Faction (UPSS) Opening the Hand

[Ra'a'mah]

The jungle winds of Veradune carried scents most beings would never notice — the faint mineral sharpness of volcanic soil, the animal musk drifting from distant ravines, and the quiet shift of the night-hunters beginning their patrol. Ra'a'mah stood on the rise above the valley, letting the air settle in her lungs. Calm. Grounded. Exactly as she needed to be.

Below her, the old outpost lights flickered to life one by one. It had taken months to restore it, to clear the ruin left behind by years of disuse and silence. Now it breathed again. The Hand breathed again.

It was time.

She activated the comm node at her wrist. The message she had prepared was simple — clarity, not theatrics. Purpose, not pride.

"To all former operatives of the Dark Hand, all allies, all who have ever fought beneath its shadow or its promise… you are summoned.
Veradune. Outpost Seven.
It is time to open the Hand once more."

Her voice carried steady through the channels, firm but never sharp.

"We meet not to return to what we were, but to decide what we will become. The galaxy shifts. The Sith gather. The old ways served their time, but we no longer survive on shadows alone. We rise into something greater — united systems, united purpose. A Protectorate, built from those who refuse to bow."

She paused, letting the silence speak of everything left unsaid — the losses, the victories, the scars each member carried.

"The Dark Hand is not ending," she continued. "It is becoming.
And I ask those who once walked with us — or still do — to stand with me now as we shape what comes next. Our work changes, but our oath does not."

Ra'a'mah lowered the comm, watching the outpost lights steady into a warm, resolute glow. She felt the moment settle into place like the turning of a key.

Let them come. Old operatives. New protectors. Wanderers returning from long exile. Warriors who had once fought behind veils of secrecy, now called to step into the open for the first time.

The Hand opens.

And the galaxy would feel its reach again.

 

[Kristyl Arenais]

"To all former operatives of the Dark Hand, all allies, all who have ever fought beneath its shadow or its promise… You are summoned.
Veradune. Outpost Seven.

It is time to open the Hand once more.

We meet not to return to what we were, but to decide what we will become. The galaxy shifts. The Sith gather. The old ways served their time, but we no longer survive on shadows alone. We rise into something greater — united systems, united purpose. A Protectorate, built from those who refuse to bow.

The Dark Hand is not ending,

It is becoming.

And I ask those who once walked with us — or still do — to stand with me now as we shape what comes next. Our work changes, but our oath does not."​

---

Veradune Outpost.

She had arrived alone, cloaked in the hooded robe that flowed in her stride towards the Outpost. If there had been a Starship, she had landed far enough to keep others from catching wind of it.

Working alongside other people did not come as easily for the lone woman as it once had. She had isolated herself from the known Galaxy, only stepping out and risking contact when a given target lay in her sights. The Imperial Security Bureau had made it extremely difficult for her to place trust in others, and she had lost friends who had been close to her once because she had chosen to rely upon the wrong people. As a reward for notoriety, she had been hunted under her maiden name, forced to employ less ethical methods in her bid to separate herself from the success of those who had come before.

However, a life of isolation is a difficult thing. Days spent within one's mind, left only the biased and pessimistic thoughts of oneself, with no other to seek to correct her. No encouragement. No assistance of any kind, other than the few contacts who were more information-broker than ally. The Dark Hand may not have been her particular circle, yet there were some connected to it who had once been considered friends of her father. Whether they would recognise her on the other hand, after so many hard years spent surviving (never thriving)...-Well that remained to be seen. Word had reached her, and according to the ghost of the old man, it was either time to adapt or to throw in the towel.

'Miserable old bastard' she thought to herself, feeling resentful in the fact that he had spoken sense enough to convince her to step back into the limelight once more. Why did she still listen to him? Or why he even bother to appear to her at all these days? Neither question did she have an answer to. Her lineage felt like a history of poor decision making right up until the point that the actions of others became the reason she had been left with nothing. So yes, resentful was certainly one way to express how she felt, but it was easier to focus on her desire for vengeance rather than blaming the dead for their ignorance.

This group. Whoever they were, they held ties to her parents. They would surely have resources that could benefit her. That was why she had come, not for some fool's errand of saving a Galaxy already doused in gasoline and set ablaze; she was in it for herself and purely the fact that there was greater strength in numbers.

Time would tell if they would accept her or not.

 

[Glade]

Tag: Kristyl Arenais | Ra'a'mah

Glade's hoverchair hummed toward the meeting spot, a reunion of sorts. She hoped, but hope was a fragile little thing.

Neon and tech, glowing like a wired-up artistic bonfire, and purple enough to make purple look like a flat sketch. Dotted with styles from all over the undernet-scene. Echelon emblems woven into the frame, Denon artistry etched into the chair, burning neon like a language all its own, because it was. Her visor handled the rest, data rushing at speed. Feeds, datastreams, encrypted ping placements. Anyone who knew her way back when might need a moment to recognize her beneath all the updates. She couldn't walk, but in some ways she flew. Her crew ran more data than some intelligence networks, and Echelon, if you controlled that flow, you had access to everything. But don't go spreading that whisper Sssshhh.

So what was a Rogue doing here? Undernet rumor said a few of the less ethical Echelon corps were looking for Imperial interest, and she wasn't about to let that kind of data-weight shift to the suits. Rubbed her all kinds of wrong.

Call her a wildcard.

The corner of her mouth curled up, kinda like Kei used to do. Meh, she never liked all the starchy uniforms and stiff-lipped salutes, but he was okay. Bit grizzled in his old age. The kiffar girl blew a stray strand of hair from her visor and eased into a cozy shadowy spot. Her hoverchair cast a subtle glow beneath her, waiting. Maybe for an old friend. Maybe two, or maybe nobody at all.

First person that stopped her she kept that signature bounce to her personality, "Heya." Her smile kept its warmth. "Came t'see what'cha need... and if y'know, we can do a few things.." She lowered her voice, "Quietish." She transferred something to the screen opposite them, and they nodded, apparently their Echelon key-runner (fixer) had comm called ahead. Giving a small nato-wave toward Kristyl Arenais if she spotted her and an active bob of her head to anyone passing by. All smiles and stardust today.

 

[Kei Amadis]

Continued from:
A handshake could change a life.

Amadis strode into courtyard area, hands behind his back, armored up as always. The agreement was firm in his mind. Course clear. Posture rigid, until he saw a certain hoverchair. Almost like a kid again training at the temple on Tython. Sneaking up behind Glade and rubbing her hair, she turned, surprised. Then they instantly hugged for a long time. That had been a long hug coming. Got a bit misty-eyed the old fella. Kei pulled away, and she yoinked him back for another hug before letting go.

Squatting down to her, they had a quiet private word, friends too long apart, ending in him kissing her forehead above the visor. Amadis turned again, looking about. Private meeting. Odds against them. Changing the galaxy.

"Like old times." He rubbed the back of his neck. Fyor droid in the chair muttered something overly analytical and philosphoical about the odds.

"What do you say Nato?"

Glade popped her lips and shrugged.

"Alright then." They were in. "Taiden coming?"

 

[Vulpesen]

Veradune had always known conflict and war. When the Republic stood, Veradune had protected its people. When the Alliance rose, it fought alongside them. When the Fel imperium fought against the one sith, they had been fighting too. Over millennia, the Zorrens of Veradune had fought for every just cause they could find. When Vulpesen brought the planet back from the brink, he had quickly set to work rebuilding their martial capability for that purpose. They were guardians enslaved to their own nature to find a just cause. But they had never been at the forefront. Their histories were not kept in grand monuments or holodocumentaries. They were as dependable as they were periphery in nature. But as true as it was that the wheel turned, times changed.

There was no slouch in the way Vulpesen stood at the walls of the outpost. He leaned against no wall and he stood with his back straight and his chin high. Before him stood a company of his finest men. The 1st Royal Guard. These were men who found ceremony in their duty. No frills or fancy rituals. They simply did their job and they did it better than anyone else on this planet. Vulpesen now called them to rise above that call of duty. No longer would Veradune sit at the edge of the galaxy, a bulwark on the fringes of space against encroaching evil. It was time for defenders to become warriors. He had called on Ra'a'mah to gather people the people under a banner. In return, he promised the support to keep that banner flying. It was time to deliver on that promise.

"1st Company of the Armis Militia! For decades now, you have fought at my side. We have protected citizens of the galaxy from here to Coruscant and beyond! We have passed through the fires of combat and come out stronger! We have bled, fought, and died for citizens of Nations that called on us to aid them! We will continue to fight! But we are done fighting in banners that are not our own. Today, we will stand at the forefront! We will form the spine of a new power to drive back tyranny and oppression! Come with me! Let us set this galaxy free!"

To those who gathered within the confines of the outpost, a raucous cheer could be heard before Vulpesen turned and made his way inside, a single squad breaking away from the crowd to join him. At last, it was time for the night to end.

Kristyl Arenais Glade Kei Amadis

 

[Glitch Kinthal]

Was sitting at his desk going through his stock and what could and couldn't be sold at this point and who he was willing to sell to. Then his com went off and he heard the call. It wasn't something he was expecting to hear. He also hadn't been expecting who it came from. though it shouldn't of surprised him. He washed his confusion and shock from his face and closed his console. "Time to get ready I guess." He walked into his warehouse and whistled for the droids and started to point and tell them various numbers to grab and load onto his ship.

The droids quickly started moving about as crates where moved and loaded the warehouse seemed to empty by half he didn't mind this was for a cause he could get behind and was willing to take the hit for a friend and ally. as the last crate was loaded he made his way up onto the ship as the droids filed in. Soon the ship was taking off and hitting hyper lanes to Veradune. As he exited hyperspace he responded to Ra'a'mah with a slight smile on his face. "Sorry if I'm late for the party where do you want me to land I come baring gifts you cant refuse."

 

[Jax Thio]

Location: Veradune
Equipment: Jedi Robes, Jax's Prosthetic Arm, Jax's Third Lightsaber, Marriage Ring to Jairdain
Tag: Jayna Ismet-Thio , Jairdain Ismet-Thio

Landing on Veradune, Jax headed towards Outpost Seven alongside Jayna. Though he received the invitation by Ra'a'mah , Jax was also encouraged by Jairdain to join the meeting as well. Jax wasn't one for gatherings of important matters. He tried his best to stay away from wars given what happened to the Galactic Alliance at the hands of the Empire. Jax tried to help but the faction that he literally gave his life to, finally fell after a hundred years. He still hadn't fully processed the loss. It was almost like losing someone very close to him. Jax lived most of his life with the Galactic Alliance and just when he returned, he witnessed its fall.

It seemed that the entire Galaxy were now picking at the corpse of the Alliance like Vultures. Jax wondered if the meeting had something to do with the state of the Galaxy. It had to, why else would he be summoned to the Dark Hand. "Stay close Jayna," Jax said his robes billowing against the Jungle winds. "Your mother is going to meet us at the Outpost, you always wanted some action. Well you're going to get it.... in the form of politics."

Jax sighed. "Politics sadly dictate the galaxy," he said. "At least that what your Mom says. As much as I wish it wasn't the case, it's important to always be aware of the Galaxy's affairs. That way we can determine our best course of action."

 

[Ra'a'mah]

The outpost had not felt this alive in years.

Voices, footsteps, the hum of ships landing in staggered intervals—all of it settled into a rhythm Ra recognized well. The rhythm of a gathering storm. She stood near the central dais, posture straight and composed, watching as familiar and unfamiliar presences converged on Veradune like threads being woven back into a tapestry she had long kept folded away. Vulpesen's speech still vibrated faintly through the walls, the echo of the Armis' roar promising change, action, purpose. It was the first spark; she was here to shape the fire.

Her first surprise arrived in the form of a hooded figure whose presence struck her like a memory she had not expected to see walk again. The resemblance was unmistakable—Arenais' blood bore its traits plainly, even through hardship. For a heartbeat, Ra felt something rare: a sudden, quiet shock that settled deeper than she let show. A grandchild of Veiere and Kay, stepping into her outpost seeking a path. That legacy would always carry weight, but she approached the young woman without hesitation, her expression softening from its usual measured neutrality.

"You carry echoes of those who once moved through this galaxy with purpose," Ra said gently, her voice low but warm. "But you stand here as yourself. And for that, you are welcome." There was meaning in those words—an invitation, not an expectation. The Arenais lineage had crossed her path before, and though the galaxy had carved harsh things into all of them, some connections never truly dissolved. "What you seek, whatever shape it takes, you will not have to face it alone here—not unless that is your wish."

Before the newcomer could answer, a flicker of neon caught Ra's eye—a hoverchair gliding into view with its occupant wearing a grin that seemed to light the room more than the décor ever could. Glade's energy brought a subtle shift in the air, a reminder of younger days, of the wild and strange intersections of their past lives. Ra allowed herself the faintest smile at the sight, inclining her head in greeting. "Glade. Your presence is an advantage I will not underestimate. Whatever skills you bring, they will be put to purpose." Her gaze flicked to the chair's underside, recognizing modifications that spoke of Denon's deeper layers. "Quiet work will not be in short supply."

Then Kei entered—armor worn, steps heavy with conviction tempered by the quiet of old grief. They had spoken at length, and she saw now the steadiness in him she had been coaxing back into alignment. She acknowledged him with a nod containing the weight of shared understanding. "Amadis," she said softly, "you are not too late. This is only the beginning. Your strength, and your restraint, will anchor what comes next." Her attention slipped briefly to the young woman he greeted with affection. Family, chosen or otherwise, had become fuel for the man's resolve. She did not begrudge him that.

A new presence brushed the air as Glitch's ship entered the atmosphere. The man's voice crackled through her comm moments later, informal and familiar. Ra touched a finger to her ear, her tone even but welcoming. "Docking Bay Three. Bring your supplies to Outpost Seven. We will put them to use sooner than you think." She trusted Glitch—cautiously, yes, but with the pragmatic awareness that he delivered when it mattered. His contributions, both technical and tactical, would be invaluable here.

And then she sensed the Jedi before she saw him. Jax Thio, accompanied by the determined—and visibly slightly overwhelmed—Jayna. Ra stepped forward as they approached, her expression warming in a way she showed only to those she trusted implicitly. "Jax," she greeted, her voice carrying a familiarity earned across years of parallel struggle. "Your presence is appreciated. And timely." She shifted her gaze to Jayna, her tone gentling. "And you are welcome, Jayna. Your mother spoke highly of your aptitude. This gathering will require more than politics before we are done."

She let the outpost settle around her for a moment—bodies, voices, histories, all converging under one roof. Vulpesen's speech had ignited something in these people. It was her task to focus it.

Ra stepped toward the center of the room, drawing the quiet with her presence alone. "All of you came for your own reasons—necessity, curiosity, loyalty, purpose," she said, her voice carrying evenly across the space. "But now you stand here together. The galaxy grows darker by the day, and waiting—watching—has cost too much already."

She clasped her hands loosely in front of her, golden eyes steady. "What we begin on Veradune is not an empire and not a rebellion. It is a reclamation. A unifying of those the galaxy has overlooked, underestimated, or cast aside. The movement once called the Dark Hand has evolved. The United Protectorate of Sovereign Systems is forming—and each of you will help shape its foundation."

Her gaze traveled over each of them in turn. "Today, we begin weaving the strength we already possess into something the galaxy cannot ignore."

A faint breath—measured, resolute.

"Welcome to the work ahead."

Kei Amadis Vulpesen Jax Thio Jayna Ismet-Thio Glade Glitch Kinthal Kristyl Arenais

 

[Glitch Kinthal]

Glitch's ship descended and traveled into docking bay three. Once there the ramp lowered and grave sleds lead by droids carried out crates. These where the same droid that had been worked on once already by a skilled hand. He wondered if she would be happy to see the little guys. Right now though his main concern was unloading the cargo which was moving smoothly. The droids where making sure the sleds where going to outpost seven as he himself made his way there carrying a box himself this was a special gift that he wanted to hand deliver.

Standing amidst the crowed he stayed silent and listened to what was said she had an air about here she commanded though he did what was needed. He wouldn't risk them but he also wasn't one to put himself out there granted he went to every deal he made. He had made a deal with her about joining and helping so here he was granted this was not what he had signed up for but it was what was in front of him. He still held the box waiting for a good time to deliver it to its intended recipient. he had taken great care in crafting it so he wasn't going to risk it to anyone he would wait for the spectacle to be done. He figured he might as well meet some of these people. So he wandered and mingled.

 

[Zarrah Vex]

Objective: Redefine the defense of freedom in the galaxy
Location: Veradune Outpost Seven
Outfit:Wilder Leathers
Tags: Ra'a'mah | Kristyl Arenais | Glade | Kei Amadis | Vulpesen | Glitch Kinthal | Jax Thio

The influence of the Galactic Alliance continued to shrink. Something had to be done. The Valde and Ra'a'mah had a plan. Since resigning her commission in the GADF, Zarrah was quite happy for any action. That things seemed to be centered on Veradune was a good sign for Zarrah, so when she was asked to participate in the formation of a new defense force she gladly accepted.

That mission was one that was being done secretly as the general support for such an endeavor was also still in the works. Knowing that Veradune was committed to protecting the galaxy from the growing Imperial threat in the Core, Zarrah had been silently testing the resolve of defense administrators, contractors and fellow former GADF officers in organizing a new defense force against the Galactic Empire.
It was in that capacity that Zarrah attended this meeting. She took the rare role of wallflower to start off with. As a Zorren and Wilder her presence could be explained as a second set of eyes for the Valde. She attended the Valde's speech to the militia. Zarrah's participation in the GADF made her position within the Armis Militia less formal. She held no official rank, but as a defender of Veradune she certainly belonged. And depending upon how the message of Ra and the Valde spread her place might end up being within the militia again.

Zarrah left the militia ahead of the Valde and found her way to Outpost Seven to observe the arrival and greetings for those who Ra had called here. Zarrah had to admit that it was quite the varied group. That was probably why they would succeed to follow in the wake of the Galactic Alliance's retreat. Zarrah wondered who served what purpose here; who she might talk with about creating a fleet for the UPSS. Ra had already secured designs for a UPSS fighter from Sienar-Santhe, but they would require capital ships as well. Would one of these people be a good contact? Did someone here have access to engineers, materials and shipyards? For now Zarrah leaned against the wall arms folded and waited for someone to make an introductions.

 

[Kristyl Arenais]

Attn: Glade | Ra'a'mah
Others: Kei Amadis | Vulpesen | Glitch Kinthal | Jax Thio | Zarrah Vex

---

There seemed to be several people arriving, evidently from all walks of life and purpose.

Glade was the first to notice Kristyl's presence, and she offered a welcome smile. In return, she received a curt nod from the robed woman. She was not accustomed to showing kindness openly to strangers, having long since lost that sense of innocence over the past decade. Those before her had openly braced alliances, friendships and anything in between, but their familiarity with society had also led to their downfall by those who hunted her still. Kristyl had chosen a different, isolated path...-At least she had until most recently.

While she would never admit that her reunion with Judah Dashiell had left an impression on her, she hated the fact that he had been right in the fact that she had chosen exile from what could have been a fulfilling life. She dared not reconsider her past decisions, given that she had survived and continued to do so, however necessary; But she had a son she did not know, an adult in his own right by now, and there were lingering thoughts of what could have been.

A voice, direct, pulled Kris' attention away from the others, and she turned to face Ra'a'mah . She spoke as though she knew of her past, and perhaps she was significantly gifted in the Force to read the robed woman in such ways, or perhaps she was one of those who had known her Grandfather and Grandmother, recognising in her what had long since been removed from the living Galaxy. A hint of heritage.

"Consider me an observer, for the time being", Kristyl remarked, raising a hand as if to encourage pause. She did not wish to give the wrong impression that her service was offered so freely. Many here she did not recognise, and trust in the wrong people had proven near fatal before. "I am not cut from the same cloth as my father and his before him", she added after a moment's consideration. There was apprehension in her words, a sign that she remained undecided, and a wise choice considering how foreign this group was to her.

"Perhaps we will talk once you have tended to your guests" she added, curious to know more about the knowledge this one had. What history might she share with the legacy she put well behind her, and what gifts had she been granted by the force; Perhaps something that would benefit her in her fight against the Imperial Security Bureau.

 

[Jayna Ismet-Thio]

Objective: Visit Veradune with parents, see if adults will trust me with something important
Location: Outpost Seven, Veradune
Outfit: Adventure clothes
Tags: Jax Thio | Ra'a'mah

Jayna walked alongside her father. They had spent time together as a family for the first time in a while. But Mom decided to stay away from the gathering that was taking place to mobilize a defense of Veradune and possibly more in the wake of the retraction of the Galactic Alliance. Dad couldn't turn his back on protecting folks. It wasn't in his nature. Plus, he was still dealing with the fact that he was a part of the people who now weren't able to protect any longer. Jayna had been encouraged to go along to the meeting as a learning opportunity, so she came along hoping she would be seen as useful and not some appendage holding Jax back.

When told to stay close to her father Jayna heeded that advice. Her nose scrunched a bit when it was suggested that politics was action. It wasn't that she was opposed to learning the nuances of politics. It was something she knew was a high possibility that she would need to be a part of as she grew up. Her parents were important people, with important friends. Jayna was following in their footsteps as she befriended Lady Shadow the daughter of one of the Diarches. But to say that politics would be action was not something Jayna was willing to admit to. Action was something that she would answer with a lightsaber when she was deemed ready, not politics.

"I will do my best to learn what I can from the meeting. But let's not go on pretending this is going to be exciting," Jayna responded with a gentle tug on her father's sleeve and a small giggle. His sigh said this sort of thing was his idea of time well spent either.

The redheaded leader of the meeting, Ra, was friendly with her parents, Jayna thought. And definitely with Uncle Vulps. When she greeted Jayna's dad the young girl gave her best smile. Attention shifted to Jayna and the girl shivered slightly, but she quickly collected herself. "I will be glad to help. I haven't spent much time here on Veradune, but I know a lot about it. And I know something needs to be done to stop the Galactic Empire from running amok. I don't know how much I can contribute, but I am a quick learner in most things."

Jayna leaned into her father's side as Ra stepped out and addressed the gathering. Jayna listened intently. A new movement was starting. Something that she could be part of like her father was part of the Galactic Alliance for so long. Jayna didn't know what this Protectorate was going to become. She didn't know who would serve in it, or who exactly it would serve. But Ra made her believe it would be something good. And that was something that Jayna wanted very much.

 

[Glade]

Direct Tag: Ra'a'mah | Glitch Kinthal | Vulpesen
Alternating Kei | Glade (Probably)

Vulpesen

Force-knows they weren't always quiet, but hey, they tried. Glade gave Ra'a'mah an excitable little nod, and after swapping something important with Kei, she hovered along to mingle. Kei himself went looking for an old friend, Vulpesen , or maybe just to see what the cheer was about. Probably bumping into him somewhere in the hallway.

"Another revolution, slim odds. Some days I think we've survived enough for three galaxies," he said from somewhere at his old friend's side. But it wasn't as much levity as usual in the tone, fatalism, like a hammer drop.

Glitch Kinthal

Glade, visor back on, glided her hoverchair toward a newcomer who faintly reminded her of Taiden. Really, though, it was the box he was holding. Boxes and curiosities were her thing!

"Hey," she said out of absolutely nowhere to Glitch Kinthal , "was I meant t'bring a gift?"

She popped open a compartment on her chair and began rummaging through a stash that looked more like a junkyard's lost-and-found: gizmos, curiosities, random devices, and all kinds of discarded items nobody else would ever call valuable. Only to a girl who read memories right out of them. Forgotten items, keepsakes, she had more than one of Sio's tucked away in there.

If he answered, she barely heard him from inside the pending avalanche of her own collectables; one day she'd not make it out alive!

"Gotcha!" She finally popped up with what looked like a completely useless holo-pen, triumphant in her smile, and set it on the corner of her chair's console. Then she remembered this stranger had no idea who she even was.

Brushing her hands down her purple dress, she beamed up at him. "Oh! I'm Glade. Nice t'meetcha."

Her smile was bright as ever, cozy in the soft neon glow of her chair's consoles, layer upon layer of tech and trinkets far too complicated and numerous for anyone to fully understand. All of it, of her, bundled into that purple hoverchair, like a synthetic daydream.

 

[Glitch Kinthal]

He chuckled at her mentioning needing to bring a gift and he shook his head. He had a nice five oclock shadow and appeared to have been up to late for many nights but here he was being social with everyone. "No not at all this is a gift I worked on before things went sideways but I felt if I put the work in for making it I might as well deliver the final product even if they don't want it."

In the back of his mind other words played when he said it but he shut them out and smiled offering his hand to the bright woman who seemed to be so connected into the holonet that she would give most slicers a run for their money and then some.

"The pleasure is mine. Name is Glitch mind if I get yours?" He asked with a softened smile that was practiced and honed over many a year doing his job and knowing when to be hard and when to be soft only one person here had ever seen him truly relax and that was the recipient of this gift he had brought.

"Going to give her some time to not be flooded by people before I decide to go and give her the gift figure she has a lot with calling everyone to arms."

Ra'a'mah Glade

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Outpost Seven held a quiet gravity, the kind that gathered around moments when purpose began to take shape. Even before Ra'a'mah stepped fully into the courtyard, she could feel the shift in the air—anticipation, tempered by caution, threaded through with the sharp clarity of people who had seen too much of the galaxy to believe in easy answers. Beside her, Vulpesen moved with the steady, grounded presence that had long become familiar: a silent support rather than a shadow, neither intruding nor diminishing. Together they walked the stone path, observing as arrivals filtered through the fortified gates, each presence adding its own weight to the moment.

Ra's golden eyes found Glitch first. His droids unloaded crates with near-ritual precision, the grave sleds gliding in practiced formation toward the supply entrance. Yet it wasn't the industrial efficiency that drew her attention—it was the single box in his hands, handled with an uncharacteristic delicacy that spoke more of intention than utility. His expression carried the exhaustion of long nights and longer choices, but beneath it, Ra recognized something steadier: commitment. She met his gaze with a quiet, knowing nod, acknowledging both his arrival and the unspoken significance of the gift he guarded. She did not interrupt; some gestures required their own timing.

Her attention shifted as another presence approached—Kristyl Arenais, robed and hooded, her hesitation woven so tightly into her bearing it felt almost like another garment, worn for protection. There were shadows in her eyes that Ra recognized, echoes of lineage and loss, of a life that had been shaped by forces far outside her control. When Kristyl raised a hand, signaling her desire to remain an observer for now, Ra accepted this with a calm respect that held no pressure, no subtle coercion. "Observation is wisdom," Ra replied gently, offering the woman the dignity of choosing her own pace. "No commitment is asked of you today. When you are ready to speak, I will make myself available." There was something bittersweet in the recognition—another descendant of the Arenais line stepping into a place that demanded so much of those who bore its legacy. Still, Ra offered no assumptions, only space.

The soft crunch of boots along the courtyard path drew her gaze next as Jax and Jayna approached. Jax carried the weight of the Galactic Alliance's fall in the way he carried himself and on his shoulders, the kind of grief that lingered long after battlefields had gone silent. But it was the girl beside him—dark-haired like Jairdain, bright-eyed and keenly observant—who held Ra's attention with unexpected clarity. Jayna's youth did nothing to diminish the quiet strength in her posture; she listened with an earnestness many adults lacked, her curiosity sharpened rather than clouded by uncertainty.

When Ra greeted the pair, she let her expression soften—not in condescension, but in genuine warmth. "Jayna," she said, addressing the girl directly, "your willingness to learn is a rare kind of strength. Many older than you overlook the value of paying attention." She inclined her head slightly, offering not just acknowledgment but invitation. "You may be young, but perspective is not bound by age. When the time comes, I would welcome hearing how you see this galaxy—and what you believe is worth protecting." Jayna's slight shiver faded into determination, and Ra felt a quiet flicker of approval. Seeds grew where they were given room.

To Jax, her tone shifted only subtly—deeper, steadier, shaped by long mutual history. "Your presence matters," she told him. "Experience such as yours is not easily replaced. Nor forgotten." She allowed the words to rest there, a reaffirmation rather than consolation.

Beyond the courtyard walls, the final echoes of Vulpesen's rally rose and fell—the roar of the Veradunian militia responding to their leader's call. This sound reverberated like a distant heartbeat. When the noise faded into a collective stillness, Ra stepped forward, letting the assembly see her fully.

"We stand at a threshold," she began, her voice even and measured, carrying without force. "Not toward rebellion, nor empire—but responsibility."
Her gaze swept the gathered faces—Glitch, Zarrah, Kristyl, Jax, Jayna, Glade, the scattered onlookers who lingered between curiosity and decision.
"We have all witnessed the consequences of power left unchecked. Systems are collapsing under corruption or indifference. Worlds burned. Alliances broken." She allowed a breath's pause, letting memory settle over them. "What we begin here must be different—not born of ambition, but of intention. Not shaped by force, but by those willing to stand where others have stepped aside."

Her eyes briefly met Vulpesen's—no flare of theatrics, only shared resolve—before returning to the crowd. "The Protectorate will not be built by dominance. It will be shaped by deliberate hands, by minds willing to think beyond victory and toward stability. If we succeed, it will be because we choose to act with precision, not impulse."

Then, turning slightly, she addressed Kristyl once more with quiet assurance. "When you are ready, we will speak privately. No pressure. No expectation."

Finally, to Jayna—Ra's gaze warmed again, an almost maternal steadiness beneath the political veneer.
"And Jayna—stay close to your father, yes, but do not be afraid to step forward when you feel called. Even now, you are part of what comes next."

With that, Ra stepped back—not withdrawing, but giving the moment room to breathe, allowing conversations to spark naturally among those gathered. The first stone had been placed. Momentum now belonged to all of them.

Glitch Kinthal Glade Jayna Ismet-Thio Kristyl Arenais Zarrah Vex Jax Thio Vulpesen Kei Amadis

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smiled as he watched the proceedings. Ra'a'mah , of course, showed that he had chosen well when he had approached her to be the face of this endeavor. Charisma incarnate, but with a steady and measured approach, she was the ideal leader for a stable foundation. He listened to her speech with rapt attention, and a quick glance around the outpost showed that he was not alone. He was so focused on the display that he almost failed to notice an old friend coming to greet him.

"Only three?" he asked with a grin, turning to greet Kei Amadis . "I've seen different dimensions and I've watched the wheel of time revolve around and around. Its about time I seized one of its spokes and went for a ride. The galaxy is always changing. Its about time I tried to do something to make that change something for the better. Still, its good to see an old face with the new times."

Glade Jayna Ismet-Thio Kristyl Arenais Zarrah Vex Jax Thio Glitch Kinthal