STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Runaway

The Ravaging Claw descends into the atmosphere. Immediately the shields flicker as lightning thrashes at the ship.

"Zrik was bombarded by the Sith with an experimental weapon of mass destruction," Friste explains. "It had an electromagnetic effect that has ruined the surface by triggering lightning storms that have rained down upon there surface since the detonation of the weapon. It scorched away all life. So much destruction..."

Friste turns to you.

"In addition to getting repairs for the Claw after what damage it sustained at Varloucant, I had the shields upgraded to withstand this. I've been here before."

"You've been here before?"

"Yes. Svidrigailov's flagship had shields and armor strong enough to visit the surface. The lightning storms prevented us from being detected on long-range scanners, we appeared to be an anomaly that vanished as soon as it appeared."

"So why did you visit this particular planet?"

"Remember that parchment I showed you? It mentioned Zrik. I suggested it to Svidrigailov as a hiding place, and I explored it. I already know where my prize is hidden. All I needed was the Key, which I have, and to get Svidrigailov out of the way."

"Which you did," Xavier says.

"So then all that remains is for you to put everything together."

"Precisely."

Descending through the atmosphere allows you to look past the bolt-hurling storm clouds and the flash of lightning to see the surface. Not wanting to disappoint those who make it past the constant storms, the surface is as gray and desolate as it appears to be from space. No sign of civilization exists, long-since buried under the hardened ashes that blanket the surface.

"And this used to be an agricultural world," Friste comments. "Imagine it, the bountiful orchards of Zrik, reknowned for its quality and tasteful fruits... gone in an instant as the Sith bomb detonates in the midst of the trees. Whatever remains is annihilated by lightning strikes. Glorious..."

The Ravaging Claw finally touches down in a field of ash that billows into the air as the repulsorlifts roar to life and the landing gear make contact.

Friste takes a comm unit from a nearby console.

"This is Lord Frost addressing. All personnel, report to the hangar for disembarkment. Bring the Republic prisoners!"

Xavier will follow Friste.

Friste strides off of the bridge with you and the pirate crew in tow. When you arrive at the hangar, the pirates are preparing the slave freighters for flight under Xorn's supervision.

"We will fly out to the site," Friste explains.

"Very well," Xavier says.

Once the pirates have loaded onto the freighters with their supplies and their prisoners, Friste and Xorn escort you onto the lead transport. Xorn eyes your warily while Friste tells the pilot to take off ahead of the others.

The freighters deploy through the narrow space beneath the ship, narrowly zooming out across the ashen fields of Zrik.

"Are you prepared to embrace your destiny, Xavier?" Friste asks.

Remember his head is ours

"Yes I am."

The freighters, carrying a handful of Republican prisoners and hundreds of pirates, zoom away from the landing site of the now empty Claw and towards a small set of mountains.

Is Xavier just hanging on for the ride? Friste seems to be urging the pilots to fly faster, as if concerned about something.

"Friste, why are you in such a hurry?"

Friste frowns and you sense that makes more of an effort to cloud your senses with the Dark Side.

"Trax escaped from us at Ord Janon."

"So you are afraid of one prune faced alien, or are you afraid of the people he may be bringing."

"I do not want this ruined for me," Friste says. "If that damnable slave manages to bring the Jedi or the Judicial Department into this... I want to be ready."

"A very logical way to go about it."

Lightning strikes fall about the flying freighters, occasionally flashing against their shields. They stay low enough that the lightning focuses itself on higher objects, such as the mountainous area that the freighters are approaching. Setting down in the shadow of the low mountain provides cover against the lightning.

"We are here," Friste says.

"I don't see anything," Xorn says, following Friste's gaze.

"Exactly."

Xavier keeps his eyes on wherever Friste is looking trying to see whatever it is.