Dominion Fallen World | First Order Dominion of Najarka

[Renata Westaway]

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Spoiler: Description & Objectives

Continuing its role as regional police and problem solvers, the First Order has been called on once again to help a world under threat, this time from the world itself. Najarka is a hardscrabble world, dominated by glaciers on most of its surface, save for a thin band around the equator, roughly a quarter of the planet’s land, that is temperate. The planet is far from the system’s sun, which means it is unable to collect enough solar energy to be self-sufficient. Until now, it relied upon geothermal energy to sustain life on the planet. But troubling survey results indicate that this source of energy is beginning to wane, which could result in the planet becoming entirely uninhabitable -- not just for the settlers there, but for the diverse array of flora and fauna that calls Najarka home. Meanwhile, the locals report strange lights and light starship traffic in the proximity of the old Imperial Biological Research center. The First Order must secure the facility and ensure that any old biological data does not fall into the wrong hands. In return for the First Order’s aid, the ruling council of Najarka has agreed to join us.

Najarka is dying. If the mysterious failure of the geothermal energy that allows it to sustain itself, the planet will be unable to host life. Everyone and everything left on the world will die a painful, frigid death. The First Order has no intention of letting that happen. The First Order’s best minds must investigate the cause of the failure and restore it to operational status, preferably before those that call Najarka home freeze to death. Meanwhile, the First Order can deliver and set up fusion generators and other supplies to provide a supplement [Government, Armed Forces, Knights, Open] Proposed solution (to be discovered through roleplay): the people who have been occupying the Imperial Complex tried to reactivate the geothermal feed to that area, but botched the job. The damage allowed for the infiltration of Najarka’s wilderbeasts, drawn by the warmth of the geothermal works, fall into the machinery and die, gumming up the works and causing shutdowns.​

The Imperial Biological Research Center on Najarka is part of a massive facility, the Imperial Complex of Najarka, long thought abandoned due to the Najarkan wilderbeast’s tendency to eat stormtroopers as a result of their inability to distinguish their white armor from the fur of their natural prey, the Kichicolia. However, recent reports have indicated that light starship traffic has been spotted in the vicinity of the Imperial Complex, and occasional lights and noises have the locals concerned that pirates or smugglers are using the center as a base of operations. Investigate the facility, secure any dangerous information, and determine what is causing the commotion. [Starfighters, Armed Forces, SOCOM, Knights, Open]​

While others in the First Order are seeking to prevent a catastrophe, others have been tasked with preserving the species native to Najarka in case the worst should happen. Help to track, collect, wrangle, catalog, and evacuate several breeding pairs of Najarka’s fauna, as well as samples of its fauna and any historically or culturally significant records, to ensure that if the world falls, it is not an extinction-level event. [Open]​

The forests and glaciers of Najarka are full of danger, excitement, and opportunity. What will you find there to explore? [Bring Your Own Objective]

Renata Westaway and Frieda stood in the hushed command center of FIV Promise, the Chandrilan Class I Corvette that the Refugee Council had purchased at auction from a shipbreakers outfit in the mid-rim. The First Order Corps of Imperial Engineers had set about retrofitting her to suit her new role as mobile headquarters for the First Order's Refugee Council and traveling refugee camp. The ship's luxury cabins had been broken down into small but functional, tidy, and private berths, expanding the capacity. Other facilities had been adjusted or removed, giving more space for offices, communications suites, classrooms, and storage. Now, she was out for her maiden run, although her first stop was dual purpose. The Promise was hurtling through lightspeed towards Najarka, a world on the First Order's borders. The planet was facing a crisis; a failure of their geothermal energy system was about to leave the world on a slow path to death. It was too far from its sun to sustain life without the geothermal energy, and though the First Order could provide generators, they were too costly to run in the long term.

They would either need to repair whatever was ailing the geothermal plant, or evacuate the planet.

But Renata had hope. The First Order was a nation of problem solvers. They had the capacity to evacuate and they would, if necessary, but it was more likely that they would solve the issue and allow everyone to stay. Not least of all because Renata had something in mind. Between she and Frieda, a blue-tinged holomap of the Imperial Complex of Najarka stood, rotating slowly. "It is ideal," Renata said quietly. "Plenty of space for refugees. Infrastructure already in place. It will need some... zhushing up," she said vaguely. "Repairs to the buildings likely, and a thorough cleaning, but after that. We could put hundreds there. It could be the refugees' gateway to the First Order."

The blonde administrator sighed softly. Frieda thought she looked like a prospective mother gazing at a sonogram. On the one hand it was a little much; Frieda didn't want Westaway to get her hopes up only to have them dashed. On the other, it was promising to see her throw herself into her work this way. The refugees were in good hands as far as her intentions were concerned. "What if the armed forces want the facility? It'd be ideal for them, too," said Frieda cautiously.

"Yes," said Renata. "It wouldn't surprise me. Hopefully it won't be an issue; the entire First Order understands that we need to do our bit about the refugees. Hpoefully we'll all shake hands and part ways happy. But if it goes badly, you know what they say: possession is nine-tenths of the law. I'm going to be there and I can't imagine they'd remove me by force. But you never know. Perhaps they'll do us all a favor and end it all."

"Good Lord, Renata," said an exasperated Frieda.

"Better get down to the shuttle," said Renata. "I don't want to be late for our rendezvous with our military friends. Stay here and keep me posted."

Ana-Sera Beliq | Phoenix Edorath | Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Audrey Saint George]

"I'm afraid xeniobiology isn't really my thing," Audrey was telling the pilot of the bulk cargo transport as it streaked across the stars towards Najarka. "But I think it's a jolly good idea, don't you? We have the technology to make extinction a thing of the past. With how unpredictable everything is these days -- even when you don't have people intentionally trying to exterminate species, like the Bryn'adul -- I mean, just look at Alpinn. Very nearly obliterated by an asteroid, and what then? An entire biome lost, an entire planet of indigenous species that no one thought important enough to catalog and save, gone forever."

The pilot, whose face was mostly hidden by the goggles, made a non-committal grunt, which Audrey took as an encouragement to go on, which she did with her usual toothy enthusiasm.

"Now, would it surprise you to know that we were not the first to have this idea regarding the very world in question, Najarka?" She beamed at him, and when he didn't reply, she went on: "Well, it certainly surprised me! During my research, I was able to connect to several libraries around the galaxy -- I do love a library, don't you? There's something about the smell of books and -- oh where was I? Of course -- my research. I discovered that Palpatine himself was in possession of not one but several breeding pairs of a primate native to Najarka. They were considered quite exotic, I suppose, and you can see why. Aren't they gorgeous?"

She held up a photo on her datapad. The pilot turned his head to look at it briefly, then nodded curtly. "Although some of the ones that Palpatine had were not treated very well," Audrey went on, frowning. "Not that you'd expect anything different from him. But apparently he had the vocal cords of the primates removed, so as to avoid disturbing his guests. You'd think if that were a concern they'd just... leave them here, right? Some people," she said huffily, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Thankfully our intentions are pure," she said, a tinge of pride in her voice. "They'll have the best of care, the very best -- "

"You need to strap into your seat," the pilot said forcefully, hooking a thumb back towards the small passenger compartment. "We're landing."

"Oh, of course. Jolly good," said Audrey. She scrambled back into the compartment and pulled her crash webbing around her carefully. What a terribly nice man to be so interested in the project, she thought to herself, completely oblivious to the pilot's obvious relief at finally being left alone.

Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

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Tanileu was dressed in her black plastoid armor, weapon checked and ready there were only two other members of her unit with her for the assignment. They'd be working with a few independent operators and keeping a few government officials from ending up dead. The remote location didn't exactly have a landing pad and there wasn't much in the way of a landing signal either. Shuttles bound their way would have to link up on comms and find a clear landing zone on their own. Locals are wondering if the recent activity is a sign of piracy or something else. Tanileu while waiting for the rest of the team to link up, studied the map and the surrounding area. ​

Her datapad lit up in a variety of blue hues as she used one hand to push her way around the 2-D map. By now the young Storm Commando Operative had gotten used to being flung about Wild Space from one mission to another. Less nervous now, and more anxious to get the job done and over with. The Imperial Complex was massive and could certainly work for either civilian or military use, perhaps both if the First Order could fix the geothermal systems. "Heads up," one of her teammates mentioned as he gestured toward the sky, shuttle inbound marked as Westaway's. "Now we just wait for our other friends and then we head out, check your gear, make sure you're good," Tanileu ordered as she turned the datapad off. ​

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Renata Westaway | Ana-Sera Beliq | Phoenix Edorath ​

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Dr. Vernice Chrisholm and her assistant Ivor Bingley had elected to join Dr. Audrey St. George on Najarka. Naturally, neither she nor Ivor knew much about xenobiology but she had been told that they were there more to collect rather than study. Dr. Chrisholm would arrive by personal shuttle, her pilot a droid that had been with the family for decades at this point. They were dressed properly for the adventure something to keep air flowing and insects away. "Now once we land we're to meet with Doctor St. George, we worked with her on Baralou."​

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"Yes ma'am," confirmed Ivor.​

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"Now," began Vernice, "should any of the animals get out of hand, use this."​

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She handed him a tranquilizer gun, "the darts are here." She gestured to a box beside Ivor, "there's enough in there to bring down even the unruliest of rancors." Vernice herself packed a scatterblaster and a blaster pistol, just in case. "One can never be careful enough." ​

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Ivor nodded in agreement and remarked, "never too careful ma'am, but our hope is to save the creatures."​

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"Oh yes you're right," she realized and set the blaster to stun and set the scatterblaster aside in favor of a tranquilizer gun. ​

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The droid indicated that they were landing at the predetermined coordinates. The pair loaded up their gear and prepared to disembark the shuttle.​

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Audrey Saint George ​

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[Bellam Malhan]

Resurgent Narrative || Caz Ozzel

Forests. Ice. Forests.... Ice. Always one or the other. Force, but it would be nice to have to assault something like the galaxy's most pristine beach, wherein the objective was to get absolutely trashed at the bar.

Bellam lowered his magnobinoculars, the old Imperial Complex down below them no longer worth studying. Nearby, he knew, there was infantry. But they were being held up waiting for the brass. "Look alive, boys." He said into his helmet mic, keeping it tuned to the internal communications for the tank. "Orders are to recce and secure the facility." He lifted the binocs again, wondering if they could see the tanks in the distance or not.

"...and there was an addendum." He couldn't keep the chuckle from his voice. A shuttle made him pause, but the Imperial markings told him it wasn't his concern. That would be the brass.

"And I quote 'Moff Westaway requests the facilities not be shelled if at all possible.' " Which, really, just ruined the whole point of bringing tanks. "Which sounds an awful lot like we're going to have to just run them over."​

 

[Ana-Sera Beliq]

Tag: Renata Westaway | Resurgent Narrative | Bellam Malhan | Caz Ozzel
Gear: Light Armor | IR-5 | Enforcer | Vibrodaggers | Tehk'la Blade
Muse Soundtrack: Sabaton "Seven Pillars of Wisdom"​

If there was one thing to be said for her last assignment, it was that it had at least taken place on a much warmer planet. This ridiculous and entirely preposterous level of cold was offensive to every single one of her senses, and it had her making minute adjustments to her body in an effort to reduce the cold she felt. Not that it was working, granted, but it gave Ana something to concentrate on as they stood waiting for Moff Westaway's shuttle to land.​

At least her assignment had ended in a satisfactory manner. Well, for the First Order it had, anyway. For the slaver ring trading in alien species seeking asylum in First Order space? It had ended...poorly. She'd spent months taking them apart from the inside and saving everyone that she could, though some of the things Ana had witnessed would stick with her for a very long time. The agent was thankful she didn't have much downtime to dwell on it before she was called to lend a hand on Najarka.​

She sighed quietly, fingers coursing over the weapons strapped visibly to her lightly armored frame. There was little need to hide the armaments as a Shi'ido could within their own flesh, and it did her heart good to be able to wear her gear openly with the First Order emblem etched neatly into the armor. It wasn't often an agent like her was able to do it, and she treasured the times she could wear her home colors in the open. Canting her head to the side, she strode over to meet the storm commandos she'd be working with, offering a polite nod to Tanileu, whom she knew by reputation, and a bright smile for the emerald skinned soldier who joined them shortly afterwards.​

"Phoenix! You were still wearing purple last time I saw you! Thank the balance you came to your senses. It's damn good to see you." Ana-Sera added cheerfully, clasping the commando's outstretched hand and pulling the taller woman in for the briefest of hugs. "We've got to catch up after this...you've got to have some good stories."​

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[Phoenix Edorath]

Tag: Renata Westaway | Resurgent Narrative | Bellam Malhan | Caz Ozzel
Gear: Armor | DC-17m | DC-15s | Tactical Knives
Muse Soundtrack: Sabaton “To Hell And Back”​

There was something to be said for being inured to the cold. Not immune to it by any stretch of the imagination, but accustomed to it through both training and repeated exposure. She'd even had some minor adjustments made to her armor for this particular mission, adding a thermal lining that made her that much more comfortable standing in the open beside Tanileu as she was.​

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The staging area was well organized as always, with almost every branch of the First Order represented in some form or another, neatly and securely arranged. The shuttle flying in overhead was spared a glance as it aimed for the landing area set further back. With luck, it contained the Moff herself and they could shortly get this mission underway. Phoenix tugged the datapad out of it's pocket and flicked the screen on with a stylus, loathe as she was to take off her gloves.​

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The Captain frowned at the meager amount of data regarding the current squatters in the former Imperial Complex. There was nothing on their numbers and armaments, though there were some decently well educated guesses given those familiar with the planet and illicit activities withing the rest of the system and sector. What they did have was detailed schematics and layouts of the complex itself. Entrances, exits, windows, hallways, even down to the composition of the construction materials in case they needed to go through something the hard way.​

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Which, she was told, Moff Westaway had specifically requested they not do.​

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Something Phoenix understood, but was still disappointed by. None of her larger explosive toys would be coming along on this mission, though they did have the addition of tanks as security measure. Casting a glance to the tanks and their crews, some of which were tucked inside their vehicles for comfort, she was looking for a particular armored form before a petite brunette interrupted her.​

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"Ana! Holy hells, girl, it's good to see you. And yes, I found my senses several years ago. It's a long story...will have to tell you over drinks when we get back." Phoenix grinned, returned the brief hug before pulling back and assuming a more proper stance once more. "Good to have you on this op, Agent."​

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"Thank you, Captain."​

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The commando winked as she returned her gaze to the datapad, taking one last glance over the schematics she'd already memorized on the trip over. Score one for genetic manipulation and the impeccably detailed cloning process that created her, she mused.​

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[Resurgent Narrative]

CD thought they had a pretty nice assignment this time around, but then they said no shelling. Supposed he'd just keep watch on all the other sensor stuff inside the tank. "S-s-supp-pose that mak-kes sense," remarked the gunner as he got a glance at the instruments. "R-reckon it'll be a new base or somethin'?" He asked, but not to either of the other occupants in particular rather just as a wandering thought that he didn't keep to himself.

He was grateful that his Force-abilities were one less thing to worry about, a really nice lady by the name of Kassandra Distorith gave him a new fancy wristwatch it was supposed to subdue his connection to the Force. The young man's mind drifted as he took care of the tank's other gauges, watching them carefully. CD's thoughts went to the book he'd been reading and then back to the task at hand.

Bellam Malhan | Caz Ozzel ​

 

[Renata Westaway]

Renata Westaway, resplendent in a fur-lined, ankle-length coat that was woven with ballistic fiber to provide a measure of protection and which sat over a typical piece of body armor, emerged from the shuttle at the rendezvous location. A squad of volunteers from the Refugee Council accompanied her. She approached the group assembled and made the introductions. "Thank you all for coming," she said. "What we have here is a former Galactic Empire facility. We don't know much about what kind of infrastructure remains, or what kind of data remains on their database, but based on reports we've had from the locals, about a week ago traffic in and out of this area has picked up, and they've seen light coming from the vicinity."

She paused and checked her blaster's power pack, then continued as she prepped it. "The locals have their own problems and so they haven't been able to send scouts up here. Our first task is going to be to identify who's here. If it's settlers or refugees, we'll have to have a frank conversation about whether it's safe for them to be there while the planet is in crisis. If it's pirates or remnants of illicit smuggling rings -- including sentient traffickers -- then we'll obviously need to take them out."

She holstered her blaster again. "The other thing we need to do is to find out what kind of data is still on the database here. The technology is ancient, so it needs to be handled with care, and if there is anything of interest to the First Order we should retrieve it. Anything that might be damaging in the hands of anyone else, we will destroy. All of these objectives must be done with the utmost of care, to avoid destroying the structures within the facility itself. We hope to repurpose it, with a little TLC, into a refugee processing facility if the geothermal situation can be sorted out."

"So," said Renata brusquely, peering out with her one good eye at the others. "Any questions before we group off and begin?"

Phoenix Edorath | Ana-Sera Beliq | Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

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Tanileu looked over toward the two independent operators briefly but before she could introduce herself or interject the brass in charge showed up. Westaway provided a run down of the operation, the unknown variables of the site along with some technology that they could look to acquire, assuming it was all still there. Then there was the idea that there could be some sort of illicit smuggling operation going. Of the utmost importance was keeping the structure intact. "We'll head in for the database," Tanileu announced as she and the team provided to her began to make their way to the facility.​

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On hand were various other groups from the First Order, each one tasked with a different goal. She felt for those who had the puzzle to solve regarding the planet's geothermal energy. Tanileu much preferred the tasks that were straight-forward, although that might have spoken too much of her Stormtrooper background. "Names Tanileu," her accent indicative of Gilaria she introduced herself to Phoenix Edorath and Ana-Sera Beliq. "These are the boys, callsign is Chem for this op. Where will you two head off to?"​

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Another pass of transports ahead, more First Order teams were arriving, a chirp on the radio at least notified them that Engineering would soon arrive to asses the full extent of the building's condition.​

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Renata Westaway ​

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

INTERVENTION
NAJARKA | NAJARKA SYSTEM

The blast doors parted to allow the diminutive Anzat.

Before him, the familiar sight of a Clone Wars era Republic star destroyer bridge was revealed as the heavy doors fell away. Stepping out onto the command walkway, the boy was greeted by an aging Pantoran who wore the uniform of the company's shipping and logistics arm.

"General, we are now in orbit of Najarka," the vessel master announced, standing aside as Sor-Jan walked toward the viewports at the far side. Below the diamond-shaped nose of the star destroyer, the colorful orb of a planet was visible.

"As long-range sensors indicated, thermal energy levels on the planet have fallen below Class M designation," the master remarked, continuing his report.

With a wave of his hand, the boy triggered the ship's main computer to produce a holographic interface. Shifting around the fields, the tow-headed youth tapped into the sensor feed. "There's no seismic activity," he noted succinctly. If the core were cooling, then it stood to reason that there would be first, second, and third order effects beyond the shortfall of geothermal energy. "The planetary mantle appears to be intact."

"What could be causing it?" A rhetorical question, but still the one that weighed heaviest on his mind. Which was not to say he didn't see what else was on the sensor feed.

First Order ships.

But, that was a problem for another time. "Send a probe droid down," the boy remarked, dismissing the holographic interface with another wave. He turned back toward the Pantoran, then directed his attention down into the crew pit where an analyst droid worked at a com-scan station. "I want to collect as much information about the planetary core as possible."

As the droid bleeped its acknowledgement, the boy returned his gaze to the Pantoran master. "I see the First Order has descended upon the carcass," the boy noted dryly, walking back across the walkway to the holo-map at the back of the bridge.

"Such is in the nature of vultures, I suppose," the man murmured.

As a holographic projection of the planet popped into view, the boy turned to peer around the bridge. "These people are dying without power," he stated flatly. Letting that settle a moment, he asked, "Options?"

"According to the historical archives, there's an Imperial Complex leftover from the Galactic Civil War," one of the droids noted from the crew pit. "Assuming the facility is still intact, its fusion generators might still be operational."

A snap transformed into a finger gun, Sor-Jan pointed down at the droid that had spoken. He liked where that one was going with this. "Or, at least repairable," he noted as a caveat. Eight hundred year old fusion generators were not likely to just fire up without any problems. Assuming, they were even still on the planet. "Com-Scan, any sign of this Imperial Complex on the surface?"

The analyst droid gave a series of whistles and clicks.

"There's a structure on the other side of the current planetary rotation," the other droid announced, suppling the translation. "It's location matches the historical archive data. However, the walls of the structure are composed of allacrete. Orbital sensors cannot penetrate."

"Then we'll need to take a closer look," the boy uttered, before looking back up at the Pantoran. "Send a repair team to the hangar bay..."

"Yes, sir,"

Turning, the boy started to depart the bridge even as he continued, "...and see if the Najarka authorities will give us landing clearance."

"I get the sense you're not waiting if they don't," the Pantoran remarked candidly. Then, raised his voice slightly as he called, "General."

Just a step or so shy of the lift, the small Corellian boy stopped and turned around.

"What should I do about the First Order," the Pantoran inquired.

The boy's head went back. What should he do about the First Order? "The First Order can go fu..." he started to say, before stopping himself before he could finish that statement.

There is no emotion. There is peace.

More to the point, there is also such a thing as Imperial credits...

Forcing a smile, the boy feigned a happy-go-lucky demeanor as he sarcastically replied, "Invite them to the casino."

And with that, the boy stepped off onto the lift and allowed the doors to shut.

Down in the crew pit, the communications droid opened a channel to the planet to announce, "Najarka authorities, this is the Corellian ship Intervention.. Be advised we are dispatching a shuttle to the surface to assist with recovery efforts."

Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

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It happened that Chief Engineer Vega and Research Chief from FIMS, Elisea Korrado were both on the job here. They were informed of a Corellian ship looking to find a landing spot. Najarkan Authorities turned the Corellian's request over to the First Order. "Intervention, set your shuttle down at these landing pads, we'll have a team get you to our current location." A member of the Vega-Korrado team would inform them, while the team they were with studied the information in front of them.​

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"No seismic activity that I can see or have been able to decipher, we'll need to get a closer look to figure out what's going on," reported Vega. "Korrado stay on the surface and mitigate with the Corellians but if they're offering help, I'm not shooting it down."​

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"Got it," she obliged and moved through their small work camp and handed him a camera, "this should keep you connected up here, and this." A body camera, "will also do that but will more closely monitor and see what you're not looking at." ​

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Vega grabbed a flashlight and a utility belt while the team prepared for entry into the complex. "Military doesn't seem okay with just sending you and your team on your own, a squad from the Army are waiting for you at the entrance." Explained Korrado as she finished hooking up sensor feeds and then smiled at the team. "Okay Dr. Vega, you and your team are good from here, remember Moff Westaway-"​

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"Yes, yes, the structural integrity of the complex is just as important to me as it is to her, and hopefully we can figure out just what happened." And fix it, is what he didn't say. The First Order Camp with their flag waving proudly above them was mostly a camp of tents. There was only the prefabricated landing pad and everything else was science equipment as the First Order Division of Science dispatched a secondary team with another squadron of infantry for escort after Dr. Vega. ​

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Science. Engineering. Medical. Military.​

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A joint operation on a massive scale as far as Korrado was concerned. Dr. Eru Vekshi with FODOS stood beside Korrado and correlated data from what the Najarkan Authorities had overturned. "My only hope is that there isn't any permanent damage to the core," otherwise they had a whole different set of problems on their hand. "Planet seems relatively young and healthy-"​

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Vehski continued to think aloud. ​

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"I'm confident Dr. Vega and the team will be able to find the answer," responded Korrado.​

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Sor-Jan Xantha ​

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

As the shuttle moved through the atmosphere, the tow-headed boy had a datapad in hand, examining the data that was streaming in from the Stingray that had been launched ahead of the shuttle.

"There's actual water toward the equator," the youth commented, as the team of engineers were gathered around the small screen in the boy's hands. Making a few adjustments to the probe droid's heading, the youth explained, "We should be able to enter there and manuever the probe droid to the sea bed under the glacial ice."

Orbital sensors weren't detecting any surface abnormalities, but the thick sheets of permafrost could be confusing the picture under the ocean. It was a longshot, but it seemed the best way of to leverage the probe droid. "Maybe there's an ocean vent or tectonic plate shifting that we're not seeing yet," the boy opined aloud.

Something. Anything that might give them more insight into what was going on with the planet core.

A faint ding cued an announcement from the pilot droids at the helm of the shuttle. "General, we are in receipt of landing coordinates."

Glancing up at the disembodied voice, the boy gave a nod and a faint wave as he answered, "Very well."

Across from him, one of the engineers took a seat. "You're thinking that the volume of sea ice could mask the tsunami?"

Honestly, no. Was it possible? He wouldn't rule it out entirely. Was it probable? He didn't think so. "We should still see a spike in ocean pressure if that's the case," the boy reasoned aloud, adding, "And ground sensors should still be able to pick up the vibrations."

Another ding. "One minute standby, General."

Standing, the boy moved over toward the airlock. "In any case, hopefully we can get some power generators on-line to help keep these people alive while we figure this out," he mused aloud. As he finished, the light on the airlock rolled over green from red. There was a hiss of pressurized air and a loud clank as the magnetic locks were released, after which the door retracted to reveal the loading ramp dropping into position.

They'd been directed to a landing pad. And there seemed to be someone or someones coming to greet them.

He skipped the introductions. "Have you taken a look at any underwater sensors?" the boy inquired, holding out the datapad that contained the telemetry and frequencies for accessing the probe droid data. "We've just launched a probe droid to do an undersea survey toward the north pole, but I'll admit it seems a shot in the dark," he admitted.

The welcome committee probably had other questions, but they didn't really have time for those. After he'd handed off the pad, the boy withdrew an identicard and held it up. If they wondered why the Middle School Science Fair had just rolled into town, his credentials ought to paint the picture more than wasting time talking about it.

"We're all engineers," the youth stated, indicating the team behind him.

"We were hoping to get a look at the old fusion generators under the former Imperial Complex. But if you have other initiatives or ideas on how best to put us to work, that's what we came to do."

Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Phoenix Edorath]

Tag: Renata Westaway | Resurgent Narrative | Bellam Malhan | Caz Ozzel
Gear: Armor | DC-17m | DC-15s | Tactical Knives
Muse Soundtrack: Sabaton “Angels Calling feat. Apocalyptica”​

When Renata arrived, it was a smooth reflex that saw her saluted, and Phoenix remained attentive as she explained the two portions of their task ahead with the complex. Frowning slightly as she took stock of the schematics once more, her expression wasn't one of displeasure but one of thoughtfulness. If the squatters turned out to be hostile, purging them would be a decent amount of work.​

"No ma'am. No questions."​

If they were relatively friendly settlers, then it would be more words than anything else, and that would be much easier. She tucked away her datapad securely in a thermal pocket attached to her belt, and offered Tanileu a smile and a slightly less formal salute than the one she'd given to Moff Westaway. "Good to meet you, Tanileu. I'm Edorath. I'll be following Moff Westaway to determine who's here and see what can be done about them." Phoenix replied, offering a nod to her team after the greetings had been made. They looked like a decent crew, and she'd heard good things about them.​

With that being said, she broke off from the group to join Moff Westaway, checking over the thermal safeguards she'd added to her weapons once more. Phoenix was confident about her gear but still absently felt a little odd without any larger scale explosives. There were some tucked away in secure pockets on her belt and the slim profile pack on her back, which would have to suffice for now.​

​

 

[Ana-Sera Beliq]

Tag: Renata Westaway | Resurgent Narrative | Bellam Malhan | Caz Ozzel
Gear: Light Armor | IR-5 | Enforcer | Vibrodaggers | Tehk'la Blade
Muse Soundtrack: Sabaton "Seven Pillars of Wisdom"​

Moff Westaway was just as brusque and straightforward as she'd heard. A statuesque woman who knew her business and didn't suffer fools lightly. Ana canted her head to the side, eyes flickering and changing colors ever so subtly as she adjusted her gaze for the environment. She paid close attention to the briefing the Moff gave as they stood there before getting underway, and gently shook her head as the opportunity for questions was offered.​

​

The agent didn't have any, and turned instead to Phoenix, offering a nod as her friend strode off to follow the Moff. She joined Tanieleu and smiled, her own accent a soft version of that found commonly on Dosuun. She'd been there long enough to have adopted it as her home, and the accent was what she defaulted to when she wasn't in deep cover. "Beliq, at your service. I'm happy to follow your lead to the database and lend a hand wherever I can." Ana replied and also offered a quieter greeting to Tanileu's team.​

​

The groups were off on their approach to the complex from the staging area, and Ana cast one last glance towards those remaining there before striding off at Tanileu's side. She took the time to set her comm device in her ear, discreetly allowing it to sink in a bit so it wouldn't come loose. A few taps ensured it was accessible and in working order, as her gaze flicked forward to the complex they were approaching.​

​

 

[Kim Dae-Hyun]

Kim Dae-Hyun stood in the cockpit of the battered freighter he was flying for this mission, studying the temperamental panel above the pilot's seat. For the moment, the sparks had stopped flying. That was promising, at least. He flipped another switch, and the panel went dark. He slammed his fist against the panel and it lit up again. "What the hell?" he asked no one in particular.

It was a very far cry from the state of the art ships that DK usually flew. The freighter was so non-descript that he couldn't tell what the model number was, with so many post-market modifications that it was probably more upgrade than original.

He hated it. But it was important that the ship blend in to the rest of the traffic in the area, so here he was, the anonymous captain of a pretend freighter. But this freighter had a secret. In addition to an extremely sophisticated sensor suite designed to give a good picture of what life forms and technology were in the Imperial Complex, he had a partner in the cargo bay, waiting to jettison the probe droids to an even more granular picture.

Speaking of -- just about time to get their show on the road. He sat down in the pilot's seat and put his headset on. "Coming up on the target. Are you ready?" His partner confirmed that he was. "OK -- mark!" The ship flew across the drop zone and he switched over to the operations channel. "Operation Leviathan, this is Kim. Sending sensor readouts your way on frequency zero seven seven. Probe droids dropping now. Please advise if you need another pass."

Resurgent Narrative | Ana-Sera Beliq | Phoenix Edorath | Renata Westaway​

 

[Resurgent Vignette]

Jav let himself into the concrete barracks that the captains of the smuggling ring had co-opted as quarters and meeting space. "It's kriffing freezing," he said irritably, rubbing his hands together. The lights flickered as if to punctuate his point. "I thought we had the damn power hooked up already." The effort to patch into the planet's geothermal plant had proved difficult, given the poor shape the power station that fed the Imperial Complex was in, but they'd managed to jimmy their way in.

Jury-rigging didn't even touch it.

"Did," another captain said simply. "Not putting out the power we thought it would."

"Stang," said Jav. He cupped his hands and breathed into them for warmth. "Might not be worth the trouble if we can't get power. Plus, I heard Marenz say he saw locals sniffing around. We gotta be careful, especially if we're going to be using this place to store the best cargo as we search for buyers." The best cargo being, of course, people to be sold into service. They were no good to anyone if they were frozen to death, after all. He was about to go on when he heard a thud above him. "What in blazes?"

Another series of thuds. Jav went back to the door and stepped out into the chilly evening, craning his neck to look up just as another one of the pirates came to the edge. "Look at this," he said, dropping a twisted metal something. Jav caught it and set it on a nearby crate, using the dim light of his datapad to illuminate it, exposing the low-profile device that had been smashed almost beyond recognition.

"Probe droid," he muttered.

"I smashed the poodoo out of it," the lookout pirate said, offering a proud toothy grin.

Jav shivered and looked around. "Keep an eye out for more. There's never just one," he ordered before going back inside with the probe droid. He flung it down on the table between the other six captains. "What'll it be, huh? Fish or cut bait? If we are fishing, we'd better go on alert. Something's coming. If we're cutting bait, now is the time."

A quick vote. 7-0. "Fishing it is," Jav said. The word went out to the pirate goons across the Imperial Complex: find the probe droids and prepare for trouble. When the First Order arrived, the pirates would be ready to defend their claim.

Resurgent Narrative | Ana-Sera Beliq | Phoenix Edorath | Renata Westaway​

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

​

"Ah! Should I refer to you as Master Xantha?" Dr. Vekshi asked politely, their demeanor that of a soft-spoken person as they looked about the analytical side of the data that came through on their pad. "We've dispatched a team into the Imperial Complex, and we're mounting another team to head toward the settlements with supplies." The Doctor led Xantha toward the durasteel platform. They continued on, "we could use a few more engineers to head into the complex, the place is massive and we're currently working on moving generators into the settlements."​

​

Once the new arrivals got settled he further elaborated. "We've ruled out any tectonic plate activity thus far, so we're waiting on our investigative teams to provide us with details that we're clearly missing," explained Dr. Vekshi. "You've come a very long way and we appreciate any help you could lend us." He spoke with respect toward the small Anzat.​

​

By that time Korrado had left the camp with the supplies convoy, and the teams led by Dr. Vega in the Imperial Complex began to fan out, "oh here we are, the feed is live - Dr. Vega can you hear me?"​

​

"Read you loud and clear Dr. Vekshi, activating cameras."​

​

"Splendid, we're getting a great picture here Dr. Vega can you tell us where you're at?"​

​

"Yes, we've just gotten into what looked to be the foyer, and on my left is the former receptionist desk and there's an office or two on the right and a lift just behind the receptionist' desk, and there's a hall that goes further from where I'm at," Vega explained in great detail. The visuals were honestly more haunting than anything else. Nature definitely had made its way to reclaiming the complex, and Vega looked at the teams with him and mentioned. "I'll be heading down it looks like." A hand on the faded map that had been bolted to the wall under plexiglass. "There was a monitoring center for geothermal energy. SD-6, okay, going to find my way down there."​

​

The second team was heading to security to see if there were any records of what had happened here or who rather was here last.​

​

As for Xantha, Vekshi held out a map for where the engineers could be dispatched. It would be part of a larger plan for Najarka to shift to a secondary and tertiary form of sustainable power, namely solar and wind-powered energy. To do that they wanted to set up sites for energy storage, but sites that were not going to disturb an already fragile ecosystem. ​

Sor-Jan Xantha

​

Tanileu and the boys along with the independent operators carefully approached the old Research Center. Rather than hiss open, the door groaned and the operative managed to slide in. Flashlight activated on her weapon she began her sweep. The smell inside was rather foul, the odor was a mix of water that had been left to bake in rotting mud and plastic, biological decay, and feces. The latter a present from the local wildlife Tanileu imagined. She secured her rebreather and took in a breath of refreshed air there was no power to the research center and the sound of dripping water accompanied by the occasional howl of the wind left Tanileu feeling a little jumpy.​

​

And after her trip to the Red Nebula, no one could honestly blame the woman. "Right, we're looking for the datacenter, and we are probably in the lobby. Let's see if we can't figure out where the database is." Datacenter, grab the tech, and then get out because thus far all Tanileu could think of was that if there was going to be a renovation here it would have to be deep. "I'm all for this place getting a very, very deep cleaning and maybe a cleansing ritual to boot."​

​

Thus far there didn't seem to be anyone here, but then they had only just entered the site.​

​

​

Ana-Sera Beliq | Phoenix Edorath | Renata Westaway | Resurgent Vignette ​

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

"Should I refer to you as Master Xantha?"

"Mister," the boy corrected. Not sharply, but to the point. He was no longer part of the Order of the Silver Jedi. He wasn't sure he ever had been. The Jedi Order he knew was one long gone. Long dead, he feared. On a more friendly note, the boy added, "Though I prefer Sor-Jan."

They talked as they walked, which is what he preferred. The glimpse inside the Imperial Complex was a blast from the past. Much like the Intervention had been, when he'd discovered its wreckage on Boz Pity a decade before.

It seemed like the First Order was already thinking two steps ahead. Not only what would get life support systems across the planet back above red line, but what proactive measures could keep them there. "For homesteads, solar collectors could probably be deployed across the rooftops," the boy mused aloud.

He was thinking on his feet. Home solar collectors would have to be small, so very efficient in order to achieve a meaningful net gain in power production. "Sasori Research has developed solar-collecting crystasteel that's extremely efficient," he uttered, thinking aloud, but as he said it, it seemed reasonable. Looking back at Doctor Vekshi, the boy explained, "We use them for secondary load-sharing on our star defenders. I've got good relations with the Atrisians. If you want, I can have a shipment delivered here."

He was potentially writing a check he couldn't cash, but he thought he could swing it. Matsu Ike wasn't likely to like the idea of accepting Imperial credits. But she was going to like the idea of people dying without adequate power even less.

"As far as larger scale energy production, the best place to avoid damage to the ecosystem would be to have wind collectors up in the permafrost regions," the boy added, approaching the map of the planet. Zooming out and rotating the globe around, the boy manipulated the controls in order to overlay the projection with environmental factors.

Rotating the hologram around a few more times, the boy said, "What about here?" Pointing to a spot in a remote area of glacial ice, he commented, "Good cross section with the planet's jet stream."

Scrutinizing the ground sensors, the dialed up an analysis of the permafrost. It seemed thick enough. "Bo-Dun, Jorik," the boy utter, turning to two men behind him. Tilting his head to indicate the shuttle, he explained, "Take the shuttle and scout the location."

Turning back toward to Doctor Vekshi, assuming she had no objections to this point, the boy added, "You get them the parts, they'll start on assembly of a wind farm,"

As for himself, "Appearances not withstanding, I was born before the first Galactic Empire," Sor-Jan stated, adding, "I'm familiar with the technology of the period. I'll probably be of more use to your team at the Complex."

Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

​

"Sor-Jan it is," confirmed Dr. Vekshi as they monitored the results from survey teams as they arrived at various points. "What an excellent suggestion, I shall most certainly take that down and send it up." They couldn't make the final call as it would be up to the higher-ups but they could at the very least propose the solution. Vekshi wrote down what he could on his datapad, stylus moved feverishly across the screen. Quietly they got it written out and sent the information up to the level above them. "I shall know soon enough regarding the Atrisian plans, but yes, we can deploy teams up to the permafrost."​

​

"Uh..." Vekshi looked over at the Engineering teams. "Can you-"​

​

They were already working on it parts were being loaded up into the shuttle and a two-man team from FOCIE would join Sor-Jan's folks in the trip to the frosty north of Najarka. "Right, okay, well they just arrived there so I don't imagine it would take long for you to catch up."​

​

Dr. Vega and his team would descend toward SD-6, the stairs were out of the question. Cameras showed they were blocked and as Vega looked up they had collapsed in as well. "Time to find an alternative route," he called out, the other team checked in and Veshik looked over at the other monitor where the second team was heading to security. Security was on the floor above, and the other stairs were much like its counterpart, collapsed and filled with debris.​

​

Vega spotted a broken in part of the floor that led down, just as the second team continued to survey the first floor for a way up. Down in the sublevel, the team found skeletons and from the looks of it, they'd been down here for decades at the very least. Crates, old toppled cabinets, and broken in parts of the wall and light fixtures hung loosely. Wires were frayed, pools of water and pools of- questionable liquids although Vekshi was interested in the particulates they could hold. He didn't voice his thoughts and monitored the teams, Korrado reported that her team had arrived and supplies were being distributed. ​

​

Sor-Jan Xantha ​

​

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

Objective: Cultural Acquisitions For Prosperity

---

The Voritor II
Najarka; Najarka System
​

The bridge of the Voritor II was quiet, save for the background noise associated with a ship. Thrums of machinery, pings of control panels, low tones of discussion and confirmation between crew. It was precisely how the newly appointed Captain of the vessel wished for things to be, a carefully maintained and controlled environment, where minimal interruption allowed for maximum effectiveness. And while the transition to dealing with humans and other non-Chiss had been a challenge, Mitth'orn'eruod had endured and after pointed effort his crew had reached an acceptable level per his preference of command.

"Captain, sensor scans indicate no new arrivals or contacts," An officer said in a low voice from beside the blue-skinned Chiss who stood at the front of the bridge, front and center at the durasteel viewport. "The system appears clear."

"Very well, Leftenant," Mitth'orn'eruod replied as he turned his red eyes to the officer and leveled his gaze at her. "I believe we have satisfied our command to secure the region around the planet. Prepare a shuttle and have a squadron of troopers aboard."

"Yes, Captain." The Lieutenant nodded and spoke into a comlink quietly. "Done, sir."

"I will personally oversee the operation to acquire cultural items of importance, it has been too long since I stretched my legs, as it were," Mitth'orn'eruod turned to face his second-in-command, as he offered a wry smile. "Until I return, you have the bridge. Maintain consistent sensor sweeps above the planet, adjust fighter support with concave-based flight coverage patterns, and alert me immediately should any situation change from the norm we have established currently."

"Yes, Captain."

Mitth'orn'eruod turned and walked from the bridge. His eyes passed over the crew, from the raised officer's platform, his keen vision and experience on military vessels seeing more than humanoids simply moving. Throughout his years in command, originally with the CEDF of his people and now the First Order, Mitth'orn'eruod had garnered a top understanding of the various parts that made a ship a whole; from the command deck, right down to the hangar bays. So, when he noted a junior crewman that seemed to be lax in his efforts, Mitth'orn'eruod pointedly stopped and peered down with glowing red eyes...

"Crewman, is there a reason as to why your diagnostic is delayed by several minutes?" Mitth'orn'eruod asked, his tone even but also had an underlying authoritative emphasis. "Perhaps if you were less concerned with your fellow crewmate's control panel, you might find your own efforts improved. Focus. Double your diagnostic reports for the next hour, to find it."

With a muted sigh, Mitth'orn'eruod continued along the officer's platform, until he reached the blast doors that would lead him to the lower sections of the vessel. The Chiss passed the posted troopers, as he nodded to them, then stepped inside the turbolift. With a casual glance to his wrist, Mitth'orn'eruod noted the time on his chronometer, before he clenched his jaw and stood at ease.

"Hangar bay." He said simply, to which the lift began to lower into the bowels of the Star Destroyer. Mitth'orn'eruod activated his comlink. "Squad Leader Tierny, I shall be at the shuttle in precisely five minutes and twenty seconds, do not make me wait."

A confirmation came from the trooper on the other end, before the Captain exhaled and allowed himself a moment to relax. He considered the task ahead, began to plan a number of potential approaches that were dependent on situational circumstances, but would ultimately allow for a generally effective recovery mission for cultural acquisitions for the native populace. If it was one thing Mitth'orn'eruod had learned from his ancestors, it was that history was important, if only to avoid repeating it - and therefore, any attempt at preserving for the matter of prosperity was likewise important...