The Magis Saga: From the Jedi Archives

What Do You Seek?

"Captain Roove Tal."

The young warrior stood and turned with military precision. He marched toward the tall attendant who waited a stone's throw away.

Roove was discipline incarnate. His black hair was pressed against his skull, his face clean-shaven, and his left hand firmly gripped the hilt of a ceremonial sword as the other swung at his side. He was fair-skinned, even for a human, and his eyes were the green of densely packed fir trees.

The attendant, a Quermian, towering nearly ten feet, robed in black with accents of purple, gracefully swiveled and led Roove up a staircase. It took three steps at a time upsetting Roove's trained gate... and temper. He did not appreciate the rush.

At the height of the stair, the Quermian gestured with a lengthy arm toward a domed door. The door's many interlocking layers spiraled open, revealing a half moon-shaped chamber with the stars for windows. Six seats sat upon a dais encircling a platform which Roove stepped onto. It raised with his weight.

From the center, he bowed to the six figures hidden in the dark.

He was ready. Somehow, this moment was why his father had braved inhospitable terrain, wretched meals, and sleepless vigils in the militia back home. He had whipped his son into deadly prowess, molding him.

One of the figures stood in the gray light. He was an elderly human, well groomed and dressed in midnight blue. Curiously, his right hand quivered slightly. A droid, no larger than a Wookie's head, hovered before him. The figure tapped a screen on the back, and the pale light further aged the man.

"Captain Tal," the electrical voice began, "Known to all of us. Your pedigree is beyond question, for your father is dearly missed. Your command and skill displayed on Mustafar, Ahch-to, Coruscant, and Batuu is most impressive. We asked for your interest in this critical matter, and are prepared to hear your master plan." The elder sat.

From inside his suit, Roove produced a small flat disc. He activated it, and it floated in front of him before peeling back its outer shell. A red light whirled about it as a projection of a large temple in a low motte exploded out of the disc and enveloped Roove and the platform. He passed through high walls, gutters collecting the river, and the endless surrounding forest.

"The temple is vast," he began. "It's hidden position in the northern forests is part of its strength. It is near impossible to approach without alarm. In the past, assaults from the air, via the river, and even underground have all been turned back... rather easily." He relished the failures of others. "What I propose is altogether different."

The projection zoomed out and flew across the forest to foothills where great boulders sat between bent and misshapen trees.

"This mass of earth, stone, and branch is not far from the temple and is adjacent to the river. There are caves and tunnels throughout, a result of natural processes. It would not be difficult to upset this formation and obstruct the river. Furthermore, this could be done in a manner disguising our intervention. Why the ruse? If the river is strangled, the Jedi will investigate. No more than a small band. When they do not return, more will come."

The projection displayed ships disappearing at the rocks.

"And so on, until a force comes that requires our revelation. By then it will be too late. The separation of forces will be their undoing."

An attack above the temple ends the simulation.

"The Jedi are strong. Their power sees where their sensors cannot. Stealth is critical. We must land on the far side of the planet and trek without detection across the mountains and deserts until we come to the tunnels. This will be perilous, and the deployment cannot depend on advanced weaponry and equipment."