Corellia

[Goodwood]

Ben'a was just leaving the offices of KVC Enterprises when Gantoris' message, sent through the Force across millions of light-years, reached him. He hadn't bothered to see if any other Jedi were on-world when he had arrived, but nonetheless, Ben'a was not surprised that some were here. He had never met the Padawan Armiena, but he did know Camsie from the breif time he had spent with the Order on Manaan before departing for Arbra.

 

After seeing to the care of his mother and pledging his return, he made his way to where the two Jedi could be found, hoping that they would have transport off of this planet -- it would be another six days before his own new vessel would be ready. Expanding his sphere of awareness to the bounds of Coronet City, he soon found what he was looking for; two very distinct Force-signatures, pulsing brightly from being heavily drawn upon.

 

"They must be having a training session," Ben'a mused to himself as he began to make his way to their location. Chartering an air taxi, he wasn't long in the journey before he had found their training field. After instructing the Rodian cabbie to let him off on a nearby rooftop, he tossed the man a generous tip in hard credit. The alien buzzed off happily, leaving the Jedi to watch the fight as it progressed. The Camaasi was holding himself well, despite his species' inherent abbhoration of violence.

[Prophet K]

OOC: Sorry for being a bit out of it...

 

Camsie rasied his hand motioning for Armiena to stop as he listened to the force message from BC.

 

"Stop. We must go, this task will teach you what is at stake if you don't make the right choice in battle."

 

The camasii silently asked himself if he was ready to go up against a possible foe weilding his lightsaber before dispelling the thought as he felt a familiar force presence watching Camsie and his padawan. The wary jedi turned, not looking forward to being forced to fight before relaxing as he noticed who it was.

 

"Jedi Ben'a."

 

The camasii bowed politely before shooting a force message to Ben'a.

 

We're off to Gala, If you need a lift you can come along with me and my padawan.

 

Not waiting for a return answer the camasii clambered aboard The Stellar Princess, and got into the pilots seat after throwing a smile at Armiena as he strapped himself in.

 

As the camasii felt Armiena and Ben'a strap in he activated the ship's engines breaking Corellia's atmosphere before hurtling into hyperspace.

[Goodwood]

It had been a while since Ben'a had popped into existance among the busy metropolis that was the Corellian System. He was here for one, singular purpose: to pay off and claim his new starship, custom designed by the great Kheldar vos Correlli. As he detached the Delta 7 starfighter from its hyperspace ring, the Jedi Knight was uncharactaristically quivering with anticipation; something wonderful would happen when he took that new ship for its first flight, though he was at a loss to explain exactly what.

 

Gliding the craft gently into the busy Corellian skylanes, Ben'a brought the fighter down on a landing pad set close to the headquarters of KVC Enterprises. As Ayevit extracted himself from the fighter's droid socket, the robot issued a few last-minute commands. His rollers were barely on the permacrete surface when the ship began to rumble to life once again, and both droid and Jedi had to stand back several paces to avoid the heat blast. Within moments, the fighter was out of sight, heading back to its place of origin; Ben'a, for one, would not miss it.

 

"Come, Ayevit," Ben'a called, patting his pocket, "we shall go and claim our new vessel."

 

With that rather stale remark, the two entered the stark, yet eye-pleasing, KVC Enterprises lobby. The secretary this time was different; a human male, but that didn't faze Ben'a in the slightest. He simply flashed his customer card without a flurish of any kind, was instructed to wait, and did so quite patiently.

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Whistling merrily, Kheldar steps out of the elevator and crosses the main lobby. He's not wearing his traditional doublet and hose, but is instead carries what almost appears to be an armor of Mandelorian design- yet sporting a few extra modifications and designs. The rocket pack is there, but the visor holds a few extras, like a special transluscent computer for near cyborg like reactions and processing, and a small bulge in a sealed compartment above the rocket back could hold a ysalmari, used for protection against force users.

 

Kheldar doesn't merely walk up to Ben'a, but seems intent on raising hell in his own lobby. He takes off, rocketing around the gallery, pulling a twin set of a vibrokatana and a vibrowakizashi, dazzling them around and nearly slicing down a couple of load bearing pillars. "Wooooo...hooooo! This rocks!" comes his echoing cry as he lands with a triple mid-air summersault. By this time order is somewhat restored, though the staff are wary, fearing some devistating, Last Call like incident will erupt where they stand.

 

"Hullo!" Kheldar calls cheerfully, sizing up his armor suit and taking the helmet off. "The tech boys completed this little job for me. Custom design. Sonic damperners, air tight sealing, heat, electrical, EMP, and acid resistant, and..." he grins, pulling out a blaster and aiming it his own chest. He fires and the shot rebounds off, striking a large concrete pillar on the far side where it blows up, creating general chaos and panic. "... a cortosis, Sith steel hybrid. R&D now thinks they have a way to simulate the latter, but it's not fool proof so I'm wearing the real thing. Swords- same thing. A few repulsors here and there so it's not too heavy, and it has a under plating of regenerative laminanium." He gives a full out, boyish grin. "This gig is probably worth more than your ship, which," Kheldar states, reaching into a belt pouch and then tossing the keys to Ben'a. "should be waiting at the CEC's ground pads. It's normally a half an hour drive. I'll be going with you for this since I have some of my own business to conduct there."

 

Kheldar escorts Ben'a and his droid outside and into a KVC Enterprises staff pod. "Buckle up," he warns, then pushes the pedal to the metal.

 

About six minutes and 15 seconds later, they arrive as the CEC's ground pads. The Millennium Manta awaits in its full glory, Cyrion, waiting for them, oversees a few last minute details for the ship as Kheldar quickly runs down the payments plan and costs for the ship as they approach the barren and windswept dock.

 

"Don't worry about it," he concludes, "I've got it more or less taken care of and have the right funds withdrawn." He pauses a moment as if lost in thought. "Oh yeah, I have a message for your friends in the rebellion. If you need to get some covert or advanced ops onto Coruscant, you'll find 3 liscenced transports waiting at these coordinates in deep space. You can stock and pilot them as you wish. I think you can probably get a few thousand men into Coruscant that way to shut out the utilities and defenses for the planet, which incidentially, there happens to be a map for in your ship's computer. How it got there I don't know, but make good use of it. Those cargo transports are liscenced to a Radek san Corusca who's a more or less respected Coruscant arms merchant and you should be bringing arms in with you a I hope, right?" Though he has a smile on his face, Kheldar's expression is bleak. "I'm aware that Coruscant is under seige and its likely to be bloody. There's a fourth cargo ship there with a droid pilot and full of explosives. It's set to enter Coruscant and make a beeline for the Palace. It's a foul move, but it's up to you if you want to use it."

 

"Oh, and one more thing," Kheldar adds, walking towards his own ship, Cyrion trailing behind, "The Hutts are doing you a favor by drawing Imperial fire right now. While wouldn't mind cornering their share of the black market, it might be the right thing to do to pull their chestnuts out of the fire. War's a bloody thing and I hope this brings some peace. May the force be with you Ben'a Solo and maybe the republic can set things right this time."

 

That being said, the Silk Road takes off into space, Kheldar gearing up for his own mission.

[Goodwood]

OOC: New name, haha...

 

IC:

Ben'a laughs merrily at the antics of this character, Kheldar vos Correlli. He really was a genius in the truest sense of the word; a brilliant designer, a healthy, energetic personality, and a love of being quite the maverick. As the Jedi sat next to Kheldar in the wildly maneuvering staff pod, he listened intently to what the capitalist was telling him; the man seemed to sense that he was on his way to Tatooine already. But when they landed at the CEC landing platform, Ben'a nearly lost his breath as the ship came into view.

 

She was even more beautiful in actuality then she ever could have been on Kheldar's computerized, three-dimensional drawing board. Held up from the permacrete landing platform by a trio of slender, fluidly-shaped legs, the new vessel evoked a distinct sense of symmetry, offering a seamless blend of natural and artificial qualities that Ben'a had not thought possible. Truly, this was a beauty of a starship; her wings flowed gracefully from the main hull, and the tail stood out straight as a rod.

 

But the elegance of her outer hull belied the deadly arsenal within. The cockpit was flush with the hull where the shoulders met the wings, and the three quad laser turrets blended flawlessly within the craft's shape as they sat dormant. The only sign of her potential were the three holes for the proton torpedo tubes: one in each shoulder, and another in the long, slender tail. She was designed to tackle the best of the galaxy's personal starships and starfighters, but the Jedi knew that she would also do well against most capital-class ships in a large space battle, particularly given his connection to the Force. But that wasn't all; for even as he looked upon his new ship, henceforth to be known as the Millennium Skyray, Ben'a knew that he must get his new implant installed. It would be this cybernetic connectivity that would truly cement the relationship between starship and pilot, to an extent that he would be able to call upon the Skyray remotely in an emergency.

 

The operation was short and painless, and as Ben'a awoke from the anesthesia, a strange sensation began to manifest itself in the back of his brain. He soon realized that it was the Skyray ”“ the ship was literally speaking to him ”“ and he immediately surmised that a powerful bond had been forged. Somehow, the cybernetic implant had tapped into his Force-connection, in addition to his thought processes”¦

 

”œTruly I say to you, this is a masterful work of art,”

[Jidai Geki]

*The Kami enters Corellia's atmosphere and skims along about 50 metres over the surface. Geki has elected to come alone, believing that if he were betrayed four guards would make precious little difference.

 

His craft touches down near to the dilapidated old building detailed in the comm. Geki hops out, leans nonchalantly against his craft, and waits, his two carbine pistols visible on his belt.*

[CORE Agent(s)]

The large manor house sits, there, with its overgrown lawn, shut in windows. It carries a large, though whistful air about it, reminiscent of former glories and life.

 

For some time, nothing can be heard, save the soft breeze blowing in over Coreillia's green fields. Then out of the blue, with a slow, audible creek, the manor house's front doors open up on their own accord. Though the interior is dim, the mansion's interior looks scrupiously clean and furbished. Like many things, the outside, run down, delapidated, and in apparent need of repairs, was only a feint, a faccade.

 

A powerful voice, almost reptilian, reverberates in Geki's head, blowing out of the manor's front doors. The wind picks up and all sound around him from the birds and beasts of the planet drop to a sudden stand sitll.

 

If you wish to hear us out, come inside. Do not be afraid, for fortune favors the bold.

 

The voice passes, but the air has dropped two degrees. The mansion now appears cold and threatening, but with a still strangely compelling pull to it.

[Jidai Geki]

*Geki unholsters his carbines and walks towards the door. Fortune may favour the bold, but Geki would take a pair of carbines over fortune any day. Behind him the Kami lifts off and begins to circle the mansion, a pre-programmed routine ready to implement itself if anything should happen to Geki.

 

Geki reaches the door and steps through, into the area beyond.*

[CORE Agent(s)]

Behind Geki the vast double doors snap shut and behind them a metalic grating sound is heard, like a portculus lowering.

 

A deep, refined, voice echoes through the grand foyer, bouncing off the marble fixtures. Descending down a grand staircase is a single figure in a crimson CORE uniform, offsetting the green, reptillian features of its face. The voice, absolute in its confidence and precision, does not come from the advancing agent, but some unseen speaker set. That voice is somehow familiar to Geki, having heard it at least once or twice before.

 

My apologies, Governor Geki, but having requested your services, I feel a small test is in order. My servant, Omega, has volunteered to conduct this trial. If you can survive, I will have full confidence in your skills for the task before us.

 

At that, the great rushing sound is heard as Omega bares forth his two, clawed, yet full, hands. The massive onset of a dozen hammer blows assails Geki, throwing him back against the door with a resounding, hard, crack. Two nightmarish yellow reptillian eyes, crackling with blue energy widen on the creature called Omega as twin double bladed lightsabers spring to life- one in each hand. The creature springs off its powerful legs (or are they arms used as legs?) and flies across the room, sabers extended in a deadly fleche capable of rending apart anything it connects with.

[Jidai Geki]

*Geki gasps in pain as the creature throws him back against the door, his spine afire with pain. He pulls his carbines up and begins firing repeatedly, only to be dismayed as none find their way through the creature's defences. Irritated, he throws the carbines to the floor and pulls his vibrosword free. Then the creature ignites its lightsabres. Geki's eyes widen. Sith? Jedi? It didn't matter. Geki would fight, and he would either live or die.*

 

Good job I reinforced this with cortosis.

 

*Geki's nanites boost his strength, agility, and speed to above normal levels by stimulating his nervous system, neural cortex, and adrenal glands. Geki realises he won't be able to maintain this state for more than ten minutes, and so he must finish the battle quickly.

 

As Geki starts forward he employs several million of his nanites for one other purpose; they secrete from his body and disperse into the air, each of them acting as an irritant to anyone or anything which is not Geki. Millions drift towards Omega, and begin to cause a minor irritation which may, nevertheless, distract the creature enough to give Geki the edge.

 

Geki lunges, sword raised.*

[CORE Agent(s)]

Omega lets out an angry hiss, faltering at this unexpected line of attack. Indeed, Omega's controller, watching from some unseen point, realizes the potential in Geki's attack- Omega a biological nightmare created by bio engineering and modified on a cellular level by nanotech was potentially vulnerable on that level. CORE, immersed in nanotech for its own ends and devices had one of its ultimate weapons utterly vulnerable to it?

 

Inconceivable!

 

Omega's response is much more pragmatic and would ally Rinwald's fears. Springing up and aside from Geki's attack with a force enhanced leap, Omega flips into the air, grabbing onto a crystaline chandiler overhead with his claw like feet (hands). The creature's body crackles with intense force lightning, frying the circutry on the assaulting nanites and shorting out the chandiler overhead. The delicate crystals shatter and snap, breaking with loud tingling cracks.

 

Loose from the chandiler, Omega dives back down towards the floor, sabers extended in a semi wide, though mostly protective arc, body set in another fleche towards Geki. Omega's eyes blaze with light and the shattered, piercing quartz crystals hold in mid air for a half second, then shoot past the falling monster in a deadly barrage of dozens of broken pieces- each speeding down with enough momentum to tear through soft flesh like a knife through butter.

[Jidai Geki]

*Geki sees the falling array of wickedly sharp crystal, and ducks protectively, sheltering his vulnerable head with his armoured arms. Most of the crystal glances off his armour harmlessly, and the few pieces that do cause only superficial yet painful cuts. Geki grimaces in anger and pain and stands, his mind quickly working through the implications of the creature's reaction to his offensive deployment of nanotech. Firstly, the creature had detected the nanites almost instantaneously; a near-impossible feat for most beings, but not for all. Geki himself could detect offensive nanites, largely due to his own nanotech. Did this mean the creature possessed nanotech? And what of its enraged reaction? Was the creature vulnerable to nanotech?

 

Geki decided to find out.

 

He leaps upwards, muscles enhanced by his nanotech, and barrels into the reptilian Omega. The pair fall to the floor, momentarily enmeshed, and Geki knocks one of the lightsabres from Omega's grasp. He takes his free hand and slams it into the creature's face, and at once begins a transfer of several million more nanites. Geki dodges away from the creature quickly, narrowly avoiding a sabre blow, and crouches a distance away, concentrating on the nanites invading Omega and awaiting the lizard's reaction.*

[Rinwald Dahlmiester]

Omega solidly backhands Geki, adding the force to augment his attack, then rolls back, screaming in pain. His body crackles with energy as he again tries to burn off the offending nanites. The tempature in the room seems to drop as Omega prepares to violently lash out at this new and unexpected, this unconventional attack that threw off every circumstance for which it was built. The creature blazes, almost ready to unleash a brilliant salvo of energy when...

 

"Enough!"

 

The voice is the one from before, though now there is the faintest hint of anger in that voice, backed by a terrible finality. Omega rears its head and lets out another painful scream, blasting down at the ground and causing the floor to crack and splinter, dispearsing its built in energy.

 

Floating down from a place of concealment in the ceiling is a well dressed man in a black surcoat, ruffled collar and carrying a solid looking walking stick. The man's pale face is marked by a silvery mask over the eyes and two liver colored lips drawn back in a permanent sneer that seems etched into his face. He eminants no particular ability of proficiency with the force, but appears to have the strength and continuity of a vast nanomachine colony, united under one dreadful, iron will. Every cell, every inch of that man's being is a testament to science and is supersaturated with his own advanced machines, including the repulsors embedded in his almost fluid body.

 

Landing with the click of his boots against the floor, the man calmly walks over to Omega, placing a hand on the creature as if to examine it or even sooth it. The nanites in the man's own body pour out, seeking and neutralizing the offending ones at work. Satisfied, Rinwald snaps his fingers and two men enter through a side door- one pale and sickly, the other elderly and bent, though both have the cunning and bearings of scientists.

 

"Beta, Omicron, take care of Omega," the man orders to the two scientists, who drag the moaning creature out of the room. Satisfied he turns back to Geki, his voice refined, urban, and with a touch of admiration. "Forgive my little test. I had need to verify your skills for my proposed task. In truth I did not expect you to attack with nanotechnology. A bitter irony I suppose, though I shall work to exclude that weakness in the future. You have passed with flying colors and in a quicker manner than even I anticipated. Most impressive indeed." The the compliments come across as mundane, even bland, they are in truth among the highest this individual is prone to give.

 

The man bows formally, beginning the introductions in the name of civility and propriety. "Welcome to one of more humble abodes, Governor Geki. The chefs have prepared a satisfactor meal in the dining hall, though I would understand it if you wished to have your wounds treated first." The man snaps his fingers again and a red uniformed CORE agent enters the rooms, immediately seeing to Geki's wounds. A quick set of healing, then self-destructing nanites and Geki is as good as new. Stepping around the debris caused by the battle, the tall, black trimmed man extends a hand to his guest.

 

"My name is Rinwald Adolphus Dahlmiester, Director of the CORE organization."

[Jidai Geki]

*Geki is dazed by the sudden and unexpected change of events, adrenaline still pumping through his veins. His nanites stand down, slowly taking his system back to normal levels.

 

Geki takes the proffered hand and shakes it firmly.*

 

'A pleasure, Mr. Dahlmiester. I apologise if I caused any permanent damage to your pet; you have to understand that I was fighting for my life against a Force user, a situation one rarely survives.

 

'You seem to know a great deal about me; I know only the vaguest details of you and your organisation, chiefly that they had my body returned to Sanity's End following one of my more recent deaths.

 

'I hope you don't expect blind gratitude for that, by the way. Let's not insult each other's intelligence; nobody, least of all men like us, perform conditionless acts of altruism. You assisted me in my revival, clearly for your own reasons, and I imagine that is the purpose of this meeting; to call in your marker, as it were. So, what can I do for you?'

[Rinwald Dahlmiester]

Rinwald's grey eyes remain calm, probing, reading, and studying Geki as he speaks.

 

"Do not worry about Omega. He was in no real danger back there. My lieutenants will see to it that any damage from the nanites are reversed and that he will never be vulnerable like that again."

 

This was very, very true. One to learn from his errors before they became mistakes, much in the fashion of a certain celebrated Grand Admiral of the Empire, Rinwald would have Omicron look into either creating some specialized hunter nanites that would live with in Omega's systems, or have Beta work on a biological remedy. For the fact that no danger presented itself, Rinwald mentally ticks off a note to admonish Omega for nearly unleashing his full powers in that setting, potentially leveing the grounds of the manor and possibly anything else in a quarter mile radius in a giant blue fireball of force energy.

 

For Geki's blunt accusations of Rinwald's character, nothing needed to be said. This understanding would suit him far better and was much more akin to his own standards of self-reliance and honor.

 

The director of CORE leads the way, escorting Geki into a wide dining hall. Taking a seat at the head of the table, Dahlmiester is attended by Beta and Omicron, the two scientists from earlier. Omega stands protectively over his master, glaring at Geki.

 

The lights dim and a vast double helix is projected out of the center of the table.

 

"What you are seeing before you is the beginnings of my ultimate plan. My guard, Omega is only the first step in something far more comprehensive- not only being able to change the face of this current galaxy, but by imposing a single, unifying, and enduring order on the universe."

 

The helix zooms out showing an intricate and complex cellular structure unlike any seen before. The way in which the cells fold is not even in the traditional 3D sense, but there appears to be, inexplicably, in a five dimensional overlay.

 

"This is the cell structure of the Omega Cell, which my guard here is entirely composed of. A combination of Beta's bio engineering skills, Omicron's nanotech, and my own studies in gravity and foldspace have produced this phenomona. Such a cell, when infused with midi-chloriens, is nearly limitless in its force use and potential, though further refinements need to be made."

 

The image zooms out, showing Omega's being and recounting data from the Omega duel in the foldspace sector of the Maw Instillation. "I'm sure you've sensed the latent power in this creature. I started a war last time for the sole purpose of drawing out the best the galaxy had just to test this creation. I was pleased with the results." As he states that, the image of Raynuk being pulverized is replayed. "Imagine an army of these at your disposal. Dorsk 81 using the collective power of Skywalker's Jedi was able to turn off a whole fleet. Naga Sadow once pulled out a star's core, causing it to go super nova. Child's play. To an army, even galaxies could tremble. The power here can reshape the galaxy with ease. It only needs the will to guide it."

 

Rinwald pauses, letting the implications sink in. "But, if I have such a power, why haven't I used it, yes?" He looks up at Omega with undisguised pride. "He is loyal to me, serves me well, and would even die if I commanded him to. Unfortunately there are two things against him. He is only a puppet, a shell, a vessel. Due to his artificial genesis, he lacks what would be classified as a 'soul' and is maliable in that respect. Only through intense training and conditioning has his loyalty been assured The time it would take to replicate an army of his nature and conditioning would take centuries, if not mellinnia. The second lies in the force itself."

 

"I have studied this area with great methodology, taking it to a higher level than Sith 'alchemy', Jedi 'sorcery', or 'witch-craft' if you believe those terms. It is a natural energy and a natural process and can be harnessed by the laws of science. I may not have access to their data and research and cannot replicate their results immediately, but it can be done."

 

Rinwald waits another moment, then continues, letting the holo-image shift to a series of undefinable and seemingly random patterns. "The force though, has a living will. It does more than act as the nexus for existance and 'life' as we call it. It can act through us or around us whether we will it or not. I would seek to overlay a stronger will, my will, over the force itself to control my army and bring about a new order onto this universe."

 

The Director of CORE holds off, studying Geki to see how he reads this bold proclaimation. Rinwald continues in his firm, conversational voice.

 

"Look at the galaxy around you. The Jedi are weak and self-righteous, incapable of using their gift as it was meant to be used. The Sith engage in senseless brutality and hedonism and are blinded by it. The Empire is destined to fall from Palpatine's excess once again, leaving nothing left to salvage. The fractured rebel alliance will try to establish an even more fractured republic, mired in debts to crimelords and its short sighted ideals. The wars and strife will continue for eternity unless someone has the means to step in. The old history and order must be destroyed to make way for the new and with this absolute power I will make it happen with in a years time. It is now a question of if you are with me, or against me."

[Jidai Geki]

*Geki listens to the strange, serene man sat opposite him, carefully filing the information imparted away. The implications of Dahlmiester's plans were indeed far-reaching.

 

Geki stands.*

 

'I have one question. You know enough about me, evidently, to know that I bend my knee for no man. What would you have me do? Become your faithful, mindless vassal? Answer to only you? Swear undying fealty?'

[Rinwald Dahlmiester]

Rinwald lets out a cool laugh, anticipating this question.

 

"In truth I did not know what your action would be. I only suspected, hence why I drew this meeting together. I sense you are a like minded individual so I offer you the greatest gift I can on this matter- choice. The plan will go through. It is inevitable and under current projections has a 97.85% chance of success. I have faith in judgment. Looking where the galaxy has come from and where it is heading, you realize the situation needs a strong hand to guide it. If all the galaxy were naught but mindless servants, my victory would be meaningless, but it must cater to individuals with foresight and choice.

[Jidai Geki]

*Geki smiles mirthlessly.*

 

'You are proficient in the art of politics, and by that I mean the evasion of the real point of my question. Would you have me as your vassal, your subordinate? Or would you have me as an equal?'

[Rinwald Dahlmiester]

Rinwald nods, meeting Geki's smile with one of his own. "You I would hope to meet as an equal. Among true, conscious, individuals, there can be no other measure."

[Jidai Geki]

*Geki nods, satisfied, but makes a note to keep his cards close to his chest until the man had proven himself trustworthy.*

 

'Very well, Mr. Dahlmiester, I will assist you. Now, what would you have me do?'

[Rinwald Dahlmiester]

Rinwald in response, snaps his fingers again and the holo image in the center of the table shifts again. Two double helixes appear- one being that of Omega, the other an incomplete shell.

 

"There are two things. The first lies in the facilitation of the force overthrow. While the Omega cells are powerful, they lack 'spiritual' substance and are just mere batteries. In an individual they could potentially do great wonders, though there are few I would willingly put them into. A normal body could easily loose control of such power."

 

The incomplete helix is zoomed in on. "What I am proposing to do is create an ultimate host, capable of offsetting the balance of the force. A powerful spirit, bound to a body made of the strongest Jedi and Sith in the galaxy. We have gathered several, most recently the DNA of the younger Hale Akturus from the Bogden incident. However, I have a great need for secrecy as my actions proved unpopular during the last time I meddled in galactic affairs. I am taking great risk by having one of my most trusted operatives attempt to gain a sample of Palpatine's DNA in the middle of the rebels immenant attack on Coruscant and while that might be sufficient, further augmentation will be needed. In that I require your help in collecting samples for this new body."

 

The holo image zooms out again, showing a shadowy outline of a massive figure, probably close to eight feet tall and distinctly humanoid in appearance. Rinwald measures his needs then continues.

 

"The other is locating a certain spirit. My diviners have been hard pressed to locate it. My only clue is that it is taking co-residence with-in a sentient being. This spirit is unique in that is was artifically created." The Holo image shifts out showing a pair of ancient and decrepit stone tablets, engraved with the markings of the Sith atop them.

 

"An ancient break-away cabal of Sith explored ways of transcending life and death through their arts, probably drawing on information from an even earlier period predating the Jedi Order. They created a special spirit, acting as a bridge between the two- existing in both realms at once. Unfortunately this cabal was nihilistic and sought to exterminate all life in the galaxy. They recently made an attempt at reviving their order but the timely intervention of a select few Sith and Jedi destroyed the Thanatos Cult and nearly annihilated the spirit of its leader. It survived and I need to find it. This thing, known as the Channel, united in my Omega powered host body will be the final tool I need to complete my ambition. I can turn that spirit in the right direction and launch my assault on the will of the living force, surplating it. After that..." Rinwald spreads his hands apart, laying them palms up in the air.

 

"... the fate galaxy and the force itself, history and direction of the universe can be shaped anew, molded as CORE deems worthy. Then I foresee a galaxy that will truly flurish."

[Jidai Geki]

'A man after my own heart, Mr. Dahlmiester. These Rebels are motivated by worthless, idealistic notions of goodness and decency, and they are the biggest threat to Galactic order. Unfortunately SEED is not powerful enough to dispose of them on its own, and alliances can be such delicate creatures.'

 

*Geki looks up at the screen.*

 

'I have the DNA of two Jedi on Sanity's End; one deceased, and one as good as deceased. However, their flesh is kept alive with nanites, and I'm sure their DNA will suit your purposes. I am currently awaiting the capture of yet another Jedi, and when I do his DNA will also be yours.'

 

*Geki turns and looks at Rinwald.*

 

'I believe we are finished here, for the time being. I'll be in touch.'

 

*He offers his hand.*

[Rinwald Dahlmiester]

Rinwald accept's Geki's hand. No need for a word of thanks or appreciation was felt necessary, though his liver colored lips draw back in a pleased smile.

 

"I believe this alliance will be to our mutual benefit."

 

Rinwald turns about and leaves through a side door, Omega trailing closely behind him, and then followed by Beta. Omicron approaches the governor, reaching into his lab jacket and handing out a small test silvery test tube.

 

"You will find these rather useful," the aged scientists explains with an enthusiastic cackle. "Special nanites with regenerative qualities. Configure them to your DNA and they can repair minor cuts and bruises in mintues, serious wounds in a day, and life threatening ones with in two. Of course," Omicron adds, "such an item could also be reverse engineered with the right DNA to work to the rapid deterioration of a person's health. Use them well."

 

Omicron follows the others out of the dining hall, leaving it empty and alone.

[Jidai Geki]

*Geki takes the test tube and proceeds to his ship, pulling away from the planet and in hyperspace in minutes. He takes the test-tube out and looks at it once away, vowing not to put them in his own body. He himself used nanites as a sort of spy and remote assassin, used for unruly and traitorous SEED agents, and so he knew what they were capable of. However, tailoring them to people's DNA and using them offensively? Now, that held potential...*

[Forn Dodonna]

An encrypted and untraceable comm arrives for the head of Corellian Engineering Corporation:

 

--encrypted comm--

 

Enclosed please find an order for two Republic-class Star Destroyers, to be delivered upon completion and fitting out to the following co-ordinates: [insert encoded hyperspatial co-ordinates here] Annonymity is to be expected, and you will find the monetary rewards to justify this.

 

--end comm--

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

A highly encrypted and untracable comm goes back:

 

Understood. This will be our first priority and we'll have them ready at Gala. Don't worry about the costs right now as you've got someone willing to underwrite your expenses.

[Famulus]

[Comm for Kheldar Vos Corelli]

 

"Greetings, Master Kheldar. My name is Famulus, a protocol droid with specialised programming, and I seek gainful employment. Would you be interested in acquiring my services?"

[Bounty Hunter Mike]

The Shadow Strike came out of hyperspace above the planet of Correllia, the sleek ship gliding through the darkness of space. The ship came down smoothly through the atmosphere and cruised through the air above Coronet City, floating down to come to a rest on a secure landing pad.

 

The entry ramp slid down, and the doors opened to the ship, and out stepped one of the most feared bounty hunters in the known galaxy.

 

Clad in black armour, a black trenchcoat and a black helmet, he looked like some sort of demon, come to claim the souls of the damned. He carried an inventory of weaponry that would make many armourers gasp.

 

He strolled through the streets of Coronet towards the building which was one of the many buildings owned by his friend Kheldar Vos Correli. Upon entering the building, he approached the front desk walking straight up to the receptionist.

 

He removed his helmet, gazing down at her with his altered eyes, lenses sliding into place to allow him to see her in the infra-red wavelength, seeing the reaction of fear come to her, as her skin temperature dropped several degrees. It was a natural reaction, one which he was used to. He said, in an even, emotionless voice.

 

"I am here for some supplies in regards to a job."

[Goodwood]

A private, encrypted, and untraceable call comes into the offices of the CEC, aimed particularly at a certain well-known individual. Co-ordinates pointing to a nondescript point on the surface of Myrkr, along with a vaguely written note are its only contents.

 

"Another copy requested, reasonable favors provided in return upon request..."

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

There is some hushed debate over the KVC Enterprises headquarters as news of events at Sullust start pouring in. Word is sent out to Kheldar for reconsideration and re-evaluation of previous strategies to compensate for this setback. The mood is grim around HQ as efforts are made to stem possible damage from the attack and even exposure to the Imperials in these dark times.

 

A copy of Goodwood's former ship is set out, waiting next to two SDs commissioned by the rebellion.

 

At the front test, a honey blond girl with dimples and a cute smile greets the hunter. "Ah. Mr. Attard. How's your Shadow Strike doing? Mr. Correlli was very fond of that work, though it was a modified version of his CC BH series."

 

The clerk fills out the order. "Let's see... You're being asked to help protect the Jedi on Borleais as the empire strikes back. Hmmm... Catchy phrase. Star Wars: The Empire Striks Back. Sounds like a good movie title or something. Well," the clerk says, holding up a datapad, "your order is filled. By the time you go back out to your ship, its been serviced, restocked, and the weapons you need filled in. Just sign here and you're good to go. Remember your contract Mr. Attard. Protection and service."