Faction Thread Canceled

[Salon Loghain]

​

The howl of Ilum's winds is the only dirge for a galaxy lost. It screams across the glacial plains, scouring the ancient Jedi caves where crystals once sang with the light of the Force. That song is faint now drowned beneath the tramp of boots, the hum of generators, and the grim silence of a remnant holding the line.

Here, on the edge of the known galaxy, the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances plants a flag in the ice. Ilum is more than a strategic foothold; it is a declaration that the light, though besieged, has not been extinguished.

The newly established Frozen Reclamation Outpost "First Light" serves as both a military listening post and a somber sanctuary for the Jedi Command. Below, in a war-room carved into the blue ice, the future of the Federation is being written not with grand speeches, but with tactical overlays and desperate hope.

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A priority transmission, encrypted and beaconed across fractured hyperspace routes, has found its way to this outpost.

Chief of State Salon Loghain has requested the galaxy's brightest minds to come to Ilum, to debate and formulate the Federation's response to the rapid rise of a new threat in the Sith Covenant and how the other light side-aligned factions plan to respond to the apparent fighting between this new power and the Galactic Empire in the Core.

If the Emperor's hold can be weakened, there is nothing to prevent the reemergence of the Galactic Alliance as a sovereign power.

​

During routine seismic scans, outpost sensors detected anomalous energy signatures deep in the planet's crystal catacombs far from the sanctioned mining sectors. Scouting drones dispatched to investigate did not return. The last transmitted images showed the distinctive, brutalist architecture of prefabricated mining rigs and warriors in neo-crusader Mandalorian armor.

A cell of exiled Mandalorian Remnants, cast out from Mandalore by the order of the Mandalorian Empire for their unrelenting devotion to the fractured Neo-Crusader Cause, has infiltrated the sacred caves.

They are not here for kyber for lightsabers; they are strip-mining the planet's life-force, powering illicit weapons foundries to fuel their own planned crusade. Their operation is a desecration and a direct threat to the outpost's secrecy and stability.

Navigate the treacherous, glacial caverns, avoid or sabotage their security measures, and put a stop to the ecological and spiritual pillaging of Ilum. Expect fierce resistance from warriors who believe a glorious battle is a fitting offering to their legacy.

 

[Salon Loghain]

Ajim stood in front of the expansive transparisteel, his webbed hands firmly clasped behind his back. Beyond the Ilum glaciers, the first shuttles carrying the invited delegates would make their way to his unannounced summit, if they decided to come at all, considering his minimal sway in the galaxy.

Once just a senate page when the Second Galactic Alliance collapsed, he had now ascended to the position of Chief of State for this small remnant. The tiny datapad in his grasp appeared to shine even more intensely as intelligence packets streamed in; the Sith Covenant had emerged near the Galactic Empire's borders.

Information was limited, but it appeared that this emerging force was eager to confront a powerful adversary. He couldn't fault them, yet resorting to violence was undoubtedly not the solution to the ongoing turmoil in the galaxy.

"When the galaxy is oppressed by the ruthless control of the Sith Empires and the Imperial Warlords, it is often the ordinary citizen who rises to challenge them most effectively. In the grand scheme of things, all we need to do is fulfill our roles, and today, I find myself called to mediate," he murmured, turning away from the view to face the conference table.

He smoothed the drape of his simple blue and golden robes, the only indication of his position, and ran his fingers over the cool, smooth surface of his desk. Here, in the calm before the storm of discussion. A gentle chime resonated. The delegates were gathering. Ajim straightened his posture, his broad face settling into a look of calm, resolute determination.

The fear was tucked away, serving as a private source of strength for his public responsibility. He would not confront the impending storm alone. He would listen, he would lead, and he would make sure that when the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances spoke, it did so with a single, clear, unwavering voice.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Objective: 1
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Arwr Da, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Salon Loghain

Lily arrived on Ilum, the Jedi Knight had gotten word of an encrypted message that was being sent out. One that was seemingly a call for organisation and discussion on the rising threats in the galaxy and apparently coming from a faction that desired to become the successor of the Galactic Alliance. It was unsurprising since the legacy of the Galactic Alliance was spread far and wide, the faction had touched many lives and influenced a great number of things so people wanting to live up to that was bound to happen. Lily was more curious in how that would look and what changes were they going to do, if any.

Stretching her limbs, Lily had not been to Ilum since the Zinder event that had been hosted here. It was strange to be here for very different reasons now. There was no fun and romance. Walking through the snow, many were likely going to think that Lily should be freezing cold but she felt more chilled, a pleasant chilliness with the wind and snow as she trekked forward. When she arrived at the entrance of the hideaway, Lily nodded her head at the guards, "Lily Decoria, Jedi Knight. I got your message and wanted to see how I could help." Lily stated in a firm, determined tone. The professional voice that she used while on mission.

Walking deeper into the place, Lily noticed Ajim already talking. Lily bowed her head to him, "greetings, is it Chief Ajim? Sorry, we have not met before and I wish to ensure I am using the correct title for you." Lily spoke in a respectful tone. "I am Jedi Knight Lily Decoria, I heard the message that was sent out and I could not help but be curious about what was happening here as well as see what I could do to help." If people were going to be organising themselves to fight the Sith and Imperial forces out there in the galaxy then Lily was going to make sure that she could be available to help them do so.

 

[Kel Se'Taav]

The transmission arrived at Kel’s Bothawui office as little more than a broken, staticky fragment. Had the name Ilum not been discernible to the former Alliance senator, he’d had likely dismissed it as another ghost signal bouncing around old GA communications buoys. He’d seen it a half-dozen or so times since retiring to his homeworld; Trade League SOS beacons firing into the stars with senders on the other side who were long gone—or long dead.

But this time, Kel had a feeling that the message was more than just an echo reverberating across the hyperlanes. He moved with haste, or at least as much as a graying old Bothan could muster, to the sleek building across the way. His proximity to the Spynet, both physically and through experience, lent him some insight from the network. Kel’s daughter worked in the HQ these days, and happily worked her magic… at the expense of a few questions about her father’s interest in the message.

“You’re not going back to the Core, are you?” Her brows were furrowed almost identical to his.

Kel made a face back that told her it wasn’t up for discussion, despite his willingness to answer her.

“Yes, I am,” he said sternly.

“There’s no Alliance to go back to, Dad.”

“I know, naith’ra. I wouldn’t want to return if I believed I was walking into the same pit of vipers. This feels different, and I know it’s contrary to what the Academy teaches, but I have to-“

“-Follow your instincts.”
“-Follow my instincts.”

She understood what her father needed to do, and without any further delay, the two exchanged a tight hug and a small prayer before old man Kel Se’Taav was aboard the Tempest once again, with Ilum’s coordinates set in the navicomputer.

Avoiding major hyperlanes as they drew closer to the Core made the journey a bit lengthier than it should have been, but having to sleep a few traveling hours away instead of rising Imperial detention was an easy trade off. Even with the detour, the Tempest arrived at Ilum posthaste.

Through frigid conditions, bundled in his old Alliance field parka, Kel made way for the outpost called First Light. His entrance was neither grand nor applauded, two observations that he rather appreciated. Instead, it was the controlled sort of chaos one would expect of a resistance movement. It reminded him of the old RTL listening posts on border worlds like Seswenna, or more recently of the Foundations base on Crait. A small fire was catching in Kel’s stomach, but he wasn’t ready to fan the flames just yet.

His eyes scanned the room for the sender of the encrypted message. Salon Loghain appeared a modest if unlikely figure to lead such an effort, but Kel would be able to make a better assessment after the conference. For now, he approached the alien and extended a gloved hand to shake.

“Kel Se’Taav,” he introduced. “Former Senator of Abregado-rae, CEO of Shield of Rae, and uh- I suppose ‘prospective resistance conspirator’ can be added to the list, should a strong case be made today.”

Tags: Salon Loghain | Lily Decoria​

 

[Salon Loghain]

Ajim sensed the tension in the room fade away as, for months, the Galactic Federation had merely existed as a collection of documents and a small group of loyalists huddled in the cold, evading the watchful eyes of the nearby Imperial Powers and the Sith Orders. However, with the unexpected arrival of a Jedi named Lily Decoria and a distinguished former Alliance Senator Kel Se'Taav , the vision was suddenly starting to take shape.

His weary eyes looked at the Decoria first, recognizing that she had come with sincere intentions and a strong resolve. Even though her weapon was not aimed at the Sith at that moment, it acted as a moral compass that the Second Alliance frequently lost during its last days, as unchecked idealism fractured the New Jedi Order.

"Knight Decoria," Ajim replied, returning her bow with a respectful inclination of his head. "Do not concern yourself with titles, Ajim will suffice. We are a federation of equals in this room, not a hierarchy that must be strictly followed."

He then turned his large, luminous eyes toward the Bothan. He took Kel Se'Taav gloved hand in his own webbed grip, offering a firm grounding squeeze to indicate his awe at having a man of such political experience standing before him. The name Abregado-rae stirred old memories of senate logs and trade disputes, a lifetime ago.

"Senator Se'Taav," Ajim said, a faint, weary smile touching his lips. "If you are looking for a conspiracy, I fear you will find us disappointingly transparent. But if you are looking for a strong case, I hope the state of the Core provides all the evidence required. We are the remnant that remembers what it felt like to breathe without a boot on our throats. I would be honored to have your skepticism at this table; it keeps us honest."

Ajim gestured toward the circular conference table. It was made of simple, polished stone, no holographic projectors or flashing lights, just a space for people to look one another in the eye. As they sat, the distant howl of an Ilum blizzard rattled the transparisteel, a reminder of the harsh galaxy waiting outside.