Fwurg

[Chriz]

((OOC: @Mercury, wasnt the idea to keep this ball rolling?))

[Mercury]

Ariana moved to help the wounded, setting up a triage and starting on treatment of the more severe cases. Even without proper medical supplies, she was able to make a big impact, helping people left and right.

While she worked, she also made an inventory of the supplies - there wasn't much in the way of food or medical supplies - what they had would barely be enough to keep them going through the night. It'd have to make due though.

Ajava meanwhile greeted the young woman, who led her to an elderly couple, a husband and wife, with gray hair that nevertheless had many flowers in it. They were wearing simple brown clothes that looked practical and comfortable.

"I did not know that the Jedi had come to Remunzia" the elder man noted. "Are you here to help...?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"We are indeed here to help."

"I am jedi master Shebi Ajava. And over there, helping the wounded, is jedi knight Ariana Danacia. Our ship crashed after we flew through the space battle, and we followed the route of a wandering Tooka to your camp."

"I must admit, in my eighty-eight years so far, I have not seen a situation like this. We would like to help, but we are only two. I had hoped that you would be able to tell me about the attacking soldiers, and about other camps of remunzians so we can gather more information about where we can help. Maybe you even know a few younger people that set out to do unadvisably dangerous things?"

Ajava listens to the elder couples' replies and asks on about other remunzian camps, and about people in this and other camps that might be more martially inclined or that might have more knowledge of the Slave Rebellion movements and positions. She knows that there are a militant protesters and more-or-less expert bombmakers and saboteurs of biolabs amongs the remunzian people — loathe though they are to admit that one of their own might act out violently, those people would be great to have around right now.

[Ariana Danacia]

"Yes we are here to help. However we are also here to gather information on the situation to be ready when the rest of the help arrives."

The supplies here are going to be barely enough to get through the night. I can't do much for these people, do we rest with these people or move on?

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: @Chriz: I can't give a meanginful answer within knowing what Ajava learns here.))
That will depend on what I learn here. Most likely we're moving on after this to spend part of the night resting and the other part moving.

[Mercury]

"Ah, the Tooka. Such wonderful creatures" the elderly lady smiled warmly

The elder man nodded "There are some young ones who call for violence and resistance. They are young, they don't know any better. If you seek them, you should go to the dark woods. They are not far. But you will not find an army if that is what you are looking for. Remunzia does not believe weapons and armies and violence are ever able to solve anything."

"You should be careful of patrols however - the invaders have them walking all over the place, and they do whatever they want" the elderly woman noted "And there is nothing anybody can do to stop them!"

The lack of army and the 'nobody can stop them' might not be entirely unrelated, but that didn't seem to have connected yet.

"We have a radio in the back over there" the old man pointed "There are some other groups out there who have evaded capture by hiding in the forests. I fear they don't know much more than we do regarding positions and things that you militant types care about so much"

((OOC: A new location on your map has been unlocked. You can stay here to aid the wounded, look for supplies to help this group of refugees (you have done what you can regarding short term medical aid), contact other refugee groups (as mentioned, they don't have additional information), go to Oakville by a lesser or more travelled route, or look for a patrol to capture.))

[Shebi Ajava]

"Thank you for telling me what you know.", Ajava thanks the elderly couple before moving to the edge of the little camp.

I suggest we move on, there's a group of younger Remunzians, more ready to resist the Slave Rebellion. I'll update you as we walk. We should make sure that we are not spotted by patrols, lest we lose the benefit of surprise.

Ajava waits for Ariana to join her, and starts making her way towards the dark woods. She makes sure to take routes that make them blend in with the environment, and to steer clear from places that would make them stick out against the sky. She doesn't want to give away their presence to any Slave Rebellion patrols, since one radio call will make their presence known.

As they walk, Ajava telepathically shares what she has learned from the couple in the camp. Less speaking means less noise.

((Check: 25 = 10 Force Level + 7 Fitness + 3 Tracking and Navigation + 5 Stealth -- Moving through the wilderness unhindered and stealthily))

[Ariana Danacia]

I will finish up here and meet you in a minute.

Ariana finishes up with the first aid as best as she could under the circumstances. She wishes the people good luck before she leaves. Ariana follows Shebi Ajava to the edge of the camp.

Ariana trusts Shebi Ajava to know where they are going. She follows her and tries to stay out of sight as much as she can.

((Check: 20 = 10 Force Level + 7 Fitness + 3 Stealth -- Moving through the wilderness unnoticed.))

[Mercury]

Ajava and Ariana made their way through the Remunzian forest. It was a beautiful walk and the landscape was peaceful. They might have enjoyed it in better times. A single patrol vehicle was easily avoided, and with the canopy covering them from aerial observation, the Jedi managed to make their way to the Dark Forest.

The Dark Forest wasn't anywhere near as dark or dense as the woods where they had encountered the Xomlirga, but they were more quiet, only a few small critters scurrying about their business, seemingly unaware that there was a war going on.

Soon though, they picked up tracks - people had moved through here recently. Remunzians, unless the Slave Rebellion armies were so ill equipped that shoes were not being provided. The tracks were easy to follow and led the way towards an ambush up ahead.

The ambush was set up between two dense patches of wood, no doubt some ambushers hidden in them. There were several traps set, mostly snares and nets. Something you would expect if someone was trying to catch a large animal without harming it. Of course, the Jedi were much too skilled to be trapped like that, but a Slave Rebellion patrol might easily be caught...

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: I know that this mission is somewhat on the clock; my apologies for the slow reply.))

Ajava is impressed by the fact that these Remunzians actually set up an ambush — even though it would most likely lead to the Slave Rebellion patrol opening fire from the nets. She does not want to undo their work by setting off the traps.

Shebi Ajava motions for Ariana to follow, and silently circles around the ambush spot to where she expects the ambushers to hide. There, she creeps up till there's a few meters between the Jedi and the would-be ambushers before she softly, and with a friendly voice, tone: "It seems you want to stop the Slave Rebellion. Would you like some help?"

While her Jedi robes are a dead give-away as to her nature, and her signature bow is visible on her back for those that have some knowledge of the Jedi on Unity, she makes sure that her Jedi robes fall in such a way that her lightsabers can be seen hanging from her belt.

((Check: 22 = 10 Force Level + 7 Fitness + 5 Stealth -- Circle around and "ambush" the ambushers))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana follows Ajava around the ambush. She falls back and waits 10 meters behind Ajava, hidden in the foliage, waiting for her to make contact.

I will wait here at a short distance.

((Check: 20 = 10 Force Level + 7 Fitness + 3 Stealth -- Follow Ajava and sneaking around the ambushers, waiting 10 meters behind Ajava.))

[Mercury]

Sneaking up to the ambushers, Ajava and Ariana found herself behind them with ease. It wasn't that they had been careless, but rather as Jedi Masters, they were simply too good for even the practiced eyes of these bird spotters gone rogue.

A Remunzian man with coloured paint on his bare, muscular chest turned aroundd, ready to fight, though pausing when he saw the lightsaber.

"Jedi..." he realized. It didn't take long for the other Remunzians from the ambush party to join them. They were a bit of a rag-tag band, each of them an individualist with their own decorations, some of them carrying pets - dangerous ones too. It wasn't an army, but it'd make a fine street gang... forest gang, more accurately, but with some potential in either case.

"If you are here to stop the Slave Rebellion from murdering our people and destroying our forests... then we would most welcome your help. I go by Wolf-Devil here. None of us use our real names." he explained.

The man seemed to trust the Jedi. It probably helped they were clearly from races based in the Union, who surely wouldn't be here, let alone with lightsabers, if they weren't exactly what they looked like. He introduced them to the group and explained their situation.

A few hundred rebels were scattered throughout the area in smaller bands, setting up ambushes for the Slave Rebellion patrols. Many of them had useful skills in regards to forestry, be it tracking, sneaking or spotting. None of them had much experience with warfare, or with weapons, but all were eager to go the distance to protect their planet - peace and non-violence be damned. All they'd need was someone to teach them how and lead them!

[Shebi Ajava]

"I am Jedi Master Shebi Ajava, and we are indeed here to stop the Slave Rebellion. Over there is Jedi Knight Ariana Danacia."

Ajava is glad that at least some Remunzians had the will to do something.

She listens carefully as they explain their current situation. Based on what she has heard so far, this group would actually be very effective once they master a few of the more offensive activities needed for guerilla warfare.

She asks them about the Slave Rebellion patrol activity in the area. After hearing what these Remunzians know, she makes sure that the ambush group is still ready to spring the trap on the next unsuspecting Slave Rebellion patrol that comes here. Springing this trap will kill two birds with one stone: she can judge the competence of this group of Remunzian fighters, and they can capture a patrol to get additional intelligence. Furthermore, they can use the forest to their advantage.

She makes sure Ariana is in on the plan: When we spring the ambush, make sure that they Slave Rebellion patrol does not get out word of our attack. We want the patrol to simply disappear from the Slave Rebellion's point of view.

She makes sure the Remunzians understand that, after the patrol has been capture, the traps and and sign of a fight should be covered up or removed, so that the next patrol does not notice what has happened here. She then moves out to take up a sentinel position from which she can snipe radios with her bow once the patrol is engaged in battle.

((Check: 21 = 10 Force Level + 6 Vision + 3 Tracking and Navigation + 2 Force Vision -- Stay on the lookout for Slave Rebellion patrols heading for the ambush location))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana gently nods when Shebi Ajava introduces her.

She patiently watches and listens while Shebi Ajava is doing the talking.

When Ajava is finished Ariana summarizes the plan. "Capture the next patrol, ensure that they don't call in our position and leave no trace of what happened. I will be on the lookout."

Ariana opens her steel case and takes out only the scope, after which she closes the case and hides it. She moves into one of the larger trees to get a good vantage point. First of all she makes sure that she is well hidden, however she also tries to get a good line of sight to see the enemy coming in the distance through her scope.

((Check: 16 = 10 Force Level + 3 Vision + 3 Stealth -- Hiding up in a tree while staying on the lookout, looking for enemies using her scope.))

[Mercury]

The Remunzians greeted the two Jedi, explaining their situation and listening to the Jedi for advise on the ambush - after all, if they not only spotted it, but got around it, they probably know what they're doing.

Using the groundwork laid by the Remunzians, Ariana and Ajava organized the new ambush, readying to take out radio's and hiding for a good line of sight, taking full advantage of the terrain and the traps laid by the Remunzians.

Soon, a patrol moved in towards their trap...

((OOC: Rather than handling this with a combat sequence, which is entirely superfluous given that you have surprise, numbers, terrain and are Jedi Masters, please give me a check in relation to the ambush that isn't stealth related. Perhaps you have a relevant force power, or have training in commanding armies.

The result of the check will determine the final outcome, but I am giving you both the freedom to determine if you make any "awesome actions" during the fight, like shooting out Radio's, making flyby attacks or whatever ^_^

If the results are very high, I may even include other captures in the end result))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava remains hidden, stalking the patrol through while hidden in the trees until the patrol has no way out of the trap. Then, just before the fighting starts she uses her higher vantage point to great effect to quickly draw and release several arrows to disable the patrol's radios.

Following that, she stays up in the trees for a moment to determine who has command over the patrol. Once she has determined that, she drops down onto the ground next to the commander. After dodging the first attack she lifts the commander, and several of the nearby slave rebellion soldiers, off the ground with a gesture. She holds them in the air for a moment and then lets them drop to the ground unconscious.

((Check: 22 = 10 Force Level + 7 Energy + 2 Military Command + 3 Life Energy Manipulation -- Use Life Energy Manipulation rank 2, amplified by rank 3 to disable patrol officer and those near; use 1 / 3 today))

((OOC: I had the idea that Battle Meditation should have been applicable here, but after looking through the power, it seems to only speak of Fleet battles — which is a bit of an oversight in the design of the power in my opinion. Regardless, I opted for something else.))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana waits up in the tree for the patrol to arrive. When ambush starts Ariana disables one of the patrols radio's by throwing a knife into it. She quickly follows up by moving a large log towards a group of three Slave Rebellion soldiers with her telekinesis. She hits the soldiers from behind knocking two of them unconscious and the third one is prone and trapped under the log.

((Check: 20 = 10 Force Level + 7 Energy + 3 Telekinesis -- Hitting three Slave Rebellion soldiers from behind with a large log thrown by telekinesis.))

[Mercury]

The Slave Rebellion patrol was surprisingly large - most armies would send patrols of a squad, but this was an entire platoon, 30 men. They didn't look very organized though, so it would probably be alright.

Ajava stalked the patrol while Ariana hid in the tree, ready for the moment where the trap was sprung. Though the Remunzians seemed nervous, Ajava was able to keep order until just the right moment.

With a soft 'zing', Ajava's arrows penetrated the one radioset the patrol was carrying, disabling it, while Ariana's knife took out the other - for some reason, this oversized patrol carried only two radios. There was a strange look of confusion amongst the members of the patrol near the radio, while the others just continued into the trap, still unaware.

Suddenly, Ajava dropped out from the tree, taking out the command section of the platoon, as Ariana disabled half of a squad by throwing a large log on them, and taking them out from behind. At this 'signal', the remunzians descended upon the patrol, charging in with ferocity, especially by Remunzian standards.

With two Jedi on their side, the battle was over almost as quickly as it had begun, and soon the patrol was captured, providing not just prisoners, but also weapons and some pieces of armour to equip a resistance with and enemy uniforms, for as far as they could be called that. It was a good start!

--

The captured Slave Rebellion prisoners didn't seem to have too much loyalty and with two Jedi, it was easy to extract information from them. Positions for troops, details about defences, even some codes - it was all small scale though, not enough to, in and of itself, affect the big battle for the planet, but more than sufficient to bolster the local rebellion and squeeze out an advantage!

From here, the Jedi were left with several options, knowing that there would be a Union invasion sooner or later.

They could focus their efforts on bringing more Remunzians into the resistance, organize and train a proper armed force to fight with the Union forces - the Remunzian 'army' would never be able to defeat the Slave Rebellion on their own, but they'd be big enough to provide an extra army in the upcoming battle.

They could instead focus their efforts on raiding and disrupting the Slave Rebellion, causing as much havoc as possible to provide an advantage in the attack on Remunzia.

Or they could try to use covert operations to steal intelligence, providing better insight into the Slave Rebellion plans for the upcoming battle.

Unfortunately, there would only be time to secure one of the three - they could take a gamble though and split their efforts, one Jedi focussing on one and another on the other. In that case, the outcome was far from certain and they'd need luck to accomplish both - possibly, they'd only get one of the two and there was even a small risk they wouldn't be able to do neither in time.

((OOC: I hope you'll forgive me glossing over some of the details. While we'd have been able to squeeze in a bit more if I'd posted faster (that's on me), I don't think we'd have been able to put in a lot more meaningfully in a few extra posts.

I am going to leave the choice of what to do up to you two. What choice you make will directly affect the upcoming battle for Remunzia, so be sure to check with one another!))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana recovered her knife and made sure that the prisoners were secured.

The way I see it we have three directions to continue in, however we actually only have one real option.

Raising a larger remunzian army here would take time and we won't have the time to properly train them. We could try to damage strategic defences and raid Slave Rebellion bases. However we are only with a few and when it comes to the Slave Rebellion they probably don't work that much with strategy and simply rely on numbers.

I don't think we have the time to identify actual strategic targets and take them out before the reinforcements arrive.

That is why I would propose to remain focused on gathering intelligence. We might even be able to steal some intelligence that could provide the reinforcements that have actual numbers and training some advantage. Since our objective is to minimize Union casualties, this would be the best option.

[Shebi Ajava]

After the interrogations were over, the veolian jedi master discussed the next steps with her fellow jedi.

I feel that you discount our alternatives to quickly.

While it is true that any Remunzians we train will lack in experience, their existence will remain unknown to the Slave Rebellion until the moment of engagement. And what these Remunzians lack in experience, they will make up in ferocity. Be mindful that you do not underestimate those fighting for their homes and loved ones. The element of surprise this provides will be very valuable — the Slave Rebellion has not met with any significant resistance so far, so the sudden uprise of an army of forest-savvy combatants will be doubly effective.

I also disagree that we do not have time to identify actual strategic targets. We can effectively go where we please without being noticed. We could simply walk into the nearest large city, find the supply vehicles the Slave Rebellion uses to supply outlying camps and destroy them all. While this is not as flashy as blowing up anti-air gun emplacements, it will significantly hinder their military strength when liberation forces arrive. And we can simply move on to the next city, and the next, and so on.

I agree that acquiring further intelligence is also valuable. The Slave Rebellion has limited options for reinforcement with a battle raging above the planet right now, so any intelligence we gather will probably still be valid when our forces arrive. Yet, given that the Slave Rebellion has always seemed somewhat disorganized, it might as well be that any information we acquire is outdated once we have it simply because the disparate Slave Rebellion forces have differeing ideas of what the plan actually is.

Shebi Ajava's tone was not commanding, but rather explaining. It is clear that she does not wish to declare what route they should take, but that she wants to explore the other options a little before determining what route to take.

Shebi Ajava thinks about the options for a while.

As I see it there is a difference between trying to minimize Union casualties, and trying to protect the Remunzians.

I think that if we wish to minimize Remunzian casualities, training as many Remunzians as possible is the better route to go. Those Remunzians that wish to fight will go and do so with or without or help, and they will fight with what they know. If we help them, they have a larger chance of staying alive.

While it might be possible to save more Union lives by going a different route, we would do a great disservice to the Remunzian people.

Many Remunzians are put in this situation through no fault of their own. They should not have to bear the costs of the mistakes made by their naive leaders. And minimizing the casualties among the professional soldiers of the Union armies that are coming here at the expense of the Remunzian people is not a route I wish to walk.

I suggest that we train as many Remunzians as are willing to fight for their homes.

Her tone was still not commanding, but it was clear that she strongly feels that protecting the Remunzians was more important than protecting the professional soldiers that would be landing here eventually.

[Ariana Danacia]

I agree completely that our focus should be on protecting the Remunzian people. However I feel that we simply do not have enough time to actually train enough people. I might prefer destroying supply vehicles in secret and gathering as much information as possible. I believe that this would save more lives in the long run.

However I will rely on your long military experience Master.

[Shebi Ajava]

With the discussion completed, Ajava set to work getting the locations of other Remunzian Rebel cells to recruit. The plan was to start building and training an army of remunzian rebels.

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana focused on the logistics of the operation. She made sure they had the weapons and materials for the training. Furthermore she spent most of her time on the actual training of the new recruits.

[Mercury]

With the Battle of Remunzia concluded, and the two Jedi having played their part in it, the mission to Remunzia had come to an end. Probably not much of a report was necessary, as everyone had heard the news of Jedi leading troops on Remunzia.

((OOC: Since this has been still a lot, and Chriz has already left, a small report so there's a record will do for me. I just need a spot to assign XP))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: Here you go: Jedi Mission to Remunzia.))