Infestation on Balmorra

[Soeht]

Years ago, Balmorra experienced a Colicoid infestation due to experiments on the insect-like species during the Galactic War between the First Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire at the time. Due to the experiments, the Colicoids on Balmorra were extremely aggressive compared to their counterparts spread throughout the galaxy. Eventually, the Balmorran military managed to root out these Colicoids and exterminate them.

At least, it seemed as if Balmorra eradicated all the Colicoids. In 836 ABY, mining expeditions north of Sobrik uncovered a hibernating colony of the Colicoids. Once these Colicoids awoke, they quickly swarmed out to the surface and took over the mining facility. While they might appear as simple insects, Colicoids not native to Balmorra possessed the ability to design and manufacture arms for the galaxy. The Colicoids on Balmorra experienced little difficulty in using the mining facility’s left over equipment.

Soon after the Colicoids awoke, they began terrorizing the area around Sobrik. It took little time before they managed to steal enough weapons from patrols in the area to fortify their position north of Sobrik. Now, Balmorra had little means to exterminate this colony without suffering heavy losses. The government did not hold legal authority over the factory’s on the planet, as those were controlled by companies that had yet to experience difficulty due to the Colicoids.

Yet, the colony boasted remarkably high growth rates. The most optimistic reports stated that they would soon be able to overrun Sobrik in weeks.

Sent with some Republic forces in order to quell the situation, Daella traveled to Balmorra aboard a transport that landed in Sobrik’s spaceport. This was her first time on Balmorra in almost six years. Her homecoming was expected to be brief, though, as the Republic forces supposedly arrived with heavy firepower.

 

[Marek S'hadar]

@[member="Daella Apparine"]

So a bug problem? Lovely. Marek had always fancied himself an exterminator. Silently he sat in a meditative position, trying to find a bit of peace in the force as they neared their objective. Peace had been scarce for him recently, sleeping had been hard, visions of what could've happened if he'd taken a darker path, if instead of coming to the light, he'd stayed in the dark, and become Darth Iram, become rage. That damn armor haunted his thoughts, as well as all the horrendous things he'd done it, he needed to vent. This was a good outlet.

 

[Flint Dexen]

@[member="Daella Apparine"] @[member="Marek S'hadar"]

Insects. Colicoids weren't exactly the people (or insects in this case) that Flint liked to hang out with. Not certainly the ones they were trying to eradicate in this planet, anyways. Flint was in his usual Jedi Apprentice robe, onboard the Republic vessel along with several other fellow Jedi as they headed down to Balmorra. He let out a deep breath, and gripped his lightsaber hilt on his belt to reassure himself that this mission was going to be a piece of cake. Or at least he hoped that was what it was going to be.

 

[Soeht]

Once the Republic forces landed in Sorik, a representative of the Balmorran government greeted everyone.

"Welcome to Balmorra, friends," exclaimed the short, pudgy, bald man with a wide grin, "I'm Ozi Mandus. Please follow me to the command center!"

After exiting the spaceport, it would have been a small walk for Daella, @[member="Flint Dexen"], @[member="Marek S'hadar"], and anyone else with the Republic. The air outside was heavy with a pungent odor from the many factories that dotted the landscape. Ozi stayed at the head of the group and showed them into a small metal building. Eventually, everyone would gather around a table-sized holomap of Sobrik and the nearby region. A part of the map to the north of Sobrik was highlighted in red.

"I have heard that everyone has been informed on what a Colicoid is, so I'll stick to the situation we have right now. We have discovered that the Colicoids have a nest in this area, which we call Bugtown," began Ozi, "It's on the west side and deep underground. Using missiles would prove ineffective in killing them. So, we're going to need a team to go into the nest and set a baradium charge near the queen's lair. Killing the queen should theoretically kill the nest in the long run. The problem is that some of our scouts have discovered some pretty nasty guards for the queen and that the Colicoid's numbers are too large for a frontal assault."

Looking up at the Republic's strike team, Ozi then said, "I'm thinking that we use a significant portion of our forces and yours to stage a fake attack at the east side of Bugtown. The strike team with the baradium charge sneaks into the nest and sets it. The charge will be remotely detonated, so there is no need to worry about it trapping everyone. Any questions or comments about this?"

Remaining silent, Daella offered no comment in regards to Ozi's plan. She looked to her side toward the rest of her comrades.

 

[Serah Oricion]

Yusan breathed in the air and listened to the sounds around him. Balmorra, he had never been here to tell the truth, nor had he ever planned to come here. But none the less here he was and he was here to do a job. Apparently a nest of bugs had come up from their hole and were terrorizing the locals, as far as Yusan was concerned it was time to wipe out the pesky things and get back to work. He had stayed true though to the promise he made on the Senate floor, determined to follow his words to the letter and being on the front lines if the Republic ever fought. So here he was, standing in his dark robes and black battle armor. His vibroblades over his shoulder, his pistols at his side, and his saber hooked in the small of his back so as to hide it from prying eyes.

He stood near the others and listened to the plan, seemed easy enough and shouldnt take too much effort. But he already thought of all the things that could go wrong in the end, between the bugs not taking the bait or even the charges going off prematurely. But he dismissed those thoughts, there was no reason or need for such thoughts in this place or at this time. He looked among the others he recognized through either files or through personal meeting and posed no questions, letting them ask theirs if they need to.

@[member="Daella Apparine"] @[member="Flint Dexen"]

 

[Arumi Zy]

@[member="Daella Apparine"] @[member="Marek S'hadar"] @[member="Yusan Fenn"]

It had been quite a long time since Arumi has set foot on Balmora, well over a thousand years ago and he left in less then amicable terms with the local government. He had assassinated several councilors and put his own puppets in place, but none today would be a live from that time so he worried less about it then his allies. If anything they had proven themselves somewhat trust worthy and somewhat capable in their own rights. The sith Lord simply strode beside the group listening to the brief, he thought back at his earlier years before the big freeze. He had investigated bugtown once, trying to find relics of the past mostly the research data and the chips used to enhance the Collicoids.

" Have there been sighting of the queen? Or any corpses collected? If we could perform a necropsy on one of them we could find out if they are the enhanced versions, it could be invaluable if they are..".

 

[Vexander Graves]

@Daella Apparine @Marek S'hadar @[member="Flint Dexen"] @Yusan Fenn @[member="Arumi Zy"]
Nothing could be heard from the corellian's mouth. In fact, his breathing was stable and silent, no sign of agitation could be heard. It was his first mission since he joined the Jedi Order, but not his first mission for the Republic. Although everything showed that he was just fine, inside he felt like if it was his first time in the field. These are different circumstances. He thought while he looked at his equipment to make sure everything was in place. And his thoughts were true, now he was a Jedi in training and he was going to use what his master was teaching him, something completely new... an unknown territory.

The ride was fast, in no time, Vexander was touching Balmorra's ground along the rest of the Republic team. Several other Jedi came along judging by their attire and stance... he has seen them in the corridors and hallways of the Temple... but never directed a word at them... afterall he was not used to open conversation with strangers just like that.

Vexander raised his eyebrown while he heard the plan. A diversion that would enable a sneak attack straight into the Colicoid's nest, that would decimate their numbers for sure. A blonde Jedi looked at her side and gazed upon the ones in the room aside from Ozi like waiting for input or comments about it.

Regardless of the difficulty of the mission, or how vicious the Colicoids might be and relentless to protect their queen, it had to be done. And as a padawan, it was not his place to question plans at this moment. Without saying a word, Vex nodded at the girl letting her know that he understood the plan, and just waited for his specific orders and assignment to test his newly found skills and connection to the force in actual combat.

 

[Soeht]

“Well, I believe our expert on Colicoids can better answer that than myself,” replied Ozi. He then looked to a hall that would have been out of view from the rest of the Republic representatives that gathered in the command center. He motioned his hand toward the holo-map.

Upon being beckoned to enter, a full-grown Colicoid entered the room. Daella’s eyes widened at the sight. She took a half step back.

Raising his hands to caution the Republic’s soldiers, Ozi then said, “Don’t worry, he isn’t one from Bugtown. This is Kissec. He came from their homeworld because the Colicoids have some interest in Balmorra’s colony.”

Then, Kissec began to speak in Basic with a distinct buzz, “The Colicoidz on thiz planet are remnantz of an experimental batch. They are more powerful than thoze zuch az me.”

Continuing, Kissec said, “We don't care if the colony here is exterminated, though. We juzt need a few zpecimenz from the hive - eggz ezpecially. Zomeone will need to collect it.”

 

[Vexander Graves]

The concentration of the young man was focused in the girl. He was trying to determine what she was thinking when suddenly he noticed that his eyes widened. Vexander's instinctive reflexes were to turn around and reach towards his training saber... the first time he was going to use it... but before he could unclip it from his belt, their guide, the balmorran representative; halted any action towards the being informing them that he was an ally.

Vexander frowned briefly. Showing up just like that could get that sentient killed... that is how accidents happen. He didn't like the such surprise but refrained himself from saying anything. Anger and disgust was something he had to control and was learning to do so... otherwise, if he couldn't control his emotions, it was going to be difficult to control the visions and images that were the reason why he joined the Order.

The colicoidz identified as Kissec quickly but briefly explained where he came from and his purpose in the Balmorra Command Center, however; his explanation didn't actually make sense to Vex... something was odd from his perspective. Finally, after remaining silent for so long, a small comment came to his mind, perhaps not useful but for him it was necessary to express it: "You know your own..." said at the bug-life sentient "...if we take just one egg the Queen will follow us no matter what and she might get out of range from the blast. We need to come up with something to take them without alerting her." said with a monotone and militaristic voice... one he couldn't just push aside eventhough he has been some time in the Order... one of the remnants of his past life as a military contractor for the Republic.

One more thing bothered him and he just wanted to know... for now... looking once again at the bug-like sentient, he asked one last thing before remaining silent once more: "Who created that experimental batch?"

 

[Flint Dexen]

@[member="Marek S'hadar"] @[member="Daella Apparine"] @[member="Vexander Graves"] @[member="Arumi Zy"] @[member="Yusan Fenn"]

Flint gazed about the room as they discussed the plan for the mission. “We don't care if the colony here is exterminated, though. We juzt need a few zpecimenz from the hive - eggz ezpecially. Zomeone will need to collect it.” The Jedi Apprentice listened carefully to what the Colicoid had to say. After hearing questions and answers thrown around in the discussion, Flint decided to speak. "So shall we divide ourselves into two groups? Or should all the Jedi be part of the strike team?" he inquired. Flint was ready to get moving. Talking was all great, but after all, action always spoke louder than words.

 

[Marek S'hadar]

"We are Jedi, we need not hold together in a single group, I believe we should divide and conquer." Marek stated, looking to his padawan, @[member="Flint Dexen"] and giving a nod of recognition to him. Then a darker tone would come to his voice, "Why are we not just targeting the queen? We kill her, steal a few babies and leave the rest to rot in the hole they dug. Or just take a few eggs then blast the place from orbit." Perhaps he had been misinformed, he wasn't sure. He didn't care though, he just wanted to exterminate the vermin.

 

[Serah Oricion]

"Because the queen, and likely her clutch, are the most well guarded. It would be hard if not near impossible to defeat the queen much less get to her." He looked over the jedi and grinned. Such proud ones, he didn't know much about their teachings but he was sure that they were being over confirdent. "And taking the eggs as said before is not nearly as easy as you make it to be. And not everyone here is a Jedi, unless your implying that only Jedi can be trusted to do this or worse that only you are skilled enough." He waited for everyone's attention to be caught before speaking one last time. "What exactly is so important about the eggs if i might ask, why is it so vital that we take a few of them."

@[member="Marek S'hadar"] @[member="Flint Dexen"] @[member="Vexander Graves"] @[member="Daella Apparine"] @[member="Arumi Zy"]

 

[Darth Vazela]

| @[member="Yusan Fenn"] | @Mark S'hadar | @[member="Flint Dexen"] | @[member="Vexander Graves"] | @[member="Daella Apparine"] | @[member="Arumi Zy"] |

A hooded man walked along the ridge of the mountain way leading down into a groove. Inside the groove, a deep, dark empty expanse was left towards it's end, indicating a cave of sorts. A hole would be a more accurate description. Behind him, the individual whom approached the groove and subsequently the entrance to the Colicoid hive could hear the ramp of the Bantha retracting into itself, with a soft hiss telling him that it's doors were locked. The ship would be on lock down until the time that he returned. The only other individual in the galaxy that the ship had been linked to was Circe Savan. But the mans secret apprentice was away, somewhere in the regions of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, he assumed. Either that or she was up to something. Perhaps completing the task he had set after their meeting on Bakura, during the Bakaruan Arms Show hosted by the Lords of the Fringe? He did not know. There were too many factors and possibilities to consider when it came to her.

He was utilized a technique that kept his aura and consequentially whereabouts hidden from the other Force-sensitives on the galaxy. He had been aware of the presence of Daella Apparine and her team since his arrival only minutes ago. Such was the ritual that had allowed him to conceal his Force signature, as it were, from others and yet feel the presence of other Force-sensitives like himself. At this distance, he would not feel the presence of mere Jedi Padawans such as Vexander Graves. Although with the potential to become a powerful Jedi, as it remained to be seen, the young Corellian had not developed enough into his powers to create a disturbance large enough to feel between the many miles between Vilox Pazela and himself. But Jedi such as Daella Apparine or a Sith Master such as Arumi Zy interested him, especially in the latter. He presumed he would learn more about this dark sided individual during the experiments he was about to perform and to ascertain the Republics resolve. He had seen what the Empire and it's 'key' players were like, but had yet to encounter the Republic's and Jedi's strength. The Battle of Metalorn aside, from which he had only entered a duel with the Jedi Grandmaster of the time, Ben Watts and the Jedi Knight Joshua DragonsFlame, he had not fully learned of how much a threat the Jedi Order and their democracy was in this day and age. Although, his duel with DragonsFlame in particular had told him much about the young man.

He entered the hole in the groove and began his descent. He assumed that, if another individual whom was not a Force-sensitive like himself would have fallen due to the steepness, wetness and attire that he wore. Comfortable boots and a black, hooded robe were not climbing gear. But the man utilized the Force, where he felt comfortable to steady himself and so, after several minutes of moving downwards did he reach an even plain. When he rose upwards, he dusted himself, steadied himself and then, right then, could he feel them. Inside the walls, above him, below him, around him. He leaned his head to the left curiously, before moving forwards, deeper into the cavern.

 

[Soeht]

When @[member="Vexander Graves"] asked about the safety of stealing an egg, Kessic durned to Ozi. The Balmorran representative was quick to reply with, “Oh, we’ll give the strike team a few smaller charges. If you’re not up for fighting off the queen, just set these off in a tunnel. It should cause a cave in and buy the team time to get out of range of the baradium charge.”

Then when @[member="Yusan Fenn"] asked his question, Kissec interjected by replying, “We’re wizh to study theze zpezcimenz for our own intereztz. We’ve provided the intel and baradium charge to Balmorra as payment for thiz zervizce.”

“Now then,” butted in Ozi before more questions could be asked, “You all need to split into two teams. The diversionary team will have the benefit of some of our soldiers and droids. The team just needs to destroy a few of the auxiliary tunnels and foragers for the Colicoids and the hive shall respond.”

Just before he continued his explanation, Ozi finally had a good look at Daella, who remained silent and out of focus.

“Ah, I remember you,” he said in a flat tone to Daella, “I’m sure you’d be the perfect person to carry the baradium charge to the nest.”

Ozi’s almost hostile words were met with a simple nod from Daella. She then turned to the rest of her allies as if expecting to hear where they would go.

@[member="Marek S'hadar"] @[member="Flint Dexen"]

 

[Vexander Graves]

Vexander caressed his beard while he heard the answers for each one of the questions, nevertheless; for some reason he was not satisfied. The retrieval of a specimen genetically modified to be different from a normal colicoid for study represented a threat in the long run... still, at the moment it was not a matter of jumping to conclusions... he was there to get a job done as a Jedi.

The Balmorran representative looked at the girl of the group and practically assigned her the detonation of the charge inside the nest... however, his tone of voice and his face let Vex know that there was something he didn't knew about her... still, she was a Jedi, and although he didn't know her that was more than enough for him.

A decision had to be made, and although Vex felt that being part of the distraction team would allow him to use once again a sniper rifle and shoot targets from a distance; he felt that he had to be in the team tasked to place the charge. Since he joined the Order... he learned that such feelings and hunches were important and sometimes they carried the will of the Force.

"I'll go to the nest."

@[member="Daella Apparine"] @[member="Yusan Fenn"] @Marek S'hadar @Flint Dexen

 

[Darth Vazela]

| @[member="Yusan Fenn"] | @[member="Flint Dexen"] | @[member="Vexander Graves"] | @Daeila Apparine | @[member="Arumi Zy"] | @[member="Marek S'hadar"] |

Colicoids surrounded the hooded, black robed individual as he came to a stop inside a rotunda of sorts. Inside the cave now, the giant swarm of bugs formed a circle. They blocked off his exits and they all outnumbered them. The blood lust in the air, emitting from them was palpable. He knew that these creatures wanted to devour him for themselves. To taste the blood, muscle and bone of his body. The mysterious individual knew, however, that they were waiting for something else to come forward and he knew what it was. So, he lifted his slender, chalk white hands to his hood and lowered it from his head.

And so the Colicoids of Balmorra gazed upon Vilox Pazela for the first time.

He lifted his hand ahead of him and concentrated on the dark side of the Force. He began to murmur incantations, Sith'ise for those who were familiar with the language and waited for the Colicoid Queen to approach and devour him. But he would not allow these creatures to finish him. He was too important to die in a damp, dark cave.

 

[Serah Oricion]

Yusan frowned at the man's tone, the rather weak answer, and the fact that this seemed all to easy. None the less he sighed and spoke up as everyone dispersed or decided where they would be going. "Im heading with the strike team into the nest, after all a non Jedi should be there to offset the amount of Jedi here. Well, that and i want to see just how strong these bugs are, they sound like a good challenge." @[member="Vilox Pazela"] @[member="Vexander Graves"] @[member="Daella Apparine"] @[member="Marek S'hadar"] @[member="Flint Dexen"]

 

[Marek S'hadar]

Marek had held his tongue, @[member="Flint Dexen"] had been his pupil, he was supposed to set an example by not flipping out on senators. The redeemed Sith would be silent, even after @[member="Yusan Fenn"] made a comment that made him twitch underneath the hood that concealed his face from view. He gave the Kissec and Ozi a respectful nod before looking to @[member="Daella Apparine"], "As this is Daella's mission to lead, I volunteer to carry the charges." He offered with a shrug. He didn't know what, but something in the force called out to him, told him something was wrong, that someone corrupt and evil was here.


@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

@[member="Vexander Graves"]

 

[Arumi Zy]

@[member="Vexander Graves"] @[member="Marek S'hadar"] @[member="Yusan Fenn"] @[member="Vilox Pazela"] @[member="Daella Apparine"]

" Would not a concentrated neutron charge be better, it would wipe out all life but leave tech and corpses in tact?" he said as he moved away from the table looking over the jedi assembled for the task force. He eventually shrugged planning to collect a few specimens for his own research and and developement " I will go where ever i would be the most service, either assault or distractionary. I will allow Mrs Daella the command of where i go"

 

[Darth Vazela]

| @[member="Yusan Fenn"] | @[member="Flint Dexen"] | @[member="Vexander Graves"] | @[member="Arumi Zy"] | @[member="Marek S'hadar"] | @[member="Daella Apparine"] |

The Colicoid Queen came to a stop. An opening formed on her forehead and something alive came out of the head of the creature. It looked like a pincer, yet the based leading from the pincer back down to the head and into the crevice that it came from suggested that it was a tube of sorts. Vilox assumed that this was how the Colicoids ate their victims and came to a second assumption that this queen wanted his brain. He briefly thought over the possibilities of this creature eating his brain. Would it gain the knowledge on the dark side? It was an interesting possibility.

But he was not concerned with this. No, he would not allow the Colicoid Queen of Balmorra to eat him alive, nor allow her subjects to devour his fallen body in the event of such a thing. Lifting his hands ahead of me, he unleashed the power of the dark side. So palpable, so potent that not even his technique that he had utilized to bypass their methods of detection before would protect him from being sensed. He remembered reading on Pydyr, all of those years ago, that the ritual in which Darths Plagueis and Sidious had done would become undone in the event that they utilized the dark side in such a way. That was how the two Dark Lords of the Sith had been detected on Coruscant during the assassination attempt on Plagueis.

He lowered his arms, the ritual finished. The Qâzoi Kyantuska had settled among the plebeian creatures that surrounded him. Thought Suppression upon them, Vilox ordered them to return to their posts and they obeyed him. How could they not?

As the Dark Jedi began his experiments on the Colicoid Queen on his control, her legions returned to guarding their fortress that was the cavern. On a ridge, where Vilox Pazela had only walked moments ago, laid a cylinder, circle device. It had been left on a rock, noticeable to the approaching Jedi strike team. Upon closer inspection, it would be a holoprojector. It's sister was inside the robe of the former Sith Lord who was now in control of the Colicoid hive. Would they contact him, he wondered?