Mission 5: Strike Team Delta

Time check- 43:04:18 at about 1400. This is the third day since the High King called the court to vote. Voting will happen on day five. The group was arrested yesterday at about 1200. The FarStar impounded shortly after.

The crowd around the cultural center and the central mushroom it is adjacent to is a large one. Before the centers main building is a raised stage with rows of benches before it. Above the stage is a large hologram projection that enlarges what is on stage and displays it overhead. Currently three Imperial officers share the stage with Thane, the Mayor, and two reporters that seem to be taking turns MC the event. The first Imperial is a short blonde serious looking middle aged woman who is as broad as she is tall. The second is a thin guant man with a grey crewcut, grey thin mustache and mousy eyes. The third Imperial looks like he spends alot of time with the bottle. His eyes are bagged and bloodshot. His hair receding and slicked back. His old wrinkled face has a bloodhounds jowls. He walks permanently bent and his eyes shift from perceived threat to threat. Thane smiles like he does not have a care in this world. Mayor Duffit is the exception to the rule that House Ik'Tal is tall thin and sever looking. The man is beefy and red faced. He seems to be having a personal tug of war with his tie and losing.

The Katholnet reporter is the radiant Dana Cadwell with strawberry blonde hair and a perfect smile on her perfect face. The INN reporter is Hisc Hewmat his thinning white blonde hair crowning a round red face that always look near explosion as does the buttons on his suit coat.

The are sanding and chatting without the microphones on waiting for the time to begin.

"Well if your going to pick arm candy to distract the guard pick the best," Ranna wraps an arm around Lodor's arm and snuggles a massive set of deflector shields against his triceps. She smiles at him sweetly. To the tall stately Fiona Dwyer she sticks out a tongue.

Fiona unzips her jumpsuit quite a bit, musses her hair, and grabs his other arm,"With distraction 2 is always better than one." Lodor's arms are feeling better that they have in like ever. He finally understands why Quin Lan liked sleeveless armor.

Krudar shakes his head,"Hey, When do I get to be in command?"

Walking with his double arm candy in tow Lodor approaches the doors to the Cultural Center.

The guard at the door is an old battledroid. When you walk up with the girls a middle aged male rushes before the droid.

"Please state your name ans business with the cultural cente---"

"Stand down BeDe I've got this. Ladies how can the cultural center help you today." The man openly leers. He would be the King of Leering.

"We are the backup dancers for the demonstration. You are going to watch us dance aren't you." Ranna states sweetly.

As he pulls up the datapad, Fiona clutches the guards shoulder and leans in close.

"They don't have you listed." The guard says.

"They always forget the back girls," Fiona touches his nose.

"I would never forget you," King Leer states."Go right ahead."

"Sir, That is against reg---."

"BeDe I'm going to break out the bolt if you don't quiet down."

The guard let you through and Lois and Chloe. I mean Fiona and Ranna return to Lodor's arm.

You don't find Thane yet but do find Alta and Allistar with Quesya and Guthar. Alta is going over his opening speech for the dance and Allistar is practicing moves with Gunthar. Quesya has a rack of nasty melee weapons and she is testing one then another.

Lodor doesn't want to see Alta but that doesn't mean Alta doesn't see him.

"Lodor my friend. It is good to see you walking free." He walks over and lifts Lodor in a bearhug. "The whole planet is under surveillance." He whispers in his ear and puts him down.

"Ranna," He moves to hug her.

"Whoa big guy I know where your hugs lead." Ranna states.

Quesya moves over,"It gladdens my heart to stand with you again child of the source."

Gunther moves forward and states,"Gunther."

Allistar follows,"The guard said my backup dancers are here. Ladies we should get practicing with Gunther. Lodor, Quesya needs a sparring partner to demonstrate the artistry of her combat skills. Why don't you make yourself useful as her opponent until the boss arrives."

Allistar shows the ladies the traditional costumes they will be dancing with Gunther and they leave to change.

"Glad your here Lodor." Alta states,"I was going to need to spar with Quesya." He rubs his chin striking a pose."I need this face ready for the theater tonight."

Quesya moves from on weapon working out the performance with Lodor.

The girls return and form up behind Gunther following his moves.

The guard watches the girls from the doorway. All other guards are former battle droids.

Thane finally arrives with a group of House Shador warriors and surprisingly LtC Phillip Slyer.

Thane come forward and greet Quesya giving just a quick handshake and thank you to Lodor for agreeing to spare with Quesya. Lodor notes the shake leaves a pinprick in his palm. Glancing down into his hand he sees a MicroDataCrystal left in his hand.

Following the two are a group of Ik'Tal men circling a stately noblewoman. She is tall and thin with high cheekbones and a noble bearing. Her gown is lavish without being gaudy. She looks to be human anywhere from 30 to 50 years of age. Her look is a flawless one. When Thane and her eye's meet the noble gaze turns into a happy smile and she looks much more 20 than the older woman she portrays.

Slyer walks behind you and whispers,"Eyes everywhere be careful."

Lodor finally notes the droid bodyguard SLAV hiding in the shadows.

Lodor works with Qesya until he has a moment. The crystal fits his datapad and he see it has a message from Thane, a map, and a blueprint.

"Crewman, In my workings as ambassador I have found some objectives will require more than words. Sarne stripped this planet of forces just as did Kal'Shebbol and Kolatill. If he follows his same planet when he finds the planet is lost he will launch a campaign of slice and burn. The hole in his objective is he lacks the Noble Star and is left with using ancient separatists droids. They have many weakness that may be exploited. I have included maps of the control ship on Emperor's Way Island and a blueprint of the central computer core. It is a prototype central control unit that runs all droid operations in the city. Remove the droids and the Imperials number less than 100, of those only a handful will resist.

It is also reported that Locian is on planet. He could as high blood of House Shador challenge for his father's position. The return of his brother has confirmed this is reality. I have spoken to the High King and he will name our mechanic custodian Que his champion if challenge is given. He realizes that the greatest warrior of House Shador is no match for an Inquisitor.

Last a little bird has told me that Sarne is not meeting with his forces at Oon Tein where our New fleet is in battle as we speak. Spies believe he is headed to Shintel to resupply at a hidden depot he has on the planet. It is said he is only travelling with one Star Destroyer. He has sent the rest of his fleet to Oon Tein to gather and begin a push to retake the sector. I have included astrogation charts for Shintel and the planets all the way to the fringe of "civilized" space.

As Lodor returns the events is about to begin. Qesya strides up to him towering over him she says,"Remember once I bow charge to the attack. Do not worry I will not hurt you and you can not hurt me. Alta will bring each weapon to us as we finish our demonstrations. I enjoy the dance of blades with you. It has been many moons I have performed the dance and have it not end in death."

On the stage each VIP finds their seats. The mayor of Montrol steps forward and speaks,"Many ages before the Imperials, before the Republic, the rift was a place of exotic cultures and creatures. The historic meeting of the houses has brought many people to Montrol city. Two of these people have offered to demonstrate traditions of ancient ways and ancient cultures that have been lost to us except as history. Gunthar we believe are of the Majjrava people a race lost in the rift ages ago. Gunthar of the Majjrava has offered to display the traditional dance of his people. First though a warrior of the Slundir tribes have offered to give exhibition of their arts of war. We give you Qesya Vth'Naar of the Slundir tribes."

The crowd claps and roars as the mayor retreats from center stage. Droids bring forward a dozen bound husks of some grain plant. They place them on the stage. Qesya charges the stage and with dual blades polearm slices through one thick bale of husks after another. Her moves have a smooth artistry to them. She then stops in the center of the stage to the roar of the crowd. She bows then waits.

You note that Thane is sitting beside a noble woman who spends much of her watching the smile on his face.

Ranna nudges Lodor,"Your on squiddy."

Qesya requires no warning her attacks are of a speed beyond any expectation. Lodor's arm scream with the force of her blows.

After a long minute of combat the crowd roars. Lodor feels for a moment it might be for him but then he sees Alta Dayson playing to the crowd as he brings out the next set of weapons. The net and trident handed to Qesya and himself does not make Lodor feel any better than the dual bladed polearm.

Qesya bows then begins an amazing pattern of rotating movement with net and trident.