Under the Stars they Sleep

[Aedan Kallos]

The ship moved slowly, drifting among the blue and white twinkling lights in the background. A much older vessel, outfitted for one-time industrial measures. A company known simply as ORE was splashed across the side of the vessel, a company long since dead. The cruiser sized transport had no communications and no external AI to speak with. No lights covered the ship, and if not seen by your sensors, it would look almost completely black. The vessel looked ragged and tired, and if your initial visual sensors were correct, was also incredibly old.

Over 400 years old in fact. How could that be possible? Ships carrying plague victims and nurses still drifted amongst the stars, but this type of ship carried no such bearings. Furthermore, sensors indicated a small amount of juice was still being held by the reactor core. Why this small amount of power was being held and what exactly it was holding was a mystery, one you fully intended to find out.

You are quite unsure how you actually found this ship. Deep space scanners on your craft were able to pick up the ship itself, even though no identification was offered due to its age. Usually, these types of crafts were picked clean by scavengers and slavers, but it would seem the ship was still largely intact. Maneuvering your craft quickly, you oriented yourself towards the small hanger bay and tried to make contact.

No answer was a response that gave you both excitement and worry. What treasures could this ship bring you? Once inside the hanger bay, your ships sensors warn you that several hallways have actually been damaged and that life support was only turned on near the bridge of the large industrial transport. Furthermore, it would seem that smaller slaver/scavenger craft had found the ship before you. Trandoshan’s had already landed inside the huge ship, and their individual ships could be seen in the hanger, unguarded and empty. Engine signatures showed that the ships had not been here long.

With the blue planet of Hoth twinkling in the background, you land your craft and ready yourself. What unguarded treasures were laid inside this metal tomb? The Trandoshans would be a small problem, but nothing you could not honestly handle. With how immense the ship was, you were unsure you would actually run into them at all. Regardless, your datapad showed immense power buildup of the ship in the bridge section, so that might be a good place to head to first.

(I will roleplay the environment/enemies until you reach me.)

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Aedan Kallos"]

Krenis waited a few moments in the hangar, just observing. Seemed empty at this point, so he climbed out of his cockpit, dropping to the floor below, armored boots echoing against the ancient durasteel hull. Or, not ancient. It wasn't a model he was familiar with, so was probably younger than him. Such a strange thing to consider. But now was not the time. Power surge on the bridge, so that was where he was headed then.

Unslinging his rifle, he picked his way through the hangar, face invisible behind his helmet. ARC trooper armor. Quite effective in nearly all situations. Especially ones like these, which were what he was bred for. So he continued on, moving through the corridors, pausing at each intersection to observe beforehand, tracing a route to the bridge through his helmet. Several corridors more. He was waiting for the life signs to appear on his HUD, but those had not happened yet.

It was eerie. Something truly unfortunate had struck this ship, whatever its original purpose had been. Nothing but ghosts remained now. Well, and Trandoshans, but they were not a concern for the old warrior. He'd fought droids and stormtroopers, commandos and thugs. What were a few slavers to that?

 

[Aedan Kallos]

The ship was eerily quiet, with only the noise of the groaning metal in the background. As you pass through the various corridors, you can tell this ship once was used for some serious industrial purposes. Large in-craft refineries were once placed along the corridors, but had since been torn out of their walls. In fact, much of the machinery you hoped to find in this giant hunks of metal were missing completely, instead replaced by beds and cabinets. The entire ship looked like it had been converted from industry to simple population.

Once deeper inside the massive ship, you start to encounter small pods, almost as tall as a single human. Inside, locked away from the world around them, are people. Frozen in their form, these people do not move in the slightest, remaining still as they were before they were frozen completely. Each pod has vitals posted, and every pod you encounter shows the occupant inside as dead. It would seem the people had attempted to freeze themselves during the era of the plague.

After pushing forward, you finally encounter noise on your comm. A small squad of Trandoshans have stopped up ahead. Your scanner reads at least 3 slavers, milling about a large room with more pods. You are closer now to the bridge, but unfortunately do not see a way around the slavers. All three are armed with primitive slug throwers, but they have not noticed you just yet. Once past this room, you will eventually reach the bridge itself.

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Aedan Kallos"]

Krenis paused, studying the pods. Human sized. He stopped to examine one, lifting the hatch with a hiss. Someone not unlike himself, frozen in time until somebody found and woke them. Unlike him, however, they were dead. His shoulders slumped a little and he resealed the hatch. Too late for them, but there was a chance at the bridge.

Voices crackled through the pod and Krenis made his way forward, studying his sensors. Three slavers at a minimum. Armed. He moved his way around a corner, stopping to study them. Slugthrowers. He'd be fine. Probably wouldn't punch through the armor. If he had a newer stuff, they definitely wouldn't. It would be time to develop a new one, once he returned to base or Mandalore. Probably Mandalore at first, followed by base. The Republic would need him again sooner rather than later.

He hefted the Westar rifle, adjusting the stock before stepping into the room, quickly setting his sights on each slaver, accompanied by a quick burst of blaster fire before ducking down behind one of the cryo pods.

 

[Aedan Kallos]

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

You burst from doorway, lasers blasting from your rifle. Each quick burst from the rifle illuminates the room in a dark red glow. Two of the slavers are struck hard, the lasers slamming into their chests and bringing them down with a slam. You have obviously frightened them as they did not believe anyone to be here on this ghost ship. The third trandoshan yells in surprise, ducking under the laser fire with a combination of both speed and sheer dumb luck. Tucking tail and fleeing, the surviving slaver flees towards the bridge, attempting to contact his fellow slaving buddies.

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Aedan Kallos"]

Not a fight at all. Krenis rose from cover as the remaining one fled towards the bridge. He snapped the rifle up to his shoulder, adjusting the stock to stabilize it for better aim. He squeezed the trigger again, sending another quick barrage of bolts towards the slaver. No reason to let him alert his companions.

He stepped out from cover and broke into a run, following the route. He had to move quickly so he didn't find himself engaged in a cat and mouse hunt through the ship. That would waste precious time. He didn't have time for that, judging by the state of the ship. Boot-steps echoed through the hallway as he broke into a sprint, pausing to jump and activate the jetpack, sending himself rocketing forward towards the fleeing slaver.

 

[Aedan Kallos]

The blasts land directly on the slavers back. The lasers tear into his skin and flesh, sending the creature forward. Slamming into the ground with a grunt, the creature can barely move as you rocket towards it. Groaning in pain, the disgusting smell of trandoshan fills the small corridor. Beyond this door lies the large bridge, where no doubt key personnel were kept on this ship. Unlike the other parts of the ship, this one is mostly lit up. Even still, you can hear the crackling of trandoshan comms. This fleeing creature was hoping to let his friends know in the room over of your attack.

Once you have dispatched the lone fleeing slaver, you count at least 5 slavers in the room over. Most of them seem to be checking out the pods themselves, trying to pry open the frosted over pods. Only 5 pods make up this room, but all of them are activated and seemingly carry living people.

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Aedan Kallos"]

Krenis dropped to thr ground, deactivating his jetpack and pausing by the door. He ignored the fallen slaver. It meant nothing to him. Nor did these other five. Slavers preying upon those frozen in stasis for an easy profit. That had been him once. No more. He stepped out into the room, tapping his fingers along the barrel of his rifle.

"On the ground, slaver scum. Before I scorch you. Leave now and I'll let you leave."

He gestured to the body in the corridor behind him with his gauntlets as the rangefinder dropped down in front of his visor. "Don't make me make you join them. If you do..."

He reached into his pouch and pulled out a thermal detonator. "This will be short."

 

[Aedan Kallos]

A loud, audible crack could be heard just as you entered the room, your rifle aimed at the rest of the slavers. One of the slavers could be seen trying to force one of the pods open with his rifle, succeeding in cracking some of the very old machinery. The slavers were quiet, watching you and standing very still. Once you finished speaking, a voice from an AI could be heard overhead.

"Stasis Pod 4 Emergency release. Tampering is ev-"

Before the AI could finish itself, the pod immediately exploded into action. The trandoshan slaver standing nearest it was blown away from the exploding pod, sending shrapnel everywhere. The tell-tale sound of a lightsaber bursting from its chamber could be heard as smoke filled the room. The other slavers, terrified of the explosion, opened fire everywhere they could. With 4 slavers standing still, the bright cerulean beam that had ignited moved into action. A single Jedi, cloaked in soaked robes that clung to his body, burst from the pod and promptly slew two of the slavers with a quick slash and parry with his saber. His attacks were wide and clumsy, but still cut the slavers down.

The other two looked poised to fire on you and the mysterious Jedi.

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Aedan Kallos"]

A Jedi? Interesting. But nit time for that now. He dove to one side, opening fire with his blaster, aiming to cut down the last two slavers. The Jedi was out of practice and awkward, probably from being in stasis so long. He'd need support before returning to full combat readiness.

Krenis dove forward, ejecting the vibroblade from his gauntlet and ramming it forward towards the nearest slaver, followed by the butt of his rifle to smash him down. So much for talking them out of this negotiation.

 

[Aedan Kallos]

The puncture of your vibroblade makes a horrid sound as it ejects straight through the slavers skull. Your other aimed shots slam into the 5th slaver, cutting him down before he can fire at the Jedi or you. When the dust settles, all 5 of the slavers have been killed, and the only thing left in the room is the hum of the cerulean blade. Slowly, it evaporates back into its chamber. The jedi turns towards you, but not before practically falling over and leaning on the nearest wall. Hes obviously tired and breathing heavily, his robes soaked and sticking to him. The ship's heating was still working, thank the Force, or else Aedan would be frozen still after the quick thaw.

The jedi is close to your age, with stubble and tired lines across his face. Beneath his robes, you spot a skintight suit that seems connected to his body somehow. Some type of biosuit apparently, attached to his very skin. Taking a final breath, the jedi clips his saber to his belt and finally speaks. "Why is a Mandolorian waking me from hypersleep?" His voice is hoarse and tired, but becomes panicky. Soon, it hits him all at once. His eyes dance around the bridge, noticing the lack of activity and the fact that the ship is still in space. "What year is it? How long have I been out?"

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Aedan Kallos"]

Krenis gave the room a once-over once more, ensuring that it was secured. All seemed clear. He finally lowered the rifle and kicked aside the fallen corpse, watching the Jedi stagger about in confusion. That was amusing. He laughed softly and moved over to the wall, examining them closely. But then the question sunk in and his shoulders slumped. That feeling of confusion and loss, isolation, and loneliness.

"847 years after the battle of Yavin," He said at last, "And just doing my job, but no idea when you're from."

He moved to the control panel and started moving through the outdated systems. "What are you doing here?"

 

[Aedan Kallos]

Aedan watched the trooper tap onto the old computer systems as he did the mental math required to subtract how many years he had been out. Horror fell over his face as he finally concluded how long he truly had been asleep. "I've been asleep for over 400 years..." His legs were weak and sweat beaded on his forehead as he tried to fight the fatigue. He was unsure who this trooper was, or why he was wearing armor from a very long time ago.

Finally able to stand, Aedan slowly walked over to the various other pods that were stationed on the bridge. High ranking doctors and scientists that were frozen and were incredibly important to the population rebirth filled the pods. Finally, Aedan came to rest on a single pod, still active all these years. Doctor Svosj was inscribed on the top of the pod, and he was the 'brilliant' mind behind the idea of flash freezing a small population. Resisting the idea of plunging his saber into the pod itself, Aedan turned to the commando to reply. "I was frozen in an experiment to wait out the Gulag plague... We had hoped to be released when we had arrived at a unpopulated world away from the destruction the plague carried."

As you move through the outdated systems, you see the ID and name of the vessel itself. A Taskmaster-Class cruiser, the ship was ancient in terms of engines, armor and almost everything else. The ship was once industrial based, but had been re-purposed to ferry a small population across the stars. Now, the ship's power was failing, as the reactor had sustained the ship over 400 years. As you cross the systems, you can see several trandoshan slaver ships descended on the cruiser itself. It would seem the ship had finally been discovered and was now being covered in slavers.

"Who are you?" inquired Aedan, curious of the troopers reasoning for being here.

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

Krenis looked back over his shoulder as the Jedi struggled. Yeah, that happened. Such long stasis sleeps were brutal and not to mention the emotional aspect of suddenly finding one's self lost four hundred years in the future. Try waking up eight hundred years later. That would make you sick to your gut for a months. But he'd deal with it. Jedi were tough, if useless when it came to war and protecting the Republic against exterior threats.

He looked back over to the records on the ship. ALl very interesting, but essentially useless. Krenis doubted he could get the ship to either Republic or Mandalorian space with the reactor in the state it was in. No use salvaging it then and it'd be a touch fight to get out with all the slavers landing on the ship. He frowned, considering, and then accessed the reactor controls, preparing to set it into self-destruct. What about the others still living? How many were there and could they get them out before the ship exploded?

"Well," He said at least, resting his hands on the console, "I believe you outlasted the Gulag plague. Missed the whole thing, myself." He turned to look at the Jedi, trying to decide his identity to share. "Krenis Skirata, Captain in the Galactic Republic, and first generation ARC trooper created for the Clone Wars." He laughed, short and bitter. "Now that was a long nap."

 

[Aedan Kallos]

Aedan couldn't believe it. What were the odds a person kept in stasis would awake someone else from stasis? In addition, the idea that one could be asleep for over 800 years like this man softened the blow just a tiny bit. Unable to fathom the idea of an ARC trooper still surviving after all these years, Aedan replied quickly. "The Clone Wars? I have read many historical datapads on it. Sounded like a pretty bad fight." Aedan watched Krenis fiddle with the admin controls, setting the reactor to overdrive. Nodding in agreement, Aedan could care less if the ship was destroyed.

Hearing that the plague was gone, Aedan smiled, the first time he had done so in 400 years. Though waking up this late in life was horrid, knowing that the plague was completely gone reassured him. How had the galaxy fared since he left it all those years ago? Had the Vong ever broken the truce? What had happened to the Jedi Temple? What of the Skywalker line? Unsure of this new future, Aedan ran some quick bioscans of himself before continuing on.

"You have a workable ship I hope? Nothing in the hanger works anymore I'd wager." Aedan pulled his saber from his belt and held it close to himself, the familiar feel of the hilt sending chills up his spine. No matter where he was, his saber was always nearby, almost like an extension of him. The ship AI, rudimentary at this point, began announcing the arrival of several slaver ships in several of the hanger bays. Nodding towards Krenis, Aedan started towards the outer hallway. They had a great and many corridors to get through if they were going to get out of here before the ship exploded in a fireball.

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Aedan Kallos"]

Krenis refused to look up as the Jedi spoke, his teeth grinding together. He had read datapads on it. What an expert he'd be in that case. Clearly he was aware of the brutality of that war and the deaths of his brothers before and after their betrayal. He took a deep breath. The man had just awoken from centuries of stasis. He needed time to adjust and realize how far he had diminished those deaths.

"You could say that," He finally responded, slamming the stock of his rifle into the console, destroying its already degraded circuits. "And I do. If not, we can steal some from the Trandoshans."

He turned and stormed back down the corridor, clenching and unclenching the grip. Jedi. Of course. But no matter, he would take him to Chazwa and get him in touch with the rest of the Jedi Order and they would be able to deal with him. Footsteps echoed through the corridors as they walked and the tension began to dissipate.

"Follow my lead. You'll have some trouble after such a long stasis. I'll get both of us out."

 

[Aedan Kallos]

"Lead the way then" replied the ex-Jedi, slowing down so that Krenis could take the lead. An 800 year old ARC trooper waking up a 400 year old Jedi. Both had been through their share of wars and battles, and both had been pretty beaten by life. Saber in hand, Aedan focused on the beam as they moved through the silent corridors. Trying not to look at the canisters filled with long dead populace that he knew, Aedan could feel the cold hand of death on the ship.

Walking briskly, Aedan's vision was doubling as they moved. The stasis and trauma was definitely getting to him, and he was wobbly as he moved. Not wanting to burden the Mando'ade, Aedan called upon the Force for help, keeping his legs sturdy where they normally would of fallen. It was barely enough to keep going, but it would do its job for the time being. Gripping the saber even tighter then before, Aedan and Krenis came to another large section of the ship.

Previously unoccupied, this section was once a cafeteria for the industrial workers. Keeping it pretty much the same during the refit, the local populace onboard the population ship used it as a lunch room as well. Old, metallic tables lined the room, as the lights flickered due to power drainage. The reactor, overheating due to Krenis, was losing power by the minute. 6 Trandoshan slavers had set up shop in the room, setting up various equipment as they mulled about. Armed with slugthrowers like usual, Krenis and Aedan stopped short of the entrance to the room.

"They are unaware of us." whispered Aedan. Taking the slavers by surprise would be paramount, even though their skill could not match the ARC trooper or the Jedi. Aedan looked at the mando'ade and nodded. They had become unlikely allies here and should work together to get out of here.

Waiting for Krenis' lead, Aedan would provide backup.

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Aedan Kallos"]

Krenis nodded, striding through the corridors, double checking the underslung grenade launcher. It was loaded and ready to roll. He could tell the Jedi was struggling, but the Jedi would be fine. No time for someone to slow them down at this point. If he made it, he made it. If not, he didn't. Krenis was in too much of a rush to carry him. Time was very short at this point. Dead pods passed by on either side. Unfortunate, but it was what happened and not much point grieving over it at this point.

Then came the cafeteria. Five of them would be a challenge, even with a Jedi. Or at this point, half a Jedi, unless he could manage to hold himself up. The Jedi was correct. Surprise would be essential, as there wasn't enough time for a sustained firefight. Time for overwhelming firepower then. Krenis raised his rifle and launched the grenade into the room, bouncing it off the floor into the midst of their equipment and then ducked behind the doorway, switching to burst fire right before it detonated.

Then he stepped back into the doorway, unleashing a few quick bursts.

 

[Aedan Kallos]

Once Aedan saw the underslung grenade launcher being raised against the room, he immediately readied himself. Overwhelming attacks would be necessary against these slavers, as they could potentially stop the duo's advance otherwise. The large cruiser they were on was starting to lose power, and it was evident in the lights flickering. Once the grenade was launched out of his cylinder, Aedan rushed into the room seconds later, his saber raised high in a defensive stance. It would do little against the slugs being thrown once combat started, but was better then nothing. Aedan thanked the Force for the ARC Trooper now behind him, and dashed forward.

The grenade bounced and landed in the middle of the Trandoshan's staging area. The reptilian beasts had only seconds before the grenade exploded, showering them with metal and fire. Throaty screams echoed across the room as a saber flickered and bounced. Utilizing his saber training to the fullest, Aedan cut down the beasts that still stood, his back being covered by the ARC Troopers fire. Bursts of lasers screamed from behind as they slammed into the surviving Trandoshans. Once the dust had settled, all six had been cut down to pieces by both laser-fire and lightsaber.

Breathing heavily, Aedan continued to draw upon the Force in large waves. His old ally was still in his blood, and he was happy he could still draw upon it to keep him sturdy. Though the quick attack weakened him further, Aedan was not going down just yet. Twirling his saber and reclaiming the blade, Aedan looked behind him at the allied Mando'ade.

"Good aim. I see your training has not waned in the last 800 years." uttered Aedan, before slightly collapsing onto a bulkhead. Blood seeped from a small wound in his right leg, obviously from the slugs thrown by the creatures they just cut down. It was a small wound though and Aedan ripped part of his cloak to cover it in the meantime. Blood trails on the floor would only give chasing enemies a breadcrumb trail to them. Wrapping the wound quickly with his cut tunic, Aedan nodded at the ARC Trooper.

"To the hanger, quickly. This ship will not last long due to its age."

[member="Krenis Skirata"]