Star Wars Star Wars: Between War and Peace

Between Episode VIII and IX - Between War and Peace



Acting Chancellor Leia Organa, the war is over.

The First Order has failed to crush the New Republic and break the Galactic Alliance. The Battle of Batuu has shown me that.

The citizens of the galaxy do not deserve a war of attrition that will cost billions of lives and achieve nothing but to strengthen our grievances against the other - to end the Forever War we must compromise, to kill the past, and so I will take that first step.

Let all old things die, so we can claim a new future.



The Battle of Batuu has just been won.

Six months after the Battle of Crait.

Nearly ten since the destruction of Hosnian Prime.

The Finalizer, flagship of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren lies crippled above the planet, in the distant Outer Rim. The Resistance has withdrawn, to fight another day, its combined Mon Calamari and Corellian forces now strong enough to face down any one First Order battlegroup.

The Empire’s successor state is at overstretch, bereft of the immense mobile construction facilities of the Supremacy and facing difficulties securing the Fondorian shipyards. On the Corellian Run, following the Battle of Mon Gazza, Star Destroyers struggle against New Republic task forces… and everyone is waiting for the Mon Calamari to throw off the weak occupation of the water-world.

And so, above Ossus, Kylo Ren, now commanding the Steadfast, reaches out to galaxy. Publicly, across what remains of the free HoloNet.

What will become of it?

Will the Resistance trust the monster who has hunted them doggedly, seeking to slay the head and heart of the New Republic?

Will the First Order accept peace as an option after thirty years preparing for this Great War?

Both sides assemble a diplomatic team… will they triumph in securing the future?



The Rules

1. Submit a sheet to the GM for approval before you post it here. Please also post it in the Resource Thread.
2. Kylo Ren and Leia are the only characters that are off-limits to players.
3. We are set six months after the Battle of Crait and events of Episode VIII: The Last Jedi and six months before the Battle of Exegol and events of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
4. Combo posts with another player must be approved by the GM before, with them copied in.
5. Using the Force will result in fatigue; if you are not realistic in your use of it, the GM will have to impose consequences.
6. Play nice, be civil, etc etc.
7. Have fun! (The most important rule)



Character Sheet

Name:
Photo: (If available)
Age:
Homeworld:
Personal equipment:
Personal ship:
Faction: Empire/First Order or Resistance/New Republic/Alliance
The Force: Yes/No - if yes, what level - Padawan, Knight, Master, Senior Master, Grandmaster
Bio: (If Film/Legends/Canon character; you may reference the Wookiee.)

 

GM Approved

Name: Natasi Daala
Photo:



Age: classified

Homeworld: Irmenu

Personal equipment: Blaster pistols, a hold out vibroblade if she absolutely needs it.

Personal ship: The ISD II Chimaera and it’s fleet

Faction: Maw Irregular Fleet

The Force: No.

Bio:
After a failed marriage, a young Daala applied and was accepted to the Imperial Naval Academy at Carida. She thrived there and would have gained promotions, but was often passed over because she was female. Rather than being dismayed, she fought through menial assignments until her work came to the attention of Moff Tarkin.
He recognized her capabilities and removed her from Carida and placed her under his command.

During the time she served under Tarkin, she rose in rank on duty, and off duty she became his lover. Daala ventually earned the rank of Admiral under Tarkin, the rank was bestowed outside the naval hierarchy, he knew that they would never grant a female that title.

Tarkin wasn’t the only man she’d been with to advance her career during her younger years, and that could have led to his decision to place her in charge of his secret Maw Installation. It was an important assignment, and she was in charge with the top scientists in the galaxy. But, it wasn’t lost on her that she was tucked out of sight.

She had a difficult time after Tarkin’s death, but after some setbacks she again found her footing and expanded her own military.

Later she launched a carefully planned attack to murder a large group of Imperial remnant Warlords, when they preferred to argue rather than negotiate. She had the plan in place for such an occasion, and had protective masks for herself and Gilad Pellaeon when the chamber filled with poisonous gas. With the elimination of those Warlords, she set about building her own Empire.

 

GM Recruitment TAGs for…

@JediMasterAnne, @Silvertough, @Mitth_Fisto, @Adalia-Durron, @darthbernael, @HanSolo29, @CosmoHender, @TheAdmiral

If you’re interested?

 

GM Approved!

Name: Aryan Graul
Photo:


Age: 81
Homeworld: Nubia
Personal equipment: A hand-written notebook was the only thing he was able to salvage when the First Order attacked Chandrila; the Resistance supplied him with a datapad and comlink upon his rescue; he also uses a cane on occasion
Personal ship: N/A
Faction: Resistance/New Republic/Alliance
The Force: Yes, though he has never received proper training; his abilities are raw and unrefined
Bio: For many, particularly in more recent times, Aryan Graul remains an enigma. Other than a few general notes sprinkled along a timeline that spans back decades, very little is known about his history. His refusal to talk about certain aspects of his past only amplifies this perception. Perhaps he even prefers it that way.

The first public record begins with his military career in the Republic Navy. Aryan served as a pilot during the Clone Wars, commanding one of the elite, non-clone squadrons assigned to the Mid Rim. His fortitude and determination led to many successful missions, which ultimately convinced him to go career as a commissioned officer. However, his dreams came to a crashing end when a scuffle above Kashyyyk resulted in a serious injury. His wounds were extensive enough that he lost his left leg, forcing him to medically retire from the military.

While he was in the Navy, Aryan met his first love, a young woman named Sybelle. It wasn’t long before the two grew close, resulting in a whirlwind relationship that would surpass anything either of them had ever imagined. But where the war had brought them together, it would also serve as the catalyst that would tear them apart. Circumstances beyond their control, arising from class and social politics, forced them to separate. However, they did not depart without making a personal vow to find one another once the galaxy allowed them to do so.

Unfortunately, Aryan received a report that the war had claimed Sybelle before their reunion could come to pass.

Amid his grief, another woman entered the scene—Lyzia Eross. She was the daughter of a wealthy entrepreneur who worked closely with his father and had been a part of Aryan’s life since he was a child. Although they had known each other from afar, he was unaware that his father had promised to betroth them once they reached the legal age of marriage.

Still reeling from Sybelle’s death, Aryan initially rejected the idea and held firm on his decision for several months, but it was impossible to remain adamant in the face of such an alluring woman. The two eventually married in 11 BBY, with their only son, Arek, being born two years later. Their daughter Jalynn came along ten years after that. It was Lyz who became Aryan’s lifeline and moral support during the intervening months following his injury.

The next available record highlights Graul’s achievements in politics a few years later, a career shift that blossomed from the ashes of his military service. After a short stint as a Councilman at the local level, the people elected him to serve on the Galactic Senate as the Senator from Nubia during the height of the Galactic Empire. His tenure lasted 9 years, and during that time, his charismatic personality helped him to become an influential force across the vast political stage.

Many assumed that he would eventually ascend to greatness as the leader of the Empire…

But then Emperor Palpatine disbanded the Senate in 0 ABY.


Senator Graul during a public debate in 1 BBY

It was at this point in the timeline that Aryan seemingly vanished from the galactic map. Some say he fled the Core to seek refuge in the Outer Rim after the Empire labeled him as a fugitive. Others insist that he returned home to Nubia to take over his parents’ mining and shipping company, working in isolation and contributing to the war effort in secret. Or perhaps he simply became a recluse. Whatever the case, there is no clear narrative outlining his fate. Only 44 years of rumors and heresy.

Until recently.

The Resistance discovered Graul on Exocron, battered and delirious from an apparent freighter crash. His incoherent ramblings did not make much sense in his confused state, and details were difficult to obtain. Nevertheless, the troops on the ground were able to gather enough information to determine that he had traveled from besieged Chandrila. Although he had managed to escape when the First Order attacked the peaceful world, there was more to the story. His mental incapacities indicated that he may have spent some time as a resident at the care home on the surface, but he wouldn’t confirm or deny it to his rescuers.

After weeks of rehabilitation, the Resistance leaders integrated Aryan into their ranks, utilizing him as one of their diplomatic agents in their bid to negotiate a truce with the First Order.

 

OOC: GM Approved!

Name: Bernael
Photo:





Age: ?? but at least 2500 standard years
Homeworld: Anzat

Personal equipment: Dark colored light battle armor, featureless mask, cloak, daggers and knives strapped all over, his black bladed lightsabers, and his two kukri.
Personal ship: Fury-class interceptor, blank of insignia

Faction: Independent
The Force: Yes what level - Master

Bio:

Bernael was born on Anzat as all Anzati are. He was trained during his first two centuries, the youth of an Anzat, to be a hunter of any being by his sire. He respected both his sire and grandsire as he was raised on the stories of them associating with some of the greatest Force users, such as Exar Kun. His sire had trained in the double bladed Form of Jar Kai while in the company of Exar Kun.

When Bernael left at a young age to travel the galaxy and hunt he chose his given name to blend in with other races. While out hunting he began to realize that much of the truth or learning that had been passed of his species had either disappeared entirely from the galaxy or had been spun into myth and legend. In some ways this made it easier to survive as all Anzati do by draining life essence and “luck” or “soup”, also known as the mind and force essence. Because of his nature he quickly learned he had to move from planet to planet as once found out most societies would willingly scorch their own planet to destroy him.

Over the years he learned that the best meals were Force users and that doing so increased his own strength in the Force.

At his current age he must feed only infrequently so only does so in the course of an assassination or if his client is unworthy upon completion of the task at hand. His strength in the Force is such it has greatly reduced his need to feed.

For the last 500 years he has traveled the galaxy, searching out nexuses of both Dark Side and Light Side energy, studying them, and removing artifacts of great power from such before the unworthy could find or utilize them. Having spent the last few centuries in the Unknown Regions, Bernael has set course back toward known space, having sensed a turn in the Force. When he returns to known space he offers himself out as a mercenary to whatever side will pay him. After avoiding Palpatine’s Empire due to its Xenophobia, Bernael is curious about what has passed in his absence, and whether it is finally time to make his presence known.

Much had occurred in the time that he took assisting the fight, including having found agents that would assist him as he continued his mission. He’d faded into the background of the galaxy for a time but once again the galaxy was edging into flames and he found himself unable to avoid the necessity to take part. He could sense another who the Balance had touched and he set himself a goal to seek that one out and discover how his own purpose had advanced.

When he’d reemerged into the Known Galaxy, he found a galaxy in flames. Various factions sought to either dominate the galaxy or create a space for them to live in peace. He negotiated his way through the various battles, assisting where he thought it necessary, finding that part of why the war had reached the point it had was through the manipulation of Sith, and not just one group of them.

He encountered both Jedi and Sith, warriors and politicians, as he traveled from system to system. Along the way his own mission drove him to establish a bond with two very different beings, one deep in the dark and one who was grey but leaned toward the light. The latter became a friend as well as partner in his quest to bring Balance and he assisted her and her faction as much as he could, during the war.

Once the war ended, he asked one last task, that all traces of him be erased from the digital record; personal memories he could alter but chose not to. With that accomplished he disappeared back into the shadows, maintaining only loose communication with a few beings across the galaxy. And now five years have passed since that war, with tensions heating up once more. Perhaps it is time to step back out of the shadows and assist again.

 

Game Master Approved.

Name: Kyp Durron
Photo:

Age: 45
Homeworld: Deyer
Personal equipment: Lightsaber - purple
Personal ship: X Wing -Stealth
Faction: New Republic/Alliance
The Force: Yes - Master
Bio: Legends
A rogue Jedi Master with often considered extreme solutions to problems has since retired after the war to his wife’s home world of Akrian to raise his two children on the cocoa plantation she’d inherited. Keeping himself abreast of the galactic issues, he fights the urge to head into the fray, grab some scruffs of necks, and shake some sense into some beings. He knows his children are his focus now and prefers to keep them away from the attention of those who might consider them pawns, but Kyp is no farmer, so when someone from his wife’s past and a thorn in his side reappeared, he knew things were about to change.


Name: Adalia Durron
Photo:

Age: 43
Homeworld: Akrian
Personal equipment: Blaster, Lightsaber - lavender
Personal ship: X Wing / Crystal Dawn

Faction: New Republic/Alliance
The Force: Yes/No - if yes, what level - Knight
Bio: Legends OC
A fighter pilot of note due to her connection to the Force, Adalia rose under the tutelage of Wedge Antilles. Rising to Squadron Leader and Base Commander (Oracle) she met Kyp by chance and after a rather rough and explosive time, love was found. She retired after the birth of her son Jesse at age 37, she retired to her family estate on Akrian where they grew cocoa and had a small chocolate factory after the war. She’d met someone during her first pregnancy and the war who changed her perspective on the galaxy, who taught her more about the Force and her abilities than her husband had and caused great irritation to said husband. This creatures’ mission was paramount in the galaxy and she’d been enlisted to aid him in the early days, but it has been sometime since she had even heard from him.

That was about to change.

 

The Rest of the Cast



Kylo Ren



Armitage Hux



Admiral Griss



Captain Remal



Leia Organa Solo



Vicrul Ren



Connix Kaydel



Zilaash Kuh



Jagged Fel



Ransolm Caserfo

 

OOC: Last call for sheets, the game shall begin by the end of this week!

 

IC: Admiral Griss
Aboard the Steadfast, Ossus

He regarded the galaxy board.

A year ago; Griss would have expected to have seen dozens of multi-Star Destroyer squadrons, all battlecruisers or dreadnoughts. Now, there were a handful of such deployments, and a hundred single-Destroyer blockades. It wasn’t enough.

On every front, the First Order has been stymied. As far on the Trade Spine as Bespin; as far on the Rimma as Eriadu; as far on the Perlemian as Ossus; the Hydian Way secured in fits and starts.

But the Corellian Run was the most sore point. The Sloane-Veers Plan had reasoned that capturing the entire hyperlane would mean that they had the spine of a new Empire, as from there they could access all the other major trade routes, and also they’d have halved the New Republic. A death blow, essentially.

But seventy days after the destruction of the Hosnian system, the Battle of Mon Gazza had prevented them from proceeding any further forward, and then the Battle of Batuu had knocked out what was left of their reserves…

… and so, Griss no longer looked up to First Order High Command. Supreme Leader Snoke was dead; Captain Phasma was missing, presumed similarly deceased, lost with the Supremacy; High Marshall Conrad Veers had been reduced to suicide. Captain Cardinal had been proven a traitor, and of course the others - Brendol Hux, Rae Sloane, Ormes Apollin and Gallius Rax were all gone.

It was only Generals Pryde and Hux that remained, besides the new Supreme Leader, Kylo Ren. In time they’d replace those lost, but a triumvirate would have to do. As it was, Admiral Griss was only being drawn more and more into discussions because the Navy had been underrepresented by Snoke - undoubtedly as a jab at Rae Sloane.

Indeed, that was half the reason that Lord Ren had declared ‘peace’. Captain Pyre clearly wasn’t going to manage the frontline military; a simple fuel tanker had eluded him for months.

But who to select for the meeting? Griss had the sinking feeling he was going to be conscripted to the cause. It wasn’t as if Hux was trustworthy… and Kylo Ren could hardly attend the conference himself. As such Griss had his job, to personally communicate with a half of the thirty invited representatives - and Hux had the others.

Recent additions to the New Republic such as the Sovereign Latitudes, Cassander Sectors and the Nouane… First Order allies (how he despised needing allies) such as the Allied Tion, D’Astan Lords, and the Cuitric Hegemony… and neutral parties.

Such as the Imperial Remnant… enjoined with the Hand… simply styling itself as the Galactic Empire. There were half a dozen rump Imperial states, some no larger than a sector. Currently, the Remnant commanded only Bastion… the most heavily defended system in the galaxy.

“Head of State Fel,” he said gravely to the hologram. The man, a Chiss blue-blooded coward, to Griss, stood with a man who looked more suited for a brawl than diplomacy.



It would be a surprise; the Head of State had summoned Sam without naming why - and enjoined him in a meeting with a First Order Admiral!

—-
Elsewhere aboard the flagship

Kylo Ren was about to receive the final delivery of his personal effects, recovered from the wreckage of the Finalizer, or the debris of the Supremacy. Ostensibly Pryde was responsible for ensuring that transition went well, but the Supreme Leader stood besides him, watching the Stormtroopers convey the items across the spotless hangar floor.

Ren, unmasked again, as he was want to change his mind, regarded the bay. His TIE Silencer remained, on the deck with it TIE/FOs and TIE/SFs that had failed to serve the First Order as well as hoped. The experimental Silencer was swifter than the similarly short-run TIE Baron… but Kylo Ren still needed more.

His face was long with the deepest thoughts he could seemingly muster. Ravaged by a scar and emotions writhing under the surface, Kylo Ren had been struggling with the simple fact that the war was being lost. At the Battle of Crait they had been so close to ultimate victory, and had they more ships available at Batuu? It would have yet again been over. But with the First Order at overstretch, even discovering the location of the Resistance did not allow the Supreme Leader to command dozens of Star Destroyers to the target; only three had been available. Once upon a time a trio of battlecruisers would have crushed any enemy, but now it was different.

And so Kylo Ren raged to himself.

Inevitably one of the ‘troopers dropped a case, depositing the burned mask of Darth Vader on the ground with an ominous CLANG.



The Supreme Leader’s eyes widened in anticipated anger -

TAG: @CosmoHender (combo 1 and 2)
—-
IC: Leia
Pacara



The Battle of Batuu was won.

She regarded the gathered forces of the Resistance. Two MC95 Mediator-class battlecruisers, including the Ardency, and of course the aged MC80 Star Cruisers Home One and Song of Hope. Dozens of lesser ships - Nebulon-Corona-class frigates, modern and elderly Corellian designs such as the Bunkerbuster and CR90 Corvette respectively… more than double if not triple the assets Leia had to command at the Battle of D’Qar.

The Resistance was strong.

The tip of the New Republic spear.

Held and supported by a Galactic Alliance.

In-theory.

The First Order had been bloodied and bruised, as if the galaxy had resisted Palpatine’s Empire from the very day of its declaration. Now, her son was offering peace.

It was a trap, obviously. The First Order had the strength to concentrate upon her location and decapitate the surviving fighters. They’d daren’t declare a new capital and so Leia was on the move more often than not. Pacara, not far from Batuu or the Sovereign Latitude pirate territories, would be abandoned soon enough.

But Leia had to respond to the peace offering, or undermine the delicate set of allies she had painstakingly assembled. Not yet complete, but in another four or five, maybe six months, she might be able to call upon the combined forces of the free systems and deal a true blow to the First Order.

But only if her son remained belligerent to the point of murderous… and so Leia knew she couldn’t go to the meeting… and she’d need someone that was, and it pained her to think it, relatively expendable.

And so she went to their meagre prison facilities. It wasn’t much of a cell, it was more like house arrest - a state of affairs the sole occupant would be used to, having been interned in a care home on Chandrila for some years. Leia had avoided speaking to the man, they’d not seen each other since their days in the Imperial Senate together, and by all accounts he’d remained tangentially connected to the Empire even after the Dark Empire War; no friend to Rebellion, New Republic or Galactic Alliance. Undoubtedly he’d have heard the news.

Setting her face, she rapped at the door.

“Aryan? It’s Leia.”

TAG: @HanSolo29 (combo)
—-
IC: Vicrul Ren
Bakura Sector, deep space

Peace had been declared.

Or, perhaps, war had been placed on hold.

It was not a state of affairs that the Knights of Ren aspired to, but Kylo Ren had assured them that all would become clear. They’d not made it to Batuu in time to affect the battle itself, and Rey had slipped through their fingers yet again.

Now, with a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer hovering nearby, the Night Buzzard, they had to target a consolation prize. But even then they had to tread carefully; the Bakuran Sector - a unity between Bakura and the P’w’eck, had been relentlessly neutral in the war to date, one of a handful of such rump states that had managed to avoid picking a side - the Supreme Leader had given them explicit orders to not cross the invisible line into Bakuran space.

It frustrated Vicrul to no end.



But the the ship arrived, yanked out of hyperspace by the gravity well generators of the Star Destroyer. Modelled after the Fury-class of the ancient Sith, the Buzzard gunned forward and so too did the Stormtrooper transport besides them. The transport would seize upon the docking port to the rear; the Knights of Ren upon the cockpit, creating an airtight seal to work within, as they cut inside.





Even Bernael would hesitate to engage six Dark Jedi when twenty Stormtroopers would be about to board…

… but was this a rendezvous?

Would the Bakuran’s take umbrage with an operation on the very edge of their territory?

Or were there others due to meet with the Anzati?

In StealthX’s, or their own personal yacht?

Would Kyp and Adalia step in to save their old friend?

TAG: @darthbernael, @Adalia-Durron (combo)
—-
IC: Connix
The Wheel; the Vorzyd Sector



The Wheel remained, even in Commonality space, as ever, a neutral harbour of scum and villainy. Such a place the Resistance had to court, but Maz Kanata had vouched for the team. It was an escort mission, because the target had been under deep cover, after all.

And so, Connix was waiting in a room, her weapons confiscated. The Resistance had no desire to upset the current owner of the Wheel and lose access to a valuable Shadowport. There were three that had been called for the mission, and Connix regarded their profiles for what felt like the millionth time.

The bounty hunter Zilaash Kuh was a woman who had been apart of Natasi Daala’s anti-Jedi squad. A Force user, and more than capable of avoiding tracking. How Maz had connected with her, Connix couldn’t say. The ancient nonhuman had her ways.

As for the other two -

Before Connix could call back up their data, they were escorted in by Threepio -

Connix stood, unsure how to present herself to mercenaries, Mandalorian’s, or the granddaughter of Mon Mothma, but determined to have a good face.

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (combo)
—-
IC: Captain Remal
Aboard the Chimaera, ready room


In a state of affairs that had been so for a decade, and might for a decade more, Captain Remal gave a morning report to Natasi Daala.

The Maw Irregulars were one of some twenty independent states that had sprung up since the original dissolution of the Galactic Alliance, and one of the few that had not been co-opted by the First Order or New Republic - or sundered by either. Hutt Space was ablaze with civil war; the Hapans had committed to the Alliance; the New Separatist Union had joined up too; the Corporate Sector and Seswenna Sector had firmly sided with the First Order.

And so on, and so forth.

Now the Imperial Remnant and Empire of the Hand - styled eternally as the True Empire - stood independent, much like other Imperial rump states such as the Protectorate, and like Daala, but such neutral powers would be instrumental to the peace… apparently.

Remal was paraphrasing a request from General Armitage Hux on behalf of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, another Solo seed gone bad, another Jedi off his meds. Remal always enjoyed regaling tales of Jedi tyranny, especially when once again the galaxy was locked in a sectarian conflict between Jedi factions.

“You’ve been invited to the Unification Summit by the First Order, location to be determined.” He held out a datapad.

All forty plus nations and independent states had been invited, notwithstanding that the majority had already picked a side in the war. Commentators could argue that the New Republic was actually larger now than it had been pre-war, because large swathes of the Outer Rim had requested to join up when First Order respect of neutrality was clearly only enforceable at blaster point.

Remal waited to see what Daala would say. They had their fair share of problems. The nearby Commonality and Allied Tion had joined the First Order; the Antemeridian Sector was still next door; the First Order directly ruled the Perlemian as far as Ossus, even if it’s command of the space between Lothal and Mon Calamari and Ossus was largely theoretical.

But it wasn’t as if they could just risk a trap.

It wasn’t lost on Remal either that it was being called a Unification Summit - a direct reference to Daala’s failure to reunite the New Republic, Imperial Remnant, Confederation and Hapan Consortium two years after the death of Darth Caedus.

TAG: @Lady_Belligerent (combo)

 

OOC: Fun with Adalia-Durron and Sinrebirth

IC; Bernael, Adalia and Kyp Durron
Deep Space

A year, it had been a year as Bernael crisscrossed the galaxy, taking in the state of affairs. What he found disturbed him. Things had slowly settled into the recent ‘peace’ but what he felt boded unfortunate for the galaxy. The tension that underlay that peace told him that it would just take a spark or two and then the peace would be shattered yet again. To be honest, the peace benefited those that served the one he’d found to be called Kylo Ren.

As he’d traveled he began to notice that more and more little notes were popping up in the Holonet, mentions of a ship that made short stops on various worlds, his ship. Which meant that at least one group had realized or knew that the one whose name was spoken of but didn’t otherwise exist had returned and they wanted to find him. The silence from those that served the darker forces was even more telling that they desired to find him and try to use him to influence things.

So he’d ceased his stops, had made as rapid progress as he could, to reach a range that wouldn’t just be an unheard whisper to the one he sought. He could from across the galaxy but the fact he was hunted told him that he needed to exercise more caution. He approached as close to her home as he dared, not wishing to reveal that she was who he sought.

He’d reached out, through the bond they shared, focusing, whispered to her. Eventually, he’d felt her, not truly respond but receive his murmurs, the sense of her made him believe that she could or would do what she could to assist. Of course that probably did mean that the Jedi that was her husband would also wish to be involved as he didn’t trust the ancient Anzati.

He left a vague sense of where he was heading before he withdrew, only leaving the sense of his presence in the bond. The old Fury took flight again, heading away.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Akrian

The black velvet sky held a billion stars, or at least that Adalia thought as she stared at it, her feet frozen in the cold grass of the front field. It was a couple hours before dawn and the dew had settled as was normal on a cool spring, just out of winter night. Wrapping her arms around her she shivered slightly in her husband's oversize sweatshirt that she’d taken command of over 7 years beforehand. Narrowing her eyes, she felt it more than heard it, yet somehow it had woken her as a sound. It’d been 5 years since she’d ‘heard’ it, 5 years of silence from the beyond, from the ‘balance’. Yet here she was.

“Ads?” Kyp had felt her rise and seen the distant look on her face as she’d pulled on her favourite top, formerly his favourite top and headed out the front door. Following her made sense and he now stood in the cold, also barefoot, behind her. “What is it?”

“He needs me, he’s in trouble.” She muttered, continuing to gaze skyward.

Instinctively he ground his teeth, why was he back? “He?” He questioned attempting to sound like he didn’t know who she was talking about.

“Bernael. Something is wrong, the balance is off, he needs me, my help.” Adalia added, her demeanour still distant.

“Great.” The response came out more sarcastic than he’d hoped, but it was out there.

Adalia turned to face him, “I said me…..you don’t need to be involved.”

“But I will be.” Kyp folded his arms over his bare chest, “you know I will.”

Rolling her eyes she turned back, “whatever, I’m calling Amber, leaving in the morning.” She declared.

He knew her well enough to know nothing would stop her leaving, nothing including her children. He also knew that Jesse and Nicki would be fine with her cousin on Bakura, in the Palace, Amber would care for them well, and protect them. He let out an exasperated sigh, “fine, I’ll start packing their stuff.” Turning he started back to the house.

“Yours too.”

Kyp allowed a half smile, in her own way she just told him she wanted him with her, and that was a good thing.

“I felt that.” Adalia quipped.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Deep Space

Bernael found himself and his ship suddenly yanked from hyperspace by a gravity interdiction field. When the blur of hyper resolved to the starscape suddenly, he saw only a short distance from his ship several others. There was a Resurgent-class SD, a class he’d studied as he’d traveled, a newer class. As well, there were two armed transports, one that had the sense of dark siders and one that had the sense of troops that suddenly approached his ship.

He checked the navicomp, an eyebrow arching as he realized where he was. Darting through the ship swiftly, he secured the cargo hold, with its deadman’s switch, after grabbing what gear he thought he’d need. By the time he’d made it back to the main lounge, he could hear grinding noises, coming from both the cockpit as well as the aft, main, hatch. Closing his eyes, he reached out, determining which ship was where.

When his eyes opened again the silver was gone, his black on black eyes making his mask even more featureless. Touching a stud on the main holotable at the same time that he touched one on his mask, a helmet forming around the mask and his head, the Fury suddenly went quiet, dead. The engines, the power, all of it ceased. The only sounds were the movements of his various astromechs. A toothy grin formed behind the mask, with his body heat that of the ambient, he was going to have some ‘fun’ with those who dared intrude.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Royal Palace

“They’ll be fine, and don’t worry about why……I don’t need to know.” Amber soothed as she watched the children play in the nursery. “I knew I kept his room for a reason.” She smiled, as her youngest adopted daughter was well into her early teens now.

“I’m not worried, not here, not with you pair……four kids are just two more than I could cope with.” Adalia said as she watched as well. “You’re braver than me.”

Amber chuckled, “wait till Kenzie see’s we have toddlers in the house again.”

“He’s gonna love it.” Kyp smiled, “especially a couple of Force users.”

Amber spun to him, “are they, already?”

“He is.” Kyp answered proudly, “give her time.”

“Don’t let him scare you, it’s nothing.”

A young woman entered the room, “Ma’am, there is a gentleman here to see you and his highness.”

Amber frowned, “who?”

“A General Grell Panib, Bakuran Defence Force.” The woman answered.

“What’s he want with us?” Amber asked, turning to face her.

“He is not here for you per say, Ma’am, he says he knows who your guests are and wishes to speak to you all.”

“So much for stealth mode.” Kyp grunted.

“Meeting room please Anis.” Amber requested, “and please find his highness, I know he’s in his office up to his neck in poodoo.”

“As you wish.” Anis turned and left.

“Well, lets go find out what this stuffed shirt wants”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Deep Space

Finally, as the noise told Bernael the Dark Jedi as well as the Stormtroopers were finally entering the Fury, he reached out into the bond once more, a slight surprise as he felt Adalia so close that she had to be at nearby Bakura. ’Those that serve Darkness are trying to capture me, deep in Bakuran space. I need your aid, my friend.’ he sent her, along with the sense of where he was.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Royal Palace

The General stepped into the room, looking as grizzled as ever. He had, once upon a time, sported red hair and served the Empire as part of their occupation force, but that was decades ago now. The third supreme commander of the Bakuran armed forces since its inception, he was an old man, older than Adalia or Kyp.

"Apologies for the interruption, everyone, it's not as if time is on my side, is it?" A smile, hard, but warm. "When I heard that we had guests, then I thought it worthwhile turning up."

Amber stopped, her hands clasped before her. "You know where you are, don't you General?" She asked in her regal tone. Footsteps approaching were heard, "maybe you can explain that to my husband?"

Crowned Prince MacKenzie Christa appeared in the doorway, his expression quite firm. "This had better be good."

Adalia had entered the room and immediately went to the window to gaze out, she was almost in a trance state. He'd seen it before, not for sometime but Kyp knew what she was doing. With a slight shake of his head he turned to listen to the General.

The General looked wry. "I would never wish to come between a husband and a wife. My attendance is merely a matter of updating you as to our readiness for war... whether or not we are invited to Kylo Ren's Unification Summit." His eyes cast over them. "I was also wondering if you'd found a replacement for me as of yet?"

His tone was tinged with humour. He had another decade in him, by all accounts, but to be commanding fleets at the age of 90-odd...

Kenzie folded his arms, "General, you know where Bakura stands with this, we are neutral and plan to stay that way. If 'Ren' gets too close we will cross that bridge when.....if it happens. As for your replacement, I am currently working on that, do not give me reason to expedite my decision."

Kyp looked down and smiled, he'd always like the man, never one to pull a punch. Glancing back he knew Adalia was communicating now, her expression gave it away.

Adalia had her eyes closed, it'd been so long since she'd done this. 'Co ordinates, leaving soon.'

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Deep Space

The smile remained on Bernael’s face as he received the response from Adalia. Her message reached him as the sounds of beings moving through his ship echoed loudly in the powered down craft. Stroking a spot on his belt, under his cloak he knew it was not yet time. He wanted all these foes close enough when he did what he had planned.

Reaching out once more, he sent Adalia the information she’d requested, the last bit that he’d retrieved from the navicomp before he’d begun to prepare. ’There’s a SD here, as well as two armed freighters attached to my ship. One has…six..dark siders and the other just less than two dozen troopers. Both are entering my ship now.’

Staying still was never an issue for an Anzati, his cloak broke up his form so if those that boarded were looking for a humanoid shape it would cause them issues, even using thermals or other aids. He moved slowly, carefully, keeping some of the furniture of the main lounge between himself and both groups as they moved toward that space of the ship.

The Knights set down to secure the cockpit and take control of the ship, while the Stormtroopers did what they ordinarily do; fan out around the Fury, which was a decently sized vessel. Cardo Ren took the pilot's seat, lounging as he spun it, oversized blaster to target the cockpit entrance should Bernael sweep back in. The others had their assignments at the prow of the ship, after all.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Royal Palace

Back on Bakura, however, the General regarded the gathering. "Well, you say that we're neutral, of course, but will the First Order care?" He produced a datapad from a pocket. "Bakura has been invited to attend a Unification Summit; apparently the Supreme Child intends to offer terms to the galaxy. I doubt members of the Royal Family will attend, which leaves me... and I'm too old to be diplomatic." A grin to his weathered lips. "So you may want to find a replacement, or someone good with persuasive words, sooner rather than not."

The General's eyes slid to the Jedi.

Kyp snorted, "not Bakuran and I am certainly no diplomat." He gave his head a shake, "keep looking." He looked to Adalia, who gave him the slightest nod, almost missed but there none the less. "Well, it's been..........something........but we're leaving." He added.

Without a word Adalia crossed and hugged her cousin and her husband before a quick glance back at the General. "Good luck there." She muttered to them before joining Kyp and leaving the room.

Once in the corridor leading to the private underground hangar she turned to him, "his ship’s been taken, FO, and I think I can get us there...."

"You think?" Kyp questioned as they entered the hangar, "that's gonna be fun in the navi computer."

"Trust me."

"Where have I heard that before?" He asked rolling his eyes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Deep Space

Bernael knew every centimeter of this ship. He’d spent every year of the time that it had been his to upgrade, modify, change the ship, until he knew the placement of every bolt, nut, and plate of it. So he could sense, without expending much energy, as the Knights and the stormtroopers moved through it. A grim smile crossed his face as some of the troopers headed towards the cargo hold. But, as they fanned out, he used the powered down darkness of the ship to slip away from their search, down the opposing corridor.

Placing himself behind one rib of the corridor bulkhead by the end of the corridor, he continued to observe and wait. The device in his hand, his fingers pressed several studs and a program he had set began a countdown that only he knew was occurring. There was still the deadman’s switch if the troops or the Knights found him before the countdown ended but such was the nature of the game.

He reached out again, ’You may have to play Lando on the Falcon at Cloud City, well a variant of it.’ he sent her, glad that he’d killed the power so the Fury was basically drifting, only the other two ships making it move at the moment. The black of his eyes almost became deeper as he had a thought of what might happen to those vessels when his contingency plan went into motion, but they had brought that upon themselves.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Royal Palace

Adalia stopped, a frown creased her forehead. "Play Lando?" She muttered.

"Play what?" He'd walked a little further than her and turned back. "What are you talking about?"

"He says I might have to play Lando, on the Falcon.....Cloud City." She did not understand the reference nor what he wanted from her.

Two steps back toward her Kyp thought for a moment, "I wasn't around for that............might have to make a subspace call?" He asked as he mulled the words over.

"Either way," surging forward she grabbed his arm, spinning him to walk briskly with her. "We're running out of time."

"And I'm being dragged, sure, I'll keep thinking while you make me walk, not a problem." It wasn't the first time she'd done this.

"Yeah, well I know how you struggle sometimes to do both at the same time."

The General watched them go, and turned back to the Royal Family.

"Permission to deploy the fleet?"

As the two Jedi rushed - perhaps former Jedi, as there was no centralised Order any longer, not since Ben Solo's massacre on Ossus - a woman in a pilot's uniform saluted them. Beside their ship was an XJ5-wing. "Malinza Thanas reporting for escort duty, sir, madam."

---

Near Bakuran space

The Stormtroopers didn't find him, but nor did the Knights of Ren.

A beep, however, would announce that the Knights had locked him out of his systems, save for those of course tied to that remote...

... and that timer.

Three…

Ap'lek stiffened -

Two…

Vicrul Ren turned his head -

One…

Cardo slammed his finger into a control on the board -

Zero!

Bernael’s finger mashed the deadman’s switch a fraction of a second before the countdown reached zero. The remote sent its message and it became a race between what Cardo had just done and the signal itself. He pushed back against the outer bulkhead as it ruptured, as did the one opposite, and in a thousand small and large spaces in the hull. The atmosphere began to vent rapidly as the shrapnel raced toward the two ships attached to the Fury.

The windscreen, what was left of it, crazed, cracked, and flexed along the seal that the Knight’s ship held against it. The cargo hold…vaporized in the faces of the troopers that were near it, blowing out the bottom of the ship on that side as the vacuum of space pulled Bernael through the hole behind him. As he flew through the air, he pressed his lips together to remain silent when one arm slammed against the rupture, fracturing in several places. He did grunt, though, when his body slammed into a larger piece of shrapnel and it sliced through him, right where a heart should be on most creatures.

His body gyrated as it was pulled out by the outrushing air, spinning and seeing the planet, then the stars, then the Resurgent, and then the tableau of his ship, still mostly intact but debris and vents of air blowing away from it. He could see that the charges that should have torn his ship apart had not fully succeeded which meant the signal had been partially interrupted. He felt weary, his body trying to compensate for the pain he currently felt, as he reached out to Adalia once more, ’I’m…away…Hope…to..stay…awake…until…you…arrive…’

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bakura, Royal Palace

Adalia stopped and looked at the pilot. "You're our what? Um, all due respect, don't need an escort anywhere." At that moment she got another 'message' from Bernael and stopping she turned away, her gaze distant as she listened. It was clear enough, "we're running out of time," she said vaguely with a frown, "seriously."

"Seriously, right." Kyp looked to the pilot and lifted his hand, "you don't need to escort us, we can leave un attended." He said in an even tone, his eyes on the pilot as he focused in the Force.

Adalia turned to see what he was doing and for once she did not argue, the urgency she felt from her 'partner' was clear and they needed to get out of here.

The General watched them go, and turned back to the Royal Family.

"Permission to deploy the fleet?"

Kenzie frowned, "did you not hear me? The last thing I want is to draw attention to Bakura, you do that and I am pretty sure it will be noticed. In short, no, do not, deploy the fleet." His cobalt blue eyes cold as they narrowed. "Get them ready, have them at the ready, but do not, I repeat, do NOT deploy. Keep me informed of their movements please, night or day I want to know. Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do General." Turning to Amber he added, "my wife will see you out."

Thanas smiled, casting a small salute. "Alright, ma'am. I was told you'd react like that, so I'll acknowledge." With that, Malinza turned around and headed off, without another word.

The General chuckled drily. "I won't deploy the fleet beyond our borders, of course not. Just their patrol routes as ever." He turned away. "Madam," he nodded gravely to Amber, and padded away with his command stick used as a walking assist.

Kyp frowned. "That was easier than I thought it'd be." He turned to Adalia but she was already on the up ramp of the Crystal Dawn.

"Quit wasting time, we need to move!" Adalia called over her shoulder. Rolling his green eyes with a shake of his head, Kyp turned and jogged after her.

It did not take long to launch the ship and Adalia piloted it out into space while Kyp made a subspace call from the read or the Dawn. Sitting forward in her seat Adalia was feeling her way, the navi computer open to program and as they ascended she was adding co ordinates.

"I know what 'Lando style' means." Kyp announced as he entered the cockpit, noting her concentration as he sat in the co-pilot's seat. "You know where we are heading?"

She held up one hand, silencing him with it as she continued to focus in the Force till the last number was entered, then sitting back with a deep sigh. "Only a short jump, couple minutes, but we're going in about 30. What's it mean?"

"Couple minutes, he's in system? Oh, apparently he and Leia picked Luke up on the outside of the city, hanging underneath." He looked out the cockpit, "he's hanging?......under what?"

"Dunno." Reaching forward Adalia put her hand on the hyperspace lever, "hang on." Moments later the starlines appeared before them both.

"Didn't need too, smooth as usual, what's 'he' telling you?" Kyp said using his finger to parenthesis the word 'he'.

Inwardly she sighed, this was bound to get messy but she couldn't think about that right now. "That he hopes to stay awake......gut feeling, he's not in the Fury........he's," she pointed toward the transparisteel viewport, "out there."

Kyp said nothing but turned away, considering the option of simply not finding him as they sat in silence.

The minutes went quickly and for that Adalia was grateful, she'd spent that time in silence concentrating but hearing nothing. Easing the lever forward at the soft beep she instantly began to scan the space before them. "Wonderful." She muttered.

"Could he have dragged us into a bigger mess?" Kyp asked as he scanned through both the cockpit and the Force. A Star Destroyer was nearby, and what remained of The Fury with other ships attached to it was closer. "Don't think we're gonna be missed by them." He indicated with his head toward the SD.

"Just find him and we can clear out." She muttered, narrowing her eyes as she tried to 'feel' her partner's presence while steering the ship in accordance to her feelings. 'we're here..........you there?'

All Cardo was doing was cutting the cockpit off from the rest of the ship so he could vent the entire ship.

His command, being simpler than Bernael’s, sealed the cockpit, and no commands impacted the Knights of Ren.

The rest, however, went down just fine, and the ship vented into space, and the Stormtrooper transport exploded. The Night Buzzard took a hit, but while superficial, the Knights would need to check and confirm. Vicrul growled, eyeballing what appeared to be an Anzati corpse, the Force guiding his gaze.

"Well, that is that," he muttered. He wasn't sure if Kylo Ren would be pleased or not...

But then another ship arrived, and Kuruk pointed. "Force users."

"Lock down what's left of the Fury, and signal the others. I want TIEs in the air," Vicrul snapped.

But those TIEs wouldn't reach Adalia and Kyp's ship in-time... assuming they didn't need to tarry for too long.

Would Bernael be able to connect with them in time?

Ap'lek growled.

The Star Destroyer had deployed a single TIE.

But it was quite a TIE.



A First Order TIE Defender.

Fast was it's trademark.

The pilot was one of the best.

Mareek Stele.

Former Emperor's Reach; a rank comparable to the Emperor's Hand.

Bernael was slowly spinning and floating away from the Fury, his eyes closed as he tried to conserve energy but keep himself awake. He could sense Adalia as she seemed to close on him. When her presence felt really close, he opened his eyes again, looking to see where her ship was as he felt her reach out, asking him where he was.

When his eyes alighted on the ship that he’d seen a handful of times he coughed wetly in the mask of the helmet that had formed around his head as he laughed. I…forgot…how…purple…that…ship…is…’ He tried to judge the distance and angle from her ship that he was as his spin continued.

When the scattered thoughts finally wove together, ’I’m…floating…away…from…the…port…side…of..the…Fury….About…halfway…between…it…and…you…Your…three…o’clock…and..below…’ He sighed and then his eyes opened wider as his turn brought him around facing the Resurgent, as he saw the fighter headed away from the SD and then felt the pilot. ’Fast…company…incoming…Force…user…’

His eyes were drawn as he felt it, was pulled to it. "Kriff." Kyp muttered as his eyes focused on the tiny ship that had launched. It was tiny now, but only growing in size as he stood. "You'd better do what you gotta do Ads, we got trouble. I'll be in the upper turret."

Adalia had been focused on the Fury and the turmoil she felt there when he spoke and turned to watch him go for a moment before the voice spoke again and she smirked at the reference to the ships colour. "It's me." She turned to look out, "away, ok." She muttered, "port." Speaking the words out loud though quite unnecessarily so. Pulling the controls to the port of her own craft she accelerated slightly as she processed his further message, then she felt it. Glancing, she suddenly knew what Kyp was up to, "great." She growled as she activated the airlock to open and continued to scan.

Then she saw him. "Ok, B, I got you..........now can you jump in?" Adalia voiced the words as well as forwarding them to him via the Force as she decelerated, reversing thrust. "Air locks open."

The comm opened, "move it Ads, we got incoming." Kyp almost growled as he swung the turret in the direction of the incoming TIE.

The TIE Defender was making quick speed, and there was a Force user at the controls.

The Knights of Ren had rudimentary understanding on how to project their power, and so they did, six lesser Force users that nonetheless together reached out to obfuscate the occupants of the yacht and their ability to focus, and provided to the TIE pilot their own perspective on matters.

Which meant the TIE tweaked his path and the three of them would realise he had located Bernael, who would rapidly become aware that his extremities were icing over -

Not yet in weapons range but -

Soon.

Kyp had been focused on the incoming TIE, then he wasn’t, his focus suddenly bombarded in a way he’d never known before, looking around he was lost. What was he doing? Why was he here? Closing his eyes, his hands to the side of his head, he gritted his teeth, “focus!” He growled. He had a job to do, but couldn’t remember what it was.

She was lost with no idea why she was flying let alone where she was. Her unfocused eyes gazed out at the scene before her, as she vaguely identified the damaged ship, “is that the Fury?” She muttered. “What happened to it?” Her head hurt, what was happening?

An old, familiar presence filled the bridge of the yacht. It touched Adalia, setting its own, strong, presence against that of the Knights, seeking to shield her mind. As it settled around her, a whisper seemed to come from the empty air, ’Focus Adalia, Bernael needs you, Kyp needs you to help him focus…’ reached to her mind in a calm, flat tone.

As he spun, Bernael could see the yacht drawing closer with the way he was still drifting from the Fury. At Adalia’s question he closed his eyes, evaluating his body and strength. Around him, he could feel as the ones who had taken his ship were trying to cause their own disturbances and he sighed as he opened his eyes again. A growl came from him as his hands wouldn't close into fists, the outer edge of his suit and armor along them limned with ice.

When he tried to move his legs a sudden, deeper growl came from him. ’I…might…have…the…energy…but…I…can’t…feel…my…legs…and…’ He could see the TIE hurtling toward him, felt as though he could see down the barrels of its weapons. ’that…pilot…is…heading…right…at…me…’

Calming his mind, he reached out, trying to grasp the yacht with the Force, Pulling himself toward the waiting airlock and the warmth of the ship.

The Knights of Ren were suddenly surprised -

Not just Bernael, but two other Force users.

It took very little to break their hold on the Jedi, and the Knights of Ren rebuffed as if some six-minded entity - Vicrul grimaced, Cardo clutched his head, Ap'lek actually dropped to one knee, Kuruk rolled his shoulders as if coming out of long sleep uncomfortably, and so on -

The TIE Defender wobbled, a clear sign that the pilot was suffering blow-back from the abrupt disconnection, but Kyp and Adalia's danger senses would snap to a moment before the keening sound of a target lock -

And two concussion missiles shot to close the gap between them!

It was like the thick fog in her mind had lifted, parted as it were. It was there, it had been so many years but she knew it instantly.

Everything was very clear now.

“Thank you, I needed that.” She almost purred as she hit the comm. “KYP!!! WAKE UP!!!! AIM THE GUNS AT THAT TIE, FIRE AT WILL!!!” She yelled.

He frowned looking at the comm, why was she yelling? “What TIE?” He responded.

“Look out!! 2 o’clock! SHOOT IT!!!” She urged as she manipulated the controls, her mind clear now and her goal clear. Swinging the Dawn around her new goal was to put it between Bernael and the clear and present danger to him. “JUST SHOOT IT!”

Kyp looked out, he could see a single TIE fighter, “that TIE?”

It was the only TIE out there, “yes! That TIE, SHOOT IT!!!” Adalia was struggling as she was now getting a message mentally from Bernael. “Kriff it.” She spat.

Putting his hands on the guns Kyp still couldn’t focus, but he knew her voice and he trusted that. “Shoot the TIE.” He muttered as he looked through the scopes, “that TIE………yes, that TIE.” He squeezed the trigger and green bolts shot from the Crystal Dawn.

Adalia put the ship on drift, she only had moments as she jumped from the pilots’ seat and bolted down the main corridor of the ship to the airlock. Looking out she could just make out the form that was Bernael, sure his legs were just cold now she knew she needed to get him on board. Reaching both hands forward she focused hard on pulling him in, above she could hear the upper turret firing.

The lasers found not the TIE but the missiles, in Kyp's typically indirect-but-direct manner, but the TIE Defender emerged from the detonation unscathed, took the next shots on its shields, and pumped a blue ion cannon bolt their way -

The missiles had merely been distractions to allow the pilot to close the range!

But Bernael was in, though he had been traveling at some speed when he encountered gravity and his momentum translated into force and weight -

Space around him erupted, missiles flying and then green beams of energy lancing out from the yacht. As the missiles exploded, blue beams shot from the TIE but Bernael was already on the verge of losing consciousness when they fired and all he could focus on was reaching the ship and the safety of being onboard.

As he continued to spin, he noticed that he was approaching the ship fast. With the fleeting moments of consciousness, he stopped Pulling toward the ship and tried to Push instead, to slow his trajectory slightly. Still, he was racing toward the yacht, and as he entered the lock and the artificial gravity tugged at him he slammed into the floor of the airlock in a tangle of limbs. A groan burst from his lips as he hit, skidding across the floor.

When he hit the airlock floor, the shard of hull from his ship drove deeper into him, until it burst through the front of his armor, driving him into unconsciousness, his unfeeling legs bent in a couple different, unnatural angles. There was no trail of blood behind him, at first, the freeze the vacuum had caused took time to thaw and it still hadn’t when his head and shoulder slammed into the back wall of the airlock, bending with a crack.

For him, thankfully, his body and mind had already surrendered to unconsciousness which made his body loosen when it hit, minimizing the damage done to himself. A final thought escaped him as he passed out, ’Here….’. What happened to the airlock when he hit the wall was a different story though, his body had hit the bulkhead at speed. But, now in the regenerative sleep, he didn’t notice, his body limp and trying to heal around the metal embedded in him, repair his broken arm and legs, and regenerate the sliced mid spinal area and broken neck.

She'd seen he was moving too fast and stopped pulling, pushing a little but stopping as Adalia was unsure as to what he was doing himself to aid the approach. It all happened so quickly and the crash as he hit the back door of the airlock caused her to jump back slightly. Hearing him say he was here she slammed her hand onto the outer doors then the decompression button. Behind her she heard Kyp running, and looked over. "What now?"

He'd snapped out of his haze quickly when whatever it was that had been blocking him was gone, it was then he sensed the attack. "We have to move!" He yelled as he jumped into the pilots seat and slammed the accelerators to full. The ship lurched forward, throwing him back into the seat.

The airlock was decompressed and she'd just opened the inner door when the ship lurched, Adalia fell sideways slamming into the door jamb then forward over the body before her, a scream escaping her lips as she did so. Instantly she began to push her hands to the floor and to her horror they his a liquid, without looking she knew it was blood, cold and sticky, thawing, but blood. Kyp couldn't help her, it was clear he had just gotten them clear of something, her own danger senses pricked up but not as keen as his. Once off Bernael, she saw the piece of debris protruding from his armour. "That can't be good." She muttered, "gotta get you to the medbay." She grunted as she rolled the Anzat to his back, grabbing the armour around his shoulders, she began to drag him leaving a trail of blood on the deck.

Kyp sighed loudly, as he'd managed to avoid the incoming ion blasts. Looking over his shoulder for a moment he yelled back. "Jumping out as soon as I can."

They had more than enough on their hands before the ion bolt hit.

But then, the hyperdrive engaged - on time? Late? Early? Correctly? Safely and they’d blur into hyperspace -

If Bernael thought he was cold before, that was nothing compared to how he felt as his body sought to regulate and recalibrate -

Though that sensation wouldn’t even reach all of him -

The yacht’s systems made a cry out that echoed over the internal comms, at a pitch painful to human ears -

And barely second after they’d made hyperspace the entire yacht jerked, hard, as if they had slammed into something -

At which point they’d realise that the inertia compensators had shut down, so the momentum of their brief acceleration and violently sharp deceleration caught them all -

And then the ship's power cut.

Slammed back into his seat, Kyp didn't expect the micro jump to be too hard, but something was wrong, he felt it instantly. Seconds later the Crystal Dawn fell out of hyperspace and it became very obvious what it was as he was thrown forward onto the console. Grabbing at the controls to slow his inertia as he hit the transparisteel viewport, before rolling off onto the floor. "Ow......." he groaned before calling out, "Ads?"

She'd gotten the unconscious Bernael to the sick bay, but getting him up on a bed was proving to be impossible. Time wasn't on her side as suddenly she was thrown back into the bulkhead, landing on her butt and banging her head against it, knocking her out totally. The ship lurched forward suddenly and her unconscious body was tossed across the floor along with the Anzati’s to slam up against the opposite bulkhead.

Bernael hadn’t noticed as Adalia had gotten him to the medbay, nor when Kyp had called out that they were about to jump. His self, his essence, had retreated into his mind where it was seeking out souls rich in essence so his body could heal. All there was was pai and cold, even his usual guest was silent, absent, as his body began the healing process.

He didn’t even notice as the ship was, almost immediately, ripped out of hyper and brought to an abrupt stop. His body was flung around the medbay, suffering several more minor injuries. When the movement stopped his body was wedged against one bulkhead. All there was was the pain and trying to heal, so deep into his own recovering that he didn’t notice his friend almost draped against him, unconscious as well.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Adalia-Durron

 

Combo with GM @Sinrebirth. Thank you!

IC: Natasi Daala and Remal

Brow raised, Daala took the datapad Remal had offered, and scanned down the page. “I cannot think of any one single thing I’d rather not do,” Natasi murmured.

She sat the datapad down and leaned back in her chair, “I’m curious about who has agreed to attend, do you know if Fel will be there?”

Remal pulled a face. "Possibly. Probably, even. Every unaligned state has been given an invite, and even Resistance allies. So I expect everyone will get a nudge to attend, or be cut out of the spoils. The Outer Rim is very balkanised since the Galactic Alliance fell apart."

That was very true. Dozens of historic nations had struck out as independent, and while that had revealed just how reduced the New Republic had been since the Yuuzhan Vong War, all these little states had only made matters much more complicated for anyone to make headway. Only a few had managed to stay completely neutral - usually at the end of a blaster barrel - but the Maw Irregulars were among them, a small group including the Remnant, Bakura and a few others.

"Does it make a difference if he doesn't attend?" Remal managed to adopt a facial expression as neutral as any.

Remal pulled a face. "Possibly. Probably, even. Every unaligned state has been given an invite, and even Resistance allies. So I expect everyone will get a nudge to attend, or be cut out of the spoils. The Outer Rim is very balkanised since the Galactic Alliance fell apart."

That was very true. Dozens of historic nations had struck out as independent, and while that had revealed just how reduced the New Republic had been since the Yuuzhan Vong War, all these little states had only made matters much more complicated for anyone to make headway. Only a few had managed to stay completely neutral - usually at the end of a blaster barrel - but the Maw Irregulars were among them, a small group including the Remnant, Bakura and a few others.

"Does it make a difference if he doesn't attend?" Remal managed to adopt a facial expression as neutral as any.

“It does make a difference, Remal,” Daala answered, “we must be there if he’s attending.

Natasi stood and paced slowly across the room, “I guess we will be attending this Summit. Try to find out who else is going.

"I mean we could just hail Bastion. I'm sure we can get a signal through... though whether its not listened in on is another question," Remal winced. "But... surely you can't go." He checked the data. "We can only sent one representative with one second."

Natasi smiled and snapped back, “are you volunteering to go as my representative, Remal?” She waved a hand indicating that he didn’t need not answer.

“Definitely hail Bastion,” she replied, “but I believe I will attend, or that’s how I will play it until we know who else is going.”

Remal grimaced. "I'd rather not be sharing the same air as politicians, ma'am." A grin back. "Not unless I have a mask and I'm watching them choke on that air."

He bowed. "I'll make the arrangements for a channel to Bastion. Hopefully Lecersen won't be the one who picks up." He stepped out, and Remal hesitated at the doorway. "I wonder who Tol will send."

Daala laughed over Remal’s remarks, “I’d make sure you had a mask, Remal.” The man knew her well, and he knew how to lift her mood. This Unification issue could potentially be a big nightmare.

She thought for a moment about Remal’s before answering, “Tol will send someone expendable, and it’s unlikely he would go himself… the kriffing coward.”

"So some no-name. He's not been able to groom a decent sycophant since Larm became atoms." Remal grinned slightly. "I'll let you know when I get Bastion on the line." At that, he left, and left Daala with the memories of the Battle of Nam Chorios, and when she was reunited with Liegeus Vorn... before he was taken from her again.

Natasi opened a compartment in her desk and took out an older datapad. She sighed as she powered it on, the older models were slower, just like older humans she mused.

She opened a file and watched the holos she’d saved. Liegeus on their wedding day, she paused for a moment and studied her late husband. Liegeus had been clever and was always working a grand scheme that usually paid off.

Her reminiscing was brief, she tossed the datapad back into her desk and slammed the drawer. Kriffing Moffs were so incompetent, they failed trying to assassinate Daala, but their explosives killed Liegeus instead. Part of her died with him…

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

Following acceptance of your invitation, please find enclosed the coordinates for the Unification Summit.

No ship larger than a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer will be permissible in-system, and none in range of the planet itself. Personal shuttles are all that may head in-system, and no starfighter escorts. This is non-negotiable. Weapons will not be allowed at the event beyond personal sidearms. Lightsabers will be forbidden, though Force users may be sent as representatives.

Every attendant faction will be given the opportunity to send security teams to the location, with separate hour-slots given to the teams for the first day of the event. Thereafter, a single hour will be allotted to allow the local security forces, including one observer from each group, to ensure that no group has taken advantage of them having a later slot in the proceedings to insert listening devices.

Please ensure your personal craft - or the capital ship ferrying you to the system edge - arrives no sooner than twenty four hours, and no later than forty eight hours from now. The summit will be a closed event, and late arrivals will delay proceedings.

The first wave of talks will last no more than twelve hours, with thrice hourly recesses.

The system picked is in the Inner Rim, as an ally of the Resistance, as a gesture of good faith.

I would thank our hosts for their commitment to peace.

We shall meet at Crepsuculum, on the planet Nouane, the ancient Clock Tower.

@CosmoHender, @Lady_Belligerent, @TheSilentInfluence (as representatives who will receive this datapad update)

@HanSolo29 (as future representative but won't have access to this IC yet)

@Adalia-Durron, @darthbernael (generally)​

 

IC: Remal
Chimaera to Bastion

The signal connected, and Daala and Remal stood before Sam Hhat.

Remal narrowed his eyes, expecting Jagged, or, at very least, Ashik, the Chiss aide to the Imperial Head of State. Maybe even Vitor Reige, if he was to hand, the Grand Admiral of the Imperial Navy. It took all his patience to not just blurt out questioning who in the Nine Corellian Hells the woman was before them, taking high-level diplomatic channels.

Conversely, both of their datapads would chime with the update given by the First Order.

Sam's also had a message from Miat Temm, that she would meet her in the hangar, and they could discuss formalities on the way to the Summit.

But otherwise, there was merely the potential for all manner of inter-Imperial threats and tension...

TAG: @CosmoHender, @Lady_Belligerent (combo)
---
Aboard the Steadfast

The ready room that Armitage had commandeered was blanketed by a full-blown galactic map, and he was walking through it, as if being closer to the same would allow him some new perspective. There was a rainbow of colours present, but primarily represented by First Order blue, and Rebel red. Darker shades of blue and red represented allies, as if they were lesser nations, and a handful had their own colours.

There were other factions unrepresented, including various hermetic kingdoms in the south-western Unknown Regions, but they were not relevant and the First Order had already effectively cut them off from the galaxy by securing territory running along the edge of Known Space. So, they were often cut from most political or military considerations, and the Supreme Leader would turn on them eventually.

Spoiler

Bold = Republic/Resistance.
Italics = Neutral
Underline = First Order
Strike-through = Civil War

Independents

1. Sovereign Latitudes
2. New Separatist Union
3. Seswenna Sector
4. The Protectorate
5. Hutt Space (strike-through)
6. Centrality
7. Allied Tion
8. Antemeridian Sector
9. Commonality
10. Mandalorian Space
11. D’Astan Sector
12. Cassander Sectors
13. Corporate Sector
14. Rump Imperial Remnant & Empire of the Hand - styled as ‘the Empire’
15. Senex-Juvex Sectors
16. Guavian Space
17. Maw Irregulars
18. Cuitric Hegemony
19. Bakura
20. Confederacy of Corporate Systems

Mid Rim

1. Paqwepori
2. Bothan Space

Inner Rim

1. Hapes Consortium
2. Ktilac Regions
3. Nouane

Colonies

1. Herglic Space
2. Ollonir Boundaries

Core

1. Atrisian Commonwealth
2. Botor Enclave
3. Daupherm Planet States

For many of them, Hux couldn't tell you a single thing about. But the Hapans, for example, had been prominent in galactic politics since the Battle of Endor, and the Corporate Sector had been in the pocket of the First Order for many years. Some were nothing more than military juntas, criminals that the New Republic had allowed to continue.

Disdain curled his lips, and Pryde came in the middle of him mentally preparing notes for his next propaganda speech.

"General," Hux said, respectively. It was ordinary military etiquette to allow a lengthier title to be shortened - a Fleet or Grand Admiral could be called an Admiral, for example, though one could not call a Rear or Vice Admiral in that manner. But Hux purposely called Pryde a General to reduce his standing to his own. They were not friends, barely even colleagues.

"So our dear leader intends to go through with this farce." He gestured to the galactic map. The balance of the galaxy was even, notwithstanding the tremendous gains the First Order had made in securing much of the Core with the Sloane-Veers plan - several of the galactic hyperlanes were mostly secure, for example. "I don't accept the suggestion that the Supreme Leader intends to use this time to create a Supreme Council to better command the military."

A sneer. "What do you know, General?"

TAG: @CosmoHender (combo)
---
IC: Captain Matrony
Aboard the Sentinel

Technically, they were on their standard patrol route, but they'd tarried to double-check their holocomm system for a mysterious glitch.

It wasn't a terrible delay, but sufficient to, with long range sensors pushed to maximum, to keep an eye on the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer hovering at the edge of Bakuran Space.

When the ships pounced upon a personalised freighter, Captain Matrony had smiled and anticipated that if the ship escaped they would leap onwards to Bakura, and so she simply placed herself on a direct line between the engagement and her homeworld. When a purple yacht appeared at the rendezvous as well, Matrony activated her gravity well generators and waited.

Which was why the self-same yacht had appeared in-front of a kilometer long Bakura-class Star Destroyer.

A moment later the TIE Defender winked out of hyperspace, and Matrony snapped on the comms, speaking on open channels that Kyp would be able to pick up... and Adalia and Bernael, if they woke up, though in essence they'd fallen unconscious near - on? - each other.

"First Order TIE Defender, I order you to leave Bakuran Space. That yacht is under the protection of the Bakuran Defence Force."

The TIE Defender reoriented, the pilot undoubtedly caught out by the sudden reversion, though not as much as the yacht pilots, it seemed, with damage to them evident... Kyp would be informed, a little belatedly, that power had been rerouted and the inertia compensator was active again, but now their hyperdrive was injured.

"Private yacht, I order you to board the Sentinel. Fighters; if you're in the way, launch, and go after that TIE."

The enemy clearly thought he could destroy his target before they made it to the safety of the Bakuran warship, and escape with just as much ease. It was a fast TIE, and it could escape the gravity well without much effort if it tried.

A smart pilot, it seemed; the best kind, no?

TAG: @Adalia-Durron, @darthbernael (combo)
---
IC: Zilaash Kuh
Aboard the Wheel

It hadn't taken much to avoid that golden protocol droid, and even less effort to sneak weapons past the weapon scanners.

The owner of the Wheel had banned weapons, and rumour were that any pilot that broke his rule, and escaped, might have a visit from a Defender-class Star Destroyer that the owner had somehow procured. Zilaash didn't care too much; she was on a mission, and it involved making sure that they had someone on the inside of the Unification Summit.

Which meant tracking down whomever Connix had in mind and suborning them or replacing them.

The two of them - the Mothma and the Mandalorian - they would be on a date, yes, walking one of the innumerable bazaars aboard the Wheel, which was as much rendezvous as casino, of the class of Porus Vida or the Errant Venture.

So Zilaash, her face tattooed, her lightsaber concealed inside her black-robe coat, moved purposely through the crowds. Her tracer activated, and she glanced, confirming that a high-end First Order encryption had been used. A smart trick developed by her sponsors, it meant Zilaash could track the message recipient even if she couldn't read it.

And the datapads of Amariah and Pre chimed with the update...

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (combo)

TAG: @HanSolo29 (as you're on holiday, lets roll over the combo)

 

OOC: The following is a combo with Sinrebirth – thank you so much!!

IC: Aryan Graul and Leia Organa Solo
Pacara

A soft glow emanated from the datapad’s screen in the darkened room, washing over the older man’s countenance with a bluish pallor. Aside from the holovid mounted on the adjacent wall, it was the only source of light. It had become routine to keep the window shades drawn and the overhead illumination dimmed to barely discernible levels.

Aryan Graul preferred it that way.

It cast a safety net over his fragile existence, particularly under the current circumstances. The Resistance had placed him in these living quarters with the promise of full autonomy. He could come and go at his leisure and live a relatively normal life, but that wasn’t his reality at all. His tracking bracelet and chaperone indicated a form of internment. Despite their reassurances, he was still a prisoner, and the darkness was the only way that he could truly feel secure—especially after everything he’d been through.

With a weary sigh, Aryan closed his eyes and scratched idly at his grizzled face, his fingers rasping loudly against his bearded cheek. It had been a difficult adjustment period, and while he attended regular therapy sessions and rehab to assuage the effects of his trauma, a part of it would always remain with him.

Fortunately, he had found solace in little tasks and activities scattered throughout his day, such as browsing the HoloNet for the latest galactic news and writing personal correspondences to his daughter, Jalynn.

In fact, that was how he intended to spend the rest of his afternoon.

The reports about a galactic concordance and an alleged peace summit had thrown the news cycles into a frenzy. Aryan hadn’t been able to pull himself away from the commentators’ coverage since the news broke yesterday morning, and in some ways, it had developed into an obsession. He wanted someone to share his excitement with; to exchange ideas and provide an analysis of what he predicted for the outcome. Naturally, the only logical choice for such a dissertation was his own daughter.

And so, with his datapad propped on the table and the holovid droning on in the background, Aryan set out to begin typing his message—

But a knock upon his door soon interrupted his concentration.

"Aryan?" a female voice called from the corridor. "It’s Leia."

Leia.

Aryan tensed and pushed the datapad aside. There was no need to say anything more than that; the name spoke volumes.

Princess.

Senator.

Chief of State.

General.

Leia Organa was a legend in her own right. He couldn’t fathom what she would want with him, especially since she hadn’t bothered to visit him in the six months since his rescue on Exocron. If he recalled correctly, the last time they had seen each other was on Coruscant, nearly fifty years ago. They had both served as Senators in the Imperial Senate, though they had only known each other in passing. That would hardly constitute the need for a personal visit now.

Nevertheless, his curiosity prevailed. He rose to his feet and shuffled forward to answer her call. Despite a pronounced limp, he opted not to utilize his cane for this meeting. He was still self-conscious of his physical impairments—a consequence of a terrible injury he had sustained decades ago on Korriban—and he wanted to project a strong presence for his notable guest.

Inhaling deeply, Aryan disengaged the lock sequence, and when the door slid aside, he leaned casually against the frame for support.

"Princess—err, General," he stammered through his greeting, uncertain of the proper way to address her. It didn’t help that he found himself momentarily distracted by her appearance. She was a little grayer, and she had a few more wrinkles on her face, but she was still the same Leia.

"Umm, come in," Aryan said before she could accuse him of staring, gesturing with his hand to welcome her. "I, uhh—I wasn’t expecting any company… well, aside from the usual suspects. Is something wrong?"



"Just call me Leia," she said softly, but firmly, regarding the man. The usual suspects would be Temmin 'Snap' Wexley, who had responsibility for the man's communiques outside of the Resistance base, or of course, Threepio, who needed to be kept busy, and potentially the protocol droid was punishment enough for the man for his perceived faults.

A quick glance and she regarded his comforts. He was a former Imperial, and his involvement in the death of Master Cilghal wasn't entirely clear, and Leia hadn't had the time to sit down with the man. Indeed, he'd been shuttled from base to base to base like cargo, and more often than not he was a loose end rather than something that Leia paid direct attention to.

It was unbecoming of her to treat a sentient that way, but with the war raging, even if the Resistance seemed to be taking back the initiative slowly but surely - and their successes on the Corellian Run and now at the Battle of Batuu seemed to be definitely signs of that - she'd just been too busy to sit down for the hours that she expected it would to unravel the man's story. If anything, the Force told her he'd been involved in dark, dark businesses, and - though she'd not confided as much in Snap or Poe or even Connix - it was her son's late master that she sensed upon the man's story.

Not Snoke, no.

Lumiya.

The Dark Lord of the Sith, back when they thought killing two Sith would bring peace.

So long ago.

But here they were, fighting her youngest son, on a path as dark as any that Darth Caedus had been on.

Dismissing those sad thoughts, how one son had killed her sister-in-law, and how the other had killed her husband -

Her lips firmed, and she realised she was simply standing in the doorway, though Aryan was likely too polite to interrupt in her musings. "I am hardly going to call you Senator, after all, Aryan." A wry tone and she indicated the general mess of a lived-in area. "Where shall I sit? We have plenty to talk about."

Leia turned her wrist slightly. "Though of course, we can go anywhere, if you'd rather stretch your legs." The binary beacon that Rey had formerly worn was evident, the other upon Aryan's body. As the sole prisoner of the Resistance - technically a prisoner - she had taken personal responsibility for the man, notwithstanding the grumblings of Poe and even Finn and Ackbar.

Aryan had run of the base, after all, save for the command center and the landing pad, and so it would not be untoward for him to be out and about. It would likely turn more heads to see Leia speaking to him now.

But there was peace, for now, and so she needed him.

It was curious to watch Leia interact with his environment. She was very nuanced in her approach and meticulous in her actions. Nothing escaped her notice as far as Aryan could tell, which left him feeling rather embarrassed by the mess he had procured. As the lone occupant of the room, he hadn’t taken care to ensure that things remained neat and orderly. One day blurred into the next, and his living conditions reflected that mentality. In that sense, it was an easy decision to take their meeting elsewhere.

However, before Aryan could express those sentiments, he paused to consider her strange behavior. Her gaze had turned distant as she stood frozen on the threshold. It was as if she had seen or experienced something to upset her, though he couldn’t begin to comprehend the extent of her inner demons. The best thing to do was not to inquire about them, but he would still keep an eye out for any further lapses.

"I actually wouldn’t mind heading out," Aryan professed after a moment, crossing over to the table to retrieve the jacket he had slung over the chair. He also switched off the datapad and the holovid in the process. "I could use some fresh air. This place has become a bit… stale."

Once again, he turned up his nose, feeling self-conscious about the relatively untidy room.

"Uh, why don’t we grab something to eat?" he offered in an attempt to change the subject. "I haven’t had anything since this morning, and I’d rather not delve into this on an empty stomach."

Leia arched an eyebrow slightly. "Sure, a bite to eat. The cafeteria should be free." An old Besalisk who was tight-lipped with his original name was running the base food stores and digs, because why shouldn't the cook be the Quartermaster?

The woman doubted Aryan was making a move, she was quite recently widowed, it was more an acknowledgment of his room - something that Leia often felt was rather telling of the mental state of its occupant. Not as good as she would have liked of someone in her care, and probably just over the line of unfair, but conversely this was a war, and nothing was ideal. Not that Leia could have described anything as ideal in the last fifty years, save for rare instances of relative peace - the years after the Battle of Jakku, the time following the Bastion Accords, the aftermath of the Yuuzhan Vong War... but since her eldest son had become Darth Caedus, they had lurched from Sith Lord to tyrannical galactic rule to apocalyptic deity to outright war... and occasionally all at once.

Gathering up herself, psychologically and otherwise, the former Princess of Alderaan, gestured with the crook of her arm. "If you would." Leia was younger than Aryan, but her wounds were much more recent. Even if Aryan didn't know of the recent peace offering - but it wasn't exactly a secret at this point - he would undoubtedly have heard how Leia had been thrown from the Raddus half a year ago, and only her mastery of the Force - softly spoken more often than now - had saved her.

The image of the two of them arm-in-arm would ordinarily cause commotion no doubt, but she was Leia Organa Solo - a Skywalker. Nobody would bat an eyelid at her needing help.

There was a moment of hesitation as Organa offered her arm. While part of him recognized that it was merely an amiable gesture to express her generosity, Aryan couldn’t help but consider the ramifications of such an action. His status as a Resistance prisoner remained unchanged, and it wasn’t exactly proper for him to escort a former Princess, Chancellor, and General to the mess hall. It roused both his curiosity and concern.

Whatever she needed to discuss with him was clearly pretty dire to merit this kind of attention. It was obvious that she was trying to slowly ease him into things; to soften the blow.

But was she truly capable of such manipulation? In many respects, she was a wounded soul… much like himself. Perhaps it was a way to achieve a deeper understanding and form a mutual bond. At the very least, he decided that he could certainly use the assistance. It would help conceal his physical ailments from the plain view of any onlookers.

Content with that answer, Aryan tentatively accepted her arm and pulled her close as they proceeded down the corridor toward the cafeteria. For the duration of their journey, he kept his gaze straight ahead and remained silent. Although he was mindful of the others around them, he did not want to make eye contact and risk a confrontation. There was no need to embarrass Leia… or himself.

Aryan chose to engage in conversation only after he settled at the table with a ronto short-rib sandwich in hand. "I’m, uh… curious about the nature of this discussion," he began evenly, examining his food as if he had discovered a rare jewel. "I can’t imagine what worth I would have to you after all this time. If I’m honest, I thought you were using me as some sort of bargaining chip, but that wouldn’t make sense either. I don't really have an affiliation at the moment."

He issued a cynical scoff and shrugged. "I’m just an old fool who keeps getting shuffled around from one institutionalized facility to another."

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Adalia and Kyp Durron, Bernael
Bakura, inner system

She was hurt, he knew that and the fact she'd not answered only add to the urgency he felt. Springing to his feet and wincing as his hip seemed to be bruised, he began to leave the cockpit to find her when the comm opened.

"Private yacht, I order you to board the Sentinel. Fighters; if you're in the way, launch, and go after that TIE."

Stopping he stared for a couple of heartbeats at the comm. "Nope." He muttered as he resumed his journey to the Medbay.

She'd not opened her eyes yet, but Adalia was awake and her head hurt and she was on something....no, someone. He emerald eyes flashed open as her senses immediately identified who. Carefully she began to withdraw from the inert form beneath her, her hand going to her head instinctively touching where it hurt. It was wet.

Blood.

"Great." She muttered as she sat back on her buttocks looking to the footsteps approaching.

He'd reached the doorway, "Ads?" Kyp looked down to her, "you ok?" He asked grateful she was awake.

"Think so." She held her hand up, "could be wrong."

"Kriff it!" Immediately he was by her side, inspecting the wound, "it's pretty deep."

"I'm fine, help me get Bernael up on the bed." Adalia tried to stand, and failed, "or you do it."

"Or we just leave him there." Kyp countered and was greeted with a glare. "Alright!" Using the Force he dragged the unconscious Anzat from the wall and in a few minutes had him lying on the medical bed. "Strapping him down."

"That's not necessary, he's not about to eat anyone." Adalia had found her feet and a gauze which she now held on her head.

"Yeah, well," He began to strap the man he quietly considered an enemy down.

She could hear something, "is the comm open?"

"Yeah, someone wants us to land on them." Kyp said doing up the last strap.

"Feels like someone landed on us." Adalia sighed as she reached the door way. "Let me go see who and what they want."

"Let us." Kyp said appearing behind her.

Bernael hadn’t moved as Kyp moved him or strapped him down. However, as his body was moved, his eyes opened although there was no life in them. They shifted color back and forth between fully black and the silver within black, again and again. Once he was strapped down on the bed his body seemed to relax some, blood still welling from his chest around the metal embedded in it.

Inside his mind he was fighting to have the regeneration moving on a positive track, soul after soul being consumed to power the healing. The cold that had enveloped him still ate at him and as Adalia began to walk away one whispered word escaped his lips, “Cold….!” his tone flat and without any feeling.

Adalia stopped, she'd heard him, and spun back, "he's cold!" Stumbling she tried to move around Kyp, "go see what whoever that is wants!" She snapped.

His lips in a hard line, Kyp snorted, he never liked the way she behaved around Bernael, "yes dear." It came out more bitter than he'd intended.

Glancing up at him Adalia decided she'd deal with him later as she pulled a thermal blanket out, unfolded it and lay it across her patient. Looking the protruding piece of metal, she wondered if she should pull it out, was that more dangerous? Sighing she closed her eyes and put her bloodied finger tips on his temple. 'do I take it out?' She asked.

---/--

Flopping into the pilots' seat he looked out, the massive SD loomed as the comm opened again. "Private yacht, I order you to board the Sentinel. Fighters; if you're in the way, launch, and go after that TIE." With a slight shake of his head, he leaned forward to respond. "This is the Crystal Dawn, a private vessel, please identify yourself." He didn't feel any threat from the SD, but there was a threat and he assumed it was the aforementioned TIE, but it wasn't going to hurt to have everyone's identity confirmed.

"This is the Bakuran Star Destroyer Sentinel," the captain replied, stiffly. Bakuran fighters were already launching to chase down the TIE Defender, which dove to ensure that the yacht it was closing in on was between them and the Bakuran ships.

"If you could juke, my fighters will cover you," he said, glowering. "Crystal Dawn, do you have any wounded? The yacht isn't looking in best shape."

Deep in his mind, Bernael was fighting to heal but it was taking long, too long, for the process to truly start. Soul after soul was being devoured but the sliver of metal had hit one of the nodes that acted as a heart and it was draining him. A whisper finally reached him, her voice. He turned, listening to it again and again. He reached out, reaching through the pain and cold. In the waking world his mouth opened, a whisper meeting the mental communication she had sent. ”Yes….Cannot…heal…with…it…in…”

She heard him and with a determination she'd not expected and strength she'd not called on in sometime, Adalia wrapped a nearby towel around the jagged piece of parasteel and gritting her teeth slowly began to withdraw it from his chest. It made a squelching sound, sucking and oozing as it went and finally the sharp end revealed itself as a gush of blood followed it. Tossing it aside she stuffed the towel onto the wound, pressing hard and closing her eyes. Sinking into the Force she 'willed' the blood to congeal around the surface of the wound, and once she believed she'd stopped, or at least slowed the bleeding, she opened her eyes and searched for something to hold it in place. In moments she'd managed to feed a bandage under the Anzat and bind the towel against him firmly. "That's the best I can do, the rest is up to you.." She conceded before leaving the room and diming the lights. He needed time now, and she had to help him get that.

Striding down into the cockpit she over heard the man on the comm ".....yacht isn't looking in best shape." Adalia frowned as she flopped into the co-pilots seat. "What have you done to my ship?" She asked Kyp.

He rolled his eyes again, "nothing, blame who ever that was out there." He quipped, juking the ship hard, he opened the comm, "we were fired upon by the Star Destroyer at the edge of the system, we did nothing more than collect a friend who had also been fired upon and boarded as well. We accept her offer." He turned to Adalia having closed the comm, "I don't sense any deception, not yet." He'd intentionally not mentioned Bernael as from what he understood, no medbay on a Bakuran ship was going to help that situation.

She nodded, "I'm going to arm myself anyway." She gave a soft snort, "looks like we're back in the thick of it again."

Kyp gave a wry smile, "and you love it, I can feel that."

When the sliver of metal was pulled from his body and Adalia began to heal him a sigh came from Bernael’s mouth. The coldness slowly began to fade between the two sensations and the energy that his essence had absorbed from the souls began to flow into the multitude of wounds, beginning to stitch together flesh, muscle, bone, sinew, and nerves.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aboard the Fury

Kuruk’s head was shaking as his body trembled, shoulders still rolling. The abrupt loss of the bond and their attack had shaken him and his mind was a fractured jumble. It felt too crowded, as though too many memories filled his head. It felt as though he’d lived two lives and suddenly the ship they were on felt too familiar, the scents and sounds, even with the damage. His rifle fell onto its sling as he reached up clasping his head, the mental anguish broadcast through the Force. A whisper of a voice reached him in the Force, Remus.

He groaned and fell to his knees, still clasping his head, moans of pain escaping him as, with the mental sound of that voice, the second set of memories pushed harder to come to the fore. He was shaking and shivering as he felt his self-fracturing, splitting into pieces, some Kuruk some this Remus the voice had said. He couldn’t think and didn’t know that what he was feeling was reaching out, battering at the mental defenses of the other Knights.

The Knights of Ren hesitated; a mental attack on one of their own? They all felt it, their connection so much a hive of sorts, and Cardo looked a Vicrul, who glowered behind his mask. "Withdraw. Recall Stele."

The Night Buzzard, half a system away, did so, taking the Fury into the hangar of the waiting Resurgent-class, and vanished into hyperspace.

Besides the Sentinel, a tractor beam did the work for Kyp and Adalia, grabbing at the yacht and moving it roughly aside - and allowing the fighters to fire at a the suddenly exposed TIE Defender! The pilot skillfully weaved and turned at a right angle to dive down, showing off how quick and maneuverable TIE designs were. The Bakuran fighters rushed after, but the First Order variant of the old design was peak starship design. It was gone before they even had a chance -

But the Star Destroyer kept reeling in their yacht, the warships shadow eclipsing the stars.

They were committed, and they were in.

Standing in the flag hangar, however, was a single blue hologram.

The Bakuran Supreme Commander, leaning on his cane, and looking rather smug, as if he had expected the First Order probe, as if he had ensured the Sentinel was in-place. He waited for them to tumble down the ramp and complain.

The ship touched down on the hangar deck, and not lightly. Adalia was standing when it did and was jolted, "kriff, does anyone else wanna take a swipe at my ship?!"

Kyp couldn't help but smirk, "I think their tractor operator needs a few lessons." He stood, "let's see what they know."

"I know what they don't know, how to land a ship!" Adalia was already at the ramp, having pushed the button and waiting for it to extend.

"What about him?" Kyp flicked a thumb in the med bay's direction.

Adalia sighed, "unless they specifically ask..........." she shrugged.

"Want me to make sure they don't?" Kyp asked and ramp extended.

"Save it for when we really need it." Adalia was almost sure they'd be asked what they were doing, but this wasn't the enemy, at least she didn't think it wasn't. "So, who here is paying for the repairs to my ship?" She called from the bottom of the ramp.

In the medbay the healing was continuing, slightly slowed by the fact that more souls had been consumed to begin knitting Bernael’s body back together. His mind was finally able to let his senses extend so he felt as Adalia and Kyp walked down the ramp. Things didn’t fully feel…right...where they were but he was not yet in shape to be able to assist. The rigidity of his body relaxed in the restraints of the table as the energy was diverted to increasing the speed of his recovery. As his body lay there and his mind pondered the possible trouble of the situation they were now in, his talons extended and retracted, concerned as well that, for a moment, one of the now departing Knights had felt…familiar.

The officer chuckled. "Let's ask the General."

A hologram appeared; it was indeed Panib.

He leaned on his cane. "I'll pay for your rescue, of course, but you'll owe me one."

He smiled, a toothy grin of an old man who had the youngsters in his hands.

"Get some rest, and I'll get the techs to start."

She watched; her green eyes cold. "You know what, we can fix it."

"Rescue?" Kyp snorted, "wasn't given the chance to show you what we could do........but sure, you tell yourself whatever you need to sleep at night." He gave his head a shake, "come on Ads, we got this." He started up the ramp.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Adalia-Durron

 

IC: General Panib
The Sentinel

They were halfway through repairs when there was a rap on the hull.

It walked itself around the yacht, and eventually tapped at the ramp.

A cursory glance would show that it was the General himself.

Old Panib, leaning upon his stick, holding a datapad and looking all too pleased with himself.



He had come in person, apparently.

Behind him? Half a dozen astromech droids, and a cart which appeared to include a brand new hyperspace regulator, a comm matrix, and slung in the undercarriage what was clearly a pair of proton torpedoes.

He had clearly done his homework on their damage.

TAG: @Adalia-Durron, @darthbernael (combo)
---
IC: Miat Temm
Bastion hangar

The adjunct was not a shining light in the Force, but Miat was clearly sensitive to it's currents and flows.

Sam would find them in a private part of the Bastion facilities, clearly cordoned off for the Head of State. A variety of personal craft were dotted around, including a Chiss Clawcraft and a yacht which looked built to take a turbolaser blast and carry on. The Imperial saw Sam and stood, saluting.

"All ready to travel to the Nouane system for the accords, ma'am."

She almost blushed, but hid her thoughts easily enough.

Part-trained, but by who?



TAG: @CosmoHender (combo)
---
IC: Remal
Nouane system edge

The Chimaera arrived, of course, and the Maw Fleet wasn't far away.

They'd been given a scheduled slot to arrive fair early on in affairs for their security checks, but Remal wasn't sure what to make of that either.

They were supposed to send a team to the surface after the First Order, and indeed there was a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer holding above Nouane already. The Steadfast, the adopted flagship of Kylo Ren, Ennic Pryde and Armitage Hux. Remal regarded it.

"Are we hailing them, or are we just prepping out team... and are we going ourselves to check the security?" Remal wouldn't be surprised if they did. It wasn't as if they had many elites left, and their Intelligence apparatus had been crippled when all the Force users were eaten by Abeloth some years ago now.

From the shadows of her own bridge appeared a charmingly dressed Ryn.



"I could always go," said Droma.

He indicated orbit, another ship turning around the planet - but at the defined distance.

Just.

A Providence-class Star Destroyer, many years old, but of great reputation. The Colicoid Swarm, one of the proxy ships of General Grievous himself. "The Separatists come before us, no?"



TAG: @Lady_Belligerent (combo)
---
Above Nouane

The Steadfast was of course alerted to the arrival of the Colicoid Swarm and the Chimaera. There were other ships to come yet, but that meant the first, second and third security sweepers were in-system...

Hux regarded the two ships. "Daala," he scoffed. He didn't respect a woman who didn't know when to surrender, having fribbled away hundreds of Star Destroyers down to a measly handful in a decades long campaign. The captain spoke up.

"The Swarm is hailing us," Hux scowled, and looked to Pryde. "Are we going to have to talk to all of them? No wonder the Supreme Leader excused himself from the summit proper." A growl.

"Who is it?"

"Supreme Commander Kalani, sir."



"Oh great," Hux grumbled. "A droid." He eyed Pryde. "I need to coordinate the security sweeps. Can I leave you to this?" A slight smirk. "I bet you two can reminisce about the Clone Wars again."

TAG: @CosmoHender (combo)
---
IC: Amariah Mothma, Pre Shysa-Vizsla
Hangar of the Wheel

There were no interruptions as they left; none whatsoever.

As the Unification Summit representatives for the Mandalorians Clans, they were too important for even the self-important administator of the Wheel to mess with too much. Yes, there was a powerful Defender-class Star Destroyer hanging nearby, but it wasn't in weapons range for their hangar, and appeared to be keeping track of a sleek ship that was being escorted by an E-wing and an X-wing...

"I bet that's the woman with the tattoo's who bothered us," Pre groused. He had been checking their datapad. "We're like twelfth in the proceedings to be allowed to do our own security sweeps. Are we going to, or can we find a better use for a day?"

His tone was neutral.

Mostly.

But their comms chimed with external calls.

Amariah was hearing from her mother... Leida... and Pre was hearing from, if the information was to be agreed, Mirta Gev.

"Um, which one do we take the message from?" He looked over at her comlink.

His tone had definitely dropped. He clearly had other things in mind!

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (combo)
---
IC: Leia Organa Solo
The Mess

But not.

Leia had prattled about logistics.

About old Senate memories.

About her time on the run with General Kenobi, and asking whether Aryan had met the man during the Clone Wars.

Or even her father, for that matter.

She wanted to know more about Gilad in his prime, she'd only ever known him from afar before the Bastion Accords, after all.

She lamented his passing at the machinations of her son.

She remembered all they'd both lost.

And then, she subtly steered Aryan to the landing pad.

Where a man stood, leaning upon a walking stick.

"Well," he said, to her, firstly. "What did he say?"

"I wanted to surprise him," Leia said flatly. "That way he couldn't think that he'd manipulated me and won."

"And to make my life harder?"

"And his," Leia said, drily. She inclined her head to the newcomer. "Aryan Graul, allow me to introduce you to Senator Ransolm Casterfo of Riosa."



TAG: @HanSolo29 (combo)