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Natunda, 15 Yelona, 12731 T

The Payload

by Jedi Knight VN Ysadora





Episode3.10 - Knife in the Shadows


Plot
| Jun 14, 2026





 
Natunda,
15 Yelona,
12731

 
Boba Fett, having been provided care and a decent night's sleep and so forth, admits over breakfast that he ate soporifically dosed chili. His partner Fennec Shand collected him and they departed.

 
Doc arrived at the end of breakfast to escort me to a conference room. Rico likes this one.

 
We're to see the holovid recovered from deep storage in the droid+organic combo brain of Nova Zaleed. She is not present for this by Doc's orders.

 
....

Sequence One


The hologram hidden inside replicant memory has static and smoky dark sections anywhere the camera is not focused. Holovid scene: an underground facility possibly (on Chalcedon), featuring a giant green pool of "water" with green Thyferran bacta.

 
A woman appears wearing a traveler's robe over Crimson Knight uniform, stained and torn. Commander Ivana Maeques.

 

Noki says "There is not much video. It's very small. It's like she was trying to make sure it would not be found easily."



 
Maeques looks directly at the holocam.

Sir Tam. I hope you, Jedi Ysadora, and the rest of your companions are seeing this. If I did this correctly, you have and you are.

I don't have much time. Void Widows are closing in again.

These Replicants deserve freedom. I am not sure if I managed to wipe enough DS from all of them, or just one pod. Force Willing, this program I am uploading will give them free will.

 
The footage I am about to share is the real footage from the murder of the Crimson Knights, of my order. The official one was set up to make the Solicitors to be fools.


 

((a part that I was not typing fast enough to get))


 
 

Sequence Two


The holocam footage goes staticky.

 
We see inside the Knights Hall in Coruscant. Time/date stamp says this is 1007:10:38 RR which in the Tapani Imperium would be "Satunda, Winter Fete Week, 12730". Less than three standard days before the new calendar year.

We see a slightly altered version of the previously recovered crime sceen recording where the Knights are getting killed.

The attacking robed figures are NOT wielding bows.

The grainy footage shows at least 1 female figure wearing a hooded cloak, black not brown. She has a pair of long vibro knives bordering on short swords.

The weapons are vibrating so fast they can be mistaken for a plasma blade. They have a bluish glow, which is something odd that typical vibroknives do not do. They are able to deflect lightsabers.

She is poetry in motion.

She wipes the floor with the Knights, fighting up to three at once.

(And I'm suspicious of that!)

Next to her walks another individual, tall, armored. His cloak falls back and we see the heavily scarred face of Alexander Vorpadaran with red lightsaber and using Force powers.

Allegedly!

He gets wounded, hurt pretty bad by a couple of lucky shots.

In the background of a few seconds in this Sequence, an adult shape in green shepherds five adolescent-aged Cadets away from the murder scene through a back door. Some of the smoky shadows might be a second adult-size figure.

 

Sequence Three


The holovid sequence ends days later, with the footage of the two Street Judges coming in to investigate

They are picking up the wrong clues because false evidence was being planted during the murders in the previous segment.

And then the woman shows up again and kills the two street judges in seconds. They try and shoot at her. She is a blur as she gets out of the way. It looks as if one shot passes through her.

 

Things we know from prior parts of our investigation this year:

* badges with crime scene observation recording
* notes from their investigation
* timeline of when Cmdr M was where absolutely does not line up
* Sir Kronn might be able to speak to that previous item a bit
 

Sequence Four


Holovid goes back to Cmdr M in the replicant processing facility. She glances around again, sounds of voices in the background indistinct but alarmed.
I can't stay long. There was a traitor in the Order. I've tried to contact the Solicitors, but it keeps getting them killed. I have the first holocron. The Void wants it. Their leader wants it. It's too dangerous for them to have it. I'm afraid to take it to the Jedi, they've been through too much. I can't destroy it. The first holocron is living history.

 
Look to Dantooine. Look to Dantooine and the--

 

(holovid cuts off)


 
Noki sits up straight. "That's the only thing that the data excerpt has. Nothing else."

 

 
Questions I have on this include a wide range.
 
  • Are the Solicitors also under this kind of attack?

    •  
  • SAYS WHO that Alexander went from 0 skill to "on the level of Master Anakin Skywalker" while healing up from missile attack

    •  
  • Who, to Almon's knowledge, did this holovid editing work? Dib Crandor, Outlaw Tech, who claimed to have crafted the script tools he used from scratch but probably modded existing program sets.

    •  
  • Why would the CKs only be attacking a given homicidal intruder one at a time???


 

 
When KitKat did a cleanup pass on this recovered holovid fragment, we could all see in Sequence Two that background bit with two adult-sized people shepherding five Cadets or Squires to an escape route. The second adult-size shape is too staticky for any identification, but the other one is definitely in green armor. With a helmet. And a differently-colored bit near the upper corner of his breastplate.

I plonk in the holonet address for a direct call to Boba Fett, hoping to catch him and Fennec Shand before they leave the planet. I tell him that I respect him, and not just because he is a scary badass. And that if he does not meet me in the Revolving Temple where the Crimson Knights now reside "in ten minutes", then I will tell the entire galaxy that his fondness for canned beans is his true weakness.

 
Boba Fett is a direct, unaltered witness account of the Knights Hall attack. Not these contradictory "evidence videos".

 

 
Relevant flimsicards come from The Crimson Knights Refugee Job Facts stack.
 
  1. The original crime:

    Judges' Crime Scene notes compilation


    Okay, when exactly did Cmdr M clean out personal effects and her vault? All after the attack on the Hall? Some before, some after?

    Maybe the note about Chalcedon is from late 1006 RR?

    2.  
  2. Crime Scene initial survey
    Geidi Prime style "hunter-seeker remotes" murder 2 Order of Solicitors Judges, using genetically targeted poisons.

     
    We now have contrasting evidence that this was done by a person with oversized vibro-knives.

    But we also have the evidence of the genetically targeted poisons.

    How do we reconcile?

     
    Okay sure, someone wanted to throw suspicion on the BGs.

     
    But all of the Tapany Ministry of Information apparatus verified the genetically targeted poisons and!

    And!

    They had someone break in to try to steal that evidence out from under us!

    3.  
  3. Backtracing the crime scene's hunter-seekers
     
    C'mon now. We physically had pieces of those hunter seekers. So they existed! But as planted evidence?

    Did they get this plot off AO3? Category "Jedi Quest", tagged "casefic"?

    4.  
  4. Judge Mika Tarno specialized in tracking down smuggling rings
    Case Log of Judge Tarno

    and Judge Sika Belish had recently been tracking down antiquities fraud
    Case Log of Judge Belish

    This fits with our "Hutts might be involved", Void Widows connection idea, ties in to the "Crimson Knights pinched artifacts from the destroyed Jedi Temple on Coruscant bc Sidious does not need to have that" thing, also ties in to a smuggling ring.
    They went to investigate the mass murder in the Knights Hall, arriving only a week after the crime. They were killed simultaneously in multiple ways.. The holovid evidence from those Street Judge badges, however, is now in question.

    Attacking figures who killed the judges contradicted by new version. No giant guy in armor. No bows. Also, come to think of it, no hunter-seekers detected in either version.

    5.  
  5. During the attack on the Judges, the attackers went to extra effort to destroy datapads and obvious data crystals. This fact is confirmed by the alternate version holorecording, albeit we do not have evidence in support or against the conclusion that the attackers did not know about the Judges' badges being recorders.

    6.  
  6. Walking Port Etmar streets from the municipal building out to the Revolving Temple:

    Vanya: "HEY!"

    Rico sighs.

     
    Vanya waves three flimsicards from her stack in an aggravated manner.

     
    Vanya: "If the attack on the Hall happened at the end of 12730 T, and it's now four-fifths of the way through 12731 T, and we first got here in the third standard month of 12731 T,"
     
    Vanya inhales quickly so she can enunciate more loudly,

     
    Vanya: "How the hell do we have multiple reputable Chalcedon sources saying that Commander Maeques and companions came through here ONE YEAR PRIOR to our landing"

    (at a slightly more civilized volume, but still quite indignant)

    Vanya: "That would involve a time machine!"

     
    Rico: "Maybe don't give the Force ideas."

     
    Vanya: "Also," she taps the middle of the three flimsicards, "I have a note that Selona of 'Seven-thirty was her second visit to the Revolving Temple. That's two-thirds of a year before the Knights Hall attack. That's three months after Palpatine died."

     
    Rico says nothing, but does gently prevent Vanya from turning on the sidewalk to reverse her course. They need to be at the Revolving Temple before anyone gets combative.

     
    Vanya: "Furthermore! Third card here. I do absosmurfly not want to go to Byss. Commander Maeques asked Ghostie Elnon about the Infinity Gate route to Byss."

     
    Rico: "You said that she left here on a passenger ticket to the Outer Rim."

     
    Vanya: "She did. I still don't want to go to Byss."

     
    Vanya: "Nor Dantooine."

     
    Vanya: "Okay, yes, fine, we're probably going to Dantooine."


    7.  
  7. Sir Saphor Kronn might have been with Commander Maeques during late 12729 or early 12730. Davish rescued him in early Telona this year. The timing has never been right (read: calm enough) to ask him -- but now we can't wait for a quiet afternoon.

 

 
After the Crimson Knights gather together -- mostly in person, a few via live transmission -- I explain the context of what they are about to see: a different holovid showing the mass murder this past Winter Fete in their Knights Hall. They know I have seen collected evidence video, because I told them about it when we met. I have not gone into detail yet; even in the risky lives we lead, if they do not have to have ugliness in their heads, they deserve to not suffer it.

This video tells a different story than what the Order of Solicitors had in evidence.

Once all four Sequences have played through, I stop it but do not shut it off. I wait to see how the Crimson Knights will react.

Davish continues to be completely silent. This concerns me.

I tell them that Mr. Fett is going to tell all of us, now, what he knows of this violent event.

 
(And I pass live notes to the team as fast as I can take them.)

 
Boba Fett confirms: this assault involved a much bigger group of assassins than the two we saw depicted in supposedly-Commander-Maeques'-"real"-version.

 
Note:

 

Need Captain Kolene to please rob Hondo Ohnaka of everything down to his socks as retribution for not telling us about the Crimson Knights he helped smuggle out of the Winter Fete attack.



 
Boba Fett says he managed to rescue five foundlings. (Possibly ran into more as he and those kids were getting out?)

He counted fifteen assassins, plus one Sith-Cosplaying saber rake type. Used a red bladed lightsaber. But used it the way a lightfoil fighter would use it. The fifteen assassins were armored women, using some equipment typically ascribed to Bene Gesserit assassins but fighting in a style that did not match. The "Sith" man was tall, thin, probably 30 years old; he had shock-red hair cut short and styled to messily stand upright. Had moments when he swapped from "sneer" to "confused". Fett decided that was not his concern. His concern was fully, and therefore only, the safety of those five children.

Fett tells us that the fifteen armored assassins were searching the place while murdering.

In answer to a wise question from Danar, Fett reports that these fifteen's weapons were vibro knives, poison darts loaded into wrist launchers, the very occasional launch ball for hunter-seeker needles, and very rarely a blaster.

They liked knives, and they used the poison darts a lot.

— Boba Fett

They were aware of Boba Fett and Hondo, but the Crimson Knights stayed in the way enough to let them and the children get out into public where local law enforcement might get involved. Also the fifteen were focused on searching the place for something.

 
I thank Boba for saving as many as he could. I ask him if he feels that he could describe this "Sith" to a droid or a person sketch artist, even after all these months? Yes, he thinks he could give a fairly accurate description, if I have one handy.

Cue KitKat, who either has the skill himself, or else knows where to get me an artist.

 

 
That's an excellent sketch of Darth Feyd. The very very late Darth Feyd Vorharkonnen. Barely older brother of Count Vorharkonnen.

 
Frellrammit!

 
I absolutely have to pass on this tip, acquired from a reliable source, within less than an hour of receiving it. Any dodging-- here, now, when I have the ability to make such a call -- is going to be bait for the Dark Side.

 
Might as well make that call here, now, in full view of all the Knights and Boba too. I will be more transparent and above-board than I ask or expect any of them to be with me.

 

 
News from Count Vorharkonnen in trade for the tip about his late brother Feyd being impersonated:
 
The missile attack on the Bene Gesserit library at Geidi Prime was a distraction so that drones could skim close enough to hack into databanks. Due to our warning of impending attack, Count Vorharkonnen's planetary Municipal Guard were able to detect and block all attacks, including the digital hacks.

Continue reading...

  1. Memorable meals
  2. And me without my datapadd
    Satunda, Telona 13th, 12731
  3. Mystic Mobs Investigations: Backstage
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  4. Thirty-six days and counting
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  5. Sequential report: Lights Snuffed Out
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  6. Thirty-six days completed
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  7. Give that Mentat a cookie!
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  8. Faultline
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  9. Pumpkin Dinner
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  10. Four against One? Okiedokie.
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  11. Ysalamiri
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  12. Intermezzo 3.07.8.5
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  13. More and More and More Every Day
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  14. Jawas in Spaaaaaace
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  15. Ides of Nelona Client Progress Report
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  16. Welcome Back Kal Holst
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  17. the Ghost of Future Vegetable Peeling
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  18. Aggressive Negotiations Fremen Style
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  19. Nobody knows I'm a detective.
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  20. Reese the Battlefield Sportscaster
    Datunda, 29 Nelona, 12731
  21. post-hurricane
    Datunda, 29 Nelona, 12731
  22. Braiding is a skill.
    Datunda, 29 Nelona, 12731
  23. Aboard the Loaner Shuttle _Shenanigans_
    Datunda, 29 Nelona, 12731
  24. The droid did WHAT?
    Datunda, 29 Nelona, 12731
  25. Chausid Station
    Natunda, 30 Nelona, 12731
  26. We Do Not Touch the Creepy Artifact
    Natunda, 30 Nelona, 12731
  27. Thin Darkness
    Natunda, 30 Nelona, 12731
  28. Perspective Adjustments
    Katunda, 31 Nelona, 12731
  29. Spider Pez
    Atunda, 6 Helona, 12731
  30. Intersections
    Atunda, 6 Helona, 12731
  31. Unauthorized scan detected
    Atunda, 6 Helona, 12731
  32. The Anti-Life Equation
    Atunda, 6 Helona, 12731
  33. one of WHOSE children?
    Atunda, 6 Helona, 12731
  34. Space Shanties
    Atunda, 6 Helona, 12731
  35. Threes
    Atunda, 6 Helona, 12731
  36. The old Chaos Goblin routine
    Satunda, 18 Helona, 12731
  37. SSD Hardridge Bulwark
    Satunda, 18 Helona, 12731
  38. First Rule of parrying incoming vehicular blasts: DO NOT
    Satunda, 18 Helona, 12731
  39. Zorphax
    Datunda, 29 Helona, 12731
  40. Ghostie al Saba
    Datunda, 29 Helona, 12731
  41. Okay, but why did you leave it in a vault?
    Datunda, 29 Helona, 12731
  42. Escape Velocity
    Datunda, 4 Melona, 12731
  43. chuck the faux Gamesman to the crowd
    Datunda, 4 Melona, 12731
  44. Here to Rescue Somebody
    Natunda, 10 Melona, 12731
  45. Natunda, 10 Melona, 12731
    Natunda, 10 Melona, 12731
  46. Pest Control
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  47. No matter where you go
    Natunda, 10 Melona, 12731
  48. There you are.
    Natunda, 10 Melona, 12731
  49. Library Card
    Satunda, 13 Melona, 12731
  50. Detective Work
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  51. Act Three: Chaplaining
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  52. wear your hat tilted just so
    Satunda, 13 Melona, 12731
  53. Cleanup
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  54. The Cestea Campaign
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  55. Four Crisis Monte
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  56. Clusterflock
    Natunda, 15 Melona, 12731
  57. Seems odd to me
    Natunda, 15 Melona, 12731
  58. Job Done and Dusted. Right?
    Katunda, 17 Melona, 12731 T
  59. Lord Danar Vorpadaran
    Katunda, 17 Melona, 12731
  60. Five minutes later
    Katunda, 17 Melona, 12731
  61. Arr tee Bee
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  62. Arriving via Starrise Falcon
    Satunda, 28 Melona, 12731
  63. Is my hair out?
    Satunda, 28 Melona, 12731
  64. Ghostdrift Audit
    Satunda, 28 Melona, 12731
  65. Squiddy McGee
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  66. Hostage Situation
    Satunda, 28 Melona, 12731
  67. Payload
    Satunda, 28 Melona, 12731
  68. Rentats
    Satunda, 28 Melona, 12731
  69. May I find no shadows in the wells
    Satunda, 28 Melona, 12731
  70. Roiling stars in stillness shine
    Satunda, 28 Melona, 12731
  71. Knives in the Shadows
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  72. Dark in the Lightstorm
    Satunda, 13 Yelona, 12731 T
  73. Candy Canes For Community
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  74. Getting an A+ in 'Girl Distraction'
    Datunda, 14 Yelona, 12731
  75. The Payload
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  76. Void Widows come in 3s
    Atunda, 16 Yelona, 12731
  77. Delayed Handbasket
    Satunda, 18 Yelona, 12731
  78. Two Handbaskets
    Satunda, 18 Yelona, 12731
  79. The Other Handbasket
    Satunda, 18 Yelona, 12731 T
  80. Gimme a crowbar or get out of my light
    Satunda, 18 Yelona, 12731
  81. Pie as Consequences
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  82. Jaemus
    Datunda, 19 Yelona, 12731
  83. Doing Their Backpacky Best
    Datunda, 19 Yelona, 12731

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.050 © 2017-2025 [en] | Anvil Time: 16:53, Jul 16 2026