Script and storyline of Avian Hunt

Plot
The 1337 N00B5 are a pirate league aiming to prevent one side of the Clone Wars from winning, fearing abuse of Palpatine's emergency powers if the Republic wins, and fearing endless war if the Confederacy manages to secure their worlds. To gain influence, they are on constant lookout to collect resources, pilots, technicians, and ships. As the Clone Wars end, however, they must decide how to minimize the effects of a disastrous new regime. Wishing to make life in the galaxy the way it was before the Senate was corrupted from the inside, they set out to rescue Jedi, search for weapons, and damage critical parts of Imperial forces.

The 1337 N00B5 start as a band of two humans and a Mon Calamari, all celebrated in a certain field, and each skilled in an interceptor. After finding a Sith Holocron, dated very recently, in an excavation on Korriban, Kaffman concludes that he has just discovered that the Sith are alive and well in the galaxy, and revealing this find would put the team, as well as the galaxy, in turmoil. They finally formulate a plan to raid the Jedi Temple to steal a Force-sensitive bacteria specimen, so that they can access the contents of the Holocron without damaging it.

During the raid on the Jedi Temple, a simultaneous pirate raid attempt to steal from the Bank of Coruscant, a high security bank full of treasures of the rich Coruscanti. The pirate league, numbering a mere half dozen, is a small group that rebelled against Jabba the Hutt when they were instructed to go on what they knew to be a suicide mission. Their raid on the bank is a failure, and they are cornered by the Coruscant police and several Jedi pilots. However, quick bargaining incorporates the doomed pirates into the 1337 N00B5, which strengthens their numbers.

Successfully taking the samples from a relatively low-security science lab in the Jedi Temple, the 1337 make their escape in new Delta-7s and a couple new Eta-2s (though the original three keep their ships). They use a landing craft owned by the former pirate gang to transport the pilots that ejected. Also, in space, they learn about outposts, and their value to enemies and allies alike. Before they dock with hyperspace rings, they manage to capture a few cargo ships that had been dumped into space to waste away.

On their way to Utapau to set up base, they use the bacteria formula to stimulate the Force detectors in the Sith Holocron. A birdlike figure appears, and when interrogated, hints that the Sith Master has political power in the Republic and that when choosing a candidate to be Sith apprentice, the Master decided on a former Jedi instead of she, who was still a Jedi Knight. Kaffman deduces that the Sith Master is the Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine, while the apprentice is Count Dooku, the last of the Lost Twenty.

Making their way to Utapau, they find their plan to set up base near a friendly sanctuary of the Pau'an's to fail, due to the reinforcements of Republic forces stationed above the planet to keep the Confederacy's Outer Rim stronghold from accessing the peaceful world that Palpatine owed a favor to. A Confederate frigate is also present, apparently on reconnaissance duty. Ordering the capture of the frigate, Ilmar Grmek, the Mon Calamari strategist, instructs the freighters to set up a temporary space base in order to tractor a corvette into custody so that it could take over the CIS frigate while the base tractors in yet another corvette. The plan succeeds, a maneuver which earns the admiration of many Pau'ans that were taken prisoner aboard the frigate.

They arrive on Tralus, the home planet of Kaffman, and the birthplace of Radar. Setting up a base, they gain economic resources and strengthen defenses. In the meantime, a squadron of clone troopers is searching for the mysterious bandits that attacked the Jedi Temple. However, the 1337 N00B5 manage not to confront them, even with their superior defenses, and are able to collect enough resources to build a fleet strong enough to challenge the security placed around Palpatine.

A recruiting party is sent to Corellia, to search for applicants that may have the qualities Kaffman specifies in order to be a good N00B. Much of this is done by paying unemployed former planetary defense agents, who were replaced by clones when the Clone Wars started. Other members are accepted when told the truth about Palpatine's hold on the Senate, and his plans to build an Empire. The 1337 N00B5 leave after defeating a recon squadron of the CIS, gaining the admiration, and loyalty, of many more followers.

Kaffman and Ilmar Grmek formulate a plan to capture Count Dooku, and use him to get to Palpatine. Count Dooku could also be a valuable asset in tracking down the elusive Vergere. The only one, however, who constantly knows the location of the Sith apprentice was Greivous. Fortunately, Kaffman deducts that from his last series of jumps, Tatooine would be his next destination, most likely to strike a deal with the Hutts that controlled the planet.

Once arriving on Tatooine, they search the most likely destination. During the search, Jabba the Hutt recognizes some of the 1337 as some of the smugglers that betrayed him, and sends what pathetic forces he has into battle. During the confusion, several of Jabba's slaves plea for salvation in exchange for their service. Kaffman and Radar accept this distress call, and work to liberate the slaves. However, before completely eliminating Jabba the Hutt, the Confederacy arrives and attacks the fleet of the 1337. Setting many mines, lots of 1337 ships are destroyed, and the 1337 only succeed in escaping by forcing the opponent to lose a skirmish by stalling the enemy long enough for them to run out of fuel. This tactic buys them enough time to move their ships into space.

When they get back into space, they learn that Greivous has taken a resigned Jedi as prisoner some time ago. Realizing the value of a former Jedi in the fight against the Sith plot and the Jedi pigheadedness, Kaffman decides to rescue every prisoner aboard the enemy frigates by disabling them and then sending a rescue shuttle to pick them up. The Jedi, identified as Thracia Cho Leem, refuses to join the 1337 until they tell her about Vergere. She, along with her Force-sensitive child, instantly devotes herself to the N00B5's cause.

After Thracia Cho Leem extracts much more information from the Holocron than the bacteria was able to, most likely due to Vergere's recognition of her former Master, Thracia Cho Leem tells of her fate at a legendary world called Zonama Sekot, which has since disappeared. Vergere, leaving a message concerning her intentions to spy on an unknown extragalactic species, was far from where any Sith tendencies could do damage, at least at the moment. Acknowledging that keeping Palpatine from gaining power was more important at the time, as well as that Greivous could not be captured before the Republic got to him, Kaffman decides to go to Geonosis, where he may be able to gain enough materials to lead another strike at Coruscant.

At Geonosis, the CIS recognizes some of their frigates and a few units and thinks that the incoming convoy is friendly. In fact, the very same convoy was intercepted by the 1337 N00B5's corvettes, and replaced by their own Munificent-class star frigates. Hoping that they won't have to get resources by force, Kaffman hails the Geonosian leadership and explains what he suspects to be Palpatine's plans. The Geonosians, realizing that Palpatine was using the CIS as a puppet to take over the galaxy, at the cost of the destruction of the CIS, piece everything together to come to the conclusion that... the 1337 N00B5 must be eliminated. One Geonosian leader admits he will take the 1337 information into account, but if the pirates seek to restore peace and freedom in the Republic, they are their enemy. ("Confederacy FTW", comments Radar)

The peaceful negotiations end as a brutal display of force. The 1337 N00B5 destroy two Core Ships and steal a third to use for their own means.

Returning to Coruscant in hopes of assassinating Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the 1337 N00B5 attack the Bank of Coruscant, most namely the vaults of the Jedi Order. To the glee of the six pirates that originally joined the 1337, this attempt is successful, but instead of Corusca gems and retirement credits, the raid focuses on gathering credits for purchasing ships, paying members, and concealing the gang, as well as getting enough other resources to build a shipyard and base able to produce the ships and items needed to take at least two Venator-class Star Destroyers. Seeing the need to procure bombers in the mission, Kaffman takes the YT-1300 bombers that were guarding the Bank of Coruscant and mans them with less automated pilot. They are about to make their move against Palpatine when the Confederacy of Independent Systems strikes Coruscant.

The Confederacy of Independent Systems beats the 1337 N00B5 to Palpatine, considering the CIS didn't deliberate over petty banks. The 1337 N00B5 do not manage to track the kidnappers, but when Kaffman glimpses an oncoming Venator-class Star Destroyer releasing two Eta-2 Jedi interceptors, he concludes that the Jedi's leads may be better than theirs. They cleverly join the battle in space, sending the units taken from the CIS against the Republic, and the units taken from the Republic against the CIS. Because of a considerable distance between the two legions, nobody suspects the N00B5 for not firing on each other. The Eta-2 interceptors are followed, until they land in a Trade Federation Cruiser's hangar just before the blast doors close.

Concluding that Greivous, and perhaps even Dooku, was on that ship, Kaffman orders the new Venator-class Star Destroyers to engage the Trade Federation Cruiser with aims to destroy it entirely, with nobody escaping. This was his unexpected chance to get rid of a threat to galactic security and even both Sith Lords. The Trade Federation Cruiser's stabilizers fail temporarily, and it starts to plummet toward Coruscant. The 1337 N00B5 follow it after they deal with a few Republic forces that had recognized that the Venators were stolen, and continue to bomboard the cruiser. Eventually, the 1337 N00B5 succeed in taking out a secondary reactor. Escape pods are launched from the cruiser, and the 1337 are unable to destroy them all. The Trade Federation Cruiser destroyed, and uncertain whether Greivous was killed, the 1337 N00B5 flee.

Several months later, the 1337 arrive on Kashyyyk in hopes of recruiting Wookiees to their cause. They believed that being able to assist in defeating the Confederate invaders would be key to earning the Wookiees' trust, knowing the Wookiees take life debts seriously. From intelligence gathered about the attacking Confederate fleet, the Republic stood little chance against the invaders, though once the Republic was pushed back to shore, the Confederacy should have its attention directed against the clones and Wookiees as the 1337 struck their home bases.

The plan, as it turned out, worked out brilliantly, although it was the arrival of Yoda that seemed to be the turning point, and not the surreptitious pirate strike. After their victory, they witness the clone troopers turning on the Jedi, shooting down Luminara Undli and attempting to shoot at Yoda (to no avail). The 1337 N00B5 attempt to rescue Yoda, knowing that Palpatine has made his move against the Jedi and will soon overthrow the government, but two Wookiees do it first. Knowing that time was running out to eliminate the Sith, the 1337 N00B5 quickly plan their next move.

Deciding that Senator Amidala would be the only one open-minded and bold enough to propose a convincing bill in the Senate to de-throne Palpatine before it was too late, they contact Coruscant, but her guard reports that she left for unknown reasons. Registering as a bounty hunter that was following a Jedi, Radar calls the Coruscanti space traffic control centers and demands to know where the last Naboo royal starship jumped. Receiving an answer, they jump to Mustafar.

On Mustafar, they find three Jedi that survived Order 66 and were tracking who they called "Darth Vader." With them are several dozen clone troopers that were convinced that loyalty to friends, and to a clearly innocent commander, was more important than their duty to follow the Chancellor's every whim. They join the 1337 N00B5 when they learn what they've been doing for years. After fighting off two newly minted Imperator-class Star Destroyers, the 1337 N00B5 retreat into permanent exile, planning to resist the Empire in every way they could.

Emperor Palpatine has hinted in Outbound Flight that he knew, at least vaguely, of the Yuuzhan Vong. The Vong, however, are invisible in the Force, so Palpatine must have had knowledge, presumably from his master, Darth Plagueis, who specialized in the study of life, of Vongsense, or an extended spectrum in the Force that can be used to sense the Yuuzhan Vong. Darth Vader, who has become wary of Palpatine's arrogance and his consistent refusal to share with him any knowledge he may have on preserving life, rebels against Darth Sidious in an attempt to overthrow him. Palpatine, ill-practiced in lightsaber duels and Force powers that could be used against a Sith like Vader, manages to convince Vader that his Empire is what needs to be done because of the threat of the Far Outsiders, and promising to teach Vader how to sense the Far Outsiders. Vader is then reminded that one Jedi, still possibly posing a threat of rebuilding the Jedi Order and inciting a stronger rebellion, went with the Far Outsiders years ago to attempt to understand them. If Vergere could find ways of manipulating the Far Outsiders by telling them why and how they should conquer the Galaxy, Darth Vader would have to make her in a high Order 66 priority.

A Ferroaran, who has joined the 1337 N00B5 on Tatooine during the pursuit of Greivous, has proposed that, instead of wandering in random space travels, establish a large base that can reduce their need to pillage and instead gather unclaimed resources. The 1337 N00B5 deduce that only the Unknown Regions would house such a stronghold. After confronting Darth Vader's fleet at Corellia, and managing to drive them back, they follow the fleet to the Maw, a cluster of black holes that the 1337 soon discover to house superweapons, most especially the Death Star, in construction. Vader's fleet gathers reinforcements from here, and jumps hastily.

The 1337 N00B5, barely escaping the might of the heavily-armed security of the Maw, recognize the jump point to somewhere in the Unknown Regions. The Ferroaran N00B, who was once a resident of the legendary Zonama Sekot, and had evacuated when the Far Outsiders attacked, figured that Darth Vader was searching for a new superweapon of a living planet to aid the power of the Empire. The 1337 N00B5 decide that finding the planet before the Empire would have to be a high priority, especially if they could convince Sekot to join their side first.

The high-risk journey would take great amounts of supplies. Recalling that the Confederacy of Independent Systems had taken Bespin, which had a large reserve of Tibanna gas available, the 1337 N00B5 assume that what security Cloud City and other gas mines would be low. They are proven wrong, however, when they are met by a regional governor's full force of its army. The 1337 N00B5 take the security only, avoiding damage to civilian craft, such as freighters. Once the governor and his army is defeated, the 1337 N00B5 gather sufficient resources for the journey to the Unknown Regions.

There they follow several leads; the Chiss Expeditionary Force, which was defending territory that the Empire had recently jumped into, was convinced by the ingenious captain of the 1337 N00B5 that the location of Zonama Sekot would help drive the Empire out of the Chiss's territory for virtually forever. The coordinates are given to the 1337 N00B5 of the suspected location of Sekot, based on recent gravity shifts, and the Chiss keep a watchful eye on the pirate gang to prevent any traitorous moves.

When Zonama is found, Sekot detects a part of Vergere in Thracia Cho-Leem, a Jedi who joined the 1337 N00B5 in hope of damaging the horror that Palpatine had built. The connection with Vergere (as Cho-Leem was in fact Vergere's Master) forged a reliable communication with Sekot, through which they learned the Yuuzhan Vong were attempting to colonize and overtake the planet as their own, the Far Outsiders thinking the symbolic connection with their homeworld was a sign from the gods. The Far Outsiders were destroying the wildlife on the planet, and harming Sekot. The 1337 N00B5 make a bargain with Sekot, eventually convincing the planet that it needed to take arms against the Far Outsiders to save itself, and hopefully do good for the galaxy later.

However, midway through the purge of the Far Outsiders, the Empire arrives, following Darth Vader, who sensed a familiar presence at Zonama, thinking it was Vergere, which he associated with the planet. Sekot recognizes the presence of Darth Vader, as Sekot had once known young Anakin Skywalker as a boy. Sekot pleas to Anakin that the Far Outsiders need to be driven back. However, Darth Vader can't bear to not eradicate the 1337 N00B5 once and for all, especially after they discovered the superweapons in the Maw, damaged their fleet, and learned of Vader's intentions, he thought, to bring Vergere back to Coruscant and be his new apprentice once they succeed in overthrowing the Emperor. Sekot manages, however, to force the two factions together, while the Chiss decide not to be a part of it and retreat. The Yuuzhan Vong are driven off the planet, and Darth Vader's fleet immediately turns on the fleet of the 1337, both somewhat surprised of each other's treachery. However, the Chiss Ascendancy arrives again, this time with a much larger fleet, and uses Connor nets and gravity wells to capture the the capital ships of the 1337 N00B5. Sekot, before any battle is made, however, jumps into hyperspace into a section of the Unknown Regions, bringing the Darth Vader's fleet with it.

When they arrive at Sekot's destination, Sekot immediately reverts back into hyperspace, leaving the Darth Vader's fleet behind.

The 1337 N00B5, however, under captivity, convince the Chiss to not hold them or their ships, and be supplied with resources needed to face the Far Outsiders, wherever they come from. The Ruler of the First Ruling Family agrees, mostly because the 1337 promise them any planets and territories conquered in the battle, along with the elimination of an obvious threat in territory the Chiss wish to claim. Thrawn, however, is inspired to take a different course of action and plans something different.