Mission Pulled up at the Root

[Kadann]

Jared Starchaser Bastila Sal-Soren Lorn Reingard

"I want to go first," Kaddan said.

The dark mountain landscape rushed past below. The gunship was weaving low. The Republic had cleared the descent with Ghorman, but now they had to surprise the Dark Side Elite in the hidden fortress.

"Not because I am enamoured with the idea of being shit at. I have a small hope that if we meet some of my Knights first there is hope of negotiating a surrender.

"Can we agree on that?"

They were just moments from the location now. Dark side elite had fled the core, but Kadann couldn't abandon those who had been corrupted by Solipsis. He had to believe there was a chance for some of them.

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Kadann | Jared Starchaser | Bastila Sal-Soren​

Hands smoothed over the rough fabric of Lorn's trousers, a rhythmic motion to settle the familiar pre-combat nerves. The dim light of the gunship flickered as they banked low over the jagged mountain terrain of Ghorman. Hearing the Imperial's request to lead the way, Lorn looked over at Jared. Skepticism remained his default state; letting Kadann go first could either be a gesture of honor or the final step of a trap.

Kadann's hope for a peaceful surrender felt optimistic for a fortress full of Sith-corrupted killers. Still, the man's voice carried a sincerity that was hard to ignore. Lorn adjusted his stance, feeling the vibrations of the engines through his boots. The shadow of the mountain rushed up to meet them, signaling that the time for debate had ended.

"They get one chance," Lorn said, his voice cutting through the hum of the ship. "But if they make a move toward us, I will not hesitate." He stood up, checking the seal on his gear one last time. There was no room for mercy if it meant losing the people currently standing in the hold. Lorn moved toward the deployment ramp, ready to follow the Imperial into the mouth of the stronghold.

 

[Bastila Sal-Soren]

She wasn’t happy.
Lorn knew she wasn’t happy.
Jared probably knew she wasn’t happy. Corellian hells the damn Imperial probably knew she wasn’t happy.

However Bastila did what any good padawan should do in the presence of their master, she shut up and put her head down. The idea of helping this Imperial was still not boding well for her, she felt like it was very much like kicking a nest of swamp rats so that a bigger uglier swamp rat could move into the nest. It just didn’t sit well with her, but after what she had seen in the core since the Galactic Empire’s retreat they also couldn’t sit back and not do anything.

She moved with Lorn to the ramp as she, like him, checked her gear. Made sure straps were tight, lightsaber was in her hand and her blaster’s holster lock was loose. He made a comment about surrender and a single chance and she couldn’t help the slight grin that crossed her face. She missed proper field work with Lorn, it was like when she raided pirate camps with Brandyn. It just felt like proper Jedi work.

“I owe you ten credits by the way.” She shouted over the engine noise, “He hasn’t mentioned destiny once…”

OUTFIT: XoXo | TAG: Lorn Reingard Kadann Jared Starchaser EQUIPMENT:

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[Jared Starchaser]

There were others that should be arriving, but he wasn’t certain the messages should be sent quite yet. The Underground Jedi were something else, not the serving the laws of the Republic, especially since this mission was a bit more stealth. Get in, take the fight to the Dark Side Elite, and get out.

Ghorman was a different world. One with a deep history, a history that was damaged long ago. Jared had opted for the cortosis weave armor of the Jensaarai he created back when he was young, in the Outer Planets Alliance. Lightsaber ready, blaster ready.

Kadann had offered to go first, and Jared nodded. He was fine not being targeted right away.

“Lead the way.” Jared agreed. “If they get out of hand, and you think its worth saving them, I have some tricks I’ve learned.” He grinned, illusions, and a witch-spell that would slow someone’s movements.

“But I’ve got your back, Kadann.” A clear understanding what the man was fighting for, and what the Imperial Knights stood for.

Kadann Lorn Reingard Bastila Sal-Soren

 

[Kadann]

Jared Starchaser Lorn Reingard Bastila Sal-Soren

“I owe you ten credits by the way.” She shouted over the engine noise, “He hasn’t mentioned destiny once…”

"Had I known credits were at stake..." Kadann mused. There was a spark of amusement in his eye, even as they descended towards their grave mission.

"I am glad you all came," he said firmly as the gunship dropped suddenly, cutting close to the cliff on approach. Thrusters whined as it stopped sharply.

Kadann stepped off the lowered ramp first as the gunship settled onto the rocky ledge outside the hidden fortress. The mountain air was cold and thin. Dust kicked up around his boots from the landing thrusters.

He kept his hands visible at his sides, white hair stirring in the downdraft. His red and black armor caught the faint moonlight, but he carried no drawn weapon.

His eyes adjusted quickly to the shadows near the entrance. There, half slumped against a jagged outcrop, was one of his former Knights. The man's armor was scorched and cracked, the once proud Imperial crest defaced. Corruption clung to him like a visible stain in the Force. Alive, but broken.

Kadann raised one hand slowly, palm out, and spoke in a clear, steady voice that carried across the short distance. Plain words. No theatrics.

"Stand down, Knight. This does not have to end in more blood. Solipsis is gone. The Emperor you served offers redemption to those who will take it. Lay down your arms and we can end this without further loss."

He took one careful step forward, gaze locked on the fallen man, hoping the others behind him would hold position.

The corrupted Knight lifted his head. For a brief moment there was hesitation in his eyes. Then his expression twisted. He snarled and reached for his lightsaber. Two more figures emerged from the shadows near the fortress entrance, weapons already igniting with angry red blades.

From a hatch above the entrance, the muzzle of a heavy repeater emerged.

Kadann did not flinch, but his jaw tightened.

"I had hoped for better," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. His own hand dropped toward his hilt.

"One chance. That is all we agreed on."

His silver blade snapped to life as the first blaster bolt lashed out towards them.

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Bastila Sal-Soren | Kadann | Jared Starchaser​

Leaning closer to Bastila, Lorn kept his voice low against the roar of the landing thrusters. "Don't worry," he whispered with a ghost of a smirk. "There's still plenty of time for destiny talk."

He followed Kadann and Jared down the ramp, stepping out into the biting mountain air. His boots crunched on the gravel as he scanned the perimeter, watching the ruined figure of the fallen Imperial Knight. The man looked more like a corpse than a soldier, and Lorn felt the dark, oily stain of corruption through the Force.

Pessimism was a familiar weight as he watched the negotiation fail in real-time. Kadann's hope was noble, but Lorn had seen enough turncoats to recognize the feral look in the man's eyes. As the corrupted Knight reached for his weapon, Lorn's hand was already gripping the cold metal hilt at his belt. He sent a sharp, silent pulse through the Force to Bastila, a mental shove to bring her focus to her own blade.

Snap-hiss echoes filled the clearing as silver and crimson blades ignited. The moment the heavy repeater poked its muzzle from the overhead hatch, Lorn moved. He didn't wait for the first bolt to land. Grabbing Bastila's shoulder, he shoved her toward a different angle of cover to clear their line of fire. Jared and Kadann had the Knights; the heavy hardware was his problem.

Golden light bathed his face as his own blade came to life. Lorn planted his feet, his focus narrowing entirely on the weapon emplacement above the entrance. The first volley from the repeater lashed out, and Lorn met it with a series of tight, efficient deflections. He angled his wrists, sending the superheated plasma screaming back toward the hatch to keep the gunner's head down. Move forward, stay low, and keep the pressure on. That was the only way they were getting inside.

 

[Jared Starchaser]

He was always ready for a fight. And being somewhere that there was a decent connection of purpose? It gave him even more resolve to do what he could here. Fighting alongside others? It was not something he was used to doing. He was a Warden, and a Rimmer. But with the High Republic and the Imperial Knight Forcers? That was something bigger.

Standing off behind Kadann, Jared watched and listened to the Knight Commander speak. The Force was going through this newcomer, the other Knight. It wasn’t something that Jared felt too comfortable around, but he didn't see a call for fighting.

Still, his hand went to the hilt on his hip.

And it was then that he saw the red blades, and the silver from Kadann and gold, unsurprisingly, from Lorn. Jared nodded, and his green blade joined the fray as he used the Force to grab at the legs of the red blades coming his way. "I'll take the one on the left." And as normal, he was going for disabling sentients rather than the kill.