Faction Legacy & Belonging [EU]

[Rinea]

Reach of Prosperity

IN ORBIT OVER ROTHANA​

The grand star habitat, Reach of Prosperity, now orbited the arctic world below.

Immediately in view is the rechristening of the Pillar of Inheritance as it slowly departed the star dock. A storied battlecruiser drifted like an echo of the Lords of the Fringe, One Sith, and Primeval--now it served the Eternal Union, and would once again carry the legacy of an empire into the future.

However, inside the space station, thousands celebrated victory and honored the fallen. Clinical as the Union was in all things, such times of revelry were not uncommon. Some may attribute it to a scientific figure, proof in the data that showed it was good for morale, but there was nothing inorganic about it. The streets roused as the victors marched arm-in-arm. Some carried bottles, others cheered, and plenty more began to break off and find their own amusement.

There was no work to be done, even Rinea passed an opportunity for grand speeches. Officers were simply instructed to grant blanket R&R, the Cipherum suspended all but the most critical orders, and command staff could be left shorthanded for a day.

LOCATIONS

The Concourse: A massive space where all docking bays and ports are connected and leads to other areas of the station. There's plenty to do, aside from moving cargo, including places to eat, rest, and lay low.

Ward 5: An area inside the station with gardens and complexes including a hospital, laboratories, and academic facilities. There are also secret entrances to hidden facilities, should one go snooping around.

Ward 9: A large urban sprawl inside the station with tight streets and countless entrances. There are cantinas, halls, lounges, and even emporiums. Just about anything you need can be found here.

The Arboretum: A large nature reserve engineered to appear natural with simulated natural light and weather patterns. There are trees, shrubs, field plants, and even small animals. Much quieter and less crowded than the rest of the station.

The Center: A 4km vertical space filled only by a spiderweb of scaffoldings, walkways, and conveyor systems. Inhabited only by droid workers and off-limits but not inaccessible. Though very dangerous if you don't watch your step.

 

[Rinea]

WARD 5 - THE NEST
A cantina of sorts

Rinea found herself halfway down a bottle of reserve. A spoil she inherited from High Command decided to break out for the occasion. It was rare for the Chiss to relax this way, especially in a public light, but with how everyone else was going about it? She doubted they'd remember anything--her least of all.

The music was solid. Not live, unfortunately, but accessed from the local HoloNet. A flavor from Nar Shaddaa, to be more specific. Upbeat, a little jazzy, the kind of thing spacers listened to stay awake during a long haul. She poured more of the strong liquor into a shot glass and took it bottoms up.

What the others didn't know is that they'd all be given orders the next morning. So much for hangover protocol.

 

[Darth Anathemous]

// CODENAME: GRAVEMIND //
Location: Ward 5 - The Nest
Wearing: Power Armor + Circlet
Tags: Tamsin Starfall Rinea | TBA

The trip from ground to orbit had been most awkward.

"Gravemind" had thought she was protecting her apprentice by keeping Tamsin in the dark, that name off her lips, her movements off the record. Instead all she had done was betray the girl's trust. Kaila told her everything, in the end. The way the Union had approached her on Dormund Kaas, the secret meetings with Rinea, how they exchanged funding for valuable intel on the regular.

And how she'd assassinated their entire high command for her, in secret.

The Lord of Blades was playing a dangerous game as always, and though it put Tamsin in danger again, letting her in on it was her way of apologizing.

She pushed through the cantina doors, power armored steps thudding slowly across the deck as she approached Rinea , force signature displayed just enough for the chiss to recognize her behind the new mask.

"...Rinea..." she greeted with that signature little nod.

It felt strange but...

This was an introduction long overdue.

 

[Tamsin Starfall]

​

Theme: Short Change Hero
Equipment: Armor | Circlet of Projection | Stars Enchained | Mind Crown
Tags: Darth Anathemous | Rinea

Her armor was a simple combat model painted black and purple; you could pick it up at any gun shop in the Galaxy. It was a stand in for one of the sets of armor she was working on, and it was uncomfortable as all hell. It didn't matter much though she was happy to be back at her sister's side after she had explained everything to her finally.

Granted here in this place they weren't sisters just master and student, sidekick, or was it body guard….chit she couldn't remember. She might put them in danger if she didn't remember the story, they were supposed to sell. More danger than Kaila was already thinking they might be in. The thought of danger didn't bother Tamsin, at this point how many times had death come for them, then turned tail and ran?

They came into a cantina like two badass or at least that is how Tamsin imagined it but barely anyone turned a head to look their way. Last time she was in a cantina she kidnapped herself she thought to herself. Well, it was a bit more complicated than that.

She was just glancing around at her sister's side when they stopped, and she heard Kaila say the name Rinea. The way she said it was not distinct or noticeable to people who didn't know her sister well caused Tamsin to quirk a brow under her helmet. Thinking to herself they were supposed to be subtle.

She turned to looked up at the blue skinned woman, her mind instinctively wanting to call her a blueberry an impulsive intrusive thought bleeding over from her inner demon. "Omen" Reached her hand out in greeting towards the Chiss. A Mechanical voice came from the helmet. "Miss Rinea, it is good to finally get to meet you in person."

 

[Tiko Morita]

Location: Ward 5, Hospital level
Tags: Open!

Some of the men of the 228th were all down at the canteena, loud and rowdy as they could be. That wasn't the plan for the lead scout trooper, who was meeting with the wounded from their last operation. He still had a flask of drink with him, but he would rather be amongst his men when they needed him. Slowly, almost torturously, the elevator rose up the shaft to the intensive care unit. That was no doubt where the worst of the casualties would be.

There was too much quiet for the trooper, he wanted something other than the elevator music to soothe his thoughts. All that he could think of was the battle in the factory. All the good men screaming, and the unmistakable silence of the dead. He blamed himself, though he knew there was nothing that could have been done. In war, people die, it was as simple as that. Truth be told, he envied the dead, for they had seen their last battle. Whether they joined with The Force, or went into oblivion, it was surely better than lying in a hospital bed broken and beaten.

Just thinking about that battle made the staff sergeant clench his fist, his glove audibly creaking as he wanted to strangle someone. He wasn't sure who, but someone had to be responsible. Whether that was Commander Totan, or these new Eternal Union crazies, it mattered very little.

Before Morita could get too deep in thought, the elevator dinged, he was finally in the ICU, where the poor troopers would be recuperating for the foreseeable future. At least he could be strong for them, aide them in whatever small way they asked. It was the least he could do for them, after all the hell that rained down on them in Rothana.

One small solace was that the Union had great technology, especially medtech. He hadn't even seen half of it yet, and it beat any other Imperial medbay he'd ever seen. Whoever these imps were, and wherever they came from, none of it was what Tiko would consider standard issue.

 

[Rinea]

Rinea saw the mysterious visage of the mercenary, 'Gravemind,' approach, and turned subtle eyes towards the Dark Jedi and her unknown companion.

The Chiss was about to sip her next shot when she put it down. "Ah, the hired help," she addressed Darth Anathemous with a tease that was both vague and a little on the nose. Perhaps annoyingly so.

However, she decided against acting surprised. If it wasn't the signature, then it was the familiar radiation of her body underneath. It wasn't the most common knowledge that Rinea's species can see partially in infrared.

Her attention turned to the tagalong. Without missing a beat, Rinea carefully poured a shot glass as the stranger approached, and offered it in lieu of a handshake.

"Miss?" Only a slight pause. "It's ma'am or Director," she insisted coldly with glowing red eyes that glared.

Tamsin Starfall

 

[Darth Anathemous]

// CODENAME: GRAVEMIND //
Location: Ward 5 - The nest
Wearing: Power Armor
Tags: Rinea Tamsin Starfall

"Hmmh." she half chuckled, half grunted.

So that was Rinea's game. It would take getting used to, and she would hate getting used to it, a world in which she held no titles or authority. 'Gravemind' circled around, leaning on the bartop and quietly ordering herself a drink whilst Tamsin introduced herself, which by the sound of it, was already going poorly for her.

"Pardon," she offered the girl a straw.

Kaila dropped another into her glass so that she could sip through the mask. Really though it was to silence them both before another offense was uttered, and to give herself a moment to think.

Finally after a long sip, she spoke;

"Forgive my apprentice, Director, we're still adjusting to this... work environment."

"This is Omen," the name felt foreign on her tongue "My student."

Then she leaned in, enough that only the three of them could hear.

"My sister."

There was no lie in her tone, but still hesitance.

 

[Tamsin Starfall]

​

Theme: Short Change Hero
Equipment: Armor | Circlet of Projection | Stars Enchained | Mind Crown
Tags: Darth Anathemous | Rinea

"My Apologies….Director." The mechanical voice under the helmet stammered. First impressions and she was already screwing up. As her hand went for the drink that was offered to her. Tamsin wasn't one to pass up free drinks, even though she probably shouldn't give the secrets she was willing to spill when intoxicated.

She looked down at the drink trying to figure out how she was going to drink it though with the helmet on. As Kaila handed her a straw "Oh, thanks that will work great." She said as she put the straw in the drink and took a sip.

Then she just about choked when Kaila revealed it…..what the hell….her eyes were almost bugging out of her head under the helmet. cough cough "Uh…." She said it….out loud, well sort of. Still, it broke their rule that had been established since the first time they met.

"Uh…yeah….I." How the hell do you follow that reveal up for once Kaila had Tamsin on the back foot in category of talk. It was usually her saying things she shouldn't and revealing truths that weren't meant to be spoken except to the most trusted.

At least she knew her cover was apprentice she could handle that just not the sister part. It was true but it was rarely ever revealed, especially to people she was just being introduced to. "So….How about that weather on Rothana, right?"

 

[Rinea]

The straw was a disappointing sight, to say the least, even if Rinea did understand the point.

She frowned--slightly.

"Forgive my apprentice, Director, we're still adjusting to this... work environment."

Rinea wondered how much this bothered Kaila. That frown was replaced with a smirk--not so slightly.

"Omen," she turned to the stranger with a name.

Her eyes glanced between the two as an apparent secret was revealed. Watched as Omen drank. It was one thing for 'Gravemind,' but to see someone sip a shot with a straw...? It couldn't have been more awkward.

"So….How about that weather on Rothana, right?"

She stood corrected. Rinea sighed, "People talk about the weather on Naboo... Not some arctic backwater where the only warm places are because of toxic air."

She poured herself another and shot a questioning glance at Kaila with telepathic words. "I guess we don't choose our family."

Darth Anathemous | Tamsin Starfall

 

[Darth Anathemous]

// CODENAME: GRAVEMIND //
Location: Ward 5 - The Nest
Wearing: Power Armor
Tags: Tamsin Starfall Rinea

Kaila sipped much faster now.

Gods she wished she could smoke in this mask. The glass was emptied much to quickly however and it became apparent she'd have to face this disaster sober.

"I guess we don't choose our family."

Armored features snapped towards the source of that telepathic message.

<<"I do.">> Her words where an icy whisper, strained by stunted telepathy but reinforced by voices not her own.

Layered, otherworldly.

Displeased.

​

Do not—

<<"Do not speak ill of her.">>​

—speak ill of her.


The woman huffed and turned away as the whispering suddenly stopped, but as she turned towards Tamsin, the faintest glimmer of violet dimmed behind the mask.

This wasn't going at all how she'd hoped, although she supposed if anything had gone to plan then Tamsin wouldn't have tracked her down all the way to Rothana in the first place. She didn't want her to be involved, endanger herself, and neither did she want to be angry with Rinea again.

Perhaps this should have been done privately, where information could be shared more freely.

"You'll have to excuse her, Omen. The Director was trained to read people, not talk to them."

 

[Tamsin Starfall]

​

Theme: Short Change Hero
Equipment: Armor | Circlet of Projection | Stars Enchained | Mind Crown
Tags: Darth Anathemous | Rinea

"People talk about the weather on Naboo... Not some arctic backwater where the only warm places are because of toxic air."

"Hmm, I figured Chiss would be adapted to such weather." It wasn't an insult more a curiosity as this Rinea had been only the Chiss she met. The other was TK-1312 and they hadn't been on any ice worlds at the same time. "But I find them rather comfortable, light jacket weather really."

"Better then the desert worlds I grew up on." She said as she took another sip from the shot glass, in two sips it was already two thirds gone.

"You'll have to excuse her, Omen. The Director was trained to read people, not talk to them."

At first she wasn't sure what Kaila was referring to and gave a confused look under her helmet as the conversation between the two had gone in their head. "Oh, I figured she was just cold cause someone blew up her home world. I mean I would be bitter and cold to everyone if someone blew up our home." In the back of her head there was a little cackling from the demon at those words if the girl only knew the truth.

 

[Rinea]

Rinea grimaced and grumbled under her breath at the internal conversation with Kaila. Creepy, but conversation for another time.

When Omen returned to small talk about the weather and Chiss associations, Rinea found herself displeased yet again. She 'listened' but did not respond in the slightest.

"You'll have to excuse her, Omen. The Director was trained to read people, not talk to them."

The Chiss chuckled. "You know me well."

"Oh, I figured she was just cold cause some one blew up her home world. I mean I would be bitter and cold to everyone if someone blew up our home."

"What the fuck?" It wasn't loud, but there was a scream's depth of pain in her words.

It may have been the first time Darth Anathemous heard her swear. She clenched her fist and crushed the glass in her hands. Naturally, she bled from the many cuts. Quite heavily, too, though her fixation did not depart from Omen. It was at her and her alone that Rinea subconsciously projected a dark anger. Her eyes, however, looked betrayed rather than enraged.

She was a telepath, but not otherwise trained in the Force, and certainly not of a nature like these Sith were. It was likely for Kaila that this too was a first, as Rinea's signature emanated with uncontrollable anger.

But it wasn't at Omen.

"Imperial, I assume? though it's been quite some time since I met one of your own in uniform. I haven't seen many chiss since the fall of Csilla."

These words stuck; she just didn't want to know. Not yet. Grim as the 'Fall of Csilla' may have been, it was a question rather than an answer. To have this be how she found out?

"Your apprentice," she said bluntly, "reflects poorly on you."

The officer stood, grabbed a cloth, and squeezed it around her bloodied fist.

Tamsin Starfall

 

[Darth Anathemous]

// CODENAME: GRAVEMIND //
Location: Ward 5 - The Nest
Wearing: Power Armor
Tags: Tamsin Starfall Rinea

One second she was smiling at their mutual teasing, the next her eyes went wide with shock.

Tamsin dropped a proverbial bomb on the chiss, and for a split second, she considered that Rinea might attack. Kaila took a half step forward, ready to stand between them if need be, but it proved unnecessary.

"Your apprentice," she said bluntly, "reflects poorly on you."

She exchanged a quick glance with them both, and a deep breath.

"We should get you to medical."

Her tone had become flat, focused. All that anger in the air, the suddenness of it all, made the hairs on the back of her neck prick against her bodyglove like she was on the battlefield again. She moved to check on Rinea, slowing down just long enough to lean in and whisper to Tamsin;

"What the hell were you thinking?"

Before moving on.

Her hand radiated a soft warmth as she reached out, calling upon a power that was neither light nor dark.

"I can take the pain, but we need to maintain contact until we reach medical."

 

[Tamsin Starfall]

​

Theme: Short Change Hero
Equipment: Armor | Circlet of Projection | Stars Enchained | Mind Crown
Tags: Darth Anathemous | Rinea

The cursing followed by the pop of glass shattering in the hand. Her eyes caught the glare upon her for the words she spoke. She could feel the anger in the room, it was one thing she was always really good at in the force, feeling emotions around her. Those dull empty helmet visor stared right back at the glare set upon her.

What had she done except speak the truth, it was almost like the Rinea hadn't known the truth until this moment. In of itself was weird Tamsin knew of what happened, but this Director did not. Tamsin had just been a slave girl from Tatooine and before that some science experiment in a lab on Zonju V. So overall an uneducated nobody but even she knew what had happened to Csilla.

Her eyes in her visor drifted to the blood dripping from the hand.

"Your apprentice," she said bluntly, "reflects poorly on you."

Those few words uttered by the director spoke volumes to Tamsin. This had nothing to do with bitterness of the fates of the Galaxy and pushing it onto others. It had all been aimed at her from the moment they had approached.

She wanted to step forward and prove to this Director that she didn't need her approval and that her words were meaningless, but Tamsin did not. She did not because she respected her sister even if she didn't believe this director deserved the time of day from either of them.

As Kaila stepped between to try and stop a confrontation that wasn't going to happen at least not here. Though it would be a strange feeling to Kaila feeling the level of anger growing in Tamsin. She had been pushed down, shoved aside, put down, and ignored all her life she had always shook it off and moved on but now it was getting to her like it did on Susefvi but it wasn't the demon taunting her it was her own thoughts.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

Those words cut through her like a knife as she took a step back, a cold shiver of rage ran up her spine. As she let the director speak down to her like instead chewing her out for it all. A voice not her own crept up that of the demon "Told you so." Tamsin's teeth gnashed against each other under her helmet.

"You take your wounded fawn to medical; I'm leaving if you come to your damn senses, you know how to find me." With that Tamsin just turned to leave. Under her breath she muttered some incoherent insult.

 

[Rinea]

There was a commotion in the cantina over the events.

Several off-duty personnel stood up and waited. It was the kind of kneejerk loyalty anyone might expect in the service. However, Rinea did not feed the dogs this day. She waved her uninjured hand dismissively towards the crowd.

"We should get you to medical."

She agreed but did not say so.

The Chiss caught the exchange between Kaila and her apprentice, even if she didn't know exactly what was said, there was enough body language even with the helmets.

"I can take the pain, but we need to maintain contact until we reach medical."

"No," Rinea refused bluntly. She wasn't loud about it, but her tone was dismissive.

The wounds in her hand stung and bled through the beige cloth, but Rinea wasn't one to complain about pain. Something that she had hoped 'Gravemind' would have understood. Yet, that was less the issue here.

She shot another telepathic thought. "Control your instincts. You are a mercenary and a stranger to them."

Rinea watched as Tamsin Starfall left the scene like a quiet fury.

The officer sighed, waited a moment, and then began to walk towards medical. When they arrived, the pair would walk past the ICU, where Tiko Morita was among the critically wounded, towards a more secluded area of the hospital level reserved for SYNSTAT.

 

[Darth Anathemous]

// CODENAME: GRAVEMIND //
Location: Ward 5 - Medical complex
Wearing: Power Armor
Tags: Rinea Tamsin Starfall

"Tam-" Kaila reached out.

Then slowly, with a shaky sigh, her fingers curled into a fist which fell at her side.

Something always went poorly for her when she met with Rinea. Now her sister was running off to gods know where, she'd have to draw on their peculiar connection to find her but first she had to play patch things up with the chiss.

Today was a bloody mess.

And of course, the icing on the chit cake;

She shot another telepathic thought. "Control your instincts. You are a mercenary and a stranger to them."

<<"No.">> she growled back.

<<"Stop being stubborn for once and let me help you.">>

She put her hand on the officer's back as though a loyal soldier—or hired bodyguard—would shield their superior, an obviously practiced maneuver which swallowed the Director's image from line of sight as the two marched further and from the cantina. And for as long as she was allowed to maintain contact, the pain would soothe.

"Gravemind" gave a slight nod to Tiko Morita and the other soldiers from the battle before ducking into a SYNSTAT room with Rinea.

And only then did she speak aloud.

"Why?" she scoffed, searching for supplies.

"I'm sorry for how she responded by why must you antagonize us so?"

 

[Rinea]

Rinea turned to Kaila as soon as the door closed. Thankfully, sound would not travel so easily.

It took a second for the lights to automatically turn on. For a moment, it was just Rinea's eyes in the dark.

"Because you're a mercenary!" It was a quiet shout, but the intent was there. "How do you think it looks that I, an intelligence officer, am so chummy with a hired gun they've never seen before?! I want you here, but you need..."

She unwrapped the cloth. The bleeding had slowed but not stopped, and began to pool on the floor.

"You need to learn to control your emotions, to react differently than you would, or your disguise is nothing more than a costume."

There were organic body parts synthesized by a machine behind sterile glass. Rinea injected herself with something and walked over to a smaller machine, then placed her hand inside an opening. The machine hummed to life and began to work.

Darth Anathemous