Star Wars OPEN Star Wars: Episode XI: THE HIDDEN TEMPLE - follow up to the 2021 RPF Award winning game!

OOC: Double post approved by GM, fun discussion combo with Sinrebirth and Mitth_Fisto

IC: Atin-Kot, Zeseem, and Vao
Arkinnea, aftermath

Leaning on the shortened staff, Atin-Kot glanced up as the Vennik Jedi Master approached him and Zeseem. There was still a need to rest and recover his energy but the question made him chuckle. He looked over at his battle brother, snorting slightly before he looked back at Vao. ”I believe, to my brother and I, that was a ssskirmisssh. It hasss been eonsss sssinccce we got to truly fight. War wasss and isss our life.”

Honestly he would have preferred to find out if any of his kind existed anymore. Even in his time he was one of the last but it seemed the galaxy needed the strength of Jedi warriors once more. Sighing, he straightened, feeling the creaking in his joints. ”Well, brother, into which cauldron of thisss war ssshall we asssssisssst?” he asked, gaze turning to face Zeseem once more.

Smiling at his brother's response he nodded, his head-tails twitched in a mild mirth as he tasted the emotions of those present. "Into the one we are dropped of course!" he spoke in jest, but also with all seriousness. He had no clue and what better than the one that the Force presented?

"It was a skirmish, war is now my life." he sighed, "I used to be a librarian of sorts. Never left the temple until Revan and that mission. I studied and taught for war - so it has in a way dominated my life and now if blessed to see an end to some portion of my life."

Vao nodded solemnly. "Many decades have I lost to this war, I do indeed understand."

He leaned heavily, worn hard by his life. "The Jedi Council is coming to the conclusion that this war will not end unless we throw all of our weight into it. Commit fully to the cause."

Atin-Kot’s eyes glowed as they narrowed in thought. ”Thingsss have changed. The Councccil of our day wanted to hide their headsss in the sssandsss rather than fight.” he replied, weary at the memory of it. ”And thossse of usss who took a ssstand or returned and assssissssted asss double agentsss were, quite often, hung out to dry, myssself included.” His eyes flared with a touch of anger at that thought.

Glancing over at his brother, ”We will help where and asss needed, it has been eonsss in ssstasssisss but our ssskillsss are cccertainly not dulled.” his reply still directed at the Council member.

Nodding he made a side slicing gesture, “We have spoken.”

Vao nodded, and bowed, deeply, at that.

"I appreciate that..." He sounded suitably grave. "The Jedi Council has sat behind the scenes for the last fifteen years - and the older among us have done so for some sixty years." Vao chuckled slightly. "The younger eggs will be flying their new TwinTails, but we, well, we shall be commanding Knights, directly or indirectly."

"A landing force will be assembled... I would ask that we each command a segment, jointly or separately..."

"Hmm." he sighed in appreciation. At least they wouldn't be useless. "Brother has a better head for such things. I'll abide how he thinks we best should be deployed." Zeseem looked at him with a widening toothy grin. They lived for this after all.

His head tilted to the side as Atin-Kot heard his brother respond. As his head returned to the vertical, he nodded. ”Hmmm, it may be bessst that Zesssseem and I work together, after all we have worked bessst when we do ssso together. We can command two ssseparate sssegments perhapsss, but bessst that they be onesss flanking each other.” he mused as he stroked his pointed chin.

His upside down lips curled into a smile, ”I do believe usss on the flanksss of our foesss forces or dropped behind them may be best, let them focus on the younger, more energetic of the Jedi asss we roll them up and force them into the younger onesss.”

Eyeing his brother Zeseem looked back at the Jedi Master he gave a raised eye message and feeling in the Force that was all too clear. See how good he is! Now you know why I left it to him.

"Twenty Jedi," Vao said. "That is what you will command. We expect there to be traditional defenses for the enemy, and you will siege them... and another element pursues the Sith... and a final one keeps busy the Tho Yor."

He shrugged. "A layered approach, but taking your command, Masters Jedi." He nodded. "A ship, you will require, and we shall hope to supply."

Zeseem looked at his brother and shrugged with a nod. Everything sounded good to him.

Even as Atin-Kot snorted slightly at the proposed battle plan he caught Zeseem’s nod.

”Well…that’sss better than sssome battle plansss I’ve known. As to these traditional defensssesss, Sssith or troopersss or both?” Whatever intel the Council would give would improve the odds, not just for him and Zeseem but those Jed they were being asked to command.

He glanced over at his brother, ”Hope to sssupply? We were brought, have no ssship of our own.” he stated with a chuckle. ”Three and a half eonsss in ssstasssisss we ssspent, ssso yesss, a ssship will be needed to get usss and our contingent to the battle.”

Zao chuckled. "We're having to arrange transport with a third party."

A slight smile. "Perhaps you could tell an old Vennik your story."

At that, the Jedi Master sat, crossing his legs.

"We have time, no doubt."

Shaking his head, Atin-Kot let his knees bend, always amused when he did so around others, the way his legs folded backward. As he sat he glanced at Zeseem. ”Well…the beginning may be a good sssstart. We both are from the time of what I believe you call the Jedi Cccivil War. I wasss one who felt that Revan and Alek, not yet Malek, were correct in what wasss needed to sssave the Republic from the Mandaloriansss.”

His eyes seemed to cloud in thought. ”I realizzzed, when thossse that had sssurvived of my kind all died, that we had gone too far. The Councccil of the time took me back asss a double agent, which meant I went back to being a Revanchrissst. My brother and I met when…” his eyes refocused, looking up at the still standing Zeseem once more ”we and othersss were tasssked with trying to retrieve Revan ssso he could be judged.”

Zeseem took a cross legged seat as story time began. Nodding at his brother's words he tried to think through his own story. And in the lull as he sat he spoke, “I was a Jedi that obeyed. I stayed at the temple but focused my studies for the war to come, instead of on the peace within.”

He looked at his brother with sadness at that simple truth, “When the war turned into a civil war I still did not leave, I still studied and began teaching. I tried to make sure others that were called to war were ready…until I was called to make way to a meeting for a secret mission where I met my brother.”

Vao nodded, slowly, recalling his histories but intrigued enough to hear it from those there. His blind gaze swept from Atin-Kot to Zeseem and back to the former for him to continue.

Atin-Kot’s lips twitched into an almost W shape, ”Thingsss did not go well, from the ssstart. At leassst one of thossse who wasss to take part never made it to the rendezzzvousss. And then the location wassss raided. We had to forccce our contact there to even get offplanet.”

His grin turned wry and his eyes glittered, ”A misssh masssh bunch, thrown together, I’m guesssssing becaussse we were available and exxxpendable, but we got free and given our misssssion. Bassstilla herssself led it.” His eyes misted for a moment in memory, of a friend long gone.

”We had to board the flagssship of our foe, disssable commssss, and capture our target, not eassssy in the midssst of a major battle.”

Zeseem stared off into the distance as Atin continued the tale, and at a pause he softly recalled more, “We were a terrible team and we lost good people. But we defeated and won in the end. Securing Revan instead of killing, keeping him asleep for the journey.” He looked back to his brother now, sadness in his eyes. Questioning if he wanted to add more to that battles history or whether or not he even wanted to talk about what had happened next.

"And then you took him back to the Jedi High Council... which was on Dantooine at the time... and they sentenced him and you all?"

The Taung’s eyes began to take on a green-yellow color as he peered at the blind Jedi before he shook his head and the yellow orbs swiveled, glancing at his brother. ”Of courssse, you looked up the recordsss…” he muttered. ”I did mention the Councccil wasss narrowminded then. Yesss, they sssentenccced usss, in their wisssdom.”

One of his long fingered hands rose, wiping his face. ”Sssome more than othersss. But, yesss, I recccieved the harssshessst punissshment for having sssuceeded in the missssssion they gave usss.”

"For dabbling in the dark side?"

Rocking forward then back up to a vertically seated position, Atin-Kot snorted. ”I did mention I wasss a Revanchrissst…but there wasss more and they did not approve of me not toeing their ssstrict and narrow line of what being on the ssside of Light wasss their view.”

Zeseem looked sorrowfully at his brother, and felt the small nag of ancient history in the back of his mind as he sighed at the words that flowed. "I was not sentenced, not for real. They passed judgment but tasked me with seeing you and the others back to the temple, to listen for a traitor. My demotion was false." he voiced the secret in a sad shake of his head tails. "I was also ordered this one's witness as well as jailor in an odd twist of fate, little did we know we would share a cell for eons."

“Due to you not returning, the Jedi excommunicated you,” Zao said solemnly. “But you were one of many in those days, after all.” He shuffled, staring at the floor. “Those Masters were all slain by the Sith, and their… hidebound approach expunged - a new, softer Order rose up, and defended the galaxy.”

His white eyes took them both in. “Your trial signified their morality had truly corrupted the Jedi Order, and a redeemed Revan showed that with love anything was possible.”

”Exxxcommunicated, yesss, a polite way of sssaying it. But my brother isss right, he wasss asssssigned asss my jailor. However, the Jedi were…blind…to what wasss beyond the war Revan and Malek brought to the Republic.” his voice was harsh, a touch of anger in it.

”We were captured, by an ancient evil. Who tortured usss for years, mindsss sssstill aware, before he, for whatever reassson sset usss in the ssstasssisss podsss the othersss found usss in.” Eyeing Zeseem again, ”Three and a half eonsss, frozzzen in ssstassiss yet our mindsss ssstil awake and aware…”

Zeseem had a soft smile play at his lips as he remembered those times. “The torture was exquisite. I’m passed missing it, or longing for it. Yet I still recall those pains fondly, the break may heal but the scar remains.” He finished with a sigh, he at least knew it was messed up, but it was what it was.

Zao smiled, drily. "One has been tortured before, I remember it well." He turned his head as if hearing something. "Come, the Council is ready for us."

Atin-Kot sighed, remembering again the last time he and Zeseem had faced a Jedi Council, millennia ago. ”Let usss sssee if what we sssuggessst is what will happen. Your Jedi ssseem lesssss hidebound than the old onesss did.” his tone was hopeful but prepared as he rose from his seated position.

Zeseem nodded with a sigh as he stood, following his brother's example. "I hope so, for I am not as amiable as I was back then, and I do not feel wariness like I once did." Tapping his cane on the ground he nodded to their guide. It was time to meet the children and see what they had made of what was left them.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Mitth_Fisto

 

Chapter Twenty One

The Final Calm Before The Final Storm

 

THE BATTLE OF AJAN KLOSS

IC: Captain Peavey
Aboard the Knife 9, Battle of Ajan Kloss



The Mandator IV-class Super Star Destroyer was stung, but it was not destroyed.

His TIEs were caught between corralling the Resistance ships and defending him, and Peavey once again reminded himself that everyone in the Ajan Kloss system was a traitor, a rebel, and scum.

It made it easier for him to ignore what were obviously civilian ships under his guns.

But hadn't it been an armada of basically people that had defeated them at the Battle of Exegol?

His conscience salved, he nodded to himself.

"Wipe those fighters out of the sky!"

Those were Captain Peavey's last words when he was mercilessly gunned down by Falen.

The man toppled, and watched him squabble with his droid, and his attempts to hack the systems.

His last thoughts were fairly critical.

I never liked this ship anyway.

Falen had a slight issue, however, in that there were alarms, and the loud, loud clattering of Stormtrooper armour and boots. P1-MP would not be able to access the hyperdrive.

Yet.

But those Stormtroopers would be here sooner than the access was granted.

Outside, with damage accumulating but managed, mostly, Axtine was slashing across the upper hull to blow apart the upper turrets. While the exposed top-side reactor had been heavily reinforced to prevent the farce which allowed a single bomb-load to destroy a Dreadnought at the Battle of D'Qar, the guns here were still only as good as their gunner, and only as likely to hit as the pilot allowed it. The TIEs were divided, but Axtine's wingmates had been shot down, with Falen nowhere to be seen.

There were only two guns left on the upper hull when a full twelve TIEs regrouped and gunned towards the Quarren.

Still, Connix had no orders for where to jump.

But then, above them all, appeared one more ship.

And took away the decision from them.

TAG: @ConservativeJedi321, @Sarge
---
The Final Eclipse



It hung above the engagement with the Knife 9, and activated it's gravity well generators and jammers, silencing the entire star system.

A dozen squadrons of TIEs emerged from its hangars, but they simply held in a defensive position.

They didn't care about the fate of the Knife 9, but the massive dreadnought remained a murderous threat to the refugees, to the Resistance, to Falen and Axtine and hope itself.

Aboard the massive confines, deep in his throne room, Snoke himself glowered at his apprentice, Kylo Ren, silent in the Force, his Knight of Darkness at long last. They had brought their ship from Kamino to rendezvous with this ship, repaired in record pace since the Battle of Coruscant thanks to the Celestial technology that had been merged within it.

"Speak, my boy, speak before I offer peace to the Resistance, in exchange for the life of one simple, stupid, scavenger girl."

TAG: @greyjedi125 (updated TAG and combo)

 

THE BATTLE OF ADUMAR

IC: Teren Rogriss

The layered defences, the planetary shields, and decades of missile production stood ready. Adam was fundamentally a fly-boy, which is why he thought in terms of starfighters and torpedoes and hurling enough of them at a big ship that it was a small ship in several pieces, which worked just fine against even dreadnoughts, with enough assets. The Lusankya at the Battle of Thyferra, the Jedi StealthX’s striking Nest Ships at the Battle of Murgo Choke, and more recently with Gherlid’s own Eclipse, the philosophy had won out.

However, the Mortis Monolith was different. It was a Dreadnought in scale, but a Death Star in technology, and the largest of the monoliths. So Rogriss reserved the right to professional concern and even outright trepidation.

He understood the technological constraints behind the Tho Yor, that they had an awesome regenerative capabilities, but they were not infinite. Without a tether to a resource - such as, say, Mon Calamari cities - they could be overcome in time, depending upon how those selfsame resources were deployed. In addition, they appeared to contain a limited intellect, likely due to whatever method of control that Snoke had used to undoubted tyrannical use, reducing individual initiative and anything but a rote, droid-like response.

So Mortis simply plunged through the deepest and most well defended portion of the defence well and took it all. Hammered hard, Rogriss could already imagine the gaping holes in the hull that were trying to reseal, and the fighters jockeying position to bomb the gaps.

But then Mortis did something the other Tho Yor didn’t do before - it opened, along its middle seam, and a blaze of white consumed all screens and sensors, blinding them in a shock of static.

Rogriss grimaced as the screens cleared - where had their fighters gone? There was no trace of dozens of them -

Mortis sealed up anew, and a bolt of concentrated energy shot out, plowing through the orbital scrum and impacting against the shields of Adumar - shaking the entire planet!

TAG: @adaml83

 

LEXRUL

IC: Dhidal Nyz
Aftermath

The public humiliation of Callan, followed with the departure of the orbiting fleet with half the ‘liberation’ army - revealed to be entirely an occupation force - brought it all to a startling finale.

The red-cap extremists, chanting about making Lexrul great again, turned on their dear leader in a mob of violence, one so bloody that by the time the Lexrullian armed forces made it to the compound, Callan was hanging from a nearby tree, quite literally.

The Imperial Army might have made an issue of it, but the surviving garrison, led by the Quarren Dhidal Nyz, made a case on behalf of Gherlid’s remaining Stormtroopers, walkers and TIEs to be allowed to depart peacefully. Campaigners were demanding their execution to send a warning to the Empire, others just wanted them gone, and others still saw an opportunity to take their armour and walkers and fighters and arm Lexrul in preparation of the next wave.



Ultimately, Nyz’s petition ended up in the possession of Tiber, Zara and their friends and allies. The judiciary had been arrested for propping up Callan’s regime, and much of the bureaucracy that had run Lexrul had fled or died in the carnage. It was a military state, and decisions had to be made about trade, casualties, judgments and so on. They’d literally overthrown the government, and Callan’s corruption would take time to dig out.

Worse still was that word had spread; there was no way to ignore that many factions had been tracking Gherlid’s advance on Kashyyyk and Rimward, and news would have reached the Empire and Resistance of their victory.

Which brought with it a message from Admiral Ackbar, fresh from his own victory at Mon Calamari, though apparently it had been more to Rey interfering in whatever weapon Snoke commanded to use Celestial technology, rather than any military win. Admiral Babo and the Sabaton were gone, but Wedge and the Venture had survived, along with the Scythe.

“Black Squadron, congratulations on your win in the Lexrullian War. It is good to hear that you had our backs. Jess sends her regards. You are requested to rendezvous with the flagship at these coordinates in the Jakku system. We’ve found Snoke’s warehouse of Celestial toys… and we’re going to blow it up.”

With the transmission was an offer from a civilian captain who had command of a bulk freighter named Starsider - with storage space for fighters and troops if they needed it.



A request from the Admiral. They had, after all, gone rogue and he could hardly order them.

But everyone knew the Empire wouldn’t let their victory stand; they had to respond. Whether Lexrul took the fight to them, or dug in, was up to Tiber, Zara, and their friends and allies… though undoubtedly their daughter may have an opinion on it too!

As too would the fan club they had acquired, all manner of genders suddenly treating both of them as icons…

TAG: @Adalia-Durron, @darthbernael

 

ANAXES

IC: Nihl

The Fury had been hit by, according to its very detailed databanks, a Metal-Crystal Phase Shifter.

The Metal Crystal Phase Shifter (MCPS) was a superweapon capable of altering the molecular structure of metallic substances, to the point that the entire hull would simply give way.



The Fury was an old, solid design that eschewed compartmentalisation rather than anything else, and so the loss of the entire upper hull was not quite as catastrophic as one would have expected, but they didn't have much control over the sorely damaged ship of their father.

Nihl was sure to pace the half of the ship they did have left, squeezing joints with the Force, applying epoxy to seal holes, and generally cursing their existence. The molecular collapse seemed to have run out of energy for the most part, but it wasn't stopping, either.

"I reckon your Daddy's ship has about an hour before it falls apart," he quipped. "Can we be off it by then?"

Two things may have distracted them from that before they replied.

One, the Anaxes system in the distant Core was full of freighter traffic, being corralled by heavy and light cruisers corralled by the Empire, many arriving under tractor, clearly forced. While the majority of the galaxy was committing its main warships to the distant Battle of Jakku, the Empire was scattering its lesser ships across the length and breadth of its expanded territory to do... something.

Ships were jumping to Coruscant, but no longer escorted, only after shuttles and troop transports linked with each craft and ejected their crews into vacuum. Whatever the freighters were carrying, the Empire didn't want anyone to know where it was going, clearly.

Second, the cloned twin was hit upon by a powerful message and compulsion.

Attend to the destruction of all my enemies at Jakku.

Attend to it now.

It is time.

A similar order had been thrown at Vicrul before his untimely demise on Modesta, and would be levelled at any of the cloned Knights of Ren!

TAG: @darthbernael (combo)

 

YAVIN 4

IC: Tulak Hord

The red spirit chuckled away to himself, amused by the vagaries of what was to come.

He rarely laughed so, for he was not renowned as a master manipulator but rather as a violent marauder who crushed Jedi armies at Yn and Chabosh, ruled a Shadow Empire as far coreward as Alderaan, and turned his fellow Sith Lords against each other until he was the only one left standing. A master of lightsaber combat and essence transfer and many other techniques, he was the ultimate Dark Lord of the Sith, and he had learned the lessons of paranoia that had undone him so.

Leonias had just slaughtered his apprentice.

Dead without half a chance at survival, no threat to his master.

The Sun Guard's descent into the dark side was complete.

Now, he needed only a name...

... and a purpose.

The Temple on Yavin 4 was one deep, deep in the jungle. Not reached by the Yuuzhan Vong during their war, nor the New Jedi Order during their stay on-world, their visits were mere paragraphs in the chapters that this world had beheld for the Sith. Re-taken by Darth Ruin with purpose; squabbled over endlessly by Vitiate's successors; a Sith colony for a millennia thanks to Sadow, and it's darkness rejuvenated by Exar Kun. The connection between Tulak Hord and this world was oft unknown to them, but his spirit had visited, alongside that of Sadow and Kun, to regard the actions of Dark Revan on this world...

And here he had returned.

To this Temple.

To this place.

To this...

Armour.



Come to me, my apprentice-to-be.

TAG: @Kev-Mas_Colcha (combo)

 

KAMINO

IC: Remal

The Tho Yor, having been relentlessly assaulted by turbolaser fire for the best part of an hour, was ill-placed to handle a concentrated torpedo barrage. It cracked, its awesome regenerative powers finally tapped out, and it detonated, combusting away. Adam Lyon’s’ fighter forces had pushed it over that edge.

It was undone, at last, and though the other orbital cities would take time to free, Tipoca City was gone, and with it all manner of cloning resources primarily serving Snoke. The rest were garrisoned in the same manner, retaining troopers, TIEs and planetary defences, but too far away from the orbiting Star Destroyers to be targeted.

With the end of the battle proper, the Maw and Remnant Fleet nonetheless jumped to the systems edge, Jaina Solo Fel aboard the Chimaera with Drikl Lecersen, and Natasi Daala would have to decide what to do about her and him - and what to do next.

But they had a communique from a Vice Admiral Ark Poinard, attached to Aryan Graul and the Megador, confirmed that the Remnant forces were being called to assault Jakku, which Snoke was rushing to reinforce. Adumari, Jedi and Resistance forces - as well as a Sith fleet - were all en route to the world to take their shot. The captains of the five Turbulent-class Star Destroyers were gearing up to leave, while making one last effort to collect the survivors of the Bloodfin.

Daala would know just what the Megador was - she’d fought it at the Battle of Roche, and the massive Super Star Destroyer in the command of Aryan Graul… that was a development.

It was all or nothing, and notwithstanding the Imperial control of the rest of Kamino.

Remal, for his part, confirmed to Daala what she likely wanted to hear, just in-time for the two of them to reach Jaina and Drikl. "Good news, we don't believe the Fury survived it's jump to lightspeed. We've confirmed fragments of engine manifold in the debris they left before departing, so it's as good as dead. Not sure who was aboard, as we're now sure Snoke snuck away, but they're goners, ma'am."

Drikl for his part was giving Jaina a wide berth.

Whether they wanted to reach out to Aryan was another factor altogether.

TAG: @Lady_Belligerent (combo), mentions for @adaml83

 

MON CALAMARI

IC: Admiral Aftab Ackbar
Sore, but alive

The Tho Yor had finally fled, or been destroyed of their own accord; rumour had it Rey had infiltrated the Empire to sabotage them, or discover the secret of how Snoke had control of them, and most of the galaxy was en route to Jakku to seize the power.

Millions of Mon Calamari had died; the facts said that the stalwart defence of Coral City had saved a million alone.

Millions had fled to Ajan Kloss; nobody could raise the planet on comms, however.

The shipyards of Mon Calamari had been damaged, but would be productive when reopened; the hulls closest to completion had been shredded in the initial Imperial assault.

The ships of the Sun Guard had departed for Yavin 4, pursuing a Tho Yor; Resistance enquiries were already being made into counters for the solar technology that their new opponent had at its disposal…

The reports from Mirta Gev were that the crippled Eclipse hanging in orbit would shortly be under Mandalorian control; a Resistance cadre of troopers was en route to assist, and the warships mighty engines had been repaired sufficiently to point it away from Mon Calamari.

Aftab Ackbar wasn't concerned with any of it.



He had the Scythe and the Errant Venture left of his original force, mostly spent, all damaged to some extent, and only five X-wings to his name total. The Aquilla family lived, and he still had Jessika Pava, but the fifth pilot was in a straight jacket.

It wasn't enough.

There were no jubilations, merely exhaustion.

The Empire hadn't won the Battle of Mon Calamari, but the Resistance had already lost it.

The scars these pilots, who lost everything, Ackbar knew would run deep.

But even his barbells twitched when the summons came from Arkinnea.

Mooring himself, Ackbar drew upon his fathers legendary resolve and spoke on the comms to the fleet.

"Resistance fighters, the battle is over," - he could not bring himself to say won, "and the war's end is in sight. I've been summoned by General's Dameron and Finn. The source of the enemies strength is a tide away. The Jedi and Sith face each other for the final wave. Prepare yourself for the final battle, we will reach the target in two hours."

In a few moments, the X-wings were all transferred aboard the Errant Venture, Wedge was given a short briefing upon the situation at Jakku, and Ackbar handed out orders to the remaining Resistance forces across the galaxy he could.

The Scythe and Errant Venture buried into hyperspace.

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (combo as discussed), @galactic-vagabond422

 

ARKINNEA

IC: Rey
The Wookiee Refugee Complex

Dozens of ships all entwined, mostly Wookiee, the impromptu space station hung above the planet below, pristine save for an ugly burn mark visible from orbit. The Sith had burned down the Hidden Temple, long a place of safety for Jedi. The purges of Palpatine, Caedus and Snoke had each damaged the Order; but enough Masters had survived each to regroup and move forward.

The Millennium Falcon hadn't jumped straight for Jakku after narrowly escaping destruction at Kamino. No, instead Poe had reconnected with the rest of the Resistance network, and the dots led him to Arkinnea. To the New Jedi Order, to survivors of a pair of calamitous battles both there and at Roon. Rey, recovering from wounds both real and imagined, nonetheless avoided Finn and so Chewbacca took over her care, all the while Poe communicated with Admiral Ackbar and a Jedi Master who had emerged from the mix; Lowbacca.



Lowbacca



Lumpawaroo



Chewbacca

Via Lowbacca and Lumpawaroo and Chewbacca, an impromptu network had been setup, and soon enough Poe, Finn, Rey and Chewbacca were standing with R2-D2, BB-8, D-0 and C-3P0 aboard the largest of the hangars. Within it was the personal ship of Barriss Sunrider, as well as that of Tirran Huxley, but absent was a yacht belonging to New Republic veteran Feyna Rouser, who had left with her family in the confusion.

There was little to be said of that, but the Falcon and Sunrider's ship would have to do, coupled with some seventy TwinTails, one of which was being made available to Eeth Koth.

Poe regarded them all for a moment, and then cleared his throat.

Master Zao stood with Zeseem and Atin-Kot at the head of twenty Jedi Knights; ten a-piece.

Master K'Kruhk stood with Tirran and Ennis.

Master T'ra Saa stood with her wards, Talon and Seha Dorvald, who was eschewing a TwinTail to join the Darth Krayt Capture Squad, which included Valin and Jysella Horn, as well as Seff Hellin.

Master Lowbacca stood with Barriss, Eeth, Trace and Ahsoka Tano, a Jedi Knight whom on any other day Rey would have been eager to speak to for her interactions with Master Skywalker and Grogu.

The same could be said for any of the Jedi Masters here, but Rey could tell from their stares and side-glances that not all of them approved of her actions in infiltrating the Empire to discover the source of the Celestial technology.

"Alright," Poe said, speaking up. "I've spoken to Admiral Ackbar, and he and the Scythe, Errant Venture and the Rogues will be backing us up. I've reaching out to the Adumari, and hopefully what they have left will be with us at Jakku too. On top of that, the Remnant Head of State Vitor Reige is directing friendly Imperial forces to rendezvous with us too."

There was a slight hub-bub, and Finn spoke up. "If you have an issue with Imps who realised they're on the wrong side, you can talk to me."

And that silenced it.

"We have plenty of things to hit, which will be split between us and the other allied forces. All we have to worry about it getting through a Sith fleet, past a Tho Yor and a Star Destroyer, and then attack the facility itself," Poe carried on, "the other targets are being passed to Ackbar, the Adumari, and the Remnant."

"We'll all be together to start, and then we'll separate as we get closer to the target."

He pointed at the various Jedi pilots. "You guys will attack our Tho Yor target."

He pointed at Master T'ra Saa, Seha, Jysella, Valin, Seff and Talon. "Your team is going after the Sith."

TAG: @CosmoHender (singles)

He pointed at Master Vao, Zeseem, Atin-Kot. "Your team and Jedi are going to be ignoring the Sith and Tho Yor and attacking the planet itself," and he then pointed at Master K'Kruhk, Ennis and Tirran. "And you're going to be aboard Mr Tirran Huxley's ship." He looked at the nonhuman. "I imagine it'll be a tight fit, but it works."

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto x2, @Mistress_Renata, @darthbernael (singles)

He pointed at the Falcon. "My team will be entering the facility and taking down the artefact/weapon, whatever it is." Poe looked at Sunrider and her crew. "You'll be with the Falcon, watching our bags." He shrugged at Eeth specifically. "Up to you how you roll."

TAG: @CosmoHender (singles, optional combo)

As Poe spoke, Rey acquired a distant expression and suddenly vanished from view; nobody would notice her go, until too late. Not even Finn would realise, but he would realise first.

"Snoke's made one helluva an error," Poe crowed, "and he knows it. He's pulled back most of his ships to Jakku now we know about it, and we're going to take him and his plan out."

"Get to your ships, and May the Force be With You."

TAG: As mentioned

 

JAKKU

IC: Jaedec Ren

"Our Master requires a status report. Obey."

A hand secured around Ap'lek's green wrist, and he would turn to see Jaedec Ren.

His brother was malformed, his jaw oversized much like Snoke's, and his eyes were that cunning blue that their master had commanded for many years.

Behind him was Hattaska, looking similarly mutated, and both of them were soaked from the fluids of their cloning cylinder.

Nightmarish creations, released too early, seemingly.

"Our Master requires us to do something entirely different," Jaedec said, words slurred. "Can you not hear his voices?"

There it was, in Ap'lek's ear, a summons, an order, and he would feel it resonating within his cloned brothers.

Attend to the destruction of all my enemies at Jakku.

Attend to it now.

It is time.

The acolytes, four in total, rushed aside, and to the left Ap'lek would see an exit to the circular room, leading to shadowed depths. The scanners before Ap'lek beeped, revealing that beyond the Star Destroyer and four Tho Yor in orbit, a small task force labelled One Sith at the extreme of one Tho Yor, the one directly above their facility on the scans, flanked by the aforementioned destroyer.

Apparently where Ap'lek now stood was beneath the sands of Jakku, and the entire complement of that Star Destroyer now stood surrounding the entrance. Thousands of Stormtroopers, dozens of TIEs, walkers, and concealed planetary turbolasers. A shield generator was being hurriedly installed, and a set of shuttles and transports prepared too.

Whereas secrecy had apparently served Snoke before, now he was going for guns.

Copious amounts of guns.

TAG: @Silvertough (combo)
---
Systems Edge

The Megador arrived, and Vice Admiral Ark Poinard clipped his heels together and stepped off the bridge.





There hadn't been time to chit-chat before now, and the vast length of the Megador meant that it had taken as long as the warship had leapt from Bastion to Jakku for Aryan and Lyz to reach him. With over two million personnel, the Megador represented a monstrous commitment by the Remnant, and it was likely that it would never be able to launch another offensive if they lost the Star Dreadnought.

He had set up a full comms suite for them by the time they reached the nearest ready room; he didn't envisage Aryan wanting to stand on the bridge. The scans showed that the Megador was positioned at the very edge of it's own long range turbolaser range, positioned by one Tho Yor that stood alone of the square that Snoke had set up. Poinard didn't want to risk the Celestial weapons having a greater range than he.

By the time they actually met, Ark saluted to the former Chancellor of the First Order. "Sir," he said, formally, and, more gravely, to Lyz, "ma'am," which drew a slight smile from her.

"Grand Admiral Reige wished for me to ensure that the data was out for your... coalition, sir, so I have ensured that Grand Admiral Daala, Admiral Ackbar and the Grand-General are aware of the situation, and I've heard from the Wookiee resistance that they've connected General Chewbacca with his son and nephew, which brings with it General Dameron and the Jedi Order."

He indicated the four Tho Yor. "We're lined up for one target, sir, and the others for their own. General Dameron insisted that he and the Jedi focus on the one immediately above the facility that Snoke appears to be using, an old Contingency base from Operation Cinder that he has seemingly expanded and reinforced." A big X marked the spot, beneath one of the Tho Yor and a Star Destroyer. A note showed a set of unfamiliar warships and old ChaseMaster frigates. "I gather these belong to the One Sith, and the Jedi intend to deal with them also."

"They've made no moves towards us for now, but I'm keeping an eye on them."

A slight swallow, but he wanted to make sure Aryan knew everything. "They have hailed us, however, but I assumed you'd want to speak to Admiral Daala first."

"Who has hailed us," Lyz said, confused, "Sorry?"

"The Sith, ma'am," Ark replied, his brow knitting. "Darth Krayt, he calls himself."



TAG: @HanSolo29 (option for combo with Lady_Belligerent or myself (or both))
---
Alone

With four Celestial monoliths, a Star Destroyer, a Dreadnought and a set of unfamiliar capital ships in a more distant orbit, Snoke's forces could be forgiven for missing a single snubfighter that had arrived from distant Modesta.

Adrias Stark had arrived, and was staring down forces aligned with Snoke's Empire, the Imperial Remnant, and more besides, and whatever meditation he had committed to in the hour trip would be shattered by the simple fact that the Dark Side was here.

Palpably.

Not one current, not two, but easily a thousand and more, little eddies, powerful currents, and monstrous powers.

It was all here.

The Megador, the Dreadnought, Adrias would know from his time among the Jedi fifteen years ago as a friendly harbour then, but now? Who knew.

The rest, unmistakably enemies.

Besides him would wink out of hyperspace another fighter-sized ship, similarly undetected, or, perhaps, it was the reason why Adrias had been missed, as it cast an obscuring pall in the Force.

A Sith Meditation Sphere.

Fifteen year old memories would let Adrias know that this particular ship belonged to one Vestara Khai...

The ex-girlfriend of Ben Skywalker and a traitor.

What was she doing here?



TAG: @TheAdmiral (single)

 

The Chapter Begins…

 

IC: Atin-Kot Kouwr
The Wookiee Refugee Complex

Leaning on his truncated staff, Atin-Kot seemed slightly amused at the furor of the meeting. He stood close to his brother, still slightly weary from the earlier battle, although the time between had allowed minimal rest. Behind him he sensed more than heard the rustling of the Jedi that had been assigned to the two of them. Turning his head toward Zeseem ”We ssshall sssee how thessse troopsss are. The eonsss roll on but the warsss continue.”

He could taste the various emotions in the group and was sure that not all standing here now would still be standing when the dust settled. One did not take on Darkness and Celestial technology without a price being paid. When he heard the one called Poe begin to speak, he turned his attention to the man.

He listened carefully as the man spoke, noting the various assignments. With the resources listed, this was going to be a battle such as he’d taken part in when following Revan all those many years before. As he let his gaze sweep the space once more, his lips turned up in a fractional smile. One major difference from that time, his own time, was the quantity of Force users involved. In the time of the Great Jedi War there were so many more involved. He and Zeseem would have commanded battalions, not a mere twenty, Jedi.

As he processed the information they had been given he hoped that the other units would manage to distract the spaceborne forces. Otherwise their ship and unit would not stand a chance of making to the surface to complete their own assignment.

At the mention of Tirran Huxley he glanced up, noting that it seemed Master K'Kruhk and Ennis would also be joining them on that ship. A dry chuckle followed the mention of it being a tight fit, ”After more than three eonsss in ssstasssisss, a crowded ssship isss an open plain.” he muttered before breaking from where he was standing.

He stumped his way over to Tirran, stopping beside him, ”Hope you can fly like a crazzzed ssshyrack, we’re going to need it.”

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Mitth_Fisto, @Mistress_Renata, @CosmoHender

 

OOC: More fun with Adalia-Durron and Sinrebirth, in a combo

IC: Black Squadron, et al
Lexrul

The message from Admiral Ackbar shimmered in the air by the desk that Feral sat behind.

“Black Squadron, congratulations on your win in the Lexrullian War. It is good to hear that you had our backs. Jess sends her regards. You are requested to rendezvous with the flagship at these coordinates in the Jakku system. We’ve found Snoke’s warehouse of Celestial toys… and we’re going to blow it up.”

It had been on his mind the last couple days, albeit a minor thought as things took a serious turn. Between the remaining forces that Admiral Gherlid had basically abandoned on Lexrul as well as the resistance of most of the planet to the forces that had supported Callan there had been a massive cleanup to begin.

Their forces, which he’d been coordinating, had not caused the majority of the damage, that had been the redhats for the most part. The only damage caused by his forces were where the redhats refused to give up, even after their leaders had done what he’d not wanted to do, executing the, now, former Governor. What was creating his current stress, however, was that it had gotten out that he was the one who had led their forces, and was Tiber’s Uncle. Which, after that broadcast had even more import than his leadership.

Which now found him in the temporary Governor’s Residence, the one Callan had used was not fit for residing in. He’d been proclaimed Governor by almost three quarters of the planet once it had become common knowledge. Thankfully though, he didn’t have crowds of young women and men that seemed to gather wherever Tiber and Zara went, hoping to meet, to see, and to revere the face of their revolution. But…he sighed, while he was thankful the people had such faith in him he had been a military leader, not a politician, and this was a major job.

He did have Admiral Laktai from the LDF as well as Ellias and Jaxras who aided him with the political side of things. But the one who had helped him most, been there every step of the way in this rapidly changing time, was his wife, his Delta. He was currently focused on the datapads strewn over his desk, trying to catch up so that the rebuilding could progress apace when the hatch opened and his wife stepped inside. ”Just a moment love, sending a message to this Dhidal Nyz, telling him I’m willing to let him leave but that there are very few transports we could use right now. I’m also asking, offering, to let his forces integrate with ours to defend Lexrul when the Imperials come back. Which I’d prefer.”

Delta had her own data pad, now dressed in a Lexrullan uniform she was slipping into her new role with ease. She'd been his right hand for 15 years, getting back to it wasn't a difficult task. "You do that, just here to remind you that the Blacks are leaving......with others.............and I for one am going to miss them." As a member of the Black Squadron, Delta was very sincere in her confession. "I'm going to be there, leaving that with you." She winked, despite her slipping back into a support role one thing had changed, he wasn't just her boss anymore, he was her husband, and a new one at that. So the 'honeymoon period' still applied. "And my advice? If they want to integrate, then separate. Don't need them plotting with each other to do Force knows what."

His head shot up then glanced at the chrono on the wall with a groan. ”It’s that time already?” Shaking his head as a wry grin crossed his face, ”Then let's get going, not wanting to miss the weeping crowds of women as Tiber leaves.”

He picked up a pad as he shut down the terminal at the desk. Walking around it to join her, ”I agree, if the Imp troops agree to join us they will be spread out, with old Phoenix troops as their leadership.” Leaning close, he kissed her before turning towards the door. ”Oh and I sent Ackbar a message that we’d help but not to waste our people.” he said as his arm slipped around her waist and they headed out of the office.

"Waste is such a final sounding work lover. Try risk or endanger." Delta said as they walked.

Feral’s eyes glittered, ”What would I do without you, love?” he asked, squeezing her side with a small hug. As they walked, his pad chimed with an incoming message. Tapping the icon, he chuckled as he read it, turning it so that Delta too could see it.

"You'd be miserably lonely at night." She said reading.

Surprisingly it was a response from Dhidal Nyz. He was apparently happy to commit to a peaceful integration rather than a return to Imperial command, especially as he had been expected to be kicked off the planet or executed. He was so appreciative that he offered a hundred Quarren to the cause, all kitted in Stormtrooper armour, and he was willing to commit a squadron of hyperdrive-equipped TIE/FOs.

”This unit, perhaps have them prove themselves alongside our contribution?” he asked, with a glance at his wife.

"A lot to prove and we get to keep our eyes on them, love it." She leaned in, "not as much as you, but its up there." Delta smirked.

Leaning his head closer, he kissed the tip of her nose, “I’m sure, between them, Tiber and Zara can keep a decent rein on them. And, if they’re that enthusiastic to prove themselves, it will be a boon to us. And a thumb in the eye of the Imperials.” He quickly tapped out a message to his nephew, apprising him of the situation and his recommendations. “They wish to join us then they are a part of the LDF now. If they are faithful then they will have a home to return to, here.” he murmured to his wife, before sending a second message to Dhidal, informing him of where the unit he offered was to embark.

An aircar waited for them outside the building, several former Phoenix troops creating a cordon, keeping the crowds back, as they walked to the car, almost unable to hear each other over the sounds of the people.

The noise died down as the door of the vehicle shut, ”I hope they’re as jubilant as we try to get back to normal here. Even though we’re going to have to remain on somewhat of a war footing until this war is over, just so what Gherlid did doesn’t happen again.” he said as they took their seats, the driver lifting and heading toward the spaceport.

The door closing gave her a reprieve from the sound as he spoke, she sighed, "we can give more freedom to the people, I know they think things are the worst ever, but I know there is way worse, but the average Lexrullan doesn't. Memories are short." She snorted, "and people forget how tough things can get, we have to give them something, a bit of freedom, to feel like they are winning."

He grinned, she did know him well. ”As soon as possible, we try to get those in entertainment free from the reconstruction, and give those still working hard..” His words broke off with a laugh. Still laughing, the aircar going slow enough through the crowd he could point at what had caused him to laugh, a woman standing in the crowd holding a sign reading HOW DARE YOU LET THE FACE OF BO LEAVE!!!. As he recovered, ”Well, the people still have some spunk left.” he went on, with another smile. Bouvet, the capital, had been hard hit but the fact that people could protest something like Tiber’s leaving in the way that woman had showed the Lexrullan people hadn’t let the short occupation truly take away their spirit.

Delta smirked, "and he didn't want to do it.............should have seen Zaa's glee at that one, it was her method of torture I think, and look, its your..............no, our fault." She squeezed his arm, "in this together remember?"

Leaning his head against hers he breathed in her scent. ”Always together, love.” he murmured.

The crowds didn’t even disperse when they passed the gate of the spaceport. Only when they passed another cordon of troops, which ringed the Arquitens-class command cruiser, recently renamed the Storm Cloud to reflect that two squadrons had been taken onboard, both Black Squadron and Lightning Squadron. The Aircar came to a halt near the boarding ramp, where both squadrons were standing, at rest, waiting for his and Delta’s arrival.



As he assisted her out of the aircar Tiber’s voice came out clear and commanding, ”Governor on Deck…Wing, Attention!!” With a synchronized motion, all those behind him as well as himself came to attention, most of his old people having small grins on their faces even still. Tiber himself saluted as Feral turned towards the group, feigning a frown, ”Cut it out, at ease, even.” He shook his head, glancing at Delta, ”Not two days and they’re already pulling this.

Delta grinned, "don't stop them! It's a power rush!"

Zara allowed a smile, she'd only finished throwing up less than 30 minutes ago and still the opportunity to tell anyone had not come about, and she was nearly 8 weeks gone. Her uniform was starting to get tight and Zara was 100% sure it could be seen or at least the whisper of 'she's getting fat'. This whole adventure felt like it was against everything she wanted for her children, both of them, and sending them both out again just felt wrong to her yet, here she was, again.

Snorting at Delta’s response, Feral walked over to the ranks, noting one subtle difference to things. Dan stood at the extreme edge of the Black Squadron ranks, almost in the ranks of Lightning Squadron, close to where Jeanfra stood at the head of that group.

A smile touched his lips, stopping midpoint between Tiber and Jeanfra. ”This is all pageantry, you know, so our people can see we’re committing what’s important to aid the galaxy.”

He could see the look on Zara’s face, making him glance at Delta. ”I know all of you would rather be commanding and strengthening our defenses here so the Imps don’t get a chance to do what they just did, again. Unless we stop them everywhere we’ll never have that peace. So, I want you to know our people are supporting you in every way we can.”

Turning his head, smiling as he glanced at Delta, ”Did you write that for him?” he asked, cheekily.

"Could have, but didn't." Delta folded her arms, her dark eyes focused on her best friend for the first time in days. She'd known her for 17 years, and knew when something was not right with Zara and right now she looked a little pale, for a Twi'lek that is. Now wasn't the time though, but when was the time? They were going, she was staying. Turning she began to walk along the line, pretending to inspect till she got to Zara. "You ok Zaa?" She hissed.

"I will be," Zara whispered back, suddenly realizing she'd not see Delta for a sometime and this would be her only chance to tell her face to face, "in about 7 months."

Delta was no idiot and it took her a split second to understand, her eyes wide, "now?"

A simple nod as Zara responded correctly, "yes Ma'am." Her voice firm and loud.

Delta looked to Feral, did she tell him? What difference would it make now? None. So with a curt nod she returned to her husband.

Feral watched Delta pacing along the ranks, she’d be a great general officer, if they ever got to go back to their old profession, after the stint leading their people. He noticed the whispered conversation between her and Zara with a raised eyebrow but, since she didn’t say anything to him, he let it be, for now.

When she returned to him, he straightened his stance, expression firm. ”Go now, with the blessing of our people and the love of our world. Dismissed!”

A devilish grin crossed his face as the ranks broke up, the pilots streaming up the ramp. Stepping closer to his nephew, ”You’ll disappoint a whole generation of Lexrullan women if you don’t bring them back, especially yourself.”

Tiber blushed deeply, glancing past his uncle, at the crowds still pressing against the cordon. ”They’ll be disappointed when they know I’ve already found my One. But,” his expression turned serious, ”I will do everything in my power to bring them all home.” His eyes flicked to Delta, sure what the chat between her and Z had been, ”All of them.”

------

Tiber was on the bridge as the Storm Cloud lifted. He glanced back at the bridge hatch for a moment, hoping Z was okay, she’d darted off just before they’d reached the bridge, saying something about the fresher. There was a ping as the freighter that his uncle had mentioned came up on the sensors.

His face split in a wide grin as he walked over to the comms section. He wasn’t sure anyone had told the freighter that they were offering more than just Black Squadron. Pulling up their comm channel as the Storm Cloud reached orbit, he depressed the transmit button. ”Freighter Starsider, this is LDF cruiser Storm Cloud. We appreciate the assist and will join up with you for the trip to reach the fleet. Lexrul has decided to do all we can to aid the fight.”

Stepping back away from the comms station, Tiber felt a vibration in the pocket in which his datapad sat. Pulling it out, focused on the Starsider as it grew, in the viewscreen, he barely noted the bridge hatch opening. Around him the crew stiffened, a sense of shock as the being entered the bridge. He read the short message from his uncle, a similar snort escaping him, before he turned.

Eyes alighting on the Quarren that stood just inside the hatch, he shook his head. ”At ease people, he and his people have joined us, taken an offer of integration with us. And have come to assist us in the fight.” He wasn’t completely convinced but he had to tell the crew or any chance of it being a true integration would be lost.

Gesturing for Dhidal to join him at the viewscreen, ”Welcome to the LDF, Colonel. We have to discuss a few things.”

Nyz actually saluted, a clear sign of respect. "Sir, thank you for the warm welcome. Blessed tidings to you."

He regarded the man and viewscreen. "What do you need of me?"

Tiber studied the Quarren officer as the man saluted, the smile returning to his face. ”You are to join us as we assist the Resistance. I am sure there may be some who worry when they see TIE’s fighting alongside. I, well my uncle first, have had an idea to assist in that part of your integration.”

Pulling out a portable holo display, he flicked it on, revealing two images, ”Have you ever heard of an ancient unit known as Havoc Squad? We believe it is time to resurrect them. So, your troops and TIEs will be adorned in those colors, your unit colors, the twin symbols of Havoc and the Republic side by side. Which will hopefully prevent blue on blue encounters."





Nyz's facial tentacles writhed in the Quarren display of contrition, and awe. They settled, and he actually bowed.

"An honourable name far too honourable for a former mercenary that believed Gherlid's mantra that aquatic species' would be put first, and reclaim the legacy of our original homeworld." Nyz saluted. "Thank you, sir. Havoc Squad reporting in."

Zara leaned on the sides of the basin as she gazed at herself in the reflector. Space travel, any travel had never been a problem, and she had not been this sick with Amethyst. There was nothing left to bring back up, but she still felt queasy, bending she turned the water on and began to splash it on her face, then found some towelette nearby to wipe her face dry. It was time to be a Colonel, time to do her job, while her stomach was empty. Turning she left the refresher and made her way back to the bridge.

Tiber offered a deep nod in return. ”There are oceans and seas aplenty on Lexrul, should those of you who have joined us wish to stay once the war is done. Their families as well. We are not,” he smiled, his wife’s return to the bridge would certainly emphasize his point now. ”not xenophobes…” he murmured as his arm slid around her side. ”...and your people will be most welcome among us. For now, please make sure that your people are settled aboard the Storm Cloud and the conversion of their ships and armor is made. Under route, we can discuss what battle plans can suit joint operations, at least until we receive the full battle plan when we arrive.”

Nyz nodded. "Yes, sir."

Another salute, and off he trooped.

Tiber leaned against Zara, trying not to press too hard, knowing how sensitive her body could be, from when she’d been pregnant with Amy. ”You’re staying on the cruiser. Our combat controller, guiding the squadrons. I know you wouldn’t go out in a fighter but this can also help us.” he smiled and kissed her closest lekku, ”Plus, that allows us to keep an eye on Havoc.” One hand laid lightly over her abdomen, ”But enough about that, how are you feeling, love?”

"Like I licked the lining of a garbage compactor." She muttered, "but aside from that...........fine." She leaned against him, her body not coping well.

He held her closely as they headed for the exit of the bridge. Nodding to the Captain of the cruiser, letting the other man know he had the bridge so that they could set off, ”Come, love, let's get you something that can get that taste out, maybe some hot tea, in our quarters.” he murmured.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Adalia-Durron