Star Wars STAR WARS: INTERVENTION (A story-telling style OT starfighter game)---Always taking new players!

IC: Imperial Captain Sard, desert ruins
Location: Ord Pardron


Sard was making plans as he hung, harnessed to a flexible seat and toughened synth-cable, from the several-metre thick table of carved stone, over the ominously dark hole in the desert, swinging gently on the thermals.

The ruins included the enormous, but broken green-black statue of some bipedal…being, sitting at the edge of a perfectly circular sinkhole.

The dark hole would swallow up his ship easily if he decided to descend her into it, but it was the statue itself that attracted his interest.

Some past cataclysm, or possibly an art critic, had taken the top half away, and the weather had since worn the area above the figure’s hips almost smooth, leaving the thighs, round and twice as tall than his 60m-high frigate, covered by the thick carved loin-cloth to which his grapple was anchored, to form a natural, well artificial, ceiling to what he reckoned would make a nice hangar.

If his ship’s secondment from Fleet lasted any length of time, they would need a port of their own, and this architectural happenstance could be a blessing in disguise.

Sard’s DH-97 headset whistled in his ear. “Ow! Yes?”

“Sir? ComScan. Been busy up here. We are receiving a distress call from the Star Destroyer Lansdowne. She is crippled in the Greater Javin sector, along with another Ess-Dee.
I have also intercepted an ‘alert all commands’ broadcast from an Admiral Thaw to keep a look out for Lord Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer; and a freighter called The Crusader just parked in orbit.”

Sard looked wistful. He was enjoying this activity, but the Crusader was the ship sent to retrieve Seige Team Six from the stolen interdictor.

“I’m on my way. Signal the Crusader to land out in the desert, a hundred klicks from anyone else, and we will send a shuttle over. I don’t want them anywhere near the Hard Eight while she is vulnerable on the ground.”

“Yes sir.”

“I want our guns manned, and what shields we have, raised, in case trouble does come our way.”

“Copy that, Sir.”

“Sard out.” The captain looked up, and pressed a button on the rope arrangement pulley before him, the cable immediately taking him steadily up to the ledge.

* * * *

The Hard Eight Bridge

The ComScan operator put out the call for the crew to return to the ship, then cringed at the clamour going on around him.

"Okay, try it now." A nearby technician in light greys was saying to someone out of sight.

The command deck briefly illuminated, casting long shadows up the rear wall as a console exploded in a shower of white sparks!

"Turn it off, turn it off!"

The lightshow subsided.

He felt for the crew of the Landsdowne, but they were in no shape to go help.

"Thanks. Still getting power overloads up here. We're going to need some new cabling." The tech looked across at the ComScan man. "We took a fragging pasting out there."

"Tell me about it. Later. I got to make a call." The operator selected a common civilian, ship-to-ship channel. "Crusader from the Hard Eight. Good to see you. The captain requests that you park in the desert, a hundred klicks from anyone, and we will despatch a shuttle to meet you. Over."

Tag: Bardan Jusik

 

IC: Fress Colias
Northern Stretch approaching an ion storm

"Firecracker, this is Phoenix. I have a possible solution to get rid of our tale once and for all. Waiting for confirmation from the captain here."

“Firecracker to Phoenix, I copy. And as we’re waiting for confirmation I have two pilots from the ship who are chasing us, they want to switch sides. Please have the captain confirm permission,” Fress answered with a frown as she looked at the ion storm. Something didn’t feel right about this storm and she wondered what Kasumi’s plan was.

Tag Bravo, Coffee

 

IC: Captain Timothy Stakes
Bridge, Sword of Justice, Jod Star System


“Firecracker to Bridge, we have two remaining fighters wanting to call a truce, permission to have them escorted?”

Stakes was about to answer, but was interrupted by Kasumi's rather interesting report,

"Captain, I have a plan, but you are going to have to really trust me on this. The storm in front of us is not what it seems. If we cut the engines after getting a good enough boost the rest of the field should pull us straight toward and into the ion storm. That storm is an illusion...one to keep others at bay. I can sense objects behind the curtain, but they all feel..old....abandoned. By slipping through the ion storm, and if possible make it look as though a wrong turn took the ship by either emptying the contents of part of the cargo bays to it appears we were desentigrated or by bumping what I believe is an old part of a ship back out, we will be able to throw the others off the sent...so to speak."

Timothy nodded, holding any response. He thought about it. Back in his academy days, such a tactic would have been seen as a last ditch effort to avoid an enemy. With the Gettysburg and her Light-class Destroyer escort gaining on them, Stakes had to act quick.

The Commander approached Stakes and lowered his voice for only the Captain to hear, "General Perez reports everything ready. The fake comm message was broadcast as well, Captain. And Captain, the explosives have been attached to the life boats. Just the warheads. We attached miniature sensor jammers to them...everyone we had, an expensive loss for the ground forces. But, they'll hide the warheads from sensors, but keep the life signs clear for sensor view."

"Firecracker, this is Phoenix. I have a possible solution to get rid of our tale once and for all. Waiting for confirmation from the captain here."


“Firecracker to Phoenix, I copy. And as we’re waiting for confirmation I have two pilots from the ship who are chasing us, they want to switch sides. Please have the captain confirm permission,”

Stakes looked towards the comm officer, "Comms, alert Firecracker permission is granted and to board immediately."

"Captain," reported the sensors officer, "The Gettysburg is within concussion missile range!"

"Commander, alert all departments for evasive action. Lock everything down."

"As ordered, Captain."

The first concussion missiles hit the shields...capital grade Assault concussion missiles, Stakes knew they wouldn't last long.

"Report!" Stakes ordered.

The sensors officer shook his head, "Captain, gunnery could only intercept two of those missiles!"

"Gunnery, you better do better!" Stakes ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Reported the Bridge Officer in charge of gunnery and went on ripping his gunnery officers in the turrets over the comm.

Stakes walked over to his chair, depressed what side of the ship he wanted, flipped a secured glass box over a button, and hit the red button. "Ejecting escape pods!" Escape pods off the starboard side of the ship shot out, carrying the "traitors" with them, "Helm, follow through with the Jedi's plan and increase speed."

In the distance behind the Sword of Justice, Stakes' family legacy was fulfilled. Being a pirate was no easy task, as his family line could tell you. The escape pods exploded with multiple warheads as the Gettysburg and her destroyer escort lined up for a rescue mission. Admist the center of the formation of both ships, the resulting explosion ripped through the destroyer and with her reactor, a brilliant explosion filled the Northern Stretch in a shock wave of debris. The Gettysburg herself had a gaping hole in her port, venting equipment, supplies, and personnel into the void of space. Energy snapped around the ship, as did a brief pulse.

The reactor had been damaged.

As escape pods of the Gettysburg shot from the doomed ship, her reactor blew and the resulting shock wave consumed the escape pods and raced it's way towards the Sword of Justice.

Stakes watched with patient the shock wave---and on the ion storm wall ahead of them---as it approached from his Captain's chair, "Helm?"

"Full speed reached!"

Stakes looked to Kasumi, "I suggest you find a seat and strap in my lady. This may get a bit rough."

Stakes waited as the ion storm wall grew ever taller, filling the viewport.

"Captain?"

"Wait for it..." Stakes responded, then just before the storm wall, "Cut all speed!"

It was like hitting a wall at full speed without knowing it. If not for his crash webbing, Stakes would have been thrown across the bridge. Instead, he would have a sore mid-section. The Jedi had been right. They had made it through the ion storm...only to be floating amidst a graveyard of warships. Tens of dozens of warships, everything from starfighters, Light-class Destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and King-class Battleships.

"Sensors, what can you tell me?"

"Their our ships, Captain. Kingdom's Navy. Sensor profiles match," The sensors officer shook his head, "I don't understand, Captain. Signs of battle is clear, sir. But...what battle happened here? I don't remember anything this big from academy classes."

"I do," Stakes replied, "But not taught in academy. What are sensors saying of those ships?" Stakes undid his crash webbing and stood up, walking towards the railing of his second level.

"Ten years, Captain."

"Sensors, when we are done here, you are ordered to copy all sensor profiles to a data-disk. Helm, the same with you. All coordinates copied and saved to a data-disk. Both data-disks transferred to my ready room. Then erase all data on the computer."

"Captain?" Asked the Commander with a frown as he walked up behind the Captain and then stood by the Captain.

"Forsaken places such as this should not be remembered. Rather, they should be locked away and forgotten about," The Captain looked to the deck below, "ComScan?"

"Planet is breathable, Captain. If barely."

Stakes nodded, "Helm, find us a suitable hiding place in this debris. Commander, the bridge is yours. Get me a damage report and begin repairs. Alert the hanger bay to have a company of King's Army soldiers ready for planet-side deployment upon my arrival. And what Queen's Guardsmen we have are to take sentry positions throughout the ship at key security check-points; the remaining Queen's Guardsmen are to meet me in the hanger bay. All other Naval Guard and King's Army soldiers are to deploy throughout the ship for the tightest security we can manage. Have another company of King's Army soldiers on stand-by in the hanger bay. Also, get me a Royal Intelligence Officer to come with me."

"As ordered, Captain."

Stakes turned to the Clone Wars Trooper and Kasumi, "You two are more then welcome to come. As is Firecracker when she returns. I fear we'll need everyone we can get for this mission."


As Stakes turned to leave, he turned to the Commander, "And Commander, be on full alert. Something feels wrong in this place, very wrong. Death doesn't leave easily."


If Stakes could feel the death that filled every sense in this debris field and on the planet, then we only wondered what the Jedi were sensing...


Tag Coffee, Falcon, Sith (if needed)

 

IC: Queen Christina "The Great"
Actualize Station, beyond the Northern Stretch, location top secret


The blast doors hissed open and the Queen turned her head that way; standing there was a House of Royal Intelligence Officer. When the door hissed shut, the Queen asked, "Report."

The officer bowed at the waist before answering, "My queen, one of our few still operating droid starfighters have reported that a shuttle marking Jod colors have landed at the main station about thirty minutes ago."

"And much longer will it take our technicians to stablize the network and regain control of the AI station?"

"Their working as fast as they can, my Queen."

Christina turned around and stared the officer down, "They better work faster. If the AI discovers the location of Actualize Station, then all is lost. The Northern Stretch was designed with droid defenses to be the ultimate defense...but also the ultimate prison. If that AI cracks the security codes, then we are all doomed. You must find away of alerting the 122nd to the danger."

"My Queen, that could alert the AI---"

The Queen waved her hand and turned to one of her handmaidens, "Find me a Royal Intelligence Officer who will do as I wish. And do it in a manner as to not in danger the 122nd. Immediately."

One of the Handmaidens stepped out and bowed gracefully, "As you wish, my Queen."

The current Intelligence Officer tried to backtrack his words, but the Handmaiden shook her head and hurried him out, least he ignite the Queen's anger further.

"There," The Queen said to her staff and Queen's Guardsmen, "Have a woman do the work and something gets done around here."

One of the Handmaidens chuckled softly at the comment.

The Queen went on, "The magic of our world has indeed been a legend, a myth, a fairytale. For hundreds of generations, it has been said of our Kingdom:

"While this is true, it is true of only our home planet. The Kingdom of Jod, as well all know, is located in the Companion Cresh. With over 150,000 light years away from the galaxy, we have seen nothing but the deepest form of probe bots.

"So, for generations, we have sat here, quietly. Alone. With the Breasts. A natural, yet unexplained, string of connected dark nebula surround our star system, blacking out our star system from view. Hidden behind this mask, we are unseen.

"If by these many dark nebula, or by some strange unknown force beyond our reasoning, our home planet of Jod is greatly effected by a strange magical field. Harmless to all, as our generations old quote as said, it slows down the aging process. But, also in that process, it reverts anything past a certain timeline in history. A person may carry a modern day blaster, but if not equipped with a Red Rock piece, which seems to be the only way to stop this process, the blast will simply dissolve into nothing within two hours. As well all modern clothing, vehicles, and anything else; only food, rock, and other earth-based minerals are not effected. It is the ultimate defense. But also the ultimate curse.

"Everything for our home planet must be produced off world, least we risk it turning into dust. Our outer colonies on the moons and other planets in our star system did not suffer such a fate as our home planet. But, it was agreed upon hundreds of generations ago, that all our planets would act as the home planet would. And so it is today. With that agreement came peace, prosperity, and safety. But, the COR threatens to break all that up and thrust us into the galaxy spotlight.

"With that spotlight, our way of life could be destroyed. Knowing this well in advance and knowing that the Beasts had to be destroyed once and for all---but without a reason to give others the power to topple our peaceful government---my husband, the late King, started the Navy Modernization Program. And, more secretly, Actualize Station."


TBC

 

IC: Acting Captain Aron Pauletti, Imperial Justice Star Destroyer.
Location: Hyperspace

The starlines outside the bridge windows shortened rapidly as the ship decelerated from supralight, and then they were at the distress zone: the Greater Javin.

"SD Lansdowne on the scope, Sir." ComScan reported from behind Pauletti's position by the windows. "Larger Venator, is the Javin Bucket. Second SD is not transmitting an ident."

"Full Spectrum scan for hostiles." Pauletti ordered. Though he had responded to the distress call from their sister ship, after their various run-ins under that ISB investigator's stead, his ship was not up to a knock-down, drag out fight, anytime soonish.

"All clear, Captain."

"Tell them, 'in'."

"As ordered."

Within moments, another burst of pseudo-motion rippled across the star-speckled heavens, and the Imperial Star Destroyer, Darkest Night appeared, alongside a scarred, tan-hulled 725m long Acclamator-class rescue ship, which immediately launched its initial wave of LAAT ships towards the wrecked destroyers.

With its Class 0.6 hyperdrive, and 80-strong fleet of medical larties, the rescue frigate would evac' as many survivors as it could from both ships, while the Darkest Night and the Imperial Justice stood guard, then brick it to Sector General, the Sector Twelve multi-species hospital.

"Call the 'Night. Have them put out picket ships. Our own TIEs can escort the larties."

"As ordered."

Aron idly wondered how the Merc' corvette, the Johnny Boy, was getting on, since they had shot its wing off before leaving the Block prison facility.

Tag: no-one

 

IC: Zieleb-Xan ‘Mac’ Macja and Navi
Delicate Delinquent

After Mac sent in his message of being ready he took in his surroundings once more. This time the view was much different, the turret that had been nearest to him was completely gone, and the last of its atmosphere finished venting into the blackness of space. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the unique musical signature in the Force that he had felt from his fellow gunner and knew that they were still somewhere on the ship, alive.

Utilizing the time that he had, Mac kept himself immersed in the symphony of the Force, listening to every note played by each of the instruments that were the lives that surrounded him. Each had their own individual sound, some low and soft, others high and harsh, but when they all meshed together they created the perfect harmonious song. He focused a little bit more, seeking out the song of Aurora Cradmoon, the once warm and comfortably sweet song that tugged at his heart strings. But once he found it there was something amiss, something out of place.

There was a cold darkness that now underscored the once beautiful melody. As he continued to listen it caused him to feel… sad and alone. It was as if the once lovely flower that he had found on the Johnny Boy had wilted and withered away. The freeze of winter had reached her without the protective blanket of a frost. The cold caused him to recoil from it and he broadened his focus once more to the whole orchestra.

In the background there was a rumbling disturbance, something strange and foreign. Suddenly a portion of the symphony went silent. Mac’s eyes shot open just as the Johnny Boy started firing escape pods and then vanished into the deep reaches of space. He instantly started scanning his sector, looking for any sign of the enemy that may have perpetrated the larceny, but none were found. All there was around him was escape pods drifting listlessly and the remaining craft from their group that needed to dock with the Delicate Delinquent.

He watched as a shuttle moved away from the ship and took up position near one of the pods. The pod seemed to stop it’s free spin and hung still in the darkness. A few moments later a second one did the same. The shuttle started maneuvering back towards the capital ship and the two pods followed in turn. It was slow going, and at the rate they were all going it was going to be a very long time before all of the survivors were rescued.

Suddenly it dawned on Mac that he could help the process along. Once again he steeped himself into the music of the Force and reached out his right hand. He could feel the pod like it was in his own hand, but as he tried to wrap his fingers around it the pod would slip from his grasp.

Focus, you must keep your focus.

The voice was familiar, yet distant, like he was hearing it across the galaxy. They were the words of his adopted Father and first teacher, Scath Foumi. Mac tried it again and again, each time the pod slipped away from him. His blood started to run warm and he gritted his teeth.

Calm yourself. Remember true focus lies somewhere between rage and serenity.

Mac took a deep breath clearing his mind of everything, even the music of the Force seemed to be muted. He reached out and slowly wrapped his fingers around the pod. The pod halted its rotation and Mac started to pull it closer to the hanger bay. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to land the pod in the hanger bay himself, but he could at least reduce the distance the shuttle would have to travel to get to it.

Once he had finished with the first he was starting to feel tired, but felt that he had at least enough to reach out and bring in one more. "Bridge, this is Mac. I've done what I can from here. Please advise."

TAG: Sith-I-5

 

IC: Fress Colias
Northern Stretch/Sword of Justice

“Bridge to Firecracker, permission granted and you’re to board immediately.”

“Copy Bridge,” Fress answered as she prepared to relay the instructions to the others. “Lead to all Squadrons, good job everyone, board the Sword of Justice immediately. Firecracker to the Inteceptors, you’re welcome to join us.”

“Copy Firecracker and thank you,” the one interceptor answered sounding stunned.

“You’re welcome,” Fress answered as she swung the X-wing towards the hangar bay with the other three following behind her. She had this feeling time was very short. She landed behind the majority of the squadrons who were already landing on the deck below. She searched the fighters looking for the interceptors and spotted them not too far off to her port. She stood up and pushed the cockpit open and before she had a chance to take off her helmet, there was a strong jolt pushing her back down in her seat.

Fress stood up again and climbed out of the cockpit and noticed two men waiting below for her. She didn’t recognize either pilot and had a feeling these were the ones who switched sides. Before she said anything another strong jolt made her place a hand onto the X-wing to steady herself. She shook her head wondering what they were doing up there. “I’m Lieutenant Fress Colias. Next in line for the Guardian Squadron Leader position and apart of some weird prophecy, what are your names?”

“I’m Tom Blake and this is my brother Sean. I want to thank you for allowing us to switch sides, a Lieutenant in charge of the Free web defense? Is usually unheard off,” Tom pointed out with a frown.

Fress smiled tightly and gave a short nod. “I’m in denial of the rank at the moment. I didn’t think I would find myself back in this position. I was a commander in the Clone Wars. Experience will always outrank any title.”

“You’re a war veteran?” Tom repeated with a frown. “You are awfully young.”

Fress nodded in agreement. “Maybe too young,” she shook her head as Frances handed her a flimsy. “Are these the names of the pilots we lost?”

“It is, Captain,” Frances answered.

“Not a captain,” Fress corrected with a frown.

“As soon as you took lead of the Free Web defence,” Frances went to explain.

“Still in denial,” Fress pointed out with a frown.

“Lieutenant,” Frances said with a quirk of his mouth.

Until Fress heard it from someone higher up in rank, she would prefer to hold onto the Lieutenant title for just a little while longer. Was that too much to ask? She knew her rank was going to change again and she would have to stop denying it, but for the moment she prefered to be oblivious to the fact. She looked up as Cody walked over with a tight smile. She knew that look. This wasn’t over by a long shot. “Spit it out, Commander.”

Cody shook his head as he hugged her first. “You did good out there, Commander.”

Fress returned the hug then took a step back. “Thanks Cody, but that’s not what I asked.”

“Right,” Cody shuffled his feet a bit as he took a deep breath then slowly released it. “Planet-side deployment.”

“This day will never end,” Fress muttered under her breath as she closed her eyes and focused her mind in the Force. She felt something strong here, like death was all around her. She opened her eyes and looked at Cody with a frown. “What did the outside of the ship look like?”

“Like a grave yard of ships,” Cody answered with a frown. “What are you sensing?”

“Death and its strong here, like all the love has gone from the galaxy and nothing but coldness is left behind and someone punched me in the stomach,” Fress answered as she closed her mind off from the Force but left it open enough encase Kasumi attempted to make contact. “I just shut off part of my mind, it’s over whelming. Where is the meeting being held?”

“Hangar bay, the Captain is waiting, Captain,” Cody answered with a wink.

Fress shook her head and tease slapped him on the shoulder. “You just couldn’t resist, could you?”

“Come on, you’re not that in denial are you?” Cody questioned with a frown. Fress rolled her eyes. “Or maybe you are.”

“Oblivious,” Fress gave a quick wink then turned her attention to the two men standing quietly waiting for orders. “We could use all the help we can get, you might as well come with us. I’m sure we can get you assigned no problem.”

“Yes Lieutenant,” Tom said with a slight smile.

Fress’s hand went to the hilt of her lightsaber and she felt the familiar cool metal against her finger tips. She smiled slightly. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”

Fress followed Cody to where everyone was beginning to gether as Hobby gave her a polite nod. She smiled and nodded back as she looked for Kasumi and Stakes. They had to be around here somewhere.

Tag Bravo, Coffee

 

IC: Kasumi
Sword of Justice Bridge

Begin Music

"Helm, follow through with the Jedi's plan and increase speed."

Kasumi nodded and gave the last few coordinates to the helm and went to find a seat.

"Phoenix to Firecracker, it's going to get a bit bumpy."

Kasumi looked over as the Captain politely said, "I suggest you find a seat and strap in my lady. This may get a bit rough."

"Ready when you are Captain," Kasumi said as she found her seat.

Kasumi heard the commands being given. She could feel the tension rising and the doubt. The increasing size of the storm was enough to scare anyone...and that is what she wanted to do. The suddenly slowing of the hit of the ion storm jolted her in hear seat and felt much like the crash landings that she had been involved in during her time training. As the ship broke through the ion storm there infront of them she saw the ships. Old...battle hardened....proudly wearing the battle scars on what was left of their hulls. Kasumi slowly stood up and moved to look at the ships closer. Each one a silent testament to war and struggle. Each one a home for the ghosts of those who fought in them. Kasumi felt the cold and the darkness of what was there. She felt the darkness of this place, but there in the darkness there was great sadness and loss. Sadness over the loss of so many, and loss over....lives that had but just started....those that were taken too young. Some gone and some......still here. Those still here...had been surrounded by darkness for too long, had been....changed...in their minds. As Kasumi saw the planet....she knew that was where that feeling was coming from...from those still here. However, she could not tell if it was those spirits that had been trapped she was sensing, or if there were people still there.

Kasumi followed the captain off the bridge and through the corridors to the hangar bay. The ship was silent....as if a calm before a new storm had settled upon it. It was a quiet that was both settling and yet held a bit of hidden danger in it. The next question would be...what kind of danger, and when was it going to test their abilities? Kasumi stepped into the hangar bay with the Captain. She nodded to the two people who she guessed were their new fighters.

Kasumi saw Fress and Cody.

"Good to see you again Fress. Well done out there."

Tag: Fress and Bravo

 

IC: Fress Colias
Sword of Justice Hangar Bay

"Good to see you again Fress. Well done out there."

“Thanks Kasumi, it would’ve been better if I had not lost four pilots out there. War is ugly,” Fress said in a saddened tone as she looked around for Stakes. He would have the information on how to contact the families of the four pilots she lost. It was a minimal loss compared to the amount lost from the Gettysburg. “We did gain two pilots from the Gettysburg. Which I still don’t know what changed their minds.”

“We realized the prophecy was taking place, Lieutenant,”Tom answered with a frown.“And came to the conclusion the Gettysburg was on the wrong side of the war.”

“Fair enough,” Fress said with a slight smile. “Glad you decided to join us,” she walked up to Captain Stakes as she handed him the flimsy plast. “I lost some pilots out there. I have a feeling you would have the contact information on how to reach the families. I’m sorry, Captain. Everyone was counting on me.”


Tag Bravo Coffee

 

IC: Technician Flavin, Engineer Bromley, Captain Yavscout, Captain's Ready Room, the Delicate Delinquent Immobiliser 418 cruiser
Location: Berroll's Donn


Flavin was alone on the bridge with C.T. when the voice of the young-looking pilot manning one of the quad-laser turrets came over the speakers:

"Bridge, this is Mac. I've done what I can from here. Please advise."

The Force did not register on sensors, so no-one up there had any way of knowing that the Force Sensetive had manouvered escape pods closer to the cruiser.

Flavin looked across to the clone, and shrugged. "Mac from Bridge. How about first, you advise us what you have done."

* * * *

Level Four - bow compartment

Bromley led his team of Jod engineers, and Circuit, through the blast door at the end of the corridor, past a still-collapsing barricade - presumably set up by the Imperials that he had been hearing about - into the compartment, which opened up into a chamber large enough to encompass three decks above, which it had to to accomodate the huge metal sphere to their right.

One of his men waved a portable scanner at the silver globe. "This is the forward shield generator, Sir. Working perfectly, from what I can tell."

Bromley nodded inside his helmet, lifting the semi-armoured right arm of his blue spacesuit to check the atmosphere.
"Alright, as you may have noticed, this place has been completely de-pressurised, so no cracking helmet seals."

There were chuckles from the team.

Looking ahead, a set of metal steps and catwalks, with safety bannisters in yellow, allowed access to upper levels.

Bromley looked around. With all the air gone, it was no longer obvious where the breached hull was. They had the footage from the Merc pilot telling them how extensive the hole was, but it did not really help them to orient themselves to it from inside the ship.

The team leader looked back at his men, catching Circuit's eye. "Alright, fan out; let's find where the hole is, and seal it up. A couple of you remain back here with the scrap metal. We'll need plating and sealant."

* * * *

...some time later

Reclining within the chair in the Ready Room, Yavscout took some time out to reminisce over the Butcherblock Mountains back home, remembering the view from the high ledges.

His Go Team armour was bundled onto a guest chair, while he himself, wore the shapeless grey coverall of a Merc who had perished when the Johnny Boy had been crippled in action at the Block prison facility.

It still had the nametag "Faith" sewn in.

The door slid open, and Flavin walked in, carrying an Imperial datapad. He dropped into the other guest chair, slapped the 'pad on the largely cleared table between them, and gazed at the elf's new attire.

"Faith?"

"Yeah, my name has been changed to protect the innocent." Yav' shrugged. "Who knew we were living in an episode of Law and Order: Commenor. What's up?"

"Ship progress report." Flavin nodded at the pad. "We have all the escape pods aboard, and that pilot Mac was able to use the Force to bring some closer to the ship, where your neice then used her Firespray to tractor them onboard."

Yav nodded, pleased that she had been involved in the rescue effort.

"Sergeant Vestor used the assault shuttle to tractor the other pods, and we now have all the survivors from the Johnny Boy. There is a Wookiee bragging how he used a bra as a sling to take out one of the invaders."

The elf raised an interested eyebrow. "That was lucky. Where did he get the bra?"

"Chief William's daughter. She gave it to him after he carried her to her escape pod, and threw her inside."

"How many times have we seen this story? Boy meets girl. Boy forces girl to abandon ship. Girl gives boy her bra just before the hatch seals. Boys tanks an enemy with it. And they say romance is dead."

The Jod stared for a few moments, then lifted the datapad to consult it. "Okay, your call that there were cabins on Deck Eight was spot on. Most of the our new crew, Jod, Block prisoners, Mercs, have been able to find somewhere to crash. We also found a couple of canteens, so food is not an issue anymore."

"Ship repairs?"

"Ongoing. Chief Williams' team is dealing with a power overload on the gunnery deck. Engineer Bromley and Circuit's team are repairing the bow damage, and I hear they plan to install the torpedo launcher from our Sentinel wreck, down there too."

"That should boost our defensive capability if we can get that to work." Yavscout went silent. There was so much to think about, being the vessel's commander now. He tried to think in terms of his N-1. What mattered to him when he had flown it. "What is our shield status."

"A-OK. I powered the rear shields down, and allowed them to regenerate. Wa Yays threw a wobbly when I told her-"

"Wa Yays?"

"Gossam bird off the Johnny Boy. She was the Chief Petty Officer there, and worked the bridge." Flavin grinned as he talked about her. "She's out there now. Says working takes her mind off worrying about Commander Streets. He didn't make it to the pods."

Yavscout nodded sadly. He had not had much contact with Streets, but remembered that the commander had been a good man.

Tag: Mac, Circuit, C.T.

 

IC: Queen Christina "The Great"
Actualize Station, beyond the Northern Stretch, location top secret



The Queen continued her speech, to remind her assistants and commanders of the depth of what awaited them.


"Actualize Station, as we all know, serves more then just for the Beasts. When the Prophets and Shepards warned us that the Prophecy was coming to it's time to be fulfilled, the King knew that he would need an army more advanced and more ready to meet the galactic threats outside our Kingdom. However, the King knew if those within the Royal Court who opposed him heard of such military build-up, they would certaintly use those military forces for purposes they were not meant for. So, the King played a dangerous game with the Royal Court and the people. He had to play the beloved, people-focused King who seemed niave to the external problems with the Beasts and the outside galaxy, while be a man who knew what was going on and prepare for it behind the scenes.

"It put a great amount of stress and less then popular public support at times on my husband. When the King made his move to the "Outside Galaxy" and fulfill the Prophecy, he did so in secret. When his mission became knowledge to the Royal Court sooner then it was supposed to, the King had to play the defiant line and have the people and the Royal Court see that he had the best interests of the people first. A course, those against him in the Royal Court, spinned his message to make it look like the King was more concerned with other people then the war at home with the Beasts and the safety and technology development of the people.

"My husband knew the snakes that awaited with smiles and handshakes in the Royal Court. So, what he did in the last year before his murder he did for the safety and protection of the people. He wanted to advance the people, make their lives better, and defeat the Beasts once and for all. Sadly, the youth, pressured by the Truth Movement, did not see the wisdom and tradition of the elders.

"Now, Actualize Station serves as both the last best hope for our own people and for the fate of the rest of the "Outside Galaxy". Actualize Station's greatest assest is it's secrecy. However, as we all know, that secrecy is threaten by The Exiles who have escaped their planet of exile; the Exiles are the ones behind the scenes of the COR and the ones that are but pawns in a greater darkness facing the Outside Galaxy.

"Actualize Station's mission starts tonight..."

The blast doors opened and four soldiers entered; all wore identical armor, however their weapons were different, as were certain color markings on the helmets. The soldiers lined up in a straight line as the blast doors closed.

Helmet; instead of picture, helmet is a solid black with a smooth surface (instead of the clear plastic protrusions on the top, side, and rear of helmet). Unlike the picture, the visor is all black, the bulkier protrusion HUD visor is this green in color.




Torso armor;




Leg armor and combat boots; focus on soldiers to either the far left or far right for leg armor.



Knee Pads; worn on outside of uniform legs.






The Queen allowed her staff to quiet down before going on.

"Welcome to the Green Project. Twelve of the very best Queen's Guardsmen---selected from the best in loyalty, health, physical condition, mental health, mental strength, intelligence, various non-combat skills, personality, habits, and combat skills, ability, and adaptation---were selected. From there, the twelve Queen Guardsmen formed the core of what is known as the Prime Clone. From there, using the Kamino cloning system, each prime clone template was genetically altered to enhance all the reasons why the Queen Guardsmen templates were selected in the first place, as I already stated. This formed your Standard Template. From there, several groups of prime clone templates were altered even further: three prime clones were genetically altered to meet higher health, mental health, mental strength, and intelligence to form your Officer Core or OC for short. Three other prime clones were altered further to meet higher mental strength, various non-combat skills, and combat skills, ability, and adaptation to form your Sniper and Scout Core or SSC for short. Three more prime clones were altered further to meet higher various non-combat skills, personality, and habits to form your Engineers, Mechanics, and other various support roles to form your various Engineer, Mechanic, and Support and Logistics Core or EMSL for short. And last, three prime clones used the Standard Template and were used for the Trooper Core or TC for short.

"The Green Project has been going on for ten years now (cloning) and has produced enough soldiers to staff 12 King II-class Battleships and the 24 support craft with infantry and support staff for the infantry and have enough infantry left over to fit another 36 ships of identical size and model. While small compared to the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars, we feel that the extra detail given to each Prime Clone template and isolation of certain traits from each Prime Clone has produced, overall, a better clone army then the one the Clone Wars could ever muster. With that said, more clones are on the way everyday. Our specific cloning location is secret, as is the specific contract details with the Kaminoans, but know that we won't have a massive army the size of the GAR, probably not even a fraction of that size. We are simply cloning enough of the soldiers to fill the needs of our safety, security, and protection as it relates to the Kingdom of Jod and the Prophecy. And no more. We do not wish to have any more cloned soldiers then what we need for the foreseeable and present crisis.

"Now, beyond the cloning process and to the soldiers themselves. But first, their Specialized Enviormnent Armor Combat Suit or SEA for short. A insulated and airtight body glove is under everything, with the uniform over that. The helmet, torso, leg, and knee armor provides the same armor protection as Phase II Clone trooper Armor. The armor is furthermore laced with phrik. The helmet has a build-in encrypted communication system and the helmet's visor and HUD visor are polarized, provide a clear view despite the color of the visor; the HUD also provides mission updates from Command Core, squad command updates, friendly/enemy identification, night-vision, heat-vision, and a air filtration system and oxygen supply of ten minutes, which sealed within lines within the body suit itself and are pumped into the helmet from those lines. The helmet's neck can seal around the body suit and with the ten minutes of oxygen supply, can allow the soldier to survive in vacuum for ten minutes.

"The armor also comes with a equipment belt and harness that comes with the following (taken in part from and modified from Stormtrooper armor): combat knife, a high-tension wire, a grappling hook, six spare blaster power packs for the main weapon and two spare blast packs for the blaster pistol, 3 energy rations, spare handheld comlink, 3 water packs, 1 medpac, 2 fragmentation grenades, 1 smoke grenade, and 1 stun grenade (combinations of different types of grenades could also be used if need be).

The Officer Core is identified by 4 color markings along the left and right sides of the helmets near the middle upper half of the helmet above the visor connection. The color markings, as you can see on each soldier class, are medium in size and run along the side of the helmet and end just a little bit after nicking the very back of the helmet (where the plastic protrusion is on the side helmet of the movie screenshot of the helmet in the middle top of the helmet). The officer standing before you is part of the Command Core, which sports red in color. The Command Core includes General, Lieutenant-General, Major-General, and Brigadier-General. The General is the only one in the Command Core which sports a gold stripe on the helmet and not red; each red stripe is identified further by a three star, two star, or one star, each for Lieutenant-General, Major-General, and Brigadier-General respectfully. All Command Officers carry the DE-10 Blaster Pistol in a hip holster and a Phrik constructed Model 1850 Army Staff & Field Officers' Sword.

"Next within the Officer Core are the Line Officers, which sport blue in color. They go from Colonel, two gold swords length wise facing opposite directions; Lieutenant Colonel, one silver sword length direction; Major, two gold leafs on either end; Captain, two gold bars on either end; First Lieutenant, one gold bar on each end; and Second Lieutenant, just the blue stripe and added symbols. All Line Officers are also equipped with DE-10 Blaster Pistol in a hip holster and a Phrik constructed Model 1850 Army Staff & Field Officers' Sword. Line Officers will also carry a EE-3 Carbine Rifle when needed into combat situations.

"Next are Non-Commissioned Officers, who sport yellow markings. From Sergeant Major, which sported the rank (Sergeant-Major) in the middle of the yellow marking in blue; First Sergeant (First Sergeant) marking in blue in the middle as well; Master Sergeant (Master Sergeant) marking in black; Sergeant First Class (Sergeant First Class) in black; Staff Sergeant (Staff Sergeant) in black; and Sergeant (Sergeant) in black. The Non-Commissioned Officers carry DC-17 hand blasters and can carry any one of the following weapons depending on the mission: A280 blaster rifle or T-21 light repeating blaster. Sergeant-Majors, First Sergeants, and Sergeant First Class use the WESTAR-M5 almost exclusively.

"Finally, the Corporals and Privates. Corporals have white stripes and Private First Class and Privates have no stripes. The Corporals and Privates carry DC-17 hand blasters and can carry any one of the following weapons depending on the mission: A280 blaster rifle or T-21 light repeating blaster.

"Heavier weapons, such as missile and rocket launchers, flame throwers, sniper rifles, and E-Web Repeating Blasters can all be found within the soldiers' ranks. These solders are designed to be the troops that help save the galaxy and our Kingdom from a dark storm that is coming."


TBC
OOG: Sorry for the one post. This took a lot longer then expected. Sith, thank you for getting the Darkest Night and Imperial Justice back into the swing of things. I will be getting a post for Hilick Soal up as soon as I can. All tags are coming next.

 

OOC: Bravo, both ships are badly damaged from their own fight against the Kings Navy, so maybe they could do with a spell at a repair yard first.

Definitely like you going with the GI Joe armour, compared with the Batman stuff, although I would quiestion having black stripes (various Sergeants) on a black helmet.

Costume Designer "But no-one said anything."

Quartermaster "That's cos they're clones, and don't know any better. We never taught them art appreciation."

 

OOG: Thank you Sith on both the ships and armor. The stripe is yellow with the Sergeant markings in black on the yellow. So it should stand out. The higher Sergeant markings are yellow stripes with blue markings on the yellow.

However, lets replace the green HUD visor with a smoke-gray HUD visor. It would be most usable for a clear vision and for night operations...you can't see it as much as a green visor.

Also, a King's Army patch will be on the left shoulder, with a unit patch under that, and the Kingdom of Jod flag on the right shoulder.


IC: Queen Christina "The Great"
Actualize Station, beyond the Northern Stretch, location top secret


The Queen nodded to the soldiers and they departed in parade ground formation. When the blast doors closed, the Queen looked at her closet staff. "So?"

The Generals, Admirals, and aides all shuffled around for a bit, sharing glances at each other. Finally one General stepped forth, "So, the King's Army? What happens to our men?"

"The goal is to keep the King's Army in place. However, to take your best regiments and brigades and train them in with these new troops. The clones will not be here forever in these large numbers. That was never the intention. The intention is, after this crisis is over, to keep whatever clones are left. That number will drop with future battles, illness, and aging. The future is to keep a small dedicated core of clones, to only be reenforced by new clones to keep that small dedicated number. The King's Army, as we see it today, will retain a honorary position within the military, forming for VIPs, parades, and act as the traditional home guard of our home planet. This part of the King's Army will be known as the Honorary Branch and all soldiers will be required to serve at least a year and a half within it's ranks before moving to the next branch of the Army. Our history and tradition must not be lost. The other branch of the army will be known as the Grand Army and be seen as the main assault and defense force."

"And our navy?" Asked a Admiral.

"The Kingdom's Navy must be updated. A small portion of our old King-class Battleships will be regulated to escort function of the larger King II's and convoy escort. The rest will be converted to supply ships, one as a hospital ship, one as a museum, and the rest will be recycled into building newer ships."

"My Queen," Asked a naval officer, "Where do you plan on acquiring the men for the army and the ships for the navy?"

"Simple. When the COR launch their attack on the Beast home world, we'll launch our attack to get our captured troops back. We won't be able to hold the home world for long with the returning COR forces and my intention is to not damage the planetary defenses, as to help protect the planet against a Beast attack. My only intention is to regain our troops and, if possible, put some spies within the COR higher command. We need to know what they are doing."


TBC


*********************************************************


IC: Hilick Soal
Bridge, Darkest Night, Greater Javin


Hilick Soal knew what had to be done. To fulfill what he had seen upon his death from the Emperor Palpatine.

But patience would rule the day and nothing less.

The fragments of a recent battle still floated in space.

Lessons had to be taught to those that opposed the Emperor.

For now.

"Comms, inform the Imperial Justice to head for Christophsis for repairs. The Terminator will meet them there. We will be along shortly. They are to hold station above Christophsis until further orders."

"Yes Investigator."

"Gunnery, position our weaponry to destroy that pirate vessel. Make sure our stormtroopers are off that ship first."

"Their already off, sir," Informed the Captain.

"Good."

"Investigator, the Javin Bucket is broadcasting a surrender."

"Ignore it. They should have never got into piracy in the first place."

"Investigator, they are broadcasting civilians on board the ship."

"More like scum. Gunnery?"

"Guns in position."

"Fire."

Dozens upon dozens of green bolts lanced out from the Star Destroyer and consumed the old cruiser turned pirate vessel...


Tag Sith

 

IC: Jason Lasso
Planet of the Exiles, Northern Stretch


The place was dark and gloomy; the sky a mixture of gray sky and darker clouds looming overhead. In the distant of the sky, a sun could be seen fighting through the ion storms to share it's few rays of light that failed to shine through the darkened sky. Lightening shot overhead across the sky. The ground was desert. Any signs of life were rare, desert animals at best, with desert trees here and there. Impact craters from orbital bombardments marked the ground further. All around were the bodies of old dead skeletons, much of the uniforms that equipment that once covered them no more then torn shatters now. Most of their weapons were gone too, except for the odd one here and there.

As Lasso walked down the ramp of the shuttle, he put his helmet on and knelt down at one of the bodies.

"King's Army," Lasso said, looking up and over to "He" who stood there, looking about, "What happened here?"

"Ten years ago, a group of admirals, generals, and nobles attempted to overthrow the Royal Palace. They never got very far, because the House of Royal Intelligence had been tracking there every movement. The King dispatched an armada of naval ships supported by a army of troops and a detachment of Queen's Guardsmen in secret. Before the traitorous officers and nobles could have their coup, the King struck with his secret force here, at the coup's planet of hiding. According to the most classified records, the space battle lasted three hours before ground forces were able to land. By the time they did, the enemy had time to prepare...but also didn't have a navy to support them either. Our navy pounded this planet with everything we had for over two hours of orbital bombardment before we sent our ground forces. Once we landed, we allowed our long rang artillery soften up any further defenses, had our Queen's Guardsmen and Army Calvary, supported by a brigade of infantry on each side, ride around their flanks and disrupt their supply and communication lines. Thinking the attack was coming from the flanks, the enemy shifted their forces...then we sent in the infantry under heavy artillery support up the middle. We split their main line of battle into two halves. As renewed orbital bombardment kept one half of their force pinned down with our ground forces holding them in check, we used the rest of our artillery, Calvary, and infantry to crush the other half of their force. They were stubborn and even seeing their comrades die, still did not surrender. So we crushed the rest of their forces without mercy.

"By the end of the battle, ten hours of the bloodiest fighting known to our people yet had taken place. We had won, crushed the coup before it started, and did it all in secret. We kept the prisoners here, on their own forsaken planet of death, with a small defense fleet to guard over them with several garrison bases on the planet to keep the traitors in check. We put fake ion storms around the planet to hide it from view and disrupted any and all routes to the planet with heavy droid forces on patrol. It seems, however, they have escaped and started our civil war."

"You know a lot about this place..." Jason stated, standing up.

"Because I was here fighting. We left the dead here as a reminder to what we would call the Exiles on this planet."

A scream, as born of hell itself, filled the sky.

"I know that sound," Jason commented.

"Yes and most likely one half of the tools used to free this traitors," He pointed to the distant mountains and built-in side complex in the distant that seemed to be the focal point of this long forgotten battle, "We better get to higher ground and safety. There may still be usable equipment and shelter in the old complex. They've located our shuttle. So it's a death trap here. If the turbo train is still in use, we'll use it to reach the Main Complex."

"The Main Complex?"

"The main King's Army base here. Controls the ion storm shield you saw on the opposite side of the planet when we came over the planet's North pole and then crash landed here. If we have a chance to find parts and supplies, that base would be our best bet. And a communications station as well. The traitors might have got out, but I can bet you the Main Complex is still operating and sealed tighter then a drum."

As the two started out from the shuttle, Jason asked, "What was the other half that released the traitors?"

"If the feeling in the Force is correct, then you would rather not know. But I don't presume we can prolong the battle much further."


TBC


*********************************


IC: Captain Timothy Stakes
Bridge, Sword of Justice, Jod Star System


Stakes was nearing the hanger bay when the Commander chimed in, quick and prompt as usual, "Captain, damage report on-going. Sensors are reporting there is no way out of this ion storm."

"Explain?" Timothy asked over the handheld comlink.

"It seems you can get in, but not out. The shield preventing us from leaving is reversed over itself, allowing ships to enter but not leave. We'll be butting heads with a planetary shield-strength shield. We won't get through. However, ComScan has located a powerful generator planet-side. They suggest the controls for this shield may be there. Also, Captain, the complex is broadcasting a weak Kingdom of Jod emergency transmission. It's scrambled, so it'll be a minute before the techs can fix it."

"Copy on all. Respond to changes in report. Inform me of the damage report status once completed. Stakes out."

When Stakes entered, a group was already gathering by the company of King's Army soldiers; Stakes was quick to grab the Deck Officer. "Get me a whole regiment. We'll need it."

The Deck Officer nodded and ran off to fulfill the orders.

“I lost some pilots out there. I have a feeling you would have the contact information on how to reach the families. I’m sorry, Captain. Everyone was counting on me.”

"In my studies at Academy, Lieutenant, I was taught one very important lesson from a General long ago, "But this war goes on and on and the men die and the price gets even higher. We are prepared to lose some of us, but we are never prepared to lose all of us." (Gettysburg, 1993, movie) I will contact the families, Lieutenant. But know that you did the best you could do."

A regiment, the same that the company already in the hanger was part of it, started to double quick it into the hanger, their gear cluttering. The Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment with several of the Captains walked over to the group as the Queen's Guardsmen made their approach as well. Stakes nodded to all.

Stakes took notice of the two pilots who were from the recent engagement, "Thank you for your service to the Royal Palace. The Medical Bay facilities will now see to you. Once we're back, I'm sure we can kind a place among our pilots."

Two Naval Guards quickly showed up to escort the two pilots out.

It wasn't that Stakes didn't trust them; it was the simple truth that you had to go through certain regulations before allowing defectors into your ranks and with the sensitivity of the mission ahead of them, Stakes had to ensure that everything was tight lipped and quiet.

Stakes held out a hand-out hologram display that then showed the world below them in orbit and three things; first, a crashed shuttle, second a large complex flashing red, and third Beasts roaming around.

"We are about to enter the Planet of the Exiles. The Queen Guardsmen know what this is..." Stakes looked their way and they nodded, "...but I would be correct no one else would know what this is. And, for now, that is it will remain. By order of the Royal Palace that we still serve. Our original goal was to seek safe haven here from our enemy; once I identified the planet, I knew could get some answers about how our civil war started. But, two new developments have arisen. First, a strong energy shield is blocking our exit out. Second, a Jod military complex is broadcasting a emergency beacon. By virtue of our position, we have to answer the emergency beacon and that same complex may hold our way out of here. ComScan has identified two further things. First, a damaged shuttle that has recently landed with engines still registering heat. Hails have failed to arise the crew, but the signal is COR. Second, the planet is crawling with Beasts.

"Our mission is simple. The 32nd Central Region Infantry Regiment will land around the complex and secure a defensive with a Queen's Guardsmen detachment in support. Once that is done, a small strike and rescue force with more Queen's Guardsmen will gain access to the complex, find the source of the emergency beacon, find anyone in need of rescue, locate files on what happened at the complex, and find the controls for the shield generator. Once that is done, we will leave the planet post-haste. Jedi Kasumi and Lieutenant Fress, you will be with the rescue party. Any questions?"



Tag Coffee, Falcon

 

IC: Beskaryc Taab/Atin Taab
The Crusader, Ord Padron system.

After making his announcement Taab headed back into the Crusader's cockipit. Atin followed behind and sat down in the co-pilot's chair just as taab reached forward to the hyperdrive controls and brought the ship out of faster than light flight. He expected to find the frigate Hard Eight in orbit of the planet, or at least on patrol somewhere in system but he was greeted with nothing on the scanners that could be the Imperial vessel he was to rendezvous with. "Picking up alot of chatter on com-scan." Atin said from the second chair. Taab raised an eyebrow under his buy'ce. That much chatter in sysetm meant the ship must be here somewhere. "It's mostly Imperial, all of it coded."

Another chance to further his son's training than. "Record it, you can use it for practice breaking Imperial codes when this job is done." If any of it turned out to be intersting he could always sell any information gleaned to pirates, smugglers or even the Rebel Alliance, though he doubted the latter had the cash to pay for anything they would find useful. "Another message coming through." Taab was about to berate his son for passing along extranious information. He didn't care how many coded Imperial messages they intercepted. At the moment he was busy trying to find where the Hard Eight was hiding. But Atin kept talking, "It's on a civ channel, from the Hard Eight." The boy who was so close to being a man put the message on speaker without being told.

"Crusader from the Hard Eight. Good to see you. The captain requests that you park in the desert, a hundred klicks from anyone, and we will despatch a shuttle to meet you. Over."

Taab nodded now as his son sent back an acknowledgement to the Hard Eight. According to the RDF equipment on the ship, the transmission had come from the surface. Taab turned the sensor's attention there and found the frigate, grounded on the planet. Wonder why they are down there? Either this meeting was even more clandestine than he thought or the crew of the Hard Eight had other concerns. With a simple gesture he let his son take the controls. "Pick an out of the way spot and put us down." He glanced at the security cam display. Their passengers were gathering their belongings, probably glad to be back "home". All in all this had been a blue milk run, there hadn't been alot in the way of such missions lately. Especially missions that were so high paying.

Taab sat back in his chair as he began thinking about their next move. He still wanted to get his son some experiance with a "regular" military unit before allowing him to undertake the verd'goten. Something small scale. He thought about the "Mercs" he had encountered at the outset of this mission. Mercs? What kind of name was that for a military organization? Sounded more like the name for a two-bit meshgeroya (Limmie, the beautiful game of the GFFA) team to him. Still they might be the best fit out there right now. If he could find them again.

First things first though. With the slightest of shudders, the Crusader settled down on its landing struts. His son had a good touch at the controls. He already had all the making of an excellent pilot in addition to his raw Mandalorian skills. Yes, the Mercs, they would do nicely.

TAG: Sith-I-5

 

IC: Fress Colias
Sword of Justice Hangar bay

"In my studies at Academy, Lieutenant, I was taught one very important lesson from a General long ago, "But this war goes on and on and the men die and the price gets even higher. We are prepared to lose some of us, but we are never prepared to lose all of us." (Gettysburg, 1993, movie) I will contact the families, Lieutenant. But know that you did the best you could do."

“Thank you, Captain,” Fress said with a slight grateful smile as she walked back to Kasumi’s side. She listened to the Captain’s plan, no wonder Cody said planetside deployment. He wasn’t kidding.

"Our mission is simple. The 32nd Central Region Infantry Regiment will land around the complex and secure a defensive with a Queen's Guardsmen detachment in support. Once that is done, a small strike and rescue force with more Queen's Guardsmen will gain access to the complex, find the source of the emergency beacon, find anyone in need of rescue, locate files on what happened at the complex, and find the controls for the shield generator. Once that is done, we will leave the planet post-haste. Jedi Kasumi and Lieutenant Fress, you will be with the rescue party. Any questions?"

Frances Childe raised a hand as Fress glanced at him with a frown. He gave her a wink causing her to frown. “Captain Stakes, Fress wasn’t a Lieutenant was she? A lot of us are good pilots but it would take someone with a higher rank of Lieutenant to pull off what she did. Wouldn’t she be promoted to Captain as soon as she took the lead…”

Fress glared at Frances with a warning expression cutting him off. “Like I explained earlier Captain Frances, experience will always outrank any title. I accepted the rank but will go anywhere my skills are needed. Can we please drop the subject? I know my rank will change as soon as I officially move into the Guardian squadron leader position which isn’t that far off. Until I hear other wise, it’s Lieutenant.”

Tag Bravo, Coffee, Sith if needed

 

OOC: I have to credit Perez warning to the Torchwood episode, 'Countrycide'.

IC: General Perez, Sword of Justice hangar bay
Location: Orbit of the Exiles

As per Captain Stakes' orders, Perez had several units of hangar bay mechanics and technicians drilling to get their manouvers up to the requested speed and efficiency, and had wandered back to the parked Nen-Caervon PX-4 mobile command base (MCB) that he had chosen as his office.

The sophisticated sensor suite had also picked up the weak distress signal from the surface of the planet, as well as shipboard concerns over the ion storm that they had passed through to get here.

As he headed across the hangar to the large gathering that Stakes' was presiding over, consisting of Merc pilots, Lieutenant-Colonels of the Jod forces, and a growing amount of Queens Guardsmen among others, Perez' intention was to ask the Captain for permission to take a shuttle and some engineers over to one of the King-class wrecks that had been detected, and a) try to find a way through the shield that was trapping them; and b) check their stores to replenish the ammunition they had used in the escape pod ruse just now.

"Our mission is simple. The 32nd Central Region Infantry Regiment will land around the complex and secure a defensive with a Queen's Guardsmen detachment in support. Once that is done, a small strike and rescue force with more Queen's Guardsmen will gain access to the complex, find the source of the emergency beacon, find anyone in need of rescue, locate files on what happened at the complex, and find the controls for the shield generator. Once that is done, we will leave the planet post-haste. Jedi Kasumi and Lieutenant Fress, you will be with the rescue party. Any questions?"

Frances Childe raised a hand as Fress glanced at him with a frown. He gave her a wink causing her to frown. “Captain Stakes, Fress wasn’t a Lieutenant was she? A lot of us are good pilots but it would take someone with a higher rank of Lieutenant to pull off what she did. Wouldn’t she be promoted to Captain as soon as she took the lead…”

Fress glared at Frances with a warning expression cutting him off. “Like I explained earlier Captain Frances, experience will always outrank any title. I accepted the rank but will go anywhere my skills are needed. Can we please drop the subject? I know my rank will change as soon as I officially move into the Guardian squadron leader position which isn’t that far off. Until I hear other wise, it’s Lieutenant.”

"Call me paranoid," Perez raised his voice to get his point across to the whole group, "but this has all the hallmarks of a trap."

Actually, he was lying out of his choob', but they would never taken any notice of him if he'd started with, "I saw this in a movie once, and it didn't go well."

Tag: JediFalcon, Bravo, Coffee

 

IC: Fress Colias
Hangar Bay Sword of Justice

"I saw this in a movie once, and it didn't go well."

Fress nodded in agreement as she remembered every trap she ever sprung. The movies were far different from real life. You just never knew what kind of situation you were walking into. “I completely agree. I sprung a few traps in my time. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to use precaution, General. You just never know what kind of situation you could be walking into. Anakin and Obi-Wan had a saying back then. If you find a trap, you spring it."

Tag Sith, Coffee, Bravo

 

IC: General Perez, Sword of Justice hangar bay
Location: Orbit of the Exiles


Perez listened to the lieutenant.

“I completely agree. I sprung a few traps in my time. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to use precaution, General. You just never know what kind of situation you could be walking into. Anakin and Obi-Wan had a saying back then. If you find a trap, you spring it."

He nodded. "Quite so. Recommend we have empty evac transports, say at least four of them, trailing the rescue flight by thirty, forty, standard minutes? That'll give you enough time to land, secure the complex, and find out that its either a trap, or there are survivors. And if I'm wrong, they can return to the ship, or stay on station."

One of the Queen's Guardsmen raised a black-gloved hand. "Any reason we can't bombard the shield generator from orbit? I mean, we're inside the shield that it's generating, right?"

Perez turned his way. "We're not firing on anything till we find out what took out those other ships. Captain? Recommend I take a team across to another of the King-class battleships to check their logs, replenish our ordnance, and, if we have time, try to determine what is going on with that ion storm."

Tag: JediFalcon, Coffee, Bravo

---

IC: Yavscout, Flavin, Delicate Delinquent ready room
Location: Berroll's Donn


Yavscout leaned forwards to rest his crossed arms on the desk that was now his.
"Ever wondered why no battle fleets have ever made it to Imperial Centre?"

Flavin leaned back, crossing his legs. "Can't say it has."

"The Empire has placed sensors called S-threads along all the main hyperspce routes, which can detect groups of vessels either in realspace or hyperspace, so any fleet, Rebel or otherwise, trying to get the jump on Coruscant, gets deteected, intercepted, and brought out of hyperspace by an interdictor such as this."

The elf was no Imperial scientist. He only had a layman's view of the technology.

Yav smiled. "I forwarded the sensor readings we had from the Johnny Boy's disappearance to the Secret Galactic Intelligence Service. SGIS has overlap with Imperial Intelligence, and granted that the corvette is no fleet, the readings are so unique, that I'm betting an S-thread will be able to detect it, even if it raises no Imp suspicions. And they have to pop up some time."

"And when they do, this SGIS group tell us?"

"That's the plan. What do you think?"

Flavin considered. "Its a long shot, Yav."

"It's all we've got." Yavscout pushed back the chair and stood, coming round the desk, the tech rising also. "However, I am remembering that we have that PX-4 downstairs in the TIE Hangar. Should have quite a sophisticated sensor array compared to the ship. Put a working group together to analyse the Johnny Boyreadings, and get them to run it through the PX-4 systems."

His door hissed open, to allow him access to the bridge, where the first face to turn his way was the http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Gossam]blue[/url] reptilian features of Wa Yay.
"Captain." She nodded a greeting.

"Officer Wa Yay." Yav returned the gesture. "You have the bridge." He started to stride aft, towards the open doors, then about-faced, raising a finger in question. "Wait a minute; you were on the Johnny Boy. What happened?"

"Intruders. Intruders in either white or black robes started appearing all over the ship, Captain. They were armed with lightsabres. The ones in black attacked the crew, while the ones in white attacked them. Then Captain Taller gave the order to abandon ship."

"Were the intruders Kingdom of Jod?" Yav asked what he thought was a pertinent question.

"Hey!" Flavin protested, grabbing the elf's sleeve. "How can you even ask that?"

"The Mercs had good security, yet your people were able to carry weapons around without the droid guards challenging you even once, while we, the actual crew, had to sign ours into the Security Station." Yavscout looked at the bridge officer with sympathy. "No wonder you were overwhelmed so fast."

"We're Mercs. Our enemies should not have been able to take us as quickly and efficiently as they did. They knew where to beam in. So they had inside knowledge, which isn't too hard to come by, considering the times we have had to involve external groups in repairs."

"If it happened here; robed fraggers materialising all over the 'Delinquent. Would we fare any better?"

"This crew is armed, some heavily. But from what I have seen, security teams are clustered round certain areas, not in others." She shrugged. "Who knows. But on the good side, if we were going to be boarded by the same abos, it would have happened by now."

To be continued...

 

IC: Kasumi
Sword of Justice Hangar Bay

"Our mission is simple. The 32nd Central Region Infantry Regiment will land around the complex and secure a defensive with a Queen's Guardsmen detachment in support. Once that is done, a small strike and rescue force with more Queen's Guardsmen will gain access to the complex, find the source of the emergency beacon, find anyone in need of rescue, locate files on what happened at the complex, and find the controls for the shield generator. Once that is done, we will leave the planet post-haste. Jedi Kasumi and Lieutenant Fress, you will be with the rescue party. Any questions?"

Kasumi remained quiet. The sense she was getting from the planet was the same that she had before. Sadness, death....and loss. There were jumbles of feeling and thoughts being sent out to the cosmos, and sometimes the feelings didn't match the words. Such as hate....while being spoken with words of love. Kasumi listened as people mentioned traps and just took it all in. There was more to this planet than just traps. This planet was lost as much as the people were and the souls were that were placed on it. Kasumi gently touched the hilt of her saber that was hidden in it's pouch, and in one smooth movement moved it to it's location on her belt and shut the now empty pouch.

Tag: Bravo and Fress

 

IC: Fress Colias
Sword of Justice Hangar Bay

Fress walked over to Kasumi and gently nudged her, she wondered what Kasumi thought about the sensing through the Force about the planet below. "I'm feeling a lot of mixed emotions, it was overpowering that I shut off a part of my mind. Are you sensing the samething?" She whispered gently.

Tag Kasumi

 

IC: Acting Captain Aron Pauletti, Pit Lieutenant Simister, Weapons Officer Karun Chandok, ImperiaL Justice SD


The rescxue operation seemed to be going well, with the first wave of larties returning to the Acclamator with survivors from the Lansdowne.

"Sir?"

Aron turned from the windows, and walked over to pit to look down at the Comms Station. The crew were not yet comfortable calling him "Captain". Aron felt in no position to force the issue, in the circumstances.

"Orders from the Darkest Night. We are to proceed to Christophsis for repairs. The Terminator will meet us there."

He sighed internally. He would have liked to see this rescue to completion, but orders were orders.
"Send an acknowledgement. Navigation, start setting coordinates for Christophsis."

"Yes sir."

"As ordered."

"Have Security bring Simister up here. I want to see him."

"Sir"

Pauletti could feel the ship steering from the other ships so that it could move towards the jump point, though considering they were nowhere near the gravitational pull of a planet, they could pretty much jump from anywhere.

A bright flare of light lit up space at the left corner of a side window, drawing the attention of several officers and crewers!

"What was that?"

"Ah, mate, Soal just took out the Javin Bucket!" Karun advised from the Weapons post at the side of the bridge, the small port beyond his head bright with the billowing fire of the disintegrating shadowport.

Pauletti recognised the hurt in his friend's tone. "You wanted to be the one to do that, didn't you?"

Karun shrugged. "Hey, it's what I do."

Aron smiled and shook his head, heading from the windows to his seat.

"Sir. Coordinates set. Hyperdrive set."

"Engage."

There was a thrumm from the rising power in their Cygnus engines, and the stars outside momentarily turned to lines, thrusting them into hyperspace.

Doors at the rear of the bridge slid open between the two black-clad Naval marines, admitting a pair of stormtroopers, and the Force-cuffed Simister, looking a little worse for wear from his enforced rest in the brig.

Aron sat in the command chair, and crooked a finger for Simister to be brought before him.

"Enjoying your promotion, Captain?" Simister enquired archly, raising a sardonic eyebrow.

One of the stormtroopers made a move to hit the prisoner, but stopped, remembering that he had a different commander now, and the new one might not like the physical show of support.

"Did you kill the Captain?"

"I could deny it, but everytime I try, the words 'one doth protest too much' spring to mind, as if to indicate that I should not protest my innocence." The lieutenant shrugged. "Stupid, I know."

"Well, my 'promotion' as you call it means that you are part of my crew now. Regardless of what happened between us, something stinks about all this. I don't think you killed the captain, which means someone set up a member of my crew. Guards, un-cuff him."

"Captain?"

"Just do it." Aron watched as one trooper onlatched Simister's wrists, and the freed prisoner rubbed at his wrists.

"What about due process?"

Aron smiled up at his fellow officer. "I'm a flag officer on detachment, during a time of war. Regulations give me broad authority in these matters." And besides, He continued thinking, Captain Yeller had a mate of mine killed, so I'm willing to cut a little slack.

"So what, I return to my former position."

Pauletti shook his head, looked down, then when he stopped he met the other's gaze. "Oh no. I want you to investigate how someone left a trail of false data, planted drugs on you, assassinated Yeller, and set you up. And you two." He indicated the pair of stormtroopers. "You are to help him. Dismissed."

Aron gestured for the three to leave the bridge, so he could concentrate on getting his ship safely to Christophsis.

Tag: no-one

---

IC: Captain Sard, the NR2 Gully Jumper, Sardonic (yep. he named a shuttle after himself)
Location: Ord Pardron desert


Chocking clouds of sand billowed in all directions as the ventral thrusters slowed the descent of the NR2 Gully Jumper, Sardonic, until it's landing struts settled the shuttle safely on the desert floor, a hundred metres from the Mandolorian vessel, Crusader.



The wide boarding ramp dropped open from under the cockpit to hit the floor, with two Imperial stormtroopers descending first to take up sentry positions at the sides, while after several seconds, Captain Sard and a junior officer followed, striding out to a spot halfway between the two ships, to await the crew and passengers from the Crusader.

Within the shuttle's dark interior, a medical team, and more defense troops - if needed - were waiting for further orders.

Sard had quickly changed, putting ona a laundered and pressed uniform to give the best impression of Imperial polish, though in this heat, he was eager to get his people back, complete the transaction, and get into cooler gear.

He glanced back towards the Sardonic to confirm his backup was still in position, then turned forward to face the parked YT-1300.

Tag: Bardan

 

IC: The Night the Promises were Kept.
Long live the knights of our nights.

Hillick Soal sat alone, surrounded on his bridge by the bustling bodies of others as he employed the ageless tactic of a mutual ignoring of each other. No one on the the bridge would look at him, but kept their noses firmly planted on their screens, input panels, and readouts. He in turn kept his eyes on the stars, the debri not visible from this vantage, it was odd in a way up here. The stars that is, the ageless tradition was one any well disiplined crew can fall into, they didn't twinkle, they didn't vary, they stayed steady and true almost as though to belay the notion that they could ever end. They seemed so steadfast and secure, much as the Empire did, but it wouldn't last, Hillick knew this to the last fiber of his being from a vision brought by deaths untempered touch and lifes cruel resumption. But for now, the light was steady, and all he had to do was wait.

A crewer turned and shouted from the pit, "Sir! Intellegence has it!" Hillick continued to sit and stare upon the stars, the crewer shouted again, and still Hillick did not lift a finger nor indicate he had heard the man. Then the crewer marched out of the crew pit and hurried over, advancing with his steps resounding loudly upon the steps as other stations had grown quiet, no one stopped him, but the crewman was oblivious to the silence he came upon the bridge. "Investi-" was as far as his last retort got.

In a swift motion Hillick Soal was standing and staring at the man, his nose tip was a florrid color as he stared the man down with ease. "One does not shout on a bridge ensign as if at some bar for a drink, this is a place of command and discipline. Something you have missed out on, how you advanced without knowing this to a position such as bridge duty is an error that shall be corrected. Now what is your last report?"

The act had merely to continue for now, as if he cared about this lad or the way a bridge was handled when he knew what he knew? But still appearances had to be kept for now.

"Sir." the ensign responded with a slight quiver, as if the boy was afraid he would be struck down for this. "Holo-messaging phishing has discovered a possitive corelation to potential Johnny Boy crew members with destinations not previously ID'd."

Looking back at the stars Hillick considered, "Nature of the recipients?"

"It appears to be residential in nature, Investigator."

"Transfer what we have to my room." Turning without another word Hillick left the bridge, the captain stepping in to complete the dressing down and replacement of the ensign.

So it advances.

---

The night was deep, the night was still.

Not a resident was stirring,
not even a child.
The hover craft quarenteened the block with care,
in the hopes that the family still would be there.
The families were nestled secure in their beds,
while visions of good dreams danced in their heads.
Commando leiason in his cap and Commando in his bucket,
had just settled to splitting up for an evil nights work.

When rams through the doors arose such a clatter,
the residents sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
Up through the rooms they rose like a flash,
tore open doors and tore down the curtains.

The moon on the glint of the fresh trooper helmets,
gave a luster of midday to objects below.
When what to their wondering eyes should appear?
But a clone trooper dashing with blaster a glow!

With murky old armor, so lively and quick,
they knew in a moment this must be a trick.
More rapid than aiming shots yet they came,
and they ducked, and they shouted, as they called in vain.

"Now Halt! Stop there! You are under arrest!
Trooper now cease, this is all for the best!
Stop or we'll shoot!" yet came the reply, and yet
only shots and explosions of craft yet came in reply.

As training before reality yet balks,
when they meet with real combat to pause.
So advatage he took of their hesitation,
and soon many lay without invitation.

Then in a twinkling it ended quiet suddenly,
a blue shot rang out from the leiason's blaster.
As he settled it back, down into it's holster,
they came and looked down, on the face of this one.

He was dressed all in armor from his head to his foot.
It was yet tarnished with age and with goop.
A bundle of gear he yet had on his back,
And he looked like a trooper from childhood poster.

His eyes how they fluttered! His dimples how smooth!
His cheeks were like furrows! His nose like a smudge!
His droll little mouth was gapped like a fish,
and his hair yet glinted like the white of their armor.

The stock of a blaster he gripped in his hand,
its smoke yet incircled his form like a wreath.
He had a long face, and an easy ID,
That registered quickly with the local authorities!

He was citizen Corellia, a right pleasant neighbor,
and they laughed as they read it inspite of themselves!
A pull on the stocks, and snap of the cuffs,
Soon gave them to know they had nothing to dread.

They spoke not a word, but went straight through their work.
And filled up the transport with nary a jerk.
And reading the IDs brought before their nose,
Down the page their eyes rode.

Kerry, Joel, and Brice Gradins, secured yet for transport.
Rex Hoprea was snagged in their net too.

With a swirl of their arms, to their teams gave a whistle,
Away they all flew like the down of a hujib.
Yet the governer exclaimed as he sent out the notice,
"The family is quarenteened, no one take heed!"

TAG: None​

​

 

IC: C.T.
Delicate Delinquent Bridge

"Bridge, this is Mac. I've done what I can from here. Please advise."

The question came through loud and clear and the answer went back out that they needed more information from Mac. C.T. kept a close watch on the com traffic around them and monitored for any other sign of trouble. He closed his eyes for a moment to just listen to it all. The static, the sounds of voices, and the tones of the voices, and while it had been years since he was able to do this, it came back do quickly. From the first day that his “talent” was recognized and allowed to grow, he became not just another clone following orders, but one that suddenly loved what he was doing and one that had a talent that could truly help his entire team. He and his 2 brothers owed all they had accomplished to a Jedi that was murdered by her team because they were brain washed to believe they had to. She was a fair leader and she was kind, who with that would deserve to be killed. He had heard of other members of the “jedi” who had actually turned Sith and had slaughtered thousands of soldiers just for fun. But their leader, was never like that. In his mind he said the words he never got to say….thank you.

As he opened his eyes and went back to the work he was given a new voice joined the chorus of the chatter, and want that made his breath catch in his chest.

“No, thank you for your loyalty and uniqueness.”

A small smile came across his lips as he went back to listening to the chatter of the com.


IC: Circuit
Level Four

Circuit was taking what his was given to fix the hull. One piece of metal at a time and ensuring that it was in place. It was like solving a puzzle except that the pieces were not really given to you. As he was fixing the items his mind wandered and it was almost like he was hearing the song for the first time.

Memory

Begin Music

Herc, Circuit and C.T. had finished yet another round of training and they had all been sent to work on their own talents. Circuit had found a quiet place to sit to read over manuals and what not. He thought he was alone and then he heard a soft sound, as he tried to ignore it …it continued to tug at his soul. He finally gave in and went to follow the voice. It lead him to the gardens at the temple. He stayed back as he came across a hooded figure singing softly.
A hand was laid on his shoulder and he turned to find Aayla.

“I’m sorry. I should go…I just….”

“You heard the song that was being sung. Then you were meant to hear it. Do not apologize.”

“It is moving…”

“It’s about the voice that leads us all. The Force, your gift…”

“Yes. I understand. Thank you. I have reading to get back to.”

The Jedi nodded at Circuit who turned and slowly began to leave. He turned back around to see Aayla place her hand on the shoulder of the hooded person. As the hood was pushed back, Circuit saw and exchange of what he could only take as caring from master to student. Kasumi and Aayla were fitted so well together and he was honored to be able to help them and be by their side.

End Memory

Circuit smiled…and then as he worked began to whistle the tune that he had heard that day.

Tag: Sith

 

IC: Kasumi
Sword of Justice Hangar Bay

I'm feeling a lot of mixed emotions, it was overpowering that I shut off a part of my mind. Are you sensing the samething?"

Kasumi smiled to the question.

“I’m sensing a lot. There are some parts the are overwhelming, but it’s like turning a filter on and letting one thing in at a time…not all at once. I don’t know if I would call them mixed emotions, but definitely shattered minds. Broken spirits. Life energy of those who lost their lives, and those who were left behind.”

Kasumi turned to the Captain.

“Before we undertake this mission…I would like to know who or rather what made someone an Exile? There is so much I’m sensing around this place and this planet. If you want your information and that power generator turned off, having us go to a planet that we have little information of is…well….almost asking for a suicide mission…especially when you and others around you know what we are walking into.”

Tag: Fress and Bravo