Star Wars Legacy of the Force: The Last Stand

IC Jesse Coulson, Adalia Tehanis-Durron
Hangar Deck - The Ranger


As she left Adrian, Adalia noted Loriana and Rooty talking quietly nearby and she’d seen his body language before. She allowed a warm smile as she knew what it meant before turning and leaving to find Jesse, if who she believed was on board, they were all in danger. She didn’t want to think on it, but she was more in danger than anyone here, and she was acutely aware of it as she entered the turbo lift alone. Once she got on the Hangar deck she decided ‘alone’ was not an option till they found her, she needed someone nearby in case, but how to do that without acting like she was some pivotal character in all this? When the lift opened to the Hangar, she was relieved, even slightly so, and crossing the deck in full view she felt safe to a certain degree. She sighted Jesse talking to a security officer in front of a TIE Defender. He looked up as she approached.

Jesse had been discussing the best way to stop the pilot, a potential Force user, from getting to their ship, when he heard the now familiar sounds of her boots on the hangar deck. He’d learned all the sounds that related to her, all the nuances no one else would notice.

He noticed them all.

He smiled before frowning slightly. “Colonel, you shouldn’t be getting about alone, not with our intruder on board.”

Adalia gave her head a shake with faked bravado. “Not going to allow anyone to scare me and for the millionth time, I am not a Colonel, its just Adalia……or Addie.” She said stopping before him.

With a wave he dismissed the Security officer to his post and turned back. “What can I do for you….Col……………Addie.” He liked the way her name rolled off his tongue.

“A report? What have you found?”

He shrugged. “Good at covering her tracks. Nothing really, the ship’s clean and I have 6 guards around it, security holocams and me.”

She nodded. “If its who I suspect, they won’t stop her.” She said gravely.




TAG @adaml83 @Sinrebirth @darthbernael

 

IC: Briana Odan, Kael Swiftflight, Rachel Nezuma, Adalia Tehanis-Durron, Jesse Coulson
Hangar Deck - The Ranger



"Then don't" Briana walked up with Kael and a mechanic wearing the sort of mask if you were working near the engines. "Not that we have to make her trip easy though..." she gave Adalia and Jesse a malicious grin.

Adalia had to smirk as Briana and Kael approached, she knew they'd have a plan already. She shrugged. "I see no issue with that Briana, by all means, make the necessary 'repairs' to the ship." She said, giving Jesse a glance.

He had to smile as he was fond of the 'under the regulations' activities that seemed to surround this lot. "I saw nothing." He pretended to look away.

Briana nodded at the female mechanic, "You want to start on the outside?" and then Kael, "And plant our presents on the inside?"

She then grinned at Jesse and Adalia, "We get the fun toys...then again I bet you're happy that some members of your squadron didn't get their hands on these."

Adalia gave a sage nod, "Rooty would love them, but he's a little distracted right now I've noticed." She said recalling what she'd seen in the infirmary.

Briana chuckled and nodded in Kael's direction, "Rumor has it that he'd probably love Swift's toys more." she considered a moment before looking at Adalia, "Do you think it would have been better had you been, either the Knightz, or the Sabers as the old Wraith-style hybrid unit?"

“Sabers for sure" she answered without hesitation. "They had Adam."

Jesse listened silently wishing he’d been lucky enough to be part of the legends.

Briana cocked her head, "Don't get me wrong Stealth is extremely capable as a starfighter commander and I love him like a brother..." she paused briefly, "...But, to command, a group like the Wraiths is sort of like barely controlled chaos. Stealth would be good, but we'd drive him crazy like the Wraiths did to their first commander, however someone like Face, or you would be better. You've pretty much done that with your Knightz."

A discrete smile was given. "No, you misunderstand. He planned the exercises, then me and the old Knightz now Sabers mostly, made the messes." She winked.

Briana snorted, "You can't plan messes, you can kind of direct them. Then again it helps when you have someone that knows when to create a big mess...that' you."

Adalia smiled knowingly, it was a long time ago, but the memories were fond ones.

Briana grinned, "You remember how many times Stealth would say 'You need to make them react to you as opposed to the other way around...'?" she rolled her eyes, "Thousands in my case."

From inside the cockpit, Kael spoke, "Maybe tens of thousands of times..."

From the maintenance ports near the engine, Rachel spoke, "I could count on one hand how many times the two of you listened..."

Briana made a face in that direction and smirked when she saw Tawg rush over to Rachel's position, as an initially excited conversation turned quiet after she had raised her mask and put a finger to her lips. Briana shook her head and turned back to Adalia, "She knows how to bribe better than anyone I know...anyways, that means we should do something to Aden. When it involves Wraiths it usually means a heist, what do you think?"

Adalia began to shake her head and put her hands up, palms out. "No....no........I can't!!!" She looked down at her stomach. "If you want to play with the devil, leave me out of it. I want as much distance between him and me as possible and I don't want to give him any more reason to focus on me." Truth was she knew how powerful he'd become and 6 months ago she would have taken the challenge, but not now. Now she had so much more to live for and so much more to protect. "Just don't tell me and make sure I'm nowhere near whatever you do."

Briana looked down at Adalia's stomach and blushed slightly, "Sorry, I didn't explain myself correctly. You don't directly have to do anything, however, I've seen enough that this group is consistently reacting instead of acting. What I'm thinking of is more of a quick raid on one of their less important ships, might be able to pull something off that way. We just need a target, and with the help of one of your Trio, I've heard stories," she checked her datapad, "maybe Jay? And if you want someone responsible," she grinned at Jesse, "maybe we could use him..." she shrugged, "If Kya's already obsessed with you, and him too, I don't know if you can do anything to avoid him much, but if we can distract him..."

Jesse's eyes widened in disbelief and horror. "I am not!"

She gave her head another shake. "Put Adam's signature on whatever you do, I want to be a shadow, invisible and as far as anyone is concerned not here." She chose to ignore the dig.

Briana smirked in Jesse's direction, "Are too."

Jesse turned away for a moment to cool his flushed cheeks.

She shook her head and looked in Addie's direction, "I'll have it quickly."

Behind Briana, Kael and Rachel were closing their respective hatches, apparently done. Kael grinned in their direction, "Whoever’s this ship is...they're going to have fun."

Adalia just hoped 'they' weren't watching right now.

Kael smiled, "It isn't something simple to fix in a matter of seconds, so whoever it is has a couple of choices, take their own ship, or use an escape pod. Even with whatever adventure she's going to go on, it'd be faster than any other option."

A sage nod. "I trust your Wraith mind......" She turned to Jesse, "And I'll leave all this in your more than capable hands." She reached over and clapped his shoulder.

Jesse's blush had faded and he was more than grateful she'd moved on from Briana's comment about his attraction to her. She'd not even acknowledged it, it then struck him that she'd not even acknowledged it. 'She's married and carrying another man’s child.....move on will you?' His mind screamed, but his heart was saying 'everything in life is negotiable.'

Briana glanced at Kael, shook her head, and he grinned. He's in his own head…



TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

C: Welmo Darb
Aboard the Ranger, Corellian system

As the Corellian Prime Minister Sadras Koyan docked in the hangar, word spread that a blond assailant was aboard, having nearly taken Adrian hostage. So too were the charges levelled against Welmo Darb, and the presence of third parties was rumoured but not known. After all, Face and Natasi wouldn't want anyone to know about their presence.

Welmo wanted to get food, but Rooty had made his way back to him, so escorted by Rooty, Welmo made a decision, as he heard the chatter about the woman intruder, and concluded that it had to be Tahiri Veila, the Sith apprentice of Jacen Solo. He didn't have manacled hands, but he’d had his blaster taken, which of course he acquised too like any good wronged pilot. With a glance down the corridor, he concluded that they were alone.

He turned, lifting his foot high and catching Rooty on the side of the head, causing him to smash into the wall and drop into unconsciousness. Welmo yanked the blaster free of Rooty, got his bearings, and headed off.

It was time.

The ship was a mass of actions, and possibility, a veritable tether. Face was about to head to the ready room speak to Bernael, when the Force took a sharp angle of danger. Of course, Bernael wasn’t there, as far as he could see.

Adalia was on her way to the ready room, being brought up to speed by comlink about all the happenings on her ship. She would absently emerge from the turbolift with more to handle than not.

That moment coincided with Welmo slipping out of a side room, placing his blaster on the temple of Adalia, and looping his arm around her neck. "Take me to the hangar; you're going to let me take you back to Coruscant - back to the Galactic Alliance Guard, and there is nothing that you or Ilona can do about it."

A voice sounded from the shadows, and Tahiri Veila stepped free, entirely garbed in black leather, a lightsaber hanging at her waist and the three scars on her forehead looking as angry as ever. Now Adalia would know why she hadn't sensed Welmo.

"Time to go, traitor Colonel... and I'll be taking Adrian Malek with me too..."

She had her lightsaber in hand and used the Force to hold Adalia's mouth shut for the moment.

Of course, what they did was seen on the security cameras, shown to the bridge, and the news travelled like wildfire to Mirax, to Jesse, to Adam, to Loriana, to everyone -

Tahiri turned to the stairway. "We'll go this way, we won't be able to use the turbolifts."

She held up a remote, and triggered the bombs she'd scattered around the ship. One exploded under the mess hall, sending the tables up into the air and anyone inside too - another exploded in the engine room, knocking out power across the ship. A third and final one blew a hole in the ship by the ready room, and the door was ripped off, exposing Renn, the Nagai twins, and Face of course, to being sucked out into vacuum -

The Sith apprentice smiled. "We'll commandeer a shuttle, and off we go." Her eyes took in Adalia's stomach. "A child for Chief Solo to mould... and more bait for Master Durron."

Welmo grinned maliciously. "I love it when a plan comes together."

Tahiri released Adalia's mouth, and they began to wrestle her down the stairway to the hangar.

TAG: @Anedon, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha , @darthbernael, @adaml83, @Adalia-Durron, @Corellian_Outrider @The Real Kyp Durron

 

OOC: Combo with @Sinrebirth

IC Renn, Romulus, Remus, and Face
Ready Room and beyond

Renn and the Nagai were discussing options to deal with the danger they all sensed, the shade Bernael merely relaxing in the shadow, an occasional comment so it would seem he was there. Suddenly they all stiffened as they felt a wave of Dark energy wash through, a spike in the Force. Facing outward, all three covered the shadow the shade of Bernael stood in, seeking the threat.

And then the charge went off. Events went into overdrive as the outer hull section of the ready room and the door to the corridor both were sucked outward. Renn expanded, digging in to the floor and ceiling, trying to keep the nagai from being sucked out. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the one that had come to speak to them by the door, looking to be sucked out as well. An appendage formed, fighting the pull of the vacuum he extended it to the man.

”Grab hold, we just need to hang on for a minute!” he yelled over the sound of the rush of air out of the ship. He wasn’t meaning a possible screen raising to block the hole, of course, but there was an ace in the hole and he knew they just had to hang on long enough. He closed every pore in his skin, preserving his breath. Even if the others passed out he’d still be aware enough to get them going.

Well this isn't going well. Face grabbed at it, but it couldn't find purchase, he was slipping.

Ah shavit.

He thought of his wife, and his daughter, and closed his eyes -

Renn felt the man slipping and wrapped the appendage around the man. He didn’t know him well but he wasn’t going to just give him to the void.

As he did his comm chirped, telling him the Fury had moved into position. He pulled the man close and he told both him as well as Rom and Rem to hold tight. ”We’re going out the hole, but only for a moment.” he warned. And then let go the holds he’d had on the floor, ceiling, and walls, letting the vacuum pull them toward the apparent void.

Face's eyes widened. If he had oxygen, he would have shouted at them. What the hell are you doing?!

He was cold - so cold - he rolled into a ball, he was unable to help himself.

Romulus and Remus grasped tightly to Renn, knowing the crazy tree had to have a plan. The man with them curled up, making both want to laugh but that would have wasted the breaths they’d sucked in before Renn let go.

The group flew out of the ready room quickly and the vacuum tugged at them, their pace slowing. But then, unseen to the three wrapped in Renn, the void seemed to take form for a second, the ramp of the Fury dropping. It snapped shut as soon as they were aboard and air flooded the entry.

Renn set all three of the others on the deck and shifted back to his normal form, stretching and breathing deeply. He laughed, ”Ohh that was fun!” His foot nudged Face, ”Hey, Mister Spy, we’re fine.”

He unfurled, breathing deeply. "Can we not do that again?"

"Like, ever?" Face sat up, taking a deep breath. "Do we know what happened? Holes in ships don't tend to just happen."

The three others laughed, an odd concordance of sound, Renn recovering first. He glanced at Rom, got a nod in return, before Rem disappeared deeper into the ship. Renn turned back to Face, ”Bernael warned us that there were several threats on board, including one born of the Dark Side. I suspect they planted charges as they snuck around the ship.”

He gestured into the entry hall, leading Face to the main lounge, Rom trailing behind, ”One thing I should say, now that we’re here, this is Bernael’s ship. And he’s quite particular about it. Right now the only spaces not locked behind a system set to fry anyone not fully vetted are this room, the conference room, and one spare cabin.” He sat on one of the lounges, ”That being said, you were headed to see us when someone decided we needed to breath vacuum, what was it?”

"Well I wanted to find out more about this Society that has cropped up in everything." He twirled his comlink briefly, and seemingly decided against using it, pocketing it. "Is it like the Genoharadan, or the Star Chamber, I wonder?"

Rom snorted and Renn glanced past Face, a smile on his face. ”Well, you’d know better than I...”

”True, so, Mister Spy, what do you already know about the Society? Besides that it exists?” Rom asked, as he leaned back against the bulkhead.

"That it tweaks events, and has Force users," he grinned. "They're mildly important nowadays, what with there only been a thousand Jedi in the galaxy and all..." Face eyed the three of them. "All of you can use the Force, I gather? And the Shadow, too?"

He eyed the Fury. "Lot's of Sith connotations here, of course, and shadowy organisations and all."

Rom didn’t let the mild jibe make him stiffen, instead a wry smile came to his face. ”Just because one has use of the Force it doesn’t mean one has true talent in it. The Force touches all, lives in all, but only speaks to a few.”

Renn chuckled, ”Some of us it shouts at, stomps its foot at, or shakes its head at us as though we are children, which to it we are.”

He turned his gaze to Face directly, ”Some of the most reliable of the vessels that could have been chosen are of Sith design, yes. But,” he grinned again, ”Did he give the impression of a Dark sider when you met him?” It was the closest he’d come to admitting that Face had met the Shadow directly.

Rem returned from the bridge, ”The Fury is in standoff mode, Father said to keep an eye out, that we may have some parasite guests buzzing around shortly.”

Face shrugged. "I mean, you're Nagai, it's hard not to obtain a negative impression what with your galactic history... I would hardly welcome a Yuuzhan Vong without just nodding, nor a Yevetha, or a Tof..."

There was some movement to the bow of the carrier - a Corellian shuttle was arriving with an escort, but the movement was slightly further away. Of course, that movement was in the Force, not sensors... a stealth-equipped ship? More than one?

Rom and Rem snorted, her eyes blazing slightly, ”Yeah...as though Humans have been the paragons of virt…” she began before she, Rom, and Renn all stiffened, heads tracking outside of the Fury.

Ignoring the jibe now, Rom shot a glance at Renn, ”Yeah, see you feel that too tree boy. Seems we have visitors, hiding from sight like us.”

Renn nodded, ”Rem, bridge, you have manual targeting of the missile systems, aim them with the Force, if our guests prove violent. Rom, same with the turrets but from the upper turret.”

He turned to Face, ”Hmmm, Mister Spy, you stay right here with me. And tell me who in this galaxy would have access to such stealth tech and would be here right now.”

“Jacen would, obviously,” Face said. “Sienar are desperate to develop a TIE equivalent of the StealthX, unless here himself...” There was a bit of dread, but Face shook it off.

“Isn’t he a bit out of your league, if so?” He kept his words neutral.

Renn chuckled, ”If Jacen himself came here, we’d all be screwed. But unless he’s suppressing his presence in the Force I do not think it is he. One of his little minions possibly but not him.”

“And now you’re going to hear things you probably shouldn’t know.” he said, calmly. Turning to Rem, ”Bridge, comms, in system assets, target that region with deep scans, ask them to prepare standoff torpedoes, unguided, at least by mechanical systems, and yes I’ll tell the vampire.”

She darted back to the bridge, to do as Renn had suggested as Rom moved up near Face, without a sound. From just outside the reach of the man a whisper came, ”Yes the Society exists, and yes it tweaks things, and right now you better hope it can assist.”

"Are you attacking without provocation?" Face said, curiously.

Their sensors would struggle to pick out the TIE Blurs that were present; they had a StealthX equivalent cover, which made them difficult to see in space. In atmosphere, they'd look like grey-reflective TIE bombers, otherwise. But the Force would tell their 'scans' had four ships holding.

There was a spike of wariness, as if the pilots had realised they were being targeted -

Renn looked at the man, an odd expression on his face, serious in gaze, not what one was used to with him. ”Have we attacked yet, or just prepared for possible violence? Are we not still in a semi active warzone?”

He reached out, letting his emotions touch the pilots, projecting a sense of curiosity, as though to ask their intentions, without words. He could have gone deeper but he was still trying to figure out who they were and what they wanted, having come in without being visible to almost anyone else.

The pilots were communicating among themselves, hostile in thought but not yet in-action. There was violence aboard the carrier they circled - and a death. There was suddenly a bead of attention running from the enemy ships, focused upon the Corellian shuttle and it's escorts. It was clearly some kind of VIP...

Face made a noise of ah. "That's the Corellian Prime Minister's shuttle."

The stealthed ships intentions grew sharper, but hadn't crossed that line into action. But as the distance between the arrivals and them shrank, so too would the Fury's reaction time…

Renn touched Face’s mind, letting him feel the emotions and focus of the pilots of the stealthed ships. ”You have a choice Mister Spy, five seconds to think. They appear ready to assassinate the Corellian Prime Minister. You have the ability to destroy them before they do so. Do you? These are the choices we make all the time.”

As he spoke quickly, he reached out to Rem mentally, ’Secure network, send the imminent action call in the direction of that shuttle, with the vampire’s code. Hopefully we have Society on board. Now, my little friend.’

Her response came just as swiftly, ’On it tree boy’

"I mean, the Corellians are the enemy. But if they die meeting with Adalia and the others, then that will scupper the third side I'm cultivating..." Face sighed. "Hit 'em, Mr Neti."

Renn nodded, his face serious. A look at Rom and the Nagai disappeared to take control of the turrets. Renn heard the command given and nodded to Face, ”The missiles are enroute and as soon as they begin to detonate the Fury’s weapons will be added to the mix. Preemptive strikes are necessary on occasion. And that is part of the Society’s directives.”

“But,” his gaze turned even more seriously, eyes looking sharply into Face’s, ”anyone who would threaten them would find they are everywhere, as you said. Not to mention that both they and Bernael see themselves as his children.”

The explosions ripped into the empty space, revealing pieces from three separate TIE Blurs. But it also briefly revealed a fourth, which vanished back into its coverage and swung around, targeting what had targeting it - but not yet firing, until it was sure.

The Corellian escorts swarmed the shuttle, which held off for the moment, sensors painting the debris. "I can't exactly broadcast anything," Face said. "I'm not supposed to be here, and I'm an enemy of the Confederation..."

He eyed Renn.

Renn glanced at Face, then turned toward the bridge, sending a thought to Rem, ’Tell the local Society that they hit three of four and to prepare a second flight.’

Reaching to Rom, ’Be prepared, in case that last decides to get frisky’ the second thought went out.

Standing and walking to the holo table, he activated it, instructing the system to send an encrypted comm to the Corellian shuttle, bouncing off of the debris field so as to disguise their exact location. <”Corellian shuttle, you have been targeted by stealthed TIEs. Three of four have been destroyed by Allied forces. I would recommend immediate landing on the Ranger before they target you again. End this fight here takes precedence and someone does not seem to want that.”>

The shuttle paused, and then turned away from the carrier and frigate. A Corellian light cruiser moved up, one of the Carrack ships that had escorted them in. It took up position by the shuttle, protecting it as it returned to the planet.

Well that wasn’t ideal, if the Prime Minister didn’t meet Adalia - well, not for Admiral Babo’s plans. But Face grinned, in-spite of himself. “Well that works for the GA.”

The stealth equipped TIE Blur that remained was buzzing their approximate position, hiding from sensors but not the Force, of course. It hadn’t fired yet though...

Renn pulled up the tractor, letting the aiming pip drift as he tracked the TIE with his senses. He stayed still, his eyes closed for a moment, waiting with his finger on the activation pip. And then his finger moved. The TIE shuddered but was caught, nose pointed out at empty space. He’d captured it and was holding it in place. Slowly he began to pull it closer to the Fury, ensuring the weapons of the fighter were still pointed away from them or the Corellians.

Reaching out to Rem, ’Clear the hangar, set it for lockdown. As soon as that TIE is close enough scramble it’s electronics so it cannot use it’s weapons.’ He received an affirmative response from her in his mind and he turned to Face. ”Want to see who our little friend is?” he asked with a smile.

Sending out another comm call to the Corellians. ”Threat has been neutralized. If you desire to know who was so intent on not allowing the meeting between you and the Alliance to occur reverse course and join us on or near the Ranger.”

The Corellians backed off, and Face opened a channel. "This is Confederate Intelligence Agent 1138, authorisation 1977. Back off, we have this."

And indeed they did, the TIE Blur was scrambled, and exposed, and the Corellian shuttle continued on. The Blur was taken aboard, and that, as they say, was that. Face looked intrigued. "Shall we?"

Renn chuckled, ”Very handy, playing all sides at once.” Turning, he sent one more thought to Rem, ’If the TIE pilot leaves the craft, or even if the seal of the cockpit bubble cracks open before we enter the hangar, punch it out of the bay and obliterate it.’

Another thought reached out, ’You may get a chance to enjoy yourself here, Rom. Hangar bay, meet us there, 2 minutes.’ There wasn’t a sound but he knew both would follow what he’d said, and that he wouldn’t see Rom although the Nagai would be there, ready to assist if their ‘guest’ proved combative.

He turned back to Face, ”We shall. Let us find out who this one is. And then the wait for the ‘boss’ begins.” He knew Bernael would be back shortly, that the vampire was going to finish business here and then get to the next business he had. But that he wouldn’t tell Face. Instead he turned and led the man to the hangar entrance, checking his chrono to be sure the two minutes had passed before he entered.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Anedon, @Adalia-Durron, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @adaml83, @Corellian_Outrider, @The Real Kyp Durron

 

IC Adalia, Jesse, Welmo, Tahiri, Briana, Kael, Bernael, Adam - Epic combo with @adaml83 @darthbernael @Sinrebirth
On Board The Ranger.



Having watched the former Wraith team doing what she considered 'playing', Adalia was making her way off the hangar deck toward the private quarters, she was tired. This 'growing' another human was hard work she had decided. With her bunk on her mind, she rounded a corner as someone unknown to her at this stage grabbed her around the neck, she felt the cold muzzle of a blaster to her head.

"Take me to the hangar; you're going to let me take you back to Coruscant - back to the Galactic Alliance Guard, and there is nothing that you or Ilona can do about it."

The voice was unfamiliar as her mind raced, she was not going back to the GA, that was a death sentence as much as right now could be. The difference was now, she had a chance. At that moment someone else appeared, someone she knew, her eyes widened slightly, she'd been right in her guessing who was on board.

"Time to go, traitor Colonel... and I'll be taking Adrian Malek with me too..."

Without warning Adalia suddenly found she was unable to move her mouth, she knew Tahiri had done it. It only lasted a few moments as the former Jedi explained her plan to Adalia's captor.

"We'll commandeer a shuttle, and off we go. A child for Chief Solo to mould... and more bait for Master Durron."

Adalia felt her mouth able to move again.

"Tahiri," Adalia spoke calmly, her arms still at her side. "I thought it was you. Jacen's puppy." she spoke in a cold tone. "Why do you want Adrian?!" At that moment the deck beneath Adalia's feet shook and shuddered, and though out The Ranger, explosions were hear closely followed by howling sirens and klaxons. "What did you do?" Adalia demanded. She had to confuse her, stop her thinking that as a prisoner, she was worth anything. She had to lie. "I'm not finding you a shuttle and what makes you think a man who left me 7 months ago is interested in me at all. This is NOT his baby! Why do you think he left me you fool!" Adalia spat, "I won't give my child to a Sith and having me is not going bring anyone out of hiding!" Behind her the man holding her spoke.

"I love it when a plan comes together."

She was being dragged and her first thought was 'don't trip, your baby!' They'd reached the stairs as she started to consider her next move.

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

Jesse watched the guards and the Wraiths for a bit longer, then watched 'her' leaving the hangar. Her smile and the way she'd ignored Briana's torment of him told him she was not only beautiful and intelligent but classy. He smiled. In that moment he threw caution to the wind and began to jog after her, rounding the corner to call out, "wait up Adalia, can I buy you a caff?" It was more an offer to spend time talking than of the actual beverage.

Then he stopped in a skid as the scene before him caused him to gasp. Jesse pulled his blaster and aimed. "LET HER GO!!!" He yelled.

Tahiri ignited her blade, blue crackling into existence. "Or else what, scum?"

Welmo kept dragging at Adalia, trying to get her to go. "Stop - struggling!" He pressed the blaster into her temple, hard. "Your rebellion is pointless. Colonel Solo and Admiral Niathal will win."

Adalia wasn't going to allow this. Baby or not, she had to fight back. Clasping her left hand in her right, she drove her left elbow into his ribs, simultaneously she lifted her left foot and slammed her boot into his foot. She felt his move back enough for her to transfer her weight to her left foot and, lifting her right boot to high thigh level, she drove it backwards.

Welmo shifted tactics, moving his blaster to point at Jesse. "Either you come with me, or I shoot him."

Tahiri looked back and smiled. "I like that." She deactivated her lightsaber. "If you can handle this, I can go and collect Adrian. If we can get just one Confederate state to re-join the GA, it'll start a chain of secessions and destroy the Confederation." The Sith apprentice sounded smug. "Let's see how they like separatism."

"You're hardly going to let me shoot Jesse, so let's get on with the show, Colonel." He knew how these things went; they'd have an argument about letting the other live, as they did in all hostage dramas.

He was going to enjoy this.

Jesse's silver-grey eyes darted from Welmo to Adalia. "Go on.......do it. You haven't got the guts!" He dared.

Adalia was free and stepped forward and spun holding her hands up, "No!!! Don't do that!" She stepped in front of Jesse, "Shoot me, you know you want too, imagine it, you'll be able tell the galaxy you shot Adalia Tehanis!" She stated hoping her read of the man was right, he was essentially a coward.

Jesse moved up beside her, his blaster still loosely trained on Welmo. "No, you let her go and take me!"

Adalia turned to look at him. "Do I have to give you an order?!" She asked harshly.

"You can try! You're not a Colonel anymore, just a traitor to the GA!"

"Really? I got you out, and that's how you repay me? Calling me a traitor!!!"

"Calling it as I see it." Jesse hoped they were distracting Welmo enough for one of them to act.

Welmo was growing annoyed. "Enough of this!" He pointed with his blaster.

"I am taking you now," he squeezed the trigger out of sheer annoyance, not even all that intentionally - the bolt slammed into Jesse's stomach.

Adalia screamed, not intentionally, that wasn't part of the plan she felt Jesse and she had begun.

Jesse was more shocked than anything. The bolt slammed into his stomach and he stumbled backward dropping his own weapon and clutching at the wound before collapsing to his knees as blood oozed from the burn hole.

Adalia rushed to him supporting him, "It's not so bad, just a flesh wound, you're gonna be fine." She was lying, the hole was big, it had been a close range shot and as he collapsed sideways, she supported him till he was laying down.

Jesse could feel his heart, it was slowing, he could feel the blood pumping from the wound and oozing between his fingers. It was painful but the pain was fading interestingly enough. Someone was talking, it was her, his one true love. She was urging his to stay with her, supporting his head as she leaned over him. He looked up into her deep emerald green eyes, 'was she crying?'. She was there with him, as his life was draining away, the only woman he'd ever wanted, ever dreamed of being with, was there with him.

He was dying. Adalia could feel it in the Force, his energy draining and no matter how much she urged him to stay with her, he was fading. "Come on Jesse, you can do this, you gotta stay with me...." She began to think in panic, she’d never learned healing and fleetingly she cursed herself. "How you gonna win me if you don't?" She was desperate now.

Jesse looked up at her, a single tear rolled away from his eye. "I can't win you." He breathed, "I never had a chance....but...." he semi-coughed as he lifted one hand and touched her cheek. "I do love you."

Adalia gently brushed his hair back. "I know." She responded, her bottom lip quivering.

Jesse had told her, she knew now and a soft smile curled on his lips as his eyes slowly closed and his hand dropped away. His heart had stopped he'd felt it and the blackness closed him, his final image being that of the woman he loved crying over his loss.

Jesse was gone.

"NO!!!!!" Adalia cried in desperation, "NO JESSE!!" She was angry, in pain and distress. He'd died trying to distract an idiot from trying to take her. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" She screamed, it was then a nearby bulkhead dented in and a wave washed away from her as her distress was felt through her basic Force abilities. She clutched him close, she'd never loved the man but he'd still died wastefully and uselessly in a selfless act. She was crying, hormones rampant due to her condition and angrier now than ever. She looked up at Welmo, "I'm going to kill you." She snarled before glancing about to find Jesse's discarded blaster.

----

Meanwhile, on the Ranger's bridge, Adam was watching with increasing concern on what was going on down in the hanger, he sent a brief message to Bernael, "Could you possibly set up for a greeting for our lightsabered intruder and possibly protect Adrian in the process?

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

Briana and Kael had finished up with their fun on when they heard a scuffle...and Jesse walking over there to join it. Briana harshly whispered, "You fool!" before looking to Kael, "We need to get somewhere where we can help them."

Kael nodded, "Can't do much with her over there, but it's worth a shot." He quickly punched a couple of commands into his datapad which notified both Adam and Face of what was going on before splitting off from Briana. They both started sneaking in separate directions and were about to be in position as Tahiri suddenly left.

As soon as Welmo fired, Briana fired her blaster at Welmo's head.

----

Welmo saw Briana and jerked his head, the bolt just clipping his ear and he saw Addie diving. Briana would be ill-placed to shoot again as he wrestled the weapon off the woman, and held her, crouched on the floor with his arm around her neck. "You could try that again, but I'll shoot up Adalia." He moved the blaster from the side of her head to her stomach. "Or maybe just this?"

To describe Welmo Darb as the scum of the galaxy wasn't enough.

Tahiri, for her part, was heading down the stairs, and Kael would have to run to catch up, but he had his own plan.

Face was off the ship, for the purposes of comms, which meant he had gone out that hole in the ship - but vanished aboard a stealthed ship, belonging to Bernael, now piloted by Renn and the Nagai. Otherwise, Adam and Mirax would see three TIE Blurs explode off the edge of the Ranger, with a fourth scooped up by the Fury.

The Corellians were wary now, concerned about the GA activity, and a Carrack-class cruiser was sidling up to them... was the Confederation worried about their 'allies'?

Briana looked scornfully at the situation a glance at Kael told her he was doing the same thing, running through the options.

Stun shot? No good, the fool has no trigger discipline and that's when he's actively conscious. Vibroblade? Even higher risk might hit her...why is she not fighting harder? Talk? Been a while since I've insulted someone a lot...

"You're a disease..." Decent start...which disease? Good thing I've talked to our medics a lot... looking at Kael, "Get the medics to get him out of here," nodding at Jesse, even if it's just to pronounce him... "Also let him know..."

Kael nodded and left to a private area to have a quick text discussion with Adam.

"You really don't want to be in this situation when he shows up..." she shrugged, "Otherwise you're dead..."

Adalia remained still, the life of her child was at risk, and she swore she'd die before letting that happen. This child was everything, her son, no, THEIR son, the one event they'd both wanted for so long was being threatened and she was terrified if she moved just one millimeter the wrong way it would be over. Everything would be over, she'd have to go dark, she knew it, and no one would stop her. She closed her eyes and reached out. 'Bernael, help?' she cried internally knowing he was probably her only chance. She couldn't fight back; she was over 6 months pregnant and the risks were too high. Her face streaked with tears at the loss on the floor before her and the fear of the potential had the woman who'd always been the rock in a situation turning to jelly. Inside she begged him to hear her.

The blaster pressed to Adalia’s pregnant abdomen didn’t even have time to screech in twisted and broken metal and wires before the trigger guard was collapsed against Welmo’s finger, the barrel destroyed completely. To add insult to injury, the power supply of the blaster, in the grip, was ripped out of the grip and through Welmo’s fingers. Finally, the blaster itself was ripped from his already numb fingers, the mangled weapon arcing down the hall at the back of Tahiri’s head.

It was as the man’s pain began to register that any other movement close by would be seen. A shimmer to the air was the only evidence at first before a robed shape, black mask and black eyes giving away who it was, appeared beside the man. In a low, growling voice, ”That was a mistake, little man. No one threatens my partner, threatens Adalia. Run little bunny before I eat you here and now.”

One taloned hand stroked the man’s face with the outer curve, almost tenderly, the gesture infinitely more terrifying at the implication. The other dipped down and ran through the bleeding mess of his hand, lifting and letting the man see his own blood drip from the tips of the talons. ”I said run!”

She heard his voice, it was intimidating, threatening and downright blood curdling, but somehow, she knew she was safe as she began to instantly crawl away with one hand on her belly. Jesse still lay there and she made it back to him, placing her hand on his still chest. She was crying now, relief, exhaustion and grief as she lowered her head over his. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, "this was never meant to happen, we're the good guys, not the bad guys." She added in a soft tone as her lips quivered as she ignored everything around her trusting she was safe now.

Welmo held the wound, eyes with fear. He looked to the others, and spat at them. "Colonel Solo is coming for you, Adalia! He'll take your child! He'll kill your pet Anzati, and you'll all die in a penal colony!" He was mouthing off, backing away, but he was unarmed.

It might be that his words pushed one of the others to just do it.

Briana smiled sweetly, "Oh did I say that there was only one person like that? My mistake...we'll make sure you make it off this ship." She started looking around for someone in security to hand off the annoyance to. She looked over to Kael and near him, she saw a mechanic tuck something into a pocket and run off towards Welmo's ship along with a team of mechanics. She also uploaded some Verpine music that would play on repeat for the duration of the ship exists. Finally, she looked at whoever...or whatever the new guy was, "Do you have a way to hide her without blondie knowing? Also, we need a doppelganger who looks like her...we can find a good red wig quickly. Any ideas?"

Bernael smiled behind the mask, watching as Welmo backed away, “Solo has larger threats than us, at the moment, to distract him. But I do have a good idea who he’ll send. And that won’t be a coward who threatens an unborn child.” he said, before dismissing the man from his consideration.

He turned toward Briana, gesturing vaguely back toward Welmo, ”How long does the doppelganger need to exist? As to the first, I do, but does that mean she needs to be here?”

Briana shrugged, "I'm not sure what Stealth has planned, but I don't think this will be a one-time deal, so it might be best to pick from that squadron. Though as long as Blondie doesn't know the difference it doesn't matter to me. Then again if she's made to flee then that's also fine with me."

She glanced as two security guards came over to bodily haul Welmo to his ship and could see that the work was almost done, Kael's device most likely placed on or near the hyperdrive to go off when the drive was engaged. It helps to know a mechanic...

Adalia lay down, her head resting on Jesse's still shoulder. Maybe it was pregnancy hormones, she didn't know but she did know she couldn't stop crying. She was lost and all she wanted was to be held again, she wanted him again. She had learned to call Bernael, could she call Kyp? She'd learned to speak to Bernael, could she speak to Kyp? Between sobs she closed her eyes and mentally tried. Her mind whispering out into the Force, 'I wish you were here Kyp.' She wrapped her arms around her stomach and trusted those around her would keep her safe as she no longer felt she could keep them safe.

Welmo continued to spout off. "You can't stop him! Colonel Solo beat the Vong! He can handle a few irritating pilots and wannabe Jedi. You're dead, I tell you - you're all dead!"

Bernael moved, standing over Adalia, between her, Welmo, and the disappearing Tahiri. He reached up, talons grasping the edges of his mask. There was a hiss and the mask came away in his hand, letting Welmo see his face, the upside-down eyes and the proboscises peaking from his cheek pouches. The black within black eyes looked through Welmo, "Do I look like a Jedi, little man? I told you to run."

He turned, the mask slipped back into place before he did, facing Briana now, "Get him out of here before I do something that disturbs Adalia. And only then will I tell you how I will take care of her and your doppelganger request."

Briana looked over to Welmo where he'd just been grabbed and was still shouting nonsense, she sighed, removed the magazine from her blaster pistol, and then threw the pistol at Welmo's head, hoping to silence him, but would settle for causing pain.

The canopy popped open and discordant, jarring shrieks that few alien races would love started playing from the cockpit of that fighter, "Put him in that fighter, though make sure he can't do anything until we want him to." She knelt by Adalia, showing her a datapad, "If you want to kill him, all you have to do is press that button, though I want him to listen to that for a bit.... he annoys me."

Someone was talking, and when she opened her tear-filled eyes a blurry image of Briana was beside her. Something about pushing a button, it was confusing, she wasn't sure and when Adalia wasn't sure, she didn't act. She shook her head, "no....." she whispered as the words began to register in her mind. 'Too much death' was her first thought as she sat up slowly. "Justice has to be done, but the ....right way. I won't be responsible for his death." She looked to the still form in front of her, "One today is more than enough. Lock him up,..." she began to gain her courage, strength and clarity again, "Chain him to a wall in a dungeon for all I care but don't kill him, that makes us no better than him." She turned slowly to see Bernael, thanking him with a weak smile and a nod, they'd talk later.

Welmo folded around the smack to the head from the blaster, finally, mercifully silent.


TAG @Sinrebirth @darthbernael @adaml83 @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha @Corellian_Outrider

 

IC: Tahiri Veila
Aboard the ship

The kidnapping of Adalia she could leave to Welmo, and a death resonated in the Force, causing Tahiri to nod. Death happened. It always did. The events that had been put into motion were not her doing, she simply had a role to fulfil - to get back her Anakin.

With a nod, she knew she would serve Jacen until Anakin was back.

Gladly.

In the chaos, it was simple enough to track back down Adrian... and Marie? She may as well take both, no doubt of that. Merging with the shadows, she held a comlink up, and pressed the button.

The TIE Defender she had piloted in, dutifully, detonated, igniting it's entire store of torpedoes. All the fighters in the hangar would be damaged to some extent, and who could say was in the hangar and injured. Jay, Jem, Erbas are all on hangar deck, after all!

The medical droid emitted a sound of dismay as it attended to Rooty in the presence of Loriana. "Please prepare for wounded - there has been a further explosion in the hangar bay." This was bad. Really bad. They were in the infirmary with Adrian and Marie, though there were separate beds.

With the rocking to the ship, Tahiri reached out and grabbed Adrian and Marie with the Force, holding their throats.

"This way, please."

They levitated, and she kept her eyes on the droid, Rooty and Loriana.

"I'd rather not have to kill Marie just to get Adrian..." Her smile was sickly sweet. "Your choice."

Everything to this stage had been distraction, even obfuscation.

Perfectly so.

Tahiri was ready to back out of the infirmary towards the escape pods.

---
Aboard the Fury, TIE Blur

The TIE Blur stayed still, not allowing access and seemingly preventing a decent scan; even the Force would suggest there was nothing alive therein. It was based on the TIE Bomber design, but rather than a bomb chute, it was packed with sensor-negating tech, being the source of the stealth equipment. It was a different philosophy to the Incom StealthX, which relied upon a rare isotope to hide emissions. Instead Sienar Systems had simply increased the power behind the stealth apparatus by giving up half the ship over to it.

Face, holding a datapad, looked concerned. "There's no energy readings, either, before you ask, Renn." He waved the 'pad. "I am jamming, too, just in-case the -"

His words were interrupted by a surge of danger, a sudden electrical activation, and then the Blur burst open, a YVH-1 droid emerging from the cockpit, and then three more clawing their way out of the former bomber portions. No, they appeared to be forming themselves from it. But as much as they were occupied doing that, the first one had already bounded forward and swung with droid-lightning speed at Renn's head -

---
Elsewhere

Well, they had their answer.

How was the hangar?

Aflame.

That's what it was.

The Corellian Prime Minister's shuttle soared into the hangar and tried to turn around and leave -

TAG: @Adalia-Durron @darthbernael @adaml83 @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha @Corellian_Outrider @Anedon

 

IC Adalia Tehanis-Durron, Jay Sarkin, Jem Vercetti, Erbas Hawcron
Corridor near Hangar Deck.


She listened to Kael and stood silently, watching as the Med Techs took him away, his body at least. She closed her eye to stave off pain, silently cursing her emotions, she usually had such good control over them, placing her hands on her son who now squirmed she knew why she couldn't right now. Her comlink chimed and in a numbed state she answered, didn't even hear who it was or what they said, she robotically responded with 'Acknowledged' before closing it down. She began to walk back to the hangar was a group ran toward her.

"Addie!!!" Jay cried as she ran, having just heard what happened.

"Sis!!" Jem reached her and without thinking he wrapped himself around his older half sister, pulling her as close as he could.

"Are you ok?" Erbas asked as he skidded to a stop.

Adalia was confused for a moment before she gently pushed Jem off her. "I'm ok, I'm fine." She reassured, "Jesse is dead, but I'm fine."

Jay gasped. "What?" She'd accepted the man as part of the team.

"What happened?" Jem demanded, before rethinking his words, "I mean how?" he corrected in a gentler tone.

"You need to sit down." Erbas said gently, noticing his former lead and friend was not herself.

At that moment there was an explosion on the hangar deck as the TIE Defender illegally parked, exploded. The shock wave rolled over the deck and instinctively the trio tried to protect Adalia, but they were all knocked to the ground.

Adalia didn't make a sound as the other three let out various cries of surprise and shock almost instantly sitting up.

"Addie?"
"You ok Sis?"
"Lead, good?"

All three asked at the same time as they scrambled to her.

She lay on her side, the shockwave knocking her off her feet, pain corsing through body. "My Baby!" She cried trying to hold her stomach.



TAG @Sinrebirth @darthbernael @adaml83

 

IC Marie, Adrian, Tahiri - Awesome combo with Sinrebirth and Anedon!
Escape Pods - The Ranger




Marie was hovering, the medical droid had administered a sedative and treated Adrian's wounds, she was very anxious. Around her she could hear explosions, klaxons and distant yelling and Marie was torn between running to see if she could help and staying with a now groggy Adrian. She watched the droid leave and got closer. "How do you feel?" she asked with a frown.

"I'm okay," it was a lie, but in front of Marie he wanted to look like he could take a beating like that. "What is going on out there? Are we under attack?" His hearing was muted, or at least it felt like it.

"I think so," Marie glanced around. "But I don't know." Someone entered the room behind her and she turned to see a blonde woman with scars on her face, "Who are....y...." Marie felt her throat constricting as the woman seemed to glare. She spun to Adrian in a panic.

"Its her," Adrian said but he felt Marie already knew it. "She attacked me," he tried to get up but pain shot through his entire body.

Marie clutched at her throat, it was closing over and she was struggling to breathe. She stared wide eyed and panicked at Adrian.

Adrian could only return Marie's panicked look, and it, even more than his own miserable state had him shiver. Why was this woman coming after him again? Did she really think he would be a useful hostage? And why was she now going after Marie as well. Just take me, he would have shouted at her if she hadn´t chocked him. The painkillers removed most of the pain at least but also weakened his ability to concentrate.

Suddenly Marie felt her feet lifting off the floor, the blood pumping in her ears was so loud she couldn't heard what was being said by the woman she now knew was a Force user. Her own rudimentary Force skills were not match for what was happening as she had no ability to fight now. Just enough air was getting it to keep her conscious and alive, but not enough to think and do something. She was moving, floating toward the door and out. She frantically clutched at her neck as she looked to Adrian, he too was being elevated.

They made it to the escape pods, and Tahiri released them, and waved a free hand as she tapped at the wall. "In you go." She drew a blaster, pointed it. "I like blasters; they're more versatile than chopping off limbs." She nonetheless had her lightsaber hilt to hand as the pod prized open, to make clear she would use her blade if need be.

"Colonel Solo will be very grateful to me for my actions."

"You sound like holomovie villian do you know that?" Adrian said, slightly babbling. The painkillers still filled his mind and made it hard for him to take the situation as serious as it was. He felt well, to an extend save even. He wanted to sit down, or better lay down. But he knew he couldn´t he knew he should at least try to do something, anything. He pressed his right hand against his head hoping to somehow get the fog from his brain.

Concentrate, you are in danger, Adrian told himself again, but his body seemed to hate him. His limbs felt as if they where made from solid rock that he could never even hope to life. Please, get up, you need to do something, help Marie. But no matter what he tried, the fog stayed and he remained on the floor, helpless.

"Holomovie villain is my role, after all. I'm the apprentice of a Sith, after all." A shrug.

"Come on, come on, let's not make this harder than it has to be."

So you are even proud of it," Adrian muttered, slowly it seemed the fog was fading away, if he could keep up the talking long enough maybe he could get his head clear enough again. She needs me as a hostage, so she won´t try to kill me. I hope. So he decided to remain where he was.

"What do you want with us? What kriffin' good are we to you or him?" Marie rasped out, her throat raw and dry.

"You're bait, and also hostages, to force a certain politician to lean on the Sesswenna Sector to rejoin the Galactic Alliance." She shrugged, flicked the blaster to stun and pointed it at Adrian. "Last chance, and then I make Marie here carry you."

"Unless you want me to just..." Tahiri flicked the blaster to kill and pointed it at Marie.

"I don't mind, really."

"So this insanity again," Adrian muttered. "How often do I have to say it, the Eriaduan government doesn't care for me at all." Then he looked up to Tahiri. "I will go in there, but Marie can stay on the ship."

"NO!" Marie protested. "He can hardly walk, what good is he? You'd be dragging him about all over the place." She stepped in front of Adrian. "No, leave him, take me." She eyed the younger woman carefully, in the back of her mind she felt someone she knew was near, not too near yet. She needed to keep her distracted. "He's taller than me, he's heavier and you already did a number on him." She was just talking to be heard now. "Think about it, Dathomirian Witch, Daughter of a Clan Leader, all yours." She stated in a raised voice, hoping to be heard.

Adrian lowered his head. Did Marie even listen? This woman was clearly convinced he could be a valuable hostage in the war. She would never let him go, less exchange him for a person from a world not even in the war. With that, all hope he had to save at least her was gone. The only hope that now remained was to win more time so someone would find them. "My own father would let me die without any bad feelings rather than compromise his morals," he instead said, lying through his teeth. "And he would be right with that, my life is less important than Eriadu." That part wasn't a lie, at least not completely.

Tahiri hesitated, and then snarled, her blade igniting. "This isn't a discussion."

"Get in the pod, now, or I'll start removing limbs," the Sith apprentice glared at Marie, clearly re-evaluating her threat level and focusing on her rather than Adrian.




TAG @Sinrebirth @adaml83 @Anedon @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

 

OOC: Fun little combo with @Sinrebirth

IC Renn and Face
Onboard the Fury

It seemed like an eternity but truly it was less than a second between Face talking and the droids coming for them. As the first swung at Renn he hardened his bark even more, his hand flashing up, to block the blow. A rock hard fist swung forward, punching at the ‘sternum’ of the droid. He used the force of the blow to push himself backward, giving a little space, not that that would help well against a droid or a dozen, as it seemed they kept forming from the TIE. He yelled, ”Hold on!” to Face.

He touched a couple studs on the pad on his belt. And then grunted as the gravity in the hangar tripled. He shifted to a smaller form, increasing his own density and grasped a blaster in one hand and a saber in the other, swinging the second at the droid before him as he fired past it at the decomposing TIE.

Face fell as his weight tripled. "Oh."

The droid's aim was thrown off, but the three of them emerged intact and simply moved forward; unconcerned by their mass and gravity, hardened, brutal, skeleton tanks. Face managed a couple shots, but the droids liquid-metal armour actually healed. It refilled!

Face hated these things.

Renn swiftly looked around the hangar. ”The vampire is going to kill me.” he muttered. At as fast a pace as he could do, he surged across the space, grabbing a fuel tank that was partially filled. Tossing it in an arc that would land it between the three droids, he waited for it to land. When it did, he fired once to rip a hole in the tank, letting the fumes begin to seep out before he fired again, igniting the fuels vapors and then the fuel itself, causing a small explosion, showering the near area in intense heat and flame.

The three droids vanished into the flame, but then stepped through, their liquid armour dripping from them as they stepped out and lifted their arms for him -



The fourth, original one, simply opened it's chest and released a missile at Renn -

Renn swayed sideways very quickly, two appendages reaching and wrapping around the body of the missile, fighting the thrust of it, turning it slowly, until it was faced back toward the droids. ”Oh yeah, the vampire is going to kill me…” he muttered as he worked.

Metal fingers began clawing at him as he finished turning the missile and he hardened his bark even more, feeling small furrows being dug in him still. He growled and swelled, swallowing the grasping arms in tunnels in his body, his ‘flesh’ growing around them until they could not move. He smiled at the metal skulls, ”Stupid, bloody robots.” he growled and then began flailing his body around, the limbs trapped tightly inside him, intent on ripping them from the decking and smashing them against the walls and ceiling.

Their self-repair ingots became to force liquid metal through their bones, even as the droids were bashed and bashed.

The liquid amalgamated them and their metal together, and the three seemed to fuse into one mechanical monstrosity. It had triple heads and each of missile within them -

They Force warned that they were going to explode, and by now his wooden limbs were ensnared in the metal and liquid molten -

”I’m getting too old for this…” Renn muttered. He knew they were trying to destroy him and he whipped his head around. He spied something and smiled. Beginning to spin in a circle, raising the fused limbs and droids as he did, until their momentum was almost carrying him he spun closer to the hangar door.

As he came close to it, one last limb formed, a thermal detonator in it’s grasp. It buried itself in the center of the mass of his flesh, the detonator arming. As he spun one last time he called out, ”Now Rem!” and then groaned in agony as he separated the limbs from his body, healing over the points they’d been part of him. The momentum of the spin as the huge mass of metal, liquid metal, tree flesh, and thermal detonator caused the entire amalgam to fly at high speed out of the suddenly open to vacuum hangar door.

The hangar door slammed shut behind the mass, just a second before the detonator went off. Renn turned, wearily, to Face. ”That hurts...I need to eat…”

The boom happened outside the vacuum, the TIE Blur rocking but not leaving - and Face managed not to fly out either. “Can we not do that again?”

Renn chuckled softly, ”This can’t be your first time…”

Raising his voice again, ”Rem, make sure we don’t have any other unwanted guests, in or around, keep us ready for the vampire to get back, and find my solar lamps, please.”

He turned back to Face, ”Every day is an adventure, enjoy it.”

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Anedon, @Adalia-Durron, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @adaml83, @Corellian_Outrider, @The Real Kyp Durron

 

IC Bernael, Adalia, Renn, Jem, Jay, Face. -Thanks to @darthbernael and @Sinrebirth for the fun!
Corridor near the Hangar Deck, to start

Bernael sensed the threats receding, even as more explosions rocked the ship. He reached out to Renn, through their bond, and felt that there had been a battle on the Fury as well, which made him frown. ’Renn, get the Fury to the nearest airlock, we have a small mission ahead of us.’ he sent the thought to the Neti.

There was pain, but she couldn't tell where it was coming from, was it her? Or was it her baby? Something exploded inside of her and gasping she held her stomach as fear gripped her, but suddenly she was wet. Her legs and thighs all wet. "Jem!! My waters!" She cried in terror. In her mind she was only 7 months pregnant, it was too soon.

Turning to the tableau against the wall, he knelt down before Adalia again. Glancing at the others gathered around her, ”Find me someone who can be her doppelganger while we are gone, now!” he growled.

Jay looked up, "give me a wig and I'm your girl." She knew she looked nothing like Adalia, but she could fly like her and that was all that was needed, wasn't it?

Looking back at her, ”I’m not having you give birth here where your foes have already infiltrated. Try not to think about where but once I have you aboard the Fury you need to tell me where we’re going. No arguing, you’re coming and I am keeping you and your child safe.” he told her.

She grimaced at a wave of painful cramps that took her breath away, gritting her teeth through it. "I'm ...not giving.....birth...without Mirax!" she panted as the pain eased.

On the Fury Renn nodded, turned to Face, ”Hmmmm, decisions, decisions. We now have a TIE we can use but there are other things that need doing.”

Reaching out, he sent a thought to Rem, ’Find us the nearest usable airlock to where you can feel the vampire is located. Dock us there so he can join us.’

He got an amused affirmative response from her and felt the Fury shifting position. He glanced around the destruction of the hangar, glad that the ancient ship was so well constructed, probably due to all the upgrades Bernael had done over the years. Turning back to Face, ”I’m blaming all of this on you.” he only halfway joked.

In the corridor, Bernael sensed his team, on his ship, drawing closer. ”We don’t have long, Tahiri seems to have departed and you know she will immediately pass along that you are pregnant, Adalia. Get your people moving so we can get you out of here.”

Face nodded once, twice; there was a lot going on - this was a high-end GAG operation, which meant Jacen had probably personally planned it, or at very least more than one of his Dark Jedi lackeys. "Blame away, trouble seems to follow me around nowadays."

He paused. "We probably need to move location, because knowing Jacen he'll have a gristly follow-up for us."

Being as Corellia had in the last few hours been raided by the GA, it was definitely in Jacen's power to turn the Second Fleet around and send it back for another crack at them. He managed to sound completely neutral when he added. "Wherever you're going, I want in."

Panting, isn't that what she was supposed to be doing. Adalia had no idea, she'd not had time to find out how to have a baby, she had heard stories, knew things from friends around her in the past, but the actual knowledge was limited. The med team had taken her to the infirmary on a hoverbed and it felt like things were happening faster than should happen. Jem hadn't left her side to his credit.

She held the sides of the bed, her hands wrapped tightly around the metal bars as the contraction ripped through her body, and it hurt "It's too soon!" She ground out through gritted teeth.

Jem, as her only relative, stood beside her, attempting anyway he could to help. "They say it’s not so bad, they say your dates are off Sis, he's only a month or so early." He was only parroting what he'd been told by the medical droid. Having assessed the woman she told Jem that the original estimate of her progression was out by approximately four weeks, meaning she was closer to eight months. Jem did believe she'd gotten so much 'bigger' in the last weeks, but would never dream of mentioning it. He pried her hand off the bed and wrapped his around it. "Squeeze my hand, I'm not going anywhere."

Jem was here, and she was grateful, but it wasn't who she wanted here. Breathing and focusing deeply, she waited, caught in her mind waiting for the next wave of agony to wash over her. "Thank you." She muttered, her green eyes closed, "I was hoping I'd not be here for this, ............I thought I had.....another couple months." She panted, "I wanted too..........set things in motion......first." Adalia was not ready for the birth of her son, she'd not expected it and when the explosion had thrown her on to the hangar deck, she did not expect it would bring on labour.

Jem smiled as he wrapped his other hand around hers. "Things are in motion, they know we're out here, they know we're here." He looked to the door. "Mirax will be here soon." He'd sent a call to the bridge and at least he hoped she’d be there soon; Jem wasn’t sure he was the best person to be holding Adalia’s hand during this.

Bernael had drifted in the wake of the others as they went to the medbay. While he waited, patiently, for events to play out, he received notification that the Fury had docked. For the moment he let that be but spoke softly, ”As soon as possible we will transfer Adalia. It is better for all here that you don’t know where, but we do still need that volunteer to take on her guise.”

On the Fury, Renn chuckled at Face’s acceptance of the blame. ”No fun if you just accept the blame. We’ve docked, so now we wait for the vampire and whatever he has planned.” Going to the exit to the hangar he opened the hatch and an astromech outside the door tweetled a question. He laughed again, ”Yes, get started on the repairs to the hangar, as much as can be cleaned up before Bernael returns will reduce the ire he’ll have.”

Turning back to Face, ”I’m not the only one to decide whether you come with or not so we shall see what is decided when everyone is onboard.”

He touched the intercom, ”Rom, head to the medbay, get it prepped for our guest. And then make sure that the spare quarters are ready, in case Face does stay with us.”

Jay watched the newcomer, he knew Adalia, that much was clear. She wasn't afraid of him but Jay was wary, she'd seen the seedy side of the Galaxy and she knew what he was. Biting her lip she sucked in a deep breath for courage and approached what she knew was a form of Vampire. "You asked for someone to be Addie, I'm as close as you're gonna get on this ship. Me or Marie, and she's not here right now. What do you need me to do?" Trust was a two way street and she hoped she was putting hers in the right hands.

Erbas stood silently watching as Jay approached the man. He felt the need to protect her, but Jay had never wanted protection from anyone, let alone him. So he stood his ground hoping if she needed help she'd not be to silly to ask.

Bernael watched as the woman approached, nervousness radiating from her every step. Even as she spoke his head tilted to the side and his eyes met those of the man behind her, feeling his energy and the need of the man to protect the woman before him. A small smile came to his face, that quickly faded as he returned his attention to the woman.

He lifted a hand, pointed at Adalia, ”I need a strand of her hair and one of yours.” he told her as his hand shifted to point to her auburn hair. ”Hers is for now and yours is for later. I should warn you that this will not be without pain, I will be remaking you to physically appear and sound just like Adalia.” he told her both for her benefit and that of the man who felt so protective of the woman.

Jay's mouth fell open slightly as she digested what he was saying. "Remaking? What are you talking about?" She glanced back to Erbas, she didn't want to panic, and was trying hard to keep her emotions in check. "I thought I'd just hang in the background of a transmission and, you know, make them think it's Addie. A wig and my back turned....." She explained.

”Do you honestly believe that would fool Aden, let alone Jacen? What I propose will only be temporary, for the time that Adalia is gone. And then you will be returned to your true form.” Bernael stated calmly.

"Gone?" Jay was confused. "Where's she going? Or are we just hiding her for a while?" Adalia wouldn't leave them in the lurch, she'd not abandon her team like that, Jay knew that.

”I am going to do something that will protect her and her child. The less anyone knows of where she has gone the better it is for them, for her, and for her child. But as soon as that is accomplished she will return.” he said, just as calmly. He felt Renn in the distance beginning to wonder what was taking him so long, that the longer they waited the sooner that their foes would begin to suspect something was off.

Jay looked back again, he'd said pain. Why did she volunteer for this again? She'd never admit it, but she was scared. "Ok, um...." she turned, "Can I have a......friend stay with me?" She asked attempting to sound like she was sweet with it all.

Bernael smiled slightly, ”As though that one,” he gestured at Erbas, ”would let you out of his sight while I did so.” He walked over to Adalia, talons extending and snipping a couple hairs from her head without any pain. Turning, he waited for Jay to be sure that she would do so.

Adalia was in the middle of a contraction when the hair was taken, she felt nothing. Only Jem was suffering at this point as he was convinced his knuckles were going to be broken, he hoped Mirax got here soon.


TAG @Corellian_Outrider @Anedon

 

IC Adrian Malek, Marie Firestone
Infirmary - The Ranger.


Marie hovered nearby as medical droids tended to Adrian's unconscious form. He'd passed out near the airlock and hadn't woken yet, that worried her. The droids moved away for a bit and she approached, gently touching his head, brushing a stray strand of hair back. She didn't speak, it seemed silly to her, he wasn't her boyfriend, he was just, well, her friend. At this stage.

When Adrian awoke he saw someone sitting above him, it even felt as if she was brushing his hair. Her hair was brown it seemed, brown like... Could it be? Had she come to rescue him? The memory of the blonde woman's second attack appeared in his mind but nothing of it was substantial. It all seemed like a dream, maybe he was still dreaming. But if he did he never wanted to wake up. Not with... her by his side.

It must still be a dream, she wouldn't talk that way with him, or would she? "Great," he said and a big smile appeared on his face. "Great now that you are here." He still couldn´t believe his luck, he had thought he would never meet her again.

She caressed his forehead almost subconsciously, "Of course I'm here, where else would I be?" It was probably a little more personal than she'd have done if he was fully awake.

"Feared you left, like you did before..." Adrian muttered, he didn't care anymore whether this was a dream or not. He was happy and had no fear. "I love you, always have since that banquet."

Marie frowned. "Banquet? What banquet?" She asked.

"At your residence, years ago?" Had she forgotten?

Marie removed her hand, he'd never been to her residence, and she didn't know him a few years ago. "I only met you a few months ago." Her voice was cool now as it was clear he'd just declared his love for another woman, love he obviously still felt.

Adrian began to blink, something seemed off about this. "Jaina..." he muttered, trying to get a better look at her.

Marie swallowed as she stepped back and folded her arms defensively. "Its not Jaina." She said in a dead pan voice. Internally her mind was rushing in all directions. Adrian was in love with another woman, and she was sure she knew who, there weren't many 'Jaina's' around.

Adrian closed his eyes, rubbed them, then he opened them again. It hit him harder than the two beatings he had gotten today. The person next to him wasn't Jaina Solo but Marie. And with what he had said he had probably destroyed any friendship that had been between them. "Marie, I'm sorry."

Her lips in a hard line she turned her head to the side. "Right." She gave him a curt nod. "I have to get back and find out what I can do to help. You take care." She spun and left the room in search of her squad mates, They'd always been her rocks in the past and she needed them now.

"Marie!" Adrian shouted after her, before breaking down on his bed, tears filled his eyes, running over his face. He grabbed the needle in his arm and pulled it out. The pain in his heart was worse than anything he had experienced today, anything he had experienced in his entire life. He grabbed the machine that had pumped the painkillers into his body and slammed into to the ground where he heard it break. He didn't care anymore, it didn't matter. Why did he have to have had this dream? Why did the universe hate him so much not to allow him a sliver of happiness?



TAG @Sinrebirth

 

Interlude

"Sadras Koyan, Corellia's Five Worlds Prime Minister, is talking to us about changing sides."

"Really," Caedus sat back and leaned in his chair. "Just betraying the rest of the Confederation and risking retaliation."

Niathal offered a good simulation of a human shrug. "It's not inappropriate for his psychological profile."

A profile that had undoubtedly seen the farcical attack on their allies, organised by Tahiri Veila, even unsuccessfully, as a sign of how week even the ostensible starfighter-Intel wizards of Adalia Tehanis, Adam Lyons and others were - especially since the Hapans had sealed their borders and abandoned the pretense of neutrality with the Confederation.

For his part, Koyan had been Chief of State of the Corellian world of Tralus, but had been elected, by a majority but not unanimous vote of the other Chiefs of State when Dur Gejjen had been assasinated. A member of the aggressive Centerpoint Party, he had probably been seen by the other chiefs as the lesser of several evils in the succession scramble that had followed Gejjen's death.

"What are they offering?"

"They want to negotiate with you - you specifically. We designate a point in space - any point - equidistant between Corellia and Coruscant. The two sides bring an equal number of vessels in equivalent class ratings. You and their negotiator can negotiate either face-to-face or ship-to-ship through tight-beam transmission."

"I don't like it." No longer pretending to be at ease, Caedus leaned forward. "Even if they give us the opportuntity to choose the spot for the meeting, they can communicate that information to a secondary force -"

"As can we."

"- which can then jump to that site and attack."

"As can we. They have no advantage." Niathal coked her head, a gesture of curiosity. "You are unusually cautious today. Learning from Koyan?"

Caedus opened his mouth to hurl back a retaliatory remark, then closed it again. Niathal was right. He was more cautious - not because of possible danger to himself, but because of danger to Allana. He was not going to let her be more than a few paces from him until the war was resolved. Taking her into the vicinity of what might be a trap was the last thing he wanted to do.

On the other hand, Niathal could not be allowed to learn that Caedus's behaviour was changing because of concern for the child. So far as she knew, Allana was a hostage, leverage against the Hapan Queen Mother For Niathal to suspect that Caedus's feelings were more personal, more heartfelt, would endanger them both if Niathal ever turned against him.

Caedus relented shrugging. "Fine. I'll do it. Do you mind if I make an effort not to get killed when this turns out to be a trap?"

"Do what you need to."

"I'll have units of the Second Fleet standing by to jump to the talk site. To dear with whatever forces Koyan decides to bring in."

"As you wish. I'll comm the Corellians with an acceptance."

Caedus nodded, a gesture of agreement that he meant as dismissal, as well. Whether she understood that or not, Niathal paused for a moment, looking at him, before turning and leaving.

---

When Niathal left, Caedus pulled a face and opened the comms to his two candidates for Sith apprentice. They both responded, and realised the other was there. Aden pulled a face at Tahiri's presence, and she positively seethed. "So you failed me, and lost me an agent within Adalia's group."

Welmo Darb wasn't an important GAG member, but he had been useful. It was annoying to lose him, and the TIE Blurs, but Caedus wasn't all that concerned.

"There is a meeting between myself and a Corellian representative due," Caedus said, cutting off whatever excuse Tahiri made, and whatever barb Aden had planned. "Corellia intends to secede from the Confederation, but wishes the discussions to be far away from any current location."

"It's a trap," Aden said.

"Of course it is," Tahiri added, belatedly.

"I don't care either way," Caedus said. "I intend to have a back-up force positioned, but Corellia is where Adalia and her traitors are at present; they could intervene, and I want a back-up force for them." He looked at them both. "Meet me near the rendezvous, I will deploy a frigate to act as your base of operations - we have no TIE Blurs or Defenders left, so you'll have to slum it in X-wings."

Aden was already leaking the information to the appropriate sources; Face, Bernael, Adam, Booster Terrik (and thus Mirax) and even the One Sith would all know soon enough. He'd make it hard for them of course, but he wanted them to know he would be there.

---
Sanctuary Moon of Endor

Through the door separating the waiting room from the infirmary proper, Luke studied Master Katarn's face and listened to the words of Valin and Clighal.

Katarn was unconscious - whether from drugs, pain of voluntary immersion in a Jedi healing trance, Luke couldn't say. His face was flushed, sweating, and he looked as though he'd lost weight in the days he'd been on Coruscant.

Luke pocketed a datacard from Valin with his report on the attack on Jacen, but he was distracted by a stirring in the Force, the imminent arrival of others. There was no sense of menace associated with the presentment. He glanced at the two Jedi. "Anything else?"

But the answer came from behind Luke, accompanying a bustle of several moving bodies. Boots creaked, durable uniform cloth rubbed, equipment clattered, and a new voice rose above it all. "How about some news from Corellia?"

Luke turned around to see a half squadron of pilots headed his way - wearing sweat-stained orange flight suits, their helmets under their arms, they had to have just come from their starfighters. In front, familiar and reassuring, was Wedge Antilles, sharp-featured and graying; behind, a step to the right, was Wes Janson.

Luke grinned and stepped forward to embrace his two friends. The other four pilots, two men and two women, he recognized as well. "Thanks for coming, Wedge. Good to see you, Wes. What news from Corellia?"

Wedge looked around. "Maybe somewhere more private." Three minutes later, a ground-level security door slid open before them, revealing shaded sunlight - as well as a pair of Ewoks in leather caps, stone-headed spears in hand, creeping their way a few meters beyond. As the door slid open, the Ewoks jabbered in surprise, turned, and fled back in to the tree line twenty meters away.

Wedge snorted as they headed into the undergrowth. "Good neighbours, if you can stay out of their stew pots." They were deep enough in the trees to be out of hearing range of anyone at the outpost, but still close enough to see bits of it through the screen of hanging branches and vines.

"So," Luke said.

"So, Corellia. A good friend of mine, a space navy lifer with the Corellian Defence Force - he's ninety, been retired for a few years - has just been returned to active duty and assigned a recommissioned Carrack-class cruiser."

Luke offered Wedge a dubious expression. "A Carrack? What's next? Are the Corellians going to start throwing cans of food at the Alliance fleets?"

"Yes. It sounds like they're shoring up depleted units with increasing desperation. But there's more to it. My old friend is going to be part of a special diplomatic mission to talk to the GA, a hush-hush negotiation that General Phennir, the Supreme Commander of the Confederation military forces, wasn't informed of beforehand. Scuttlebutt has it that when he enquired about it with the Corellians, they told him it was just a delaying tactic, something to distract Colonel Solo for a few days. Now Phennir's people don't know if that's the truth, or if the Corellians are going to try to spring some sort of trap and kill Solo so they can claim the glory and have a bargaining advantage to give even more influence within the Confederation... or whether they're thinking of switching sides."

"Thanks for scaring me." Luke opened himself to the Force for a moment, but the future remained impossibly distant nad unclear All he could detect was the abundance of life around him, including the two Ewoks creeping in his direction. Their emotions consisted largely of curiosity and nervousness, rather than malice or hunger, so he concluded that attack was not on their minds. "If this guy I know could figure out where Jacen is going to be, and when, it could prove very valuable to us. We have a means to track his movements, but that leaves us very reactive - he goes, and if we respond in time, we can follow him. To anticipate his movements would be ideal."

"Two days until the meeting with the Corellians. Two days, at a halfway point between Corellia and Coruscant - but that is still a lot of space to cover." Wedge frowned. "In two days, if you could have a StealthX shadow the Anakin Solo out of the Coruscant system, that might give us the exact coordinates. Her course, plus knowledge that the destination will be identical in distance from there to Corellia, as well."

"Right - if we're lucky and he doesn't send the Anakin Solo through an elaborate multiple-leg course."

"I doubt he will. Whether it is one or not, he has to suspect a trap. Why worry about elaborate routing when you're going directly to the adversary anyway?"

"True." Luke nodded. "I'll send out a StealthX immediately." He sent out a pulse towards Kyp and Corran; he intended for them to be in his flight when they went after Jacen.

TAG: @The Real Kyp Durron, @Corellian_Outrider
---
Corellian system

As much as Koyan had refused to meet with Adalia, Mirax and her team after the attack, the days news wasn't all bad. Aboard the Victory-class Star Destroyer Valorum, escorted by two Carracks - one of which included that one captained by Wedge's ninety-year old contact - Captain Hoclaw opened a channel to the captains of the disabled Ranger, the Warrior, and looped in Corellian Admiral Delpin, who was in a top-secret location, as well as the Prime Minister, as bombastic and annoying as he was.

"We have an acceptance from Admiral Niathal," the woman said, grinning. "In two days time the Anakin Solo and two escort frigates will meet us at coordinates A."

Delpin smiled. "Request Captain Terrik transfer her squadrons to the Warrior or the Valorum. The Warrior will be deployed to coordinates B, with other starfighter squadrons. You will ambush Colonel Solo's Star Destroyer when instructed, and hopefully knock him out of the war."

That meant that every person in Adalia's volunteer militia - be it Adam, Trec, Mirax, Loriana, Adrian, Marie, Bernael, Rem, Rom, Face, Renn, Jem, Rooty, Jay, Kael, Briana or Erbas would have a choice where to go.

A, aboard the Valorum.

B, aboard the Warrior.

The Confederation intended to kill Jacen Solo.

News quickly filtered across to Captain Hoclaw. "Our latest reports also state that Solo is bringing a sizeable deployment of the GAG aboard the Anakin Solo, should he need to board any ships, and we've a confirmed report that war criminals Aden Kya and Tahiri Veila will be aboard."

Essentially; they'd all be there.

The entirety of Caedus's evil junta.

"Please confirm your preferred deployment, and I'll get bunks sorted."

She grinned. "We have two days to get ready. Let's make them count."

TAG: @Adalia-Durron, @darthbernael, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @Anedon, @Corellian_Outrider, @adaml83

OOC: This does not preclude any proposed deployments to elsewhere, but please note that the whole plot will be moving forward imminently. Let's get this war ENDED, people!

 

IC: Aden Kya
Coruscant, aboard the docked Megador, shipyards

The SSD was under repair as ever, but it was a nice and immense ship to be based upon while the warship was readied to return to the front after the damage it had suffered at the Battle of Kuat. Aden had spent his unofficial exile secluded here building a team to antagonize the rogues specifically. Which is how he met and called Valentina Calles to meet him aboard the Megador.



He wanted to have a squadron that hated the enemies they were facing.

It would make them easier to order to do the necessary evils to the enemy.

He was sure that Valentina would even approve of his asteroid bombardment of Commenor, but he wasn't going to drop that until he was sure.

The man stood in one of the many dozens of hangars aboard the Megador, garbed as a GA pilot, as always was. It would not do for him to appear regaled as a Sith, after all, even if Tahiri was now favoring black-leather lines and would probably gravitate to a cloak or cape at this rate, just like Caedus.

With a sneer, he watched her ship arrive as ordered.

TAG: @Anedon