STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- The Council of Taneshla

"Then let's use that means of finding him...at the very least, they'll be surprised," Rianna replies, deciding to not push Tanic about his past. She's not exactly being forthcoming about her own, after all.

"No, this isn't a fight for you," she says to Graf. "You did what you were paid to do, you don't want to get involved in this."

Graf nods.

"I'll do you the favor of tipping off the authorities that the Queen is dead," Graf says. "You can go on your way once you drop me off on Taris."

You emerge into the cool night air of Vanquo in the clearing where you fought earlier.

"Why didn't you tell me you were a Jedi?" Tanic asks.

"You didn't exactly share that you were a Jedi, either," Rianna says to Tanic. "I am...hiding from the Order, I suppose."

"I can relate," Tanic says, simply.

Upon reaching Tanic's ship, the Shadow Blade, Tanic takes a look back in the direction of the clearing where you all fought.

"I wonder if this Rand guy wanted the Queen dead for some reason," Tanic says. "I guess we'll ask when we track him down, right?"

"For all I know, he set up her operation and was controlling her, to get at us," Rianna says. "He's done that before."

"Pointless way for an operation to end," Tanic says. "Let's get going..."

-

As the Shadow Blade ramps up its engine power for lightspeed and blinks away into the distance, another ship appears in orbit over Vanquo. It descends through the atmosphere and sets down in the clearing.

Down the ramp steps a dark-cloaked figure, flanked by an assassin probe and a second dark-cloaked figure.

"Are they still here?" Vash asks.

Rand scans the area with his mind, then frowns. "No, they've gone."

"Then we should follow," Vash says.

Rand closes his eyes and reaches into the Force. "No. Retrieve the goods from the Queen's chamber. The Republic will send a clean-up crew soon."

Rand stomps back into the ship, leaving his student to do the hard work. Vash sighs and approaches the mine.

-

Graf disembarks on Taris and Tanic stays only long enough to refuel.

"I have a destination in mind," Tanic says as he fiddles at the controls of his ship.

"Where are you thinking of?" Rianna asks, watching Tanic play with the controls from the co-pilot's seat.

"I have a contact on the world Taneshla," Tanic says. "He's well-resourced, I should be able to get a lead on Rand with help from him."

Has Rianna ever been to or heard of Taneshla?

"Well, so long as you can do this while staying under the radar," she says. "I'll be honest, I really don't know much of the galaxy."

It is in Republic space. It has been colonized but is of very little note. Very quiet place.

"Then welcome aboard," Tanic says. "I do. Did your Master not try to instill a sense of 'worldliness' in you, whoever he was?"

"She attempted...I think. Instead she spent a rather large amount of time lecturing me about acting recklessly and spending more time practicing with my lightsaber more than anything else," Rianna says with a shrug, pretending she doesn't really care. "She was more of a diplomat and a scholar, while I a warrior. We didn't get on well."

"It happens. Before we go, though... I need to make sure of two things.

"You're not going back down if we find Rand, right?

"And if my contact turns out to be... somewhat savory, you're not going to try arresting him or whatever. Got that?"

"No, I won't arrest your contact...if he's who we need to find them, then I can deal with it. I'm not part of the Jedi Order anymore. I don't have the authority to do that anymore anyway," she replies. She pauses for a moment before responding to his first question. "And no. If we find him...I won't back down."

"Good and great. Let's hop to it."

You leave Taris behind once again to pursue a new adventure, one that is already determined to have dire outcomes. This time, you won't let it be for you.

Taneshla is not far from Taris, and the flight only takes a few hours. In those hours, you can rest up. Tanic has some medical supplies so if you have Medicine, you can apply a double rating to your damage.

Additionally, you can use Dreams in this time. Will you?

I don't recall if Rianna has Medicine at this point, but if she does, then use, I'll do that.

And yes, Rianna will use Dreams.

Noted. Rianna has a Medicine rating of 5, so she may heal 10 damage, then another 10 atop that to represent resting. Tanic gets the same; he's not much better.

In this time, Tanic also sends a message ahead to his contact. The name of his contact is Lord Geful. It doesn't ring any bells.

Taneshla is a sparsely forested world with rolling plains and a smattering of clear blue seas, as you can see clearly from space. You descend through the atmosphere in the Shadow Blade and make your approach toward one of the towns. Space traffic around the world is limited but there are a few trade vessels coming in and out of the small starport that Tanic sets down in.

You can marvel at the fact that nearly everything is constructed from wood in an age when durasteel and permacrete are the norm. The floor of the hangar, however, is metal.

Someone is coming into the hangar to meet you.

Rianna looks around her at everything, before glancing at the person that's coming to meet them. What does she sense?

The usual- people around, your environment, nothing sinister.

You turn around and see Rand approaching!

... oh, wait, no, just a starport official coming your way, paperwork in hand.

"Welcome back to Taneshla, Captain Starguard," he greets Tanic. "I see you've brought a guest. How unexpected."

"I suppose it is, Sarkley," Tanic responds. "Nobody needs to know she's here."

"Of course. Will you be taking a speeder out to the Lord's Manor?"

"Yes."

"I will have one prepared for you and your ship refueled, Captain Starguard."

Tanic slips him some credits before the dockman walks off.

"They seem to know you quite well here..." Rianna comments.

Also, just out of curiosity, has Rianna ever heard Tanic's name before? 😛

Maybe in passing. He's not famous or anything.

"I'm kind of a big deal to my contact," Tanic says. "Having a Jedi on your side helps."