Hush Now

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu stretched out, she had been working with it. The code named library station and a there was a lot going into it as they provided more ideas and there was being more equipment developed for the station. She had asked Sorel to help with the station as it was moving and having its engines worked on. The specialized reactor that was being used for it allowed it to have more power for the engines to move in as a massive lumbering beast able to go to planets, jumping through hyperspace. They had a goal kind of, the station was moving around to create and develop its own uses when she was looking at it. Working with the droids as well as with the information to send out probes and collect across the galaxy. This station was made to be mobile, to be able to collect and be protected for generations to come. Matsu moved to see her former padawan but a jedi knight was still a jedi and still would always be learning as she provided new looks with some fo the robes. The acquisitions department and displays were there showing where artifacts from jedi masters could be displayed along with information about them. "Sorel it is wonderful to see you."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was always keen to help her Master. Yes, she was a Knight now, but she would always see Matsu as her Master – it was just the way she was. And time with Matsu meant there would be learning as well as enjoyment and of course an entirely practical and pragmatic outcome. It would be the ultimate win-win mission.

So she arrived at the station with a mixture of excitement and expectation. The vessel itself was a reason to be enthusiastic about the encounter. It was something of an academy in space. But unlike the former Republic ships that fulfilled a similar role, this one was much bigger and served a much broader purpose.

Sorel wondered if this ship might be somewhere she ended up calling home. She could use it as a base and could train Padawans here. And given it moved around so much, it would give the opportunity to visit new planets.

It took a while, but she found her way from the hangar to where Matsu was. She bowed in acknowledgement to the greeting. “I’m glad you invited me Master. It is a truly impressive station and once fully operational, it would be hard to think of a reason to leave it.”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu looked at Sorel and moving through the massive station she could present a number of new and interesting chances for them to do. "Well one should leave to go and explore the galaxy but this can help get you there, a mobile station unlike any other that will be able to give everyone who is within it the information and training they want. We have developed the engines to move you across the galaxy to collect information." Matsu was walking over with a number of other things, the main level people were able to see was the acquisitions level, display cases that were showing different artifacts from across the galaxy. Shelves of tomes, scrools and books that they had collected already and along the walls small alcoves that showed hardlight displays of different jedi from the past who were laid out with some of their artifacts. She was setting up more of it and walking around as tables were being set up wih the shipboard AI they had developed for training and teaching. "Though I do see what you mean, a jedi could live their entire life on this station when we are done and learn a great deal while seeing the galaxy. The large acquisitions and replica area will also be important."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel walked and listened and every now and then something Matsu said prompted a question.

“Does the station have a pre-determined path? What I mean is, given there will be hundreds or even thousands on board, who decides which planets to visit? And when. Is there a plan and if so, is it flexible or fixed?”

One of the areas that she visited that made her most excited was what could be considered a museum. Areas designated to different Masters or notable individuals throughout the history of the Jedi. The volume and variety of artefacts also impressed her. And it was odd that, despite a commonly held view that Jedi’s garb was unchanged since time began, that there was so much variety in what they wore. Sorel noted that her own preference was not dissimilar to Anakin Skywalker’s robes – of course before he turned to the dark side.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

A good question and as Matsu was thinking about it the thought about altering and working on it came. "it will work with the navigational AI's that have been developed. We created a mapping and cartographic system to map planets and space. The AI will be able to choose where to go based on information it has been provided. Manual navigation is also set to be a thing and we'll be able to let it deploy probes and sensors along with the jedi." Matsu was walking and she stopped at one of the screens as she spoke and brought it up. "One of the other areas we have been working on. The large replica's biocubes." She was pointing it out while she developed it and some of the biocubes were being developed with different areas of forest and jungle even deser around temples that would be locations fo the jedi. "Scattered throughout there is the small biocubes that we can transplant and develop areas for different animals, different temples and even special gardens. There is even a small area developed for a lake temples to give jedi skill with aquatic abilities."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened to her Master’s explanation. It was a thorny issue and had been well thought out. Navigational AI was a logical choice. No debates and no pulling of rank. The decision would be based upon an algorithm. Of course it could be overridden if need be, but the majority of the time it would travel where it was needed, with the AI determining the priority of claims for its presence.

But her interest immediately switched to an area her Master identified. Biocubes. Although Jedi received generic training, the opportunity to work in specific conditions could only help performance. Sorel was lucky that she’d had missions in jungles, deserts and too many icy wastelands to count – but on each occasion, acclimatising in a safe environment could only have helped.

“Is there anything this station doesn’t have? A gym? A hospital? I’m guessing these would be state of the art?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Hmm yes it does not have a couple of things when she was walking and coming to one of the doors as one of the large biocubes opened up. Looking out with a small lift towards a section of snow and ice with a temple. "Well it does not have people yet and the hospital is designed to be state of the art with different department for what has been getting made. DNA banks for creatures to create a genetic arc of some species and with some of the environments we can all use. The plants as well that we have been developing to give all of the jedi something to work with." The cubes area was made and set up to contain the temple and a section of a made made glacier in here, with environmental effects for the harsher weather. "Some of our other place." Matsu motioned to a few other cubes scattered throughout the station that were displaying a number of environments. "Will be just as good from a reconstruction of the ancient Mustafar temple to from Kamino the jedi city that is underwater. All so that jedi can meditate but test out their own skills with advnced droids and medical teams ready. There is also one of the most advanced labs from Sasori being used to develop equipment for the people here."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened as her Master spoke. She’d visited a lot of places around the galaxy but it was a very big place and it was funny that as Matsu listed two places at random, it occurred to Sorel that she’d visited neither. And furthermore, she saw again the value in such a training environment. A volcanic planet would be hostile even for a Jedi Master and the chance to acclimatise before visiting would be a tremendous boon.

And the option of state of the art medical facilities was never a bad thing. “As long as people don’t take foolish risks knowing they can be bailed out by a medical droid, then it will all work fine. I’ve seen too many headstrong Padawans use regular sabers for sparring to be comfortable that they wouldn’t push their own limits too far. The Code is quite clear on such things after all.”

“So, where should I start helping?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Sorel was correct and she had the jist of it, being able to use something like the advanced training rooms and areas around them safely would be putting up a lot and padawans who would use it dangerously they would have to be careful with. She couldn't stop all of them but she would have be certain they knew such things would be possible. The jedi masters attention going to more of it as they were coming towards a star system and she brought it up on the screen as the nebula was there. "There is a number of places that would be needed to help but where we are going. This world is a place we discovered in the nebula obscured from most sensors and scans unless you could find it from visual looks." She had a look on her face while she was looking over more of it for herself, wanting to see some of it as she was looking over it. "The world is one of the first places we are heading to to work and test out what it can do. The planet is much like Iego in it can support life and is warmed by solar winds with a breathable atmosphere."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was always the willing participant. For both her Master and also her best friend. She knew her limitations but enthusiasm, energy and team-work weren’t amongst them. She may not be the most technically gifted or the best educated – but she had a strong work ethic and was quick to learn.

She stared at their destination. As someone that enjoyed travelling the stars, new systems and planets always held an element of interest for her. The fact that the planet ahead was rarely glimpsed was an added bonus. Hidden from scanners, it was likely that only people who came this close would ever have seen it.

“Breathable is good,” Sorel said, smiling. “And I can’t wait to see what this station is capable of.” She chuckled. “That sounded ominous. I know this isn’t the Death Star!”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu looked at Sorel and.... seeing what the station was capable of was a big thing as it continued to come towards the planet. Going through th nebula until it lingered over it and Matsu was bringing Sorel down the one lift. To the bottom of the station and one of the large crystasteel domes along the underside that could stare out and look over everything below them. THe solar winds from the Nebula warming the planet this far out provided a number different colors to the atmosphere itself. Like Iego purples and pinks swirled but everything was considered breathable and normal... just kind of like food dye in different things. It added color. THe observation dome on the other hand added for them a great deal more showing itself off when Matsu walked along a small walkway that let her look out when they were entering the atmosphere of the planet. Hovering above the open areas of the mountains and oceans high above when it was settling into place. The snow covered peaks going down towards massive valley's that led carving through to forests and some deserts. The map of the planet itself came up and there were nine large continents that showed both signs of like with bustling cities that looked advanced but also had large ares of undeveloped land. "Not much is known about the beings on this world but from what information we have found they are or were descended from the slaves that were brought through the hypergate and have changed becoming more of a legend here."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel travelled through the ship with her Master. Ship was, of course, an understatement – it was a space station in the true sense of the word, except it was capable of hyperspace travel.

They travelled down in a lift and once at the bottom of the station, they moved to a cryasteel dome and take in the awesome view. Winds were rarely visible but Sorel could see the swirls due to the fact that the atmosphere was multi-coloured and the hues moved and merged as atmospheric pressure created zephyrs and eddies as well as more traditional winds. Some were fast and wide, others slow and narrow – and every variation inbetween.

They then proceeded along a walkway which they stood on as the station entered the atmosphere. The planet had many zones – there were mountainous regions as well as vast areas of arid desert and then green swathes of tall trees that represented forests the size of cities.

As she took it all in, the schematics came on-line to show nine continents – and surprisingly for Sorel – cities. She didn’t know why, but she was not expecting there to be any civilisations present.

“Are they human, or another species?” she asked as her Master explained the origin of the indigenous people.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu looked at Sorel and there was a lot that they would be able to learn but she was not certain. "They should be, if they are the descendants of the original slaves who were brought here then they should still be but thousands of years on a world could change you." She was letting everything get settles in as it looked like the world had some other ares as well, nine large continents with some smaller ones that gave an area for them to see all over it. They would be able to head down in the ship as Matsu led the way through into some of the areas that revealed the hanger for the personal ships they would be able to dock. Matsu was working with a couple new designs that they would be able to develop and go down to the planet. "we have also been working on some new freighters for personal transport. Older designs that are remade and able to be used by the jedi o travel around. The exterior will be able to shift and change so they can appear as other ships needed."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel nodded. Who they might visit was still variable but they knew they were at least near-human. Sometimes things like physiology were a barrier to encounters and it was likely this was not going to be one to have to surmount. Assuming they were going to meet of course. That much was conjecture right now.

Finally her thoughts were confirmed or at least the odds on them being correct increased, as Matsu led them to the hangar bay. Sorel noted there were a couple of new designs. The concept of changing their appearance was something that really interested her.

“When you say appear, do you mean to the naked eye only or would their signature also reflect a ship they were pretending to be? And is there a limitation of general size, or can they appear lrger or smaller than the original?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu moved and "To the eyes the color can change and you can easily alter the transponder for getting around as needed. The emissions and other parts will need to be worked on but we have developed a new systems package that will allow for ships to have easier upgrades to get stealth on them. Add in that we have a couple types of cloaks and we can start giving the jedi ships that require it stealth packages or synthweave that will allow them to resist and be protected from the darkside." She was working on a number of things and with all that was happening... sometimes the best you could do is make itinto a very nice and cool for some. There was also the better projects to prevent darksiders and non jedi or approved ones from being able to use the ships. To many seemed to end up in the hands of others who used them to preform horrors.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Synthweave? She remembered Orihime mentioning that before – something to do with doorways and making it difficult for dark siders to access areas. She presumed the application was similar – to repel anything associated with the dark side.

She was aware of switching transponders to fool customs or law enforcement but the drawback was that to the naked eye, you couldn’t fool a person, other than to disguise the owner of the ship – never the type.

“That sounds helpful. Like a Solari crystal stops a dark sider using a saber, you could stop a dark sider piloting a ship. It could act a little like a breathalyser. If a Jedi drifted down the path to the dark side the ship would stop working for them.”

It was a crazy idea, but sometimes the best ones were.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

"Something like that though it more makes them uncomfortable to be in an area or near the robes. They were tested with some fo the new robes we have developed for the jedi and something darksiders can't wear without becoming sick or unable to wear it. This would make it feel bad to be in the ship as well as that. Make it so jedi can be careful and ensure they are not straying from the lightside of the force." Matsu was looking at more of it when they were able to go into the ship with the biot droids who were walking around. Giving smiles and presenting as the crew of the ship to take them down tot he planet as Matsu stood there. "Some of the other things we are looking to work on and set up for ourselves for success here." She moved to the console in the small briefing area and the ship was showing the planet with a nod of approval. "There is things on that planet, well I am sure there is going to be but more you can feel the energies of it from here."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel approved of the technology. Deterring a dark sider was better than killing one and some form of early warning device for Jedi falling could only be a good thing – both for them and the Order too.

She followed Matsu to the console in the small briefing area and followed her gaze down to the surface. There was a feeling in the air. A combination of excitement, apprehension and wonderment. They were about to embark on an adventure. They were going to start something brand new – ground-breaking in fact – and that appealed to Sorel. She embraced change and actively sought out new and challenging experiences. And she just knew this would be one of them.

“What do we do first, Master?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Hmm Matsu had to think about it and figure out where they would be going when she tapped away on the screen wanting to see all of it. The ship was heading down and she wondered what they should start. A lot of things so they would be able to work on it all and set it up. "Hmm we should start near these beaches and move towards the cities. We don't know how they will respond so flying a ship at a city could get a response we are not expecting." She marked it out and the ship was heading down there as she clasped her hands getting some of the equipment and there were a few new things. The small grenades she put in the pack while looking at sorel. "I recommend in case of danger to have one or two fo these. "Non lethal gravitational grenades, you toss it and it will immobilize pretty much any species for a few seconds but it will not kill them. Some of the new equipment we have been making goes towards non lethal means to help the jedi." There was well also the biofoam canister in the pack with food rations and a portable gincho generator that could provide more power then most of their things.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel followed her Master onto the ship and it soon left the hangar and descended to the surface. The young Jedi had often visited planets that did not have galactic travel technology – but they had always been civilisations that no longer existed. This would be the first time she would visit a planet where it was unknown how they would be received, given they were arriving from outer space. It never paid to assume on these occasions.

So her Master’s approach seemed entirely sensible. To land away from large pockets of people and to travel by less conspicuous means into the city centre.

And then she took a couple of the grenades her Master recommended and popped them into her bag. “These will come in handy,” she said and made sure she got a look at their identification number – she would make sure she had a supply on her ship going forwards.

[member="Matsu Ike"]