Star Wars: The High Republic: The Acolyte: The Mandalore, the Naboo, and the Statue

IC: Valorum and Bramsin
Hangar of the Mas Ramdar, Naboo orbit

The Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser was suddenly much emptier than it had been.

Jedi Knight Bramsin placed his hands on his waist as he watched two groups of five shuttles, one Jedi and four Corellian a piece, head to the surface. One for the Gallo Mountains, another for the Gungan holy site. Consular-class cruisers spread out across orbit, as did the Hammerhead-class cruisers. While the Mas Ramdar carried the troops, the elderly Hammerheads carried their starfighters, primarily not quite as old Incom Z-28 Skywings. A squadron of each were primed to launch and intercept any ships that tried to break the Naboo Blockade.



"It's fairly impressive," Bramsin said, to himself more than anything.

"I doubt the Chancellor will like it," Valorum said. His ancestors included many Chancellors, and he had a political mind than many.

Bramsin shrugged. "Mandalore the Hammerborn committed genocide over a distillery."

"I wasn't defending him, I merely verbalised that this much force being used against a world that was occupied by the Nihil will result in comparisons being drawn," he said, testily.

The words would travel to the ears of Senator O'Loingsigh as he arrived, and Bramsin turned. "Are you now ready? We sail forth for Theed whenever you are."

TAG: @adaml83
---
Elsewhere

A Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser was six hundred meters of durasteel.

But Jedi Master Heor Chall knew it very well. The crew of the Mas Ramdar had all been checked out by Heor, in some shape or method, for Mandalorian cover agents, spies from the nearby Senex or Sesswenna, and more besides.

He was not trusting. There was no need.

Heor shook his head slightly. It wouldn't do to just let things play out. Efficiency. The result mattered more.

The Queen of Naboo was an impediment to that result, and so, she needed to be took into custody. Even if she wasn't the true master of Hammerborn, it was simply prudent. It was merely protective custody, for her own good, would be his argument in retrospect.

For the moment, Heor allowed the Force to guide him towards the discordant note in the Force.

Something aboard his ship was out of place.

Some... one.

"Ah, I see."

He lifted a hand, and squeezed his forefinger and thumb.

"This just won't do."

TAG: No-One

 

IC: Thul
Heading in

They crossed the line of atmosphere, and there was the holy site.

A set of sunken statues from the former capital of the Gungans, it was an expansive area and it was expected to be a logical place for Gungans and outsiders to interact. If the Gungans had hired Mandalorians (somehow), or the Mandalorians had been sent to purge the natives, that would be where Thul expected to find the target.

As they cleared cloud-cover, though, the Force cried out.

For whatever reason, the sky was already thick with spheres of blue plasma, hurled by immense catapults -

"What -"

Thul was very surprised that the Gungans were already firing on them -

The four Corellian shuttles cleared atmosphere and one immediately took a hit and began to fall from orbit -

Three began weaving, and Thul scowled, using the Force to reach out and push a plasma ball aside.

"Are you flying the shuttle or diverting plasma?" He said to Deptina, taking a deep breath to remain calm.

He didn't even see that the Gungans were not firing on them, it was merely that they were backdrop.

Of course, Goya would be notified that the Republic ships had just arrived in the middle of all this -

TAG: @Nehru_Amidala, @Kahn_Iceay

 

IC: Magenta
The Battle of Gallo

There a huge detonation in the cave, and pieces of catapult and Gungan were hurled into the forest.

Binks slapped Crepaud awake as he tried to drag him. "Wakesa up, WAKESA!"

There was flame everywhere, and they stumbled, drying out with every moment.

Magenta couldn't see the Gungans, but he could see the Mandalorians that began to funnel out of the Q-Carrier. Four took up positions to screen them, two moved to repair their ship, and one, complete with a command cape and what appeared to be a lightsaber on his hilt, strode out escorted by two Mandalorians, right towards them.

"Who - who are you?"

"We're allies," he said, through his helmet, soothingly.

His guards had their blasters trained on Magenta and Ryan.

"You are Naboo, yes? We came to assist in clearing the Gallo mountains for the Monarchy."

There was a whine in the air, and Mandalore looked up.

There was a Jedi shuttle.

And four Corellian star shuttles.

The man indicated Ryan. "You. Where is the son's body?"

Neema, in the lead Jedi shuttle with Rowan, saw the forest on fire, saw the Mandalorian shuttle, and just as suddenly saw that the four guarding Mandalorians had launched four rockets at them -

From the underside of one of the Corellian Star Shuttles came a squadron of twenty Republic JumpTroopers, all wearing jetpacks and leaping out -

TAG: @Jabba-wocky, @Jedi Bluth, @TheSilentInfluence
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The Distance

The little yacht was more Star Courier than anything else.

Swift, prompt and seemingly well armed, it was not the most luxurious, but it was effective.

Nonetheless, Rugess acceded to wherever the Queen wished to sit, and piloted with aplomb and speed.

Within minutes, they were crossing the Plains to the distant Gallo Mountains.

Rugess made a noise of curiosity. "Your Majesty?"

On the front viewscreen, amplified, was a fire in one of the mountainous areas, consuming an outcropping of forest, and there were missiles arching up into the sky to fire at a Jedi shuttle, and four larger red-painted Corellian designs following them.

"They appear to be Republic ships, no?" A dryness to his throat. "An invasion, perhaps?"

TAG: @Lady_Belligerent
---
The Depths

There was a shockwave, and it spun Nass into the water, the Bongo shattering into debris and every Gungan in sight was shredded or dead -

He was alive, just about, but had been propelled deep down by the impact -

A ripple of water, and a body was snatched away by -



TAG: @Mitth_Fisto

 

IC: Sola
Theed Palace

"The Queen instructed me that the Republic and Jedi are not to land. We need to get couriers out to the major cities, too."

The Minister narrowed his eyes at the handmaiden. "I will need to authorise that. You can't do that."

"Then go," Ederlathh said, drily. The older man glared at her and Cosinga tried a more diplomatic approach.

"We are nobility in Naboo, we can represent the Monarch in her absence, or we can have Sola stand in," he said. His eyes took in Willem. "Assuming you won't betray our confidence, Lord Graul?"

TAG: @HanSolo29

 

IC: Queen Helena
leaving palace, Naboo

“An invasion,” Helena repeated Rugess Nome’s words. “This is exactly why I forbid them to land,” she said angrily, “the Jedi are so bloody entitled. They believe they’re above the law and I won’t stand for it.”

Helena took out her comlink to Sola and her ministers, “I will not allow a Jedi team to land and enforce their laws on our citizens. Since I refused them, they have ignored my orders. I consider them entering Naboo airspace an act of hostility.”

It was insulting that they were pressing her when she’d been clear in her decision.

“I hereby order our military to direct their attention to stopping the Jedi,” she firmly added. The Gungans weren’t going anywhere, for now the Jedi were the real threat to Naboo.

Tag; @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Willem Graul
Royal Palace, Naboo



Despite Willem’s efforts to intervene, the bickering continued between the Minister and Handmaiden Sola. The latter wanted to relay orders on the Queen’s behalf while the former considered it immoral to carry out those orders without proper authorization. It truly was a petty argument, and he was inclined to ignore it—

Until the Minister addressed him directly.

"We are nobility in Naboo, we can represent the Monarch in her absence, or we can have Sola stand in," the Minister said. His eyes took in Willem. "Assuming you won't betray our confidence, Lord Graul?"

Pivoting on his heel, Willem turned and pursed his lips. He was immediately taken aback by the mild accusation—as if he would betray the Queen to her enemies—but he soon realized the Minister was only trying to protect his own skin. It was a simple precaution. Nevertheless, he opted to remain prudent to not draw suspicion.

"Of course not, Minister," Willem replied with conviction, nodding his head to emphasize his words. “I understand this is a crisis situation, and you must do what is necessary to preserve your sovereignty. If that includes launching a defensive strike to counter the Jedi’s insubordination, then so be it."

He spread his hands amicably.

"I will not intervene."

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Neema

The Jedi Knight was interrupted in responding to Rowan by the missiles ignoring the Jumptroopers and heading straight towards them -

She grabbed at Rowan’s belt, gestured with her free hand and blew the canopy, jumping out with Rowan. They were low enough that they’d be safe -

And then the shuttle blew behind them -

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence

The detonation interrupted whatever Mandalore would have said to Ryan, and he looked up at the fighting. More Mandalorians were launching from the grounded Q-class carrier. Magenta suddenly collapsed from the pain, and he looked back. “We’re not fighting over nothing. Are you coming back with us to Theed? Or staying here and waiting for the Royal Guard?”

TAG: @Jedi Bluth

Binks looked back, and turned to point. “Looksa! The red mechaniks are fighting the Naboo! Wesa saved!”

TAG: @Jabba-wocky

Rugess Nome packaged up the Queens words and placed them in a black-Eye droid. The Bith promptly explained. “The Republic full-spectrum jamming means I’ll have to send your orders by courier droid.”

He ejected the black-spheroid and it rushed back towards Theed.

As they closed, one of the Republic shuttles exploded. Rugess bounced his ship up from its lower position and confirmed what she was seeing. “Mandalorians are protecting the Headhunter wreckage, and fighting off the Jedi and Republic. Seems they’re on your side, Your Majesty.”

He tapped a control. “We don’t have comms, but I can set up a megaphone for you…”

TAG: @Lady_Belligerent

 

IC: Rugor Nass
The Depths

The underwater ways were patrolled, in-case the Naboo attempted an ill-considered sea assault. It was certainly possible, if unlikely.

However, by the time Nass was found, it had been some time of swimming, exhaustingly so. But a Bongo submarine found him, and he came too with Rugor looking at him, a young member of the extended family.



“Whatsa happening?”

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto

 

IC: Bramsin

The Jedi Knights didn’t have much to say about that. The Naboo had resisted a mandate to find and detain a war criminal. An architect of genocide. Ruffled political feathers could be resolved; the continued murder of innocents could not.

The Jedi shuttle launched, and the Corellian Star Shuttles followed. For the moment, Valorum busied himself with setting up the feed.

“Theed is the capital of Naboo. It is more likely than not that a Mandalorian was hired from here. On that basis we are targeting this to find who is giving Mandalore the Hammerborn refuge,” Bramsin explained. “We need you to smooth over local tensions until he is secure.” A pause. “While I do not disagree that the approach we are taking is a little rough, drawing comparisons to Valo isn’t needed.”

“We need to act swiftly, and with a unified approach,” Valorum said reluctantly. “We can consult the Council and Senate after.” A nod. “In-fact, I encourage you to.”

They were suddenly in orbit, and Theed was lain out in the distance.

TAG: @adaml83
—-
Theed Spaceport

As they traipsed to the spaceport, with the Minister left behind, Sola was prepared aboard the speeder-train. She explained that the confidence that Willem needed to keep was not the general fate of Naboo, but the specific fact that she was pretending to be the Queen.

“The monarchy has a long tradition of body-doubles,” explained Cosinga. “It’s a very prudent act for a Head of State.”

“But the Naboo have made it an art form,” Ederlathh said. “Some would suggest using clones instead, but there isn’t a method that wouldn’t take a decade, and by then it’d be too young, and we’d need to wait even longer to age them up.”

Cosinga slightly rolled his eyes. “Our father is obsessed with cloning. My apologies.”

Sola nodded, neutrally, as she applied make-up. There was suddenly a call from the royal guard driving the speeder. “Ma’am, there are Republic ships coming in from high orbit. I can send couriers to tell them to open fire, or?”

Cosinga winced. “We need to focus on getting to Mr Graul’s ship.”

TAG: @HanSolo29

 

IC: Thul
Battle of the Gungan Sacred Place

The Jedi Knight focused on swerving as Deptina deflected plasma balls. As Thul did so, the damaged Corellian Star Shuttle made a landing at the edge of the area and began to release troops and even modern AT-PT walkers.

Thul didn’t even realise they had walkers with them. Their Master was clearly ready for a war. He suddenly noticed the interloper, a sleek vessel opening fire on the sacred place, clearing screening the Jedi and Republic through jammed comms.

Various plasma balls hurled into the air still, missing Goya, and the Gungans didn’t let up, and the Republic was committing more. The Star Shuttles fired on plasma balls and suddenly a swarm of Republic JumpTroopers were launching too. A battle began.

Thul spoke to Deptina, and pointed at the random ship assisting them. “There is a Force user aboard that. I can tell. Their piloting skill is too great.” A pause. “I wonder if the Gungans are firing on them and we’re just getting caught in the middle.”

It was too late either way.

The Gungans hadn’t stopped when they saw the red shuttles, which meant the Jedi had to respond. “Remind me to have a serious chat with that pilot when this is over.” He nodded. “Keep an eye on them, Deptina.”

He wished they had comms, but the Republic wouldn’t allow messages to pass until Theed at very least fell.

TAG: @Kahn_Iceay, @Nehru_Amidala

 

IC: Queen Helena
Naboo

“No,” Helena answered. “It would blow my cover if I spoke from here,” she explained, “besides, I left Sola with precise instructions and I trust her to carry out my orders.”

Tag; @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Willem Graul
Theed Spaceport, Naboo



Willem remained silent as the report came in about the approaching Republic ships. It was not his place to interfere in matters of state, particularly when the wrong decision could have serious implications for the Naboo. He would allow Sola to make that call.

Besides, he was more intrigued about the Queen’s methods of subterfuge…

… and the Palpatines’ apparent obsession with cloning. He was curious to learn more about that claim. In some ways, it made Ederlathh even more alluring.

"No need to worry," Willem called over the roar of the repulsors, squinting against the rushing wind as he turned to regard them. "We’re almost to the ship…"

He then reached down and discreetly took Ederlathh’s hand. "And please tell your brother not to apologize. When we have a moment, I would love to hear more about your family."

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Rugor Nass
The Depths

"Wesa should tell the Council, mesa think," young Rugor thought. "Back to the capital, to Otoh Gunga?"

A slight pause. "Or should we headsa back, and findsa more survivors?

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto

 

IC: Rugess Nome
Battle of Gallo Mountains

Whatever Ryan would have said to Mandalore, or Neema to Rowan, or even Crepaud to Binks, was interrupted by the sudden sonic boom of a fast-approaching ship.

The flames were spread, or knocked out entirely, as the personal yacht - a star courier really - of Rugess Nome arrived.

The Bith was adjusting the controls swiftly, spinning to the left so he could target weapons forward at the... well, at what.

There were Corellian Star Shuttles landing and disgorging troops, Mandalorians dancing with Jumptroopers in the air, the wreckage of several flaming Naboo Headhunters, and a body in a Royal Pilot outfit that Helena would recognise even from this distance as that of Panaka, who had been caring for her son... or died trying.

And then, Rugess spied the two Gungans high-tailing it out of there, and the smoke rising from the cave in the mountain.

"What a mess," he said, drily.

Even as he spoke, a Mandalorian warrior, female, ignited her jetpack and rushed towards Neema and Rowan -

"Rowan!"

Neema shouted out, igniting a blade -

The warrior fired off a whip-coil, securing Neema's arms against her sides and then booting her down the hill -

The warrior was vulnerable to Rowan for a split-second -

TAG: @Jabba-wocky, @TheSilentInfluence, @Jedi Bluth