STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Broken

"Our mission is not of the utmost secrecy, but it was beneficial that our arrival went unannounced," Vera-Kin says. "I am Jedi Master Vera-Kin, this is Jedi Knight Rianna Xi. We have grave business on Ord Coridari, General."

"It is also a matter which could not wait," Rianna adds.

The General's heavy eyebrows lift when you mention this.

"Is there something wrong here?" Hirget asks.

"We were sent here to find and stop a Dark Jedi who arrived here, General. He would have arrived inside the past couple of days, accompanied by two others. He is after an object - we don't know exactly where it is, but I feel very strongly that if he lays his hands on it, nothing good can come," Rianna says.

"What is this object that you speak of?" General Hirget asks, calmly.

"On that, we have frustratingly little detail...I simply know what I was told, which is that it is a box that is located in a mansion on this planet," Rianna replies. "I wish I had more information about it than that, but that's it."

"A box in a mansion, you say?" the General asks.

He emits a short, humorless laugh.

"This ought to be amusing."

"May I ask why you think that?" Rianna replies, trying to keep her sudden annoyance from reflecting in her tone and looking over at Vera-Kin.

"If I am correct, I know of what object you speak," General Hirget says. "It is known simply as the Box, and it is well protected by someone who should not have it in the first place. Now someone wants to steal it from a thief."

"Then you know who is currently in possession of it," Vera-Kin says, "and where they can be found. It is important that we meet them."

"I do," General Hirget says. "What do you know of Ord Coridari's social and political atmosphere?"

"A small amount," Rianna replies. "I know that this is mostly a mining world, that leaders of some of the mining companies have set themselves up as a nobility of sorts, and that you, General, serve as both Senator and Head of State."

General Hirget cracks a smile.

"Why yes, I do," Hirget says. "As Head of State I run Ord Coridari under very loose martial law; the planet is democratic but every part of government is operated by the military. The 'nobility' of Ord Coridari are not particularly fond of this, saying that my leadership is undemocratic and fascist; however, it is more that they find fault with my taxation policies. Do you follow me so far?"

"I believe so...what policies of yours do they dislike?"

"I impose greater taxes on the obscenely wealthy mining corporations, and that money trickles into a fund for the miners and their families," General Hirget explains. "This assures that they continue to live healthily and be work ready and have money to spend, keeping the economy of Ord Coridari going. But it also means that the rich are not as rich as they could be, and they don't like that."

"I see...and would it be a fair assumption to say that the original theft of the Box was connected to this?"

"The Box was found by a team of miners belonging to a certain noble, back when I was first made Head of State. I viewed the Box as potentially dangerous and restricted access to the site where it was found. The noble had other ideas about the Box, and had it stolen in defiance of my orders. That man has passed on, but his only daughter and heir to his wealth now has the Box.

"Her name is Dame Gwylwyleth Astrune."

The fact that it was found by a team of miners only further cements in Rianna's mind her theory that it was what caused the massive destruction during the battle with the Sith.

"And I am sure she has it well guarded, herself...though how well that would stand against a Dark Jedi determined to get it, I don't know," Rianna says, half thinking out loud. "I have my own idea as to what that box could be, but...I'm curious, why did you think it could be dangerous?"

Does Vera-Kin know anything about what the General is saying? Particularly about this Dame Astrune character that has the Box. What can Vera-Kin sense about the General? Scan, no points spent.

"A mysterious black Box found within the great canyon forged by a Sith weapon," General Hirget says. "Tell me you wouldn't have thought the same."

He is not particularly enthused by your presence, Vera-Kin, but he is at least amiable. The name Astrune sounds familiar to you, but you cannot recall why.