Moving The Sky (Siobhan)

[Tempest]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
It was a sad day. Tempest looked out the windows at the planet below. Kaeshana...her de facto home for many years. Soon it would be changed and broken forever.
However, steps had been taken. She was on board the Tirathana Skyport, the vast orbital station which, for now, orbited Kaeshana. Soon that would change though.

Turning to Siobhan she took a deep breath. "The last of the passengers are aboard. The large cargo, the supplies and the resources are all stashed."
The Skyport would carry 150,000 passengers; the wealthiest Eldorai who could pay for this certain salvation. It was their funds who had helped make the exodus possible, even if it was distasteful for the aristocrats to be guarenteed survival.
Likewise, the 60 million tonnes of cargo space was stuffed to overflowing. Technology, manufacturing facilities, the Tempest cannons from the ground defences, farming equipment and more were all aboard. All that could be desired to make the new home on Tygara a reality.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


Siobhan was unusually quiet and solemn, even regretful, when she stared out of the windows of the Skyport to look upon the blue orb that lay below. Kaeshana had been her home for a long time. It had actually felt like home as opposed to simply a planet she lived on. Fondor had fallen into the latter category. The same applied to Coruscant and Tython during her time with the Jedi. She refused to think of Nar Shaddaa.


One hand, of flesh and blood, moved up to trace across the window. The hand still felt...strange to her. She sighed. "Good. We're really leaving. I mean, we've known that for months, prepared for it...but it did not seem real until today. Well, no point in procrastinating, I suppose. Are the tugs we got from MandalMotors installed? No technical issues?" she asked once she had shaken herself out of her melancholic mood, though she refused to avert her eyes from Kaeshana. Unless a miracle happened soon the planet's surface would be turned to ash. Santaissa would be razed, those left behind would perish in a terrible holocaust.


Siobhan Kerrigan had long stopped believing in miracles. "How are we with security? Any disturbances?" As they both knew, Santaissa was already being rocked by rioting. At this juncture the royal army and the Firemane forces had the situation under control. However, Dark Eldorai terrorist attacks had surged. Due to this the security force on the Skyport now included a contingent of ARGH battle droids. Needless to say many Eldorai did not like that, but the machines could be relied upon to do what they were told. Mei-Ling, one of Sio's attendants and guards, had been instructed to be extra vigilant, since she was responsible for protecting Laina Silvias and her unborn child.


Moreover, the Citadels of Dusk and Dawn had been decommissioned. Their heavy guns, including the Tempest cannons, would be coming to Tygara and had been loaded on to the Skyport. Significant Firemane personnel, including Firefarm, would be moved as well.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“I understand the tugs are working properly. I don’t understand the exact mechanics, but the engineers say they are all in place and balanced. The hyperspace coordinates are properly inputted. This will be a long, long haul. It’s going to take at least a standard week to get to Tygara because of the numerous course corrections and refuelling we’ll need.”
Tempest consulted her datapad. “We’ve got tankers waiting for us at each of the four reversion systems, all Republic, SJO or Levantine controlled. We’ve got the Valora’s Blade and other ships escorting us. They’ll drop out and cover us whilst the refuelling happens.”

“As for the planet…it’s bad,” she said bleakly. “Now everyone knows something’s going on. Many people who have got allocated shuttle berths have been robbed or even killed, people are forging IDs, taking off-worlders hostage and making them take them away. Most of the ‘Alien Quarter’ is already abandoned by those who can do so.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


Siobhan nodded grimly. She could not blame anyone for taking desperate measures to survive. If she had been in their shoes, she would have done the same. Getting sanctimonious and judgemental would be hypocrisy. Equally she could not tolerate a breakdown of order.


"A foretaste of things to come. The planet is gonna tear itself apart, thousands will have died even before the asteroid hits. Maybe more. But there's nothing we can do to stop it. Just contain it. I want security tight across the station and our the fleet on alert. Nothing and no one can be allowed to sabotage us, be it internal or external threats. Make sure the critical systems of the station are well-protected. Same applies to equipment and rations," she said with clear fervour in her voice. Her beloved planet was going to perish, but she could not allow this mission to be stopped or impeded. She took a breath. Security forces had access to nonlethal weapons for riot control such as Gorgon web rifles, stun grenades and Czerka headbangers. Hopefully if disturbances broke out, these would be enough. But there was no doubt that if need be, Siobhan would authorise the use of lethal force.


"Right, send a transmission to Anya and our escorts that we're ready to jump. I appreciate you being here with me, Tempest. You've always been loyal and a good friend."

 

[Tempest]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Tempest nodded, unable to muster a smile even for Siobhan. “I’ll see to it personally, Siobhan. We’ve taken the very unpopular step of having only Firemane guards for the station’s systems. We almost had an Angelii mutiny about it, but the Queen sided with us. She’s going to be boarding the Skyport any moment now and she’ll be leaving with us.”

“Tarissa is commanding the Valora’s Blade today, and as we both know she won’t let anything happen,” Tempest said, trying to sound more optimistic than she really was.

Night was falling over Kaeshana, both literally and figuratively.

Siobhan’s commlink buzzed. It was the Star Queen’s personal guard, Aeda. “Lady Kerrigan, the Queen wishes to see you before the station departs,” Aeda said with her strangely modulated voice from her helmet.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"]


The long night had begun. It was said that it always darkest before dawn...if they would ever experience one. No, there could be no room for doubt. "Understood, Grand Seraph. I'll go meet her right away," Siobhan responded through her comm, then switched it off.


She gave Tempest a nod. "Hold the fort while I'm with Anya. Back in a bit." At least she could also rely on Tarissa at the helm of the Blade. The woman was...vicious, but she was tight on discipline. Well, she would probably shoot her own XO if she gave even a hint of plotting mutiny. She patted Tempest on the shoulder and then departed from the command room, taking a turbolift down to the hangar.

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Tempest"]


Standing upon the bridge of the Blade, Tarissa started into the dark, fathomless void of space. Today it seemed even colder than ever. Her jaw clenched at the sight. Of course, she could not see the asteroid that would be the doom of her homeworld, but she could imagine it. A stream of reports had kept her informed about the chaos that raged upon the surface of Kaeshana. Society was on the verge of collapse, Eldorai were fighting Eldorai.


It could not be tolerated. "Her Majesty has landed on the Skyport. The last passengers have come aboard," her comms officer spoke though Tarissa's mind was elsewhere. Cold eyes travelled across the bridge to look upon her crew. All of them chosen by her or by officers she trusted. They had been at Gehenna, at Sullust and at many other battlefields. They had kept the motherland safe from pirates and slaver scum...yet now there was a menace that could not be defeated by them. A menace that seemingly not even the Goddess could hold back. The crewers and officers went about their duties, but they no longer seemed alive. They performed their duties robotically or like living skeletons. A part of every Eldorai was dying. No...she could not accept this. The Goddess would see them through...she had to.


"Inform her that we are ready for launch at her command. Nothing will be allowed to impede this mission. Nothing. The Skyport will reach Tygara," she said firmly. Perhaps she was trying to convince the crew. Or maybe even herself. "Our people will have a new home."


"Will they? Or just the elite that can buy itself a seat?" one of the bridge officers seated behind a monitor grumbled. "They're the ones who are guaranteed to survive. Good luck if you're a commoner. But the rich and the foreigners will survive."


"What was that?" Tarissa snapped, a feeling of anger and rage overcoming her as she turned around.


"The Ensign is right," suddenly Commander Lysette, her XO, stepped forward and approached her. "I cannot in good conscience follow the Queen's orders. We strayed from Ashira's path and she left us. By bowing to human monkeighs and putting..."


BAAAM A bullet connected with the skull of the Eldorai officer and blew right through it, blood splattering across the table and the floor as the elf fell to the ground with a loud thud. Tarissa held the smoking gun. The bridge officer who had protested earlier jumped to his feet but this was futile for the Eldorai commander shot him as well. BAAAM. "Commander Lysette died because she committed treason against our race. I will personally send anyone who follows her into the pits of hell. There will be no mutiny, no heresy, no disobedience. Lieutenant Commander Tahril, you're taking over Lysette's duties. Do not disappoint me."

​

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Whilst Tarissa acted as Commissar to those with counter-revolutionary heretical ideas, the Skyport witnessed the arrival of Queen Tirathana VII.

At one of the private observation rooms the Queen and Countess met, with Grand Seraph Shaytari vigilantly protecting them.
Anya looked terrible. She looked like she’d been crying, and understandably so, but she was making an effort to hold it together. Slowly, she reached out a hand and touched the window, touching Kaeshana possibly for the last time.
“This is not how I should be doing this, Siobhan. I should be down there to the end…and when the end comes I will be with my people. That is what my heart tells me. My head…well, I know my duty is to rule the survivors, but I feel like a coward. I feel like I am abandoning my people to die. The main rescue effort is still to come. With your help we’ll save millions…but not everyone. And when Armageddon comes it will be their deaths which haunt me.”
Unable to look at her world anymore, Anya sat heavily on a seat.
“Is everything prepared?”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


Siobhan's heart went out to Anya. It hurt to see her like this. It really did. It brought home the tragedy that was coming to pass. On Tygara, where she had been working towards building a new civilisation and subjugating natives, it had been easy to ignore. Now it was not. What words of comfort could she offer? None would be adequate. Saying 'I'm sorry' would not be trite, but frankly idiotic.


So instead she just gave her a loose hug and pulled her close before withdrawing. "Your people, the survivors, will need you, Anya. Your daughter needs you," she sighed. "I've secured an agreement with [member="Coci Heavenshield"]. The Silvers will devote a portion of their fleet to help with the main evacuation and they'll be helping setting up settlements on Tygara." Unable to offer much in the way of comfort she tried to return to facts and duty. "The Skyport is ready go."

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

Anya appreciated that Siobhan could remain on track, keep thinking about the important things. She nodded.
“Let us begin then. Thank Coci for her efforts. We are forever in her debt.”

She looked out the window a final time. “You know, when I first looked down on Kaeshana from above all those years ago I was amazed. Amazed and frightened. All I had ever known was on that one world, and there were a million more out there in the galaxy. I felt overwhelmed. I felt lost. I don’t know what I feel now aside from sadness. It’s almost inverted now. Now all I will have is those million worlds, but not my home.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"I know. It is my home as well," Siobhan said quietly before picking up her comm link and opening a channel to Tempest. "Start the launch. We're jumping." It would take a few moments for the massive Skyport to make the leap to hyperspace. That message passed on she commed the Valora's Blade.


"Tarissa, it's Siobhan. Situation stable on your end?"


"Attempted mutiny. I took care of it." Somehow the coldness and revulsion in Tarissa's words made Siobhan very reluctant to probe more deeply. "We are ready for launch. Goddess be with us." There was a slight tremble in Tarissa's voice when she spoke the words. She was also dealing with the fact that very soon her homeworld would be lost, along with hundreds of millions of her people. But one could not allow oneself the luxury of doubt in front of the crew.


"She will," Siobhan said firmly. "We are leaving the system. Jump on my mark." Then the Skyport and the entire escort fleet was swallowed by hyperspace and began its uncertain journey.

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Anya stood proud and defiant at the window. The station shook slightly as the tugs fired up one by one.
“Station is go for movement in 5…4…3…2…1…go!” the voice of the Captain called.
With a wrenching jerk the station shot into hyperspace.

In the aftermath, as the window shades came down to block the eerie lightshow outside, Anya turned to Siobhan.
“Come to my office. I want to show you the plans I’ve made so far for the new cities.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


3...2...1...and then were gone. The Skyport had vanished from the Asur System, leaving Kaeshana behind...and thus also the rivers of blood that were flooding Santaissa. Within a span of months they would have to return to begin the exodus in full. By the time the great evacuation began Eldorai society might have drowned in internecine strife, fear and desperation.


Siobhan defiantly stared out of the window, her new hand clenched tightly, then as the massive station traversed through hyperspace she pulled herself away from the sight. Listening to Anya, she gave her Queen a nod. "Ok. Lead the way. I've been in touch with Tegs and Taldir, some plans have been made about constructing a new citadel to guard the cities." Located in the mountains that would form a natural barrier to the Xioquo settlements.


For, alas, the process of building a new civilisation on Tygara could not be a wholly peaceful one. She clamped down on these thoughts and followed Anya towards her office, passing Angelii guards. It still felt strange to walk with her new body. On a certain level the limbs still felt alien to her.

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Anya led Siobhan into her study, followed by Aeda at a respectful distance. Neither Siobhan or Anya really needed a guard, but Aeda was all about duty, and so she guarded them.

Even the suites were not free of cargo. Anya’s royal room was packed with valuable crates of treasures and personal items. The logic was that as she was the most defended person on the ship, the most valuable items may as well stay with her.
An inner room was more cleared though, and there a holographic projector table showed a map of the northern continent of Tygara.

“I was thinking we’d call it New Asur in general. My aim is to move people back into the cities and locales they’ve come from. Therefore, the new cities will be built and modelled after the old ones with tweaks to make it more practical.”

An area in the central continent between the mountains and the sea where two great rivers met and a series of foothills overlooked.

“This is where I want New Santaissa to be. The thing I’ve learned about this new land is that it is much more open than Kaeshana. Vast plains broken up by hills, rivers and forests, but not the giant mountains everywhere like at…home.” She sighed, shook her head to clear her head.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


Siobhan gave her Queen a nod. "They aren't. I've seen the surveys and explored the area myself. The mountains are...less of an impregnable barrier, but still form obstacles along with the rivers. Firemane's gonna be setting up a surface shipyard there," she pointed at an area close to the hypothetical capital.


"We've already got some surface corvettes and boats on patrol. Eventually we intend to build surface battleships that can help protect against aerial attacks and aid in planetary defence." Maybe something similar to the submersible Arakyd Industries had made, or a destroyer. She pointed towards some of the vast plains in the northern continent. "This area is very fertile, good for farming. I suppose the inhabitants of Nadana would be comfortable there."

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Perfect. I’m allocating resources to connect all eighteen of the new cities with a rapid transport system using mag-levs.”
She changed the displays so that each of the eighteen cities became connected by webs to each other, with New Santaissa in the centre.
“We’ll also have regular roads and canals to assist, spaceports and more. I’ve heard you’ve already got mining operations at work in the mountains to give us the raw materials?” she asked.

“The ships sound good. We never really had a proper navy before…now’s the chance I guess!”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"Yeah, mining ops are ongoing in the mountains. The planet is also very rich in gold," Siobhan responded. With the hilt of her lightsabre, though the weapon remained unignited, she pointed to a mountainous area on the map.


"That might be a suitable area to settle the Kar'zun. Far enough away from the living space of the Eldorai so that they don't clash, but we can still monitor them. There's gonna be conflict with the Xioquo, so the stone guys will be useful. Their Elders have agreed to help in construction work and so on in return for freedom."

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Anya nodded. “It is for the best. This way they are within our sight, but I will let them have autonomy to run the lands given to them. I fear there will be many Eldorai who are resentful that they were saved and others were not. I think it might lead to conflict one day. Perhaps we might find a better place for them once everything has settled down.”

Looking at the map she indicated a spine of mountains which ran through the continent. “This area here would be suitable to house the relocated Citadels. Place them closer together, at the northern and southern ends of this mountain range and this will allow them a wide arc of fire on anything in space. Ashira’s Crown can be moved to protect the New Santaissa. I’m also investing in shields for all the new cities to protect them. We will not be caught unawares.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Anya Venari"]


"Agreed. Good location. Firemane's gonna be negotiating with certain Mandalorian designers about jointly developing and purchasing new weapons' systems to help fortify Tygara. We've had to move halfaway across the Galaxy to find a new home, so we might as well make it as strongly defended as we can," Siobhan commented. Say what you want about Mandalorians, they knew how to build shiny bases bristling with firepower. Just look at Fort Monroe.


"At least if we get attacked our outside support won't be totally useless like the Protectorate," she commented. It would be inaccurate to say that her opinion of Omega Pyre needed a parachute because that would imply that it was still falling and had not yet reached rock bottom. Suffice to say her opinion on the 'let's abandon our subjects and go back to being mercenaries' scheme was astronomically low. As was her opinion of the last Protector.


"Speaking of cities and bases, we're in the process of turning that island the Xioquo used as a fortress into a settlement. Plan is to make it our premier naval base and trading port with the Qadiri. Since we forced an...what's it called again, unequal treaty on Semiramis. Its location shows potential as a commercial hub and as a means to control the seas. Freetown has been suggested as a name, since much of the populace will be freed slaves." Service in the Freetown Militia guarantees citizenship! Would you like to know more?

 

[Anya Venari]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
“Freetown, I like that. Take a former slaver paradise and make it a place of progress. It is truthfully the biggest difference between us and our Qadiri cousins. As far as I am aware the Eldorai have never had slavery in the many thousands of years I am aware of, but here it seems ingrained into the population in all areas of the culture. It will take time to excise that.”

“The Mandalorians are good at their job. Let us make it so we never need to move again. I don’t think my people could take that. They would become migrants if it was ever the case again.”
One would hope they would be less pathetic than other such migrant races….

“What should we do with the Xioquo? Analysis of their residence and numbers indicates that the 10,000 we have killed or captured in this campaign must be a significant amount of their standing forces. I hope to learn more from them by closer study, but if it comes to it we will fight them. I do not want them exterminated though. That would be unjust.”