TJS: The Traitor's Gambit Part 2 [IC]

[PMiller]

The journey to Alderaan goes off without a hitch, and as the Banshee exits hyperspace with the beautiful planet before you as you are all invited to witness arrival from the cockpit.


The space yacht soars over the planet, the heroes enjoy a great view of the beautiful landscape of the temperate world. Considered the "Shining Star" of the Core Worlds, wild grasslands and old mountain ranges dominate Alderaan's continents. Large oceans and scattered inland seas provided the planet with ideal conditions for a large variety of flora and fauna to develop as well.

Those of you in the cockpit overhear Alderaan’s spaceport control tower clearing the ship to land at the Royal Palace’s landing pad.

Captain Sirona Okeefe replies over the ship's comms, "Control, this Banshee, understood. ETA in five minutes."

Flying down into the atmosphere you see the spires of Aldera as the Banshee makes her approach. The capital city of Alderaan is surrounded by mountains nestled on an island at the center of a lake.

The white flowing architecture is almost breathtaking and the yacht makes her final approach and touches down.

Captain Okeefe remarks, "Welcome to Alderaan."

[Critias Nor]

“Lovely. I haven’t been here in years.”

Crit looked out the viewport at the city around them. Buildings were shaped organically here, formed into pleasing shapes like the snow-capped mountains above the lake country where he had vacationed as a child. It had been a working holiday for his father, however, and Crit had been left to his own devices.

The lush forests and sparkling lakes had been utterly unlike the metal warrens of Corellia. Like Corsucant, Corellia was a city-planet, with permacrete towers and skyscrapers standing in for more natural landscape. Alderaan had been a revelation to young Crit, and he had enjoyed his time there, though he had been just as grateful to go home and be surrounded by metal and transparisteel again.

“Thank you for the ride, Captain,” he said to Okeefe, nodding at her. “Your service was exemplary.”

He stood up, straightening his jacket as he rose, and ran a hand over his hair, absently tugging at the small tail to make sure he still looked presentable. Then he turned to Maya.

“Will your employer send transport? Or will we need to make arrangements for the dispensation of our cargo?”

[Hayole]

Hayole experience in planetary approaches is rather limited and he practically leaps at the chance to view their arrival from the cockpit. Never being to Alderaan before makes the experience even more unique.

Not being too much of a nature person, he still enjoys the beauty in the grasslands and plains they fly over. So different from his home world, and so strange it seems alien. Even once Aldera is reached the changes are still all to apparent.

Looking forward to seeing the city from ground level, he heads back to the guest lounge to await their touchdown. Wow....landing at the Royal Palace...Maya must have some rather powerful benefactors...

As the ship touches down he heads back to the cockpit and, with a few sneaky peeps out the window, listens to see where they are off to from here.

[Kalla]

Being from a very lush and green planet Kalla is refreshed by the landscape of Alderaan.. he is impressed that they will be landing at a Palace but isn't thinking they will be welcome within the place.. so he will just do as he usually does.. work on being part of the scenery and then shuffle off with the group..

His appreciation of the planet is brief as he thinks of the cargo and turns almost at the same time as Hayole to head back there to unload their goods.. he gives a brief farewell to the captain for her hospitality and the use of her ship for their travels.. Following Hayole back to the cargo he assists the human with getting things ready for transport..

[J'hera Zed]

J’hera Zed perched on a seat back and watched the planet through the cockpit windows as they descended through the atmosphere and flew over the majestic mountains. The temperate forests are similar to his homeworld, though the plethora of mountains is not.

“J’hera Zed likes the look of this place. Reminds him of home.”

As the ship touches down on the landing pad, the tiny Sciurus closes his eyes briefly in meditation while the others begin moving aft to prepare for disembarking and the Captain is shutting down the yacht’s systems. He searches his feelings wondering what the future might have in store for them.

Then he scampers after the others, not wanting to be left too far behind.

[Maya]

Maya, her limp gone now after some bacta treatments en route, ambles from the cockpit and replies to Critias, “Considering our arrival was announced, I expect that we will be greeted and shown inside shortly. They will be anxious to receive the agent frozen inside the carbonite, but the rest of the cargo can wait a bit.”

“The Senator will surely want to reward you for your services.”

[PMiller]

The tiny Jedi doesn't sense anything that is disconcerting about the near future.

Looking down the passenger exit ramp there is an Alderaanian honor guard and one officiously dressed person that appears to be a bureaucrat in the lead. They are briskly walking towards the space yacht.

Captain Okeefe and her astromech droid are finishing up post-landing tasks and then help Maya with the frozen carbonite block.

[Critias Nor]

“Yes, of course,” Crit said.

He glanced down at himself one last time to make sure he still looked presentable, then straightened. He carried himself with a poise that looked natural. He stood straight but not stiff, and his clothes were tailored to fit him perfectly, the drape flattering his athletic build.

Crit looked at the guard and the official that had gathered at the end of the ramp.

“Ah, shall we?”

The scents of the outdoors wafted up to them as they walked down, the piney aroma of greenery from the surrounding trees and grass, and the crisp smell of fresh air. It was invigorating after days of recirculated atmosphere aboard the ship.

He glanced back over his shoulder at Kalla.

“Smells quite nice here, doesn’t it? I wonder if we’ll have the chance to make a trip out to the forest.”

Crit turned back to Maya, who walked ably down the ramp with no discernable limp whatsoever.

“This is truly a lovely world. Tell me, Maya, do you live here? Are you a native, or…?”

[Hayole]

Upon arrival Hayole is content to assist Kalla in the loading bay preparing the cargo for collection. Though there is an obvious communication gap, Hayole enjoys the sound of Shyriiwook. As they move about the bay he speaks in common to Kalla and he believes they both enjoy the interesting methods used in communicating a reply. Even though Kalla is pointing out objects and naming them for him, he feels it will still be quite some time before his understanding of the language will be anything near adequate.

As they are shifting things about, word gets to them that there is a representative and honor guard approaching and that the carbonite block should be ready for transport right away. With the block near the front of the bay already, he and Kalla move it so it sits right at the top of the cargo bay ramp, ready for whomever is picking it up.

With the block in place, he tidies himself up a little and joins the others and heads down the ramp with them.

[Teeva]

The couple of days rest did wonders for Teeva as her wound healed. The opportunity to practice with her light sabers with the other force users was extremely beneficial. The young force user now felt more confident in user her dual-bladed lightsaber when ignited with both ends.

On planetfall, Teeva was quite impressed with the view approaching the planet and remarked as much. Like the others, she didn't get much opportunity to witness such a wonderful sight. She also wasn't used to the attention those in power were showing them as the space yacht made it's landing at the planet's royal palace. The young force user begin to feel a bit nervous, especially when it was mentioned that they would be met with an honor guard.

The near human quickly excused herself to the refresher in order to quickly tidy herself up a bit. Teeva was dressed in a similar dress that she often wore, and a different pair of black tights. Ones that didn't have a hole in the leg from a blaster. With her shimmering cloak and shaw draped over her shoulders, Teeva meets the others near the personal ramp and follows after them.

Once on the ground, Teeva was too busy taking in the beautiful architecture and scenery to be nervous about the honor guard and delegate that turned out the greet the group.

[J'hera Zed]

J’hera Zed looks around for his ride, Critias's repulsor sled. He sees the man guiding it along at the head of the exit ramp and the tiny furred being scampers up and hops on board. Settling in place on his rear haunches, the hood up on his cloak, the Sciurus remains still and assumes his stuffed toy pose. Whiskers twitching at the fresh air, he sneezes and blows his cover.

“Bah, J’hera Zed could not help it. Must be the pollen in the breeze.”

Seeing that his chances of being unnoticed are gone, J'hera Zed doesn't bother with remaining still. However, he still rides along on the sled being pulled behind Critias glancing around at the wondrous view of the palace buildings.

[Kalla]

Kalla is happy for the assistance in readying the cargo.. as a precaution he loads the Booze on top of Critias' repulsor sled so there is no mix up later.. The wookie is not familiar with 'honor guards' so really doesn't know what to do.. he thinks they may be people of importance .. but they may just as easily turn into their jailers too.. he makes sure his weapons are close to hand as he heads to the ramp with the others.

Staying at the back of the group Kalla decides it is best he play the docile servant these Core worlders seem to impress upon the other species in the galaxy.. prhaps they shall over look him in the long run..

He nods to Critias when the talk of scent and the greenery is mentioned.. Kalla takes a deep breath of the air and gathers in the worldly aroma of this planet.. he tells Critias, in so many woofs and grunts, that he would indeed enjoy a trip to the wilderness of this place.. he longs to stretch his claws and do some climbing..

[Maya]

Walking down the ramp alongside the carbonite block, Maya answers Critias, “Yes, of course, this is my home world. I grew up around here and my family have been associated with the Senator's staff and retainers for a few generations off and on of over the centuries.”

“This is a peaceful world, and you might even have some time to relax and rest for a few days before moving along. Letting you explore and enjoy the environment might be the least the Senator can do for your assistance.”

With the honor guard and official not actually here for her, she nods a greeting and takes charge of the floating block of carbonite and waves a farewell to you.

“I have work to do, perhaps I will see you later.”

[PMiller]

Captain Okeefe remains with her ship and disappears back inside, leaving you all pretty much alone with the delegation that has come forward to meet you.

Jacen Onyx is unusually quiet and pensive, much as he has been during the journey to Alderaan.

The official person is a human male, dressed in Alderaan courtly attire. He holds a hand up in greeting and smiles warmly, "Come, you are expected. I am to escort you inside." The honor guard take up flanking positions, but looking carefully, they are acting like they are on parade. They certainly not acting like prison guards meant to contain you as you are escorted into custody. They wear traditional armor and slack hats, equipped with antiquated long rifles.

The palace is a large, white-spired structure accessible via several gates leading in to the grounds. The multi-story building contains all manner of ramparts, turrets, windows that overlook the scenery and the lake. There is even a bridge-spanned reflecting pool and several surrounding gardens. You are escorted inside and to the Grand Hall—an ornately decorated chamber where the royalty of Alderaan holds court.

The bureaucrat gestures for you to take a seat in some nice padded chairs with a few end tables of ornately polished wood, "Please wait here, refreshments will be brought to you. The Senator should be with you shortly." He inclines his head in a small bow, and leaves you mostly alone in the large chamber. Two pairs of the honor guard, took up positions several meters away to flank the entrance you arrived from and another exit on the opposite side.

It is not long before a pair of servant droids arrive with some drinks and fresh fruit.

[Critias Nor]

Critias gave the official a smile and nod.

He pulled his sled to a halt and considered its tiny passenger for a moment.

Crit was uncertain of the protocol when it came to what J’hera Zed should be doing. Although it would be unseemly for a humanoid or an animal to be sitting on the table, the Sciurus was neither, yet still a sentient being. However, if he sat down in a chair, the seat was so low he would not be able to see what was going on.

He picked up one of his larger supply kits and sat it down upon one of the nearby chairs. Then he nodded to J’hera Zed.

“Perhaps you would like to sit in this one,” he suggested, with a kindly smile.

It would boost the young Force-user’s eye level to that of a shorter humanoid, which would still be enough for the Sciurus to follow what was going on at the meeting to come.

He then took his own chair. When the servant droids came by with platters of drinks perfectly balanced in their mechanical arms, he chose a non-alcoholic drink, a flute of colorless liquid garnished with a dark purple berry. The servant droid advised him it was the purest spring water from the highest peaks of the Juran Mountains to the North. He thanked the droid politely and sat attentively in the luxurious chair, hands folded casually in front of him.