A/N at the back.

~Chapter 9~

Well fuck me sideways with an energy sword. It actually is one big city.

-First Lieutenant O'Malley, upon arriving at Coruscant.

One of the bad things about being a Captain was the bureaucracy. Almost endless amounts of paperwork, logistics to organize, and the crew to take care of just came on top of that.

He was reminded of this by the two days he had spent filing the paperwork for the instatement of Orion Operations as an official PMC, or Private Military Company. Basically a Mercenary group, but more fancy.

Edward had been a major help in this, skimming through the documents and filling in those that he didn't need to do personally. Because of this he was now the official leader of a new PMC in this galaxy that had already garnered quite a bit of fame from saving Naboo.

On top of that he had been asked to do a declaration in front of the senate about what happened on the besieged planet by queen Amidala. Apparently the senate hadn't done shit about the crimes of the Trade Federation. Oh how he hated politicians. And especially the Senate. Bunch of corrupt fools.

And as he stood, waiting besides the queen to announce him to the rabble that called itself a government, he was thinking if he had done the right thing in helping. I could have saved my men, instead we chose to go in guns blazin' without foreknowledge of the situation. We could have walked into an intergalactic war. I will never do that again. But he had saved a planet, and that was at least a good thing.

"I hereby present Captain Andrew Hallsson, captain of the William of Orange, leader of Orion Operations, and one of the saviors of Naboo together with Shipmistress Kiyo' Mantakrea of the Unbending Justice." Amidala spoke over the microphone while the pod floated slowly towards the middle of the massive chamber.

"Captain, I have the upmost gratitude for you for saving my planet. It is an honor meeting you. It is sad, though, that the Shipmistress couldn't be here." The Chancellor said with a warm tone.

"Don't worry, Chancellor, we only did what we thought was right. Shipmistress Mantakrea sends her regards by the way."

"It is good to hear that there are still people around that do things out of the kindness of their heart."

Suddenly, the pod bearing the Trade Federation's delegation drifted forwards, "THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!" the Senator yelled, "I demand you seize this man and his ship immediately!"

Why do they even let corporation have a voice in the Senate? This galaxy is going to hell. Andrew thought and the Chancellor was quick to speak up against the stupid space-toad, "And dare say, senator, why would I do that?"

"He and his accomplices destroyed equipment worth millions of credits and disrupted a lawful blockade!"

"Ha! Lawful my ass! I have seen what you did to the people of Naboo. If anything, it should be the Trade Federation that is punished for crimes against sentience!" He really didn't feel like talking to the stuck-up space toad anymore.

A loud gasp of surprise went through the entire senate, apparently it was quite the crime he had accused the Trade with, even Amidala seemed a bit surprised by it. "On what ground do you accuse the Trade Federation with such a grave crime?" the Chancellor asked calmly.

With a signal to Edward, the giant hologram above the Chancellors seat came online and showed a picture which seemed like it was taken from the eyes of a soldier. "This, senators, is footage captured by the 513th Ranger Platoon, tasked with freeing civilians from designated "work camps". Play the video, Ed."

The image started moving, showing the soldier gunning down a couple of battledroids in front of a large gate. One of the other black-visored soldiers put half a block of C-7 where the two sliding doors connected and stuck a detonator in it. After he had walked a good fifteen meters away, the thing blew up and an armored vehicle drove through the breach, followed by rangers using it a cover.

The view switched to one of the front soldiers as they advanced from behind the –now stationary- vehicle. The soldier moved up a couple of paces before a red laser whizzed by their face. A few bangs later, all the remaining droids were taken care of and the soldier moved up to the containment area.

The next image filled the senate with gasps and cries of shock and outrage. There were hundreds of men, women, and children, all of them underfed and dirty. Most of them had bruises or other untreated wounds and there were plenty of dead bodies lying around.

The senate also saw how several soldiers hurried over to the wounded and start to treat them. Other soldiers were handing out food to the now freed Nabooians while others were making sure they wouldn't fight over it.

When the holo blinked out, a large part of the senate -meaning almost every self-respecting senator not tied to the Trade Federation or Techno Union- started demanding a trial. At this point, though, Andrew was drawn from the verbal slaughter by a transmission from Sgt. Richard Burke, *Capt'n, there's a rather persistent bloke here askin' you to come with 'im. Says some or other "Jedi Council" wishes to speak to you. I've tried to send him away, but he keeps insisting. A bit more than would be healthy for 'im.* The last part was obviously aimed at said "bloke".

The captain sighed. ODST were great bodyguards and special forces, but they had the diplomatic subtly of a Jiralhanea during mating season and a Mgalekgolo who just lost his bond-brother and were as easily offended as a highborn Sangheili. "Tell the man I will be right there. And sergeant."

*Yes, sir?*

"Please don't kill him before I get there."

*Aye, sir. Burke out.*

He quickly notified the Queen he was leaving and had Edward forward her all the evidence against the Trade before leaving the now-docked pod and heading for the door which whooshed open with a barely audible hiss. Behind said door stood ODST squad Zulu, their guns pointed peacefully at the ground, but Andrew knew they could raise them, aim and fire a shot in less than a second.

Those ODST where watching the movement of each passer-by coming through the hall, including the alien teen with two tentacles instead of hair and wearing robes that were typical of a Jedi who was nervously looking around, avoiding the silver-reflective gaze of the eight towering soldiers he couldn't feel in the force.

Hallsson decided to spare the boy more uncomfortable time and made himself known with a little cough and the nervous teen's eyes quickly shot to him. "Eh, are you mister Hallsson?"

"I sure am, kid. Now, I heard something about the Jedi Council wanting to speak to me. May I inquire why they decided to interrupt me in an important diplomatic meeting?"

"I-I don't know sir. They only told me to get you. I, ehm, I-"

"Don't worry, kid, I'll come with you. To be honest I had wanted to meet them for quite a while now. I have some questions for them as well. Now, lead the way. We don't want to keep them waiting, do we?" Andrew sent him his warmest smile, gesturing for Burke and the rest of Zulu to follow them.

"So, kid, aren't you a little young to be a Jedi?" the captain asked with genuine intrest.

"Oh, eh, I'm not actually a Jedi. Not yet at least. I'm still a Padawan."

"Of course. Sergeant, message the pilot to get the pelican running, if I'm going to temple I want to at least take our own transport."

"The Council will speak to you now, Captain." The Jedi Padawan said and opened the door to Andrew, who was without his guards because apparently the Jedi were a bunch of peace loving hippies. Sgt. Burke's words, not his.

It was not like he was without a backup plan anyway. There were five Goose Stealth Insertion Craft cloaked and ready to jump into action and get him out of any sticky situation that might develop.

He stepped into the circular room, admiring the view they had on Coruscant through the large windows for a few seconds before turning his attention to the gathered Jedi Masters.

"Captain Hallsson, good to finally meet you, it is." A little green alien who Andrew (with a little help from Ed) identified as Grandmaster Yoda. Next to him was a sour-looking human with a dark complexion who the young captain immediately picked out as a possible cause for problems down the line.

"It is good to be here, Master Jedi. I understood you have some questions?" he said, with his most innocent smile on his face.

"Yes, Captain Hallsson, why don't you start with explaining why you don't have a Force-signature." The Black-skinned human said rather bluntly.

"I'm sorry sir, you seem to have me at a disadvantage…" Andrew sent him a bright smile, but his eyes turned stone-cold.

"Master Windu, now if you could please answer my question."

"Well, Master Window, I'll be honest with you. I have absolutely no idea." It might have been a childish move, mispronouncing his name, but they could think it was just his accent and he really did not like the man.

Yoda decided it was time to intervene, "Hmm, a mystery, it is. Nothing, the Force reveals about you."

"Yes, it is. May I ask a question now?" the captain's face turned stone-hard and continued before anyone could object. "I mean no disrespect, but can someone please tell me why you are kidnapping children?!"

It was Master Windu who answered, "We do not kidnap children, we take them in and teach them the ways of the Jedi so that they do not fall for the temptations of the Dark-side."

Andrew huffed, but forced himself to calm down a bit. "Tell me, Master Window; do these children have a choice? Or their parents for that matter?"

"Enough!" a Master with a strangely large forehead bellowed, "The way we recruit Jedi is not the subject of this meeting!"

"Right Master Mundi is, but find peace he should." Yoda said while sending a pointed look at the other Master. "Another question we have, Captain Hallsson. Of the girl you found on Naboo, we want to hear."

"A, yes, the ten year-old orphan you didn't want to "take in" because she is too old." He looked around the council chambers, noting the variety in species, though some where there through means of a hologram. "I am happy to say that she and my crew have quickly taken a liking to each other. What do you want to know about her?"

"We would just like to know how she is dealing with losing her family. It can be hard to cope at her age." A woman with orange skin and strange horns and tentacles instead of hair said. Edward helped him identify her as a Togruta.

"Our ship shrink says Ratha is dealing with it incredibly well, apart from some nightmares. Health-wise she is still recovering, but progressing slowly as the days tick by."

"That is good to hear." The woman said. "But it is also important that she learns to control her gift. Therefore this council has requested to place a Jedi on board your ship to teach her some basics of the Force."

"Absolutely not."

The Togruta woman blinked in surprise. "What?"

"Absolutely not. My ship is a warship, designed especially to destroy other ships as fast and brutally as possible. The same counts for my men and their weapons. It is no place for –as sergeant Burke so wonderfully says it- peace-loving hippies. No disrespect, of course. I also have people capable of training her. So, no, I will not have some random Jedi on my ship. Especially if they could leak information and tech to outside parties."

Windu scowled at his remark, taking a deep breathe to start another rant, but Yoda cut him off. "A compromise, we may find then? Hmmm." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Once every year, checked on by a Jedi she could."

"Fine, but not on my ship."

*Captain, I've got someone looking to hire us. His name is Mhka Calrost, the senator of Radhoka.* Edward spoke.

"Excuse me, Councilors, but business calls. I'll have Edward forward you our contact details so that we can continue this conversation on a later date."

Yoda just nodded in reply, "Contact you soon, we will. May the Force be with you, Captain Hallsson."

"And the Mantle with you, Grandmaster Yoda." He said as he turned around and made his exit.

*Well done, chap. Very smooth.* Edward said mockingly *Maybe you should have threatened them as well, Perhaps pulled a gun.*

"Very funny, Edward. That did remind me of something, though. Activate Wilson Directive and see if you can get a report from Kiyo'. Are all the crew and combat personnel aboard?"

*Wilson Directive Is now active and the Shipmistress' report is waiting on your desk. Well, not on your desk, of course, but in your inbox. Bar the personnel on the Geese and your escort everybody has been counted for. I find it necessary to note that Staff Sergeant Gerard and Lance Corporal Metford almost got robbed while returning. They informed me that they handled it and that the people who robbed them wouldn't try that again, since, and I quote: "It's difficult to mug someone when you can't walk.". ODSTs scare me sometimes, sir.*

Andrew let out a small chuckle, "That's what they are supposed to do, Ed. Did they get in trouble with local authorities?"

*Negative, sir. They got away before anyone saw them.*

"Good," he whispered into his earpiece, "Activate the SPIDRs as soon as we're on the Pelican."

*Aye, aye, captain, have a good flight.* Edward said and inside the Jedi temple, the senate building, and several other important locations such as traffic control and the police HQ, a number of small balls started unfolding, turning into small spider-like cameras.

The SPIDRs, or Synthetic Proactive Intelligence Drone Recon, all quickly scurried into hiding spots, setting up for a long, long watch.

Alright, I'll start off by saying how incredibly thankful I am for the massive amount of reviews, favorites and follows. Thankyouthankyouthankyyouthankyou! It makes my day each time I see one of those messages pop into my inbox. Second is thanks to Smoke Tiny Tom for Beta-ing. Third is another massive Hoorah; Phantom Pain broke the 10,000 view mark! Now onto 20k!

I would also like to apologize for not updating so long. I had a metric shit-ton of exams and then school finally ended and I was hit with a massive tidal wave of laziness. That combined with my old laptop crashing set held this up quite a bit. luckily I had a backup un a USB. I have to say, though, that writing the Jedi Council part was very enjoyable.

For anyone who has submitted an OC and hasn't seen him/her/them appear, don't worry. They'll show up when the plot allows for it. I will not be throwing random OC's at the readers out of nowhere.

As for next time (probably): You'll see what Kiyo' has been up to, what the new job will be and you'll meet the Shriek Hawks (Mandalore of freedom's OC's). Also some Gamma and Ratha If I can squize it in there.

Codex:

SPIDR

Synthetic Proactive Intelligence Drone Recon. Usually used for espionage by the Bureau of Galactic Intelligence, but also equipped to the Exploration and Quick response version of the Marathon II-class Heavy Cruiser.

LR-87-SIC Goose

The Goose is a long-range stealth insertion craft, capable of slipspace and about twice as large as a pelican dropship. It is equipped with a cloak field, hardlight weaponry, a nose-mounted auto-cannon, hardlight emitters, and a 'dumb' AI. Mostly used by the Bureau of Galactic Intelligence, it is not meant for prolonged combat, but can withstand a fair amount of fire.

It has been in service ever since 2597 and was developed by former ONI scientist Nicholai K. Kozlov, who died in an insurrection attack three years later. Only the best pilots with at least five years of experience in a pelican are accepted into the specialized training required for operating the LR-87-SIC.

The miniaturised version of a reverse-engineered forerunner drive has a huge speed advantage over most other ships, enabling it to outrun most other vessels. A combination of this and the cloak field makes it the perfect insertion craft or even a scout ship when drones are not available.