Episode I: The Confederate Conspiracy

"The Sith control everything. You just don't know it."

"I am committed to the idea of a galaxy ruled by an enlightened leader, with laws that apply universally—not one set for the Core Worlds, another for the Outer Rim worlds."
"An autocracy, guided by the count of Serenno."
"I am ambitious, but not to that degree."
―Count Dooku and Governor Wilhuff Tarkin of Eriadu, during their final dinner together before the onset of the Clone War.

It is the closing of the Year of 20 BBY, after the Battle of Kiros.

The Republic is beset by sabotage operations from all fronts;

the Jedi Order have undertaken measures to send out strike teams against major Separatist targets.

The Galactic Army of the Republic respond to ambush tactics from General Grievous and his Providence Dreadnought, Invisible Hand.

Within the Mid-Rim the 18th Response Fleet, helmed by Admiral Trask, awaits supplies from Republic Command; the Fleet seeking reprieve from constant battle...A Jedi, Master Set Kotore, plagued by visions of death and destruction avoids the responsibility of command.

The War is becoming desperate and both sides are looking for any advantage over the other...

The Cin Rangers are deployed to recover a cache of supplies, most importantly medical supplies for the Arquitens Mercy, from the local Randon System-- the closest spaceport in the Mid-Rim. Meanwhile, the rest of the Fleet performs repairs and maintenance in Pizilis. Commandeering a mining Action IV transport named "Guile & Sass," the Rangers head to Elon, a lunar spaceport. Upon arrival with their contact in the Spaceport- Elon- they find it is unable to provide the resources needed for the 18th. Instead, they find their cargo is impounded on a mobile refueling station, The Needle -- a smuggler's station hidden within the barycenter of Randon's binary pulsars. While the Needle is nigh unnavigable manually, Rannic Stargrave is contacted through a private channel by an unknown party, Jakari Toombs, claiming a long and historied relationship.

Aboard the Needle, TK-4444 'Force' quickly establishes false facades and forges transponder credentials for the Guile & Sass. While Rannic and ARC-343 Bullseye go find the mysterious contact in the Ri'jeks Cantina, the other half of the squad make their way to the 10th Deck- where the current owners of the station, a tribe of Gands, make their home. In the Cantina a new, but old friend is found. Another gun is hired and a contract on a Jedi-killer is discovered, but the two men are spotted by an over-interested Toydarian. Vigilant, but determined the men head to rejoin the group on Deck 9. However, Destiny has other plans and their turbolift is interrupted on reaching Deck 7...

Upon the elevator's arrival to Deck 7, the duo are met by none other than a harmless protocol droid, SR-8. SR-8 mistakes them for a maintenance team and Rannic quickly repairs the elevator while learning of a greater maintenance problem with the gas vents in the Command Deck. Refusing any other responsibility, the group reconvenes before entering negotiations with the Gand. Focused on their mission, they avoid involving themselves into any further relationships on the station.  The Squad is informed the materials they requested were supposed to be picked up several cycles ago, but unfortunately were never claimed. Considering some foul play, they negotiate the release of medical supplies while the other goods are prepared. In addition, unable to escape the politics, they agree to assist the Gand in tracking a bounty of theirs for access to their stockpile of weapons on the station. With their supplies secured, they quickly return to the Guile & Sass for transport and along the way learn of greater motivations within the station against the Gand. Loyal to their suppliers, they avoid any other diversions and return to the 18th Response Fleet for a short debriefing.

Parent Plot

The Clone Wars