[Episode 1 Adventure](2)
“The Jedi, Council?” Obi-Wan repeated, clearly surprised.
“Do you know why they want to see us’?” Leading Obi-Wan into a lift tube, Qui-Gon an answered, “I only know that we’d better not be late!”
Chapter Two
The Jedi Council was composed of twelve members: Mace Windu, Yoda, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Adi Gallia, Depa Billaba, Eeth Koth, Oppo Rancisis, Even Piell, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, Yaddle, and Yarael Poof. Together, they pondered the balance of the Force and helped guide the Jedi Knights in their missions. With Master Yoda at his side, Mace Windu presided as a senior Jedi of the Council. Leaving the lift tube and entering the Council chamber, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan passed Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth, who was on his way out. Since Jorus C’baoth was the personal advisor to Senator Palpatine of the Galactic Senate, Obi-Wan became even more curious about the nature of the Council meeting. Approaching the members of the Council, Qui - Gon cast a quick glance at the seated Jedi. Immediately, he noticed an empty chair within the Council’s semicircular arrangement. Realizing which Jedi was absent, Qui-Gon dismissed all formality and asked,
“What’s happened to Adi Gallia?”
Before Mace Windu could answer, Yoda’s long, pointed ears bent back as he remarked,
“Always perceptive Master Qui-Gon is, to what visible is not.” “Adi Gallia is missing, Qui-Gon,” Mace Windu revealed. “She was on a covert mission to the planet Esseles.” Raising a hand toward a holographic projector, Mace activated a hologram. A slowly rotating globe appeared, showing Esseles as a warm world covered with young mountain ranges. “We know Adi arrived safely on Esseles, but she missed the last two scheduled status reports. Are you familiary with this world?”
“I’ve never been there, but I know of it.” Qui-.Gon studied the hologram. “It’s one of the planets linked by the Perlemian Trade Route in the Darpa Sector. Esseles’ capital city is Calamari, a center for high-tech research and development, specializing in hypernautics and advanced hyperdrive engines.” Listening to his Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi felt both awe and respect. Obi-Wan had always been impressed by Qui-Gon’s keen memory for details. Mace Windu nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on Qui-Gon. “Esseles has progressed from research and development to full-scale manufacturing,” Mace Windu noted. “Recently, the Council received a mysterious data card, alerting us that a factory named Trinkatta Starships was commissioned to build fifty experimental droid starfighters.” “Was the data card a trick to lure Jedi to Esseles’?” Qui-Gon asked. “If it were a trick,” Mace Windu answered, “someone went to a lot of trouble to send us very detailed information.” The hologram of Esseles vanished, replaced by a hologram of a sleek, dart shaped droid starfighter. “According to the data card,’ Mace continued, “these starfighters are equipped with hyperdrive engines.”
“And know what this means we do” Yoda interjected. “Travel through hyperspace for peaceful purposes, droid starfighters do not. “Master Yoda speaks the truth,” Jedi Master Rancisis agreed. A cunning military strategy…” the hair-covered Master Oppo pointed to the program and professed, “Droid starfighters have two purposes: to kill and to conquer. They’re lying, hired guns without fear or remorse, generally reserved for the most lethal campaigns. With hyperdrive capability, they don’t need to be: trans - ported by a carrier ship. Properly programmed, they could be sent to attack any ship or planet in the galaxy and bought by any creature with…” “I doubt that Trinkatta Starships would have built expensive droid starfighters unless there was already a buyer,” Qui-Gon Jinn commented as the hologram vanished. “Do you know.who commissioned these starfighters’?
“No,” Mace Windu replied. “That’s what Adi Gallia hoped to learn on Esseles. We haven’t informed the Senate of our investigation because the droid starfighters may have been ordered by a member planet of the Galactic Republic. ft’s possible that one of our allies is plotting a civil war, If that’s the case, informing the Senate might alert the buyers to cover their trail, We’ve asked Jorus C’baoth not to notify any Senators of these proceedings. Until we have solid evidence identifying who paid for the starfighters, we need to maintain secrecy.”
“Secrecy?” Straining to keep his voice calm; Qui-Gon asked, “What of Adi Gallia? Is her life not worth more than yet another covert operation? In case you don’t remember, I wouldn’t be standing here now if she hadn’t saved my life!” Obi-Wan was surprised by his Master’s statement. Qui-Gon had never told him of an adventure with Adi Galtia.