Mission Afterthoughts / Debrief
35:1:9 - 04:12
- Portions encrypted for personal use only -

So much for a restful week off - another emergency comm from Marv came through earlier this evening. At least this time I didn't get drenched on the way to The Reactor Core; I had hopes that, like the weather, this mission would turn out calmer too.

A choice this time - the simpler of which would be to hit an Imperial arms shipment convoy, led by Rocco. – The walking (barely), talking epitomy of everything I found wrong with the Empire. If it'd been up to me, he'd have washed out of Academy the first day.. one of the laziest, most gluttonous fools to grace its doorsteps that there's ever been. He can thank daddy for his advancement. Of course, if it'd been up to me, a lot of things would have been different.. focus, Damaria! – The other target was a military gravtrain, and that's about all we knew about it. Apparently someone in the Rebellion thought its contents (whatever they were) important enough to make contact with our group, though I couldn't decide if the fact they didn't tell us more meant maybe we weren't so important, but rather viewed as more expendable. Still, this one was apparently a chance to directly help the Rebellion, even if it sounded trickier. –A challenge! That's more like it… maybe my chance to prove myself to a higher command. Hopefully we're all up to it and don't have any close calls like last time.–

The Baron didn't seem to hesitate long before making his decision, and I was eager to back him up. A train heist it was! Marv would drive us to the intercept point and then wait for us, while Dash would try to tractor his bike to the back of the train for an emergency escape backup. Soon after a quick discussion (oh to have more time to plan!), we were on our way; Sprend was already stationed at the junction between the two missions to provide backup if needed (he took quite the beating last time, I imagine he's happy to take his role as long-range sniper this time around!).

– Tor-Nenko seemed less enthused - I don't think the idea of combat has ever appealed to him. I guess he gets enough of staring down a gun barrel during the day when he's fixing them. Dash… well, the kid seems scared but determined. I had a feeling he's in over his head, but we needed all the help we can get – and it sounded like he'd have a chance to redeem his driving skills with this mission.–

A good start to the mission - an uneventful drive to the intercept point. As Marv matched speed with the train, I took a look through the windows at the target. No doubting this was an Imperial train… the markings screamed “stay away”, as did the 2 turrent mounted front & back. It didn't look like a passenger train of any kind – very few windows, and only a few of those that were there were even lit up. Was this going to be some kind of equipment heist? –I understand the need for secrecy, but c'mon Rebel Command – are you trying to get your operatives killed?! At least tell us enough to have the slightest idea of what we might need for a proper getaway! If our goal is anything bigger than what can fit on a speederbike, we're going to have major problems.–

The rear turrent's shift change was starting - time to go! As I slid open the van door, I saw Dash start to spin around to tractor onto the rear of the train. Too fast! I let my frustration distract me as I jumped, and ended up barely on the edge of the rear car, only to gracelessly fall forward flat on my face. –Smooth, Damaria… THAT will show everyone your excellent leadership skills.– Seeing what happened to me, the Baron & Tor-nenko were hesitant to jump, but I pulled myself up and stuck my arm out to the Baron, motioning him on with the other. Thankfully his jump over was less eventful, and as he then helped Tor-nenko on in turn I saw Dash circle back and manage to hook onto the train car this time. –He definitely has some skills, it's just a matter of youth and lack of training I think. Hopefully he's a quick learner!–

Unsure of what was on the other side of the dark-windowed door, we all positioned ourselves for a fight while Tor-nenko cracked the lock. Dependable as always! The door sprung open and we piled into the room - empty! Well, of life at least… the car was packed with all sorts of outdated-looking equipment; both walls were lined with quietly blinking electronics. If this was such an important prize, why was it outfitted with such low-tech security systems? Something didn't add up…

Still, the relative simplicity of the systems meant Tor-nenko was able to slice it in short order. He said something about a panic system - we wouldn't want that activating! I will NOT be trapped in this train like a caged hawk-bat. Leaving Tor-nenko to do his thing, I saw the Baron try to peer through into the next car just as the train lurched from a power surge. I tried to grab him in time but failed, as he stumbled and thumped against the door. So much for the stealth approach… although at the same time we could all hear raucous shouting coming from that next car. A game going on perhaps – the muffled shouts of “you cheated!” seemed to indicate surprise might still be in our favor. I'm not sure if it was panic or what, but the Baron seemed determined to move right away… only to find the door locked.

Best to make sure what we were up against – I gently pushed the Baron aside and knelt down, barely leaning my hand against the door for support. It sounded like several troopers – maybe 5 or so? –Or rather, exactly five. The Force proves useful once again, but I'm going to have to watch myself! As soon as I motioned that there were 5 people in the next room, Dash whispered increduously “How do you know that?!”. Damaria! Think first next time… “I heard them” may fool Dash in his (for now) inexperience, but that sort of carelessness is going to trip you up soon. Still… useful. But why does one of the troopers seem… off? And even more confusingly, why was there a brief-but-fading sense of there being someone familiar?– A quiet click indicated Tor-nenko had succeeded in undoing this lock as well, though he quickly got a puzzled look on his face. “May the Force be with us?”, he read off his datapad in confusion. “Why would there be a message like that encrypted into the door?”

As Dash chimed in with “What does that even mean?”, the Baron and I shared a concerned glance. “No time, got to move now!” Baron hissed out as he shoved open the door. –I'm all for shutting down that line of inquiry… but perhaps some more caution is in order, Baron! Not sure why he seems so determined to plunge in headfirst ahead of the rest of us… perhaps I should discuss it with him later.– Not wanting to lose what advantage we had left, I tugged on Dash's sleeve and followed the Baron through to the next room.

Clearly we hadn't needed to worry so much about staying quiet… the troopers were nearly oblivious to us still. Helmets off, guns hung on the wall (finally some luck!), and boisterous shouting appeared the order of the day.

“ISB security check! We're here to ensure everything is under control!” clipped out the Baron, clearly hoping these were the more-easily deceived kind of troopers. He made a quite convincing officer too, I must admit - one of the troopers knocked his chair halfway across the room in his haste to stand and salute. The others seemed a bit more reluctant but nonetheless followed suit a half-step after.

– The eager fellow is the puzzling one I sensed earlier! Time to try and find out more while we had them fooled…–

Channeling the full force of my time in the service, I got right in the first trooper's face. “Mission status, now!” I shouted in my best drill sergeant voice. “All's well, no problem, all green!” he replied, a sheen of sweat starting to bead up on his brow. –I think he's with us! All he can keep thinking during our conversation is “Do something, do it now, you're running out of time!” That, or my next move will be the one that could do us all in… no time or way to communicate that to the others though, have to make this call alone. But then, that's what I'm trained for, right? Right?–

“The rest of you, fall out to the forward car, I'm going to do an inspection here now!” And it worked! Either the Empire didn't care enough about this target to provide decent guards, or our abilities are better than I'd thought… either way, I'll take it. As the door closed on the last guard exiting our car, the remaining trooper seemed to relax a little. “What's your role in this mission?” I asked him cautiously, not wanting to let anything slip.

Thankfully, he seemed to catch on… even more thankfully, he did seem to be on our side. “The name's Gregar Jisard; I'm working deep undercover, please don't blow it! What you're looking for is two more cars up, in the third car from the front… but don't bother ordering those guys any further in - we have orders not to go past the fourth car. And I wouldn't go all the way to the front either… there are 4 more troops right behind the engine, plus a pilot & co-pilot, and it's heavily armored to boot. There's also a captain that's been reassigned to this duty recently, and he's making the round between the that third car and this one. In fact, he'll be back soon, and I need to be with the others before he arrives!”

“I don't have much else to tell you,” Gregar then replied in response to the Baron's question about what exactly we were here to pick up. –Much as I tried, I couldn't read more off him either. He's telling the truth… mostly. Something's still hidden though… this is why I never considered a career in spywork, all this secrecy drives a tactician crazy!– “Use this on us, including me,” he continued as he handed me his stun grendade, “I must remain undercover. May the Force be with you.” With a curt nod, he then grabbed his rifle, flicked it to “kill”, and lifted his helmet info place as he walked into the next room.

Everything seemed to be going our way… and then I started to enter the next room behind Gregar. My senses suddenly screamed out with that same sense of something familiar, right before the door on the opposite end of the car opened. Madar. Madar?! That's the newly-assigned officer?! If he were to recognize me, that'd be the end of my time on this planet (at best)! No time to think - as Madar hollered “What are you all doing?!” to the troopers I tossed the stun grenade right at him. My vision tunneled in, only able to see the grenade as it arced between Madar and the troopers; Gregar had an almost resigned look in his eyes as he started to leap towards the grenade as if to fall on it. That's dedication to your cover.

“Look away” shouted my senses –Wait, this felt like more than experience or common sense… is this.. is there possibly another angle to the Force to be explored? Hopefully I get a chance to find out…–, right before a blinding flash and deafening shockwave echoed through the car. As I ducked back behind cover, I saw that all but Madar were lying unconscious on the ground, and even Madar was stumbling in pain.

Tor-nenko ran past me into the fray (brave in combat after all!) and grabbed a grenade off one of the prone troopers, hurling it towards Madar in one smooth motion. Next time I get together a grav-ball team, I know who to draft! A moment of panic screamed through me as I saw it wasn't a stun grenade – I might get a thrill at the idea of Madar being gone, but I don't want to deal with the consequences it could bring! Thankfully, the grenade's shockwave just knocked Madar out – I don't think he'll be remembering much of this after that kind of concussion.

As we quickly rifled through the trooper's belongings (nice to have some heavier weaponry, but I think I'll still prefer my pistol), I surveyed the room. Flickering lights, loading door on the side of the car, and grease tracks leading to a huge crate. Again, a nearly run-down looking car, almost as if the Imperials were trying to make security difficult. Dash had an excited gleam in his eye as he rifled through Madar's possessions… a gleam quickly cut short as the Baron started stripping down Madar to his undergarments. Smart move, stealing the uniform. Smiling ts Dash's barely-disguised discomfort, I turned back towards the crate only to find Tor-nenko already working on the lock.

Success again! I staggered backwards as the door clanged open, revealing an odd assortment of contents. – Such an overwhelming sense of the Force! What kind of stuff is in this crate?! I wish we could carry more out, I have a feeling all of this could be of great use – or at least interest – to the Baron & myself. But… not all of that Force is coming from the crate, or even this room. What's going on in this train?!– Resigning myself to the fact that we couldn't carry anymore, I quickly grabbed the smallest item I could see and tucked it into my pocket – some kind of round… artifact?

Not so lucky opening the door to the next car forward… we all winced as it shrieked from a lack of oil as it slid open. “What's that noise?!” we heard. I poked my head through the opening… Gregar was right, 4 more troopers – but this time armed and ready for a fight. Frak! And not a lot of cover in their room, just one big crate/cell looking object in the middle, and a smaller strongbox lying beside (“Confiscated personal artifacts”? I don't think we're here for something after all…).

“We've been attacked, didn't you hear the grenade go off?! Get in here!” shouted the Baron. “Fool me once,” however… these troopers weren't buying it. “Get on the ground or we'll open fire!” Double frak.

A shockwave ripped through the doorway - another grenade, this time from the Baron's hand. Thankfully he managed to dive behind what meager cover the room provided, as the blast took down one of the troopers and left other looking much the worse for wear. Dash hunkered behind the doorframe, a look of panic in his eyes as the Baron yelled “Just shoot!” at us. A wild shot - hard to aim when you're half-behind the door. –I may need to run some drills with the team after this; I understand inexperience but too much lack of discipline could doom us all.– Not sure what Tor-nenko was up too - my focus was forward on the battle, not back behind me where I'd last seen him at the opened crate.

With a quick glance to ensure my pistol was still on stun, I rolled into the room and stood up quickly, aiming at the closest trooper. Training paid off! The trooper went down in a wash of blue energy, leaving one of his trailing compatriots square in my line of fire – a final pull of the trigger finished him off as well.

– You need to work on that overconfidence, Damaria! There were FOUR troopers, remember?! – Before I could take cover myself, searing pain bloomed across my body as the remaining trooper got in a direct hit. –Did I say frak? Because FRAK blaster fire hurts!– As the pain washed over me, I saw Tor-nenko dive through the doorway from the other room and between my legs, yelling incomprehensibly as he blasted the remaining trooper unconscious (did he yell… “Wookies!”??).

No time for assessment - according to Gregar, more troops could be coming from the cars still ahead! Flinching inside as I flipped my gun off stun –I could sense people right on the other side! What if the shot went through the door into them?–, I blasted out the lock to the forward car. The top of a helmet appeared in the window right after (kinda short for a stormtrooper…), followed by cursing and banging. Then, a grenade bounced off the window… a blast… and silence. Not sure what that guy was thinking, but thanks for the help.

A quick flip back to the stun setting later, I turned to see Tor-nenko back on the job. A lot of clanking sounded his success, so I limped back to get a view of what all the fuss had been about. Sure enough, a person… a very mangled and bloodied man, to be exact. Hard to tell much else given his condition (though he didn't look much beyond his 20s), but he was obviously more out of consciousness than in. I reached into my jacket and tossed Tor-nenko one of my stimpacks as he started to try to stabilize the prisoner. – WHY I didn't immediately use the other on myself I still don't know – what if I took another hit?! Tactics 101 yet again – regroup when you have a chance. – Tor-nenko's head must have been a bit frazzled by all the shooting and blood by that point, as he turned markedly paler at the sight of the man's injuries. Still, he did the job and patched the man up enough for Tor-nenko and I to start moving him away. – What was the Baron doing this whole time?! I understand wanting to look into the “confiscated items” box, but we needed to get moving NOW. I was having a hard team reading anything from this ex-prisoner, which really worried me as far as his state was concerned. –

The rear turrent gunner! Thankfully the Baron acted quick, going right up to the ladder as the gunner descended: “You need to run as hard as you can to the car up front!” Without hesitation, the trooper ran back in the direction we'd come from. – A brief twinge flickered across my senses as he said that… was there more than simple deception going on here? Yet another topic for a “chat”. – As I turned my head to follow, I saw him run recklessly through the grease trails in the other car, slipping and knocking his head against the edge of a crate. Another guard knocked out, this time from nothing but words!

“How's the mission going?” Dash's comm blared into life with Sprend's voice. “You're almost at the next turn, you need to get moving!” – Right, thanks for that… I'd planned on sitting down and brushing my hair first, but I guess I'll keep instead since you said that. Honestly. –

A quick run (or limp/shuffle, in the case of ex-prisoner/Tor-nenko/me) to the back of the train later, Dash & the Baron were off on the speederbike and I'd tossed the man after Tor-nenko into Marv's waiting van. As I slumped into the homeward-bound van's seat in relief (wincing a bit… or a lot, admittedly), I eyed our “target” closer. What was so important about him?

– Not a question, actually… now that we were out of the heat of battle, I could sense this guy had a strong aura of the Force about him. Surely the Baron noticed this too! Maybe this man can help with our search for the temple… although if he IS some kind of Jedi, we may have just put ourselves in way over our heads - the Empire is sure to send someone looking.

Quick addendum - things to work on. Loathe as I am to think about it, I'll likely take more blaster fire in the future, so as I'm healing I need to get back into a full exercise & strengthening regimen. 10 XP - “Toughened”

I also need to practice staying calmer under fire; the situation with Madar could have turned out much worse if I hadn't kept my cool as well as I did, but next time might be different. I've got to make sure both my body AND my mind stay disciplined. 5 XP - +1 “Cool” ranking