Senthil Rekara was eating in the Jedi Temple cafeteria when a nice-looking, non-Jedi human woman walked over to his table and sat down.

"All ready for our Mission together?" Sara asked.  "I'm really excited to show you guys our new ship.  I think you're gonna like it!  Where's A'raan?"

"Last I knew he was sleeping," replied Senthil in the typical slurring, gasping accent of a Mon Calamari out of water.  He took another bite of his breakfast.  "But for you, and to see the ship of course, I'm sure he'll wake."  Senthil took one last bite, and then stood up.  "Let's go."

"Hey!  Wait!"  A'raan ran up, chewing on an energy bar.  A'raan was fond of wearing no tunic, preferring just the tabards to show off his manly (in his opinion) chest.  This had a tendency to backfire since he was often covered in bruises and scratches from his brutal training under the ruthless tutelage of Jedi Master Dark Woman.  Today he sported his usual set of injuries coupled with dark rings under his eyes from lack of sleep.  "I'm here, I'm here."

"And in such fine shape, too," Senthil commented.  He rolled his fishbowl eyes, and said, "Come on.  Let's go check out the ship."

The three friends made their way down to the Jedi Temple hangers where they saw a large space craft.  It had a pair of folding wings around a round cockpit.  In front of the round cockpit was a roughly v-shaped extension.

"Isn't she beautiful?!"  Sara enthused.

"Isn't that the ship that belonged to the Sith Lord killed on Naboo?" A'raan asked, then downed an energy drink.

"The Republic engineers have been working on her for ages to strip out any traps and stuff the Sith might have left behind," Sara explained, then began to run down it's stats.  "She's got a rare stygium crystal-powered cloaking device which is capable of creating an invisibility field so we could sneak through even the most advanced of security technologies and allowing us to evade pursuit while on missions."

"Beneath the cloak field generator is a series of compartments containing various equipment for our missions including three DRK-1 Dark Eye probe droids, a speeder bike, several security droids, spying equipment, bombs and mines.

"It's protected by six low-profile solar ionization cannons which can extend and fire several bursts in the blink of an eye. It's also equipped with an experimental high temperature X-C 2 ion drive array.  It can also carry six passengers while its total capacity was 2.5 metric tons."

"Sounds impressive," Senthil replied.  "I especially like the part about the bombs, mines, and ionization cannons.  No laser cannons though, huh?"  Senthil had always found "huh" an overused and useless part of Basic, but he had learned to use it anyway for the Humans' sake.

"I thought that might be what you thought," Sara said.  "But the solar ionization cannon is a powerful weapon uses a power hungry, high intensity beam of ionized light that can bypass conventional shields, and melt durasteel.

"This ship is beyond cutting-edge."  Sara sighed.  "I had to pull every string and use every connection I could to get them to let us have this baby."

"Well I'm glad you were able to," Senthil said congratulatory.  "So do we get to keep it, or is it only for this mission?"

"Technically it's owned by the Republic and it's been assigned to us," Sara explained.  "No way the Republic would just GIVE it to me."

"When do we get to use it?" A'raan asked.

"When we find out who this signal belonged to," Sara said, holding up a datapad.  "We follow the signal back to the on-planet source and then take it from there.  Hopefully off-planet."

"Well, let's get going then," Senthil exclaimed.  "The sooner we found the local source, the sooner we get to use our new toy.  So, how do we track the local signal back to its source?"

"By doing this," Sara said, plugging her datapad into a scanner.  "I've already narrowed the signal down to the Senate district."

"That's an ominous thought," A'raan said, his brow furrowing.

"To say the least," Senthil concurred.  "We already have only a few Senators left, it would be quite a blow if one of them was not on our side."  Senthil gave a thoughtful pause.  "Still, it could just be someone trying to frame a Senator.  Either way, we're not going to find out by sitting here.  Let's get ourselves over to the Senate district."

The tracker led them straight to what remained of the Senate building.  Passing into the still cordoned off building they followed the signal until they entered into the Chancellor's office.  There they encountered Master Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.

"Master Kenobi, Anakin," Senthil acknowledged with a slight nod of his large head.  "What are you doing here?"

"I might ask you three the same question," Obi-Wan said, standing and looking up from the pile of rubble he was searching through.  Anakin continued looking distracted on the far side of the room by a strange statue.

"We were tracking a signal," Sara said.  She handed her datapad to Obi-Wan and he reviewed the information.

"According to this the signal was coming from this office."  Obi-Wan looked confused.  "But why would it be originating from the Chancellor's office?"

"This might explain why," Anakin said, standing back to reveal a secret chamber in the statue he was standing by.  In it was a long-range holo-comm and a beautiful but sinister-looking lightsaber.

"That's not a Jedi lightsaber," Senthil noted.  "Why would a Sith lightsaber and a long-range holo-comm be hidden in a statue in the Chancellor's office?  Is this how the attackers knew exactly where to strike?  Or was there a Sith who was planning to attack the Chancellor, but got beat to the punch?" he mused aloud.

"Perhaps there is a more sinister reason," Obi-Wan said, looking contemplative.  "The Chancellor has some of the strictest security in the galaxy; no one could have infiltrated this office and planted these items."

"If your saying that the Chancellor was-" said Anakin angrily.

"I'm not saying anything yet."  Obi-Wan motioned for a police droid to put the item into evidence.  "We'll see more once it's been inspected.  This is a disturbing development; I need to contact the Jedi Council."

"Disturbing indeed," Senthil agreed.

"So where do we head from here?" He asked Sara.  "Now that we know it was coming from the Chancellor's office, what does that tell us?  Or is there some way we can use the holo-comm to trace the signal to where it was sending?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:00, Mon 07 Apr 2014.

"You're right about the holocomm coming under our jurisdiction," Sara replied.  "We'll check in in with the droids then take it back to the Temple to analyze."

Sara had a droid scan the item into evidence then placed it into a bag.

"Is there anything else you guys wanted to do before we left"

"I don't think so," Senthil replied.  "I believe we have what we need to continue our assignment to trace down the source of this signal."

Sara took them all back to the Jedi Temple where to Antarian Ranger status allowed her to use the Temple computers and forensic investigation equipment along with Senthil and A'raan.

"It's encrypted," Sara said as she plugged the holocom into the computer.  "But I should be able to crack it.  I'll be here a while if you two needed to do any Jedi stuff."

"Well A'raan, do you want to go spar?" Senthil asked.

"No thanks," A'raan replied.  "I've got a surprise one of those nearly every day with my master.  Maybe we could head back out to the Senate building and help with the clean-up."

"Yes, I suppose you're right, we should go help.  Let's go then." Senthil replied simply.  Then he mused, "Perhaps we'll even find something else of interest."

"We can hope," A'raan replied.  The two exited the room.  In the hallway they encountered Obi-Wan and Anakin again.

"Ah, Padawans, following your leads?" the always genial Obi-Wan asked.

"Well we are having that signal analyzed, but now we're headed back to help with the clean up efforts." Senthil explained.

"Anakin was almost the first one on the scene after the explosion, isn't that right Anakin?" Obi-Wan said, smiling roguishly.  Anakin shot his master a brooding look.

"I have friends in the Senate," he replied.  "I was concerned for their safety."

"So concerned he was gone for almost three days."

"Well did you want to go with us?" A'raan asked, eager to change the topic.

"We still need to analyze the lightsaber," Anakin mumbled.  "Thank you for asking, though."

Senthil thought three days a little excessive for a Jedi to be absent, even with everything that had happened.  But he wasn't one to pry into another Jedi's business; at least not too much.  "So were they safe?" Senthil asked; then when Anakin gave him a quizzical look, he clarified.  "Your friends in the Senate, were they safe?"

"Ah, uh, yes," Anakin said.  Senthil wasn't adept at reading humans but he thought Anakin was acting nervously.

"Except the Chancellor of course," Obi-Wan added to which Anakin shot him a dirty look.  "Well we'll let you Padawans go."

"See you later, Anakin," A'raan said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Did Anakin seem a little nervous to you?" Senthil asked A'raan on their way back to the Senate building.  "You know, when I asked him about his friends in the Senate?"

"Yeah," A'raan replied as they hitched a ride to the site.  "But Anakin has always been weird.  Why?  What do you think it was about?"

"I'm not sure," Senthil mused.  "Maybe it's nothing.  It just seems that three days is an awfully long time to check up on a friend in the Senate."

A'raan shrugged.  "Maybe he got lost."  A'raan shrugged as the transport landed and the two disembarked.  The found the clean up coordinator and were assigned a section near what had been the offices and apartments..

"Well, let's get digging," A'raan said.

Senthil started digging, both physically using his muscles, and using the Force to lift small objects out of the way as well.

As the two sifted through the rubble Senthil spotted a metallic arm sticking out of some debris.

"What is this?" Senthil asked aloud.  He moved over to the metallic arm and gave it a tug.  When it didn't come straight out, he started moving the debris around it away.

A'raan came over to help and between the two they were able to move the large piece of debris out of the way and saw beneath a lovely droid underneath.

"I wonder what a droid like this is doing here?" Senthil mused.  "It must have belonged to one of the Senators.  Maybe it has something in its databanks that can help us figure out what happened.  Let's get it back to the Jedi temple for evaluation."

"We should probably check it in with the clean-up crew," A'raan suggested.  Pulling the droid free they dragged it to the clean-up coordinator who scanned the droid's registry.

"This one belonged to...Governor Tarkin?"

"Is Governor Tarkin among the survivors?" Senthil asked.  He knew it was wrong, but Senthil secretly hoped he wasn't.  He had always had a bad feeling about him.

"No," the coordinator said.  "He was visiting the Chancellor; they often planned together.  His wife is still alive, though, which means this droid belongs to her now.  I'll give you the chance to contact her at the temple, let me just log this in my inventory."

The coordinator pressed a few buttons then let them leave.

OOC: It seems as though we're leaving without the droid, is that correct?

When they got back to the temple, Senthil commed Mrs. Tarkin.  He waited for her to pick up.

OOC No you took it with you.

A'raan and Senthil hauled the droid through the Temple and to the forensics lab where Sara was still analyzing the datapad.

"Uh...what's this?" she asked.

"A droid," A'raan stated.  "It belonged to Governor Tarkin.  We were hoping you could get it running again while we contact his wife."

"Alright," Sara said hesitantly.  She stood and grabbed a tool kit as A'raan and Senthil looked through the archives for Tarkin's wife's contact information.  Finding it they patched a call through.  The two were then put on hold while Thalassa Mossi Tarkin was found.

"We're on hold Sara.  Any progress with the droid?" Senthil asked.

"Oh, it's coming along," Sara responded, shaking her head.  "One of these days I'm not going to be around to take care of all of your stuff, you know."

Before A'raan or Senthil could respond the comm signaled it had gone through?"

"Hello?  Who is this?" A shrewish woman came up on the screen.

"Hello Madam Tarkin, I am Padawan Senthil.  My associate and I were aiding with the clean up efforts at the Senate building, and we came across something that I believe belongs to you."  Senthil paused for a moment to turn around and look at the Droid again.  "Is this your Droid?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:51, Thu 19 June 2014.

Ms. Tarkin scoffed.

"That thing?" she asked.  "Knowing my husband it's probably his.  Some pet he kept at the capital while he was away."

"Did you want us to send it back to you?" A'raan asked.

"No!" she scowled.  "I'm grieving for my husband and you want to send me a reminder of his dirty habits?  Keep the filthy thing for all I care."

With that she clicked off the comm unit.

"Transference of registry confirmed."

A'raan and Senthil turned to see Sara with her hands in the droids torso, a stunned look on her face having just turned the droid on.

"I am EDI, how may I be of service?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:18, Thu 19 June 2014.

"Hello EDI," Senthil said.  "May I call you Edie (read ee dee)?"

(Once she replies:)
"Well Edie (or EDI, if she won't let me call her Edie), do have anything in your memory banks of what happened before and during the attack on the Senate building?" Senthil asked.

"Edie is the preferred pronunciation," EDI replied.

"Well Edie, do have anything in your memory banks of what happened before and during the attack on the Senate building?" Senthil asked.

"Oh yes, I can detail any number of details about Governor Tarkin's dealings as Ms. Tarkin failed to order my memory wiped."  EDI seemed quite pleased to point out this situation.

Senthil blubbed his mouth, the equivalent of a Mon Calamarian raising an eyebrow in intrigue, when he heard Edie mention Gov. Tarkin's "dealings".  "Edie remind me later to ask you about Gov. Tarkin's 'dealings'.  But for right now I'm interested in what happened directly before and during the attack.  I am looking for clues to the attackers."

"Governor Tarkin and Chancellor Palpatine were discussing potential military preparations against the Separatists.  Palpatine was in the middle of speaking when he paused and said 'Impossible' then the explosion happened."

OOC: I'm sorry, maybe I misunderstood how/when this attack occurred.  I was under the impression that the attack took place while the Senate was in session and that Palpatine was in that session.  But from what Edie just said, it sounds like Palpatine and Tarkin were having a private discussion.  Did I miss something?  Regardless:

IC: "I was afraid of that.  I was hoping somehow you had seen some sort of markings on the source of the explosion that might tell us who initiated it."  Senthil paused after thinking for a brief moment.  "Edie, can you tell us any of the details of the military preparations that Governor Tarkin and Chancellor Palpatine were discussing?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Wed 09 July 2014.

OOC The Chancellor doesn't have to be there for everything they do.  He was in the Senate building as that is where his offices are (right beneath the Senate chamber as is obvious from Ep. III).

IC "Governor Tarkin was eager to start a military action against the Separatists.  He had the beginnings of a plan worked out but the Chancellor assured him it wouldn't be needed as he had set plans in motion that would provide the Republic with a great army."

"There's been talk in the Senate for a long time of starting to create an army, but how could Chancellor Palpatine already have plans in motion for one without approval from the Senate?" Senthil asked, turning to Sara and A'raan.  Then turning back to Edie, asked "Can you tell us anything else about this army?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Sun 03 Aug 2014.

"I'm afraid I can't," EDI replied.  "Palpatine was very cryptic.  He only told Tarkin that there would be an army soon enough."

"We have to take this to the Jedi Council," A'raan said.

"Yes," Senthil agreed.  "And the sooner, the better.  If the other governmental factions find out about this it'll be a mad dash to find this army.  Let's just hope they don't already know about it."  And with that Senthil commed his Master, Kit Fisto, who was on the Jedi Council.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Thu 06 Nov 2014.

"Yes, my Padawan?" Master Fisto answered on the other end of the comm.

"Master, I'm afraid I have disturbing news," Senthil began.  He then explained about what Edie had told them about this army.

"That is certainly most disturbing news," Master Fisto replied.  "Bring the droid to the High Council chamber immediately.  I will call it into session."

Senthil did as ordered, taking Edie to the High Council chamber, waiting respectfully outside for them to call him.  Respectfully, but impatiently; he anxiously paced the antechamber.

<You are Mon Calamari,> EDI (OOC pronounced eedee, btw)said in Senthil's native tongue.  <Tarkin discussed them.  He said their ships were...sufficient.  Which is a compliment from him; I'm afraid he was quite racist.>

Senthil was appreciative of Edie for speaking to him in his own language.  "<Yes, Edie, I am Mon Calamari.  I'm afraid I've never had a chance to fly in a Mon Calamari ship though.>"  Senthil thought for a moment, then stopped his pacing.  "<Edie, did Tarkin say anything else about the Mon Calamari?>"

<I'm afraid not,> EDI replied, sounding genuinely sad.  Senthil heard a door behind him swish open.

"The council will see you now," a polite Bith said, indicating the two should enter.

Inside Master Fisto stood in the middle of the council chamber surrounded by all 12 council members.

"Tell us," Mace Windu said.  "What have you learned."

"This droid, Edie, that is EDI, was the property of Governer Tarkin before his death during the explosion," Senthil started.  "She was present during a conversation that Tarkin had with Chancellor Palpatine in which the governor expressed his eagerness to start a military action against the Separatists.  He had the beginnings of a plan worked out but the Chancellor assured him it wouldn't be needed as he had set plans in motion that would provide the Republic with a great army.  When Tarkin asked about his plans, Chancellor Palpatine only assured him that there would be an army soon enough."

Senthil paused waiting to see how the Council would react and trying to anticipate any questions they might have.

"This is...hard to believe," Ki-Adi Mundi said.  "We would need to find more definitive proof."

"I would be glad to investigate this matter for you," Senthil volunteered.  "I just urge that time is of the essence.  If the other factions find this army before we do, the results could be disastrous."

"Indeed, you and your companions will investigate this-" Mace Windu was interrupted as Obi-Wan Kenobi entered the room.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this meeting," said Obi-Wan.

"Urgent is your news, Master Kenobi?" Yoda asked.  "Distressed you are."

"I'm afraid so," Obi-Wan said.  "The young Senthil here was there when my Padawan and I discovered a lightsaber hidden in the Chancellor's office.  I had it tested and I'm afraid all indications are that it was, in fact, Palpatine's."

"How can you be sure?" Adi Gallia asked incredulous.

"His finger prints and some of skin cells were on the inside of the casing," Obi-Wan explained.  "The beam is red and it's clear the lightsaber was Sith in origin."

Murmur's and a heavy feeling of tension fell on the room.

"This is a serious accusation."  Mace Windu leaned on his hand.  "Yet seemingly related to our current discussion.  The droid has indicated similar things about Palpatine as well as Tarkin.  I'm assigning all of you to work together to investigate this.  Obi-Wan and his Padawan, Master Fisto and his Padawan.  You had friends, too, yes Padawan Rekara?"

"That is correct, Master Windu," Senthil confirmed in a formal tone.  "Padawan A'raan and Sara Borealis would be very useful on this mission, especially with the ship we've just been given.  Also, I would like to take the droid Edie with me as well.  Her inside information on Tarkin and Palpatine could prove invaluable."

OOC: You need to update your Dramatis Personae, there you have the BD-3000 luxury droid named K-8 instead of EDI.

"Hm.  A'raan's master is Dark Woman, yes?  We'll work out the details with her but he will accompany you as well."  Mace shifted back in his seat.  "Go find out what was going on."

"Come along Edie," Senthil said as he followed his master and Obi-Wan out of the Council room.  His hope was that they were heading to the hangar where their ship lay to meet up with A'raan and Sara.

All rallied in the hanger where Sara was eager to get going in her ship.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:58, Thu 14 May 2015.

"Well we-" before Master Fisto could finish he, Sara, Senthil and EDI were all knocked back by a pulse in the Force.  As Senthil recovered some he saw A'raan locked in battle with a lithe, cloaked figure with a purple lightsaber.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:58, Thu 14 May 2015.

"What in the worlds?!" Senthil exclaimed as he pulled out and activated his lightsaber.  "Who is that?" he asked as he ran forward to help, trying to get in a flanking position on the cloaked figure.  (Is one move action enough to get him over there?)

Senthil stood and made to chase the attacker but with a flick of their hand they sent him flying across the hanger bay.

Sara, not taking time to stand, spun around on her butt and made a shot at the figure who blocked it with their lightsaber before twirling the blade around and blocking an attack by A'raan.

"ENOUGH!" Kit Fisto shouted, Force Thrusting the cloaked figure away.  As she skidded to a halt the momentum flipped back her hood and Senthil was surprised to see A'raan's own master, Dark Woman.

"Not more of her games," Senthil muttered under his breath.  Willing himself not to rub his backside even though it ached, he approached his master and in annoyance asked, "Why does she waste time with such antics, when time is the one thing we do not have?"

"You'll have less time, young one, if you don't learn lessons like this," the Dark Woman replied.  "Has your revelation about Palpatine taught you nothing?  Anyone can be your foe and they can strike from anywhere, even in your own heart.  Jedi must ever be vigilant."

The Dark Woman deactivated her lightsaber and moved towards the exit.

"You did well, Padawan," she remarked before phasing through the closed door.

"I don't like her," Sara scowled as she stood up.

"Question her methods if you will but her training has produced some of the strongest, most devoted members of the Order," Master Fisto replied.

Senthil looked over at A'raan.  His lightsaber was still active and he seemed frozen in a defensive stance.  Senthil could tell by his measured breathing that it was taking all of his effort to retain control of his emotions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:56, Tue 12 May 2015.

"Yes, but at what cost master?" Senthil let the question hang in the air as he deactivated his own lightsaber and approached A'raan.  "C'mon A'raan.  Just forget about it.  Let's just get started."  Senthil waved his webbed hand towards the boarding ramp of their ship.

A'raan turned off his lightsaber and ran his fingers through his hair.  As the Sara, A'raan and Senthil made to board the ship the door to the hanger opened and Obi-Wan and Anakin entered.

"Looks like we're just in time," Obi-Wan said jovially as Anakin hovered behind him like a tall, dark cloud.

"Indeed," Senthil readily agreed.  Senthil hesitated on whether or not to comment on the earlier proceedings with the Dark Woman.  He decided to let A'raan be the one to bring it up if he wanted to, and so simply said, "Come aboard, Sara will show us around."

OOC: Don't forget Edie is coming with us as well.

"And this is the cockpit!" Sara said, wrapping up her tour of the ship.  (

Anakin moved over the pilots seat and looked over the controls.

"This is the ship that belonged to the Sith who killed Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan said, his face concerned.  Anakin paused in his examination and everyone went quiet and looked at Sara.

"Yes," she replied, shrugging.  "It's been examined for nearly ten years.  They've literally taken it apart and put it back together again.  We've nothing to fear.  I think they even reinstalled the computer to ensure no viruses or other malware made it through."

"See, nothing to worry about," Senthil said confidently, waving it off as he gave Sara a wink with one of his fish-bulb eyes.

"Well, off we go then," Obi-Wan said.  "Looks like we've more than enough seating."  Sara looked over at the pilots seat, still occupied by Anakin.  "Ah, yes, my Padawan considers himself something of a pilot, you may have to fight him for the job."

"I heard he's amazing," Sara replied.  "He can have it.  Maybe I'll learn a thing or two."

Senthil remained silent, just anxious to get started.

"Where were we going again?" Kit Fisto asked to the room at large.

"Tatooine," Sara replied.  "It was the closest planet to where I traced my signal."

Senthil tried to remember what he knew about Tatooine.  (OOC: 8 (skill) + 9 (roll) = 17)

Senthil remembers that Tatooine is a desert planet dotted with cities, villages, and moisture farms.  Native species include Tusken Raiders and Jawas.  Hutts control the planet and it is a haven for illegal activity.

"Well, I guess that make sense," Senthil replied.  "There's enough criminal activity going on there that he could have been linked to that.  And Master Kenobi, wasn't Tatooine where you first met the previous owner of this ship?" Senthil asked.

"Yes," Obi-Wan replied a pained look on his face.  "It's also where we found young master Anakin here."

"Yes, I remember now."  Senthil realized.  "But I asked about the Sith because if Palpatine was a Sith too, maybe it makes sense that the signal is pointing somewhere one of them has been."

"...Actually...it didn't come FROM Tatooine but that's the last place it was routed through," Sara admitted.  "It's origin was from an empty sector of space so I'm trying to get more information before and go from there."

"Ah, I see," Senthil replied.  "Thank you for clarifying.  But either way, our next destination is Tatooine, so let's get going."

"On our way," Anakin said.  Through the viewport Senthil could see they'd already made it into space and were not entering hyperspace.

"Well, who wants a tour?" Sara said.

This message was deleted by the player at 15:09, Tue 09 June 2015.

OOC YOU did.  Mostly it's a chance for you to say what you're going to do for the next couple of hours.

"I saw it earlier.  I think I'll go run through some Force regimens and lightsaber practice," Senthil replied.