The two Jedi, dressed as Imperial officers, ate their meal in relative silence. Donovan was deeply pensive, not knowing what the future had in store for him. Admiral Benvole seemed in a trance, almost as if he were meditating all the while, planning for the battle that would follow. When they finished, they left the café and made their way back to the Admiral's suite.
"By now you are wondering why we are here. Its pretty simple actually. There is a small Imperial Depot to the west of this spaceport, its just a short airstrip and landing pad, a small garrison and some communications equipment, pretty standard for a class 2 outpost. Most of the locals don't seem to mind, in fact, they like the Imperial presence here; it has forced crime to drop and made commuting more efficient and enjoyable. Our regulated system works, at least here. However, the people are unaware of what is really going on here on Kannto." Benvole paused for a bit, peered at his young follower and began again "There is a secret base underneath our small depot. It's huge. Hundreds of acres, dozens of levels, hoards of soldiers and small craft, not to mention all the weapons stored here. Most importantly of all, its our prime research and testing facility for military technologies. We call it "the workshop". Here, some of the most lethal toys ever seen by the galaxy are produced and manufactured. This is where the original TIEs were made, the Storm Trooper Armour, the Thermal Detonator, etc. Make no mistake, it is heavily guarded."
"I would imagine."
"You have no idea." The duo approached the lift as Benvole pressed the button to call. "Our latest new toy is a space fighter called the TIE Interceptor. It was designed especially for close range dog fights with the Rebel X-Wings. Unfortunately, for the Alliance, it is faster, more agile, better armed and smaller than the X-Wings. The only advantage that you kids have is that like all TIEs, the Interceptor is unshielded. The Empire is not concerned with saving the lives of its pilots, or salvaging ships. The Interceptor is still in the developmental stages but a prototype has recently been completed and is being transported for testing with the 4th Fleet, presently on route here from Coruscant." The doors for the elevator opened and the two men stepped on.
"Do you have access to this place?" asked Donovan
"Well, yes, I do, but I don't have Alpha Clearance. I am an Admiral, I control the Fleet. The only reason I am here is to oversee operations before the fleet arrives for testing. Moff Garinn and his high commanders control the facility itself."
"So all we gotta do it sneak in and sabotage the TIE, right?"
"Essentially, but I wish it were that simple. The prototype is guarded by a complicated system of codes and locks. G-13, the main storage area for prototype weaponry is sealed by seven keys, all with unique codes. We have to obtain all seven keys and all seven codes in order to even get to the Interceptor, and from that point it becomes easy, all we have to do is escape." Benvole smiled jokingly at his apprentice
"Simple. All we have to do is break in, steal seven keys, seven codes, enter them in, steal the Interceptor and make our escape. No problem." Donovan returned the comment with sarcasm of his own
"A few details I forgot to mention, the hangar where the TIE is stored is 50 feet underground, there is only one tunnel leading to the surface and has many manual override controls for the blast doors. In other words, everyone on that level will have to be evacuated."
"How do you propose we do that?"
"I'm not sure. I figure it will come to me." Benvole was serious and obviously confident in his improvisational skills for missions like these. Addick was skeptical.
"Right."
"Another problem we may run into is the emergency lockdown systems. Basically, what that does is locks all classified sectors when the alarm is hit. It will have to be taken down from inside before any large-scale diversions."
"Diversions?"
"Diversions, my boy. You don't think you can just wander through an Imperial base, a secret high-security Imperial base no less, and steal years of military research do you. You have to create confusion! The Jedi thrive from confusion! The weak-minded drones of the Empire are what we are counting on in order for this mission to go to plan. I figure that diversions will be your department."
"Thanks. I guess." Addick had no idea what his master meant. All he knew was that it was going to be like nothing he had ever seen before, like nothing he had ever trained for or even heard about.
The elevator doors opened on the top floor as the two continued down the hallway toward the Admiral's suite.
"I have acquired a full schematic of the base, it will help us plan our routes and our targets, but I assure you, missions behind enemy lines never go as planned. You will have to use your Jedi instincts to make decisions, use them wisely or you will end up dead for certain."
The two came to the door as Benvole waived his pass card in front of the sensor box. It beeped as the door flew upward as it had done before. Upon entering Addick noticed something incredible, the room, which was left in complete chaos, following the heated lightsabre duel, was not neat, clean and orderly as it first was.
"WOW! I hope you remembered to tip the maid!" Addick peered at his master who seemed uncaused by this feat.
"Yea, well, they like to make things nice for important Imperials like us. It would be a shame if something were to happen here involving Storm Troopers and innocent civilians. Go change, we have some training to work on."
Donovan went back into the bedroom and took off his uniform. Lieutenant Garbo would have to wait for a while. It was time for Donovan Addick, Jedi Knight to rule for a while. He went over to the closet to hang up his uniform and when he opened the door he saw the robes of a Jedi Knight. So simple, yet so glamorous, the drab robes seemed to glow in the dimly lit room. Addick smiled to himself as he grabbed then and threw them onto his body. He tied the belt and gave himself a glance in the mirror, everything looked perfect.
"How's it fit, kid?" Benvole hollered from the next room
"Perfectly." Benvole had no trouble hearing this response, but Donovan was talking to himself as he gazed into the mirror. He grabbed for the boots and cloak, threw them on as he garnished his costume with his own lightsabre, conveniently hanging from his belt.
"Well, look at this." Benvole was proud of his young apprentice although his face did not show it. He had turned out better than he could have anticipated after all these years without contact. Benvole's gamble had paid off, he now had a student, and more importantly, an equally-skilled accomplice. "Let's get started!" remarked Benvole as he reached into a drawer of a nearby end table.
"I'm ready! Whatdya got?"
"Draw your sabre. Lets see how things go here."
Benvole took out a small metallic orb and flung it into the air in front of Donovan. He instantly ignited his bright purple blade as he took a small step backward in defense. He wasn't sure what to expect from the seemingly harmless orb. The orb floated at eye level to the young Jedi, moving left and right in complex and random patterns.
"What's this?" he inquired
"You'll find out soon enough." Remarked his master in his deep and somewhat raspy voice.
At that moment, the orb let loose a short laser bolt directly at Donovan's chest. He instinctively threw his sabre out in front with two hands and he stumbled backwards a bit. The bolt was harmlessly deflected into the floor.
"Whoah! You didn't tell me this thing fights back." Donovan was shocked, but not particularly frightened of the small-scale mechanized enemy.
"It's a training probe. Just deflect the blasts with your sabre. Focus. Let the Force guide your hands, let your instincts take control." Benvole was now more serious. As he watched his student, his joking sarcastic façade faded away, this was serious, this was the Force.
Addick maintained a defensive stance with his blade clutched between his fingers in front of him. He waived it gently back and forth as the probe swirled in front of him in a vain effort to confuse him. The probe took a few shots at Addick but he used his cunning to deflect them all.
"Not bad for a first time." He noted to his master.
"Just keep practicing." Benvole was not impressed with the youthful arrogance of his young companion. He pointed his finger at the probe, and using the Force, switched a button on the back side of the hovering orb. All the lights on the exterior of the orb turned from a friendly yellow-green to a searing red. It now emitted a evil-sounding hum and I high pitched chirp.
"I don't like this!" Addick took a few steps backwards as he kept his eyes locked on the probe which now seemed to be revving up with energy from within. It then let out a sharp red laser blast directly at Donovan's face. He flung his blade in front of his nose and managed to deflect the shot into the ceiling, but not without stumbling backwards and eventually falling onto the ground. He kept his eyes locked on the probe as it encroached toward him, in his right hand he gripped his blade while he leaned on his left hand, planting it and rising to his feet. The probe shot another blast and Donovan quickly turned his blade to block it single-handedly. The shot had knocked him back onto the ground and he found himself lying face up to the ceiling with the probe hovering directly above him.
"ACH" he let out a low-volume shriek as he rolled over quickly to his right shoulder, narrowly evading the blasts, now leaving burn marks on the carpet. He jumped to his feet and took a stance again. Benvole watched studiously as the probe fired its final shot. Donovan gritted his teeth as he swatted the bright red blast directly back at the probe destroying it in a sharp explosion. Fragments of the probe scattered everywhere as Donovan raised his hand to shield his eyes from debris.
"Donovan." Benvole called his student in a mellow voice. Donovan spun around abruptly, thinking he was in trouble for destroying his master's probe. He was breathing heavily and sweating slightly. His eyes shot wide open as he saw his master standing across the room with a Imperial standard issue pistol pointed right at him.
"What are you doing, master?" his voice smelled of fear as he hurled his lightsabre into a defensive position, hands out in front of his chest.
"Trust me." Benvole shot right at his student and immediately dropped the pistol. In a split second, Donovan used his Jedi reflexes to deflect the blast right back at his master. In the same instant, Benvole grabbed his own saber from his belt, and swatted it back at his student. The two exchanged volleys back and forth like a tennis match until Benvole sent the bolt diving into the ground before Addick's feet. They both holstered their sabers and look at one another.
"I didn't know I had it in me." Addick surprised himself with his own reflexes, he never dreamed he would have such talents as to be able to block laser bolts in mid flight never the less deflect them where he chose.
"You surprise me, kid. But pleasantly. You have learned well over the years, but your true test will come soon." He approached his Padawan and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Soon the sun will be down. Get some sleep, we leave quite early tomorrow."
"By now you are wondering why we are here. Its pretty simple actually. There is a small Imperial Depot to the west of this spaceport, its just a short airstrip and landing pad, a small garrison and some communications equipment, pretty standard for a class 2 outpost. Most of the locals don't seem to mind, in fact, they like the Imperial presence here; it has forced crime to drop and made commuting more efficient and enjoyable. Our regulated system works, at least here. However, the people are unaware of what is really going on here on Kannto." Benvole paused for a bit, peered at his young follower and began again "There is a secret base underneath our small depot. It's huge. Hundreds of acres, dozens of levels, hoards of soldiers and small craft, not to mention all the weapons stored here. Most importantly of all, its our prime research and testing facility for military technologies. We call it "the workshop". Here, some of the most lethal toys ever seen by the galaxy are produced and manufactured. This is where the original TIEs were made, the Storm Trooper Armour, the Thermal Detonator, etc. Make no mistake, it is heavily guarded."
"I would imagine."
"You have no idea." The duo approached the lift as Benvole pressed the button to call. "Our latest new toy is a space fighter called the TIE Interceptor. It was designed especially for close range dog fights with the Rebel X-Wings. Unfortunately, for the Alliance, it is faster, more agile, better armed and smaller than the X-Wings. The only advantage that you kids have is that like all TIEs, the Interceptor is unshielded. The Empire is not concerned with saving the lives of its pilots, or salvaging ships. The Interceptor is still in the developmental stages but a prototype has recently been completed and is being transported for testing with the 4th Fleet, presently on route here from Coruscant." The doors for the elevator opened and the two men stepped on.
"Do you have access to this place?" asked Donovan
"Well, yes, I do, but I don't have Alpha Clearance. I am an Admiral, I control the Fleet. The only reason I am here is to oversee operations before the fleet arrives for testing. Moff Garinn and his high commanders control the facility itself."
"So all we gotta do it sneak in and sabotage the TIE, right?"
"Essentially, but I wish it were that simple. The prototype is guarded by a complicated system of codes and locks. G-13, the main storage area for prototype weaponry is sealed by seven keys, all with unique codes. We have to obtain all seven keys and all seven codes in order to even get to the Interceptor, and from that point it becomes easy, all we have to do is escape." Benvole smiled jokingly at his apprentice
"Simple. All we have to do is break in, steal seven keys, seven codes, enter them in, steal the Interceptor and make our escape. No problem." Donovan returned the comment with sarcasm of his own
"A few details I forgot to mention, the hangar where the TIE is stored is 50 feet underground, there is only one tunnel leading to the surface and has many manual override controls for the blast doors. In other words, everyone on that level will have to be evacuated."
"How do you propose we do that?"
"I'm not sure. I figure it will come to me." Benvole was serious and obviously confident in his improvisational skills for missions like these. Addick was skeptical.
"Right."
"Another problem we may run into is the emergency lockdown systems. Basically, what that does is locks all classified sectors when the alarm is hit. It will have to be taken down from inside before any large-scale diversions."
"Diversions?"
"Diversions, my boy. You don't think you can just wander through an Imperial base, a secret high-security Imperial base no less, and steal years of military research do you. You have to create confusion! The Jedi thrive from confusion! The weak-minded drones of the Empire are what we are counting on in order for this mission to go to plan. I figure that diversions will be your department."
"Thanks. I guess." Addick had no idea what his master meant. All he knew was that it was going to be like nothing he had ever seen before, like nothing he had ever trained for or even heard about.
The elevator doors opened on the top floor as the two continued down the hallway toward the Admiral's suite.
"I have acquired a full schematic of the base, it will help us plan our routes and our targets, but I assure you, missions behind enemy lines never go as planned. You will have to use your Jedi instincts to make decisions, use them wisely or you will end up dead for certain."
The two came to the door as Benvole waived his pass card in front of the sensor box. It beeped as the door flew upward as it had done before. Upon entering Addick noticed something incredible, the room, which was left in complete chaos, following the heated lightsabre duel, was not neat, clean and orderly as it first was.
"WOW! I hope you remembered to tip the maid!" Addick peered at his master who seemed uncaused by this feat.
"Yea, well, they like to make things nice for important Imperials like us. It would be a shame if something were to happen here involving Storm Troopers and innocent civilians. Go change, we have some training to work on."
Donovan went back into the bedroom and took off his uniform. Lieutenant Garbo would have to wait for a while. It was time for Donovan Addick, Jedi Knight to rule for a while. He went over to the closet to hang up his uniform and when he opened the door he saw the robes of a Jedi Knight. So simple, yet so glamorous, the drab robes seemed to glow in the dimly lit room. Addick smiled to himself as he grabbed then and threw them onto his body. He tied the belt and gave himself a glance in the mirror, everything looked perfect.
"How's it fit, kid?" Benvole hollered from the next room
"Perfectly." Benvole had no trouble hearing this response, but Donovan was talking to himself as he gazed into the mirror. He grabbed for the boots and cloak, threw them on as he garnished his costume with his own lightsabre, conveniently hanging from his belt.
"Well, look at this." Benvole was proud of his young apprentice although his face did not show it. He had turned out better than he could have anticipated after all these years without contact. Benvole's gamble had paid off, he now had a student, and more importantly, an equally-skilled accomplice. "Let's get started!" remarked Benvole as he reached into a drawer of a nearby end table.
"I'm ready! Whatdya got?"
"Draw your sabre. Lets see how things go here."
Benvole took out a small metallic orb and flung it into the air in front of Donovan. He instantly ignited his bright purple blade as he took a small step backward in defense. He wasn't sure what to expect from the seemingly harmless orb. The orb floated at eye level to the young Jedi, moving left and right in complex and random patterns.
"What's this?" he inquired
"You'll find out soon enough." Remarked his master in his deep and somewhat raspy voice.
At that moment, the orb let loose a short laser bolt directly at Donovan's chest. He instinctively threw his sabre out in front with two hands and he stumbled backwards a bit. The bolt was harmlessly deflected into the floor.
"Whoah! You didn't tell me this thing fights back." Donovan was shocked, but not particularly frightened of the small-scale mechanized enemy.
"It's a training probe. Just deflect the blasts with your sabre. Focus. Let the Force guide your hands, let your instincts take control." Benvole was now more serious. As he watched his student, his joking sarcastic façade faded away, this was serious, this was the Force.
Addick maintained a defensive stance with his blade clutched between his fingers in front of him. He waived it gently back and forth as the probe swirled in front of him in a vain effort to confuse him. The probe took a few shots at Addick but he used his cunning to deflect them all.
"Not bad for a first time." He noted to his master.
"Just keep practicing." Benvole was not impressed with the youthful arrogance of his young companion. He pointed his finger at the probe, and using the Force, switched a button on the back side of the hovering orb. All the lights on the exterior of the orb turned from a friendly yellow-green to a searing red. It now emitted a evil-sounding hum and I high pitched chirp.
"I don't like this!" Addick took a few steps backwards as he kept his eyes locked on the probe which now seemed to be revving up with energy from within. It then let out a sharp red laser blast directly at Donovan's face. He flung his blade in front of his nose and managed to deflect the shot into the ceiling, but not without stumbling backwards and eventually falling onto the ground. He kept his eyes locked on the probe as it encroached toward him, in his right hand he gripped his blade while he leaned on his left hand, planting it and rising to his feet. The probe shot another blast and Donovan quickly turned his blade to block it single-handedly. The shot had knocked him back onto the ground and he found himself lying face up to the ceiling with the probe hovering directly above him.
"ACH" he let out a low-volume shriek as he rolled over quickly to his right shoulder, narrowly evading the blasts, now leaving burn marks on the carpet. He jumped to his feet and took a stance again. Benvole watched studiously as the probe fired its final shot. Donovan gritted his teeth as he swatted the bright red blast directly back at the probe destroying it in a sharp explosion. Fragments of the probe scattered everywhere as Donovan raised his hand to shield his eyes from debris.
"Donovan." Benvole called his student in a mellow voice. Donovan spun around abruptly, thinking he was in trouble for destroying his master's probe. He was breathing heavily and sweating slightly. His eyes shot wide open as he saw his master standing across the room with a Imperial standard issue pistol pointed right at him.
"What are you doing, master?" his voice smelled of fear as he hurled his lightsabre into a defensive position, hands out in front of his chest.
"Trust me." Benvole shot right at his student and immediately dropped the pistol. In a split second, Donovan used his Jedi reflexes to deflect the blast right back at his master. In the same instant, Benvole grabbed his own saber from his belt, and swatted it back at his student. The two exchanged volleys back and forth like a tennis match until Benvole sent the bolt diving into the ground before Addick's feet. They both holstered their sabers and look at one another.
"I didn't know I had it in me." Addick surprised himself with his own reflexes, he never dreamed he would have such talents as to be able to block laser bolts in mid flight never the less deflect them where he chose.
"You surprise me, kid. But pleasantly. You have learned well over the years, but your true test will come soon." He approached his Padawan and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Soon the sun will be down. Get some sleep, we leave quite early tomorrow."