Fwurg

[Shebi Ajava]

"Jedi are much tougher than we look. You should worry less about us, and more about splitting up."

Ajava looked at the assembled scientists. 'Four scientists and a priestess', she thought to herself, 'this is really not a good idea.'

"What is the reason to to split up? Wouldn't it be better if everyone gets to see the sight of both phenomena...", she asked the priestess.

Then it dawned on her. She was standing on the creature. Not floating next to it, standing on it.

"Priestess. I just now noted that we are standing on the creature, instead of floating next to it. Do you have any idea why?", she asked.

((OOC: I didn't know how to do this any other way -- If I was aware I was standing (instead of floating, as I thought) on the creature, I would have asked this immediately, as it is rather unexpected for Ajava.))

[Ariana Danacia]

"This is interesting indeed. Does this creature have its own gravity field?

I agree that it is not wise to split up until we have some of these fundamental questions answered."

[Dragonmaster352]

First the two jedi got a surprised look from the Lady-Priestess.

"You're right." She said, then closing her eyes for a moment. "Curious."

She opened her eyes and turned towards the scientists. "I want a pressure reading from your spinal columns, now.

Curious indeed." She turned back to the jedi.

"Our spinal columns all read a pressure equal to a force of 1 G."

She then looked in the direction of the ship.

"Ashikata to Labraham Incoln, I need a gravitational scan of the creature. Report any anomalies."

"Roger that, one moment please." The voice of the captain called through the comm. "Nothing abnormal, no gravitational anomalies or fields. Incoln out."

The scientists, including the Lady-Priestess, all looked very confused. And on the comm they started arguing about how they where standing on the creature.

Meanwhile Ariana and Ajava felt a small pull in the Force only for a moment, trying to find it they sensed an extremely subtle use of the Force to pull them down. It was so subtle that if they hadn't felt the pull and followed it they would never have noticed it at all.

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava was amused by the arguing scientists, and let them argue for a while. At an opportune moment, she cut into the conversation.

"I do not think this is something you are going to explain with science. Trust in the force."

She looked over the astrians, her eyes wandering from person to person and finally resting on the priestess.

"Just in case however, I would advise not straying to far from the group. We won't be splitting up, and we'll have a look at the energy source first."

With that, Ajava started towards the energy source as indicated by the astrian scientists.

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana waited for the others to finish their chat.

When Ariana heard Ajava saying that they were heading to the energy source she said nothing and just followed her.

[Dragonmaster352]

"Yes perhaps that is better." Together they started to head towards the energy source.

They paused a few times so the scientists could take surface samples.

When they reached the energy source they could see a large fleshy line of yellow light just bellow the creatures skin.

"Hmm, traces of exotic matter. High density nerve bundles. Evidence of..., cold fusion?" Doctor Hasley said, probably scanning the line.

Meanwhile the two Jedi suddenly felt a disturbance in the Force.

[Shebi Ajava]

"I've got a bad feeling about this.", came Ajava's concerned voice over the communicator.

Though she was loath to do so, she closed her eyes for a moment to get a better idea of this disturbance.

((Check: 13 = 8 Force Level + 5 Intuition -- get an inkling of the nature of the disturbance))

[Ariana Danacia]

"Everybody take a step back, we need to know what we are dealing with."

Ariana moved back a few meters, away from the disturbance.

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: Ajava's check: approved))

The science team looked very confused at Ariana's words, clearly not understanding what was going on. However they all obediently took one step backwards.

Ariana moved behind them.

When Ajava tried to sense what caused the disturbance it quickly became clear what it was. There where to many people on the creature.

Aside from herself, Ariana and the science team there where at least twelve others on the creature. They were quite some distance away, but they where coming closer. There was also something familiar about them, though she couldn't quite place it.

"What's the matter?" The Lady-Priestess asked.

[Shebi Ajava]

"This is Shebi Ajava to the Labraham Incoln. Please move to position yourself over our current location for extraction.", she quickly instructed the ship.

"I'm not sure priestess. There's at least twelve others on this creature, I'm not sure where they came from, or what they want. They're moving this way.", Ajava replied over the communication channel. "I've got a bad feeling about this.", she added.

"I'll go have a look. Padawan, stay here and protect the scientists. I leave it to your judgement whether or not to go back to the Labraham Incoln when it arrives."

With that, Ajava gently pushed off of the creature, her black suit against the stars masking her presence to observers. She carefully uses her pressurized air boosters to manoeuvre but takes care not to overdo it. She keeps the group of scientists in sight, and tries to get a look at the others before landing next to the priestess.

((Check: 15 = 8 Force Level + 4 Vision + 2 Stealth + 1 Zero-G Mobility -- Stealthy Zero-G observation jump))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana stayed with the group of scientists and kept an eye on their ship and on Shebi Ajava.

"Roger that. I will stay with the scientists."

[Dragonmaster352]

The Labraham Incoln did not respond to Ajava and seeing as it had moved of to the other side of the creature Ariana could not see it.

((OOC: Ajava's check: denied The reason I'm denying the check is because you are taking to many actions in one check, this is slightly confusing and gives an unrealistic score. Next time please take several separate checks instead of bringing them into one.))

From her higher vantage point Ajava could see seven of the twelve presences she felt, all of them where wearing spacesuits. She could make a reasonable assumption on the race of the wearer. There where several different species, all of which had also been on the crew of the Labraham Incoln.

One of them saw Ajava when she momentarily blocked a star from view and opened fire without warning. Ajava managed to pull out her lightsaber just in time and deflected the shots. However their position was certainly known now.

((OOC: Time to prep for combat. Round 0 combat styles please. (The most recent version of combat rules applies)))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: I envisioned it as taking a single action: Jump up and look around. It's even allowed to add multiple skills to the check.

Regardless, the fact that my score is high is because I have actually invested XP in what I am doing here O_o

If I split the actions, they become:
((Check: 15 = 8 Force Level + 4 Fitness + 2 Stealth + 1 Zero-G Mobility -- Jump up))
((Check: 14 = 8 Force Level + 4 Vision + 2 Stealth -- Look around))

Stealth has actually been used for looking around and for being stealthy....))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: That may be so, I thought you where taking three checks as one (jump, look, being stealthy). I think you will agree with me that when more than two checks are combined into one they give unrealistic scores.

I'm keeping things as they are now, because I think this allows for a more interesting story and allows it to move forward a bit faster.))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: I agree that two checks should not be combined. Two skills however, can be combined (as per the wiki). In my book 'being stealthy' is not a distinct action... but a way to do something else.

I have no problem with keeping things as they are. Just keep in mind that high-XP charcters will have high results (especially if they specialize) ^_^))

With the crew-members suddenly opening fire from afar, Ajava deflected a few of the shots with her regular saber. As the assailants disappeared from view again as she landed next to the priestess, she deactivated her saber and put it back on her belt.

She calmly informed the others through her communicator: "I visually spotted seven of the twelve presences, they are members of the crew of the vessel. We have been betrayed."

"Padawan Ariana, prepare yourself for battle. Make sure to keep on the lookout, we still miss five. They are probably circling around to flank us."

While she positioned herself between the scientists and the assailants, she grabbed her composite recurve bow, and nocked an arrow. Having practised her archery in zero-g vacuum during padawan training, she was already familiar with the effects of a lack of atmospheric drag or gravity.

((Combat, round 0: Arkari-Renja + Composite Recurve Bow))

[Ariana Danacia]

((OOC: We will need some extra information on our locations relative to the scientists, enemies and possible terrain. More information about the combat map.))

Ariana activates both her lightsabers and takes a position between the scientists and the attackers. She communicates to the scientists: "Defend yourself, stay behind me or take cover."

((Combat, round 0: Ataru; dagger+regular blade (short handles)))

[Dragonmaster352]

The relative smooth surface of the creature didn't offer any cover and other than the weightlessness of space there was no real high ground either. The scientists huddled together, confused and probably scared. A few blaster shots flew overhead and the science team spread and dropped laying flat on their stomachs.

A moment later the first of the enemy became visible over the curvature of the creature.

((Combat, round 0: Blaster style))

((OOC: To make things a little easier on everyone the enemy all have the same scores and combat styles. I will only put them down once.))

[Ariana Danacia]

((OOC: Can we get some more information about the distance and amounts of enemies? Are you still going to start round 1 with their attacks or should we open with round 1?))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: The NPCs go first in PvE storytelling. So we should wait till Dragonmaster352 posted the round 1 actions for the enemies before posting...))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: Right, sorry. I forgot about that, still a bit new to this part of storytelling.))

The enemy was close but still to far to engage in lightsaber combat. It seemed their spacesuits where armoured. The six enemies that came into view opened fire.

((Combat, round 1: Blaster style, advancing, spraying blaster fire. Offensive DCA

Attack: - / - / 7
Defence: 6 / 0 / 0

• Offensive DCA: spraying blaster fire (+2 )
• First round: -2 penalty

))

[Ariana Danacia]

((OOC: I noticed two things that are either unclear or in my opinion missing.

• First of all you might want to clarify whether this are 0/0/9 (Jedi like skilled 3 rings operatives) or -/-/9 (simple trained soldiers).
  
• Furthermore I think you forgot your round 1 penalty of -2 on all attacks.

))

Ariana had not brought any ranged weapon with her in the spacesuit. She waited for the enemies to come closer. Instead of running towards them she stayed here and deflected the blaster fire that was coming towards them. Staying low and ducking to make sure she was hard to hit. When possible she tried to hit the attackers with their own blaster fire by deflecting it back to them.

((Combat, round 1: Defending the scientists, Taking a Defensive Advantage Action((Check: 11 = 6 Force Level + 3 Fitness + 1 Stealth + 1 Force Speed -- Quickly ducking to the ground and fending of the hits while lying on her belly.))
Attack: 9 / 7 / 11 - Ataru; dagger + regular blade (short hilts)
Defence: 7 / 7 / 9 - Ataru; dagger + regular blade (short hilts)

• Round 1, -2 penalty on attack

))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: You are absolutely right. My sincere apologies.

fixed.))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: Thanks for the quick fix! I had to read up, so this link is mostly for my own convenience for later in the fight: Non-saber Combat.

Tip: if you use attack and defence tags with the x/y/z;style+weapon notation, the stats will be aligned and we know any changes in style.))

Ajava took care to aim at the center of mass of the first enemy coming into view. With the routine of years of practice she let the arrow fly and in one fluid motion pulled the next arrow from her quiver.

Though she could unleash arrows more quickly, she takes her time to assess the enemies and her surroundings.

((Combat, round 1: Attacking the closest enemy. ((Check: 12 = 8 Force Level + 4 Vision -- keeping an eye on the surroundings, and seeing if anything's weird about the closing enemies))

Attack: - / - / 11 - Arkari-Renja + Composite Recurve Bow
Defence: 9 / 9 / 8 - Arkari-Renja + Composite Recurve Bow

• First round penalty (offensive -2/-2/-2)

))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: Checks: approved))

While the enemy had superior numbers and clearly knew what they where doing, they where no jedi. Ariana managed to deflect a shot into the visor of an enemy, instantly killing them.

Ajava's aim was true and she hit an enemy who also went down. Sensing danger she ducked just in time as a shot flew mere centimetres from her head. She could see a sniper laying far away when she looked to where the shot came from.

The rest of the enemies spread out to give them more room to manoeuvre and stopped advancing.

((Combat, round 2: Sniping from long range. Offensive advantage action.
Attack: - / - / 7 - Blaster style + blaster rifle
Defence: 8 / 0 / 0 - Sniper style + blaster rifle ))

[Ariana Danacia]

((OOC: I was wondering how 1 rings soldiers are supposed to be a challenge for Jedi. It feels like you are stalling us for 6 rounds since there are 12 enemies and we can only kill 1 each every round.

Unless there are actual skilled Jedi-like enemies that join the fight I think we could skip to the end...

If there are real enemies please move ahead to their appearance.))