The Loop Trilogy: Star Loop Episode VI – Return of the Stormtroopers

Namaskaara and welcome to the sequel of the sequel of the blockbusting Loop Trilogy. Reggie Skywalker and Joe Solo used the Force (Big Manju) to visit the far, far away galaxies of Charlie 2, Tango 5, and Echo 4. 
Max Dampier and Venetia Matthews formed a Rebel Alliance to narrate how Echo 4's Nellimadu fell victim to the dark side of the Force:

Group posing with their pride and joy.

Max: Fieldbase. Early morning. Coughs, moans, and soft weeping at the thought of packing fills the dorm. Sounds that quickly turn to anger upon the cry echoing from a near naked Thejas: “No water! No water! Tell Simon! No water!” The drought to hit the dorms was quickly forgotten with last minute orders and the ever dangerous loading of the buses. That done, the bus park looked like a funeral with tearful goodbyes and day leaders preaching and cajoling their flock on the coaches until at last we were away. After a journey Odysseus would have been proud of, we arrived at the majestic mountain village of Nellimadu, being greeted like new arrivals at a Hawaiian airport with garlands and beaming smiles.

The empty chair belongs to PM Rhys.

Venetia: I have to admit that one of my first thoughts upon catching sight of our campsite was “Is this really the right place???” I had not imagined a tea plantation with a large number of coconut trees dotted about at the bottom of a steep hill. However, I quickly became used to the concept that this was to become my home for the next three weeks. Excitement quickly swept the camp as the pros and cons of each potential hammock site were discussed. 

Ewok 4's camp on Endor

Adorable baby Ewoks

Max: Campsite building began proper with the construction of hammocks which then led to an orchestra of ropes snapping under tension and muffled curses. Hoping for more success, we then set to digging a hole to Australia. However, as none of us had a criminal record, we had to stop and renamed the hole “long drop”.

The deep drop

Venetia: Slowly, the hammocks started to break less and just as we had begun to put a little more trust in them, the rain came. 

Hay viene una tormenta!

Max: Demonic light fell across the faces of Echo 4 as they watched the rain fall, pummeling the ground like an army of AT-AT Walkers. The wind flew in breaking and tearing across the ground as it sped towards our camp. It hit. Within seconds rain whipped around our ears and danced on the plants as the wind carried it.

Venetia: It came as a nasty surprise to several members of the group to discover that the covers over the hammocks really were only “water resistant” and not “water proof”.

Max: A rescue operation was launched as Echo 4 scrambled down towards the campsite with bandaleys over their heads like a party of marauding Chinese peasants.

Venetia: With wet sleeping bags in tow the group managed to climb the very slippery hill up to the group shelter, just to discover that…

Max: … after rattling and screaming, the shelter’s roof had been carried piecemeal into the night and dinner had been rained on.

Venetia: Fortunately they were invited into the porch of one of the beneficiary’s houses…

Max: … leaving the young biogas hands to while away the night on the ol’ six string.

The ol' six string - visible and ...

... invisible - was used on a number of occasions ...

... like on PM Eleri's birthday

Venetia: This is just one example of the hospitality and kindness which the locals of Nellimadu have shown us since arriving. We have now all become well accustomed to second breakfasts. They always have a smile on their face and are constantly offering help, like lending a hand with the digging, and useful local knowledge, like the correct way to carry a bandalay on your head.

Second bananas for second breakfasts.

Shaveh using the local bike rental.

Everyone has enjoyed getting their hands dirty, digging the first two of three biogas holes at the start of the Phase. These holes are fairly huge – 12 feet by 6 feet – and look, as one member of the group aptly described them – like the marks of asteroids hitting the earth. We have all been working very hard and impressed the masons and CTRD by finishing the digging of the first two holes in just two days work – An achievement which PM Rhys reckons to be a Raleigh record.

 

The work is supervised by young Padawans.

It looks like the construction of a second Death Star in progress,
but they say the mesh is for the biogas dome
(oldest trick in the Sith book if you ask me...)

Phase 3 is flying by, but Echo 4 is definitely making the most of the last few weeks on Raleigh. We look forward to seeing you all soon! Keep your fingers crossed that our hammocks hold out!

And now: Messages in prose, poetry, and visual arts.

From Haydn

From Venetia

From Max

From Helena