Faction The Burden [ TJO, THR, and Other Jedi Welcome ]

[Orihime Ike]

She was listening and raised an eyebrow as Romi Jade spoke about what they needed. Her eyes sought out the woman as she wondered if age had dulled her memory as what she was talking about was in any of the stations she had asked her mother to make for her enclaves. The breakdown of what needed to be made had her mostly making a newer mental note on a checklist. Make new models of latest technologies. The quartermaster of the celestial forge would be annoyed but Krass liked making things and the silver jedi ultimately benefitted from the equipment as they put it into the ever expanding list of temples. "We'll send Jadelight Beacon into Republic space it has a connection to the old academy network, Jorus's library and the echo networks for the archives and training. I'll give my mother the notes of what is needed to be made or funded." She shrugged though with a small smile.

 

[Makko Vyres]

MAKKO

They had talked and talked.

How Cora had the energy to keep up the debate after the amount of sleep they'd had recently was amazing.

Resistance does not mean total war - it can mean small, clandestine operations behind enemy lines. Strike teams designed to chip away at Sith power and sabotage infrastructure.

Intelligence, we need it first and foremost. The want for action is great but we can't operate blind. Infiltration, surveillance... anything to help identify, support our claims, and justify our actions, especially to the Senate to get their full support. I'm not talking heroics, or prolonged engagements.

Romi's voice seemed to cut through the din.

Makko finally stood up.

"I can help," he said. He looked to Ala Quin

"I'll need access to the right Republic resources, but that's not a conversation for now."

He'd suffer no argument on the matter.

He could help with setting up secure communications networks, training Jedi for shadow missions and coordinating efforts.

He wasn't going to say that out loud in front of a big forum and put a target on his back, for the same reason he wasn't going to charge into the front lines himself: Luciana.

 

[Jax Thio]

Location: Shiraya's Sanctuary, Naboo
Equipment: Jedi Robes, Jax's Prosthetic Arm, Jax's Third Lightsaber, Marriage Ring to Jairdain
Tag: Jairdain Ismet-Thio Orihime Ike Connel Vanagor

There were no more words to be said. Connel decided to go out and do his own thing. As much as Jax wanted to convince him to stay, Connel was a grown ass man, and he can make his own decisions. Jair understood it as well as she telepathically asking Connel to come home alive. The Jedi Master gripped Jair's soft hand with his natural trying to keep her emotionally grounded. Jair was always great in controlling her emotions but there were times where cracks can show.

Jax gave a quick kiss to Jair letting go of her hand as she went to continue to speak to the remaining Jedi in the clearing. It didn't take a Force Sensitive to know that talks were tense around the room. Many of the younger Jedi wanted action against the Sith something Jax agreed with. There was no use standing around talking about their problems. That was the NJO's mistake. "I do agree with Master Romi Jade ," Jax spoke up to the gathered Jedi. "We spend time talking trying to hype ourselves up like it's some cliched Holomovie. Meanwhile, the Sith are a well oiled machine taking planets, enslaving entire populations."

The Jedi Master nodded. "We need to take action now," Jax continued. "I fought alongside Master Jonyna Si on the fringes of the Galaxy and saw mass atrocities that were worse than what I witnessed during the Great Hyperspace War Slavery, genocide, all sorts of things that still haunt me even as I speak."

Jax frowned. "I lament on the mistakes of the NJO so that we can learn from it." He spoke. "We need to take risks and that means breaking with Jedi traditions that we've held dear for almost a millennium. In this temple, I've taught Padawans, Jedi Knights and even my 13-year-old daughter: Vaapaad. A style that can break even the most disciplined of Jedi. We can't win against the Sith the traditional way not like the Hyperspace War. We need every advantage. Our younglings need to be bred for combat. We need warriors not diplomats."

He took a deep breath. "Not only I'm willing to impart my knowledge in Lightsaber combat," Jax said. "But we need to form elite strike units similar to to the Revanchists. We take our best Knights and strike at key targets slowing the Sith advance."

Jax knew that his ideas would cause disagreement with Jair as they had many arguments on best to approach the Sith. "We need Jedi out there," Jax said. "To free the slaves and beat the Sith where it hurts. I cannot stress that the Sith will show us no mercy. It's time we take a proactive role. The more we talk, the more the Sith grow stronger."

 

[Colette]

That wasn't a war plan, that was a crisis plan. A very good crisis plan, but still just a plan in the event of a crisis. It was good for that protocol Romi mentioned, but definitely not something that should be implemented as of just yet.

But, at least the meeting moved in a more productive direction. More actions that involved responsibility and more people stepping up. Katarine, Makko, Braze, Orihime, and Jax all spoke up and more were sure to follow.

Colette continued noting down what people were saying but personally she didn't agree that things were quite so dire just yet. Logically, if the Empire did care so much about the Jedi presence in Republic space then they would be all too aware of it by now. She didn't share the enthusiasm that some of the people in this room had to strike back, but then that was probably also why she wasn't much of a real Guardian to begin with.

What she could do however…

"So there's the question if the Jedi Order can even take on these kinds of operations." Colette added to the conversation. "Used to work a lot with the NJO's logistics. I can look into the supply chains to try and find holes to patch up. Maybe see if some of those old contacts the old masters had are still around or not."

 

[Aiden Porte]

Katarine Ryiah Jax Thio Makko Vyres Corazona von Ascania
​

Hearing Makko step forward and offer his assistance brought a smile to his face. It wasn't a complete deal, but it was enough, more than enough. And most of all it was greatly appreciated. And Jax, whom he didn't know very well, that would be something that would have to change in the future.

​

Aiden couldn't help but smile, while past conventions like this have gone astray, this one seemed to be right on track. He would offer what advice he could. He looked to Colette and gave a small smile and nod. "Master Ryiah has offered to travel to these remote enclaves and such. You could assist each other in that aspect."

"Travels to the deep core to rescue civilians and such, has been an ongoing mission for me. We are always stumbling upon Jedi that are out there, looking for that sign and will to hope. Civilians, soldiers, doctors, healers, all that are wanting to flee from Sith oppressions. We continue to go out there and save as many as we can. The Jedi Order's number will grow. Strength in the High Republic will grow."

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Jairdain remained quiet through most of it, listening as voices layered over one another in a rising mix of strategy, urgency, frustration, and resolve. Her hand rested lightly against Jax's arm, a small but steady point of contact she held onto as the room shifted again toward action, the kind of action she had seen enough times to know it always came with a cost.

She listened to Romi's crisis structure, to Katarine's offer, to Makko's precision, to Aiden's steady hope, and to Jax most of all, taking in every word he spoke with the patience of someone who wanted to understand before she dared to respond.

When he finished, she drew a slow breath and stepped forward just enough that her voice would carry without pulling attention away from anyone else.

"Action matters," she said, her tone calm and even, shaped by experience rather than authority. "No one here is pretending otherwise."

Her gaze shifted briefly to Jax, not to challenge him, but to acknowledge the weight behind what he'd said and the weight she felt pressing quietly against her own ribs.

"We have all seen what hesitation costs," she continued, her voice steady despite the memories that flickered behind it. "Slavery. Occupation. Entire worlds learning to whisper instead of speak." She paused, letting the truth settle before adding, "But we have also seen what happens when we turn children into weapons before they ever have the chance to become people."

There was no accusation in her tone, only the quiet conviction of someone who had lived through too many versions of the same mistake.

"Strike teams and intelligence networks and coordinated field efforts… yes, those things have their place, and it would be naïve to pretend otherwise." Her eyes moved across the chamber, taking in each face with a steady, measured calm. "But we cannot lose the part of us that makes any of this worth doing. We cannot forget what separates us from becoming just another force trying to survive by being sharper than everyone else."

As she spoke, she reached for Jax through the Force, the connection steady and intimate, a soft thread of thought woven directly to him.

We will talk about this later. I understand you. But we will talk.

Outwardly, nothing betrayed the exchange.

"I'll support coordinated efforts," she said, her voice returning to the room with quiet certainty. "Training. Communication between enclaves. Intelligence sharing. Humanitarian work. Preparing for the moments we all hope won't come."

Her tone didn't waver.

"We strengthen ourselves without hollowing ourselves out."

She stepped back to Jax's side, her fingers finding his and lacing with them in a gesture that was both grounding and deliberate, a reminder that neither of them was carrying this alone.

"Together," she finished softly, the word carrying more weight than volume. "With clarity. With restraint. And with resolve."

And she did not let go of his hand.