Faction [GA] The Hapan Crisis | Rise or Ruin

[Aris Noble]

Aris absolutely saw that.

That being Eve's surprise at something. Unable to feel the Force, that was the extent of it for him. He tilted his head just a bit, brow raised. Considering everything going on, what had made her jump like that of all things? Was there something extra here that tripped her senses, perhaps? Something in the Force? Why was the Force so weird?

"Aris," she said smoothly, glancing toward her son. "Take Everest ahead. Lead her deeper in."

And like that his expression stilled and he nodded his head. Something was here, then. He glanced to Eve before stepping ahead, hilt of his saber still in his hand. "I hear someone this way, let's go."

Everest Vale | Valery Noble | Allyson Locke

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Engaging: Valery Noble //:
//: Obj 2 //:

Yes. This was stupidity at its finest.

Allyson had purposefully poked the bear, hoping she could get away with it. But she knew deep down that Valery wasn't that type of bear; she wouldn't sit idly and watch as something interrupted. The Corellian continued to move on the same path she had started away from the padawan. Remaining low, the Shadow avoided any swinging or flailing from the girl. Allyson had to stifle a laugh as she continued to move, her antics mirroring those she used to pull when she had lived in the temples.

She knew Valery would see her; maybe she wanted her to. Still, Allyson had her mission and needed to see it to the end. Moving and keeping low, the Corellian crouched and shuffled her way toward the rubble around them. It was then through the Force she heard the nagging voice of the Grandmaster. 'Chit,' she thought quietly, glancing over her shoulder - making sure the woman wasn't already leaping through the air to crush the Shadow's spine.

Dipping into one of the abandoned houses, Allyson pressed herself against it, trying to listen more for terrifying leather boots that had come closer to her face than she would have liked. Having some safety from the Jedi if she had decided to attack, Allyson quickly responded through the Force.

<<Beep, the person you are trying to contact is not here right now; she won't be getting back to you anytime soon. Beep>>​

A smug little grin spread across her face as she focused her mind, the cloak dropping momentarily. Projecting a shadow in the opposite direction, Allyson had run, letting it move through quickly, then disappearing. Allyson hoped it would draw the Jedi's attention away from her long enough to allow her to head towards the palace. Losing focus of the Shadow, Allyson opened her eyes and listened, trying to discern Valery's location.

Please fall for it, please. Allyson prayed to the stars that the simple trick would do it, but she knew better and drew the bow in preparation for a fight.

 

[DEVILMAN]

Onderon – Remote Landing Zone – The Shadows
Objective 2
Direct: Whottoomuzz Chantin || Indirect: Whottoomuzz Chantin​

The Demon remained silent, listening as the Gamorrean indulged in the self-pitiful display. The crook's movements from speaking made administering medical aid more difficult. Precision and a steady hand became all the more critical as the thug became less and less steady. If the crime-fighter could not stop the bleeding soon, another death would soon be on his hands. Pain suppressor and micro-surtures coupled with a trauma kit. He needed to fix as much damage as he could. Stop key arteries and veins from bleeding out before moving onto the more general damage from the wounds. Bacta gel or a bacta infusion would be necessary to keep the pig stable.

If he could wrap and suture the synthflesh around and onto the arterial wounds before applying a bactapatch on top, that could keep him alive long enough to seek better help. His eyes narrowed under the mask as his visor zoomed in on the wound as the Friend articulately maneuvered each artery and vein with forceps.

All the while, he listened. He continued to listen before tilting his head up to see the Gamorrean become unconscious.

"I will," the Black Ace resolved before continuing his work.

It would not be good enough. Too much damage. Too deep. This would be a patch job, even for all of his skill and efforts. He would need to move the Gamorrean and quickly unless . . .

"Sir, multiple Alliance transports are converging on your position."

Right on time.

His work was finished. The transports would contain the aid necessary for the injured Gamorrean. Their people would interrogate him for further information on the child smuggling operations conducted on this planet. The Fiend knew he would need to pay this man a visit, but first he had given his word. Names and families to look up. The new would be devastating, crippling.

A pain he knew all too well. Pain that the Devilman could not help resolve, not on his own. But perhaps someone else with the proper resources could make life a little easier until the family had time to deal with their grief.

If anyone deserved mercy, it would be them. Suturing the last of the wound, Devilman collected his tools before stepping over to the now-gone padawan's missing limb, observing it carefully. Cryostorage may help preserve it until it could be returned. If it could be returned. She could be dead if her allies had not treated her in time. Another matter for him to resolve later. He would need to check in on her.

The Demon left without a trace. Not even a hint of his presence besides the field treatment of the Gamorrean. A myth to all but three witnesses. The Proto-Predator's practiced disappearance ensured he covered his tracks. Nothing would tie him to the altercation.

A sleek, black yet armored airspeed floated and hummed right above him before it opened its underside. Firing a singular grapnel up and into the cockpit, the Walking Shadow disappeared into the looming vehicle before racing off across the expansive sky as the first of the Alliance transports arrived on the location.

 

[Damian du Couteau]

Damian du Couteau, Senator of Empress Teta
Location: Fondor, Senate Building
Outfit

Damian really wished there was a bit of a better itinerary for these sorts of meetings, not that it would have helped much. And definitely when the Chancellor opened up the floor for questions. Investigations pending often made answering questions difficult, even if truth was the ultimate defense, public sentiment needed better looking truths. The idea that the Alliance would have provided support for anyone else but the Monarchy would have been impossible to fathom.

Unless it had been the old Queen still alive requesting for aid. That would have been a tough sell.

The vote would pass and Damian submitted his own digitally in favor of the Hapan Royalty. Freedom Fighters, or Terrorists depending on the circumstances, more often than not made terrible diplomats. Always one ultimatum after another with those lots. Sometimes going after a win aggressively was important, but to Damian the key was understanding when to settle.

“Compromise is the backbone of many great civilizations.” Damian murmured quietly as he walked out of his Senate Pod and back to his office.

While an interesting afternoon spent within the Senate Halls, the short reprieve from his data-slate work, it was back to office and long hours. Who knows how many reports had been sent and were in need of review. The young du Couteau heir massaged his temple at the thought and wondered if he should really consider expanding his staff. The future of the Hapan Cluster brought some concern to Damian, he would need to monitor the overcorrection of the markets as stability arrived and people expected a return to normalcy.

“The credits must flow after all.”
​

|| Feridade Parthi | Monaray Dod | Kalen | Lyandra Thalorin | Jessikal Skea | Hailcen Irdo | Lehvi Vass | Alicio Organa | Helios Ardemark | Hal Karjos | Sonya Provost | Das Hydia ||​

 

[Sonya Provost]

Finally, the actual vote was at hand. Sonya awaited her turn, and simply said, "Montitia votes in favor of reestablishing the Hapan monarchy."

Alicio Organa​

 

[Amani Serys]

Eloise Dinn​

"I made a difficult decision in a life-or-death moment. Perhaps I didn't overthink it then, but that's all the more reason to reflect afterward. To learn. So that future outcomes might fare better." Being a Jedi meant always striving for something greater. Just because perfection was unattainable didn't mean it wasn't worth striving for.

"As for the Senators, I'm sure they'll forget about the whole Crisis in a week or so. There's always the next big thing to feign outrage over."

"Hm. I guess we'll see. Some of them take planetary sovereignty very seriously…" Amani pondered the possible results of the meeting, becoming lost in thought for a moment before she answered Eloise's next question. "Not quite a trial. At least not yet, I suppose. But there at least needs to be some kind of hearing about what happened. I just submitted my personal briefing of events," She gestured to the datapad in her council seat, "Did you know the Padawan in question?"

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Amani Serys​

Eloise had more or less checked out of the reflecting-on-my-actions part of the conversation. She'd already made up her mind about the whole Hapes situation.

"Did you know the Padawan in question?"

"Heh, no," she replied. "I just heard about it through the grapevine. He's in trouble, but not as much as his master probably is." Masters were held to a much higher standard than Padawans, in her experience anyway. After all, they were supposed to be more mature and responsible.

She didn't know all the facts of the case, clearly.

"Well, if that's all... I should probably get going." Eloise rubbed the back of her neck. "See you later, master."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery exhaled sharply through her nose, the barest hint of amusement flickering behind her fiery gaze when she heard Allyson's voice inside her mind. She didn't respond telekinetically and just rolled her eyes in response. Unbelievable, but also very much Allyson.

For a brief moment, she caught the flicker of movement — Allyson's presence darting through the ruins, her signature shifting, pulling away. It was an old trick, one Valery had seen before. A shadow cast in the wrong direction, meant to mislead, to buy time. It worked — for a second.

Then, instinct took over.

Valery's eyes narrowed as she pushed past the illusion, past the trick, and honed in on the presence still lingering in the Force. The real one. The one trying to slip away unseen, and then she moved. A sharp breath, a shift of weight, and in the next instant, she was sprinting.

The ruins blurred around her as she shot forward, every muscle primed, every step closing the distance between them. Allyson had played her game, had teased and taunted — but Valery wasn't here to play.

She was coming fast.

Allyson Locke ​

 

[Vera Noble]

​

Tag: Kaelos Vryn Thea Nyko

​

Vera exhaled softly, casting Kaelos and Thea a look of determination. She was the chosen one now, huh? She didn't argue. Instead, she glanced down at Teyla, whose small fingers were still curled into the fabric of her robes. The little girl had barely let go since Vera first picked her up, and she wasn't about to force her to.

With a reassuring squeeze, Vera took Teyla's hand in hers. "Guess that means you're stuck with me, kid," she murmured, shooting the girl a small, encouraging smile before glancing at Kaelos and Thea. "Alright, let's move."

They started walking, keeping a steady pace through the ruined streets. Vera positioned herself in the middle, Teyla at her side, with Kaelos and Thea flanking them — one ahead, one behind. It was instinct, a natural formation she slipped into without even needing to say it. Protecting the girl was priority number one.

The further they moved from the epicenter of the destruction, the more survivors they passed — some wandering aimlessly, others tending to small groups of wounded. The weight of the battle still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. But what made Vera's skin prickle wasn't just the aftermath.

It was the feeling that they were being watched. She kept her grip firm on Teyla's hand but let her free hand drift closer to the hilt of her lightsaber, just in case. She flicked her gaze toward Thea, who had been scanning the streets just as much as she had, and then back to Kaelos.

They felt it too, right?

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes, Tunic
Equipment: Lightsaber
Tag: Aris Noble


Maybe she didn’t imagine it after all. The way Master Noble instinctively seemed to catch on to whatever just happened gave Eve a slight murmur of confidence. Maybe she wasn’t going crazy, but whatever Valery had noticed had made her expression suddenly serious. Whatever it was, Eve strove to push aside her anxieties as her Master instructed Aris to take her further into the ruined city. She took one last glance around nervously, before trailing behind him.

Eve’s breath came slow and measured as she followed Aris deeper into the ruined streets. The destruction felt endless, as if the city itself had been hollowed out, left to crumble beneath the weight of war. Dust and smoke still clung to the air, and every step kicked up small fragments of shattered glass and debris.

Then, a sound; a sharp, gasping breath. Eve snapped her gaze to the right. A collapsed building, its metal supports bent and twisted, loomed over them. The noise came from within.

She moved before she even thought, ducking under the jagged framework of the entrance. The space inside was dim, shafts of light cutting through the wreckage in narrow beams. Dust clung to the walls, swirling in the air as she stepped carefully over fallen debris. Then, near the back, half-buried beneath a collapsed support beam, she saw her. Eve's breath hitched.

A woman. Hapan. Late thirties, maybe older. Her auburn, tangled hair was matted with dust, her clothes torn and streaked with dried blood. She was pinned, her left leg caught beneath fallen rubble. Eve dropped to her knees beside her, reaching out instinctively.

“It’s okay, I’m here—”

But before her hand could even brush the woman’s arm, she flinched violently, her breath hitching in her throat. Eve froze as the woman’s eyes, wild with fear, locked onto hers.

“You’re with them,” she rasped, her hoarse voice filled with accusation. Eve’s stomach twisted.

“W-with… With who?” The woman’s breaths came faster, shallow with panic.

“The interlopers. The ones who destroyed everything. I know what you are, Jedi.” She spat the word like it burned her tongue. “You brought this. You brought ruin to our home.”

Eve felt her chest tighten, her mind stumbling over the words. She was there to help as much as she could, but this woman was looking at her as the villain, vitriol aimed squarely at her. Eve started shaking. She had no defence for this woman’s pain. No argument that would make her suffering vanish. She glanced at Aris.

“I... I’m not here to hurt you,” Eve said trying desperately to keep her voice steady even as the woman trembled beneath her. “I-I... just want to help... P-Please... let me help...”

"Stay away from me, witch."

The words cut through Eve's heart like jagged glass and her silver eyes started to well. The woman pressed herself further into the rubble as if she could somehow sink into it, disappearing from Eve’s reach. Eve’s body tensed up as she struggled to know what to do. If this woman wouldn't let her touch her, if she wouldn't trust her, then they would have to find another way. She swallowed hard, glancing again back to Aris with desperate, hurting eyes.

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Hapes
Tags: Vera Noble | Thea Nyko
Equipment: Lightsaber | Jedi Jumpsuit | Utility Belt
​

Objective II

​

Kaelos hardly had time to think.

There definitely wasn't enough time to say anything. He caught Vera's look out of the corner of his eye and understood it instantly. He had a feeling that he had been sensing the exact same thing, something just not quite right. His own hand had been hovering just slightly over his blade that was sat at his hip.

He felt the pain before he heard the blaster shot, instantly falling to the floor. Teyla screamed, civilians around them looked in panic as a young Jedi crumpled down onto his face. Somewhere off behind the trio of Jedi, someone began to run.

Pain for Kaelos turned to darkness. It originated in his shoulder, shooting all the way down his arm and into his back. His jumpsuit was charred, the blaster bolt having gone straight through it and burning his shoulder. He was still alive, just unconcious.

Teyla, clearly traumatised from the last load of fighting broke free of Vera Noble 's grip and began to run away, looking for anywhere where she could hide. Their assailant was on the run, the blaster still smoking in her grasp as she ran in the opposite direction.

An on looker looked towards Vera Noble and Thea Nyko and shouted "YOU'RE JEDI, DO SOMETHING"

 

[Thea Nyko]

Thea's lightsaber was in her hand before she even registered drawing it, the emerald blade igniting with a sharp snap-hiss. She stepped forward, placing herself between the group and any further danger, her stance widening as she scanned the crowd.

"Vera, stay with him!" she barked, her voice sharp, but steady. Her heart was pounding, but her grip on her saber was sure. Her eyes flicked toward the fleeing shooter, then to Teyla as she bolted in the opposite direction. The whole situation was spiraling.

Thea exhaled, forcing herself to focus. They needed to recover Kaelos, secure the area, and get that shooter now. "Vera, we need to figure out a plan and quick!"

Vera Noble Kaelos Vryn

 

[Alicio Organa]

Objective 1 - The Future of Hapes
Alliance General Ministry Canton, Fondor
- Marya Werdegast - Hal Karjos - Feridade Parthi - Lyandra Thalorin - Damian du Couteau - Sonya Provost - Kalen - Others -
​

After waiting for the Senate to voice their votes, the form of Alicio Organa retook the spotlight, waiting for silence before opening his mouth. "With the overwhelming majority of us in agreement, it seems my original statement was correct, Queen Daaray. The Alliance will support you." His face turned thoughtful, even-keeled. "The trust of this body, and the hopes of your people, rest with you now, Nimaa'ri. Bear them well, Queen Mother."

"Thank you all for this productive and... lively session. Our meeting is adjourned."

Only when he got into the solitude of Alicio's office did Erra allow himself to relax.

He figuratively and literally melted into the chancellor's chair, the face and body of Alicio becoming near-liquid and pale as the Shi'ido dropped his disguise. The other bodyguards in the room looked on with some mix of pity and duty- Erra just shot them an annoyed huff.

"I don't know how he does that," He hissed, replacing Alicio's ponderous tone with his own sharp tongue. "I was about ready to start cussing people out."

"Maybe you shouldn't've volunteered if you had thin skin, Erra." One of the other Shi'ido guards had to hide her twisting smile. "And you're not done yet. Chancellor Organa has to show his face around the Canton tonight. Three meetings."

"Ugh." Erra massaged his forehead. "Just... give me thirty minutes."

"And a raise."

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris followed quickly after Eve. The pained sounds, they were alarming to say the least, but more so was the fact his mother went off on her own. He was torn between trying to figure out what was going on with his mom and what was going on here. And yet, when they stepped in to the building, his focus shifted entirely.

The conversation that happened next was.. Not surprising, all things considered. He stood silently with Eve, listening. understanding, if he could. He wasn't here on Hapan when it happened, but he'd heard about it. Witch. It was wrong, Jedi weren't Dathomiri. Though some were. They likely wouldn't like their culture being used as an insult.

No, wait that wasn't the point.

He glanced to Eve, watching her for a moment. She was.. Hurt, by what was said. Aris frowned faintly before he looked to the rubble. Without another word he reached out and pulled the rubble up. Inhuman strength, casually lifting it as if he was lifting a box. It didn't help her fear, he knew that. He knew that before he saw the terror in her eyes when she had no place to hide any longer.

But she was free. That's what mattered.

"You don't have to like us. You can hate us, even. But don't kill yourself to do that. There are relief camps outside town. Go get fixed up, before you get hurt." She didn't need to be told twice. She took off in a rush, as much of a rush as she could anyway, as Aris sort of watched. They should help her to move, but, that would only do more harm than good right now.

"Let's find the other's who are trapped, okay Eve?" He glanced to her again, giving a brief smile. There was much they needed to do still.

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes, Tunic
Equipment: Lightsaber
Tag: Aris Noble


The encounter left Eve shaken. To hear such cursing hurled directly at her with such honest vitriol, when all she wanted — needed — to do was help those in need, was a lot for the young Echani to take. She clenched a weak fist to stop herself from getting too upset about it, as the prospect crept over her that there were doubtless many others across the whole planet that would feel the exact same way that woman did about her and the Jedi.

She released the breath she didn't realise she was holding. Aris' words to her brought her back into herself. He was right. She couldn't let herself get lost to that thinking. Yet the feeling was there now, clawing at her.

"Aris..." she said quietly, her gaze hanging nowhere in particular. "Why... Why do they hate us... when we just want to help?"

She forced another breath out, and bit down on her tongue — sending a sharp pain through her mouth — to stifle any tears that threatened her. She knew they still had a job to do, but why was it always so difficult? Why was it always wrought with so much pain?

 

[Aris Noble]

"It's not hate. It's fear. Of what's happening, of what they have to suffer through, of what we can do." Aris set down the rubble, glancing back to Everest for a moment. He hadn't expected to see her like this. Vulnerable. Sad. Were those the emotions he was supposed to feel being called a monster? Had he gotten too used to considering himself a monster to even be phased by it now? He did his best to give an encouraging smile.

"They might not trust us ever, but they need help. So, we help. Even if they hate us for it."

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Outfit: Padawan Robes, Tunic
Equipment: Lightsaber
Tag: Aris Noble


Aris was as straightforward as ever, but he spoke with the effortless wisdom of his mother. She strove to not get so distracted, and felt suddenly guilty for distracting from the moment with her own emotional outburst... again.

"Mhm..." Eve forced an exhalation, trying to push away the feelings of apprehension at the edges of her awareness. "Sorry, Aris."

She thought about the pain and fear these people must be feeling. How their home had been ruined because of... any number of factors she didn't quite understand. The uncertainty, the struggle; it was all so unfair. She remembered that heartbreak she herself had felt for the Hapan people, watching the feeds from afar as the events unfolded in real-time. To have been here during the fallout, watching it happen to one's home, must have been utterly horrifying.

As she weighed the situation in her mind a while, she could feel the determination rising again. She had to help. There was no question. She needed to. She clenched a fist, solidifying that newfound strength inside of herself, before turning back to Aris.

"Alright. Let's go."

Swiftly, she stepped out of the building and sharpened her senses, opening herself to her wider surroundings.

Aris Noble​

 

[Aris Noble]

"If you're sure you need to be sorry, then I accept it." He didn't get why she was apologizing. This had hit her hard. It was important to accept that, understand that even, right? He turned his gaze out, letting his senses try to piece together through the chaos of the city. Focus on the different sounds, on people who needed help.

He could hear some close by, close enough for them to get to anyway.

"Let's help as many as we can."

Everest Vale