Evacuation From Denon

[Cambria Zadira]

The outer ring of the spaceport was visible ahead. It was so close yet still so far. Cambria wouldn't feel like her job was done until the arranged transport took off with the slave refugees on it and made the jump to hyperspace… that is if she could get them to the waiting ship. There seemed to be a heavier presence of Starport Security as they entered the main building; more than usual for the SS. This was odd… Why were they, but then the answer was before her as they passed a holoscreen with the emergency broadcast streaming from the government. This was not good. There was definitely some turbulence in the Force, though her danger sense had not flared yet.

The Jedi Guardian even more quickly led her group around to a side service door that she had obtained the clearance code for and had used many times before instead of walking through the main terminal. The Twi'lek Jedi motioned for the slaves with her finger to be quiet, then she started to put in the code numbers...

"Hey you there… What are you doing here. That is a restricted area you are trying to get into. I need to see your identification, now!" a security guard yelled out as he approached the entrance door were the group was located in front of with his weapon at the ready.

Cambria turned slowly around to face the guard, then took a deep breath and drew upon the Force before she spoke. "You do not need to see our identification. We are not the fugitives you are looking for. Go about your business," the Jedi Knight said with an intent stare of her golden eyes and a subtle flick of her hand.

"I don't need to see your identification. You aren't the fugitives we are looking for. Go about your business," the security guard replied readily before he re-holstered his blaster pistol and walked away. Mind tricks only worked on the weak-minded... Luckily this man was.

The Rutian Twi'lek didn't wait to be told twice and reentered the security clearance code for the door. As soon as it swooshed open she ushered the refugee slaves through it, then closed it behind her. Docking Bay 29 was just around the corner now. The transport would be no doubt eager to lift asap being the government was going to close Denon airspace soon, if the powers to be hadn't already done that.

[member="Nicolas Thorne"] [member="Alexander Sannes"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Chek Zun"] [member="Commander Firestorm"] [member="Macharius Solaire"] [member="Jasper Varanin"]

 

[Commander Firestorm]

The Unbroken sent a com message down to the surface of Denon on an encrypted frequency targeting only Jedi and allied comlinks, "This is Commander Firestorm of the Unbroken to all allied units on the surface, if you are able to escape the surface of Denon, you are urged to either board the Atlas or Unbroken for extraction from the system. In the case that is not possible, leave the system as quickly as possible. Firestorm out." The Unbroken had started picking up the movement of planetary-surface batteries. Firestorm had decided that staying at his current distance from the planet would minimize the chance of the Unbroken taking fire, only planetary defense guns could fire at this range and from the surface scans none were aiming at the ship.

[member="Cambria Zadira"][member="Nicolas Thorne"][member="Alexander Sannes"][member="Valkren Calderon"][member="Chek Zun"][member="Macharius Solaire"][member="Jasper Varanin"]

 

[Miss Blonde]

Redacted

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Cambria Zadira"]
Docking Bay 29
Staging Area 9
Spaceport

Jasper popped the electronic lock on a rear service hatch. There, just as the sliced security camera indicated, were a blue Twi'lek and a whole ton of refugees.

"You Zadira? I'm Jasper Varanin. Got a modded Valkyrie ready to go. Uh, lockdown or desperate circumstances permitting. Come on, come on." He ushered the refugees through the door and into the nearest Valkyrie dropship. One of those could fit easily a hundred twenty soldiers. Cram people in, maybe twice that.

"Zadira - were you followed? Seen?"

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Docking Bay 29, Staging Area 9
Denon Spaceport
w/[member="Jasper Varanin"]

Cambria was glad to see that the refugee transport was indeed ready to go. Time was of the essence because the Jedi Knight felt the Force urging her and/or them to hurry.

The Rutian Twi'lek pushed back the hood of her bronze-colored cloak and let her lightly-tattooed twin brain tails uncoil from around her neck almost in a sensual way if one watched; the lekku straightening out behind her back afterwards with a single swoosh. Gold-speckled hazel eyes raised to look upon the dark-haried man as he ushered the refugees quickly into the drop-ship.

"Yes... I am Knight Cambria Zadira. You must be Mr. Varanin?" the blue-skinned Twi'lek replied with a greeting cant of her head, then added in follow up to his bigger question.

"We encountered one SS guard near the restricted entrance door. I was able to persuade him we were not fugitives and to let us be. For anyone else, I can not say," she said, then inquired while standing at the base of the boarding ramp.

"How close are we to departing? Have any of the others made it off planet yet?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Cambria Zadira"]
Bay 29, Staging Area 9
Denon Spaceport

He walked and talked, still ushering refugees through the door and into the dropship. In normal circumstances he would have found the Jedi distractingly attractive. Right now, his mind was entirely elsewhere.

"Okay, here's the thing. The Suravi loyalists, if that's what they are, have access to Republic comm grids. I've done some fiddling to keep them from eavesdropping, but we have to keep communications to a minimum or they'll triangulate our activity. And when I say minimum, I mean this boat's comm is cold. What that means is, we've got no idea how many have gotten away successfully. Don't even know for sure how many have launched. As for when we can launch... Between the loyalists' potential anti air capabilities and the Prime Minister declaring martial law, any takeoff is a risk. It's just that there's more risk in waiting. So this particular ship takes off as soon as your group is aboard. We'll just have to trust the pilot and the new chaff/flare gear.

"And by pilot, I mean you. Ours got nabbed."

 

[Commander Firestorm]

Firestorm sent a message after sensing a sign of distress in the force to the Atlas, "Unbroken to Atlas, this is Commander Firestorm, I have a made a change in plans, I am taking a modified LAAT/i gunship down to Docking Bay 29, Staging Area 9 to help the extraction." Firestorm then rushed down to the hangar and jumped into the gunship. The gunship then flew out of the hangar bay and down into the planet's atmosphere at a fast pace because of its modifications. The ship arrived at the space port and hovered just above the ground next to the dropship.

[member="Jasper Varanin"][member="Cambria Zadira"]

 

[John Ash]

Suravi Loyalists​

Commander Boor watched the screen from inside the commander center as the tactical map of Denon constantly changed with each new update. His orders were being fulfilled swiftly, yet not swiftly enough for him. He frowned slightly at the thought of how things should be going faster. He was thinking of issuing a new set of orders when the so-called "Prime Minister" of Denon, [member="Macharius Solaire"] , broadcast his measly message across the planet. Boor burst out into laughter as he listened. Martial law? Police? Armed forces? The fool believed he still had control of the situation here. This purge had been in the works for weeks. Those who were not loyal to the One True Ruler of the Republic could not stop those who saw the truth. The wheat was about to be separated from the chaff violently.

Commander Boor boomed out, " Have all of those loyal to the true cause within the police forces and local armed forces raise the banner of Suravi's Republic. Have them execute all who do not bow to the One True Ruler immediately. Send troops to execute the Prime Minister and all other members of the Parliament as well as any senators and diplomats. The time for peace is over. They have failed us for the last time!" He slammed a fist onto the counter in front of him as a wicked grin filled with blood lust smeared his face.

Reports began to flow in from all over. Several sightings of Jedi were chief among them. Commander Boor listened to them all as he quickly formulated a plan. He ordered after a moment, " Send a squad of veteran troopers to execute the ones suspected to be [member="Nicolas Thorne"] and [member="Cambria Zadira"] . I will not stand for even someone mistaken for a Jedi to remain alive. Any ship that is not already under a magnetic lock at the port needs to be now. Send all troops with rockets to the docks. If any ship even looks like it is going to take off then shoot it immediately. All gatherings of people that are not worshiping our One True Ruler Suravi that have more than three people need to be broken up with extreme prejudice. I do not care if people die during it either. That will just make better motivation for them to scurry into hiding like the rats they are."

Commander Boor looked back at the tactical map of the planet and scowled. He yelled as he threw one hand towards the projection, " And why are those two ships still operational?! Take them out now!"

********​

Troops began to scrambles as ordered by Commander Boor. The loyalists within the police force and armed forces began to execute those who were not as soon as the order was given, leaving little time for a reaction from them. Troops with rockets were rushing towards the docks as the troops there began to attack the crowds of people and move to lock the ships down with magnetic shackles. Teams of veteran soldiers went out hunting for all who seemed even close to Jedi. The government buildings and homes of government officials were being raided by loyalists and all politicians and diplomats executed on sight. A new group of three arrived onto the location that [member="Alexander Sannes"] was at and moved to reinforce their fellow loyalists. Anti-aircraft guns began to fire upon the two ships still above the planet as loyalist fighters and bombers began to soar up to attack them. Everything was becoming more and more chaotic as loyalists slipped deeper into zealous fervor.

OOC: Feel free to control the troops engaged with you. They are lambs to the slaughter or wolves amongst the flock, which ever option you prefer.

[member="Jasper Varanin"] [member="Commander Firestorm"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Chek Zun"]

 

[Alexander Sannes]

Alexander had been shocked and hit three times with batons thus far, and as far as he was concerned, someone was going to lose their head now.

Well, that was until more voices were heard, three more loyalists turning the corner and running towards their buddy with batons already drawn. Alexander considered his options, and after making sure that there was no one else in the area that could get hurt, he decided it was time to have a bit more fun. The staff was dropped and instead of retrieving it as it hit the ground, he grabbed at the metal tube still attached to the back of his belt. Slowly he withdrew that tube and with a press of a button a vibrant blue blade shot forth and Alexander smiled.

"I don't get to show many this, would you be so kind as to keep the secret?" He said with a smile, which was greeted with the new three reaching for blasters and the closest one taking a few steps back. "Or, you can try to shoot and beat me some more, either way, works."

Alexander rarely got to use his saber or stretch out his force abilities but now was as good a time as ever, sliding his body forward until he was within the range of the first man. Unlike a Jedi, he had no worries or hesitations when it came to killing someone, he was a warrior and senator, but this man did not deserve death, and Alexander chose to sheer off the end of the baton before slamming his hand into the man's face, a bit of force energy concentrated through his palm to send the man's head back and knock him out like a hammer blow to the temple.

That was only the first part and now with their buddy out of the way, the others started to fire at Alexander. These ones were putting others in danger and he couldn't take it easy with them like he did the others, letting his feet carry him to the side, narrowing their line of fire until finally putting them in some form of a row. His free hand struck out, knocking the first into the second while the third was able to get out of the way. That man was now the danger and a few more shots from him reminded Alexander of this fact, one almost grazing him and instead singing his clothing. This man would not continue for long, Alexander's body moving closer and with as much haste as he could, aiming to take off the front of the weapon with his blade before bring it back across and cutting at the wrist of the man, sending him falling back into the street in pain.

Now the other two remained, both back on their feet and trying to aim at him once more. Like the first, Alexander had no yearning to waste time as he charged into the first, running that man through but attempting to aim away from anything vital before pulling his blade back out and turning to deliver a kick to the second's hand, knocking the blaster free and placing his hand on the Loyalist's chest. After a split second the force was sent into the man's chest and shot him into the wall of a building, knocking him out cold the moment he struck it.

The whole exchange took fifteen seconds, and as his energy started to wane he became aware of how much blood was on his face from one of the whacks from the batons.

"Mother is going to kill me if these Loyalists don't beat her to it. And as for this..." He looked at one of the blasters, picking it up and clipping it to his belt before turning off the saber and doing the same with it. He still had to retrieve his staff but first this man needed medical attention.

Grabbing at his comlink, he set it for the local emergency and police services. "I need medical units at my location, some men got in a fight and are looking pretty bad. There are six of them... Sector five is the location." That was all he would say before running over and grabbing the staff, using it to steady himself before jumping up to one of the nearby roofs, eyes a bit blurry from a mixture of blood and that bump on his head.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Location: Denon, Evacuation Routes.

Sergeant Calderon and his team members sat in the shadows of the alleyways on the surface of Denon, watching as the refugees moved amongst their designated escape routes towards the Commerce Guild's ships. Valkren, O'Connor, Michaels, and Young were all in resting positions along the side of the alleyway, weapons at the ready in their ragged mix of civilian and warfighter clothing and kit. Watson and O'Riley were perched on their stomachs directly above the four men on the ground, providing overwatch from their roof position.

Suddenly, Sergeant Calderon perked up as a transmission came through his headset, from the NCO of Dagger team at the evacuation carriers.

"Sergeant Calderon! Dagger one, we've got Suravi loyalists coming in on the ships! We don't have the firepower to counter an entire army!"

Valkren pushed himself up from his resting position, lifting his left hand up to signal his team to get ready to move. As his team began to gather their kits and equipment, their team leader would be responding to the transmissions.

"Copy, Dagger One..Viper team will move to assist until we can relieve you. We'll have the Atlas send down a platoon of Directorate Marines aswell." Ofcourse, when Valkren stated this, he'd have no idea of the orbital guns now targeting the Atlas and the Unbroken.

"Copy that Saber One, we'll hold in there! Dagger one out!" Valkren could hear the echoes of blaster fire in the background of their transmission, this worried him. Mainly because it was the truth, the men and women trying to escape the clutches of Denon had nowhere near enough firepower on planet, or onboard the two ships that orbited the planet. They'd have to get the refugees to move faster, if that was even possible. The group of warfighters guarding the escape ships would only be the gunship piloted by [member="[/FONT]Commander Firestorm"] and a dozen soldiers in size with the men and women of Viper team now joining Dagger team.

"What's the plan, boss?" Watson stated as both him and O'Riley stepped down from the fire exit on the side of the building, readjusting their kits as they readied to move.

Valkren turned to his team, rolling his own shoulders as he felt the weight of his full gear press down on his body. "We move to [member="Nicolas Thorne"]'s location. As of new he's the CO of this operation. If he goes, the entire thing goes..He may not like it, but it's the way combat works."

"You know we'll probably run into a good portion of enemy combatants, right?" Specialist Young spoke up, their intel analyst and specialist, and also the youngest of the group.

"Too bad for them, right?" O'Connor mumbled, spinning his Z-6 rotary cannon one rotation around, just as a quick joke.

"I hear that, Sabers. Get evil boys, we're moving."

Valkren turned and began his jog toward Thorne's location, leading his six-man team out of the alleyway and across the street, a small holo-projection coming out of his headset and covering his right eye, acting as a make-shift GPS to Thorne's coordinates. Usually they're full suits and helmets would guide them right to any coordinates projected by allies, but without any of their armor, it made for a more dicey approach. The team crossed the next street over aswell, individual members crouching at every corner of every street to check for enemy forces and covering every man's crossing to the next position. They might not have had all of their gear, but they had their training.

"Thorne, we're on route to your position, how copy? We need to secure you and any other people you currently have in leadership positions." He stated as he crouched in cover, taking a peek around a corner three-blocks away from their previous position..Now only a block from Nicolas.

*****​

Location: In orbit of Denon

The directorate flight officer on board the Atlas shook his head as [member="Commander Firestorm"] took his own gunship down to the planet, leaving his own ship unattended. He opened up a frequency as the crewmembers of the Spewer-class assault ship began to move the ship inbetween the weapons of Denon and the Unbroken.

"This is joint-Republic-Directorate vessel, The Atlas. We're positioning ourself inbetween Denon and the Unbroken..Our advanced shield generators should hold out against the planet's weapons. We'll provide support for any ships leaving the planet, how co-"

The ship rocked slightly as a round from an orbital weapon slammed into the shielding of The Atlas, the round clearly meant for the Age-old ship that Firestorm previously commanded.

"Shields holding, Sir." One of the crew members spoke up. It was unclear how much firepower the planet truly had, and how much they could really hold.

[member="Commander Firestorm"] | [member="Jasper Varanin"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"] | [member="Alexander Sannes"] | [member="John Ash"] | [member="Nicolas Thorne"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Location Alderaan

How long had it been, how long had the Republic that she had been part of truly been gone. The twins were older now and she felt no different than the day they were born. Draco had a distinguished touch of gray, while she looked very much the same, her atrisian blood slowing her age she would look young for a time yet but sooner or later even signs of gray would show up in her hair.

Ana seemed to be twitching about something. "Faith I've had a couple of messages here that we have citizens reaching out from Denon seeking evacuation and requesting assistance." Ana would had long been with her had eventually married, Captain Lindsey. Faith had suspected but never pried. Their son was now training to take a place among the royal guard, perhaps one day he would be Laira's Captain, who knew. Anyhow on to the business at hand.

The main reason Faith had tried to get so many embassies across the galaxy was for things just like this. But they didn't have an embassy on Denon so this had to be coming through other channels.

"Find out who it Ana see if their families here are aware of their circumstances." Alderaanians in danger but Denon is a Republic world so what could be happening there that they would want to come home and use an unfamiliar channel to reach them. They did not have anyone in that sector she could call to talk to it seemed once she left the Republic that was it.

How far was Denon from Alderaan? She gave it some thought they did have a few pilots running about who needed some practice. hmmm

 

[Commander Firestorm]

The Unbroken's batteries opened up on the bombers and fighters ripping them to shreds when they got too close, the ship's heavy turbolasers targeted the orbital defense cannons firing on the ship and fired down upon them, sending large beams of energy slamming into the orbital defense cannons. The Unbroken took one hit from an orbital defense gun, but was absorbed by the ship's shield, leaving it relatively unphased by thr blast. Firestorm's gunship opened fire on the loyalists with rockets, energy beams and lasers sending many of them airborne as they were hit by the incoming projectiles, while the incoming blaster fire was just absorbed or ricocheted off the gunship's shields. The gunship's blast doors opened to let any troops or refugees who couldn't make it onto the dropship.

 

[Chek Zun]

(sorry for the wait on my post, on vacation so not a lot of time to post really, so feel free to npc the Commerce guild ships and crew.)

Just as Chek had predicted things were getting much much worse by the minute. It wasn't long before the events on the streets turned very sour. One moment people were evacuating and the next well chaos ensued. Before he could see it, Chek could hear blaster fire. "This is not good," Chek said looking around. His droid bodyguards now very much on alert status. "Sir what are your orders?" One of the droids responded their weapons now at a ready position. "We continue to follow the coordinates and meet up with friendly forces." The three picked up pace as they crossed another street corner to see some loyalist, roughly two, rounding up refugees for the slaughter, turning to see, Chek. "You there," They said pointing at Chek, "Looks like we may have another."

Chek looked towards his droids," What are you waiting for kill them!" With that a fire-fight started. "Roger-roger," The droids said raising their weapons and the loyalists doing the same. Then the blaster fighter began as the loyalists and the droids took aim. Chek himself took the time to hide as his droids did the same taking cover as they fired at the loyalists. The Presidente opened up his communicator, "This is Chek Zun speaking I have come under fire by loyalists, I am transmitting my coordinates support would be appreciated," He said looking back as the groups continued to fire upon one another.

It was at a time like this the Gossam began to regret life-choices. Like coming to an evacuating planet in person, rather just sending one of his employees instead. It was all about that appearance though, and if he made it out unscathed, he imagined this would be amazing press for himself. The Presidente of the Commerce Guild helps evacuate planet personally saves many refugees. He could see it already, but still the main thought on his mind was the fire-fight going on at the present moment.

Chek could see one of his droids grabbing a smoke and lobbing it a few feet forward allowing it to explode with a loud bang as smoke filled the air between the two groups. A problem more-so for organics. The droids on the other hand had a whole difference set of visionary being able to see in whatever spectrum the user programmed them to see.

[member="Commander Firestorm"]
[member="Faith Organa"]
[member="Valkren Calderon"]
[member="Alexander Sannes"]
[member="John Ash"]
[member="Jasper Varanin"]
[member="Cambria Zadira"]
[member="Nicolas Thorne"]
[member="Macharius Solaire"]

 

[H3xle]

::LOCATION::​

::Denon::​

​

Nicolas came out of the alley in time to see a trio of Suravi Loyalist's accosting a pair of Zabrak, a woman and what appeared to be her son. One guard had the boy, and the other two were holding the struggling woman. Nicolas stepped out into the street, taking everything in at a glance. Normally, he would start by demanding the surrender of the soldiers to Justice, but the soldiers had weapons, and the woman did not.

Instead, Nicolas held out his hand and telekinetically yanked the rifles and sidearms from the two guards holding the woman. As expected, they loosened their grip, and the Zabrak woman exploded into action. Acting purely on instinct, she began attacking one of the guards. Nicolas stepped up to the second one, his movements so graceful as to appear slow. His left foot snaked behind the guard's left leg, his arm snaked around the plasteel gorget, and he applied a quick turn of his hips, throwing the guard to the ground. A swift kick to the side of the head kept the guard down for a few moments as he turned to the guard holding the child.

"Thorne, we're on route to your position, how copy? We need to secure you and any other people you currently have in leadership positions."

"Activating my beacon, Saber One." He pressed a stud on his belt, activating a beacon that would transmit his coordinates to anyone who knew the frequency. He didn't have time to argue about securing him.

Nicolas stepped towards the guard, his face impassive. "Let the child go."

"Yo...yo..you're under arrest..." The guard stuttered, half looking at the guard Nicolas had taken down with the greatest of ease, and looking to the woman who had bludgeoned the other guard into a puddle, and now stood stalking towards him. Nicolas looked over his shoulder at the woman, then extended his sense towards her as he looked back at the guard. He channeled the peace and serenity he had worked so hard to keep at the center of all of his actions. The area seemed to grow a little brighter, colors sharper. The woman stood a little straighter, and took a full breath as she looked between Nicolas and the guard.

"No. You will let the child go, then walk away." He said as he pushed through the force and urged the guard to follow directions. Time stood still for a moment as the guard resisted, then set the child down and began to walk away. Nicolas was gentler when he stripped the weapons from that guard telekinetically. He deposited them in the street next to the pile of other, then walked to the living downed guard. He applied the guards own binders to him, and stripped away his helmet and communications gear before sitting him down against a building. The woman and her child had left while he did this, running towards the spaceport.

Nicolas waited for Saber One and his team to arrive. They would be able to help with the weapons, either to take them or render them useless, then help him ensure the ships were taking off well. In the mean time, Nicolas knelt beside the bound guard, and focused on his breathing.

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Republic Refugee Camp
Denon


Can you feel it?

Can you feel the hunger grow?

Rosa blinked, the bacta bandages in her hand forgotten.

“Master Gunn?”

Carly’s voice snapped her back to the present, the cathar’s ears twitching in her direction, eyes watching her inquisitively. Rosa’s only answer to the question was a slight shake of the head. Whatever was wrong, it was no good alarming the refugees. Remembering her duty she smiled at the blue twi’lek child in front of her, wrapping the bandage around a nasty cut on her forehead.

“There we go, Lily. You’ll be better in no time.”

“Thank you, Master Gunn.”

“You’re welcome, little one.” Rosa replied with a small chuckle, helping the girl of the table and seeing her out the tent. Carly slunk up to her elbow, bright orange eyes gazing expectantly. Rosa did not return her gaze, instead her eyes swept of the vast forest of tents that had been erected to support Republic refugees. To her, it didn't matter who they believed in, it only mattered that they were in need of help.

“Master Gunn?” Carly pressed again, finally drawing Rosa’s eyes to her. “What is it?”

“Let's turn on the comms and find out.”

A basic comms system rested in the corner of the medical tent Rosa had called home for the past few weeks. Crossing the tent she flicked it on. “Control, this is Nightingale One, do you copy?”

“Copy nightingale one.”

“What's the news?”

“In fighting between members of the republic. Some...nutjobs running around bludgeoning people who don't swear loyalty to the one true ruler. Their looking for Jedi too.”

Rosa exchanged glances with Carly. “How bad?”

Their was a long silence and Rosa felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. “Control? Do you copy? How bad is the fighting?”

“Nightingale One.” The voice was new, sharper and its tone was far from friendly. “I understand there is a Jedi in your midst.”

“You understand correctly.” Carly was shaking her head.

“Master Gunn, do not.” She hissed. Rosa ignored her and closed her eyes opening herself to the force. She winced slightly as the pain in the refugee camp sought to drown her, it she pushed beyond it, seeking the origin of the ripple in the force.

“You will surrender this Jedi, immediately.”

Fresh pain, sharps stabs of fear and the anguish of the dying and burning at the centre of it all was the hatred. She could feel it exploding all over the city and spaceport. She opened her eyes.

“I will, but you will have to explain to me what has happened first?”

“Retribution, nightingale. We loyal to the one true leader are rising all, over the planet seeking enemies of the One True Ruler Suravi"

Rosa straightened up and folded her arms, a frown deepening on her brow. “Carly, get word out to those who are not trying to leave, encourage them to keep their heads down and stay out of sight. You are here as a representative of the Boolon Foundation. Your loyalty lies with those in need. Keep your head down.”

“And you?” Carly’s eyebrows arched slightly.

Rosa leaned forward to respond to new ‘Control’.

“Your Jedi is inbound, Control. Nightingale out.”

Rosa tugged the aprons off her amidst protests from Carly. She dragged a small bag out from under the examination table and threw it over her shoulder. “Rosa, please, don't do this!”

“Carly, if I don't go there, they will come here. Besides which, you are perfectly capable of running things without me.” She pulled the lightsaber free from the contents of the bag and clipped it to her belt before taking the young catharsis shoulders in her hands. “Close your eyes, stop shouting for a moment and listen. What do you hear?”

Carly looked confused for a moment but as she obeyed Rosa's instruction, Rosa could feel the tension ease out of the cathar’s shoulders. Even in the few weeks Rosa has spent with Carly the girl had come on in leaps and bounds, able to reach into the force and settle her mind far quicker.

Eventually the girl opened her eyes, and Rosa found them filled with sadness. “It is so angry.” She whispered.

“Yes it is.” Rosa replied, equally as sad. “And it must be stopped.” She pulled the girl into a brief hug. “Force be with you, Carly. Keep practising, I'll be back as soon as I can.”

“Stay safe, Master Gunn."

 

[Stuart]

Mensa gazed upward, noticing the volley exchange between the Survai loyalist and the gunship. Sparks flickered in the sky like embers from a fire. The orbital gunship rained down blasts that sounded like thunder from the heavens. The low line skyline shifted a soft red hue over the commotion in the streets. A few Denon citizens bumped into him in the streets, some in fear over what was transpiring, some confused during the scuffle. Either way, their emotion roared viciously as they passed his proximity.

He approached a low lined building, which was one of the many where the Survai counter offensive was occurring. He focused, leapt once, twice, and clearing the roof on the third try. He drew his light saber from his obi sash, the air humming from the ignition of his blue crystal.

He saw upon the roof a group of four, one with a compact mobile rocket unit, the other three with heavy blasters. He could tell his presence was a surprise to them. His decision precise and calculated. He took a deep breathe as he raced in full sprint. He had tuned out the noise of outside. Ignored the range of emotions also. He was clear, only meditating on one thing: "There is no passion, there is serenity."

His saber jab pierced the shoulder of the one with the rocket, cauterizing the nerves in his shoulders as he shrieked in pain. His comrades react in kind, aiming their blasters toward him. Mensa stepped back, withdrawing his blade from the shoulder, realigning his feet for his next strike, a downward slap of his saber onto a now broke blaster while shuffling behind one of the Survai soldiers. There was a hesitation from the two as their own was now in between them and their target - the Jedi.

Mensa pushed the soldier into another, swiping away the other blaster away from the soldier. The soldier's eyes opened at the attack only to close with a jab thrust from Mensa. The attack repeated: withdraw, realign, slap, twist, strike. Once again: withdraw, realign, slap, twist, strike.

It was over. Mensa stood over the disabled bodies. They were breathing rapidly with pain and fear as Mensa retracted his blue saber. He became connected to the world again. Hearing the blaster fire in the distance along with screams. The plan was underway. Scenarios unfolding with extreme pace but the evacuation of the planet happening slower than he anticipated. He knew the next part of the plan - find Jedi Nicolas Thorne.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Out of the alleyway on the the opposite side of the street of Nicolas, appeared a group of rag tag warfighters, the mix of six rag-tag operators had a mix of weapons, all raised as they exited the alleyway, seemingly pointed at the Jedi that was titled Thorne. They had seemed almost hostile, if the leader of the group did not suddenly speak up. "Hold up! Friendlies!"

The soldier in the front who was wielding a Z-6 Rotary cannon, lowered the weapon and stepped aside after the order was issued, repeating the command soon after. "Friendlies!"

Sergeant Valkren Calderon pushed his way through his team, moving to the front of the group and readjusting his grip on his weapon. "Sir, Sergeant Calderon..Directorate Special forces and Joint Republic-Task force." He'd state before looking to the spare weapons and helmets that rested on the ground around him. "Looks like you've been handling yourself, then?"

His five other team-members made their way into select pieces of cover, their weapons trained on every direction of the street as Valkren moved to consult with Thorne. Saber team's NCO picked up the lone helmet with the communication's headset inside it, examining it as he spoke up. He figured the communications system would come in handy to know the movements of some of the enemies' movements if they could get into the frequency.

"O'Riley, collect the weapons, we might need them."

"Copy, sir."

Meanwhile, in orbit..The Atlas was taking direct fire from the planet's defense system. It's advanced shield generator holding out rather well, but the constant bombardment from Denon's orbital weapons would eventually do some work on the ship if it kept at it.

[member="Alexander Sannes"] | [member="Mensa Dak"] | [member="Rosa Gunn"] | [member="Nicolas Thorne"] | [member="Chek Zun"] | [member="Faith Organa"] | [member="John Ash"] | [member="Jasper Varanin"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"] | [member="Commander Firestorm"]

 

[Commander Firestorm]

The Unbroken's heavy turbolasers had disabled around 75% of the orbital defense guns firing on it and the Atlas. The Atlas seemed to be taking the brunt of the attack as it was in a lower orbit, only a few shots had hit the Unbroken, but it shields had held up to them cancelling out any damage they might have caused. Firestorm had loaded the gunship up with refugees and now flew them back up to the Unbroken. After unloading the refugees he contacted the Atlas, "Unbroken to Atlas, we need to get support on the ground, I think a few AT-TE walkers might help. Can you dock? I am taking the Unbroken out of range of those orbital defense guns." With that he raced to the bridge after escorting the refugees to the mess hall on the ship so they could settle down and recuperate. He pulled the Unbroken out range of the orbital defense guns and prepared the ship for docking and readied a few walker dropships for launch.

 

[Macharius Solaire]

"Prime Minister we have confirmation of the two factions. The Suravi Loyalists and a splinter group. We don't know their name, but their leader, a Jedi named [member="Nicolas Thorne"] sent you a message shortly after the broadcast." The aid handed Solaire a recorder to listen to Thorne's message.

"Summon Senator [member="Ayumi Pallopides"] to parliament under guard. If she is a Loyalist or Splinter Republican arrest her. If she will work with us then have her get on a diplomatic solution to this. Until we can get in contact and negotiate a cease fire I'm going out to clean house. Tell my deputy minister he is to hold the fort here. Allow inbound communications to all ministers but restrict outbound through my liaison officer." Solaire took off with his guard. In that time he listened to Thorne's message and was establishing contact with him to get a grasp on his situation.

Denon's military and police forces were fully mobilizing. Between them there were about a half billion men and women. Not including the droids. That was fairly average for a trillion soul world. Even after the reduction in the army since the war had ended. It was a substantial and powerful force with the experience to back it up. Both sides though had the same training of course, fought the same wars. The only outstanding differences were they might have Jedi backing them up. And Denon far outnumbered them.

Macharius was now in a gunship. Airspace was closed to civilian air traffic. He was fitted into his armor that his own company had made. Many other soldiers on Denon no longer wore Republican armor either. Even when they were still fighting the Sith they had carried this armor into battle. Their lives depending on it. Solaire trusted it enough to wear it. So it was good enough for anyone save a Mandalorian. The situation had changed since he was up though. Desertion in the ranks, or infiltration. The army would be more loyal than the police possibly. There would be a purge as they revealed themselves. Whether their commanders would arrest them or kill on site was at their own discretion. Operational authority and all.

"Contact established with Thorne. Your clear sir."

"Right." Macharius tapped the side of his helmet to connect with the comms channel. "Nicolas. This is Macharius. The Prime Minister. The situation out there is probably worse than you think. You're not the ones attacking us though. So I hope to work with you to resolve this. Appears to be a group calling themselves the Suvari Loyalists are our enemies. I can't have anyone subverting the government now. I'm duty bound to protect my world, even from Republicans. If I can count on you son. Tell me where you are and we'll get working on ending the fighting."

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Docking Bay 29, Staging Area 9
Denon Spaceport
w/[member="Jasper Varanin"]

"And by pilot, I mean you. Ours got nabbed."

Cambria didn't waste a moment thinking about the new situation because they had none to spare. "That was unfortunate indeed... Well then Mr. Varanin, best see that the refugees are secured. I do believe this may be a bumpy ride even with the Force on our side," she nodded with an acknowledging twitch of her lekku, then the Twi'lek Jedi spun on her booted heel and headed toward the cockpit.

Upon entering the cockpit, Cambria immediately slipped off her cloak, setting it aside, then sat down in the pilot's chair. It took only a few seconds to introduce herself to the foreign flight controls of the Valkyrie-class Heavy Dropship; an upgraded Mk. II. She flipped switches and pushed buttons quickly bringing the ship's systems online and not a moment too soon either as a squad of soldiers busted into the docking bay and began shooting; the commanding officer moving to activate the mag lock system from the control panel on the wall.

Cambria sent back a burst of covering fire with the anti-personal auto blasters from the cockpit as the dropship engines powered up, then she feathered the controls and lifted up on the repulser lifts. The planetary forces' attempt to keep them there had failed as the mag lock had not been initiated in time, but still the fleeing Republicans were not out of the woods yet. They would have to make it to their exit vector safely before the ship would be able to jump to light speed, which would be a challenge seeing how the Atlas and another seemingly friendly capital ship were being attacked in the higher atmosphere. The plan to slip out quietly without any incidents was well behind them now. The splintering Republicans would have to fight their way off Denon as the Loyalists weren't having any of it, or was there something more sinister behind it?

Valkyrie One shook as a solid hit from ground side anti-aircraft fire caught them as they cleared the spaceport. Good thing the Mk.II was built tough and had good shields. Cambria goosed the engines sending the heavy dropship jetting straight up and through the flak-filled lower atmosphere; hearing the four quad lasers going to work was, and wasn't from a certain point of view, music to her ears. The Jedi Ace quickly fell into the Force to help her fly the ship; able to anticipate when to juke and jive to avoid enemy fire coming in both from ground and air now, but it wasn't fool-proof...

A warning alert blared in the cockpit as a pair of heat-seeking missiles were locked onto the dropship and closing fast. "Mr. Varanin... Prepare to deploy the flares on my mark.... Mark!"

Spoiler

[member="Nicolas Thorne"] [member="Alexander Sannes"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Chek Zun"] [member="Commander Firestorm"] [member="Macharius Solaire"] [member="Rosa Gunn"]