No Kind Words, [Jedi Mission] Skye; closed

Jedi Knight Juneau Alden was beginning to believe that she needed to have a nice, long chat with the Jedi Council concerning their ideas on what her present focus was within the Order versus what it should be. She understood that they were low on capable bodies right now, rivaling the miniscule numbers that existed around the time of the Jedi Civil War, and that those that were competent were either unavailable or already occupied with this or that assignment. It was a sad truth that the Jedi were spread thin about the thousands of star systems; what many did not understand was that these Light-siders were defenders of the peace, and were never meant to act as an army of Force-using soldiers for a galaxy at war. But even so, why did that have to mean that she got stuck with another diplomacy mission? Her last one had happened on Geonosis under the guise of a simple supply mission. When the politicians of the planet should have been verbally duking it out, the Aristocracy had ultimately come to her for peace talks. A Jedi was supposed to be versatile, true enough, but it was no secret that the red-headed woman was not a people person and ill-suited for diplomacy at best. Such matters were best left to Sentinels and Consulars, as far as she was concerned, and not Guardians. Give her a target and orders to eliminate it over suffering a group of ear-ticklers any day.

Still, she was likely just whinging as a result of being stuck in the cramped cockpit of her Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor for the past . . . oh, about two and a half hours now. As soon as her hyperdrive ring had disengaged the fighter near the planet, she'd gotten caught up in what could only be called a purposeful inconvenience -- courtesy of her welcoming friends, the S'kytri, and their despotic leader. It was a greeting that she could have done without, especially with the rumours of pirate activity in the area around the neutral orb. The last thing that she wanted was to get caught up in some raid or the other before she could even get groundside to take care of things. That would be a step backwards before she'd even begun walking in the right direction. Diplomacy was going to be difficult enough as it was without being stonewalled at every turn. Another reason she preferred combat; it was much more straightforward, and she didn't have to deal with slimy politicians. Jun leaned back in her seat and fiddled with her lightsaber. Any time now, she told herself, the docking authorities would be ringing her up and relaying her landing coordinates with any related instructions. Hopefully it'd be sometime within the next milennia.

In the meantime, she ran over the details of the mission in her head. It seemed like your average Jedi assignment; go to the planet of Skye, open a line of communication between the native people and the rest of the Galaxy, keep things peaceful, don't incite violence, etc. In plainest terms, she was to go and look the part of a model Jedi to make sure that the S'kytri people didn't devolve into civil war amongst themselves, their leaders, or the pirates that were plaguing their space lanes. Provided everything went according to plan, it'd be a simple matter. However, it was her experience that things rarely went to plan, and so she was taking that into account. Already, she'd expected to be on the planet and speaking with the government's heads of state, but instead she was stuck in the Red Herring awaiting her turn to go planet-side. Somehow, she imagined that it was only going to get worse from here. Regardless of what happened, failure wasn't about to be an option. Knight Alden might not have been the most politically-charged Jedi, but she got the job done, whatever it was. Personal feelings aside, she'd complete this mission to the best of her abilities and settle for nothing short of success.

Finally, the call came over the com system. It was a signal to land with the usual apologies attached to it for the wait, but she knew none of it was meant. This was likely just the first of what would probably be many tests made by the leadership for the Jedi. They wanted to see if she was made of tougher stuff than your average grunt, and she'd show them that she was. Following the given coordinates, she piloted the vessel down towards the Highlands where the capital city of the planet was located. Built into the mountains, upon the ground of the valley, and atop the peaks, it appeared as though civilisation had just sprouted right out of its natural surroundings. There were a few walkways, but for the most part none of the buildings seemed connected in any way and it gave the area an even more natural appeal, everything appearing mysteriously isolated. Even for someone like Jun who could be a philistine when it came to an appreciation of beauty, favouring practicality above all else, found the sight nothing less than impressive. Magnificent didn't even begin to do the place justice, but the Jedi Guardian didn't have time to waste by admiring the scenery. She had a job to do and until it was done everything else would have to come second.

It took her a few minutes to manouevre her ship down onto a landing platform perched precariously out from the mountain. The wooden deck made her uneasy, especially with the hundreds of feet below, but it didn't even budge beneath the weight of the Red Herring. While Juneau wasn't afraid of heights, she still maintained a healthy sense of self-preservation from time to time -- and standing on something so high up with no banisters whatsoever was enough to dictate danger to her senses. Caution would need to be taken especially with the lack of suspension bridges and guard rails while she moved around the capital; the S'kytri might have evolved the ability to fly, but humans were still centuries behind in that area. Unfortunately for the human Jedi whose mind was already entertaining the unpleasantness of plummeting to her death however many stories down from where she was. It wouldn't hurt to stay on the inside of the platform, certainly, to be on the safe side. Better safe than sorry, of course. Juneau just hoped that the S'kytri were better architects than they were hosts so far. Otherwise . . . well, it was one hell of a ways down.

(( Is the Jedi greeted by anyone upon her arrival? If so, how is she received? ))

(( The S'kytri have sent a lone ambassador to greet her, who swoops down from above gives her gruff greetings that betray his disinterest. He leads her to a small door, which looks like it hasn't been used in years, beckoning her through before flying over the defensive wall. They appear in a courtyard, greenery trailing up the walls giving the place the appearance of being unused. Juneau is told to wait in here as he goes to see if the leaders are ready to see her.

The Coruscanti is left to deal with another long wait before she'd beckoned inside, whereupon she finds a fearsome looking female waiting for her. An accompaniment of warriors flank her, giving the Jedi uneasy glances as she inquires as to what Jun is here for. They have already decided to fight the pirates, and any settlement that refuses to join will be considered pirates themselves. The matter is already settled, and unless the Jedi is planning on helping them then she should leave the planet before getting embroiled in a war that isn't her own. ))

It was a war with her environment as the Jedi awaited the S'kytri's arrival, which to go along with the previously established theme of aggravating her took longer than it should have. In the meantime, she was left to ponder life's nuances and maintain her safe position; the former she did none at all, too focused on the latter. At such a high altitude, breathing became a little more than difficult to manage with the lack of oxygen around which was made only worse with the introduction of several swift air currents that threatened to send the slight Jedi over the sides of the platform. She kept close to her ship, using it as a makeshift wall against the wicked drafts that seemed to hail from almost every direction. Clutching her robe around her, it was a weak attempt to ward off the biting chill from the vicious breezes which continued to blow with no regard as to her annoyance of them. Her hood continued to be blown backwards off her head, spilling her red locks all around her. They got in her face, her eyes, her mouth, and she gave a grumpy sound as she vainly tried to sweep them away again and again. Eventually, she surrendered to to the stubborn forces of nature and instead concentrated her efforts on keeping upright in the face of the violent winds.

When a S'kytri ambassador did arrive, he wasn't very friendly with his welcome. In fact, he didn't seem very happy to see her at all. No surprise there, she supposed. As much as she was here to help, it was equally as likely that her assistance wasn't wanted or needed. Many people of the Galaxy were prideful individuals, with some races even genetically engineered to be so for cultural reasons, and it was possible that this winged species was as well. That could be a problem since they would probably not be as willing to accept aid from an outsider; she guessed she'd be lucky if they even took into consideration her opinion and any suggestions she made. Still, it wasn't going to hurt to try, and she hadn't come all this way out here to just turn around and go home before she'd made some pushes -- politically or otherwise -- to bring the planet and its people back into the galactic fold, and solve their pirate problem. Both were monumental tasks when it came down to it and while she wasn't sure how one lone Jedi Knight would be able to resolve them she knew that the Force had pulled off greater miracles before.

"Greetings from Skye, Master Jedi. This way, please."

Juneau couldn't help but observe the S'kytri as they walked towards one of the towering defensive walls in the mountain's side. The species was unfamiliar to her, she'd never met one before. They were tall, massive sentients not unlike the Stenax, and this one in particular towered over her. By its hunched and uncomfortable gait, it suggested that they did not spend much time walking; with wings like those, though, she understood why. So isolated and xenophobic, it was no wonder that not much was known about the elusive sky-people. However, one thing she had heard of in regards to their species was their famed aerial dueling and was interested in seeing if it lived up to the same rigorous standards as lightsaber combat. As a Jedi Guardian, she was always eager to learn new techniques for battle in the event that if she was ever confronted with such a style she'd be able to combat it. If offered, she would be hard pressed to not equip an anti-grav belt and partake in such a novel form of battle. Such knowledge and experience would certainly give her a unique edge versus her adversaries, especially one Jedi rival in particular.

After passing through a door, the Jedi found herself in a large courtyard. The walkway was overrun by weeds that weaseled their way up through the cracks between the red, moss-covered flagstones. Vines climbed the walls like the ropes of an invading army, small white flowers bloomed on them. Even the fountain in the center of the courtyard seemed to have seen better days; it's waters had fallen still and grown murky with mold and mildew, while it's alabaster makeup had begun to chip and crack from likely decades of poor maintenance. All in all, it didn't appear as though it'd been used in quite some time, seeming neglected at best. Naturally, this is where they would then proceed to make her wait for the next hour and a half or thereabouts. She seated herself on the edge of the dead fountain and tried to appear less impatient than she felt. Not only was this boring, but it felt like a dreadful waste of time. There were things to be done, not just here either. The Galaxy was rife with contentions of all different sorts; if the people of Skye didn't want help, there was bound to be some other issue elsewhere that needed to be taken care of. But, again, the Force had brought her here for a reason so the situation here was obviously one that needed a Jedi's attention.

Once the waiting period was over, the Majestrix herself along with an escort of armed S'kytri warriors finally met with the Jedi. Juneau bowed low in a sign of respect to the ruling leader as half a dozen pairs of eyes looked at her, suspicion and anxiety held within. Really, though, she thought that she had more reason to be uneasy than they did. All of the Majestrix's guards were about double her size, and the female leader herself was the largest of them all. Or perhaps it was just the way she carried herself, not with any great dignity but with an attitude that suggested she was well aware of the fact that she was large and in charge; she looked just the part of the despotic leader that she was rumoured to be. It was all of it a little unsettling for the Guardian. If it came down to a fight based upon brute strength alone, the Jedi knew she would be at a significant disadvantage with her size and build. A lightsaber was only so helpful against so many foes, after all. These thoughts, however, were just strategic musings. One never knew when an ally would turn into an enemy, it had happened before and it could just as easily happen again. Juneau wanted to be prepared for anything and everything.

"We have already decided to fight the pirates. Any settlement that refuses to join will be considered pirates themselves and dealt with accordingly. If you seek to assist us in the matter, you may do so. Otherwise, your presence here is not necessary or desired."

In other words, she could go space herself if she wasn't going to go along with their already established plans. While the straightforwardness of her words was appreciated by the candid Jedi, Juneau wasn't about to go jumping into things without throwing in her own two cents on the matter. Her main priority was to establish a connection between the isolationist planet and the rest of the Galaxy; pirate hunting could come later. "I'm here to assist you in whatever way I can, Majestrix, as long as it doesn't conflict with my conscience or the Code of the Jedi," she began, being just as blunt in her speech as her hosts. "But before I address the piracy problem, I must press the importance of opening Skye to the rest of the Galaxy. Have you given any serious consideration to altering your isolationist standpoint?"

(( How does the Majestrix respond? ))

(( "Opening Skye up to the galaxy? For what purpose? We survived well enough before then, and we'll last long after it," she responds with patriotic fervour. "It will only lead to our exploitation, and the galactic government interfering in Skye politics. I am fully capable of leading these people, and will bring glory and prosperity. There's no need to open our borders." She seems disinterested in this conversation, and quickly inquires what it is that the Jedi will be willing to help with that won't conflict with her "Code". ))

For the reaction that she received, one would have thought that Juneau had outright insulted the Majestrix. The S'kytri female turned a shade darker, her green skin seeming to warm with outrage towards whatever offence the human had committed against her -- or perhaps more appropriately, it was her sense of importance that had been affronted. She was the current leader and likely not used to having her decisions questioned, only followed. It seemed like a flawed society, indeed, if the ruler was never called out on her poor ideas and idiotic whims. What chance did such a civilisation have to grow, prosper, and advance when they were being held back by a bellicose dictator such as she was beginning to suppose the Majestrix to be? Governments, as far as she was concerned, were meant to serve the people's best interests; never their own. Of course, the Galaxy was far from a perfect place and corruption was pungent throughout, but still. Efforts should have been made, at the very least. A malicious glare was thrown her way even as she thought these treasonous things, and the malcontent was vehemently supported by a patriotism in her tone when she spoke that seemed more like vain pride than actual love for her planet.

"Opening Skye up to the galaxy? For what purpose? We survived well enough before then, and we'll last long after it."

That was a logical fallacy if the Jedi ever heard one. Just because they'd survived well enough before didn't mean that they'd continue to do so. Things changed over time, evolved or devolved depending on the surrounding causes for it. Nothing stayed the same, especially in a Galaxy at war. A person could stay in one spot their entire life and be determined to never age or alter, but they would regardless. Sheer defiance against innovation wasn't enough to stop it. "If you hope to avoid the war by hiding away, that isn't going to work for much longer. Whether you like it or not, what's happening in the rest of the Galaxy will affect you, sooner or later. If you continue to be an isolationist state, you'll just be prolonging the inevitable. And then when the war finally does come for your planet and your people, there will be no one else willing to stand up and defend it," she explained, going right for the gut with her weaponised words. "Not to mention that you deprive the rest of the Galaxy of the benefits that could come from the S'kytri people and their opinions, just as you deny the S'kytri people the rights to explore and experience the rest of the Galaxy."

"It will only lead to our exploitation, and the galactic government interfering in Skye politics."

"There are hundreds of star systems out there that have benefited from galactic intercourse while still maintaining their independence," Juneau argued. Such shallow arguments were going to be easily torn asunder, the Majestrix would come to find out. "Your economy is suffering, your trade is almost nonexistent; and the pirates are only part of this problem, not the problem itself. The benefits for your people and your planet by joining the rest of the Galaxy far outweigh the risks." The Confederation might have had its egotistical issues but even it knew better than to go attacking neutral planets and usurping power there. They enforced their presence through physical means, like many governments did, but also through political ones. As long as the Majestrix didn't cave to any political pressure or bribes, then the S'kytri people would only profit from dealing with the millions of star systems out there. Trade would flourish, their exports alone could be enough to support their floundering economy. Really, at this point, they had very little to lose and everything to gain.

"I am fully capable of leading these people, and will bring glory and prosperity. There's no need to open our borders."

Juneau had to bite back her irritation at such a closed-minded leader. She wasn't even listening to her propositions, denying them on a principle that was stupid in the first place. The Jedi had to wonder if she was refusing to even consider such an idea simply because she hadn't come up with it first; pride put her in a poor place, disallowing her from agreeing with anything that didn't come from her own head. As a person, such selfishness could be expected. From a ruler, however, it was nothing short of unacceptable. It was vanity, conceit, and willful arrogance at its worst. It drove Jun crazy, she really just wanted to smack the S'kytri upside the head and see if that changed anything. This was why she wasn't good when it came to diplomacy -- she had no patience for self-absorbed fools. "Perhaps you're right," she said. "But what if you're wrong? What happens when your economy fails, or if there's a resurgence of pirate activity? If any global catastrophe were ever to occur, you'd be on your own. Would you be willing to set aside your pride in order to do what was best for your people, then?"

"Such an event will never happen. And if it did, we would be able to handle it without the help of outsiders . . . such as yourself."

"Like you're handling the pirates?" The words came out before she could stop them. Thinking before she spoke had never been one of her strong suits. Master Amadeus had trained her well, but even he wasn't a miracle worker when it came to certain bad habits of hers. She knew she'd overstepped herself by the disbelieving expressions that came from the Majestrix's guards, as well as the incensed features of the female ruler. Even so, she wasn't about to back down. "With all due respect, Majestrix, I think you'd be making a grave mistake by not keeping your options open. I understand now might not be the best time with pirates threatening your space lanes, so I'm willing to wait until later to discuss it further." And they would discuss it further, the Jedi would make certain of it -- whether the Majestrix liked it or not.

"And what of this 'Code' of yours? What can you help us with that isn't in violation of it, Jedi?"

"I say we start by dealing with the pirates, as you suggested earlier," she replied in a controlled tone. "You let me worry about my beliefs, and I'll let you worry about what's to be done for your planet."

(( How does the Majestrix respond to Juneau's argument; does it persuade her any? How does she propose they begin taking care of the pirates? ))

(( She does not look impressed at this outsider talking back to her. It is the behaviour Jun is displaying now that is what she fears will come with relations with other worlds, she explains, and reminds the Jedi she knows nothing of their plight. "You would be best served to hold your tongue, off-worlder," she warns.

In terms of the pirates, the Majestrix has already formulated her latest plan. The pirates have been targeting their food stores, and they have located the most likely victim to these brutal attacks. They will go there, lie in wait, and then strike when the moment is right to annihilate the pirate raiders. Juneau will be permitted to accompany them, but her safety is not certain. ))

This was exactly the reason why Juneau hated dealing with diplomacy; people never listened. The majority of the sentients in the Galaxy were stubborn in some way, shape, or form and once they'd made up their mind there was nothing else to be done. It was their way or no way, they were right and you were wrong, end of debate. In effect, it was supposed to be a game of give and take where one compromised for the betterment of something or someone; but it rarely ever played out that way. For all that the Jedi Knight could say on the matter, it was becoming doubtful that the Majestrix would give any of it more than a passing musing. She'd decided her course, and she was sticking to it. Perhaps it would have been admirable if she was right, but she was wrong. Skye wasn't a planet that would survive on its own for much longer -- their dwindling economy and poor leadership said as much. One thing about the Galaxy was that, despite the conflicts throughout it, there was an unspoken interplanetary agreement for survival. If the S'kytri helped others out, they would be helped out in return. If only the ruler she was dealing with would realise this, the entire population of the planet would be better off for it.

Juneau stared impassively ahead at the group even as the Majestrix regarded her with an unimpressed look. There was already an overabundance of animosity between them, anyone with eyes could see it and anyone with half a brain could have predicted it. A Jedi was supposed to be above enmity, but Knight Alden wasn't perfect. She'd have been lying to herself if she didn't admit that the Majestrix's attitude was aggravating on all sorts of levels. If she didn't trust outsiders, then why was the Jedi sent for in the first place? The fact of the matter was that the Jedi Council believed that the people of Skye were in need of a Jedi presence to ease tensions, and at one point or another before she'd arrived the Majestrix had agreed. She never would have been allowed planet-side otherwise. Personally, she wasn't sure why they were having her run circles around the topic. When there was so much evidence to support the benefits of joining the known Galaxy, she really shouldn't have been having to defend such common sense to begin with. Bloody waste of time, if you asked her.

"It is the behaviour you're displaying now that is what I fear will come with relations with other worlds. And might I remind you, Jedi, that you know nothing of our plight."

For once, she remained silent. Contrary to popular belief, even Juneau knew when was an inappropriate time to say something. Even if that something would have ripped her logic to shreds for a second time that day, in the same discussion no less. The Jedi Council had briefed her on exactly what the S'kytri's plight was; it would have been irresponsible to send her as an ambassador without informing her as to the goings-on. So she was wrong on that account, Jun was quite conscious of what was happening here, and had consequently formed her ideas on what should change. As for her behaviour, well, perhaps she could have been a little less . . . brusque. But, then, what else could one expect from a Jedi whom had always been rather outspoken through the explicit nature of her candor. No kind words were going to be given freely here, not when a frankness was needed. Like it or not, this was the way she was, and this was the way she handled negotiations. Sure, her savoir-faire could probably use some work -- a little more tact and a little less curtness -- but she wasn't about to go apologising for saying what needed to be said, regardless of whether the Majestrix hadn't wanted to hear it or not.

"You would be best served to hold your tongue, off-worlder."

Yes, she was on the very edge of the knife here; it wouldn't do to provoke her any further. Selecting which battles she fought and which she did not was critical to success in any engagement, the Guardian knew, and this was one conflict that was best left un-fought. The subject could -- and would -- be brought back up at a later time, but for now it was best left alone. She'd have to prove her own use first, and thus illustrate the assistance that a so-called 'off-worlder' could provide. Once the Majestrix saw that foreigners could be assets, then perhaps she would alter her stance on the whole subject of isolationism. What she was seeing here, with all the guards surrounding her in complete silence and obedience, was that the female S'kytri had ultimate and unlimited power to do as she pleased. It was a dictatorship just as had been suggested by the Council. That meant that Juneau would have to win the Majestrix over to her way of thinking, because no one else's opinion mattered. The female Jedi suspected that that would be no easy task. Still, she hadn't come up against a challenge that she couldn't conquer yet; she wasn't about to give up now, so early.

With a slight inclination of her head, she acknowledged the despot's words. It was an appeasement, and they both knew it, but where it just made Jun more agitated it satisfied the Majestrix. She launched into her plan to combat the pirates; it was relatively straightforward, and the Guardian saw no reason to disagree with it. Ambushing pirates raiding a food store was as good a place as any to start their war against piracy. Where the Majestrix would have her people kill on the thieves, the Jedi had other ideas. If she could capture even one pirate, alive, then she might be able to find the reasoning behind the increase in attacks, as well as who their leader was, and any other plans. It would be a shot in the dark, granted, but it wouldn't hurt to try and pry a bit of information out of the criminals. They tended to be good-for-nothings, but perhaps they'd be good for something in this particular scenario.

". . . Of course, your safety is not assured, you understand."

Well, if that wasn't like saying the sky is blue. Juneau was a Jedi Guardian; her safety was never assured. Of course, she didn't say this. It would have been too trenchant, even for her."I'm well aware of the risks," she answered instead of her initial, sarcastic thoughts. A level head was what would be needed here, so she'd have to at least make an effort not to piss the Majestrix off more than was necessary. How much was necessary, though, was naturally up to her own discretion, so . . . Juneau would just have to tread carefully with her words and actions. Something that tended to be difficult for her. If nothing else, this was bound to be an interesting experience.

Parting from the group, it was agreed that the Majestrix and her armed group of warriors would lead the way to the food store and the Jedi would follow close behind in her ship. That was more than fine with her, she was ready for some action. Anything was preferred to more diplomacy. Especially with the Majestrix, since it was like talking to a rock.

(( What is the scene when they arrive at the food store? ))

(( They arrive at the food store a few hours after leaving. Though the S'kyri have adapted with their ability to fly, it isn't quite as quick as the technological equivalent of the Red Herring. The food store is quite similar in appearance to the Majestrix's dwellings, though smaller and less grand looking -- as if that were possible. There are a small number of guards who greet the group, discussing plans with the Majestrix before taking up guard as usually, creating the appearance of an average day when the others have hidden.

The large circular storage facility that dominates the platform stands tall and proud, two soldiers standing guard on the landing bay area. There's a small guardhouse where replacements are supposed to be sleeping, but this time they'll be armed and ready to come out in aid. The Majestrix orders everyone to take cover above, among the rocky outcrops, to allow them to descend on the pirates. It is suggested Juneau join the guards in the guardhouse, being unable to fly.

Several more hours pass by full of tedious waiting. There are no signs of pirates until a streak shoots across the sky above. Obviously they're doing a quick fly-by first, but even after that there seems no follow up attack. Growing weary the Majestrix emerges, swooping down on Juneau's position before letting out a torrent of abuse about how her ship has caused alarm among the pirates and ruined the plan. ))

When she was told that it'd be another few hours before they reached the food store, Juneau had to admit that she found the prospect of being confined to her fighter again a rather daunting prospect. By the coordinates that she was given, she knew she could cut the time in half if she pushed the Red Herring but that was at the risk of leaving behind her allies -- something she was loathe to do even if she couldn't stand one of them. What they were going to attempt to do with the ambush would require teamwork, especially if the pirates came in full force like they were wont to do on many occasions; the buggers tended to be weak alone, but given enough numbers and they became more than just a nuisance. Consequently, the Jedi found herself falling back behind the flying sentients as they soared through the atmosphere. With wings fully extended, they appeared to glide across the sky, entirely free from the restrictions of gravity. She found herself a bit jealous, not only because they could fly, but mostly because they were not bound to the claustrophobic cockpit that she presently was. As much as she favoured her vessel over many others, they'd spent more than enough time together recently.

The deeper into the mountainous regions of Skye that they went, the more visibility diminished. They flew at high enough of an altitude to avoid the fog which had settled like soup into the low part of the valley, but were still low enough to get caught up in the slightly less than opaque cloud cover. Every now and then, a surrounding mountain would sneak out of the mist like some great spectre to loom on her periphery. Instead of trusting her sight, she was forced to rely on the technological marvel that was her vessel's radar system and also the ethereal, omnipotent energy that was the Force. In terms of reliability, the latter always trumped the former; even so, it was best to use both together just to be on the safe side. While the S'kytri seemed to know where they were going, Juneau did not. It wouldn't do to run her ship into the side of a mountain, or get caught in an unfortunate air current and get drafted into oblivion. Getting lost on a planet of this size, with so few civilisations spread across it, would be more than just a slight inconvenience. And she had her doubts as to whether the Majestrix would even come looking for her should the Jedi lose her way.

Freedom finally came when they reached the food store. Like the majority of the buildings on Skye, the storage facility was built right into the mountain side. Around it were a few additional platforms, likely for ships to transport various supplies to and from. This was where she parked her own ship, as obvious a place as it'd be, there was no where else to put it down. Like the poor palace back at the capital, it appeared as though this place had seen better days as well. There was an overgrowth of vegetation all along the sides of the building whose painted walls had dulled in colour and begun to chip. Continued use showed in the wind-whipped roofs and the well-treaded grooves in the walkway between the facility and the guardhouse. The doorway to the place seemed on its last legs too as it hung a bit askew from its hinges. Everything seemed rather ordinary except for the overabundance of personnel on this day. The majority of them disappeared into the guardhouse as soon as the Majestrix, Jedi, and their group arrived with the rest milling about as though it was business as usual.

Juneau jumped down from her fighter, eager to stretch her legs as the plan was reiterated for a second time. The majority of the guards would hide in the replacement house while everyone else would take cover within the outcropping of rocks that leaned out from the mountainside. The Jedi had the option (see also: was ordered) to take cover within the guardhouse as well since she couldn't very well flap her arms and hide in the rocks either. Those who didn't hide would just meander around the facility as they normally would, giving the pirates the impression that they weren't on to them. It was simple, and Jun gave no complaint as she took residence within the guardhouse with fellow warriors. They all regarded her with no small modicum of suspicion, but she didn't let it bother her. Even so, they acted like they'd never seen a human before; it was sort of pathetic, if not a bit annoying. She wanted to turn around and yell at them to stop staring, but she didn't. What she would do, however, was inquire as to their thoughts on their oh-so mighty leader at a later time. Juneau wanted to know if all the S'kytri followed the Majestrix blindly, or if maybe one or two of them had minds of their own.

They all waited silently, biding their time to await the pirates arrival. With a flash of insight, the Force alerted her to the approach of a ship even before the sound of the engines reached her ears. It passed overhead, likely a scout sizing up the area and looking for any potential pitfalls. Nothing unusual. They continued to wait. It was only after about half on hour of inactivity that the Jedi began to have doubts as to whether there would be an attack at all. Numerous things could have dissuaded the criminals from their thievery; poor visibility from the weather, maybe the food store didn't look worthwhile enough, perhaps they'd picked a different target altogether, etc. There were literally dozens of different explanations for the delay of an attack. Maybe they were just testing the waters to see if anyone was home who shouldn't be. She couldn't say for sure. But what she did know was that waiting further would yield better results than anything else. It wasn't as though they had anywhere better to be right now. Even if this didn't play out, they could always take a more offensive stance against the pirates by waiting for their next raid elsewhere and pouncing then.

Suddenly, and to everyone's surprise, the door was slammed open as a very irate Majestrix entered the guardhouse. As she stomped towards Juneau, the other warriors seemed to withdraw . . . but they did not leave altogether. It was like they were waiting to see a brawl of some sort, but weren't willing to participate in it themselves. The Jedi stared at the Majestrix with confusion and a bit of frustration. What in the blue blazes did she think she was doing? If anyone had seen her just now, she could have ruined the entire mission!

"This is your fault, Jedi! They must have seen your ship, they must know we're here! You've ruined the plan!"

Blue eyes blinked, darkening in disbelief. "Excuse me?" she said, incredulous at the accusation. Most of the pretenses of respect from before were dropped as she pushed past the Majestrix to shut the door behind her, even as she continued her random rant. Juneau wasn't intimidated by the least by the tantrum that the ruler was exhibiting, and it took all her discipline not to smack her just to get her to calm down and cease her idiotic tirade. "All due respect, Majestrix," she began through gritted teeth, "but what the bloody hell do you think you're doing? The pirates could be here at any moment, and you're wasting time and energy shouting at me!" When she spoke, it was in a heated whisper; just because the Majestrix was some nutter didn't mean that Juneau had to sink to her level of lunacy. "If you keep it up, you're going to give away our position; then it'll be you who ruins the plan, Majestrix."

As if on cue, the roar of several starfighters could be heard in the nearby distance, coming steadily closer as the tense seconds ticked by. The moment that sound died, another unmistakable sound started up. Blaster fire.

(( Is it the pirates? If so, how many of them are there and how are they going about the assault? If not, who is it? ))

(( It is indeed the pirates, and the Majestrix rushes over to the door to see what exactly is going on outside, pushing Jun out of the way while doing so. The pirates are swarming all over the place, and seem to at least number the same as the S'kytri. A few have been dropped off on the platform, firing away as they try to secure the building with the food. They number about a dozen. Accompanying them are five one man fighters strafing the platform to devastating effect. It groans and rocks, but is made sturdy enough to remain up.

From the bodies it seems the other half of the ambush force had followed the Majestrix down and in the process been caught out in the open. Most of them are dead or wounded, with the remainder desperately fighting for their lives. Some have even taken to the skies, but prove mere target practise for the fighters. Considering there are only about ten warriors excluding the Jedi and the Majestrix, the odds aren't looking good. ))

Over the years, the red-headed woman had learned to follow her intuition; it often proved her correct in matters. As soon as the cacophony of conflict started up, everything descended into chaos and she knew she was about to find out whether her words of warning had been true or not. The Majestrix quickly shoved the Jedi aside in her haste to get to the door, and Juneau had the not-so-delightful chance to make the acquaintance of the nearby wall. Hands stretched out to catch herself mere inches before her face would have become intimates with the durasteel. A sharp hiss of air passed through the Majestrix's lips, suggesting that what she saw -- (a view no doubt more interesting than the one Jun was just subjected to) -- was not good, in the least. Already, the Force was pushing out beyond the person summoning it, investigating all that was unseen and unknown. Dozens of different lifeforms appeared within her mind's eye, flanked by oscillations of energy that suggested various weapons of numerous makes and models. Even the sky was full of foreign presences, alien to Skye. It seemed the pirates had arrived, after all. That being said, only rarely did Juneau hate being right. This was one of those unfortunate times.

The entire building quaked as laserfire peppered the platform upon which everything was built. It moved, making a horrendous sound that suggested it might fall; but it did not, much to the human's relief. While the S'kytri had the option of flying away to safety, the Jedi was much more limited in her avenues of escape. As the fighters continued strafing runs against the place, Juneau had to struggle to keep her balance atop the trembling ground. But the starfighters, she'd come to find out, were not her only concerns. Pirates swarmed over the place like insects after a meal, and where they went, bodies soon followed. She strained to see over and around the Majestrix's massive shoulders at what all had been done so far. Half of the ruler's escort had been massacred in the middle of the walkway, having had the poor idea of following the impatient despot down to the guardhouse. Juneau could have cursed at the female S'kytri's idiocy; she could very well have just cost them the entire ambush, not to mention the lives that they'd already lost. And still, it got worse, those guards who hadn't been caught in the ambush were scrambling to combat the pirates -- on the ground or in the sky -- and most were finding themselves little more than target practice.

When the Majestrix did nothing but stand there, frozen by either fear or indecision, Juneau knew that she was going to have to take point on this mission. Opening her hand, her lightsaber flew straight to it with ease and she ignited it. Orange light spread out across the concerned, downcast faces of the guards in the guardhouse with her. "Listen up!" she began, authority in everything from her posture to her tone. "We're outnumbered, and outmanouevred. That doesn't mean we've lost, however, it just means we'll have to work harder to win. I've counted about a dozen men on the platform, some inside the food store and others outside. The pirates won't risk damaging the goods so our first priority needs to be getting into the storage facility itself and securing it from the groundside raiders. Don't concern yourself with the fighters, just avoid getting hit by their laserfire. There's no honour amongst thieves so don't think that you're safe if you get near any of the pirates themselves; they won't hesitate to drop one of their own men to get you."

"What about me, Jedi? I'm as much a part of this plan as --"

"If you want to help, then recall all your people from the sky and order them to take cover," Juneau interrupted, cutting her off. "If they remain airborne, they'll be slaughtered." She refrained from pointing out how they'd be killed just like the S'kytri who were foolish enough to have followed the Majestrix to their own deaths. The way her personal guards had been murdered was no way for a warrior to go out, without given even the smallest opportunity to fight and defend themselves. There was honour in dying for a cause, but there was no glory in dying for a whim. Perhaps the loss of her closest and best guardians would serve the Majestrix some sense. Tragedy was sometimes the finest teacher; and maybe the calamity would illustrate a picture bloody enough to portray the realism that they were presently facing -- which the leader had been ignoring. With the corpses of fallen friends littering the pathways upon the platforms, maybe the Majestrix would come to the realisation that she was not as all-powerful as she believed herself to be. And that even supreme rulers needed assistance when things went awry.

It was then fortunate that the Majestrix had a Jedi Knight on her side. The Guardian in question also being damn good at what she did -- and what she did was win battles. After appraising the situation through the cracked open doorway once more, Juneau turned back to the guards. "Does everyone understand the plan?" she asked, prepared to reiterate if necessary. Everyone nodded in acquiescence and comprehension, including the Majestrix. It was sort of interesting how quickly she'd changed her tune when surrounded by actual danger. Typical airbag: full of hot air and not much else. "I'll do my best to provide cover, but we have to reach that food store. There's no other alternative. On my mark, we go; don't stop, don't hesitate, don't get caught out in the open. Remember: this is your fight, you'll be setting the standard for combating the piracy plaguing your planet through your actions here today." In pausing, the Jedi gave a small smile. "So you damn well better win."

She waited until the last of the fighters completed its strafing run, when the next one was still coming around, and then yelled, "now!" The door was thrown open. They emerged like saviours for their people, ready to champion for their cause.

(( Does Jun's plan work? If so, to what extent? If not, what happens instead? ))

(( Jun is success in reaching the other side, along with the Majestrix. However, a good number of the warriors were cut down crossing the open ground by the strafing aircraft. Those pirates on the ground are quick to see the group and begin making their way over, mopping up the few warriors on the way. It won't be long before they reach the group and trap them between a rock and a hard place.

The storage pirates notice the move too, and quickly run to halt them at the doors; a choke point. They prove too much for the warriors to get past, even after cutting down a few of their number. A few hold back many. ))

Blaster bolts came from what seemed like every direction as she led her brave group in its courageous charge to the food store. She was a whirl of activity as she ran, using the Force to hasten her movements and allow her an uncanny ability to foresee attacks before they occurred; her lightsaber blade became a blur of orange light as it swept through the air, batting back bolts like they were no more than pesky insects. Shien was her form of choice at the moment and served her well as she focused on shielding the group from the pirate's crosshairs. They moved with a speed that suggested that death itself was cracking the whip behind them, threatening them with a painful end should any of them slow down for even a moment. While the Jedi used her weapon and the Force, the S'kytri relied on their own power and tools. The majority of them were equipped with Jengardin double-bladed vibroblades, and an additional blaster weapon of some sort; in such close combat with their foes, the melee weapon became the preferred means of inflicting damage upon the enemy. With a determination for survival, but more importantly success, they hacked and slashed their way up the pathway, dodging the strafing runs of the passing starfighters.

Even with Juneau doing her best to deflect and repel blaster fire, some of her allies fell prey to the accurate aiming done by the pirates. Two fell near the beginning of their exit from the guardhouse, and another two fell just as they reached the main platform where the storage facility entrance was located at. The Majestrix and the Guardian were the first to reach their destination, followed soon after by their own group. Behind them were the S'kytri that had been recalled from their suicide missions in the air, and were now holding the rear of the assault party. Pirates surrounded them from all sides and put them in a poor position, but the Jedi's team managed to be holding their own. The runs being made by the fighters seemed to slow to only a few, likely not eager to fire when they were so close to the food store now, but did not stop altogether. Several more S'kytri as well as the pirates near them fell to the fire from the sky. Destruction continued to rain down from above. It didn't take a genius to realise that they needed to move forward, or they would die. Retreat would have been just as disastrous as holding their ground.

"Cover my back," she said to the nearest S'kytri warriors as an idea struck her. Those starfighters needed to be taken down, and she knew just the way to do it. Moving towards the edge of the platform to get a better view of the ships that were swooping around in the sky, she lifted a hand up. Her other was kept firmly around the hilt of her lightsaber to protect her against any stray shots, but the majority of her attention was devoted to the starfighters. She allowed the Force to build up around her, even more powerful than before; it wound around her, throughout her, and drew off of all the hectic life in the area. There was something almost beautiful about the chaotic energy entity as it came to her, beckoned to do her bidding. But the Force was no servant, it was an ally; they were in this together. Pinpointing the starfighter pilots in her mind, she unleashed the Force upon them through a bright, white light that would temporarily blind them. In case that wasn't enough to send them spiraling into an accidental crash, she used the Force to give them a little nudge in the right direction -- towards one another's ships.

"Jedi!"

Her concentration was broken shortly thereafter by the Majestrix's call. Pirates were going directly for her, having broken through the line of bodies. The Jedi rushed to the leader's aid without a second's hesitation. Sure, the female S'kytri was annoying as heck, but that didn't mean that she wanted her dead. For one, the people of this planet needed some sort of leader; even if she was a crap one. That could change over time should she be persuaded to see reason, but that'd never come to pass if she was dead. Who knew what sort of power vaccuum that'd leave in an already volatile situation such as this one? Skye was likely torn between those for isolationism and those against it. Civil war could very much be a possibility without a strong hand to keep things under control. For whatever reason, people obeyed and followed the Majestrix without question. If she survived, and altered her stance, then Skye would be better off. So it was that the Jedi immediately darted to her aid, lightsaber blazing offensively against those seeking to do her harm and threaten the success of her mission.

A few good slices and the pirates were dead at the Majestrix's feet, with the female looking at the Jedi with an inscrutable expression. If her pride was hurt because Jun had just saved her life, well, then she could just go space herself. The Jedi didn't have time to mess around with her and her feelings. Their forces were suffering, and there was no time to waste. "Stay behind me," she ordered.

Once all that was taken care of, she returned her attention to her dwindling group of fighters. Having had enough of her people being massacred, the Jedi made her way back to the front of the line to see what the hold-up was. The pirates had gathered in the one doorway to the facility and were providing a chokehold point there. It would have been a decent idea if one of their opponents wasn't wielding a blade of light. A blaster was no match for a lightsaber on any day of the week and in any scenario. With her defensive form deflecting the frantically fired shots, she moved ever closer to the doorway. As the distance between the pirates and the Jedi diminished, confusion could be seen etched into each criminal's face with terror in their eyes completing the picture of panic. Extending a hand, she called upon the same power she'd just used previously to send the group of thieves spiraling backwards. In the next instant, she was upon them with her lightsaber, ready to end their lives if they did not lay down their weapons.

(( How many starfighters does Juneau manage to take down? Does she manage to clear the path into the food store either through her telekinesis or a few lightsaber strokes? Do any pirates surrender? If not, how many does the Jedi and her crew manage to kill? How many casualties do they take themselves?))

(( By blinding them Jun manages to bring about the destruction of one as his fighter slams into the rock face. Burning debris and stone fall down, injuring both S'kytri and pirate alike as nature showed it's unbias violence. Another is thrown into the course of a friend, and though one spirals off to safety the other takes out part of the platform as it plummets to the ground. The rest manage to escape, though they make for space to avoid and collisions until their sight is back.

The path into the food store is cleared with ease by the Jedi, and though some pirates manage a few last killer shots at the charging S'kytri it isn't enough to stop the entrance and their inevitable gruesome deaths. Outside the pirates press though, having finished with those few lone survivors from the initial hit. They rush forward, laying down heavy blaster fire and even a lone grenade that rocks everyone a little too much for comfort, while taking out a chunk of the store wall. Harsh yells are heard, as well as some swear words as the culprit is reprimanded by his own pals.

Believing the option of surrender isn't open, none of the pirates within the store room put down their weapons. Instead they try desperately to fight until the end, regardless of there being little chance of escape. All of them inside the store room are killed.

The attack led to the deaths of two S'kytri, while another one is too badly wounded to move and fight in close quarters. It's a female, and she shows her resilience and wish to pitch in by locating herself by the hole in the wall and holding them back with blaster fire. ))

This wasn't what the Jedi had been signed up for, Juneau couldn't help but think to herself as her group crowded into the first floor of the storage facility. Like any bad situation, it was growing worse and worse by the second. They'd lost so many of their S'kytri strike force, and of the few that were left, many were hurt in some way. Those who were lucky had escaped with a few minor wounds, and those who weren't had the unfortunate role of becoming easy target practice for the pirates. The Majestrix herself was sporting a few unseemly marks and bruises, but was the least unharmed out of them all; most of her lessers had done what they could to protect her from injury, even at the cost of their own well beings. Even the Jedi Knight, a fighter in her own right, had suffered several close calls which left scorch marks on her arms and a few tears in her tunic. But it could have been worse: they could have all still been stuck out in the open like sitting ducks, rather than compacted into the food store like they were now. At least they had a defensive position that they could maintain, and she'd already taken care of the starfighters so they wouldn't be giving them anymore trouble either. There were still some pirates outside, doing their damnedest to give them a hard time but she was confident that they could hold this place provided nothing else went horribly wrong.

Juneau ordered the main entrance shut and barred, and the S'kytri rushed to do so. The door was slammed shut with boxes of various food stuffs piled in front of it to provide an unmovable weight. This would allow them one less area to worry about pirates coming through at them from; they had enough of an issue with the gaping hole that had been blown into the side of the place, courtesy of a fragmentation grenade. One particularly formidable female had positioned herself at the side of this vulnerable break in their defences, and was doing her best with a blaster to prevent any thieves from attempting to enter that way. Jun noticed that she was wounded though and that would weaken her physically even if her resolve was unbreakable. As she looked around to what few survivors were left, she could see the exhaustion and defeat in their heavy, burdened postures. They'd fought valiantly, even when their ambush had been turned around on them due to a foolhardy mistake. It was terrible how one mishap had led to the deaths of so many, a single mistake bringing misfortune on many. More still needed to be done, though, and they could not yet surrender. A mere moment to catch their breaths would be all that the Jedi Guardian gave them, and herself.

She had to think now, had to come up with some sort of strategy to get them out of this mess. Alive, preferably. The Force had brought them to this point, surely it had some idea as to how things were going to go. If it was just building up the suspense for its peculiar sense of humour again then the ethereal entity was going to have a very angry Jedi on its hands after this was all over. People were dying, on her watch no less, and that didn't sit well at all with Juneau. It was true that she hardly knew any of these people, and the ones she did know -- like the Majestrix -- she did not have an overly fond opinion of. Even still, they were allies in this endeavour, soldiers for the same cause. As long as they were working together, Juneau felt responsible for what happened to them. While she didn't waste time blaming herself for deaths that happened during battle, that didn't mean that she was apathetic to the loss of lives either. Far from, she could feel the disappearance of souls from this world on a level that non-Force sensitives could not. It was like a flame abruptly extinguished, the light of a single living being suddenly disappearing off of the map in her mind's eye. The more that died, the greater the tragedy. She had to come up with some way to stop the death of her fellows, and finish off their enemies before they could finish off them.

While she devoted her mind to coming up with some sort of a plan, she positioned herself opposite the S'kytri defending the hole in the wall. Her lightsaber remained ignited, practically moving of its own volition to deflect the continued fire that poured through the breach. By her estimates, from what she could sense and see, there were about six pirates left. She looked back to her own group. There were exactly six of them left as well, including Juneau and the Majestrix. At least it was a relatively fair fight now, unless the remaining fighters came back; if they did, she'd just have to show them a repeat show of what happened when you messed with a Jedi Knight. She might have been a peacekeeper, but what most people didn't realise was that sometimes one had to use violence to keep the peace. Jun was no stranger to that strategy, either. While she'd rather the pirates had given up, since they had not she wasn't going to hesitate to take their lives. Who knew how many innocents would be spared as a result of their would-be murderers already having been killed? The Jedi Guardian couldn't see into the future, but she could hope for the best and trust that the Force would guide her in the right direction.

"Well, Jedi, what now? You've led us in here, and now we're caught like rats in our own trap. You better have a plan."

The Majestrix's churlish attitude was ignored. "I'm working on it," Juneau replied simply. And it was the truth, too. Unfortunately, the majority of the ideas that she'd come up with in the past five minutes had a high probability of getting herself shot or even killed. Suffice to say, those ones were no good. "Majestrix, are there any alternate ways out of this facility besides the front door? An emergency exit, windows, even an air vent or something of that kind?" she inquired, an idea coming to her. If she could sneak out unseen by the pirates, then she could either provide a diversion or use the S'kytri still here as a distraction and come up behind the pirates. Ideally, it'd catch them off guard, and they'd then be forced to fight a battle on two fronts -- caught behind a rock and a hard place in an ironic twist of fate. From that point, she believed that the tide of the conflict would turn to their favour, and they'd be able to slay the last of the would-be thieves with minimal casualties for themselves.

(( Does the Majestrix or anyone else in the group know of any alternate ways out of the food store? ))