IC Star Wars: Rise of the Jedi

Heir

The galaxy holds its collective breath as the New Republic and the Empire maintain an uneasy truce. While both sides continue to gear up for another full scale war, there are those who hope the the peace can last and the galaxy has truly seen its last great conflict.

On Yavin IV, a heavy rainstorm envelops the entire moon. In a small clearing near one of the main temples, a small group of hooded figures endure the weather. While they all feel the weight of the galaxy upon them, some have very little idea just how heavy that burden will be....

The rain poured down along the top of Aira's head. She looked around curiously at her comrades...several of them she had grown close to during her time as a trainee here. Over the last year, Master Skywalker had entrusted these veteran apprentices with the responsibility of training the newer members of the fledgling Jedi Order. Aira had impressed Skywalker so much with her dedication to her training that he had seen fit to give her two apprentices of her own. Rek and Berru had both already come far in the year they'd been under her tutelage. While no one would admit it openly, many of the older apprentices envied Aira's students and how much more advanced they had become compared to most of the others. A friendly rivalry between Aira, a headstrong Kyp Durron, and the mysterious Keiran Halcyon had grown over the past several months, but all three jedi held great respect for the others.

Aira's attention, and that of everyone else there, focused on the new hooded figure to arrive. The figure walked to the center of the circle, and pulled his hood back. Luke Skywalker, hero of the Republic and Master of the new Jedi Order, smiled at his apprentices, greeting each one by name. "You have all come so far since I first met you. I have been continually amazed at the inner strength and wisdom you each possess, and I am humbled to be considered your teacher."

A green blade of pure energy emerged from the hilt in his gloved right hand with a loud snap-hiss. As one, all the apprentices' weapons also ignited, forming a circle of energy blades of various colors...blue, green, yellow, even a deep violet. "You have all completed your trials, and have already taken on more responsibility than was expected of your predecessors of the old order. No apprentice should have the burden of training a student of their own..." (his eyes flicked to Aira momentarily)..."let alone two for a few of you." Skywalker's smile widened with pride, as the hissing sound of raindrops hitting the ligthsabers filled the clearing. "You have been acting in the capacity of Jedi Knights for over a year now. That is why I am proud to call you the first generation of Knights...the first of many if the Force is willing... The galaxy will come to rely on your talents in the coming years, as your light will be all that holds back the looming shadows..."


The next morning

Aira awoke the next morning in her quarters. Just a few minutes later, she was already well into her first progression of lightsaber practice forms. Sweat beaded around her head and she whirled in tight, precise circles in her small room. Each spin, jab and pirouette showing practiced precision. Her forms were cut short as the communicator on a small table chirped. By the time she could get to it, the small device had stopped beeping, and instead a message flashed across it's screen. She read the message, and quickly went to get ready. The message still glowed on the communicator's screen:

Please find your apprentices and meet me in the old briefing room. -Skywalker

@KIivian , @Sakutian, @ArcanisTheImpotent. Feel free to narrate you getting together and making your way to the hangar. Any color commentary, backstory, or whatever you're welcome to do. You've got some freedom here.

Klivian

A soft snoring echoed down the corridor of the third sub-level in the Temple. At the end of the corridor in an unused chamber, Master Skywalker had begun assembling a library of Jedi history and lore. A dozen floor to ceiling shelving units stood against the walls. Haphazardly scattered across the shelves were a small number of musty tomes, data cards, and a few odd pieces of sculpture. It was a meager library by all standards.

In the middle of the room were four desks equipped data terminals. A blue skinned Duros was asleep at one such desk. Several stacks of datapads and books littered the desk around his head. One datapad blinked to life and began to chirp insistently.

Without raising his head, the Duros reached out toward the beeping and slapped at the datapad in an attempt to silence it. He finally turned it off with the third or fourth slap, but not before knocking over a stack of datapads which clattered to the floor.

Rek grumbled as he leaned back and wiped the sleep from his enormous eyes. He surveyed the desk in front of him with vacant stare. The Emperor had been far to efficient at wiping out Jedi knowledge from the galaxy during the Purge. Despite his weeks of work, Rek had yet to discover the location of any strongholds of the old Jedi Order.

Rek stretched as he stood from the desk. He smoothed his wrinkled padawan robes as best he could and frowned at their plainness. Browns and tans simply did not suit him at all. He checked the crono on his datapad before slipping it into his pocket. He had walked several steps toward the door when he stopped, snapped his fingers, and returned to the desk. He searched under several stacks of books before he found his lightsaber laying hidden beneath. Retrieving it, he clipped it to his belt and exited the library.

His stomach growled. Hopefully he had time to stop by mess hall for breakfast.

Super Namicchi

Aira quirked a small smile. Recognized as the first of the New Order after all this time. A piece of her internal puzzle clicked into place and for the first time in awhile she felt satisfied. Vindicated, even. She allowed herself that small feeling of vanity as she clipped her weapon to her belt. Already the weight was familiar and comforting.

Unlike her peers she did not see the need to bother with the musty formality of the old Jedi Order's mouse brown robes, instead preferring dark fatigues and a matching tunic. Not only was it less restrictive it flattered her cherry colored skin.

Satisfied that she was in order the Togruta Jedi exited her room and began the search for her wayward apprentices.

Sakutian

A high pitched metallic noise echoed throughout the interior of the Polar Gem drowning out all other noise. As the gem-like teeth of the power sander in the workshop steadily ate away at the surface of the metal being pressed into it sparks jumped across the workbench. Berru ignored the errant bits of smoldering durasteel as they bounced off of the welding vest she was wearing and flipped a switch next to her. The swirling teeth of the sander ground to a halt as the padawan pulled the goggles she'd was wearing up to her forehead. She held the narrow metal tube she'd been polishing for over an hour up to the light examining it from every angle.

The chrono on the wall suddenly caught her eye and she cursed under her breath. She’d been expected in the meditation chamber half an hour ago. Tearing the welding vest away she leapt off the stool and charged through the lounge into the crew quarters. Robes, datapads, tools, and bits of errant machinery littered the floor and she made the mess all the worse as she shifted things aside.

She'd abandoned her spacious living quarters in the temple within a month of moving there and taken to sleeping aboard ships docked in the hangar instead. The silence of Yavin IV unnerved her after a lifetime spent on mining ships on Bespin. The dull hum of idling engines along with the subtle creak of sturdy bulkheads shifting slightly around her had been her lullaby as a child and now she found it impossible to sleep without them.

Tossing aside a robe stained with dark oil and missing a sleeve she uncovered her lightsaber. She seized the weapon and fastened it to her belt with a surge of relief and turned to examine herself in the small mirror hanging on the wall. Her robes were wrinkled but free of burns or stains, and her long hair was still tied in a loose bun at the back of her head. Untangling her hair she tore her fingers through the knotted mass as she tried to smooth her robes with her hands. She made her way out of the ship and peered around the inside of the hangar hoping that no one else would spot her.

Heir

As Berru left the hanger, she spotted a figure leaning against the wall just outside the exit. Stifling a yelp of surprise, she recognized the silhouette of Aira almost instantly. The Torgruta Jedi Knight leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the smirk on her face clearly communicating that she had known exactly where her apprentice had been. "I really don't understand how you can sleep with all that racket."

As Berru began to stammer an excuse, Aira continued, "Master Skywalker has summoned us." She stood up from where she had leaned, and started walking down the halls, her apprentice quickly catching up and walking slightly behind her master. Berru's mind raced with thoughts of what Skywalker could possibly want. She did her best to exude confidence and calmness like Aira, but always felt like she was fidgeting. She hated stillness.

As the pair rounded a corner, a bleary-eyed Duros nearly ran face first into Aira. The Torguta, acting if she had known he would be there, quickly grabbed the apprentice and pushed him up against the nearest wall somewhat roughly. Any semblance of sleepiness left Rek in an instant as he looked into the fierce eyes of his master. His gaze flicked to the side, where he saw his training partner and fellow apprentice Berru smirking at him. "You must always be aware of your surroundings my apprentice." Aira's voice brought his gaze back to her, and while he expected a frown, he instead saw a kind smile. Rek always liked his master...she was tough, but never mean. "Sorry Master" he said the last word with a particular inflection...he hated using that term. Aira didn't seem to mind too much though, very few jedi in this day and age had grown up not knowing life outside of the Temple. In the days of old, a Jedi would spend his or her entire life in the temple. But as members of the New Jedi Order, most of them had seen most of their lives in the real world, living normal lives. Rarely did the name "master" come up in everyday conversation. And the word had a particular negative tinge associated with it for Aira...

Patting her apprentice on the shoulders, she motioned for him to follow and continued down the hallway until they came to the entrance of the temple's briefing room. While most of the electronics in the room were long ago stripped out and never replaced, the chamber still held an air of importance in it. Rek knew from his education that the room had been the site of one of the most pivotal points in the Rebellion. Luke Skywalker himself had sat in this room as a brand new member, learning about the all but suicidal attack on the approaching Death Star.

Now the chamber was all but empty. Two figures sat deep in discussion as the trio entered. They immediately recognized the first as Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, who noticed their entrance and stood with a welcoming smile on his face. He bowed to the approaching Jedi, and the other figure, a male Lannik from what they could tell, stood next to him. "Aira, Berru, Rek, thank you for coming on such short notice." He motioned towards the alien next to him. "Allow me to introduce Tanis Koth." The Lannik nodded curtly at the three, his eyes sizing up each one of them with military precision.

Skywalker looked at Aira with a smile, then her apprentices. "He's here to fill you in on your first mission."

Klivian

Rek descended the steps toward the front of the briefing auditorium and took a seat near the front along the aisle. The chair was surprisingly comfortable. He felt his focus begin to drift as sleep harassed the back of his mind. He barely managed to stifle a yawn. Master Aria, not to mention Master Skywalker, would be none too pleased if he dozed off in this briefing. He closed his eyes momentarily in meditation and let the Force wash away a portion of his weariness.

With an audible sigh, he completed the technique and opened his eyes feeling refreshed. The Force couldn't completely cancel out the sleep debt he was carrying, but he could worry about that later. Maybe catch some rest enroute to their mission. Rek could hope, at least.

Super Namicchi

Aira returned the nod and gave the Lannik an easy smile. It was meant to put people at ease but others had described it as predatory. She accompanied the gesture with warm, soothing feelings through the Force.

"We're all anticipating the briefing," she said, looking at each of her apprentices. "Right?"

Sakutian

Berru bowed to Master Skywalker and the diminutive alien rather awkwardly from the top of the steps. Excitement mingled with nervousness while Berru considered what sort of mission they would be asked to carry out. She nodded quickly in response to Aria. "Indeed Master, we won't let you down Master Skywalker."

Heir

The gruff looking Lannik continued to appraise the jedi, a look of doubt clear across his face. "Are you sure these are the ones you want to entrust this mission to Skywalker? Don't you have a former CorSec officer amongst your ranks who would be better suited for this?"

Luke Skywalker's smile only widened as he nodded approvingly at his students. "Each one of the jedi before you brings a specific skill set that will be vital to this mission Captain Koth. Aira here is one of our best duelist, and has very intimate experience with the Hutts. Rek has many connections in his family that will come in handy, and also has vast knowledge regarding galactic history that is always helpful. And Berru's industrial history will certainly be valuable as well I'm sure." The Jedi Master's gaze appeared to focus on something very far away momentarily. "Additionally, I feel these are the only ones who could possibly complete this mission successfully. The Force does not provide a clear answer, but every outcome I see involves these three..."

Tanis Koth gave the trio one final critical look, and then clicked a button on his datapad. On the holoprojector in the middle of the room, the transparent image of a planet emerged and lazily rotated in front of the group. Several statistics began to read out next to it in quick succession. "This is my home planet, Lannik. It is located in the Mid-Rim in the Lannik Space Sector, very near to Hutt space..." He glanced at Aira to look for a reaction as if he expected it, and continued.

"Since the Battle of Endor, the Lannik system has maintained neutrality in the civil war, however they have held friendly relations with the New Republic. This is in part because of the leanings of the current king and queen, who seem to favor the more...diverse membership of the New Republic. However we believe there are others in the High Court who have Imperial leanings for one reason or another."

Koth clicked a button, and the image of an elderly looking Lannik appeared on the screen. "Almost a week ago, I was contacted by an old acquaintance from the Lannik High Court begging for New Republic assistance. Guzao Nise is a high ranking member of the royal high court who acts in an advisory capacity directly to the king. While he would not give specifics, but it appears there is a bit of a crisis occuring within the court, and he fears there are influencers from both the Empire and the Hutts involved. Nise would give no more details beyond that, and asked that we help with all due haste. Any attempts to contact him since then have been rebuffed, both by myself and by official New Republic channels."

Shutting down the holoprojector, Captain Koth looked sternly at Aira and her apprentices. "I won't lie to you, we've been pushing for Lannik to officially join the New Republic since almost its inception. Not only would having the sector provide a good buffer zone with both the existing Empire and Hutt borders, but..." He paused as if he was trying to decide what to tell them, before finally coming to a decision. "But the planet has vast resources that are untapped. Particularly an ore known as Meleenium, which is one of the key ingredients for making durasteel...these are resources we vitally need, but more importantly, they cannot fall into the hands of either the Empire or the Hutts."

"We cannot alert either enemy that we are aware of any crisis. That is why we reached out to Skywalker, as the Lannik respected the Old Jedi Order, and view you as somewhat neutral. You will go to the system, and act officially as a delegation looking to open formal relations between the High Court and your Order." Skywalker nodded in agreement. "We have a man already on planet working to gain an audience for you with the court. His name is Drex Samlon, and he's a damn good soldier. He will act as your advisor on this mission, and should be contacted as soon as you make planetfall."

Skywalker and Koth stood, signaling the end of the meeting. The Jedi Master had a grave look on his face. "Something is not right with this mission. Try as I might, I cannot discern what danger awaits you there. You must be always mindful my apprentices. When you meet Drex, it is my hope that he will have more information surrounding this crisis. I have taken the liberty of providing a dossier from Captain Koth, it includes information on members of the High Court and the current political situation. You will find that it has already been place in Berru's ship."

"Remember," Captain Koth stressed, "you are not there in an official capacity for the New Republic. You are there as members of your Order looking to open formal relations with them. Do not let them know that you have any knowledge that something is awry. The longer the Imperials believe it is a coincidence that you are there, the better."


"Any questions?"

Sakutian

Berru had leaned forward to watch the rotating hologram of Lannik. Ever since she'd left home she'd become fascinated with the seemingly endless worlds and cultures spread throughout the galaxy. Usually they were new to her but in this rare case she found herself with some knowledge already. "I heard stories back home about the untapped ore on Lannik, half the miners on Bespin would book passage on a Trandoshan waste transport to get a crack at that Meleenium."

Seeing the bemused expression on Master Skywalker's face Berru stood up and tried to keep the blood from rushing to her face. "Do you think there is anyone we should be way of Captain Koth?"

Klivian

Rek piped up as well, "And what sort of latitude do we have to make binding agreements on behalf of the Order?"

Heir

A knowing grin spread across Koth's face in response to Berru's question. "Everyone...be wary of everyone. It's been some time since I've been home, but the politics of the High Court were notoriously cutthroat."

At Rek's question, Skywalker held up his hands as if to stop the line of questioning. "You are there merely to open up relations. Rek, I picked you because of your interest in jedi lore and archaeology. Lannik has produced a few notable Jedi in the past. Use that to your advantage. I would suggest trying to gain the blessing of the High Court to search one of their many old ruins. Some may have Jedi artifacts...if nothing else it will serve as a good cover for your true mission."

Sakutian

Berru smiled nervously at Captain Koth. "I learned to play Sabacc in a Cloud City casion sir, I'm used to cutthroat."

The padawan bowed again and said "I'll go an ready the ship for our departure Master."

Heir

Master Skywalker bowed to Berru as she turned to leave. "Thank you for taking this on all of you. Please make haste to leave at your earliest convenience. I have had our workers resupply your ship, and it should be ready to go."

Klivian

Rek returned at once to his quarters. He shrugged off his Jedi robes and donned a green flightsuit that hung in a nearby closet. The closet was positively packed with bright clothing.

He pulled a set of Corellian leather luggage out from under his bed and laid it open. He turned back to the closet and stood for a few moments pondering. There hadn't been much need for formal attire at the academy but a potential audience with a king and queen called for proper dress. You could never had a second chance at a first impression, after all. He began rummaging through the closet and tossed at least a dozen different garments into the luggage. He added his Jedi robes as an afterthought.

With some effort, he pressed the luggage lid closed enough to zip it shut. His field gear sat ready in the corner. He hoisted it to his back and rolled his wardrobe down to the landing pad.

As Master Skywalker had said, techs and droids scurried about the Polar Gem prepping it for departure. The Gem was a used YT-2400 freighter that Rek's father had sold to him and the academy for only a small profit. It was quite generous of his father, all things considered.

He spotted Berru in a lively conversation with an Ugnaugt technician. "I know you checked the shield capacitors last week but I want you to check them properly this time!" The tech placed snorted in the Ugnaught language and pointed a stubby finger at his datapad. Berru pushed it away and stared down at the tech. "I don't care what your reports say, there was carbon scoring at least 2 millimeters thick all around the couplers! Check. It. Again."

The tech sighed defeatedly and headed off to fetch a scanning kit. Berru spotted Rek and met him at the boarding ramp.

"If you want it done right, you gotta do it yourself, it seems," Berru quipped.

Rek smiled, "I always know the Gem is in good hands with you, Berru. Let me stow my gear and I'll start the pre-flight checks from the cockpit. Let me know when Aira is onboard and we're ready to depart."

There was a loud crash from the direction of the engineering compartment. Berru frowned and stormed off in that direction. Rek shook his head and walked toward his quarters nearest the cockpit.

Pilot check to takeoff and reach orbit (1d20+11=16)
Astrogate to Lannik (1d20+15=16) ... Wow.
Days to Lannik (or whatever Heir dictates, of course) (1d6=6) - Crap, seriously? Well I guess that makes sense with the nat 1 on the astrogate.

Sakutian

Berru discovered more of the Ugnaugt technicians rooting through her tools in the enginerring compartment. Patience and the senses of calm Jedi masters had attempted to drill into her for months instantly deserted her. Striding over to the nearest Ugnaugt she snatched her hydrospanner out of his hand and pointed towards the door. "Out! Get out of here and off of my ship!"

The porcine humanoids were a common sight on Bespin so Berru knew to duck to avoid the tools the technicians threw at her head in response. Glowering at her the whole way the diminituive creatures stomped out of the engineering department.

Despite her initial anger Berru felt a sense of gratitude towards the Ugnaugt. With Rek at the controls there wasn't much for her to do during their journy and she hated being idle. Picking up a few more discarded tools she started restoring order to her workshop.

Super Namicchi

And just like that Aira was there, leaning on the door jamb, arms crossed. The togruta could be damnably quiet when she put her mind to it. "Recite the code, Padawan," she said quietly with a hint of a smile.

Sakutian

Her master seeming to appear out of nowhere was nothing new but it always startled Berru. She took a deep breath to steady herself as she continued arranging tools on the workbench.

"There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no death; there is the Force."

She'd learned the Jedi code and been asked to recite it countless times during her stay in the temple. Knowing the code and understanding it were two different things though. Satisfied with her work she turned to face Aira bowing her head slightly. "I'm sorry Master."

Super Namicchi

"Just be mindful of your temper, Berru," Aira said, patting her shoulder. "I assume the ship is prepared. I'll let Rek know that we can depart."

In a moment she was in front of the small quarters the Duros preferred to sequester himself in. She didn't share his desire for private, sequestered space; she had grown up surrounded by beings all her life, and Togruta were pack oriented hunters to begin with. The idea of a private place was strange and foreign to her.

She pressed the intercomm button and waited.

Klivian

Rek finished unpacking his wardrobe into the small metal locker in his room. He was certain that the cramped locker was going to leave it a mess of wrinkles by the time they arrived. He pressed a button on the bulkhead and a stow-away desk folded out of the wall with a click and a hiss. He began to arrange a small stack of datapads and a few leather bound books on it. A little light reading for the journey, he thought.

The intercom chimed and he walked to the door and pressed the unlock button. The door retracted revealing Aria in the corridor.

"Master Aria," Rek said, "I was just about to begin the pre-flight. Are all your belongings aboard? I um, I thought you would prefer the larger quarters near the aft section." He pointed down the short corridor and walked over to a double set of doors at the end. He typed on the entry panel and the doors slid open to reveal a spacious stateroom. Spacious by freighter standards, anyway.

A pair of stuffed leather armchairs sat along a wall facing a polished wooden desk with a high-backed chair. A full size bed sat nestled into an alcove nearby. A door to a private 'fresher sat ajar at the far end of the room.

"I hope you won't be too cramped," Rek said looking at his master apologetically.

Super Namicchi

"It will do, I suppose," she said neutrally. The space was already making her a little anxious. Aira took a deep breath and let the feeling float away. "I would like to depart as soon as possible. I leave the piloting to you."

Heir

Rek bowed formally to Aira before returning to the cockpit. By the time he finished the pre-flight checks, the technicians in the hangar had finished fueling Polar Gem and had cleared out of the way. With practiced ease, Rek guided the freighter out of the hangar and up into the planets upper atmosphere.

As the Polar Gem escaped Yavin IV’s gravity well, Rek inputted their destination into the navicomp. He gazed out the viewport of the cockpit as he awaited the computer to finish its work, wondering what kinds of challenges and adventures they would encounter on their first mission.

The navicomp beeped its confirmation that a safe route had been calculated, breaking Rek out of his reverie. Pulling back a switch, the stars in the Polar Gem’s viewport stretched out and then disappeared with a flash as the ship broke the speed of light and entered hyperspace.

Back in the stateroom, Aira felt a shudder go through the ship, signaling that they had entered hyperspace. While she had traveled much in her adventures, she still hated the feeling of being cooped up in a ship. Trying to pass the time, she opened up the dossier and started flipping through the pieces of flimsiplast.

The first page was addressed to her and her apprentices.

Team, upon landing in the city of Palesia, find Drex Samlon at the Republic Embassy. He will be your point of contact on the ground.

Most of the rest of the pages outlined what Skywalker and Koth had already informed them on. However one page caught her eye.

Notable Members of Lannik High Court

R’card Soofie X: Lannik Male. Age: 65. Current King of Lannik. Known Republic sympathizer, though his level of control on the high court appears to be waning in his elder years. Resides in Palesia, Capitol of Planet Lannik.

Kiratta Soofie: Lannik Female Age: 40. Acting Queen of Lannik and wife to King Soofie.

R’card Soofie XI: Lannik Male Age: 9. Crown prince of Lannik and son to the king and queen. Currently attending prestigious prep school in the city of New Osler.

Gaff Sueb: Lannik Male Age: 45. Court advisor to the king and queen. Known Imperial sympathizer.

Guzao Nise: Lannik Male Age: 43. Court advisor and New Republic contact within the high court.

Garm Webb: Human Male Age 39. New assistant to Gaff Sueb. All background checks for this man come back with nothing. History offworld is completely unknown.
- Report prepared by Drex Samlon

Over the course of several days, the three jedi did their best to pass the time. Berru tinkered with the sublight engines, doing her best to keep them from falling apart. Rek read up on known archaeological expeditions on Lannik. Aira tirelessly honed her ligthsaber skills, practicing in her cramped quarters as best as possible.

After nearly a week, a chime over the ship’s intercom alerted them that they were nearing their destination. Rek, already in the cockpit, brought the Polar Gem back into realspace with practiced ease. In front of them loomed the planet Lannik, it’s hues of yellows and greens mixed on surface in a dizzying display. Rek noted how much traffic there was coming and going on the planet. Even to an untrained eye he saw ships and cruisers of all shapes and sizes originating from the Republic, Empire, and even the Hutts.

Almost immediately, the Polar Gem’s comm crackled to life. “Approaching ship with designation ‘Polar Gem’, transmit destination, passenger manifest, and purpose of visit.” The terse voice cut off quickly. Rek noted that the request most likely came from the Lannik Gun ship that was now matching their path towards the planet…

Klivian

Rek reached up to a blinking switch and toggled the comm active.

"Lannik Gunship, Polar Gem. Inbound to Palesia with three beings aboard comprising a diplomatic envoy from the Jedi Order. Transmitting identity confirmation on coded frequency. Request clearance for orbital insertion and landing."

Rek slouched back in the seat and threw a glance over his shoulder at Aria who stood leaning in the doorway.

Heir

After a few tense moments, the ship's intercom buzzed back to life. "Polar Gem. We have received no notification that an envoy from the Jedi Order would be arriving, nor have we received authorization from the High Court to allow such an envoy."

Two new ships appeared on Rek's scopes. As they got closer, he was able to tell that they were a pair of old Z-95s. While their weapons were not armed, they quickly assumed escort positions behind the Polar Gem.

"What is the nature of this envoy Polar Gem?"

Klivian

Rek sighed and narrowed his eyes and let disdain drip from his voice.

"Lannik gunship, I highly doubt that you are privy to the entire agenda of the High Court. We speak on behalf of Luke Skywalker, Grand Master of the Jedi Order. It is not within your authority to obstruct a formal request for court audience from someone of his stature. Furthermore, High Court tradition dictates that such all audience requests be made in person."

"That said, we graciously accept your fighter escort as an honor guard, despite the fact that our rank dictates an honor guard be comprised of no less than six ships. We will try overlook your breach of protocol."

"Please clear our flight path for landing. Polar Gem, out."

Rek reached for thrust levers, pushed them full forward and vectored the Polar Gem toward the planet.

Knowledge (bureaucracy) (1d20+10=13)
Persuasion (1d20+9=15)
Pilot (1d20+11=23)

Heir

Immediately a pair of blaster bolts from one of the fighter escorts splashed against the Polar Gem’s shields, sending a violent shudder through the ship. Alarm bells began to sound throughout the cockpit.

“Polar Gem, we are authorized to use deadly force if necessary, turn back now…” the man at the comm suddenly was pulled away, and Rek could hear the muffled sound of arguing occurring in the background. After several tense moments, the man responded. “Polar Gem, we will escort you to the surface. You will not deviate from this course or you will be shot down.”

With that, the gunship lazily pulled away from the Polar Gem and made it’s way towards the planet, the two fighters maintaining their position behind the ship, as if waiting for it to make a move one way or another.

Heir

Deciding that getting blown to bits was not in line with their goals, Rek grudgingly sent an acknowledgement over the comm and sets the Polar Gem on a course to follow the gunship. As their ship began to descend into the atmosphere, the gunship broke away and one of the Z-95s took lead.

As they approached Palesia, Rek noted the sprawling city from his viewport. In general the city appeared to be broken into various sections, with some appearing quite affluent. It was obvious even to the untrained eye that there were several more impoverished areas along the outskirts. At the center of the city rose an impressive domed-structure with several opulent buildings surrounding it. “That must be the High Court’s location” Rek mused.

Their destination was a small space port on the edge of the city in one of the seedier districts. As they began to touch down, Rek noted the dilapidated nature of most of the ships. A vast assortment of life skittered on the ground, going from ship to ship. Some appeared to be mechanics, refueling new arrivals or helping with departures. Others were jawas or other species hawking their wares to whomever would give them attention. Still others corralled groups of people on and off of ships.

As the Polar Gem touched down, Rek and Aira noticed a group headed straight for their ship. The figure leading them was a human dressed in finery that designated one affiliated with the Lannik High Court. Aira noted the group accompanying him all were armed, with weapons drawn. The leader looked up at the ship with a disapproving scowl.

Sakutian

The instant berru had felt ship shudder from the impact of gunship's attack she'd ran to the turret access, but by the time she'd wrapped her hand around the first rung of the ladder leading up to the weapon the Lannik had called off their attack. She entered the cockpit and looked out at the armed party approaching their ship.

"They don't look like much of a welcoming party Master."