A Summit of Governments

[Yasha Cadera]

A set of lupine paws padded around the delegates and nudged against the side of a man, who called for help. From the smell and look of him, [member="Kalic Daws"] was Miraluka, and the gurlanin realized the man couldn’t see.

Beautiful deduction skills from the sapient being, who heard Kalic call out. Tuulu nudged his snout under Kalic’s hand, his voice a rumbling basso from inhuman jaws.

“Darth Carnifex sent a tortured prisoner of war to make a statement and out a Sith spy. The Republic has triggered their shield to protect the grounds. My name is Tuulu. Mand’alor the Infernal sends her regards, her sister is Miraluka and her father is blind. May I assist you? This place smells of magics.” If allowed, Tuulu would run commentary for Kalic, and help guide the man into a seat at the Summit table.

[member="Ambrose Cadera"], Alor of Death Watch and the oldest influence Mand’alor the Infernal had, snapped orders through the HUD’s of his forces. [member="Kaine Australis"] was off again, a note to his wife about tending to miscreants.

Let him. Let the Australis Alor earn his mattress, the interior of the shield would be protected. This Summit was to be a diplomatic entreat, and while Yasha helped [member="Alexandra Feanor"], Ambrose was met with Lieutenant Moore.

“My troops will patrol as you suggest. The Infernal has cause to see this place protected and violence averted. By all means. Lead the way.” Odd for a Mandalorian, let alone Death Watch to seemingly capitulate, Mandalorian presence at all was on the behest of the Grandmaster Feanor and her connection to the young Mand’alor. There was no reason to deny a reasonable request, when [member="Noah Corek"]’s orders included a continued ability to complete their mission of protecting their Mand’alor.

As [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] came forward to end the Decraniated soldier’s life, Yasha tugged Alexandra more firmly into her embrace and turned the woman away from the sight. Death was a natural part of Mandalorian life, but Yasha knew her Ale’ika was far removed from the desensitization of killing. Every death effected her, just as the course of life brought the former Echani peace and joy.

“Su cuy’gar, Jetii. You took the honour out of my hands. If you will pardon me, Alex needs a moment. I shall be free to speak with you later… once the Summit has commenced, perhaps?” Yasha tilted her wolf-helm, in a respectful greeting to the Silver Jedi delegate, and turned to guide Alexandra to her place at the Summit Table.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]’s image flickered into being, as abrupt and inappropriate as the Decraniated Commenori ‘ambassador’ of [member="Darth Carnifex"]. Under her helm, Yasha’s teeth grit.

She didn’t have time for this malarkey. Alexandra had a Summit to run. While Yasha’s previous business with Vanessa Vantai was peaceable enough, with the slump of Alex against Yasha’s side, the Epicanthix Mandalorian felt her hackles (and pregnancy hormones) raise.

The closer Vantai attempted to get to Alex, the weaker the illusion would become. Mand’alor the Infernal wore under her Beskar’kandar a Voidstone Necklace. Thus, as [member="Vulpesen"] threatened the shade, there was a decreasing chance of any information from the data pad being visible to her, before her illusion would flicker out of existence (unless the projection moved outside the area of the voidstone’s effect). When it came to the fabled ‘evidentiary data pad’, Yasha plucked it from Alex’s hand before the woman dropped it.

“Oh yes, Vanessa. Seeing full well that a delegate from the Sith Empire caused the ruckus of the diplomatic century by showing up with half a head, you appearing over Alex’s shoulder is helping. Come close, by all means. Spy over Alex’s neck. Your shade will only fade sooner. You should go. Trust the Republic to handle Nova.” Yasha’s words snapped, and the Mand’alor moved Alex to her seat at the Summit table.

Taking the seat next to Alexandra, the pregnant and armoured Epicanthix eased herself into it, nudging over to ensure that Alex could lean against her. Noah Corek, a man known by reputation only came smelling of liquor to see if Alex was okay. So this was the man Alex went all pink-faced for, when she mentioned him. Beneath her buy’ce, Yasha hid a smirk.

“She’s in shock, Corek. Give her a minute to breathe and we’ll have our Ale’ika back.” Carefully chosen, the words were low spoken and calm of tone.

Then, in abrupt Mandalorian fashion, Yasha did the next ‘best’ thing. She raised the volume on her helmet’s audio projection, and tapped her crush-gaunt clad finger on the table top.

“If the delegates for this Summit wouldn’t mind taking our seats, we can erase the buzzing gnats of unpleasantness and allow the Republic and organizers the chance to deal with this… Sith menace while the rest of us get back to the task at hand.

In deference to our Host and her intentions, I would like to motion from the floor that once we have our seats, this meeting begin with word from Alexandra Feanor.” Having said her piece, Yasha left all thought of the other delegates to themselves, trusting in her husband outside, Ambrose and Noah Corek’s forces inside, and the various Jetiise to handle what was the non-Mandalorian problem of [member="Ella Nova"]. Shutting her audio projector back to normal levels, Yasha continued rubbing Alex’s knee discretely under the table, her other arm slung along the back of Alex’s chair.

“Ale’ika, Noah and I are here. We’ve got the security breaches under control. Breathe, c’yare. The Aruetiise will take their seats, then it’s all you. I know you can do it, cyar’ika. Breathe.” Ruby wolf-eyes looked to Noah Corek, then back to her dear one.

(OOC: Permission from [member="Alexandra Feanor"] to move the character)

 

[John Locke]

The touch of the cool glass to his lips was all the sensation John felt before he felt the amber liquid within sliding down his throat, a warm burning sensation that he'd come to enjoy. The man's metallic fingers tightened around the rim of the glass for a long moment as he glanced over the rim of the crystal vessel at the room, slowly letting his hand lower as he leaned back against the wall he'd bee occupying since he'd arrived with Master Dragonsflame.

Inevitably, as with most of the room's inhabitant's John couldn't stop his gaze from drifting down to the body of the sith cyborg, hands folded in a look of peaceful repose, a peace that hadn't been present during the cyborg's brief life. The man shook his head as he pushed away from the wall, smoothing down the lines of his jacket as he took another sip of his drink. It was things like this that made people so mistrustful of cyborgs, the poor man had been nothing more than a robot really, with no power to choose, to decide for himself. A mouthpiece and a taunt from one so powerful that he could walk into the stronghold of his purported enemies with impunity, walking right past the guards and security that surrounded this summit. Well, it had been an open invitation, but the sight of the ex commenori soldier had shaken up many of the arrivals. "That poor man, nothing more than a tool for someone else, any hope's and potential he might have had lost at the moment of his creation." The man's dark eyes turned to his ever-present companion, EX's chassis polished to a bright shine in preparation for the summit. "It's a reminder of what we're here to do, to stop things like that happening to any innocent people...but," the man shook his head again, "I'm afraid we're often far less successful at this than we would like to be, and this is the result."

What should have been a joyous occasion, or at least what he'd hoped was a joyous occasion had been marred. The republic was built on the ideals of democracy, but that was an ideal that had been darkened this day with the revelation that one of the Republic's own, a senator on their military oversight committee no less, had turned out to be a Sith at the heart of their government. and then there was the illusion of Vanessa looming over their host who seemed to have gone into shock, retreating into herself while Mandalor...called her 'Ale'ika'...now that was interesting. After repeated conflict's with the Mandalorian's he'd picked up enough to know that that was a term of endearment, and the way the Mandalore was fussing over the Republic's grandmaster and her physical proximity and support well, there was probably a story to tell there too. Man and droid made their way into the room, exchanging a glance, silent communication flowing back and forth between the two of them before in unison they made their way deeper in as Yasha's projected voice echoed around the room, "You know that's pretty useful." "I could do that too...but it would be rude and we're guests here." "Since when did you get so focussed on manners." "Well...there was this story I read about a shiny protocol droid, so I thought I'd give it a try...too much?" "No, no, it's just different for you."

 

[Onrai]

The Sith looked at [member="Vulpesen"] with a smile, despite the excessive antagonism of his demeanor. That he still foamed and frothed despite the death of Alex having been caused a good amount of time prior to the summit made her at least appreciate the hatred he had for her. How fortunate. Her tone of voice became more quiet.

“Funny enough, Alex has never mentioned you. She’s usually a bit busy trying to murder me, all things considered, whenever we interact. I have little doubt you can track me down - however, whether you can capture or kill me is a completely different question. And right now, you have bigger problems to deal with.”

Vanessa turned her attention to [member="Yasha Cadera"] - it was the first time she had interacted with the Mandalorian leader since offering her the Nova-inducing torpedo. Looking at the wrecked cyborg, she frowned, only now truly understanding how abominable the construct Kaine has crafted out of one of [member="Lady Kay"]’s former soldiers was.

“And good to see you as well, Madam Mandalore.” Vanessa said, focusing as best she could to maintain the illusion while within the outer reaches of the necklace’s radius. “Well, apparently the Sith representative is dead - my sincerest apologies, I had no idea someone would send something like this to the summit - and I’m the only other individual from the Empire with a presence here, so looks like I’ll have to fill in. As for Ayra...” she chuckled momentarily. “Another reason for me to remain here. She has desired to end my life since our relationship splintered and broke apart over two decades ago - so long as I’m here she won’t attempt to escape this place or leave off-world to try this trick again elsewhere. Besides, I have as vested an interest in preventing her continued wreaking of havoc - I am at least in part responsible for her being the way she is, all “Rule of Two” and whatnot. What I viewed as a phase in the evolution of my belief system, she viewed as gospel. Besides, who do you think was responsible for sending the information about her identity in the first place?”

The illusory Sith surveyed the room, soon noticing a cyborg who was conversing with a droid. Once any sort of conversation between the two prior individuals with her had concluded, she took the opportunity to attempt to get their attention.

“Excuse me... you’re mister [member="John Locke"], correct?”

 

[Kalic Daws]

Kalic jumped a little bit, feeling the snout in his hand. He then heard a voice come from it, or at least he thought it was from it. He heard the being call itself Tuulu, and explained what was going on. A Sith POW, turned into some sort of messenger, and that a shield was triggered. He also explained the the Mand'alor sent him, and had a Miraluka sister and blind father. It was nice to know someone seemed to understand what was going on. He asked if he could help, and said there were many "magics." Kalic nodded to Tuulu and allowed him to lead him to the table before speaking.

"Dang Sith. Thank you Tuulu, and yes I would love the help. I'm Kalic Daws, by the way. I do have a question though. Who are the 'magics' your talking about?"

[member="Yasha Cadera"]

 

[The Major]

If the auburn topped woman were to respond honestly, she might say such abnormalities weren’t just rife in her line of work, but they were what made the work worth enduring in the first place. Instead of trying to commit such a meandering and inelegant thought down to words she felt the best course of action would be agree with the former foe slash politician. He certainly wasn’t completely wrong.

“Ohh, quite.”

Content, the Major took a sip of her gin. Greeted by the dry, sweet taste of juniper along with an evocation of the smell of a forest, she nodded appreciatively. Although he managed to be subtle about the action, she noted the career politician was stealing a glance to check his surroundings. Was he nervous? Paranoid? Perhaps he was worried that he would seem to be too friendly with an enemy of democracy.

Then the million credit question was flung her way. Discreetly.

The Grand Moff. Of course.

A knowing smile spread across the Fallanassi’s face, but she was more than happy to oblige his query. Discreetly.

“What amazes me is how much stronger she becomes every day: her patience, her resolve; her compassion, her passion. Every challenge which approaches seems to serve as yet another reinforcing beam of steel. And somehow, even now, she enhances and improves life with her presence.” Lady Shepard sipped again, this time closing her eyes softly as though picturing a pleasant memory.

But really, all she could remember was this one, clinging sentence delivered by cold, calculating eyes…

***​

"If you ever countermand one of my orders again, I will see to it personally that you are stripped of your office, imprisoned, and flogged.”​

​

***​

“Why, of course. But are you sure you rather wouldn’t give your regards in person?” She winked mischievously before turning to what was an assembling group.

“But we can touch upon that later. It looks like the summit might actually begin in earnest. If you don’t mind, let me escort you to the table.” With Jaius’ permission they moved back across the space and the Sullustan was able to take his seat without too much further fuss. It probably would have been remiss of the Major to stand right behind Jaius as if they were somehow in league, and it didn’t make sense for her to sit at the table itself when other government leaders were present. Respectfully, she took a few steps back near some other attendants and adjutants -waiting for the proceedings to take their course. From here she could see everyone seating clearly, and it was without a doubt interesting to see so many galactic leaders crammed into one space.

Meanwhile, her dataglasses whirled to action, seamlessly sending a message to Agent Craig that would notify him via his own datapad. Unbeknownst to the junior agent, he had been bugged the Major in order to keep track of his location and interactions.

If he kept slipping he might compromise the situation, and so automated orders to return back to the rally point: in this case their shuttle. Should he not notice, then she would endeavor to wait a few minutes before directing him herself.

[member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Luther Ando"] | [member="Dominic Craig"] | [member="Jaius Sovv"] | [member="Natasi Fortan"]​

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Dominic Craig"] | [member="Harley"] Fenstermacher | [member="Noah Corek"] | [member="Jaius Sovv"] | [member="The Major"] | [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] | [member="Svenn"] | [member="Voph"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Luther Ando"] | [member="Kalic Daws"] | [member="Riamah"] | [member="Eye of Solomon"] | [member="John Locke"] | [member="Yasha Cadera"] | [member="Vulpesen"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] | [member="Faith Organa"] | [member="Theo Vereen"] | [member="Devlyn Kane"] | [member="Premier William Harris I"] |

Ella turned as she heard them running. She could sense it too. Like a hand wrapping itself around her throat and tightening it's squeeze. Imminent danger. She had risked it all on Alderaan and it hadn't paid off. Instead of framing the Sith Empire and uniting all these various representatives of galactic powers against them she had in turn framed herself instead. Now the snake was being watched out in the open by a pack of vultures ready to enact their justice on the serpent who had sneaked their way into their midst. Suffice to say she would not be returning to Humbarine after the day was done.

If she ever made it off Alderaan at all.

As Voph and Riamah closed in in front of her Ella turned to face them with a somber expression. Inside a mixture of emotions were all exploding at once. Fear for her life. The prospect of having to fight her way out of this place brought excitement. Fury that they had all been manipulated into killing her and anger at herself for making it so easy for their manipulator. Mixed into the fear she acknowledged the fact that if she fell here then the Rule of Two was finished. She had no Sith Apprentice to continue the work. If she died here on Alderaan then the Sith would never be destroyed and remade as it should be. But the dark side was never straightforward. It was often convoluted in it's machinations and those who followed it could easily become lost in the fog. This was a test to see if she could endure and if she was worthy to create such a lineage of Sith Lords. A test to see if the Sith needed to be remade as she so desired.

As she felt with the Force, her abilities to hide her presence diminished and no longer useful, Ella carefully studied both the man and woman before her. They were strong in the Force as was most of Alexandra's invited guests. She realized that the man was Miralukan whilst the other seemed to be a Human woman. In the distance she felt others coming to the same conclusions that they come too. In the skies above her Mandalorians swept in from all sides at the command of the Mand'alor. She hadn't known that they were there. They had been waiting. This meant that they suspected her betrayal.

All contempt and ability to hide her laughter was quickly subsided by the pure ecstasy of the moment. Ella burst into laughter at the prospect of her doom. That a self-proclaimed Jedi Grandmaster was about to do the bidding of a Dark Lord of the Sith. That Mandalorians had been called in to protect and secure not only a summit that represented some of their biggest rivals and enemies but were also protecting a place of religion that was the antithesis to their way of the life. It was like the Force had somehow being molded, twisted and mutilated into something unrecognizable. Jedi serving Sith. Sith serving Jedi. Mandalorians protecting and not destroying. Politicians maneuvering and twisting polluted justifications to serve the greater good.

This truly was an era of Chaos.

DARTH AYRA took a step backwards. It was a calculated step that would put her left arm just out of the swing of a Lightsaber. Then she lifted it into the air. Summoning the Force into her palm Ayra brought the Lightsaber that had been hiding beneath her sleeve into her hand whilst simultaneously lifting the other upwards in the direction of two children. She didn't know their names, who they were or why they had been brought to the summit. All that Darth Ayra knew was that when it came to an ethical point of view most people had issues with the murder and maiming of the younger. She had seen Mother's and Father's beg for the lives of their offspring during the One Sith Wars. She understood what she would have to do if she were to give herself a chance to leave this place.

An invisible hand coiled itself around the back of Vulpesen's son and dragged the boy through the air towards Darth Ayra. As quickly as she had pulled him she contorted her body and manipulated her free arm to capture the boy into her embrace, positioning him up against her chest and lifting the hilt of her Lightsaber upwards to his temple, with her thumb pressed against the ignition button and ready to ignite her blade into the boy's head. At the same time she dragged him and herself backwards up against one of the garden's pillars, pressing her back up against it's base so that her behind was not exposed to the Mand'alor's men. An invisible protective layer of Force Shield wrapped itself around the boy and his captor as she stood there.

A pair of yellow eyes brimming with the dark side starred down Voph and Riamah. "You must think I am doing this so that I could bargain for my escape. But I do not run. Tell our hostess to lower her shields and allow my men to land at this place. Then I will release the boy."

Making her intentions clear to her foes Darth Ayra readied herself to kill the child. He was nothing to her. She felt nothing for him. Warping her voice with her dark side powers the Sith Lord stared directly into the eyes of Riamah as she then proclaimed:

"And then we will begin." ​

 

[Darth Ferus]

"It would be you who'd threaten children first when you find yourself backed into a corner." Another booming voice joined the chorus of foes [member="Ella Nova"] found herself against. If there was ever a way to make many foes at once, it was to threaten a child. Krest casually reached out from where he was standing, his cybernetic arm catching the child as the boy flew by long before this Sith would be able to catch him and make her threats. There in his grasp the Force swelled, breaking any grasp on [member="Vulpesen"] 's son's throat.

"You should have stayed dead when I killed you, Ayra. But, I suppose neither of us are really able to embrace death." As [member="Voph"] rounded the corner he simply shrugged. Krest had come to represent the lone world of Iridonia, and only intervened to keep a child safe. What happened next he couldn't care less about.

 

[Harley Fenstermacher]

Interacting With: [member="Dominic Craig"]

Harley didn't say anything for a while, just standing to the side of Mr Blue as he went on a panic speal, the small tap of his finger against the glass he held being the only movement from he Echani. Was he right? was this karked up? Probably no yes it was, but that is somthing he expected of the Sith, no it was exactly the type of ploy Harley wanted to see, to see the Sith as nothing but monsters that would do such a thing, to see the Mandos who but a few years ago were more then eager to attack the Republic defend their grand master.

In the few minutes that had transpired since the corpses arrival everyone at the summit had looked towards a common enemy, an enemy that did unspeakable things to people. An act that would only make the bonds between the Republic and it's bordering nations even stronger while at the same time presenting the Sith once again as the ultimate evil. It was... funny, no it was karking hilarious, more so with the lying Mr Blue right next to him, getting all worked up.

Slowly Harley tuned towards the suited man, eyes shadowed by the white fringe of his hair, a slightly chaotic smile being planted across the mans face followed promptly by chuckling. "Hee hee heee hee, haa haaa haa WHAT DID YOU EXPECT MR BLUE"!! "The leader of the Mando Empire is here along with so many other important figure heads, not to mention Ms Yasha is good friends with little Alex". "The moment that corpse showed up things were screwed, it was screwed, the amount of security that was used tonight was all for something stupid like this".

"This little event is perfect for the Republic and our allies, it also showed me how people react to certain things, how protective the Mandos are and ready to fight, how Alex has her own personal demons and fears, but most importantly it cracks people like you". "Everything that has happened just benefits me no matter how I look at it, such may also have even more wide spread effect if new of this gets out among the Republic, oh yes this is exactly something I can use to my advantage". At this point he was more talking to himself then Mr Blue, but his point still stood, Harley would clamp down in this little event and use it as much as he could in what ever way possible.

[member="Krest"] @Alexander Feanor @@Kalic Daws [member="Vanessa Vantai"] [member="John Locke"] [member="Yasha Cadera"] [member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen heard the yelp of his son as he went through the air, all at once, at least three hands rose up to catch him with the force. Krest, who had been so kind as to offer his assitance. The boy's sister Daella, who while young had the force of two masters flowing through her veins, and the very protective, very pissed off incluence of their father. With [member="Krest"] and Vulpesen's telekenetic prowess alone, Ella's grip didn't stand a chance of holding onto the Valkit. Vulpesen Golden eyes locked on [member="Ella Nova"], fixing the sith with a hateful glare. At first, he had intended to capture her. To bring her to Veradune alive. To make her stand trial. He had intended to speak eloquent words about how she was under arrest. Words left him.

"RAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" A feral howl shook the temple as it ripped from Vulpesen's throat, his attention focusing on Darth Arya. Hatred and a father's love combined into a destructing force as Vulpesen brought his rage down upon the darth. Every ounce of control he ahd over the force would be brought down towards her, an oppressive weight meant to turn her into the smallest possible ball of regret a person coud be. There was no finesse. no lightning shooting from his hands. No plants springing fromt he ground,a nd no daggers to hound the woman down. It was a contest of pure rage and power, to see if she could have a prayer of standing up to the crushing force that he lambasted upon her. He had come here for peace. But sometimes peace meant leaving nothing but a stain where there was once evil.

 

[Dominic Craig]

The agent glared at the senator, and watched him with a distinct scowl. He decided the senator was no longer worth his attentions, and it would be better "Alright sociopath." He mused, with a derisive eyeroll, "I'm just gonna,-" And not for the first this evening, Special Agent Craig was silenced. The situation within the crowd had decidedly deteriorated, now the spark had come. The powderkeg which was going to blow things the ever living kark up. And Agent Craig, was not going to take it. Not now, not anymore. There were somethings a professional operator such as himself forgot official protocol and moved to defend honour and decency. Well, as much as a professional murderer, saboteur and whoremonger could.

Reaching to his collar, he loosened his tie, and then undid it. Clasping the tie, he let it hang in the air for a moment, like a crimson snake. But what was interesting, was there was something inside of the tie. A distinct bulge of sorts that ran the whole length of the tie. It was as if something was concealed within the soft, satin fabric. "If you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave." Craig informed the senator, before moving away. His movements were hunched. He moved swiftly, and quickly through the trees, and around tables, moving towards the flank of the Sith, who held a hostage. Dominic waved the tie in and around his hands, keeping a taut grip, and keeping a healthy length of the tie . This was going to be just like Voss.

By now, Craig had weaved himself through, and positioned himself, ready to strike. While all the attention was on the Sith, as she jostled over the child, with some barbarian, Special Agent Dominic Craig pounced. Standing tall, he ran, and quickly threw the tie, laden with fine bronzium weave fibre, around the Sith assailants head, and snagged it right beneath her chin. And then, with all the might he could muster, Dominic Craig pulled hard, and fast. It was something he'd done to a few padawans during his infiltration of the Tingel Arm. They'd never seen him coming, and hopefully she couldn't either. "Come on!" He grunted into Darth Arya's ear, "Come on and die!" He watched the oncoming weirdo, with pointed ears, and winced somewhat.

Perhaps this hadn't been his finest moment after all.

[member="Harley"] Fenstermacher | [member="Krest"] | [member="Ella Nova"] | [member="The Major"] | [member="Jaius Sovv"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] | [member="Noah Corek"] | @Vulpenson | [member="Yasha Cadera"]

 

[Dominic Craig]

Nothing to see here folks.

 

[Riamah]

Once she and Voph followed Ella to confront her based only on what her friend knew, things really started to turn ugly. Being outside of the hall now, Ra had no idea of the action Josh did or that he might be on his way to her. She assumed he would though and hoped he found them sooner rather than later.

When Ella reached out with the Force to grasp Vulps' son, if Krest hadn't appeared like the assassin he was, she would have done something to stop the woman. As it was, him showing up had the benefit that Ra could continue to remain focused on Ella.

There were enough of her friends here to handle a single woman, but Ra had the feeling she would be slipperier than an eel in water. Reaching out with the Force, she would attempt to simply detain Ella with the Force. With the combined assault of Vulps, it was unlikely she would be able to even move.

Others showed up and she was now apparently the center of attention. Letting out a bit of humorous breath, Ra shook just shook her head and muttered two words under her breath.

"Typical sith."

[member="Dominic Craig"] @Vulpesen @Krest @Ella Nova [member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Typical, indeed."

As the Jedi Master would appear beside [member="Riamah"] from the shadows, he couldn't help but be slightly amused at her remarks. "Typical Sith" coming from a former Sith in her own right... It was an interesting thing, that. How far she'd come from those days. But his pride in Ra's progress was overshadowed in the moment as the woman - Ella Nova, had threatened the life of Alexandra and Vulpesen's children. Being a father himself, Josh wanted to cut her in half himself. His eyes showed a fire, but he kept himself reserved. With all that were attacking her at once, he wouldn't be able to get in a good, clean shot. Not yet, anyway.

But there was one thing he could do until that moment came.

"So, do I still call you Senator Nova? Or is it Darth Ayra now? Or just Darth?" The Jedi commented aloud toward [member="Ella Nova"] in an attempt to throw her off guard with the barrage of [member="Vulpesen"] and [member="Dominic Craig"] oncoming. In the process, he had begun to focus and employ Battle Meditation to subtlety assist Nova's attackers. His gaze turned to the kids, then. Interesting, the appearance of [member="Krest"] he noted, but he was grateful that he had saved the child.

[member="Vulpesen"] - [member="Dominic Craig"] - [member="Riamah"] - BATTLE MEDITATION ACTIVE​

 

[Luther Lewis]

Aldera Forest, Alderaan
First Order Delegation
Blue Suit

​

Luther was tired, far too tired for a man his age. Part was physical, of course. After Mr Kyxx left, he had attended to his duties, using the distraction of the Sith aberration to his advantage. He bullied, bribed, threatened, called in favours, and ruined someone’s life, all with a short talk with about half a dozen different people. His legs were burning with an intense pain, but his wretched state was fortified by having gotten the job done. They would depart having achieved something, at least.

The second part was a deep-set mental weariness, one that had been building all night. He had returned from the fringes of the Summit to find a chaotic mess. The Sith monster was dead, a fact with which Luther had no issue, but now there was more commotion. Some kind of skirmish, with players he couldn’t identify, save one man. Luther sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he watched Special Agent [member="Dominic Craig"] run into the fray. The man had a rebellious streak, and while Luther admired his tenacity, he wished that was tempered by at least a modicum restraint.

Luther moved to intercede, but hesitated. He wasn’t a tool of war anymore, and his reversion to ‘human’ had left him in a poor state. There was nothing he do for the man, except perhaps inform [member="The Major"]. He turned his back to the fight, trusting that Craig’s training would keep him alive at the very least. With an undignified limp, Luther made his way to his Commanding officer.

Director Shepard was deep in discussion with [member="Jaius Sovv"], an interesting sight in which Luther had no time to process. “Miss Grey” Luther said, approaching the pair. “Representative Sovv” Luther gave a small bow to the Sullustan. “My apologies for the interruption. Our mutual associate, Mr Blue, has gotten involved in a scuffle and is unlikely to join us”. A waiter, heedless of the ongoing hostilities passed Luther a glass of gin. Luther took it graciously and turned back to the Director. “My duties are complete, so I’ll wait on you to decide when we depart and if we should intervene into Blue’s…situation”.

With that sorted, he backed up to a respectable distance and took a large sip of gin.

 

[Kyyrk]

Voph stood, Lightsaber at the ready. And yet, he had no intent of using it. Not yet. His left foot took one step forward, and his left hand raised. The emotion began to drain from his face as the force surged around him. The fingers began to twist and curl as Voph made his mark. He spoke, in an ancient dialect of a language some may find all too familiar. "Dziri. Zûtarsika." «Hunted. Scorned.» Voph was not a predator. He was a hunter. He did not have to kill his prey. Simply outlast it. And once branded by the Seer, there was no where one could hide. Not forever.

But that didn't mean he was going to let the Sithling walk away. His hands began to move, the Dark Side bending to his will, even on a world such as this. His right hand came up, still clutching his lightsaber to cross over his left arm. He reached out with the force, taking hold of his target with a death grip, and ripping it asunder. With that, the pillar behind [member="Ella Nova"] shattered, exposing the sithling's back. Then Voph launched his assault. The force surged once again, the familiar tingle in his shoulder blade, traveling down his arm, past his elbow, and finally erupting out of his hand, channeled into the silver lightsaber clutched within, the indigo blade roaring to life.

The barrier of the Force began to shimmer around him, preparing for whatever counter attack Ella might launch, as he surged forward with an inhuman roar. The rage oozed off of him. This was no Jedi. This was a creature of the dark, through and through. And yet, he struck in unison with the agents of the light. His left hand came around to grip his lightsaber as the indigo blade swung down through the air with all his might, looking to cleave the Sithling in two from shoulders to feet...

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"] @Riamah @Vulpesen @Krest

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Dominic Craig"] | [member="Vulpesen"] | [member="Krest"] | [member="Riamah"] | [member="Voph"] | @Joshua DragonsFlame | (Too many people to tag)

The invisible protective layer of Force Shield was one of the earliest techniques Darth Ayra had been taught by [member="Vanessa Vantai"]. In the sparing ring, where the two had traded with their Lightsabers, Ayra had been taught the necessities of precaution. Lightsaber combat was often settled by mistakes or oversights made by one of it's combatants, and there was nothing more settled than receiving a swift and sudden attack made by the Force Powers of an opponent. As two combatants traded blows it was often that a Force Shield could protect an individual from a sudden Force Punch to the sternum, or when it came to two Sith, the potent effects of Force Lightning rendering flesh from sinew and bone.

Pressed up against the pillar the snake held her hand in contest with the Iridonian. They knew each other well. In the 830s the two had led a coalition of Imperials and Sith made up out of the remnants of the Sith Empire that had just fallen. The two sought to lead a brand New Order to replace the old. In their time together the two Sith had often fought in the sparring rings with Krest showing a much younger Ayra the arts of Lightsaber combat. Most of the technique that Darth Ayra had developed had been given a foundation by that time together in the fringes of Wild Space. A few years later the two would meet in the ritual of Kaggath with the Iridonian winning the contest.

That had marked the of the end of Darth Ayra.

As the two held Vallen in mid-air, suspended by the invisible hands of the Force, Darth Ayra sensed imminent danger approaching her from behind. Someone was rounding the pillar and were about to sneak attack her whilst she was distracted. Aware that she would not be able to hold the child for ransom as she had initially planned Darth Ayra contorted the Force around the boy's knee cap. With a sudden flex of her wrist and contortion of her fingers a sudden but loud CRACK followed as Vallen's right knee was destroyed by the invisible powers of the dark side. Dissipating her hold on Vallen Darth Ayra turned to Riamah and Voph as the boy flew into the arm of Krest. Thumbing the ignition button of her Lightsaber blade Darth Ayra prepared to fight for her life.

It all happened at the same time.

First a man (Dominic) flung himself onto the back of the Sith Lord and locked into a rear end choke hold around her neck. Immediately the ability to breathe was cut off and Darth Ayra felt the blood in her face beginning the drain as the First Order agent begun to choke the life out of her. From above a powerful telekinetic blast launched it's way down from above empowered by the fury of a Father watching his son's life being just a few seconds away from death. As Vulpesen's powers threatened to shred the invisible layer of protection that Darth Ayra had conjured earlier he was aided by the power of the woman (Riamah) whilst simultaneously the Miralukan obliterated the pillar behind her, raining marble shrapnel into the air, as he moved in with a dissecting chop to end the wretched snakes life before it could threaten more children.

Vultures flew in from all sides and the snake rose it's fangs in self-defense.

A blood curdling scream the likes of which few men had ever heard before escaped Darth Ayra as she reached out with her powers in the dark side. Unadulterated rage escaped the Sith in the form of fury as she bolstered her defenses. The Force Shield knocked Dominic to the ground as he rebounded off it. Then it held against Vulpesen's attack. As the pillar exploded under Voph's machinations the telekinetic blast atomized most of the raining marble shrapnel and the pieces that survived were sent scattering in all directions. The ground around Darth Ayra cracked under the weight of Vulpesen's power. It was then that Riamah's attack tore through the defenses of the Sith Lord and wrapped itself around the Sith. With the aide of Vulpesen the Force Shield had stood no chance against the former Sith's attack.

That was when Darth Ayra felt it. She knew that feeling. There had been Sith who had used the exact same technique on battlefields across the galaxy as they valiantly fought over the Core during the One Sith invasion. Battle Meditation bolstered the physical and Force Powers of Darth Ayra's opponents whilst simultaneously weakening her resolve. Ayra's eyes darted in the direction of Joshua DragonsFlame with a hateful glare. Reacting instinctively at the imminent prospect of losing her life to Voph's blade Darth Ayra exploded with Force energy. A Force Wave blasted Voph, Riamah, Joshua, Dominic, Krest, Vulpesen and Vallen backwards before the Miralukans blade dissected her. At the same time Darth Ayra felt the temporary effects of Riamah's Force Grip and Joshua's Battle Meditation become elevated as the two were blasted backwards with their concentration temporarily interrupted by the sudden impact of the Force Wave.

Every bone and muscle in the Sith Lord shook in a mixture of fury and shock. The blast which Vulpesen had used to try and obliterate the Sith Lord had been no joke and even now, in the minute since her attackers had moved in to commence their assault, Darth Ayra could feel it's aftereffects. She knew that she would not survive another one if that happened again. Reaching out with the Force Darth Ayra pulled Dominic Craig towards her with the power of the dark side as Krest and Riamah were sent flying away from her. There wouldn't be any sudden and unannounced saviors stopping the Sith Lord taking another hostage a second time around.

When Darth Ayra caught Dominic in her arm she lifted the Lightsaber hilt to the back of his head. WHACK. Knocking the agent unconscious Darth Ayra summoned the dark side to supply the necessary strength into her aching body to tighten her grip around Dominic whilst simultaneously leaping backwards off the garden roof and into the air. Free fall followed as the Sith Lord and the agent fell over the edge of the roof to begin their fall to the compound below. As they begun their fall Darth Ayra thumbed the ignition button of her Lightsaber to stop the blade impaling her or her hostage as they begun to fall.

That was when they would all hear it.

A screech from above the Temple of the Grey would capture the attention of the summit as the Ayrix appeared in the skies on a collision course for the shield that now encompassed the building. Two squadrons of N-5 starfighters and GN-0401 Virtue Bombers begun lighting up the shield as it's mothership fell from the sky to hit the shield. A groan of metal and an explosion rippled the outer layer of the temple shield as the Ayrix hit, it's fuel lines ruptured and ignited by the debris of the flagship impacting a solid layer of energy in the air. Raining fire fell all around as Darth Ayra flew through the air with her hostage in her arms as she watched it all happen in free fall. A spectacular sight she would never forget.

It was an adequate response in the mind of a Sun Guard. When word had come from the Annihilator that a shield had been erected around the compound they had been given go ahead to assault then they had no other choice. Like all Indispensable-class flagships the Ayrix was not equipped with the armament to break a shield down. With the life of their mistress in danger then the alternative was not a choice. The only way to break the shield was to ram the ship into the shield and hope for the best. Evacuation orders had been given prior to the collision course being locked in. A solitary Sun Guard remained behind on the bridge to ensure that the ship impacted the shield. Others escaped by jettisoning escape pods; using the Initium to flee; or by taking one of the N-5 fighters or Virtue bombers. Those who were too slow were sacrificed in the name of a better cause.

As the shield began to collapse the Annihilator decloaked and set course to land in the compound down below to retrieve their mistress. A Summit of Governments had been turned into the battlezone.

Truly peace was a lie.

 

[Vulpesen]

The wave of force energy rushed past Vulpesen as Arya did her best to fight off his influence, ruffling his coat like the winds of a storm. Still, the Valde stood strong, his eyes burning with hatred. The force around him swirld like a maelstrom as he simply started tos stalk forward, his body unaffected by the assualt due to the tarentatek layer of his coat. He was a Zorren. More over, he was the king of the Zorren people. He was to be prepared for battle. Always. Replacing his coat for an actual set of armor on the battlefield hadn't meant he'd abandoned it. He'd simply repurposed the still fordimable formal wear for more diplomatic settings. He was a weapon of the force against the force, perfectly suited for dealing with rabble like this woman.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"] offered him the perffect focus, a calm that reminded his mind to stay wary of its surroundings, allowing him to react to things as they came. On of those things, would be the likely flying body of a Mr. Dominic Craig sailing towards the grip of the woman's greedy arms. Vulpesen hadn't taken the name of Shadow Fox for nothing. A fox was nothing if not adaptable. Using the same trick twice was rarely a good diea around him. "No!" His voice barked out towards Arya as his hand reached out, once againt catching her prey, though this time, he ensured that there was an extra protection, leaping forward witha flourish of silk and leather. It wasn't the most elegant thing he'd done, simply hurling his coat onto the man who floated between two powers. But the moment he was cloaked in it, the influence of the force would be lost on him.

"Surrender or die!" If the woman tried to leap away anyways without a hostage to take with her, she would feel the iron grip of the Zorren once more, reaaching out to clasp onto her like the fangs of a wolf, tearing and willing to rend her body apart while rooting it to the ground. Rage consumed Vulpesen and in his golden eyes, a monster was reborn. A lie that he had told the sith. A passion he had faked to hide among their ranks, a dark cloak he had learned to don now used as a party trick. But now the blood wolf was real. And it was focused on her.

The building shook with the arrage of the woman's fleet, momentarily wrenching Vulpesen's focus from the sith. A snarl flew from his lips, and refusing to give an inch, he simply charged forward, his voice calling out to what allies he had in the room. He would see Darth Arya dead. But Alderaan needed to be protected. "CALL THE HAND!" His voice rose up, hoping to be heard by the newest of his people, the redhaired woman in the company of a jedi. Their connections might save the planet. His love of his children would doom a sith.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

Chaos seemed to happen and very quickly. What had started as a simple meeting of leaders had turned into an attempted kidnapping and assassination.

Against the kinetic attack of Ella, Ra did not stand a good chance and was pushed back. However, her focus did not falter and her hold remained in place. This was due to the ongoing Battle Meditation Josh was providing.

As if Vulps had read her mind, his request for her to alert and call the Hand was already an act in motion. Lifting a finger to bracelet she wore, a single button was pressed. An outgoing message would be sent to her people. Those already present would still get the notification.

Once that was accomplished, she took to her feet again and held a hand out to help any of those around her to theirs. Her main focus and attention were on Ella. Moving to stand next to Vulps, her glowing eyes met the woman who appeared to be scared for her life.

"Surrender or die."

@Vulpesen @Ella Nova @Voph @Josh DragonsFlame [member="Rann Thress"] [member="Drogh"] (too many to tag, but the Dark Hand is coming)

 

[null3]

Harris walked up and grabbed [member="Kalic Daws"] shoulder.

Kalic stopped wablling. Harris grabbed his shoulder and pulled out a small canister. He lifted it and placed it into Kalic's hand.

"Inside is a pair Ysalamir. They should dull your connection to the force, blinding you, but reducing the impact of all the force users on you."

Harris pulled the canister away slowly and attached it to a string before lowering it onto his neck. He grabbed him and lead him towards the stairs.

"Now friend, this way. We have someone important to meet."
Harris, still leading Kalic, began to walk up a large staircase followed by a squad of guards. The group finally passed through the massive doorway into the main hall. Harris looked down and seen a woman down the coridor and adjusted his cloak.

"Well then, lets not keep our new friend waiting."

Harris discretely smiled as he began to walk up to the woman.

"Hello, I'm William Harris, And you are?"

[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Onrai]

(just a filler post for now)

Power had been transferred to the engines of the Ablution as it headed at full speed through the system - it was minutes away from exiting hyperspace at the fringe of Alderaan's gravity well. Vanessa's presence, while manifested into the illusion she currently used as her direct eyes and ears, was still prominent everywhere within the area, with the exception of the distance around [member="Yasha Cadera"]'s bubble of anti-Force. She knew what was currently going on and intended to appropriately respond to it.

Less effort was focused on interacting with [member="John Locke"], but her form still remained intact, intending to converse with him. Once the Ablution jumped in range, it would begin utilizing all sensors to search for whatever transport it was that Ayra would attempt to use to leave the area, whether cloaked or uncloaked. All the while Vanessa tried to recall what equipment remained at the disposal of [member="Ella Nova"]...