Dominion Auld Acquaintances (RTL Dominion of Sullust)

[Tales of the Outer Rim]

INTO THE MINES

"Skkt-szzt- Can anyone hear me? Is anyone out there? My name is Cue Wez with the Cobalt Laborers Reformation Front. Rockrenders herds have gone mad-szzk."

The grizzled Sullustan looked up, concern plain even on her smooth face. Her skin was pale as she hit replay on the message again. There was no difference in the quality. “This came in nine hours ago, right before tectonic scanners picked up massive disturbances." She pulled up a map of the world to show on display. "It was a new complex being put together by an off-world firm called Fortis Interstellar. They hired all locals so SoroSuub didn't complain too much, and they had the appropriate initial paperwork from the Sullustan Council. However, they started digging more aggressively than the regulations directed. The CLRF went in with a trade union and a legal injunction against further mining until everything stabilized."

She gave a shrug and gestured to the rubble-filled tunnel ahead. Twenty meters tall, braced with thick durasteel, and entirely blocked by massive deposits of rock. "Now we have this, reports of herds of rockrenders. They're solitary creatures. Something has them stirred up. We've got four hundred miners trapped down in this complex and the volcano's activity is picking up too rapidly to be natural. We need your help- both the League.... and the Jedi. Some miners who had bailed on the job said they felt a terrifying dark presence at the bottom of the mine and they refused to go down further."

With that, the hologram winked out aboard the Afrit-Class science refit vessel. The Captain turned and studied the assembled group of Jedi, Rescue Service members, and Development Corps engineers.

"That is the extent of the situation we've received so far. The volcanic instability has disrupted comms coming up from the planet's surface in the immediate vicinity. Our last dispatch reported they were sending couriers to the CentroPlex who would give us some updates. Reversion from hyperspace will happen in twenty standard minutes and we will be decelerating on a close-approach burn to put us directly in orbit above the collapsed excavation site. We can ship you down in our dropship, along with the standard search and rescue gear. But for this Dark Side presence..." the Captain shrugged. "The Forcers will have to handle that in a two-pronged mission. One will accompany the rescue teams in case there's anything Sith related down there, while the others go spelunking in the old Jedi temple to see if there's any record of something like this. Any questions?"

The ship shuddered softly under the switch from hyperdrive to sunlight engines, although the deceleration was barely noticeable. If anything, the speed seemed to increase as the vessel hurtled toward the planet. Crew and passengers alike could see the giant shape of Sullust growing rapidly closer, with the iconic vessels of the Sullustan Home Guard raced alongside. Soon, the deflector shields glowed hot under the friction of the atmospheric approach.

"Everyone to your transports," the Captain's voice echoed through the intercom. "Launch is in ten minutes. Prepare for a sudden deceleration. Brace yourselves." The message echoed through the corridors as the rescue teams prepared to deploy.

MEMORIES OF THE PAST
The Fallen Sullust Temple

​

Once, many years ago, the first New Jedi Order erected a new Jedi temple on the world of Sullust, buried both deep beneath the surface and reaching into the air in an elaborate and elegant structure. It was the heart of the crusade against the One Sith and symbolized the defiance and courage that led them to strike the Sith temple's very doorstep on Coruscant. That had been a long time ago, however. Like all things, it had eventually fallen, brought about by the treachery of the Sith-in-disguise who seeded the Galactic Alliance and the New Jedi Order with Sith sleeper agents. In one fell stroke, they crippled the triumphant Alliance in its hour of greatest triumph and sent it crashing into ruin.

The temple on Sullust was a particular apt target- a chance to retaliate against the New Jedi Order for their brazen attack on Coruscant under the likes of Coren Starchaser and Aela Talith. The towering structure was shattered and crashed into the craters and caves below the surface.

Now, with rumors of a Dark Side presence agitating the Stonerenders and leading to a collapse beneath a volcano, it is urgent that the Forcers of the League plunge once more into the depths of the ruins. Many were the secrets and the intelligence reports that the Jedi kept careful track of, and perhaps something had been forgotten, perhaps even a stasis field over a long-forgotten magma cell finally gave way, partially releasing whatever might have been trapped, or perhaps some forgotten artifact buried for safekeeping.

But as the crew of the science ship prepare for a search and rescue mission of extraordinary scale, a team of Jedi, Jensaarai, and others prepare for the grim task of facing the sight of one of their greatest historical defeats and losses, and whatever may have crept into the ruins since they were abandoned....

"We're coming up on the site now," the dropship's pilot yelled back into the passenger area. "Ground's too rough for a real landing, but we can deploy a fast line to get you to the surface. You'll have to rappel down from there and don't forget your rebreathers!" Wind howled past the hull of the small transport as it screamed through the lower atmosphere. A red light flared to life and one of the ship's crewmembers moved to the larboard hatch, hooking a cable around a winch.

"Harnesses on!" She called to the small team. "Let's get you ready to drop!"


AULD ACQUAINTANCES
SOROSUUB CENTROPLEX

"We all know why we're here," the Umbaran said, hands clasped delicately together. "And not solely because of the mine complex-"

"The Sith," a Gran said, his eye stalks waving in alarm. "In the Outer Rim of all places. Why couldn't they have had the decency to stay in the Core where they belonged?"

A Sullustan waved a hand, bringing quiet into the room. "Recall our embassy from the League and invite the League to send their own representatives. Sith have shut down the far end of two trade routes, including Terminus and the Kathol Republic, two of our oldest and most reliable allies. They even raid up towards Elrood, from what the rumors say. It's time we move to recertify and strengthen our old relationships. Maybe even convince the Eriadu Authority to talk with us instead of the Empire."

There was a pause as the others around the table murmured among themselves. "We will send a message to the League at once," an aide said, typing a quick message. "They should be able to arrive aboard the science ship with the rescue team, if they catch a fast picket-ship to rendezvous."

Now...

The delegation was tired, certainly, and perhaps even stressed, given the rapidly changing circumstances that tossed them several sectors over on short notice. But they were here to do a job and they were going to make sure they would do a good job. Representatives from the League Council, the Admiralty Court, the Rescue Service, Ranger Corps, and whomever could be found on short notice and sent on a critical diplomatic mission.

The old alliances had dissolved in the peace following the dissolution of the First Order. Most had not considered them necessary. But they were proven wrong and it was time to rectify the error. Old alliances had to be reforged, old relationships renewed, old tactics reassessed. Most importantly, the League had to show it was willing to put its money where its mouth was. Preaching mutual aid and self defense was one thing, but now was the time to show they had the grit to carry it out.

Words would not solve this war, but they could bring together the weapons they would need to fight it. The Sith were powerful, having taken everyone by surprise, but they were pinned at the galaxy's edge. The League controlled the hyperlanes and could cut the Sith off from trade, if they were able to convince everyone around them to work together.

And that was what they were all here to accomplish, surrounded by canapes and crepes, to forge the commitments that would lead to death and destruction. There was a certain irony in that, at least in the minds of some of the League representatives. Not everyone would be quite so keen to fight back. And some were undoubtedly going to be spies.

Objective 1- Rescue the miners, stabilize the tunnels, calm the rockrenders, and discover what secrets Fortis Interstellar were looking for.
Objective 2- Go spelunking in the ruined Jedi temple for records of anything that might have helped cause the collapse or the feelings of the Dark Side.
Objective 3- Make deals with the Sullustan Council, Gran Protectorate, SoroSuub, and Sullustan Home Guard. Show them the League is committed to protecting the Outer Rim in the long haul and beware spies who may be lurking in their midst.

 

[Miel Tevv]

SOROSUUB CENTROPLEX
Mya Jesel

SULLUST
OUTER RIM​

"Blasted Sith."

Darkness festered on the galaxy's edge, and it seemed like the weight of an entire sector rested upon Miel Tevv's shoulders. Surrounded as he was by spectacular opulence the frontier tycoon could not help but glower at the latest Home Guard intelligence. Several HoloNet feeds murmured in the background while his office data terminal softly pinged with market updates. One of his many aides interrupted the sullustan's dour reverie.

"Running late, am I?" Miel smiled wearily at the young man.

Another aide helped him into his formal robes and placed a jeweled crown upon his bare scalp. Director Tevv resembled quite the regal figure, a cultural tradition hearkening back to when SoroSuub's chief executive reigned over Sullust with sovereign power. As soon as he arrived to greet the Trade League delegates, every native froze mid conversation and stared.

"Welcome to our little cave."

Miel's head bobbed as he uttered a 'heh heh heh' of laughter at his own bad joke. SoroSuub's headquarters loomed over a massive subterranean metropolis. Distant magma pillars glittered with lights and hundreds of brightly glowing tunnels branched off from this kilometers-long main cavern. Millions of sullustans breathed vibrant life into the capital city.

Tevv smiled warmly at the Gran delegate, but that expression stiffened when his beady eyes drifted to their Umbaran counterpart.

 

[Mya Jesel]

SOROSUUB CENTROPLEX
Miel Tevv Tonzees Kaabrua

Mya forced herself to stiffen a yawn as she shook her head to clear the last haze of drowsiness. She had slept most of the way aboard the science vessel, tucked in behind a few crates of blasting charges in the cargo hold where nobody would think to look for her. But it had come after a very early morning that had turned into a late night that ended with a jaunt in a Rescue Service corvette to meet the science ship.

She wore her standard dressy spacer's garb and had a stack of datapads with intelligence and report about the various worlds in the system. Taking a deep breath, as she'd learned from the Jedi, she let the air flow into her brain and body, waking her up the rest of the way before striding into the meeting room.

"Director Tevv, good to see you again," Mya said as she stepped through the door, before meeting eyes with the rest of the delegates assembled in the room. "I hope we arrived quickly enough to make a difference in the search and rescue operation. Have you received any new updates so far?"

Mya was fairly confident she had the latest briefing updates on the rescue mission, but it would be good to ask, especially with the use of couriers to bypass the electromagnetic interference.

 

[Xam Jubb]

OBJECTIVE ONE- INTO THE MINES

“Get those crates unloaded!” Xam bellowed over the whine of repulsorjets, the thrum of ship engines that vibrates through the rock beneath his feet, and the cacophony of a major engineering job. “That’s it, step to it, the lot of you.”

It was good to be on home soil, so to speak, although he’d been away from Sullust for a long time. The gravity and atmosphere felt right.

A computer console was tricked over next to him and pushed off a grav-sled while another Development Corps technician ran a thick-woven cable between it and the generator. The engine coughed to life next to him and the screen splayed out displays.

“Seismic data first,” Xam called to a team of scientists carrying bundles of gear. “Let’s get ahead of the volcano before it decides to move again. Then start putting together schematics of the mining operation.”

“Drills will be ready in twenty minutes!” A tall human called, grease stained and grimy.

“Very good. Get the atmospheric pumps ready to go as soon as we begin breaching rock. We don’t know how much air they have down there.” Sullustans were miners through and through, so they would know how to respond. But a collapse of this size? Potentially hundreds were trapped down there. That was no easy feat to save enough atmosphere for. “Where are we on the rockfall stability?”

“Slow progress,” a protocol droid said, listening to a headset. “The amount of material is enormous.”

Xam just grunted. “Somebody find me some Jedi. Maybe they can use their minds to hold the rock still while we get air past it.”

 

[Miel Tevv]

SOROSUUB CENTROPLEX
Mya Jesel

SULLUST
OUTER RIM​

"Madame President, we are most honored."

Tevv introduced himself to the other League dignitaries with the detached nobility of an alderaanian duke. One snap of his fingers and an expensive datapad was placed in the director's hand. Eyes like cold black space scrutinized data with emotionless alacrity.

"Your relief mission landed safely below ground minutes ago," the sullustan executive handed his datapad away, "Rest assured SoroSuub personnel are on site with instructions to update the Centroplex in realtime."

His aides bobbed their heads vigorously in agreement, murmuring together in excited sullustese.

"Mining accidents are a tragic risk in the fuel industry," Miel frowned, "Sullust prides itself on our self-sufficience. It was not an easy thing to contact you for...help. SoroSuub's experts however informed me of certain anomalies we could not explain. Ever since the Templefall we lack your expertise in religious matters."

For the first time Director Tevv looked uncomfortable. Several sullustans shared superstitious glances. Quickly changing the subject, he clapped his hands and grunted.

"Forgive my manners," he gestured to the non-League delegates, "May I introduce representative Solok of the gran colony on Malastare. Our people are old trading partners. There is also Nyss, an ambassador from the...hmph, umbaran delegation."

While Mya exchanged greetings another company subordinate whispered in Tevv's ear. He nodded, then gave the ambitious youth an impatient shoo.

"We were discussing the current trade crisis. Terminus gone dark, the hives on Karideph no longer sing, and now the Kathol sector under siege. President Jesel, how do you think we should respond to these new Sith broadcasts from the outer reaches? There are many on the Sullustan Council who say we should send Home Guard to reinforce the Kathol Alliance, but I would hear your advice."

 

[Quauhtli Sacul]

Objective 1 - AULD ACQUAINTANCES​

Locations: Sullest System | SoroSuub Centroplex, RTL Reliant
Tags: Mya Jesel | Miel Tevv

The Reliant shuddered to break into realspace, her heatsinks painting the hull red. T'Syriel held station on the command deck watching the sensor reports, and the half dozen pings of delegation ships. "Advise Admiral Quauhatli Sacul we've arrived, and will be entering orbit shortly."

The Reliant's presence was two-fold, first and foremost providing security and relief efforts should anyone try anything and second to show that Rimward's Admiralty was serious about these negotiations and that they could protect in a big way.

"Yes, Commander."

She came without an escort; the rest of the fleet had been given another mission, escorting the Ventis Star Destroyer to Tantra, laden with supplies and raw materials it would begin construction of the first of three Citadels, meant as holdouts and bulwarks against an inevitable Sith invasion. Their mission was no different, Sullest was resource-rich and already connected to the Rimma Hyperlane. If they could bring them into the fold, Rimward could leverage that economic power to accelerate the project.

"Commander. Quauhatli has requested you join the delegation."

"As he says," She sighed, was he expecting trouble? "Striga you have the bridge, deploy Providence and monitor traffic for anyone trying to sneak into the system."

The Novean Engineer nodded, "As you command."

Quauhatli was deep in study, his snout pressed between the old dusty tomes he acquired from Dagobah. The Force piqued his interest and apparently, these Sith were adept practitioners. Quauhatli had once been the spymaster of a wealthy and powerful Avali Guild, he knew the tangible risks, but the Force. That was an unknown quantity.

Thankfully, Commander T'Syriel's species are innately connected to this entity and would prove invaluable on the surface of Sullest if any Acolytes threatened negotiations. "Reporting Admiral." She chirped as he motioned her to take a seat in the Gladius Gunship that would be ferrying them to the surface. "Thank you for coming at short notice, your species are force sensitive yes?"

She hesitated, "In a manner of speaking. I am no Jedi, why?"

"Speaking plainly I need someone to tell me if they sense something amiss, is that within your capabilities?"

"Yes, Admiral. I believe so."

"Believe?" He questioned beady eyes narrowing on her cautious expression.

"This would be the first time." She admitted, "We do not usually involve ourselves in matters of the Jedi."

"That'll have to do. There is one other thing you can do for me, carry this blaster. It'll prompt security to take you to the checkpoint, take Couatl with you. He will break down, think nothing of it."

"Plotting again, Admiral?" She asked prompting him to smile, "A precaution, should something happen he will be best placed to assist us."

"Admiral Sacul. It's a pleasure to have you. You will find President Mya Jesel inside with Miel Tevv and the other delegates. We ask you to submit your weapons and droid to security before entering the main hall. The standard procedure you understand?" The security guard said prompting Quauhatli to nod, "Of course! Couatl and Commander T'Syriel will comply. As for myself, I've come empty."

T'Syriel nodded in understanding the avian waving Couatl along as the pair visited the closest security checkpoint. While Admiral Quauhatli proceeded to join the other delegates. The small plumed lizard rested on his cane listening to sullustan executive highlight his concerns. Quauhatli would remain the silent observer for now, until he was formally introduced that was.

 

[Mya Jesel]

AULD ACQUAINTANCES
Miel Tevv Quauhtli Sacul

"I am likewise honored," Mya replied to Miel's greeting. "And I appreciate your update on the relief team. We have had some challenges with the interference. Might any of your teams have some recommendations?"

As the director introduced the others, she nodded to each of them. "Representatives Solok, Representative Nyss, I am delighted to meet you all, although I wish circumstances were different."

Templefall was something she remembered, although she had not been on Sullust then. "And the Templefall was a horrific time. We understand the challenges that come from the potential of inviting Jedi back. And we will do our best to deal with the possibilities of the Dark Side leading to this collapse."

The door opened and Mya stepped aside as Quauhtil entered. "This is Admiral Quauhtli Sacul, with the Morbius Expeditionary Fleet. He brings in further naval expertise that will be of great value to the discussion. This is undoubtedly a trade crisis, although one I suspect we will not be able to resolve it peacefully. Unfortunately, our intelligence suggests these new Sith are religious fanatics of some sort."

She double-checked one of her datapads, assessing the gathered intelligence so far from Dolstan and the scouting parties that proved the deep spaces. "I would also like to reinforce the Kathol Republic in force, as quickly as possible, but I am not certain we can get past their forces on Elrood and along those sectors without leaving our flanks deeply vulnerable. This new empire they announce may be our opportunity- pitting two of the three leaders against the third. Whatever our choices may be, we will need to work in close concert with each other and our neighbors. Acting alone will only leave us vulnerable as they gather in strength."

 

[Audren Sykes]

SULLUST ORBIT
Afrit-Class science refit vessel

Thank the Force that he wasn't cursed with a photographic memory. He'd stepped foot on hundreds of worlds and orbited countless more, and most carried memories. Some - such as Sullust - carried more than others. He could only imagine the weight of all those collective memories...and he'd not even closed in on a hundred years old yet. No thank you.

As a younger Jedi, Audren had been a member of the Galactic Alliance. The current Galactic Alliance was not the same one, though they shared a moniker. The old Alliance had been headquartered on hard-won Sullust, and though he'd primarily been a member of the Silver Jedi at the time - or maybe it had been the Silver Levantine at that point - he spent significant amounts of time on the planet. These days the temple his time had been spent at was a ruin...he'd not be going there.

The Sephi pulled his mind back to the present as the holobrief played. He didn't see much issue with digging aggressively, but if the Sullustan had meant the company had been going more aggressively than regulations permitted, that could be a problem. Those sorts of regulations were usually put in place for a reason, not just to annoy profit-hungry mine owners. It had probably just been a mis-translation...Standard wasn't the native language and she was no doubt under quite a lot of stress. The reports of a "dark presence" were essentially ignored however. People saw Sith behind every rock, when instead it was just ever third rock. It was probably some miners who heard the wind whistle through a crack they hadn't seen.

---

SULLUST - Into the Mines
Xam Jubb

The Sephi had gathered with the group that would be heading into the mines. He'd received a few glances seeing how he was taller than most of the others and quite likely taller than the the mine tunnels. That said, he had some degree of experience with mines, wasn't heading to the Temple, and would be no good on the political floor except as the silent bodyguard. He would be useful in the mines.

It hadn't taken long for the Afrit-class vessel to reach the drop point, and the larger vessel had scarcely slowed enough to safely launch the dropship when it burned for the surface. Speed mattered more than comfort and only the restraints kept the search and rescue team from being turned into paste against the bulkheads. They made it down in one piece though, and immediately hoofed it into the mining tunnels for the collapsed area. Along the way Audren became very aware of just how much material was over their heads and what kind of effort this would be. Among the gear they carried were survival rations, extra filters and tanks for the rebreathers, fusioncutters, and even manual hammers and picks. They arrived just in time to hear a member of the rescue team asking for Jedi to hold the rocks still with their minds.

"That takes just as much effort as physically holding it in most cases, but we'll do what we can. Point out where you need us to start off."

The natives would know how to do this better than most career Jedi, so the Sephi had no desire to take over. He was just here to help. Might even have some tricks up his sleeve to help.

 

[Xam Jubb]

Audren Sykes
SULLUST- INTO THE MINES

"Mmph," Xam grunted as the Jedi showed up to say it would take as much work to do so physically. "Just hold the initial collapse in place for a few seconds."

He waved one arm and a droid trundled over. "Get braces together. Have the team assemble." The droid chirped at him and then hurried off to the communications center.

"We're going to brace the tunnel entrance," Xam explained, eyeing the entrance to the complex. "But we have to clear the debris before we can brace it."

His dark eyes squinted, gauging the appearance of the tunnel. It was fairly tall for a tunnel, given the heavy equipment that needed to be carried through the tunnel. Roughly five meters, with a sloping field of rock and dust. "If you can just keep the debris from falling in further for a few seconds, we can get hydraulic braces in to keep the walls intact."

 

[Alana Sunrider]

MEMORIES OF THE PAST

Alana found herself in a new ship, rocketing through the atmosphere, a rebreather over her face, and the hot atmosphere rippling through her hair, eyes sharp as the temple ruins grew closer.

There was still something majestic about the sight of the temple, shattered as it was, a symbol of both hubris and hope. How easily the two were entwined.

The light flipped to green and Alana stepped outside the hatch, locking onto the cable as it unspoiled down towards the surface. The rope zipped through the carabiner as the ground rushed toward her. She aimed just past the pit's edge, where some of the base support structures jutted from the rock like broken teeth.

They would work as anchors for other rappels down, and she had a map of the schematics downloaded to her datapad gauntlet. Not that it made much good when it came to building ruins, but it was at least a place to start. They were looking specifically for the archives and databanks that might be salvageable. The data would probably be encrypted, but those encryptions were ancient, comparatively speaking. That didn't worry her too much. Getting there would be the first challenge.

 

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

Wearing: Interceptor Gear

Armed with: Ionised Stun Pistol (1)
Old Mercenary Set
Stun Grenades (2)

Equipment: Med Kit, Rebreather Mask.

Came to Sullust in: Aurek Starfighter

Objective: 2 (Open)

Nathan wasn't there by official appointment.

He had instead arrived for his own reasons, in a single cheap starfighter that had barely gotten him to Sullust.

He was never happy. Everything he had learned since his resurrection only made his blood boil in horror.

His daughter...

He hadn't even remembered he had a daughter due to the manner in which he had come back from the dead.

His daughter had lived, then was corrupted by the very beast he and his wife died to protect his child from. And worse, she had taken a corrupted and very much alive Elaine Tear, the woman he had betrayed to the Cult all those years ago as a final act of spite...his daughter had taken her for a bride.

Part of Nathan very much wanted to be dead again...but this time the Cult would go first, or he would die trying.

Nathan had no loyalty to the Jedi anymore. He had no reason to fight in their name. Only his. But they nonetheless were a source of materials that would prove useful.

A collapsed Jedi Temple was prime loot territory. He didn't know or care for the circumstances in which it had fallen. It was always the same reasons.

Same chit, different day, he thought to himself, his cold impassive gaze sweeping the ruins of the collapsed temple. He saw other shuttles landing in the distance, in other craters. He spied a partly intact walkway leading deeper into the shattered ruins and took it, not really sure what he was looking for.

He heard whispers of the slain Jedi still in this temple in his skull and tried to shake them but it was getting more difficult. He'd been getting into more and more fights with criminal scum. He didn't anticipate that, but the ruins here were dangerous. So he had come armed. Ready.

The ruins seemed to press down on him and the whispers of dead Jedi grew more pronounced in his skull.

He felt tingling along his spine. Static along his hair. A grim expression seemingly permanently frozen on his face, turned to a scowl as he went deeper into shattered wreckage, the broken remains of the temple having formed an eerie landscape of shattered columns and arches mixed with the bones of the dead and still flickering technology. He wasn't interested in whatever might be left of the archives...their secrets meant nothing to him.

He realized he had wandered into what was left of a Droid Repair Bay. The whole thing was in shambles, plants and trees growing in through cracks. He saw what was left of a flickering workbench and a few astromechs lying around. He inspected it, looking for anything he could use. He snorted, finding only a small diatum power cell. He pocketed it.

He turned and found himself in a void filled with stars. The whispers grew louder.

"Whatever it is you want... whatever it is you think that I want..." Nathan growled to the invisible dead around him. "I'm not interested in your games. Find some other person to toy with."

The black biker clad figure moved through the star filled void.

"Leave me alone..." He said in agitation to the Jedi Spirits. "Your war isn't my war."

Yet you come to 'our' ruins, pick through 'our' bones came the unified reply.

"I'm not after any of your precious secrets. Just decent enough salvage to keep the lights running. I don't want any of your stupid Holocrons, or some outrageously overpowered Force Relic. Just salvage.

Your mind focuses on materials. Your heart desires something that belies your placating words. We would test you.

"I'm not taking it." Nathan asserted. "I don't wanna take your test, you hear?"

Our ruins. Our rules.

The ground gave out from underneath Nathan and he found himself falling through the starry void. He landed gently on the floor of a training chamber.

"I'm not taking your test!" he called out.

They were many other places you could have gone for salvage. Yet you came here.

A set of doors opened on the other end and Nathan braced himself, guarding with his spear and shield. He hated Force Visions.

He was unprepared. Beyond the doors he saw the scenes of an all too familiar slaughter...

It was the inside of Castle Bloodscrawl. Parts were on fire. He saw the bodies of his family everywhere and grimaced, struggling to maintain a now rapidly eroding composure...

Burning tapestries and blood splashed on the walls from the Ashlan's ravaging the castle guided Nathan through the madness as alarm klaxons sounded off, only to be cut. He heard blaster fire, the clashes of sword and Lightsaber in the distance...

"Jedi do not take revenge..." came a voice from behind. One terribly familiar to him.

Nathan spun around and spotted the pale, bloodied face of Lysandra Crownwraithe, who looked almost exactly like her daughter, Laertia Io . Pain that had been at the edges of Nathan's mind came back fresh and hot and raw as he stared at her.

"Lyssa?" Nathan asked. "No... you're dead...Phyre ate your soul. Devoured it."

Nathan looked around in anger.

"Stop this!" he hissed.

Your daughter has gone on to kill many Jedi in the past decade. How is your war not also our own?

"You threw away everything I thought you were when you gave Elaine up to the Cult. Where was your faith in the Force, Nathan? Where was your trust in its will?" the image of the bloodied Lysandra asked.

"Elaine Tear caused all of this!" Nathan snarled, barely able to avoid breaking down just looking at her. "She murdered my entire family. Over some stupid secret we were keeping safe. A secret she had no right to!"

"Why did you not simply kill her?" The image of Lysandra asked.

"I DON'T OWE YOU, ANY OF YOU AN EXPLANATION!" Nathan shouted into his surroundings.

The image of Lysandra took out her Lightsaber, and it flashed on a blue blade.

"The path of a Jedi rarely ends with a single mistake. Why did you not go to the authorities of Ession?" Lysandra asked.

"I'm NOT DOING THIS!" Nathan shouted, throwing down his weapons.

"If our opinion matters so little, why are you reacting so poorly?" the illusion of Lysandra questioned, swinging the blade for his neck, but he held his ground, refusing to move as the point of her humming blade stopped centimeters from passing through his neck.

"Because I don't like getting judged by a bunch of dead idiots who weren't there. You sick bastards used my own wife to get under my skin." he hissed.

So it was despair. You think you were cheated.

"I know I was cheated..." Nathan snapped. "My wife, whose face you still dare to use, was cheated worse. Everything I love was taken away from me. Twice. Thrice if you count my daughter. You're damn right I was cheated." he seethed. "Now you END THIS TEST!"

"It is not up to us, it is up to the will of the Force. You knew this, once. But the weight of your own approaching death cost you your judgement at critical moments. Perhaps your Master's biggest mistake was telling you at all. Would it have happened the same if she had said nothing? Or did you go out of your way to believe her?" The illusion of his wife questioned.

"I suppose we'll never know..." Nathan sneered.

"There are always ways to know..." the illusion replied, blood dripping from her chin.

"There is good in you, Nathan Bloodscrawl, Shadow of Ession..." the illusion said. "But there is also pain. Terrible pain. And some people triumph over their pain. And some do not. And like your daughter, you did not. But fate has given you an opportunity to redeem yourself. Every crime Elaine has committed as a Cultist, every person she has murdered, was the direct result of you selling her out to the Cult. Her crimes are her own, but your crime in response to hers led to such magnitudes of tragedy and innocent life lost, your fellows slain, your own people butchered, your own daughter seduced, the Jedi whose ideals you swore an oath to uphold and broke when you refused to forgive Elaine Tear, callously, senselessly murdered, that it is absurd to think you have entered this new era with clean hands. Or that you can turn your back on the Order when it has suffered directly because of your actions."

At this, Nathan said nothing, his expression betraying uncertainty.

Nathan blinked and he was back in the repair bay...

 

[Corbin Vasher]

Spoiler: EQUIPMENT

STARSHIP: Tra'tena SPEEDER: Burbr ARMOR: Burbr'Katya Mk II
WEAPONS: Ravenfire - Burbr'sacitr - Burbr'sacitayr - Nuhaatyc'bedtr - Gaan'sacitadr

Jedi temple ruins. It was an exciting prospect. The only Jedi temple Corbin had ever been to what the Svivren enclave. He was quite curious what they would find here. Maybe some lost knowledge about the Force? He was a little reluctant to go spelunking while there was a rescue mission going on, but he had been reassured there were plenty of people for that, and it was well in hand. Still, he made sure they knew to contact if anything went wrong at all. He looked down at the ground below the ship and at Alana Sunrider streaking toward it with her rappelling rope.

"Ok, Mister Vasher, we have the harness ready. The rope should be strong enough to hold your armor..." By the time the woman had looked up to hand Corbin the harness, she saw Corbin leap from the craft.

Corbin chuckled to himself as he heard the woman yelling franticly above him, though he couldn't make out the actual words over the rushing wind. And then the yelling was drowned out. Corbin enjoyed the moment of freefall toward the destination.

He slowed himself with Force Flight Telekinesis as he reached the pit. Flying downward was a lot easier than flying upward. He gave Sunrider a salute as he passed her. "See you below!" he called out.

 

[Elias Edo]

​

Tags: Alana Sunrider | Corbin Vasher
Objective II: Memories of the Past
Beneath the temple ruins of SULLUST...

"Incredible--" Elias said over his comlink. His voice was mixed with awe and solemnity as he marveled at the fallen Jedi temple. He was just a Padawan when it fell to the Sith, but seeing the decaying ruins sent a wave of bitter emotions over him nonetheless. It was a stark reminder that even the strongest fortress can come undone when Darkness festers within.

But where there is darkness, light always follows. Of that much, Elias was certain.

As the drop light switched from red to green, Elias took a moment to check his gear; A tear-resistant poncho, a rebreather to combat the toxic Sullustan fumes, and his trusted lightsaber. When he was satisfied that his things were in order, he raised comms again.

"I'm ready. I'll be on your six, Sunrider," he said as he watched the Knight begin her descent. When she was clear, he followed suit, clipping his harness to the drop line and rappelling into the pit behind her. On paper, the mission was clear: Delve into the ruins beneath the temple, secure any records of import, and regroup on the surface. It was never that easy in practice, naturally, but Elias was confident in the team's capabilities. If there was anything useful to their mission in those depths, they would find it.

When his boots landed with a thud on the hard obsidian surface, Elias shed his harness and joined Alana Sunrider by the edge of the pit. He gave her a sly grin, gesturing to the drop with an open hand.

"After you."

​

 

[Alana Sunrider]

Nathan Bloodscrawl Elias Edo Corbin Vasher

Alana just nodded as Elias spoke behind her, but then Corbin sped past her in a state of free descent. She bit back a curse as he hurtled past and shook her head with a stifled laugh. It wasn't long before she was back on the strut, with Elias and Corbin around her.

But there was something in the Force and she tilted her head, staring down into the pit. "There's someone down there, already. Have we heard anything about someone going in first?"

Perhaps one of the local Sullustan Jedi? Or someone else? She wasn't sure, but there was some disturbance in the Force. Lots of vague feelings and emotions.

"Oh, of course," Alana said lightly, tying a knot around one of the support struts with the cable and reconnecting to her harness. "Let the lady go first." She paused to double-check that her lightsabers were clipped to her belt and then stepped off the edge, dropping into the pit. A headlamp flickered to life as the rope hissed through. She pressed a button on her comlink. "The old archives should be at compass bearing 283. I'm going to try and angle down that way. Can you get eyes on that area, Corbin?"

Alana paused and swung towards the cliff wall, grabbing a spur of rock and driving a bolt in, before reclipping the line, and letting herself slide down further. The gloom deepened until the rocky surface appeared and she let herself land lightly on the ground. The light above was a faint dot, far above.

 

[Miel Tevv]

SOROSUUB CENTROPLEX
Mya Jesel Quauhtli Sacul

SULLUST
OUTER RIM​

"A mountain is a long and ever-changing story made up of countless small parts. Earth and ore. Air and water. Sing to it properly, each of those parts will reflect your song back to you; telling you its story. Showing you what might be hidden. Where to mine, where to tunnel...and where to leave the mountain untouched."

Director Tevv snapped his fingers again, summoning an aide to assist with routing the League delegates' comlinks through the Centroplex's powerful main array. Relay towers scattered throughout most inhabited zones cleared up much of the local signal noise.

"Admiral Sacul, a pleasure."

Satorians were not a common sight on this world but through extensive dealings with the neighboring shipwrights of Sluis Van, Miel had long grown accustomed to cold blooded sentients. Despite the officer's diminutive stature as a sullustan he thoroughly failed to tower over Quauhtli yet still offered a regal nod.

"Do you agree with President Jesel's assessment? I have no wish to see brave sullustan lives wasted on a lost cause, but I would not abandon the Republic to such madness. Can their people afford to wait for infighting to burn its inevitable way through the Sith leadership?"

"That may be just the reaction they want," the umbaran ambassador Nyss primly interjected, "Force the Outer Rim to commit everything in a decisive engagement, then clean up the pieces. Kathol is a necessary sacrifice."

Miel grumbled under his breath.

"What about a relief mission?" representative Solok asked, "Your people must have blockade runners. The Republic will surely be in desperate need of supplies."

 

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

Nathan struggled to maintain his composure as he took a moment to catch his breath. He wanted to leave but couldn't do so empty handed. The whispers had stopped for now. But it took him a moment to go back to his usual cold, grim self.

He grabbed his spear and shield off the floor and headed deeper. There had to be something in here he could use.

He went past the twisted wreckage, of fallen, crumbled statues depicting Jedi he had never heard of. He didn't care what they had done to get a statue. The Illusion's words haunted him nevertheless.

He finally came across the remains of a meditation chamber, finding a Skeleton in tattered robes, clutching a long since rusted over Lightsaber. He bent down to examine it. It was as he figured. Most of the parts were rusted over and smashed, including it's Kyber Crystal. But the emitter matrix was still intact. He took it, blinking as he heard a cry for help.

He immediately went looking for the source. He found it in a Sullustan trapped partly beneath rubble, his leg caught under a fallen pillar. He looked very pale, and sickly.

"Please...you got to help. Rockrenders in the mines went crazy...just barely got out...ended up all the way here after one chased me." The Sullustan gibbered in his fast sounding intricate language.

Nathan regarded him silently, coldly glaring at him before moving to find some way of freeing him.

"Thank you. You...you a salvager?"

Nathan didn't answer, only focused on freeing the miner. He tried lifting the pillar, but it was too heavy.

He activated his vibroshield to try slicing it, but the column stone was surprisingly tough and outright resisted the blows, dulling parts of the edge. He didn't trust his spear's structural integrity to act like a lever.

A roar from a dark, twisted passage made the weakened Sullustan panic.

"Oh no, it's the Rockrender!" He gibbered at Nathan.

Nathan frowned. He had one option left. He heard the large thuds signalling the approach of the volcanic beast.

He stood back trying to focus, trying to recall the old lessons, but so much was in tatters when it came to his training.

He focused, trying to remember the size of the object didn't matter, as it wasn't his muscles trying to move it.

He broke into a sweat. The fallen column didn't even budge.

"Hurry!" The Sullustan yelped, the massive thuds growing closer.

Nathan dropped to his knees from the strain, but the stone still wouldn't budge.

The thuds grew closer...

Nathan slowed his breathing, driving out the world around him, concentrating. He didn't try to command the Force. He... uneasily...let it flow through him.

The column slightly lifted, enough for the weakened Alien to hastily slide way.

The effort exhausted Nathan however and he fell to the side, panting as the column crashed back to the floor...

Nathan forced himself to move, going towards the Alien to help him up, get him to safety, and that was when the big bad Rockrender entered, it's fully gray claws and claw like forehead crest shiny in the light of the sun pouring through. It wasn't a full grown one, which would have towered over them but about slightly bigger than the size of a bull. Nathan drew his stun pistol, having no intention of killing it, and waited, watching it as it focused on the fallen column, which it went over and started to munch on it. He and the Alien quietly withdrew back down the path Nathan had come from.

"If anyone asks..." Nathan grumbled coldly at the Alien as they retreated down a different twisted passage, unknowingly getting very close to where Alana Sunrider had landed. "Don't tell them how I freed you."

The Alien nodded, just glad to be alive.

Corbin Vasher

Elias Edo

 

[Quauhtli Sacul]

"Thank you," He said returning the gesture to Miel Tevv . Opening his mouth to speak, his eyes darted to Nyss. He was not familiar with Umbaran. Another near human species, it's pale blue skin appearing violet to his eyes.

Quauhatli took a second, to reform the words. He didn't much like the tone, a suggestion that the Kathol Republic was a forgone conclusion, but that didn't mean he was wrong.

"I cannot speak for my colleagues, but it's my opinion that the Kathol Republic are a necessary ally. That said, it is a dangerous prospect, open war with the Sith Order. Their is much we do not know about them, and the Jedi will very much be a necessity to any counter offensive." He sighed, "Of course, that's easier said than done."

He glanced at Solok, "But I digress. You make an excellent suggestion Solok. One that is under serious consideration."

Truth be told he was apprehensive, Rimward owed the Kathol Republic their support. Offering refugee had to be part of that package, absolutely, but it exposed them to infiltration.

"I am thinking more along the lines of comprehensive response. With Sullest's support, we can severely hinder the Sith Orders ability to resupply it's fleet. They may turn to the Maw, but from what I understand of this cult, they do not like sharing power. It would only help accelerate any internal power struggles.

Furthermore, your refineries remain some of the most important in the Galaxy. Combined with some our corporate allies I believe we could supply the Kathol Republic. If not to fight for their freedom, but add stress on already strained logistics.

It then becomes a matter of picking out moment. Until then we continue supplying the Kathol Republic, training those that wish to continue the good fight through Orion, but as I say this is but the opinion of one of the board and relies on your support."

He neglected to mention any specifics, fully aware of the risks. The most notable example being his intent to use Sullestian alloys to build the first line of defence, and given time a Super Carrier.

It was all high level Intel and a few misdirections tossed in for good measure. He knew of several notable Jedi, and mercenaries who wouldn't need a second thought to face the Sith.

Miel Tevv | Mya Jesel

 

[Mya Jesel]

Quauhtli Sacul Miel Tevv
SOROSUUB CENTROPLEX
AULD ACQUAINTANCES

Mya had not remembered Miel being that poetic before, but she supposed it was perhaps part of having returned to Sullust. Homecomings often affected people differently than they might otherwise, especially across the vastnesses of space. She took a seat, head tilted, listening to the discussion. In many ways, it was a mirror of the League Council. They were no strangers to dissension or personal dislikes among the Council, despite her attempts at steering them through that morass.

Fortunately, it was helped by the relatively small size of the council. One for each system meant there were no more than three dozen on the Council as of yet. However, it had grown considerably since they started with just her and the representatives from Sevaracos and Svivren. In this case, she watched- Miel did not like Nyss, or vice versa, with Solok as a mediator. That put her and Quauhtil as renegade elements, able to take any position or perhaps use different types of leverage.

The Umbaran suspected Kal'shebbol was lost, which was certainly possible, but not guaranteed. It was a well-supplied world with an experienced and skilled military operating in its own territory that was, even to Mya's experienced spacers' eyes, damned difficult to navigate, let alone control. The Rescue Service had done what they could along that edge of the trade route, seeding the hyperlanes with stabilizers and rescue boosters, but with weeks of hyperspace travel between worlds, and a total area in the Rift equal nearly to that of the entire current League territory, it would be no easy feat.

Mya leaned forward, resting her elbows on the armrests of the seat. "A relief mission, I think is entirely necessary, supplying not only humanitarian supplies but military as well- ammunition, bacta, and a recently developed substance meant to counter Force users to a limited extent. We have blockade runners, yes, and the contacts among the free traders-" There was a slight pause as she gave an ironic smile at the euphemism, "To get supplies past Elrood to the Republic to help them hold the line. With the recent announcement of this new empire and the apparent in-fighting, it gives us some leeway."

Some leeway, but not very much. "We can take that opportunity to prepare that comprehensive response once there is a plan in motion. We're beginning to mobilize increased defenses along the Rimma and the development of new ships to counter the threat, but it will require the efforts of all our neighbors."

 

[Corbin Vasher]

Alana Sunrider | Elias Edo | Nathan Bloodscrawl​

Spoiler: EQUIPMENT

STARSHIP: Tra'tena SPEEDER: Burbr ARMOR: Gar'Katya Mk II
WEAPONS: Ravenfire - Burbr'sacitr - Burbr'sacitayr - Nuhaatyc'bedtr - Gaan'sacitadr

"The old archives should be at compass bearing 283. I'm going to try and angle down that way. Can you get eyes on that area, Corbin?"

<Just a moment,> Corbin replied, as he slowed his descent and landed at the bottom of the pit.
<Ok, I'm down here. Pitch black without lights, but I can see just fine with my Force Sight. There are generators. I could try to get them running if you'd like, though I'm not sure how safe that would be. Vibrations might collapse weak tunnels or agitate rockrenders. I'm also feeling a lot of Force presences down here. I think some are old memories and feelings from people who once lived here, but I'm not exactly sure. What exactly happened anyway? It was before I was born, and I've only heard bits and pieces. I believe Saarai-Kar Garn once stayed here.>
He continued along, scoping out what he could see, giving the others a little time to catch up. The residual Force presences made things feel a little odd to him.

 

[Audren Sykes]

SULLUST - Into the Mines
Xam Jubb

"Mmph. Just hold the initial collapse in place for a few seconds."

They were apparently in one of the main thoroughfares of the mine, definitely not one of the prospecting branches. No doubt many prospective veins were investigated by droids but for all the technology available manual examination was still heavily used. Typically said thoroughfares were heavily engineered, and it took quite a bit to bring it down. Or the right tap in just the right place...there were Force powers that could do such a thing. Not one of his skills yet however.

Regardless, bracing the entrance against further debris for a few seconds was doable. Technology could do the same but it probably wasn't available...and a Jedi could do it better. Whereas the technological generator would create a flat field - probably vertical - a Jedi could thread their hold and maintain the active shape if need be. More importantly, a Jedi could establish multiple holds and safely allow a section-by-section shift. It was this that Audren worked towards now.

Stepping forward, the Sephi lightly touched the most-protruding stone. Invisible to all but the Force-sensitive, threads of power sprang from that touch and fed through the myriad spaces between the rocks. He proceeded methodically: first an outer barrier to hold the debris in place, then a delving deeper in. It quickly became apparent that this blockage was by no means stable: there were three sections where the slightest shift would send rock splinters spraying into the staging area and one area of what felt like pressurized gas. Strain was building in four specific areas that wouldn't directly cause a collapse, but the chain reactions wouldn't be good for the stability as a whole. Most interesting were the rupture points. There were three in total, two very precise ones and a third that felt like a tear. The blockage was only about six meters deep.

Now that he had a better mental picture of the situation he started pushing real effort in. A second barrier threaded through the rocks just a meter in, another two meters beyond that. Filaments of Force energy wove together and spread along the ceiling and walls to prevent further sections from falling in. Most of the weave was merely a shell, an idea of where power would be directed when it became needed and he could shift it away from closer barriers. A final tweak borrowed from previous teachings and pulsed colors into the various barriers. Red for those sections without much behind them, blue for solid barriers, and barely a faint shimmer where stone could be removed. Ironically, that was probably the toughest barrier; he had to maintain the delicate balance that allowed objects - beings - through while still keeping the rock from falling freely.

"This collapse is about six meters thick. There are three source points, two of which feel very precise. The first hold point is about a meter in, you'll see the blue glow. If you put braces up there I can reinforce the next section about two meters further."