Chance Encounters Part A
The blue and orange world of Dentav sat unassumingly in orbit of its sun. The average-sized world was much like the majority of habitable worlds in the Outer Rim, colonized by people from the Core Worlds and Mid Rim, as they spread out to new opportunities and adventure.
Over the long years, since it’s colonization, it had done it’s best to recreate the life and culture of the Core Worlds. To some measure it succeeded. Many who brought wealth with them to build their own little domains flourished, and some created fortunes out of nothing but empty hands and dreams. Of course, the vast majority weren’t as fortunate. They made up a useful work force.
A number of different, rather common, products were manufactured here. Still, it was known almost exclusively as a waypoint for commerce and travel. In the days of the Old Republic, as political pressures grew, many trade lanes became engulfed in small wars, pirate fleets, and all sorts of unrecorded dangers.
Dentav, in the unassuming Sorell System, came to prominence as the gateway between the Outer Rim and the Mid Rim. Old Republic naval movements often passed through and many wealthy families and companies invested in top of the line ships and mercenary forces. Businessmen always put high stock in security and safety, an d Dentav offered this. It was an ideal place for corporate ventures and Dentav flourished and business boomed. The rich got richer and the poor had work and all sorts of opportunities.
The Consolidated Guilds held planetary power, handling most economic decisions. Over Republic, governmental, and nonbusiness issues the guilds named a family to a place of authority. The Bannagossoss family was the first and governed through the end of the Republic. They and the guilds gained a great deal throughout the turmoil of the dying Republic, but with the birth of the Empire, things changed.
Order was restored. Imperial ships began to spread out, actively securing the major trade lanes. In turn, the old and quicker paths became viable again for all business, staving off trade and commerce on and around Dentav. As the spotlight moved away from Dentav, smugglers and “less moral” traffic started to come through. The Bannagossoss didn’t care for the new direction of Dentav society and resisted it. Looking at the changes and seeing the potential, but also some noticing annoyance among guild members, the Consolidated Guilds needed a scapegoat. The Bannagossoss made a suitable one, and they were removed from power in response. A more docile and controllable family was placed in power, and one family after another rose and fell, fitting the guilds needs.
So the new status quo came to be. Where corporations like Sorosub and Grentak once docked, smugglers and various questionable merchants now came. The feel of this world had changed. The Sector Moff, for the most part, turned a blind eye and many wealthy families fled to greener worlds. Others, that would have fled, saw their fortunes disappear in collapsed business deals and overwhelming banking difficulties. Others were happy to take full advantage of the situation and profit from less savory endeavors. The vast majority that wanted to leave, would never be able to afford flight and were trapped between the opulent and the opportunists.
The Empire had let things slip here, indeed. Too many good citizens were left to slip between the cracks. But that would change now.
Major Lek continued to look out the forward window of the Imperial Dreadnaught Vendetta. The ship and its two sister dreadnaughts slowly moved into the Sorell System and towards Dentav. Feeling the power surge beneath his feet and all around him was indeed indescribable. This, and the responsibility placed in his hands, brought images of what his father had done in the dark struggle of the Clone Wars. He would do his father’s memory and the Emperor’s will proud, he vowed this. At the end of the bridge, practically against the forward window, he felt like he alone stood against the dangers facing the Empire. He knew he wasn’t of course. The ship’s captain and the Emperor’s delegate stared mutely, watching the approach, and him.
They were both incredibly smug men as far as he was concerned. The captain seemed more than self-assured of his abilities and his supremacy. The delegate, Murral, was much the same, but he was also…unnerving. He wished he could tell why. Suffice to say, he did not care for these men. The problem was that they were his superiors and answerable to people he could only wish to be directly answerable to.
Still, finding and detaining the threat on the planet ahead was his honor, and his alone. It was there that these two and the Empire would see the Lek legacy shine bright again, he vowed this.
As the Vendetta reached orbit, Captain Kavry began calling out orders and began the process of setting the capital ship in a geosynchronous orbit above the capital city of the world, Tamro City. It wasn’t as if the bridge crew hadn’t made this maneuver hundreds of times before, a cadet…no a Wookie could pull it off. But Kavry wanted everyone to know who was the captain. As the simple maneuver was completed, Kavry began walking towards Lek and the main window. Doing so, his heavy boots clanged against the deckplate beneath him. It was all measured and timed, but that was something even an Ithorians could be trained to do. Along with the captain, Murral as well moved forward, but far more quietly.
Lek had began getting used to Murral’s quiet demeanor and wondered what he cloaked beneath it. Worse yet, he wasn’t even military. He knew this was a man not to be trusted, or to turn your back on.
Turning to face the two men as they approached him, the Major stood at attention, knowing orders were coming. Looking at them he could see the tension between the two men grow. They disliked each other as much, if not more than he loathed them. Clearly they saw the other as an impediment to their own progress in ascension, and a burden to be shoved away as soon as possible.
Murral, the pale dark figure, spoke first. Coldly, he said, “How long until our forces can be on the planet and in position to strike?”
Knowing his men and their skill, he confidently said, “Fifteen minutes, sir.”
Stepping in, the Captain interjected, “Then join your men and land now.”
Nodding to the captain, then the emissary, Lek snapped his hands behind his back and strode off. Now it was his time to shine. He would lead his men in and bring order from and victory to the Empire.
Reaching the lift to the hangar bay, Lek suddenly felt someone was close by. Looking to his side, he found Murral, hovering beside him. Finding the small pale, darkly dressed man, materialize from nothing, was a definite surprise for this military man. Trying to show no surprise or interest in Murral’s actions, he calmly returned to waiting for the lift to arrive. In a measured and casual tone, Lek said, “Sir?”
Quietly, but confidently, speaking, Murral said, “Major, I will be accompanying you to the surface for this military action.”
A little surprised, Lek quickly said, “Sir, that is hardly necessary, unnecessary in fact. My troops will contain the danger and then you can make your entrance and inspect the aftermath, for the Emperor.”
As the lift doors opened the Major stepped in and Murral followed him. At his side, Murral slowly shook his head. “No, no, you do not understand. I am not talking about a desire to be in the heat of battle. I rather loathe such…frivolity.” Basking in his own superiority, he paused for a moment before continuing, “No, the Emperor has personally asked me to land with you and aid you in ensuring none of the quarry elude your troops.”
Definitively shocked, he stared at the emissary. “The Emperor himself?”
Sighing, he said, “Of course, Major. But I fear you may be offended. Rest assured that the Emperor does not lack faith in your men. In fact, I doubt he notices their existence. The simple fact is that your quarry is not the standard rabble. They are rather irritating rabble, Jedi.”
Looking again at the emissary, he found himself struck by agitation. “Jedi? Their are still some in existence?”
Gravely, Murral said, “Yes.”
“This would have been more useful to know before we arrived. This is certainly an annoyance.”
“Major, you are told things when you need to know. Rest assured you are capable of handling this threat. I am sure they will offer some fight, but not enough resistance to be a threat to Imperial might. That is why you are here, correct? You are quite capable of striking fast and utterly, or are you less then worthy of this mission?”
Standing tall, Major Lek said, “I can handle any and all operations that the Emperor needs to be done. It is a honor to face these threats and neutralize them.” Peering at Murral, he continued, “I just prefer to avoid unnecessary surprises. They only offer opportunities for error.”
“Possibly, but you know now. I have some experience in tracking and dealing with these Jedi. I will be able to find any that slip through your net, and ensure that their threat is no more. I am merely your backup.”
Lek looked impassively forward as the lift doors opened.
As the two men stepped out, Murral said, “It is the Emperor’s will, no Jedi must leave this world alive.”
Book One Index