A Quiet Place

[Placeholder 0128]

Subtlety had never been Cedric's strong suit, but the times called for a change of nature as of late.

The message had been delivered via physical invitation. The wayward knight did not dare send anything of such import over the holonet. The imperials had far too much influence over the inter-galactic datastream for it to ever truly be secure.

Thus it was that a single manila folder was slipped beneath Coren's doorstep in the dead of night. The text read...

------------------------------​

Starchaser,


Our families fought side by side in years long past. It is time they did so again. I request your presence at the Graywall ten standard days from now. Come alone. No one aside from your closest friends and family can know of this meeting, lest our ancient enemies throw yet another wrench in our plans.

The galaxy needs hope Coren. Help me give it to them.

​

​

- Grayson​

​

​

​

------------------------------​

Ten days later

​

Anxiety was a foreign emotion. It was a feeling that only ever struck Cedric during moments of great importance, like the failed Ruusan Accords, or the battle of Thyferra. It was unlike him to be so uneasy, though he supposed it was not unwarranted. His letter had been quite vague, and though Starchaser knew of him, he did not know if the commander truly trusted him enough to make the meeting.

He supposed he would find out one way or another shortly.

The knight drew in a deep breath, exhaled, then drew in another. He repeated the exercise multiple times until a signal keyed on his desk terminal.

"It's time then," the knight shifted his gaze to the crimson holocron seated next to the terminal. Its murderous glow seemed to be taunting him. "There is no emotion, there is peace," with the words, the holocron seemed to stifle. It's glow faded, and the low hum that emanated from its power core sputtered into silence.

"That actually worked?"

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The fact that the Jedi Sentinel had claimed the title of Jedi was one thing completely separate from everything else that was going on. What he was doing was his best, and that included his current task of working to make the galaxy a bit better place. Pushing the dark side back, and, where possible, increasing the visibility of the light side. That was what a Sentinel did, they ferreted out the dark side, and brought light to the places that were clouded.

Coren was all for helping everyone nowadays, unless they truly deserved it. But the biggest trick here was the communication from Grayson. Coren had worked with them before, and, as research suggested, Grayson was working with the Jedi Order of the Republic Remnant. Good people all around. Dawnracer was a trusted ally, and the number of Jedi in that outfit were all right up Coren’s alley, most at least.

He knew that the two groups, his New Jedi Order, and the Remnant Jedi were a bit different, but so were the Silvers, the Judges in the Outer Rim, and the Confederacy’s Knights Obsidian. He had considered the message and after discussing with a few people, and communing with his father, passed on, but ever the Jedi, Coren knew what he had to do.

----​

It was ten days later when the YT-2000 Tachyon Rising, had landed at the Graywall, site of the Accords on Ruusan years back. Stepping from the ship, Coren, in a cloak over his standard spacer gear. Lightsaber on his hip. Reaching out in the Force, Coren was searching for Cedric, and felt the dark side here.

A holocron.

That was… not exactly good.

Stepping up to the main gates, Starchaser was clearly aware of where his lightsaber was.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Placeholder 0128]

A niggling worry in the back of Cedric's skull had told him Starchaser would not come. It had told him that his father's sins had forever tainted his family name, no matter what he did to rectify them. Cedric knew that voice well - it was the Sith holocron speaking to him once again. He'd learned long ago to ignore its whispers.

"Sometimes I'm tempted to destroy you." The knight murmured to the inert object. For a moment, the holocron came alight with its signature crimson glow. Once again, Cedric elected to ignore it. There were far more pressing matter to attend to than ancient uppity relics.

"Starchaser is here," a voice intoned over the intercomm. Cedric mumbled his thanks back through the comm and strode out of his office.

The walk down to the gates was a brief one, and Cedric came alone. He was clad in the dark robes of his homeworld, the cowl having been drawn up to abate the icy wind that buffeted the Graywall regularly this time of year. So far as one could see, Cedric was unarmed.

The cowl was drawn back as he came to a halt at the gate. The gate itself creaked open with his coming, admitting Starchaser into the ancient fortress.

"Coren Starchaser," Cedric cracked a friendly smile. "I was worried you wouldn't come, but I'm relieved that you did. Come inside so that we can speak comfortably," he paused. Starchaser was on edge, though Cedric couldn't pinpoint as to why - at least until he reached out with the force.

The knight's momentarily puzzled expression evaporated into recognition.

"Oh, you feel the holocron. I recently secured the holocron of Darth Revan to keep it out of Sith hands. I've no vault to store it in safely, so I keep it in my office at all times. The Graywall's power keeps its influence at a minimal level." He turned and gestured toward the castle. "Anyway, shall we?"

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Starchaser was the type of Sentinel that enjoyed his job. The Sith, the Knights of Ren, the dark side orders came and went, but they were always similar, they were working to direct the way the galaxy went. The Jedi were the cleansing force in that, and the groups in between? Various levels of acids and bases, keeping the galaxy balanced and safe for the rest. The watchmen, as it were.

Arriving at Graywall was something of a thought experiment for the Jedi. His sources said that Credic Grayson was a solid being, and Starchaser had no reason to doubt that. Still, the feeling he had when he walked into the structure. It bled off of him, and Grayson clearly cued in on that. Was not the best move for a Sentinel to not be blocking himself from the read of others, but, it happened from time to time.

“I had debated it, but any Jedi is a friend of mine, and the New Jedi Order is a friend to those that ask for it. But, yes, the dark side was… surprising here. A holocron, for Revan?” Even Coren had heard the name. Revan was someone that younger Jedi seemed to look up to, and older Jedi were concerned with. The man had strode across both sides of the Force, and that was something even Coren could relate.

“But what is this meeting you called, for exactly?”

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Placeholder 0128]

"Yes, I won it in an auction if you can believe that. Something tells me the Sith weren't entirely pleased about that either," A hint of good humor laced Cedric's words. He did not know Coren well, save for his reputation. The two had fought together in battles past, but never on the same front. Starchaser had always been a distant name; a welcome but distant ally that one never quite actually met. The times had changed that, though Cedric had not yet decided whether it was a good thing or not.

"I called you here because I see an opportunity. The order is splintered, and though many of us have tried to restore it, doing so will not happen for many years to come. We don't have the time to consolidate our resources and meet the SIth head on. We have to work with what's available," Cedric gestured toward the castle, then turned expecting Coren to follow.

The Graywall was quiet today. The seasonal snows had finally ceased, and the first flowers of spring had started to grow along the courtyard. A handful of attendants scurried about to and fro, and two armed guards awaited at either corner of the yard. Even still, the stronghold looked far less populated than it should be.

"We're losing the war Coren. We need a victory, something to light the fire in our peoples' hearts," the two passed through the entrance leading to the greater castle. The inside was modern, with sleek marble floors and the newest appliances. "I have a plan, but it has a lot of risk attached to it. You ever visit Ession?"

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There were entities in the galaxy that were auctioning off dark side artifacts? That was a bit more troubling than Coren was ready to admit. Whatever group was behind that sale, he was going to need to send word of them out into the Inquisition. The Jedi Shadows and others in that group could handle the investigation into the collection and subsequent elimination of groups connected to distributing dark side artifacts around the galaxies. Alternatively, the Sentinels could get out there and once the foe was identified, wipe them from the galaxy.

Maybe with the assistance of some Wardens and Judges, who knew?

“Well, its better a Jedi than a Sith holding onto that.” He nodded. There were a few names in the annals of time that Starchaser knew that really tried to influence future generations. Starkiller and Revan came to mind quickly, especially as Jedi were looking for more and more ways to approach the galaxy. Coren wasn’t innocent of this, either. He was an aggressive Jedi, but he held to the light side.

The wall that protected the galaxy from the darkness. That was his realm. “You’re not incorrect, but the New Jedi Order is doing our best to keep the Jedi in touch, and the Academy Network is working with some Wardens to establish an Underground. To help move the Jedi and get ourselves a headstart if any one order should fall.” He shrugged and looked to the Knight in front of him. “And the Sith have consolidated, for all they’re… them, I don’t understand why they constantly reconsolidate. Trust in the dark side seems to be… an oxymoron.”

The man ran a hand over his chin, a few days of not shaving had given him a ragged look. And it wasn’t from being in combat for a longer time, at this point. “Ession? Been there in passing, but… Not recently. What is in your mind?” The Master surveyed his surroundings, interested in what was on the table for future actions.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Placeholder 0128]

"The New Jedi Order's efforts have been one of the few things keeping us afloat," Cedric agreed as he led Coren into his office. The chamber had been built at the highest point of the castle, and retained an aged look from centuries past. Cedric settled down behind the singular desk in the center of the room, and gestured out toward the mountain range that extended far beyond the castle. "This used to be a place of teaching. Perhaps it should be again," he mused aloud, though the words were clearly not meant for Coren. After a moment's introspection, the knight gestured for Coren to take a seat across from him.

"The Sith continue to maintain their unity because they have results. When was the last great Sith loss you heard of? The more they win, the more confident they grow in their cause, and the less reason they have to turn on their superiors. They do not see weakness in their leaders, and so they do not rebel." Cedric gestured toward a holoprojector that had been bolted into the center of the desk. It came to life a moment later, displaying an urban world that read 'Bastion' along in bright blue letters that floated just above it.

"I've spent an unhealthy amount of time studying them," he pointed at the planet. "The Sith raised their empire in my backyard. They murdered my people," the slightest hint of a bitter edge found its way into his voice. His jaw grew taut, his brow furrowed, but Cedric showed little else by way of emotion. His presence in the force was little more than silence. "Meaning I know their lands. I know the trading lanes they use, I have contacts throughout their empire, and I still receive intel from loyalists regularly."

Another flick of his finger, and another world came to life alongside Bastion. This one was similarly urban, though it was pockmarked by patches of green and white. "Ession," the knight breathed a quiet sigh. "That is my homeworld. It sits right on the borders of Sith space - they're too afraid to try and take it. They know its people would never submit to their tyranny. It makes for the perfect staging ground," he paused, looking up to meet Coren's eyes. "I am building a small army Coren. It won't be large enough for the Sith to track our movements, but it will be a credible threat. While they focus on the core, we can hamstring them from behind; cut their supply lines in half and sever the empire. What I need are good men with strong hearts, and I know you are one of them. My father always spoke highly of the Starchasers."

The images faded. A logistics map arose in their place. "I have ten thousand men at the ready. I need commanders to lead them, Jedi to deal with the Sith, and ships to move them. Furthermore, I intend to hold a war council with the alliance's allies. If we can get the alliance, the coalition, and the silvers to go on the offensive all at the same time, we can cripple the empire. We just have to work together."

Another pause. Cedric gave Coren a serious look. "Do you think this is possible?"


[member="Coren Starchaser"]