Faction Tactical Training Complex

[Laphisto]

"It was a stalemate on Umbara," Laphisto said with a small frown and a shake of his head. "No real victors, unfortunately. The Mandalorians simply turned their war machine in a different direction." A light chuckle rumbled from his throat, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. Then he raised a brow as he noticed her restless tapping pent-up energy practically radiating from her. She was getting antsy, and perhaps ready. for more than simulations tests and drills "As for the planet you mentioned no one owns it, per se. But it's under heavy Sith influence at the moment. That said, the Diarchy has a strong foothold there too. The whole place is locked in a stagnant civil war… some wanting to align with the Diarchy, others clinging to Sith loyalty."

Her reaction to the mention of Dark Side users didn't go unnoticed. Laphisto's expression softened. "I know it's hard to accept. But those who follow the Dark Side within the Order. they've chosen discipline over domination. Control over chaos. We don't allow Sith doctrine to flourish here, no cruelty, no conquest, no ideology of supremacy. They use the Dark Side, yes, but they use it with purpose, not hate. And they're held to the same code of honor as every other member of the Order."

He paused for a moment to let that settle, then offered her a slight grin. "They're not monsters. Just people, warriors. brothers and sisters in arms with different methods, trying to do the same good in a broken galaxy. You'll see that, in time." When she pointed at him and asked what the right questions were, his grin widened ever so slightly, and he let out a short laugh. "Well, for starters, I suppose one of those questions might be Are you ready for some real training? A spar just you and me. Let's see how much of your old form you've kept sharp. and give you a healthier release for all that energy than bouncing off the walls."

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre didn't know whether she should feel happy or sad that the battle had ended in a stalemate. Her former alliances begged her to say she wasn't pleased, but she was still learning about her new ones. Time would tell, and she understood this. Withholding a growl, she sneered her mouth slightly when Laphisto informed her that the Sith controlled Serreno. The good news from the conversation indicated that some people wanted to be part of the Diarchy. Maybe Iandre could help bring them home.

As Laphisto spoke of the Dark Side users within the order, she remained silent. In the end, she nodded in appreciation but chose not to comment. Once she was more comfortable, she would start reaching out to other members. Perhaps she might even make a friend or two. Right now, she felt she should focus on her recovery and graduating from her classes.

"I'm interested in knowing too! Besides, I think I remember seeing this when we met."

Stretching once more, she motioned for Laphisto to lead the way.

"I think it would be best if you pick a location. We are of different heights, and I might pick one that's too small."

She doubted that, honestly, but did want him to pick where the spar would take place. Oddly enough, she did not expect him to go easy on her. No real wounds or harm, but she did entirely feel he would thoroughly tromp her this time.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto motioned for her to follow, his eyes briefly scanning the corridor as they walked. Eventually, he stepped into one of the station's live-fire exercise rooms. The door hissed shut behind them, and he moved to one of the control terminals, hooking his vambrace into the room’s system. With a few taps, he input a baseline training scenario.

The lights dimmed slightly as the room’s holograms flickered to life, shifting the chamber into a simulated arena. A wide circle formed in the center of the floor, glowing faintly to mark the bounds of the duel. “Rules are simple, Knock me out of the circle, and you win. If I knock you out, I win.”

He extended a hand, and with a familiar pull through the Force, his broadsaber detached from his belt. The hilt demagnetized with a low metallic thrum, followed by the unmistakable snap-hiss as the blade ignited its presence humming through the air. With a flick of his thumb, he dialed the blade’s strength from lethal to non-lethal, the hum shifting in tone.

Then, he crouched slightly into a solid Djem So stance, holding the blade high above his head, angled back for power strikes.A small smirk tugged at his lips. “Well then,shall we?”

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

With their height difference, Iandre needed to take extra steps to keep up with him. Thankfully, Laphisto didn't walk too fast, and she walked next to him. It was a silent walk, but it drew some attention from the other cadets. Whispers followed them, and it seemed they might have an audience attending the spar.

She started chewing on her lower lip as Laphisto made the settings to the room and set the rules.

"What about Force usage?"

If the only target was to get him out of the circle and the use of the Force was allowed, she had a lot more confidence in winning. Who cared if he was greater than seven feet tall?

Taking a look at the stance he took up, she took up her own with Makashi after she had adjusted the strength of her lightsaber beam.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto watched her stance carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly as a teal-blue sheen overtook them the Force washing over his vision. He instinctively reached out, brushing against her alignment once more, studying her focus and intent. "A warrior is to use everything at their disposal," he replied simply, his voice calm but edged with anticipation.

As she settled into her Makashi stance, Laphisto adjusted his own, shifting into a shoulder guard his broadsaber held upright near his shoulder in a poised, balanced stance. The moment she assumed her form, he recognized it instantly. Makashi: precise, elegant, and deadly in the hands of a duelist. He began circling her slowly, steps deliberate, wings slightly raised for balance and readiness. When he reached the halfway mark around her, he spun sharply on his heel his tail whipping toward her in a sudden feint. In the same fluid motion, he crouched low and launched forward in a burst of speed, driving in for a quick jab aimed at her center mass.

But he didn’t fully commit to the strike. His grip on the broadsaber was loose enough that he could pull the blade left or right at a moment’s notice, adapting to her response. His wings flared wide ready to catch the air and adjust his momentum if needed. A low chuckle rumbled from his chest as his peripheral vision caught sight of the cadets gathering at the edge of the chamber, their curiosity drawing them like moths to a flame.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Not allowing her master to get behind her, Iandre turned with him. The point of her lightsaber faced downward for the moment, but she was on her guard. She knew he would make the first move and was prepared for it. Placing a tight barrier around her body, if he did succeed in connecting with her, she would be further protected. Her eyes glanced at his wings, and she felt they would need to be neutralized to possibly throw him off.

With a quick squeeze of her left hand, she attempted to flex his wings together with the Force. Iandre was a bit surprised his choice wasn't Ataru, but who was she to question things at the moment? Noticing his tail coming at her first, she jumped forward and rolled out of the way from the tail and avoided both of his attacks.

She intended to land beside him, and she made a fast, precise jab at his right knee. His size might make him slower, and she planned to use that to her advantage.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto felt the Force wrap tightly around his wings, keeping them sealed against his back. A low chuckle escaped him, a prideful smirk tugging at the edge of his lips not in mockery, but in approval. It was a clever move. She was using her instincts well, and the fact that she never let him out of her line of sight spoke volumes about her training. It gave him confidence in how far he could push her. When she rolled out of his initial strike and came up beside him, her blade flicking toward his right knee, he didn’t retreat. Instead, he drove that knee forward into the attack, letting the saber strike slide along the reinforced plating of his armor. The impact caused a flare of energy from her saber, but the motion forced her blade outward pushed off-line just enough to create an opening.

Laphisto moved fast. Using the momentum of his knee, he dropped his center of gravity and twisted, slamming his left elbow toward her chest. It was a tight, controlled motion enough to knock the wind from her if she didn’t brace, but not enough to injure. Before she could fully recover, his right hand came around, balled into a fist, and threw a low, curving strike toward her shoulder or the side of her head. Again, it was pulled just short of doing real harm, but sharp enough to be felt. He stayed close, deliberately pressing into her space not overpowering, but unrelenting.

“You can’t rely on range or elegance alone, The moment you let someone into your space, you’d better know how to turn that pressure around. or get flattened.” His wings remained locked behind him, but his stance was as firm and immovable as a mountain. He made no move to retreat just yet. He wanted her to feel the pressure, the weight of real combat even in a simulation. This was what he meant when he said he’d train her. Not just in techniques. Or mastery of the force. But in survival.



Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

With her lightsaber successfully pushed away by his armor, his elbow connected firmly with her chest, and she let out a grunt. Laphisto was far faster than Iandre anticipated, especially considering his size. She would have to remember that when they sparred again next time. As she expected, he trounced her, but he had not yet entirely won this match. He had sealed the distance between them and was clearly in charge of the situation.

Listening to his sage words of advice, she nodded, and there was some murmuring coming from the peanut gallery from the recruits. They also seemed to take a lesson from this exercise, and Iandre wasn't done learning yet. She was admittedly rather pleased she had succeeded in tightening his wings to his back, even if it didn't have the effect she had hoped for.

"You let me into your space."

Without her lightsaber in play at the moment, she attempted to reach one of his horns and slip up behind him to try and throw him out of the ring. It probably wouldn't work, but she wasn't done fighting yet.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto watched her curiously, intently measuring not just her physical response, but how she absorbed the lesson he'd just handed her. His senses reached out gently through the Force, checking her stance, the pressure in her movements, the state of her breathing. He needed to be sure she hadn’t overextended herself or taken any real damage from the elbow. She was recovering fast. Focused. Stubborn. She would have made a fine mandalorian back before his clan joined the Crusaders.

Her voice broke through his concentration, calm and confident. Before he could respond, he felt her hand wrap around one of his horns. His head jerked back slightly, a small grunt escaping him not from pain, but mild surprise. It was bold. Unexpected. And in truth, a good tactic. For a second, he let it play out, analyzing it even as he felt the tug begin.

It would've worked on a Devaronian. Maybe an Iktotchi. Probably a Zabrak too he thought. But on Laphisto who weighed nearly four hundred pounds of battle-forged mass, wings, bone, and muscle it was a stretch. Still, it was an opening. A chance to teach her something valuable.

He leaned back with the motion, giving her the illusion of leverage. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he felt her commit, pulling with real effort, trying to unbalance him and take the initiative.And that was when he moved.

He twisted sharply at the waist, using her grip and her own momentum. His stance widened, foot pivoting behind hers, tail sweeping in low to catch her back leg. In the same motion, both of his hands came up one catching her by the forearm, the other shifting to her side. Not harsh, not jarring, but firm. Controlled. Her weight was already moving so he guided it.

In a smooth, circular motion, he redirected her attempt to throw him and instead lifted and turned her, using her own energy to sweep her off her feet and carry her toward the edge of the circle. Not with forceful intent, but with clean, fluid movement a master demonstrating what she needed to feel in her bones to understand.

Just as her balance broke and the ring’s edge came up fast, Laphisto caught her mid-fall one hand grabbing the back of her robe as he eased her upright again, her toes landing inches from disqualification. "Good initiative, But if you're going to square off with something built like beskar."

He stepped back into his stance, rolling his shoulders slightly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. ".make sure your grip matches your goal, throw a larger opponent off Thier feet by interrupting Thier center of balance, watch and listen. See the movement and kick the support out ". She seemed to be an eager duelist one who didn't get up an unstoppable force while he was the unmoving object. And for the first time in a long while, he looked like he was enjoying the lesson as much as the fight. Holding his blade at a mid guard position he rolled his shoulders stepping back into form I his tail flicking in random directions keeping him balanced in his stance

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

"Does she really think she can beat him?"
"He's just playing with her."
"She is either brave or foolish. Maybe both."
"I'll raise your bet he throws her out in the next three rounds."


Iandre's green eyes briefly glanced in the direction of the recruits who were speaking quietly. She had not expected to beat Laphisto. He was going to be her Master when she graduated, and they needed to learn about each other. One of the best ways to do that was to spar. Even the young woman knew this.

Weirdly, even though he was throwing her around like laundry that needed to be hung up, she trusted him. This was an exercise for them, and neither of them intended to harm the other. His grip released, and she was set firmly back on the ground inside the ring. If she had been a Youngling, there might have been a chance she would have lost her temper. Keeping her emotions close, she was calm, collected, and still quite stoic.

Somewhere in the mix of getting thrown around, her grip on his wings had lessened, and they were free to move again. Looking at him from head to toe and tail, she felt his center of balance might be much lower on his body than a human's. Noticing he took up the starting stance for Shii-Cho, she lifted an eyebrow.

While she knew the basics of the Forms, she had focused on Makashi. Raising her lightsaber, she saluted him and once again prepared to duel him.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto's ears twitched slightly at the murmured comments from the cadets, a low chuckle rumbling from his throat. He kept his focus on Iandre, amusement flickering in his eyes as he felt the last of her Force grip slip away from his wings. Stretching them out briefly, he took in a slow, steady breath. Then, without warning, he moved. In a burst of speed, he dashed forward, his broadsaber cutting upward in a rising horizontal arc a clean, aggressive strike designed to force her onto the defensive. But he wasn't finished.

Without hesitation, he followed through, driving his knee forward in a smooth, practiced motion, aiming to catch her mid-recovery. Every attack should have a follow-up that was the real lesson. Press the advantage. Chain your offense. Never give your opponent time to breathe. He wanted her to see it. Feel it. Combat wasn't just about landing a single blow it was about momentum, about never letting up once you had control.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

She had been watching him and anticipated his attack. What she had not anticipated was how quickly he moved; it was as if she couldn't get it through her head to remember that. However, she was allowing the Force to guide her, and it warned her of his knee movement.

Blocking his broadsaber attack, she moved aside like a graceful ballerina and attempted to shove him with the Force. He had already positioned her close to the edge of the ring, so if her maneuver worked, there was a very good chance he would continue over the edge himself.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto was already mid-turn, pivoting to launch a counterattack when the wave of Force energy slammed into him. His wings snapped open instinctively, catching the air in an effort to slow his momentum. His tail smashed into the ground like an anchor, gouging a deep furrow in the dirt.

But it wasn't enough. He slid backward, struggling to stop and when he finally ground to a halt, he glanced down to see his left foot just barely over the boundary line. A single breath's difference. Laphisto raised a brow, a low, rumbling chuckle escaping him as he lowered his stance, deactivating his saber with a soft hiss.

"Good," he said, voice rich with approval. "You used my momentum against me. You didn't meet strength with strength. You met movement with misdirection." He folded his wings back neatly, inclining his head. "Remember this: A fighter who overcommits creates their own defeat. Even when you're outmatched, their strength can be your weapon."

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Keeping her hand out as she pushed at Laphisto with the Force, she observed how her move played out. The recruits also watched with bated breath. When he finished moving, she smiled as she bunched her hand into a fist and held it out to him. As if she wanted to do a fist bump with him.

Joy and a touch of surprise emanated from Iandre, and she deactivated her lightsaber. Clipping it to her belt, she smiled at the praise he bestowed on her. Even still, there was a lesson to be learned, and Iandre felt she was learning quickly.

"Aye, like when I tried to throw you several moments ago. I overcommitted. Why didn't you finish the spar then? You were in control and could have won."

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto watched her calmly, the flicker of a smile still on his lips as he saw her extend her hand in a fist. With a low chuckle, he met it with his own, giving her a firm, respectful bump.

When she asked her question, he exhaled slowly, allowing a brief pause to let the moment settle. His wings flexed slightly at his back, the atmosphere around him settling into something heavier, more serious. "It wasn't about winning," he said, his voice carrying not just to Iandre, but to the gathered recruits as well. "This spar was a test in itself to see how quickly you learn, how well you adapt. It was a measure of your instincts, not your victories."

He folded his arms loosely across his chest, his eyes steady on hers. "I could have thrown you from the ring in the first exchange if that had been the goal. But inside these halls, winning means nothing."

He let the words sink in a moment, his gaze sweeping across the watching cadets. "The point of sparring, of dueling here, is to learn. To grow. To evolve as warriors. If you can't adapt if you can't improve then you won't survive long enough to matter outside these walls."

His voice wasn’t harsh. It was matter-of-fact. A truth delivered with the same weight as steel. "And out there," he said, nodding faintly toward the unseen stars beyond the station, "the enemy won't care how many duels you’ve won. The only thing that matters is that you will learn enough to survive."

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

There was an unexpected gravitas to Laphisto as he answered her question. He didn't direct it only at her but at the other cadets as well. It had been a spar, but not one for him to win. He wanted to learn about Iandre and how fast she adapted. She tilted her head to the side slightly when he said he could have thrown her at the first pass. She doubted that but didn't say anything. She held no illusions that she would be able to best him in battle; she didn't stand a chance, but surprise could bring her victory.

"I understand. Thank you."

What he said was true; an enemy wouldn't care. Victories here only mattered to those involved. On a battlefield, it was pointless to keep track.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto gave a small nod towards the girl, bringing a closed fist to his chest and dipping into a small bow " In Unity, We Find Strength. In Balance, We Forge Destiny. my aprentice." laphisto rose once more and pushing his hands behind his back nodding to the other cadets " once you all pass your final exams you will be assigned to a battalion. and those of you that do extremely well might even see yourselves joining Tarians Sword. once you are assigned to a battalion some of you

---

Laphisto gave a slow nod toward Iandre, bringing a closed fist to his chest before dipping into a respectful, warrior's bow.
"In discipline, we find strength. In understanding, we forge our future." Straightening once more, he clasped his hands behind his back, his wings folding neatly against him as he turned his gaze to the gathered cadets. His voice carried with calm certainty not loud, but commanding. "Each of you stands on the edge of your next test. Once you pass your final exams, you will be assigned to a battalion. And those of you who excel not just in skill, but in discipline, adaptability, and unity may earn a place among Tarians Sword."

He paused, letting the words settle like the weight of armor across young shoulders. "For those of you who are Force-sensitive, know this: you will not walk that path alone. Upon your assignment, you will each be paired with a combat mentor within your battalion a seasoned Force-user who has survived battle after battle. They will guide you. Sharpen you. Not with sermons or superstition, but with the lessons carved into their bones by war and survival. stay true to the training within your manuals and you will be alright. Review it. Live it. Refine yourself by it. and Remember, Talent alone means nothing. Victory belongs to those who stand together. Those who learn. Those who endure."

Turning back toward Iandre Athlea , Laphisto dipped his head in a small, approving nod before addressing the gathered cadets one last time, his voice cutting cleanly through the room. "Dismissed. Return to your classes and carry these lessons with you. Train hard. Study with purpose. And when the time comes... fight with honor."