Not the Way

A review and discussion of The Mandalorian and Grogu live action motion picture

Introduction

When The Mandalorian first premiered on Disney Plus in 2019, we all had hopes that it would turn the page on an ugly chapter in the history of the Star Wars franchise.

The series was touted as being a galactic adventure of another bounty hunter clad in Beskar in a galaxy far, far, away. Many were the fans who clamored to its debut, drooling to be entertained by their new hero in a helmet.

Unfortunately, what we find is anything less than epic about the adventures of Din Djarin, and his new animatronic companion, but more on that later.

Right now I want to pull back the curtain on what so many have dismissed about The Mandalorian, and why their perspective is skewed by delusions of grandeur.

A moment of respite

In this, allow me to pause and provide some clarity and context for you the reader: I am writing this article strictly from the observations and perspective of an independent creative consultant and writer.

I have authorized dozens of articles during my time as a contributing columnist for Outer Rim News (who as agents of the Empire deleted them all as punishment for disagreeing with my views.

Well, I don’t bow to the dark lords of Disney, and I am not enslaved to the woke culture that has pervaded Lucasfilm, either.) I have also authored one manuscript for a Star Wars novel that was not published.

So, my opinion and perspective here is not influenced by allegiance, loyalty, or financial gain; I am not endorsed or sponsored by anyone.

This is rather, my own little autistic summary of the train wreck called The Mandalorian, being celebrated by the ignorant masses of misguided fans of Disney.

Lastly, no real spoilers will be provided here for those who have yet to throw away their credits on this hopeless tragedy of entertainment.

Galactic Gunslinger

To understand the errors made with the characters and show, we have to begin by going back to what the writer’s used as inspiration.

One of the primary sources that they drew from are the concepts found in the spaghetti westerns of old. The lone, stoic anti-hero who rides into town unannounced.

The protagonist who traveled alone or with few companions, used few words, who spoke in a hushed tone, and was also armed and well respected.

*Din Djarin entering an off world Cantina. A direct call back to the spaghetti westerns of old.*

These are all concepts which originated in Japanese film lore, such as that made famous by Akira Kurosawa, before being adopted by western film makers.

In addition, the creators of The Mandalorian also drew inspiration from the Saturday morning serials of the fifties, which were short, episodic live action films that were popular in their day.

They were a unique story telling platform that was used to introduce viewers to characters who engaged in stories of adventure and suspense.

These stories were broken down into ten minute segments over a period of three weeks. Each episode ended in a cliff hanger, until the final episode closed out that particular story.

It is from these same concepts that George Lucas drew much of his inspiration for various aspects in the original Star Wars trilogy.

So, for The Mandalorian, we find all of these concepts woven into the character of Din Djarin, as well as the show itself.

The story structure, the dialogue between characters, the pacing, and cinematography are all nearly identical to what you found in the old spaghetti westerns.

So when you look at The Mandalorian, what you should see is a galactic gunslinger, outcast on a new quest every episode or every few episodes.

This then would provide audiences with the appeal of returning week after week, looking for new adventures, with new characters, in different situations.

With that said, it would seem from a certain point of view, that the show did this from the beginning, and in many ways it did.

There is one element however, which would prove the show to be the failure that it was destined to become from the beginning.

The Macguffin

Not found in any McDonald’s happy meal is the Macguffin. What is a Macguffin you ask? Simply put, a Macguffin is a plot device that writers use to advance the narrative and plot of a story.

In The Mandalorian, the Macguffin is none other than a fifteen inch tall, fifty thousand dollar animatronic puppet called Grogu.

*Your credits I want, have them I must.*

From the very beginning, Grogu was meant to be both a Macguffin, as well as a marketing device for the series.

Disney capitalized on the attractiveness and mystery of this strange little being to do their bidding. Specifically, they introduced Grogu to make money, and lots of it.

This is ultimately the paradox of not only The Mandalorian, but also the Star Wars franchise as a whole, under the domination of Disney.

Long gone are the days of George Lucas, who used his gifts as a writer and director in order to tell stories. Specifically, Star Wars.

The heart of the franchise was found in the far flung reaches of Lucas’ creativity and imagination. Story telling in other words drove his success.

The reason is simple: Lucas focused entirely on content and quality, not marketing. He understood that financial gain could not be his motivation for making a movie to begin with.

It’s this originality that Hollywood has divorced, in favor of using nostalgia to attract viewers, in order to build an audience to market to.

Disney is first and foremost a marketing experience, and they are experts at it. They’ve had one hundred years to perfect it, and their portfolio of investments supports it.

They are the global leader in entertainment, with an annual revenue of just under one hundred billion dollars.

Their acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 had zero to do with them wanting to become the care takers of the Star Wars franchise, but was and is about profit.

So when you see Grogu in literally every episode of The Mandalorian, that is not by chance or coincidence. It is not because he is needed there.

Take for a moment any episode, and remove Grogu from it. There isn’t one that couldn’t be adapted to progress without him.

When you view it from that angle, you begin to understand that he’s the bait for the viewer, and not just a plot device that’s an integral part of the story.

By all accounts, Grogu is one of Disney’s additions to the Star Wars universe that detracts from the mystery and uniqueness of it.

Not every thing in a movie needs an explanation; sometimes the criticality of a thing, such as the Force, is the fact that we don’t know everything about it, or understand it all.

That acceptance makes a character or a thing all the more unique. Yoda was given no back story by George Lucas, and no identity of his species or where he was from.

Grogu in many ways detracts from that unique aspect of the story as a whole. So you can see how he isn’t the cute little creature that Disney hopes you think he is.

Facts and figures

So, when you go out and watch The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters, you are looking at a very lengthy television episode made for theaters.

In fact, Jon Favreau stated himself that he and the writers had penned a script for The Mandalorian season four, however Disney wanted a live action movie instead.

So they shelved season four and shifted to creating a movie. That movie as of this writing cost one hundred and sixty four million dollars to produce, and has earned less than that after four days at the box office.

That means it is the lowest grossing Star Wars movie to date, and has not broke even with its production costs. That is very telling of what fans think of this latest attempt by the mouse to use the force.

Conclusions

Yes, there were some cool moments in this movie. Seeing Sigourney Weaver as a New Republic Officer was cool. Starfighters being utilized to great effect, also cool.

Probably the best scene was the U-Wing being in the middle of a dog fight. Far be it from me to frown on a Hutt joining the New Republic, but the lack of creativity in that decision baffled me.

I began to wonder about the Expanded Universe? Has anyone involved with this film not read about the Hutt Empire? I guess not.

For me personally, I am past seeing any hope in Star Wars being what it once was. I collect the books and toys, and have played Battlefront in the days gone by. For now, I remain an Original Trilogy fan, and always will.

May the Force be with you.

Let’s make a deal

The pros and cons of buying collectible toys from online resellers versus brick and mortar retailers.

Intro

I wanted to take a brief moment and share some insight into collecting toys for just a moment, and I want to talk specifically about buying from third party sellers online, versus buying from a brick and mortar store, such as a comic book store or privately owned toy reseller.

Toy collecting is an increasingly growing sector of the economy, accounting for nineteen percent of toy sales world wide in 2025, with a thirty two percent increase in sales that same yearhttps://toycycle.co/pages/toy-industry-statistics.

Here in the U.S. toy sales generated forty billion dollars in 2024 alone. Roughly thirty percent of that revenue is from adult collectors, who have become the largest consumer for the toy industry worldwide. https://sourcing.hktdc.com/newsbites/trend/adult-collectibles/.

So when we look at collectible toys, we are primarily talking about those that are out of production by the manufacturer. This includes both vintage as well as modern-era toys.

In either instance, collectors must search third party sellers on the secondary market to find what they want. This is primarily accomplished through online searches through sites like eBay, Mercari, and others.

It can also include searching for local resellers who operate brick and mortar businesses. Most common among these are comic book stores which offer a mixed inventory of collectible toys that tie-in with their comics.

There are advantages as well as disadvantages to both, and I want to point out some of these. First, I will begin with online resellers.

eBay

By far, eBay is the largest online shopping platform for toy collectors. The ease of creating a listing from home, minimizing interaction with buyers, and the overall features provided by eBay make both buying and selling a simplified process.

Collectors have the ability to review multiple listings for the same toy, look at images, and ask questions of the seller. You also have the ability to make offers on some listings, as well as choosing the shipping method that you want.

The drawbacks to eBay as well as other online resellers is simple: the collector does not have the ability to inspect the toy in person. This means that you have to rely solely on the images and information provided by the seller.

For serious collectors, it takes time to search through listings, narrowing down the best options, and then refining your selections based on the criteria that you use.

For myself, I almost never buy anything used; it must be sealed in the packaging. I also will not buy toys from anyone that smokes, or from the home of one. I do not want anything that someone else has touched.

Since I am a box collector, I will carefully inspect the images of the box for damage, wear and tear, or anything that would detract from its value.

The toys that I buy are in grade C7-C9 when I buy them, and they remain that way in my collection due to how I store them.

I am very picky about how a seller ships an item, and this is unfortunately, another aspect of buying online that you as the collector do not have any control over.

Most sellers on eBay that are selling collectible toys know what they are, and what collectors are looking for.

For the most part, they go above and beyond in the care they take to package and ship them. There are however, the few who are only interested in money, and they do not care about the toys themselves.

In cases like this there are ways to address this, but for the most part you are stuck with an item after you receive it, no matter what condition it is in.

*A recent toy shipment from an eBay seller, and how it was packed.*

Brick and mortar retailers

Now that we have discussed online purchases, it’s time to take a look at brick and mortar locations. These are typically comic book stores that have incorporated collectible toys.

Most adults who collect and read comics also collect toys as well, so it just makes sense to offer them in a comic book store. You’ll also find some locations that are strictly toy resellers, which are usually owned and operated by collector’s themselves.

Going into these stores provides collectors a rare opportunity to look at and inspect collectible toys in person. Often, you may find rare items that you are not aware of, or were not searching for.

It also gives a sense of connection and nostalgia that you don’t get to experience when shopping online, and I would encourage any collector to get out and find a store to visit.

That being said, there are some very important things that you need to be aware of. To begin, you need to understand where these toys originated from.

Not everyone who sells or trades items to these stores care about the toys, or the condition that they are in. More often than not, they are sold for money, and in that process things can be tricky.

Sometimes there are individuals who mislead the owners of these stores to make money. An example would be stating that a toy is sealed in the box, when in reality it was not.

I encountered a situation like this with several toys purchased from a well known comic book store. Items inside the box had been switched out in one instance, while pieces were missing in the other.

The most extreme example was a Star Wars Vintage Collection E-Wing in that collection that had dried blood on the side of it, even though it was supposed to be new in the box.

Though the owner made it right, it was the experience and the outcome that ruined it for me. In truth it was my error for not paying closer attention to the packaging.

I had become accustomed to trusting that particular business, that I had slacked off on how I inspected packaging. So, the lesson here is to first ask questions about where the toy came from, and then inspect the packaging!

Look at the corners of the box, look for signs of wear and tear, water damage, ext. You also need to inspect the tape sealing the package, and see if it has been tampered with, or has oil stains on it from someone’s fingerprints.

These are all tell-tell signs of it being opened or tampered with, which brings us to my next point about buying toys in a store: they get handled by everyone!

You do not know who touched it, if it was dropped, ext. and this is the most negative consequence of buying collectible toys from a brick and mortar retailer.

There are very few stores that sell collectible toys which keep them in some sort of display case where they cannot be handled. Most stores reserve those locations for their most expensive collectibles.

On the flip side of this coin, buying from an online reseller means getting a toy that typically has been owned by a single collector, in one location. That translates into less possibilities of damage.

So again, it is up to you as a collector to learn how to inspect toy packaging before you ever step foot in a store. It’s also up to you to be courteous to the owners, and wash your hands before going into their store and touching their product!

Last of all, I want to talk about cost. We have all encountered the evil scalpers who so wrongly buy bulk quantities in order take advantage of collectors, and truly there is a special place in hell reserved for them this very day.

No, what I wish to discuss is the cost of buying collectible toys in a brick and mortar store, versus buying them online. This is a touchy subject for some, but bear with me on this.

Gain versus loss

In reality, a toy is worth what you as the collector are willing to pay for it. By far, it is less expensive when buying them online from third party resellers, and the reason is simple.

Online resellers are typically selling their toys for a myriad of reasons, and will accept less, even if they know the current value of the toy they’re selling. Brick and mortar stores are the opposite.

If you sell a toy to them they typically offer forty percent of the average price the toy sold for on eBay, and I have a sneaking suspicion they always select the one that sold for the least amount.

They will then take said toy and flip it for a profit, marking it up as much as a hundred percent or more of the value! So you’re asking why?

It’s simple: these stores know they can get away with the price increase, because they have an established customer base. When they place a toy out for sale, they have customers in mind who they know will buy it if they can get them in the store to look at it.

It’s a scientific principal that all toy manufacturers marketing departments rely on. How they package and present a toy has as much to do with it being sold as the actual toy itself.

Brick and mortar stores who resell collectible toys rely on social media for fast advertising, and many also list items on eBay (shock, shock) to make money as well.

They are like sharks in the ocean looking for that autistic collector with ADHD and Schizophrenia who has to have their toys right now! That one child trapped in a man’s body who can’t stand to wait on the snails pace of the U.S. Postal Service is their best customer.

Poor bloke, he’s no idea it’s his money they’re after, and all he wants is his toy. That’s the reality you’ll find in a brick and mortar toy store.

They don’t care about you the collector; the reality is they’ll talk trash about you and laugh behind your back as soon as you walk out the door, and they start counting your cash towards that steak at Outback.

The other factor in cost is a more practical one. When you factor in how much it actually costs you to travel to said store and then buy a toy from them, compared to simply ordering it online, you can quickly see the difference in cost.

Where you choose to buy your toys and how can have a tremendous impact on your collection. The reality is it’s a lot of work! I typically spend hours going through listings, comparing them to stores that might have the item, to see which is the best offer.

In the end it’s up to you the collector how you go about searching for toys to add to your collection, and where you get them from.

Black Sails and Red Skies

An examination of the fractured reality within the Action Force storyline

Introduction

If you read my previous blog entitled , Divide and Conquer, I discussed the practicality of the events as described within the Action Force mythos.

Tonight I want to continue that by delving into the upcoming Series that Valaverse plans to release called The Black.

It’s a new series of figures from an all new faction that are comprised of former Naval Special Warfare operators. In short, they have taken over the U.S. Navy‘s fleet of warships, and now patrol our waters as modern day maritime mercenaries or pirates.

That’s all well and good for pretend, but it lacks the depth of what would really be occurring if the United States had dissolved to begin with.

Let’s be honest: this is a line of military action figures and comics marketed primarily for adult collectors, and within that fanbase are those who are and have served their country.

Anyone who has served looks at toys like Action Force, or G.I.Joe, and immediately begins critiquing the figures based on their appearance. They are looking for accuracy and realism, not what they played with in their childhood.

So it’s only fair to expect that same level of critique within a brand’s back story. What you’re looking for is consistency and continuity; a parallel to real world events with the appeal of action and adventure.

That’s why companies like Hasbro and Valaverse constantly release new comics and new figures; they are trying to sustain their brands through innovative and unique marketing strategies.

So what could that potentially look like with the new series from Valvaverse? Let’s find out.

The Black: What we know

Thus far, all we have been told is that The Black are a group of former Naval Special Operations operators who have somehow commandeered parts of or the entirety of the former United States Naval fleet of warships.

They use these ships to patrol the coastal waters of the former United States, offering safety and security, for a price. They also have their own agenda, that puts them at odds with both Action Force and New Colonia.

It sounds interesting, but from a writer’s perspective there are a lot of questions that immediately come to mind, with the first being the status of the U.S. Navy fleet itself.

Logic and logistics

To provide some context to this subject you have to understand that when you have an idea for a story, there is a tremendous amount of research that must be done.

For companies like Hasbro and Valaverse, they use technical consultants like myself who are experienced subject matter experts in a specific field like the military.

Talking to people like me gives the creative team a grounded reality check in how things work, which in turn allows them to flesh out their ideas, while making necessary adaptations or changes.

This is especially important in something like a military themed comic and toy line, particularly one being marketed primarily to adult collectors and fans.

Without that working knowledge of the real world model, the creative team will likely add elements that are inaccurate and unrealistic. G.I.Joe is one brand that has continued to do this time and time again in many areas.

Minute details may not stand out to younger fans, however adult collectors with experience and training will most likely notice these details, and be irked by them.

So when I think of a bunch of frogs commandeering the fleet, my mind immediately raises a flag of its own. This is particularly true when you consider how many personnel it takes to operate just one surface vessel.

Take for example, an Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyer. They are arguably the backbone of the United States Navy surface combatant fleet, with a total of seventy four ships in service as I write this.

Each of these guided missile destroyers has a crew complement of three hundred sailors! Compare that to roughly ten thousand sailors that comprise Naval Special Warfare Command.

Of that, roughly three thousand sailors make up the Seal teams. The remainder comprise SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant Crewmen), command, intelligence, and support personnel.

One carrier battle group comprises ten warships, manned by ten thousand sailors and marines, and there are eleven active carriers in the fleet. You do the math, and it becomes apparent that the frogs aren’t going to keep the entire fleet afloat.

Creating Compromise

Now that you know some facts and figures, it becomes apparent that The Black would be reliant upon former sailors to hop on board their recruitment program.

Greed speaks to the heart of many Americans, who have made material wealth and money their god. It would be reasonable to presume that The Black would seek to capitalize on the desire for money from those sailors still reeling from The Divide.

With no sense or purpose or direction, it would be natural for them to be attracted to the adventure of serving at sea as they once did for America, while being promised bounty beyond their imagination.

( A note here: Since we don’t know what type of currency is at play in the Action Force mythos, I would have to presume some form of cryptocurrency).

Just because the United States has dissolved, does not mean every country in the world has. On the contrary, there are nations who would be harmed financially, but who would recover in the long run.

Others however, would pounce on the opportunity to take advantage of the situation. With that, the seas are the primary trade lanes for commerce, which would make them a constant and lucrative source of income for would be pirates.

Companies looking to recover from financial loss would naturally seek out guaranteed security for their shipments going across insecure and uncertain waters.

Story-telling potential

It’s obvious that this new faction has the potential to expand the Action Force mythos by adding depth to an ever expanding story. What isn’t clear is how each of the existing factions will fit into this new narrative.

Obviously, all aspects of The Black cannot take place on the high seas. More than anything, I see their role being limited to coastal and littoral waters around the former United States.

From a writer’s perspective, you have to have an end planned from the beginning. In other words, there has to be an end goal established for each of these story lines to build up to.

That implies that with the creation of a new faction like The Black, that there exists an end goal for them, if in no other form than a sticky note on somebody’s desk.

For now, there are many more questions than answers, and I am anxious to see The Black make their first appearance in the pages of a comic.

Full Spectrum Warrior

Autism in the ranks of G.I. JOE

Introduction

In 2009 Hasbro released a brand new action figure as part of the G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra toy line. Agent Helix was a totally new character, and she would go on to appear in both the tie-in video game for the movie, as well as the comic series.

Everything about Helix is shrouded in secrecy, except for her skills. You always find her working alone, often on some covert mission for General Hawk.

It doesn’t matter what the mission profile, Helix is adept with both edged weapons, as well as firearms. She is an expert marksman, and martial artist. Though no one is invincible or unbeatable, Helix can take care of most problems on her own.

The other unique skill that makes her a savant is the fact that she can analyze an enemy, and instantly pick their strategy apart. It’s referred to as total organic battlefield awareness, and to date she’s the only known person with this ability.

All of these abilities and skills make Helix as deadly as she is beautiful, however she isn’t without her own Achilles heel. There’s a reason that she carries these gifts, and one for which she has endured ostracism and rejection.

Hidden wounds

Helix is neurodivergent, or in simplest medical terms, Autistic. It is the bane of her existence, and the weight that she struggles with when alone. She’s extremely capable on the battlefield, while remaining crippled by Autism in society.

Highly intelligent, socially awkward, with her own set of buttons you might unintentionally push. Before her time in G.I. Joe it crippled Helix in every area of her life. Now, she’s found a place that has allowed her to use Autism as an enabler.

*Helix shows off her bandaid tattoo representing Autism*

Defining Purpose

In my research for this little gem, I consulted with one of the leading experts on Autism in the Carolinas, who has extensive experience in both the U.S. and other nations. I have also consulted with prior service members who are on the spectrum. Due to their roles, I will not disclose their identity.

So what is Autism exactly? The Diagnostics and Studies Manual of Mental Disorders defines Autism as persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities with symptoms present from early childhood causing significant impairment.

As it was explained to me by the above unnamed psychologist, Autism is not a mental illness, but rather a physical one. It isn’t treatable with medication, because at its core there’s nothing mentally wrong with the individual.

In simplest terms, Autism affects the way and speed at which your brain processes information. This may include an inability to perceive and interpret body language and cues, a lack of empathy, and most predominantly social awkwardness or anxiety to name a few things.

Autism affects a person’s senses, at different times and in different ways. Where one person may be sensitive to certain sounds, others may be sensitive to seeing certain things, or being touched in a certain way.

To what degree a person is affected varies from one individual to the next; there is no definable correlation between individuals. Only a pattern of certain sensory responses that are associated with being on the spectrum.

Nearly everyone on the spectrum is attracted to order, in almost every area of their life. Objects positioned in a certain direction, rooms and houses arranged a certain way, and even cleaned a certain way.

You may find neurodivergents who don’t like people touching them or their stuff, and collecting things that others would find odd. Construction paper, paper clips, and pens are a few things that come to mind.

The defining negative aspect of Autism are meltdowns. Often misinterpreted as angry outbursts or temper tantrums, meltdowns are anything but the previously named culprits of society.

A meltdown occurs when too much information overwhelms the senses, and subsequently the brain is incapable of processing that information. The meltdown is an uncontrollable natural response that is triggered by the brain’s inability to cope with the information flooding the neural pathways.

An example might be an autistic individual is afraid of someone confronting them, and they may throw their hands up and yell not because they are angry, but because they afraid, and want that individual to stop what they are doing.

They cannot legitimately process what is happening, and from their brain the conversation may be perceived as a verbal attack on their character or credibility. If so, the resulting meltdown would only serve to solidify misconceptions to the inexperienced and untrained.

To further expound on this, there are individuals like Helix who are high functioning, meaning they can communicate, and live a mostly normal existence. Put another way, there is nothing wrong with them.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are those who are crippled by their brain’s inability to process information, and who require constant attention and care. They cannot control things like speech, with many being nonverbal.

In between are many combinations and variations on these two extremes. You may have an individual who is high functioning, and yet who has severe sensory overload.

For the most part, high functioning individuals were formerly diagnosed with what is referred to as Asperger’s syndrome, while more severe cases were diagnosed as full on Autism.

In recent years however, both have been integrated into what is now called ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder. The reason for this change is a simple one; because every single person is different, and so is their specific diagnosis.

Most adults who are high functioning would tell you they are not anti-social; they just abhor drama and having to put up with other people’s crap. They despise things like gossip and slander.

They are not in some cute contest to win a person’s favor; they simply want to live their life and be left alone. Over time many are able to compensate by learning their triggers and focusing on their strengths.

Others struggle to some degree or another. Those who endure constant abuse, bullying, and harassment often find themselves living in constant fear, crippled by the negative opinions and words of others.

Being mistreated at any age is interpreted as a sign of isolation and rejection, which further compounds and affects their ability to be productive and successful in life.

Scratching that itch

One of the most interesting things about Autism is the fact that nearly all high functioning individuals on the spectrum are extremely intelligent, with some having genius level IQs.

Though many may be crippled by specific areas, they are gifted in others. For whatever reason, Autistic individuals are often extremely analytical. They pick up on details that neurotypical individuals would overlook.

Some like Helix find that they are natural leaders, with an ability to flourish in austere environments. They have the ability to take what once overwhelmed their senses, and turn it into a tool to excel in specific areas.

One such area is pertinent to this blog, and that is the military. Though no official reports were available, there are many who have obtained waivers to enlist, while others simply don’t disclose it during their application process.

The structured environment of military life may appeal to some on the spectrum, providing an unintentional method of assistance to success through daily repetition and set routines.

Others however who have enlisted find this aspect of the military the least desirable. They loathe the closeness with individuals they do not like, and remain individualistic in their approach and mindset.

Many of these folks have ended up in the special operations community. The desire and need for purpose drive them to choose the most difficult paths, forging their character and personality to a razors edge.

Some go further still, and become designated marksmen and snipers. I have been told that some of the best long gunners in the special operations community were people found to be Autistic.

Their innate ability to focus on minor details such as those in Kim’s games, along with increased awareness and maturity have led many down this unique path.

During selection, unit psychologists are present to assist cadre with assessing the candidates ability to operate alone as well as in a team environment. They are constantly being assessed on their character, personality, and individual traits.

Specifically, they are looking for highly intelligent and mature individuals with passive aggressive personalities. That immediately makes an autistic candidate potentially attractive, because if they can harness the meltdowns, they can turn it to their advantage.

Whereas being on the spectrum was an obstacle in civilian life, it becomes the doorway to destiny in the military. Helix learned this lesson after General Hawk recruited her to G.I.Joe

Within a year she went from the day to day personal struggles, to being the tip of the spear in a special missions unit. To date, she is the only known member of G.I. Joe with no prior service.

The road ahead

The story of Helix should offer hope and insight into what is possible. The struggle as they say is real. No one will ever know how crippling Autism can be without experiencing it for themselves.

In that lies the potential for success, given the right opportunity. A door cannot be walked through without it first being presented as an option. As for Helix, let’s see where G.I. Joe takes her next..

Divide and Conquer

An in-depth discussion of the Action Force narrative

Introduction

I am a huge fan of the Action Force comics and figures produced by Valaverse, so naturally I am fascinated by the story behind it.

Bobby Vala has created a very interesting mythos for these characters, that in many ways has an eerily familiar parallel to modern day events.

The catalyst for the narrative is an event called “the Divide”, in which the United States of America is dissolved, with each state becoming its own sovereign republic.

In spite of reading the comics from the series, I find myself left with more questions than answers. How exactly did the United States cease to be? What caused it? What happens to the U.S. military, its assets, and infrastructure?

These are just a few of the immediate questions that one would be faced with in such a crisis of this magnitude. So, in this post I am endeavoring to fill in some of the unanswered aspects of the Action Force narrative, that may help casual readers as well as hard core fans to better understand the mythos.

I will preface this by stating that I am not endorsed nor have I received permission from Valaverse to write this post; I’m simply a fan having fun by delving into this exciting universe from my own experience and research.

Catalyst for crisis

In the Action Force mythos, a series of events leads to the dissolution of the United States of America. In its place are fifty independent states. Sovereign and fractured by the Divide, they now stand alone to pick up the pieces. The first question is, could this really occur, and if so, how?

In theory yes, the United States could be dissolved as a Republic, but it would not occur overnight. One possibility would be a series of catastrophic events that occur in succession.

An example would look like this: Economic collapse occurs, followed by riots, violence, natural disasters (like the earthquake of 2028 in the Action Force mythos), and even domestic conflict.

Whatever the events that begin the chain reaction, they must all lead to the same outcome: multiple states become fed up with the state of affairs in the federal government.

From there, two-thirds of the state legislatures could then call for a constitutional convention under Article V.

The only way that the republic could be dissolved then, is that two-thirds vote determines that the dissolution of the union is in the best interests of the American people.

At this point an amendment to dissolve the Union is drafted, and sent to each state for ratification under Article V. If three fourths majority sign it, then it would become accepted as a legally binding document and become law.

At that point on that day, the United States of America would cease to exist as a unified republic of fifty states. This would then require and begin the process of disposition in each state of federal assets and liabilities.

This would include any and all United States military assets and infrastructure within each state. The process would be daunting, as each state would most likely activate their National Guard and use it as a temporary command to carry out this process in a controlled and safe manner.

At the top of this list would be the United States nuclear arsenal. Based on International law, The U.S. could theoretically request international assistance from NATO partners prior to the dissolution, in order to provide time for these weapons to be secured, dismantled, and taken into the custody of allied partners.

They may even assign NATO forces to oversee this at current decommissioning sites stateside. This process would take months, if not years to complete, and would be the most high-risk aspect of the dissolution of the union.

The second and third tiers of responsibility for the states would be Air and naval assets, respectively. By all accounts, the bulk of these would cease to be utilized due to the fact that their operation requires tens of thousands of certified personnel across the country to do so.

Of greatest concern would be the security risk they pose to foreign enemies seeking to take advantage of the fallen union. Internally, there would be an unprecedented amount of chaos and lawlessness in most states.

Disease, hunger, and violent crime would skyrocket. There would food shortages, power outages, uncontrollable reactions from the worst in society. These events would most likely result in localized armed conflicts of themselves.

Local first responders and the national guard would be outnumbered and overwhlemed by the sheer number of incidents. Medical emergencies would overwhelm local emergency rooms, and the death toll would rise.

The world would watch America tear itself apart, while it too felt the effects across the oceans. Without the commanding presence of the United States and its leadership to guide the free world, other nations would also suffer.

There would be untold economic repercussions, while the wild cards like China and Russia would seize the moment for their own agendas.

Wars would ensue that would require the entire free world to band together in a way that they never thought possible. It would be a trying time for everyone.

In the midst of the chaos, some states in the union may seek safety in numbers and propose regional alliances with each other. State governors would undoubtedly seek to maintain stable economic ties, while ensuring continuity of commerce across borders.

Laws would be amended, or at least temporarily so, in order to reflect the state of the fallen Republic.While there may be a conservative effort to restore the Republic, there would most likely be resistance from liberal states and their leaders.

They may enjoy their newfound independence, and begin making laws which benefit the ultra-elite, rather than the common good of everyday citizens. It is from these crevices in society that the greatest threat may emerge.

Leaders from every sector of society banding together in what would formerly be criminal enterprise, sowing discord within, while forming allegiances with external enemies of the former United States of America.

Evil people who would do anything to capitalize on open access to the land of the free, with unrestrained ambition driving their every move. The only way to counter such a threat would be a clandestine and unified military organization on land, derived from former military personnel who could be vetted.

They would have to have a single objective, with unequivocal support. Their missions would be clandestine by necessity and would require unparallel cooperation across state lines.

It would be a daunting task, but not an impossible one. The key to success would be unity and the use of surgical operations aimed at exploiting intelligence.

Months if not years would be required, but there would come a point in the near future where if enough states unified under a single banner, they could reclaim what was lost.

This then, is an extremely hypothetical yet realistic scenario for what we have been made privy to in the Action Force mythos.

Through the use of multiple factions playing different angles, we are being given a glimpse into corruption fully conceived in this nation.

The answer then, is a response as unconventional and unanticipated as the evil that demands we respond to it.

Conclusion

What we see in the Action Force mythos is if anything, an eerie parallel to current global events. This isn’t our favorite action cartoon of yesteryear; it is rather a wake-up call to the reality around us.

If anything, playing with these action figures or reading the comics should motivate us to live lives that are above reproach, abiding by an ethical, legal, and moral code no matter the conditions around us.

It’s time for Action!

Incursion: An inside look into a Rebel SpecForces mission.

The extreme height of the forest canopy provided cover from above, while dense undergrowth provided cover on the ground. In fact, the team had been using the extensive micro terrain to their advantage, moving in its shadows all the way to their objective.

They had been dropped off dirtside seventy-two hours prior, being inserted by a sixty at night during a rainstorm.

The mission planners had timed the insertion down to the second, calculating phases of the moons, along with predicted weather patterns to cover their infil.

They used the intense lightning as cover, knowing that it would wreak havoc on the Imperial outposts sensor array.

The pilots in turn jumped in system over the southern pole, and flew below sensor range all the way into the LZ.

They had to mount external drop tanks to the ventral engine pylons just to get the team in and hoped they had enough fuel to make it back to the RV with the fleet.

Two systems away was a Mon Cal cruiser on alert ten, with the QRF and air support ready to go if needed.

Three days of crawling and humping through the forest, and the four-man SpecForces team was nearing their objective.

They had been sent in to take out a Weequay communications specialist who had defected to the Empire. General Madine had given the green light to Captain Maven Therrell, and he picked three of the best shooters in the unit to go along for the ride.

Now, they were nearing the outer perimeter of the Imperial outpost. The facility itself was built into the side of a ridge, with a large plateau to the rear that had been converted into an elevated landing platform.

The armored structure had several turbolaser batteries scattered around the perimeter for air defense, along with ground to air missile batteries.

Outside of the turbolaster batteries was a twenty meter tall ferrocrete armored wall that encapsulated the entire facility.

The team paused, and took a knee behind a fallen tree on the edge of the forest. Captain Therrell signaled for the team to hold, while he moved up to conduct recce.

He used a small pair of macrobinoculars to observe and record the base. He took great care to inspect the guard towers atop the wall, noting that they were spaced every three hundred meters.

He could see Imperial army officers augmented by Stormtrooper patrols, as well as heavy blaster cannons mounted on pintels in each tower.

He also noted the small comlink antennas atop each tower, that would serve as repeater relays for the security element.

Further back at the main complex, he could make out larger aerial antenna arrays pointed up at the sky.

“Blast this” He thought to himself, shaking his head. Captain Therrell moved back to the team and briefed them on what he had observed.

They all knew that the odds were against them before they ever left the briefing for this op, and they volunteered anyway.

“Alright ” Captain Therrell whispered, “switch to our alternate FFP” he stated, referring to their final firing point.

The team slowly moved away from the edge of the forest and selected a route that would allow them to handrail the perimeter of the base from five hundred meters away.

It took them all evening and into the night to make their way around to the back side of the plateau. There, they found a ridge line with a line of sight to the landing pad.

Once they set-up shop, the combat controller extended the large antennas from his backpack mounted ground to air comlink.

He began coordinating with the Alliance Prowler in orbit, setting up the air package for the strike. The other three members of the team set up their Blastech A392R designated marksmen rifles.

Careful not to break noise discipline, they deliberately extended the bipods on the rifles, and moved into prone positions side by side.

They waited and watched all night, until zero three forty five hours when the platform lights switched on at the landing pad.

Then, high up above the team could hear a high pitched whine as a Lambda-Class shuttle dropped out of the sky. The Imperial transport quickly flared, then dropped down onto the pad.

“Stand by” Captain Therrell whispered, “I have control.” The team watched through their rifle scopes as the ramp lowered, and an Imperial security team rushed down the boarding ramp.

They formed a semi-circle at the base of the ramp and then signaled someone the team couldn’t see. Captain Therrell watched as a shadow preceded a short Weequay in black traditional garb, slowly making his way down the ramp.

“Execute, Execute, Execute” Captain Therrell called out. In unison the three SpecForces snipers took the slack out of their triggers, their rifles recoiling from the blast of each round.

Captain Therrell watched as his round raced across the five hundred meters to the landing platform, and split the Weequay’s chest apart with hot plasma. The other rounds hit him as well, sealing the deal.

The Imps immediately reacted, but it was too late. The Alliance shooters were already picking off targets on the landing platform, buying time for the combat controller to their rear.

Suddenly a series of red lances raced down through the cloud bank, striking the Imperial base’ communications and targeting arrays.

The missile batteries came to life, but they were playing catch up. Rebel X-Wings raced by overhead, pummeling each one with micro proton torpedoes and concussion missiles.

As the X-Wings peeled away, the combat controller continued to direct fire onto the base from the orbiting prowler.

The stealth corvette raked the Imperial base with salvo after salvo from its turbo laser batteries, leveling the facility while detonating its power generators.

The SpecForces team remained in position, conducting damage assessment, before being ordered to exfil the area.

As quietly as they had arrived, they stepped away one at a time, back into the forest. As the sun began to rise, the team made their LZ and boarded the sixty for the ride out.

Captain Therrell looked out of the armored viewport, watching the Empire’s science experiment burn to cinders in the morning sun.

ISB: Imperial control through darkness and deception.

INTRO

The Galactic Empire is nearly as vast as the galaxy that it controls, but unlike the republic which it has replaced, it governs through the will of the Emperor, which is carried out through Imperial policy and subjugation.

This is best observed through the overt presence of the Imperial military, who occupy and control every world which finds itself grafted into the Galactic Empire.

The Emperor makes use of Moffs and political attaches, who are responsible for bringing planets into alignment with Imperial doctrine and oversight.

This is supported by military power projection, through the twenty-five thousand Star Destroyers that are the heart of the Imperial Navy.

Their presence in any star system signals the end of democracy and freedom for any world on which they are assigned.

Dirtside, the politicians and their diplomatic efforts and ideals are reinforced by the Army, who in turn are supported by legions of armor-clad Stormtroopers.

These highly skilled and trained shock troops are loyal to the emperor and his authority, and their presence is as much a psychological tool as a military one.

There is, however, another facet to Imperial control that goes unseen to the untrained eye, and one that has become a thorn in the flesh for the Rebel Alliance and its sympathizers.

That pain is induced by the ISB, or Imperial Security Bureau. The ISB is just one of the many organizations that are a part of the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order (COMPNOR).

Unlike its counterpart division of Imperial Intelligence, the ISB is not concerned with strategic military intelligence, but rather with state security. It was created as a means to an end; a way to ensure loyalty to the Emperor on every level, and a means to exact punishment for those who were not.

The ISB is a larger organization than its military rival, and its headquarters is located in a large nondescript building in the federal district of Coruscant.

The ISB is governed by a body of senior officers known as the High Command, who report directly to the Emporer himself. They ensure that Imperial doctrine, ideology, and policy are promoted throughout the Empire, and that Imperial rule is secure.

RECRUITMENT

The ISB selects its agents from the ranks of the Imperial Academy itself, and upon vetting their recruits undergo specialized training at the ISB Academy on Coruscant.

Upon successful completion of training, newly accepted agents enter service into one of the many divisions of the organization, such as counter-surveillance, Interrogation, or reeducation.

OPERATIONS

Agents assigned to Intelligence begin their careers in the ISB Operations Center, aggregating daily intelligence reports from around the galaxy, and building briefing packets for senior officials and officers. Upon promotion, many of these agents select further training to become field agents for the ISB.

In the field, ranking ISB agents are granted authority and great leeway in their operations, to the degree that they can when needed assume command of ground forces or entire starships, by relieving senior officers who outranked them.

This by design breeds animosity between Imperial military officers and the ISB hierarchy, and their complaints often fall upon deaf ears.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Agents with Internal Affairs are tasked with counter-intelligence investigations for the ISB are deployed at random throughout the army and fleet, ensuring adherence to Imperial doctrine and order.

They investigate any claims of military personnel who are insubordinate, or who question Imperial doctrine or orders. The presence of the ISB by design simultaneously commands respect, as well as creates a culture of fear in the Imperial military, which reinforces loyalty to the Empire under threat of punishment.

LOYALTY OFFICERS

The mission of the ISB is not confined however to counterintelligence of the Imperial military, but into every facet of Imperial society as well.

Imperial propaganda is created by the ISB to serve the purposes of the Emperor, and they are tasked with ensuring its adherence on Imperial worlds.

SECURITY DIVISION

ISB Agents who are selected for the Security Division receive advanced training in small arms and small team tactics.

They are then assigned to one of the many ISB tactical teams that deploy with senior field officers on various assignments.

Often the tactical teams are utilized to capture wanted fugitives of the Empire, and they often coordinate their operations with larger military units who provide support for their operations.

*ISB Tactical Agents conduct a Rolling T formation down a corridor*

ADVANCED WEAPONS RESEARCH

The ISB was also one of two agencies tasked with controlling the Imperial Advanced Weapons Research Division.

While project development fell to the Imperial Intelligence, security of those projects was assigned to the ISB. As such, soldiers from the Advanced Weapons Research, or AWR, were often deployed with ISB agents on special assignments.

*A senior ISB agent in the field, supported by soldiers from the Advanced Weapons Research program*

COUNTER-INSURGENCY

Perhaps the greatest assignment of the ISB would become its counter-insurgency operations against the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

In the beginning, the Rebel Alliance was not a well-organized militia, but rather an ideal born through localized resistance to Imperial rule. Imperial forces attempted to subjugate this resistance, with the opposite effect.

Throughout the galaxy, bands of resistance formed on far flung planets, which in turn influenced the local populace, and governments.

Word of this rebellion began to reach official news agencies like the Galactic News Network, which could not be tolerated.

Once the ISB learned of these uprisings, their agents, along with appropriate military support, would deploy to eradicate it’s presence, and restore Imperial rule.

Over time, the ISB would learn that their efforts had in fact the opposite effect on the growing resistance movement.

Over the years localized cells of resistance spread word by freighter pilots, passengers, and even clandestine communications networks that they had developed.

These once primitive insurgents became a force to be reckoned with, and one that the Emperor wanted vanquished.

This led the ISB to deploy counter-intelligence agents into the field, who were often assigned with agents from Imperial Intelligence.

Their objective was to infiltrate locations utilized by the rebels, in the hopes of gaining actionable intelligence.

When they were successful, they would utilize military forces to conduct highly sophisticated capture or kill missions on individual members of the Alliance.

For larger operations, they would utilize entire fleets of Star Destroyers in an effort to destroy rebel fighters and ships.

Doing so would greatly diminish the capabilities of the rebel forces, while instilling a sense of defeat and fear within its ranks.

For the ISB, their efforts were as much a psychological campaign, as they were about state security.

They would conduct false flag operations such as on Ghorman, and blame localized rebel operatives for the deaths of Imperial citizens.

They planted evidence and false intelligence, leading to the arrest of rebel sympathizers and supporters across the galaxy.

Entire companies such as Blastech Industries and the Incom corporation were seized by the ISB, and placed under Imperial Military oversight.

CONCLUSION

The ISB is perhaps the most feared entity within the Imperial hierarchy, and for good reason. They operate with near Impunity, having the support of the Emperor himself.

The ISB and its members serve as the hand that does his bidding and are responsible for ensuring that the integrity and stability of the Empire continue unimpeded.

They are by far one of the more fascinating aspects of the Empire and serve as the basis for various aspects of Star Wars gaming and role playing, such as larping and airsoft.

Dead or Alive: Bounty Hunters and Mercenaries in the Age of the Empire

In the ensuing chaos of the fall of the Republic, the Galactic Empire finds itself facing a very disturbing reality, resistance. In nearly every sector throughout the galaxy, there are bands of resistance to the Empire’s rule.

In less than two decades, those independent resistance cells begin to coalesce into a far greater thorn in the Emperor’s flesh, an Alliance to restore the Republic. The thought of such a vain attempt may have seemed laughable at first, but the Empire would soon learn the cost of their miscalculation.

All across the galaxy the Rebel Alliance and it’s allies engage in hit and run tactics against Imperial forces. On the ground they strike armories, supply depots, listening posts, and relay stations. In the skies above they strike at the heart of the Imperial fleet; it’s shipyards, scoring critical victories that cripple their foes.

The Empower did not take any of this lightly and ordered the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) to use whatever means where necessary to end the rebel insurgency. ISB tacticians studied the rebel attacks for weaknesses and decided to engage in their own asymmetric warfare campaign. They began planting agents on planets in the outer rim, gathering firsthand intelligence of rebel activity, but they didn’t stop there.

The ISB turned to the shadows and began hiring bounty hunters and mercenaries to do their bidding. They kept their contracts off of official Imperial records, by creating a separate, hidden file in their database. These contracts would be known only to the ISB and privately funded from their own sources. They would conceal these transactions as legitimate business payments in order to provide immutability to the Empire.

The ISB would provide support in the form of Intelligence, while the actual work would be carried out by the bounty hunters or mercenaries themselves. Often these contracts would focus on capturing high ranking members of the Rebel Alliance, in order for them to be interrogated by the ISB itself. For other High Value Targets like Rebel pilots, they wanted them eliminated to send a message back to their leaders.

Once this operation was underway, whispers began to circulate in the Outer Rim. Alliance informants, soldiers, and spies turned up missing or dead. It didn’t take long for Alliance Intelligence to ascertain what was going on. Their informants engaged in a deadly game of counterintelligence against Imperial spies, passing on what they had learned.

*A Trandoshan bounty hunter tracks a Rebel operative on Cloud City*

In the process, Rebel Intelligence would begin building target packets on the Empire’s hired hands. It became a real-life version of Dejarik, only the moves weren’t played out on a holoboard, and there was no respawn, and no second chances. Every step taken must be calculated and planned.

The Alliance knew that they needed a way out of any location before they ever went in, or else they risked being captured or killed. The bounty hunters and mercenaries themselves may have dared venture into shady business dealings with the Empire, but they would soon find the rebels to be unwilling participants in their quest for fortune and fame. Their easy ticket to retirement wouldn’t be punched as quickly as they thought.

Often their quarry would lead them on high-speed pursuits across towns and into the unexplored wilderness, while others demanded pursuit into the skies. These seedy characters began racking up the credits, as well as a reputation amongst their peers. It became a sick game that only the most ruthless enjoyed.

Their time of pleasure, however would soon find them under the watchful gaze of those more skilled in hunting and killing. The Alliance would not allow the Empire to go unrewarded. They would watch and wait, and set their own timetable for reciprocity. When Imperial spies and mercenaries began turning up dead on worlds like Bothawui and Tatoonie, the Bounty Hunters Guild took notice.

Rebel Alliance SpecForces were sending a clear message: back off or die; it’s just that simple. To make a point, they would leave holos of the Bounty Hunter’s families, their homes, their ships in a hanger. Now the tables would be turned, and they would soon realize that their dark deeds had attracted a cost that they were not willing to pay.

Their entire business and lives were datamined by the best slicers in the Alliance and exposed on the Holonet for the entire galaxy to see. The Rebel Alliance engaged in a multi-facetted attack on its enemies, that would draw blood no matter which direction they turned. The war may continue for years, but that pales in comparison to the price of forfeiting one’s personal security for inflicting temporary pain on a much deadlier adversary.

Blasters: A look at the lethality of small arms in the Star Wars universe

*Chief Warrant Officer Jyn Erso with Alliance SpecForces wields a Blastech A280 carbine during a mission.*

One of the most famous aspects of the Star Wars universe are blasters, the individual small arms carried by just about everyone. Be it a DL-44 blaster pistol in a drop thigh rig, or the iconic Blastech E-11 carbine issued to the Stormtrooper Corps, blasters are everywhere in the galaxy.

In the Original Trilogy, we see the effects of blaster fire as civilians, Imperials, and rebels alike go down instantly when hit with a single shot. The all too familiar sound of blaster fire from Battlefront is still ringing in my ears, and I can smell the ozone in the atmosphere.

So how exactly do these weapons function, and what makes them so lethal that they can drop a person instantaneously with one round? To answer that, we first have to take a look at the inner workings of the blaster itself.

Small Arms Physics

Blasters are not like modern firearms, which utilize propellant ignited from a firing pin or striker in the base of the cartridge to propel a projectile downrange. The only in-universe weapons that use modern fierarms technology are referred to as slug throwers, and the only on screen use of these can be found with the Sandpeople of Tatoonie.

Blasters on the other hand utilize compressed and highly pressurized Tibanna gas that is stored in a detachable magazine or bottle. This is inserted in different locations on different weapons, with some utilizing internal storage, while others combine the gas within a detachable box “magazine” that also houses the power packs.

When the trigger on a blaster is pulled, it does two things simultaneously; it uses a burst of electrical charge from the power pack to an internal laser, which excites the Tibannna gas that is released at the same time. This creates a charged plasma beam, which is focused through a series of rings, and propelled down the chamber where it is encased in a magnetically charged field. This in turn propels down the barrel as a bolt of plasma energy.

This bolt is what you see exiting the weapons, and it is travelling as fast as you see it. Studies done of the on-screen shots place blaster bolts at somewhere between thirteen hundred and fifteen hundred feet per second, so they do not travel as fast as a modern firearm projectile. Individual small arms are also not as loud as a firearm, though they are loud enough.

The power behind these weapons is directly corelated to the type of gas utilized, with Tibanna gas being the most powerful. Some blasters like the Imperial E-11 series were equipped with a lower power stun setting which would incapacitate and render unconscious a target. That is not the case for most military grade weapons such as DMRs, sniper support rifles, heavy blasters, and crew served weapons.

*A member of the Rebel Alliance SpecForces armed with a Blastech A392R Designated Marksmen Rifle*

I should also note that during the reign of the Empire, it was illegal for civilians to carry and own blasters which could defeat body armor, but many often did. This includes those who used internal modifications to make weapons more powerful, as well as buying and using military grade arms like the Rebellion did.

Terminal Ballistics

Now that you understand how the weapons work, its time to turn our attention to the fun stuff; terminal ballistics. You’ve seen the blaster bolts, heard the distinctive report, and watched the drug pushers of the Pyke Syndicate as they get dropped on the streets of Mos Espa; So what exactly makes blasters lethal?

First, we need to go back and look at a previous piece of information that I provided, and that is what constitutes a blaster bolt, which is plasma. Bolts of magnetically encased plasma striking any flesh, cause a series of instantaneous and significant damage to living tissue.

The extent of that damage is dependent upon where on the body a person is hit. If an individual is trimmed on the shoulder for instance, they would be badly burned, with the wound instantly cauterizing itself. They would, however not be subjected to the same internal “pop” of the blaster bolt as if it had entered the body cavity.

A direct hit to a person’s center of mass by a high-powered shot would cause surface level burns on the outer and inner tissue, as the bolt passed through the skin and into the body cavity. There, the high pressure from the bolt exploding would cause massive internal boiling and trauma.

Nearby organs would be catastrophically damaged or destroyed, depending upon their proximity to the bolt of plasma when it explodes. There would be massive hemorrhage, but little if any blood loss due to the entry and exit wounds cauterizing from the extreme temperature of the plasma.

Center of mass and upper center of mass shots are always lethal, while lower center of mass hits to the abdomen may be survivable, if the correct medical treatment can be obtained in a timely manner. For this reason It is possible to survive a blaster hit, but it is extremely rare, due to the amount of energy being released inside of the body cavity.

This is why Stormtroopers are issued armor, which is rated to defeat certain weapons. The armor works by dissipating the energy from the blaster bolt and spreading it out across the surface, where the plasma burns away the outer layers.

This is not sufficient for military grade weapons, which is why you have seen Stormtroopers go down when hit by rounds from Han Solo’s DL-44 blaster pistol. This is a highly modified military grade weapon, which accounts for the damage that it inflicts.

*An Imperial Stormtrooper being hit with multiple rounds from high powered military grade blasters. He won’t make it for the Battalion Halloween party next month.*

Conclusions

So, now that you understand how blasters function, and what makes them lethal, you can begin to appreciate not only the science and technology behind them, but also how cool they are! Everyone wants one, right? I know I do.

Blades in the Shadows: Female Operatives of the Alliance SpecForces

Throughout the history of the galaxy, women have played a vital role in warfare. That is no less evident than among the ranks of the Rebel Alliance. Spacecraft techs, communications specialists, interpreters, and even line officers all have women among their ranks.

It is the women who make up the ground forces however, who often find themselves being recruited as candidates for the Alliance SpecForces. Founded and led by General Crix Madine, the Alliance SpecForces are the tip of the spear of ground warfare.

These units are the most highly trained and well equipped with the Rebel Alliance and are used exclusively for high-risk missions in non-permissive environments. Often working alongside Alliance Intelligence operatives, the SpecForces are tasked with such missions as reconnaissance, sabotage, and direct-action missions against high value targets, or HVTs.

Often times SpecForce operators must infiltrate Imperial controlled worlds, under the guise of civilians. They must blend in with the local populace, in order to gain access to target locations, where they carry out ISR, or Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. These operations are critical to building target packets for future follow-on operations.

At the heart of these operations are the blades, female operatives who are integrated with their male counterparts. Female SpecForce operators are trained in advanced communications, surgical shooting, and hand to hand combat. They are uniquely qualified to deploy behind enemy lines in hostile environments, where their skills are put to use.

By nature, women are less likely to be viewed as a threat by security forces, including Imperial patrols. Their ability to blend into most environments allows them access to positions that their male counterparts may find less accessible, and even lead to their cover being compromised.

Utilizing female operatives is critical on planets where cultural beliefs and practices restrict male and female interactions, placing male soldiers at a disadvantage. By integrating female SpecForce operatives on these missions, they can more readily establish communication and trust with local female citizens, which could lead to valuable insight and intelligence being provided, that would not be accessible any other way.

In addition to these roles, female operators also fill the ranks of the Alliance’s most classified special missions unit, Black Spear. A highly controversial detachment, Black Spear is known to only a few within the Alliance hierarchy and is comprised of volunteers who are selected from the Alliance SpecForces units.

Little is known of the Female operatives within Black Spear, except that they fill every role within the unit, including detachment and troop commanders, long gunners, and support specialists. They are the most elite soldiers within the Rebel Alliance, who carry out it’s most covert assignments.

Often when these female shooters tour is winding down, they will be presented with another opportunity to continue their service to the Rebel Alliance, as members of Alliance Intelligence. Under the command of Colonel Airen Cracken, Alliance Intelligence operatives conduct clandestine missions of their own across the galaxy.

Often operating in advance of and alongside the SpecForces, Alliance Intelligence relies heavily upon it’s female operatives. These are seasoned combat veterans, who find themselves infiltrating some of the most dangerous hot spots in the galaxy. Tatoonie, Nar Shaddaa, and even Corsucant to name a few.

Operating under the guise of doctors, dancers, pilots, and even slaves, the female operatives of Alliance Intelligence place themselves at great risk, for a greater cause. Their success behind enemy lines is often what makes or breaks the next mission, and often leads to overwhelming victory, in spite of insurmountable odds.

The women of the Rebel Alliance SpecForces have been, and will continue to be the blades in the shadows.