Fwurg

[Mercury]

The training hall seemed to be a repurposed ball room of some sort - it was a large hallway regardless with stone floors. It had been refitted as a gym of some sort, with weights being available as well as various obstacles to climb over. The equipment was not your run of the mill gym equipment - Ajava recognized them as being part of military training regimes.

Peering in through the keyhole in a large set of double doors, the two Jedid did not enter the hall, as they heard voices inside. Two people were talking while training there, it seemed. The language was Manda'o, the language of the Mandalorians, so it was hard for them to really figure out what was being said.

[Shebi Ajava]

"Military training, as expected. Right, let's check out the meditation chamber next. Afterwards, we should quickly determine how to sabotage this business, the longer we hang around the greater the chance that we run out of luck."

Ajava quickly made her way to the meditation chamber.

((Check: 16 = 9 Force Level + 4 Fitness + 3 Stealth -- Stealthily moving around))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana followed Shebi Ajava while talking to her telepathically.

"The question is where can we do the most damage and what is really relevant in this base. When we have destroyed or stolen this we still have to get out of this base without being noticed as Jedi.

If this is a Sith training facility we should probably kill their pupils since they are their valuable resource, but this is just very hard to do without being noticed, although the explosives could help. I am still considering rescuing the prisoners but have no idea how to get them out of here yet, again without being noticed as Jedi...

When we exit we should first disable all security systems using the power node.

What is your current line of thought?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"I'm thinking I should have learned Mando'a. It would make things a lot easier.

Rescueing the prisoners will only strike a minor blow, most won't make it out alive anyway. And they would just get new ones. Our objective is to make a big show of how this facility is not doing what it should do. It doesn't really matter what happens here, as long as those higher-up see that things have gone wrong.

You are right that the pupils are the biggest resources of this facility. We will have to work with that. Just killing them won't be enough. We have to do something that corrupts their training and work, something flashy."

Ajava deftly looked around the corner of the next corridor before continuing.

"I'm currently trying to figure out how we can get them fighting amongst each other without the teachers catching on before it is too late. That way we can demolish the whole base, ruin the training of at least a quarter of the pupils and have all blame falling on those supposed to run the facility.

If we knew where they load their schedules and books onto their datapads we could change the schedules of a third of the pupils. Divide them into groups and give the smaller group the explosives with the instructions that they have been selected as the best, their final task is the execution of those weaker, to show that they have fully understood the way.

Of course, the explosions won't kill most of the other pupils, but their mutual bloodlust will take care of that. And if they are killed, well, that would mean even more of the pupils stop training.

We'll have deployed some of the explosives at key locations beforehand, so when they remotely detonate the explosives to kill their comrades, they will also detonate the power node. And other critical areas. That way, even if the fighting stops there, they'll have to explain why some pupils decided to blow up the training facility.

We just need to modify a third of the schedules without too much risk. That's where you come in; we need to find a way to do that without exposing ourselves."

[Ariana Danacia]

"We only found one datapad. We don't know how many they have and where they are. If you could create the military exercise with the explosives I could put it on the datapad and build in a virus that pushes it to some other datapads that are near it using their wireless communication module. How we can make sure that their trainers stay blissfully unaware of what is happening and where do we put the explosives for maximum effect.

We could rip a patrol outside in pieces as a diversion. I could make it bloody without leaving lightsaber marks."

[Shebi Ajava]

"Are you kidding? The moment we use such a diversion it becomes clear that a third party is messing around here. That would negate most of the blame for infighting as they can easily say 'sabotage'. We have to make sure that all destructive actions are taken by pupils.

Can you make your virus so that it erases itself and the schedule entries after a set time? That way it'll be more difficult to find evidence of foul play."

[Ariana Danacia]

"I think I could do that but I will need more time than just a few minutes to do this.

We should get back for that datapad. I will copy the whole content and its operating system to my datapad in a virtual machine to build the self deleting virus and schedule. I propose to leave the castle after this, build the schedule and virus in our camp and plant it together with the explosives tommorrow night."

[Shebi Ajava]

"Agreed. But first, let's see what that meditation chamber brings us."

[Mercury]

The meditation chamber smelled of incense and there were actually people meditating here. Complete silence would be the key to any actions the Jedi undertook here, though because of the way the chamber was set up with various screens and curtains, they were unlikely to be seen.

Within the chamber, various lesson plans were listed, and there was a station to charge up datapads. No doubt this was also where information was downloaded. One of the side halls was set up as a classroom where lectures could be held, while another room featured a padded door, likely to keep sound out... or in. With this place you could not be sure.

The area also featured a mailbox area and a bulletin board where people could leave messages, either for individual people or to the group. One of the announcement told that tonight's holomovie was "Sorcerer of the Wastelands", a sappy romance story about a handicapped man and the woman who loves him, while another juxtaposed that any severed body parts put into fellow student mail boxes as a joke should always be sealed in plastic for sanitary reasons.

[Shebi Ajava]

"Excellent. Their lack of central system makes this easier for us. Your timetable sounds good. I'll try to see behind the padded door with the Force. That way, we make sure no sound bursts out. After that, we'll retrieve the datapad for you to copy, and we'll get out of here for today."

Ajava silently made her way to the door, and concentrated on sensing lifeforms.

((Check: 16 = 9 Force Level + 4 Fitness + 3 Stealth -- silence is key!))

((Check: 14 = 9 Force Level + 4 Vision + 1 Force Vision -- Using Force Vision, Rank 1 to see lifeforms behind cover))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana waits for Ajava to sense what is inside the meditation chamber. Afterwards she quietly returns to the living quarters area. Without really thinking about it she grabs the datapad with the force from a distance and floats it towards her claws.

After retrieving the datapad Ariana returns to the corner where they looked at the datapad the first time. She starts to copy the complete content of the datapad to her own device in a virtual machine. When she is finished she returns the datapad with the force.

((Check: 16 = 7 Force Level + 5 Energy + 3 Telekinesis + 1 Stealth -- Silently grabbing the datapad with the force and floating it to her claws.))

((Check: 15 = 7 Force Level + 6 Reason + 2 Programming -- Copying the content to her own device in a virtual machine.))

[Mercury]

Concentrating on the area behind the padded door with the force, Shebi Ajava detected one lifesign. They seemed to be calm and relaxed and most closely reminded her of the lifesigns of people who were meditating. Perhaps the padding of the door was intended to keep sounds out so they could focus on meditation? That was an almost Jedi-like training method, so it did not really seem to fit with what she had seen of these people so far. She could tell that whomever were there were force sensitive however, though their exact power was undetermined.

Ariana meanwhile copied the complete content of the datapad, returning it to its spot. She now had a complete copy of the machine which she could manipulate or check out later.

As they worked, they could hear footsteps closing in. Someone was coming!

((OOC: Due to scheduling conflicts, My next post will be on Wednesday evening.))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: Clarification request: I detect that I am confused by the statement "they could hear footsteps closing in". By my knowledge, the datapad is in the living quarters area while the padded door is in the meditation chamber area. That would work out, as Ajava could easily have followed Ariana back to the living quarter area, but the ST post clearly states: "Ariana meanwhile copied..." indicating that these events happen at the same time.

Since we are therefore in separate physical locales, who is hearing the footsteps?))

[Mercury]

((OOC: I was unclear on some actions. Only Shebi Ajava can hear the footsteps))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava smoothly, and silently, steps behind one of the screens, so she can not be seen from the entrance of the room. Through her Jedi training she knows how to mask her presence from those that could sense her through the force.

She calmly waits until the person has passed by the screen. She steps out of her cover into the open and, trusting the force to guide her, silently moves out of the meditation room behind the person's back.

((Check: 19 = 9 Force Level + 6 Energy + 3 Stealth + 1 Life Energy Manipulation -- Masking her presence through Life Energy Manipulation))
((Check: 17 = 9 Force Level + 4 Fitness + 3 Stealth + 1 Force Speed -- Silently running away))

((OOC: I'm not exactly clear on whether 2 checks are allowed or necessary here; I think the main thing is making sure she isn't seen, sensed or heard. Running away very fast is secondary.))

[Ariana Danacia]

After copying the files Ariana silently returned for the balcony where she waited for Shebi Ajava to leave the compound.

"I am done. I am heading for the balcony to leave."

((Check: 11 = 7 Force Level + 3 Fitness + 1 Stealth -- Silently leaving the area, heading to the balcony to leave together with Shebi Ajava.))

[Mercury]

Ariana quietly sneaked back to the balcony, eventually finding her way back to the site without being discovered. From here it would be relatively easy to get back to base-camp. Relatively.

Ajava meanwhile snuck behind one of the screens, still masking her presence through the force. The concentration to keep that up over the long hall was starting to affect her, but she managed to keep up with it through her extended efforts. Once the person had passed, she snuck out of the meditation room and back into the hallways. From here, she could make her escape to the balcony where Ariana was already waiting for her.

((OOC: You do not need to take further checks, but can go straight to base-camp if you wish and roleplay your plans there. My next post will be on monday.))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava meets up with Arian at the balcony. A quick climb and hike lead her to the small base camp.

While Ariana was working on the program Ajava sits down to meditate for a while. There is a lot to be done, but at least she could relax for a moment before they would have to act.

After her meditation, she gets to work on preparing the explosives. She isn't as well-versed in using explosives as some other Jedi, but her special ops training helps to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. She divides the explosives into two groups: the larger one will be used by the pupils, the smaller group of only a few explosives will be planted by herself to ensure the necessary destruction.

She sets all explosives to the same detonation frequency, so the planted explosives will go off the moment one of the pupils remotely detonates the explosives. She also makes sure that she keeps one remote detonator for herself, in case they plan needs some assistance.

When she is finished with the explosives, she writes the 'exercise' for Ariana to plant with the virus. She puts the explosives collection point on the balcony, so they have an observable point where the pupils should pass by.

Afterwards, she meditates until the night sets in again, and the two Jedi plan to go in plant the bombs and the virus.

((Check: 12 = 9 Force Level + 3 Reason -- preparing the explosives))
((Check: 14 = 9 Force Level + 3 Reason + 1 Military Command + 1 Linguistics -- writing the exercise))

((OOC: The Explosives skill is trained only. I assume that using 'ready-to-use' explosives like grenades or neatly-packaged ones like thes doesn't require the skill; otherwise no-one would be able to throw a grenade. Of course, the perfect placement, and (de)construction of bombs would require the skill.))

[Ariana Danacia]

At the basecamp Ariana starts to write a program that adds the excercise created by Shebi Ajava to the schedule of other datapads using a virus that takes control of the wireless communication module in the datapads to share the exercise and the virus with only a third of the other datapads that it comes in contact with.

The rest of the day Ariana cleans up her code and makes sure that the virus removes itself after contacting other datapads and the excercise remove itself after being fully read.

Finally Ariana creates a self-extracting data package that she can quickly transfer from her datapad to the datapads of the students to start the spreading.

At the end of the afternoon she rests, to be up and ready when the night sets in.

((Check: 15 = 7 Force Level + 6 Reason + 2 Programming -- Writing the virus that spreads the exercise and removes itself after spreading and packaging it in a self-extracting data package.))

[Mercury]

Ajava easily prepared the 'exercise' for use with the datapads, but found wiring the explosives together to be outside of her expertise: setting the explosives to detonate on the same frequency, while also allowing their safe instalment in various locations without them seeming like they were already armed and ready to blow - which would certainly arouse suspicion, like handing someone a primed hand grenade - was just a little bit too hard without proper training.

Ajava did manage to set up the small explosives so she could detonate them at her leisure - for example when she heard the bigger bombs go off. She was also able to set the bigger explosives for the pupils to one frequency, meaning that all explosives which had been armed would detonate if any student set them off. But if some students hadn't finished arming their load yet, those explosives would not go off.

Ariana was able to easily add the exercise Ajava had created. Moreover thanks to her programming ability, she was able to insert it in such a way that it would be unlikely to arouse suspicions, using the same formatting and systems of existing exercises.

Ariana had some skill in slicing, and with her programming ability was able to create the virus to erase the exercise it had been read - she even managed to do so while deleting past signatures and overwriting them with garbage so it would not be retrievable.

However, making it infect other datapads was a tad harder - this medieval castle had terrible wifi, and datapads were not designed to allow other datapads to execute code on it. A Praetorianoid slicer could possibly break in, but a program simply did not have the access abilities required.

Thus, while she was able to infect datapads that were close-by, roughly 100 meters if no walls were in between, she wasn't able to make it spread out wider. With her preparation, she'd need about 5 minutes to infect all the datapads. Any datapads not present in the area of course would be left uninfected, though she could infect them when they'd come into range.

((OOC: I looked at the explosives skill. I agree you should be able to throw a grenade or blow up a demolition charge without the explosives skill, but you want to do something more advanced, daisy-chaining explosives together and using multiple detonators which would each trigger the explosives. Moreover, those explosives need to be handled by others. I think that goes beyond your ability without the skill.

Ariana has a lot of skill in programming and slicing so I am giving some leeway in what can be done, but a self-spreading virus that infects any datapads it gets close to is a bit too hard.

In both cases, I offered what you -can- do with your skill checks, which I feel are probably enough to still carry out the mission.))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: Souns fair; after all, that's what the skill is for. I was kinda hoping that the pre-mission equipment description of "detonate them in sequence with a delay" would apply to making this possible, but this works... Now that I read the equipment I see we actually only have 4 blocks of explosive material, so maybe the implicit splitting of explosives is already a lot of leeway for an untrained operative. Then again OOC plastics are malleable and splittable by noobs, so it seems possible ^_^))

Ajava, slightly annoyed by the complications arising while trying to make the hardware do what she wants, finally settles for having some explosives prepared for the students while having to detonate the rest herself.

"Ok. I now have two sets of explosives: a set for the pupils to use, and a few smaller charges to place in strategic locations. We will need to remotely detonate the smaller explosives ourselves.", she informed Ariana.

[Ariana Danacia]

"I had some trouble making the virus spread as I wanted. I am afraid we need to plant the virus at the meditation chamber where they have the recharging station for the datapads. This will ensure that we can spread it to enough datapads. However with the castle structure blocking signals and the limited access to the datapads I can not spread the virus. They would have to be connected by cable for the virus to be able to be spread which is probably not happening...

We might have to choose for infecting all the recharging datapads, depending on how many they are at that moment.

However I am capable of infecting the datapads from a distance as long as there are no walls blocking my signal. I still need a few minutes though."

Ariana prepared a small application that would show her all the datapads that were in range for the transfer and even a progress bar when transferring.

"By the way, when is the exercise starting? Since we do need to leave using the balcony before they start running past us to pick up the explosives. I don't expect them to be that fast but still this could be a variable that could cause trouble."

[Shebi Ajava]

"Don't worry. I wrote it for the evening. So we have plenty of time to get in there tonight, make our preparations and get out again."

[Ariana Danacia]

"That should work. I guess we should prepare to get in the castle again."

((OOC: I am ready to go back in.))

[Shebi Ajava]

"Agreed."

((OOC: Me too.))