventure written by Padre as published on the Rancor Pit. If you would like to run this adventure, please follow this link to the Rancor Pit. As usual, I own none of the images - hand drawn maps all belong to Padre who has kindly granted permission for their use (and for me to report on the running of the adventure) in these posts - the remainder were 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 continues to inspire me in recording the campaign in these posts - thanks again to all of you who have offered me encouraging words!
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| The Imperial Base at Cohlanga Spaceport |
Outpost Offensive:
Music Cue: Inner City
Having reviewed the information from R3 regarding the Minarac outpost and Cohlanga spaceport, Captain Hannah sends Bots ahead to scout out the Minarac outpost. They have to free the priests before they can move on to the spaceport!
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| R3-FU |
Bots discovers that the base's main defences consist of a number of guards, an E-Web mounted gun beside the Communications Silo and the Air Defence Cannon. They decide to pick up the two AT-STs they captured previously and pick up the Ubrikkian mining vehicle from the mine. Claiming they are an Imperial patrol who have saved the mining vehicle from a Mah-Ta attack, they march into the Minarac compound. Captain Hannah slips back into his previous role, acting as an Imperial officer and requests that he be granted admittance to the Communications Silo...
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| The Rebels approach the Minarac Outpost from the velth |
As Hannah and Corr hand the mining vehicle over to one of the Minarac guards, Kaleban and Tala manoeuvre their respective AT-STs into position to attack the E-Web gun at short notice, while Bots skirts around the northern perimeter of the base. All wait for their moment to attack as Hannah and Corr are led to the Communications Silo.
Music Cue: Slave Childrens' Crusade (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom)
Once inside, Hannah throws a stun grenade which knocks out three of the staff, while a stun shot from Corr incapacitates the last! They shoot up the communications systems before tying up the guards and moving on to the Hab Silo. As they enter the room, Hannah once again cons the guards, telling them there has been an attack in the Communications Silo! One guard is told to sound the alarm, while they others rush through to the Communications Silo! Corr shoots the guard in the back with a stun shot, but the momentum of the shot drives him directly into the alarm device and suddenly the klaxon sounds across the outpost! Hannah seals the door behind him and informs his team that they must make their move now!
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| Captain Hannah |
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| Hannah and Corr are in the Hab Silo |
As the alarm rings through the compound, Bots hammers at the wall perimeter and the guard looks over its edge - a fatal error as a powerful Heavy Blaster Pistol shot pierces through his head! Bots uses his jump pack to leap on to the wall, only to see their AT-STs blasting the E-Web gun and one of the gunners! Groh-Ta warriors leap from the Scout walkers and swoop down upon the guards! All looks to be under control... except that Bots spots that the Air Defence Cannon is turning around towards the walkers! Warning them over their comms, Kaleban and Tala spin their AT-STs around and blast the cannon, blowing it apart!
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| Kaleban Maars |
With their main weapons destroyed and two intimidating walkers in their midst, the remaining Minarac guards surrender to the Rebels.
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| The Rebels have seized the Minarac compound! |
Captain Hannah discovers thermal detonators inside the Storage Tower, charges Minarac must have been using in the mines! Each Viper claims two apiece, except for Bots who pockets a third. They have another twenty in a bag which they believe will come in handy on the next stage of the mission.
They discover the missing priests in the Repair Silo, and explaining that they are not like the Shouting Ones, free them before returning to the Mah-Ta Sacred Place in the mountains...
As the Vipers formulate their plan, they ask the Mah-Ta to follow them to Cohlanga Spaceport and use the blasters they have brought to create a diversion. They leave C4-S0 with the Mah-Ta Priests, much to his annoyance.
C4-S0: Whatever you say 'Captain'!
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| C4-S0 |
Music: General Grevious
Ta-Gurhlak and his brethren will draw the asteroids down on to Cohlanga Spaceport as soon as the team disable the Shield Generator. Having scavenged Stormtrooper armour from those who'd perished during the Speeder Disc attack, the whole team suit up. It is particularly necessary for Bots and Tala as a Weequay and Cathar would stick out like a sore thumb! Ready to get going, they all set out for Cohlanga Spaceport...
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| Cohlanga Spaceport |
With the bag of thermal detonators beside him, Captain Hannah takes the Ubrikkian transport. The two AT-STs follow, inside which are Kaleban and Corr and Bots and Tala. As they approach the Imperial Military Facility from the south road, the Mah-Ta launch their phoney attack, firing at the 'retreating' AT-STs! They are hailed by the base commander, Lieutenant Colonel Reithus, who demands to know what is going on! Fortunately, Captain Hannah has his story sorted, explaining that they are the missing AT-ST patrol finally returning after being attacked and pursued by an organised and armed group of Mah-Ta! The group are given clearance to enter the compound and the Shield is dropped for the short few minutes as the mining vehicle and two AT-STs enter the compound...
Having explained that the walkers had taken damage, they are told to head to the main dome where large hangar doors slowly roll open. As they cross the drill yard, Kaleban spots that there is a antenna on the Habitation Dome and that if they get to the shield generator controls, they can perhaps just disable their shields over the Imperial Facility and save innocent lives from the bombardment...
Inside, they bring their vehicles into the Maintenance Shacks. Spotting the Imperial Shuttle in the maintenance bay, Hannah questions the huge maintenance droid which is performing repairs on the shuttle with an arc-welder, but it proves unhelpful in answering anything he asks, other than that repairs will take another three hours to complete. Approached by the Stormtrooper guards, Hannah explains to them to take care around the mining vehicle as there are twenty thermal detonators inside (the original plan had been to detonate the vehicle to take out the shield generator, but Kaleban's revelation has altered the plan). The guards are enraged and order Hannah to get the vehicle out of the building but, after stalling the it several times, Hannah tires of being shouted at by Stormtroopers and tells them to move it themselves. They angrily agree as the team make their way into the core of the building and searcher the Shield Generator. It is not long before Bots discovers it. Unfortunately, Kaleban is unable to bypass the high security on the door and the group are approached by two Stormtroopers!
Stormtrooper: What are you all doing hanging around here? The reception room is upstairs if you want to fraternise!
Hannah: Someone's trapped inside!
The troopers approach the door and knock it but there is no response.
Hannah: He was passing out as he fell inside.
The Stormtrooper's gaze is fixed upon Hannah suspiciously as he orders a technician to come to inspect the door. He arrives and unlocks the door...
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...and Bots grabs him and throws him against the wall in the Shield Generator room! Hannah demands that he shut down the generator over the base.
Technician: Hey, I just fix doors, that stuff's way above my pay grade!
Bots: Then die!
The Weequay slashes the technician's windpipe open and blood sprays over his white armour!
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| Bots Vridak |
Hannah shakes his head with distaste but begins priming the two thermal detonators he is carrying. The plan to only deactivate the shield over the Imperial base seems to have died along with the technician!
Outside the room, Tala's claws suddenly tear through her gloves and she slashes at the closest Stormtrooper - but they cannot penetrate his armour! He strikes her with the butt of his blaster, but it equally does no damage!
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| Tala Nor |
Kaleban, meanwhile, stabs at the Stormtrooper beside him - but once again the armour stands up to the attack! The Stormtrooper blasts him, stunning him!
Corr shoots the Stormtrooper engaged with Tala, stunning him! With blasters trading fire, the base alarm sounds! Having primed the thermal detonators, Hannah and Bots charge out of the Shield Generator room!
Hannah: Everyone get out of here - it's gonna blow!
Tala rushes off with the others but, seeing that Kaleban will not be able to escape before the detonators go off, Corr pushes his friend across the hallway as the explosion goes off! Fortunately for all concerned, they are only caught on the periphery of the blast, with the main brunt of the explosion is contained within the shield generator room! Another Stormtrooper enters the room and seeing two groups of Stormtroopers caught in a Mexican standoff, is totally flummoxed!
Corr: They're the Rebels! Look what they've done!
Stormtrooper: No, they're the Rebels! Shoot them!
One of the Stormtroopers fires, but Corr dodges the shot! The newcomer to the battle - CL-8851 - shoots him in the back, incapacitating him!
The Stormtroopers exchange fire as Kaleban charges away, headed back to his AT-ST, while Corr helps CL-8851 blast the last guard!
Music Cue: Rescue of the Princess
Corr: Follow me, there's more Rebels disguised as us! If we hurry, we might catch 'em!
Meanwhile, Hannah returns to the maintenance area and informs the two Stormtroopers that the base is under attack, and if they head out the other entrance they can join the fight! They rush into the corridor where, rather than letting them go, Bots decides to shoot one in the back! A fierce firefight ensues between Bots and the two Stormtroopers - he manages to wound one just as reinforcements arrive in the form of Corr and his new friend!
Bots (pointing at the two Stormtroopers): They're Rebels!
One of the Stormtroopers tags Corr, wounding him! CL glances to his side and returns fire, stunning one of them!
CL-8851: Scum! I'll send you all to hell!
Bots stuns another guard before rushing into the hangar bay. Hannah has opened up the hangar bay doors, while Tala asks the Maintenance Droid if the shuttle is safe to fly.
Droid: Repairs are not finished. Does not meet required safety regulations.
Tala: Yes, but does it fly?
Droid: It is a shuttle. It flies.
Tala shakes her head in exasperation and, joined by Hannah, get on board the ship while hails Lt Colonel Reithus on the comms.
Hannah: Rebels escaping from facility. Permission to commandeer shuttle and pursue Rebels.
Reithus: Permission granted! Those Rebels must not be allowed to escape! Crush them!
They both fire up the shuttle's engines as they wait for their friends to join them.
Hannah orders Kaleban to abandon the walker and get on board the shuttle. The mercenary climbs out of the AT-ST and races to the ship. CL-8551 supports Corr as they follow the others to the shuttle.
CL-8551: What? We're leaving?
Corr: Aye! The Mah-Ta are attacking the base from outside! We've got orders to put them down!
CL-8851: I've gotta get on those guns and cook me some lizard! Woohoo!
Seeing Corr is wounded as he boards the ship, Hannah cracks open a medkit to patch him up. He glances wearily at the Stormtrooper Corr has brought on board the shuttle.
Hannah (whispers): What the hell is he doing here?
Corr: I wudnae be alive if it wusnae fur him!
Hannah (tending to the wound): That'll have to do for now. Can you fly the ship?
Corr: Does a Wookiee crap in the woods?
He joins Tala at the ship's controls as she scans all of the readouts doubtfully. Outside, the pursuing Stormtroopers start blasting at the shuttle!
Tala: I hope that droid patched this thing up properly, or this'll be a real short trip! Okay, hit it!
Corr delicately navigates the shuttle around, but Kaleban has partially blocked the vehicle access doors with the AT-ST! The undercarriage screams as Corr nudges the ship against the walker's cabin...and suddenly they lunge forward are the AT-ST is knocked on to its face, exploding and killing the Stormtrooper guards behind them!
As the ship escapes, the Mah-Ta draw the asteroids down from the atmosphere and white streaks of light rain down upon the base and the spaceport beyond!
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| Sky fall! |
The frigate begins to take off, but a meteor tears it in two and it explodes spectacularly! Rocks tear through buildings everywhere, and the once solid structures are reduced to rubble and boiling flame! The whole of Cohlanga spaceport is decimated!
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| Cohlanga Cataclysm |
CL-8851 stares out of the viewport in disbelief.
CL-8851: Our base... The whole spaceport... They're dead. All dead! We need to make those cold-blooded lizards pay! I hate the Rebels!
Bots snatches the blaster from the Stormtrooper's hands and he looks up in confusion.
Corr: Aye, about that...sorry tae be the bearer o' bad news, but we are the Rebels. We kin set ye doon, leave ye here...or ye kin come wi' us?
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| Corr Alden |
CL-8851: Wait, what? What? What! WHAT! So those other Stormtroopers I shot...they weren't Rebels?
Corr: Nah. Those were likely yer pals!
CL-8851: Do you have any idea what you've done? The Empire will kill me for this!
Corr: Maybe ye should just come wi' us then, eh?
CL-8851 breaks down in tears.
Music Cue: The Throne Room and End Title
When the Imperial Shuttle returns to the Mah-Ta city, the people roar in celebration that finally they have been rid of the scourge of Minarac and the Empire. A grand feast is held in their honour. After the celebrations are over, Ta-Gurhlak, joined by the warrior Ta-Kiazee, approaches the team.
Ta-Gurhlak: Thank you my new friends. You have done us a great honour and given us hope where there was none. We will not forget your generosity and will help your Rebellion in whichever way we can. Indeed, we would like our mutual friend Ta-Kiazee here to join you to learn of the ways of the Rebellion. The warrior spirit burns fiercely within him and he wishes to do what he can to repay the debt of our people. Will you take him?
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| Ta-Ghurlak |
The team say they will gladly take him and bid their warm farewells to the Ta-Gurhlak and the Mah-Ta people. Ta-Gurhlak calls Corr back and whispers in his ear.
Ta-Gurhlak: A final word, my friend. The present is the key to unlocking the future - but forget not that the past shapes both present and future. When the past reaches out to you, know that all that glitters is not gems. It is often in the darkest and unlikeliest of places that paradise is truly found. Past, present, future, they are all one. Remember these words and you may find that the past will be your greatest ally.
Corr does not understand the priest's words, but is sad to leave him. As the Vipers take both the Yindao and the Imperial Shuttle with them, they blast off and their adventure on Callonia finally comes to an end.
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| The Yindao leaves Callonia |
Closing Reflections:
This final part of the adventure ended up being a lot funnier than intended! It probably doesn't translate well here, but the business with the Stormtrooper confusion was the source of laughs all round! It was fun to have them bring the Stormtrooper and Ta-Kiazee back to Nowhere as potential new recruits - although whether CL-8851 will aid the Rebels remains to be seen! Despite the players having moral misgivings about levelling the entire spaceport (indeed, I raised this with Star Padre on the Rancor Pit and we came up with the solution of there being two shields), once they didn't get their way, they didn't seem too bothered about levelling the entire compound, civilians and all! Still, they were praised as saviours by the Mah-Ta, so all's well that ends well...
Speaking of morality, I had another one of those moments where I wasn't sure if Bots should have been given a Dark Side point. Opening the throat of a lowly technician seemed fairly extreme...but does it make a difference the manner in which an agent of the Empire is dispatched - or what type of work they carry out?
In relation to the adventure itself, I thought it was a great one to run, better even than some of West End Games' adventures. I asked the players what they thought about it at the end and they thought that the Mah-Ta species were interesting and believable as was the setting. They also greatly enjoyed the different challenges and encounters of the adventure and all round everyone had a great time! I'd recommend all other Star Wars GMs to give it a go! A big thank you to Star Padre from us all!
With the Vipers having been tied up on Callonia for a good number of weeks, what will they return to on Nowhere? Watch this space for more adventures from the Green Vipers very soon!
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