Commencement

[Fennex Zeerda]

"... It will be a serious undertaking, but not an insurmountable one."

Fennex concluded as the holographic image of a reconstituted Jedha temple rotated and flickered before him, hovering over the floor of the Council chambers. It was just a plan, obviously. Preliminary sketches and three dimensional models generated to show where and how a potential reconstruction could take place, based off scans taken in the wake of the destruction the Holy City suffered. The surface had taken a beating, but the Temples foundations were carved into hundreds of meters of solid rock, winding deep into the plateau and the caves beneath it. Initial reports of the death toll and level of destruction appeared to be wildly overblown- especially in regards to the rest of the city- but it would be hard to tell until they started clearing out the rubble.

"We can take the opportunity to improve on some of the defenses to help prevent this sort of thing again. The place was a fortress long before we were there, it just needs some tasteful modernization."

His tail swished idly against the floor and his whiskers twitched. He hadn't started this project, but he'd toyed with the idea ever since he'd last left Jedha for Tython with a freighter full of younglings. The desert world suited him much more so than this place, he thought as he watched the late night storm rage behind the council through their impressive floor-to-ceiling windows. Rain pelted the windows and an occasional flash of lightning lit the chamber, the sound distant and dampened by the transparisteel barriers. At least it was a natural storm now, and not a Force fueled and abomination filled perversion of a weather pattern.

The High Council was all here, but they had been unusually quiet- even Master Shai, who Fennex thought of as typically long winded. He got the sense they were only partially interested in the plans for Jedha- there seemed to be something else going on here, but the Amaran was unsure what it was. Fen shifted his weight from paw to paw, aware that they were observing him intently. He wondered if their solemnity had anything to do with the conspicuous absence of Councilor Atreides. Fen's ears drooped almost imperceptibly at the thought. Jon was one of the few Jedi he'd let himself get close to in many years. They'd fought practically back to back on Ellora and here on Tython to liberate the planet from abominations. They'd made a great team. They'd even begun perfecting the fur-missile attack, with the young Master flinging Fennex at their opponents. Fen would miss him.

"Unless there's anything else, Masters, I'd like to get a team together and get started right away..." He finished quietly, voice trailing off has he inclined his head respectfully.



@Nightfall096 @Clayton @Insalius @Malon

 

[Thalia Corliss]

Of course there was something else, something important. Thalia Corliss brought her gaze to the Amaran Jedi, something she would only do to anyone when there was still business to talk of. "Master Zeerda, there IS another matter that we need to speak of. An important one, especially considering recent events." She turned her gaze over to her fellow Councilor, Vollen. "Councilor Shai has been the one following this issue, so I'll let him explain. Succinctly, please. The gravity of his situation begs brevity." She would probably never stop her little digs at her colleague for his propensity to make even simple matters into a series of speeches. Maybe Sige had been on to something before he had taken a turbolaser to the face. She shook the mirthful thoughts from her mind, though, as she returned her focus on the meeting. For now, though, she waited for Vollen to explain the situation.

@Loco @Nightfall096 @Malon

 

[Vollen Shai]

Even in the short time Vollen had spent upon the Jedi Council, he felt aged. As if years of work and study and stress had suddenly found him, found the lines on his face and the grey in his hair all too soon. His own appointment had been... strained to say the least, and still he felt doubt within himself. Especially so given the loss of Jon so soon after. He felt at times as if he had taken the seat of a dead man.

Hopefully the others did not feel the same.

But such thoughts had been shaken from his mind before Master Zeerda entered their chambers. He gave to the Amaran his fulll focus, as he gave all those who came before. He meant to, such was the role of the Council after all, and he meant to fulfill it. The proposal for Jedha was a strong one, and one he would openly support, though the guilt of its destruction still clung to him dearly.

But no, Master Corliss was right, there was a task they had for Fennex, one that fell to him to elaborate. He and Corliss had a particularly biting relationship at times, though he had grown to respect her much more in his time working directly with her now than he had as a Knight,

"Yes Master Fennex, there is one matter. One which this Council believes you should be particularly well suited to perform" Vollen breathed. It was true, Fennex's personality seemed a good fit for the task set,

"Not so long ago, a... a former Jedi appeared upon Tython. And, from what Maser Atriedes had managed to discover before his passing, they had used the codes of one of our own to bypass our security, and enter without note. It goes without question that this cannot stand. If you would, we should like to entrust you with the investigation" He looked at Fennex without blinking. This was a grave matter of security and one that the Master likely understood. It was a not a happy duty to undertake this.

Reaching out he offered Master Fennex a datapad, including what information Jon had discovered, as well as more particular details of his task. He'd known Fennex for some time now, and thought him well suited to the task ahead.

He'd also been trying to cut down on his monologuing. Another effect of working with Master's Corliss and Shivaaga. Though he was sure Fennex understood the import of the task offered now.


@Loco @Malon @Insalius

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fen's ears perked up as Master Corliss brought up a new matter to discuss, and then raised further as Master Shai expanded upon it. It was strange, in a way, that he was reaching a point in his life where he saw peers ascending to the High Council. Jon and Vollen both had once been much younger peers- Fen had probably been a Knight for years while they were working through initiate status. Wyck had long been a favorite to rise to that level and people took it for granted that it had taken as long as it had- the other two, however... they had risen quickly and seemingly out of no where. They served to remind Fennex of the struggles he'd gone through for so long that had kept him out of these seats even after many thought he might be ready. They were wrong, though. Fennex hadn't earned a seat here- at least not yet.

His demeanor shifted, however, as the young Councilor handed off the datapad. Fennex found himself reading the words of Master Atreides, summarizing a case he had inherited, seeing the work he had done filled Fennex with a mix of emotions he hadn't expected. He'd done much work in little time, it appeared, starting from an unconvincing tip from a Knight that was friendly with the late Jace Tokani, and then quickly spiraled into conspiracy territory. What was worse, is that Fennex recognized both of the names involved. The ends were loose and unresolved, but wherever Jons investigations was going, it wasn't headed for a good end. Fen twitched his whiskers as he scrolled through the data.

"I'll need council level access for some of the related logs..." Fennex stated matter of factly as he prepared his though.., He wasn't about to turn this down, but he was curious how he would go about it.

 

[Vollen Shai]

Vollen glanced over at Master Corliss as Fennex looked at the datapad, reviewing the logs as he mentioned council level access for some of the information he sought. Vollen at least trusted the Master enough to offer what he could,

"You'll have what you need to complete your investigation, though your access won't extend beyond the logs you require. Can't be too careful, I'm sure you know" he gave the Master a little smile as he said that last part. While he didn't want Fennex to think he was suspicious of him, such was the nature of the matter that even these precautions would be taken with those the Order trusted a great deal.

And with that he sighed. While his role on the Council brought him to do so, he admitted he had to worry when he foisted responsibilities upon others when he wouldn't be there to share in it himself. But the Amaran Master was tough, for everything that could be said about him Vollen knew that one enough. But it was a burden, and charges of suspicion and conspiracy, even simple abandonment were ones the Order took very seriously these days. This was just one example. Though an extraordinary one at that, if Jon's thoughts were correct,

"But we'll be following your investigation closely Master Fennex" Vollen continued, picking up his tone again. He meant what he said though. The rumours of Fennex reaching the Council had not escaped them either, and with seats still left empty Vollen at least entertained such thoughts very seriously now,

"If there's more resources you need then you are welcome to contact us. But otherwise, you are welcome to conduct this as you see fit. You're our eyes and ears. We look forward to your report, for better or worse"


@Loco

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

"Of course, Master Shai." Fennex nodded in response to Vollen before returning his attention from the data pad to the Council. This explained a lot, he thought to himself. Rebuilding Jedha was an important task, but the Holy City would still be there a week from now, and it was easy enough to set the groundwork in motion. This new task, however, couldn't afford to wait. Whether Jon's suspicions were correct or if something had happened that they weren't aware of, one of the Jedis own was in danger, or else they all were.

Fens mind began working even as he stood there. He knew he'd need to assemble a team, but he hadn't imagined it would be for something like this. Depending on what his initial searches found, he imagined this would be too big a task to tackle entirely on his own.

"I'll get started at once, Masters... I'll likely need assistance to finish the investigation. Do I have permission to share Master Atreides and I's findings, if necessary?"

@Nightfall096 @Insalius @Malon

 

[Vollen Shai]

"Share what you need to with those who'll assist you" Vollen replied. Such details were formalities, and ones that didn't need too much explanation, though the spectre of secrecy hung above the whole investigation,

"But... it's it need to know, Master Zeerda" while the words he chose were lighthearted, a reminder of spy holos and investigatory work of police procedurals, it wasn't inaccurate either. But Fennex wasn't a fool, that clarification probably went without saying.

And with that a silence hung in the air for a moment. This was no happy task, to investigate their own, but too many times perhaps they should have intervened earlier and spared lives and destruction that had happened needlessly. The Council wwas taking no such chances this time. They needed to be sure. In some ways they needed it to be successful, clean part of their shared guilty conscience for those earlier times.

But such a burden was not on Fennex, he had his task before him now, and what information the Council could afford him. HOpefully it would be enough.

"May the Force be with you"


@Loco