Faction What Remains [NJO + Friends]

[Caelan Valoren]

The bottle was returned to its place within his robes when she returned it. Her laughing shortly thereafter was unsettling, though. Something about it worried him, but in a way that he knew wasn’t going to be resolved immediately. The whole situation she was in wasn’t something that he could just waltz in and correct despite a desire to do so. It rarely was. That was especially the case with women. Being a man, he wanted to correct issues in a quick and logical manner, and women didn’t always want that. He had a feeling that was the case now as well.

“Perhaps not,” he said. “Or perhaps so. Only time will tell, and only you can make the decision on what you are capable of handling. You’re at a turning point, Azzie. How you respond to this will shape your future.”

He reached out to give her shoulder a squeeze as long as she didn’t pull away from him.

“Either way, I’ll still be your friend.”

But with that, he would turn to depart from her, knowing that all he could do was sow the seed in her mind, and that everything else was dependent on her. Besides, he’d heard the words on the wind that came from within the temple and he found them disturbing. As much as he wanted to help Azzie, he also needed to ensure that the Order didn’t fall into a state that would ultimately destroy it and all the Jedi within it.

He returned to the temple to find his wife standing amongst several Jedi, their son squirming ceaselessly. He was one and walking now, so it wasn’t surprising that he wanted down. Opening his arms towards her, he took Kastiel from his mother and held him in a firm grip as he listened to the words of those present, waiting, hoping to hear SOMEONE speak up against the idea of their becoming militant. But no one was doing so. Some were even agreeing.

“Is not the militant path what those who have left us have chosen?” he asked, looking amongst those gathered. “They abandoned the Order to go and become soldiers against the dark, and you call now for us to be what they have become: soldiers, warriors. That is NOT what Jedi are meant to be and every time the Jedi have strayed into that path it has ended in not only our failure but, quite nearly, our destruction, because the enemy knows how to use that against us and leads us to fall.”
He swept his gaze across the chamber, holding it on each face in turn.

"We are not forged for conquest. We are not sworn to wage campaigns. Our oath is to the Living Force, and to the people of this galaxy; not as their generals, but as their guardians.

When we let ourselves become soldiers, we begin to think like soldiers. We measure worth in victories. We see enemies instead of people. We value the strike more than the word, the kill more than the compromise. And in that mindset, the darkness finds its way in.

The Code tells us that there is no emotion, there is peace. But war, war thrives on emotion. It feeds anger, fuels fear, and makes peace an afterthought. It is a current that drags us further from who we are meant to be until we no longer recognize our reflection in the Force.

The galaxy has no shortage of armies. It will always have warriors ready to raise their banners and march. But there are few, so very few, who will stand between those armies, who will say ‘No’ when all others cry for blood. That is the place of the Jedi. That is our burden, our calling, and our sacred trust.

And if you believe the only way to protect the light is to fight like the darkness, then you have already begun to walk their path. You will tell yourself it is for justice. You will tell yourself it is for peace. And one day, you will awaken to find that you have become what you once swore to destroy.

If that is the path you choose, know this: when you fall, the Force will not call you Jedi. And neither will I."

---

ATTIRE: Link | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Azurine Varek | Corazona von Ascania | Jonyna Si | Jasper Kai'el | Saki | Jand Talo | @NJO​

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Caelan Valoren ​

Jonyna had seen many question her. Once upon a time, she remembered the day Valery and Kahlil stood opposed to her. Today though, she held her ground. She wasn't a knight standing against two masters, she was a master standing in front of a knight.

"How old are you? How long have you studied the Living Force? Trusted it? Relied on it to keep you alive? I've seen the old order fall. I've seen the folly of the jedi who thought they could be generals. If you think I'm asking us to do that, you're dead wrong. But we're no longer in a position where we can rest on being pacifists. I've seen what Empires like theirs do to us. They hunt us down. They subjugate and enslave us. Is that what you want for your people, King of Devit?"

She paused, considering her words for a moment. "To be a jedi is to be a friend to the Force. That's what I was taught. I've been one for 930 years. I've relied on it to take down star destroyers, to fight Inquisitors and Sith Lords, to fight Darth Carnifex and Darth Prazutis . But we're in a new age. A darker age. You want to survive this? Sure. Go off and pretend nothing has changed. Pretend we're in a world where being a jedi means you can simply arrive on a planet without any worry of being hunted. Meanwhile, I'll live in reality. We need to adjust. And that means we need to work together, not just with each other, but with those we're fighting alongside. You know the man who started all this? The New Jedi Order? It wasn't Valery, no matter what we call her. It was Luke. Luke Skywalker, the man who dragged the jedi out of the darkest age in it's existence, who redeemed his father to the light, who brought balance to the Force. And you know what kind of man he was? A rebel. A warrior. A man who fought alongside the Rebellion to restore the Republic, blowing up Death Stars and fighting stormtroopers. That's the man we're all taught about in youngling school, right? That's the era I come from. I never had the honor of meeting him, but I know damn well what he'd be doing right now. He'd be out there fighting alongside the GADF. He'd be hitting the Empire where it hurts. He certainly wouldn't be standing here arguing about what the code tells us."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora didn't know if it was the creeping cold, the exhaustion, or the conversation, but she could feel a headache blooming behind her eyes. She pinched the bridge of her nose between two fingers and massaged, subtly hoping to relieve the tension in her skull.

"We all want to act as good Jedi should. That changes with the galaxy, and the Alliance's position had changed dramatically overnight. No one here will be forced to fight, but we cannot stand idle as the Galactic Empire burns their way through, then beyond the core."

She nodded first to Jasper, then to Jand in agreement.

"We have a number of temples across various systems - and we should make use of them. Spread our people out, work underground and in the shadows. If we don't congregate all in one place, it'll make it harder for them to wipe us out. Can anyone map those temples?

"I've made contact with the Jedi to the east, and I have a few acquaintances on Naboo. I'll reach out to see if we can't link up with them. Perhaps they could offer shelter to our younglings and refugees in…friendlier systems."

Next, her gaze swept over Jonyna and Caelan.

"We will not only use our blades to fight. We'll use our connections, our words, our skills in healing and diplomacy and politics. We cannot do it alone.”

Cora looked to those who’d gathered for the conversation, then to those who were caring for the injured.

“And we won’t.”

Jasper Kai'el Jand Talo Jonyna Si Caelan Valoren Saki @NJO gang

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Corazona von Ascania Jasper Kai'el​

Jonyna's own tempest of emotion calmed at Cora's words.

Maybe she was taking all this a bit too seriously. They were alive, and the war hadn't been lost yet. They still had a war to win, but there was plenty to do to achieve that goal. She just...didn't want to see another Order 66. Another Fall of the Republic. Another Imperial Age.

But the first thing that needed to be done clicked in her mind. Jonyna was a war leader, but she rarely found herself capable of leading people. She knew how to organized militia, not inspire the weary. Not in a long time. The people, the order, needed someone who was capable of that. Not later, now.

And one stood right in front of her.

"EY! JASPER!" Jonyna called, motioning for her predecesor to come over. "I got an idea!"

She cleared her throat. Normally, it was Valery doing such things. With a flick of her wrist, she reactivated her saber.

"Corazona Von Ascania, Princess of Ukatis, and Jedi Knight. I remember when I first met you, you were only a padawan. You had just gotten through the hardest day of your life. I remember hearing about it second hand, the death of your husband. I remember the day you earned your knighthood, and the day your place on the Council. Right now, we don't have a lot of leaders. Right now, we could definitely use more. And right now..." She looked over to Jasper to confirm he was on board. "I think it's time for some field promotions. So, if you'll accept, I'd like to promote you to the rank of Jedi Master. You've done more in the last few days than anyone, and as one of the last active member of the Council currently here, I have the authority to do so. You've made Valery Noble proud in more ways than she'd ever admit, and we need people like you to step up. I'd rather encourage the effort you've put in on others than wait until the war is won."

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Ilum
Tags: Jonyna Si , Corazona von Ascania , Jand Talo , Saki , Caelan Valoren , Others...

Lux Ultima
​

Jasper grinned as he heard Jonyna rattle off her justification for an impromptu promotion. The Master simply reached back and drew his claymore, a sign of unanimous agreement.

"Very well." he nodded. "I stand ready to assist, as a former member of the Council."

Corazona was, in many ways, the best of them all. She had gone through hell and back just to get back to the Order. Her commitment shone like a star in a clouded sky. Words simply could not describe the pride he felt to have seen it all. Jasper had been a small part, but to be a part at all was a privilege.

"Whenever you are ready."

 

[Caelan Valoren]

"I wasn't aware age had bearing on ones understanding of the Force or the code," he said, looking calmly at Jonyna as he spoke. "Sure are a lot of old Sith though."

It was a subtle dig, his way of saying he didn't care for her attitude towards him and that it was inappropriate. Especially in front of his child. And he maintained he was correct. Jedi were not soldiers, they were peacekeepers. They should never openly advocate violence.

"I'm not saying we shouldn't commit to defensive measures, I'm saying we should not seek violence first regardless of the situation. It is far too easy to fall if we do."

He took note of Cora pinching the bridge of her nose. She seemed... in pain, but not from a wound. He surmised it was probably tiredness, and moved closer to her. With one hand, he drew out his flask of icebrew and offered it to her. Kastiel, being near her, reached for her hair, batting at it playfully.

"I have some tea that can help with the headache for later, but try this for now. It'll at least help you regulate your body temp."

When Jonyna made her announcement though, he blinked in surprise, but nodded his head in approval. Cora had taught him a lot, even after he was promoted to Knight. If anyone deserves this, it was her.

---

ATTIRE: Link | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Jonyna Si | Corazona von Ascania | Jasper Kai'el | Saki | Jand Talo ​

 

[Jand Talo]

Jand listened with narrowed eyes, perplexed by the discussion taking place. It shifted from philosophical debate, to military strategy, to vying for leadership... and now to field promotions.

It seemed like knee-jerk reactions to a traumatic event.

Jand looked at Master Jonyna Si and spoke again, this time more direct and louder:

"I would be one of the first to support Corazona receiving a masterhood," he said as he looked to his friend. "But the reasoning for the field promotion is questionable and displays an ignorance of Corazona's situation and past... the death of her husband was not a sorry or sad event. He was a monster. Abusive and intolerable as a sentient in any respect."

Jand kept his voice pointed.

"Were I not held to Jedi beliefs, I would have killed him. Without hesitation. And if you knew half of Corazona's life as you claim, you would not have mentioned that period of suffering and unjust servitude to a corrupt nobility before offering a field promotion."

The Nagai raised an eyebrow as he looked to Jasper.

"Am I wrong?"

Corazona von Ascania / Jasper Kai'el / Jonyna Si

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Ilum
Tags: Jand Talo

Lightsaber
​

"Were I not held to Jedi beliefs, I would have killed him. Without hesitation. And if you knew half of Corazona's life as you claim, you would not have mentioned that period of suffering and unjust servitude to a corrupt nobility before offering a field promotion."

The Nagai raised an eyebrow as he looked to Jasper.

"Am I wrong?"

"Perhaps not. I know what happened," Jasper stated. He had been there after she was imprisoned, after Horace died. "But perhaps you misunderstand the sentiment. Corazona rose to the challenges of her past and her family. Even through pain and suffering, she has put a thousand-fold effort into bettering the path of her people. Ignorance or not on the part of Master Si, she understands that Cora both suffered and overcame that period of her life to be here today. That is not a wrong thing to recognize."

A softer expression came to his face.

"Your heart is in the right place..." he noted.

 

[Jand Talo]

Jand nodded.

"Your words are suitable to the circumstances. The previous were not. The hardest day was not that coward's dying, his fall, it was everything before and after."

While the Nagai didn't want to disagree, not when unity was needed, he also felt it important to mention that Jasper's words were not reflective of Jonyna's...

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Makko Vyres]

MAKKO

Caelan Valoren Jonyna Si Corazona von Ascania Jand Talo Jasper Kai'el

Though, he heard someone mumbling from inside the medical chambers, and glanced over. Watching as Makko Vyres Makko Vyres was talking to the thin air. Maybe it was another thing with the Force that he didn't understand. But regardless, he elected to call over to the man. "You alright over there, stranger?" Asking the very much so not-alright stranger.

Makko opened one eye. He could hear the conversations growing in volume in the distance. Jonya's bold words had filtered down to where the healers worked.

"Not really," Makko said. He managed to laugh once. He instantly regretted that; the gesture pulled at burned skin.

"If you've got any painkillers..."

He could feel the way the Force moved. He had always been empathic. Learning to understand people and to manipulate them had been a defence mechanism on the streets of Denon. There was no one he was more sensitive to than his wife.

Gritting his teeth in stubborn resolve, Makko pushed himself back to his feet. Hand clamped to his side he would take any pain relief before he walked very slowly to where the others were meeting.

Jonya had her lightsaber lit but she seemed relatively calm. He rested his shoulder on a crystal wall and cast his gaze across the group.

 

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

Nathan had given a polite nod to Amani Serys as her attendants had taken the tortured Jedi off his hands, and then had busied himself by switching out of his armor for medical scrubs and assisting in surgery (He was a fully accredited Heart and Triage Surgeon!), working on those who had the greatest chance of survival, but only if they received life saving surgery then and there.

He saved five more lives that day and lost two on the operating table. Even the use of the Force had not been enough.

He still took the two fails harder than he should have, though he didn't show it.

The ones he had lost on the table had been Padawans. Barely teenagers. He had done everything he could.

Nathan had then switched out of the scrubs, mentally and physically exhausted, and changed into a spare set of robes aboard his ship (his old Padawan Robes) and headed to the temple, wanting to see what everyone was arguing about.

He was too exhausted to try hiding his immensely strong Force Signature as he entered, and this caused quite a number of the gathered to step back a moment, wondering if another Master had entered the room, and doing a double take as they saw only Nathan, in his incredibly cheap looking, somewhat tattered robes, silvery lightsaber hilt with its thick grip dangling from his belt.

Nathan was considered an unimportant and unremarkable courier in the NJO. At first. After his Knighting he had assisted Coruscant Law Enforcement, like he had as a Padawan...but he had also started to pull off high risk rescues of allied personnel in fortified locations.

The Jedi who witnessed him fight said he moved like a blur in a fight, his form a deadly hybrid of Form One and Three. Nathan considered the style his 'In Public' Lightsaber Style. Slowly, some had started to question how a simple, low level Jedi Courier had become so dangerous in battle...and had begun to wonder if he had always been that dangerous, and simply downplaying it most of the time.

Jonyna Si was a firebrand, and this was honestly quite pleasing to him. It was nice to know he wasn't an anomaly. That someone knew the score.

Unfortunately, there was always a naysayer. Someone who didn't want to accept the necessity of getting one's hands dirty to survive.

And that was embodied by Caelan Valoren

Nathan stepped forward, still thinking of the two teenagers he had just tried to fruitlessly save. He challenged Caelan in a way he normally avoided at all cost when talking to other Jedi.

"Why should we be pacifists if the very Alliance Soldiers we fight alongside half the time, by definition, aren't?" Nathan questioned. "Why should we expect ordinary people to shoulder the burden and act like that burden shouldn't reach us at the same time?"

Nathan didn't want to steal the thunder of Corazona von Ascania , but Caelan 's words smacked of the same disconnected arrogance that had cost them Coruscant.

"Master Si from what I heard, sounded the alarm for years to anyone who would listen. And there was no doubt someone who thought just as you did who refused to believe her. What good is your line of thinking if it didn't allow us to hold the core? What good is it if our sacred temple lies in the hands of butchers who defile it just by walking on its stones? The very birthplace of our order is now in the grip of the Sith. I have heard this talk from Jedi just like you for a very long time and all it did was make us retreat when we should have pressed on. To make us lose battles we had more than a decent chance to win. Moral victories will not allow us to reclaim the Core, or kill Solipsis. And we will have to kill Solipsis...and do it right this time in such a way that he can't come back."

His words drew stares from everyone. He turned to face them a short moment.

"And now, because of our disastrous failure, the Soldiers of the Alliance will die in the thousands , along with anyone who fights beside us, to reclaim the core and smash the Galactic Empire. That is the price of believing as you do..." Nathan said, turning back to Caelan.

"I have fought the Sith in asymmetric warfare since I was a teenager. Long before I was in the NJO. Every victory, every full on Sith I killed in those days wasn't by being a pacifist. It was by putting fist to jaw. By putting knife to gut. To still pretend we can be pacifists while expecting all the people who will eventually die for our failures to not be if they want to save the Galaxy from the empire is to isolate ourselves in an ivory tower we simply no longer have because of our failure at Coruscant. The Sith sit in that tower. You say we mustn't measure worth in victory. I ask what that sentiment will be worth if we lose the Alliance? In short, I disagree entirely. I say measuring our worth in tangible, hard victories is exactly what needs to start happening. Because if we lose... everyone else does. Coruscant is proof of that. And then what will our philosophy be worth if doesn't help all those innocent people under Sith Tyranny become free? If the Alliance and it's military dies because we will not commit?"

Jand Talo

Makko Vyres

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Caelan Valoren]

“When did I say anything of pacifism?” he asked, turning briefly to look at Nathan. “When did I advocate we do nothing? You exhibit the very qualities of one who will fall, the demand for blood and vengeance. If my child and wife were not here with me I would demonstrate to you what I have given to protect the Alliance. My entire arm is a living machine now, not my flesh and bone, and I would give it again in exchange for lives lost.

“But I will not give it for you or anyone who desires revenge for our failures, only for the people who want to see our people, the free peoples of the galaxy, protected, safe, and in a situation of lasting peace. Vengeance is unbecoming of a Jedi. Your words are unbecoming of a Jedi.”

He shifted Kastiel a bit in his arms and took note of Makko walking into the room. He looked horrible. Hastily, he shoved Kastiel into Cora's arms because she was the closest to him and moved to where the man was, intending to prop him up. Anavi, being a healer and student of medicine, was quickly at his side as well.

“Anavi, some Lazerenzyme?” Caelan asked.

“Yes, I think he needs it,” she agreed, reaching into a special pouch on her belt and pulling out a vial, which she held out to the man. “Drink this.”

“Trust her. It’ll help.”

---

ATTIRE: Link | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Nathan Bloodscrawl | Corazona von Ascania | Jonyna Si | Makko Vyres | Jand Talo | Jasper Kai'el ​

 

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

"This is not about vengeance. Revenge is not a valid motive..." Nathan replied back to Caelan Valoren , rolling up his own sleeve, to show his left arm below the elbow was a cyber prosthetic.

"And you are not the only one whose flesh has been sacrificed."

Nathan then pulled out his own cybernetic eyes,disconnecting them from their installed ports. He stared at everyone with empty eye sockets.

"This is about the survival of the Alliance and Democracy. This is about defeating the Dark Side. This is about making sure all those people were left in the core, who believed in us, who trusted us to protect them, don't spend more time in the grip of the Sith than necessary. You say my words are unbecoming of a Jedi. I say my words recognize only the reality of our situation. We're on the defensive, and we cannot afford to remain there. Not if we want to stop the Empire, which must be fought, and fiercely at every turn." he replied calmly to Caelan, refusing to take the bait at being accused of being on the path to the Dark. Jedi like Caelan always used that argument to try and shut down dissenting opinion from his experience, especially when they didn't want to recognize changing circumstances.

He turned to the others.

"I don't talk much about my past. Don't like to. It's normally mine, and mine alone..." he trailed.

"I had a wife once. Jedi Knight. Very skilled. Protected the innocent with everything she had. A Sith got to her on Dantooine...and my wife..."

Nathan paused a moment, reliving that day. He had never spoken about it except to Braze and Caltin Vanagor .

"The Sith didn't just kill her. The Sith devoured her soul so completely and utterly that she was annihilated from the Force itself. She flat out no longer exists in it. Deader than dead." He said to everyone present, ignoring their reactions as he refocused his empty eye sockets on Caelan.

"She was dismembered afterwards. Lost the child too. And every day I have taken up the lightsaber, it's to prevent as many people as possible from suffering that fate, even if it means violence on the ones who inflict it."

He paused again, driving out that day on Dantooine.

"They say Caltin Vanagor was a shield. I'm not Caltin. I'm no shield. Much though I would sometimes like to be. I was one of the last people he helped to Knight before all this went down. I have tried to prove worthy of his assertion that I should have been knighted years before I finally was. I've been spending every day since Coruscant fell trying to rescue Jedi and other innocents trapped in enemy territory, just to be even a quarter worthy of his assertion. Just came back from New Plympto as a matter of fact. Wanna know what I brought back from New Plympto? A bunch of tortured Jedi, held at an Imperial Military Base. I didn't rescue those people by being a shield. I did it by burning the base to the ground, and dueling and killing every Sith I found inside, and any of the personnel that tried to stop me from rescuing them. Because I'm not a shield. I'm an axe. An axe that desires to defend the innocent...but an axe all the same."

Nathan stepped slightly closer. "I would not be so quick to sling around accusations of being on the path to the Dark Side, were I in your place. It's easy to make that accusation. It's easy to say someone else is on that path when you don't get in the trenches and put in the work, like the people of the Alliance will have to. Like I have to. Like those tortured Jedi had to. Like those Padawans I couldn't save not an hour ago with Surgery had to. Jonyna Si speaks only from experience. She's a brave Jedi. She puts in the work."

Corazona von Ascania

Jasper Kai'el

Jand Talo

Makko Vyres

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

The conversation pivoted sharply. Too sharply for Cora to keep up with what was being said until field promotions were mentioned.

"I…"

Caelan passed her a flask. Cora lifted it to her nose. There was no pungent scent that indicated alcohol, and she didn't know if that was a relief or a disappointment. A quick swig had a cold sensation cutting through her gut.

"Well, that's-"

Kastiel was deposited into her arms, and she hastily juggled the flask to accommodate the baby. The icebrew was passed off to Jand as she settled the child over her shoulder, who was seemingly content with a fistful of blonde hair.

"If-"

Another Jedi stepped after Caelan, intent on rebutting the knight's opinions in rather gruesome detail. Cora pressed her hands over the baby's ears.

Unintentionally, the talk of Horace
evoked unpleasant feelings. His demise at her hand certainly wasn't the height of Jedi behavior, and if his memory was still enough to knock her off kilter, then perhaps she wasn't quite ready for masterhood.

"I am touched, truly. Thank you all for your kind words, and for your support, but-" she winced a little as Kastiel tugged at her hair "-I don't believe I am yet as capable as I might've lead you to believe. I will continue to support the Order as I have, regardless of the position that I hold."

Cora offered a bow to Jonyna, Jasper, and Jand. When she straightened, the child in her arms reached for his father. Cora followed the gesture of his chubby little arm to see Caelan treating…her husband?

Quick steps carried her over to where Makko was being treated. Her brow creased in equal measures of concern and relief. She knew that he’d survived, but hadn’t been aware of his injury.

“What happened? Where are you hurt?”

Jonyna Si Jasper Kai'el Jand Talo Caelan Valoren Nathan Bloodscrawl Makko Vyres

 

[Saki]

She stayed... silent. Listening and it was something that if she thought enough about it... might have been amusing in its own way. Each one jumping with some past, almost trying to outdo the other about why or how they were. At times it felt like an essential part of why they had their stance... always strange the sharing unprompted. ANother one receiving a field promotion possibly again more inane talk about it. The back and forth served little other then more talk. They were almost circling back to where they had been before with some wanting to fight, some wanting to spread out... only now she knew some were soldiers and some had pasts. Not what their plan might be with something more concrete then we could.

Her hands remained in front of her clasped a she tapped her chin following mostly who were there. the one Corazona von Ascania seemed to be the one the others had chosen and her idea was mostly to go to other group or use some of the temples. It discounted a lot more. Others argued or talked about being a jedi and she remembered the likes of Rune doing that when the order took a loss or Connor wanting to achieve something. "So is there a plan in all of this?" She said it sitting there and barely looked up. "Cause being over eight hundred right now has the same weight as being sixteen, or being forty, or being married. It doesn't help beyond let you share it to seem special or wear like some form of honor."

She looked at them finally lifting her head. "The order got attacked again, we have been pushed back. Some have left, some have become one with the force. From past experience since that seems to be more a prerequisite to add to the conversation. The dead don't stay dead, they come back as sith. Grandmaster Watts, Darron Wraith, Sochi Ru to name a few. From the same experience arguing who is and isn't a jedi usually leads to one or both betraying the order cause they always have a reason generally in their mind beyond anyone elses understanding." She looked at Cora and spoke. "It has happened before, it is going to happen again. Maybe today, tomorrow or a week from now. On Coruscant, on Tython maybe even on Ossus wiped clean again... and when it does you are going to be back here asking the same questions to a new room of people."

Her shoulders came up in a shrug. "So start with your seventh plan of what to do. THe first two they always see coming. If that is sending everyone to another order then do it but debating it when the others seem ready to follow will do nothing but delay and stagnate which gives the ones wanting to harm you the chance to. If it is fight then coordinate with the ones who can help fight." She said it while leaning back in the seat.

 

[Makko Vyres]

MAKKO

“Yes, I think he needs it,” she agreed, reaching into a special pouch on her belt and pulling out a vial, which she held out to the man. “Drink this.”

“Trust her. It’ll help.”

Makko offered a slow nod. Keeping his left hand to his side, he reached out and took the vial. He knocked it back. He politely offered it back empty.

"Thank you," Makko sighed.

He couldn't see exactly what had been going on. Makko could still feel the tension in the air. Cora had been offered a position, one which she had turned down.

Quick steps carried her over to where Makko was being treated. Her brow creased in equal measures of concern and relief. She knew that he’d survived, but hadn’t been aware of his injury.

“What happened? Where are you hurt?”

"I was trying to plant something at a new ISB site before it was finished. Someone knew I was coming," he explained to Cora. He managed a half hearted smile, glancing down at Kastiel. He kept his hand firmly over the blaster wound.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Ilum, Jedi Temple
Tags: Corazona von Ascania | Torin Emberlain​

The redhead realized her comment could’ve easily been thrown back at her. Much as Torin had run himself ragged worry about her. Katherine had essentially done the same towards the Galactic Alliance, trying to answer as many calls for help as she could.

When Torin turned to face her, Katherine felt her cheeks warm a little. She both loved and hated the effect the Druid had on her by just simply looking. More so when he decided to lean closer and kiss her.

Katherine hadn’t expected it, the almost owlish size of her eyes were a clear indication of that. And before she could even respond, Torin had pulled away enough to speak.

“Always.”

The word slipped from her lips with ease, but also with certainty. She leaned in this time, returning the druid’s kiss with one her own. Only for the ship’s computer to start beeping seconds later. Katherine laughed slightly, of course the moment would be interrupted.

“Duty calls,” she replied, eyes lingering on Torin’s before she turned back around to face the ship console. With permission granted, Katherine flew the ship down and landed on one of the Temple’s free landing pads. Once the vessel was settled, the redhead let out a heavy breath.

She knew they were about to see a lot of hurt and injured people. It pained her seeing so many on Osadia, and she knew it wasn’t going to be different here.

“Come on, let’s go and get these medical supplies to those that need them.” Fortunately, they had been given a hovercart to move a lot of the heavy stuff, although both would need to carry some of the crates either way.