Star Wars CLOSED Star Wars: Episode VI: Twilight of the Force III: A Son’s Destiny

IC: Duke Praxon
Corellia

It had started out like any other high-profile gig. His agent had contacted him several weeks ago about a unique opportunity that demanded his 'brand of expertise'. That was the man’s catchphrase for as long as he could remember, but Praxon wasn’t going to gripe over trivial matters. He had needed the work, especially with the dwindling returns on the entertainment business. The war hadn’t been kind to the industry, and as a prominent holodrama actor, that was cause for concern. He knew it would only get worse before things began to improve.

And so, Praxon had agreed to accept the contract.

But what his agent hadn’t explained to him was that it would require him to reprise one of his most famous roles; a role that Praxon was more than willing to leave in the past. He had outgrown the character long ago, and he considered it disgraceful that anyone would want him to step back into those high-topped spacer’s boots—to become Han Solo once more.

Praxon had initially scoffed at the notion. He failed to see the appeal; the man wasn’t even interesting anymore. Solo was just another stiff-necked military stooge, cruising around the galaxy in his fancy ship while neglecting to enact real change.

It hadn’t helped when he had discovered the true purpose of his role. The Corellian system, and Thrackan Sal-Solo in particular, had sponsored a series of short films to serve as propaganda for the opposition party. Praxon could only guess the endgame in this instance, and while he had never been shy about discussing his political views, he recognized that this was not the platform for such a discussion. He had nearly walked out right then and there…

But he needed the work, plus he wasn't about to pass up a good payday.

And so, here he was.

Except today wasn’t an ordinary day.

After spending hours shooting various prop pieces for Sal-Solo’s campaign under the grueling lights, the man himself had decided to wander into the studio to oversee the production.

Or rather, Praxon thought he had been there to simply observe.

That quickly changed when Thrackan handed him a script and ordered the producers to set up a live shot.

"Read this, and I’ll make you the richest man in the Corellian Sector, cousin," the man crooned in his distinctive drawl. "The Commenori, Hutts, and Bothans are sending their fleets to Nubia. With our fleet, we’ll have six - enough to declare independence and to enforce it!"

The man was pontificating about his plans, which brought murmurs among the production crew. Praxon couldn’t decide whether he was merely foolish or if he intended to gloat as a means of intimidation. Nevertheless, this attracted the attention of his co-star, Wynssa Starflare, who inclined her chin and exchanged a panicked look with the older actor. Under the circumstances, he certainly agreed with her sentiments—an attack at this juncture would surely throw the galaxy into chaos, the Yuuzhan Vong invasion notwithstanding. He wanted to throw in his support and offer her some solace, and yet he knew that he could not openly express his beliefs without facing repercussions.

Instead, Praxon focused on the script and hoped that he could provide a sufficient distraction. He had higher stakes in this game, after all. The script itself was appalling, and he couldn’t possibly consider himself a credible actor without pointing out the discrepancies.

"I can’t read this," he grumbled as he gestured at the datapad in exasperation. "Solo doesn’t talk like that. It’s too formal, too…sophisticated for someone of his stature. The public will see right through the masquerade, and they won’t believe you."

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Emperor Sistros Graal
Eternal Throne Room, Bakura

In accordance with their weekly custom, the guards had admitted the plebian masses into the chamber under the guise of a public forum. The curious interlopers always entered in a solemn procession, their eyes wide and their uncertainty radiant within the Force as they absorbed the grandeur of the majestic throne room. They had come to seek an audience with the Twin Emperors, and no matter how superficial their needs, it was an honor to stand in their divine presence. Some may step away from this encounter fundamentally changed, transformed in both mind and spirit—and yet, others may forfeit their lives.

It was truly a game of chance, dependent on the individual temperaments of the Emperors themselves. Catching them on a bad day could result in dire consequences.

That was exactly what happened to the self-proclaimed Darth Insipid, a young man known as Aden Kya.

Sistros, for his part, had taken the incident in stride. He had initially seen something in the boy, a brief flicker through the Force that may have foretold of a promising future—or perhaps he had merely been enamored by Kya’s blatant attempts to garner his attention. Either way, he found it amusing, and he had hoped to speak with him further. The mundanity of such meetings could truly have a grueling impact on one’s mind; a change of pace would be welcomed.

But he also recognized the importance of fealty and showing respect to the Eternal Throne. The boy, through his insolence, had failed to properly honor his brother, Bernael, and so the gruesome demonstration had been a necessary one. Not only would it correct Aden’s Kya’s grievous error, but it would set an example for the other sycophants waiting beyond the threshold.

Sistros allowed a small smile to cross his features as he savored the fear they had wrought, though he quickly sobered when Bernael reached out to him through their bond:

‘Pretty show, wasn’t it?’

The Emperor inclined his chin and exhaled softly to convey his approval.

‘He’s unconscious but in a secluded antechamber, alive and otherwise unharmed, if you decide he’s worth your time to talk to.’

Again, that impish smirk tugged at the corner of Sistros’ mouth. Of course, it made sense that his brother would have a contingency in place for such an occasion; he had likely sensed the boy’s potential as well. And now, they would exploit it. ‘I will deal with him personally. Carry on the meeting as planned; the Prince and Princess will serve as my voice until I return.’

Gesturing toward his son and daughter—Arek and Jalynn—he silently summoned them to assume his place on the dais in his absence. Sistros then rose from the throne and quietly took his leave.

Brandishing the Scepter of Ragnos in one hand as he moved, the Emperor’s eyes carefully surveyed the row of adherents along the back of the room. He paused briefly to regard the Eye of Nevet and the fanatical cult leader under a penetrating gaze, though it was impossible to discern his thoughts; his expression remained safely guarded behind an impassive mask.

Without a word, Sistros pulled up the hood of his Black-Coat to conceal his face and slipped out of sight.

As he descended into the depths below the throne room, he felt an acute shift in the Force. It was deliberate and direct, a powerful shockwave that resonated deeply within his soul. He knew then that the Great War had begun. There could be no other explanation; nothing else could reverberate so intensely across the galaxy’s expanse.

He noted that it was also a day early, but perhaps Palpatine didn’t abide by standardized time charts; it was tomorrow somewhere. The old bastard was playing a clever game.

And yet, the enormity of that moment failed to generate a comparable response. He attributed that to the strange Force premonitions that had plagued him for the past couple of weeks. They manifested as obscure images that skirted quickly past his mind’s eye; too quickly to fully comprehend their meaning. He had also experienced other strange sensations, such as a sharp tingling at the base of his spine, and sometimes, a profound sense of dread—of impending uncertainty...or danger. It was as if something was coming for him.

He had convinced himself that Palpatine was the source of these disturbances, and that they would ultimately subside once he revealed his hand. But now that the Great War had commenced, his apprehension persisted. That meant that an imminent threat was still out there, and he had to remain vigilant.

Sistros frowned at that notion, his senses reaching outward to probe his surroundings, even as he approached the antechamber that held Aden Kya’s unconscious form. He found the boy sprawled out on a rectangular slab in the center of the room, almost as if they intended to use him as a ceremonial sacrifice.

Depending on the course of this conversation, that was still a viable outcome.

Angling his wrist, Sistros aroused Kya with the Force and peered down at him expectantly. The only discernable feature was his eyes, which were two yellow orbs shining out from beneath the cowl of his cloak.

"You survived one harrowing encounter with an Eternal Emperor, but that is the extent of my generosity," he rumbled in a low baritone, his voice more raspy than usual due to the transformative effects of the dark side. "There will be no more ‘second chances’, do you understand?"

He leaned closer, pausing long enough to allow the boy to acclimate himself to the environment. "I saw something in you, a spark of...potential, and I also admire your audacity. However, you will have to do more than flatter me with empty words. I expect you to prove your worth. What benefits can you bring to the Eternal Empire, Aden Kya?"

Canting his head, Sistros tapped the scepter on the stone floor to emphasize his point. "Why should I spare your life?"

TAG: @Sinrebirth; @darthbernael; @Narancia; @Shadowsun; @TheAdmiral

 

GM POST ONE OF FIVE

THE OUTER RIM

NORTH

IC: Ben Solo
En route to Shramar, Outer Rim

The trip was a thankfully short one, and he felt an odd relief as he crossed the threshold of Imperial Remnant space. The Moff's were as conniving as ever, but under Head of State Sarretti and Grand Admiral Poinard had managed to balance out their worst elements with their best. Ben wasn't a fan of the Empire, not after what it had brought out of the galaxy, and, now, specifically, his own father, but he could appreciate arriving and seeing a friendly Imperial Star Destroyer.

"This is Captain Bristow of the Dauntless, please ID yourself. We understand the Yuuzhan Vong have invaded already?"



Lumpy took the comms and growled an update. "I don't speak Wookiee," the Imperial said, at a loss. Ben grinned at Han.

"This is Prince Finn Galfridian of Artorias," came a young voice. "We are refugees, and have been guided by the New Republic to move here."

"Ah," the Captain said. "Yes, we have instructions to take aboard your ships and ferry you to the surface. Please come aboard."

"I will be merging with the Millennium Falcon, and coming aboard."

Lumpy rumbled about the decision, broadcast on comms without them even discussing it.

Ben looked back to his father. "Dad, I think we should, and accept them aboard."

Of course, they were back connected to the HoloNet, so Han might have his own ideas about what to do. News would have travelled that they had been at the Battle of Artorias, or, rather, the Fall of, and once they reached a relay their comms were full of updates; the Second, Third and Fifth converging on Garqi, reports of Yuuzhan Vong attacks on Dubrillion, Sernpidal and even Mandalore. The war was really beginning.

What did the General want to do?

Captain Bristow chimed in. "General Solo, I have been asked if your crew would come to the surface as a guest of honour. The Moff Council has several more warships en route, but I would personally appreciate a ship of your firepower hanging around for as long as possible."

TAG: @Jerjerrod-Lennox (single)
---
IC: Venku
Battle of Mandalore

The Bessie's swarmed into orbit, a truly immense nest that had been rattled by the Yuuzhan Vong horde.

Among the thousands of coral ships there were only a handful of other warships, mainly frigate or light cruiser sized at most. Seemingly the majority of this force had it's firepower in those three immense worldships, each of which hurled streams of plasma at the planetary shields and defenses.

Venku was in another Bessie, and Rook Kast too. A few of the surviving clones were rising up too, usually those modified from the old Jango stock like Ordo, Hunter, Fenn Rau or Kom'rk. The Yuuzhan Vong fighter craft were swift, but not as quick as them, but they employed a shielding void that was far superior. A few Mandalorians who relied upon shields found them stripped away, but small plasma balls ricocheted off the beksar hull.



Venku Skirata



Rook Kast



Ordo Skirata



Hunter



Fenn Rau



Kom'rk Skirata

It was as if the two forces were learning about each other as they battled, and casualties were thus far, incredibly, minimal.

A coral fighter got a bead upon Ka'rta and launched a goblet of energy, trying to target the exposed engines, but Venku darted between and took it on the armour. A moment later, he commed. "Um, this time its like the plasma is gnawing on the hull?"

"Magma missile?" Kast spoke up. "Some of their attacks are beginning to track us, it's a different one."

"They have two weapons," confirmed Tech, aboard one of the Crusader's. "Analyzing."



One of the larger coral ships ripped open, and there was a cheer over the comms which became a strangled one when it became evident the hull had been breached purposely, and a massive group of... flying bugs, of some kind - poured out. They began to chase down Bessies and though they were slower, a Mandalorian fighter was caught by surprised and was alit. "It's like fighting - living Buzz droids -"

The Bessie exploded, but the Mandalorians adapted, firing upon the giant insects, ripping them apart - and dodging magma missiles but taking hits from plasma balls, which their armour could seemingly handle. The planetary weapons took apart the few other larger coral ships, but had no impact on the ten-kilometer monsters.

A coral ship verged around, a head-on charge at Ka'rta, and opened a void in-front of itself - and slowed down even as it did? But it hung on doggedly, trying to close the distance for...? What? To ram?

"Anyone getting annoyed with just how alien these things are?" Hunter growled.

"Mandalore," came a call on her private line. "Recommend you expand your intertia compensator." It was Tech, referring to the device which stopped pilots being turned to paste by G-forces. "I expect the Yuuzhan Vong will start using the gravity defenses to rip apart our ships -"

The trio of big worldships advanced, massive streams slamming into the shields, damaging them but not piercing them. A moment later, the three increased their torrential attack, picking on one location and dome with the intention of piercing it -

It was Wrecker next. "Can I board one of their big ships yet? Anyone?"



Of course, he spoke over the open comms.

Da'Gara laughed. "You who hide in suits of armour want to face the purity of the Yuuzhan Vong?"

This time it was Jaing.

"I've found where Da'Gara is."

He gave them a lead to the central worldship.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422
---
IC: Almira
Singing Mountain Clan

Mother Augwynne Djo watched the two Force users look at each other, and chuckled. "Sisters often find themselves and each other in interesting and curious ways. This is right, and this is natural." She took Leia's hand and Almira's. There was no need for ceremony in-front of the Mother of the Clan. A single Nightsister was no threat, and Augwynne knew Leia to be the daughter of the greatest of the Jai, who Djo had great respect for.

Otherwise, the Mother nodded to Almira. "Lead her onwards, Nightsister. It is my clans treasure, and I know you have sought it, and wish for it. My daughter hunts it, of that I have no doubt, as would have Talzin had she survived her schemes with the Sith." Her finger wagged. "Schemes you would do well to avoid."

A rancor stead roared up, for the finger wag had served two purposes; to rebuke, but also to mask a spell, not even uttered with words, as was the province of the greatest of the Dathomiri witches, or commonplace among the Jai - the Jedi. "Go, go."

She peered at Leia one last time and allowed her to see what the witches had hidden for a Jedi Knight by the name of Jax Pavan many years ago, one who had survived Order 66 and became detached from the mainstream Jedi Order.

It was pyramidal.

It was red.

Of course, what else would be the most dangerous treasure of Dathomir apart from the Nightsisters themselves.

It was the Sith Holocron of Darth Ramage.



TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (combo)
---
IC: Doel Scherp
Sernpidal City, Sernpidal, Julevian system

Two lines in fate met at Sernpidal in the Dalonbian Sector. The Yuuzhan Vong blazed into the sparsely populated sector. The force that entered the Julevian system didn’t stay for long, a storm of coral ships appeared and then unleashed its cargo and moved on to its next targets.



The enemy fleet headed off to Birgis and divided off for Ord Janon and along the hyperlanes to Cuitric - a major sector capital.

Doel Scherp, descended from the selfsame named man who had served in Revan’s Empire - and been spared by a Jedi team who took him prisoner - was watching the coral fleet arrive and vanish.

He didn’t understand, and when two ships arrived he commed them. “This is Sernpidal Control,” Scherp spoke up. “There’s something around the jump point we can’t detect - it’s not Yuuzhan Vong coral. They arrived and left whatever it is behind - exercise extreme caution.”

The two ships belonged to Xundel and the other to Kyp Durron and Adalia Tehanis...

... and the enemy had dropped these.

Hundreds of them.

Grutchins.



Scherp was confused.

Was the moon closer than it had been?

@darthbernael, @Adalia-Durron

 

GM POST TWO OF FIVE

THE OUTER RIM

EAST

IC: Zara
Nadiem

Notwithstanding the news, there wasn't much else to add to the evening.

The galaxy had gone mad yet again, and one could only hope this was the very last time.

Surely they had run out of madmen, Sith magicians, and alien threats?

Zara shook her head about it and, in all honesty, prepared herself for an early night. The HoloNews had been plenty excitement for her. Heavens, the Separatist invasion five decades ago had been enough excitement for her entire lifetime.

Good years since, she rued.

As was habit, she left Barriss to tidy up from dinner, which was more idle chit-chat. The discussion about the escape plan, or the Confederation, it was left be. There wasn't much point touching upon what-if's and where-maybe's.

But, that is precisely what was about to happen to Barriss Ofee.

The Force rose up, unbidden, and touched the not-so-young woman.

A space would open between her and another -

She could see the other, and they could see her, but they could not see their surroundings.

It was as if they had appeared in each others environ.

Barriss Ofee was facing herself.

But, a different one.

It was well known that they lived in an Alternate Reality, a deviation from the Main Timeline; it was all the HoloNet chatted about after Emperor Palpatine spoke of it - the Change, and how he had avoided his defeat somehow. It was vogue for people to profess they had met and spoken to their 'other', but there were very few verifiable instances of this phenomena, and those who had experienced it - Han, Madelyn, Feyna, Bernael, Aryan, Vhardia, Ka'rta - they hadn't gone much into it, and it wasn't something anyone knew about.

But here they were.

The Barriss that had turned away and lived happily ever after, twenty nine years after the Treaty of Alderaan, on Nadiem.

And the Barriss that had turned away and hidden in the shadows, twenty nine years after the Battle of Yavin...

What would they discuss?

TAG: @CosmoHender (combo with your Episode X self some twenty years earlier)
---
IC: Beaumont Kin
Keshiri skies

A dozen Uvak flew up with them, while mounted Protectors followed on smaller animals and larger muntoks hauled who troop transports. In short order a hundred thoughtcriers were deployed, and leading them were the fliers.

Beaumont pushed his reptilian friend to move forward, nicknamed Hex after one of his old teachers. He trusted Qwi to keep up - or opt to slip aboard his own Uvak. With a wool-lined flight jacket, he was prepared for the speed and cold up here.

In short order he could see the downed meditation sphere. It wasn’t shattered, merely damaged by the impact, and it was already wobbling upright as if an overturned shelled-lizard. It sprouted weapons, but then sheathed them, seemingly caught between commands.

He kicked forward as he saw another dozen flecks in the distance - Sith uvak. But he could already tell theirs were emaciated, poorly fed and weak. He would reach Ship first, he and Qwi. He skidded to the ground and drew a glass-shared pistol and emptied it at the flying enemies. A Sith leapt free of the corpse he had once flown, using the Force to cushion his landing.

Beaumont ignited a silver blade and looked for support.

Oh, I see.

That was Ship, who wasn’t struggling notwithstanding a lightsider stood beside him. Beaumont frowned as the Uvak with their Sith aboard began to dive -

TAG: @Jerjerrod-Lennox (combo)

 

GM POST THREE OF FIVE

THE OUTER RIM

SOUTH

IC: Aden Kya
Under the Throne, but not quite Behind, but on Bakura

Coming to slowly, Aden grinned to himself.

He wasn't dead.

But he also wasn't alone, and so he sat up, adopting a more humble expression.

For it was Emperor Sistros himself.

"You survived one harrowing encounter with an Eternal Emperor, but that is the extent of my generosity," the man rumbled in a low baritone, his voice rasping but strong. "There will be no more ‘second chances’, do you understand?"

In-spite of himself, Aden chopped a nod, as the man leaned closer.

"I saw something in you, a spark of...potential, and I also admire your audacity. However, you will have to do more than flatter me with empty words. I expect you to prove your worth. What benefits can you bring to the Eternal Empire, Aden Kya?"

"Why, your Majesty," Aden said, standing and dropping to one knee. "I merely want to supply to you what your co-Emperor has sought to steal from you."

He looked up. "The Force is not just his dominion, after all. It is yours, and your lineage is more great and grand than an Anzati could ever have. He is merely the child of an Old One of Death... you were created by the Ones and birthed into something truly greater." His eyes glittered dangerously. "Emperor Bernael is simply exactly what he should be; nothing more, nor less. But Emperor Sistros, you, your Majesty, you have no limits."

Aden crowed, and reached for Sistros' hand, bowing but worshipping him, pouring his desire to serve into the Force.

"You should not be the joint-ruler of the galaxy, nor second fiddle to Palpatine. You should rule, alone, and forever." He looked up, his eyes wet with tears; with love; with monstrous obsession. "And that is why I would offer to you the Holocron Collection of Darth Krayt, hidden in the depths of the Necropolis of Korriban, and not stolen by Darth's Maul or Zorn during their rise and theft of a Dark Lord's destiny."

"A destiny you deserve, as the sole ruler of the galaxy as Sith Emperor."

TAG: @HanSolo29
---
IC: Lord Garonnin
Eternal Throne Room, Bakura

The heralds spoke their words, and the room cleared, leaving Bernael, yes, and Vox and Snerfu.

“If I may be so bold, but I believe that I can be of some help.”

There was little to be said for Jori Atreus the Second, save for that her mind was as sharp as her voice promising.

But before she could elucidate further, a walking droid intruded as the guards ushered away the other sycophants queuing for attention. A hologram emerged of the Senex Lord, Garonnin, who appeared as if on one knee. He looked up, and there was the merest surprise on his face that only one Emperor was present, and not Sistros. His eyes did cut to the wife of Sistros, Gaeriel, the Empress, who had just arrived.

Her eyes took in Jori and narrowed at how beautiful the younger woman was, and her gaze took in the two Force users behind the Throne. Gaeriel sat as Lord Garonnin spoke. "A thousand apologies, your Majesties, but I presumed you knew, in your infinite wisdom, that Bothawui and Nal Hutta have declared our alliance null, and Fondor has seceded to their new 'Confederation' with Commenor and a host of other nations." He didn't need to go into how modern Nebula-class Star Destroyers had blown apart the Star Fortress holding Fondor hostage. But he did hesitate at the next. "Their stated goal is the liberation of Nubia, the homeworld of Emperor Sistros, and fleets are en route."

"We have reports of an uprising of Tapani Lords against our Mecrosa allies, who have demanded we supply assassins to reestablish our rule, but I am also concerned we are now effectively cut-off from our most forward positions." Garonnin's eyes drifted to Bernael. He was of course referencing Anzat, which was now deep in New Republic territory.

There was more to it than that. Fondor was their primary shipyard, one which rivalled Kuat, as Jori would well know. But they still had - "Your Majesties!" Another messenger, a young man who likely didn't know how badly the Eternal Throne took bad news. "We have reports of Bothan Assault Cruisers attacking our shipyards at Sluis Van! The defenses were sabotaged by enemy spies!"

Of course, that now meant the Eternal Empire had no shipyards, which would make Jori's position even stronger!

The holograms of Theron Shan and Lana Beniko, the ancient AIs which served the Eternal Fleet as advisors, appeared in the Throne Room. "The Yuuzhan Vong have hit the north, and the New Republic fleets are deployed to face them, save for ships gathered at Hosnian Prime. So we have time to match this, but the Confederation has six fleets. It's a decent number."

Gaeriel scoffed, and squeezed her hand. The messenger with the Sluissi news choked, struggling to breathe.

"Then we shall resort to alternate measures." Her golden eyes took in Vox and Snerfu. "Can you prove your worth? If we name the leaders of these treacherous noble houses that support Fondor, or the clans that moved Bothawui to betray us, or the Hutts that laugh in our faces... can you deal with them?"

She spoke with all the authority of Emperor Sistros.

And all of a sudden Jori Atreus stood within a Eternal Imperial meeting about the war itself.

TAG: @darthbernael, @Narancia, @Shadowsun, @TheAdmiral (singles)
---
IC: Boba Fett
Landing on Bakura

It was simple enough to sneak in with a ship so well equipped, and reach the general area of Salis D'aar.

"Leaves the throne room, if he goes to the flagship we can maybe get close enough to cut our way in. Or leave a tracker on it. That's only if he moves to the flagship. If he stays in the throne room we go ahead with the plan. This just adds a distraction to his protection forces. They're expecting a big invasion force, not a small group of assassins. Right now we hold, see what our target does and act accordingly. Understood."

Fett wondered about that as Tor received his message back from Leia.

"We may need to create a distraction, though, a more localized one." He checked his news feed again. "Seems a bunch of star systems just declared war on the Eternal Empire as the New Republic wouldn't. Bothawui, Commenor, Hutta, even Fondor. They've just hit Sluis Van and knocked out the Eternal Empire's last shipyard."

Dengar whistled. "That's gonna piss off the Emperors."

"I vote we use Dengar as a distraction," Aurra Sing purred, leaning over Tor and dangling over her. "He's big and oafish enough."

Kenix was more on the ball. "The Emperor's will be weakest when they transit to the surface." He activated a hologram of the spaceport. "The Emperor each keeps personal ships here. The Anzati has a reconditioned Fury-class transport, while Graul has whatever is to hand."

"If they are out in the open, I can hit them," said Fennec confidently.

"I can provide a distraction," Din said suddenly. "But it'll be explosive, and messy."

"Civilian casualties?" Aurra licked her lips.

"No," he said, and Kenix said it in unison.

Boba was quiet, watching Tor. Her mission; her plan.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422

 

GM POST FOUR OF FIVE

THE INNER SYSTEMS

IC: Corran Horn
Council meeting, Tython

Madelyn wanted their best Jedi on the Palpatine mission, and Vhardia and Renn we’re going after the Twin Emperor’s even as Kyp and Adalia signed off and headed towards the Front.

But Vhardia was worried about the focus on Sistros and Bernael, which was understandable. “Well we can offset that.” Corran turned in his seat to Madelyn.

“You should lead the Palpatine team, Grandmaster, and Tresina and I can bulk up the numbers. We know that Master Windu confronted the Emperor with three Masters last time after all.” Corran thought a Grandmaster would more than make up for the numbers difference. He glanced to Cilghal. “We need a Master on Tython to coordinate so things, after all.”

The Mon Cal flapped a hand; she was listening to the Advisory Council meeting too, but then she shifted to a human-style thumbs up to agree. Corran smiled slightly. “What say you, Grandmaster?”

Tresina spoke up. “And with that focus, we can ensure we are not overstretched with your mission to the Eternal Empire, yes?”

It sounded like the best plan, in what would inevitably be an ever-changing situation.

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence, @darthbernael, @darthhelinith (singles)
—-
IC: Doman Beruss
Council session, Hosnian Prime

The Corellian Chancellor watched a degree of complaining even before the announcement. But with Nine numbered fleets, and five dreadnoughts - the Viscount, Bounty, Krakana, Lusankya, Guardian - they fourteen fully realised assets, and Kre’frey, Triebakk and Doman had no intention of relying upon third party member fleets - the Corellian, Commenori, Wookiee and other assets had been left to their respective sectors, and as much as a member fleet being sent to Balmorra was touching, the moment said member worlds homeworld was threatened, that fleet would withdraw.

Doman heard Nola’s considerably more useful question, but addressed Tobbi first, even as his courier left for Eternal space, unbeknownst to anyone present. “The Fourth will stay put, because Balmorra is key to our war production. I wouldn’t want your constituents to be concerned that you had abandoned them if it came to it.”

Kre’frey supplied Nolan’s answer.

“The Yuuzhan Vong deployment at Artorias is believed to be a planetary sized worldship, as big as a moon, escorted by three small dreadnoughts and some five hundred capital ships and over four thousand escorts,” he called up a map. “The attack on Dubrillion seems to be a single capital ship, roughly the size of a Star Destroyer, while the Sernpidal attack was just a force passing through - Ord Janon and Cuitric are now imperilled and we cannot say precisely how large the force is.”

Cuitric was in Mandalorian space, though.

He showed a map of the northern Rim. “There are smaller task forces throughout the region, so we estimate that a thousand capital ships have arrived and nine thousand escorts.” He regarded a datapad. “We also have reports that three more worldships, these only ten kilometres long, have appeared at Mandalore as well.”

“Only,” snorted Del, listening in.

“Sirs!” The selfsame protocol droid waddled back in. “We have reports that Bothawui and Nal Hutta have declared for a Confederation with several of our systems, including Commenor and Bimmisaari, and have announced their intention to liberate the Nubia system from the Eternal Empeie!”

Isolder glanced at Nola, presently on ‘New Nubia’.

Kre’frey hesitated. “A Bothan Assault Cruiser just arrive at the Gyndine system and targeted our shipyard there, Chancellor.”

That meant Rodia had new friends, or was it enemies? Doman looked at the map, which was acquiring blue colouring for seceding and allying nations. All dedicated to freeing Nubia?

“Sal-Solo did this,” Doman muttered. “If he assembles a confederation to free Nubia, he looks like a hero. We can expect him to make an attempt to ‘liberate’ the Corellian system next.”

She looked to the Council. “All those in favour of declaring war upon this Confederation for it’s attack on Gyndine?”

Isolder winced, and Winter spoke up. “I thought that Bothawui had raised three fleets and Hutta one of its own, at last Intel. With Commenor - and Corellia - that’s six fleets. We can’t fight that and Palpatine.”

Kre’frey spoke up. “Hosnian Prime is on the wrong side of the line between the Eternal Empire and Confederation too. We’re cut off from the rest of the New Republic. We need to discuss an evacuation of the capital, and choose a new temporary location.”

All-in-all, they were in trouble.

But at least Tobbi had more news to report to his masters...

... perhaps Greeata Shychuvooq did too?

TAG: @Narancia, @Mitth_Fisto, @JediMasterAnne
—-
IC: Thrackan Sal-Solo
Corellia

It didn’t take much to rankle Thrackan Sal-Solo. What Praxon might have considered constructive criticism was to the Corellian full-blown treachery.

From a sleeve, a small blaster appeared and Thrackan held it at his thigh, pointed at Praxon. His eyes glittered dangerously. “Well then I expect you to make it ‘more Han’, my friend. I’m sure an actor of your skill-set can reinterpret without losing the true meaning - Corellian independence.” He waved with his free hand. The weapon so positioned would be out of sight for the broadcast, but a clear threat to Praxon. “Broadcast live in two minutes.”

The heavies began to step close to the crew to hurry it along, nudging techs and the producer. Wynssa was off to the side - she wasn’t needed for this shoot, but she managed to place herself in the eye-line of Praxon and stretched - reaching down for her thigh boot. She revealed a glint of metal, and stood back up.

She had a plan.

But they didn’t have much time.

TAG: @HanSolo29

 

GM POST FIVE OF FIVE

THE UNKNOWN REGIONS

WEST

IC: Shedao Shai
Aboard the Legacy of Torment, en route to the Mobus system

The Yuuzhan Vong Supreme Commander hung in the Embrace of Pain, wracked with white-hot agony but able to think clearly. His first engagement with the infidels had gone well, and he had learned much.

His subordinates, Krag Val, Ekh’m Val and Deign Lian, they would cluck over the tactical data of course, but for now Shai was in his element. He now knew his escorts were vulnerable to theirs; that his coralskippers had superiority to their fighter equivalents, but the enemy had escorts designed to disperse his coralskippers. He also knew that his capital ships were much stronger than theres, and it was numbers which would allow the infidels to defeat his more powerful matalok cruisers and so forth.

Nothing in their repertoire matched the Legacy of Torment, which served him well. The Kor Chokk ‘Grand Cruiser’ was eight kilometres in mass, made up of older warships. He also had three Miid ro’iik, the equivalent of their Triangle ships, known as ‘Star Destroyers’. The seven smallest escorts would be fodder or used for suicide runs.

Besides, if the Supreme Overlord was to be believed, the true enemy was the planet itself.

When the Hand pursuit force arrived, they would be surprised by three things. One, their route had taken them through a sweet spot in the granitic sink that had cut the system off from the galaxy; a cosmic mathematical unlikelihood. Second, there was a verdant planet above the gas giant, a ‘moon’ but clearly not something that could have been ‘acquired’ in recent years.

Third, the planet was fighting back.

There was a swarm of fighter craft assaulting the Yuuzhan Vong ‘grand cruiser’, its own fighters besieged and the seven corvette analogs fighting to clear space. From the planet, electrical bolts were being fired as if from atmosphere, massive voids being raised by the enemy flagship to catch the attacks.

The three warships analogs were facing them as they decanted, and each launched seventy-odd coral fighters and coordinated their barrage on one of Jerod’s Star Destroyers. Caught with its shields down, it exploded -

Debris rained down upon Jerod’s ship -

“Admiral!”

One of his sensor officers was pointing at the planet, which was sprouting cones of blue light.

“Hyperdrive engines!”

There was a looming voice.

We are Zonama Sekot. Your ships remind us of Tarkin. Are you here, too, to attack us?

As if in response to their arrival, there was a surge of power from the planet and one of Jerod’s Lancer frigates came apart as if handled roughly by two giant, invisible hands.

This battle was beyond any understanding.

TAG: @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

IC Bernael/Nevet
Opportunities and Troubles

Even as Nevet’s head turned and the sense of one eyebrow rising reached Tobias and, to a lesser degree, Snefru he ‘lifted’ the messenger from Gaeriel’s grasp, the young man floating across the throne room to within a meter of where he sat. His head swiveled back, the noise of the room amplified as the acoustics directed all noise toward the thrones to allow the seated figures to hear even a whisper.

”Silence.” he commanded, the words backed by a twist of Force use to compel every being there to cease speaking. His eyes took in the man hanging before him, the puddle that had begun to form under him as well. [color= #808000”You seem a useful sort.”[/color] the sarcasm in his tone roiled in the air.

Turning his gaze back to Tobias, ”It is time, Activate the Hydra protocols, Any lord, potential noble, or government official involved in the betrayal of the accords on the side of the Fondori, the Bothawui clans, the Hutts, as well as the Tapani shall be on the list. We will discuss this in full shortly, as well as...other things. And this fine young man has volunteered to immediately depart to Sluis Van to oversee the restoration of the shipyards, in half the time it should take, or his world will feed my hunger, not just this wretch.”

He reached out through the bond that he shared with his brother, noting a dark node, something they could discuss when there was time. ’The war has begun and we have already experienced treachery.’ And then he passed on the information that had been received to date.

From Garonnin he sent ’Bothawui and Nal Hutta have declared our alliance null, and Fondor has seceded to their new 'Confederation' with Commenor and a host of other nations. Their stated goal is the liberation of Nubia, the homeworld of Emperor Sistros, and fleets are en route.We have reports of an uprising of Tapani Lords against our Mecrosa allies, who have demanded we supply assassins to reestablish our rule.’

From the newly appointed Sluis Vani overseer, We have reports of Bothan Assault Cruisers attacking our shipyards at Sluis Van! The defenses were sabotaged by enemy spies!’

And finally the report from the AI’s of Lana Beniko and Theron Shan, ’The Yuuzhan Vong have hit the north, and the New Republic fleets are deployed to face them, save for ships gathered at Hosnian Prime. So we have time to match this, but the Confederation has six fleets. It's a decent number.’

’I intend to have the Knights begin the purges of those nobles and officials that have betrayed the accords but will also have fleet elements, from both sides of the fleet, yours and mine, sent to every capital world of those that betrayed us, as well as the Tapani and to Nubia. So notify GEMINI when they tell you I have commanded this, brother. And,’ a mental chuckle rolled through the bond, ’Our little Kuati friend has plans of her own, much as I believe Aden Kya has, perhaps we should have some fun.’

Returning his full attention to the Throne Room, his gaze swung to Lana and Theron, ”To demonstrate how unwise it is to violate accords unilaterally 400 Eternal Fleet cruisers from both Emperor Sistros command and 400 from mine will strike at Fondor, another 400 each at Nal Hutta, the same with Bothuwai, and as many will make demonstration assaults against the Tapani nobles. Finally a full thousand will reinforce Nubia. This serves a dual purpose.” he said as his gaze took in both Empress Gaeriel and his Knight commander.

He reached up and branded a sigil into the forehead of the former messenger, imbuing it with Power. His void black eyes met the man’s, ”When that sigil fades fully your time is up. You had better be in my presence with a report of success or your soul will travel the galaxy to find me, otherwise.” And then the man was flung through the small crowd and out of the latched doors, which swung back, clumsily, to their stops.

Finally he turned his gaze to the beautiful young Kuati noble, before turning to look at Marana. ”Should I add her to the family, my wife?” he said in a tone only she heard.

The Saaaai-Kaar turned her head, looking at the young woman both physically and mentally. She didn’t have to dig deeply to read her intentions, something she was sure her Lord had already done. Turning back to him, ”Oh yes, you should…” she purred back to him.

His gaze returned to Jori, ”You, granddaughter of Kuat, granddaughter of one I once knew, approach. Kuat may have use to the Empire and I would speak of this to you alone.”

He nodded to Gaeriel, "This audience is at an end. All those who have received orders report to the command center, Empress Gaeriel I would suggest finding my brother for the upcoming planning. Otherwise," his penetrating gaze swept the room, "unless I told you personally to stay excuse yourselves."

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Shadowsun, @HanSolo29, @TheAdmiral, @Narancia

 

The following is a combo with @Sinrebirth—thank you so much!!

IC: Emperor Sistros and Aden Kya
Antechamber, Below the Eternal Throne Room, Bakura

Silence reigned in the wake of Aden Kya’s impassioned speech. The boy had exhibited a true fire for his convictions; a flame that echoed prominently through the Force. It might have even bordered on fanatical, depending on one’s point of view. The tears may have also convinced a lesser man to accept Kya’s offering, particularly when the prize consisted of a hidden treasure trove of Holocrons, but Sistros was not so easily persuaded.

The Emperor merely studied the young man, his golden eyes peering out from beneath the cowl of his Black-Coat. He had to admit, Kya would’ve made a compelling argument to his younger self. If he had crossed paths with him fifteen or twenty years ago, he would’ve had no qualms about implementing his plan and betraying Bernael to follow his own selfish desires.

But Aryan Graul had been a different man, insolent and weak.

His awakening as Sistros had fundamentally changed him. He wouldn’t dare violate his trust in his brother, nor break a sacred bond that the ancients had forged centuries ago. He had succumbed to his insecurities once before, and it had destroyed the Protectors and everything else he had held dear. He would not allow this impertinent child to come between them and lead him astray again.

Angling his chin to regard Kya’s outstretched hand, a hint of a smile turned up a corner of his mouth, though it was uncertain whether the boy would notice. He made it seem as if he was willing to consider his proposal, but instead of shaking hands to seal the deal, he pinched his thumb and forefinger together. This applied a subtle pressure to Kya’s throat, enough to hinder his breathing.

"You obstinate fool," Sistros growled in a deep baritone, his hood falling back against his shoulders to reveal his bearded face. "Did you expect me to believe the word of an impious wretch like yourself over that of my brother?" He twisted his wrist, elevating the boy into the air. "You are nothing but an opportunistic snake, eager to claim your prize. How dare you call yourself Darth Insipid in my presence. You have not earned such a title."

Extending his arm, he exerted force and tossed Aden Kya bodily into the adjacent wall. "I have reason to doubt that a Holocron cache even exists, much less that you are capable of leading me there."

Aden was levitated, holding his throat. He kicked his legs, and tried to break the grip with the Force, and pushed against the strength of Emperor Sistros - and completely failed.

He was not strong enough.

His eyes began to bug out and he reached inside his jacket and drew it out -

A Sith Holocron.

"Have - more -"

He dropped it -

Sistros canted his head and watched as the Holocron tumbled toward the stone floor. It appeared to fall in slow motion due to the sudden rush of adrenaline pumping through his veins, and it did not afford him time to think. Releasing Kya from his clutches, he reached out to save the unique artifact before it shattered to pieces upon impact.

He caught it with the Force at the last second, suspending it mere inches above the ground. With a heavy sigh, the Emperor then relaxed and examined it intently as it began to rotate slowly in place.

"You procured this item yourself?" Sistros inquired, his brow lifting curiously. "From the catacombs on Korriban?"

Stepping forward, he scoffed in disbelief. It was still difficult to fathom how this gangly youth had survived the scourges of the Sith homeworld to uncover a coveted treasure. Even the most seasoned Force user would consider it a formidable challenge to accomplish such a task.

And yet...

Sistros expanded his senses and touched the Holocron through the Force, probing it to verify its authenticity.

"From -" he gasped, "the collection of Lord Krayt." Kya rubbed his throat. "I met myself - an alternate version, and he gave me my Sith name; though he called himself -"

He took another gasping breath -

"Something else -"

The Holocron activated. A woman appeared with claws for hands. 'I am the Dark Lord XoXaan, one of the Heresiarchs who was exiled to Korriban. I created our Order, and I plumbed the depths of the ancient Sith to build us anew.'

Aden’s confident smirk returned. "There are other Holocrons in his collection that I could show you, of course." His mind was an open depth to be plumbed if one was strong enough, of course, but he shut the walls to his mind as if he could keep the knowledge from Sistros.

A thin smile replaced the Emperor’s grim expression as the woman materialized from the Holocron’s base. It was all the proof he required to validate its worth, but more importantly, it also corroborated the boy’s story. Admittedly, he found that far more fascinating than the Holocron itself—especially when Kya referenced a strange encounter with his alternate self. That was a notable characteristic of the Change, and he intended to capitalize on it.

He wanted to know more; so much more.

But first, the Holocron demanded his attention to placate its curiosity.

'Greetings, Lord XoXaan,' he conveyed to the small figure atop the ancient device. 'I am Sistros, Lord and Emperor of the Eternal Empire. No doubt you have many questions...as do I. All of that will come in time, as we both become better acquainted. I look forward to communing with you in the near future.'

Sistros offered a reverent bow before turning his attention back to Aden Kya. The boy had withdrawn slightly, an indication that he had likely erected his mental barriers to protect himself from psychological attacks. The Emperor could only smirk at this. It was either a sign of fear or it exemplified the full extent of his arrogance.

Did he truly believe that he could repel an Eternal Emperor?

They were about to find out.

"I expect nothing less," Sistros replied firmly, accepting the boy’s proposition to lead him to the source of the Holocrons. "It’s time to see whether you can defend your boasting with actual results." He then advanced into Kya’s mind, if only to prove a point, needling around in his brain for good measure.

"You mentioned that you confronted a different version of yourself," he growled in a harsh voice, pushing into his personal space. They were practically face-to-face. "What can you tell me about that? What do you know about the Change?"

"I know that he called himself Zelmar, after the Sage of Yanjon," Aden oozed. "He told me Nouane and the Sages of Dwartii were key to understanding the Change. That in his reality, a Sith Lord named Darth Caedus committed a Change and released a God of Chaos named Abeloth… and she was designed to reset the galaxy until the Gods of Light and Darkness locked her back in her prison."

Of course, Sistros would know much of Yanjon and Abeloth. Aden shrugged. "But the Holocrons could tell you more. After all, they belong to Darth Bane, Darth Nihilus, and Darth Andeddu… Lords of the Rule of Two, of Hunger, and of the power over life and death."

His gaze turned, pointedly, to the Scepter of Ragnos. "Without reliance upon an artefact."

"Oh, and Zelmar told me where the True Nouane is… but I erased my memory of its location, entrusting it to Bane’s Holocron." He smiled wryly.

"And only I know where Bane’s Holocron is, of course." Aden brushed himself down. "I was thinking of a Lordship. Perhaps of the entire Tapani Sector?"

His chin pointed back where they had came. "But I suspect you need to get back. Wouldn’t want the Anzati to think we were colluding against him and all."

He smiled again.

"Especially not with all this knowledge you don’t intend to share."

"You presume far too much," Sistros murmured under his breath, clearly irritated by the allegation as he turned away from the boy.

He knew that his response was a deflection to safeguard his emotions from the true source of his affliction. Kya had unloaded on him, unable to resist his advances as he revealed more about the Change than he had anticipated. While that wasn’t inherently bad, it was a lot to assimilate into one’s understanding. The boy’s haughty attitude also didn’t help to quell any frustrations, particularly when he decided to ridicule him over his dependence on the Scepter.

That had caused him to bristle with indignation…

...because he knew it was true. All of it was.

But perhaps more damning was the revelation that Yanjon lived, at least in some form. Aden Kya served as the traitor’s counterpart, much like Nevet served as his own brother, complimenting him in both mind and spirit. That unnerved him more than he cared to admit, but it also bolstered his determination to solve the puzzle; to uncover the truth about the Epitaph and the Change that precipitated it.

He had to keep Aden Kya close for obvious reasons, and so they would endure this journey together.

"If our quest proves successful, then I will ensure that you are well compensated," Sistros nodded, noting the boy’s request to rule the Tapani Sector. He was ambitious, though that wasn’t a basis to deny him a reward if he earned such an incentive. "I will make something of you, Darth Insipid, I promise."

Pulling the hood back over his head, the Emperor stepped back into the shadows. "In the meantime, I expect you to prepare for our departure," he continued with a flourish of his hand. "As soon as I am done upstairs, we shall take our leave."

Without another word, he retreated from the room and began his trek toward the throne room. As he moved, he received the message from Bernael about current affairs; several member worlds had defected to join forces with Corellia. It was an unmitigated nuisance that prompted him to clench his hand into a fist to appease his mounting anger.

‘I am on my way, brother,’ Sistros returned through their bond, his tone gruff. ‘But if I can lessen the impact, I am happy to report that we have gained an invaluable ally. Aden Kya has agreed to assist us. Things have certainly taken an…interesting turn, to say the least. Let us reassert control and seize this opportunity.’

TAG: @Sinrebirth; @darthbernael; @Narancia; @Shadowsun; @TheAdmiral

 

OOC: Fun with @Adalia-Durron and our GM enjoying the chaos, @Sinrebirth

Kyp, Adalia, Xundel
Sernpindal and Bugs…

Adalia listened to the incoming message and frowned as she spoke to Kyp over the Comm. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Kyp was concentrating. “Give me a second.” He responded as he narrowed his green eyes in an attempt to concentrate, it didn’t really help but he did it anyway. “I’m getting more than one……there’s a lot.” He muttered.

“A lot of what? Ships?” Adalia asked, her rudimentary Force skills were not developed enough to even sense what was out there let alone how many. She was impatient. “I’m waiting, what are we facing?”

“Patience!” He almost snapped, he needed to concentrate. Hunger, driven, aggression, he felt all these emotions from whatever was up ahead, and there wasn’t just one of them. He was ‘feeling’ a lot, like a really big amount. Reaching to them further he felt they weren’t big and they were definitely organic. A Vong trap?

“Kriff Durron, give me a target!” Adalia snapped.

Xundel's ship had decanted from hyper only to have thousands of small signals, almost as though a cloud sized single signal. His brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what it was. But, he could tell that he, and what appeared to be another ship were on a direct course for the cloud, or rather the cloud was all around the hyper point.

He heard the incoming comm call from the surface and sighed. 'Of course they want to know.' he thought. "Well, first things first." He switched to a general frequency, "Whoever you are that's out here with me, these look like some nasty critters. Not sure if it's possible to get back out through hyper."

Adalia scowled at her comm opening to ask. “Who’s that?” She asked bluntly. “And thank you for stating the obvious.”

Kyp sighed, Adalia really needed to lose the brash way she went about things. “Ignore her, I agree they are not pleasant, there are a good deal of them and they are hungry. I have a feeling they like parasteel and other alloys. Who am I speaking to?”

To his droid, ”Hold fire for the moment, but if what he says is right then we’ll have to be ready to fight.” Xundel then reached out, letting his senses range over the creatures, before he replied. ”Name’s Xundel, supposed to be heading through here further on but it seems the Vong have other ideas. I think it may be easier if we work together here, or more likely that we get through.”

Adalia sensed Kyp's annoyance at her, and shut up for a change.

"Sounds logical, I'm Kyp, and I suspect these are set to make sure no one jumps out, well not that way anyway. Did you have a suggestion Xundel?" He asked, grateful his companion had shut up, he loved that she spoke her mind but learning the time and place was still causing issues.

His droid tweetled at him and Xundel frowned. He checked and double checked the sensor readings. Keying the comm again, ”We can’t stay here and it appears Sernpindal has even more issues. I’m sure your sensors are showing it now too, but it appears something is dragging the moon out of orbit. So we’re going to have to get through the creatures to either get there and then offplanet before the moon falls on it or figure out how to stop that too.”

Adalia kept her comm silent but not her mouth. "What the frack?" She muttered. "The moons falling? How can we stop that?" She asked, behind her Squirt bleeped and his translation flashed across her screen. Reading she sighed, "No, that won't help," she wanted to chime in, but knew better at this point.

"I cannot see a way to stop that moon, not even the most powerful of Jedi could do that." Kyp said evenly without revealing his own station in life. "I do suggest we leave, and I am wondering if hyperspace through those....whatever they are is an option?"

Their sensors would tell them that the moon was dipping at a precise point of its orbit, not generally. It hadn’t yet hit the point of no return; something was pulling at the defined point.

Did that matter when a thousand grutchin were in their immediate vicinity?

Xundel reached out, letting his senses flow around the two in the other ship. He grinned lightly as he felt something in them both. ”One Jedi couldn’t, most likely, three Force users, maybe. But that’s for later, the bugs are the immediate threat. Hmmm….” he paused, doing some calculations.

”Micro jumping might work. But we need to be prepared in case they have some way to disturb any hyper travel and we end up right in the middle of them.” His sensors began to warn him that the bugs were creeping into his weapons range, unknown yet if they were within the range of the bugs.

"Micro?" Adalia questioned, "Why not just bust through and keep going? Might take a few of them with us!"

Kyp frowned as he thought for a moment. "She might have a point. Maybe not individually but as a unit. If we all jumped at the same time wing tip to wing tip, there is a chance we could take a good deal of them out with us." Kyp began to calculate through his droid, "Not micro, not macro........somewhere in between so we have a chance to get back if it doesn't work and we pick up hitchhikers."

"You think they can latch as we're going hyper?" Adalia asked.

"It's possible, this is the Vong we're talking about here."

Xundel knew he couldn’t through the vacuum of space but he swore he could hear the buzzing of the bugs wings as they closed on them, that close they were getting. ”It’s worth a shot, at the worst we’ll have to fight through them but we’re probably going to have to anyway.” he responded as he shifted his ship, bringing it closer to the other.

Levelling his ship up against the new stranger Kyp sensed the other beings discomfort. "I don't think fighting through them is an option."

Adalia was silent as her green eyes stared ahead, behind them colours and images flashed. "We can't fight them." She breathed as she blinked back to reality. Why the Force had chosen her to see it, she would never know, but it wasn't the first time she'd seen something Kyp hadn't. "They eat ships, like literally."

"What? Wait how did you know that Ads?" Kyp asked, "And bring your ship in line."

"Lining up, and I saw it...........don't even ask me......not now."

Xundel’s head cocked to the side as he heard the woman speak, she’d seen something, something that narrowed their odds if they had to face these creatures. Still, he ensured his ship was tucked in close and he prepped his hyperdrive to jump, telling his droid to coordinate with theirs to be sure that they jumped at the same moment and for the same distance. They really didn’t want to come out in the wrong spot or on their own.

”I’m set, we’ll jump on your mark. And may the Father watch over us all.” he murmured the last, just loud enough that the comm might have picked it up.

"Squirt, link and co ordinate with the droids, we need to get this right." Adalia said with a sense of dread in her voice.

Kyp had already ordered his droid to sync up and when he was asked to lead and accepted without a word. "Force be with us all. 3, 2 1. Mark." He pulled the hyperdrive lever back knowing Adalia at least was in tune with him.

Xundel heard his droid respond and just at the Mark call he felt his fighter jump, wingtip to wingtip with the others. He hoped the jump was just far enough and they got as clear as possible from the swarm.

The creatures were left behind!

They micro jumped away, escaping the swarm. It was a clean escape.

No, wait -

There was a weight reported on Kyp’s ship -

One of the creatures had managed to follow them, latched on the hull!

They came out of hyperspace and Adalia scanned. "Yeah!! We beat them!!"

Kyp's droid was beeping frantically, his ship was heavier. "What?" He muttered twisting around to look behind. "I don't see anything." The droid reported the look under his ship. "How can I do that?" He opened his comm. "Ads, love, can you take a look and see if I picked up a passenger?" He could sense the 'hunger', feel it and it was close, very close.

Adalia smirked as she looked over, commenting before looking. "That would be absolute.......oh frack. You picked up one ugly bug hiding behind your droid. I bet you're getting a good mouthful from him!" She could see the large creature had massive pincers and they were currently embedded into the ship behind his droid, its legs moving to get a grip.

"Wonderful." He grumbled. "D7, can you shake it off?" He asked his droid only to be rewarded with a distinctive 'NO' sound. "Even more wonderful."

"Give me a second, I can get it." Adalia said accelerating and then turning her ship around, "Slow down, like right down. I got ya." She began to use her maneuvering jets to get a better angle.

"Wait, are you sure? Adalia? Slow down....no...little higher....not now." He did trust her, or at least he hope did. Through their connection he could feel her concentration. "Be sure......don't miss."

"Will you shut up and let me work?" She could see the creature, its mandibles were chewing at the hull of the X Wing. She was moving her jets in micro spurts to get it right, when in close proximity, she opened her wings and moved a few more micros movements. "I'm close.....stay still." She muttered as she squeezed the trigger.

Kyp knew it was coming, he ducked instinctively. His droid was screaming "Quiet D7" He muttered as he closed his eyes.

She glanced at the turret, then to the bug, who was now looking at her, lifting its head and snapping its jaws at her. It began to move its feet, turning toward her, then it jumped.

Adalia pulled the trigger and her aim was spot on as the bug exploded. "Boom!" she breathed, "I hate bugs." She opened her comm. "You're all clear Jediboy."

Kyp breathed out, not realising he'd been holding his breath and touched his comm. "Thank you, I owe you one." He had his faith in her reinstated.

"One what? I look forward to that one."

Xundel had come out of hyper and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the others next to him. Even better it seemed that...his droid shrieked and whistled. Head whipping to the side he saw that there was one of the bugs attached to the hull of it. Throttling back he prepared to slip behind the fighter when he saw the other craft do just as he was preparing to do.

The radio chatter between the two told him enough and at the ‘Jediboy’ comment he snorted. Otherwise he kept quiet, not wishing to disturb what was a delicate process, one slip and she’d damage the Jedi’s ship, possibly destroy it. Luckily she managed to take the shot correctly and the bug disintegrated. One eyebrow rose because the precision needed almost screamed that she had Force ability as well.

At the banter afterward he chuckled before keying his comm, ”I seem to recall the Jedi frowning upon attachments.” he let the statement hang in the air to see if either would rise to the bait. ”So are the Jedi now soldiers to fight a war against some invader?” adding more bait to his leading statements.

Adalia gasped, she'd blown it, by forgetting they weren't alone and was about to attempt to rectify her mistake when he spoke.

"It's a nickname, something she calls me in private. Has no bearing on my life. No Jedi here." Kyp was annoyed but was partially to blame as he'd not changed them to a private comm. "She wishes."

"I do, I really do. But I guess we all settle on what we can get in the end." Adalia attempted to sound bored.

"Settled huh? Good to know."

”Well in that case I should perhaps leave the definitely are but saying they’re definitely not Jedi force users to their flirting, oh and figuring out what to do about that moon now, there is a deeper war going on than this invasion and those that would or could fight it are those I must seek.”

His craft veered away from theirs, beginning to head toward a secondary jump point that did not seem to have been noticed by the bugs.

He opened a private comm to her. "How many times have I told you....."

"I know, I know! I'm really sorry! I thought we were......"

"Yeah well we weren't and I am almost 100% sure that guy is a Force user, so it......"

"Doesn't matter? He knew anyway?"

"Yes." Kyp sighed loudly. "Come on, let's follow him, maybe he knows something we don't."

Adalia pouted, she hated making stupid mistakes. "On your six."

Sernpidal Control watched as the entire swarm of creatures were riled by something, and began heading in the direction of the ships that had jumped. The bugs couldn’t enter hyperspace, but clearly the ships hadn’t left the system; a micro-jump.

Scherp expanded his scan radius and found them. He keyed long range comms. “New ships, I wouldn’t stay around for long, the rest of that brood is still heading your way. They’re quick, and will catch up with you in less than twenty minutes.”

He checked the Sernpidal moon of Dobido again and gulped. “I’m going to call an evacuation - our moon is coming down. Forwarding coordinates of whatever is pulling it… we have no heavy weapons - do any of you?”

Xundel growled, he didn’t really feel as though he had the time to assist every world that he’d come to. But the Jedi/not-Jedi had decided to follow and if he were to enlist either of them it wouldn’t work in his favor if he ignored the falling moon and doomed 8 million beings to their deaths.

Sighing, he began to alter course toward the coordinates that the controller had given. Over the comm that he had with the other two, ”I’ve not got the heaviest weapons but if we work together again perhaps we can stop the moon’s fall.”

Kyp listened as this thoughts were gathered. "I suggest we find the reason for the fall before we attempt to reverse it." He responded.

Adalia asked via private comm. "You think someone is actually doing this? It's not natural?" She asked in a hushed tone for no apparent reason.

"Can't say, doesn't 'feel' natural." Kyp responded cautiously, "and you don't have to whisper, they can't hear you."

The evacuation began with a wave of small unarmed freighters taking off, and the swarm of giant bugs writhed, seemingly confused as to which group to chase.

Xundel watched the freighters lift from the surface of Sernpindal and sighed, the bugs were circling, jostling as they attempted to decide which ‘threat’ they would face. His senses leaped out, scanning for what he could detect. Cutter was behind him, his sensors scanning space as well. At almost the same moment his senses gave him an answer and Cutter did as well.

”We have a choice, one of us needs to distract the bugs. The other two need to get to the surface of Sernpindal and find whatever it is that’s down there and stop it. I don’t sense Force use but something both biological and mechanical.” he sent over the comm to the other two.

Adalia grumbled in her cockpit, she knew out of the two of them, she was the weakest Force user. She somehow expected to be the decoy. She opened privately to her wing. "We coming clean? Or should I say you?"

Kyp glanced at the other ship before he turned to hers. "I think he knows already."

"You think?" Adalia asked sarcastically, "I blew, I know it."

"No, I think he knew before that, he's resonating in the Force as well. We're not alone out here." Kyp said looking back to the other ship.

"You're not alone you mean. I'm not Jedi, I'm just........trouble with a bit of power."

Kyp couldn't help himself and smiled. "Best trouble with a bit of power I've ever met."

"Yeah all well and good but decisions need to be made. And as I am the weakest link, looks like I'm going to play chasey with the bugs."

Kyp didn't want to accept that, he'd already seen how one single bug had damaged his ship, if she got stuck with one or more, they could kill her. A thought crossed his mind. "Do you have your grandmother's item?"

"Always. But why?"

"Just in case, who knows." Kyp switched to an open comm. "Xundrel, I'm with you, my wing is going to be 'bug bait'."

"Charming." Adalia drawled.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @HanSolo29, @JediMasterAnne, @Jerjerrod-Lennox, @galactic-vagabond422, @TheSilentInfluence, @galactic-vagabond422, @darthhelinith, @CosmoHender, @Shadowsun, @Adalia-Durron, @Narancia, @Mitth_Fisto, @Kato Sai, @TheAdmiral

 

IC: Duke Praxon
Corellia

Praxon wasn’t the type of man to bow under scrutiny. He was brash and confident in his beliefs, which often encouraged him to speak his mind. That outlook had benefited him in the past, but in this instance, he had certainly underestimated Thrackan Sal-Solo. The man exuded a prideful arrogance that was difficult to gratify; he viewed any form of criticism as a personal affront to his character. That’s what made him so dangerous.

And that was Praxon’s mistake.

The actor now stood at a distance, his hands raised above the waist to mollify the blaster-wielding Sal-Solo. It was the least he could in such a precarious situation. If he made one wrong move, he knew that the other man wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger. Within the Corellian Senator’s inner circle, there was no such thing as consequences for conducting a heinous act. They would simply turn a blind eye—and Praxon would disappear without a trace.

In that sense, he had no choice. They would force him to conduct the speech.

But as the Senator’s subordinates pressed forward to prepare for the live shot, Praxon caught a flurry of movement out of his peripheral vision. It was subtle, but it was enough to draw his attention back to Wynssa Starflare. The woman looked stricken, though it was likely part of the charade. She sought the older actor’s gaze as she slipped her hand into her thigh boot and produced a metallic object that glinted imperceptibly in the studio lighting.

A surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins when he noted the item, and his mouth twitched with recognition. There was no denying what she had in mind. It offered hope, but would he be able to muster the audacity to act and assist her in this pursuit?

Unfortunately, there was no time to ponder his decision as the cameras began to roll; he was at the mercy of his own intuitions.

"Uh, General Han Solo here," Praxon blurted without provocation, turning on his heel and slipping into the role almost as easily as one pulls on a glove. "I know this sort of thing is usually reserved for politicians and other authoritative types, but the situation here merits a wider audience. What better way to reach the masses than to feature one of Corellia’s sons?"

He flashed a lopsided grin and shifted his weight awkwardly, feigning nervousness. This display allowed him to glance over at Wynssa and gauge her intentions without raising suspicions. To the untrained eye, it would appear as if he was merely peering off-camera to receive direction. Han Solo wasn’t a trained HoloNet professional, after all.

"I know I haven’t been the most...outspoken champion of my homeworld," he continued in a slow drawl, spreading his hands to connect with his audience. "But I do care. Deep down, I think we all do. We have Corellia in our blood. And now that she’s in trouble, I can’t stand by and allow—" He inhaled through his nose, hesitating for the briefest of moments. He knew that he had reached the point of no return. "To, uh—to allow my overbearing cousin to stage a coup.

"He’s not playing with a full deck, trust me…I know. Don’t let ‘em fool you. He doesn’t care about Corellia’s independence; he only wants power. That’s his style. He’ll sneak in under your noses and destroy everything in his path to fit his grand design. Is that what we deserve at a time when the galaxy needs to come together against a common enemy? Ask yourselves that!"

Praxon was shouting now, desperate to plead his case before Thrackan terminated the transmission—or fired the fatal shot into his abdomen.

He could only hope Wynssa pulled through.

TAG: @Sinrebirth (@darthbernael; @JediMasterAnne; @Jerjerrod-Lennox; @galactic-vagabond422; @TheSilentInfluence; @darthhelinith; @CosmoHender; @Shadowsun; @Adalia-Durron; @Narancia; @TheAdmiral; @Mitth_Fisto — for the live HoloNet transmission)