STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- The Cursed Swarm

It will be Intrusion checks to get in close enough without being detected. Happy with that?

Yup!

Then it is Iffa and Seth and Dar moving ahead. The rest are sadly lacking.

Satisfying Intrusion checks mean you pass quietly through the forest in the direction of the Garans. You arrive at the edge of a clearing, concealed in shrubbery.

There are a huge number of Garans inhabiting this clearing! Families feasting on raw meat, soldiers standing guard, craftsmen at work...

There is not a single building here.

Dar starts to quietly explain but you can't understand him without the protocol droid. He realizes and stops.

Quietly observe....

You manage to spot those scouts in the midst of the Garans. They are moving for the very center of the clearing. They begin talking with a massive Garan and his aide.

The aide is a curious sight- he is human! And wearing the insignia of the Burning Fist...

As in the Pirates?

Yes indeed.

Can we tell what he is saying or how he is communicating with them?

There is a small probe droid hovering by the pirate's head.

Ah. Any other clues?

It is a little easier to pick up the pirate's Basic among the growls and hisses the Garans speak in.

"What? They're here?" the pirate says.

The Garans hiss; the probe translates, saying they want to know if you can come in unarmed.

"No, no, don't be stupid," the pirate says.

The Hsrik asks why not- the Garans do not fear Jedi.

"You should," the pirate says. "Unarmed or in pieces, they can choose."

'Get the others' Iffa motions to the other 2.

Then, he calmly walks into the open, arms raised in a concilliatory manner.

"I understood the Garans were a noble race," he says, hoping the droid will translate, "but I do not understand why they follow the whims of pirates and mercenaries. I have no reason to fight you, or you me."

There is a variety of hums and clangs as the Garans pull blasters and swords on you! Nobody moves to attack because the Hsrik has raised a claw to stay their movements.

"What are you doing?" the pirate asks harshly. "Don't just stand there, blast him!"

The Hsrik growls harshly to silence him. Nothing happens.

What you said was not translated...

Iffa points to himself, smiles and gives a thumbs up. He points to the Pirate and frowns, thumbs down. He gestures between himself and the Hrisk and indicates they speak. He points at the pirate and gestures for him to leave.

"I suggest you leave, Pirate."

"And I suggest you mind your own business, meddlesome Jedi," the pirate says. "You have no purpose here!"

You can feel the Hsrik studying you curiously. He hisses to the pirate; the probe translates, asking why the pirate will not let him speak.

"He wants to stop your victory over the Bollans," the pirate claims. It translates back and the Hsrik frowns.

Iffa shakes his head. "You both have bigger enemies to fight."

The Hsrik looks at the probe. It stays quiet. He hisses again- the probe translates for the pirate, asking to let you speak.

"No," the pirate says. "He'll ruin everything!"

Iffa indicates again that he and the Hrisk should speak.

The Hsrik examines you again, then hisses and swats at the translator probe. The pirate rashly draws his pistol, having interpreted it as an attack on him, and the Hsrik grabs him by the throat. The Garans around hiss and rasp wildly.

"Transsslate," the Hsrik says in forced Basic.

"Alright, alright!" the pirate sputters. "TD, translate all speech!"

The probe emits an affirmative beep-boop.

"You want to talk?" asks the Hsrik of you.

"Yes!" Iffa replies. "The Garans are a noble and strong people. But these men who stand at your side are the opposite. They prey on the weak, have no honour, and are nothing more than common Pirates."

"I am here to broker a peace between yourselves and the Bollans, for the greater good of the planet. We must ensure these Pirates do not interefere here, and then we must - together - defeat the Swarm once and for all."