“Hey-sa, friend! You-sa goodly for name ‘membering!”

“What-sa be you-sa namey?”

Looking around at what little he can see with the glowrod, Bip-Bip notes:

“Mee-sa found goodly hidey-hole, mebbe?”

It looks nice.

As his eyes adjusted to the low light he saw the alcove continued on.

It looks like there's more to it.

The gungan tightened the grip on his survival knife before continuing down the darkened passage.

Bip-Bip loyally follows behind his new friend.

As he searches, he is looking from side to side and aiming his glow rod around to try to get more light on the subject.

“Hey! I tink mee-sa found sumting else!!!”

“What-sa down here-sa?!?”

Emerging out of the water into this cave is erie, the darkness is quite complete without the strange glowing algae that exists in the rest of the flooded parts of the complex. Undoubtedly this room is still beneath the ocean floor, and probably still beneath the Kelp forest above, but somehow it has remained dry. either the walls are incredibly water tight, or some other process is preventing the build up of water. It still appears to be an artificial construction, with flat stone floors, and possibly square in shape, but details are hard to make out. there is definitely a couple of piles of boxes in one corner.

Its quiet in here too, with nothing more than the soft echo of your own footsteps, and the very quiet lapping noises as the last ripples on the waters surface break against the walls of the ramp you just exited. In the darkness you can just barely see the thick layer of dust settled on the floor here, small footprints zig zag across the surface. As you quietly scan the room, trying to perceive anything at all a sudden scraping sound comes rushing toward you from across the darkened room.

Bip-Bip reflexively drops his glow rod and quick-draws both his blasters, turning towards the sound of the scraping, screaming:

“GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!”

“PREPARE-SA TO DIE-SA!!!!!”

[OOC post at https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/219144-bombad-bombardiers-ooc/#entry2468022 ]

After the croc turns and moves away, Bip-Bip just stands there for a moment, trembling.

After a few moments, he stutters:

“Did … Did … Did … Did you-sa see dat?”

“Dat was HUGE! Sea-monsterociousness!!!”

“I nebber before-sa saw sumting dat big dat wuz dat close!!!”

“Mee-sa whole life flashy flashy before mee-sa eyestalkies!!!!”

Bip-Bip finally starts to breathe again, and discovers the most foul stench he’s ever smelled.

It takes him a few moments to realize that Bip-Bip himself is the source of that stench.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWW!!!! Stinky stinky!!!!!”

Bip-Bip waivers for a moment, between the thought of going back into the water to clear out his pants, and the fear of whatever else might also be in the water — possibly including the big brother of the thing they just saw.

After another few long moments, Bip-Bip realizes that he needs to holster his carbines, and pick up his glow rod that he had dropped before.

He is still undecided on going back into the water so that he can clean out his pants.

Keeping a blaster in one hand and the glow rod in the other hand, Bip-Bip will return to searching the newly discovered space.

He will be looking for doors, droids, other creatures that could potentially kill him with a single bite, etc….

As you explore the dry underwater cavern it becomes apparent quickly that it's the end of this complex. There are no significant exits other than the one you came in through. The floor is littered with shells and bones, turtles through to small sharks appear to have been consumed here.

More to come

With a safe place to sleep, protected from prying eyes, the small group of escapees set up the rudimentary makings of a camp. Simple bedding, basic cooking, it's a very meager existence... but it's free, there is no overlord, no one bossing, no thankless task for a careless oppressor to complete.

With careful planning the two most experienced of the group plan a scouting mission into the heart of their former camp. The goal is simple, find survivors and supplies to take to safety, and hopefully discover the ware abouts of the rest of the Gungan population on Ongata 7. But don't get found.

Early in the morning of the 3rd day of freedom the pair rise out of a swamp amidst the fog. Moving carefully they weave their way between collapsed tents. In the distance a small squad of imperial troops stand watch over the camp, but this far into their rounds their attention is on other things. The camp is essentially unguarded, probably for the next half hour, plenty of time to search.

She had been watching them ever since she left, ever since she removed herself from what sufficed for Gungan society here on Onganta. When the Imperials attacked the camp, she thought she might step in, thought it might be the right time to act, but something inside restrained her, held her back, and she decided to bide her time. Some of her fellow Gungans had fled into the water, and she considered following them. For a time, she resisted that urge, preferring instead to keep an eye on the Imperials on the surface, but after a time she became concerned.

Under the cover of night, she slipped into the water to search for her people. Now was the time to act. Now was the time for her to be Gungan again.

(OoC: I'm going to change the timing a little. It's possible Zan-Zee was swimming around for some time before she finally ran into other Gungans)

As she began descend into the depths of the drink, Zan-Zee found herself face-to-face with two fellow Gungans. The first was dressed rather sparsely in motley survival gear. Between his teeth was a survival knife. Wordlessly he motioned for the lass to ascend with them back into the camps. Together, the trio emerged within a grotto, whose only other exit was hidden by the land's natural flaura.

I don't recognize you.

He gave the female a curious look, but turned his back to her in order start rummaging through a cairn of rocks. It was a bold move to turn your back on stranger, but he trusted Bip-Bip to cover him. As he began to move rocks around he added My name is Bii-Mii Wuu. I was a scout for the Officers before they attacked.

Bip-Bip is quite surprised at this turn of events.

“What?!? You-sa be a scout for dem?!?”

Bip-Bip quickly puts his hands on the grips of his blasters.

“So, why-sa mee-sa don’t shoot you-sa? You-sa be dere scout!!!”

Bip-Bip looks at Bii-Mii very suspiciously, completely ignoring the new Gungan they have just met.

Casually, Bii pulled a ragged duffel bag from beneath the pile of rocks. Before unzipping the satchel he locked eyes with Bip-Bip. Did you have any choice in what the imperials asked you to do? The found out I was good at reading tracks and fishing. I was First Scout back in Otoh Gunga. So naturally, they forced me to hunt for them. It was a sport for them. I figured if the Imps were happy, it would mean less trouble for the camp.

It was clear to Bii that was not getting through. My accent. I get it. It was easier to pretended to not be who I am. The Imps were more agreeable when I acted... well.. less Gungan.

Bii Mii Wuu sighed heavily. It was clear he was at a loss for what to say. In the end, he slid the bag away and fully faced the pair of Gungans. I swear on the sacred waters of Lake Paonga. If I am lying, may a great gooberfish feast on my entrails. He fell silent before adding. If you don't believe me. You can shoot me now. Other than a survival knife. I'm unarmed. I've seen you shoot. It should be easy.

Bip-Bip looks confused for a moment, then brightens up.

“So, dey-sa make-a you-sa slave, to hunt for dem?”

Bip-Bip relaxes and now looks a bit more hopeful.

“Okee-day. Mee-sa unnnerstand. Mee-sa no likey slavers.”

Bip-Bip now turns to the female Gungan.

“And you-sa? Did dey-sa also make-a you-sa slave?”

Zan-Zee regards the two she's happened upon with curiosity, her eyestalks swinging from one to the other as they speak. When Bip-Bip finally speaks to her, she narrows her eyes menacingly. Her fingers tighten on the haft of her spear.

"I am no slave, no-suh," she says in a husky voice. "When they-sa brings us here, I escapes. I escapes and harasses the humans-suh. I am Zan-Zee Tonks, yes-suh, and ain't-suh nobody gonna makes me slave for nothin'."

She shifts her gaze again from Bip-Bip to Bii Mii Wuu. "Is-suh there more of us-es around? Meesa wish to-ah reconnect wissuh my peoples, to bring-ah them strengths, and be made stronger by them-suh."

With the immediate threat of friendly-fire out of the way, Bii returned his attention to the bag nearby. From out of the pack he drew a ragged blaster rifle. He took a minute to checked it to ensure it was indeed still functional, then pocketed a number of energy packs.

Sorry about the little detour. I wanted to make sure I was plenty armed. A rifle like this wouldn't have gone over too well with the imps back in the camp. So I kept it stowed away.

He looked to Zan-Zee and took measure of her fervor. She's fierce, Bii would grant her that.

To answer your question, some of the others made it out, but only a fraction. We came to the surface to see what happened to the rest and to take measure of the situation. If you're capable, we could use you. What do you say?

Zan-Zee listens as Bii speaks. He does not talk like other Gungans, she notes; his words are like those of Naboo's humans. This is, at least on the surface, disconcerting. After all, once you peeled away the outer shell of the Empire's solders, stripping it like a shellfish, they proved to be human, too. But she has known good members of that species, as well - like the blind old fisherman in the Muy-Tung swamp - and thus decides not to judge him harshly based on that potential connection.

"By Balam's haillu," she swears, "Me-suh is capable, and me-suh is ready, mmhm, yes."

She takes a step toward him, resting the deadly spear on her shoulder. "You just be tellin' me-suh what me-suh need to do."

A motionless Gungan body will be floating in the water. Keen eyed could recognize the old sod...

Bip-Bip sees something moving on the surface of the water and quick-draws his blasters.

With a plop the body dissapears beneath the surface, ripples spread sending the pond scum up and down. Reeds nearby wave back and forth as the water settles, a nearby frog stops croaking with the disturbance unsettling it. The fog draws in over the water, hiding any further motion from your view.

In the distance an imperial trooper can be heard to report in. "Affirmative Sir, we can't see a thing through this fog, we haven't seen a single surviving Gungan today. Requesting permission to return to base... Yes Sir, ok Sir... we will Sir"

"The captain would like us to stay here, says it's important to the imperial governor that this issue doesn't get any bigger... bloody waste of time!"

Another voice replies "What does he expect of us? I can barely see my feet!"

Things go quiet again, the troops are close but seemingly bored and hardly paying attention.