Ansion

[Master Lanx]

A planet inhabited by humans. Half of them are wild and fierce warriors that dominate the plains, and the other half dwell in a close nexus of metropolises.

[Tyko Horwuton]

sounds cool. Ill make it my homeplanet.

[Master Lanx]

*Lanx, after two days of hyperspace travel stands in the exit hatch of the large freighter. In front of him descends the boarding ramp to the duracrete of a private landing pad. Lanx takes the first step down the boarding ramp and feels a cool moist wind blow across his face. He stops his descent for a moment to observe his surroundings.

Directly ahead of him and to his right are giant buildings, most of them conjoined by catwalks and sky platforms. Though not even close to the size of those on Coruscant or Nar Shadaa, they cover most of the skyline.

To his left, and he assumes to his rear, are black sanded beaches and beyond them a sprawling ocean, both left untouched by the metropolis. He can vaguely make out recrational vehicles out on the waters. Strangely, no plant life can be seen. Lanx hopes this is just this area that is devoid of nature.

He refreshes his mind of his goals, and then continues down the exit ramp. As he sets foot on the duracrete a door slides open on the towering spaceport control center. They start to walk to him, and he continues towards them as well, to split the time. He can make out a shorter, heavy built man in grand robes leading, and behind him a squad of about twelve home security guards follow him. They wear sleek black armor, with no helmets and close cropped hair. They carry a standard blaster rifle, but Lanx senses no immediate hostility in them.

As the gap between them closes to fifty meters, Lanx makes out another figure to the leader's right. A tall, thin man wearing a dark grey suit strides slightly behind him, whispering something into the decorated man's ear. His highest advisor, no doubt.. When within hearing range, the leader's deep booming voice reaches Lanx's ears.*

"Greatings from Ansion, Master Jedi!"

*Lanx bows customarily. . . .*

[Master Lanx]

*He quickly examines the prominant leader standing in front of him. Though the man is considerably shorter than Lanx, he feels dwarfed by his presance. He wears dark red velvet robes, and a tall pointed black hat, no doubt ceremonial somehow. His eyes flick to the grey suited man, and Lanx becomes concerned. The man has black hair, but is greyed at the temples. It is slicked back, revealing thin facial features. His eyes are dark and peircing, revealing keep intelligence, and Lanx reads somthing sinister about him . . . maybe even scheming. I'll have to watch this one . . .

Lanx smiles and speaks in a soft tone, very contrary to the speaker's booming address.*

I am Lanx Laz'aruk at your service. Greetings from Coruscant, great Gordton.

*The rolls in the stock man's neck quiver, as if affected by the giant voice.* "HA! You humble me Jedi. Come, let's talk in comfort."

*Lanx simply bows and walks beside the sovereign. He winces as the man claps him on the back in a friendly manner, but Lanx immediately becomes annoyed by his customs. He shows none, and keeps in mind negotiatings are much easier if you abide each side's customs. As the leader jabbers about their fine hospitality, Lanx looks over his shoulder to see the advisor stalking close behind, eyeing him sharply. Lanx gives him a quick smile, trying to suggest good will. The man simply snears and turns down another hallway.

As they turn down a great hall with high vaulted cealings, Lanx begins to track back on to the Sovereign's rambling.*

"... finest room of them all! The great hall of Favar! The creator of this spaceport was a brilliant architect and named this, his favorite work, after himself. A deffinate testimony to the artistic superiority of the people of Ansion! How proud I am to be their leader."

Indeed, this place rivals even the hall of one thousand fountains back on Coruscant. What a wonder!

*The stalky man beams at the compliments. They make their way to the end of the great hall and walk out a pair of gigantic doors. Outside, Lanx realizes they have made their way into the metropolis, and skyscrapers shoot up in every direction. In front of them a train of hovercars sit surrounded by armored hover-transports, all bearing the seal of Ansion. Lanx follows Sovereign Gordton to the largest hovercar, and sits in a large plush seat next to him. The advisor slinks his way into the passenger seat ahead of them, and adjusts a mirror so he can observe without being so obvious.

Lanx ingores him, and tries to take a few mental notes about the leader's obsessive talk. Quite the ego . . ., Lanx thinks as the motercade rises from the duracrete. Lanx nods at a comment about the metropolis and decides to add on.*

Indeed, it must take a brilliant country to produce such a city as this. So clean, even at the lower levels.

"Equality is most important to us in this continent, unlike those across the sea."

Those across the sea? Tell me about them.

"Bah! Barbarians, the lot of them. They ride giant beasts and hunt grazers on the plains. The warriors take multiple wives, can you believe it! It's disgusting and offending. We tolerate their presance on our world, but do not interact with them."

How curteous of you, to let the lesser races evolve as they should.

"Yes, yes indeed. We were all at a stage like that, and we all deserve a chance to get out. But our cities simply cannot tolerate their presance! They will spread their terrible teachings."

Terrible teachings? You mean of poligamy?

*The leader nods, rolling his eyes.* "Among other things, yes. But that is not the true problem. We are used to repelling the primitive attacks they mount against our country, but lately our guards have been taking heavy casualties. They are not coming with advanced weaponry, even more superior to ours!"

*An interesting thing to admit . . .* And where do you suppose are they getting this . . . advanced weaponry? Are they stealing it from you?

"No, it is nothing like ours! It's not just the weapons, but they not have advanced transports! Before they just came on simple boats, but now they fly over the sea in speaders not unlike ours. We think pirates are selling to them, and thus endangering our borders. That is why we have asked the Republic's help."

I will investigate as soon as possible. I was told I wouldn't need a transport . . . how am I to cross the sea?

"We have a science outpost set up on the beach of their side. A transport bound there will leave in the morning."

Which is in, if I may inquire?

"Fifteen Coruscant hours. For now, I shall entertain you at my pallace! We have fine dancers from-" *The man suddenly stumbles over his words. He smiles sheepishly and catches himself.* "-ah . . . all over! Hehe, all of them proffesional, of course. Their choice. Um . . . yes. Also we will feast like you never have before! And you shall sleep in the softest beds on this side of the core!"

*Lanx smiles and nods graciously.* For this I thank you in advance. Now, I'd like to know more about these barbarians . . .

[Solus Burc'ya]

(Good job, but Damn! it's another one of those one's it takes too long to read!!!)

[Master Lanx]

*Lanx stands firm and watches as a great orange orb begins to peak over the horrizon. Soft warm winds shift his clothing ever so slightly, giving him a sense of the climate. He can see the silloutte of tall mamals grazing across the plains, and their deep moans travel all they way to Lanx's ears.

As the winds make a slight change he feels salty mist on the back of his neck, the product of the crashing waves on the beach. Lanx, standing on the metal wall of the science outpost, turns and walks along the barrier. He reaches the opposite side and looks out over the dark see. Various large fish jump out to catch the flying reptiles, who themselves hunt the smaller fish. The biggest of the large flying reptiles wait on cliffs and stare for hours at the crashing water.

Lanx looks down and sees that the wall he stands on stands only a few meters from the edge of the sea cliff. He makes a note of this and continues his walk along the perimiter of the outpost. By the time he reached the place he started, the sun was risen completely from the ground, and the air was beggining to warm itself. Scientists, some returning from nocturnal studies, others setting out for morning expeditions, ignored Lanx's presance and went about their business. Soldiers stood guard intermittantly on the wall and in pairs at the main gate.

All in all, Lanx decided it was a very nice planet. He began to realize why the so called primatives of this side of the planet didn't like the metropolitan presance.*

"Excuse me, Master Laz'aruk?"

*He turns to a tall muscular man with defined cheekbones and close-cropped hair. He wears the same uniforms seen by Lanx earlier with the sovereign. This one carried only a blaster at this side, though.*

Yes? Please call me Lanx.

"Sorry sir. I'm Captain Sissay, the leader of the small garrison here. We're to escort you to the nearest barbarian encampment today."

That won't be necissary, all I need is a vehicle.

"Sir, these plains are dangerous. Full of strange creatures! For instance, there is a terrible reptile that runs like the wind on two legs. If it catches up to you-"

You should scream at it in your loudest and lowest voice. *Lanx said to the astonishment of the Captain.* They compete for territory by vocal competitions. As long as I can scream louder and in a lower tone, I should be fine. Their necks are thin, and thus their vocal chords are rather small.

*The Captain shakes his head in disbelief. He begins to speak* "Yes, well but still-"

*Lanx interupts.* I'll be fine, thank you. I've done my research.

*The Captain grumbles as he turns and walks down the ramp into the encampment's interior. Lanx grins and turns back to finish watching the sun rise.*