Absolution's End (Outer Rim Coalition)

[Jorus Merrill]

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The Alndys D'Lessio Conference Room​

Community Sector​

The Foundation​

Current Location: Zonju System​

Outer Rim Coalition​

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Comfortable multispecies furniture, dimmed lights, and soft-edged holograms lent the conference room an air of relaxed professionalism. Jorus had taken special care to clean the mud and engine grease off his boots, and he'd worn a shirt, vest, and bloodstripe-marked trousers rather than a stained coverall. Other people had taken care to look presentable too: on the couch beside him sat a Kari representative with a well-polished carapace, and an Uukaablian with freshly engraved nubhorns. Nearby, a mammoth Resu bobbed in a nice new tank, hovering between couches. More than a dozen others of multiple species, mainly ORC Judges and interested Undergrounders, had come for this particular meeting, and most had made at least a token effort to look presentable.

He made brief eye contact with a Qektoth ship captain, a human whose body was studded with sleek biotechnological implants, and looked away. After their revolution, the Qektoth were the good guys now, but his gut hadn't quite processed that yet. The Foundation was extremely secure, too, there was no risk, but his gut or prejudices didn't line up with that yet either. To cover his moment of discomfiture, Jorus leaned forward and tapped the main holoprojector's controls. A holomap of ORC worlds began rotating slowly above them.

"Thanks, all, for coming," said Jorus, shifting his weight to the edge of the couch. "Now that the whole Val Swift prosecution's almost wrapped, the Council's tasked the Judges with figuring out who else has hit our worlds and poses future threats. This meeting's about info sharing. Wires get crossed in Wild Space; we don't all know what we all know."

The Uukaablian Judge nodded. "This isn't about vindictiveness or personal grudges, it's about making sure we know all the people and corporations and groups we should consider as threats or in need of justice."

"Absolutely," said Jorus, looking around the room. "Lemme give you an example. Maybe you've heard that we only got Val Swift because we found out her company, Inquisition Industries, had a weapons factory on Exocron, in our turf. I'm willing to bet more of our worlds have some grime in the crevices. Anyone got anything to share before I start talking about the possibilities I've found so far?"

 

[Jorus Merrill]

"Nommuch," Beyyr growled from the corner. Beside him, a little translation droid bobbed cheerfully, eyes glowing.

"General Beyyr regrets that he has so little to contribute."

"Rrraff."

"Investigators on Pergitor have made progress on a cold case involving the murder of a respected information broker with underworld ties. The murder and associated events took place during the reign of the Covenant of the Black Rose. Pergitor authorities have identified a strong suspect: one Melori Raaf, a former Jedi Knight, sister to both former Grandmaster Corvus Raaf and Taeli Raaf of Aurora Industries. Melori and Corvus Raaf have not been heard from in years. Perhaps someone should undertake to speak with their sister about Melori's whereabouts and possible involvement in the Black Rose."

"Rrrose."

"As you know, the more Black Rose cultists we identify, the stronger our ability to prosecute them. We operate at something of a knowledge deficit where they are concerned."

"Prrraeliorrrr."

"Note, for example, that during Balaya Praelior's appearance by telepresence at the Val Swift trial, she claimed to be sheltered by the Aing-Tii Monks, a long journey from here. A distraction, certainly, but perhaps worth investigating."

"Rrrrootssss."

"Consider, also, the proprietary hyperroutes taken by Val Swift to reach Exocron, circumventing every port of call from Kal'Shebbol to Uukaablis. Some indications of these routes were identified during the liberation of Demonsgate, and although she erased her navicomputer records, forensic technicians were able to reconstruct much of the data. As a result, we believe we've now identified at least two stable routes out of the deep Kathol Outback. These routes should be charted, fortified, and used for the benefit of the Coalition's people."

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

His signature red trench coat swayed in the currents of the station's life support as he walk in. Bryce had met two more of the gathering as he walked, one a small Nezumi, possibly [member="Tabigarashu Madara"] or another of their nest ship who sat on the shell of an old friend to the underground a rather wise Bereth-Aku named Noomay who had ended his wondering and instead taken up residence at the force Temple of Binaros.

The three were having a deep conversation on new threats in the remote frontier worlds of the Adeline Cluster. As still newly discovered area there were ever increasing reports of pirate activity. What was even more disturbing is that it seems the revolution on the Qektoth had not been without its' problems. One very big one being that a zealot sect, still loyal to the old ways of torture and experimentation had taken a rather sizable fleet from their space and was now possibility taking up shop in the new frontier.

Upon entering Bryce heard the elegant words of [member="General Beyyr"] and agreed.

"HHHHeeeeelllpppp" Bryce said in rough wookiee.

Translated: "General, I agree with this whole heartedly, being Demonsgate's duly elected representative to the coalition you have the full backing of the guilds and tribes of the gate as well as any assets Gallofree can provide to set this up."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]

"From what I've heard, we're in a position to take a serious look at the back routes we recovered from Val Swift's wiped navicomputer. I've been down them just to see what's there. One swings by Torrential, if you know where that is. It would take some doing, but I think we've got a real shot at using those routes to connect Demonsgate with the outside galaxy."

The Uukaablian Judge, Nevisar, clapped horn-studded hands together. "And the new hyperlane would take days or weeks rather than the better part of a year. A revolution for my people, even if it is also a threat."

Jorus nodded. "That's a serious security issue, but not just for the Uukaablians and the other folks who live at the far end of the Outback. These routes and systems are pretty shoddily charted, wild as Wild Space can get. I think we have to take a serious look at the possibility that Val Swift's old crew might have a presence in there. I'm talking Black Rose leftovers -- Sith cultists. Sweeping for them, clearing them out, could take a good bit of work."