STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Gunrunner

Between both your well-developed connection to the Force and knowledge of the Galaxy, you think you may have reached your destination.

Now floating before your ship, taking up the viewscreen in all its grayness, is the planet Davashad. The world is in surplus on valuable manufacturing metals and natural gasses; however, instead of letting other planets and organizations ravage it for their own purposes, colonizing corporations established themselves firmly long ago and have kept up a strong economy for the relatively weak local government.

Their main contribution to the Republic, aside from their resources and money, is firearms and defense tech for security forces.

They originally supplied the Republic Army, but that is not a thing these days.

Rand will open contact with Davashad, requesting permission to land. Being a Republic cruiser bound for their world, he will disclose his Jedi status to them.

Does Rand know who is in charge on this planet?

There is a government in place, with a head of state and a senatorial representative, but you believe it is heavily influenced by the corporations at work.

They want to know why you have come! They didn't call for the assistance of the Jedi.

"We're pursuing leads of an investigation," Rand states. "We have reason to believe that there is a wanted criminal on your world, likely without your being aware. We've followed him from Lahsbane where he was responsible for sponsoring a rebellion against Republic control."

They are not going to deny you a landing permit, but they want to know how you tracked the criminal here.

"Tracking beacon on his ship," Rand says, not entirely feeling the need to explain the providence of the Force and its supernatural ways and so on.

They give you clearance to land.

You are immediately struck by the fact that the clouds you descend through probably are not clouds. Davashad is enshrouded in dense smog.

The landscape you soar over is reminiscent of futuristic Los Angeles according to Bladerunner; pyramidal and monolothic structures that dimly reflect the obfuscated sunlight, burning red through the smog. Most appear to be factories, equipped with delightful ventilation systems that belch smoke.

"What the hell is this place?" Foghren asks. "You'd think with the advances our Republic has made, environmental catastrophes like this wouldn't exist."

"Some of our advances exist BECAUSE of these catastrophes," Rand says to Foghren, glaring down into the smoggy hell that is Davashad.

He inquires with air control if someone is going to meet them.

"I guess so," Foghren says. "I feel like it throws the natural balance of a world off, doesn't it? It's worse than Coruscant."

They are sending a security officer to check things out and give you the all clear.

The pilots are directed into one of the largest monolithic structures, which proves to be the corporate offices of the Naft Corporation. You've heard of them before, and you know that they are the predominant corporation on Davashad.

(A high Savoir-Faire score helps, as you can see.)

So it is with a security officer from the Naft that you meet with- a gentleman in a uniform with a two-pronged beard and a two-pronged, two-sided electro-staff strapped to his back.

"Master Jedi," says the officer. "I'm Captain Amiid. Please hand over any weapons you are carrying. We do not permit any weapons within the offices without a permit."

"Do you truly find it necessary for me to surrender the mark of my status?" Rand asks, taking his lightsaber hilt in hand. Nonetheless, he offers the weapon to this security officer, pommel-first, as requested. "You're probably more secure here than I am. I've not had the distinct pleasure of visiting Davashad before..."

Rand will ensure Foghren gives up his lightsaber too, though the Padawan is probably more reluctant to do so than he is.

Foghren happily gives up his lightsaber. You suspect more from confidence in his unarmed capabilities than from good faith.

Amiid will accept the sabers nonetheless.

"I'm just doing my job," Amiid states. "You don't have a permit, you don't go in armed. Now, I've been instructed to escort you to my employer. Come with me."

Amiid turns to lead you into the monolithic structure that the Naft Corporation calls an office. His men stay in formation around you.

"I suppose we follow," Rand says to Foghren. "Stay close and observe."

Rand will follow Amiid out of the hangar.

Foghren does as you ask when you move to follow Amiid. His security detail stays in close around you, not allowing for much drifting inside their formation.

The halls you are guided through are dimly lit and made from a sleek black material that almost looks like volcanic glass; however, no light filters through that you can tell. They are diamond-shaped, with flat floors instead of the bottom point.

Amiid's route guides you around a few right-angle turns.

"All the halls look the same," Foghren says.

"What did I say about being observant?" Rand lightly scolds his Padawan. "See if you can find a distinction, or remember your steps. Not that we'll need to."

Rand glances at the soldiers around him.

"If the Force wills, anyway..." Rand adds.

"So, who is this we're seeing?" Rand asks Amiid.

"The Chairman of Naft Corporation," Amiid states.

"What is her name?" Rand asks. "And what does the chairman's position entail? I'm woefully unfamiliar with companies that deal in mechanisms of destruction..."

Rand feigns his ignorance to see what he can find out from Amiid.

"Mechanisms of security, Master Jedi," Amiid corrects sharply. "Chairman Vikka Valnez. She runs the company."

"Seems obvious enough," Foghren comments.

Amiid glances at the Padawan.

"She also runs Davashad," he adds.

"She is both the CEO and the Head of State?" Rand says. "Not exactly a fulfillment of the democratic notions the Republic sets forth..."

"Because the monarchies of Tasker's Crown and Alderaan are," Amiid points out. "We're here."

You have come to the end of one of the confusing hallways. Amiid swipes his key card at the control panel, then pulls off a glove and scans his fingertips.

Rand tries to sense beyond the end of the hallway, poised to take action but assuming that things are not going to explode in their face just because they arrived.

But who's to say...