C221 Diplomatic Assassination

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The orbit of Naboo was dominated by the dark silhouettes of the Trade Federation's blockade. The fleet, a seemingly impenetrable line of Lucrehulk-class battleships, hung over the serene blue planet like a dark shroud.

At the center of the blockade was the largest of the warships, its massive, circular hull bristling with weapons. Droid fighters zipped between the battleships in coordinated patterns, maintaining their vigil as the planet below struggled under the weight of foreign occupation.

Seconds later, a small ship, sleek and silver dropped out of hyperspace at the edge of the blockade. The vessel's polished surface gleamed as it approached, guided with calm precision by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.

Beside him, in the co-pilot seat, sat his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The younger Jedi's expression was focused, his blue eyes scanning the flickering sensor readouts in front of him.

Obi-Wan frowned, tapping at the console. "Master, it appears the rumors were true," he said, his voice tinged with concern. "Naboo is completely surrounded. This blockade is more than just a show of force—it's an act of war."

Qui-Gon nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the central battleship. "We must report this to the council immediately."

Obi-Wan pressed a few more buttons on the console, attempting to open a communication channel. "I'll send a confirmation back to Coruscant now."

But the signal fizzled with static, and the screen displayed a message indicating that the transmission was blocked.

"They're jamming our communications," Obi-Wan muttered, his brow furrowing. "It seems they're determined to cut off any outside interference."

Before Qui-Gon could respond, the ship's comm system crackled to life. A cold, curt voice filled the cockpit. "Unidentified vessel, you have entered a restricted zone. This area is under the jurisdiction of the Trade Federation. You are ordered to leave immediately or face the consequences."

Qui-Gon activated the comm, his voice calm and measured. "This is Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, accompanied by my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi. We have been dispatched by the Jedi Council to mediate this situation. We seek a peaceful resolution and request an audience to discuss the terms of your blockade."

A brief, tense silence followed. Obi-Wan glanced at his Master, sensing the underlying tension. "Do you think they'll even consider diplomacy, Master?"

Qui-Gon's gaze didn't waver from the battleship looming before them. "We must offer them the chance. It's our duty to seek peace first."

The comm crackled again, the voice returning with a newfound, forced politeness. "Jedi, you are welcome to board our main battleship. Please follow the provided flight path, and you will be escorted to a secure meeting area."

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged a brief look, the silent communication of two warriors who had fought side by side for years. They both sensed the unease growing in the Force, like a low, distant rumble before a storm.

"It seems they are willing to speak with us," Obi-Wan said cautiously.

Qui-Gon's lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes. But something feels… off. Stay alert."

He guided their ship onto the designated path, the engines humming softly as they moved toward the massive battleship. The hangar bay door yawned open like the mouth of a great beast, swallowing them into its cavernous interior.

The hangar was a hive of activity. Droid fighters were lined up in neat rows, being refueled and prepped for deployment. Battle droids marched in formation, their clanking metal feet echoing off the walls. Workers scurried about, directing the droids and loading crates of supplies.

The Jedi's ship landed gently on the polished floor of the hangar, its ramp lowering with a hiss. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stepped out, their robes billowing slightly in the artificial breeze of the ship's ventilation system. They were met immediately by a squad of B1 battle droids, their mechanical limbs jerking as they snapped to attention.

One of the droids, with a yellow stripe indicating its rank as a commander, stepped forward. Its mechanical voice crackled to life, flat and emotionless. "The Viceroy has been informed of your arrival. You will follow us to the meeting room. Please do not resist."

Obi-Wan's mouth twitched into a wry smile. "Charming, aren't they?"

Qui-Gon's face remained impassive, but his eyes held a glint of amusement. "Let's see where they lead us."

The two Jedi fell into step behind the droid squad, their boots clicking softly against the metal floor. They moved through the hangar, passing rows of droid fighters and racks of blaster rifles. Obi-Wan's gaze swept the area, taking in the unusually large number of battle droids for what was supposedly a trading corporation.

"This is far too much firepower," Obi-Wan murmured, keeping his voice low. "Something else is going on here."

Qui-Gon's expression was thoughtful, his eyes distant as if listening to a sound only he could hear. "Yes, I feel it too. There is a disturbance in the Force. Be mindful, Obi-Wan. We must tread carefully."

The droids led them deeper into the ship, down narrow corridors that were eerily silent except for the mechanical hum of the ship's engines. The cold, sterile walls seemed to press in on them, amplifying the sense of unease that permeated the air.

Finally, they stopped in front of a large, reinforced door. The droid commander turned, gesturing stiffly. "The Viceroy will meet you here. Please wait inside."

The door slid open with a metallic hiss, revealing a stark, bare meeting room. The walls were unadorned, the only furniture a long metal table with several chairs arranged around it. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a harsh, white glow that did nothing to warm the sterile atmosphere.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged a brief glance before stepping inside. The moment they crossed the threshold, the door slid shut behind them with a heavy thud, the sound echoing ominously in the small room.

Obi-Wan's eyes darted to the closed door, his senses sharpening. "Master, this feels like a trap."

Qui-Gon nodded slowly, his face unreadable but his voice steady. "Yes, Padawan. It seems our hosts were expecting us."

Obi-Wan's hand drifted closer to the hilt of his lightsaber, his fingers brushing the cool metal. "What now?"

Qui-Gon moved to the center of the room, placing both hands on the table. He closed his eyes briefly, reaching out with the Force, sensing the currents of tension and malice swirling through the ship.

"We wait," Qui-Gon said softly. "And we stay vigilant."

Outside the door, the muffled clanking of droid footsteps faded away, leaving the Jedi alone in the silence of the cold, metal room.

The silence that followed was deafening, a momentary pause before the storm. Obi-Wan's instincts flared, a cold shiver running down his spine as he glanced at his Master. "Master, something's not right."

Qui-Gon's expression hardened. He closed his eyes, reaching out with the Force, and felt it immediately—a subtle shift in the air, a faint hissing sound barely audible over the ship's ambient noise.

"The air…" Qui-Gon said quietly, opening his eyes. "They're siphoning the oxygen from the room."

Obi-Wan's breathing became shallow, the realization dawning on him as he felt the pressure in his lungs. He clutched at his throat reflexively, the air becoming thin and cold. "They're trying to suffocate us."

Qui-Gon's face remained calm, but his eyes flashed with a fierce resolve. "Then we give them no time to succeed."

With a smooth, practiced motion, Qui-Gon drew his lightsaber, the green blade igniting with a sharp hiss, illuminating the room in an ethereal glow. Obi-Wan followed suit, his blue blade humming to life as the two Jedi moved toward the sealed door.

Qui-Gon plunged his saber into the door, the green plasma cutting effortlessly into the thick durasteel. Sparks showered the floor as Obi-Wan stepped beside him, his blue blade slicing through the door in tandem. The heat from their lightsabers melted the metal, turning it molten and sending rivulets of liquid steel trickling down.

The Jedi worked in unison, cutting a wide, circular exit in the heavy door. Obi-Wan thrust his boot against the weakened section, and with a forceful kick, the cut-out piece of the door fell away, clattering loudly into the corridor beyond.

As the two Jedi stepped out, a hail of blaster fire greeted them. They barely had a moment to react, their lightsabers flashing in a blur as they deflected the incoming bolts.

The narrow hallway was filled with a squad of B1 battle droids, their mechanical voices droning in unison, "Open fire! Destroy the Jedi!"

"Roger Roger!"

Obi-Wan surged forward, his blade spinning in tight, controlled arcs. He deflected a shot aimed at his head, redirecting it back into a droid's chest. The machine sputtered and collapsed into a heap of smoking metal.

Qui-Gon moved with the calm grace of a seasoned warrior, his green saber cutting through the droids' ranks like a blade through grass. He sidestepped a blaster bolt, pivoting smoothly as his saber cleaved through two droids at once. The pieces fell to the floor, clattering like discarded toys.

The droids continued firing, their aim relentless, but the Jedi danced through the barrage. Obi-Wan deflected a flurry of shots with swift, precise movements, his saber a blue blur. He lunged forward, slicing a droid clean in half before spinning and taking down another.

Qui-Gon ducked low, avoiding a volley of bolts aimed at his head. He thrust his saber upward in a powerful arc, impaling a droid through its midsection. The machine sparked and twitched before collapsing, lifeless.

The hallway filled with the acrid smell of scorched metal as the Jedi cut through the last of the initial wave of droids. For a brief moment, silence fell, the only sound the hum of their lightsabers.

But the respite was short-lived.

A loud, rolling sound echoed down the corridor, the unmistakable clatter of heavy metal against metal. Obi-Wan's face hardened as he recognized the noise. "Droidekas," he said, his voice edged with tension.

Three Droidekas rolled into view, their segmented bodies unfolding with mechanical precision. In an instant, they deployed their shimmering energy shields, twin blaster cannons rising to bear on the Jedi.

The first volley of blaster fire erupted from the Droidekas, filling the hallway with a deadly storm of red bolts. "!"

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moved as one, their lightsabers a blur as they deflected the shots. Each bolt that met a saber sent a shower of sparks scattering, the force of the impact driving the Jedi back a step.

Obi-Wan attempted to flank the droids, darting to the side in a blur of motion. But the Droidekas rotated seamlessly, their cannons tracking his movement with precision. A barrage of blaster fire forced him to retreat, narrowly avoiding the lethal shots.

"These things are faster than they look," Obi-Wan muttered, his teeth clenched as he blocked another volley.

Qui-Gon lunged forward, swinging his saber in a powerful, downward strike aimed at the nearest Droideka. The blade met the shimmering energy shield and skidded off, unable to penetrate. He thrust out his free hand, sending a wave of Force energy crashing into the droid. It skidded back, but the shield absorbed the impact, barely flickering.

"We need to disable their shields," Qui-Gon called out, stepping back to avoid another flurry of bolts.

Obi-Wan nodded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the corridor. "Any ideas, Master?"

Qui-Gon's expression was one of calm focus, despite the dire situation. "Keep them occupied. I have a plan."

Obi-Wan didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his lightsaber spinning in a flurry of defensive maneuvers as he deflected the relentless blaster fire. He darted left and right, forcing the Droidekas to track him, splitting their focus between him and Qui-Gon.

Meanwhile, Qui-Gon extended his hand, his eyes narrowing in concentration. He reached out with the Force, searching for the weak point in the droids' formation. He felt the currents of the Force swirl around him, guiding him, showing him the way.

With a sudden, powerful surge, Qui-Gon sent a wave of the Force slamming into the wall beside the Droidekas. The metal buckled under the invisible pressure, the wall caving in and sending a cascade of debris crashing down onto one of the droids.

The Droideka's shield flickered and collapsed under the weight, leaving it exposed. Obi-Wan lunged, his blue saber piercing through the droid's metal frame in a single, decisive strike. The machine shuddered and fell, its cannons going silent.

But the remaining two Droidekas pressed the attack, their blasters unleashing a relentless hail of fire. Obi-Wan deflected what he could, but a shot slipped past his guard, grazing his shoulder. He gritted his teeth against the pain, continuing to fight.

Qui-Gon moved with a fluid grace, his green blade slashing through the blaster bolts as he closed the distance. He spun, his cloak billowing behind him as he brought his saber down in a powerful strike, catching another droid's shield generator in a moment of weakness. The shield fizzled out, and he plunged his blade into the droid's core, slicing through it with a clean cut.

The final Droideka rolled back, attempting to retreat, its blasters still firing. Qui-Gon extended his hand, and with a Force pull, he yanked the droid toward him. It skidded across the floor, its shield barely flickering back to life before Obi-Wan's saber crashed down, cutting through the machine's head.

The corridor fell silent once more, the remains of the droids smoking at the Jedi's feet. Obi-Wan lowered his saber, breathing heavily, a pained wince crossing his face as he touched his injured shoulder.

Qui-Gon turned to his Padawan, his expression stern but filled with a touch of concern. "Are you alright, Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan gave a tight nod, forcing a small smile despite the pain. "I'll be fine, Master. Just a scratch."

Qui-Gon nodded approvingly, his own lightsaber extinguishing as he hooked it back onto his belt. "We need to keep moving. This attack wasn't a mistake—they're trying to stop us from reporting back to the Republic."

But before they could take another step, the corridor's lights flickered. Both Jedi tensed, hands instinctively hovering near their lightsabers when suddenly, a nearby holo-projector, embedded into the wall, sparked to life, projecting a singular image into the air.

A masked figure appeared, his face obscured by a sleek helmet-like mask with red, glowing eyes.

Obi-Wan seemed oblivious to the figure's identity, but the same couldn't be said for his master. 'It's…'

The figure's voice came through, heavily distorted by the mask, giving it an otherworldly, almost mechanical tone. He spoke with a casual confidence that contrasted sharply with the tension in the room.

"Hello there, Trade Federation invaders," the figure said, his tone laced with amusement. "This is Star-Lord speaking..."

A/N: 2525 words :)

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