Outer Rim Territories
Karthakk Sector
Q-17
Karthakk System
Ruby Nebula
USS Hathway
Briefing Room

Captain's Log Supplemental: We came upon a skirmish while preforming a routine exploration of the Karthakk System, involving the Trade Federation against a Jedi who apparently has a mission of her own out here.

The doors opened, allowing Adi Gallia to step in and she saw two officers at the briefing room table, waiting for her.

One of them, a man in a Starfleet uniform stood up and greeted her. "Master Gallia, I'm Captain Jeffery Pierce and this is my First Officer, Commander Lara."

Gallia first thought Commander Lara was human but then realized her skin was green, meaning she was an Orion. If the Jedi Master could recall correctly, the Orions were primarily slavers in the Milky Way Galaxy, not unlike many criminal elements in the Outer Rim.

"Captain, Commander." Gallia bowed and gestured to the Toydarion behind her. "This is Reti, a contact I was meeting here in the nebula when you and the Trade Federation came upon us."

"Hi there." Reti flapped his wings, hovering past Gallia to get a better look. "So, you are the Federation, the non-Trade Federation people that showed up a decade ago. I was actually on Naboo that time, hired to help take down the Trade Federation. Still hard to believe a ship like this could take three Trade Federation battleships."

"Technically speaking, Mr. Reti but that was the Enterprise. A completely different ship." Lara stated. "The Hathway would be considered a cousin though."

"Speaking of which, your appearance took everyone by surprise, Captain." Gallia said, deciding to skip to the very reason of her visit. "I was not aware of Starfleet conducting any missions in this part of our galaxy."

"It was on short notice, actually." Pierce admitted. "The Hathway just completed her shakedown when we were assigned to catalogue gaseous anomalies in the Outer Rim."

"Captain, with all due respect, perhaps we should save each other both the time." Gallia stated. "I sense you are here for a similar reason as I am."

"Which would be?"

"You have to know that the Trade Federation controls this system, and they would never allow you anywhere near here, especially since they don't like you very much." Gallia started. "Therefore, I can only conclude your presence was done without informing the Senate."

"With respect, Master Gallia, but Starfleet is not subservient to your Galactic Senate. We're allowed to conduct any operations we want in free space." Pierce replied.

"Including seemingly interfering in a Jedi's mission." Gallia raised an eyebrow.

"How have we interfered? You're free to leave anytime you wish. We have no wish to hold you." Lara pointed out.

"Perhaps but I can still see you're on a similar mission as I am. You're investigating the Trade Federation's presence in this system, aren't you?" Gallia asked, crossing her arms. "You think they might be somehow plotting against you."

Pierce smiled softly. "Are you asking for me to speak officially?"

"I would be fine with off-the record." Gallia shrugged.

"Hmph. Well, officially we're only conducting a mission of studying gaseous anomalies like the Ruby Nebula right now. Unofficially, we suspect that the Trade Federation is developing a new weapon here in the Karthakk system and we're here to find out what it might be. Of course, we're also under strict orders not to get involved in the local disputes." Pierce answered with a small smile. "As you've pointed out, since our first official contact at Naboo the Trade Federation has maintained hostile relations with us and there is word that they might be joining the new government that is forming from the worlds that have broken from your Republic."

"The separatists." Gallia commented.

"Yes, as you call them." Pierce nodded. "While we prefer to involve in the political disputes between the Republic and these separatists, the fact is with the Trade Federation possibly developing a secret weapon, Starfleet is wary that they might use this weapon or try to convince the separatists to take hostile aggression towards us and we have embassies on several worlds that are part of the separatist movement calling itself the Confederacy of Independent Systems."

"So, you're here investigating for the same reasons I am." Gallia surmised.

"It would seem so. Given that we gave our answer, even if it's unofficial, would you be willing to extend us the same courtesy?" Pierce asked, gesturing to himself and Lara.

Gallia took a deep breath and sighed. "The Jedi Council has been wary of the separatist movement for quite some time." She stated to pace around the briefing room table. "The chances of a full-scale civil war are growing, and the Jedi have not had to fight a war like this since the Ruusan Formation a thousand years ago. Still, there's not enough Jedi to protect the Republic and we're keepers of the peace, not soldiers."

"I've seen Jedi in action enough times that some cultures would label you as warriors, not soldiers." Lara couldn't help but say.

"We're warriors when the situation calls for it." Gallia stopped and glanced out the window. "But war is the last thing we seek. I was sent to make contact with a pirate who has been organizing a resistance against the Trade Federation in this system. The Council believes he might have the information I am looking for."

"That's why she came looking for me and why the Trade Federation tried to blow us out of the sky." Reti cut in. "Say, since we're on the same mission why don't you partner up with us and I'll take you all to Nym?"

"We cannot get involved in the manner you are speaking of." Lara replied. "If the Trade Federation is provoked, they could convince the separatists to make war on us. Our embassies and colonies would be in danger."

"Didn't you already provoke them?" Reti pointed out.

"Technically, we tried to stop a fight that could have endangered the system. The…Federation ship refused and fired on us with actual provocation." Pierce replied with a small smile. "I know Neimodians don't care for technicalities when it doesn't benefit them but we know how to play against their kind of argument."

"So, you won't help us?" Gallia asked.

"We're willing to observe and monitor but we can't take action unless we're provoked into it. It may have been a decade, but we don't have strong enough of a presence in your galaxy to try settling these .

"In that case, Reti and I must return to our ships. We have to continue our mission." Gallia stated, turning to the door. "Though you might not answer to the Senate, I should tell you know that I will inform the Jedi Council on this. They might speak to your embassy on Coruscant."

"That is your prerogative, Master Jedi." Pierce simply said, watching as Gallia and Reti left the room.

Hangar Bay

Master Gallia approached her starfighter and hopped into the cockpit. "R7."

The astromech droid beeped.

"Scramble Code-5 to Coruscant: care of 'the old folks' home."

R7 did so and a moment later a holographic image of Mace Windu appeared on her cockpit computer. "Master Gallia, you're contacting earlier than expected."

"There's been a development in the Karthaak system, Master Windu. On my way to my contact, a Federation ship, make that a Milky Way Federation ship called the USS Hathway appeared and seems to be here for the same reason as I am." Gallia answered.

Windu looked surprised but remained calm. "Did they explain their reasons?"

"They fear the Trade Federation is conducting some sort of experimentation into a new weapon that might be used against them." Gallia explained. "They saved us from a Trade Federation ambush and are conducting standard exploration scans into the system."

"We didn't think they would be monitoring so far out here." Windu frowned. "They did not inform the Senate either."

"I said the same thing and they said that they don't need clearance from the Senate for exploring what is essentially free space." Gallia recalled.

"Clearly." Windu brought his hands together. "I don't like free powers running around without supervision, even one as supposedly as benevolent as the UFP. They could provoke or even join the separatists if war is declared."

"It might be too soon to believe that. Their captain and first officer were completely honest with us and they assured me they won't interfere in our mission." Gallia stated. "I sense no form of deception from them."

"Even so we'll have to be careful. If both Federations come into conflict the Karthaak system would be the first end up as a battlefield. We need to make sure that doesn't happen. Continue your mission, Master Gallia but keep a close eye on the Hathway. Their reactions might give us a better clue to their intentions."

"Yes, Master." Gallia nodded, ending the transmission.

She sighed, leaning back in her chair.

Since when did Jedi become so steep in politics, politics between two galaxies, nonetheless?

Shaking her head, Gallie focused back on task. "R7, fire up the converters. We need to get back to our mission."