[Center]~| Day 3, 16:30 GST |~
~| Aboard the Memory of the Coruscant |~
~| Kennith Rahn, Lyric Novan, Kinsakwi'tetsu |~[/Center]

It took Kennith a minute or so to realize they did not recognize him. He hadn’t been around for the refitting of this ship, so it only made sense. “Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself. The name’s Rahn. Kennith Rahn. I’d have been around more for the refits, but to be honest, I’d not have been much use. I don’t like construction, and I detest sitting around doing nothing useful. I prefer to be out in the thick of things, gatherin’ information.”

“I merely stood around and looked pretty, so it wasn’t like I was much use.” Lyric commented, his tone a bit amused by the similarity between their views on construction. 

He chuckled a bit at Master Novan’s answer before continuing his monologue. “I don’t have a body count or anything like that, but I do know that at least one Sith with a predilection for taking Jedi alive was involved, A Darth known only as ‘Nyiss’. Ever since she struck at Alassa Major two months back, I have made it my point to study her and to try to track her down. There isn’t much that is known about her or her habits, other than her being secretive. The one good thing is that she doesn’t exclusively stick to imperial space. She’s been spotted many times in the mid and outer rims. As recently as a week and a half ago near Tatooine. The bad thing is that none of her previous captives have ever been seen again.”

“That doesn’t bode well.” Lyric stated, his hand raised to remove the ciggarra to brush the dying red tip away. The ashes didn’t bother him when they crumbled upon his robe and made an ashy stain, one that he would brush off later. “It means we’re on a limited time slot. It’s unknown how many are onboard and since there’s several bodies uncounted for, currently, it’s likely best to assume she was collecting new captives. Though the number depends on what she does with her captives. Any guesses or theories? Personal suspicions?”  

“Well, my investigations haven’t been too productive on that front. From what I’ve found out, very little of what she does is known in the empire. Even less is known out here in the Republic. She’s suspected to be behind some nasty biological and/or chemical weapons, but it has not been proven. But it doesn’t make sense for Jedi to be used for experiments with such, unless she’s found some way to identify ways to target certain philosophies. But I rather doubt that. So my guess is that they’re being used for something else, but I have no idea what.”

“Could be the Jedi are test subjects to achieve that goal for bio weapons though I agree with you. Pointless when it’s easier to merely bomb every living thing.” Lyric stated, replacing his ciggarra into his mouth and continuing. “If she’s as dangerous as I get the feeling you suspect that’s enough reason not to leave our brothers and sisters any longer in her grasp. I doubt it will bode well.”

“It is safe to assume they were captured in order to be brought to the Dark Side of the Force but with the history behind this Darth Nyiss, it may very well be something darker and deeper than that.” Kinsakwi nodded, then continued, “Though I agree we should be as quick as possible, we should not rush against Darth Nyiss. Where a Darth is, a score of Sith and a hundred troopers are as well.”

“Indeed, I prefer playing support and sneak tactics myself.” Lyric said, smirking, as he felt the ciggarra getting smaller. “Sadly, we’re more on our own as the Republic will not officially sanctify this mission. It seems since the Republic, at least from the rumors I’ve heard, blames the Order for what happened on Coruscant. Namely if the Temple was never there, the Sith wouldn’t have attacked. I find that type of logic bitterly wrong though since they would’ve still attacked regardless of the Temple, but try getting politics to see that.” 

Blowing another ring, he stepped to the side and promptly leaned against the ship’s wall. His shoulder pushed against the cold metal as he thought for a moment. “You mentioned she was at Tattooine over a week and a half ago? Any ideas why?” 

He looked first at Jedi knight Rahn then Master Kinsakwi'tetsu, wondering if she might have some input.    

“Tattooine’s a… Very gray area when it comes to the War. There are many reasons she could’ve been there. There are many criminal organisations as well as Sith and Jedi cells within the planet. It is possible they use the planet as a port for moving prisoners around.” Master Tetsu said.

“Aye. It is. The only places with even a semblance of peace are the ones controlled by the Republic army or by the Empire. I can’t say I like the empire, in fact I can say I don’t, but at least they don’t let the criminal cartels run. But of course, the vast majority of that world is desolate, arid wilderness.” Kennith had been to that world many times and found it to be a useful, if treacherous, place to get information. There were many cities, but few of them had any sort of law in place. He did not count the whims and wills of crime lords to be laws.

“But that notwithstanding, even the possibility of a sighting is better than pulling up a star chart and guessing wildly. Though I’ve never really fought against the Sith directly, I have thwarted some of their plots over the years. I consider it a good habit to thwart such whenever I encounter it.” He smiled a little at this. It was a grim sort of humor, but it was humor at which Master Tetsu chuckled at.

“I think it is best not to go there immediately though… What we really need to do is either to get to Coruscant or to get someone there to get hold of the orbital tracking data for the days the Empire were there. There’s too many people on Coruscant with vested interests for there not to be even a single copy remaining. All we’d need to do is find someone with a copy and figure out his, or her, price. If there’s any ships of the right category heading out along the Corellian Run, then we’ll go straight to Tatooine and try to pick up the trail from there. If not. . . Then we’ll figure something out. But I think there’ll be at least one such ship on that vector. [i]I will not permit this ship to escape.[/i]” In the last sentence, a certain hint of hard resolve could be heard in his voice, as if there was more to it than to the rest. 

“Going to Coruscant might take us a long time. I could speak to some of my contacts within the Republic to get those recordings without ever going to the planet.” Master Tetsu mentioned with a shrug.

“Good. Most of my contacts are the sort who only deal face-to-face. If yours cannot acquire the data, I can go get it from them, but it would save time if we can avoid that. So, where to go?” Kennith asked, both pleased and curious.

“That is suitable enough for me. Though the question still remains… where do we begin searching? The options I suggested have both been tossed aside because the points and options you made, but they are our only leads to the Darth’s ship. Without either we are flying blindly in the dark to where to begin.” Lyric pointed out. 

“Well. I think my study of this Darth Nyiss can be of help here. Let me check my notes.” Kennith answered, then dug through his robes, pulling out a small datapad. He sat there for several minutes, browsing through them, his facial expressions ranging widely as he did. Some parts were amusing, others were appalling. Most came from his numerous sources and had the tinge of personal opinions upon them. He had still not quite made any sense of the stuff he’d gotten from a traveling Givin, as an understanding of complex mathematics wasn’t something he had. He kept droids and computers for doing such.

After about five-six minutes, his eyes finally lit up. “Yes. I knew I had something on this in here! Rumor has it that Darth Nyiss is a master of Sith Alchemy. Primarily in biological and chemical weapons, but some say she also has created a wide range of Sithspawn. While I sincerely hope none of the missing Jedi are exposed to this, it will also give us an angle of approach. Several of my more reliable informants on Tatooine spoke of an unknown client having placed an order for the capture and delivery of nearly two thousand creatures spread out across scores of species all native to Tatooine. Unless someone’s opening a tatooine-themed zoo on some planet in the galaxy, which I doubt, this could be our Sith requesting materials for alchemy. I shudder a little at the idea of that many creatures turned into Sithspawn. Seeing how it is all forbidden knowledge, I can’t say I know the success rate of such foul experiments, but I do hope its low.” The image of a line of troopers being charged and overwhelmed by hundreds of scurriers with blaster-resistant hides and long, razor-sharp claws passed through his mind, making him shudder.

Lyric smirked at the Knight’s wide expressions, his hand reached for his ciggarra again to brush off the ashy cherry. His eyes casually studied them until finally he lit up like a supernova. Kennith exclaimed suddenly with his finger resting on the information he had found. The master shook his head at the enthusiasm and listened closely to the new information, absorbing to memory. It was interesting to Lyric to why a variety were selected and shipped out, though he silently agreed with the Knight that wasn’t a good sign for their fellow Jedi. Sith might’ve been methodical or cruel, but they also had a purpose for everything they did. Personal or otherwise. 

“We could locate and interrogate the supplier. Could learn where she was heading next as you know how casual some suppliers get with their employees. It’s helps them stick around often and coming back enough times for the easy atmosphere. If not, she might end up coming back through for a new supply in the future should our leads run out. It’s not likely and a long shot, but it’s a back up plan in the worse case scenario. Much better than having no plan at all. Though it still might be ideal to go to Coruscant as well. The recordings might be helpful but they could need help identifying any bodies discovered or physical evidence left behind that could clue us in. Like any others that were onboard, giving us a better clue to who or what was on that ship with her.”

“Suppliers. No single individual could collect that many that quickly. Especially not the bigger creatures. But otherwise I agree. We could ask the Jedi returning to check the temple ruins to get the data, as well as get a rough bodycount. The systems are far too secure and redundant for the Sith to have been able to destroy all records. even a rough idea of whether it is ten, twenty or two hundred who are missing would be good to know. To get a record of who is missing would be even better, but that will take much more time than a rough number. For that they’ll have to go through the security footage. I suggest we go to Tatooine and find at least one of those suppliers.” Kennith smiled at having a rough plan at last.

“Showing ourselves as Jedi would be reckless. My soldiers are adept at this kind of assignment, they’re better suited to pull the information out of the suppliers without raising any alarms. Or at least, less alarms than if we were to go ourselves.” Master Tetsu pulled out her datapad and edited some notes, then put it away again. “I will speak to my Republic contacts and ask them for the recordings and an estimated number of missing Jedi. We may not be in the best of terms with the Republic right now as an Order, but my contacts will aid us if I ask.”

Kennith thought back on his previous visits to that world. “That might be true in the core, colonies and mid rim, but as far out in the outer rim as tatooine, people don’t really care if you are republic or empire, Jedi or Sith. All they care about is whether you can pay. It is refreshingly corrupt and greed-based. Tatooine is not a kind world. No matter what deadly things that the empire or the republic can come up with, they do not outmatch the sheer scale of how harsh that desolate world is. If you do not prepare yourself appropriately, the wilderness and climate will take care of you long before anyone of violent intent has the chance to do so. The only places more harsh are the worlds in ravaged by Sith monstrosities and the Dark Side, like their elusive capital world of Dromund Kaas is said to be.” 

Lyric paused, his eyebrow raised at Kinsa then tried to be as reasonable as possible. He understood her worry and caution, he’s had that save his life enough but there was time and place for it. Now wasn’t such time. He tone reflected empathy with what he was about to say. “I understand your caution, but with no disrespect towards your soldiers, some smugglers are adept liars. Not to mention most will be wary of outsiders or risk recalling seeing your men before. You’ve had missions before tracking a Sith on Tatooine before so while I’m sure your men are ideal to blend in, this mission is time sensitive. It will take them much longer to sort out the lies or persuade any truth without at least one Jedi with them.” 

He smirked a bit, than to ease the conversation’s tension began to lightly tease her. “If it wasn’t for your profession, Master Tetsu, I would’ve thought you don’t believe Jedi can hide in plain sight. If that’s the case, I really need to use my off planet clothes much more often to prove you wrong.”  

Master Tetsu opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a holo call. She pulled out her projector and turned around. After a moment of speaking, she put it away and walked toward the exit of the Meditation and Sparring chambers, “I would prefer to stay and discuss this more in depth with you, but I must leave to attend pressing matters concerning the Coruscant Temple.” And so she took a turn upon going through the exit, and she was gone.

“Fair enough. We can deal with the Tatooine situation, can’t we, Master Lyric?” Kennith asked, a bit relieved they’d not not ended up truly arguing. He didn’t overmuch care for Master Tetsu’s overly cautious nature, but could still respect her for it. Some masters, in his opinion, were far too patient and careful. To win, you sometimes had to take risks.

“I think it might be best if I stick on ship and relay what information either one of you learn. If these two options are connected to the Darth, the pieces will start to fit together and someone has to help piece it together. However, as Master Tetsu pointed out it might be wise to have some troopers experienced with the planet tagging along. They can get to places you can’t or have trouble. The extra set of eyes never hurt as well, don’t you agree?” Lyric said, his eyes watching where Master Tetsu left. “Besides, I don’t think any of the Jedi knights would know how to dress for a reconnaissance on a desert planet, I don’t want them wearing their robes or giving away they are Jedi. Kinsa’s troopers might be helpful in that aspect.”    

“Sure. I generally don’t need support, but if that makes Master Tetsu feel safer, it’ll be worth it. If nothing else, it’ll give me some honest folks to play Pazaak with while waiting for the informants.” As he said this, Kennith grinned a little, hinting at how he’d learned to play the game. 

“Even if was your choice, the call is mine. She might be over cautious for my taste but she’s got a success rate that screams she’s good at what she does. It also means her people are just as good, and we’re establishing trust. We have to depend on each during this mission because let’s face it, we’re on our own. So you might want to catch her before we arrive for Tatooine and request a bit of aid. It might sooth over the rough edges we might’ve created with our personalities clashing.” Lyric commented.  

“Ye ye… I know, I know. That’s why I agreed. . . That, and the chance to get a few extra credits.” He answered, getting up to leave the room again.

Lyric just let out a laugh, a deep, amused one while still smoking his ciggarra when Kennith departed.