A Call to Order: Bothan Business

[Evil Hobgoblin]

There wasn't much forest or wilderness left on the planet of Bothawui. Much of the planet had been developed for economic reasons of one kind or another. What was left, was usually kept for tourists.

Willing to sell away much, they are, for the right opportunity.

Hobgoblin, Dark Jedi of the Black Hand, gazed out upon one of the few pockets of nature left on the planet from the cargo ramp of a small freighter. Its owner was dead, and would have no further use for it. Hob could put it to much use.

Inside the ship, three people slept. Zasz Grimm, Jibrielle Abunai, and T'air'un Bled, all affiliated with the Hand as well and all here to promote its ends. Hob reached out into the Force and touched their minds briefly, lightly, just to see what they dreamt of. He did not want to wake them himself. They would wake, he knew, when the time was right and the moment proper.

This would be as much a test of their capabilities as it would be a work for the Hand. A Senator to the Republic would fall, and he would have to fall in such a way that his replacement would be one handpicked. They would need to serve the interests of the Hand.

Quietly, Hob sat down on the ramp and began to commune with his surroundings. He had plenty of time and could afford to lose himself in the Force for an hour or two.

[T'air'un Bled]

The change in the environment was subtle, but enough disturb T'air'un Bled's slumber. Within seconds, his eyes flashed open. He could feel the ship had stopped, and the hum of the engine had disappeared. He looked around for a second as his memory came back to him. He knew that Master Hobgoblin had told two of his Jedi students as well as T'air'un to accompany him on this mission. Bled rarely understood what was going on at Bast, and this was no exception. He was the newest member to the Black Hand, the least skilled in the ways of the force, though not for lack of trying. T'air'un decided that he had been kept in the dark just long enough, and decided to find out what was going on.

* * *

Bled found Hobgoblin sitting near the entrance to the ship. T'air stood silent for a second or two, watching him carefully. He still remembered the Dwarf's strength with the Force. It was because of this that T'air'un kept his distance from all the people of Bast. He found trouble trying to speak to him, his throat choked with emotion, but he forced a calm voice. The last thing he needed was a Dark Jedi to know his fear.

"Master Hobgoblin, I apologize for intruding on your meditation, however I still don't understand why we are here. Would you please enlighten me as to our mission?"

He watched the little man intently, and kept his wits about him. He was not about to be caught flat footed if him or his apprentices decided to turn on him.

[Jibrielle Abunai]

Tonight, like the past week, her dreams were black and empty. They left a bitter taste in her mouth when she woke and today was no exception. Yawning, she forced herself to sit up and blinked sleepily. Zasz was still asleep, but the other man was nowhere to be seen.

Yawning once more, Jibrielle rose to her feet and walked through the ship, her footsteps echoing until she came to the ramp. There she saw the man and Hobgoblin, and reached up to rub her eyes.

"Greetings, Master," she said softly, then lapsed back into silence.

[Zasz Grimm]

Zasz opened his eyes quickly. He had been having the same dream over and over. He stayed motionless for minutes. As they progressed he slowly started to get up. All the while he was thinking, thinking of the dream. He shook his head and got dressed.

Tapping a button on a pannel caused the door to his room to slide open. He stepped out into the corridor and inhaled. He turned and started to walk, feeling something familiar - his masters force signature. He moved slowly, in no rush. As he did so, he ran a hand through his crimson hair, seperating it.

He was finishing that up when he saw Jibrielle, the new person T'air'un Bled, and Master Hobgoblin. He didn't say a word, it wasn't needed. Moving forward he stopped not that far behind them, his blood red pupils observing...

[Evil Hobgoblin]

"Our mission, young Bled, is simply complex."

His three assistants were up and ready, and so now would Hob need to be engaged in the struggle to twist the Republic.

"The Bothan Senator to the Republic is typical of his race," Hob explained. "Blind, ambitious, politically knowledgeable. A perfect asset to our cause, but for his fierce independance."

"He must be removed."

The dwarf looked at Zasz. "I know little of his political opponents, but that there are two with repute. I would know more of them."

"Zasz, seek the Senator Ruo'trey. His security is strong, but you are stronger. Gather what information you can on his activities, his likes, his interests, his opponents. The more we know, the stronger a trap we will weave."

"T'air'un, you will scout candidate Vact. My sources indicate he is the kind of Senator the Republic desires, and I would confirm this."

"Jibrielle, the candidate Kowrin is yours. I sense he is our best opportunity to succeed here. You must forge a link between him and the Hand, and he must be the dependant partner."

A slight breeze ran through the area, swaying nearby tree limbs and adding a light touch of victory to the mood of the area. "Now, go. Begin the twisting of Bothawui."

[Zasz Grimm]

Zasz moved around the other two Apprentices to his Master. He turned his head back to his Master and slowly nodded his head downwards in acknowledgement of his mission. Again, no words were needed for him. Zasz continued down the ramp, silently yet quickly. When he came into thicker brush, he picked up the pace..

Senator Ruo'trey's movements would be easy for the Dark Jedi to track, and still be able to stay hidden. But first he had to get through the forest, and then to the city, and them to the Senators home.

His Masters ship was now far behind him as he progressed through the area, moving at a quickened pace, using the Dark Side to aide his movements, making him faster...

He would soon be within the cities limits...

[T'air'un Bled]

Bled nodded toward Master Hobgoblin. Considering his assignment.

"As you wish."

He slowly walked out of the ship and toward the city. It had been a long time since he'd been to Bothawai, he didn't remember much aside from the fact that the city didn't smell as good as the park they were in. It was obvious that T'air'un didn't have as much zeal about this assignment as Zasz. He might be excited too if his job weren't simply spying. There was no finesse, glory, or money involved in tracking target, but Bled wasn't stupid enough to say no to a member of the Black Hand. T'air was a bounty hunter, reduced to a stalker, but he was determined to do his best, even on a crappy assignment. He walked slowly, thinking about how best to accomplish his mission.