The ground team is, well, on the ground, with Oriana and Hector keeping watch on the ship.  You've found an older Imperial man who is letting you into the manor.  No one's stepped in just yet, but Captain Komad indicates it is ok to do so.

Seely keys her commlink as she heads in, trying to contact the Skyfisher (given how close the ship is, this should be easy), "Comm check, can you two read us?"

"Loud and clear, Captain," returns the female smuggler's voice.

"Keep us posted if anything happens.  We'll do the same."

Serina keeps a close eye on their rear flank as they approach and prepare to enter the building. She does become slightly distracted when she finds Duran smiling at her, it isn't that men never did so, she want entirely unattractive, but this hardly seemed like the right moment, not to mention he's a Jedi. Finally she decides maybe he's just being nice or trying to so she smiles back rather belated and a but awkward, not sure what to make of it. Then she turns back to the door and to Seely, going that she is just a suspicious of the man a Serina herself is.

"Where is everyone, this place looks deserted?"

Duran, hooking his lightsaber back on his belt gestures for Seely to lead the way deeper into the Manor,"We are Master Orth's people, how do you know we were coming?" He looks around the jam of the door to see what is inside,"Who is your master and where is he?"

Shanda remained quiet as the others started off with a slew of questions, instead she continued to focus her attention on the surroundings and the building itself as she listened to what the replies would be.

"I was told you were coming by my boss, though I wouldn't call him my 'master.'  He said he sent for assistance with a private matter.  Jedi, eh?  Wouldn't have expected that.  No, I was told to wait at reception for a ship and a number of people on board to pay us a visit."  At that, he gestures up at the ship and asks, "Going to leave your friends up there?  Suppose they'll be safe for now.  The Sith probably won't bother coming out here, they'll focus on the cities.  Are you coming in or not?"

The shiptenders close the ramp at this point, but the ship remains where it is.  In the cockpit, you see that Oriana has left her seat at the ion cannon and has joined Hector.  The two are watching the lot of you, but seem to be conversing.

Seely nods as she follows the servant along, "They're more comfortable in space and on ships than they are on the ground.  Let's leave it at that."

The Captain, however, maintains a deliberately slow pace so she's not rushing into any trap.  Well, if there IS any trap here.  Paranoia serves a soldier well; everyone who stepped on a landmine clearly wasn't paying attention.

Duran follows behind, not entirely comfortable leaving Oriana and Hector alone but with little choice in the matter. Duty called. He moved back to stay just behind Seely, his eyes peeled and the force feeling out before him as he stayed alert.

Stepping in to the entryway, you see the desk there as before.  Otherwise, this room is rather bland.  The man, who introduces himself as Jutnam Becc, guides you through a doorway to the left.  In this next room is a large, plain rectangle.

Once everyone's standing inside, Jutnam says, "We'll be going underground here, to an area with secure communications."  He fiddles with some controls on a wall panel, and sure enough, the room shakes a bit, and the floor you're standing on begins to descend.  Apparently, the room is an elevator, and it's going down.

"Won't be too long," Jutnam says.  "Just a few levels down."

Shanda lifted her head gazing towards the ceiling, subterranean complexes were not one of her more favored locations. Reaching up to readjust her hood she glanced to the others as the lift descended.

Seely looked to the others, then to Jutnam.  Her hand stayed on her blaster.  This seemed a little too good to be true...

Duran too was uneasy with this development but he kept his cool and looked at the servant,"Does your employer often stay underground? It does seem a little unusual?"

17:27, Today: Duran rolled 23 using 1d20+15. Perception (Force Perception- lying?).

"Oh, he's not here.  I'm not sure he's ever here."  [Private to Duran: He doesn't seem to be lying.]

The lift continues to descend for a bit, and comes to a halt a bit less than a minute later.  A door opens, and Jutnam leads the way.  Everything through here has quite the metallic appearance, with sharp, angular features on the architecture.  It is well-lit though, with soft fluorescence from the ceiling.  A few closed doorways line the halls, though they're closed.

The hallway you're taken through turns into a sort of bridge with glass walls and ceiling, and out below you there appears to be some sort of manufacturing operation going on.  There are droids working away at building things on an assembly line about 15 meters below the walkway you're on.

"You're going to have to explain that one to me, Mr. Becc.  We were sent here based on the Jedi's vision, if that person of interest isn't here, then what is?  He made it sound like a matter of importance, even if he couldn't bring it up." Seely says, frowning behind her visor.  Whatever's being manufactured here could be a matter of interest, but...she suspects anything manufactured is secondary in matters of the Jedi...

Shanda cocked her head looking at Jutnam intently, she had her suspicions as to the setup but kept her tongue allowing for the man to answer accurately. Peering down through the walkway she watched the droids for a bit as they walked. This didn't seem like a trap...just eccentric.

"I'd still like an explanation who you knew of Master Orth, and that we were coming." Not even Master Orth had known what they would find, why would he not tell them the people knew of them and expected them.

He looked at the droids and a strange suspicion filtered into his mind,"What is manufactured here? I thought this was a Manor, not a factory?"

Jutnam stops, turning to face you, his expression calm.  "I am sorry that you have been lead on like this.  The room where you will be getting your answers is just up this hall."  He glances down at the droids hard at work, responding, "The manor is indeed more than it seems, I suppose.  The manor's owner does a few things behind the wraps.  Under different circumstances, I'd have you all signing ND agreements, but we're in a hurry, yes?"

Looking on from the walkway, the room extends out quite a ways, filled from end to end with production areas lined with bipedal droids.  Upon closer inspection, they do seem to be producing some sort of casings.  [Private to Seely Komad; Serina Ryo: You recognize them as those used in small, hand-held explosives, such as grenades.]

Serina glances at the man with a frown then back at the elevator, finding themselves deep underground and if this was some kind of trap, they'd have a hell of a time getting out.

"Looks like you're making enough grenades to provide for a small army"

She hopes she isn't the only one who's noticing how deep they are getting into the facility and tries to decide for herself what logical reasons there could be to bring all of them into that room deep underground.

"Are you building something you want us to take out of here before the Sith arrive?"

Duran reached out and put a hand on the mans shoulder,"I don't feel comfortable going deeper and deeper like this. Where are you taking us? Why do you keep evading out questions? I think we are going to need answers before we are going any deeper into this place, it would make a magnificent trap I think."

"It's gonna take a while to explain what's really going on here, I'd bet." Seely watches the situation unfold, watching the man's reaction to Duran's sudden contact.  Unlike before, in the cockpit, she was a bit more prepared for things to go wrong this far out.

Jutnam chuckles. "We aren't going any deeper.  Just down the hall here, you can see the door..." he turns away from you to point in the direction you were previously headed.  The hall does go on a way, but Jutnam's point seems to indicate the one at the very end.  "Honestly, I don't have your answers.  I am here to take you to where you can get them.  I only work here."

Duran nodded,"Very well, let us see what our answers bring." Still his hand slid to his lightsaber as he followed Jutnam the last bit. His eyes, ears and the Force extended to the maximum as he watched for the slightest sign of trouble..he just didn't like this.

Focusing his mind he reached out to the force for a moment, wanting to reassure himself that at least somethings were fine still.
[Private to GM: A telepathic message to Oriana, might be best for us to put a private thread up for these sort of things otherwise you're going to do a lot of copying and pasting.

A sense of wariness and suspicion with a hint of hope passed from Duran's mind and a single word, well question,"Fine?"

20:41, Today: Secret Roll: Duran rolled 28 using 1d20+15. Use Force (Telepathy)]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:44, Tue 05 June 2012.

"All right." Seely glances to her teammates, "Thank you, Mr. Becc."

With that, she leads the way down the hallway.  If bad things are going to happen...well, it's time to spring the trap.  Otherwise, they have important business to finish.

[Private to Duran: "A calm sense of amusement in return, 'Absolutely. You?'"]
You're led the rest of the way to the aforementioned door, which Jutnam promptly keys in a code for at the nearby panel.  It slides open to reveal a round table with a holoprojector in the center.  Yet another meeting room.

Jutnam extends a hand into the room.  "Here you are.  I'll not be far, simply press this button here," he says, indicating one just to the left of the door on the inside of the room, "should you need anything, or to let me know you're finished.  The door won't be locked."  He steps away briskly, heading back the way you came.

The room itself is quite spartan, featuring nothing but the table, chairs, and projector.  A ventilation shaft is visible beyond a grate in the back right corner of the room.

Just then, the projector at the table begins blinking, indicating that a call is coming in.

First thing Duran does is check the door to see that it is unlocked and then move over to the ventilation shaft to look up it to see if there was anything in there he should worry about.

He walked around the rest of the room, letting Seely, Serina, Shanda and EAS worry about the call. When he was happy he took a seat, looking off into the distance with a small smile on his face.

[Private to GM: Actually checked the rules for telepathy and as long as we're on the same planet I'm not going to roll unless you want me to. 15 get's me the planet and I have a bonus of 15 :D

Focusing for a moment he sends back to Oriana,"Okay, learning more now."]

"Spread out and check the room." Seely says as the door to the room shuts. While the others check the room, she takes care of pressing the button to let the call come in.  This is going to get far more complicated than she had thought.  This wasn't a simple check in.  This was a whole damn secret procedure, like criminals in backrooms of the Senate and all that nonsense in some of those older holos.

Shanda glanced around the room then turned to the most obvious thing to check, the door. Waiting a few moments to allow Jutnam to go his merry way in case it's unlocked before checking it. If it's fine the Consular would move towards the holoprojector waiting for the others to finish up thier own inspections.

Everything seems to be in order.  After closing and opening the door a few times to ensure Jutnam's word is worth something, you close it, sit yourself at the table, and answer the call.

The connection establishes itself, with a shape flickering into view.  The slightly pixelated hologram of a female humanoid forms up, and some features become apparent.  While she has hair, the female is a Zabrak, judging from the horns on her head.  She wears robes, adorned with patterns and tassels that would make her stand out in a crowd.  Her eyes have a piercing, disarming quality to them, even over the holo, and she would appear to be taller, though you're not sure how much of that is just a trick of the projection.

In addition, as with most Zabrak, this one has tattooed its face, but in the jagged, intimidating patterns common of Zabrak Sith.  She looks over the lot of you seated at the table, one by one.

"Hello," she begins.  Her voice carries an Imperial accent as well, but it is also one of age and authority.  "I am Darth Imperius, formerly Niema Sol'us."


This message was last edited by the player at 00:21, Wed 06 June 2012.

"...I confess that this is an odd way of meeting new people." The Twi'lek Captain stares at the hologram.  This wasn't just a recording.

"I knew it couldn't be simple." Seely takes that moment to flick her blaster onto kill, "Since you've been polite this far, I'll be too: Seely Komad, may I ask why we are here?  I'm not up to date on Dark Jedi etiquette, but I seem to remember less polite interactions than this."

Shanda looked up at the projection with a soft smile. This certainly was a suprise. For the moment the Consular remained silent listening to see what the Sith would have to say.

When the Sith introduce herself, EAS-05 lurched slightly from its position next to Seely.  This was what its programming had craved. A real Sith.  It stood quietly, awaiting orders, and running combat simulations

Serina her eyes narrow and briefly show a flash of hatred even as her hands ball into fists and she has to use all her willpower not to tell this Darth where to stick it and to walk, she would never engage in any dealings with a sith and only the fact that it isn't her call to make restrains her.

Duran flinched briefly as the image of a Sith popped up but he managed to keep his face and reactions in check as the Sith spoke. Putting a hand out he patted Serina's arm, her distress reaching him through the force as he listened to Seely start.

"I am Duran, and love to know why we are here and why you seem to want to meet with us?" Particularly since her servant knew Master Orth's name. The real problem was he should have figured out it was a Sith as soon as he saw the call come in, who was currently in charge of the airwaves.

The Darth nods, bowing slightly, respectfully.  "I apologize sincerely for the lead that brought you here, my message to Mul.  I also apologize for the timing.  My 'fellows'," she says with a bit of a sneer, "have begun this invasion ahead of schedule.  There was to be very little bloodshed, a scheme that has built upon itself for a number of decades.  They have been secretly replacing key leaders in the Corellian government with pro-Empire officials for a long time.  The planet was essentially already Imperial, hence the lack of requests for support and the lack of resistance on the Corellian end."

She sighs, shaking her head before continuing.  "Sorry, that's just politics.  My message to Mul...was a call for help, albeit an awkward one.  As a member of the Dark Council, it requires constant vigilance on my part to maintain this charade of evil.  I have been trying to sway this system of passion and destruction towards a more logical path, one that would secure peace without so much undue suffering.

"And sorry, I'm rambling again.  I have asked you here, essentially, to free my daughter from the Sith.  Sei'rith has been living on Corellia for most of her childhood, my effort to keep her from being taken away as I was.  She is there, in Coronet, and with the Sith invasion taking place, they will detect her presence soon, and rush her to Korriban to learn pain and death before becoming one of them.  In addition to my daughter, any other sensitives on the planet will be rounded up and taken away as well.  I need you to help me save them."

[Private to Duran: ""Hurry it up."  Coupled with a sense of anxiousness and concern.]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:16, Wed 06 June 2012.

This woman liked to talk, and it was clear that she was going to do a lot more of it. Frowning he said,"How can we believe you? This could all be a farce?"

He shook his head, regardless they couldn't ignore the plight of the other force sensitive on the planet, with a hint of urgency in his voice he said,"Where is your daughter? How will you round up the other Force Sensitives without giving yourself away, or are you wanting us to do it? No you mean your people will round them up."

Shaking his head, this made no sense,"How many are there? Can you sense them all?" They could do this between the the three force users on board but he wasn't sure he trusted this Sith. Looking at the others he said,"We need to hurry, something is happening up stairs."

He thought for a moment that he may have been distracted the last time he had cast out his mind, what with Oriana's strange behaviour...and what he had found in her room...Shaking his head he focused his mind to see if he could find them now. Reaching out he nodded,"I can feel them now, Seven of them in reach of us here. Are there more on the planet."

17:11, Today: Duran rolled 19 using 1d20+15. Use Force (Sense Force).
[Private to GM: The message back is simple, tinged with a little anxiety and concern,"Careful, Sith involved. Going fast."]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:14, Wed 06 June 2012.

Seely thinks over what Darth Imperius has said while Duran is talking.  She decides to key her commlink and to contact the others, "Operation has become more interesting.  Keep ship primed, may be a search and rescue over the rest of Corellia.  More details coming, respond if you receive this; I will assume we're jammed if you do not, Captain out."

Lowering her wrist unit, she looks over the person they're talking to.  It's not every day she considers helping a Sith, but her heart goes out to someone willing to do something to her family.  If someone had been willing to help her family, maybe she'd have someone to talk to besides General Garza and other University professors.  Part of her really wants to believe this is the truth.  The sensible part of her wants to listen to as much information as possible to listen for holes in the story, and to give the Jedi a chance to put their mastery of the Force to use.

"You're...one hell of a Sith.  I think my associate has asked the best questions, but I have one of my own: can you pass over an image or provide a description of your daughter?  The more we know about her, the better we can assist in finding her." Her politeness is a bit strained.  The soldier in her would have been more comfortable with an ambush.  Rescuing a Dark Jedi's daughter is...not in any training manual or University level holo.  If they live through this, they might be able to make a lot of money off of selling the tale...

Shandas usual smile turned into a frown as she listened to the Sith Lords speech. It took all her discipline to not push away from the table. To save lives was an honorible thing but there was just so much wrong in this picture.

Serina listens to the conversation with a dark look, crossing her arms and glaring at this Darth, aching to speak out against this woman. She looks towards Duran as he puts a hand on her arm and she tries to take a deep breath and relax, but even so she can't believe some of them seem to be considering this. It just feels all wrong. Finally she tries to catch Duran's eye and tell him without speaking that this is a really really bad idea.

"I am sorry Ms. Komad, but your communicator likely will not work that far underground."  You're not sure how deep into the planet you are, but dense material does often have an adverse effect on comms like that.

"If I had time, I would prove myself to you in some way, but events have rushed these priorities to the forefront."  She blinks twice suddenly, and closes her eyes momentarily, concentrating, before continuing.  "Your friends above-ground have been discovered.  One moment, please, I will find out what I can."  She turns to a nearby console that you can't see, and works to bring up some information.  "Well that's unfortunate.  You were detected on your way down to the planet?  Duran, and the Miralukan here, you probably...well, for lack of a better description, you got a bad headache all of a sudden?  They have sent Wikk after you."  She turns back to face the group and says, "Wikk is a dangerous Sith, of a newly discovered species, all of them Force Sensitive.  He is dangerous, and insane, barely under  control.  His death would be in your best interest.  There is another as well, a Chiss, Lord Rathik, Wikk's 'master'...if you can handle Wikk, you can probably turn her.  She is honorable, another slave, forced into service.  You should go help your friends.  I will be available here when you are finished.  Please be careful, and return."

The hologram flickers out.

[Private to Duran: Anxiety, and a strong sense of urgency, coupled with... sarcasm?  "No shit.  Get out. Get out NOW."]

"Crap. Orianas in a world of trouble." Sighing the Consular rose from her seat striding towards the door with urgency, her hand already sweeping down to pluck the lightsaber from her hip. "When they probed the ship I felt this Wikk creatures power. We need to get up there now."

Duran didn't argue, simply grabbed his lightsaber,"Let's go, the others are under attack and need our help." Without a sense of hesitation he surged out with the force, not sure he trusted the Sith, so tried to see if he could detect anything lurking ahead of them.

That done he said,"Let's go, I'll lead, in case we meet the Sith on the way down. Captain, if you can take the rear, you're the best shot I presume?" As soon as he had an answer he headed to the door at a run that all of them could keep up with.

18:07, Today: Duran rolled 31 using 1d20+15. Perception (Force Perception).
[Private to GM: Another telepathic message for you. A sense of patience, peace and focus as Duran's voice says,"Two Sith Force Users, 40km away, moving fast."]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:14, Wed 06 June 2012.

PM for Jedi types.

[Private to Duran; Shanda Rell: An itch at the back of your mind begins rising up again.  This Wikk is about to begin another one of his probes...]

"Damn Sith!" Seely cries to her squad, "We gotta get back to the surface, double time.  Set your weapons to kill in case this was just a ruse.  Sergeant Ryo, I'll take the rear, you're just behind the two Jedi; keep your eyes open for ambushes."

On the way back up to the surface, of course, she will make repeated attempts to warn Oriana and Hector until she gets a response on the comms.  A few seconds to prepare might save their lives...

"Dammit he's going to probe again." Gritting her teeth Shanda braced herself for the shockwave, focusing her mind towards diverting the probe. Wikk had detected two force sensitives, not three. If they could hold that advantage just a bit longer they stood a better chance...focusing her will through the force she did her best to try and form a shield around herself to deflect the incomming barbaric probing...

OOC:
13:55, Today: Shanda Rell rolled 32 using 1d20+14. Use the Force.

"Commander Komad, shall I take point with the Jedi?" EAS-05 eagerly requested new orders as the group headed back.

EAS-05 followed Seely's example in trying to contact the ship.  Messages of imminent combat were sent to X2.

"Take the back with me, so Sergeant Ryo can stay in the middle of us.  Remember, we have to be ready for them to attack from any direction..." Seely silently curses herself for forgetting about their Anti-Sith combat droid.  He could be just as much of an asset as the Jedi!

Hearing the others trying to communicate he said,"I've warned them already...." His eyes flickered to Shanda as she warned about the probe, throwing up his mental shields to deflect the probe he tried to ensure that there position so far below ground was kept a secret.

He didn't need the Sith to speed along even faster to try and finish off Oriana and Hector before they got back to the top.

18:16, Today: Duran rolled 34 using 1d20+15. Hide Self.

You storm out of the meeting room and into the hallway.  Jutnam is there on the walkway, looking out over the production area, and he takes immediate notice of your coming.  Startled, he calls out as you run past, "Wh-what's wrong?  Here, I'll get the elevator..."

[Private to Shanda Rell:  Your defenses were not as ready this time, and the waves of constricting, throbbing pain wash over your mind.  It ends as quickly as before, but you can see the Force around you writhing at the Sith's presence.  Duran appears to be fine this time, so the Sith will still only detect at most two of you.]
[Private to Duran:  You seem to ward the Sith off this time, and while you can feel the Force around you writhing, you can think clearly for the moment.  Shanda looks to be in worse shape this time.]

There hall is just as empty as before.  He gets you into the elevator and starts it on its agonizingly slow trip back up to the surface.  For some reason, there is some muzak playing this time, a stark juxtaposition to the situation at hand.

Your messages to those in the Skyfisher are not yet being answered.  Hopefully you'll get a better signal soon...

EAS-05 was silent after receiving its orders.  The order was sound.  The combat medic would be better protected and the rear better fortified.  But... It did not like the order.

"Command acknowledged.  Combat protocols initiated." EAS-05 confirmed the order and kept in place by Seely.

Serina scowls and picks her blaster pistol back out of her holster. Moving to walk behind the Jedi and ready to fire at anything that moved suspiciously.

"This whole thing stinks of betrayal I say, can either of you tell what sort of situation the others are in exactly?"

"Can't say for sure but when I felt Wikk probing us that first time incomming to the planet I felt a very strong force presence, completely undiciplined. Wild and chaotic. I like it to lighting a candle with a thermal detonator." Shaking her head as the elevator rose her head turned upwards trying to keep the calm in her mind. "If this Wikk person is throwing around so much energy he's probably a sorcerer more than a warrior. In which case when we exit the mansion, scatter. First thing I'd do against a group is slam everyone with the force, less chance of getting a bunch of us if we don't huddle together. Well to be honest I plan to pay him in kind for this headache when we reach the surface regardless."

"All right, we'll spread out once we have some space, but remember to watch out: our foe might be hoping that we open up our formation and don't pay enough attention to where our enemies are.  Don't let them separate us from each other; if we can see each other, we can stay alive." For better or worse, Seely is a leader and she's gotten less talented squads through worse situations.  Directing these elites in combat will be simple...as long as the Dark Jedi doesn't knock them away with the Force.

Duran shook his head,"I managed to ward him off this time. We will need to work on him....What I don't like is his very easily 'recruitable' master...that just reeks of a plant."

He glanced at the elevator,"Can this thing go no faster?" He reached out with his mind, hoping things were going well.
[Private to GM: A questioning sense reaches out to Oriana,"Coming. Okay?"]

"The Master is not going to be easily recruitible if we can't deal with Wikk short and to the point. It's the meaning behind the words. Wikks Master likely sets alot of stock in the being, if we over power the attack akk that potentially outclasses the Master with little difficulty it'll be self preservation that forces the Master to stand down." Shanda continued to stare up at the ceiling silently willing the lift to pick up speed, "They're Sith, bullies who are quick to cower and remember thier place when you strip them of thier over glorified 'power'."

Biting her lip her face lowered, "The real question will be what to do about this Sith Lords daughter and a bunch of others."

Serina keeps a careful eye out as the elevator heads up, and making sure the elevator itself doesn't feel like it's about to drop, someone could easily cut the wires if they had a lightsaber and there would be very little they could do against it.

"Why is this girl any more special then the thousands of other force sensitives across the galaxy being taken away by the sith to Korriban. Just because her mother suddenly finds the arrangement inconvenient. If she truly wished to repent she could have come here, gotten her daughter and joined the republic and the Jedi. Instead we're going to solve her problem so she can go on being a dark lord of the sith?"

She takes a deep long breath and sighs, trying to let out some of the frustration that she's feeling.

"It feels wrong"

"I understand, Sergeant Ryo, but we don't exactly have a choice, now.  If the Sith have insiders on Corellia, we're going to need help to get off the planet alive." Seely states, distracting herself from moral and ethical quandaries to focus on battlefield planning, "We'll keep fire on this Wikk so it can't have the full run of the battlefield.  If we manage to get a good shot in and take Wikk down, then that's good luck, but I've never defeated a Dark Jedi before."

"My thoughts as well. This invasion can't suddenly be an instantaneous event. She even mentioned that they've spent ages replacing the higher ups with Imperical lapdogs. She's had plenty of time to secret her daughter away as well as secure the other force sensitives." Shandas grip tightened on the hilt of her saber running a thumb over the activator slowly, "Chances are we're to escort the lot of them to a secondary location where we can be eliminated and she can make her private powerplay with a bunch of new acloytes who were supposedly taken by the Republic. The senate gets in hot with the Sith higher ups for the snatch and grab, the Republic can't produce what they don't have and a sith lord gets her own private little sect to increase her own powerbase."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:34, Wed 06 June 2012.

Duran, moving slowly from foot to foot, lightsaber unactivated in his hand snorted,"I think we can worry about the others once we have fought off the Sith. Even if we defeat Wikk and his 'master' we will simply alert more of the Sith and they will send others after us."

He looks at Serina, remembering her flinch,"I'm going to activate my lightsaber now." When he had her attention he activated it, the buzz filling the elevator for a moment,"Captain, we are not about victory and defeat. The Force will decide this, I think it is best if we focus on Wikk and his Master but there may be others...it might be better for those with blasters to focus on them, I will try and keep the Sith Force Users at arms length till you are done with the others."

He breathed in, bringing his lightsaber up in front of him, the blade stopping an inch from his face as he looked at it and repeated the Jedi Mantra to himself.

There is no emotion, there is peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

There is no passion, there is serenity.

There is no death, there is the Force

"Right.  We won't let them get in your way, either." The warning is enough to keep her from flinching away, too, "If it comes down to it, we can assist with the fight against the Dark Jedi, too."

Darth Imperius has every edge here.  She set the map.  She called for many of the pieces to be in place, and it's her allies who are moving ahead of schedule, not her enemies.  Seely, on the other hand, can't see half of the board, was placed by a third party who didn't know half of the board either, and doesn't have the luxury of dragging her feet if things go badly.  Worse, this is the enemy's side of the board.

Time for a hurry up offense.  If they can just secure Hector and Oriana, they'll be able to stay alive a little longer.  That leads them ahead to what to do about the daughter and others.  That, like the others said, can certainly be a trap, too.  She'll have to make her own decision about the course of action when they get there.  For now, sadly, she'll have to maintain her neutrality until she can gather more intelligence...

"Our objective, after defeating any hostiles and dealing with any Dark Jedi, is to make sure Hector and Oriana are still alive.  I don't care if we can trust them or not, they're the closest thing we've got to allies here and we're the closest thing they've got to allies here.  If they decide that they want to make lines and leave us behind, we'll find another way off of this rock, Sith daughter, Force sensitives, or none.  Understood?"

Shanda flicked the activator on her saber, the green glow of her blade humming into life as her head inclined. "Understood."

His face a mask of focus and peace he nods to Seely,"The future will take care of itself, for now we focus on the moment. We can discuss it again once we're done....they won't leave us."

He had spent too long touching minds with Oriana to believe she'd run, he wasn't sure of Hector but he was of her. These others were already committed and perhaps Hector wasn't as bad as he thought. A smile quirked his features for a moment before getting lost in the power of his discipline.

"They might have to leave us.  I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt, just this once."

Waiting for the smugglers to move forward a bit, by the way.

**bringing the group back together**