The Rangers went straight to the cockpit and started firing up the engines.  Traest carefully calculated their route with the help of the navcomp and Ranger Cardosa, and then proudly announced.  "Well the ship may be slow, but our route won't be.  We should be there in just a day."

"Good," Sonora complimented.  "That will give us some time to train.  Come along Jubali, I have a special exercise for you."

"Shouldn't we be building a camaraderie with our new allies so we can be more in tune with them?" Jubali tried vainly to get a chance for more conversation.

"They can observe," Master Tabret countered.  "Ranger Cardosa, could you please get me some rope and a sheet or a blanket."

"Certainly," Dane replied complyingly.

As Master Tabret led you to the cargo bay, Dane returned with the materials she asked for.  Master Tabret had you stand between the two landspeeders.  She then ran the rope across the two landspeeders and draped the blanket Dane had brought over the rope, so that the blanket now stood in between Master Tabret and her pupil.  The two rangers stood to the side, so that they could see the both of you.

"Now I'm going to punch at you through the blanket," Master Tabret explained.  "And I want you to use the Force to predict where I'm going to punch and stop me.  Are you ready?"

Jubali sighed then prepared herself mentally.  She dropped her natural inquisitiveness to her surrounds just as she'd been taught and tried to see using the life energy inside of her.

Master Tabret's first two thrusts came through without warning.  You were able to predict and block the third hit, but then you alternated, miss, block, miss.

Dane chuckled to himself, but Master Tabret must have given him a sidelong glare, because he stopped abruptly.  He watched for about another ten minutes before returning to other duties.

Explorer Kas'lon watched intently the entire time; eyes wide when you blocked a punch, and wincing when you missed.

You continued blocking about one third of the hits coming at you.  After a solid hour of the routine, Master Tabret declared: "That's enough for now.  Very good Jubali.  You did very well for your first time with that exercise."  She took down the blanket and started winding up the rope.

[OOC: Your turn for comments.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:22, Tue 27 May 2014.

"Anything else, master?" Jubali asked.

"That will be all for now," Master Tabret conceded.  "You are now free to 'build a camaraderie with our new allies so we can be more in tune with them,' as you put it."

OOC: For the rest of THIS mission you have +1 to Use the Force checks to Sense Surroundings.

"Thank you," Jubali said, hugging Master Tabret.  She then turned to Kas'lon.  "Well I'm famished, let's get something to eat."

Traest closed his gaping mouth and said "Sure.  But how...how did you do that?"

"You've never seen the Force in action before?" Jubali asked incredulously.  "It's not all levitating and throwing stuff around but I can tell you more about that over lunch."

Jubali grabbed Traest's arm and dragged him away.

After an hour of questions and answers over lunch, you were just finishing up.

"You can do all that with the Force?" Traest asked incredulously.  "I didn't realize the extent to which it could be applied.  But you never see your family?  You don't even know who your parents are?"

"Yes, I can do all of that with the Force," Jubali laughed.  "As far as family goes, the Jedi are my family.  I know I have biological relatives out there but I've never met them.  The Jedi take us in our infancy.  They say it's to keep us from forming attachments that might compromise our ability to make rational decisions in a crisis.  You know, if someone kidnapped our family or something.  But it's silly because we all form an attachment of some kind to each other at the Temple.  I say just teach them to choose the greater good but that's me."

"Well, I definitely see you as a Jedi who would choose the greater good," Traest commented.

"Yeah, well you remember how noble you think that is when you're the one on chopping block," Jubali said to Traest, turning serious.

"Well, I think you'll find that I'm the kind of Ranger that would allow the greater good to be chosen," Traest countered.

************************************************************************************

Just then Ranger Cardosa showed up at the galley entrance.  "If I were you two, I would hit the bunk.  We'll be at Dorin in less than 8 hours."

"Yes, sir," Traest said deferentially.  "Well it was nice talking to you Jubali.  I look forward to working with you on Dorin."  "Sleep well." Jubali winked at Traest as he went off to sleep.  Traest headed out the door and down the hall, with Ranger Cardosa right behind him.

Master Tabret came in right afterwards.  "How was your bonding time?" she asked congenially.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:57, Mon 04 Jan 2016.

"It went well,"  Jubali responded.  "What'd you do while I ate?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:57, Mon 09 June 2014.

"Ranger Cardosa and I were going over mission details, personnel profiles.  The usual pre-op data."  Master Tabret replied.

OOC: Note the bolded addition to my msg above.  Does Jubali have anything to respond to that?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:10, Tue 10 June 2014.

"Well good," Jubali said.  "I'm going get some rest."

"A very good idea," Master Tabret agreed, following her out.

After several hours of rest, it was time to drop out of hyperspace.  As you all gathered in the cockpit, Ranger Cardosa explained "Dorin is rarely visited because of natural hyperspace hazards nearby.  So it is a tricky approach."

"Now when we do get down there," Master Tabret continued.  "Our plan is to first interrogate the imprisoned brother, Payan Kai, and then expand our investigation out from there."

"Remember, Dorin's atmosphere is toxic," Dane reminded them.  "So we'll have to wear breath masks.  The filters only last for an hour, so if we plan on being away from the ship longer than that, we need to bring spares."

"Any questions?" Sonora concluded.

"An hour?" Jubali asked.  "Don't we have filters like they do when their off world?  Don't theirs last longer than an hour?"

"Unfortunately Kel Dor physiology is unique," Dane explained.  "Nobody has yet figured out how to reverse the technology used to make the antiox breath masks that the Kel Dor use.  And there are so few visitors to Dorin that the need has never been enough to push development.  So I'm afraid we're stuck with standard breath masks.  Anything else?"

OOC: There really is no (official) equipment equivalent to an antiox breath mask.  Just be glad I'm waiving the required Mechanics check to replace the filters.

"Nope.  Let's go."

"One more quick thing," Ranger Cardosa warned.  "Seeing an unmasked Kel Dor can be a little unsettling."

As you made your final approach to Dorin and Traest signaled traffic control, you got your first glimpse of an unmasked Kel Dor.  As with masked Kel Dor, you could see the extrasensory organs which terminated in small black tusks framing the traffic controller's head.  But instead of a mask there was a gaping opening that descended to a toothless chasm with drooping fleshy strands.  "Welcome to Dorin, we've been expecting you" the traffic controller said, clearly recognizing who you were and your purpose on Dorin.  "His Honor, Interim Chief Judge Pakyu Meni, has asked that you meet him in his chambers," he informed you.

"We had planned to interrogate the prisoner first," Master Tabret attempted to explain.

"His Honor has sent a retinue to meet you at your landing pad," the traffic controller countered.  "They will escort you to his Honor's chambers."  The traffic controller then pulled his lips back revealing an upper and lower hard-palate in place of teeth, in what must have been the equivalent of a Kel Dor smile.  Traest shuddered in his seat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:30, Wed 18 June 2014.

Jubali shrugged, she still remembered the first time she'd seen a male of her species.

"Well, I guess we're meeting with the Interim Chief Judge first," Master Tabret conceded to the now empty screen.

As you touched down on your assigned landing pad, you saw through the cockpit viewport a small group of Kel Dor waiting for you.  One of them looked like a functionary in fine robes.  The other three were clearly security, with blast helmets and vests, blaster pistols in holsters at their hips, and stun batons clipped to their belts.

As you exited your ship, with breath masks firmly in place, the functionary came forward.  "Welcome to Dorin," he said, again giving you the Kel Dor "smile".  "My name is Hetch Kee, one of Interim Chief Judge Pakyu Meni's many aides.  We are honored to have you here," Hetch Kee complimented, giving a slight bow of the head.

"We are honored to serve," Master Tabret replied, bowing at the waist.

OOC: Any comments here?

Jubali followed suit with her master but, as a good padawan, remained silent.

"His Honor has requested an audience with you before you begin your investigation," Hetch Kee explained.  "If you will please follow us."  Hetch Kee gestured towards some nearby landspeeders.  Soon you were whisked away towards the capitol of Dorin, Dor'shan.  The city contained small and isolated buildings, ranging in design from domes to trapezoids, and even ziggurats, all built to withstand the brutal storms that frequented the planet.  Many colored lights illuminated the city of squat buildings, many engraved with geometric and organic patterns.

Your entourage pulled up to the tallest and most well kept ziggurat.  "The planetary courthouse," Hetch Kee explained briefly as he helped you out of your landspeeders.  He led you up the steep steps, and through the entrance at the top, which was surrounded by the most ornate patterns you had seen yet.  After only a few turns in the hallway, you arrived at a door that had markings above it in both Kel Dor and Basic, indicating that this was the chief judge's chambers.  Hetch Kee pressed the door chime button and soon the door was answered by a tall, well built Kel Dor.  "Welcome, welcome honored guests.  I am Interim Chief Judge Pakyu Meni.  Please, come in."

OOC: Make a Perception check.