Darkness Within (SJO Dominion of Garos IV)

[Makil Bandon]

As soon as [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] landed Makil sat down cross legged and closed his eyes and focused, he could feel the force moving, the dark side ever present, from every artifact the darkside resonated, hate and anger spewing forth like a tidal wave, but Makil stood his ground, or sat i guess.

Then just as the force ghosts got close Makil encased all four of them, Jessica, the beast and the ghosts, in a force bubble sealing all energy from getting in and leaving, the air around them shimmered showing that the bubble was there, Makil consecrated hard, he'd never done one this big, and it wasn't gonna get easier.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Garos IV
Negotiations
Guardian Two
-----------------------

Commander Calderon stumbled onto his knees as a blaster bolt ripped above his position on the staircase. Things weren't looking too hot for the security team within the building, between the blaster fire and the smoke inhalation it wouldn't be long before everyone crumpled within. How long could they hold out just by using stun settings? There was no way of telling, but Valkren certainly didn't like their odds. The commander pulled himself to his feet as quickly as possible, pulling himself into cover before moving to return fire again. This time around he found a clean angle to fire his blaster, finding his mark on two of the advancing hostiles before they could reach the balcony. Their bodies jolted as the stun bolts slammed into their chests, before falling back into the snow.

Valk' quickly retreated back behind cover.

"Sir, the corporal has eyes on what he believes to be the enemy sniper!" This communication came from one of the rangers upstairs, more than likely whoever was closest to their marksman due to him not possessing a helmet anymore.

"I need confirmation on that one kid, if we're going to take a possible lethal approach to just one of these people we need to be sure it's worth it. Hold the round, get confirmation if he sees him or not," Valkren was cut short in his transmission upstairs as a bolt singed the top of the cover he was using. After being forced to a lower position Valkren came out swinging again, lifting his weapon overhead and firing a quick burst of rounds to keep the enemies at bay.

Across from him a ranger stood up from behind the bar. With a quick flash from his Ancile shield he'd be back in the middle of the room, hoping to provide cover as the now partially-armored dignitaries made their move further downstairs. The full body of a katarn clad ranger was a big enough target for the ranger to draw fire.

A sniper certainly took notice. The first charged round slammed into the shield, actually forcing the soldier to take a step back and secure his footing. The second round actually caused the shield to fail, the blaster bolt finding its way to his shoulder plate. The force required to make it through the shield meant the bolt was now weaker, causing it to sheer off the side of the ranger's shoulder plate and ricochet into the ceiling.

This knocked him directly onto his rear plating, prompting the commander to come crawling to his rescue. Valkren honestly considered letting the ranger find his own cover as it seemed that he would be safer the lower to the ground he was. If the ranger was still conscious on his back he'd probably just be able to see the red streaks of bolts wizzing above him. Valkren crawled around the ranger, letting his rifle hang from his sling as he used both arms to hook his comrade underneath his own shoulders. Valk' then began kicking his boots against the ground to slide the pair back behind the bar so they could assess the hit.

As the commander set his ally's back up against the bar, letting the rest of the rangers cover the dignitaries descent, he'd send a transmission back upstairs.

"Specialist Young, please tell me we're not alone out here!" He'd say this just as the presumed injured ranger gave him the 'thumbs up,' causing Valkren to give him a slap on his good shoulder plate as an affirmation to get back into the fight.

"Negative sir! Allied QRF is inbound, ETA unknown! We lost contact due to the storm before we could give them our full position. They know its situation hot, sir." Specialist Young's voice cut out, and the noise was replaced with blaster fire and crackling embers. Valkren began to move again to his previous position, not thinking to respond to his specialist's update until he reached his own 'foxhole' in this pathetic excuse for a firefight.

"We need an update on the priorities! Are they all secure?" The commander shouted this over the group channel, hoping whatever Jedi and security were on the job had already assured of the dignitaries safety. The rest of the rangers wouldn't move until he was sure everyone else had already made their moves.

---------------------​

In orbit of Garos IV
Quick Reaction Force: 'Raider'

The sound of firearms loading and heavy plating shifting filled in the inside bay of an unmarked Luna transport. The rangers on board all sported the same grey and blue camouflaged katarn plating, symbolizing the unit that the soldiers 'ran' with. In this case, they were all a part of the QRF team, 'the radama raiders.' The majority of operators that made up this team used to be Valkren's own team, but now they were all fresh officers and enlisted hand-picked from different teams to provide the best chance of a successful rescue.

That was their mission after-all, quick reaction and search and rescue. Now they had new orders.

"Sir. Transmission from Guardian two, seems like negotiations must not have panned out so well.." A ranger transferred the most recently learned information from himself to the commanding officer.

"What's our ETA to the general area of the transmission?" Lieutenant Konrad Harris, the teams new CO responded as he fit a fresh shoulder plate overtop his tactical webbing. Most of the QRF was now prepared as the pilot began to take them into atmo.

"Fifteen mikes, maybe ten if we find their location fast sir."

"I'm not sure if they even have ten."

[member="Diana McClaine"] | [member="Kresslyn Cantor"] | [member="Mig Gred"]​

 

[Tulan Kor]

In orbit of Garos IV

Quick Reaction Force: 'Raider'
Dorn Company Attachment: 'Midget'

Tulan stood up, clad in fatigues and a high-cut helmet with goggles that provided both night vision and thermal imagery at the top of his helmet. He was loading an RS16, a weapon noted for it's hard-hitting nature... and the fact it was a caseless weapon for a covert ops unit. As the senior enlisted advisor to Task Force Raider and now a Gunnery Sergeant in the Rangers, Tulan was damn near high up on the food chain. From assassin, black marker Sith throat slitter, to certified good guy Silver Jedi Ranger- his impressive resume landed him a position on the strike team.

He buckled his helmet and sat down on the jump seat, the stock of his rifle hitting the deck of the ship.

He tapped his foot, glancing to the various Rangers that he didn't know. All he knew for sure that there were a plethora of Jedi and Rangers that needed his help, that needed to be pulled out of the fire.

And the Raiders were going to be the ones that were going to make sure it happened. He slipped his eye protection over his eyes, and cuffed his sleeves. Didn't worry about the weather. Didn't plan on sticking around long enough to worry about the cold. He was insulated enough. Not Katarn armor. Looked different than the other Rangers. Black-gray camo fatigues. Rolled sleeves. Ear protection, red eye protection. Gloves, slugthrower rifle and a disruptor pistol on his thigh. Stood out like a sore thumb.

A mean, short sore thumb.

 

[Jesrix Aevin]

Aevin had been far away in his Corvette, but he sped over at top speed as soon as he heard. He landed and went to the dig site. Darkness emanated from the place like ambient radiation. He closed his eyes. His vision turned blue. Looking through the Force, not his eyes, he entered the caves.

Exploring the caves led him to fellow Jedi. He called his lightsaber to his cybernetic hand, but did not ignite it. “Let me take the beasts. You two can handle the spirits.” Whether or not they knew him was down to reputation.

 

[Samatharis]

Negotiations
p5, [member="Mig Gred"] , [member="Tulan Kor"] , [member="Valkren Calderon"] , [member="Kresslyn Cantor"]


Diana took a knee and gave a look of surprise towards Mig's 'shocking' suggesting. She had no idea what he meant.

"Shocking? I mean... Why not?"

Then, as she finishing shrugging, the blonde looked towards the hall and tapped her wrist com to reply to Calderon,

"Dignitaries are secure downstairs. Main floors are ours."

She pressed her shoulders up against the half-destroyed bar. Wondering if the Rangers had plans to shift positions. Maybe fallback from upstairs. Mm. Then, she threw what was left of the empty fire extinguisher into the corner. The temperature was dropping quickly and she didn't mind the little fires that still gathered in puddles around the house. They wouldn't soon survive the wind.

"Welp." She sighed and hazarded a peak over the bar top, "I am totally, out of ideas."

Luckily.

The supremacists outside seemed to have stopped shooting for the moment...

***​

​

​

Outside. The house was surrounded.

Mostly by what small teams of gunmen remained conscious. The rest of the fields were littered with small patches of grass and numb, and unconscious soldiers. Some of them who had been shot closer to the house were actually smoking from their arctic vests. I guess stun blasters had gotten more powerful over the last century. Some of these guys seemed 'shocked' into a coma.

Meanwhile, the rest of the gunmen seemed to have secured good position outside, and nearer to, the house itself. So much so that any Ranger who dared show his helm was easily contained with burst fire from all directions. The delegation party had been pushed back into the deepest parts of the main rooms. Either secure in good cover or hidden from plain sight to the outside world. A world outside that was quickly become rather snowy and windy too.

Vast swaths of sky were now painted in flowing white tendrils of snow. The snowflakes pocketing the air and swirling easily around the white-garbed soldiers outside. Breath and fog grew heavier with every passing moment and the enemies sniper teams out in the trees where quickly noting the lack of good visibility. Thermal flares worked both ways, ya know. A few more minutes and the sniper teams wouldn't be able to shoot a red barn's broadside.

Yet.

Hunin's madness seemed unphased.

"Gav." The leader held a com-piece to his charred lips, "Gav. Give me a sitrep."

"Gav's been hit sir. He's unconscious at mid field. Malcom's team is holding the parameter of the house. The delegation is completely trapped sir. We have them."

Clark sighed with the news. He had been expecting the Jedi wizards to put up more of a fight. Alas. He hadn't even needed to use his trump card thus far. Pity.

"Malcom. This is Hunin. I'm relieving the marksman teams and bringing them up with the landspeeders to the house. When reinforcements arrive, storm the place."

"Yes sir." a nameless voice replied over the com.

"Oh. And Malcom."

"Sir?"

"Bring me my wife alive and in good condition. Understood."

"Yes sir. Awaiting reinforcements. Prepping for breach."

***​

​

Inside the house.

Diana peaked her head up from over the bar as the shots quickly quieted down to just controlled bursts at hard positions. The sniper fire ceased and the enemy advance seemed to have halted.

"Did they... Run out of steam?" She worried and hoped.

Then the sound of large snow vehicles could be heard against the ground and snow. Four-man arctic transports came rolling out of the treeline. Propelled by terrible razor-sharp tank tracks. Mulching and munching through the snow. Blast and Kriff it all. Reinforcements had arrived. And they were driving them right up to the smoldering front door.

Storm was moving in too. Most of the east treeline was becoming invisible because of dumping snowfall. The main floor of the house, windowless, was quickly tracking in snow from the wind.

Then Diana got a devilish'ly bad idea. She touched her com,

"I'm going to put out their flares. Don't cover me. I'll be right back."

She snuck to the corner of the room and peaked outside. Then made a strange hand waving motion towards somebody unseen outside. A body plunked over into the snow. Sleeping. Then Diana crawled on her belly and stopped near balcony railing. Another hand motion. Then another. More soldiers suddenly falling aimlessly asleep. Then she rolled over the side and was gone.

Over the course of the next few minutes. Advancing snowmobiles would hide her movements through the frothy wind. Slowly. The enemies bright red flares would wink out. One by one. Until only the billowing white wind remained. Just outside the broken windows.

Rangers would have Thermal Imaging again.

Just as the snowmobile getaway cars pulled up to the party and began off-loading another dozen or so warm bodies.

...

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Objective 2: Imperial Academy dig
Allies: [member="Makil Bandon"]

Now that the bubble encased her along with the four dark-sided foes, time was short to unleash a burst of Force Light onto them as she was riding the Horror's back. She began to think of how the bubble cut them off from the external sources of dark-sided energy inside the warehouse, and their intakes thereof, which became much more obvious. Here her brain worked much harder than she usually would, and she also thought of how much energy she would need to "poison" these opponents with the power of the light side; now that she was confident of having enough energy to do it, a very bright flash of light emanated from her body, and into the bubble; people from outside the bubble would see the entire bubble fill with light, and once the initial flash subsides, her nervous system became outwardly visible through her skin because there was enough light ichor that remained glued on it. Inside the large beast, its blood became corrosive upon contact with the light side and its blood vessels ruptured, while the ghosts began to dissolve the more they were exposed to Force-light. Now that the lifeless husk that used to be a beast shriveled as it fell on the ground, and the ghosts disappeared...

 

[Makil Bandon]

Makil struggled to hold the bubble for as long as possible, and it only became harder when [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] became a human lightbulb, he consecrated on the light of the force pushing out the thoughts of darkness that tried to claw it's way in.


When the monsters dissolved he held the bubble for a few more seconds before finally releasing it, he slumped forwards and steadied his breathing "i really need to gain strength in force bubble" he muttered then called over to Jessica "how fare you? And I'm assuming your supposed to glow"

 

[Mig Gred]

When [member="Diana McClaine"] gave the go ahead, the Mandalorian smiled under his helmet, and electricity began to arc in his fingers. He'd done this enough with slavers to know what to do. He focused, closing his eyes and sending out a blast of Force Lighting. It was on a very low charge, only enough to stun. He wasn't sure what the Jedi would thing, but hey. Mig was a grey. There were others in the SJO, so maybe it wasn't that surprising. Either way, it'd really surprise whoever was on the other end. He quickly ducked behind the bar when he was done, sighing a little.

"Maybe they'll think twice now." He then panted some. "Ironically trying to rein it in take more out of you than just letting loose." As he took a breath, Diana mentioned she was out of ideas. He chuckled some, holding his Trayc'kad in blaster mod.

"Jetii, that's usually when something either goes really right, or really wrong. Let's hope for the latter." It then started to get quiet. He looked out, curious as everything seemed to die down. Did they give up? Then the sound of tracks on snow caught his ear. Osik! Of course they didn't give yet! Then the crazy Jedi ran off to get rid of the flares, telling the others not to cover her. What was she thinking? Mig watched as flare after flare went out, nodding as he watched. The snowmobiles caught his eye though.

"The Jetii better hurry up, or I'm firing more stun bolts out, requested or not."

[member="Tulan Kor"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Kresslyn Cantor"]

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Objective 2: Imperial Academy dig
Allies: [member="Makil Bandon"]

"I have my share of headaches, and my energy is running a little low, but it's a bit bizarre that I'm turning into a human lightbulb; most other Force-light users don't turn into living glowsticks"

The bubble didn't last that long, but she was still radiating off the power of the Light through her Force-induced phosphorescence. She also used a lot of computational power to get the power in use so she only had a nominal amount of computational power left to get out of the warehouse, and hopefully cleanse part of the darkness on their way out. That way, the Togruta had a trajectory to get back into the warehouse that was less dark than the other possible paths to it, and collect the artifacts for further study at a later date.

 

[Makil Bandon]

Makil nodded at her response and slowly stood up, as he made his way outside be thought about what had happened, it all seemed to easy, surely that wasn't all there was and his thoughts came true when he stepped out of the cave and the archeologist lay dead, a lightsaber through the heart by the looks of it, he knelt next to the dead archeologist and said "it seems there is more afoot then we thought"

Tag [member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

 

[Victor Akani]

Objective: Honor. Service. Protection
Location: The Ki-Adi-Mundi, Orbit of Garvos IV
Wielding: Lightsaber, Armor

Denerian was truly amazed at the level of superiority the Silver Spacey had compared to anything he would have ever been able to scrounge up. And it impressed him. And so when the time came for him to show his worth, not only as a Jedi Master, but a talented Naval Tactican.

"Status Report" he asked kindly. He had grown accustomed to the crew, for they were diligent and courteous unlike his brothers.

"Admiral Sal, as you requested we have a standard operating Task Force of 25 Vessel in Capitol Ship Size. Each ship is organized into 5 separate Task Groups, two of which are under the direct command of yourself. We have no idea what happened on the planet nor do we have a clue on who did it " reported a Mon Calamari Commodore. The Mon Cal's eyes, rolled towards the glasteel window, eying a small medical cruiser that was stationed as the ships escort

"Then, with luck, we can ensure this planet never falls into the hands of the Sith" he said solemnly. Oh, how he hated the Sith

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Garos IV
Negotiations
Guardian Two
------------------------

Valkren felt a hint of relief in the frenzied chaos as he heard that the dignitaries had progressed safely into the lower levels of the building, probably narrowly missing any stray rounds that came their way. Suddenly, there was a lull in the fighting.

Aside from a ranger firing off a stray burst of stun bolts, the area remained quiet. The wind was the only thing audible.

"-the kark is that?"

After a quick glance above his cover, he'd see just what the rebels had planned. This was the assault.

A bolt skipped off of the windowframe, knocking up debris and snow alike forcing Valkren to retreat back into cover. His gut almost dropped, this was a bad situation. Not only were they cut off from whatever rescue team they had, but the opposition's assault team just got reinforced. Not to mention it'd only be a matter of time before those stunned could be ushered to a half-conscious state by their comrades if they had the proper means or training.

People are going to die here if we don't start shootin' for real

"-Don't cover me. I'll be right back." The words came from the Master Jedi, and before the commander could glance to the source she was already gone. Not to any surprise, the jedi's experience showed in her ability to maneuver through the approaching forces.

Before long, their thermal imaging could once again breath life into the rangers' eyes. With one quick movement, Valkren stepped above his cover almost out of the window entirely. His feet planted firmly into the snow that now provided a walkway into most of the windows, he'd shoulder his weapon and flip it to lethal quickly.

He didn't intend on killing anyone just yet though.

With a quick burst, he aimed for the tracks of one of the approaching transports. They looked brutal enough, maybe a few blaster bolts could do the trick?

Anything was worth a shot right now, and now they had somewhat of a fighting chance thanks to the Jedi.

Upstairs, the rangers began to make their way down towards the main and lower levels, with specialist young in the lead with his long-range communications set.

-----------​

Garos IV atmosphere.
Quick Reaction Force: Raider

Most if not all of the rangers apart of the QRF would be 'strapped in' to different locations in their Luna dropship while it broke atmo, soaring towards one of the supposed destinations.

"Looks like we've got a Dorn Company boy with us." Lieutenant Konrad Harris's voice boomed through the communications, his illuminated visor glanced from his own position in a seat to the Gunnery Sergeant.

"Good to have you here, Gunny. Ever been to Garos four?"

[member="Tulan Kor"] | [member="Diana McClaine"] | [member="Kresslyn Cantor"] | [member="Mig Gred"]​

 

[Lex Del'Fino]

Lex simply nodded in agreement with Ura's request and Seth's answer. It'd do the investigation no good if either of the two were put in a situation they couldn't handle, or were uncomfortable with, for no reason. As they approached he was already sifting through the various approaches he could take. With seven kills already under their belt, if this was a serial killer, by now they'd be confident, and wouldn't want to rush their next target. Then again, if his smuggling operation theory stuck, then the killer could still be looking to tie up any additional loose ends.

Either way, there was always a starting point for information,usually for restaurants, that meant bar. The barkeeps were often the eyes and ears of the establishment, chatting up regulars and keeping an eye on outsiders. They'd be the best bet when gathering relevant information.

As the trio entered the establishment, Lex watched as Seth made his way towards the booths, while he made a B-line towards the bar seats, taking a spot among a small gap of one or two stools. In mere moments he was approached by a older human waitress, who asked for his order. "A Corellian Omellete, fully loaded. And some coffee." Nodding, she went off to carry out the request, while the bar keep approached him. "Looking for anything stronger than caffeine, sir?" The Twi'lek asked.

"Usually I'd start with the drink, but I'm on the job, unfortunately. I'm investigating the string of killings that have been happening recently." Lex's tone was low, hushed. He didn't want any eavesdroppers to be able to hear the full extent of it. He went to his side, pulling out a datapad that displayed the seven victims on, and slide it to the barkeep. "Recognize any of them? What they ordered, who they talked to? Notice if anyone else was watching them?"

[member="Seth Brackson"], [member="Ura Iolar"]

 

[Samatharis]

​

Negotiations
p6, [member="Mig Gred"] , [member="Valkren Calderon"] , [member="Tulan Kor"] , [member="Kresslyn Cantor"]


Red lights across the open snow.

Valkren's blaster ripped into the snowmobiles treads with a splash of lightning. Blowing away part of the rail and causing the tracks to splinter apart into the snow. Spinning, spinning. The snowmobile skidded to a smoking stop at midfield.

A blast of white lightning departed the open windows as Mig slashed into an open trooper unit with the Force. Sending the whole cadre spiraling into the air in a shower of blue and deep white current. Bodies falling, flying, like the storm above.

Red lights flickering. Rage ensuing. Every trooper outside the house returned fire at Calderon and Mig. Pluming, plugging, exploding, shattering wood and glass. The whole facade seemed to sparkle and burn outward into the deep falling snow.

White storm above. Red storm below.

And they didn't stop shooting.

...


"Sir. ...Sorry sir, but we have incoming. Silver dropships headed this way. We're out of time."

Hunin sighed into the deep fog that gathered around him. The storm was falling too quickly. I suppose, he thought he'd have more time to deal with her. Finish this. Once and for all.

"Sir?"

Hunin turned and gave a wave. I guess sometimes, things change.

"Recall the men in the mountains. Everyone to the hidden ships. We're leaving."

"Aye sir." The white rebel nodded and quickly took his leave. Leaving Hunin alone with the tiny com device in his hand. Frowning,

"All units. This is Hunin. We are leaving immediately. Without the package. Enemy reinforcements enroute."

His heavy grey beard sighed again.

"Mount up. We're leaving."


...


Inside the house. Their world was burning.

Startled people cowered in the basement as renewed blaster fire raked the front of the house in pursuit of Calderon and Mig. Mounted rockets on the side of the snowmobiles took to the air and dashed open the top floors of the building. Crashing and smashing new portholes into every ceiling. Falling panels. Burning lights above. Cracking wood and the howl of the wind. Unassailable against the red storm rising. Like blaster fire from a thousand, thousand guns.

And then in a moment. It all stopped.

"Move it! Move it!"

Hushed cries from without the burning walls. The scrambling and scrapping of iron tracks and muddy boots.

The enemy was shifting.

"All Rangers." Came a soldier's voice, "Enemy force is pulling out. I repeat. Enemy force is pulling out."

But to what end? Small eyes flickered back and forth between the huddling masses. Cold sweat and shaken willpower. Hearts and minds. Slowly turning upward towards the billowing storm.

Was it over? Was it really, really over?


...


Hunin walked back to his landspeeder at a slow, plodding pace. Not yet defeated. Not yet the conqueror either. The tall white forest of Garos Four, rising all around. Then came an unfamiliar voice,

"Clark Hunin."

He stopped with one hand on his vessel. Turning his tired grey beard against the wind.

A blonde woman in the snow.


...


Outside the house. Everyone was gone. Nothing but wet tire tracks and a single, smoking husk of a broken snowmobile.

The door to the cellar opened up again and Calvin came stealthing his way out into the hall,

"Is it over?" He peaked around the hallway corner, "What... What happened?"

A single Ranger stood out in the open doorway. Freshly burning wood all around him. Snowflakes from afar gently descending upon his charred shoulder plates. With a red gleam from his helmet and press of a button on his belt. You could almost hear him smiling.

"All clear."

The Ranger turned and gave a smoldering thumbs up. Then pointed to the swirling skies above.

"Ha. Looks like they heard help was on the way."

Blue lights streaked against the stormy sky.

The Calvary had arrived.

"Thank God." Calvin sighed with a heavy heart. Walking out into the billowing storm that was a burning, folding, and nearly failing house. "Alright. Now let's get these people out of here. Before Clark changes his damned mind."


...


~ "Two Four. This is Silver Command." ~ Came the comm over the pilot's helm, ~ "Two Four. We have enemy forces on the ground retreating from the AO. They are heading mountainside into the storm and we'll lose tracking on them soon. Mission parameters remain unchanged. Friendlies are still holed up in the cabin, planetside. Save those delegates Two Four. We'll handle the getaways. Command out." ~

"Roger Command. Initiating landing." The pilot repeated aloud. "Raiders! We are search and rescue! The door is green in three, two, ..."

One.


...


Mary looked up into the sky as the Silver Dropships came screaming into the field. Surrounding by freezing delegates and backlit by a toppling, smoldering home. She looked alone.

"Okay people!" Calvin shouted over the snowfall, "Get aboard! Get aboard! We are leaving!"

Shuffling people and happy soldiers.

Mary pulled her blanket closer around her shoulders and turned back to the men still inside the house. Mig Gred. Kresslyn Cantor. Valkren Calderon. These men had saved their lives.

And they hadn't killed a soul.

"Sir! We've got unconscious rebels all over the place!"

"Raiders! Round em' up!"

"Come on sleepy head." A singular black helmed rebel was roused to his knees, "Time to wake up mister... Lieutenant Gaven eh? Well Gav. Looks like you're going to prison, for a very long time."

"Ugh. We're Hunin?"

"Who?"

Mary walked out towards the dropships as Team Raider secured the site. Then she stopped. And turned towards two ghosts at the far treeline falling. Barely visible against the storm.

"Clark?" She muttered.

Handcuffed, frostbitten, and sullen of face. Clark Hunin was marched past the treeline with Diana McClaine in tow.

"Clark!"

Calvin turned from his post at the rear of the dropship. Then his eyes just got a bit wider too, "...Oh. My. God."

He leapt from the dropship and rushed to meet Mary and the others out in the white fields of snow.

"Hello Mary." Clark sighed. His arms lashed at the wrists.

"Clark." Mary wanted to say. But Calvin beat her to it. "...Clark! You damned fool. You'll be hanged for this. Mark my words. You. And everyone responsible for this mess. When we get back to the Capitol..."

Diana raised her hand.

"He'll answer for every claim, Chairman. The Silver Jedi will see it so."

"No."

Mary startled the pair. Her eyes tearing up as she locked gaze with him. A broken, defeated, old man.

"He'll answer to me."

Clark took a deep, cold breath. Then squinted his frosty eyes,

"Where ever you go darlin'. Rain or shine. Snow or ash. In life. Or in death. You'll always belong to me."

Mary clenched her teeth and pulled her jacket closer. Calvin drew closer yet Diana touched his shoulder for calm. Still, Clark drew on,

"You and her both, Mary. ...You and her. Both."

"No Clark."

Mary brushed away a frozen tear and pulled her blanket closer.

"She'll always be free."

And then she shot him.

Because she loved her daughter more.


___

*ooc: wrap it up people! woot woot! Lasts posts yo.

 

[Kresslyn Cantor]

As I exited the basement of the former negotiations building, I heard something I hadn't heard in a while. No blaster fire. Just the chatter of the numerous Antarian Rangers back to their superiors. Apparently reinforcements had arrived and that was the driving force behind the terrorist group's evacuation. Moments before in the basement, it was pure chaos. When I tried to calm them all down, they panicked. I'm very glad that its finally over. As the rangers moved, I moved with them. It was time to collect the unmoving bodies that laid face down or face up in the snow. They weren't dead, just stunned.

That didn't mean it didn't hurt.

Groans of the ones that were stunned earlier filled the cold air as they were put into binders and rounded up by the rangers and other Jedi that had accompanied them on their mission.

More and more dropships lowered themselves to the surface, various fireteams of rangers pouring out of them and establishing a perimeter around their landing zones. Quickly, I turned and corralled the evacuees into the empty ships that were designated for their transport. They had medics on board just in case, but none had been injured.

"Well. I managed not to kill anyone. Probably forced a few reality checks though." I laughed at my own comment. There weren't any people around besides the Rebels, but in the distance two silhouettes formed. Two women and a main. It was the leader of the terrorist group. As I stood and kept my foot in one of the Rebel's backs, I watched as a red beam flashed across the air.

Whoever it was shot him.

There was officially one casualty. It was finally over.

After I finished grouping up the binded rebels and loading evacuees into two separate dropships, I boarded one of my own alongside a few Rangers and other Jedi, watching the door slide across my vision and feeling the dropship lift up off of the ground, out of the snow.

----
(OOC: Final Post)