Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 14:20:30 -0800 (PST)
From: Patrick Rollens <rollens@YOUR-NET.COM>
Subject: [SW-RPG] The Sons of Palpatine
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Sons of Palpatine

It had long been the Emperor's dream to achieve perfection
bereft of the Force.  Simply put, he wanted a powerful group
that was not Force-sensitive and would hence not threaten
him or his rule.  The Sons of Palpatine were his answer.

Formed just before the Battle of Yavin, the Sons functioned as
a secret police, reporting directly to the Emperor.  Even before
Palpatine had secured his office as President of the Senate,
before the New Order had been declared, his plan for the
Sons of Palpatine were already forming.  The Sons were
composed of the most highly trained, handpicked officers.
No requirements were made to join--indeed, the majority of
the Empire was ignorant to the existence of the Sons of
Palpatine.  Often deployed to a system to quell an uprising,
the Sons went in under deep cover, did their duty, and left just
as quietly.  This was ironic and just a bit against Palpatine's
"normal" attitude about conquest (huge, frightening, and
violent) whereas the Sons were silent assassins, moving
from sector to sector, carrying out whatever task their master
set before them.

The reason that no requirements were made to join was
because the Emperor wanted the very best--he did not want
the very best *of the Royal Guard* or *of the stormtroopers*,
he simply wanted the best all-aound soldier.  The Emperor
personally scoured thousands of files.  Although the Emperor
frequently chose a soldier that had already been highly
recommended by his commanding officer, more often than
not, Palpatine chose soldiers that had been cited for
"disobediance" and "failure to follow procedure" because
these proved to be the most resourceful soldiers, the ones
who could devise creative alternatives and develop new and
daring tactics.

Eventually the Sons of Palpatine grew into a one hundred
man assemblage--far smaller than the Royal Guard or any
other division of Imperial military.  Then the Emperor stopped
his search, deleted the groups' files, and called the job of
gathering the best the Empire had to offer done.
The next step would be to train them.

Subtly diverting funds so as not to arouse suspicion among
the Imperial brass, the Emperor accumulated equipment and
a facility on the planet Magnaron.  The planet itself was a
seething, unstable body, torn nearly in half from its proximity
to its binary suns.  Volcanos dotted the terrain and a massive,
hundred-kilometer deep trench spanned the circumference of
Magnaron.  It was here that the Emperor established his
training facility.  For a single arduous month the hundred men
composing the Sons of Palpatine were instructed by a
number of Palpatine's closest officers in various arts, ranging
from physical skills like  sharpshooting to knowledge like
how to survive in desert climates.  Several trainees collapsed
under the harsh regime and were discharged, and to the
Emperor's horror one trainee exhibited an astounding talent
in the Force.
This soldier was quickly executed.  In the end only ninety five
candidates made it through the training.  Finally the training
was completed and the Sons were assigned to five-man
teams, supplied with equipment, and sent out into the galaxy,
needing only for the Emperor to command
them.

The first indication that the Sons of Palpatine were doing their
job was the Blood of Berchest, a week before the Battle of
Yavin.  It was a planetary uprising quelled by two five-man
teams.  On the planet Berchest,  a cell of rebel operatives
staged a massive revolt.  Two teams were
operating in the sector and they were immediately dispatched
to suppress the uprising.  The Sons broke like a clap of
thunder onto the revolt, utilizing RB-94 riot walkers and
Tornado troop transports to viciously destroy the
troublemaking citizens.  After Salius Saj Leeloo, the capital
city, had been devastated, the Sons spread out into the rural
provinces, ruthlessly slaughtering suspected rebels.  The
entire operation lasted less than two hours and afterward the
Sons and all their equipment disappeared, leaving only a
burning planet and unanswered questions.  Any question as
to whether the Sons were a truly useful investment was
swept away.

In a game environment, the Sons should rarely be
encountered, and even less frequently identified.  They could
be sighted on "trouble worlds" where open rebellion is
brewing.  They leave little or no evidence behind, and even
the most skilled trackers cannot follow them.  All
Sons are of the same rank, which eliminates power disputes.
 Each five man team acquaints themselves with one another
and then 'elects' by unanimous vote a squad commander
who makes decisions and assigns jobs when operating
away from the Emperor.  All answer to the
Emperor.

Sons of Palpatine Enforcer
Type:  Secret Police
DEX 4D
Blaster 7D, blaster artillery 4D+2, brawling parry 5D+1, dodge
6D, firearms 4D+1, grenade
4D+2, melee combat 5D+2, melee parry 5D, thrown weapons
6D, vehicle blasters 5D+1
KNO 3D
Alien species 5D, bureacracy 3D+2, intimidation 4D,
languages 5D+1, law enforcement 5D,
planetary systems 6D, streetwise 5D+2, survival 4D,
willpower:  resist interrogation 7D
MECH 3D
Astrogation 4D, communications 4D+1, ground vehicle ops
4D+2, repulsorlift ops 5D, space
transports 5D, starfighter piloting 5D, starship gunnery 4D+2,
starship shields 4D, walker ops 4D
PER 2D+2
Bargain 4D, command 5D, con 5D+1, hide 4D+2,
investigation 4D+1, persuasion 5D, search 5D,
sneak 6D
STR 3D
Brawling 5D, climbing/jumping 4D, lifting 4D, stamina 4D+2
TECH 2D+1
Blaster repair 4D, demolitions 5D, droid programming 4D+2,
first aid 4D+1, repulsorlift repair
5D+1, space transports repair 5D+1, starfighter repair 5D

Move:  10
Force Points:  1
Character Points:  3-10
Equipment:  Merr-Sonn DL-18 Blaster pistol (4D), small
macrobinoculars (+1D to search),
BlasTech A280 blaster rifle (5D+2), two thermal detonators
(10D), Emperor-class riot vest (+1D to all attacks [torso]),
throat-mounted comlink, four throwing knives (STR+1D;
thrown and melee weapon), bandolier with four blaster power
packs, medpac, survival kit


For most missions the Sons of Palpatine rely on old
freighters, simply for anonymity.  However, for hard-hitting
assault missions where secrecy is not essential, other craft
are utilized.  Listed is an example of the ships and vehicles
used by the Sons of Palpatine.

The Emperor ordered approximately seven custom-made
fast-attack freighters specially for his new police force from
Sienar Fleet Systems, makers of the infamous TIE fighter.

Secret Police Transport Freighter
Craft:  Sienar Fleet Systems "Lightning"
Type:  Medium Freighter
Scale:  Starfighter
Length:  39 meters
Skill:  Space transports:  Lightning
Crew:  1; gunners 2
Crew Skill:  See Sons of Palpatine Enforcer stats
Passengers:  8; prisoners: 4
Cargo Capacity:  138 metric tons
Consumables:  2 months
Cost:  Not available for sale (about as common as a Death
Star)
Hyperdrive Multiplier:  x1
Hyperdrive Backup:  x9
Nav Computer:  Yes
Maneuverability:  3D
Space:  8
Atmosphere:  295; 850 kmh
Hull:  4D+2
Shields:  2D+1
Sensors:
        Passive:  30/1D+1
        Scan:  45/2D
        Search:  55/3D+1
        Focus:  4/4D
Weapons:
        Double Laser Cannon
        Fire Arc:  Turret
        Crew:  1
        Skill:  Starship gunnery
        Fire Control:  2D
        Space Range:  1-4/14/28
        Atmosphere Range:  100-350/1.2km/2.5km
        Damage:  5D

        Ion Cannon
        Fire Arc:  Front
        Crew:  1 (pilot)
        Skill:  Starship gunnery
        Fire Control:  2D+1
        Space Range:  1-5/12/25
        Atmosphere Range: 100-300/1.2km/2.5km
        Damage:  4D

        Concussion Missile Launcher
        Fire Arc:  Front
        Crew:  1
        Skill:  Starship Gunnery
        Fire Control:  1D+1
        Space Range:  1/4/9
        Atmosphere Range:  1-50/120/250
        Damage:  6D

For most ground missions the Sons of Palpatine utilize
Compact Assault Vehicles, or CAVs.  With each enforcer in a
single CAV, and five CAVs bearing down on an illicit
smuggling camp or rebel base, the Sons can put out quite a
bit of firepower.

On faster, more covert assaults they rely on the Emperor's
limited supply of Z-Tech 24 "Flashfire" Attack Speeders.
These speeders can accomodate a five-man group of Sons,
requiring only one pilot and a pair of gunners.  The other two
Sons are function as co-pilot and communications officer.
The design of the craft has the main 'body' of the speeder
slung below the two gunnery pods.  This provides protection
to the pilot and better fire control for the gunners.

Flashfire Attack Speeder
Craft:  Z-Tech 24 Attack Speeder
Type:  Attack Speeder
Scale:  Speeder
Length:  15 meters
Skill:  repulsorlift ops:  attack speeder
Crew:  1; gunners: 2
Crew skill:  see Sons of Palpatine enforcer stats
Passengers:  2
Cargo capacity:  100 kilograms
Cover:  Full
Altitude Range:  ground-30 meters
Cost:  not available for sale (only about a dozen or so in
existence)
Maneuverability:  2D+2
Move:  300
Body Strength:  3D
Weapons:
        Two Heavy Blaster Cannons
        Fire Arc:  Front
        Skill: Vehicle blasters
        Fire Control:  2D+1
        Range:  60-110/260/500
        Damage:  4D


When the Sons are exposed to heavy firepower, the item of
equipment that most often comes between them and their
death is the Emperor-class combat vest.  This lightweight riot
vest is made of a super-dense polyweave material, lined on
the inside with thin bardium plates.  These
plates are relatively easy to install and repair, making the vest
easily servicable.  The result is a flexible, lightweight
protective vest that can stop most hand weapons (both
blasters and melee weapons) and provide nominal
protection from larger repeating blasters.
        model:  Custom-made Emperor-class blast vest
        type:  blast vest
        cost:  not available for sale (only a hundred or so in
existence)
        availability:  3, X
        notes:  Provides +1D to both physical and energy
attacks, to torso only.  No DEX
penalty.  Add +10 to a Son of Palpatine who makes a repair or
modification roll for his blast vest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please, flames, critiques, and comments welcomed!!  the
Sons are by far complete or balanced for game play.  They
kicked the collective butts of my group of PCs when they
encountered a five-man group of Sons interrogating a
Sullustan sympathizer.  Enjoy them!

Patrick
rollens@your-net.com