Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Apr 21, 2003 6:41:17 GMT -5
"Well, Blink, time to earn your gear oil" Schph remarks as the display board shouts warnings to her. "Aft shields at full" Schph orders her astromech as she begins evasive maneuvers. Pulling back on the stick she jams the starboard wing straight down and pulls the nose of her fighter straight up on its side. The aging Headhunter gives off a groan and Schph is jammed back into her seat.
Blink's readings begin to scroll across the vidscreen in front of Schph......
two fighters..... one Imperial class... one Corellian....
A proton torpedo slams into the shields on the Headhunter. The shields absorb the blast as the concussion rocks the ship.
"Ok, lets get serious", Schph shouts to her astromech. Pulling back on the stick again, she pulls the headhunter out of its rolls and stands the ship straight up once again. Screaming upside-down and back toward the direction of the torpedo shot, she finally gets a visual on the ships. Increased speed capabilities shoot her snubfighter past and over the Corellian ship.
Blink once again scrolls a message on the vidscreen.
"Yes, I know the targeting computer is not on line" she fires a reply to Blink. Targeting and firing using the force seems to work better for me than a targeting computer."
For most things in Schph's career she seems to favor the mechanical approach in conjuntion with using the force. For some reason or another that she has never taken the time to think about much, she relies on the force in combat situations rather than her love of technical marvels. Stabbing the firing mechanism she launches a volley of laser fire at the Corellian ship, straight to the area of the ship that contains the power source. Schph watches as her shot hits home and strikes the hull of the fighter. Small explosions can be seen as part of the enemy ship starts to implode.
"No, Blink, I don't want to finish him off....just want to put him out of this fight. Time to get #2!"
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Apr 22, 2003 5:10:25 GMT -5
The Imperial fighter moves back into target range and lauches another salvo at the Jedi and her Headhunter, but the shots are starting to go wide. Disabling the Corellian ship seems to have done the job of breaking the concentration of the Imperial fighter's pilot. Schph screams past the listing Corellian freighter and imagines that the pilot is in there trying to get the systems back on line....not good if he manages to get his ship back up before she can reach the planet.
With the force flowing through her, Schph continues to out maneuver the other fighter who seems to be having continual lapses in concentration. Blink scrolls up another message on the vidscreen. The Imperial fighter pilot has been scanning the com channels and is trying to open up a line of communication to the Jedi. The message scrolls across the vidscreen..
"Surrender now, there are more ships on their way to bring you down or to shoot you down....your choice."
Schph considers the alternatives carefully as she brings her Headhunter around.
"Terminate the communication Blink, I don't feel much like chatting today". Blink immediatly shuts down the line of communication and sends no response to the other pilot. Schph considers her alternatives carefully. More fighters coming up to meet her could be a bluff, if there were more, they would already be up here.
"Ok Blink, new strategy!" Schph points her ship in the direction of the planet Sluis Van. The Imperial class pilot gets the message that his order of surrender is not going to be followed and launches another proton torpedo at Schph's Headhunter. The blast hits dead on and the aft shields on her ship start to fail.
"See if you can lock down that shield, we are heading for the planet". Taking evasive action once again, Schph puts her ship through a series of rolls and aims the GTO toward the planet. The speed of the Headhunter is greater than that of her assailant as she kicks in full throttle for Sluis Van. The planet surface is coming up fast and Schph starts to look for the area north of the city that she had planned to hide in.
The Imperial ship is on her back once again as Blink works on the GTO's shields. Schph's ship takes another hit as red warning lights begin to go off on the control panel. She has been trying to avoid striking the other pilot down, would not be very Jedi of her she muses, but her ship can't take another hit. Jinking down and around the many trenches and mountain areas near the planet, it is time to make her move.
"Ready the cloaking device, Blink. It won't hide us long, but maybe just enough time to hide the ship in one of those caves."
Taking another couple of passes with her adversary hot on her tail, Schph sees what she is looking for. Lining up a mountain range she goes low to the planet surface and as the Headhunter makes its way over one of the high ridges, Schph engages the cloaking device. With the few precious seconds she has she cuts power to the engines when seeing one of the larger caves. She aims the Headhunter into the cave and instantly engages the repulsors. Her ship slams down hard as Schph cuts all power.
The Imperial fighter's pilot eyes dart from his viewport back to his targeting computer. Gone! How can that be? The Headhunter has disappeared completely. He flips on his scanners and goes back and forth over the mountain area but can find no trace of the Galactic GTO or its' pilot. Perhaps he had underestimated the Jedi pilot. Perhaps the Jedi let it appear that she was having trouble with the shields to lure him into over confidence. Perhaps a lot of different things. One thing was for certain, after losing the Jedi there would be no going back to Vandaark Corporation to report back to Atril Miele!
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Schph sits in the darkness of the cave as she hears the other fighter making passes along the mountain ridge. The passes stop abruptly.
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Ryss Fal-Orran sits in deep meditation back at the Temple. Her strong force ability allows her to see a ship, Headhunter class, slam onto the floor of a cave.
......................................................................................... Syn-Kai Jinn and his padwan, Lyt-Jio Dodowi, keep a grim watch on the Holonet as sections along the Rimma Trade Route begin to fail.
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Atril stares at the vid-screen in the communications room at the home/headquarters of the Vandaark Corporation watching the blip of a Headhunter class ship disappear before her eyes.
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Apr 28, 2003 6:13:17 GMT -5
"So, you have lost her", the voice booms behind Atril.
Reeling around, Atril stares at her father. Shocked, her glass slams to the floor. Fasgar rarely left his office since the death of Listianne and it was unsettling to see him in a place other than holed up.
"How many times have I told you not to underestimate my former Padawan", Fasgar continued to bellow.
"I, I am sorry", Atril stuttered as she stared into Fasgar's one real eye. "I thought that two fighter pilots would be enough to bring Gochi's ship down. They were supposed to be two of the best in this part of the galaxy. I will find them and make sure they pay for their mistakes".
"Never mind them! I am reasonably certain you will never find those pilots again. They are probably on their way to finding the best place in the galaxy to hide. It is of no consequence. Schph's power and her connection to the force is still substantial. I could "feel" the force in her while she was engaging the fighter pilots, but as soon as her ship disappeared off the screens, her force flow ended as well, she disappeared from my ability to feel her. I believe she will be burying her force capabilities deep in order to hide from me. "
Atril was more than a little relieved. It looked like she was not going to get the lecture that she probably deserved. "What next father?"
"She will head to Van-Naar and seek information on our little operation here, would be my guess".
"Then we will take our search there?" Atril asked.
"In due time". Fasgar began to leave the communications room and then stopped short of the door. Turning back to Atril he added, "Make sure that anyone who makes inquiries on The Van Daark Corporation from the public information kiosks in Van-Narr is monitored. I am sure she will try to find what she can first from those terminals."
"Yes Father, it will be done". Atril then turned to the techinican at the vidscreen. "You heard my father, make sure anyone making inquiries from the kiosks is monitored. As soon as someone attempts to get information, let me know immediatly".
With that Atril leaves the com room and punches her comlink to find Jahn. "Jahn, where are you hiding now?"
The sound of Atril's voice is screaming out of Jahn's comlink and pulls him out of his meditation. "Oh no, now what" he mutters as he grabs for his comlink. "Yes, Atril, what do you want now?"
"Gochi's ship has eluded our fighter pilots and she managed to land in an unknown location. Father believes she will make her way to Van-Naar and begin to look for information and we will locate her that way. Stay close to the compound and don't go wandering off like you usually do. I will need you the moment an inquiry is detected."
Looking out of his window in the direction of the large city of Van-Narr, Jahn wondered what lie ahead. "I will be here" he answered and shut off his com-link. Still looking toward the city Jahn tried to let his connection to the force flow in an effort to locate Schph Gochi by her force imprint. Nothing.....she has shut down.
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Satisfied that the remaining fighter pilot has fled the area, Schph climbs down from the c.ckpit of her snubfighter. Rummaging in one of the storage compartments she pulls out a large net. Climbing back up to Blink's compartment, she powers her astromech back up. "Blink, I will be leaving on foot for Van-Naar. You will remain here with the ship. Make sure to lock down all of the security systems."
As Blink starts to go through the security sequences, Schph tosses the net over her Headhunter. The net consists of fibers that will "hide" the ship from any probes that may be out looking for power output, the security systems and Blink's small power output will be effectively shielded from anyone out there looking for her by those means.
Pulling out her lightsaber that is diguised as a hydro-spanner, Schph clips it to her utility belt.
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on May 7, 2003 6:43:35 GMT -5
Dressed to look as non-Jedi as possible, Schph pokes her head out of the cave opening. Her Headhunter and astromech safely under their concealment, she can hear the whirr and click of Blink going through his sequences. She begins her descent from the cavernous area and starts off on her long trek to Van-Naar.
This area of Sluis Van is rugged and mostly non populated. No sentient beings around, this is a good thing because she wants to get as far away from the cave where her ship is hidden before anyone can see her. She winds her way through areas of scrub and small trees and runs when the terrain permits. The planet's sun is now high in the sky before she finds a road that is many kilometers from her hidden cave. Taking care to no longer run with the aid of the force, Schph plods her way to Sluis Van's largest city.
The rumble of a repulsor engine soon sounds in her ear as a swoop bike pulls up behind her.
"Trouble?", the voice on the swoop asks.
"Yeah, my swoop broke down a ways back and I am headed for Van-Naar for repair parts" Schph replied.
"Funny, I didn't see any broken down swoops on the road back there."
"Of course not", Schph needed to think fast. "I hid it in some scrub...didn't want anyone else picking it up as scr.p and taking off with it."
"Oh, yeah", the voice replied. "I guess that would be the smart thing to do. You just never know out in this area. A lot of scavengers and thieves. So, do you need a lift into the city?"
"A ride would be great. I need to get that swoop fixed, I have a multitude of things to do over the next day or so."
"Climb on. My name is Thant, and your name is?"
"Seara", Schph replied as she stuck a hand out to shake with Thant. "I really appreciate the lift. If you could drop me off at any local parts supplier, that would be great".
"No problem", said Thant. "Not from around here, are you?"
"No, I am visiting a friend and thought I would strike out on my own for the day, you know, see what the rest of the planet looks like."
Thant seemed satisfied with the response from Schph as to why she was out in the middle of nowhere.
As the swoop with the Jedi and the local sped along, Schph watched as the terrain began to change from the stark and scrubby area that her ship was hidden to the more lush and forested valley that surrounded Van-Naar. She was greatful for the ride and making it to the city before night began to fall. There was a lot of information gathering that she needed to do before heading back to the Galactic GTO to meet Ryss. Remembering the hologram she left for Ryss, Schph knew that her padawan would be heading to Sluis Van in just over a standard day. Lucky for this ride and lucky that the cave she slammed into was massive enough to hide not only a Headhunter but to also hide Ryss' experimental Incom fighter. Could it be that she was finally having a little good luck for a change? Better not get too confident, a lot of pitfalls could lay ahead.
Schph was lost in looking at her surroundings as the swoop entered the outskirts of Van-Naar. The lushness of the area that surrounded the city was now giving way to the gritty smells, sights, and sounds of city life.
Thant pulled up along side of a beaten-up duracrete building just within the city limits.
"Don't look like much, but this place has the best variety of spare parts for just about any swoop made. I am sure you will find what you are looking for."
Hopping down off of the Thant's swoop, Schph once again extended a hand.
"Thanks for the lift." Schph quickly noted that there were swoops and grav-sleds laying all over the yard in front of the building. "I think this will do just fine."
"No problem." Thant said as he revved up his swoop and sped off leaving Schph in a cloud of dust.
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on May 19, 2003 6:40:57 GMT -5
Looking around at all the transports, Schph hopes that some of them actually run. While looking over a smaller version of the swoop that she had just rode in on a voice behind her commands her attention.
"That swoop was owned by a little old lady from Dralle who just used it on the first day of the week to go to services", the voice called out.
Schph turns around to see a Toydarian hovering at eye height a few feet off.
"Yeah, sure it was", Schph replied dryly. "Will it hold together for a few days anyway"?
"Lots of service left in that little gem", the Toydarian replied.
"How much do you want for this relic?"
The Toydarian pondered that question for a bit. "$3,000 credits drives it away!"
Schph considered the price, she had brought along adequate credits and knew if the bike would stay running, she could always sell it again. Also, she knew that trying to bargain with a Toydarian was usually a waste of time.
"Fire it up, let's see if she runs." Schph challenged the shop owner.
In one swift movement the Toydarian flew to the swoop and fired it off. The swoop chugged and coughed a bit, but finally smoothed out.
Reaching into her pouch, Schph counted out the credits for the shop owner. Spotting her lightsaber disguised in a the hydrospanner casing, the Toydarian offered a comment.
"Well, looks like you are ready to do a little repair work, should it become necessary."
Looking down at the hydrospanner/lightsaber hanging from her belt, Schph just nodded and tossed the Toydarian her credits. Hopping on to the swoop, Schph gunned the sluggish engine and took off to the main streets of Van-Naar.
The first destination would be a public information kiosk. After asking a few of the locals, she was able to find one in the rather seedy part of Van-Naar that she found herself in. Shutting down the swoop, the Jedi punched in "VanDaark Corporation" and data began to stream up on the vidscreen. The data was mainly a history of the business itself. How it expanded from a small venture to become the largest of the companies that mine and deal in the flordian. Schph noted that the only name mentioned was a woman by the name of Listianne Miele that came to Sluis Van from Coruscant over 20 years ago. She was now dead, but the family was still running the Corporation. Not much there. Schph did note that the news story mentioned a son and daughter, but no spouse. Interesting. There were no holograms of the family and no further information.
Schph quickly searched through the news stories of the day and noted that information from the inner core worlds was practically non existant. Strange....no information on the vidscreen from the largest trade center in the galaxy. Either the folks on Sluis Van liked to keep the news local.....or.....the Holonet was already beginning to fail. Further information revealed sudden shortages of flordian, and Van-Daark Corporation had won a successful bid against its' largest competitor. Pluging in her datacorder, Schph downloaded all the information available on flordian and Van-Daark. "I can go over this later", she thought to herself. A sudden and urgent feeling came over her to get moving....and fast. Looking around, she noted no one paying any attention to her at the Kiosk, but that feeling that someone, somewhere was watching was overwhealming. Pocketing her data pad, Schph hopped onto her beat up swoop and sped off. She had no direction in mind, but the need to get away from the Kiosk was propelling her along the streets.
The gnawing in her stomach reminded her that she had not eaten all day. Looking down at the food capsules on her belt, she decided that something a little more appetizing was in order. Schph parked her swoop near a tap cafe on the other side of town and hopped down. She removed a few key pieces off the bike's repulsorlift, rendered the transport unusable and then strode into the Cafe.
Smoke and smells of food, alien fur, and stale drink filled her nostrils as Schph made her way to a table on the far side of the Cafe. She made sure she was near an exit and with a view of the entire cafe. Hungry and bone weary from her space flight, space fight, and being bounced over rough terrain all day, she placed an order with the waiter droid that was fussing around her table. While the droid was off getting her blue milk, Schph began to scroll through the data on her datacorder.
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"We have a hit!", Atril turned to Jahn. "Someone is accessing information on Van Daark Corporation at one of the public information kiosks." Atril's eyes narrowed. I think we know who that someone is!
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on May 31, 2003 9:29:14 GMT -5
Atril leaped out of her chair and scrambled toward the door. As she hit the doorway she called back to Jahn. "Well, are you coming?" "I am sure that it was Gochi accessing that information at the Kiosk. No one from Sluis Van would bother looking into VanDaark Corporation."
"She won't be there", Jahn offered. "She has already left the area".
Atril's eyes became two slits as she looked at Jahn. "And what makes you say that?"
"Because there are times that I can actually feel her through the Force. Well, at least I think it is her."
Putting her hands on her hips in a mocking stance, Atril once again gave Jahn an exasperated dig. "Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting, you have that force-sensitivity thing going on that I am too lowly to have."
Jahn once again felt tired, anxious, and confused all at once. Atril noticed the change in her brother's visage and decided to lay off a little.
"What is wrong with you lately?" Atril asked.
"I just don't know anymore. Our trip to Coruscant and to the Jedi Temple has somehow changed and confused me. I sense a major tug-of-war going on inside me. I feel father's presence in my head, and now, oddly, I can feel Schph's. I have been meditating so much lately because I am just trying to find where I am at, and am starting to have very little luck finding myself anymore."
Exasperated with Jahn and his inner turmoil, Atril grabs at Jahn's arm. "Come on, let's go to the speeders and make our way to that Kiosk. Someone there had to have seen something. If we hurry, there may be a trail to follow".
With a shrug, Jahn follows his sister as they run to their equiptment building. Choosing the same two swoops they used on Coruscant, the pair fire them up and head to the streets of Van-Naar.
Going flat out they make their way to the Kiosk that Schph had made an inquiry at. Shutting down their swoops, they start to ask some of the locals if any of them saw someone accessing the Kiosk. The inquiries came up blank. Jahn's eyes settled on a young boy that was standing off to the side near a grav sled. A feeling came over Jahn as he walked to the grav sled and to where the boy was standing. He noted that the boy had an electronic collar on. Those collars were used commonly by slave owners to keep track of their slaves. Any movement too far would trip the collar, notify the slave owner and send a shock through the slave.
"You saw her, didn't you"?
The boy looked up at Jahn and gave him a lop-sided grin. "I didn't see nothing", the boy offered. "Why are you after her anyway"? As soon as those words left his mouth, the boy knew he had goofed....given it away...guess he would never become a sabaac player.
"You did see her then?" Jahn asked.
"Yeah, so what", the boy responded.
"Quickly, before my sister notes that I am talking to you, which way did she head?"
"I don't think you will find her, she left here in quite a hurry and that was awhile ago already." The boy shuffled in place and but then responded, "she went that way and on a grav sled."
Jahn looked to the direction the boy pointed, then looked back at the boy. "Why do I get the feeling that you are not telling me the truth?"
"And why would you think that?", the boy shot back. "You some kind of Jedi or something?"
"No", Jahn replied as he cast his eyes down. Before he could continue the inquiry with the boy, Atril strode up behind him.
"So, did the kid here see anything?".
"Yes, Atril, he has seen her, but I don't think he is willing to give up her secret."
Atril came around and grabbed the boy by his shirt front. "Listen kid, I don't have time for playing around with a slave."
The boys eyes lit up with a fierceness that Jahn had only seen in his Father. "I am no slave!" the boy responded. "I am an orphan from Corellia, my guardian is just a little overprotective of me and keeps me hooked up to this sensor".
Jahn once again looked at the boy. Noting the tattered clothes and well worn boots, he doubted the "overprotective guardian" story. "Never mind Atril, Schph is gone, and I don't think our little friend here is going to tell us much. There will be other opportunities to find her. I have the feeling that she will eventually come to us when she figures out father's plan."
"I suppose you are right Jahn. This little trip netted us nothing."
Two men then exited out of a nearby shop and nodded to Atril and Jahn. The larger of the two men grabbed the boy they were talking to and tossed him into the back of the grav-sled. "Come on kid, we are going to get something to eat". The man then turned to Atril and Jahn.
"Don't believe anything the kid told you, he has a vivid imagination and a fierce loyalty to everyone except me".
The grav-sled then sped off down the street and left Atril and Jahn standing alone.
"Come on, Jahn. This was a waste of time. We might as well head back home." Atril walked to her speeder and climbed on while Jahn continued to watch the grav-sled until it was out of sight.
"Today yet, Jahn!"
"Yeah, I am coming", Jahn replied as he too swung up onto his swoop.
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The grav-sled with the boy and his "guardians" pulled up in front of the weary tap-cafe on the other side of town. Grabbing a pack of dehydrated food, the large man flipped the pack to the boy. "Here, this is good enough for the likes of you!"
The smaller of the two men commented. "You better be careful Garris, someday that kid is going to grow up, and you just may regret your miserable treatement of him."
"I'll worry about that when the time comes". Garris then told the boy to watch the grav-sled while him and his partner went to the tap cafe for a meal."
As the two men strode into the cafe, a solitary sentient at the far side of the cafe noted their arrival as she looked up from her data-corder.
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Jun 10, 2003 6:31:49 GMT -5
Schph noted the two men that came in the tap cafe with indifference and went back to the information scrolling up on her datacorder that she had downloaded at the kiosk. There was a great deal of information in the packet, too much information for her to try and makes sense of. Taking the data card back out, she stuffed it into one of her pouches and went about eating her dinner. Lost in thought, the comings and goings at the cafe faded into the background until a tray of dishes went clattering to the floor. The noise tore Schph out of her concentration and without thinking, she grabbed her lightsaber hidden as a hydrospanner and was on her feet in an instant. Force flipping onto the table, she stood, hydrospanner in hand and looking for the source of the disturbance. As she looked around the tap cafe, the only thing she noticed was that the eyes of all the patrons were on her as she stood in a deflective stance on the top of her table.
"Oh no," she thought. "This is NOT good".
The word "Jedi" could be heard being mumbled by some of the patrons in the cafe. Schph knew that dinner was over. Garris Shrike stood and pointed at her. I'll bet that is the Jedi that those two kids were looking for. There is a reward for her!
With a solitary force enhanced leap, Schph dove toward the door of the cafe to make a break for it. As she reached the outside, the young boy was sitting by the gravsled and motioned to her. Lifting a tarp on the back of the sled, she dove under it. Patrons of the cafe now began streaming out of the door and looking around in all directions. A few of them yelled to the boy.
"Which way did the woman go?"
The boy on the gravsled pointed the way. "She went that way, but I don't know that you can catch her", he remarked.
The crowd took off down the street, some hopping on their swoops and gravsleds tearing off in all directions. Garris and his partner took off in a run leaving the boy with his hidden Jedi in front of the tap cafe.
Munching on his dehydrated dinner, the boy lifted the corner of the tarp.
"They are gone for now, but you better hurry out of here."
Crawling out from under the tarp, Schph stuck a hand out to the boy. "Thank you for your kindness" Schph began....
"Solo, Han Solo", the boy gave her another lop-sided grin and shook the Jedi's hand.
"Well, Han, it is an honor to meet you. With your acting ability, I sense you will be a great sabaac player someday. I need to throw these parts back on my swoop and get out of here before they come back. But, I do need to get some information from you. The holonet, do you know if it is still up and running?"
"Yes, and no", Han replied. "Parts of the holonet are failing quickly. There has been no contact with the inner core for a couple of days now. That is one of the reasons Garris is here, to try and aquire some flordian and turn a profit selling it to the network. The stranglehold on that element is pretty complete though. Some company called VanDaark...got it all sewed up. There is reported to be a small shipment going out today on a ship called the "Wrong Turn", and my bet is that Garris is after it.
Schph was tossing the parts back on her swoop that was parked near Han's gravsled. She got up and quickly went over to Han.
"Can you do me an important favor, Han?" Schph asked.
"Well, if I can".
"As soon as you hit space, try to get a message to Syn-Kai Jinn at the Jedi Temple. Tell him of the flordian shipment and tell him to try to get a hold of it. Tell him also, that I am ok and that I will contact him as soon as I can". With that, Schph jumped onto her swoop. She could hear the voices of the crowd coming back.
"I have to go, and now", Schph exclaimed. "But thank you again, and may the force be with you.....always".
Han watched the swoop and the Jedi speed off. "I have a feeling that it will", he grinned.
Schph sped off down the streets of VanNaar and kept going until the sounds of the city faded and she was once again heading out to the caves. Keeping the swoop low and weaving through the heavily wooded area on the outskirts of town, she made her way to the cave where her Headhunter was hidden. Parking the swoop, she covered it with a corner of the netting that covered her ship to keep it hidden from sensors and scanners.
Blink tootled a hello to Schph as she lifted the netting.
"All quiet here, Blink?"
A series of whirrs and clicks told Schph that things had been quiet in the cave. Blink started scrolling a message up on the Headhunters display.
"You got the shields fixed? Thanks Blink. Now I have another task for you." With that Schph inserted the data card into the datacorder on board. "See if you can make some sense out of all of this data on Van-Daark Corporation." Schph then walked to the entrance of the cave and looked at the horizon. The sky was a dusty rose dotted with purples and reds as the last of Sluis Van's suns plunged this side of the planet into darkness.
Blink made himself busy with his research as Schph meditated at the mouth of the cave.
Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.....Ryss would be arriving and, hopefully, Han Solo would get the message to Syn-Kai about the flordian shipment.
Confronting Fasgar would be happening soon.
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Jun 26, 2003 6:28:51 GMT -5
intermission....
I am hopelessly buried in things...and will not get back to writing for several weeks....for the few folks (very few...lol) reading this....their will be a break in the action till I have some time to actually think!
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Sept 2, 2003 17:50:15 GMT -5
Syn-Kai Jinn and his padawan Lyt-Jio were busy in the training room at the Jedi Temple. A little lightsaber training would be just the thing to get the Master/Padawan team's blood pumping again. Waiting for something to happen can sometimes be as exhausting as being in the middle of the action. As the two whirled around the trainging room with their practice sabers flashing, one of the Temple's youngings arrived in the doorway. The youngling waited patiently for the Master and Padawan to conclude their exercise. Syn-Kai spotted the younster out of the corner of his eye and shut down his saber. Lyt-Jio followed suit, shutting down his saber and watched as Syn-Kai went to speak to the youngling.
Taking a data card out of his pocket, the youngling placed it in Syn-Kai's palm.
"Master Syn-Kai, this message for you came over the local com channel. It is an urgent message from someone who has claimed to have spoken to Jedi Gochi."
Syn-Kai looked at the data card as his padawan came up behind him. "Guess we better see who Schph is hanging around with. She didn't send the message herself, but through someone else. That is never good".
Syn-Kai and Lyt-Jio scrambled to a data corder and listened to the contents of the data card.
"My name is Han. You don't know me, but I deliver an urgent message to you from a Jedi that I helped on Sluis Van. She told me to try and get a message to you and this is the best I can do. I am on a smuggling vessel that has entered Coruscant's air space. Schph told me to let you know that a shipment of flordian is being launched from Sluis Van on the freighter "Wrong Turn". It is imperitive that you try to capture this freighter in the name of the Republic. It contains enough of the flordian to get the holonet up and running for awhile. But be advised, the ship that I am on is also after that prize, and I am sure my guardian will stop at nothing to get it. And, in case you question whether or not I have truly spoke to Schph, she said to also give you this code....traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin crops.....I have no idea what that means, but she said that you would know it was from her. Han out."
Syn-Kai didn't have to say a word to his Padawan. Lyt-Jio nodded and headed to gather up supplies. Syn-Kai spun around and headed in the opposite direction to the massive docking bay at the Temple. While making his way to his ship, the Jedi called into the dispatch area.
"I have received a message from Jedi Gochi, there is a shipment of flordian that I am going to go after in the name of the Republic. My Padawan and I will be leaving as soon as I make preparations for flight. Jinn out".
Syn-Kai wasn't sure that he would have the Council's blessing on this venture, but one thing was certain, communication was of the essence to a free galaxy, and someone was taking that away. Confusion and panic was spreading along the routes of the Holonet that were affected. The one thing that Syn-Kai could not figure out was why. Why would Fasgar Boeve risk being exposed now. Why did he not just continue to reap the huge profits that the flordian would bring. Why was there such a need for even more credits. This was something he would think about as he and Lyt-Jio made there way to capture the freighter "Wrong Turn".
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Sept 3, 2003 5:52:06 GMT -5
Syn-Kai watched as his padawan approached and marveled how Lyt-Jio had progressed in the short time that they had been paired by the Council. They had already developed a deep bond that didn't always rely on the spoken word. Lyt-Jio held a pack in each hand, one for himself, and one for his Master. Syn-Kai knew that his padawan had thought of all the necessary items and had complete confidence in the selections.
The last bit of bussiness that Syn-Kai had to take care of was just where in the vast galaxy to look for the "Wrong Turn". The one thing about hyperspace travel was that, in a way, you were limited on the routes you could travel. Asteroid fields, black holes, and other abberations in space forced the hyperspace traveler to certain routes. Syn-Kai accessed the main computer teminal and punched in "Wrong Turn". Most freighters stuck to a single trade route as they serviced their clients with goods. A complete transript of the "Wrong Turn's" comings and goings over the last standard 3 years came scrolling up on the vid screen. The results were un-remarkable....but then that was the job of a good smuggler....remain unremarkable. The "Wrong Turn" appeared to have made many runs from the Outer Rim Territories where Sluis Van was located. The ship would traditionally take the Rimma Trade Route to the Perlemian and then to the Hydian Way....straight to...Hutt Space. Syn-Kai frowned as he saw the most common destination of the "Wrong Turn". Not unexpected. As the Republic had become to be fractured, the Hutts still had the bulk of the money in the galaxy, and were probably one of the few systems that could afford the ever increasing cost of flordian.
Lyt-Jio tossed the bags aboard Syn-Kai's ship, and turned to his Master.
"So, where are we headed Master?"
"Looks like our friends aboard the "Wrong Turn" will be headed for Hutt space. To save time, we are going to take a gamble and head along the Outer Rim and Wild Space. We have to get to Hutt space and set up an ambush of the smugglers out near Nar Shadda. It appears that our prize makes the same run everytime they head out. Let's hope our luck holds and they don't change their travel plans."
The Jedi team makes final flight preparations and Syn-Kai engages the repulsorlift engines. The craft begins to hover and makes its' way to the exit of the docking bay. Syn-Kai studies the star charts carefully and sets the route into the Navi-computer.
The ship makes its way into the space lanes of Coruscant and out to the security net that surrounds the planet. After sending the proper identification the security net opens and allows the team their access to the vastness of space.
As the ship makes the jump to hyperspace, Syn Kai can finally relax and discuss the current event with his padawan.
"So, Lyt-Jio, what do you make of all of this?"
"Greed" was Lyt-Jio's response. "And greed is something I do not understand".
Syn-Kai looked to his padawan. "We don't have to understand greed, my Padawan, but we must recognize it. For with greed comes many things...and none of them are good and not always is greed confined to credits. Greed for power is also very dangerous, and all too common. So the question remains, why would someone who already has a great deal of credits want to have so much more? His greed at this point and shutting down the ability of the Holonet to operate will certainly get everyone to notice. Why would he need so much more?"
Lyt-Jio's gaze shifted into one of great concentration. As he pondered the question a look of horror came over his face.
"Because the man is about to do something very foolish, and needs all the credits he can get his hands on. He needs to secure a safe hiding place, pay everyone off, and have enough to live the rest of his life out".
"Very good" responded Syn-Kai. "And that very foolish thing that the man is about to do?"
"Kill a Jedi", was Lyt-Jio's answer.
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Sept 9, 2003 5:41:53 GMT -5
Ryss Fal-Orran sat in the c.ckpit of her experimental new craft that was given to her by Incom Corporation. This ship was born with hyperdrive, unlike some of the other older fighters that were refitted to add hyperdrive capabilities. Her new craft was being dubbed "x-wing" by the manufacturer because of the s-foils that would split into an "x" formation for battles. Right now, however, the ship was flying itself as it hurled through hyperspace toward Sluis Van.
With the holonet failing in so many places, trying to find Schph might prove difficult, there may end up to be no frequencies available. Not to worry, she mused. She always had plan B to use. Plan B was to use her ability in the force to locate her Master, something she was getting very good at.
The warning bell in the c.ckpit went off right on time. Ryss looked out the canopy to see the starlines re-form into pinpoints. Exiting hyperspace was always a star show that she loved to see. It meant the end of another long journey through space, the exhillaration of another mission, and it was just plain brilliant to look at.
The tower on Sluis Van hailed Ryss as she entered their airspace.
"Tower to incoming......incoming....what is that anyway?"
Ryss immediatly reasoned that short range communications were working and the newness of her craft would be her cover for entry into the space port of VanNaar.
Flicking on her comm switch, Ryss radioed back.
"This is experimental spacecraft X-9. I am on a testing mission of this new craft from Incom. Request permission to make several passes over your planet for testing navigational systems."
The tower personnel gave Ryss the go-ahead for several passes over the planet's surface. Trying her direct com-link to Schph, she found it dead.
"Looks like it is time for plan B".
Slowing her ship to a speed right before repulsorlift, Ryss began to call the Force around her. She then stretched out looking for the imprint of her Master's presence in the Force. Her first pass netted her nothing. Changing her pattern on the second pass, Ryss found that unmistakeable imprint.
It was time to scramble her communications to make the tower believe that she was having trouble and decided to try a Jedi mind trick on the tower operator to suggest that she was taking her ship and its' troubles out of Sluis Van airspace.
Ryss' mind touched that of her Master. Upon feeling the Ryss in the force, Schph made her way to the entrance of the deep cave and stood out on the lip. Ryss immediatly spotted the familiar figure and cut power to the thrusters and engaged the repulsorlifts. The X-wing glided flawlessly into the mouth of the cave and Ryss set it down gently next to Schph's Headhunter.
Schph yelled up to Ryss as the c.ckpit cover was raised on the X-Wing.
"Great landing, you sure did a lot better than I did making an entrance into this cave."
Ryss gave shut-down instructions to her astromech implemented the security lock-down.
"Greetings Master", Ryss grinned at Schph. "So, how has life been treating you this past couple days?"
"Good to see you, My Padwan. I have a lot, yet really only a little to tell you. Much mystery surrounds the Miele family and their flordian bussiness venture here on Sluis Van".
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Schph Gochi was not the only one who felt Ryss' probe for her in the Force.
Jahn Miele's eyes flew open as he sensed another presence in the force....one he had experienced already.... Ryss Fal-Orran had arrived....he knew her imprint from watching her and Schph at the Temple.
In his quarters Fasgar Boeve eyes narrowed as he felt another presence in the force. "Always there are two" he mumbled to himself.
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Oct 15, 2003 5:25:51 GMT -5
Night was starting to creep in as the suns of Sluis Van began their march to the horizon. Soon the world would be cloaked in darkness. Schph stood on the lip of the cave and looked out into the vastness of space. Thoughts of all sorts scrambled around her head as she felt Ryss come up behind her.
"A credit for your thoughts" Ryss said.
"I am not sure they are even worth a credit" Schph responded. "Come and sit, Padawan, there is much I need to tell you."
Ryss saw the extreme tired look in Schph's eyes. When did Schph become old?
"This whole affair with Fasgar has brought up memories and questions from deep inside my soul. The last time I saw him left a terrible imprint on my being, one that I have struggled with for far too many years. I have wondered, why now? Why wasn't Fasgar content with his new life. He has a stong business, lots of credits, a wife that loved him, and two children. Why wasn't that enough? Why could he not be content with these things?"
"I am afraid that is something that we will probably never know", Ryss responded. "Even if we were to ask, he probably would not answer with complete honesty".
"Too true, Ryss. And on the same token, why did I let the experience with him at the temple affect me as it did? I feel that I have failed the Jedi. They took me in as a child. I did not have the greatest talent as a Jedi. My midichlorians are not very high, certainly nowhere near as high as even your own, Ryss. After the training session where I shoved Fasgar through the transparisteel, I buried my telekenesis skill deeply. I let that one event shape my future with the Jedi. That was wrong, I can see that now. True, I have to face Fasgar again soon, but I also have to face myself."
"But Master", Ryss interrupted. "You have been a good Jedi. You have successfully completed many missions for the Temple in the name of the Jedi. You may not have been blessed with high midichlorians, but you have excelled in other areas."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Ryss. But I am sure had I not let affairs with Fasgar cloud my life, I could have been much better. Whatever happens next, win or lose, I have already won. I have been able to take the events of the past and put them in order. Win or lose, this meeting with Fasgar will help me close a wound that I have left open for far too long, and for that, I guess I have to be grateful to my former Master."
Master and Padawan both stood at the lip of the cave and watched as the last sun dipped past the horizon. Black was again the dominant color of the sky.
"I really don't know what is about to happen in the next standard day, but there is something I want to make sure that you understand Ryss. This fight is essentially between Fasgar and me. I am glad that you are here, but your job lies along another path in this struggle."
A look of confusion crossed Ryss' face.
"But Master, what could be more important than joining you to defeat Fasgar and bring the holonet problem to a resolve?"
"Jahn", Schph answered. "Your mission will be to protect Fasgar's son. There is something special about the boy, and I feel that he has a brilliant future. When I first caught him spying on me in the gardens at the Temple I knew that fact instantly. I didn't know at the time who he was, but I sensed greatness in him. He has been brought up under a dark Jedi with revenge as a driving force. Jahn's mother provided balace, and now she is gone. I am certain that the Temple could put balance back into his life and send him down a more productive path than Fasgar. I feel that it is HIS life that must be saved."
"Are you asking me to abandon you to save Jahn?"
"Yes, Padawan. If the need arises, can you do that?"
Ryss stood motionless for long while. She struggled with what Schph was asking her to do.
Schph repeated the question. "Can you do that Ryss?"
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Nov 5, 2003 6:42:51 GMT -5
Schph felt the conflict that was currently running through her padawan. Ryss was clearly struggling with the question that was posed to her. While the pair stood there Schph felt a sudden calm come over Ryss. It was clear that the padawan had come to terms with her new assignment.
"I will do my best to act as the Force guides me in this situation, Master".
A big grin came to Schph's face. "Well said, Padawan. I am sure the Force will have to guide both of us through this uncertain task. Now, go and rest. We both will have a rather large day tomorrow, I am sure."
Schph watched as Ryss made her way to the far corner of the cave and spread out a small blanket. She knew that sleep would not come easy for her Padawan, nor for herself, for that matter. Schph sat on the lip of the cave and stared out to the horizon where the distant lights of the spaceport VanNaar winked in a magical display. Time for a little meditation of her own.
The "Star Seeker" raced along the trecherous space lanes of Wild Space as Syn-Kai Jinn kept a close watch on the instrumentation of his ship. Since Wild Space was not as well charted, you just never know when a black hole or gravity well could pop up. But this was a risk that the Jedi was willing to take. He had to make sure to beat Garris Shrike and his pals from getting the shipment of flordian that was in transit.
Syn-Kai breathed a sigh of relief as the ships warning bell told him that the modified Soro Suub would be coming out of hyperspace in less than one standard minute. As the starlines turned back to pinpoints, the first order of business was to see if the carrier "Wrong Turn" had entered Nar Shadda's airspace looking for docking.
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Nov 12, 2003 6:34:36 GMT -5
Lyt-Jio spun around in his co-pilot seat to face Syn-Kai.
"What next, Master? Should we make our way to a docking bay on Nar Shadda?"
"No", was Syn-Kai's response.
A puzzled look came over the Padawan's face. "Then..where to?"
"Garris Shrike is a smuggler. Smugglers have a tendencey to do their dirty work in space rather than on the ground. I suspect that he will hi-jack the freigher with the flordian out in the spacelanes rather than on the planet. I think we should begin by scanning the spacelanes for any traces of weapons discharge or other abnormalities."
"Yes master" Lyt-Jio replied and spun back to his systems boards and began to scan the vast amount of space around Nar Shadda. "The one good thing about being in this airspace is the fact that we are dealing with Nar Shadda. No one really cares about what is going on out here unless it actually affects them. But I guess we have to hope that the Hutts have no interest in this flordian....but I suspect that they do."
"Hope, indeed", replied Syn-Kai. "But I do have a bad feeling that the Hutts are the ones who are interested in the flordian. Make sure all of the weapons systems are charged and set a preliminary hyperspace jump into the navicomputer. We need to make sure that we are ready to get out of here as fast as possible."
The padawan continued to scan the spacelanes around Nar Shadda as their ship hung silent among the stars. Hours seemed to drag by as Lyt-Jio rubbed his eyes and rejuvinated himself with the force. A spike on his screen caught his attention.
"Master....I think we have weapons discharge"!
A smile crossed Syn-Kai's face. "I knew it! Thank goodness that smugglers are so predictable. Lock onto that spike and let's get over there and see if it is "The Wrong Turn". We will have to move fast from here on.
The padawan's fingers flew across his keyboard and quickly locked in the location of the weapons discharge. Activating the sublight engines, the "Star Seeker" made it's way to the source.
As their ship got closer, Syn-Kai picked up his macrobinoculars.
"It's the Wrong Turn allright and it looks like Mr Shrike has already disabled it. Time to disable Mr. Shrike"!
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Schph Gochi
Message Board Member
"traveling through hyperspace ain't like dustin' crops boy"
Posts: 9,278
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Post by Schph Gochi on Jan 31, 2004 7:04:27 GMT -5
"Don't give me that c*ap, I know that you have flordian aboard this ship" Garris barked at the captain of the "Wrong Turn". "I will tear this ship apart if I have to so you might as well tell me where it is now".
As the two ship's captains argued toe to toe, a young boy stood on the side watching the screaming back and forth. Han was bored with the "negotiations" and spent his time looking around the cabin. He was beginning to wonder if his message had ever gotten through to the Jedi. If the Republic wanted this flordian, they had better get busy and soon. Garris would indeed tear the "Wrong Turn" apart to find the flordian and then it would be too late.
As Han stood in thought, one of Garris' flunkies appeared at the doorway.
"We found the shipment hidden in smuggling compartments all over the ship".
Garris' eyes narrowed as he sized up the Wrong Turn's captain. "Did you really think you could fool another smuggler?" We have such hidden compartments on our ship as well and we are very adept at finding them!".
As the captain of the "Wrong Turn" opened his mouth to fire a retort, an explosion rocked the ship.
"What the", Garris yelled. "Find out what in the galaxy is going on!"
His flunky ran out of the captain's compartment and to the ship's forward screens. Han was instantly on alert, he knew exactly what was "going on".
"Hey kid", Garris turned to Han. "Put some binders on this guy, I don't have anymore time for negotiations, this deal is done. We gotta see who is trying to cut in on this little deal".
Syn-Kai brought the "Star Seeker" around for another pass. His plan was to disable both ships without blowing them off of the star charts. Tricky indeed. He hoped that there were no traces of fuel leaks aboard the two ships as fuel leaks can turn a small hit into a big explosion.
Lyt-Jio manned one of the gunner stations and used both the force and his knowledge of the two ships constuction to place his hits carefully. Squeezing the trigger again, the "Wrong Turn" rocked violently upon receiving the laser blast. Blue streaks of energy radiated on the outside of the hull.
Syn-Kai smiled as he saw the "Wrong Turn" disabled to a floating scrap. "One down, one to go" he noted.
Garris continued at a full run to the docking arm that held his ship to the "Wrong Turn". "C'mon kid", he yelled back to Han. "Get a move on or I will leave you on this hulk."
Garris' pirates were busy transferring the flordian off of the "Wrong Turn" and on to his ship. Another blast rocked the two ships as Garris' crew finished the last of the transfers.
Syn-Kai noted that the docking arm was beginning to retract from the "Wrong Turn". He had better hurry. If Garris and his boys completed the retraction of the docking arm, it would turn into a all out space battle. That is something that Syn-Kai wanted to avoid at all costs.
Lyt-Jio focused on Garris' ship as Syn-Kai handled the tricky maneuvering of the "Star Seeker" and with his other hand, grabbed his firing controls.
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