Beneath the Wilds [TSE Dominion of Felucia Hex]

[Vaylin]

Objective 1: Find the Stones
With: [member="Farah"]

Vaylin let out a huff as she followed along, the sound reverberating within the protective face mask that was protecting her head. It was another thing she hated, being unable to smell anything but the sterile scent of the suit. No way to catch the scent of any nearby predators, warn of any impending danger that might be lurking down a side path. This was everything Vaylin didn't want to be, confined into something that blocked out her senses.

Be damned any potential diseases that could be contracted in these jungles. She had survived Dxun without falling to any, why would it be any different here on Felucia?

Thankfully the Zabrak kept her complaints internal, although a glance in her direction would reveal the rather sour expression on her face.

She'd probably get use to the suit by the end of this mission. Probably...

“Vaylin.”

Her head seemed to almost snap towards the voice. Vaylin grumbled something to herself before slowly making her way over to Farah - being careful not to slip over the mud. To the Zabrak there was almost zero grip on the bottom of the suit's shoes.

"Well, not touching them with bare skin is a understatement. Exposure to them can potentially cause a wide variant of reactions." Vaylin paused as she thought over the information she knew. "I've seen it turn an otherwise passive race more aggressive, to a point of unnecessary violence." The Anx had slaughtered the Sith Empire's attempt at diplomacy. "Then I saw how it could kark an entire group's minds, to such a degree that they were hollowing out their kin's bodies in hopes of finding more of the stones." It had been deeply disturbing, even for Vaylin. Piles of bodies everywhere, comprised of husks just waiting to be thrown into the furnace.

The smell of it all had stuck with her for ages, and right now she was actually glad she couldn't.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Skies - Felucia​

Objective: 2​

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Continuing to tap into command and send all the coordinate and threat assessment data he could, Mulokhai had his eye on the prize. He couldn't plan for every eventuality, but here it seemed there was victory. Multiple strafing runs from each direction by Krayt's formations began peppering along the 'fortified' position below, tearing up the purely infantry positions of the soldiers below.

What happened next, Mulokhai couldn't be sure. All he did know was, something hit him. Collided with the back of him, but how? Unless a soldier had simply been standing in the open and got a lucky hit, or...or there was some other group waiting in nearby thick jungle. The controls wouldn't respond. "This is Krayt-Actual, my controls are cut! Repeat, I cannot-" He was cut off as some force seemed to shunt him off to the side, and received no response. Even his comms. Must've been an ion attack, or...or...so many options ran through his head, his mind working overtime to try and figure out how this could've happened.

He thought he planned meticulously. That one of the others had his back, would cover for possible anti-air targets. As he stared through the viewport towards the rapidly approaching ground, all of those thoughts swept away. All he felt was frustration. Anger, bubbling up into a rage inside him. That all of the work had been for nothing, that one of the dolts in his squadron hadn't covered him, or it had all collapsed under one idiotic militiaman's dumb luck. That anger shrouded him as the jungle floor got closer.

First, one of the wings of his TIE was ripped clean off as it smashed into a tree on the way down. Tilting sideways, the other was folded up, crushed and the main cockpit ripped from it as it impacted with the ground. Within the circular pod, Mulokhai was shook all around, his head bashed against the sides even from within his helmet. He wasn't sure how long the whole thing kept rolling back and forth, how deep he'd fallen into the jungle.

His eyes shot open, darting around in confusion. He was looking at the sky. He was facing...straight up. There wasn't any point trying the TIE's communicator, but maybe his wrist - just looking down at it made it obvious how smashed the poor thing was. Well, fine. He unstrapped himself from the seat, leaning back as he began kicking at the transparisteel with all of his might. Should've figured it wasn't going to work. He considered simply cutting through with his lightsaber, but there wasn't much space for the angle in here; it was possible he could accidentally activate it and cut himself.

What he did have though, was a Sidearm and the force. Moving the weapon's barrel almost against the viewport, he fired, searing a chunk outwards and a small hole. Bending the metal would be easier now, which is exactly what he did, forcing it apart as he climbed up, legs still shaky thanks to the whole experience and only letting him slip off the side and fall into the grass and mud as he was actually out of the cockpit. He was at the edge of what looked like a ravine, the TIE's cockpit teetering on the edge before it slowly eked over, falling down until Mulokhai couldn't even see it anymore.

Not like it included rations anyway, he supposed. Forcing himself up to his feet, the Acolyte looked around the forest. He still heard the screeching of TIE Fighters and what sounded like distant blaster fire, so he couldn't have been out very long. Using a nearby tree to lean on, the half-breed was still a bit shaky. He could just...wait here until he felt good enough to keep moving, yes.

Just until then.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Colonel Vitalis poured himself a glass of water and paced back over to the rest. He listened to the conversation between his sister-in-law and the Sith Emperor. He observed them both curiously, studying their styles. Carnifex, looming and intimidating, mouth full of promising words but who could speak to his intentions? Fortan, cold and reserved, more like a fencing sword to Carnifex's battle axe. He studied them carefully before stepping back into the conversation.

"Some of the nobles won't like it," Thaddeus observed quietly. "There are some who think that bowing to any Empire that is not a Galidraani Empire is not acceptable. But provided that the Defense Forces remain in friendly hands -- and if we can rely on the threat of Sith Imperial forces to quell any possible rebellions -- I don't see them causing problems. Which is a reasonable segue into an important topic for negotiations." He set his drink down on a nearby table and inclined his head. "This may seem self-serving, but I believe you'll find the Countess of Herevan will agree, Your Highness, that Galidraan is best ruled by a Galidraani." He half turned to Natasi. The Galidraani raised an eyebrow, but then gave a brief nod of her head to [member="Darth Carnifex"] to confirm it.

"A familiar face, someone trustworthy." Vitalis clasped his hands in front of his abdomen. "I would ask your favor. In exchange for standing down the planetary defense forces and agreeing to Galidraan's entry as a taxpaying member of the Sith Empire without anything as pedestrian as bloodshed, endorse me as Governor -- or whatever title we decide is appropriate," he amended quickly. "What say you, Your Highness?"

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Eyes darkened at the mention of the possibility of dissident nobles, "The solution to that is simple, Colonel. They will either learn to swallow their pride for their own self-preservation, or their lines will be replaced by those who will."

The Emperor made his intentions clear. The Empire was willing to grant the Galidraani some degree of autonomy should they bend the knee willing, but if they resisted?

They need only look at those who had defied the Empire to know their fate.

"And that would be for the best. The people of Galidraan will feel more inclined to serve one of their own than some foreigner, a not so dissimilar situation that Panatha finds itself in with the First Order, wouldn't you agree Lady Fortan?" Another smile, "Ensure that the Galidraani will yield to Imperial law and they will prosper as a proud member-world of the great Sith Empire."

[member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Alec Sienar"] | [member="Tekkio"] | [member="Thaddeus Vitalis"]​

 

[Onrai]

Objective 1

Vanessa sighed - this couldn't be too hard, could it? She had a lightsaber after all, even if she rarely used it. How hard would it be to kill a single gelagrub, even if it was mutated? She watched and waited for the creature to charge her again, then leapt forward, striking downwards as she flew over the gelagrub and delivered a downward slash into its neck, decapitating it. Landing, she smiled, glad that the creature was dead, only to find its still-living headless body running into her and knocking her away. Some of the half-burnt organs had gotten on her, and she had decided it - these clothes really weren't worth washing or trying to save. She'd just make her own new ones and burn these when she got back to Malachor.

"What the feth is keeping that - oh. The strange glowing stone." She watched as the creature prepared to charge her again. "Alright. You're coming with me, you damned rock."

 

[Darth Athora]

Objective III

Zahori took her time personally overseeing the distribution of the supplies to the Felucians. Seeing such a high-ranking member down on the ground among the troopers brought up morale while also fueling the seed of subjugation among the Felucians. This was her intent. Her plan. She knew her presence would speed up the process of bringing the planet to heel.

An officer walked up to Zahori, saluting her as custom dictates."Admiral Denko. We're almost finished with handing out the supplies. What is our next task?" he asked.

"Next we shall meet with the leader of this and other settlements to discuss security. If we are to hold this planet, we will need to build defenses and such. I do not take losses lightly and to lose an entire planet to our enemies because we've grown complacent with defense would make me considerably upset. So, once the supplies are given out, have their tribal leaders or whatever they are called meet me at the FOB." Zahori replied.

The officer saluted her ad walked off in the other direction. Zahori took the time to look over the operation once more before retreating back to the dropship that would take her to the FOB being built at the time.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Felucia​

Objective: 2​

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It could always be worse.

That's what he told himself, anyway. Yes, worse. Definitely could be worse. That didn't subside his anger though, which was fine by him. He could feel it. Like it was coursing through him, as though he could actually feel his blood moving about his body. He'd had this sort of experience described to him, but the feeling...that was totally new. Keeping his lightsaber close at hand on his belt, he gripped the sidearm with both hands now. Pushing off the tree he was using almost as a crutch, he began his trek through the jungle.

In some ways it was...oddly bright, with the near-flourescent flowers and unusual flora. He couldn't be distracted by this place. As pretty as it might have seemed, it was dangerous. He had to watch where he stepped, and check around him all the time. He wasn't in the mood to die to a plant.

Mulokhai suddenly ducked down, hearing the march of boots nearby. Someone having a conversation, it sounded like. He kept very low, trying to get closer to make out more of what was said. Moving some brush slightly aside to look, he saw now. Garrisons. Old Silver Jedi forces, it looked like. At least, they seemed to be wearing similar armour, but most of them were so caked in mud and dirt that it was legitimately hard to tell.

Without a moment of hesitation, the Sith began to follow. Perhaps he could follow them and report in on where they headed. They did want some of these soldiers for questioning back at Bastion, if he remembered. As he carefully watched, he picked out the officer. Twi'lek, it seemed. Female, pink-skinned. Didn't seem very experienced, might be filling in and a recipient of a battlefield promotion. Didn't matter now, though.

They were all targets now.

 

[Farah]

Objective: 1 | Rock collecting
Post: #3
Hanging with: [member="Vaylin"]

Farah kept the Zabrak in her periphery until she’d made her way to the doctor’s side, pleased that she hadn’t slipped while traversing the goo on the ground. She’d been told that Vaylin had been assigned to the research team for both her combat prowess and previous experience with the stones.

So far she seemed displeased with the doctor’s choice in fashion—these science types were always hemming and hawing over sterility—but Farah didn’t mind. Instead of pointing out the other woman’s troubles with the very safe envirosuit, Farah listened.

She nodded slowly. “Mysterious and deadly.” The Zeltron concluded. “Sounds like something out of a holodrama.” Was that a hopeful note to her clinical tone? Farah was fond of dramatic programs.

As they traveled further into the jungle, the foliage became darker, larger and thicker. Vines and roots twisted aggressively against each other, knotting the ground and making it tricky to traverse. Soon the forest floor was a thick mat of vegetation, some roots slippery and some with more give.

Farah climbed over a particularly large root, grunting as she looked at their gradually ominous surroundings. “These vines are all different.” She observed. “It looks like whatever lives here are competing for resour—“

As if it were sentient, a thick vine swung out of nowhere and clotheslined the Zeltron into a tree mid-sentence.

Oof.

 

[Onrai]

The headless gelagrub charged towards Vanessa, who slashed with her lightsaber across the creature's side, removing some of its stubby left legs. It continued to try and turn, flopping about a bit before Vanessa came up with her lightsaber and sliced away the flesh containing the rock from the creature's body. Upon severance, the gelagrub ceased moving, the rock's control over it finally ended.

"Alright, you little fether... you've led me on quite a chase. Now... how to get you back to the lab." She reached out with a hand and used the Force to lift the rock up. "Well, this is going to be fun. One hand on the lightsaber, another helping float this hunk of rock." She thought for a moment. "Once I get to some of the troopers, I'll get one of their repulsorlift platforms. Should make this a lot easier."

At least, she sure hoped it would be.

 

[Vaylin]

Objective 1: Find the Stones
With: [member="Farah"]

Only this is very real and life threatening.

Although the Zabrak didn't voice that moment, unsure just what the doctor preferred. Remaining in the safety of four walls watching said holodramas, or being out in the thick of nature where danger potentially awaited around every corner.

Vaylin was very much the latter. Previous attempts to try and remain indoors and watching the Holonet had just bored her endlessly. She practically lived off the adventure of exploring a new place, or throwing herself into a fight. Whether for personal gain or that of the Sith Empire's

Trekking onwards through the jungle, Vaylin began to notice the shift in the area's fauna. Even through the visor of her suit, she picked up on how dense it became. It was far took quick of a progression, a sign of an accelerated purpose.

No. It was a need to survive.

As if the very flora of the planet was battling itself.

The Zabrak felt the ground shift, roots moving beneath the dirt as the vines around them suddenly came to life. One swung and slammed Farah across the way a bit and into a tree. Vaylin had to grab her lightsaber rather than calling it to her hand - the suit was restrictive in more than just the physical sense. A single red blade ignited their surroundings as the Zabrak swung and severed a vine that attempted to strike her. The tendril flailed around wildly as another rose to replace it. It snapped towards her ankle, but as Vaylin went to intercept it another wrapped around her wrist stopping the blade from reaching it.

Whatever it was controlling the flora here, it was intelligent.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Felucia​

Objective: 2​

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Mulokhai found himself starting to get irritated. No. Patience. That was what he tried to focus on; waiting for his time to strike. He let the frustration and anger he was still holding within fester and bubble, stowing it away as it hummed within him, desperate to be let out. Desperate to do something as he watched, and simply waited.

The Sith continued to listen in on the conversation, his dark flight suit helping him remain hidden as he stalked through the brush nearby, eyeing the formation. Five potential enemies. There was the Twi'lek, who stupidly neglected her helmet. Two humans it looked like, then there was another without a helmet...Kel Dor. That explained it. Fifth was...large. Strong looking. Wookiee, Trandoshan? Had to account for either possibility. You'd assume a Wookiee would be obvious, but he couldn't leave it to chance.

He continued watching the formation, and picked out a moment. They were splitting, just slightly...just far enough from each other, and entering the trees. Getting closer, Mulokhai made his move. Using his free hand, he manipulated the force just as one human started to laugh, forcing his head to collide with the back of the other's. In that second of confusion, he focused on the Kel Dor. More importantly, on his mask.

The mask came flying from the being's face, the sharp ends twisting as the mask shot like a bullet past the standing human, then back towards him and slipped just under the helmet, stabbing into his neck. There was fear in the Twi'lek's eyes, and Mulokhai let her start her sprint before he shunted her forward, slamming her face into a tree branch and knocking her out cold.

As a couple of blaster rifles' shots began coming towards him, he heard collaboration between the other human and...yes, Wookiee. Definitely a Wookie. Continuing to move, he knew the militia didn't have sight on their target. The human stayed, trying to wrench the mask out of the other human's neck so he could save his alien comrade. More importantly, the Acolyte noticed, the Wookiee had gone running off looking for him despite his squadmate's protests.

Trying to keep low, Mulokhai knew that it would take more than a few shots from his sidearm to put down this particular militiaman, and he'd have to make this quick. Holstering it away, he took the hilt. Within a few moments, a red blade stuck out through the front of the Wookiee's chest, his death roar echoing through the nearby jungle.

With the mask back on, the last remaining Human militiaman was rapidly checking his corners, up in the trees, wherever a target might come from. Using the trees as cover, Mulokhai realized his friend was still out. Good. He was isolated, which made this a bit easier. Continuing to close the distance, the militiaman only saw a black glove for a moment before his weapon was ripped from him and he was in the air, clawing at his throat and trying to choke words out.

Reaching for his sidearm, the soldier found that too ripped away as he continued to claw and fight, as though drowning in the air. Walking closer, the Sith almost found that he admired that sort of stubbornness. There was a respect he had for tenacity, even if it was from the enemy. Mulokhai glanced to the Kel Dor, knowing the human's eyes followed his. The pilot stopped as he heard one word choking through the man's mouth.

Me. Me. He was offering himself up, trying to ask for mercy for his comrade. How odd. More force was applied, and Mulokhai waited to hear the snap before he simply dropped the man. He glanced to the Kel Dor again, considering his options. No, waste of ammo. Best to leave him there. Part of him wanted someone to tell this story. Part of him wanted to be a story of a terrifying Sith, even if he was still only at the bottom rung. For now.

Moving his way over the officer, he restrained with her own stun cuffs, stripping away her weapons before he simply hoisted the Twi'lek over his shoulders, beginning his trek back to where he assumed Sith Imperial positions were. He was pretty sure it was this direction, anyway. If only his scanners weren't all but useless right now.

 

[Eye of Solomon]

The fungal jungle was illuminated by a hundred different explosions, fire and fury whipping through the undergrowth as the last of the payload hit home on the former Silver Jedi base. Lieutenant Tyrebra Calrow removed the targeting visuals from around his eyes, the white remnants of the payload's detonation playing like starlight across his vision. He rubbed them to try and clear away the visions, but that only served to add more discomfort.

He'd been stationed on the Exodus Strategic Bomber Deliverance for several months now, though he'd been out of commission since the Deliverance took that nasty hit on Thyferra.

He could still remember that battle.

The visions of entire city blocks being laid to waste by his steadfast targeting, untold civvies reduced to ash by his commitment to the Sith Empire. He didn't regret his service to his state, but he'd wish the visions of the destruction would just cut him a break and let him sleep a full night's worth.

Sighing, he took another drag of his cigarra before sliding the helmet back over his head as another target came up over the horizon.

 

[Tekkio]

Tekkio returned to the Dauntless. He had spent a little over a few hours scanning and surveying the area. He walked into the cockpit of the ship where the officers was gathered. Some of them looked at him as he gave his report to the captain. “There’s not much here in the area that can damage the shuttle, not unless they got something hidden from scanners. Their security is light, nothing too imposing.” Tekkio finished by looking up at the captain. The man nodded and said, “The army is on standby, should things go south. But it would appear that there is no ill content here.” He finished by slumping down into his seat relaxed, as if to further express his words.

The Ordinance officer rose his eyebrows. “So this is the easiest and at the same time most boring mission we could have been assigned to.” He said. The captain smiled. The pilot pivoted his seat to face the Ordinance officer. “It is not all that bad. We’re escorting the emperor of all people. That makes it not easy.” The office the pilot was talking to laughed a bit, “Yeah but it is still boring.”

“How do you think it is going in there?” The Ordinance officer asked. Captain Ro’ti’art looked over at the co-pilot’s scanners and sensors. “We are not being blasted at, so I am assuming things are alright.”

“I don't understand. Are we here to negotiate control or partial control?” The communications officer asked. The Captain responded. “From what I understand, this planet is going to be some sort of autonomy.” The Captain spoke as if he was quoting. The communications officer leaned back in his chair a bit more. “We should be here for total control.” The Ensign Tekkio let his eyes fall a bit to think. “Perhaps they just need to be shown that the Empire is better for the world, as they have shown for my people.” The Captain sat up in his seat. “The First Order holds some influence here. They are our allies, hence the reason for negotiations. Sometimes invasion is not the only answer, and often you will see people who do not see the greatness of the empire. It becomes more evident the closer to the core worlds you get.” This left the conversation at a end at the time. The crew, relaxed and hunched, lounged or leaned back in their seats, continue to monitor the sensors.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]
​[member="Natasi Fortan"]
​[member="Alec Sienar"]
​[member="Thaddeus Vitalis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​​On the Run

Front Lines, Felucia
​Kill Pocket, Trapped Sith Forces...

​It was bad.

The blood flowed in rivers of crimson as forces from the jedi insurrection attacked them from all sides. It was a brilliant plan and well executed to lock Sith forces into a well designed kill pocket and slaughter them like dogs. Vengeance from the Jedi holdouts left to stand against the Sith Empire's expansion through the outer rim. All around were burning vehicles and dying soldiers amidst fires and ruin. All through the sounds of battle came the screaming voices of comms operators screaming into battle net channels on the orders of their dying commanders.

"We need reinforcements and heavy sup​port out here now were dying out here! The enemy is hitting us on all sides send help!"

Again and again the call rang out until someone finally picked up the channel. A deep voice that sounded more like a mechanized demon than an actual humanoid being rang out. It seemed then with the silence of the other end that the end was nigh until that dark voice rang out with two simple words: "We've come."

The sky lit up with activity then as dropships descended like an enraged hive of insects, backed by a swarm of fighters as they strafed over the field allowing these particular ships to drop right down into the thick of battle amidst destruction and ruin. Worn soldiers looked out with shocked faces as the ramp dropped and the first man off the ship to aid them was the reputed Destroyer, the Shadow Hand himself who was easily recognizable. He stood over eight feet tall in full battle gear dressed like some sort of dark god of war. The full manifestation of the Dark Lord's will coming crashing down. But behind him was an equally unusual sight.

The Blackblade Guard.

Normally such warriors inspired mixed emotions centered in unease and terror amidst the rank and file. These barbarous butchers were typically associated with terms like "bad omens" and "superhuman". But now? Cheers rang out like an infection over the battlefield as Blackblades emerged by the thousands led by their Shadow Hand. They were known across the military as the finest soldiers to ever serve the Dark Lord [member="Darth Carnifex"]. They were his champions, his angels of death that swept across the fields and right into a storm of enemy fire. Monsters emerged from the darkness of these shuttles and a cold breeze of death swept across the field behind them.

But for the Sith? A rallying cry. Imperial soldiers watched in awe as the Destroyer stood side by side with the blackblades a crimson blade twirling in the air in brilliant, dazzling patterns. There was a certain way that they fought with the Sith Lord. It wasn't just as simple as following his orders. He covered their backs and they covered his not out of obligation but out of loyalty, fidelity, a dedication that could only by achieved by a force that's spent over thirty years alongside the Zambrano family through thick and thin, death and life, success and ruin. They would march against death itself simply because their masters asked them to.

Together? The hunters became the hunted. The Blackblades never retreated, never surrendered. They attacked, attacked, and attacked again pounding dug in enemy positions. In battle their cruelty was put on display for all to see as wounded rebels begged on their hands and knees in surrender as their positions were surrounded only to be blown into pink mist by warriors who didn't give them so much as a second glance.

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Darth Prazutis stood at the very front of his warriors directly leading the charge at the center of the attack. He charged through the thick jungle a lightsaber in one hand and the force in the other. He stretched out his hand and crimson lightning erupted in a brilliant arc across the field while his blade deflected blasts that came dangerously close to killing the soldiers around him. Screams filled the air as the lightning charred and melted their meager forms.

Their determination was commendable but it would afford them no mercy. They wanted to slaughter sith like dogs? Fine. Now they would be exterminated like the chattle they were. Meat fresh from the slaughter. They would be hounded to their lairs, dragged out from their holes by the Empire and exterminated. They dared to stand in their path? He would stack their bones at the steps of his nephews throne for all to see.


Post: 1

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi's jaw clenched subtly as she was addressed as Lady Fortan. Someone ought to teach these Sith Imperials the basics of protocol if they planned to rule Galidraan. But she didn't fuss; her demeanor and countenance remained as calm and fixed as ever. "As you say," she said, inclining her head in recognition of a point well made. Besides, she had other fish to fry. The picture of her brother-in-law was becoming clearer, from smudges of charcoal on paper to a pencil sketch, splashes of color appearing as she watched him work.

Had this been his plan all along? Overthrow Governor Daltera on the pretense of the Sith Empire's unchecked encroachment, placate the nobility by deigning to take their advice on the form of a new government while playing footsie with the Sith Imperials under the table? Natasi's nostrils flared as she watched them. It wasn't a terrible plan, but it was more brazen and duplicitous than Natasi was comfortable with. She folded her gloved arms across her trim midsection and, after a glance at her husband, turned her gaze back to [member="Darth Carnifex"].

"And what of the rest of the Galidraani establishment and our culture and traditions? Are we to keep our lands and titles? And what about the noble council that Colonel Vitalis has established? And the Parliament? It has been dissolved for the better part of a decade, but the mechanism exists to recall it at the discretion of the governor or the sovereign." Nastasi raised an eyebrow. "And the traditional freedom of religion and the press?"

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Felucia​

Objective: 2​

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Mulokhai's journey had become significantly more irritating. He had been wandering for a little while, the dark side presence of all the Sith on this world along with the death it usually hosted making it difficult for him to pinpoint a location. He began growing more frustrated with it as time went on. If he was stronger, this wouldn't be a problem. Perhaps he wouldn't even need to fnd anyone.

Powerful Sith or not, his ship was still lying in pieces at the bottom of some cavern, so that wouldn't do him any good for getting off the planet. He heard blasterfire in the distance, the sound of dropships heading towards the ground. Sounded like that was the place to be, but more importantly, there had to be Sith Legion there in force. He could get off this planet, get back in the air. As he tried to move forward, he felt a pull at his arm and remembered.

That was right, he remembered now. She was awake. He glanced back at the Twi'lek, who was trying her best to keep in place and not move, while she probably figured out a plan. Mulokhai turned towards her, yanking her over before he suddenly kicked out her knee, forcing her down as he spoke in a tone that sounded more like he was spitting out a growl of some sort.

"You are going to follow me, or I'll cut off just enough of your Lekku that you'll keep the information I want, but be useless as anything more than background decoration for the rest of your life." The soldier stared back at him, and he knew his point was understood now. This wasn't a simple special operative who had her, or someone who had any real interest in bringing her there intact. She was to be returned to Bastion for interrogation. That was that.

Before that though, there was more jungle. Always more jungle. Getting near what sounded like a battle site, Mulokhai suddenly stopped, staring down a cavern that was in his way. The roars and squeals from the darkness below gave him the impression he didn't want to make an extended stay. Hoisting the Twi'lek up again despite her protests, the Pilot leaped over, landing with a thud. The soldier gave out a shout as she thought the Sith had jumped to their doom at first, something that caused him to break into a laugh as he put her down.

The mocking laughter stopped right around when Mulokhai heard another, louder roar. Roughly pulling his captive with him, he used the force to bring his lightsaber into his free hand now, not wanting to risk it with the use of a blaster. There was no sense in being brash or overconfident; this environment was unfamiliar. He just had to hope that he hit Sith forces before he hit whatever had made that noise.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"They will be afforded the same privileges my native Epicanthix have been granted within the First Order, and will continue to mirror the treatment of my own people for as long as Galidraan remains under Imperial oversight," stated the Dark Lord, rather bluntly.

It would be clear to everyone assembled that so long as Panatha prospered and was allowed to retain their distinct culture, so too would the Galidraani.

"And as for the notion of a noble council or parliament, the appointed governor may establish whatever advisory board he desires so long as he is recognized as the Empire's chosen representative in matters of local state. The nobles needn't worry about their titles and lands being revoked so long as they play by the rules, though I don't doubt that there will be a select few who either don't understand the gravity of the situation or think themselves too important for disciplinary action. In that event an example must be set, a warning to dissuade further acts of dissent by the aristocracy."

Death.

[member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Alec Sienar"] | [member="Tekkio"] | [member="Thaddeus Vitalis"]​

 

[Eye of Solomon]

"Fighters incoming!"

The warning rang throughout the cramped confines of the Deliverance, sending the crew into a flurry of action as a squadron of fighters neared the approaching bombers. Calrow quickly removed the targeting helmet from around his head and swung himself down into the chair of the Deliverance's rear rotary cannon. The cannon's targeting computer whirred to life as the Imperial Lieutenant strapped himself in and primed the weapon, activating all sensory equipment to get a fix on the encroaching enemy fighters.

Soon enough several of them blazed past the bomber, eliciting a yell from somewhere further in the bomber. "Nova-class! Give these bastards one hell of a lead, they're fast as all hell!" Sure enough Calrow could see several of them banking wide for another pass at the Deliverance, and he lined up his shot as they came within range. Streaks of emerald plasma filled the air, some of them scoring a glancing blow against the Nova's shields but never coming close enough to cause major damage.

However, they were dissuaded from maintaining their trajectory and had to break off. That would leave them open to the other cannoneers, who would hopefully have more luck than he.

 

[Ao Xian]

The Stones

The stones, the stones. Almost all of the samples that had been collected on Pho Pheah had been destroyed (well, taken by Star Weirds, as if that wasn't strange enough) during the science ship debacle in the Scintilla Nebula. Ao huffed softly to herself, whiskers stirring, as she lifted one of the newly collected samples into the air with the Force.

Not many had been brought back yet, but she knew more were coming. Soon there would be dozens (hopefully) to work with, to study. The Saaraishash had already decided to bring the study of the stones under their umbrella to prevent a repeat of the last time.

This was the first time Ao'Xian was encountering the stones, but she had been granted access to all of the info so far available.

It was, in a word, scant.

She glanced over at the datapad floating to the side, sapphire eyes scanning the report from right before the Nebula Crisis.


The stones seemed to exist in a state of flux. Somewhere between a liquid and a solid, somewhere between real…. And not. Solid when observed normally, but flowing ever so slowly under intense magnification. When one stone got to close to another, they would lose some of their solidity and flow together. The new stone was impossible- larger than either, but not large enough to account for the mass and density of both. Measurement after measurement confirmed and puzzled. Those who touched them with the Force found the impression of bubbling tar, bubbling not with heat expanding air but with something that shivered of the Nether. Those who risked touching the stones with their bare hands…. well. The evidence from the Anx and the Pho Ph'eans was varied, divided clearly on species lines.

As long as they were kept paired with a different type of crystal, the stones could be used as a lightsaber focus. No particular special effects had yet been discovered, but they caused the colour of whatever other stone was used to be muted, pale- the blades with one of the Pho Ph’eah stones shed very little light, compared to the more typical focus crystals.


Waiting at the base camp, Ao carefully used telekinesis to weigh and measure the new stones as they were brought in, settling them in individual storage compartments. For now it was time to collect and catalog. More detailed study could only come later.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi met [member="Darth Carnifex"]'s gaze unflinchingly. The root of the tension between the Panathan God-King and the First Order under Natasi's administration had been over the idea of slavery. To Natasi, slavery was inherently incongruous with the notion of a meritocracy -- the kind of society to which she had always worked to shape the First Order. But a delicate balance had had to be struck with the Panathans. It was, perhaps, good that Carnifex believed that Natasi still had the clout to potentially upend that delicate balance. The reality was quite different; her efforts to reign in the Supreme Leader had been stymied, and as the likes of Moff Calgar gained power and influence with the Supreme Leader, Natasi felt herself being diminished.

Not for the first time, she was contemplating the need for a change of scenery. But it was her Galidraani upbringing -- the refusal to leave a task half-done, the dogged need to see something through to the end -- that kept her from it. She told a lie, even to herself. In the darkest hours of the night, after hours of using her entire supply of energy and willpower to take hold of the First Order government, she could admit to herself that it was her empire as much as Sieger Ren's. Her pride would not allow her to let go, and whether she would admit it, even to herself, when she slept she dreamt of herself on Sieger's throne.

She realized she had been staring at [member="Darth Carnifex"] for nearly a minute now without saying a word. She lifted her brows and said, "I don't foresee a problem in that regard, Your Highness."

Was it a twinge of irritation that Natasi saw in [member="Thaddeus Vitalis"]' face that it was she, Natasi, and not Thaddeus who was really negotiating for the fate of their shared homeworld.

I really hope so, Natasi mused, the corners of her mouth turning up in an enigmatic smile.