Populate [RNR] Ashes of Authority | Populate of Denon

[Kalantha]

Ashes of Authority
… a Royal Naboo Republic Story

The neon haze of Denon never lifts.​

Skyscrapers pierce clouds thick with exhaust, each level of the city a self-contained world stacked upon another like the layers of some ancient corporate tomb. In this endless machine of profit and pressure, few noticed when the severed head of a dead empire quietly arrived. Castor Crane —ExO of the now-defunct Corporate Sector Authority—did not arrive with fanfare. No parades, no markets shifting with rumors. He came like a shadow, purchasing silence and space in Denon’s underlevels. The city was familiar to him, if not welcoming: a smog-choked monument to the kind of technocratic order he once imposed on Etti IV.

But that order is gone. Back on Etti, chaos reigns. The Planeshift event that saw hundreds of planets rehomed in the galaxy did not spare the Corporate Sector‘s capital; worse, it isolated Etti IV from its dozens of client worlds. Worker revolts gutted the once-immaculate spires, and without the Corporate fleets, the Board, or the iron hand of Crane, the system collapsed.

And perhaps that was the plan.​

Now, in the backrooms of Denon’s lower levels, Code Zero flickers back online—its agents moving across data streams and shadow networks like ghosts. Some remain loyal to the ExO, working to destabilize Denon’s bloated corporate government from within. Others walk more dangerous paths, secretly feeding intelligence to the Royal Intelligence Bureau. It began with a whisper. A data packet routed through thirty dead nodes. A midnight meeting request scrawled across a warehouse wall in vanishing ink. A lone informant in a deep-bore elevator, speaking fast before surveillance re-engages.

The game has moved to Denon.

But who’s on whose side?

OBJECTIVE I:
Ghost Circuit

Royal Intelligence Bureau Field Investigation – Sector C-99, Denon Sublevel 14​

RIB agents move under the cover of Denon’s artificial dusk, their encrypted comms pinging in silence as they breach an apartment complex long forgotten by zoning officials. Inside: a Code Zero safe house, recently scrubbed. Data ports melted, holos corrupted, but signs of hasty departure remain. One terminal is still warm. The acrid scent of burnt wiring fills the air—cover fire for what might’ve been a mass data dump or a last-ditch purge.

Intel suggests a double agent within Code Zero tipped someone off. The RIB isn’t sure if it was a loyalist purging the site or a rebel covering tracks. Either way, encrypted fragments linger in the mesh—a corrupted log, a half-burned dossier, a neural interface with traces of recent use. The agents are under pressure: the longer they stay, the more likely they’re noticed by the corporate watchdogs who monitor sublevel movements. The game here is decoding, fast… and knowing who was here last, and who didn’t make it out.

OBJECTIVE II:
Boardroom Diplomacy

Private Summit – Zenith Spire, District 1, Denon Upper City​

In a polished obsidian conference hall high above the smog, Denon’s elite gather behind sealed doors. Corporate chairpersons, RNR senators, and heads of security conglomerates sip rare liquors under soft light as the topic turns from economics to power. The Planeshift has changed everything—and Dominique Vexx , former GA senator and one of the most ruthless voices in Denon’s political arena, is not one to let chaos go unexploited.

With the Royal Republic in possession of a Locke & Key hypergate, a whole new world of mercantilism and trade deals await technocrats and corporatists throughout the Southern Systems. In Denon's Upper City, economic policies and political maneuvers blend as dozens of agendas dance around one another.

The meeting, while formal, is thick with subtext. Denon's withdrawal from the GA leaves a vacuum, and whispers of corruption on Denon cast a long, uneasy shadow across the table. Some see opportunity. Others see threat. Vexx, poised and calculating, offers Denon’s strength as the new hub of galactic commerce—but with that promise comes strings. Already, alliances are forming in the subtext of polite greetings, and betrayals are beginning to take shape beneath silver-plated smiles.

OBJECTIVE III:
BYOO

​

Denon is a planet that never sleeps... because sleep is a luxury few can afford. From the glittering skywalks of the Upper City to the rust-choked air vents of the industrial chasms, opportunity bleeds through every neon-lit crack. Whether you're a slicer running blackcode auctions from a moving tram, a bounty hunter chasing rogue shadowrunners through old power cores, or a displaced refugee from the Core seeking safety in the underlevels, Denon offers something—if you're bold (or desperate) enough to take it.

This is your playground. Infiltrate a data-broker's auction. Make a deal with a Denonite crime syndicate. Hunt down a fugitive droid carrying CSA blacksite files. Start a barfight in a corporate lounge, or just map the undercity's hidden lifts. Denon's veins are open, pulsing with secrets, schemes, and strange new alliances. Write your own story, choose your own stakes, and try not to get caught.

Threads Referenced:
It's All About Hypergates, Baby! | Pas de Deux​

 

[Dominique Vexx]

ASHES OF AUTHORITY
OBJECTIVE II: Boardroom Diplomacy
Zenith Spire, District 1, Denon

The DireX had taken advantage of much in recent years. The Planeshift was just the greatest paradigm shift that allowed them to maneuver out from the Galactic Alliance's influence. Or so they thought. Dominique Vexx once represented Denon before that Alliance's Senate, and had to deal with that Alliance's Jedi, and knew well that they wouldn't simply let such a prosperous world escape their grasp. Those in power, of course, hadn't dealt with such parties directly leaving it to her to manage, so they were utterly ignorant of the wider game of strategy at play. In fact, they'd thought themselves so wise they'd cast her aside even prior to the Planeshift.

In recent times, Dominique had used everything she'd learned of backroom deals, conspiracies, and the machinations of the bleeding-heart elements -- such as the insistent Darkwire runners, and intrusive Jedi -- to reacquire a means of direct influence over the world she loved. If the DireX would not hear her before, they would now. Not all of them, of course. One's rivals would never budge no matter how much they were threatened, but there were others to ply to her purpose. And ply she had until she'd secured her own seat; and all it had taken was the untimely demise of a predecessor with no established successor. Shame that.

Just as Dominique had anticipated, however, the Republic of Naboo had come calling. If it wasn't one Republic it was another. The DireX had thought themselves free of all outside influence. The DireX had been full of fools. A matter she and others like her would need to deal with swiftly to ensure Denon didn't remained mired in a cycle that would forever hold them back from their potential. But the full scope of such a change would wait until after tonight's encounter -- potentially the first of many. After all, stuck between two Republics, Denon had to make a choice. Which of them was the lesser evil?

With the Galactic Alliance's concerns and rebukes of Denon well-established over time, Dominique was quite keen to learn what the Royal Naboo Republic might think of their not-so-humble home. This little gathering of theirs would be the perfect opportunity to learn just that.

"We're grateful each of you could attend. Naboo has significantly expanded its influence in recent times. Sustainable expansion requires secure supply lines. Denon has a wide diversity of industry, and countless factories, ports, and construction yards for every need a thriving population requires. Our security forces are second to none, ensuring merchandise arrives and leaves in a timely fashion." Dominique had an easy and surprisingly warm smile, which some found necessary given the intensity of her golden eyes. "I hope we can learn more about one another today in order to strike mutually beneficial arrangements for the future." And learn just how involved Naboo expected to be in Denon's affairs, of course.

OPEN​

 

[Annis Riyaré]

Annis Riyaré, Countess of Lopenthé, Senator of Naboo

Location: Denon
Gear: Voidstone bracelet
Tag: Dominique Vexx

Countess Riyaré had arrived on Denon in her customised J-type, her advisers had warned her about this planet and had even suggested the use of decoys but Annis could not see anything happening today so had deemed the usual security detail to be enough. Her long black flowing silk dress was accented by a Nabooian headdress that held a gem against her forehead.

Denon was a very different world to her own, she had not visited it before but had ensured to do plenty of research before the diplomatic mission here. The massive population of Denon would make it a significant demographic player within the Republic so it paid to get this right. She was meeting with the woman who was until recently the Alliance Senator of Naboo and had now been granted the position of Senator in the Republic, she wondered if there might end up being a change as Vexx was very much intertwined with the troubled past of the planet, but that wasn't her decision to make.

"Thank you for your warm invite Senator Vexx, it is a pleasure to visit this planet finally, I have heard so much about it, and about yourself might I add." She would not comment on the claims that their security services were second to none. She had certainly heard enough about corpsec to know that she would rather not have their form of public control anywhere near the citizens of the Republic. She wished she didn't feel like that was going to come up in the future, but it certainly would.

"The Royal Naboo Republic welcomes your world as a member and welcomes you as its honoured representative. I would also like to extend my personal welcome to a new colleague of what I expect to be an influential world."

​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

OBJECTIVE II : BOARDROOM DIPLOMACY

Dominique Vexx | Annis Riyaré | OPEN
​

Fork crunched into a fruit filled breakfast tart, listening to the Senator and Miss Vexx speak.

It was a strange turn of events, at least in his eyes. DireX had once been under investigation - perhaps wrongly. In his eyes, the Galactic Alliance was quite business unfriendly. It seemed only those who all but pledged fealty to the government got carte blanche in terms of contracts and attention. It didn't stop him from doing business in their space, more something he had increasingly noticed over the years.

Judah's reasons for being here were two fold. One, to secure space for his own company to do business on Denon. Two, to feel out how the Royal Naboo Republic felt about business and corporations. The government had slowly been gaining ground and power and he wanted to see with his own two eyes what they were about.

Profits depended on it, after all.

"A pleasure to be here." Judah paused, looking around the room. "Dashiell Incorporated appreciates the invitation."

 

[Eaton Waters]

He wasn’t really sure why he was here on Denon. The world didn’t offer much that interested Eaton, well, aside from the crime that even he could hide in. The Pamarthen had landed a few days ago and was working on a few jobs here, mostly stealing art work and getting it to passing smugglers. He was a fence at best, after all. And with a ship like his? Even the local space enforcement agencies were looking at it as a racer, and some even recognized it.

So he had a bit of time to use their distraction and just burn space.

It was a pretty simple gig, and the facilitator he had here? Just some orange haired former Techno Union agent, now just making credits with the galactic chaos.

And Eaton could live with that.

But today wasn’t just any kind of smash and grab. Denon had the Darkwire and Code Zero groups, and well, Eaton was feeling generous and able to use his abilities. What he was going to do was shut down an auction for them to upload some sort of ghost-code, tracking software?

It was all a bit above his head. His sister was a Witch, and he was a racer, but he knew how to use the tools that had been given to him. Including this scomp.

Just a matter of waiting for the auction to start.

 

[Lyra Scarlet]

Location: Denon
Tags: Open
Gear:
Mask: on

The Crimson Shadow buzzed low through the skies of Denon as Lyra piloted between giant skyscrapers covered in neon. The glow flickered through her cockpit as she had switched off the flash covering so she could properly enjoy the sights and sounds. There was a new guard here, the GA were gone and the RNR were in the process of taking over. She had contacts here and in the vacuum they were regrouping an rearming. She didn't really care about their cause specifically, but they were a fun distraction for the corporate security so people like her could operate with more impunity. Their credits also smelled just as good as anyone else's when she metaphorically bathed herself in them.

"This is Siren, I'm here with your meal, 34 minutes late so we've included four free popadoms and some dips." she waited for the response to her code phrase message to the Darkwire cell that was waiting on her delivery. Her Firespray was being shadowed by a converted sheathipede packed with enough explosives and weaponry to keep them in the business of giving the corporations a bloody nose for a while.

"Nice, I hope it's still hot at least, last time both my Korma and Pilau were cold" the comm disconnected with no further chatter and Lyra punched in the numbers of the menu that corresponded to korma and pilau into the nav. She felt her ship respond and list starboard towards the rendezvous hangar. This should be easy money, she could see the unmarked hangar highlighted by her HUD now and she took a lazy indirect route for it before hitting her retros and coming in to land. The Sheathipede would land a few moments later and an attendant Headhunter fighter would keep it's distance trying to remain inconspicuous but still keep and eye out for problems.

 

[Michael Angellus]

​

Journal Entry:
.

While it is not my desire to do so, “orders are orders” and I will not be receiving any “Jedi Training” any time soon knowing how flippant, or insulted Master Kahne Porte is towards me. He asked my opinion once at his house, I told him what is wrong with me and we have not spoken, or even been in the same room since. I would dwell on this in my younger time, but I have learned not to worry, or truly care, about this anymore. He is entitled to his own opinion.

Back to why I am here. I am flying a Raven Dropship carrying various intelligence agents to areas of insertion. A boring assignment in truth, but again, “orders are orders” and this sort of simplicity allows you to appreciate it.

Unfortunately it feels like something is amiss. Like there is something about to happen.


TAG: OPEN

 

[Dominique Vexx]

ASHES OF AUTHORITY
OBJECTIVE II: Boardroom Diplomacy
Zenith Spire, District 1, Denon

Dominique smiled with the Countess' kind words. One could only imagine the sorts of things Annis had 'heard about' Vexx personally. Rumor mill aside, she had been the face of Denon in the Galactic Alliance Senate for some time. She'd been the one whose face and voice was seen and heard whenever Denon had to defend itself from overly ambitious and overly concerned members of the Senate and Jedi alike. No doubt people had all kinds of opinions of her world and herself. From Annis' tone, however, the woman didn't seem inclined to let any prejudices -- should they exist -- color their interaction. Thoughtful. Prudent.

After all, Denon could be quite useful to Naboo's Republic. The Galactic Alliance already had Coruscant. Even when the planet was flattened by the Sith, people continued to gravitate to the center of the Alliance. It was politically convenient. Centrally located in Alliance space (relatively speaking). Fewer stories of brutal crackdowns on terrorists... which, honestly, was more a Public Relations problem that she'd tried to address but the DireX at the time would have none of it. Coruscant was hardly the perfect little gem. If anything, it just hid all the sordid activities beneath countless, sun-starved layers. You could say Denon at least didn't try to hide its... societal opportunities.

Her golden eyes slid over to Judah as he politely introduced himself. "Someone of your standing is always welcome on Denon, Mister Dashiell. As bustling as planet life can be, there is always room for expansion here. I hope you'll tell me a little more about yourself, your company, and what you're seeking." Judah Dashiell would be more than welcome to "bore" here with the details. To most, talk of accounting and economics was drull, but to those that sought to manage a galactic influence it was the well-spring of life itself.

Annis Riyaré had quite the warm welcome in mind for Dominique and Denon as a whole as well. "I have always been invested in Denon's future, Countess Riyaré, and I am certain our success can swiftly become the Republic's success. Your influence has been growing quickly of late. No doubt you'll require materials, ships, and perhaps even experienced personnel to fill a manner of roles. I can assure you, we can provide." Being useful was its own influence. Make yourself indispensible, and the credits would roll in. "I'd be eager to learn what you, as Senator of Naboo, might find of particular interest." Even relatively low-key requests wouldn't be turned down. One had to build their reputation even if Denon already had one as an unquestionably productive world already; a more personal and positive relation would do wonders.

Annis Riyaré | Judah Dashiell | OPEN
Wine, Dine, Secure your Spot for Preferential Treatment! Perhaps get Special Perks~​

 

[Thayne Tameron]

O B J E C T I V E - T H R E E
B Y O O

​

Thayne had chased ghosts through half the Outer Rim.

False leads, encrypted transmissions, and scorched safehouses—every step of the hunt brought him closer, but never close enough. He'd built her up in his mind: Ariadne, the elusive mark with too much cunning and just enough charm to make things interesting. For months, her presence haunted his datapads. Her trail taunted him. It was a cruel game that she was always one step ahead in.

That is, until he caught a scent.

The tip had come encoded in an old comms frequency. Thayne decrypted it in silence, seated alone in a darkened booth on a refueling station two systems out. No chatter, no signature. Just a time, a terminal, and a location on Denon. Too clean. Too quiet. But something in the way it was sent, buried beneath layers only he would recognize, felt like a whisper meant for him to hear. It wasn't bait. It was closure. She wanted to be found. And for the first time since this all began, Thayne didn't feel the surge of anticipation. He just stared at the line of text glowing in amber across his screen, wondering if the game was over before he ever got to finish the last move.

Rain slicked the duracrete as Thayne moved through Denon's underbelly with practiced silence, his coat clinging to his frame in the humidity rising off the streets. Neon signs flickered overhead, casting fractured light across his path while the dull hum of distant traffic buzzed like static in his ears. He'd traced the signal back to this port. Thayne adjusted the sheathed vibroblade that hung at his waist and slipped into a side corridor, eyes narrowing as he stepped into a vantage point that gave him a clear line of sight on Ariadne.

He didn't approach right away. Stooped in the shadows, half-hidden in the steam of a nearby exhaust vent, Thayne watched. Ariadne didn't flinch, didn't scan the crowd. She just… waited, like she knew he'd come. Like she'd finally grew tired of running. And something in that quiet surrender twisted inside Thayne. He'd imagined the moment a hundred ways—vibroblade drawn, some slick one-liner, a final chase through neon-soaked alleys—but this?

This felt like a punch to the ribs. The thrill was gone. The moment wasn't a climax; it was a question mark.

What was the point now?

Killing her wouldn't feel like victory. It would feel like kicking over a statue that had already crumbled. As he watched her—still, resigned, maybe even a little sad herself—Thayne found his fingers loosening on the grip of his blaster. He'd chased her because she ran, because the game was alive. But here and now, with no fight left between them, he wondered if he'd been chasing something more than a mark. Maybe he'd been chasing purpose.

And maybe, just maybe, he'd lost that too.

Tags: Ariadne​

 

[Ariadne]

“You always watched first.”

Ariadne didn’t move. She stood in the steam and rain like part of the city itself—still, symmetrical, perfectly posed. Her voice slipped through the haze, soft and level, but unmistakably directed at the figure hidden beyond the exhaust vents.

“I used to think that meant you were careful.”

She tilted her head—not to look, but to let the overhead neon drag across the sleek line of her jaw, her cheek catching the color like glass. Her tone wasn’t accusatory. If anything, it was impressed.

“But now I think you just weren’t sure what you’d do when you caught me.”

Her mechanical hand flexed once at her side, servo motors whispering beneath synthetic skin. The gesture was neither threatening nor idle—it was tension learning how to bleed.

“The Unblessed are finished. You know that. And I’ve grown tired of running circles in broken code. There's no after for tools like me. Not unless someone finds a new use.”

She finally moved—just enough to lean against a rusted pillar, like even standing had become too much effort for something that wasn’t built to feel exhaustion.

“Tell me, Thayne.” Her voice dipped lower, intimate now, without needing to turn and meet his eyes. “Did you come here to kill what’s left? Or claim what’s still useful?”

A pause. She exhaled through her nose. A very human tic, but no steam left her lips.

“Either way, I won’t run. I think I want to know who I am when the chase ends.”

| TAG: Thayne Tameron |
​

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

OBJ 2:

Blaire was built for ballrooms not boardrooms. She reflected on as much while introductions were being made, sipping quietly on a cup of caf and scrolling through her datapad. Blaire was not the type to come so underprepared to a meeting this important but her being here was a late made decision. It had even come as a surprise to her and not exactly a welcome one. She'd hoped to spend her rare off days getting caught up on things not related to work.

Her apartment needed new furnishings that were more to her taste and not the awful stuff that had come with the place. She'd even hoped to spend more time with Mesh or Aiden.

Blaire huffed and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

It wasn't entirely an unwelcome surprise either. It had been her suggestion after all that the trip to Denon be made but when she suggested it, she meant that Joran Del-Finn come himself. Joran, after all, was a member of the senate, not Blaire. Blaire was the furthest thing from a politician, she was ballerina, or she had been when her life was normal but it hadn't been that for a few years now.

Still, she shouldn't be the one sitting in this room with these people, not on two days notice! Which should have been more than enough time to read through the briefing that Joran's actual assistant Oraura put together if she hadn't caught some sort of bug and spent the trip clutching the refresher.

She was however Head of Acquisitions and Investments for Senator Del-Finn's company, Fortune's Favorite Limited, in so at least as far as her job title was concerned she was plenty qualified to be here. Not that she'd ever taken a business course outside of what was taught in her youth but she was a Sal-Soren and had plenty of practise spending money, how difficult could it be to manage it?

For now she was content to observe and wait for an opportunity to manifest.

| Outfit: xxx | Tag: Dominique Vexx Annis Riyaré Judah Dashiell | Equipment: xxx |​

 

[Sossi Hallisk]

/:/ Tag: Dominique Vexx Annis Riyaré Judah Dashiell Blaire Sal-Soren
__________________________________________________________________________​

​

The Galactic Planeshift presented a highly profitable opportunity for the Planet of Denon, which had freed itself from the constraints of the Galactic Alliance's laws and regulations. ​

​

One such regulation was about the Corporate Ownership of Planets, which severely limited the authority of the Corporate Authorities of Denon to clamp down on the rampant criminal group known as ' Darkwire ' which had thrown the planet into chaos more than once.​

​

Now that this group was reportedly gone it meant that business could continue and who better to send to a high-stakes negotiation on behalf of the Banking Clan than its Deputy Director. ​

​

The Muun offered a constraint smile as they entered into the room followed behind by a myriad of Muun officials ranging from bankers to accountants to shipping executives to even scribes to document all the information.​

​

"Pardon my lateness, as you know Muunilinst is not exactly located in a friendly regime to the Royal Republic...have the proceedings moved very far?" He questioned with a curious tone, offering a short bow in mutual recognition to one Judah Dashiell a household name within the galactic business circles. ​

 

[Annis Riyaré]

Annis Riyaré, Countess of Lopenthé, Senator of Naboo

Location: Denon
Gear: Voidstone bracelet
Tag: Dominique Vexx Blaire Sal-Soren Judah Dashiell Sossi Hallisk

Senator Vexx seemed cordial enough and Annis was happy to deal with her. She looked around at the other people, recognising the representative from the Sal-Soren family and the man from Dashiel. She wasn't familiar with the Muun but she made a note to arrange a meeting with him soon if this was the IGBC representative for her sphere of the galaxy.

"I'd be eager to learn what you, as Senator of Naboo, might find of particular interest."

"As you know, Naboo has always been famous as a cultural centre in the galaxy. I would love an introduction to the culture of your world. Perhaps you can arrange that?" She keenly inflected her words, she didn't have to act to do that, she loved exploring the worlds of new cultures. What she had been struck by when she first arrived here was not exactly to her tastes, too bright, too harsh. But a planet this populous would have hundreds of different cultural scenes to enjoy. In fact, one of the planetary leaders had already offered her very expensive and exclusive complimentary tickets to an opera that she had had to politely decline due to anti-corruption policies. Well, decline was not entirely correct, she was still attending, except she was paying for her own tickets which sat with her much more comfortably politically. It was a calculated move to show an eagerness for friendship, but the Nabooian representation had clear boundaries in that regard.

"Of course, the technologies of this world are also of great interest, I have read some reports on the efficiencies involved in feeding such a large population. My esteemed technological colleagues would obviously understand the details more clearly, but colour me impressed." Her cheek raised as she smiled on one side of her face.

​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

DENON

Taking a sip of caf, Judah nodded back to the member of the Banking Clan, finding his question curious. When did a government stop the Banking Clan? They seemed to have their hands in everything, so for the Muun to give pause was interesting. In too deep with the Galactic Alliance? Judah wasn't quite sure about the Royal Naboo Republic but any government had restrictions on business. Taxes. Fees. Licenses that needed to be acquired. Inspections.

Something to keep an eye on.

"Dashiell Incorporated merely is looking to expand further into the untapped territory that is the Royal Naboo Republic. Denon seems fitting for a multitude of objectives I currently have. I am looking to place another salvage refining facility in the area, as well as a regional headquarters. Given this is a ecumenopolis it may be more suited for a regional headquarters both for Dashiell Incorporated and Dashiell Relief Fund."

Annis Riyaré | Dominique Vexx | Blaire Sal-Soren | Sossi Hallisk ​

 

[Aiden Porte]

Objective 3
Rescue Refugees

Denon was quite the place, definitely not Aiden's scene to be honest. There was always work to be done though, whether it involved Jedi business or something of a darker nature. Refugee crisis was still something that was ongoing, and the Republic did its best to help those that they could. Truth was, there was thousands of them out there. He couldn't help them all, but those that he could help. The Jedi Padawan couldn't let them down, he wouldn't be able to look Solenne Abraxas in the eye, or even Lorn Reingard and Brandyn Sal-Soren without an honest word that he did his very best for the people. Somehow, it was those few that were always able to see through him.

The Jedi Padawan chuckled lightly as he leaned back against the walls of the under levels of Denon. Shiraya's Hope had received a tip that several familes were in the lower levels and were seeking protection. Why they would traverse this far was, well into this sort of protection was unclear.

As Aiden glanced up for a brief moment and took a deep breath. He knew when desperation set in, one would do anything. It reminded him of his brief time on Tatooine, and he was found clinging to life it seemed.

Aiden's target was in one of the local underground establishments. He would gather the necessary information and rescue these families.

 

[Thayne Tameron]

O B J E C T I V E - T H R E E
B Y O O

​

Thayne stepped forward from the mist with the measured stillness of a blade unsheathed. He walked with a quiet, deliberate, gait that was lethal by implication alone.

He didn't answer right away.

The city's glow bled across his features in fractured color, an overhead neon glow lighting the scar across his nose. The streak of white in his hair stood out like ash from an old fire. Her voice echoed in his head even after she'd gone quiet, filling the space between them with discomforting familiarity. And yet… she was right.

He always watched first.

He needed to see how people broke before deciding where to apply pressure. But Ariadne? She never broke. She bent in strange ways. Adapted. And now, she looked too much like a mirror he hadn't meant to step in front of.

"I thought you'd make me work for it," he admitted, his voice low, edged with something that wasn't quite regret, but close. "I thought I'd find you with a weapon in your hand, a witty taunt to throw at me, and a smirk that meant you'd already rigged the room to burn."

He stopped just short of the pillar, close enough to see the fatigue in her stance.

"But this? You giving up? It's not the Ariadne I hunted." And that truth stung more than he expected. The kill had been a goal, sure, but it was never the point. The point had been her. The challenge. The dance. The rare satisfaction of someone who saw the gameboard as clearly as he did. If that was gone, what exactly was he finishing?

He let the silence settle again, broken only by the soft patter of rain and the distant screech of hovercraft brakes. Then, finally, Thayne tilted his head—not in threat, but in something closer to concession. His voice was rough, not from strain, but from thought. "Would it be a bigger waste to kill you now… or let you walk away and leave you to whatever bastard finds you next?"

He took a step closer, his tone shifting, sharpening. "If I let you go, someone worse will find you. That's not a threat—it's just the shape of the galaxy."

"Killing you ends the risk. But it also wastes everything that made you worth chasing." Thayne motioned loosely, as if the idea itself was something fragile in his hands.

He let the words hang for a moment before adding, quieter, "I don't need another asset. Crimson Dawn doesn't employ tools. But we do employ people who know what it's like to outlive their original purpose." His expression hardened.

"So tell me—what's the greater mercy? Ending you here, or giving you a reason to matter in something bigger?"

Tags: Ariadne​

 

[Dominique Vexx]

ASHES OF AUTHORITY
OBJECTIVE II: Boardroom Diplomacy
Zenith Spire, District 1, Denon

Dominique smiled, more to herself than anything. It was a delight to see so many capable and enterprising souls present. Why even off to one side observed Blaire Sal-Soren , head of Acquisitions and Investments of Fortune's Favorite Limited. Not, perhaps, corporate's most well-known presence, but well-known all the same. Vexx didn't look down on those with less... zeal for economic pursuits, however. Everyone was treated equally. Right up until those with less experience allowed her to secure more than her fair share out of a deal, but you couldn't blame a woman for that.

And there was no mistaking Sossi Hallisk 's fashionably late entrance. No one in the room would express any displeasure at his tardiness. What credit-minded person spurned the Banking Clan? "Not so far for a Director of the Banking Clan," Dominique purred. She expected he would have been able to hit the ground running even if they'd already nearly completed negotiations and were about sign documents. They weren't even close to that yet. "It is our pleasure to host someone of your foresight and wisdom. I was just inquiring how Denon could best address the needs of our customers." In fact it was because Denon was a world of commerce; his presence alone carried with it potential. Now all they had to do was secure his interest.

Her golden gaze returned to Countess Annis Riyaré as she spoke of her interest in culture. "I recently had the pleasure of attending a ballet at the Theed Grand Opera. It would only be proper for someone such as yourself to receive a similar experience here on Denon. I only hope it is not too disappointing by comparison." A little self-deprecation didn't hurt, especially when it had nothing to do about the success of their industries. Besides, Dominique felt her home really did have something to offer in its own right. "If you would like, I could set you up with a private booth. Otherwise, there is a long list of theater, music, art, technological, and even culinary experiences I would be excited to share with you to explore at your leisure during your stay." It would be rude not to at least offer to buy her a ticket, but Vexx knew Naboo had its own ethical code on such matters.

More to the point of business, Annis seemed particular curious about food production or distribution. "Denon's many civil servants and development teams would welcome such kind words, Countess. It is true that being such a populous world with limited space for agriculture that many biological and technological achievements were accomplished. I could arrange a discussion with one of our Distribution Chiefs with yourself, and others of interest, to discuss the topic at length whenever is convenient." It might not be the typical source of income, but Denon didn't complain about what manner of product a customer wanted so long as they weren't losing money in the prospect.

Judah Dashiell didn't waste any time expressing his own interest, which set well with the DireX present in the room as well. Multitude of objectives, was it? Implied a multitude of opportunities. "We would be honored. Each District has its own personality. Both of your pursuits would be welcome here, in District One, of course. Situated on the Hydian Way and Corellian Run you would be positioned in support of the West, South, and Core of the galaxy. The resurgence in the Five Veils Trade Route would also be in reach."

Her eyes shifted slightly as an attendent seemed to convey something to one of the other DireX present. They rose to their feet with a nod before they angled to leave discretely. Dominique held her countence, but gestured for the aide to her side for a moment. The liliac-haired woman nodded slightly and then casually flexed her wrist to dismiss them once the matter was clarified. Nothing that placed their guests in harm's way, so no point proactively bringing it to anyone's attention.

Eaton Waters | Lyra Scarlet | Michael Angellus | OPEN​

 

[Ariadne]

She didn’t look at him, not yet. She let the question hang in the rain between them, like static caught between signals. Her voice, when it came, was quieter than before—but clearer, like something finally calibrating into focus.

“You think I look tired.”

Her fingers uncurled slowly at her sides, as if she’d forgotten they’d been clenched. Rain trailed the ridges of her synthetic knuckles—mimicking humanity even in its grief.

“I only ever learned by observation. When people lose everything—when they're too full of grief or fear or emptiness—they look like this. Slow posture. Dull eyes. Fatigue in the shoulders. So I mimic it. Because that’s what broken things look like, isn’t it?”

In the distance, a ship talk off on its preprogrammed route. The world continued on its way without them.

“But I’m not broken, Thayne.”

She turned her head, not enough to meet his eyes, but enough to let the light catch her profile—flawless, unnervingly serene.

“I’m just… without function.”

Her voice wavered there. Only barely. But it did. A modulation not part of the design.

“They built me to infiltrate, to extract, to kill. And when there was no one left to order it, I kept moving. I stayed in motion because that’s what machines do. But somewhere in the endless cycle of surviving... I started feeling something.”

She blinked. Once. Slowly.

“Not love. Not hate. Not anything noble or poetic.”

Her gaze dropped, as though ashamed of the truth even she couldn't quite understand.

“It was uselessness, Thayne.”

And then she finally looked at him—eyes like polished glass that somehow still managed to reflect sorrow. Not real, perhaps. But real enough.

“Imagine that. The first thing I ever truly felt was the absence of purpose. The horror of continuing... without reason.”

The words dissolved like vapor on her tongue. When she spoke again, her tone was different—lower, weightier, deliberate.

“I didn’t come here for mercy.”

A pause, quiet but sharp as cut obsidian.

“I came for you.”

She stepped forward once, deliberate and calm, as if approaching a terminal rather than a man.

“You were the only constant. My shadow. My meaning. If something in me was going to change, it was going to happen in your orbit—or not at all.”

| TAG: Thayne Tameron |​

 

[Eaton Waters]

There was something to be said about Denon. The city never did sleep. Well, the whole damned planet. And it was great, he had plenty of jobs to pull here. He really wished he had a planet like this but on the water, though, no such luck. He’d be fine.

There were certain things in this auction that he was waiting on. As it began, he was listening, paying attention, but not many of the trinkets and paintings were what he was after. It wasn’t until the fifth lot that came up, a book. Not just any book, a copy of his sister’s, and he supposed, his clan, should he pursue that path, but he wasn’t ready.

Brooke had given him a few toys though. Toying with the necklace, and the dark stone, the one he needed to use. Waiting for the full lot to be exposed. A Nightsisters spellbook, and a scroll. One scroll that he needed. It was all a matter of time.

Looking around, he gave a sharp tug on his necklace, and dropped the stone on the ground, before giving it a stomp, a a blast occurred, knocking the power out.

Working alone, he needed the spells. He wasn't the one to typically use them.

 

[Vytal Noctura]

A figure cloaked in a black robe with a black and white mask sat motionless in the front row of the auction. Its arms folded together to hide their hands in the sleeves. Not a terribly unusual sight in the galaxy, which made it all the better a guise to hide her appearance. Certainly not out of shame or a fear of confrontation, but because it might encourage a bidding war with ignorant fools. If a Nightsister sought to claim something mystic, a person might think it important -- despite being inept in the ways of magick -- or try to purchase her favor in exchange for the item. Foolish either way. Easier to outbid them as an anonymous, cloaked figure.

Then the lights went out.

The figure unfolded itself from the seat and as murmurs and annoyed shouts were sounded over the sudden loss of lighting. The cowl's attention was directed to the lot that had been on display, however, and whoever or whatever sought to claim it.

Eaton Waters​