Dominion The Mines of Silence | THR Dominion of Kenari

[Taelen Velara]

Foward Operating Base
Kenari-One
Isobel Serraris ​

Padawan Taelen Velara moved among them, sleeves rolled, his tunic clinging faintly to his back in the rising heat. He wasn't above labor, that's why he volunteered to go with the first group. The Jedi had arrived days earlier along with the Army and following officers to oversee the establishment of the Kenari FOB, ensuring it could serve both as a staging ground and a humanitarian hub. Supplies arrived almost hourly crates of medical kits, rations, modular shield emitters and every set of hands mattered. He was just here to help, that's all.

From here, he could see the half-constructed command spire at the camp's center, its metal skeleton jutting up from the soil like the bones of a buried giant. Power conduits snaked across the ground, feeding life into the comm arrays and shield domes that would soon protect the base. Workers shouted to one another over the whine of droid welders, sparks cascading in showers of orange and gold.

A breath of wind swept down from the ridgeline. Taelen paused a moment to take it in, brushing dust from his forehead. Somewhere beyond those hills, Kenari's mines still echoed with the ghosts of the people who'd once toiled there. The locals avoided the area, saying the land remembered. He could feel it too the quiet ache beneath the surface, a resonance in the Force that hummed with memory and loss.

A voice crackled over the comms, pulling him back to the present. "Velara, we've got another transport inbound from Naboo. You're on off-load detail."

"Copy that." he replied, jogging toward the landing zone as a shadow swept over the field. A bulky transport descended, thrusters kicking up another storm of dust and debris. Taelen shielded his eyes, robe whipping around him, watching as the ramp lowered. Inside, the next wave of supplies waited along with the faint sense that something about this planet, about this mission, would test him more deeply than simple manual labor ever could.

Still, he squared his shoulders and stepped forward. This was the work of rebuilding the quiet kind of service that preceded every great struggle. And for now, Taelen Velara was content to carry the weight, for now.

"Isobel." Taelen showed a small smile, as the first of responders left the vessel. "Glad you could make it."

 

[Isobel Serraris]

THE MINES OF SILENCE​

Location — Forward Operating Base, Kenari
Objective — Aid the members of the High Republic in setting up their base.
Tags — Taelen Velara / Open
Paraphernalia — Lightsabers

The hull shook and rattled as the ship entered the atmosphere, struggling with the dense toxic clouds that hung over the surface. It was not the only thing bringing forth a disturbance, as the Force felt empty, it was present, but hollow. As if the garden of Ashla had been poisoned, and its flowers had been reduce to ashes and husks... The mere sensation brought an unpleasant ache to her body and soul, leaving her in a wary anticipation of how the soil may appear. Yet... no place could remain cursed forever, and mayhap nature would yet flourish once more.

Such a thought appeared a distant prospect--as the moment the ramp extended itself and the doors opened, the canvas of despair and death unfolded. Accompanied by a cruel burn in her throat with every breath. The air tasted wrong, not even akin to the poisonous spores left by plants, this burned more like a wrong batch of alcohol. But, it was breathable, as if oxygen still roamed shallowly over the barren planet.

The Padawan grabbed a box with medical supplies, and mostly Millaflowers (and their seeds), to both bring some colour and air to the new base. The container's weight lay heavy on her arms as she swayed lightly from left to right on her way down the ramp. Nearly tripping on her final step, before setting the contents down on the metal ground.

She barely had the time to catch her breath, as her name echoed in the landing zone, accompanied by the presence of a familiar face. "Taelen? Had I known you would be here-- No matter, it is good to see you." Isobel let out another tired sigh, her brown eyes trailing down to the crate. "We brought another batch of supplies. And I asked my family to provide a handful of Millaflowers to drive away the toxins in the air... By Shiraya, this planet is unpleasant." A soft chuckle left her and she reached down to grab one of the red and blue coloured flowers, holding it out to her fellow Padawan.

Though her father had warned her of the flowers tranquilising effects if they were used wrongly, she doubted the Republic would act so careless when provided with gifts. . .

 

[Taelen Velara]

Foward Operating Base
Kenari-One
Isobel Serraris

​

"I had thought it was time to start making myself somewhat useful."

When she mentioned Milla-flowers, he blinked, surprised. "You brought those?" he asked, stepping closer as she lowered the crate beside his. The blossoms were a striking contrast against the dull metals, petals of deep red and electric blue that almost seemed to shimmer despite the dim light. Their scent was faint but pure, cutting through the chemical bite of the atmosphere like a memory of rain.

"The Republic will appreciate it." he murmured, his tone quieter, reverent almost. "Anything that reminds us what we're fighting to protect."

He crouched to inspect the flowers, fingertips brushing one of the petals with care. Even the Force seemed to react slightly less hollow, a little more alive. Looking up, he met her gaze again, the faint wind tugging at his hair and cloak.

"Thank you, Isobel, and your family." he said simply. "This place needs something living in it again."

A low rumble shook the ground as construction droids began to assemble the framework for another structure.

"Maybe." he said, almost to himself. "If we plant enough of these, Kenari will remember what it feels like to breathe again. We should find a good place for them soon."

 

[Isla Reingard]

​

Isla stepped just beyond the edge of the clearing, the filtered forest light dancing across her face. She was following a persistent sort of hum, a pull that always tugged at her when she was supposed to be doing anything productive. Her boots sank softly into the moss. When she spotted the man kneeling there, palm pressed to the ground, murmuring to the dirt like it was an old friend, she almost laughed. So this was what the grown-ups did instead of work.

She crossed her arms and tilted her head, curiosity easily winning out over caution. The man didn't seem dangerous, just strange. Focused. He was probably a Jedi, one of those quiet types who believed the galaxy's problems could be solved by meditating next to a tree. She stepped forward, letting her voice carry easily through the open space.

"Are you talking to yourself out here?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her tone. "Skipping the work too?"

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and shrugged. "You know, they've got us hauling crates the size of starfighters back at the post. I'm not sure what that's supposed to teach us, except maybe regret." Her eyes flicked down to where his hand still rested on the ground. "Do you really feel something here?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "I mean… I do too, I think. It's strange. Like the planet itself is awake."

Then she smirked again, the brief moment of honesty already gone. "Still not worth missing lunch over, though."

Sven Halestorm​

 

[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

"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."

"Messing around, were you?" Inez murmured quietly before finally glancing up at Roman through her lashes. The hint of a smile ghosted her lips.

Oh my sweet summer child... I've heard better attempts.

"Careful... Roman. Keep talking like that and someone might start thinking you're trying to impress me." The words were soft enough that only he could hear, but her tone carried the same quiet confidence that had unsettled nobility twice her age. Her gaze lingered on him for a breath longer than necessary in that unreadable assesing way before she straightened to her full height.

That was when it hit.

The first sound was distant, almost mistaken for the wind cutting through the stone. Then came the second, closer and unmistakably raw strangled scream that clawed through the damp air. The echo stretched on, splintering into a chorus of shrieks that made the cavern seem to pulse with dread.

Inez froze, and every muscle locked in place. It wasn't the sort of sound she'd ever want to hear again.

The faint tremor of moisture dripped from the ceiling, tapping out an eerie rhythm as the sound faded into silence once more.

Inez flicked her hazel green eyes over towards Aiden, Verity, and then Roman.

"That wasn't the wind," she said quietly, but edged with alarm.

Another shriek ripped through the tunnels, closer this time, wet and guttural, ending in a sound that made her stomach twist. Without waiting for instruction, Inez moved forward, boots crunching softly over gravel and bone-dry mud.

 

[Sven Halestorm]

​

Objective: II - The New Frontier
Location: Kenari Wilderness
Tag: Isla Reingard

Sven glanced up from where he knelt, the moss still clinging faintly to his glove. The voice that reached him was bright, almost musical, against the quiet hum of the wilderness, a reminder that even among the solemn duties of the Order, youth carried its own kind of light. He turned toward the girl, a faint smile touching his lips as her teasing words settled into the air between them. “Talking to myself?” he repeated, as though considering it. “Perhaps. Though if one listens long enough, even silence begins to speak back.” He rose slowly, brushing the dirt from his palm, his gaze flicking from her face to the forest beyond.

“The crates will still be there when you return,” he said with an easy tone, stepping closer until the filtered sunlight traced the edges of his cloak. “But what you feel out here, that’s rarer than most realize.” He gestured gently toward the earth. “You’re right. The planet is awake. Some worlds whisper. Kenari sings, if you’re patient enough to hear the melody beneath the noise.”

For a moment, he let the quiet stretch between them again, letting her curiosity breathe. Something was refreshing about her unguarded honesty, an energy that the weight of expectation hadn’t yet shaped. “You’ve been listening without realizing it,” he said finally. “It’s the Force, reaching out in its own way. Most of us spend years trying to notice it again after we stop paying attention.” His eyes softened, the faintest warmth in their blue-gray hue.

When she mentioned lunch, he chuckled under his breath, a sound that felt almost rare out here. “Ah, the eternal struggle of the young: enlightenment or nourishment,” he mused. “If you’re wise, you’ll choose both. But not necessarily in that order.” His expression turned slightly more serious as he added, “Still, it’s good that you came. Curiosity is the first step toward gaining a deeper understanding. Never let duty silence that.”

He turned his gaze back toward the clearing, the light shifting as a breeze stirred the canopy. “Walk with me,” he said after a moment, nodding toward the deeper woods. “There’s more to learn from this place than any holocron can teach. And besides, if we take the long way back, perhaps we’ll reach the mess hall before the stew turns to paste.”

His smile returned, subtle but genuine, and with a quiet hum of his cloak, he began down the mossy path once more. “Come then,” he said, his voice carrying the calm cadence of a teacher who had long since learned patience. “Let’s see what Kenari wants us to hear today.”

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Objective 2​

It was pleasing to see the Base, while still relatively new, had a semblance of order about it. Not only was this on the edge of Republic space, and the cusp of hostile territory, but Aurelian -- the Chancellor pro Tempore -- was there; such an installation should conduct itself properly. There was enough to do and worry about that discipline should not be one of them.

Still, shame the planet itself couldn't share in that quality. Quite the right mess it was.

Golden rings swept around to find Aurelian himself out and about, headed her way. A smile spread across her lips at the sight. Cassian seemed to be accompanying him as well; a matter that the Chancellor wasted no time calling attention toward as being a 'drag.' Well, not every meeting could be reports of knives cloaked in shadow or planet-eating superweapons. "Chancellor Veruna." Whether that became permanent only time would tell, but it was his title all the same for the time being. Best people heard it used often enough they got used to it.

She listened to the Republic's interest in the world, and the man's curiosity of her presence. He had, of course, judged the situation fairly. "You'll find Kenari most disappointing as a source of profitable resources. There's practically nothing to 'coax' health back into." Shame. Who didn't wish a planet would magically be replenished so you could strip mine it all over again? That would be quite convenient. "However," she paused with a smile, "that does present us an unique opportunity. With your blessing, Denon is interested in field testing some of our latest terraforming technology to see if a thriving ecosystem can't be restarted on a barren rock." It might not have precious gems and metals, but such things were hardly staples in the diet of flora.

"In addition to establishing a fort," Dominique's eyes shifted slightly to bring Cassian into focus for a moment, "the Republic might come into possession of another agri-world. One Denon would gladly assist in distributing its bounty, should you feel it appropriate." A successful reintroduction of flora itself would be enough. Others would be literally hungry for such technology to bring a bustling agricultural world closer to their orbits. "Oh, yes, and of course we wouldn't want anyone meddling in our field test, so I have assets nearby to secure Kenari's surrounding space."

Aurelian Veruna | Cassian Abrantes​

 

[Roman Vossari]

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

​

Roman let a low, scoffing sound escape him, a smirk playing on his mouth. "Impress you?" he whispered back. "Hardly. I'm the catch here. Back home, they called me the Ukatian Dream: eligible bachelor, plenty of credits, devastating charm; a tragic case, really." He paused, giving a small shrug, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "You'd have to work just to get my attention."

The banter was easy, automatic, but the sound that followed wasn't. The sound hit them with the harshness of metal tearing, sharp enough to cut through the humor and the thick tunnel air. It rolled through the corridors, distant yet undeniably real, followed by another shriek that made Roman's pulse jump.

He looked toward Inez just in time to see her lock up. The change was instant; not the cold detachment she usually held, but a real, frightening alarm that tightened his stomach. Whatever sound that was, it wasn't foreign to her, and the familiarity of that terror made it worse. Still, old habits kicked in. "You can hold my hand if you want," he murmured, keeping his voice low and laced with sarcasm. "Just keep it professional. Don't want to make the others jealous."

He glanced past her, toward the dark path where the noise had come from. Raylin was already shifting into a combat formation, Verity's armor catching a faint gleam of light, and Aiden stood steady, looking like he'd expected this all along. Roman allowed himself a dry laugh under his breath. "Relax," he told himself, though no one else seemed to need the advice. "We've got Sergeant Sunshine and our fearless strike leader Jedi Knight Aiden Porte. What could possibly go wrong?"

 

[Verity Suun]

​

OBJECTIVE I
Equipment: Seraph Eques III Armor, Igneus Gladius IV Weapon
Allies: Aiden Porte | Raylin Fall | Inez | Sibylla Abrantes | Roman Vossari
Hostiles: Torn Eskol | Scour

Verity did not make a sound, but her helmet turned in Raylin's direction as Porte addressed the man's comments. It wasn't that his words were wrong, but that they served no purpose. He seemed to be someone of few words, which she respected but that only made his comments all the more poignant. The mission in the cave already had the.... 'soldiers' on edge. The Jedi Knight seemed to agree, which drew Verity's attention back to him in weighing his worth as a commander.

The barrel of the scattergun lifted from the floor of the cave at the sound of the scream that caught Inez's ear. The helm turned in Porte's direction ready to move at his command. Whoever it was that now likely lay in a pool of their own blood was not familiar to the Admiral, so haste was not demanded of her in that moment. This was an opportunity to learn more of how these people operated. What their priorities were. As an outsider, such details were important and hearsay was only so trustworthy -- people had a bad habit of embellishing in the wider galaxy.

"Keep your head on a swivel," Verity said without looking at anyone in particular. Roman seemed to be giving himself advice, however, so she thought to offer one of her own. Enemies had a bad habit of appearing from behind when all of your attention was fixated at the front.

 

[Isla Reingard]

Location: Objective 2 - Skipping Class
Tags: Sven Halestorm

​

Isla watched him, her head tilted and arms crossed. There was a familiar cadence to his voice; calm, measured, with the thoughtful, almost brooding air that seemed common among older Jedi. He reminded her of Lorn, if Lorn ever managed a smile. But this man carried a different kind of weight, a quiet gravity that made his words resonate long after he'd spoken.

He turned and started down the path, a silent invitation for her to follow. Isla sighed dramatically before muttering, "Sure, I guess." She kicked at a patch of moss, then hurried after him. Why not follow the strange man into the wilderness. "It's not like I have a better plan anyway."

Catching up swiftly, her smaller steps turned into a light skip to match his stride. "Just so you know," she began, her tone quick and casual, "I didn't volunteer to come to Kenari. The teachers decided I needed to 'expand my horizons'... whatever that means. Probably just code for getting the troublemaker out of the Sanctuary for a bit." She grinned up at him, unbothered by the admission. "So don't give me too much credit for being curious. I'm just trying to avoid chores."

The forest embraced them as they walked, the air warm and alive with the faint hum of unseen creatures. Isla glanced at him. "So… what's your name?" she asked. "You've got that whole quiet, mysterious Jedi vibe, but I won't call you 'Master Broody.'"

She gave him a moment before continuing, "I'm Isla. Isla Reingard." Her voice softened, becoming more sincere. "What's so special about this place? I mean, it's nice, very… alive, even."

Her gaze drifted to the glowing vines overhead, then back to him. "So, what is it Kenari wants us to hear?"

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ojbective: 1
The Mines of Silence
Direct: Scour
Allies: Inez Roman Vossari Raylin Fall Verity Suun
Enemies: Torn Eskol​

As they advanced, the narrow tunnel widened abruptly into a chamber a collapsed mining bay turned staging ground. Crates stamped with Black Sun insignia lined the walls, half-buried in dust and debris. The hum Aiden had felt grew louder here, pulsing faintly from deeper down into the mines. He wasn't the only one who felt and heard it, that sound.

"That wasn't the wind,"

He raised a fist, signaling the team to halt. His own gaze fixed on the path ahead, just as they came into a bigger portion of the cavern, wide and seemingly undisturbed. There was an unease coiling low in his gut. The Force around it was....wrong. Hostile and corrupt....

Blasterfire erupted in a sudden, blistering wave, red streaks cutting through the dark and hammering into rock. The first volley nearly caught them flat-footed, but Aiden reacted faster than thought.

His saber ignited in a flash of blue-white light, cutting through the shadows as his free hand swept forward, palm open. The Force surged outward from him like a shockwave of air, rippling and shimmering into a translucent barrier that enveloped the strike team. Bolts slammed into it and scattered harmlessly into sparks, their energy refracting off the faint, wavering dome of light. The hum of the barrier drowned out the chaos for a heartbeat, casting everything in a hazy blue glow.

Aiden barked, his voice carrying over the gunfire. "Regroup behind me!"

The barrier flared again under another volley. Cracks of red energy spidered across its surface before Aiden shifted his stance, grounding his boots into the dirt. His focus sharpened every breath deliberate, every beat of his heart syncing with the pull of the Force around him.

Then in a quick sudden move, the barrier dispersed as his hand clenched into a fist, and the Force expelled outward. The front rank of Black Sun enforcers a half-dozen in heavy armor were lifted off their feet and hurled backwards.

"Fan out! She's here, no one protects an empty mine." And deeper into the path the sound of boots and mechanical servos began to echo. Reinforcements.

Aiden shifted his grip on the hilt, the Force coiling around him again like a living storm as he pushed forward with others and Aiden hoped with everything in him she was safe. They seemed to be defending the blast door ahead of them, and then there was a path that branched off to the right of that.

"Split up, I'll take the path to the right, and some of you stay and get that blast door open, she may be in there."

The path he was leading on would take him directly into the path of Scour.

 

[Raylin Fall]

Roman Vossari l Aiden Porte l Verity Suun l Inez
MINES OF SILENCE
ASSAULTING THE BLAST DOOR
​

Raylin had half a mind to cut the Jedi's tongue out. All of them. They talked. They talked and talked. Raylin's visor never moved, didn't flinch when Aiden spoke.

​

"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."

Raylin didn't respond. The Pathfinders with him had a shift in tone. Hostile, maybe was the word. Adverse. Raylin had been subjected to Jedi's machinations before- a former Alliance trooper himself, he watched his homeworld, and the Alliance be ripped apart by the actions, inactions, and decisions, betrayal of the Jedi. To say that some troopers had a resentment of the Jedi was an understatement. Some viewed them as mythical heroes, legends of the galaxy that bent destiny to their whim, or heroes worthy of praise beyond comprehension.

The task at hand came rearing its ugly head in the form of an opening salvo by the enemy- the Jedi putting up a protective barrier. The Pathfinders got low and small, the interior of the cave offering little protection. There was no going back- that was fruitless. The Pathfinders didn't need to say anything. They didn't need to coordinate, to plan. They already knew what to do. Raylin was the first to move, dropping his medical pack as he stormed forward. The Pathfinders went for the blast door, or at least, the enemies guarding it.

"COMING THROUGH!" He said, advancing roughly five meters, while the rest of the Pathfinders picked up their rates of fire towards the enemy. He laid down. Knees, weak hand, prone, fire. And on it went- the team moving forward, little by little, each time they ran screaming "COMING THROUGH!" as loudly as they could.

They were close to the enemy. Fearless, determined, violent. The Pathfinders were every bit the reputation they'd garnered. And Raylin, perhaps was the worst of them. Insubordinate, angry, and determined to kill the enemy. Raylin was seized by one of the Black Sun enforcers, springing out from behind one of the crates. A rifle butt came crashing down, but Raylin managed to dodge it by tucking his head into his chest. He let his rifle hang from it's sling, and seized the enforcer's legs. Raylin pulled and sent him crashing down, with the heavily armored thug, already off balance, smacking into the floor with a heavy thud. Both men scrambled to get to a more advantageous position, the Enforcer attempting to back away to get into a shooting position, while Raylin took a more direct approach-

And drew his fighting knife. The point of a knife in a fight, despite the movies, was to immobilize, then kill. He went for his leg first, stabbing behind the knee where there was a gap in his armor. A scream ricocheted off the walls of the cave, even over the gunfire. Raylin dug his free left hand under the Enforcer's helmet. He could feel the flightsuit material underneath his gloves giving way, heavy breaths as the enforcer went to push against his wrist, to free himself from the potential choke.

But the choke never came. Raylin stuck the blade up under where his ear would be, and twisted.

The thug jerked, then went limp.

Raylin rolled behind the bloody dead body, and started to suppress the enemy as the rest of the team pushed onto the blast door. While capable of holding his own in a fight-

He would've much preferred not having to shoot his way through this operation. But they'd been compromised, either by talking, sensors, or carelessness. That blame game and after-action would come later. Focusing on that was stupid. He had a mission to complete, and the parameters outside his control were just that.

 

[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

"The Ukatian Dream, was it?" Inez echoed quietly, her hand darting to her belt to press the activation stud on a small clipped attachment. A soft shimmer of pale blue rippled over her form as her personal shield flared to life, humming faintly before settling into a near-invisible sheen."Bold claim for a man who thinks 'keep it professional' means flirt first, shoot later."

Really, what was it with men and that word professional? Every time they said it, it was less a promise of restraint and more a confession that they wanted to do anything but.

"Blaster fire incoming!" she shouted, diving for partial cover as a barrage of red bolts carved through the dark. Her compact pistol came up in one smooth motion, returning precise shots toward the advancing shapes between the crates. The stench of ozone filled the air.

"Professional enough for you now?" she called over her shoulder as she fired again, a pair of shots sparking against armor before one found its mark. The enforcer fell hard.

Movement at her flank made her pivot, but too late. A Devaronian surged out of the shadows, a snarl splitting his scarred face as he swung a vibrosword at her head. The impact met the flare of her shield instead, sending a burst of pale blue light arcing outward.

The Devaronian stumbled back, blinking in confusion as the energy shimmer rippled over her. Inez took the opportunity. Her boot snapped upward, driving into his knee with brutal precision. The crack echoed through the chamber, followed by a strangled cry. For the briefest second, Inez hesitated before she pulled the blaster pistol at point-blank range at his chest.

Do not hesitate. Hesitate and someone will die, she told herself, trying to push past the knowledge that she had just killed someone.