Star Wars Legacy of the Force: The Last Stand

IC Adalia Tehanis-Durron , Bernael - Combo with @darthbernael
In Hyperspace - return journey



Adalia was exhausted, she lay on the bed assigned her on board ‘The Fury’ staring at a bulkhead, her heart ached painfully as her body recovered the ordeal. Only two days she’d given birth to her son, a healthy boy who cried loudly upon arrival. She’d cradled him to her gazing in awe at the tiny screwed up face with the shock of almost black hair over 2cm long on his head. She’d cried. Mirax had been here holding her hand, Jem had fainted but had stayed as long as he could, but the one she’d wanted there had missed the event. She didn’t even know if Kyp knew about the early arrival of their son. It didn’t matter, it was probably better this way. What he didn't know, couldn't hurt him like it was her.

Within an hour of the birth, she’d explained to Mirax and Adam what she was going to do, as she was not ready to drop out of this fight and by the same token could not risk the life of her child as she knew if Jacen, or worse in her mind, Aden got hold of him, well she didn’t want to consider that. She had to hide him, squirrel him away, for his own safety. She’d told them to act like she’d never been pregnant, to tell everyone to erase the memory as she planned to erase the existence of the boy. Tahiri had seen her in that condition, but her reports to her seniors would prove to be false, and make her position weaker.

Bernael had offered to free her, to take her where she needed to be to set her plans in motion, and at speed. She had one location in mind, one person she trusted to do this, one person she knew would care for the boy like her own.

They headed to Bakura and Adalia’s older cousin, Amber.

Amber had already adopted two children and she’d told her the last time they’d spoken that she and her husband were in the process of seeking a third. Adalia had been right, as when they arrived in the dead of night, Amber was more than happy to pass this new child off as one she’d adopted in secret. She knew what was at stake and told her that she'd fight and die to protect the boy. Adalia knewit to be true but hoped it would not be necessary. No one would question it as the wheels had been in motion for her own adoption. She loved her cousin, but handing her new born son over to her was probably the hardest thing she’d ever done. Her milk had come in and she’d fed the boy for the last two days, but now that would stop. She knew she’d have to medicate to stop this natural function, and the pain of not being able to feed her own child was tremendous. She’d turned and left quickly, a ‘rip the tape off’ move, the faster the better. Not giving her time to cry, to morn the loss of the time she’d never get back. In her heart she knew she had to do this. He was the son of a Jedi Master and a Force sensitive woman; someone Aden especially would want to get his hands on. The man had a strange almost mentally disturbing obsession with her, she could almost see his sick sinister smile if he’d managed to get her child.

No.

It would never happen so long as there was breath in her body.

The journey back was now in process as she hid in the quarters assigned. Somehow, she needed to find a way to fight, find away past this pain and anguish to lead with Adam and Mirax. Adalia had to dig in deep and find the reasons to keep going on this quest.

During the trip to Bakura, Bernael had allowed Adalia time with her thoughts and her child, she needed that with what was to come. There was enough to do. Renn had been correct, he was displeased by the damage done to his ship. As well he was not entirely pleased that the spy was on the ship and was coming with them. One order of business was the repair of the hangar and another was a thorough inspection of the TIE to ensure there were no other surprises coming from it. Such a craft would come in handy in the near future, he mused.

While the Nagai had not been the ones to have caused the damage he needed Renn for another item that needed doing. So Rom was assigned the inspection and testing of the TIE while Rem oversaw the astromechs repairing the hangar. One of Rom’s choices brought a slight smile to his face when the inspection was done, that the TIE was completely repainted, the same coloration as the Fury, it’s systems having been purged and completely replaced by ones somewhat similar to the Fury’s.

When they had landed, he’d stayed in the background, Amber didn’t know him and this was not about him either. So he and the others stayed with the Fury, finishing the repairs and keeping Face from getting too curious. When Adalia returned Bernael could sense the despair, the depression, that clouded her senses but assisting her would come on their way back. He wasn’t going to stay on Bakura and give the GA a chance to figure out why they’d come or where they were.

As the ship flew through hyper he decided it was time. The others were engaged in the repairs so he made his way to Adalia’s quarters, knocking on the hatch. ”I’m sure you don’t want to, but Adalia, we should talk.”

She heard the knock and her eyes closed. She didn't want to deal with anything, she didn't want to be right now. What she'd just done was soul destroying and facing reality was almost too much to cope with.

But she had too, she knew she had too.

"Come in." She said in a deadpan voice as she sat up and wiped the tears that had been falling endlessly, away.

The hatch opened as Bernael walked in, the corner of his mouth turning down at the wash of emotions that had been bottled up in the room as they washed over him. In here they were potent, concentrated, and unhealthy for her. He motioned with a finger and the chair from the desk of the chamber settled near the hatch, which shut behind him.

He sat in the chair, silent for a moment as he gazed at Adalia. He could feel her pain like a jagged wound. His elbows propped on the arms of the chair and he concentrated as well, cleansing the room of the negative energy she was letting loose before sealing the room from electronic, audible, or any other intrusion while they spoke.

His hands steepled before his face, eyes looking at her over them, ”Let it out Adalia, here and now. Tell me.” he told her.

"About what?" She asked as she watched him. "I have nothing to say."

His hands folded in front of him as he calmly looked at her. ”You are my partner, in your current state I would be able to feel your pain from another galaxy. If we return and you are in this state all the subterfuge in the galaxy will not keep Jacen or Aden from realizing they have been duped. So spill it.” Truth be told, he knew what was bothering her but he was not going to tell her that, her healing would only begin when she let it out herself.

She snorted and looked away. "Seriously? You're asking me that? You blind? Or just not paying attention?" She looked back, her eyes glistened with unshed tears, yet almost blazing with emotion.

Bernael’s expression changed, became one that asked, without words, ‘are you serious?’. His head tilted to the side as he did so before he sighed, ”Adalia, I am well over two thousand years old, do you truly think I do not know what you are feeling? I have not seen or spoken to my own offspring in centuries.”

Sitting back in a more relaxed posture as his expression softened, ”I wanted you to say the words, not me, is why I asked. But this does not become you. You will see your son again, get to experience his life. What you have done is ensure he is safe and secure so that that future may come to pass. If you stay this way, however, what we have done here, what Jay went through to make it appear you were still with the others, will have been for naught. Jacen, Aden even, will pick up your emotions and realize they have been duped.” he stated flatly, without emotion.

She stood and began to pace. "Don't your lot not even see their kids, send them off to some crazy training camp to either survive or die or some such kriff? And with all due respect, you have never given birth! Its much more to be a mother than to be a father! Hell any idiot can be a father!" She stopped with a grunt and a snort. "Truth is any idiot can be a mother and give birth, but that's just it. I grew him in me, I felt him move, I connected with him and then I dumped him!! Clearly I'm 'any idiot!' " She covered her face. "I haven't even told his father, gods, he might know, I don't know! He's got no name........" She stopped, removing her hands, "I did want to name him, I told Amber what I want to call him.........but making that choice without Kyp would be wrong." The tears were falling again. "I'm angry, I'm lost, I'm hurting and I don't know what to do to fix this."

”You are correct about my kind, for the most part. And no, I’ve never given birth, that too is correct. But a parent, from all I know, does what they can to make the galaxy a better place for their children to live in, however that means to the species of the parent.” He pulled his feet close to the chair to avoid her pacing. ”So take that pain, that anger, that fear, and use it. Don’t let it show to Aden or Jacen, wield it against them. Make the galaxy better for your child by doing so. But if you remain this way you will not be of help to them or to the ‘family’ of yours that are your friends.”

She stopped and glared. "What? You think that wasn't part of my plan?" Looking to the ceiling she let her breath out slowly as she gained control of her emotions. "I need to get in control and I need to figure a way to not look like this." She looked down, she'd given birth but the swell of her stomach has only reduced by 50% if that. Sadly no female body generally returns to normal over night after such an event. "I need them to think there never was a baby....does that make sense? They can't know, not till this is over." Adalia gave her head a shake "And I want him to know, I need Kyp to know. If something happens to either of us...." She let that trail off.

Bernael sighed, emotions were always something that caused him pause. He could and did feel them to a small degree but to the depths that most other species did he didn’t understand them. Lazily gesturing with one hand, ”Your body I can take care of easily, it’s somewhat similar to what I did with Jay. So do not worry about that.”

Thinking for a moment, the corner of his mouth turned down slightly then returned to a neutral expression, ”I do have my ways of getting a message to the Jedi in general. I could reach out and tell him mind to mind but doubt he’d like that much. But I can probably reach him, or have him reached to ensure he knows.”

Adalia's mind had been racing for so long with plans, plots, ideas, flights of fancy even, but she did have one thing. "Adam gave me a way, encrypted and convoluted, but I can send a minute long message that he can hopefully decrypt. I didn't want to use it, it might be heard by someone, but........if we say stop.....in the middle of nowhere?" She hoped he understood her thought process.

Bernael smiled slightly, ”We just need to drop out of hyper, we’re not exactly near anywhere important at the moment. Even better would be to stop in the outskirts of a GA system and make them chase their own tails as the message goes out. The choice is yours.”

She nodded. "Thank you. For everything. This is not your lot in life, I know, but I appreciate everything you are doing. I hope to repay your kindness one day." She said quietly. Adalia had no idea what the future held but she was sure he was going to be part of it.

At that he stood, his shadow, cast by the lighting, falling over her. In a voice not entirely his, ”Child, partner you are. This is what one does for a partner, not for repayment but because it is right. And that is recognized.” He nodded to her, ”Now, what say we get you back in shape, Adalia.”

She stepped back slightly, realising that 'the Balance' had spoken, then Bernael did. The former surprised her, the latter concerned her, "this is going to hurt, isn't it?"




TAG @Sinrebirth @adaml83

 

IC: Adrian & Ilona Malek, Jay Sarkin, Marie Firestone, Erbas Hawcron
Hangar Deck - Remains of the Ranger - Combo with @Anedon !



Marie had found Erbas and Jay and was more than a little surprised. "Gods you look just like her, well your eyes aren't quite her colour but .......wow." She breathed as she took in Jays appearance.

"Yeah, kinda creepy really." Erbas said folding his arms, "I like her better the way she was."

"And as soon as Addie gets back, I will be that way, despite the pain." Jay said in a lower tone.

"It was painful?" Marie asked with concern.

"Wasn't pretty, that's for sure." Erbas responded.

Marie's nerves tingled, he was near and she turned to see Adrian approaching.

"So do you guys already know on which ship you want to go?" Adrian asked them, seeking to integrate himself further with Adalia´s crew.

"Not yet." Erbas said, glancing across the hangar to where Rooty was. "I think they're going with the Warrior."

"Will admit I haven't thought much of it yet," Adrian said, looking at his feet for a moment. "Was caught up with other things..." Like being beaten half to death or even worse nearly breaking his... friendship with Marie.

Marie smiled warmly. "Time to think, but if Rooty is going with The Warrior, why would be break up the Sabers?" She asked turning to Jay and Erbas? "That wouldn't make sense."

"Then guess I'm coming with you," Adrian said. "Guess I should be a honorary Saber by now." He allowed himself a small smile.

"And my place is with my brother," llona said firmly as she approached them. "After what happened in the last days I'm not letting you go alone anytime soon." She was glad to see her brother wounds where healing, the bruises disappearing.

Marie watched the woman approach and pressed her lips into a firm line before speaking. "I think Adrian is very capable of taking care of himself." She defended. Marie did not like the way Ilona treated her younger brother as incapable of caring for himself without her. She knew otherwise.

"If that's the case why are you doing it then?" Ilona asked before biting her lip. She took a deep breath and raised her hands. "Sorry, but I am worried about him."

Adrian rolled his eyes at Ilona once again acting as his mother. "Its okay, Ilona. I can handle this myself. Though if you want to come with us I won't stop you."

Marie's temper flared, she didn't like this woman's patronizing manner. "I was not! And Don't worry about him, he's fine!"

Jay could see the friction and grabbed her friends arm. "Marie........?"

"Sorry Adalia," Ilona said. "I just... he is my little brother and my parents asked me to keep an eye on him." And I failed, she added in her thoughts, she been so focused on Welmo that Adrian had nearly died, she couldn't allow herself another mistake like that.

Jay smiled, she so wanted to continue the masquerade for Marie's sake if for no other reason, but she knew that would come back to bite her. She stepped close to Ilona and spoke in a low voice. "I'm Jay, disguised at Addie so she could get away for a few days, she had the baby and needed to hide it." Jay explained quickly.

"Oh," Ilona said lowering her gaze as her face turned red. Why was this always happening to her? Did the universe try to make her look like a fool? "Sorry," she added after a moment.

Adrian allowed himself a smile at his sisters embarrassment and took a step closer to Marie. "Thanks," he said. "But I think we have to take Ilona with us. Someone needs to have an eye on her and prevent her from embarrassing herself again."

Marie raised her eyebrows. "Well we can do that. Welcome aboard Ilona."

"Thanks, Marie." Ilona said, while giving Adrian a poisoned look.

"I'm sure you will do well at that little brother."



TAG @Sinrebirth @adaml83

 

IC: Aden Kya
Aboard the Megador, Coruscant shipyards and then -

The briefing was pretty simple.

As Aden had said, Corellians had offered to betray the entire Confederation and rejoin at a secret summit that they had insisted Jacen Solo attend. The Second Fleet was to be stationed nearby, and they were to be the C Team, in-case they were needed.

Their three X-wings were to pace the Anakin Solo and hang above the ecliptic, able to jump to the summit rendezvous or the Second Fleet as need be. Tahiri would be Dark Two, and Valentina was Dark Three. They didn’t have three more pilots yet, but they were elites so they simply had to punch above their weight.

After two days of simulations of Commenori and Hutt forces attempting an ambush, and Dark Squadron having to help the Anakin Solo punch out, the order was given; they were launch.

—-
Aboard the Anakin Solo, Coruscant

Caedus relaxed in the Command Salon, away from the bustle and noise of the bridge, waiting for the exit from Coruscant space and the short hyperspace jump to the rendezvous point with the Corellian task force.

“The pilot reports readiness for hyperspace jump,” Lieutenant Tebut reported. “But we’re being hailed by a private yacht identifying itself as the Love Commander.”

Caedus grimaced and briefly considered blowing the vehicle out of space. But no, Lando was only nearly useless, and the old gamblers instinct for self-preservation meant that he often had some helpful information at hand.

“Calrissian, give me one good reason -“ But the face that materialised was not the of Lando Calrissian. It was Leia Organa Solo. “Mother.”

Leia gave him a slight smile. It seemed to Caedus a very sad one. “Oh, I’m not Mom anymore.”

“Not really, no. What do you need? I’m in a but of a hurry.”

“I need to speak to you.”

“That’s your need, not mine.” Leia stared at him, silent, implacable. She had to be up to something. Caedus tried to detect what he could of her through the Force. He could sense her, a bright and distinctive presence, alone on the yacht.

Interesting. So Han wasn’t with her; nor where there any strangers present. No assassins who might be targeting him. No Hapans come to retrieve Allana.

Well, he’d simply take her aboard, listen to what she had to say, and then throw her in prison, ending the danger she posed to his administration. Han would come after her, and Caedus would throw Han in prison, too. Suddenly he felt cheered by his mother’s unexpected visit.

He sighed as it giving in. “Very well.”

The Anakin Solo launched, after its brief pause. Aden clicked his comms to Tahiri and Valentina to follow.

Minutes later, two security guards entered the Command Salon with Leia between them. They presented a ridiculous picture - two tall men in crisp uniforms, their buckles, buttons, visors and blasters gleaming, flanking a diminutive graying woman in plain Jedi robes.

Still, Caedus didn’t think Leia looked diminished enough. She needed to be in restraints, her lightsaber missing from her belt, her expression crestfallen, her eyes defeated. She needed to be suffering for all her misbehaviour since the conflict with Corellia began. Well, reality would match his imagination soon enough.

Leia looked him over. Clearly, the visual image he presented - a tall, dangerous Force-user in all-black garments and cloak - was again reminding her of her father more than her son, and Caedus enjoyed having discomforted her. But she didn’t let what she was feeling be reflected in her face or voice. “Jacen, it’s time for you to look at yourself.”

“I’m well aware of what I look like, Mother. I have to cultivate my image carefully for holonews appearances.”

“I’m not talking about your looks. I’m talking about your life.”

He sighed. “You know, I was actually hoping you get some exciting, imaginative new argument to sway me from my path. Not that it has a chance of succeeding. But it would have been more entertaining. Don’t you her some new heart-wrenching appeal? Some brilliant metaphor to hurl at me and cause me to double over in anguish of guilt, to reevaluate my whole ethical structure?”

—

In the private hangar bay set aside for the use of the Anakin Solo’s commander, a team of security specialists, carrying standard scanning gear, walked down the yacht’s boarding ramp. Moments after the last one reached the hangar floor, the ramp rose into place, sealing then yacht.

Jaina Solo, stretched out on her back in an oppressively enclosed space, watched them leave. A shielded date Fred led from the portable monitor she held into the metal wall of this smuggling compartment.

Beside her, Han stirred but did not open his eyes. “Are they gone?”

An ominous scratching sounded from the far end of the compartment. Jaina looked past her feet to the cage situated there in the compartment floor. Within it was a stunted tree bole, and holding on to the sculpture was a reptile.

Jaina wrinkled her nose at the ysalamir. “I hate that thing.” But so long as Jaina and Han, and Zekk and Jag in the next compartment, remained nearby, Jacen could not detect them.

Of course, Force-sensitives within the bubble were blind to the Force while they remained there.

They excited their plan in several stages, each accomplished very quickly and with the precision that only Jedi and someone like Han Solo could manage; all with the aim of accessing Jacen’s shuttle, which was, quite thankfully, in this hangar.

Silently, the four exited the Love Commander through a cargo hatch in the blind spot between her starboard side and the hangar wall. Jaina, carrying an electronics package constructed by Iella Antilles - a package now disguised as a mouse droid - reached a wall datajack and plugged in. The programming subverted security measures and began sending looped recordings instead of the live feeds to the bridge.

After a very brief altercation, Han helped Zekk strip down the armour from the taller of the guards and Don it. Zekk pulled the helmet down low and picked up the guard’s blaster rifle. “Next stop, the tractor beams... and the installation of some very specialised holocomm gear.”

Han gave him a lopsided smile. “Jacen’s going to get sick of people improving his ship.”

“Good.”

—-

A second set of doors, the ones leading forward to the bridge, opened. Lieutenant Tebut stood there, looking momentarily surprised to have interrupted the heated exchange between two of the most famous people in the galaxy.

Grateful for the reprieve, Caedus swivelled his chair towards her. “Yes?”

“We’ve dropped out of hyperspace, Colonel. We’re at the negotiation site.”

“Thank you,” Caedus rose. “Come to the bridge, Mother. In the unlikely event that this is not some sort of trap by your Confederation friends, you might witness a successful negotiation for their legitimate return to the Galactic Alliance.”

Caedus marched up the walkway to the vast viewports at the bow end. “Report.”

“They dropped out of hyperspace thirty seconds after we did. Their numbers match ours, ship for ship. We’re running data on the ships themselves. The Anakin Solo’s opposite number is the Star Destroyer Valorum.

“Valorum? Caedus’s surprise was genuine. “Intelligence, best guess; did they name her for one of Palpatine’s political opponents to goad me?”

“No, sir. That was her original name upon launch, about sixty years ago. She’s Victory-class, from the last years of the Old Republic.”

Caedus turned to his mother. “Ancient hardware. They’re getting desperate.” Leia nodded.

The intelligence officer called out as his datapad tweetled. “That’s the breakdown of enemy forces, sir.”

He didn’t even bother to read the listing. “Let’s get this farce moving.”

There was no hologram - monitors all over the bridge flickered simultaneously to show an aging woman, long-faced, in the uniform of a Corellian Defence Force Captain.

Caedus moved up to stand before one of the monitors. Tebut nodded to him to let him know it’s holocam was broadcasting; sending the message also to the Second Fleet and Dark Squadron, which Aden piped through to Tahiri and Valentina. Caedus allowed a little discontent to creep into his voice. “A captain? They only sent a naval captain for this negotiation?”

“Captain Hoclaw.” The Corellian woman gave him a mock-friendly greeting, as she, too, piped the comm through to the hangar bay - letting the pilots stationed there know that the event had started, including the only recently returned Adalia, as well as Ilona, Adrian & Mirax. The Star Destroyer and two Carrack light cruisers of Force A had became Force Yimi.

Of course, Face Loran was able to access the feed and pipe it through to the Fury and it’s occupants. He was in the comms seat, leaving Bernael, Renn, Rom and Rem to decide on pilot, co-pilot, and gunners. Meanwhile, aboard the Warrior, They were put on high-alert, pilots rushing to ships and Corellian carriers carrying fifteen squadrons of fighters prepared. Force B had became named Force Zexx commanded by Trec. While the Warrior supplied fully armed and stocked and fuelled K-wings, Blades and TIE Defenders to the likes of Rooty, Jay, Marie, Erbas, Emaline, Jem, Adam, Briana and Kael, the Corellians had numerous A-9 Vigilance’s.

Overall command was with Admiral Delpin, back in the Corellian system.

Hoclaw knew all of this, and plowed on. “Technically, you’re a colonel, as I recall. But we both have the power and authority to enter into binding negotiations.”

“I suppose,” Caedus said, drawling. “So you’re prepared to surrender?”

All manner of Corellian aboard the Valorum scoffed at that, one could not say how Adalia, Ilona, Adrian and Mirax would respond; even on the GA side, Aden chortled on the Dark Squadron channel. Similarly, those aboard the Warrior and Fury would hear Jacen Solo’s words. Face snorted.

Hoclaw cracked a smile and replied evenly. She was not afraid of a thirty-odd year old going through an emo phase.

“I’m prepared to come to the best agreement that is in everyone’s interest, involving the Corellian system’s return to the Galactic Alliance. But if your first words are going to be, So you’re prepared to surrender, this could take even longer than it has to. I see you’re standing. Perhaps you should summon a chair.”

Caedus could see that Captain Hoclaw was seated in a comfortably padded officer’s chair at the back of the bridge. “Thank you, no. Let’s begin.”

TAG: @Anedon, @Adalia-Durron, @Corellian_Outrider, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @adaml83, @darthbernael

OOC: This is merely a TAG to get us two days forward to the Big Meet. You can all hear the chat between Captain Hoclaw and Colonel Solo, where you are. Of course Kyp and Corran are essentially en route for this TAG, but be prepared!

 

IC Adalia Tehanis-Durron
Watching....Listening.......controlling herself.

She leaned forward in her standing position and placed her hands on the table to listen. Adalia's concentration was deep, and her underlying anger palpable. She tilted her head as Jacen spoke and subconsciously was grinding her teeth at his image. He'd tried to kill her, that was something she wasn't going to forget anytime soon. If Bernael hadn't stepped in, not only her but her son would be gone, he would pay for that alone. She felt her lip twitch at the man's arrogance, his stance alone screamed it. Knowing she couldn't be heard she muttered. "Lowly Captain huh,.....wish they'd asked me." Truth was she'd not negotiate with him, she'd fire on him and she knew that was counter productive. When he asked for surrender she rolled her eyes, not everyone rolled over for him and he had to know that. "Idiot." She murmured. This was going to be long winded, drawn out and pathetically painful as neither were going to stand down. Adalia stood straight and let out her breath slowly, she didn't like this wait and see approach and looked to Mirax attempting to gage the other woman's reaction. "Thoughts?" She asked those in the room with her.


TAG Whoever is in the room with her! @Corellian_Outrider @Anedon @adaml83

 

DOUBLE POST - I KNOW!

IC: Adam Lyons, Rooty Aran, Loriana Starskimmer
Adam's secret den of planning - thanks to @adaml83 and @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, kinda liking being Rooty!

Adam had left orders onboard Warrior that Jay is put in charge of the squadron for the duration of this mission. Their orders were to be point defense for the Warrior since they weren't complete at the moment so it'd be ideally the easiest mission at the time. He'd also hinted to Jay to simulate Addie's anger based on memories at Oracle Base. Looking up from his notes he grinned weakly at his two companions, "Sorry for the lack of notice, but time hasn't been our friend...again. Do all of the assignments make sense?"

Adam gestured towards himself, "I fly a StealthX to see what sort of lie is going on at the meeting point." Pointing at Loriana, "You investigate to see if Centerpoint Station is active in the other StealthX." Nodding towards Rooty, "For us officially you're in your A-wing as Loriana's backup, unofficially you're testing your A-wing to see if any tweaks need to be made to it. Though to everyone else, those are reversed, and you can add that it's part of a job interview if you want. Any questions?"

Loriana nodded to Adam. "Sounds straightforward enough. I just check Centerpoint for signs of functionality and report back either way. Any code phrases you want me to use?" She grinned.

Adam nodded, "You may be there for a bit and..." he thought for a couple of minutes, "maybe if you route the messages through Rooty. I don't know how well they can detect messages, and that could mitigate the risks there."

Rooty smirked. "None from me, I get to play while everyone else is working. Loving this gig." He turned to Loriana, "I got your back though, you can trust me."

Adam chuckled at Rooty and shook his head as he spoke quietly, "Gotta go fast..." he cleared his throat before continuing, "I don't know if there's a real A-wing test pilot on staff, so they could really use the information on what A-wing pilots want, just saying."

Adam looked at both Loriana and Rooty, "I'll let the two of you figure out how you want to communicate with the two of us when you're flying, but right now Loriana if you want to go ahead and prep for flight, you can. Rooty, if you could stay for a second, I have a question for you."

Loriana nodded. "I'll do that then."

Rooty gave a nod, “I’ll catch you up outside Lori.” He gave her a confident look as she got up and left, watching her go and letting out a very low whistle, he was being rude, he knew it but he couldn’t help but appreciate her. He watched her close the door before turning back. “What’d you need?”

Adam kept his voice low, “You know Jay better than I do, how capable is she in leading the squadron, especially as Addie?”

A wry almost sinister smile touched the man’s lips. “She’s got this nailed, in fact, I suspect she is probably more dangerous than I am these days.”

Adam matched Rooty's grin, "Good, that's what I was hoping to hear." he nodded towards the door, "Let's go we've got people to spy on, and potentially something spectacular to witness."


TAG @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: A combo with our GM

IC Bernael, Renn, and Face
Onboard the Fury

Bernael checked on Rom and Rem as they ran the Fury, keeping it in stealth and pacing the Valorum. Their job, for the meantime, was that, making sure that their ship was where it needed to be, close to where Adalia was and prepared to take action as needed.

Once that was done he made his way to the main lounge, meeting Renn and the one named Face again. ”So there he is, the Dark one himself here for the ‘negotiations’.” He watched as the discussion began. ”How soon is it believed that treachery will occur?” he asked the man he knew had to be one of the most active spies in the galaxy.

Renn chuckled, ”Vampire, don’t let yourself get overeager, I’m sure Face knows and will let us know, probably moments before it happens, just for the dramatic flair.” he said merrily.

Face shrugged. “I’m gonna take it that the ‘Dark One’ is Jacen Solo, but that’s no surprise - he’s a Skywalker by blood. I’ve heard some say he has the potential to be more powerful than Palpatine or Vader.”

“But as to his treachery, I’ve dug into the GA network, and I’ve lost track of the Second Fleet. But I can’t see Jacen bringing twenty Star Destroyers here - I bet he’s sent it to attack somewhere in the Confederation in the meantime - if he gets a big win and he brings Corellia back into the GA...” Face’s tone grew tight. “He’ll win whatever elections come after the war with that popularity.”

The idea of Jacen consolidating his reign with a democratic mandate was unpleasant.

Bernael nodded to Face, ”Yes, Jacen is one of the most powerful Sith in existence right now. There are others out there, Renn and I met some of them, but Jacen outpaces them by a full factor of Power.”

Renn was thinking quickly, about what Face had said about the Second Fleet. ”Aden’s not here, is he? I’d say you are right, they plan an attack to try to force the Confederation to their knees, led by Aden. Which will force this negotiation into a potential surrender.”

Bernael growled, Renn was astute and he didn’t seem wrong in his observation. He touched a stud, ”Rom, Contact society assets around the galaxy, find the missing Second Fleet of the GA.”

”On it, Father.” came the reply.

They dove in, and at least Jacen and Hoclaw were negotiating in earnest - it was going to take a while. Plenty of time for the Society to locate the Second - and Aden Kya.

Face did his own analysis. “It will probably be Bothawui they hit; unlike Corellia, it’s escaped most of the direct fighting. With Commenor crippled, hitting Bothawui will be a perfect blow...”

Rom and Rem would have data that the Bothan fleet was at full strength - twenty Assault Cruisers, which was, with the sector’s fixed defences, far too much for the Second Fleet; alone, anyway.

Rom transferred data as it came in, from the Society. Each new burst caused Bernael to think deeper and deeper. Something was off, the Second Fleet had all but vanished. He took a seat , leaning back against the back of it, as he thought.

Renn combed through the data as well, ”Hmmm, hit Corellia, not a good target at the moment, Bothawuii is too well defended, Commenor is in chaos.” His long digits tapped the table the display sat on as he considered.

Bernael’s head turned, ”Renn, yes, I think you are right. Tighten your mental shields, mine are a vault now. If we can keep that thought locked up they may believe they still have the advantage.”

He looked at Face, ”Think, spy, if the worlds are too inappropriate a target, what would be? Don’t not let that thought complete or Jacen may hear.”

Face replied to Renn. “Fondor? The largest Confederate shipyards, probably enough to give half a fleet a run for its money - but Jacen would need thirty Star Destroyers and a lot of troops to be able to secure the orbitals and the planet and beat up the Fondorians.”

In the Force, Jacen was more power than any of them had ever encountered. Even Bernael, who had crossed paths with Darth’s Ruin, Bane and even a younger Sidious, would be concerned. Jacen’s power was essentially limitless; and he wasn’t even looking for them. He was so arrogant he was merely content to snarl and bicker with Captain Hoclaw.

The two forces present here weren’t evenly matched; the Anakin Solo could blow up the Valorum and its escorts without any danger to itself. Which meant they’d absolutely need the reinforcements - the sixteen squadrons and the Warrior. With Adam and Trec’s advanced fighters they’d be able to drive the Anakin Solo off, as long as he had no reinforcements -

“Ah,” Face said, tripping over something. “Three X-wings left the Coruscant system separately with the Anakin; Dark Squadron, a newly formed GAG special forces group.” He tapped screens. “I reckon I can track them down... they’re not here, so they must be nearby...”

With his short experience being around Jacen on the Anakin Solo Bernael was sure that the man didn’t care or was not looking for them. As dark as he was he was a Chosen One so even though they could sense him, there was no reciprocation of notice. But thinking too hard about him he knew could potentially attract Solo’s attention.

He frowned, turning to Face, ”We’re beneath Jacen’s notice here, for the moment but a full Fleet and a special forces group of X-Wings both ‘missing’, is not a good thing. If those are Force users aboard then his plan truly is to stall the negotiation until at least those fighters get set and then try to destroy his foes here.”

“Well,” Face said... “I’m somewhat surprised your danger sense isn’t exploding if there is a fleet and special forces poised to pounce.”

He glanced at the collective Force users. Indeed, none of them had a sense of pending danger... the GA fleet wasn’t prepared to ambush the Corellian delegation - Jacen Solo was actually playing it straight.

Face kept looking at the Force users.

Bernael’s head tilted to the side for a moment, ”Something is coming I just cannot sense exactly…” He spun turning to Renn.

Whose eyes widened as he spoke, ”He knows...He doesn’t know who we are exactly but he knows there are Force Users opposing him that are not Jedi. Ones that have aided Adalia. And he’s just letting his presence be felt to keep us from sensing where the true threat is...” he trailed off.

Face frowned. "I don't know what to do!" He squeezed his fists. "Is Jacen prone to tail-wagging, just to keep everyone off edge? I thought he habitually hid in the Force. If he's showing off, then why? Does he expect there to be Force users here?"

But even then, Jacen's presence wasn't eclipsing all the ships, preventing Renn and the others from sensing anything. He simply had a sphere of strength up around his Star Destroyer and two escorts. That was it - he wasn't trying to make it so they couldn't detect the others - Adalia was outside his sphere aboard the Valorum, and completely detectable.

"Or is he just hedging his bets?" Face had an epiphany. "Wait. Maybe Jacen expects a trap, so he's playing it straight until the Corellians trip-up. That way he gets to keep his narrative as the good guy!"

Bernael thought more on the situation. Jacen was smart, savvy, and powerful. There could be many reasons for why he was here. Of course what Face had said made sense but there would also be other reasons. And then he added in the data about other things they had spoken about.

”Wait...he is the bait” he began. ”Perhaps bait is the wrong word. He’s making it obvious that he, and his power, are here. Which means people will not look elsewhere for him. Which means that other forces can move more freely and accomplish something. We’re missing something though, the where.”

Renn looked up, ”Did we eliminate any of the worlds for any reason that could be considered weak. I mean, do any of them have anything worth attacking that would be worth the use of the full Second Fleet, or perhaps a smaller, covert strike team?” he asked, as much to himself as to the other two.

"Bait!" Face sat up. "We can't comm though... and I don't want to rely upon Force impressions." He hesitated. "Do we board the Valorum, or leave? Or get closer to the Anakin Solo?"

He had nothing else analysis wise to add; Fondor had the largest shipyards, Bothawui the largest fleet, Commenor was crippled, Corellia was essentially battered into surrender, and had nothing else to throw at the cause. The Hutts were out of the war, and Eriadu had only just joined.

The conversation between Hoclaw and Jacen continued in the background; the Colonel had just demanded Corellia foot the cost of all war reparations - and all the blame.

Hoclaw wasn’t having any of it.

"... and asking us to bear a tremendously disproportionate burden of the cost of rebuilding. If I agree to the numbers you suggest, the Corellian system would be reduced to poverty for generations." There was a long pause. "No, that's not justice. That's vindictiveness, and it presupposes that the entire burden of blame, that every wrong done in the course of these events, should be laid at the feet of the Corellian government."

Then she riposted and asked him to step down! It was probably a good thing they couldn’t see either face.

“Step down? Why would I?"

"Because if you do, we might be able to transform this conversation from a simple negotiation to a genuine peace. We might bring an end to this war. I could take the fact of your cooperation to the Confederation as a whole. My superiors tell me that a concession like that would earn a lot of favour within the Confederation."

But Jacen’s irritation was obvious. “That’s not on the table. Captain, you’ve heard my terms. I will not budge on any of them. In fact, as I grow annoyed with you, I will make them harsher. I’ll give you ten standard minutes to accept them as is. If you do not, when we begin talking again, you’ll be in a worse bargaining position.”

At that he signed off!

Bernael stood, went to the hatch to the bridge, speaking to Rem, telling her to get close to the Valorum, outside the field of influence of Jacen and to reduce the odds that he’d listen in. The bond he had with Adalia meant that he doubted that Jacen could hear their conversation but everything that could even the odds he would do.

When he returned he faced Face, ”We will do what we can to warn the others about what we see, believe but beyond that it is up to them as to how they act on the information. Yes, it is cold but that is how it works.”

He turned back to Renn, ”Have the Society assets in the Confederation prepare for further attacks, give them the data we have, tell them that Father says to be ready.”

As they got close to the Valorum Bernael reached out to Adalia, ’Adalia, something is wrong with this situation and I cannot put my finger on it but... You’ve got five minutes to get over here if you’re going to do so and then we’re boosting away from what feels like a trap here.’ he sent her.

Looking at Renn, ”Tell Rem, four minutes and then we get out of here. If we get any guests from the Valorum then we do, but otherwise we’re not getting taken in here by whatever Jacen might have going.”

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Anedon, @Adalia-Durron, @Corellian_Outrider, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @adaml83

 

IC: Leia Organa Solo - continuing the scene
Aboard the Anakin Solo, bridge

It was worth mentioning that the team aboard the Valorum wasn't authorised to go deeper into the ship, though there were plenty of techs and droids to hand on the exact level the hangar was present on. Otherwise, nope - no further, and definitely not to the bridge, which was a shame, as Captain Hoclaw would have happily had a chat and caf with Adalia.

But as it was, Leia watched the conversation between her son and the Corellian captain and frowned. She moved to the stern end of the stern end of the bridge and leaned in so close that her right ear was adjacent to the device's main speaker.

She shook her head and returned to the center of the walkway, dropping nimbly to land beside the bald-headed intelligence officer who had been providing data to Jacen.

"Can you give me an isolated audio feed of just the Corellian's side of the transmission? So I can hear without all this ambient noise?"

"I could, of course." Rather than be alarmed, he offered her a sardonic smile. "But I won't. Technically, you're a prisoner of war."

"You mean I'm the enemy."

"Yes, that's what I meant."

"I'm also Colonel Solo's mother, and this vessel was named for my youngest son. I don't want to see either one destroyed. Which might happen if my worst case-suspicions turn out to be true and I don't get some cooperation."

The officer looked at her for a long moment, then sighed. Over Leia's shoulder, he called. "Tebut! Isolation helmet, please."

Leia donned it and immediately heard Captain Howclaw speaking - Jacen had just demanded Corellia meet all postwar reparations for starting the war. Leia winced, and if she had known, would have wondered what Adalia, Bernael, Face, Adam, Trec, Loriana, Adrian, Aden and so forth would have said to that.

"... and asking us to bear a tremendously disproportionate burden of the cost of rebuilding. If I agree to the numbers you suggest, the Corellian system would be reduced to poverty for generations." There was a long pause. "No, that's not justice. That's vindictiveness, and it presupposes that the entire burden of blame, that every wrong done in the course of these events, should be laid at the feet of the Corellian government."

There was no other nose. No background comversation, no clatter of fingers across keyboards.

Hastily Leia removed the helmet. "Can you send a message, a text message to Jacen's monitor so he can read it but Captain Hoclaw can't see it?"

"Of course."

"Here's my message."

She told him, and as the words registered, she could see his instant decision to send the message on to his commander.

As Caedus continued expressing his very reasonable demands, words appeared at the bottom of his monitor screen.

JEDI SOLO REPORTS NO BRIDGE OR PERSONNEL NOISES IN ENEMY TRANSMISSION. COMMUNICATIONS HAS ANALYSED AND CONFIRMES, SUGGESTS ENEMY COMMAND SHIP BEARS ONLY SKELETON CREW OR IS AUTOMATED.

Despite the distraction, Caedus did not miss the import of Captain Hoclaw's last words. He adopted a look of mild confusion. "Step down? Why would I?"

"Because if you do, we might be able to transform this conversation from a simple negotiation to a genuine peace. We might bring an end to this war. I could take the fact of your cooperation to the Confederation as a whole. My superiors tell me that a concession like that would earn a lot of favour within the Confederation."

Caedus felt a flash of irritation. “That’s not on the table.” He was also growing impatient. Why had the Confederates not sprung their trap? Perhaps they would not until became clear that the negotiations could not, would not, succeed.

“Captain, you’ve heard my terms. I will not budge on any of them. In fact, as I grow annoyed with you, I will make them harsher. I’ll give you ten standard minutes to accept them as is. If you do not, when we begin talking again, you’ll be in a worse bargaining position.” He switched off the monitor and Tebut, alert, cut the transmission altogether.

Caedus turned. The bridge walkway behind him was empty. “Where is my - where is Jedi Solo?”

The intelligence officer gestured towards the doors at the stern end of the bridge. “The guard there accompanied her back into the Command Salon.”

“Ah.” Caedus concealed the sudden chill those words stabbed into his heart. “I’ll be back in ten minutes.” At a trot, Darth Caedus headed aft for what he hoped would not be a confrontation with his mother.

—-
Centerpoint Station; fire-control chamber

As with every such enterprise - the use of an unbelievably complicated, incalculably important piece of machinery in the hands of the military - the involved parties were divided into groups, each of them secretly condescending and uncomprehending to the others.

In one open area, where one a twice-human height droid that had believed it was Anakin Solo had lived - and died - military officers in the uniform of the Corellian Defence Force now waited. One of them, a woman in white instead of lower-ranked browns, irritably consulted her chrono. Tall and broad-shouldered, she had an intelligent expression and a gaze that moved everywhere in the chamber, cataloging hundreds of details and events.

Sadras Koyan, a short, burly man with thinning hair and an aggressive manner, had a gaze as sweeping and restless as that of the white-uniformed woman, but he seemed less to be registering details than waiting for some signal to satisfy his impatience. Beside him stood Denjax Teppler, a younger man, with bland but confidence inspiring features. Teppler had worn many occupational hats since the crisis had begun in Corellia; he was now Minister of Information - a post disparagingly, and accurately, referred to in other offices as Minister of Propaganda.

Finally Koran’s patience broke. “What’s the holdup, Admiral Delpin?”

The woman in white moved toward him, stopping at the edge of her group as though it were an invisible national border. “Sim firings are suggesting an unacceptable chance of catastrophic failure. We’re locking down and locking out the subsystems that are most likely to be damaged by overloads. It’s just a matter of a few minutes.”

“Solo is going to jump out of there before we can even get the thing online!”

Teppler shook his head. “I don’t think so, sir. Captain Hoclaw says they’re in a brief break between conversations, but that Captain Solo is giving Hoclaw so much to work with, she could probably stall him until her next birthday.”

“Oh.” Mollified, Koyan nodded. “All right, then.”

One of the technicians at the control board nodded in response to something over his earpiece. He turned and flashed five fingers at Admiral Delpin. She, in then, caught Koran’s eye. “Five minutes.”

Koyan nodded and mopped sweat from his forehead and cheeks with his sleeve. “Good.”

And so you have the explanation why none of the Force users couldn't sense a specific danger; there wasn’t one - the superweapon wasn’t even working yet!

TAG: No-one

Mentions for @Anedon, @darthbernael, @Adalia-Durron, @Corellian_Outrider, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @adaml83 only, just to add context to combos started and not started; you are welcome to react to the rest of the Jacen-Hoclaw chitchat...

... ten minutes to the drama, is all you can say IC...

... but OOC...

FIVE MINUTES TO GO!

 

Thanks to @adaml83 and @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha - still liking being Rooty.

IC: Adam Lyons
In his Stealth X

Adam jumped into the meeting point some way out, looked towards Tawg, "Do we have any idea where it would be safe if Centerpoint fires?" He realized who he was near and went into the technique that he'd learned years ago to hide, he didn't know how effective it would be with some of the other Force users around, but it had worked before, and he was hoping it would work again.

---

IC: Adalia Tehanis-Durron
Bridge of the Valorum

He was at it again, Adalia's mind tingled as she could hear his voice. ’Adalia, something is wrong with this situation and I cannot put my finger on it but... You’ve got five minutes to get over here if you’re going to do so and then we’re boosting away from what feels like a trap here.’ Doing this with Jacen Solo so close was a risk, surely he knew there was a chance Solo would know he was there? There was a good chance he knew Adalia was there, she'd never learned to hide herself in the Force, and she briefly wondered if he saw her as Kyp did. He'd once described her at the shining light he gravitated toward. She looked down and narrowed her eyes to concentrate. 'I know, I feel it. Moving out.' She sent him the message in her thoughts before looking up to Adrian and Ilona who stood almost at attention near the door, but not quite. Looking toward Mirax she flicked her head, indicating for her to follow then she moved across to the siblings to stand between them facing away. "It's time to go, now. No questions." She hissed.

---

IC: Loriana Starskimmer
In her Stealth X

Lori suddenly felt a prickle along her spine. If anything, it was too quiet. A moment ago she had felt relieved but now it was almost like the games she had played with her siblings growing up... They would jump out of hiding and tackle/tickle her after she had no idea they were nearby. This though didn't feel so mischievously innocent.

She sent a quick text-only message to Rooty. Best we keep our distance and have our engine hot and primed to make tracks.

Loriana appended her sensor log to the message and commented aloud to Rubi: "Keep our engines revved."

Rubi blooped an acknowledgement.

---
IC: Rooty Aran
In his A Wing

He had performed a few moves, nothing too fancy but Rooty had been enjoying himself when the message came through, he immediately patched it through. "Speed heard Starfire say the lights are on." he hoped the cryptic message would be understood.


TAG @Sinrebirth @Corellian_Outrider

 

IC Adalia Tehanis-Durron, Ilona Malek, Adrian Malek, Mirax Terrik-Horn (appearance) Thanks heaps to @Anedon
On Board the Valorum - for now.



He was at it again, Adalia's mind tingled as she could hear his voice. ’Adalia, something is wrong with this situation and I cannot put my finger on it but... You’ve got five minutes to get over here if you’re going to do so and then we’re boosting away from what feels like a trap here.’ Doing this with Jacen Solo so close was a risk, surely he knew there was a chance Solo would know he was there? There was a good chance he knew Adalia was there, she'd never learned to hide herself in the Force, and she briefly wondered if he saw her as Kyp did. He'd once described her at the shining light he gravitated toward. She looked down and narrowed her eyes to concentrate. 'I know, I feel it. Moving out.' She sent him the message in her thoughts before looking up to Adrian and Ilona who stood almost at attention near the door, but not quite. Looking toward Mirax she flicked her head, indicating for her to follow then she moved across to the siblings to stand between them facing away. "It's time to go, now. No questions." She hissed.

Ilona opened her mouth to protest or at least inquire further but Adrian firmly placed his hand on her shoulder. As their eyes met Ilona understood his unspoken message. So she swallowed her reply and gave Adalia a nod.

Adrian had been visibly hurt on the journey here, saddened that Marie had chosen to stay with her squad instead of coming with him, but now he was glad Ilona at least stood with him.

"Our ships are in the hangar," he muttered to Adalia. "We can leave quickly if need be."

"Keep walking." She whispered back. They reached the turbo lift and it opened almost immediately. She waited for the moment when they were all in and the doors closed. "Get to your ships and get the frack off this crate. Do not wait for us, do not look back."

"What about you?" Ilona said, not wanting to abandon a fellow soldier.

She turned to Mirax. "We're both pretty resourceful, you will follow my orders. We clear?" Adalia said in a firm tone as the doors opened. "Move it. We have less than five minutes."

Ilona rolled her eyes, she wasn't even under Adalia's command but being treated like this? She could only internally shake her head.

"Okay," Adrian said. He trusted Adalia but also felt disappointed she still didn't seem to trust him.

Adalia felt the wave of annoyance from Ilona as the four of them entered the hangar. "You can stay if you like Ilona, whatever happens will not be my problem." She stopped and turned to the woman. "You could learn to trust me like your brother, he knows I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important." There was no time to argue. "Come on Mirax, let's find something to get off the ship with." The pair of women strode away.





TAG @Corellian_Outrider @Sinrebirth

 

​

 

IC: Darth Caedus
Command Salon, Anakin Solo, rendezvous

He strode into the Command Salon, and then, into his private office. The guard, a muscular man with yellow skin, was there, slumped in Caedus's desk chair, unconscious. A bruise was already beginning to appear on his chin. Leia was nowhere to be seen.

Caedus shoved him and the rolling chair aside, hearing but not looking as the chair toppled and deposited the guard on the floor. Caedus brought up his desk monitor and clicked it over instantly to his secret chambers, where Allana now lived.

There was was, curled up on a little daybed. Nearby, unwatched, an entertainment broadcast in which Ewoks spoke Basic and befriended shipwrecked little girls. Caedus tensed, remembering the deception he had perpetrated in Tenel Ka's palace, but saw her features and relaxed. This was the real Allana.

He thumbed his comlink to life. "Security. Find Leia Solo."

"Sir, she's approaching your personal hangar."

Caedus sniffed. "Alert the guards there; secure both internal and external bay doors. If she tries to perform a bypass, or begins to cut through them with her lightsaber, unsecure the outer doors, open them, and vent the hangar to space. I doubt she'll want to play in hard vacuum." He smirked.

"Yes sir." There was a pause. "Doors secured remotely, sir.. there's no sign of them on holocam."

Caedus moved to the wall panel concealing the secret door that led to those chambers. It opened before him, and he stepped through into the one of the best-kept secrets aboard ship. The narrow corridor led aft, to a succession of small rooms that almost no one living knew about. A few steps later, he was with the same happy view of Allana he had seen on his monitor.

She opened her eyes, groggy, and yawned. "No more work?"

"I'm sorry. Lots more work, but I wanted to stop in to look at you."

No, Allan had not been Leia's objective. So what is? Sabotage of the long-range turbolasers? Surely she knows that Luke took care of them. They won't be repaired for weeks. The security officer's voice crackled across his comlink almost immediately. "Sir, Jedi Solo reached the bay doors. We had them locked down, but thye opened right up for her and she walked in. Holocam image inside doesn't show her. The holocams must have been subverted."

Caedus hissed in frustration. "Vent the outer doors immediately."

"We did, sir. Issued the command, I mean. The system acknowledged, but exterior holocams show the doors still shut."

"Bring up all weapons, prepare to blast that yacht to plasma the instant it launches."

He spun, re-entered the room he had just left, and smiled down to his daughter. "I was wrong. Work is done for a little while. Let's go for a fun ride."

---
Centerpoint Station, Fire-Control Chamber

The chief technician's voice was quiet and sombre. "Anakin Solo imprinting lockout bypasses are holding. Energy charge is holding. Targeting system is holding. We read ready."

Admiral Delpin nodded. "Acknowledge ready." She turned Koyan's way. "We await your authorization to launch."

Koyan gulped. "Launch authorized. Admiral Delpin, I also authorize you to fire the weapon. Don't wait for me to authorize. Fire when you think the moment is perfect."

"Acknowledged," Delpin raised her comlink. "Force Yimi, move in. Force Zexx, all squadrons, make your jump and commence your attack." She paused long enough to hear two confirmations, then turned back toward Koyan. "We're committed."

---
Aboard the Valorum, hangar, Force Yimi

The call came in before the full ten minutes were up - Adalia, Ilona, Adrian, Mirax may have been preparing to go, but Delpin gave the order and the Valorum began accelerating to battle speed, making launching from the hangar into a much more difficult - and scraping the Fury as it went! Face swore, and undoubtedly Renn, Rom and Rom wouldn't be impressed - especially as the cloak was down from the damage. Two Carrack light cruisers moved up to flank them, strobing the distant Anakin Solo with ion fire and issuing orders to launch the two squadrons from the Valorum hangar -

TAG: @Adalia-Durron, @Anedon, @Corellian_Outrider
---
Aboard the Anakin Solo, hangar

Finally, they were - double doors leading into the main starfighter bay. He glanced at the arrayed ranks of starfighters - old and new, trusted and experimental - and veered towards the line of various TIE series.

One in particular - an experimental design he'd flown once - drew his eye. The prototype TIE Reconnaissance Fighter, nicknamed the Blur by GA pilots, resembled the TIE Bomber - it had a low-profile, curved solar array wings and two cylindrical fuselages mounted side by side, making the vessel look curiously like a pair of macrobinoculars mounted between a pair of cupped hands. Unlike the situation with the original bomber, the port-side pod on the Blur was an electronics housing, carrying a modern-era hyperdrive, astronavigation computers, a shield generator, life-support systems, and sophisticated electronic countermeasures; it was the closest thing to StealthX to come out of Sienar, its manufacturer. This Blur was painted in black, undecorated except for small Galactic Alliance symbols on the outer wings.

Not waiting for a boarding ladder, Caedus leapt atop the Blur and lifted he boarding hatch.

His comlink beeped. Carefully, he clambered with Allana down into the cockpit, pulled the hatch shut, and settled into the pilot's couch before answering. "Yes?"

It was his sensor officer. "Sir, sixteen squadrons of starfighters have dropped out of hyperspace. They're heading toward us at full speed. The Confederation capital ships are also moving in." The fighters were part of Force Zexx, commanded by Trec. Rooty, Jay, Marie, Erbas, Emaline, Jem, Adam, Briana and Kael were given the self-same orders by Admiral Delpin to deploy, and dozens of A-9 Vigilances were launched from the rendezvous - but whatever their thoughts of the battle now, their friends aboard the Valorum were imperilled.

TAG: @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @adaml83, @Adalia-Durron
--
Launching

"Signal Admiral Limpan. Tell her to bring the Second Fleet in now. Launch all starfighters from all vessels." As he spoke, Caedus powered up the Blur and glanced his way through his way through preflight. "Move the Anakin Solo to the rear of the formation and do not, repeat, do not bring up our shields until the last possible moment, or until the diagnostics that are running pronounce them safe, whichever comes first."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm launching now." Allana in his lap, Caedus finished pulling webbing tight over the two of them, then activated the Blur's repulsors. In his haste, he caused the vehicle to nearly jump off the hangar floor - and then he was outside. Caedus breathed easier for a minute. Outside, surrounded by hard vaccum, with enemy starfighters and warships racing in his direction, at last he felt safe.

Caedus brought the Blur around and above the Anakin Solo, giving him an unimpeded view of the vessel and open space before it. Allana cooed with appreciation at the vista of stars and ships.

Suddenly there were more ships. A bluish streak resolved into the curved, graceful lines of the Mon Cal cruiser Blue Diver, flagship of the GA Second Fleet, forward and to port of the Blur's position. Other capital ships, a score of them, ended their hyperspace jumps in formation all around the vessels already on station. Starfighters now began to stream out of the Anakin Solo's belly and the starfighter bays of other vessels like piranha-beetles swarming out of a just-damaged nest. The Mawrunner took command of the fighter swarm and deployed the squadron including Syal and Rhoen.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 (mention only)
---

Caedus frowned. Curiously, the Confederation starfighter force was not hammering its way into the GA formation and going after the big ships. They remained skirmishing in a big furball just before the formation. He shook his head. This was the most extraordinarily stupid way to lose a surprise attack he had ever seen.

Abruptly, his father's voice sounded in his ears, words spoken twenty years before or more. Jacen, when you're so much smarter than your opponent that you know you don't even have to make an effort to beat him, that's when he smiles and hands you the vibroblade he just cut your heart out with.

Caedus shook his head to clear the memory away. His father didn't have anything to teach him anymore.

"Somebody went away." Allana's voice was faint.

"What?"

"Somebody went away. And somebody else. They're going away." There was now a world of hurt and dread in Allana's voice. Caedus leaned forward to see what he could of her face and was surprised to witness tears rolling down her cheeks. But what -

Then he knew the answer. She was Force-sensitive. Pilots were dying, and she was feeling the diminishment in the Force that accompanied each death. Inured as he was to death in combat, he paid no more attention to it than he would to a breeze stirring his hair. But Allana was experiencing each event as a little stab of pain.

He hesitated, caught off guard. What could he tell her to make the pain go away? No soothing words would keep her from feeling each distant loss, and he was suddenly helpless.

His anguish became rage, rage at Leia and her companions sneaking aboard and forcing him to abandon his flagship in-case they had a bomb; rage at the Corellians for launching another dishonourable trap; rage at the galaxy for making it so he had to take his daughter -

He activated his comlink.

"Dark Squadron," he addressed the secondary backup force led of Aden, Tahiri and Valentina.

"Make sure that the Valorum burns."

TAG: @Anedon
---
Anakin Solo, hangar

Han eased the yoke forward. The Love Commander glided to the entryway, and her prow emerged through the atmospheric shield.

But Han did not increase thrust for a run into space. As the yacht's nose entered vacuum, Han meticulously turned to port, toward Anakin Solo's stern. Leaving the hangar, the yacht maintained a distance of less, than two meters from the Star Destroyer's hull - too close for the ship's guns to target him. They could not depress that far, and even if they could, a clean hit would hull the yacht and damage the Anakin Solo itself.

Jaina nodded. "Nice. Slow as a teenager taking her first speeder parking test... but nice."

Han shot her a dirty look. "Now we just have to find the perfect time to make our run for it."

---
Edge of the battle

The StealthXs of Red Sword Flight - Luke, Kyp, Corran, Tyria Tainer, the Rodia Twool, and Sanola Ti of Dathomir - dropped out of hyperspace and were confronted by the vista of the Galactic Alliance Second Fleet drawn up in tight formation, the Confederation task force approaching it in some sort of suicidal, spread-out array, and a furious screen of starfighter dogfights raging between them.

Luke felt a distraction, something drawing his attention away from the engagement zone toward an empty area of space far to the port side of the GA capital ships. It took him a moment to recognize the source of the distraction - Twool, whose StealthX carried fewer armaments but better sensors than the other vehicles of Sword Flight.

Twool, whose job it was to detect Jacen Solo's tracking device with those sensors.

Twool had to be tracking Jacen now, and Jacen had to be at the point toward which Twool had directed Luke's attention.

Luke felt, and quickly attempted to quell, a sense of excitement, even celebration. If Jacen was out on some sort of joyride, perhaps observing the capital ship engagement from a safe distance, then the Jedi might be able to ignore several levels of Jacen's defences that they had prepared for. The cargo compartments of their StealthXs were loaded with equipment especially chosen and crafted for this mission - which originally entailed having the squadron up to the Anakin Solo as it wanted in space, then launching a salvo of engine-crippling proton torpedoes and heaving most of the Jedi retaliatory attacks and starfighters while Luke and Kyp, laden with equipment, secretly boarded and tried to reach Jacen.

If Jacen really was hovering away from the Anakin Solo, though, Luke's squadron could conceivably just fly over to him and compel his surrender... or shoot him...

TAG: @The Real Kyp Durron, @Corellian_Outrider

 

~IC~ Mirax Terrik-Horn, Adalia Tehanis-Durron
Location: Valorum, Victory-class Star Destroyer

Mirax followed Adalia’s directive without question as they went to the hanger with Adrian and Ilona. As they arrived, there was a shudder felt throughout the deck.

“Ahh.. the Valorum has started moving.” Mirax stated out loud to Adalia. “I knew this ship was old but I didn’t realise it was that old.... but then again, the name does give it away.”

Adalia stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide as she spun to face Mirax. "He's here...." she frowned slightly, ...no...They're here……..both our guys are here……out there!" The deck was still shuddering. "I have a really bad feeling about this!"

“Ah, joy!” Mirax exclaimed with mock humour. “Now would be a great time for us to skedaddle. You have an exit strategy in mind?”

"In what you mean?" Adalia scanned the far clearing hangar deck, the squadrons were launching and there wasn't much left. Then in the back corner she saw something covered with dust. "Over there!" she pointed.

Keeping pace, Mirax looked over to where Adalia had pointed. “Ahh... I think that’s the relics and spare parts section of this flying museum.”

"I only hope there is something that works!" Adalia said as she broke in to a run.

“Beggars can’t be choosers.” Mirax said as she went around the opposite side to make the search quicker.

Adalia pulled a tarpaulin cover off something, or two somethings. They looked like 'project' ships that someone had spent a great deal of time restoring and bringing back to former glory. "I think we hit the jackpot Mirax!"

“...an ARC-170 with missing wing... a wing for a V-19 Torrent... wonder how much these goes for on the market-Oh?” Mirax stopped and looked over. “What one is it?”

“I think this has been restored!”

“That’s a miracle amongst these relics and derelicts...” Mirax muttered. “See if you can find me something Nubian and shiny, please.”

Adalia began to pull more of the tarpaulins off, this seemed to be a corner where older enthusiasts were restoring classics. "OH! I got a Head hunter in ......dubious colours!"

“Dubious could work.” Mirax said and came around. “As long as it still flies.” She ducked under the wing and around to quickly inspect the fuselage. “Layout similar to the ARC... must be vintage Clone Wars era or early Civil War...” she climbed up onto the cockpit. The hatch didn’t budge and she yanked hard to open it open. “Beggars can’t be choosers. I see if it starts. If no, I’m bunking with you.”

Adalia had moved back to the A Wing. "We don't have time to be choosers Mirax!" She looked around the hangar to see ships launching all over and, in the distance, she could see the two Valkyries moving out. She was relieved they were getting clear. Climbing up on to the craft she found the button to open the cockpit and to her relief it popped open. What it revealed was almost as glaringly garish as the exterior. The hot pink interior was an assault on her eyes almost as much as the hot pink and orange lightening streaks across the outer shell. "Like the lady said, beggars and all." she muttered as she jumped in.

Mirax quick started the engines and systems. There was a whine and then a spluttering sound before a mechanical groan.

“I may as well get out and push.” She climbed up and moved along the top of the fuselage and gave the oversized engines a sharp kick with her boot.

The engines spluttered and flared to life and she scrambled back into the cockpit and sealed the hatch

Flicking a series of switches from memory as it had been at least 20 years since she’d even sat in an A Wing, before pushing the start button.

Nothing.

“Great.” She muttered as she scanned the controls and readouts. She found it, a switch under the control yoke, a fuel cut off system. “Clever when not in use.” She muttered as she touched it and it glowed green. She tried the engines again to be rewarded with a roar. “Ok, we got power.”

Adalia immediately began to work the communications. “Mirax? You there? I got power.” She broadcasted on a low frequency close range comm message.

“I’ve got some life... it either flies or explodes...” Mirax responded. “Here goes...”

The Z-95 slowly lifted off the deck. “Repulsors are steady... sublights, powering up...”

The exhaust flared bright as more power fed into the engines and the craft glided slowly towards the exit of the hanger.

“I’ll coast until you are airborne. How are you?”

Adalia was able to get the repulsors working. “I’m off the deck…” easing the yoke forward, “and I’m moving.” She reported.

Mirax crinkled her nose and grinned. “Time to Rock ‘n Roll?”

Adalia smirked. “In this thing, I think I could easily do that. Rocking and rolling on your six!” She quipped as she accelerated up behind the Headhunter. “Sweet ride …………do you have a call?”

“Myra.” There was a hint of a smile inflected in Mirax’s voice.

Adalia was able to swing out from behind Mirax and side up to her. "Myra it is. You know who I am, so let's do this. I have a feeling we are about to get into it. I only hope I got something to bring to this party." She began to scan for weapons and when she found the button to bring them on-line, she pursed her lips and pressed it, it lit up. “Ok, I might have weapons here!”

“Check our IFFs, our friends know we are friends...right?” Mirax asked. “Hyperdrive is functional too.”

Adalia was checking her hyperdrive. "Looks like this is a great restoration, aside from the colours, got hyper too." She scanned the console, "IFF's changing now, don't want to get shot down!"

“That would spoil a good run.” Mirax muttered.

“Do we got targets?” Adalia asked scanning the ancient screen, she hadn’t even flown in her new X Wing but missed the HUD already as the dots on the screen changed colours. “Ok, readouts coming in, we got targets.”

The two vintage fighters shot out of the Star Destroyer’s hangar and into the fray

“Following your lead, Vixen” Mirax allowed the A-Wing to overshoot her.

It’d been a while, but the blood was pumping, the underlying anger at the perpetrators of this war and the bitterness at the toll it had taken on her was surfacing. “Let’s do this.”





TAG @Sinrebirth @Anedon

 

OOC: A quick little combo with @Sinrebirth

IC Bernael, Renn, Romulus, and Remus
By the Valorum

Renn let out as much of a curse as Bernael did when the screech metal on metal echoed in the Fury. He bounded to his feet, ”Rem, come with me, they better not have taken out the stealth systems again.” She bounded out of the corridor from the bridge and followed him, disappearing into the engineering spaces. Seconds later he came back out, his bark dark and his eyes smoldering, ”Are you sure your ship isn’t cursed, vampire? Yet again someone’s ripped through the control runs to the stealth system, we’re open to everyone around.” he growled out.

Bernael spun and called out to Rom, ”Get those engines going, we’re in the middle of what is now a battlefield and this is not our conflict, not entirely.” His head turned to Rem, ”Get on the weapons, I’m sure we’re going to have to defend and, possibly, attack to get clear.” Turning back to Renn, ”You know what you need, fix things.

Finally he turned to Face, ”I’m sure you have input but I told you how I act and this is part of it. We are moving to a better vantage point as I’m sure this specific point in space was chosen for a reason and I’d rather not be here when that reason becomes evident.” As he spoke the engines roared and the Fury began to move, shifting as it did, Rom flying an evasive pattern.

Face hesitated, and nodded. “Just let me provide tactical analysis - it’s what I’m good at.” There were dozens of A-9 Vigilance’s, a swift little Interceptor with a powerful under-cannon. They began firing as soon as they appeared, and then the Second Fleet joined and vomited hundreds of fighters into the mix -

And then the Valorum entered the furball, firing defensive weapons and then -

Holding? In the middle of a fighter storm.

The Second Fleet hesitated, all positioned in-front of the skulking Anakin Solo. Face didn’t like that. “This is quite possibly the worst ambush I have ever seen -“

A pair of bolts spanged off them -

An A-9 shot -

And then their sensors went wild as a GA X-wing hurled a torpedo at them -

Nobody knew who they were, so everyone was firing at them! They needed to climb, or at least pick a side!

Before Bernael could give a command Rem was already on the attacks coming their way, Defensive turrets fired on incoming torpedoes, shrapnel from the destroyed weapons clanging against the hull. Renn, from the engine spaces, cursed more and more with each sound. Rom’s flying seemed erratic but he was weaving between the dueling fighters, attempting to minimize the collateral damage from attacks, the shields shifting constantly.

Bernael turned to Face, ”The comm console is there, you may wish to send a message to our recent allies before they decide we are GA and truly attempt to destroy us.” he told the spy, pointing at the table in the main lounge. ”It would be...unfortunate, if we must remove any of their fighters from the battle, even though it now seems they attempted their own ambush, with not enough forces.”

Face reached for the comms, thinking aloud. "Once we get out of this furball, we're basically going to watch the Corellians get crushed. I have no idea what the play is here. Is the Confederation going to make a push to secure territory while the Second Fleet is here?"

It was frustrating him, but he pulled on the headset. "What are you wanting, Mr Anzati, sir?"

Renn chimed in. "I can't keep track of Adalia in all this. Is she still aboard the Valorum?"

Bernael turned toward Face, ”Corellians, that’s right, they’re behind this negotiations, hmmmm.” He spun, toward the bridge, ”Rom, we better get well clear, the Corellians are up to something and it’s something that can reach out and touch us here.”

He chuckled at Renn’s comment. Raising his voice once more, ”Good thought, I’ll try to reach her.”

There was a lot of ‘static’ in the Force, suggesting that Force users, strong ones, were all around. But he didn’t entirely need that to reach Adalia. He touched their bond, kept secure by the Balance itself, ’Tell your people not to fire on the Fury, your hulking ship ripped the stealth systems so everyone is shooting at us. And, what could the Corellians be up to, this now seems like their trap, no other reason they’d be willing to sacrifice you and the Valorum otherwise.

With the battle raging he didn't think she'd reply but he hoped it made her allies cease shooting at his ship.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Anedon, @Adalia-Durron, @Corellian_Outrider, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @adaml83