Chapter 139: Tense Negotiations Episode III

(3rd Person: POV)

A blank expression on his face Kento stood in a dining hall, near the left wall, alongside Nahdar and Yennali. All three of them dressed in their Jedaii robes.

While on the other side of the dining hall, near the right wall, stood Shaak Ti and Sar Labooda. Both dressed in their Jedi robes.

In between the two groups of force-sensitive's, seated at a table, were the senators from their respective governments. All of whom where sharing a meal together with Jollin Resbin.

Two weeks have passed since both delegations arrived on Sneeve to complete their assigned objectives.

To say it was a tense situation would be an understatement.

But thankfully nothing had happened to turn that underlying tension to anything more than it was.

The delegation from the Galactic Republic was able to conduct their investigation without any obstruction, and the delegation from the Galactic Systems Alliance were able to evaluate the Kastolar Sector for potential admission into their governmental body as a member state without any obstruction.

Each group stayed out of each others way.

Allowing them to complete their respective tasks.

The Republic delegation had completed its investigation and had found no evidence to support the claim that outside forces had led to the withdrawal of the Kastolar Sector from their government.

Meanwhile the Alliance delegation had completed their evaluation of the Kastolar Sector for entry into their ranks as a member state, and the results were good. The Kastolar Sector had been approved for admission into the GSA.

So in the opinions of most people involved in the situation everything had already been resolved.

Except for a few.

Namely Yennali and her fellow Jedaii.

For even though their mission to the Kastolar Sector looked to be wrapping up none of them had been able to shake the unease they had begun experiencing ever since they encountered the Republic delegation when they arrived on Sneeve a couple of weeks ago.

So until everything was said and done Yennali and the other Jedaii were not relaxing their guards for an instant.

It was one of the reasons she, Kento, and Nahdar were in attendance as guards for the Alliance senatorial delegation at tonights dinner.

A dinner senator Bonteri had insisted the Republic senatorial delegation be invited too.

Why is why they, and a couple of their Jedi escorts, were present.

"So, you truly think paying for a Federal military is the best use of the taxpayers credits?" Aks Moe asked Tundra Dowmeia.

The two had gotten into a discussion a few moments ago, which had become slightly more heated.

"I do." Tundra replied. Taking a quick sip of his drink after he did. "Especially given how the Alliance Defense Force has done to stamp out privacy, slavers, and warlords in Alliance territory. Even though it has only been around for a few short years. So as far as I, and many of my colleagues are concerned, the benefits of paying such a cost are most certainly worth it."

"Do those benefits include being able to forcibly invade territories not aligned with your government and force them under your control?" Aks Moe asked.

"Preposterous!" Tundra replied. "The alliance, nor our defense force has ever done anything of the sort." He spoke.

"Oh, so you did not forcibly invade the Halthor Sector and bring it under the control of the Alliance?" Aks Moe asked. A hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"As our government already explained in its official report concerning that entire ordeal we only took such actions to save innocent beings who were being oppressed by remnants of the Ottethan Empire. A warlord-run empire that existed for years, and I might add senator Moe that the Republic did nothing about." The Quarren Senator passionately spoke. "But then again how could it when those in charge pocket the credits that are supposed to be going into the Judicial Forces and refuse to make back it into the proper military it should be, instead of the parade troops the forces have become?"

At senator Tundra's words everyone who was talking in the hall stopped cold.

The silence was so complete you could easily hear someone fart.

"Senator Dowmeia just what were you implying with that statement just now?" Aks Moe asked. Glaring at the Quarren senator. "You accuse those of us in the Republic of corruption, while you represent an ilegally formed government. Have you no shame?!"

"Shame? You want to talk about shame, senator Moe!" Tundra bellowed.

"Gentleman, please. There is no need for your conversation to devolve into a simply shouting match. We are all reasonable and educated people."

Only to stop speaking when senator Bonteri spoke up.

"I agree with senator Bonteri gentleman." Senator Organa spoke up. "Now let's all take a step back here before anyone says something they will truly regret. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Tundra replied.

"As you say senator Organa." Aks Moe spoke.

The rising tension in the room beginning to decrease.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Though that quickly changed as the sounds from a series of explosions rang out through the air.

The second after this happened the doors to the dining hall burst open and a squad of ADF marines, assigned to protect the senatorial delegation, entered and formed a defensive perimeter around the senators from their side. Along with representative Resbin.

Meanwhile Shaaki Ti and Labooda moved in to protect senator's Moe and Organa.

A stark, and actually sad, difference to the protection the Alliance delegates were receiving.

Moving in to join the defensive perimeter around the alliance senator's, alongisde Kento and Nahdar, Yennali activated the wristcom, on her right wrist, and brought it up to her mouth.

"Code Omega. I repeat, we have a code Omega. Hostile environment has been confirmed. We need immediate support and extraction." She spoke. "I repeat. We need immediate support and extraction."

"Copy that lieutenant commander Fonemys. Sup....acti...it's...y...." A senior officer from the Orion-class cruiser began replying the second afer Yennali contacted him. Only for his response to get choppy, and then suddenly cut out entirely.

"Hello. Repeat." Yennali spoke into her wristcom.

Only to get static back in reponse.

Seeing this Kento and Nahdar quickly tried to use their own wristcom's to make contact with the cruiser. Only to get complete and utter static in response. Just like Yennali was experiencing.

"Our communications aren't going through." Nahdar spoke.

"Meaning only one thing. We're being jammed.' Kento spoke. Taking hold of his lightsaber in his left hand.

Nahdar and Yennali also removed their own lightsabers from their own belts and held them in their hands.

Shaak Ti and Sar Labooda doing the exact same thing.

Since they had tried to contact their allies as well, and also found their communications jammed.

"We need to move now." Kento spoke.

"We do." Yennali agreed. "Okay people we're heading out. Extraction point one. Let's move." She spoke.

"Wait, so you're just going to leave us here?" Aks Moe inquired.

Only for Yennali to turn her head in his direction and give him a deadpan look.

"I apologize for my words earlier, so please don't leave us behind." Aks Moe spoke.

Earning him deadpan stares from Kento, Nahdar, and senator Tundra as well.

All of them thinking the exact same thing.

'Doesn't this man have any shame?'

"Young Yennali I know our two groups have our differences, but given the situation I feel we should put them aside for a moment and focus on the bigger picture. Do you not agree?" Shaak Ti spoke.

"Yes." Yennali replied. "The Republic delegation is coming with us." She spoke.

No one questioning her words.

"Now as I just said, let's move. Kento, your on point with me. Nahdar, cover our rear. Master Shaak Ti and knight Labooda I ask you to help him with that. Marines, form a protective circle around all the senators. Let's move people!"

Following Yennali's words everyone quickly got into formation.

Once they did so the Jedi and Jedaii activated their lightsabers and then the entire group exited the dining hall and began working their way towards safety.

Moving through the hallways, the group traveled at a quick but manageable pace.

While doing so they continued trying to get in contact with any of their allies using their comms.

Only to get the same result each time.

Nothing but static.

Meaning the jamming radius they were in was quite large.

Knowing this only put everyone else more on edge.

Still they didn't let that stop them. For they knew if they did the outcome might lead to death.

Exiting a corridor the group found themselves in a large room.

Where the Jedaii and Jedi all then stopped in their tracks. Since they all sensed something approaching them that was truly alien. It was something none of them had ever sensed before.

"Commander, what is it?" One of the marines asked Yennali.

Then right after he did a massive blaster bolt came down from one of the corridors that led into the large room, heading straight for the marine who just spoke to Yennali.

However before said blaster bolt could hit said marine Kento deflected it using his lightsaber. Sending the bolt into a nearby wall.

The blaster bolt creating a sizeable hole in the wall the moment it hit it.

"Damn." Kento muttered.

His hands shaking due to the recoil he felt through his lightsaber when deflecting that blaster bolt just now.

Which the Jedaii knight did not take as a good sign.

Kento's instincts were proven right as more blaster bolts, the same size as the one he just deflected, came hurdling towards his group from the same corridor as the first one.

Seeing this Kento moved to deflect the blaster bolts, Yennali joining him.

The two of them managing to make sure they, and no one else in their group, ended up injured due to the numerous blaster bolts that were being launched at them.

When the barrage of blaster bolts finally stopped Kento and Yennali took a moment to recover.

"Hehehe."

Only to instantly put their guards back up when they heard laughter echoing down the corridor the blaster bolts had been fired from.

"Good, very good Jedaii." A male voice spoke. Loud footsteps accompanying his each and ever word. "I had thought your group was simply nothing more than a knock-off of the Jedi when I heard about it. But it seems I was wrong. I'm glad I was. That means this won't be as boring a job as I thought." He said.

Then just as the voice finished speaking, a figure emerged from the corridor it came from.

It was an individual, three meters tall, dressed in worn but well-maintained battle armor.

Looking at the individual in front of them Yennali's group instantly knew they were in for quite the fight.

Well the combatants at least.

The civilians, not so much.

"You, who are you? Do you have any idea the consequences your actions will bring down upon you?" Aks Moe heatedly spoke, pointing a finger at the armored individual.

Only for the armored individual to ignore Moe and pressed a button on his left gauntlet.

Immediately after he did another round of explosions like earlier went off.

Not only that but several IG-86 assassin droids, each carrying E-5 blaster rifle, filed into the room from the corridor the armored individual entered it from and began surrounding Yennali's group.

"First of all you sniveling old man, shut up." The armored individual spat. "Open that mouth of yours again and instead of simply killing you quickly I'll do so as slowly and as painfully as possible." He said. "As for who I am, I am the one who is going to end all of your lives."

"Well if that's the case then telling us your name shouldn't be an issue." Yennali spoke up.

Drawing the armored individuals gaze to her.

"Brave. I like that Jedaii. So as a courtesy I will tell you my name. It's Durge." The armored individuals spoke.

[Insert Image of Durge Here]

"Now, let the fun begin." He spoke.

"Marines, protect the senators! Kento, Nahdar, masters Ti and knight Labooda on me." Yennali shouted.

She then charged straight toward Durge, while he did the same towards her.

Signaling the start of the battle.

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A/N: Yeah readers, Durge is here! He's also a character I plan to make a big part of my story.

So stay tuned for more.