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"Al-"Just as Grausd answered, a report sounded in from one of the elite forces."T-this *bizz* is Alpha 1 *bizz* we're cut ff from base, we survived the storm-commando's, but one of my men was lost.*Bizz*.We need help,*berrrssshhhh-bizzzzzzz* we can't find a clear way back."

Graus looked at the ex-knight and then hurried over to grab a staff-member."Bring up the sensors and find that team, get them a way back."

As the team stood in the enterence to the tunnel, they looked through all there supplies for explosives. So far there seems enough, three thermal dets would do the job.

As the rest of the team waited down the tunnel, Zepth activated one of the dets and ran for it. Soon the squad was make there way toward the base via this hidden tunnel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Graus gripped the hilt to his saber, a shota hung on his belt as an extra pre-caution and if he needed more of an edge."Sith are my specialty. They are why I brought so many of my brethren to join the GLF. To rid the worlds of this sith presence."

He turned to Archaras and grined."I am always ready.

"We will let him come to us. We have full command of this base, he is our mouse. We will direct him to were we please."Graus touched a screen that held a view over the base."We will take him here."He indicated the hanger, where Archaras ship was."We will be the last out. That last commando squad will take off with us."

Graus relaxed his shoulders and the rest of his body, he had been stiff sense he was rudely awakened from bed, but his fingers still firmly held his saber."He is strong, but no match for the two of us."

Aboard The Roan Fel

Tantis began to ready himself for the upcoming mission. He had no idea what it was that the Commander wanted him to do but he sure enough wasnt going to find out and be caught off guard. He got dressed and pulled his rebreather and face mask over his face. He sat at the tip of his desk and stood up he looked at the star lines as they continued to move through hyperspace to Utapau. Tantis walked over to the door and walked out, he closed the door, lightsaber in hand and clipped it to his side. He then walked to the bridge were the commander would be.

The journey to Utapau was uneventful, so far. No waylays, no Sith problems. The core of the battlegroup itself was bound for the chief planet in the system, with the others scattering some to keep attenion to a minimum, while still close enough to act.

Commander Sven was in his private quarters on the side of the bridge, going through the latest transmissions from Loyalist cells elsewheres.

((Amature Jedi. The whole lot of you.))
Reido’s Sullustian transport floated in the jump zone of Junction, maneuvering itself carefully in the direction for a Jump up the Hydian. As it did so, it scanned the surrounding space, checking the movement of other ships as they flitted in and out of Junction’s gravity well.

Unbeknownst to the casual observer, the freighter’s passive scan hid a piggy-back focused scan, a scan specifically looking for a certain type of ship.
“Well now…that is interesting.” Reido murmered as he observed the sensor read-out. “There’s an awful lot of Hutt traffic in system.”
“That is not unusual for this stretch of the Hydian is it?” Link asked. “Bandomeer and Junction both have signifigant Hutt presences.”
“Not as much as you’d think. The slugs do their business behind closed doors. An overt presence here just chases off any money they’d make from Corporate Sector interests. But that’s not all.” Reido typed up a command on his sensor screen, Rodese lettering flashing and rearranging itself to meet his requests. “A lot of these ships all are owned by the same business: Mantellian Interstellar Freight and Shipping.”

Link peered at the screen curiously. “Mantellian? As in Ord Mantell?”
“The same. The Head bungo of which is a slug by the name of Gordo. He’s had a considerable interest in this stretch of space for the last two years but no one knows why for sure. Scuttlebutt ranges from a hidden hyperspace Route he’s uncovered to weapon smuggling for Loyalist Guerillas to hunting the treasure of the Pirate King Darksun. And that last one is an especially juicy rumor.”

Link nodded as he listened, still trying to decipher the Rodese scrawl on the sensor screen. When Reido didn’t continue, the Jedi looked up to find himself staring into the Ranger’s pitch black eyes.

“So, Jedi Darksun, feel like explaining to me why the same two Nikto I saw in that Biscuit Baron on Bandomeer happen to be having a friendly conversation on Junction?”

Link remained silent.
“Don’t play dumb, Jedi. You noticed ‘em too. And if you didn’t, then you’re even dumber than you’re playing at.”

Link sat back in his chair and turned to look at the stars outside the window still remaining quiet.

The Rodian folded his arms and tapped a sucker tipped finger on the sleeve of his jacket.
“Listen, pal:” He said, fixing Link with a stare. “The Antarian Rangers exist to help and serve Jedi. We take it upon ourselves to provide the Jedi with the tools they need to do the job they’re supposed to do. But I can’t help you if you keep me out of the loop. I’m not some helpless Civilian that could get hurt when the shooting starts or who might get in your way in whatever mission you set for yourself. I’m a Rodian blastman and pilot with generations of hunter’s blood flowing in my veins, years of experience under my gunbelt, and a knowledge of the current Galaxy that you seem to lack.”
He looked out to the stars, watching starships moving to jump to lightspeed. “Now, I’ve tragged your shebs from one place to another; dodging sith, getting my ship shot at, and running from world to world without a single credit crossing my palm or a question sliping from my snout. But the more I see, the less and less I feel that you’re out to do anything to benefit the galaxy.”

“You think that this one is unbefitting the title of Jedi.”
“Yeah, actually.”

Link folded his hands into the sleeves of his tunic and nodded. “Then tell, What do think a should a Jedi be?”
Reido thought a moment. “A Jedi should be a defender of the people, a protector of the Galaxy and a warrior for peace against the forces of evil.”

Link sighed and shook his head.
“Fighting for peace is akin to fornicating for chastity. The Galaxy has many protectors, Jedi are not paragons of virtue and goodliness, and while it is required of us that we serve and protect the galaxy and its population, it should not be our responsibility alone.”

Link gazed at the Rodian, his face suddenly seeming much older than it was.
“There was a time, not so long ago, when this one believed that he fought for peace and justice; that he was battling against an Evil that threatened the entire Galaxy. He took the skills that he had learned, and he plunged headlong into war to combat that evil.”
Link paused, memories flashing past his eyes.
Then, he spoke again, slowly, almost painfully.

“I killed thousands with my bare hands. I used the life force of every breathing creature around me, and I used it to end life.”

“For a while, I honestly believed that I was doing good, that these minions of evil had to die. For three years I fought and killed, my name striking terror into my enemies’ hearts. But with each life I took, it weighed upon my soul. It dawned upon me that these were not evil men, that the cause that they fought for was not as evil as I had believed. I had been blinded by my views, and it drove my soul to darkness. And then the enemy won the war I had fought so hard in.”

His gaze drifted back to the void of space for a moment as he took another breath.
“When the war was over, I surrendered myself to my enemies, to pay for the crimes I committed. I was certain to be executed. But I did not struggle, did not complain. For all the evil that I had done I felt that it was a punishment I deserved. But then I encountered a creature of shadowstuff, a foul beast more twisted and sinister than I. My heart was still dark and because of that it defeated me. For only Light can chase away the Dark. Fighting a shadow with darkness just creates a larger, stronger shadow.”

“My narrow views led to much pain and suffering and almost to my own destruction. Now this one must atone for his deeds.”

The Rodian had listened to the entire story, still looking skeptical. “And whats this have to do with your connection to a pirate treasure?”

“This one has much to owe his ancestor. He wished for his descendents to find it, and to honor his memory, this one will locate it. And if it prevents a Hutt from gaining wealth better spent in the pockets of the needy, then it is a galactic service that this one finds that treasure.” He paused, seemingly uncertain for a moment. “In addition, this one has the strangest feeling that the Force almost wills it that this one find the treasure.”

It was now Reido’s turn to be silent. He tapped his fingers on the sleeve of his coat for a time, then turned back to his controls.
“Works for me. Lets roll, Jedi.”
With that, the sullustian freighter lept into hyperspace.

Seemingly by coincidence, a band of Hutt Starships jumped as well, their bows pointed in the wake of Reido’s freighter…

Tantis sensing the clamness away from the bridge followed that sense to the Commanders quarters. He stood at the door, and thought to himself. This better be good, and he better not be waisting my time, I have training to do. He knocked, and awaited his superior to answer.