Private Held in the Currents of the Force

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra listened without interrupting this time, her expression shifting from excitement to something more measured as the implications settled in.

Microstress self-repair. Microjumps. Sunvale path engines. She let out a slow breath.

"You're building fighters that don't just survive the battlefield," she said quietly. "You're building ones that reshape it."

Her gaze lingered on the projection as it demonstrated a microjump maneuver, the model flickering from one vector to another in a blink.

"Microjump capability in active combat changes everything," she continued thoughtfully. "Engagement ranges. Ambush timing. Escape windows. You'd never be where they expect you to be."

She glanced at Torval, a faint smile touching her lips.

"And giving that kind of mobility to pilots who already think differently?" "That's not just force multiplication. That's doctrine rewriting itself."

At the mention of Sunvale engines operating without a Force user, her brow lifted slightly.

"So you're not hoarding the advantage," she observed. "You're designing it so it doesn't rely on one rare skill set."

Her tone softened, respect threading through it.

"That's smart."

Then, after a brief pause, she added with a small, almost playful tilt of her head:

"You realize you're making it very hard for a pilot not to want one of these."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

He gave her a small nod for a moment. "That is one of the goals, Sasori and the Silver Jedi largely are focused on two aspects. preservation of course. Keeping the order for the jedi and maintaining much of i but also evolving and advancing as many aspects that can be." He said it and Syn gave a nod as walking there was an open room with three fighters. "Matsu as a masterr is strong but she would rather all of the jedi be able to survive rather then just exist which is why she got these." He opened it as the three fighters gleamed. "The Solari Class Silver Wing." She said it and the fighters all looked alike with small differences as Torval was speaking.

"The silver wing uses our phase echo hardlight projectors. They are more advanced in their design. The projection has an incredible range and its own movement for a time. Which aids with its capabilities as you can have them swarming around as opposed to all flying constantly in formation." Torval said it as Syn was moving. "Next to it is the Solari Class Silver Blade which has the embersteel edges to its frame allowing it as a fighter to slice and when in walker mode the embersteel functions as blades able to be used. Then there is the Solari Class Silver Shield with its advanced mitigation shield which uses point to point coordination to create a bubble to for a time dimensionally shift a target or a planet if you have enough."

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra stepped into the open room and stopped without meaning to.

Three fighters sat there like promises.

The clean lines. The subtle variations. The way the light caught on their hull plating. She felt it in her chest before she had words for it.

Her hands slipped into her jacket pockets to keep herself from instinctively reaching out and touching one.

"…You weren't exaggerating," she said softly.

Her gaze moved from the Silver Wing to the Silver Blade, then to the Silver Shield, absorbing the differences the way a musician hears variations in a familiar chord.

"Independent hardlight swarm projection," she murmured, eyes narrowing thoughtfully as she imagined the tactical overlay. "That would destroy coordinated enemy targeting. You'd never know which return signature was real."

She shifted slightly toward the Silver Blade, studying the embersteel edges.

"And this one…" she added, voice low with appreciation. "That's not just a dogfighter. That's a breacher."

Then her attention settled on the Silver Shield. Her expression changed.

"Dimensionally shifting a target," she repeated, slower this time. "That's not a fighter's trick. That's strategic."

She let out a quiet breath.

"You're not building tools for glory," she said, glancing back toward Syn. "You're building them so fewer Jedi die."

There was something steady in her tone now. Less excitement. More understanding. She looked back at the Silver Wing and smiled faintly.

"If I had to choose…" she said lightly, though her eyes were serious. "I'd want to fly the one that gives me options." A pause. "But honestly? I'd fly any of them."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

"Well they all give options, each has a microjump computer, sunvale path engine and hyperspace tracker. Each comes with robust systems internally to be self sustaining and preserve a pilot or pair of pilots whether in space for long missions or if they somehow crash on a planet. The systems will self repair and convert materials to repair even without the computers so your ship will rebuild itself. There are emergency systems for beacons but also a gateless hypergate warp to predetermined coordinates that the grandmaster set up and the onboard AI improves it as it learns both the situation and the pilot. There is also separate power systems allowing everything to operate at optimal levels without compromising systems performance."

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra listened as Torval spoke, her attention moving between the fighters and the technical explanations with the same focus she used when studying a cockpit layout for the first time. Each system he described layered onto the last until the picture of what these ships could actually do became clearer.

Self-repair. Material conversion. Independent power systems. Emergency warp extraction.

She let out a quiet breath.

"That's not just a fighter," she said slowly, almost thoughtfully. "That's a survival platform."

Her eyes lingered on the hull of the nearest Solari craft as if she could already imagine what the systems beneath the plating looked like.

"Most pilots spend half their time worrying about what happens when things go wrong," she continued. "Engines fail. Shields drop. You get stranded somewhere hostile with whatever you packed before takeoff."

She glanced back toward Torval.

"You've basically engineered out most of the nightmare scenarios."

Her gaze flicked briefly to Syn, a faint smile touching her lips.

"A fighter that fixes itself, keeps its pilot alive, and can jump out if everything collapses…"

She shook her head, impressed.

"You're not building machines for heroes," she said quietly. "You're building machines that make sure heroes get to come home."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

"It is meaant to protect, advancing the protections of light and life have always been important and each time they have worked on and developed the fighters and some of the ships... The Alema does a lot similar but it is hard to match what some of the dedicated vessels can do orr the vehicles. It is why you saw such things at the Ancilla and its celestial forge. Krass builds things the rest of the galaxy can only imagine and then does more things to make it a reality." The jedi master shrugged though as he spoke. "If you want one though I am sure we can ask and work it out for you to have one." He said it with a small look at her though offering a nod to Torval who gave a shrug. "She is a pilot and I have you escorting her here so if there is space orr she wants it. We are always looking for outside opinions from members not in the order."

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra had been studying the nearest fighter again when the offer landed.

Her head turned slowly. For a moment, she just looked between Syn and Torval, trying to decide if she had heard that correctly.

"…Wait," she said, blinking once. "You're serious?"

She glanced back toward the Solari fighters, the quiet gleam of their hulls suddenly feeling a lot closer than they had a moment ago.

"You don't just…hand out ships like these," she added, her tone caught somewhere between disbelief and careful restraint.

Her hand lifted slightly, gesturing toward the trio of fighters. "These are prototypes. Strategic assets. Probably worth more than most stations I've landed on."

She took a slow breath, letting the excitement settle into something steadier.

"I mean…yes," she admitted honestly. "Any pilot in the galaxy would want to fly something like this."

A faint smile touched her lips. "But wanting it and deserving to test it are two different things."

Her eyes flicked briefly to Syn. "If you really want outside opinions," she said thoughtfully, "I'd be happy to fly one and tell you exactly what works and what breaks."

Then, with a small, slightly amused shrug:

"Pilots are very good at breaking things."

Her gaze returned to the fighters, something quieter settling behind the excitement.

"But if I'm flying one of these," she added, almost to herself, "I'd want it to actually help people. Not just sit in a hangar looking impressive."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

Torval looked at her with a grin. "You are not wrong but these are in production for jedi vessels. We currently have six fleets around the galaxies that have these in service." He said it though. "We also made several other fighters for the jedi. You saw the lighthawk and we developed the planerunner to help with extra-dimensional force threats that come from alternate planes. A few creatures and beings have managed in recent years to break through." He spoke and Syn looked at Lyra with a shrug. "You are talented and skilled. I would say have one because it will compliment you... also I am told flowerrs are old fashioned."

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra listened as Torval continued, the mention of fleets and dimensional threats sounding almost casual, the way researchers tended to discuss things that would terrify normal people. Her attention drifted between the fighters and the conversation, still half captivated by the Solari designs sitting quietly in the bay.

Then Syn spoke. Her head turned toward him just in time to catch the last part. Flowers. For a moment, she simply stared at him. Then she laughed softly, a bright sound that echoed lightly in the chamber.

"You're comparing a prototype Solari-class fighter to flowers?" she asked, one eyebrow lifting.

She stepped closer to the nearest craft, resting her hand lightly on the smooth hull as if greeting it.

"You know," she continued, glancing back toward him with a warm, slightly teasing smile, "that might actually be the fastest way into my heart."

Her eyes flicked briefly across the ship again before returning to him.

"Most people bring roses," she added lightly. "You show up with a self-repairing starfighter that can outrun half the galaxy."

A small shrug followed, playful but sincere.

"I have to admit," she said, "that's a pretty compelling argument."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor
He gave her a look as she seemed happy with it and that was more then enough for him to agree with it. "Then Toreval wrap it to go." He could feel the jedi looking at him. "I listened to a holo show that Alema recommended to learn how to relate to people of this century... though most of what she had me watched there seemed to be a lot of snow and baking."He said it with a serious expression as if trying to understand it fully as Torval suppressed a laugh. "Well we'll have whichever one she wants taken to Alema and she can stow it in her hold. New data will be good as we'll move towards developing the other fighters that we have been wanting to make. Next generation and never before seen kyber alphabet line fighters to go with the x-wings." He said it and Syn came over to look down a little at Lyra though. "But I am glad that you like it, it will suite you very well." He could still do flowers, or make her meals but a ship was a ship.

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra blinked once, then again, as the words finally registered. Wrap it to go. For a moment, she simply stared up at Syn, caught between disbelief and a bubbling urge to laugh as she searched his face to see if he was joking.

He wasn't; his expression was entirely, endearingly serious.

A quiet laugh escaped her anyway, and she pressed a hand to her mouth as warmth spread across her cheeks. "You listened to a holo-show about snow and baking to learn how to relate to people?" she asked, her eyes bright with amusement. She shook her head gently, the fondness in her expression impossible to hide. "That might be the most endearing thing I've heard all day."

When Torval mentioned transferring one of the fighters to the Alema, the weight of the moment settled over her again. Her gaze drifted back toward the ships, and she took a slow, steadying breath. "I still can't believe you're serious about this," she admitted quietly, her hand resting lightly on the hull of the nearest Solari fighter. Her fingers traced the smooth metal as if she were convincing herself it was real.

Turning back to Syn, she said softly, "Most people try to impress someone with dinner or flowers. You gave me a starfighter." A small smile tugged at her lips, her eyes warming as she met his gaze. "You're definitely learning the way into my heart."

She glanced once more at the trio of fighters before looking toward Torval. "If I get to choose," she added thoughtfully, a faint grin following her words, "I want the one with the hardlight projections. Options—you heard me say I like options."

Then, turning back to Syn, she added in a softer, more private tone, "Thank you."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

He did chuckle to that as she said which one she wanted and he gave a nod towards Torval who was motioning for the droids to come and handle it. "We'll have it sent over and set up." He said it and Syn looked at Lyra with a nod of his head as she had spoken about what he did to try and be a little better with humor. He only moved closer as she whispered with a bow of his head. "Always." He said it while looking down at her while the Silver wing was there but he brought an arm out. "I have heard you say you like a good number of things and I work to make sure they aare each commited to memory. If anything as I said our time together shall be something you will not forget."

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra had been watching the droids begin their careful work around the Silver Wing when Syn stepped closer again. The quiet certainty in his voice drew her attention back to him, and for a moment, the fighter, the engineers, and the entire chamber seemed to fade into the background.

Then he spoke.

Her breath caught before she could stop it.

"Oh… Maker," she murmured under her breath.

For a second, she simply stared at him, blue eyes wide with the same mixture of disbelief and warmth that had crept up on her more than once that day. A soft laugh escaped her as she shook her head slightly.

"You really do say things like that with a completely straight face," she said, the corners of her mouth lifting.

When she noticed the arm he had offered, she didn't hesitate this time. Her hand slipped around it naturally, the contact grounding her in a way she hadn't expected.

"I'm starting to think the holo shows didn't prepare you for the effect those lines actually have," she added lightly.

Her gaze flicked briefly toward the Silver Wing being moved by the droids, then returned to him.

"But…" she admitted more quietly, "I appreciate the effort."

The smile that followed was softer now, more sincere than teasing.

"And for the record," she said, looking up at him, "this day was already going to be hard to forget."

A small breath left her as she settled comfortably at his side.

"You're just making absolutely certain of it."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

"I never saw the result." He said it with a straight face though while being able to walk and looked up and over at Torval. "So, what can we help with?" He said it and the jedi researcher was there as he spoke. "Yes the asteroids, we were clearing them and found something. The original goal to clear enough of them for a project. ONe that we found was already in use. An older temple that we believe are tied to the builders." He said it while walking. "If it is, then having some of them this far out might mean we are close to Alistan Nor." He said it and Syn perked up. "That would be an impressive accomplishment but people have looked for such a place."

He spoke and Torval gave a nod. "Yes but the chance even if remote and not true is still something to check. The myths and legends of the builders, the children's tales they told us in the temple creche go a long way in some cases." He said it and Syn gave a small look as he spoke. "The creches are areas of the temple, jedi matrons care for children, babies in the crib, younglings until they are ready to be moved to the main temple and become padawan learners. They train and teach them old tales, legends and stories about things no one else expects. Usually with some paraable or lesson tied to it or a myth designed to inspire."

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra walked alongside them, her attention shifting between the conversation and the quiet movement of activity around the research corridors. The earlier excitement over starfighters and technology had settled into something calmer now, replaced by curiosity as Torval explained what they had found in the asteroid field.

An older temple.

Her brow lifted slightly at that.

"You found a temple in an asteroid field?" she asked, her voice carrying a mixture of surprise and cautious fascination. "That's…not the kind of thing you expect to hear in a casual hallway conversation."

When Torval mentioned the Builders and Alistan Nor, Lyra glanced toward Syn. The names meant something to him; that much was obvious, even if she didn't fully grasp the scale of what they were talking about.

"I take it that would be a very big discovery," she said thoughtfully.

As Syn explained the creches and the stories the younglings were raised on, her expression softened a little as she imagined it. Jedi children growing up surrounded by legends meant to guide them.

"Stories like that have a way of sticking around for a reason," she said quietly. "Even if most people stop believing them."

Her gaze drifted briefly toward the distant windows where the stars hung silent beyond the research station.

"And sometimes the galaxy turns out to be stranger than the stories anyway."

Then she looked back toward Torval.

"So what exactly did you find in the asteroid?" she asked. "And where do you think it leads?"

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

He looked at her as she spoke. "It would be big. A world where force users were able to create entire parts of the galaxy. Legends told of places with remnants of a thousand things that came before. Legends to inspire maybe, truth may have been less so but it would be like owning a legendary ship I can only equate to." He said it as they were walking and Torval gave a nod. "I don't think it is that powerful but if we could even prove a small amount of such legends... a small piece, a shred of something from myth of legend. It goes a long way." He said it and was being practical in many ways to it but offered a smile. "What we hope to find though is just that... something pointing towards them having been real or in some way more then a myth."

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra walked beside them, her eyes drifting briefly to the viewport where the stars hung motionless beyond the station. The scale of what they were talking about settled over her slowly, the kind of discovery that made even seasoned pilots pause.

"Even a small piece would change a lot," she said thoughtfully. "If the stories are even half true, proving they were real would mean the galaxy used to be…very different."

Her gaze shifted back to Torval and then to Syn.

"And sometimes the smallest clue is all it takes to turn a legend into history."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"Sounds like the kind of thing worth checking."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

He gave a nod of his head to that. "Yes, it might be nothing, it might be something small but it is a clue." Torval was speaking and he was more excited as Syn looked at him. The jedi master knew the importance of it and he knew the history. It was something that many others might have wanted to get. Torrval was leading them as the path went onto a tram to get moving and it went over chambers as jedi were training and practicing. Droids and combat biots battling with them to test different weapons and equipment but also vehicles. "SOme of our other equipment. We have developed forward command vehicles that cna be used and deployed. Siege breaker cannons for deployment as needed. The sith and a number of other dangerous elements provide challenges but we are working on ways to try and have solutions that do not entirely rely on endangering lives. Even our containment cells will be something to work on."

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra stepped onto the tram beside them, her hands resting lightly on the railing as it began to glide forward. The view opened beneath them in layers of training chambers and testing floors, the quiet hum of machinery and distant impacts echoing upward as Jedi sparred with droids and experimental combat biots.

For a moment, she simply watched, her pilot's mind instinctively cataloging everything: the movement patterns, the vehicles being tested, the layout of the facility.

"That's…a lot more preparation than most groups ever get," she said thoughtfully, nodding toward one of the chambers where a vehicle rolled through a simulated combat zone. "Most places just throw people into the danger and hope skill carries them through."

Her gaze drifted across the equipment displays, though it didn't take long before it found its way back to Syn beside her. It was annoyingly easy to notice him even when she was trying to pay attention to something else.

She cleared her throat lightly and forced her attention back toward Torval.

"Forward command vehicles and siege breakers make sense," she continued, her voice settling back into a more professional tone. "If you can end a fight faster or keep it contained, fewer people get hurt."

Her eyes moved again over the training floor below.

"And containment cells that actually hold dangerous Force users?" she added with a faint lift of her brow. "I imagine that would get a lot of attention."

Then she glanced sideways at Syn again, the smallest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth before she quickly looked forward again.

"Seems like you've built half a war effort down here just trying to prevent one."

Syn

 

[Syn]

Lyra Ventor

Syn gave a nod of his head. "There is unfortunately a lot of danger in the galaxy and more so on worlds the sith don't touch anymore... older things forgotten that are stumbled upon and something that are just below the surface." he said it and Torval looked at him. "What he means is yes, we look for the ways to prevent wars and destruction but as you said just relying on skill while impressive does little when the other orders throw a newly knighted jedi at an army and give them robes and a saber. SOme will have that instinct and capability to survive but others might need some help. So we are looking to give the help and the means to prevent a lot morre. AN old saying some would abuse.... but we look at might for right, not might making right."