Faction Black Ice [Maw]

[Val Aranda]

The sun had reached it's peak above Ensolica's capital city, ushering in the first day of the One Light festival. One Light was a week long celebration the Ensos revel in as remembrance of those who had come before them and all they have done to get the Enso people and Ensolica to where it was today. It was a week to celebrate the past, present, and future. The streets were so alive with colorful lights and Ensos living it up. It was truly a beautiful sight to behold. Pockets of the galaxy had their own celebrations and festivals, but none were like One Light. Statuesque sculptures of ancestors were carved into ice by their family for all to see and celebrate, Ensos from all across the galaxy would return home and reunite with friends and family, and home cooked meals were being prepared to share among the people.

Among the celebrations was the former Ensolica senator Valerie Aranda. Since Ensolica had been subjugated by the Brotherhood of the Maw, Val had been trying everything in her power to speak with Maw leadership in order to ensure the continued safety of her homeworld while in the hands of such a notorious people. She was willing to negotiate terms so that both parties would be satisfied. She had received no reply to her request for a meeting as of yet, but she had hoped that the festival may attract the attention of at least a few of the Mawites.

Val sent out yet another message into Maw space, pleading them to come see Ensolica and the potential it has to support the Maw. Val cared not who had control of her homeworld, she only wanted to ensure it's safety as she vowed when she was named the White Guardian.

Val stood at the top of Glacier Tower, a skyscraper at the north end of the city, looking out of a massive window out at the city. Behind her was a fairly empty room besides a ring of chairs. It was somewhat reminiscent of the High Council Chamber the Jedi used on Coruscant. It was one of the few places in the capital where other species could be comfortable in normal clothing as it was kept at a standard temperature. Beneath her clothes, Val wore her coolth skinsuit to protect her from overheating in such an environment. She was prepared to wait until late in the night to see if any Mawites would answer her call.

Whatever it took.

 

[Marlon Sularen]

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B L A C K_I C E

FINAL DAWN
ENSOLICA , CORE WORLDS

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The FDS Predator exited hyperspace, followed by a small escort fleet comprised of a trio of Tyrant-Class Star Destroyers and a pair of Ascendant Mark-II Star Destroyers, with the flottila arriving at the Ensolica System. Home the Ensos people, renown for their expertise in hydroponics and building greenhouses in the ice, Ensolica was an insignificant world with little strategic value and as such had been spared from the horrors of war. However in the wake of the Fall of Empress Teta, the planet found itself within the boundaries of the Brotherhood of the Maw's corridor into the Deep Core due to it's close proximity to Empress Teta and with the recent Mawite defeat at Tython, the Alliance was already making plans to strike back having launched an incursion against the Maw at Batorine. As such when the Ensos reached out to the Maw requesting an audience, High Regent Marlon Sularen of the Final Dawn took an immediate interest in the Planet recognizing it as a potential site for future Final Dawn Operations in preparation for his planned "Tetan Contingency"

As the Fleet arrived in proximity of Ensolica, a single Shuttle emerged from the ventral hangar of the Predator followed by an escort of four TIE/fd Fighters soon headed straight for the capital city of Ensolica where Ex-Senator Val Aranda, the very individual who had requested the meeting with the higher-ups of the Brotherhood of the Maw, awaited him currently located at a skyscraper known as the Glacier Tower. Thus the Shuttle would soon come to rest within a landing platform connected to the skyscraper with the High Regent of the Final Dawn dressed in his traditional Crimson Imperial Uniform along with a red cape emerging from it accompanied by his trusted assistant, Colonel Rackham and escorted by a squad of four Elite Raptor SuperCommandos. The High Regent wondered what the former Senator sought to discuss but hopefully it would be worth his trip, and who knows perhaps he could even secure Ensolica's entry into the Final Dawn via diplomacy and it's continued loyalty to the Final Dawn and by extension the Maw even if the Alliance retook Empress Teta.

However all of that would depend on Senator Aranda and whether she was willing to compromise and be reasonable or would be like most of the Senators within the Alliance, lacking proper reasoning and understanding. Sularen hoped that she wouldn't be as foolish as Chris Walker and outright reject the authority of the Final Dawn and the Brotherhood of the Maw lest her world end up like Nothmir, cleasned by the fires of retribution and purification. The Final Dawn had set it's sights on Ensolica, and whether it's people would prosper under the generous rule of the Final Dawn or suffer under it's iron grip would be determined solely on the actions of Senator Aranda here today.

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Tags | Val Aranda ​

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[Onrai]

Of course, to presume the Final Dawn were the only ones in the Maw interested in adding another world to their burgeoning empire was, to say the least, foolish.

Two Sovereign Elite-class Battlecruisers exited the system, accompanied by a quartet of D-variant Saturn-type Battleships. These vessels had come from Kinoss as the initial vanguard of a larger fleet effort, some of whom remained well out of the way. Several Voracitos-class Bombardment Spheres and some O-variant Saturns were lurking at the fringe of the system, preparing to jump in the event their reinforcements were needed. Veteran crews with decades of experience were ready to at a moment's notice engage in conflict.

Onrai's own response was hardly much more than a manifestation of shadows, coalesced from the darkened alleyways and shaded porticos into the shadow-being form she had often taken - though the avatar's image soon shifted towards the honey-blonde green-eyed near-human form she had once held before becoming as she had. Entering through a mid-level walkway of the skyscraper, she headed to the room in question where Val was located at.

Hopefully, she would make it there first, as it was important she offer as amicable an agreement to the planetary leader as she possibly could. To gain control of a world that was for the most part still intact was something she would've very much preferred, and of course there was no reason to try and go out of her way to oppress the people there.

Senseless oppression never brought loyalty after all.

Val Aranda Marlon Sularen

 

[Val Aranda]

A ring came from the holoprojector at the center of the table. Val knew who would be on the other line. She sighed before walking over to it and pressed the button in the side of the metal disc. The holograms of the Archons, the highest ranked members of the Ensolican Hierarchy, appeared before Val. She prepared herself for the patronizing words of the Archons ahead of the meeting.

"Valerie. By now you should know the absolute importance of this meeting. The fate of the Hierarchy lies upon your shoulders." one Archon said.

"No pressure, then. I have it under control, Archons. I will not fail the Hierarchy." Val responded.

"We trust you, Val. It's these Maw folk that we do not trust. We know what they are capable of. Who's to say that whatever agreement you come to today will be upheld by them?"

"We will just have to trust that these people can see the potential Ensolica has."

"Perhaps. But, perhaps not. Csilla had infinitely more potential than us and looked what happened there."

"I know what happened with Csilla. I won't let that happen here. I won't."

A protocol droid walked into the meeting room and waved at Val to get her attention. "Ms. Aranda. Your guests have arrived in the system. Several starships, in fact." the droid reported.

"That is an awful lot for a diplomacy meeting."

"Just to intimidate us. Don't let it. I will go into the meeting with no fear. I will earn their respect after today."

"Good luck, Valerie. Archons watch over you."

The holprojector deactivated and Val inhaled deeply followed by an audible exhale. She felt as though she was prepared for what may come, but one could not have every single possibility covered. Not naturally anyway. That would not deter her, though. She was just relieved to see someone finally answered her call.

Marlon Sularen | Onrai ​

 

[Marlon Sularen]

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B L A C K_I C E

FINAL DAWN
ENSOLICA , CORE WORLDS

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As Sularen exited his Shuttle, accompanied by his trusted assistant, Colonel Rackham and a squad of four Elite Raptor SuperCommandos, he was greeted by an Ensolican who proceeded to lead them inside the Building guiding them towards the top of the building where the Ex-Senator of Ensolica awaited him. As they headed towards an elevator, the High Regent's comm link began to ring with Sularen picking it up as they continued their journey towards the top of the skyscraper. "High Regent we have a new development." an individual said from the other side, Sularen immediately recognized it as the voice of the Captain of his Flagship, the FDS Predator. "What is it, Captain." Sularen said in response. "6 unidentified ships have arrived in the system, four of them having already been identified as the same ones we've encountered at Exegol previously." the Captain said. These mysterious warships were an enigma to the High Regent who had never seen them before throughout his 10+ years within the Brotherhood of the Maw. They did not appear on any of the Final Dawn's databases and thus did not appear to belong to any of the factions that the Maw was at war with.

However judging from the circumstances of this meeting it was possible that this belonged to another subgroup of the Final Dawn that Sularen had not yet encountered. However these warships had never appeared at any major naval engagement, as if that individual was purposely withholding them for something sinister, although that was just speculation. "High Regent? What are your orders." the Captain said. "Do not engage, we still don't know who these people are. When they leave, simply use the Predator's Hyperspace trackers to determine where they came from, perhaps that will give us possible answers." Sularen responded. "Yes my lord." the Captain said before terminating the transmission. Soon enough, the High Regent was inside the elevator headed straight for the level in which the meeting room was located. Hopefully whoever was here would not disrupt the High Regent's plans for this system as doing so would compromise his plans to halt any future Alliance offensive against the Maw's Corridor in the Core Worlds.

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Tags | Onrai | Val Aranda ​

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[Onrai]

Val Aranda Marlon Sularen

It was the spectral Onrai that managed to make it to the room of the former senator first. The stairwell would've been ridiculous for any fleshy being to climb up, but being an entity of energy, she had made record time to the top floor. The doors opened, revealing the shade whose form resembled that of a woman, white eyes peering out from non-sockets as she looked over at Val.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Onrai - fortunately I seem to have made it here before the others. I would like to be the first to make an offer of cooperation with you, to ensure the longer-term stability of this world." Working out arrangements with the former leadership of the world would ensure minimal disruption and allow Onrai to gain control with little destruction of local infrastructure. She had no desire to turn the planet into another Mugg Fallow or Kinoss, but would if given no other choice - such was the reason her fleet lingered at the system's edge.

Whether Val would play ball or not was another question.

 

[Val Aranda]

As the doors opened, Val let out a small gasp. The view of the ethereal creature before her was haunting, though she held her composure. And when it spoke, she as even further shocked. Though they had the appearance of something so wicked, she immediately started talking politics and business. This was a situation that Val only partially predicted beforehand. Ensolica was a very hidden gem that would surely be exploited sooner or later.

"Ah, yes. Greetings, Onrai. I am Valerie. Representative of the Ensolican Hierarchy. I would offer you something to drink, but I have a feeling that you do not partake." As Val made her greeting, she gave a firm bow before Onrai. Finally, someone had answered her call, so she would not forget any formalities.

"One would assume that you know of the potential Ensolica has. Or else, why would you be seeking such a partnership? Please, tell me what is it we can do for you?"

Onrai | Marlon Sularen ​

 

[Onrai]

"Now now, just because I exist in this form does not mean I cannot enjoy something." She smiled, the difference barely distinguishable amongst the ethereally black essence within. "If you have something, I would be more than happy to try whatever supplication it is you have to offer." She waited for the opportunity to taste of whatever refinement Val offered, and drank the entirety of the glass in one fell swoop, appreciative of the tastes and textures that, despite their superficial sensations, were still things she had yet to experience.

"I'll begin very clearly - the Maw is growing its reach within the galaxy. Soon Ensolica will firmly fall under its dominion, and the question will arise: who does the world wish to have rule over it? The echelons of the Maw are not homogenous - like the Old Ones themselves, each has their own methods of operating, their own hates and desires. Some would turn the world into an infernal hellforge, enslaving the populace to fuel their lust for war machines. Others would seek to instill dark religions of mass sacrifice and blood rituals to fuel a lust for power. I on the other hand merely ask for devotion." Onrai's hand opened, the form of the world of Kinoss appearing within it.

"The world of Kinoss is the capital of my domain within the Maw. Living on it are a plethora of citizens once under the dominion of the Sith Empire. For many decades, I, in my former form as a mortal being, guided them, protected them, and did as best I could to provide them with safety and whatever else they needed. It was in part the rationale for my pursuit and acquisition of the godhood I now possess. Those within my forces can attest to their prayers having been answered and the protection they have asked for having been given. The world once rendered a lifeless husk courtesy of Mawite bombardments now once more is rife with life."

She paused, and took another long sip from the cup, liquid that was not physically possible to exist within it once more pouring between her lips. "There is another reason I wish to rule this world, however, and it goes beyond economic benefits, natural resources or ore deposits, skilled labor, or any other material benefit its possession could offer. There are beings greater than I, beings that once brought unholy torment to heaven and the galaxy material. Beings that were once sealed away by the Celestials before their abandoning of this dimension to eternal decay. I fear, very strongly, that these beings may as of yet succeed in escaping the pocket-prison they were trapped in many thousands of years ago - and should they do such a thing, all of existence would yet become their pawns. An eternity of suffering, a universe of endless pain-to-pleasure at the behest of foul entities who once sought to slaughter their own brethren in the name of rebellion against their Maker. I seek to be able to fight back against these entities, and for that, the resources of this world will be needed. It will not be an oppressive burden, but it will be a priority."

She paused. "What are your thoughts on this?"

Val Aranda Marlon Sularen

 

[Val Aranda]

Val smirked at Onrai's response. She knew she was wrong to assume the entity's ability to consume anything. Luckily, she did not seem too insulted by the assumption. Val motioned her hand towards the table. At the center, a silver plate had a champagne bottle surrounded by glasses resting upon it. On the label, one would be able to read it as 'Glacier', should they be capable of reading Galactic Basic.

"Allow me." Val reached for the bottle and poured some into a glass, nearing the rim. She then handed the glass to Onrai before pouring her own glass and taking it into her hand.

"Now, as for your proposal. it is very tempting, but I have questions." Val took a sip from her glass. "Do you expect the people of Ensolica to, also, worship you as their god as the people of Kinoss do? That would be rather difficult outside of oppression. And, while you gain their loyalty, it is based on fear and not love. Which never ends well. Also, I'm sure I could eventually convince the council to supply resources for your cause, but we will need proof. I, personally, have not seen or heard of these creatures. Celestials? I do not doubt you believe this, but my people will need some convincing. We need proof."

Onrai | Marlon Sularen ​

 

[Onrai]

"I proffer that which any god offers their subjects." She indicated. "They pray to me and their prayers shall be answered. With the power I possess, it is trivial to heal the sick, to nurture the crops, and to provide that which mortal lives require to live, if not in luxury, then in comfort at least. If you ask for proof of the threat, look no further than what happened on the surface of Tython when Solipsis performed his ritual. That was a tear in reality - neither controlled nor managed in such a way to not possess aftereffects." From within the inky blackness of her physical form, Onrai withdrew the amethyst and citrine-colored Sunstar-Shadowstone - truly this relic reforged from the shards within the Griagh of Endor was the key to her ease of transit, to not having to persistently draw upon her own power to tear the boundary between dimensions.

As she raised the multicolored gem, it began to glow. Within Val's room, the fabric of reality began to wrinkle and ripple before being torn asunder entirely, wispy energies of another plane of existence seeping through from within the tear in reality. Onrai reached with her spare hand and offered it to the former senator.

"You will want to hold this. What lies beyond this rift has driven even the most hardened practitioners of torture and inquisition to madness. If you do not do as I say once we have entered, your mind, your sanity - your very grip on reality may be lost to you forever."

Val Aranda Marlon Sularen