pedro

EDIT: I've added part 2 to the first part so the story can be read in one.

Apologies, was down with the flu for a week and a half. Been up and about these last couple of days playing catch-up with my MOCathlon entries. I'll be gearing up the tournament a.s.a.p.] Your chance will come!

Knights ~ of ~ Frontera Republic Reconaissance. Anakin Skywalker and clonetroopers Risk and Switch are deployed to the planet Frontera to scout and gather strategic information. But Frontera is an uncivilised world, full of deadly surprises... Anakin: Look sharp troopers. Risk: Sir, I'm getting unusual readings in the adjacent sector. Anakin: Confirmed, let's check it out. Nearby... Girl: AIEEEE! Brown Hatted Bandit: Hehe, we done got ye cornered now! Brown Hatted Bandit: Yer number is up! Girl: Please... NO! Bandits: WHA...?! Anakin: Now this hardly fair! Risk, Switch - dismount and engage! Risk & Switch: Yessir! Brown Hatted Bandit: This ani't nuthin to do with y'all. You don't know what yer messin' with! Anakin: Attacking children is the lowest of the low. Scram! Before you live to regret it! Child: Oh my! A Jedi! Thank you so much! Anakin: Our pleasure. You're lucky we were nearby. Child: My name is Anka. You must come to my home, my parents will surely want to thank you. Anakin: We're on an important mission, but... a brief visit won't hurt. At the farm... Anka: Momma! Anka's Mum: Anka! Thank goodness! Anka's Dad: How can I ever thank you?! The names Loid. I must insist you stay for supper - it's the least we can do! Anakin: Er... sure, we'll stay a while. Later... Loid: ...and so we fled persecution there and came here to start a new life. Now it seems to be starting again with these bandits continually at our throats. Anakin: Glad we've been able to help, Loid. Loid: It sure is great having you folks around. Risk: WOAH! Creature: WAUGH! Risk: Sir, a strange creature by the BARCs! Anakin: Whatever it is it's gone now. Loid: Don't worry, we get all sorts of pests out here. They're mostly harmless. Loid: Anyways, I'm goin' to turn in for the night. See y'all tomorrow. Anakin, Risk & Switch: Night! Next morning... Loid: Thanks much for helping out around the farm. mighty fine of y'all. Anakin: Our pleasure Loid! This is such a great place, we really love it here. Loid: Good, good... Risk: Didn't we have something important to do Anakin? Anakin: What could be better than this, Risk?! Risk: True, I don't know what I was thinking about! Some time later, high in the skies of Frontera, a DC0052 descends... Obi-Wan: Anakin, Risk, Switch! Come in! Blast! It's been days... Obi-Wan: Hmmm, there's a settlement over there. I'll set down and hopefully find some clues. The town of Leone... Loid: Thanks for escorting me into town Anakin, it's good to have an extra pair of hands. Anakin: My pleasure Loid. Brown Hatted Bandit: Well looky here! Looks like someone done got themselves a bodyguard. Twi-lek Bandit: Well, Gadzooks! Brown Hatted Bandit: That noise... clankers! SCRAM! Droid Commander: A Jedi! Blast him! Droids: Roger, roger! Loid: WAIT! Kill him, but let me go! Anakin: Loid? What the...?! Droid Commander: Blast them both! ZAP! Loid: AUUUUGHH! Anakin: Loid! Suddenly... Obi-Wan: Anakin! VOOM-CRASH! Droid Commander: Oh no! Now there's two of them! THRUM-ZAP-SWISH! Obi-Wan: Anakin! Pull yourself together! Anakin: What... I? Who are...? Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan: You've been enthralled Anakin. Anakin: My friend... Obi-Wan: This is no friend Anakin. It's a shapeshifter, a life-leech. It enthralls the victim and feeds off their life-force! Anakin: Oh no, the clones! Back at the farm... Shapeshifters: No! Loid is dead. Kill everyone who's seen us! Anka: Die! ZAP! Switch: AAAARGH! Shapeshifter: Now for Risk... Obi-Wan: This evil ends now! VOOM-SLISH! Shapeshifter: UUURGH! Anka: Die, Jedi scum! Anakin: Not so fast! VISH-THRUM! Anka: NOOOOOO! Obi-Wan: Too late to save Switch. He'll be sorely missed. A gunship is en-route. Obi-Wan: We've learned a harsh lesson today and must be ever vigilant - the Separatists aren't the only evil we must oppose. The End I hope you enjoyed this wee tale! I created it for the MOCathlon Clone Wars Episode category. I was inspired by a story by writer Simon Furman and the idea of doing a Star Wars Western - a genre which served as inspiration on the original Star Wars - really appealed to me as a great juxtaposition for our heroes. I built a modular set so I could vary the scenery dramatically while still using the same baseplate. The saloon building is doublesided, having the shapeshifters' home on the other side. I created plates with desert and greenery too with slots in the base so all the modules can be swapped around to make desert, farm or Leone. Amongst other things I really like the DC0052 Speeder and have been toying with creating it for ages - now seemed like a good time. Thanks for the kind remarks and feedback so far, all much appreciated!

Cheers! A reserve would stand in reserves 'til someone else drops out - similar to what we see in other forum games. They might not get to play at all unfortunately. At the moment there is one too many players for a pure elimination/round robin tournament - the golden number required is 16. With 18 players the tounament can begin as elimination playoff, finishing in a mini league. If we don't get an extra sign-up reasonably soon, we'll play 16 with 1 reserve. A simple typo - fixed!

A truly stunning MOC KimT, really lovely to look at. Well done! What does fate hold for it now I'm curious?

17 champions of light and dark have met the call! 1. Eskallon - Eskallon 2. Taran Crax - sok117 3. Jim Butcher - Jim Butcher 4. Squidsaber - CallMePie 5. Dak Penin - Roncanator 6. Niffranda - badboytje88 7. Darth Wei-Gei - YG-49 8. Lord Dar'vole'e - Filip Skywalker 9. Lhi Kadhar - YouKnowMe 10. Kaita Serrain - Kaitan 11. Kike Argetlam - BrickMe 12. Darth Magma - General Magma 13. Hawke Koor - Bounty Hunter 14. Lothar - csimian 15. Vram Kenaan - Alex The Great 16. DarkFang - WhiteFang 17. Trolius - The Master Tonight I'll randomly draw each of you against another for the first confrontation of duels and put the details into a tournament table. I'll post the official tournament thread a.s.a.p. (I'm ill at the moment unfortunately - been layed up all yesterday and today. Boo.) and can either create a new thread for the tournament duels, or just play them in the official thread. I'll figure that one out. Please note: Because of the current structure of the tournament, 1 randomly drawn player will have to be put on reserve. This means when another player fail to meet his opponent in a timely manner the reserve will then be called upon to take their place from then on. My apologies for this, but the knockout nature of the tournament won't work with an odd number of players. There are two ways to avoid a reserve: I let one last player sign-up to create an even number of entrants. Change the tournament from knockout to a league whereby every player duels every other player for points. That'd be 16 duels to play for every player and might be too much for some! Let me know what you think. Thanks again to everyone who's come forth to meet the challenge, the wait is almost over!

Private Gale's accusations comes with some discomfort - I can see why men rally against him. First, his sudden accusation of a Provost Guard. And then with absolutley no reason to suspect an officer, he flagrantly accuses me of the most heinous of crimes - in itself punishable in the most fatal of ways. If the will of the battalion is that it'd see him face a firing squad, so be it. Vote: Private Dan Gale (def). I thank you for your comments, Private Reutal. It is always a risk run by those in command that we lose innocent men. But it is part of our lot and we must accpet it as a means of survival for the many and the greater good. Our path is a glorious one, for country, for freedom. We cannot sway from it. Some of you talk of missing family, your lives back home. I ahve no family to return to. This Great Army is my life. I'll put my sword in the back of any man who would desert it.

Your loyalty does not go unnoticed Private Toreil! Never let it be said I lack the courage of my convictions... but I understand the value of listening to those I serve with. As such I will take this opportunity to revoke my accusation against Private Entaine in light of his pleas of innocence and the support of the other men. Unvote: Private Alain Entaine (Alice). Now, while we still have time, let us double our efforts to root out the deserters.

I'm disappointed you feel this is the right decision Private Gale. Entaine's bitterness at my accusation is not nearly proof enough to condemn an officer. You ask forgiveness for alignment with the wrong party while directly servicing the deserters by accusing your own Lieutenant. I hope in future you are not so easily led. That be as it may I don't think we shall find ourselves with a full jury for anyone today. Tomorrow we may have fresh perspective on things. Instead let us see what the night brings. I fear it may be my last...

Thank you for your regards Private Yellman, I ask that we all stand down a moment. Private Entaine, your comments are unfounded in the extreme. Firstly, I never threatened your life. Secondly, I believe that we choose carefully our confidants and share our information privately as a prelude to investigation. Third, my accusation was based on your behaviour, but at every step I have asked you to represent yourself and face your accusers. Men, further information led me to contact Entaine directly this afternoon as I mentioned earlier. I took care to transcribe my message to journal as is a necessity for all officers: Private Entaine, Understand that my accusation against you is supposition based on your own behaviour. If the men would then accuse you in trial of being a deserter then that is the will of the men. I have coordinated nothing here but, as my station dictates, looked out for the best interests in all. If it comes to light that you are indeed honorable then we all have made a grave misjudgement. In such a case I only wish that you'd have come to me in confidence! As your honorable Lieutenant, I'd expect a measure of trust from those honorable men who serve by me. Second to this, if you are truthful, then you have just revealed yourself as a ********* and I'm afraid you'll be dead before a court marshal even begins. Again as your Lieutenant I wish you had talked with me sooner. As highest ranking officer on camp (with the exception of our new Captain) I am also in a precarious postion. Like our Captain who has gone before us my rank will quite probably be the death of me. Time will tell what fate with befall of us both, Entaine. If you feel you can share any information that will help the survival of our Glorious Battalion, then state it now while we can still act... or remain in my suspicions. ~ Lt. Pellcan This is my part of the conversation from which Private Entaine offered no quarter and a discontinuation of communication. As you can see I have been nothing but fair and even handed. Regardless of my accusation I have taken care to blot out a significant descriptive. Sadly, if innocent as he claims, Entaine seems to have done his very best to damn himself despite my warning previously and as above in private, repeatedly suggesting some kind of nightly duty. Under normal circumstances indeed Mason, but in this case we I shall let this be scratched from the record. We, your Captains and I, have reached these ranks because we live and breath our Glorious Army. At every turn our concern is for our Country and for our men. That shall not stop 'til I draw my final breath. As you were.

Indeed Private. Transparency is respectable but I implore you all do not share your night tactics openly. This will immediately make you a target of those who would seek to destroy us. Disappointingly there hasn't been a tide of response for my call, but that is somewhat understandable in our current situation. Suffice to say I have seen fit to contact others, at random, of my concerns and seek to speak privately with yet more. I suspect several of us gathered here. I have a list of soldiers which I am trying to determine guilt over over the course of time. My accusation against Private Entaine is based directly on what I have seen and heard of his behaviour. If it is the will of those present to have him court marshalled then so be it. At every stage I have given Entaine a chance to speak. I even initiated private communique this afternoon which bore no fruit. This may be understandable in light of my accusation but does not still my suspicion. As a high ranking officer on camp I feel it is my honorable duty to motivate us all to greater deeds. Yet I am in a dangerous postion. Like our Captain who has gone before us my rank will most likely mark me for death. But have heart men. Some of us may fall by the wayside... but with determination and communication we'll rid ourselves of these degenerates.

It is an unfortunate aspect of command that these provocations must be made for the good of all, Private Aellot. We cannot tarry when confronted by this decay amongst our ranks. Private Entaine is free to speak his part, but must show face - and with haste! Good Lord Dalese! I'm most surprised by this lackadaisical attitude from one of such standing. Letting a deserter slip through the cracks rather than questioning the integrity of an innocent man? Good gravy! Have you seen the devastating effect of what resides when but one deserter is left to run amok amongst us? Evil intent, a barrel of explosive and that all that can identify Captain Lecoq is his backpack! We cannot let this process of trial by jury go unfettered. As long as we do we hand a free pass to these would-be assassins. I'm not about to accept that. I thought that the Provost Guards of all people would understand this. I am familiar with those books Private Yellman. I'm sure there are copies available in the camp stores and suggest that you all make use of your leisure time by reading them and taking heed of the message posed therein. For as long as a state of stalemate and inaction previals, so the deserters will work in the dark, drawing their heinous plans around us like a shroud, suffocating all that is good and just. These killing will not stop... and nor must we in our pursuiut of these fiends. As you were men.

Haha... oops. Don't worry I'll sort that out.

Sign-up is now closed. Thanks to all who have chosen to participate. I will post the final list of contenders later today.

At ease men! Taking initiative is not a cause for suspicion Private. In any event accusation is a means to proving guilt - not innocence. This isn't murder Private Shadon. Nor is it paranoia. It's court martial. Trial by jury. If it is seen fit by our peers that Entaine should not be voted for in this instance then so be it. I am a man of honor and trust the will of my men. This talk of 'sharks and blood' is the only nonsense here. Let Private Entaine come forth and speak his piece.

Men, as Lieutenant I feel I should make a decisive move or our continual procrastination will cost us dearly - of that I am sure! As I mentioned before, I have my suspicions, but I am willing to share my thoughts on one of our number now... that being Private Alain Entaine. None amongst us has been so open in their feelings of detachment from family - can one who's feelings are consumed so really be focused on our momentous task at hand and the preservation of our Fine Army, our comrades? The desire to see family again is one of the strongest reasons a deserter will turn his back on his fellows. I say to you, Private, that maybe it began with a longing to see your family again after these many months, a longing you could keep in check at first. But maybe that longing has became an endless and desparate yearning, turning, twisting into an unquenchable desire to be with those you love, corrupting and maddening your senses as you seek any exit from our Illustrious Army, even if it means murder! Under such circumstances a man might find allies. It may even be that your call for shared information is an attempt to draw out those of honorable stature so that you or your conspirators can quickly silence them! What say you Private Entaine? Prove me wrong or by God I'll run you through myself if I find you've had a part in this devilish scheme! Vote: Private Alain Entaine (Alice).

Maybe he was just taking the mickey?

Captain LeCoq's death comes as the greatest of shocks to many of us. This disturbing happen-stance is by far a most bold and heinous of moves by these foul personages in our presence. The gallows are too good for these filthy creatures... It intrigues me how quickly you turn from thoughts of our noble Captain to that of your stomach, Private. As I'd expect, Private Tulon. Distribute any rations evenly amongst the men, but not with me - I'll not eat 'til this debacle is over. Things being as they are sample any food before eating - I wouldn't put poison past these deviants, blast their hides! It comes as no shock that our command structure is targetted. As such I must be most wary and act quickly! But let's not let paranoia become confused with rationale. Hold your thoughts if you must but bare in mind that at this stage it seems logical that Dalese would play caution, as should we all. Personally, I see it as luck that the Captains pack contained evidence to support his loyalty - not that it was in question. Further searching of bags would be foolish at this stage as the loathsome scum amonmgst us will have since seen fit to hide any proof of their falsity. More than one of us is lying Entaine. Be aware when suggesting that someone should immediately come forward with information for clearly that would put them at worse possible risk: rather pin-pointing an honorable soldier than a deserter! I certainly hope this is not your goal for your own sake Private. Tell me, how are your concerns about your parting from family today? And inaction will lead us nowhere - an ideal stalemate in which the deserters will surely find their time to whittle us away one by one. As such, I have my suspicions. First, I would speak with you all, one to one and in private. Until then, anyone can levy their concerns with me directly, in private. Chin-up men! We'll have these blighters at last!

Hey all, my aim in the story currently is to find a way to join the group. I didn't want to play a random baddie who gets thwarted at every turn - that's what our NPSc are for - so being send packing in a mine isn't ideal for me! Let me explain: Ichi is pursuing C.C. because of his earlier intrusion. For this reason he is focused in his pursuit, especially when dealing with an unusual target like C.C. (a time-traveller). So when he catches up with C.C. he's hostile and this initially puts him at odds with everyone. But then C.C. mentions a way to unlock part of his past... This is a gamble on C.C.'s part as things may not have played out this way as far as he recalls them, from his future perspective. Ichi is intrigued but wary. He's frustrated that he's has to track C.C. (and by proxy, the others) this far but due to the experimantal nature of his creation wants to learn anything he can about his life before Oni - if he had one. And so he wants to be shown where he can find this 'key'... I'd originally though it could be something that the R.A.T.S. might possess, and possibly their involvement with downfall of the Oni Project. This is a way for me to develop Ichi as a character and a more interesting way to unite him with the other characters!

Superb MOC, really captures the spirit of the sport. I really like your LEGO solution for the stones too - inspired!

Looking forward to that! A little bit disappointed at the non-use of earth orange... but I'll live.

Nice work as always Legostein. And nice too to see your approaching a mini with a more traditional build. I'd be keen to see what this would look like with a trans-clear cockpit canopy instead...

Great work AC. I've seen much of your work online and have always been impressed by your creativity ans scale in your creations. So why did you keep the Tie/D? A favourite of yours or just a parts issue? I'm rather partial to the Tie/D myself...

I've compiled a list of COT entrants so far and potentials: Entrants 1. Eskallon - Eskallon 2. Taran Crax - sok117 3. Jim Butcher - Jim Butcher 4. Squidsaber - CallMePie 5. Dak Penin - Roncanator 6. Niffranda - BadBuytje88 7. Darth Wei-Gei - Roncanator 8. Lord Dar'vole'e - Filip Skywalker 9. Lhi Kadhar - YouKnowMe 10. Kaita Serrain - Kaitan 11. Kike Argetlam - BrickMe 12. Darth Magma - General Magma 13. Hawke Koor - Bounty Hunter 14. ???* - Hollisbrick 15. Lothar - csimian 16. Mukoies Blacktoria - Grey Ninja 17. Vram Kenaan - Alex The Great 18. DarkFang - WhiteFang 19. ???* - Raphy *Hollisbrick, Raphy, you need to create and complete you charaters to enter. Potentials Atdzimiz Diena - Nintha Bur Man - Burman There's still time to sign-up and get your name on the list. Go for it! It's easy: Ready the the rules in the Introduction & Discussion thread. Create a Jedi or Sith with a photo and a little background in the Character Databank. Play some games to get familiar with the rules in the Dueling Thread. And sign-up for the tournament here!

Aye, I am at the moment.