Dark forces are at play in the galaxy. Shadowy figures and cults move among the far-flung systems of the unknown regions. Growing ever more daring, they advance toward the bright centers of the New Republic and the Empire.
Using information gained from the dark Masters of the Stellite Monks, the Jedi and Antarian Rangers dispatch data gathering missions. An uncharted system on the edge of civilization is the target of one such mission. Another is the urban planet of Taris...
The Jedi and their Antarian Ranger escort decided that they should approach Taris openly rather than covertly. Ferb accompanied them, as he still had an arrest warrant in the New Republic. Meanwhile the Stellar Flare performed reconnaisance of the system in the Unknown Region.
For the trip to Taris, Taanar's team was joined by another Ranger, a Kaminoan medic named Ayja. When they arrived at Taris they observed an entirely urban world, its multitude of towers sparkling in the sunset. As the team passed through customs they acquired permits to carry their weapons. Ayja arranged for them to take lodgings at the Grand Tarisian Hotel in the Senatorial suite. After they had taken up residence in their hotel suite they reviewed the information they had about the mysterious
signal that had emanated from Taris. Telemetry indicated it had originated from one of two locations: the Tower of Robb where New Republic Senator Jalaila Valens had her offices, or the abandoned Imperial tower. Senator Valens would be holding a reception at the Tower of Robb in a few days, during which the team hoped they would have an opportunity to search for the possible source of the signal.
In preparation for their searches of the two towers, the team split up to gather information. Taanar went out with Ren, while Nema, Den, and Ayja formed a second group. Nema's group was nearly run down by a swoop bike gang - swoop bike races were an extremely popular sport on Taris and such gangs were common and well-known. Nema was obliged to use the Force to pull Ayja to safety when she was threatened with injury. After escaping harm from their encounter with the bikers, they picked up some information about a terrotist organization called C.R.O.E.made up of people who wanted to restore the Empire to its original state.
Taanar's group meanwhile learned that the abandoned Imperial tower had been built upon the ruins of an old Jedi structure.
On the following day the group visited the New Republic authorities and Ayja arranged an afternoon appointment with Senator Valens. They met with the senator's chief of staff, Breena Alfasa, who offered to get them a permit to visit the old Imperial tower. To protect the integrity of their mission, Taanar dissembled a little about their reason for wanting to visit the tower, claiming that they wanted to see it because of the significance of its site rather than for the tower itself.
While they waited for their appointment with the senator they collected more information. Ayja heard rumors of activity near the Imperial tower. Taanar learned more about Senator Valens, a Centerist who wanted to take a hard line in relations with the Empire. She had been commander of a rebel assault team that had attacked the tower. Some of her siblings had been slain there.
Later they learned that they had received clearance to visit the tower, and also received an invitation to attend the senator's reception. While they had time to kill, they decided to attend a swoop bike race. While there they chatted with some of the other spectators and learned more about the popular sport. Ren decided to sneak into the pit crew area. While there he spotted a familiar Herglic, and overheard someone saying, "Go now." He hurried to report this to Taanar. Concerned that something was about to happen, the team rented swoop bikes and headed for the Imperial tower, sending Ayja back to the hotel to await them.
Den rode with Nema and Ren with Taanar as they hurried toward the tower. While they passed through Taris's seedy Undercity, Taanar sensed that they were being followed. Ren dove into a crumbling building and when the pursuers followed him Taanar pulled down some of the rubble, causing the pursuing biker to collide with it.
The ruined Imperial tower was coated in slime slick. Taanar and Ren soon spotted slime slugs, the creatures whose poison had led them to Taris in search of Veema Montari. Shortly afterward they encountered a gang of hoodlums, the Tunnel Snakes. An offer of 500 credits and a demonstration of the Force convinced the Tunnel Snakes to share some information. They showed the visitors that the tower had been visited by others recently and where they went.
As the group entered the tower to investigate, Den spotted a concealed sensor. They encountered a door that was clear of the slime slick that coated everything else. Then they heard a click and a whir - and a thermal detonator landed on the floor at their feet.
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