The Horde Invasion

The team, consisting of Dag Baxil (Human Freighter Captian), Quarllen (Chadir-Fan First Mate and Gambler), Neo (Human Droid Technician), Alexar Feleman (Human Jedi), Ahram Dhayn (Elani Jedi), and Zsa-Zsa Binks (Gungan Mystic), docked with the Republic Flagship "Triumphant" around the world Chador, the Republic equivalent to Pearl Harbor in the Outer Territories. There was an meeting of the Joint Council representing the Republic Senate, the Republic Starfleet, and the Jedi Council. They heard testimony from various witnesses and survivors of the Horde Invasion, including the team. During the testimony, the meeting was interrupted by a message from Kron, leader of the Horde, broadcast from the recently taken Bakki Station.

"Esteemed representatives of the Republic Senate, Jedi Council, and Republic Starfleet. My name is Kron. I represent those whom you call 'the Horde'. It is an unflattering name, but I will excuse you of this insult.

"Of late you have surely learned of our endeavor, and must now now that it is useless to attempt to delay us.

"My goal is simple: to provide my people with what you wish to deprive them of.

"I am not a conqueror. I do not strive for empire or dominion. You have seen that I do not dally by attempting to hold territory. You may keep your precious worlds. I have no desire to take them.

"All I ask is for the worlds we visit to surrender what we require. Do so, and no blood will be sheed.

"But if you resist, if you resist not a mewling child or blade of grass will escape my wrath. All will be killed or punished, and your worlds will be razed to their cores."

The message put fear in to the Senators, who debated for negotiations with the Horde, but strengthed the resolve of the Military.

After deliberations, a decision was reached: Total resistance. However, to withstand the Horde, the Republic would have to call on the aid of all non-aligned worlds including the Hutts, the Mon Calamari, the Ssi'Russi, and others. The team was given a new mission: travel to Nal Hutta and enlist the aid of the Hutts. In order to secure their aid, they were prepared to offer a small unsettled world named Tattoine in exchange. Once assistance was gained, they were to travel with the Hutt Mercenaries to Tattoine to begin construction of a secret base. From there, they were to launch probe droids to spy on the Horde activities. To aid them, a special advisor was assigned to the team. His name is Natar, and he is a Hutt Jedi. Natar was special because not only was he the only Hutt ever to exhibit an affinity for the Force, but he was athletic, slim (for a Hutt) and muscular. He was also wise, kind, and intelligent. As a result, Natar was ostracized from Hutt space. He was an exile. He would serve the team as an advisor, but would not be permitted to address the Hutts directly.

The team, with Natar, travelled to Nal Hutta. There they met General Basir, the Twi'Lek mercenary general in charge of the Hutt-owned forces. They were led to a large domed amphitheater to address a meeting of the 15 most powerful Hutt kadijics, or Syndicates. After a long Hutt debate (consisting of shouting, name-calling, and small amphibian-throwing) they were able to secure the Hutt aid, but on the way out Natar was pelted with small amphibians and called several highly derogatory Hutt names. While the rest of the team prepared for a fight, Natar quietly endured the attacks and left.

Before travelling to Tattoine, the team decided to stop off at Nar Shaddaa and pick up a few sundries. After much haggling, they were able to procure some illegal droid parts to install in Zero-One, and some bounty-hunter armor. Neo, was nearly caught as he lifted some powercells, but managed to escape in the crowd.

Once on Tattooine, the team had some time to rest while the Mercenaries unloaded the slaves and construction droids to build the base and launch site. Neo was going over some droid malfunction simulations away on a rocky ridge when he was attacked by some Tusken Raiders. Neo found himself being attacked by 15 Tusken Raiders who had snuck up behind him. Although their weapons were useless against his droid endoskeleton and armor, the other team members heard the battle and came to Neo's aid. After a brief fight, the remaining 6 Raiders were routed and fled back into the wastes. General Basir ordered several of his men to take a speeder and eliminate all survivors and the rest of their village, much to the rising ire of the Jedi.

Soon, the base was completed and the launcher ready. They launched all the probe droids and went back to waiting. A few days later,the first signals began to arrive from the Probe Droids. The intel represented:

• Bakki Station was abandoned.
• The Horde Asteroid was orbiting the planet Aslanidis which was slowly dying and becoming brown.
• The Horde Fleet had split up into many smaller units and were raiding several star systems at once.
• They were able to observe a Horde encampment from 2km away. There was a scuffle that nearly brought all the Horde against each other. The fight was averted by Kron, who quickly put them to rest and ended the fight.

The meaning was clear to the team: The Horde was divided, and only Kron was keeping them together. Eliminate Kron, and the Horde falls apart.

Next time on the Horde Invasion: All-Out War as the Republic tries to lay a trap for the Horde. The target: Kron himself!

This was perhaps the weakest segment in the campaign so far. It was too much diplomacy and talking and waiting and studying, and a lot of the players got bored.

What I'm trying to do is segue into the final-battle portion of the campaign. My challenge now is to twist the story to allow the player character a chance to take on the big bad guy mano-a-mano.