On the hunt for....Phrik (Galactic Republic - PM to join)

[Kian Karr]

​

The Shadow cut through the atmosphere and Kian shook his head in disgust at the planet before him. Kian had been on Alderaan for both the Invasion that saw it stripped from Republic hands and in the counter-invasion that had the Republic halted in their attempt to reclaim it. He had known the planet then as a beautiful place and home of some of the most elegant political minds in the galaxy.....now however the planet was a shadow of its former self. Terraforming from the Vong had turned the planet into a horrific place full of deadly creatures and plants.

"Set us down in that alcove." Kian said to CG-50, his protocol droid. Rising from his seat, Kian made his way toward the rear of the ship, where Jedi Knight Qual and his padawan, Soli Baris, were busy getting the supplies together. Kian had brought the two with him on this assignment, knowing that they needed a break from the day-to-day work aboard the Gnost Dural. It wasn't good for a Jedi to get too bogged down in a single focus for too long.

"Are we ready?" Jedi Qual asked, his deep Selkath voice altered by the accent of his homeworld.

"I believe so. Are you?" Kian asked the two. Neither had been on Alderaan before the terra-forming and neither had been on since. It was going to be an experience for the two of them for sure.

 

[Kian Karr]

The three Jedi disembarked from the vessel and made their way into the dense forest ahead of them. Kian lead the group into the woods of Alderaan, Koras the rear and Soli Baris was safely nestled between the two of them. Kian wasn't particularly worried about the girl, however. She'd been a proficient warrior before beginning her training under Jedi Qual and had improved even more under his watchful eyes. Besides, given the girls past, she was a resourceful person and a consummate survivor.

"How far is the cavern?" Soli asked, speeding up to walk alongside Kian.

"Shouldn't be more than an hours walk." Kian said glancing around, his eyes and senses scanning the area. Things didn't feel right in the Vong-formed world, but they needed to be careful none-the-less. "But we need to keep ourselves on edge.....this planet isn't what it once was." Kian said remembering the circumstances in which he'd discovered the cavern they were en route too. Kian had found himself on Alderaan following his leaving of the Netherworld....the force wasn't working write and he arrived on the planet with a violent rage controlling him. He'd killed Vong then, and his apprentice, Roshki Belawiiks, had killed a Rodian.

Then the Voxyn had come. It was a single one of the creatures, but with the lack of force ability and their weakened state, they had been forced to flee. They took refuge in the cave and that was when Kian had discovered the Phrik. Many believed that the Jedi shouldn't wear armor....that they were not meant to be warriors. Kian partly agreed with this, but with the world they knew ravaged by war and the resurgence of the Sith in the galaxy....Phrik was needed.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kian Karr"] [member="Taeli Raaf"]

Solan yawned as he sat back in the pilot's chair of the Dark Harvester that belonged to Aurora Industries. Why were they here you might ask? Well there was two answers to that and the first was simply that they were here to set back up in the old base of operations for Phrik mining on the planet. But of course there were other reasons. Hearing that the Jedi themselves were coming to the planet and knowing of the fact that the Home that Solan was heading down to had several things the Jedi could use he planned to hand over part of the building that they were going to fix up as an enclave for the Jedi.

There were many things that the Jedi and that Aurora could use and if the two groups could work together they would both benefit from the protected enclave. There was a slight problem though, the droids to seem to have gone haywire while Taeli was gone and they would need to clear them out and then remove the Alchemical forge that is far under the building. What was left would be a Temple for the Jedi, a Lightside nexus on the top of it, and further a building for Aurora to have a place where they could work on renewing their Phrik mining.

(Reference Link to the building - http://starwarsrp.net/topic/35017-the-temple-of-the-grey/

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Kian Karr"] [member="Solan Charr"]

Ripples of light announced the arrival of a small corporate fleet bearing the insignia of Aurora Industries. Taeli smiled from where she sat, looking down on Alderaan. It had been a long time since she had seen that planet below, ever since the Netherworld event. It had been where she had started to see the light of just how twisted her life had ended up, and for that, maybe she was grateful.

Still, she had come to the system, company workers in tow, to get started on establishing themselves in a familiar location. It was still mostly protected from the Vong-forming Alderaan had under gone while it was under One Sith control, and that was another thing she planned to address. She had heard of some movement in the Senate on the issue, but they were taking too long. So, she had brought some scientists with her engineers and other employees to gather samples of the Vong lifeforms here.

"Solan, this is Taeli, we just entered the system and will be arriving shortly," she said into the comlink. She thought she sensed Master Karr in the area as well, but he seemed to be busy with his own business. She would handle hers for now and perhaps get the old Order of the Grey temple here refurbished and updated to serve as an Aurora location along with a Jedi Enclave.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Solan was busy watching his men already crawl through the vong invested brush to get to the cleared out area around the compound where the vong had not touched. He himself was in a garden atop the old home and looking around as he smiled. It felt good being here, ever since the trip to Nam he was much more in control of his empathy and being in places like this were nice. Granted he was still a bit unsettled due to the fact this garden was a lightside nexus and he was after all still a being that used the darkside. But it was no where near burning to him. He had taken the time to stand in the garden and then the voice of his co-owner erupted and he smiled. "Ahh, Redeemed Diathim, good to see you. Please do be careful on your way down, that Vongforming is a pain in the ass to get through to get here."

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian stopped for a moment and glanced up at the sky. Closing his eyes for a moment, he focused in on the presence that he was suddenly feeling and he realized it was Taeli Raaf. Kian knew the Jedi Master well enough to recognize her signature....and the familiar similarity between her signature and her sister, Corvus Raaf's.

"Master Karr?" Jedi Knight Qual called out and Kian glanced back down to see the Selkath had stopped a few meters ahead and was watching him. Soli Baris stood next to him, glancing around at the treeline, as if worried that something was wrong.

"You ok, double kay?" Soli said giggling and Qual glanced at her disapprovingly.

"Its nothing." Kian said shaking his head and walking quickly to catch up with them. "I felt the presence of another force sensitive....but it appears that Jedi Master Taeli Raaf has arrived on Alderaan." Kian said taking the lead once more. He wasn't sure why the Jedi Master had come to the planet, but he assumed she was either on business for her company.....Kian would have known about any Jedi business on Alderaan when he put his own trip in place. Or at least he hoped he would have.

"It isn't much farther." Kian said pushing a large, overhanging branch out of the way. In doing so they broke out into an open clearing that Kian recognized as the place where he had found his apprentice Roshki when they were on Alderaan after the "netherworld" event. So far things had been quiet.

....too quiet....

[member="Solan Charr"] - [member="Taeli Raaf"]​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Solan Charr"] [member="Kian Karr"]

"That Vongforming might actually be a blessing in disguise," she said as her people began preparations for landings. Unlike Solan, she actually remembered where the landing areas they had cleared out were when they had originally been developing phrik mines here. Those had been abandoned even before they had really been started because of the Netherworld event.

"We need to start developing countermeasures and tech against them to really throw the Sith off," she continued, walking onto one of the transports that was loaded with gear and such for the surface. "Make sure the old Order of the Grey temple is still actually working would you? We're going to re-establishing the phrik mine here first then move operations and research into the place. So stop standing around in Alex's garden and check the power and generators, also I'll be along to deal with that pesky alchemy forge in the basement."

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Kian Karr"]

"Oh come on,..." He said into the communicator as he looked at the tree at the center as he felt the lightside leaking from it. "You know taeli, im beginning to understand why you use the lightside, its a shame i could never use it without breaking that use. Just not my thing to ignore fear and such rather than use it... As for the generators ill get right on it but i suggest that you come check out this place if you haven't. Its absolutely beautiful... Its a shame i cant do this to my own garden..." He looked at the nexus once more with the force rather than his own eyes and stared at it while he smiled before turning and starting back down from the roof as he pulled up the floor plan of the place. "We should get some more defenses up for the Jedi who will call this home... and a second building separate from this so that the Jedi can use this as an enclave freely. Agreed?" He said as he continued walking, his eyes focused on the path before him while he spoke.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Solan Charr"] [member="Kian Karr"]

"Defenses are always good, but that should also be supported by the Republic military and be fully sanctioned by the Council," she replied. "The subject about using Alex's home hasn't even come up to the Council yet, so let's not get too far ahead of ourselves."

Plus, she thought to herself, she had to get to work on the Ruusan rebuilding. So many things to do there, and she hoped to have some help with that and everything. As the Aurora ships made their way down to the surface and landed, she could smell the somewhat musty air in the area from the Vongforming lurking on the edges of the place.

The old beginnings of the mine were still there for phrik, and her workers began to unload the new equipment to get to work. More and more ships were descending to the area, bringing the heavier equipment. Taeli meanwhile turned her attention to the nearby temple for a moment, searching out the dark side alchmey forge underneath with the Force and locating it. She might get some more practice with Force Light today, that was always good. It might take several applications to eliminate it.

"Ma'am, orders?" the new appointed foreman asked.

"Let's get to work," she said, strapping on a pair of goggles and her comlink's earpiece as she followed him over to where the men were bringing up large drills and excavators to begin digging. The prefab shelters were going back up, several Aurora security guards were scouring the area for any wildlife here to make sure everyone was safe.

 

[Kian Karr]

"What do you think Pra'ct would make of this place?" Kian heard Soli asked Qual from over his shoulder as he walked ahead of them, scanning the thickest foliage out ahead of them. Kian was a bit more on edge than the other two but neither of them had been back to the planet since the Vong-forming and they didn't know how dangerous the place could be. Kian trusted in them to handle any dangerous situations effeciently, but he was surprised with how relaxed they both seemed.

Then again, Kian had spent the last few years sending the two Shadows into far worse situations than this. They spent much of their time hunting down Sith and darkside relics. They went into scary, dangerous places all alone....so perhaps some vong-forming didn't seem to bad to them.

"I think he would be moving a lot slower if he were here." Qual said with a chuckle. "He'd need to stop and take 'samples' of everything."

The other two Jedi were refering to Jedi Research Pra'ct, a Verpine Jedi who served as the head of research for the Jedi Shadows. He was a good man and Kian had considered bringing him along, but Pra'ct wasn't much of a fighter despite the lessons that he was receiving at the hands of Kian, Qual, and Soli.

"Just through here." Kian said stopping and looking at a series of markings that looked familiar. They were close now. Pushing aside some overhanging branches, Kian went through the opening and was greeted with the site of the waterfall under which the entrance was located. Kian smiled beneath his mask and motioned for the others to follow. As he approached the opening to the cave system, Kian's eyes narrowed and he pulled his lightsaber from his belt.

"Something wrong Karr?" Qual asked unclipping his own lightsaber as well.

"That entrance was caved in before." Kian said motion toward the now open entrance to the cave. "Someone or something cleared it." Kian said and slowly crept inside.

[member="Solan Charr"] - [member="Taeli Raaf"]​

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

"Shame. none the less im going to work on the repairs to the structure and its surroundings. Even if its never used we need it incase phrik mining becomes a more taxing operation on the planet." His hand touched the comm at his ear as he turned it off and stared at the garden for a few more moments. It hurt alittle, being in this place of light but he still found that pain to be muffled by the other feelings he had as his hand lifted and placed itself over his heart. For a few moments his eys were closed as he remembered a feeling that he held onto every day. It was like a gnat biting at the back of his mind.

"Hey Taeli, im sending some engineers to you to help with the mining. Ok?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Solan Charr"]

"Why thank you," Taeli said into her earpiece, watching the first drill puncture the earth. The geologists here were roping off areas and doing a further survey of the land to get an accurate reading on how much phrik was below them. From everything they were saying, it looked like a nice and decent size of phrikite ore was in this location.

As the drill burrowed into the ground, Taeli hefted a mining laser and followed the rest of the miners down into the growing tunnel. All around, teams were laying down the track for the carts and the processing areas for the phrik they were here to obtain.

"Heigh ho, heigh ho," she mumbled to herself, earning a chuckle from other workers around her. Behind the drill, men started to post up support beams and lights while more digging equipment to create branching tunnels were brought in.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Solan was busy now moving supplies about the area and setting up the landing zone for one of the shipment to be taken off planet the moment they were done. He was a bit silent today, a bit tired and bored of being around all this machinery for once and yearning for the quiet so that he could go back to thinking and understanding what it is that had been bugging him as of late. That small thought that laid in the back of his head told him time and time again something was up though he couldn't really figure out what to think about it and what to say on it.

While he worked, zoned out, the phrik continued towards him and he checked to make sure that nothing else was inside the shipments because all it took was one spoiled batch to ruin the rest of the claim. And he really did not need for someone to try and smuggle off something that was not phrik as it was.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Solan Charr"]

"So this is what mining in a phrik mine is like," Taeli said to one of the miners as she swung her axe into the side of the passage. Some of the men had started to dig side tunnels off the main tunnel, and she could hear the chink and rumble of drills and other pieces of machinery delved into the ground.

"Just about," the miner chuckled. "I'm surprised you're able to life that there axe, ma'am."

"The Force works in mysterious ways," Taeli replied, making her voice all mystical sounding. Another slam of the axe and some stone containing the valuable mineral fell to the ground. Using the Force, she lifted the rock and set it in the nearby tram for transport and processing.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Solan had gotten through a few crates before designating it to a Shadow Legion captain he had brought with him, working his way through the mine itself now and inspecting the machinery. He didn't like to stay idle and listened as a few men talked about what they would be doing with the pay from this job. It was strange to hear it, not because it was an uncommon conversation but he remembered having those kinds of conversations long ago and now he never had to worry about what to do with the revenue he was privy too. It was odd, he honestly did miss the simple days back then. None the less he walked over and smiled as he ran a hand over each of their shoulders.

"Tell you guys what, how about we finish the job, then ill buy both of you a case of ale for not talking anymore when there is work to be done. Got it?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Solan Charr"]

"You're quite efficient, ma'am," the miner said, looking at her dig spot. Every hit she had made had been precisely where they needed to fall, but then it was easy to figure that out when you let the Force guide your hand. More and more of the vein of phrik here was being revealed, and other miners were making sure it was fully exposed before breaking it into pieces for transport.

"I've got an eye for these sorts of things," Taeli giggled, before throwing another swing at the spot and a large chunk of phrik fell away this time. "It also helps that I can tell where to hit because the Force gives me little nudges."

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Solan's eyes watched the two men for a few long minutes as he stood there, raising a brow as they made their find and with that, he himself moved on. He honestly wasnt extremely interested on how things worked out as far as the quantity of Phrik that was found but it was still nice to see others working. With his legs moving him down the mine he could only smile as he saw those around him doing as needed and when he saw one in particular his hands crossed behind him.

"Hmm, You, Miss with the stiffness about her. I dont remember Jedi being miners." He smiled as he talked to taeli and went over to the nearby bin where the phrik ore was they had so far recovered. He was always surprised how such a simple stone can become so much more and for the time now he laughed a small bit to himself at the fact he was musing over a stone.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Solan Charr"]

"One has to show they are willing to do the work they ask of others," Taeli replied, swinging the axe again before turning to look at Solan. She could hear the chuckles and feel the appreciation from the miners around them at her words. Earning the loyalty of these people was important, a loyal worker was an honest worker and would do their best.

The amount of phrik they were recovering would certainly be of use for the next part of Project Guardian. The Harbinger droid had turned out exactly as she had hoped, but it was still just a base model. They needed to make more specialized versions now and this was where it started.

"Care to get your hands dirty?" she asked.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

"Im not one for manual labor Taeli, believe it or not. Im a Warrior and a Tinkerer, not a miner." He smiled as his eyes drew to the men nearby whom glanced at him which only caused his grin to widen. "Though, im also one that loves to win bets, so how about this. If anyone in this section of the mine can get more phrik ore than myself, then ill buy the entire section drinks..." He knew what people liked, especially miners. And that was to relax and drink in times when they arent trapped in a mine below the earth because it was the most effective way to wind down at the end of the day. So with that he took the nearest harvester drill and smiled. "Will you be taking part in this bet Taeli?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Solan Charr"]

"I'll pass, this dainty researcher and scholar has other things to do then wave sticks around to see who can get the bigger rocks," she responded, clipping her earpiece back in and switching her comm frequency to some music so she wouldn't have to listen to Solan and the other miners going about this bet.

She would just keep chipping away at the spot she was working on, and fill her own personal quota for how much phrik she wanted to retrieve. The sounds of the mine, miners in other areas echoing back to them, faded away as she lost herself in the work, the Force, and most importantly some symphonic music.