Post by Bagels on Oct 13, 2017 2:52:48 GMT -5
PULSAR
EPISODE V
STRIKE FORCE: TERRIPOLE
Chapter 5.1
INTO GRANN ASTEROID FIELD
These are dark days for the REBELLION.
Using the new IMPERIAL MECHWARRIOR escort
and its mighty armaments, the IMPERIUM has
effectively ended raids on their convoys.
Without the spoils from the convoys, supplies
have become dangerously low. Not all is lost,
for on a remote base in the Grann asteroid belt
COMMANDER RAKTON works on a new Starmech.
Once complete, it will neutralize the escort mechs.
Even now, a team of brave Rebels approach the base,
Under orders to escort the prototypes and Rakton back
to the Rebel’s hidden base ...
EPISODE V
STRIKE FORCE: TERRIPOLE
Chapter 5.1
INTO GRANN ASTEROID FIELD
These are dark days for the REBELLION.
Using the new IMPERIAL MECHWARRIOR escort
and its mighty armaments, the IMPERIUM has
effectively ended raids on their convoys.
Without the spoils from the convoys, supplies
have become dangerously low. Not all is lost,
for on a remote base in the Grann asteroid belt
COMMANDER RAKTON works on a new Starmech.
Once complete, it will neutralize the escort mechs.
Even now, a team of brave Rebels approach the base,
Under orders to escort the prototypes and Rakton back
to the Rebel’s hidden base ...
The Last Resort comes out of hyperspace outside the Grann asteroid field. Ry'Quer Teff points at a red blinking light on the console. "See that? It’s a signal receiver. When the light starts blinking, it means we’re close to a Rebel broadcasting base-homing device. We just follow the signal to its origin. We should be docking in less than an hour."
Darmak crosses his arms. "Good. The sooner we can turn this holodisc over to Commander Rakton the better. Playing mail carrier to outer rim systems isn’t my idea of an assignment."
Jaladra puts a reassuring hand on Darmak's shoulder. "I believe this disc will turn the tide. Rebel ships are too scarce to be used on frivolous missions. It's unfortunate we couldn't get the datastik with the ImVEM's schematics to Rebel Command."
Darmak sighs. "And we were specifically ordered to hand deliver the disc directly to Commander Rakton. Don’t forget, I saw Nalum Wieepo back at the base ..."
"... talking to our commander before the briefing. I was there, too," interrupts Jaladra.
Darmak nods. "Right. Just before they gave us the code word."
Ry'quer rolled his eyes and switched controls to manual. "What do we need a code word for anyway?"
"To identify us when we reach Commander Rakton's base," Darmak replies. "You don’t want them mistaking us for Imperials, do you?"
Ry'quer is only half paying attention, as always. "Um, what was that code word again?"
Jaladra responds, "I believe the commander pronounced it 'Bantha Pudu.' According to a translation I did on it the phrase is Avari and means ..."
The Last Resort careens to the side, but inertial dampers hold fine and the crew feels nothing. Ry'quer interrupts her. "Not now! Plotting a course through an asteroid field isn’t easy, you know."
Darmak scrolls through the holomap. "I never heard of a Rebel base being located in an asteroid field before."
"If everyone heard about it, it wouldn’t be a secret," Ry'quer grumbles.
Jaladra sits down. "It also happens to be the home of the engineers working with Rakton on his secret project."
Darmak closes the holomap. "Any idea who these engineers are?"
Jaladra leans over and bring up the holonet to a small file with a blurb and an insectoid picture. "They call themselves the Verpine. I understand the entire race lives within the asteroid field."
Ry'Quer flips switches and glances over at the hologram before narrowly missing an asteroid. "They developed that weird-looking new Spacemech, didn’t they?"
Darmak scoffs. "Weird looking? The Mallard Spacemech is one of the most heavily-armed and capable mechs in the galaxy! Hey, what’s that red light mean?"
Ry'Quer waves him off without looking. "I told you, that’s the signal receiver."
Jaladra stands up to head aft. "No, that’s the full-spectrum transceiver. Three Talons are approaching our port side."
"Imperials?? How'd they find us?"