<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: impact;"><strong>STAR WARS</strong></span></span><br/><br/><em>A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...<br/><br/>As the rising <strong>Akryan Empire</strong> gains momentum and sets its eyes on galactic<br/>domination, a confederacy of worlds begin to band together to resist the military might of <strong>Emperor Draen</strong>.<br/>Under the leadership of the famous General <strong>Aldnar Thrane</strong>, the confederacy seeks to draw the unaligned worlds<br/>and systems together to resist the Akryan war machine.<br/><br/>Desperate to secure troops and advanced technology,<br/>Thrane sends his envoys to the remote planetary system of <strong>Ulost</strong>.  Ruled over<br/>by the matriarchal <strong>Sereta Imperium</strong>, its triumvirate of Queens have long resisted<br/>outside interference in a bid to create a paradise for their people, developing some of the<br/>most advanced technology in the galaxy in that quest to secure their independence from<br/>the galaxy at large – technology that the struggling confederacy frantically needs.<br/><br/>En route to <strong>Ulost</strong>, the envoy frigate is intercepted by Akryan forces on the very<br/>outskirts of the system...</em></div><hr/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">PRELUDE</div><div class="spoiler_body">The meeting with <div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Aldnar Thrane</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://i.imgur.com/oR9pqhc.jpg)</div></div> was largely a terse affair – compared to the shinning image rumour generally paints him in, Thrane himself proved to be a rather gruff individual who always seemed on the verge of impatience – yet to wage a war against insurmountable odds, perhaps it is of little surprise.  The Akryan Empire holds the advantage in almost every regard, except for numbers, yet they make up for it with the brutal efficiency of its war machine, the surpassing excellence of its troops, the unquenchable will to crush their opponents, and freedom from the politics and intrigues that mires the Confederacy of Free Worlds.  The frustration caused by this latter issue is plainly written on Aldnar's face whenever he speaks.<br/><br/>At last, the mission at hand is given: <strong>"It's been a while, but at last we have received clearance from the Sereta Imperium to allow a delegation to plead our case.  I don't need to remind you, <em>all</em> of you, about the importance of this mission – failure is not an option for us, unless you're looking forward to a bright future under the heel and lash of the Akryans.  Pack up whatever you need and haul ass to the Ulost System and do whatever it takes to secure the cooperation of the Sereta's damned monarchs – we must. have. this. Alliance!  And if negotiations fall through – and only if! – steal as many schematics, blueprints, and plans for the Sereta's military technology as you can and run like the devil was on your tail; from what I've heard of the Sereta Imperium, something like that may well happen."</strong><br/><br/>Thrane takes only a few more minutes to impress the urgency of the mission again before dismissing everyone, and soon everybody is headed on board a confederacy frigate with escort bound for the Ulost System.  The mood is sombre, and there is little doubt that every crewmember, from lowest to highest, are placing their hopes to this delegation even though nothing is said.  With the Ulost System so remote, it is nearly a week before the time comes and the last coordinates are entered.  The humm of the engines soars and ships make the last hyperspace jump.<br/><br/>And things started to go wrong.<br/><br/>Jolting out of hyperspace, the massive nebula that more or less blankets the Ulost System was within sight, before a salvo laser fire and torpedoes tore into the frigate and obliterated its escort; to the port side, assault frigates and a Jugram-class Command ship are visible.  The Akryans had been waiting.<br/><br/>The first blast had crippled the ship, but the Akryans were content to leave it at that, evidenced by the second wave of attacks.  Somehow, between fire, sudden decompression, and the ship being town in two, the envoy group and surviving crew members manage to get aboard the escape shuttles.  Most as shot to pieces by Akryan interceptors.  The shuttle on which the envoys find themselves survives, if only barely, from sacrifices made by the other shuttles, who realise that they need to ensure that they reach the system and complete their mission.<br/><br/>Escape seems to be at hand, until they enter the nebula.  Systems malfunction.  Power surges.  Beyond comprehension, the ship begins to tear itself apart.  Before the ship can completely disintegrate, the pilot spots a nearby planet and makes a desperate pitch to reach it.</div></div><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/1/17/Dragonsnake_Bog.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20091008000655)</div>When everyone regains consciousness, they are battered and bruised.  There are many dead bodies all over the place, not all in one piece.  As you all manage to crawl from the wreckage, you are greeted by the stench of decay, omnipresent vegetation, and dark sinister swampland.  The air is heavy, yet breathable to everyone's good fortune.  It's hard to tell how long has passed since the crash, but given that there are still fires burning on the ship, it can't have been more than an hour.<br/><br/>Now is the time to decide how to make the best of a bad situation.<br/><br/><strong>The Wreckage</strong><br/>The ship has sustained a large amount of damage and it would be lucky to every fly again.  Provided the fires are put out, it would make a decent shelter, and with a little bit of work, even a safe haven.<br/><br/>Whilst these fires keep the cold chill of the air at bay, it will also draw the eye of any who see it, including potential pursuers.  Perhaps even predatory creatures.  Whilst the fires keep burning, the ship will continue to be damaged.<br/><br/><strong>The Islet</strong><br/>The ship has crashed and come to rest on a<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">small islet</div><div class="spoiler_body">Not more than 60 ft. wide<br/>at any given point</div></div>of relatively stable land which is surrounded by dark, muddy swamp water that occasionally bubbles in places.  The shuttle might have cleared a path with its fall, but the waters have quickly closed back around to isolate this patch of land.  Given the muddy condition and lack of reliable light, it is impossible to tell how deep the water is.<br/><br/>On the north-western side of the islet there are rocks and boulders jutting out from the water, which, by jumping from rock to rock, can be used to reach the north side where massive trees grow out of the murk with a network of roots that could be walked upon.<br/><br/>On the eastern side of the islet, the crash of shuttle brought down a large tree that has fallen to create an impromptu bridge to the sodden land on the other side, where bushes, tall grasses, and other marsh vegetation grows.  The trees growing here are not quite so thick as on the north side.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">To start off with, everyone is assumed to have retrieved/scavenged their starting equipment from the wreckage of the shuttle.<br/><br/>Feel free to start introducing your characters, and what their immediate concerns are.</div></div>