CAPITOL BUILDING, CORONET CITY, CORELLIA

The trio of CorSec guards that led Han and Leia Solo through the Corellian Capitol Building seemed to be going out of their way to make them feel unwelcome. And the guards weren't the only ones. When the Millenium Falcon had first arrived in Corellian airspace, the traffic controller had seemed hesitant in allowing them to set down on the planet. It was only after Leia had forecefully argued with the controller that they'd been granted a landing pad, and they both suspected that Denjax Teppler had personally had to intervene to allow them to land. Four ChaseX starfighters had then been dispatched to escort them down to surface, although Han wasn't sure escort was the best word for what they did. To him, it seemed like the Corellians were more interested in showing them that they could blow them out of the sky at any moment. While Leia didn't seem to be concerned over the inhospitality being shown to them, Han had certainly taken offense. By all accounts he was the most famous Corellian, and while Han's ego had greatly diminished over the years, it still hurt when his own planet disrespected him.

The only saving grace to the situation was that Leia had told C-3P0 to remain behind in the Falcon. The droid had been particularly talkative on the journey to Corellia, and Han had desperately needed a break. He had grown to like the droid in the fifty years since Yavin, but sometimes 3P0 was still too much.

"Han, look!" Leia exclaimed from beside him, pointing at the portraits on the wall.

Han did, and was shocked when he saw himself, dressed in his classic white shirt and vest with blue bloodstriped trousers, standing in front of the Millenium Falcon. Next to the painting of himself was one of fellow Rebel Wedge Antilles, wearing an orange Rebel flightsuit with an X-wing in the background. Han turned back to Leia, mouth agape. "You're telling me they paint a portrait of me and hang it in their capitol, and then treat me like a mynock when I come in person? Seems to me that the painting is just for show."

Leia shrugged. "Even still, it is a good painting. And isn't it cool that you will be remembered alongside former chancellors and prime ministers?"

"I guess," Han conceded, looking back at the line of faces. Some were familiar, like the late Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, who was just a portrait away from Han. But most were legendary figures from the past few millenia, including multiple Corellian Jedi and Old Republic leaders. "I just wish they'd give me a bit more respect, that's all."

"Well, you did fight against them in the last war."

"Yeah, but that was only after they tried to kill us."

Leia laughed, "You've got a point there."

One of the CorSec officers who'd been escorting them then butt in, informing them that they really mustn't keep the Chief of State waiting. Han and Leia conceded, and continued on through the building. Teppler's office was located on the top floor of the building, in a suite overlooking the Coronet skyline. It wasn't much different than the Chief of State's office on Coruscant, Han observed, and it had been renovated to appear even more so like it since the last time they were here. Teppler must've been a fan of that style of design.

Teppler was standing at the window on the other side of the circular office, having a conversation with someone through a comlink inside his right ear. Han and Leia politely sat down across the table from the Chief of State, saying nothing as he finished his conversation.
"I don't care that General Intigo gave the order," Teppler was saying through gritted teeth. "Tell him I am overriding it, and that I will discuss it with him later." He glanced back at Han and Leia, showing them a small smile before turning back to the window. "Look I've got to go, redirect any more calls to General Phennir until I say otherwise." Teppler turned once more, sitting down in his chair across from Han and Leia. "Sorry about that," he said, smiling. "Just a lot going on right now."

"We understand," Leia said graciously. "I was wondering, however, what that call was about? If it's confidential that's fine, but I am a bit curious."

Teppler laughed, "Oh just some disagreements between myself and one of my generals. Nothing too serious."

Han could tell by Teppler's dismissive tone that the disagreement was more serious than he was letting on.

"Ah, I see," Leia said, not pursuing the topic any further.

"I heard that there were some issues you faced while getting here? One of the air traffic controllers giving you trouble?"

"Yeah, whoever that guy was didn't seem happy about us being here. Had a real stick up his ass," Han growled.

"My apologies. I'll make sure you don't have to deal with that any more for the rest of your visit. In fact, I've already made a point to have a penthouse prepared for the two of you in the government district."

"Thank you," Leia said. "We don't hold any of what happened against you."

Teppler smiled. "How about we get down to business, then? I understand the Jedi are concerned about the tensions that have arisen between the Confederation and the Alliance?"

"Concerned is certainly a word for it," Han muttered.
"Yes, we are quite concerned in fact," Leia confirmed.

Teppler cocked his head. "Didn't the Jedi pull out of the Alliance because they wanted to stay out of galactic politics? This seems like the sort of thing your Order would want to stay away from."

"We did pull out for that reason, yes. Unfortunately, the Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance being assassinated on Confederate soil has led us to fear that the galaxy is on the verge of another war, which is something the Jedi Order does not want to see. So in this case, we are forced to re-enter galactic politics. We're peacekeepers, after all."

"Tell me, Master Solo, what is it that you fear? The Confederation? Or the Alliance? Because we were not responsible for what happened to Dorvan, and I would like nothing more than to de-escalate the situation. Dorvan and I were friends, so the last thing I want is for a war to be started in his name. The only way a war breaks out is if the Alliance decides to responds recklessly, which it appears they are gearing up to do."

"We know you weren't responsible, Mr. Teppler," Leia assured. "And I will also concede that there are some in the Alliance senate who will use this as an opportunity to try and force unification-"

"Which would mean to war," Teppler cut in.

Leia bowed her head, "I understand. Anyway, we just worry that you aren't going far enough to appease the Alliance. Their Chief of State was murdered, after all.

"I assume you refer to my refusal to allow the Alliance to send their own forces to investigate the assassination?"

"Yes, that is our main area of concern. We struggle to understand why you won't allow them to do so. Maybe you can explain your reasoning to us so we can better understand your position?"

Teppler nodded. "I came to the conclusion that we should not allow the Alliance access to the investigation through many meetings with both my political and military advisors. CorSec has taken full charge, and all findings will be released to Alliance leadership when they come out."

"Forgive me, but doesn't your refusal to let the Alliance investigate incriminate you? To them it appears that you're hiding something. That if they investigated, they'd find that you were responsible for the assassination."

"Only an uninformed and unreasonable person would come to that conclusion. I've been fully transparent with Desha Lor and her cabinet that nothing will be hidden from them."

"But you must understand my point."

"I do, but I don't worry that it will escalate the situation. Besides, I'm already planning on allowing an Alliance observer limited access to the investigation."

Han raised an eyebrow, remembering the conversation Teppler had been having when he and Leia had arrived in the room. "Was that what you were talking about on the comm before we arrived? Sounds like there was some disagreement between you and CorSec on that."

Teppler gave him a dirty look. "The observer will be allowed on site, and CorSec will be instructed to allow them access to the investigation."

Han gave a short nod, though he doubted things would go as smoothly as Teppler made it seem.

Leia on the other hand, did want to probe Teppler further. "So you and CorSec disagree on how to handle this?"

"CorSec is an official body of the Corellian government, therefore giving me jurisdiction over them. Any disagreement I have with them is irrelevant."

"But it has influenced your policy, hasn't it? Tell me, Mr. Teppler, if it wasn't for CorSec's opposition, would you be allowing the Alliance to investigate themselves?"

Teppler's expression grew frustrated. "I was advised by General Intigo, who directs CorSec, that allowing an Alliance investigation would be unwise. I agreed with him, and made it my official stance. So in that sense, maybe I wouldn't have held that position without them. But that hardly means it's the wrong position."

"Of course," Leia said, unconvinced. "I onlyworry you're being taken advantage of by those beneath you, that's all."

"Are you trying to imply that CorSec was responsible for the assassination?" Teppler asked, outrage on his face.

Leia shook her head quickly. "No, of course not. I just think you shouldn't let those beneath you decide your policies."

"I see it as my advisors doing their job."

"Very well," Leia conceded. "In any case, I hope you're decision to allow an Alliance observer helps to ease tensions."

"I hope it will too. I promise you, the last thing I want is war. I'd much rather live in a world where the Confederation and Alliance continue to co-exist in peace."

"As we all do, Mr. Teppler," Leia agreed, standing up from her chair. "Thank you once again for meeting with us. I hope you will continue to do so as talks with the Alliance progress."

"Of course, Master Solo. You know that I harbor great respect for you and your husband, and am glad that the Jedi are acting as mediators."

"Thank you," Leia said, smiling. "Good day, Mr. Teppler."

"Good day," Han said curtly, following Leia out of the room.

They were escorted back to the Falcon by the same trio of guards as earlier, and they were just as mute as before. While Han had a host of thoughts to share with Leia, he was smart enough to save them until after they were aboard the Falcon. The guards may have been acting like they weren't listening to them, but Han knew better. Anything they said would get shared with Teppler. Or maybe with someone else, given what Teppler said during the meeting.
When they got back to the Falcon, they were informed by one of the guards that they were to take the ship to a private hangar in the Aidel Saxan building, which was apparently where Teppler had reserved them a penthouse. Named after the Five Worlds Prime Minister that was assassinated at the onset of the Second Civil War, the Saxan building was as glamorous as any of the top hotels on Coruscant. Standing high above the clouds, Han manevered the Falcon towards the building's hangar.

"Quite the place, wouldn't you say," he said to Leia as they gazed out the Falcon's cockpit at the hotel.

"Must be Corellia's answer to Coruscant's 500 Republica," Leia observed.

"Actually, the Aidel Saxan building was formerly known as the Iris Center, before it was renamed and remodeled in the aftermath of the Second Civil-"

"Stow it, goldie," Han ordered, cutting C-3P0 off.

"Oh," was all 3P0 could muster in reply.
"Haaan," Leia said playfully. "He was only trying to help."

"And I don't want it," Han replied. After setting the Falcon down in the hangar, he turned to Leia, who was already looking over at him.

"Yes, Han, I know," she said. "I sensed it just as well as you read it."

"So you also think Teppler's hiding something."

"I don't think it, I know it. There's a lot more going on behind the scenes between him and CorSec than he's letting on about. The intensity of the conversation we walked in on was truth of that."

"Do you think he actually wants to be this harsh on the GA?"

Leia pondered that for a moment. "I think he's telling himself he does, but deep down he knows it's the wrong move to make. He's genuine when he says he doesn't want conflict, I just don't think he's willing to go the lengths needed to stop it."
Han eyed her carefully. "Lengths as in negotiating with the Alliance? Or lengths as in wrangling his own government?"

"The latter."

Han nodded. "Agreed. Teppler's not a bad man, but he's clearly in a bad situation. He has shown himself to be shrewd in the past, but maybe time has softened him up."

"It's certainly possible," Leia agreed. She stood, glancing out the cockpit at the workers that were lining up to greet them. "Come on, let's continue this conversation once we get to our room. I also told Luke I'd let him know what's going on, so I'll call him once we get there too."

Han stood, nodding. "Sounds good to me." He turned to follow her out of the cockpit, before stopping to glance at C-3P0. "Come on, Threepio," he said begrudgingly.

"Of course, Captain Solo," the droid said curtly. "I was beginning to worry you and Mistress Leia were going to leave-"

"Shut it before we do," Han said, a joking edge to his voice

"Oh- oh my," 3P0 stammered, quickly following Han out of the cockpit.

The greeting that they received upon leaving the Falcon was as elaborate as Han had expected. They were given glasses of Corellian brandy, had their bags taken from them, and then escorted to their room. After getting settled within the penthouse, which Han thought was far too elegant and classy, they sat down on the couch. Their living room had a gorgeous view of the Coronet City skyline, which looked particularly beautiful tonight as the sun was setting behind a group of thunder clouds.

"We gonna continue that conversation now?" Han asked, his arm around Leia.

She looked over at him, moving his arm off her shoulders. "Yeah, probably should," she said, pulling a holoprojector out of her pocket. She stood up, placing it on the table. She then inputted a few commands, and before long a hologram of her brother appeared in front of them.

JADE SHADOW, SORVLEEN ORBIT

"Leia! It's good to hear from you," Luke exclaimed, looking at the hologram of Leia that was projected atop the Jade Shadow's control console.

"Sorry that I was so late in calling," she apologized. "Things took longer than anticipated."

"I understand. So, what have you got for me?"

Ben, who sat beside Luke in the copilots seat, watched as Leia straightened up.

"Teppler is refusing to budge on allowing the Alliance to conduct their own investigation, although he has apparently directed CorSec to allow for an Alliance observer to be present. Han and I think he's being taken advantage of by those beneath him."

Luke cocked his head. "Taken advantage of?"

Leia nodded. "Though Teppler wasn't keen on sharing too many details, I was able to gather that the director of CorSec, General Intigo, is staunchly opposed to Alliance involvement in the investigation, and has seemingly convinced Teppler to make that Corellia's official position. Whether Intigo's motives are malicious or not is up for debate, but Teppler is feeling uneasy about the whole thing. I didn't need to the Force to know that."

"Do you think CorSec may have played a role in the assassination?" Luke asked.

"I don't know, but something is definitely off about the whole thing."

"CorSec involvement, or at least the involvement of elements of CorSec, would not be a surprising development given what we already know. They would have the means of hacking a HoloNet broadcast, after all."

"True, but unfortunately Han and I will have no way of finding out the full truth. We'll continue to meet with Teppler, but I doubt anything will come from those meetings."

"Understood. I'll see if I can relay what you told me to Master Horn's team, but they may already be out of contact. Either way, I'm sure that they'll be able to get to the bottom of everything."

"Do you want Han and I to try and meet with them? Corran told me that he was planning on contacting Wedge for help, so it wouldn't exactly be difficult to find them."

Luke shook his head. "No, if you and Han went to meet with them odds are Corran and his team would get found out. CorSec is almost certainly watching you. Stay put for now, play nice, and we'll see how everything plays out."

"Very well. I'm sure Han won't mind the downtime."

Ben laughed at an audible "Hey!" that was audible on the transmission.
"Have you arrived on Sorvleen yet?" Leia asked, changing the subject.
Luke nodded. "We just did, in fact, and are currently holding orbit."

"Good, I hope your meeting with the Lost Tribe goes as planned. Maybe you'll get some information that benefits those of us on Corellia."

"Hopefully, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. Even if there are Lost Tribe rogues involved, I doubt the Circle of Lords will be eager to share all there is to know about it."

"Well, let's hope you get something."

"Let's hope." Luke glanced down at his chrono, before looking back up at the hologram. "I'd better go, I told Master Solis that we'd be planetside by 0900."

Leia nodded. "Good luck, Luke. And may the Force be with you."

"May the Force be with you too," Luke echoed, cutting the transmission. He looked over at Ben, who was already prepping the ship for atmospheric entry. "Ready to go see if our Sith friends are in a mood to cooperate?"

Ben shrugged. "No use in waiting to find out."

"That's the spirit," Luke said, pulling down on the control stick and maneveruing the ship down towards the planet. Sorvleen was a forest world, not unlike Ossus, although it was a planet further away from its system's sun. It reminded Ben of Endor, although Sorvleen had a greater variety of terrain and biomes. The Lost Tribe's rehabilitation camp was located near the planet's equator, and had been setup on the edge of a forest.

They set the Jade Shadow down just outside the border of the camp, which was marked by a tall ray-shielded wall. Guard towers were posted every fifty or so meters along the border, all of which had automated defense systems. Outside the cockpit window Ben could see a group of Jedi coming outside to meet them, being led by a green skinned Twi'lek. As he and Luke exited the cockpit and headed for the ship's landing ramp, Ben asked, "How was the Lost Tribe ok with being put here? This looks more like a prison than a colony."

"They weren't ok with," Luke said shrewdly. "As bad as it sounds, we forced them here, told them it's there only option other than, well, death."

Ben shook his head. "I thought the Jedi were supposed to be compassionate towards all beings. I don't see this as compassion."
"Many inside those walls once tried to infiltrate and destroy the Jedi. They are Sith, and the Sith act from the dark side, and it is therefore our duty to contain them. It wasn't like we were just gonna let them all run free."

Ben shrugged. I guess that makes sense. "Fair enough, I guess. I just wish the camp looked a little bit more, I dunno, humane?"

"It did, before security became an issue."

"Oh," Ben said. "Makes sense."

They headed down the landing ramp, heading down to meet the Jedi that were waiting. The temperature was warm, Ben observed, but a comfortable warm. He figured that the camp had been set up on the equator because of the climate. Luke walked ahead of Ben, and stopped to shake hands with the Twi'lek Jedi.

"It's good to see you again, Master Solis," Luke said, smiling.

The Twi'lek returned his smile. "And you, Master Skywalker. I was surprised to hear that you were coming to visit," she said.

"Recent events gave me little choice."

Solis grimaced. "So I've heard. The Council believes that the Sith may have been responsible for the assassination of Wynn Dorvan?"

"It's possible, yes. We don't want to jump to conclusions, but I figured I might be able to get some more information by talking to the Sith here," Luke said, as they began to walk back towards the entrance to the camp.

"Good luck getting any of them to cooperate," Solis warned. "The Council of Lords has been particularly feisty lately. I doubt they will be keen on accepting a meeting with you."

"Then I guess I'll just have to be tougher in my approach to them. Although I hope they'll cooperate. All I'll be asking for is a meeting."

"Maybe they'll be more willing to cooperate with you, but the last time I tried to speak with them I was greeted with crickets."

Luke laughed. "Isn't that reassuring."

Entering inside the camp through a side door, Solis led them through a string of offices and dorms that Ben assumed were where the Jedi stationed at the camp were living. After passing through the halls of Jedi quarters they entered into a turbolift, which took them up to the top of the camp's main wall. When they exited the lift, Ben was able to have a good look into the inside of the camp.

To the Jedi's credit, it was quite expansive. Buildings were made to look like Ben had assumed they'd looked on Kesh, and the ecosystem appeared vastly different than the outside world. He saw people going about their daily lives, walking up and down streets like it was no different than a normal town. Ben immediately came to realize that not everyone here was a Sith in the traditional sense, and that many were just family of Sith or part of the Sith culture. In the center of the colony was a large, black spire, which connected to a black building with red accents. It was immediately obvious to Ben that this was the colony's 'capitol', and it couldn't have looked anymore Sith.

"Looks about the same as the last time I saw it," Luke observed, standing next to Ben and Solis.

"Not much has changed around here," Solis said. "Outside of the occasional escape attempt, things go pretty smoothly around here."

"That's good. I know you were planning to try and start rehabilion classes for some of them; how have they gone?"

Solis shook her head. "Not very well, unfortunately. We've had a few successes, but for the most part it seems any of those that we try and rehabilitate are told by their family or friends to resist what we tell them."

Luke's expression fell. "That's too bad, because rehabilitation may be the only way any of them are allowed to leave."

Solis nodded. "We tell them that, but it doesn't seem to work. They're culture is just too strong."

They stood there a little longer, before Luke said, "Think you can try and call the Council of Lords to a meeting?"

"I can try, but it might have to be you."

Luke nodded. "I'll let you try first, just tell them that it is me who wants to speak with them. If that doesn't work, I'll bring them together myself."

Solis nodded and walked back to the turbolift, leaving Luke and Ben alone atop the wall. Ben knew that his father's logic made sense. Having a bunch of Sith running around the galaxy unchecked was dangerous, especially after the havoc they caused on Coruscant. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this camp. Maybe it was because of past with Vestara, or something else, it just didn't sit right with him.

Vestara. What we should think about this camp? Ben shook the thought from his head, realizing what it meant for his feelings. No, I don't care what she would think, I don't care about her. But he knew that wasn't true. He did care about her, and he would tell his father that he wanted to rescue her. Luke already seemed to want to after all, and the reasoning was sound. Ben just had to decide if his reasoning was tactical or personal. Hopefully, it would be tactical.