Dear Reader,

Its my honor to welcome you to the first issue of the Kestrel Minority newsletter,
also know as.... Actually we still need a name, but everything else we got!
For your reading pleasure, we bring you today the following words to feast your
hungry eyeballs on.
News reports. Some of these might seem a bit less newsie than you would
expect. You might even call some of them outdated. But you should know several
Bothan spies gave their lives to smuggle these reports out for us. Also apparently, one of our journalists miscalculated a jump to lightspeed, and had to
walk home - the long way. He will be taking public transport for a very long time in
the future.
Specifically we will be looking at news concerning the Crisis on Mawa. Plus we
got a bit about the secret Operation Straw Bantha and finally the true story
behind what really happened when The Kestrel Minority moved HeadQuarter from
Tatooine to Alderaan - which you will find in the Broken Hourglass.

Crisis on Mawan
A political turmoil on core-world planet Mawan escalated to a full-blown crisis
when a group of terrorists managed a coup d'etat on planet's capital city Naatan
on the eve of Night of the Torches. The strike at government was clearly carefully
considered and long planned, and Naatan sank into chaos in 24 hours. Aided by
Naatan's long-lived criminal organizations, the fanatics took control of the streets
and soon held the whole city hostage.
The true emergency of the situation quickly dawned when the fanatics shut down
three massive shield generators, usually protecting the capital from the comet
SIF-33 passing the planet once in a decade. The dazzling light show normally
celebrated as a festival called Night of The Torches would rain down enough
debris to level a city without the shield generators and the reality of such disaster
now revealed itself to the civilians. The terrorist group stated their claim 48 hours
in advance, the Republic would provide them fleet loads of Stygium and
Trifalareen gas or Naatan would suffer the passing of the comet unshielded.

Besides the news stories, we have been able to get in touch with a few people to
make interviews. Some of these will be with faces you recognize, and others
might not be so familiar to you.
The interviews were brought to us by our journalist Roxana Darling. Ms. Darling
have recently gone missing, and if anyone see her around, or hear any news
concerning her whereabouts, we would appreciate a heads up (we still need to
pay her for the work she did). For future interviews we have had to employ a
decommissioned interrogation droid - who swears all his weapons have been
removed and/or de-activated, and according to himself he just loooooves to ask
questions. Actually he said he loves to make people
scream and beg, and then answer questions, but we
kinda think it means the same thing.
Finally we got a few notices, and extra tidbits for you
to enjoy.
Until next issue - fly safe!
The Editor

The senate assembled in emergency meeting but the unspoken truth was that
Ilum's volatile situation prevented the Republic from acquiring the demanded
amount of Stygium. In secret the Republic's ERC team was sent on planet surface
but jedi order's Grand Master Shan soon lost contact with them. The inner rim
worlds could only watch the holonews in jaded silence as the clock ticked by.
The Republic was failing in its mission to protect it's citizens but all was not lost.
The Kestrel Minority turned their cockpits towards Mawan only 16 hours before
the comet would be above the planet. In a desperate attempt to capture the shield
generators, the Kestrels divided into three strike teams but situation became tricky
as technician Addiena Jerro's ship went missing in an ion storm en route. The
downtown generator heavily protected by mercenaries was entrusted to Captains
Reka, Dabrin and Nesalia. A generator near old power plant was to be switched
on by Addiena Jerro, Tyerran Anhur and Kae'rin Zia Kast but after Addiena going
missing they were joined by Adalquinn Endris after being persuaded by Neknivar

Zhar Garad she was able to infiltrate the location of the last generator alone, with
her stealth equipment.
Despite the attempt to reach the generators unnoticed, Kestrels faced heavy
resistance. Regardless they managed to make it to the generators well in advance
of their deadline. The first two generators were easily turned on and protected by
Reka, Dabrin and Nesalia and Neknivar. The last generator was reached by
Tyerran, Kae'rin and Adalquinn slightly after the others but after being switched
back online, something detonated in the old power plant and the team needed to
flee the collapsing complex. However, the shield stayed functionable as the comet
passed the capital. Kestrels retreated quickly, and republic military landed shortly
after, seizing the capital back from the terrorists and criminals.
The official holonews reported of Naatan's miraculous survival, followed by lot of
debate of what had actually happened. Many suspected terrorists had bailed out
in the end, or believed a secret special forces of the military had managed to
capture the generators in the last minute...

Operation Straw Bantha

Nar Shaddaa's holonews report: the Hutt Cartel has executed a crackdown on a
slave trader headquarters, hidden in the lower levels of the city, near Network
District. No longer shall slavers run rampant and prey on our valued citizens, state
the representatives of the cartel. The rumours however speak of a small group
making their way through the shady streets on the day of the raid, sweeping
everything out of their way with blasters, grenades and oddly enough, lightsabers.
No comment has been received from the Jedi Order whether knights would have
been involved in helping the raid.

More astonishment has awoken that several imperial sentry droids that were
found badly trashed en route, resulting in suspicion if this was a slaver crackdown
at all. No reporters were allowed on location during the raid but apparently there
was an extensive fire and several criminals were seen being brought out in singed
and sooty clothing. The word is, the authorities found the hideout by following a
curious track of cocktail plast straws, apparently originating from a popular cantina
of the Lower Promenade, Slippery Slopes. The results are clear, however. Since
the arrest of slavers, authorities have managed to track down many citizens that
were reported missing. Many of the recent disappearances on Nar Shaddaa are
now believed to be indeed a result of these criminals operating behind the scenes
but the Hutt Cartel has assured the citizens that the threat is over and been
concluded.

Broken Hourglass
On Zhellday, at the eighth hour of the day, an alarm rang through the secure
comm channel of the Kestrel Minority, a signal originating from the group's old
headquarters on Anchorhead. The base's security was somehow threatened but
mostly Kestrels flew in without knowing what they would encounter. After having a
quick rendezvous in the spaceport, Adalquinn, Dabrin, Rhoo, Jinxie, Rialla,
Karelion and Carpenter rushed the upstairs room of the cantina, to find a
mysterious mercenary girl having broken open something looking like a
switchboard on the wall. Kestrels quickly moved to block her escape and
recovered several datadiscs, something she had apparently tried to steal from the
locker. Her innocent claims of having been cleaning did not fool the Kestrels and
eventually she ended up dropping her act and revealing that the Minority was late
and most of the discs were already departing the planet.

Jinxie sliced into the spaceport's database to find records of any cargo that day
but instead found a complaint of unauthorized landing outside Anchorhead near
the settlement. Rhoo also managed to find a comm after searching the mercenary
and Jinxie was able to trace the call to exact coordinates, very near to the place
which the complaint had originated from. Kestrels didn't dare to leave Rialla to
guard the mercenary even disarmed but mounted speeders together and headed
to the desert, hoping to catch the thieves in time. The group managed to find a
band of mercenaries at the location and tried to exchange the girl for the discs
they possessed. However, suddenly but not unexpectedly, the mercenaries
opened fire and tried to take off with the girl Kestrels had captured.
They managed to release her amidst the chaos and hop on their speeders,
though Kestrels were right on their tails. A chase through the Dune Sea followed,
until Kestrels finally cornered them near a desolate sandcrawler. The mercenaries
didn't spare the blaster fire and Kestrels were soon fighting as much for discs as
their lives. However, when the scales started slowly turning on Kestrels' behalf,
the mercenaries adopted desperate tactics, in the end detonating a fragment
grenade along with their remaining brothers. Kestrels got through with their lives
even if many sustained injuries. The discs laid scattered amongst parts of what
was left of mercenaries. Adalquinn then took Rialla and Rhoo back to Anchorhead
for medical attention while Dabrin with Karelion and others stayed behind to
gather what they had been fighting for.

Rhoo Wild Interview

Jedi Knight Rhoo Wild made
herself available for a Holointerview on the Defender class
starship, known as the
Woobleywoo.
Tell our readers a little about
yourself - whats your name? any nicknames? where are you from? what do you
do? Favourite colour, drink, food, weapon of choice?
My name is Jedi knight Rhoo Wild, no nicknames. I was found in the wilds of a
small planet in Hutt space raised in the jedi temple at Coruscant from the time I
was 2 weeks old accepted as a youngling at age 2.
What I do now is: I search for knowledge around the galaxy, and run around
different planets mostly.
Favourite colour: grey, favourite drink: spring water, food: fresh bread
Weapon of choice: A light sabre with a blue crystal in it.

Jack Interview
Ms. Darling also got the chance to meet up with the mysterious Jack for dinner.
According to Ms. Darling, Jack turned out to be quite the dashing gentleman, and
she did not stop talking about him for several weeks after the interview (also, what
did you guys eat? The expenses on the dinner was NOT small! Red.)
Tell our readers a little about yourself - whats your name? any nicknames? where
are you from? what do you do? Favourite colour, drink, food, weapon of choice?
My name is Jack. I am orphan. I was found in a toilet at the republic fleet, so I am
interplanetary. What do I do? I am merchant and treasure hunter. I prefer gray,
brown, green and black in colors. I like whiskey and I use blaster pistol.
How did you first encounter the Kestrel Minority? How did you come to join them?
Kestrel Minority? I did not join to them. I do not like to play superhero in our little
galaxy. Too much super-monster there, so it would be unhealthful, but they were a
sympathetic branch of enthusiastic individuals. We had a common goal in Naar
Shadaa.

How did you first encounter the Kestrel Minority? How did you come to join them?
What would you say is the most exciting thing you have done with them...so far?
I was introduced by my master Seph Vesseere and she took me in as a member.
What would you say is the most exciting thing you have done with them...so far?
Well the only thing I took part in, what was not some help to others but something
we did as a group: a data rescuing mission what was taken from or former base of
operation. I got a sniper shoot in the first row of attack while concentrating to
shield Adalquinn and lost consciousness so don't really know about much what
happened there.

Like I said we had only one mission together in Naar Shadaa. There were some
kidnapped girls to save, and I could not refuse this situation. What could I say?
Everybody has faults.

(No picture of Jack were available when we published though our holo
droids are on the lookout for this mysterious Jack person, as you read this.)

Adalquinn Endris Interview

Due to time restrictions Miss Darling did not have the
chance to meet up with Jedi Knight Endris, who instead
agreed to send us a short profile via the holonet.
Hello, miss Darling.

Odds and Ends, and broken Data Records.

Rescue on Taris
Former member of the Kestrel Minority Neknivar Devsta Garad Zhar was rescued
from the hands of pirates after being missing for seven days. The team consisted
of Kae'rin Zia Kasta, Dekaro Anhur, Adalquinn Endris, Addiena Jerro and Triz
Zhar. The kestrels were also later joined by captain Kahlyn, who was wishing to
retrieve her stolen belongings from the criminals.

Due to many assignments demanding my immediate

attention, I'm unable to meet you in person but I hope
my electronic reply will suffice.
I am Adalquinn Endris, knight of the jedi order. Though you would hear my whole
name very little these days. Most of my friends just call me Adal or... Mr. Tea, if
you're Dabrin Taheer.
I was born on Csilla. Before the war, I worked mostly as a diplomat but now I am
mostly needed as a healer and a medic. My favourite food is caamasian vine leaf
rolls but I like certain recipe of chocolate flavoured biscuits much as well. For
drinks... I actually think I don't drink much else than tea. I do not like combat but I
carry a lightsaber as a symbol of The Order.
The very first time I got hinted about Kestrels, was from captain Slide. It was
during a rather hazardous flight to Coruscant with him and Xru. Later, Serra told
me of an organization that could use my help and eventually she and Nekni
invited me to meet everyone. I was convinced by Kaetha, this way I could achieve
more than before.
Of our 'adventures' I enjoyed our little excursion to Belsavis, in search of a relic
that blew off a facility on Ilum and landed on the other side of the galaxy. I was
intrigued by this old item, though in the end, fighting what it kept inside proved to
be quite life-threatening. "

Assembly with Galactic Arms Inc.

Kestrel Minority met with representatives of Galactic Arms Inc. regarding an
investigation which they had been conducting together recently. Reason for
assembly was a sudden attack to the headquarters of Galactic Arms Inc. Agents
of the sith empire attempted to erase sensitive data that the Arms had acquired
from them, regarding a synthetic serum that is suspected to grant force-sensitivity,
especially that attuned to the dark side. Kestrels offered their aid and support in
preventing the mass production and use of this serum.
Burned down Mailboxes

SABOTAGE
It has come to our attention that what we believe to either be a sole madman, or a
gang of hoodlums and vandals are travelling the galaxy, and burning down
mailboxes. In some cases these have even been blow up - using explosives.
Should anyone have any leads or clues concerning this, please contact one of our
journalists (there will be a reward for solid clues).