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EXT. DEEP SPACE SILENT BLACK.

We sweep slowly across an endless tapestry of stars. A SHIP FLASHES INTO FRAME: a Victory-class Star Destroyer flashes out of hyperspace followed by another. Suddenly 12 strike-class Imperial cruisers flash out of hyperspace in an array around the Victories. Slowly, the small armada moves under full ion thrust past the camera. As it does so, the camera tracks its path, thus bringing the PLANET OF ARDEGA into frame. Forboding music builds in the background as the ships close on the unspecting planet. 

CUTAWAY, DANTOOINE...

The past 3 weeks have sped past for padawan learners Dar, Vai, and Cross. Training has begun in earnest on new fields of expertise, most importantly (at least for the padawans) the techniques of lightsaber combat.

Eventually, however, the galaxy will find a way to interrupt the disciplined schedule of the academy. The interruption in this case comes in the form of a distress signal from the planet Adega. Cut off at mid-point, the encoded message calls on the ancient relations the reclusive planet once shared with the Jedi Council -- the planet has been set upon by forces of the EVIL GALACTIC empire, and require assistance.

The Republic is sending in cover troops, but they need Jedi representatives in order to coordinate with the people of Ardega. Historically, the planet deals with the rest of the Galaxy only via the Jedi Council. There is no council anymore, but hopefully a handful of padawans in Jedi robes (with a penchant for suicide runs) will be enough to earn the trust of the Ardegans.

The Crossroad is made ready, and the three Padawans and Master Dev set out. Their mission: locate and and aid in any way possible Crown Princess Andrea Razala.

The plan (such as it is) suggested by the Republic intelligence (such as it is) calls on the main bulk of the 'alphabet soup' strike force to provide cover fire against the Victories and Strike Cruisers. Meanwhile, several troop transports, including the <a href="cross-ship.html">Crossroad</a> will make their way to the planet's surface. Dar will provide coverfire for the Crossroad with an X-Wing the Republic lent him (with instructions 'not to crash this one').

Things don't go smoothly. Dar manages to keep several fighters busy (the Imperials are apparently short on materials as well, and are using old Trade Fed drone fighters as their main fighter support) but the under-manned Crossroad takes several hits, and looses its chin-mounted light laser. Just a <em>liiiittle</em> too close to the cockpit on that one. Eventually, after some evasive manuvers, the ships make it to the palace landing pads.

Things are not going better here. The imperials have landed ground troops and have breach the Palace at several points. The padawans proceed with caution.

Well, most of them do. Cross reacts a bit... rashly when the group comes upon Ardegan troops in a stand-off with some Stormtroopers. She uses a jury-rigged Thermal Detonator to flush the Imperials out of their cover, and the fight ends abruptly. The female leader of the Ardegan troops is quite suspicious of the padawans at first, but eventually escorts them (under heavy gaurd) to the Throne Room, where they see...

No one. Well, at least there is no Crown Princess sitting on the Throne. The only item of real note in the room is the Ardegan equivilant of the Royal Scepter: an ancient, beautifully-crafted lightsaber (in a tranparisteel case).But not princess.

Until their escort commander seats herself on the Throne and asks them their intentions.

Several jaws hit the floor.

Based on the presense of the padawans, the princess agrees to coordinate with the Republic troops. The planetary forces have the ships necessary to evacuate the people, but the princess does need help with removing the ancestral artifacts of the Royal Family.

Hastily, troops load the Crossroad, and a unit of ground troops also board the ship. Princess Andrea prepares to escort the ship in her own fighter, which is apparently some sort of custom creation. Vai somehow ends up riding in the fighter with the Princess... no one's quite sure on the recalcitrant padawan manages that... his mastery of the Force is apparently growing.

During the fight to escape the system, Dar makes a series of runs on one of the Victory-class destroyers, which Cross and Andrea end up in a dogfight with many Imperial fighter craft. During the course of the fight, Andrea's ship is damaged, and left helpless before one of the starfighters. Cross finally ends up using her own ship to bump Andrea's fighter out of the path of the oncoming ship... without TOO much damage to the Crossroad. This buys Andrea just enough time to get her ship systems back online and ready for hyperspace...

And away they go.

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