The FarStar receives a propaganda broadcast (approx 1 day old) from Gandle Ott, the former Sector capital. Moff Sarne has allegedly formed an expeditionary fleet around the planet during the previous 5 days, recalling all reserves. The fleet, due to depart in the next 2-3 days, will be tasked to destroy the pirates and Rebels.
Gandle Ott (a blue-green planet) is 3 days' hyperspace travel from Kolatill; it thus takes 6 days in a rust bucket like the FarStar.
Sarne's fleet is no longer in system after a sweep by three X-Wings, the FarStar is put into a parking orbit, and an AwayTeam put together. (Brophar; Jessa; Scorryn; Greebo/Gorak; Cal [Defel]; Farah and the Twi'lek). The shuttle (bearing the transponder code for the New Republic vessel Farstar) is held up in orbit by the air traffic control computer; eventually Brophar takes it in on manual, landing in the starport at the capital, Montrol City.
The shuttle is immediately surrounded by local ground troops. After the control tower is hailed, three limos arrive Jessa and Greebo go out to meet the visitors:
Jessa and Greebo greet them in the name of the New Republic, and explain the situation on Kal Shaboll and Kollatil. In return, they learn that Moff Sarne has taken many key personnel with him. They accept overnight hotel accommodation, some gambling chips for the local casino, and dinner, with a view to a breakfast meeting with the Imperial cabinet. Brophar opts to stay with his shuttle, and discovers that Sarne has also taken whatever equipment and spares (esp the most useful and valuable items) he could transport.
The main AwayTeam select a restaurant for dinner, and sample the (somewhat miserable) night life in that part of town. The planet is self sufficient, merely importing luxuries (which are expensive). The city is rather genteel, slightly decadent, and comfortable.
Brophar obtains a data line for the local news. When Moff Sarne left, he took the Governor, the upper echelons of the Imperial bureaucracy, many key personnel and most of the Defence Force with him. The fleet departed 4 days ago; it is just dawning on the local media that they have been abandonned.
(The local Krimla Naval Base is a fleet supply depot. The FarStar detects approx 6 TIE/lns on racks, but no other military vessels. No TIE patrols are being flown from the planet the X-Wings begin to undertake ``unofficial'' patrols of the system).
The AwayTeam has a breakfast meeting with the (remaining) Imperial Cabinet members. Once Greebo and the commandos have checked out the meeting, the Captain is flown in, to negotiate for the NR. The local government is worried about the power vacuum; the merchants are neutral towards Sarne, but concerned about the lack of anti-pirate patrols. There then follows a day of civic events.
1000: Ceremonial Mushroom cutting. While a traditional ceremony, the symbolism suggests a move towards independence (from the Empire), a subtext encouraged by Gen Daide (to the vice Governor's annoyance).
noon: Luncheon with the Interstellar Shippers' Guild. They wish to sound out the NR on trade, and are encouraged by the Captain's assurances of ``business as usual''.
1430: City tour (led by Mayor Duffet). Jessa is weirded out by the Old Jedi Chapter House now a greenhouse, and showing signs of having been burnt around the fringes. The local schoolchildren at the Art Museum are frightened by the sight of Greebo. The City Computer Centre shows off its old BRT mainframe The harbour dockworkers want to talk about trades unions. A parade of military cadets asks some hostile questions about the Rebellion, and are quelled by Jessa.
News reaches Brophar that his shuttle has been immobilised by an anti-radiation spray, emitted by the docking bay's automated systems. It will take approx 24 hours to chip away the fast-solidifying goop. After co-opting the guards to assist in the clean-up, he runs a check on the rad-haz sensors; they are fully operational. The spraying may have been caused by a computer glitch, or an isotope could have been fired through the bay. Brophar disconnects the sprays, but rigs up an audible alarm in their place. (While checking starport records, he is warned by some local bureaucrats that the Imperial faction as opposed to Sarne's faction is very anti-NR).
1800: Private Dinner at Gen Daide's estates (protected by the Militia). Approx 100 guests in total. Daide expands upon his personal agenda, of local independence.
The social whirl continues:
800: Working breakfast with the bank leadership, who want a more solid diplomatic presence from the NR. (BORING). Followed by a photocall and press conference, at which the Captain shines.
1400: Power lunch with the Imperial faction (Lang's supporters).
Meanwhile, after checking the fuel, Brophar arranges for the shuttle to be refuelled. The government provides reasonable local area star-charts and system data. [See later]
On their way to see a Gantha Dance at the Cultural Centre, the AwayTeam's hover limo is rammed repeatedly by a permacrete truck. After Farah and Scorryn hit the driver's compartment and engine repeatedly, the truck eventually crashes into a building.
2000: Mayor Duffet's dinner party. Daide and Duffet appear to be working together closely, and are on good terms with the local business community. The Imperial faction is clearly not present.
2300: Return to the hotel. The shuttle is now ready, and given a shakedown flight. The Defel returns to the shuttle, with the news that on Sarne's departure, a professional clean-up crew carefully destroyed a large quantity of records, computers etc.
More gadding about:
800: Breakfast meeting with the Defence Force reps (Daide's faction, again).
1000: In the Floral Gardens (``the Torquemada Hanging Gardens''), Col Lansel hints to Scorryn that Sarne had a ``low-key but eventful base at Shintell''. The team is informed that the permacrete truck was automated (ie no driver). Scorryn sends the Defel to check out the Old Jedi Chapter House, but he (?) finds nothing.
Foreign Relations Committee. More of the same.
Premiere at the Theatre Dansk of the opera ``The Classic Madretine'' the story of a droid uprising on a colonial world (but otherwise incomprehensible). The theatre is half-full; the richest Imperial element has been removed.
The premiere is interrupted by assassin droid RX5-TLN, armed with blaster cannon and proton torp launchers, who starts shooting at the NR team. Scorryn, Greebo and Farah return fire, while the others escape. RX5-TLN destroys itself while fumbling a proton torp launch; by this stage, the local militia have arrived with an AT-PT. (The droid was built in the Core, but has had its serial numbers filed off). Brophar lands his shuttle outside the remains of the theatre; the NR commandos re-equip with heavier weapons.
It becomes clear that all of the problems (landing delays; sabotage of shuttle; permacrete truck; assassin droid) are coming from the computer net. Either someone is manipulating is externally, or the BRT AI is the root of the trouble.
The AwayTeam appraise Mayor Duffet and Gen Daide of their findings. Daide quickly sees the danger to the cities if the AI running everything should be compromised, and (by means of 3 APCs and their combat squads) conveys the team to the central computer room.
Brophar and the 10 data-slicers in residence persuade the AI to assist (while not triggering any of the `nasties' which it had planned). The AI explains that it needs vice Gov Lang (currently the highest ranking Imperial official) to declare Sarne a criminal, at which point the AI can ignore all of Sarne's commands; this is quickly done, and the libraries of these commands removed.
The AI admits triggering the various attacks, and reveals the following:
As a reward, the FarStar is granted 1000 Cr worth of (military) supplies. The shopping list includes: 50 units of detonite (Greebo); a light repeating blaster; 5 mini proton torp launchers; 5 mini concussion missile launchers; 1 grenade launcher + 12 grenades (RAM). Unfortunately, there are no AT-STs, and the AT-PTs are not worth the hanger space (they are also rather expensive).
Under interrogation, the rogue data slicer admits that he did indeed trigger the libraries, at Col Lansel's orders. The latter is arrested, but claims ignorance a long-term sleeper, ``just obeying orders''.
The Twi'lek (with Huey, Dewie and Louie) resurface, having been investigating the criminal underworld (and obtaining various items).
After the dust has settled, the Captain reports back (via hyperspace comms) to the NR main fleet. The FarStar's progress to date is logged, including a list of contacts and copies of the latest starmaps. Gen Daide requests a defence boat to stay in orbit, to protect against pirates; 6 SkipRay blast boats are dispatched, to act as ground-based assets.
The FarStar receives system data on the planets which it deliberately leap-frogged to reach Gandle Ott (and have since been visited by the NR).
Charis:
Manufacturing and IT. Population is down 15% following purges of anti-Imperial supporters. Says `Yes' to whomsoever is in orbit.
Torize:
Heavy manufacturing. Pop 1.5 bn. Very unpleasant atmosphere (Type II); highly volcanic, with industrial pollutants following an accident 3 years earlier.
Corjain:
Not really habitable. Very metal rich, very deep mines (high profits, high casualty rates).
Mairne:
Mining world supplies metals and other mining resources.
Oon Tien: [no-one's been there yet]
Site of the largest Imperial shipyards in the Sector. Manufacturing, agriculture, 3 orbiting stardocks (FarStar-size, not ISD-size). The indigenous race, the Jarrols, had a primitive society when the first Old Republic ships entered the system. They traded gems for weapons, leading to a civil war, and the integration of their societies into a single world.
Shintell: [no-one's been there yet]
Almost definitely a military outpost, but it doesn't officially exist
| X-Wing pilots: | |
| Dasha, Gorjaye, Deshwa, Unsa Cobb etc. | 1 CP |
| AwayTeam: | |
| Gorak (aka Greebo) | 5 CP |
| Scorryn, Farah | 4 CP |
| Jessa | 3 CP + a wierdness effect (!) |
| Brophar | 3 CP |
| Defel Scout | 2 CP |
| Twi'lek + companions | 2 CP |
| Captain | 2 CP |
| All other shuttle crew (inc Brophar, Edly) | 3 CP |