FNRP #3 - Mystery on Yavin

[Omega]

Yavin Prime, scene of great events across millennia. Once it had been the home of Revan’s absurd plot to restore the Sith Emperor, more famously it had been the scene of the Rebellion’s destruction of the First Death Star.

Now it was a neutral world with little settlement. The jungles had started closing in again.

In the wake of the destruction of Outsider Station over Far Harbor, the planet had been blockaded by the Contingency. Meanwhile a considerable force of droids and labour machines had started excavating in the jungle.

A broadbeam trans mission had been sent out begging for help before the planet had gone quiet.

Who was there? Who would answer the call? What was the Contingency after?

Spoiler

Curse you, English, for having no good nouns starting with Y!

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen lurched in his seat as his ship dropped out of hyperspace. Yavin He was certain he had been one this planet before, but he couldn't quite place when. But, that might have just been his knowledge of its history that was speaking. It was odd really to look over such a lush forest, of an otherwise nameless world that most civilization seemed to have avoided while still trying to wrap your head around the immense history that surrounds it. "Alright men, suit up, we'll be heading down." Around him sat ten of his best men, a squad of royal guards who had been tasked to help with the mission as well as keeping their king alive.

Their mission itself was quite simple. Investigate the distress signal that Yavin had put out and if possible, solve the problem in short order. If that was not possible however, they were to report back to Veradune where Vulpesen would be seeking help from any other do-good organizations. Why he specifically was here was a hard question to answer. Normally, he sat in his office sanctioning missions, or he traveled the Galaxy on his own business. But when his men would ask why he entered such a mission, all he could answer was, "The force is calling me here. Something is happening."

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Lurching out of hyperspace The Maleficum crept it's shadow near the planet of Yavin, settling into a relaxing orbit on the outskirts, noting the blockade of the planet. The distress call had been recovered by the ships navigation officer, Lt. 2nd Class Jes Briel, who in her duty forwarded it to the ship's captain, Jonas Virter, who in turn brought it to the attention of Darth Venefica. The two had discussed the message in great lengths, electing to investigate the call.​

​

With the destruction of Outsider Station, where the Sith Lady had not only escaped the catastrophe but discovered a plot of ill intentions against the galaxy, and the sudden attack on the Time Foundry proved it was her duty to further seek out the happenings in the galaxy. Those two events had been linked, so was Yavin itself becoming another staging ground for the impending threat? The blockade pointed to this.​

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"Captain Virter...you will hold this position observing closely the activities of this blockade. I will take some of the Dagobah Knights in a single transport shuttle...attempting to reach the surface. Engage only if you are threatened."​

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Spinning on her bare heels the Queen of Madness walked toward the exit of the bridge, her black infused robe flowing out behind her. Her stroll through the ship in the direction of the hanger bay lent time for her unstable mind to revisit everything she had learned about this threat. She couldn't put actual fact to rumours, though the sights of droids on both Outsider Station and the Time Foundry leaned on something mechanically sinister.​

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Awaiting her arrival, ten of the Knights stood inside the shuttle knowing only what they had been informed. This wasn't the typical mission they had been known to conduct, this was something of a mixture between investigation and a possible relief effort, the latter unfamiliar to the ten men standing in the craft. Stepping into the transport, she could read the expressions on each of their body language. Confusion in their minds.​

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"You are aware there is something happening in our home...an uninvited guest of sorts. You've been briefed about the distress call that brought us to Yavin...and despite the differences in our hearts to that of the galaxy...we must do what is needed to learn what we can about this threat. Even if we have to...aid the weak."​

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[member="Incursion"]​

 

[Aithne Charr]

Charr's hands grabbed at the robes on her, trying to straighten them out as her eyes looked back at the ship she had stumbled from, her forehead hurting and a line of blood dropping down infront of her eyes. She had crashed with the others in the ship, eyes blinking as she rubbed the blood away. She was used to feeling that so it didn't bother her much, the others did bother her though as she had not wanted them to be harmed. She wasn't sure who was still ok, knowing that some from the CIS had come with her on the trip, though she had come to see the planet and learn, not realizing the distress signal until they had already been on the way to the planet.

Still, she wanted to see the ancient massassi temples and explore them, a rather faulty turn in her judgement considering the state of the ship and its crew. Her hand guided her down the hall, looking around for anyone else. There wasn't many that had come with her, fewer with the ability to protect themselves in situations like the crash they had experienced. Still though the damage had not torn the ship to pieces, no one should have died and the ship was still in one piece. They should be able to get in the air again all things considered, the blockade was an issue though.

IF they took off now, they would be shot down again, even as the voice from the gem in her possession suggested that they might be able to find a way off if they chose the right area to leave the planet from. He was correct, but it would take time for the ship to be in operational condition again. Until then she needed to get those still able to move together.

The first she found was thankfully the mechanic of the crew, a rodian that was banged up but ok. She listened to him, not sure what to say as he questioned whether the others were ok. She didn't quite know but nodded as the voice in her head told her there was no one dead on the ship. That voice had helped her get used to the powers she now had and get a hold on how a normal life was. She didn't really know for sure how to treat most situations, and her empathy was still hard for her to manage, but atleast she could speak to others now.

The Mechanic nodded and started off to check on the damage as she sat down, letting the others who arrived move about and waiting until everyone was accounted for. The forest would need to be checked out, or atleast a perimeter would need to be set up. The ships that had shot her down would likely not just leave it at that, something that she soon realized as she sat there.

 

[Ewan Harrison]

Harrison had heard of them. A group of droids with a mission, the same anyone had heard in the wide eyed galaxy that had not been privy to the visits, but Harrison sought out more than the average galactic citizen. Through the accounts of spacers, holonet prowlers, and all around conspiracy theorists, he gathered his data, trying to put a puzzle together without pieces. Ignoring the more obscure points, he focused on the main correlating facts about these newcomers to the galaxy, he searched and pried using all his resources anything about them. But that phrase, that was all that he could trust was true, a group of droids with a mission. But when he heard the distress call coming from the moon of Yavin, he knew this was them, he just knew it. Harrison saw it as his first chance to find out who these droids were, what they wanted, why they were here, he did not hesitate in leaving Ando.

Dressed in his Vigil suit and armed with a light whip and several EMP grenades, he set off in an aging light freighter that had been put on the scrap list by his company. When it scrapped out of hyperspace, he wasn't surprised to see a blockade of foreign ships guarding the planet. Harrison noticed the other ships exiting hyperspeed, most likely people like him. But he paid no mind to him, he had a mission, and if he strayed from that, it could mean a total failure. As the freighter got closer and closer to the blockade, he donned the mask, becoming the Vigil. Vigil was encroaching the range of the blockade's weapons systems, he wanted to be off his ship by the time it was blown apart by their defenses. Clipping the light whip to his utility belt, and fastening a strap with the EMP grenades fastened to it, he slid into the skinny escape pod of the freighter, launching soon after. As his ship came barreling to the planet, he watched as his freighter was torn apart by the blockade, knowing that the presence of ships coming into the planet would alert the force below. It was going to be a long day.

 

[Muad Dib]

The man snarled into consciousness. Sitting up with a groan he heard the sound of joints popping and the rain of falling glass. A few moments passed before his eyes came into focus and his memories came flooding back. He had been riding shotgun on a ship headed to Yavin. Not the sun but one of the satellites. He wasn't sure which one nor did he care. It was supposed to be a semi peaceful excursion.

Lies.

Rising from his seated position he pulled himself to his feet behind a bar. Blinking as his vision was obscured for a moment he wiped the trickle of blood leaking into his left eye. Reaching up he plucked a shard of glass from his skull and glared at it accusingly before flicking it over the bar. As flashes of a barricade and being shot at flickered in his mind he remembered why he was at the little bar in the ship. He had wanted a drink before the inevitable osik hit the fan, as it was oft inclined to do whenever he was around.

Turning he let out another snarl. Apparently the glass he had been covered in had come from all the bottles that had rained down in their forced impromptu landing. A lone bottle stood upon the rack and Muad pulled it free to read it's label. A wine from Naboo. Releasing his hold upon the wine he let it drop and shatter on the ground. The gods hated him.

Hopping lightly over the bar he turned where others upon the ship were congregating and moved toward them, listening to several speak. As he neared he heard several in hysterics and pulled on the force, channeling calm into those passengers. His glowing eyes surveyed the growing crowd.

"Crew members, you need to report to your stations. We need to get this ship fully operational. Report to engineering and make sure we can actually take off when we need to. Make sure we power down what systems we can. As far as the blockade knows we are downed. Let's not give them any reasons to search us out sooner rather then later. So no broadcasting an SOS. I don't want to be a sitting duck. Check and make sure the medlab has power and everything is functioning. Others check with engineering. We need to make sure there are no bull breaches, and if there are, we need to plug them. I also recommend the security team sets up a perimeter. Don't know the local fauna and flora. Plus eventually we will get a visit from those who shot us down. We need to be ready."

Moving down the hall he left the crowd and made his way to the loading ramp and lowered it with a soft whine from the hydraulics. Sighing as he looked on the planet he shook his head at his decision to not bring his beskar'gam. But thankfully he had come with his weapons and gauntlets.

[member="Charr"]

 

[Lark]

Yavin 4 reminded Lark of home.

The forests back on Myrkr were a bit more murky, and it always felt as though there were creatures watching him from deep within the brush, waiting to strip his flesh from his bones and devour him alive. He had wandered alone in those jungles many a time, and it always had seemed like a place that man was not meant to go to. He was an alien there, a foreign entity that didn't belong. The woods here felt a great deal more homely, peaceful. Or at least they would have, were it not for the armada of droids that ravaged the place like a parasite ravaged a hound. A great deal of history has transpired on this little speck of green, and it appeared as though it's story was not yet over. A distress call had been picked up, and it's origin was traced back here. With all that had been going on in the Galaxy, Lark had already had a pretty solid guess on who it could be.

But what was this Contingency after? He couldn't glimpse their true intentions, and that irritated him. Droids and AI couldn't be reasoned with in the same way that living organisms could. But despite the immense danger he put himself in in coming here, he smiled. This wasn't the first time this galaxy had been invaded by unknown forces. Another great conflict was ensuing, he could feel it. That was why he was here. He needed information about this new enemy, as much as he could to aid the Sith in the battles to come. He didn't care about helping whoever sent the transmission, for all who knew the Contingency sent the signal hoping to lead more lambs to slaughter. No, he was here to learn, and perhaps disrupt their operations if he could. Havoc seemed to come naturally to him. Perhaps he'd be willing to share some.

But he didn't come alone.

The Contingency had eyes everywhere, he had learned that the hard way back at the auction. So, he brought his own. He was perched on one of the massive trees that were dotted around all over the place, he could hear the distant sounds of excavation. Was there a base nearby? He couldn't tell. But soon, perhaps, he'd know. Sithspawn of his own creation surrounded him, a black mass amongst the branches. He had brought a few dozen of the Svarrif, they'd blend in perfectly in the forests of Yavin. He'd have eyes and ears all around the forest, although their utility combating metal opponents such as the droids would be nonexistent. But that's why he was here. He sent the bird-like creatures off, a hideous black horde of birds would slowly travel through the higher layers of the forests, taking positions all around.

Lark's hellish eyes beamed with excitement. Now then, let us begin.

[member="Incursion"] @Anyone else

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The Queen of Madness stepped onto the surface of Yavin, feeling the moist ground squish under her bare feet whilst her Knights arrayed themselves around and behind her. The forest was immense, and with no clear direction from which the signal had originated, the search for answers was going to be daunting. Yavin was rich in history, not lacking points of interest from which to launch the investigation. However, if this message was an attempt to draw people here, it might be more realistic to believe that the message was sent from any number of locations.​

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There were at least three sites from which Darth Venefica wanted to conduct the first quest, but two of them held more appeal to a Sith seeking treasure than actually seeking the mystery behind the distress call. Crushing her own hopes, she led her Knights through the forest toward Yavin's Mining Outpost. The settlement wasn't a major hub, though it did house the necessary equipment to get a message through that blockade, unless this blockade and the message were from the same enemy. The Contingency.​

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The scene at the mining outpost was grisly. Bodies of the dead were scattered everywhere, with signs of a one sided attack in place. If this was the work of the Contingency's droids, the effectiveness of their strategic movements would have been commendable, as well as the accuracy from these machines. She never seen droids act in such an efficient manner, which was slightly disturbing.​

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"Look for survivors....though I fully expect we will not be fortunate enough to discover any."​

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While the Knights went in search for possible survivors, she took the liberty to examine each body closely hoping to find some clue on how to thwart this impending genocide. Sadly, the dead refused to give up it's secrets except by her account they were caught off guard. The miners and other workers that possessed blasters were still holstered. Was this ambush so thought out they had no time to form a defense? Or was it eerily possible they knew someone or a collection of someones that put their fears at ease?​

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Whatever theory could be right, the droid prints in the wet dirt could not be discounted.​

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[member="Incursion"] ... [member="Lark"]​

 

[Causstik Rahn]

[SIZE=11pt]“ARRRGGGHHH!!!” The Wookiee roared as the light whip fell across its back.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The Chieftain had proven weak. He had surrendered his whole tribe without a fight. He had spoiled the hunt. Causstik was sure to punish him greatly for this. The Trandoshans had captured many slaves whilst on their raid and now they were back on the Mara Corridor headed home. While the raid had been a great success it had not been satisfying for the Warlord Causstik Rahn. He needed a challenge. He needed a fight worthy of his skill. Even hunting Jedi had begun to bore the Warlord. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The whip fell again and the Wookiee roared in anguish once more.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Their was another reason the band of Trandoshan’s had taken the Mara corridor. Causstik had heard rumors of droids capable of unreasonable feats in battle. Some even said they were so deadly they could kill a being with a look and it was rumored they were on Yavin. Causstik had a small vessel prepared to depart from the ship before they passed the planet. He and his best warriors would take the ship to Yavin 4’s surface and from there they would scour the area for these metallic foes. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The whip fell again, but the Wookiee’s roars ceased. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Causstik was pulled from his thoughts and looked to see that large tufts of the Wookiee’s fur had been sheared clean off from the force of the blows. The back was a bloody mess of mangled flesh and blood. Causstik wiped beads of sweat from his brow. How long had it been? Hours at least. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Perhaps he was a worthy foe after all.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Causstiks second entered the dimly lit torture chamber and regarded his WarChief with the same blank face that he always did, but Causstik knew… Eventually the T’dosch would challenge him for his title as WarChief. If ever his face showed any expression that that day was near… Causstik would kill him without remorse.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Sir, we are nearing Yavin,” Crossk growled and Causstik simply nodded. He took one final look around the fetid room then headed to his chambers to dawn his armor and prepare for what he hoped would be the hunt of a lifetime.[/SIZE]

 

[Darth Banshee]

Unlike everyone else, she had arrived to speak to [member="Incursion"], her fury under stealth had docked with one of the ships. She entered the ship alone, her men kept the ship ready just incase. She had heard some pleas for help from the planet, she paid them no heed she was here to see what she could do for them, and them for her. She was not a fool, she knew these people where dangerous, and she had no idea their motives at the moment. So she wore light armour, and lightsaber staff just her cloak. She hoped to treat him as a client, and she brought her companies manifest with her, as it might be of use. Though she did think this would be the case, she figured something that could take control over droids by remote, would be soon carving their own path in the galaxy. She did wonder if she meet any of metal lords here, or where they behind the lot of them.

She was lead by droids, to a room in a ship, it was sterile and metallic in looks. Their was a chair she sat down on it, and waited to see what happened next.

 

[Reks Yarroq]

There had been rumors of a Trandoshan that was chosen by the scorekeeper to be the goddess champion or something, Reks didn't believe those rumors until he met with [member="Causstik Rahn"], he was organizing a trip to Yavin hearing the rumors of some incredibly strong droids, Reks didn't think twice and join the Trandoshan gang sadly he had to leave her partner behind this time.

He introduce himself to the trandoshan and bowed in signal of respect

"It is an honor to fight alongside another brother, specially one that was bless with the powers of the scorekeeper"

He then waited in the ship to arrive in Yavin, the thoughts of hunting something powerful as the rumors said was enough to draw a smile on the Trandoshan.

 

[Vulpesen]

The Vixen slipped between the ships in orbit and continued its quiet descent towards the surface of Yavin as Vulpesen marveled at the others that had come to join him, even if unknowingly. Reaching out, he could sense the various presences around him. Several force users, many of whom were on the darker side of the spectrum. However, he didn't sense any danger, at least not any that would present itself immediately. And while normally he was happy to avoid a fight, now he was having flashbacks to more chaotic, dangerous times. Times when the light and dark found a common ground against a greater evil. Times of Akala and the netherworld portals. "I have a bad feeling about this..."

The line was uttered as Vulpesen walked to the back of his ship and lowered the boarding ramp. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to his men with a wide grin which was soon covered by his mask. "Off-wards and on-wards boys!" Leaning forward, he found himself barely able to suppress his exhilarated howl as he plummeted to the jungle below. Faster and faster the leaves came up towards him. Some ways behind him, he could heard several 'fwumps' as his men deployed their suits. Lucky for the valde however, he had a more portable and far less visible means of landing. Calling on the force, Vulpesen slowed his descent just enough to maneuver through the canopy and land safely on the ground.

A few seconds later and he watched his men return to is side, having cut their chutes off and climbed the rest of the way down with the claws offered by their zorren heritage. "Alright, spread out, teams of two. If you spot any droids, try to disable them quietly, and collect their memory cores for future analysis. And if you die, try to click the radio so we can heard you mark the location of the bastard you're cursing."