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While the flames of the Brotherhood of the Maw’s attack on Coruscant have been quelled, grave wounds remain. The brutal onslaught, unseen in the streets of the capital since the founding of the Starbird, has spread fear to the neighbouring star systems. Not even at the height of the Stygian Campaign was the stench of fear and desperation so strong amongst the citizenry.
The Senate, realising their folly and manipulation at the hands of Darth Solipsis
, the first true claimant to the title of Sith’ari, have brought an end to the inquest into the New Jedi Order and released the protectors of the Alliance from their shattered temple.
While much work remains to be done on Coruscant, the eyes of the Alliance turn to their western border, the fragile bulwark against the Brotherhood’s marauders. Senate and Jedi emissaries are dispatched to the strategically placed world to negotiate with its eccentric inhabitants.
For nearly thirty years, Chaldea has been in the control of a theocratic government. Known as the Chaldean Potentium, their adherents devote themselves to living free of Force Users, or at the very least staving off their influence on Chaldea’s citizens. However, with the Brotherhood of the Maw now on their doorstep, Chaldea is in dire need of military protection and has reached out to the Senate. Meet with Chaldea’s government leaders and clergy at the Chaldean Academy to facilitate their entry into the Galactic Alliance.
Objective II: Flight of the Dragons
Once every seven years, the Chaldean dragons migrate from one end of the world to the other in a spectacular event that draws thousands of tourists. Watch the show, or try to hunt a dragon - their hides are exceptionally valuable as an armor material due to their resistance to blaster, lightsabers, and flame. Just be aware that the authorities won't take too kindly to any hunting without a special permit from the Chaldean government.
Objective III: More Than One Way to Skin a Mermaid
The Finfolk are a small local community independent of Chaldea’s main government. Their domain is the planet’s oceans, where they have established underwater settlements through the use of special diving suits known as Atargatis Skins, which have drawn the attention of the New Jedi Order due their alchemical nature. Negotiate with the fearful Finfolk to gain access to their advanced technology.
Objective IV: BYOO
A complete list of lore subs related to Chaldea can be found here. Chaldea is truly a world of limitless potential.
Objective I:The Potential of the Potentium Location: Chaldean Academy
It was a hot summer’s day, and Ishani was wearing far too much fabric. Even in her speeder with the air turned up to max, she felt sweat pooling on her skin, soaking into her clothes.
“The heat will shorten tempers,” her master, Arlo Renard, muttered ominously from the passenger seat. “I fear this meeting will be a short one.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than a hot day to doom our entire planet,” Ishani replied. “Besides, you and me are gonna be there to keep the troublemakers in line, right?”
She could feel Arlo staring at her in silence. “Prove to me that you can stand up to them, and perhaps I will be less pessimistic.”
“I appreciate your trust and faith in me, your most loyal student.”
“You aren’t my most loyal student,” Arlo murmured, turning to look out the window. Ishani waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t speak again for the rest of the ride.
The Chaldean Academy soon loomed before them, an imposing building carved from the white stone of the mountain it was built upon. Arlo got out faster than her, disappearing into one of the buildings before she had even unbuckled her crash webbing. She couldn’t blame him for wanting to get out of the sun.
Shielding her eyes from the glare with one hand, Ishani jumped as someone else barreled into the parking space next to her. It was a flashy vehicle, essentially a sports speeder with a shimmery purple paint job. Getting out, she raced to the safety of the curb, then stood there with her hands on her hips, intent on giving the driver a piece of her mind—
“... Emilia?” Ishani blurted, instantly recognizing the Zeltron woman who stepped out of the speeder.
Past fifty, Emilia Vaun’s violet hair was beginning to go gray, but she showed no other signs of aging in her face or her rather scant manner of dress. Lifting her sunglasses, she peered down at Ishani. “You know me, but I don’t know you. Sorry.”
Figures, Ishani thought. People don’t recognize me in uniform. “We uh, only met once. Very briefly. I’m Ishani Sibwarra, I helped you arrange a business deal with an offworlder—”
“Right, right.” Emilia’s brow was still furrowed. “Are you here for that Alliance meeting?”
“Yup.” It had taken some wheeling and dealing, but Ishani had earned the right to attend. With the fate of her homeworld in the balance, she couldn’t just stand idly by and let people like her father screw things up. “What about you?”
“Of course I am. Someone’s got to rep the Finfolk of Nezamiyeh.” She used her sunglasses to hold back her bangs and jerked a thumb toward the Academy. “You wouldn’t happen to know your way around this place, would you? I’d rather not get lost.”
“Sure.” Ishani gestured. “Right this way.”
The two women walked together, with Ishani lagging just a little behind Emilia’s long-legged, high-heeled strides. They made for a strange pair as they entered the Academy.
Passing by guards in full armor, standing still as statues, they made their way to the dining hall, which had been converted for the occasion. The massive room was filled with representatives from Chaldea’s various cities and settlements, along with their aides and attendants. Ishani found Arlo already there, speaking to Persis Solusar, the head of the Mystics. Arlo wore red, Persis wore yellow… and Toloth Threepwood, the Academy headmaster and Ishani’s father, wore white.
Toloth stared at her. She hadn’t told him she would be here, and certainly hadn’t breathed a word about her plans. If she had, he would likely have done everything in his power to try and stop her. Even now, Toloth was stalking toward her from across the room, no doubt to demand answers. And though Ishani had promised herself she wouldn’t let this happen, she found that she was frozen in place, unable to move...
“Well, look who it is,” Emilia interrupted. “Surprised to see me, Toloth?”
Toloth hesitated before turning toward her. “Emilia. I saw your name on the list.”
“Yes, I’m a guest of honor. It’s been a long time.” As Emilia intercepted Toloth, Ishani used the opportunity to escape. She moved to stand beside Persis and Arlo, catching the last fragments of their conversation.
“My sight has shown me a path shrouded in darkness, and one filled with light,” Persis was saying. “But not how to reach any of these paths. It could go either way...”
The Chaldean representatives have gathered in the dining hall of the Academy. Named NPCs include:
Persis Solusar, representative for the Mystics, Chaldea’s only legitimized group of Force Users. She is a blind seeress who has had visions of Chaldea being invaded by the Maw, so naturally she approves of Alliance membership.
Arlo Renard, a Mystic; he agrees with Persis that Chaldea needs the Alliance’s help, but he has his doubts.
Toloth Threepwood, headmaster of the Academy; he fears that if Chaldea joins the Alliance, the NJO will come in and start recruiting new Jedi from among the Chaldeans, many of whom are Force sensitive.
Emilia Vaun, a leader of the Finfolk; she is only concerned with her own people and how Chaldea’s Alliance membership will affect them.
Jedi are allowed to be here, but understand that your character’s presence will probably put the natives on edge.
A trio of diplomatic shuttles glided from the hanger bay of Alliance One and down to the surface of Chaldea escorted by a ceremonial flight of starfighters. The delegation streaked through the atmosphere of the lush, temperate worlds. Guided by the local flight control, they made their way to a landing field within the Chaldean Academy.
Greeted by the advance team at the foot of the boarding ramp, Chancellor Tithe crossed the landing field and was introduced to local dignitaries. The extensive briefing he’d been given during the journey, and the occasional world in his ear by an aide, helped the Aargauun to decipher the complex social order of the locals. As with all thriving worlds, power had consolidated around a number of factions. The trick was to get enough of them onto the side of the Alliance to ensure the deal went ahead.
“Ahh, yes, Headmaster Threepwood,” he exclaimed as he greeted the head of the Chaldean Academy. The Committee on Foreign Affairs predicted that Tithe stood the best changing of swaying him. Threepwood’s wealth and ambition found a natural partner in Tithe. “Let me extend by most humble thanks for hosting us in your fine institution. My, I must say, the architecture is exquisite!”
“Madame Solusar, Master Renard, I was delighted, yes most delighted, to receive your invitation to visit your world.” The local Mystics, a sect of Force users, were said to most fear encroachment by the neighbouring Brotherhood. Their support of the Alliance was expected, though not guaranteed.”
“And Miss Vaun,” he added, addressing the representative of the local Finfolk. “I do thank you for making time to meet with us. Now, let me introduced by learned colleagues.” Tithe motioned for the Senators to step forward and make their introductions.
THE POTENTIAL OF THE POTENTIUM CHALDEAN ACADEMY // CHANDEA
In preparation for the day's engagement, Aria had brushed up on Chaldea, its people, and its customs. Naturally, the Jedi Master then opted to leave her lightsaber behind in order to embrace her diplomatic consulting self. Likewise, the Ioshan Duchess also chose an appropriate outfit -- one that lacked the customary hallmarks of Jedi (humble and earthy). Her white dress wasn't skin tight, but neither did it billow out to hide the shape of Aria's lithe figure. It did conceal every inch of skin and markings from the neck down, however. All details to avoid a gross faux pas from the start. As for being a Force User -- or Mystic as Chaldea called theirs -- no one need know. There were benefits to being an actual Duchess of Ios.
Aria followed the Chancellor after their vessels touched down, and the arriving dignitaries made polite introductions to those that met them. Kind souls tasked with ushering the visitors into their hallow hall. The Ioshan smiled as they were given the briefest of tours through the expansive chambers and directed toward some of the local leaders eager to hear what the Alliance had to offer.
Though her yellow eyes held postures and glances that belied many were wary and just as prepared to cast the outsiders out the way they'd come. A fair response given their culture and desire for neutrality. Much as Aria did not agree with severing their connection to the Force, she could respect their desire to live their lives as they saw fit. So long as they were not commit atrocities, of course. Sadly the galaxy did not abide neutrality for long. Inevitably someone came to claim the resources, the people, or the privilege of destruction. Or, hopefully, in the case of the Alliance they came to offer shelter from any such exploitation. One must always be bold enough to dream.
The Chancellor soon thanked the local leaders for indulging in their presence, and then gestured for those that accompanied to introduce themselves. Aria smiled, crossed a hand over her chest and gave a respectful bow of her head. "I am Duchess Aria Vestra of Ios. My people understand the desire for unity and peace through communal action. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn from you, as we offer to be of service." Of course the Alliance didn't plan on serving anyone, but when approaching a wary people it was best to lead with a tone that didn't imply they intended to take over or undermine their way of life. They would strike a balance as the parties came to understand one another.
In the chaos of the Great Battle of Coruscant, agents of the Brotherhood of the Maw acquired a fusion reactor prototype from the cargo of an Alliance vessel. After a prolonged investigation, both the New Jedi uncover the Maw's nefarious plot of reactivating an ancient weapon of mass destruction in the glaciers of Chaldea's North Pole using the fusion reactor. The doomsday weapon is activated which quickly begins to melt the ice cap and threatens to submerge the whole planet in water. Aeris, Dagon, Jem, and Saan'an are dispatched to prevent an apocalypse.
The frigate rattled violently, shuddering the holoprojection of Chaldea produced by the command table. As grim as things were on Coruscant, the Maw would not rest, and neither would the Jedi.
"So, here's the plan - the Maw has set a wide perimeter of armed, submerging boats around the entry of the glaciers where the weapon's supposed to be. Normally, their tech's junk but these boats are Alliance made. Snatched from a convoy some months ago. So we'll have our work cut out for us." he gestured at the map of the ice plateau where red squares dotted the surface, "Jem and I are going to hit them hard right in the face with the strike force and draw them away. Aeris, Saan - here's where you come in. We'll be playing distraction, opening a way for you to go within the glaciers, find the weapon, and neutralize it. Arthur's gonna help with that - you'll just need to plug him in." and pray it's not too ancient. "Time's running against us so..." his words trailed off. He could only hope it didn't come down to Aeris choosing between a slow padawan and the fate of a planet. "...may the Force be with us."
It was almost as calming as 'flying' from rooftop to rooftop. Diving that is. The soundless vastness of the ocean silenced the troubles and cradled the mind into tranquility. That's, of course, until the bullets started flying.
At first, it's mild. Like muffled beats on a drum, like a storm rumbling miles away never threatening to come remotely close. Then the jet boots launch you above and away from the serenity found underwater and into a symphony of destruction under the bright, cold sun. Time suddenly goes way faster and you're no longer drifting aimlessly, floating like a fish going nowhere. You're soaring into the sky.
You feel alive.
And then you remember there's someone under your wing.
<"Jem?!"> his voice crackled through the comms as his eyes wildly tried to find her in the chaotic battle. Massive chunks of ice were torn asunder and floated away as blaster bolts and shells fell. Boats met boats above and underwater. Jet troopers flung themselves into the sky, along with the Jedi, aiming to use the higher ground to their advantage. Some flew too boldly and fell under concentrated Mawite fire.
A red blade hissed to life and bolted into the air aided by jet boots similar to Dagon and Jem's.
This plan was putting Aeris on edge. Parts of her body still ached and the armor strapped all over it did her no favors when it came to reminding her of how slow her healing was, and when put up against that itty bitty detail that said she had to find a gun, deactivate a gun, and all that while protecting Saan’an from harm. In truth she didn’t fear for herself as much as her padwan, which perhaps said more about Aeris than she wished it to.
The sound of the battle pounded through the water, and by the time that Aeris and Saan’an had resurfaced again it only managed to grow louder. She took a seat on the edge of the water and helped her apprentice up.
“Right. Like I said before, I agree that perhaps sending two librarians to do what seems to be a shadow’s job might be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard, but I trust that Dagon had some reasoning behind it.”
“Are you okay? Everything good? You are not hurt or anything like that?”
The moisture in the air was making it sting. Wasn't too hard when it was still stuffed with fresh gauze, just in case it bled much more. The lower levels of Coruscant had been rough on her. It'd been rough on plenty of others too. That's why she'd come to Chaldea. In her efforts to find a distraction, a manhunt, anything to take her mind off the devastation of her homeworld, she'd been signed up to track some scu- 'persons of interest.'
While Linny'd been running around, stabbing monsters and getting herself flung against every wall and speeder wreck in the lower levels, a couple of Trandoshan thugs had taken the opportunity to turn slaver in the chaos. Couple of cameras caught them packed a dozen desperate families onto their ship, when CorSec was busy putting out fires and lifting people out of the rubble. The trail lead to Chaldea, the ship signatures last being seen close to the area known as Pirivena.
Linny lingered beside the warehouse wall, face hidden beneath the black rain slicker. Not because she thought she'd get recognised, but she wasn't supposed to get her nasal bandages wet. Well, wetter. Her hand hovered at waist level, her saber helpfully within easy reach, just in case. Peering around the corner, she saw three guys in the distance, blaster rifles slung over their shoulders as they tended to the busted-looking ship. Falling to one knee, Linny took her datapad from her bag and started snapping pictures from a distance, zooming in as close as she could.
"Hi... uh, I'm sending some pictures," she said through her communicator, feeling weird as heck for talking like she was in a spy movie,"I think this is our ship. I think the Trandoshans mighta been part of a bigger thing. A syndicate, maybe? Gonna investigate further. "
My voice wasn't always this nasal, was it?
"Back-up requested, just in case,"Linny said as she signed off, carefully moving down the long-abandoned street, sticking to the shadows.
Objective III: More Than One Way to Skin a Mermaid Location: Under da sea, omw to Pirivena Tags: Linny RennisAuteme
?
It was a little harder to find Finfolk these days. The tourists flocking to Chaldea to see the migrating dragons in all their glory had driven the shy Finfolk away from the crowded beaches. They stayed in their underwater cities, avoiding the cameras and voyeuristic gazes of curious offworlders—and kept their Skins from being stolen by less savory types hoping for a souvenir.
Good thing Kai could swim. The doppelganger dove from a cliff straight into the water, plunging effortlessly into the depths. He used the Force to sense where he needed to go, following the life signatures he could detect.
Shapes appeared along the seafloor, submerged buildings and structures built up from the sands. Kai weaved between these, turning this way and that as he searched. He found nothing at first.
Then figures began to emerge from the gloom. Within minutes Kai found himself surrounded by Finfolk, their tails undulating in the water and concern written across their faces. One grabbed him in her arms and with a swish of her tail hauled him up to the surface.
“Are you breathing?” she asked as soon as they breached the surface. “What are you doing all the way out here with no diving gear? Are you trying to drown?!”
<I don’t need to breathe,> Kai replied. Slipping free of her grasp, he went back under.
The other Finfolk gathered around, confused and bewildered by his presence in their realm. Kai sank rather than floated, landing on the bottom of the ocean.
Even more startling, they could still “hear” his voice loud and clear.
<I’m looking for Jorn Reinhart. I need to talk to him. Do any of you know where he is?>
The Finfolk exchanged wary looks, then one merman started to sign out a response with his hands—only for the group to suddenly scatter. Kai soon saw why.
A large squidlike creature was swimming a few yards away. Kai kicked off from the ocean floor, trying to evade it.
But to his right he saw a mermaid reaching behind her to retrieve a weapon slung across her back. She made various gestures to the others, who either followed her orders or responded in turn. The group was surprisingly well-coordinated, surrounding the creature and capturing it in a net. The mermaid with the weapon took aim and fired a harpoon into the panicking squid’s mouth. It went limp, blood clouding the water.
As the group dragged the kill away, Kai realized he had stumbled upon a hunting party. A Twi’lek mermaid with a tail as blue as her skin approached him, her delicate webbed fingers carefully yet quickly signing out: [Jorn is in Pirivena. I will take you to him.]
In many ways, it was an honor for Eboi to be an ambassador for Chaldean in years of being a senator the best and in Eboi's opinion most fun job was to exchange cultures with one another and Chaldean was a fascinating culture to study. They started out as Jedi exiles who settled here to practice their unique views of the Force. It was located in the Inner Rim making them undetectable. However what made the Chaldean unique was that they practiced the art of living without the Force and used Void Stones and Yslamari to nullify themselves to the Force. Darth Traya would've been proud of these people that's for sure.
Given the circumstances however, the Brotherhood were on their way and the Galactic Alliance needed to establish a foothold so to make sure that the they won't inflict more pain and suffering to the people here. Eboi walked with the Senators wearing his brown robes as he smiled to the people. "Greetings Chaldeans," Eboi said bowing. "My name is Eboi Seith, Senator of the planet: Chandrila of the Galactic Alliance. It is an privilege to be on your planet. It's full of wonder and rich history. I hope that we can learn from each other in the years to come."
"I can't relax," she admitted in a bit of a mumble. She glanced over at Lucien from where she was lying.
Vacation. Time off. Just a little bit -- the fact that they'd been here only for a day was probably what was limiting her relaxation. Despite her self-imposed exile, her mind still fled to Coruscant once more. She thought about Aeris, and Dagon, and Bernard; Aaran, wherever he'd run off to; her students, Kisaku and Hero and especially Lileas. The Force was considered a sort of religious or spiritual thing by most, but she didn't feel it was right to pray to it, nor was she exactly part of the Jedi 'religion' at the present moment.
Lucien, on the other hand, still held his Jedi title. Rogue knight, he might be called, whatever that meant. She wondered which of them would struggle more in the coming times given their connection to that name.
The struggle, yes; she needed to plan. She felt an urge to stand and go get her devices. This time 'relaxing' was time she could be using studying, coordinating, preparing. Yet it felt necessary, to sit, to wait awhile.
She took a few deep breaths, then looked back up at the sun from between the growing canopy. Convenient that the plants grew so quickly here -- they had no need for an umbrella, the trees at the beach's edge would grow over to give them shade by the time they needed it. Everything had been so easy since they'd arrived on Chaldea. A kind couple had allowed them to stay nearby the night before, and today the sands were warm and the water calm.
The change of pace was startling, and for some reason she needed to break it.
"So, ah- what do you think you'll need to do, now that... well, everything within the New Imperial Order?" She looked again to Lucien.
Seto Du Couteau, Senator of Empress Teta
Objective One: The Potential of the Potentium Location: Chaldea, Chaldean Academy Action: Introductions and Formalities Attire
Growth, a rather vague phrase used to demonstrate a form of importance whenever topics such as business and finance were in discussion. Or when Empires demand a large sphere of influence to control. Seto wearily mused on how much further the Alliance wishes to stretch out their borders, the Core Worlds and her colonies were well within the boundaries of the Alliance. The surrounding edges were the Alliance’s neighbors, the Confederacy, Silver Jedi, New Imperial Order with the Eternal Empire and the Brotherhood snarling to their northern edges.
But the Alliance is called the Galactic Alliance, best we control the entire galaxy to live up to our name.
Seto’s smile stretched the corners of his lips, turning it into a small grin. It was a fanciful thought, but he had known leaders with such grand ambitions. Some had even grander ideals of power and influence, all before the galactic winds blew knocking their card house back down to the floor. His eyes looked around him, over to the world of Chaldea, a beautiful world in his opinion. Or maybe our house of cards will be splashed and washed away by the currents of the ocean of the void around us.
The rest of the Alliance delegation and the Chancellor approached the representatives of Chaldea, eager to meet and exchange formalities. They were needed to formalize relationships with Chaldean Representatives, to ease their transition into the wider Alliance as full fledged member worlds. Seto for his part had already prepped his department to include new bridge points and extensions to hyperlanes for the soon increase of traffic. Already several businesses were gearing for a new market to enter, as well as prepare the corporations of Chaldea for greater markets of the Alliance.
Busy busy month ahead.
Seto stepped forward, his head inclined in a formal bow, “My name is Seto Du Couteau, Senator of Empress Teta. It is an honour to meet all of you.” His cerulean eyes danced across the Chaldean Representatives. The short amount of research he could cram into the hyper journey over was sorely too little, but desperation breeds opportunity.
As unfortunate as that statement sounds, we must make the best even out of desperate situations.
“I hope we can answer any of your questions that you may have for us.”
THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A DRAGON CHALDEA | PARK RANGER'S OFFICE Yula Perl
“——an average of fifty years.” The Park attendant continued, explaining the slight nuances in age of the dragons, and how one might go about identifying pre-approved giant lizards they could hunt. “Some out there are leaving their lairs for the first time.”
“And others for their last.” Ishida murmured, interrupting as she clicked a little box that demanded her acknowledgement to progress to the next screen. The one she’d just finished reading contained much of the information the fellow on the other side of the desk had just prattled through. She was less than half-listening.
The attendant cleared his throat, smoothing over the interruption and adjusting his collar. “Depending on your capabilities, you’ll be assigned an official hunter, or to a group with a designated lead. Once you meet with the leader, you’ll be handed Chaldean Deer meet. Massive attractor for these hungry fellas.”
Ishida was about to comment on how much like cheating that sounded, and how unappealing the concept of a chaperone was when she chose instead to glance over at the progress of the zeltron and how she was doing with her forms.
“Did you bring your spidey suit for this?”
Less than subtly, she quickly reviewed some of the answers filled out on the form adjacent hers, the surname line practically leaping out at her. Ishida forced her brows into a furrow, tapping on the next question as if it were a continuum of the first: “Perl?
You're related to Zaavik Perl?" The Sith defector?
She accepted another page of terms and conditions.
Jem plummeted face first, either propelled down with intention or falling from a misstep. They didn't have these jet boots in the training room.
Either way she took the owner of the red saber with her, disappearing in a tumble of limbs back under the cold depths of the water. A beat passed, then three more...
Jem sputtered up above the waves, flailing left and right as she tried to catch her balance on the boots. "What?" She snapped back, indignant in the face of his panic. The sith did not resurface, a fact which she pointed to amongst the chaos.
"You’re welcome.”
A grin flickered through her helmet, dashed the moment a charging body nearly collided into hers. She scattered, chasing the back of an enemy suit with haphazard turns. A slash to their systems rendered their suit inoperable, but it was the sudden severing of their leg by her blade that sent them corkscrewing into a watery grave. Jem watched with grim fascination.
They didn't have that in the training room either.
She snapped herself out of it, her expression severe and she jutted back to his side. "I don't think we can fight them head on, you said you wanted to lead them somewhere?"
A shot scorched over her visor and blackened her view.
Were it not unbefitting of a Padawan, Saan'an would have spoken out of turn to poke as many needle-sized holes into the proposed plan as his foresight could detect. Even if he had been in a position to speak so freely, he doubted he'd have the courage to assert those objections. Ultimately, and though his Master's reluctance had been more than obvious, if Aeris trusted Dagon's judgement, that would have to be enough for Saan'an.
Besides, what did Saan'an know? Dagon was the one with experience, which added merit to just about any suggestion in regards to these kinds of operations. It was hard to question that he cleraly understood what he was doing... Even if a distraction was unlikely to leave such an important weapon entirely unguarded, and despite the accompanying fact that two consulars that bordered on non-combatant were practically cornering themselves whilst filling the shoes of Shadows.
There he went again with the fatalism. Couldn't' help it. If he was deserving of any slack or confidence after surviving an encounter with the self-proclaimed Dark Lord of the Sith, no one told him so.
Dry air worsened the cold as Saan'an's head broke the water's surface from underneath. He pulled the rebreather from between his lips and took in a generous breath of real, unfiltered surface oxygen. What the device had pulled out of the water was had been concentrated, made his head spin. Aeris helped him onto an icy ledge, where he took a few more square breathes to stave off the vertigo.
“Right. Like I said before, I agree that perhaps sending two librarians to do what seems to be a shadow’s job might be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard, but I trust that Dagon had some reasoning behind it.”
"I was just thinking about that," Saan'an confessed. "I trust him if you do, I just can't help but feel like this might be a little out of our range." These kinds of wrong-league situations started to feel a little too familiar. For the sake of his life expectancy, he hoped this wouldn't become and ongoing trend, as selfish as it sounded. Lately the best part about introspection was the fact no one could reprimand his shame. Another thing to add to the list of non-ideal trends.
Saan'an nodded, reconsidered whether or not that was the right gesture, then shook his head with blatant awkward correction. "I'm okay," he forced the words out for clarity. "Rebreather has me a little dizzy but it won't last." The Padawan rose to his feet, giving the disorientation its due reverence by way of caution, only to feel it gradually fade as he gained his bearings. "I'm ready when you are, Master. I sense Jem and Dagon are already making a show of it."
In her haste to avoid Toloth, Ishani hadn’t had a chance to process the revelation that her father and Emilia knew each other, somehow. It was hard to tell if they were old friends, former colleagues, or longtime rivals, however, and she was too far away now to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Ishani’s attention shifted to the Alliance delegates that had begun to file into the chamber. Chancellor Aerarii Tithe was at the head of the group, naturally, and so he was the first to greet them.
Toloth smiled and bowed his head respectfully. “Thank you, Chancellor. The Academy is the oldest building on Chaldea—it was chosen as our gathering place today because of its history, and because it serves as a symbol of our people.”
It was also quite secure. Apart from electronic defense measures throughout the building, Academy guards were posted at every entrance and exit. Four of them flanked Toloth, members of his personal guard. Chaldea’s citizens were known for practicing non-resistance, and the planet had no standing military, but security was clearly important to them.
When the Chancellor reached Persis Solusar, the blind seeress stood as still as a statue, her sightless eyes staring straight ahead. “We all must do what is necessary,” was her only response to Aerarii’s greeting.
The Chancellor was followed by the elfin Duchess Aria Vestra, the little green Senator Eboi Seth, the white-haired and stylishly dressed Senator Seto Du Couteau, and several others who each introduced themselves with their various titles and spoke reassuring words that rang false to the ears of the natives. There was a general air of begrudging acceptance amongst the Chaldean representatives, most of whom were terrified of the Maw but equally suspicious of the Alliance.
When the introductions were finished, Toloth shrugged. “Well, let’s all have a seat, shall we?”
Tables and chairs had been arranged for the meeting, along with hologram projectors for those not able to attend in person. Apart from the occasional server droid offering water and other small refreshments, the doors were closed, permitting no one to enter or exit the chamber. At the suggestion of Senator Couteau, the floor was promptly opened up for questioning.
The elderly representative of Bamarre was the first to stand. “We Chaldeans hold great respect for nature. Though we are aware that there are certain valuable resources available for the taking, our laws prohibit mining, hunting, and farming in certain areas where the damage done to our unique ecosystems would be too great. Will the Alliance seek to circumvent these protections for the sake of profit?”
Once the question was answered, another was posed. “Will our citizens be conscripted into the Alliance military?” a representative from the Plains asked.
“Will we be able to hold elections and conduct our government in our usual way, without outside interference?”
“Will the Alliance impose their system of education upon our children?”
And on and on it went, until Emilia, preparing to speak for the Finfolk, happened to stand up at the same time that the leader of the Paladins, Lenore Gray, rose from her seat. Lenore had arrived at the meeting late, hurrying through the closing doors at the last minute. Unlike the others, who were for the most part dressed in formal wear, she was clad in her witchfinder armor, the dragonskin gleaming brilliantly in the low light of the room.
“I was going to ask the Chancellor if he could assure us that the New Jedi Order would not interfere,” she said, speaking before Emilia had a chance to open her mouth. “But the question is pointless. The Alliance can’t even keep the Jedi in line when it comes to their own sovereignty. Your Senate’s inquest into the Jedi proved your lack of power over them.”
"I think you've got it twisted," Ishani interrupted. "The inquest proved that the NJO are the puppets of the Alliance, not the other way around."
Ignoring her, Lenore turned to face the Alliance delegates. “If we submit to your authority, you who hold the Jedi in such high esteem, are we not also placing ourselves under their rule? Opening our borders to the risk of recruitment of our Force sensitive youth, and to Jedi meddling in our affairs? For a thousand years, any Jedi, Sith, or other Force User who came to Chaldea and openly flaunted themselves like that were swiftly arrested and expelled from our world. And if they resisted arrest, we did not suffer them to live. Tell me, then—will the New Jedi Order listen when you tell them this, or will they ignore you in the same vein of arrogance they’ve already made a habit of?”
"Isn't the entire point of joining the Alliance so that we can have their protection?" Ishani cut in. She was so nervous, she wasn't sure how she was even able to speak. Her hands shook underneath the table. "That includes Jedi protection from the Sith."
"We don't need their protection, aside from ships and manpower," Lenore replied smoothly, though her eyes burned when she looked at Ishani. "As a Mystic, I would expect you to agree."
There was an accusatory edge to her tone. Ishani felt her cheeks growing warm, her anxiety mingling with anger to form a volatile mix. "I'm new to the whole Mystic thing," she said, keeping her voice low and even. "But Jedi helping to defend us isn't really a problem, is it? Ever heard of the saying 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'? We don't even have to make friends with them in this case. Or are you afraid that when you actually meet a Jedi, they won't be so bad after all?"
There were a few short, awkward chuckles from among the group. Emilia was still standing impatiently, her hands on her hips and her mouth set in a thin-lipped smirk, but everyone else was seated and silent, their attention rapt as they awaited a response—except for Toloth Threepwood, who was too busy scrutinizing Ishani from beneath a stern brow.
Ishani sighed, suddenly exhausted. She really should have just let the Alliance defend themselves. They were here to answer these types of provocative questions, after all.
The meeting has begun, and the floor was opened up for questions. The most relevant include the following:
The representative from Bamarre asked if the Alliance (which I believe is currently corporatist aligned?) will circumvent Chaldea’s environmental protection laws to profit off of the planet’s natural resources. Chaldean law prohibits any exploitation of the planet’s wildlife, including the mining of valuable ores in the Bamarre region, as it would destroy the unique habitat of the Bamarri species.
"Will Chaldean citizens be conscripted into the Alliance military" - Representative from the Plains, a region I haven't subbed yet.
"Will we be able to hold elections and conduct our government in our usual way, without outside interference?" - somebody
"Will the Alliance impose their system of education on Chaldea, regulating schools and such?" - some other body
Lenore Gray, the leader of the Paladins, spoke (or ranted) about how the Alliance has no control over the actions of the NJO, bringing up the discoveries of the recent inquest as evidence of this. Her position is the most anti-Jedi of the group; she even brings up the fact that Jedi who come to Chaldea are normally arrested and/or killed by the local Paladins.
Ishani argued with Lenore a little bit, saying that the Alliance is in control of the Jedi, they should take any protection from the Maw they can get, etc etc.
Emilia is waiting for everybody to shut up so she can talk about mermaids.
Objective III: More Than One Way to Skin a Mermaid Location: Back 2 Nezamiyeh Tags: Auteme
The Twi’lek brought Kai to a place where half-submerged manmade structures jutted out of the water, having been flooded years ago by the rising tide. But once they got there, Jorn was nowhere to be found.
Kai was still determined to find him. The doppelganger was passed around from one person to the next, each uncertain as to where Jorn might be, until someone finally confirmed that he was actually in Nezamiyeh. It was not in Kai’s nature to become exasperated, and so he simply bid them farewell and went on his way, retracing his steps—er, strokes?—back to the capital.
He hauled himself up onto dry land, where the branches of trees were swiftly stretching out to sea. The nexus contained within the city’s limits caused bizarre growth spurts—and Kai almost immediately began to feel the effects upon himself, as though his cells were dividing and multiplying with all the speed of a cancer. It was unpleasant enough that he had no desire to stay here for very long.
Tourists in bathing suits were swimming or floating in the water as he walked along the shoreline, headed for the little bar & grill where once upon a time, a drowned mermaid had been discovered by the diners. Kai had been told to look for Jorn inside the restaurant, but he actually found him sitting on the sand outside the establishment. Surrounded by empty beer cans, Jorn wore a stained white shirt and jeans, his bare feet stretched out in front of him.
<Hi Jorn,> Kai greeted him gently. Seeing the merman again brought back painful memories.
Jorn’s bloodshot eyes stared out at the sea, ignoring Kai. Nonetheless, the doppelganger continued, <I need to talk to you about two things. Okay?>
Kai stood still for a while, waiting for Jorn to say something or react, but he just kept looking at the water. Eventually Kai said, <The first thing is that the New Jedi Order might investigate the Finfolk.>
“So I’ve heard,” Jorn muttered. He leaned back, propping himself up on his hands. “But that’s only if Chaldea joins the Alliance. Which I guess is inevitable, since the alternative is us getting eaten alive by those wackos from the Unknown Regions.”
<If they do, they’ll find out about the Atargatis Skins,> Kai continued. <About how they’re made from alchemy, which is dangerous and bad.>
Jorn peered up at Kai. “You serious?” He snorted, cracking a smile, though it quickly faded. “You are serious. Man, ‘alchemy is dangerous and bad’? That’s really rich, coming from you.”
Kai’s Sithspawn nature once again reared its ugly head. His guardian had rejected him for it, a trauma that still stung all these months later. <I know,> he murmured. <But the Jedi helped me. They can help you a lot more, because you’re just wearing an alchemized suit. You can take it off and be free of it.>
“Uh, no, I don’t think so. And who says we want to be helped?” Jorn pointed toward the ocean. “You think we go out there to do bad things? We go to sea to get away from the badness. The sea is clean. Get it?”
<Kind of?>
“Typical. Well, you go ahead and run along back to the Jedi Order, and tell them we don’t want their fething help. We just want to be left alone.”
<There are people in the Order that are not so nice about this stuff,> Kai persisted. <They’ll come in and force you to give up the Skins. They’ll confiscate and destroy them, and you won’t be able to make more.>
“Don’t the Jedi have their own problems to worry about right now?”
<I think so.>
“Then they won’t bother with us. Trust me kid, I know how these things work.” He tipped his beer can back, gulping down the rest. “What was the second thing you wanted to ask?”
But now Kai was distracted. Not very far from where they were chatting, a dark-haired woman was lounging in the shade, floating in a red inflatable tube. Despite the sunglasses obscuring half her face, Kai thought he recognized her—she was a famous Jedi, wasn’t she? Should they have been talking about this within her earshot...?
Kai and Jorn’s conversation might have been of interest to Auteme as well, not only because the subject matter involved the New Jedi Order, alchemy, and Finfolk, but also because it appeared to be one-sided, with only Jorn talking out loud. It was certainly very strange to watch.
I've got time to prepare... Sensor readouts have them on a trajectory for Chaldea before they entered hyperspace.
Don't know chit about the planet, but I guess I'll find out once I'm there.
Pretty close to Alliance Space... It's about time I meet these New Jedi, isn't it?
Much rather working alone. They've got rules, don't they? My way is simpler.
My way is inevitable.
Just quicker.
End of entry.
The undercurrents of the water beneath the surface were cold, but their temperature did not matter. The bodysuit surrounding him retained his body heat and repelled the freezing water, that'd try to coax him to unconsciousness.
The jets propelled him through the waves, and he spared a glance for the display mounted on his wrist. A faint glowing crimson orb that he was drawing closer to.
Almost there,but the dull thuds that were reverberating through the water suggested he was already at his destination.
From the depths of the water he breached the surface, water jet propulsion throwing him high enough above the waves to land on one of the seafaring vessels.
His upwards momentum out of the water was urged forwards, upper body folding over itself as he leaned into the flip.
He hit the deck as blasters were turned upwards, and he was quick to take advantage.
In one hand, the hilt was snatched from his belt, violet beam sprouting. Plunging directly through the spine of the first distracted Moon Child. He had heard the tell tale ignition of the saber, and his own spinning momentum saw him cleaved in two. Already stepping past the falling halves, Zaka dove forwards, tucked into himself and hit his shoulder. And a split second later he was springing off the ground to slash across the midsection of the second fanatic, leaving them stunned in shock to clench at their entrails.
Around his right arm, a leathery looking appendage seemed to move on its own, until it settled firmly in his palm.
The third of the crazed lunatics was already fully turned, firing on him with a wild need to survive.
The first shots whipped past him, fear induced adrenaline made hands shake. Hands clammy, even in the cold weather, and made it difficult to strike the black garbed warrior.
He threw his right hand forwards at the last, the leathery covered appendage looked to be a snake. First it shot its blinding venom and their hands flew up, finger on the trigger which forced Zaka to shift out of the way abruptly. They clawed at their eyes, but it was too late. The poison was already seeping in, and as the amphistaff coiled around its victim, Zaka's amaranthine blade plunged through their chest.
A battle raged around him, and for the moment, it seemed he went unnoticed.
The tracker was utterly useless at this point. It had been on one of the ships that had brought these Mawite minions here. But their purpose in a glacier ridden theatre?
Zaka was already pressing a finger to the commlink embedded in his eardrum.
A gasp of relief silently escaped his lips when Jem reemerged from the cold bath of the sea. No Sith on her tail.
"Not for long we can't, yeah." he said. The Maw was entrenched well. "Keep them busy enough they draw in all their attention to us and make Aeris and Saan'an's passage easier."
She was learning quick.
And then, a screech and a flash blinded the corners of his vision for a moment before the whiteness dissipated to reveal Jem's smoldering visor. Guts tightened into a knot and instincts kicked in. The Knight's hand plucked her by the biceps and yanked her up towards the sky and away from the suppressing fire on their previous position.
"Jem, you--" the words trailed off as the rain of fire followed them into the sky and he pulled them away like a bird stubbornly evading an equally stubborn hunter, "--okay?"
"We probably need to spend some time on the rooftops." he murmured, noticing her wild rodeo with the jet boots. Last time they were both on a rooftop was on Lao-mon. She vividly remembers that.
Tilting his head to the sound of a blast nearby and a human missile tearing the air from the waters and thunderously landing unto the deck of a Mawite armed barge. The stance, the moves, the manner in which the unknown assailant fought reminded him of Aelys but the Mynock's blade was blue and his steps a little more precise.
"Arthur?"
"Unknown, Sir."
"Well, he's tearing through the Maw's ship so that makes him a friendly."
"For now, Sir."
"For now." he silently muttered back, then glanced at Jem as he dropped her arm cautiously, "Let's go before this guy gets himself killed." he said and darted like a spear at the Maw's compromised war barge, "He's blitzed to the helm of the barge but the lower deck hatch's behind him and he can't see it opening. I will take his right, you take his left."
And here comes the cavalry.
The raven-haired Jedi's feline landing came at the right moment of time as the lower deck's hatch burst open with a wave of the ugliest freaks your eyes could ever lay upon. Ratchet breath hits a nasty uppercut way before the first swing of the vibro-ax comes down. Force can't save you from raw salmon mixed with long expired stims. Moon Children. The Maw had a sick irony when it came to baptizing their creations. The superweapon Mercy, the repugnant children of the moon.
Like torching the galaxy was just some nasty joke to 'em.
"Can you steer this back at where it came from?" he asked the mysterious man right after he knocked Bad Breath One off the deck with a spinning kicking. They needed more fireworks. Keep the heat off Aeris and Saan'an.
Another Moonchild came right after. Didn't smell like raw salmon this time - just plain chit. He came close, too close. How long could the Jedi keep his attention split between him, Jem and the battle as a whole was a question he wasn't keen on finding out the answer for.
There was a brief sigh of relief as Aeris pushed herself up from the ledge and back on her feet again. Sure enough, as Saan'an had said there was turmoil in the air. Stretching out into the force, she could feel bodies rush their way across each sector of the station seemingly looking for something of importance to no avail. Ripples of thoughts, echoes and whispers, all pointing her towards some form of signature in the force beyond their immediate location.
“That is strange.” Aeris mumbled and glanced at Saan’an. “Do you feel it too? There is something big up ahead with a massive force signature barely kept hidden underneath… Something.”
She patted at the saber that clung to her belt as if to reassure herself that it was still there.
“Be ready for anything. I think we are about to find out why Dagon chose us for this.”
Tags: Aerarii TitheSeto Du CouteauJak RossShoma IkeFaith OrganaEboi SethMirana PrajiMazik StaziDonavon ArturoBrama TaggeElizie AthacorrGrand Moff Vel'alariAnnasariAuteme After the attack on Coruscant and the previous shooting within the Senate Chambers, the former Sector Ranger Ruus had put in for the position of Captain of the Senate Guard. The interview process and the candidacy selection committee were very rigorous. Concerns about the Senate Guard's capabilities to protect the representatives of the Alliance were growing and if the Senate Guard could not prove their worth then it was possible the organization would be dissolved in favor of another formation. Ruus had attempted to assuage their fears pointing to the numerous occasions in his past as part of the Mandalorian Empire where he personally oversaw the then Manda'Alor's personal security abroad. How he had always stuck to his postings and held loyalty to be a paramount virtue. That alone was, of course, not enough to secure him the lofty position though a few high profile recommendations from the Judicial Forces eventually carried Ruus over the finish line. His first tasking was to protect the delegation to Chaldea, which included the Chancellor Aerarii Tithe himself.
Captain Ruus had done a brief review of the Senate Guards including the Honor Guard and Senate Commando subunits at his disposal and had opted to include the Honor Guard for close protection while tasking the elite Senate Commandos with external security measures. Such as safeguarding the diplomatic shuttles against tampering and remote surveillance of the surrounding area to the best of their ability to present not only a deterrence but also to pick up on suspicious activity. Meanwhile Captain Ruus and the Honor Guard had stuck close to the delegation though remained far enough away as to not prevent the ceremonious meeting between the Chancellor, Senators, and local leadership. For every 1 Senator the Captain had assigned 1 Honor Guard to personally oversee their safety while a similar 4 Honor Guards including Captain Ruus oversaw the Chancellor.
As the delegation approached the other and the Chancellor began to make introductions, Ruus' eyes sternly observed their new acquaintances for signs of malice. Of course this stare was obscured by the onyx colored visor of his helmet. Voices of the Senate Commandos on the outside whispered in the Captain's ears through his helmet's communication system. Suspicious individuals were uncommon but more important was the consistent updating of Commando locations. Regular check-ins were vital.
Darth Solipsis
, the first true claimant to the title of Sith’ari, have brought an end to the inquest into the New Jedi Order and released the protectors of the Alliance from their shattered temple.
Jacen Nimdok
comes...
