Episode I - Escape From Yavin
Introduction:
Welcome to Star Wars Green Vipers! While the global lockdown is in place all normal gaming has been curtailed so I've started running a new Star Wars D6 (West End Games) RPG Campaign. Most of the sessions will be published games, although this opening adventure is one I put together for the team. We use Google Hangouts to talk to each other and Roll20 to run the adventures. I'll record the team's adventures here. I do not own any of the images or John Williams' wonderful score.
On with the adventure!
Opening Crawl:
The Adventure:
Admiral Ozzel |
Space. A crippled TIE fighter drifts in the distance. The underside of a dark grey gargantuan ship slides into view and passes overhead for what seems like an eternity. Its tractor beams lock on to the stricken craft and bring it in to one of the hangar bays. This is Darth Vader’s personal flagship, the Super Star Destroyer, Executor.
In the hangar bay, Darth Vader emerges from the TIE Advanced Fighter and is met by Admiral Ozzel.
Ozzel: My lord, its is a relief to see you again. When we heard of the destruction of the Death Star, we feared the worst.
Darth Vader |
Vader: You may dispense with the pleasantries, Admiral. The evacuation of the Rebel base may not yet be over. Set course for the moon of Yavin IV. I want those rebels.
Ozzel: Yes, my lord. It will be done.
The Centurion - a modified YT-1300 carrying new recruits to the Rebellion's cause - drops out of hyperspace and begins its descent into the atmosphere of the jungle moon of Yavin 4.
The Centurion does a flyby of Yavin |
As the recruits troop off the Centurion, they see the base is a hive of activity, with personnel hurriedly loading up their transports and ships blasting off every other minute.
The Rebel Base - no longer hidden! |
Out of the confusion, a large man, Commander Shepherd, strides up to them. A pilot - the last surviving member of Green Squadron, the decoy squadron who took most of the heat during the attack on the Death Star, Tarrik Nightburner - and an R2 unit hurry after him. As Shepherd addresses the group, he casts a scrutinising gaze across each one of them. He doesn’t look impressed.
Commander Shepherd |
Shepherd: I’m Commander Shepherd - and you’re late. We’re a little rushed for time so I don’t have time for a proper debriefing. You missed the main excitement. The Death Star has been destroyed, but not before the location of this base was uncovered. It’s a sure bet half the Imperial Fleet are on their way here. The evacuation is well underway but we’ve several more transports requiring escort. Nightburner here will help you but we’ve still got two spare X-Wings that weren’t employed in the attack upon the Death Star, anyone want to pilot one?
A scout, Skye Bodelyn, volunteers, despite having never flown an X-Wing before!
Skye Bodelyn: Player Character |
A klaxon sounds across the base as something blocks out the sun. Rebels look to the sky and cry out in dismay. Vader's flagship, the Executor has arrived!
Shepherd: Looks like we’ve run out of time! You’ll be protecting two troop transports. Once they make the jump, you can follow too. Your designation is Green Squadron. Tarrik, take Skye to the hangar and into your X-Wings! The rest of you, back on your freighter - and take my droid R2-G8 with you. He’ll provide your ship’s hyperdrive with the co-ordinates to the rendezvous point.
R2-G8 |
Alliance HQ |
The ships blast off - but while Skye expertly navigates her X-Wing out of the hangar bay, Tarrik stalls his!
The smuggler Jaden Jericho plots his course through the asteroid field, flying at hair-raising speed through the maze of rocks...
Jaden Jericho: Player Character |
Jimi Ackbar, who claims to be 'Admiral' Ackbar's nephew, acts as navigator for Jaden as his sensors scan the field!
Jimi Ackbar: Player Character |
The Centurion and two X-Wings enter their asteroid field, leading the way for the troop transports.
TIE fighters are soon upon the vessel, strafing it repeatedly!
The Centurion Heads into the Asteroid Field! |
Kira Rishkar, doesn't appreciate the smuggler's gruff demands for her to operate the shields, but does so anyway - their lives could depend upon it!
Kira Rishkar: Player Character |
She successfully angles the shields but the attacks come fast and thick - and the freighter suffers extensive damage!
The Centurion under fire! |
Fortunately Kaleban Maars is operating one of the Centurion's guns - returning fire at the marauding TIE fighters. He curses the low power the guns have...
Kaleban Maars: Player Character |
But with Jiba operating the other gunnery port, the two coordinate to shoot down several TIEs!
JiBa: Player Character |
Skye takes down another couple - but she too suffers heavy damage to her X-Wing!
Thankfully Green Squadron's last survivor comes to the rescue, picking off several TIEs! It's almost as if the force guides him as he weaves his way through the field and shoots down one TIE after another!
Action in the Asteroids! |
Nightburner: Woohoo! Let's turn and burn baby!
Tarrik then leads the convoy out of the asteroid belt...
Tarrik Nightburner: Player Character |
And the Centurion makes the jump to hyperspace!
As does Tarrik and Skye - and crucially, the two transports they protected!
On the bridge of the Executor, Darth Vader stares out as the Rebel ships vanish out of sight. Admiral Ozzel feels a tug at his throat and falls to the ground…
Captain Piett: Lord Vader, the Emperor commands you to make contact with him.
Ozzel feels Vader’s force choke release and he lies on the deck gasping for breath as Vader walks past him, his cloak billowing in his wake. Ozzel is the least of Vader's worries. The Emperor will want an explanation as to how the Death Star could have been destroyed...
The Rebel ships drop out of hyperspace in an area of space their sensors indicate is in the Fakir Sector. They see a battered old capital ship, a relic from the Clone Wars by the look of it. Huge sections of the ship, which should be twinkling with light, are in darkness. As they close in, they can see activity in the hangar bay where a number of X-Wings and a few A-Wings have landed. Astromech droids buzz across the ship’s hull, their arc-welders flickering in the dark. Several troop transports hang in space around the vessel.
Alliance Vessel Nowhere |
Commander Shepherd (over comms): Glad you rookies could make it! You’re clear for landing. Welcome…to Nowhere.