Private Price of Mercy

[Malix Veythar]

Location: A gunship above Xyrenis
Attire: An officer's outfit with plated shoulders
Tag: Valery Noble​

Malix stood in the commanding bridge of a corvette with a solid view of the ongoing situation below on the planet of Xyrenis. It acted as a military hub for some superpower thousands of years ago; largely undiscovered until recently. Large numbers of bandits and colonies found the weapons below, and became a force in their own right; they ambushed merchant ships simply trying to make their way to other systems. An offer was made to them by an authority other than the Galactic Alliance. They may retain their findings and loot, as long as they no longer ambush ships that passed by.

That promise was agreed upon, but broken within a week. It was a half-measure by an incompetent bureaucrat who didn't want to invest into actually dealing with the issue efficiently, and now the Galactic Alliance were dealt with the responsibility of cleaning up this mess. If it were up to him, he'd bombard the hangers of the planet, take out the AA guns, and take over by force. These were terrorists in his eyes, plain and simple, and they were not to be negotiated with.

But of course, in delicate situations like these, there were always an opposition. Commanding officers who thought he went too far, whispers of the common rank-and-file. But in the end, he always got results, and that's something nobody, of any rank, of any hierarchy, could deny.

Until now.

The Jedi were taking a keen interest in his responses, in his mentality. It was made abundantly clear to him that if he made any major decisions without consulting his handler, the Jedi that's on board... well, being kicked from the Galactic Alliance would be the best thing to happen to him.

He pressed a button on the holotable, calling them to the bridge. To make another attempt to twist them into his way of thinking, but he knew how stubborn the Jedi were. Peacekeepers through any means necessary. This wasn't going to be easy.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

The steady hum of the corvette filled the air as Valery stepped onto the bridge, her boots tapping lightly against the durasteel floor. The soft glow of the holotable cast shifting light against her face, but her focus was already locked on the man standing beside it.

She had read his file.

Efficient. Effective. Ruthless. A man who saw problems and erased them rather than solved them. It wasn't uncommon for military minds to differ from the Jedi, but Malix wasn't just another officer. He was a man whose actions were being watched — by the Senate, by the High Command, and now, by her.

And judging by the sharp edge to his stance, he wasn't thrilled about it.

"Lieutenant Malix," Valery greeted, her tone steady but firm. "I assume you've been briefed on the operation?" Her amber gaze flicked to the holotable, where the planet below was displayed — Xyrenis. A world dragged into chaos by greed, failed negotiations, and unchecked violence.

The bandits had been given a chance to stand down. They had thrown it away.

She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "I want to keep this operation clean," she said, cutting straight to the point. "No unnecessary casualties. We get the mission done, and we get back out."

Malix Veythar ​

 

[Malix Veythar]

Location: A gunship above Xyrenis
Attire: An officer's outfit with plated shoulders
Tag: Valery Noble​

The Jedi's words were predictable, almost rehearsed. It was the same every time, a call for restraint, for diplomacy while the galaxy continued to burn. He had dealt with them before, but to have one lord over his decision-making process... a headache for sure. "The mission is past making it clean. These bandits broke their word, and now they're a threat to every passing ship. Negotiation is a luxury I can't afford. You've seen the situation. Those criminals don't respect weakness." as if to really further his point, he slowly walked up to her.

"What does clean entail? To work out something with them while they continue to ambush innocent people? Do you really want to stand proud of your ideology next to the dead bodies?" it would be dishonest of him to truly care about the people that were victims of all of this, but more so, he was trying to combat her hold on him. He only gave a frustrated sigh, turning back around, leaning over as his two hands were on the holotable.

"So tell me, Jedi." with a few points of his hand, he zoomed in on the planet's buildings and structures. The enemy held a lot of strongholds. They have impressive weaponry due to the caches of old technology they found on the planet. "How do you want to handle this?" he said it in both a questioning and challenging tone, wanting to see if she had some magical solution to a very, very clear problem.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery held her ground as Malix stepped forward, his words laced with challenge, with barely restrained frustration. She had heard this argument before. She had fought battles like this before — on the ground and in the war rooms. The idea that Jedi restraint was weakness. That mercy had no place in war.

Her expression didn't waver.

"We will handle them," she said evenly, her fiery gaze locked onto his. "If they fight, we fight. If they surrender, we stop. That's the difference." She tilted her head slightly, her tone still calm but edged with unshakable resolve. "Justice isn't just about retribution, Lieutenant. It's about knowing when to act and when to stop. If you can't see that, then maybe that's why I'm here."

She turned to the holotable, scanning the enemy fortifications with a practiced eye. This wasn't just a moral debate. They had a mission to accomplish, and she wasn't about to waste time arguing ideals when lives were at stake.

"We hit their strongholds. Disable their weapons. We force them to stand down. And if they won't?" She finally looked back at him, her gaze sharp, unyielding. "Then we do what we must."

"Swiftly and decisively."

Malix Veythar ​

 

[Malix Veythar]

Location: A gunship above Xyrenis
Attire: An officer's outfit with plated shoulders
Tag: Valery Noble​

"That's your solution? To hope they'll roll over once we hit the ground? Hm." His last hum was one full of doubt, he had every confidence that this would go wrong, that her playing babysitter was pointless; but if it meant proving in the end that more lives are lost when done her way, then that's something he'll hold onto for the next time a Jedi tries to preach their wisdom at him.

"These two strongholds will have to go down first." Out of the dozen or so, the two highlighted contained the anti-air guns. In other words, they could shoot down their ships from providing air support, or even just simply dropping off reinforcements. "Those anti-air guns will be a problem. If they're gone, we can overwhelm the enemy easily. It will be a close battle, but if we do this right..." too much effort for his liking, but this is the way to go.

"And this gunship will block the planet, to stop from any terrorists coming in or out. There's enough weaponry on this ship to decimate what they have if they try anything." In other words, they'll control the skies, and once those AA guns are out, they can easily control the flow of battle on the ground.

"Works for you, Jedi?" he stared at her sharply. He might be petty, but his sharp tone made it clear he doesn't like this way of handling the threat at all, but... it's what she wants, after all.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened, her fiery gaze scanning the holotable as Malix laid out the plan. She could hear the doubt in his voice, the edge of restrained frustration that lingered in every syllable. He didn't believe in this approach — not really. But he was willing to execute it, if only to prove his own point in the end.

That was fine.

Valery had spent her life making 'impossible' things happen.

Her gaze lifted to meet his, steady and unwavering. "It works," she confirmed. "We take out those AA guns first. Once they're down, we control the airspace and dictate the pace of the fight." She tapped the holotable, her fingers brushing over the highlighted fortifications. "Clean, efficient. No unnecessary bloodshed." Her tone was calm, but there was a quiet strength beneath it. A certainty.

Valery straightened, adjusting her gear. "If you're ready, we move now. The longer we wait, the more time they have to prepare." Then, without another word, she turned toward the exit, expecting him to follow.

Malix Veythar ​

 

[Malix Veythar]

Location: A gunship above Xyrenis
Attire: Standard trooper armour, plated all over.
Tag: Valery Noble​

"No unnecessary bloodshed." he whispered, he had no illusions about how this was really going to go. Blood would be spilled one way or another, she just didn't want to see it. But she was right about one thing. The longer they waited, the more time the enemy had to fortify. They had to act quickly. And despite his reservations, despite his frustrations with her idealism, he couldn't afford to let this drag on either.

Before he followed her, he commanded who he could to prepare; they'd take shuttles and transports down to the surface, away from the range of the AA guns as much as possible. Ideally they wouldn't be spotted at all, but in situations like this, he'd have to assume the worst.

He personally joined her in one of the shuttles, along with a handful of troopers behind them. In the shuttle, he grabbed one of the kits; standard trooper armour, blaster rifle, a handful of explosives and other utilities, equipping it all on his person whilst the shuttle made it's way towards the planet.

So far, there was no communications of any shuttles being blown out of the sky, which meant the AA guns weren't as advanced as he thought they would be. Good so far.

As soon as they'd land, they would see the surface of the planet; a dense jungle, mixed with tunnels of caves all around. He was mildly curious how someone found anything here in the first place, considering the caches of weaponry that the terrorists found, but regardless...

"Orders?" he looked towards Valery. He'd normally try to take command, but he's letting her dictate this one, so that when this inevitably fails, he doesn't have to hold any responsibility for it.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery stepped off the shuttle and into the dense undergrowth, her boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. The jungle around them pulsed with unseen life — an endless tangle of towering trees, thick vines, and the distant hum of creatures hidden within the foliage. It was the kind of terrain that swallowed mistakes whole. But to Valery, it felt like home. She had grown up in a jungle far deadlier than this one.

She rolled her shoulders, adjusting the fit of her gear, then turned toward Malix as he spoke.

"Orders?"

Valery smirked slightly, shaking her head. "I'm not your boss, Lieutenant," she said, voice even but edged with something almost amused. "Just an ally. We're in this together."

That was the reality of it. He might not like it — might not trust the way she did things — but that didn't change the fact that they were both here for the same purpose.

She turned her gaze toward the dense jungle ahead, her focus sharpening. "My advice? We move fast and quiet. The enemy likely has scouts positioned along the outskirts of their strongholds, but if we keep our approach controlled, we can take them out before they sound the alarm." She reached out, pulling up a tactical display on her datapad, highlighting the terrain ahead. "We split into two units. One circles wide, cutting off potential reinforcements, while the other pushes straight for the AA guns."

Her gaze flicked back to him, firm but expectant. "If we take them down quickly, the rest of the fight tilts in our favor. No unnecessary losses. We hit them hard, disable their defenses, and force them to surrender."

Malix Veythar ​

 

[Malix Veythar]

Location: A gunship above Xyrenis
Attire: Standard trooper armour, plated all over.
Tag: Valery Noble​

As much as he wanted to be difficult about how to handle this; he wouldn't be petty enough to compromise the mission. "Fast and quiet." and he started to sort out the correct men for this job; those with rifles, or generally long-ranged rifles will be positioned around a choke point, to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the outpost whilst the other squad will take care of the AA guns. He held charges, as well as a number of other men.

He held his rifle tightly, and finally putting on his helmet, getting closer with Valery. "Then follow me." and he let up a hand signal to everyone, advising them to move forward. They were in the open at the moment, walking their way casually towards the outpost when it was very clear in sight; metal fortifications with large metal walls and platforms, as well AA guns at each corner. He then signaled everyone to start crouching, and ordered two men to scope out the entrance ahead; to see how many were around, how many were keeping an eye on the entrance.

"Four guards at the entrance, and two more patrolling the walls. Light security, but they've got a vantage point." that would be troublesome. they would need to take the guards down in sync, and fast. Otherwise if even one were to live, they could radio the entire outpost and their element of surprise goes.

"Anyone that has stun mode on their blasters, get closer to those four, and get ready. For anyone with blasters, shuffle back as far away as you can. They're too high for the stun blasters, but the longer you are, the more they won't hear the sounds of your blasters." That was the best way to handle this, in his opinion, but of course, he looked towards Valery.

From his belt, he plucked out an explosive charge and gave it to her. "Think you can manage one AA tower?" he knew Jedi were on a different level physically, and he wondered if that extended to her stealth.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery met Malix's gaze as he handed her the explosive charge, her smirk faint but confident. "You're underestimating me, Lieutenant. I can handle it." She turned the charge over in her hands once, securing it against her belt before shifting her stance, her focus already shifting toward the AA tower. From here, it was a challenge — high vantage points, patrolling guards, and a structure designed to withstand attacks. But with the Force? It wasn't a challenge. It was an opportunity.

Fast and quiet.

Valery exhaled slowly, reaching outward with her senses. The jungle around them pulsed with life, but so did the stronghold — patterns of movement, flickers of awareness, the rise and fall of each breath within the walls. She could feel it all, threading through the tension, guiding her to the gaps, the weaknesses.

Her fiery gaze flicked back to Malix. "Cover me. This won't take long."

Then, she moved.

One step, two — then she vanished. A surge of the Force propelled her upward, her body twisting mid-air as she landed with silent precision on the outer wall. Not a sound. No shift in the wind. No shadow betraying her movement. She pressed against the structure, waiting, counting the beats between each patrol. Then she moved again.

A flicker of motion, too quick to register. With the Force flowing through her, she cleared the gap between the wall and the AA tower in a single, precise leap, landing atop the platform just as a guard turned away. He never saw her coming.

One sharp, precise strike to the back of his neck sent him crumpling without a sound. Another step, another moment — she reached the base of the gun, kneeling swiftly to plant the charge.

Done.

Malix Veythar ​

 

[Malix Veythar]

Location: Outpost of Xyrenis
Attire: Standard trooper armour, plated all over.
Tag: Valery Noble​

Malix watched her work, his helmet's visor tracking her movements even in the low light. He had to admit, Jedi were on a different level. No wasted motion. No hesitation. She flowed through the battlefield like a ghost. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he'd have thought she was never there at all.

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. Showoff.

But now came his part.

He flicked a quick hand signal to his men, motioning for them to take their positions. The ones armed with stun blasters crept closer to the four guards at the entrance, keeping to the shadows. The rest of his unit adjusted their distance, lining up careful shots at the patrolling sentries above. Every movement was calculated, rehearsed. They only had one chance at this before the whole outpost came crashing down on them.

He gripped his rifle tighter, finger resting just above the trigger. Then, a silent countdown through his fingers.

Three.

His breath steadied.

Two.

His men raised their weapons.

One.

A flash of blue as stun bolts hit their targets below, while red bolts of blaster fire took out the sentries above. No screams. No alarms. Just the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground. The shooters of the red bolts were far enough that their blasters going off wouldn't go loud enough to alert the outpost.

Perfect.

Malix wasted no time, signaling his squad to advance, securing the entrance before anyone inside noticed the silence. He tilted his head slightly, activating his comm.

"Valery, how's my AA gun looking? Or are you too busy enjoying yourself up there?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

A flick of her wrist. A final press of the detonator to arm the charge, and...

Perfect.

Valery exhaled through her nose, a smirk tugging at her lips as she straightened, casting a glance over the outpost below. Malix and his squad had worked efficiently — silent takedowns, precise shots. It was almost impressive.

Her comm crackled to life, his voice laced with dry amusement.

"Valery, how's my AA gun looking? Or are you too busy enjoying yourself up there?"

Oh, she was enjoying herself.

Without missing a beat, she stepped onto the ledge, weight balanced effortlessly at the edge of the platform. Then, in one smooth motion, she dropped. No hesitation, no stumble — just a clean, controlled descent, her body twisting midair before she landed right in front of him with all the grace of someone who definitely knew she had an audience.

She straightened, rolling a shoulder like the whole thing was no big deal. And because she was enjoying herself, she reached up, fingers threading through her hair in an easy, sweeping motion, pushing loose strands back into place with just enough flair to make it obvious.

Then, finally, she met his visor with a smirk.

"AA gun's all set," she murmured, tone light, teasing. "But you were right about one thing." She let her weight shift slightly to one hip, her confidence unshaken. "I am enjoying myself."

Malix Veythar ​