Vahrran and Jim

Vahrran quietly ponders to himself about the advanced technology that allows the machines' ability to alter dreams, but remains silent, focusing on following 92's path. When the droid forms a lartie from the dreamscape, he takes point on entering.

Knowledge check:

"The cockpit is mine," he announced, making a beeline for it. "Jim, take the guns. Attack when 92 gives the word. 92, you're my second, tell me where to go."

Knowledge Check Result:

"Mmm, hmm," says Jim with a nod. He takes one of the frontal gunner positions and begins practicing moving it around.

You and 92 enter the Lartie through the infantry compartment, making your way to your respective seats. As usual the layout of the instruments is not at all Chiss, but you have no trouble adapting to the barbaric layout. As you activate the speeder's power plant, which activates with a satisfying wrrrrrrm, you hear mumbled nonsense coming from a headset attached to the ceiling. When you put it on, the voice of 92 can be heard speaking. "Checking, checking? Do you hear me?"

"I hear ya," says Jim.

OOC:

"Affirmative," Vahrran responded. He flipped a few switches and gripped the stick in silent hesitation. "Prepare for takeoff."

Pilot:

OOC:

The air speeder lifts off the ground, a bit wobbly as you get the hang of the dual stabilizers. No crashes at least.

Moments later 92's voice crackles over the com. "Set heading 342 along this route." A map with a series of navigational checkpoints appears on your navigation screen. "We'll be passing through a series of gateways that should take us to your allies. Unfortunately, The Dreamer is now aware of your presence within her mind so keep an eye out for trouble."

The heading takes you over the remains of Checkpoint Alpha where the Imperial Stormtroopers of Not-Ian's legion have made their gallant last stand. A sea of lava creatures flood the area, attempting to encroach upon the two surviving positions. A group of 12 troopers are holed up in an elevated sandbagged position, fighting as hard as they can to hold back the innumerable horde and support their mates at the cave entrance. One of them frantically starts waving up at you, presumably trying to get you help. Meanwhile, blaster fire pours out of the cave, injuring and killing the uncaring lava creatures who fall by the score.

What, if anything, would you like to do Rory?

Vahrran weighs helping vs speeding off. The troopers aren't real, but helping them certainly would grant us their favor; however, they would try to take command of the vehicle a la civil forfeiture and take custody of the crew(again), and that is not desirable if he and Jim wish to reach the jump point sooner, especially considering the fight with creatures throwing lava. A point against callous disregard: leaving them would surely draw their ire in one form or another.

But one must take into account that the Dreamer is aware of the presence of real people within the dream, and "she" cannot be trusted. Their waving at us is without question an attempt to draw us in or delay us. Vahrran maintains course without accelerating or putting on the brakes.

"We did not see them wave," he advised over the ship-wide comm. Unfortunately, there is no way to convey this deception through piloting skill, unless 92 has any advice.

OOC:

Vahrran leaves the soldiers to their fate, justifying it by telling himself they weren't real anyway. Jim and 92 say nothing, keeping whatever thoughts they have on the matter to themselves.

It is an uneventful flight for the next 40 minutes, as 92's flight plan takes the Larty and her crew on a relatively safe course through the blasted and lava filled terrain. It as you approach the 4th way point that you come upon a large and twisting canyon through the terrain.

"Quickly, take us into the canyon," orders 92, "The first gateway lies at the end."

As you near the entrance though, Jim cuts in, "Incoming! Cut right!"

I'll need a Pilot check Rory.

Pilot:

"Brace," Vahrran addressed the crew of the larty, taking evasive maneuvers.

Vahrran expertly maneuvers the Larty in a sharp turn to the right, avoiding a 3 meter (10 ft.) ball of molten lava. The turn lines the crew up for perfect shots on the attacks source--another giant lava creature near the entrance of the canyon. In fact, you see 4 more in a checker pattern with smaller ones swarming the area. Speaking of which, one of them picks up a smaller creature, puts it in its mouth, and then spits it at you. You dive then reduce speed, allowing the ball of lava to harmlessly pass overhead.

"They are guarding the entrance to the canyon. I can plot us a new course around," says 92.

"No time. Let's take them out," advises Jim.

"But we need to move on!" shoots 92 back.

What do you want to do Vahrran?

OOC:

There would be opposition no matter which path they took, Vahrran was certain. The more time they spent avoiding conflict at the cost of closing in on their exit, the more time the Dreamer would have to trace them. The trade-off was time vs. agitation. Deciding it was better to save time rather than chance the issue of losing it, he assumed command to engage the hostiles.

"Concentrate fire on the massive hostiles," he ordered, "neutralize them one at a time. 92, assist me with evasive maneuvers."

actions:

scenic music:

"Roger," they both acknowledge as you make your attack run.

Vahrran launches a missile at a beast in the middle. It streaks out, hitting the beast northward of center, blowing its head and arms from the torso. The now lifeless body lands on its smaller allies, crushing a further 7 under it's enormous bulk.

Vahrran's target destroyed, Jim aims for one on the end (which is logically the only one he can currently see), and rakes it across the chest and arm with a composite-beam laser. The impact get's the beast's attention but doesn't seem to have done any critical damage yet. (Hit, 9 damage total)

The remaining creatures launch their attacks. 2 balls of lava fly by with no damage to the Larty, but unfortunately that leaves you guys in a bad spot with the third. It hits the airspeeder along the bottom, causing a great lurch in the aircraft. Shields have been reduced by 33 percent.

Updated Initiative:

Update on crew actions: 92 can be commanded to fix the shields.

"92, reinforce our shields, make them fight for it. Pepper them with a burst, Jim."

Vahrran fires another missile from the alternate cannon, aiming at the large no. 2 hostile.

actions:

Upon missing, Vahrran tries to access his hidden power - the Force - for guidance, the nature of which he hasn't specified, or settled on what hope for.

"Working on it," says 92. (Mechanics Check to Recharge Shields = 16; Failure)

As Vahrren's missile streaks in the lumbering beast manages to leap out of the way, its armor protecting it from the explosion. Vahrran attempts to reach out to the Force for some kind of advantage or help but finds that its cloudy or just out of grasp.

Meanwhile, Jim sweeps his composite-beam laser back and forth over creature 2 and its supporting infantry, destroying a dozen of the smaller creatures and cutting off one the larger creature's legs. It crashes to the ground and begins thrashing around like a crab on its back throwing up a dust cloud and crushing many more. (Beast 4 is dead thanks to a particularly great damage roll.)

The remaining creatures return fire, showing the same lack of care for their own lives that they did in your last battle. Vahrran manages to dodge the first attack but in doing so leaves himself no room to dodge the second attack. It slams into the Larty with great force, further reducing shields by 33%. One more hit like that and the shields will be down completely.

Note: Let me know what you are doing for flying this turn, then post your next turn. Flying the airspeeder doesn't have to be any more complicated than "I cut to the left so we can sweep over the remaining creatures." Just give me a general idea of what you are trying to do and I'll take it from there.

The reason this is important to do is because if you don't control the airspeeder it goes out of control and becomes easier to hit. It handles like a helicopter for reference.

Updated Initiative:

The shields took another hit, and it became clear that 92 couldn't put a dent in enemy efforts at the rate it was falling. A time and a place for everything, and now was not the time for tactics.

Vahrran checked his guns. "Switch to lasers, 92. Let's hit them with everything."

The larty cuts right to avoid incoming fire and remain to stable in flight.

actions:

OOC:

Vahrran's missile hits creature 1 square in the upper chest, popping it's head and chest like a balloon and blowing it's arms away from what remains of the torso. Bits of lava and rock rain down on those creatures below.

"Indeed," says a pleased 92, clearly having no problem with Vahrran's order.

For the first and last time this battle he opens up with the anti-personnel laser cannons, blowing multiple holes into the remaining creature's legs, chest, and head. He laughs his unsettling mechanical laugh as the Larty shoots into the canyon, the clear winner of this battle.

"A dangerous gamble but thrilling none the less," says the droid, "Perhaps we will make it to our destination after all."

Vahrran made a mental note of the gleeful satisfaction 92 expressed at destroying its enemies in absence of the watchful eyes and ears of the Dreamer. His reply carried an admonishing tone. "Providence has favored us thus far, and will likely continue to favor us if we can get our shields back up to full strength. Please take care of that. I would wish for us to avoid being caught with our pants down."

pilot check in advance:

"Yes. A prudent course of action." The droid begins working on the shields only to be interrupted when Vahrran gets a little too close to the canyon wall as he rounds a particularly sharp corner and hits an outcropping with the right wing. The shields are now down completely and the computer is complaining about the impact. "Hey, watch it! Another one of those and we may end up plastered across this canyon."

OOC:

"The bulk of this speeder came in handy during that scuffle, but do not forget it was by your design," he coolly riposted. "Our current assigned stations are the optimal configuration."

However stinging that was to its personality matrices, Vahrran was right, no matter how badly he continued to handle the vehicle.

Pilot:

OOC:

"Yeah, yeah, don't remind me." A minute of easy flying later and he calls out in triumph, "There we go, starting to make some progress."

The shields bloom back to life, giving the landscape a slightly blue tinge as Vahrran scoots the Larty around a sharp bend and into a rapidly opening canyon. The distance to each wall is often measured in 10's of miles, with the widest point still to come. Running through it is a river, the first source of water that the party has seen in this wrecked landscape. From your sensor readings you see that it is hot and brackish, completely despoiled by the blasted out environment.  

As you steadily cover ground between you and the purple glow 92 manages to recharge the shields completely and you can start making out new readings from the surrounding lands. You begin to detect signs of fighting ahead, with the telltale explosions and sounds of blaster fire and the thundering sounds of artillery from just beyond the now purple haze.

"Um, what is that?" asks Jim.

"That is the gateway to the next level of consciousness. As we get deeper into the dream, it will become more and more dangerous. The Dreamer is at war with herself, fighting for control of their body. For control of their power."

"Which means our struggle can only get worse," Vahrran replies. "Be prepared to defend from attack as soon as we go through. "I anticipate understanding more, and finding a way to return control to her."

Pilot:

"Yes, that's the plaaaaaa-" 92 goes silent. You can see that he is slumped over in copilot's seat, hopefully only unconscious. In the meanwhile the first gate is rapidly approaching. Its thick purple mists gather in a bizarre circular sphere of great size for no particular reason you can fathom. The mists occasionally glow from the telltale flash of blaster fire and explosions, but is otherwise completely opaque.

What would you like to do Rory?

"Hang on, Jim." Whatever affected the robot must also have an effect on the ship as well, so Vahrran gets ready to try and crash safely if the larty ends up taking a freefall dive on their way through the mist. That, or there must be some unavoidable blasts or blaster fire inside the mist, in which case all they can do is brace.

pilot:

Rory:

Jim clicks the mic twice in acknowledgement of Vahrran's warning, ever the professional.  

As the Larty passes through the purple mist your scopes die, leaving you to fly the air speeder by visuals alone. To make matters worse, the emergency alarms start blaring and the speeder itself begins bucking like a bull with a bee up its bum, threatening to drive you off course or worse into the ground or another unseen obstacle. As it is, it's taking everything Vahrran has to try to keep the speeder in the air.

Images of Vahrran's life begin flashing through his head from the earliest to the latest, both good and bad. And just when things look their darkest, he feels a presence in the cockpit and a profound sense of peace overcomes the terror and panic of the last 20 seconds. That's when Vahrran hears a kindly male voice say, "Use the Force, Vahrran. Use the Force."

While he would realize much later that he had never met the voice before that moment, Vahrran took the advice and attempted to reach out with all of his senses, with every ounce and fiber of his being. And from within, he felt something open up, some secret part of him that he had never known existed and would always feel from then on for the rest of his days.

With that awakening, he "saw" through the mist, the opaque sludge melting away before the power of his mind's eye. Nothing and no one was an obstacle to this sight--not the Larty, the droid, or even his own body. Only the telltale lights from his first vision remained for himself and Jim.

OOC:

Using his new ability, Vahrran spotted the rock pillars fast approaching the Larty and began navigating safely around and through them until finally emerging from the mist to the largest and most confusing battlefield he had ever seen.

Legions of soldiers and droids clash as machines and ships and beasts of war carve bloody swaths through the battlefield and the sky above.

Battle 1: Just below the Larty a legion of Republic soldiers in red uniforms led by several Jedi Knights is trying to defend the heights against an army of Mandalorians in archaic armor. To the west a force of Madalorian's on massive war droids are forming up for a charge into the battle. You realize that if the Republic troops are given no support they'll likely take devastating losses and may even lose the heights.

The Battle Below:

Battle 2: On a hill to the east a sea of lightsabers mark a legion of Jedi Knights charging into a sea of red-skinned aliens in tight, disciplined formations dressed in archaic armor and wielding blue crystal weapons. Somehow, the weapons are able to stand against the legendary cutting power of the lightsaber, and the charge is halted like the sea slamming into cliffs on the shore. Both sides launch devastating Force attacks at each other, each one trying to break the other's lines.

To the north artillery is being set up to support the Jedi Knights but they have come under attack from 4 enemy fighters. Unless they are stopped it's debatable whether the Jedi will be able to win or how many losses they will take.

The Battle to the East:

Battle 3: To the Southeast a legion of clone troopers, a legion of troops from something called the New Republic (this info conveniently shows up on your friend/foe indicator), and a battalion of armor identified as belonging to the Empire are currently getting curb stomped by a legion of an unknown alien species. Both sides are supported by air power, but the starfighters of the aliens are strange, lighting up as living organisms on your scopes. It's clear that without reinforcements the clones will soon break.

Battle to the Southeast:

Battle 4: The battle in the air over all these other battles is a chaotic thing, in which dozens of starfighters and converted freighters of various makes and models clash with each other so that their respective sides can win battlefield air superiority.

It is this battle in which you find yourself and is honestly the last place you want to be in a troop transport with no air support. Speaking of which, you notice two starfighters in formation start giving chase, shooting at you with their laser cannons.

What would you like to do?

Pilot:

Vahrran has really has no choice but to focus everything he has and is on surviving. So it's when he is in survival mode that this new sight and extension of his being 'awaken', and in that moment he trusts everything he is. He has to force himself to keep his Force vision active for the duration of his navigation through the purple mist, resisting the vertigo that comes with looking down through the ship at the obviously-high elevation drop between him and the ground below.

He doesn't have time to second-guess these new sensations, and upon seeing the battle unfolding around him, he attempts to assess which side would be most prudent to lend aid to.

vahrran's reasoning and thoughts:

He finally settles on helping the Jedi in the north set up the artillary, as that may be used to aid all of the Jedi in time as soon as the Jedi are victorious over the Redskins.

"Support the artillery setup, Jim. We'll evade our pursuers." What Vahrran has in mind is observing the pair of starfighters' response to the larty of unknown faction as it attempts to shoot down the four fighters assaulting the Jedi.

"92, are you still with us?"

OOC:

Jim grunts in the affirmative, somehow conveying acknowledgement and approval at the same time. He wastes no time in opening up on one of the enemy fighters, completely cutting it into 4 different pieces with his laser. These fighters clearly lack shielding.

On your front you manage to dodge the attacks of the enemy pilots (neither of them hit your Ref Defense). They whiz by with a terrible roar. Your Friend/Foe indicator shows them as Empire, though you've never seen a fighter quite like that before.

Starfighter Pic:

92 answers, "Ah, where am I?! What's happening?! By the Maker!" He's clearly spotted the massive battle.

OOC: