Saga Dear Diary Challenge (1/2 Year) - Star Wars: The Coruscant Crusade

Title: The Coruscant Crusade
Author: Jordan1Kenobi
Characters: (all but one are original characters)
Meet the crew

• Mil Toska - Male / Nautolan / 34 years old / Archeologist
• Suvi Tuula - Female / Mikkian / 29 years old / Scientist
• Sir Brask Regen - Male / Zabrak / 53 years old / Historian
• Siriam Heroman - Male / Human / 32 years old / Treasure hunter
• Okaa Nokaa - Male / Ithorian / 43 years old / Treasure hunter
• Count Takura Serenno - Male / Human / 60 years old / Ruler of Serenno and billionaire
• Vay Ku'zo - Male / Human (Mandalorian) / 43 years old / Bounty hunter
• Jiraala Vuum - Female / Twi'lek / 35 years old / Bodyguard
• IG-26 - Male programming / IG assassin droid / Bodyguard
• Doctor Chelli Aphra - Female / Human / 31 years old / Archeologist

Genre: Thriller, Adventure
Timeline: 7 ABY (3 years after ROTJ)
Plot: The Armor of Azarat, an ancient set of gear belonging to a powerful Sith Lord from the days of the Old Republic, has been located on Coruscant. The armor is said to grant it's wearer the full power of the Force. Hoping to claim this prize, Count Takura of House Serenno has assembled a large crew to retrieve it.
With treasure this powerful, and so many hands trying to claim it, not everything will go according to plan...

Author's notes: This is my second attempt at fan fic writing, so I apologize in advance if it sucks! I am excited to take part in the contest though.
There will be multiple narrators to give you different perspectives. And it will all be recorded on a datapad that the characters carry around on their expedition. Here are my first two entries.


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Day: 001
Log: 001
User: Mil Toska
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

Alright, I guess I'll start this off... Mil Toska here - renowned archeologist of Glee Anselm. You may have heard of the Diamond of the Dune Sea. Well you guessed it, that was my find! Earned me my reputation and helped get me to where I am today. There's no greater feeling than uncovering a treasure that's been lost to time. The history, the legacy, the craftsmanship... each find is magnificent in their own way. Plus the pay's pretty good in this line of work!

Two days ago I received a delightfully unexpected transmission from Count Takura, the billionaire ruler of House Serenno... Yeah, that guy! He was requesting help in finding one of the galaxy's greatest hidden treasures - the Armor of Azarat. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think? It's a full set of armor once belonging to the ancient Sith Lord from the days of the Old Republic - an era that I am deeply fascinated by. How could I possibly have said no? This could very well end up being the highlight of my career!

Our intel places the artifact here on Coruscant below the old Jedi Temple-turned Imperial Palace. Apparently it's in a vault said to have secretly been constructed by Darth Vader himself. How exciting! The fact that Vader was keeping it from the Empire and even the Emperor tells me a lot. It's obviously well hidden if it was never discovered after all those years, especially right under their noses. And why did he keep it from his master? Could he have been planning to overthrow him one day? If the armor held enough power to somehow destroy the Emperor, then... well I don't even know what to say to that. These are just theories, but we must still be cautious.

Anyway, I'd best be getting ready. We're setting off once the last members of our crew arrive fashionably late.

- End of recording -
User: Mil Toska logged out.

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Day: 001
Log: 002
User: Suvi Tuula
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

Um, hey... My name is Suvi Tuula. I'm a scientist specializing in geology, biology, mycology, virology... anything with 'ology' in it really. Let's just say I didn't exactly get out much growing up. And I still don't to be honest, but it's never bothered me. I love my work, and I love making a difference.

Life has always fascinated me. It's beginning, it's development, it's end. Beauty and tragedy... I've been lucky enough to witness it all throughout my years of research, which has taken me to countless star systems and introduced me to civilizations I never knew existed.

What drew me to this particular job wasn't the credits, unlike most of my other associates here... No, it was the armor. The power it holds, the secrets it has to tell... I could experiment on it for a lifetime! Lord Azarat's armor is believed to have a connection to the Force itself and even pass these powers on to the wearer. I know, I know... I don't believe it all myself, but every myth is grown from some truth. Either way, should the wrong person get their hands on the armor... it could- no would be disastrous. I have no idea what Count Takura wants to do with it, but I can't imagine our ideas will align.

I've never been acquainted with any of the crew prior to today, so it's difficult to make any final judgments. I have heard about most of them however. Some are legends in their field who I couldn't be more excited to work with, specifically Mil Toska and Brask Regen who've both contributed a respectable amount to science. The others on the other hand... they don't have the best reputations.

Chelli Aphra. Hearing that name was almost enough to turn the job down. She rose to fame for being the most brilliant archeologist of her time. Hah! To me she's nothing more than an incompetent fraud. Everything Aphra touches turns to dust. But I must push my feelings aside if I want to make the most of this expedition.

- End of recording -
User: Suvi Tuula logged out.

 

nice characters
fun with the notes by two of them

 

Continuing to introduce the main crew. After that we can set off on the adventure!

Day: 001
Log: 003
User: Siriam Heroman
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

Hey, hey! How's it going folks? I don't think introductions are necessary, but for formality's sake... It's Siriam Heroman - legendary treasure hunter, heroic gunslinger, and all round charming rogue!

I got the call from the Count while my partner and I were deep undercover on Canto Bight for a high stakes mission. They call that a typical night for Heroman. I don't wanna bore you with all the details, but long story short the bad guys went down, the damsel was no longer in distress, and Bobbee the Hutt's prized pet rancor was safely returned. Oh, what an adventure! And the credits... my goodness, the credits! Although there was a little hassle getting Bobbee to hand them over... The contract clearly stated that you would be paid in the weight of his "lost pet". Of course he'd only lost his monkey lizard at that point, but then the rancor escaped somehow. Sooo technically he did have to pay a rancor's worth of gold. He wasn't happy about it, but a Hutt always keeps their word. I'm still trying to figure out how the whole charade started on Tatooine and ended on Canto- What? Oh, sorry! My partner back there is telling me to get a move on, so a move on I shall get... That didn't make any sense.

Okaa Nokaa, my long time treasure hunting partner. I couldn't do anything without him! Well, I could, but it wouldn't be as easy. Or would it? Hmm... I'd get a bigger cut. In fact I'd get the whole cut! Mayb- Hey, don't give me that look buddy! I'm just messing around. You know I wouldn't last a day out there without ya! This crew the Count's put together doesn't seem half bad either. A bit rough around the edges, but I'm sure they'll work out just fine. That scientist, Tuvi Luulaa or Sugi Toopar... the Twi'lek - she's easy on the eyes isn't she? Maybe there's more than one treasure to be found on this mission! Hah!... Don't give me that look, Okaa...

So anyway, the reason why we're here - the Armor of Azarat. I don't see this job being any different from our usual crusades - Buried treasure, beautiful women, and a big pay out! I'm all too familiar. I do however have an itching feeling that this particular treasure will be cursed, belonging to a Sith and then hidden by a Sith. You could say there's something Sithspicious about it, am I right?! But that's not a problem. It reminds me of the time I was being chased through a cave on Naboo afte-

- End of recording -
User: Siriam Heroman logged out.

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Day: 001
Log: 004
User: Okaa Nokaa
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

Please excuse my partner. Sometimes he can get... carried away. I guess you can call me the sensible one of the partnership. Don't get me wrong, he's still incredibly good at what he does. A bit clumsy, loud and arrogant at times, but at the end of the day we always get the job done.

I won't waste time telling exaggerated tales of heroism. We got contacted for a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we accepted. That's really all there is to it. I do have some concerns though, and you'd be silly not to. If you ask me, Takura's gone a bit overboard with the crew. Sure they're all talented in their respected fields, but why hire this many people at such a considerable price when he already has the exact location of the armor? I've heard there's even a bounty hunter tagging along. Heck, Heroman and I could've done this on our own. Maybe he's just being paranoid, or maybe there's more to this than we're aware of...

- End of recording -
User: Okaa Nokaa logged out.

 

Superbly diverse cast of characters, each with their different tone and motive.

 

nice to get to know more characters with their different motives

 

Working almost every day hasn't given me as much free time, but I'll hopefully start knocking out way more entries. Submitting this with minutes to spare...


Day: 001
Log: 005
User: Takura Serenno
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

A wise ancestor of mine once said “Power is useless to those unworthy of wielding it.” I could not agree more. He was one of the most powerful men in the galaxy after all, and I wish to follow in his footsteps. I may not be able to move mountains with my mind, but my wealth can certainly pay to have those mountains removed...

I am sure my crew has just about worn this device out with stories and theories of the Armor of Azarat. I appreciate their enthusiasm, I really do, but it’s their knowledge and skills that got the attention of my credits. I am not a stubborn man, I know when to admit I need help. And if I am going to recover the armor and still be alive to use it afterwards, then they are certainly the ones to make that happen. Maybe I don’t need them all, but safety should not be taken for granted when the stakes are this high. Dooku was correct yet again - “If you hold extraordinary power, why point with one finger when you could punch with a fist?”

Do I trust them? No. Do they trust me? No. Should they trust me? Maybe. If they deliver what they agreed upon then we will be fine. But should they betray me, venturing into Lord Vader’s vault will seem like paradise compared to the hell I will put them through... I have brought along my two worthiest bodyguards and a reputable bounty hunter should anyone try anything rash, plus I have a few tricks of my own... I may not have my ancestor’s skills, but we share the same fire.

People keep questioning why I want the armor. I tell them for my art collection, but the real answer is simple - I wish to turn that fire into an inferno. I wish to wield the same Force that Dooku did. With the Emperor dead, I wish to be the most powerful man in the galaxy.

- End of recording -
User: Takura Serenno logged out.

 

A bit of free advice for this wannabe Dooku: Don't lose your head.

 

Day: 001
Log: 006
User: Brask Regen
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

I am Sir Brask Regen and this is the most exciting week of my life. As someone who’s spent their entire life studying the vast history of our galaxy, constantly digging deeper to discover its secrets, to be able to hold one of the rarest artifacts from the days of the Old Republic... It’s an opportunity like no other. I couldn’t dream of turning it down.

What really fascinates me about the Armor of Azarat isn’t the power or the value - the reason that Count Takura is obviously so eager to get his hands on it. No, it’s the knowledge that can be gained about our history, and possibly even the Force itself - something that is in short supply these days.

Force users gave us an extra sense of security we needed back during the Clone Wars. Sadly there aren’t many Jedi left, but I do hear about sightings from time to time on my travels. In fact just a year ago I was on an expedition to Felucia when the locals informed me of a Togruta wielding two white blades who’d just freed a nearby village from the remnants of the Empire. We may be considerably safer than when the Empire ruled, but it’s comforting knowing there are still guardians watching over us.

Long story short, what I’m trying to get at here is with the armor as a resource, could there possibly be a way to draw more Force users out? I’ve heard stories of old runes being activated with Jedi bringing aid to the summoner. Yes, the Empire is shattered, but who’s to say another won’t rise from their ashes? I’d certainly feel a lot safer with Jedi leading the New Republic.

- End of recording -
User: Brask Regen logged out.

 

Day: 001
Log: 007
User: Chelli Aphra
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

Hey nobody... Doctor Aphra here. We’re about to- oh, we don’t have to do this?

Sweet. Bye!

- End of recording -
User: Chelli Aphra logged out.

 

Day: 001
Log: 008
User: Mil Toska
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

We’ve been searching the Imperial Palace for an entire day now without finding a single trace of this so-called secret vault. I would’ve given up by now had I not been in similar situations before. Finding buried secrets is never easy. It’s not supposed to be. Especially when said secret was Darth Vader’s.

But I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t enjoying this. The Imperial Palace holds more history than anywhere else on the planet and is somewhere I’ve always dreamt of visiting, preferably back when it was still the Jedi Temple. Just walking down it’s eerie, abandoned halls gives me the sense of adventure I’ve been craving.

- End of recording -
User: Mil Toska logged out.

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Day: 001
Log: 009
User: Suvi Tuula
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

This place reeks of death... It feels like no one’s stepped foot in here since the Empire fell all those years ago. The halls are lined with faded and torn Imperial propaganda. Stormtrooper helmets and blasters are scattered across the floors coated in dust and webs. A devastating sight...

I’ve slowly acquainted myself with the crew over the day. They’re an... interesting group to put it mildly. Some are in way over their heads, while others just aren’t using their heads. And that Aphra... I’ve felt her judgmental gaze since we stepped foot in here. She thinks she’s better than everyone. I know she’s got other plans.

- End of recording -
User: Suvi Tuula logged out.

 

love the different voices

 

Day: 001
Log: 010
User: Chelli Aphra
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

I’ve snuck off from the group for a while. If you knew me, you’d know I had my own plans from the start. These guys are morons if they expect Takura, the relative of famous Jedi traitor Count Dooku, to keep his word. He was giving off evil vibes from the moment I met him! I’ve worked with these types of men before, and I know for a fact it never ends well.

So while the others head down to where they think the treasure is, I’m going up to where I know the treasure is. I wonder who gave them the bad intel... oopsie!

If I can snatch and extract the armour while they’re all blindly searching the lower levels, I can sneak back into the group, say I got a little lost, and no one would be the wiser.

- End of recording -
User: Chelli Aphra logged out.

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Day: 002
Log: 011
User: Mil Toska
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

We’ve just discovered a hidden entrance leading to a system of lower levels not recorded on any blueprints. As far as anyone’s concerned this area doesn’t exist, so I’m pretty sure we’re in the right place. Vader’s secret vault must be close!

The architecture is unusual down here as nothing matches the rest of the temple. It feels like we’ve traveled back in time to the days of the Old Republic, which I guess makes sense with the armour being of that era. Every pillar is engraved with fascinating patterns, and the floors lined with worn stone slabs. But I’m just amazed at how incredibly detailed these statues are.

- End of recording -
User: Mil Toska logged out.

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Day: 002
Log: 012
User: Siriam Heroman
Location: Galactic City, Coruscant

The statues have just come alive! Takura’s half-witted droid stood on something he shouldn’t have and now some sort of... ancient droid guardians are attacking us!

Behind you, Okaa! Look out!

How do we fight these things?! If there were just two or three, then sure, I’d personally make them permanent statues without a problem. I’ve taken on bigger and badder. But... ten, no twel- thirteen. Wait, fifteen. Yeah, fifteen of them?! No way. Not happening.

- End of recording -
User: Siriam Heroman logged out.