“Moma stuka! (Mama look!) The young Hutt pointed at the brightly painted swoop bikes darting around the dark sky as the pair entered the grandstands, the cheer of the crowd was overwhelming as the two slid into their assigned seating, “Stuka Ankwas Kpa!” (Look at the blue one!)

“Jee Stuka Soong Inkabunga” (I see it! It’s Amazing!)

The pair sat for a moment watching before the sounds of trumpets erupted in the air, the swoop bikes dove away as a large screen elevated itself above the race course. “Welcome to the Ord Radama Fifty Thousand!” An Umbaran on the screen announced as the crowd erupted into cheers “What a crowd! What a show! I’m Sorc Tormo your master of ceremonies and I want to welcome all of you from every corner of the Outer Rim Territories, and everyone else watching on the Holonet! And what a race you have tuned in for! The racers are setting up as we speak, we have Wan Sandage! Ben Quadinaros! Elan Mak! Aldar Beedo! Dud Bolt! And, what’s that one guy’s name, the guy with the Orange Pod that everyone loves, let me hear it folks!”

“SEBULBA! SEBULBA! SEBULBA!”
“YES! SUBULBAAAAAAAAAA!”

Kalgo stared intently around the stadium looking for where the Umbaran was broadcasting from as the crowd cheered, “Jee Stuka hi La Tula Moosta!” (I see him there above the starting line) He cried with a laugh, pointing at the arch above the starting gate.

“Now I know you’re ready to race!” Tormo continued. “Before we do, we would like to thank the race’s sponsor.” Tormo made a big display for the camera of pulling out a data pad. “The Ord Radama Race Commission would like to formally thank Senator…. Senator?” Tormo dramatically raised his hands as the crowd laughed. “What kind of Senator would sponsor a Pod Race?”

“HELLOOOO RACE FANS!” The screen shifted to reveal a Mirilarian with fading brown hair and a mechanic’s jumpsuit, somewhere amidst the Pod Racers. “Don’t worry folks, I only want a minute of your time, I grew up working as ship breaker on an Outer Rim planet known as Ferrix, the work never stopped, except when the race was on, then everyone from cutters to management would crowd into the staff rooms to watch! Now I can’t fly one of these things.” He stated, tapping against a bright Orange Pod Racer, “I’m not as crazy as this guy!” He continued, fist-bumping the Dug who owned it. “But I could repair one, take it apart, put it back together, and make sure every part is working. And to me, that’s the role of the Republic, it keeps the galaxy running, it fixes the problems that need fixing.” He continued, approaching an elevator platform. “But you, the people of the Republic, you’re the Pilots! You’re the ones we work for, you’re the ones steering, you’re the ones flying! Our job is just to make sure you’ve got what you need to do that!” He finished, standing next to Sorc Tormo. “Alright! That’s enough politics from me! Sorc are you ready for a Race?”

“You know it Senator!”

“Together then!”

“RACERS! START! YOUR! ENGINEEEEEES!!!!!!”