Chapter 2
The blazing morning sun rose over the islands of Taanab as the hover shuttle shot past the waterways between the islands. The slender silver bus cruised onwards from the Hadarian capitol towards the territory of the Tragans.
"The Yargas are not far from here," Decon explained inside the shuttle, "The Tragans have suggested the mediations take place there, on neutral ground."
"Neutral? I would hardly call the land they are contesting over neutral," Obi-Wan pointed out.
"Well, yes," Decon conceded, "None the less, it is less of an advantage to either side."
"Will we meet hostility?" Qui-Gon asked, though without much concern in his face.
"It is not really a combat zone," Shen explained to them, "It is militarized by both sides, but there is very little fighting. It is mostly stand offs, and not much movement. The Tragans and Hadarians both have opposing towers and cannons, though they remain mostly as threats rather than put into full action."
They soon noticed wider expanses of ocean and less frequent islands, until they finally came to a chain of many sandy land masses, the isle group known as the Yargas. The Yargas are sparsely inhabited, but are rich in rare minerals, making the area desired land for any society.
They reached the center of the islands. Qui-Gon looked out to see a series of valleys inland with hills on either side acting as a border between the two warring sides. There were large towers on the hills. Hadarian troops watched from their walls as the Tragan soldiers marched along the banks of the valley on the other side.
"Let's land there, where the Tragans have made an opening in their security fence," Decon told the pilot.
Garbok watched as the shuttle landed and he four Jedi strolled out. Yul stood on the other side of the platform, accompanied by a number of Hadarian guards.
"Greetings, Lord Garbok," Qui-Gon bowed as he approached his host.
"Now we can discuss this conflict with both sides on equal footing," Garbok said with a scowl in Yul's direction. Yul only nodded in response.
"Shall we negotiate here on the platform, or do you suggest somewhere else we may discuss things?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Perhaps our new Jedi friends would like a tour of the borders?" Garbok suggested.
The four Jedi agreed to this, as did Yul. Garbok motioned to his Tragan troops to bring transports.
Obi-Wan looked skeptically at the Tragan transports. They seemed to be nothing more than large steel platforms enclosed by railings. Each one could fit about a dozen people, all standing. It felt like he was flying on a sheet of scrap metal.
They glided along the bordering valley which seemed to run down the whole center of the main island chain. The whole way there were battlements on both sides, though no actual fighting between them.
They came to a stop in the middle of an island valley. Garbok thundered off the transport, moving his bulky Tragan body. Yul and the Jedis followed.
"We will negotiate here," Garbok grunted.
"Very well," Decon agreed, "It seems secluded here. No distractions."
Yul looked suspicious but eventually agreed.
So the party of six walked down the valley discussing the territory and the claim by each side. Obi-Wan noticed that Garbok seemed much calmer and he and Yul were much more co-operative without the pressures of their peers.
"Both claims seem reasonable," Qui-Gon said after much discussion, "yet it is important to come to a conclusion which will satisfy both the Tragans and the Hadarians. Perhaps we can discuss a shared settlement situation."
"The Hadarian council is open to this possibility," Yul said in his garbled voice.
"We will discuss it," Garbok nodded, "perhaps we should continue back to the transport."
So the negotiators and the four Jedi made their way back through the valley, walking underneath the island hills.
Suddenly, out of the blue, laser fire appeared from over the hill. Blasts barreled down towards the direction of the Jedi. Decon Kayden was struck in the chest, and fell immediately.
"Master!" Shen Li cried, as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon quickly pulled out their lightsabers. One green and one blue blade were seen suddenly, deflecting the laser blasts.
Yul the Hadarian was also shot dead, and his body fell beside that of the Jedi. The Jedis saw Garbok lumbering towards the hill where the fire was coming from. There they saw an army of Tragan soldiers coming over the rise. They were betrayed.
"It's an ambush!" Qui-Gon called to the two younger Jedis, "We have to get out of here!"
The three Jedis fled the valley away from the ranks of large, tusked soldiers in earth-toned body armor. They reached the flat Tragan hover transport and sped off between the hills to the coasts of the islands to escape this unexpected army.