Technology meets the Force (Moross/ACA)

[Corey's OOC]

The Moross Crusade, a neighboring faction to the Abrion Corporate Alliance, had been quiet during the recent reign in the ACA. Now, there were talks among the latter faction. The former was on the move, they were gaining speed and getting noticed. Charlize Martin, current president of the technocratic ACA had arranged a meeting between the two nations. A small fleet was assembled, nothing major, but enough to show the might of the Abrion Sector, to escort the dignitary ship.

The landing craft had landed near the capital city and the appropriate honor guard for the situation was deployed. Many dignitaries and office assistants of the ACA had accompanied the president, including the Techno Union's leader Alana Flag and one of her assistants, Marek Starchaser. And where Marek went, Spynet was sure to follow.

It was a risk here, meeting out of their own space with the current bounty from the Omega Protectorate, but with mostly fast ships, and nto that many, it was a gamble that could pay off. Besides, the Hydra War Droids that were here were issued orders to protect Charlize Martin at all costs.

Marek stepped off the ship before the president and surveyed the land. He was wearing a lightweight neoprene-inspired body glove under a business casual outfit, with a black cloak over it. He wore a gunbelt that had his dark handled, orange bladed lightsaber on his right hip. In a shoulder holster under his jacket was his alchemized pistol.

Charlize had sent a fleet wide message before the jump to hyperspace that this was strictly a meeting. She and the Moross were going to be entering talks, and that both had agreed on a small escort fleet. More for ceremony, but there were bounties on Abrion personnel, so it was volunteer only. And to watch themselves. Should a bounty hunter arrive, handle the situation, but do not be the aggressors to the Moross Crusade.

That was another reason she insisted on Marek accompanying her personal group. She wanted a Force user who didn't come off as a Force user on her team.

[member="Amorella Mae"]
@Abrion and Moross

OOC: To all military personnel who jump in on this from the ACA/ASA. This was a volunteer assignment. Standing orders are to be in position in case anything happens, assist with talks, mingle with MC military personnel, avoid bounty hunters and not start a war. Non-Military, lets make talks go in either direction, and see where this arc brings us.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Location: Low Orbit of Morje

The tall Aesir gazed intently out the forward viewport of one of the Ithari Swarm Frigates orbiting the planet of Morje. Folds of dark blue and grey fell around his body as his silver-green gaze surveyed the blue hue of the planet below. He was here with another Aesir...though only one of them was the true architect of this diplomatic venture. Having recently returned to the fold, [member="Amorella Mae"] had been reinstated as Inari quickly...and in quite the grand fashion on the planet of Aurum. Well...grand was perhaps a matter of perspective. The arrival of Aatrox had happened almost without realization and in the dark of night. The shadow of The Deceiver swept over the Crusade in the dark as the blinding light of Inari was extinguished.

This was all irrelevant to the current activity, however, and the sound of approaching footfalls pulled Cameron from his personal musings. Before the individual that approached could breathe a word, the Aesir addressed him. "The Alliance is planetside."

The average individual that approached lowered himself to a knee. "Yes, Holiness."

From beneath the hood of his cloak, the Sith Lord afforded himself a thin smile. "Prepare my ship and notify The Reviver of my departure for Mesto."

"Your Will, Holiness." The man quickly came to his feet and retreated back in the direction he had come.

In a matter of moments, Cameron turned and stepped away from the viewport destined for the hangar.

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Ereza]

"Bright one,"

Within the Meditation Room of the Kingdom, Inari the Reviver sat in a calm peace. The silence of the room, though absolute, had suddenly been broken by the arrival of Priest LaRue and his soft voice. He'd come to inform her that the Deceiver was taking his departure, but Inari already knew this, she'd felt it the moment Cameron had made the decision.

"Aesir Aatrox is making way for Mesto."

A subtle gesture was the Aesir's response before slowly rising to her feet and moving to join the man at the chamber entrance. He followed her out, retinue of White Guard warriors falling into step behind them, and began detailing information of ACA's arrival.

"Your shuttle is prepared for departure, Aesir. The Kingdom will remain in orbit and await your next command. Aesir Neth's representative will meet you at your shuttle."

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Amorella Mae"] [member="Cameron Centurion"] [member="Marek Starchaser"]

When Inari arrived at her shuttle she would find waiting for her a tall man dressed in orange and black robes.

It's flesh was pale as could be, it's eyes were an odd reflection of Amorella Nephew Soliael, it's iris' being black and his pupil being a bright orange. Beneath it's pale white skin blue lines stuck out, veins pressing against his own flesh, pushed to the top by something squirming within it. The odd looking man turned to regard the god, it's face expressionless and his voice oddly devoid of any true humanity.

“Holiness” The 'man' bowed deeply. “My lord begs your forgiveness of his absence, but Exocron cannot be left alone at this current juncture.”

The creature came up from its bow, odd unsettling eyes cast downward, as to not look at the holy woman before it. Before long both Inari and the strange abomination that represented Neth the Keeper had boarded the shuttle and left Exocron. It did not take long for the small and efficient craft to reach the appointed meeting place, and when they arrived it was the creature that alerted Inari.

“Holiness. We have arrived.” All throughout the journey it had not stated its name nor its designation, it seemed to instead be far more focused on what was ahead of them.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Neither ceremony nor pomp and circumstance surrounded the arrival of The Deceiver on the soil of Morje. The gleaming dark blue and grey AlAT/i had barely settled onto the ground before a loading ramp was extended. A few brief moments later, a lone figure draped in a cloak that matched the color scheme of the vessel descended. As was typical, Cameron Centurion entertained no entourage, no retinue of servants or guards to oversee his activities.

Adopting a measured pace towards the ACA delegation, the breeze briefly caught the Sith Lord's flowing cloak, revealing the ornately tattooed nature of his exposed upper torso. Silver-green pools of light burned intently from amidst the depth of darkness provided by the hood of his cloak. A weapon did adorn the left side of Cameron's waist, but it was partially obscured by the light fabric of his cloak.

Stopping only a handful of meters from the delegation, the large Aesir gazed down at those assembled. He spoke no words for now...there was little point until his associates arrived. Clasping his hands behind his back, the God of Shadows remained rooted like a statue. Within his being, he could feel the approach of his other half, the Goddess Inari.

Cameron presumed she would travel much heavier than he.

[member="Amorella Mae"] | [member="Soliael Devin Talith"] | [member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

Where Marek went, there was the chance that something much more insidious would follow.


Ket Van-Derveld held allegiance to no man, to no god, to no thing except himself. His interests were wide and scattered across the cosmos. His younger brother was a follower of this 'Crusade', which Ket thought of as nothing more than a cult, plying their trade on the fears and stupidity of the common rabble. How his own flesh and blood ended up with such a group was beyond him, unless such a group was more than what he'd been led to believe. The newly branded 'ACA' was nothing more than a vessel to further the prospects and influence of a few very select individuals, but only he and perhaps those individuals knew that, let alone the extent. This galaxy was a pale, limp imitation of what he'd once known, and it not only saddened him, it actually humored him. In that regard, he'd kept a very close eye upon his apprentice, and even when it seemed as if the ancient Sith Lord was far and away, he was always there, breathing down his neck without ever making it known.

To that end, President Martin's entourage held a fair few within their ranks. Politicians, Soldiers, and Assistants to name but a few. And one of them was an older man, his features kept hidden by a long-brimmed cap, an assistant to the engineers that accompanied the President's ship. The Old Wolf used his talents within the Force to not only conceal his Force signature, but to alter it, to mutate it to seem no different than anyone else on the ship. He kept his beard long, and it was white as snow. He was just another old man trying to make an honest credit in this insane galaxy.

And so he went about his business, keeping a close eye upon [member="Marek Starchaser"], but an even closer one upon this...Morsoss Crusade. Perhaps even his brother, [member="Cat Van-Derveld"], might show his face. THAT would be entirely too funny to Ket. For now, he simply waited, hiding in plain sight, watching [member="Cameron Centurion"] with a very attentive eye.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Cameron Centurion"] [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] [member="Amorella Mae"] [member="Marek Starchaser"]

After Inari was informed the creature made its way to the hangar bay. There it stood in place until the ship managed to pass through the atmosphere and make it to the planets surface. The whole process took only a few seconds, and by the end the second Moross shuttle landed next to the first. The ramp lowered without hesitation and the creature cast only one last look back to ensure that her holiness Inari was following in order to speak.

It knew very well that of the three living Gods Inari was the one most keen to diplomacy.

The tall lanky thing moved out towards Cameron, moving like less of a man and more of a serpent until it stood only a pace apart from Cameron.

Oddly, it did not bow to him as deeply as it had to Inari. “My master asks forgiveness for his absence. He hopes that I shall be of use.”

That was all the creature said to the Deciever before turning its odd gaze onto the ACA delegation. It never doubted Inari was right behind it.

 

[Ereza]

The silence of Inari might have been deafening and forboding had it not been for the sound of the White Guard at her side. Three of them today, which was a vastly smaller number than what might've followed her several months ago. Denoted clearly by the clean white cloaks hung overtop of ghoulish, war-ravaged armor, they shadowed the Reviver without any need for command or direction.

As the group arrived, Inari moved to stand at the right of Aatrox, her own newly fashioned robes of white and gold and the surrounding sensation of a deep warmth and calm stood in stark contrast to the cold, dark aura emanating from her fellow Aesir. Strangely enough their opposing presences did not fight for dominion over one another, but seemed to fall into a perfect harmony. There was no war of good or bad, dark or light within the Crusade - there was unity, balance, understanding. This existence extended throughout their realm, disproving the great belief held by the galaxy at large that co-existence was impossible.

Hair pulled back and plated into a simple braid hidden beneath the while cowl of her robes, Inari gazed upon the representatives of ACA from behind her silver mask. Blue eyes drifted from face to face calm, inscrutable. What this day would bring them no one could say and indeed the Reviver held no plan for it other than to let fate unfold as it willed.

"At last," the soft voice of the diminutive Aesir broke the silence, "we meet. I had often wondered when this time would come and with whom..." her eyes drifted to the face of [member="Marek Starchaser"], "it would be."

There was pause that Inari understood to be an indication of addressing just who exactly it was that stood before them. The Confederacy? The Systems Authority? Who were these people and just what did they hope to accomplish on this day?

"Let's not waste time. You have requested our presence here to open a dialogue for...what, exactly, peace? Alliance?"

[member="Cameron Centurion"]
[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Irys Arist'lar]

Irys had been fiddling with the hem of her black and green jacket as the Moross ships had landed. As the Confederacy had becoming the Authority, and then the Corporate Alliance rapidly the uniforms had not kept up. Changing the uniforms of the whole armed forces to a new colour was apparently not a cost-effective exercise and the roll-out would be gradual. And so, she still wore green.

As the Moross delegation approached she took slow breaths and kept her fur still. Unlike most Bothans, who were adept at politicking, Irys was blunt to the point of rudeness. Her lack of tact had undermined her keen intellect on many occasions. She had been told, in no uncertain circumstances, that she was to keep her mouth shut during his meeting.

She knew little of the Moross, only hearsay and military reports, very little of their actual culture. They were not known for having an open nature. The naval officer waited patiently to see what [member="Marek Starchaser"] had to say.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Right, he was looking around to see who was going to be arriving, the players of the ACA. Really, he had to back up the President, and while she was in charge, only a few knew who was making the choices here. Marek looked at the gathered, [member="Irys Arist'lar"] was there, and he gave her a nod before sending a perplexed look over to his Master. What was the famous [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] doing out here? Away from Fringe space?

As [member="Amorella Mae"] spoke, Marek was feeling out numbered. But this was his theater. He wanted to see what the Moross was all about, and see if they could potentially make a cease fire. It would be... tricky, especially if Moross and the Protectorate were working in tandem. Then again, the galaxy was changing, with the Ravens and the Suns going at one another, and the One Sith doing their thing. Offering a hand out to the leader of the Crusade, Marek spoke.

"I was hoping to sit down, discuss where you are looking to see the Crusade go, and what your vision for our region of space is. And see how we can make this dream happen." Clearly, from his side, it was produce, produce, produce, as well as educate and sell, sell a lot of product.

And hopefully no Droid uprisings.

"We have a conference room set aside, catered, if you'd follow me?" He spoke, leading the president of the Abrion Alliance into the building, and awaiting the Crusade at the door.

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

It was as Marek finished his thoughts and motioned toward the building that Ket had to stifle a laugh. The Force be damned, He was a powerhouse with or without it. He had grown sick of these trying times in which they all lived. He had grown sick of living in the shadows. If this was his swansong, so be it. He was done. Absolutely, irrevocably done. He looked to all who made there way here, and tossed the hat off from his head. He let the flames of his own hatred manifest itself and burn away the common man's clothes from his being, revealing a bared upper body, tight leather pants, and leathered boots. Sabers were encased in cortosis gauntlets, and his sapphires eyes burned a hole through all whom felt their heated stare.

"None of you have the slightest inkling of what you are doing, do you? You speak of peace, and alliance, and of better times ahead. Yet none of you have the foresight to see the threat standing in front of you. The One Sith are breathing down your necks, and all you can do is try to ignore it, posturing yourself and holding on to veiled beliefs of false gods and goddesses, of technology which cannot save you. You all make me sick to my stomach. In times past, when those with power knew what to do with it, we acted. Yet you all just stand here, trying in vain to be something you are not. None of you are gods. None of you are truly in charge of anything. You are all pawns in the grand scheme of things. And you shall all die slow and painful deaths while you beg for what you thought was impossible to stop. Where is my brother, [member="Cat Van-Derveld"]? I thought better of him...of his judgement, yet he follows this seemingly false, almost hollow 'religion' of the Moross Crusade. My own apprentice, [member="Marek Starchaser"].....He stands here trying so, so hard to make everyone think he is not the target, yet he controls the A.C.A. with an iron grip..."


As Ket stood there, the FOrce radiated off him like tendrils of fire and lightning, begging to annihilate everything they could touch. The ships and shuttles all had arrived in began to rumble and vibrate, lifting into the air slow as Ket exerted his force over them. Sadly enough, the ancient Sith Lord's power was barely being put to the test as they ships began to implode upon themselves. The metal creaked and hissed as it gave way to his machinations, turning into piles of unusable slag. Any still within them would be crushed, maimed, and killed with haste. Ket was not your normal person anymore. Oh no, he would not be denied this day. For Ket was cold, calculating, and madder than ever before in the 800 plus years of his existence. He knew that the galaxy was screwed as it stood, and all would die sooner or later. Someone had to rise above, someone had to exert their will upon the sheep, and guide them to peace. To prosperity. To a future worth having. And if He had to crack a few hundred thousand eggs to make it happen, he would. As the hunks of metal that once had been ships fell back to the ground like rocks, he looked over to another one of the tech aides that had accompanied the ACA delegation. He spoke to her in low, dulcet tones, his own face contorting into a knowing grin.

This was the beginning.

"Come forth, my dear. Let them see the faces of their future. For fate shall not be denied this day."

And as he said it, the President of the ACA found herself short of breath, clawing at her own neck, trying desperately to breath. Ket used the Force to draw her near, as she floated toward him, kicking and trying to scream. Sadly, not a sound came from her throat. "I am the Alpha, the Omega. I shall lead the ACA to a new age, and I ask that the Moross Crusade join me. The Lords of the Fringe have already sworn fealty to me in one way or another. Join me, or be deconstructed and torn asunder under the might of all that I am, that I control. For I am your new God. I am Ket Van-Derveld, and I shall be the one to lead ALL to the utopia you seek. Fight me if you feel the need, but consign yourselves to the fate you choose if you do so, for none shall stand against me and live to tell the tale."


[member="Ahani Najwa"] | [member="Irys Arist'lar"] | [member="Amorella Mae"] | [member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron remained motionless as [member="Amorella Mae"] arrived. His thoughts, unlike that of her and the servant of Neth she arrived with, were almost completely centered on the individuals present and their location. The exchange between herself and [member="Marek Starchaser"] were initiated in benevolent enough fashion. However, it was the words of the latter that caused Cameron to smile thinly beneath the darkness of his hood.

Before he could really have any further reaction, such as to politely decline the offer to retire to an interior meeting room, things began to happen rather quickly. With so many powerful presences on the planet, it was tragically obvious when anyone began manipulating the Force beyond the level of maintaining an even status-quo. The actions of [member="Ket Van-Derveld"] neither impressed nor were intrinsic enough to spark a flurry of reaction from Cameron. The Aesir had no doubt the same could and would be side of the rest of the Crusaders present.

When the temper tantrum had subsided, the Sith Lord actually laughed heartily from the very core of his soul. As was the case with most things, Cameron's laughter did subside as he raised a simple hand to stem the tide of any follow-on statements...even if only briefly. "No." The one word echoed only throughout the immediate area. There was no augmentation through the Force...in fact it would appear as if the Sith Lord was completely unmoved by all that had just happened. Well...that wasn't an act. He quite literally was unmoved.

Perhaps if the man had elected to present himself with logic and reason, Cameron might have listened. Perhaps if the man hadn't chosen to make some completely unnecessary display of...lack of patience or the capability for analytical thought, Cameron might have at least been...intrigued. Instead, the ACA and their retinue had just displayed a completely complicit nature with what the Aesir could literally only describe as...an idiot. The One Sith...individuals sworn to rid the galaxy of the Jedi Order had no concern for the Moross Crusade or its activities in Wild Space. The statement of them breathing down their necks when they remained half a galaxy away was born out of a complete lack of understanding of simple galactic geography.

The soft beeping of Cameron's communicator pulled the Sith Lord from his thoughts. Placing the device to his ear, he listened to the message before offering the most important words of the day. "That is correct." Stowing the communicator from where it came, the Sith Lord managed a smile at those assembled before them. In a way he felt bad for the obviously misguided man. Shuttles were replaced...easiily....practically a dime a dozen. Why crush two hoping to inspire fear? The Fringe, irrefutably, had no loyalties to this...man. The connection between said organization and the Crusade was strong, incredibly so.

In a matter of minutes, one of the shuttles that had been keeping tabs on the meeting on the ground descended from the heavens and landed just behind the group. The next words he spoke directly to those assembled. "I do believe this meeting has been concluded." Shifting his gaze to Marek, Cameron allowed his smile to dissipate. "We'll be in touch." No sooner had the words touched the air over the sound of idling repulsorlift and sublight engines than Cameron turned and nodded to Inari and [member="Soliael Devin Talith"]'s representative to proceed to the vessel for immediate departure.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

The creature stood in place for a minute, its odd orange eyes following Ket as the man spoke, then Cameron as he spoke. After a moment more it watched as Aatrox the Deciever left, when he did so the creature simply turned and followed.

 

[Ereza]

With nothing further to add, the Reviver did note a silent agreement to the Deceiver's feelings on what had just transpired. The woman afforded [member="Marek Starchaser"] a brief glance of ... something. Pity perhaps? Or maybe disdain. That things had not been allowed to unfold in quite the fashion any of them had expected was but a slight annoyance. That the actions and words of the few, or in this case - one entity - could change the tides of a galactic corporation was and should be worrying to Starchaser. Enough so that the man aught to give greater consideration to whom he associated with.

Unless, of course, he didn't care. His reaction to the death of the purported ACA President would reveal much.

Inari needn't look to Aatrox to know it was time to leave. She felt his intentions quite clearly and responded in kind. A silent farewell nod later and she was boarding the new transport, white and gold robes disappearing through the doorway. Not long before the entire Moross delegation followed suite, lifting from the ground and returning to their ships in orbit. Inari immediately got in touch with Priestess Visl in order to relay this curious new information concerning the Fringe. Soon enough they would know the truth, and they would get it straight from [member="Ashin Varanin"]'s mouth.

 

[Irys Arist'lar]

Irys backed away from the mad man who was busy strangling the president of the ACA. She had thought Marek Starchaser a bumbling beurocrat. Now it seemed he was a Sith Lord of some kind, and that he had brought his master along to threaten the Moross.

Her comm unit was up quickly. "We need air support, and prep some marines, the president is under attack. Not from Moross, let them leave," she ordered.

High above them, several wings launched from the Tambor class destroyer. A Turtle class frigate descended into the atmosphere. Signals would be sent to any remaining Moross ships as they exited the sector that this was an internal security matter.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Marek Starchaser was many things, he was a student, a business executive, a business partner and a wanderer. Right now he was working through an intermediary to run a government. And he was doing his part in trying to hide.

Or he was. Looking at the President, and at [member="Ket Van-Derveld"], as well as [member="Amorella Mae"]. This was unexpected. Ket was a Master of the Sith ways, and a teacher to Marek, but this? Attacking his president? Shooting a quick look at @Irys Arist’lar and giving a nod when he she made the order, it was the appropriate action.

Giving a hard push with the Force at the Master, he watched the Sith. Pulling his slugthrower from his hip, the alchemized one, he leveled it at the Sith Master. “Stand down, Master Van-Derveld. Release the president.” He had his lightsaber on his hip, but Marek was a Zeison Sha, an expert when it came to telekinesis.

All he needed to do was stall him, and get the Moross out of the way.

 

[Anesia Jy'Vun]

This was all just... a tad too... crass.

"Do you have any idea what you have done, Starchaser?" A sound of soft madness crackled over the Corporate communication lines, a voice that had not been heard in quite some time. Assets, regardless of how little or great the value they held were always, definitely watched over. Certain things however, were held with top priority. The two were not meant to be enemies and you don't bring loose cannons to a dinner party.

Silence.

"Your lack of control will not go unnoticed or without penance," she paused, "and all you have built will crumble. You have doomed The Alliance, [member="Marek Starchaser"] and let the power slip right through your fingers."

And the private communication was severed just like that, along with a definite resignation.