Star Wars Missions 003 - Attack on Delrakkin

by Ryder Windham

  Just before you fire, the X-wing accelerates and whips sharply around a skyscraper.

  “He knows I’m on to him!” you shout. “He’ll be waiting for me around that comer!”

  You dive and wrap around the skyscraper, rising from a point lower than the X-wing’s path. The X-wing turns and fires, but your approach is below the Imperial pilot’s calculation. The laser blasts pass over your ship as you lock on your target. You fire — and hit!

  You rise away from the skyscraper and loop back toward the other X-wings. But when you swing low over a row of flaming buildings, the X-wings are gone.

  “Where did they all —” Q-7N begins, but his words are interrupted by a hail of laser blasts as eleven X-wings rise from alleys between the buildings, firing at your ship.

  “It’s a trap!” you yell as one blast hits your left sensor array and the Y-wing goes into a spin. You pull hard on the controls and accelerate. Smoke trails off your left wing.

  There are too many X-wings aiming their laser cannons at you. You must either hide from them or outrun them.

  To outrun the X-wings: Your skill# + your vehicle’s speed# is your confront#. Roll the 6-dice to speed your way out of this one.

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total. You’ve tapped your sublight engine and have blasted away before the Imperial pilots could catch you.

  If your confront# is less than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. You must try again. Use the same confront# to repeat this confront until you have gotten away.

  To hide from the X-wings (without Power): Your Y-wing’s stealth# + your stealth# +3 is your confront#. Roll the 12-dice to evade the X-wings.

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total. You’ve found a hiding place in the peaks of Delrakkin City and have lost the Imperial pilots before they could fire.

  If your confront# is less than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total and repeat this confront, adding +2 to your confront# for your new confront#.

  To hide from the X-wings (using Power)*: Choose your Vehicle Evasion Power. Add your Jedi# and your stealth# to your Y-wing’s stealth# and your Power’s mid-resist# for your confront#. Roll the 6-dice to evade the Imperial pilots.

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total. Instead of your Y-wing, the Imperial pilots think they see a TIE Advanced x1 prototype and hold their fire while you make your escape. You can now proceed.

  If your confront# is lower than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total and repeat this confront.

  *Note: This counts as one of two Power uses you are allowed in this Mission.

  “I can’t believe I fell for that!” you admit. “The first X-wing distracted me, but he was just a sacrifice to set me up for the other ships!”

  “You’d better fly faster!” Q-7N cries as it looks out the rear window. “You may have escaped that gauntlet, but the X-wings are coming after you again.”

  “We’ll never make it back into space with all of them after me,” you respond. “I’ll have to try making it back to the jungle.”

  Dodging laser blasts from behind, the Y-wing tears down the streets and soars to the edge of the city. You take the Y-wing into a sharp dive over the side of the mountain. The Y-wing’s hull nearly scrapes the rocky mountain wall as you plunge faster through the clouds toward the jungle below.

  An X-wing shoots and hits your right exhaust nacette. Your shields absorb most of the impact, but you have to struggle to keep control of your ship. The foothills of the mountain come into sight, and you angle your ship in a dangerous arc, followed by eleven screaming X-wings.

  Another blast from behind hits the Y-wing and you dip dangerously close to the ground.

  “There’s too much damage!” you shout as you swoop over the foothills. “Get up front, Q-7N. We have to eject!”

  Q-7N bounces off the canopy ceiling in a hasty jump to the front seat. You tuck the droid inside your vest and push the ejector button.

  The canopy flies open and your seat blasts out of the Y-wing. Luckily, this Y-wing is specially equipped with a paraglider. You soar into the sky and your chute releases it. Glancing in the direction of your Y-wing, you watch as it crashes and cartwheels into an explosive roll of flame.

  “What happened?” asks Q-7N as you glide above the trees. You open your vest and release the small droid into the air. As Q-7N looks toward the burning Y-wing, you both hear the oncoming X-wings.

  “They’re heading right for us!” Q-7N yelps. “Can’t you reach the ground any faster?!”

  “Yes, I can,” you reply as you grab Q-7N and stuff the droid back into your vest. “But it’s going to be a rough landing!” You reach for your scimitar or lightsaber.

  To cut the harness: Your skill# + your weapon’s close-range# is your confront#. Roll the 6-dice to cut the harness to your paraglider so you can fall to the trees below.

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total. You have landed safely in the trees and can proceed.

  If your confront# is lower than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. You must try again! Repeat this confront until you have landed in the trees, then proceed.

  You drop from the trees and open your vest Q-7N flies out and turns all three photoreceptors to you. “Why did you drag me down with you?!” demands the droid. “I could have floated to the ground!”

  “I guess I enjoy your company too much,” you reply with a smirk.

  Overhead, the Imperial pilots break their formation. Eight of the X-wings soar high into the sky. The other three X-wings circle back toward your position.

  “Where are the eight ships going?” asks Q-7N.

  “Probably back to where they came from, but it’s the remaining three that worry me.”

  The three X-wings swoop down, spewing a path of laser fire at you. Running as fast as you can, you chase after Q-7N and leap behind an outcropping of rocks.

  Q-7N steals a glance over the rocks. “The X-wings are landing!” warns the droid. Seconds later, the droid adds, “The pilots have climbed out of their ships and are walking this way!”

  “Great!” you mutter as you draw your weapon. “Only three against one!”

  “One? What about me?”

  “Sorry, but you’re not equipped with a blaster!”

  “Surrender, Rebel scum!” exclaims an Imperial pilot as he leaps into view.

  You must combat the Imperial pilot.

  To combat the Imperial pilot: Choose your weapon. Your weaponry# + weapon’s mid-range# is your confront#. Roll the 6-dice to blow the pilot out of his Imperial boots.

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total and proceed.

  If your confront# is lower than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. Now double your confront# and add +1 for your new confront#. Roll the 12-dice to fire another blast at the stubborn Imperial pilot.

  If your new confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, you may proceed.

  If your new confront# is less than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. Add +1 to your confront#. Repeat this confront with your new confront# until you have defeated the Imperial pilot, then proceed.

  Q-7N spies a dark crevice among the rocks. “Look over there — I think it’s an entrance to a cave!”

  “We might stand a better chance of survival in there,” you consider, following the floating droid into the cave.

  “Careful,” cautions Q-7N. “It’s pretty dark in here.”

  “I can’t see anything!” you whisper in response.

  Q-7N is suddenly illuminated by several small white lights. “This will certainly run down my battery, but now you can see where we’re going. I’ll use my infrared lens for myself and lead the way.”

  You move deeper into the cav
e until you reach a large chamber. Somewhere in the distance, you hear water dripping.

  Something big shifts in the shadows. A deep, mysterious voice asks, “Who goes there?”

  “I’m a pilot,” you reply. “My ship crashed. I’m being pursued by a dangerous enemy.”

  Light fills the chamber as a dozen torches burst into flame. Q-7N flies protectively in front of you.

  Eight native Delrakkins surround you. They are lizard-like in appearance and their hairless skin is pale green. All of them carry picks and shovels. The creature standing closest to you is a tall female.

  “Who is your enemy?” asks the deep-voiced creature. She appears to be the leader.

  Q-7N flies beside your head and whispers in your ear. “I think you should tell the truth.”

  “I’m with the Rebel Alliance,” you confess. “My enemy is the Empire!”

  “Your enemy is ours,” replies the creature. “My name is Untrilla. We shall aid you.”

  “Wait!” cries another native. He is a broad-shouldered creature with hatred in his yellow eyes. “The humans have always lied to us. Let this one take the test to gain our trust!”

  “Test?” you ask. “What kind of test?”

  The other creatures nod in agreement and begin to chant. Your challenger drops his digging tools to the ground. “You and I must fight!”

  Glancing at Q-7N, you mutter, “This is what I get for telling the truth?”

  You can choose to fight the native or talk your way out of a fight. You must choose now, then proceed.

  To talk your way out of the fight (without Power): Your charm# +1 is your confront#. Roll the 6-dice to peacefully convey your sincerity to the creatures.

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total. The Delrakkins are moved by your profound ability to communicate.

  If your confront# is lower than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. The natives think you’re as trustworthy as a Hutt and now you’ll have to fight (below).

  To talk your way out of the fight (using Power)*: Choose your Persuasion Power. Your charm# + your Power’s mid-resist# + your Jedi# is your confront#. Roll the 6-dice to convince the Delrakkins that you are telling the truth.

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total. You have convinced the Delrakkins that you come in peace. You may now proceed.

  If your confront# is less than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. Your Persuasion has foiled. You must fight (below).

  *Note: This counts as one of two Power uses you are allowed in this Mission.

  To combat the native Delrakkin: Add your strength# to your skill# for your confront#. Roll the 6-dice to throw a punch at your opponent

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total. Your powerful punch barely affected your opponent, but he knows you are willing to fight for your beliefs. You have earned his respect and may proceed.

  If your confront# is lower than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. Now add +1 to your confront# for your new confront#. Roll the 6-dice again to lob another blow at the creature.

  If your new confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, you may proceed.

  If your new confront# is less than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. Repeat this confront with your new confront# until you have landed a punch on the creature, then proceed.

  You have gained a new ally. Add 15MP to your MP total (25 MP for Advanced Level players) and proceed.

  “Congratulations,” Untrilla says. “You handled yourself very well.”

  “And you have gained my respect,” adds the muscular challenger. “My name is Gwann, and we are at your service.”

  “For what it’s worth, I don’t enjoy fighting,” you declare. “But if there’s one thing worth fighting, it’s Imperial tyranny!”

  “We agree,” Untrilla responds. “Tell us, why have you come to Delrakkin?”

  “My friends and I were attacked by Imperials disguised as Rebel pilots. We had to land our freighter, and I pursued the Imperials. The Empire has instigated a complicated plan involving contaminated bacta. I don’t know much more than that. But you may be in danger. All I know is it involves bacta.”

  Hearing the word bacta, Untrilla and Gwann exchange glances. Untrilla looks in your direction, narrows her eyes, and orders you to explain further.

  “We believe a shipment of contaminated bacta was being transported to Delrakkin,” you begin, “but the shipment was destroyed. We know a Carrack cruiser brought alazhi from Thyferra to the Delrakkin system, and we suspect the Empire may have planted the alazhi on your planet.”

  Gwann’s face is suddenly transformed to a darker shade of green. “A Carrack cruiser visited here a few weeks ago,” Gwann states. “But it was not an Imperial ship.”

  “What do you mean?” you ask, surprised. “Wasn’t it carrying three TIE fighters?”

  “No,” Gwann replies. “It carried three X-wings. The Carrack’s pilot told us he was a Rebel. He said he had captured the cruiser from the Empire, and it was now part of the Rebel fleet. We saw the X-wings and believed him.”

  “He asked us to help him plant alazhi,” adds Untrilla. “He said the Rebels hoped to produce bacta on Delrakkin so they would not have to rely on Thyferran sources. We do not believe alazhi will grow here, but we are willing to help the Rebellion.”

  “Did the Carrack’s pilot give you his name?” you ask.

  “Yes,” Untrilla replies. “He said his name was Skeezer.”

  You feel your anger build as you repeat the name. “Skeezer! I assure you, this man is not with the Alliance! He’s a captain with the Imperial Navy! We recently captured him and his cruiser.”

  “But what about the X-wings he’d had?” Gwann asks.

  “The Empire got ahold of at least twenty-four X-wings,” you reply. “I’m telling you, this is all part of some elaborate plot —”

  “Nobody move!” a voice commands from the back of the cave. You recognize the metallic voice of an Imperial pilot and realize he has succeeded in tracking you down. “You are all under arrest!”

  You don’t want any innocent Delrakkins to get shot. “Everyone drop to the floor!” you yell. As the natives fall to the ground, you pivot and draw your weapon.

  To combat the Imperial pilot: Choose your weapon. Add your weaponry# to your weapon’s mid-range# for your confront#. Roll the 6-dice to shoot the Imperial pilot.

  If your confront# is equal to or more than your roll#, add the difference to your MP total and proceed.

  If your confront# is lower than your roll#, subtract the difference from your MP total. Repeat the confront until you have neutralized the Imperial pilot, then proceed.

  “That was some shooting!” Q-7N exclaims.

  “Thanks,” you reply. “I have an idea about how to get more answers. First, I have to get this pilot out of his suit”

  The Delrakkins assist you. In minutes, you are wearing the black-armored uniform of the Imperial starpilot “I hate these helmets,” you admit as you place it over your head, “but it may be the best way to get close to the enemy!”

  “What will you do now?” asks Untrilla.

  “There’s another Imperial pilot out there,” you answer. “I’m going to try to find out the details of this mission.”

  “Is there anything we can do to help?” asks Gwann.

  “Yes. My friends are probably still trying to repair our freighter, the Millennium Falcon. If you can reach them, you could tell them I might be leaving Delrakkin, but I’ll try to return with help as soon as possible.”

  Q-7N gives the precise location of the Falcon to the Delrakkins.

  “We will tell your friends,” promises Untrilla “Thank you for trying to help us.”

  “Until you hear from the Rebellion,” you warn, “beware of anyone trying to give you any bacta!”

&nb
sp; With Q-7N hovering at your side, you turn and make your way out of the cave. Although the Imperial helmet is uncomfortable, the infrared lenses allow you to see in the dark. As you approach the exit of the cave, you tuck Q-7N into a flight suit pocket where the droid won’t be seen.

  The surviving Imperial pilot stands waiting outside the cave next to the body of the first fallen pilot. “Did you find the Rebel?” asks the black-suited figure.

  “Yes,” you reply. “I shot him.”

  “Admiral Termo will be disappointed,” mutters the pilot. “While you were in the cave, I received a transmission from the Liquidator. Termo wanted the Y-wing pilot captured alive!”

  “It’s too late for that,” you respond. Your brain is on overdrive. You remember the name Liquidator as an Imperial-class Star Destroyer. “We’d better get back to the ship.”

  You walk with the Imperial pilot in silence back to the three X-wings. “What’ll we do about the third ship?” you ask the pilot.

  “Leave it,” replies the pilot as he walks to his X-wing. “We’ll send a team down to recover it.”

  You walk to one of the two other X-wings and climb up to the cockpit.

  “Hey!” calls the pilot from the seat of his X-wing. “Why are you getting into 2249’s ship?”

  You realize 2249 must have been the pilot you shot outside the cave. “I’m just making sure the canopy is locked,” you reply, thinking fast. “I don’t want any of those filthy natives crawling around in our X-wings.”

  “Good thinking,” comments the pilot as he pulls down his own canopy.

  As you walk to the other X-wing, Q-7N trembles slightly in its hiding place. “That was good thinking,” whispers the droid. “I was wondering how you would explain climbing into the wrong ship!”

  You climb into the X-wing and fire up the engines. Activating your comm unit, you address the Imperial pilot “My nav computer appears to be damaged,” you announce. “Can you fly lead back to the Liquidator?”