Star Wars The Shadow War - Times End - Two new factions opened up! - Legacy: War spoilers!

IC: Daniel and Lenea Sandstrider
Over the Temple of Light

Ducking and diving from the ground fire surrounding them, the Sandstrider siblings winced almost in unison at the sight beneath them. No matter how hard they had fought in orbit- and make no mistake, they had stayed as long as feasibly possible -it was apparent that they hadn't been enough. The temple was clearly under siege by the droids and their Sith masters. North, South, East, West...it didn't matter. Every angle on the structure had blaster fire and lightsabers lighting the area around them. Daniel, trained as he was, could at least recognize that bar the South, the lines had stabilized at least. The North seemed to be totally secure, as an explosion flashed among the droids. The East and West appeared to be stalemates, though the elder Sandstrider sibling could feel the darkness around them.

The South though...that front seemed critically under-defended.That much was well-apparent, even from the sky over the structure.

"Kriff! We lost the pod Danny!"

A sharp flash of shock accompanied that mental scream in Daniel's head, drawing his attention away from the temple. Indeed, a bolt of green fire had narrowly missed one of the new fighters- the Twin-Tail. That same bolt had collided with the pod, knocking it off its course. It didn't damage it- thank the Force for small miracles -but it had clearly forced it out of the air.

And right for the south side of the Temple of Light.

"I'm going after it."

That reply to his sister's mental message...did not go over well. Even if he couldn't see it, Daniel could feel the glare she was currently directing at him.

"Oh no you aren't. We need the Spirit intact, not flying into a hot zone like that! Besides, Sherland needs you to give her a lift...unless you want her trying to sit with one of us in our fighters? I'll go after the pod. New guy had the same idea!"

Lenea wasn't wrong, as the fighter that had dodged the bad beam went charging for the ground right after it. In any other situation, the courage would be admirable. But going in alone like that...that was just dangerous. The droids were not Imperial Stormtroopers, but they seemed good enough for taking down one lone Jedi. The other defenders in the South could help, but how much?

That was why Daniel wanted to go after it himself. He was a Knight, and he knew he could at least handle a few of the droids. But his sister was correct in one thing...they needed his old freighter. He couldn't just go charging into the fray.

That didn't stop him from worrying of course. He wouldn't be a good brother if he didn't.

"Be careful. Those droids look tough."

"I can handle them! Just get down quick so you can back me up!"

Forcing a smile to his face, Daniel nodded and pulled back to join the other fighters. Lenea by contrast, landed on the ground as quickly as she could, drawing her orange-bladed 'saber as she leapt out of the Starstreak. Moving to cover the other Jedi, she could only hope that aid came fast...

TAG: galactic-vagabond422 , Tim Battershell , Falcon , Master Selkath , Bardan_Jusik

 

IC: Suraya Archisa
Hellfire Escape Pod

The similarities between a brig cell and an escape pod were far too many; she was ready to get out. Through the view window she could see the Twin Tail escort making a surging beeline towards the planet’s surface.

Less than a minute ago a fuel sensor had began to flash on her console which now read 2%. Grabbing for the com-control she began to speak until noticing it was dead. Cinching her safety constraints to their maximum she then rummaged under the seat, finally pulling out a dinged helmet. For what it’s worth.

Just moments before she had prepared to become one with the Living Force, but instead watched in disbelief as the two remaining Predators had miraculously collided destroying themselves seconds before crashing into her pod.

She finally boldly decided to cut the engine and free-fall the remaining distance before reigniting at the last moment to cushion the impact. As she flicked the switches hearing the pod suddenly go silent the Jedi vessel in front of her swerved dramatically to the right and in its wake a surge of green energy clipped the pod.

Now the ground was coming up fast. The pod was in tact but billowing a long tail of smoke. Placing her fingers on the ignition switches, Suraya briefly closed her eyes allowing the Force to guide her. Would the engine even fire after the blast? Her fingers moved on their own and after a sputter and jerk the remaining life of the pod exerted itself momentarily just enough to prevent her demise. Thank the Force.

Hearing footsteps rushing towards her in the snow Suraya looked skyward as the pod’s hatch opened and a face radiating compassionate concern peaked within…

I’m alright, she sighed. I’m…alright.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422, Skywalker_T-65

 

IC: Tim Battershell
X-83 TwinTail Starfighter - Hanging Valley, Western Side of Valley of Light, Saridona Prime.

Tim saw the Escape Pod take fire and the Stranger's X-83 follow it down into the Valley of Light. Not good at all. There were more than enough War Droids in that area; in fact the South Entrance looked to be the enemy's Main Attack Axis. Time for some improvisation, then!

"Stay here to grab your new ride, Master! We've friendlys below who need support. See you down there!"

With that, he shot out of the Hanging Valley, relying on his Twin-Tail's repulsors to slow and cushion the ship's plummet to the floor of the Valley of Light. He didn't know how far the Sith Landers' weapons could depress, but there was one place he could be reasonably certain of finding a null-zone. That place was tucked right up tight to the most Northerly of the Drop-ships and just to its North, facing the Temple; with his bulk of his remaining Shield capability set to deflect incoming fire from ahead. If they wanted to shoot through their own ship to try to get him, that'd be one ship less for the Temple's personnel to have to deal with later.

His original plan had been to use his remaining Proton Torpedoes to 'sweep' the area clear with blast and debris, but one look at the distances involved made that into a non-starter - the range was far too short for weapons that powerful.

However, he still had his ship's Laser Cannons available and they, unlinked and firing in sequence, should provide a respectable, continuous, volume of fire. Gavin Darklighter's Memoirs had described the effect of those weapons on the Stormtoopers of his day (basically their amoured torsos had vapourised when hit), so Tim had no doubts that the same treatment would see to any Droid - even the old, heavily armoured, YVH variety.

He paused while another fighter came in for a landing, then lifted the ship a little higher to fire over friendly heads and ships and tightened down on the trigger, sending a stream of cannon bolts into the rear of the Droid formations; working the controls to spray the entire group of Droids from side to side, much as a man would use a water-hose's jet to dislodge something objectionable on the walkway outside his door.


TAG: Falcon, Master Selkath, Bardan_Jusik, galactic-vagabond422, Skywalker_T-65.

 

IC: Hochner Trevalus
GoL Temple Of Light, East Entrance

As he danced and laughed upon the droids heads, batting aside their sprays of death back at them and a few to merely darken the walls of the Temple halls, he smiled solid and strong. His trunk unwavering in the hail that was the death notes of the dance, for they did not sing for him. Though many passed within a fingers breadth of his being, many were reflected from being direct hits, and many more passed through open for the sole reason that he had moved on and was no longer there. In all these things he found great joy and in his motions meditated on these things, and so in his dance the energy of the song became his energy more and more as the Force opened up in him and through him.

Then it came. A woman's voice. Darkness called and the notes of sailing death were muted, he did not pause in this, but then there came the whirring thrums of pain. They promised death just the same as the sailing notes, but these promised even greater the pain in dying, the hurt of rending. One grabbed at his boot upon it's companions head which he sliced off at the wrist before it could crush or force to slice through, still he fell and spun as he did. Arms close, one in front, one in back, sabers pointed in opposing directions. Then he swung them out as he ducked and rolled until he stood in a small clearing of merely a couple steps as the droids closed in from three sides, the forth was taken by the wall.

Taking a steady breath as he swayed to the tempo he noted as he looked down the gleam of his own blood slowly creeping upon the silver hand, whether initially or from his actions it had punctured through boot and skin. With a quick flash of his two blades he had the offending machine freed from his ankle but still the pain did not come, his adrenaline and joy was far to high in either stock to take more than a passing note of this harm. Still.

With a kip backwards he hit the wall to rebound with a Force Jump toward the opposite side of the hall, throwing his lightsaber ahead of himself to impale a droid before landing with his feet to either side of the handle he rode the body down as he whipped his armed free saber about himself. As it crashed he rolled and freed the blade and finally felt that crescendo note where one knows you can nearly do anything through the Force. In that moment he let go.

The blade flew spinning from his hand, it's arc bringing it to miss his own throwing arm by mere centimeters, and although it was free from his physical hand the spinning lattice of death was firmly in his mind as he danced a merry jig with free hand raised high, waving as a conductor upon the blade. He watched and laughed fresh anew as he swung his armed arm less and the free hand more as droids fell by the score as he advanced to the middle of the hall and let the blade spin like a buzz saw through the pressing ranks of droids in a circle around him. Once. Twice. Thrice the rows closed in just in time to be mowed down before their graspers came too close.

Then once more the began to slow and he pulled in close to see his eye within the assault and the hill of droids the others now had to climb to reach him. "Surrender and shut down now and you can serve as training droids!" he called out with an ample sense of glee. To say a part of him did not wish for them not to shut down he knew the tally as well as any others as the lights came back on line. All they had to do was hold the line and support would come, only how true that was for the enemies without and within was truly the reason to pause.

Still he kept up his turning motion, no edge left unlooked upon for more than the mere moment of a turn or twist even as he listened to the Force for from where the next true danger should arise from.

TAG: Bardan_Jusik, Gotab, The_Zeltron, BultarSwan

 

IC: Ian Thrace
Temple of GoL, Just inside the East entrance

There was a fire in him now, Ian could feel it as the severed limbs and wrecked carapaces of battle droids fell around him. It was an exhilaration fed by fear, and that frightened him even more. That fear fed upon itself, making him stronger and stronger now. There was no calm, there was no thought, there was simply a battle to save himself and his friends. He laughed now at his fear, at is exhilaration. He had been warned of the darkside before, had even felt it when he had hurt padawan Tano, but this. This couldn't be the dark side. He felt hot, like fire. There was nothing dark about this. It was wonderful, it could only be the light, it could only be that he was finally reaching his potential!

He slashed at another droid that came too close. They were no longer firing their blasters. Rather they were trying to rend he and his friends limb from limb. It was barabaric, it was frightening, and it just fueled him more.

"Surrender and shut down now and you can serve as training droids!" No Ian wanted to shout. Don't surrender. If they surrendered his fear would leave him, and with it the power it gave him. So long as he was afraid he would be powerful. It made no sense, but so long as he embraced the darkness within him he would feel the flames.

Suddenly the lights inside the Temple came on and the hallways and corridors were illuminated. The darkness was vanquished, and within himself Ian remembered that there was once light. Could that light also vanquish the darkness he felt inside? Could he go back to what he once was? Could he give up this power? He pushed with the force, knocking aside a handful of droids that were making their way towards him and took several steps back, back to where Master Piim was engaged in her own battle. He realized now that he wanted this all to be over, he wanted the fear to go away, and just like that, the fire within him was snuffed out, though the cold fear remained.

It was so cold, and Ian dropped his lightsaber, clutching at himself as he shivered with fear. It was so cold, and he thought he could see his own breath frosting in front of him. It was so cold, and he felt so alone. There was nothing he could do now against the droid army, or against the Sith woman. The fire in him had gone out and had left him in fear's icy embrace. Ian collapsed to the floor, next to his fallen lightsaber. He looked at the weapon, the memories of what he could do with it, what he had done with it only moments ago, were fading away. He shook his head and slowly reached for it, his fingers grazing the cold cylinder before consciousness too became but just a memory.

TAG: Bardan_Jusik, Mitth_Fisto, The_Zeltron, BultarSwan.

 

IC: Kai Dareagen
Valley of Light, Saridona Prime

“I’m alright,” the Jedi inside the escape pod sighed “I’m…alright.” Kai let out the breath he had been holding. The Jedi was still alive there was some hope left in this situation. He turned his head to the sound of another ship landing a Starstreak if he was not mistaken. A being got out and activated their lightsaber. The orange glow of the blade gave him a better look and the person, a human woman. She moved to cover their back. Kai thought ahead to charging the droid lines since they stood in the way of the Jedi and the temple. His master never taught him how to use a saber everything the young knight knew about fighting came from his old temple’s weapon master. Kai had chosen to focus on Ataru which suited his more energetic and most would say reckless style. The problem was that for all its flowing movements the fourth lightsaber form was very weak against laser fire, something he was about to face. He thought up what his master would most likely do, which would be to evacuate the temple and let it be taken over, then negotiate with the Sith that had attacked. In fact he would have opened negotiations as soon as he saw an enemy vessel on scopes. Kai shook his head, he could respect his master’s unwavering conviction to non-violence but, when the foe shows no mercy, there’s no point asking for it. Laser bolts ripped thought the sky above him crashing into the rear of the droid lines. He reached his hand inside the pod, the cold wind cut to his bones causing him to shiver a little bit.

“One of our allies is giving us cover but, we need to go now.” He said urgency in his voice. He looked up just in time to see the lights come on inside the darkened temple. He felt his hope returning, hope that they would get through this.

TAG: Ananta Chetan Skywalker_T-65 Tim Battershell Falcon Master Selkath

 

IC: Suraya Archisa
Valley of Light, Saridona Prime

Reaching for his supportive hand, Kai and Suraya exchanged brisk introductions as she disembarked the pod and felt for the first time the soft crunch beneath her feet and saw the frosty white air of her breath.

Snow! She had never experienced such a thing. Reaching down she let her olive fingers sink into the fine white powder allowing her gaze to momentarily take in the majestic landscape. A forest of snow-tipped trees surrounded the now illuminated Temple and its serenity left her in awe.

Beautiful…so…stopping herself, she felt Kai’s gaze observing her innocent appreciation and smiled. Her every cell felt saturated by being near such Force presence again after her imprisonment, even though the tapestry of the setting was currently marred in battle.

Spotting a female Jedi not far from their location, Suraya surveyed the scene before them in preparation for a quick rendezvous. The field was still filled with droids, but thankfully a Twintail was skillfully vaporizing them en masse, leaving scant trace of their mechanical carnage.

“One of our allies is giving us cover but, we need to go now.” Suraya briefly caught something in Kai’s expression which intuitively prompted her to humbly reply, “Stay close brother…and follow me.”

Igniting her ember blade, she adjusted her soresu cocoon to extend to protecting them both, as they began their way across the field. There were few blaster bolts to deflect though, as most of the droids had now disengaged their arm canons in favor of extending their long dagger like claws, a few of which she neatly pruned from their metal bodies en route to the cover of the Starstreak.

Just before reaching their destination, Suraya in one fluid motion extinguished her saber and raised both arms Force-lifting a nearby droid that was engulfed in flames from the Twintail attack. Turning it on its side and levitating it about ten inches off the ground, she sent it with a fully concentrated slow push into the closest remaining line of droid attackers. The flaming droid clothes-lined the knees of its counterparts, one after another, as they toppled like dominoes forward into the snow, floundering and unable to upright themselves in the drifts. Once it reached the back of the line after making a full snowplow swath, it detonated in an orangish ball, spraying shrapnel into the mechanical hulls of those few of its companions remaining nearby.

This new amber blade wielding Jedi belonged here. This was her place. Suraya could feel it, while simultaneously like her, that Kai was a newcomer to this world. Expressing her gratitude to them both for rescuing her, Lenea then introduced herself and quickly shared the current details of the siege. Suraya decided it was not the time to reveal more about the potential plot of the Sith, but she had little doubt that behind this seemingly simple invasion Darth Cavillious had a far darker agenda. The three then swiftly got about the task of discerning what should be their next move in attempting to protect the Temple.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422, @Skywalker_T-65, @Tim Battershell, @Falcon, @Master Selkath

 

Co-GM Update (Part I)

IC: Hector Zey
TCC, Temple of Light

Zey pumped his fist in a rather un regal like fashion as the lights came on around him. From the readouts on the display before him, power levels were normal and the the shields and other defenses were on ready standby. He wasted no time at this point in activating both of these and was relieved to watch as the shield, powered by energy from the planet's core, slowly coalesced into being. Once formed it would be impenetrable, though via localized disturbances caused from the TCC the Jedi would still be able to open up "holes" allowing for safe passage.

So too did the automated defense cannons power up. These he set to the task of identifying and destroying droid energy signatures. The very nature of their attackers could now be used against them. Their range was limited, but they would be able to sweep clear the immediate area of any droid forces and keep the perimeter of the Temple safe. Heavy bolts of red plasma started spitting out at the droids and their landing ships giving the Jedi defenders who had made their way outside the breathing room they needed to take full control of the battle. It was all but over now, he silently thanked the Force, and those whose bravery and sacrifice had brought them this victory.

There were others out there too though, and they had to be brought back to the safety of the Temple. He activated the comm system and issued a general recall order to any Jedi outside the Temple. They could help with the mopping up, and also give the rest of the Guardians an idea of what else awaited them out there. If there were any of those Jedi left alive that is...

---

IC: Beskaryc Taab/Darth Harbinger (NPC)
Central Spire, Temple of Light

With a pop followed by a loud hum, Taab could hear, see and even feel the shields coming up. Excellent, General Blowhard (Zey) had finally managed to get the power and defenses back up. It was about shabla time. With that done Taab knew he could leave his perch and actually take part in the battle ranging all around him. He let go of the spire and ignited his jetpack, hovering there while he surveyed the area.

He looked first to the North. The Jedi there had fully repulsed the droid attack, there were no droids left there any longer, and the Jedi rushed back inside on their way to reinforce other areas of the Temple though a small rear guard remained. He spun around, looking to the South side where many Jedi appeared to be redeploying. One of the incoming fighters had taken it upon itself to go low and slow providing close air support to the defenders. It was a bold move as the pilot brought the craft in underneath the enemies guns. Taab smiled, it seemed the close in "towers" couldn't depress their tail mounted weapons far enough to engage the fighter close in and slews of droids, along with a few of the enemy ships, were blasted apart under its withering fire.

But low and slow is no place for a fighter to be, and the landing ships that were farther away didn't have to depress their guns as low to engage the daring fighter pilot. They bracketed him and pounded the craft with a rapid series of high energy bolts. It staggered as the shields failed and smoke began to pour from its engines. The TwinTail (in Temple markings as Taab noted) came down hard in the field outside the Temple, within a few hundred meters of where the escape pod had also landed.

Taab magnified his view and wasn't surprised to see that the pilot had survived. He was surprised to see that it was Verbal (Battershell) who had shown such bravery. He would have expected something that crazy from Momma (Sherland) or even Colonel Velkin, but not from the elderly padawan. His actions, along with the those of the other Jedi on the South side had broken the back of the assault there, only mopping up remained.

There was no news yet from the East side, but with the shields up and the Temple's automated guns coming online the droids outside were being pummeled. He had to imagine that inside a battle still raged, but he couldn't get there at the moment. On the West side though the droids had been pushed back outside of the Temple gates. With them was a single Sith, a male using a weapon that Taab instantly recognized.



The darksaber! He knew that clan Vizsla had been searching for it again for well over a century. He angled his flight to take him down, landing just meters from the Sith who seemed not at all surprised to see him arrive.

"Don't move dar'jetii," Taab spoke plainly whilst drawing one of his blaster pistols. The Sith, known to his compatriots as The Prophet looked at the armored man, supported as he was by the arrival of more Jedi as well. This fight was lost, for the moment. But he could sense in the mercenary a darkness, a darkness that had been used by the Sith in the past and could certainly be exploited in the future. He extinguished the darksaber and dropped it unceremoniously to the ground. One of the Jedi pulled it to her own hands via the force, but after looking to Taab handed it over to the Mandalorian. Taab took it, knowing well the relic's history, it would make a fine trophy. The captured Sith didn't seem bothered by it all though, his capture nor losing such a fine weapon.

"I am your prisoner Mandalorian." He smiled knowingly. "Take me to your leader."

TAG: Skywalker_T-65, Ananta Chetan, Falcon, Tim Battershell, galactic-vagabond422, Master Selkath

---

IC: Master Piim/Darth Sixtus (NPCs)
Just inside the Temple's East entrance

Despite the battle going on all around her Master Piim immediately felt the collapse of poor padawan Thrace. Pulling back within herself she retreated somewhat to look over his unmoving body. The boy was still alive, of that she was certain. But what would he feel when he woke up? It was something that concerned her as much, if not more, than the outcome of the battle.

Fortunately that no longer seemed to be in doubt as a dozen additional Jedi arrived to help them repulse the invaders. The battle must be going well elsewhere if so many could be spared here. Taking a moment she glanced down at the fallen padawan and reaching out with the force brought his lightsaber to her free hand. She disliked fighting, but she could still do what she must, and two blades would be better than one against the Sith woman with the lightwhip.

[hr[ [/hr]

Sixtus' smile left her face as more Jedi entered the fray. Outside she could hear the guns blasting away at their reinforcements before they could even get inside the Temple. Not that they could penetrate the shield that would have gone up by now anyway. They had lost. Her surrender, or death, was unavoidable now. The Prophet had told her, privately, that this would come to pass. That it was necessary for her destiny. He had also told her not to tell Cavillous fore he would have forbade her landing with the assault group. She hadn't sure whether or not to believe the powerful Prophet, but his prediction had borne out.

She lashed out a final time with her lightwhip, catching the blade of the female warrior Jedi's (Be'orar) lightsaber. She pulled at it, but it would not shake loose now. So Harbinger had been right after all.

With her droids falling around her and no hope of escape left to her she dropped the handle of the entangled whip and fell to her knees. They would take her prisoner now, she knew this to be true, for Harbinger had foretold that as well, and she now trusted in his power. She looked into the eyes of the Togrutan Jedi master and smiled broadly as she screamed out the words.

"Do not harm her! Take her prisoner, we need to question her."

TAG: Gotab, Mitth_Fisto, The_Zeltron, BultarSwan

OOC: As you all can see, this battle has just about run its course, just the mopping up left for y'all to do and then I'll move us forward a couple of hours in my next update to bring us to the next stage.

 

Co-GM Update (Part II)

IC: Darth Zelus/Knight Lycar/Darth Velerius (NPCs)
Abandoned observation post. Valley of Light, Saridona Prime.

Lycar caught his breath for a moment as the battle between Kambie and the Sith warrior raged on. The Sith taunted Kambie as the battle wore on. "You can't win, and when you're killed we'll raise your body to serve the dark side."

Lycar had no idea what she meant by that, but for a moment he found himself in a lull in the fighting. Behind him Dryn and Padawan Tano continued to decimate the droid forces, though on the horizon it looked as though a second wave was now making its way down from orbit. He bared his fangs in a half smile/half snarl though as he realized that the droid landing ships wouldn't be able to make planet fall at the Temple. Even from here he could see that the shields had gone up, and the Temple guns rang out a harmony of destruction, and salvation.

That meant that those ships might be landing here though. Despite their best efforts, the small group of Jedi here wouldn't be able to hold off so many droids for long. He breathed deep, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. From the comm system on their bikes a recall order from the Temple sounded. Master Zey also wanted them back, if only they could disengage.

"Get back to your swoops!" the Shistavanen shouted to the lesser ranked members of the recon party. They were only fighting droids and would be able to easily fight their way back to their vehicles. Knight Loother would not have as easy a time. He mustered the force to himself and leapt into the fray, behind the Sith woman. They would take her together.

No sooner had he done so then he was struck by an enormous pain that ripped through his body from his back to his front. Looking down at his chest he saw a bar of red plasma erupt though it. "Wha..." he let out as the short blade pulled back out through his back. He fell to his knees before feeling the previosuly unseen (and unfelt) Sith kick him down to the ground.

"Velerius!" the warrior woman screamed out, distracted for a moment by the second Sith's arrival. Lycar found himself with just enough energy to call out to Knight Loother, "Get back to the Temple, tell them what has happened here." He knew that Dryn and Tano would make it back, but a Jedi Knight would be better able to report to the council than a padawan and ... well whatever Dryn was at the moment. Loother had to survive to report to the council. A final smile curled his canine like lips as he was able to watch the Jedi Knight heed his order and break past the distracted Sith on the way to her own swoop, and then he breathed his last.

---

Zelus extinguished her dual bladed lightsaber and kicked at the body of the dead Jedi. "He was mine! They both were!" She shouted to the form of Darth Velerius.



The younger Sith woman arched her eyebrow as she deactivated her twin red shotos. "Then you should have taken them both. From where I stood, that woman had you matched. You should thank me for ending the fight before the pair overtook you."

"I had them both where I wanted them, about to meet their ends on my blade." She stared out to where their swoops had by now disappeared from view. "We should pursue them, strike the Temple now."

Velerius shook her head. "Praedator has failed, the Temple's defenses are back online. We would never be able to overwhelm them, even with the reinforcements now on the way."

Zelus snarled before blasting the dead Shistavanen's swoop with force lightning. "Then how can we ever hope to take the Temple?"

Velerious smiled now. "Oh Darth Praedator is still alive. I can feel it."

The Sith second in command looked at her quizzically. "Praedator can't hide from the Force fully as I can. Unlike me, only the dark side nature of the other infiltrator can be hidden. but I know what to look for." She closed her eyes. "Oh yes, Darth Praedator is alive and knows the mission. The Temple's defenses will falter again, and this time more permannently I should think."

Now it was Zelus turn to smile. "And when they do, we will be ready."

"To the caves then?"

"To the caves, and victory."

TAG: Runjedirun, Rebecca_Daniels, Padawan4687

 

IC: Suraya Archisa
Valley of Light, Saridona Prime

Are you OK? Can you walk? We need to move away from here...and quickly.

Suraya Force-lifted a piece of flaming wreckage from their path setting it to the side and then placed her shoulder under the fallen pilot's arm and moved him swiftly in the opposite direction of his burning ship. How quickly the Force had provided her with the opportunity to return the favor of assisting someone else in distress after a crash landing..always keeping the balance. What a mystery.

She had momentarily glanced at her two new companions previously before bolting across the field towards the crash site. Kai and Lenea both seemed to perceive from her silent glance what she intended to do. Now she and the fallen Jedi made their way to a tiny grove of frosted pines where she found him a comfortable seat on a dry log to get his bearings. He still seemed shaken but appeared unharmed. His heroics in the Twintail had undoubtedly saved her life along with her companions during the droid onslaught moments before after they touched down. The field now appeared clear of attackers thanks to their efforts and the Temple's activated defenses. Birds could now be heard in the forest re-emerging.

But something was out of place. She could feel it. Things were not as they appeared to be. What would happen next she did not know, but for the present she allowed herself to rest in the momentary peace that existed.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422, @Skywalker_T-65, @Tim Battershell

 

IC: Kasha Sherland
Hanging Valley, Western Side of Valley of Light, Saridona Prime

Kasha watched as her padawan took off in the twin tail to go assist the others. He was a bold and a bit on the crazy side padawan. She had reached Sandstrider a few minutes requesting a ride out of here. She was lucky the nose didn’t fall off the fighter before she had a chance to land it. “Sandstrider, where are you?” She questioned over the channel. “The sooner you pick me up the sooner we can assist the others.”

--------
Skywalker_T-65

 

IC: Kai Dareagen
Valley of Light, Saridona Prime

“Stay close brother…and follow me.” Suraya said before leading the way to the disappearing droids. Kai kept close behind the Mirialan Jedi. She shielded him from the few blaster bolts that came toward him. He felt like he was a padawan again, under the protective wing of his master. They reached the back ranks of droids that were in fiery disarray, Kai was content to let Suraya to cut a path straight to the temple, while he covered their flanks. The automatons had switched to lasing out with their knife like fingers, swiping at the Jedi like clawed animals. His saber moved in flowing lines on either side of his body disarming some aggressors incapacitating others. The former captive threw a droid into its compatriots, it detonated sending shrapnel in all directions.

In all the chaos Kai heard something he didn’t want to, the sound of a falling space craft. He turned momentarily to see what was happening. The Twin Tail that had covered the three Jedi’s approach had crashed into the field between the escape pod and the temple. The knight could feel that the pilot was fine but, this was no time to be alone. He readied to rush to the other Jedi’s assistance when Suraya glanced at him. The look said that she would handle it. Again he deferred to the Master’s unspoken plan, remaining near the temple and finishing off any surviving attackers. He turned to the human knight that had landed after him, Lenea, if he recalled,

“So, do you think any droids made it inside?” he asked.

TAG: Skywalker_T-65 Ananta Chetan Tim Battershell

 

IC: Tim Battershell
Valley of Light, Saridona Prime.

How he had got from the cockpit of his X-83, methodically eliminating Sith War Droids, to a convenient log-seat in a pine grove, Tim would never be able to recall clearly. His only clues were the sensation of having been half-supported, half-floated, away from his downed ship and a female voice saying; "Are you OK? Can you walk? We need to move away from here...and quickly."

The chill of the air cleared his head enough to let him tap into the Force for refreshment, which cleared his head completely, and take stock of his condition. No sharp pains anywhere, just a dull all-over ache, particularly in the region of his tail-bone. Just as well it was still well-padded! Well, what couldn't be walked-off would probably yield to a Sonic Massage from the Illusion's 'fresher unit, or give him a chance to put his Master's self-healing tuition to good use.

Thinking of his Master caused him to send a non-verbal burst of reassurance along their Force-bond as he checked his equipment. Lightsaber (which he took the opportunity to set to full-power), Dirk, Shoulder-holstered DL-44 Blaster, Electrobinoculars, Comlink and DataPad - all still where they should be. Pity about the ship, although time, effort and spare parts might get it back into flying condition again. Back on Agamar, an enthusiast had once put a much more heavily-damaged fighter back to combat-readiness.

Somewhat gingerly, he hoisted himself back onto his feet and took an experimental step. Satisfied with the result he turned to his helper and said;

"Think so, to both. Many thanks for the assist! I'm Tim Battershell, recently joined the Guardians of Light as a Padawan.... please just call me Tim - it's easier and quicker!


TAG: Ananta Chetan, Indirectly Falcon, Master Selkath, Bardan_Jusik, galactic-vagabond422, Skywalker_T-65.

 

IC: Suraya Archisa
Temple Outskirts

"Think so, to both. Many thanks for the assist! I'm Tim Battershell, recently joined the Guardians of Light as a Padawan.... please just call me Tim - it's easier and quicker!

It's an honor. I'm Suraya Archisa. Your heroics aboard your fighter back there are to be commended. Your Master would no doubt be proud. With a subtle nod of gratitude she briefly shared the most pertinent parts of her recent imprisonment aboard the Hellfire, including the death of her own padawan.

As they sat quietly she imagined that it must not have been easy for someone of Tim's maturity to take to the Jedi path. The humility and flexibility required for training would be difficult for many who had reached his age. She watched as he meticulously organized his gear, and with great care. It reminded her of a saying from a Jedi sage long since gone...Make the outside as you wish the inside to be.* Implying, as she understood, that the ability to be organized in one's material life would aid in developing self-control within. She could see that Tim already had both.

Across the clearing she spotted Kai and Lenea and stood to signal to them that they were alright. Kai returned the hand gesture but Lenea seemed strangely aloof. As though she were heavily preoccupied with thoughts of another Jedi...someone close to her...a brother perhaps? Suraya momentarily focused on the young woman just long enoug to glean that information and to try to discern what might be distracting her, but then withdrew her attention out of respect for her privacy. Plus, she had found over the years, that knowing things about others could be a far greater burden than not.

Tim the immediate surroundings appear to be clear, but perhaps we shouldn't stay here out in the open for long. What do you suggest...should we try to make our way inside your Temple once you feel ready to move?

TAG: @Tim Battershell, @galactic-vagabond422, @Skywalker_T-65,

Spoiler

*Gandhi IRL

 

IC: Tim Battershell
Valley of Light, Saridona Prime.

Tim listened carefully to all Master Archisa had to say.

"I was aiming for practical rather than 'heroic', Ma'am, the job was there to be done and I had the means to do it; just wish I could have kept the fighter in one piece!" he replied;

"Miss Lenea's probably already reporting our situation to her brother, Knight Sandstrider via the Force.... But it might make sense not to risk exposing his ship to those cannons during the time it would take for him to pick us up - it's been heavily modified, but I don't know how tough its Shields are. On the other hand, the Temple's power and defences seem to be back up again, so we could get shot at if we try to simply walk in unannounced.... Some of those War Droids may have got inside too! Please excuse me for a moment...."

He drew his Comlink and activated it, finding - not too unexpectedly, as it was a common tactic - that the Temple's main frequency was solidly jammed. However, he had better luck with the private channel to the 'Illusion', although he'd no idea how long it'd take the Sith to isolate and jam that as well; still, while he had it available.... "Be a nice girl and inform TCC there are four friendlys heading towards the South Entrance on foot, please.". There was just time for the ship's computer to transmit its acknowledging chirp before the jamming came down.

It might, he thought to himself, be a good idea to invest in a frequency-hopping system if this sort of thing kept happening; either that, or cobble something together that would let him use the old, outdated, Radionics band. The prime disadvantage of Radionics was its signals were limited to Lightspeed; its advantage that hardly anyone used it anymore - when, that is, they had even heard of it! He doubted that modern jammers would touch it; that was certainly the case during the First Centerpoint Crisis all those years ago.

"Always found that aches and jarring from 'one-point landings' are best walked-off, Ma'am, though I was a lot younger then - learning to fly my homebuilt 'Thrust-Sailer' back on Agamar; so hopefully, I'm good to go."


TAG: Ananta Chetan, Indirectly Falcon, Master Selkath, Bardan_Jusik, galactic-vagabond422, Skywalker_T-65.

 

IC: Gaan Be'orar
Just inside the Temple's East entrance

When the lights came on and the Padawan fell, Gaan's concentration was only broken for a moment, as she turned briefly to admire her handiwork. In that moment, though, the Sith woman's lightwhip caught her blade, circling around it. Gaan jerked her blade, attempting to free it to no avail. Growling under her breath, she dropped her blade just as the woman did her lightwhip, ducking barely in time to avoid taking a shot to the chest from one of the few remaining droids. Drawing the Force in around her, she thrust it outward as she stood up, hurling the droids still in front of her against the walls and out into the yard from whence they had come.

Turning back to the Sith woman, she picked up her now-deactivated - and therefore disentangled - lightsaber, and approached her kneeling form, blade reactivating in her hand. Someone screamed, "Do not harm her! Take her prisoner, we need to question her." Gaan stopped in her tracks, head snapping around to fix the Togrutan Jedi with a rather incredulous and irritated stare. After a long moment, she turned away, acknowledging the Togrutan's authority. Picking up the Sith woman's lightwhip, she deactivated and coiled it, placing it on her belt, then took up a position standing just behind and over the prisoner, lightsaber still activated and humming just in front of the woman's throat. She had no other way to secure a Force-sensitive prisoner at the moment. Best leave that to the Jedi Master who had ordered them to take her into custody.

TAG: Gotab, Mitth_Fisto, Bardan_Jusik, BultarSwan

 

IC: Hochner Trevalus
Just Inside the ToL East Entrance

Performing a rhythmic shuffle step he proceeded up the hill of droids and disarmed those that did not shut down, and beheaded a few others. To be honest with the Temple's guns blasting the tidal death flow of droids was stemmed and it quickly went from a blood rushing situation to a nice cool down. To be honest is the other Jedi were winded from this they needed to work on their stamina.

Although to be honest with himself he needed to work on his own as his body had not fully recovered from whatever malnourishment had been inflicted by the Rakata. A thought which made him smile as he began to envision the similarities between the droids he was chopping down and an armored version of a Verpine. Actually that made his stomach grumble as he ducked a flying droid that made a drone comparison all to palpable. Then as he saw the Dark woman relinquish her lightwhip, the other Jedi who had not followed his lead earlier now leapt in and stopped just short of killing the woman at the Masters words.

Although her motion to leave the woman as she was was atrocious and so he merely closed the distance as he shifted into a quick step. Soon coming up on the other side of the woman he nodded to his fellow temple patrol partner, "I would be honored to patrol with you any day Knight Be'orar, although we could get to know each other better for these situations." he buzzed out with loosely curled trunk swinging side to side lazily to show his mirth at the situation. He could not remember for the life of him now whether she was a Knight or a Padawan, and so as manners dictated he called her the higher of the two stations, better to compliment then to insult.

Still he looked down, spotted the notch at the base of the human woman's skull just nearly at hist waist level, and deactivated a saber to swing it with just the learned amount of force to know the woman unconscious. Permanent paralysis was a small risk, even smaller when compared to their safety. Although he hoped his fellow Temple Patrol would remove her saber from the neck in time not to kill the woman, he would feel no remorse if she did not. After all as a Jedi and a Mortukai might quip, 'An accidentally dead prisoner is better than a scheming aware prisoner.'

TAG: Gotab, The_Zeltron, Bardan_Jusik, BultarSwan

 

IC: Gaan Be'orar

Temple's East Entrance

Gaan glanced over at the Kubaz as he approached her. She sensed he disapproved of something, but couldn't quite tell what. If it was important enough, she supposed he would mention it. "I would be honored to patrol with you any day Knight Be'orar, although we could get to know each other better for these situations." Gaan smirked but didn't reply as he gazed down at the Sith kneeling before her.

It only took him a moment to find what he was looking for, and then Gaan barely had time to step back, swinging her lightsaber in an outward arc to avoid hitting the woman as the Kubaz knocked her unconscious. She tilted her head, watching as the woman fell, then looked back up at her patrol partner. "Now how are we supposed to question her, Knight.....?" She paused, waiting for him to fill in his name for her. It would be nice to know who he was, after all. While she waited, she deactivated her lightsaber again, placing it in front of the lightwhip on her belt. She had never wielded a lightwhip before, but, if the masters let her keep it, she definitely planned on learning.

TAG: Gotab, Mitth_Fisto, Bardan_Jusik, BultarSwan

 

IC: Ian Thrace
Temple of GoL, awakening just inside the East entrance

"uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Ian groaned, slowly opening his eyes. Where was he? He seemed to be laying down. Was he alone? No. He heard voices. There was someone above him. Was this the sick bay again? The sound of a few blaster shots and the humming of lightsabers told him it wasn't. He shivered. It was so cold. His eyes began to focus on what was around him.

He was on the floor, near one of the entrances to the temple. Above him was Master Piim, and around him were other Jedi who seemed to be in the process of forcibly dismantling battle droids. What had happened? He tried to remember, but he couldn't. The last thing he had remembered was the Temple coming under attack, by these droids! The realization struck him as though it should have been obvious, yet it wasn't. He had been called to help defend the Temple, but he had been afraid. After that though there was nothing. Just darkness and cold...he was so cold.

He got to his feet unsteadily. His lightsaber was missing, he must have lost it in the battle. He wrapped his arms around himself, an effort to ward off the freeze within him that didn't seem to thaw. His vision was still somewhat cloudy, he was still having trouble focusing, but he could see now that Master Piim had his lightsaber. The droids must have been too much for him and she had saved him, warding them off with his lightsaber in addition to her own. Yes, that must have been it he thought to himself, starting to gain more clarity in his thoughts as well as his vision. But how did that explain the intense coldness he felt down to the depths of his bones, indeed, in his very soul?

The Sith woman was here too, crumpled on the floor. She had fallen in battle, was she alive? Ian opened himself up to the force, just a little as even that much effort chilled him to the bone. Yes she was alive, the dark side roiled off of her, it's stench sickeningly sweet to him. He retched and shivered again. It seemed she was now their prisoner. He examined her unconscious form from afar. She was beautiful, and deadly. Exotic. All just like her chosen weapon, which Ian saw Knight Be'orar had kept for herself.

"Now how are we supposed to question her, Knight.....?"

Ian was about to speak up when the cold came for him again and he spasmed slightly, his teeth chattering. This was all so wrong. He turned away from the Sith woman who lay there so helpless now. It would be up to others to interrogate her, Ian wasn't up to such a thing, he knew that. He doubted he would ever be powerful enough to face down so much as a droid, much less a Sith Lady. He wondered idly why the others didn't seem to be affected at all by the severe chill he felt in the air. He looked to them, first to Master Piim, then to Knight Trevalus and finally Knight Be'orar hoping to meet their eyes, though he ended up looking down at his feet instead. "What...what happened?"

TAG: Mitth_Fisto, The_Zeltron, BultarSwan, Bardan_Jusik

 

IC: Suraya Archisa
Temple Outskirts

While listening to Tim attempt to contact the Temple, Suraya was reminded of her many memories of missions spent with her late padawan. Though not usually sentimental or nostalgic as per the deeply ingrained spirit of the Jedi attitude towards attachment which she embraced, she did momentarily lament that she would never again share such experiences with the aspiring Jedi who had faithfully called her Master and become a trusted young friend and confidant. What a waste. His spark of potential extinguished so meaninglessly by the dark forces. She made a mental note to further mediate on this later, so as to try to understand the purpose the Living Force may have had in giving her such an experience. It's deeper intention still eluded her though she had to humbly admit.

Then she felt a very familiar feeling. Looking up at the Guardians of Light padawan, she detected an guileless glimmer in his eyes as well as a slight hesitation to share something with her. A sentiment and moment that nearly mirrored countless interactions she had had with her departed student. Suraya could also faintly sense that his thoughts were on some facet of his lightsabers...which drew her attention to them on his belt, where they were affixed peculiarly...horizontally.

You keep your blades close and have made them a part of your belt, I see. She accompanied her friendly jest by turning her head slightly to the side in order to encourage him to share more if he wished.

TAG: @Tim Battershell

 

IC: Tim Battershell
Valley of Light, Saridona Prime.

"You keep your blades close and have made them a part of your belt, I see."

"They're mounted on what I call 'slide-rigs', Ma'am. I don't like things banging against my upper legs when I move about, especially anything fitted with a circular handguard! Then there's the safety angle; if they should turn on accidentally, they're not going to injure me!. Curiously, it seems smoother and quicker to bring them into action too, particularly the 'saber - it comes virtually straight up into 'Guard' position from the draw.

The 'saber's handguard, and the threaded locking collar around the projecting part of the emitter, are both made of phrik. The obvious reason for them is to protect my fingers from an enemy's blade sliding down mine but they can also function as a means of controlling, if not trapping, an opponent's weapon in a position where I have a leverage advantage, even one handed; and the 'saber's hilt is just long enough to get most of my spare hand firmly onto it, when necessary. Technically, what used to be called a 'hand-and-a-half' sword hilt. My brand of blade-work approximates to Form Two, but is actually an adaptation of the ancient art of duelling with metal-bladed weapons primarily intended for thrusting. Sorry to say that the Swordmaster that taught me, thirty years ago now, wasn't too complimentary about blade-work involving much slashing or hacking; he habitually referred to it, and it's users, as 'TBB', or 'Trained by Butcher'! I never witnessed, or heard about, a swinging attack getting though his defences, though, right up to the day he laid aside his metal sword in favour of a wooden one*; it was difficult enough to get a thrust though them!

In anticipation of moving out of cover and heading to the Temple, Tim slid his Lightsaber forward off the slide and ignited its hard-edged yellow-gold blade for a moment, before flipping the (now-deactivated) hilt around and offering it for Master Archisia's inspection.

"You'll note the hilt is rather thinner than on a normal 'saber, Ma'am, also the half-loop for the first-finger just behind the handguard. Both are holdovers from the ancient duelling weapons and, in conjunction with the Duellists' grip I use, enable the tip to be steered slightly in mid-thrust. Not a lot, but just enough to confuse an opponent as to the exact point of impact or get on the side of his blade I want mine to be. It's done by varying the pressure of the thumb and first-finger.

The other blade, my Lightdirk, comes from a duelling technique called 'Man'gaosh' that used to be popular on Adumar and was rediscovered by one of their Blastsword Champions called Cheriss ke Hanadi. The modern term is probably a corruption of whatever the original language was, but apparently means 'left-hand'. It's only a twenty centimetre blade, but that's ample for ruining an opponent's hip or shoulder joint to put them out of action quickly. Leaves them alive, too; either for interrogation or possible redemption.


TAG: Ananta Chetan, Indirectly Falcon, Master Selkath, Bardan_Jusik, galactic-vagabond422, Skywalker_T-65.


OOG: * = The 'Wooden Foil', given to Roman Gladiators to signify their honourable retirement from the Arena.

 

IC: Suraya Archisa
Temple Outskirts

Suraya gave the padawan her full attention as he spoke. She was soon reminded that the gaze of a Mirialan could often be a bit disarming to many species at first, especially humans. Their liquid blue eyes contrasted with their grassy green complexion, so she softened it as much as she could.

It's a fine blade. If you wield it with anything close to the same proficiency as you did your Twintail's canons back there, she said with a relaxed smile...then you must be a most formidable swordsman. She gracefully returned it to his hand. Suraya had always been calm and patient. Her capacity to listen and perceptive abilities are what had convinced her teachers early on in encouraging her to follow the path of a consular knight.

Since that time Suraya had discovered that giving almost anyone simple, undivided attention without intention, could act as a conduit for the Force to restore balance, even without her or them being consciously aware of what was needed or being received by the person. It was a gift she was grateful to have been entrusted with. It also helped her to remain humble, since she often had no idea what was happening and thus could not outwardly take any credit for being responsible for its effects.

She now listened to the cushioned crunch of her black boots in the freshly fallen snow as they progressed towards the Temple. Her homeworld was starting to feel more like a dream from some long ago lived past life. One she was becoming more and more unsure of when or if she would be given the opportunity to return.

TAG: @Tim Battershell

 

IC: Hochner Trevalus
Temple of Light, East Entrance

Nodding in satisfaction he once more began shifting his weight, keeping centered in the Force and open to new dangers. After all, a stray bolt kills just as well as a purposeful snipers shot. Better actually in some accounts if one did not keep focused on the here and now, not the what may yet be's that flood life's moments.

"Now how are we supposed to question her, Knight.....?" A simple question to which he tilted his head and paused, it sounded like a statement and a question. How odd. Well if the statement was the plainly obvious then what was. . .oh Frag! He would have to make a donation to an insect conservatory for that breach later, still his ever present smile of a curled trunk unfurled to hang loosely at what he had realized.

He was interrupted before he could reply seeing Ian, the young one he had met in the Med Ward after his return looked to them, first to Master Piim, then to Knight Trevalus and finally Knight Be'orar and the boy seemed to be searching for their eyes, though as his own were behind his polarized lenses he was unsure if his gut instinct was correct as the boy ended up looking down at his feet instead. "What...what happened?"

"A hundred apologies, and credits to your chosen charity Knight Be'orar. I am Knight Trevalus, Hochner Trevalus." Bowing slightly at this he spread his still ignited lightsaber to the side so no thing would be between them. "As to you Padawan." he intoned slightly more with a weary buzz, "We have more to practice than I realized and answers to find in the stillness of a rushing river." His master, his second master, had said something similar which brought a knowing grin back to his own trunk.

TAG: Gotab, The_Zeltron, Bardan_Jusik, BultarSwan

 

IC: Gaan Be'orar - Temple of Light's East Entrance

Before Gaan's fellow Knight could answer her implied question, the young Padawan who had joined them on their patrol moments before the fight asked, "What...what happened?" Gaan tilted her head to the side, regarding the boy with some interest. As far as she knew, the power had been restored to the temple, and the Padawan had passed out when the hallway they were in lit up. She hadn't been paying him enough attention to know why, exactly. In any case, the Kubaz was speaking now.

"....apologies, and credits to your chosen charity Knight Be'orar. I am Knight Trevalus, Hochner Trevalus." Gaan nodded, bowing her head momentarily in response to his rather more courtly gesture, then watched as he turned to the boy. "As to you Padawan. We have more to practice than I realized and answers to find in the stillness of a rushing river."

Gaan nodded again, more to herself than anyone else, and turned back to their prisoner, still lying unconscious on the floor. Since the Kubaz - Knight Trevalus, she corrected herself - was taking an interest in teaching the Padawan, she had no further purpose in that conversation. Besides, they really needed to do something with the Sith before she woke up. Addressing the Jedi Master who had instructed them to hold her for questioning, Gaan asked, "Where do you want to take her?"

TAG: Gotab, Mitth_Fisto, Bardan_Jusik, BultarSwan

 

ooc: As promised, going to be pushing us forward a bit here.

Co-GM Update Part I

IC: Master Piim (NPC)
Just inside the Temple's East entrance

"Where do you want to take her?" The question from the young warrior pierced the sudden silence that had descended upon them with the end of the battle. Piim closed her eyes. There was no doubt in her mind that the dark woman would be questioned by the Council, such as it was, but they would need time to organize first. Until then...

"We need to report to convene the Council." She turned to a pair of Jedi, another human female and a Rodian male, who had arrived to help them mop up the droids. Indicating the unconscious Sith she issued them a simple command. "Take her to the stockade until she is called for." She turned to the trio of Jedi who had helped her defend the entrance. "For now, you all need a few moments to yourselves, to reflect, to rest. I'll inform Master Zey that we have a prisoner, and then we will see where things go from there."

---

IC: Hector Zey
TCC, Temple of Light

Hector Zey, Jedi Master, General of the Galactic Alliance Remnant, and acting Grandmaster for the Guardians of light let out an audible sigh of relief as reports came in from around the Temple.

The droid invasion was at an end. Those that had been caught inside the Temple when the shields went up had fallen upon Jedi lightsabers. Those caught outside the shields had been dealt with by the Temple's main guns. Thankfully there had been few casualties, with the number of wounded far outnumbering the few dead.

A message from the Mandalorian, Taab, indicated that he had taken a prisoner, a Sith who he had taken to the stockade to await questioning. That would come soon enough. Meanwhile,an alert from the TCC's sensors indicated a trio of approaching swoops. Zey furrowed his brow before he recognized them as the returning swoop patrol sent out by their head of Temple Security. Four had been sent out on that patrol, yet only three returned. More loss. He wondered briefly who it could have been that had become one with the Force. He supposed he would find that out soon enough as well. With the surrounding area clear of droids he opened a hole in the shield to allow them to pass through. The Council would have to hear of their ordeal as well.

The Council. Yes they would have to be convened. So much had happened, and it would take consultation with other Jedi to determine where to go next. Until then...

Another message came through, this time from master Piim. She too reported a Sith prisoner. More questioning to be had then, and hopefully an opportunity to see past whatever lies the Sith could concoct. And then there was the odd device that had been attached inside the console. It had powered down the Temple and opened them up for invasion. They had a traitor in their midst, a Sith or an agent of the darkside, that had sought to kill them all. He or she would also have to be found and dealt with. He sighed again. So much to do, so much resting on his broad shoulders. He was glad that there were other Jedi here whom he could trust, or were there?

---

Council Chambers, Temple of Light
Several hours later

Zey rubbed his chin, and stroked his beard as the Council came to order. Several hours had passed now since the Sith attack on the Temple of Light had been repulsed, but their ship remained in a high orbit overhead and several more waves of landing craft had been counted heading for the planet. The battle was over, it was time to assess what they had won...and what they had lost. There was much to be discussed.

He looked to the other members of the current council, all seated in their chairs which formed a semi-circle at one end of the chamber. His chair was of course "centered" among them, with three Jedi to his left, and three to his right. Some of these, a majority of them actually, were still Knights. Sadly there were not enough Masters in the Temple to convene a Council of Jedi Masters, and so these Knights were selected based on their experience, wisdom and connection to the Force to serve instead. They would suffice.

To his immediate right was Master Piim, the pacifistic and contemplative Jedi Master was strong in the ways of the Force. She also tended to argue for a more reactive stance then Zey would have preferred, but there was a mutual respect between the two Masters and when one spoke, the other always listened.

Seated next to her was Knight Trevalus, the Kubaz Knight who had also shown much wisdom in his time with the Guardians. Zey had laughed heartily when he heard of how Trevalus had rendered the Sith in the east entrance unconscious, much to Master Piim's chagrin. Seated next to the Kubaz was Knight Sherland, her actions since arriving at the Temple had her on the fast track to being made a master herself, though for now she remained a "simple" knight.

Seated on Zey's left was Master Ropol. The Nikto Master's arrival had coincided with that of the Sith and Master Zey was glad he had managed to arrive past their blockade safely, but beyond that he knew little of the new arrival. Seated next to Ropol was Knight Be'orar. She was a warrior's warrior, and Zey liked her very much. He saw so much of himself in the Knight, though she seemed far more reserved than he had been at that age. Next to her was Daniel Sandstrider, Jedi Knight and Captain of the now driven off Redemption. His experience as a military leader would prove invaluable to the Guardians of Light in the coming days.

Zey nodded slightly to himself. It was an ad hoc council, but it these were good people, the Force would speak through them all he was sure. But for now it was time to hear from the others who had been brought before them, the Council needed to be fully apprised of the situation before making any decisions.

The four of them stood against the wall in front of the Council, awaiting their turn to be called. There was Taab, the Mandalorian head of Temple Security who was here with an update on the situation. Clustered around him was Knight Loother who would tell the Council about what her swoop patrol had encountered, while the newly freed Knight Archisa would describe her ordeal, as well as give them insight as to whatever goings on aboard the Sith Star Destroyer she had witnessed before her escape. The newly arrived Knight Dareagen would be the last to be called, Zey had a special assignment for him and it was important that he hear everything that the Council was to discuss.

Zey motioned Taab forward and the Mandalorian responded by taking up his spot before the Council, his buy'ce cradled in his arms. He nodded to them as a group "General, jetiise," he began, seeming fairly uptight about things now. "I currently believe that Sith invaders and their droids have been swept clear of the Temple grounds. I have security patrols ongoing, but they have reported no enemy contacts since the Temple's defenses cam back online." Zey nodded at this, much of what the Mandalorian was saying was common knowledge by now, but he wanted it all on record for the Council as well.

"In orbit, the Redemption has been driven off. According to ship's crew that managed to make planet fall, including Captain Sandstrider," he indicated the Jedi with a motion of his hand, "they took heavy damage and won't be returning any time soon." He brought up his right arm and activated the holo-emitter on his gauntlet. "The enemy ship, a Palleon called the Hellfire fom what our two prisoners say, is in geo-sync orbit on top of us." A display of the ship in orbit coalesced over the Council, it's position relative to the Temple made clear. "It hasn't started any sort of orbital bombardment, which isn't surprising. With our shields back online and us able to draw power not only from our own reactors, but the planet core, we can withstand any bombardment." He smiled grimly. "One damaged Pelly against them would be like shooting spitwads at beskar."

He deactivated the holo-emitted and the image disappeared along with his smile. "On the ground things look about the same, stable, but not pretty. I don't have any security patrols currently running outside the shield perimeter, but from what we can tell the droid forces that survived have withdrawn to the southwest. There was a series of caves noted in the mountains there by a previous patrol, so that might be where they are setting up their planet side ops. Sensors have noted at least two further waves of landing ships which have settled down in that area. Droid numbers are unknown at present, but are probably at least in the thousands. No idea on how many Sith there might be either planet side or aboard ship," the smile returned, "but maybe we can beat that information out of our guests." The smile dropped one last time. "In short, we are essentially safe for now, but under siege." There was a murmur from Master Piim at that. "They have no way in, and we have no way safely off world until that siege is broken."

He stopped speaking now, bringing his hands behind his back and standing at parade rest. Zey leaned forward.

"Thank you Major, you may return to the TCC and monitor the situation from there."

The Mandalorian seemed perplexed by his dismissal. "I can be of better use helping to plan our next move."

Zey grunted, Taab had the expertise no doubt. But even after his actions during the battle Zey didn't trust him fully. Though it now resided in a sealed box next to Zey's chair, someone had placed that device in the TCC and taken down their defenses. Taab not only had ample opportunity, he had the knowledge to do it, and possibly even motive if you didn't believe his story about having a contract to protect the GoL. Even if he was trustworthy, he was an outsider, a Mandalorian, he didn't need to know the inner workings or business of the council.

"No, you can be of best use in the TCC. If the Sith do decide to attack again I want someone we can trust and with experience in charge there." That of course was true, Zey did want someone trustworthy and with experience manning the command center. The fact that Taab didn't in fact meet both those criteria (though he certainly was experienced enough) was left unsaid, and would hopefully go unnoticed by the Bounty Hunter.

Zey could still sense resentment in him, though he finally nodded his assent as he spoke without emotion. "As you wish." He then spun on his left foot and retreated from the council chamber. Zey smiled gregariously. "Very well, now that we have his report. Knight Loother." He looked over to the back all where she stood and motioned her forward now. "You are the senior surviving member of the swoop patrol that encountered the Sith. What do you have to report?"

TAG: Master Selkath, Mitth_Fisto, The_Zeltron, Falcon, Skywalker_T-65, Runjedirun, Ananta Chetan, galactic-vagabond422