Terassk also follows

<font color=white>
Eceil, who had awoken by the others movements, found his way into the conference room right as the General began his inquisition.
He wasn’t just some force wielding nut case! He was an actual Jedi, and maybe even a run away one at that! At least Eceil had some degree of secrecy on his side, but here this kid was in front of the entire team about to try and explain what people shouldn’t be forced to explain. The realization hit Eceil hard, but with it came a newfound sympathy for Te’Oma.
The force works in mysterious ways, Eceil couldn’t deny it. Following the others outside, he turns to Joneth with a nod.
“Smart move.”

OOC: Three is good enough to say that there isn't significant resistance, so Barrick and Bakilas also follow Joneth out. Also, since I'm taking it as a given that you all are recording General Larsek (he sure would be taking it as a given in this case), I'm just going to post what he says to Te'Oma rather than PMing it to Beaumanior.

<font color=yellow>The group heads out of the conference room, Bakilas and Barrick in tow behind them. They reach the corridor, and the door closes behind them, when Joneth stops them to give his explanation.

Meanwhile, inside the conference room, Te'Oma is faced with a question that concerns everyone, and a small amount of uncertainty creeps into his mind. From the Force, he knows that the best way to approach the General is to be honest---it would get the best answers out of him, and would promote a bit of trust on everyone's side. Conversely, to tell him, on a broadcast (despite heavy encryption) of the Chancellor's plan would be risky, and very well may endanger the mission, the group, and the Chancellor.

One thing is for sure---It is decision time.</font>

<font color=green>Joneth turns to all of the gathered group.
<font color= lightgreen>Well, gentlemen, we are in an interesting situation, here. I have been able to track our fine general, though he didnt make it that easy because of his unorthodox procedure. It seems that he is inour complex. Well, to be more specific, in the access tunnel of this complex. I don't really trust the privacy of comm channels, so I think talking to him personally is a better idea. I can lock him in, but I don't want there to be violence, or give him the wrong impression. Any thoughts? Questions, answers, or ideas? If not, i suggest we all grab a speeder, and go meet our friend, and I'll lock the doors.</font> </font>

<font color="dodgerblue">Te'Oma looked into the eyes of the general, slightly lost for words, he thought; "I knew we should have discussed what to say. I told them, but they all wanted sleep. Think fast, Te'Oma". Te'Oma didn't really enjoy these Comm conversations, he'd much rather do this in person. It's much easier that way, he thought.

Following his years of training, Te'Oma follows his sense of the force and decides to be honest with the General.

"Yes, It is true, I am member of the Jedi Order. I can be trusted general, I think you know that. But please, trust me enough to meet me and my companions in person. You never know who is listening in on connections like these. For all our sakes, let me tell you this to your face"</font>

<font color=white>"Today is your lucky day, then, Te'Oma. I just happen to be in the neighborhood. See, I don't like to trust comm tracing devices too much, myself, so I collect the various ping times from different transponders, and then triangulate the data myself. It helps keep me mathematically sharp, though it's admittedly not as accurate as a real trace. Regardless, I figure you are inside of Carracks Inc. right now, with your friends who may or may not have been trying to kill me...and I'm right outside, in the access tunnel, which a quick sensor sweep tells me is completely devoid of any defensive structures. I have a combat airspeeder, with concussion grenade launchers, which I assure you can punch through your bay door in a few shots.

So, basically, I'm in a good bargaining position, and I would like to speak with you face to face. You're terribly lucky, really, since that's what you seem to want also."</font><font color=yellow> Says General Larsek matter-of-factly, his face devoid of any emotion.</font>

OCC:is this the right place?

The generals bodygaurd stepped forward to end any contemplations of ill acts that may be brewing in the mind of this unknown "Jedi".

[ 05-01-2005, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: DrowArchmage ]

<font color=yellow>A young human, clothed as you would expect a padawan to be, leans into the holofield beside the General, his torso seeming to float without legs within the hologram.</font>

[ 05-01-2005, 05:50 PM: Message edited by: Ilander ]

OCC:Thank you!

<font color=white>
“The general’s here? In this building? Look, Joneth, what we do is your call, but if you ask me having a man we don’t trust who might be linked to the bombing this to our home isn’t good. Now if you wanted me to, just give me one of the others and ten minutes and I’ll have you the General bound, gagged, and ready for questioning.”

OCC: Btw, nice job Ilander getting the new guy in the story like that.

OOC: Thanks, JJ [img]smile.gif[/img] To be honest, I actually kind of needed to fill in a character role, and what started out as an NPC just got changed to a PC, with a little bit of modification. As another aside toward everyone, I have revised my policy of PM me any questions to "Ask them in the signup/discussion thread," so that I may clear out more than one person's uncertainty at once. I'm actually updating with an announcment in around an hour.

<font color=yellow>Barrick speaks up at this point.</font><font color=white> "We don't have sensors in the access tunnel, eh? I bet whatever he's here in does. Still, I'd like to do some reconaissance, if you all would let me, before we go charging off to face whatever firepower this guy has brought with him. If anyone wants to back me up in my recon, I'd be more than happy to have them along...what do you think, Bakilas? Aren't you good at this stuff?"</font>

<font color= lightgreen>Reconaissance would be good, but remember, this isn't a military operation. If we can keep things civil, all the better. A cornered General is not likely to be as helpful as a negotiating and curious one. I don't know how well interrogation would go, either, as he is military trained. Aren't they supposed to kill themselves before they give up information?</font>
<font color= green> Joneth says this with wide eyes. He obviously doesn't like the idea of hostiles being this close to him. Those hostiles being a powerful man with military experience doesn't seem to make him any happier.</font>

<font color=white>
“Yeah, it would be smart to send a couple of us ahead to scout him out. Now as far as suicide goes, it won’t happen. He cant kill himself if we got him restrained fast enough, and then the only thing you’d have to worry about would be an operative chip setting off and scrambling his mind. And don’t worry about him not talking, if we get him tied down to something I can break his training.”

[ 05-02-2005, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: jolleyjester ]

<font color=white>"You want to come ahead with me, Eciel? We'll head through the air ducts along the outside of the access tunnel, get close enough to get a sensor reading, at least, and then get back to the rest of the group,"</font><font color=yellow> Says Barrick.</font>

<font color="dodgerblue">Te'Oma realises the plan formulating and decides that it's already in motion, so he decides to just wait.

"Whatever you do" he says quietly to Eciel, "Don't seem like an aggressor. He's agreed to meet us. We dont want to scare him off."</font>

<font color=red> Keal gets ready to grab his lightsabor, just in case. "We shouldn't need to worry even if this is a hostile situation. This guy can't have much more training than I do." Keal says softly to Joneth. "So we should only worry about what the general might throw at us."</font>

[ 05-02-2005, 05:05 PM: Message edited by: Keal ]

Rain paces around the small room. "We must exercise caution General. We dont know what these people might do if we're not careful." he pats his lightsaber. "But i'm sure we can handle it."

Bakilas nods at Barrick, "I would like to accompany you, I think that my skills may come in handy."

<font color=white>
“Were wasting time here. It looks like we all agree that given our current situation we aren’t in the safest predicament. If we can’t figure out what side this guys on and things get messy their might not be enough time for the rest of the group to meet the recon team. I say we all go down their together. If I can throw a suggestion out there, I’d like someone to bring the big guns with us from the armory. If things get messy its good to know well be able to beat whatever firepower he has with him.”

Bakilas shakes his head, "I think a recon team is a better idea, send a few of us down to scout out the situation before we do anything too hasty."

<font color=white>
"Fine. Why don't just you and Barrick go then? Just make sure you to don't get yourselfs killed."

<font color="dodgerblue">"Please, be careful. I think we can trust him. I don't really see the need for all the suspicion, but If you feel that you're more comfortable having a look, then go for it."

Te'Oma sighs.

"I'm more than happy to just go and meet him, face to face."</font>

"General," Rain bowed."After that last communication with them,how do we know that they're hostile at all? If they think we're going to harm them they will come at us full force.Now I may not be fully trained but I can sense there's,I dont know,something amiss? I just ask you to be carefull.I can only do so much.I may be your protector but i will not kill another Jedi for you." with that Rain left for the rooftop.

<font color=red> Keal says,"I'm staying here, you said yourselves you don't know what he could throw at us, so we need a couple to stay back here. I don't find it much of an optional disicion. I do think that the ones who are going from behind should take the better guns"</font>

Terassk had a nagging stiffness in his neck, he then said "I'll help see the general, if he isn't a friend, well..." he cracks his knuckles

<font color=white>
"Well then, what are you waiting for? The good General isn't getting anymore social while you and Barrick sit around here."

<font color=white>"Eciel has a point. Let's go, Bakilas. The sooner we start, the sooner we have this done. Te'Oma, did the General tell you anything about his plans for meeting us? Does he expect us to just walk out in the open in the access tunnel, or something? I would say that if we don't contact you, you should go ahead and do that. After all, didn't you say there was another person who looked like a Jedi aboard? Surely they wouldn't allow the General to fire upon you."</font>

<font color=yellow>Bakilas and Barrick, then, take the air ducts out along the access tunnel, being careful to keep out of sight and quiet. Still, there is some risk of being detected on lifeform sensors, so they try to stay as deep within the ferrocrete walls as they can, so as to stay outside of sensor range, or to at least confuse the sensors enough for a false ID.

They creep along, Bakilas taking the point, his Noghri frame almost naturally sliding amongst the shadows toward their destination. Finally, they get there, undetected, and have a view of the General's Combat Cloud Car http://www.cswu.cz/shiptech/ground/c...l/combatcl.gif.

It appears to be armed, though there's no telling whether the grenade bays are full or not. Its laser cannons, however, would be more than adaquate to remove any "pests" that it may face. The only aspect of the situation that keeps Bakilas and Barrick from believing the General is there to kill them is the fact that the vehicle is parked, with its landing gear down. Vehicles prepped for combat would never do this.

* * *

Meanwhile, back at the base, Te'Oma gets a call from Larsek on his personal comm, which he had slaved to the main comm within the meeting room previously. Larsek asks Te'Oma to come forward, as a gesture of good faith.

* * *

Rain simply cannot get a good read on the General, and a small amount of uneasiness passes through him. The man, even to those who were force-sensitive, was incredibly hard to read. It must have been one of those things that the Jedi don't prepare their padawans for...

Regardless, a bit of worry for the safety of the other Jedi creeps into his thoughts, uneasiness born of a lack of knowledge of the situation.</font>

Using hand symbols to keep quiet Bakilas asks Barrick to cover him while he checks out of the vehicle. With a quick nod he darts towards the ship while attempting to remain as well hidden as possable.

<font color=yellow>It's dark, and apparently the biosensors either aren't on or Larsek doesn't care...regardless, Bakilas makes it. Whatcha' lookin' for?</font>

Bakilas attempts to open the cockpit and enter the ship. If he succeeds he will then search the ship for any items of interest before attempting to sabotage or disable the ship and its weaponry.

<font color=yellow>The instant you hit the cockpit release, you regret it...the cockpit does indeed start to pop open (you catch a glimpse of two humans, one a youth, and one a grizzled, military type with a strong jawline).

The ship then immediately starts its repulsorlift engines, whirring as they begin to lift the ship off of the ground. Incidentally, this is a smooth-hull design, and the main body of the vehicle (see above) is about a meter and a half tall, and sits half a meter off the ground---meaning you cannot get on top of it.

Repulsorlift engines, also, are not known for the preservation of the life beneath them. Bakilas, knowing this, attempts to dodge out of the way, but not before suffering grievous burns. You take 45 points of damage. Your movement is limited, but you remain conscious, which is perhaps the worse option, as the pain is intense.

* * *

The rest of the group hears the familiar rumble of repulsor-lift engines from down the access tunnel---apparently the General was taking off.

Te'Oma's comm bursts to life. </font><font color=white>"What in the world are you all doing? Why didn't you send an ambasador? Why aren't YOU coming to meet me, Te'Oma? I'm not here to hurt anyone, but I will defend myself!"</font>

<font color=white>

Eceil pulls the strap of his rifle smoothly and the gun jerks forward around his chest. He clicks the weapons safety switch off and turns to the others.
“I guess that means its time for a change of plan. We got no choice but to send Te’Oma down their. Keal, go prep the E-Web rifle in the armory and bring it down to the tunnel. Make sure the General doesn’t see you though, and for the love of god don’t fire with it unless you hear something get worse. Joneth, get on the line with Barrick and the Noghri and make sure their still breathing. I’m going down their, so get the med room ready. If their both hurt I’ll try and drag them up here while Te’Oma smooth talks this nutcase.”

Bakilas attempts to crawl back away a safe distance from the ship, he is careful not to make any threatening motions.

<font color= lightgreen> Eceil, if you insist on going, personally, take a speeder to bring back the wounded, Te'Oma can tell them you're doing so. I think it would be good if I came with you, Te'Oma, if you don't mind.</font>

Terassk looks out to the scene unfolding, worried about his friends lives he runs to the armory in the look of a missile launcher or two in case things get worse.

<font color=yellow> Barrick, glancing out of the open air duct, wonders whether or not he should risk going to get Bakilas, then decides that to leave him out there alone would not be a good idea. He radio's to the group <font color=white>"I'm going to go get him,"</font> then turns off his comlink. He takes one step out into the open, and puts his hands in the air. The cloud-car's external speakers boom the message <font color=white>"Throw down your weapons,"</font> and he complies, gesturing to the Bakilas. There is a gruff affirmative, and Barrick goes over to tend to him, using the military training that has kept him alive for so many years to ease Bakilas' suffering (healing 10 points) with some synthflesh from his emergency belt kit.

* * *

Down the access tunnel, confusion reigns. To an outside observer, the scene would be a bit odd, with half of you preparing for war and the other half for diplomacy. A couple of things are for sure. General Larsek has not fired a weapon yet, despite Barrick being out in the open, unarmed. Also, the base has enough firepower to possibly take down the vehicle, provided someone skilled in the arts of weaponry steps up to the plate. It all could still go either way.

* * *
Terrask finds two, shoulder mounted anti-vehicle missile launchers, each with one shot.
http://www.starwars.com/databank/tec...img/eu2_bg.jpg.

Keal also has no trouble finding the E-Web, though carrying it by himself would prove troublesome. Instead, he grabs a micro-repulsorlift cart to pull the cumbersome tripod and gun out to the hangar where the others wait.</font>

Terassk moves down... But sets down the missile launchers, hoping that the ever diplomatic half of the party would prevail and not force him to waste those two precious missiles.

<font color="dodgerblue">"I knew it, I was foolish to let them go in alone. I told you going to see him was the best option."
Picking up his lightsaber (which wasn't actually his, just one he had managed to get hold of) and tucking it next to the vibroblade in his belt, he turns to Joneth.
"Come along if you wish. I've had rest, I feel fine, I have confidence to go and face whatever he wants. To raise his suspicions any more would be suicide. Come on."

Te'Oma turns and walks directly to the general's position, and shows himself confidently.

"Larsek, It is me, Te'Oma. Let me assure you that the actions you have just witnessed were not in aggresion. You would have done the same i'm sure. It was a simple disabling attempt, not a hijack. The others, the one lying there on the floor..."

(Te'Oma tried to hide any emotion for his injured companion)

"...they felt intimidated. That's some impressive potential fire power you have there. Enough to intimidate many men. Please, hear us out. I seem to be at your mercy, friend. I'm out in the open"</font>

<font color=red>Keal pushes the cart to Eciel, running as fast as he can. "Here's your E-web."</font>

<font color=white>
Eceil abandons Te’Oma’s suggestion of brining the last speeder down to the tunnel and instead heads down himself with the E-Web, intent on dragging his injured comrade back up to the med bay.
Eceil quickly climbs down to accompany the others and finds his place in the darkness at the tunnels exit. Arriving at the scene right at the tale end of the Nautolan’s speech, his eyes fall on the burned and crumpled pile of flesh that he believes to be Bakilas and the Human standing over him in the shadows. Eceil immediately unloads the gun from its cart and, falling back on old military training, assembles the weapon in a matter of seconds before crouching next to Barrick.
“If things don’t go well between Te’Oma and the General you aim this right at the repolslift engine bellow the cockpit. This thing an’t designed for taking down Cloud Car’s but were close enough that you should be able to cripple it. You bring the engine down then you aim for the ships gun ports, just don’t kill the general. I’m going to take Bakilas back up stairs.”
With that Eceil goes to grab the wounded Noghri and carry him to saftey.

[ 05-09-2005, 01:15 AM: Message edited by: jolleyjester ]