Skirmish [SO/GA] Caldera Crisis

[Valery Noble]

​

Even before the end of the Second Great Hyperspace war, rumors about another group of Sith ravaging their way through the Outer Rim had started to spread. Numerous worlds that had once been neutral were lost to them, and countless people suffered as a result. But it was in the aftermath of the bloody war with the Maw that the Sith Order truly began to rise. With expansion rapidly accelerating in the Outer Rim, some already began to fear that it was only a matter of time before a new conflict began, while others argued that they wouldn’t be a threat to the Alliance for a long time.

Until now.

After a series of assignments were handed out by the Council to Jedi such as Briana, Kahlil Noble , Arwen Hamenick , and Lao-ta to investigate their growth, and following a meeting between Zahara Myneto and the Sword and Shield of the Jedi, a new discovery was made. The Sith Order had expanded its territory far away from the Outer Rim by reclaiming the Ancient Sith worlds in the Stygian Caldera, forcing its former Ashlan inhabitants out of the region.

But there was only one way out.

(PvP) Objective I — Sith Pursuit​

The Stygian Caldera is known to be extremely difficult to escape from, and the Ashlans have found only a single way out, which resulted in their arrival over the planet Elom, where the Sith finally intercepted them. In response to their emergency calls, the Alliance sends out a Task Force of Jedi and soldiers to protect the refugees against the Sith pursuers.

Make your stand together.

(PvE) Objective II — Refugee Crisis​

While some engage the Sith to keep them from hunting down the survivors of Korriban, others are tasked to find and secure the refugees. Some might require healing and supplies, while others might not have gotten away from Sith Order soldiers hunting them down, and need to be rescued before it’s too late.

(Senate) Objective III — Crisis Meeting​

The Sith Order is much closer to Alliance space than originally anticipated, with at least a strong presence on Korriban now already confirmed. To help the refugees of that attack, an emergency response force was sent to Elom, but the threat that the Sith Presence poses requires far more discussion, and perhaps more action as well.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Turbolasers roared, the entire firing deck rumbling as energy passed from deep within the ship, through the carbon-scored barrels, and out into space. It was not the first volley, nor would it be the last. The Sith hunter-killers were fast on the heels of their prey, having hounded them through many parsecs; each one a killing field. Elom loomed impotently nearby, a helpless spectator to the slaughter that now stretched from one end of the system to the other. Sharp dagger-like galleons cut through the empty void, coordinating their movements like a pack of vornskr as their victims, the Ashlans, fled before them. Many of the Ashlan craft were wounded, spilling debris out into the darkness like trails of frozen blood.

Above the killing was another vessel, one far larger than any currently at play. It was the Eternal Rule, and upon it's bridge was the Dark Lord of the Sith -- Darth Carnifex. He'd spearheaded this campaign since the very beginning, meticulous carrying it out with cold precision. Korriban had fallen back into Sith hands mere hours prior, but the wretches that had profaned the holy tomb-world thought they could slink away into the darkness to escape.

But the dark was the domain of the Sith, was His domain.

And there was where it had brought them, dying vainly in the vacuum of space. The Sith had overwhelming numbers and firepower, the technological ingenuity and superiority of the Kainate on full display. However, the Dark Lord had deemed it unnecessary to block the fleeing Ashlan's comms. He wanted them to cry out, so that all the galaxy could see what fate would befall those who had dared to act against the Lords of the Sith. It was no surprise then that the Dark Lord received word of en encroaching Alliance task force moving up through the hyperlanes towards Elom. The Dark Lord smiled softly, chuckling to Himself, as He watched many Ashlan ships go to ground at Elom.

"Dispatch several battalions to hunt them down. Inform the local populace that anyone found harboring an Ashlan will suffer in their stead. Flood the channels." He turned to leave the bridge, several of His Crownguard falling into place at His back. "And prepare my ship for immediate takeoff."

 

[Dracken Pryce]

TAGS​

How long had it been since he'd been a part of the Senate. Sesi'lan Todra had done well in the role but recent events...The Galaxy was about to change again and he'd be damned if he would stand by and watch all he built, all he and those like him had sacrificed would fall. It was time for him to add yet another hat to his roster. His eyes scanned the room. There were some familiar faces among them, others fresh-faced and hopeful, the terror of war a memory of their parents rather than their youth. They weren't ready for what was coming.

 

[Valery Noble]

Elom

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Kahlil Noble | Darth Caedes

"At least this time, we're prepared, hm?" Valery asked her husband while she looked up at the sky, and watched as ships of various sizes engaged each other. Many of the refugees had already reached the surface, where they were looking for extraction to GA space, but the Sith were right behind them. From Apprentices to powerful Sith Lords — all had come to finish what they had started on Korriban.

But after investigating around the Caldera and meeting with Zahara Myneto , she felt that the Jedi and Alliance were going to be ready for it, far more than they were when the Brotherhood of the Maw began its war path. The Sith presence in the Caldera was now known to the Alliance, and all that remained after this mission was to figure out a long-term response.

For now, though, Valery focused on the more immediate issue.

"I can feel some stronger presences among the invaders," Valery then added. "Let's draw those to us, hm?" She smirked and allowed the veil that obscured her presence to fade away. The strength of her self, as well as the power of their Dyad was a call that no powerful Sith could deny or refuse to approach.

She was ready to face them.

 

[Jonyna Si]

"Keep her steady Dice!" The Cathar roared as her old X-wing entered the system. She wasn't looking to dogfight, so she took the controls, heading straight for orbit. The bulletin had been clear. There were sith to fight, and the cathar knight had a name to make. She'd fought inquisitors during the Galactic Civil War, now it was time to fight the real deal.

"Entering Elum atmosphere!" The droid called out, as they looked down on the world below them. The battle had began long before they arrived above. She wanted to get there before the ground campaign started. As they found a landing spot, Jonyna considered the thought of what lay ahead of her. Back in her day, her group knew her as the Fearless Leader, readying to face down Inquisitors with reckless abandon. Now she was fighting real sith. A chance she never got, despite her wishful thinking back during her time as Sylvar's padawan. She had told herself long ago that she'd be the one to take down the mythical Lord Vader.

But now the moment had arrived for her to fight in the war against them. She wasn't entirely sure she was ready.

Her ship landed near Valery Noble , and she leapt out of the starfighter, looking to the masters that had taken her in. "...you two ready?"

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Elom, Objective 1
Tags: Solan Halcyon , Firrerreo , Closed

Lux Ultima​

Jasper stood ready on the transport vessel as it drew close to the surface of Elom. He had been preparing for this for a while now. It seemed an inevitability that the Sith would be on the move again. Moving to take Korriban was simply natural for them. It was the first step towards the inevitability of war. The knight had put of fighting for long enough. The galaxy needed him again.

"Alright," he finally began, turning to the Togruta knight Shani, a recent addition to the order. She was of the Ashlans, so this was likely personal for her. "Our priority is covering the refugees as they flee. We're going down there to make as much noise as possible. The more eyes on us the more people escape."

The Sentinel of Harmony drew his claymore, resting it on his mechanical shoulder. It was already chaos down there. Fleeing civilians, fires and mortar shells... They'd have their work cut out for them. Jasper was no stranger to war at least, and as much as he hated it he was rather good at fighting as well. Perhaps, at least, he could harness some of that to ensure that no further lives were lost today. With two pats on the side of his head to psyche himself up, the knight jumped out of the transport and landed his feet on the ground. The drop was a bit smaller than the perspective made it seem. He glanced back to see if Shani had followed then focused himself, channeling Force Light into the Lux Ultima.

Weak in the force maybe, but Jasper had figured out how to make his strange circumstances work. The sword amplified his light, shining with a brilliance that drew the attention of those around.

"Right," Jasper sighed, readying his sword in front of him. "Let's get to work."

Hopefully they'd be enough of a distraction.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Objective III

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose," Natasi muttered to herself as she studied the summons that had been delivered a moment ago by a page. Her dark eyes scanned the text once more to make sure she hadn't misread it. She had not. An aide appeared at the door, the result of her summons, as Natasi crossed back over to her desk. "I need Westaway," Natasi said brusquely.

The aide glanced nervously at the bank of clocks on the wall opposite the desk, the one labeled New Sterandel showing it was the wee hours.

"Right away, please," Natasi said firmly.

She shrugged into her blazer and adjusted her chestnut hair before the comlink on her desk buzzed. She touched the control. "Your Majesty," a weary voice said. Natasi could almost see the Prime Minister blinking sleep out of her eyes. "Or -- Senator -- what do I call you, now, anyway?"

"Natasi," said the Supreme Leader. "When it's just us. Sorry to wake you but something has come up here. I can't discuss the specifics via the communicator, but -- tell me, do you still have contacts in the refugee space from your days as the head of the Refugee Council?"

"Certainly do," Renata said. Natasi heard a muffled slurp, then the whir of a computer. The Supreme Leader smiled inwardly. "You need me to start spinning something up?"

"Start local. With people you can trust. If there are any prefabricated structures you can part with -- medical supplies, too, rations. Whatever you can spare, and whatever you can get from your contacts. I don't have a delivery point. Not -- "

Silence for several seconds. "Ma'am -- Natasi?"

Natasi gazed at the map of Aegis framed on the wall under the clocks. "That may be more efficient," she mused.

"What would?" Renata asked, but Natasi was already moving. The aide had popped her head in to let Natasi know the Senate was convening. She didn't want to be late.

"Sorry, Prime Minister" Natasi said, already circling her desk. "I'll be in touch. Let my office know as soon as possible what supplies we could spare and -- just for kicks -- how many sentients the Renascent Republic could accommodate on a refugee basis." She disconnected before Renata could answer and checked her appearance once more in the mirror by the door before heading for the session. She entered her pod with her aide and settled in with her datapad, scrolling through preliminary data.

​

 

[Zahara Myneto]

"Evacuation efforts proceeding, if slowly" The Admiral paused to consider the words of his trusted confidant, his eyes dashing back and forth between the holographic image of her and the map before them both. The Defiance was capable of holding thousands of refugees, and its accompanying Task Force was full of hospital ships and emergency response vessels. Yet, as Admiral Zahara Myneto stared at the holographic representation of the fleet, he couldn't help but feel a pang of concern. The number of Ashlan nationals far surpassed his initial estimations. Every passing second, he could sense the mounting pressure and the stakes growing higher.

With a heavy sigh, the Admiral resumed his conversation, his voice laced with a mixture of determination and weariness. "We must find a way to expedite the process," he asserted, his gaze fixed on the holographic image of his first officer. "Time is of the essence, and the lives of these people depend on our ability to act swiftly." An understatement if there ever was one. Pushing aside the thought, he contuined "Keep me updated. Myneto out"

The image of the Anaxsi woman faded and the Admiral was once more left alone to his thoughts.Whatever despair and hesitancy the Admiral held quickly faded away as he remembered his interactions with the Jedi Masters, Valery Noble and Kahlil Noble . He supposed it was something about the Jedi themselves that inspired hope, but whether it was them or his own mind playing trick on him, he felt his resolve return. The evacuation may proceed slowly, but it would progress nonetheless.

As the last of his aides exited his office, the Admiral took his place behind his desk and straightened his posture, using his hands to remove any wrinkles in his uniform. The transmitter spun to life with a flick of his wrist, and his holographic image materialized within a Senate pod, next to other members of the Galactic Alliance Defense Force High Command. Such a meeting like this was unusual, not in the fact that he had been asked by High Command to deliver a report on the intelligence he had been able to gather on the Sith, or the evacuation he was now overseeing, but in the instance that he had been directed to share his report not with High Admiral Gascon or even the Minister of Defense, but the full assembled Senate.

Nevertheless, he did not question his orders, at least not publicly. He accepted them, compiled his report and steadied himself for any questions the Senate may have. He imagined they might have quite a few.

Natasi Fortan | Dracken Pryce | THE SENATE Peeps

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[Mnoi Akûti]

(PvP) Objective I — Sith Pursuit
First Sister

Spoiler: Equipment

Ship: Xandu-Class Starfighter
Weapons: M.I. Model 6M hybrid pistol - Mnirmi'ntima Dire Vibrosword
Armor: League Defense Force Fatigues - League Defense Force Tactical Poncho - Frostbane Cortosis Gauntlets

The nameless Sith who had taken the moniker of Mnoi Akûti, which had once been intended as an insult by other "Purebloods," touched his ship down among the frozen mountains of Elom. He'd honestly been surprised he'd managed to get by seemingly unnoticed. As a child, he'd been constantly harassed by the others for being abandoned by the Force, but perhaps it did look after him after all, even if he couldn't tap into it like nearly every other member of his race. That just made him even more willing to prove that he was not the inferior one. And he would hunt down these pretend "Sith" to prove it. As far as he was concerned, both the Sith people and the Sith religion were a blight upon the Galaxy that needed to be expunged. And it would be sweet, cathartic vengeance for his blade to help deliver it.

He climbed out of the ship into the cold air. It reminded him of home, which made him even more fired up. He'd always hated that despicable planet and his despicable people. He fastened his sword to his back and his pistol to his belt. He donned his gauntlets and started out. He wasn't entirely sure where he was going, but he was pretty certain he'd come across his quarry if he continued in this direction.

It would probably be assumed that he was a Rimward Trade League soldier, even though he wasn't. He had merely borrowed some of their gear when on a mission with Aeshi Tillian . And it was convenient and easy to move in, not to mention he was rather fond of the blue color.

Aeshi Tillian was one of the few people Mnoi actually respected. And she had connections, connections that he would take advantage of as he was able. He'd show these "Sith" that they weren't as superior as they believed themselves to be.

 

[Shan Pavond]

• Padawan Pavond
• Elom
• Outfit (ignore the saber)
• Objective 2 for now

Fear. Danger. Death.

Those were three words that kept echoing in Shan's head as he prepared for the shuttle to land on Elom. There had been a part of him that thought if this was a good idea. Going into what could be described as a potential active warzone...But the refugees were going to need help. Sooner or later, Shan would have to come to experience battle for himself, and he was going to go with it sooner rather than later. He had to focus on controlling himself. Breathe, let himself calm down. Whilst fear could be useful since it meant he was still alive, he couldn't let it control his actions. The sounds of the shuttle being what Shan tried to focus on, listening to the thrumming of the engine.

He knew he was far from a fighter. More of a defender than anything, even as he reached down to his hip to wrap his hand around the handle of his saber. Trying to let the familiar presence to help him relax, as he just thought to himself. Let the Knights and Masters deal with the Sith. I need to focus on helping the refugees. Those who are stuck or can't move...I can't hesitate out there. It's not going to be like training...This is life or death, not just for me but for innocent people. They need help. And it's u p to me to help them.

And with that, he felt the shuttle lurch to a stop, sending him stumbling forward for a moment with him reaching his hand out to steady himself. His heart was in his stomach. He'd be lying to himself if he said he was afraid. There was also a part of him that was afraid to use that fear. Even if it meant he was alive, he couldn't let the fear overtake his rational thinking. If he was fully rational, he might have just stayed on the shuttle but he wasn't. There was a part of him that wanted to go and risk it to save people. So that's what he did, as the shuttle doors opened, blasting him with wind. With a swift flick of his legs, Shan jumped out of the shuttle to land on the ground with a thud, before pulling his saber into his hand and letting the green blade ignite. It was time to get to work and find some refugees.

 

[Isla Draellix-Kobitana]

Location: Elom
Objective: Answer distress call from Ashlan civilians (Objective 2)
Tags: Zahara Myneto Shan Pavond

Spoiler: Isla's Personal Gear

Admiral's Sabre
Ashlan Rosary
Kaldrweave military uniform
Personal guard of Sisters of Ashla
Overseer Biochip OPBC-01a
Diamond snowflake necklade

In command of Hand of Ashla accompanied by a proportion of the Ashlan Remnant fleet including several battlecruisers.

The Hand of Ashla was the first Ashlan Remnant vessel to arrive in system to respond to a distress call from Ashlan civilians fleeing the Caldera. The Sith Empire had returned and were slaughtering any residents of the Old crusade territories. The messages coming out from the Caldera were typical of the Sith, fear us or be destroyed.

"You're a little late" The former Prime Minister said to herself ironically. The Ashlans had set their own destruction in motion, falling to their own hubris, the Brotherhood of the Maw had struck the killing blow, scattering the remnants of the crusade to the winds. And now, as expected, the Sith Empire, descending like cowards onto the bones of the crusade, butchering people who could barely defend themselves. The distress call had come from a group of those people. Many millions of people had already fled from the caldera, once the Sith arrived and the bloodletting began, heading north towards older parts of crusade space, or west towards either the Alliance or the Old Empire, depending on allegiances. This was however, no mercy for the many that had been cornered by the Sith at Elom and were reaching out to the Galactic powers for help.

The Hand of Ashla had already decloaked but remained in defensive mode in case this was some of trap, but the Grand Admiral signalled for the rest of her fleet to make the short jump from the holding position a few light years away, minutes later the space around the advanced one of a kind battlecruiser was filled with further Ashlan warships that were already dispatching there shuttles and their complements of Sister's of Ashla in order to rescue the fleeing victims of the Sith incursion.

Her vessel detected the activity of one of the lead Alliance warships, already ahead of her in processing refugees. It was commanded by one Zahara Myneto she did not recognise the name, but her implant quickly filled her in with the details of the Admiral and she opened a communication channel just as the first squadrons of Knaves and Phoenixes flew past his command bridge in visible range.

<<Admiral Myneto, this is Grand Admiral Draellix-Kobitana of the Ashlan crusade, please share telemetry to ensure we are as efficient as possible. My vessels will be ready to receive refugees imminently, how is your capacity currently? We can accept transfers. The civilian fleet of the Kobitana Foundation will be entering the system once we deem it secure, they are equipped for mass evacuation protocols.>>

She turned and looked at the large hologram of her fleet and the expanding wave of rescue vessels heading for the planet surface, more tight beam communications were now being picked up from the surface as panicked civilians detected more and more incoming friendlies and continued reaching out.

​

 

[Regnar Sodun]

OUTFIT: x
TAG: Dracken Pryce | Natasi Fortan | Zahara Myneto | Senate

GALACTIC SENATE CHAMBER, CORUSCANT, CORUSCA SECTOR, CORE WORLDS

The news of the crisis on the Caldera, and the impending refugee crisis that will soon follow, is a bleak one to start the day. Just as we are making progress on cutting the fat off Korbin's decaying bureaucracy and starving off the leeching corporate scumbags. Korbin is a rotten system, a cautionary tale of how unchecked capitalism could destroy a planet. That's until the Populist party surprisingly swept the election. Everyday, we are pushing those lowlifes to the corner, and everyday, we are slowly regaining our control of our own livelihood. Of course, we are aware that it's an uphill battle all the way. Not only internally, as the strangled corrupt bureaucrats and corpos are doing all their best to sway the tides to their favor, but also in the galactic politics of the Alliance, where I am the one who is on the wheel for Korbin.

The Galactic Alliance, praise be their name, are nothing but the lesser evil, for now. Rampant corruption, cronyism, central government overreach, those are dangerous problems to the survival of our people. Corporatist parties enjoy their tyrannical reign, while former fascist junta like the First Order are integrated with tolerance. That one is a double-edged sword. Perhaps there's an angle to explore there. Alas, our position is precarious, both internally and externally, and we do need allies. If the demons of capitalism are stopping at nothing to earn an extra single credit from every head that resides in the galaxy, we shouldn't stop at anything to prevent those. That's where the third aspect of the perverted system of Korbin comes in. The Cartel. Don't get me wrong, these folks are also despicable, but they are the lesser of three evils at the moment, just like the Galactic Alliance.

That takes us to the horrible news today, and the subsequent conversation I had with the representative of the Cartel and the heir of the Arkan family, Liyana Arkan, who is back in Korbin. I holo-ed her a message as soon as I heard of the news, strategizing on the upcoming crisis meeting, particularly on the topic of refugees. Sure, Korbin is far-away from the Caldera, we will not be getting the first wave of refugee, but they are still coming, and with the chokehold we put the corporations on, there's simply not enough jobs for those poor souls, and eventually it would just tanked our improving welfare system.
​

"It's exactly the opposite of what we need. Is there any angle here? Port expansion, fresh workforce?"​

"Is there an angle? Sure, there is. One that we're not fond of exploring, however. It certainly is going to cost you something, I'm afraid."​

I'm not sure that's an option I want to prioritize. I know that eventually, we are fighting the Cartel too, and every single advantage we give them today could very well be the one thing that tips the scale to their side. Perhaps, I could convince her over dinner next time I go back to Korbin, but for now, I have to convince the Senate to redirect as few refugees as possible to Korbin. We simply can't afford the economical and social costs. As for the Sith, they are of course a dangerous threat to everyone in this galaxy, but a weaker Alliance central government could be advantageous to the cause of the people of Korbin. That's obviously not our official position, I'll find a way to sway the senate on dumping all the costs on the central government, corporation taxes and all.

As for now, the crisis meeting is to be attended, so made my way to the Senate chamber and I entered my pod with trusted advisor, Xetha, while my guards, Carl and Karl are waiting outside, doing God knows what, hopefully terrorizing Coruscant middle-class. ​

​

 

[Loomi]

Elom, Objective 2
Tags: Mago Leomax

"Th-this way, please!"

Loomi was trying her best to escort refugees towards the relief shuttles that had come to get them off the planet. They were, unfortunately, very slow going. The crowds were scared and tired, shuffling towards the escape ships with as much energy as they could muster. Thankfully Alliance forces were already engaging the Sith, giving more time for them to make their exit.

That didn't mean Loomi still wasn't anxious.

The young Godoan was scrambling to find a way to help. She felt so useless just ushering people forward. There had to be something she could do, right? The teen came upon an older woman, her head sporting an open wound. Loomi stopped, placing a hand on their shoulder. She quickly got to work, pulling threads from the force around her to stitch the wound shut. She was no healer, but she could at least do something to treat injuries when she was capable.

As she turned to keep scanning the refugees, her right foot got caught on something. Just as soon as she had been treating the wounded Loomi was stumbling face first into the ground. All the people around her barely processed it, far to shell-shocked to even react.

Admittedly, Loomi was rather shell-shocked herself.

 

[Von-Kri]

​

Elom​

890 ABY​

Tag: Open​

​

Fortuitous, a great reckoning upon the Jedi and Light who dwelled too long in the home of the abyss. Corruption festered, their wills weakened, and when the eclipse came they were powerless to stop it - the tribulation of the Dark Side had seen it fit to drive them from the lands they had claimed purified and blessed. None now walked the dark lands in the name of the light, instead fleeing from the retribution they so deserved - for scorning the natural order, for besmirching the holy worlds. For pretending they were strong enough.​

​

Now, Elom lay as their tomb - a world on the edge of the great holy basin, once owned and dominated by the many Sith Empires of old. This too was their own home, a place that welcomed the Sith more than any Jedi could hope to be welcomed; as though returning to a great noble house that had seen its children far away on a pilgrimage, only to return at the midnight hour. Waves of darkness had descended on this world, even as the call of the Jedi was sent towards the Core.​

​

"Help, save us!", it demanded, calling them from their sanctuary away from the coming war.​

​

And all they would meet was death.​

​

---​

​

Von Kri moved through the farmstead with a purpose, to shed the blood of all that sequestered themselves here. The Jedi had likely promised the hamlet their protection, had said that none would break them in the shade of the sun - but Von Kri had. With potions and disease, he had watched men fall from the thresholds of their doors only to suffocate on the black bile of their sin. To harbor such men was disastrous, heretical, and an affront to all the Sith had stood for.​

​

To betray them so lightly, to carelessly, with no semblance of the consequences to come was sickening - so Von Kri had let the sickness take hold where weakness had been. He walked through the streets now, a miasma of filth and pestilence like a fog. The smell of death was heavy, the sound of dying muted - he was tasked now with finding the last vestiges of the Jedi still here. Hiding away, somewhere they had thought themselves safe from his wraith - but they would learn they could not hide from the great decay that came for all the living.​

 

[Mago Leomax]

Elom, Objective 2
Tags: Loomi
​

Training was all about taking steps. You couldn't leap to the next floor, you had to walk the stairs to get to the next level. Progress by inches. Mago had been sheltered from the Second Hyperlane War, but helping refugees from it, a grueling training exercise on another planet along with new training with his newly appointed master, Iris Arani , had gotten him ready for this new rushed assignment. He wasn't in the action, but near enough to hear the explosions and fighters scream through the air. It was scary hearing those things before he could see them with his Force Sight. Acclimated to the inside of the Jedi Temple, hearing something outside of his sight was near and daunting.

One thing he felt proud to be able to do was scan those boarding the escape ships. His sight allowed him to see the aura of Force around a sentient, which meant that he could sniff out any Sith spy trying to sneak in. That's what he told himself, anyway. Made him feel more purposeful. Near him was Loomi , a fellow padawan with far more experience than he had.

"Careful!" He shouted, and ran to one family in line. They hadn't noticed, nor did their little boy, the unstable rocks he stood upon. They shifted and the boy let out a startled cry as he began to fall before being caught with The Force, Mago a few steps away with an outstretched hand. The mother stooped and grabbed the boy, keeping him from hitting his head on the blasted and sharp edges. As soon as she did he let go of his hold on him, letting out a breath. The woman thanked him, and Mago could only give a smile and a nod before noticing someone else fall. Loomi.

He turned fully around and ran to her, pushing through the lines to get to her. Had she been hit with something?! Why had she fallen? He got down on his knees next to her and gently rolled her over. "Loomi! Loomi, you ok? What's wrong?"

 

[Wynne Trescol]

Location: Elom
Objective: Assisting Civilians, Objective 2
Tag: OPEN!

"Guide the refugees to the shuttles, Initiate Trescol. That should be suitable for your ability."

"Here! We've got space on this one!"

Wynne hung from the open side of one of the shuttles, peering in to check the space. She'd started out with counting the seats, but then the refugees had pushed past her and started standing. Clutching onto whatever they could hold, filling every little bit of space that they could find. It was starting to get pretty stuffed up in there.

"Kid! We've got to go! There's too many on already!" someone called. Wynne looked round, seeing one of the flight crew leaning out of the cockpit entry, looking very concerned.

"You can fit a few more, right?!" Wynne asked, shouting over the spooling engines. ​

"You got ten seconds!" the pilot shouted before slamming the door shut. Wynne pulled her face as she made an obscene gesture towards the door. Slipping off the side of the shuttle, she waved through a few more on the line as she counted, until the time was up. She held out her hand to stop the rest of the line as she hit a button at the side, hearing the heavy entry start to close shut.

"Please! We can just-" one of the refugees begged, reaching out to clutch onto Wynne. She stepped back in shock, staring open-mouthed. "Please..."

"It's GOING!" Wynne yelled back, feeling the pulse from behind her as the shuttle started to lift. "There's more down the way!"

"Please..."

The shuttle's engines pulsed to life, the gust of air knocking both Wynne and the refugee forwards. Thankfully, the hands let go. Less thankfully, Wynne stumbled and smacked into a nearby rock, stars bursting in her vision. By the time she could actually see properly, the shuttle was soaring high into the atmosphere.

"This sucks," she muttered, trying to brush the dust off herself. Wynne took the moment to look around at the lines and crowds of refugees still to go. There were so many. Turned out that helping people was hard. In fact, she might say that at that present moment, it sucked hard.
​

 

[Loomi]

Elom, Objective 2
Tags: Mago Leomax

"Loomi! Loomi, you ok? What's wrong?"

"I-I'm okay," Loomi sighed, rubbing at her nose. "J-just tripped, that's all."

Mago was more concerned than anything, which was nice. She really didn't need to be chastised right now. It would surely tear her apart. The Godoan was quick to get to her feet and brush herself off, letting out a heavy exhale.

"Thanks," she added, attempting to give a smile. But then she remembered he really couldn't see it, which made the situation even more awkward.

Loomi turned back to the rows upon rows of refugees. They seemed unending, all scrambling to escape the planet. She had never really experienced war before, not like this. The Second Great Hyperspace War was fresh in the minds of some, but certainly not her. Was this what it was like? How could she as a Jedi be a light in the darkness when the galaxy seemed to be so miserable in the presence of evil? It only made her stomach turn even more.

"D-do you think this will ever end?" the girl asked, maybe a bit naively.

It had to end, right?

 

[Alicio Organa]

SENATE BUILDING, CORUSCANT
OBJECTIVE 3 (FOR NOW)
- Dracken Pryce - Natasi Fortan - Zahara Myneto - Regnar Sodun -
​

Dressed in sleek politician blacks, a Chiss man stepped into the pod for Alderaan. The hushed murmurings of the room were obvious to his ears, the undulating concern of a group of politicians a familiar sound to the senator's aide by now. The difference was that he was feeling it too. The fear. The tension. The sympathy.

He had been a refugee, taken in by Alderaan's Sanctuary City after Csilla's destruction. He'd involved himself in politics to save others that would share his fate. And now, they were facing the greatest refugee crisis since the Maw's march into the Core. And while the refugees weren't the main topic of discussion today, their final decisions would impact innocent people around the galaxy.

The Chiss leaned down in the pod, efficiently pressing a few buttons on the projector, before stepping back a few paces, and waiting. It was a moment before the shimmering, staticky hologram of Alicio Organa, Senator of Alderaan, erupted to life in the center of the pod. The Count's eyes were concerned, but the uptick of an invisible smile at the corner of his mouth was noticeable. //There we go, thank you, Orso. Has the Chancellor spoken yet?//

The Chiss nodded. "Sir. The discussion has yet to begin. Senators are still finding their seats."

Alicio folded his hands behind his back, letting them disappear within his long black cape. He stared off into the middle distance, at something beyond Orso's vibrant red eyes. //It seems our time of peace may have finally come to an end.// The hologram turned, as if looking out over the sea of politicians, an enigma in his expression.

//It makes you wonder if the peace was ever really there to begin with,// Alicio mused, tall and still and stone like an old monument.

//Or if it was all just an elaborate lie.//

 

[First Sister]

Location: Outside of Cave - Elom
Time: Late Afternoon
Objective: I - Sith Pursuit
Dialogue Legend: <<Ghoul-Speak>> │ “Galactic Basic” │ <”ur-Kittât”>
Tag: Mnoi Akûti

A filthy, huddled mass of sentient life.

Watching a large, terrified group of Elomin escapees as they entered the cave through her smart contacts—which were zoomed in so that she could see them at range, First Sister felt a sting of pity within her chest. The Ashlan Crusade had allowed their subjects to revel in weakness and in doing so, had corrupted their hearts almost irreparably towards ideals that were at odds with the laws of the universe. Fortunately, First Sister had been tasked with saving them, to bring them into the fold before the Jedi and their Lightblind slaves got to them first. And yet, many were already doomed. Those few Ashlan soldiers surrounding the group, clad in dirty, ruined armor and wielding old blasters of questionable integrity would find their lives forfeit. The unarmed escapees would merely be returned to hence they had run from and enrolled in re-education to correct years of Ashlan brainwashing.

Perhaps then, they might grow into devoted adherents of the Eclipsing Mission.

Leaping off the cliff, First Sister slowed her descent via the repulsors seeded into her suit as her tiny form shimmered into invisibility, hiding her from sight. From there, she quickly moved towards the entrance of the cave, relying not only on her cloaking device, but also on the late afternoon shadows and the terrain itself to conceal her approach.

Then, she attacked.

The Claws on her fingers shimmered to life as the electromancer willed forth a manifestation of Force Lighting to unleash a galvanic stream of raw, coruscating electricity upon the four guards outside the cave. The streams of current jumped from one soldier to another, causing their skeletons to flicker in and out of visibility as electricity boiled their bodies from the inside out, setting two of the soldiers alight in the process. Under the unrelenting brutality of the galvanic assault, four charred, crackling bodies collapsed, dead after only a couple seconds. Immediately, a chorus of harsh, terrified screams sounded out from within the cave, but the remaining soldiers were undaunted, lost in the fanaticism of a dying Lightblind cult. Blaster fire screamed towards her, only to be evaded as the electromancer crossed 40 meters with a burst of blinding Speed, dust flying in her wake. As she did, her lightsaber flashed to life, the blade hissing as it tore into the body of the closest soldier, severing his legs in an arcing slash before being plunged into his skull. The next one met a similar fate, though this time, the electromancer leapt up to the man’s height, before decapitating him in a pirouetting slash.

That left one more.

The last soldier roared as he hefted a rusted rotary blaster cannon and opened fire on the tiny electromancer. Immediately, the Sister threw herself skyward in a Force-enhanced leap, before unleashing a stream of galvanic current from one of her Claws, striking the soldier’s blaster cannon as he sought to bring the massive weapon back to bear. Suddenly, the weapon sizzled, then overloaded in his hands, flames shooting out of the barrels as First Sister landed on his opposite side.

A moment later, the blaster cannon exploded.

Finishing the soldier off with a snap discharge of electricity to his skull, causing his eyes to melt out of their sockets as his brain was boiled to a crisp, First Sister made her way towards the entrance to the cave, where the escapees had huddled into a corner.

For the moment, there seemed to be nothing left standing between her and them.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Starlight Dress
  
  • Sith Talisman
    
    • Spirit Anchor
    • Jin'Wodasir (2)
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Utility
    
    • Supernal Infusion
    • FAE/U-01 “Serenity” Anti-Signal Field System
• Electromancer’s Claws (2)
• The Galvanic Torch

 

[Hovik Vaiken]

The Iron Senator of Foerost
Deputy-Whip of Federalist Bloc
Foerost Pod, Senate Chambers, Coruscant

​

The Ghastly heels which Senator Aquiliux wore 'clicked' with every step; All around here the self-absorbed entities which was the bureaucrats of the senate sprung around like headless critters, she was well informed of the crisis which was ongoing though kept her apathetic face.

Entering the Foerost Senatorial Seat , she took her seat amongst the senators of the chambers - everywhere, hands being thrown up in aggression, fiery words being traded, circumstances reminiscent of the democratic sessions which took place during the Separatist Crisis of the Clone Wars. Calista looked about with a complexed look, the subject of partisanship never halted even during a growing threat, sometimes she envied nation-states such as the Galactic Empire, of course factionalism were concepts though the unhealthy endorsement of Nationalism & Imperial-Ideology holds supremacy over pointless infighting.

"Utter corrosion, pervert social hierarchies, statist economies, anti-democracy, they are a threat to a stable galaxy and this time when we strike, we must make an example of them." She said, addressing Federalist Senators in nearby pods before the formal session began. Of course the spineless senate wouldn't push for Total War but she believed that perhaps they should be aggressive in the early-stages of the offensive response, strike with precision and strike to annihilate the Religious Backbone of this threat which was the Sith Order.

Ending her commentary to her fellow Federalist Bloc, she turned to her aides: "As the Corporatist Bloc and Lobbyist say amongst themselves - War is a racket, my planet will embrace its factory-world state." She exclaimed to her entourage, fiddling her fingers as deceitful thoughts flowed; she understood the revenue which comes with war was amass, a new group of millionaires & billionaires were going to be made and she was going to cash in.

Alicio Organa | Zahara Myneto | Natasi Fortan | Dracken Pryce | Regnar Sodun |SENATE