A rescue

[sdrotar]

I like the notion of having the Rebels take the E-Web. The more firepower, the better.

[Telcontar]

  all sounds good to me.

[tomcat]

I will give narrative and allow for some rolls here shortly, but right now I am drawing up the map that will be our engagement. Give me until after Mother's Day and I should have it together.

[tomcat]

Still getting it together, guys. I did not like the map I was using and so I am drawing up my own. I will be another day.

[tomcat]

Okay things are proceeding with the map, but I wanted to clarify some things that you guys wrote above:

1) Kresh and his band are not weathered freedom fighters. There is no real rebellion that has started against the Empire - at least a multiple planetary organization. There are people that are rejecting the Empire and they are suffering for it as Palpatine brings the entire weight of his military down on these worlds (i.e. Commenor).

All Kresh and his men have done so far is to rally people. To sit amongst them and yell out anti-Imperial rants and stir the pot of distrust for this new Order. Their goal is to make Coruscant hear the dissatisfaction of the outer worlds and to have the Senate make decisions to stop the Emperor from attaining more power. Many hope this can be done peacefully.

So, Kresh and his people don't have stores of Trooper armor from raids, because they have never done any. They don't have bombs made. They don't have vehicles and skiffs that they can sacrifice in the name of rebellion.

They can shoot. They are organized under Kresh. That is about it. Savraan does support them with money and materials, but it is mostly to do what I said above - organize rallies and sow seeds of discontent. Kaida's brother suggested making contact with them because they would be able to aid you guys, but it is not a rebel army that you have at your disposal. You all have to make this thing happen with the resources you can muster.

2) the Droideka has two laser cannons that do 3d8 each, and may be fired in auto mode.

The things you listed you need above before the engagement I can tell you what you will be able to get:

1) no skiffs to create "car bombs", no Imperial equipment

2) this can be done, there is plenty of ammonia and fertilizer plus whatever else ingredient is necessary to make this stuff

3) again, unless you are sacrificing the Arrow, there are no available cars/speeders  - unless you guys want to steal something or try to buy it

4) this can be done - he can arrange to have vehicles and safe houses to move anyone who escapes, plus hide his people who participate in the action



The time of the transfer was fast approaching and plans had been made, adjusted, re-made and adjusted again. The challenge came from the training level of Kresh's people for such an encounter. Kaida could see that they were true believers in removing the tyranny of the new Emperor, but they were only farmers and mechs. They had weapons; they knew how to shoot, but they were weak in cohesive combat - and there was not a lot of time to train.

Also, the plan began to come apart with the lack of finding any vehicles to procure at a price that could be afforded. Kresh and his people were supplied by their benefactors, but high-priced assets were not on the list. Those kind of items came with serial numbers and receipts and could be traced back to original buyers.

Looking at the holomap projection within the Aegis, Sam spoke, "If a speeder is unavailable, there is no reason a simple barricade cannot be placed to bring the convoy to a halt. We need only have it come to a stop long enough for us to disable the forward and rear vehicles, essentially blocking in the convoy on the span. If not a barricade, perhaps the lead vehicle can be disabled and be the blocking element that we need."

The companions thought about the droid's options and reworked the plan again trying to make it as quick, lethal, and successful as possible allowing for as many to walk away as they could. While the plan was being discussed, Kaida gave orders for the set up to begin - camo netting and weapons would be moved into position with the coming of night.

Farok returned with new information from his use of the Force - the time of the transfer was now revealed. The convoy would be moving down Fair Avenue at 2:00PM one day from now.

Things began to move in earnest.

[Posterboy]

Okay things are proceeding with the map, but I wanted to clarify some things that you guys wrote above:

1) Kresh and his band are not weathered freedom fighters. There is no real rebellion that has started against the Empire - at least a multiple planetary organization. There are people that are rejecting the Empire and they are suffering for it as Palpatine brings the entire weight of his military down on these worlds (i.e. Commenor).

All Kresh and his men have done so far is to rally people. To sit amongst them and yell out anti-Imperial rants and stir the pot of distrust for this new Order. Their goal is to make Coruscant hear the dissatisfaction of the outer worlds and to have the Senate make decisions to stop the Emperor from attaining more power. Many hope this can be done peacefully.

So, Kresh and his people don't have stores of Trooper armor from raids, because they have never done any. They don't have bombs made. They don't have vehicles and skiffs that they can sacrifice in the name of rebellion.

They can shoot. They are organized under Kresh. That is about it. Savraan does support them with money and materials, but it is mostly to do what I said above - organize rallies and sow seeds of discontent. Kaida's brother suggested making contact with them because they would be able to aid you guys, but it is not a rebel army that you have at your disposal. You all have to make this thing happen with the resources you can muster.

2) the Droideka has two laser cannons that do 3d8 each, and may be fired in auto mode.

The things you listed you need above before the engagement I can tell you what you will be able to get:

1) no skiffs to create "car bombs", no Imperial equipment

2) this can be done, there is plenty of ammonia and fertilizer plus whatever else ingredient is necessary to make this stuff

3) again, unless you are sacrificing the Arrow, there are no available cars/speeders  - unless you guys want to steal something or try to buy it

4) this can be done - he can arrange to have vehicles and safe houses to move anyone who escapes, plus hide his people who participate in the action

A couple of comments regarding the plan:

1) I still like the Cargo Skiff idea... I'd think they'd be easy enough to find on Salliche, but maybe not. By the book (RE pg 60), the Bantha II costs 8000 cr new and 3000 cr used and has a restricted rating. The thing has a cargo hold of 135 tons....  ... that's a fair bit of fertilizer. 

2) If we are unable or unwilling to get the Skiff, I'd suggest changing the plan to having team members on both sides of the bridge and we box the convoy on the bridge. I think it might be cool to watch Farok leap onto the top of the tank, cut it open, and drop in a couple of detonite sticks.

3) Due to the nature of Kresh's people, maybe it would be better to somehow get more of them around Kaida at the start of the encounter so that she can rally more of them with her born leader ability.

4) Is there a building or something like that nearby for BIT to set up a sniper's nest?

5) Please let's not sacrifice the Arrow yet.

[GandalfOfBorg]

  From the layout, I'm pretty sure that BIT can find a spot on the ground or whatever to set up camp.

I'm all for block the road with something easy to assemble or drag out.
Kaida and a group halts the lead vehicles, droideka pops out at an opportune moment to lay into vehicles.
Group in back with Arrow block the back (Caden driving?).
BIT provides support and eyes on the scene as a whole, monitoring communications.
Farok and others lead recovery of targets.

[Posterboy]

 Yeah, sorry, as I'm thinking about it... I'm having second thoughts about the car bomb idea... the explosion will likely shake the ground as far as the town and definitely will be heard, perhaps drawing unwanted attention our way. A more subtle plan perhaps?

1) Does the Arrow have a back hatch that opens into the cargo area? I'm thinking we have the Arrow, on the east side of the bridge, pop out of hiding as the convoy begins to cross the bridge. Sam (action figure comes with PLX-2M Launcher) pops out of the back and an insurgent (action figure comes with grenade launcher) pop up the top and they work at taking out lead vehicles (VERY quickly). Kresh and a few other insurgents also pop out the back and provide suppresion fire? Abby drives the Arrow?

2) Kaida is on speeder, on the west side of the bridge and north side of the road, with the droideka and remaining contigent of insurgents (if they don't all fit under the camo netting, they get camo suits)... maybe they get the E-Web cannon too. She uses born leader to rally the insurgents, and they take care of the rear vehicles and look to box the convoy in.

3) Caden and Farok on a speeder, on the west side of the bridge and south side of the road, weave their way to the prisoner truck and work and freeing folks.Also, I know it's just the show, but I also wonder how hard it would be for Farok to either a) do some cool leaps and drop a detonite pack or grenade inside the heavy escort vehicle or b) do some cool moves and use his lightsaber to disable the heavy weapons of the heavy escort vehicle (like slicing through the cannon or something) 

4) BIT finds the sweet spot to provide overwatch, picking off targets as he sees them with his rifle. I don't know how easy it is in Star Wars Gaming (I imagine it to be extremely difficult in real life), but having BIT use his rifle to make called shots against engine blocks, propulsion systems, and drivers might be one of the better ways to end this ambush quickly.

[tomcat]

  Does the Arrow have a back hatch that opens into the cargo area?

It looks like the back end is enclosed, but I will assume there are gunner hatch turrets for the blaster cannon and grenade launcher that can be attached.

The map attached is based on the battle plan written above. Let me know if this is what you guys want to do.

[GandalfOfBorg]

 
BIT will be on either the north or south side, whichever side that drivers are on.

[Posterboy]

   Sounds good to me.

[tomcat]

The twenty-four hours prior to the ambush were a flurry of activity and then waiting.

It all started with Kresh and his people on the day before the prisoner transfer. The group ordered to start problems in the city began by hanging flyers along an avenue that was heavily populated by workers. As they nailed them to power poles and walls, the insurgents would cry out profanities about the Imperial Order that was taking their benefits. No one really paid close attention to know if it was a lie, and soon a crowd had formed. Picket signs were seen next waving above the heads of the protestors, each calling for different things - better pay, better hours, no Imperial interference, and so on. Kresh's team did their very best to stir the anger within each of the farm hands and laborers that had gathered and they maintained that ire through the night. Nettassan Police and Imperial Stormtroopers began to make a presence along the outer limits of the group to keep an eye on their activities.

The next day, it was like putting a spark to dry kindling. The tempers were still hot, but the individuals were weary having stayed up the night to conduct their rally. It took just one terrible act to change the semi-peaceful group into a rioting mob. One of the insurgents hefted a palm-sized stone and blindly threw it into the crowd. A woman was struck in the forehead and went down, blood flowing heavy from the split in her skin. No one knew from where the stone had come, or even what had been thrown, but it was enough to send the group into their rage.

BIT had also used the night to find his position. He had an overwatch of the bridge and the road that led to it. The clone watched through the night as his companions and their new allies set up their camo nets. The heavy weapons and comm scrambler were also brought in and power was run to both. The speeder bikes waited under the nets on both the north and south side of the road, on the west side of the bridge. Abby would bring the Arrow speeder with the early morning and take her place on the east side - ready to help box in the Imperials. A number of insurgents used power tools to drop a few trees and pile them creating the necessary barricade.

Back on the Aegis, Caden, Kaida, Abby, Farok and Ardana woke well before the sun was to rise. The Bestinian looked at the Twi'lek, who was being left behind to have the Aegis ready to depart. He didn't like having to leave his ship in another person's hands once more. After a little quiet chatter, the team climbed aboard the arrow and headed out to their next meeting with destiny. It did not take them long to get there and get to their positions.

Again they waited.

As the sun climbed through the early noontime sky, a message came from the city that the riot had been started and that the number of people was swelling. The word was that the Netassan Police were busy trying to contain it and that the Imperials were calling in more troops to help support. Not long after, but at the expected time, they got their first report from BIT - the convoy had appeared in his line of sight. They all heard the clone's emotionless, professional voice speak in their earpieces as he called out the number and type of each vehicle.

It was not going to be easy - there were two landspeeder trucks, two modified Sorusuub X-34 speeder escorts - one in front, and the other trailing the group - and finally, four mounted Stormtroopers on speeder bikes. The bikes kept pace with the convoy but had flanking positions on either side.

They all heard BIT say, "Whoever is in there must be pretty important."

[tomcat]

I need the PC's to give me Stealth rolls. The Camo nets give a +5 bonus to the roll.

[Telcontar]

Stealth roll +5, +5 camo net

Rolled 1d20+10 : 13 + 10, total 23

Would force cloak be of any use?

[tomcat]

Definitely, Tom.