The planet Kessel. Home of huge spice deposits and a prison dating back to the Old Republic. Now it was held under joint New Alliance/Mon Calamari Republic control, and the spice mines continued to run as always. The system held two shipyards, the third one having been destroyed in a recent battle. It was also home of two fleets, TNA's 3rd Fleet, and the MCR's Kessel Attack Fleet. Only the Mon Cal's were present at the time, Alliance forces had been called to another location(Dantooine).

A single ship shot out of hyperspace at the edge of the system. It was a Galofree Medium Transport, capable of carrying 19,000 metric tons of cargo. Galofree's had made up a large portion of the Rebellion's troop and supply ships. This one in particular was just such a ship. As it made it's way towards the planet, the captain opened up a transmission with Kessel Customs. "Attention Kessel Customs, this is TRE transport "Patience". We've been ordered here from Bespin with a cargo of Tibanna gas for use by the Mon Calamari Fleet. I'd like to request permission to land and unload planetside."

The Galofree continued to make it's way toward the planet while it awaited landing clearance. They didn't come too close the the Mon Cal Fleet, but didn't act suspiciously by keeping thier distance either. Thier IFF signals, identifying markings, and all other methods of identifying the ship were good, there was no reason for any trouble.

Lord Snowkan aboard <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Liberty<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> whatched as the Galofree transport went by. He had a funny feeling about it through the Force. He wasn't sure about it as he was only a padawan and not very far along in his training.
"To the Galofree Meduim transport. Stop right now and wait for an escort." Lord Snowkan had seen many Galofree transports come to Kessel while he was on duty, but this on was odd. The Force was telling him that it was dangerous. This seemed odd as he couldn't place how it was dangerous. Ah, now he remebered, it must be that this tranport is somehow related to the incedent where another Galofree Meduim transport had attaced Kessel.
"To Moon Shadow and Star Shadow, form up with the Galofree transport and escort it to the landing zone. Also to the fighters from the Liberty, launch and escort that transport."
The fighters launched at went after the transport. The two victory MKIs moved towards the transport. It could to nothing but land and unload. Lord Snowkan doubted very much that that transport could somehow stop eight squads of fighters and two Victory Star Destroyers.

fleet manifest:
Mon Calamari Star Cruiser MC-300-Liberty(Ion Cannons instead of Turbolasers)
Mon Calamari Star Cruiser MC-300-Liberty Moon(Ion Cannons instead of Turbolasers)
Mon Calamari Star Cruiser MC-200-Shadow Star(Ion Cannons instead of Turbolasers)
Mon Calamari Star Cruiser MC-100a-Liberty Star(Ion Cannons instead of Turbolasers)
Victory-Class Star Destroyer-Star Shadow
Victory-Class Star Destroyer-Moon Shadow
Escort Carrier
Carrack Cruiser
Lancer Frigate
Lancer Frigate
Lancer Frigate
Lancer Frigate
Corellian Gunship


Fighters
72 TIE Defenders-Shadow Star
72 TIE Defenders-Liberty Star
72 Modified TIE Interceptors-Escort Carrier
36 B-Wings-Liberty
36 E-Wings-Liberty
24 A-Wings-Liberty
5 A-Wings-Carrack Cruiser
24 A-Wings-Liberty Moon
16 Missile Boats
1 Skipray Blastboat

Transports
30 Sentinal Shuttles

4 Arakyd Tank Droids
500 Darktroopers(Mark III)
272,500 Soldiers
(this is the Kessel defenses and Kessel Attack fleet manifest added together. The ground stuff is in command of JESEK, who i ahve the right to over power is commands. He is also incharge of the two victory SDs. Since i didn't know when he would read this, i posted for him, as i have the right to order him around.)

OOC: Technically you should have no knowledge of that attack, as the thread in general was deemed void by Gash. However, if that's the way you'd like to play it, that's fine with me. Doesn't hurt me one bit.

IC: Aboard the Galofree, Jander Sunstar sat on the bridge. After he'd communicated with Kessel control, he began to feel a probing in his mind. The two lightsabers he carried were proof of his experience. He'd dealt with many Jedi before, and this one felt weaker than most of those he'd fought against. Not neccesarily truly weak, but untrained for the most part. Carefully he guided his thoughts away from his true mission, into that of his cover, and motioned for the crew to do the same. He used the many differences in Gand thinking compared to that of other races as an advantage.

Moments later, he replied. "Attention Liberty, I have orders not to allow any MCR forces within weapons range. While the Rogue Empire and the Mon Calamari Republic are at peace, our past makes us it a tenous peace at best. Please remain outside of weapons range. Any violations of this will not be seen well by the Emperor. It was his kindness that brings this Tibanna here, when it could easily be used among the Empire."

Heedless of the Liberty's order to stop, the Galofree continued to move, but did not make any hostile actions.

Lord Snowkan saw the Galofree transport continue to fly towards the planet. The sense of danger had passed.
"Order the fighters to follow that transport, but to be out of range of it, just barely. Same orders to Moon Shadow and Star Shadow."
"Yes sir."
"To the commander of the transport. Fly towards the main landing pad and follow this course, or you may, by accident, enter a restricted sector. Repeat, follow the course we provide."
The provided course made the transport stay out of range of the shipyard and construction yard at Kessel. It did let the ship land near the spice mines, but the Mon Calamari Republic didn't deal with spice. Lord Snowkan would not allow this to be some sort of plan that could stop production rates at the shipyard or construction yard.

The Marauder-Class Corvette streaked inbound, blue efflux tail propelling it forward like that of a serpent swimming through water. On board, the Cobra Battledroid, D31, hastily assigned orders to various droid officers on board the vessel, dubbed the Hermes. Those who had paid any attention to the holonews over the past ten years knew quite well what that relatively small ship was; the personal craft of the Jedi Master Gash Jiren. Though the leader of R.J.O. was at Dantooine, the Marauder carried the ambassadorial authority of Gash himself.

The second officer on board the thin bridge of that ship turned it's duck-billed head to D31, speaking in an intimidatingly power-filled monotone.

'Shields back to 100 percent, sir. Ship estimated at 160% Standard Marauder-Class Corvette effectiveness.'

Typical- the Marauder was modified to a point where it possessed near twice the normal shielding and weaponry of any normal Marauder. D31 only nodded, running basic military alglorithyms with the system resources not dedicated to running the vessel.

The black holes which made up the area known as the "Kessel Run" had very nearly done a number on the Hermes... the gravitic anomalies had a similar effect on shields to those created by the Dovin Bassals of Yuuzhan Vong warships.

So one thought ran though D31's droid mind repeatedly:

Gash had better be right about this.

The Jedi Master had assigned the small ship to run patrols on the unguarded New Alliance planets... it was a fairly obvious time to assault one of the planets while their fleet was battling the New Order.

"Open a channel to our little friend.

"Unidentified Galofree Freighter, you are requested stand down for boarding and inspection immediately, on the authority of Gash Jiren, Xylon Hexyra, the New Republic, and the Rogue Jedi Order. The New Republic and The Rogue Empire have brought a peaceful end to our hostilities; don't jepordize that by antagonizing our allies further."

"Galofree transport, reply to that last transmittion."
The Lord Snowkan watched as some of his ships disappeared into hyperspace, on route to Honoghr.
"To the Marauder Corvette, thanks for the intervention. They won't let us come into range of them, but i think you will be sufficient."
"Sir we have a transmittion from Honoghr. The ask for some reinforcements."
"Ok, send them Shadow Star, Star's Delight, Shadow Star's fighters and thirty sentenial shuttles and all of The Kessel Attack Fleet's grounf forces."
"Yes sir."
The reinforcements went into hyperspace.

OOC:
New fleet manifest:

capital ships:
Mon Calamari Star Cruiser MC-300-Liberty(Ion Cannons instead of Turbolasers)

fighters:
36 B-Wings-Liberty
36 E-Wings-Liberty
24 A-Wings-Liberty

Grond Forces:
2 Arakyd Tank Droids
250 Darktroopers(Mark III)
25,000 Soldiers

Jander sighed as the Marauder began to interfere. It didn't really pose a threat to them, but it was an inconvenience none the less. Everyone in the galaxy right now was either too easy going or too paranoid. This was one time that being too paranoid would hurt the MCR. After a moment or two and with the Mon Cals already pestering him for a response, he opened a channel and replied. He made sure it was an open channel so the MCR commander could hear him.

"Attention RJO Marauder 'Hermes', this is ROGUE IMPERIAL transport vessel 'Patience', as your sensors can tell you just as well as I can. We're here on official TRE business, bringing the Mon Calamari a gift of Tibanna from Emperor Fearsons. We announced ourselves when we arrived in system, and have not acted hostile in any way. If the Mon Cals do not wish to accept the Emperor's gift, an oddity concerning the details of thier treaty, then I shall report this to him and return this rather considerable shipment to the proper Rogue Imperial facilities."

"Regarding your requested inspection, a single shuttle carrying an inspection team will be allowed to approach and dock once we have moved back away from the planet. Once the team is aboard we will comply to your wishes and prove we carry the cargo our manifest shows. However, you'll find yourselves in the wrong, as we do carry the tibanna."

Just to add some proof to his point, the Gand signaled a crewman to send the Corvette the security camera shots of the cargo holds, clearly showing the tibanna containers that filled them. He knew that the RJO and MCR commander would assume the holo's to be faked, or perhaps that the containers were. Either way, he didn't care. Truth was, it was a real mission, and real tibanna. It was thier mistake to turn him away. With the transmission complete, Sunstar ordered the ship to slowly withdraw from the area around the planet, to an open area of space. There they awaited a reply from the Marauder and for the inspection team.

OOC:If this was really a delivery from TRE, why would you try to avoid the Mon Calamari Republic's fleet? Wouldn't it be safe to come near us, as we want the tibanna gas? Don't we have a no fire treaty with TRE? Why would why fire on you, when the IFE has just annoyed chadd, and been desimated.

ic:
Lord Snowkan left the inspection up to the Marauder corvette. with it's intervention he hadn't broken any treaties with the TRE, even theough he didn't really like it, he excepted the fact that there was no way the Mon Cals could stop The Rogue Empire. He would let the transport go by, with an escort. Since the Mon Calamari Republic was pressed for Tibanna Gas, they needed the transport to be safe. The fighters from Liberty continued to keep out of range of the transport, but near enough to stop it if nessesary.

OOC: It's a real shipment all right, however Jander and his men trust no one. We stay out of range of your weapons cause it would be easy for your MC-300 with the turbos replaced with Ions to shut down and capture the ship and it's cargo, claiming it as pirates. We may have been hired out for this delivery, but that doesn't mean we're going to take unneccesary chances.

OOC: D31 trusts fewer people than Jander. And currently, "TRE" can't be found on my 'trusted' list. I have no doubt the tibanna is real- but I'll bet that you're not just here to deliver it.

Had D31 any facial features, his expression would have read a grim sneer. As it was, the tone of his voice served the purpose of conveying his attitude quite nicely.

"Buddy, I don't give a damn about whatever authority you may have. I know just where you came from, and just who you are. There has been too much war between The New Alliance and the Rogue Empire for me to allow a tibanna shipment, delivered by an infamous guerilla warrior, to pass."

The sentient droid left Jander to decode the meaning of those words, as he ordered the shuttle known as the Crimson Blade to debark from the Corvette. He made his way from the bridge to the hanger bay, accessing security clearance and boarding the shuttle's cramped transport area. Several other Cobra Battledroids made their way onto the vessel, before the droid pilots activated the repulsorlifts and blasted out of the magnetic containment field isolating the hanger from the endless cold of space.

With the ships docked, the droid boarding party hustled onto the vessel, greeted by one of Jander's soldiers. D31 took point, nodding his duck-billed head to the man.

"This won't take long."

The droids, having already been uploaded with the schematics of the Galofree ship, proceeded to the hanger bay, scanning the crates with various inspection devices, in addition to their own tertiary scanner systems. In a matter of minutes, DX32 came to D31 with a report.

'While the containers read cleanly, this unit would strive to remind you that once having landed, the Gand "Jander" would be quite able to carry out any covert assault mission.'

"Yes... he might not be lying about the shipment being real, but he could still land a strike team..." The droid activated his comm system, transmitting to the Galofree Medium Transport's bridge. "Jander, your cargo is clean. But if you would permit it, my team and I would stay on board until you have finished delivering it. You'll understand, this could all be a ruse to land an assault team on planet."