"Hah," the Mon Cal gurgled.  "I wish.  I know of him," he explained.  "I've studied his work.  I especially find his cybersecurity methods intriguing."

"He's an excellent researcher," Ryder conceded with a nod, taking his seat.  "Where are you headed?"

"Back to Mon Cala.  How about you?" the Mon Cal asked.

"Off planet," Ryder said simply.  "The blockade has become untenable and I find it expedient to leave."

"No kidding, avreet," he replied, using the Mon Calamarian word for 'comrade'.  "My name is Souk Tuno, by the way."

"Scott Ryder," Ryder replied.  "What's on Mon Cala for you?"

"My parents, my work office--not much," Souk concluded.

OOC: Any other comments?

Ryder nodded in acknowledgement.

OOC Nope.

Ryder could feel the change in gravity as the ship lifted off, which naturally moved everyone to silence.  The scene out the viewport was idyllic as the ship headed up through the atmosphere.  Truly Naboo was a beautiful planet with plenty of waterways, rolling plains, and shadowy swamplands.  As the ship exited the planet, Ryder could even see the distant image of the moon from which he had just returned.

However, as the ship moved deeper into space the scene became chaotic.  The Trade Federation's Lucrehulk-class ships loomed large out Ryder's viewport.  It seemed that many other ships had the same idea that Ryder and the other passengers had--get off Naboo while you could.  However, the Trade Federation was strictly enforcing their blockade in both directions.  Their droid starfighters were out in force, determined not to let anyone off-planet.  Ryder could see the red streaks from the vulture fighters lancing out towards any other ship in his field of view.  Shortly thereafter, Ryder could feel the Crescent buck from the blaster fire.  Suddenly Ryder could feel the ship lurch back towards Naboo, could feel the pull of gravity increasing.  Captain Pargen came on the intercom: "Folks, I'm afraid we've been hit.  I think I can control the ship into an emergency landing, but hang on tight."

The Weequay that Ryder had helped earlier and who was now sitting across from and behind Ryder could tell that something was wrong, but was unsure as to what it was.  He asked Ryder in Huttese, <Why are we heading back?>

<We've been hit!> Ryder replied.  <The pilot is going to try for an emergency landing but brace for impact.>

The Weequay gave a small nod in understanding and then assumed an emergency landing position.  Soon there was more ground in the viewport than sky.  An abrupt, but not deadly, thud indicated the emergency landing.  Ryder was banged up, but otherwise unharmed.

Soon the door to the cockpit flew open.  "Help, please!" the captain called out.  "My daughter!  She's hurt!"

OOC: How does Ryder react?

Ryder exited his seat and turned to the other passengers.

"Is anyone trained in medicine?" he asked in Basic and Huttese.

Both Mer and Souk shook their heads slightly.  The Weequay spoke up "<I am a medic.  I can help.>"

As the Weequay came forward, the captain offered, "Here, I have a medpac."  The Weequay took the proffered medpac and approached the daughter in the cockpit, evaluating her as her father looked on worriedly.  After a minute, the Weequay gave Ryder the message, "<I have stabilized the child, but in order to properly treat her injuries I need a surgery kit.>"

"I don't suppose anyone has a surgery kit?" Ryder asked, unhopefully (again in basic and Huttese).

Mer and Souk again shook their heads.  "<If I had one, I wouldn't have mentioned the need for it.  I just would have used it,>" the Weequay answered.

"I'm afraid I don't have one on board," Captain Pargen admitted.  "And I haven't even evaluated the damage done to the ship.  I may need parts I don't have to fix it.  Could the four of you go into town and get the supplies while I stay here with my daughter?"

"I could help you check the ship to see what parts you need," Souk offered.

"Thank you," Captain Pargen replied.

"I don't mind retrieving medical supplies and ship parts," Mer answered.

After Ryder conveyed the captain's request to the Weequay he also agreed to the errand.

OOC: What does Ryder do?

Ryder nodded and led the way towards town.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:56, Sun 02 Oct 2022.

As the heroes arrived in Theed, the capital was in chaos.  It seemed that some residents of the outer sectors had spotted an army of Trade Federation battle droids marching toward the city.  This was causing people to hastily pack up their belongings and head out of the capital.

"We'd better hurry up," Souk suggested.  "Before the shops close and we can't get the ship parts or the medical supplies."

"Maybe we should split up," Mer proposed.  "I could go with Souk to get the parts and you," Mer said, indicating Ryder, "could go with the Weequay to get the medical supplies so you can translate for him."  Mer paused for a moment.  "What is his name?"

Ryder relayed the plan then asked the Weequay his name.

“<My name is Jhoram Vik,>” the Weequay answered. “<The plan sounds good to me.>”

After conveying the Weequay’s name back to Mer and Souk, the two groups parted on their separate errands.

Jhoram was able to quickly locate the Theed med center. Since the staff was preparing to evacuate, it didn’t take much to negotiate for a surgery kit with what little money Captain Pargen had given them.

Mer and Souk had been equally successful and met them just outside the med center. Unfortunately, now the heroes could hear the sound of distant fighting. The battle droids must have reached the city sooner than anticipated.

“What will happen to us if the Trade Federation arrests us?” Souk wondered aloud.

“I don’t know," Mer replied. “But one thing’s for sure, if we are arrested, that little girl will never get the medical care she needs.”

“<Let’s just get out of here as quickly as we can.>” Jhoram suggested, picking up on everyone’s cues as to what was going on.

However, as the heroes headed towards the edge of town it was clear that Theed had become a confused mass of fleeing refugees, shouting citizens, screaming children and frightened animals. The sky overhead was full of ships making for other parts of the planet. Some people were making for the roads out of the city, others were taking landspeeders out over the Solleu River or along the cliff edge, seeking whatever safety the could find. There was even a small group of Naboo Royal Security Forces that hurried past the heroes in the opposite direction.

As the heroes continued to make their way toward the main boulevard,  Ryder glanced into a courtyard just off the street.  He noticed several well-dressed Naboo—two adults, a teenager and two children, apparently a family—piling their possessions into an already overloaded speeder. Ryder was fairly certain the craft wouldn’t even get off the ground, and if it did, the poorly balanced load would likely tip during flight.

OOC: What do you do?

"Keep going!" Ryder shouted, in both basic and Huttese, before breaking off and running towards the family.

"HEY! YOU!  You've overloaded your speeder!  It won't get off the ground!"

"We can't leave our possessions behind," responded the mother as the family continued to prepare to drive off.

"Your speeder won't move under that much weight; your possessions will be staying here whether you want them to or not."

“Thank you for your advice,” the father said, but the family loaded themselves into the vehicle without removing anything.

Ryder shook his head and left, unwilling to risk more for stubborn people.  He'd learned the hard way that some people didn't want to be helped.

As Ryder walked away he could hear the whine of the landspeeder as it exited the courtyard of the family’s estate. When Ryder glanced over his shoulder, he saw the speeder list to one side causing each family member to fall to the street. The speeder then crashed into an empty restaurant.