Star Wars: The High Republic: The Acolyte: Peace, War, and Legacy

IC: Goya
Shatter.Point.

Goya was true to her word, always would be. She had been hired to, as stated, Protect Naboo, protect the peace proceedings, keep the peace. And so, as Lord Tapalo came up and began his speech, she twitched her cheek. It was a subtle facial command, picked up by her helmet interface that began a transmission. The combat log from her suit, began an upload and burst broadcast. The attack from the Jedi, the fight after, the arrival of these men, the Lord's declaration of intentions, the attack her sensors picked up on the senator's ship over Theed. From her suit, to her ship, to a number of contacts, including the Black Vulpine's she'd contacted en route. And then, taking a page from the Republic 11 years ago, a comm Jammer in her suit activated.

She would have privacy, in her moment of catharsis. As her Mandalore took to draw her blasters, Goya took a step forward. It was not slow, it was not methodical. Amplified by her power suit and the Force Goya was in one moment one place, and the next directly in front of Lord Tapalo. Her left arm raised, armored hand clenched into a fist and seething fury for what had clearly, to her, been planned all along. And she threw a punch, right at the Lord's face. He could have armor, he could have a personal shield. But an Echani warrior, in a Mandalorian Armor enhanced power suit was throwing a Force enhanced punch directly into his face. Inertia, as they say, kills.

Tag: @Sinrebirth et al

 

"When action is necessary, make sure it is decisive." - The Senator, Conversations with Fiadh and Saoirse



IC: Bairre O'Loingsigh aka The Senator, Saoirse
Gravestone

The Senator evened out the flight. "Saoirse! Go get changed, then come and relieve me." The Senator then activated his comms for Sola, "House Malreaux tanks fired upon us. I suspect Veruna to be behind this as well. I believe they are launching a coup. The Longbeam is the flagship..." He looked at the sensors, "The Dreadnoughts may be suspect as well. I'm going to make a call."

The next signal he found was from his contacts in the Trade Federation, "There are hostile forces to the current government on Naboo trying to stage a coup. They have also fired on me. Tentatively identified a Longbeam as the flagship with possible assistance from three Dreadnought cruisers. I am requesting your help as a Representative of the Republic and as Leader of the Core Faction. Please get here quickly. "

In that time, Saoirse made it up to the cockpit, he spared her a glance and grinned. "Good, you guessed correctly."

Saoirse arched an eyebrow, "That we are going after them?"

"Exactly, take over please."

They swapped places, The Senator ran off to find his "hunting" clothes. Something black and comparatively simple.

Saoirse took the seat and started actively searching for an approach on the Longbeam. Good, I would like to peal one of their ships like a fruit.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC:Binks

Every hero has their breaking point.

The Queen’s aide had said so just a moment before. She’d complimented his restraint. He’d protected the Jedi. The mission finally seemed it was going well. Though he’s thought she was wrong in specific—a champion of the Sacred Place didn’t wither—he’d appreciated the remark and tried to offer a compliment in return.

That was before. Now someone was trying to take over. Bucketheads were swarming into action. And even if somehow, they could do the right thing for once, there were still all the first man’s guards.

Binks pushed away from everyone. Drew his dagger defensively. Readied to drop. Accepted imminent death. Maybe this still came out okay—but most likely not.

So he prayed that side was radically wrong. That he wasn’t about to find his breaking point. That the Jedi hadn’t really fallen either. When the moment was right, she would rise up to save the Naboo. She had to. She promised at the Sacred Place. And it was there only hope.

Heroes didn’t break . . .did they?

Tag: @Sinrebirth et al

 

IC: Trask Thul
VINDICATION

It wasn't often that Trask was granted the opportunity to feel smug about a situation. Events played their course, and he was usually just along for a ride. The less he had to think about minor points of issue like ethics or reasonable force or legality the better. Not that it ever made accepting the credits from a job hard either way, but as Trask watched Tapalo not only readily incriminate himself, but seemingly eagerly so, he did indeed feel rather smug.

He had been right after all. It was nice to not have any doubt of culpability for once.

After remembering that the Mandalorian, Goya, was most likely recording the whole interaction as well only made his decision easier.

"I, and Lord Veruna, we formally request you follow the letter of your contract to the word and bring peace and justice to.."

Trak's twin heavy-blaster pistols were unholstered and in his hands before Tapalo finished speaking. He clocked his mechanical arm lagging behind his flesh arm by 0.334 seconds. He clicked his tongue. That meant maintenance. He fired with both barrels just as Goya's fist impacted Tapalo's face. Once, twice, three times in rapid succession, aiming to absolutely disintegrate the rebelling noble's kneecaps.

He wouldn't be walking much within a jail cell.

Tags: @Sinrebirth , @Kahn_Iceay

 

IC: Rowan Organa

Rowan took a deep breath, trying to steady herself on the wider currents of the force. "I think we all need the calm down. There's been enough killing today." She looked at Tor carefully. And stepped closer to Isadora, ready to protect her if necessary. "There's something bigger at play here." She held out her hands. "Please, just let me use the force for a moment. It won't hurt."

She ignored Talapo lying kocked out on the ground. She was greatful he had finally shut up.

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

"There are times when mercy is a luxury you cannot allow." - The Senator, Conversations with Fiadh and Saoirse



IC: Bairre O'Loingsigh aka The Senator, Saoirse
Gravestone

The Senator returned to the cockpit. Glancing at the sensors he spoke as he was sitting, "Looks like we might have incoming, we'll need escorts if we want to go after the Longbeam."

Saoirse switched on the autopilot and got up, "I will need to meditate if we do not get our escort."

The Senator nodded, "Do it." He connected back to Sola, "This is Senator O'Loingsigh requesting an escort in order to get to the Longbeam cruiser and confront the people there."

TAG: @Sinrebirth, @Lady_Belligerent

 

IC: Goya

Before the Lordling had even hit the ground Goya had moved again, standing now between the Queen and the House Guards. Her right arm held out to the side and her blade, still embedded in the ground, flew into her grip as she drew a second shorter blade with her left. Ports on her armor hissed open, thermal vanes shedding heat as her suits power plant ramped up to actual combat numbers. "I am Goya, of the Echani clan Hotgo, of the Mandalorian clan Vhett. I have been trained by the two most lethal warrior cultures in this Galaxy. The scant few souls who have been in opposition of me and lived, are behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else." The heated plasma sheaths of her blade ignited, putting emphasis on her point.

The Silver Wings
Detecting the transmission, despite the comms jammer, as well as the deployment in orbit the ships AI activated its overwatch protocols. Lifting off the dirt it began accelerating towards Goya's location, low, fast. Intent on staying below any offensive fire and getting to its master for a quick escape, or fire support. Eleven years ago it held its own against Mandalorian and Republic fighters, now it only had to deal with one. And in eleven years, it had learned, and had a few new toys.

Orbit
An old and venerable Captor-class Heavy Cruiser dropped out of Hyperspace a few hundred kilometers out from the Republic ships. Its identification transponder ID it as the Black Vulpine a craft that had appeared eleven years prior in the climax, and exchanged a few blows with the Jedi cruiser that day. As it began righting itself to the orbital plane dozens of Scarab-class droid fighters began pouring out of its hangar, and forming delta formations around their mothership, it transmitted a message. "We are the Black Vulpine Security Force, we have been sent on behalf of the Echani Confederation. The Six Sisters of Eshan extend our support to their friend and ally Queen Helena, rightful ruler of Naboo." If Helena knew the Echani considered her a friend and ally was another thing all together, what did matter, was that they were here.

Tag: Whole dang planet at this point.

 

IC:Ryan

Thou he had no interest in Gungans, they weren't really a important. However, he had a hard time with the latest message. How could the ruler,be a threat? And who was behind the message and could they be trusted? these thoughts raced through his mind. He wasn't making any kind of move, until further information was given.

Tags: @Sinrebirth, @Lady_Belligerent, @Jabba-wocky, @adaml83, @Nehru_Amidala, @Silvertough, @TheSilentInfluence, @Kahn_Iceay

 

IC: Deptina Sidvthark

She had her orders, take out the Queen by any cost necessary.

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Binks
Theed Edge

Sitting at the edge. Now tipping over. As one man's body fell, blasters and lances rose. Voices, too. Some trying to stop what was about to happen, but all shouted down by momentum. They were only seconds away from the whole area becoming a hot fire zone. As much so as the skyboats overhead, except this would look unrepentantly ugly. Binks was right there on a knife's edge with them, finally ready to topple down into hell. He could already feel his body moving. That is, until the sound of instruments reminded him to dance.

"Issa blowing. The war horn of the Grand Army. If theysa thinking I failed, they launch muy big assault on this city. Everything they have," he intoned as the last note sounded.

"Yousa wants to stop them? Wesa needs to talk. Me. Queenie. Only two names the Gungans know. Get a communicator what can show usa picture. We two be talking to the Army together. Or wesa all gonna die."

He didn't actually know what they were up to. If he could persuade the leaders of the Army, or if it was even possible to stop the troops if their commanders could be convinced. He didn't know whether the Hooded Man had come back. He couldn't guarantee the Queen would find the right words to make their act convincing, especially when there was no space to discuss things in advance or at all in private. It could be that he had only guaranteed a "revenge" fire-bombing of Otoh Gungah--or judging by this crowd, a half dozen blaster bolts into his own corpse for daring to speak. All possible. But this was his best play, and he owed it to Crepaud to try.

TAG: @Sinrebirth @Lady_Belligerent @Silvertough @TheSilentInfluence @Nehru_Amidala @Kahn_Iceay @Jedi Bluth

 

IC: Trask Thul
Theed - Mayhem

Tapalo was down, and with that, Trask's die was cast on the side of the Queen. Funny that, he'd never considered himself a monarchist before.

Ah well, when in Theed, as the saying goes.

Trask spun on his heel, dropping into a half crouch as Goya began to monologue towards their shared foe. He for one didn't give the usurpers a chance to respond. Doing so had once cost him a hand, a lesson he wouldn't be quick to forget. Using the pontificating Mando as cover, Trask began firing both heavy blaster pistols into the collection of twenty Picturian guards. One fell immediately, toppling over backwards with a new hole in his forehead.

He squinted, only now noticing their spears. Trask laughed in between shots, a boisterous, rasping cough of a sound if there ever was one. It was a spear that had once taken his hand. The utter impossibility of a coincidence was impossible to ignore.

"Come on then Mandos! ..hnng..We can't get paid if there's no one left to pay us!"

Tags: @Sinrebirth , @Kahn_Iceay , Et al

 

IC: Rowan Organa

Rowan nodded, a slight determined frown on her lips. She looked at Cassius Ordo, "Keep her safe." She said; referring to Isadora.

Taking a deep breath, despite the chaos around her and settled in the force; reaching out to the wider currents to figure out the truth. Please help me. We need to defend the queen, but i also need to know who's behind this.

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

"My queen, I've served as pilot my whole life to and your family; so I know my way around the palace. I know of a hidden entrance that only us guards know, would you like an escort there?" Ryan offered.

TAGS: @Lady_Belligerent, @Jabba-wocky, @Sinrebirth, @Silvertough, @TheSilentInfluence, @Kahn_Iceay, @HanSolo29, @Nehru_Amidala

 

IC: Binks
Battle of Theed

Faster and faster. The horns blew louder. The beat thrummed more insistent. He swayed more precariously, even as the space for his feet evaporated. On and on in this terrible dance. His words had a direct objective, yes. But his deeper intention had been to freeze everyone. To somehow make his finger plug the oncoming torrent of violence. A vain hope. He and every other plea for reason was drowned out by the insane music of violence. The guards were charging forward. The bucketheads' guns were blazing. All sliding towards the one objective he had been meant to stop. What was a general, if nobody listened?

Still a soldier. So he took the device pressed into his hands. Fumbled to activate it. He didn't know enough to adjust any of the systems, but hoped it had been preset to some sort of broad channel that anyone in the area would pick up. At the time, he tried to use the voices to scramble. Towards the woman calling him towards putative safety. Away from the screams of the dead, now louder than they'd ever been, with so many on the verge of joining them. Straining, he almost thought he could hear Crepaud himself. But most of all, he fixated on one voice.

"Queen! Thisaway!" he called, trying to press his way to her.

The machine was booting up. About to project whatever image was in front of it. But Binks knew it had to both of them. A claim of peace while standing in the middle of bloodbath would look ridiculous. If anything, that would only invite a more rapid assault. If there was any chance of stopping this nightmare, it had to be the both of them, shoulder-to-shoulder, proving what they really thought of one another. With Crepaud's dagger in one hand and the holoprojector in the other, he tried his best to get close enough to her to make that a reality. If only events would favor him this once.

TAG: @Sinrebirth @Lady_Belligerent

 

"You can be obvious, or you can be subtle. There are advantages for both, but knowing when is the most important." -The Senator, Conversations with Fiadh and Saoirse


IC: Bairre O'Loingsigh aka The Senator, Saoirse
Gravestone

The Senator keyed the comms with the Z-95s, "Going evasive, suggest you do the same as well!" He twisted his head the crew compartment, "Whatever you're planning, do it quick!"

Saoirse, meditating, searched out through the Force towards the Longbeam. She'd been aboard one or two previously by people showing off their ships harkening back to something that never existed. She'd seen many parts of the ship, so she knew where the most... volatile portions were. Saoirse searched for one such spot, reached out through the Force, and started squeezing.

TAG: @Sinrebirth, @Kahn_Iceay

 

IC: Rowan Organa

Rowan startled from her meditation, looking over just in time to see Isadora get hit and go down.

"Isadora!" She yelled out, and ran after her. She knelt next to her; holding her head in her hands, and looking down at her; worry in her voice, and fear. "Isadora?! Please please be okay." She begged. She was vaughly aware of Ordo confronting a tank, and the battle around them. But she had to make sure her wife was okay.

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Trask Thul
Theed

"Stop questioning and start shooting!" Trask barked, firing off a shot as another thrown spear whizzed by his head. He ducked instinctively, ignoring the fact that the movement wouldn't have saved him either way. Grimacing, he turned and executed the aggressor with a double shot to the chest.

This was ridiculous. How was it that the supposedly elite guardsmen were stuck throwing spears while the native savages somehow had a somewhat modern army? Ridiculous!

"Oh for pity's sake!" He yelled, throwing himself out of the way of a charging crawler tank. "Mandos!" He yelled, coughing through his vocabulator, "Do something about these tanks!" The tank continued on, seemingly searching for a new target to trample.

Oh how he longed for a missile launcher.

Trask scrambled to his feet just as a Picturian guard decided to close the gap, stabbing the ground he had just occupied with a spear. Grunting with effort, Trask ducked under another thrust before kicking in the figures knee. He heard the crunch of bone and ligament, heard the gasp of shock, but didn't stay to watch him fall. Didn't have the time. There were too many foes, in too short a range. Not to mention the incoming armor.

He'd have spat in frustration if he still had the physical capacity to do so. As he backpedaled to put some pace between himself and any other of the guards, he spied the Queen and a Gungan attempting to get to safety. Unfortunately for them, it appeared as if a contingent of the surviving Picturians had seen the same, and were rushing to engage. Seeing no one else moving to assist, Trask groaned and counter-charged, hoping to close the distance before they surrounded the Queen.

If nothing else, Trask could give them a few extra seconds. Maybe that'd be enough.

He really hoped he'd be getting some hazard pay for this..

Tags: @Sinrebirth , @Lady_Belligerent , @Jabba-wocky