Dark Shadows (Invite/GA)

[Darth Shadow]

[member="Galen Adina"] [member="Bolvar Mayne"] [member="Julius Sedaire"] [member="Kira Vaal"] [member="Roth Tillian"] [member="Logen Brunner"] [member="Tegan Katarn"] [member="Meeristali Peradun"] [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] [member="Audren Sykes"] [member="Astarii Saren"] [member="Moira Skaldi"] [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Callia Rodez"]

The war between One Sith and Galactic Alliance was well underway and showing no signs of abating. Victory at Coruscant had greatly weakened the Sith, but they were not crushed. Every day brought news of the Sith preparing defences or counter attacks to try and stem the tide.

However, one particular packet of information would be quite curious. The relatively obscure planet of Roxuli on the far rim was receiving unusual activity. Something was going on there.

For GA Pilots/Rogues
Word was going around the galaxy (in hushed tones admittedly) that the One Sith were hiring or impressing vast amounts of haulage, and it was all leading to Roxuli. Some ships did not return, but those who did spoke of a vast series of freighters and haulers which were taking materials as diverse as water, durasteel and fabric to an unknown location.
Something was going on.

For GA Slicers/Intel/Military
Traffic of a different kind was heavy as well. In addition to the shipping reports, there were frequent messages between Sith units and outposts. It was unsure just what it was that was going on. However, one phrase kept coming up again and again.
Omega

What did this mean? A potential clue had come up, pointing to the planet Recee, one step further down the line where an important shipment was due to come in very soon in the form of an armoured convoy of transports. Seizing this convoy could yield vital clues.

For Jedi
The Force was a difficult thing to judge and predict. However, those around the galaxy would feel…something…was wrong. An unease would grow, a feeling of a coming darkness. To Jedi and their allies especially this feeling was strong. To those with the sight to see the planet Ilum, long a reverent place for the Jedi, would appear.

Some would feel inclined to travel to that icy world and discover if they could find the source of the unease and concerns….

 

[Roth Tillian]

Roth strode onto the briefing deck, lightsaber clipped to his belt, and flight jacket unbuttoned. An assembly of other squadron leaders stood around the holo-table, with an intelligence officer standing by with a datapad linked to the display, which revealed an image of a planet hovering above. It wasn't a world that Roth recognized, by any means, especially looking at the coordinates. It was out on the rim of the galaxy. He rested his chin on his fingers.

The intel officer looked up and nodded.

"You've all arrived. Let's begin," He gestured to the planet. "This is Roxuli, an old Republic world mostly forgotten by the galaxy. By all accounts, it's nothing special or particiularly important. However, we have reports form intelligence and freight-haulers that the One Sith are bringing a massive amount of materials to the world. We don't have details, but reports note massive streams of cargo traffic."

Roth leaned forward now, curious. That amount of traffic was typically only found on the massive city worlds like Coruscant, or some of the hyper-populated core worlds that couldn't sustain themselves any more and had to ship in resources. But a planet like Roxuli? Short of a massive troop build-up, there was no reason for that to happen.

"Your squadrons have been tasked with a force recon of the world," The holodisplay shifted, marking coordinates on different parts of the world. "Tillian," Roth looked up, "Take your Wild Knights to location Alpha."

Roth leaned forward to study it more closely. The details were fuzzy, but that was the purpose of a recon mission. If they went in fast and hard and then came right back out, it shouldn't be too difficult, especially if they could throw down some illusions as they went in as a diversion. The other squadrons were assigned to other locations in an attempt to get as accurate and detailed information as possible. Roth listened through the rest of the briefing continued.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

There was a shadow... moving... shifting... sliding just beyond the perceptions. Taeli needed to slip deeper into her meditations, try and look further. It had been there ever since Coruscant was liberated, the feeling that something had been lurking on the edges and had sensed its time was coming. Reports to the Alliance indicated unusual activity out near Roxuli, which was odd considering it had never been a major hub of activity for the One Sith as far as she could recall.

Still... that wasn't the source of the uneasiness she was sensing.

A holographic map of the galaxy spun slowly around her kneeling form, illuminated by a small spherical data recorder on a projector stand. She allowed the Force to flow more easily through her, stilling her mind until it was placid... unmoving...

Flashes... a hazy image... the Force was obscured by darkness, unease and anxiety flitting around and trying to disrupt her meditation. It would take more than that to throw her off... and then for just the briefest moment, the image of a snowy world appeared and the Force jolted her out of the trance. She didn't even realize her hand had risen, but her finger was pointing at planet out in the Outer Rim she had never actually traveled to before.

"Ilum... what could be out there?" she muttered. She needed answers, to investigate what this sense of unease was. She picked herself up off the ground and made for where her ship was docked, transmitting a message to the rest of the New Jedi Order she was going to Ilum to investigate a disturbance.

 

[Aerion Ivelisse]

[member="Callia Rodez"] | [member="Tegan Katarn"] | [member="Lucius Varad"]​

​

Members of the Padawan Pack had gathered on that day. Many members of the New Jedi Order had felt disturbances within the Force. Whispers and rumours had trickled down the vine to even the freshest of Padawans. If anyone didn't know there was something stirring, they must've lived under a rock. Several Jedi were mobilizing, and some of those Jedi were Padawans. The next generation Padawan Pack. They were definitely going to need a new name, but they had plenty of time for that.

But they were travelling now to the planet Ilum. Some shuttle that he didn't know.

Outside of the viewports hyperspace surrounded those on the ship.

"Let's make this mission quick." he said. Zaren Bouqi had taught him plenty of the Sith. Mainly revolving around the fact that they needed to be exterminated, at all costs. Sort of like the Army of Light of old. Oh well, he didn't even know where he was now. Probably hunting down some Sith. That's what he expected their Pack of Padawans to be doing on this day.

"Didn't get much sleep last night."

The best joke he could get off the dome. Everyone knew that the Young Ivelisse didn't get much sleep... Or any at all.

 

[Galen Adina]

[member="Aerion Ivelisse"] [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Roth Tillian"] [member="Darth Shadow"]

Galen hadn't spent much time on the battlefield in the war against the One Sith, he instead preferred to stay behind and perform activities that more suited his talents. However he knew that he couldn't avoid the war forever, even if his talents weren't best suited for war.

The last battle he had been in left a scar on Galen's mind and he wasn't prepared to see more death and violence. A wave of relief poured over him when he received a message that warned Jedi of a presence on Ilum.

He had never been to the ice planet, instead preferring to stay on more tropical planets or one's that resembled his home planet of Onderon. However even though Galen was relatively new to the Force he could feel the perversion coming off of the planet of Ilum. The gross darkness stretched out even to the library that Galen was scribbling away in his journals, leaving him with a weary feeling. Still he knew that it was either go there or back to a battlefield. Somewhat hesitantly Galen lifted up a holocommunicator and set a message to Jedi master Raaf.

"I shall accompany you master, I will bring medical supplies in case of an emergency."

He made his way to the emergency supplies building and requested 5 large canisters of bacta and some surgical tools. The droid who ran the building quickly ran through some papers and gave the supplies to Galen along with a small transport ship that would take him to Ilum.

 

[Renthcol]

Colton had heard reports of vast series of freighters and haulers which were taking a variety of material to an unknown location and the relatively obscure planet of Roxuli seemed to be at center of it there was entirely too much chatter for nothing to out there He decided it go check it with that loot sitting around he could make a hefty profit. AS he and Tvrrist finished the preflight checks on the Falcon, and departed the hanger he set course for the far rim it would take the better part day to get there after all not many ship could make the Kessiel run in less than 12 parsec he averaged 10.5 he engaged the hyper drive and in burst of blue they were off to find riches and whatever else was waiting there.

 

[Darth Shadow]

[member="Galen Adina"] [member="Bolvar Mayne"] [member="Julius Sedaire"] [member="Kira Vaal"] [member="Roth Tillian"] [member="Logen Brunner"] [member="Tegan Katarn"] [member="Meeristali Peradun"] [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] [member="Audren Sykes"] [member="Astarii Saren"] [member="Moira Skaldi"] [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Callia Rodez"] [member="Captain Colton Renfroe"]

[member="Kith Verloren"]

Darth Sicarii

The chamber was as dark as midnight. Behind the Sith Lord the door hissed shut. Mere absence of light was not something which deterred him as he came to kneel before the presence in the room. Slowly the lights came up.

“My Lady, the plan is proceeding as ordered. The materials have been leaving Roxuli on schedule. The expedition to Ilum is ahead of schedule, and the convoy at Recee is about to arrive.”

It was always good to report successes rather than failures. Especially to the other person in the room….

For GA Pilots/Rogues
On the edge of the system there were some long range fighters and interceptors. They were not exactly expecting trouble, but they were alert regardless. One could easily fight or avoid them. However, close in towards the main planet…the patrols increased, and each freighter coming in was boarded, unloaded, and sent on their way. Those who did not comply…well…there were several frigates and cruisers present to ensure obedience.

For GA Slicers/Intel/Military
The armoured convoy consisted of three large transports, well-guarded by two squadrons of fighters and a pair of frigates. It was clear that whatever was here was valuable. A tanker was waiting for the transports to refuel, allowing a brief window of time when they were in real space before continuing on….

For Jedi

Above Ilum there was little overt sign of Sith presence. Rather, there was a small installation in the southern hemisphere set amidst some mountains. These mountains contained some of the famed crystal caves. It was clear that whatever the Sith force was doing was probably not a good omen….

 

[Darth Caecus]

The grey swathed figure did not turn when the door opened. It remained in perfect, isolated stillness as the lights were brought up. Even as Darth Sicarii knelt and spoke, his words seemed to be swallowed up in- what had been, until his words had broken it, a flawless hush.

Grey-blue eyes closed, almost as though, despite the positive bent of the cluster of noises he spoke, the words pained her.

The room had been dark, cold, and silent before his arrival. Now it was only cold. The figure required none of the things this intrusive being brought with him. And the warmth of a single body in the gelid air of the room made little enough headway against the chill. That thought, at least, brought the barest touch of a smile to otherwise still lips. She allowed the silence at least to return after his report, not acknowledging the other Sith. The quiet stretched on long enough that it seemed, perhaps, that she would not speak to him at all.

It would not have been the first time.

But the barest rustle of fabric betrayed the turn of her head. Backlit, a cold, porcelain profile greeted him finally. She looked at him, from the corner of one eye for a long moment, before finally-

"Good."

A single word, but often more than he had received in the past. Her voice was quiet, and she held the stillness that rushed in like water to fill the void left after she spoke, savoring it.

"Events are not unfolding..... unnoticed."

​Cold. Just as the room. It was impossible to tell from the words or the tone if that detail pleased her. Or disappointed her.

[member="Darth Shadow"]

 

[Naamah Aesham]

[member="Darth Shadow"]


Today, her name was Kaylee. A perky, blonde girl who had the unkempt beauty look and a smear of engine grease on her face. She was between jobs and thus had found gainful employment on this freighter, transporting cargo on a moderately illicit job.


Just another girl trying to make her way across the stars in the big bad galaxy. "There we go," she said cheerfully, when the door opened with a hiss. "Just as the Cap said! You guys sure won't be lacking in water."


It was difficult to discern any expression on the stormtrooper's face, for the guardian of law, order and security wore a fully sealed silver plate armour with a reflective mask. "Good. I'll examine the cargo," the voice was modulated by a mechanical speaker, but was clearly female.


"Oh, sure. Inspect away," Kayleey said, flashing the soldier a smile. "So, you guys, got something big goin'?" she threw up her hands when the soldier shot her a look. "Sorry, little me just being nosy. You look, like, real tough in that armour."


The girl tilted her head slightly towards the door. No one was watching. The stormtrooper lieutenant was still with the Captain. The Sith soldier slid open one of the crates and took a look inside. The girl moved with lightning speed. She gripped the trooper with surprising strength and slashed her vibroknife across the woman's vulnerable neck joint, where her plating would not protect her. Time to shed her skin like a snake.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Darth Shadow"] [member="Kith Verloren"] [member="Galen Adina"]

Taeli received the message from the Padawan and she would direct him to meet her on Ilum as she was not currently in Alliance space. Climbing into her ship, she set the autopilot to make the jump to Ilum once it left Erilnar orbit and settled back in her chair, deep in thought.

She wasn't sure why the darkness was stirring again... it was... unexpected to say the least. It wasn't something she had foreseen, but then she did not have the abilities of Far Sight so that might be one reason it was only coming into her awareness now. Whatever this was... whoever this was... was an unseen threat and she didn't like random threats popping up. She didn't like not knowing something, and this was just reinforce to her that she needed to learn more.

She would need to prepare for what was likely coming, the stirrings hinting that something large was coming... She would fall back into her meditations, trying to pierce the veil that was currently hanging over her sight. She could do something drastic to get around the veil, but she didn't think the situation warranted it... yet.

 

[Renthcol]

“Alright fur ball coming up on the edge of the system stand by to cut in the sublight engines.” As ship exited hyperspace in white flash, Colton checked the long range scanner. “Fighters interceptors cruisers, that a lot fire power for remote back water like Roxuli, so whatever is goin’ on out here it big and that lots and lots of credits.” He said he maneuvered the freighter into debris field to avoid detection for moment as he his copilot discussed and formulated a approach plan.

 

[Kenrath]

[member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Galen Adina"] [member="Kith Verloren"] [member="Darth Shadow"]


Armis had been wandering the grounds of the NJO Temple. Since his little foray as Body Guard for the Alliance Diplomacy department he had been encouraged to not come back. To be fair his statements had been spot on. Armis had been entertaining himself with quiet contemplation when the murmuring around the Temple had started.

Armis was officially tagged as an independent so it took him a few hours to find a NJO Padawan he knew to tell him about some ice planet giving off a bad vibe or some such mess.

It was another day before he could manage to find a ship willing to jump off into the middle of nowhere and into possible harm. Not that Armis was surprised but he needed a ride. Unfortunately it was a freelancer and the trip was going to cost him more than a few credits.

Armis sent a message ahead on a few of the NJO frequencies he had gotten from his fellow Padawan.

"Any NJO Jedi headed to [insert Ilum coordinates] this is Armis Vindex." "Requesting updated ccoordinates and sitrep."

Armis would broadcast it a few times before stopping. Mostly because he had been forced to use unregistered transportation.

 

[Audren Sykes]

Audren was far from the most perceptive Jedi in the galaxy. He was fully cognizant of the fact, and he was fine with it. But even he could sense the growing unease. He by no means understood the origin, which was mildly annoying in and of itself. Of course, to understand the origin, one would have to know the origin. Which, again, he did not. So, annoying twice over.

Annoyance didn't get along so well with him, but he could focus on his work. He had enough to do after all. His most recent project was finding crew members for his new ship. Er, ships. He kept forgetting about the corvette he'd won at the charity auction. Then again, it was the smaller of the two. He couldn't believe just how many crew members the frigate needed. And each person needed to draw pay, each one needed food...the logistics were almost depressing. Theoretically, he could sign the vessels over to the Sanctum or the Alliance, or even just entrust them with the ships, and they would take care of crewing the vessels, paying the crew, even stocking them, and repair. He was trying to get the Ceredir Industries logistical staff to work with him on the matter, but it was beyond their current base of knowledge and they were already busy with helping to keep the Ceredir lines running.

Heck, he still had to come up with names for the vessels.

In an unusual event, the Sephi fell asleep at his desk, the screen in front of him flickering with ever-changing text. Numbers and letters, smaller inside windows of news throughout the galaxy...all of it applicable to Ceredir, much of it applicable to his life as a Jedi. Maybe it was those flickering images, maybe it was his connection with the Force - it always seemed to be a stronger unconscious connection than a conscious one - but he dreamed of an ice planet. It was much like Rhen Var, the home of the Silver Watch towards the northern edge of Sanctum space, but there were differences. Not that his dreaming mind was aware of that.

An abnormally loud sound from the monitors - a commercial of some sort - startled him from the dream. Blearily, he tried to recall details, pin down the planet. It wasn't Rhen Var, the planet claimed as stronghold by the Silver Watch. Beyond that, he couldn't be sure about it. A scrolling item on one of the monitors caught his eye at that moment though; Taeli Raaf, Jedi Master much senior to him, had sent word to the Alliance that she was heading to Ilum. Upon reading that, something shifted, hardening into certainty. That was what he'd seen, though he'd never seen it before. That was where he was needed.

Leaving the two silent capital ships in high orbit over the world, the Sephi launched for Ilum in the Hathol, a Rekali-class heavy fighter. Once the ship had entered hyperspace, Audren settled onto the bunk. It wasn't a luxury bunk by any means, barely large enough for him, but it was more comfortable than the desk he'd unwillingly used previously. Hopefully he could rest enough now to actually be of some use on the ice planet when he arrived.


[member="Darth Shadow"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Galen Adina"] | [member="Armis Vindex"] | [member="Aerion Ivelisse"]

 

[Aerion Ivelisse]

[member="Callia Rodez"] | [member="Tegan Katarn"] | [member="Lucius Varad"]​

​

Coming out of Hyperspace, the young Jedi Ivelisse didn't really expect to feel anything.

So when they remained in orbit of Ilum for a few moments, he said nothing while he took the empty pilot's seat. Just the four of them. Being an adept pilot with the Stealth-X was as good a reason as any for letting him fly their current shuttle to Ilum. Besides, it wasn't like they were going to crash land or anything.

"Sensors are picking up an installation in the southern hemisphere."

He could've asked for ideas, wait for someone else like a good Padawan, but he was deadset on just purging the Sith from the Galaxy. Why couldn't they just die out already? How many times were the Jedi going to have to hunt them down to the edge of the Galaxy to deal with some Sith monkey business.

[member="Armis Vindex"]

He heard a transmission over one of the channels the ship was linked to, and he frowned. There were other members of the New Jedi Order there?

"Southern Hemisphere. Installation has activity." Short and sweet. Probably could've been shorter if he put more thought into it, but he wasn't that good at flying such a large ship. That much was made obvius when they entered atmosphere and they bucked at the sudden entry. "Oops," he muttered under his breath.

 

[Roth Tillian]

"Briefing dismissed!" The intelligence officer said, standing to attention and saluting, "Depart in one hour, and may the Force be with you." The officer turned aside and began removing his materials from the holodisplay as the squadron leaders filed out, studying notes and other information on their datapads. Roth tapped a message to his squadron, the Wild Knights.

Recon Mission. Prep the OS-I2s. Departure in one hour.

It wasn't a lot of time to prepare, but that was part of the job. The Wild Knights were a strange squadron compared to standard starfighter squadrons, even compared to the Rogues. Roth smiled at that time. There had been a time, years ago now, when he was squadron commander for Rogue Squadron. They flew under a different flag at that point and were completely different people, but Rogues were Rogues. Wild flyers, big egos, the best pilots, brawlers. You name, Rogue Squadron had them.

His own now, well, they were interesting. A bunch of Force sensitives of experienced apprentice or knight levels who specialized in piloting and mentalism. His own skill at illusions weren't near as impressive as some of the others, but he was the best pilot. Not just in the Knights, but in the Alliance. Of course, others would disagree with him of course, but Roth knew they were wrong. He was the best. Probably one of the best starfighter pilots in the galaxy. He glanced up as his boots echoed through the corridors. Technicians and officers and pilots hurried back and forth, slipping past each other. Roth certainly still had the ego of a Rogue Squadron commander.

But that was no longer his role. He had other skills that needed brought to bear. Confirmations pinged on his datapad as he ducked into his quarters. Sparse, utilitarian, with nothing but some uniforms, some sketches for his Defender armor, tools for fighters, and some armor for more grounded missions, as they had the flexibility for that. Not as ideally as other squadrons, but a squadron of light-saber wielding and bolter-carrying pilots was still enough to bring some havoc to enemy lines. Situational flexibility, as some called it. But now he had some free time, so he lay down and slept for twenty minutes.

As his alarm went off, he stood, grabbed his flight-jacket and marched to the hangar. It was chaos in there, organized yes, but chaos. His own squadron's flight deck was on the far side. Droids and mechanics raced about, double checking the fighters.

"Commander Tillian!" A voice called out, and Roth turned behind him. Deck Lieutenant Xana strode forward, "You're ships are ready to go!"

"Thank you, Lieutenant!" Roth called back as he broke into a small job, turning the corner into his own bay. The ships were prepped and the pilots had assembled. "Wild Knights! Debrief time." He stopped next to his own fighter and pulled up a smaller display. "Target is Roxuli. We're to infiltrate the system and gather what information we can to relay back to the Alliance."

Something rippled in the Force, a sense of danger and unease, accompanied by an image of a starfighter aflame falling towards the surface of a planet. Then it was gone and Roth shook his head. The others were looking at him, worriedly, although none seemed to have gotten the same image. "Remember, our priority is the information. That has to come back."

He shook his head again and turned to his fighter, clambering up into the cockpit. What had that vision been? Someone in the squadron? Himself? A symbol? He hated visions in the Force. They were always so ambiguous. "Coordinates have been sent to your ship computers. We're dropping into realspace outside the system. Jammers on and sensors as far as we can reach. Observe and avoid conflict if at all possible. If necessary, use illusions to throw them off."

He dropped himself into the cockpit, powering up the engines. The fighter roared to life and he grinned at the hum around him. This was where he felt alive.

"Knight One," Roth said, "All systems green for launch."
"Knight Two, checking, All systems go."
"Knight Three, affirmative."
"Knight Four, let's get it going."
"Knight Five, clear for launch."

And so it continued, each check-in from a member of the 12 person squadron to confirm that their were ready and their fighters, engines thrumming with the immense amount of power were prepared =.

"Knight One, your squadron is cleared for launch."

Roth tapped the controls, craning his head back to look into the hangar. All was clear. He nudged the throttle forward and the small craft headed out of the hangar into the vast expanse of space. The rest of the fighters came out after him, following in a stately arc as he curved up and above the rest of the task force. Once all were clear, Roth punched in the coordinates and sent the fighter into hyperspace with the rest of the squadron right behind.

 

[LT-137]

Breathing deeply, and feeling his mouth fill with the stale taste of the recycled air, Lucius roused himself from his meditation. While the others had tended to their respective business during the transit from Alliance-held space to their intended destination, the Silvered Scholar found himself sequestered within one of the minuscule cargo compartments. The darkness helped ease the passing of his mind from the mortal shell, allowing him to reach beyond the crude flesh that adorned his luminous spirit. It was there before his violet eyes had flicked open once they had arrived above this arctic wasteland, that he bore witness to four flickering candles - and much more in the distance. Though his mastery over the aetheric arts was far from what he secretly desired, it was enough to alert him that others were present and that their journey through the sea of infinite black had come to an end.

Uncrossing his legs as he stood, Lucius went through the motions of preparing his mortal frame to move. Subtle stretches to awaken the slumbering fibers of his body. Once complete, the former Slave adorned his pallid figure in the first of many layers to come. A simple, environmentally controlled body glove that hugged the contours of his athletic frame - leaving little to the imagination. As the seal engaged with a subtle hiss of pressurization, the wounded man began slathering himself in the heavy garments that would protect him from winter’s frigid caress when they had finally made it planetside.

With the ensemble complete, the newly minted Scion of Skywalker fanned his fingers around the silvered cylindrical length of the Jedi’s signature weapon. Sure, the blade didn’t belong to him as others had gotten around to mastering their weapons and forging their sabers, but to this Padawan - the borrowed symbol was more than enough. Clipping the extinguished hilt to his utility belt and stepping out from his sequestered, and improvised chambers, Lucius stalked through the interior of the vessel until he had reached its cockpit. As he had suspected, his comrade Aerion was at the helm. Waves of fatigue rolled from his mind, signifying that the man hadn’t slept the entire trip. Such a move was foolish, especially if he was their designated pilot.

However, Lucius kept his reservations to himself and instead offered a warm - pleasant smile as he had slipped into the cockpit’s interior. Without a word, as the Koruunai hybrid cycled through some of the local communication channels, the Silvered Scholar slipped into the Co-pilot’s chair and began listening to his fellow Jedi’s words. Throughout history, there had been many a Military and Jedi installation dotting the surface of this arctic wasteland, but what had drawn his attention was its location. According to the readings from the shuttle’s sensors, the faintest blip had materialized in the Southern Hemisphere - supposedly one of the most inhospitable regions that Ilum had to offer. However, as his leather bound fingers began to dance across the crystalline display, more information came to light. Planetary Survey’s from the most recent Jedi Expedition had mentioned, more like an attached addendum than any credible mention, that a small system of caverns was found within that mountainous region. While they’d be of little interest to those blessed with small minds, unable to hear the Force’s siren curse, the Jedi and by extension their opposites, would find much of interest within the cavernous network. Various crystals, visibly vibrant with the aetheric energies of the Force.

Lucius would’ve spent more time pushing his mind further and further into the depths of this untapped font of knowledge, but as they eclipsed the atmospheric event horizon - he lost his train of thought. Their angle of descent was off by the smallest of margins and when the shuttle had slipped into Ilum’s gravitic embrace - they did so with such force the shuttle buckled and groaned as the Planet herself sought to claim the transport whole. Cursing silently under his breath, Lucius’ violet gaze fell upon his fellow pilot and narrowed.

“Oops," The Silvered Scholar said with a playfully malicious tone. "Is that something a pilot should say when they break through the stratosphere?”

| [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] | [member="Callia Rodez"] | [member="Tegan Katarn"] |​

​

Spoiler

| [member="Darth Shadow"] | [member="Kith Verloren"] | [member="Naamah Aesham"] | [member="Roth Tillian"] | [member="Audren Sykes"] | [member="Armis Vindex"] | [member="Captain Colton Renfroe"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Galen Adina"] |

 

[Darth Shadow]

[member="Naamah Aesham"] [member="Galen Adina"] [member="Bolvar Mayne"] [member="Julius Sedaire"] [member="Kira Vaal"] [member="Roth Tillian"] [member="Logen Brunner"] [member="Tegan Katarn"] [member="Meeristali Peradun"] [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] [member="Audren Sykes"] [member="Astarii Saren"] [member="Moira Skaldi"] [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Callia Rodez"] [member="Captain Colton Renfroe"]

[member="Kith Verloren"]

Darth Sicarii

The Sith Lord frowned. Was this a criticism, a concern or satisfaction? It was hard to tell. Still, he decided to just run with it.
“Yes, Lady. I will increase patrols and ensure that scrutiny is deflected from this place,” he said, rising. He made to depart.

For Naamah
When the water had been fully transported from the freighter into the Sith ship, all troopers were accounted for.
“TN-1612, why are you late?” a Sergeant demanded as the last trooper came aboard. This trooper had been the one which had met ‘Kaylee’ and was now in a very real sense, the new trooper.

However, these was something of a problem. The captain of the freighter came to the link between the two ships. “Hey, where’s my deckhand? Name was Kaylee or something. You see her? She was in the aft section.”

“TN-1612, you were handling aft. Did you see this crewer?” the Sergeant demanded. He probably didn’t care, but if the freighter captain made trouble they’d have to ‘deal’ with him and that delayed matters.

Ilum

As the various Jedi came together dawn was breaking over Ilum. Though the temperature didn’t really improve, the light did.

About 500m from the base there was an overcropping where they could watch the base and gather before heading in.

However, it was not plain sailing. Not by a long shot. Patrolling in the cold were a pair of Heavy Battle Droids. They were better for such conditions as they could patrol without rest for long periods. If the Jedi wished to not be seen they’d have to either quickly disable the droids or avoid them entirely.

Roxuli

The One Sith fighters continued to patrol. They were not expecting an attack, but if necessary they would be able to respond.

Closer to Colton Renfroe one of the fighters noticed a blip on his sensors by the debris fields and went to investigate.
“Any ships, this is a restricted zone, you have one chance to leave or you will be destroyed,” they broadcast, wide spectrum.

(I have held off posting to see if anyone else wants to join in. Now's the time if you're wanting to. From now on I will be responding quicker to get to the crux of the story. If I'm going to fast, tell me so.)

 

[Naamah Aesham]

[member="Darth Shadow"]


Unlike shapeshifters in a story this writer once wrote, Naamah would not have to literally shed her skin to achieve her transformation. That would have been time-consuming and extremely painful. Shame really. This writer likes being mean.


Anyhow, new face, new name, new identity. Kaylee had been shed, now she was TN-1612. Like every stormtrooper, she had a number, not a name. A product of the totalitarian control all would-be empires sought to exert over their minions, moulding them into dehumanised automatons that would obey any order without question.


"She was being a nuisance and fishing for information. She interfered when I checked the crates and kept questioning our operations," the faux stormtrooper spoke. The helmet and the mechanical modulator made it very difficult to discern any emotion. Moreover, lying was her profession. After killing the real stormtrooper, she'd mangled her face badly enough that she would not be recognisable. "She might've been a spy."

 

[Darth Caecus]

[member="Darth Shadow"]

"No."

The word was quiet but heavy.

"The best way to ensure that no one finds us here is to keep the appearance that there is nothing to be found. More patrols would damage that illusion."

Slowly, she turned toward him, pushing back the grey hood. Her hair was paler than it had been, centuries ago, almost the bleached white of bone left too long in the sun. Alabaster skin shone in the light, not a trace of healthy flush on her cheeks, ashen in undertone. Ice stormed in her eyes as she looked down at Darth Sicarii. But the truly disconcerting part was that her chest did not rise and fall beneath her cloak. She drew no breath between statements, and were fingers to seek her pulse, they would find nothing but the silence she so sought.

But then, Kith Verloren, known better as Darth Molior, had been dead for over five hundred years.

"Our location here is safe."

​She looked away then, her gaze distant.

"Until it no longer needs to be."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Darth Shadow"] [member="Kith Verloren"] [member="Naamah Aesham"] [member="Lucius Varad"] [member="Roth Tillian"] [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] [member="Audren Sykes"] [member="Armis Vindex"] [member="Galen Adina"]

Taeli's eyes opened as the Force gave her a small nudge, indicating to her that she was nearing her destination. Something about the way the Force nudged her told her she needed to be careful, that stealth would be needed. She flicked the controls of her Sicarius infiltrator, a leftover from her days among the One Sith, and activated its stygium cloaking field and the other stealth measures she had incorporated into the design so long ago. The blue tunnel of hyperspace, the soothing expanse of reality, fell apart as her ship entered the Ilum system on silent running.

She didn't know if any of the other Jedi had arrived yet, but she wasn't about to risk tipping off any presence this shadowy thing had on the surface by sending an errant comm signal. She even closed her Force presence down, using her skills in Art of the Small to shrink her presence to size of a pinprick. Looking over the snowy planet that held such importance to the Jedi for the crystals on the surface, she sent the smallest and quickest pulse scan that she could and proceeded to move her ship to another coordinate set, just in case.

Her scan showed a small installation near some of those famous crystal caves in the southern mountain ranges. That was as a good place to check as any, so she angled her ship and began the approach to the surface. Every meter made her sure of one thing, someone was trying to work in the shadows and they were going to be a threat. The One Sith were too fragmented now, squabbling and fighting over the last vestiges of empire they had. This was too far out of the way for the First Order or any remnants of the Primeval... and it most certainly wasn't Mando style... answers... she needed the answers.