[Day 7 - MA] The Council

[Jedi Master Surro]

"Masters, while we are all gathered here, I would like to discuss the upcoming action against the Empire." She looked to Oraka and the hologram of Master Surro for permission to continue.

"Please continue, Xanna," Master Surro replied.

[Xanna Teevou]

Nodding to the hologram and the 'old man' she continued. "As you know, planning is underway for action against the Imperial presence here on Bankor. There are a number of ways that we can assist, but the presence of the High Inquisitor presents a significant unknown quantity. Do you have any suggestions for how we might deal with this threat?"

[Oraka Hin]

Oraka said, “That is why you must confront the Trials, I will be reliant on each of you to face this High Inquisitor. Neela and Valus will remain behind, they are skilled, but the temptation of the Dark would impede their progress. I also feel that it is best we keep them focused on recovery.”

“This is an opponent that will try to twist your mind, draw you to the dark Side and expose your shortcomings. I will do what I can but my injuries from the Clone Wars and my more recent encounters… have taken their toll.”

“This is now your fight, your battle and the Force and your fellow Jedi will be your allies. Those of you that pass the Trials will be our leaders, and expected to mentor and guide those who are on their journey.”

[Xanna Teevou]

"I understand Master." She looked around at her fellow Padawans. "So we will defeat this Inquisitor, together."

Her gaze shifted to Neela and Valus. "Could either of you give us any insight into what the High Inquisitor's purpose is on Bankor? There must be more to it than our presence here."

[Verse Aura]

"He was powerful," she said; with good cause given how badly he had injured Verse in their brief struggle.

"But he was not untouchable."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus took a deep breath, but nodded again. "We will do what we must."

He looked at Verse. "You faced him, huh? Do you have any insight?" He was asking Verse for insights... well, Verse was definitely an impressive Jedi in her own way.

[Qareme Torth]

"No being is untouchable. That does not mean we would not be in danger to face him" Qareme commented thoughtfully "we would need to be fully prepared to take him on. I have not seen him, but I would assume he is shrouded in the dark side and unlikely to easily turn?"

[Verse Aura]

"Well, in practical terms. He's ridiculously fast, but he couldn't parry my lightsaber completely. I got a couple of hits in, at least. But then there's that lightning he can throw around. Hit both me and Floats at the same time, with it. If there were enough of us focusing on him, we might be able to take him down, but... it'd be risky for sure."

She looked around those gathered. "But he's arrogant. He doesn't even see us as threats. Maybe that could be used against him?"

[Zerras Blume]

Zerras listened closely. This was not likely a threat she could help with, but it was important to understand it.

[Rannek Nire]

Rannek paused before speaking but finally said, “So... I’ve done some hunting over the past few years... and like that’s what this dude is, right? A damn good Jedi hunter.”

He paused, “What if we let him do his job... you know... find us... in a way he thinks he did on his own... Cuz hunters like feeling like they outsmarted the prey. But we’re ready for him somehow. Like... you know... a trap he’s gotta spring but won’t survive.”

[Xanna Teevou]

She followed the conversation and nodded as each of the Padawans spoke. "Indeed, we must work together to defeat him. As Rannek says, it will help greatly if we are prepared but he is not." A nod to Verse. "And his arrogance may well be used against him."

"So, does he have a purpose here other than tracking down Jedi? Must we draw him out using our own presence as a trap, like Rannek has suggested, or is there another option?"

[Zerras Blume]

"You could use me as bait, if you do set a trap." Zerras offered. "I'm a new arrival, and probably unknown. I might not be the most tempting target, but he might be suspicious if he found one of you too easily."

[Qareme Torth]

"I would imagine his purpose would be to be a heavy hand against the many Jedi that have been drawn to Bankor. With our two friends brought back to the light that would add fuel to the fire. Someone like this would be harder to deal with" Qareme said thoughtfully "there is only truly one step above him I would imagine."

[Sacha Ordo]

"A Nar Shaddaa Shuffle is an option," Sacha mentioned, "to use his arrogance against him."

"He'll likely sense a trap, and be able to figure out a normal strategy. The Shuffle relies on him knowing that and thinking he knows what the trap will be. You use that to position him to your advantage for something different. It's a situation where a smarter mark who knows they're smart makes it more likely to work."

[Verse Aura]

"So we know that he will think he knows where the trap is, so we put the trap somewhere else. But what if he knows that we know that he'll think he knows where the trap is?"

[Petrus Karath]

"Hmmm..." Petrus chewed his lip. "So the idea would be we set one trap, with bait. Uh, hey, Zerras was it?" He offered the newcomer an awkward smile. "And he suspects us to ambush him. Which, of course, we will."

He spread his hands. "So what's the real trap?"

[Jedi Master Surro]

"This sounds... Complicated," Master Surro offered in a concerned tone.

[Sacha Ordo]

Sacha shrugged. "Yeah, it is. My track record for results is... poor, anyway."

[Jedi Master Surro]

Sacha shrugged. "Yeah. My track record for results is... poor, anyway."

"It has merit but it requires knowledge of the High Inquisitor we are only assuming after one encounter," she said with a reply.

[Zerras Blume]

"The more complicated it is, the more ways it can go wrong." Zerras nodded.

[Xanna Teevou]

"I agree. We are overthinking this." She chewed her lip for a moment. "This High Inquisitor knows there are a few Jedi here. It is unlikely that he knows our true numbers. What if we can draw him out with the Jedi he knows about, make a show of it, then surprise and defeat him with our full complement? Or simply take the fight to him?"

She looked over at Neela and Valus again. "Where has he based himself? The Orbital Station, the Dictator, or the Foundry?"

[Neela Takee]

Neela said, “He trained me, he is… arrogant, maybe, but more so he is always planning and he understands how to twist people and give them what they want and use that to make them do things they would never do.”

“He is skilled with one or two lightsabers and although he is a terrifying in battle his skills in the Force are strong, as you saw. He isn’t as… dogmatic in his hunt as Valus and perhaps more controlled in his cruelty than I was. He will come at you sideways; he is doubtless reviewing that encounter mentally and studying every encounter we have had with the Jedi here to better anticipate your actions.”

“Whatever his goal he will most likely move quickly, because I can feel him coming… Lord Vader. Valus can feel it too, or he should. I suspect he may come for me, he trained me, my turning from the Dark will be seen as a personal failing. I think we will have a chance but it… will be dangerous and reveal possible treachery,” she replied.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus grimaced. "Well, that sounds great. We have to worry that he'll be setting us some sort of trap."

He looked at Neela. "Or setting you some kind of trap. Specifically." He frowned. "What did you mean, 'reveal possible treachery'?"

[Neela Takee]

“I have had dreams… visions that the Elder Brother would come for me using a member of the Resistance or one of their allies. I can never see the face clearly but it is someone I have wronged surely of which there is no shortage and use that rage as a weapon to draw me into a trap. I believe it will happen soon… it must happen and when it does we can remove his evil, even if I must die to make it happen,” she said calmly.

“There is no death, there is only the Force.”

[Petrus Karath]

"I see." Petrus said. After a moment, he sighed. "We will do what we can to save you, of course. Don't go throwing your life away, huh?"

He glanced over at the two masters, Oraka and Surro. "There have been some questions from the rest of the resistance about what's going to happen with, uh, Neela and Valus. I've been saying they are undergoing penance." He chewed his lip a moment. "I'm not sure if I should be telling them something else."