In reply to Shira (msg # 55):

"You are very welcome, Ms Shira.  Service is indeed its own reward, though this unit is grateful to help those who truly appreciate his efforts.  I do need to give our guest a more thorough examination later, perhaps when we aren't fighting for our lives would be best?  In the meantime, if you are able, I am certain the captain would welcome your help on a turret.  I will look after our rather distracted passenger, Thuraya I believe?"

The old doctor hid his concern for their safety with practiced ease, but those who knew him well, like Shira and most of the crew, his anxiousness was obvious.  "Perhaps I can interest Thuraya in a friendly game of Pazaak while we await the safety of hyperspace." He offered politely.

OOC:  we can continue the role play after combat, I just thought Shira's kindness deserved a reply.  Please do proceed with our imminent doom :-)

Celes thought the plan was crazy, but wasn't about to shoot down something that might actually work. The few seconds it bought them were practically an eternity in such a tense situation, and she used it to calculate them a path out of the planet's gravity well that would still offer their turrets a good arc of fire. The 'Star was big and flew like a starwhale, so dodging fire was out of the question.

"Don't you worry, old man. Just getting us moving while you hobble over. Captain, destination in mind?"

[I'm fairly sure dodging fire in a Mobquet is silly, so the plan is instead to give bonuses to the gunners so we don't have to dodge. Unfortunately Combined Actions rules are weird and involve Leadership and skill penalties and tiny bonuses, but I plan on simulating giving the gunners a clear shot by essentially making a dodge roll anyway. Playing a sped up combat, so this shouldn't be too much a stretch, right?

12:50, Today: Celes Varik rolled 18 using 6 dice and 2 pips with the WEG Classic system.  Starship Transport + Battle Meditation.

Not including the ship's Maneuverability, because I can't find it today. Can we get a ship sheet thread?]

Zane removed himself from one chair and quickly made his way into the one Zekk vacated moments before.  "Hobble?  I'll let you I could definitely probably maybe beat your or keep up in a foot race."  He left off the bit about needing to stun her prior to said foot race... Just in case someday in the future she took him up on that bet.  "The only thing that worries me out here is you kids, Green."  He rested his hand on the co-pilot's flight yolk just in case he needed to take over at some point.  "Alright, let's get this bucket out of here."

<OOC> I posted ships stats in OOC in the meantime.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:19, Sat 13 Feb 2016.

Grev continus to fire, arcing shots at any incomingTie fighter.


00:36, Today: Grev Longtooth rolled 14 using 5 dice with the WEG Classic system.  Starship Gunnery.

I agree with Celes' addition to this combat.  Thanks again for your patience  Go ahead and add 1D of 'Star's maneuverability to the bonus of 18 given to the gunners.  Thank you again, Zane.  With a bonus of at least 1 from the maneuverability and at least 1 from the gunners, you guys have made the 20 max. difficulty in most Star Wars RPG combat.  This number is due to range and, since the TIE's aren't dodging, range is all you need.

Being capable of picking off the TIEs at such an extreme range, it is only logical that your characters 'force' the combat to happen at extreme range (difficulty number of 20), so every gunner who has taken a shot has, by my calculations, hit.

Grev, Nate & Orion roll your 4D of damage against the following wimpy 2D of TIE hull strength.

23:35, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 11 using 2 dice with the WEG Classic system.  Grev's targeted TIE's resistance.
23:37, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 0 (6 excluding the wild die) using 2 dice with the WEG Classic system (({Wild}1,5)). Nate's targeted TIE's resistance.
23:38, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 13 using 2 dice with the WEG Classic system (({Wild}6(+3),4)). Orion's targeted TIE's resistance.

As we are using the mook rules to speed this combat up, if you damage a TIE at all, it blows up.

And I have got to cut this off early tonight.  Tomorrow I focus on what is happening (and a lot is) in the common area.

I will deal with Grev's second shot (just now posted tomorrow).

The shots bounce off the tie.

00:51, Today: Grev Longtooth rolled 7 using 4 dice with the WEG Classic system.  Damage.

[OOC: 10:29, Today: Nate Stryker rolled 5 (12 excluding the wild die) using 4 dice with the WEG Classic system (({Wild}1,6,4,1)). The die roller hates me today.]

OK, back tonight.  I had to leave so quickly last night I didn't get that both Grev and Nate were rolling damage, not second shots.  I am now understanding.

Grev had some bad luck but so did Nate's TIE.

As the dozen TIE swarmed 'Star, Grev's precise shot seemed to be dimmed with the long range, leaving only scorches on the TIE's solar panel.  Nate had better luck, the TIE pilot overcorrected and the 'Starbolt caught the TIE on the delicate exposed limb circuitry.  The TIE became a very tiny nova for a very short time.

The remaining TIEs fired.

23:34, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 22 using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system ((2,6,3,4,1,3,{Wild}3)).
23:37, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 28 using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system ((3,{Wild}5,3,6,4,1,6)).
23:38, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 25 using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system ((1,3,4,2,{Wild}6(+3),1,5)).
23:39, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 33 using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system ((6,6,3,{Wild}6(+2),5,1,4)).
23:39, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 26 using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system ((1,2,6,{Wild}4,4,6,3)).
23:40, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 27 using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system ((6,1,5,4,3,{Wild}4,4)).
23:40, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 13 (19 excluding the wild die) using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system ((2,1,4,2,4,5,{Wild}1)).
23:41, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 24 using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system (({Wild}2,6,2,5,2,1,6)).
and the final TIE's shot
23:42, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 22 using 7 dice with the WEG Classic system (({Wild}2,2,3,6,4,4,1)).  This is Orion's TIE and only fires if he doesn't destroy it.  Moot as it missed this time anyway.

Most of these shots would have hit but I am adding the 18 in Dodge, making the roll to hit 'Star as daunting 38.  I am helping this combat along as we need to get to other things.

'Star shuddered, more through skilled dodging rather than damage.  Shira and TwoOneBee might have tried to reassure Thuraya as the difference was not always realized by mudhuggers.  But the girl seemed unfazed by the gravity and lights flickering, or the audio commentary supplied by DeeJay.  "A game of Pazaak sounds nice but--"  Thuraya stopped, focusing on some tiny point in space near her.

On the other side of Anathracite, the Blackthorn was at full speed, its blue engines flaring.  What few TIE squadrons it had left were now fully deployed.  In her meditation chamber aboard the Blackthorn, she had an intuitive grasp of the battle; too few, too late.  The Jedi and their prize would escape unless they were a ship of fools.  And Jedi were not fools.  At least they were not fools in a tactical sense.  Their downfall had been brought about by their naiveté.

In any case, she needed to move fast.  The young, human sow was powerful but untrained, a beacon in the night.  Were the girl closer, her mind could actually be affected by the Dark Side but at this range, only persuasion and trickery might work.  An effort of concentration and...

Shira could now see what Thuraya was focused on.  A tiny and beautiful insect was perched on a nearby headrest.  TwoOneBee focused all of his delicate sensors on what seemed empty air.  But both had been briefed on this possibility.  This was a telepathic projection from some, Shira could now feel, dark and arrogant presence.

"Hello, child, I am a Princess of Hive Sithcaste."  It seemed like speech but only Shira and Thuraya could hear the mocking chitter.

On the bridge, the complex formula had finally turned green and perfect.  Hyperspace was now possible if not guaranteed.

OOC:
1.  The Princess' 'conversation' is happening while the TIE combat is also going on.  Neither character recognizes her name or title.
2.  Both Shira and TwoOneBee can probably immediately intuit the above.  Jedi near Thuraya will also notice the Princess.  Jedi further away can try and sense the Princess with the Force.  A warning over the intercom will help alert everyone aboard the ship of the newcomer.  Mundane but living characters have a chance of noticing the little insect avatar.
3.  The Princess is hampered by the range and the fact that you are about to enter Hyperspace and safety.  Closer up, she is far more formidable.
4.  All the Princess has time for is some quick and savvy character interaction.
5.  'Star is ready for Hyperspace.  The Astrogation is a very easy 5 for Instinctive Astrogation, 10 for just plain Astrogation.  Go ahead and roll.  Techically, the roll is the very first roll that happens next round.  This combat is almost over.
6.  Questions, just ask. :-)

"Right, I'll go help the captain. Take care of her, 'Bee" Shira said. She gave TwoOneBee a kiss on his metal cheek and began to leave for one of the turrets. Before she could leave, though she saw the strange insect.
"Thuraya, be careful..." she whispered to the young Jedi.
She shivered at the feel of the insect.. Force users, light or dark, were rare; she had never met a darksider. And she had hoped never too. How could a ghostling, who could be bruised by being touched too hard, fight someone who was superhuman? "What brings a sith all the way out here?" she asked the insect. "Just leave the girl alone"

TwoOneBee's photo receptors blinked a warm amber to show his appreciation.  Shira had always treated him with kindness and respect, which was the sadly the exception among most organics he'd met.  The old medic considered himself very fortunate indeed, to be a part of such a welcoming crew.

He turned his attention to Thuraya, intending to introduce himself properly, when he observed the young girl's preoccupation with a specific headrest, as if something about was truly fascinating.  TwoOneBee also noticed that Shira was likewise concerned with the same exact area, or rather Thuraya's preoccupation with it.  He tried several scans, but could find no anomalies or discernible differences in that location.  And yet their new guest was slipping into an almost trance like state...

Hearing Shira's words, the canny droid quickly understood the issue.  Somehow the Force was at work here.  While TwoOneBee certainly couldn't quantify the Force, he was familiar enough with its consequences to take it seriously.  At the mention of the word 'Sith' he too became concerned.

"Ms Shira, I believe I must defer to your expertise in this matter.  Is there anything I can do to assist you?"

Quickly, TwoOneBee initiated his personal intercom, installed in him for just such emergencies.

"Captain Ali, I am aware you are dealing with our pursuers, but our newest passenger is experiencing some sort of unwanted Force transmission.  Please advise?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:50, Tue 16 Feb 2016.

The little mammalian larva was looking at her with honest curiosity, the Princess was beginning to see the storms of emotions with other senses.  This might be easier than she suspected.  The droid was canny enough to follow the gazes of its mistresses but would be unable to see.  The Force defied logical explaination.  But the other female had challenged the Princess, her aura was a quiet strength.

A Ghostling?  Why did the Queen of All allow such a travesty in her universe?  It was an insult to strength that such weakness even existed.  But the woman's will was beginning to weaken the Princess' own link.  "Leave her alone?  But she is alone through her own cowardice."  The Princess had guessed correctly. A wave of grief, shame and anger emanated from the child almost physical in its power. The shocked maggot then struck the headrest with no possible harm to her intangible avatar. This was meat and drink to the Dark Side and it was sufficient to carry a memory along with it.  Pain, running, the whoosh of scarlet lightsabers, the scent of...

...wildflowers.  Wildflowers of unique and sensuous aroma.  The Princess chuckled in pride of her own cleverness and, in so doing, neglected her focus.  Shira's awareness suddenly clarified, a confusing rush of sensation rushed through her consciousness; the artificial dirt of a modern hive, the comforting tang of her endless siblings' chitin exoskeletons, the buzz and heat of a billion wings.

On the bridge, Ali was maintaining 'Star's secondary systems, shields, scanners and the like.  She was grateful that they hadn't really been needing given the skill with which 'Star was being flown.  But TwoOneBee's warning, coupled with Ali's novice sense of wrongness, make her lekku twitch.  There was something spying, learning about this ship, even now.

She wasn't the best to attempt this action but the best were too busy right beside her.  Ali manipulated the panel next to the green filigree of holographic plotting.  With more the jump's ease than her own skill, a familiar rising trill rippled through the ship.

23:36, Today: That Old Fossil rolled 15 using 4 dice with the WEG Classic system ((4,3,3,{Wild}5)).

The Princess felt it too and managed to scream, "You will lose, child, you weren't strong enough then and won't be laterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!    And then she faded away, the little insect avatar disappearing.

As the TIE's closed up like a purse around 'Star, the large ship shrank to a distant tiny point of light in the closing gap.  The effect registered like a ringing boom through the TIE's sensors.  Even the now empty space seemed to spin for an instant in its own surprise...

'Star has now entered Hyperspace.  Ali's jump was not as graceful as others might have been but it sufficed.  The crew can (correctly) surmise that the Empire cannot track 'Star in any meaningful amount of time.  And likely through a complicated series of multiple jumps, 'Star can be anywhere in the Galaxy soon enough.

We have now entered non-combat time.  The Hyperspace jump (or jumps) can take a total of an hour, day or even week as is suits the cinematic mood.  As we saw in A New Hope, a ship in Hyperspace can generally be left unattended for the bulk of the journey.  In short, characters are now free to completely interact.  And now all of you can finally act instead of react.

Seeing the galaxy change colors through te viwport of his gunnery station, Grev knew they had hit Hyperspace.  Having done so, he left the gunbnery station, and went to the messhal with his newly aquired stomtrooper rifle.  He was hungry, and so fixed himself a reasonable lunch for one so large.  As he ate, he broke out a toolkit and began diasassembling and ceraming the "new" rifle.

Tuk felt the threads connecting him to the tie fighters stretch impossibly then snap. Sighing relief, he disentangled himself from the crew and reached for his comb. Those blaster bolts has seriously disarrayed his fur, it was going to take considerable work before he was fit to be seen in polite company once more.

"She's not alone! We're with her" Shira replied fiercely to the bug.  She shivered at the strange images of life in the hive, completely different from anything she had known.
She sighed in relief as the 'Star made its escape. "Don't listen to her, she's just trying to frighten you. She can't reach you here. Now is the time to relax a little, after all that adventure" she said to Thuraya. "''Bee and I will take care of you. And we'd like to hear your story, when you care to tell it. If you don't want to, that's fine too."

Nate smiled slightly as he climbed out of the gun turret. Ship's guns had never been his strong suit, but he was happy that he was able to take out a tie before the jump. Once on the deck, he made his way to the common area. As he arrived, to see Shira talking to their new passenger, he sat down on one of the free seats. "So, you get yourself chased by Imperials often?"

Realspace fell away into the blue-white stormy rush of Hyperspace.  The Princess' screech of frustration fell away.  Ali began the quick work of setting the ship on maintenance.  All of the turmoil of the Galaxy was now a literal universe away.  She wished they could stay in the shimmering shelter but no one could stay here forever.  And they had a job to do.

In her meditation chamber, The Princess could feel the presence of the vulnerable girl and her protectors fade away like smoke.  She screamed and chittered, allowing herself a moment of telekinetic fury.  Trinkets flew and smashed against bulkheads, panels sparked and popped.  The intercom still worked, telling her what she already knew.  The Jedi ship has leapt into Hyperspace.  We are tracking their trajectory but, given their speed and our distance, the prospects are slim for following them.  We have probably lost them.

A gesture and the intercom panel flickered on across the room.  "No, Captain, I think I might have their scent."  She tried to focus on that cloying scent of alien botany that seemed to appeal even to her.

On Anathracite, the shuddering platform gently shook Snive awake.  He was alive and surprised of it.  There was no sign of the Rebel ship and Snive was suddenly fearful.  The Captain and maybe her would like this explained.  And Snive's retelling, especially being undamaged, was not likely to be a sufficient apology.  Gritting his teeth, his cowardice actually now a survival instinct, Snive pointed his pistol at what he hoped was a forgiving part of his leg.  He fired and then cursed and cursed again to stop himself from passing out.

The screaming woke up one of the unconscious troopers.  "Sir?"  Snive was back on form, "Ah, you should have seen it, trooper.  There were so many of them but fortunately I was able to chase them off with my blaster pistol."  The trooper actually whistled in admiration through his helmet.

Just some narrative housekeeping for now.  It will likely be Sunday night before I can continue with this IC.  But this will give players a chance to craft their posts.  Thuraya will begin to tell her story and you can examine the holocron.  Shira can sort her quick impressions stolen from the arrogant Princess as she had done with Thuraya.  Everyone else can generally arrange themselves as they see fit.  You have the time to do most actions.  If y'all wish, Ali wil maintain the bridge for better safety but still be part of the conversation holographically.

TwoOneBee was very grateful indeed when the ship at last entered the haven of Hyperspace.  With all his considerable stored knowledge, the droid had been utterly out of his depth.  It had been very fortunate that Ms Shira had been there to deal with the matter.  He buzzed in agreement, as he processed the Ghostling's words.

"I can assure you, Ms Thuraya, that Ms Shira is both truthful and accurate in her assessment; you are, for the moment, quite safe.  She is also correct that we would like to help you, if you will accept our assistance.  It would facilitate things a great deal, if you could tell us more about your unique situation."

At the whir of the automatic door, TwoOneBee turned and greeted Nate.  "Welcome back Mr Nate sir."

Nate smiles at the rather unusually human-seeming medical droid, "Thanks, Bee. How has everything been back here?" He waits for a response from Bee, then looks at the new passenger, and the young ghostling, "You two doing ok? You seem a bit shaken up, kiddo."

The old doctor 'bot blinks his golden photo receptors and click-clacks at Nate's reply.  The crew was, by now, familiar different ways of expressing himself; his clicks were usually a sign of his approval or happiness, and he was most definitely glad to see Nate.

"We are much better now we've escaped those reprehensible Imperials Mr Nate sir.  Circumstances were becoming rather troubling just five minutes prior to your arrival.  Our newest passenger, Ms Thuraya, was receiving some kind of unwanted Force transmission.  I admit, in spite of my capacious memory core and impressive data processing matrix, the Force remains an enigma that is quite beyond my comprehension and I was unable to assist.  I am certain Ms Shira can explain it much better than I.  Without her timely intervention the entire situation might have ended very differently."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:04, Sat 20 Feb 2016.

Shira released the restraints on her chair and lay across it, letting her silver hair cascade to the ground. "Phew, that was quite the adventure." She nodded to Nate. "A little shaken up. There's a Sith somewhere after Thuraya, some sort of insect creature. She spoke to us, made threats. Sith are very frightening opponents" she told Nate, uncharacteristically frightened and subdued. "But we'll protect her!" she said, hopeful and determined again. "Aww, thank you 'Bee! I just did what anyone with the force would have. The force is really pretty special... I wish you could see."

Grev looks up briefly as Shira speaks, his hands still moving expertly in disassembling and cleaning the stormtrooper rifle.  The quiet of normalcy in the area almost belieing the action of a few moments before.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:37, Mon 22 Feb 2016.

Celes allowed herself a calming breath once the stars had become streaks in the viewport. With a nod to the others in the cockpit, she stood and made her way back to check on their new acquisition. Not the holocron, which she didn't know about yet, but the girl. As she walked down the hall, the bounty hunter unwrapped the straps holding her stun gloves tightly in place, folding them together and stuffing them into a belt pouch. Eventually she opened the door and stepped in to greet the others.

"All clear. Everyone good?"

Zane looked over To Celes and the others are the universe began to speed by.  At least for the moment it appeared that they were safe. Looks like break time He thought as he reached into a pocket and removed a small container.  He consumed a portion of his emergency stores of some random distilled spirit. Which he conveniently called 'medicine' of course, most likely to TwoOneBee's dismay.

He made his way into the main gathering area moments after Celes. He too was interested in the unintended cargo that they picked up on the wayside of Anthracite.

"Miss Varik, Mister Konig, Grev! Good to see you" Shira said happily. "'Bee looked over Thuraya and me, we're physically fine. I hope you are, too! 'Bee was about to deal a pazaak game, want to join?" she chirped. "But... we do have a small problem" she admitted, looking away.

The cerulean storm of Hyperspace continued to boil reassuringly outside 'Star.  Some turned away from the viewports, the unsettling view could cause hyper-sickness for most souls.  Those strong in the Force could often be calmed by this alternate reality.

In any case, the most interesting activity was in the common area.

Although she couldn't show Bee the strange, alien impressions from the Princess' mind, she was able to recall and now begin to make sense of the exotic memory.

...She struggled against the egg casing, clawed fingers eventually slit the tough membrane, spilling her onto the hive floor along with the egg fluids.  For a few moments, the shock of being born took all of her thoughts and perceptions.  But after a few moments, she could make out the insectile forms of hexapedal workers and, beyond them, her mighty queen.  Through the Web, the Princess could sense her queen's pride at the achievement of her birth, if not her herself.

Beyond her sisters and great Mother, there were other insectile creatures, bipedal like herself, with black-jointed white exoskeletons.  One of the strangers was shockingly ugly, peeled with no exoskeleton.  It spoke, short exhalations of air translated by its droid into the familiar clicking of her people.

"She certainly looks humanoid enough."
The Queen replied with chittering. "Our new caste will work together with your kind well enough.  She is also a nexus of the Web, what your Queen Emperor would call 'strong in the Force."
"Then let us toast our new troopers, hatched not cloned."
The peeled (nymph?) opened a small bottle.  The stinging odor of fermented poison caused the Princess and her family to shrink back in shock.  The soldiers advanced, the white-shelled intruders took up defenses, aiming their weapons.
Shell-less seemed to finally understand and replaced the cork.  Over the next minute, the soldiers, the strangers and the Queen relaxed.
The Queen then stated, "Take her, she is yours now."

Shira returned to here and now, to herself and the 'Star...

I have to stop here for tonight.  But I should pick this up tomorrow.  Assume Shira can share her thoughts with the living (if she wishes) and they too can make observations.  If this seems a generous use of powers, remember that you have time to prepare and are not penalized by repeated attempts.  There are also skilled receivers if Shira has trouble sending her thoughts.  I am thinking this is similar to 'taking a 20 in a d20 game'.