Republic outpost overrun! The Jedi have lost all contact with the clone security force stationed on the bleak snow-covered planet of Orto-Plutonia.
Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Lizzy Kalfar accompanied by dignitaries from the nearby moon of Pantora, are sent to investigate the disappearance of the clone troopers on the desolate and forbidding landscape.
(Lizzy) "Winter clothing?" Lizzy had asked her Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Lizzy had been in the library in the Jedi Temple studying under her Master's orders until he had arrived to inform her of a mission they were going on.
(Obi-Wan) "Unless you want to freeze to death I would recommend it." Obi-Wan said chuckling.
(Lizzy) "Hmm alright. What is the mission exactly?" Lizzy said getting up from her chair and following her Master.
(Obi-Wan) "An outpost on Orto-Plutonia has failed to report in and we believe we have lost contact with them."
(Lizzy) "Droids?"
(Obi-Wan) "It's possible. However there is no point delaying. Again get those winter clothes. Meet at the shuttle when you're ready." Obi-Wan said before heading off to prepare his own gear.
Lizzy went to her room to gather her things. It was a small room like most other Jedi Padawan's had. She collected her belongings and got her winter gear before heading out and making her way to the platform where Obi-Wan and Anakin were waiting.
(Anakin) "Ready for some cold weather young one?" Anakin said smiling.
(Lizzy) "As ready as I'll ever be Master Skywalker." Lizzy said returning the smile.
(Obi-Wan) "Excellent. Then let's head off."
The two other Jedi nodded in agreement as they boarded the shuttle and made their way to the Cruiser that awaited to make its way to the Pantora system.
When the Cruiser came out of hyperspace, the three Jedi along with Captain Rex and the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO boarded a gunship that took them to the planet surface. Lizzy's winter gear was similar to Obi-Wan's being white however it had a blue Republic marking on it rather than red.
(Obi-Wan) "It'll take some time to get used to but you'll be thankful later." Obi-Wan said noticing Lizzy looking at herself.
(Lizzy) "You make it sound so easy Master." Lizzy said as the gunship landed.
The blast doors opened reviling the snow-covered planet.
(Obi-Wan) "And this is the planet's tropical zone." Obi-Wan said as he put his hood over his head.
(Anakin) "It's not Tatooine, that's for sure. Captain Rex, have your men survey the area. Place as many sensor beacons as you can before dark."
(Rex) "Right away, sir. Unload that gear! Let's move!"
(Lizzy) "Tell you what Master. If you compare Tatooine to this planet then I'm going to take this planet anytime."
(Anakin) "Why would that be?"
(Lizzy) "Well there are no Pirates for starters."
Anakin shook his head with a grin as a group of Pantorans who Lizzy assumed were the dignitaries that would accompany them on the mission approached.
(Chi Cho) "General Kenobi." The Chairmen said as he led the group to the three Jedi.
(Obi-Wan) "Chairman Cho, Senator Chuchi. I suggest you wait here until we can secure the area."
(Chi Cho) "I respect your judgment, General Kenobi, but I will go where I choose. This is sovereign Pantora territory."
(Anakin) "I thought this planet was uninhabited, and therefore, it's not aligned."
(Chi Cho) "Our moon of Pantora is the only civilization in this system. I'm the one who asked the Senate to protect this planet. This wasteland belongs to us."
(Obi-Wan) "With all due respect, Chairman, this is for the Senate to decide, not us."
(Chi Cho) "But the Jedi report to the Senate, which is Senator Chuchi of Pantora." The Chairmen said as he gestured to the younger female Pantoran.
(Riyo Chuchi) "Technically speaking, Master Jedi, the Chairman is correct. Since the planet is uninhabited, the moon of Pantora reserves the right to continue as its protectorate."
(Obi-Wan) "Point taken, Senator. Anakin, stay here with the Senator and the droids while Lizzy and I secure the base." Obi-Wan said as he walked towards the entrance of the base as Lizzy followed close behind.
Once they had gotten to the entrance it was opened revealing a horrifying sight. Clone helmets had been placed on spikes.
(Lizzy) "This doesn't look normal Master." Lizzy said taking off her hood and bringing her protective glasses on to her forehead.
Obi-Wan had done the same as he took a helmet off the spike that it had been placed on.
(Rex) "I don't get it."
(Chi Cho) "It must be Separatists."
(Obi-Wan) "I'm not sure."
(Lizzy) "Even for droids, this isn't something they would do."
Obi-Wan and Lizzy along with the Chairmen and the troops went up to the top level. It revealed dead Clone bodies but to Lizzy's surprise, there were no droids anywhere.
(Chi Cho) "Do you think the Separatists are building a forward base to attack Pantora?"
(Obi-Wan) "I don't think we're dealing with Separatists. These computers haven't been touched."
(Lizzy) "And there are no droids anywhere. The clones don't have blaster wounds either." Lizzy said as she examined one of the clones body.
(Rex) "Sir, our scouts have spotted a droid base on the other side of the ice ridge."
Obi-Wan nodded and followed Rex outside along with Lizzy. They met up with Anakin and approached the group of CK-6 swoop bikes.
(Obi-Wan) "Ever used one of these young one?" Obi-Wan said as he approached one of the speeders.
(Lizzy) "Not really, it can't be much different to flying though right?"
(Anakin) "Apart from not being in space then you can say that." Anakin said with a smirk as he got into the speeder.
Lizzy grinned back and got into her own speeder. The speeders started up with Obi-Wan leading the group to the droid base.
It wasn't long before the group had arrived at the droid base where they stopped to see droid heads that had been placed on spikes like the clone helmets had been.
(Anakin) "By the look of things, I'd say whoever attacked our base took out the droids also."
(Obi-Wan) "Rex, help Anakin place the sensor beacons. You four, come with me. You too Lizzy."
(Rex) "Yes, General."
(Obi-Wan) "Let's go." Obi-Wan said with Lizzy and the clones following close behind.
The group entered the base looking around the darkened hallways that were filled with droid heads on spikes.
(Lizzy) "Master, something doesn't feel right about this planet."
(Obi-Wan) "What do you mean?"
(Lizzy) "Well think about it. The droids came here along with the clones assuming all there would be is each other but I sense that their might be someone or something else on this planet that hasn't been discovered yet."
(Obi-Wan) "I sense it too, be cautious the ones who destroyed these droids might still be here."
Lizzy nodded as the met with Anakin.
(Obi-Wan) "Did you find anything?"
(Anakin) "I found some large footprints." Anakin said as he bent down to take a closer look at the footprint.
(Obi-Wan) "Have one of your men make a cast." Obi-Wan said as he led his group up a ladder to what appeared to be a control room.
In the control room was a hologram which Obi-Wan immediately got to work trying to get working.
(Anakin) "Sensors are in place." Anakin said walking into the room.
(Obi-Wan) "I think I've found something. Blast it." Obi-Wan said frustrated at the hologram not working.
Anakin grinned and hit the hologram as a hologram of a droid appeared.
(Droid) "685 to command. There are too many of them! They've overrun the base. We need reinforcements!" The transmission ended with a creature diving on the droid.
(Anakin) "What was that?"
(Obi-Wan) "Whatever it was, it's a good warrior."
(Lizzy) "And a scary one at that."
(Rex) "The droid's log indicates they were investigating the southern canyon."
(Obi-Wan) "Sounds like a good place to start." Obi-Wan said as he put his hood followed by Lizzy and Anakin.
The three Jedi went to the last known location of the droid investigation before stopping to survey the area.
(Obi-Wan) "There's some kind of reflection up there. Do you see it?" Obi-Wan said as he looked through his binoculars.
(Anakin) "Yep."
(Obi-Wan) "Well, they know we're coming. Let's go." Obi-Wan said as the three Jedi returned to their speeders and continued down the canyon.
At the end of the canyon they stopped at a bridge that led to a native Talz settlement.
(Lizzy) "I guess this is what I was sensing earlier." Lizzy said concerned.
The Talz approached them and Anakin was about to take his lightsaber before he was stopped by Obi-Wan.
(Obi-Wan) "Steady, Anakin. They're only curious. Let's not provoke them as the droids and our troops must have done."
The three Jedi put their hoods back on as the Talz continued to group to see the strangers. They walked side by side until they were stopped by two of the Talz as another approached. The Talz leaders assistant spoke as the two guards let the Jedi go through following the assistant.
(Anakin) "Too bad we didn't bring 3PO along. How do you plan on communicating with these things?"
(Obi-Wan) "Patience. Maybe they're smarter than we are."
The Jedi were led to the Talz leader who spoke and threw a spear into the ground.
(Anakin) "Well, say something."
(Obi-Wan) "Just shut up." Obi-Wan said earning a giggle from Lizzy.
The three Jedi bowed in response as the Talz leader gestured to come inside the tent. They walked in followed by the leader. Inside the tent was a large circle of elevated rock that acted as seating with a wood fire in the middle. Lizzy felt more comfortable with the Talz then with the Pirates they met on Florrum.
The three Jedi sat down as the Talz assistant brought over a drawing of a droid. The Talz leader gestured to the picture and seemed angry about the droid.
(Obi-Wan) "We come to you in peace. We will not bring harm."
Anakin had picked up the same material the Talz used to draw the droid and made a drawing of his own.
(Anakin) "Peace." Anakin said gesturing to his peaceful picture.
The Talz seemed to accept the peaceful gesture.
After 'negotiations' the three Jedi and the Talz leader exited the tent. It had gotten dark and the weather had started to become worse as the night went on. Obi-Wan offered the leader who was named Thi-Sen his hand but was instead hugged. Anakin and Lizzy chuckled from behind even the Talz warriors seemed to find it funny. The three Jedi then got on their speeders and returned to the base.
(Rex) "Glad you made it back, sir. It's getting nasty out there."
(Anakin) "You don't know the half of it." Anakin said as the Jedi were met with the Chairmen and Senator.
(Chi Cho) "What did you find?"
(Obi-Wan) "It seems we've stumbled onto an inhabited planet."
(Chi Cho) "Impossible. Our explorers have spent much time here over the long history of Pantora. No one lives here. They're trespassers." The Chairmen said aggressively.
(Obi-Wan) "With respect, Chairman Cho, these creatures, the Talz, aren't advanced enough to master space travel. I think they may have been here longer than Pantora."
(Chi Cho) "Whoever they are, they belong to us. This whole system belongs to us."
(Ryio Chuchi) "Your majesty, if there are life forms here, then the Senate must decide jurisdiction."
(Chi Cho) "They are savages. Look at what they've done. They've slaughtered your troops."
(Obi-Wan) "They only want to be left alone. The droids attacked them, and I'm afraid our outpost got caught in the middle."
(Chi Cho) "They must be subdued. They're dangerous. Captain Rex, prepare your troops for battle."
(Anakin) "We promised their chief there would be no retaliation."
(Obi-Wan) "We've arranged a meeting between their high council and you and the Senator. They want peace."
(Anakin) "We can't send troopers. They'll think we lied."
(Chi Cho) "These creatures are little more than animals. You can't lie to an animal. They can't be trusted."
(Ryio Chuchi) "But, your majesty"
(Chi Cho) "No! It is obvious these creatures are not covered by the convention of civilized systems. The Jedi Council has no say in the matter."
(Lizzy) "With all due respect Chairmen. The Talz are capable enough to build homes, fight and are capable of communicating with us."
(Ryio Chuchi) "If the Jedi are able to communicate with them, their status is in doubt."
(Chi Cho) "Do you stand against your chairman, Senator?"
(Ryio Chuchi) "Of course not, your majesty."
(Obi-Wan) "If we're going to meet with Thi-Sen and his council at the arranged time, we'll have to leave now." Obi-Wan said as the group prepared to leave.
(Lizzy) "Master, we promised peace with the Talz. And the way the Chairmen is acting feels out of place."
(Obi-Wan) "As much as I may agree with you Lizzy it is not our place to have a say in what the Chairmen wants to do. Just be ready for anything alright? I fear the worst is yet to come."
Lizzy nodded as they got into their speeders. The three Jedi along with the Pantorans and some of the clones traveled to the droid base where they would meet with the Talz.
Everyone exited their speeder or jumped off their speeder bikes and grouped up.
(Chi Cho) "Captain put your men on that ice ridge. We will attack as soon as the savages arrive."
(Obi-Wan) "There will be no attack, chairman." Obi-Wan said as he and Lizzy approached the Chairmen.
(Chi Cho) "You will do as I command. This planet is under my jurisdiction." The Chairmen said aggressively.
Lizzy was amazed at how similar the Chairmen acted to most Separatists. Minus the droid body and the lightsaber's the Pantoran reminded her of Grievous.
(Obi-Wan) "Nothing is under your control, Chairman. The Talz are already here."
(Anakin) "Their scouts have been following us for some time."
(Obi-Wan) "It seems Thi-sen doesn't trust you any more than you trust him."
The two Jedi had been right as Talz appeared around them even coming out from the snow.
(Anakin) "Rex, tell your men to stand down. Stay here and don't do anything to provoke them."
(Rex) "Yes, sir."
The three Jedi along with the Chairman, Senator and C-3PO met with Thi-Sen.
(Obi-Wan) "Your Highness."
(Anakin) "We have returned. As promised."
The three Jedi bowed as C-3PO translated to Thi-Sen
(Chi Cho) "These savages have no rights here."
(C-3PO) "Chieftain Thi-Sen welcomes you to his home and hopes you come in peace. He wishes to be good neighbours, but he does not wish you to remain on his planet."
(Chi Cho) "Listen, droid, translate everything I say and exactly as I say it."
(Ryio Chuchi) "Would you like me to represent Pantora in this matter?"
(Chi Cho) "Not on your life, Senator. There will be no diplomacy this time."
(Lizzy) "I have a bad feeling about this."
(Chi Cho) "Listen here, you savage, this world belongs to the moon of Pantora. And as the Supreme Chairman and exalted ruler of Pantora, you will not command me to leave this planet or do anything else!"
(Ryio Chuchi) "Your Majesty, we can't."
(Chi Cho) "Droid, tell him."
(C-3PO) "Oh, dear." The droid said as he went to translate to the Talz.
(Obi-Wan) "I recommend a less confrontational discussion. The Talz are easily provoked."
Thi-Sen spoke and it was not looking like he was happy about what the Chairmen had said.
(Anakin) "That didn't go over very well."
(Obi-Wan) "Chairman, I promised the Talz that we would leave them in peace."
(Chi Cho) "This is now an internal affair of Pantora."
(C-3PO) "The great Thi-Sen, son of suns, asks again that you leave or it will mean war."
(Chi Cho) "Then war it is."
The three Jedi shook their heads as the Talz leader shoved past the group and outside. The group exited after them as they made their separate ways with the Talz.
(Chi Cho) "Troopers, mount up and follow me."
(Rex) "What's up, general?"
(Anakin) "You're gonna stay with the chairman until we can work things out. Protect him at all costs."
(Rex) "Yes, Sir. Mount up! We're moving out!"
The three Jedi had approached the Senator.
(Anakin) "Senator, you know a preemptive strike is illegal. Isn't there anything you can do to stop him?"
(Ryio Chuchi) "I'm afraid not. He has proclaimed this conflict an internal affair."
(Obi-Wan) "You could petition the Jedi council for an intervention."
(Ryio Chuchi) "You mean, without his authorization?"
(Anakin) "There must be someone on your moon who could approve it."
(Ryio Chuchi) "The speaker of the assembly. He has the power."
(Obi-Wan) "Let's get back to the base. The storm is letting up. Maybe we can get a transmission through."
(Lizzy) "Hopefully Rex and the clones can hold out." Lizzy said as the group went to the speeders and returned to the base.
Once they had returned the clones prepped the gunships as the three Jedi and Senator Chuchi spoke with the speaker of the assembly.
(Member of the Assembly) "The assembly has decided that the actions of Chairman Cho are out of order. Senator Chuchi, you're given the authority to negotiate a peaceful settlement between the sovereign planet of Pantora and the Talz."
(Obi-Wan) "It is decided then."
(Anakin) "Pilot, let's get moving." Anakin said as the gunships launched.
(Obi-Wan) "Senator, now that you have the authority, how do you plan on making peace with the Talz?"
(Ryio Chuchi) "Actually, Master Jedi, since you're far more experienced, I was hoping you could negotiate on Pantora's behalf."
(Obi-Wan) "I'm afraid that's not possible, Senator."
(Ryio Chuchi) "But I don't understand. The Jedi serve the Senate. I must order you to.."
(Lizzy) "With all due respect Senator. But the Talz are at war with Pantora not the Jedi."
(Obi-Wan) "If the violence is to stop, it is you who must represent your people."
Lizzy could sense that the Senator was nervous. She wouldn't have asked Master Kenobi to negotiate otherwise.
(Lizzy) "You should trust in your abilities Senator. The Talz will listen to you." Lizzy said kindly.
The Senator nodded as the gunships landed behind Rex and the clones. The group walked past dead troopers as they met with Rex.
(Anakin) "You okay, Rex?"
(Rex) "It's just a scratch."
(Anakin) "What's going on?"
(Rex) "We're in quite a mess, sir. Eleven dead the rest wounded including the Chairman."
The Chairmen was leaning against a speeder bike as Ryio Chuchi approached him.
(Ryio Chuchi) "Chairman, can you hear me?"
(Chi Cho) "Senator, good. You must avenge me. As my final command as chairman of Pantora, I order you to destroy the Talz!
(Ryio Chuchi) "I'm afraid I cannot do that, Chairman. The Pantoran assembly has called you out of order. I am to negotiate peace."
(Chi Cho) "No Impossible! Peace? Never! I died for our people." The Chairmen had said his final words as he died on the spot.
(Obi-Wan) "Senator, now is the time."
(Ryio Chuchi) "Protocol droid, come with me." The Senator said after picking up a helmet and spear.
(Anakin) "3PO, get going."
(C-3PO) "Yes, Master Ani."
The Senator and C-3PO walked towards Thi-Sen and gave an inspirational speech, making peace with the Talz. The Talz bowed as did the Senator as she returned to the Jedi.
(Obi-Wan) "Well done, Senator."
(Anakin) "Yes. Most impressive."
(Ryio Chuchi) "Thank you, Master Jedi."
(Obi-Wan) "Now that you have created peace between your people and the Talz, remember one crucial thing."
(Ryio Chuchi) "Yes, Master Kenobi?"
(Obi-Wan) "Make it last, Senator. Make it last. And be an example to others so not only this war, but every war waged may come to an end as well."
(Lizzy) "We don't know what this war will bring us but to be an inspiration to people around you and show that we can end this war in peace is a valuable thing that may save lives."
(Ryio Chuchi) "I will. I promise you. Thank you Master Kenobi, Padawan Kalfar."
The group entered the gunship as they left the planet leaving it under the watchful eye of the Talz the symbol of peace between them and the Pantorans stood in the snow proving otherwise.
And that is Trespass done. I was going to let Lizzy join Rex in protecting the Chairmen but with the Jedi not getting involved it was hard to change the plot just for that reason. Anyway, hopefully you'll get to see more action soon as there is the Blue Shadow Virus arc and the Ryloth arc to come which has plenty of action. Hope you enjoyed!
