Finding the Needle

[Ben Kenobi]

***Outer Rim Territories***
***Auril Sector, Adegan System***
***Ossus - R-6***

***Sometime after “Knowledge”***


Holographic images flashed over the display. Logs according to time stamp and last known location. A violent crash on the surface of Ossus. Ben Kenobi had not taken the subject of the disappearance of his Padawan sitting down and had been preparing for the search for some time. But even a Jedi Master was human and could not let this go. But he could not have just rushed off blindly either. He needed time to find exactly where this terrible tragedy had occurred. With considerable time in meditation and touching upon the Force for guidance, his answer was given through foresight.

With the newly formed Coalition Fleet now present over the world of Ossus, and with the foresight of roughly where to look, Ben spent hours combing over the landscape via scans. For the longest time there was nothing at all. But in time, as sure as he had seen the view of a rough and charred valley, a beacon of low power was spotted.

He did not need to confirm the findings. Without a doubt he knew that this was what he was looking for.

Finally having pinpointed the location of the crash, the Jedi decided it was time to pursue this subject to finality and if Aliclair Austjor had indeed perished in the incident then he would recover her remains and lay them properly to rest. But there was something in the back of his mind that had nagged him ever since the incident had occurred. Something dark… Something sinister…

Moving from his quarters with staff in hand and cloak about his shoulders, he was clearly set to make departure. Though before doing so he would need to make the Council aware of his personal mission. The Coalition Group was not here over Ossus just for the occasion. While certainly a byproduct of the recent Sith attack on a set of ruins down on the surface, the Group had a priority mission of its own to accomplish. Ben’s own operation would have to occur within the window of time the Group would take to finish assembling, briefing and coordination, after which time it would be on the move once more.

With or without him.

Understanding the guidelines set for him, his pace was made with haste.

His route took him to the Communications Deck where he was greeted in kind though in a rush he cut out his normal pleasantries and quickly requested an open channel with the Council. Currently Jedi of every vocation were all required to undertake Jedi business throughout the Galaxy. As such the High Jedi Council on Permafrost was not in session, however, the Council at Koda Station was present although not fully seated at this time.

Master Kenobi stood in the middle of a room now, surrounded by the holographic projected images of two seated Councilors. He bowed his respect and was pleased to see Master Yuan Mynb and Master Shirrwa. The Sullustan and Wookie, respectively, had been active members of the Jedi Coalition for some time. Ben knew them when either had been new to the Order, now they were accomplished members indeed.

“Greetings Master Kenobi,” Master Yuan began, though before she could continue Ben himself raised a hand.

“Masters, hello. Forgive me for abandoning protocol. But I am here to inform the Council that I must take leave.”

Immediately the Wookie Jedi called back, Ben nodded in agreement. “I’m aware, Master Shirrwa and I intend to be present for that action. But with the Group’s proximity to Ossus and the Force having provided valuable insight in the matter concerning my Padawan, I must attend this matter.”

For a moment there was silence of which Yuan interrupted. “I see there is no persuading you otherwise Master Kenobi.” She knew well Ben’s habit of going where he felt he was needed, regardless of the Council’s blessing. She perhaps decided that at least he had told them this time. “Master Kenobi, the Group Farfalla will not be able to wait for you.”

Ben nodded his head respectfully. “I understand fully. But there are no coincidences. The Force has brought me here and the Force is calling me to the surface. I shall not be long.” One final moment passed and Ben bowed in farewell as the hologram faded away.

Turning aside he huried his pace out the door and began making his way to the hangar…

[Jarak Kai]

Since the collision of interests on the planet below, Jedi Knight Jarak Kai and Jedi Padawan Kel Kep had been instructed to take a bit of rest before the upcoming actions. However - recent exposure to the threat and general atmosphere that the Sith project, the two Jedi found resting almost impossible. For a normal being, this would've sapped their energy and left them feeling tired, but these were Jedi, force wielders and stationed at Ossus, well, not all believed in it but there was the theory that places where the Jedi gather, have a positive effect on those Jedi who come after. Though Jarak and Kel were isolated from the Order against the Sith, they did not feel alone.

The Y Wing, 'Fortune's Sight', was arcing up from the atmosphere of Ossus where Jarak and Kel had been exploring some of the further away and more scattered ruins. When the pair of them left for the planet below, the fleet had started to gather, with two ships exiting hyperspace right as they entered the planet's atmosphere. Now the fleet was assembled and they were likely the first Jedi to see a Jedi fleet in orbit of Ossus for quite some time. The array of refitted Hammerhead Cruisers were a traditional sight of a Jedi presence in space, continued service long after the main body of government had shifted to Mon Calamarian, Sullustian and Bothan designs, the Jedi had maintained a habit for purchases from Rendili stardrive, and as such, Rendili held the Jedi in high regard. There was not another corporate entity Jarak could think of that could call themselves friends of the Jedi, but a couple millennia of continued business transactions will do that. Flanking them were two Majestic Cruisers, products of the new line of shipping from the Galactic Alliance Engineering Corporation, an amalgamation of known companies working together on joint projects.

Though the attention would always shift to the two Nebula Star Cruisers, Star Destroyers in all but name, and mighty ones at that. Per tonnage they were unmatched in the galaxy for firepower, bristling with linked turbolasers, ion cannons and missiles, and they were not soft in the shielding or hull either, rated to withstand the initial assault of an Executor, though, could not hope to indefinitely. It was however, a hard counter to the prevalent Imperial Class Star Destroyers and their second coming, for that's what they were, successor Star Destroyers and they were referred to as such by everyone not being paid directly from the Galactic Alliance Senate. Star Destroyer had become a name which brought negative emotional responses, but from a non-emotional perspective, it had become it's own category of warship and history would refer to them as such, no matter what the Senators would rather they were called.

'You can't call them Cruisers with that many guns.' Kel had said to Jarak once, truthfully.

"Take us into the Farfalla - belly hanger." Jarak instructed his Padawan, and the Mon Calamari complied, swooping past the Hammerheads 'Qui Gon' and 'Sunrider', the latter of which Jarak had served on in a previous engagement. Kel flew so close to the Cruiser that Jarak could see the bridge crew's heads turn to see them. Having a majority of Jedi pilots in a fleet, new Alliance crew had to get used to the Jedi flying a little bit closer and a little bit faster than your standard pilots in the Navy. A single wing of XJ-Class X wings had joined on Fortune's Sight starboard side, practicing their escort pattern for unknow vessels, but Jarak turned to see the a familiar face in Strike Wing Vigilant's lead pilot.

The Y Wing entered the hanger into a cleared space, venting steam as the ice turned to vapor off of the chassis of the bomber. Jarak and Kel had disembarked and made their way to the hanger door, which opened prematurely. Though the reasoning for this became instantly clear. The two returning Jedi, the first back on Ossus, arched to a bow, traditional of the Jedi.

"Master Kenobi - It's good to see you." Jarak said as the familiar presence washed over his Padawan and himself, separating the Master's presence from the others on the ship.

[Ben Kenobi]

The hangar of the Farfalla was the natural picture of calm any hangar of a ship of the line would be in. That calm could have easily been mistaken for absolute chaos in any other realm. Mechanics rushed about their business, power droids skittered behind them to provide portable welders or torches, a fuel lifter with two hoses out the back of the tank went from fighter pair to pair in an endless loop. Pilots according to squadron and even then flight group were huddled in briefing semi-circles learning the in and outs of future operations. There was no section of this hangar that was not alive with activity.

Even the Fortune’s Sight was attacked by a team of deck hands. A pair of mechanics removed the astromech from the socket where they conversed with it through a datapad of any upcoming maintenance. A hangar tech driving a tug moved into position and would find out how long they would be staying; if long then the Knight’s Y-wing would be towed away from the launch platform and clear the tarmac.

Master Kenobi had finally made it to the hangar proper, even he was human and had to battle with his greatest failing of impatience. He had to fight the urge to literally rush to the hangar and instead do something as simple as walk. Many times impatience had misled Kenobi and many times he had paid the price, it was a constant inner battle with him. One that he would ever learn from, yet never fully master. He slowed as he neared the doorway and stopped for a moment, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath.

A quick exercise later to calm his nerves he opened his eyes and stepped into the auto-open scanner of the door. Parting ways, he stepped through the door just as a familiar face made its way into his proximity. He could not begin to suppress a smile as Knight Kai and his Padawan Kel arrived.

All at once just the thing he had needed, his impatience eroded when Kai greeted him and in turn Kenobi held his staff firmly to the ground and bowed with left hand close in. ‘There are no coincidences…’ Ben repeated inwardly to himself in that moment. Kai and Kep had unknowingly intervened in Ben’s moment of troubled impatience. Returning him to the moment and grounding him. “I was just on my way to the surface,” he commented and politely stepped to the side of them, “walk with me.” It was not a demand at all, but an invitation.

“I am happy to have run into you both. Kel, your actions on the surface are noteworthy.” He paused a moment, while he did not have much ego to speak of, he was still aware of how he was held; the only surviving Jedi of the first generation to have come up since the Great Jedi Purge during the Clone Wars, one time sitting head of the Jedi Order, the Jedi who had slain the Galactic Emperor Craggnosk in single combat after being arrested and forced to face him in the Colosseum on Coruscant. And that was but a snippet of a longer list indeed. Some would easily say legend. Ben himself would ever continue to avoid these titles as dangerous hubris and the means of entitlement that could bury a Jedi. But the point of it was that a single word Ben spoke held great weight within the community whether he liked that fact or not, he did not want to overdo it for the Padawan. So he concluded with, “Well done.” Such status often made him feel alone even when he was among his brother Jedi Knights.

Side by side as they walked towards an old Eta-2 Actis-class Light Interceptor, Ben continued. “We should get some more flight time for Kel once we get back to Koda Station. I hear they’ve updated the old obstacle course in the asteroid belt. The targets fire back now.” Kel seemed to be a natural pilot, to strengthen that ability was never a bad idea. The Coalition could always use more formidable pilots in every position.

They arrived at the Eta-2 as Ben’s own white and red R7 astromech was being locked into the socket. Pausing at the flank of the starship he once more turned to Kai. “I’m heading to the surface.” Stowing his staff into the cockpit he continued, “you’ll be the ranking Knight aboard the Farfalla. Make sure we maintain the schedule once the fleet is fully assembled. I should return well before then. Though I will catch up if not.” He took in the hangar once more, returning his eyes to Kai, in an unguarded moment Ben gave off that he was genuinely concerned and by Jarak’s eyes in turn, Ben noticed the Knight was very perceptive and nodded in appreciation of it.

The truth behind that though was that Ben was not concerned for the mission at hand but concerned about what he would actually find. He would need to prepare himself to find and receive that truth, regardless of what the outcome would be.

Jarak may not have known the entire story but the matter of it certainly. Ben’s Padawan Apprentice, Aliclair Austjor’s Eta-2 had gone down in a mysterious lightning storm and all contact had been lost, including the exact location other than knowing it had happened on Ossus. The disappearance and following silence of the incident had not set well with Kenobi and he had searched for answers ever since, only now finally discovering the location. Now, he would seek out the truth.

“The Force has shown me where Aliclair went down.”