Populate A Change is Gonna Come | THR Populate of Iphigin

[Lodd Grimmin]

Makai Dashiell Tycho Irogane Claudius Vira Halor Nerys Ordon

"Groundbreaking reply," Lodd said with a dismissive gesture to Nerys Ordon attempt to make him out as emotional over simple questions. He remained silent in his chair, letting the others speak while he ran the numbers again in his head. Asking for twelve percent right out of the gate had clearly set them off, and he wasn't about to let himself get backed into a corner or pushed out of the deal entirely for being unreasonable.

He turned his attention to Tycho Irogane who wanted Nerys to stay in the deal and suggested using other shipping companies to split the load, in an effort to diversify the chain away from Manaan and himself.

Claudius response was about high treason and Republic loyalty if a single kolto shipment went across the border, suggesting they form an internal review board for oversight. He sighed slightly knowing that committees were his least favorite way to conduct business, especially since he had went through all that with the Galactic Alliance.

"A split shipping arrangement is acceptable." Lodd said in a much more friendly tone than before. "The Federation doesn't need to carry all the risks on its own or become a monopoly. If the Alliance wants secondary haulers to take part of the load, then we have no complaints." He said, backing down from his original stance due to the possibility of having the Sith attack his rivals transports and therefore guaranteeing his monopoly outright without having to fight for it in this conference.

"As a gesture of good will, I will drop our refining requirement from twelve percent down to five." The Neimoidian said, using an age old tactic to undercut his own profits. "Five percent is plenty to keep a back-up supply line running if Manaan goes under, and it will prevent any company here from having a monopoly as we have 95% left on the table." It seemed reasonable enough for him but he doubted the others would see it that way.

"We also will accept the oversight agreement from Mr. Claudius." He returned to being silent, wanting to see how his new statements would even the playing field some more without putting himself in a bad situation.​

 

[Vira Halor]

CORPOS:
Attn: Makai Dashiell Tycho Irogane Nerys Ordon Claudius Lodd Grimmin

Ah. Being a female in a room full of male corpos could be rather tiring. Words were said. Then repeated with a twist as if they were the sayer's own original thought. How droll. Thank the credits above for Ms. Ordon's presence.

Amber eyes settled briefly on Claudius. Lingered on his hair. Then moved on.

Her expression remained almost bored except for a small spark in those amber eyes as Nerys' message came through. Her privacy screen kept anyone else from seeing it besides her, though her datapad was on the table. Immaculate nailed fingers typed out a quick response back to the only other female in the room.

Message Encrypt: You and I both are not in the business for giving out or accepting charity. Do not take this the wrong way when I offer a well-known company to offset Lodd's shipping monopoly at 10%. And Mister Irogane said it. We diversify the portfolio there. Perhaps other places, too. By the way, what hair routine do you do? What do you think Mister Claudius does? I've been dying to know yours. Slay Queen. - V.

End Encryption.

Message sent.

Vira did not like the alien's dismissive nature to a particular female but the emotion did not bleed into her expression or her voice. "I agree with Mister Irogane and Claudius. Which Senators should be approached first?"

"And Mister Grimmin, that is quite the drop. It makes me wonder if you can go lower. I'm thinking we should add in a clause around Reciprocal Convoy Protection. If one shipping lane is particularly targeted from, oh, let's say sith or pirates. Each of us takes a hit - spreading out the cost and the responsibility to amp up security. I would just hate to see one of our subsidiaries targeted over the others."

Lower lip went into a full pout.

​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

CORPORATE ALLIANCE

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Lodd Grimmin | Nerys Ordon | Claudius | Tycho Irogane | Vira Halor

Makai picked a horrible time to stop drinking. Only five months to go but he wasn't sure if he was going to survive this 'alliance' for the duration completely sober. Time would tell.

The fixation on Manaan was astounding to him. Scientists were fleeing from Sith controlled worlds and any corporation with enough foresight was snapping them up to recreate farms on similar environments. Manaan was on the border with the crucifix happy Mandalorians. If the bucket people got one whiff of a central operation on Manaan they could easily come knocking and claim it for themselves.

Exactly why his kolto was elsewhere. Makai would let the others pool their credits and build on shaky ground. He would work out a side deal with Grimmin to pay extra to ensure the Trade Federation would merely come pick up his kolto from the Corporate Sector.

Let the others pretend to be proud High Republic nationalists.

One of the corporatists - Vira - mentioned each of them paying if a shipment was hit by pirates or Sith or even Mandos. Makai looked at her as if she had suddenly sprouted three heads.

"I am not chipping in for security that either your business, the Trade Federation, or the Republic should have. This proposal is completely unreasonable. If the Republic wants kolto then they will need to stop attending noble parties and patrol their hyperlanes."

Or the corporation should have their own internal security. Did no one think to hire ex-Galactic Alliance forces? Hired guns?

Sighing, he pulled out his datapad to type a message to Grimmin.

[[ Twelve percent to five percent? Not sure what your strategy is here. I don't trust this group and I prefer to keep my kolto operations in the Corporate Sector. I'll get with you to discuss shipping and distribution terms. ]]

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Vendaxa

Equipment:
Vanguard Robes | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm | Tic

Ace remained quiet as they walked. Tic, apparently, had no intention of doing the same. The moment Sira waved toward him, the little droid perked up from his place on Ace's back and answered with an excited series of chirps.

Something shifted through the branches overhead. His head snapped toward the sound immediately, dark eyes searching the canopy. Nothing in the Force warned him of danger, however, and his lightsaber remained clipped securely at his belt.

Sira seemed to know what it was. A Gexari or something. Judging by her reaction, she seemed extremely familiar with them. Ace's gaze dropped toward the datapad when she eagerly turned it toward him. He listened as Sira explained exactly what made the creature so interesting.

Coffee cherries. Sure.

Digestive system...

...His expression changed.

Collect their feces.

Ace slowly looked up from the datapad toward Sira, something bordering on horror settling across his face as she continued enthusiastically explaining how the beans could be harvested afterward. Who the hell had discovered that? More importantly, who had discovered it and decided to make a drink?

Yeah. He was never drinking coffee again.

Sira continued, mentioning the possibility of befriending one if they settled here. The we went completely over Ace's head. As far as he understood it, she meant herself and the Jedi Order.

“I do hope you'll visit wherever the Order chooses to settle.”

Ace's expression flattened again. His gaze slipped away from her and toward the surrounding forest. "Yeah, maybe." The answer came half-heartedly.

He took another few steps before stopping beside Sira, folding his arms as he looked up at the Gexari still perched amongst the branches.

"So, it shits coffee." Ace summarized bluntly. "Gross."

His eyes remained on the creature for another moment.

"You seem passionate about this kind of stuff."

There wasn't any mockery behind it. If anything, it was an observation. She'd gone from identifying soil conditions and plant life to practically bouncing at the sight of some tiny animal in a tree.

Ace glanced toward the southeast, in the direction of the cave Sira had mentioned earlier. They should probably get moving again soon.

Sira Esmeray | Ala Quin​

 

[Claudius]

IPHIGIN - TRADE TOWER CENTER
CORPORATE ALLIANCE

Attn: Makai Dashiell Tycho Irogane Nerys Ordon Vira Halor Lodd Grimmin

"I am not chipping in for security that either your business, the Trade Federation, or the Republic should have. This proposal is completely unreasonable. If the Republic wants kolto then they will need to stop attending noble parties and patrol their hyperlanes."

Claudius bristled - or rather, he shifted unpleasantly in his seat. ​

​

"Well, I don't believe that's a fair characterization of our government at all," he fixed the younger Dashiell with a level look, perhaps seeking to gauge his next reaction. "This is a vital medical substance we're discussing, not pitiful consumer bric-à-brac. Many citizens will live or die on the basis of how we proceed here. So I would not so quickly rule out those measures which might insulate us from supply chain disruption."​

​

"If this is to be a partnership, then the failure of any one partner will call into question the legitimacy of the entire operation. If the Senate believes we cannot adequately manage the supply of kolto, then there is no reason to believe they'll let us keep it. If we cooperate among ourselves in good faith, we will be seen as saviors - a standard to which all wise and honest captains of industry can repair. Conversely, if we behave like scraping, irresponsible profiteers only concerned for our personal selves... It may invite unflattering scrutiny. Challenges."​

​

 

[Guinevere Cavello]

​

Gwen listened as the prince explained his people's predicament. She knew the war would hit systems hard and unevenly, and it frightened her. Of course, some would line their pockets with this tragedy, and that was even more frightening.

"What about your people? If this spreads farther than expected, do you have any contingencies in place to lessen the impact?"

Before she could answer, the King of Naboo interrupted.

"Avenar?"

"Yes, that is right." She had never met the king either. It seemed this was a night for introductions.

"It is a pleasure to meet you King Veruna."



Arcelon Varellan Aurelian Veruna

Wearing: X

 

[Makai Dashiell]

CORPORATE ALLIANCE

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Claudius | Tycho Irogane | Vira Halor | Lodd Grimmin | Nerys Ordon

'Our government'.

Makai tried to think back if this Claudius was involved in the High Republic government in some form or fashion. So far he was drawing a blank but his research had not been complete. Perhaps this man was a mere patriot of the government itself,rather than a corporatist.

"I see."

Clarity was starting to come to the meeting on his end, nailed home by the words 'our government'. He was no longer certain he was dealing with impartial business owners but ones with sympathies to the High Republic. Which could cause an issue if he was trying to corner the market. Perhaps it had been a mistake to invite the others to try to capture the kolto business as well.

"I believe you four are on a totally different page than what I am trying to accomplish."

Not necessarily bad, yet not good either.

"Since I am the odd man out in the situation, I will allow you to brainstorm, come up with the terms, then I will decide if I would like to join the venture presented."

It was the only path forward he saw. His message to Grimmin still was in his mind, ready to push forward with his original idea. Production would just have to be scaled up, and quickly.

 

[Vaerelyn Thorne]

​

Location: Senate Building, Theeds, Naboo
Objective: THE HIGH REPUBLIC AT WAR
Sub-objective: Define the War
Outfit: Casual Dress Suit
Tag: Dominique Vexx | Ilsoon Jul | Anet Raine | Sae

The explosion erased every thought from Xaerelyn's mind. One moment she had been listening to the Chancellor's answer, quietly turning the words over in her head. The next there was a flash, a deafening crack, and Xaerelyn screamed as she threw herself down behind the console of the Gorathi pod.

For several seconds, Senator Thorne ceased to exist. There was only Xaerelyn. A frightened young woman very far from home. Her heart hammered against her chest as she slowly raised her head. Smoke drifted through the chamber. Voices overlapped one another. Security moved. Somewhere amidst the confusion, someone shouted for a medic.

Xaerelyn stared toward what remained of Senator Jul's pod. "No..." She had been listening to him only moments before. Questioning. Hesitating. Much as she had been. Xaerelyn's hands were shaking badly enough that she clasped them together beneath the console. She watched helplessly as others rushed to Senator Jul's aid, but there was nothing she could contribute. She knew how to tend crops. She knew how to mend clothing, prepare meals, and manage the thousand small necessities of life on Gorath's Haven. She did not know how to save a man torn apart by an explosion.

And eventually there was no man left to save. Xaerelyn lowered her gaze. For a terrible moment, an ugly question entered her thoughts. Had Senator Jul died because he questioned this? Others were already speaking of the Sith. Of sabotage. Of assassination. Xaerelyn almost believed them. Almost. She closed her eyes.

The Chancellor had answered her question before the explosion. That mattered. Whatever had happened to Senator Jul could not be permitted to change what Dominique Vexx had said. Nor could Xaerelyn allow fear, anger, or suspicion to turn an answer she had found acceptable moments ago into something else now.

Slowly, she rose. Her legs did not feel entirely steady beneath the long folds of her deep teal gown. Xaerelyn swallowed and activated her microphone again. When she spoke, her voice was considerably quieter than before.

"Madam Chancellor." She glanced once more toward the ruined pod. "Thank you for answering my question." There was no attempt to hide the tremor in her voice.

"If I understand correctly, you are asking us to recognize a state of war with the Sith Order and the Sith Covenant because of their attacks upon the Republic. You are not asking us to declare war upon every person who calls themselves Sith, nor promising that Republic forces will be sent across the galaxy searching for them."

Her eyes returned to Dominique. "That distinction matters to me. It will matter to my people." A breath. "I can return to Gorath's Haven and tell them what we are being asked to defend. I can tell a farmer who volunteers why they might be sent away from their family. I can tell our Agrarian Council what our resources are supporting."

Xaerelyn's hand remained visibly unsteady as she reached toward the voting controls. She hesitated. Not because she had changed her mind. Because suddenly pressing that button felt far more consequential than it had ten minutes ago. "I will not cast this vote because of what happened to Senator Jul." Her gaze briefly settled upon the wreckage. "We do not know what happened. We do not know who is responsible. I hope we will have those answers before anyone decides that we do."

Her attention returned to the chamber. "But I had my answer before the explosion." Xaerelyn entered her vote.

WAR: AYE

"Gorath's Haven will stand with the Republic." Her finger withdrew from the controls, though she did not retake her seat immediately. "As to the Chancellor's emergency powers..."

Xaerelyn looked toward Verity. Under almost any other circumstances, the elder senator's confidence might have been enough to reassure her. Today it wasn't. "I do not yet understand what we would be granting well enough to give it."

There was something almost apologetic in the admission, but she did not withdraw it. "Especially now." Xaerelyn finally lowered herself into her seat. Her hands were still shaking. She remained anyway.

 

[Lyraen Solari]

​

Sub-objective: So This Is What Princesses Do?
Location: Theed Cultural Center, Naboo
Outfit: Sea-Green Gown
Tags: Guinevere Cavello | Arcelon Varellan | Aurelian Veruna | Open

Late. Lyraen was late. Not disastrously late, she had been assured. Apparently there was a difference between being late and arriving fashionably late, though Lyraen suspected the distinction had been invented entirely by nobles who disliked admitting they were late.

Still, arriving at all had to count for something. One hand briefly smoothed the sea-green fabric of her gown as she entered the Cultural Center. Gold and ivory embroidery followed the squared neckline before disappearing into the flowing folds of the skirt, with similar patterns decorating the cuffs of the sheer sleeves. Her red hair had been partially gathered into two thin braids that met behind her head beneath a small golden clasp, leaving the rest to fall in loose waves down her back.

Lyraen knew how to look like a princess. She had been one long before she'd ever heard the name Kortu. What she wasn't accustomed to was anyone beyond Kirima particularly caring where Princess Lyraen Solari went or what she did once she got there. Marriage had changed that.

Alderaan carried a prominence Kirima simply didn't. Markus' family had connections and expectations that stretched well beyond the small world where Lyraen had grown up. Suddenly appearances weren't merely appearances. Someone might actually notice that she was here. Or that her husband wasn't. Markus had possessed precisely no interest in attending. Lyraen had come anyway.

Surely that ought to earn her something with her new family. A little appreciation, perhaps? She'd settle for someone noticing she'd made an effort. The thought brought the faintest curl to one corner of her mouth as she moved farther into the gathering.

The Chancellor's address had already concluded, but its consequences seemed to linger everywhere. Conversations filled the Cultural Center, some quiet and carefully guarded, others animated enough that she caught fragments as she passed. War. Mobilization. Trade. Sith. Her smile faded slightly. This wasn't simply another noble gathering.

There were refreshments, beautiful clothing, important people, and all the other familiar trappings, but something heavier existed beneath them. Decisions were being made that could affect entire worlds, and here the consequences were already being picked apart over drinks and polite conversation.

Lyraen suddenly became considerably more aware of the eyes around her. Perhaps none were actually watching. That almost made it worse. Was she supposed to speak to someone? Represent Markus? Represent his family? Kirima? Herself? Nobody had exactly provided instructions.

Her gaze wandered through the room until a familiar face finally rescued her from having to answer any of those questions. Gwen. Lyraen visibly brightened. There. Someone she knew. She started toward her friend before realizing Gwen wasn't alone. A prince. That hardly bothered Lyraen. She'd grown up around titles, even if Kirima's court was considerably smaller than the circles she was navigating now.

Then she recognized the other man. A king. Her steps slowed. "Oh, come on..." The complaint escaped beneath her breath. For half a second, Lyraen considered finding somewhere else to be. Unfortunately, she had already convinced herself that attending when Markus wouldn't was somehow going to demonstrate that she could handle the public obligations attached to their marriage.

Running away from the first king she encountered probably undermined the argument. Lyraen drew a quiet breath, straightened her shoulders, and continued toward the group. "Gwen." There was unmistakable relief in the smile she offered her friend before Lyraen turned toward Gwen's companions. She offered both men the practiced inclination of her head that came from years of actually being royalty rather than recently acquiring the title.

"Your Highness. Your Majesty." Easy enough. Her attention returned to Gwen, amusement creeping back into her expression. "I was beginning to think arriving late might have saved me from the difficult part." Her blue eyes flicked briefly toward the two men before returning to her friend. "Apparently I was mistaken."

And if someone from House Kortu happened to hear later that Lyraen had spent the evening conversing with princes and kings while Markus stayed home? Well. Surely they'd be properly appreciative.

 

[Connel Vanagor]

BACK TO THE BEGINNING
VENDAXA
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

Omega Squad Every Day Gear Locations

• Michael – Team Leader
  Gabriel - Tech/XO,
  Raguel - Infiltration/CQB,
  Raphael - Heavy Weapons,
  Jeremiel - Corpsman,
  Connel/Ariel - CQB/Explosives,
  Sariel - Sniper,
  Vigilant Reaper - Gunship
  
• 
  Rides
  
  • "Enterprise" Station Ship
  • Vigilant Reaper
  • Null Vector
  • Speederbike
  • Iron Psalm
  Gear/Armor
  
  • Gear(“Bodycam” Datapad, UAD Drone, link to Seraphim AI included)
  • Lightblaster
  • Shortsabers (“Night” and “Day”)
  • 5 Throwing Lightknives
  • 3 Force Blinding Flashbangs
  • RI-17 Rifle-w-MS-0412 Grenade Launcher
  SURGICAL - CRYBERNETIC IMPLANTS
  
  • Repli Implants that would be for the limbs
  • Bonemer enhancements to strengthen structure of the body
  • Muscle enhancements.
  • Hemo enhancements for blood flow
  • Hawkeye implants for eyes
  • Advanced Medical Implant
  • Scentzy
  • Injected Nanotech upgrades
• Shadow Sanctuary - Enterprise

Connel stood at the edge of the ruined senatorial pod, his visor dark against the lingering smoke.

A small UAD drone rose from his shoulder and slipped between the wreckage and the neighboring pods. Its camera feed opened in one corner of his visor. As it passed each face, SERAPHIM compared the image against the chamber’s security roster, marking confirmed identities and setting uncertain matches aside for review.

Show me the pod before the explosion, Connel murmured.

“Reconstruction in progress,” SERAPHIM replied.

The wreckage in his visor began to move backward. Scattered fragments returned to their likely positions. The torn floor folded together. Beneath it, the repulsor assembly appeared, scorched but still fixed to its mounting.

Connel crouched without touching anything.

Bren was right. That didn’t start in the repulsor.

“Agreed. Primary force traveled into the passenger compartment. A mechanical failure at this location would have produced a different debris pattern.”

Someone wanted people looking at the repulsor... Connel glanced toward the chamber, where medics and security officers were still working beneath the eyes of the Senate. ... and they wanted this to happen while everyone was here to see it.

SERAPHIM highlighted an empty section beneath the pod’s floor. The reconstruction filled it with a faint outline, then revised the outline twice. “Possible device placement. Composition and triggering mechanism remain unknown.”

Connel watched the drone pass over the damaged housing once more. The blast had been contained closely enough to spare much of the assembly below. Whatever had been placed there had done precisely what its maker intended.

That troubled him more than the explosion itself.

Preserve the chamber feeds, he said. I want everyone who approached this pod before the session, and everyone who moved when it went off. Keep the reconstruction provisional.

“Understood. That will take some time.”[/B]

On his visor, the faces in the chamber continued to resolve one by one. Senators. Guards. Aides. Emergency personnel. Connel looked back at the ruined pod. He knew how it had been meant to appear. He was beginning to understand how it had been done.

Who had done it was still somewhere among the questions.

[Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]
TAGS • ARE • OPEN
Personal Effects - Omega Squad Loadouts​

 

[Chiassa]

VENDAXA
Supply Run

Jackson Lesan | Rathir | Sophelia Ardemark
​

The Firrerreo glanced toward Chiassa with another grin. "You can help make sure I don't accidentally buy an acklay."

"Deal, though you'd be wasting your money on just a big ol' skull anyway. Better to look for a Roggwart's tail. You could actually use it as a weapon of sorts," she said, flashing a lopsided grin up at Rathir while making a trident with three fingers. She poked him lightly in the side before skipping off to the next set of stalls.

There were so many vendors and so much to see though something red in a large glass jar caught the youngling's attention. Chiassa approached the table and got real close like up to the object in question. That's when the lightbulb came on and blue eyes searched for Jackson and/or Sophelia.

"Guys over here... I found something!" the little archivist called out to the older padawans with excitement.

It was Nysillin, she just knew it. The red flower was known as a universal cure-all for diseases in all species. If so, that would be a game changer especially if they couldn't find any bacta.

 

[Fiona Tierney]

Quietly she trudged along side Xandyr Carrick as they tracked a pack of acklay down to the waters edge. They only had to stop to check their direction twice before coming upon the herd. Relatively impressive, she was content to let Carrick take the lead in picking the two acklay to focus on. A pair just off the left side of the herd, currently drinking water.

A crude joke. A smile cracked. It seemed they were in a joke contest. She wasn't sure if another one was available in her memory banks so talk was focused back on the acklays. Separating them would be difficult. If not impossible. She wanted to pull this off without being eaten by an overgrown insect.

Hunting rifle was removed from her back and she began checking the weapon over.

"Urban combat? Not sure I would say that personally." Voice was barely above a whisper, the winds were changing towards the acklay. "Suggestions?"

 

[Arcelon Varellan]

LOCATION CULTURAL CENTRE, THEED, NABOO ◆ OBJECTIVE RUB ELBOWS WITH FELLOW NOBILITY

Arcelon nodded as the King of Naboo walked over and spoke a word - a planet name - at Guinevere, to which she turned to address him.

"Yes, a pleasure," Arcelon said with a smile, as he looked between them. "I shan't interrupt, as the escalation of the Senate draws my interest for the time being. Thank you for the brief, albeit enjoyable, discussion.

"Good day."

With a small bow of his head, Arcelon turned and narrowly missed bumping into another individual. He sidestepped and held out his hands, giving her space to pass, before he offered her a smile and continued on his way. He wanted to confirm several factors that the Senate hearing at mentioned, which meant seeking out his assistants and regarding their notes on the matter.

"Niles, prepare Senate hearing notes, I wish to study them."

Arcelon turned right into a hallway and soon departed.

◆ Thread Exit ◆​

TAGS
Guinevere Cavello ◆ Aurelian Veruna ◆ Lyraen Solari

 

[Rathir]

THE HIGH REPUBLIC

RATHIR
JEDI INITIATE • LIVING FORCE

LOCATION TRADING POINT, VENDAXA ◆ OBJECTIVE SHOPPING

────────────────────────────────────────────​

Rathir nodded his head slowly as he rubbed his chin, considering. He supposed buying a cool skull was a waste of money, especially when he could get a tail that could double as a weapon. That sounded like it was interesting and an investment.

"That does sound good," Rathir said as he turned to look at Chiassa. "I don't know what a Rogg-- Ah!"

The Firrerreo paused mid-word as he was poked in the side, which caused him to twitch and step. He smirked as the smaller Jedi scurried away from any potential payback.

"You can run..." he muttered, even as he turned back to the vendor they had been speaking with. "Thank you for your time."

Rathir continued after Chiassa slowly. He needed to do one thing; and after a swipe of his finger, he added a note at the bottom of the datapad list:

[ Other: Roggwart Tail ]

With a nod, Rathir looked over just as Chiassa called out. For a minute he thought there might be trouble, but it turned out to be another item of interest. He quickened his step, reaching the stall, and joined the other Padawan. Rathir bent, leaning forward toward the jar of red flowers, and his eyebrows raised:

"Ooh, wow, look at that," he said, blue eyes squinting. "Those are... well... those are really red flowers..."

Rathir glanced to Chiassa.

"What are they again?"

────────────────────────────────────────────​

TAGS
Jackson Lesan • Sophelia Ardemark • Chiassa • Kuhbee ​

FIRRERREO • FORM V • JEDI INITIATE​

 

[Sophelia Ardemark]

​

“You know, most people wait until at least the second date before they start criticizing my posture.”

Soph rolled her eyes. Corner of her mouth twitched. These Lesans. She ignored him.

t. “Shopping. Right. I knew there had to be a reason you volunteered.” He glanced sideways at her datapad. “Just remember we’re supposed to come back with supplies, not an entirely new wardrobe.”

“That’s NOT funny.” A light smack of the back of her hand against his arm. Another skyward roll of those bright blues. It was all in good fun, though. It was good to have some fun. After all she and the other padawans had been through.

Soph smiled at the shopkeeper and quickly pointed to a few jars. “We’ll take two of those. And those. And the one back there.”

Voice lowered to Jackson. “Those help with infection, those with pain, that accelerates healing. That one is for toxins.”

The Neti smiled. In a ready voice she responded. “Girl has a good eye. If you ever need a job, my stall is always open.”

Soph blushed.

“Thank you,” she managed. “Perhaps we can chat, later. There are still a lot of things here I don’t recognize.”

Then she heard Chiassa call them. “I’ll finish up here and meet you there with the others. Sounds like Chi and Rathir found something good.”

Soph began piling the herbs and medicines on the hover cart, getting out some credits to pay.

Jackson Lesan

​

​

 

[Xandyr Carrick]

XANDYR

Fiona Tierney

"Only because if we miss our shots, we won't live long enough to think about regretting it."

He almost smiled at her disagreement. He lowered himself into the reeds beside her, close enough that the stock of her rifle nearly rested against his arm, and watched the two acklays through a gap in the stems.

They were magnificent. He would give them that. Three metres of armoured predator, heads low to the water, with the light catching the sheen of their carapaces. Even at rest they looked like something designed by a god that resented the idea of soft things.

"Perhaps closer to a duel."

He studied the waterline. The pair had drifted slightly apart as they drank, the larger one upstream by perhaps fifteen metres.

The reed bed ran along the eastern edge of the pool for another sixty metres before thinning into open grass. To the west, a natural channel cut inland, narrow and choked with growth. A corridor.

"The channel." He pointed with two fingers, low. "If I move along the reed bed to the north end and put a round into the ground behind the upstream one, it will rush back south towards the herd."

"That leaves the second one confused for a few seconds. Those seconds are your shot."

He turned his head just enough to look at her. This close, he could see the faint scatter of freckles across her nose. If she was nervous, she hid it well.

He opened the chamber on his pulse rifle. Just six shots before it needed to be reloaded, but each round could blow a hole through the creatures.

That, however, would have seemed inelegant.

"Unless you have a better idea. I am told mercenaries prefer their own plans, and I would hate to deny you the pleasure."

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique turned to look toward Jaun Smyth as the Senator asked if they should remain.

"That is precisely what They want. To see us live in fear. To fear one another. Great effort was made by our security forces to prepare this chamber for this gathering. That this outrageous assault should strike one of our own in spite of that... We shall not surrender. Not after Thyferra. Not after today. These are our worlds. Our homes, and we will fight to the last to keep them."

Vaerelyn Thorne sued for a moment, and the Chancellor turned her bright golden eyes toward the woman. Dominique stood silently as the woman spoke with her eyes upon Vaerelyn for every word. A slow, but crisp nod followed what she'd said and how she'd voted.

"Stand with the Republic. Stand with one another. We will make it through to the other side of this storm."

A moment was taken to draw in a deep breath. "There is much to do, and I have taken enough of your time. More information will be distributed among your worlds. Our efforts will be coordinated. Our responses to Sith aggression swift and decisive. Until they hear us we will fight to preserve our way of life. May Shiraya keep you and protect you." The signaling bell chimed softly, and with finality.

There would be time for them to cast votes and submit petitions to the Office of the Chancellor. The end of the emergency session was by far not the end of discourse, or of the Republic. A desire to speak by Sae would still be heard in private and perhaps in another session of matters of Kenari import, but the explosion had a lasting rippling effort among those assembled.

Dominique turned from the podium to descend not just from the platform, but to make her way around toward the floor of the Chamber below. Some might seek to depart hastily fearful there were more explosives. She declined to humor the thought, and would ensure the investigators below ( Connel Vanagor ) had whatever they needed to conduct a thorough examination of the scene.

War, Yes (5): Anet Raine | Verity Stuyveris | Eharl Sarn | Jaun Smyth | Vaerelyn Thorne
War, Pending (1): Ephram Pryce
War, No (0): n/a
Monitoring: Sae | Ilsoon Jul | Connel Vanagor

Emergency Powers, Yes (3): Verity Stuyveris | Eharl Sarn | Anet Raine
Emergency Powers, Abstain (2): Ilsoon Jul | Vaerelyn Thorne
Emergency Powers, No (0): n/a​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Guinevere Cavello | Lyraen Solari | Rue | Arcelon Varellan

Aurelian barely registered the prince taking his leave. In crowds like this, smaller titles had a habit of fading into the background anyway. His attention remained fixed on Guinevere, the Bacta supply lines she represented, and the raw leverage that came with them.

Before he could steering the conversation back to trade, another woman materialized at the princess's side in a wave of sea-green fabric. Her casual greeting brought a sharp, amused glint to Aurelian's eye.

"Oh, come now. Surely a conversation here is much simpler than familial obligations," Aurelian remarked. "However, I did wish to discuss trade, though I can hold my tongue if you ladies would prefer to gossip."

The playful banter was interrupted by a shift in the air nearby. Glancing past the two royal women, his sharp eyes locked onto a figure cutting through the glittering crowd. She wore black industrialist attire, looking completely out of place among the flowing silk gowns and crystal goblets. She was staring directly at him with a calculated, unwavering intensity. How interesting.

​

 

[Jackson Lesan]

Tag: Sophelia Ardemark | Chiassa | Rathir | Kuhbee

Jackson rubbed the spot on his arm where Sophelia smacked him, giving her a wounded look that was considerably more dramatic than the actual impact deserved.

“Ow. You know, between the posture criticism and the physical abuse, I’m starting to question whether shopping with you was a good idea.”

He did behave after that, mostly. While Soph pointed out the jars she wanted, Jackson followed along on his datapad and added the purchases to their running total. Infection, pain, accelerated healing, toxins. None of it was bacta, but that did not mean it was useless. If anything, the shortage made knowing what else they could carry even more important.

The Neti’s compliment earned a glance from Jackson toward Sophelia, especially when the healer actually blushed. He waited until the shopkeeper had turned her attention toward gathering the last of the order before leaning slightly closer.

“Careful. Keep that up and you’re going to come back from the supply run with a job.”

Chiassa’s voice carried across the market before he could tease her any further.

Jackson turned toward the sound, but Soph was already reaching for the credits. “I’ll see what they found. Don’t let her talk you into an apprenticeship before I get back.”

He started toward Rathir and Chiassa, checking the list as he went. That was when he noticed something at the bottom that definitely had not been there when he handed it over.

Other: Roggwart Tail.

Jackson stopped walking. His eyes moved from the datapad to Rathir, then back to the datapad.

“You know I can see the list, right?”

There was no hiding the amusement in his expression as he approached the pair. Jackson deleted precisely nothing, though he did mark the addition with a question mark before slipping the datapad beneath his arm.

“If we somehow finish everything else and still have credits, we can discuss your highly essential tactical tail.”

Whatever he expected Chiassa to have found, it was not a jar containing a bright red flower. Rathir’s assessment of really red flowers did very little to clarify the situation, so Jackson looked to the younger Padawan instead.

“All right, Chee. What’d you find?”

Her explanation wiped some of the teasing from his face.

“Nysillin?”

Jackson leaned closer to the jar without touching it. He had heard the name before, but knowing that something existed and trusting himself to identify or use it correctly were two very different things. Chiassa seemed certain, though, and considering she had identified an acklay from its skull several minutes earlier, he was beginning to think bringing the little archivist along might have been one of their better decisions.

“So you really do read everything.”

He straightened and looked toward the vendor. “How much do you have?”

Before committing credits, however, Jackson glanced over his shoulder toward the herb stall. Soph was the person he wanted looking at this. Chiassa might know exactly what the flower was, but Sophelia would know whether it actually belonged in their medical kits and what condition it needed to be in before they started buying jars of it.

“Soph!” Jackson called across the market. “When you’re done over there, we need your eyes on something.”

His gaze returned to the jar, then to Chiassa. “If this does what you say it does, that’s a good catch.”

That deserved saying without a joke attached to it. The kid had been excited about getting out of the archives, but the things she had learned in there were proving useful surprisingly fast.

Jackson pulled his datapad back out and added Nysillin beneath the medical section. When the screen opened, the Roggwart tail was still staring back at him from the bottom.

He sighed.

“Rathir, if that tail ends up on this cart before the food does, I’m making you explain it when we get back.”

By the time Soph joined them, Jackson had already started looking farther down the market for their next stop. They were making progress, but the empty space beside bacta on his list was impossible to ignore. One vendor being dry did not mean the entire market was, and he was not ready to give up after the first refusal.

He waited for Soph to inspect the Nysillin before motioning farther down the row with his datapad. A weathered sign above another stall advertised offworld medical goods, while the merchant beside it had power cells stacked behind the counter. Both were close enough that there was no reason for anyone to wander off.

“We’ll grab whatever Soph says is worth taking here, then hit those two next.”

Jackson hooked a hand around the hover cart and started easing it forward once everyone was ready. The market was crowded enough already, and between Rathir’s fascination with strange animal parts and Chiassa’s ability to spot things the rest of them overlooked, keeping the group together was probably the safer option anyway.

Besides, this was supposed to be a supply run. There was no reason they could not actually do it together.

He glanced toward Rathir as they started moving.

“And the rule still stands. Food before tactical animal parts.”

 

[Connel Vanagor]

BACK TO THE BEGINNING
VENDAXA
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

Omega Squad Every Day Gear Locations

• Michael – Team Leader
  Gabriel - Tech/XO,
  Raguel - Infiltration/CQB,
  Raphael - Heavy Weapons,
  Jeremiel - Corpsman,
  Connel/Ariel - CQB/Explosives,
  Sariel - Sniper,
  Vigilant Reaper - Gunship
  
• 
  Rides
  
  • "Enterprise" Station Ship
  • Vigilant Reaper
  • Null Vector
  • Speederbike
  • Iron Psalm
  Gear/Armor
  
  • Gear(“Bodycam” Datapad, UAD Drone, link to Seraphim AI included)
  • Lightblaster
  • Shortsabers (“Night” and “Day”)
  • 5 Throwing Lightknives
  • 3 Force Blinding Flashbangs
  • RI-17 Rifle-w-MS-0412 Grenade Launcher
  SURGICAL - CRYBERNETIC IMPLANTS
  
  • Repli Implants that would be for the limbs
  • Bonemer enhancements to strengthen structure of the body
  • Muscle enhancements.
  • Hemo enhancements for blood flow
  • Hawkeye implants for eyes
  • Advanced Medical Implant
  • Scentzy
  • Injected Nanotech upgrades
• Shadow Sanctuary - Enterprise

The reconstruction had reached ninety-six percent when Connel turned away from the ruined pod.

It was enough.

The charge had been concealed beneath the passenger compartment, shaped upward, and positioned to leave the repulsor assembly recognizable. Whoever built it had wanted the first explanation to be mechanical failure and the second to be sabotage.

Everything beyond that was still supposition.

Connel recalled the UAD drone to his shoulder and started toward the chamber exit.

“Master Vanagor.”

He stopped.

SERAPHIM enlarged one final image across his visor: the melted remains of the pod’s control console. A tiny contact plate blinked beneath layers of reconstructed circuitry. Heat damage?

“Negative. The conductor was severed prior to detonation.”

Connel almost dismissed it. One broken filament in a machine torn apart by an explosion meant very little.

Then he recognized where it led. The request control.

“Affirmative.” The control Senator Jul had used to request the floor.

SERAPHIM overlaid the Senate’s system log. Jul’s console had registered physical pressure against the switch eleven seconds before the explosion—but no request had reached the Chancellor’s queue. The signal had gone somewhere else.

Connel looked back at the pod. Trace the circuit.

A thin blue line traveled through the reconstruction, bypassing the pod’s transmitter and descending beneath the seat. It ended at the center of the charge. For several seconds, Connel said nothing. An assassin could have replaced the control. An assassin could have ensured the Senator killed himself without knowing it.

Then SERAPHIM rotated the image.

The altered contact sat behind the console’s interior service plate. Its fasteners could only be reached from inside the passenger compartment. The access seal had been opened after Jul entered the chamber. No technician had approached the pod.

No aide had accompanied him. Connel slowly removed his helmet. Jul had not been reaching beneath the console in fear.

He had been arming it.

The Senator’s unfinished request to speak had never been intended to reach the floor. His last act had been to press the switch himself, before the entire Republic could watch him die at the hands of an enemy who had never touched him.

He knew, Connel said quietly.

“Probability of voluntary activation is ninety-eight point seven percent.”

Stop the facial search.

“Master Vanagor?”

“We were looking for someone leaving the scene.”

Connel stared at the blackened remains for another moment. The man responsible never intended to.

He placed his helmet beneath one arm and left the chamber. At the end of the secured corridor, the doors to the Chancellor’s office waited beneath the seal of the High Republic. Connel approached them more slowly than he had approached the crime scene.

He now knew how Senator Jul had died.

What he did not yet know was whether Dominique Vexx could survive the truth of why.

[Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]
TAGS • ARE • OPEN
Personal Effects - Omega Squad Loadouts​