Prelude to War (Book 6)

[Akirapryde]

(6.9) The Mathematics of War
On Approach, Ten Hours Our
Inner Rim System of Hu'uf
Generation Ship, Narshana
December 13th, 1936

Carissa turned from her work station as she looked at the now closed door. It was such a simple question of rather the Free Worlds Council could win in a war between the Reich and the Dorins if the Val had softened the Reich up first. At the moment it was asked, Carissa had not considered the complete depth of the question or more importantly the scope of the answer. From the first moment of her ability to think one answer had alluded her understanding. The scope and meaning of life. Now, she was faced with the very same question in a completely different context and perspective. The more she ran both questions through their logical conclusions, the more she realized that both questions within their routes were connected. As considered the question in the terms that Master Murl asked, she realized that the only way to answer it correctly was to understanding the scope and meaning of life itself from its this new perspective. It was such a simple question for Master Murl to ask her.

Based from her experiences she had found that very rarely do living creatures often ask questions to which they truly want the full truthful answers. Based on her observations, she found that it was a general fear or a lack of understanding of the answer which drove many lifeforms to ignore the truth directly in front of them. It was a lack of logic which confused her so many times. So many times she has been approached to answer questions. Only to find that the person asking already knew the answer. She also saw that many would ask her questions which they truly did not desire the answer. She found that this questions often referred to questions regarding appearances. One most illogical response to her answer was when Swip had inquired if a dress had made her rear end look large. Carissa answered truthfully by stating the obvious truth. “No, but it does make your breast seem rather small compared to your torso.” Carissa attempted a friendly smile but Swip just looked at her for a moment that stormed off. It would be the only time Swip would ever inquired such advice her. Carissa found the dress is a waste bin a couple days later. Situations like this has proven to Carissa that lifeforms tend not want to know the truth even if they are asking for it.

Dealing with Daz was much the same as dealing with any other life form. Each time he would come to her to uncover or unlock some hidden answer which alluded his understanding. She discovered the answer was most logical and obvious. At first it would always confuse her about why he would ask for an answer that was so clear and logical. Later she figured out that the only possible conclusion was, he didn't want to know the truth. She estimated that he was betting, most incorrectly also, that logic and mathematics would be wrong. For her, numbers were pure and never lied. Each time she was presented with a question she found that she could deduce the question to simple numbers. She found it strange that even the most intelligent of the lifeforms would sometimes buy in to the same failed logical as Master Murl. When he came to her once more seeking more answers to questions which once more seemed clear and obvious, she already knew what he truly was seeking and what he didn't want to know. Based on her conclusion of what he wanted and didn't want to hear, she had calculated that a null answer was more appropriate than the truth.

However his null answer was not appropriate nor acceptable for her standards. Her answer to Master Murl simply did not complete the answer to its most logical truthful conclusion. After calculating all of the variables and considering all the possible linked equations of the question, she realized that this simple question dove in to the very question she had been asking all her life. The very scope and meaning of life. Master Murl's question was the kind of question which she could see a number of truthful answers. From this question and the answers which she learned from it, she could explain once and for all of her views on war and violence. The answers could explain why the Republic had fallen in the first place. It could explain why a government like the Reich could be supported so lovingly by its people. There was so many different questions which she would be able to answer for herself and others. The possible calculations were endless from the resulting answers to this simple question. But most importantly within these answers, she could finally find that warning for Master Murl and the others of the true cost for the coming war.

Carissa's eyes were lost in the space between where she say and the door in which Master Murl had walked out through just moments before. Her mental focus was on another question which came hand and hand with Master Murl's question. Should she should devote so much of her resources to answering this question only to have the answer not wanted or heeded. She ran a short calculation regarding the possible out comes of the project she was considering. At the end of her calculation, she concluded that none of the answers she would uncover would have any meaningful impact on the coming events. There was a simple fact that seemed to be recurring to her. Living beings had a tendency to ignore the truths right before their own eyes. Regardless of this fact, she did have reason to pursue the question which Master Murl had asked her. Her logical mind rationalized the sense that they could ignore the truth. However they would not be able to claim they were never warned. She turned back to her work station in silence as her hands went to work issuing new commands to her computer.

She would answer Master Murl's question along limited parameters in which he asked her. Everything else discovered above and beyond those parameters would be secured and analyzed at a later date. Her mind raced as she set up two main categories, those which would be returned to Master Murl and those that she would not. All the while, she started to back up every bit of data which was stored on her terminals. She knew that she had to start from a completely different approach to answer this question. As her hands flew over the keyboards, she turned each of her categories in to a graph in which she would use to create her equation. She pulled a data storage device from the terminal and labeled it for future use and placed a new one in the empty slot. Her scientific approach started to form in her mind as she continued to back up every bit of data she had on her terminals. Each time a storage device became filled, she would label it with identifiers so she could return to it in the future. The care of how she labeled everything reflected the order and pure concepts of her mind and thought process. She continued to work to save all of her past and current projects. As the backups continued, small shoe box sized boxes starting to build up in the center of the room. Nearing the end of her backups, she came across her first major problem. With a clear defined approach set up, she realized that a higher ranking officer could simply order her to divulge the study that she was about to start. She pulled up a one meter square section of wood and placed it on the boxes. She nodded at the sturdy as she tossed a bed sheet over the newly functional table. Her first major problem offered her a new concept to consider.

The loss of life and suffering could be expanded exponentially if her formulas were to be used by one side or the other to predict possible movements or actions. She realized that the formulas could be used to undermine what she actually wished to achieve if they fell in to the wrong hands. The threat was so very real that she almost considered stopping her project before it even started. The purpose of this project is to show the leaders the true cost of their actions. Not to make those actions easier through a better understanding of her work. However, the potential lives saved if she as able to convince the leaders the errors of their ways out weighed the risks. However she also knew the tendencies of life forms. She would have to create a security protocol that would allow her to hide her project even from her superiors. There was one more problem with this issue. She didn't have the ability to write such a protocol within her normal operational parameters. Like her mother she was designed and programmed to be loyal to whom she served. In this case, those were the Azgardians. She didn't like to consider herself as a piece of property, but simply it was the truth. She preferred to keep things as simple as possible. In this case, she was property of Azgard. She trusted and felt great connection to her father. Even if she couldn't explain such a trust or connection logically. Despite all of that, Capitan Ogon was in fact her superior officer. This meant that she had to be able to hide this data from all, including him. And that gave her what she was looking for, her Master Programming. For within this Master Programming was her answer.

Her Master Programming was a part of her Operating System which she had completely no control over nor could she even access it. Each and every millisecond her master programming ran well over a thousand different processes. Each one ensures that her body and mind function correctly and it detected a number of possible errors. Her organic components require special independent processes which ensured that they remain healthy and functional. Her Master Programming ran those processes also. It functioned completely independent of Carissa's General Operating Systems on a security level that even she could not hack. It was by far the most secure location within her memory and her Operating System. Even if she wanted to, she could not access the data within the Master Programming. The reason why it had this level of security, was to prevent someone from attempting to change the basic loyalty programs within her Operating System. It also gave Carissa a measure of self control over her own actions. The Master Programming allowed her to override her own survival programmings should the situation allow for it. Because of this, it created a balance between blind faith which could lead to her destruction and stubborn reluctance in the face of danger. It was the Master Programming which allowed her mother to risk her own life while attempting to win a critical victroy during the battle of Hothe. The action cost Carissa's mother, her own life but saved a large number of the fleet. Carissa saw the Master Programming as a gift which allowed her to not betray her own views on warfare and violence. The Master Programming was indeed the answer she needed, and yet still out of her means of access.

The security protocols needed to write in to the Master Programming was a level in which she lacked access. She would have to seek special permission to create the new protocols. It was a issue which she knew would raise more questions now than later. She decide to proceed with her project and allow that issue to resolve its self in time. Worse case situation would be that she would have to ease her project as it neared completion if she can not gain that permission. With this issue placed on her back burner, her next problem was what if someone caught stumbled on to her project. Many visitors came to see her within her work space daily. Some would come to ask questions while others would come to simply talk. And still others would come to just watch her work. This problem was simpler than all others to over come. As her work would slowly turn in to a mathematical equation, she would encrypt her work in a complex alpha numerical string. She returned to the terminals to double check all of her nodes. She needed to make sure that no data got lost. Her terminals flashed, 'All Data Storage Nodes Cleared' as she finished her last check. Wanting to make sure that there were no hidden strings of data, she commanded the terminals to run a erase program. Once the erase program had completed its task, she commanded the terminals to formate the storage nodes and to streamline the nodes for this one task. She knew she would need the maximum memory and storage capacity to complete this project. Carissa noted the time it would take to complete this next task. She got up and went to gather up other supplies for the project at hand. She knew that if she was successful, this single task would become her greatest work. She knew that if she did this right and the others acted the way she theorized they would, this formula would put an end to all future wars. For her, she knew that this would be the last time that the galaxy would have to know war.

And by the end of this war, it would prove her formula was correct and that it could be used to stop future suffering. The idea of the coming war being unavoidable was completely illogical to her. She didn't understand why lifeforms wanted to throw away their lives so willingly. Or why others would allow it so freely. All logic dictated that war was bad for each power involved. However she knew that there was very little she could do to directly impact the coming war. Even if she could impact the events leading up to the war, she would become drawn in to the conflict and forced to take sides. It was a logical choice for her to not focus on this war, but ensure that through this war her formula would be proven. And as such, she would be able to prevent others.

With her work terminals carrying out its commands, Carissa sat in deep focus over her next step within her project. She knew that she would require assistance if she was to complete her task within the schedule that she set up. The Azgardian ship had come and dropped them off a few days ago. Despite what she realized the others wanted, the ship simply turned and left once they were aboard the Narshana. Her father was deeply determined to return to Hothe and the grave place of her mother. There were factors involved which demanded that the party wait for their assault shuttle to return from Azgard after it had been repaired. Based on her estimations, she had nine days, forty two minutes and eleven seconds to complete her task. It was not practical for her to attempt this task alone. She ran through a long list of possible candidates to assist her with the project. She crossed her list with traits that she wanted this assistant to have as well as ran through parts of her project that she could allow them to do without endangering her over all project. That gave her almost two weeks to complete her task, and a list of possible assistants. There was a trait in which she knew would become a problem if allowed to be unchecked. That trait was being curious. Whom ever she selected had to know when to ask the right questions and when not to ask anything. Because of the nature of her project and the effects it could have, she made this requirement a priority to whom ever would help her.

Because of this simple requirement, her list got cut down considerable. It wasn't that she didn't trust most of those that she marked off her list. Trust was an emotion that she simply lacked the understanding of. The reason why was she had to be sure that whom ever she asked would follow only what she asked of them and nothing more. She favored Dunfee for this task because of his detachment to emotions. This made speaking with him more logical and his mind was easier for her to understand and predict. However, he had left days ago. He was not even added to the list to be removed. As she continued to remove names off her list she realized there was only one logical choice. She finally got up from her chair and walked out of her work space. The last name on her list would take her to the Inner Light and Knight Murl. It didn't take much effort to enlist the quasi-Jedi and a few of her friends. She explained that the project was due to a request for an answer by Master Murl himself. As she talked to her assistants, she explained the importance that they only ask the questions outlined and if challenged to not push deeper. She ensured that they understood that all data gathered had to be returned to her as soon as they had it. As she explained what the young Knights were to do, she calculated the time needed to fulfill the research within the alloted time. Based on this, she concluded that each of the twenty members of the Inner Light can only afford to spend forty three and a half minutes speaking with each Ambassadors aboard. She made sure that each understood that time was critical and that they had to be aware of it. With last minute instructions over, Carissa sent the members of the Inner Light on their way as she turned to her own information gathering.

While each of her assistants were interviewing the Ambassadors, Carissa made her way to the Church for her part of the information gathering. She concluded that if she focused the next three days on gathering information only, that that would leave her enough time to put her calculations in to the right structure. From there, she would be able to execute her analysis. Once she had her analysis, she would then prepare her report for Master Murl and the Assembly. She planned the the next three days very carefully as she kept a low profile while she gathered all the data she could. As days passed on, her work space slowly turned in to a temple devoted to war itself. While she was easily able to conceal the actual objective of her research. The reference materials were impossible to hide. The Inner Light interviewers headed up by Knight Murl had gathered pages of documents regarding regional conflicts and historical wars. The church was able to provide over nearly two thousand years of news casts regarding galactic wars and tensions between states. Thanks to the help of the XO, she was able to collect military books written by some of the best military minds of both the current time frame and historical. The books were so numerous, that they stood in five stacks, over a meter and a half tall. Maps and overlays of battles and wars long forgotten littered make shift tables and any space she found to lay them out. The sight of it all got so bad that even the nurses stopped coming by to speak to Carissa.

To Carissa's surprise, her first phase was going to take longer than she had calculated. The interviews ended only three and a half hours behind her original estimates. Uncovering the data was not the issue. The issue was that even Carissa had not expected there to be so many separate conflicts across the galaxy. As per her request, the Ambassadors provided as much data as they could on conflicts within their own realms and bordering their realms. As she shifted to her next phase, Carissa realized that there was never a simple reason why conflicts occurred. Many conflicts occurred for vest and deep routed reasons that in nearly every case were completely devoid of any logical. Some conflicts proved her reasoning regarding lifeforms. That they have conflicts for the sake of conflicts. Each Ambassador had provided her with valuable points of reference for most of these conflicts. The books provided her with the how's which the conflicts were fought. The most recent detailed intelligence provided to the Republic showed her the destructive capabilities of all sides now. By day five Carissa was diving deeper in to the nature of war and through it, the very nature of life, her work space looked as if a mad man had written across the walls.

Her formula wasn't even close to taking shape and she had already reduced the past three thousand years worth of conflicts and wars to a mathematical purity. Each consequential prediction she made as she continued to work would be proven by the next line of reason within her equation. Slowly her work was taking shape and she could see the events unfolding within their separate conflicts. Still she could not explain the lack of logic linked to each conflict. Because of this, she pushed deeper in to her equation and deeper in to war. However she started to realize a serious problem within her work. Regardless of how much she simplified the variables, the complex nature of them simply grew beyond her own ability to process them. Still she worked through each variable as she wrote them across the walls and white boards in her coded scribe. Each number written down reflected in her mind a variable. An evolution or devolution of technology, strategies or geo-political influences. These variables also reflected life, the lives lost during these conflicts. She started to see the connections in which she was looking for. To her, each line of her formula highlighted a connection between the wars, conflicts and influences and the people, technologies and strategies. To her mind, as she looked around the room she could see beyond the walls of her space and see the years of warfare unfolding before her eyes. The bloodshed, the death, the horrors and suffering had been reduced to a pure mathematical equation. Still she could see beyond it. These historical wars have come alive within her workspace. She had reached the point of what she was looking for.

By day seven, she had worked nearly nonstop on her complex formula. Carissa stood in the center of her workspace surrounded by the horrors and death which lifeforms are capable of committing upon each other. Her formula finally reaching a point where it was ready to compile the data. The past few days had been a test on her very nature to endure the long hours and limited rest cycles. However it was finally upon her. If the compiling works correctly, she would have all of her answers. Looking around at wittings on the wall as she focused on the mathematical calculation that has surrounded her. Everything had finally reached this moment in time for her. The room was silent as her eyes scanned the walls and white boards as she took in all the data before her. The depth of her research gave her a level of prospective that she hadn't expected before she started this project. As she read the equations, she could see the meanings behind them. Slowly in her work space the the walls drifted away as she started to see each conflict behind them once more. In her mind a counter ran down as her processors worked beyond their capacities. The formula was immense and she pushed her processors to compile the data. She pressed her very will over the processors' safeties and paid the price for it. Carissa's safety protocols kicked in and terminated her operations. She stood there in the center of the room motionless as her central core rebooted.

Carissa's systems had completely crashed due to the overload of data from her formula. She stood their motionless staring out in to nothingness as her long hair moved about due to the vent she was standing under. She was completely helpless as a complex set of algorithms ran their course searching for the line of code which caused her current state. Her Master Programming had completely taken over her higher functions and shut everything else down. There was no thought in her mind nor in her processors. The only activity allowed was the Master Programming which was attempting to find the flaw which pushed her to beyond her safety protocols. Slowly, one by one her subsystems started to take over their normal functions. She blinked a few times as an involuntary reaction from being shut down for a short time. She ran the data over in her mind as to why she had failed to compile the entire equation. Once more, it was all about numbers. She lacked the processing capabilities by only a short margin. Upon review, the final compiling of the data took a turn in which she had not expected. It pushed the required resources beyond her ability.

There was an answer though. Part of her mind was locked up behind a barrier designed to take over in situations in which just accorded. If she could gain access to those processes, than she would have just enough memory and processes to complete the compiling. Just as she started to consider the concept, she did realize the risks involved. If the data compiling task took another turn in which she didn't consider, then she would have no back up programs to shut the function down. A data crash could end up being the worse case scenario. She ran the numbers in her upper memory over the odds of all possible events. The numbers were not favorable, however, there was a slightly higher than average chance of success. Of the possible scenarios in which she could became damaged over this function. Data crash, data corruption and excessive heat were the top three and most likely. All of which could cost her, her own existence. There were risks involved, however, she knew that the end result was worth the risks. Even if it meant possibly being cast in to oblivion, the task was worth it.

She walked over to her work terminals and hooked her self in to the system. She decided that a complete back up would help limit these risks. That was as long as the hardware was not damaged during a extensive heat scenario. Still, she trusted her father would be able to salvage as much of her as possible. She started to compare living beings to her. She was able to upload her entire identity in to secondary storage devices. She considered what death would be like. She knew that she lacked a living spirit like living beings. As she looked at the storage device, she wondered if there was much difference between it and a living spirit. As she watched her live being backed up, the idea of death seemed like a very interesting idea to research at a later date. She always wondered why some living beings feared it while others didn't. She rested her hand on the storage device and felt it working. She had seen death in all of its horrific glory. She had seen living creatures tossed about a battlefield back on Fra like fall leafs. Long after the battle was over, she walked among the dead and heard the cries of the dying. At the time she had meant to look at it from a scientific point of view. However something in her perception changed regarding the suffering.

She pulled the storage device from the terminal once the back up was over. She carefully examined the device as she rose it up to eye level. Within it was all of who she was. Her memories, her experiences, her life. 'Was this my spirit?' she pondered. She placed the storage device next to a small box with all of her care. She pulled out some loss papers and started to write out a list of instructions. She knew that her father was intelligent, however she wanted to make sure that he could understand each step. She made the directions as simple as possible. This was going to be her last hope of survival if all of her estimates were wrong or something unexpected occurred. If anything was misunderstood, it would mean the loss of her, 'spirit' she added to the thought. With the directions completed, she placed the storage device and the papers within the small box and sealed it with tape. She wrote Captain Ogon on the top of the box. The most logical path would be to inform her father before hand of the risks and the steps taken. However she estimated that he might not be able to think objectively regarding her project. She estimated that this plan would ensure that her project precedes along her chosen path.

Her next step was to find her father and seek special permission to access her Master Programming. She found him and Lt. Birgr within the lounge telling war stories to the new recruits. The conversation went as well as she had expected. At first he was resistant to the idea, but finally gave in. Then once the risk sank it, it seemed like he was going to resend his permission. After assuring her father that all risks were as minimal as possible and that precautions were being taken, he finally accepted her plan. Though it was clear that he did not like the risks or the factors involved. She had estimated correctly, had she explained everything in its detail, he would have denied her request. She also estimated that he didn't want to know the complete truth regarding the risks or factors. His questions were limited and he did not ask many follow up questions. He had expressed that he trusted her judgment. A thought that she found odd. Her judgment was sound and free from emotional factors. She promised to be objective and to brief him on the question in which Daz asked her. Even before she returned to her work space, she set up the program and calculated the time needed.

Once back in her room, she took to taking in all the data around her. Once more her mind started to compile every bit of data. Once more the equation started to take form. Bit by bit the numbers across the wall turned in to data in her mind. Everything was taken in as her mind worked to filter it all. Beyond the walls of her work space, the images of war started to take shape once more. She could see creatures, weapons and machines of war moving across the vast reaches of space. She reached the peak of her capabilities and just before the Master Programming took over and shut her down again, she overrode the safety command. The final bits of date started to be compiled and in that second she could see the equation taking its final appearance in her mind. She could see hundreds of thousands of small, medium and large conflicts. The horrors of what creatures can do to creatures became even more apparent to her. This formula was going to put an end to warfare once and for all. Or at least that is what she hoped would happen. She stood their motionless as her hair moved as the air blew down on her. All of her hope for a end to war now hung in the balance between her hope of ability and her actual capabilities. Once more Carissa stood motionless starring out in to nothing.

“Your calculations are remarkable. IF you were living, we would have no trouble guiding you toward a higher level of existence.” Lysire said as she walked from behind Carissa. Her long red cloak flowed behind her. Her flowing brown hair laid over top of the hood of her cloak. Under her left eye was a tattoo of a upside down arrow in the shape of a tear drop. Her off white gown was simple but in the center of her chest was a noticeable light red stain that nearly filled the entire front of the outfit. Her thigh high boots and utility belt clashed with everything else on her outfit and marked a time in her life, long gone. A lightsaber hung from the belt along side a small pouch.

“we don't think the Council of Me would disagree with that course of action” Lysire said from her perched atop of a dividing screen. She wore a full Jedi robe with a belt to hold it all together. “The quest for understanding is a noble one. And the definition of life is questionable in this context with this creature.” Under her opened Jedi robes she wore an outfit that was delicate, stylish and not fitting of the young scholar she was hoping to become. In her eyes were the hopes and dreams of a young passionate Jedi Padawan. Her body full of life and beauty while her mind was full of questions and quests for answers. While her hopes for career might had been of the Jedi Library, her heart and dreams begged for adventure. Along her hip hung her first lightsaber, dressed up to match her stylish outfit. With her lightsaber, dreams and knowledge, her future seemed as bright as the glimmer of her eyes.

While both appeared to be identical in their physical appearances. It was clear by their ton and the way in which they spoke that they were two completely different creatures. The Lysire dressed in the red cloak walked calmly over to the wall and hovered her hands over the writings. She took in all the data before her eyes as a new voice spoke up. “The quest for understanding tends to lead one towards the quest for knowledge which can also lead one for the quest for power if one is not mindful of the temptations.” This new Lysire was dressed in her former Jedi Hunter uniform. Her shirt and paints were a deep blue and knee high boots which were lightly armored. Across her shoulders she wore a matching short cloak that her long hair ran down. On the front of the cloak, a symbol of the Republic on one side and the Jedi Order on the other. She and the symbols stood as a reminder of how official killing became near the end of the Republic. A sharp red sash with a lightsaber hanging from it brought the whole outfit together. “The temptation which draws us to pursue power leads to suffering and pain.” Unlike the first two Lysires, this one had her hair colored black. The look in her eyes, told the rest how far she had gone to pursue power. “Look where this got us” she added as she leaned against a nearby wall. Lysire knew the reference all too well. During the Jedi Civil War, Lysire had fallen down the dark path. She along with her team hunted down Rebel Jedi without mercy. Under the banner of the Republic, she took more lives than she wishes to remember. The sight of this Lysire brought a wave of guilt and sadness.

“Yes, look where it got us. Let us not forget the entire journey that we took when we only look at one leg of that journey. If we did not travel that road than how many lives would not have been touched by us once we awoke from our own nightmare.” explain the forth Lysire which appeared sitting on the desk of Carissa's work station. She was dressed in simple clothes which reflected a simple, dirty and harder life. Her hair now back to its normal shade of light brown, but her face dirty and under kept. “Like us, each are tested in their own way. Each must find their own answers to overcome the obstacles before them. It is the simple Will of the Force that we all must learn to listen to. This is the true lesson of our journey. That we were too busy becoming heroes that we failed to heed the Will of the Force. Regardless of who we are, regardless of what we have done, the Force will test us. For each of us, this will take time and personal courage.” Her shoes covered in dried mud and worn. In her eyes and her outfit where the signs of the long gone days of privilege. There was great sorrow and sadness in her eyes. Lysire had awoke from the nightmares and turned her focus to helping others. However, by this time in history, her entire team had been betrayed by both the Jedi, the Republic and the new found Republic Ranger. Before they were heroes hunting down monsters in the night. Now, according to the Republic news they were the monsters to be hunted. Her eyes reflected no sadness of her own situation. Only grief from what she had become and done before she awoke.

Carissa's chair spun around to reveal another Lysire. “Yes the Force will test everyone. It is the very nature of life to be tested. From birth life is tests. It is up to the individual to see these tests before them and learn to overcome the tests or overcome the failures there of.” She was filled with eager emotions which were fueled by her dreams. This Lysire wore a long black dress that had a sewn in corset which gave the flashy teenager and more tighter appearance. At the bottom of the legs, red fur draped around her legs and feet. Over her shoulders, she wore a matching thick red fur shawl. Across her waist was a purple sash that draped neatly over her knees and nearly touched the floor. The gems and pearls across her body and the small crown atop of her head clearly reflected her noble history. There was no evidence of Jedi training about her outfit or in her eyes. Instead that was only the young teenager eager to flee the confines of the Royal Palace and make a name for herself beyond that of her parents. “Let us look to this one, it ponders the most basic of questions yet it is not alive to some. What is the very conversation of life if not by this simple act. Who are we. What do we want.” she said wanting to her the reason why they were all summoned here.

The red cloaked Lysire turned from the calculations on the wall and nodded. “These are the most basic of questions which the Force seeks us to understand. But let us not forget the last question of understanding. Why are we here”she almost started her next line till she was interrupted.

The Lysire wearing the Hunter Uniform rose her hand to speak, “And still we do feel connected to the events which have shaped the galaxy to the current form that it is now.”

The Jedi robed Lysire nodded, “Yes, we do feel this connection to the events. Yet still, we have not been able to isolate how we are connected to these events. To this, we must ask, has our most recent events become these connections.” She paused a moment than said, “please continue” as she motioned to the red cloaked Lysire.

With a nod once more, Lysire continued again. “through out our future we have seen these connections prior to those of our past. We have attempted to honor the direction handed to us by the last of those who have left this realm” she explained.

“A direction in which we have found all too easily to ignore in our recent future” claimed the Lysire wearing the royal outfit. “Because of our actions the Reich has sought out an ally with the Dorins. The nature of the political landscape as become more hazardous. Because of us, the sitaution has become more dangerous than ever.” She explained speaking of the event where she brought Daz to the capital of the Reich and a face to face encounter with the Reich Emperor. “All this because we claim that it is necessary for the relighting of the galactic candle.”

“We still believe this” red cloaked Lysire said plainly.

“In our defense, the Dorins were going to come in to the war regardless of what we did. We saw in our past that they would side with the Reich” said the simple dressed Lysire. She continued to explain her point, “By allowing the events to unfold the way we did, the Galaxy now knows where the threats truly lay. And after all, we did give Daz a choice in this mater. We all did know that Daz Murl has been tested by the Force. That his time is rapidly coming to an end. By giving him this choice, we opened the doors to the tests in which he is currently undergoing. It is equally possible that our actions can be seen as following the Will of the Force. We all know the law regarding the Will of the Force.”

The Jedi dressed Lysire raised her hand, “we agree, that Daz is continuing his test. And as for this one? What will become of her?”

Again with another nod, Lysire dressed in a red cloak continued. “Before us is the question. It is our task by the last ones, that we must watch for those who ponder these questions of life and seek higher understanding. However there is a threat before us as well. It is possible that this question might turn this one towards the wrong path. In this moment, all things are equal. Shall we allow them to be equal and maintain the balance within the Force. Or do we do nothing and allow this one to continue down the path that it is seeking. Search our past and look at what is before this one if we do nothing. We have a duty to uphold. It is same duty in which the Teacher had taught to us. What shall we do?”

The Hunter Lysire stood up from the wall and stepped forward towards Carissa. As she slowly walked around the immobile droid, “what we say now does speak volumes on to us. There is a strong case within your vision of yesterday. But before we decide on this, we want to something clearly said. Assume that we do nothing from this moment on, it could cause further problems in the past for this us? As the Teacher took us under his wing and helped us along, we must be willing to do the same. And should it fail, we must be willing to do what the Teacher was willing to do. Under its existence completely. Is this what we are willing to take on? Direct intervention upon their plain. Something we have avoided to a larger degree for over two thousand years.” She stopped walking around Carissa as she came face to face with the red cloaked Lysire, “something in which we had done in our future and because of that act, this council was formed, solely to keep US in check.”

The red cloak Lysire lowered her head. The event that was being spoken of now, was of her own making. During a moment of weakness and without any other being capable of stopping her, she nearly destroyed her own homeworld. In her eyes, they had become corrupted by the abomination called the Galactic Church of Hope. The man to whom she owed her heart to was being burned alive because of lies and false charges brought by the Church and its protectorates. She knew she shouldn't have watched but she couldn't resist. She knew that she shouldn't have been there but she couldn't fight the urge. Her heart couldn't let go her love for him as she watched him scream out while he burned. What happened next would go down as one of her most darkest moments. However it was the man she loved the most which would steady her hand with his soft touch. Before slipping beyond and rejoining the Force, he asked her to forgive them and let her wrath be still. It was a moment of clarity for her. She didn't cross that line. She gave the people of her world a sound scare but no one lost their lives. She owed once more her saving to the man, whom she called husband, Prince Biggs Saar, also known as, the Tiger Prince. “We agree, that this one is worth the effort” they all said in unison.

Carissa blinked her eyes as she finished the compiling of the data. “It is done” she said softly out loud. She had her formula, now it was time to test it. Her internal clock read, 0300 December 20th, 1936