Shira picked up the mouse droid and examined the console, starting to fiddle with it. "Maybe... this? I mean, my people aren't exactly wizards with technology."

15:44, Today: Shira rolled 10 using 3 dice with the WEG Classic system.  Techn.

A surgeon's hands weren't a techician's mitts.  TwoOneBee was honestly flummoxed by the damaged machinery.  Living organs made so much more sense.   But Shira first stopped Emessee from happily rolling off of the edge of the platform by picking the silly droid up and then (with a bunch of warning beeps, sparks and gritted teeth) was able to the point it claimed functionality.


Thuraya then guessed at the bridge controls with what she hoped was a front of Jedi serenity.

19:50, Today: That Old Fossil, for the NPC Thuraya, rolled 8 using 2 dice with the WEG Classic system ((6,{Wild}2)).

The thin bridge scraped and groaned, extending to the far platform with celebratory sparks in place of fireworks.  It was now only slightly tilted and wobbling in the plasma winds.

Blissex took a hestitant step forward.  "I did actually lobby for handrails but Command said the techs would just lean on them."

OOC:  I have to stop here a little early.  I will try and finish the post tomorrow.  Blissex's line is actually taken from Family Guy, which is the only in-universe explanation I have ever heard for why there are no handrails in the Star Wars Universe.  I guess there is no Space OSHA. ;-)

Excited as a schoolboy, the doddering Blissex strode along the compromised gangplank before any kind of protest could be offered.

21:21, Today: That Old Fossil, for the NPC Blissex, rolled 8 using 2 dice with the WEG Classic system ((3,{Wild}5)).

He wobbled and walked and made it to the other side with only a slight protest of sparks.

"Come on, everybody, it's easy...!"

OOC:  All must make an Easy Dexterity roll to make it to the other side.  You can assume you took an extra round to prepare (+1D to your roll :-) ).   If you fail the roll, end your post there.  You can tie yourself together with the stormtrooper ropes (that must have come from the same place as the stormtrooper grappling hooks) if you wish.  A failed Dex roll of one character who is connected to the others will then require Strength rolls from others...

The doctor made certain he was tied securely to whomever was brave enough to tie themselves to him, then slowly inched his way across, dura-steel limbs clanking on the unsteady gangplank following Mr Blissex.  Although he did not have any sort of spiritual programming, he did manage a sort of prayer as he went along, using the same words he'd heard his Rebel allies use for decades now:

"May the Force be with us, please?  I don't ask for much, but if its possible this old droid could certainly use a hand getting us all out of this place in one piece."

OOC: 01:52, Today: TwoOneBee rolled 5 using 2 dice with the WEG Classic system with rolls of 1,{Wild}4.  TwoOneBee DEX roll 1D+1D.

I hope that is enough.

Shira wobbles across. Usually very sure-footed, she is less well balanced in boots, as ghostlings usually walk on their toes.

20:31, Today: Shira rolled 6 (11 excluding the wild die) using 4 dice and +2 pips with the WEG Classic system.  Dexterity.

With a precarious stumbling and wobbling, TwoOneBee lived and nearly died moment by moment as did his friends vicariously.  But after an seeming eternity of uncertainty, the venerable droid was able to make it to the far side and join the daring Blissex.  Shira's own uncertain crossing was almost an afterthought but it was obvious the young ghostling was particularly concerned with gravity at this moment.

"Well done!" Blissex clapped his hands on the nearest shoulders of his fellows in congratulations and then gruffly apologized for nearly sending them over the edge of the platform again.

"Now if you could just reprogram this computer console.  (sigh) Why can't they just make computers think for themselves?"  Blissex glanced at TwoOneBee, "I mean, think as well as droids."

OOC:  Blissex odd mental block using computers does remind of some of the learned academics I had the misery of doing tech support for some time ago.  They didn't grow up with them, and by the True Maker, they weren't going to start learning them now.

A Moderate Technical (or even better, Computer Programming roll) will unlock this terminal.  There is no penalty for failure other than not succeeding.   If the two characters there fail, Ali or Thuraya will try next...

The old doctor was surprised, and impressed, by Mr Blissex statement.  In was unusual for organics to compliment their droid servants, or any other droid for that matter.  Perhaps Mr Blissex was a genius after all.

"My gratitude, Mr Blissex, for your kind words.  DeeJay and myself are the very apex of droid tech its true.  And even though I was unable to manipulate the previous panel, I am willing to try this one for you, sir.  Perhaps, if I am again unsuccessful in the attempt, Emessee might suddenly become useful and try?  He has been stationed on this starship after all; perhaps the system will listen to him!"

The surgical droid gave Emessee a meaningful scan then proceeded to try's reprogramming the console.

OOC: 08:19, Today: TwoOneBee rolled 12 using 3 dice with the WEG Classic system with rolls of 4,5,{Wild}3.  TwoOneBee tech roll 'reprogram the console'.

WHOOP, maybe that will do it!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Tue 04 Feb 2020.

Shira was uncharacteristically silent for a moment. Her life had flashed before her eyes during the crossing. "Um... thank you, sir" she said quietly

"Yeah, Emessee can get it done!" Shira said enthusiastically. "Emessee is our expert! But first, I'll try."

21:39, Today: Shira rolled 8 using 3 dice with the WEG Classic system.  Technical.

Emessee whistled with delight at being called an expert.  But it was unnecessary, between TwoOneBee and Shira, the stubborn console eventually give up its secrets.

"Goodness, the Alliance brought in a lot of firepower for this one. Six warships!" Shira said, impressed. Her expression changed completely at reading the end. "It's only pretending to be disabled? I have a bad feeling about this"

Surprisingly irked by the celebratory beeps and chirps of the little Mouse droid, the doctor was about to tell the noisy chatterbox to wait for a more appropriate time, but Ms Shira's revelation erased all other thoughts from his processors!

"Oh my, are you sure Ms Shira?  That is terrible, the Alliance will suffer many casualties, even fatalities if they are not alerted to the ruse?  Is there some way we can signal them, perhaps?"

TwoOneBee's tone clearly indicated his concern.  He scanned his friends faces in the hopes that they might have some ideas.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:41, Sun 16 Feb 2020.

Celes skimmed the report over Shira's shoulder, already used to these sorts of things and searching for the most relevant bits. Shira'd gotten it too, and Celes turned to the doctor.

"If we can blow this thing before they're in firing range, it should work out. We've already set that in motion, and hopefully our timing is good. Blissex, any idea how far from the hangar we are?"

At first, Ali was pleased, the projected Rebel strength should easily dispatch a single wounded Imperial vessel.  It then occurred to her that a trap might kill many distant comrades and her own team was on said doomed ship.

"We need to get off of this vessel and send a message, which could be our safe arrival."

Glissex said, "I think I can get us to the hangar and perhaps a message as quickly as anyone."

He then hesitated and said...

“I don’t believe it! Surely this is impossible! Someone has set a self-destruct sequence that only I know! I built it into the ship’s design as a failsafe option but never revealed it to the builders. It is a self-destruct option that cannot be altered. To tamper with it further would result in the Star Destroyer’s immediate destruction! But who could possibly have set it? Why, other than myself, the only being in the galaxy possessing the knowledge and ability to perform such a feat is... my daughter!”

OOC:  Blissex will next try and get you to the hangar.  There is a planned encounter in which you would be trapped and surrounded by stormtroopers in this area.  But this particular scene is becoming tedious (to me at least) and we can simply skip it if you wish. :-)

"I'm no tactician, but I'm sure about this, 'Bee" Shira says. "We've got to get off this rust bucket before it explodes and takes us with it. The hangar is still our priority."

She tilts her head and regards Blissex curiously. "That's good, isn't it? That she's not really loyal to the Empire? Or is that not what it means?"

Blissex sighed at Shira's words, saying something to her and himself for the first time, "She is loyal only to herself."

Shira looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned it. I have a bad habit of asking questions without thinking."

TwoOneBee places a dura-steel hand on Shira's shoulder with surprising gentleness.

"You have no need to apologize, Ms Shira.  Asking questions is a sign that you are thinking, and that is a very good thing from my perspective.  I also consider your theory not without merit, if I am allowed to say so."

The droid swiveled his head to regard Wallix Blissex.

"If that is so, Mr Blissex, why would she use a sequence that was known only to her and yourself?  She is surely aware that you will recognize it as such, and that others on board will not.  Perhaps its a message of some sort to you, though that is merely an improbable theory of course; you know her better than any of us, sir.

"I sadly admit I do not always understand the motivations behind the actions of carbon based life forms.  I have often found them to be both complex and illogical, even with my psychological evaluation sub-routine to assist me.  I often wonder how non droids and come to the correct conclusion so quickly."

"But that is a discussion which can, and should, be had much later.  As Miss Shira correctly points out, our priority is escaping as soon as possible.  Which way to the hanger, Mister Blissex?"

OOC: I am okay with skipping the 'surrounded by storm troopers' scene if you like Old Fossil.  Perhaps you might insert a different sort of encounter instead sir, unless you'd prefer to get us directly through to the next major encounter instead.  I am okay with either of those options.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Fri 28 Feb 2020.

"Never be ashamed of questioning everything, Miss Shira." Blissex said, "If only my daughter had questioned her beliefs."

"Noble droid, I can only guess my own flesh-and-blood never expected me to make it this far."

At that very moment, the eight doors to the great circular shaft opened each spilling out stormtroopers.  They quickly spread themselves among the extended bridges and platforms.  It was a bantha shoot with no escape.

"You should never have repaired the bridge controls." The mocking voice of Captain Kolaff drifted down from hidden speakers.

“How very disappointing. Just when I was beginning to think that you might have a micro-bit of soldier in you after all, you play directly into my hands. (Yawn) Bantha herders. .. Very well. Here is your next, and quite probably last, lesson. I call it ‘Dying.’”

Thuraya sighed and waved her hand.  The newly repaired panel flipped a switch.  The platforms under the stormtroopers retracted.  The stormtroopers disappeared into the crackling energy below.

"I... I don't believe it!" Kolaff shouted.

"That is why you fail." The young padawan muttered.

OOC:  Stormtrooper problem handled. ;-)  Blissex will start next GM reply with an idea that should get the story moving again.

Celes kept looking over the screen while the others spoke, until eventually the topic of Blissex's daughter began to wind down. She looked over at the architect of all this destruction, blank-faced.

"She's with Vader. Do you think she can escape?" And that was when Kolaff's trap sprang, startling Celes into drawing her pistol again and assuming an evasive stance! As he droned on, her mind went through possible exits, nearby controls for the bridges or the doors, how many she could shoot before their average reaction times could take her down coupled with the necessary direction to not attack anyone her allies targeted for maximum spread in the first volley, the best way to cover Shira should--

They all fell. Celes watched, eyes wide. Afterward, she glanced to Thuraya, then to Ali. For the first time (by her perspective), something felt off. The hunter wordlessly holstered the blaster and put a hand on Blissex's shoulder.

"Which way now?"

"I'm getting tired..." Thuraya said with a grim smile, "of little people threatening my friends".  Ali felt uneasy at how casually the stormtroopers were dispatched.  And then felt amazed that she could feel pity for stormtroopers.

OOC:  A little extra post while I have some time.

Shira looked relieved. "Oh, thank you 'Bee, mister Blissex. I'll keep being curious, but I'll try to be more thoughtful too. Now, let's get out of here!"

Shira screamed in fright as the stormtroopers sprung their ambush. She raised her blaster, but her hand was shaking from fear. Abruptly, the bridges retracted. Shira stared for a moment, almost not believing she was still alive. "I, um... thank you, Thuraya. I was afraid that might have been it."

"It is just that I want to keep all of you safe.  It's not fair that the Force is not shared between us."  Thuraya said, suddenly hugging Shira like a concerned aunt.

"I am very grateful, Ms Thuraya, I certainly had no desire to be permanently deactivated.  And I am very sure that was their intention; this Captain Kolaff ordered them to shoot us and I have no reason to doubt that they would have obeyed.  Still, I wish it had been possible to have dealt with them in a less, fatal manner.  As much as I dislike Storm troopers, in the end they are simply biological life forms that have been enslaved to do the Empire's bidding.  As a droid I have spent most of my active years as a servant, and I can attest that I did not always agree with the commands I was given. However I had no choice in the matter, and neither did those unfortunate clones.  They did not deserve to die, simply because of their Master's misdeeds."

TwoOneBee lapsed into silence, unable to express his regret.  The preservation of life was his very purpose for existence.  It was contrary to everything he was designed for to wish others harm, even those, that some would argue, deserved it.  He had always understood the Force as a mysterious energy, a power to be used by those who could do so, to help others.  It shocked him to see it used for such purposes, and even more by his friend Thuraya.  It seemed to be a pattern for her that was escalating, and the doctor knew he was something he was not equipped to handle.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 16:27, Thu 12 Mar 2020.

Shira hugged Thuraya back (Carefully! Shira was fragile.). "We'll be safe soon. Just don't... overexert yourself. Be careful"

Shira moved and hugged 'Bee too.

"A droid can be reprogrammed, the born can be rehabilitated but clones..?  It was probably a mercy."  Thuraya said, perhaps a little more forcefully than was needed merely to convince others.

Soon enough, the heroes were able to traverse enough empty hallways to find an empty engineering subnode.

A set of closed blast doors seemed to be the only other way out.  But the top of them glowed with light, molten droplets the doors radiated heat enough for the onlookers to keep their difference.

"Surely this can't be the only way out?!" Ali said, more hope than statement...