Skirmish A Monument to All Your Achievements | THR vs TSC | Jakku Enclave

[Pillar of Faith]

“The light is going out all over the Galaxy; if we do nothing, we shall not see it lit again in our lifetime."



Jakku, one of the most far flung no-where planets found on a star map, never seemed worth more than a passing glance…


Its insignificance was always part of the point.

Rested beneath her sands, the Jakku Enclave has long been hidden from the ambitions of the Sith and the reach of war alike. Founded by Romi Jade and guided by her hand for generations, the enclave became both a sanctuary for gifted and highly trained Jedi, and a repository for a trove of priceless archives, ancient Jedi relics, forbidden Sith artifacts, and forgotten teachings. In the years since, stewardship of the enclave fell to her students, Briana Sal-Soren and Lossa Aureus, with Lossa ultimately remaining behind as its guardian and caretaker.


But recently, the sanctuary has fallen silent. No word has come from its longtime guardian, and no one knows what became of the woman entrusted with protecting Jakku's secrets.


With the Sith Covenant establishing its foothold on Jakku and whispers and rumors spreading of what lies hidden beneath the dunes, a small but determined force of Sith have been dispatched to root out the Jedi and seize the enclave.


The sanctuary Romi Jade built has been left exposed at the worst possible moment and the Jedi Vanguard has little time to respond.

Directive 1: You Shall Not Pass


Some of the trainees and resident Jedi have taken up arms against the approaching forces of the Sith Covenant, choosing to defend their home, rather than abandon it, while evacuation teams work to save the Enclave's knowledge and relics from falling into Sith hands. Though several of these defenders are among the most highly trained Jedi in the Order, they are few in number, and they cannot hold the line without reinforcement.


Be advised that the Sith Covenant are rapidly moving in to form a siege line with firing cannons aimed on any personnel attempting to withdraw from the sanctuary. Vanguard teams must do what they can to disable these firing platforms, or otherwise disrupt the siege line long enough for evacuation vessels to escape.


Assist your brethren and repel the Sith’s advance long enough for those inside to secure the archives, recover what relics they can, and evacuate the remaining students and personnel. We’re counting on you.

Directive 2: Empty The Vaults


To all Jedi Vanguard personnel receiving this directive: Proceed into the Jakku Enclave and descend to the lower vaults. Recover whatever artifacts and archives you are able to secure. Make sure to prioritize items of historical, strategic, or spiritual significance, as we have received intelligence that a final safeguard protocol has been activated to explode within the vaults. Once the detonation sequence reaches its final stage, any personnel still inside the Enclave will have only a narrow window to withdraw.


Recover what you can and make it out alive.


BYOO


Have other ideas and stories you want to accomplish? Bring your own objective and join the story.

 

[Meliant]

Directly from the desk of the Emperor of Coruscant, Hasuras Na-Amoun (whose golden rule is inscribed on the hearts of trillions) to those notables of the Sith Covenant who have been charged with the expurgation of the Jakku Jedi Enclave.
​

​

Directive 1: Defend My Artillery

I'm going to blow the Enclave up with artillery. Seems like the most efficient way to do it. My new Moff-friend Urrom Donnic has lent me a beautiful array of heavy artillery walkers, siege platforms, and anti-aircraft cannons to do just that. You know, as a show of gratitude after I put him in charge of Humbarine.​

​

These are now set up at several strategic locations surrounding the Jedi Enclave. My Imperial lackeys will be finalizing the targeting solutions and vaporizing any freighters that try to make a break for it.​

​

My problem is that all of these Imperial guys are nervous after the shit we put them through on Humbarine. So I need some people there to keep them motivated. Just don't kill them, or let Jedi kill them. We're friends now. We're buddies. Act like it!​

Attn: Arris Windrun Isobel Serraris Varin Mortifer Lysander von Ascania Seris Velmora Zavik Maltheris Kaelyr

Directive 2: Take Their Things

Jedi love setting up their hidey-holes on worthless planets nobody cares about. I think they do it instinctively, like beavers with dams or whatever. They train in these things, apparently, and hoard treasures.​

​

I don't really get what the point is, seeing that despite everything they're all still a bunch of losers without a credit between them. But as my brother would probably tell you, you don't have to understand someone perfectly to kill them and steal their stuff. Actually, I would also tell you that.​

​

Go ahead and kill these people and take their stuff. It will be fun for you. You'll learn something. And if you find anything nice, you can keep it. Just don't stay too long, because eventually I'm going to blow the whole place up.​

​

You'll know when it happens.​

Attn: Efret Farr Meliant (that's me!) Chernobog Quinn Varanin Lily Rhodes Vess Sadragen

​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Friend: Sophelia Ardemark Zaiya Ceti
Not Friend: Lysander von Ascania Mercy

The Iron Lotus broke through Jakku's pale atmosphere in the midst of the raid. Cora kept her gaze firmly locked on the scene through the viewport.

A smattering of silver dots gleamed distantly in the swells of sand. Gradually, those dots became artillery and ships. Tiny, bright streaks of crimson and blue and green jumped about the dunes.

The first Vanguard assignment being a defensive maneuver didn't speak well to the Jedi's place in the galaxy. Well, it joined the pile. The distress signal sent by Zaiya Ceti gave them a window to act, rather than stand from afar and wring their hands as they counted bodies and tallied losses.

Cora touched the lightsaber at her hip first, then the blaster beneath her cloak. Then, the hilt clipped to the small of her back. She'd done that at least half a dozen times during the flight. After the violent expulsion of Jedi from Coruscant, she'd diverged from her path as a Sentinel in favor of healing - the galaxy always needed more healers, she'd figured. Turned out it also needed blades, too.

"Lives first," Cora said. It sounded more like a worn mantra than a declaration. Finally, she dragged her gaze from the viewport to the Padawan. Her gaze wasn't unkind; in fact, there was something softer to it. "Artifacts second."

It had been a long time since she'd visited the Jakku enclave. Would she still be able to find her way around? Did it matter?

There was a faint lurch as the ship touched down on the uneven surface of sand - they couldn't get close enough to the enclave's landing pad, anyway.

Before they disembarked, Cora turned to Sophelia. A moment of hesitation visibly washed over her as she studied the girl.

"Are you ready?" she asked, voice low. "I wouldn't begrudge you if you decided to remain aboard."

 

[Arris Windrun]

Lily Rhodes | Vess Sadragen | Isobel Serraris | Acier Moonbound
Down & Out
​

Arris inhaled sharply. It was a historically hot day on Jakku, with nary a cloud in the sky, and the sun scorching down. She stood at the edge of a dune overlooking the Enclave, with Meliant's artillery lining up at points behind her.

Her breathing sounded wet - as if she were sucking at a near-empty beverage through a straw. The coolant pump inside her chassis was so overloaded that the bluish-green fluid leaked from the seams in her body. Like sweat, really. The chemical composition was oddly sweet to the scent.

Thankfully, her breathing did not affect her vocalizer. She looked at Lily, then Vess. "Head inside. And don't get yourselves killed, 'kay?"

She trusted them to watch each other's back. So there was no little speech about that. She gestured, dismissively, for them to get going already. Besides, they already talked on Empress Teta.

As the two apprentices made their way forward, Arris continued to catch her breath. Her cybernetics were not designed for this kind of heat. They were already overclocked. It was why she was almost uncomfortably hot to the touch on any other world. Under Jakku's sun, on this day of all days, her coolant pump couldn't keep up.

When the cyborg stepped forward, a servo in her right leg misfired. She buckled to one side as her foot slipped out from under her, causing her to stumble and roll down the sandy dune.

 

[Chernobog]

Directive 2: Empty The Vaults / Directive 2: Take Their Things - Rik Perris

The briefing scrolled across her visual feed in a series of informal, unpunctuated sentences that made her internal processors lag with pure disbelief. Cherno kept her eyes forward, tracking the endless, desolate expanse of the Jakku dunes while her noblewoman matrix dissected the text.

The Emperor of Coruscant had sent an official military directive that read like a comm-message from a petulant teenager. Beavers with dams. Kill these people and take their stuff. She closed the file with a silent, digital click, a wave of profound exhaustion settling into her chassis. They were being deployed to ransack the place like a pack of low-grade barbarians.

The goal was entirely beneath her skill level as she was a military grade weapon not a common thug sent to pocket trinkets before the planet was turned to glass. The sweltering heat of Jakku wasn't helping to calm her synthetic nerves, either.

Even without biological skin, the temperature was forcing her cooling systems to run at maximum capacity, creating a low hum deep in her chest that she found deeply irritating. The fine sand was already trying to find its way into the seams of her joints. She ignored the discomfort, her posture remaining perfectly straight as she descended toward the entrance of the lower levels.

Cherno activated her anti-sound emitters. Instantly, the crunch of her boots against the loose rock and sand vanished, replaced by an artificial silence that isolated her from the rest of the desert. Her visual overlay began painting the stone walls in cold blues and greens, mapping the layout, tracking heat signatures, and looking for structural vulnerabilities.

If she was going to be forced to participate in a mindless smash-and-grab, she was at least going to do it her way. She would find exactly what was worth taking, file away any information about the occupants and leave before the Emperor decided to start targeting them.
​

 

[Isobel Serraris]

A MONUMENT TO ALL YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Y O U ‎ ‎ ‎ S H A L L ‎ ‎ ‎ N O T ‎ ‎ ‎ P A S S​

LOCATION — Jakku, Jedi Enclave
TAGS — Lysander von Ascania Arris Windrun Acier Moonbound
PARAPHERNALIA — Vesper et Aurora, Armour of the Lost

Darkening skies blighted an uneasy mindscape as the seer lay tormented by dreams of a rising storm, of blades and tragedy tormenting the heavens before the sun may yet slip through its barrier. A plight loomed over the edges of Jakku’s enclave, over coordinates shared throughout the Covenant. . . of an onslaught whose extent lay obscured by the Force’s veil. Only time may serve as its clarity, a resolution of matters unanswered.

The lines of time blurred as a droid’s announcement and the rumbling of a ship forced the duo into action; the casual wears made way for the blackened chainmail, phrik gorget and shoulderpieces and the cortosis alloyed chestplate and bracers. On top of it all rested a golden sash extending into a cape in the shades of the golden hour, embroidered by the wishful moon-flowers, dreaming of kinder times. No shield lay above the gorget, no helmet or mask as her love might don, naught more than the labyrinthine pattern of her braid, a weakness that was bound to ail her as it had done on Humbarine.

The clanging noise of metal hitting the surface indicated their freighter had at last found the sand-world’s surface; the Light felt. . . potent here, a song that filled her heart with as much sorrow as it did anger.

Stepping outside, Bel cast a single glance upon Lys, eyes sparkling with such fervent affection it bled into a smile. They had their purposes, their fates to be wandered, even if it went against all of the heart’s longing. A fragile link connected the minds, allowing him to feel all the conflict within, all the wishes to bask under the Zardossan sun once more–to leave the fighting to those worthy of it. <<Remember what I said on Zardossa: you will always find me.>> A hand slithered toward his armour, a thumb sliding over the pendant she had gifted him many moons ago. ”Stay safe, please. . .” slipped past, a quieter, frailer murmur.

The warmth of her remained even as her figure stalked toward one of the siege platforms, feeling the distant hums of ancient artefacts. It had to be done, Isobel told herself, as her fingers instinctively reached out to lay upon her lightsabers. . . on high alert for anything that might seek to ambush her within the confines of the foreign Enclave.

The Force swirled around the temple, accumulating into a background murmur consisting of numerous presences; Light and Dark, traditional or rebellious. Each with their own streak, something to signify that it was them and them alone. Among the cacophony lay a whisper, a rebellious and familiar-- "No. . ." Slipped from the lips as she tried to perish the thought of a familiar figure, and more so when her eyes set upon an all too familiar cyborg tumbling down the dune. With a swift move, she hurled herself down the platform as well, and toward the figure. "Arris!" the disdain practically dripped from her voice, excellent. "Rough fall? Best not keep that up, should we face the Jedi." A bemused huff slipped past the lips.

 

[Romi Jade]

---
JAKKU JEDI ENCLAVE
Central Chamber

Continuing from here and responding to - x
​

"And what have you found by protecting us with your, best way possible? Your, ultimate sacrifice?" A breath hissed out from between her gritted teeth, eyes widening to take in the woman that stood before her still. Her entire form radiating with anger that began to distort any solid line of her figure. As though she were slipping between some other place.

"Did you find that hidden, thing, that would bring an end to all the troubles and woes of the galaxy? That would stop all the bloodshed and fighting?" Another thud resounded as she took another step forward. "Some forgotten relic of a bygone era that would cinch the troubles of every being that lives and breathes in the verse?"

A deep breath in sharpened her anger to a razors edge. The hunched stance slowly easing into an upright and almost formal pose despite the intensity of her stare as the breath was let out carefully. Until she was upright and rigid like any other soldier.

"Or have you come back empty handed, looking to those you abandoned, for answers to problems we have been dealing with in your absence?"

What could she say

She stood in silence, taking her verbal lashings proper; she wasn't wrong. Romi had succumb to her own tunnel vision later in life, so committed to her plans and machinations within plans and machinations, holding it all close to her chest and she'd have to live with the fall out of those choices, whether she felt they were justified or not.

She also knew she better than to force feed Lossa's anger further; especially as she could see Wrath etched along her person very clearly.

And by that point she had accepted that this was their path, and she couldn't stop it; someone truly wise knew when release.

Tension was boiling over here.

Choice over impulse.

A slow breath in found her voice returning with a detached sense of calm. "The good it will do, is doing what others have avoided. Have wavered from. Have let pride or morality sway them. The galaxy does not need the impotence of the Jedi who wait for the next massacre or inhumane act to come together to waffle about solutions before nitpicking one another into inaction because it does not suit them. Who band together long enough to earn glory and claim righteousness before returning to their manufactured seats of power until the next incident arrives at their feet."

She shook her head as she finished speaking, as if the thought itself was dismissed.

"I will no longer take part in a system that chooses to sit idle and argue about optics, when the situation requires swift, decisive action."

"Your choices are you own...they must be. Always. You must know that." she responded. "I don’t wish to fight you Lossa–”

And just at the edge of her perception, she felt something impending...her head whipped around at the stray thought, but she didn’t need to stay idle in order to decipher what had come through the empyrean.

Something was wrong, and it was wrong now

She looked backed at Lossa, “What have you done?” she said before her vocal cords could completely seal while vibrating, excess air escaped; she was breathy.

Lossa Aureus | Bastila Sal-Soren |
cc: Briana Sal-Soren

---​

 

[Nilira Vornix]

"Keep an eye on the shuttles. If the Jedi are smart, which they sometimes are, they might send out decoys. They're likely to preserve lives over equipment which means they'll be willing to sacrifice their equipment to distract us. Target any shuttles with life-signs. The Jedi can survive without their relics. They can not survive without their people."

Nilira paced back and forth, reciting as much information as she could to the Imperials arming the anti-aircraft cannons. It was the most she could do for this operation. There was no possible way she'd find herself going after the relics herself. Last time she had went into an Enclave like that, Nilira had flashbacks to memories that she never wanted to look back on.

Instead she'd stay here, giving the best instructions the troops. Did it matter what she was an Acolyte? Well, for all the troops knew, she was a Sith. She had a lightsaber. And might made right in this case as she kept her arms folded behind her back, her mask and hood firmly secured across her face to protect herself from the elements as the sand whipped past her. Back and forth she paced, almost lost in her own thoughts.

​

 

[Sophelia Ardemark]

Becoming friends: Corazona von Ascania Zaiya Ceti
Decidedly not friends: Lysander von Ascania Mercy


Sophelia looked paler than usual. Flying and her stomach never went well together. All the more so embarrassing because she was a healer. But the remains of a ginger-chew was firmly stuck beneath her tongue. Gone by the time they landed. And whoever thought she'd be paired to the sister of the man who destroyed her home and struck down her people? During her short time with Corazona von Ascania it was hard to hate her and even harder not to like her.

Not that Soph would ever allow Lysander's actions to define the name of his entire family.

Still.

She had a loft of questions. Unanswered ones she eventually wanted to talk to Corazona about. But those would have to wait.

Thumbs typed out a quick, encrypted message she sent to her brother's comm. They'd promised that they'd always check-in with each other. Ever since Tapani and losing their dad. Helios Ardemark : 'Helios, I heard about a distress signal on Jakku and the opportunity to help. I'm with Corazona and will meet-up with someone named Zaiya Ceti . Just wanted to let you know. Yes, I PROMISE to be careful. Love you always. Love you lots. Your fave and only sis, Soph.'

"Sorry, my brother," she winced inwardly when she met the Jedi Healer's eyes on that last word. But being a noble enabled her to keep her expression neutral. "I'm ready," she stood, color already returning to her face now that they'd been on the ground a few minutes. She had a simple quarterstaff in the shape of a small cylinder attached to her belt that expanded upon the press of a button. Lightsaber resistant. She slung a small medical bag across one shoulder, with enough bacta patches and other medical supplies to help treat anyone injured.

Was she ready?

As she stepped outside into the hot afternoon sun, she turned to Cora and admitted quietly. "This is going to be hard. Being surrounded by those who destroyed my home. I don't know if I'm ready. But I'm here." Wasting no more time, she stepped onto the sands that surrounded them. The sounds of battle not so far away.

"Lives first," she whispered to herself for courage.




Other gear:

Sonic Pistol: only used for the most dire of circumstances against a foe or beast
Armor Weave: only the latest fashion allowed
Jolt Ring: my dad made me wear since I could walk
Pearls: given by ex
Pearls: given by another ex
Browncoat Light Paddle: older bro gift
Wrist Launcher for various darts: it's all about fashion and protection

 

[Katsumi Royal]

Tag: Open

Objective 1

The Sith, an opponent she was both familiar and unfamiliar with. More accustomed to their legions of lackies, more accustomed with an equal playing field. No matter the name they gave themselves, theirs was a blight upon the galaxy. The captain could give them credit where it was due, they held order at a high standard... But at the cost of the personal freedoms of those under their bloody banners.

So why was it that she and her crew found themselves within the dunes of Jakku? These Sith had decided to raid and pillage a hidden enclave tucked away within the storms of sand. She was no monk, no Jedi. And this was rather far flung from the Republic.

She found herself at a standstill for a time, she held no deeper reason to assist these 'vanguard'.

But didn't places like these hold trainees? People such as children? It would be an affront and another stain upon her soul if she simply allowed innocents to be caught in such violence...

Maybe she did have a reason, and perhaps these 'vanguard' had a point? The fact is, people who can't kill will be subject to those who can. It was a good deed to ensure that innocents were still able to have their freedom.

The woman nervously tapped her gloved finger against the metal inside the tank.

"All good, captain?"

Kat gives her soldier a nod, understanding that not only was she putting herself in danger, but also the men under her.

"All is good, establish secure comms with the Jedi."

Soon, a transmission came in. Given to any and all Jedi within that temple.

"This is captain Royal of the mobile infantry, three souls ready and willing to provide fire support before moving in to secure any non combatants to an evac site."

The transmission continues after a brief moment.

"Me and my boys will do all that we can to slow the incoming barrages, for any and all friendlies advancing be advised you may be danger close... I repeat, you may be danger close."

Behind the voice in the transmission you could hear heavy ordinance being loaded.

"Light guard and guide the republic."

The message ends, Katsumi adjusting herself in her seat before her tank fires up.

The HR-13 was made for this role, adept at scouting before blitzing in to unleash heavy firepower.

The armored unit and its three souls steadily began to make course for the temple, approaching from behind as the covenant focused on heavy strikes against the Jedi bunkered themselves inside.

It would still be a moment before they arrived, this gamble needed higher chances of the surprise attack actually working.​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Desevro Sith Armor | Helm of the Twin Suns | Nightstar | Raven's Heart
Tags: Mercy Corazona von Ascania Zaiya Ceti Sophelia Ardemark​

In these waning seasons, Zardossa had transformed into a sanctuary of negligence. There, the Core's decrees simply dissolved under a golden sun. The aftermath aboard the Prosperity and a recent trip to Ukatis were ever present on the mind. There existed a multitude of reasons for such a retreat, but the company beside him was the most persuasive argument of all.

The termination of the freighter's hyperdrive yanked Lysander's consciousness from the ether. Plates of armor rattled as the suit's chassis locked around him like the closing of a tomb. A singular glance was cast toward Bel, before the vacuum of the helm replaced the air; it sealed with a pneumatic hiss. Strangely, it felt different today; inside the atmosphere was suffocating, as though it were already mourning.

The Light which emanated from the Nabooan now was no longer foreign; it was both infectious and radiant, daring to defy the mandate which he served. Sand greeted the freighter, and the ramp's descent began. Telepathic tendrils tightened, carrying the weight of her plea into the recesses of his psyche, settling in ways that even his cursed armor could never deflect. When Isobel Serraris 's touch met the pendant at his collar bone, a hand rose instinctively to meet hers, trapping them for a suspended moment; and even upon departure, lingered a pulse of devotion.

“You’re too bright for this place. It hurts to look at you,” unfurled in the space between them, distorted by a vocoder that stripped the teen’s voice of warmth, “If the Jedi reach you first, tell them I’m coming.”

Silence reclaimed him afterward. The prelude to battle never unsettled the nerves; sentiment had never been much of a companion worth entertaining before the first strike arrived.

Jakku bled signatures as though they may be open wounds. Violent and multicolored. For Nightstar, these were notches on a hilt that tasted far too much Jedi blood to bother counting anymore. Still, admist that symphony, resonated one with clarity; one that reminded him of lineage, a signal of priority that clawed one’s periphery of focus. Somewhere out there.. she existed, a beacon of kin.

Gauntlet plates groaned against the longsword as sand began to shift beneath his boots. The distance opened, and the enclave's silhouette beckoned. His vision narrowed as the world filtered through a sensory tunnel of HUD readouts. Whatever mercy remained had been left behind on Zardossa; only the advancing storm mattered now.

 

[Silara IX]

Location: Valley of the Eremite - Jakku
Thread Objective: Take Their Things
Mission Objective:

• Enter the archive in Jakku Enclave East.
• Capture a holocron.

Tag: Novac Lyrikal

The Shyrack combat-reconnaissance fluttercraft dove into the canyons, its fluttering magnorotors beating in a blinding mechanical rhythm as the pilot skillfully guided the machine through the narrow gorges. Seated alone within the passenger area, Silara IX glanced out of the nearby viewport, her eyes tracing the towering mesas and perilous cliff walls to either side. Although this particular method of transport posed risks of its own, it was quite a relief to be spared from having to trek miles to the Enclave in the record-breaking heat.

Unfortunately, given the hazards presented by any potential air defenses or sensor networks in the area, the heat could not be entirely avoided.

The craft slowed to a hover, before coming down in a steady descent toward the canyon floor. Since they could not risk landing too close to the Enclave, Silara would have to walk the rest of the way. It was the stealthier approach by far, which would hopefully allow her to infiltrate the lower vaults with minimal risk of triggering an alarm.

After disembarking, Silara waved off the pilot, who immediately took off in a blinding cacophony of beating magnorotors. Alone on the canyon floor, the towering cliff walls provided some shelter from the oppressive heat. Nevertheless, the strand-cast had no intention of lingering in it. She started her way toward the Enclave at a steady running pace. All the better to beat the heat quickly, than to slowly suffer beneath it.

As she ran, Silara looked over the details of the briefing in her contact lenses’ HUD. Its informal, almost juvenile tone aside, her mission was on a strict timetable. She had only a limited window to infiltrate the lower vaults, retrieve whatever she could find of value, before extracting cleanly.

Thus, Silara drew a deep breath and pressed onward, at a quick and fluid pace. It was a sprint by most standards, but for her was little more than a casual jog. The dry air whipped past her cheeks, and the strand-cast’s cheeks flushed crimson with excitement as the sun glared down at her upon leaving the shelter of the cliff walls.

Her eyes lit up as the butte which contained the eastern facility of the Enclave shimmered into view through the heat mirage, forming a wavering silhouette that slowly hardened into solid form as she covered more ground. A bead of sweat traced the curve of her jaw, and she wiped it away with a trembling, eager hand.

She was already close.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Ghost Silk
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/M-02 Energized Forearm Vibroblade Mk. II - R
  • Miscellaneous Equipment
    
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
• Blood Ring
• FAE/MDE-01-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Thermal Explosive (4)
• Siqsa-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Obscuration Canister (2)
• Supernal Infusion
• Spirit Anchor Talisman
• Nullification Resin

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Jakku - Jakku Enclave

Equipment:
Vanguard Robes | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm

The shuttle skimmed low over Jakku's endless dunes, buffeted by waves of rising heat as distant artillery flashes pulsed against the horizon. Ahead, smoke climbed into the cloudless sky while crimson bolts stitched across the valley surrounding the hidden Enclave.

Ace stood beside the open side hatch, one hand gripping an overhead support as the desert blurred beneath them.

"Once we're over the ridge, I'll split." His eyes remained on the battlefield ahead. "I'll help keep the surface busy while you head below, getting the archives, the people, whatever you can."

There was nothing more to say. He and Lorn Reingard had already discussed the plan before take off. If those guns stay online, nobody's leaving this place.

The shuttle banked and Ace's gaze settled on the valley below. This would be the first time he'd truly stood against the Covenant as an enemy. Not behind the transparisteel of a prison cell, or in the quiet isolation of Eshan. A battlefield.

For a long time he'd wondered how this moment would feel. Whether seeing familiar banners and familiar faces would awaken something he'd left behind. It did.

The ridge raced beneath the shuttle.

"See you on the other side."

Without hesitation, Ace stepped into open air. The Force met him instantly, bleeding away the momentum of his fall before he landed atop a windswept dune in an explosion of sand. He rose in one fluid motion as the battlefield unfolded before him.

Artillery walkers anchored the Covenant's siege line. Anti-air batteries tracked the skies overhead while evacuation craft searched desperately for openings through the barrage. Blaster fire flashed across the dunes as reinforcements collided with advancing Sith.

Ace drew a slow breath, blue lightsaber igniting with its familiar snap-hiss. The Force washed over the battlefield and he felt countless presences. It wasn't long before he felt familiar ones.

Arris. Isobel. Others he had once fought beside. For the briefest moment, his grip tightened around the hilt. Guess this was always how it'd happen.

Then he surged forward, blade held low as he sprinted straight toward the Covenant siege line.

Arris Windrun | Isobel Serraris​

 

[Arris Windrun]

Isobel Serraris | Acier Moonbound
Down & Out
​

Arris lay across the foot of the dune, on her back, eyes up to the sight of starships overhead. The roar of artillery faintly shook the sand, as red bolts cut across the open sky. Coolant continued to leak from her seams.

She heard footsteps crunch across the sand, until a woman's shadow cast across her, and her name rang off a familiar tongue.

"Rough fall? Best not keep that up, should we face the Jedi."

The cyborg wasn't amused. "Psh."

Still, her mood wasn't going to rescue her from this poorly calculated situation.

She felt something burst inside her - the coolant pump. Arris turned over on one side and hacked up a mixture of coolant and blackened blood. Few people knew it, maybe because they thought she was an android, or because she was a Sith Lord, or because they didn't bother to care... but Arris Windrun was dying.

Not because of Jakku. Well, yes, that was killing her, too. But it was her guts. Her insides.

Long ago, on Ruusan, where the Dark Horse made her name, she also received a near-lethal blow and made a choice to stay in the tournament. A choice that left microscopic bits of toxic metal to linger inside her body. Nigh undetectable without cutting her open, or waiting for more severe symptoms to show.

Over time, it continued to spread. It nearly took her out on Nar Shaddaa, where she and Kirie sought out a Machine-God. And it almost ended her life on Coruscant, in the heart of the Rotunda, after she had killed Vestra Tane.

Her guts. Her nervous system - her brain. All the organic bits of Arris that remained, buried deep beneath metal bone and synthetic fiber, were far past the point of no return. Not without the most esoteric of interventions, anyway...

When she stopped coughing up bits of her own insides, Arris took another deep breath, and then another, fighting to fill a pair of failing, cybernetic lungs with air. Her heart was cybernetic, too. So much of her was dependent on parts that just weren't made for this.

But it wouldn't kill her. Not here. Not today.

The Dark Side poured throughout her body, possessing every bit of metal, wire, and synthetic fiber that made her whole. Where one machine failed, the Force could take its place, controlling the machinery anyway. She stood up. And that was when she sensed it. Him. Her eyes snapped in the direction of Acier Moonbound - she felt his arm.

Arris groaned and filled her steps with the Force, breaking out into a sprint as she lunged across the sand, saying nothing to Isobel until she came over the bend and saw her former apprentice, blue blade in hand, charging towards the Covenant line.

"Ace!" She called out.

Maybe he had forgotten just how her voice could carry when she wanted it to, as his name cracked like thunder over the battlefield.

 

[Isobel Serraris]

A MONUMENT TO ALL YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Y O U ‎ ‎ ‎ S H A L L ‎ ‎ ‎ N O T ‎ ‎ ‎ P A S S​

LOCATION — Jakku, Jedi Enclave
TAGS — Arris Windrun Acier Moonbound
PARAPHERNALIA — Vesper et Aurora, Armour of the Lost

Instinct, the basest of wills--to discard the rational for a collection of. . . thoughts? Emotions? Or whichever shall guide the hand toward this very drastic consequence. It did not ask, it commanded, and its iron will was an agonising word to deny--to resist. Intuitions that yearned for a reunion with her Light. Intuitions that begged for the coward's path before the dangers may yet present themselves. All and more tainted the psyche and stirred its cloudless heavens into a thunderous commotion, begging for an audience unheard.

The lifeless mounds of sand dug at the hollow within, scraping its walls and deepening Bogan's merciless void. Ronto-hide boots found no footing within the shifting terrain, though unlike her robotic 'ally', balance had not turned its odds against her yet. The midnight blood intermixed with a thinner substance landed upon the floor beside the writhing, pathetic form of Windrun. And though sorrow should have washed over her shape, an imperceptible twitch of the mouth's corner permitted the murmur of delight to linger between. Wicked. Wrong.

The rebellious thrum of before pressed against the edge of her mindscape, nigh on begging entry. . . begging to be acknowledged. But why would Acier be here? It was a folly! An unnecessary danger upon his being. . . and yes, that was the answer to her query--for the rebel, in all of the times their fates overlapped, had always favoured this recklessness. This surge to be the hero of some tale not yet woven. "Fool. . ." Slipped past the lips, no louder than a breath, before her gaze was drawn to one who may yet be called the same. Or worse.

A maelstrom of irritation flooded the sanctity of the heart, drowning it in budding anger--in the agonisingly sweet want for reassertion, for the reclamation of a control now lost. Arris had run off, nay charged like a mindless mudhorn at a foe! At Ace most of all, a friend, a fool. . . kin almost. A gutteral sound left her, as the Force swirled around her presence, translucent vines growing around the cyborgs frame as time ceased to exist.

"What is your plan? To charge at him like an animal gone mad?" Angered barks found their mark as she closed the distance between herself and the Sith in stasis. The core within did not know whether she had acted in defense of a friend, or in favour of strategy. . . "Have all your circuits gone haywire?!" A final snap, as Isobel released her grasp on the Triumvir. Retribution would certainly find her head one day, but until that dawn coloured the horizon, she would not condone this needless chaos.

All manner of speech came to a startling stop as dark brown eyes found the ocean-shaded robes of a familiar Jedi; fingers slipped around the curved marble hilt before the golden blade revealed itself--blending almost with the Jakkuvian dunes. Before the crimson shoto-blade followed suit, fingers twitching lightly upon the handles. If this is what it must be, then so be it. . .

A dagger pressed against Ace's mind, seeking entry, as the words spilled like venom into the head. <<It saddens me greatly that it must come to this, Rogue. Greatly. . . But it comforts me to know you embraced Ashla's Light.>> A frail link remained between the minds, permitting a dialogue beyond Arris' knowledge.

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Tags: Arris Windrun | Isobel Serraris | Acier Moonbound | Vess Sadragen

En route to run into Aiden Porte

Lily instantly hated Jakku, it wasn’t just the heat or how empty and desolate it seemed. It was that there was nowhere to hide, she felt exposed, not just to the sun, but to unseeing eyes, like something was staring down at her constantly, watching her every mood. And if that wasn’t enough to put her on edge?

Arris took a breath beside her, one that bubbled. It reminded her far too keenly of someone who was drowning in their own blood. Her hand sought Vess’s, fingers interlocking with hers as the dropship pulled away, kicking up sand and dust around them in a turbulent hot wind.

Pale brown eyes moved to the cyborg as she spoke, lips curving into a tight smile. “You too. Try and stay in one piece, I don’t really want to scavenger hunt in the desert.” She gave Isobel a small nod, she didn't know her well, only that like herself and Vess, she'd agreed to follow Arris. Which meant today, she had Arris's back. Or she hoped at least.

Lily had barely taken a few steps away before the sound of a servo misfire and a thud of something heavy hitting the sand. “I mean it, Arris!” she called back over her shoulder moving up the first ridge towards the temple.

As they crested the first ridge, they were granted sight of the line of Jedi moving to greet them. Lily's eyes moved over them, looking for a way through before settling on the easy route, her hands tightening on Vess as she drew closer to her. They’d have to teleport and she knew Vess hated it.

She looked at her, a small apologetic smile on her face. “Don’t be mad at me.” she murmured before Arris’s voice cracked across the sand, the challenge unmistakable. Lily’s head whipped round, spotting the familiar stock of white dreads. “What the fuck?” she breathed. There wasn’t time to process it, no matter the dozen questions running through her head. She turned back to Vess.

They had a job to do.

“Ready?”

She didn’t wait for an answer, folding the force around them and teleporting them behind the Jedi line.

 

[Nova Dainlei]

Jakku Jedi Enclave

Xan Deesa | OPEN

​

The walls shook once more as the sanctuary continued to be sieged.

This is why he was called here, back to Jakku. Reasoning for this journey had not yet been revealed to him until today. What was going to be a peaceful reunion with his home turned into an all-out war. There were more Jedi here than he had ever seen before, even when he was a student living among these tunnels. Jedi who came to defend. Jedi he was not even sure knew the true, deep history of this place. A place not infested with Sith. Far more than the group could fight.

Nova knew that the Sith were pushing out further into this sector of space, but he did not guess they had made it out this far. His father told stories of when Jakku first joined the Galactic Alliance, starting the bridge into the Unknown Regions. Oh, how times have changed. Yet there was not a second to spare for reminiscing. The Vanguard gave very clear orders on what needed to be done in order to save this place. Or at least, what they can. Though Nova was still trying to figure out his connection with the High Republic, he knew where his loyalty stood with the Enclave and the Light Side of the Force. Preserve it at all costs.

The Padawan made his way into the archives. Rocks began to crack and crumble alongside him. He did not know how long it would be before the Sith fully made their way in, like Mynocks to power cables. Once inside the room, he took a second to pause and gaze upon the sight. It had been years since he was last here. Much of his youth was spent within the archives and the library, broadening himself on the ways of the Force in all aspects. His father taught him much about the Force. But all else...it was learned here.

Hopping off of Nova's shoulder, the small droid named Kilo started to scan the room. None of them would have the time to remove and relocate every single item that was stored here. That would take days, if not weeks. He had to be strategic in what he could help save from this place. Looking down at his left wrist, the boy made sure that his Kimoyo Beads were secured, readily available to use. Another piece of this place that he carried on his person everywhere he went.

While Kilo scanned the room, Nova elected to start flipping through the contents of the nearest shelf. A small backpack was slung around his shoulders, ready to pack what he could. He had to stay alert in case any Sith had already made it this deep into the Enclave. He prayed to the Force that it did not. All he could do now was work and hope that others would show up to help.

 

[Xan Deesa]

JAKKU | JEDI ENCLAVE
ALLIES: THR | Nova Dainlei
ENEMIES: TSC
ENGAGING: Open
GEAR: In bio

MANALAN MAILLA​

She had honoured her deal and made another. The Jedi were never her friends, not as a whole. Back on Denon, they were nothing but a problematic, clumsy bunch that caused more problems than they solved. They claimed to have helped but in the end the dead spoke loud enough against such claims.

That was a long time ago.

The battle on Denon was lost, but the war raged on. She wasn’t a Jedi, she didn’t subscribe to their dogma and her choice of ever becoming one was stripped from her. But they were a useless bunch with technology and she found an immense satisfaction in knowing that they would likely do a lot worse without her in this new crusade against the oppressors.

Paired up with a young padawan, Xan ventured deeper into the Jakku Enclave’s archives to save as much as they could while the battle shook the very foundation of the temple. She wore no armour, carried no powerful weapons, her only company was the neon clothing and the blaster pistol holstered by the small of her back. The battle was the job for the warriors, she and the padawan had more sensitive work that needed to be done.

Xan withdrew her hand from a nearby terminal; she had full access to the Enclave’s systems. Cameras, scanners, sensors, it all belonged to her within moments. Jakku was a sparse planet with very little technology, however the temple and forces on the surface had more than enough to make up for it. She wasn’t blind in this operation.

Her attention turned to her companion. ”You familiar with this place?” She asked simply. ”Leave the archives to me, the data is the easiest part. Start marking physical items.” She continued as she made her way over to some of the racks.

There was a lot of data to be extracted.

As long as the Jedi did their job to keep the Sith busy, Xan and Nova could finish theirs quickly.

 

[Mercy]

MERCY

EMPRESS | WARLORD | STAR-ARM

Location: Jakku | Objective: Defend his Artillery? | Tags: Lysander von Ascania Corazona von Ascania Sophelia Ardemark Zaiya Ceti​

.

Apparently they owned Jakku now. Mercy didn't quite recall them ever expanding to the dustball salvage world, but somehow they had become in charge of it regardless. Either the world had sneakily crept into their territory under the cover of night or their territory decided to grow out of sheer momentum.

Mercy wasn't sure how that worked, but the campaign planners assured her it was one of two options.

Behind the artillery was a large crater left from the impact of her drop. The engineers looked at it nervously every once in a while, apparently they were rather nervous about what the Sith might do to them in the aftermath of Humbarine. They had been rather indiscriminate in their execution, so Mercy couldn't really blame them.

The Empress ignored it and studied the Enclave in the distance.

At least until she felt a faint tug. She glanced to the skies and noticed a shuttle landing. Then a duo detaching from it, each going their own way. Isobel Serraris , the priestess. And her former apprentice, Lysander. The latter seemed very decisive in the way he was walking towards the Enclave.

One moment to the next Mercy's existence blurred and suddenly she was walking right beside her surrogate son and most successful apprentice.

"Someone's eager to get to it..." Mercy drawled as they walked. Her golden arm, corrupted and eldritch, twisted and then began to reshape itself mid-stride. Until a sharp point was running through the sand behind them.

Where the point touched, sand blackened and began to ooze.

"Do you have a target in mind, dear Lysander?"

.

ERASE THE PAST

 

[Lossa Aureus]

Armored Robes
Jakku - Twilight Hours​

"I will own my choices... you should take a lesson from me on that matter." Her chin tilted up slightly as her mouth twitched into a frown. "You are free to leave. If you interfere, well–"

Her hands came to rest at her sides. Lightsaber hilt bumping against her armored wrist as Lossa widened her stance slightly and watched her former master.

"That will be the first lesson in owning your choices." Lossa would not budge on the matter. Fingers slowly spreading wide in preparation for what she felt was inevitable given the circumstances. There was no smile at Romi's question. The same quiet exhaustion meeting her gaze as Lossa blinked carefully and shook her head.

"Nothing more than what needed to be done." Her head cocked sideways a little as a smile formed through Wrath wrapped in the trappings of her former student.

"So what will you decide, Master? Futile fight with your student, or escape before things get too hard?" Her shoulders eased into a relaxed slump. Hands settled once more. Lightsaber within easy reach as she watched Romi with that malicious grin.

Romi Jade | Bastila Sal-Soren
cc: Briana Sal-Soren​