The Law Of Life: Mandalorian Empire Dominion of Ithor HexAA18

[Yasha Cadera]

The Law of Life
Mandalorian Empire Dominion of Ithor

"For every plant that was destroyed in the harvest, two must be planted to replace it."​

The Law of Life​

Ottega System, Ithor
Objectives:
1. (Combat, Investigate) Secure Haffa City. Eliminate the oncoming incursion force before it destabilizes the anti-grav systems and crashes the City to the sacred surface. Discover who the enemies are, and destroy. Secure the space lanes.
2. (Diplo, Force Healers) Commune with the Bafforr Trees & Ithorian Priests.

Objective 1: Secure Haffa City. Eliminate the oncoming incursion force before it destabilizes the anti-grav systems and crashes the City to the sacred surface. Discover who the enemies are, and destroy. Secure the space lanes.

Word came from a dying Ithorian city, overrun by enemies which let the floating apparatus malfunction and crash into the sacred forest below. Instead of staining their sacred jungle with their metal and corpses, the Ithorians of Jepnit City made one last distress call.

“Mandalorian Empire, Jepnit City to Mandalorian Empire… we refuse to sully our sacred groves, but our enemies have overrun us. They are making for Haffa City, please, you have been focussing on ecological recovery and terraforming your planets, help us before there is no Jungle left. They’re after th-t-he.. t…tr…eelp…” The communication cut out, as heat signatures taken by orbital scanners showed the complete obliteration of Jepnit City.

Signatures coming off the atmosphere showed an atmo-based force of cobbled together fighter squadrons escorting troop carriers and drop pods toward Haffa City.

Why the force was there, and what they wanted was yet to be discovered. All the Mandalorians did know was this:

The Ithorians asked for their help to preserve their global jungle, and in exchange, they would give Mandalore the aide to terraform and enhance Kalevala, Mandalore, and any of the planets, which were still ravaged by ecological war.

The Mandalorian Forces were split between Yasha-Class Atmospheric Carriers, staging points for troop movement, individual fighters and groups of Ithorian warriors and police.

A hulking leonid-beskar’gam-clad figure stood upon the Concordia, the lead Yasha-Class Carrier, his booming voice augmented by the audio processors in his buy’ce.

“Launch fighter squadrons! Chase those brigands down and take out their weapons’ systems before they can fire on the planet or cities! Board the troop carriers, capture the officers and kill the rest! Shield tanks, get to Haffa City and activate the shields in the most heavily populated areas. Slicers, jam their signals and triangulate their origin positions!” Yronwulf watched the forces scramble, and turned to walk up to the Command Deck.

“Mand’alor, our forces are mobilizing.” Yronwulf spoke on his private line to the Infernal, an image of his genetic matriarch appearing in the lower left corner of his HUD.

Objective 2: Commune with Ithorian Priests & Baffor Trees. Create a diplomatic tie.

Ithorian Priests. That was who Ember Rekali seeded in the mind of Yasha Mantis, to cleanse and reintegrate her soul. The events of Barataria, Commenor and Sabarene caused a realization in the Infernal. There were intrinsic and spiritual reasons why the planetary systems around them feared the Sith… but Yasha could never feel it. Caution led her thus.

The caution of a mother looking at her Infernal Child, the caution of becoming too close to terrors and thus being destroyed. There was no contest on who the Galaxy’s most ecologically sensitive and spiritually centred race was, and the fact of its’ proximity to Er’kit made the Mandalorian Empire’s next acquisition all the more necessary. While the military force were attempting to salvage Haffa City, and the support ships were combing the ash of Jepnit City, Yasha stood on board the Eponix, a Yasha-Class atmospheric carrier and watched several speeders of Ithorians approach.

“Find the instigators. No harm comes to the Ithorian Jungle, or the Ithorian people. Work with the locals, I shall continue here.” Yasha’s voice was quiet, the image of her genetic scion in his buy’ce nestled in the lower right corner of her HUD.

“Elek, Mand’alor.”

Ithor. It would happen here, upon the floating cities.

"Ember, you'd better be right about this."

Spoiler

[member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Shia Kryze"] [member="Gray Raxis"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Parja-Kal"] [member="Quoron Mantis"] [member="Tal Vizsla"] [member="Lisset Australis"] [member="Atheus Voidwalker"] [member="Connory"] [member="Dorn Skirata"] [member="Amanda Kryze"] [member="Alvarex Zambrano"] [member="Skosk Australis"] [member="Rex Taff"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Keira Verd"] [member="Rhaegar Nemesis Dib"] [member="Ginnie Dib"] [member="Ra’a’mah"] [member="Nita Quez"] [member="Joanes Quez"] [member="Cynthia Solus"] [member="Aedan Miles"] [member="Acaleus Thorn"] [member="Alkor Centaris"] [member="Gerarich Thanor"] [member="Jor Kvall"] [member="Ambrose Mantis"] [member="Rory Baccus"] [member="Nibsani"] [member="Aaray Solus"] [member="Skorvek"] [member="Lilik Mantis"] @Meerax Quez [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"] [member="Lily-Grace Australis"] [member="Tristan Wren"] [member="Tom Taff"] [member="Garrus Garon"] [member="Petria Breguet"] [member="Ursula Vizla"] @Mavarah [member="Jake Awaud"] [member="Torin Verd"] [member="Pylon Zerga"] [member="Vyr Beviin"]

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Objective 2
Location, beside [member="Yasha Mantis"]

She was glad she had delayed on deciding a few things, for the mand'alor had called upon stardust to assist in just what stardust specialized in, the force. Stardust had studied for years on both sides of the force, each had their advantages and weaknesses yet both ideologues had a single thing...something stardust couldnt quite grasps herself...so instead the path of the grey is what she chose and from that she felt she gained more knowledge of the force overall

Walking up beside yasha she glanced out the view port and crossed her arms, seeing the speeders drawing closer she took q breath and centered herself in the force. Glancing to yasha she could tell that this was something important...even without the force she could feel it as it just seemed to be within the air

shouldn't be anything hard, I'll try my best to explain details and words about the force

She smirked, hoping yasha got that she was joking a bit

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Objective 2!!!

Lori wanted to help out with the fighting. She really did!! But with the state of Commenor coupled with the fact that she was being hunted in a not so public way, she accompanied her cousin [member="Yasha Mantis"] to visit the priests.

Diplomacy was the lesson of the day, among other things. Lori hadn't had much exposure to the various religions in the Galaxy. But now...Yasha was opening her eyes to the wider Galaxy. The two had been getting closer and it was kinda funny that she was learning diplomacy from her cousin instead of her Mom. But this was just how it was meant to be.

For a long time Lori and her brother [member="Caedyn Arenais"] had avoided politics altogether in favour of their own interests which were WAY more fun! Yet now she sorta wished that she had paid attention just a little bit more; to get a better understanding of her Mom's world. It wasn't as though she HAD to for she was the last in line to the throne. But now, with the missions that her Dad [member="Veiere Arenais"] was sending her on, it couldn't hurt to try to garner more help and to learn some valuable lessons along the way.

She smiled brightly to both her cousin and to [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"] . Lori wore no armour, just a flight suit. She hadn't yet gone to [member="Kaine Australis"] ' forge. "This'll be fun! I've never been to Ithor before. Thank you for letting me go with you!"

 

[Tobias Dib]

Location: transport ship
Objective: 2

The ship shuddered slightly as it entered atmosphere. The old Corellian freighter had weathered worse turbulence and the ship's captain was not worried about his cargo or the single traveller that had booked passage to Ithor. Typically he didn't transport people, but for some reason he agreed to take the man in the disconcerting armor with him on his voyage. Shaking his head again at his decision he radioed in his transponder code that would match what was being broadcast and angled the ship towards it's destination.

Yet as he maneuvered the transport he saw several warnings flash before a loud explosion was followed by intense shuddering, the ship losing altitude. Snarling he activated the internal speakers and shouted, " Hold on to sumthin' cuz we be comin' in hawt!" Pulling back on the home he radioed to a nearby vessel as he fought for control. A glance at the radar revealed the model of the vessel he was on a crash course with.

"This is the Corellian transport the "Brown Streak" to the Yasha class carrier "Eponix". I've lost engines an' I'm comin' in hawt with only repulsors. Don't scatter us across the sky!"

In the back the man pulled the buy'ce over his dark brown hair. As the suit sealed he heard the hiss as the internal oxygen kicked in. Tightening the straps across his torso he couldn't help but let a self deprecating grin cross his face. Perhaps it was the will of the Force to die on this ship. This wasn't his time after all. Shaking the thought away he grunted as the ship shook which threw him against the restraints. Opening himself to the Force he breathed deeply and focused on strengthening his body against the inevitable collision.

He didn't have long to wait.

A final warning from the captain began to come over the speakers, but was cut off as the impact jarred his entire body, the sound of metal screeching across metal, then the vibration that ran the length of the ship as the vessel folded in upon itself, sliding a few meters then stopping. Yet the ship swayed somewhat causing the sense of equilibrium to turn in his stomach.

Releasing himself he dropped to the floor, the ship tottering as if a nautical vessel upon choppy sea. Leaping forward he moved to the cockpit and grabbed the unconscious captain, effortlessly tossing him over his wide shoulders then running to the rear hatch as the floor began to tilt. Punching the release with his gauntlet the hatch blew out and he leapt as the ship fell off the ledge of the carrier.

The man landed in a crouch, laying the unconscious captain down before rising to stand, nearly seven feet tall in his matte black armor. Blades and swords adorned his form, the buy'ce painted with a skull. The rush of beskar'gam wearing figures rushed toward them. Shaking his head slightly from within his own armor he sighed.

"Not the way I planned on visiting."

Spoiler: armor

[member="Loreena Arenais"] I [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"] I [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: Eponix, Yasha-Class Atmo Carrier, Ward Room
Objective 2: Commune with the Ithorian Priests
Allies: [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"] [member="Tobias Dib"] [member="Loreena Arenais"]

“Thank you, Stardust.” Yasha stared absently toward the speeders, a high table with a box atop it. The Mand’alor went to open the box and paused with her hand on the lid, then let out a hissing exhale and removed it.

“How did you know? How did you know the Force? Was there a moment? A single thought? Or a sensation that crept up on you?” Standing beside Lori and Stardust, Yasha rang her crush gaunt over her braided hair and coughed. “Ah… never mind. You’re welcome Lori! It’s about time you observed some diplomacy in action, and if I’m really honest… you are helping me be terribly brave.”

What was so special about a box? Yasha knew nothing but that it called to her on Sullust, in the Jedi Training Centre.

“If all goes well, the Ithorians can more than help us in our own terraforming and horticultural efforts, and… a wise man once told me that Ithorian Priests were the best in the Galaxy for repairing damage done to one’s soul… but knowing nothing about such things, it’s hard to… what th- a ship!”

[member="Tobias Dib"]’s ship veered off course and crash-landed upon the Eponix, amidst a host of panicked and aggressive measures from the crew. Weapons raised, fire retardants readied, and Yasha ran to the window.

“The blazes!?” Running outside, Yasha vaulted over the Command Deck’s rail, free-falling to the flight deck far below her. Thank Manda for repulser packs in beskar’gam. As Tobias tumbled out and stood, he cut an impressive sight. Murmurs of foreign ‘gam and strange happenings spread as Yasha walked through the lines.

“What is the meaning o-of…” The skull helmet, the black pitch upon beskar… momentarily Yasha’s mind was thrown to her deceased husband [member="Kaden Mantis"]’ ‘gam, coated in the pitch of the Netherworld. But... no, there was a... strange familiarity with the creatively contoured armour. Something Yasha'd never seen, but...

“If this is your way of planning anything, you seriously goofed, stranger. Name. Business. Before the trigger happy engineers realize how much damage you’ve done to my ship.”

... now if only the Ithorian delegation was not attempting to land.

 

[Alkor Centaris]

A peaceful people and a warlike culture. Under normal circumstances, they would never think to intermingle. The Ithorians by their very nature made a point not to have dealings with people like the Mandalorians but when backed into a corner, people take desperate action to get out. When the call went out, Alkor was almost three jumps away overseeing the construction of a listening post. The first transmission they happened to intercept caught his attention. A distress signal from Ithor, meant for the bucketheads?

He had to listen a second time, just to be sure. "Do you have it tuned to a proper frequency?" he asked idly, aware that there had been no mistakes. The preturbed glances he got were enough answer. Alkor sighed and grabbed his helmet off the table, then headed for the hangar. "It'll take me several hours to get there," he muttered. "Think they'll still need help by the time I show up?"

"Go anyway," one of the comms officers laughed. "I'm sure they'll find some work for you."

He shrugged. Credits were credits as far as he was concerned. After a few minutes of double checking to be sure everything was done properly and he was good to go, Alkor boarded a shuttle bound for the Mandalorian fleet and with it, Ithor.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Location - on board with yasha
Objective - assist with communing with the priest...force stuff and such
Neaby- [member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Tobias Dib"] [member="Loreena Arenais"]

Stardust took a deep breath, yashas question did get her memories going yet again, first time she learned she had the force years and years ago, nearly three decades ago in fact. Shed been just a girl with this weird little trick to find people, now here she was a master within the force with powers that many dreamed of....

maybe a later time yeah? And it's good to have you here lori, everything should hopefully go smooth...I dont see much that can...what the feth?!

Watching the ship come crashing down stardust rushed over to the windows, she could hear the crew shouting out commands and watched them moving quickly before the air move beside her and her eyes turned to watch yasha walk out and jump right off to the flight deck. Cursing stardust followed and jumped using the force to slow her at least enough she could roll and stand up unholstering her westars

Rubbing up beside yasha she stopped eyeing the man up...noting that pitch black armor and honestly impressive design of the helmet, had he not just crashed onto the flight deck stardust would ask him about his gam but...unfortunately he did just that...crashed onto the flight deck

I'd listen to her, be a smart idea

She spotted the drop ships attempting to land, she hoped this didnt make them look bad at all...either way her attention was to the possible threat

 

[Tobias Dib]

Location: carrier
Objective: 2

Standing on the deck above the unconscious captain, Tobias watched the guards readily preparing weapons to aim at him. Eyes flickered across the armored beings, his HUD flashing transparent descriptions of the visible weaponry with the sweep of his gaze. Blasters, disruptors, slug throwers, beskads, grenades of various designs. And each of the figures moved as if they were proficient with their weapons of choice.

His hands twitched where they hung loosely at his sides. The daishō at his waist we're begging to be free of their sheath to sing through the air in the eternal dance of blood and death. Smoke grenade combined with a phosphorus grenade would limit visibility and throw off infrared. It would allow him a moment of free movement to close the distance amd utilize his imbued wakizashi in close combat. Beskar'gam was formidable armor, yet there were always weak spots at the joints where articulated movement was necessary.

Breathing in he slowed his heart rate and let the Force flow through him, the Breath. He wasn't just a person, he was a Guardian, he was the Force. With his instincts prodding him to battle calmed, he opened his hands with palms out showing he was not threatening action. Then the massive figure of [member="Yasha Mantis"] landed on the platform. Again his instincts of combat with a worthy opponent were stifled.

Turning his body slightly to face her his HUD pulled up schematics, reading the armor composite and design to swiftly find a match in it's database. Mandalorian, Mand'alor the Infernal, Yasha Mantis, Clan Mantis, known associates ... Tobias toggled off the stream of data overlay with a blink. Now the beskar'gam wearing figures and their quick and efficient reaction to an interloper made even more sense. The Mand'alor was here.

As information was demanded of him the Ithorian group began to arrive on the far side of the carrier. Cataloging that knowledge away he turned his skull designed buy'ce toward the Infernal and activated his external speakers, voice echoing out distorted enough that species could not be identified in the basic that was spoken.

"My name is Tobias. My business is my own. It has nothing to do with any plans with your mando'ade, Infernal. As for my intentions toward you and yours, there are none. I came to Ithor on a personal pilgrimage to seek the famed priests. Nothing more. And your decision to my unfortunate and ill timed arrival on your carrier needs be made, as your own newly arrived guests are gathering to await your attention."

That was the closest to an apology she was going to get, especially as the reason for his presence on her ship was by no design of his own. He smirked within the confines of his helm knowing Han would most likely be shaking his head at Tobias' words if he was here. There was just too much of his buir in him at times. Beside the Mand'alor another feminine form appeared, brandishing two sidearms. The urge to pluck the kyuzo energy bow from it's magnetic mount upon his back nearly won out, yet he managed to keep his cool.

He wasn't a fan of being threatened, even if the pistols weren't yet pointed at him. Stretching out in the Force to get a feel for the twi'lek he sensed her own sensitivity and immediately pulled back from the presence. Fingers twitched once more as he kept them open and empty. The histories said that this was a difficult time for force sensitives on the mando'ade, and he was not expecting to encounter one here. Fortifying his mind he drew the Force back into himself and focused on resisting any unseen attacks from the woman.

Things had gotten more complicated, and in his experience complicated usually spiraled into violence. Bit he would not be the one to instigate it. Not now at least. So Tobias waited for the Mand'alor to make a decision.

[member="Loreena Arenais"] I [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Objective: 2!!


Lori tilted her head to the side a bit as she pondered on the question that [member="Yasha Mantis"] had posed. Just when did she know of the Force and feel it? She couldn't remember. It wasn't something that their parents had encouraged. Both her and her twin brother discovered little things on their own. For Lori it was more applying things that she had learned in science class to something else.

And now that her Dad had acceoted her as his apprentice, he was sending her out on missions to learn compassion and diplomacy. Right now the safest place for her was with Yasha. The Sith Emperor wouldn't dare try to have someone catch her under the watchful eyes of her cousin, would he?

She blinked in surprise as a ship came out of nowhere and crashed into them. Straight away Yasha jumped down into the fray, a loooooong way down. Soon afterwards [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"] followed suit. But Lori didn't go. She couldn't land a jump that far down without breakjng something. So instead she watched from above, wondering just who this [member="Tobias Dib"] was.

[member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Alkor Centaris"]

 

[Nicair Claden]

Objective: 1
Progress: Nothing concrete known

He'd been away for some time. Seemed to be happening more and more these days. Time would blend together into a foggy soup of different planets, different people, and different sins. This is if one believed in the concept of a sin, Nicair simply saw it as an increase in violence and savagery, aggression and anger. He was trying to track someone that could throw themselves into the abyss and live comfortably in solitude, completely unperturbed of the denizens therein. For Nicair, this was getting back to basics, back to what he knows. War. His safe place.

His Mand'alor, Yasha of clan Mantis, was leading the diplomatic mission. A strange concept, Mandalorians performing diplomacy, and Nicair referring to someone as his Mand'alor again. He'd been with the Empire for a relatively short time. He was lost and drifting through the galaxy, part of him enjoyed being back in the fold, among vod. Part of him would forever have a vagabond soul, a wanderlust that couldn't be satiated. It wasn't that he didn't have the freedom to do what he pleased, it was the affiliation. He was an independent man, whether one wanted to attribute it to nature or nurture he didn't really care. Both options dwelt in the past, Nicair was a man of the present.

There wasn't much information on what to expect from invasion forces on the planet. He had some ideas of what to look out for, some said slavers, some said cultists bent on revenge. Either would suit him. The native inhabitants of the planet, however, he knew more. Deeply spiritual people, these Ithorians, non-violent and non-aggressive. A polar opposite to his species and his culture. He also knew what they looked like. Nicair was an accepting and open minded man, but when the mouth-things are on either side of the face/neck he became uncomfortable.

Just don't touch me while I save your leathery hides. The thought came to him as his ship was pulling up to one of the docks, it wasn't decreasing speed. It was designed for ambush and swift striking operations, meaning it had a lot of firepower and could be quiet it, as quiet as a ship could be. The machine was synchronized to Nicair's heart rate and helmet feed. It was programmed to eject him and settle itself at a reasonable distance for either air support or a quick escape. He didn't think he would need it for much. His primary role was to investigate the threat first and then engage once the information was confirmed. The armor would stand out, even if it wasn't completely Mandalorian looking. It was a good thing terentatek have a large amount of skin so he can wrap himself in it.

He felt safe, secure, like a babe wrapped in a leathery womb.

[member="Loreena Arenais"] | [member="Tobias Dib"] | [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"] | [member="Kaine Australis"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Objective:2!!!!


Lori had to look down at herself the moment that [member="Kaine Australis"] ' voice rang out and he had said she was naked. Of course in the split second afterwards, she had realized what he had meant.

She rubbed at the back of her neck as Vevut looked her over and then grinned broadly as Kaine hugged her. She wrapped her arms around him tightly so that he could feel it more. It was great to have him there.

"Yasha said this was a diplomatic mission, to see some priests. I thought it'd be okay without any beskar'gam. Of course we didn't expect someone to just crash in..." She looked down over the edge again. "It's a long way down. I'd probably break an ankle or something. Then you'd have to carry me around!" That or make her stay in a med bay for the rest of the trip. That wouldn't be fun at all!

 

[Alkor Centaris]

The moment he stepped aboard the Concordia, Alkor was assaulted by the comms chatter of the fleet and ground elements coordinating. A defensive blockade erected around the planet and strategic checkpoints were already in place, and the counteroffensive was minutes from launch. All of that in the short hour since he set out.

Mandalorians were known for how seriously they took warfare, and their promptness always seemed to surprise him. If the Force provided Jedi and Sith with an early warning, their technology provided his people with even faster, more acute awareness. That was how they remained relevant and powerful in a Galaxy that favored those gifted with mystical talent.

"So you made it alive, Centaris," Marshall Torix Beviin was one of the few men Alkor had watched soar from no-name vod to ranking officer in the time since he rejoined the Empire, and the man remembered him just as well. "How have you been since the last time? No more Gundarks, I hope?"

"I'm managing to steer clear," he replied with mirth, folding his arms and bracing for the pleasantries to end. "What's the situation here?" he inquired.

"Invasion," came the short answer, "but the Ithorians are a peace-loving people by nature. They would only ever call out to mercenaries in times of the most dire need. I won't lie and say the situation doesn't benefit the Empire..."

"Our scientists would be hard pressed not to reap the benefits of Ithorian healing technology," Alkor agreed, "but that's contingent on success here. Does Mand'alor intend to establish a Protectorate of Ithor?"

"Who's to say what Mantis intends?" Beviin shrugged, "all I know is that they want you to lead the shock troops and force the attackers to break."

"Always the fun jobs," Alkor snorted as he turned to make his connecting flight. "Anything I should know, other than that?"

"You'll be landing on the floating city, Haffa," Beviin explained. "They will likely be attempting to kill the anti-gravity systems in order to drop it and cause catastrophic damage. Obviously, that can't be allowed to happen. Or, you know-"

"No one gets paid if the person who took out the contract is dead," he nodded. "I think there's a little more to it, this go around. Don't expect a ton of credits."

Torix only shrugged again.

 

[Nicair Claden]

His boots touched down on the platform with a dull thud. It was strange, it felt like earth and ground, but he knew it wasn't. Ithorians were a strange lot.

Nothing moved around his position, either his ship was better at stealth entries than he thought, or there wasn't anyone around this area. Nicair didn't think either option was very likely, his ship had picked up heat signatures of varying strengths around where he's standing. His tomahawk and hand cannon were drawn and ready, a habit born of repetition and vigilance. The hands that gripped them became tighter in their squeeze.

"Scan for life signs." His voice was a whisper, it was also unnecessary, his helmet could block out the noise he didn't want the world outside his helmet to hear. This too was a habit; born of an entirely different, and darker, beast. Rather than speak directly to him, his HUD displayed the blips in front of his eyes. Three? Couldn't be possible. Neither his ship nor he himself would have picked this spot if there were only three life signs.

Then he realized it. Much like the savage tribes of tatooine walking in single file to hide there numbers, this group was standing close to if not directly on top of each other. His readings wouldn't pick up the individual people, it would pick up a blob of heat. At the very worst the numbers were doubled.

The Ithorians would know what to look for in their salvation, the invaders would know what their enemies wore as skin. For young Ithorians the sight of a Mandalorian could be a culture shock. Families too afraid to show themselves to the figure in the armor or an ambush waiting to be sprung. He raised Hullcracker at the nearest blip, and let loose a shot powerful enough to melt durasteel.

[member="Kaine Australis"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Loreena Arenais"] | [member="Tobias Dib"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: Eponix, Yasha-Class Atmo Carrier, Ward Room
Objective 2: Commune with the Ithorian Priests
Allies: [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"] [member="Tobias Dib"] [member="Loreena Arenais"] [member="Kaine Australis"]

“Toby…” The Wolf-Helm quivered, baffles stilling as Yasha stopped to listen to the hum coming off this advancing and cautious stranger. Who was this man, whose name flooded her tongue?

A vicious and child-like hymn whispered into the air, the screams of her child-self attacking some malicious force. Yasha grunted, grabbing the side of her helm-clad head with one hand.

“My name is Tobias…” he said, the rest of his words fading to the deeper sounds of struggle, a miniature war. The wolf-helm seemed to twitch, Yasha’s eyes blinking madly under the cold unforgiving metal.

Child-screams. The roars of a constant fight. Pounding of her loose-clad feet on stone.

An altar.

The sensation of biting into someone so hard they bled coated down Yasha’s throat. She gurgled, the sounds tumbling faster now, liquid pouring from the containment of the simple stone knife at Tobias Dib’s side.

Yash’ika’s knife.

“H-how did you get my knife?” Yasha rasped, lowering one hand to restrain the Mandalorians from firing upon Tobias and his ill fated Captain. The knife radiated through the Force, a vortex screaming for any who could hear it. A screaming soul, locked in the Netherworld and torn from its’ body by a terrified child clinging for her mother’s love and life.

The pressure on Yasha’s head would have doubled her over, if not for the intense training to keep herself still in discomfort. Yet, a hum rumbled across the deck.

The Priests arrived, three white-clad Ithorians humming so deeply it seemed to shake loose the bolts and atoms of each individual present. Yasha grunted audibly, her feet spreading further apart.

“He has it, for he was meant to have it, as you were meant to come, Yasha Mantis. Gentle comes the healing of the soul, once rectification is complete. You have fought the call of Ithor too long, warmonger. You wish our aide, we demand simply this.

Heal. Give us your soul to see your true intents, and we shall make our minds… your companions sense what you cannot. Damaged goods make incomplete rulers.” The Ithorian High Priest quirked his vast head, the hum of his fellows tempering the horrors pouring from Tobias Dib’s knife.

“You, Master Stardust, might you explain such things to her? Might you, displaced man?”

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Location- standing by [member="Yasha Mantis"]

Objective- help with meeting the ithorian priests

Immediately stardust felt discomfort, then on edge as she moved a bit between yasha and this [member="Tobias Dib"]. One westar being put up and a saber coming to her hand her eyes scanned over the man...he was a force used yet something on him something he carried caused her....to draw towards it, she heard screaming. Stardust began to sweat a bit and swallowed yet remained strong ready to defend, however that was interrupted

Humming, it seemed to wash over her and offer some relief, stardust turned her head towards the three ithorians clad in white. Her sweating ebbed as she turned and bowed respectfully to them before she rose and listened as she turned to yasha, she forgot how cryptic some force user could be about the force.

their referencing the fact of you being force dead from coming from the netherworld, that you cannot feel what we feel...like from that..knife...or...from the Sith threat...they wish to see your souls true intents and if in right...help you heal

She needed to readjust to this cryptic stuff again, looking to the ithorian priest she hoped she interpreted correctly

 

[Tobias Dib]

Even as he spoke he saw the odd movements of the Mand'alor gripping her buy'ce as if on sensory overload. Yet her mental malfunction wasn't his problem at the moment, the many armed and prepared mandalorians were. Yet her next question echoed out and brought his attention back to her. Her knife. Slowly he reached out in the Force and interpreted what the stone blade was singing, an experience he had witnessed personally. A call, no a yearning for the Mand'alor was being made. The child was [member="Yasha Mantis"] as was the figure before him. Two halves that were incomplete and aching to be whole.

Was this what the Force wanted? A courier?

Even within his own mind his voice was bemused. He had thought there was more to this trip to Ithor, a more personal reasoning, yet as a Guardian of the Breath and a Kashi, he felt that there was still more to this journey.

Eyes flickered to the Ithorian priests as they spoke to the Mand'alor before speaking to the twi'lek and then himself. Their words confirmed several things. Firstly that the twi'lek, [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"] , was not just a Force Sensitive but also a master. Secondly was that these priests knew more then he had feared, calling him displaced. It was what he had hoped for in all actuality.

Seeing the master ease just before the Mand'alor he felt his hand move to his belt, the shared experience in the Nether calling to him. Yet he paused for it wasn't his, but the Manda'lor's. Watching the priests, mandalorians, the twi'lek, and the Mand'alor he sighed and made a decision. He could stay in his buy'ce prepared for combat, or he could make the first steps to peace.

Dropping his head he released the seal of his suit and raised the buy'ce from his head, placing it within the netting hanging from his kama. He brushed the brown stands of hair back from his forehead as he looked to the others, glowing blue eyes staring with an unnerving intensity. His right hand moved slowly to the stone blade and slipped into from the obi. Pulling it free he balanced it in his open, armored palm and extended his arm toward Yasha.

"What the priests and your master ally are saying is that this is yours, from the Nether. And they can make you whole, if your soul survives the scales of balance."

[member="Loreena Arenais"] I [member="Kaine Australis"]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Objective: 2!!!


Lori laughed at the very thought of carrying [member="Kaine Australis"] . Firstly, he was a lot bigger than she was. And secondly, coupled with his armour, he was a lot heavier than her too! So more than likely she'd be dragging him around. Maybe even by his feet! How embarrassing for the Warmaster!

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head asshe saw Vevut drop the gear at their feet. "For me?
Thanks!" Of course she assumed that she was just borrowing it. At least until she was able to get to his forge and make her own.

Lori sat down and started to suit up while Kaine spoke. A brow was raised not only to what he was suggesting, but also to where all the pieces fit.
"Of course I'll help you. My cousin will be fine, I think.
She has Star with her, so that's good." With the escape boots strapped on, she got to her feet, a bit wobbly as she had to adjust to the weight of the armour. "Lori the MandaLORIan, at your service! I've got your back, Warmaster." She grinned as she did a mock salute, standing a few inches taller than she did previously. "How do I look?"

 

[Alkor Centaris]

Location: Haffa City
Objective: Shock Team

The first impact was loud, and the platform shivered under the weight of the drop pod. Several came thereafter in rapid succession, and the intensity of the event wracked the surface like a small earthquake. It was built for more peaceful beings and their daily routine, not for warriors and their battles. As such, there came a groan of resistance in the same vein as the pleas from its creators. The Ithorians begged for an end to conflict. So did their city in the sky.

They creaked open after several seconds, stabilizing the team of Mando'ade within against the effects of their violent entry. A shock team capitalized on the chaos caused by surprise to do maximum damage. They couldn't be reeling when they did so.

Alkor broke free of the kinetic geled membrane and stepped out onto the mostly-quiet platform, his HUD alive with glyphic readings of multiple heat sources as well as some concentrated energy fire. Wordlessly, he thrust his open hand in that direction, and the group of lightly armored, yet heavily armed Mandos surged in response. They practically glided across, moving through ornately constructed homes and buildings as well as intermingled trees and plant life as they went to do their grim duty.

It was a sad spectacle, these bringers of death amidst such beauty and life.

Alkor almost felt bad that it would be caught in the crossfire. "On your left," he called across the comms as they came into view of an OpFor. An eruption of plasma and flame belched in their direction just before the Mandos crouched down and opened fire from their autoturrets and heavy rifles. Alkor loosed one of his grenades and called out a warning. "This can't be all of them," he murmured to himself as three fell with almost no resistance. The superior firepower notwithstanding, it was hardly what Alkor could call an invasion force.

"They're most likely just a surface team," came a reply from one of his men. "We have to find a way down to the sublevels. That's where the anti-gravity generators are, and most likely, where they've concentrated the bulk of their forces."

He frowned beneath his helmet.

"We need to move fast," Alkor barked. "Unless you guys think a lesson in terminal velocity sounds like a good time."

No one laughed.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Objective 2 - Observe (Posting with permission from Yasha)

Observing [member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Tobias Dib"] [member="Loreena Arenais"] [member="Stardust Australis Skirae"]

A rustle of wings, a smaller shadow within a shadow flitted about. For all appearances to the mundane eye, it was a simple raven-like bird. To those who had access to the Force though, they would see it as a wispy almost existing creature, made of shadows, its amethyst like eyes gleaming as they observed the scene. It would fly over and settle on Yasha's shoulder, giving a quite caw as it did so.

Ever since the ball on Galidraan, Taeli had positioned one of her familiars to be with Yasha. Ostensibly, she had done it as a favor to the younger woman's godmother, Fiolette Yvarro, and as a way for Yasha to contact herself or Fiolette if she was ever in need. It also conveniently allowed Taeli to watch Adara as well, because she just found the little girl adorable and such a fascinating puzzle. So, within Stormvale on Bastion, Taeli was listening through the connection to the familiar and...

She was surprised, to say the least, but the Force had a way of doing things on its own. The fragment of soul was calling from the dagger, the unnaturalness of the Nether would be felt, even through Taeli's bond with her familiar. If it could be reunited with Yasha... that would be even more interesting.

 

[Jor Kvall]

Objective 1

Jor never thought the fight for Kalevala would spill over into involvement on Ithor, but here he found himself.

A planet which he never considered having a reason to travel to in his life would now be where he shed blood. Duty-bound to [member="Yasha Mantis"], he had promised her to aid the fight for Ithor in exchange for the information he sought. He would not renege on his promise -- though today was about more than just that. Jor had every motivation to help, especially if these aliens could assist Kalevala.

Though, recalcitrant as he was to admit on the surface, Mandalorians hardly needed a reason to sharpen their skills in battle.

On the bridge of the ship behind the Mandalorian Commander, Jor was spotted in his distinctive bone-adorned beskar, his face hidden behind his helmet. A path to the viewport gave way as the sound of Jor's thumping boots preceded his arrival.

"You must be Yronwulf. I am Jor of House Kvall. Perhaps Mand'alor briefed you on my arrival."