STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Puppets

(Unwittingly? I think not.)

Tanic, unable to sleep, wanders about the ship, looking for information on Garel... but also information about Jedi missions that have gone awry in the past, concerned that something might occur on this, his first, chance to prove himself.

(Touché.)

Not a whole lot of wandering to be done; the ship consists of the cockpit and a 'social' room, with a round table and supplies.

There is a computer in there, if you wish to search for information.

Well, I suppose Tanic has a quick look at the information on Garel, perhaps checking the news? (I don't know if there is a galactic news service...).

Other than that, he tries to meditate until they arrive.

The HoloNet qualifies for such a service. It is basically the Star Wars version of the internet, maintained by the Republic for instantaneous communication between all the worlds. There is a hyperwave emitter/receiver on every planet in the Republic, and even some outside of it.

Recent news updates from Garel are...very unhelpful. Most of the articles regard how the take-over of Alpha Station is harming the planet's economy. You are able to get a hologram image of the Alpha Station, though. It is very much shaped like a flat disk.

I guess Tanic'll try and pull the floor plan and all the details of the interior of the station, and try to learn the layout.

If he fails at that, he'll try and get a similar floor plan of another, similar, station.

You are able to pull schematics easily.

Alpha Station's structure is highly reminscent of Cloud City's architecture on Bespin. It curves gently towards its peak, then suddenly flattens off at the top. A massive cylindrical component takes up much of the station, though it is slightly off-center; it's the gas storage station. A tangled web of pipes and vents cover the bottom half of the station. Docking bays line the disk.

You're unsure what the structure next to the gas cylinder is...

...until you look at the schematics.

A- Gas Storage Chamber
B- Control Room
C- Gas Filtration/Processing Chamber
D- Docking/Loading Bays, Gas Containment
E- Living Quarters, Recreational Services, Food Services

Wow. I'm impressed.

What else can Tanic feasbily do to prepare?

It seems there is little to be done. The schematics can be loaded into your portable hand-held holoprojector, which all Jedi are given for their utility belts.

You could try sleeping again, but thinking about it causes you to feel uneasy as you recall the percussive rhythm...

Well then. Tanic will meditate until he is able to go back to sleep, and thus pass the rest of the journey.

Meditation is almost as restful as sleep, but still difficult. That tapping rhythm grows stronger the more you drift into your meditative state, but it is not as nightmarish as your dream. Not nearly.

Soon, the navcomputer alerts you that the ship is nearing Garel.

Tanic goes to wake up Kay. When she's fully alert and at the pilot's seat, he informs her of the dream:
"It was terrifying. I couldn't get away from it."

Kay looks concerned.

"Do not let the terror of your dream get to you," Kay says. "Fear starts you down the path to the Dark Side. You've proven that you can control your emotions, Tanic. Let the feelings of this nightmare pass, but hold on to what you may have learned from it... if anything."

She only seems more concerned, having said that last line.

Tanic bows his head,
"Thank you. I think that will help."

"Any time," Kay says. "Though I am concerned that you were unable to draw more from this dream..."

A few moments later, the starship arrives at Garel.

The world has the appearance of gas giant, with a gaseous sickly green atmosphere thick enough to hide any traces of the gray chunky soil that composes Garel's surface.

The gas collection stations are all of similar shape; disk-shaped with central cylinders and control stations and pipes and such. They dip into the atmosphere at various points while in use, but otherwise hover in orbit.

The Alpha Station is easily the largest and you spot it almost immediately, dead ahead.

"We are to dock directly with Alpha Station," Kay says. "What little government Garel has will be unable to help us more than they already have, which is to say, they've informed us of the problem. Are you ready, Tanic?"

Tanic smiles, pushing the dream to the back of his mind.
"I'm ready. I will folllow your lead."

"We go in together," Kay says.

Kay sends a hail to Garel traffic control, informing them of your arrival. Traffic control puts this message into the local government, which expresses gratitude for your undertaking of this mission.

Then she tries to hail Alpha Station. Nothing but static.

"Strange, but not unexpected..."

Tanic heads back to the hold and goes through a last check of his gear, igniting and deactivating it in a nervous process.

(Wanna fight something!)

"Patience, Tanic," Kay says, adopting her advise-giving mentoring tone. "I can understand you're anticipating conflict, but no..."

Kay is distracted by the fact that the docking bays are all sealed.

"Um... hang on."

She brings the starship into orbit around Alpha Station, circling it in search of an open docking bay. Eventually, she finds one, and only one. Kay guides the starship in and sets down beside another starship.

As they emerge from the ship, Tanic uses the Force and his eyes to scan over the other vessel.