ENTRY 20

We were cleared to land at one of the planet's security stations. These guard outposts were hardened citadels bristling with various weapon systems to include watchtower quad-blaster cannons pointing down into the inmate area and ground-to-air turbolasers pointed upward to prevent unauthorized space shuttles from dropping down and expatriating inmates. As we approached the landing zone I could see three-meter tall fencing surrounding the guard station. When we drew closer I could make out the distinctive flickering of a Death Fence—and electrified field surrounding the guard area. I knew from my training at the Jedi Temple that these fences can rise as high as ten meters and the electrical field could be set to kill or shock. My guess is the perimeter security was set at the highest lethal level. I sighed deeply knowing we were now dependent on Pol Haus' Imperial 'friend' to get the women back to the docking platform. We couldn't cut our way through this type of barrier.

When the ship landed I decided to remain in the crew area until the women were off the freighter. I wanted to give Pol's contact the ability to talk to the ladies privately if he so desired. From what Haus told me, his contact (a man named Kado Tokk) believed the women, pilot and Den were working for the Zabrack police prefect in an effort to find his lover and facilitate her safe return. I would show up as an unexpected hitchhiker.

I was still convinced I should have joined Magash and Sacha as a prisoner. It is true I wouldn't be able to smuggle weapons inside using that disguise, but as an Inquisitor there was the chance that I would spook our contact and make him reconsider helping the women escape. Unfortunately, the plan was now in motion and now wasn't the time to make changes.

I stood in the shadows near the entrance to the cargo hold. I would be able to view what was going on without being seen. After the pilot and Den went through the freighter's shut down procedures, they moved out of the flight deck and toward the cargo area. Den gave me a nervous smile as he neared me. "Wish me luck."

I patted his shoulder as he passed. "May the Force be with you."

"Thanks," Den said with a chuckle. "That would be more reassuring if I was actually a Force sensitive."

Den and Kwan entered the large cargo hold where they met up with I-Five, Sacha and Magash.

"Everybody ready?" I heard Den ask.

"I am fully prepared to perform my part in this subterfuge." I-Five said as he drew his blaster and pretended to guard the two female prisoners.

Kwan activated the cargo bay entry controls and with a loud metallic groan the access panels slid open and the boarding ramp lowered. The cargo bay was flooded by Despayre's harsh sunlight and I could smell the sour odor of garbage mixed with the stench of the surrounding jungle. A tall man in his late sixties walked in with a smile. He was wearing an Imperial correctional officer uniform with highly shined black boots and grey tunic and trousers. A brown leather belt hung on his narrow hips carrying a holstered sidearm, a shockdart thrower, chemical eye-irritant sprays and stuncuffs. He had a datapad in his left hand as he extended his free hand out to the pilot in greeting "I'm Sergeant Tokk." As he shook the pilot's hand he looked up at the giant garbage crawlers. "I'm glad my supply clerk's requisition came in. You can't imagine how much trash inmates generate."

"My company is always happy to be of service to the Empire." Kwan released Sergeant Tokk's hand and motioned toward the women. "We also transported two prisoners. I will sign them over to you."

It looked like the Sergeant was going to address Sacha and Magash but thought better of it when another correctional officer strutted up the gangplank. "Well, well, I saw we were going to receive two prisoners, but the orders never said they would be so…luscious."

Tokk scowled at the newcomer. "Sergeant Jokol, I can take care of this."

Jokol was a large human, by any standard. He was easily over two meters of height, with broad shoulders and muscular build. In fact, he was so muscular that I assumed he might not be entirely human or if he was human he was from a high gravity planet such as Ragith III. Ragithian humans were often used by the Empire to work security due to their imposing strength and build. The man leered at the women as he ran a hand over his greasy black hair smoothing it down. He walked up to Sacha until he stood only a hand's length from her. His gaze raked up and down her body before he reached up and ran a finger down her cheek and along her jawline. "This one has a pretty mouth. I have plans for her."

Through the Force I could feel Sergeant Tokk's ire grow. "Dammit Jokol, you were ordered by Doctor Zahd to stop touching the women. How many cases of crotch lice do you want to get?"

Jokol turned and looked down at Tokk who barely came to his shoulder. "That's because I was taking the women from the prison population. Once they get out there that's when they get diseases. If I partake now, there is less chance of that." He looked over to Magash and gave a predatory smile. "In fact, I think I will bring both to my quarters. I will process them into the penal colony myself."

He went to touch Magash but she pulled away. "Go away!"

I could tell she was using the Force behind the words. Tokk took a step back looking confused, but Jokol simply smiled. "This one's feisty."

I let out a frustrated breath. Jokol was probably a Ragithian. I was told that they were resistant to Jedi mind manipulation.

Tokk tried to reason with his coworker once more. "Doctor Zahd is a Captain and he said if you get one more sexually transmitted disease he will court martial you for malingering and destruction of Imperial property."

Jokol rolled his eyes. "He's a Captain in the Imperial Medical Corps…that's not a real officer. In my book the lowliest private in the Correctional Corps outranks him. And since when did my manhood become Imperial property?"

"The day you enlisted, that's when!" Tokk shot back.

I realized that Sergeant Tokk wasn't going to dissuade his colleague from harassing the women. I decided it was best to make my appearance. I stepped out of the shadows and into the cargo bay. "Is there a problem here?"

"The only problem is I'm not tapping these two beautiful…," Jokol began as he turned around to face me. When he saw my Inquisitor uniform his posture stiffened and he stepped away from the women. "No problem, Sir." He turned to Sergeant Tokk and gave him a questioning look. "We didn't know a member of the Inquisitorius was on board, we would have…ummm…had a proper reception for you." Both Tokk and Jokol looked to Kwan questioningly.

The dark skin man gave a slight apologetic shrug of his shoulder. "I'm sorry for not informing you, but the exalted member of the Inquisitorius boarded my ship unexpectedly only moments prior to my departure from Coruscant and he asked that I not inform anybody of his presence."

"That's quite right." I walked up to the correctional officers. "Lord Vader himself has ordered me to search for a rebel spy among your prisoners. You were not notified of my arrival because we believe there is an infiltrator within the Imperial palace—a traitor who is warning the Rebels of my comings and goings. I require my presence here to remain secret, therefore I quietly boarded the first ship scheduled to travel to this world." I turned to Sergeant Jokol. "I require maps and a briefing of the prison area."

Jokol nodded. "Yes sir. Please follow me." The giant ambled down the boarding ramp with me on his heels. I hope Kwan and the women can now talk to Sergeant Tokk in private and soothe the man's nerves. Having an Inquisitor showing up on your doorstep when you are trying to assist in a breakout had to be disconcerting to the man. I just hope having me here in this disguise is not going to cause problems. As I followed Jokol to the guardhouse my hand ran nervously over the satchel strapped over my shoulder. Inside were a couple holdout blasters, a vibroblade, ration bars, a small amount of explosives and—hidden in a false bottom of the carryall—was a prison uniform and metallic identification band. I would first try to find Sheel as an Inquisitor and if that didn't work I would switch to a prison uniform and ask around. For now, I was going to let this pervert Sergeant Jokol brief me on the prison population and situation. Hopefully Tokk can get the women far away from here before Jokol did something crude forcing Magash and Sacha to kill him.