Sphere of Influence

## Premise

Chi Eekway and Che Amanwe, Chairman Papanoida's daughters, are kidnapped and held for ransom. Esther teams up with the Senator from Pantora, Riyo Chuchi, to aid the new chairman in recovering his family before the Trade Federation can unduly influence the future of his Valley.

The Chairman and his son, Ion, track down the kidnapper—Greedo—on Tatooine, and rescue Che Amanwe. Meanwhile, Esther and Chuchi find Chi Eekway held captive aboard a blockading Trade Federation battleship over Pantora, and expose Trade Federation officer Sib Canay as a Dark Empire conspirator.

## Synopsis

The Trade Federation is blockading the space above Pantora under the pretense that Pantora has outstanding debts to pay, while Master Bear is really trying to coerce the Pantorans to join the Dark Empire Alliance. Senator Riyo Chuchi and Chairman Papanoida are trying to maintain the fighting spirit of their people and turn to the Senate for help. They do gain general sympathy for their plight, but the same night, Papanoida's daughters, Chi Eekway and Che Amanwe, are kidnapped from their quarters, though Che manages to strike one of their attackers with an icon before she is stunned.

The next morning, Esther, who has become a close friend of Chuchi, informs Daniel and Leopard of the situation. While the kung fu masters can't officially get involved in the investigation, Tai Lung slyly grants his student permission to look into the matter due to "personal" concerns. While Esther and Chuchi travel to the blockade fleet in order to look for the sisters there, Papanoida and his son Ion discover the misplaced icon, smeared with blood, at the crime scene. By analyzing it, they identify one of the kidnappers as Greedo and proceed to the Forbidden City, where the villain is known to operate. They enter the emperor's palace, where Papanoida cunningly spreads word that he wants to hire Greedo's services in order to have him come to them. Trella Bare'Ah informs Greedo that there are Pantorans wishing to see him. Greedo does indeed come, with his accomplices and blasters in hand, but Papanoida overpowers him and presents his evidence to Jabba. Exposed, Greedo confesses and leads Papanoida and Ion to a seedy bar in Mos Eisley, where Chi is kept hidden. When Chi is brought forth and identifies her father, a firefight breaks out. Although Papanoida and his children manage to kill all antagonists, Greedo manages to slip away.

In the meantime, Chuchi and Esther, the latter disguised as a servant, are admitted aboard the Trade Federation ship and quartered for the impending negotiation sessions. The same night, the two young women sneak to the Trade Federation ambassador's office, where they overhear him and Administrator Sib Canay talking about one of Papanoida's daughters being kept aboard this ship. A gasp from Chuchi nearly gives them away, but they narrowly avoid discovery thanks to Esther's wather abilities. They penetrate the ship's detention complex and find Che in one of the cells, but are discovered. Esther manages to slice up the squad of super battle droids sent against them and Chuchi uses her glib tongue to force the Trade Federation envoy to reconsider, leading to the dissolution of the blockade and a happy ending for the Papanoidas - and Pantora.