Nar Shaddaa

Once all of the upgrades were complete Jo'ren remained on board his ship to complete his Lightsaber repairs, successfully this time. He took a bit of time to practice, making sure he was happy with the results, before closing the blades down again.

It was time to speak with his Master and tell him off all he had discovered these past few days. Well. The edited highlights.

He punched in the secure communication line and awaited his master's appearance.

Darth Vengean appears looking grim and fierce and says, "Apprentice, report."

"My Lord, I bring news from Nar Shaddaa and beyond. The most relevant information relates to Darth Baras and his apprentices. Are you alone my Lord, this information is highly sensitive." He knelt as he spoke, rising again to relay his message.

"Continue Apprentice, I am interested to hear of your progress and the news on my late Apprentice," Vengean says.

"Yes my Lord. Yesterday I accompanied Layne Hoshin on a mission for Darth Baras. She had been told that it was to an enemy facility belonging to the individual known as 'Magpie'. What we found was a secret space station belonging to the Emperor that housed his Voice. It became clear that Hoshin's mission was in fact to make a request of the Voice for Darth Baras, who announced that Magpie is now an enemy of the Emperor. A crystal was given to Hoshin by the Voice, a strange black and red thing, that was to be given to Darth Xevious. Presumably this is all part of Darth Baras' plan to draw out Magpie, but I thought you would wish to know the details."

"Darth Baras is bold... even in death. Few know the secret places of the Emperor, and fewer have walked their sacred halls and lived. Obviously Baras is alive, but hoping to draw out his enemies. The Council is on the brink of war as everyone tries to jockey for position. Find out anything you can on this Magpie," he says with brewing rage.

"Yes my Lord. I will investigate further among my contacts here." He nodded firmly. "The talks proceed in a climate of suspicion. A terrorist group calling itself the Crimson Shadow has been conducting attacks on citizens and generating chaos. I am currently pursuing a Nikto assassin, and a lead on a Sith temple buried on Nal Hutta. A Kaggath occurred here between the followers of Darth Malgus and Darth Laishen. I aided Malgus' cause and his opponents were crushed."

"Thanaton would be pleased that someone resorted to the relic of Kaggath. Such distractions have no place in real Sith business but it is good to keep the tradition alive, I suppose. I have a minor task for you in the coming days, the Massassi Queen has expressed an interest in Nar Shaddaa and wishes to see it for herself. Mind attending her as a bodyguard during her stay?" Vengean says.

"It at least gave me the opportunity to meet Lord Haydriss. I would be honored my Lord. May I ask when she will be arriving so that I may wrap up other business prior to her visit?"

"Her transport should be in system about 48 hours from now," he replies.

"Thank you my lord. I look forward to it." He paused. "Through my activities here I have managed to secure upgrades to the Terror Star. The hyperdrive has been enhanced. Do you have any business on Makeb that I might expedite, or anything else for me in general?"

"What is on Makeb?" he asks.

"The stronghold of a Jedi exile who lived four hundred years ago my Lord. I am led to believe it may contain lost lore or Lightsaber technology. The Hutts have also offered a large bounty for capturing or killing an assassin. I was intending to take the opportunity to gain their favour."

"I see, that is worthy of investigation if only to deny the Jedi anything of value," Vengean says.

"Indeed, I shall let you know if anything useful comes of it my lord."

"Baras is dead, he is dead till I say otherwise. Cut down any worms that try to take advantage of that fact," he responds.

"Yes my Lord. Do you wish me to do anything with Sylvain Torsin or Layne Hoshin?"

"Keep an eye on them, especially Layne, she has a habit of doing the unexpected," he says.

"Yes my Lord, it is one of her redeeming qualities." He bowed once more. "Is there anything you wish of me before I begin preparations for the Queen's arrival?"

"I have nothing at this time that you are not already aware of, go forth and conquer, my Apprentice," he responds.

"I will continue to do so Master." He knelt and let Vengean end the call before rising again and stretching out his neck.