TheSagaContinues

"Demonztrrration completed-ted-ted. One hundred and-and-and-and eighty four engagementz; two hundred and fourteen targetz."

As the port housing the smoking weapon muzzle closed, Dee twisted his head from one laughing body to another. They all seemed to have found the results humorous. Perhaps there had been additional inquiries they'd intended to solve through their use of force?

"Do my-my-my capabilitiez fall within-in-in acceptable parammmeterz?" He queried as each tool retracted into his forearms and claws.

"Still not sure about that droid,"Valen say rubbing his chin.

As we board the transport, I begin a checklist of my items.  My armor is secure, my blaster charged, my comlink chirps.  I test my gauntlets and my cloak for shock, and find both hot.  I peer through my utility belt and find everything in order.  I strap into my chair and prepare for war.

Spoiler: ooc (hover to show)

I am sorry about drooping off the radar like that. I got hit pretty hard by the flu the last couple of days and was in such a fog I couldn't even tell ya'll. I will post as much as I can.

   Theodan watched as Dee changed the transponder codes, making sure this crazy droid wan't programming the ship to space them.  Once he was satisfied that the droid wasn't going to kill his team he sent the modified codes out to the rest of the ships in alpha squad. Theodan had actually meant if Dee could change the codes of any imperial transports they might find during the mission so air support wouldn't shoot down the recovered art. But if the first things the Imperials see is several transports with Imperial codes that wouldn't be a bad thing. Once everyone was aboard and final preparations were finished the transport fleet took off. Several dozen ships began to spew forth from the ship and enter formation.
   Theodan watched the transport fleet leave the cruiser. He never got over how the light changed during take off. Seeing the darkness of space through the blue screen, then the world would shimmer as the window passed through the shield and finally he would be looking into space with nothing between him and the infinite expanse. Theodan always felt as if he could have lived a different life as a space explorer instead of a historian and teacher. Fire Team 1 looked through the bags of equipment that had been on the transport when they arrived. Alright boys, pick your gear. Theodan shifted through the various kits until he was able to find one that suited him. Once he had found his gear Theodan went back to his seat. The pilots were busy coordinating with the other transports and fighter escorts. Into the silence Theodan said, Just in case.... It's been an honor. and it really had been. This team had been through a lot, yet what they were up against today would by far be the among the toughest missions yet. Now,
 I don't plan on dying today, and ya'll shouldn't either, but if history has thought me one lesson it is that the good guys can lose. What made the Republic strong, whats makes us strong, is that even after we lose we keep trying.
   The team rode in silence most through the rest of the flight. Theodan watched as the sky turned from black to a flame green during retry then calmed back to a blue as they approached the target zone. Theodan knew their speed hadn't increased but in space its hard to judge just fast your going. So close to the ground it felt like he was moving at an impossible speed. The transport reached ground level, and stayed there flying just above the ground through republic contorted space to stay below the radar. With in a few minutes the pilot called out, T-minus 1 minute to the drop zone. The crystal forest began whizzing by the wind. The team gathered by the door ready to charge out. Hey droid, your first off the ramp. Be a good distraction for the rest of us. Theodan was always a bit uncountable with how aware droids were, and he didn't want to risk this droid needlessly, but after the hanger he was not going to get in front of the droid if he could help it. Turning to Valen, Theodan said, If that darn droid looks like its going to shot me, you have permission to shot it first. Everyone was preparing to be go into combat. Theodan fixed his bayonet, loaded his rifle and prepped his tracer gun. We are going to be in combat almost off the bat, but our primary job is securing the museum. If it looks like the Imperials are going to abscond with something use the tracer guns to tag it. In fact tag everything you can in case an imperial unit comes in and clears out stuff behind us. Don't shot until we know our cover has been blown I want to make a coordinated ambush on the Imperial squad. With in seconds the transport came to rest on the ground and the door began to lower. May the Force be with us... Varactyl, move out! Theodan ran off the transport, the excitement of combat making him forget the droid. The sun was bright, intensified by the crystal forest. Theodan ran forward a dozen yards and slid into cover behind a wall. The transports had drooped them about 50 yards form the main plaza. He could see the transports of fire teams 2 and 3 lifting back into the air a few hundred meters away. At least all the teams made it onto the ground. If the Imperials noticed the transports they must have been fooled by the transponder changes that Dee had made. Good, that gives us a chance to move up on them quietly. Theodan signaled to his team to begin moving east towards another low wall they could take cover behind.

Spoiler: Skill Challenge: Ambush (hover to show)

Success: 5 successful checks, Failure: 3 failed checks.
Stealth @ DC 15: Try to remain hidden from the imperial soldiers in the plaza and find a path to guide other members of the squad through unseen.
Athletics @DC 15: Wait for guards to look the other way and make a dash or leap to the next spot of cover before they turn around again. 
Perception @ 15: Check for any traps/alarms set by the Imperials, grants +2 to an allies next stealth or Athletics roll.
Knowledge (tactics) @ DC 20: Coordinate with Allies to set up an ambush. (Can only be attempted for the last success) Prevents Imperial troops from being able to roll perception to spot you granting an ambush.
Success: You have closed the distance and are now ready open fire on the Imperials. If the Knowledge (tactics) check was undone, roll stealth vs. Initiative for ambush.
Fail: Imperial forces spoted your position and have open fired, your ambush fails.
Anything else creative ya'll can think of.

As we approach the landing site, Theodan speaks of the honor of serving with us.  I dip my head towards him in acknowledgement of mutual respect.  These were good men, and it would not do to have this day end in failure.

As we approach the plaza, I see Theodan sprint forward to seek cover behind a statue.  However, it appears that this action has made the guard nearby suspicious.  Peeling off from the main group, I crouch low to the ground and stealthily close in on the guard.  I hear no comm chatter yet, and perhaps if I can grab him, he will be unable to raise an alarm.

Spoiler: Stealth Check (hover to show)

1d20+9=22.  Looks like this will be a success for us.

Mudtop, I want to knock this guard out if he shows too much interest.  Could I do an opposed Stealth vs Perception to sneak up on him and knock him out, or should I make an actual grapple check when the moment comes?

Hey droid, your first off the ramp. Be a good distraction for the rest of us. Theodan was always a bit uncountable with how aware droids were, and he didn't want to risk this droid needlessly, but after the hanger he was not going to get in front of the droid if he could help it.

Dee rotated his boxy head back to Theodan and nodded. "Rrrrrroger roger."

The hollow, metallic whine of charging  capacitors, servos and motors, surrounded the droid. As soon as the ramp opened Dee shot out like a bullet. He wasn't the fastest model but moving in a straight line would allow him to scan and send information back to the team. He zoomed across the terrain kicking up a trail of dust behind his whirring treads.

"Zcanning...Zcanning-ing-ing...Zcanning..."

Spoiler: Eyes and ears (hover to show)

Perception @ 15: Check for any traps/alarms set by the Imperials, grants +2 to an allies next stealth or Athletics roll.
Z33B_29:1D20+7 → 17(10 + 7)
Success 2, Fails 1

The guard is so close I can hear his breathing, smell his soup.  It is not the strongest of soups, and it is tinged with unease and nervousness.  But I have not fed deeply for several days.  I freeze when I hear a rock clatter on the ground, and the trooper turns away.  I bare my teeth in a feral grin.  The prey has turned away from danger, does not realize what fate will soon await him at my hands.  I close behind him, arms elevating, hands grasping for the soft points on his neck and head . . . .

Spoiler: Stealth roll/Grapple check (hover to show)

Move action for Stealth:  1d20+9=21.  I wasn't sure if Mudtop wanted me to make another Stealth check to sneak up on him, so I did one just in case.

Standard action for Grapple:  1d20+9=28.  I don't think I could have asked for a better roll.

With a successful grapple, I activate a number of different abilities or items.  I have read precedent that when such an occurrence happens, the user determines which items or abilities he would like to use first.  I'm going off the assumption that Mudtop is ok with that.  If not, feel free to correct me on how you as GM would prefer it to be done.

With a successful grapple, I use Reverse Strength to deal damage to the trooper equal to his own Str mod (minimum 1 point of damage).  Whenever I deal damage to a grappled target, Bone Crusher moves the target -1 step on the CT.  He hasn't seen me (therefore flat-footed) and I have successfully dealt damage, but I'm not sure if Mudtop will allow Dastardly Strike to activate for another -1 (I don't remember asking him for clarification, so I need his judgement).

With a successful grapple, my stun cloak deals damage to my target.  Stun cloak damage:  3d8+5=19 stun damage.  So the trooper will only take 10 actual points of damage, but if that 19 exceeds his damage threshold (don't forget the -1 CT from Bone Crusher), he'll move -2 steps on the CT.  Since the cloak is dealing the damage and not Rakos, Dastardly Strike does not apply.

I then Pin and Crush the trooper, dealing 1d6+8=11 damage and moving the target another -1 step on the CT with Bone Crusher (once again, not sure if Mudtop will rule that Dastardly Strike works in this situation).

Finally, I will expend my swift action to activate my Anzati Soup Drinking, moving the target -1 step on the CT and granting Rakos 7 bonus hp until the end of the encounter.

So, all told, if the stun cloak damage beats the trooper's damage threshold, he should be -5 steps on the condition track and unconscious (-1 Reverse Strength/Bone Crusher, -2 stun cloak damage, -1 Pin/Crush/Bone Crusher, and -1 Soup Drinking).  He might be made unconscious more quickly if Dastardly Strike applies to Reverse Strength/Bone Crusher and Pin/Crush/Bone Crusher.

Mudtop, I have a description I want to post, but I'm not sure if I performed a complete takedown.  If I did, please let me know so I can edit this post with a final description.