"Pesky Meddler"
By: Tasia Harough
Various Jau NPC's

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Vadris 10, 5 ABY

***

"Raek Fe'lac!"

The brazen former repair chief was prone to verbal outbursts - usually containing various curses that would likely be prohibited on the Jau homeworld - yet fully aware that she would be subject to harsh punishment if her anger were directed at a Jau superior, Tasia Harough did nothing today to conceal her frustration from the new chief, Raek Fe'lac. Waving a datapad furiously above her head, Tasia marched towards Chief Fe'lac without even the slightest display of reverence for her Jau superior. Fe'lac shifted his bulk to face her, his scowl expressing displeasure over her behaviour. Tasia was unfazed.

"Another one," she announced. "This has been the fifth today. I'm running behind schedule! The power drains should have been fixed hours ago, as you assured me they would be."

A growl of warning from Fe'lac silenced Tasia instantly. She was well-acquainted with the look being fixed upon her now - countless workers had encountered it before being hauled to lock-up, and for nothing more than breaking a hydrospanner. Tasia was pushing the limits of his patience, but something had to be done.

"Raek," she continued in a far more respectful tone, "for every hour that we lose today we'll be doubly behind tomorrow. We're down six men already - we'll never be able to catch up on the workload if this continues. Why can't your men fix this?"

Fe'lac rumbled, "You should not be concerned. We will repair it."

Tasia frowned, jamming her fists into both hips. "It's been hours, Raek. But it's understandable - this station's systems are still new to your men. I know this station inside and out. I've seen every circuit, every power coil, crawled through every damned duct in this station. If your men can't fix this, I can - in half the time."

Fe'lac's stolid air remained firmly unchanged despite Tasia's persuasive argument, but he was swayed not by her impassioned speech; rather it was the daily quota he was expected to meet that concerned Fe'lac. Without a consistent supply of power for their equipment, there would be a backlog of repairs and his superiors were not interested in excuses. A Jau who could not efficiently perform his duties was easily replaced; there was never a shortage of successors. "I will...speak with my colleagues," he stiffly allowed, then turned on his heel and departed with heavy, resounding steps.

Tasia permitted the faintest of smiles to touch her lips. "Here we go," she murmured. Everything was going as planned, but the tricky part had yet to begin.

***

From milling technicians and trundling droids, the corridors leading to Bay 12 were, in contrast, eerily deserted save for guards posted at regular intervals along the walls. Tasia was flanked by two Jau escorts with disturbingly stern expressions, furthering the impression that she was being conveyed to her execution. At the least she would die as she lived: clad in grease-stained coveralls and toolkit in hand.

She managed to rein in her morbid imagination once they reached the secured door. One guard stepped forward, engaging a motion-sensitive scanner that immersed the Jau in an ultraviolet stream of light. DNA scanner, Tasia thought immediately. A disembodied voice barked a command in what sounded like the Jau tongue, eliciting an equally harsh response from the Jau soldier. Voice recognition, too, she concluded grimly. It was clear the Jau had installed a sophisticated intruder prevention system, for as otherwise technologically unsophisticated as they were. They wanted to protect what was behind those doors, that was evident enough, meaning Tasia was about to enter a rancor's den. A single misstep, one hint of suspicious activity and they wouldn't hesitate to silence her permanently and maintain the secrecy of their cherished cargo. They had already scanned her for weaponry and surveillance equipment. No precaution was being overlooked.

Her view of the various security features they'd implemented was obstructed by the broad frame of her second Jau companion. Tasia craned her neck to look up at him. "You will do your job," he informed her curtly. "Anything more and you will not leave this bay as you entered it."

In complete comprehension, Tasia nodded insistently. With a long, hard stare, the Jau added, "Keep your head down. You will see nothing other than what you are repairing." He swung around, nearly knocking Tasia flat to the decking as some of his bulk slammed into her - she suspected intentionally. Scowling at his back while massaging her shoulder, Tasia followed him through the entrance.

She achieved only the briefest of glances about the bay before the other Jau from behind pushed her head down. "Watch only your feet, human," he growled and gave her skull a threatening squeeze as reminder that he could easily crush it with his one hand if necessary; Tasia obliged him, wondering how much pleasure he would derive from the act.

Within the bay there was a legion of Spawn - larger, more powerful looking Jau than the two escorting her, and bristling with weaponry of blades and projectiles. They were posted at regular intervals on the main deck and the catwalks framing the bay above. Although their attentions remained on the strictly organized activity within, Tasia felt all eyes spearing her with piercing gazes. It would be dicey trying to glean any sort of information while under such scrutiny - as it was, Tasia could discern nothing about the manner of work being carried out within, or the contents of the various cargo containers stacked neatly about.

The Jau were immobile sentinels, standing alertly for any sign of threat, though the bay was tightly secured. Not even droids were free to roam inside - their programming could too easily be tampered with, the Jau knew that much about artificial lifeforms, so they were prohibited. That was one less tool of destruction to be exploited by Tasia and her band of would-be insurgents. Infiltrating the bay as she was now seemed the only option after all for obtaining information with which to undo the Jau. If she could obtain anything at all without being discovered, that is.

"There," the leading Jau barked as he thrust a finger towards the control console. "Find out what has gone wrong. You have one hour."

"An hour?" she echoed incredulously. "I don't know what's wrong yet. How can you know that will be enough time?"

His eyes narrowed to angry golden slits before Tasia next found herself sprawled over the console, feeling the Jau's wrath through the pounding ache in her side. Groaning softly, Tasia righted herself.

"Fix it," the Jau growled. Receiving the message loud and clear, Tasia took a calming breath and proceeded to run a diagnostic. She was quickly beginning to doubt the wisdom of her plan.

***

Pretending to locate a malfunction of one's own design was proving more arduous than investigating a genuine glitch. There was a delicate balance required between stalling enough to gather the information desired, and taking only so long to troubleshoot the issue that procrastination isn't mistaken for ineptitude. And only long enough to avoid irritating the Jau with her very presence. It was already obvious that her overseer was growing weary of monitoring her every movement, for impatient growls and much huffing punctuated the otherwise silent hour.

Tasia reasoned her guard would have been far more tolerant of her had she not been so immodest when first settling down to work on the main circuit panel. Ostensibly unable to maneuver within the cramped opening wearing her coveralls, Tasia had folded down the top of her jumpsuit, leaving her torso covered by a highly translucent tank that stretched tautly across her bosom. Disgusted rather than abashed by the sight of an inappropriately dressed human woman, her guardian had stoically averted his severe gaze from Tasia to the far wall of the bay. The intended effect proved convenient for Tasia as she could more effectively surveil the hangar and note the position and movements of every guard, their rotation schedule, the weapons they carried, noted the time of any arriving cargo, and eventually hoped to witness the docking of a Jau vessel.

They must be due for a food shipment, and that was exactly what Tasia needed. Observing firsthand what type of ship, time of arrival, and the amount of cargo would provide Tasia with the particulars essential in devising a strategy to poison their food supply. With that information, she, Ty and Walker would be one step closer to undoing the Jau. An hour, however, was not nearly enough time to obtain all the information she required, but an hour was all they would allow...for the time being.

Tapping a final note into her datapad, Tasia cleared her throat to summon her Jau friend's attention. He glanced sharply at her, evidently discontent with being disturbed. She jerked a thumb towards the open panel. "I'm not sure who's been messing around in there, but someone sure did a number on the wiring. I need at least another couple hours to remap the entire circuit board."

"You had one hour," he rumbled. "No more."

"If you don't allow me to fix this," she explained, "I'll be back here again tomorrow to finish up." Tasia smiled pointedly. "Which means another day spent watching over me."

The Jau snarled. "A distasteful prospect."

Tasia grinned. "Exactly."

Allowing the Jau to mull over the misery that would await him in spending another day with Tasia, she was rewarded with a brusque nod and accompanying grunt. "Finish your repairs, and do it quickly," he warned, "or you will be replaced."

She tipped her head to him and went back to her joint task of repairing and spying, while under a time restraint and a threat of death. Sighing, Tasia crawled back into the cramped conduit, trying to predict when her watcher would finally snap and plunge his blade into her back. If he did, Ty was in big trouble.

---

"Allies or Quacks? Part 1"
By: Master Liam Zaneth
Kaylee Soras
Master Koran Darr
Master Laedra Vorrel
Doctor Stark [NPC]

Location: Jedi Sanctuary, Unknown Location; Church of the Dawn Seekers, Arcadia
Date: Vadris 10, 5 ABY

***

Liam Zaneth entered the Temple with Kaylee Soras at his side. He had agreed to bring her to the Temple to help train the Jedi to fight against the Jau. They had not spoken much since he had explained the situation and she'd agreed to come along. Their destination was one of the meditation rooms, where he was certain they'd find at least two of the council waiting.

With Kaylee behind him, he entered the room, and as expected found Masters Vorrel and Darr gazing out the far window looking over the township of Vendra in quiet conversation. "Masters," Liam said. "I have brought Huntress Soras, as we discussed."

"Honored Jedi Masters," Kaylee said, then bowed to both.

"Huntress Soras," Koran said, returning the bow.

Laedra mirrored Koran. "Welcome. We were expecting you and are glad for any help you can provide."

"My people have been fighting the Jau for a very long time," Kaylee said. "So, any chance I get, I am happy to see them hurt. How would you like for me to proceed with teaching?"

"Teach us what you know of their biology - are there any vulnerable spots?" Laedra suggested. "Can they be subdued?"

"There is little hope in subduing them, but I can show you where they're weakest," she said. "They are well protected against energy weapons, but using your own lightsaber techniques with a blade, they should have little chance."

Laedra pondered this. "It will require us to source new weapons, and we do not have the resources, or funds to do so. Are there other options?"

"Not really," Kaylee said. "But, I can see what I can acquire in the city for you. I am sure, for the chance of liberation, many would support our cause."

"We have thought the same," Laedra admitted. "But our only potential ally is presently out of reach."

"Off the planet?" Kaylee asked.

"Not exactly," Koran answered. "We currently have no means of contacting them. We are seeking an alternative means of contact, but they are not making the task simple."

"Oh," Kaylee said. "Perhaps I can be of help. I've spent a considerable amount of time in New Plouton and Arcadia. Perhaps I could discreetly inquire around."

"Perhaps," Laedra allowed dubiously. "But you have only been on the planet a short time. Do you truly have the necessary resources available for such an endeavor?"

"The nature of what I do requires that I be resourceful," Kaylee mentioned. "I hope you will accept my offer of help."

Laedra smiled. "We certainly won't refuse it. Thank you, Ms. Soras."

"It's why I'm here," Kaylee said, "to help put an end to the Jau dominion so they can oppress no others as they have so many before. Now, how can I begin?"

"We don't know much," Laedra explained. "They are called the New Dawn and they seem to be a very secretive organization. They helped two of our Padawans out of trouble some months ago. They may be on our side, if we can find them."

"New Dawn? I'll see what I can find," Kaylee said. "Though. It may be a long shot. There's a new church that popped up in Arcadia. The Church of the Dawn Seekers. It's probably too much of a coincidence, but maybe there's a connection." She reached into a pocket and pulled out a flimsy. With a shrug, she handed it over to Laedra.

She accepted and reviewed it. It was a flimsicard distributed by the church. "Where did you find this?"

"Arcadia," Kaylee said. "I was avoiding a Jau patrol, and happened inside the building where they were meeting. A man inside handed me that while I was looking around. Very friendly sort, and open to questions."

"And what did you ask?"

"Just a little about their beliefs and structure," Kaylee said. "How long they've been here. They've spread very quickly, and are looking for more followers. I can take you there if you're interested in checking the place out. Maybe they may know something about the New Dawn."

Laedra nodded. "That may be prudent. I will go with her," she told Koran, "if you don't mind."

"I don't," Koran said. "I will meet with the others and we will start going over some initial strategy sessions. Talara should be returning later today. We should brief her and the young man Jae Dyn also convinced to help our cause after the evening meal tonight if you're available."

She smiled. "I hope to be, if everything goes well." Gesturing at Kaylee to lead the way, she added, "Shall we?"

"I'm ready," Kaylee said. "The church is in Arcadia, near the main road that leads toward New Plouton."

"Then I will drive." Together the women departed and headed out towards their destination. During the drive, Laedra inquired about Kaylee's origins, to assess and confirm for herself the truth of Kaylee's intentions. "So, you were simply following the Jau and stumbled upon Liam and the others?"

"I had tracked the Jau to the planetoid out near the edge of this system," Kaylee said. "I was observing their actions when I noticed Liam's ship crash. I do not know if I could have done serious damage to them had I not helped Liam and the others escape, but I feel that I took the better course of action."

"You performed bravely," Laedra commended. "If you were Force sensitive, you would have made a fine Jedi."

"Liam says he sensed something of the Force in me," Kaylee said. "Though, he said that the Kitari have corrupted me from ever being able to learn to use the Force your way." She grinned. "He said eventually he thought it might be a good idea to have the Council try to determine the nature of my abilities."

"The council," Laedra told her mildly, "will have to discuss it. Liam has been estranged from the Order since the trouble with Yelara. But if he believes it might be something worth exploring...then we will consider it."

"Alright," Kaylee said with a nod. "I am happy to help in any way I can. My main goal is to stop the Jau however I can. Though, we've been fighting against them so long, I don't know what the Kitari will do if we no longer have the Jau to fight. Though, I'm sure we'll figure something out."

"Like...enjoying life?" Laedra offered.

Kaylee gave Laedra a wry smile. "Perhaps," she said. "We've got a ways to go before that though. What will you do when the Jau are gone?"

Laedra shrugged. "Just as I have been doing, but freely: Being a Jedi," she explained.

"I think I might like to stay on Tae'Karada longer once the Jau are eliminated. I would like to find out how compatible the teachings of the Jedi are with those of my people. If that will be alright, of course."

"It isn't for me to decide," she answered diplomatically. "But we can consider it."

"Thank you," Kaylee said. "Have you handled a weapon other than a lightsaber recently?"

Laedra regarded her sidelong, a curious smile touching her lips. "Not recently. What did you have in mind?"

"Since the Jedi are most familiar with lightsabers, perhaps the best weapon to use against the Jau would be a sword. The weight will be slightly different from what you're used to, but I would think that your abilities would carry over."

"That makes sense," Laedra granted. "And swords are probably less dangerous than training with lightsabers. I imagine we can make the transition easily enough."

"We may not have time to have swords properly balanced to feel similar to a lightsaber, but I think it should be close," Kaylee said. "If there is time, I would like to acquire some swords for practice and training. I have a few in the place I've been living, and I know of another place where I can get a few more."

"Very knowledgeable for a newcomer to Tae'Karada," Laedra commented. "You're resourceful - it must be why Liam associates with you so often."

"In the beginning, I had sought to enjoy a number of sensual pleasures with Liam," Kaylee said. "But, his love for his wife is too strong. Since I realized it was useless, I have focused on figuring out how to take down the Jau. That includes making contacts."

Laedra smiled. "Then we have the same goal. And," she confided, "the same tastes. I, too, once held a desire for Liam. But that has passed. The Order is my focus, now."

"I don't believe there is anyone who can truly get into Liam's heart, other than his wife," Kaylee said. "All in all, it is for the best. It allows me to focus on my duty."

"Then it is unanimous - we are both focused." Laedra steered them around a corner, as Kaylee directed. Laedra glanced about, seeing only rows of alike buildings. Not one appeared anything like a temple or church. "Are we near?"

"Just ahead," Kaylee said. "There. It doesn't look like it, but the church is inside. I don't think they want those who don't know what they're searching for, like the Jau, from cracking down because they're a church. Parking over there off the street."

Laedra maneuvered the vehicle into the designated parking area, only meters from the church. She remained within it for some time, studying the establishment with her eyes, and the Force. "I do not detect anything untoward," she admitted to Kaylee. "But I suggest we remain on our guard nonetheless."

Kaylee opened her hatch and stepped out. "I hope we won't need to fight," she said softly as Laedra stepped out of the speeder. "While I am not quite unarmed, I'm not carrying any weapons."

"And I have left my own weapon behind," Laedra added. "If this is legitimately a place of worship, it would be sacrilege to bring such an instrument within its walls. And it would be dangerous if I were to be caught with a lightsaber."

"Do you sense any danger?" Kaylee asked as she moved around the speeder to face the non-descript building. Her gazed shifted to survey the street, looking for any signs of a trap.

"Again, no," Laedra replied. She studied the building, which appeared upscale yet still unobtrusive enough when compared with the other establishments in the area. There were no written signs to identify the church, but Kaylee seemed to know which it was. They mounted the ferrocrete steps that led to double doors. Laedra glanced aside at Kaylee. "Is it polite to knock, or shall we simply invite ourselves in."

"When I was here before," Kaylee said, "I did not get the impression they expected a knock when I entered." She reached out and grasped one of the handles and pulled. The door opened easily, despite its older construction and manual opening mechanism. Once the door was opened, several expectant faces from within turned. One of those within smiled brightly as Kaylee stepped through, probably delight at seeing her returning and with another potential convert.

"Welcome back!" a young blonde girl exclaimed. She was wearing a dark crimson jumpsuit with a gold sunburst on the center and encircling her waist was a silver belt made of thick chains. "And you've brought a friend!" Laedra and Kaylee could almost see the exclamation points manifest in the air above the girl.

"Thank you," Kaylee said with a smile. "We have some questions about the church. I hope you have some time to answer them."

"Of course we have time!" the cheerful girl said. "Let me show you to one of our private screening rooms and one of our chief councilors will be with you!"

Laedra and Kaylee followed, and while they did, Laedra asked, "If I may... What exactly is the church of the Dawn Seekers? I have never heard of you."

"Well," the girl began, clapping her hands, "It began not too long ago right here on Tae'Karada. A man who called himself 'The Truth' began to preach that in order to find peace with oneself and true happiness that one should really do what one wants, and not to really worry about the consequences until later. He talked about unplugging oneself from the grid, and to not take life seriously. People started to listen to him.

"This was, of course, before the Jau came, and soon he left for Corellia to begin teaching there. That's when the Church really took off! The message of the Church is 'Why take life seriously, we're all going to die eventually.' I know it sounds kind of morbid, but it's kind of an uplifting thought! No stress, no real worries, it's such a blast! Of course moderation is also the word, I mean you can't go have four sticks of spice then haul off and beat somebody up. Well... you probably could if you told a confessor about it." She took a pause for breath as the three women walked down a well-lit, well-furnished corridor.

"So you are unconcerned with what is happening on the planet," Laedra surmised. "Do you not also care that many people are dying, or does your religion preclude that?"

"Oh, of course we care!" the woman said, smiling and shaking her head. "But there's little that we can do, other than encourage people to live for the present and not to dwell on the future or the past!" A door whooshed open as the women approached. Inside was a desk with a single highback chair and two plush couches. Lightbars illuminated the otherwise stark room. "Here you go! Doctor Stark will be right with you," she said with a wide smile and turned to leave.

"Thank you," Laedra said to the departing woman and glanced aside quizzically at Kaylee. "They are...cheerful, aren't they?"

"Exceptionally so," Kaylee said. "I took a tour of this place with two of them when I was here earlier. I believe it requires a certain personality to be in their position, and I am quite certain I do not fit the profile."

"Nor do I," Laedra agreed. "I do not, however, sense any ill-intent. Though she may have just been masking it with her over exuberance."

The sound of heels clicking on the tiled floor came from around the corner. The man who followed those sound did not, in fact, look very religious at all. Despite the mass of wrinkles and thick glasses, he still moved with the deadly grace of a trained fighter, no energy wasted at all. He wore a burgundy suit cut in a businesslike fashion, a black sunburst on the breast. When he spied the two women a little more spring entered his step as he motioned for them to enter the room.

Kaylee gave the man an appraising nod. "Doctor Stark?"

"Correct," the man replied with an unidentifiable accent.

"It is good to meet you," Kaylee said. The trained warrior in her couldn't help sizing him up briefly. His manner seemed completely at odds with those who greeted newcomers to the church. She couldn't help wondering at what his story might be, though she suspected she'd never have the chance to find out. "Thank you for taking the time to see us."

"Please, be seated." He motioned towards the chairs before sitting in his own. "Now to what do I owe the pleasure of the company of two such prestigious women as yourselves?"

Kaylee exchanged a look with Laedra, then glanced back to Stark as she took the offered seat. "Prestigious? I hardly thing I would ever consider myself prestigious."

The older man smiled, showing a row of perfect white teeth. "That would depend on what one considers to be prestigious."

Laedra studied him inconspicuously through the Force and sensed that he was very much different from the jovial girl they had met initially. This man was far more difficult to read. "May I ask," Laedra inquired, "what you are a doctor of?"

"Psychology," he answered with a nod. "Also Linguistics and Cryptology." Doctor Stark folded his hands on his belly and leaned back in his chair. "I'm sure you will eventually guess how it is a man like me came to be mixed up with a group such as this," he said in a casual tone, "but first...why are you here?"

"To learn," Laedra answered succinctly. "Your organization is an obscure one, and at a time when the planet is in such turmoil, many are searching for solace in religious avenues."

"Very true," the doctor said, "the recent events here have driven our membership rate up, but I seriously doubt that a Jedi Master and her very dangerous companion have any reason to join our 'Hokey religion'."

Laedra smiled in feigned puzzlement. "Jedi Master? The Jedi are anathema. Why would any of us here wish to even imply association with them?"

"Don't play coy with me Master Vorrel," the doctor scoffed, "I know very well who you are." He leaned forward. "What I don't know is why you are here, and there are several well armed gentlemen outside who also want to know this. You see, we can't be too careful."

She tipped her head at him, granting him affirmation of his suspicions. "I am not your enemy," Laedra assured him, "as we hope you are not. The purpose of this visit is to determine your connections to a group who call themselves the New Dawn."

Doctor Stark smiled. "Come, come now, Master Vorrel. You are an intelligent woman and I believe you can put two and two together. This Church of the Dawn Seekers and a group calling themselves the New Dawn, one appearing only a little time after the other. In my line of work you stop believing in coincidence, and I'm sure you have the same frame of mind."

He stood up and folded his arms behind the small of his back. "Forgive me for being blunt, but I'm not often used to doing facework. I'm going to go ahead and skip all the pleasantries and whatnot and just say that I don't know why we were told to look after the Jedi, but we were, and we do what we are told." He looked around in mock seriousness before leaning over and whispering in a much too loud tone, "It's a lot less deadly that way."

The strange man jerked up straight and suddenly clapped his hands together. "Well now, now that that's out of the way, let's go to what everyone is dying to know, probably quite literally. Why are you here, Master Vorrel?"

"Our goals are the same," she replied placidly. "We, too, are entrusted with protecting the Order and this planet. And in a time when we are being ostracized and hunted, the Jedi need allies." Smiling ironically, Laedra concluded, "And, I believe, that would be you."

"Me?" Doctor Stark asked as he placed a hand to his chest. "Oh no, I personally can't stand the Jedi. We can go on for weeks about why that is and about my time in the Rebellion but..." He stopped in mid-sentence and touched his ear, a look of concentration creasing his features. "Well... it seems your luck has changed. Our Duke wishes to speak with you."

Doctor Stark pressed a button on his desk and the door opened. In walked a pair of hulking humanoids clad in deep red robes. A golden sunburst, much like the one seen in the entrance of the Church, proudly worn on the chest. The hoods of their robes were up but Laedra and Kaylee could both hear a slight hissing sound coming from the shadows of the hood.

"These fine gentlemen will escort you downstairs where one of our more... select, operatives will meet you and escort you to our Duke." Clicking his heels and sketching a short bow, he said, "Good day," and marched out the door.

Kaylee turned her attention to the pair. Her expression revealed slight amusement, but otherwise showed a placid calm. She was fairly certain that while Dr. Stark and his associates may have known Master Vorrel, they knew nothing of her. While they might suspect she was a Jedi as well, since she accompanied a Jedi Master, they would be in for a number of surprises if they treated her as such.

"Lead the way," she said after an exchanged glance with Laedra.

---

"Allies or Quacks? Part 2"
By: Kaylee Soras
Master Laedra Vorrel
Doctor Stark [NPC]
Rylaa Lyssander

Location: Church of the Dawn Seekers, Arcadia
Date: Vadris 10, 5 ABY

***

The large reptilian figures silently led the two women through the twisting corridors of the church until they came to an old cage lift that only led down into a hole roughly cut into the floor. One of the figures motioned towards the cage with one hand.

Sensing no danger, Kaylee stepped forward into the cage. Laedra and their escorts followed. The ferrocrete door clanged shut and the lift descended abruptly. There was no control panel within - the lift seemed to have only one destination, at which they arrived in moments. They were deep within the ground below New Plouton, Laedra was certain of that much, for if she had not used her Force conditioning to enhance her body's acclimation to the swiftly changing altitude, her ears would still have been plugged and her head dizzy. She glanced briefly aside at Kaylee as they were led out of the lift.

They emerged into what was obviously the maintenance tunnels that ran underneath the city. Thick pipes, some of them jetting steam from worn joints, ran along the ferrocrete walls while dim gloworbs fought a losing battle against the encroaching darkness. Waiting for them was a man wearing loose grey clothing. A curious wrap of cloth wound about his head, the tail end of which hung over his shoulder.

"Master Vorrel, Huntress Soras, welcome," the man said in a quiet but deep voice. His greeting was followed by a bow to each of the women and a grin, his white teeth in stark contrast with his dark skin. "I am Rashid, and I am to be your guide and guardian while you are in our tunnels."

The sound of screeching metal pierced the air as the lift, and their former escorts, headed back to the surface. "Please, follow me." The man spun with an easy grace and began to slowly walk down the passage. Both women noticed the toe-to-heel step of his walk, the walk of a predator.

Senses on full alert, Laedra probed with the Force their surroundings, and on the man ahead of them. There was no sign of danger yet, but Laedra would not let her guard down. "Mr. Rashid," she spoke, her voice echoing, "is all this necessary for a simple meeting?"

"Just Rashid, please," the man said as he lead them deeper into the tunnel system. "And yes, this is very necessary, for reasons that you will soon see."

"For our safety," Laedra inquired, "or your own?"

The man chuckled. "Both."

"Then let's get on with it," Kaylee said. "We don't want to keep whoever's waiting for us waiting."

Rashid chuckled but his pace picked up. Soon both women were practically running to keep up with the man's feline grace and movements but it only took a few minutes of traveling through New Plouton's mazelike underbelly to arrive in front of a pair of thick metal doors. The durasteel of both doors was shiny and looked very out of touch for the rest of the surrounding area.

"You are lucky," he said as he stopped before the doors. "My master trusts you, we are going to be going down to the next level, the old defense tunnels."

"Who, exactly, is your master?" Laedra inquired, growing weary of the clandestine game of runaround. "And why can he or she not come to us?"

"He's a very busy man, Master Vorrel." Rashid opened the two heavy looking doors where a second, but much more modern, lift awaited them. "Actually I believe you've met before, some months ago." He looked at the women and smiled. "You are probably getting tired of all this cloak and dagger whatnot, aren't you? Well it's a sad fact of the criminal existence, Master Vorrel. My master has many enemies, including the Jau. And they are not his most powerful."

"Then he lacks clarity on the matter," Kaylee said. "Or, he is trying to impress us with how powerful his enemies happen to be, real or imagined. Will he be waiting for us at the end of this lift or will we only find more runaround?"

"Do not be so harsh," Laedra advised her associate gently, "they simply have not seen the Jau in full action. Once they do, as well as listen to our own account, they may just change their mind."

The three entered the lift, which began a slow descent. "I assure you, Ms. Soras, that my master does not care for impressing you. Several rooms here in the tunnels have been furnished with exactly that reason in mind. We are, instead, going down to the planetary defense network that our organization uncovered some time ago. Rest easy in the knowledge that this is a sign of trust, mostly extended to you, Master Vorrel."

He smiled at the Jedi, a knowing twinkle in his eye. "You care for something that I believe is very precious to him, and for that reason alone you are given this treatment."

Kaylee eyed the alien warily, but continued to wait patiently. As she stood, her senses remained alert and ready to react to any threat, though she still sensed no threat. As she very well knew, however, all of that could change quickly.

"And what is it the New Dawn care for?" Laedra inquired. "Remaining obscure is one thing, I'm sure."

"The New Dawn cares for itself and its survival. In order to do that, we must ensure the survival and sovereignty of this planet."

"I guess my curiosity must ask the question: why? It seems like so very much effort to go through, especially when your business appears to be to prey upon people, to fight a war against these invaders when it would be so much easier and cost so much less than to pick up and move your base of operations to somewhere much less contaminated."

The lift arrived at the bottom and the door opened to a rough hewn cavern barely lit by glowbulbs. "Because, Ms. Soras. We are not cowards." Rashid stepped out of the lift. "Please, it's just around the corner. If you have any more questions, you may ask my master." On the far side of the cavern a large blast door had been installed. It was flanked by several harsh looking guards wearing bits of armor and carrying a motley of weapons. Strangely enough, several of them seemed to be carrying slugthrowers and chemical weapons instead of blasters.

"Expecting a Jau raid?" Laedra inquired. "Are you positive those will work against them? We know very little about the Jau's physiology."

Before Rashid could answer, the blast doors opened and a short older man with long greasy hair and thick moustache walked out. "I believe I can answer that question, Master Vorrel," he said. His beige jumpsuit had thick red stripes running down the front and seemed to strain against a growing belly. "But first, introductions. I'm Rylaa Lyssander, if you don't remember me. I'm the Duke of the New Dawn here on the planet." He cast a worried glance down the darkened tunnel. "Let's step inside, the Jau captured one of my spies the other day and they might know about these tunnels."

"There is no one behind us," Kaylee said as she strode past Rylaa through the doorway.

"You are the leader of New Dawn?" Laedra smiled quizzically. "I thought you were a businessman, not a freedom fighter."

Rylaa laughed, "Can't I be both?" He stepped through the blast doors which closed and sealed behind them. Inside was a spacious control room paneled with thick durasteel armor. Banks of monitors and consoles ran along one wall with a small army of technicians and operators to mind them. "To be honest, Master Vorrel when we met I was just a businessman, on the verge of going further and starting to reclaim a lost empire. Now, I am so very much more. Patriot and freedom fighter, I have been called these things. Terrorist, guerrilla, criminal, I have been called these things as well."

He sat down at the head of the long conference table. "Now, the difference is of course, merely perspective. In one man's eyes I am a virtuous man, fighting for a set of ideals and the planet I have come to call home. In another man's eye, I am a terrorist, using propaganda, trickery, and fear to recruit others to my cause and destabilize his own. The question, Master Vorrel, is what you think I am, and what it is that you want of me?"

"The Jedi do not pass judgment," Laedra informed him, standing at the opposite end of the table with Kaylee. "If you are an unseemly man lacking compunction, then we shall choose not to engage in an alliance with you. If your goals and ideals match our own, then we shall ask for your assistance in this matter of the Jau. That," Laedra added, "is what we're here for."

"My goals match your own," Rylaa chuckled. "I seek to throw the Jau off this planet, which is why I have been organizing and funding a resistance. Our numbers grow by the day and soon we will be beginning our more overt operations."

"I will not ask details, but I would like to know what they involve." Laedra scrutinized him. "The Jedi do not condone unnecessary violence or terrorism. It is against our beliefs."

"I would be interested in hearing the plan you have devised," Kaylee said. "I have some unique experience in fighting the Jau threat, and wish to see their menace eliminated."

"Don't worry, Master Vorrel," Rylaa chuckled, "I'm not about to get innocent people killed. I may be a criminal but I'm not a psychopath." The chubby man's eye twitched slightly as he said that, though Laedra could sense no lie. "Our first thrust is going against the infrastructure in Arcadia, disrupting whatever we can in the way that the Jau do business. It will be a bombing, I'm afraid, but delivered at night when the building is empty. Extra steps have been taken to ensure that whoever might be in the building at the time, will be out."

He tapped a few commands into the table and a holo-projector rose from the center. He hit another couple of commands and a map of Tae'Karada appeared. Several X's popped onto the display as Rylaa stood. "Here is where we have noticed the largest increase in Jau activities in the recent days. Mainly around Arcadia, which isn't really too uncommon. What is uncommon is this spot out here in the middle of nowhere." An X in the middle of the desert went from green to red as Rylaa pointed towards it. "From what little we have been able to gather this is a massive mining operation. But it's not the kind of mining you would think of, it's practically strip mining. It's as though they are methodically peeling away at each layer of the planet's crust. It's also where they've been taking all those people they've been arresting. Including a fair number of my men and women."

"The operation is their xalnium mine," Kaylee said. "The planet is rich in it, that is why they are here."

Rylaa leaned forward and asked, "So what is it, and why are they so anxious to go after it that they are willing to lock down a system in order to get it?"

"They carefully guard information on it," Kaylee said. "From what we have been able to determine, it is a mineral used on their homeworld, and most of it is sent back to them. We believe it is a critical component of their reproductive cycles, though that is supposition. I believe that is a very accurate assessment, however, based on my own observations."

"So this mining operation is the whole reason they are on Tae'Karada." Rylaa hmmed in thought, stroking his moustache with one hand. "We're going to have to rethink that attack then. Tell me, what do you think the Jau would do if that mine was destroyed? Would they pack up and leave, or would they take it out on the planet before reopening the mine?"

"No," Kaylee answered. "They would use the slave labour they have already acquired to build another, and resume operations. I would expect the second operation to be highly fortified complete with a much larger military presence than the current operation. The Jau have also been known to direct their reprisals against the population, rather than those who attacked them."

"Then an early assault is out of the question, at least for now." He dug a communicator from his pocket and muttered, "Have Captain Two-Thumbs come in here, we need to rethink our first strike." A moment later a side door opened and a cyborg strode through, looking for the world like he was going to murder somebody. His meat eye fixated on Rylaa and he walked over.

"What's this about changing our plans, boss? I thought we had a deal." The mercenary started as though he just noticed the two across the table. "Who the hell is that?"

"This is Jedi Master Laedra Vorrel and Kaylee Soras, whose occupation I honestly don't know. She is, it appears, an expert on the Jau and based on what she has told me, we're going to save the operation against the mining facility until last." Rylaa barely came up to the cyborg's chest but it was obvious from his stance and his tone the he meant business and would brook no argument. "Ladies this is Captain Jaller Two-Thumbs, a mercenary currently in my employ and the liaison between our various... erm, underhanded enterprises."

Captain Two-Thumbs saluted with a whir of servo-motors and the clang of armored durasteel. "Pleasure, I'm sure."

"As long as those activities don't tarnish the Jedi Order's good name, there will be no problem," Laedra replied diplomatically. "Besides, I doubt you would wish to sully the reputation of those people your friend Lani are attached to by engaging in activities directly related to our combined fight against the Jau that are...depraved. Am I correct?"

Rylaa looked away momentarily and pain flashed across his face. "Lani chose her own path, Master Vorrel. I agreed that I would not interfere with that and I've already broken that promise." He looked the Jedi Master in the eye. "I will do whatever it takes for the survival of my organizations, you realize this, yes? Morals, ethics, these are just words to me when it comes to that goal. I keep it under the table, I'm not overt about it like others are, but that means that what I do is my business."

"So long as you do not stand in the way of driving the Jau into their graves," Kaylee said, "I see no reason not to work with you. Interfere in my mission or cross me, and you will die. If the Jedi have issues with your business dealings, that is for them to deal with."

"Though," Laedra clarified, "the Jedi will impose a far less drastic punishment on you, we, too, will not abide any actions that lead to the loss of innocents. We must eliminate the Jau threat, but at the same time we must protect the citizens of Tae'Karada. This is agreed?

"You have my word that I will not stand in your way, nor anyone in my organization. The same goes for the loss of innocents. I want to help people, for a change, not hurt them." Rylaa thumped his hand on the table. "Jaller, contact the two other mercenaries and have your men standing by. There will be no change of plans." He looked the Jedi and the hunter in the eye. "I've thought it over in the last couple of minutes. Waiting isn't what we need, and it will only give the Jau time to fortify their position. We need to strike, and we need to strike hard and fast. I had a plan, honestly, something to drag this out for months, maybe even years. I even hired a man to be my scapegoat, the face of the resistance. But that obviously won't work, I can see that now."

He stood up and turned to look at one of the banks of monitors, his hand in the small of his back. "Hunter Soras, we know the Jau aren't harmed by blasters, disrupters, or even Trandoshan concussion beams. But what about chemical slugthrowers? I notice the Jau wear very little in the way of armor, so I'm wondering if their mysterious protection can be disrupted by using old-fashioned weapons. A chemically accelerated slug may not be the height of technology, but it may just be low-tech enough."

"Archaic weapons are what we use against the Jau," Kaylee said. "I can show you the weapons I use against the Jau, if it will assist you. With the prevalence of energy-powered weaponry, the Jau have encountered little resistance. In many cases, before the intelligence can be gathered in regards to their weak points, a planet has fallen. In most cases, the psychological damage the Jau inflict keep resistances from utilizing weapons against that weakness."

Rylaa nodded. "I'd like to see what you use, yes. My company used to develop slugthrowers, and according to my bean-counters, we still have quite a few in various warehouses in New Plouton. The Jau shut down our production facilities, of course, because they rightly feared our weapon capabilities. If you'll show Jaller here what it is you use, he'll compare it with what we have. That sound reasonable?"

"Of course," Kaylee answered. "Once this meeting has concluded, I can return and gather my belongings. I do hope returning to meet with Jaller will require a less circuitous route. Fighting against the Jau will be hindered if every time we need to meet, we require an hour of time just to reach your secret underground lair."

"Unless," Laedra suggested, "there is an easier way in?"

Rylaa smiled but there was no warmth to it. "I admit I may have been overly paranoid, and not just with you, but as I said I'm pretty sure the Jau know about the men stationed in the tunnels above. These old defense tunnels may also have been leaked, but I'm not sure. When you leave it will be by a much quicker method, trust me. And don't worry about being recognized, you were holo'd the second you stepped through the church's doors and my people will recognize you. Well... my security people anyway. The rest are thugs and criminals."

"As long as you keep the smoke, mirrors, and theatrics to a minimum," Kaylee said. "While some may be impressed by your evil mastermind gimmicks, we will not be. To save us the trouble, name a location and I will meet Jaller there with my weapons."

After a moment's thought the crimelord said, "The Glass Onion in New Plouton. It's a small hotel on the outer edge of the city that New Dawn owns. It's one of our safe houses."

"Not entirely neutral," Kaylee said. "It will do though. Make certain your people are alerted that I will be coming, and for their safety, they should be aware they should not attempt to disarm me."

"Noted," Rylaa said with a nod. "Is there anything else?"

"I have nothing further," Kaylee said.

"Nor have I," Laedra added. "I will relay the contents of this meeting to the Council. We will contact you when a decision has been made." Laedra paused, studying Rylaa pensively before appending, "Perhaps then, you can speak with Lani. I'm certain she would like to know you're well."

The criminal's gaze slowly traveled to a bank of monitors before he replied with, "Yes well, we'll see." Emotions warred across his features until he settled for bland apathy. "I'll have two of my men escort you to one of the lifts that lead to the surface. It's located in a warehouse that I own and everyone who works there knows to keep their mouth shut. When the time comes, you can contact me from there."

"Then we may just be in touch." Laedra bowed, then nodded at Kaylee to indicate the completion of their mission and impending departure. "Good day, Mr. Lyssander. This has been...an interesting encounter."

Rylaa said nothing as the women left. Jaller gave a friendly wave and as much of a smile as the flesh third of his head could.

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