Baptized in Death

[Cedric Grayson]

Several thousand caskets littered the cargo bay of the civilian carrier. The attacks from imperial death squads had been devastating in their own right, and the damage they had inflicted was only expounded upon by the disorganization that had temporarily blinded the New Republic in the wake of its member worlds seceding. The spirits of the people were low, and a general feeling of melancholy pervaded the entire fleet.

Dozens of New Republic ships had converged on Fondor following the mass attacks. Much of the fleet was gathered here, their holoscreens keyed in to observe the proceedings among the funeral ship. They were looking for hope, and a path beyond the violence of the core. Darius doubted he could give them either, nor did he wish to find himself in the spotlight like this. A true Jedi was a humble creature with little love for titles and accolades, and even though this was a somber event, it still felt like Darius was being given far more respect than he deserved. He had only done what any Jedi would do, and no thanks had been required.

That only made it awkward when he realized that much of the New Republic's leadership had been slain, and that he and his constituents had been unofficially appointed to fill that void. He had responsibilities now, and it only seemed fitting that a Jedi Knight lead the funeral procession.

Hundreds of beings had been crammed into the cargo hold, and he knew thousands more were watching from the rest of the fleet. A small podium had been erected in the corner of the massive chamber; he and other Republic leaders stood there, watching their battered people and fighting to find the right words that might lift their spirits. Darius's status as a Jedi Knight marked him as something of a spiritual leader, and his personal action in the defense of the fleet had landed him with the responsibility of closing the ceremony.

He waited and listened as others spoke their peace. When his time came, he strode up to the fore with a false confidence. He still wore his mask, as was tradition, but his cowl had been drawn back and he spoke with a familiarity that belied his private nature.

"Brothers and sisters of the Republic, it is with a heavy heart that I speak to you today," he paused, standing a little straighter as he regarded the crowd. "For decades, we have suffered under the blades of tyrants. Our people have been bled, our strength depleting with each resolved conflict. Our enemies have been plotting against our prosperity for generations, and it has all come to this." he gestured toward the innumerable caskets draped in the Republic starbird. So many dead, so needlessly.

"They want us beaten: they want to see us groveling in the dirt, crying out for those we have lost, consumed by despair. They think that this wanton slaughter will bring us to heel, but they do not know the Republic's spirit." There was a loud thump that echoed through the ship's intercomm as Darius placed a gloved fist over his heart. "We are a free people. We do not seek dominion over others, nor do we seek to reduce the rights of unique and extraordinary sentients into that of droids simply because they are different than we are. Our cause is the righteous one. We will not forget the countless victims of their heinous crimes, but we will not allow their deaths to paralyze us either."

He paused, looking to see the crowd's reaction, and could make out nothing discernible. "Now is not the time to give up. We mourn our dead by surviving. They would want us to carry on, not submit to their killers." Another pause, "This will be a trying time. I ask that you stand together against this tide of darkness, for if we stand alone, it will devour us all. I have faith in the Republic, and so did they," he again pointed to the caskets. "Let's not forsake them."

Darius turned to walk down from the podium. He had said his peace, and now he was keen on heading straight toward the officer's lounge of the ship. There moves to be planned, and it would be a long time before he knew peace once again.

 

[H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E]

HARDLINE had many borrowed faces, too many to count. Many were people he had grown a liking to over the centuries, others were enemies, old movie stars, and other people long forgotten. It was the best he could do to pay tribute to them, to keep atleast a small bit of their memory alive.

Funerals were always somber, however this one was especially so. The ships cargo hold was by no means small, and it was filled nearly wall to wall with caskets, bodies upon bodies upon bodies, all lost forever. There was little that could be done about it, however, except move on and continue what they started.

HARDLINE borrowed no faces today, as not to disrespect the dead by hiding behind a mask, he simply wore a cloak to cover his head. Delta followed by his side, as calm and emotonless as always. The two approached a vigil, covered in candles and flowers and various other tributes that varied by culture. HARDLINE's contribution was a bouquet of flowers, one in a sea of thousands, just like the bodies.

The pair then made their way out of the cargo bay, moving towards the officers lounge. He had been offered a position of ambiguous stature and responsibility, but he had no reason not to accept. He simply did what he had to do to achieve his goal, and this was a good opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

[member="Darius Sedaire"]

 

[Lux Berooken]

It was an odd experience looking at so many caskets from his spot on the stage, never really being confronted by death almost made him drop the calm and collected persona that the people of the New Republic were used to. He kept his cool but noticed after a while that his left hand was shaking slightly being one of the younger leaders he had been spared the horrors of war up to this point. The truth was he wasn't even supposed to be there his staff had warned him against attending the funeral due to security concerns of someone trying to take out the leadership,, but he knew that he needed to go for political reasons, people needed to know that he could cope with the realties of war.

[member="Darius Sedaire"] was right the best way to mourn those who had died was to survive and rebuild what had been lost. He liked the man he had a voice that carried authority which was good in times like these, and the mask was a nice touch made him all the more interesting. Lux hadn't met many Jedi in his life but found them to be a fascinating bunch that you wanted on your side in a fight, and that was what they were in now a fight, a fight to the death.

He knew it was wrong to be thinking about politics at time like this but he couldn't help it, he was a politician. He knew that many people were still talking about the speech that he had made on Carida so people already knew that he was a good speaker but what they didn't know is if he could be a comforter and a cargo hold filled with grieving families was just the place to show it. Making his was down from the stage into the general area where people were standing. Many had red eyes from crying, some looked to be in a state denial about the lose of their loved ones, and many were angry at the situation that they found themselves in.

He gave out hugs and tried to be as comforting, he had never been this close to everyday people since he had graduated from primary school so the experience was one that was very odd. An older woman had gave him a picture of her son who had been killed she wanted him to keep it in her words "It would help him remember what he was fighting for". A man a little older than himself told him the story of his brother he said "That he loved the New Republic more than he valued his life"

He gave a few more hugs before making his way towards officer's lounge, smiling on the inside at the fact that he had just gained some major political points.

 

[Tatsu]

Tatsu was a calloused man, the kind of individual that buried his pride deep and pushed on through adversity. His life was layered in bruises and scars, the traumas of an existential dread. He had never known any purpose aside from the countless nights and hours of sifting through jagged metals and polymers, his hands cut and raw. If one were to see Tatsu's hands, they would possibly perceive him as a hard worker. Someone who could tolerate hardship.

Yet the scars meant little in the way of the gaping wounds in the very hearts and minds of the survivors. He was selfish, deluded by personal gripes and misery that had consumed him like a parasite from within. His insides twisting and churning at the very detriment he subconsciously vowed to harness. Yet none of it mattered in the wake of the cargo's unnerving atmosphere. How little that depression of the self compared to the bleeding of abundant souls. A wave of unease came over Tatsu, and suddenly he felt somewhat sick.

A deep exhale escaped the operative, and in that moment, he had made up his mind about something.

With his back against the wall nearest to the officer lounge's entrance, Tatsu stood. His armed crossed and his mind running amok with millions of volatile thoughts, intentions of violence upon those that caused such a massacre upon the refugee vessel. Was this his attempt at heroism? An almost amusing thought to himself, but it quickly slipped by and was replaced by malice. Disgust.

Upon noticing the Jedi, along with a younger man in his company, Tatsu straightened his posture and took a couple of steps forward. This was him presenting himself in an almost sacrificial fashion, wanting to be noticed and to be asked to spill blood. For these people, the once slave turned operative would bring about wrath. With their vision emboldened by pure primal rage, their voices would not whimper away into darkness. This was now the moment, the precipice for which change was absolutely necessary.

"Jedi. We need to talk."

[member="Lux Berooken"] | [member="H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E"] | [member="Darius Sedaire"]

 

[Anders]

Anders stood motionless among the partitioned rows of mourners, nondescript and unremarkable, clad in a raven black cloak draped over his body as he listened to Darius' impassioned speech. This mass procession of death, attended by untold hundreds, was more than disquieting. Not that the young Anders was oblivious to the realities of life and death, quite the opposite, though he certainly never seen it regarded to such a spiritual extent. Life on Nar Shaddaa had engendered a particularly low esteem for the value of life. He'd taken countless contracts, and though he never counted, the bodies taken had likely numbered over a hundred at this point. Did they have wives? Husbands? Brothers, sisters, children? Surely they had hopes and dreams, as all beings do. But that didn't matter now, did it? They were dead, forgotten. Suddenly he felt his belly beginning to churn and for a moment he felt himself ready to dispense his stomach contents. His mind was now consumed by the faces of those he'd taken without a second thought. A touch of guilt was planted within him.

Part of him felt as though he didn't even belong there. He didn't know anyone who lost their lives, nor was he even personally involved in the battle. His presence felt gratuitous, a nuisance. Surely his place could've been filled by someone more connected to the lives lost, or someone who maintained a real loyalty to the cause. Because, truthfully, as it stood now he was conflicted on where he stood with these "Exiles." However the mission he undertook for Darius had somewhat made him far more aware to the grave threat of the Sith Empire and its expanding power. Regardless of where he stood in the midst of the galaxy's warring factions, one thing remained true. He would do anything he could to bring the odious advance of the Imperials to heel.

As Darius wrapped up his poignant speech, the mourners started to embrace each other and exchange comforting words. Sobbing, hugging, kissing - the foyer became awash in a mass display of affection. There it is again... the stomach churning. He felt himself clam up in mild embarrassment as the crowds erupted into an unabashed spectacle of emotionalism. He squirmed away into the recesses of the compact freight chamber, ashamed of his feeble indifference. Kicking a foot against the dented wall and leaning against it, he crossed his arms as the high officers retreated into the lounge.

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Beth’s green eyes gazed over the thousands of caskets that lay on the civilian carrier. Her heart physically hurt at the scene before her. A hand rested on her heart as she stayed towards the back of the cargo hold, mostly to allow the grieving close to her eyes red as she held back the tears that tried so hard to escape. Was this their future? Massacre of civilians… Beth took a deep inhale.

How the Dark had won so many battles. But Beth hoped, and knew, that one day the light would return. It would take battles. Sacrifices. Hurt and pain from not only her own life but from millions, if not billions of other sentients. And with the New Republic and her leadership… Slain, a darker but hopefully the beginning of a brighter one had begun.

A black dress and her hair bunned, Beth knew this would be the first step to recovery. Her memories drifted back to Dremulae – how many countless months had she spent on the planet preparing it for Republic membership. But right like the other former Republic worlds… It was burning. A paradise gone to waste.

Mourning had to take place, but they would regroup, rethink, plan ahead. A hand drafted to a slightly extended stomach with a deep sigh... Somehow, someone had to figure something out to bring the Light back into the galaxy. Find someway to push back the ever-growing darkness…

A faint, bittersweet smile ran across her lips as [member="Darius Sedaire"] spoke. He was right… They couldn’t forsake the ideas, the values, and the future these people died for. She watched as the group left, probably heading back to discuss plans. Beth stayed where she was, with the rest of the grieving sentients. Man, they galaxy surely had to give them a break sooner or later.

[member="Anders O'Tor"] | [member="Tatsu"] | [member="Lux Berooken"] | [member="H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E"]

 

[Adam Walker]

Jax could feel the sadness and grief in the cargo hold almost as if it was a physical manifestation of pain that all those attending the ceremony. He still hadn't learned how to shut himself off from the feeling of others but he knew that he needed to memorialize the memory of the pain that people were feeling now. It gave him perspective for when he was in battle to save as many people as possible so that there was never a sea of caskets filled with innocent people again. He had been taught that the role of a Jedi role was one of protector and peace keeper and he fully intended to meet that standard.

Being new he didn't feel that it was his place to be on the stage with people who had fought and given so much for what they believed in so he stood in the shadows and watched. He listened to the speech it spoke to the emotions of those in the room while also being hopeful and that was something that people needed more than ever hope and a way to keep moving forward, it was rare to hear a Jedi speaking like that but the times demanded it.

The feeling of pain and loss was getting to be to much for him so decided that he would got to the officers lounge and formally meet some of the people that he would be working with. He'd spent most of his life as a loner and so the feeling of being a part of something bigger was a new feeling, he hoped that his strong personality wouldn't give people the wrong impression. He was sure of himself yes, but he also cared deeply about people and fighting the dark side of the force wherever it was.

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

Alexandra stared as she sat down and looked over the hold, thinking carefully and remaining where she could see everyone. Her mind worked as she moved from person to person, easing pain where she needed to and letting herself take on the burden of emotion for others. It was a simple thin, something she had learned a long time ago when she had begun healing people, rather than simply taking life. Though this pain was simply excruiating in some cases and cause Alexandra to stumble mentally before getting back to work. There were others though that she noticed and she would see soon enough, people like [member="Lux Berooken"] and [member="Beth Cadera"] who walked among those below and Alexandra watched for a few seconds from her place.

Her eyes moved again when [member="Darius Sedaire"] gave his speech and spoke with pride that caused a brow to raise. This was an interesting man, but also one she was not truthfully familiar enough with to trust. The man acted as a jedi, was certainly a Jedi from how the force interacted with his body, but there was something she didn't understand about this man. It made her itch and she wanted to dissect Darius' mind to ensure what she was feeling was correct or not. She would not, knowing that it was the bit of her in the dark corners that was pushing that thought, but she still didn't feel comfortable with him.

Her eyes unconsciously drifted, looking back at Beth, knowing she was the only one Alexandra knew well here. She did not have Vulpesen in sight, and Noah remained gone from the Republic. The Senators were as normal nothing more than politicians and she had worked with plenty to know what their ilk were like. It made her feel sick to be around those she had no absolute trust in but she did know they would stand for the Republic just as well as anyone else. That gave her a small bit of safety in thought.

And when certain individuals retreated into the lounge, Alexandra's body would rise and she would move without a word, making her way for the room and entering through a separate door. She would be present, and if anyone wished to address that, she would be happy to stand her ground on that fact.

 

[Morain]

The air in this vast cargo bay felt heavy and thick. Every breath reminded Alar of the warmth that kept building up in his body, and made this scene all the more unbearable and frustrating. Even though one could see children moving back and forth, or someone laying flowers at a casket. Of which there seemed too preposterously many for a civilian transport. Despite the people crying over the bodies of their lost loved ones. The crowd seemed motionless as they awaited for Sedaires speech. His mask seemed to enhance the clarity of his words rather than muffle it, and it also gave him a grim and very fitting appearance both for the occasion and to the speech he was about to make.

Alar slowly moved through the crowd. His black vest and tabard were visible under his half opened dark robe. The people still recovering from their shock were slow to move out of his way, and neither was he pushing them aside forcefully. He slipped past and older woman who was holding 4 pictures in her hands. 3 of them were of 3 young men. All very similar to each other, and the last picture of a woman holding a child. The woman was looking at that child with the affection only a mother could have. Alar wondered what it was that made him stop and stare at that picture. He spent a moment trying to recall why she felt so familiar. “Ah yes.” He whispered to himself. He had passed a room with a half opened door. She lay there clutching something. The old woman turned her around and gazed at Alars belt. She noticed his lightsaber, and then locked eyes with him. His breath caught and it took him a second to collect himself. Her eyes seemed cold, void of accusations, expectations, despair and even hope. He gave her a slight nod and kept moving forward.

"For decades, we have suffered under the blades of tyrants. Our people have been bled." Dariuses voice echoed across the room. Alar gazed across what could now count as a graveyard. Caskets piled on each other due to lack of space. Flowers lying down strewn across them and the floor, Various cloths draped over and around them. People huddled weeping over them.

"Our strength depleting with each resolved conflict." He continued on. Alar looked towards the rows of soldiers trying to stand at attention. They did so with difficulty, some of them were wounded and most likely refused to stay in the med bay so that they can pay their respects properly to their fallen comrades. Some of them sat on a bench or up against the wall in the back, still trying to recover from shock, or simply unable to stand. The speech kept going.

What came next, hit Alar as a shock. The eulogy started to change from trying to bring the people comfort, into a quixotic speech. Meant to push people into action, into war. Alar looked towards two siblings. A boy crying with his face buried in the sweater of his older sister. They couldn't have been older than eight and twelve. He couldn't see the boys face. The boy was clearly weeping and gasping for air as he stained his sisters clothing. Alar could see the girls face clearly however. At first the girl seemed very poorly to hold her face composed. As she heard the words booming across the room, her face turned from sad to resolved. Resolve based in hatred. A hatred fueled by those who people believe to be paragons of good. For the first time since the speech started, Alar looked directly at Sedaire and various power hungry politicians that stood at his side.

“Now is not the time to give up. We mourn our dead by surviving. They would want us to carry on, not submit to their killers. “ As Sedaire paused for air, Alar could feel his anger rising. “I have faith in the Republic, and so did they,” The masked jedi was nearing the end of his speech. “How dare he speak for the dead? How dare he use peoples grief and departed loved ones in order to subject this people?” He thought to himself.

Alar felt a tugging at his sleeve. He looked down to see the little girl her brother trying to get his attention. The boy was still in the process of trying to control his weeping, but he already seems to have been infected with his sisters resolve. The girls eyes were red, but she wasn't crying. “We will help you fight master jedi.” This was more than he could take. He grabbed at the force wildly driving it through his body. No longer caring if he wounds it or not. He turned his head towards Sedaire. Who was walking nonchalantly off the stage. No doubt proud of himself for having the power to control the masses as he just did. The padawan could feel himself grasping for the hilt of his blade with the force, when he heard the little boy say. “We won't let any more people die!” His cheeks were still streaming with tears. His resolve didn't seem unshakable either, but the innocence in his eyes was enough for Alar to catch himself. He looked at the two and said “I heard the medics needed volunteers to help out. Check with them”

As his anger started to disappear, he started moving to the officers lounge. He had no place there being a padawan, and he wasn't asked to be there. He didn't care, he was going to give them a piece of his mind. The further he got pushing through the crowd, the more his resolve weaned. He couldn't really be angry with Sedaire. What he said was what he believed, not a scheme for power. A jedi should know better than to promote war. A jedi should know that the darkside of the force can affect anyone not just the force sensitive ones, and a Jedi should know that answering violence with violence only multiplies violence. In times like these however, seeing your friends and loved ones die. Can cloud the judgment of even the strongest willed philanthropist.

He took a look over the invigorated crowd and then turned again towards the officers lounge. Those people were most likely going to die, if the republic decided to join in open warfare. They stood no chance weak as they were. Not unless they seek asylum with someone stronger or keep their new location a secret.

As Alar stood in the doorway to the officer lounge regarding the various figures gathering, he changed his mind. “No one cares what a padawan has to say” So he turned around to leave.

 

[Cedric Grayson]

(Apologies for taking so long to post everyone. I had my funeral business and I'm only just getting back into the pace of normalcy.)

The walk to the lounge was deadened for Darius. Figures approached him here and there, offering outstretched hands and words of encouragement. He met them all with a firm handshake and words of fortitude, though in reality he felt no such inner strength. This was not his chosen arena. Dealing with the people had never been his strong suit, and something in the back of his mind kept telling him that the people would come to hate him for his actions. That was always the things went: you bled and sacrificed your entire life in service to the people. Eventually, those people would grow dissatisfied with what you had to offer, and would destroy you for the sake of something new.

Such unpleasant thoughts pulled at him as he felt an unfriendly presence. For a moment, the masked knight turned his gaze upon [member="Alar Morain"]. He was no telepath, and was utterly unaware of the thoughts going through the boy's head, but he felt the malignancy dripping from him like poison within the empyrean.

The exile had no words for him, but watched as the padawan halted outside the officer's lounge. Darius gave the young man a simple nod; a motion to show him that he was just as welcome within as anyone else. Not a word was spoken as he crossed the threshold into the small, well-lit chamber.

A large durasteel table filled the majority of the room. Various pieces of memorabilia covered the walls, along with two large holoscreens.

"Jedi, we need to talk."

Darius regarded the warrior curiously. He situated himself at one of the corners of the table, arms folded about his chest as he observed those that had come to speak.

"That we do, Tatsu," he replied evenly. "There's a lot that needs to be discussed. We can give the people words of fortitude, but it doesn't amount to much without a proper plan. I figure it's best to start with introductions."

He would nod to each figure that stepped through the door. "I am Darius Sedaire, Jedi Knight. Don't really much authority beyond that, but I'm here to help nonetheless."


[member="Alar Morain"], [member="Alexandra Feanor"], [member="Jax Piell"], [member="Beth Cadera"], [member="Anders O'Tor"], [member="Tatsu"], [member="Lux Berooken"], [member="H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E"]

 

[Tobias Dracks]

-- The tall reptilian figure walked over to the caskets and ran his fingers over the flag of the Republic as it was now. The imagery here was something that reminded one of a bird rising from the ashes of itself. He could only wish that those that lost their lives in this difficult time had the possibility to rise from their graves. That was not possible thought, like millions before them they had lost their lives due to the fact that he and those who where suppose to care for them did not rise to the responsibility. That would stop here.

-- Tobias placed his palm on the casket that was more off to the side. Though he knew the person behind the flag, the civilian that never took a life and devoted their live to becoming a cog for the Republic. Jason Marsh, political analyst for the Patriots Party and some one that served as deputy chief of staff for the Retired Senator. He followed Tobias from the Hutt Territories and even continued to serve once he was the Vice Chancellor of the New Republic. The boy was put on that ship due to Tobias staying behind to deal with the rest of the Evacuation, and now the boy was dead.

-- He placed both hands on the casket and bowed to one knee, grasping with both hands he lowered his head. "May the Force Protect the wayward soul as it leave this vessel and become one to protect the living."

-- In light uniform and insignia of a General of UTC, he wore a Black Suite lined with golden buttons and a black cap over his shoulder. A trim of red and golds were the symbols of the United Trade Conglomerate. He was no longer the Vice Chancellor of a crumbling Republic, but a Warlord of the Sanctuary Pipeline. One of several hundreds other military and rebel leaders that rose up after the fall of the First Order. He was able to muster a large force and was here to talk with his fellow allies after the fall of the Republic.

-- He listened to [member="Darius Sedaire"] speak, the boy had spunk that much was true. However, was that enough to win over the other Warlords of the Region. These people were hardened individuals that were willing to fight for what they owned. This sector of space was nothing like the Core. Colonial, Fringe, even Unknown Regions were all filled with people that were more then happy to be done with the First Order. They would not accept the Republic without a good reason, or more likely a good fight. There were still Imperial Supporters out in these parts after all.

-- The Reptilian caught the eye of [member="Alexandra Feanor"], a friend from his time in office. Maybe he would open up dialog with an old friend in these trying times. This was interrupted by the migration of the individuals moving to what seemed like a Officers Lounge within the Ship. He decided to join this conversation, after all he was here to offer the Military at his disposal in helping the New New Republic.

-- He walked into the room with somewhat of a grin, as much as he could anyways with an exoskeleton as the top layer of his skin.

[member="Alar Morain"] | [member="Jax Piell"] | [member="Beth Cadera"] | [member="Anders O'Tor"] | [member="Tatsu"] | [member="Lux Berooken"] | [member="H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E"]

 

[H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E]

HARDLINE stood in the corner, not speaking. Introductions weren't his forte and he gave out his identity on a need to know basis. Very few of the people in that room needed to know who he was, so as far as they were concerned he was simply a servant droid assisting in the officer lounge. The one playing the role of "hero of the republic" for him would be Delta. The short human looking girl made a wonderful companion for this reason alone, not to mention her wonderful combat abilities.

Her lack of social skills prevented her from saying anything rash or moronic, and her lack of emotions gave her a poker face to die for. So for now they both sat idly by, holding their cards until the time was right. HARDLINE was fine doing it, and Delta simply did anything HARDLINE asked of her. That was the relationship by which they operated and it was how they probably would operate for the forseeable future.

HARDLINE was not a hero of the republic, he simply needed something, however, he was beginning to see the value in providing his "services" to the runaway government. There were many prominent individuals here in prime positions for bargaining and favor collecting, exactly the kind of people he looked for.

He would observe for now, and only speak once something was asked of him.

[member="Tobias Dracks"] [member="Darius Sedaire"] [member="Alar Morain"] [member="Alexandra Feanor"] [member="Jax Piell"] [member="Beth Cadera"] [member="Anders O'Tor"] [member="Tatsu"] [member="Lux Berooken"]

 

[Lux Berooken]

The officers louge was a much needed escape from the doom and glom of the cargo hold, hanging aroound people that sad was a buzzkill for his mood. The louge on the other hand was much more his style, working the crowd like he only knew how shaking hands, going from conversation to conversation like the retail politician that he was. Out the corner of his eye he spotted [member="Darius Sedaire"] walk into another room, and just like that his interest had been peaked piqued and what was he doing with [member="H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E"].

Excusing himself from the people that he had been talking and headed for the direction of the Jedi. Lux knew better than most that history, real history was made in backroom deals. That's the way things had been on Sarapin, except this room wasn't clouded by a thick wall of smoke or filled with the smell of alcohol so in that respect it wasn't nearly as interesting as home.

"I am Darius Sedaire, Jedi Knight. Don't really much authority beyond that, but I'm here to help nonetheless."

He smiled at the man "Lux Berooken it's a pleasure to meet you, fromer Senator repsenting the planet of Sarapin. I've spent my life trying to bring stability and peace to the Repcublic and while we may have seen to fallen just a little short I'm more than confident that we can become a major power in the galaxy once again, and Darius that was a really great speech that you gave I'm sure that it's going to be helpful for PR purposes, and as a long as we can keep the people inspired to keep moving on the better things will get for us."

 

[Tatsu]

Tatsu regarded everyone entering the room with a once-over, but halted any urge to discuss anything with anyone aside from the Jedi. All these faces, some familiar from the fight prior to the ceremony, others unknown and given no extra thought. Tatsu didn't honestly, deeply care about other people - his vendetta was far more personal and self-righteous. He felt he was owed something, yet that wasn't the correct thing to feel. What truly mattered was giving what remained of the Republic a firm chance at survival, despite all odds against them.

A brief wave of grimace washed over Tatsu's face as he felt an over stimulation of emotion - a spark igniting an animosity yet to be quenched. His scar-kissed face settled as he shifted his gaze down to the floor, catching himself before speaking with a fool's tongue.

"It would seem we can finally agree on something, Jedi. We don't have the words to mend these people and make them feel safe, we don't have the actions behind our intentions to prove that we're their worthy saviors. I don't know what to let them expect, and you know what else? This isn't my government, this isn't my fight." Visible anger and sorrow filled Tatsu's eyes as he regarded everyone present.

"You all understand, yeah? What it's like to be broken. What it's like to lose everything and gain nothing but the echoes of what the civilians think and feel. Can you live with that? Their ghosts? Because I know they will haunt you from this day onward, and are you going to let that stop you? Or are you going to rise up and show them that fear and submission are for the weak-willed? They've seen - we've seen enough to know that we can't be afraid to act aggressively. Death is inevitable, and I personally don't care about diplomacy or trying to move hearts."

Tatsu cleared his throat, walking over to the durasteel conference table which [member="Darius Sedaire"] sat.

"I destroy, I kill, and I do not speak. I'd rather my blood spill before me and prove that I was pushing myself. You let those people die, whether or not anything could've been done. Those people in that cargo bay are dead because they were afraid and weak."

Tatsu looked to Darius with a deep, piercing contempt. "The Republic dies as a people of tears and whimpers, or you fight and live as a people of death. Make no mistake, bloodshed is truly inevitable. So will this collective be strong enough? You tell me."

Drawing himself back, Tatsu exhaled a heavy sigh and turned his back, fetching a cigarra from his tactical vest. "And all of you... learn how to operate a gun or something. Otherwise you're useless." With that, the scummy operative lit his cancer-stick and pulled from it deeply, a plume of stinking smoke rising to meet the ceiling.

[member="Lux Berooken"] | [member="H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E"] | [member="Tobias Dracks"] | [member="Alar Morain"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Jax Piell"] | [member="Beth Cadera"] | [member="Anders O'Tor"] |

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

Alexandra smiled as she walked past [member="Alar Morain"], a hand on his back and nodding towards the room as she came out of no where, standing in his way and silently saying that he was more than welcome. She would give this a moment before looking up and moving to enter herself, quickly finding conversation beginning again and seeing the General mid speech, causing her to walk around the edge of the room and stare at him with a silent expression. She would say or do nothing to draw attention, letting the conversation be driven and the people inside to speak about what to do next.

Her eyes linked up with [member="Tobias Dracks"]' soon enough though and her brow raised, surprised to see the man but not holding that surprise for very long. The man had disappeared some time ago and now he was back, after the Republic had been through trying times and fought for the ground it had now lost. She tapped her foot and looked back at the face of the General who continued and talked about the tears and whimpers, making her curious as to how she had never met this man, knowing he had to have been under Noah's command but still she had never gotten in contact with the man. She had worked closely with the Army some time ago, and he was interesting to her, her mind reaching out and studying the man with some focus.

Eventually her eyes returned to [member="Darius Sedaire"] and she smiled, looking the man over more clearly now that she was closer and finding someone rather different than what she had expected. Most Jedi carried about them this difference, this air about them that stunk and caused her nose to pull back but he was interesting. Not the same as Coren or the Silvers. She would have to further study this one as she took a seat and listened to the Soldier finish his long winded bit and cap it off with an insult.

"I think you will find those here more than capable, if I gathered their abilities correctly." She smiled at [member="Tatsu"] as she said that, the blade she normally wore at her side now in her lap as she removed a flask and drank from it. [member="Beth Cadera"] now caught her eye and she gave the young woman a quick smiled before returning her gaze back to the others. "Talk of action is the same as inaction. Perhaps we should stop with the flowery words and long speeches and deal with securing our new home?"

Simple, quick, and to the point. How things needed to be now.

 

[Morain]

[SIZE=11pt]Just as he was turning around he felt a soft touch in between his shoulder blades, and slipping past him ever so gently he felt a figure. He turned towards her. There stood an incredibly tall woman. Her fire red hair streamed down in waves until it reached to the middle of her back. That was his favourite colour indeed. Her shining golden eyes seemed to keep him captive for a moment that lasted for ages, and yet not long enough. She couldn’t have been older than nineteen, which serendipitously was also his own age. Either that or he simply hoped. Gold must have been his favourite colour after all. Finally came the coup de garce; Her smile made his heart skip a beat in preparation for the oncoming storm. It started beating at an ever increasing pace. He wasn’t used to this sort of attraction. The mantra of the jedi flared up in his head. “There is no emotion.” Well for as long as he is a part of the jedi and learning from them what he can. He shall try his best to adhere to their way of seeing things. Even if trying to push feelings aside got exhausting in the long run, and unhealthy in his opinion. When she nodded towards the room invitingly still locking her eyes with his, and then turned to venture further inwards. Alar realized that he had been staring at her dumbfounded this entire time. Cursing his own incompetence he followed her inside. “Why is it that you can flirt with a young sith trying to rip your head off, and flinging comically dark lines at you, but when you meet someone actually attractive you can’t use that dumb ass brain at all?” He knew that scolding himself will do him little good. It didn’t matter. Scolding himself was a habit he had grown so intimate with, that going without doing so for too long made him feel like he wasn’t quite himself. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Alar sat down a few chairs to the side off the fire haired woman. Just far enough to not seem creepy and pushy, but not so far the he couldn’t occasionally glance in her direction and maybe catch a smile, he could reciprocate. He came in just soon enough to hear the warmongering speech of one of the soldiers currently screaming at the masked jedi. Of course the masked jedi would probably love this speech anyway. Seeing as he himself seemed intent on going to war. Soldiers who spent doing nothing but war. Were broken in an unusual way. A way that made them feel like there is nothing else they were fit to do but take lives. They couldn’t just go out and kill. They needed someone to tell them what they are doing is righteous, or in the worst cases. They convince themselves that what the do is righteous and become vigilantes. Years of brainwashing by patriotism and honour took its toll on a mind forced to do cruel and evil things. Forced itself to hide from that reality behind mantras of ignorance, and in many cases the narcissism started seeping towards the innocent civilians. The self entitlement to someone else’s life for what you believe is the right cause was after all one of the most common things in this universe. Alar was about to speak up to argue against the speech made towards the masked jedi, but to his surprise the silver eyed beauty spoke first. Her comment made her smile, and hopefully got the soldier to stop and think for a moment. Alar wasn’t completely in agreement with her however. So he looked at her, and opened his mouth to speak. He stopped for a second due to his displeasure in the fact the she seemed to be more interested in everyone else in the room than himself. Quickly getting over that juvenile instinct he proceeded. “The actions you can take whilst this ship is still in motion are limited, and building a government with other people before having discussed it. Must be a tedious adventure at best. Seeing as no one here seems to have anything better to do. While not just enjoy a civil discourse?” He smiled towards her. Not because he currently seemed to be infatuated. Mostly because he did love a good argument, or was that just a rationalization? He turned to the soldier. “Those people didn’t lose their lives because they were weak. They lost their lives because people in high places made the wrong enemies. People in high places who entitled themselves to the lives of the citizens they were meant to protect. And now after what they are used to, other people reaping what little was given to them to sow, you dare entitle yourself to more of their lives? Do you think their lives would be any worse under the sith empire? The sith don’t live to cause misery, they live to further their own power. If those people would be their subjects they would mostly be left alone. Even if it would be under the rule of tyrants. Sure as hell is better than being under the heel of self proclaimed righteous group that asks for their life and that of their loved ones, and gives them nothing but stories of heroes and glory. Using their own natural sense of needing somewhere to belong against them. Convincing them that fighting is the only way.” He stole yet another quick glance at the gorgeous giant, and turned his stare back to Sedaire. He decided to add one more thought, this time to the entire room rather than directed at just Sedaire. "Speaking of organizing a new home seems like a time spent much better than just talk of another war."[/SIZE]

 

[Cedric Grayson]

Darius listened respectively as each person spoke.

"Thank you, Senator Berooken," Darius replied genuinely. His face was hidden by the iron visage of his mask, but one could tell he was smiling by the tone of his voice. His arms folded about his chest as [member="Tatsu"] spoke of the Republic and its weakness. The warrior's words were harsh, but he had earned the right to speak them back on the convoy ship. the Jedi Shadow regarded him with a guarded curiosity.

"Our will shall become iron. It must be, if we are to live," he replied sympathetically, nodding slightly as [member="Alexandra Feanor"] chimed in. His lips parted to speak, but the words of [member="Alar Morain"] halted his voice momentarily.

"All respect sir, but you have an uninformed opinion," he replied calmly. "The Sith, in the past ten years, have wiped out the populations of several worlds simply because they did not meet the criteria for a productive imperial world. I ran a library of pacifists. The Sith learned of my library, and took it upon themselves to slaughter every man, woman, and child within to glorify the name of their emperor. Have you not heard of Ession? It was a world that did not wish to bow to imperial rule. The entire planet was glassed, the population put in death camps. The Essonian people are nearly extinct." He paused, "Then there is Togoria. They too were wiped out by the Sith Empire for the sake of grandstanding. Let us not forget the false orphanages they set up to conscript children into their armies. Let us not forget the literal millions that were slaughtered trying to defend their homes from tyrants. The Sith will burn worlds whether they bear allegiance to the Republic or not.."

He paused for a moment, "We do not want to have to do this, boy. I hate standing in the spotlight, and I despise the attention afforded to me simply because I have a lightsaber. I would much rather be back in my library reading books, but I am here, because the Sith and their sycophants are keen on murdering anyone that does not wish to worship them as gods. The Republic is a means to protect those the Sith and their imperial allies have oppressed for decades. We do not seek power for the sake of it, or accolades - we all want to go home, but we have responsibilities. All it takes for evil men to do whatever they wish is for good men to do nothing, and what you seem to be suggesting is just that."

Darius exhaled a deep breath. "Now...I have a plan of action, if you will hear it. There is an isolated world some ways from the core that would serve our purposes perfectly. The issue is that the coordinates to this world have been lost. They were with a Jedi Knight by the name of [member="Cedric Grayson"], but his vessel disappeared into the netherworld months ago. That ship has returned to realspace just two days ago."

Another pause.

"It is a super star destroyer, something that could greatly bolster our naval forces. The ship will not respond to hails, but it would serve us well to secure it, and with it the coordinates to this planet. Furthermore learning what happened to Grayson and his armies would be fruitful. If he lives, he would be of great assistance to the Republic."

[member="Alar Morain"], [member="Alexandra Feanor"], [member="Tatsu"], [member="Lux Berooken"], [member="H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E"], [member="Tobias Dracks"], [member="Jax Piell"], [member="Beth Cadera"], [member="Anders O'Tor"]

 

[Tobias Dracks]

-- Seemed even when the Republic was in flames and the infrastructure barely had the foundation to support it, there was still room for a friendly debate. He did miss this little argument between the different yet similar minded individuals. Though he still liked how he ran things, his words were final and only outranked by the Board of Shareholders on Conglomerate Prime.

-- He had been just against the wall for the time being but it would seem he would need to interject for just a bit and then let them make the decisions based on the facts that were at hand. His steps towards the center of the conversation were soft compared to his strong leather boots he was wearing. He raised both his hands towards the crowed before the tensions could rise to levels of hot headed threats between allies.

-- The Reptilian man stopped and started to speak."Apologies, I am General Tobias Dracks of the UTCAF, some of you know me as the previous Vice Chancellor of the New Republic," He looked at the new faces that probably did not know him before today. "Maybe before anything is decided we should see where we stand currently?" He dropped a small Holoprojector near his feet and took a few steps to the side. The hologram activated and a small map of the galaxy appeared with some systems highlighted. "This ship and much of the Republic Refugees are heading to Fondor, the far east yellow sector that is currently under the control of the Freeworlds Militia with the help whats left of the Republic High Command, they are supported by Admiral Solan Char and the bulk of the Republic Armada, it is a very fluid movement of controlled space between local warlords and rouge Imperial cells," He paused to let that sink in with the rest of the them. "The far west sector in yellow has allied with the Republic and is under the control of the United Trade Conglomerate and Allied Corporations and our large Clone Army, but we are pressed by the remnant of the First Order to the North, multiple Warlords in the Fringe to the East and the many Freed Planets to the Southeast." The UTC had large units to assist the Republic, but they would not be able to send it all to them at the moment.

-- The map evolved to include light red arrows approaching from the Core Worlds, "My work alongside the Republic Intelligence Service and the Freeworlds Militia have estimated that over six trillion Republic Citizens have made the journey to Fondor with Republic Command, this does not include Refugees and Undocumented ships that are arriving without escort by the Republic or the local warlords that have allied with them," He paused again, he decided to not include the information about Fondor only accepting a small number of those Refugees, or that some of those numbers included a number of people that were hiding out on Commenor and just fleeing wherever they could. "So with that information I think we should really consider the idea of finding a new planet and setting up a colony while Admiral Solan, myself and the Allied Warlords hold the line as long as we can, that would be the best suggestion at the moment while we all try to gain our footing and bring the fight to our enemies."

-- This was no longer something he could decide for the Republic, he was no longer one of their leadership. In truth there was not much left of the Republic Government Leadership anymore. Those in the room looked little more then soldiers and civilians smart enough to get out while it was still safe. It hurt him a little inside to see the future of the government left to discussions by people that were unfamiliar with the burden that was now on their shoulders. The lives of those that left their homes for the prospect of hope that not many other places gave. Fleeing to what was now thee most lawless part of the galaxy.

-- He stepped back towards the group and used his magnetize glove to pull the Holoprojector back to his hand. It may have looked like he was a force user, but he just utilized the devise to its fullest.

[member="H.A.R.D.L.I.N.E"] | [member="Darius Sedaire"] | [member="Alar Morain"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Jax Piell"] | [member="Beth Cadera"] | [member="Anders O'Tor"] | [member="Tatsu"] | [member="Lux Berooken"]

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Beth was quite once she made it into the room. She gave a warm smile to [member="Alexandra Feanor"], a woman who was her family. In an ordinary circumstance, usually their meetings together were under much happier circumstances. But, with the way life was set up now-a-days… Well. They had to make do with what it was. After a moment, she gave a small nod as a greeting as she moved, slipping into a seat beside Alex.

Beth stayed quite as she listened to the others - [member="Tatsu"] explaining what it meant to lose. A simple grim expression as she placed her hands over her stomach. And Alex counter argument – instead of all this talk, it was time to move forward. Push forward and figure out where to make their new home. Fondor was nice but would it be willing to accept the refugees? Would the other powers that be allow such a thing? They, regrettably, didn’t have a lot of power at the moment.

Beth closed her eyes as she listened to [member="Darius Sedaire"] explained what the Sith have done. The horrors, atrocities, and continual awful actions that plagued the galaxy from them. Beth herself had her own run in – Commenor, 5 years ago. The poison that Darth Prazutis forced her to take and only recently got purged through a visit on Sabarene. Her skin shivered as she thought about it. She paused at [member="Alar Morain"]'s words. "While true, the Sith have no regard for life. They find joy from death, genocide, and the extinction of anyone less. This is particularly true as their leadership is almost exclusively Epicanthix. Anyone below is lesser, and their worth is slavery or death. The Sith want power, yes. But they revel in the destruction. The glee of..." She took a breath, remembering the feeling of Commenor when they laid waste to a city. She wasn't going to finish her sentence anymore. She couldn't. The ripple in the Force was one of the worst pains she had felt.

She paused, "His vessel has returned?” She blinked, “Do we have any intelligence of the state of the ship? The Nether isn’t a place that brings good news, usually,” she commented. The stories she had heard… She shivered.

[member="Tobias Dracks"] spoke next. A handsome man of a species she wasn’t sure of. She knew of him – the previous Vice Chancellor. She stared at the map of the galaxy. Six trillion citizens… Six trillion people. She inhaled at such a large number. Hell, Fondor’s own population was only in the billions – no where near the trillions. “The most important part of this is ensuring a stable supply chain – food, primarily. If we can find a planet… But we are going to need several planets to disperse 6 trillion individuals.”

 

[Adam Walker]

Tackling wasn't a gift that he had in truth neither was listening, preferring to show people how he felt or what he thought with action. Standing in the back of the room listening to everyone talk annoyed him this wasn't the Senate they needed to be focused on going out and fighting reclaiming the territory that they had lost and protecting people,his lightsaber was being wasted clipped to his belt instead of spilling blood on the battlefield. He liked [member="Tatsu"] he spoke with passion and he was right everyone needed to fight in order to be useful that didn't mean that they had to lead troops into battle but they needed to do something to contribute to the war effort.

Stepping forward he decided now as a good a time as any to let his feeling be known.

"Where we go isn't the important part, protecting people is. [member="Tobias Dracks"] you said you were going to be holding the line count me in my place is wherever out enemies are. There are too many civilians counting on us right now for us to get distracted on the little things we need to focus on the big picture counter attacks, building up the military, and taking back the territory that we have lost. I'm not going to pretend to know the first thing about running a government I'll leave that to the politicians in the room" pausing looking around the room "But were the government now and people are counting us to get them out of this with minimal losses which I think can be done we just have to have the will to fight and I don't think that lacking here."