Rendili

[Taaru Masako]

Faction orientation: Galactic Federation of Free Alliances

Rendili is a planet in the Core Worlds, possibly a Core Founder of the Galactic Republic. The planet is ruled by an Arch-Provost. It is the headquarters of Rendili StarDrive, founded in 20,000 BBY, and is affiliated with the starshipwrights Rendili Hyperworks, Rendili/Vanjervalis Drive Yardsand Golan Arms joint venture. At some point during the Mandalorian Wars a Republic Military installation housing thousands of troops, vehicles, and starfighters was stationed outside of the major cities, though by the time of the Clone Wars the installation had been all but forgotten.

With the advent of the Clone Wars at the Battle of Geonosis in 22 BBY, in response to Kuat Drive Yards's competitive lead for the Republic new military contracts, its Arch-Provost ordered countless industrial spies and starship designers to design new designs to counter those of Kuat. The planet's extensive system of smaller shipyards scattered across the Mid Rim and Outer Rim Territories gave Rendili StarDrive a temporary ascendancy. Later, the two rival companies teamed up to worked on the Victor Initiative Project which produced the Victory I-class Star Destroyers.

In 20 BBY, the planet was taken over by an Independent Provisional Government that joined the Confederacy of Independent Systems. A Republic task force captured the planet's Home Defense Fleet, and presumably retook Rendili shortly after. The planet became part of the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY. In 18 BBY, the RSD signed the Corporate Sector Authority's Imperial charter in the Dragonbird Gardens of Aargau. After RSD accepted its last major Imperial contract on 10 ABY, the planet Rendili joined the New Republic. RSD went on to manufacture the Republic-class Star Destroyer.

Currently, Rendili is a full member planet of the Galactic Alliance. It continues to be the home of a modest shipbuilding enterprise, though it has lost some of its splendor in the past 120 years. No longer holding large military contracts, Rendili's shipyards manufacture ships for private buyers, ranging from starfighters to medium capital ships in size.

[Taaru Masako]

<<2 hours and 35 minutes earlier>>

<<Near Lagrangian point 3, opposite side of the system's star from Rendili>>

A Corellian merchantman bearing the IFF designator CNS Tokyo Rose exits hyperspace, and opens a hailing frequency to the local comm net, requesting a channel with the system's flight control authority.

It's approach vector to the planet Rendili takes it on a half-elliptical past the primary star.

[Aaron Starkiller]

"I'm all set," he says with a shrug. He leans against the rail and looks to Taaru. "What's the drill if we get discovered?"

[GA Employee]

Rendili Control noted the arrival of what appeared to be another merchant ship in the system. It wasn't an altogether everyday occurance but due to the planet's proximity to a major hyperspace route it was not altogether uncommon. The sensor operator for the shift scanned the incomin ship with sensors and the screen before him displayed the available knowledge:
IFF Designation: CNS Tokyo Rose
Length: ~1700 m
Armament: Unknown
Complement: Unknown
Presumed Class: East Indiaman
Registered: Corellian Government

This data along with a frquency the ship was broadcasting on all appeared at the touch of the operator's terminal screen. He dialed in his own comm unit to the Corellian ship's and then dralled in a seemingly bored tone.
<Open Comm>
CNS Tokyo Rose, this is Rendili Flight Control. Please state your intentions and prepare to be escorted in system.
<End Comm>
As he did that he forwarded the sensor data to a customs ships which would fly out as a symbolic gesture against pirates. With the decline in the economy the ship sent out today was an ancient Rendili Star Drive ship built from plans originally intended for the Galactic Empire. A Customs Frigate a mere 35 meters long was dispatched to come into a parellel course to the Corellian Freighter at a distance of 200 metres. The ship was not long in coming as it was actually on the return leg of a patrol when it was contacted.

[Taaru Masako]

The static-warped and tinny voice of a comm technician responds to Rendili Flight Control almost immediately.

"RFC, this is CNS Tokyo Rose. Our bill of lading indicates a small shipment of starfighter navigational components to a local retailer. We will require an available orbit, as well as permission to send a shuttlecraft to the surface to make the delivery. We should be out of your hair within 4 hours after orbit is made."

At the same time, a hail is sent to the incoming customs ship, consisting of nothing more than a friendly greeting and a thanks for the escort.

[GA Employee]

The sensor operator was leaning back in his chair barely paying attention to what the tinny voice in his ear was saying. That was until he heard about the starfighter parts being the shipment. Slapping the mute on the comm quickly, he cursed, "Kriffing outsourcing!". His cousin had just been laid off by Rendili Star Systems because of the recession in the economy. Mistakenly interpreting the recent layoffs and this ship as an outsourced manufacturing he decided to do everything he could to hold them up and waste there time without breaking any regulations.
<Open Comm>
CNS Tokyo Rose your shuttle will have to dock with the Customs Frigate before continueing to the surface. Please come around to 16 degrees to port and follow your escort and you'll get into your orbit.
<End Comm>
He then called up the captain of the Customs Frigate and ordered him to take the ship along the new course which would take them farther out into the system before looping back planet bound. He also explained that the shuttle they were sending was to be inspected before making planetfall, which was allowable with justification but not SOP. The Captain of the ship complied with his orders but rolled his eyes at the redundancy, the shuttle would be checked on the ground anyway.

[Taaru Masako]

"Negative, RFC. Shipment is 'deliver to recipient only.' Customs was cleared by GA Customs & Border Protection representatives pursuant to Article IX, Paragraph 3 of the Pangalactic Trade Assurance Agreement at an earlier date. Transmitting authorization for your convenience. Again, please furnish orbital solution. Over."

The Tokyo Rose, as stipulated, transmits the authorization paperwork granting it customs exemption, as it has already passed customs inspection in its home port under conditions certified by the GA Trade Authority. When the trade assurance agreement had been established, this had been a requirement to insure speedy delivery, allowing businesses both GA and foreign to undergo customs inspection prior to arrival under specified conditions, and thus preventing the delays generally associated with such inspections. The Corellian Merchant Marine were one of the few foreign bodies that had met these requirements, back when the law was initially intended to support the battered Corellian economy after the second Yuuzhan Vong Invasion, and before it had declared it's independence. Lucky for Corellia, established law was difficult to excise.

As the escort frigate draws within visual range of the Tokyo Rose, it is treated to a view of not only its hull designation (AK-247), but its emblazoned name and nose art: An Ukiyo-e style image of an alabaster-skinned maiden in an elaborate, yet disheveled, evening gown, forlornly gazing at a rose she is holding in her lap.

[Jet Almeara]

Jet had remained silent, allowing Aaron to relay the mission parameters to Erika, Taaru no doubt would give them a further run down and there wasn't much of a need to go over it further.

"Don't get caught Aaron, thats why we're sending not one but two force users along, however should something happen, try to get out without inciting a Diplomatic incident for Corellia" Jet advised letting her gaze settle on both Erika and Aaron respectively "In any case we'll hardly leave you there...well we might leave Aaron...but lay low and we'll organize an extraction. It really shouldn't come to that, this should be a simple exercise for everyone involved"

Distracted from further warning the two of them to behave and keep their minds on their mission rather then sniping each other with comments by a ping from her com Jet stepped of for a few seconds - returning a moment later to comment to Taaru.

"Darren's crew and the Corellian Marines are ready and waiting further orders in the hanger"

[Erika Freeborn]

Erika took a moment to return to her room to grab a few belongings before returning to the group. As she double checked her inventory of weapons and personal items she looked at Jet and Taaru.

"I'm ready to go as well."

[GA Employee]

The customs officer on planet cured again, there wasn't anything he could do to stop them. <Open Comm>
Aknowledged Rose. Your Escort will provide you with an approved orbit.
<End Comm>
He kept the communication short, but most people would be able to hear both the frustration and the disgust in his voice. Once he had dropped the microphone for the comm into its cradle he started though verifying that their was a clear orbital position available for a ship that large and once he had found it transmitted the position to the Escort Frigate.

The Escort Frigate dis a brief fly over, perpendicular to the larger ship's spine, before coming about parellel, above and off to the starboard. The Captain of the small vessel contacted them personally, due to budget cuts their was no comm officer on his ship.
<Open Comm>
Good Day, Ladies, Gents, and/or all else aboard, this is Captain Grants and the Rendili Custom Frigate, Provost's Pride, we'll be your escort today. We'll just take you round to starboard and into the designated orbit. Or, if you prefer we can be there is just a second by making a microjump. We'll just need you to slave your navcomp to get that set.
<End Comm>

[Taaru Masako]

RFC receives a terse thanks as the Rose receives her orbital clearance, and switches communication to the open frequency with the Customs frigate.

"Tokyo Rose to Provost's Pride, please hold. Over."

Enough time elapses for a brief conversation between the comm technician and a superior officer.

"Pride, negative on the microjump, though our captain expresses her thanks. Any damage resulting from jumping a ship this big into a grav well isn't covered by our charter's insurance. We'll take the snail approach. Please proceed on your designated vector and we will match it. Over."

[...]

As Aaron, Jet and Erika chatted, Taaru had been distracted by the small drama unfolding in the comm booth. The captain had joined the chief communications officer there, and much deliberation seemed to be going on about Rendili Flight Control's response. But it seemed to resolve itself, and Taaru dismissed it without another thought.

He had enough presence of mind, however, to entertain Aaron's question, after Jet had: "Generally I would say blow up everything and anything necessary to get back aboard, but unfortunately, we are official representatives of the Corellian government. If you get caught, highly unlikely as that is, play it cool. If they don't like how cool you're playing it, we'll just smash a ValCat into whatever detention cell they have you in."

He nods at Jet and Erika: "Well then, since we'll be there in a few minutes, I suggest we head on down and make sure the fighter jockeys have the freighter on idle."

Looking to Miko: "Fertig?"

"Pffff....'türlich."

Taaru nods and gestures for them to head down off the catwalk.

"Oh, and if you haven't synched your comms with the ship's net, I suggest you do it before you leave, or we can't track you."

[Jet Almeara]

Jet sighed "Well yes we'd all like to just frag the area if you get caught, but don't...thats not a headache I want to deal with on the way out of town, and Devlin will have a conniption - not a headache I want to come back to either" Jet reintegrated as Taaru said in his own terms pretty much the same thing she had. Ushering both Erika and Aaron down the catwalk in front of her they set off towards the hanger.

Glancing at Taaru as they do so with a slightly amused look "Really..smash a valcat into the detention center?..your on a ship full of highly trained, Corellian Mercenaries, Marines and Thruvarans and thats the best plan B you can come up with?"

[Taaru Masako]

"It's something I haven't crossed off my Bucket List," he responds to Jet. "Given the chance, it'll be my first option," he says with a grin she can't see, as he walks in front of her, but most certainly can here in his voice.

[Jet Almeara]

Jet threw up her hands in a gesture which was clearly meant to impart a 'well that settles that' and directed her remarks to Miko "Ah well! he hasn't crossed it off his bucket list!...by all means lets indulge him, go ahead and get caught then" She concluded somewhat sarcastically, although her tone was light meaning she had indeed picked up on Taaru's smile.

[GA Employee]

<Open Comm>
Very well, have it your way. Let's take her in, then.
<End Comm>
The captain shrugged at the polite refusal. He'd been hoping to get dirtside a little faster, he might have been able to leave for home early today. He order his ship to mark their course and cruise in at half of full speed so that they matched the 'freighter' they were escorting.