The Rise Of A Pickle

[Rick Kaloo]

The forested world of Kashyyyk was beautiful, its trees millions of years old and taller than the spires of Courascant. Its communities of Wookies concealed within the great forests of their homeworld had begun to see a new star in their sky a few weeks prior. They had been informed by the SJO that it was a production facility making a vessel that would soon join the ranks of the Order's ultimate flagships. So the Wookies waited curiously, and in their galactic travels, observed the construction of the mystery ship.

Pickle Rick had been under construction for five years. Now, it was five days away from completion. Its firing mechanisms had been perfected, life-support systems were active, power was flowing to where it needed to and all interior rooms had been built. Only engine and hyperdrive calibrations remained to trouble the few thousand workers on Centurion Station. From the bridge towering far above Centurion Station, Rick Kaloo watched as the massive warship in construction's engines slowly turned on and off, concealed within an incredibly thick layer of armor plating. At this point, Rick decided that it was no longer worth keeping the project classified. After all, he had brought the station into Kashyyyk's orbit, which itself showed a reduction in the secrecy of the project. So, he had invited the galaxy to see his ship.

The invitation had been relatively open, and across many different frequencies in the galaxy. Anyone could come, whether they were Jedi, executives looking to make trade deals, or simply other parties with their own intents. As for those other parties, a dozen Twinkie-class light cruisers escorted the station to ensure nothing got out of hand. The security within the station itself, while loosened, would still be enough to deter any suspicious parties. Or at least Rick hoped so.

The guests at the station would find that the only way in were through boarding doors lining the station. The ships present would have to dock there to enter the station and make their way through the ten kilometer expanse. Guests could examine the production area, where they could see Pickle Rick being refined for themselves. Or, at the command bridge at the top of the station, the blueprints for the dreadnought could be viewed, and Rick would be delighted to talk to anyone else present.

But for now, he waited.

OOC: Come check out Centurion Station/Pickle Rick! Whether you're a Jedi, one of the "suspicious parties" looking for the secret formula and/or weaknesses, or an exec who likes money, there's room for anyone! And here's the actual OOC thread

Important Note: I will submit Pickle Rick to the Factory right after the thread reaches its conclusion. Thanks for your participation in this stage of Rick's story.

[member="Ella Nova"], [member="Errreembuhr"], [member="John Locke"], @anyone

 

[John Locke]

The invitation was one that John couldn't easily turn down, a new member of the Silver Jedi, was unveiling his latest creation, and a battlecruiser at that. It was a short hop from his office on the surface of the planet up to orbit, so he had plenty of time to catch a shuttle to Centurion station. The executive had always made a point of being as early as possible to events, simply to make sure that he got a chance to talk to and observe everything he wanted, and this was no exception. As the shuttle carried itself forward, the repulsor's lifting it away from the treeline and towards Centurion Station the cyborg could only watch in anticipation. Hopefully, this would be rather less...eventful than the last capital ship launch he'd taken part in. Although any pirates would be foolish to attach Kashyyyk he'd thought the same about the Roche asteroid fields, this time though he wasn't involved in flying the ship so hopefully, they'd be safe. Even so, the man couldn't stop himself from peering out of the window at the stars, watching for the sight of ships moving against the background...they seemed safe for now.

[member="Rick Kaloo"]

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Rick Kaloo"] | [member="John Locke"] |

A week ago Ella had been sat in the confines of her chambers on Humbarine. As the new representative of Humbarine in the New Republic, the Senator was in charge of diplomatic relations in and out of the Republic on behalf of the Humbarine Council. Whilst the governors dealt with interplanetary matters, Ella was to deal with matters outside of Humbarine. Foreign relations, trade deals and so on were decided by the Humbarine Council, but it was Ella who brought the matter to their attention when needed.

When the invitation to see the Pickle Rick had been brought to Ella's attention she had smiled. It was a chance not only to see the ship itself, but to also get a feel of what it was like in the Silver Jedi. It was more of an opportunity to gather information on her future enemies so as to prepare or change the Grand Plan accordingly with what she learned. So she had left Humbarine to accept the invitation and was set to arrive on Kashyyyk within the hour.

Ella did not like the Wookiees. Even during her time as a Jedi Knight she found them to be difficult and often ludicrous, with their growls and overgrown fur that was more reminiscent to a beast than a space faring people. Despite all their advances, all the opportunities they had been given, and alongside all the help they had received, the Wookiees remained in their overbearing trees and huts, stuck and stagnated in a period that they should have left long ago. She despised their progressiveness and lack of wanting to become better. For all their famous strength, ultimately Ella found the Wookiees to be weak.

The Initium dropped out of hyperspace in the Kashyyyk system. Upon arrival Ella cooled the hyperdrive engines and booted up impulse whilst simultaneously scanning the system for signs of life. As she did this she sent out a hail to the Centurion Station before they could demand who she was. "I am Senator Ella Nova of Humbarine and of the New Republic. Requesting permission to dock upon the invitation of Kaloo Rick, Captain of the Pickle Rick."

As she shut of her hail Ella thought to herself: ​What a ridiculous name to give to a ship.

 

[Rick Kaloo]

[Senator [member="Ella Nova"], you are free to dock.] replied Rick over the comms array used for docking. [Boarding door 13-A has been unlocked, feel free to enter.]​

​

Rick didn't know much about the woman, or the nation she hailed from. However, he had heard enough rumors. The New Republic had similar peaceful intentions to the Silvers and Alliance, but could get a bit overly political at times. Luckily, even a ship of Pickle Rick's size likely wouldn't spark too much politics around it, especially since it was not even complete yet.

Then, Rick could feel in the Force the arrival of a shuttle. After a minute, he realized the signature was that of [member="John Locke"], his direct superior in the Silver Spacy and a man he had begun to know well. [Commander Locke, door 13-B is ready for your arrival. I await your arrival.] continued Rick.

In the meantime, Rick left the command bridge high over the station and entered a high-powered elevator. Then, it dropped. Traveling at dozens of meters a second, the elevator took two minutes before it finally reached Floor 13, where Rick's guests would soon be arriving from. Exiting the elevator to let a quartet of maintenance droids in, Rick began to walk down the long hallway to the boarding doors.

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Rick Kaloo"] | [member="John Locke"] |

If Rick Kaloo truly thought that there wouldn't be political ramifications surrounding the rise of the Pickle Rick then he was sorely mistaken. At least mistaken in the eyes of the beholder of such ramifications. Heading to the boarding door assigned to her ship, Ella engaged the procedures for docking onto the ship and stood waiting at the access hatch when the Initium finally finished it's procedures. A light overhead switched from red to green, and decompressed gas was sprayed out of the hyradulic clamps of the doors as they rolled open to reveal a tunnel. Stepping over the threshold of her doors and into the tunnel, Ella stepped inside. Making her way along it to the doors ahead, she slowed her pace so as to give time for the Pickle Rick to open her doors to her as she approached.

 

[John Locke]

Following [member="Rick Kaloo"]'s commands the shuttle altered course, skimming along the surface of the station as the pilot flicked the lights on, the spotlights running along the surface of Centurion station as the pilot brought them into dock at door 13-B. The technology available was pretty amazing if you thought about it, all the way up from the surface of the planet the shuttle hadn't made a single sound. If he hadn't seen the world sliding by outside his window he might have still been in his office down on Kashyyyk. Pushing himself up out of his seat the man nodded at the pilot, hands slipping into his pockets as he padded towards the door which hissed open at his approach. Stepping through he could see two more people approaching, a woman who he didn't recognize and Admiral Kaloo. The man raised his had with a friendly smile, "Nice place you've got here."

[member="Ella Nova"] | [member="Rick Kaloo"]

 

[Rick Kaloo]

"Thank you. It's wonderful to see a decade of work pay off." replied Rick to the man he now recognized as John Locke, a fellow CEO and admiral.​

​

Rick could not name the woman or any memory of her, her only significance being her ties to the mysterious New Republic and a notable Force signature.

"Follow me." Rick continued.

He lead his guests away from the boarding doors and into the elevator he had came from. He dialed for the thirtieth floor, and the elevator rocketed upward, making it there in seconds. After all, there were hundreds of more floors the elevator was programmed to fly to.

When the doors opened, Rick and his guests came to a magnificent sight. A massive transparisteel window gave an excellent view of Pickle Rick, its green facade nearing completion as painters swarmed the ship. Rick walked through the wide, expansive lobby area, currently unattended. A set of locked boarding doors built into the window linked directly to the battlecruiser's center right, a boarding door there as well. A bridge of glass spread in between, allowing workers to walk in and out of the ship.

Rick walked over to a number lock near the double doors and inserted a series of numbers (reference: 5831). They opened up swiftly, revealing about a three hundred meter walk to the battlecruiser. Rick took a step in, and then began to walk the expanse.

"Join me." said Rick.

[member="John Locke"], [member="Ella Nova"]

​

​

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Rick Kaloo"] | [member="John Locke"] |

When Ella crossed the threshold of the tunnel into the Pickle Rick she had to pause to admire the architecture of the ship. It was a design that she had never encountered before. Going back to the days when she had worked with Emeritus Industries she had encountered designs and specifications that all stemmed from older, more archaic ones and they were normally Imperial in nature. This design, however, was different. Alien. Futuristic. It was impressive, but was it functional? As she walked down the hallways to meet with the Captain, Ella begun drawing up possibilities of how she could use this ship for herself. As a representative of Humbarine she had the authority to make offers on behalf of the planet, and convincing the Humbarine Council into going along with her ideas was easy when you had the power of the dark side on your side.

As she met and greeted the Captain Ella was surprised to sense the Force in him. It was strong, he seemed... well trained. Was he a Jedi? Remaining calm Ella silently cursed herself for not considering the possibility that she would encounter a Jedi. She was stood above Kashyyyk, where the Silver Jedi Order rested. This was another oversight, another mistake. Before she could allow her paranoia to take over Ella centered herself so as to remain calm. She was a former Jedi Knight who had served in countless battles and wars. A perfect alibi for any questions made to her.

Watching Rick punch in the numbers Ella made a mental note of them and followed him into the rest of the ship.