In•hale

"The Negotiations Never Took Place"

Chalset sat in the cockpit of a Consular Class Republic Cruiser, waiting for Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon to get on board. Plo was going to be piloting, so he was also in the cockpit, and once Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were strapped up in the back, he turned on the engines and flew the ship out of the hangar.

"Set the coordinates to Naboo." he told Chalset in his baritone voice.

She nodded, typed in the coordinates, and watched excitedly as Plo slowly pulled back the hyperdrive handle, and the stars around them seemingly bled into white streaks of light.

In just a few seconds, the beautiful foggy blue and green planet of Naboo came into view. The hundred of objects surrounding it in contrast, did not look so much as welcome, but gloomy.

"Chalset, tell them we wish to board at once." Qui-Gon said from the back, already adjusting the hood that he had put on his head. Obi-Wan was doing the same.

Chalset nodded, and contacted the large Federation ship they were approaching. Nute Gunray, a green Neimoidian, appeared on the viewing screen.

"With all due respect to the Trade Federation, the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately." Chalset spoke in her 'calm and composed' voice that let through no emotion.

Nute had a smug look on his face on his green face when he responded, "Yes, yes of course... ahhh...as you know, our blockade is perfectly legal, and we'd be happy to receive the Ambassador...Happy to."

The screen went black as Plo steered the ship into the main docking bay of the enormous Federation ship.

"As I said before," Plo briefed Chalset as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon stepped off the ship with their robes and hoods on, "We will stay on the ship while they proceed with the negotiations. It would not be appropriate for four of us to do them. It would come off as intimidating to the leaders of the Federation, and that is not what we want."

Chalset nodded again and watched as Qui-Gon's taller figure and Obi-Wan's shorter one made their way to a side door in the docking bay. As soon as the door slid open, a shiny gray protocol droid met them.

"I am TC-14, at your service." it said in a woman's voice. "This way please." it continued, it's arm pointing down the hallway on the right.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed close behind the droid as it made its way to a room that contained a long table and at least ten chairs around it. The windows gave you a nice view of the lush green Naboo.

"We are greatly honored by your visit, Ambassadors. Make yourselves comfortable, my master will be with you shortly." As soon as the droid left the room and the doors shut, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan took off their hoods, a worried expression on Obi-Wan's face.

"I have a bad feeling about this." he said, looking around the room.

"I don't sense anything." Qui-Gon responded, inspecting the room as well.

"It's not about the mission, Master, it's something ...elsewhere...elusive." he said back in his Coruscanti accent.

Qui-Gon looked over at him with interest. "Don't center on your anxiety, Obi-Wan."

"But Master Yoda said he also felt that something would happen."

"Of course, but you must keep your concentration here and now where it belongs."

"Yes Master." Obi-Wan sighed and took a seat in one of the chairs surrounding the long table. He took another look around before asking, "How do you think the Viceroy will deal with the Chancellor's demands?"

"These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short."

A nod of understanding came from Obi-Wan, as his master also sat down at the table.

On the Federation Battleship Bridge:

Federation Trade leader, Viceroy Nute Gunray and Daultay Dofine stared at the droid TC-14, stunned.

"What?! What did you say?" Nute asked, obviously shaken.

"The Ambassadors are Jedi Knights, I believe." TC-14 responded.

Daultay growled. "I knew it! They are here to force a settlement!"

Nute sighed and looked at his companion. "Go distract them while I contact Lord Sidious."

Daultay's eyes widened profoundly. "Are you crazy? I'm not going in there with two Jedi! Send the droid!"

They both looked at TC-14, who reluctantly turned and walked out of the room back towards where the Jedi were waiting.

Nute Gunray quickly contacted the person that was responsible for leading this whole entire blockade stunt. As soon as the transmission went through, a figure whose face was hidden by a dark hood appeared on the hologram.

"What is it?" he demanded in his sickly voice. He was obviously annoyed that he was disturbed.

"Lord Sidious. The blockade is finished, but two Jedi sent by Chancellor Valorum are here to force us to remove it. It would not be wise to oppose the Jedi, your plan...uh...may not be able to proceed." Nute answered nervously. Though he made sure that Sidious didn't see it, his hands were shaking.

"Hmm. These turns of events are unfortunate, but we will continue with my plan. At a faster pace. Begin landing the troops."

"But My Lord, is that...legal?"

"I will make it legal!"

Nute trembled at Sidious' sudden raise of voice. He would not dare contradict the Sith Lord, so he changed the subject of the conversation. "And the...Jedi?"

Sidious growled. "The Chancellor should have never sent them. They will only complicate things. Kill them immediately."

"Yes...yes, My Lord. As you wish."

In the meeting room:

After sitting for well over a good fifteen minutes, Obi-Wan began to get antsy, wondering what was holding the Viceroy up. He was ready for the negotiations to start.

"Is it in their nature to make us wait this long?" he asked finally to Qui-Gon.

"No," he started when suddenly the same protocol droid from before entered the room with a tray of drinks. "I sense an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as this trade dispute."

The droid came over to them and offered the drinks. Obi-Wan took one as well as Qui-Gon. The substance was sweet, much too sweet for either of their tastes.

The cups were set down.

Back in the hangar:

Chalset was playing around with some of the controls on the ship, when suddenly Master Plo yelled in warning.

A sharp look up from Chalset, and she could see that the ceiling guns in the hangar were suddenly turning towards their ship. Without a second thought she turned on the shields, just before the guns blasted at them.

"What are they doing?!" Plo said. "We've got to get out of here. Gun the engines!"

"But what about O--"

"Now!!"

Chalset quickly turned on the engines while Plo turned the ship around towards the exit. Another blast from the guns caused the whole entire ship to rumble. Plo quickly guided the ship out of the hangar and towards Naboo.

"Master, we've received massive damage to the engines."

Plo nodded and told her to strap in. "Looks like the Federation didn't like our negotiations too much." The ship entered Naboo's atmosphere, and fire began to appear around the hull because the engine failure that was causing the ship to move too fast. "Get ready for a crash landing."