Long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

(que Star Wars theme)

STAR WARS
DARK MASQUES
With the fall of two Jedi students to the dark side, both the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order face their greatest foes. The Sith Lords have joined the Krath and taken over leadership of the Mandalorian forces, thus creating such force as the Republic has never faced before. With the Jedi Order on the Republic's side there is still hope, but many more Jedi students have fallen to the dark side and in league with the Sith Lords.

Among the Sith rises the Order of the Three, a small group of three former Jedi Masters who have embraced the dark side. The Order of the Three is a faction within the Sith forces with a military might of their own. Along with their Sith apprentices, the Order of the Three has proven to be a dangerous adversary yet the Jedi Order has failed at every attempt to locate their base of operations. Until now.

Embassador of the Khil, Milix Cardass, has successfully gathered information about the Order of the Three's current plans. His stay at the world Malachor V is however cut short due to a Mandalorian attack. A mass evacuation is set in motion, commanding the embassador's starship to take as many passangers as possible. Matters are made worse when the Mandalorians find out that embassador Milix Cardass has the Order of Three's plans, and attack the starship along with two Sith Apprentices in order to get them back.

You could still see Malachor V from the Gal'Pani, a praetorian-class frigate. In the past hours, starships had been pouring in from the planet's surface with refugees fleeing from the Mandalorian attack on Malachor V. Attacks from the Mandalorian starships had only just forced the Gal'Pani to abandon any more refugees.

It was a tough battle. Mandalorian battleships had surrounded the Gal'Pani and Mandalorian troops were attempting to board the ship. Panic among the passangers had forced many of them to run screaming through he hallways. At last, the Mandalorian Crusaders boarded the ship. Evacuation had just started.

"We must get this data to Jedi master Rial Moti," embassador Milix Cardass said to Benjamin Shevik, his Jedi guardian, "the Mandalorians must not retrieve it." As they made their way through the hallways, they ran into a small group of people. A droid called Kate, a Twi'lek scoundrel named Arruna'dira, a Ithorian named Awvoor Umwow and the Ithorian's Wookie-guard called Wrrlwarr.

(OOC: As you may have guessed, I just had you run into each other. I will update this game as soon as everyone has posted a short introduction to their characters or on Monday, whichever comes first.)

Benjamin had been at Ambassador’s side during their entire journey to Malachor V. Master Rial Moti, his master, had charged Benjamin to watch over the Khil diplomat, to ensure the ambassador’s safety and, so far, he had succeeded in his mission.

So far… thought the Jedi. The last few hours had been quite tense with the surprise attack of the Mandalorian on Malachor V. Benjamin and the Ambassador had succeed in safely retreating to the Khil’s starship, and the Jedi knight had hoped the Mandalorians would leave them well enough alone.

It was not to be. The delay in trying to help the refugees fleeing Malachor V had given the Mandalorians time to realize the Ambassador’s true mission and their Crusaders now laid siege the Gal’Pani. While Benjamin could easily see and sense the fear of the people around him, the knight himself tried to remain calm, yet coiled, for action. His double-bladed lightsaber still hung on his belt, feeling that to bring it to hand would only cause more panic amongst the people. Benjamin merely moved closer to his charge.

“We must get this data to Jedi master Rial Moti. The Mandalorians must not retrieve it,” the Ambassador said.

Benjamin nodded slight, “Understood, Ambassador.”

Benjamin followed the Khil through the hallways of the starship, only a step behind, as the Ambassador led the way. Realizing that they were severely out-numbered, Benjamin figured the Khil was working on a plan to transmit the data or, perhaps, escape from the ship.

As they were making their way through the halls, the pair came upon what Benjamin could only assume were refugees from Malachor V – a droid, a Twi’lek, an Ithorian, and a Wookiee – though they appeared perhaps slightly more confident then their panicking counterparts. The Jedi suspected that they too were looking for a way of escape.


OOC: I know I didn’t include much details about Benjamin’s looks, but here’s his description – Benjamin stands just under six feet tall and has a slender built. His long blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail which reaches just past his shoulder blades and whips around in combat as he twists and turns. He is slender and graceful. He personality matches his poised stance… he is not impatience to strike or speak, but when the moment requires it, he is ready for action.

He wears a typical light beige Jedi robe and pants with a black utility belt and brown cloak. A double bladed lightsaber hangs at his side.

Kate's silvery hand caresses her forehead in thought, while her other hand is at her elbow. Her holographic face appears to have an expression of concentration, although it could be taken for discomfort. A dark brown robe, not too different from the style of a Jedi's robes, conceals most of her body, and her arms, and its hood is up, although the light-blue of the hologram is made easier to see because of the hood's shadow.

"Ugh, all the people screaming around here are overloading my audio sensors," Kate complains, her voice with full tone, before she changes her tone to mock that of a PA call, "In the case of fire, there's no need to panic unless the fire's about to drop on you."

Kate shakes her head, returning to her normal tone, "Oh well, where's one of those interface ports when you want to use one?" She looks around, but immediately her eyes are caught by the light glinting off of the lightsaber of the Jedi in front of her, "Oh, hello. Who might you be?"

(I sort of based Kate's appearance on the Inevitable creatures from D&D, so you can get an idea of what her body looks like that way, although it's hidden by her robe right now)

Nobels had always been trouble for Arruna`dira so this one on the ship was the first time she'd been glad to see one, particularly this one. When sneaking her speeder onto the ship she had came across a YT 13 hundred, a gift of an escape pod if things turned nasty, as they did, and had left the speeder by the gangway. She quickly retrieved some memory from a pit droid and found a hologram of the owner.

She'd only just found the owner once the Mandals boarded the ship, bantha crud, and had found a friend, Kate, in the process. She had been a regular visitor to the chop shop Arruna`dira had worked at so they knew each other, Arruna`dira knew the droid better then the droid knew she did. Just about to persuade her way onto the 13 hundred with Kate a 'well to do' and a jedi came down the corridor. Jedi were always bad news where she came from, yet every cloud had a silver lining; he looked single and was nice to look at as well.

Taken aback by the appearance of the jedi she almost forgot what she thought she had over heard them saying, she had done a lot of less then legal things in her life and it almost certainly showed in her body language. She faced the noble that owned the ship and mad a request.

"You have a ship. I saw you with it earlier, that’s our ticket out of here. Let us on and you'll see if we aren't good for it.
(OOC: I felt I had to pull the group together a bit so I included a bit about meeting Kate on the way to finding the noble, hope it doesn't offend anyone that I took that small liberty.
Arruna`dira is just a few inches shorter then Benjamin at about 5'9" ish, has an athletic build has blue skin and like most of her race wares very immodest clothing covering only her chest and what can be described as short shorts (only because I can't think of anything better this late). Her lekke reach about 3/4 the way down her back and has an interesting black tattoo in the middle of her lower back, will describe her properly in the Q&A soon)

Awvoor Umwow really, really hated Mandalorians. Ever since this war broke out they have been raiding his clients and putting him out on the run. He's gotten himself out of trouble before having his ship registered as a neutral mobile medical frigate. But the damn war-mongering Mandalorians never seemed to care. Twice now he's had to repair some part or another due to Mandalorian attacks, or at least attacks involving Mandalorians. Officially, the Ithorian academic was here on a research mission to study the barren landscapes of the planet. In reality, he was supposed to have met up with a client to buy a few hundred cybernetic limbs. That deal was long gone as the shots rained down on the planet.

His ship was picked up on the Republic scanners during the evacuation drills as a mobile medical frigate and advised (read: instructed) to dock in the Gal'Pani to serve as additional facilities for the evacuees. Wrrlwarr docked the ship and he joined his Ithorian friend to whom he had sword a life-debt many years ago on the main deck. The two were a bit taken aback by the appearance of a shady looking twilek and her apparent droid. Sure they were used to dealing with these types, but it was strange to see them on a Republic officer's ship infested with Jedi.

"You have a ship. I saw you with it earlier, that’s our ticket out of here. Let us on and you'll see if we aint good for it."

The nerve of some people. The Ecologist, as he was known on the "street" to his associates, stared blankly with his hammerhead at the girl before him. Wrrlwarr gave a grunt showing his unease with the situation. Awvoor was just a few centimeters shorter than his wookie companion if he stretched his lengthy neck as high as it would go. The Ithorian doctor wore expensive but practical clothing, the kind that gave their wearer an aura that underground folk would recognize as serious and those on the straight and narrow would see as legit. He (and his wookie companion, similarly dressed) was also well armed, to the experienced eye.

"How dare you. That ship costs more than your life is worth. If I'm taking any passengers it's the good embassador and master Jedi. I'm always willing to help out a member of the Order." Awvoor was familiar with the force, and even knew a few tricks he picked up here and there, so he knew that he was essentially wearing a giant red target on his back to any Jedi out there. They were to be treated with the respect and dignity law enforcement officers deserved. That set him apart from petty criminals, probably like this twilek rabble.

"Master Jedi, my ship is registered as a neutral medical frigate, we should be able to escape fairly easily and reunite you and the embassador with either the Republic or the Order. We are evacuating now, and you two are welcome to come along. My ship would attract less attention than a Republic or Jedi escape pod would. The Mandalorians obviously know you are on board - they won't expect you to be on my ship."

As the group stands there to determine who gets on the Ecologist's ship, a blast in the end of the corridor draws their attention. Lightblasters begin firing into the corridor as four Mandalorian Crusaders and couple of droids enter.

Lazerblasts drive the evacuatees screaming away. Few of them get shot down in the process. The Republic soldiers are no where to be seen in the corridor.

---

CUTSCENE:
As the blaster door opens, the Republic soldiers fire in unsuccessful attempt to repel the Mandalorian troops. As the Mandalorians break through and into the corridor. Among them are two figures, a female Cathar and a towering, male Togorian.

"They said that the Khil has a Jedi following him," the female Cathar said.
"Then I will feast upon Jedi flesh," the Togorian said with drool in his feline mouth.
"You should not underestimate the Jedi, Darth Malis," the Cathar said, "it only takes the right one to kill you."
"Hah!" Darth Malis screamed gleefully. "Nothing can kill me, Darth Nadi. This you already should know."
"I know all too well," Darth Nadi said in annoyance. "Keep your comlink active. Let me know as soon as you meet up with the Jedi. I want to make sure that he won't get off this ship."
Darth Malis looked down on his Cathar comrade. "Very well," he said growling just before they split up and went down seperate corridors.

---

((OOC: Yeah, I had a little cutscene there for my own (and hopefully yours as well) enjoyment. Basically, your characters don't know this just happened, and I will probably use this technique more often.
As for current events, check the Q&A thread.))

"Speaking of the fire..." Kate mutters, as her stance shifts.

To the casual observer, she'd appear to be partly reclining, or perhaps even surrendering, setting her hands behind her head. Perhaps she's even reaching for the two vibroblades sheathed behind her. However, to the acute observer, they'd see that her feet are positioned to brace herself with firing a gun or charging into melee combat, and if they were noting the position of her shoulders, they'd seem to be misplaced further back.

Then, from under her robe, a third and fourth arm appear. She holds out her tertiary left hand, pointing its palm at the incoming combat droid. The palm plate seems to unfold, shifting to reveal something inside of it, something that looks suspiciously like a blaster nozzle.

"Let's put the fire out, shall we?" Kate asks rhetorically, before firing a blast from her hand-gun.

(Alrighty... Drawing one of her blasters - move action, followed by shooting at the combat droid with lower initiative than her - standard action)

Seeing the mandals down the corridor, she had no idea they were this close to the side of the ship, she draws a concealed blaster pistol from one of the larger pockets in her tool belt, it's a restricted weapon but she has a license for it, the 'upgrades' to it probaly are not.

The blaster it's self is an odd thing, a few screws in it's durasteel casing are a separate colour to the weapon and not all screw in fully like there the wrong size, the site on the pistol has been removed fully and replaced with what looks like a military scope. The end of the pistol has also been replaced, instead of the wide opening normal it's a continuous size with the rest of the barrel, who would bother to do so much to a bog standard blaster? What could it achieve?

"Everwhere I go" She sighs, she know's that there not after her, hopefully, but she aways seems to attract trubble. Most of it's an occupational hazard but this time... Serves he right for sneaking on a ship of mooka jedi.

After choosing a target, a mandal crusader, she checks the weapons in lethal mode and pulls the trigger wishing she had striped the weapon on stun mode anyway.

(OOC: Just to clarify, Arruna`dira is drawing her weapon (move action), checking the stun setting is off (swift action) and then shooting (standard action). She's trying for the mandal crusader with the highest initiative. If you have found, and reconised, the insult to jedi then please look it up here http://blogs.starwars.com/abelgpena/5)

Benjamin listened carefully to the Ithorian’s offer to evacuate the Ambassador and himself off the starship. He’s got a point… the Mandalorians would probably expect the Ambassador to try and escape on his own ship, it would surely make for an easy target for the Crusader fighter. But this medical ship… that just might work…
Benjamin looked to the Ambassador for input, but before he could get a response an explosion at the end of the corridor drew his attention away. In a fluid motion, the Jedi’s right hand withdrew and ignited his lightsaber, while he calmly, yet firmly, guided the Ambassador with left hand to the cover provided by the nearest wall support beam.. “Please, Ambassador Cardass, lay down here, behind this support beam. It will serve to protect you.”

Benjamin placed himself beside the wall support beam, trying to provide the Ambassador with even more cover from the blaster fire. With both end of his lightsaber ignited, the Jedi guardian braced himself to deflect the incoming fire.

[OOC: I’m hoping that by lying prone behind the wall, the ambassador’s chance of getting hit by ranged attack will be next to nil. Benjamin is looking to redirect blaster fire back at the enemy. If one of them should move into a space threatened by Benjamin, he’ll engage in melee combat as well.]

Awvoor knew this would be a pretty safe fight. Wrrlwarr could probably take them down himself, but with a Jedi on their side there was little that could stand in their way.

The ecologists reflexes were the most keen of the group, jumping to grab his heavy blaster pistol. Of course it wasn't licensed with a real license, but Ithorians had a way of carrying very large robes that made searches difficult. Plus his reputation often bought him a pass, and when it didn't his credits or a glare from Wrrlwarr did.

While Awvoor let go with his heavy pistol, Wrrlwarr drew his bowcaster, maneuvered into a position to block Awvoor and loosed one of the wookie's customized blaster charges that only bowcasters can fire. He knew the vibro-ax that was stashed beneath his robe would dole out more damage, but he wasn't going to charge in without knowing how good of shots the others were. Sure Awvoor wouldn't hit him, but the others weren't worth risking his life for.

(OOC: Both aiming for the same crusader, the one farthest to the right.)

As blasts start flying through the corridor, someone is bound to get hit. The ambassador makes his way behind a pillar as instructed by his Jedi bodyguard.

Awvoor fired his heavy blaster pistol. The blast hit the crusader in the shoulder and he staggered back.

The first battledroid to fire aimed his blaster rifle at Wrrlwarr. The shot was well calculated and hit the wookie close to the chest.

Arruna'dira shot her blaster at the crusader nearest to them (although not by much) and hit him near the hip.

The crusader screamed in agony, but pulled himself together to aim and fire his own blaster. The blast was aimed at his attacker, but only barely missed. Arruna'dira could feel the heat from the blast on her cheek.

Kate's drawn blaster aimed at one of the combat droids. The blast from 'her' blaster hit the droid's torso area but the droid's shield took most of the damage.

Wrrlwarr raised his bowcaster and fired it at the same crusader as his Ithorian friend. The wookie hit the crusader in the torso and badly injured his target.
At the very same time, however, that same crusader had fired his own weapon at Arruna'dira. The blast flew passed the Twi'lek and far into the corridor before being stopped by a wall.

Benjamin stood vigilant as he directed the ambassador to find cover. If any blast would come his way he would intercept it and direct it right back at the Mandalorians.

The second droid took aim, interestingly enough at the Jedi. The blast came directly towards Benjamin, who successfully deflected and redirected the blast back to its source. The droid's shield would have taken most of the blast, if Kate's blast had not damaged it just earlier.

The two crusaders that are left both fire into the group. The first blast is aimed at Awvoor but the crusader could just as well have been aiming at the ceiling. The second blast is aimed at Wrrlwarr, but the blast does nothing but singe the wookie's fur.

This was time to kick it into high gear to finish them off. "Finish the wounded ones!" Awvoor bellows out before redirecting aim to one of the healthier combatants and waiting.

He knew he could take the shot and it was time to finish this.

Wrrlwarr followed suit, holstering his bowcaster and quickly drawing the large vibro-ax from within his robes. With a glutteral growl he lashes out and charges the healthiest looking crusader.

After the attack, Awvoor kicks it to back-up his companion. He lets go a shot aimed to take down the same target before moving over beside the Jedi, still close enough to be comfortable.

(OOC: Ecologist will delay, Wrrlwarr will quickdraw down his bowcaster and up his ax (2 swifts) and then charge (standard). Awvoor will then take a shot at the same guy if he's still alive (precise & point blank shot) or take down a wounded one if Wrrlwarr kills him.)

Arruna`dira would have rolled her eyes at the noble’s order but they were needed for aiming her shot, it was obvious that they should finish the injured yet that was the opposite of what he and his wookie pet were doing.

She then realised that mandal armour is rare and worth a fortune, or she might be able to do something with it, so she decided on the following action.
"Wookie, don't damage the armour!"
She then took aim at the crusader she had already shot and pulled the trigger, not because she thought him to be the biggest threat or out of following orders, her blaster was just already pointing at him.

She wasn't all to pleased with her previous shot, it wasn't very well aimed and was in her mind a lucky shot, she couldn't rely on luck, those that did usually ended up dead, usually in a horrific speeder bike crash racing herself.

She was impressed with Kate's weapons having never seen them in use but the other weapons, all apart from the lightsaber, were your bog standard, shop bought, c*** and needed improvements. She wondered why they had boarded, surely the safer option would be to blast them out the sky, there must be something they want on the ship.

(I do have precise shot and point blank shot so I can shoot into combat and should have the +1 included in my attack on top of the +1 from the improved accuracy modification on my blaster. I can shoot into combat and my overall attack bonus is +14)

Benjamin felt the oncoming blaster bolt, as his Jedi training took over every muscle in his body. Shifting his body slightly to the right, his hands reached over behind his head so that the blade of his lightsaber was positioned where his torso once was. He sensed the laser blast connect with the blade, felt the fluid motion of his wrists twisting to redirect it back at the droid. With satisfaction, he watched as the laser fire connected with his target

With grace, the Jedi guardian returned once again to his balanced, defensive stance. He considered engaging the Crusaders in melee combat, but decided that staying close to the Ambassador was his best course of action for the moment.

[OOC: Benjamin will continue to look to protect the Ambassador, redirecting any shots fired their way back. I think I can spend a force point if need be in order to use my block and deflect moves to deflect blaster fire aimed the Ambassador.]