Dominion Kuat a Relief! | Alliance Dominion of Kuat

[Spirit of Unity]

[ Non-Faction PM to Join ]

KUAT A RELIEF!
Dominion of the Kuat/Alderaan Hex
[MUSIC]

It has been almost six months since the citizens of the Core collectively held their breath and watched as the IMPERIUM and REPUBLIC squared off in the orbit of KUAT. It was a conflict that pushed the two rising nations to the brink of a reluctant war. However, despite the great efforts of malicious and despicable forces to manipulate them into aggression, the two governments proved their STRENGTH & RESOLVE.

In the ultimate test, the desire for PEACE managed to outweigh the urge for WAR, signalling a new era of cooperation for the CORE WORLDS. Both nations chose to withdraw the bulk of their forces, leaving only small defense fleets to passively monitor the border of the temporarily established NEUTRAL ZONE.

Unfortunately, the ALLIANCE has recently received an official request for aid from Lady ELANE KUAT, the planet’s Head of State, advising that their situation has only continued to deteriorate. Although faced with an unprecedented threat emerging from the MIST-BEYOND, the ALLIANCE’s Ministry of Defense has cleared a limited force to be dispatched in order to provide the emergency resources and aid the Kuati people need.

It appears a terrorist cell has emerged that is attempting to take advantage of the post-conflict situation to overthrow the current administration. Information provided by the Kuati Intelligence Service indicates that these insurgents are utilizing bioweapons recovered from the wreckage of a Bulwark Mk III battlecruiser that crashed into the Drive Yards during the event. A special task force is set to be dispatched from a Nox-class Raider Corvette, alongside a squad of Alliance Commandos, to finish the quarantine procedures around the crash site, destroy any remaining traces of the bioweapons, and capture or eliminate all members of this insurgency found onsite. Once the bioweapons have been secured, the Kuati can extract the wreckage of the battlecruiser for salvage and proceed safely with full repairs. Captured terrorists will be detained and handed over to the Strategic Intelligence Agency for further questioning.

Join the task force being deployed near the crash site and help clear up the mess. Capture hostile agents for questioning and destroy the biological weapons so that they never fall into the wrong hands again!

The damage to the Drive Yards in the battle and their inability to complete repairs amidst the active threat of terrorist attacks has resulted in numerous layoffs and financial hardship for those dependent on the ring's operation to survive. The manufacturing of starships and related components is an integral part of the planet’s economy and cultural identity, and disruptions to the production lines can have lasting impacts on not just the people directly involved with the industry, but the many facets of Kuati society that are funded through the taxes generated by the Drive Yards. The Alliance has agreed to allocate what funds, personnel and resources it can spare in order to provide relief for the struggling population as their forces work to resolve the root of the issue.

Join the relief forces in the living areas of the Drive Yard. Administer medical aid, distribute rations and supplies, or perhaps uncover a sinister plot to steal the supplied goods from those who need it!

​

The Kuat Drive Yards have been far more vulnerable than usual since they were damaged in the very publicly broadcast Imperium/Republic skirmish. Perhaps pirates have come to rob construction materials, or a group of sneaky salvagers are looking to steal from the wrecked sections of the Drive Yards to turn a handsome profit. Bring your own story!

Do Kuat-ever you want!​

 

[Jegy Sesara]

The small medical tent that was set up was extremely lively as people went back and forth as several nurses divided their time among patients. It had been almost a year and yet that was enough time to nearly destroy their economy. Their currency dipped, their production dipped and with people losing their jobs, the medical profession was almost broken to their knees as well. At the corner of the medical tent, a Sullustan would be hunched over near one of the elderly Kuati as he gently with his right hand, inserted a new small circular battery near the canal of the ear as he held the battery in place and spoke.

"Test One Two, Test?"
"Test Three Four."

Giving a nod, he would close up the gap on the skin and kept his right palm situated on the ear. Breathing in, he would focus as the skin would slowly repair itself completely around the ear as if it was never cut open before. Giving a small smile, he would gently tap on the side of his head with two fingers as he grabbed a small piece of paper and wrote down several instructions.

"Refill medications for a full year, clean bill of health save for blood pressure. Next battery wireless recharge in two years, battery change out in twenty. If defective, come back in two years and we will replace it for free...and as this is free, that won't really matter now will it?"

The elderly Kuati gave a small chuckle as he slowly grabbed the piece of paper and got up, the Sullustan very slowly escorting him out of the tent as he looked over the patients. This was into its third day and it does not seem to slow down. He had been in epidemic zones, war zones and so forth...this was perhaps one of the more painful to look at. Because their currency fell to very low, almost stone floor bottom, no one could afford anything without trading actual goods. Doctor visits became nearly impossible with some being reported to being held in villages to just treat their own. Giving a long sigh, he would go over to one of the nurses for a full count outside as the line had grown bigger...now it was a matter of how long they can keep doing this without falling over. Least it was not anything dire, just sad pathetic problems that a government should been able to handle...and instead, failed to do so.

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Kuat // En-Route to Driveyards // Nox-Class Raider Corvette
Dak
Keep careful watch of my brother's souls
​

Without the focused rush of adrenaline and taking control of a cockpit, the blonde kiffar-clone was forced to be alone with her thoughts and focus on the present. Loske wasn't good at being alone.

Proximally speaking, she wasn't in isolation. The Padawan was surrounded by troopers who were rallying in preparation for their next assignment. The Force was still with her. The lonesomeness came with the partial severance to a bond that had been so closely knitted to her psyche that the devastating blow that rendered that other half indefinitely unconscious

The skies of Brentaal IV had swallowed themselves up again, and the teams had been forced to retreat. Her eyes had been black and red since crawling out from the canopy of her Thunderbird. There'd been no triumph other than the body count of those that hadn't been eviscerated by preservation practices.

To the few she was assigned with, she probably looked dispassionate about the task at hand. Her eyes were closed, and she was collapsed in her seat with her back against the wall, releasing shuddering breaths that looked far from calm. She was attempting to meditate, but the intrusive status of the Imperator was something she couldn't navigate around yet. His vulnerability had been more than she'd seen even on Chandrila, and it was shaking her to the core. It was selfish to be so wrapped up in a deeply personal affliction, she knew this, and chided herself for it. The only crutch she could claim was poor programming - such a clone hadn't been made to cultivate prowess over emotion.

 

[Dak]

Kuat // En Route to the Driveyards // Nox-class Raider Corvette​

Tags: Loske Treicolt ​

​

Unbeknownst to the droid, his PPBs buffered on the same concepts troubling the Kiffar at his side. The news of Cedric's sacrifice in battle had caught him by complete surprise. It was only after their forces had withdrew from Brentaal, after the anomaly's effects on their communications lifted, that Dak had learned the fate of the Lord-Imperator.

So many things seemed uncertain now. Including his fundamental purpose.

With the exception of a few years, Dak had spent the bulk of his activation time serving generations of House Graysons. Whether it was against the Sith, the Separatists, or the miscellaneous threats of the modern era, the errant DAC had always stood at their side. With Cedric's condition uncertain, the droid found himself re-calibrating the nature of his own existence.

Dak's receptors shift in their sockets to observe Loske in the corner of his vision. Inexplicably, he could feel her profound grief as if it were emanating from her body. Although he didn't understand the emotion of it, he knew. Wordlessly, he looks back ahead of him in further contemplation.

As far as he was aware, he was the only one who knew the extent of her relationship with the Lord-Imperator. It had been something Cedric spoke of fondly, and often, when they'd travel together. Should he not recover, Dak hoped that the Kiffar clone had offered him some semblance of peace amidst his endless personal struggles. If only for a short time.

"Did you manage any rest?" he asks her rather suddenly, attempting to ignore the obvious.

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Kuat // En-Route to Driveyards // Nox-Class Raider Corvette
Dak
What if I go?



The white noise of bustling and idle preparatory chatter was interrupted with the modulated delivery of a question. Slowly, Loske opened her eyes and looked over at the ancient droid. He was met with a wan expression, and a pinch to the bridge of her nose to pull her from the attempt to get in a more productive headspace before she forced a small smile.

"Not really." It was hard to get rest when every time she closed her eyes she was met with the image of someone in a forced nap. Dak couldn't really adjust the inflection of his tone to reflect concern or anything, but she assumed the root of his query came from a place of knowing she was in some sort of emotional conflict. He'd suggested at one point in their interactions he knew of Cedric and her's relationship, but was responsible enough not to divulge too much. Despite her coy pleas. He afforded her a distraction, and she hungrily latched on, reaching up to his shoulder and resting her hand on it for a moment to display her appreciation in a reserved level of affection. "Thanks for asking. Do you rest? Or..recharge?"

Her head cocked to the side, affording only a glance to the countdown to arrival before affixing her gaze on the DAC pleasantly.

He knew.

As soon as the comms were lifted, everyone knew.

Might as well address the bantha in the room.

She pulled her hand back to join the other, folded in her lap. The ship gave way to a shudder, and the people inside swayed slightly at the turbulence. "Are you okay? Did you see him?"

 

[Jegy Sesara]

The Sullustan would still keep walking around the area, gently twisting when he got to the more critically injured their clipboards and speaking to them. Giving gentle nods, he would hear a commotion outside the tent area as he gave a loud sigh. Going over towards the flap, he would go outside as he saw a duo of Kuati men shouting at each other. It sounded like from afar something about line cutting as the Sullustan slowly approached it as he merely listened in at the start, keeping his head low.

"You arrogant piece of sithspawn! I need this medica-"
"You need to also pay the Zith Coalition. Your medication will cover all debts."
"I am not risking my daughters medication! Deal is off, go off yourself you-"

There was a loud kick noise as the person went prone, a loud coughing like noise would be heard as the other Kuati male would try to pick him up. Before he could drag him, he would feel a piece of metal pressed against the back of his forehead and a soft whining noise of something powering up. The Sullustan was behind him, having somehow snuck up on him without making much as a footstep in noise. The voice was not gentleman like, but one of venomous intent as he pressed it a bit harder in the back of the Kuatis skull.

"This is a scout blaster, no trigger except for a pressure sensor. Push back, you die from making me to much pressure. Move side to side, same effect. Zith Coalition, I want to know who they are."
"None of your business you damn Sullus-"

WHACK! He hit with the top of his scout blaster onto the males head, making him go prone as the male coughed a bit loudly, blood streaming from the top of his head as others started to back away from the line. The Sullustan would grab from inside his robe his medical kit, tossing it onto the ground as he applied pressure to the persons neck with his knee, aiming still at his head with the scout blaster as he shuffled through the bag with his right hand. The Sullustans composure changed almost in a nanosecond as he looked...very different, more focused and seeminly uncaring of the pain he was causing to this Kuati male. Speaking out loud, the male below him squirmed as the Sullustan spoke out loud, pulling out a liquid syringe with a very visible label that made even the most hardened criminal organizations panic at the sheer sight of it.

"I don't have time to deal with this. You have thirty seconds before I inject you with a truth serum. Thirty, Twenty-Nine, Twenty-Eight-"
"T-That is illegal! That is Bavo Six! I will tell the Law!"
"Won't save you right now though. Eighteen, Seventeen, Sixteen-"
"You can't! Kriff you Sullustan bastard!"
"I can and I will. Ten, Nine, Eight, Sev-"
"ALRIGHT! Alright alright! We are a loan company, we charge high rates to our customers! There is nothing illegal on it, we are le-
"Three."
"Fine! We change the contracts daily and screw people over!"
"One."
"My boss is Kiela! Kiela Strout is my boss! Please don't stick me with it! PLEASE!"

The Sullustan leaned down with it as the person squirmed, screaming almost in fear until he felt it...a squirt of something from behind his neck as he looked back quickly, sniffing. The Bavo-6 shot...was a toy syringe. From afar, it looked exactly what it should look like, chemical concoction in all. However when he pushed the plunger, the syringe would expand like a toy and shoot out liquid...and it smelled like fruit. It was fruit juice with a phony label on it as people eyes were wide open.

"You son of a sithspawn! THAT IS FRUIT JUICE!"
"Yeah and you fell for it."
"GAHHHH!!! I will murder you stupid son of a-"

The Kuati male would then keep on ranting as squirmed under the Sullustans weight, infuriated that he was tricked by a doctor and a cheap toy. Two of the local guards hired for the medical area would come on over and get his hands tied up, hoisting him up to be taken somewhere for detainment. He would kick and scream all the way there as the Sullustan would very calmly pick up his bag, sticking the toy syringe into his mouth and squirt some prune juice into his mouth as he swished it around then swallow. Looking over at the crowd who looked slightly horrified at what the Sullustan did, merely turned to the other male as he carefully pats him on the shoulder.

"Consider the payment paid for them. It will be investigated. Come with me, I will personally fill your medication for your daughter."

He would then calmly lead him ahead of the line as others watched, as if seeing a whole new person unravel before them. The Kuati man was silent, as if fearing the Sullustan he walked with as he calmly asked questions. The problem for a Doctor such as himself, having worked in fields of the Inquistorious so long ago...is that times have changed and he has yet to still adapt to it completely. When a job was needing to be done, he always did it on a whim. Perhaps he needs to be taught on proper procedure...though then again, it is rather effective if they did not mind the population wanting a sixteen foot pole distance away from the Sullustan himself.

 

[Spirit of Hope]

Location: Scouring the Drive Yards
Objective: Provide Relief
Tags: Open
​

All around the Kuat Drive Yards, a mass of Alliance soldiers moved with a quickness to aid those who required it. Medical professionals established a line of tents twenty deep, each one taking on the injured. Medical droids, doctors, and field-medics had their hands full with the wounded, unfortunately, so a plethora of soldiers who'd been put in place to guard them had begun running simple errands taking on supplies. Specialized tents were set up in one of the massive factories, quarantining those who contracted the Blackwing virus from the volatile battle a year prior.

Captain Climshedis stared out over the drive yard through narrowed eyes. He hadn't seen a catastrophe like the Kuat Incident in many years. His years at the Coruscant academy had done him well to prepare for the horrors of warfare and battle, yet nothing could prepare him for what the Blackwing virus brought to Kuat. To top it all off, a group of human-centric terrorists decided to make their presence known in an attempt to subjugate what remained of the planet. Had Climshedis been there, he'd of taken as many of the bastards with him to the grave, but alas, he was off-world handling matters elsewhere. Now, Climshedis has been given another chance at doing right by the planet of Kuat, one he did not intend on wasting.

"Men, let's make sure we get these supplies to the professionals! If anyone is going to make a difference in this madness, it'll be them!" he raised a hand and steered a group racing past towards the tents. "I need charlie and delta squadrons moving towards the adjacent factories! We need to clear them out so these workers can continue providing for their families!"

 

[Dak]

Kuat // En Route to the Driveyards // Nox-class Raider Corvette​

Interacting With: Loske Treicolt ​

Tags: Jegy Sesara Spirit of Hope ​

​

Dak continues to watch the Kiffar from the corner of his vision, unsure what to do as she latches onto his shoulder. Remaining rigid in her embrace, the droid shakes his head at the question of whether he needed rest "No, my internal power supply is kinetically charged through regular movement. It is highly unlikely that I would ever need to 'rest' if my systems are operating correctly. In fact," he shifts his head a bit to get a better look at her "it's arguably worse for me."​

​

The question of whether or not he was 'okay' was far more difficult for the droid to answer.​

​

His operational efficiency was unaffected by the news. It could be argued that the over-contemplation of the Lord-Imperator's situation was resulting in minor efficiency drops in the response time of various subsystems due to the extra data processing in his primary performance banks. Barely perceptible, but non-optimal. It was unlikely that this was what she meant.​

​

No, Dak knew the young Kiffar clone likely meant it on an emotional level. Was he okay.​

​

Upon further contemplation, the question was not as black-and-white as he had imagined. If he were 'okay', why would his PPB be dwelling on the information? There was nothing more to consider beyond the facts of the matter, and yet he continued to repeatedly processes the news.​

​

"I did not see him," the droid answers, choosing to at least address the question he found himself able to "but he is still alive."​

 

[Jegy Sesara]

It had been a fully day nearly since the incident in the line. Local enforcement was taking care of the worst of the issues on planet along with those in the ring. However what came to his attention in the afternoon was something far worse than he wanted to hear. A mother pleading to be in front of the line, almost in hysterics for a healer. Finally hearing it when close enough, he would approach and push the tent flap open, not even speaking for a single second till he was interrupted.

"My boy, he is in the quarantined zone! They will kill him! Please I need you! Please I will pay, I wi-
"Where in the quarantine zone?
"Section Eighteen, House Eight Eight Two. He would not come out! Please bring him back! I ca-"

Then the woman would break down before him, crying hysterically which he never understood much for humans to be this dramatic. Looking at the guard, he would go back into the tent and go through the vaccination cabinet. Finding a highly resistant version, he would pull with his mouth the cap and inject himself into the chest area the vaccine while also starting a timer on his datapad. Six Hours. That was all the time he had, Sullustans metabolism was to fast for the Blackwing virus vaccine to work longer than that. Rubbing the spot on his chest, he would grab his medical gear and strap his older ornate lightsaber onto his left belt as he walked out of the tent, giving instructions to the guards.

"Deploy a decontamination tent for Section Nineteen, on the border zone. I will return in five hours, fifty-five minutes. Any less, consider me a loss and incinerate House Eight Eight Two. You have your orders."

Giving a nod to the others, he started a long walk towards the quarantine zone as he really could not drive anywhere. He could only pray, the boy was still alive.

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Kuat // En-Route to Driveyards // Nox-Class Raider Corvette
Dak
The most inappropriate, appropriate song for this




"I know, thank the Force." Loske whispered hurriedly, relief obvious in her tone. Dak had been spared the visual of Cedric splayed and subject to several tubes and liquids she couldn't pronounce. She'd stayed there, hands pressed against the transparent material that protected his medical chamber until the medical staff couldn't navigate around her anymore and she was asked to leave.

Dak didn't outright ask, but he seemed fine to continue dialogue on the somber subject and Loske was a talker. She needed to speak outloud to get things off her mind, or at least put some distance between her emotions and the objective that would require concentration in a few minutes.

"I felt when it happened." She began to explain, resting her hands on top of the helmet she and the other humanoid soldiers would be using to quarantine themselves from whatever infection they were about to face. "When he chose to make the sacrifice so others could keep on fighting. The mental shift from warrior to warden. The incredible culmination of pain and effort until it was overwhelming and everything collapsed." Her voice would get quieter the longer she spoke, the words more difficult to form fluidly as she recalled the memory of Brentaal IV. A light line of liquid had started to gather at her lower lid, but her distant expression looked as if she didn't realize the salt gathering was reaching critical mass and would slowly start to inch to the duct and down her cheek.

"I was so far away. I couldn't help share the load, or burden to extend the threshold." An unexpected, bitter chuckle slipped from her lips and she shook her head, tucking a loose piece of gold behind her ear and looking forward listlessly. "Neither of his guardians were. We were giving ourselves to other people." At this, she looked searchingly at the droid, absently wiping her eyes as if the tears were nothing more than dust that needed to be brushed off a uniform. "Weren't we?"

 

[Avo]

Kuat // En-Route to the Driveyards
Dak // Loske Treicolt ​

Grand.

Wasn't that how he was supposed to feel? To have finally reached the precipice of knowledge and skill, to be trusted by so many that peered eagerly at him? Lan had nearly laughed himself to death when the remaining masters and senior knights of the nascent Ashlan Order had recalled him from light-years away. All to tell him that he was now responsible for the lives of thousands, meant to make decisions on their behalf, and guide them to victory.

Oh, how he wished it was nothing more than a dream.

It was a nightmare.

No more being assigned to the deepest, uncharted parts of space to handle obscure issues to seek out the darkness and destroy it. It was all he had ever wanted as a young padawan. Lan cared not for leading or any of that administratively painful work that members of the council were often subjected to. All he wanted to do - was do his damn job. Luckily, he was far away from Brentaal when all of that business transpired. Handling a security and trade deal with one very smooth-talking Twi'lek in their ram-shack station, all in the middle of Sith space. However, he'd felt it: the dying of the light, like a candle being blown out.

"Uh," a raspy voice came, "You alright, Master Graendal?"

Lan's eyes darted to the voice's origin, finding over a dozen T-visored helmets peering at him. He hadn't even noticed his hands were trembling. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just thinking about this mess I've got to deal with."

"The bioweapon cache and the terrorists?"

He laughed now, hands still as stone. "Something like that."

The answer didn't seem to satisfy the commandos. Slowly, their visored helmets began to turn away from the sole Jedi in their ranks. They busied themselves with their gear. Cleaning weapons and armor, ensuring everything was where it should be before they made this drop. Even veterans knew the slightest mistake could could cost them their lives. It wasn't easy being at the top of the food chain like they were. So many depending on them to get this job done correctly, otherwise even more perished because of their miscalculations.

Lan sighed, resigning himself to similar work lest those stormy thoughts darken his eyes more.

What am I going to do?​

 

[Dak]

Kuat // Arriving at the Drive Yards // Nox-class Raider Corvette​

Interacting With: Loske Treicolt Avo ​

Tags: Jegy Sesara Spirit of Hope ​

​

"Yes," Dak answers tactlessly. His absent red gaze meet the Kiffar's, offering little empathy or comfort.​

​

It was true; they should have been there to protect him - Dak by oath, and Loske by bond. They had failed. But it wasn't that simple, was it?

The droid's receptors break away and search the hangar, looking over the commandos and others preparing to disembark upon arrival and the various technicians and crewmen wandering around. Everything felt like it was more or less the same; like everyone had already moved on.​

​

Perhaps it was necessary.​

​

"If we had of been with him we would be dead," Dak adds, looking back to her. "There is nothing I could have offered him that could have changed his fate. And likely nothing you could have either. It is only natural to consider and dwell upon the ideal alternatives to a terrible situation, however unlikely they may be. We will never know what effect we may have had; but logically, it wouldn't have made a difference."

Awkwardly, the droid places his cold, stiff hand on Loske's lap in an attempt to mimic a comforting gesture. "If we had of been rendered incapacitated, we may never have saved those we did. I can directly correlate the survival of numerous individuals to my actions. Without me, that may not have been possible. I may not know these people or serve an oath to protect them, but there are more of them than there are of Cedric. It is a statistically superior outcome."​

​

As the signals inside the Corvette indicate their imminent arrival at the nearest functioning docking port to the quarantine zone, Dak catches a glimpse of a familiar Jedi Master sticking out among the glistening white armour of the two squads, eight Commandos, joining them. How fitting, he thinks to himself, that the last time they had seen eachother was on the streets of Alderaan amidst the very chaos they were now here to clean up.

"Jedi Master Graendal," the droids calls to the Mirialan, trying to get his attention. He looks back to Loske for a moment, moving his hand to rest back on his own leg "We can continue our discussion after all this is over, if you'd like. I'm sure there's still much to say."

At that, he stands and releases the magnetically locked Sabrewasp carbine, a new requisition of his, from his back. After a quick once over of the weapon's condition, he looks back to the Jedi.​

​

"Glad you could join us."​

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Kuat // En-Route to Driveyards - ETA 00:03:00 // Nox-Class Raider Corvette
Dak // Avo ​

At least he computed her vague sentiment that grouped them together as expected protectors. Dak's approach was pragmatic and calculated, embedded in statistical likelihoods and plausibilities. An approach that varied the very existence of The Force. While he spoke, her lips drew in a thin, bemused line. When he mentioned they wouldn't have made a difference, she sniffed away any further leaks from her eyes and or nose. She'd like to think differently, even if it was only out of pride.

A sigh was offered in response to the droid's analysis of their survival contributing to the salvation of civilians. His touch was as cold as his calculations, though she could appreciate his attempt to mirror her earlier affection. They'd all done what they'd needed to do. Cedric, Dak, Loske, the rest of The Imperium. That was the purpose in their work, wasn't it? To prolong the hope of others. Ashla might have been a goddess, but their true religion seemed to fall on man and the sanctity of life above all else. Groups above individuals.

The countdown she'd looked at earlier was getting closer to 00:00:00 -- only about three minutes out to their destination. The red light that they'd been previously bathing in turned golden, communicating the preparations should be drawing to a close and the team about to be deployed should be ready to go.

Dak's suggestion that they wrap the conversation up and continue later came with a solemn nod. "You're right." The youth reflected, still finding it difficult to separate her personal feelings on the matter with the duty she was expected to burden. "Best make the most of our survival." She intoned, reaching up and twisting her hair into a low-ponytail before placing the helmet over her head and making a resolve to no longer ruminate on the shared abject experience.

While Dak made introductions to the Jedi Master she'd last seen sweeping Peace station, she did a quick check of her suit to make sure it was all sealed as expected. The last thing she needed was another compromise to her immune system after finally getting over that voxyn venom.

"Hey Master Graendal."

 

[Jegy Sesara]

It had taken a full hour for the Sullustan to arrive over at the proper house number, eight eight two over in section eight. It was a three story apartment building, big enough for maybe six families. In front of him, the door was broken from its hinges, laying on the ground before him as if something fought to get out. Slowly stepping over the doorway, he would feel his breath be strained as an awful smell became apparent in the building. Something had died, he could always tell the smell of a dead body from many centuries of experience. Walking through the main lobby, he could see blood splatters on the walls nearby and bits of flesh on the ground along with small sounds of gurgling from other nearby rooms. The Sullustan would close his eyes and focus on the Force, not wishing to disturb whatever was lurking around here, only focusing on his one goal. Finding the human boy.

He would sense a great deal of hunger throughout the building, he can feel the amount of one mindedness throughout the building though one had a different feeling. Fear. He knew the emotion of fear well, he exploited it so long ago to his advantage numerous times. Walking up the stairs slowly, he made sure to lighten his footsteps to not disturb the other tenants as the gurgling would get louder the further up the stairs he had gotten. Thankfully for him, it was only on the second floor as the third floor staircase seemed to have collapsed with part of the roof. Whoever was up there, was now trapped and could not be helped. Focusing on Apartment Four, he would slowly push on the door as it would open slowly, shining a faint light inside into a very darkened room.

Turning on his datapads backlight to maximum, he would slowly walk forward as his eyes would slowly attempt to adjust to the darkness. While most Sullustans could see in the dark well, the Sullustan was not born into it and had to train his eyes to even get even a glimpse of what dark vision felt like. Needless to say, it was not good as others. Walking through the house, he noticed how destructive the place looked with furniture flipped over and with several patches of the wall looking potted with holes. Probably due to the third floor collapsing the way it did. He could hear a whimpering from outside the living room, slowly approaching as he gently fiddled with the door knob as it was locked. Looking side to side, he would pull out his stone knife from his right glove and jab it into the keyhole and shove forward, breaking the lock as he unlocked the door. Putting away the stone knife, he would slowly push the door open to see a human child, a young male wrapped in blankets as he shuddered loudly, looking very pale and looking straight forward towards the Sullustan in the doorway whom very slowly, closed the door behind him.

"You have your mother worried, not opening the door for her."
"The Monsters, they are outside...I can hear them moving around."
"I know...but the monsters themselves, are terrified of me."

He walked forward and slowly kneel before the boy, whom had short black hair and green eyes. Shuddering still, he would take out his medical kit and very slowly rubbed a thermometer on his forehead as he read the temperature. It was bad...several degrees over the normal limit which meant...no, he had to make sure. Slowly he would take a piece of cloth and rub it onto the boys lips, getting a sample of saliva and have it register into a portable bio scanner as it made a soft whirring sound. Looking back up, the child would start coughing loudly as the Sullustan spoke again, whispering.

"How long have you been like this?"
"Since afternoon mister...mom said we don't have to worry about things."
"Sadly...we doctors, have to. A lot of people are getting sick, she should have taken you to us."
"I could not get up...monsters were screaming, I heard my mom scream."
"It is not your fault, you are sick. Rest."

Then it beeped from his bioscanner, pulling it up as he felt his heart sank quickly. It had read that he was indeed infected...and it registered as late stage. Looking over the boy, he would slowly pull away his body to see with a scanner what the transmission site was at and then, his heart sank even further. It was in the boys own heart...removing the heart, would kill the child. The reading, only said he had maybe an hour left to live. Grabbing an injector, he would rub the side of the boys arm while injecting some pain relief medication as the boy coughed up mucus into a trash can on the bed.

"I am...afraid to tell you something."
"Am I going to die?"

There was a long silence with the Sullustan looking down lips pursed together as he forced the words out of his own mouth.

"Yes."
"I...I don't want to though..."
"I know. I am sorry, you have an hour left."
"I don't want to be alone."
"You won't be. I am not leaving your side."

Very slowly, the Sullustan sat at the end of the bed and looked down onto the boy before him. Putting the blanket back over him, he would look at his medical kit as he started to mix a small concoction to at least stop a good portion of the mucus from constantly coming up. As he did so, he would glance at the boy then the clock on the wall as he watched as time would count down. The boy was terrified...and the Sullustan did not want to admit, that he was to. With all the power the Force had given him, of all the things he can do...he was now powerless. Forced to watch as a young boy slowly fade to the end of his life this quickly. Finishing it, he would hand him the small drink as he downed it rather quickly, coughing for a moment at the bad taste.

"That is awful!"
"You won't be coughing mucus anymore. Don't want you miserable at this point."

There was a silence between the two as the child would speak up, leaning up against the bedframe in his room as it was plastered with posters of super heros. Heros that were looked up to, people in suits and detectives with watches...how they cannot even help now.

"Where do we go when we die?"

The Sullustan eyes would stop moving, slowly glancing over towards the boy as he heard that question. At this moment, he felt all the power in the universe flooding into him, as if saying it was time to admit something he had not spoken about in over eight hundred years. Gently, he held the boys hand with his mechanical left hand, speaking up a truth he always hid.

"It will be dark first...then someone you know will come see you. Sometimes, not always though. They will grasp your hand like I am doing, speak to you that there is a light way off in the distance in this land of red and tall grass. You will walk a long way, hear voices of others who have lost their way...in the end, you keep going towards that light at the end. When you reach it...everyone you lost will be waiting, with open arms and soon others will join with you. Friends...family...they all die eventually as well. You will never be alone there, you just got to make sure, to always move and keep with those you trust."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I died once. I had all the chance in the world to go pass on but...others decided I had to stay."
"Can I do that?"
"My body was shot like in the movies and cut a lot...they stitched me up and brought me back that way. It can't be done here."
"Can you tell me more then...what is like on the other side?"
"As much as you like."

At that moment, the Sullustan would speak of his tales on the other side for the first time in his lifetime. Tales of intrigue, horror and forgiveness. As it was going on, he would prick his finger to get a little blood to test him for one other thing, having a small idea in his mind. As his tales grew on, time slowly became short but he made sure that each story was something with a goal in mind, to teach and not to frighten badly. It was a guide on where to go and where not to go. The boy would listen intently, coughing very little as child listened to the old Sullustan give his tale for the first time, wanting to really know what it was like on the other side.

 

[Avo]

Kuat // En-Route to the Driveyards
Dak // Loske Treicolt ​

The pair of team leaders made their arrival sooner than expected. The barest whispers and words of their earlier conversation had fallen on deaf ears. Surely it was something private, not for the Jedi Master to divulge. Of all of the people Cedric was the closest too, here were two of them right before him. His best friend and sacred guardian, ready to lead the charge and carry on his legacy.

How fitting.

Lan gave them a smile and a wave as they approached. "It's good to see you both. I'm sure this whole mission will go just fine even if I hadn't come along, but I needed to stretch my legs and get some air in my lungs. I was never one for talking or sitting around, so I hope you don't mind."

The Jedi Master gave a giggle-snort, gesturing to the commandos. "They sure don't mind."

"'course not. The more Jedi, the better!" One of the commandos quickly added, "You lot sure come in handy, despite your aversion to a good ol' blaster rifle."

Lan reached over to give the man a light, affectionate punch to his armored shoulder. "You watch our back, we watch yours.

"I believe the team and I are ready whenever you two are."

 

[Spirit of Hope]

Location: Scouring the Drive Yards
Objective: Provide Relief
Tags: Open





Captain Climshedis lifted a box of supplies, quickly exhaling as he took the weight up himself and turned. His men were sorely outnumbered in their fight to bring relief to the good peoples of Kuat. Though some would think menial labor like this far above Climshedis's paygrade, the good captain did not consider his men in service to him. He believed an officer of any military should be beholden to those he led. A great leader did not stand at the back and whip his men into action. They took to the forefront of every battle, guiding their men through example. This battle may not be fought with blasters or battleships, but it didn't make it any less critical to the wellbeing of the Alliance.

"Good work, men. A few more runs from the supply drop and everything should have a home among those in need," the captain called out to the line of men behind him. He turned, grabbed another supply box, and handed it off to the Wookie behind him. The daisy train continued with another fifty or so people, each taking a turn handing off another piece of equipment or first-aid kit. Climshedis looked elsewhere, trying to determine where he'd be needed next.

With the medical experts supplied and adequately supported, he knew there could be another problem to tackle. Word reached him of a shortage of hands at the makeshift soup kitchen the Alliance troops erected on the northern front of the camp. He lifted his commlink and stepped out of line, the furred soldier behind him filling the gap.

"This is Captain Climshedis. I am en route to the mess. I'll see what we can do to get this food handed out a tad more efficiently," Climshedis returned the device to his belt before setting off towards the front.

Always another battle.

 

[Dak]

Kuat // Drive Yards Quarantine Zone // Nox-class Raider Corvette​

Interacting With: Loske Treicolt Avo ​

Tags: Jegy Sesara Spirit of Hope ​

​

Dak finds the moment between them oddly fitting for their objective. The last time they had been in this system he had also stood alongside Master Graendal and a squad of commandos, although Republic ones. These were very different circumstances, yet the parallels were undeniable. The thought is interrupted by the countdown clock next to the docking bay reaching [ 00:00:00 ] - signalling their arrival at the quarantine zone.

The room shakes lightly as the docking port latches onto the corvette, accompanied by the sounds of machine whirring as the airlock mechanisms activate. A voice from the Bridge comes over the local PA, interrupting the conversations being had among the Commando squad and others.

<<CTF-Ryyk, this is Command. Vessel is docking. Be advised - location is within the quarantine zone.>> ​

Dak finds himself eyeing the superior Viperwasp rifles of the Alliance Commandos while giving his own Sabrewasp carbine a final once-over before they depart. Giving it a slap of approval, he moves into position at the airlock and turns his attention back to the group "Ensure your environment suits are properly sealed."

Allowing a moment for those who needed to double-check their gear, the droid keys the wall-mounted panel and opens door. A long, narrow corridor leads from their stealth corvette to the Drive Yards. There is an eerie silence about the place, which would normally be filled with the distant sounds of heavy machinery and worker activity.

As he cautiously makes his way down the umbilical, Dak internally projects his voice over the squad's helmet communicators, <<The SIA reported that infected Gen'Dai were aboard the cruiser that crashed into the Yard. Keep an eye out for these brutes among the normal infected; and be vigilante of any evidence of these terrorist operatives as well.>>

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Kuat // Drive Yards Quarantine Zone //
Dak // Avo ​

Only the sound of heavy footsteps and her heartbeat could be heard as the group of soldiers transferred from the corvette to the quarantined zone. It was akin to the silence you'd hear in the vacuum of space, when conducting a spacewalk. Where even the shallowest of breaths thundered.

It was almost alarming to hear the monotone instruction of the droid project into her helmet, and she blinked rapidly while interpreting the warnings and description of what was ahead of them.

"Charming." Was all she offered with a huff to the assessment Dak shared to the squadron. It seemed dire - and she couldn't see any expressions beneath the helmets of the troopers, but the sentiment at the foot of the umbilical was nothing other than focus. The channel was spared anything other than confirmations to the instruction, keeping chatter to a minimum so nobody would be distracted. To spare everyone the sound of her breathing, she keyed her comms to respond only when she pressed to activate.

The Force extended from the young Jedi. One hundred and thirteen times a second it reached out; fully aware of the echoes of the dead, the consciousness bound within it. It knew people were dying, and going to die, but it's consciousness only manifested in the comprehension of the girl that was wielding it. She was aware of what it was feeding back to her, and while her senses were somewhat unrefined, she was parsing the information to see what was useful versus not. The Force was constantly feeding information of life and death, of history, present and glimpses of the future. The balance in dichotomies. Loske established the basic awareness of herself relative to the group she was travelling with; anything outside of that would send a protective warning for her to react to.

Shadows stretched away from abandoned pieces of machinery that was used to build other machines. To add to the ominous atmosphere, a majority of the primary electrical circuit was cut - leaving them with dim lighting. It looked like the quarantine crew had tried their best to rope the area as off limits, and restrain whatever was here from expanding further. The walls, and some crates, had been sprayed with high energy-absorbing foam that looked like whipped cream but formed an energy barrier that looked like it could stop small-arms and light explosives. She only hmm'd in observation while her gaze flitted about the drive yards and the group drew to a halt right outside the roped off area.

One of the troopers held up a fist; a non-verbal way to communicate everyone should stop. A quick survey of the perimeter was conducted before everyone agreed they should continue; the ship behind the confirmed quarantine was significantly darker than outside the protected zone. The crashed corvette bathing in black. The troopers turned on the headlamps of their helmets, and the Padawan mimicked the action. Spotlights pointed out of everyone's head, highlighting the spots they were looking straight toward.

"Oh yeah." She spoke to nobody but herself. "Definitely a bad vibe zone."

 

[Jegy Sesara]

What went on between the boy and the Sullustan would remain secret till the end of his life. Giving a vow to never break the trust he had given, he would slowly lift up the body of the boy wrapped in the blanket he had slept in and walked carefully down the steps. Knowing the boys death scent would slowly fill the halls, he made sure to give a bit of haste to his step when he went near areas of loud gurgling. Finally after a few minutes, he would exit the building and started to move towards the middle of the intersection. Laying the boy down, he would start grabbing parts of cloth and with is lighter, light the body on fire to cremate the boy and prevent him from coming back to life as one of those things. Watching the fire go up, he would watch emotionless as he was quiet for once again, he was hopeless in stopping someones death but this time, he had at least felt hope in leading him into the afterlife, however much time that would honestly give the child. However, now an infected building was here, still a threat...and it must be dealt with.

Looking back towards the hotel building, he felt the wind gently breeze on by as for some, it would feel strange that an atmosphere would even attempt to form on a space station where he was yet it did. Looking towards the large apartment building, he would hold up his left hand and close his eyes. The crackling of energy could be felt from afar, pooling the energy of the Force into a singular spot above the hotel. It was a mystical energy indeed, something he had perfected since his time as a trainee Inquistor so long ago. The energy would circulate around him, it felt like an impossible kind of energy, something only those who have felt would understand what it meant. Then, with a single motion with the left of his hand, the lights of the surrounding block as well as several others nearby would cease to exist as a flash of light would appear.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tags: Dak Loske Treicolt Avo Spirit of Hope
​

From afar in the quarantined area, there be a bright flash that came from the residential area nearby as it appeared briefly as a bright flash of red would accompany it. Within twelve seconds, the sound of rumbling would be heard, like a sound of thunder or lightning striking against the ground as the red glow would burn brighter as something from afar had been caught on fire before the red plume would gently disappear, the building collapsing from afar. Being obscured from view, the smoke would gently plume up as somehow, it had been struck with lightning within a large station that should not even have an atmosphere, nor have any ability to produce it naturally in such an environment. Whatever had occurred, it would be considered in the Force, unnatural.

 

[Dak]

Kuat // Drive Yards Quarantine Zone
Interacting With: Loske Treicolt Avo Jegy Sesara
Tags: Spirit of Hope


Dak's receptors glow a vibrant red in the shadows of the quarantine zone. With no need for the flashlight, the ominous sight and his IFF tag on the team's HUD were the only indicators of his position among them. He examines the wide tear leading into the hull of the lodged cruiser, sifting through a variety of visual assessment modes to ensure there are no immediate threats.

Before he's able to follow the leading commando into the starship, the distant rumbling of the building's collapse throws him on guard. Spinning on his heels and dropping to a knee, the droid shoulders his particle carbine in anticipation of an attack - but one doesn't come.

<<What was that?>> he asks, keeping his focus behind them in the direction the sound had come from.

The commandos quickly form a defensive perimeter, securing a 360 degree line of sight now that the group had stopped moving. <<There's nothing on our local sensors>> the squad's commander responds. The team's techie pulls out a small handheld device in his off-hand, glancing down at it while trying to keep his main focus down the sights of his weapon.

<<Not seeing any abnormal bio-signatures in the area>> she answers after a quick assessment <<Though, this might not account properly for the dead.>>

Dak breaks his line of sight for a moment, the two red eyes in the dark turning to fall on Loske and Master Graendal <<Do you sense anything? Or anyone?>>