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 it’s 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.

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.

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.

Adults who collect toys

An inside look at a misunderstood world

Intro

By now it should be obvious that I am extremely cynical and sarcastic, and I try to make it a point to offend people who do not like me. So, since I’m bored and pissed off, I need a way to vent, and today it’s going to be writing this blog.

I’ve been stuck in writer’s block for months, until recently when I had an idea for a post that I considered worthy enough to delve into. Most people out there have some sort of hobby or interest that they engage in for any number of reasons in their spare time. To one degree or another, most people also collect stuff.

That being said, I don’t think there is an interest out there that causes so much consternation and second glances, as adults who collect toys. It would appear (and I can speak from my own personal experience) that there are people on this planet that have a problem with grown ups who have as their passion collecting toys.

After all, toys are designed and marketed for kids, right? Well If you believe that, then you might want to keep reading. Every one of us has grown up watching cartoons and our favorite television series as a child. Be it Tom Corbett Space Cadet, BraveStarr, or G.I. Joe A Real American Hero. Kids from the fifties through the nineties have grown up in the golden age of cartoons, comics, and yes, toys.

In fact, many of the cartoon series from the eighties and nineties were intentionally produced as a marketing scheme to sell the toy lines. G.I. Joe A Real American Hero, Transformers, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe were among those that were. Others included Thundercats, Bravestarr, M.A.S.K. and Silverhawks to name just a few.

Kids grew up wanting the toys, because they represented a physical connection to the on screen universe. The play features provided a sense of excitement and reward in having them, as kids would play out their favorite scenes. Toys, however were not just limited to cartoons. Live action movies and television series also offered their own entry into the childhood world of wonder.

The A-Team, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and Star Wars were among the many movies and television series that capitalized on the profit of producing tie -in toy lines. Like any marketed merchandise, there were toy lines that were successful, and others that were short lived.

The desire for connection

As time passed, children moved on to the next great toy, the next stage in life, and soon what was once the center of their world, became a distant memory. Toys were replaced by appliances and tools, and life as it does steals our innocence.

As years slowly passed, and decades emerged, some adults found that in moments of change, challenge, crisis, or even loss that their childhood memories came to the surface. In those moments, the sudden emergence of memories becomes a bridge connecting us to a much better time in our lives.

Its a place of happiness and peace; a place of comfort and safety where the imagination knew no ends to the pleasures of collecting and playing with toys. It might happen while walking down the toy aisle of a brick and mortar store, or scrolling past an ebay auction online. Whatever the means, a door is presented that opens to the heart of who we really are.

Its that emotional connection that stirs us to seek out that first physical connection. Whether its in buying a new comic or toy, or vintages ones from our past. Some may be fortunate enough to have theirs boxed away in an attic, while others like myself who have suffered the loss of all things must start anew.

However it begins, that sense of awe and wonder returns, and just for a moment you can feel the exact same feeling that you experienced as a child; It is to say the least, an incredibly moving experience. Again, note that I said this was the case for some adult collectors, but perhaps not all.

So, we look back at a particular cartoon, television show, movie, or toy that connects us to our past. We come across it in our basement or attic, or buy one on eBay; then what? Well naturally, most of us are drawn to the thrill of collecting more toys. Be it others in a series, a separate theme, ext. There’s always a desire to collect more.

Personal experience

At least for me, there’s a sense of comfort and satisfaction that is derived from having them. I have very few childhood memories that I can recall, due to the trauma of abuse and bullying that I was subjected to on a daily basis. The only place that I felt safe was at home with my great-grandmother, and my toys. They were my world.

I was bullied everyday in school; beat up nearly every week. Jumped in the bathroom and shoved into puddles of pee. I was slapped in the back of the head sitting in my desk, as well as when I would stand in line. I was spat on, hit, and kicked for no reason, other than the fact that I was not liked. I was beat up constantly by black kids, and some whites.

I would be beat on in the cafeteria, then on the playground. When I would go back to my class, my book bag would be torn, and my books would be ripped in half, lying on the floor or in the trash can. It was a daily thing. I hated school, and everyone there. It didn’t stop in high school, as I got jumped often while walking to school and walking home, so I quit.

I grew up being afraid of older men because of being abused and molested, and I was very insecure. I had great difficulty in social interactions, and preferred to be alone and work alone; I still do. In 1997 I began collecting the Star Wars Power of the Force toy line by Kenner, it brought a sense of comfort to me in the midst of some very bad things that I was forced to live in.

I didn’t collect a lot or for very long, choosing to give my collection to a co-worker for her three children. It would be seven years before I would begin collecting again as an adult, and since then I have collected and sold my toy collection half a dozen times. I have gone through periods where I simply lost interest, and found that it was due to external circumstances that made me feel that way because of depression.

So, you can see from my own experience how collecting toys not only provided an emotional connection to my childhood memories, but also provided a practical mechanism for coping under extreme circumstances as an adult. This is certainly not everyone’s experience, but it is part of how and why I got into collecting.

Determining Valuation

So now that I have offered some insight into the why of collecting toys, let’s take a look at some numbers and stats. To begin, toy collecting as an intentional hobby has been around since at least the eighties. There’s evidence to support this by the number of sealed toys from that era that are auctioned on the secondary market, by third party sellers.

It is an intentional act of buying a toy (or multiples of one) and keeping it sealed in the box, and then placing it in long term, protective storage. A person may do this to give as a gift to future generations, to have themselves, or to sell. Whatever their motivation, it is intentional, and becomes an act of collecting.

This also would be highly unusual for a child to engage in, since their minds are not mature enough to look at a toy and consider the value of it, how to properly care for it long term, or how to preserve it for future value. All of these would be the actions of an adult, which infer that the adult is engaged in collecting on some level.

So, for what we classify as vintage toys to be available in a mint and sealed condition today, would imply that someone took the time to intentionally protect and store that toy for some reason.

Typically speaking, toy values are derived from a set of variables that I will attempt to explain here. For the purpose of this post, we are going to presume that the toy is mint and sealed new in the box, with no damage, discoloration, fading, or worn edges on the packaging. That then, means it is mint, as if it were just removed from the shipper.

Take the 1976 Tomy Drive Yourself Crazy electronic handheld game, mint in the box, which sold for five dollars and twenty-five cents. This is roughly the MSRP of most brick-and-mortar stores at the time, and continued into the early eighties when I had one (the dollar in 1976 is equivalent to nearly six dollars in today’s market).

Rarity

Simply put, the rarer a toy is, particularly mint and sealed in the box (or packaging), the more it is worth.

Condition

Toys that are mint on card, or mint in a sealed package without damage always command higher values than those that have damaged packaging or which are loose.

Brand and/or Series

When you look at toys from a specific brand like McFarlane Toys, those figures are designed and produced intentionally for adult collectors and thus are worth more value than a similar figure by Hasbro or Mattel.

Toys that are part of limited or specific series, like chase or rare variants, also command more money than those that are mass release versions.

Historical Relevance

Toys produced for specific events in history, or that are part of something like an initial movie toy line, sometimes demand higher values than others, but this isn’t a steadfast rule for all toys. It is simply a consideration when trying to determine current valuation.

Current Market Demand

This is my single piece of advice to those who ask, and that is that toys are worth what you are willing to pay for them. You can use auction sites like eBay as a guide, but you have to be aware of the fact that professional resellers know what they are doing.

Most of them ask far more (2-5 times) the value of what the actual toy is worth. It takes patience, research, and some time to figure out what they are really worth paying for, and often if you wait, you can and will find someone offering what you want at a reasonable price.

By the numbers

The toy industry is one of the largest in the world, with sales in 2024 totaling 114 billion U.S. dollars https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/toy-market, with forty billion attributed to sales in the U.S. alone. At the heart of those sales are adult consumers, who account for nine billion dollars in revenue on toyshttps://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/adults-are-buying-toys-s-biggest-source-growth-industry-rcna62354.

To further narrow our look at the adult collectors, I want to focus on one of the three largest toy companies in the world. Hasbro is the parent company for brands such as G.I. Joe Classified Series, Marvel Legends, Star Wars, and Transformers. All of these brands are carried not by parents shopping for their children, but by adult collectors.

Ninety percent of all sales for just the four brands that I listed above are from adult collectors. That’s why the design and marketing teams behind these brands focus on the adult collector community, by offering highly detailed replica toys, with distinct features and realism.

Both Jazwares and Mattel do the same, and there are dozens of third-party companies that market exclusively to adult collectors alone. In short, the toy industry is kept alive by the grown-ups that you make fun of, but more on that in a moment.

Discrimination and harassment

There are unfortunately, many who have taken the stance that adults who collect and play with toys must be mentally ill. You know we must be leaning in on the Autistic, Down Syndrome, we’re a threat to society tag because we collect and play with toys, right? I mean, shouldn’t we all just watch ESPN and go to the gym?

The fact is, there is nothing further from the truth. I am certain that there are disabled collectors out there, and I’m even more certain that many of them have been, and continue to be, the target of bullying to some degree.

The attempts by deranged individuals to destroy them for their interests is perverted in every sense of the word. The reality is everyone does not share the same hobbies or interests. Not everyone wants to go to the club, the gym, or be a part of whatever.

In doing research for this article, I spoke to two comic bookstore owners, and they both concurred that ninety percent or more of their customers were adults. Some of which were identified to me as lawyers, bankers, sitting judges, ext. In other words, people from all walks of life collect comics and toys. Sorry nerds, we aren’t alone it seems.

When I inquired from the store owners about the disposition of their customers, they both told me that their adult customers were normal people. Both store owners also shared with me how the above stereotypes couldn’t be further from the truth, and told me their thoughts on it. In conclusion, there’s no medical or scientific evidence to prove that adults who collect comics and toys are mentally ill. If you disagree, put it in writing and let’s take it to court.

Conclusion

I hope this post gives you the reader insight and understanding into the world of adults who collect toys. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive article on the subject, as there is far more detail than what I covered in a few paragraphs.

I am by no means an expert; I am a collector and fan, and my toys will continue to be at the center of my life until the day that I die. Heck, I’m in a common law marriage with my Jyn Erso action figure, so that should tell you how good it is!

Suppressing Freedom

Understanding the Empire’s false flag operation in Palmo City

Ghorman, a human world located in the inner colonies, lies near the Rimma Hyperspace lanes. A peaceful world, with a very proud and respectable people, Ghorman is located between Giju and Thyferra.

The people of Ghorman are known and respected throughout the galaxy, due to their unique silks which are a by-product produced from the Ghorlectipods; an arachnid native only to Ghorman. So we see a peaceful and prosperous world that is part of the galactic trade, that should be anything but the epicenter of chaos.

In Andor Season 2, we find Ghorman is one of many worlds that have come under Imperial rule since the end of the Clone Wars. The Ghormans however, have attracted the undue attention of the Empire. It begins with the people of Ghorman petitioning the senate for their rights to be preserved under Imperial rule.

They have faced unjust rule from Imperial overseers and military forces, who have abused them and mistreated them. In the wake of their petitions, Grand Moff Tarkin lands his personal ship on the planet, crushing more than five hundred Ghorma protestors underneath it who refused to move.

This drew sympathy for the Ghormans in the Senate, and unwelcome attention for the Emperor. Subsequent to this, the Empire learns that Ghorman has large deposits of Kelkite, an untapped mineral resource that they need for their new “energy project.”

To obtain it, Director Orsen Krennic and the Imperial Security Bureau, or ISB, create a plan to utilize Ghorman’s resistance front in a false flag operation. They allow the local resistance fighters to hijack and steal Imperial weapons shipments, in order to set the stage for the operation.

The ISB then secretly manipulates the local Ghorman resistance in Palmo City, and uses intentionally leaked intelligence, as well as psychological warfare, to push the Resistance to instigate violent contact with Imperial forces.

What the ISB does not divulge to local Imperial commanders on Ghorman, is that they intend to use one of their own as bait for the attack. During a protest in Palmo square, a lone ISB sniper shoots and kills a fellow Imperail soldier, thus providing the authorization for the remaining Imperial forces to justify using force on the Ghorman resistance.

It turns into a bloodbath, with the strategically positioned Imperial soldiers cutting down the civilians. This in turn justifies Imperial control and occupation of the planet, allowing Imperial engineers to mine the Kelkite in the hills, while enforcing a loacal blackade of the planet.

*The Ghorman Massacre in Palmo City Square*

This blockade prevents the Ghorman people from having access to necessary food staples in order to survive, and the resulting outcome is poverty and starvation. The Ghormans then become, for all intents and purposes, prisoners on their own planet.

Asymmetric Warfare

The Ghorman operation is a classic example of Imperial use of Asymmetric Warfare. The planners understood that they could not risk anyone generating sympathy for the Ghormans in the senate, and thus needed to “prove” to the galactic populace who the real aggressors were.

They then set out to plan the operation to infiltrate the Ghorman Resistance through an extended hand, Syril Karn. He would know only enough to carry out what was needed, while the counter insurgency operation was closely guarded.

This again, is a textbook example of compartmentalized information at work. Each section involved in the operation knows only as much as they need to carry out their orders, while contributing to the larger operation as a whole.

By utilizing Imperial Army and Stormtroopers, the ISB could position them to react to contact, without having knowledge of the false flag operation. If the assassination of one of their own were compromised, it could be leaked to the Galactic News Network, turning the opinion of the people against the Emperor.

The Empire itself manipulated the news by utilizing reporters who were loyal the Empire and thus suppressing the truth in the wake of Imperial operations. Ghorman then, would be no different, and anyone caught speaking anything other than what was planned would be silenced.

The ISB knew from years of psychological operations how local populaces behaved in the wake of Imperial oversight, and they fueled that fire to push the Ghormans to react. So, from the perspective of the ISB, the killing of one individual soldier was deemed acceptable and necessary, to create the conditions for complete control of the planet.

Opposite side of the coin

As appaling as this operation was, we must not forget the many instances which the early Rebellion engaged in the exact same type of operation, in order to preserve operational security, and to achieve their goals. The very same thing occured when Anto Kreegyr led an X-Wing squadron to attack an Imperial power station on Spellhaus.

Rather than compromise his mole in the ISB and warn Kreegyr, Luthen Rael allowed the attack to commence, resulting in the loss of Kreegyr and his forces. The result was the ISB being misdirected and not being alerted to the rebel forces. This gave the Rebellion something that it desperately needed, time. Time to build, time to muster their forces, and time to plan.

A false flag operation is both ethically and morally wrong, and I do not see this type of action on the part of the Rebellion as something that is condoned. Conducting such an operation goes against what the Rebellion stands for, and Luthen’s use of it should not be accepted as the norm, but rather the exception.

Andor S2: Epsiode 8 Review

Andor has become the last, best hope for Star Wars fans, as it represents a continuation in many ways of the familiarity of the original trilogy. The realism of the “used universe” concept is clearly evident, and that is due in part to a large number of practical and real-world sets being used for filming.

In Season two Episode eight, there are several things that I would like to briefly discuss that I found intriguing. To begin, I want to discuss the shootout scene in the Ghorman city center. For the most part I thought it was well done, although I did see some mistakes by actors portraying both Imperials and Insurgents.

This was mostly related to improper weapons handling and manipulation; specifically with using blaster carbines without the shoulder stock extended. In one instance Cassian can be seen using a modular blaster with a macroscope, but no stock. That might work okay for point shooting, but not for long range work like he’s attempting.

*Cassian hasn’t been to the Maven Therrell school of shooting has he?*

The reason being is that the small arms in the Star Wars universe may differ in their operation from the real-world weapons they are based on, but they are used in the same manner. Anyone who has watched the original trilogy or played Battlefront knows that blasters have recoil, so to suggest that you could use a long gun without a shoulder stock is an oversight by the Director.

Another aspect of the shoot-out scene is the sound of the blasters. Again, in the original trilogy as well as Battlefront and Battlefront 2, it is evident how loud these weapons are. Blasters do not shoot at the velocities of modern firearms, but they do produce a loud report when fired.

In Andor, the blaster fire seems to be intentionally toned down, which detracts from the authenticity and realism of the battle. In some instances, they do not even utilize the same sound effects for weapons such as the Blastech E-11s. This is not an issue that is reserved to this episode, but has been seen throughout this series, as well as others like The Book of Boba Fett, and The Mandalorian.

Syril Karn

I want to briefly discuss the Character of Syril Karn, whom I found to be an extremely disturbing individual. Syril has from the beginning been portrayed as a very ambitious individual, with an ego to match.

He has a desire to be someone of importance, a successful leader if you will. Within that however, we find someone who acts aggressively and impulsively at times. This it would seem indicates that he is at his core broken and insecure, which may stem from the way that his narcissistic mother treats him.

Being belittled as an adult by one’s own mother is humiliating, and both a perverted and unnatural experience to be subjected to. Syril then, seeks to compensate for this bullying by irrationally seeking some way to cope. For Syril, that coping mechanism is in becoming someone that he is not, in order to disprove to himself the lies that his mother has imposed upon him.

At each turn Syril acts on anger and impulse, which cause him great failure and misfortune. Even in his relationship with Deedra, he goes too far. First, by failing to acknowledge the Imperial rank structure and demanding to see her, and at others by speaking out of turn.

All of his failures come to an inflection point when he confronts Deedra about the false flag operation on Ghorman. Syril unleashes his anger on Deedra, forcefully choking her to ger her to talk. He then storms out of the office, and into the fray in the city center.

These impulsive decisions carried out by Syril, and driven by his own ego, lead to his demise. He attacks Cassian, and before he can kill him Syril is shot dead by the resistance leader with a single headshot. This scene was in my opinion, one of the most emotional in any series that I have ever witnessed.

*Syril Karn’s final act of aggression becomes his last*

Syril for whatever reason, chose to continue his reckless pursuit of self-entitlement, and ended up as an unnecessary casualty of the war. Had he simply obeyed Deedra and left the planet, he would have never known the reality for which he was a willing participant.

I would suggest that Syril was lost in the balance of light and darkness. he had become aware of the evil of the Empire, but because of his uncontrollable rage, he forfeited any opportunity to make a difference by becoming a true rebel.

His death was shocking, and saddening. Seeing his lifeless body lying on the floor, shattered the lives of the only two people who cared anything about him. Had he chose to let go of his anger and extend his hand to Cassian, he would still be alive, and his life would have taken on a greater meaning.

It is a very real symbology of what we see in life every day. People who choose to act in anger, who feel entitled to act on aggression, destroy the lives of the innocent, as well as their own. They fail to grasp that forgiveness is a window, that can open their eyes to a path of peace and tranquility, where so many choose hate and violence.

As Cassian says to Jyn in Rogue One, “Let it go.” The act of revenge is not worth sacrificing one’s character and future for, under any circumstances.

Fall of an Empire

The decline of Star Wars

I remember the first time that I watched A New Hope on television. I was four or five years old, and I can still recall being mesmerized by the Jawas and their giant sandcrawler. I watched it every year from that moment on, and it has been a part of my life since.

I grew up playing with the toys, reading the books, and watching the Droids cartoon series. I even had one of the original lightsabers sold by Roses discount stores back in the eighties. When I became an adult, I returned to collecting Star Wars toys in 1995 with the newly released Kenner Power of the Force line of figures and vehicles.

Since that time, I have continued to collect and relive those moments from childhood through the work that I have done as a writer. So, you can imagine when I first learned that George Lucas had sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, I was stunned to say the least.

I was honestly confused as to why he had decided to sell the company, and naturally I was curious about who was in charge, and what changes that they would make. When I heard the announcement that Disney intended to make more movies, I was skeptical.

I wanted to know why Lucasfilm was sold, and what the future would hold for Star Wars. It wouldn’t take long for me to learn that Star Wars was not in the best of hands, and that there was great cause for concern among the fan base.

One of the first decisions that Disney made with their new acquisition was to dissolve LucasArts, the critically acclaimed gaming division of Lucasfilm. Instead, Disney decided that any future Lucasfilm gaming titles would be contracted out to other developers. In my opinion this was a mistake, but it is that, my opinion.

They also chose to disregard the Expanded Universe material and place it into a what if? type category of its own called Legends. Throughout the years, George Lucas did not necessarily agree with the stories written by the authors, and he reserved the rights to alter anything that they wrote.

Later Disney would also choose to relocate Lucasfilm’s headquarters from the bay area to Los Angeles, which again, I believe to be a mistake. One of the main reasons why Lucasfilm was so successful, was in the decision by George Lucas to remain independent, and detached from Hollywood.

It gave him total autonomy and control over his company, without the external interference and prying eyes that are all too familiar from other Hollywood execs. It also made it much more difficult for Lucasfilm to become the target of Intellectual thieves, which are prevalent in Hollywood.

As any writer can attest, there is something to be said for having the peace that comes from solitude. Having privacy to work alone without being controlled and manipulated by external forces allows creativity to become the priority over production.

So, when The Force Awakens was released, I was initially excited. I began collecting the toys and was really moved by certain parts of the movie, but something was terribly wrong. I realized that what I was watching was nothing more than a soft reboot of A New Hope.

I could not understand how and why Disney would choose to make such an egregious decision, which they would never be able to change. The heart of the franchise lay with six characters, which would never be able to be on screen together again.

I would later learn that a member of Disney’s corporate leadership had made the comment that they intended for The Force Awakens to be exactly that. During pre-production, Director J.J. Abrams approached Mark Hamill, and asked how they could recapture the magic of the original trilogy, to which Mark simply replied, “you can’t.”

Disney you see, was not interested in continuing to tell the stories that George Lucas had written, or else they would have accepted and used his story treatments for the sequels. What they were interested in was marketing.

Disney saw an opportunity to market Star Wars to a new generation of fans, and to do that they kept in line with their woke agenda, and used a female lead to sell it as a new version of Luke Skywalker. Think I’m wrong? Ask yourself how many food carts, restaurants, and shops are at Galaxy’s Edge, versus the number of actual attractions.

Though initially successful at the box office, The Force Awakens would forever divide the fan base in a way that the prequels could never hope to achieve. Adult fans who grew up with the original trilogy were passionately furious about the creative decisions by Disney and Lucasfilm, with good reason.

The future of the franchise seemed more uncertain than ever and then came Rogue One. Meant to be the first in a series of stand-alone movies, Rogue One was and remains the pinnacle of the Disney-era entries into the Star Wars universe.

It’s success, however, would be soon forgotten as the shadows of something more sinister were on the horizon. The rift created by The Force Awakens would only become more severe as The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker were released.

The lack of creativity, the choice of actors, and the stories all plunged Star Wars into a nosedive on some far-flung world. Fans the world over were angry, confused, and hurt; They walked away from these films with more questions than answers.

Collectors fared no better, as Hasbro secretly lost more than five hundred million dollars in revenue on their Star Wars brand merchandise from 2012 to 2019. Though these numbers were never publicly reported, they caused Hasbro to make significant changes in both what they chose to market, and to whom.

As time has marched on, we have seen Disney tighten the reigns of caution, by investing more in their live action series made for their streaming service, Disney Plus. Rather than seeking out new creative material, they chose to fill in every blank space that George Lucas left in days gone by.

Rather than honor the intent and stories that were, Disney and Lucasfilm chose to rewrite history. They wanted and had on many occasions retconned material to match their current narrative, while disregarding previous works from the past, such as Legends novels and video games like The Force Unleashed.

The problem then, becomes too much material too soon. No matter how it is marketed to the fan base and the public at large, Lucasfilm has become a puppet of their corporate slave masters at Disney. Forever gone are the days of creativity, ingenuity, and what made Star Wars special. As sad as it may seem, Star Wars as we knew it is forever gone; erased by the dark powers of perverted men and women driven by greed.

No longer a children’s story, Star Wars now includes the abomination of same sex relationships and transgenderism. Silently woven into the narrative, our children are being subjected to a clandestine form of indoctrination into the perversion of humanity. Disney, therefore, has taken what was special and unique, and reimagined it into filth disguised as entertainment.

For fans of the original trilogy like myself, our memories will forever be grounded in that galaxy far, far, away in our childhood. My passion for it lives on in original trilogy themed toys from Hasbro, and in remaining true to what Star Wars was created to be, and not what it has become.

The Dark Banner

Living under the flag of the Empire as a civilian

*The flag of the Galactic Empire flying over a city on Chandrila*

Decades after the Emperor ascended to power and vanquished the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire reigns in its stead. The once stable democracy of the Republic has been replaced by a totalitarian regime, that we are told will ensure our prosperity and security for ages to come.

The reality however, is much darker and far more sinister than many have been led to believe. What began as a promise to end a war and bring peace to a crumbling republic, quickly evolved into a tyrannical galactic power.

In the Core worlds, and much of the Mid Rim, the rule of the Empire was accepted and even welcomed by the elite upper class of citizens. It is here that much of the galaxy’s food supplies,manufacturing facilities, and thus wealth are derived.

These mega conglamarotes and thier investors see in the Empire an opportunity to exchange freedom for profit. In so doing they escaped the worst of the Empire’s over reach, and their worlds remain largely ignored by the Emporer.

On the fringes of the Mid Rim lies Hutt space, which the Emporer has left alone. They serve his purposes when paid, while their criminal activites go largely ignored, unless they hamper the plans of the Empire.

In the farthest reaches of the Mid Rim we find worlds which connect the major trade routes of hyperspace into the fringes of the Outer Rim.

It is on these worlds where many of the galaxy’s poorest reside, and to which much attention has been devoted by the Empire.

Nearly all of the galaxy’s alien species have been discriminated against by the Empire, and their worlds annexed and subjucated for it’s use. Many species like the Wookies have been enslaved across the galaxy, in order to fulfill manual labor for the Empire’s war machine.

Others like the Twi’leks find themselves in the ownership of Moffs and other Imperial leadership, serving as cooks, waiters, and personal attendants in their homes. They by and large are spared the worst of the humilation, so long as their behavior and performance are deemed acceptable.

It may seem then, from first glance that the Empire has favored humanity from its racial bigotry, but nothing could be further from reality.

From the moment that an Imperial star cruiser enters orbit around a planet, life on that world is forever changed. Whatever freedoms it’s citizens once held, will be immediately stripped away by the enforcement of Imperial laws.

Many have learned the hard way, that all that is required is to piss of an Imperial stormtrooper, before they are placed in binders, and charged with some fictitous crime that never existed.

Others have been stopped on the streets, bullied and beaten until they can no longer stand or walk. Others still have their businesses and homes raided, their children left screaming in terror while blasters are pointed in their face.

People have quickly learned that their way of life has ended, as Imperial engineers assemble pre fabricated garrisons on their planet.

Within a matter of weeks, lush thriving worlds find themsleves under the darkened banner of Imperial oppression. Their governments and it’s leaders are now nothing more than puppets on display for the public, with the Empire pulling their strings at will.

Stormtroopers patrol the streets and highways, while AT-STs and tanks are positioned at intersections. TIE fighters howl from overhead, as they carry out combat air patrols.

For some planets, the presence of the Empire is overwhelming, while on other worlds it is an ever present threat looming in the shadows.

Imperial Intelligence agents with the ISB find their way into every strata of galactic society, blending in with the local populace, living under the guise of familiarity.

They build rapport with the locals, establish their own cover, and then use that to gain intelligence. They wait and they watch, looking for those who would breed resistance to the Empire’s presence and rule.

As powerful as the Empire may appear, their fear and hubris leave them hamstrung to the efforts of those who have been pushed too far.

It always begins with one person; one individual who has had enough of being bullied, profiled, and watched by the Empire. They too lie in patience, watching and learning from their enemies.

They begin to take notes, and build their own network of contacts who are like minded. Perhaps not everyone sympathetic to their cause is able or willing to actively oppose such a daunting enemy, but there are always those who are.

They begin by meeting in secret, at random locations and times, passing on information to each other, until one day they find a opportunity of weakness, and exploit it.

It might begin by stealing Imperial communications equipment and weapons, before advancing to more complex hesist and raids.

Soon the Imperial forces find themselves at a disadvantage, as the tables are turned, and they find that they are no longer the predator, but the prey. The initial confusion and shock is replaced by anger, so they take it out on the local populace.

The Empire always makes the innocent suffer, in an effort to motivate those sympathetic to the acts of rebellion to capitulate and betray their cause. Some do, but the wiser do not.

They understand the cost of freedom, and that personal sacrifice is a necessary hinge upon which liberty must swing. It is with these types of people, that the Rebellion finds it’s cause.

As local resistance mounts, there comes a day when the Empire is dealt a mortal wound. Corellian Corvettes and Mon Calamari cruisers drop out of Hyperspace, pummeling the few Star Destroyers that may be in orbit.

They are struck with Ion cannons, overwhelming their systems, and leaving them dead in the cold waters of space.

Their hulls are raked with turbo lasers, until their reactor cores are hit, shattering them into a maniature sun. Meanwhile, down on the surface of the planet, Rebel Alliance fighters begin reclaiming the skies, while chasing TIE fighters to their deaths.

On the ground, the rebels do what they do best; killing the Empire one stromtrooper at a time. With controlled discipline they communicate, move, and shoot together as one.

Moving from house to house, building to building, using every angle and every piece of cover to their advantage. Their losses will be many, but when the day is done, the battle will be won.

In the city square Imperial officers are publicly hanged, and their rule comes to an end. Meanwhile, the Imperial bases are raided by the rebels. Every piece of usable equipment and weapons are taken, and they give the Rebel Alliance a fighting chance to reclaim the galaxy, one world at a time…