A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
STAR WARS
EPISODE I: The Hidden Fortress
It is a time of peace and prosperity for the Galactic Republic. The Senate works with the sacred Jedi Order to keep the civilized systems safe and avoid war.
However, the planet Falina, rich with natural resources is on the verge of a civil war. The native cat-like Falinas are rebelling against the Royal Torrean regime.
Princess Hopi Torrean has been captured by the Falinas to be used as a bargaining chip. Two Jedi have been dispatched to find her and maintain peace and justice in the galaxy...
ACT I
Space above planet Falina, a blue, green, covered with vast virgin forests, and many great mountain ranges.
A small cargo freighter approaches the planet which is patrolled by triangular Royal Torrean Destroyers.
On the bridge of the frieghter a young man in his early twenties speaks into the ships comm system. He wears a grey jumpsuit of a standard space trader. His hair is cropped short.
"Master we've entered Falinas space, are you sure this I.D. will work?"
A click from the comm unit.
"Relax, young padawan, breathe. What do your senses tell you?"
"It'll work, but they are suspicious."
"Stick to the plan, the princess needs us."
"Yes Master."
They fly closer to the nearest destroyer. A voice hails them.
"Attention, unidentified cargo ship, state your business."
"Standard pick-up of Falinas Orinium."
"Transmit clearance code for passage."
"Transmitting code seven-seven-one-one-three-eight."
Silence. The pilot breathes, closes his eyes.
A face of a teenage girl appears before him. She has long dark hair in an elaborate pony tail. She is bound and has a scared look on her face.
Help me, please.
"Cargo Ship 771138 proceed to Ore Mine 327. A royal skimmer will meet you in the atmospheres. It is for your protection as well as ours."
Obi-Wan Kenobi opens his eyes. And breathes a sigh of relief.
"So it begins."
_
Royal Torrean Destroyer Kanus
The Royal Admiral Kaine Gunray. Tall fair haired with piercing eyes, gray beard. An absurd white wig on his head. His uniform is white with maroon trim. He stands at the bridge looking out from large windows. Crew work in the pits on either side of the central walkway. They wear maroon uniforms. The officers have gray tunics to distinguish them.
An officer approaches the admiral.
"Royal Admiral, a cargo ship has just entered Falinas atmosphere."
"Yes, I noticed, Captain."
"It matches the markings of a ship that has went missing months ago."
"I am aware. I suspect they are Corellian space pirates. These scum have been raiding our supply ships lately. Shoot them down. Use the Falina harpoon."
"Sima lina pilcha." As you wish.
On the surface of Falinas. The cargo ship soars over enormous trees someof them large enough to contain whole villages which in fact they do. Beyond the trees is a vast mountain range. At the foot of the mountains are ore mines.
"Beautiful this place is," Obi-Wan says, "The living force is strong here, master." Master Qui-Gon Jinn stands at the cockpit door. He is clad in a long brown robe, the Jedi trademark attire.
"Your brilliant insights aside, Young Kenobi, this not a sightseeing tour. There is more lurking beneath the natural beauty of this world. Stretch out with your feelings what else do you sense?"
A red V-shaped Royal fighter approaches. Obi-Wan waves at the pilot. The fight drops behind them.
"I saw her master, the Princess, she is-"
"Obi-Wan! Evade!"
The padawan is slow to comply as a steel harpoon fires from the fighter and takes out the cargo ship's starboard engine.
"Master, starboard engine is out! They're trying to kill us!"
"Stay calm, keep us steady. I'll handle him."
Qui-Gon closes his eyes. And stretches out his hand. The fighter explodes as the pilot ejects.
The cargo ship plummets toward the trees. Obi-Wan attempts to keep the ship from spinning out of control or slamming into a tree.
Obi-Wan sees a large platform on the side of a tree. He engages the reverse thrusters and the ship slams onto the deck in a shower of sparks and skids to a halt.
They exit the ship and stand on the deck. Falinas workers emerge from holes in the trunk of the tree. They are tall-furry with round faces. And pointy ears that are more like bat than a cat. Large yellow and green eyes. Several of them are armed with curved blades, axes and a few homemade or modified Royal blasters.
One of the Falinas hisses and clicks.
Qui-Gon hisses back.
Falinas guard. "Stop. You do not belong here."
"We come in peace. We wish you no harm. Take us to your chief."
"No one sees Chief without invitation, outlanders must be met with force."
The Falinas raise their weapons. The Jedi unhook their lightsabers and ignite them, green and blue.
Qui-Gon. "People of Falina, we are Jedi Knights of the Republic, stand down. We do not wish to resort to violence."
The falinas gasp and hesitate.
A howl from above, a second Royal fighter.
"Attention Falinas, release the outlanders or we will open fire."
The Falinas warriors hiss and run for cover. The few with blasters fire at the incoming ship.
The pilot fires back. The Jedi deflect the blasts away from the Falinas. Obi-Wan deflects a blast and it strikes the cockpit. The ship falls and slams into the trunk of the tree.
"Obi-Wan! We cannot harm the people we have come to help. We must avoid killing at all costs.
" Master, they were trying to kill us and the Falinas."
The Falinas emerge from hiding and now to the Jedi.
"You have shown yourselves to be warriors of valor. Come with us."
On the Royal Destroyer, Kaine sits in a chair in his private Chambers.
A hologram of a man in a black hood hovers in front of him.
"Two Jedi? They cannot be trusted. If they discover what is hidden under the mountain we will have the republic investigating and exposing our seedier affairs."
"What must I do, Lord?"
"Find them and kill them."
"My Lord they have already killed two of my fighters."
"I will send someone. One who specializes in eliminations."
"Yes, my Lord. And what about the princess? She must not be harmed."
"By now those savages must have done unspeakable things to her. Whatever is left of her will be returned to you."
The transmission ends. Kaine growls and slams is fist into the arm of the chair.
"Not if I find her first, old man. Captain! Assemble the Royal guard! I want my daughter found and every last Falina dead before the sun sets. Do not engage the Jedi, the Dark one is sending someone to take care of them."
The Falinas lead the Jedi down a winding ramp that spirals down the inside of the tree. The insides have been carved to create open areas, houses, meeting places, pavilions and many spiralling walkways.
They reach a large area with a raised dais, long benches, torches which use a glowing substance instead of fire to provide light to see all.
In the center of the dais sits the Chief. The Falinas take seats along the benches.
"Approach and state your names and your purpose for being here."
"I am Qui-Gonn Jinn, this is my apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. We have come to Falinas to find the princess who has gone missing. The Royal Torreans-"
"Fah!!" The other Falina echo with Fah!s of their own.
"We know there is tension between your two people's but we do not wish to start a war, we cannot take sides, and seek a peaceful resolution to this matter."
"You have already killed two of their ships. You are now the enemy of the Royals. You came here under their request so you are working for them a which makes you our enemy as well. But you have shown honor and skill as warriors. So we will spare you. But perhaps you should hear our case then you will see which side you are on."
Orinium Mine 327 or OM327
At the foot of Mount Dooku, there is an orinium mining facility. A machine the size of a large house overs over the area. Black cube with many cutting lasers along the bottom. It removes the tops from the mountains and grinds up the material extracting minerals and also has a large laser which can drill deep into the side of the mountain.
The Foreman is a large man in Black armor. He is bald and speaks with a deep voice. Next to him is a scrawny grizzled man who looks like he's been trapped in a mine for long periods of his life.
"Report, Drill Captain."
"Sir, we have located a deposit of kaiber crystals."
"Use the laser, create an opening and then send in the extraction team."
"Right away, sir."
The DecaDrill extends a bright red laser beam into the side of the mountain then retracts it.
"This is what we can do with this Drill. Imagine what this could do one a slightly larger scale."
"Such a thing would be terrible, whoever controlled such device could rule the Galaxy."
"Exactly."
Droids enter the shaft and place support beams along the walls to ssecure the site. Black clad Drill Union Leaders lead a group of twelve workers into the shaft. They are a mix of Falinas, lizard-like trandoshans, Wookies, and one human boy about the age of 15. The boy carries and odd pack on his back. The body and head of a protocol Droid.
One of the Wookies howls.
The Droid speaks in a prissy English accent. "Oh dear, Tarfor is always complaining about the small portions at breakfast."
A trandoshan issues a wet hiss like many bubbles of phlegm.
"Shut up you fool, what you call food is indigestible to us."
Another howl from a younger wookie.
"Chewbacca is wondering what we are going to find in the mines today. He doesn't think it is Orinium they want."
"I feel them. It's like a cluster of stars shining in my mind. They are crystals."
"Silence, Skywalker!"
The Drill Captain barks. "We know you have a unique ability to find these crystals, so we will let you find them and the rest will dig where you command."
Inside the mine the workers dig with small cutting lasers and tools. The Drill Captain stands at the mouth blocking them from the exit. He stares down at a datapad.
After digging for hours, young Skywalker locates a kaiber crystal.
Falina Village.
