Trying to Prevent Disaster

Zarabi's Hunt
Kiast Orbit
39 ABY

Neza-Rem Zarabi read the message on his data pad once more before stowing it in a side compartment. Then he eased the Jumpmaster 5000 out of its orbit.

As the craft entered the atmosphere it jolted slightly. Nez adjusted his angle of entry once more before he turned to input the coordinates into his navigation computer. A short silver furred humanoid creature stumbled its way thru the cockpit door and came to a stop behind Nez.

"Mornin Tig, sorry for the bumpy ride." Nez apologized to his Ewok friend.

"What's going on big man?" The Ewoks slurred statement was heavy with fatigue.

"The SeNet reached out with some intel." Nez handed the datapad over to Tig. After a quick read a creepy smile crept across the Ewok's face.

"These folks are dumb." Tig shook his head. "Back in my day pirates were smart enough to steer clear of Jedi, now they want to kidnap the big cheese. Dumb."

Nez shrugged at his companion before hitting a few more buttons. A sudden thought occurred to Nez.

"What do you mean 'back in my day'?"

Essadan Spaceport
Kiast
39 ABY

Upon landing in the city the SeNet had identified, Nez paid the Portmaster his docking fee. He left Tig to deal with the refueling and maintenance crews and with a wave he was gone. The Jedi disappeared in the crowds, moving smoothly thru the crowd as he went.

Nez arrived at the meet up location for the SeNet operative early. He scoped out the small office building and identified three escape routes. Two doors and one large window that wad covered by a roll down shield.

The Jedi reached out with his senses and with the assistance from the Force could tell there were no lifeforms in the building.

After checking that the building was clear he reached out to his surroundings in the same manner. Aside from the normal passerby there was nothing out of the ordinary. The mystic sat and waited for the meet up time to arrive and pass.

Nez was not a patient man so in a nonchalant fashion he made his way to the door and entered the corner office building. The shop was pretty unassuming with trinkets on the shelves all over.

The entire room was also all covered in a thick layer of dust. On the floor small tracks could be seen. Nez followed them to a corner where an R3 astromech sat plugged into a power supply.

Nez turned to head back to the front of the store when the Astromech powered on. Nez turned to the custom painted black and orange Droid only for it to roll up to him and start an audio recording.

"Mystic Neza-Rem Zarabi of Tython Squadron, call sign. Warpath." The voice was augmented by a voice changer but it was definitely a prerecorded message. "This astromech is R3-D6. He will take you to the Pirates base and get you an audience with their captain. Beyond that it's up to you to do what you see fit. Good luck."

The recording abruptly ended and the audio recording device ejected out of the Droid and sparked as it destroyed itself.

'Freaking spies always have the best gear.' Nez thought to himself.

Nez followed the Droid out of the door he entered thru and the pair made their way to the outskirts of town.

Nestled into the side of a small Spaceport of the floating island was a pilot bar. Two security guards stood out front with blaster rifles strapped across their chests. The boisterous noise from inside the building roared out of the single open bay door.

Nez and the R3 Droid approached the two guards and were stopped and asked for identification. R3 provided the credentials illiciting a stare from the two guards who looked the man behind the R3 in Mandalorian armor up and down. One if the two radioed in to some unseen security who, after a few moments, replied to allow them access.

Nez entered the loud hangar bay, turned bar, and gave a glance around. His eyes rested on the leader of the Pirates. He wore old republic commando armor with no helmet. His brown hair was streaked with Grey around his ears and his tanned skin was pristine. None of this man's visage surprised Nez. He had many dealings with all sorts of scoundrels. What piqued his curiosity was the lightsaber hanging off his hip next to a blaster pistol.

A runner snaked his way thru the crowd to the man who was laughing with his men. Whatever was said startled the leader and caused him to pass a worried glance over the armored figure standing with his Droid. With a wave of his hand all the noise in the establishment quieted except for one unfortunate Twilek. The pirate leader pulled his blaster and shot the twilek in the head silencing his cackled forever.

The tension in the room skyrocketed as everyone stated at the corpse and then their leader who was still staring at Nez.

"What may I ask is the reason for the untamed visit. We told the collective representative they sent that we would get it done and tomorrow we plan to launch ournoperation."

'Well now I know why they are so brave to go after Revak.' Nez thought to himself. He had to think on his feet.

"I don't know what the Droid told your guards but I'm not from the collective." Nez let the words hang in the air as he readied himself for a fight. "I am actually here to see if we can't persuade you to our side."

"Who is we?" The pirate leader leaned forward in his chair as his curiosity was piqued.

"Clan Odan Urr." Nez flatly blurted out. The pirate captain sat up in his chair and the color drained from his face as he rested his hand on his blaster. For a few tense moments Nez kept his mind on pulling g his Saber to his hand but the fight never came. The leader raised both hands and chuckled to himself.

"Your famed Sentinel Network really is good." The pirate waved his hands at the crew to sit back down. In the moment Nez had not noticed that every person in the bay laid their hands on their blasters. "So what is you counter offer?"

"Well first you don't start and all out war with Odan urr on a planet you can't keep with a political entity that isn't beholden to any government on this planet." Nez paused as he thought, "Second the Vitali don't come down on whatever routes you run and third I don't have to kill anyone."

The room went nuts with cursing and yelling and laughter.

'I guess if you don't get results asking nicely use a little force.' Nez reached out into the group around him with the Force and into their mind. He pulled one emotion from the depths of their mind. Sheer terror. The ones who were not accustomed to the intrusion fell to their knees or off their chairs while the stronger minded ones stood slowly and back away. The captain sat very still. The look on his face never changed.

"It's a neat trick Jedi but you folk are peace keepers and aren't violent without provocation."

"You threatened to abduct my Mentor and friend, I ask you to test that assumption at your earliest convenience." Nez's lightsaber appeared in his hand and ignited. Not a hair on anyone's head moved after the whizzing activation of the lightsaber. All eyes were on the Jedi to see what he would do.

"I suggest you disappear from this sector before you are removed violently." The growl in Nez's voice was enough of a threat but his words drove it home. The pirate captain just nodded as sweat dripped down his temples.

Nez deactivated his Saber and canceled his connection to their fear. The building let out a collective sigh as the Jedi walked out of the building and vanished into the crowd.

"What do we do boss?" The first mate was the first to speak.

"The collective already paid us right?" The pirate captain kept his eyes on the door.

"Yes bossman."

"Then I suggest we fuel up and make ourself scarce." The pirate captain downed his drjnk and left thru the hangar bay doors to the adjacent hangar.

Aboard the Zarabi's Hunt
Essadan Spaceport
Kiast
39 ABY

"Hey Tig have they hit hyperspace yet." Nez was reclined against the bulkhead as the Ewok watched the monitor.

"Theg just jumped," Tig looked at Nez, "to Tatooine. What did you do to get them to leave the planet?"

"Oh just some persuasion tactics I picked up." Nez chuckled.

"You threatened them didn't you?" The Ewok retorted flatly. Tig was more stating a fact than he was asking. He knew how his fellow Jedi operated and he wasn't surprised when Nez smiled back at him.

"Alls well that ends well." Nez replied as he took another pull from his drink. "Send my report to the SeNet along with their ship identifiers. I want to know if they ever approach orbit again.

"Yes big man."

Nevo Race Track Pod Racer Garage

Built into a cliff face below one of the main spectator stands next to the starting line, the garage contains 20 individual stalls along the back wall opposite the main doors to the track. Along the front wall there are a number of necessities needed for each pod Racer. These include an inspection stall for ensuring compliance with the regulations and to make sure nobody is obviously cheating and no weapons systems are mounted on the racers Pod. The inspection stall is filled with scanners and tools for the inspector team to do a very thorough investigation of the pod racer before they approve it. There are two security droids posted there for the teams safety to avoid any misunderstandings with teams caught cheating. Next to the inspections stall is the Bulk fuel storage containing four large fuel tanks that take up the rest of the wall. Each with a main line that goes out to the exterior pit area before splitting to each of the exterior pit stalls for mid race refueling. This area and all the piping is clearly marked in yellow and red paint to tell any would be fighters to avoid shooting in that direction. The Hutts put a high degree of importance on securing their money making assets and have installed a large beskar cage around the fuel depot to avoid any errant mishaps. The fuel depot is also guarded by two security droids whose only parameter is to keep unauthorized or unwanted personnel from entering.

A Hutt run establishment wouldn't be complete without a fairly large gambling center and bar. On the opposite side of the door on the exterior wall is an elevated lounge area equipped with a caged off bookies nook for taking bets on the races. The rest of the raised platform is lined with a full bar and tables and chairs for the crews to lounge and enjoy the racer while throwing back a few. The Hutts spared no expense in the lounge area with Krayt dragon leather seating and Kashyyykian wood table tops. This area has been known for extra curricular activities and has two more security droids assigned to keep the peace.

Two more security droids are at the entrance to the garage to ensure spectators can't sneak in and bother the crews or their favorite racer. The droids main function is to keep the peace but they are directly controlled by the Hutts who are known to let a scuffle go if they can place bets on the fight. The security droids are more of a referee than a security measure in most instances.

The "Nest", as many crews have come to call it is an oval room above the main door that can see out both the front of the garage and into the garage. This room is used by the announcers and broadcasters to give prerace broadcasts as well as call all the action from the race. This rooms broadcasting array is state of the art and is tasked with sending the video from their numerous camera droids around the track, the stands, and the garage to the large megatron video screens to provide for the juiciest action for the race fans across the city and across the galaxy.

In the center of the garage is a two lane causeway for the podracers to travel along to get to the inspection stall or the track and is marked with lights to divide it. The walls and floor are entirely durasteel. Giving the garage a very clean and upkept look.

Manually added by Raider Jon Silvon

The smoke and fire billowed out of the destruction lapping against the impervious stones like a lash against a slave's back. The two figures were both cloaked in a flickering orange ambiance as they stood their ground.

The two men stood ten paces from one another just standing and staring for a moment. The whole area suddenly calmed as it prepared for the storm.

Talis could feel his anger welling up in him as he had found his prey. This man had the audacity to manipulate these misguided tribes into rebellion while he was away on Kashyyyk assisting the wookies in fighting back a blaze started by an illegal logging operation on the planet. Now the frenzy he had whipped them in had finally boiled over and now people were suffering. It was time for this to end. He was going to deal with this his way.

The tall Miralukans frame alone made him an opposing figure. He stood a few inches taller than his opponent which gave the taller man a slight reach advantage. Covering his body was a blacked out markless Mandalorian armor that was augmented by his normal clothing attire. On his head was the signature Mandalorian helm but in his hand was an elegant white hilt curved lightsaber hilt. The hum of his prey's crimson lightsaber could be heard across the room.

The Gray Jedi moved first. A tingling could be felt in his legs as he adjusted his stance. Turning his body to present a smaller target picture to his opponent, Talis pointed his inactive hilt at the Sephi opponent. The dark eyes of Archturus followed the sudden shift in stance.

'Why has he not activated his lightsaber?' The Sith Battlelord had caught his fair share of jedi but usually they just rushed in with their green and blue blades ignited in a reckless fury. This imposing armored Jedi stood resolute and masterfully moved his body to best present and offense and defense. This would be an annoying fight for the Commodore as he took a typical judo stance with his hands tightly gripping his lightsaber. He raised the crimson weapon above his head and held the blade at guard above horizontally. Arrogantly the older man twisted his body and bent his knees and smiled.

"Are you normally this childish?" The Odanite chastised.

"Only for foo…" the Sith was cut off as the younger fighter came forward at blinding speed with a few bounding steps.

With only one more step before the two would clash, the Mystic concentrated for a short moment to call on the Force. As Talis made his last bound forward he blackened the area around the two combatants.

To the commodore it was as if something had suddenly shut out the lights. But he knew this ability and he also had seen the direction his opponent was moving. As he swept through the void the man fully expected to make contact with something. As his strike pushed through the empty air he felt himself leaning too far forward.

He had not hit his opponent and was now off balance. By instinct the Sith stepped hard forward and adjusted his weight and swung back behind him. Again he hit nothing but the emptiness of the void. Confused with his two failures the man reached out with the force to sense his surroundings. He knew something was in the black void with him but he could not feel any malice or power emanating from it.

After Talis had activated the black orb to physically conceal himself, he dropped into an acrobatic roll and tumbled past his opponent and under the man's strike. This was his favorite move to enter combat as it helped him to set up one of his personal fighting tactics.

As he came to his feet he backed away from where his opponent was. Focusing his mind Talis concentrated on not being felt by the prying senses of his opponent and waited a few moments. He then reached out with the Force and drenched the man in his unfathomable well of emotions.

Archturus felt a sensation as the air around him changed. He felt his heart rate increase and could feel a flop sweat come over him as a chill ran down his spine.

'Am I,' the Sith thought for a moment, 'afraid?'

The realization of what he was feeling caught the man by surprise but instead of debilitating the old man it fed his rage and anger.

'You think you can scare me boy?!' Outraged by the audacity of the younger fighter the old Sith juggernaut did what he knew best. He started wildly lashing out around him with heavy strokes. Searching for his opponent.

Talis had shaken his confidence and goaded the reaction he wanted. Talis moved forward in his sound suppressed armor just outside of the enraged Sith's range. The Miralukan broke off hiding his force powers in the darkness. As the Sith's senses latched onto the Odanites position he raised his lightsaber high to strike. As the lightsaber came to its peak the crafty Miralukan's darkness vanished and the battle torm landscape flooded back into reality.

The sudden fiery glow buffeted the sight of the sephi but he could still make out the shadow of his opponent. As he aimed to strike the irritating younger man he allowed his rage to fill him to empower his strike with all his annoyance. Before the strike could connect, Talis stepped and focused on strengthening his arms. He easily grabbed the wrist and shoulder and stepped in while turning to the weapon side and pulled his arm taunt as it continued forward.

With all his might Talis slammed the old man flat on his back in an overhead throw. Quickly Talis released his wrist and drew his lightsaber and stepped up and passed the Sith. Activating and slashing across the Purple skinned neck of the would be tyrant, ending his reign with a silent finality only punctuated by the crackling of the burning material in the rubble as it popped and fizzled out.

Talis turned and looked at the decapitated head as it spun slowly from the force of his strike. The look of surprise permanently welded to the man's features. Talis felt sad for the man but he quickly swallowed that emotion and pulled out his comm link. As he waited for the recipient to answer his phone call he pulled his vacuum sealed helmet off and held it under his armpit.

*BEEP*

"This is Jon, who is this?"

"Commodore Archturus is dead, this is Warpath reporting for duty."

Cheers and hoots echoed back over the radio at the news. Talis' mind was elsewhere as he felt the crash coming from the fight he had just somehow edged. He knew he had gotten lucky that the man was easy to enrage. Talis stumbled to the nearest destroyed pillar and picked out a comfy spot to sit and get some sleep. As the Jedi came to his resting spot he looked back at his slain enemy. He reached out his hand and with a little more exertion than he expected the hilt flipped up into his grip. Talis let out a heavy sigh. There was no way the exhausted Marauder was going to be able to assist in the rescue and protection of the royal family. He would just have to put his faith in the Odanites that they could come thru.

Manually added by Seer Mauro Wynter

Manually added by Prophet James Lucius Entar