NationStates Jolt Archive

The Assembly Hall at the Taldaan Force Academy was massive, a great edifice of polished white marble and dark obsidian. Sturdy, tastefully ornamented pillars rose of from the smooth floor to support the great domed roof overhead. It had been built three millennia ago, fifty years after the formation of the Jedi Order, and was believed to be among the most awe-inspiring buildings in the system. Surrounded by lush parkland, it was a haven of respite and learning for both trainees and masters alike. Just outside the opened double doors, a fountain shot its cool crystal water into the evening air. At the other end of the hall, a mural was painted depicting the founding ceremony of the Academy.

As breathtaking as the building was, Lord Ytrius found the students inside to be the greater treasure. He stood on the raised platform at the end of the hall, directly under the mural. He wore his characteristic white robe, a black belt around his waist holding his twin lightsabers in a cross-draw scabbard. Before him sat around twenty students, the oldest class at the academy. With their last year almost gone, they would soon be taking their tests and becoming full warriors of the Jedi Order. Well, that was once the way it worked.

"Students, I have come before you today to make a very important announcement."

Faces looked up immediately. Ytrius was normally not one to make announcements, he usually left such things to the masters. This had to be somthing big.

"As you know, at the end of this year you will be examined in a number of subjects needed in the Jedi Order. After this, should you pass, you will be granted the title of Knight and become a full member of the order with all the rights and responsibilities that come with that.

However, in light of recent events, and I of course refer to our recent discovery of life across the galaxy, I and the rest of the Masters have decided to alter the course of scholarship here. The reason why I have not assembled the whole academy is that this applies mainly to you. The other students will be informed in due course.

The examinations have been cancelled. Now, before you get too excited, there will be a new procedure in their place. This new stage in your education focuses more on practical work. Instead of being promoted to Knight, you will instead be granted the new title of Wanderer. After the end of this year, you will be scattered in all directions from this system, and sent into the vast wilderness of space. You will remain outside Taldaan for three years, at which point you will return and be fully initiated into the Jedi Order. It will be your responsiblity to survive, and we will judge you on your exploits when you return. All we ask is that you retain the lessons we have taught you here."

Ytrius let the news sink in before continuing.

"As for your transport out, we will supply you with a ship, a full tank of fuel, and a full hold of provisions and essentials. If you wish to take personal effects, there is a small locker on board. Now, does anyone have any questions?"

A small, dark girl in the front row put her hand up.

"Riyka?"

"Master Ytrius, what sort of ship will we be given?"

Ytrius smiled at this.

"I was hoping you would ask."

He took a small holo-projector out of his pocket and held it in front of him.

"Well, I suppose that you thought that I would equip you with an Academy yacht, or in the case of some of you with military ties, one of the new Firefly-class fighters. Well, in either case you are wrong, and I don't blame you."

He thumbed the switch. A glowing image appeared, obviously a single-seater ship. It appeared to be both armed and shielded, and its sleek curves seemed to hold an intangible menace. Many of the students shrank back at the first sight, but then became less frightened, and more curious.

"Master, what is that?"

"I think that the more appropriate question would be 'who is that?' This is a Vendrafex. Highly secret, highly classified, so I would appreciate it if you mentioned them to no-one. Now, many of you would look at a Vendrafex and see a single-seat fighter, and in a way you would be right. However, you would also be drastically wrong. This is not an it, ladies and gentlemen, but a he. The Vendrafex is not just a combat vessel, it is a living creature. While it is a ship, it is run by a living biological computer. This allows us to use analogue rather than digital programming, giving it great intelligence. As well as providing transport, the Vendrafex will also provide advice, as well as automation of many systems. We were also able to remove sensors from the Vendrafex hull, as the creature is telepathic. Of course, this also allows you to fly it through telepathy. A full users manual is included, but piloting is easy and the ship will teach you as you go.

By some coincidence, we have nineteen of these, enough for one each. Remember, take good care of them. They are living too, and highly sentient. And, as exams were scheduled for tomorrow, I believe that you may set off then instead. Don't take too much personal stuff, you won't have much room to stow it."

The students left the room talking frantically. Opinion was divided almost equally between those who hated the idea and those who thought of it as an adventure.

ooc: OK, so this is basically an excuse to interfere in your RPs. Bite me. :p Anyway, if anyone wants an unexperience Jedi turning up in their realm, I'm only a TG or MSN conversation away.

ooc: I'd be interested in a 'visit', MSN vc_64@yahoo.ca

Nineteen Vendrafexes scattered from the surface of the planet like grapeshot, each riding a tail of blue light. More in a mess than any recognisable formation, each pilot was still learning how to fly. Like Ytrius had said, piloting a Vendrafex was easy, but none of the students had had much practice time. It had been agreed that the young Jedi would head in a different direction, spreading out across the galaxy. Keeping this in mind, they broke off from the pack and prepared to launch in different directions.

Mikos Ravell twitched in his flight suit. The fingers of his left hand beat a nervous drumroll against his knees, while with his right hand he grasped the control stick. While many of the controls were telepathic, the control stick was something that had been left in. It was more for comfort than anything else, but efficiency was not reduced by it.

Although the Vendrafex was certainly far smoother to fly than the Academy yachts, something about sharing the journey with a half-machine, half-brain scared him. He could subconciously feel it there underneath the armour plating, making its calculations, thinking away.

As if it the ship had read its mind, and it probably had, a hologram flared into life next to the controls. He recoiled at its sudden appearance.

"Greetings, Mikos. I am Indus. I see that you react with fear, and I assure you that there is no need to be afraid of me."

It spoke at a moderate pitch, its pronunciation smooth and even. An educated voice, sounding as if it would belong to an academic, or possibly one of the Masters. He found it somewhat reassuring, hearing that it had a human voice, but also unnerving.

The avatar that Indus appeared in at the moment was a face, rendered in deep green. It was the sort of face that could be found on Greek statues, chiselled and boldly rendered. Although the neck was there, there was no evidence of shoulders or body. The eyes were a deep blue, taking in everything in the small compartment. The nostrils flared slightly with each simulated breath, and the mouth, although apparently expressionless, had a brief flick at each end which was possibly a smile.

"How did you know I was afraid? Hang on, how did you even know my name?"

"I was told your name around fifteen minutes before you arrived at the pad. As for your state of mind, I deduced that from your diagnostics. Your flightsuit and helmet give me data about your heart rate, breathing rate, and brain activity, as well as commands."

"Oh. Thats... good to know."

"It worries you, does it not? That I know so much about you, and you so little about me?"

"A little. I've had no experience with something like you before."

There was a chcukle from the avatar.

"I'll grant you that one mistake. Please remember, I am no mere computer. I am someone, not something. Still, lets not allow this to interfere with our relationship. I take it that you do not know how to pilot me?"

"Only a little. How long would it take to teach me the controls?"

There was a sudden rush in Mikos's head, a buzzing of neurons linking together. His eyes blurred for a second, and then he looked up again with renewed confidence.

"You already know. This control helmet works both ways, although I have protocols to stop me from doing any damage. The dizziness should pass soon. Time to get down to business. Where do you want to go?"

"Um... I was just going to point the nose in a random direction, jump eight systems or so, and hope that I don't crash into an asteroid or something equally nasty."

"Well, I can take care of that. Shall we begin?"

Mikos's hands moved gently on the controls, nudging the Vendrafex over to the left. Indus looked on approvingly. Then, with a mental command, he increased the speed, the ship gliding faster and faster. They would have to leave the Warp Interdiction Zone before they could jump. Taldaan did not possess gravity well generators to drag ships out of FTL. What they did have was a law stating that jumps could not be made within a certain distance of a populated planet, and Mikos did not want to leave as a criminal.

As they left the WIZ, a message came crystal clear from the speakers.

"Mikos Ravell, you are clear to jump. Good luck."

Hearing this, he pushed the Merck Tunnel activation lever forward. This was one of the other manual controls in the ship, although navigation was done through telepathy. Mikos had rarely travelled by Merck Tunnel before, and it was with some trepidation that he saw the glowing cocoon close around him.

"Well, we're off."

"Yep. Where are we headed?"

"System 45U8. Nothing special there, as far as we know. You'll probably want to jump again soon after. After all, you're supposed to be fighting gallantly for the powers of good, not sitting in asteroid fields."

The journey took two hours, unsurprisingly. It was a quirk of the Merck Tunnel that all journeys took two hours. Mikos looked around and cried out. There were ships there. A fleet. Each ship appeared to be roughly oval shaped, many with strange protuberances. Looking to see what they were doing, he was amazed to discover that they were destroying everything in their path, taking it on board their ships. Miners, most likely, although on an enormous scale. With a quick estimation he judged the largest ships to be around three kilmotres long. However, the ships he was more worried about were the smaller ones on the perimeter. He moved the ship closer slowly, all stealth systems active. Most sensors would probably be jammed in a bubble around the Vendrafex, giving an illusion of blank space. Using the on-board active camouflage, he rendered the ship invisible to all but the most alery watcher. Then, satisfied that he was invisible, he moved in closer to get a better look.

Onboard the Frigate Miroko

"Captain, there appears to be a sensor abnormally on heading 1129-443-ML02."
"Not another one, this whole farking system is full of sensor ghosts. Enh, protocal dictates we investigate, open a channel to the Coqi."
"Channel open."

Between Miroko and Coqi
"Hey Frank, got a little mission for you."
"Another ghost?"
"Right. It's on heading 1129-443-ML02."
"If this is another wild goose chase you owe me a beer."
"Deal ya old pirate."

Onboard the Coqi
"Set course on heading 1129-443-ML02, we're going ghost hunting."
The comment was meet by a near universal groan.
"If we don't find anything, Jerome promised us a beer."
This was meet by near universal approval, as the Coqi rapidly closed the distance toward the newest ghost.

"Mikos, we're being tailed."

"I know."

The Vendrafex twisted to evade the other ship, cutting across it at almost ninety degrees. It was running slowly to prevent engine glow, engine glow which would attract ships like moths to a lightbulb. Twisting again to elude the pursuer, it resumed its course towards the main fleet.

"Are they still following?"

"I don't know. They may not have been to begin with, it could just have been a random course towards us. Still, if they can home in on us, they will probably find us. Active camouflage, although useful against a casual observer, won't stand up to any real scrutiny."

Mikos sat in the cockpit, hoping fervently that they would not be seen. If they were... he shuddered to think. Indus looked less worried, although Mikos wasn't sure why. In fact, the avatar seemed to be enjoying the chase.

ooc: OMG! 1111 posts!!!!1111

"Captain, the ghost is appearing to be moving, in a decidedly none ghost like pattern."
"Inform the others and set level three. It appears we may have a specter."
"Yes sir."

Transmitted to Miroko
We have found the ghost to be operating in a specter pattern. We are proceeding to investigate.

The Coqi angled in and continued to close on the 'Vendrafex'. The PD systems and the class two shields activated.

"Well, at least now we know that they can see us. Their pursuit continues."

Mikos paled at the news. His right hand clenched on the control stick.

"Indus, what can we do?"

"Well, we could always de-activate jamming, slow down, and hope that they show mercy."

"What? What if they decide to kill us?"

"They won't. Trust me. Besides, you're a Jedi aren't you? If their intentions are hostile, you should be able to escape."

"Alright, but if they kill me I'll die cursing your name."

"Deal."

Mikos shut off the jamming and camouflage, powered down the engines, and prepared to be shot at. Of course, the shields would absorb a few shots and allow his possible escape, but his hopes weren't particularly high. Of course, he reasoned with himself, if they had continued the chase they would eventually have been caught anyway. He lay back in his seat and waited.

"It is, or was a specter. The Miroko knows by now. Ask them who they are and what they're doing."
"Darn, no free rounds." One of the crew commented with a chuckle.

The Coqi trained a few light weapons systems on the strange vessel.

To Unknown vessel
This is the TS, TMF Coqi. We wish to know what your intentions are, who you are, why you are here and why you were sneaking around.

"See, Mikos? They aren't shooting."

Mikos smiled weakly and mentally opened the communications channel.

"I'm Mikos Ravell, from the Taldaan system. I'm here looking for work, I'm more of a freelancer than anything else, so I decided to jump to a random system and see what I could find. When I saw your vessels, I was intrigued but not overly sure of your stance towards visitors, so I decided to do some observation first."

Then he flopped back in his chair and waited for the shooting to begin.

"Odd person and ship." The avatar of the Coqi commented
"Ya." Frank replied

To Mikos
We don't follow a policy of shoot first, ask questions later. If you wish to see about work as you claim, follow, you'll get to talk to the military commander and depending on how that goes, the overall commander.

"Alright, then. I'll follow you."

He turned the Vendrafex around and followed the ship towards the fleet. The ships ahead grew larger with each passing second, looming massively into his field of view. He was worried still, not about the ship but about the Military Commander. Military men had always frightened him. There was something about the way that they could deaden their feelings that made his skin crawl. Still, he had little choice in the matter.

As they pulled up beside the Miroko.

To Mikos(Coqi)
Please enter the indicated bay of the Miroko. They will be taking over from us.

To Mikos(Miroko)
You shall be greeted once you enter the docking bay.

Mikos steered the Vendrafex into the docking bay with caution.

"Indus, once I'm in I want you to remove your avatar. It wouldn't do to reveal everything yet."

The small craft hovered just above the floor of the bay, engines almost idling as it cruised to its allotted space. Then, with a soft thud, it touched down. The hatch popped open in a whirr of servos, and Mikos swung a leg over the side. His helmet and pistol had been left on his seat, but his lightsaber was hidden in a concealed pocket in the flightsuit. It would not do to go unarmed yet, although it was his intention not to use force.

He looked around. There were various ships lying around, and it looked much like he had expected it to. Walking towards him, he could see a group of people who were probably the welcome party.

"Hi! I'm Mikos!"

"I figured as much. I'm Captain Jerome Illid of the Theao Mining Fleet." Jerome replied as he stepped forward to shake Mikos's hand. "So what are you doing here and what kind of stuff are you looking for?" He asked

Mikos, thinking quickly, decided that it was probably best not to reveal his Jedi status yet. That would be his ace up the sleeve.

"Back home in Taldaan, I work for a bounty hunting operation. Although not a full member, I recently completed my internal training and they've sent me out for some real-world experience. I ended up here completely at random. So if you've got any jobs lined up, I'm here."

He smiled thinly, trying to look as professional as possible.

Jerome looked up and down Mikos. "You'll have to forgive me if I don't believe you, you don't carry yourself like a hunter." Jerome commented, "As to where there we have any possible jobs, right this way while I go check."

As they walked, a 'man' dropped back beside Mikos and commented in a low voice, "Jerome tends not to like those who are untruthful or who bend thier word."

Mikos followed closely. The bounty hunting story was at least partly true, he assured himself. After all, a Jedi often did much the same work as a bounty hunter, except they were not paid. Perhaps Captain Jerome would accept that.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but does this mining fleet belong to a nation or are you independent?"