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EXT. DEEP SPACE SILENT BLACK. We sweep slowly across an endless tapestry of stars. A SHIP ROARS INTO FRAME: the N.R.S.S. CROSSROAD, a small scout vessel that moves under full ion thrust past the camera. As it does so, the camera tracks the ship’s path, thus bringing the green and blue sphere of DANTOOINE into frame. The ship is none the worse for wear from it's most recent adventures, unlike the crew that mans her... INT. CROSSROAD COCKPIT Piloting the ship toward DANTOOINE is CROSS. She speaks into the vidcom: CROSS INTERCOM CROSS The group is met on the rain-slicked landing pad by the ubiquitous Nalak. He informs our heroes that the Masters of have convened and are awaiting their arrival. The group proceeds without further comment or conversation, though Nalak does make an attempt to chat. Vai, Dar, Cross, and Master Dev arrive in the Master's Audience Chamber. The three aged masters of the secret academy are already seated, obviously intending that the group present their findings from the center of the Chamber floor. The three Masters are:
Dev outlines the events on Gabredor II, including the recovery of the Holocron (which he presents to the masters personally) and the discovery of the ancient force-responsive fighter craft (he doesn't actually refer to it as a 'Sith Ship' as he did on Gabredor, but strongly implies that it might be so). Dev then goes on to describe the dark, armored warriors who descended on the landing site, focusing mostly on their obvious force-sensitivity and the skills of their saber-wielding leader. Gyasi Vai presents the leader's 'saber to the Masters. (<em>Ed.:</em> He may or may not have mentioned at this point that the Lightsaber is booby-trapped in some fashion to harm any wielder who cannot disable the mechanism, something he discovered during his 'examination' of the 'saber while travelling back to Dantooine.) The Master's seem vaguely satisfied with the group's performance, but not nearly as troubled by the Dark Warriors as some (ie: Cross) might have hoped for. Shadix formally requests that Cross continue to work with the Academy on behalf of the New Republic, indicating they have already made this request of her commander. Cross requests to speak with her commander personally, and permission to use the Academy's communications area is granted. The group is dismissed and Master Dev is tasked with determining the group's next and best course of action. After the meeting, Dar is approached by Mistress Kiri, who informs Dar that since he will be away from the academy with Dev more and more, she thinks it would be best if Dev became Dar's master. After some discussion, the two part ways, and Dar seeks out Vai. After speaking with her commander in a series of vague phrases and trench-slang, Cross seeks out Master Dev's chambers. Kiri answers, but leaves when Dev indicates that this conversation should be private. Cross haltingly indicates that her first duty is still to the New Republic and the Scout Service, at least for the time being, but if that one condition is acceptable, she would be willing to train under him... if the offer is still open. Dev: "That hurt to say, didn't it?" Cross: "Beyond the telling of it." Dar locates Vai and proceeds to grill him on what sort of master Dev is going to be. He seems a bit tense about the whole thing. Vai seems quite sure that Dar will find Dev to be a more beneficial master for Dar. Dev calls his padawans together and they discuss what their next move should be. Dar wonders at one point during the discussion how he, Vai, and Cross came to be chosen to perform these missions; Cross opines that it isn't because of their (faint) Force talents, but because of their NON-Jedi training, which might help them live longer. Both Dar and Cross mention being uncomfortable with how outgunned and out-equipped they were on their last mission, and request a supply run. Corellia is still under Imperial control, but is easily the largest trading port nearby. Dev approves of this move, then suggests possibly returning to Gabredor II afterwars, to see if the Imperials left anything behind. The group makes ready to move out. Dev plots a course through Myto's Arrow, using Cross's sensor readings from their last trip, and cuts the travel time to Corellia in half. Meanwhile, Cross engages the ship transponder that she uses in Empire-held space, which will identify them as the Independent Scout Ship (ISS) Crosshair. Upon arriving in system, Cross and Dev bluff their way through the Imperial blockade and make it to dock. Dev leads them through the largest city on his homeworld, finally entering a bar called the <em>Vapid Breeze</em>, run by an Ithorian with a poor command of Basic. Eventually, the group is joined by a young man who bears a strong resemblance to Dev, and who is wearing an Imperial Uniform. Dev introduces his brother Vihn, who proceeds to take down the group's 'shopping list'. He and Dev stand up to leave on separate tasks, and Dev instructs the others to spend their time at 'Pappy's', where he will meet them later, or send word. Pappy's is a good place. Encountering the nearly-deaf old proprietor of the junkyard named 'Pappy's' -- the group is less than encouraged by their chances of finding anything useful. After careful navigation around Pappy's dawg, Cleetus, and about 2 dozen busy droids, Cross does manage to get a rise out of the ancient junk dealer, who leads them to a storage barn that very well might be the Mecca of all things good in starships. Dar and Cross drool over various bits of equipment, including a completely unused X-wing (plastic covers still over the controls), a Tie Defender (Tie-clops, to Cross), a shiny B-wing, and more still-in-the-crate ship's gear than she's ever seen in on place. Preliminary negotiations for some Ion cannons are made, and much Shop is Talked, but the visit is cut short by a message from Dev, instructing them to bring the Crossroad to specific coordinates in Corellia's wilderness. Upon arrival at the designated coordinates, the Crossroad lands near Dev and an older man who resembles him strongly. The older man nods to Dev and departs with Vihn via landspeeder. While 'Bobo' loads the crates of supplies onto the ship, Dev informs the group that he's received intelligence on a possible task in-system. It seems that the under-Moff specifically assigned to the Corellia system, while not Jedi-trained, is something of an aficionado of the Lightsaber, and is well-known for his collection of both the weapons themselves, and the components required to construct them... it's rumored he may even possess holo-texts on the subject! While any sort of action against the Moff's base (located on one of the system's outer planets) would normally be suicide with 15 star destroyers and other assorted Engines of Crossroad-destruction patrolling the system, Dev has learned that a Republic force has also targeted this base for covert (possibly the recovery of data on the placement of detonators built into the CEC shipyard docks), and will be providing a diversionary raid in a nearby system which should draw off most of the larger Imperial ships. Although they look somewhat unsure, they group decides to meet up with the Republic Troops and join them in the raid. (Finally, the shopping list:)
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