Dominion The Mines of Silence | THR Dominion of Kenari

[Pillar of Faith]

THR Dominion of Kenari
-Black Sun Syndicate Welcome to Join-

​

Theed's Royal Palace has been attacked, and the Republic is reeling. Chancellor Kalantha is gone, the Magister is dead, and power is split. The Queen of Naboo is rising, while interim High Chancellor Veruna is reluctantly stepping into the void.

Whispers suggest Kalantha was taken by Black Sun agents across the Mid-Rim. They're believed to be on Kenari, a planet ravaged by old Republic greed and Imperial destruction.

Two missions are now underway. Jedi Knight Aiden Porte is leading a secret rescue into Kenari's mines. Meanwhile, Aurelian Veruna and Cassian Abrantes are setting up a Republic presence on the damaged planet. Both missions will push them to their limits, uncover hidden truths, and determine Kenari's fate.


Objective 1 - The Mines of Silence
(Join Aiden and team as they search for Kalantha in the old mines. Story will be pushed every 48 hours.)

Aiden Porte and a Republic Strike Team used a fake mining permit to infiltrate Kenari's abandoned extraction facility. The place is dark, filled with the groans of old machinery and the palpable threat of new dangers. Black Sun mercenaries patrol the tunnels, their presence a key indicator that Kalantha is here.

Their mission is straightforward enough: get Chancellor Kalantha before she is transported further into Black Sun space. But as the group push deeper, the mine's winding corridors hinted at something far more sinister than a simple kidnapping. Evidence pointed to a much larger operation, hidden behind the pretense of ransom and smuggling.

Can they unravel the truth before the mine caves in, or before she vanishes?

Objective 2 - The New Frontier
(Help set up the new forward operating base, venture into the Kenari wilderness, socialize, etc.)

The Republic is desperately trying to get back on its feet. Kenari becomes their chosen site for a new forward operating base. This desolate world, once just a scar, is now crucial for stability in the Mid Rim. Cassian Abrantes , in charge of GAHR's set up here, must work with the newly appointed Interim High Chancellor Aurelian Veruna . Their partnership is already strained by shared history, their pride, and very different ideas for the Republic's future.

Their task is massive: transform this hostile planet into a symbol of resilience. But Kenari's ghosts aren't easily buried. The Republic faces constant threats: an unstable environment, possible local resistance, and whispers of the Black Sun stirring up trouble again.

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Forward Operating Base
Kenari-One
Aurelian Veruna @Open​

The shuttle descended through thick, ochre clouds, the metal hull rattling under the strain of Kenari's unpredictable atmosphere. From the viewport, the planet stretched below in fractured plains and ash-black forests, the scars of ancient bombardment still visible like burns across the land. The Republic called it a symbol of renewal. To those who had walked through too many ruins, it was another graveyard they hoped to build on.

Cassian Abrantes stood near the ramp as it lowered, the wind immediately whipping his coat as dust and static filled the air. A Republic detachment awaited him engineers, GAHR personnel, soldiers, eager to prove the Republic could still plant its banner somewhere. The new Forward Operating Base Kenari-One was little more than prefabricated structures and defensive pylons at this stage. But it was meant to become a lifeline, a foothold for the Mid Rim's reclamation.

The air on Kenari tasted of metal and memory.

Cassian Abrantes stood at the edge of the newly marked perimeter, boots sinking into the soft ash-streaked soil that passed for ground here. All around him, the sound of labor filled the air drills, engines, the deep hum of atmospheric processors booting up for the first time in years. Prefab walls went up in rigid lines, Republic banners already flapping where there was little yet to defend.

It was the beginning. It always started like this noise, dust, and the illusion of progress.

He drew in a slow breath, hands clasped behind his back as he watched the construction teams at work. The GAHR engineers were doing what they could with materials but the morale was high. Despite the losses plaguing them, the kidnapped Chancellor, yet Aurelian Veruna had stepped in and began working diligently, from what he could see. He promised her, he would do his best to make this work, to put aside their differences for the Republic. If that mean taking lectures and pushing past all the unnecessary tattle, that's what he would do.

For her, for Naboo and for the Republic.

To the north, the ridge broke into jagged cliffs that shimmered faintly with the residue of old bombardments. Even now, Kenari bled radiation in certain pockets, the air sensors flickering red intermittently as the wind shifted. It was a reminder that this planet hadn't forgiven them. Maybe it never would.

"General Abrantes." A young officer called out, approaching with a datapad. "Further foundations for sector three are delayed. The terrain's too unstable to anchor the support pylons. We'll have to shift the grid for the medical space another twenty meters south."

Cassian nodded, eyes still on the horizon. "Do it. Don't argue with the land it's older and meaner than any of us."

Beyond the sound of hammers and repulsorlifts, he caught sight of Aurelian Veruna's shuttle touching down. Even from a distance, the polished hull stood out like a jewel in the dust a symbol of the man himself. The High Chancellor would want an update, a status report, perhaps a few jabs at him. The General couldn't help but chuckle at the last thought.

Cassian exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening slightly.. He brushed a layer of dust from his sleeve and straightened. His gaze swept the construction zone one last time the flicker of blue shields coming online, the silhouettes of workers moving like ants under the vast orange sky.

There was promise here. There always was, in the beginning. he was determined to make sure it was kept

Still, as the wind carried the sound of metal against metal, Cassian couldn't help but think of how fragile it all was how one good storm, one well-placed strike, or one bad decision in the Royal Assembly could undo it all. He didn't envy Sibylla or Aurelian as they dealt with such things, in fact it only made him appreciate the fact they they were willing to keep things together.

Cassian strode with a small detachment of Republic Soldiers, as they would provide security and safety for the Chancellor, even though he was sure that he had his own. Still, one could never be too careful.

He caught glimpse of Aurelian moving down the landing ramp as the small Detachment formed on either side of him and turned to give Aurelian a solid and respectable salute, Cassian did as well.

"Chancellor."

 

[Raylin Fall]

​

Objective 1 - The Mines of Silence


Luckily for Sergeant Fall, he was used to subterfuge in order to get into places. A fake mining permit to descend into Black Sun territory and into their operations to rescue someone? Doable. Fun? No. Doable? Yes. Truth be told, fighting untrained criminal gunslingers who's greatest experience against an enemy was a rival gang or perhaps a few trips to the range was miles better than the Imperial threat he'd been facing.

His eyes turned towards the rear of the group as they approached the staging area. Aiden Porte was in charge of the mission, and Raylin saw little reason to argue. He picked up his rifle as they pushed forward, a unique weapon to most in the Republic, but not to the cruel defenders of the Republic: a suppressed slugthrower. Personal shields and noise were a concern in the tight spaces, as well as the small potential for lighting any gases in the enclosed space. That, and stealth was their key to victory.

The Pathfinder detachment was here, and was directly going to be involved in the upcoming operation. Raylin's squad was no different, but they had a more direct role. The worry that the Black Sun had compromised the Chancellor was high. Either by poison, sedation, or any number of horrible things they had access to. A whole medical suite was practically being carried in. Medicines, retroviral drugs, antibiotics, kolto, bacta, sedatives, IVs, blood matching the Chancellor's type, a whole trauma response.

Raylin and his team waited silently for the order to move ahead, silent gazes behind their Commando armor. Raylin was in the middle of the formation, eager to get the operation underway.... and the heavy backpack full of medical supplies off of him. While perfectly capable of being a pipe-hitter, and an operator, Raylin's specialty was called on for this mission, not to be a killer, but a protector.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Kenari-One, Kenari
Tags: Cassian Abrantes

Objective 2
​

Aurelian stepped down into the wind and dust, his boots crunching softly into the soil. The air was dry and electric, biting at his throat. He exhaled sharply, a wry smile touching his lips.

"Cassian..." he sighed, the name a mix of irritation and relief. His cape whipped behind him as he passed the saluting guards without ceremony.

He hated that his advisors were right. He needed to be seen. Kenari was meant to be a statement, a promise that the Republic still had teeth, that they wouldn't yield to fear or the Black Sun's shadow. Optics weren't what drove him, though. He was here for other reasons, personal ones.

His second in command's insistence that she help Aiden Porte's mission continue, her belief that the Jedi could find Kalantha and that the Republic still had a soul to save, had pushed him into this. If he couldn't stop her from escorting the Jedi, he'd at least ensure the Republic had a nearby foothold when the storm broke, that he was there for her if needed.

He turned to Cassian, brushing gray dust from his sleeve. "Well, General," he said, his voice light but edged, "where do you need the morale boost of a 'high, fancy Chancellor' today? I'd rather not waste it on the mess tent if there's a more tragic view to inspire from."

​

 

[Aiden Porte]

Objective: 1
The Mines Of Silence
Ariel Korvane Roman Vossari Raylin Fall @Open​

The shuttle shuddered as it broke atmosphere, its hull rattling under the drag of Kenari's skies. Outside the viewport, the planet stretched out in long scars of ochre and black the remains of a world once rich with ore, now gutted and left to rot. The clouds hung heavy, thick with dust and ash, occasionally lit by the orange pulse of lightning far below.

Aiden stood at the center of the troop bay, one gloved hand gripping the overhead rail to steady himself. His hood was drawn low, shadows cutting across his face, though the faint reflection of the cockpit lights gleamed along the metal hilt at his side. Around him, the Republic strike team sat in silence commandos, medics, and scouts, all veterans of campaigns that had taught them to read the quiet as a warning.

He waited until the comm static cleared, then spoke. His voice carried easily over the hum of the engines.

"Kenari was stripped bare by mining initiatives. The place has been off the charts since. No local government, no functioning satellites, just ghosts and opportunists." He glanced to the nearest trooper a Twi'lek sergeant adjusting her rifle strap. "Now Black Sun's here, and they've taken someone very important to the Republic to all of us."

He let the moment hang before continuing.

"Chancellor Kalantha's last signal came from deep within the mining facility near the equatorial ridge. Black Sun's using it as a front for something smuggling, maybe more. We'll land outside the old lift site, move through the upper shafts, and find her before she can be moved."

The pilot's voice crackled over the comm. "Descent complete in sixty seconds. Radiation minimal."

Aiden turned toward the hatch, feeling the Force press around him, the weight of it heavier than he'd expected. Beneath the storm, something darker pulsed faint, like a wound left to fester.

"Stay sharp." he said quietly.

He took a slow breath, steadying the ache that coiled in his chest at the thought of her of Kalantha, alive somewhere down there. He could still hear her voice from their last talk, calm, sweet.

She deserved better than this.

As the shuttle doors opened and the smell of the planet's air rushed in, Aiden's expression hardened. "Move," he ordered. The strike team rose as one, boots hitting the ground in sequence, their figures swallowed by the dust and the flickering orange light.

"Stay close to me my friends, I will not be losing someone else, especially you Sibylla." Aiden glanced over to Sibylla, Roman, and ahead of them was Sergeant Fall. He smirked at Roman and patted him on the shoulder. "Sorry, she's prettier than you." Giving a small joke amongst the rising tensions that would soon hit them. He followed last, cloak snapping in the wind, gaze fixed on the black mouth of the mine ahead and the faint hope that somewhere within it, she was still waiting to be saved. They were at the entrance to the mine, as permits had been presented and such. The planet's heart beat in the echo of distant machinery, and Aiden could feel it like a pulse beneath his skin slow, heavy, unnatural. His jaw tightened instead, his mind turning to Kalantha. The last time he had seen her was in the Senate rotunda calm, composed, holding the floor with that quiet conviction only she possessed.

He hadn't told her that her presence steadied him. That in her, he saw what the Republic could still be.

Now she was somewhere in this pit, trapped among criminals and shadows, and all he could think was that she did not belong here.

Please, let her be alive.

 

[Torn Eskol]

B L A C K - S U N - S Y N D I C A T E
MINES OF SILENCE

Aiden Porte l Roman Vossari l Ariel Korvane
​

Click-click-click.

In the darkness of the area near the mines, something wicked moved, watched. The eerie sensation of someone watching the Republic troops was felt by all-

And it was true.

In the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes narrowed. Cold, calculating eyes didn't move for a moment- then, the two small white glints in the darkness, Torn's eerie somewhat-glowing eyes in the dark disappeared.

And the silence took back over. But something- someone was watching the Republic strike team.

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Objective Two​

The Denon Command Vessel Prosperity, a Denon Venator-class, silently orbited high above Kenari. It was an extended reach for Denon's fleet to cover something at the East edge of High Republic space, but under the circumstances it had been a worth while expense. They could spare a major capital ship to help nearby Black Sun aligned elements second-guess how many other ships might be lurking nearby.

Dominique lounged back in a high-back, plush throne with floor-to-ceiling transparisteel windows giving her an unmolested view of the planet below. One leg crossed over the other, she slowly indulged in a vintage wine as reports scrolled down the windows off-center. She wasn't there to play Admiral of a naval fleet. They had capable warriors for that role. Her purpose was to wage economic war to wield 'Soft' Power to far greater effect. The sort of thing the Black Sun had sought to bolster themselves with in taking Wielu. It had been a shot across the bow not soon forgot.

A lazy flick of a nail cast a report aside in order for the next one to appear.

The soft click of glass sounded before Dominique tapped a control. "Captain, have assets taken position to monitor anyone attempting to flee the planet?"

"Monitoring stations and patrols are taking position now, Director Vexx."

"Excellent. Have a transport readied. I will be leaving for the surface." Dominique uncrossed her legs and rose to her feet. The window displays immediately snapped off leaving only Kenari bathed in the light of its sun to fill the view. Her towering white suit began to ripple until it was solid black. Today was not one to stand out like a sore thumb.

* * * *​

Golden eyes surveyed the land as the transport descended through the clouds toward the Forward Operating Base below. An analyst was reading off various reports and statistics about present activities, likely outcomes, and potential future needs for the Republic's efforts. There were no easy options for what they wanted to set in motion. If it were not for the Chancellor potentially being there the planet was not a choice investment opportunity.

"Thank you, Caden. Please see to the distribution of supplies. I'm certain the personnel below will be appreciative," Dominique responded once the reports had ended. It was about as one could expect under the circumstances. Poor. With a hopeful outlook. Though not necessarily too hopeful.

Once the transport set down and the door opened, Dominique stepped down onto the surface of the planet and slowly strode out toward the base heedless of the engines spinning down to either side. Lilac glareshades slowly swung out to the side to look beyond the base before she drew too near and all she could see was the bustle of personnel about their business.

Aurelian Veruna | Cassian Abrantes | Open​

 

[Verity Suun]

​

OBJECTIVE I
Equipment: Seraph Eques III Armor, Igneus Gladius IV Weapon

The High Republic had not officially signed any agreements with the S.A.A. Aether or its Captain, Verity Suun of the Astrorum Imperium. There was no legal or moral obligation for her participation in their rescue effort. No personal interest in policing their worlds or the lawless and unclaimed ones between governments. It was not their place. They had their own mission.

Nonetheless, it might be another opportunity to explore this Republic and learn more of what they knew. The Aether continued to compile data in search of the ones funneling outsider technology to the Imperium's enemies. If by helping them it might help build bonds so be it. If it did not... well, the Aeternum (Emperor) would not look down on Suun's prosecution of criminals that besmirched the Stars' holy name.

The Seraph Eques armor was bulky by comparison to most other armed forces of the wider galaxy. It traded acrobatics for plowing through the ranks of enemies to lay waste to their number. The Igneus Gladius in her hands was turned over in her hands before it shifted from carbine into scattergun configuration. A loud racking ammunition followed as the group geared up to press forward.

Her dark eyes followed Aiden in particular as the group moved. She watched his actions and listened to his words. He was a far more light hearted commander than she. Not the sort that would suit the Imperium strict's demand for discipline. Not wildly out of norm for the people fo the galaxy, however, and somehow they managed to hold it together. Though with all the strife, Verity had yet to question just how demanding her people were for decorum.

"Knight Porte," Verity called out as the ground brunched under her heavy steps, "we have not worked together before. Should you require a shield, or a sword, know that I will be there at your command." It was strange to have a 'Knight' commanding her, an Admiral, but this was not her strike team. Verity would have to constrain the urge to take command in the interest of fostering a good working relationship. Difficult as it would be.

Aiden Porte | Roman Vossari | Ariel Korvane | Torn Eskol​

 

[Roman Vossari]

LOCATION: Kenari
TAGS: Aiden Porte | Ariel Korvane | Raylin Fall | Verity Suun

​

Roman stood near the mouth of the mine. Dust swirled around his boots and the taste of iron hung thick in the air. The low hum of old machinery echoed ahead. That sound was broken only by the steady clank of Verity's armor. He glanced at her; definitely someone you didn't want to piss off before breakfast.

He wasn't sure why he'd agreed to this mission. Maybe it was just boredom. Ukatis had gone too quiet lately. Corazona von Ascania kept nagging him about helping with tedious repairs or inevitable paperwork.

Aiden, on the other hand, promised action. He promised a rescue mission for his ex-Queen-turned-girlfriend. Classic Porte move, really.

Roman adjusted his jacket, the leather creaking faintly, and surveyed the rest of the group. Raylin looked like he had been born in his armor, every movement exact. Verity looked like she could walk straight through a tank. This Sibylla, though, he hadn't placed yet. She was quiet. Her eyes looked like she had seen too much. In this group, that probably meant just enough.

"Sibylla, is that your name? I thought someone called you Inez." he asked, stepping closer. His voice was casual, edged with curiosity. "Are you another one of Aiden's girlfriends?" He smirked faintly. "I have to say, keeping track of his romantic conquests is confusing. It's a little depressing, too."

When Aiden cracked his little joke in response, Roman's head snapped toward him, mock offense lighting up his face. "Prettier than me?" he shot back, pointing accusingly at Inez. "Her? You've been breathing far too much recycled shuttle air, my friend."

The disgusted look he gave Aiden was all theater, the kind of easy banter they had relied on for years. But beneath it, a flicker of genuine unease crept in as he looked at the dark tunnel opening. The air felt wrong somehow. Heavy. Humming.

He sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Fine," he muttered, mostly to himself. "Let's go get your girlfriend before the ground swallows us whole."

Then, louder, to Aiden: "If I die down there, I'm haunting you. Just so you know."

He flicked on his flashlight and fell in line behind the others, stepping into the dark.

 

[Raylin Fall]

Roman Vossari l Aiden Porte l Verity Suun l Sibylla Abrantes
​

Objective 1 - The Mines of Silence


The Commandos were quiet for a while. But they were getting more and more annoyed. It was when Roman Vossari turned on his flashlight that Raylin finally moved- silently. The Pathfinders were damn quiet people normally, but it was impressive that he could move that quietly and quickly without making much noise. A gloved hand went over the light. His visor slowly turned towards the gathered group. His voice was low, quiet, even through the helmet. He breathed out before speaking- the sharpness of his consonants being taken out. Just another aspect to how much the Recon Marines there were adept at sneaking around.

"Light and noise discipline, Jedi."

He didn't like all the talking. He also felt like he was being watched. And with how deep they were going into enemy territory- unsupported, at that, he was wary and paranoid (with good reason) already. That made all the soldiers there on edge. They were not demigods with mystical powers and laser swords. They were regular men, up against tall odds.

"Not all of us are coming back from this mission. Act like it."

And with that, Raylin pushed the flashlight down. It'd be a shame to get lit up and shot over a flashlight. The night-vision equipped pathfinders went first into the descent, into the darkness of the mines.

 

[Sven Halestorm]

​

Objective: II - The New Frontier
Location: Kenari Wilderness
Tag: Open

The wilderness of Kenari stretched before him like a sea of green and gold, where the wind carried the scent of damp soil and unseen rivers. Sven Halestorm paused at the edge of the forward operating post, boots crunching against the metal walkway that marked the line between civilization and the unknown. Behind him, workers shouted over the hum of machinery, their words lost beneath the droning engines of cargo lifters. Ahead lay only the whisper of the forest, the quiet challenge of a world untouched. He adjusted his cloak, letting it fall loosely over his shoulders as he stepped beyond the perimeter. The durasteel fences and sensor lights faded behind him, swallowed by the foliage.

Kenari’s wildlands were old. Towering trees rose from the earth like pillars of a forgotten temple, their bark veined with glowing spores that shimmered in the dim light. Sven moved carefully through the undergrowth, one hand brushing against a vine slick with morning dew. His senses stretched outward through the Force, not in search of danger, but to listen. The forest spoke in subtle language: the rustle of leaves, the distant call of a bird-like creature, the soft pulse of life that beat beneath everything. It was raw, unrefined beauty, a world still breathing in its natural rhythm, untouched by the machinery of conquest.

He stopped at a clearing where the canopy broke, revealing shafts of sunlight that painted the moss-covered ground in amber hues. Kneeling, Sven pressed his palm against the soil. It was warm, alive with energy. “The Force is strong here,” he murmured, his voice barely more than a breath. “But not because of conflict. Because of balance.” The words were less observation and more reverence, a quiet acknowledgment of the harmony he sought to preserve. In places like this, he remembered why he had left Naboo to find what others had forgotten that peace was found in the quiet corners of creation.

As he rose, the sound of movement reached him. Not mechanical, something organic, deliberate. His hand moved instinctively toward the hilt of his lightsaber, but he did not ignite it. A shadow shifted between the trees, slender and quick. He waited. Then, from behind a cluster of ferns, a pair of golden eyes met his. The creature was small, feline in shape, fur streaked with bioluminescent markings. It watched him curiously, unafraid. Sven let his tension fade, lowering his hand. “You’re no threat,” he said softly. “Only a reminder.” The animal tilted its head before darting away, leaving the forest silent once more.

To Venture Forth into the Unknown.​

 

[Scour]

OBJECTIVE I:
LOCATION: Caverns, UNKNOWN
ALLIES: Black Sun | Torn Eskol
FOES: Aiden Porte Roman Vossari Raylin Fall Verity Suun Ariel Korvane

The investment on the planet has been profitable, to say the least.

Deep within the caverns, bodies moved to and fro, some lumbering about in a rather swagger-like style, while others seemed to be more trained on a routine. Then there were the unlucky ones, the ones that were being pushed around like cattle, and cattle they were, cattle they were indeed. Men, women, children and aliens species of all sorts. They had been snatched, subjugated and put to the block. It was a filthy business.

You see, there was a killer profit to be made on the back ends of markets. Where holonets couldn't even reach. Not without a skilled hand, not without a slicer. But, these were the dealings that every planet in the galaxy turned their backs to. That was their role in this. Just as it was his to sell off his cargo for further profit. Because there was none better than Captain Scour and his Ten Thousand Fists.

Psychotic freaks.

" Are we on schedule?" The captain quipped and feigned a joyful smile at the poor morsels that were passing by. The expression looked more like a scowl. Scours question lingered in the air unanswered. His presence eliciting a bow from one of the many "clerks" that had been stationed within. Their fingers combing through information via datapad. Nervously before waving more down more down another clerk for aid.

 

[Inez]

​

Objective 1 - The Mines of Silence
C A V E R N S
Allies: Aiden Porte Roman Vossari Raylin Fall Verity Suun
Foes: Scour Torn Eskol

"Inez."

The brunette's correction came flat and clipped, followed by a slow blink that might have been mistaken for patience if not for the faint arch of her brow toward the redhead. Roman, was it?

Her composure held until his next remark landed. Then she paused, head turning toward Aiden with quiet incredulity. Both brows rose slightly, the unspoken question clear enough: Really?

"Well," she said dryly, "I knew the Order had relaxed its protocols regarding personal relations, but I wasn't aware they'd become that progressive. Such an... extensive reach in options."

A ghost of amusement touched her mouth before she moved past him, the sway of her dark leather armor catching the low gleam of the lights. Her dark brown hair was woven into a series of intricate Nabooan braids, framing the disciplined lines of her face. The soft gleam of dark leather armor bore the sigil of House Abrantes, choosing to move under their banner rather than that of the Interim Queen for appearances sake.

While Roman activated his hololight, Inez saw how Raylin chided him for it, corners of her lips twitching as she joined near Verity. She instead withdrew a compact blaster in her right hand.

"Quite the chatty one, aren't you?" she remarked quietly, tone somewhere between sardonic and assessing as the beam swept over the cavern floor. Light caught faint imprints in the mud, boot tread, maybe recent. She crouched slightly, gloved fingers brushing the edge of one print before glancing back toward the others.

"Someone's been through here."

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Forward Operating Base
Kenari-One
Aurelian Veruna @Open
​

"The base isn't much to look at yet. Unless you find half-built dreams inspiring."

He stepped forward, boots crunching through the same brittle soil, and gestured to the sprawling chaos of construction power conduits snaking between tents, half-erected pylons, sparks from a welder flaring in the distance.

"Though if you're looking for a tragic view." Cassian added dryly, "You'll find no shortage of those here."

There was a flicker of wry amusement in his tone, but his eyes remained sharp. The wind carried the smell of scorched minerals and ozone; it was the scent of a world still remembering fire. He took a few steps closer to Aurelian, studying him through the shifting haze. The man looked every inch the politician cape immaculate despite the dust, posture rigid, the kind of presence meant to command through image. Cassian respected that kind of discipline.

Still, Cassian's tone softened by a fraction as he gestured toward the horizon. "We've staked the first anchors. Atmospheric stabilizers are online in the primary sector. Once the perimeter shields are operational, we'll start the secondary grid. The plan is to have a functioning command post by week's end."

He paused, the wind catching his coat. "Kenari's not exactly welcoming us with open arms. But she's standing still long enough to listen."


His gaze met Aurelian's, steady unflinching. "Just you being here is enough." Cassian said plainly, as he looked around and already there was a buzz as if whispers of the chancellors arrival had spread. Cassian was no force user, but he did have that intuition about him, you could feel when there was a shift in the air and a change in the mood. His mind was telling him it was inspiring and bright. "If you'd like to give a speech, I can round everyone up for a moment. If not, or after its done there is more to be briefed on."

 

[Aiden Porte]

Objective: 1
The Mines Of Silence
Allies: Ariel Korvane Roman Vossari Raylin Fall Verity Suun
Enemies: Scour Torn Eskol
​

"Knight Porte,"

"we have not worked together before. Should you require a shield, or a sword, know that I will be there at your command."

The Jedi Knight gave a quick and respectful nod. "Thank you my friend. You are more than welcome to join us, your help would be greatly appreciated.

​

It was then he heard Roman speak and it took everything in him to not laugh, as he looked over to Roman with a smile. He cleared his throat as he noted Inez's gaze and he had no words for a little bit. Aiden let out a small sigh, and smirked. He whispered to Inez. "I can't apologize for that one, your on your own. Like the rest of his stablegirls."

Aiden's head turned slightly at Raylin's tone, his expression sharpening beneath the dim glow of the tunnel lights. The murmur of movement around them stilled for a heartbeat the kind of silence that hangs between soldiers when command and conviction collide.

He didn't raise his voice, he didn't need to.

"Discipline's not the same as despair, Sergeant." Aiden said evenly. "You're right about one thing not everyone walks away from missions like this. That's why you don't start burying your men before they've drawn their weapons."

He stepped closer, just enough. "They need focus. Not fatalism. If you want them alive, keep them believing they can survive long enough to do what we came here for."

A pause. The sound of distant machinery groaned through the tunnels like something old and enormous shifting in its sleep. Aiden's gaze drifted briefly toward the dark ahead, then back to Raylin. "We'll keep it as quiet as possible." he said, his tone softening slightly but his eyes still firm. "But remember fear makes more noise than words ever could. Let's not feed whatever's listening."

He stepped closer, careful not to disturb the prints she'd found. The beam from his wrist-light angled just enough to confirm what she'd seen boot tread, clean, sharp-edged. Too recent to belong to simple miners.

Aiden's gaze caught then what Inez has discovered, and there were more leading down the path as he too crouched before those ahead of him. "They're carrying weight. See that drag at the heel? Could be supplies. Could be someone." His eyes flicked up toward the tunnel ahead, where the dark swallowed the next bend whole. "If they've been moving prisoners, that could be the route."

He rose smoothly, drawing in a breath through his teeth. The air was metallic here, laced with the tang of ionized dust and something sour underneath fuel or blood, he couldn't tell. The force was heavy in this place, he could feel the fear rising, not from him or those around him, but there were others here.

"Good eye." he murmured. "We'll follow the trail, slow and quiet until its time not to be."

His saber hand hovered just above the hilt as he turned forward again, voice returning to command.

"Pathfinders. Watch your corners, we are being watched."

He looked over to Shiraya's hope, hand signaling to them that only they understood, through months of training and even longer length of years fighting alongside his father.

"Stay alert." He whispered, to all of them.

 

[Torn Eskol]

B L A C K - S U N - S Y N D I C A T E
MINES OF SILENCE

Aiden Porte l Roman Vossari l Ariel Korvane l Sibylla Abrantes l Verity Suun

IN TIME
​

Click-click-click.

Footsteps closer. Deliberate. He was one of the quietest people in the SIA. That hadn't changed since his defection. The assassin's eyes glowed in the dark. Deep in the mines, the tunnels, those eerie eyes fixated on the group gathered. And then-

A little chuckle.

Taunting.

Through the force, his mind was trained to prevent detection, harassment, interrogation, understanding. Years spent by the SIA, infiltrated by the greatest minds the Jedi could produce. And he learned to resist. So the force moved around him like figures behind opaque glass- and his mind, a wandering maze, lies, deceit had made him appear like he was six people standing in one place. He had lied so much to himself and to the entire galaxy that he really did believe he was Spider, he was Hammer, Rabbit- all of his names, all existing together and apart.

He was the reaper, the knife in the dark the Alliance sent to kill. Sith, turncoat Admirals and Generals. He was lethal. He was focused. And he was taunting them. They were hunting, but he was hunting them.

The Keshian's eerie eyes faded. He disappeared like a ghost, an apparition. But the sensation that they were being watched and he was still nearby- well, that was true.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Objective 1
Tags: Cassian Abrantes | Dominique Vexx

Aurelian listened, or perhaps more accurately, endured, as Cassian continued his detailed report. The General's voice, a droning hum against the wind and the generators, washed over Aurelian, the technical jargon blurring into meaningless noise. His gaze drifted, unfocused, toward the horizon, a hazy mirage of heat and dust.

When talk turned to the possibility of a speech, Aurelian didn't hesitate to interrupt. "No." The single word, delivered without anger but with absolute finality, ended the discussion. He moved past Cassian, the crunch of his boots on the dirt marking his path toward the sleek shuttle descending onto a distant pad. A new arrival, and far more engaging company.

A slight smirk touched Aurelian's lips as the shuttle ramp lowered, revealing Dominique Vexx. Always immaculate, she was a vision of sharp elegance. Her arrival alone seemed to alter the base's atmosphere; soldiers stood straighter, engineers paused their work, and even the dust seemed to hold its breath.

"Director Vexx," Aurelian greeted, his tone casual as he approached her. "Denon rarely arrives without a strategic objective. What does your world have in store to aid Kenari?" He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And if you truly wish to help, you'll spare me another of Cassian's progress reports. I hear they can drag on longer than an Assembly session."

His grin widened, his golden eyes shifting between Vexx and the subdued bustle around them. "Kenari is still suffering, and we are here to coax it back to health. I suspect Denon has an interest in this, perhaps a profitable one, or maybe even a poetic one. Either way, I'm eager to hear it."

​

 

[Roman Vossari]

LOCATION: Objective 1
TAGS: Aiden Porte | Ariel Korvane | Verity Suun | Raylin Fall

​

Roman couldn't help but chuckle as Raylin's gloved hand discreetly covered his flashlight. The commando moved with an almost supernatural silence, a stark contrast to his humorless demeanor. "Light and noise discipline, Jedi," Raylin murmured, a subtle rebuke.

Roman blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. He mouthed "Jedi?" before catching himself and nodding like a chastened student. Raylin exuded that weary authority of someone who had seen too many avoidable tragedies caused by carelessness. Fair enough. Roman clicked off his flashlight, muttering under his breath, "Got it, Sergeant Sunshine. Loud and glowing is bad. Message received."

He fell back into step behind Raylin, a mischievous urge to cough just to see if the commando would physically react bubbling up.

Suddenly, Inez's voice, cool and precise with an aristocratic edge, sliced through the quiet. Roman still wasn't sure if her tone was genuinely annoyed or just naturally intimidating. She had corrected him earlier about her name, and her dry remark about Aiden's "extensive reach in options" had elicited a snort he'd failed to suppress. Now, as she knelt to examine some tracks, Roman leaned in slightly, keeping his voice low.

"Hey, I was messing around," he whispered, a half-hearted apology. "Mostly. But if you're trying out for Aiden's next conquest, you're nailing it. Stoic, mysterious, a hint of judgment in your eyes... definitely his type."

He offered a hopeful grin, but Inez remained focused on the prints, unfazed. She was all business, likely conditioned from birth to ignore distractions like him. He sighed. "Right. Not the time. My bad."

Then Aiden, remarkably calm, delivered a jab about "stablegirls." Roman's head snapped around so fast his neck popped. "Stablegirls? That's rich coming from you!" he hissed.

A few troopers ahead tensed at the raised whisper. Roman clenched his jaw, forcing his grin away. The levity vanished as he followed Aiden's gaze into the darkness ahead. The air felt thick, heavy with dust and the faint, acrid tang of something burnt.

Raylin's earlier warning, "not all of them were coming back", replayed in his mind. He hadn't taken it seriously at first, but staring into the oppressive blackness of the tunnel, it no longer sounded like pessimism. It sounded like hard-won experience.

Roman adjusted his pack strap and drew the small blaster from his hip. "Alright," he murmured, mostly to himself this time. "No lights. No jokes. Understood."

He moved after Raylin and Inez, his pace slowing, his eyes straining as the darkness seemed to pulse. Whatever lurked in those mines, he suspected, was watching them back.

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Forward Operating Base
Kenari-One

Aurelian Veruna @Open
​

Cassian's gaze followed Aurelian only long enough to see where the Chancellor's attention shifted to the descending shuttle, gleaming in the wan orange light like an imported luxury against the grime of Kenari's soil. The man's stride was confident, impatient, his coat catching the wind like he thought it might obey him.

"No."

Cassian simply nodded and spoke. "Yes sir."

He turned back toward the construction crews and issued a few brisk orders. "Get those pylons stabilized. If the Chancellor wants optics, at least make sure the skyline doesn't fall on him."

"Yes sir."

His gaze followed the man for only a moment before shifting back to the skeletal frame of the base. Dominique Vexx. He couldn't help but show a small smile, but it quickly vanished as this wasn't a social gathering at least not for him. And of course Aurelian would find her infinitely more interesting than structural stress data or supply manifests. The Republic ran on politics as much as power cells, and both had a habit of overheating.

Cassian exhaled slowly and turned back to the task at hand.

"Move those crates closer to the power junction." he called to a group of GAHR engineers struggling with a repulsorlift. "We'll need the conduits rerouted before the night cycle. The stormfront'll short half our circuits if we leave them exposed."

He joined them, rolling up his sleeves and taking one end of a heavy stabilizer column. The surprised looks from the crew didn't last long most who'd worked under him knew better than to think rank exempted him from labor. Sweat gathered quickly in the dry air, stinging his eyes as he helped guide the equipment into place.

The rhythmic grind of machinery steadied his mind. Each anchor sunk into the soil, each generator brought online, was a small victory proof that something, however fragile, could stand here again.

It was going to be a long day.

 

[Scour]

OBJECTIVE I:
LOCATION: Caverns, UNKNOWN
ALLIES: Black Sun | Torn Eskol
FOES: Aiden Porte Roman Vossari Raylin Fall Verity Suun Ariel Korvane

" Scour. Ah yes. I'll see to it that your name-" The clerk's voice was nasally, like a Muuns whine and yet the species in question was a Gran at that. Their tongue no doubt sharper than a dagger. Used to blackmail and deception for the many Black Sun thugs posted nearby. Either way the Gran clerk had made a mistake.

In a blur of movement the right arm of Captain Scours shifted. Resting a single large palm on the Gran's shoulder. It rested ever so slightly, almost gently and yet that notion was not exactly comforting. The aliens three eyed visage cringed and his lip quivered. His body caught stiff and frozen with a creeping dread. The clerk was not sure whether to move or be still.

It didn't phase the Captain nor the five other Gen'dai behind him. The entourage cackling and bellowing with laughter at the display. They all knew what was going to occur next. " What did you say?" Scour took a step forward. The Gran clerk mimicked the gesture in an attempt to gain space. It forced the Gran in a backpedal that ended when a the alien bumped into the assistant behind him.

" Scour?" The clerk repeated in question.
" What did you say? Say it again." His gazed leveled the alien.

" Captain Scour?!" The verbalization came out with a croke. Immediately the Captain back away and lumbered himself to resume his business. " Disrespect me again and you'll lose your legs next time, Worm." The pirate hissed.

" Of course! Of course! Please forgive me Captain Scour. I will make sure to add your proper title and position to our manifests. In fact I will do it immediately!" The Gran fell in a frenzied dispaly of focus and concentration. Making edits as if his life depended on it. It was only afterward that Scours words replayed over in his memory.

" Wait...What?" The Gran recoiled slightly.

Failing to read the situation, The alien's perception found itself blocked when two Gen'dai approached with a sadistic smile on their faces. " BRING ME HIS ARMS BOYS!" The Captain ordered with a shout. Screams and shrieks of horror smothered the depths. The scene itself evoking nothing short of a...well... a mess. While awaiting his new limbs, the Captain took his time inspecting the rather expensive additions that had not been in the underground base per his last visit.

One could admire the efforts of Black Suns resources and credits. Always credits.
" Ahem. Captain Scour. We are calculating a quote for the mass cargo you and your crew have brought us. As soon as it's done you will be notified, Captain." The new clerk and former assistant said coldly and lowly. To this Scour said nothing but acknowledge the comment with a simple blink.

This one was more fit for the position obviously.