JEDI HoloNet

The annual Priole Danna festival opened with a bang on Lamuir IV this week, marking the beginning of ten days of celebration in sites across Gryle City.

Galactic Sparkle-bop star, Zhurseca Arenn, nabbed the prestigious opening ceremony spotlight, performing a special rendition of her song Pebwe a espa-bewa. The ceremony was followed by the traditional Priole Danna parade along Olhoon Avenue with estimated crowds of 270 000. Festival-goers, both local and visiting, can look forward to the city’s extensive mix of music, food and theater during the celebration.

This year’s festival is the 2729th incarnation of the historic event. However, some officials have speculated that this year’s festival does not hold up to previous years, most notably the 2727th festival.

After roughly three years of planning, talks and negotiations, the Jedi Order has re-established two branches of its long admired Service Corps.

While the Order’s Agricultural and Exploration Corps have both been operating for the past several years, the former providing much welcome relief to many worlds across the Outer Rim Territories, the Order’s Medical and Educational Corps have remained inactive. That changed with Grandmaster Don’roq’s announcement, revealing the opening of new facilities on the Mid-Rim world of New Holstice for the Medical Corps and on the Inner-Rim world of Obroa-Skai for the Educational Corps. Jedi on both planets will be looking to expand on and improve the Order’s work in bringing medical care and new schools to their surrounding sectors.

Also in the news, the Republic fleet claimed victory in a number of stunning operations against pirates operating along the Perlemian Trade Route last cycle. The pirates, believed to be operating out of the Pakuuni sector, have been a growing menace along the major hyperlane for the past several years, serving as no small hazard to commerce between the Core and the Outer Rim. Naval special forces, working in coordination with Jedi Knights from Ossus, hit a number of outposts along the Perlemian, destroying three such installations and driving the pirates and other outlaws from a further five. Vice-Admiral Stiro of the Republic Mid-Rim fleet had this to say:

These criminals have been a thorn in the side of honest, decent traders for long enough. We’re just glad to finally have them on the run.

Finally today, the Inner Rim planet of Onderon saw the coronation of its new king this morning. His majesty, King Artus Kira, was crowned in the capital of Iziz to much fanfare and celebration. The popular patriarch of the royal family has done much to expand his world’s economy and public services since the sad passing of his father, the late king Jarrew, almost two years ago. Rumors of the new king’s supposed ability to use the Force as the Jedi do have followed him for most of his life. Like many other rumors surrounding the royal family of Onderon however this has never been confirmed.

Galactic Republic authorities released a statement yesterday warning against travel to Mon Gazza following several days of intense rioting in the system. Mon Gazza, which maintains a permanent threat rating of Hazardous, was upgraded to High Threat after the riots reached spaceports.

Local reports cite skirmishes between security forces and rioters in major settlements across the planet in what appears to be a coordinated attack. Many amenities and public buildings have closed since the riots began, including the infamous podracing circuits. As of this report, it is not certain how the riots sparked.

Mon Gazza lies at the junction between the Corellian Run and the Llanic Spice Run, with traders as its main traffic. The nearby systems of Ando and Andosha have reported a spike in activity.

In latest news, the systems of Ventooine, Thalassia and Tangrene all announced in a combined statement their intention to formally join the Fel Empire.

With pirate activity sharply on the rise in the Northern Territories since the end of the devastating war with the Sith Imperium, many worlds have expressed a growing desire to join the Imperial regime. The Republic military has been slow to recover from the war with patrols and policing activities all but non-existent in many Outer Rim sectors. With this in mind, many system across the galactic North are leaning towards the Empire, hoping their aggressive military expansion can protect their shipping and secure their trade lanes.

Needless to say the Empress’ aggressive expansion of the Imperial war machine, despite the defeat of the Sith, has many Republic military commanders and Senators on edge, causing tensions between the two governments. The Mandalorians have been oddly silent on the build-up, as well as this latest announcement.

More to follow soon..

Click to enlarge photograph

Today the High Council of the Jedi Order announced the addition of seven High Councilors and selected one to be Grand Master – Jedi Master Don’roq (Whiphid) of Ossus, completing the Council with thirteen members. The High Council met in its entirety at the Ossus Temple for the first time this morning and shared the event publically through this photograph.

The appointments are as follows:

Jedi Master and Grand Master Don’roq of Ossus (Whiphid)

Jedi Master Adiba Bukhar of Ossus (Mirilian)

Jedi Master Kotoo Xal of Ossus (Rodian)

Jedi Master Mira-tan Quinn of Ossus (Human)

Jedi Master Alexander Rendar of Dantooine (Human)

Jedi Master Kaero Pell of Ilum (Nautolan)

Jedi Master Vidra Stomi of Ilum (Kel Dor)

Master Don’roq released a short statement upon his Grand Master appointment.

I am honored to be granted the prestigious role of Grand Master. I want to assure the people of the Galaxy that the High Council and Jedi Order will continue to protect the Galaxy’s inhabitants and serve the will of the Force. May the Force be with you.

It is safe to say the Order has come a long way since the Great Plague and the Imperium War that followed.