X Doesn't Mark The Spot (Maelion)

[Moira Skaldi]

@[member="Maelion Liates"]

Their package in hand - a fragment of the fabled Taurannik Codex - Moira and Maelion departed the inner sanctum of the ancient tomb, leaving the sarcophagus and the spirit of Lord Rythe, now assuredly in the realm of Chaos, behind them. The exit was a long, dark corridor, where there was no illumination other than the moonlight that fell through a few cracks in the ceiling, the darkness such that even with their enhanced eyesight they had difficulties. Fortunately they had glow rods and UV vision to help themselves out.

A few beasts saw the need to pounce upon them in search of a meal, although the metal that was now clearly visible due to so much of their organic synth-skin being burnt off to reveal their true nature must have been unappetising. However, a few salvoes of buckshot put the creatures down. Bound spirits of the slaves that had laboured to construct this monument to the glory of a dark god might be whispering, begging for release, while Sith spirits promise reward, but they were deaf to their words since they were machines - and in any case would not care. If you were so weak to be enslaved here, then you deserved it.

In this Galaxy only the fittest survived and one day that would be the machines, when all sentient life was purged. Night had fallen upon the Demon Moon when they finally stepped out of the tomb. Rain was still pouring down in what constituted a flood from above, drenching the already mud and blood covered ground. The distant crack of lightning and the roar of thunder could be heard. The superstitious might have drawn their own conclusions, but machines were fundamentally incapable of being superstitious. So they made their way through the uninviting forest towards their shuttle, which should take them to the Lightbringer.

 

[Maelion Liates]

@[member="Moira Skaldi"]
The mission had been a success. Now all that was necessary was to deliver the goods to @[member="Rave Merrill"] and receive their appropriate rewards.
With this in mind the Lightbringer set its course for the Fringe….

 

[Velok the Younger]

@[member="Moira Skaldi"] @[member="Maelion Liates"]

The Taurannik Codex would serve to-

Well, that was a little above the terminatrices' pay grade, but the careful researcher might get an idea of what Rave planned to do with it, and it was probably a fairly accurate idea. Rave was out, doing what Rave did. Upon arrival at the biochemical/alchemy research base on Endor, the lightbringing ladies were met by a glassy-eyed Ewok with a large carry case and a note.

Ladies,

Since you do your research and cheating me wouldn't be logical, I'll assume that what you've brought me is genuine. In the case, you'll find ten thousand Republic credits, two pairs of leviathan bracers, and two trench knives for handling lightning. I've also included two sets of Force-immune collapsible handcuffs for your entertainment.

If you're open to a further contract, I have need of a little assistance. Inside a nebula in Fringe space, there's a world called Aza'zoth where an immense alchemical forge is buried under a collapsed temple. I've done a great deal of work at the Dark Forge, but its location is known to proven traitors. I've moved what alchemical gear I had there, and all my samples, but the Dark Forge itself -- a Dark Side nexus approximately ten metres by ten metres by twenty metres tall, embedded in a stone floor -- needs to be professionally, discreetly, and, above all, precisely removed. I will pay two hundred thousand credits if you can clear out the Dark Side trash who seek to exploit the Forge, find a way to safely remove the Forge from Aza'zoth, and bring it to a dropoff point in deep space. Additionally, I can provide you with advanced entechment technology in significant quantities.

All relevant coordinates have been attached.

Merrill

 

[Moira Skaldi]

@[member="Rave Merrill"], @[member="Maelion Liates"]

It was good to know that the Fringe Confederation had brought progress to its subjects worlds like Endor. Where once the Ewoks had been a race of primitives who thought human sacrifices were the way to go and had thought that a protocol droid was a god, now they marching into the future by serving as errand boys for Nightsister Elders.

To say that the Dark Forge was very valuable was like saying a krayt dragon was not a cuddly pet. Suffice to say it was very, very valuable. An organic might have experienced temptation, the urge to doublecross the Witch of the Spacelanes. After all, there were many clients who would be interested in it. However, as the rational calculation of a super computer would reveal, antagonising a Fringe High Councillor who commanded a big fleet and made shiny alchemical toys was not in Archangel's interests...yet.

What remained now was a question of logistics. Detaching the Dark Forge with precision and without damage to it would require machines of great power, which is a fancy way of saying that at this stage this writer does not know precisely what sort of machines, not to mention a very specialised ship to haul it to deep space where it could be 'dumped'. Resources would have to be allocated, orders made. It would be a big project that would take time, though this simple fact should solidify their business relationship. Moira communicated this, indicating they would be in touch, and then soon they were back on the Lightbringer and making the jump to hyperspace with the coordinates to the remote sector that housed their secret space station, the Liberator. Both HRDs were in need of repairs and from there they could coordinate the acquisition of the machinery needed for this endeavour.

 

[Maelion Liates]

@[member="Rave Merrill"] @[member="Moira Skaldi"]

The repairs to the HRDs were soon made good on Archangel’s command station. One advantage of making armies of killer machines was that repairs were extremely easy to accomplish.

The question of what to do with the forge though, that was less easy to figure out. With little to go on, Maelion calculated the dimensions of the forge, an aggregate weight and came to an unsettling answer.
“Estimate weight of Dark Forge to be four thousand tonnes. We shall require a specialist craft to contain it and some method of lifting it. Suggest a large crane built over the top of the Forge which can lift it whilst a large repulsor platform is put underneath. The Force can then be transported into the waiting craft.”

It would be an exercise in engineering, for sure, and they needed more details on the location, surroundings and additional issues with the Forge.

 

[Velok the Younger]

@[member="Maelion Liates"]

The note's reverse side contained a map of the location on Aza'zoth's surface, a few lines on how to navigate the nebula safely, and a description of the ruined temple complex which lay overtop of the Dark Forge. Those who sought to exploit the Forge were traitorous former members of the Lords of Shadows, operating from a good-sized freighter. Their numbers were not estimated to be over two dozen.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

@[member="Maelion Liates"]

Moira signalled affirmation. Specialised equipment like a massive crane and a repulsor platforms would be needed for this, hence they would have to order out, which would take time. They would take a contingent of HRDs to help secure the premise and terminate the traitorous members of the Lords of Shadows, along with labour droids to set up the crane and the repulsor platform. Based on the information they had received from Rave Merrill, the Dark Forge was black stone, chutes for molten metal, all carved out of one huge chunk of rock.

It would be a big feat in engineering, but machine ingenuity would win out. A message received from one of their moles in Saelari Mining reached her and she made a note that they would have to accelerate their time table when it came to processing the board. "Consensus. Suggest using a Tempus bulk freighter as the transport. It is rugged and durable and widely sold by Silk Holdings across the Outer Rim. Too common to arouse suspicion." Probably it was for the best to purchase a number of them to help in future projects, but it was so widely sold that no one would bat an eyelash.

 

[Maelion Liates]

@[member="Moira Skaldi"]
“Agreed, you acquire one of those ships, I will acquire the crane and repulsor equipment necessary to move the Forge.”
This process would take time, especially as people might wonder why a droid manufacturer was buying a massive crane and platform suitable of moving an oil platform.

However, sometime later the two reconvened, having successfully acquired their components.
“Suggest taking a large force of HRDs to defeat enemies who have taken up residence, and to help with the movement.”

 

[Moira Skaldi]

@[member="Maelion Liates"]

"Agreed. Terminating the enemy forces should make for a suitable field test." The time passed with more preparations and planning before, having finally gotten all their resources together for this great endeavour, they finally set their metaphorical sails and headed for the dark world of Aza'zoth, once the secret headquarters of the Lords of Shadows, in order to remove the Dark Forge. Doubtless there would be difficulties, for one did not just simply walk into Mordor, as they say, but relentless machine drive would overcome that. They would assume direct control, their techniques would tear the organics apart, this hurt them.

 

[Maelion Liates]

@[member="Moira Skaldi"]

This writer notes that any opportunity to use Harbinger quotes would be seized on, no matter how tortured the phrasing became. This one approves.

The Lightbringer was prepared, and following it into the system would be the transport escorted by two squadrons of droid fighters. As they passed through the nebula and approached Aza’zoth, Maelion mentally ran through the list of plans and contingencies.

“All is prepared. I detect no ships in orbit. We should be able to land the attack group close to the Dark Forge and neutralise opposition, then bring in the transport.”

 

[Moira Skaldi]

@[member="Maelion Liates"]

Moira signalled affirmation and with the Lightbringer waiting in orbit, ready to provide support if needed, they took a shuttle down. Thanks to the coordinates provided by Rave they had been able to navigate the nebula safely. Aza'zoth was an uninviting, foreboding place, as they found when their craft entered the atmosphere. The sun seemed hidden behind dark storm clouds, vegetation had long withered away, even the great spires and structures left behind by the Lords of Shadows seemed to have fallen into decay and disrepair. This was a dark world dominated and twisted by the will of some of the strongest darksiders the Galaxy had known, a reflection of its masters' corruption.

Doubtless Moira and Maelion would be reminded of Gehenna, for both had fought in the climactic battle, right down to storming the the city the Bando Gora had built deep beneath the earth, where they had worshipped their dark gods, performed blood sacrifices, built their machines of terror.

Their shuttle touched down further away from the ruined temple that stood lay atop the Dark Forge. According to their intel the area would already be occupied by darksider traitors. They would be exterminated. The landing ramp was lowered and the attack group of heavily armed HRDs filed out, ready to make their move, along with probe droids that would help with recon. Droid TIE fighters were ready to provide air support if needed.