Dominion Worm Time || CIS Dominion of Quesaya

[Eternal Artistry]

​

It was a gift of the gods, they said, some almighty power taking pity on the poor fools inhabiting the planet of Quesaya.

Their main crop had failed that year, eaten by some tiny worms with an apparent bone to pick with their lettuce crops, and their mines and quarries had begun to run dry. Eventually, they struggled to scrape together the funds to import food and sustenance from nearby agri-worlds. As more businesses began to go under, their once-bustling town center began to grow more and more silent until an eerie quiet took over the entire populace.

A blessing, they thought, gifted to the hardworking and long-suffering population.

As the foraging and working became more and more desperate, as the people sought value from selling their old heirlooms, perhaps scrapped droid companions for valuable parts, the people of Quesaya began to lose hope in salvation. The population, which had been steadily falling for several years now, saw a significant decrease as desperate people pooled all their savings for a ticket off the planet, in search of a better chance at salvation.

An apology, perhaps, to a population long unwanted.

Thus, when a heretofore unexplored section of a long-dry mine was stumbled upon and revealed to be a veritable treasure trove of Cortosis, the people of Quesaya rejoiced. Any able-bodied person who remained, be they young or old, flocked to that quarry and soon recovered a veritable wealth of various types of crystals as well. None of what they found had ever been heard of before on Quesaya, and some none of the populace recognized at all. The zealots of the town proclaimed it a gift, a blessing, and perhaps an apology.

Unfortunately for the Quesayans, it was none of those things.

The horde of valuables was not natural, but indeed just that: a collection. And it would seem the collector was not amicable to those who would steal their treasures.

The first warning came with the return of the tiny worms, but this time, they were not vegetarian, nipping at toes, hands, and uncovered skin. But these were simply pests. The mining continued at a breakneck pace.

The second warning came in the strange disappearance of miners. This could be chalked up to shaft collapses, perhaps gas leaks, but the disappearances were slightly more frequent than could be confidently written off.

There was no third warning.

Yesterday evening, just after 2200, the ground began to tremble. Bleary-eyed villagers emerged from their houses and began to congregate in the town square, just in time to witness the most awful sight they would ever see. A massive creature, a worm of perhaps over 45 meters long, emerged from the ground. Its teeth seemed to be uncountable, and as it reached its peak in the air it let out a horrible scream, before descending upon a small townhouse and swallowing it whole. It disappeared with a single flick of its tail, and it quickly became evident: Quesaya was under attack.

The people of Quesaya have called for aid and the Confederacy of Independent Systems has answered. Will you battle the monstrous worms and emerge victorious, or will you simply become another in a long line of worm food?

Spoiler: Objectives

​

The worms are coming from somewhere -- and that somewhere certainly lies deep within the network of mines on Quesaya. Don’t forget your torch and take a buddy as you search for the rotten root cause, and remember: the early bird should get the worm. Do not delay.

Quesaya’s defensive resources leave much to be desired, and the massive worms have been wreaking havoc amongst the city and its people. Defend the homes and the civilians from the horrid fate of becoming worm food.

The city has begun to gather its wounded in their woefully unprepared hospital, situated only a few kilometers from the havoc of the city center. Aid the evacuation efforts and help care for the wounded here.

Spoiler: Tags

Alban Roble
Ettiene Kharne
Amelia von Sorenn
A Arisone
Archon Xris
Alaria Telwith
A Aston Jacobs
Aya Clarke
Bastille Rommer
Beric Layne
Bentil Mortop
Bullwark
BX-1335
Caesar Kenway
Corvus Dravere
Colton Renth
Damsy Callat
Jayce Pryde
Decious
Eli-Mae Forrest
Eryneth
Fawn Alzi
Faye Malvern
FN-1138
Gerwald Lechner
Holt
IG-65A
Ingrid L'lerim
Joannis Campbell
John Locke
Karlie Lynn Destat
Kasca Fen
Kathryn Foster
Kayla Wylen
Kiff Brayde
Krystal
Kurenai Yumi
Kyber
Lady Moll
Luna Terrik
Lyla Quinn
Maani
Maple Harte
Mathieu Brion
Fury of Aerðs
Rabbit
Rann Thress
Maria Savilia
Maur
Millu Lee
Muad Dib
Myrrdin_Emries
Nine Lives
L LGMForever
R4-AUD
Razelle Breuner
Redd
Roy Americus
Ryk Gaelir
Rylan Kordel
SC-A1
Srina Talon
Startorn
Subject 73 Red
Talon Rahl
Talak Jenste
ToKola Bakari
Tess Valnora
Tyran Numeck
Valencia Hadley
Vanric Dannon
Veronika Fleischer
Visanj T'shkali
Kyyrk
Vyse de Valorous
Vytal Noctura
Valeria de la Vallée
Uxagi Xatash
Rayne Centaris
Ryk Gaelir
Taiia Mataan
Sabine Delacroix
Vess Sadragen
Anashla Deshal
Lesya Kosarev
Jordar Varcskel
Julra Repraj
Ashelia Solidor
The Monster
Draconis Sederius Wolf
Karlie Lynn Destat
Easy-G97
Jason Farkas
Cypher Rage
Danielle Mueller
Nimue

 

[GL3AM]

~post = 01~
~objective = worm food~
~location = 0.5 miles NE of city center~
~tags = Tallara & open~
​

GL3AM has certainly seen their fair share of gross organics before. They see it as a scale of grossness, from kinda gross to really really gross, with most organics landing somewhere solidly in the middle. This one time, they had seen this smelly blue creature at a Viceroyalty conference of sorts, and that was pretty bad, fairly close to really really gross. None of the organics GL3AM has seen in their long lifetime of serving the CIS had ever come close to the spectacular shiny metal parts presented in droids, and they never would, given their far inferior nature.

Anyways, the point is, GL3AM knows stuff about gross. They sometimes have to answer to gross. But GL3AM has never, ever, ever seen anything as bad as the creatures running rampant in the city.

Though the droid stands more than half a mile away from the city, the scale of the worms is still evident. The massive, hulking creatures stand more than 60 feet when they rear straight up into the air. That's not the super gross part though. The gross part is that when they do that, they shed a slimy sticky sweat like fluid all over the place. GL3AM thinks they can still see some traces of this gross fluid on the ground here, leading back to the carnage.

GL3AM can't wait to unload into these things.

The droid decides they'll give their comrades 7 and a half minutes to show up, before they make their assault in a blaze of purple glory. They nod in acknowledgement to a tree before sitting quietly on a stump, waiting for their fellows.

​

 

[Leru Dara]

Post One
Tags: Krystal
​

Leru stood silently on the small overhang that hung just above one of the numerous entrances leading to the extensive mine network on Quesaya. The hood of his cloak was pulled up over his head as he stared down into the darkness, his helmet's visor scanning and re-scanning for any traces of the worms that had brought the Confederacy of Independent Systems to this tiny world. Well, perhaps not all that tiny Leru thought as he deactivated the scanning systems of his helmet, turning to look back over the mostly empty plains of the world beyond. He could just make out the details of a small settlement in the distance, smoke still pouring from the destroyed sections.

The people had fled from there towards the larger cities, where their protection was at least slightly better. It had been nearly impossible to ask the terrified inhabitants any questions to help with his search for the source of the worms, but the worms themselves had left all the evidence he had needed. Large furrows in the ground had been torn in the surface of the world, running from the mine entrance all the way to the town, formerly belonging to the miners of this hole.

Perhaps it was a form of justice, Leru thought. Quesaya perhaps had grown tired of the infestation of people on its surface who had plunged into the heart of the world, tearing out chunks of it to be refined and sold off world. Perhaps if Leru was a Jedi, such thoughts would have made him question whose side he should be on. Not the first time since he had awoken on Dressel, Leru silently thanked that he had not been cursed with a connection to Ashla, the Light Side of the Force. The teachings of Bogan, the Dark Side of the Force, were much clearer on the matter at hand.

For once, the Dark Side of the Force would be used to bring salvation to a world.

A smile crossed Leru's face at the thought, wishing that followers of Ashla could be present to enjoy the irony. The pain in his mind even lifted slightly at the thought, though the ever constant agony and pounding within returned shortly after, and the smile on his face vanished. Rumbling beneath his feet drew his attention back to the mine entrance, and his helmet began feeding information across the visor, telling him of large, organic creatures moving several dozen meters below the surface through the mine system, pushing deeper into the world below. He wished to begin his pursuit of them now, but it had been advised to him to wait for support. The risk of becoming lost and isolated beneath the surface of the world was not a pleasant thought, even worse by the prospect of becoming worm food should that happen.

This one time, Leru was happy to wait for help from others.

 

[John Locke]

​

Location: Quesaya
Wearing: This
Tag: Open

​

There was something about a disaster that had the tendency to bring out the best in a community. Things could be falling apart around you, your life and world crumbling away to nothing and yet, in the middle of all that chaos and destruction, people still found a way to pull together. You only had to look outside the hospital to see it, the stream of people making their way to the hospital. Some were helping family members, friend and some were just helping strangers they had come across. It didn't matter if they knew you or not, with the city coming under attack people reached out to help one another. They provided support and advice, they provided tools and supplies or just a helping hand when you needed it.

Unfortunately, the years of hardship had not been kind to the city, or it's infrastructure. That the hospital was still functioning was a testament to the doctors and nurses who worked here, to the medical professionals who had given their all to it, to keeping the facility open for those who needed it. They could handle the everyday hurts, they'd begged and borrowed the supplies for that, but a situation like this was beyond the scope of anything anyone had ever planned. How could you forsee something like that?

It had been John's experience that it was these disasters were the unpredictable, the kind of situation no-one could ever see coming. Now was when a community needed to band together, and when those who could help needed to. And the Confederacy could help.

The Exarch knew that soon CIS personnel would be winging their way across the planet to find out what was happening, to pin down who was the cause of the problems associated with the mine and to fix them. He had faith that they'd handle the problem in the most efficient and timely manner possible and recent any further casualties. The problem facing him was rather more immediate and pressing. The businessman was no doctor, but if there was one thing he did know it was logistics.

Only even he wasn't quite sure how to stretch their supplies to cover the sudden flux of incoming patients. He'd already sent word for help, for more supplies and assistance till then, well he could help triage and bandage with the best of them.

 

[Vytal Noctura]

​

Location: City of Quesaya
Tag: Open

​

Vytal Noctura stood in the middle of the street with a lone eyebrow arched high over a glowing, green eye. A frown spread across her dark lips as she regarded the destruction that stretched out before her. The cries of panicked people did not disturb her; there were soldiers and even a few Witches helping to direct them to the overcrowded Hospital -- because that had been their grand leadership's decision. The same sort of shortsightedness that had landed them in this very predicament. Nonetheless, the Nightmother cared not for admonishing such people until the crisis was over. In that moment, she contemplated how to contain and eradicate the threat.

"Spread the Conduits throughout the city," the pale Witch commanded at last. "Have the Divination group use them to expand their search throughout the city and beneath its surface. If we can track it, we can concentrate our efforts along its path." And tell if it decided to go for the largest collection of edibles -- the Hospital. "Crowd Control, be prepared to move swiftly and create barriers to direct bipedal and worm alike in different directions. Evokers, when it appears use any magick that will not set the city on fire. I do not want to be battling a fire storm on top of everything else."

Once they knew where the worm(s) were, perhaps they could even harden the ground to divert it before it appeared above surface as well. If they were lucky, perhaps even pin and kill it. On the other hand, Vytal was open to the idea of not killing the beast if the option were plausible and it wouldn't result in further death. After all, these people had brought this on themselves out of ignorance -- though it was only because of that the Confederacy was helping them.

 

[Danielle Mueller]

Location: Quesaya Hospital
Wearing: Knights Obsidian Leathers
Tag: John Locke
​

Quesaya had a serious problem and every day that passed, there were more fatalities, more victims of these worm-like creatures. Danielle hadn't yet been forced to witness one of these monstrous sized worms, but from apparent accounts they were gods awful creatures, some of which could swallow a man whole.

The Knights Obsidian had been called in to help secure and put an end to the developing situation. Some stationed within the City-limits while others alike Dee herself had volunteered to assist with the injured and whomever was left to work the Hospital and recovery end of things.

At the mere age of fifteen, Danielle had seen death before, having served on Giaca in the fight between her people and the Peroenian's. Injuries sustained in battle were grostique enough, yet the rumors coming out of Quesaya were something else entirely. These poor people needed all the help they could get.

"Support is here!" Danielle shouted out as one of the first to come through the doors to the Hospital followed by other medical personnel and volunteers carrying additional medicines and hospital supplies; "Tell us what you need and where" she added, calling across to the already working medical staff as people raced about each other trying to prioritize those with a greater chance for survival over others.

As the Adjutant to Adron Malvern , Dee had made the most of using his name to incite further volunteers and resources to the recovery effort as possible. He of course hadn't given her consent to do so, yet she had done it all the same for the good of the locals who needed them. No doubt the Exarch would learn of her actions, yet she hadn't known that the second of three Exarch's of the Confederacy was already stationed there and having given all he could in the first of the CiS landfall.

 

[Skylar Vikaar]

Location: City of Quesaya
Wearing: Jedi garb
Weapon(s): lightsaber
Tag: Vitaara Oduro, open

Skylar stood near a Mirialan woman who stood exactly one foot taller than her. All that time in the temple hadn’t prepared her for the freedom she felt by finally having a master to train under. She looked up at the woman standing next to her, the woman known as Vitaara Oduro was her master and Skylar was going to do whatever it took to prove that choosing her as a padawan was not a mistake. She reached up and stroked her padawan’s braid, her symbol of learning, ‘If Kobi can do it so can I.’ she thought to herself.

The padawan looked about herself and saw many buildings, some of which were in very poor condition. “What kind of worms could do so much destruction to a city? Back on Kashyyyk, the worms are little wriggly things that you can put on a fishhook and catch fish with. They can’t be much different here, can they Master?” she asked thinking about the earthworms she would sometimes find under logs on the homeworld of the Wookies.

 

[Vitaara Oduro]

Location: City of Quesaya
Tag(s): Skylar Vikaar | Anyone else wishing to join

​

The apprentice's description of the city were accurate; Vitaara couldn't, and wouldn't, deny that. But the innocence that emanated afterward brought a warm smile over the Mirialan's face. Vitaara had only recently took the young Morellian under her wing and her tutelage as a Jedi Apprentice and Padawan learner, and even more recently than that, brought her away from the safety that Silver's Rest would offer one at such a tender age. So as the young padawan questioned whether or not it was even possible for worms to exists beyond the wriggly creatures she'd grown accustomed to, it was understandable given the experience. Or rather . . . lack there of.

"The galaxy is full of different creatures and beings of all sorts of shapes and sizes," she began, "and it would not come as any surprise to me should there be something of the such here." Her hand moved down as to cup the young padawan's should in an effort of reassurance. "Do you remember your early teachings of the Living Force?" Vitaara's words were soft, yet quizzical in nature. However, if Skylar did, in fact, recall back to her early teachings in the temple, she'd remember that through the Living Force she would be able to since the energy of the life that surrounded her. Those within her purview and those outside of it as well. "Trust in the Force and allow it to guide you here. Reach out and see what you can discover through it." Vitaara continued, "The Force can be a reservoir of vast knowledge. Past, present and future. Open your mind to it and see what wisdom it has to share with you."

As she spoke, Vitaara couldn't help but to think back on how she was at Skylar's age. In many ways, she was just like the young girl. She was chosen as an apprentice late in her time in the temple as well. She often had felt frustrated and impatient. She found that same unbridled thrill of adventure. And perhaps that is exactly what had drawn her to Skylar. She saw much of herself and her own struggles in the girl that she felt she'd be able to connect and bond with best. To be able to bestow the best training she was able. But then again, the Force does work in mysterious ways.

She looked down to Skylar as she would undoubtedly be trying to Focus on the Force as to see what she could learn through it.

 

[Skylar Vikaar]

Location: City of Quesaya
Wearing: Jedi garb
Weapon(s): lightsaber
Tag: Vitaara Oduro, open

The request her master made of her to discover what she didn’t know seemed a very difficult task for the young padawan. First off, she wanted her to find out about a species of creepy crawlies that she had never heard of nor even fathomed could exist. Secondly, Skylar had never been overly adept at using the Force. Sure, she had meditated a lot at the temple, but Kobi was the one who excelled where she didn’t. She had always been better with a lightsaber anyway, “I will try master.” She replied before realizing what she said would probably trigger the quote a lot of Jedi at the temple liked using. A quote by ancient Grandmaster Yoda.

She closed her eyes, hand still on her braid, and attempted to reach out to the essence of the power known as the Force. Her brow slightly furrowed as she attempted to make the connection. A few seconds later she felt the connection click (sort of) and she sought guidance on the worm infestation that caused the city harm. But before she could glean any useful knowledge her chest started to burn, her eyes flew open and she realized she had been holding her breath.

Breathe!

She blew out and gasped, bending over and placing her hands on her knees. ‘Well, this is awkward.’ She thought, too embarrassed to look up at Vitaara. “All I found out was that they started out small, like a crop pest. But they eventually grew into massive meat-eating creatures.” She reported after standing up straight, “Let me try again and see what more I can discover.” She was determined not to fail at her task and prove she was worthy.

This time she sat down and crossed her legs. She placed her hands on her knees and slowly breathed in and out. This time she had an easier time connecting to the Force, but she saw visions of worms with rows of sharp teeth attacking a group of miners before slinging away into the mine. The worms were taller than the miners, with the body to spare as they stood up to attack like a serpent. Their fat fleshy bodies secreted some sort of ooze that they used to move and fling at their victims.

Skylar opened her eyes again and looked up at her master. She relayed her vision and then asked as she stood up, “They don’t appear to have any type of armor, could the gross slime I saw be their defense and offense?” she grabbed her braid again and shivered at the thought of the giant worms she saw.

 

[Vytal Noctura]

Location: City of Quesaya
Tag: Vitaara Oduro | Skylar Vikaar

The Witches could sense things at distance, but the spiritual Conduits they would set up would expand their range, and provide them a means to take action at a distance. Vytal expected these 'worms' would not linger in any place long. Locals spoke of them swallowing entire houses all at once. As soon as they knew where they were, they would need to respond; there wouldn't be time to run across the city. Spreading out could work, but the Nightmother didn't want to place people at risk until they understood what was happening. It was easier to fortify a single location.

Regardless, Vytal walked through the streets anyway. Her green eyes swept over the buildings and down the streets while her comlink kept her in touch with the rest. Perhaps the noise of ships or an increase in stampeding feet had given the worms cause to draw back for a time. It was unlikely to last.

Someone in the area reached out into the sea of energy that surrounded them, and drew Vytal's gaze. There were no Solanaceae in that direction.

After she'd changed course, the pale woman in the red, light armor drew ever closer to a pair of Light-side using women. Not two Vytal ever recalled meeting before, but then she didn't know every Knight Obsidian personally. "It swallowed a building in one bite," Vytal commented as she came close enough to hear Skylar's last question. "What slime?" The people of this world had not mentioned slime. Could it be corrosive, or was it a lubricant?

 

[Skylar Vikaar]

Location: City of Quesaya
Wearing: Jedi garb
Weapon(s): lightsaber
Tag: Vitaara Oduro, Vytal Noctura , open

The question did not come from her master as she had expected it to, but rather from another woman less than talking distance away.

“The slime from…” Skylar didn’t finish her answer as both the apparel of the woman and her aura portrayed something less than the light that she was used to feeling on Kashyyyk. Sure, the surrounding area wasn’t a beacon of light, but to Skylar this woman in red armor was darker still. She wasn’t sure yet if the woman meant anyone harm, but the way she asked her question stated she was merely curious about the threat to the people.

“Master?” she said, concern in her voice as she reached for her lightsaber hilt that rested on her hip. Skylar didn’t want to fight but she was uneasy with what she felt from this woman. Hopefully, her master had an answer for her. ‘We are here to help the people with a worm problem, but what if it was a Dark Side user like this woman who caused the problem?’ she thought to herself as she unclipped her weapon, hoping to Ashla that she wouldn’t have to use it yet.

 

[Jari Valnora]

Location: Quesaya Hospital
Wearing: THIS
Tags: John Locke | Danielle Mueller | Open
_______________
​

Quesaya had certainly seen better days and as his gaze pressed out over the skyline, it was only too evident what trials and tribulations had befallen the planet's citizens. In particular, those which resided in, and around, its capital. But perhaps it was the mere gravity of the situation at hand here that had attracted him here. Certainly, Adron Malvern 's Adjutant, Danielle Mueller's, words had pressed the issue, but for Jari, he really held no particular ties to any particular part of the governance that his home just so happened to fall under. So long as they allowed him to continue about his work, as they'd done so far, there would be no qualms. But the adjutant sure did love to throw that Malvern name around, yet Jari imagined that should the two ever have the opportunity to cross paths, neither would be able to put a name to the other's face. It simply wasn't of interest to the young Valnora - his elder brother, Jorik Valnora , was more fit for that kind of role. Hell, that man had even been wrapped into leading the planet with which their home was based, not just the Corporation that painted his family's out across the stars.

As the shuttle descended, Jari's eyes fell upon the countless beds and stretchers that lined outside the doors. The calamity that had stricken the people here was grave in nature. There would be no sane person that walked this galaxy that would ever be able to comfortably deny that. Yet the fact that the fractured foundation of this hospital and the shaken wills of those that manned its very halls would stand as a beacon to just what it was a community could come together and do when pressed in the way that each and every one of Quesaya's citizens had been. Whatever these worms were that plagued this place, the men and woman that seemingly flooded to this place from the vastness of space would likely figure out a way to deal with it. Whoever it was they served. That didn't matter to him - just saving whatever lives he could as best as he could. That, and helping the overburdened hospital maintain what little of their sanity remained with his very own assistance and expertise.

As the shuttle landed, Jari stepped forward from it, striding past Danielle Mueller without so much as casting even a cursory glance. What help she could offer was beyond Jari's comprehension, but she had brought supplies and that was enough to assuage his conscience for now.

Also among those that had landed was none other than one of the Exarchs, John Locke , but Jari wouldn't have been able to point anyone to the man if were asked. Ranks and names matter little to the man. He cared what they could actually offer of use in a situation. Well that, and the fact that he, himself, was something of a hermit. Rarely did he pull himself from his research to mingle with what others might consider his peers. Nor did he devote any time toward learning the hierarchy of the power his world just so happened to sit comfortably within.

What use did such random bits of knowledge offer him? None so far as he could see.

 

[Aria Nox]

​

Location: The Mines of Quesaya
Job Posting: Search & Destroy Giant Worms

Giant worms. Not exactly a glamorous job. Certainly not the sort of creature Aria aspired to slay and earn a signet from. A circle of endless teeth might look intriguing until someone asked for the story behind it. Perhaps these giant worms would prove more formidable than soft, wriggly creatures whose hide was easily pierced, however. Long as the Confederacy paid up in the end.

When they drew near to the mines it became clear the job was getting worse by the minute. Close quarters. Confining spaces. No snipers. No jetpacks. Hookshots would be of limited use. Explosives could bury them along with the target. Pistols, rifles, and blades. Flamethrowers if the miners hadn't be foolish enough to leave oil lanterns laying about or sticks of explosives as they ran away in terror.

Aria reached over her shoulder to draw out a semi-automatic shotgun. Worms, she repeated as if the name of the creature might give away its secrets. Slowly her gloved fingers drew four cylinders from her waist and shoved them into the chamber in a single thrust. The loud clacking sound of the weapon readying the first incendiary round. Few lifeforms liked fire.

As the dark Mandalorian figure drew near to the origin of this world's great threat, her HUD isolated and scanned a figure that stood there evidently waiting for others. Not a bad strategy, really. In such a confining space with an enemy that might very well burrow out of the wall beside you it wouldn't hurt to have some support. From the garb, however, Aria suspected they were one of those Dark Mystic types.

She hated it when some invisible force knocked her aside. Worse was when they tried that dainty two-finger "I'm choking you" gesture. Eye-rolling. Also unreasonably upset the Force Users that found it less than effectual on her. Could they blame her for adding a little protection from their parlor tricks?

"You here to kill worms too?" Maybe the man was here because he heard it was a scenic vista full of the planet's natural wonders -- or only thing propping up life on this rock, the mines. No, he was there for the worms. Probably enough to go around, and bag her a healthy chit.

Tag: Leru Dara | Open

 

[Rayna Lockley]

​

Location: Mines​

TAG: Aria Nox | Leru Dara | Open​

​

Quesaya, all in all, it was a world devoid of value, true it had mines and grew crops but neither was bountiful enough for it to matter in galactic affairs it was that realization that had led Rayna to land on this planet in the first place. What she had found instead was an ever-growing number of operatives from the Confederacy had arrived to assist in attempting to remedy the situation that now imperiled the planet. For her part, she would simply be an outlier she was not part of the military or any branch of the Confederacy she was just here to help a planet in need.​

​

She now found herself wandering the mines seeking out the source of the infestation now plaguing the civilians. Bringing her attention back to the situation at hand Rayna moved through the mines slowly and barely making a sound, she had her shotgun at the ready barrel point down toward the ground though, after all, shooting some Sith Lord accidentally would not end well.​

​

After walking some time she heard voices ahead of her, easing up slowly to peer around the corner, she sat and listened a moment quickly taking in the routes available to her, she could try to continue down the corridor or double back the way she came for another route around or she could move into the corridor with the other two none of the options particularly interested her but the most expedient one was also the most annoying. She rolled out from her cover and started walking toward the other two. "It's pretty empty down here, were the locals just playing this up?"​

 

[Danielle Mueller]

Location: Quesaya Hospital
Wearing: Knights Obsidian Leathers
Tag: John Locke & Jari Valnora
​

Young and impulsive, Danielle hadn't seen a problem with her speaking out, she had after-all helped to gather further volunteers and the people of Quesaya would benefit from this by some nature, that was what mattered most in her eyes and she would deal with the consequences of her actions afterward. For now however, she did what she could to carry the medical supplies in and looked to the present hospital staff for instructions on who needed what, making the rounds across the ward to deliver and offer her assistance where needed.

Initially she had believed that these attacks had come from worms like the stories coming out of the eastern regions, the likes of the Bryn'adul giants. She'd been mistaken in expecting as much, yet she was fifteen years old and so jumping to conclusions probably wasn't a far-cry for someone such as herself. Still, she was glad that she hadn't shared her expectations in too much detail with others, as it was embarrassing enough to admit in mind.

She was no practiced doctor, nor some experienced healer in regards to the Force, yet basic military training had provided her with some skills that meant she could offer a little more than was likely expected. She wasn't at all squeamish when it came to the sight of blood and guts like most girls her age. She wish this was the first time she'd witnessed the sight of injured personnel. It wasn't.

Being called upon by one of the older male doctors, she rushed to the side of a patients bed and complied with the man's request to apply pressure to the abdomen, her hands atop a bloodied bandage as they sought to stop the bleeding. Some of the worms had gotten to him while he'd been resting and the doctor had been forced to open him up and pull some from his insides. Dani's aid had only come in at the end of it, and for that she was silently thankful.

 

[Anakwor Farlorn]

FARLORN'S FORLORN

CHAPTER SIX: DIE IN DARKNESS
PART ONE​

Location: Quesaya

Character: Colonel Anakwar Farlorn of The First-and-Only Carian Ranger Regiment

Tags: GL3AM John Locke Vytal Noctura Danielle Mueller Jari Valnora Aria Nox Rayna Lockley

The sun was about to come up. But they didn’t wait for the day to break. They didn’t wait for the weather to turn perfect or the dark clouds from the horrifying night to part. They didn’t wait for the local authorities to clear the space-port of them. They didn’t wait at all because they did not concern themselves for what nature had to pathetical say to them or the groveling protests of some money-grubbing pathetic dock owner.

They didn’t care at all because they were far, far mightier than all of that.

If any of the long lines of refugees trudging along dirt-paths or the farmers that had chosen to stay to protect their livelihoods had looked up, they would have noticed that against the fading night sky, two new stars winked into existence. The transports hung in space, stabilizing themselves within the planetary orbit before the command was given. They were like swollen insect queens as they birthed out their offspring into the cold airless void.

Across the wide-open sweeping grass fields, over the mountains of which sat the diving mines that had promised to bring prosperity to this backwater but instead brought death and despair, above dying brown estates, a door was kicked open. It began as a barely perceptible whisper in the air after an otherwise windless night but started to grow.

A farmer patrolling her fields, clutching a bolt-action slug rifle older than her was the first to notice. She licked her thumb and held it out. The morning wind always moved in from the west, rushing to fill in the warm air that distant dawn was heating in a land far-way, but this one was heading east.

The breeze violently and suddenly increased to a withering gale, a blistering belt of wind that ripped through the tall dying plantation stalks around her rippling wave. The most brittle or weakest of her crop were ripped with their roots right out of the earth or forced to bend into trembling right-angles. She nearly fell over in the face of such power, bending her knees low down to reduce her profile. She cast a look up and saw the sky split open.

She saw the thick black clouds above part themselves, speckles of dawn poking through a hole nearly ten kilometers wide. There was a great big noise, such a noise that it felt as if someone had fired a gun next to her ear and left her nearly deaf, her ears ringing for days. It was the noise of the atmosphere being ripped open by tens of thousands of tons of steel. The ground underneath her trembled as if it feared what was coming. As if something was being cast down from the golden heavens above.

It was right to fear what was about to come.

Somewhere up there, the God of Agriculture scattered his metal chaff from his hand through the hole created in the clouds. Hundreds upon hundreds of shuttles hurled themselves in a near-vertical drop as their engines blasted away with such force that the flames trailed out behind them for dozens of meters, with such speed that the nose of the ships had turned bright orange from the friction that was being created.

Upon each and every Oberon Class Shuttle was the bright vivid hexagon with dark purple outlines resting on one of its bases, dissected into six triangles, and containing a smaller hexagon at its heart. It bellowed, it screamed out the name of the proud nation they served.

They were the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the bulwark of a quadrillion thankful souls and the torch in the darkness, burning away the tyrants and despoilers in righteous fire.

At the last moment, the small fleet of vessels ended their death spiral towards the earth and pulled up a kilometer from the ground, like spreading grain seeds caught up in a hurricane-force tempest. They flew over the fields roaring, scattering trains of refugees away, making them dive for cover for they could not know what those strange metal birds truly were. Those strange birds screamed, louder than anything ever had on this backwater world. They passed over a lake, lowering their altitude to barely a hundred meters from the surface. Clouds of steam and spray were blasted by the force of hundreds of quad engines. A great mist spread for many kilometers and later it was found that the water level of this body of water had dropped by five meters due to the sheer evaporation that had occurred.

The forward landing party slammed their vessels into the dirt five minutes before the others in a flat bracken field two klicks from the city. Metal ramps dropped out and men clad in beige combat fatigues and steel bowl helmets yelled out battle-cries as they dashed out. Many in their ranks carried heavy chugging fuel tanks upon their backs and long tube projectors with ignitors at the ends of each sputtering a blue flame. They spread out and began to burn away the dying vegetation to clear a field for the landers following in close behind them. The flametroopers were experts at their jobs, burning away the thickest vegetation while making sure that the flames did not spread beyond their control or interfere with deployment. Several walked around with hoses that sprayed out white foam to extinguish fires once they had done their duty. Acrid black soot, ash, and smoke choked the air but was driven away by a southerly wind. It could easily be seen all the way from the City of Quesaya.

Thrusters whining and cycling hard, the bulk of the Regiment’s landers followed close behind them. A thick wave of dust was kicking out from their impacts as the first wave set in, landing claws extended as they settled in as they came down. Hatches opened and thousands of troopers marched out onto their assembling grounds, commanders within their midst with voice amplifiers screaming out orders.

It looked chaotic, confusing, with no seemingly no rhyme or reason but really it was organized and extremely disciplined. Everyone knew where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to do in the most efficient manner possible. They had done this dozen of times before. As rapid-deployment light infantry, this was their specialization. If they screwed the pooch on this one, they might as well put in their resignation letters now.

Heavy bulk landers came in, raising walls of dust, and shaking the soil with their landfall. Their massive belly hatches yawned open and lines of cargo trucks and MTAT-1 APCs came flowing out in long ordered lines.

Before the hour was even done, two battalions had loaded up on a dusty road outside the landing zone in matt-black eight-wheeled trucks or their armored transports and were rumbling down towards the city with the others just a few more minutes behind them. The supply transports jiggled noisily along as they followed close behind the armed forces as the fuel cans, spare parts and wheels draped to their side shook with every rotation of the wheels. Rope netting was draped over their payloads.

Within each transports troopers in simple beige battledresses with black combat webbings and white puttee wraps around their shins and forearms chatted readily with their comrades to the side or across them. Their weapons, webbing, haversacks, musette bags and bedrolls were gathered under their feet. They played cards over their equipment. Many credits and bottles of drink were lost in the half-hour ride to the city.

Ahead of the main column rode the advance party, half a dozen staff cars, and two laden trucks with a dozen outriders mounted on speeders. They rode at near full-speeds, the scouts forth blared out sirens for any refugee to move over to the side at once.

In the lead staff car, a man sitting in the back red velvet cushioned seat was dragging his finger down the screen, speed skimming the myriad of reports coming in, analyzing them, and devising responses to counter any threats. The situation here was calm but was under great strain. Supplies at the hospital were sorely needed as well as a garrison force to defend from any further threats. Heavy weapons were also demanded in order to deal with the largest of the overly-aggressive local wild-life, reported at over fifty meters in size and leaving destruction in its wake. Light artillery, anti-tank rockets, laser cannons, and guided airborne munitions were being slowly loaded off the heaviest bulk-landers for the fourth battalion.

This man had a long drawn face with rounded cheeks and fierce green eyes that was intense as a targeting laser. Dressed in a black officer’s uniform with yellow epaulets with a single star upon them, golden Aiguillette strapped across his right breast and his medals just under his rank bar under his left, he had a peaked cap perched atop his short-cropped auburn hair with a bright purple sash around it. It had a single silver badge in the very center, the insignia of the Dauntless Corps, the mallet used to smash in the heads of the foes of the Independent systems while the sledgehammer of the Army pummeled away at its corpse.

“Sir, communications are up,” The passenger right next to the driver spoke up as he fiddled with the car’s comms-unit. “We’ve got a connection to all Ranger ground units and the ships up in orbit.”

“Good work, Bellary, can you get me on Confederate wide-band?” Said the commander. His voice had a soft nearly-aristocratic complexion yet there was clearly a layer of war-forged steel underneath that thin layer.

“It’s done,” The commanders comms-officer said after a minute of fine-tuning the signals. He turned around and gave him the vehicle’s comms units headset.

“Thank you,” He placed the headset on and tapped at the mic.

“Hailing all Confederate forces currently in Quesaya City, Colonel Anakwor Farlorn at your service. My Carian First Regiment has been deployed planetside and is on route to provide assistance to the current situation. I have three and a half thousand men at my disposal, a small assortment of light armor, and several tons of rations and medical supplies. We are heading towards the city with an estimated time of arrival of half an hour.

Communications at large have been splotchy recently. I request that all friendly and armed local forces report in. If any of you require support, please inform and I will provide to the best of my ability.

We will cleanse these lands of these beasts and bring the light of the Confederacy to the population.

Long live the Independent Systems and hail to the Vicelord!”

 

[Vitaara Oduro]

Location: Quesaya City
Tags: Skylar Vikaar | Vytal Noctura | open

​

Vitaara had felt the unease rise within her apprentice as the maligned individual approached. The way her vocalizations shifted and her body tensed as it did. She reached out to Skylar through the Force to reassure and comfort her - anything just to ease the conscious the young padawan.

It was true. The appearance of any that basted the way this woman in red did in the dark side of the Force would be enough to bring a rise out of any so young and innocent. Any that, until recently, had little knowledge of what lay beyond the secure walls of a temple that teemed with Jedi. But, the real world was different. There was those from every walk of life within it. Beyond the comfort of home Skylar would be forced to grow and adapt. Yes, to trust her instincts, but also to not be so quick to jump to conclusions based up the nature of those that surrounded her. It was through Vitaara's own experience that she had learned this very same lesson from her master, Shae Lan, when she had been spirited in wanting to take on the galaxy and any and every dark side presence that existent within. But that wasn't the mission of a Jedi in it's entirety. As least not as it had been explained to her. Their purpose was more than that.

<<Temper your anxieties, Skylar,>> Vitaara spoke to her young padawan through the Force so that her words would feel the girl's mind, yet her lips would not move. <<I sense no ill intent from this woman. Merely curiosity.>>

"These worms," Vitaara began, her words directed toward the newcomer, Vytal Noctura , "What do you know of them?" She gave pause for a moment to allow the woman draped in red to collect her thoughts and respond if she so desired. "It seems unnatural to me that these creatures would simply show as they have, with the pain they have brought on these people, unless provoked. For years there's been no sign of aggression or animosity. No predication for the attack and destruction wrought upon Quesaya and its citizens til now. Why?"

 

[Cypher Rage]

Location | CNS Warrior's Pride
Objective | Evacuate & Strategize
Tags | Danielle Mueller Jari Valnora John Locke

This particular scene continued to repeat itself.

And as usual, Cypher was in orbit, aboard a warship, coordinating the evacuation efforts with the ground team. He couldn't help but rhinku that if wasn't good at anything, he at least had experience evacuating civilians.

"Status?"

The bridge of the Warrior's Pride which was in the midst of it's twelve week shakedown cruise before being handed over to ToKola Bakari , was rather warm and inviting. Rather than the trenches commonly found in warships of this size, everything was on the same level, seperated only by color designating each stations purpose.

"Supplies and Shuttles loaded and are standing by. All ships report read for launch. No communication from Exarch Locke or the ground team as of yet"

The tactical droid even seemed to be nicer. At least the feel of a new ship was cheering up the gloomy Fleet Marshal. "Get me comma with them when you can. No rush. Bring me a map of the battle zone, as well."

 

[Vytal Noctura]

Location: City of Quesaya
Tag: Vitaara Oduro | Skylar Vikaar | Anakwor Farlorn

Vytal's green gaze shifted from Skylar to Vitaara as it became clear in demeanor as it seemed in appearance which was the Master. One's strength in the Force was no good way to gauge someone's worth either. You might as well judge the best leader by how large their bicep was.

Of course the Witch noticed the discrete shift of Skylar's hand toward her hip where a lightsaber just happened to hang. That wasn't even worth a silent rebuking stare. People defensively reacted to Nightsisters all the time. In fact, when she'd been new to the stars several gangs had attempted to attack them out of fear of their 'unholy' power.

"Only what the people of the city and those that fled the mines told us," Vytal replied calmly. They had only just arrived. Even magick took time to cast, and her first objective was in establishing a perimeter with reconnaissance a close second.

Vitaara had more to say, of course, and the pale Witch listened with both hands at her sides. "Fools and foolish acts." Vytal could feel the so-called Light surrounding these two, so no doubt her words would seem crass and dismissive to a greater truth. Nevertheless, they were succinct and to the point. "A desperate people driven to extract what they believe to be their sole means of survival by any means necessary. They simply dug too greedily and too deep, uncovering a creature better left undisturbed for the next ten thousands years."

"The suffering you feel is one they brought upon themselves out of ignorance. It is only because of that the Solanaceae joins the Confederate forces today to save them from disaster. Had someone been breeding such a creature to sell on the market, I would half the mind to let it devour them." Because the Witches did not police the galaxy nor help whenever something went wrong. It was a very large galaxy with far too many fools and monsters that would easily distract from the larger picture. In this case, however, a sample or even a youngling of this species might prove valuable and worth their time. Seeing how the Confederacy might very well drive this species into extinction, it was only prudent to help and in doing so study this new form of life. Perhaps even save it, gods willing.

"Excuse me," the Witch pardoned herself as a hail came in over Confederate frequencies. The channel was opened back to Anakwor Farlorn , "Colonel Farlorn, this is Nightmother Noctura, we could use your men ensuring the people of the city find sanctuary at the local hospital. Your supplies will be best used there, as the locals have been frightened by recent events and no doubt injured themselves. I have several Witches there to help cloak the hospital from the worms' senses, but we cannot be certain where they may appear at this time."

Speaking of being devoured, the Nightmother came full circle, "A large worm surfaced in the city and devoured an entire building. It burrows through the ground, and we should take care not to believe just because we cannot see it means it is not there. Sisters and Brothers of the Solanaceae are establishing a network throughout the city to track and contain the creature. It will take time, however, and I feel we do not have enough of it." Her attention pivoted to Skylar once more. "Was the slime dangerous?"

 

[Skylar Vikaar]

Location: City of Quesaya
Wearing: Jedi garb
Weapon(s): lightsaber
Tag: Vitaara Oduro, Vytal Noctura , open

Skylar clipped her lightsaber hilt back onto her belt when she heard Vitaara's voice in her head. She trusted her master's judgement of this woman that had come asking questions even with the presence the young padawan felt. Skylar didn't have time to worry about the intentions of Vytal as she tried to process the vision she had of the giant worms attacking the miners. She closed her eyes to focus on what she had seen as her master and Vytal talked.

The miners.

The worms.

the destruction.

The slime.

Her attention was brought back to the present when the woman in red began talking about an entire building being devoured. Her jaw slacked and eyes widened ever so slightly and the thought of a worm being so big. The ones in her visions were only two to three limes longer than a grown man, but if they were able to grow that big it was no wonder the city called for aid from the CIS.

Suddenly the green eyes of the woman stared Skylar down and Vytal asked her a simple yet very important question. Skylar knew that if she answered this question with the wrong information lives could be lost. She had to be absolutely sure she was correct in what she was going to say next. The warrioress she wanted to prove she would be one day wanted to stand up tall and stare Vytal in the eyes with confidence and give a solid answer. But the young fourteen year old girl who had only recently became a padawan was worried.

She took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. 'Think Skylar, think! Was the slime you saw the worm spray at the man dangerous?' she thought to herself as the air slowly left her lungs. Her breath finaly finished and she looked back into the green eyes of the Nightmother, "Yes it is dangerous. I don't know how dangerous, but it looked like the slime was only spat on the people it tried to eat. Kind of like it was spitting on its food." she said with an edge of curiosity in her voice.