Mission 5.9 - "Death by Deception" (Part 3)

Mission Brief 05.0115

Having successfully helped the resistance fighters to plant a debilitating virus into the city central computer, the Phantom Hunters spent several more days recovering from their severe wounds along with the rest of the survivors of the droid uprising and their last desperate campaign. Unfortunately, the virus was slow to work through the system and the days that followed proved the most dangerous. Relationships between the team grew strained. But at last, the time came for a final battle with the droid armies of Cloud City and the Phantom Hunters led the main assault through the center of the military district. This was a diversionary tactic to buy time and draw attention away from the pilots who would take control of the port hopefully bringing the uprising to an end. However, the battle was risky, depending on the critical timing of the virus' final success. The team nearly lost several members before the droids finally succumbed to it and the victory was won.

Shortly after the victory over the droids on Bespin, the Phantom Hunters were sent to Cularin to arrange an alliance between the Metatheran Cartel and the Sprillious Corporation as well as to investigate the droid manufacturers on Uffel to hopefully discover how the droid uprising could have begun. However, before leaving, Chairman Sil’karith informed them that Almas, a planet just at the borders of the system, houses a Jedi Academy. It was suggested that if the team of agents, now wanted as fugitives, were to stop on Almas, they might clear their names of the preposterous charges laid against them as well as find out what has happened to Geldar’s master.

Thus, the team agrees to go, hoping also to retreive their ship, the Phoenix Moon, impounded on Darga Prime, while fulfilling obligations to Sil'karith who loans them a ship. But the team was unaware of the events that were taking place in the Cularin system. Intrigues, mysteries, and machinations abound in this system on the Outer Rim as thousands arrive each year seeking danger and excitement. All of them are oblivious to the ancient evil that is awakening to confront them all with the power of the Living Force...




Prologue - "Approaching Almas"

Space. A medium sized transport drops out of hyperspace and moves towards the asteroid belt in the distance. Out the viewport, the passengers and crew see specks of light shining from the twin suns of the system. Shooting stars frequently speed in all directions on courses around the suns. As the ship moves closer to the asteroid belt, the crew prepare to navigate the dangerous terrain.

As their ship approaches within several kilometers of the belt, four Z-95 Headhunter starfighters drop away from two larger asteroids and speed toward the transport.

“Incoming Z-95 Headhunters!” cries the captain. “All crew prepare to repel borders.”

In the dark cargo, Vaqshi Kyen’tir awakens with a start. The sound of the captain’s warning causes her heart to leap into her throat. Looking around, she hopes once more to find some way to escape, but there is nothing in sight.

“Here they come!” exclaims the captain, and as soon as the words leave his mouth the ship is rocked hard with explosions against the ship’s shields.

In outer space, the starfighters swarm around the ship as another transport in the distance suddenly appears. “Transport, this is a Republic Inspection. Power down immediately and prepare to be boarded or face immediate destruction,” came the message over the cockpit’s radio.

“Get fragged!” the captain cries in response. “Blast them all, guys.”

Another terrible explosion shudders the ship as Vaqshi is thrown into the back of the holding cell she was put in. The pain in her back from hitting the wall causes her to wince. Closing her eyes, she fights back tears. “Brin’tac,” she mutters. “I wish you were here.” Opening her eyes the tears roll down her cheeks uncontrollably. “I need you.”

Another explosion sends her to the floor. The explosion deafens her and for several moments she wonders whether she is alive. Then, looking up, she is amazed to find the door to her cell swinging open. Seizing the opportunity, Vaqshi charges out the door only to find that the cargo hold has been breached. Air is being sucked out through the hole in the back, and the blast doors are closing to seal off the cargo hold from the rest of the ship.

Seeing her only hope dying with the closing of that door, Vaqshi charges forward to escape. As she reaches the middle of the cargo hold, however, she stops. “There’s no way I’m going to make it,” she mutters in despair.

A blast throws her into a crate and sparks fly everywhere. Getting back to her feet again, Vaqshi sees the door has short-circuited. “Thank the Force!” she cries with relief and renewed hope. Rushing back to the door, she finally slides through just as another burst of sparks showers down on top of her singing her furry arms and legs.

The pain barely registers in her mind. All she can think about now is escape. Rushing through the passages of the ship, she heads for the escape pods. Rounding a corner, however, she finds herself face to face with one of the ship’s crew. “What the...”

Back-peddling, Vaqshi falls backwards and scrambles to escape back the way she came.

“Prisoner escape! Get it!”

Blaster fire suddenly erupts through the halls as she dives around the next corner. “Don’t let it get away.”

Another explosion sends her back to the floor along with the pursuing soldiers. The lights flicker and go out. The ship powers down. Gathering her courage, Vaqshi takes the opportunity to get to her feet and charge back down the corridor towards the crew and the escape pods. Closing her eyes, she focuses her thoughts on running as fast as she can. Surprisingly, as the lights flicker back on, she finds herself right in front of the escape pods. Behind her, the crew litters the floor. How she got past them, Vaqshi doesn’t know. All she knows is that she is finally about to escape.

“There it is!” cries another member of the crew. Vaqshi dives into the escape pod just as the blaster fire hits the wall where her head used to be. Closing the hatch, Vaqshi hits the release mechanism and the pod launches into space.

In the cockpit, the captain sneers as the escape pod drops away. “Oh no you don’t. All guns fire on that pod. We don’t want to leave any evidence for the Republic to use to incriminate us.”

Cannon fire turns on the escaping pod. One of the cannons hits the engines sending it spinning wildly out of control as debris scatters everywhere. Fire spreads across the hull temporarily before the vacuum of space puts it out.

Inside, Vaqshi’s head spins as the entire pod is hurled through space. Fear and pain are all that register on her brain. She is hurtling through space toward imminent danger and impending doom....

Brin’tac awakens with a start. “Vaqshi!” The feeling of dread is too much for him to handle. Getting up, he decides to tell the others of what had just happened in his dream.

Shortly after the tale is finished, the others stare at him with sympathy. “Wow,” says Lialla. “That’s pretty intense.”

“We must do something,” Brin’tac tells them. “We have to help her.”

“There is nothing we can do,” says Ivanna. “We don’t even know where this battle took place. However, I do think that the Force is guiding you to her. Keep hoping and trust the Force.”

A warning siren suddenly sounds in the ship and Tso’s voice cuts through the tension in the room. “We’re approaching the Cularin system. Almas is just ahead.”

Moving to the bridge of the ship, everyone sees the planet in the viewport, and the first thing that impresses them is the almost eerie glow shimmering out into space from the surface. There appears to be no lakes or rivers of any kind, and the planet appears to be in perpetual night. Only the surface seems to provide any form of light, and it is a dim sort of moonlight.

As the ship makes its way closer to the planet, another unsettling view appears. In the distance, on the far side of the planet from the city of Forard and the Jedi Academy, the planet is filled with no light. Only darkness encompasses this section of the planet, and Brin’tac, Geldar, Satchal, and Ivanna all get the impression that something evil lurks within that area of the planet. Something is sending tremors in the Force, but they can’t quite figure out what it is.

At last, the ship drops through the atmosphere of the planet and comes upon the planet’s only city, Forard. As they approach, they can see that the city is shaped much like a donut with a large series of buildings at its center. This is the Jedi Academy, that is obvious from its design.

As the ship lands on the southwest side of the city at the spaceport, they see the source of the strange glowing of the planet. It is coming from the fluorescent looking grass that has grown everywhere. Eerily, it glows lighting everything since the city itself is actually built on a plain of the wavy grass.

The ship sets down at the spaceport without little difficulty, and immediately spaceport control welcomes the team to Almas. “The Mayor, Klis Joo, is waiting outside to greet you. Oh, and by the way, don’t forget your breath masks. The air on Almas is slightly poisonous and although you can breathe it, it wouldn’t be good to do so for very long,” reports the communications officer. With that, they grab their breath masks and lower the ramp...






Mission 6

Return to Archives