EPILOGUE - A presence of evil

[tomcat]

Sam prosecuted both targets electronically with the Aegis' scanners and he computed their courses, the damaged fighter following slightly behind the others path. He sent the data to Britton's firing system, unknown to the soldier, and the targeting system automatically traversed the gun turret slightly left. On his screen, Britton saw the reticule flash red signaling the opportune time to fire and he pulled back on the trigger. The turret on the underbelly of the Aegis flared again and the laser cannon bolts pounded into the light armor of the ugly V-wing fighter. The pilot tried to compensate, but the action was futile - he was already dead. His companion following behind saw the fiery explosion in front of him and tried to veer his broken fighter out of the path, but he too made a futile act. The second V-wing soared into the wreck of the first, smashing into it as it did, and then was hammered again by Britton's second round of fire.

It was over.

The Aegis' sensors revealed the inbound flight of another set of fighters - Eta II's - but there was no chance for them to catch them. Unhindered the explorer dashed out of the atmosphere of Bespin and towards the jump point that Caden had calculated. With the adrenaline starting to abate, the flight crew looked around them at the activity going on over the planet and Brim noticed another large Imperial Destroyer hanging higher in orbit than the Venator that had boomed in over the city. He looked at it and suddenly felt an icy cold grip his chest... a feeling he had never sensed before, and never wanted to again.

On the Star Destroyer, the black-helmed Lord of the Sith watched over the attack on Cloud City. The sound of his breath was clearly heard throughout the bridge, disturbing many of the deck officers and crewmen that worked diligently at keeping the ship safe.

His tactic of bringing fear throughout the galaxy to assure discipline was working. Vader was pleased as his troops and fighter-craft below made another example of just how powerful the new Empire was, and how disobedience would only bring destruction. The lifeless helmet suddenly took notice of a small ship as it raced away from Bespin. Darth Vader watched it with interest as he was suddenly aware of a presence in the Force, and through it he reached out to the Aegis and all those on board.

There was a Force-user aboard that ship, Vader knew. And then it was gone. The Aegis made the jump to lightspeed.



Okay, you all will see that I have ended the conflict with the fighters. Well, it came down to time and distance at this point. The last two fighters would not enter the fray for three more rounds, which would have allowed Kara to move the ship laterally 24 squares, and verically 6 altitude levels. The Eta II's would never be able to get into range to do anything before the Aegis disappeared.

Bottom line, I should not have put such a big time separator between each flights' arrival. Oh well, food for thought with the next encounter... still it was fun and kind of dramatic. At least I thought so... 

New chapter to be started tomorrow (or the next day). I should have the scrolling title page up as well as a prologue. Now it is time to sleep! For my Star Trek players, I will update tomorrow.

[tomcat]

All PC's may level up to 6th.

As usual, please post your detailed advancement on this thread 1) so that I know it is done, and 2) I know what changes happened to your character. Thanks!

[ZehnWaters]

  Att. +1, all Skills +1, Dual Weapon Mastery II, +10 HP, +1 Threshold, +1 Defenses, +1 BAB

[donimator]

  Independent Droid Lvl 3 (Force Unleashed prestige class), Char level 6
+1 BAB, +9 HP, +1 defenses, +1 skills
(6th lvl feat) - Point Blank shot
(3rd lvl talent - Indep. Droid) - Modification Specialist

[tomcat]

Also, I forgot to add... feel free to dialogue or narrate in this post, too. It is the end of the current chapter, but you guys can certainly whoop it up for your success! 

[BrianM]

Brim heard the others breathing sighs of relief and congratulating each other on their narrow escape from Cloud City. He could only sit quietly, however, staring out the viewport to the location where the Star Destroyer had been, now replaced by the blank view of hyperspace.

What was out there? He was sure the feeling he had felt has come from that vessel, and it terrified the Rodian to think that somehow he had caught the attention of someone ... or something.

character update to come ... need to check books at home

[Jingo]

Kaida shouted a cheer into the comm as she saw the twin explosions of the enemy craft and then waited on pins and needles as they shot past the dagger-shaped imperial destroyer and made the jump to hyperspace.

"We did it," Kaida breathed a sigh of relief into the comm and then climbed out of the gun turret. They had escaped a bounty hunter, a greedy pirate mob, and now three flights of Imperial fighter craft and two star destroyers. Admittedly, the destroyers were too far away to stop their flight, but still--

The adrenaline and tension gradually drained out of her. She shook hands with Britton, congratulating him on his shooting and then moved up to where the others were consulting and discussing options.

Then she looked from Caden to Sam, "So, where are we jumping to?"

character update to come for me too. You can go ahead and continue the next post whenever.

[watanabe]

Kara breathed a sigh of relief at their escape.  The ship had exceeded her expectations in terms of speed and ability to run from trouble.  She slowly let her hands release the control yoke and leaned back in the pilot's seat and looked up at the ceiling panel of the cockpit.



I'll update my c-sheet here in a day or two.

[watanabe]

 

Character updated.

I took a 5th level in Scoundrel, grabbed Vehicular Combat with the level 6 feat, and Fool's Luck with the level Scoundrel Talent.  That's all that changes for me (other than skill and defense bonuses from half my level).

I can fly, and I can get lucky, but I don't think I'll hit shit on the ground.

Haven't done my hitpoints yet, do we roll for that?  I forgot... if so here we go:

Roll 1d6 for HP!

Rolled 1d6 : 5, total 5

[tomcat]

Yea, you can use the die roll, but I was also using the Dawn of Defiance standards sheet.

[watanabe]

 

Nah, I'll go with the Dawn of Defiance, its safer over the long run (and I have a +2 con mod anyway!) 

[tomcat]

Good enough!

[ZehnWaters]

Also flushed with success, Britton happily accepted Kaida's handshake then followed her to the others, leaning against the doorway.

[Jingo]

Kaida will lvl up as a Noble. So after this advancement she'll be lvl 4 noble, lvl 1 scout, lvl 1 soldier:

* BAB +1
* All Skills +1
* Bonus Feat for Lvl 4 noble: Skill Training - Stealth
* Feat for lvl 6: Skill Focus - Treat Injury
* Hit Points Increase by: 4 + CON MOD = 5

[BrianM]

 

Brim will take another Jedi level: Scout 4, Jedi 2

Level 6 Feat: Skill Focus (Jump)
Jedi 2 Feat: Skill Training (Use the Force)
BAB +1
HP +9

Cheers,
Brian