It was the afternoon before the launch of this mother ship named the Pioneer. As Ryn and I were walking around the Surface level of Coruscant enjoying some personal time before I left home, I started to think about that nightmare I had the previous night. It felt so real, so I decided to ask Ryn, being a Master and extraordinarily wise in the ways of the Force.

"Changing subject for a moment..." we've been talking about a good matter of nostalgic memories to ease my nerves about this voyage, " last night, I encountered a dream that felt painfully real. I am curious to try to decipher it, if you can."

Ryn looked at me and replied with a curious tone, "Really? I never knew you were the one to have visions, but I guess it is about time you encountered a new ability. Tell me about it."

I simply said, "Well, I a woman hit me with a lightning bolt, almost Sith-like in appearance, and i fell over and died."

Ryn stopped his casual stride with me, and turned to me with a very worried, and unsettling shocked look. "What? You died in this vision?! Was there anything you could see?"

"Well, actually, I don't know if it was me. I saw myself covered head to toe with a black armor, and bodily attributes that were not my own. I didn't think it was me, but then again, how can I see someone else through my eyes?"

At this point Ryn looked very confused and still concerned. He took a moment to think, then told me "I don't know how, brother. But i will definitely meditate on this. But for now I think you need to relax, and not let this fear of an unknown death or event cloud your brilliant mind. Why don't I buy you a drink at this one Mandalorian owned bar just a couple blocks away? Kurs Tracyn is an old friend of mine and has been wanting to see you before you and the rest his crew board."

"We have Mandalorians coming?"

"Yeah! Oh, I didn't tell you? The Mandalor somehow convinced the Senate to let some of his own crew join us! Kind of expected that one sooner or later, right?"

"Yeah, they've may be democratic on Prime now, but they always say 'their true heritage will never cease'. I guess they will always want some sort of "worldly outreach", as their leaders call it now a days."

We laughed for a moment, but not at the Mandalorians. We have no quarrel with them, but most people still consider them imperialistic in nature. I can only imagine what they will do on this trip...

"You know what, I'll accept that drink offer. Thanks brother."

The bar was actually much larger than I had expected. Apparently it wasn't just a watering hole, but it had 2 housing levels, a conference room for the Embassy, and even a gaming quarter. Whoever this Kurs Tracyn was, he sure knew how to make a architectural statement of wealth.

The bouncers, a typical pair of hefty warriors, must have been informed that our arrival was somehow urgent, because right as we got to the front of the line of impatient drinkers, they closed a gate and motioned for us to follow. They didn't say a word, but I could easily sense it. The rest of the line didn't appear to be overly-excited about he abrupt stop in entry, but they quickly quieted themselves as one ofthe bouncers turned his head and looked at all of them quite seriously. He didn't have to take off his helmet, because I'm sure everyone, Jedi or not, could sense his order. I've always found Mandalorian body language interesting. It is always so obvious to display.

As we were escorted to a private table on the upper section of the bar, i heard a loud cry of pain. Instinctively, I grabbed for my lightsaber. But one of the soldier finally spoke to me in an amused tone "Oh, relax, Jedi. Some sorry gambler just lost a game of cu'bikad." The other turned and looked over at a crowd around one the gaming tables and chuckled. "My vod, will Ramsair ever learn that he only has so many fingers left?" A bit confused, and relieved as well, I put my saber back on my belt, only imagining what kind of game could involve losing fingers. Ryn sensed my thought and whispered "I'll explain later..."

"Olarom, Al'verde Jetii! Gal'gala!" A man in a gated and guarded table said in Mando'a to us. Ryn translated to me, "He says: 'Welcome Master Jedi. Have a drink on me.' Vor entye, Alor'ad Kurs Tracyn."

"I think we are well secured, actually." Tracyn said, after carefully looking around the bar. "Why don't we cut the formalities and talk Standard?"

We finally sat down, he bought us both a glass of what he called Me'tra Gal, which is some sort of dark ale. I'm not much of a drinker, but honestly it was pretty smooth for such a black. thick drink. He laughed "You don't indulge much, do you Jedi Master? Let me say put it to you this way: Ne'tra gal mesh'la, jat'isyc, bal, jahaal'got!" He laughed again, slapping his knee a few times.

"What did he say?"

Ryn replied "Well, in short, this black ale is the the best around. Come on brother! You're a Grandmaster! You're allowed to enjoy yourself every once and a while." He hunched over to my ear and said subtly, "Besides, it's a sign of respect to share a drink from a Mandalorian. They see it as a sign of cooperation."

Tracyn set down his third glass, which he must have downed as we were seating ourselves. I wish I was as eager for this trip as he was.

"So then, ner burcy'a, friends, where are we headed on this grandest of conquests? I hear it's beyond the deep space region!"

Ryn started, "Simply, we are looking for new frontiers, new worlds, and what exactly is beyond this realm we called home. We recently found a satellite of some sort that crash landed on Yavin 4. It is primitive, something far behind even our older technology."

I asked, "What was on the satellite?" I know it was a silly question, because we were all thinking it.

"Well, to start, a figure of what appears to be humanoid, maybe even completely human, a male and female, what seems to be coordinates and a mixture of binary and gibberish. We actually managed to take the inscription and track its most likely route, and we found something phenomenal."

I was on the edge of my seat. I could only imagine what life was out there that we can discover.

Ryn continued, "It's a spiral galaxy roughly the same, if not smaller, than ours. I don't recall which planet it came from, but we have the location of the system at least."

Tracyn displayed an expression that could only be described as what an emperor looks like when he claims new land. He had a coveting grin, which wasn't really that concerning, but nevertheless made me curious, as if he wanted to go there himself and conquer it. I never get bored of Mandalorians...

He said, almost over eagerly, "When do we leave for this new world?"

Ryn replied simply, "When will you and your soldiers be ready?"

"With this news: tonight."