5 BBY — Savareen — Aboard the Little Piggy, Arya ponders the meeting that lies ahead. Their mission is delicate: to forge an alliance with the Cloud Riders, a notorious swoop bike gang with a deep-seated disdain for the Empire. Unlike the common marauder, the Cloud Riders, led by the enigmatic Enfys Nest, fight not for chaos but for liberation from the Empire’s oppressive grip. As planets pass by the viewports, Arya contemplates the fine line between negotiation and camaraderie.
Upon arrival, the desolate landscape of Savareen unfolds beneath them. The planet, a wasteland scarred by industrial resource extraction, dotted with refineries and surrounded by arid outback, seems unwelcoming at first glance. Yet, it holds the promise of a new alliance. With Nora, the mission’s leader, and Bistan, their loyal companion, Arya steps onto the tarmac. The village ahead, bathed in the dust of countless suns, feels like a place forgotten by time.
The designated meeting place is a hall that stands as the village’s most prominent building. Greeted by Enfys Nest and her imposing guards, the party steps into a realm where every detail tells a story. Arya, introduced as an armorer, catches Enfys’ interest. Negotiations begin and proceed slowly as each party tries to gauge the trustworthiness of each other. In the end, the first day passes with little progress.
The next day, the trio returns to the hall, which is again filled with the Cloud Riders but something else — the scent of foreign cuisine. Food is progress. Bistan seeks a meal while discussions begin again.
Among the attendees, Tayshin Maxa, a swoop rider with a pain-filled past and an Echani heritage, stands out. During a break, she shares with Arya her tale of alienation on Eshan, loss of her sister Moda, and resistance against the oppression, forming an instant, albeit fragile, connection between them. Through shared stories of raids against the Empire and the heavy cost of rebellion, Arya senses Tayshin’s skepticism towards outsiders. It’s a skepticism born from a history of broken promises and fleeting alliances.
Negotiations unfold this day with the weight of history pressing down on each word. The Cloud Riders, though aligned in their hatred for the Empire, are wary of empty promises. As Nora speaks of unity and shared goals, Arya reads the room, sensing the undercurrents of doubt and the thirst for a cause worth fighting for. Nora is losing them and Arya feels compelled to do something. Her intervention, a heartfelt plea for unity beyond mere transactions, momentarily bridges the gap between ideals and reality.
But words, as Tayshin says, can be empty. Actions, however, resonate deeply. As discussions falter, Nora and Arya opt for something different. Arya will attempt to speak to the Cloud Riders in her unique way through the universal language of craftsmanship and resilience. During a break, Arya connects with Tayshin and they agree to take a break from the bureaucracy.
Retiring to a secluded courtyard, Arya and Tayshin are joined by a small group of Cloud Riders who find the negotiations tiresome. Tayshin challenges Arya to demonstrate her armorer skill, which she dutifully accepts. Using materials of Tayshin’s choosing, Arya transforms scraps into armor, her hands weaving together the threads of trust and cooperation as she and Nora had hoped. Her demonstration, a testament to the power of sharing knowledge and resources, begins to soften the hardened hearts of the Cloud Riders.
The sun sets on Savareen, painting the sky with hues of hope and lingering doubts. Arya’s efforts, marked by the crafting of superior deflection armor guards and the sharing of her armoring secrets, plant the seeds of a potential alliance. The skepticism that once filled the courtyard gives way to cautious optimism. As Arya returns to “Little Piggy,” the day’s exhaustion is tempered by the glimmer of progress.
In the quiet of the ship, the debrief with Nora reveals the fragile but real advancements made. The conversations, once teetering on the brink of collapse midday, now hint at a future where the Cloud Riders and the Alliance might stand together. With every piece of armor forged, every tale shared, and every hand extended in friendship, the hope for unity flickers brightly against the darkness.