Stellar_Magic

Yeah... NJO order series---New Trilogy---Rapora Wars Series It could work

Last Reply of the day... Actually I've been posting in the RPGs while I was MIA. Thats fun, driving Darkie up the wall. I'm not Lucas...if I were I'd shoot myself. I'm just his replacement.

Starring at a clipboard, trying to proofread over three hundred pages will do that to you. Ah, at least I'm done witht he 1st and 2nd drafts. The polish is the final step before submitting it for publication... Almost there...

Maybe I should write one

You have no idea just how doomed we are...

I don't remember completely but I think I set it up like this... TIE Fight (Example) Speed 50 Shields 0 Manueverability (Equal to the XWA value) Number in squadron (12 x the XWA Hull Rating) Lasers 20 Whats really deadly on cap ships isn't the torpedoes, which are 12 x the number of tubes, but the ion cannons, 10 x the number of cannons. They can bring down shields in a real hurry.

Okay...fine. I'll post one once a week, with college starting and the polish draft of my novel I won't have time for it any more often. I might post a Rapora story once every couple weeks as well...

It won't be Zahn...Everything he's written has either had a direct bearing on Thrawn or Outbound Flight. I heard he's started a prequeal about Outbound Flight.

At least with a novel I'd get paid...

"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." -Mark Twain

Stellar Magic slammed his fists on the top of the desk sending paper fluttering through the air. He stood and started to pace, his voice irritated, "God, I've been working on my novel! I want it done before I restart this thing! Lord, can't someone work in peace?" He sighed, "Give me time...when you write a three hundred plus page novel you've got to concentrate on it."

I'd forgotten about this topic... I actually haven't decided all that much about rapora society. Yes, there are males and females. In terms of resources...the Rapora are capable of squashing not just the chiss but the entire galaxy...

"Oh, yes this is Major Lara Jules, my second in command," Kirk replied his voice shakey. He felt uncomfortable standing there, and that was because simply, he was now out fo uniform, wearing just a slick grey jumpsuit, which had no bearings on rank at all. Still Kirk could tell this was a man worth respecting, an enemy, but a proficient one that believed in his cause and that what he was doing was right. To Kirk though, it came down to methods and beliefs, working with pirates, and smugglers, those people truly were scum, and these rose sharply against his most closely held lust for security and stability, which was what the empire had provided. A slight smile crossed his lips, "I suppose you got my package?" Merick's face somewhat seemed to pale, "What package would that be Commander?" "You recieved a full design schematics of the V-38 along with its engines, I suppose Dodonna's off trying to use them somehow," Kirk grinned at the shooked expression of the rebels, "I knew you were using the Academy for intelligence, Jan certainly sticks out like a green thumb." Kirk smiled, yes that would give them something to consider. Merick slowly leaned back in his chair, "What are you offering?" "I'm offering our services as experienced starfighter pilots, and all the information I have on the Empire's current stategy...which isn't much, I'm just a small player after all."

Major Kirk Baumer glanced down at his chrono as he slipped inot the Hanger bay. Behind him, Lara pulled her blond hair up into a ponytail and finished zipping up the flight suit over a grey shirt. On the floor between them were the tattered remains of the their insignia's which they'd proudly displayed on their shoulders. Kirk pulled his helmet on and drew his blaster, their instructions had been specific, and he was ready to carry them out, to the letter. Kirk nodded to Lara as she pulled on her helmet. They quietly stepped through the doors into the tie bay, where an officer swiveled toward them, "Hey, who are..." The blue flash of a stun blast lit up the room and the man crumpled. Kirk stepped past him as a pair of techs dived for their blasters above on the ramp for the TIE Advanced. He fired twice stunning the first one which clattered over the edge and fell onto the floor bellow, his shoulder popping as it hit. Kirk grit his teeth hoping his bones hadn't broken. The final mechanic lifted his blaster and fired, the brilliant red bolt hitting Lara in the chest. She dropped to the ground with a whimper as Kirk fired on the final mechanic. He slumped onto the gratting, stunned as Kirk pulled Lara to her feet. She winced but stayed standing, "Thanks." Thrawn had given the mechanics 'new' blasters, which unbeknownst to them had been modified to fire much less powerful blasts. None of the stunned men had any inkling it was all a ruse as Kirk stepped across them and rushed up and onto the tie's hull. He keyed the hatch and dropped inside as a crewman, neither Lara or he had seen rushed along the wall to a panel and slammed his hand upon it. A siren whirred as Kirk lifted his craft off the deck and angled for space. Seconds later a second tie advanced was in the air heading for the mag com field and space. As he soared through the field Kirk could almost image Thrawn in his command chair snapping out orders. As the two ships flashed down from the hanger bay a rain of green turbolaser flashed at them from above. Against conventional wisdom Kirk and Lara angled up skimming their craft along the grey hull of the starship. A blast shot from the star destroyer's leading edge and slammed through Lara's shields boiling away a portion of her port solar panel. Through their personal commlink Kirk heard Lara curse, "A little live fire? A little?" She slowed from the loss of power but kept going and Kirk slipped into wingman position. Kirk glanced back through his rear viewport to see the star destroyer's hulk eclisping the sun. The glint of grey metal below the craft revealed a flight of ties in their wake. Kirk sighed as he glanced at the sesnors, Thrawn had decided to commit his only flight of TIE interceptors, "Uh oh...can they catch us?" Lara's voice was sarcastic, "Just watch." With a flash of pseudomotion her fighter disappeared into hyperspace, Kirk wasn't far behind.

OOC: (Screaming...yelling...) You...Dodonna hasn't even designed the A-wing yet!!! And you're talking about squints... (Post Yavin) argh.... IC: Kirk Baumer settled down in his seat with his booted feet up on the single table in the center of the bar. They glinted slightly in the dim overhead light, showing the shine of a professional officer. Lara slid into the room and saluted, "Sir." Kirk held up his hand, "Just Kirk, I'm off duty right now." "Sorry, Admiral Thrawn has pulled together a mission for us, before his transfer to the Vengeance," Lara said skidding the data pad across the table. Kirk lifted it up and began to read and found himself shaking his head, "You've got to be kidding." He pulled a small knife from his pocket and sliced off the rank insignia, "Well, lets just see how Thrawn will set this up...and our defection."

Yeah and their shear mass makes them hard to destroy. They hardly even need armor considering just how big they are.

Yeah well, I think the ISD actually only had two anti starfighter batteries... Of course according to Official Essential Guide to Vehicles an ISD has the following. 60 Turbolasers 60 Hvy Turbolasers 60 Ion Cannons Which makes it more then twice as powerful as an MC-80. The MC-80 is more manueverable, has redundant shields, and on the whole better crews. End result MC-80 would probably be destroyed by an ISD, but it wouldn't be a cakewalk for the imps. They'd probably be pretty damaged in the engagement.

OOC: Oh and the Event Horizon engine that you guys stole the plans for along with destroying the only working copy and model for are... Well they're what power the A-wing starfighter. IC:"Welcome to the Judicator Commander Baumer," Thrawn smiled slightly as Kirk stepped onto the ship's clean hanger deck, the blue skinned aline bowed slightly as Lara climbed out of her fighter. "Yes, you're station here for repairs right?" Kirk answered. Thrawn smiled slightly, "Yes and to stop any rebel activity in the sector, with Jan Dodonna retiring we hope the Academy will be cleaned up some." "Yes, well my squadron is hyperpace capable so we can also conduct raids on rebel facilities in much the smae way that they engage us." "True, we're working on a target list at the moment," Thrawn nodded to one fo lieutenants, "Please show them to their quarters."

Commander Baumer stood in awe of the craft he saw in front of him. Its central section was a cylindrical TIE ball where three triangular shapped solar panels were attatched. It was the V-38 the newest prototype from Sienar Fleet Systems. "Impressive isn't it?" A calm voice asked from behind him and Kirk spun to see an admiral with short cut white hair and an almost smirking expression. "Yes Admiral Zaarin, I've been pushing to get us some more hyper capable fighters. These are hyperspace equipped?" The admiral's face contorted slightly. "Well some are and some aren't we're having trouble on that front but, Imperial Intelligence loves this feature," Zaarin nodded to the nearest technician. Suddenly the V-38 seemed to shimmer then it disappeared completely, "A working cloaking shield, its not very useful however, no shields, no navigation, and so forth when cloaked." He smiled as Kirk walked toward the rear of the vessel as it reappeard, "We're experimenting with a new engine as well, the 'Event Horizon' it'll run rings around most TIE craft, and even all rebel craft." "Sir, someone just hacked into the computer system, they're downloading the V-38 specs." The technician scrambled across the terminal, "The Event Horizon plans sir, they've been downloaded and...deleted." Zaarin balled his fists with anger, "Track them down!" He sighed as the technician shook his head, "At least we still have the prototype." "You do have backups for those plans, right?" Zaarin shook his head, "Not for the engines, and without them this thing isn't nearly as fast as we'd like." "Sir, I managed to stop them from downloading the cloak plans sir, but they've logged out." Suddenly the rear of the craft exploded outward and the craft collapsed to the deck. Kirk glaced up at the engine compartment as he lifted himself off the deck. The engines were gone destroyed completely by the blast. Zaarin starred in disbelief, "Sithspawn, I'd have hoped the Academy would be secure, the Emperor will not be pleased." * * * Kirk was shaken awake by Lara who gestured to the comm terminal. Kirk sighed and got up to face the terminal and nearly jumped out of his skin as a man with blue skin and red eyes appeared before him, "Commander Baumer, My name is Thrawn, under the Admiral's orders you are to return to the Judicator to assist in anti-rebel operations." "I'm sorry but I must protest, the academy, well it seems its been heavily infiltrated by rebel agents, I think I'll be more valuable here." Thrawn listened patiently then smiled, "Send the Admiral a report on the situation, until countermanded, your orders stand." "Thank you sir," Kirk replied as the transmission cut off. He turned to Lara, "Well pack your things, we're shipping out."

OOC: Perfect...since there are only three years between yavin and hoth we know things are going to be able to really snowball. IC:Commander Baumer sat back reclining in his seat with a datapad in his lap as he watched the dogfight on the holographic display. The trainee pilot was faring well, giving Lara a solid run for her money. With one final flash the pilot was hit by Lara and the ball to Kirk's left opened and a wiry red headed young man stepped out and frowned slightly, "Excellent job pilot...I expect that if you remain in the academy you'll be given command of your own squadron." "Thank you sir, will there be anything else, sir," The pilot replied stiffly, to stiffly for Kirk's taste. "Whats your name pilot," Kirk replied giving a cold edge to his voice. "Cadet Salm sir," Kirk glanced at the datapad and made a note marking the cadet as someone proficient enough for his squadron. "May I be excused sir," the cadet answered glaring at the wall above Kirk's head. "Yes cadet," Kirk answered and watched the young man spin on his heel, only then did he notice just how young he looked. The cadet stopped at the door and Admiral Dodonna stepped inside, the cadet saluted then glanced back toward Kirk and wpoke softly to the Admiral, to softly for him to here. Lara stepped beside Kirk, "Anyone else to beat up on today?" "No, we'll just have to wait for tommorrow," Kirk answered as he stood and headed for his quarters.

OOC: I think he took a demotion when he joined, because as far as I've read the Rebel Alliance didn't have enough forces to warrant and admiralty. We really haven't set a date for where we are I think he's already working for the alliance, helping funnel future defectors...

The blue tunnel of hyperspace faded as the Tie experimental dropped out of hyperspace. He glanced at his port display to confirm that Lara was fixed upon his wing. Slowly he keyed the hypercomm, "This is Raptor lead to Academy control, requesting landing clearance." "Landing clearance granted at Hanger bay two-one-seven, Welcome Commander Baumer." "Thank you control," Kirk answered as he banked the craft into a curving descent toward the academy. Ahead four TIE/In fighter's dropped in ahead of them and assaumed escort formation. There below him was the academy complex as he banked the craft toward the hanger bay and keyed in the repulsor lifts. Moments later he was climbing out of the cockpit onto the flight deck. An Imperial cadet saluted smartly as he climbed down onto the flight deck, "Commander Baumer, sir, welcome to the Academy, sir." "Thank you cadet," Baumer answered as Lara clambered down the side of her tie. She strode swiftly over to him as Baumer continued, "Our luggage is in the cargo compartments, if you'd show us to our quarters." "Right this way sir," The Cadet answered as two more cadets moved to unload the TIE's cargo compartments. Kirk followed him through the bustling complex and noticed that his presence was attracting stares from the cadets. Lara had noticed it to, "Is it just me Commander or, are you something of a hero here?" "I suppose my repuatation has proceeded me," Kirk answered as two more cadets paused in the hall to watch them. Then Kirk noticed that some of the cadets had the opposite opinion, ducking behind objects to avoid him, "Maybe there are more then just imperial trainees here, I mean there have been so many defectons." "Yes I suppose," Lara replied as a older looking man stepped into the corridor and saluted, "Ah, Admiral Dodonna, its good to see you again." "Commander, Major, I see you've performed quite well, I feel that I'm getting a bit old for this labor of teaching," Dodonna's beard quivered as he smiled. OOC: Does this mean what I think it means...Dodonna hasn't defected yet

Well I think eventually...I have no idea when, but Timothy Zahn's unknown enemy will come storming out of the Unknown regions, considering Thrawn said that if the rest fo the galaxy was united and he was the head, they still couldn't be certain of victory... I'm thinking thats where Star Wars is heading, a massive invasion from the unknown regions. In my mind the Vong weren't nearly as big a threat as the one Zahn talks about, just look at all the screw ups in the New Republic Command structure early on, and the fact that the Empire of the Hand barely participated in the war. There has to be something out there thats worse then the vong and that would make a great new series for Star Wars to go on. On Topic: I heard that when the NJO was first proposed the writers were planning on killing of Luke early on in the series. George Lucas himself vetoed that idea...

OOC: Great a tour, all we need now is for them to bring back some droidekas... IC:"Kirk!" kirk turned to see Lara holding a datapad out in front of her, her face beaming, "This just came in from high command." Slowly Kirk punched up the data screen and felt his stomache flutter, "Congratulations Commander!" Kirk smiled slightly, "Well I suppose someone else is going to have to be bumped up to Major...Major Lara Jules, I've just got some intel we've got a mission to plan." "Me...sir?" Lara stood petrified for a moment before she smiled, "Thank you Commander." She paused, "Well what sort of mission?" Kirk stopped he'd surprised himself, and he felt his cheeks slightly redden, "Well, the Academy has asked that I attened their end of term ball, I'd like a wing." "I'd be honored," Lara answered as a grin flashed across her lips. She stopped, "But who will run the squadron?" "I think we could promote Logan to command, if he doesn't go to pieces on us, he'll be in command during our absence," James replied smiling broadly. It would be a challenge to be sure. He shook his head, the real reason he was anxious to go would be a chance to pick out the replacements for his squadron, well other then going with Lara that is. OOC: I fully expect someone to decide to crash the party...

Except those that couldn't, a dozen medium transports had arrived in system, two had been destroyed, and six had made it to hyperspace beside the battered strike cruiser, but four of them had lossed their hyperdrives, and now the gleaming white shape of the Chimaera glid over them, its blue ion cannon spitting fire into each of the vessels. As the craft lay disabled the stormtrooper transports moved in, the three that remain grappled with each of their targets and neutralized their crew. The fourth vessel, disabled, was used as target practice by the Star Destroyer's gunners. Within seconds the craft had been destroyed. Kirk rolled his TIE toward the Chimaera and saw the seven remaining members of the squadron move in behind him. He sighed, hopefully intelligence could piece together some information from the transports, only time would tell.