Disclaimer: I wish I owned Star Wars, but I Don't! (I do own Inhered Arios btw)
"Sit down, we have much to discuss."
Inhered sat on the comfortable chair designed to increase the concentration of the user. It was at a large circular conference table which had holo-recorders built into it, in front of each chair so they could have holo-conferences. Inhered assumed that there were holo-projectors aimed at the chairs as well, but he couldn't see them.
"I sense that this isn't about the negotiations, is it?" he said.
"No," replied Mace, as he walked to a console and pressed a button, "it isn't."
When he pressed the button the holographic forms of the eleven other members of the Jedi Council appeared in the remaining chairs. Inhered jumped to his feet and bowed to them.
"Sit down, you should, Knight Arios," said the familiar voice of Master Yoda.
"Yes, Master," he said softly, and slowly sat down; it was not every day a Knight was asked to sit with the Council; this definitely wasn't about the upcoming negotiations, this sounded serious.
Once everyone was seated, Master Yoda started, "Going well, are the negotiations, Master Windu?"
"So far the leaders of The Trade Federation, The Intergalactic Banking Clan and The Techno Union, are against the taxation of trade routes and the Naboo, the Corellians and the Bith, are in favor of the taxes. The other factions represented here are still undecided," reported Mace.
"Continue, you will, to attend these talks," replied Yoda. "Now, something to report, Master Gallia has."
"Thank you Master Yoda," she began, "recent orbital logs show that a Trade Federation Cruiser entered orbit, unscheduled, and left again in a couple of hours. This sort of unusual behavior by the Federation has been increasing over the last few months and we are opening an investigation to look into it."
"Indeed, the Federation cruiser, only a couple of hours, stayed in orbit, in orbit over a region in the northern industrial sector, it did."
"Master Yoda, I will go to the industrial sector to see if we can find a reason for this unusual behavior," Jedi Master Koth offered.
"Very good Master Koth. The location below the orbit, you should start."
Then Jedi Master Plo Koon suggested that someone should be sent to question the Federation representatives on the ship.
"Our intelligence tells us that the cruiser was one of Viceroy Gunray's Fleet, but not the flagship. We also know, from the ships last known course, that in is most likely heading to you, Master Windu, at Cato Neimoidia." Master Gallia put forward.
Master Tiin then said, "If the cruiser is heading to Cato Neimoidia, then we should send you, Inhered, to intercept it, and to find out what it is they are up to."
"If up to something, they are."
"Yes, I agree with Master Tiin. Inhered should go to them when they arrive," said Mace. "He can refuel here, on my ship, and get on his way. I will record the talks and we can go over them back at the temple."
Inhered was supposed to see the talks as a training exercise in diplomacy, but this mission was more important and Mace was going to go over the talks with him anyway. He nodded in agreement with the council, "It shouldn't take to long, if they are honest."
"Good then, to the north, Master Koth will go, and to the Federation, Inhered will go. That is that settled, all then. No more to discuss, I think." Master Yoda finished, "May the Force be with us all."
"May the Force be with us," the other twelve attendees repeated in unison.
Mace went to the console and pressed the same button as he had earlier- the Holograms faded away.
Mace and Inhered went to the hanger bay to get the ship ready before Inhered retired to the quarters Mace had prepared for him and got some well appreciated sleep. Traveling tired Inhered- and then talking to the Council as well, without a rest, had taken it out of the young Jedi. He would rise refreshed and ready for more traveling.
A/N: sorry this took so long, there is less of Mace Windu in this chapter than I had originally planed (you will know what I am talking about if you had read my profile a week ago.)