The Godless Matron was once a Trade Federation battleship, crewed by countless droid workers. Since then, many sections of the ship have fallen into disrepair due to the sheer amount of manpower involved in its maintenance. As a result, parts of the central sphere of the Lucrehulk-class battleship has been left to the ravages of time and the scars of the Clone War itself.

The crew has come to refer to this section of the Matron as The Gauntlet, largely due to the danger it represents. Located in the lower regions of the command sphere, it is a crosshatched network of ruined and damaged hallways, repair bays, and even crew quarters. While most power has been shut off to this section — save for critical systems such as life support — the systems and circuitry still require occasional maintenance in order to keep the entire framework operational. Such tech runs have become a matter of betting amongst the crew, earning it the nickname: running the gauntlet.

A heavy layer of dust sits mostly undisturbed along the debris of the halls, save for the footprints of the few crew that have tread the path before. These previously walked paths are a safety net for those who venture into The Gauntlet unknowingly. It is also thought that the remaining Separatist forces staged a last ditch defense within this area of the ship, and did so by any means necessary. Many traps, ranging from explosives to spring-loaded mechanisms, are littered throughout the untravelled pathways — or even still undisturbed within the known sections. Further still, malfunctioning B1 droids and even semi-active Spy Drones remain, ready to ambush the unsuspecting observer and adding to the dangers of the dark, debris filled tomb The Gauntlet has become.

Countless perils awaited those who ventured into the furthest depths of the Gauntlet. This fact was known to the crew of the Godless Matron better than most. There was opportunity, however, when the right circumstances presented themselves. The Herald had offered safe passage and not an entirely small sum of credits to whomsoever managed to 'run the Gauntlet' successfully. The proof of such a feat lay deep within the labyrinthine halls themselves, with a banner bearing the Herald's crest waiting to be claimed.

The risks of the Gauntlet alone were enough to dissuade most, but the crew of the Godless Matron had insured that the ante, so to speak, was to be raised. Those who entered the Gauntlet would do so from varying access points, and all would gain entry at the same designated intervals until the prize was claimed.

Armad knelt down next to a destroyed B1 battle droid and rummaged through what was left of its circuitry. There wasn’t much left after years of scavengers picking through the remains on the Separatist leftovers, but there were parts still to be had if you knew what you were looking for. Surveying the area for anything that indicated there was something of value there, when the sound of a blaster bolt being fired drew his attention toward the next section of The Gauntlet, and he could see bolts bouncing off debris from multiple directions. Taking a quick look around to make sure that no one around to shoot at him, Armad started to make his way towards where the blasters being fired.

As he got close, he started watching those that were shooting at each other, trying to guess who would emerge victorious. He took up a high position just inside that next section in a darkened area, so he could watch the proceeding action. He had been sitting there enjoying the spectacle when he caught movement along one of the walls. He couldn’t see who it was, but he assumed it was just another of the denizens of the Matron. As he was watching this new individual, a flash of light illuminated enough of the area that he was able to make out an emblem on a black coat. The Taldryan symbol. Though he couldn’t make out exactly who it was, but he could make out that they had blue skin, and he was certain that whoever it was, was not a Sith.

Armad kept a close eye on the Taldryan as they made their way around the blaster fight happening in the center of the section. He watched as the Taldryan kept making quick glances in the general direction of the others, when a stray blaster bolt struck a piece of debris directly in front of them, causing them to jump back to avoid flying shrapnel or another blaster bolt. As soon as they came to a stop, Armad heard a loud clicking sound immediately followed by an even louder sound of metal hitting metal. The Umbaran watched as the blue skinned Taldryan was launched into the air from an unseen spring trap, and he wasn’t the only one that had heard. Those that had been shooting at each other, were now shooting at the new and easy target arcing through the section.

Armad contemplated letting the Taldryan fall to their death, but a little part of him was curious as to who this person really was. So he waited until had made it past their zenith and was at their closest point to Armad as he could make them without moving much himself. Armad pointed his left arm at the falling figure, and pressed a button on his fibercord whip launcher. The rope shot out and wrapped itself around the figure, Armad pulled with everything that he had, yanking the figure toward him. Armad braced himself and threw a Force push at the Taldryan to slow them down enough that they would be able to land without killing or injuring themselves too much.

Armad then pulled his own blaster out and fired a couple of shots towards the others to make them slow their advance on them. Jumping down from his perch, Armad ran over to the Taldryan to make sure that they were alive. When he arrived he was shocked to see that they blue skinned Taldryan was in fact the Consul, Major Rhylance.

“Thanks for the assist,” the Consul offered. “That was very interesting.”

“I would ask why you are here? But I think that would best be discussed elsewhere.” Armad stated as he helped Rhylance to get to his feet. Feeling a sense of danger, Armad turned and fired toward a Matron denizen that was just rounding a corner, catching them in the shoulder and spinning them to the ground. Rhylance turned to run the opposite direction with Armad following close behind, both taking shots at those behind them or any that just happened to pop up in their way.

Armad guessed that Rhylance was after the credit prize for getting to the Herald’s banner first. So he thought that he could work it so that the Consul of Taldryan would be in his debt for helping him attain it, or he could use the Major to get to the banner, then betray him and take the credits for himself.

As discussed, the word count on the site (and shown in the Preview word count) is law for this event. The hard cap is 750 and even 1 word over is still over.

Match is closed on account of DQ.