                                Star Wars 

                           Wizard's RPG Stories

          source : http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=starwars/newsarchive
          upload : 10.IV.2006


     The Creaking Gate

     Scenario Supplement for The Air Up Thaere

     By Morrie Mullins

     Living Force Plot Director and Campaign Designer

     Living Force Plot Director and Campaign Designer Morrie Mullins  presents
the latest in our monthly series  of  supplements  to  the  campaign's  newest
scenarios. In "The Creaking Gate," a holo-feed serving Cularin is  interrupted
unexpectedly for a special report  from  Yara  Grugara  concerning  some  very
disturbing developments with the Thaereian Military. This supplement ties into
the October Living Force scenario, The Air Up Thaere, the second part  of  the
"Looking In" trilogy.

     ... we interrupt your  normally  scheduled  holo-feed  for  this  special
announcement. Please stand by for a critical announcement regarding the safety
of Cularin and our many peoples. We appreciate your patience in  understanding
the need to interrupt your normal activities for  this  special  announcement.
Please stand by...

     Fade in. The studios of Cularin Central Broadcasting are  in  an  uproar.
Paper copy lies strewn across the desk usually occupied by Yara  Grugara,  and
the normally blue screen behind her chair is scrolling text  at  a  remarkable
rate. A disheveled Yara is shoved quite forcibly into view, her hair  a  mess,
her make-up only half-applied, leaving her with black rings around  her  eyes,
but no bright colors whatsoever. She glares momentarily at  the  large,  hairy
arm that shoved her into the camera's view, then takes a seat and picks up one
of several hundred sheets of paper, straightening it as she tries to find  her
spot on the teleprompter. She forces a smile, but it looks as though she is in
pain.

     Yara

     Friends, this is Yara Grugara, reporting on matters most distressing.

     She pauses, squinting at the teleprompter that must be right beneath  the
camera, and gulps loudly enough that the microphone on her shirt captures  and
amplifies the sound.

     Yara

     It appears that, in the time we were cut off from the  remainder  of  the
galaxy, the Thaereian Military was putting into place a number  of  safeguards
on their own planets. Given their proximity...

     She stops as someone hands her a glass of  water  from  off  camera.  She
takes a sip and picks up a different piece of paper to straighten as she again
searches for her place on the teleprompter.

     Yara

     Given  their  proximity,  it  is  conceivable  that  they  have   amassed
substantial power while we were - well, wherever we were. Under the rubric  of
self-defense from whatever it was that seemed to so completely annihilate  us,
they have more than quadrupled their military power, and over the past several
weeks, have slowly put into place a perimeter around Cularin. They  have  also
moved more ships into the system, including - that can't be right. The Air  Up
Thaere Adventure Summary The nearby Thaereian system doesn't offer  much  more
than a stopover on most astrogation  charts,  but  it's  one  of  the  primary
"gateways" to Cularin. Thus, a great deal of the  trade  moves  through  here,
both to and from Cularin. The heroes find  themselves  in  an  orbiting  space
station above one of the desolate Thaereian worlds, stopping over on  the  way
home from a jaunt across the galaxy. Their ship has been sabotaged,  and  they
must discover who is responsible. An adventure  for  Living  Force  heroes  of
levels 4 to 9. Part two in the "Looking In" trilogy. Play after  "Looking  In"
part one and before part three.

     Yara's fingers close around the paper she has been holding  for  support,
her knuckles growing white. The paper rips in two and she looks  down  at  it,
then reaches up to adjust her earpiece.

     Yara

     No, that can't be right.

     She releases her grip on the two half-sheets  of  paper,  which  are  now
little more than crumpled messes, and picks up a small stack  of  papers.  She
begins to straighten them mechanically as she looks back to the teleprompter.

     Yara

     They have also moved more ships into the  system,  including  a  pair  of
capital ships that apparently are hidden deep within the clouds  of  Genarius.
This information is preliminary, and as yet unconfirmed, but reliable  sources
indicate that the capital ships may be part of a larger force  that  is  being
moved into the system. Given the recent - for us, at least - revelation of the
hidden base of operations established  within  the  system  by  the  Thaereian
Military establishment, local government and militia  sources  are  moving  to
alert status. No official word has been received, as yet, from the Thaereians.
It is expected that a denial will be forthcoming quickly, if at all. Commander
Osten Dal'Nay, of the Cularin Militia, has issued the following  statement  on
behalf of the militia. The screen flickers, then the youthful  face  of  Osten
Dal'Nay appears. He looks as serious as a rancor about to feed.

     Osten

     People of Cularin, let me assure you that your militia  stands  ready  in
case a crisis ensues. While we have not had as much time as the Thaereians  to
prepare for conflict, we are confident that our officers and soldiers and  all
those who have sought to serve the system will do so  to  the  best  of  their
ability. Do not panic. It is possible that this is nothing, but we will  treat
it as a threat until we have reason to do otherwise. Be ready - but do not  be
angry. Do not give in to that darkness. We will work  together,  and,  if  the
Force is with us, we will prevail.

     He says nothing for several seconds, and  the  screen  flickers  back  to
Yara. Her hair has been pulled up  in  a  tight,  quick  bun,  and  she  looks
slightly more composed. She has no more make-up on than she  did  before,  but
her face appears to be at least somewhat more relaxed.

     Living Force Scenario Supplements

     Renna's Transport Service (September 2002)

     The Cell Revisited (August 2002)

     Dark on Dark (July 2002)

     A Friendly Face (June 2002)

     The Sith Fortress (May 2002)

     Desert Cries (April 2002)

     The Kaluthin Are Always Greener (March 2002)

     An Official Engagement (February 2002)

     Oblivion's Kiss (December 2001)

     Broken Orbits: Tilnes (November 2001)

     Broken Orbits: Uffel (October 2001)

     Broken Orbits: Dorumaa (September 2001)

     Yara

     Friends, this is a trying time. Commander  Dal'Nay  is  right.  We  can't
allow ourselves to panic. I encourage all of you to remain calm, in  the  face
of this cri - - this potential crisis. We - -

     She looks to her left, nods, and then turns her attention to  the  camera
once more.

     Yara

     I've just received word that a statement has been received  by  CCB  from
Colonel - I beg your pardon, he's apparently been promoted in the  time  since
we last heard from him - Admiral  Jir  Tramsig.  He  sent  no  video,  only  a
statement that he asked be read. She takes a deep breath and  squints  at  the
teleprompter.

     Yara

     (reading)

     "Citizens of Cularin, on behalf of the people of Thaere, I wish to assure
you that our military is not now, nor has it ever been, a threat to your well-
being. We exist for your protection, and  the  protection  of  other  systems.
Rumors of ships smuggled into your system are preposterous. Rumors  of  hidden
bases are so exaggerated as to be farcical."

     Yara snorts, then covers her mouth and nose and looks  abashedly  at  the
camera before continuing.

     Yara

     (still reading)

     "We have recently begun a series of  maneuvers  organized  to  provide  a
stronger barrier to the Cularin system, to prevent a repeat  of  the  previous
near-disaster. It is quite likely that any source claiming  ill  will  on  our
part has simply misinterpreted our actions. I wish you all good  evening,  and
may the Force be with you."

     Yara frowns at the teleprompter, then looks  back  to  the  camera  while
adjusting her earpiece.

     Yara

     Friends, I don't know about you, but I smell a womp-rat. I've  been  told
that the Militia has yet to stand down, and that ships throughout  the  system
continue to be on alert. We will keep you  apprised  of  any  changes  to  the
situation...

     Fade out.