Star Wars KOTOR: Counterplay

[Cyborg Ninja]

Zen had realized that Perdante had been called into the Admiral's office and had not heard him. He nodded in the Captain's direction when she exited the office and noticed that Admiral Onasi had signaled him to come in after she had left. Upon entering he noticed a large group of people were inside and was surprised at just how large the office was itself. He saw the Twi'lek from the battle at the Found's hidden lair as well as Meta. He shut the door behind him even though there was no one outside. Zen listened in on the conversation about a Senator Plina Skelch and shook his head at Perdnate's response.

 

"I don't believe that is the reason the Admiral wants to keep an eye on her. I believe it is because of her motives, and perhaps her history isn't exactly the cleanest out there," he responded.

[SkywalkerRules]

"I will admit. I was suprised by your decision to leave the order but I was nit disappointed."

 

Melany looked at Juhani sadly. She boed her head. "Master Juhani. Yes, I deeply apologize for leaving the Order. But ... I felt that I kept doing everything wrong. I held on to the past. Especially my goth ways. And what that Found guy said... effected me deeply." She bowed her head with tears.

 

"I will do all I can to prove myself. To you, Perdante, and everyone here. If this is the only way to quiet the Force... then so be it. Again, I deeply apologize for leaving my family... you guys behind." She looked up with tearful eyes.

[Tysyacha]

"In that you would be correct," Admiral Onasi responded, looking toward Zen. "For example, she had an estranged relative of hers fired from his position as a junior private investigator for one of the most reputable detective agencies here on Coruscant. All because she hated him--and, he divorced her sister."

 

Perdante stifled snickers, but noticing Zen's disapproval, then bowed her head.

 

"Also, a legal defense fund set up for her has been found to be illegal."

 

She raised an eyebrow. "If this Senator is so corrupt, then why is she still in the political game? Don't people see through her? I know I sure would."

 

"Skelch has got her team of lawyers, expert witnesses, and so on to provide proof of her statements--even if those statements may not be facts." Turning back to Zen, Carth continued, "I do distrust her motives, as do my soldiers."

[Alkonium]

"Naturally, we figured it would be best if we had someone on the inside, who could find some irrefutable evidence against her. Garren volunteered. If they discover him, he's more than capable of defending himself or breaking out of a cell." Niera explained.

[Tysyacha]

Perdante clicked her tongue. "Makes sense. However, with Khristoff and the remaining members of the Found still at large, if they're not already dead or fugitives from justice, why go after some politician? Is she that dangerous?"

 

Admiral Carth Onasi leaned forward. "We have cause to believe so. Some of the companies that contribute to Skelch's campaigns, such as the Vector Space Emporium, have ties to the late Seeker Adeline--and, thus, to the Found."

[Alkonium]

"Since our attack on the Found's compound, the effects of ostanovium have become fairly common knowledge, and it has been banned throughout the Republic. However, on the whole, the Found are continuing to use it, I don't know why, maybe they consider the health risks worth it, maybe they dismiss them as lies, the reason there isn't important. If Garren can find proof that those Companies are supplying her with the stuff, Senator Skelch would lose her seat in the Senate, serve a hefty prison sentence, and the companies supplying her would be shut down." Niera added. As confident as she was in Garren's abilities, she was still quite concerned for his well-being.

[Tysyacha]

"If I were Senator Skelch," replied the former Sith, now a Jedi Knight, "I would disentangle myself from those companies, and quickly. Doesn't she know that the dangers of ostanovium have been made public, and no one is going to vote for a political candidate who is financed by companies who still use it?" She shook her head. "I suppose that if the public doesn't know that those companies still use it, then Skelch is in the clear, but not for long."

 

She turned to Admiral Onasi. "What else do we know about her, either personally or politically?" Perdante was curious. She didn't trust politicians.

 

"She is married to Xian Li Skelch, who was once the mayor of some under-developed city on a planet in the Mid-Rim. Nevertheless, she's the one in the spotlight. Plina has five children: Meredith, Chrystal, Ben, Larsyn, and Tron."

 

"Tron?" Perdante smirked. "That sounds more like a droid name to me."

 

"Nevertheless, those are her main friends and family. We haven't really delved into her family connections yet, but we will, with Garren's help."

[Cyborg Ninja]

Zen bowed his head in respect at the mention of Adeline's name. She was a good Seeker when he was with the Found, and thought it truly was a shame she couldn't be saved. He looked back after a few moments of silence to find they were still talking about this Senator. He saw Perdante was still acting childish in front of her superior, something no Sangheili would ever dream of doing in front of one of theirs. Then again, she was human and they did things differently. He looked back over to the Admiral and waited for him to finish speaking. Sure the senator could be doing corrupt things, but it terms of threats Khristoff was a much larger one.

 

"This senator is of no concern to me. With Garren on the inside and Meta going after her, I'm sure she'll be taken down within a matter of days. What does concern me is this Khristoff. He has caused the deaths of many and does so hidden in the shadows. If he is hiding out there, I wish to find him and cut him down with my blade before he can do anymore damage."

[Rexraptor2000]

“Yes, I think the big scary alien might be totally and completely right, and there's absolutely no way that the big scary alien could be wrong about cutting shadows with the other guy we're talking about and I totally can pronounce the name for.” Caboose commented, speaking in a mildly calm tone. He then added, in a very loud whisper that everyone could hear, to Meta “Psst, if the big scary alien is wrong, can I come with you? I'm sure I could bake the mean lady we're talking about a nice muffin and everyone could join a birthday party and forget about whatever we're talking about.”

 

Meta chuckled and told Caboose “Relax Caboose. Listen to anyone who sounds smart and don't team-kill them afterward and you'll get through just fine. Also, don't touch any random buttons.”

 

“No buttons?! But I love buttons!” Caboose replied horrified.

 

“Personally, I think the finer details about our separate missions should occur in our own private sessions, Admiral Onasi.” Meta cautioned. “While I would love to hear the gossip on the mission to take down a cult leader, the more entities that are aware of the notion, the less secure the mission is. Likewise, divulging every detail about our senatorial problem would open up our investigation to increased risk of possible media attention and/or other, unwanted notice. Best not to let the left hand not know what the right is doing.”

 

“And just to let everyone know, I totally understood everything that Meta just said right now. Everything. And my left hand never knows what the right hand is doing, it's like they're two different people!”

[Tysyacha]

The Admiral nodded somberly. "You make a good case, sir," he said, turning to the mysterious and metallic Meta. "Thus, I suggest that your groups diverge and go with their respective leaders to a place that's less conspicuous than my office. Everybody wants to see the Admiral these days."

 

Turning to Juhani, he told her, "Jedi Knights Juhani and Perdante? I'd like you to follow Captain Starr to the main hangar, where the Millennial awaits. Misters Zen and Caboose? Please follow, because you'll be joining them. As for you," he said, turning to Melany, "you will also be aboard the Millennial. Hopefully, you'll be sobered up before you ever get a request to fly the ship."

 

Perdante blushed. How dare he speak to an old comrade of hers like that?

 

"That's six of you on the Millennial, but that's not enough. Captain Starr? I've requested that two more Republic officers join you before you take off for the Outer Rim. It's too bad that they're somehow late for this rendezvous, but perhaps they faced emergences beyond their control." Perdante noticed how he said emergences, without the I in the middle that would have made the word emergencies. What could be so important as to cause Republic officers to miss this meeting?

 

"Anyway, Mister Shain? Mister--Meta? That leaves two of you for my intelligence and recon team that will work on the case we're building against Senator Skelch." He frowned. "How did I accidentally allot six members to the Millennial and only two to this task force? The numbers should at least be three and six, or maybe four as opposed to six. I need more people."

 

He shook his head. "Maybe I'm getting soft in the brain in my later years."

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Jedi Knights Juhani and Perdante? I'd like you to follow Captain Starr to the main hangar, where the Millennial awaits. Misters Zen and Caboose? Please follow, because you'll be joining them. As for you, you will also be aboard the Millennial. Hopefully, you'll be sobered up before you ever get a request to fly the ship."

 

Juhani nodded once and then turned to the Captain Starr. "I look forward to tracking down the leader of the Found with you Captain. I doubt they'll know what hit them when we find them."

 

"How did I accidentally allot six members to the Millennial and only two to this task force? The numbers should at least be three and six, or maybe four as opposed to six. I need more people."

 

Atton raised raised one of his hands when he heard that he needed more people to build a case against the senator.

 

"I volunteer. If this woman does have ties to the found then she needs to be stopped. I heard about how thise pilgrims died and rest assured I don't want to see anything like that happen to anyone else."

[SkywalkerRules]

"Jedi Knights Juhani and Perdante? I'd like you to follow Captain Starr to the main hangar, where the Millennial awaits. Misters Zen and Caboose? Please follow, because you'll be joining them. As for you, you will also be aboard the Millennial. Hopefully, you'll be sobered up before you ever get a request to fly the ship."

 

Melany glared at the Admiral. "Yeah, haha. Very funny, Admiral." She nudged the Admiral out of her way so she could lean against the wall. "Go screw off somewhere," she muttered once she leant on the wall. She placed her hands in her pockets. Death sticks. Good. She'll need them during the trip.

 

"Okay, are we going now? Or are we gonna sit here and chit-chat all day?" Melany said out loud, waiting for a response. She really wanted to see some action.

[Tysyacha]

REPUBLIC HQ, OFFICE OF ADMIRAL CARTH ONASI

 

Admiral Onasi decided to ignore Melany's biting remark. Instead, he turned to Atton. "Thank you for volunteering, Mr. Rand," smiled Admiral Onasi. "I hear that you have travelled aboard the Ebon Hawk with the Jedi Exile. True?"

 

REPUBLIC HQ, HANGAR, IN FRONT OF THE MILLENNIAL

 

"Looks like we're all here," Jedi Knight Perdante Dareva mused as she surveyed the others with her: Juhani--her mentor; Melany Garzo--Jedi Knight-turned-smuggler; Captain Farah Starr--obvious; Caboose--armored comic; and the former Pilgrim Zen--Sangheili warrior and the one who had rescued her. "Is there anything you'd like to say to us before we lift off, Captain Starr?" After a pause, she continued, "Where do you think those two Republic officers that were supposed to assist you have ventured? And where's Niera, the Twi'lek? Isn't she coming with us also?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

((...Fara's been gone from there for a while, but...I guess she's managed to teleport, too...))

 

"Haven't the foggiest." Fara answered the younger of the two Jedi, looking over the ship. It was positively massive, stretching several stories into the sky and several blocks in either direction. The Captain stood with hands in pockets as she watched the last of the Republic maintenance crews leaving the ship's inner corridors and hull surface in preparation for her departure. She was an old ship...but she ran well, and with the scheduled repairs, she would be as good as new. "They probably went off to get something to eat and got lost--"

 

"Eeeeeeeeeey, El Capitan!"

 

Fara closed her eyes, already knowing what was coming. "Oh Christ." she breathed.

 

Two men in Republic officer clothing approached the group from behind, parting from their side-by-side stride to move around those collected and come to either side of the Captain. The men - who looked unmistakably alike - slung their arms around the Captain's shoulders and grinned at her annoyed look.

 

"You know, Mic, I think she's happy to see us!"

 

"It's been a long time since I've seen that expression, Sal."

 

"Behave yourself, boys." Fara said, stepping out from the arms and turning around to look at all collected - the two Republic officers in particular. "We have civilian company."

 

The officers looked at each other and then quickly turned to look at the group, blinking. Two identical smiles split their lips simultaneously. "Well, hello there," they said in unison, crossing towards them. One took Melany's hand, the other took Perdante's. "It's quite a pleasure to meet you."

 

"Everyone," Fara said, sounding exhausted already. "Meet the Caraway twins. Mica," she pointed to one with spiky brown hair, "And Salvatore." The other, then, with flat hair of the same color.

[Tysyacha]

REPUBLIC HQ, HANGAR, IN FRONT OF THE MILLENNIAL

 

Perdante raised a skeptical eyebrow at Mica, the Republic officer with the spiky hair, as he shook her hand. Immediately she had a thousand questions she wanted to ask Captain Starr, such as: Are you sure these dolts are even competent? How did they become Republic officers anyway? Did they pass their entrance exams by bribing or "entertaining" their instructor after class? How in space are they EVER going to help us on this possible kamikaze run?

 

Instead, she kept these thoughts to herself, saying only, "Charmed, I'm sure", to Deedledumb and Deedledee. This one, Mica, will be Deedledumb, she decided.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Charmed, I'm sure",

 

Juhani smiled a vey tight smile as one of the two men shook the hand of her apprentice. I wonder if they know that the current leader of the Jedi Order is right next to them? And I wonder if they know that that woman is my apprentice.

 

"You handled that well Perdante." She said glaring at the two men.

 

 

 

"Thank you for volunteering, Mr. Rand. "I hear that you have travelled aboard the Ebon Hawk with the Jedi Exile. True?"

 

Atton smiled slightly as some of the memories of the time he had traveled with the exile returned to him. Those had been some of the best times of his life.

 

"True. I traveled with the exile from the begining of her journey on Peragus until the end of her journey at Malachor. I was actually the pilot of the hawk for most of the journey."

 

"But enough about me. I heard that you traveled with Revan back during the Jedi Civil war. What was it like traveling with Revan?"

[Alkonium]

"I'm here, I was just speaking with Garren about what he's discovered so far." Niera explained. "And Melany, even if you've decided to become a smuggler, that's no excuse for this." Then, looking at the two morons who somehow managed to become officers, she asked, "Are you two drunk, or are you just always like this?"

[Tysyacha]

((@ Alkonium: BAHAHAHAHAHAHA Republic Officers PWNED!!!))

 

REPUBLIC HQ, HANGAR, IN FRONT OF THE MILLENNIAL

 

"Thank you, Juhani," replied Perdante, finally managing to wriggle her hand free from the clammy, sweaty grasp of Deedledumb--er, Mica. "Niera! Glad to see you. I hope your roguish talents, and yours, Melany, are up to the challenge."

 

REPUBLIC HQ, OFFICE OF ADMIRAL CARTH ONASI

 

"What was it like?" This time, the Admiral didn't care who happened to see him reach for the flask of juma juice in his desk drawer and take a long swig. "Fascinating. Life-changing. Frustrating. Infuriating. Here was this impenitent mass murderer who was supposed to be my traveling companion, the former Dark Lord of the Sith with his memory completely erased. Revan had been reprogrammed, almost, like a droid except that he was only human. I am glad I traveled with him, however, because our crew DID manage to save the galaxy from Malak and the Star Forge. We have--had--some trying times together. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to find him now.

 

"However, I still have trouble wrapping my mind around the fact of Revan doing what he did. The Dark Side compelled him to slaughter billions of innocents, all to stave off a greater threat. Or so he says...said. It's hard to tell, even now, if all of that was really necessary or merely an excuse for Revan to increase his power as the Dark Lord. Maybe it's a bit of both."

 

He put the flask down on his desk unsteadily, and it shook and tipped over.

[SkywalkerRules]

Melany was getting really fed up with everyone. Especially Niera. She needed to use these Death sticks to get everyone off her mind. She sighed in frustration. "Is there a restroom in that ship? I need to go inside one. Big emergency."

 

Melany looked down. Maybe it was a bad idea to come back...

[ForceFightWMe12]

"They're always like this."

 

"We're always like this."

 

All three Republic officials responded with identical timing, the two twins releasing the ladies' hands and turning to grin at the Captain. Turning to Melany's voice, Fara nodded. "Yeah, there's one inside." she jabbed a thumb inside. "Mica, you wanna show her where? And Sal, since you're here, you can show them all to where they'll be staying."

 

Both twins snapped a salute to her. "Yes, ma'am!"

 

She looked then over their shoulders to the civilian group. "I'll let you all settle in on the dormitory level." Her eyes fell onto the two Jedi women, lingering a moment longer on the one Mica had been so friendly with. "And I'll see you on the bridge at about twelve-hundred hours? We're set to depart at half past."

 

And with that, she crossed the gangplank and disappeared into the ship. The twins turned to their prospective charges.

 

"Bathroom, right?" Mica asked, looking at the one that had asked for it. "Follow me. I don't bite," he winked. "Promise." And he turned around, heading across the gangplank also.

 

"Everyone else!" Sal flagged the others down. "Bring your stuff!"

[SkywalkerRules]

((Mica and Sal are so funny! ))

 

"Bathroom, right? Follow me. I don't bite," he winked. "Promise."

 

Melany smiled. "Why thank you." Following him across the gangplank, she thought these twin boys were funny. And polite. Back in the Underworld, she saw only rough and gruffy men. But these guys, they seemed cool. At least there might be someone to make her laugh. Been a while since she laughed happily...

 

As she walked beside Mica, she asked with smile, "So, Mica? How do you and your brother like your jobs so far?"

[Tysyacha]

((The RP began at 14:00, so I'm going to have the ship take off at 15:30 instead. ))

 

Perdante picked up her modest traveling satchel and boarded the ship. Jedi, as a rule, were supposed to be detached from wealth and material possessions, living simply and humbly. Thus, Perdy brought along with her only what she could comfortably carry. She intended to pull her own weight aboard the Millennial, and didn't want to seem like a spoiled child who cared too much about clothes, hair, makeup, and outward adornments. She was a Knight.

[Shana]

Visas had been in the cargo hold of the millenial for some time now. She was sitting down right in the middle of the room in trance. She was reaching out with the force as only she knew how and started to see her visions. The visions of her former master for some time had been finding their way into her mind but he was dead, so why would they come to haunt her again? She brushed off those visions for now and concentrated her thoughts on the exile. She could not feel her anywhere near.

 

"Where are you?", Visas asked herself in a soft voice. There was noise coming in from the loading ramp. She figured the team that Admiral Onasi had assembled was finally boarding. She was asked to join on the Millenial after they found that her constant focus on finding the Exile was not giving any fruit.

 

"Am I doing the right thing? I was supposed to offer my life for hers", Visas said again to herself, she wasn't one to allow her feelings to be exposed so clearly but the sadness had started to weigh down on her. She stood up and walked over to the loading ramp where she saw through the force, several figures of people walking by. She simply limited herself to observe them.

[ForceFightWMe12]

((Ah, details! Sorry about that ^.^''))

 

"Like our jobs? I think like might be an understatement." He grinned. Mica affected an air of purpose and competance as he swaggered down the corridor, the thumb of one hand hooked through the military-issued gun belt that hung about his nonexistant hips. He noticed that women tended to be suckers for guys in uniform - especially when they were full of purpose and competance.

 

"Our dad is a retired fleet captain who fought against Mandalore, so we've been hanging around fleet paraphranalia since we were little. My brother had 'bout fourteen models built by the time he was seven, and I could quote the recruit handbook down to the line and paragraph." He gave an ironic grin that indicatedthe little care he gave to the rules now. "So you can probably guess that when we were old enough, we were practically banging the door down to the Academy." He looked her up and down from the corner of his eye, a little smirk forming on his lips. "Being a Bridge officer is just a plus."

 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Sal led the civilian group around several turns and down two lifts to the aft end of the ship, where the dormitory level was located. When they reached it, he turned away from the long hallway of dorms and went, instead, through a newly erected door to their left. It was a new addition, put in place to cordone off the civilian dorms from the rest of the service men dorms.

 

"Okay," he said, making an about-face and walking the last few steps backwards as he talked to them, "I hate to be the wet blanket at the party, but the captain," It was the admiral, actually, "Requests that for the duration of your stay, you obey the rules of the ship like the other service men and women aboard. That means gents down here," he indicated the left hand side of the corridor, "And ladies on my right."

 

As the others began to divide appropriately, he saw the Jedi coming forward and held up his hand. "Lady Jedi, he said, "We have special, seperate accommodations set up for you." As he said this, he backed through a door and made a flourishing motion to his left and right, where two more closed doors indicated a room for Juhani and Perdante each.

[Rexraptor2000]

“We get our own rooms? This. Is. AWESOME! Normally I have to share a room with someone else like Tucker and then they do something like steal my blanket or my teddy bear. I wish I had my drum set. We could start a band and call it the Cookie Monsters!” Caboose commented gleefully. “And then we can go on this rocket ship to kill Mr. Evil Man from Mars and then have cake afterward!”

 

It was at this point when the people began to split off that Caboose noticed that he and Zen were the only males in this group and thus would be sharing the dorm.

 

“Um, excuse me Mr. Repman, but do I have to share a room with the big scary alien? I do not want to stay in the same room as it.” Caboose hesitantly asked Sal. “You know, maybe I could sleep in the big room where we store stuff instead? Or maybe the kitchen! Now that Tucker is not here, he won't eat all the food! But wait, there are other people that eat the food. They better not eat my cookies!”

 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

 

“Seems like this Revan guy turned out better than his other friend, what after the whole conquering of the galaxy thing. I wish I could sympathize with you Admiral and Mr. Rand, but at the moment I think our focus should be on the troubles of today so that we can have tomorrow to speculate what we could have done better.” Meta stated, though in as calm and soothing way as his vocabulary could allow. The metallic alien would give them that much.

 

“On the topic of our senatorial problem, it makes sense to have one of our men planted as a personal assistant. Really, it could be all we need within the span of a few months. However, we have all seen that the Found tend to move quickly and drastically. With her connections and resources, who knows what she will attempt to accomplish. So, we have to be bold. We have to get enough evidence to convict her of real connections with the Found, a charge of treason in conspiracy with terrorists, or we have to remove her in a less conventional and much more controversial fashion, AKA a round to the head. I don't think the latter will be necessary, as I have a knack for getting info, but it is an option.” Meta paused to allow the Admiral and Rand to voice their comments and to slightly adjust his goggles.