Public Stumble to Refuge | Refuge, Village of Respite (Jedi and Allies)

[Jasper Kai'el]

Stumble to Refuge
Refuge
Tags: Corazona von Ascania , Casaana , Braze , Kitter Bitters , Alwine Bergen , Isobel Serraris , Lossa Aureus , Durak'Tur , Jonyna Si , Aiden Porte , OPEN (Request Entry Here, includes context)

Lightsaber, Refuge, Respite, Order of Outcasts
​

It felt good to be on the Dawnbreaker again. It was a well aged vessel these days, with a suitable replacement made a good year or so ago now. That left it back in Jasper's hands, and he was eager to put it to good use. An old bird, perhaps, but it was ready to help more lives...

Just like he had always intended. Just what chancellor Alicio Organa had funded in his senatorial days. Just what he had dedicated to his dearest fiends.

As he had requested, ships had arrived to meet him where the encryption in his transmission had indicated. He had been careful to ensure that only friendly forces received it. What was left of the Galactic Alliance, wayward Jedi with old order channels still open, and a blossoming new High Republic, born from the democratic state of Naboo. Jasper was a man who had always worked to do more with less. He made the Shield Core work with the little funding he had received and his own will to see as much reach the needy as it could. He hadn't expected much. The turnout was just enough to remind him of the good that lay in the hearts of all organic beings. It spoke to the capability of growth in the face of destruction.

And they all would need to grow it the coming days.

<Dawnbreaker to... I suppose I'll call you all friends. I'll keep it brief, but I want to thank you for heeding my call. Your vessels will need to follow closely in order to arrive at our destination safely. Refuge is located near an astronomical object called ZX-44A. It is a small black hole local to it's system, and is difficult to navigate around if you don't have the proper instruments to track it's seasonal movements. We will guide you through. From there we have much work to do on the ground. I... received word about Atrisia. You all must be beat to hell after all that. I appreciate y'all burnin' bright just a little longer.>

The Dawnbreaker proceeded to transmit navigational data to all other vessels, then turned to guide them on the next leg of their journey....

---

OBJECTIVE I | Supply and Demand

An influx of refugees have come in from the Core, seeking asylum. Lead by senator Lander Stalwart of Sacorria, civilian vessels escaped from the agrarian world just as it fell to the grasp of the Galactic Empire. Many had previously escaped the various worlds attacked by the dark superpower, primarily Coruscant and Tython. Now their vessels are scattered about the artificial ring world of the Hycean planet of Refuge. Many have congregated at a village called Respite, overseen by a small coalition of Jedi taking on the old title of those they seek to follow the teachings of: Outcasts. As supplies from charitable allies from across the galaxy are shuttled in to meet the growing demands of the influx of refugees, volunteers must move quickly to both distribute supplies and store away non-parishables for later rationing.

Locations:

• Temporary Housing Units: These structures lay on the outskirts of the village and are widely temporary, constructed from what good scaffolding and tent tarps could be mustered. This is where the majority of goods are being distributed to the refugee population. Here many are anxiously awaiting more permanent housing, mourning those they have lost and conflicted about their futures. Assume a warm smile and meet them where they are at.

• B'omarr Quarter: A collection of B'omarr structures at the North end of the village. These structures are several hundred years old, established by B'omarr refugees that still dwell within. The B'omarr tolerate others who choose to take up residence within their towers. In collaboration with local Jedi, the B'omarr have opened up their storehouses to those bringing supplies for the needy, no longer needing these spaces themselves. Volunteers that are not put off by brains in vaats attached to spider-like droids are asked to assist the relocation of materials here.

OBJECTIVE II | What Remains Unaddressed

As civilians fled the chaos of the Galactic Empire's rapid conquest, many did so with injuries that could only be handled in a temporary capacity. Many still have lingering wounds and pains they gathered as they fled. Jedi Knight and healer Jalen Kai'el alongside the village's local Jedi Healer, Master Kolgara, have transformed the Respite Jedi Temple into a temporary hospital, seeking to address as many injuries as they can in a more permanent manner. Those who can stomach the sight of the sick and wounded or have an inclanation to the arts of healing are asked to bring their talents here.

O II Side Objective: Many are uncertain where the future will go. Refugees, soldiers, statesman, Jedi... nobody can be certain. A chamber has been set aside in the Temple for those who wish to step back for a moment and ask these important questions in community with others.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Jasper Kai'el
Dawn of Hope​

<Dawnbreaker Two to Dawnbreaker One. Happy to see the old bird. From one Sentinel to another, leads us in Jasper.> Jonyna spoke into the mic, looking to her naval officer. "Zoro, stand by. Master Kai'el will be giving us data to lead us in."

The Dawn of Hope had been a ghost the last few months. Outside of local sightings within Wild Space, Jonyna had kept it quiet. Helping planets on an individual basis, and smaller groups of ships striking at pirates and slavers. The WSR had kept to themselves, knowing what was coming.

The Fall of the Alliance.

For nearly 5 years, Jonyna had worried the day would come. The death of a government and safety net she had long worried would collapse. She knew it couldn't last forever, but part of her wished it would.

And of course, it was the Empire that rose in it's place. The cockroach of the galaxy, Imperials were her nemesis.

One day she would build up an army to hit them back. One day.

For now though, she hid in the shadows, helping who she could. Doing what she always had as a rebel. Strike fast, help your friends, and get out with only minor wounds.

Today, she had brought the whole she-bang. The Alliance may be falling, but her trust in Jasper could never. One of her few friends still around, still doing what he had taught and passed on to her.

She no longer had the backing of an endless money pit, no longer had the security of an army with more soldiers than one could count, and no end of industrial capacity, but she still had planets willing to offer her support. Still had Si Tech's facilities, hidden away. No longer were they making war machines that could rival the Empire's by the billions, instead split between producing whatever the planets of Wild Space might need.

But today? They came with building materials, food, blankets, water. Anything a a place like Refuge might need. Two massive freighters, waiting for the call to unload, while the rest of the fleet carried men willing to rebuild a city.

All she needed was Jasper's word.

 

[Alwine Bergen]

Objective I, Temporary Housing Units
Tags: Open

---

"Aethelwulf, Wulfric!" Alwine bellowed to her children, the loud sound so rare when it came from the tiny 5"0 woman, "Xuat lul ichl feir!" . A few yards ahead, a young teenage girl and her prepubescent brother looked back at their mother and giggled before dashing away. Alwine rolled her eyes. She had promised them more opportunities off their home planet, but those two had more energy than any other child she had ever come across, and her eldest loved getting her more shy and reserved brother into trouble along with her at every possible opportunity.

The makeshift lanes of the housing units stretched ahead of them with rows of canvas and scaffold, patched in a dozen mismatched colours, flapping softly in the planet's humid wind. The air smelled of metal and sweat, and most importantly, the smell of borrowed hope. It was a scent she knew well, having personally been involved with many of the refugees during her days with the Agents of Chaos. It brought a small smile to her usually serious face.

Alwine adjusted the strap of the satchel slung across her shoulder, the weight of ration packets pulling against her hip. The Dawnbreaker's crew had called for volunteers, and she had been quick to answer, dragging her children along. It felt right, perhaps even normal, to be among people again, to have work to do with her hands.

She caught sight of her daughter Aethelwulf weaving between a pair of refugees carrying crates, her pale hair glinting in the sunlight. Her son Wulfric followed, slower, his attention caught by a child dragging a battered toy speeder across the dirt. Alwine's instinct was to call out again, but she bit her tongue. Let them run. Let them laugh while there was still laughter left to find.

Nearby, a man knelt to fix a broken generator, cursing softly beneath his breath. A woman cried quietly inside one of the tents, the sound muffled by the wind. All around her, lives were beginning again, even if unevenly, uncertainly, but beginning nonetheless.

Alwine breathed in, slow and steady. She had seen cities burn, causes crumble, faith turned to ash. Yet here, among the tarps and weary faces, she felt the faint pulse of something she hadn't in years. Not hope, exactly, but the will to keep going.

She crouched to adjust a loose corner of canvas, fingers tracing the frayed seam before tying it back down. Someone had done their best, but not well enough. Alwine secured the knot, then rose and brushed the dirt from her palms. If this was where rebuilding began, she would see it done properly.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos
​

Braze wanted to lend a hand, and this felt like the right place to start. More than that, he wanted Leos to see firsthand the kind of work Jedi usually found themselves tangled in. It'd be a good lesson for his student, and maybe help him understand what the war in the Core was really turning out to be like.

They'd taken the Mud Duck from Veridia, bringing along various supplies to drop off. After leaving the ship in his crew's hands to oversee the unloading, Braze led Leos into the temple. He watched his student closely as they stepped inside, his own gaze sweeping over the chamber and the heavy current of pain and turmoil that lingered there.

"We can check in and find somewhere to start helping," Braze said quietly. "I'll guide you through. I hope you got your rest last night."

He wanted to find Jalen Kai'el , but that could wait. People here needed help first... and that, he decided, mattered far more.

The air inside the temple was thick with the mingled scents of antiseptic and incense. The grand hall had been transformed into a makeshift field hospital where cots lined every corridor, repurposed altars stood stacked with medical supplies, and the soft hum of repulsor stretchers filled the backdrop among the murmured prayers and hushed cries.

This was once where there had been silence for meditation, now there was whispers of pain and gratitude, the quiet sob of a child, the steady voice of a healer offering comfort. Droids glided through the aisles, their metal hands carrying bandages and nutrient packs, while Jedi healers bent over the wounded with focus. The Force itself seemed heavier here however...thick with suffering, but also threaded with the faint sentiment of hope, as if the temple itself refused to surrender its purpose in these trying times of need.

An older civilian sat silently with a ration tin in his lap. He wasn't trying to eat from it presently. Instead... In his trembling, bandaged hand, he held something small... a child's toy starfighter, bent and dulled by fire. He turned it slowly between his fingers, eyes distant. When he noticed Braze watching, he offered a faint, apologetic smile and said quietly, "It used to make a sound when you pressed the wings."

 

[Leos]

Refuge, Objective II
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"We can check in and find somewhere to start helping," Braze said quietly. "I'll guide you through. I hope you got your rest last night."

"I'm fine."

Leos fell in toe as Braze lead him into the Temple. He thought he had a strong stomach. After all, life on the streets of Daiyu could often be gruesome, even nasty in some regards. This, however, was a whole different kind of beast. Dead people weren't the same as wounded and desperate people. Something about all of that made his insides turn in a particularly upsetting way.

When they came upon an older gentleman, the words he spoke only made that pit in his chest sink even more. He didn't dare ask who the toy belonged to...

He didn't want to know.

"I-I could... fix it if you like," Leos offered meekly, his usual edge not present. "It would be pretty simple..."

 

[Lander Stalwart]

Refuge, Objective I
Tags: Jonyna Si , Alwine Bergen , Open

Lander's Blaster Pistol, Lander's Prosthetic Arm
​

All she needed was Jasper's word.

Jasper's word would see Jonyna met with allied transports, ready to aid in bringing supplies to the surface. Down on the surface itself, the man leading the charge was Lander Stalwart.

Leading was a generous description, though, as far as he was concerned. In truth, he was filled with anger and sorrow all bundled up in his chest. It lit a fire in him that had all but forced him to jump into action. He had slept very little these days. When the Core fell, the Galactic Empire slowly pulled Sacorria into it's maw. His home... his people... He had lead as many as he could to safety, but there was no way everyone got out. Statistically speaking he had only aided a fraction, nowhere close to the entire population of the agrarian world. So he had put himself to work to ignore everything for just a moment.

Lander had personally helped construct housing units, began handing out supplies with his own two hands, and did what he could to help manage where supplies were moving. When he received word that a once council member of the NJO had arrived with more goods, he couldn't help but feel bittersweet.

"Prioritize sending supplies to the northern portion of the camp," Lander told the volunteer to relay to Jonyna's vessel. "If they have blankets, that's the portion not yet supplied with extra warmth. I can meet them there as soon as possible..."

As the messenger shoved off, Lander took a moment to catch his breath. He was beginning to understand the gravity of what was occurring here. In truth, his final actions as a senator had been to evacuate as many civilians as he could. After all the strain that had been put onto the Galactic Alliance, it was becoming clear to the Sacorrian that he was likely not to be a senator for much longer. He stood before imperial representatives and told them he would go to war.

Now he had a sickly feeling that war was about to be lost.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Lander Stalwart Alwine Bergen​

The Dawn of Hope came down into the orbit of the strange planet with a hum to it. Jonyna had brought one final gift from the days of the Alliance. One of the things she had to evacuate during Si Tech's departure, and the fall of the Core.

Behind the two massive freighters, One of Si Tech's Mobile Foundries had been towed into orbit.

Jonyna wouldn't charge any of them a credit for it.

The Cathar herself came down on the Tenacity, accompanied by two Maclunkee Class Freighters, already ready to set up for emergency food prep. Jonyna had a system at this point for such things, even if it was no longer backed by the might of the Alliance.

"Thank you Senator." She nodded as she looked back to her men. "You heard the man, prioritize the north. Rocs will be coming inbound with materials, coordinate with Rara and the fleet." After a moment, she looked back to the man of a fallen planet, giving him a soft, if melancholy smile. "All we have is each other, yeah? I once told a padawan that you only quit when you stop trying. I'm not stopping. Don't let the changes on the galactic map get you down. We need people like you more than ever now."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Jasper Kai'el | Jonyna Si

When a friend called for aid, a friend would answer in turn.

The aftermath of Atrisia and resulting destabilization of the Galactic Alliance had lead to a refugee crisis, one that reverberated around the galaxy. While the High Republic handled the exodus of those who sought to enter their territory, many displaced persons remained scattered among the stars.

As the transport touched down, Cora finally allowed herself to reflect on how long it had been since she'd seen Jasper. Though circumstance had carried them down different paths, he would always remain her brother.

"Master Ascania," one of the young Jedi accompanying her called softly. Garbed in simple white robes of a Ukatian healer, the girl seemed a bit uncertain, fidgeting with her clasped fingers. "Why must we move so far from core? Would refugees really want to travel to the edge of the galaxy?"

Cora inhaled slowly through her nose. The sterile scent of antiseptic helped to soothe the twinges of nausea that hadn't yet abated. Even the forgiving fabric of her robes would soon be unable to hide the growing curve of her abdomen.

"After you walk among them, you'll know," she answered kindly. "Our work here will be the same as it was on Ukatis; healing the injured and tending to the sick."

The healers were quick to file out of the shuttle and merge into the bustle of the settlement. The moment Cora's boots hit the dirt – still caked in a thin layer of silt from the Nuvar Hollow camp – she felt a familiar warmth creep up her spine. It wasn't for her surroundings, but for who was present here. An echo of the New Jedi Order, stalwart warriors and healers she'd looked up to.

Following the flow of the Force, she let those boots carry her toward Jasper.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Refuge, Objective I
Tags: Corazona von Ascania

Lightsaber, Refuge, Respite, Order of Outcasts
​

Following the flow of the Force, she let those boots carry her toward Jasper.

Jasper, for his part, was hard at work. He was off in the newest portion of the village, where housing was being constructed for those who had just arrived from the Core. Always hands on, never one to sit back and watch. The roof of one unit was just going on, and Jasper was seeing to that himself. That was, of course, when a familiar air met his senses. Familial. He knew it well.

"Knight Konshi, will you oversee the remainder of the process?" Jasper requested of their resident mechanic. "I have someone here to meet me."

"That ain't vague at all," the Kiffar frowned. "You got it, boss... don't take a year and a half."

The Master gave a grin and a half wave before hopping down, setting out to meet Corazona half way. His hands and shirt were covered in various bits of dirt and grime, a mix of working with mechanical equipment, helping build housing, and learning how to farm. Jasper wanted to know how every part of his new project worked. He had been pretty insistent that he learned how to perform the necessary agricultural work as well.

He was starting to get better. That didn't mean he was good at it yet.

When he came face to face with Cora, Jasper wore a tired smile on his face. Perpetual lines had since taken a permanent fixture on his face, present since his days as a knight. The smile did fade for a moment, however, as his eyes naturally drifted to his sister-in-arms new passenger...

"You're one tough lady, you know that?" Jasper remarked, managing a laugh. "I'd hug you, but I'm a little on the dirty side. Turns out it's hard for a mechanic to learn agriculture over night..."

His tone was admittedly bitter sweet. They all knew why they were here...

All beginnings came with an end.

 

[Mykel Dawson]

Objective 1

Robes

The Galactic Empire's invasion of Atrisia had been thwarted, and their superweapon obliterated, but not without great cost to the Galactic Alliance. The GADF navy was left battered, the NJO further decimated, and the halls of Senate had gone silent. Refugees from Alliance space still poured out from the core, fearing final conquest by one of the surrounding imperial powers was inevitable.

It might have been the end of the Alliance, but Mykel trudged forward, his duty as a Jedi extending beyond all nations and governments.

So the Spare Fleet continued humanitarian operations while there was still a lull in combat, the Mace Windu shifting from Ukatis with Corazona von Ascania and her retinue to the furthest reaches of the Unknown Regions for Refuge. The modular battlecruiser, equipped with its colony module, came to the anomalous world equipped with building supplies to support the development of more substantial infrastructure. Within the flotilla, a pair of hospital cruisers (Second Chance, Silver Cross) were present, capable of synthesizing limited quantities of bacta and providing triage to the beleaguered populace.

The Windu also carried food staples from Ukatis for immediate distribution among the refugees. Fresh flour, plant-based proteins, fruits, and more - all products of the first successful harvest from an agri project launched on replenished Ukatian fields, leased by the wealthy private patrons of the Spare Fleet. The turnaround from terraforming to harvest had been swift, but such was the power of the Oasis platform. In time he hoped Oasis units could be deployed here as well. Perhaps one final gift of the Alliance to the rest of the galaxy, thanks to funding provided by Senators like Lander Stalwart .

For now, though, he was focused on present hungers, moving with other volunteers throughout the housing blocks on cargo speeders passing out food packets and water filters.

Initially, people rushed for the aid, desperate for sustenance beyond basic rations, but then the Consular projected a wave of calming influence among the growing throngs to soothe.

<It'll be alright, there's more than enough for everyone. We are not competition, but brothers and sisters in one struggle .>

That seemed to do the trick, tension easing as anxious crowds gradually worked themselves into ordered lines on the blocks waiting for their turn at the mobile distribution sites.

A short distance away, he noticed a disabled elderly man struggling to make it into line. People around him tried to provide assistance, but there appeared to be some kind of malfunction with his heavy hover chair, causing one side to constantly sag.

Mykel grabbed a packet and approached the man directly, gently setting the supplies to the side as he placed a hand on the hover chair to steady it. Inspecting the man, Mykel could see he had come from some wealth, his dark navy silken suit wrinkled and stained, but otherwise a well tailored piece from the Core. Along with the ornate hoverchair, it was one of the few remaining symbols of his former opulence, all robbed by the Galactic Empire to fuel their war machine. It was a similar story with many refugees present. He wondered how they would all adjust to their new living situation, going from living in the heart of the galaxy to its deepest backwaters. Technically, he was counted as one of them, his homeworld of Coruscul and his second home on Tython captured when the GE took the Deep Core. His life was now one of transience, endlessly sailing from one corner of the galaxy to the next with the Spare Fleet.

Well, at least no one should bother us here.

"Don't worry sir, I'll get this chair fixed for you in a jiffy," he told the man, looking up with a reassuring smile.

"Ah...thank you son." The elder seemed to relax, sinking back into his chair, now being steadied by an invisible buoy of telekinesis.

The technopath attuned himself to the inner working of the hoverchair, attempting to diagnose the malfunction. As he did, he felt another presence nearby ( Alwine Bergen ). Grey eyes fell upon a small woman fixing up a tent. He experienced no hostility, just a strong aura from her as he witnessed her also offering a helping hand. Another Jedi perhaps? If she was, then he wouldn't know of her, his knowledge of personnel largely limited to the Silver Jedi and NJO. When he was done with the chair, perhaps he'd go introduce himself.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

The man offered a weak smile toward Leos.
"Y... yeah?" he murmured, half-believing it could be true. His gaze dropped to the small toy in his hands. He turned it over, thoughtfully, as if weighing the meaning of letting it go.

After a long stretch of silence, he finally extended it toward Leos. "B... Be careful with it. " he requested.

Compassion was what he chose to hold onto, knowing how much pain the man must have been in. He didn't dare ask what had happened; some truths didn't need to be spoken aloud.

"I can dull the pain, if you'll let me," Braze said quietly, his hand hovering above the burns. "But it'll hurt before it helps."

The man nodded weakly in reply though his attention remained on Leos and the little toy..

"You don't have to watch if you don't want to," Braze murmured, glancing up briefly to Leos. There was no judgment in his tone.

As Braze carefully unwrapped the bandages, as he worked in silence, doing his very best to be gentle. The burns beneath were harsh, but he didn't advert his gaze. Instead, he focused on the rhythm of his breath and the warmth stirring at his fingertips.

Whatever fate had brought this man here, Braze couldn't help but wonder...were there others he was trying to reach? Someone waiting for him beyond this place?

 

[Alwine Bergen]

Objective I, Temporary Housing Units
Tags: Mykel Dawson Jonyna Si Lander Stalwart | Open

---

Alwine stepped lightly along the narrow path between the rows of tents, satchel swinging at her side. She paused at a small cluster of refugees struggling to haul a crate of supplies inside a battered shelter. Without hesitation, she crouched beside them, lending her strength to push the crate into place.

"Careful now," she muttered under her breath, voice low but firm.

Her children had wandered ahead again, chasing a laugh that echoed through the housing units. Alwine's gaze softened for a moment, but she didn't call them back just yet. They were learning, slowly, that the world could be cruel, yes, but it could also be messy, bright, and alive.

Once the crate was settled, Alwine stood straight and brushed the dirt from her hands. She scanned the lanes again, noting the gaps in supplies, the tired faces, the subtle chaos that came with people trying to rebuild. Her eyes landed on a figure struggling with a malfunctioning hover device, ( Mykel Dawson ) a presence familiar yet uncertain.

Humming softly to herself, Alwine adjusted her satchel, checking its contents, and took a decisive step toward the next task. There was work to be done here, and she would see it done properly, whether anyone asked her to or not. But of course, she tried not to let herself seem too closed off. After all, the goal of the day was to assist in rebuilding, and not close off. If anyone had anything more urgent for her to tackle, she would do so willingly and probably with at least a touch of silent enthusiasm.

 

[Lander Stalwart]

Refuge, Objective I
Tags: Jonyna Si , Open

Lander's Blaster Pistol, Lander's Prosthetic Arm
​

Don't let the changes on the galactic map get you down. We need people like you more than ever now.

"I know," Lander sighed, "I... just need a little time to mourn."

The Galactic Alliance was what he had dedicated his life to. That and it's people. He swore a fealty to it that was hard to override. No matter how you sliced it, his home was now behind the iron curtain of the Galactic Empire's wrath. It was unclear who, if any, was capable of quelling the beast now. He would need some time to reflect.

See if he couldn't find his place in all of this.

"I suppose I'll have to do that later," he decided. "I'll help you get those boxes unloaded."

 

[Leos]

Refuge, Objective II
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"B... Be careful with it. "

"Yeah... I will..."

Leos carefully began to tinker with the toy, opening it up to take a look inside. Braze was insistent that he didn't have to watch what he was about to do, but the Themian didn't respon. He could see all the burns in the corner of his eye, and he wasn't going to deny their existance just because it made him uneasy. Leos procured a power cell from the pocket in his pants where he kept his tools, then carefully pressed the frayed wires back together with his fingers.

He recalled the frigid mountain that lead up to that Temple made of that glassy stuff... how Braze had shown him how to regulate his internal temperature. Leos moved heat to his fingers. A lot of it, and very quickly soldered the damage. He drew his hand back quickly afterwards and put the two fingers he had used in his mouth for a moment. They didn't linger there long. He had gotten burns before. They were nothing like the old man had gone through anyways. That sight in the corner of his eyes made the pain quickly vanish.

When the Themian put the bottom plate back on the toy ship and pressed the mechanism that produced noise, the sound was far more clear, hardly distorted aside from the occasional artifact that came with age. Leos gingerly offered it back.

"I... think that's the best it will get."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora couldn't help the way she laughed; a sound far too genuine and airy for the type of work that they were doing. Still, she'd learned not to deny a fleeting moment happiness when it came.

One arm swung itself over Jasper's shoulder, and she pulled him into a hug, dirt and all.

"How many children will be able to say that they were on the Death Star III?"

Pulling back, he'd see grim fatigue etched into the lines of her genuine smile. "We've lost so many familiar faces over the past few months. I'm glad to see yours."

While the Alliance's destabilization hadn't taken them by surprise, what had was the speed at which the galactic giant had collapsed in on itself.

"Ukatis joined the Republic. We've got space enough to host refugees, and now the funding, too," she added in a low murmur. "I've brought healers with me. They should be on their way to Jalen, but I had to stop and see you for myself."

Releasing Jasper's shoulder, Cora sighed through her nose. They both knew that this type of work would never have a clearly defined endpoint, but that they would roll with whatever punches came along the way.

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Refuge, Objective I
Tags: Corazona von Ascania

Lightsaber, Refuge, Respite, Order of Outcasts
​

Jasper didn't fight it. He simply hugged her back, though was careful to make sure he gave Cora's developing little one a bit of space. He offered a tired smile back to her, clearly just as worn out as she was.

"Jalen will be pleased to hear that," Jasper noted. "And I'm glad the Republic reached out to Ukatis. There's a handful of worlds that need to be knocking on their door right about now..."

He paused for a moment, letting out an exhale. The truth of the matter was that everyone knew by now that the Galactic Alliance had taken it's last breath. Even if they had fended off the Galactic Empire at Atrisia, it had left them little more than a shell. Worlds were retreating to defend their boarders as best they could. Jasper had lived his entire life only knowing the presence of that Alliance. Now, in a matter of days, it was gone. Everything he had ever fought to defend torn asunder.

It made him think of the visions Darth Carnifex had shown him... but the thought was fleeting.

"Well, you know me," the Master began again. "I'll keep kicking till I'm out of legs to kick with, and even then I might not get the message. I'll keep being a familiar face for as long as I can. Folks are gonna need it." His gaze shifted to scan over the newly arriving transport vessels. "You know, there's something peculiar about this place. It's really hard to get to cause of that black hole at the edge of the system, but from most sources I could find it has a history of harboring those fleeing from collapsing nations for thousands of years... Some people here still speak the language of the Infinite Empire, though it seems a bit broken from what they say. It has it's merits. Easy to defend, far from the Sith Order and Galactic Empire... it's just a matter of actually turning it into something. Y'know, more than shanty towns at least."

There was a lot of work to do. At the very least, local culture seemed to revolve almost entirely around migrating to this place. They saw it as a process of rebirth. Your spirit was born anew on the ring. A long and storied history forged by those fleeing hardship made all of that understandable.

In a way, it was true.

"How's Makko?"

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

The old man stared, transfixed, watching Leos work as if it were magic. He was simply amazed at seeing the little starfighter come back to life in his hands, its old 'voice' clear again after so much loss. He felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him as he heard that familiar sound, the soft whir and chirp he hadn't realized he'd missed. For a fleeting moment, it was as though the world outside the temple didn't exist, and the laughter of a child echoed faintly in his memory.

This was suitable to distract him well enough as Braze quietly reached out through the Force. He centered his breath, letting calm flow through his hands as he began to mend the worst of the burns. The faint shimmer of light traced along the man's skin as seared flesh slowly knit together beneath Braze's hovering touch, the raw pain easing into warmth. It wasn't instant, but the Force did not simply erase wounds. It more so guided the body's own will to heal, coaxing tissue to renew, nerves to quiet, and pain to fade into something bearable.

The old man's breath shuddered as his trembling fingers reached out tightening around the little toy starfighter. A few long seconds passed before he looked up, eyes glassy with disbelief.

"T-thank you," he whispered. His voice cracked under the weight of his sentimental feelings. "You didn't just fix it… you brought it back."

Tears welled and spilled freely down his cheeks as he pulled the toy back to his chest, clutching it close like something precious.

 

[Leos]

Refuge, Objective II
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"T-thank you," he whispered. His voice cracked under the weight of his sentimental feelings. "You didn't just fix it… you brought it back."

"It's the least I can do, " Leos muttered, turning his gaze away. "Just... make sure you change the power core regularly... they get corrosive after a few years."

He did feel a warmth inside of him. A part of him wasn't sure if it was pride or pain. His eyes were drawn back eventually, specially to what Braze was doing. For flesh to knit itself back together in such a manner... needless to say it more than caught Leos' attention. The young Themian took it in curiously, unsure of the mechanics of how it worked.

Whatever the case was, it was clearly alleviating the old man's pain in some way. Before long Leos piped up to inquire.

"What... did you do?"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Leos

Braze glanced briefly at Leos. "The body already knows how to heal itself," Braze said softly. "With time and energy, cuts close... and even bones mend."
He paused, considering how best to explain what came next. "When we use the Force to heal, we don't just pour our strength into someone else. We start by reaching inward first... finding the calm and stillness within ourselves. Only then do we reach outward, to remind the wound how to be whole again."

His gaze lowered to his hands, the faintest trace of fatigue settling in there. "The Force becomes the bridge between your calm and their pain. That's why healing always costs something. You're giving a part of what you have and sacrificing it so that someone else can find theirs."

 

[Mykel Dawson]

Objective 1 - Temporary Housing
In vicinity of: Alwine Bergen

Robes

The woman seemed to sense his gaze upon hers, fixing hers on him in turn. Already smiling for the senior he was aiding, he held that friendly expression for her as hazel met chocolate. She was free to come over to him, if she desired.

But just as soon as their eyes had met, Mykel's gaze was drawn downward as his probing led to the source of the hoverchair's malfunction.

The technopath had expected to discover a mechanical issue liked a burned out circuit board or a cracked capacitor as the culprit, but to his dismay he uncovered a ravenous living hunger enveloping the starboard power regulator.

Mynocks.

"I'm sorry sir, but a small nest of Mynocks are eating into the internals of the right side of your chair, which is causing the uneven power distribution and the subsequent tilt."

"M-mynocks?! Oh fething hell!"

He nodded, tone sympathetic. "Many evacuation crews didn't have time to follow proper decon procedures as they rushed for takeoff before the Imperial net could close. Thankfully, this infestation was caught before it ruined your vehicle. I'll take care of it now."

Preemptively, the Jedi thumbed the blaster at his hip while coaxing out the parasites with conjured fantasies, tempting them with the tantalizing prospect of feeding upon a big juicy hypermatter reactor that dwarfed the output of the chair's comparatively tiny fuel cells.

One by one, bulbous chiropterans plopped to the ground from a rupture on the underside of the hoverchair, pot bellies glowing softly with the energy they had sapped from the regulator. Four in all, each on the cusp of maturity. As they were evicted and ceased their feeding, the hoverchair's auto-balancing system kicked in immediately to level out, power able to flow freely again.

<Upwards, for a most delectable buffet.>

While already drunk with power, each greedy mynock began to beat their tiny wings furiously to launch themselves into the air for yet greater feasting.

Some of the closest bystanders gasped or stumbled backward from the sudden sight of the interstellar parasites, while the chairbound senior continued cursing loudly about yet another misfortune to befall him. Mykel remained dead calm, directing the mynock to ever higher reaches.

Once they had elevated to a safe altitude to avoid collateral, he finally struck. In the span of a single heartbeat, the Jedi unholstered his blaster and tapped the match-grade trigger four times. The sky briefly bloomed with four small blossoms of shimmering energy as each azure bolt met their mark with the same exacting precision he applied to wielding his lightwhip. The Jedi took no pleasure in eliminating the mynocks who were merely following their nature, but if left unchecked, then the pests would have gone on wreck absolute havoc on the fledgling infrastructure of the refugee settlement and perhaps the wider ring installation.

He holstered his blaster and gave the chair's armrest a soft rap with gloved knuckles. "You should be fine for now, but if you have any other issues, then just ask for Mykel Dawson."

Now standing before the man, ready to present the food, Mykel wasn't sure what to expect in response. Gratitude, perhaps, or even weary relief.

But not tears.

"Oh God, Aaron..." He weeped. "My dear Aaron."

A couple stepped forward, who had been assisting the senior before Mykel arrived. A woman with silver-streaked brunette hair draped her arms around the man from behind, whispering in his ear to comfort him, while her husband came around the chair to speak with Mykel.

"Thank you," he said. "I would have never realized there was a whole nest of Mynocks in there before you showed up, great catch." He offered a hand to shake. "Rupert Campbell. That's my wife Elsa, and my father-in-law, Henri."

"It's a pleasure," Mykel replied with a firm shake, but he couldn't help but keep glancing over Rupert's shoulder for Henri. "If I may...who is Aaron?"

"Aaron...was his grandson - our son." Rupert's hand grew limp, Mykel allowing it to fall away as the older man's eyes turned downcast. "You look to be about his age, so perhaps the sight of you triggered him. He also liked to tinker. Made a career out of it in the navy as an engineer..."

Rupert spoke no more, a lump forming in his throat, but the Consular gathered snippets of Aaron's fate from a tumult of surface thoughts now bubbling up from Rupert in renewed grief. Aaron had been a freshly commissioned junior officer in the Ninth Sector Armada as his first assignment, killed in action as the entire unit was utterly annihilated over Arkania.

Wordlessly, Mykel reached out for a hug. At first, the older man seized up in shock, but soon he would relent as he embraced the Jedi. A dam seemed to finally burst in the patriarch, joining his father in shedding tears for his son.