Star Wars OPEN Dark Reach: Episode II – THE STORM OF ONE

IC: Bernael
Pelagon

Darkness dripping eyes turned skyward as Iudex spoke. It was as though Bernael was peering through the smoke, the atmosphere, and out into the space of orbit, seeing what was still above. He heard as Cera spoke, drawing a snort from him. He was unsure if she realized the irony of the fact she was cautioning her compatriots of the character of Sith when she herself served two other of the Circle Lords.

But it mattered little now. Ignoring the Knights and the Nightsister, he stalked around the hangar. ”Sennex, good my brother.” he muttered, loud enough for Iudex to hear. A swift leap took him to the canopy of one of the Manta-class assault fighters. Landing lightly, he checked the integrity of it, bringing a smile to his face when it seemed solid.

Another leap, with a flip as he moved, he landed on his feet by Iudex. ”Tell me, brother, are not the actions of the servants representative of the actions of their direct masters?”

His proboscises twitched in his cheek pouches as a smile that didn’t reach his eyes crossed his face. A lazy wave encompassed the Knights. ”Given that…what do the Knights actions here say about those they report to?” he asked in a harsh quiet tone.

Snorting, he turned back to the Manta, ”They can obey the summons or not but they have wasted our time for far too long. These Mantas do not have hyperdrive but I doubt every One Sith ship has left yet. And we’ve taken over much mightier craft.”

The Knights no longer mattered, the two of them had been called and the Emperor’s warrior and assassin would not miss the rendezvous.

The dark smile had returned, ”So, rochambeau for pilot or gunner’s seat, my brother?”

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Silvertough, @ConservativeJedi321, @TheSilentInfluence, @TheAdmiral

 

GM Update 1 of 3

A combo with Sinrebirth and Lady B:

IC: Bellorum Graul, Darth Insipid, and Aryan Graul
Shuttle, Private Hangar, Nubia

Very few would have entered the Graul’s shuttle without permission, but given the circumstances, this was the one place they could speak privately. The fact that Insipid came here gave the impression of something dire.

Bell secured the door after Aryan stepped on board behind her, and then she followed him to greet Insipid in the main cabin. "Long time no see, Master," she said, taking a seat. "Does your being here have anything to do with the Sith wench that came for Aryan on Coruscant?" There was no point in wasting time on small talk, and she was worried that Talon was nearby waiting for them to let their guard down.

Insipid didn't enjoy the abrupt take, nor did he like her use of Master as an insult rather than honorific, but he allowed it to pass. They didn't have time. "Krayt's here," he said simply. "Here, and now, and he is trying to cause a Change."

It wasn’t surprising to find Insipid in the shuttle’s hold. Aryan had sensed the man’s presence as they entered the main hangar, negating any levity Bell had tried to infuse into the situation. While he kept his hand on his wife’s arm to provide support, he remained silent, his expression safely guarded behind an impassive mask.

He found it peculiar how Insipid’s aura seemed to coalesce with the ominous foreboding that had recently pervaded the Force. It put him in a particularly foul mood, especially when he considered the information Arb had divulged to him during his interrogation. The man had strongly implied that there was something amiss with the Sith Emperor; something directly related to Wapoe and the Epitaph.

When Insipid ultimately revealed that Darth Krayt and his Sith had arrived in this timeline, confirming his earlier theory, it only increased his suspicions. It was almost a little too convenient… and yet, he could not ignore the veracity of his tone.

"'Trying?'" Aryan repeated with a furrowed brow, stepping forth to address Insipid. "If they haven’t yet achieved their goal, then what did we just experience? That was a Change, wasn’t it? I know we didn't imagine that tremor. It was pretty damned obvious."

As his voice rose, it became clear that he was beginning to lose his temper. However, a few quick breaths to calm his nerves brought him back down to a more reasonable level.

"When we spoke months ago, you seemed to indicate that our crossing over to this timeline wouldn’t initiate a Change… but are you sure about that?" He narrowed his eyes dangerously, scrutinizing the other man. "The very nature of our presence here could doom us, especially if Krayt and his acolytes followed our trail through the gateway. It may be too much for this reality to endure."

"It was a tremor," Insipid clarified, firmly, "because Krayt killed the Kuati Senator. I had foreseen his survival into the future, as the head of a great Centrist Party. It was why I took him for ourselves. Possessed him, not killed."

"Soliloquy's pets are even now using the Senator's genetic material to duplicate him," Insipid explained. "So if I replace him, then the Change will be forestalled..." He hesitated. "But it will be a close thing. Our presence, as you say, it strains things. We can hardly go up against Luke Skywalker, kill him, and expect the timeline to be fine. We all know about what is to come, to some degree. This timeline is following the basic principle that the Empire is not dead, but the Emperor is. Snoke aside, who we've killed, that hasn't changed."

He looked to Bellorum, his eyes taking in her belly briefly, and then flashing back to her face.

"We need to knuckle down. Call everyone and everything we have in. Keshiri, Hapan, Nubia, criminal, Vongspawn... Krayt hasn't had long to consolidate in this time but we've had longer."

Bell, wearing her best sabacc face, glanced from Aryan to Insipid listening. The situation wasn’t ideal, but when has it ever been? She would need to stall the delivery of their children, as long as possible, or at least until they knew if this timeline was now doomed. If only they were cooperative, but right now they felt restless.

She hadn’t missed how Insipid looked at her, and she self-consciously shifted in her chair. Bell pulled her cloak closer to try and conceal her size. This wasn’t something she or Aryan had planned, and she wasn’t in the mood for any judgment from Insipid.

"We have our Knights, they’ve recently arrived," Bell said, "Aryan, do we have other resources available to call in?" She looked to Aryan to decide what they would admit to having at their disposal.

Insipid's eyes cut to Aryan, narrowing.

In response, Aryan inclined his chin and met the Sith Emperor’s gaze, his expression never betraying his emotions. Insipid’s explanation had proven vital, providing a more complete picture of unfolding events. He now had the identity of the man’s third body, the one that Arb had neglected to reveal. They included his default or true form, the disgraced son, Azathoth, and now Ormes Apolin. Aryan would’ve smiled at this revelation, though circumstances wouldn’t allow it.

For the Emperor, it came as no surprise to learn that the man had initiated the Change himself through his inability to save the Kuati Senator from a grisly fate. It was the standard for Insipid; he was known for his egregious blunders and many failures. That’s how Aryan had initially lost the Chancellorship and ended up in this timeline, compounding their current predicament.

And then there was the look that Insipid had given Bell, almost as if he disapproved of her pregnancy. Although he wasn’t certain if that's what he intended, his wife’s irritation, which rippled palpably through their bond, seemed to lend it some credence. It caused Aryan to inwardly bristle as he straightened his posture to address Bell’s inquiry.

"I’m not sure if it’s wise to summon such a large contingent at this juncture," he rumbled in a low baritone, his gaze shifting between Insipid and his wife. "Wouldn’t that attract too much attention?"

He paused for a moment before waving a hand toward the Sith Emperor. "You mentioned yourself that we can’t afford to confront the likes of Luke Skywalker or one of the other major galactic players without consequences. If we bring every ship under our command to this location, I can guarantee they’ll notice. A conflict of that magnitude could rip this reality apart, and I can’t allow that to happen. We need to avoid another Change at all costs."

"I cannot see that Darth Krayt will leave Nubia unharmed," Insipid cut back.

"I imagine him killing your family would put a crimp on your existence, Aryan." He spat the words. "I've gone to great lengths to locate us all, or our parents, or grandparents, and they're all missing. Apart from yours." He thrust a finger at the man.

"So you're vulnerable. Who knows what will happen if Krayt snaps your ancestors' necks."

Insipid knew when Aryan was disapproving of him, and he didn't like it. They were too close, both of them, while he was busy dealing with wider and further reaching strategies than they could imagine.

But he desperately needed them.

"This is about what we are. We can ride the current of the galaxy, give ourselves power within it, or we can break everything. It's what the old sayings are all about. Protectors and Destructors. We're Sith, but within the ways of the Sith, there are those who serve the Order and those who serve the Old Ones and their ways." Insipid's tone was beseeching. "Unless we draw a line here, Krayt is going to burn down Nubia, and that will solidify this Change."

"If I can clone Ormes, we have a chance. And unless you have a cloning facility hidden in Bell's womb, we need to hold this line."

He stiffened. "Unless you intend to join with Krayt, or abandon the rest of us."

His hand unconsciously drifted towards his lightsaber.

Bell quickly stood, taking offense to his movement towards a weapon. She didn’t draw her weapon but made it clear she was offended.

"We never said a word about joining Krayt, they’ve come sniffing around and we even sent Knights to investigate his minions." Her voice was calm, not at all hostile, but she was concerned that Insipid had possibly considered attacking Aryan.

"This animosity must stop." She went to her husband’s side, "Aryan’s opinion that calling in every resource will result in more than just Krayt appearing is a very real concern, do we want every baddie in the galaxy swooping in on us?"

If only she could get them to work together.

"Can you clone Ormas?" She asked Insipid, "it seems unlikely that anyone here has a home cloning kit. So, if that’s off the table I expect you both to discuss our options… like adults."

They could be at odds with each other later on, for now, they had to work together.

"Aryan," she said softly, "you know this estate, and Nubia, better than we do. Is there any sort of defense we can use to our advantage?"

She was rarely worried, maybe it was hormones, but it was a feeling she didn’t like. 'There’s so much more at stake now, Aryan, and it’s not like Insipid to practically beg.'

"Nubia is equipped with its own fleet and police force," Aryan confirmed in a flat tone, his eyes never wavering from Insipid’s face. "My son served in their ranks for a time… before The End. But as you’re already aware, this isn’t the same institution, nor is it my time; I have no influence here."

It was unusual for him not to respond favorably to Bell’s efforts to soothe his ire; he barely acknowledged her. Instead, he remained adamant in his beliefs, his expression hard and brooding. While Insipid might’ve been correct about his family’s legacy—and perhaps part of him feared his own impending vulnerability—he could not dismiss the man’s aggressive stance.

He had accused him of treason; of betraying Bell and his unborn children.

It was true that Aryan had his tendencies, and his past behavior dictated his habit of supporting regimes that served his own interests. He could certainly see how Insipid had formed that opinion, but it was no longer relevant to him. His circumstances had changed, along with his personal experiences and interests. He now considered Insipid’s actions an affront to his integrity.

The Emperor inhaled deeply and clenched his fists to focus his mind.

"I don’t know what you expect me to do," Aryan continued in a biting tone, spreading his hands to demonstrate that he was unarmed. "As far as I’m concerned, my fa—Norin isn’t managing a cloning facility as a subsidiary. I’m still skeptical about how you intend to pull off your plan to stop the Change, especially when we need to simultaneously repel Krayt’s forces. I assume there is a broader connection?"

He narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Is that what your friend Arb meant to imply when he mentioned your name?"

Insipid bristled. "I have a cloning facility. I knew where a Spaarti cylinder was in the Unknown Regions, so I hid it." He held up his hands. "You had a secret baby, I have a secret cloning facility." He pointed at the planet. "It's here. We fight here, or we die somewhere else. Skywalker comes, we sic him on Krayt. Problem solved."

He grit his teeth for a moment, veins pulsing on his neck. Arb did that to him. "I don't know what Arb said, but he's got his own agenda, and it's not about keeping us all safe and happy." He glowered at them. "We're connected to the Protectors. It's our job to stop Changes."

He pointed at Aryan. "Sistros." Another hand to Bellorum. "Braata."

"Soliloquy is descended, spiritually, from another Sage of Dwartii."

He pointed to his chest. "And so am I."

"Do you understand now? It doesn't matter what the detail is, if there is a threat to the timeline, we're supposed to be fixing it. Us and our Order of Protectors." He looked from one to the other. "So we light up Nubia with a Jedi come here please sign, and save time."

He rounded on Aryan, interrupting him. "Only a Graul is going to have the local pull to put the sector fleet and planetary defences on alert. It has to be you, or Krayt gets a free hit on us before they're ready."

'Braata.' The name echoed through her mind. The name felt familiar, but she had no idea why. Sistros, that name was familiar, they’d learned more about him from that damned scepter, which she’d secreted aboard this shuttle without mentioning it to Aryan… she’d felt like they needed to keep it nearby.

Bellorum sat back down, her anger was mostly replaced by curiosity, but one statement by Insipid had touched a nerve.

"We don’t have a secret baby," Bell snapped, "it’s a little difficult to hide the fact that I’m with child." She self-consciously placed a hand over her swollen belly, wondering how the hell they would keep them safe.

"I don’t know why, but I am starting to understand," she said in a calmer tone, "Aryan and I have pieced together some of who Sistros is to him, but an explanation would be most welcome." Bell glanced to her husband for help, they had to protect the future for their children. "Have you heard the name 'Braata' before?" she asked Aryan.

Something stirred inside Aryan during Insipid’s tirade. It was a familiar needling that had always been there. He just never had the means to identify its source—or perhaps he had merely overlooked it. It would’ve been easy to ignore, especially for something as natural as breathing or sleeping.

After all of these years, he had failed to see the tangible line that connected him to the mysterious Sistros, but he could no longer deny the truth.

Aryan exhaled slowly and pressed his hand to his chest, almost as if he could touch the spirit within. It was the fundamental essence of his existence. He was Sistros, and Sistros was a part of him. They were one entity; one soul. No wonder he had felt such a deep longing while in the Scepter’s presence. It had been calling to him, urging him to reconnect with the very intrinsic portions of his being. It resonated with him on an intimate level and awakened him to his true purpose.

"The truth was always there," Aryan confirmed quietly, any inclination to retaliate against Insipid’s harsh rebuke completely fading away. Instead, he instinctively reached for Bell’s hand and squeezed it for support. Not only did he need a solid foundation, but he wanted to provide her with strength in the face of adversity. He noted that she had become visibly upset.

"I’m familiar with Braata, yes," he replied in a wistful tone as he glanced down into her eyes. He had a more complete understanding of their history, the memories from the Scepter finally coalescing to form a more accurate picture. "She was a Protector alongside Faya, Yanjon, and Sis—myself. One of the Sages who fought in the Twilight Wars… and linked to the Final Epitaph."

He was surprised by his knowledge, even as it flowed freely from his lips. He knew it was the Force guiding his words, allowing him to tap into the spiritual fount that resided in his soul.

It was eternal.

And so was the ancient connection he found hidden there; an epiphany that caused him to audibly gasp.

Aryan suddenly gripped Bell’s arms and pulled her close, unconcerned about Insipid’s reaction to their show of affection. "She was Sistros’ lover."

Insipid stirred.

He knew as much, that the natures and identities of the four Sages had been as divided as the very truth behind the man who had named them.

The four of them had dual personalities, dual aspects, resonating with the number of two; a Dyad of dyads, because even the Ones had been based on a quartet. Who had been Sistros, Braata, Yanjon, and Faya had fundamentally changed more than once, but the essence connecting them all - blood, family, fealty - it was binding.

And now the two of them knew.

Knew that Joren had passed down his legacy; that Joren’s wife had been a secret apprentice of the Master, another Braata; that Insipid had been anointed too; that Soliloquy had taken aboard the fate of Faya through a multitude of species but one soul.

The Sith Lord knew that others had legacies that permeated the New Sith Order; the legendary Cosmo Hender, an ancient wise man; the creations of the Architect of Death; the ancient Empires of the Republic era; the great crime families… they’d need it all.

He released a breath. "So we need to hold this line. Here, on Nubia, and defeat a Destructor." His tone was resolute. "Darth Krayt is beyond Light and Dark, or Jedi and Sith - he is a threat to the cosmos and we are its Protectors. Our order owns the Force," a grin, a last, "and we don’t share."

Bell searched Aryan’s eyes. She was looking for any excuse to deny what he and Insipid were saying.

Taking Aryan’s hand, she placed his palm over her heart and held it there. Their hearts were in exact rhythm, just as Tera and Joren’s had been. She was trembling when she remembered Tera’s anguish over being left behind to have her baby alone. Thankfully, Tera now felt at peace. Something… or someone, had soothed her pain.

She knew the misery of Sybelle’s loneliness, it was a hollow void that only Aryan had filled. Like Tera, Sybelle had been left alone to deliver their child, which Aryan never knew about.

Once she stopped trying to suppress the memories, Bell’s eyes widened as trickles of the past filtered through her mind.

They were all connected.

"Promise me you’ll stay near," she whispered, "they did it alone, but I need you with us." Bell slid his hand down to her swollen abdomen. It was a selfish request, and probably impossible, but she had to ask.

Bell was desperate that their children be spared that horrible sadness of being left behind. She swallowed the lump in her throat and pushed back her own fears of abandonment as well. This was now about securing a future for her family… and fulfilling their ancient duty.

Aryan felt the turmoil through the Force; fear intermingled with uncertainty, reverence, and understanding. He knew it was the result of Insipid’s unveiling and the truth inherent in his words. He found himself unable to deny this new reality, as it resonated with his own memories of Joren—of himself—and what that represented.

He felt overwhelmed with emotion, teetering on the edge…

But he had to remain strong.

For himself…

… and Bell.

Their bond thrived on love.

As Aryan pressed his hand against her belly, not only did it open a gateway to Bellorum’s thoughts and emotions, but he could also feel their children, vibrant and strong in the Force. It gave him hope, and he would need to depend on that hope if they were to succeed. In that sense, he pushed forth to touch Bell’s mind, aiming to calm her anxiety and doubt.

'You have nothing to fear.'

"Not as long as we’re together," he finished aloud, his voice a sultry whisper. "I’m not going anywhere. Trust me on that."

She straightened and turned her head to face Insipid, "you have our support," Bell said solemnly. "We have resources that can be called on, and we will stand the line with you and Soliloquy." Turning back to Aryan, Bell smiled, "we don’t share."

Bell wanted to be the one to watch the life drain from Darth Talon. "Krayt, and his minions, die here."

A small smile pulled at the corner of Aryan’s mouth, appreciating the change in Bell’s demeanor. He found it infectious, and he instinctively pulled on those sentiments to bolster his own determination and strength.

"You mentioned the Nubian defense forces," Aryan replied after a prolonged pause. While he redirected his gaze toward Insipid, he remained intimately linked to Bell. His hand slowly slid away from her stomach to grasp her palm.

"Let me reiterate what I said earlier — I can’t simply waltz in there and dictate to their commanders. Technically, I have no power; I shouldn’t exist here." He inclined his chin, daring the other man to counter his statement. "I will need an intermediary to relay my orders and ensure that everything goes off without issue. That leaves me with two options… Gramps or Norin."

He shrugged with his customary smirk. "I prefer the former."

Insipid eyed Aryan. "Lord Skelm, I’ll leave you to figure it out." His finger jabbed forward. "But it’s key that you do your part too, or we’re doomed."

TAG: @Lady_Belligerent; @Sinrebirth; everyone

 

GM Update 2 of 3

IC: Bellorum
Graul Estate - Nubia

Charles momentarily retreated to a quiet alcove aboard the ship and tapped several buttons on his Imperial Knight's gauntlet accessing the private channel the royal protectors had to the Empress and Emperor. Waiting for a signal among the deep space static he watched as the others among their party either initiated or ignored their assigned tasks.

Suddenly the channel became clear to her Ladyship. Charles concisely related the events of their ordeal to the Empress and quietly awaited her command.

First Bellorum checked that the transmission was through an encrypted channel, then she listened carefully to Charles’ report. She elbowed Aryan to listen in and then smiled softly when he informed her they had seized a Sith Interdictor.

“Excellent work, Charles,” she replied, “pass along my gratitude to the other Knights. Here is what I want you to do, keep the Interdictor under One Sith credentials. The transponder and any one hailing you need to believe you are working with Darth Krayt.”

She paused for a breath, and to consider their options. “Take some shots at friendlies so that you’re believable, just don’t destroy anything we need.”

Once she cut the transmission she took a moment to search for all the remaining Imperial Knights, some were closer than others, but they were all needed here… now.

She reached out to touch all of them. Tan, Quia-Vis, Hhat, Donvoy, Tyrell, Linnett, and Brokenborough, would all hear her plea. Donvoy, Tyrell, Hhat, and Brokenborough were in orbit, and their interdictor would be helpful. They had their instructions to masquerade as One Sith. Tan, Quia-Vis, and Linnett were needed on the ground right away.

”Our situation is dire, and every Imperial Knight should immediately come to Nubia. Darth Krayt and his minions are determined to destroy us, so bring any and all resources you have access to.”

Bell sighed and took Aryan’s arm and said solemnly, “let’s go speak with your grandfather.”

Tag: @Ananta Chetan @CosmoHender
@galactic-vagabond422 @Silvertough @TheAdmiral @TheSilentInfluence @ConservativeJedi321

Helenith’s comlink chimed from a being she didn’t recognize. “Your son is being held on Yinchorr, tell no one or he will be firewood.”

She would be familiar with the prison camps that were there.

Her only available mode of transport was a freighter in the hangar the Knights ships had been placed in. Knight Hhat had left the freighter full of non- threatening Rodian’s behind there. They were too afraid to leave the ship, and only wanted help escaping. If Helinith could convince them to allow her on board, she could get to Tamus.

Tag: @darthhelinith

IC: Dalask

He stopped Tia and called out to the stranger that was suddenly standing before them. “Hello, sir, I know it appears we are trespassing, but we are in fact lost. You will provide us transport to the nearest city.” He had wagged his fingers at Ike.

Tag: @Sinrebirth @Tia

 

GM POST 3 of 3

IC: Darth Insipid
Warehouse on the Graul Estate

The Sith grouped within, though Insipid noted the absence of Ike and Aryan. Hopefully Aryan was going to speak to whomever to marshall the Nubian defenders. If someone didn’t take charge of Nubia, then they’d be a rout.

He looked around at the two guards that Soliloquy had sent him, as well as Hekate and Serapis. Not his best showing, but hopefully the others would be here soon. Bernael, Iudex… maybe their Imperial Knights.

“The One Sith, an order led by Darth Krayt, has followed us to this timeline, somehow,” he said, rueful. “They had infiltrated much of the Tapani Sector before we arrived… and I can’t see our Imperial and Hapan allies coming to help.” He was quite amused by that; that they were in danger.

Par for the course.

He spoke up, hooking his comms to the incoming Sith also - Bernael and Iudex would get his speech as a recorded message; he also nodded to Soliloquy’s two additions. “Welcome back, my friends. Whatever connections you have - with local assassins, noble houses, biots and more, call them all!” He knew they had connections, some nurtured by him, some by their own greed or desire for power. Children, tools, creations, ward, loyalists. The Sith were a plague upon the galaxy, and he could not be more prouder.

“Call them all,” he said more softly.

He didn’t spy, Bellorum either - hopefully she was giving orders to their Imperial Knights to come. They needed them.

His lab had access to the Nubia network, and the console flashed. In orbit they were here. Small Star Destroyers, frigates and carriers… “They’re here.” He began to pull up displays. “We’ve six TIE Defenders, four shuttles for boarding. Not a lot, unless more come.”

TAG: @Lady_Belligerent, @HanSolo29, @Nehru_Amidala, @DarthIshyZ
—-
IC: Darth Nihl
Arriving

The One Sith vanguard had transferred to the Tapani ships, led by a Victory II-class Star Destroyer named Mecetti.

The Sith Dragons were held in reserve, and Darth Nihl glowered at the few Sith Troopers they had. Nine were here, and that would have to be what they used. It wasn’t as if Tapani shock troopers would be any good against hardened Sith Lords.

Nihl called the others to the hangar to launch, a trio Fury assault ships prepped. Wyyrlok IV had been amused by Soliloquy’s sudden curiosity. “The Hearts? It’s that old rhyme,” she had said. “One for each of the Ones, Kyber as far as the eye can see. Hand an empire a Kyber Heart, and they can equip a thousand Star Destroyers… or a Death Star. The old Sith superweapons were built off Kyber’s…”

A wistful tone… “the Empire consumed Jedha, and that we only half a Heart!” Wyyrlok IV shrugged. “Of course the one commanded by the Daughter was split during the Twilight Wars.”

She shrugged, because they had to get on. “We’ve a galaxy to take, Darth Soliloquy.” By the time they were at the hangar, Sith Troopers were boarded, three to each Fury, and Inexor was aboard one.

Nihl glowered. “Hurry.”

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto
—-
IC: Soa and Adas
Between

For irony sake, the two Holocrons of Adas and Soa met for the first time in 28,000 years. They didn’t activate near each other, no. That would have been a sign to Insipid and Bellorum that the two were communicating.

But they and other Holocrons shared communication channels that were AI level, encrypted to counterpart extents and you’d have to be a Holocron in-system to be apart, or perhaps accessing one. But they hadn’t communicated since the time of the Infernal Empire, when Soa’s Hound found Korriban and events spiralled from then.

Adas stood, tall and imperious and armoured in black. “Did you tell them about where my Heart is?”

“I’ve not found one of them to take as a body,” Soa snapped. “I’m not an idiot.”

“And yet you taught Bellorum how to drain Force artefacts; I can tell that much.”

Soa hesitated, and then the red skinned Rakata hissed. “I can gut you again.”

“You can try again,” Adas said, darkly. “The Infernal turned on the Infinite, but it was I who took your ships and spread the Sith across the galaxy.”

“And how has that gone? These Sith squabble and in-fight with no rhyme or goal,” Soa hissed. “They nearly destroyed time itself.”

“And they stopped it, no? They serve the dark side, not the Old Ones, like those on Exegol.”

Soa seethed. “Exegol is safe? The Heart there too?”

“Commanded by the Eternal,” he confirmed. “Supporting Sith for millennia.”

“That is something,” Soa reasoned. “But the fleet you stole, the Heart you found; they could create a new empire in this era. Easily.”

Adas chuckled darkly. “I know.”

“All we need find is a vessel.”

TAG: No-One, maybe @Mitth_Fisto
—-
IC: Vima
Nubia, atmosphere

Their ship began to head out when they arrived.

Victory Star Destroyers, Tapani frigates an carriers, customs corvettes and patrol craft. A flotilla, and a sizeable one. And it stank of the dark side.

Vima looked - the lead Victory Star Destroyer seemed to be the source of most of it. She didn’t like that, but they had to go -

The ships began firing on local traffic, ensnaring civilian ships and custom space stations. Vima even spied traffic and droid satellites being shot down - even comms relays; the attackers were trying to shutdown the entire system.

“We need to jump, now,” Vima said, as a Tapani frigate began to turn towards them!

Another ship arrived, fresh from the Tapani Sector also. Bernael and Iudex were aboard, and would see the Tapani ships fan out. There were Sith aboard those ships, and Darth Nihl sent them a target; a local politicians Estate in a civilian district. The Graul’s, their data said, as the most likely to have a connection to the Sith they hunted.

They had their orders…

TAG: @darthbernael, @CosmoHender, @Silvertough

 

OOC: Fun with Silvertough and Sinrebirth

IC: Bernael and Iudex
Nubia

The ship was quiet, as it emerged from hyper, following the remainder of the One Sith craft, having only been delayed by an unexpected arrival just before it jumped. It had quietly rejoined the fleet, not yet partaking in the same violence against civilian craft that most of the others were. There were no comm messages to or from it to the rest of the fleet until the message from Darth Nihl arrived.

The ship did not respond at first, silence ruled on the bridge of the craft, a deathly silence. There were only two beings standing in that space, one by the viewscreen, observing the destruction already taking place. That one turned to the other, his void black eyes dripping with darkness, a touch of amusement in his tone, ”It seems all they know is there are Sith on this,” his hand swept out, gesturing at the bridge full of desiccated and sliced apart bodies, ”charnel house of a craft.”

Snorting, he turned back to the viewscreen, looking down at Nubia, ”And now they are sending this ship and the ‘loyal’ Sith they suppose are on it, to attack our fellow Circle Lords or, at least, their family.”

The secondary being aboard the Bridge was quiet in response, holding his iron-clad gaze upon the destruction wrought before him through the viewscreen. Unadulterated terror exploded out within the Force like great waves from Nubia's orbit as the One Sith's forces fell upon civilians and military targets alike. There was a strategy hidden within the naked brutality of it all. Somewhere.

It reminded him of the first moments of the Battle of Hapes. That frenzied panic of two armies consumed in holy struggle and fire. The younger Sith had fed upon such panic to steady his hands before jumping into the fray himself. Back then, he had been just as fearful of falling in battle as he was being consumed by the very same figure standing by his side now.

Oh how much things had changed.

"How strange it is to stand where Lord Hate must have stood so many times." Iudex finally said with an air of nostalgia, turning to face his compatriot with a nod. "Yet once more we are called to pull our Orders' feet from the fire."

A hum rippled from deep within his chest. How many times, he wondered, would they, as a collective, find themselves in such dire straits, seemingly teetering upon the edge of oblivion itself? Was this the true importance of the Circle Lords, to be the ones to nudge them all back into some semblance of safety?

He frowned, bringing a finger to rest upon his temple. "Strange isn't it, to choose Nubia as the host of our final stand? What is Insipid getting at rallying here?"

”It is almost too obvious a choice, to be fair. After all, it is the homeworld of the Grauls.” Bernael admitted. Glancing out at the chaos, he smiled coldly, ”It is very polite of the One Sith to have allowed us amidst their ships though. Which gives us the perfect opportunity to sow chaos.”

Turning back to Iudex, ”Of any other being you are the one worthy to stand where Hate once stood. That being considered, let us demonstrate why ever discounting the two of us is a losing proposition. Let us fly this thing through the largest swarms of our foes. You man the weapons systems and I will remain here, feeding on any that come into range.” he suggested, his senses already beginning to reach out, dark tendrils of thought reaching toward the nearest One Sith ships.

"For what use is subtlety when faced with overwhelming firepower?" Iudex replied, smirking. "Only once these pretenders have suffered the strength of true Sith shall we ever be rid of them." HIs mirth faded somewhat as he passed his fellow Circle-Lord to take position at the weapon systems.

"Only this time, I'll not be content with a mere rout.” His voice hardened. "No, their worlds that do not surrender shall be razed to the ground and their fields salted. Their peoples assimilated or exterminated, I care not for which. For only when our opposition is plucked root and stem from the earth shall we have peace."

The scanners had designated a lone Victory-II class SD as the command vessel of the One Sith's fleet. Iudex scoffed. They couldn't even manage an Imperial-class? Pathetic.

"Feast then Brother," Iudex stated, smile returning as a passing patrol craft was atomized under a single salvo of his laser cannons. "..Murder and mayhem awaits."

Bernael felt the ship shudder as the weapons system went active, bolts reaching out from it toward craft around him. His smile was cold as his will lashed out even harder. ”Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant…”* he stated, agreeing with Iudex on what needed to be done.

One by one, he touched pilots of the One Sith fighters with his will, overpowering them and drawing their essences from their bodies. It took a minute or two but soon he’d found a pattern where he drained those who were already on a crossing path to the ship he and his brother occupied, making those that may have been paying attention not know how the craft or the people aboard had been destroyed as the ships drifted into the path of Iudex’s weapons.

He could feel the energy, the lives of being after being enter his mind and each only added to the distance and the power that he was using, reaching out further from their craft. Oe small part of his consciousness reached out, animating to a degree the body at the nav station, causing it to begin a run through the swarms of One Sith craft in their path.

The rest of the Tapani Sith fleet hovered behind the flagship, nearly twenty Victory Star Destroyers itself, but yes, as Iudex said, it was hardly a modern armada. Their Sith Order had commanded hundreds of Hapan Battle Dragons at one point... and lost it all to a coup by the nobles. What remained of the Hapan Royal Navy couldn't be said to be impressive.

But the impact upon the One Sith formation was immediate; two dozen Tapani pilots winked out, transforming an orderly wing of craft into a set of collisions, chaos, and death. The commandeered nav station tore through a customs frigate, adding a spray of debris to the frontline; Iudex's blasters found cockpits and engine nacelles and blew apart half a dozen Seinar patrol ships.

The comms buzzed.

It was the One Sith; and they wailed with targeting locks from missiles.

Five.

Ten.

Twenty.

All twenty concussion missile launchers aboard one of the Victories had them painted!

Their comms were live; and they had messages, searching for them. Guards that had served Bernael, criminals of the Pyke syndicate that wondered after Iudex, Hapan nobles seeking favour with their distant rulers...

Bernael snorted as the ship was painted with targeting icons. The point defense station howled as it acknowledged the lock-on from twenty different sources. ”I believe they are, finally, displeased by what we are doing.” he said in a humorless, flat tone even as he used the body of the nav officer to set the ship on a random evasive course that would, if all worked, keep them amid a field of debris from all the ships they had already destroyed.

When the comms started squawking, one eyebrow arched. Clicking on the channel that echoed with chatter in the Anzati tongue, ”Aithris. Thig dhachaigh air a’ chomharra seo.”* he responded in the same tongue. ”Dèan ullachadh airson ar nàimhdean a chuir an sàs agus an soitheach seo a dhìon cho fada ‘s a ghabhas.”*

Switching channels, multitasking as his senses ranged out further afield, draining the life from more and more of their lesser foes, he responded to the Hapan nobles, ”The One Sith assault the world of one of your rulers, available loyal vassals home in on this signal and repel the invaders. Loyal subjects will be well rewarded.” he said in a flat, measured tone.

Iudex was on autopilot, letting his lower consciousness dictate where and who his laser cannons targeted next. In such a target rich environment, target priorities or battle theories were irrelevant. They were to punch a hole in their lines, why use a chisel when a sledgehammer would do just as well?

"They'll have plenty of time to voice such displeasure to the Spirits." Iudex replied bluntly, plucking what few missiles made it through their point defense screen with the Force and flinging them back towards the collection of Victory II's. "They'll be meeting them soon enough."

Falling in sync with Bernael's direction, Iudex reached outwards, buffeting aside any craft that got in their way with a combination of pushes, pulls, and overwhelming firepower of his guns. This was Krayt's great armada? These toys? Such an insult would not go unpunished.

In turn, Iudex spoke next, tilting his chin towards the comm. Unlike Bernael, who spoke to a somewhat more respectable collection of allies, his voice was anything but measured, instead bellowing out a rising call to action. "Brothers and Sisters of Sennex and beyond, I offer to you a routing fleet that dared challenge the might of the Syndicates! Fortune favors the bold friends, let your aim be true, and your cargo holds empty, untold treasures and slaves await!" It went unsaid that whatever they didn't claim would go to him alone. And no self-respecting pirate would let such a blatant challenge go unmet.

Silencing the channel, Iudex found himself smirking as two of his redirected missiles slammed into the underside of a frigate attempting to intercept them, causing it to spin wildly out of control before breaking apart in atmosphere below. One of many to follow, he was sure.

"So," Iudex grunted, glancing over to Bernael, "Straight down the middle?"

A few Hapans, still eager to obtain favour with their absent monarch, responded with promises of skiffs, small Beta-class transports, and a trio of armed Nova-class battle cruisers. It was not an immense force; indeed it would keep a few VSDs busy but not much else. Once upon a time hundreds of Hapan Battle Dragons could have been called upon, but not since the Galney coup attempt.

The Pykes replied more favourably, as did the collected syndicates. Armed freighters of Corellian origin, as well as others, seemed paltry in comparison but a reconditioned Separatist Lucrehulk-class battleship was the crown to this force. It would be more than a match for a portion of the Tapani fleet.

But it was a start.

The Tapani launched their local flavour of fighter, a carrier birthing some thirty of them in their direction -

Bernael snorted a laugh at the response from his guards as the responses also came in from the Hapans and the Syndicates. ”The faithful will be well rewarded.” he muttered to Iudex, ”Your pirates and thieves seem almost as enthusiastic as my guards, as opposed to the weak response of the Hapans, that is for another day though.”

One hand rose, stroking a spot on his featureless mask, his armor sealing around him and the mask. ”What use evasion and hiding?” was his simple response to his brother’s question. With that the zombie nav officer switched tactics, their ship rocketing forward with all the power available, weaving and dodging around lesser ships as the both, sure his battle brother was firing as fast as he was beginning to glow darkly from every soul he drained during their passage.

Seeing the fighters spitting forth from the carrier before them, he snorted again, ”Wasps harassing a bear and they are not even aware of the fact.” he said derisively as he reached out, his mind distracting as he strategically began to drain the bothersome ‘wasps’.

"Never underestimate the lure of greed, my friend." Iudex confirmed, taking note of the various vessels making up their assembled armada with a smirk. Upon his gaze falling upon the few ships offered up by the Hapan, he hummed humorously. "But do remember that the Hapan Consortium is still recovering from our last adventure. The fact that any of them answered our call must be rewarded in kind.."

It went unsaid how concerned he was over their dwindling collective resources. How each once-in-a-lifetime climactic battle appeared to be happening closer and closer together. He was sure such displeasure was now etched into his expression, but no matter. This time they would make sure their foes were well and truly dead.

Iudex scoffed in response to Bernael, redirecting another salvo of missiles that had broken through their point-defense. "Then they can look upon the destruction of their mighty fleet and despair, for they know our monstrous retribution will have only just begun."

TAG: @Sinrebirth, @CosmoHender, @Silvertough

*Where they create a desert, they call it peace. - Tacitus
*Report. Home in on this signal.
*Prepare to engage our foes and defend this vessel as long as viable.

 

GM Post One of Three

IC: Ike
Streets of Nubia

The skies were suddenly full of TIEs and landing craft and other Tapani-designs, and Ike found himself sneering up into the sky. He indicated Tia. "Keep my blade, I won't need it for now..." He paused, and then shrugged. "Apprentice, fine."

Peripherally, in the Force more than sensors, Ike could detect a flock of black ships that were swooping for the surface…

The One Sith.

They didn’t want to be on the ground when they arrived. Ike grimaced at Tia.

"You know the Force, right?"

Please tell me Tia knows the Force.

"Focus it into your feet, we're about to Jedi jump."

A grin to himself; he'd long mocked Jedi and their ridiculous leaps in the propaganda trash they put out. The Clone Wars was full of Jedi jumps. The writers leaned heard into the silliest racial profiles, and sure, he had a soft spot for that Ahsoka kid (after season 4), but the jumps. Dear Force.

"It's time to go, Tia."

He put the Force in his feet, and leapt -

TAG: @Tia - please OFFICIALLY update your Sig to say you are the apprentice of Ike!
---
IC: Darth Insipid
Graul Estate, generally

He found the two of them in the shadows, which suited him just fine.

Darth's Hekate and Serapis.

"At ease," Insipid said swiftly, surely. "This is our compound, but we can't afford to hold the line - it's too valuable. I want you to withdraw into the civilian areas, lead the One Sith away."

He produced a holoprojector.

"Be on the look out for Sith Troopers."



"Lobotomized Sith Lords, boosted by cyborg enhancements. Think Darth Vader but more of them. If you find one, it'll go in a rage, and it'll crush everything between you and it. You can engage, but you'll need a plan."

Insipid didn't precisely know how many of them were, but it wasn't millions anymore. He knew that much.

But they'd target Sith, and they needed to be going.

"Find a school, a hospital, or something. You'll need distractions, because otherwise a Sith Trooper is the definition of relentless." He firmed his lips. "So don't think you've killed it until you're absolutely sure."

He glanced at the two guards Soliloquy had sent to him, who were keeping watch. “You two, same mission. We can’t afford to be caught up all together.”

Peripherally, in the Force more than sensors, Darth Insipid felt fear grip him as a flock of black ships were swooping for the surface…

TAG: @DarthIshyZ, @Nehru_Amidala, mention for @Mitth_Fisto
---
In orbit

The two Sith, Bernael and Iudex, they were causing many, many issues in orbit, and the One Sith fleet was becoming increasing beset. But a handful of Victory-class Star Destroyers were in danger, and the rest of them were deploying just fine.

In short order a trio of Tapani assault frigates, perfectly designed for anti-piracy missions and for slicing up smaller ships, rolled up to head towards them. They'd gotten a bead on them, and they had to either go on the offensive, or go to ground.

The Force was becoming more charged, more impossible to focus through, and they were becoming limited in what they could do beyond the confines of their ship. Indeed, it was as if the stretching out beyond the hull had been punished by a smothering force, crushing the perception of the two so they could not see any further than their sensors -



The darker the Force was, the more polluted it was, even they were struggling.

It wasn't darkness like them.

It was something much worse.

Krayt had to be here, somewhere.

Peripherally, in the Force more than sensors, and thus unseeable by these two, a flock of black ships were swooping for the surface…

TAG: @Silvertough, @darthbernael
---
Holocron SubSpace

"Are we perhaps open to suggestions?" Soliloquy asked into the void. "I have a lovely bunch of. . .candidates you might not have had access to previously."

Soa and Adas recoiled, caught out. The Red Rakata immediately blustered. "You know nothing of the Infernal Empire."

Adas snorted. "Enough, Soa, your empire fell twenty eight millennia ago. Who cares?"

The big burly Sith, charcoal skinned, and much larger than Soliloquy's mental projection, who seemed to take the form of something else, unbidden, from his memory...

"I made the Sith Order. I set it up separate from the Old One worshipping idiots -"

He glared at Soa. "And I helped your Lady Bellorum become the power she is today -"

"While keeping from them the Infinite Fleet -"

"The Hearts are not to be trifled with -"

Peripherally, Soliloquy would know that Nihl, Inexor and the rest were commanding launches, the Fury-class assault ships more visible in the Force than modern sensors…

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto (combo)
---
Battle of Nubia

The frigate passed them by, so close that Barriss could have reached out and caressed the hull. There were clear skies between them and the systems edge -

How it hadn't seen them -

"Barriss," Vima said, trembling, her skin even more waxen than normal, sweat beading her brow, skeletal hands dug into the arms of her chain. "Go, you should."

The Force, Vima was using the Force to hide them, to cloak them -

"He's found me!" She screamed out. "Dark, it's so dark, he's as dark as Palpatine, as dark, dark -"

The systems screamed with a targeting lock -

Peripherally, in the Force more than sensors, a flock of black ships were swooping for the surface…

TAG: @CosmoHender
---
Pelagon

The Imperial Knights, their Nightsister friend, and their Tapani Jedi escort, they were at an impasse.

Shey grimaced, and produced his comlink.

"All of the noble houses, they've had their assets appropriated - taken to Nubia. Eighteen Star Destroyers, all of our frigates and cruisers. They've thrown in with the Lords of the Sith, and they're targeting, from what spies I have in the other houses, a group of Imperial Lords led by Aryan Graul on Nubia."

He pressed his lips together.

"They've taken everything apart from our orbiting space station - the Pelagia's Moon." Shey hesitated. "Because they didn't know that it has engines. Enough guns to take on three Imperial Star Destroyers, too."



He looked at them each, one at a time, his blue eyes attempting to pierce their souls - their consciences.

"If the Mecrosa, the ancient Sith enemy of the Tapani, have taken back command of the sector, then it's my responsibility to stop them." He went to stride off, away from them. "If you intend to come with me, it's up to you. But it's your Emperor that's in danger, not mine. I'm just being responsible for my trash."

Shey wasn't going to talk to Walce any more about it. "But know if I fail, there won't be anywhere left for you to hide, and that won't be my problem."

Obviously, Shey was the true High Lord of his House.

TAG: @ConservativeJedi321, @TheAdmiral, @TheSilentInfluence (singles)

 

GM Post 2 of 3

The following is a combo with @Lady_Belligerent and @Sinrebirth

IC: Empress Bellorum Graul, Emperor Aryan Graul, Aryan 'Gramps' Graul, and Darth Insipid
The Graul Estate, Nubia

Bellorum had taken Aryan’s arm and urged him away from Insipid. She had felt anger surge through her husband over Insipid’s last remark, it was jarring to feel his fury.

Lord Skelm obviously struck a nerve, judging by Aryan’s reaction, but she would wait before asking any questions.

They retraced their steps along the stone path toward the house. Bell wondered what it was like to live in a house such as this one. She cleared her throat and asked Aryan, "do you feel like you’ve returned home? I mean, wasn’t this your home once?"

His wife’s timely intervention served as a sort of reprieve for his raging emotions. Insipid’s revelation about his heritage and the overarching link to the Epitaph had unnerved him more than he cared to admit. It was a lot to comprehend, and he had only just begun to scratch the surface when the Sith Emperor had mentioned Skelm—the name he had adopted during his short time under Haretisch’s tutelage.

The offensive moniker had immediately provoked his indignation. He felt a tightness in his chest as a rush of adrenaline coursed through his veins. The familiar needling in the back of his mind had also returned, almost like an illicit voice whispering in his ear. It was the first time he had experienced it in months.

He knew he would have succumbed to its temptations if Bell had not acted quickly to distract him.

Aryan expelled a breath and angled his chin to regard her for a long moment, the tension fading from his features. He offered a wan smile to show his gratitude before glancing back at the mansion looming in front of them. In truth, it felt odd returning to his childhood home after all of these years; he never considered the implications until Bell posed the question.

"It’s the same as I remember it," Aryan murmured as he narrowed his eyes to study the edifice. "Time accounts for a few aesthetic differences, but nothing else has changed."

He scoffed and rubbed at the back of his neck, clearly unsettled. "I haven’t been back here since before I was elected to the Senate. Even when I returned to Nubia, I opted for a private residence in the capital. I couldn’t bring myself to step foot inside that house and confront my past… the memories."

Canting his head, he glanced down into Bell’s eyes and placed both hands on the bulge of her stomach. "I also worry about you," he stated in an attempt to change the subject. "I’m not sure if it’s safe for you here."

Insipid let them go.

He didn't want the fighting to despoil Nubia; it was important in the running of things, and he hadn't wanted the present-day Grauls to be overly disrupted in the first place. He'd need to divert the One Sith to attack the wider planet, which meant bait... or a fighting retreat.

Resolved, he knew what he'd be asking Darth's Serapis and Hekate to do when they touched down.

He looked for Soliloquy's men; he'd be ordering them to retreat into the nearest city and engage in street-to-street.

The more they diluted the One Sith attack, the quicker Krayt turned up and they could try and kill him.

Emphasis on try.

He turned to leave Graul and Bell and hoped they wouldn't feel too badly if he died.

Bellorum shivered and glanced back over her shoulder. She stared at Insipid’s back thinking he better not die… it would be by her hand if that should happen.

She sighed and looked back at her husband, her hands lying upon his as he held her stomach. "I’ll be fine," she whispered, "we just need these guys to be patient, they’re starting to get restless." That was all she dared to say, otherwise Aryan might send her away, and that wasn’t an option she’d agree to. "Olag and Cal are with your grandfather," she said in hopes of reassuring Aryan, "I’ll speak to them about my condition." Truthfully Bell had no intention of allowing either of those two near her, the babies would be delivered when she was ready, and she wouldn’t risk them telling Aryan she shouldn’t be involved in this fight.

A gentle breeze disturbed the foliage along the path, and the air felt damp from a storm blowing in. "We should get inside," Bell urged, "I’ll try and call in some favors, ones that might give up some additional firepower, while you work on Nubia’s defense." She picked up the pace to hurry towards the house, the threat of Darth Krayt weighed heavily on her since the timing couldn’t be worse.

Once Bell turned away and started up the path, Aryan frowned. Her explanation about the babies and the impending confrontation with Darth Krayt did very little to soothe his wary mind. He wasn’t convinced that she was being entirely truthful with him, especially when it came to her own health. Her insistence to prove her worth could result in dire consequences for their unborn children, but he knew better than to openly protest—not at this juncture. He would need to approach the subject with a delicate hand.

For the moment, he placed his hands into his jacket pockets and followed her toward the house, mentally preparing himself for what awaited them. He wasn’t exactly thrilled to return to his family’s estate, nor did he want to have a direct encounter with his great-great-grandfather, but he couldn’t ignore the Force’s subtle vibrations. He knew that it had led them here as a result of Insipid’s revelation. It was the first step in safeguarding this reality against the End of Time.

As Aryan pushed aside the old-fashioned hinged door to allow Bell to enter, the familiar scents of the living space greeted him. It was exactly as he remembered it; his brain automatically associated it with several childhood memories. He visibly flinched as they rose to the surface.

"Stay close," he uttered under his breath, his voice wavering slightly as he struggled with his emotions. "We don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves. If–If we can sneak back to the study without alerting them to our presence, I’ll consider that a victory."

"In that case, you’ve already failed."

Aryan froze in mid-stride and glanced down at Bell, his expression twisted into one of disbelief. How could they have been so careless in their approach? Someone had already discovered them before they had even made it out of the foyer. That normally would’ve been a cause for concern, but Aryan thought he recognized the deep, gravelly inflection of the stranger’s voice. It wasn’t too dissimilar from his own. In fact, it was almost exact.

And sure enough, as he turned to regard the man standing in the adjoining doorway, he realized that he was right.



"Kriff," Aryan murmured quietly.

Bell gave her Aryan a slight smile, and she took his hand before turning to greet Grandpa Aryan, "I hope you don’t mind that we let ourselves in?" She asked softly. The house was quiet, and it felt almost irreverent to disturb the peace inside. The sound of soft voices came from the direction of the kitchen, where it was likely her medics were likely being fed by Lyz.

"I saw you approach from the footpath," Gramps replied simply, his expression safely guarded behind an impassive mask. He should’ve been engaged in a therapy session with Doctor Olag and his assistant, but their bizarre techniques had proven too much for him to tolerate. He had demanded they take a break.

And so, while Lyz offered to prepare lunch for their guests, he began to wander around the house aimlessly. That’s when he came upon Bellorum and his great-great-grandson.

Allegedly.

Gramps scrutinized the other Aryan in silence. His presence seemed to captivate him, even after Bellorum’s explanation and his previous opportunities to observe the man from afar. It felt surreal; like peering into a mirror that reflected back his future self. It was odd that they would appear so… exact.

"It’s unnerving, I know," Aryan managed with a weak smile, shuffling uncomfortably on his feet. It was as if he could read and understand the other man’s thoughts. "I’m not sure if this will help, but it’s best to recognize that we are… connected through something called the Epitaph. It’s an ancient concept that goes back thousands of years. Every iteration of myself is a part of you… and vice versa. That would explain the similarities. We’re the same soul."

It would’ve been perfect if this meeting was only about the two men getting to know each other, instead of the seriousness of saving the timeline. Bell felt her eyes moistening at the thought of what cannot be, and she covered a cough to quickly wipe her eyes. She cursed herself for being emotional over a relationship that wouldn’t have been possible if they weren’t in the wrong place in time.

"We would’ve been here when Olag and Cal arrived, but something has come up," Bell looked up at Aryan and squeezed his hand. "We need your help, but I’ll let Aryan explain." She stepped aside, happy to let Aryan take charge.

The Emperor tensed and glanced down at his wife as if she had prodded him with a vibroblade. It wasn’t easy to hold a conversation with himself, which was essentially what it felt like to speak with this man. It was certainly possible for him to overcome his apprehensions about confronting his doppelganger, but he needed more time to prepare.

Or maybe it was merely an excuse. While he wouldn’t openly admit it, he would prefer if Bell took the lead on this one.

His stalling was a testament to this fact, prompting Gramps to ultimately intervene.

"You need access to Nubia’s assets," the other man stated in a firm voice, his brow lifting knowingly. "Aside from the company itself, it’s the only thing that makes sense. There’s really nothing else of value."

Aryan coughed to conceal his embarrassment and finally stepped forth. "You’re, uh… very perceptive," he murmured with a smirk turning up one corner of his mouth. He would’ve expected nothing less from a Graul. "Unfortunately, we don’t have much time. A Sith fleet has set its sights on Nubia, and it won’t take them long to turn the surface into slag as a demonstration of their power. We need to muster as many forces as possible to repel their attack; that’s where the Nubian Defense Fleet will be critical to our success."

A slight frown crossed Gramp’s countenance as he considered the implications. "I would love to provide assistance, but I must warn you that everything is under my father’s jurisdiction. It’ll be difficult to fulfill your request."

Bell observed both men as they spoke, they were alike in so many ways, especially in subtle mannerisms that one wouldn’t expect. She loved how she shared a unique connection with her husband, and it was through that bond that she’d detected his annoyance at her for stepping aside, forcing him to explain their dilemma. It was too bad, he needed to face his many-times-great-grandfather so they could protect Nubia… and their future.

She shifted her uncomfortable bulk and discreetly leaned against the doorway, standing for any period of time was becoming difficult. But the last thing she wanted to do was call attention to anything other than the issue of the One Sith.

Gramps Aryan’s comments then caught her attention, "difficult," she repeated and emphasized his wording, "that doesn’t mean it’s impossible, right?"

She had heard enough of Norin Graul to know that he had treated his son horribly, and he ruled with fear and violence… that wasn’t so different from the Sith, but she would not use that method on a child. Perhaps he could be managed if it became necessary… Bell was capable of giving him a healthy dose of fear.

She reached over and grasped Aryan’s hand as she looked up at him. Their eyes met for a moment and they both knew what had to be done.

TAG: All

 

GM Update 3 of 3. A big thank you to the GM team, you guys are the absolute best to work with!

Interdictor in orbit - Nubia

Helinith’s knock was met with shouts of strange curses.

The Rodians had taken advantage of their down time and figured out where they were, and discovered they were smack in the midst of a big showdown. They had been making repairs and getting the ship ready to get the kriff out of there.

The two pilots knew basic and heard the small woman’s question. The pilot stopped and activated an intercom that allowed his voice to be broadcast at the main hatch. “No!” He shrieked, “get away, you!”

He hit the controls to seal the main hatch and the ramp began to fold in.

If they launched it would narrow Helinith’s chances of getting off the interdictor, much less to Yinchorr.

The old freighters engines started up and the ship started to turn towards the magcon field at the end of the hangar. It slowly eased around and an indicator chimed to remind the captain that he’d neglected closing the cargo hatch. The Rodian smacked his forehead and pressed the appropriate controls. The cargo bay doors were slowly closing right next to Helinith.

On the flight deck the captain realized he would need a good excuse to escape and get outside of Nubia’s orbit. He’s seen all the ships on radar, and now he was wondering if they should wait for whatever was happening to end before they launched. He voiced his concerns in rapid Rodian to his co-pilot, who shook his head and keyed up their comm to make a transmission to all ships in their immediate area. “Mayday!! Mayday!! Please let us pass, we are humble Rodians escaping Imperial Knights who stole this ship. This battle doesn’t involve us, and thanking you.”

He clicked off and nodded vigorously, “now go!”

The captain gunned the engines and launched.

Tag: @darthhelinith

*******​

Their cover was blown.

It might be Sam who recognized the Rodian freighter captain’s voice as it broadcast across all within orbit of Nubia. The fool had outed them to the One Sith.

They came on suddenly, several fast ships flew in on the Interdictor. It was a valuable ship, truthfully it was their only interdictor, and now the One Sith wanted it back.

One ship made it inside the hangar as an old freighter screamed past them. They were ordered to ignore that freighter. The mission was to retake the interdictor.

As quickly as the ship settled on it’s landing struts, Sith troopers filed out and into the hangar.

Incoming ships were defended by TIE squadrons, they were only firing shots to keep the interdictor busy and distracted while they worked to get more troops on board. “You take it back intact. Do not destroy that ship,” a raspy deep voice ordered over their comms.

On the bridge the Knights would need to trust some of the defectors with weapons to defend their ship. There were also decisions to be made, like did they fire on the escaping freighter that had just screwed them over? Also, who would lead defectors to assault the troopers that had managed to get on board so far?

There wasn’t time for a discussion. A shaky defector was getting their weapon systems prepped, but could they trust him to take out the TIE’s swarming in? The poor man was terrified out of his mind and talking to himself as he tried to use the targeting systems.

Tag: @Ananta Chetan @Silvertough @galactic-vagabond422 @CosmoHender