STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Respite

Between the two droids, breaking into the less-encrypted channel is a piece of cake. On the comm unit, instead of a garble of static nonsense, you are now getting a voice:

"...sterday, He is today, and He is tomorrow! The Others seek to take our land and our goods for their own, to nourish their blind and wretched followers who refuse to see the truth of this war. They have been lied to when He has chosen to show you the might of His power! They cling to false hope that their leaders will bring them to victory when they have not! He knows that such a path is treacherous, but He gives you the strength to succeed in the face of danger!

"All hail His glory! All hail MALTEEN!"

This last line is repeated by what sounds like a chanting crowd.

Gator reports that the channel is open for you to send a message.

So. The religious nut.

I look to Vera. I'm quite sure I'd ruin any communication if I interjected with what I'm thinking of saying right now.

Vera-Kin clears her thoughts and her throat, then speaks into the ship's comm unit.

"Hail followers of Malteen," Vera-Kin says firmly. "I seek an audience with His Excellency on the matter of your war. Forgive me for interrupting your transmission, but I think it is of great importance that I get in touch with Malteen himself. Please respond..."

Vera-Kin exchanges a glance with Tilulla. "That should suffice," Vera-Kin says, away from the comm.

Xeth will keep the Nexu floating in orbit around Respite.

Tilulla will pour a drink.

"I'm going to play a drinking game. A swig for every time they say 'Hail Malteen!'"

There is a crowd's worth of shocked gasps from the transmission, and the speaker gives a cry of disgust.

"Who DARES interrupt our hour of worship?!" he asks. "How have you done this? Our signals are encrypted, only the worthy may listen!"

Oh this is gonna be great, I think silently as I roll my eyes at my companions.

Vera-Kin echoes that sentiment. She is religious in the sense that all Jedi believe in the Force and the energy field that bonds all things, but fanatacism, especially of the cultish brand, doesn't sit well with her.

"My name is Vera-Kin, and I am a Jedi Master," Vera-Kin says. "How I am doing this is not important. Now, I wish to speak with Malteen, please."

Hm. We revealed our Jedi-ness. Might be harder to convince them we work for Tarne. If it comes to that, of course. I realize we'd rather be diplomatic about it.

Ti's drink sits idle, while Ti herself sits on the edge of her seat in rapt attention, as if waiting to cheer on her favorite team.

Xeth- R3 has pinpointed where the transmission is sending from.

The crowd at the rally gasps and rabbles at the mention of Jedi.

"That cannot be! The Jedi are only a myth!" the speaker responds. "Malteen has said so!"

Do we want to fly in to see Malteen, guys?

Seems dicey at this juncture, yeah? They aren't exactly on our side yet. An intrusion into their place might be seen as hostile at the moment.

Vera, we might want to see who we're speaking to. Even if it's not Malteen, we might be able to ingratiate ourselves to one of his higher-ups.

I like that idea. Not really infiltrating if we show up in a big ship, but Xeth will just keep us in orbit over the place, then.

"Be that as it may, I come offering assistance in your cause, and a plan," Vera-Kin says. "Who am I addressing at the moment?"

"High Chieftain Zarjab, greatest of all those who praise Malteen! Why does our exultant being require YOUR help when he has his own vision?"

Apparently Rexx wants me sober for whatever we're heading into next. I got a little worried when I lobbed a fat one over the plate for him with the drinking game. I could be tanked already. Anyway, I can take a hint...

-

Untouched by her lips, Tilulla pours her drink back into its container, then forgets about it and listens to the conversation. She seems agitated, like she wants to say something, but realizes that it is not the place nor the time.

Maybe the crowd is still chanting in the background? 😉

Vera-Kin is glad that they are talking to someone important rather than a random flunky and says so to Tilulla before responding to the High Priest.

"Does his vision not allow for assistance from those willing to lend it?" Vera-Kin asks. "I am certain he would not refuse anyone willing to go to war in his name."

"You would become His warriors?" Zarjab says. "Then he'd want you. Oh yes, he would. Even if you hold to pagan religions of long-dead knights. I'm sure you can be converted in time..."

"You guys sure we want to work with this guy?" Navir asks.

"Depends," I answer Navir. "If we can get him to work with us toward our goals, then sure. If not, we can always call it off."

"Then how shall we meet him?" Vera-Kin asks. "We wish to land and hold council with him."