STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Broken

"But I don't think they'll understand it. Even I don't - I still don't see what refusing to pay the miners will gain you, other than the enmity of the majority of Ine, or how it could possibly help your stance. They'll just see you as nothing but the person who made their children go hungry," Rianna says. She pauses for a moment, before speaking again.

"And there's more to this than simply the threat of a riot, too."

"General Hirget doesn't want a riot on his hands? Then he will have to burn the literature for his latest taxation scheme. Once that is done, I can resume operations in the mines. The miners will be paid, and things can begin to progress back toward democracy. Hirget knows my game."

Astrune pauses.

"You refer to the Box, I presume? Still worried, are we?"

"Well, yes. We've reason to believe that those we are on Ord Coridari to apprehend want the riots to occur, so they can use that chaos as some sort of distraction. We already know that they know you have the Box, as I do not believe for an instant that my lightsaber wound up in your possession by coincidence. And Master Vera-Kin witnessed one of them coercing a miner to try and kill you," Rianna replies.

"Ah, I heard about that," Astrune says, "though that is not how the papers told it."

Rianna looks over at Vera-Kin, not really sure what to respond with and thinking that the diminutive Jedi Master should be the one to explain what really happened.

"That is a falsification, and I intend to meet with that reporter after we are done here," Vera-Kin says. "That miner was going to try walking in here with a blaster because he was told to by those that we're hunting. Your men would have snapped his neck in fifty places had I not stopped him. That's hardly assaulting miners without provocation."

"Until that newspaper prints a retraction, the miners will not buy that," Astrune says. "I am sure you had the best interests in mind for both me and that miner, though, and I thank you.

"But it is your job to apprehend these criminals. If the rioting is a distraction, then don't fall for it. General Hirget can handle the rioters. Local politics shouldn't stand in your way."

"Our criminals are proving to be quite good at keeping hidden unless they want to be seen, though, it seems. Nor is standing aside while innocents get hurt a very Jedi-like thing to do."

"That is your decision," Astrune says, "but it sounds like worse will happen if you don't track your criminals instead of worry about everything else."

Vera-Kin frowns.

"Apprehending the criminals won't stop the riots," Vera-Kin says. "We have a duty to protect the innocent from this nonsense. It is not something we can do. That is why we have come to you."

"I am afraid I cannot be of help," Astrune says. "It is unfortunate that villains seek to exploit my stance, but if I relent, nothing will change on Ord Coridari. I'm sorry."

"Is there at least any information that you would be able to give us?"

"On what?" she asks.

"Anything that could be the slightest bit useful for us. Even if it's just rumors that you or your guards have heard..." Rianna says.

"I can't say that I know anything you would find useful," Astrune says. "Tineas?"

The bodyguard shakes his head, maintaining his watchful gaze.

Astrune shrugs.

Does Rianna sense anything at all?

(I've run out of things to ask again ermm)

Nothing unusual.

Well, unless Vera's got anything she wants to add or ask about or press Astrune about...I've got nothing right now...

"Dame, really!" Vera-Kin shouts, unnerved by how callous she is about the potential riots. "You must see how your actions have caused this whole problem to spiral out of control! We don't even know what Rand is planning, but it cannot be great for Ord Coridari! What if everyone is killed? What then?"

"As I said," Astrune says. "Stop your villains and their plans are for nothing. It would have come to this with or without their influence of the situation. Now, if that is all..."

Tineas steps forward to show you out of the Dame's home, as before.