[CONTINUED] Handooine: Uprising

[Annan Rainwalker]

Continued from: Handooine: Uprising

[Annan Rainwalker]

Jelwick City Spaceport, Subsection 20J, Docking Bay 293
150 klicks southeast of Jelwick City, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

<“Blip burrip!”> Drop exclaimed, his globe spinning under his headpiece in excitement as the ship belonging to Annan's fellow Padawan - or more accurately, her Fosh Jedi Master, came into view in the Handooine skies above them.

“Here they are!” Annan began to wave his hand as the starship docked and the ramp began to lower down for her crew to disembark. Master Xin smiled and crossed his hands over his chest, as he awaited the Master and Apprentice duo to approach. He had not worked with Master Hakkori before, so this would be a first time for him as well. In contrast, his Padawan seemed to know Master Hakkori's, so at least they had something to start with.

"Well, its about time," the Escort, Bei Shong, scoffed, as the Human from Handooine turned around and began to walk away from the scene, towards a large repulsorcraft that had docked just a few Imperial standard meters to their four o' clock. From a distance, Annan surmised that it was a modified, upgraded version of the outdated Rothana-manufactured VAAT/e-model gunship. Master Xin noticed too, and also picked up on an additional detail that had eluded the Padawan: the model was doubtlessly Aerial Assault-class, loaded with heavy laser turrets and concussion missiles. If this was what they had sent to pick them up, it certainly meant they were expecting some kind of trouble and such a heavy-duty craft had been assigned as their transport as a security measure.

It was unnerving.

Master Xin watched Bei Shong depart without even properly greeting the new arrivals, eyes narrowing. Turning around, the Jedi Master gave a bow in greeting to his Fosh colleague. Annan gave a similar bow to both Master Hakkori and Phoenousa.

“It is an honour that you have graced us with your presence, Master Hakkori,” the black-clad Jedi Master began, before giving a nod in Phoenousa's direction. “Padawan Nightrunner, I presume? My own young apprentice has told me quite a bit about you,” Xin gave Ani a sideways smile. “Hope you two had fun grocery shopping.”

Annan's eyes widened at that and he coughed, blushing at the reminder of that one time when he and Padawan Nightrunner had gotten acquainted with one another on a chore-running mission from their respective masters. Releasing his embarassment - and any other emotions - into the Force as he had been taught by Master Xin, the Padawan acknowledged his fellows verbally. “Greetings Master Hakkori. Hi Phen-Phen,” he waved at the Felacatian, using the nickname he had coined for her.

<“Phen-Phen? Ugh. Can we get moving, already? You organics are too slow. Our Escort is about to leave,”> K7JP, the gigantic KX-series enforcer droid lovingly called Bigweld interjected as he immediately turned around and began to follow the Escort. Annan turned his head in the droid's direction, watching him depart behind the plasteel-armored bodyguards that were in-turn following their Escort.

Drop blipped and rolled behind the larger droid, and Annan sighed and turned back to look at Phoenousa and her Master, and excused. “Pardon the Droid. I've been unable to debug the cynical bit from his programming. Bloody glitch.”

“He is right though. We best get moving, it is not precisely in accord with the wisdom of the elders to get oneself lost in a foreign land,” Master Xin quipped wryly, before turning back to the other Master. “After you, Master Hakkori,” the Human offered to the Fosh, politely. They would follow the Escort into the carrier, which would take them for an audience with the Grand Duke at his Palace in Jelwick City.
_________________________________________________

Zor Alde's Office, in the Base of the Liberators of Gwynhes
Mountainous hemisphere, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

Zor Alde's Office was not much of an office. It was simply a small duracrete working space, with walls painted black, black ceiling, black roof, and a black desk in the center which was used by the Uprising Leader himself, and a large transparisteel window on one of the walls that enabled them to view the mountainous terrain outside, for the Base was itself situated on the upper slopes of one of two large geologic formations that formed a valley, hidden by the trees and the caves. Yet, this one window opened towards the valley underneath, providing a rather large viewing space - though not to a large effect, as the mountains were enshrouded in a thick mist that seemed to make the presence of the window entirely redundant.

Next to the window was a feminine figured hooded in dark green silken robes, the pale skin of her face and her hands and a raven patch of hair being the only few giveaways that she was human. Underneath the large hood, she had a lightsaber hilt clipped to a belt adorning an off-white dress, but those would not be clearly visible to someone - such as Baron - who would be entering from the doorway towards which her back was directed.

The woman stood with one hand crossed over her chest, a lock of her raven hair twirled around the index finger of the other hand as she subconsciously played with it. Her eyes closed, she was immersed in the Force, viewing the world outside not through her jade orbs but through the more mysterious energy field that was so potent due to the strength of the natural world which surrounded them. As she went deeper into her meditative trance, she willed the mist around them to thicken, and thicken it did as any could have noted through the window - but she perceived the reaction of the mist to her will through the Force. Soon enough, dark clouds seemed to condense straight out of the water in the mist. An imbalance of charges generated a lightning bolt, followed naturally by thunder, and the green-clad lady smiled in contentment, both at the sound of thunder that brought her peace and at the Force itself that she seemed to so proficiently wield.

Indeed, when she opened her eyes to finally look out the window, one could see it was drenched with drops of rainwater. Rain that she had brought here.

'Was someone among my ancestors a Force user too? Is that why we were called 'Rainwalker'?' the lady silently wondered, for rain had always brought to both her, her sister and even her sister's son - an indescribable calm, joy and peace that doubtlessly worked to strengthen her connection to the Force. She felt stronger in the rain, and more serene. She had always wondered if it was genetic somehow; for how could so many pluviophiles exist within a single family, and a family called Rainwalker, no less?

Hearing a sound coming from behind her, a swoosh as the entrance slid open, Khatun Regn as she now called herself shifted her attention towards the newcomer, without actually turning around to look at him as he entered. So this was the one Zor Alde had been waiting for? Regn kept her attention on him through the Force, and through the other three of her senses, but kept her eyes locked on the transparisteel window that was now adorned with dew-like droplets of the shower that she had summoned.

[Corran Vellar]

-Handooine, Liberators of Gwynhes headquarters.-

The armored man known as Baron followed the small procession through the mountain base, accompanying him were his protocol droid and HK unit. As he walked, the silver protocol droid handed him a data pad that just received an update from his field agent, Jade. As he read it over, he scowled, as it mentioned that several Jedi had landed and were on their way to meet the Grand Duke. He didn't like operations that involved Jedi. He handed the pad back to the droid and continued with the escort, it was then that he felt it. A great wave through the infinite ocean that was the Force. Someone nearby was manipulating the Force in a powerful way. He could feel that presence was up ahead, exactly where they were going. He quickly reacted by raising his Force mask to hide his own aura in the Force so that he'd appear as just a normal man to anyone who tried to look at him through the Force.

He knew that Zor Alde wasn't a force user, and in their previous communications he'd never mentioned working with one. They arrived at the door to the rebel leader's office and the door slid open to reveal the a simple room with a view of the clouds. On the far side of the room standing behind the desk stood Alde himself, shorter than one might expect, with tanned skin, dirty blond hair that hung just past his ears, keen brown eyes and a clean shaven but rugged face. Between Baron and the desk stood a hooded woman, slender and with a hint of elegance, staring out the window to the raining exterior. It gave Baron pause, for it had not been raining just moments earlier.

Khatun would sense the presence of a lean human male, six foot three in height tho the armor added an inch. Her senses would also reveal to her a strong will and a keen intellect in the man known as the Baron.

"Ah! Baron, finally we meet in person," Alde spoke, his voice almost entrancing. "Please come in, we have things to discuss." He waved for Baron to come in and take a seat at the in front of the desk.

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Alde," Baron replied, his voice modulated so to not give any hint as to who or what was behind the mask. He walked towards the seat but didn't sit, his droids staying by the door as it closed. The helmeted figure looked to the hooded woman by the window before returning his eyeless gaze towards the rebel leader. "I wasn't expecting anyone else, who is she?"

"Oh, this is Khatun Regn," the man spoke, his hand waving towards the lady. "She's an ally, just arrived like you." The man had a wide smile across his face, and it was becoming very evident why he was the leader by his personality. "Khatun, meet The Baron! He may be credited with our recent success in the past months!"

The Baron turned to face her, waiting to see if she'd even register his presence in the room. "He probably exaggerates my contributions, may I ask what you bring to the table Ms. Regn"

Just by his process of elimination, she had to be the Force user that he'd noticed moments before entering the room. Now the question was, was she Jedi, Sith or something else?

[Ordona Vandorak]

Eight hours ago
Market Square, Jelwick, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

The busy streets of a market always appealed to Ordona. Or at least, they had before she’d started working with a team. For a team? She wasn’t sure. Before, they meant anonymity, distractions and diversions. Safety of a sort. Now they just made it difficult to meet contacts and remain somewhat hidden. She checked over her shoulder, noting the other operator from the Alliance about twenty paces back. He was a specialist, like she was. She knew little about him beyond that and what she could observe here.

They’d flown from a station in Alliance territory together, using her Firespray as a more innocuous transport than some of the other ships the Alliance had to over. The Darkstar Crusader was masquerading as something a bit more flowery that Ordona couldn’t remember at the moment. She didn’t like the new transponder code, even if it was temporary. During their flight, he had been tightlipped during what little time they shared at the controls. Having started far enough out of Handooine to require a bit of time in system, they slept in shifts during the approach.

His name was Graham. That was it. All of the information she’d gathered. A name. Still, Ordona had to trust him. At least that’s what she kept telling herself. It was part of the new deal she had with the Galactic Alliance. And that meant being vulnerable and trusting an unknown operative because someone told her to. Still, she wished she knew more about his skills, temperament, anything.

***

A few hours later, zipping across Handooine in a rented speeder, Ordona knew firmly that one of Graham’s skills was not negotiation. He had insisted that the price being offered was a rip off, though Ordona suspected that with the trouble lately it was more than fair. Still, she remained quiet while he tried to haggle with the speeder salesman who was having none of it. Half an hour later, Ordona was surprised the man hadn’t called over sector security with the way Graham was ranting at him. She was glad when Graham finally agreed to pay his price and they set off.

He turned on the radio and some awful mix of Rodian jazz and Bothan funk came blaring through the speeder. She sighed, sinking lower into her seat.

“This is going to be a long mission,” she muttered under her breath.

***

Present
Jelwick City Spaceport, Subsection 20J, Docking Bay 293
150 klicks southeast of Jelwick City, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

“There.” Graham spoke over the so-called music he was listening to, as he brought the speeder in a wide arch, ending near a modified VAAT Gunship. He lowered the craft deftly down, letting the repulsorlifts turn off before finally, thankfully turning off the hutt-forsaken music. Ordona jumped out of the vehicle, suddenly aware of a number of strong presences in the Force she’d missed during their approach. If I wasn’t so distracted by that awful screech, she thought. But she chided herself for it anyway. That was no excuse and she knew it. She relaxed as her eyes found a quartet of Jedi, obvious both in attire and their presence in the Force.

“Heh, I bet a Jedi quartet sounds better than what you were listening to,” she said to Graham. He gave her a sidelong glance and rolled his eyes, muttering something about new blood and appreciation for the classics. He skulked off, heading for group and the guide, who was already firing up the transport ship. Ordona followed, offering a wave as she approached. She felt suddenly awkward, unsure of what to say. Teamwork like this, in the open, without knowing them prior to the mission, was not something she was used to. It was going to take some adjustment if the arrangement she had with the GA was going to work.

Still, she thought. It feels good to be doing something again.

[Jade Rancorfang]

Present
Jelwick City Spaceport, Subsection 20J, Docking Bay 293
150 klicks southeast of Jelwick City, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

Accelerating at full throttle, Jade prepared a modified slughtrower for a quick ambush just outside the spaceport. Crouching besides the speeder, she toke aim on the flying VAAT. It was a tricky shot, given the size of the projectile, but she had practiced for this kind of targets for months. With a sharp hissing, the tracker hit the underside of the gunboat. Such a comparatively impact would most likely go unnoticed for the occupants, and it would allow her to track the ship to its destination. Even if she already had a pretty good idea on where it was landing, a bit of extra intel was a nice thing to have, and the tracker was programmed to dissassemble in its component pieces when near a list of the most probable landing sites, so it would leave no trace. Her job done in the area, the dathomiri proceeded to head back to her base of operations. Long day or not, the presence of jedi would require changing the attack plans...

4 hours later
Jelwick City Outskirts
30 klicks north of Jelwick City, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector


In a basement hidden in a slum north of Jelwick City, Jade sit surrounded of hundreds of holographic pictures, maps and notes. She always liked that method of planning, but the old way of doing it involved way too many sticky things on walls and was a mess to clean up. Besides, portability was a real perk of using holograms, and Pierce was being really helpful organising it.

-So, where are the entrance points again?-asked the brunnette.

-You should get an upgrade, this is diverting resources from a very interesting mahjong game I'm playing with a hutt.-answered the AI, remarking in a variety of colors all entrance points depending on how suitable they were.

-You're being really useful, honey. Remind me to buy you access to that library you wanted when we're done with this. Now display all hot water pipelines, and the planned schedules for the cleaning service.

-That's so nice of you, given that I'm basically a slave. Did you know that "Contrary to what you might believe, the saying "deader than a Triton moon" does not derive from a cataclysmic event that destroyed the moons of Triton, or anything like that. Instead, it refers to the fact that local law bans stimulants of any kind. So while the Triton system is a common stop for travellers on hyperspace routes like the Rimma, it is also an utterly, utterly boring place for a layover."?

-I made you! You should treat me like your mother, ungrateful twat. Really? That cantina named "Tritonian Lawyer" I visited once really lived up to the fame it had. Did Dusty answer yet? Mmmm, now show me the personnel list of the guard.

-Technically I made myself while you tortured me. Or the factory did. It wasn't you in any case. I can't see why you don't just bomb the place, it would be much more efficient. He said "I'm currently en-route to the coordinates you sent your transmission from. I need to hear more, but- seeing as my line of business is frowned upon in many systems, I need to have some anonymity. We need to meet when I arrive. Your choice of locations. Just let me know." I hope you don't call a Dark Lord of the bloody Sith "Dusty" in person too. That would be embarrassing.

-Hey, no one grows over old nicknames! When I met him, he was just a bounty hunter as any other. It's not my fault he's going through his goth fase. Also, we've already been over this, I want to reduce bystander's casualties to the minimum. It's unprofessional to not do so, and you should be ashamed of yourself for even proposing that plan. You hear me? A-sha-med. Send him this location and "XOXO". Now the weather forecast as far into the future as it's available.

And thus, the evening was spent on planning and other equally important topics. Totally not on a comparison on the fighting skills of a rancor and a heavily modified ATST.

[Dastan Imatari]

Vjun
Sith Academy Temple Hangar

His razorfighter was sitting close to his YT-2000. Both were ready for takeoff, and as Dastan approached, his pilot droid exited his fighter's cockpit.

"*Everything is ready for liftoff, Master." the droid greeted the sith as he approached.

"Excellent. Looks like we're heading to Handooine, of all places."

"Handooine, master?"

"Yeah, I don't know. I've never been there, either. We've got coordinates." Dastan paused, standing beneath the large flat body of the YT, looking to the boarding ramp.

"*The message from the bounty hunter, then?" the droid asked,

"The very one."

"*Was that a contact you knew?"

"A lifetime ago." he replied in almost a curt tone. "RX, tell SEP-1 to take my fighter. I'll need to be aboard the Merciless. For... Security reasons."

Giving a slight bow of the body and head- the humanoid droid responded politely, "*Understood. That twi'lek pirate has been making a fuss for the past hour. It's a wonder her vocal chords haven't strained yet."

"I see..." Dastan replied, continuing up the ramp, the droid shuffling up after. Upon boarding, he made his way to his secondary cargo hold, one he normally used as a locker room. Inside it was a prisoner's holding device. A large tubular device with it's back against the corner of the room, and the front was a shielded technology that wouldn't allow the biological being to pass through. In fact, if she attempted to touch it, it would deliver a hefty shock, as well. So, as the door slid open to allow Dastan to pass into the room, he saw her stand up. She must have been sitting. That's really all the room the device allowed, however.

"What do 'you' want?" the white twi'lek growled at the man, dusting off her behind. The floor was clean, but it was likely a habit.

Dastan, still wearing his angular-faced helmet responded as he approached slowly. The lights above igniting his dark black-brown cloak as he passed under.
"I didn't know it was possible to annoy a droid. But you've seemed to accomplish that." the vocabulator digitizing his voice slightly. In response, she cleared her voice. There was a look of slight triumph on her face. "I think I should have spent extra to soundproof these walls better. Or maybe built a solitary confinement pen instead of that cell you're standing in now.

"Oh yes, that sounds comfy."

She was baiting him. Trying to aggravate him. It was sort of working- she was a stubborn one. Dastan, however, was not so woundable, and quite willing to wound her. "You'll learn that just because I haven't caused you any physical harm, doesn't mean I won't."

"I'm shaking in my boo-" she started to speak, but was interrupted,

"Do you think Luk, Salmuwi, Vut'natek, or Telkuna would be as comfortable?" he asked, tilting his head. Reaching up, he slid his hood back from his helmet's top. He then held up a finger- "Oh, I'm sure it would be better than the quarters they're keeping, now."

The twi'lek's face darkened immediately. He had told her the manner of their deaths during his initial interrogation of her. He paced around a moment,

"Aaanyway. I'm sure you'll be excited to hear that we're heading to see your jedi padawan."

Her face, if it could become pale, it would have.

"We found him, Calle. With a little help from you, no less! Do you think he will be excited to see us?"

Interrupting their dialogue, the pilot droid popped over the intercom.
"*Master, we're beginning liftoff."

He heard the floors vibrate gently with the engine's powering up.

[Jak Bexel]

Planet: Handooine
Locale: Fehron Mountain Range, undisclosed distance from the Liberators of Gwynhes headquarters.

Blue Star Pirate Dossier

Operative: Captain Jak Bexel of the Nightshade Clan

Objective: Make introductions with the Handooine Resistance, aide in the uprising effort via the usual means of diverted funds and contracts for goods from the Zann Consortium.

Notes: I appreciate the chance to use my own equipment this time. Having touched down in the mountainous region of Handooine per our discussion, coordinates to the base were gifted to me through a coded message from within a painted gold wooden box. This was handed to me by a traveling Dug upon arrival, who knew exactly where I would be. Remind me to investigate the contents of our rum, as these missions are almost too functional. Jammers and message scramblers for this base are decent, but I scouted an abandoned hovel and installed my own system to further confuse matters. Per the mission contract, I am utilizing my Antarian Ranger armor. How it was known that I owned this -- a gift from Ben Kenobi -- is anybody's guess. It would be redundant to mention how apparently out of the loop the BSP keeps its operatives but for the track in front of them, but this operative appreciates the peace of mind. Will update you when I have made contact. Bexel out.

Some time later, Jak was meditating between the mountain breaks in a low valley with a coffee press capsule percolating at his side. The clouds were looking down on him heavy and full, and yet a glint of light not far from his secluded area invaded his eyeline. He squinted, cupping a hand over his eyes to follow the glare upwards into a tall grove that braced against the top of twin sloping hills.

Before he could truly get a bead on the chanced glint, lightning tore through the region not 50 meters from him, sending his heart into overdrive. He gasped and looked upwards, as if some being knew that he was peaking behind a curtain better left alone. The soothing rains that game with it helped alleviate his scrambled nerves, but the distruption only irritated Jak. He stood up, grabbed the coffee capsule, and swung down his hood. From the dark cavern from which the Nice Jacket was situated rolled twin Droidekas in black and yellow to his aide. He minded them, but hopped into his landspeeder. The two droids both rolled themselves into passenger seats as Jak typed in the coordinates on his tracker. That must be the place, he considered.

The speeder twisted him along a crooked road that would have proven perilous to a flatscan, but not to Jak. Still, he remained vigilant of the weather conditions as the thin landspeeder weaved through brush that was long-untouched towards a gathering of convoys deep in the mountains. It was close to his light distraction, but he was still impressed. Anyone else who didn't aspire to a certain level of detail would disregard this region as no place to stage a coup, but tactically there was plenty here to play with.

Less than a klick away, Jak's assumptions were affirmed when an armed convoy burst out of a cave, blasters drawn. Jak gingerly feathered the break, the speeder drifting in a spin but stopping just short of their ground transport. He held up his hands.

"Hello there. I wish for an audience with Zor Alde."

[Annan Rainwalker]

Jelwick City Spaceport, Subsection 20J, Docking Bay 293
150 klicks southeast of Jelwick City, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

Master Han Xin sceptically eyed a certain speeder as it zeroed in on their location, coming to a halt not too far away from the gunship they were about to board. A feminine figure stepped off the speeder and approached the general direction of the Jedi quartet, and Xin raised an eyebrow at the strong Force signature she emanated. Out of reflex, his concealed hand came to rest on the lightsaber clipped to his belt, hidden beneath his cloak.

The two Masters, and their two Padawans, each raised an eyebrow as the woman suddenly waved in their direction.

<“Blip burrip!”> Drop, Ani's BB-unit, twittered suddenly.

“Huh? What is it, Drop?” the Rainwalker looked at the direction of his droid, then back at Ordona.

<“He says she's from the Alliance. She was commissioned to aid us during our stay on Handooine,”> Bigweld, the KX-unit, responded in Drop's stead. Drop contained within him the holodisc that contained the files and plans of the Jedi's Handooine mission, thus he held the most information about each of the personnel that the Alliance or the Jedi Coalition had deployed for this assignment.

Except Master Han Xin, who had, ever-efficient that he was, committed most of the information to memory. “Lady Vandorak, I presume?” he spoke, extending a hand out of his cloak to wave back a greeting. “I am Master Han Xin of the Jedi Coalition; this is Master Hakkori, and our Padawans; Padawan Rainwalker,” he nodded at the one beside him, “and Padawan Nightrunner,” he signalled towards the other one. Master Xin then felt silent, observing the lady in front of him in the Force. She was no Jedi, and she held much darkness within her, yet there was also powerful light - one that could, if given the opportunity, put many twin-Sunned skies to shame. She was powerful in the Force, and Master Xin found it difficult to believe that she had received no training.

"CAN WE GO NOW?!?!?!" the Escort yelled suddenly, tired of waiting. There was no telling when or where a terrorist attack could take place. The Handooine Intelligence had intercepted transmissions to and from Zor Alde that indicated that the insurgent group was in fact, aware of the arrival of Alliance assistance to the Grand Duke. They could not afford to be out in the open like this. Emanating waves of fear and irritation that struck Master Xin almost as painful, the Escort stomped over to the VAAT gunship.

Master Xin turned and began to follow him; and his Padawan followed along with the two other Jedi. Presumably, Ordona should have followed them as well, and soon enough, they were in the air.

#

In the Handooine atmosphere
Aboard the Rothana-manufactured VAAT/e-model gunship Argon
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

As the Argon sped through the Handooine skies, Master Xin turned to look at the edgy Bei Shong. He gave the man a hard stare, and the man glared back, before giving a nervous twitch and looking in the other direction, tugging at his collar as sweat rolled down his neck. Finally, Master Xin decided he had had enough; he encrossed his arms, and walked over to face the man.

“There is clearly something which we are being kept in the dark about,” Master Xin ignited his lightsaber with a snap-hiss, the movement putting everyone else aboard the gunship, sentient and droid, on high-alert, as the glow of Master Xin's yellow lightsaber illuminated Bei Shong's scared face. “You're dealing with Jedi. Try not to lie.”

"Okay, okay!" Bei Shong held his hands up, and Master Xin collapsed his lightsaber. The man heaved in large breaths as he sat down on a repulsorchair. "Look, I'm not trained as a soldier, okay? I'm more of a bureaucrat in the Handooine government. I can't deal with a high stress situation such as this; the Grand Duke received reports that the insurgency was aware of Alliance personnel arriving to assist them! That's why they sent me as an escort, and not someone from the military or intelligence. No one would suspect such high-profile help being escorted by a bureaucrat..."

<“An interesting diversion. No one would suspect a bureaucrat to undertake an escort mission, as those are usually performed by politicians or soldiers. Bureaucrats are simply too fat and corrupt to do that sort of 'in-the-line-of-fire' thing,”> Bigweld analyzed, and Ani gave his droid's leg a bump to shut him up at his last comment.

Bei Shong gave the droid a look, before turning his attention back to the Master as the latter asked, “Is this insurgency really that powerful?”

<“Yes, my sensors indicate you are tachycardiac, dyspneic and diaphoretic. You're practically scared sithless,”> Bigweld commented again, and once again Ani leg-bumped him to get him to shut up.

"You have no idea what kind of people we're dealing with here!" Bei Shong almost-yelled back. "I will not lie. I may be assisting the government but I will not defend it. The insurgency... these so called 'Liberators', they are the seed of our own government's corruption. The ruling party, led by the Grand Duke, they're... they're leeches - they have practically sucked most of the Handooine populace dry to the bone. They rule by stealing the bread and butter of our people, and bribing our people with it to get easy votes during election years. Most of the population is hungry, below the poverty line - they'll take what they'll get, and vote... so the Grand Duke's been in power for more than two decades now, ever since the Alliance took over Handooine from the Empire... the Empire may have left us, but its policies continue under the guise of democracy..."

While Master Xin maintained a neutral expression, Annan could not help but let his emotions show in the form of clenched fists and narrowed eyes. They were here to aid the Grand Duke? The bad guy who had tyrannised the population of an entire planet for two decades?!

“... I see,” Master Xin placed a hand on his chin, contemplating. “Such harsh oppression is bound to breed an even harsher backlash...”

"Yes! The insurgents are far worse than the government! Those terrorists don't care... about women, younglings - they don't care who gets caught in the crossfire! And they could blow this kriffing gunship out of the sky any moment, if they find out who's on-board!" Bei Shong did yell this time. "They'll bomb or slaughter anyone and any place on Handooine that could deal damage to the Grand Duke's government or military. Casualties and collateral damage be damned! They even attacked a military primary school for younglings. They slaughtered them all, just because their parents were soldiers! They deal in absolutes! If you're not with them, you're the enemy!"

“How very...” Master Xin began.

“Like the Sith,” the Apprentice finished for the Master.

#

Zor Alde's Office, in the Base of the Liberators of Gwynhes
Mountainous hemisphere, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

"He probably exaggerates my contributions, may I ask what you bring to the table Ms. Regn?"

“Well then, he can't exaggerate mine,” the woman replied, she crossed her arms over her chest, the movement concealed beneath her silken emerald robes. She continued looking out onto the rain, her face passive. “My skills are best seen on the battlefield, Baron,” she smiled wryly, not that he would see it, “It's probably not safe for me to give a demonstration here, considering we're literally under a rock. But do look outside, if you wish to sip the waters,” and at the moment another bolt of lightning struck, the shadow of the three in the chamber lengthening threefold during the brief flash, shrinking again less than a moment later.

Khatun Regn had seen what years of war succeeded by corruption had done to this historically beautiful planet - anyone could, if they took a walk across any of the towns. Apart from the capital, Jelwick, the entire planet was basically one gigantic slum. In many ways, a Reverse Coruscant. Hunger, illiteracy, unemployment, decadence, apathy... it had motivated Regn to seek out whatever power was against this Government, and lend them her support.

Khatun Regn had another mission here, one that she would not voice at this time, but it was to ensure that civilian casualties were kept to a minimum. Rumor had it that Zor Alde's measures involved taking no prisoners, and while Regn did not believe what the Government said about him having organised an attack on a military school for younglings, it was something she intended to ensure would never happen under her watch. She would choke Zor Alde himself, if he tried anything like that, but for now his intentions seemed to purely revolve around the destruction of the Grand Duke, and for that she would gladly assist.

[Corran Vellar]

Outside of the Sevcret headquarters of the Liberators of Gwynhes.

Armed men began to fan out to create a half circle around the unexpected stranger. An E-class observer droid shot out from the bases main entrance and floated around Bexel. It's single central lens rotated as it examined the Antarian armored humanoid.

One of the revolutionaries stepped forward. "Stay still and don't try anything!" The man ordered while another stepped back and began speaking into his comlink.

Zor Alde's Office, in the Base of the Liberators of Gwynhes

The woman spoke of having power, clearly pointing at what happened outside as a show of said power. Her voice was like a winter breeze, beautiful and refreshing to some, a death sentence for others. With still so little to go off of Baron's jury was still out on what potential cult she followed.

"Another weapon..." the armored human spoke quietly. "Doesn't this war already have too many?" This was a moment of Baron's true personality showing through his guise.

"Too many?" Zor questioned. "Come now Baron, we don't have enough or else we'd have won the day already!"

"Of course," Baron replied, recollecting himself. "I personally brought in the fresh ordnance that you requested, just remember the cost of this."

"Yes, yes," the rebel leader spoke, turning to face the wall behind his desk. On the wall was a old panting of Handooine. "Once my position as the new leader of Handooine is secured, I will bring us into the open arms of the Galactic Empire. It has been clear the the so-called Alliance has done little to prevent our government from falling to corruption."

Baron nodded in agreement, his pasts life's support for the Galactic Alliance had all but left him since he'd stepped back into the galaxy at large. As he was preparing to reply the guard who had escorted Baron here barged into the office.

"Sir!" The grunt spoke, an urgency to his voice. "We have an intruder at the gate!"

"What!?" Zor exclaimed, spinning back around. He input a series of commands into his terminal which activated a holodisplay. Now appearing between the two men was the image of Bexel and his speeder currently being surrounded by the revolutionaries.

"He requested an audience with you." The guard continued. "What are your orders."

"Who is he? How did he even find us?" The leader questioned everyone in the room despite no one possibly having an answer, except maybe Baron.

The masked Baron studied the holoimage for a moment when a line a script appeared on his HUD. It was from his observer droid that had joined the group outside.

Race: Human. Gender: Male.
Armor: Antarian Ranger design, no markings. Droids: Two Q-series Droidekas. Identity: Unknown, does not match match any known Rangers in our records.

The last note didn't surprise Baron, he had little info on members of the Rangers. Something flickered a in Baron's memory, he felt the he recognized the face of this man from his past life. For now though he was to be considered a member of the Coalition. "He's a Antarian Ranger," Baron replied to Zor's unanswered question. "At least that's what his armor tells me."

"Then he's with the Jedi thus with the Alliance, he's a threat and shall be dealt with." Zor immediately responded, his hads dashing for his comlink.

"No!" The Baron's voice boomed, the helmets speaker spraying out a feedback from the sudden loud noise made by its host. The outburst stopped the leader in his tracks, it was clear by his voice he'd never been disputed before in his decision making. "No," Baron continued, his voice lowering back to its usual volume. "I don't deal in the death of Jedi or their scouts unless absolutely necessary. Your men will set their weapons to stun and we'll find out why he's here."

Zor Alde slowly recovered and looked up at the faceless man who dared question his order, not questioned but gave him orders. He pondered his options, but in the end erred on the side of caution and listened to the words of his benefactor. "Indeed, a good idea, let's find out what our enemy is up to."

Outside of the Secret headquarters of the Liberators of Gwynhes.

The revolutionaries got their orders, each one quickly switching the settings on their weapons. The Ranger's armor would be able to resist several stun bolts but eventually it would be overwhelmed. They all set up to shoot the man, and Baron watched from the office, waiting to see how the unexpected guest would react.

[Ordona Vandorak]

Introductions were awkward in the way Ordona knew they would be. As surely as she could sense the calm, steady presence of the light in them, she was certain they could sense the turmoil and darkness inside. It made her self-conscious in a way she hadn’t felt since first training with Churs and accepting the darkness as a part of who she was. Still, she knew that wasn’t who she was anymore, and hoped that could be sensed by the Jedi and their Padawans.

She and Graham had just given their own introduction to the group when the guide shouted, startling her. She shook her head at him, following as the rest of their party loaded onto the outdated model. Ordona had to make a conscious effort to keep the guide’s emotions from affecting her own. She sighed after they were all aboard. From her chosen position against the wall, the emotions emanating from the guide were almost as bad as the music Graham had insisted upon earlier.

This is going to be a long kriffing mission.

***

Aboard the Argon
Unknown distance from Jelwick City, Handooine
Handooine system, Phelleem sector

It was taking more of her concentration than Ordona cared to admit to keep from being overwhelmed by the tension radiating through the Force. It seemed almost everyone on this vessel aside from Graham and the droids was feeling it, for it wasn’t long before one of the Jedi stepped forward. Instinct carried her hands to her sabers as the Jedi (Master Xin, she reminded herself) ignited his own. The glow was very similar to that cast by Ordona’s own, and it created an eerie shadow along the guide’s face.

“Not just Jedi,” Ordona quipped in an attempt to lighten the mood. Her statement went ignored other than a sidelong glance from Graham and a slight shake of his head. Clearly her humor just wasn’t appreciated. She listened as Bei Shong spoke in a fevered rush. It was a deluge of information. Some of which Ordona had been briefed upon and some of which was more depraved than what the Alliance had chosen to share with her.

Still, much of it was merely clouding the situation instead of clearing it up.

“How very…”

”Like the Sith.”

The words sent a shiver down Ordona’s spine. Even after all these years, Ordona had a hard time separating herself from the ideology that she’d followed for so long. It called to her, spoke to her on a level so deep she was afraid she’d never be free of it. Still, she was here to make amends, to do better.

“If there are Sith here, I’ll deal with them.” She spoke into the lull that followed Annan’s statement. Saying the words aloud, speaking with a purpose, brought a sense of calm to her. It was the drawing of a line in the sand. Whatever else she may be, she would never be a Sith again.

“How much longer til we reach our destination?” she asked, adjusting her tonfa-style lightsabers in a motion that was clearly a nervous habit.