Private Deals with the new powers

[Diarch Rellik]

Heading to Tipoca City. Diarchy approach to make a deal with the Kama Nu.​

The hangar was quiet, save for the whine of cooling turbines and the measured footsteps of two men approaching a waiting vessel. The Diarchy's war engine was at peace for now. Something he hoped this travel would help bolster.

Rellik's cloak stirred in the soft wind as he approached the shuttle. A sleek, retrofitted diplomatic craft designed more for precision than pageantry awaited them. It bore no markings beyond the Diarchy crest on its hull: restrained, elegant, fast. Appropriate for the trip ahead. Capable of quick hyperdrive jumps should they be forced to flee. Their journey would be through the Rishi Maze, one of the more complex of navigable space only connected by a small cord to the core worlds.

Which was why Merion Oreno would fly.

Rellik stopped at the foot of the ramp, studying him for a moment. The Chancellor of commerce and a mystique of sorts was one of the few higher level members of the Diarchy that Rellik had not met face to face yet. This was a great opportunity for the two to make better on their bond.

Ascending the ramp and moving through the small vassal, the Diarch took his seat in the co-pilot chair. As he heard Merion boarding behind him, he informed him exactly of their mission.

"Our contact on Kamino is Prime Cloner Kama Nu," Rellik said. "We're negotiating a force between one and five hundred thousand units. Enough to bolster our military in a way that can secure several avenues for the Diarchy. Special forces, naval officers to bolster the fleet, and leaders who we know will be loyal no matter what."

Kama Nu Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

How the actual shavvit Merion had wound up responsible for anything or anyone other than a small survey ship — including but not limited to the personal safety of a Diarch — was incomprehensible. He had the itch he got when he was about to bite off more than he could chew, get in over his head, stare down the barrel of his hundred-thousand-and-first death, and other metaphors.

He tried not to geek out when Diarch Rellik took the copilot seat. Like most of the Diarchy's younger elite, he'd seen certain recordings. Hell, he'd been there for the big academy duel with the critter/god that had possessed Laphisto. Rellik could bring the pyrotechnics pretty well.

"Understood, sir." Merion had finished preflight and then done all the checks over again. Now he sealed up the ship and they lifted off. "We'll be skipping along fragments of the Blood Trail and then using charts from the Mercy-Quill expedition to make the last hop to Kamino. Enough of it is charted, and enough disasters have happened in the area, we should have no issue getting there on time, Unknown Regions or no Unknown Regions."

The disaster part was a reference to the Central Isopter death cult's unique abilities, and the version of instinctive astrogation that he'd derived from them.

His pilot seat was modified for comfort. He settled deeper in as they came up through the clouds and saw stars.

"Sir, do you mind if I ask - with the way the Diarchy prioritizes quality of life, what will the clones' lives look like?"

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Kamino lay far beyond them behind twisted lanes and course corrections but the Diarch was reassured by Merions knowledge of the history before them. Now in full flight the conversation opened up and Rellik replied kindly.

"They'll be citizens. From birth. When they finish their military training, they'll be free to serve longer, or walk away. They'll have names, homes, pay, and votes. Their path starts in a barracks but it doesn't have to end there. I have learned first hand the futility of attempting to keep a clone from finding their own path."

He further added. "I read the logs. Cross-dimensional displacement. Vantasanth Leviathans. Half your charts bent in on themselves. And still, you brought the fleet home with data, trade goods, and intact morale. Quite an impressive group. You have done well to recognize their works. I am glad to have you with me now Merion."

For the flight before them, the Diarch seemed rather calm. Happy with the moment to speak to his new friend.

Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

"Thank you, sir, but I was really only peripheral to the Rishi Maze expedition. Still gives me a shiver to think of it, even though the Sundering Dawn crisis came so quickly after it and was so much worse."

The long-distance navicomputer flagged that it had finished its calculations. Merion double-checked their vector and touched the controls that sent the shuttle leaping to hyperspace. This was the first leg, and the shuttle's equipment coupled with strong recent charting work gave them good odds of landing exactly where they meant to land.

"And thank you for the explanation. I learned some time ago to always assume the Diarchy has a plan in mind. It's one of the factors that kept me here, frankly."

Rolling at +15 - Astrogation Laboratory, Astronomical Charts

 

[Merion Oreno]

Roll:

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Rellik's gaze lingered forward, then slowly drifted toward Merion. A moment passed. Something clicked, enough to make him frown faintly to himself.

"You weren't part of the expedition," he said at last. "I read the report. That was a slip of the mind I suppose."

He shook his head, eyes narrowing slightly not in irritation, but in introspective frustration. Organizing thought. Calibrating memory. The sort of dissonance that came from holding to much information at all times.

"My apologies," he added. "The Planeshift... has left gaps. For those few weeks, I was lost in space and time myself. Quite literally. When the galaxy started bending, I wasn't where I was meant to be. Still not sure where I was. Or when."

The cabin settled again into its hum. Hyperspace stretched on, coiled and ceaseless, and Rellik allowed himself a long breath before continuing.

"The Diarchy is fortunate to have someone like you, Merion. You make forming the plans easier. Perhaps without you here and now, we would not be able to seek this clone initiative. How did you start your journey as an explorer? or Navigator?"

The Diarch would take this opportunity to get to learn more about the man and there was no time like the present.

Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

"Oh, no trouble, sir, I was peripherally involved, I just can't take credit for that expedition. I'd like to lead one of my own someday. I mean, I've done plenty of connecting trips for the Chancellorate, got to help link up worlds here and there. This trip will be one of my longest. The data we get ought to give us a trade spine through a good...third of the Unknown Regions. The trouble's that everything keeps shifting on the hyperspace side. The Chiss name for the Unknown Regions is the Chaos."

He realized he was indulging in a tendency to ramble. Part of that came from resting his attention on the navicomputer and the Force. They were moving in earnest now. If Diarch Rellik had spent much time in hyperspace, really seeing hyperspace in ways most travellers tried to avoid, he might note that it looked different. More jagged, more frantic than normal.

"'I'm guessing you know who my family is." Or else security likely wouldn't have let this trip happen. Merion Oreno Varanin, Prince of Eshan, etc. "I had good tutors growing up, and Jedi-style instinctive astrogation was part of that, though I was never very good at it. When I was sixteen I joined the Cult of the Central Isopter - that's the robes and helmet I wear. We have some unique capabilities, like finding worlds where disasters have happened or are going to. It's a whole different kind of navigation, and it gives me my bearings. Where I am relative to this tragedy or that. It wound up being useful when the Planeshift started, and Lord Mecetti's speech inspired me to make more out of it than I had."

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Rellik leaned into the moment, saying nothing at first. Just listening. When Merion gave a pause Rellik did interject with a quick - "This will be my longest travel as well. I go site seeing from time to time and enjoy traveling the galaxy but this will be different without a doubt. I have never travelled outside of accustomed safe hyperlanes and using fake documents to get through customs or the law."

Rellik didn't need to look out the viewport to know something was off. He could feel it, even possibly showing some slight discomfort at the reality of the forces now on the ship. Hyperspace, the typically beautiful strings of colors that flooded safely from one entry point to an exit, were now something foreign. The usual linear force upon the front of the ship was now bumping and grinding along its exterior. A new experience for the sector leader.

Deciding to take his mind off of the existential dread that is the galaxy at large he continued the conversation. "I remember the robes. The helm. You were in the fourth balcony during the state emergency session, if I recall. The one where Mecetti and I made our vows before the Assembly to unite all powers from the people to the highest level of government. I must thank you for answering that call. You honor us with your aid in that time of crisis"

A faint smile touched his mouth. "You stood out." He gave a small laugh at his words. Not trying to be rude but recognizing the uniqueness of the man.

"The name Varanin was familiar, even before I saw your credentials. Quinn Varanin was one of the few people who gave the curtesy of coming to the Diarchy's grand declaration. It was an event long before your arrival where we announced ourselves as a major player in the galaxy. Are you two related by chance? I have never had the opportunity to meet her myself but have heard good things... even for a Sith."

There was no judgment behind the question. Only curiosity and the wanting of a man to talk about something while he distracted himself from the ominous travel around them.

Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

Pilot a Diarchy long-range transport like this for long enough and you'd get a good sense for how it handled in hyperspace. There was an unusual vibration in the decking, more of a gentle thrum than a rattle but unnerving anyway. Merion ran a diagnostic.

"My aunt, sir. My mother and her sisters aren't close, but I've always admired my aunts - from a safe distance. Dangerous people, my aunts."

The problem seemed to be the warp vortex stabilizer struggling to handle the different nature of the Unknown Regions.

"At our next reversion I need to retune the warp vortex stabilizer. It shouldn't take longer than a few minutes and it's a modification I can do inside the ship with the tools aboard. That should solve the vibration you might be feeling in the hull before it gets worse. It's the Unknown Regions. Most ships aren't built or calibrated for travel here."

Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Rellik gave a soft grunt of understanding half amusement, half empathy. "Ah dangerous family," he echoed. "I know the type."

"I'd appreciate the adjustment," he added, nodding once. "Its not often I feel myself at the whims of others or the galaxy as a whole. I am probably overreacting. I suppose I'm used to danger having a face. Something I can look in the eye before it tries to kill me. But I appreciate the sentiment and thought. Who knew a man like myself could get sea sick!"

He let the humor hang for a second, then softened his voice.

"I have heard that travelling without hyperspace is more treacherous than most believe. Unknown species, ravaging holes in space and random structures with no names to run into."

He glanced toward Merion, one brow slightly raised.

"Do you find comfort in the chaos of traversing new and exotic routes?

Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

"I find fulfilment in it that I haven't found elsewhere. When I got to the Silent Mirror pocket during the Sundering Dawn crisis, I had this premonition — way more than the vision that brought me there — that I was doing something that mattered, not to some ineffable universal nonsense but to people. Something they'd respect and appreciate if they ever found out about it. Even death cultists like a little affirmation."

The shuttle reverted. It was a beautiful patch of space at the fringes of a vast star-speckled amber nebula with veins of deep purple and maroon. The only sensor contact at any level of resolution was the expected nav beacon.

Unwilling to linger, Merion unbuckled and opened an access hatch just aft of the cockpit. The warp vortex stabilizer was deeper into the shuttle's circuitry, but portions of the system were accessible from here for maintenance and recalibration. He fitted a diagnostic block to it and started easing out the resonance with little grinding hums of uneasy machinery.

Speaking of unease...

"This shouldn't take long. Sir, do you mind if I ask — I was at the duels, I saw you fight Laphisto after he took down the Archon. The spirit or personality or...creature inside him — the thing that wiped him out — what was it?"


Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Rellik remained seated as the ship reverted. Letting Merion work as he needed and enjoying the sight of the star-speckled amber nebula and its beautifully woven veins. Truly the galaxy was wonderful thing to be admired. He was happy and appreciative of his pilot for giving him this experience. He turned in his chair to look at the man.

"Before I speak on that night within the crucible. I wish to let you know that you have my praise. I do appreciate you Merion. Here now, you are aiding me but beyond that. You have done a incomprehensible service to the Diarchy in regards to the crisis. Whills, even beyond the Diarchy. I can assure you if people knew of your exactly what you risked. They would appreciate and respect it. Do not doubt that my friend."

Now, to not let the silence of praise make this quarters awkward the Diarch continued.

"During the expedition to Kiev'ara, of which I believe was one of the first interactions between the Diarchy and yourself. We came across a temple that held the ancient gods of Laphisto's people. Within that temple we battled with the old gods. The one you saw that day at the Crucible. His name is Saurav'ix. The god of shadows, pride, and vengeance. One of the last divinities of a dead people. He and his brother, Dra'ko, tore each other apart trying to save Kiev'ara. Together they created the soul gems for all Kiev'aran's... Now both gods live within Laphisto's soul gem. Vying for power and peace."

He paused for a moment.

"Laphisto is strong, and I doubt Saurav'ix will surface again. If he does, just like how I defeated him on Kiev'ara, defeated him in the crucible, I will be there for my friend and defeat the god of darkness again."

Rellik stood up and took the spear off of his back. Taking it in his hand and walking close enough to Merion for him to hold it. "Take hold of my Spear, meet the Kiev'aran Warden. A man put into this spear and wielding by Suarav'ix. He is an honorable soul and has fought many battles with me."

If Merion placed his hand on the Diarch's spear he would hear, feel, and see the Warden. A Kiev'aran like Laphisto with bright orange/red hair and scales. It would introduce itself with a militant "Nice to meet you Sir, Oreno."

Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

Merion covered his discomfort about affirmation by tinkering with the warp vortex coils until he was fairly sure he'd calibrated them right. That done, he went back up to the pilot's cabin, too large to be a cockpit and too small to be a bridge, and took in Diarch Rellik 's story and spear. Upon taking hold he jolted at the sight of the Kiev'aran ghost. He was reminded of the list of classical ways to transcend death: anchoring to an artifact was as common as a location and maybe more common than body-stealing.

"I can't imagine living in a weapon," he told the ghost. "I suppose with the right carrier, it's job satisfaction, isn't it. Good to meet you too, Warden."

He let loose of the spear and sat back in the pilot's seat for the next jump. They'd hit this turbulence just past Ord Thoden. The next jump would run them to Orinackra, which Diarchy records called a Wild Space prison planet in ancient times. What the records didn't hold, but Merion was quietly privy to, was that Orinackra was home to a serious Diarchy intelligence facility.

Orinackra was a waypoint where he didn't plan to linger.

"Next past Orinackra," he said, "we'll have to skim past or through the Perann Nebula. Dangerous territory. Central Isopter death cultists, we witness and enjoy witnessing destruction, we respect it. Out in that nebula there's a group called the Sorcerers of Rhand who believe in a lot more than that. Causing destruction wihout limits kind of thing. People who get stronger by annihilation. Worse than Sith in their way. Real bastards."

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Rellik returned the spear to his back. Smirking and stating "Pretty unique history those Kiev'arans have." He returned to his seat.

At the mention of Orinackra, Rellik's brow tensed not in alarm, but recognition. He said nothing of the facility there. It was off limits to all but the most high level members of the Diarchy and housing the most hated criminals of their space. The world itself did not even belong in their space and if ever found would be completely annihilated.

He turned his head slightly toward Merion, studying the pilot.

"I have read and heard about your involvement with the Central Isotoper death cultists. If you would oblige me and tell me more about them from your personal experiance that would be very beneficial for my study."

There was an itch to hear about the evil things the Sorcerers of Rhand did but Rellik would leave that until Merion divulged more about his own experiances. Both were fascinating subjects but one of them involved the person next to him.

Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

The Diarchy Khopesh - the kind of ship Merion had used for most of his career here - shifted into hyperspace without that vibration. The recalibration had worked, probably. On the map display they shot past Orinackra and into the Unknown Regions proper. The vibration didn't recur.

"There was a Sith emperor once, my grandmother told me, who kept a slave with him whose role, during grand events, was to whisper in his ear: 'remember you will die.' That's an example of what the Cult of the Central Isopter calls the wisdom of the abyss. Pondering destruction unflinchingly reveals that death makes life more precious, and that beauty and awe can be found in sights and circumstances that our innate instincts don't lead us to recognize. At least that's how I understand it. Some of my fellow cultists just like seeing things blow up.

"What it's meant for me is...well, it was a way to get out of the Jedi/Sith dichotomy and out of the... let's say secularized version of their ways that I grew up with. The cult is old, pre-Gulag, maybe pre-Empire, and isn't an offshoot of the Jedi or Sith, it had its own origin. Its own abilities shaped by its own priorities. My people, the Echani, our approach to the Force has been totally controlled by the Jedi/Sith dichotomy forever. Joining the cult filled that gap for me. I'd imagine you can empathize. That's one of the reasons the Diarchy attracted me in the first place."

Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

"The wisdom of the abyss," Rellik mused softly. "A reminder long overdue. The old Sith and Jedi traditions put far too much stock in avoiding death at all costs. Immortality, soul transfer... I have no desire to become a shadow wandering the Force, dull and lost. Death is the necessary end. It gives weight to the choices we make, the causes we serve."

He turned his gaze back to Merion, a faint, approving smile crossing his lips.

"I respect that the Central Isopter cult has found a path beyond the binary. That kind of freedom is rare, and it is needed. The Diarchy is better for it, and I am glad you answered its call."

A long breath. Then a sharper note.

"Thank you for that education. I like to know as much as I can. What can you tell me of these sorcerers of Rhand? Furthermore, let me know when I should inform the Kaminoan leadership of our approach."

Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

The trip was a long one. Navigating the Unknown Regions took most people months; Merion, with good albeit fragmentary maps and solid skill at instinctive astrogation, could do it in days.

Over the course of those days they skirted the upper edge of the vast Perann Nebula, and Merion explained what he - through his grandparents' archives - knew of the Rhandites. How they worshipped destruction in the sense of wanting to create more of it as a top priority; how they used mass destruction to fuel certain abilities, including a power called Darksight that let them see the future in great detail and sometimes even control it; how their roots stretched back much farther than the Jedi or Sith, a hundred thousand years, to a death cult called the Knell of Muspilli and an artifact called the Taurannik Codex.

"Or that's how it's believed," he told Diarch Rellik in summary as they left the nebula behind. "I've gone through the oldest Central Isopter records - we keep excellent records - and I think there's a chance we're descended from the Knell of Muspilli too, some other scattered fragment or inheritor at some point after the Murshantre extinction. I can't prove it but it would fit the...let's say scope of cult records and the fact that we're not descended from the Sith or Jedi like so many other traditions. There are very few Force traditions older than the Sith way, which is believed to be almost forty thousand years old. It would be nice to be one of them."

They were less than a day from Kamino at this point, and the Unknown Regions' distortions had cleared enough to call ahead; Merion notified Rellik of this.

 

[Diarch Rellik]

The journey had been an interesting one. It was fascinating to learn more about Merion, the Isotoper death cultists, and finally the Rhandites. As they conversed Rellik was having the Network send him over information on the Knell of Muspilli and the Taurannik Codex. Being a good student to his new friend and doing his best to hear and study everything they had spoken on. It was incredible to travel that far into the past in regards to knowledge. How easily the urge to look into the apocalyptical deities from beyond the gap sounded. Yet, the Diarch knew better than to think of such a thing on a whimsy.

"What an exciting conversation. I have much more reading to do. Its a topic that is quite interesting so thank you for sharing all of that with me Merion."

Now that they were a day out from Kamino the Diarch reached out to their contact for procurement of the cloning program.

Kama Nu "This is Diarch Rellik to Scientist Kama Nu. We are to be arriving at Kamino some time tomorrow. We look forward to this meeting and thank you for your time."

Rellik turned to Merion after sending the message.

"Lets hope this goes well."

Merion Oreno Kama Nu