20031007

2.21.4787 Republic Reckoning

Bro'jen, Dabai, Elbram, and Igashu led an elite strike force to capture or kill the leaders of the slave revolt (four Sith including our one time companion Nakael), and hopefully rescue Quindo who had been 'captured'.

Meanwhile, To'iir, has been attempting to free captured prisoners.

To make matters worse, the Sith leaders were no longer with the Mobile Sith Command Center targeted by our heroes. They had sent it away as a decoy and prepared an assault to capture the leaders of the Hutt forces. Quindo was not only with the Sith, but compelled to lead the attack in order to minimize casualties as much as possible.

As you can see, things are going badly for Quindo. He can not act directly against the Sith, as they would quickly and brutally destroy him. He could escape, but then he would have no way to mitigate their actions. His only recourse is to remain with the Sith, steer their plans as much as possible, and wait for an opportunity to act.

Last night, the opportunity came.

Quindo is notoriously bad at military matters. Personal, even squad level combat are his domain. Start talking about supply lines and resource allocation and his eyes glaze over. Which means... he wasn't paying attention to the briefings that outlined the Hutt disposition of forces, armaments, and defenses. Therefore, he has no idea what he's up against in trying to infiltrate the Hutt base camp. Luckily, Dabai knows all of this stuff, and Quindo's plan is to contact him telepathically and convince him to help just before beginning the actual assault.

Unfortunately, as soon as the Sith forces (4 Sith, 1 Jedi Student, and 40 battle droids) are close enough to see the base, they can see that there's already something going on. Explosions and gunfire wrack the base.

It seems that To'iir had botched things trying to free prisoners and is now single-handedly trying to stop Col. D'han and 150 troopers from massacring the prisoners. Of course, Quindo doesn't know this, and neither do the Sith.

Master Laut (DJ Master) decides that the confusion will be an ideal time for attack. Tvlashska (DJ Senior) advocates frontal assault, and Nakael suggests flanking with the battle droids. In seconds, a battle plan is in effect and the charge begins. No time to outline the situation for Dabai, so Quindo loses control of the situation once again. Only one choice... CHARGE!

Note to self: Charging a machine gun nest across a cleared field is STUPID.

Luckily, Quindo has been saving character points for awhile. A dozen of those points later, Quindo reaches the machine gun nest and disables both guards with Judo and a stun pistol (Thanks Dabai!)

Tvlashka and At!tck (DJ Junior) disappear into the base in the confusion, ostensibly to capture the command staff.

Quindo deactivates his lightsaber (less of a target), but keeps Lightsaber Combat active. He also raises Danger Sense (in case of snipers) and uses Life Sense to find Col. D'han on the other side of the camp. Meanwhile, Nakael is making full use of his new Sith powers by taking control of the minds of squads of troops and making them kill other squads of troops. Bad Nakael. Dark Side points abound. Quindo doesn't see this, he's trying to make his way through the camp to the command center.

As he approaches D'han, Tvlashka appears in a battle frenzy, covered with blood. He rants for a moment about the glories of combat and asks Quindo if he revels in having such power over their enemies. Something about being a wolf among sheep.

Quindo - "Tvlashka, our mission here is to capture the command staff. I sense D'han over just over there. We can end this right now. Come with me and complete our task. We're trying to minimize casualties, not revel in massacre."

Tvlashka refuses to listen and takes off, looking for more people to kill. Q doesn't even think, just drops his fix on D'han and chases after Tvlashka. He rounds a building to see Tvlashka ducking into a large tent. Q follows and sees Tvlashka merrily killing a wounded soldier with his sword (Tvlashka doesn't use a lightsaber, he uses paired sith swords). As Tvlashka goes for a high strike on the next wounded man, Quindo's lightsaber springs to life and intercepts the blow. (Insert appropriate sounds and flashing light)

Tvlashka - "If you get in my way again, I will destroy you."

He strikes again. Again, Quindo's saber intercepts the blade. With a snarl, Tvlashka turns and faces Quindo.

Quindo - "I told you I would act if I must. I can't stand by and let you murder these men."

Tvlashka just snarls and attacks. Quindo barely manages to block the first blow. The last time he faced DJ Senior, he had three friends with him, and it took all of them just to stalemate the alien. Fortunately, Quindo has improved since then... but undoubtedly, so has the Sith.

Knowing that his only hope lies in a quick win, Quindo strikes at a sword directly, hoping to destroy it. Tvlashka is blocking Q's lightsaber with the blade, but surely the metal could not withstand a deliberate, powerful attack.

Quindo strikes true, throwing everything he has behind the blow. The Sword is unharmed, and Quindo must defend against two more attacks in rapid succession. (Actually, Sith Swords are made from a mystic Force alchemy... they can't be destroyed short of being tossed into a sun. I knew that, but Quindo didn't.)

Finding himself overmatched, Quindo barely blocks the Sith's flurry of blows. It is obvious that both combatants are calling on the Force, moving with superhuman speed and agility as the battle continues.

The combatants circle, maneuvering for position in the confines of the tent. There is no fancy footwork, no flourishes, no sweeping gestures or acrobatic leaps there are only shifting stances and rapid turns of the wrist.

Tvlashka suddenly launches himself into an all out attack. Quindo takes the first strike on his lightsaber and manages an attack of his own, striking a glancing blow against the Sith's right wrist.

Tvlashka hisses as the blade burns through his sleeve and scorches his arm. Quindo takes a moment to taunt the apparently unharmed Darksider, "Your master should have trained you better. I'm just a student of the Light Side, yet first touch goes to me."

Tvlashka doesn't even hesitate, raining blow after blow against Quindo. Two Sabers prove too much for the Jedi's defenses. A badly parried lunge misses his gut, but tears a ragged gash across Quindo's ribs. This is the first time that Quindo has EVER taken damage in battle. (Granted, Igashu chopped off his pinky that day at the academy, but they weren't even sparring. Igashu had swiped a practice saber so he could train on his own and when he ran up to show it to Quindo, accidentally turned it on... Vape!)

Anyway, the wound is distracting but minor. Quindo controls his pain in time to block the last of the combo from the Sith. Quindo is wounded, tiring rapidly, and his ability to call on the Force is strained. He estimates that in a few moments, he won't be able to call upon the reserves that are allowing him to just barely hold his own against Tvlashka.

One last chance. He knows that he has to disable or kill Tvlashka in the next exchange or the Sith will kill him... then return to his slaughter. Calling upon the Force, Quindo blocks the Sith's opening attack and hammers his blade against Tvlashka's right wrist. It rebounds, but the smell of burning flesh fills the tent as Tvlashka stumbles back, his momentum lost, barely holding on to his sword with his wounded wrist. Quindo carries the rebound in a full circle and slices through Tvlashka's injured wrist on the upswing.

Tvlashka tumbles to the floor. He holds onto the sword in his left hand, pain washes across his features and then away. His eyes bore into Quindo, his features twisted by hatred, "You will pay for that, child!"

Quindo knows that he is spent. Even wounded, the Sith is still more than a match for our hero. Quindo recalls Igashu's lessons in bluffing...

Igashu- "You've got to keep a straight face Quindo, like you don't care about the outcome at all. Now try again..." Quindo - "I... raise?" Igashu - "That was good. I think you got it that time!" Quindo - "Really?" Igashu - "NO! See! See what I just did... That's how you bluff!!" Quindo lowers the point of his lightsaber to point at Tvlashka's chest. Mastering every muscle of his face, every nuance of his tone, he barks at the fallen Sith, "Drop... your... sword."

Tvlashka's eyes widen. Fear stalks briefly across his face. He drops the Sith Sword to the floor. Quindo picks up both swords and shoves them through his belt.

The doorway behind Quindo darkens. He darts a look back to see soldiers entering the tent, with Nakael behind them. Suddenly, Quindo surges forward, massacring the soldiers before they can even raise an alarm. Quindo can not control his arm. His lightsaber rises and falls, severing limbs and hacking smoking trenches in the men before him. He watches from somewhere behind his eyes as Tvlashka's will directs his body in an attack against Nakael.

Nakael doesn't even bother to raise his lightsaber, he casually wrenches control of Quindo's body from Tvlasha and stands him like a statue a prisoner in his own flesh.

As Nakael advances on Tvlashka, the tent is suddenly flooded with palpable Hated. The soldiers who were still alive are torn apart by crushing waves of evil from the Dark Side of the Force. Quindo musters his mind, driving out Nakael's control. "Nakael! STOP IT! You must NOT do this!" He launches himself at Nakael, and is unceremoniously tossed away. Quindo's flying body carries the tent away, landing 50 feet away in a tangled heap. Tvlashka doesn't even have a chance to cry out as Nakael hammers his lightsaber again and again into his prone body.

By the time Quindo manages to cut himself free and rush back to the scene of carnage, Tvlashka is dead, as well as every living thing within 20 feet. Nakael spares a glance at Quindo before turning to walk away.

Quindo draws and aims his pistol, "Thank you Dabai", and shoots Nakael squarely in the back of the head. Nakael falls unconscious to the ground. Gathering up his former comrade, Quindo makes his way toward the sound of nearby trucks.