Mission Science Is Rather Dangerous

[Krasskorr the Maw]

Outpost H-130, Eastern Dune Sea, Tatooine​

The scorched twin suns of Tatooine beat down relentlessly, their heat shimmering across the endless waste of the Eastern Dune Sea. A lone outpost rose from a nearby rock face, designated Outpost H-130, was a typical local design with a large, central dome and a smaller, round tower that seemed to scan the desolate horizon. A simple landing pad, scorched by countless starship exhausts, jutted out from the main building.

This seemingly unremarkable post was, in fact, a deeply hidden research facility working to create a new generation of stormtrooper armor by incorporating parts and materials of a creature known only as the Taozin, whose blaster and lightsaber resistance would prove most useful to the Emperor's Plans of Galactic Conquest.

If rumors were true, it would be a catastrophic blow to the Jedi Order of the High Republic as the Galactic Alliance reels from their defeat by the Galactic Empire over Arkania, Champala, & Ord Lithone for now there is little chance they would be able to stop the Imperial Armada from invading the Republic's borders.

With the majority of the Jedi Order engaged in a desperate defense of The Kattada Enclave, it fell to a small group to venture into the Tatooine wastes as their transport broke through the clouds. A holographic transmissions came through, a nervous-looking Mon Calamari, his uniform bearing the insignia of the Republic Intelligence Service.

"Greetings Jedi," he began, his large eyes darting nervously between the three individuals. "My designation is Agent Thol. The information we've managed to gather... it's deeply concerning."

"Outpost H-130 was until recently the headquarters for the Eastern Dune Sea Glassworks, transforming tatooine's endless sand into glass for the noble houses of the Republic. With their bankruptcy, its remote location and pre-existing infrastructure would make it ideal for a clandestine research center. Our sources indicate the Empire's primary focus is Project Teardrop...the development of enhanced stormtrooper armor. Though the exact details are unknown to us." Thol's gills fluttered rapidly as the hologram was split into three sections to show the former layout of the facility, the single landing pad and the open terrain making approach difficult without being detected.

"Additionally, we have heard rumors of an unmarked black shuttle being seen nearby in Mos Espa. The main Hutt Cartel stronghold in the region, and we have deduced that a member of the Dark Side Elite is present among the standard garrison. Mostly stormtroopers but some elite droid forces as well. Expect countermeasures, potentially traps, and a far more coordinated resistance than a typical Imperial outpost. Proceed with extreme caution. The information within that facility, and the individual guarding it, pose a significant threat."

Ochi Voli Cholrass Aiden Porte

 

[Casi Braste]

Tatooine was a lifeless waste, unbefitting of any sane individual, let alone Casi Braste. She had been assured that the nature of the outpost's work was integral to the war effort, despite its location in the sandy hell. It felt as though her first assignment was a joke being played on her. At the very least, it had her thinking of something else than the Jedi Temple. The thought of that place brought a gag to her throat and a pain in her chest.

The station was like a prison, perhaps fitting for her betrayal of the Jedi. Looking out the windows was staring into the endless expanse of nothing, and not in the sort of stark beauty that something like space travel afforded. Going outside was nearly impossible, as the outside amounted to little more than the single landing pad. Her gentle white skin turned red practically immediately, and had become so dry and brittle since they'd arrived. Any slight breeze too could leave you finding the fine, salty sand all over your clothes.

Casi hated it.

Inside was hardly better. The workers didnt speak to her, and she was only allowed to patrol certain halls on her ostensible mission of security. The partner they had paired her with was a giant brooding reptilian. She tried to avoid him when she could, having noticed his eyes linger too long on passers by. Since she'd embraced the use of the Dark Side, she felt as though she had unlocked a sense obscured to her before, something she figured was her beginning to attune to the other Dark Elite. She could sense their ill-will, like their nefarious intent defined their auras in the Force. And Krasskorr's was of hunger. She didn't want to be the meat he sated himself on if the cabin fever of the facility set in to the restless predator.

What she had gleaned from her limited access to the holonet was that the rest of the planet, even the largest cities, were dirty backwaters. Even if she could leave, she would have no where to go that wasn't just as bad in some way.

For now she had to suck it up, until the call would come that they could return to the Core, or until the threat they were supposedly guarding against became a real thing, if it ever would.

Krasskorr the Maw

 

[Krasskorr the Maw]

SCIENCE IS RATHER DANGEROUS
Casi Braste

​

Krasskorr moved silently through the Corporate-turned-Imperial Outpost, his sharp claws faintly scraping against the floor as Imperial scientists labored to finalize the next generation of stormtrooper armor for the Galactic Empire by incorporating a dreaded creature known as the Taozin.

Imperial Stormtroopers hurried past, clearly making an effort to avoid the Dark Side Elite as they moved from corridor to corridor.

His tongue flicked across his teeth in anticipation of consuming the garrison and Casi Braste , his designated partner in their mission to safeguard the Outpost from potential threats, as Imperial Intelligence had reported that the High Republic had become aware of the decline of the Eastern Dune Sea Glassworks.

Though only time would tell if they decided to send anyone to investigate.

Ochi Voli Cholrass Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Tags: Ochi Voli Cholrass

The Jedi folded his arms within his cloak, eyes narrowing as the Mon Calamari's image stuttered and dissolved into static. For a moment, only the drone of the ship's repulsors filled the silence.

"This is troublesome indeed" he said quietly, as though tasting the words. His tone was calm, but there was a weight behind it, the steady gravity of a mind already running through the consequences. "If such a thing comes to pass, Agent Thol is correct. The balance will tip. Worlds already struggling to breathe under Imperial rule will choke."

He glanced to his companions, the twin suns painting sharp shadows across their faces. "This Outpost is no simple factory. It is a forge. Whatever they temper here will be wielded against every free being in the galaxy."

A pause with the faintest exhale, and the smallest shift of his shoulders. "The Force has brought us to this place. That means we cannot turn away, no matter the cost."

"We end this 'Project Teardrop' before it can be completed."

 

[Ochi]

As the unassuming Jedi transport broke the clouds, Ochi, who was granted the privilege of flying the craft by Jedi Knight Aiden Porte, smiled a wide smile. The Jedi Padawan embraced the controls and leveled the starship as it almost glided in the lower atmosphere. With a twitch of his fingers he adjusted the view screen to combat the harsh light of Tatooine’s twin suns and stared at the horizon.

“I know barren planets are as common as leaves in a forest, but there’s something about this one,” Ochi said appreciating the view. “I can feel it.” He added under his breath. His psychometric senses had begun to tingle in a very strange way that he wouldn’t be able to explain. It felt like he was feeling a beginning yet to happen instead of the usual endings or past happenings the skill often showed him. Ochi felt as if maybe the sensation was just for him, completely unrelated to the reason the Jedi had come, so he didn’t explain any further. He didn’t need to as the hologram of Agent Thol appeared.

Ochi was quick to turn his attention toward the Mon Calamarian. Ochi thought Thol’s words were grave but vague. Enhanced how? He thought to himself not wanting to cut the Agent off. Instead Ochi let the man finish and then turned his attention to the team leader Aiden.

“Master Porte.” Ochi said, getting Aiden’s attention. “I’m all for putting an end to Operation Teardrop, but a Forge?” He asked incredulously. “This is a glass factory or used to be. How would it become a forge so quickly and what kind of volume could they be putting out?” Ochi asked questions but didn’t really expect answers.

“I’m not trying to underestimate the Empire here but I just don’t think this place is running on full imperial power. I mean this planet is in our backyard.” He continued. “Whoever is in there is either great at keeping under the radar or maybe, just maybe, is there a chance that our source on this is mistaken?” Ochi asked. His youth and the arrogance that came with it began to show, even if his questions were valid.

Did the empire truly have enough researchers, laborers, and resources to enact this plan without outside help. Ochi’s main concerns were the validity of the information and the prospect of those in the glassworks being innocents, or at least there being some innocents. He asked these questions to learn, and grow, and to become a better Jedi.

Tags: Krasskorr the Maw Casi Braste Aiden Porte Voli Cholrass
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