STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Diplomacy

in exchange for ... ?

Nothing, as far as he knows!

"I'm skeptical too," Hardrew says. "Automated help couldn't hurt us. I want to know what they expect to get in return. That might hurt more."

"Perhaps they will reveal demands in the negotiations.", I venture.

"Are the children and elderly in any more discomfort because of these blockades?"

"They're fine for now," Hardrew says. "It'll trickle down, though."

"How's the crime rate?"

Crime is low, according to public figures.

and according to the people?

"I have not," Jelena responds to Senator Lobs, glancing out the window across the bland scenery. "Consider this an opportunity for your world to make its first impression on me, Senator."

"Miners stand together when they can," Hardrew says. "Only the truly despaired turn to crime."

The landspeeder coughs along the cold empty streets until it comes to a patrol gate. A handful of armed men wave stop you, their chests emblazoned with the insignia of the Fest Corporation- a red triangle piercing a blue circle.

You get a close look at one of them as he approaches the speeder briefly. The hired guns of the Fest Corporation are unarmored, and their guns look dated.

Hardrew is waved through before you can examine much more, and you are begin the ascent toward the main gate of the Festan mine.

-

"Hopefully it is a good impression that we make," Senator Lobs says. "We would certainly appreciate the assistance of the Jedi Order in our negotiations with the Mantooinians. It is no secret that they hate us and seek to take our planet for their own."

"I was under the impression that nobody wanted our interference in the negotiations," Jelena says. "It was made very explicit to us at our landing, and the Council has not mandate that we take part. We come as keepers of the peace."

"Are the mines usually guarded or is this to keep the pressure on?"

"Fest is not as adverse to this as the Trade Federation and Mantooine appear to be," Senator Lobs says. "I cannot allow them the knowledge that we would appreciate the full assistance of the Senate here. It would complicate things and their efforts would be hastened, before the Senate could do anything to intervene.

"Wine?" Lobs asks, as an attendant comes from the forward cabin with a simple bottle and glasses.

-

The mines are usually guarded. They contain Fest's most precious exports.

Some things never change

"No thank you," Jelena says. She wants to keep her mind sharp as ever here on Fest, with so much at stake. "Sadly the Order can only act with the express permission of the Senate, as you should know as a Senator. We cannot intervene unless they permit it, or if it becomes an emergency situation."

(Correct me if any of this is presumptuous on my part)

"Is there any danger of things boiling over, Senator?" Jelena asks.

The ascent to the mines is as cold as everything else here. You start coming across discarded mining equipment, things that no longer work and haven't been cleared away. Carts and drills and even droids.

The massive door into the mines looms above you, gray and unmoveable. It is several stories tall.

-

"Potentially," the Senator sighs. "You experienced that first hand with your surprise arrival."

Quite a nice view.

Is there by any chance some old clothes lying around that I can pick up and use to protect myself a bit more?

No discarded clothing that you can see. You imagine the Festans wrap themselves up with whatever they can find.

"You'll be warmer in the mines," Hardrew says.

I'm finding it strange to see them wrapping themselves up with an iron bar 😛
(can I intelligence roll to find out if they mean we're going down real deep, based on their comment it will be warmer in the mine?)

"It does appear to be a bit nippy."
"I take it hardens the children? Do you have chances to promote to ... let's say jobs in a warmer environment or with a higher paywage?"

"It wasn't meant to be a surprise," Jelena says. "Which should indicate that something was amiss with your comms when the Jedi Council tried to reach you, I am certain of that. We would not have showed up uninvited as we did if our plan had been to help."

Jelena maintains a cheerful smile, despite the potentially dangerous line she is talking along. She doesn't want to upset the Senator.

That might not help with the cold...

You cannot be sure until you enter the mine itself. It does look like it has gone deep into the mountain, from the size of that door.

"I don't understand..." Hardrew says.

-

"I have too many suspects for who would have blocked for the transmission," Senator Lobs sighs. "The question is- why?"