Fwurg

[Ariana Danacia]

"We will have to find out what the most suitable tax world is for this plan. When we know where we want to strike we need to know as soon as possible when the Mandalore will be there to infiltrate and prepare.

With the necessary equipment and some well placed explosions we can do it. It probably won't be pretty, but it will certainly do the job of taking down some of the guards to give us the opportunity to take out the Mandalore."

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava looks around as she questions the wisdom of bringing these Jedi on this mission. She surmises that there is a good reason for the Jedi council to volunteer specifically these Jedi for the mission, so she puts aside any frustration she experiences and calmly goes about clarifying her plan.

"Trigiel, you are right that during the ascend and descend the Mandalore is very vulnerable. Of course, they know so too. They will be on their guard during take-off and landing. Several fighters will be on escort ready to block incoming missiles, and decoy shuttles will be deployed to lower the chance of an attack targetting the correct shuttle. If we are to attack at that moment we will need atmospheric combat vehicles. Which would mean stealing them from some base or other fleet first, if we are to disguise the attack as a rival clan's efforts."

"Ariana, I think you misunderstand me. I wanted to draw part of the protection detail away with a distraction, not blow them to small pieces with explosives. We would need a distractin that required manpower, but that does not necessarily alert them to the fact that an ambush is coming. Explosions would only work if they suspect another attack by resistance fighters or the like. We are Jedi. Obviously we can do what you say... But what motivation could we possibly have to kill the Mandalore's guards? "

[T'Sal]

"For it to be a good distraction there has to be something else that is very important as to get their attention. This will probably come down to either a military, environmental or infrastructural site, which would pose a great treat if it was taken by a rival. To find a good location is essential, so I think it is best to investigate more than 1 world."

[Fecta Trigiel]

"When the Mandalore takes off, we are in the position to spot which shuttle he is in. Our main challenge than is to get the right fighters. The main problem then will be: will the Sith also be the fighter escort? Probably, otherwise even I could take the shuttle down with a single fighter.

Infiltrating a city to set up an ambush, or infiltrating a base to steal fighters, both operations would require preparations. One does not necessarily has to be more complicated than the other.

Though I believe T'Sal makes a good point. If the Mandalore is to believe a local point of interest is taken by rivals, he has to respond in order to show he is still in charge. The target does not has to be big, and the occupation does not has to be impressive, just sending the message should be enough to make a fine distraction.

Perhaps we can combine plans, if we are able to combine the distraction part with the getting fighters part, we have a back up ready for if the Mandalore ought to escape."

[Shebi Ajava]

"I concur. We should keep our options open with regards to the location, having two or three alternatives will allow us to form a backup plan, as well as giving us the ability to engage in the environment that best supports our abilities. Depending on the location, the acquisition of fighters as a backup plan will be easier or more difficult."

Ajava looked at Trigiel and Nathan for a moment.

"It might even be possible to steal two fighters while they are en route, which is guaranteed to create confusion among the ranks of the Mandalore's protectors. Both Trigiel's and Nathan's frames can be modified to withstand deep space conditions, allowing for an in-flight capture.

There is another angle of attack which we have not yet considered: instead of infiltrating a location or vessel, we could try to infiltrate the Mandalore's retinue in a more direct way. They obviously do not trust local military, but they might trust other locals due to their opinion of the local being effectively powerless."

"Admiral, what do we know about the Mandalore's preferences with regards to leisure and entertainment?", Ajava looked to the admiral for this valuable piece of intel, hoping that the Union intelligence network sees every bit of information as relevant.

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

Nathan carefully listened to everything that was said. Just after Ajava asked her question, he had a moment of inspiration.

"Sir, how well liked is the Mandalore by the other clans?" He asked.

"I was once told the best way to kill a person is by not killing them yourself. If we plan to put someone in place of the Mandalore, why do we have to be the ones to kill him? Wouldn't it be better to put him into a position where our figurehead can kill him? There would be less chance of it being traced back to us as well."

Nathan looked around.

"While we're at it why don't we start the desired civil war alongside the assassination?"

[Fecta Trigiel]

"You are on the right path of thinking Nathan, but your idea require some more thought: The Mandalore is not on his position by being a pushover. If the Mandalore can handle our intended figurehead, than a lot of planning fails. Of course, I have full confidence than our figurehead will be capable of keeping his position for a while once he is Mandalore, but I believe that if we are in the position to avoid it, we should not unnecessarily endanger our figurehead. There are the force users, the Mandalore might be one of them.

Shebi Ajava, would your plan be disguising ourselves as entertainment? I don't know if that would be extremely embarrassing or extremely funny, probably both.

That gets me thinking depending on the Mandalore interests, as entertainment we could manoeuvre ourself in a position to put the Mandalore in a position for our figurehead to make his move. I don't know enough of Mandalore culture, but if the Mandalore is falling from grace, for example by something extremely embarrassing will this also lead to the other factions no longer following him?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"Trigiel, the Mandalore will not 'fall from grace' by something embarrasing. There isn't even a way to speak of 'falling from grace' since the Mandalore is the sovereign, others can fall from their grace, not the other way around. We are talking about a culture of warriors, not a circus."

"And yes, I was thinking of seeing if infiltration by way of a few of us being entertainment might be possible. Obviously it won't work for everyone, but if we can manoeuvre one or two agents into the right position to act when the distraction hits it will be well worth the potential embarrasments. We have a lot of variables and possibilities to consider, any avenue to infiltrate ourselves would be worth exploring, don't you think?"

((OOC: ^_^ Behold the annoyance of forum dialogue: the admiral has no time to respond. For the ease of reply by the ST, the information that was asked from the admiral:

• Nathan asked how well-liked the Mandalore is with the other clans,
• Ajava asked if the intelligence network picked up something on the the Mandalore's preferences with regards to leisure and entertainment.

))

[Mercury]

"Liking their leaders is not the custom amongst the Mandalorians. The other clans support him because he is more powerful than them - no other reason. But don't underestimate that power - to get to where he is as a Mandalorian, he's fought many duels, including ones where the odds weren't fair or where "duel" really meant 'four on one'. No Mandalorian would be foolish enough to try to take on a man who made himself the Mandalore."

The admiral looked quite sternly about this, as if it was not to be ignored.

"The Mandalore likes fighting, both doing it and watching others fight. He has been said to make prisoners fight to the death for sports as well as order his underlings to battle it out to the death."

((OOC: Apologies for stalling this thread for a bit, I'll try to get us back to our regular schedule!))

[Shebi Ajava]

"That makes posing as entertainment a bit difficult, unless one of us gets captured on purpose... And the Mandalore somehow decides to watch them fight... And the other distraction is timed just right... And the Mandalore stays around to watch the fight while the distraction occurs... That sounds like too many moving parts to me."

"We should only resort to this if it is necessary to get someone close to the Mandalore. So we're back to the basic plan: find a good world to ambush the Mandalore, distract part of his guards and attack. We can cut of his escape and reinforcements with fighters if we can steal them.

If no one else has a different plan, I suggest we determine the qualities that are necessary for this plan to work and get to work finding a world that fits our requirements."

[Mercury]

"An excellent suggestion. Based on the qualities required, our intelligence people can suggest a location." the admiral noted "It will be up to you guys to determine these requirements however. You know best what you will need."

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: Ok, since no one cares to say anything after a week and four days, I'm taking charge here.))

Ajava looked around the table, silently eyeing the other Jedi.

Since no one speaks up she takes the lead once more. "Very well. I'd prefer a normal goldilocks world with a type I atmosphere, that will ensure that a surface attack will not have complications like breathing equipment. An urban environment works to our advantage, as it gives us more options for distraction and stealthy approach."

"Anyone else wants to add to this list?"

[Ariana Danacia]

"A planet with a rather large population consisting of multiple different races would be best for us to fit in. A planet with only humans would be very hard to fit in for most of us."

[Fecta Trigiel]

"And one with some technological advancement, otherwise I and Nathan if he joins will also stand out. If we have the option for me and Nathan to go along as droids that would be a nice feature."

[T'Sal]

"Very important is that is has a meeting location near other strategic location as to be able to create an diversion. The leaders of this world need to be important enough as to get the Mandalor to meet them."

[Mercury]

The admiral reviewed the list of requirements for a world:

• Type I atmosphere
• Urban Environment
• Large population of diverse races
• Technologically advanced
• Near other strategic location for diversion
• Leaders important enough to meet the Mandalore

After a short recess, a lieutenant in perfect uniform presented:

"Yenia III, a tax world in Sector 3 -6. It has a Type I atmosphere and a hot, high pressure atmosphere and short winters. Yenia is inhabited by 2.5 billion people and the trade cities on the main equatorial continent receive a lot of visitors and immigrants of different species.

Yenia III is a trade hub, but is primarily so popular because of the weapons industry and the gas infrastructure supporting it. It is technologically advanced and features various strategic locations including weapon dealers and manufacturing plants. I do not need to explain why this planet is strategically important enough to warrant a visit by the Mandalore.

You can insert on the planet at the start of the short winter during which the temperature is not as bad, which is why the Mandalore generally visits during this time.

Does this planet meet your criteria?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"It appears so, admiral."

If there was nothing further to discuss for now, Ajava returns to her quarters to continue studying Mando'a.

[Fecta Trigiel]

"Yes, I think this planet is perfect." Trigiel said.

Then he looked around to the others: "I think we need a detailed plan on how to infiltrate, but sadly I cannot think of any good avenues of approach right now."

[T'Sal]

"This planet seems to qualify.

We would like to have more information on the inhabitants of the planet, their culture, customs, etc. so we can blend in."

[Mercury]

"The planets inhabitants are traders primarily, and they tend to be stingy with a dislike of ostentatious displays of wealth. They practice a religion focussed around local deities, but with the exception of some religious fundamentalists, this is in name only.

Most of high social standards such as factory owners, local leaders and politicians wear all black, and locals wear subdued colours, except during their local Gravball tournament, where the entire planet goes completely banana's and dresses up in ridiculous neon pink outfits while while consuming large quantities of alcohol. Fortunately you will be able to avoid any such events.

Thanks to earlier investments in operations in the area, we have some local contacts, who will be able to provide a base of operations, though you should not presume that to be safe once your mission has been successful - the Mandalorians are resourceful."

[Fecta Trigiel]

"So when we use the local contacts, it is safe to assume that they require immediate extraction, when the Mandalorians use their resourcefulness to get to the base of operations?"

[Mercury]

((OOC: I want to run the next (and final) phase of this storyline by chat. My proposal would be to run it in the weekend of June 13th and 14th or the one after that. This leaves me the question of when in those weekends you guys could make!))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: I can make both weekends, at any time that works for the rest. I would greatly appreciate it if the time can be locked down a week in advance of the event.))

[Ariana Danacia]

((OOC: For me a sunday afternoon/evening would work best.))

[T'Sal]

((OOC: I cannot on sunday and saturday also rather not.))