The Order
Chapter 1

Kril the Hutt had an immense distrust for his repulsor sled. Miniaturized repulsorlift technology was still fairly new despite the fact that it had been around for eighteen years already. And that meant that it was likely to fail when the user needed it the most. Kril feared his sled would fail and he'd end up being thrown off the damn thing, made to look the fool. For Hutts of the Casjax clan, looking like a fool was the worst insult one could suffer. Yet sometimes it was better to chance looking a fool, such as when the head of the Casjax clan requested your immediate presence.

Kril maneuvered the cumbersome vehicle, barely making the turn into the throne room. "Someday we shall have see to it that these things are more maneuverable," he muttered.

"Indeed we shall."

"Brother, I did not realize you were there!"

"You are our ambassador to the Republic, Kril. One would think you better at hiding your surprise than that," Diraa scolded.

Kril watched in amazement as his brother made his way to the throne fifty paces away with ease. Though he was a couple hundred years older than Kril, Diraa didn't display the corpulence expected of a six hundred year old Hutt. Instead, he displayed nothing but pure muscle, which allowed him to still easily move under his own power despite weighing two thousand kilograms.

"Around you, my brother, I have no fear of showing my surprise. I am not fool enough to let those idiots within the Republic see me so. Unless I am acting, of course."

"See to it that you do not let any of the other clans see you surprised either. My control over all Hutts is not strong enough to survive any of the other clans knowing that they can surprise the members of this clan."

"Of course."

Diraa sat on his throne and popped a small squirming creature into his mouth before turning his attention to the business at hand. "And the Republic, are they willing to give in to our demands yet?"

"No. They claim that all beings are entitled to be free. They also say that all beings should have the right to feel safe without having to pay anyone a tribute to see that they remain that way."

"I see. This naturally means that they shall keep bringing their so called law and order to the galaxy."

"Sadly. I made certain that they knew it was you who defeated Kossak and that it was he who defeated Xim. They know just how powerful you are. No other Hutt who dared to challenge Kossak was able to defeat him. Only someone more powerful than he could have done so."

"And only a powerful Hutt could have seen to it that Xim was defeated," Diraa said, a slight smile on his lips.

"The fools do not see it that way. They believe that only forces united could have brought Xim to utter destruction. They claim that is what Kossak did. He created a united force that brought about Xim's end. And they believe their pitiful military to be strong enough that it could have defeated him even easier than Kossak's so called untrained forces."

"Fools indeed. Even more foolish as they fail to see the threat I pose to them. My forces shall wipe them out."

Kril nervously licked his lips, knowing what he was about to say could result in his brother nearly killing him. He'd seen Diraa do so countless times to other Hutts who dared sound like they had little faith in him. "Brother, I have seen their military. Though it is pitiful, it will still cause us some problems. This war won't be easy to win. And perhaps it won't be quick, either."

"Intelligence, Kril. That is something I highly value. You say their military, though pitiful, will still be a problem for us. No need to fear what I would do to you for saying so. It prepares me for what is to come. That is important.

"It is also important we know just how strong the Republic is. Kossak foolishly failed to do so with me. He lured Xim into a trap, making him believe he was facing forces far weaker than he was. Xim failed to learn how powerful Kossak was. I am not the fool they were. I shall always know how powerful my enemies are. If they seem stronger than me at any given time, then it is important for me to know so that I do fall to them.

"As my ambassador, it is important that you gather intelligence for me. The Republic may believe you are trying to work things out between we Hutts and them. But really you will be learning how powerful they are and what their weaknesses are."

"Unless they give in to our demands."

"Never!" Diraa shouted, causing Kril to tremble. "Those who do not immediately admit that Hutts are more intelligent and powerful than they are always bound to be trouble, even when they do finally admit it. And such trouble must be destroyed, it's will crushed. When they finally give in, knowing their strengths and weaknesses will make it all the easier to crush their will."

"As you command, brother," Kril replied, bowing.
Vance Stry knelt before the platform upon which Jedi Master Areemus stood. Master Areemus had been the last Grand High Priest when the Jedi had been a mere religious order. Since they had traded their role as religious leaders for that of peacekeepers, he had become more interested in seeing to it that the Jedi protected the people of the Republic.

Master Areemus rested his hand upon the sword the lay before him on the altar. For nearly five hundred years the priests and priestesses of the Jedi had proven themselves not only devoted religious leaders, but also skilled metalsmiths. And when the order had returned to it's roots, many pointed out that the Jedi should now carry weapons. Many even pointed out that police and security forces carried weapons and used them so as to protect the innocent.

Yet Master Areemus had been hesitant about the idea of Jedi carrying weapons. He knew that there were so many innocent beings who cringed at the sight of an armed security officer even though they knew they were there to protect them. He desired that the Jedi not be feared as their counterparts were.

It was only after a few of his fellow Jedi Masters pointed out that virtually all knights from around the known galaxy had carried swords before the Jedi had ever been formed, and that the sword had become more of a symbol of peace and protection to the innocent instead of the weapon of war it had once been, that he finally relented. Thus so he accepted the Jedi carrying swords while he still refused to let the order use any other kind of weapon.

Still, he was reluctant to simply hand out swords to the Jedi. So he and the twelve other Jedi Masters discussed the idea that the final test before an apprentice could be called a Jedi Knight would be for them to make their own sword. Even though they were the first of the new type of Jedi, the Jedi Masters realized that they could not call themselves anymore than mere priests if they were not willing to make their own swords. That thought reminded Master Areemus of the weight on his left hip.

"Such a lovingly crafted blade," Master Areemus commented absently. Once more his hand traced the fine inlaid reneca gem work, the green gems seemingly a part of the metal itself. He picked it up, feeling the Force radiate out from it. "And forged with use of the Force, as I should expect. It shall be far stronger than any blade a normal being could make. Truly a blade worthy of a Jedi Knight.

"Arise Vance Stry. Claim the sword crafted by your own skilled hands. You are now a Jedi Knight."

Vance slowly got to his feet and took his sword from Master Areemus. As he turned back to the gathered Knights and Masters, he let a smile spread across his face before he returned to his seat. Master Areemus waited until Vance was seated before he spoke again.

"Fellow Jedi, it is my sad duty to interrupt such an auspicious occasion as this with such depressing news. As many of you know, over the past few months the Republic has had dealings with the Hutt Empire. It had been President Dotelle's hope that the Hutt's had been interested in joining the Republic. Barring that, she hoped both nations could find a way to live in peace.

"Sadly, the Hutt's do not seem to want that. They seem to prefer the idea of the Republic answering to them. Dotelle and the Senate naturally refuse to do so. They realize that in giving the Republic to the Hutt's they will be taking away the freedoms the Republic promises to the people who live within it's boundaries.

"Still both sides are seeking a diplomatic solution that will prevent the situation from degrading into an all out war. But the president fears it may already be too late. The Hutt ambassador does not seem interested in what our people have to say. Instead, he seems more interested in viewing our military. Dotelle believes he is doing this to gather intelligence on our strength. She does, however, hope that she is wrong. And so she will be sending an ambassador to the Hutt homeworld in the hopes that he can prevent this war where others have failed.

"As you all know, we Jedi have sworn to protect the innocent. War knows no difference between soldier and innocent. So if we are to protect innocent lives, it is in our best interests that we do what we can to prevent the coming war. Therefore, I have informed the president that I am sending four Jedi to accompany President Dotelle's ambassador. Quiot Andrek, Viskette, Arica Stron, and Vance Stry, it is up to you four to see to it that the ambassador is safe and to do what you can in helping him work out a peaceful settlement between the Hutts and the Republic."