Diplomacy The Crowning Of Ession: AC Capital Change (Bosph to Ession)

[Stilicho Drumarch]

Eina L'lerim-Vandiir | Cedric Grayson | Pietro Demici | Isla Draellix-Kobitana ​

The Vanguard generals sat quietly and reluctantly as the posturing continued. None were willing to leap headlong for the podium aside Stilicho, and even the firebrand among them agreed they would all rather be on the front lines than continue to bear the politics. Not much longer now would they have to endure before that was true.

The Kaiser rested fat on his laurels, and to the vast majority of people (Vanguard included) he appeared without heir. Lack of heir frustrated even the most patient loyalists. What nation was their going to be if not one led by a Grayson? That's all many had known as they followed Cedric from Coruscant to the Outer Rim. He had apparently vanquished the Sith, with no legacy to pass on. It was in those fears that Stilicho saw a great many cracks forming. The Vanguard had supporters of every rank, in every file... but they were disparate. They did not yet possess the strength they sought, nor what they required for lasting change. Grayson knew that as he spoke and his eyes locked with Stilicho, briefly, but long enough to impart a message: The Vanguard would have to make themselves a known factor soon enough, or better to Grayson, to hold their tongues forever.

The Republicans, however, were a warranted bogeyman to the Essonians. Tongues were wagging already. There were open calls across the "Kaiserreich" for reform, with claims backed by everything from the repressive monarchy of the Sith, to the shining examples of democracy on Coruscant (though of course that argument often fell on deaf ears). Even if their logical standing was not excellent, nor their ideology a political tour de force, the will of a great many people stood powerful. Dozens of civilized systems had been freed from the Sith Empire by the Crusade. Some saw the peace and stability of the New Imperial Order across the border and wished for something similar; others saw the same and wished for more liberty, if not autonomy.

That was the divise argument that Stilicho preyed on. What nation was the Kaiser and the Prime-Minister celebrating but one bound together by circumstance. What war had been won but the one people could see? The Vanguardists knew that their conflict was not over.

It was the ascendance of Eina to the podium that filled the assembly with tension, shattering notions of safety and prosperity.

The general to Stilicho's left, the same one as before, leaned to him. "She has said all we can say, has she not?"

Stilicho pondered for a second on her words.

"Aye. Though she is not one of us." Stilicho whispered sternly.

"Geiseric was one of us. I suspect he's imparted his wisdom on her."

"Once upon a time, he was. I don't recall him sinking into politics before Tython, thank Ashla. As for his wife, her loyalties lie with the Eternal Empire."

"Who have been valued allies to us."

"In time that might change. I've seen change enough in my life to sense such things. The New Empire and the Alliance have already proven that are our galactic-political realities are not what we believed. If we somehow defeat the Sith and their hordes, we'd just as soon make enemies of each other."

"Your pessimism is unbecoming of you, general. Where is your hope?"

"There is no hope, there is struggle. There is only struggle until we are one with the force."

 

[Khione]

Location: an unassuming world
Tags: OPEN

Equipment:
Piloting - Torr'Chir
Eyes of Khoine
Pulsiva flight suit
2x Cartridge Revolvers
Retractable Neural Stinger

Accompanied by five squadrons of eight Chir'Shada Starfighters
Single Path Engine equipped light cruiser of the Emerald Nebula

Squadron quipped with a mixture of proton torpedoes, disruptor torpedoes and Witchfire Missiles

Travelling at close to the speed of light and with disportiantely large energy plumes from their jumpmaster drives, the Chir'shadda would have looked like projectiles fired from the nearby asteroid field, but Khione and her kin approached too fast for the Ashlans to react. They decelerated at the last possible moment and immediately launched volleys of proton and disruptor missiles, followed up by rapid fire cannons at the ends of their rotating s-foils. The Ashlan Pegasus interceptors would need to fly to withing the point defence bubble of their own ships to have even a chance of hunting them down.

Khione's own hyperdrive alerted her that the interdiction mines were active even as the lead vessel turned its laser cannons on the problematic devices. The first rearmost vessel was hit hardest as the first volley arrived before active defences could be engaged. Fireballs and arcs of ionic energy blossomed making it impossible to make out the rear mosey structures before clearing to show the shattered after section of the vessel as it drifted through space now on its momentum alone. In the vacuum of space this would not normally slow the ship, but khione wanted the ships out of formation. <<Verlig hul boeg, twee missiele!>> she called into her comm, causing two of her wingman launch the powerful witchfire missiles. They would do little damage to the still shielded prow, but the intense heat of the burning witchfire would cause a braking force and slow the ship down relative to its allies. The licks of the wicked green flame made Khione grin as she watched them burn.

The Palliduvan marauder only had a short few seconds to savour the spectacle as she hurtled towards the rear of the next transport, but this time the ship would be much more prickly with the defenders now fully aware of their presence and the Ashlan fighters swinging in to dogfight.

 

[Pietro Demici]

Tags: Cedric Grayson , Emiery Athelon, Isla Draellix-Kobitana , Eina L'lerim-Vandiir , Solan Halcyon , Marcella Fiora

The hall hushed as the Kaiser entered the room, with all eyes falling upon the visage of Lord Grayson. His strength, while wilted, was ever-apparent, even beneath the veil of time and struggle that had hung over him like a heavy boulder. Pietro had always respected the man, even in the moments where there ideas may have clashed. He was a paragon of Ashlan excellence, and as such, the Cardinal simply replied to his compliment with a deep bow. The Kaiser's words had been equally strong, and he kept his speech quite short. It was all that had to be said, in Pietro's eyes. He did not expect the same lengthy rhetoric that he himself was known for. Cedric was always meant to be the figurehead, leading the charge upon the front lines while the Cardinal did the same on the home front. As the Kaiser finished speaking, the Cardinal began to clap, an action quickly echoed by many within the room.

Next was the Prime Minister, who spoke of the people and their role within the Crusade. Pietro was inclined to agree, for they were a nation of faith, and through that united faith, they had overcome incredible trials through the years. Yet, there was that slightest whisper, pulling at the back of his mind, asking him if Isla had perhaps grown too accustomed to the ways of her beloved Tiresh and the Alliance. Perhaps... perhaps not. Either way, it was something the Cardinal would address in due time, away from the prying eyes of the chamber.

As the Prime Minister concluded her own speech, the ever-radiant Eina stepped forth, making her presence known to the chamber with a fiery outburst of her own. Pietro had heard the news of the Empress not long after the incident, though he had remained largely silent on the matter... until now. He stepped forth, looking toward Eina with a reassuring smile as he acknowledged her concerns.

"Lady Eina speaks the truth. Though we have been allowed the blessing of victory within recent months, there are still a great many threats in the greater galaxy. Our enemies are at the doors of the Eternal Empire, and we can not stand by and allow them free reign to attack our ally."

His attention turned toward the rest of the room, his posture taking on all of the holy countenance of his office as his voice grew in volume.

"We have reclaimed the Holy Land, and that is cause for celebration, yet this is precisely the stagnation I speak of. We have secured our own borders, but our work is far from done. We cannot let our success turn into failure by complacency. We must not!"

Several among the crowd, mostly those among the clergy and the Purists, began to cheer once again, though their response was quickly quieted by the Cardinal.

"If we are to call ourselves the bearers of Ashla's Light, then we must redouble our efforts to see the Bogan burn within that same Light! I for one will not sit idly and allow such atrocities to continue. I have spoken to Magister Kaarz, and preparations to deploy are already in the works."

That last part might have come as a shock to many in the room, as Pietro had not discussed the matter with the rest of Ashlan High Command. A bold move, on the Cardinal's part, but one that he had deemed necessary some time ago. The Papacy had grown in power, in recent years, and Pietro was willing to take full advantage of that in order to fulfill Ashla's will.

"The Crusade must continue, and the denizens of the Bogan must pay for their crimes... ASHLA WILLS IT!"

The crowd echoed his final words as cries of 'Ashla wills it' carried across the great hall of the Jedi Temple. Pietro smiled, his eyes turning back toward Eina as he sent a message only meant for her...

Fear not, Eina... the Crusade is with you.

 

[Cedric Grayson]

(Phone post)

It was an overstepping of bounds.

Cedric watched from his place amidst the masses as Isla, Eina, and Pietro made their thoughts known. Heartfelt words from each of them; words that pulled in opposite directions. The rhetoric dragged from one end of the spectrum to the other, jumping between talk of congratulations and peace, toward the fire of warhawks.

Appeals to the people. Appeals to another crusade. Cedric's stomach turned with unease, no doubt in part to the rum lining his gut.

Isla's praising of the folk was understandable and admirable, though the way it was given sent something of a message. A reminder toward the more militant minded elements of the Crusade, vanguardists and nationalists alike that their purpose was beyond that of a simple war machine. Something of a challenge. Another raising of inter-party tensions.

Then came Eina. Poor girl had been through too much; the wounds of inflicted on her were still fresh. She was a hurting thing, and Cedric allowed her some private mercy for such, though he still found himself wholly displeased with her rhetoric. The Crusade could not sustain itself on war forever, the the Sith worlds were well within their hands. Their old enemies would rise again, as they always did, and once again the Crusade would snuff them out. To do that, they needed consolidation, permanence, two things unachievable if the war footing continued. At one point or another the neglected worlds liberated by the Crusade would fall into darkness once again should they be left to their own devices. Not to mention the generation sitting in seats of power had lived their youth fighting the Sith, and many were tired just as Cedric was. Had they not earned a bit of rest?

The Kaiser pinched the bridge of his nose as the eternal empress removed herself from the podium. Hoots and hollers echoed about the room, some in protest, others in full support. A characterization of the growing division within his Kaiserreich.

And then the cardinal spoke. Complacency, stagnation, war. Never before had Cedric so fervently found himself in disagreement with the cardinal. Never before had his friend usurped him so brazenly. A military action was called for, confirmation given, the crowd riled up with the promise of blood. More war. More conflict. Consolidation? An afterthought.

A quiet fury built within the Kaiser. It was a foreign thing, a sinking sensation in the gut, a freezing of the blood. Outrage intermingled with caution and, for a moment, Cedric was frozen with indecision. The crowd roared around him, some of the Ashlan Knights raised their blades in salute. He brushed his hand along the Blade of Ruusan, hoping the ashlan nexus might bring him some calm, but it's effect lingered on the edges of his perception. The sinking of his heart could not be swayed.

A decision presented itself before him. Take things as they are, have a private word with Pietro, and let this continue as it was. Let a mission against a foreign power carry on unapproved, his authority flouted, a future wholly in the hands of the church. Accept that was the way of things, retire to his research, and let his position fade into a ceremonial role, that was the easy path.

The other was extremely unpleasant, but if things continued as they were, his authority would erode away. If the church was willing to announce combative operations for the Crusade without even informing him, they thought themselves able to do anything. If the Kaiserreich was to survive as he'd envisioned it, action needed to be taken, a rebuke given.

The Ashlan Kaiser approached from his place in the crowd. His expression was that of stone, but his eyes told well enough of what he was feeling. He affixed Pietro with a thunderous glare, a storm behind Cedric's eyes as he ascended the podium alongside his friend. The good cardinal was only an inch or so shorter than Cedric, and he Kaiser stood in silence, staring him down as if he had ten feet on Pietro.

"You would launch an operation involving a foreign power under name of the Crusade without even notifying me first?" He hissed, his voice low enough that only Pietro could hear. "Perhaps I've allowed you too much autonomy." There was a subtle threat to those words, a reminding of station that brooked no argument. "You are the voice of the goddess, Pietro, but you are not the Kaiser."

The Kaiser turned toward the podium microphone.

"Are we only capable of killing?" He asked the people. The lingering cheers vanished as he breathed life to the question. "Is this who we are? Carry on from one war to the next, damn all that we leave behind. If we cannot take the time to build and forge a new society for the worlds we've liberated, all our work is pointless."

He was met with confusion. Some noises of derision, and perhaps one or two cheers. "The eternal empire requires our aid," his gaze drifted to Eina, then to Pietro, "It shall have it, but this desire for conflict must come to an end. The war is eternal, but we are woefully mortal. I will not send Ashlan boys and girls to die for a foreign power. Volunteers to deal with the conflict will be permitted, no more, no less."

He understood the situation, the need for action. That being said, he was not going to sanction an official expedition. Not until it was properly discussed among the House of Lords and the various ministries, and he certainly had no desire to call another Crusade in the Kaiserreich's current state. That Pietro had promised as much required his support to a certain degree lest the government look weak, despite how displeased Cedric was with the entire affair.

"Volunteers may make themselves known to the church. I'll hear no further calls for war today, lest you wish to ponder such opinions from the inside of a drunk tank." He spoke with absolute authority. He'd grown older, more tired, but the fire still burned beneath his exhausted exterior.

He turned toward Pietro as he moved to leave the podium, "I need a word with you."


Pietro Demici , Eina L'lerim-Vandiir , Isla Draellix-Kobitana , Emiery Athelon, Solan Halcyon , Marcella Fiora

 

[Isla Draellix-Kobitana]

Location: Conference Chamber
Objective: Discuss the future
Tags: Pietro Demici Lothaire Eina L'lerim-Vandiir Emiery Athelon Marcella Fiora Solan Halcyon

Spoiler: Isla's Personal Gear

Admiral's Sabre
Ashlan Rosary
Kaldrweave military uniform
Personal guard of Ashlan Praetorian droids
Overseer Biochip OPBC-01a
Diamond snowflake necklade

Personal Diplomatic Transport -
Bucephalus Class Fast Diplomat

Wearing: this and this made of Kaldrweave

The speeches continued, Isla was moved by that of Eina L'lerim-Vandiir , she agreed with her in that all the back slapping was premature when the war was never over, but would it ever truly be? Maybe it was the difference in perspective from mortals, they had a limited time in this , maybe forty to fifty years in which they could make an active difference, they needed to celebrate their successes when they could.

Pietro Demici speech was as expected, firey, determined and clear in its intent, she smiled. She knew there was plans in the works for an offensive into the Maw, it would be difficult to move the Magister's forces without the fleet after all.

The reaction that shocked her was that if Cedric Grayson she had never seen this reaction in him? The outburst towards the Cardinal, it was interesting, she didnt think the Kaiser was capable of fear, but there it was, plain for everyone to see, the fear of losing his grip on the Kaisereich. He had been absent too long and the nation had grown and was strong. This was no new declaration of war, the Crusade were already at war with the Mawites, they had attacked, killing thousands on Odessen, they had killed millions of Ashlans and their allies at Tython, then again on Panatha? Was he really suggesting that he would not sanction a counter offensive against them? The volunteer only compromise only served to isolate his position further. Isla truly believed in her solidery and knew they would volunteer to walk into hell itself if it meant they could take the battle to the Mawites. The lack of support from the Kaiser was a political misstep, it was as if he was inviting a coup. Isla turned and glanced at Pietro and gave the most subtle expression to him, there were few people who knew her like he did.

She sent a mental command, <<SAINT, please compile list of Ashlan and allied casualty figures directly and indirectly attributed to Mawite activities. Please also make available the report on the scars of Tython phenomena and send all information securely to Pietro Demici as a high priority.>> a little reading material for the Cardinal should he desire it. The AI aknowledged her request and carried it out.

Isla stepped forward to speak aloud again. "I am glad to see how much fire there is in this chamber to continue the fight, rest assured Lady Eina, I for one do not consider the fight over. Thank you my Kaiser for speaking on this matter, I will ensure our ongoing conflict with the Brotherhood of the Maw is conducted as you wish. I am confident there will be no shortage of volunteers." she had little more to add at this point so stepped away to allow the topic to move on.

​

​

 

[Heinrich Faust]

Heinrich Faust: Grand Marshal of the Ashlan Crusade

Tags: Oraada Laabre , Emiery Athelon, Lothaire

Heinrich's attention was quickly drawn to the presence of Lothaire, the young upstart that had sought to make his own claim known. Heinrich did not fault him, for how could one deny their connection to the great Kaiser? Nevertheless, he approached him as he would any soldier, with a stern indifference.

"Nëmme wann Ashla et erlaabt, mäi Prënz"

Admittedly, it was a statement that caught him off guard. The topic had come up, of course, yet him and Oraada had chosen to hold it off until an appropriate moment. Heinrich had wished for it more than anything, yet the weight of his station forced him to wait. Nevertheless, though the prince may have spoken out of turn, he was not wrong.

His attention turned once again to the Cardinal, as fiery as ever before. The only difference was the strong, yet subtle glance he offered Eina, a small recognition that he would stand by her side in all matters, both within and without.

"Rhetoric was always our time, Emiery. At least, since our dear Kaiser had invited it into his home."

He was sure that Lothaire heard the words, yet he did not care. Heinrich's distaste for the Papacy had grown tremendously in recent months. His pure Essonian blood felt a bit uncomfortable seeing a Serrenoan in such undisputed power... even beyond that of he Kaiser...

Yet, he would strive to keep his true thoughts to himself...

 

[Cord Starfall]

Jolly Roger Crew For Life! Yo Ho Yo Ho!​

Location: Some backwater Ashlan World
Tags: Khione

Spoiler: Fleet

x1 Jolly Roger ii
x5 CR-12 corvette
x70 (5 Squadrons) Liberator-class starfighter
x15 (1 squadron) D-Wing Space Superiority Fighter

---

The small fleet of ships pulled out of hyperspace, the ships were devoid of any markings even the pirate insignia they normally carried had been scrubbed from the hulls. Aboard the Jolly Roger ii amber eyes looked up at the screen. One possibly two more jumps and they would be at there destination. Those eyes then looked to the time on another screen they would make it in time for the grand night festivities. The Men and Women of Jolly Roger Inc would be pleased by that Cord thought to herself never wanting to miss a grand old party. Fitz her helmsman then turned to her with a wry smile on his face.

"You look very uncomfortable captain." He said Cord knowing exactly what he was referring to she was dressed in simple leathers and her usual green long coat with a hood. Absent was her armor, mask, and swords. She gave him a slight smile back as her eyes once more went back to the clock. She was also heavily hiding her force presences in that moment which was taking up a lot of her concentration and she could feel the rage monster inside pulling at it's chains trying to free itself think this was a moment of weakness which it was not.

"Yeah, I hardly remember how to walk outside of my armor." She joked letting out a small laugh as she spoke her words. "But I would rather not get us killed by wearing it, Ashlan space is notorious for killing anything it deems heretical or Sith like. My armor is like lighting a enormous beacon saying come burn us at the stake."

"Then why the hell are we even here?" Fitz said his smile turning to a questioning look.

"I want to see this rebuilt Temple." Cord said honestly, she had no other motive she just wanted to sight see do something adventurous again in her very long life.

"Yeh but you haven't been a jedi…" Well hell he didn't know how long it had been, it was well before he was born, and Cord still looked like she was maybe in her late thirties at best. Fitz couldn't believe how she actual was when she told him, Cord was always open honest with the people that worked for her. "So why do you even care about some zealot's rebuilding a Jedi Temple?" Other then her little stint as a Marshall of Confederacy Cord normally kept herself and the crew out of galactic mumbo jumbo and stirred clear of especially of the various space wizarding groups.

"Nostalgia, perhaps it's my old age and wanting to cling to something of younger days. Enough that though prepare for our next jump I want us there by the time the nighttime festivities start our crew deserve a break." Yet before she could make sure everyone heard her orders Fitz who heard her first was preparing when he suddenly stopped.

"There is small battle going on just at the edge of our sensors." He turned to comms who was listen to chatter on various comm frequencies. They came back with some unknown force was confronting Ashlan forces. Fitz just shook his head it was none of there business and started preparing for their next jump, but Cord stopped him. "Hold that order." Something seemed off the former Jedi master felt something an ebb in the force itself. Behind the contacts that made her eyes look amber the orange orbs that were her real eyes flashed causing her amber contacts to sparkle.

"It's none of our business." Fitz proclaimed though he knew it was futile once Cord saw the fight, he kind of figured they were damned to conflict. Good pirate though her morality was her downfall always heading into war headfirst to help those in need. "They have their own defense fleet; they don't need us." Fitz pleaded with her, but she wasn't listening.

"Full Speed ahead mateys, call on the rest of the fleet to prepare fighters." She started barking orders like a real captain. "Men to their weapons stations." She then turned to comms. "Tell Dax to stop playing video games and get his arse on hacking and jamming the enemy groups comms." The comms nodded and moved to spreading all the information among the fleet and to send a message to Dax to get his butt to work. Cord's eyes looked head on to where the fleet was now heading. They were definitely going to be late now and she all of sudden felt really naked with out her armor and weapons.

 

[Lothaire]

Tags: Oraada Laabre , Emiery Athelon, Heinrich Faust


"I have heard of you Master Athelon," Lothaire cracked a grin that was bordering on friendly. His gaze darted from the woman to her two companions, then back to her own. "Stuck with the old man since he was my age too. Mentioned you in his writings, once or twice," Lothaire explained. The writings were all he really knew of his father beyond the Kaiser's public appearances. Hadn't been much time to talk in the better part of twenty years, it seemed.

"I know the homeworld was razed by the Sith," Lothaire began, "I know my father was... distraught about the entire affair. When his efforts in the core fell, he set his sights home once again. The Ashla gained many followers during his governance of Coruscant,, and they utilized their resources to forge the beginnings of the Crusade." The youth paused, "So I'd say the founding principle was the desire to return home for the Essonians, and to see the holy land for the faithful. Things are a bit more complicated these days."

As if to punctuate his point, Eina L'lerim-Vandiir made her grievances quite known. The good cardinal Pietro Demici quickly swept in to reinforce the girl's rhetoric. The youth lofted a brow, curiosity getting the better of him as his father approached the podium. The Kaiser wore a mask of stone, but Lothaire could see the fury and righteous indignation in his eyes as the old man passed. Words were whispered between the two patriarchs, and then Cedric asked his question.

Seemed his father was losing his edge.

"Keep showing them your neck old man. Maybe you'll get lucky, and they'll leave you with your head when they tear out your throat." Lothaire whispered, just barely loud enough for those around him to hear.

His curiosity shifted then, from his father and the cardinal, to Heinrich Faust . "When one has demagogues the rhetoric shall flow," Lothaire plainly pointed a finger in the cardinal's direction. "Something tells me our good Kaiser was not aware of this little operation the Cardinal has planned. Pietro may have overplayed his hand. Maybe seeing just how powerful the church has grown firsthand will stir the Kaiser from his private distractions"

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Lady Eina L'lerim-Vandiir
The Light of Ashla
Champion and Avatar of Ashla || Empress Regent of the Eternal Empire​

Objective: Discuss the Future.
Location: Temple, Ession
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (swords) | Ljósspjót (spear) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m || Current appearance
Writing With: Isla Draellix-Kobitana | Pietro Demici | Cedric Grayson | Stilicho Drumarch | Open

[ Valkyrjan ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Eina still wasn't a politician and didn't really ask for help, she wanted to point out that the behaviour was wrong for those who were Ashla's followers. She wasn't really sure if those were her own words or Ashla's. Sometimes it happened that she spoke the Oversoul's will or thoughts and only after she realised that those were not her own words and thoughts, that she spoke them. But after all, that's why Avatar existed, to convey these thoughts sometimes.

As a matter of fact, the former Valkyrja didn't even think about asking for help in freeing her mother. When she searched for Geiseric after the events in Korriban, she didn't ask for help either. True, most people thought the woman's future husband was dead. She wouldn't want others to risk their lives now either. There will be people in the Eternal Realm who volunteer or who are just doing their duties, and she can't deny them by refusing to ask for help. But she would not have felt it right to involve foreign powers in it. Not even if they were allies; and they were allies, indeed.

She was surprised by Uncle Pietro's passion, the way he spoke about what was right and what should be. When she received the telepathic message, she looked at the cardinal for a moment and responded in the same manner as she received the message.

~ Thank you very much, but it's not necessary, I can't expect anyone to help, and I know mother wouldn't either. ~ she told him.

However, the emperor's words surprised her, especially the part where she mentioned the volunteers. She saw and sensed the anger in the Emperor, but she didn't understand why. This was not what the two states agreed upon. Even she knew that. This was not the case when the war against the Maw was discussed and the treaty was made. Especially since the Eternal Empire didn't just send volunteers either to help the Crusade. It was something like a betrayal, a let-down.

["I'm not asking for help freeing the Eternal Empress, if that's what you mean, Lord Grayson. However, am I to take your words to mean that the Ashlan Crusade will break the full military and diplomatic alliance and contract with the Eternal Empire? Until now, the Eternal Empire has sent its units here and helped you reclaim and cleanse the Sith space, as promised by my mother and stated in the contract. The same is true for the Ashlan Crusade, that together with the Empire led by Lord Barran, they maintain the Odessen base, which both factions have fought a lot for. Am I to take your words to mean that the Ashlan Crusade is left alone the Empire and the Eternal Empire on the front line and no longer wishes to fulfil its obligations and what was promised there as stated in the contract?"] she asked him.

Although the man's words hinted at this from her point of view, although there might have been some hidden things in it that she didn't understand, so it was better to ask them. The girl, after her words, didn't speak anymore, she just looked at Isla for a moment when she was also talking about volunteers. She knew that all members of the Sisterhood would volunteer, since they were the ones who looked up to Eina as a mascot, but the word volunteer was still there, and as a warlord, Eina understood exactly that the Kaiser and thus probably the entire Crusade no longer wanted to go to war and they will probably leave the common battlefield there…

… after taking advantage of someone for their own purposes. How much better was this than Bogan's path? Eina knew the answer was nothing.

 

[Marcella Fiora]

S I S T E R⠀ M A R I A N A
OBJECTIVE: Attend the Meeting; Mingle
TAGS: Pietro Demici , Solan Halcyon & Open!

'Redemption'​

"Ah, a pleasure, Ms. Tari," she grinned jovially as she kept an ear out on the happenings on the centre stage. "I'm fine, thank you~ though they seem to be having an interesting time.." she nodded to the figureheads in view, "makes you happy not to be in the spotlight, I suppose.."

"Say, what does your title mean, 'Squire?'" quizzed Sister Mariana, half-facing those in the centre of the hall, specifically eyeing Pietro Demici out of sheer curiosity as to what was follow, "oh my, it's getting heated.. what do you think?" she noted, curious as to the opinion of the stranger she stood beside.

 

[Inkara Liet]

SEARING LIGHT OF ESSION
THE HOLY JURY OF ASHLA
CROWN DISTRICT - ESSION
Vaxis

The night was lit up with celebration in communities across the city-planet, but nowhere was more alive than the Crown District, where much of the business of the Crusade would be conducted, now that the holy land was the capital of the Kaiserreich. Such business was in progress at this very moment within the Grand Jedi Temple, whose spires rose up higher than anything else in the area, backlit by the rising moon.

She observed the rebuilt edifice from a distance, through a window, wondering if it was the same inside as she remembered from before... everything. She would have to visit, before duty pulled her away from Ession again. Ession didn’t quite feel like home, not like it was when she was a child before the Sith destroyed everything and almost everyone she had known and loved.

Everyone except her only sibling, and they hardly spoke. Hadn’t in… well, she couldn’t put a finger on how long it had been, exactly, and that had everything to do with why she drank here of all places when she hardly imbibed anywhere else. Here where charred memories scratched at her consciousness, despite the fount of Ashla that permeated the land.

She was clothed in simple casual garb - a blouse and trousers - with the strap of her bag slung across her chest, while she nursed a drink at a small tavern, waiting for her most frequent companion and only true friend, Vaxis. It would take time, but tonight she would try to come to terms with… if not make her peace with certain parts of her life, or at the very least start the process. Talk about it. As she finished off her only glass so far of a moderately potent liquor, she spied the Nagai weaving through people, smiled, and motioned for a refill.

Liquid courage, right?

 

[Pietro Demici]

Tags: Cedric Grayson , Emiery Athelon, Isla Draellix-Kobitana , Eina L'lerim-Vandiir , Solan Halcyon , Marcella Fiora

An overstepping of bounds, yes, it may have been, yet the Cardinal was all too aware of the Kaiser's absence in recent months. Though Pietro knew well of the Kaiser's growing malaise in terms of the crusade, he still held a level of respect for the office, and for the man that yet currently held it.

He allowed himself to be pulled aside by the Kaiser, his flowing crimson robes following him as he made his way to Cedric's side.

"My Kaiser...."

The words were softly spoken, yet with the usual assertiveness common to one of Pietro's station. He respected the office, yet, at the end of the day, the only authority he responded to was that of the Ashla.

"I understand your concern, but we can not allow this to continue. Our enemies are at the very doors of those we would call our allies. Would you have us remain complacent?"

It took everything he had to not bring the words to the gathering as a whole.

"We have the Holy Land, but is our work truly done? If you say yes... then I must question your resolve, my Kaiser."

It might have been a bold statement, should it have come from anyone other than the Cardinal. Yet, their dynamic had always been set in stone. The Kaiser was meant to be the very beacon of Ashla's Light, and should he ever falter, the Papacy was there to pick up the slack.

His mind drifted back to his dear Eina... his thoughts floating through the empyrean as gently as a summer breeze.

We will be with you, Eina... no matter what the Kaiser says...

 

[Emiery Grayson]

THE NETHER KNIGHT
THE ORDER OF ASHLAN KNIGHTS
GRAND JEDI TEMPLE - ESSION
Heinrich Faust | Oraada Laabre | Lothaire

It was news to her that Cedric had included her in his writings, but it was no real surprise - she didn’t need to read his writings to know the man. it would be much stranger if her existence in his life for all these years had been omitted entirely, especially given that she was a key part of the implementation of his vision. She found Lothaire's answer to her query to be correct, but that was only part of the whole.

"Things are a bit more complicated these days."

“Complicated is one word for it,” she replied, but that was the extent of it, any further response of hers being cut off as others approached the podium to speak. The Prime Minister gave praise to the people, which was worthwhile and just, and The Avatar of Ashla - now-Empress of the Eternal Empire - gave an emotional address, while the Cardinal briskly followed that up, reinforcing what Eina put forth… then revealed the move he had made, which brought a mild frown to her face and drew her gaze to the Kaiser, who no doubt would not take this well.

[ This is not good… ] she thought. If she didn’t know about this until now, then certainly he did not either. Though she could not hear Cedric’s words as he turned his gaze to the Cardinal on his approach to the podium, she knew that look. One more reason for her to not trust the holy man… as if she didn’t already have reason enough. This was what Cedric's absence had caused. Then he addressed the gathered once again. She couldn't disagree with his stance, and even understood what went into it... even if many didn't.

"Keep showing them your neck old man. Maybe you'll get lucky, and they'll leave you with your head when they tear out your throat."

She unloaded a quiet sigh, both at this turn of events, and the utterance that followed. It wasn’t the first time she had heard the man she loved badmouthed, and she was certain it wouldn’t be the last; there would always be those dissatisfied or hostile regardless of the governing body of any society, but Lothaire’s particular distaste was unique to him. It was personal.

"Rhetoric was always our time, Emiery. At least, since our dear Kaiser had invited it into his home."

Heinrich was right. There was never any time without such rhetoric, and at the very least, this eventual response to her somewhat rhetorical question softened her expression as she turned her attention back to the people around her, when the young Grayson spoke again.

“I can confirm that the Kaiser had no advance knowledge of the Cardinal’s intentions,” she replied with a mild smile, “as I did not either.” By the Force, the Cardinal was a snake. She flicked a brief-yet-curious glance to the Grand Marshal, wondering if he knew anything himself, then turned her sapphire gaze back to the young man, “But it is possible the Cardinal was only acting in accordance with the principles of the Crusade,” even if he had gone about it the wrong way, she could give him the benefit of doubt, because she wasn't unreasonable, “and the terms of our alliances, of course. To return home was not the sole founding principle,” she informed. “Our very oaths were a reflection of the principles the Crusade was founded upon, and they included the utter, unconditional eradication of the Sith.”

Her smile evaporated, and she folded her arms over her chest. Yes, this was the oath of those few that were there from the beginning, though her own personal oaths did reach further than the matter on which she spoke.

“Not just the clearing of their traditional lands, Lieutenant, and not merely every practitioner,” she said flatly, fervently, “but their culture and every record that uplifts their doctrines, their ways, their history and practices. They are to no longer exist, in any sense of the word. That is also the Crusade, as much as our society is,” she sucked in a deep breath, and her eyes slipped shut briefly; breathing out in a sigh, she then looked at him again, “and it is a work that encompasses more than one lifetime. Quite possibly eternal, as the Kaiser has said."

And it took actions that most denizens of the Light were unwilling to, or afraid to take. Her own specific oaths also dealt with the foreseeable consequences of doing what was necessary, and involved the defense of their very way of life. Her way of life.

“To do that work is to knock on death’s door, willingly, as many of us have. I’m interested in knowing whether you, young Grayson, would volunteer to walk that path, fighting for a people and a land that are not your own, as I once did,” a faint smile grew on her lips, once again, “and I would be interested to see how you progress."

 

[Heinrich Faust]

Heinrich Faust: Grand Marshal of the Ashlan Crusade

Tags: Oraada Laabre , Emiery Athelon, Lothaire

Heinrich opted to keep many of his more... choice opinions to himself, opting to instead focus on the heir-apparent before him. He nodded in acknowledgement to the mention of Ession.

"It wasn't only your father who felt the sting. Many Essonians, myself included, bled in defense of our world in those moments. Even though I was but a young man... I remember it all too well."

And remember it, he did. The fiery plasma raining from the sky in a gloriously unholy display of power. The screams of thousands being culled by the vicious hand of the Sith. One such as Lothaire might not understand the displacement of their people, but at least, Heinrich could feel some semblance of vindication through Emiery's presence. Yet, even then, there were matters to discuss... matters that might determine the very fate of the Crusade.

"The Cardinal doesn't say anything without careful planning. Though he believes what he says to be the word of Ashla... well..."

Heinrich dipped into a severe introspection for a moment.

"His word is what we have... It is by his word that the crusade is driven."

He hated to admit it... even to the point of choking on the words as they escaped from his mouth.

"Your father isn't the man he once was, Lothaire... and it is up to us to insure that his will remains to be seen... no matter what the Cardinal says..."

He did not want war. Though the Grand Marshal knew that their work was far from done, he could not bring himself to force the Kaiser to fight anymore. The man had been through so, so terribly much. It was time for him to rest...

 

[Vaxis]

Tags: Inkara Liet

Ession... the holiest of lands to those among the Crusade. A planet that Vaxis had little connection to, though, he did feel some semblance of accomplishment walking the streets of the crowded city. The retaking of Ession was among the most chief of failures of the Sith, and as such, was a symbol of the Crusade's triumphs. He may not have been the most devoted to the State, but his faith to the cause was as resolute as ever. As such, he allowed himself the simple pleasures of victory. After all, why should he not? He had bled for this crusade more times than he could count. He had even brought in heretical Jurors to justice... amongst their peers... amongst the purifying light of Ashla.

The sprawling ecumenopolis of Ession felt wholly alien to the Nagai. Perhaps he had grown too used to operating on the peripheries of Ashlan society. Nevertheless, he understood the importance of this day, and he would do his best to partake in the festivities.

He spied a local tavern, one that didn't call to the greater image of the Crusade. It was in such taverns that he had found many a quarry, and in those hunts, it was in such places that he had made his home. Places away from the prying eyes of the Papacy, though upon the holy ground of Ession, such liberties were likely to be quite lessened.

He pushed his way through the crowd, each individual praising and rejoicing in their own way, yet the Dark Sentencer paid little mind. He felt a very familiar energy within the empyrean, and he followed it into the small, dinky tavern. A place fit for his former student. Small, out of place, yet lively enough to lead to a potentially good night. As he stepped through the doors, his eyes met those of his former student, his voice cutting through the air like a fine knife.

"Room for one more, Kara?"

 

[Khione]

Location: an unassuming world
Tags: Cord Starfall

Equipment:
Piloting - Torr'Chir
Eyes of Khoine
Pulsiva flight suit
2x Cartridge Revolvers
Retractable Neural Stinger

Accompanied by five squadrons of eight Chir'Shada Starfighters
Single Path Engine equipped light cruiser of the Emerald Nebula

Squadron quipped with a mixture of proton torpedoes, disruptor torpedoes and Witchfire Missiles

An Ashlan starfighter swung around in front of Khione and opened fire on her, but her phase-masque made her almost impossible to track for most pilots and she grinned as she corkscrewed around his heavy laser bolts before opening with her disruptor cannons. Her rapid fire weapons blasted into the ship, initially deflected by its shields but then burning deep into its starboard wing, disabling it. As she flashed passed the ailing fighter she saw her wingmate score the killing blow and send the pilots to meet their goddess. She had overshot the Ashlan transport ship now so flipped her ship over on itself until it was flying backwards under its own momentum. It gave her another few moments to observe the battlefield before she re-engaged her engines and reversed her ship's velocity. She could see the distinctive coruscating magenta beams from own fighters criss crossing with the more traditional laser beams coming from both the starfighters and the defending ships. The second transport had clearly taken damage and gone into a slow roll as it travelled through space. This was a good and bad thing, it made a consistent defence hard, but also made her trickier to board.

The three Ashlan whales had been separated and the lead ship was burning hard away from the attackers, haven given up trying to eliminate the interdiction mines and trying to put distance between it and the swarm of deadly fighters. The two damaged opponents were now ready for the taking, the crew of the rearmost ship having chosen to surrender rather than suffer the fear of being burned in Emerald fire.

<<Vyande meestal geneutraliseer, gereed vir hersteloperasies.>> she called into her comm and a few minutes later her team was joined by another vessel. If you looked past all the modifications to the outer hull, plasma cutters, crane arms, additional cargo pods, you might be able to tell it was once an Arquitens Light cruiser. But now, hundreds of years later its was a salvage vessel, used by the marauders to capture the spoils of their lightning assaults. It appeared out of the path and began its approach, several shuttles of Nebula marines were ready to launch and carry out boarding actions.

 

[Inkara Liet]

SEARING LIGHT OF ESSION
THE HOLY JURY OF ASHLA
CROWN DISTRICT - ESSION
Vaxis

Her eyes tracked from the window, both seeing and feeling his approach, and she looked towards the entrance just as he emerged through the threshold and spoke, and just as that second glass of local liquor was set in front of her. Inkara gestured to the seat across from her, alongside that window, and lightly wrapped her other hand around the fresh refill.

“As if I would be expecting anyone else,” she replied with some vague humour. She often disabused most other people of the notion of making conversation, but in the unlikely event that, say… the Cardinal were to appear - of all people - she wouldn’t be so dismissive. If her brother showed up, however, she might get up and leave, but she very much doubted that Asten would dare set foot in such a place as this.

Or she might not. Maybe it had been long enough.

“So, what do you think?” she asked with a faint grin, leaning over the table, then tipping her head to indicate the celebrations outside the window, “How many little Ashlan girls called, hmm… Essia will appear in, oh, nine month’s time?”

Any number of speculations or predictions could be made about the celebratory populace. A pastime of theirs, this kind of talk, through any number of periods of waiting. The thrill of the chase made many things dull, by comparison.

 

[Stilicho Drumarch]

Heinrich Faust | Emiery Athelon | Oraada Laabre | Lothaire ​

They had finally said all Stilicho could have. To think, he had come to this assembly to fan the flames, only to find the room was already ablaze. His compatriot was likely right, that very soon the opposing parties would look to the Vanguard, for one issue that glared united above all the rest: war. The Vanguard held the front lines, and swayed the minds of the Jedi fighting at them.

Stilicho stood from his seat as the politics went on, passionate in the hearts of speakers and audience alike, though there were some less engaged. Stilicho felt it was right to join them. He bid curt adieu to the other generals and made his way down to a gathering of people he'd kept his eye on.

The Grand-Marshal was accompanied by faces Stilicho both knew, and had yet to be acquainted with.

"Grand Marshal Faust! and Master Emiery, I do no believe we've had the pleasure of meeting before. Good evening to you both. I must admit I do not recognize your young companions. I apologize for any interruptions, but it seems your party has a similar lack of interest in the honeyed words upon that stage." ​

 

[Cord Starfall]

Jolly Roger Crew For Life! Yo Ho Yo Ho!​

Location: Some backwater Ashlan World
Tags: Khione

Spoiler: Fleet

x1 Jolly Roger ii
x5 CR-12 corvette
x70 (5 Squadrons) Liberator-class starfighter
x15 (1 squadron) D-Wing Space Superiority Fighter

---

The were making great haste drawing in closer and closer to the battle as it seemed the pirates were brutalizing the defense forces. They seemed to be taking great loses. Cord watched from the Jolly Rogar ii trying figure out the best course of action to take. Her fighters were ready, and her men had on the vessels had reached their battle stations. As they drew closer another blipped appeared on the sensors. One of her men turned to her. "It appears to be an old Arquitens-class Cap." Well that might make things a little more difficult she thought to herself. She then hit a comm button above her head that link directly to Dax's quarters.

"You better have arse doing what I asked of you." She let go of the button it only took a moment for him to respond.

"I'm on it Cord, I will start by trying to hack the big boy's comms first. Might speed things up if you open a comms channel so I can latch onto there single." That was if they even bothered to respond. "Right now I can just ping there comms and hope a hapless idiot opens the channel and gives me five second to latch on. Could take hours at that rate." It was a risk to open a channel to them on there end but Dax was monitoring it his eyes were on streams of code and various other data from all the fleets ships.

Cord didn't answer him back right away looking to her comms. "Send a coded message to the defense fleet. Send them the Rubicon ve Alto Code." The Comms officer looked at her oddly for a moment then spoke. "That code is old a mythasuarous's butt, sure it will even work?" Cord didn't laugh at that just grinned slightly.

"It has the universal Jedi id signature, that hasn't changed much in eight centuries. So iguess we will find out if they fire on us." The Comms officer nodded and sent the code signature to the defense force hoping they would be able to figure out it was a very old Jedi code one that identified Cord Bacquin as a Jedi shadow and their fleet as a friendly. Next she looked over all her various reading that came on a screen to her side before nodded to her comms officer again who knew instinctively what came next. She quickly flicked the button to call back to Dax. "Your wish is about to come true, you better get us in." She then let go of the button and pushed the next button on the panel and opened comm to Khione 's fleet.

"This is Cord Starfall of the Jolly Roger, I wish to Parley." Now she had to wonder if they followed any part of the pirate code. As reading where indicating these ships were most like from the unknown territories by there markings. Most likely Maw if Cord had to guess, but why on near the other side of the Galaxy was the bigger question. If it was the Maw she indeed felt really naked with out her armor and weapons. Though perhaps the name Starfall might hold some weight, after all Cord's mother was supposedly running around in Maw circles these days last Cord had heard anyway.

 

[Solan Halcyon]

​

TAG: Marcella Fiora

Keeping her smile on her face - despite still being rather uncomfortable in this crowd and making conversation - Shani replied to the lady, "The Pleasure's all mine." Just listening to the very spirited and loud debate going on between the more important members of the Crusade was enough to mentally exhaust the Squire. She didn't like socializing very much at all and couldn't even begin to imagine having such a spirited debate in front of such a large crowd.

"I'm almost certain that'd be the death of me, being put in such a spotlight." Shani let out a somewhat nervous laugh, starting to loosen the up outwardly, if not in her own mind. After being asked what her title meant, Shani had to think for a moment to really explain what it meant, "It... It's similar to an Apprentice in other orders, I guess... I can be sent off to do the duties of a Blade but I'm not quite the level of a Knight yet." She stumbled over a few of the words at the beginning of her sentence and the tension in her voice at carrying a conversation could probably be heard pretty easily by someone with a smattering of social intelligence. The next topic the conversation swung to caught her completely off guard - she had no idea why someone would want her opinion on things - that of a lowly shadow just trying to do her part. Again it took a few seconds before she could even think of what she really believed, still stumbling over a few words as the thinking parts of her brain worked far too fast for the speaking parts.

"I believe that - that the Bogan is like a sickness. a creeping sickness. Its symptoms can hide and we have t- have to be careful on how we deal with it. Certainly there are those whose sickness is terminal, and we must always be ready to stop them from spreading it across the Galaxy but we... our own backyards are where the sickness is most dangers - and most insidious." She gestured towards the gathering of the higher ups as they continued their argument, some of them growing indignant and bordering on angry at each other. "We must always be careful not to let our righteous indignation grow into anger or our rightful suspicion towards the Bogan turn to hatred - I... I..." The thoughts that invaded her imagination now visibly frightened and disgusted her, yet her chosen station of shadow almost demanded she pay heed to them. "I would hate to turn my sword against brothers and sisters because they've allowed a sense of duty to become a justification for committing evil."