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

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora laughed quietly, warm and genuine as Jonyna pulled her into an embrace.

"It's good to see you, too, Master Si. I'm not surprised that your children found us before you did."

Auntie Cora?

Her smile widened into a grin and stayed there as Jonyna introduced her brood.

"Nal, K'hosa, and Sula," she repeated. "They have their mother's strength."

It seemed like a lifetime ago, in that little room on Ukatis where Jonyna had told her of the pregnancy. Unfortunately, they hadn't been able to keep in contact much after that as the galaxy went awry.

"Oh, it's good to see them healthy and thriving," she lowered her voice, "War can be difficult for children. I've seen so many families ripped apart that it's heartening to see one intact."

Next, her head dipped toward Senator Lander in both greeting and acknowledgment. "Yes, and the decision wasn't easy. Ukatis may not be an economic powerhouse or a world of renown, but it… seemed as though our secession sent a message."

A message that may have accelerated the Alliance's collapse.

"And now, the Republic stands alone as the last bastion of Light in the galaxy.”

Jasper Kai'el Jonyna Si Lander Stalwart

 

[Lander Stalwart]

Refuge, Objective I
Tags: Corazona von Ascania , Jonyna Si

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

"Yes, and the decision wasn't easy. Ukatis may not be an economic powerhouse or a world of renown, but it… seemed as though our secession sent a message."

A message that may have accelerated the Alliance's collapse.

"I cast no judgement your way," Lander clarified. "The writing was on the wall. Those further from the Core were always better off seeking asylum with the Republic. I can only hope that it's the bastion your people need."

And maybe, even if the chances were slim, maybe it could be the bastion the entire galaxy needed. Lander could only wish for the best, but prepare for the worst. After all, nothing came for free. There was hell to pay on the road to salvation. The good people of the galaxy were the ones who would front that bill.

"Well, no sense standing around I suppose," the former Senator finally decided. "This stuff won't hand itself out. We're getting onto the textile items now. Blankets and such."

"We're still in the warm season," Jasper noted, "And the winters don't get too far below freezing. But even so, the nights will be cold. Just to cover all bases, make sure everyone walks away with two."

Jasper scooped up a stack of blankets from one of the boxes and moved towards where the line had formed. Lander let out an exhale. He didn't know how that man had the energy to keep up with everything that was going on. The senator was struggling to fight off exhaustion. He had done well to do so thus far, but he surely would never be able to manage what the Jedi Master did. Perhaps that was a place where he could grow.

Then again, he didn't exactly have a direction now. Sacorria was lost to the Empire.

"Well... I guess we'd better keep up," he decided with a shrug, picking up blankets to follow.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Corazona von Ascania Lander Stalwart​

"Not the last." Jonyna pushed back against Cora's statement. "Just the most bright. There's still plenty of smaller candles burning."

Jonyna wasn't one to prop herself up, but she'd heard that language before. 900 years ago, from plenty of defeatists who saw the jedi as obsolete. Not that she would ever call Cora such, but she needed to make a point.

"I've kept them back home on Cathar. For all my problems with the Mandalorians, this batch seems to have at least treated my home with respect enough to allow me to raise my kids in relative safety. Here's hoping the High Republic does the same with yours, Cora."

It was moments like this that made Jonyna glad that her planet was a backwater nothing-world that very few people cared about. Just the bucketheads who seemed fixated on burning it. She could happily deal with them with a thunderbolt to the helmet.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora offered Lander a tired smile. "I certainly hope that it is, Senator."

As it was, the Republic was beset on all sides by enemies - The Black Sun, the Sith, and now the Galactic Empire. A three front war would be extremely trying, at best.

There'd been as much criticism of Ukatis leaving the Alliance as much as there'd been understanding - and Cora had, in the end, chosen to do what she thought what was best for her people.

To Jonyna's interjection, Cora tilted her head in though, then finally, a little further in acknowledgment. With the galaxy in a state of flux, it was easy to forget who was doing what.

"Of course. May their flames grow into a steady hearth."

She'd had her own skepticism over the Republic, particularly that they'd be another flash-in-the-pan power that fell into obscurity as quickly as it had risen. So far, they'd proven her wrong.

She hoped it would last.

"I'm glad to hear that Cathar is faring well," she said while gathering an armful of blankets and following after Jasper. "It's good that you're having better luck with the current Mandalorian powers that be. They seem more reasonable than their brethren."

As they made their way toward the waiting refugees, Cora posed a question to her companions: "So, what's next for all of you?"

Lander Stalwart Jonyna Si

 

[Lander Stalwart]

Refuge, Objective I
Tags: Corazona von Ascania , Jonyna Si

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

"So, what's next for all of you?"

"Haven't the foggiest," Lander admitted with a soft chuckle. "You know, I've sorta been letting that question sit ignored in the back of my head. Hard to move on from something you give your flesh and blood up for. I suppose that's true for a lot of people..."

These answers didn't come easy. They were found after lots of reflection that he had thus far been ignoring. Maybe he had an excuse. It had only just happened after all. Or perhaps that's just what he needed to tell himself so that he could delay starting that process for just a little longer. So many times he thought he was ready to die for the Galactic Alliance. Just like his brother had.

And yet, the opportunity continued to slip through his grasp to the bitter end. Now he had outlived his beloved democracy.

"My duty still belongs to Sacorria," the Senator decided. "What's left that I can help... is here. We were fortunate to have warning enough to flee. I suppose my immediate future is helping my people reestablish as best I can. Master Kai'el has been a great help in that."

His eyes drifted towards the Cathar.

"And I suppose what's next for you is the battlefield again," he theorized. "You remind me of a man I fought alongside when the Enclave attacked."

People like them couldn't stay away from that beast forever. Something drew them in. He just wasn't sure exactly what.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Corazona von Ascania Lander Stalwart​

"Thank Sylvar." Jonyna groaned. "I'm sick of dealing with nerf herder crusaders who think the best way to honor their heritage is to repeat the mistakes of the past for imaginary glory points. It's exhausting."

The truth was, she didn't hate mandalorians. Not anymore. She was just tired of the abusive relationship she had with their traditions.

"I was born for the battlefield, senator. I can't keep away from it. Honestly, I always felt held back by the NJO. By the senate. No offense, but I'd have rather us hit the enemies of the GA hard and fast. I understand the reservations on such things, but that's just how I was raised. Back in the rebellion era, we didn't have time to argue amongst ourselves. We had to keep the pressure on the Empire, or risk being snuffed out. Now, I figure, we're back to that. At least, I certainly am. You're all welcome in Wild Space, but know that I'm not slowing down until the galaxy is a safe enough place again for me to raise my little womprats without worry of the Empire or Sith trying to kidnap or kill them."

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

"There you go! You did it ! Congratulations kiddo. " Braze praised watching as Leos was successfully able to replicate the technique.

The woman sighed feeling relief wash over her as she relaxed back. "Oh my goodness... Wow... That's amazing. Thank you Master jedi. " She offered gently in reply seemingly thankful for the relief the youth offered her. Now she could rest up easier and let her body relax and recuperate with out the sting of pain every time she moved even a little. She even peeked at the spot where the wound was removing the bandaging to see the wonderful work Leos had done seemingly amazed by it.

 

[Leos]

Refuge, Objective II
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"Oh my goodness... Wow... That's amazing. Thank you Master jedi. "

"Just... Leos is fine," the Themian insisted. "I'm not a master..."

That was a strange saying. Master Jedi. He certainly wasn't that rank yet, but he had heard others say it before. The honorific confused him a little. Regardless, the deed was done, and he seemed to have done an exceptional job given the reaction of Braze. That was at least something. He'd have to sit and reflect on how exactly he had done it so he could replicate those results later if need be. He wasn't exactly eager to... it all seemed to get so personal.

Then again, he knew he would. It was a matter of when, not if.

"Is healing like that supposed to make you tired?" Leos finally asked Braze after a moment of standing in silence.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

We were fortunate to have warning enough to flee. I suppose my immediate future is helping my people reestablish as best I can. Master Kai'el has been a great help in that."

"I suppose that's the silver lining in all this," Cora admitted as she draped a blanket over a child's shoulders. "The Empire telegraphed their intent hard enough for the galaxy to see it coming. Because of that, a lot of evacuations were able to take place ahead of their assault.”

Still, there were many who'd been unwilling - or otherwise unable - to flee the core.

There were elements of Jonyna's take that resonated with her. Again, Cora tilted her head in consideration.

"Perhaps it was a mix of complacency and uneven resources. I can imagine it's hard governing a territory that size while also combating threats beyond the border. That being said," she sighed, "I can't help but agree that we could've take more of a fight to the Sith. They've grown strong behind their Blackwall, and though they've fractured into rival factions, can rally when it comes to defending their territory."

Cora glanced up to Jonyna. The woman had always been a fine combatant and full of fire, so it was no surprise that she wanted to hit the evils of the galaxy hard.

"Who is the first target? The Empire, or the Sith?"

Jonyna Si Lander Stalwart

 

[Lander Stalwart]

Refuge, Objective I
Tags: Corazona von Ascania , Jonyna Si

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

By the senate. No offense, but I'd have rather us hit the enemies of the GA hard and fast.

"There's no offense to be had," Lander stated. "The senate is dissolved. I can only speculate on what ultimately failed us all. Perhaps it was simply the bloat of the Alliance. It was so large and unruly that perhaps we simply couldn't see the fractures forming between us. And maybe some were complacent as Miss von Ascania stated... For many the Galactic Alliance simply felt like a certainty."

Something that would always exist to the end of time. The foully of lesser men, to think a civilization could last forever. That fragility was lost on those who never saw war for what it was. Now they had all paid the cost.

The former Senator had been idly handing out blankets. Truly his mind was enraptured in thoughts. What could have been, what could still be, what he was to be in all of this. So on and so forth, and yet it all seemed to dance in circles around his head. It was hard to place a clear direction. All he knew were the certain details of how it all fell apart.

They've grown strong behind their Blackwall, and though they've fractured into rival factions, can rally when it comes to defending their territory.

"I suppose the threat of that brood behind that veil falls on your High Republic now," the veteran lamented. "Ignoring the threat of the Sith is a sin which must now fall on other civilizations. I can only hope that they succeed where we have failed. The fate of the galaxy may very well rest on it's shoulders."

After all, it was the only true democracy left. The fire of civilization needed the High Republic to succeed. Lest they slip back into darkness.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Corazona von Ascania Lander Stalwart​

"Right now, unfortunately, an attack on the sith directly would be a mistake. The Imperials are stretched thin as is, both the ones in the core, and the Confederation. Those are snaking across the galaxy. Cutting them in half would hinder their ability to consolidate. If we could take the core, even simply freeing it, we'd be able to restore a lot of faith in the cause."

Jonyna knew the rebellion wasn't ready. Still too small. But raids were always an option. Always a chance to chip away at the Imperial sense of invincibility.

She knew better than to make every ship she lost an martyr, but it always felt like they were on the back foot.